Today’s post covers the second half of the books I read in September 2021. I shared the first half of the books I read here. My top books of the month can be found here. I usually include my 5 star reads in my favorites post, but I did read one more 5 star after that, which will be in this post! I will be linking up this post with the Show Us Your Books Link Up, and the Amazon links to the books I’ve read are affiliate links and if you use them and make a purchase, I may receive a small commission. If you’ve read any of these books or are interested in them, I’d love to hear about it in the comments!
Title: Hello (From Here)
Author: Chandler Baker & Wesley King
Genre: YA Contemporary Fiction
Publisher: Dial Books, 9/7/21
Source: Publisher
Why I Read It: Sent to me for my review
My Rating: 4 Stars
This book follows two teens in L.A. who meet just before the Covid lock down begins and therefore have to get to know each other at a distance.
“Maxine and Jonah meet in the canned goods aisle just as California is going into lockdown. Max’s part-time job as a personal grocery shopper is about to transform into a hellish gauntlet. Jonah’s preexisting anxiety is about to become an epic daily struggle. As Max and Jonah get to know each other through FaceTime dates, socially distanced playground hangs, and the escalating heartbreaks of the pandemic, they’re pushed apart by what they don’t share and pulled closer by what they do.”
I think this book did a good job of showing how it felt at the beginning of Covid when we didn’t know what was happening and how to react. It also showed the differences encountered by those with the privilege to stay home and those that needed to continue their jobs to survive. Other topics touched upon were anxiety, chronic illness, and the AIDS pandemic. I know it would have been very hard for me had the pandemic and lockdown happened when I was a teen. I was also lucky that my kids were the ages they were! I don’t think many of us are ready to relive those early days no matter how old we were at the time!
Title: The 7 1/2 Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle
Author: Stuart Turton
Genre: Mystery
Publisher: Sourcebooks, 5/7/19
Source: Publisher
Why I Read It: Buddy Read
My Rating: 3 Stars
My friend and I decided to read this book together and discuss it as we read. We both found it to be a bit of a struggle. It is interesting because looking at the concept and the way the mystery played out, I could have loved this book. It was just the writing style that I had a hard time with!
“Aiden Bishop knows the rules. Evelyn Hardcastle will die every day until he can identify her killer and break the cycle. But every time the day begins again, Aiden wakes up in the body of a different guest at Blackheath Manor. And some of his hosts are more helpful than others. With a locked-room mystery that Agatha Christie would envy, Stuart Turton unfurls a breakneck novel of intrigue and suspense.”
I found what was happening in the story to be unclear and as I said, it was a struggle to read. I also listened to some of the book on audio, which helped a bit.
Title: A Lot Like Adios
Author: Alexis Daria
Genre: Rom Com
Publisher: Avon, 9/14/21
Source: Publisher
Why I Read It: Sent to me for my review
My Rating: 3 Stars
This was a month of sequels for me as I read book 2 in a few different series! This is the second book following You Had Me At Hola, but there is no need to read the first before the second.
“Hi Mich. It’s Gabe. After burning out in her corporate marketing career, Michelle Amato has built a thriving freelance business as a graphic designer. So what if her love life is nonexistent? She’s perfectly fine being the black sheep of her marriage-obsessed Puerto Rican-Italian family. Besides, the only guy who ever made her want happily-ever-after disappeared thirteen years ago. It’s been a long time. Gabriel Aguilar left the Bronx at eighteen to escape his parents’ demanding expectations, but it also meant saying goodbye to Michelle, his best friend and longtime crush. Now, he’s the successful co-owner of LA’s hottest celebrity gym, with an investor who insists on opening a New York City location. It’s the last place Gabe wants to go, but when Michelle is unexpectedly brought on board to spearhead the new marketing campaign, everything Gabe’s been running from catches up with him. I’ve missed you. Michelle is torn between holding Gabe at arm’s length or picking up right where they left off—in her bed. As they work on the campaign, old feelings resurface, and their reunion takes a sexy turn. Facing mounting pressure from their families—who think they’re dating—and growing uncertainty about their futures, can they resolve their past mistakes, or is it only a matter of time before Gabe says adiós again?”
