Reading List.

Everything I've read in the past two months.

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One of the Good Guys by Araminta Hall
This is a psychological thriller that starts with a deeply unlikeable male POV protagonist and then switches over to the other side of the story which I very much enjoyed. However, it takes a weird (and interesting) turn that I’m still not quite sure how I feel about. It’s entertaining and a fast read but I’m not sure I actually liked any of the characters in the end, which always makes me feel two ways about a book.

I'm Mostly Here to Enjoy Myself by Glynnis MacNicol
I’m on the fence about this one. I loved Glynnis MacNicol’s WILDER podcast and love that she’s giving a voice to single, unmarried women living their best lives, but this memoir didn’t quite hit the mark for me. I was really engaged with the Paris descriptions and her summer adventures with friends and dating, but some of the overly long historical context sections dragged it down a bit. I think this might actually have been better as an audiobook.

The Diary of a Young Girl by Anne Frank
My husband and I both read this before our Amsterdam trip because even though I’d read it before, it’s probably been 30+ years. Also, this version is NOT the version I read originally. After Anne’s father Otto died they added in a lot of the parts he’d edited out, which really makes a difference. More details about the people who helped them and way more teenage angst. You really get to know Anne in this one. If you haven’t read it since you were young, it’s definitely worth revisiting.

The Summer Skies by Jenny Colgan
If you used to read the blog you know Jenny Colgan is one of my favorite comfort-read authors. I saved this one to read on my recent trip because I like to have an easy read to look forward to when traveling. This one really hit the spot. It had all of Colgan’s usual themes - a single woman at a crossroads, a hot beardy dude with a mysterious past, and a remote Scottish island location. It follows her usual formula but that’s what made it so satisfying to read. I really recommend this if you need an easy, fun read.

Death at the Sign of the Rook by Kate Atkinson
YOU GUYS. THERE’S A NEW JACKSON BRODIE BOOK¹. I pre-ordered this and it magically showed up in my Kindle a few weeks ago. I’ve been reading it slowly to make it last and so far it’s really, really good. Not quite as dark as some of the earlier books and I’m enjoying the structure, which is a take on the Agatha Christie locked room mystery. I’ve also discovered there’s a second season of Case Histories available on Peacock, so I’ve been watching that too. (Jason Isaacs is perfect as Jackson.) Also, Kate Atkinson was on the NYT book review podcast recently, which is definitely worth a listen.

Next up on the list…

Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro
I read this when it came out and was devastated by it. I think it’s finally time for a re-read to see if it stands up to my memory.

I’d also like to read something autumnal and atmospheric, so if you have any good recs, please drop them in the comments! (And also please tell me what you’ve been reading lately!)

1. Also, thanks to Emily, a longtime reader, for checking in with me to make sure I knew! Just the best.