Book Report Vol. 31

Hi Book Pals,

I’ve had this feeling for the past few months of being behind on reading. No matter how many books I read, there are more I want to read but don’t get to. Debuts! Books dominating online discourse! Forthcoming releases to screen for round ups and book club picks! Blurb requests!

In moments like this, I’m reminded of author Oliver Burkeman’s advice to “Treat your to-read pile like a river, not a bucket.” He goes on to expand the metaphor, “…a river (a stream that flows past you, and from which you pluck a few choice items, here and there) instead of a bucket (which demands that you empty it). After all, you presumably don't feel overwhelmed by all the unread books in the British Library–and not because there aren't an overwhelming number of them, but because it never occurred to you that it might be your job to get through them all.” I flag this advice mostly for myself, but also in case you need this reminder, too.

But let’s dive into the 6 books I did get to—including two 5-star romances! And make sure to keep scrolling for a preview of August new releases and all your book-to-screen news!

Abby Offsides by Anna McCallie

In early July, I found myself swept up in World Cup mania, and picked up this debut romance about an American woman who moves to the UK for a job doing social media for a football club, who finds herself in a flirty friendship with one of the players.

The banter between the leads is top notch, but this is a sloooow burn romance. Maybe that’s your cuppa, but, personally, I’m a bit impatient. So, by the 60% mark I was screaming at the pages for these two idiots to give into their attraction and kiss already! But despite my lighthearted frustration with our lovebirds, what kept me turning the pages were the Ted Lasso vibes of the B-story about the FMC forming friendships with the other players and her colleagues. If you were similarly soccer-pilled, this is a very cute romance. Just don’t go in expecting lots of chili peppers.

The Five-Star Weekend by Elin Hilderbrand

This was a re-read for our Summer of Sol book club over on the podcast. (More info here!) And even though I only read this three years ago, I was shocked at how much I’d forgotten in this book about a grieving widow who invites four friends from different eras of her life for a girls’ weekend on Nantucket. (Like, the whole Gigi plot line!)

While it’s not my favorite Elin (that would be either The Blue Bistro or 28 Summers), it was a perfect salve for an Elin-less summer and a masterclass in multi-POV writing. I was left hungry for maple bacon pecans, but sated by a mega-dose of drama and interior design porn. For lots more thoughts on the book and its TV adaptation, you can listen to our book club episode.

Dolly All The Time by Annabel Monaghan

Every time I read an Annabel Monaghan book, it’s my new favorite. She’s just that good! In her latest, hyper-competent single mom Dolly Brick heads back to her Rhode Island hometown for the summer to help her dad after a house fire. The need to put a new roof over her family’s head—literally!—leads her into a fake-dating arrangement with a scion of the town’s founding family.

I usually find fake-dating tropes a bit silly, but this one felt believable, while still having all that fun “we’re actually falling for each other even though this is all supposed to be pretend” goodness. And Dolly was one of the most three-dimensional romance heroines I’ve read in a while—I already know I’ll be re-reading this for my own book research. If you’re fed up with messy 20-something romance protagonists, but still want a lighthearted rom-com filled with butterflies and banter, this is for you. A slam dunk of a 5-star romance!

Once, Again, Always by Amanda Gayle (out 10/7)

Admittedly, I went into this romance novel without the best intentions. It releases the same month as my next book, and despite being a debut, has already racked up 1,200+ ratings with a stellar 4.28 score. So, I went in without reading the description. And thank goodness, because I might have skipped it otherwise. (I’m not a fan of an amnesia plot.) In it, a woman wakes up in the hospital with no memories of the last 7 years and, worse, she’s married to her high school bully.

If you’re a fan of Magnolia Parks and it’s sprawling moneyed friend group, this one is absolutely for you! And the romance. The romance! I’m outraged how hard this book had me rooting for a blonde man! (And one with such a ridiculous name, no less.) But Aster Bishop has a PhD in yearning. I totally see what the hype is about and will be going hard for this book come October.

The Burning Side by Sarah Damoff

This one was our July Bad on Paper book club pick chosen by our listeners. (July is always listener pick month!) In it, a man asks his wife for a divorce the evening before their house burns down, sending them and their two young children to live with her parents for the summer, who have their own secret trials afoot.

