Read With Keri: Books I Read in August

Balance. That’s the word I think of when I think of reading in August.

Three audiobooks, three physical books.

I know in September I won’t be able to read as frequently because of grad school, so I fully embraced the light and breezy reads this month.

I did not realize until compiling books for this post that it was a very “Elin Hilderbrand” month! She is my go-to beach read author, as you’ve probably been able to tell this summer. A few months ago I stopped at a thrift store and found a bunch of her books for 50 cents a piece. Score! So, this month I read a few of those from the stack on my shelf.

I also realized I’m officially over 50 books this month (!). My goal this year is to read 75 books so hopefully by the end of September, I’ll have made some progress towards that. I guess we’ll find out!

The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry — John Mark Comer (5/5 stars)

I heard so many good things about this book so when I saw it available on Libby, I borrowed it immediately. The author narrates it, which you know I’m always a fan of. This book is a must-read. It is written from a Christian point of view and focuses on the importance of Sabbath and what it means to rest, going through life unhurried, and practical ways to incorporate it in your life.

The Matchmaker — Elin Hilderbrand (3.5/5 stars)

Love a good Elin Hilderbrand beach read but this one wasn’t my favorite. It was still an entertaining story with some relatable characters, but the main character made some questionable choices and the ending left me a bit unsettled. I will most likely be donating it back to the thrift store.

The Sixth Wedding — Elin Hilderbrand (2/5 stars)

I haven’t read 28 Summers yet, so I probably would’ve liked this more if I had read that first. However, on its own, this was short and sweet. It takes place a year or so in the future so there are a lot of mentions to 2020, the pandemic, etc. To be honest, I would skip this one and check out her other books.

Summer Island — Kristin Hannah (4.75/5 stars)

Ah, Kristin Hannah, you’ve done it again. She is the author of Firefly Lane and The Nightingale, which are two of my all-time favorite books. This story focuses on a mother-daughter duo who have a rocky relationship due to trauma and heartbreak and their journey to putting family first again. It definitely has some sad moments, but overall, I really enjoyed it.

Go Set a Watchman — Harper Lee (2/5 stars)

I love To Kill a Mockingbird. It’s a classic I believe everyone should read. A few people recommended I check out the sequel, Go Set a Watchman, but I’ve got to be honest. I didn’t like it. I found it to be confusing, all over the place, and a bit unnecessary. Although I finished it, I definitely read the plot summary on Sparknotes to fully understand what on earth I listened to.

The Island — Elin Hilderbrand (4/5 stars)

I read this on our beach vacation and it was a great read for the occasion. The plot isn’t super dense so it’s easy to get lost in the story. The Island is about four women (a mom, her two daughters, and an aunt) who go to their summer house on Tuckernuck for a mini getaway after some stressful events occur back home. Throughout the book, secrets are uncovered and what was supposed to be a relaxing girls trip ends up being anything but that.