I’ve passed the first months of summer reading physical books that are serious while listening to fun ones! Having multiple reads going at once doesn’t bother me, especially when they are different genres, e.g. historical nonfiction vs YA romance. There are too many books I want to read out there! I’ll never get through my TBR stack focusing on just one at a time!
Here are quick reviews on five books that you might also enjoy this summer.
Theo of Golden by Allen Levi
I’m starting with the most controversial review. Everyone else raves about Theo of Golden. I had to force myself to finish it. If you’re with me on this, let me know in the comments. There are not many of us.
The premise: a kindly, rich, and thoughtful old man shows up in Golden, a city in the state of Georgia that sounds a lot like Savannah. He sets out on a mission to gift portraits to random strangers. He makes connections. Discovers that people don’t fit nicely into categories. Treats people that others overlook with kindness and respect. This novel is like Cherry Moscato wine – too sweetsy for me! It doesn’t have much plot or character development. It features plenty of cliches. And frequently, the author tells the reader what to think, as in this passage:
Theo knew little about race cars, other than what he had learned at the famed competition in Monte Carlo one year, but he was amused by Frankie’s enthusiasm for the sport. Perhaps confinement to a wheelchair made speed a tantalizing possibility and an understandable fantasy for the young boy.
I realize in a time when our country has instigated a war, violent rhetoric floods the media channels, and AI hovers over nearly every aspect of our lives, a sweet, fluffy book about a nice man doing nice things has appeal. However, I prefer something with more depth. 2/5 stars Come at me!
The Grand Idea by Joel Achenbach
The Grand Idea was recommended reading for my vacation in June: a five day bike tour of the Great Allegheny Passage. When I wasn’t riding the railroad path turned bike trail from Pittsburgh, PA to Cumberland, MD, I was reading about George Washington’s dream. In the 1790’s, Washington wanted to make the Potomac River a major gateway for trade from the port of Alexandria in the east across the mountains to settlers in the west. Since I grew up in Alexandria and worked at Washington’s home, Mt. Vernon, I found it highly interesting. Achenbach creates a multifaceted portrait of our nation’s first president and explores the theories and flaws surrounding expansion as our country took its first steps. Very appropriate for our country’s 250th birthday! Recommend with 3/5 stars, especially for the history buffs.
The Sticky Note Manifesto of Aisha Agarval by Ambika Vohra
I chose The Sticky Note Manifesto as a potential comp title for a YA project I am currently working on, and it didn’t disappoint. High strung Aisha constantly feels pressure to perform from her immigrant parents. Prompted by a Stanford application essay, Aisha searches for ways to “step out of her comfort zone.” She gets unexpected assistance from Quentin, a cute guy from a different school who rescues her from her disaster of a winter formal. This is a fun meet cute that explores some real issues. I enjoyed the characters, their banter, and how they grew over the course of the book. 3/5 stars.
Fake Skating by Lynn Painter
This was another YA listen to help me with a current project. Set in Minnesota during the winter, Fake Skating could serve as a welcome antidote to July heat. It also features fun, flirty banter in a fake dating/ friends to lovers story featuring a former nerd turned school hockey star and his best friend from from childhood, the previously adventurous girl who has become anxious and introverted.
Painter does a great job setting up chemistry between her main characters. She also accurately depicts how a small town finds connection and community via school sports. However, I am daughter of an Army officer, and I married into a Navy family; I took issue with female MC experiencing trauma from her many moves as a military brat. It seemed over-dramatic to me. But I’m Gen X. The audiobook was well done and the romance kept me listening. 4/5 stars
One of Us is Next by Karen McManus
One of Us is Next is the sequel to One of Us is Lying, which is a YA mystery I enjoyed very much. In fact, it’s serving as a mentor text for one of my projects. Unfortunately, I did not like One of Us is Next as well. McManus spends a lot of time rehashing details from the first book. She also reuses some characters from Lying, and there isn’t the same level of tension. All of this made the story feel a bit like leftovers. The mystery was decent, and I finished the book. Definitely not as good as the first. 3/5 stars
How about you? What did you take to read on vacation? Do you prefer fluffy and fun in the summer, or are you okay with nonfiction? Let us know in the comments.
Thanks for getting nerdy with me!