This 2nd chance love story features two Latinx and bisexual characters who were good friends in high school. As soon as Gabe is back, they are right back where they were before. I found some of this book to be slow moving and I am not sure why it wasn’t a favorite for me, but many people love both of the books in this series!
Title: Can We Talk About Israel?
Author: Daniel Sokatch
Genre: Non-Fiction
Publisher: Bloomsbury, 10/19/21
Source: Borrowed from a friend
Why I Read It: Curiosity
My Rating: 4 Stars
As an observant Jewish person who has been to Israel multiple times, it is hard for me to witness anti Israel sentiments and to reconcile what I sometimes hear about the country. For me, this book was educational and explanatory, but if you are someone who doesn’t know much about Israel already, this book will certainly not make you a fan.
“‘Can’t you just explain the Israel situation to me? In, like, 10 minutes or less?’ This is the question Daniel Sokatch is used to answering on an almost daily basis as the head of the New Israel Fund, an organization dedicated to equality and democracy for all Israelis, not just Jews, Sokatch is supremely well-versed on the Israeli conflict. Can We Talk About Israel? is the story of that conflict, and of why so many people feel so strongly about it without actually understanding it very well at all. It is an attempt to grapple with a century-long struggle between two peoples that both perceive themselves as (and indeed are) victims. And it’s an attempt to explain why Israel (and the Israeli-Palestinian conflict) inspires such extreme feelings-why it seems like Israel is the answer to ‘what is wrong with the world’ for half the people in it, and ‘what is right with the world’ for the other half. As Sokatch asks, is there any other topic about which so many intelligent, educated and sophisticated people express such strongly and passionately held convictions, and about which they actually know so little? Complete with engaging illustrations by Christopher Noxon, Can We Talk About Israel? is an easy-to-read yet penetrating and original look at the history and basic contours of one of the most complicated conflicts in the world.”
This book clearly explains the history of Israel from the beginning and the reasons for its establishment as a country. It goes through its policies and wars through the reign of Netanyahu. It is very clearly anti West Bank Jewish settlements and to the author, settlers = religious Jews. While it is mentioned multiple times that the Temple Mount is the 3rd holiest site in Islam, it only states that this same site is the 1st holiest site in Judaism later on in the book (and doesn’t seem to find it a problem that Jews are not allowed to pray there). While it states that Palestinians in Hebron are not allowed in some locations in the city, it does not make a point that Jewish people are only allowed in what is one of our holiest spots (also in Hebron) on a few occasions per year. At the same time, the book gives an understanding to the difficulties of solving the issues in the region and paints a very sad look at the situation.
Title: First Love, Take Two
Author: Sajni Patel
Genre: Rom Com
Publisher: Forever, 9/21/21
Source: Publisher
Why I Read It: Sent to me for my review
My Rating: 4 Stars
I enjoyed the first book in this series, The Trouble With Hating You. This book does refer back to that book, though you can definitely read this one first. This one is a second chance love story and at times I felt like I needed a prequel to understand Daniel and Preeti’s story!
“On the verge of realizing her dream of being a doctor, Preeti Patel should be ecstatic. But between the stress of her residency, trying to find a job, and managing her traditional, no-boundaries family, Preeti’s anxiety is through the roof. Relationships and love aren’t even an option. Fortunately, Preeti’s finally found a new place to stay . . . only to discover that her new roommate is her ex. Preeti never quite got over Daniel Thompson. Super-hot, plenty of swagger, amazing cook—the guy is practically perfect. And if it weren’t for their families, there might have been a happily ever after. But it’s hard to keep her sanity and libido in check when the man of her dreams is sleeping mere feet away. Can Preeti and Daniel find a way to stand up and fight for each other one last time . . . before they lose their second chance?”
While Preeti is Indian, Daniel is Black. This story involves forced proximity, family issues, and racism, as well as anxiety. It was a sweet story overall.
