Best Books - August 2020

August was a great reading month for me. I read 14 novels, and started another 2 before DNF'ing them (bad ratio this month!). I ended up with three five-star books, two of which were in the Immortals series by Tamora Pierce. I really enjoyed books 1 and 3 of the quartet, but book 4 was such a horrific disappointment that I don't feel comfortable recommending the series to you. So the only book I'm going to talk to you about this month is the other five-star read, a standlone contemporary romance: Boyfriend Material by Alexis Hall.

I loved this book so much. It's an M/M romance that perfectly captured the feeling of found family, and the dialogue was just hilarious. I laughed til I cried. The humour was silly and gentle in a way I don't often see. The characters were perfect; I have known all of these people, and all of these places, and every inch of this book felt familiar and wonderful, and made me realise that the idiosyncratic British world I grew up and live in isn’t mine alone. I mean, pogs and the Ambassador’s Reception? Hello, my childhood. Using my favourite swear word, ‘wankstain’? The author could have been living in my head and my memories. It’s been a long time since I read something that had a viewpoint and cultural touchstones that resonated so strongly with me. I think I will always finds this book special because of that. It’s a new favourite.

What are the best books you read this month? I'd love to hear your recommendations.

x- Josie -x

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Everything I read in August:

THE FLATSHARE by Beth O'Leary - 🌟🌟🌟🌟

ON WRITING by Stephen King - 🌟🌟🌟🌟

SUNSHINE by Robin McKinley - 🌟🌟🌟

BOYFRIEND MATERIAL by Alexis Hall - 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

THE SIMPLE WILD by KA Tucker - 🌟🌟🌟

FLOODWORLD by Tom Huddleston - 🌟🌟🌟

THE HIDDEN LEGACY by Julie Roberts - 🌟🌟🌟

THE DIAMOND OF DRURY LANE by Julia Golding - 🌟🌟🌟🌟

A TANGLE OF SECRETS by Julie Roberts - DNF at Chapter 3

THE LADY'S GUIDE TO CELESTIAL MECHANICS by Olivia Waite - DNF at 25%

WILD MAGIC by Tamora Pierce - 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

WOLF-SPEAKER by Tamora Pierce - 🌟🌟🌟🌟

EMPEROR MAGE by Tamora Pierce - 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

THE REALMS OF THE GODS by Tamora Pierce - 🌟🌟

KINSLAYER by Jay Kristoff - 🌟🌟

ENDSINGER by Jay Kristoff - 🌟🌟🌟🌟