Those of you who know me well won’t be surprised that book reports were my absolute favorite type of homework when I was little. Reading and writing AND getting to share my opinion?!? Heaven. So much so that I was an English Literature major in undergrad!

So here on the blog I plan to return to the book reports of old and share my reads for the month and what I thought of them! I did not purchase any of these books, I have a digital library app and an Audible subscription. I actually just canceled my Audible subscription and replaced it with Kindle Unlimited, I’ll let you know what I think in November’s Book Report.

Hope you enjoy and maybe pick up a new recommendation along the way.

Evvie Drake Starts Over by Linda Holmes – I technically finished this book at the end of September, but enjoyed it so much I wanted to include it here! It was a quick read, I think I finished it in a weekend. It’s a cozy, feel-good romantic read with an easy to follow storyline. I would definitely recommend if you are looking for a good girl-meets-boy book to read with a warm beverage as it gets colder outside.

Open Book by Jessica Simpson – Y’all! I really loved this book, so much more than I thought I would! It’s long, but easy to read in small chunks. I appreciate the focus on loving yourself as you are and Jessica’s journey to this conclusion. It’s a genuine and candid look into her life as a teen pop star and the struggles that come along with that. But…it also gives the goods on behind the scenes of her romantic relationships and family dynamics. It is a pleasing mixture of authentic self-reflection and tabloid-y gossip.

Head Over Heels by Hannah Orenstein – This was another quick, easy love story set against the backdrop of competitive gymnastics. I didn’t enjoy this one quite as much as Evvie Drake, but it was still an enjoyable read. The story moves pretty quickly and some events feel like the resolutions were rushed. This gives it a bit of a superficial feel given some of the conflicts that arise. Like, there was one situation I remember in particular where a character realized the error of their ways, changed direction, and everyone just forgave them. It didn’t feel realistic to me. But, I’d give it a solid B- for another quick, easy girl-meets-boy story.

The Guest List by Lucy Foley – This book fits into the suspense/thriller category, but it didn’t quite pack the same punch as books like Gone Girl or The Girl on the Train. The structure of the book includes flashback chapters from different character viewpoints interspersed with narration of “current” action. That might sound complicated, but it’s actually really easy to follow what is happening in the storyline. There are very few sympathetic characters and there’s a big emphasis put on how “posh” everyone is. I sped through this book but didn’t really feel pulled in like I have with other thrillers. I will give Lucy Foley credit for the slow reveal of character secrets. The way she writes makes the reader feel like they are figuring out the plot twists ahead of time, but then the full reveal is still a shocking surprise. If you like this genre you’ll enjoy the book.

The Lazy Genius Way by Kendra Adachi – I have some very mixed feelings about this book. The author goes through her Lazy Genius principles chapter by chapter, the idea is to create systems that allow yourself to be lazy about the things that don’t matter to you so you can have margin for the things that do. Think…meal planning so you aren’t stressed every day at dinner time. Overall I found myself nodding along and every once in awhile I had a true Aha! moment, but if you are someone who generally feels like you have your shit together…this book is going to feel a little obvious and basic, with just a few revelations sprinkle throughout. Also, the last few chapters get very touchy feely, which isn’t a bad thing, but it felt like an abrupt change in direction to go from talking about batching tasks to being kind to yourself. I would recommend following the author on instagram or listening to her podcast if you are looking for insight into her process…but I can’t say I’d recommend the book. One caveat: I listened to this book through Audible with the author narrating and I typically find it difficult to listen to books that aren’t storytelling…so that could have something to do with my (lack of) recommendation.

Me and White Supremacy by Layla F. Saad – This book comes up over and over on lists of anti-racist reading/learning resources. It is structured as a 28 day personal reflection with journal prompts at the end of each chapter. I’ll be honest, it took me more than 28 days to get through because I just wasn’t consistent in my routine when I started it. Finishing this week I very much feel like I have a better understanding of systemic racism and how my beliefs and actions fit into it. Some days were more eye-opening than others, but I walked away from each day with additional insight. I would encourage everyone to read this and do the journal prompts along with it. It will feel daunting to those who haven’t already been engaged in this kind of learning and you’ll need to be willing to take an honest look at your personal complicity into the systems that promote whiteness above other races in this country. I think I would have gotten even more out of it if I had a reading partner or group to discuss it with, so I’d recommend seeking that out if you decide to dive in.