Ultimately, I was glad to have read it after hearing so much buzz about the author between this book and her debut, The Bright Years, but it was much heavier than I would have chosen for myself at this moment in my reading life. Lots more thoughts in our book club episode.

Make Nice by Ryan Effgen

In this soapy summer romp, three adult siblings head back to the Michigan island where they spent their summers as kids for a reunion with their elderly father. I read this book based purely on its comps: Sandwich meets The Wedding People—and because it was edited by Jenny Jackson (author of Pineapple Street; editor of Yesteryear, Tx3, Crazy Rich Asians and more).

After reading it, I think Sandwich is a bad comp. (No menopausal rage here! And not much contemplation on child-rearing.) The Nest by Cynthia D’Aprix Sweeney might be more apt with its secrets and sibling drama. But The Wedding People comp was dead on: outsiders at a quirky rich people hotel, an angsty teen, getting involved in other people’s family drama, humorous voice. I ended up liking but not loving this one, but that could have been user error as I read it in fits and starts across a two-week period. I’ll be curious to hear if anyone else has read it and to get their thoughts.

What do we have to look forward to in August? New releases are slowing down to make way for big fall books.

Take What You Can by Naima Coster | Contemporary Fiction | Aug 4

Old friends reunite as expectant mothers and wonder if their friendship still works.

Lost and Found by Tarah DeWitt | Romance | Aug 4

All I know is that this book about a woman becoming a mom with her dead best friend’s frozen eggs broke NetGalley. Color me intrigued!

Kitten by Stacey Yu | Literary Fiction | Aug 4

A woman becomes obsessed with her boyfriend’s cat.

Fruit Fly by Josh Silver | Literary Thriller | Aug 4

Yellowface, but with a straight woman and a gay man.

You’ll Love It Here by Natalie Sue | Contemporary Fiction | Aug 11

A corporate striver reluctantly steps in as her building’s super.

Let’s Kiss and Tell by Joss Richard | Romance | Aug 11

A sex columnist and a news reporter strike up a fake-dating arrangement.

Big Little Truths by Liane Moriarty | Mystery | Aug 24

The women from Big Little Lies deal with parenting teens and the secrets they’re keeping from them in this sequel.

Here’s the latest book adaptation news on my radar. Publicists, producers, bookish insiders: if you have tips for next month, my inbox is open.

• I loved Love and Other Words by Christina Lauren—it was also a key inspiration for my forthcoming second-chance romance—so I’ll be very excited to see it adapted.

• Big casting news on the adaptation of Carley Fortune’s This Summer Will Be Different. Very smart (IMO) to cast Sophie Nélisse given her involvement in Heated Rivalry.

• Jennifer Aniston exited the adaptation of I’m Glad My Mom Died by Jeanette McCurdy, where she was set to play the titular mom, due to scheduling conflicts.

• Rebelle Media—a newly formed production company that’s also adapting The Paradise Problem by Christina Lauren and The Heir Apparent by Rebecca Armitage—acquired the rights to Sarah Adams’ Rome, KY series. I could see this being a huge hit akin to a less crime-riddled Virgin River.

• We also have our male leads joining Daisy Edgar Jones in the film version of Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin. Very interested to see Sean Kauffman (AKA Stephen from The Summer I Turned Pretty) as Marx.

• A24 is set to adapt Fruit Fly by Josh Silver (mentioned above)—this seems like a perfect match.

• Filming wrapped on the adaptation of Beach Read by Emily Henry.

• Bill Lawrence (Ted Lasso, Shrinking) is on board to adapt Alan Opts Out by Courtney Maum. This just bumped the book up my list. Also interesting that Lawrence seems to be getting more interested in adaptation. A few months ago he also acquired rights to the latest Steven Rowley.

And that’s this month’s book report. Until next time.

Becca

Speaking of forthcoming releases: have you heard that I have a new novel coming October 13 called Back Where We Started?

It’s a second chance romance about childhood-best-friends-turned-first-loves bonded by their big, ambitious dreams: she wants to be a famous actress; he wants to be the president. Author Iman Hariri-Kia recently said it felt like a wintery Every Summer After, which is extremely high praise in my book!

I’d love it if you’d consider pre-ordering a copy. You can even get it signed! Alternately (or additionally! I heart overachievers!), you could add it to your shelves on Goodreads or request your local library stocks it when it releases.