I got a LOT of reading done this month, because I got super into a fantasy series recommended by Read and Wright and I just… could not stop reading. There have also been lots of opportunities for me to read outside lately, too! So I got a lot of reading done this month, which feels like a real accomplishment.

On to the books!

Gold Diggers by Sanjena Sathian

I loved this book. It’s centered around an Indian American community in Atlanta, but is mostly focused on one boy who grows up there. It deals with fitting in, and the pressure to succeed, and a little touch of scientific magic through a gold potion that promises a shortcut to succees. It’s both funny and sincere at the same time – it’s just a really great book.

The Queen of the Tearling trilogy by Erika Johansen

I read this based on Eva Chen’s recommendation – I wasn’t sure that I was going to love it at first, but then I ended up pulled into the storyline. It’s kind of a dystopian future, but one that was originally intended to become a utopia away from the world now. The trilogy goes back and forth between timelines – the main character is Queen Kelsea, but you also learn about how her land and people (the Tear) came to be. It’s not too long of a read, but it’s a good mixture of fantasy that also makes you think.

A Court of Thorns and Roses series by Sarah J. Maas

So, this is the series that completely and totally hooked me, to the point where I could not stop reading and was using every space minute to read just a few more pages. It’s definite fantasy, which isn’t always my favorite but this is so character-driven that you just feel completely drawn into their world and their lives. The general premise is about a division between humans and faeries, and the first few books follow Feyre, who is a human but is taken into the faerie side of the wall that divides the two groups. Be warned, these books are STEAMY, but I just loved them! And they’re being turned into a Hulu show, too. Can’t wait!

The Final Revival of Opal & Nev by Dawnie Walton

This book has been really hyped, and I think the reality actually does live up to the expectations. It kind of reminds me of Daisy Jones & The Six in that it tells the story of a performing duo (Opal and Nev) – their time together, what led to them breaking up as a duo, and where they are now in their lives. It also deals with race and social justice, and is just an incredible story. I wished they were real!

The Echo Wife by Sarah Gailey

This is kind of a science-fiction book, but barely – it’s about a scientist who works on building what are essentially clones, but finds out that her ex-husband has created a clone of her (without her knowledge) and the clone is pregnant. It addresses some really interesting ethical questions without smacking you over the head with them – I highly recommend.

The Soul of a Woman by Isabel Allende

Isabel Allende is one of my absolute favorite authors, but I didn’t really know much about her life. This is a memoir of sorts, but really focused on feminism and how her life and experiences shaped her beliefs. She lived such an interesting life! It’s a pretty short read, but I absolutely loved it and think that everyone should read it.