It’s been a hot minute since I review the books that I’ve read over the past couple of months! Most of the books came from my Book of the Month selections. BOTM is a monthly book subscription service where you can choose one (or more) book each month for $14.99. That’s amazing for a hard cover!
If you’re interested in joining, click here to sign up through my referral link ;)
ANXIOUS PEOPLE – FREDRIK BACKMAN
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I read this book as part of my work book club for the month of October.
Anxious People is about a bank robber who accidentally held a bunch of people hostage. Yes, accidentally. Because this is a silly bank robber who did not plan this through. I was a bit annoyed during the first half of the book because conversations between characters were quite silly. However, as I got to the second part of the book, I realized there was a reason behind all the silly conversations. The plot starts to get interesting as I flip through the pages, eager to unravel the robbery case.
This is easily one of my favorite books in 2020. My vocabulary is limited to express how I felt towards the end of the book as I reflected on the impact I have towards strangers (and vice versa). The saying “Everything happens for a reason” truly resonates with this story. I give this heartfelt book 4.5 stars because it has impacted me emotionally. I also thoroughly enjoyed Backman's witty writing style as I found myself laughing throughout the book. I recommend Anxious People to those who are looking for a fun and light read!
SLEEPING MURDER – AGATHA CHRISTIE
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If you know me, I am a HUGE fan of Agatha Christie and overall the murder mystery genre. I found Sleeping Murder on my roommate’s bookshelf and decided to spend an afternoon solving for a case that uncovers a crime that occurred over years ago.
Soon after the main character Gwenda moves into a new home, she encounters several odd flashbacks that she finds slightly frightening. With Miss Marple’s help, they work together to uncover the reason behind her sense of terror.
I give this book 3.5 stars because the book is not as challenging as Christie’s other classics because I figured out the culprit early on in the book. Rounding it up to 4 on Goodreads because after all, I am a die hard Agatha Christie fan.
THE VANISHING HALF – BRIT BENNETT
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I had high expectation going into The Vanishing Half and this book did not disappoint! This is a story about the identical Vignes twins, Desiree and Stella, who were separated from a young age. Years later, one sister returns to her southern hometown that consists of predominately Black people, and the other sister is living in a white neighborhood passing as White.
The story has a slow start but it is very intriguing. Brit does an excellent job in engaging readers in two individual journeys between the two sisters. I do, however, enjoy the middle part of the story more because I was invested in the twins’ completely different backgrounds–especially Stella’s story line.The ending kind of left me hanging because I was imagining a different scenario. Nonetheless, I give kudos to Brit for writing such a thought provoking yet poignant story that highlights colorism and sisterhood. 4.5 stars overall!
THE NIGHT SWIM – MEGAN GOLDIN
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I selected The Night Swim as part of my September BOTM selection because of the true crime + podcast element in the story. Also, did I mention I love a good thriller?
Rachel, a popular true crime podcast host whose goal is to set an innocent man free through her personal investigations, sets off to a small town of Neapolis to report a rape trial between a popular high school star and a girl. Strange things begin to happen when Rachel receives several anonymous letters from a girl who urges her to investigate her sister’s murder case that happened over a decade ago in the same town…
I give this book 4 stars because while I enjoyed the podcast element in the story, I found the ending (and the unravel of the case) a bit rushed. I felt that the author could spend more time crafting the ending with a more convincing plot. Overall, The Night Swim is a great read with a raw, powerful story highlighting the rape culture.
THE SILENT PATIENT – ALEX MICHAELIDES
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“The Silent Patient is a shocking psychological thriller of a woman’s act of violence against her husband and of the therapist obsessed with uncovering her motive.” – Goodreads
Alicia Berenson woke up one day and refused to talk to anyone after her husband’s death. Evidently, she was a prime suspect and was put into a mental institution. Came Theo, a psychotherapist whose goal is to make Alicia speak again.
This book is definitely a page turner, and I initially gave it 4 stars. However, after some pondering of the plot and greater details, I had to bump it down to 3 stars because there were plot holes that made the ending less convincing. Nonetheless, I was very surprised at the end and I recommend this book because this is one hell of a thriller.
WHAT WE CARRY: A MEMOIR – MAYA SHANBHAG LANG
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*I listened to the Audiobook narrated by Maya Shanbhag Lang, the author herself.
What We Carry was selected as part of my work book club for the month of August.
This is a memoir about Maya Shanbhag Lang’s relationship between her and her mother. Her story highlights topics such as motherhood, immigrants, and depression. I give this book a solid 4-stars as Maya’s story is deeply moving and thought provoking. Though I am not a mother, Maya’s heartfelt journey has made me think of my own relationship with my aging mother and how a mother sacrifices so much for her own children to ensure they have a stable life.
Did you read any of the books above? Leave a comment or DM me to discuss!
Hi, I’M MINA!
I am a San Francisco based photographer and lifestyle + travel blogger. Born and raised in Hong Kong, I’m proud to say I came from a diverse background. I speak fluent Cantonese! Follow my social media to see what I’ve been up to.
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