Title: How To Find What You’re Not Looking For
Author: Veera Hirandani
Genre: Middle Grade Historical Fiction
Publisher: Penguin Random House Audio, 9/14/21
Source: Audio Publisher
Why I Read It: A friend mentioned it to me
My Rating: 5 Stars
Last year, I listened to The Night Diary by this author, but I was not aware that she is part Jewish until I heard about this book. This is the story of a Jewish family in 1967. Ariel is 12 years old and dealing with the fact that her older sister has eloped with an Indian man named Raj, and their parents are not accepting of her decision.
“Twelve-year-old Ariel Goldberg’s life feels like the moment after the final guest leaves the party. Her family’s Jewish bakery runs into financial trouble, and her older sister has eloped with a young man from India following the Supreme Court decision that strikes down laws banning interracial marriage. As change becomes Ariel’s only constant, she’s left to hone something that will be with her always–her own voice.”
I loved Ariel so much! Aside from her Judaism, which makes her feel different in school, she also struggles with writing skills. Her teacher suspects that she has dysgraphia – which both of my boys seem to have as well. Ariel’s teacher is so supportive and Ariel finds her voice in writing poetry. I also loved her friend who helps her look for her sister. The only thing I was not sure about in this book was the use of the 2nd person, an interesting choice by the author, and the description of people as “more” or “less Jewish.” (Another way to express this would be “more” or “less observant.”) A quote that I liked from the book was “It’s weird that a holiday you’ve celebrated your whole life is a mystery to so many people around you.”
Title: An Observant Wife
Author: Naomi Ragen
Genre: Contemporary Jewish Fiction
Publisher: St. Martin’s Press, 9/14/21
Source: Publisher
Why I Read It: Sent to me for my review
My Rating: 4 Stars
This sequel to An Unorthodox Match ended up being more of a hit for me than the first one was. However, similar to the first one, it did not paint the Hassidic community of Boro Park in a positive light at all.
“From the joy of their wedding day surrounded by supportive friends and family, Yaakov and Leah are soon plunged into the complex reality of their new lives together as Yaakov leaves his beloved yeshiva to work in the city, and Leah confronts the often agonizing restrictions imposed by religious laws governing even the most intimate moments of their married lives. Adding to their difficulties is the hostility of some in the community who continue to view Leah as a dangerous interloper, questioning her sincerity and adherence to religious laws and spreading outrageous rumors. In the midst of their heartfelt attempts to reach a balance between their human needs and their spiritual obligations, the discovery of a secret, forbidden relationship between troubled teenage daughter Shaindele and a local boy precipitates a maelstrom of life-changing consequences for all.”
I enjoyed getting to know the various characters in this story. I was proud of Shaindele for standing up for herself when a person in authority was inappropriate with her. Leah made a wonderful step mom. The hero of the story was Bubbee, Yaakov’s deceased wife’s mother!
Title: Towers Falling
Author: Jewell Parker Rhodes
Genre: Middle Grade
Publisher: Little Brown Books For Young Readers, 7/12/16
Source: Library Audio App
Why I Read It: Buddy Read
My Rating: 4 Stars
My second middle grade 9/11 book this month, Towers Falling was short and a quick listen on audio. It is narrated by the author, and I was not in love with the way she portrayed her main character, though as the author, she must have meant her to come across the way she did!
“When her fifth-grade teacher hints that a series of lessons about home and community will culminate with one big answer about two tall towers once visible outside their classroom window, Dèja can’t help but feel confused. She sets off on a journey of discovery, with new friends Ben and Sabeen by her side. But just as she gets closer to answering big questions about who she is, what America means, and how communities can grow (and heal), she uncovers new questions, too. Like, why does Pop get so angry when she brings up anything about the towers?”
This book seemed like it would make for some great class discussions, and in fact my 11 year old’s 6th grade class is reading this book now too. I appreciated this look at how 9/11 has effected various types of people and their families.
Title: The Love That Split The World
Author: Emily Henry
Genre: YA Contemporary / Sci Fi
Publisher: Razorbill, 1/26/16
Source: Book Outlet
Why I Read It: Buddy Read
My Rating: 3 Stars
I had purchased this book as an add on to reach a free shipping threshold but had not picked it up, although my daughter did read it in the past. I did not love Beach Read by this same author, so when I first started this one, I was surprised that it was going so well for me. Somewhere in the middle, it lost me though!
