With August over, it’s time to share my reading wrap-up. This past month, I read seven books. While this definitely is not a small number of books to have read, I think this is actually the least I’ve read in a month in a long time. I think this month really has been different for me in terms of where I had to set my priorities. Plus, I had to switch my medication, and the fatigue has been real. But with that aside, although I didn’t have any five-star reads this month, I did end up with plenty of four-star reads, and that’s really good too.

Starting this new medication has served as a sort of reset for me throughout August. I’ve been taking the time to really declutter every aspect of my life, not only physically but also mentally – so that I can make space for what really matters. I’ve also been thinking about how I want to take my career from here, which means that I’ve started studying for my next certification (and hope to take the exam this month!). This month has also been spent well with family and friends, which may have also been a contributing factor to less reading this month!

Anyway, here’s everything I read this month. I hope you found some great new books this month too!

April In Stats

BOOKS BREAKDOWN

April In Books

She Who Became the Sun by Shelley Parker-Chan

She Who Became the Sun takes place in 1345 under China’s harsh Mongol rule. In a family with a daughter and a son, the son, Zhu Chongba, is fated for greatness, while the daughter is destined to be nothing. But after a bandit attack orphans the daughter and kills her brother, she takes Zhu Chongba’s name and escapes to a monastery, and does whatever it takes to stay hidden from her fate.

This was likely one of my favorite reads this month. The writing was absolutely captivating from the start and I found myself so invested in Zhu’s story as well as the other characters, no matter what their intentions were. I highly recommend this one! 

⭐⭐⭐.25

Goodreads | Bookshop
My Review

If They Come For Us by Fatimah Asghar

If They Come For Us is a poetry collection that captures the experience of being a Pakistani Muslim in the United States. This collection explores the history of marginalized people, the exploration of identity, the facets of violence, and finding where we belong.

This was a beautifully written poetry collection that combines identity, history, feminism, racism, and culture all in one. In addition to Asghar sharing her experiences as a Pakistani-American woman, she also shares the history of The Partition, which I learned a lot about through this collection. 

⭐⭐⭐⭐

Goodreads | Bookshop

Me (Moth) by Amber McBride

(Me) Moth follows Moth, who lost her family in an accident and lives with her aunt. She feels lost and alone until she meets Sani, a boy who is also searching for himself, and take a road trip together, chasing ghosts and searching for their ancestors – and themselves.

This was an absolutely beautifully written novel-in-verse that left me in shock when I finished it. If you’re looking for more novels in verse and looking for an emotional, hard-hitting read, this book is for you. 

⭐⭐⭐.25

Goodreads | Bookshop

Let’s Talk About Love by Claire Kann

Let’s Talk About Love follows Alice, who had her whole summer planned to perfection – until her girlfirend broke up with her when she found out she’s asexual. Alice swears off dating until she meets Takumi at the library – and must decide if she’s willing to risk her friendship for love that might not be understood.

I really liked this book at first (and loved the representation), but over the course of the book, this began to falter for me. I think some topics could have been conveyed better with better writing, and there was also one character that really got on my nerves in this book. I would like to write a full review on this book, hopefully soon!

How did your month go this August? What were your favorite reads? Let me know! I’d love to know if you’ve read any of these as well and what your thoughts were!

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