My Week in Books (8/28/19)

(#partner #freebooks: All books noted by asterisks (***) indicate I received the book for free from the publisher, the author, or another promotional company to review. All opinions are my own.)

School is in session…I have one that cries (not literally) that school isn’t every day of the week, and one that cries (not literally) that there’s school any day of the week. What are you gonna do? 🤷🏼‍♀️

We only have two more weeks left of our #patsybuddyread and six more for #HWRgoldfinch. Please let me know if you’d like to join (@happiestwhenreading)!

Anyway, on to books! What have you been reading (and loving) this week?

Last Week’s Reads:

📖 Very Nice by: Marcy Dermansky (Knopf) – Pub Date: July 2, 2019

Holy smokes! I LOVED THIS BOOK! I can’t necessarily put my finger on what I loved so much about it, but it entranced me and I could not put it down. With a little bit of soap opera-like drama and six degrees of separation, I could barely keep up…but in a totally good way. This book is perfect summer reading material!

📖 *** The Beekeeper of Aleppo by: Christy Lefteri (Ballantine) – Pub Date: August 27, 2019

It pains me to say this, but I just WANTED SO MUCH MORE from this one. To bring awareness to the refugee situation is so important and this book sounded (and looked) like the perfect voice for that message, but it fell so flat for me. The story jumped around, which I’m fine with as long as it’s seamless and not confusing. At the end of the book, I was confused on what was real and what were flashbacks…or if those two things are even possibilities. Basically, there were glimmers of hope throughout which kept me reading, but by the end, I really just wasn’t invested in the story at all.

🎧 *** More Than Enough: Claiming Space for Who You Are by: Elaine Welteroth (Viking) – Pub Date: June 11, 2019

This book is a gem. I could only hope to raise my own daughter with half the grit and determination that Welteroth has. She is fire and I’m inspired! Welteroth’s passionate drive make me jealous. When she was met with roadblocks, she barreled through them and tried even harder just to be able to prove others wrong. She has a backbone and stood up to racist comments, and also offered incredible insight to those experiences.

I listened to the audiobook (thank you, Libro.fm for the #freeaudiobook #partner) in which Welteroth narrates. I loved it!! I think hearing her read her own story added to the impact it made on me. At the end of the audiobook, Welteroth has a conversation with her parents and it is PURE GOLD! I just love this little family and I can fully understand how Welteroth became the amazing individual she is! Click here to use code HAPPIEST to get 3 audiobooks for the price of 1!

Also, I got some #freeearbuds from Sudio…and I LOVE THEM!! I’m not even joking. I’m going to be getting a pair for my husband and maybe my kids. Use code WHENREADING for 15% off any @sudio purchase (hey, knock a few Christmas gifts off your list early!! #hinthint).

📱 *** Juliet Takes A Breath by: Gabby Rivera (Penguin Teen) – Pub Date: September 17, 2019

I recognize the importance of books like this being published. As a young woman and queer, Juliet is strong-willed and brave. She’s an important character for other queer women out there that need to see positive representation of themselves – and Juliet is perfect in this role. She comes into her own and figures out how she wants to fit into this world by asking questions and analyzing herself.

This book is on sale on September 17 and is available to preorder now!

Currently Reading:

📖 *** The Goldfinch by: Donna Tartt (Little Brown) – Pub Date: October 22, 2013

I just finished the second section of The Goldfinch for our buddy read (#HWRgoldfinch). Things are really starting to pick up and I am still loving this one! If you want to get in on the buddy read, find me on Instagram (@happiestwhenreading) You can also find the discussions we’ve had so far here:, Chapters 1-3, Chapters 4, and Chapters 5-6! Please jump into the conversation!

📱 *** The Other’s Gold by: Elizabeth Ames (Viking) – Pub Date: August 27, 2019

So far (I’m about 25% in) this book is proving difficult for me to connect with. I’m going to give it a little bit longer, but I think this one may end up in the DNF pile.

DNF (aka: Not For Me):

📱 Next Level Basic: The Definitive Basic Bitch Handbook by: Stassi Schroeder (Gallery) – Pub Date: April 16, 2019

I love Stassi Schroeder and Vanderpump Rules, but I made it all the way to Part II and realized, I’m good. I know Stassi and I know her personality…I don’t necessarily feel the need to keep reading this one!