After taking a month break from having a TBR, I’m returning to planning my monthly reads. And while I have 8 books lined up, I don’t think this is super ambitious! I tend to read this much each month, and I also tend to read more during the summer months.

Here’s my TBR at-a-glance from my reading journal. It seems a bit big now that I’m looking at it, but I’m excited nonetheless for the books I picked this month!

Vox by Christina Dalcher

Vox is a dystopian novel that features a world where women are only limited to 100 words a day. With this comes the limitation of other rights for women, including the ability to hold jobs and access to education. This story follows Dr. Jean McClellan, and how her and other woman must use their 100 words to help them be heard and reclaim their voices.

I’ve read a few feminist dystopian novels in the past, and would like to continue reading more, so Vox seemed like a natural pick. However, I am a bit concerned for the mixed reviews going into this one. I read The Power recently and while I loved the concept, the execution fell flat for me. So I’m hoping Vox will have a better execution!

You Exist too Much by Zaina Arafat

You Exist too Much is a debut fiction novel that follows the life and experiences of a queer Palestinian-American woman. The book is titled after her mother’s response when the narrator tells her she is queer, and explores how the narrator discovers her identity in flashbacks between the United States and the Middle East.

I found this book on Goodreads a couple months back and was very interested by the synopsis, so I picked up a copy. This book sounds like it will be hard-hitting and immersive and it’ll likely be the first book I read this month.

Normal People by Sally Rooney

Normal People follows Connell and Mariane, two seemingly very different people who one day connect more than one would think. Their story continues throughout high school and college and features the complexity and winding nature of their relationship with one another.

This book has been on my radar since it came out, and I finally decided that I will read it after all (Bookstagram convinced me!). I want to try Sally Rooney’s books and this seems like a good place to start.

A Lab of One’s Own: One Woman’s Journey through Sexism in Science by Rita Colwell and Sharon Bertsch McGrayne

A Lab of One’s Own is a non-fiction account of Rita Colwell’s journey through her career in the natural sciences. From reduced access to education to preventing publication of research by women, Colwell covers the many prejudices women face in the field. Additionally, she covers advancements made when men and women worked on projects together and were given equal opportunity to succeed in those projects.

This is a NetGalley ARC that I was very excited to be approved for. I’m not in the natural sciences but I am a woman in STEM, and judging by the synopsis alone there is so much I can relate to. I think this book will both prove as a powerful memoir, and demonstrate the importance of diversity in the field and how it leads to successes overall.

The Shadow of the Wind by Carlos Ruiz Zafón  

The Shadow of the Wind is a historical fiction novel that takes place in 1940’s Barcelona. It follows a book dealer’s son, who, while greiving the loss of his mother, finds comfort in a book called The Shadow of the Wind. But as he searches for the author’s other works, he finds that someone has been destroying them, and he may have the last copy. Set out to know why, the narrator delves into Barcelona’s history and secrets.

I bought this book at a library sale and have been wanting to read this for a few months now. This book has been recommended based on several other books I liked, so I think it’s time to pick it up.

Forest of Souls by Lori M. Lee

Forest of Souls is a YA fantasy that follows Sirscha, who is training to be the queen’s next royal spy. But after Sirscha’s best friend Saengo is killed by shamans, and Sirscha restores Saengo’s life, she is known as the first soulguide in living memory. Now, Sirscha is summoned as the only person who can confront the Spider King, and in that time it is up to her to master her new abilities to bring peace back to the kingdoms before it is too late.

I saw this book on NetGalley a couple months back and also wanted to read this one once it came out. I haven’t read YA fantasy in forever and I do miss it! So this new release felt timely and I can’t wait to read fantasy again. I’m also curious as to whether the spy aspect of the book takes a lot of prevalence despite her change in plans because that sounds interesting as well!

The Rules of Magic by Alice Hoffman

The Rules of Magic is a fiction novel that follows the Owens family and the curse that has been with them since 1620. It is now the 1960’s, and Susanna Owens knows the uniqueness of her children – and tries to protect them from family secrets. But when the children visit their aunt, they uncover these secrets and find out who  they really are.

This is another library sale book that I got a while back. I thought this would  be a good mood read for the summer and meant to read it last month, so I’d like to make sure I read it this month.

Daughters of Smoke and Fire by Ava Homa

Daughters of Smoke and Fire is the first novel published in English by a Kurdish writer. This debut novel follows Leila, who dreams of making films to show the stories of the oppressed lives of the Kurds. Her brother Chia becomes an activist as well because of their father’s wrongful imprisonment and torture, but one day this leads to him going missing. Leila sets out to find out what happened to him and where he’s gone, but after posting Chia’s writings, she finds herself in dangers too.

I found out about this book through Fadwa’s list of books by Muslim authors, and after hearing about the representation this was an instant buy. I don’t have this book yet, but it’s on it’s way and I hope to have it in my hands soon.

That’s everything from my TBR this month! Let me know if you read any of these, or any books on your TBR that you’re excited about.

Until next time,

-Julie Anna