Let’s all plan to live for the hope of it all this month, shall we? I’m hoping to actually read all five of the August ARCs I have left to read, to catch up on a number of previous ARCs, and also just have a really good reading month. But let’s dive into discussing those reading plans!
August ARCs
I’ve already read Lost and Found, though I haven’t yet posted my review to the blog, but my gushing, glowing review is on Goodreads if you follow me there. Lost and Found comes out on August 4th and is basically about Bea and Silas who wind up being roommates and maybe eventually more. It’s a novel about grief and finding your way back to yourself. It’s also about friendship. This book has a lot of content notes that you should absolutely check out if you’re interested in picking it up, but the main ones are cancer, death of a loved one from cancer, and IVF (but not infertility).
Meet Me in the Garden by Nina LaCour starts in 1944 in New Orleans. We follow Odette, who is one of three sisters, in the aftermath of her father’s death, for which she blames her mother. She is in love with a woman, but only her cousin, Delphine knows. Meanwhile, Delphine is getting busy with a white man despite him having a sign in his shop window that says Whites Only. It’s giving a little bit of The Vanishing Half by Britt Bennett, although it still feels very unique and different. I’m about three chapters in so far and the idea of moving to LA has just been introduced, which according to the blurb is where we’re heading. I’m definitely looking forward to listening to more! It also comes out on Tuesday, August 4th.
The Matchmaker’s Cottage by Kat Sloane has the most stunning Fall coded cover and as I’m about willing to start manifesting Fall (the Fall drinks at Starbs come out on August 25th, which means I’m 24 days away from an apple crisp macchiato and I cannot wait), I’m really looking forward to this one. This one comes out on August 11th and sounds like a cozy second chance romance set in a bed and breakfast and featuring maybe a side plot that sounds like reality tv shows but doesn’t seem to be one? I don’t quite know, but I am so excited to find out.
Ship Happens by Mason Deaver is their second adult novel, but the first time I’ve read from them in ages. I’m so excited that this book is largely set on an Alaskan cruise because I had so much fun on the one I went on with my family last year. Essentially, this is a second chance romance between Owen and Jacob as they wind up stuck together on this cruise that their friends booked for all of them. I think it should be a good time and I’m looking forward to it! I’m not quite sure the identities of Owen and Jacob but ultimately it’s an mm romance with trans rep, which sounds like a great time.
Mutual Discord is about a girl’s girl who finds herself in the unfortunate situation of having fallen for her bestie’s boyfriend. It’s also a situation where they’ve been communicating in an anonymous fashion before they meet in person. I’m definitely intrigued and hoping for mess, but hopefully less mess than The Night We Met by Abby Jimenez, because that stressed me out a lot. Anyway, can’t wait to actually pick this one up! It’s out on August 18th.
The Cozy Nook Bookshop is about a woman who moves to a new town to run a bookshop, which is my dream, obviously. She runs (literally) into a man on this corner where town lore says they’re meant to be together. It sounds like a small town delight with a grumpy x sunshine type romance. I’m definitely looking forward to picking this one up!
August Releases I’m Intrigued By
The only one of these five I have actual plans of picking up is Let’s Kiss and Tell by Joss Richard because I’m going to her event at Brightside Books and Wine to celebrate the release. Her debut It’s Different This Time was one of my favorite books last year. The others are mostly books in a series that I’m keeping track of and then I’m just interested in the plot of See You at the Sunset. It sounds similar plot wise to Vera Stein, which I had an ARC of, so I may read that one and save See You at the Sunset for later in the year or next. We shall see.
Other New Releases Loosely on My Radar
Seasonal Summer Reads to Squeeze In
Okay, so technically August Lane really doesn’t have to be read during the summer, but am I supposed to pass up reading a book with the name of the month in the title? Also, yes, all seven of these are overdue ARCs. My bad. But these seven are my goals to get to this month before we get to focus on Fall.
Closing Thoughts
What books are you planning to try and tackle in August? I’d love to know! Have you read any of the ones on my list? I’d also love to know about that.
xx
firewhiskeyreader 