I’ve missed my weekly reading recaps lately because of travel, so here’s a catch-up post to give a summary of my recent reads—some of which have been great, some good, some ‘meh,’ and one memorable what-the-heck-did-I-just-read.

My Most Recent Reads

• Red, White & Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston – I closed out Pride Month with this wonderful book about Alex, First Son of the US, and Henry, Prince of Wales. I loved this romance between Alex and Henry, and all of the representation woven into the book. My only qualm is that I felt the pace could have been a bit faster in places. I can’t wait until the movie drops on Prime in August, as long as they don’t ruin it! (The book is always better.)
• A Hundred Other Girls by Iman Hariri-Kia – This book is promoted as a cross between The Devil Wears Prada and The Bold Type, and I recognized the connections immediately. First, I loved the Middle Eastern cultural representation from Noora, the main character, but overall this book read like a satire that didn’t go far enough, leaving me wanting more.
• All the Feels by Olivia Dade – I’m starting to question my audiobook habit because I don’t think I’m retaining enough of the story while listening. Alex and Ren have great chemistry in this book. Alex is a leading man on a fantasy tv show a la Game of Thrones who struggles with ADHD and a weighing guild because of his mother’s experience with domestic violence. Ren is woman facing a career crossroads alongside her self-consciousness about her body type and size. All the makings of a book I’d love, but I didn’t connect with the characters.
• The Girl with the Louding Voice by Abi Daré – The tenacity and determination of Adunni is stunning in this beautiful book as she faces cruel obstacles and cultural roadblocks to reach her dream of earning an education. The audio is exceptional, and I felt so much empathy for Adunni.
• The Address by Fiona Davis – Davis is a favorite historical fiction novelist for me, and this book lived up to my expectations. When Sara Smythe accepts an offer to move from England to be work at the new famed apartment house in New York City, The Dakota, she anticipates a new life with many opportunities. Little does she know how much her life will change. Davis wins at mastering dual timelines again.
• Maame by Jessica George – This book is a heartfelt look at one young woman’s struggle to find herself while dealing with cultural duties, family expectations, and the typicalities of a 20-something single in modern London. Maddie is an endearing, albeit meek, main character who feels the weight of seeking everyone’s approval while not know what she wants. Sounds familiar, right? A great book with a great audio, and the exploration of the immigrant experience to England from Ghana for her and her family for was especially interesting.
• Romantic Comedy by Curtis Sittenfeld- I rarely do not finish (DNF) a book, but I wish I had with this one. With minutiae on every page about each character’s actions, I struggled to get through the 300 pages. While the ending was satisfying, it didn’t override the feeling of slogging through the rest of the novel.
• The Last Housewife by Ashley Winstead – True crime podcasts, secrets from college days, cults, and S&M, this thriller had it all. When Shay learns that her best friend from college, Laurel, has been found on their college campus, dead by apparent suicide, she reaches out to her old friend and true crime podcaster, Jamie, to investigate what she believes to be a murder. Soon the two find themselves too close to a secret society that pushes all to their limits, and it brings Shay’s past to the forefront. This book was a WTF from the start, and I loved it.

And so my catch-up is complete. July hasn’t started with a bang-up list of reading, but I’m hopeful for some great books in my near future!