“Natalie’s last summer in her small Kentucky hometown is off to a magical start . . . until she starts seeing the ‘wrong things.’ They’re just momentary glimpses at first—her front door is red instead of its usual green, there’s a preschool where the garden store should be. But then her whole town disappears for hours, fading away into rolling hills and grazing buffalo, and Nat knows something isn’t right. Then there are the visits from the kind but mysterious apparition she calls ‘Grandmother,’ who tells her, ‘You have three months to save him.’ The next night, under the stadium lights of the high school football field, she meets a beautiful boy named Beau, and it’s as if time just stops and nothing exists. Nothing, except Natalie and Beau.”
I found this book to be strange and hard to understand, as it is a mix of time travel and alternate realities. I was also uncomfortable with the appropriation of Native stories by this white writer.
Title: Eva and Eve
Author: Julie Metz
Genre: Memoir
Publisher: Atria, 4/6/21
Source: Suzy Approved Book Tours
Why I Read It: Sent to me for my review
My Rating: 3 Stars
Eva and Eve is a sort of memoir, sort of family history in which the author researches her mother’s childhood in Vienna, including her journey out of the city during World War II. It started off well, with what seemed to be lovely writing, but the middle part was a struggle for me.
“To Julie Metz, her mother, Eve, was the quintessential New Yorker. Eve rarely spoke about her childhood and it was difficult to imagine her living anywhere else except Manhattan, where she could be found attending Carnegie Hall and the Metropolitan Opera or inspecting a round of French triple crème at Zabar’s. In truth, Eve had endured a harrowing childhood in Nazi-occupied Vienna. After her mother passed, Julie discovered a keepsake book filled with farewell notes from friends and relatives addressed to a ten-year-old girl named Eva. This long-hidden memento was the first clue to the secret pain that Julie’s mother had carried as a refugee and immigrant, shining a light on a family that had to persevere at every turn to escape the antisemitism and xenophobia that threatened their survival.”
Eva’s journey out of Vienna seemed to result from a mix of privilege and luck. I could appreciate the author’s desire to determine what happened to her mother during this time period. However, I found some of her imaginings about what she did not discover to be somewhat strange, including what she imagined as her grandparents’ wedding night on a train. Maybe these sections were too literary for me to appreciate!
Title: From The Desk of Zoe Washington
Author: Janae Marks
Genre: Middle Grade
Publisher: Katherine Tegan Books, 1/14/20
Source: Storygram Book Tours
Why I Read It: Simon made me
My Rating: 4 Stars
My 11 year old read this book and kept saying how much he liked it, so when he finished, it was my turn! As a middle grade book, I think this one explained quite well the problem of wrongful convictions.
“Zoe Washington isn’t sure what to write. What does a girl say to the father she’s never met, hadn’t heard from until his letter arrived on her twelfth birthday, and who’s been in prison for a terrible crime? A crime he says he never committed. Could Marcus really be innocent? Zoe is determined to uncover the truth. Even if it means hiding his letters and her investigation from the rest of her family. Everyone else thinks Zoe’s worrying about doing a good job at her bakery internship and proving to her parents that she’s worthy of auditioning for Food Network’s Kids Bake Challenge. But with bakery confections on one part of her mind, and Marcus’s conviction weighing heavily on the other, this is one recipe Zoe doesn’t know how to balance. The only thing she knows to be true: Everyone lies.”
I liked the baking aspects of the story and how determined Zoe was. It seems to be a plot point in middle grade books that kids run off somewhere without telling their parents, and as a parent, I don’t love seeing that! I am glad that Simon enjoyed this book – he says it’s his favorite of the year so far!
As you can see my September reads were a bit of a variety, with multiple sequels and many having to do with Judaism. Overall, in September I read 19 print books, 0 ebooks, and 4 audio books. I had less time for audio this month, which made my overall numbers a bit lower than normal. I share my monthly reading wrap ups with stats on my Instagram each month!
Have you read any of these books or do you want to? What have you been reading lately?