39 Comments
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Allie's avatar

I know V. E. Schwab has a bit of a cult following, but I was not the biggest fan of The Invisible Life of Addie La Rue. I was hesitant but still picked up Bury Our Bones in the Midnight Soil and wowwww, highly recommend. This was such a beautiful book! I finished it earlier in July and cannot stop thinking about it.

Alisha Ramos's avatar

So funny you mention this - I was just putting together my reading list for August and I put Bury Our Bones on it with a question mark because I wasn't sure... Now it sounds like I have to read it!!

Brittany Viklund's avatar

What a stealer reading month for you! I’m a slow reader too. 💕 And getting into bed to read as soon as we put the kids to bed is my favorite new routine.

Julianne Buonocore's avatar

I read an ARC of Heart the Lover in ONE sitting. Telling everyone now, it’s a book of the year!

Alisha Ramos's avatar

OOOooohhhh I just got this ARC, bumping it to the top of my list! Everyone has been raving about it.

Leah Gutstadt's avatar

Ooooh now first in line on Libby for when this comes out - thank you for the heads up!

Lizzie Campbell's avatar

I've been seeing Maggie everywhere, and was very intrigued by the premise, so I'm glad to hear that you enjoyed it – now I can't wait to pick it up!

Alisha Ramos's avatar

Yes it's worth picking up! I liked that it was a quick read, too.

Jess's avatar

Such great recs! I had never heard of Maggie and it jumped straight to my to read list

Samantha's avatar

I feel the same about TJR! I loved the plot of Atmosphere, but what was up with the dialogue? Why do not any of her characters use contractions?

Michelle Martin's avatar

I’m reading Maggie right now and loving it! I don’t want it to end. I’ve also been seeing Marriage at Sea everywhere and I’m intrigued but on the fence. Maybe I will just listen to that podcast ep…

Molly Young's avatar

panting and panting and panting

thank you alisha

oh my!

(can I have permission to Blurb you? will you consent to be Blurbed?)

Alisha Ramos's avatar

It would be an honor to be Blurbed! I consent to the Blurbage!

Sandra Mansour's avatar

The way I've always thought about TJR is that the personality of the books is very hollywood glamour/rock & roll, but the underlying message is always very tender and usually centered around family (my favorite was Malibu Rising). It felt less like those were in tension to me, and more like the intention and the execution can take different dimensions, but I can also see how that would be frustrating to some readers. I wonder if it is the marketing.

Alisha Ramos's avatar

Hmm yes, that's a great takeaway. I definitely have found that to be the case with her work. It is very interesting how publishers decide to market these books...I wonder if it ever frustrates the author. (I'm going to assume not, given her $8 million per book deal, haha!)

morgan heringer's avatar

Loved dark wild shore! One of the best books I’ve read this year.

Claire Zulkey's avatar

I'm reading a Marriage at Sea! It's so gripping I skipped everything you wrote about it here/the comments b/c I want to save it. What an amazing story amazingly written.

Alisha Ramos's avatar

Ahh yes I finished it in no time because it had me gasping at so many parts hah

Ximena Vengoechea's avatar

Super interested to read Maggie. I heard an interview with the author on NPR and was floored to learn she is only 29! she talked about wanting to explore what it might be like to be a parent as more of her friends have kids. She seems totally ahead of her time.

Alisha Ramos's avatar

I know I was so surprised too! She is so talented.

Kelly Erin's avatar

“Maggie…” is my next book to read! Glad to see you liked it!

Alisha Ramos's avatar

It was unexpected and I loved it!

Krystal 👩🏻‍💻's avatar

I’m curious how to find cool zines like the one you read! I’d love to find more like that.

Alisha Ramos's avatar

I found this one because I follow the author, Molly! But I just found this subreddit that is dedicated to zines: https://www.reddit.com/r/zines/

Mona Benjamin's avatar

Alisha, I didn’t love Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo either…I read it because I loved the TV adaptation of Daisy Jones and the Six. But I never felt fully immersed in the world or invested in the characters.

Alisha Ramos's avatar

Glad to know I’m not alone. I loved the TV show too!

Laura's avatar

Just finished Next to Heaven by James Frey. A good summer mystery (rich people behaving badly, sex party, murder). Honestly, not what I expected but a nice August beach read, although the "twist" is pretty easy to guess waaaay in advance. Still enjoyed it.