Read With Keri: Books I Read in August

August. What a MONTH it was. I somehow squeezed in reading three books, which was an accomplishment by itself because the month was insane. Post-surgery energy levels are no joke (as in, I have none lol) so by the end of the day, I am wiped and would rather close my eyes than try to read.

I also realized that I’m definitely entering my “suspense/thriller” phase, which happens around this time every year. I’m ready for plot twists, twists and turns, and fast storylines. (Here are 12 of my favorite Suspense/Thriller Reads if you’re looking for some recs!)

Here are the books I read in August.

{ONE} The Hunting Wives — May Cobb (2/5 stars)

Okay. THIS BOOK. It is a page-turner but I can’t give it more than 2 stars because the characters make incredibly poor (and sometimes very illegal) choices and honestly, it is one of the most scandalous books I’ve ever read. It becomes a great thriller about 75% in but to get there was a journey. I didn’t expect the ending but some of the characters’ development is super predictable. I also couldn’t stand the main character but I think that was the point. It was like a train wreck you couldn’t look away from.

{TWO} The Daughter In Law — Nina Manning (4.5/5 stars)

I loved this thriller! It is set in England, so some of the dialogue was hard to follow because of the different ways to explain/talk about things. It follows the story of a mother (Annie) who has a very close relationship with her only son, Ben, and her budding relationship with Ben’s new mysterious (and pregnant) wife, Daisy. When Ben disappears, suddenly Annie and Daisy only have each other and they’re both destined to expose the secrets they believe the other one is hiding. It took me about halfway through to really care for this book, but once I did, I couldn’t stop until it was finished.

{THREE} Keep the Memories, Lose the Stuff — Matt Paxton (2.5/5 stars)

This was a quick and easy listen but repetitive. It included some great tips for downsizing or decluttering, especially after going through a big life change. Honestly, I don’t think I was the target audience for it. It’s well written, but aimed to help people who are grieving go through their loved one’s things without keeping everything. If that is something that speaks to you, I think you’d find more value in this book than I did.