I’ve had lots of time to read lately (check out our recent travels here) but was still surprised when I looked over what I finished this past month. The August 2021 reading list has a total of six books which I enjoyed immensely. As it’s still summer, I’m always looking for the next great pool or beach read. There’s a few of those on the list. But I also added in a couple really beautiful stories with The Venice Sketchbook and Next Year in Havana.
I’m currently reading Florence Adler Swims Forever by Rachel Beanland and although I’m only about 100 pages in or so, it’s quickly becoming a book that I know will haunt me for a while. It’s one of those stories full of family secrets and a little pre WWII drama, which I always enjoy. It starts off with quite a bang of a tragedy, so you’ll be hooked right away. I’ll discuss it more in the next reading list post.
You can see more of my reading lists here! Happy reading!
August 2021 Reading List
Something In The Water by Catherine Steadman
Erin and Mark embark on the honeymoon of dreams in Bora Bora. Passionately in love, they can’t wait to escape hectic careers and bask in the sun and sand. Things haven’t been going well with Mark’s job lately and they could use a vacation, even if it’s stretching the budget to make it work. The beautiful blue waters call them to scuba dive one day and while exploring the crystal blue sea they find something in the water. Something that could alter the course of their lives forever. Something that could make all their dreams come true, or be the cause of never ending nightmares. Do they tell someone? Should they keep it a secret? What they ultimately decide unleashes a chain of events that keeps you on the edge of your seat. The story begins with Erin digging a grave and from that moment forward I was HOOKED. This is a great mystery/thriller! Add to your list!
All The Missing Girls by Megan Miranda
Ten years ago, Nicolette’s best friend Corinne disappeared from their rural hometown. She was never seen again and seemingly vanished into thin air. It shocked the community and changed the lives of everyone who knew Corinne, especially those that were the last to see her that night. Nicolette was one of those people. Now, Nic is back in town to help her ailing father and she soon falls into old habits and drama with childhood friends that reawakens Corinne’s case. Within days of Nic’s return, another girl goes missing, again without a trace. Unraveling the truth reveals shocking details of Corinne’s fateful night as well as truths about everyone Nic knows, including herself. One of the better mystery and psychological suspense novels I’ve read in some time. The story is told in reverse, so you’ll find yourself trying to figure out what you missed along the way. The author does an exceptional job of unwinding the course of events with an ending that left me going, WOA!
The Venice Sketchbook by Rhys Bowen
Caroline’s marriage is at an end and her beloved great-aunt, Lettie, lies dying. Between fighting with her soon-to-be ex-husband about his flighty lifestyle and trying to find the best living situation for her son, things seem at their darkest. That is until she sits with Lettie in her final moments and receives a parting gift from her – a sketchbook, three keys, and a whisper… Venice. Caroline goes on a quest to scatter her great-aunt’s ashes in the city she loved so long ago but also to unlock the mystery of the sketchbook and the keys. What do the keys unlock? And whatever it is, is it still there after more than sixty years? In 1938, Juliet “Lettie” Browning arrived in Venice to teach art and soon met Leonardo Da Rossi, a wealthy Venetian from a noble family. The two formed a romantic relationship but his fate, sadly for Lettie, was predetermined. With the threat of war looming, the two had to fight to survive and ultimately protect a secret that would connect them forever. It’s this secret that Caroline searches for in Venice, all the while finding herself and letting herself love again. I love stories that take you back in time and then relate it so strongly to the present. I read The Tuscan Child by this author and really loved the storytelling. This is another beautiful tale that captivated me from the start.
Here’s To Us by Elin Hilderbrand
Deacon Thorpe, a celebrity chef who was as infamous as he was famous, dies suddenly and tragically at the place he loved the most, his Nantucket summer cottage. In his will he leaves the cottage to all three of his wives – his current wife plus his two ex-wives – to be shared equally. Seems sort of fair except that all three women hate each other vehemently. Deacon’s final wish was to bring the family together (that’s all three wives and their children) to the Nantucket house for a final goodbye. What ensues is a weekend of drama and revelations. Secrets are revealed and a healing process actually begins, forgiveness of the past and all. As with other Elin Hilderbrand novels, this one engrosses you in the story right away. The premise of this one had me intrigued, and I initially thought, ok this will be the epitome of a beach read. And it was, but it was also well-told and had me rooting for each character despite their flaws.
Next Year in Havana by Chanel Cleeton
Freelance writer Marisol Ferrera grew up in Miami hearing stories of Cuba from her late grandmother, Elisa. In her stories Cuba was a beautiful yet dangerous place. In 1958, Elisa and her family were forced to leave Cuba during the revolution. Having grown up the wealthy daughter of a sugar baron, Elisa knows she can no longer remain in Cuba, even as she has fallen in love with a revolutionary she may never see again. Elisa’s final wish is to have her ashes scattered in her beloved Cuba, and Marisol is charged with the task. She plans on writing a travel piece now that relations between the U.S. and Cuba seem to be improving, but once she lands on Cuban soil she is quickly reminded of the continuous political unrest and how dangerous the island can be. This is hard to reconcile with the tropical beauty Cuba also has. In learning about her family’s past, Marisol finds herself in love with a Cuban man with secrets of his own. She ends up re-thinking her article as well as her life. This is a story of incredible courage, and I found myself wanting to know more about Cuba’s history. It’s also told between two time frames, 2017 and 1958, going back and forth between Marisol and Elisa’s voices. I enjoyed this one very much.
The Maidens by Alex Michaelides
Edward Fosca is a professor at Cambridge University. He teaches Greek tragedy and is much loved by his students and colleagues. He’s handsome, charismatic, and leads a private study group for some of his more “promising” students. They call themselves The Maidens and as an all-female group, they spark great suspicion across the university as does Fosca’s potential motivations with them. Mariana Andros is a group therapist whose niece Zoe is a student at Cambridge, also Mariana’s alma mater. One day Zoe calls Mariana hysterical as a young woman’s body was found gruesomely murdered. The young woman was Zoe’s closest friend and also a member of The Maidens. Mariana is convinced that Fosca has something to do with her death and that perhaps there is something sinister hiding behind Cambridge’s idyllic facade. Secret societies, initiations, and such… Despite having an alibi, Mariana’s suspicion of Fosca grows, especially after another Maiden is murdered and clues left behind refer to Persephone, the maiden, and her journey to the underworld. Mariana is determined to stop the killer, but at what cost? I enjoyed The Silent Patient by Alex Michaelides and looked forward to this one. I was not disappointed! As per Michaelides’ style, there are twists throughout and a stunner of an ending. I had my suspicions about a certain character, but the circumstances surrounding their involvement was shocking! Recommend!
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xo – Erin
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