The Joys and Disappointments of Reading: A Review of August's Book Haul

As I sit here reflecting on my reading experiences, I am reminded of how much I love watching shows like "Gossip Girl" - it's one of my all-time favorite shows, and I never tire of its drama and intrigue. However, not every book can live up to the standards set by a good TV show. This is exactly what happened with the book I read in August, which was about a girl named Franny and her journey to success in New York City's acting scene. Set in the 1990s, the story follows Franny as she sets a deadline for herself to reach certain milestones in her career, or risk moving away. Unfortunately, this book didn't live up to my expectations - it felt too short and lacked the depth and complexity that I crave from a good novel.

Despite the disappointment of this particular book, there was still plenty to look forward to in August. September is one of my favorite months of the year, primarily because it's my birthday month - and what better way to celebrate than by picking out some new books to read? This year, I've chosen several titles that have been on my radar for a while, including "The Archives" by V.E. Schwab, "Rush" the game book one by Eve Silver, "Big Girl Panties" by Stepan EV Evan, "Mr. P's 24-Hour Book Story" by Robin Sloan, and finally, the sequel to "Shatter Me", "Unraveling" by Tera Mafi.

As I delve into these new books, I'm excited to see if they live up to my expectations. First on my list is "The Archives", which has been generating a lot of buzz among book lovers - particularly those who enjoy sci-fi and fantasy. The story follows Keepers, a group of individuals with special abilities, as they try to unravel the mysteries of their world. I've heard great things about this series from friends and online communities, so I'm eager to dive in and see what all the fuss is about.

Next up is "Rush" the game book one by Eve Silver - an intriguing premise that has piqued my interest right away. The story follows a group of kids who are forced into a deadly game with no escape, where they must rely on their wits and skills to survive. I'm intrigued by the idea of this game and how it brings these characters together.

Another book that's caught my eye is "Big Girl Panties" by Stepan EV Evan - a contemporary adult novel about a woman who loses her husband and finds love again with a trainer. As someone who loves romance novels, I'm excited to see if this story will hit the spot for me.

As always, I'm also excited to read books that I've already purchased but haven't had the chance to dive into yet. This includes "Mr. P's 24-Hour Book Story" by Robin Sloan and "45 lbs more or less" by K Barson - both of which have been highly recommended by friends and online communities.

Finally, there's the sequel to "Shatter Me", "Unraveling" by Tera Mafi - a book that has been on my radar for some time now. I loved "Shatter Me" when it came out, and I'm eager to see how the story evolves in this next installment.

As for the Book Jar, which is one of my favorite tools for discovering new titles, it's actually chosen two books for me - "Talking to Girls About Duran Duran" by Rob Sheffield. I've had this book on my radar for a while now, and I'm excited to finally get my hands on it. According to the reviews, it's a memoir about growing up in the 80s and loving Duran Duran - which sounds like a fun read to me.

Now that we've got all the books lined up, it's time to share with you what other readers have been reading this past month - was it a good month or a bad one? And what titles are on your September reading list? Let us know in the comments!

"WEBVTTKind: captionsLanguage: enhio everyone today I'm here to do another wrapup TBR the month has flown by I can't believe August is already over can you about the books I read in August and the books I'm planning to read in September August I read a grand total of 10 books another amazing month for me I would have never guessed I would had another amazing month I'm excited and I'm thrilled I had another great month I mean 10 books holy crap that's a lot I don't know what has caused this reading spurt for me these past couple of months but I'm loving it and I'm hoping it stays keeps stays keeps up you know that kind of stuff first book I read that is at the library and is shopaholics ties the not and it is the third book I think in the shopaholic series I enjoy this series overall it's by Sophie canella you guys know how much I love Sophie canella I will say this is my least favorite of the series so far which is quite shocking for me because as you all know I'm a wedding photographer so I love weddings and stuff but I just felt this one to be very unbelievable like the situation she was put in I was like really really icky really overall I gave it a three out of five I will continue to read the series but I'm not in huge demand or in huge rush to read them at the moment next book which I read was also from the library and that is called the first husband by Lauren Dave I think sorry this was a contemporary one it was I read it on a whim at the library I don't know why I picked it up and I really didn't like it to be honest that much I think it had a great start I was excited about it and then it just kind of faltered for me I wouldn't say I wouldn't recommend it honestly I only gave it a three out of five so you know have the next book I read which is reboot by Amy Tina I love this one will I say I love it as much as everyone else does probably not which is kind of shocking the premise was a great for I felt like I I didn't love Callum like I think a lot of people love Callum but I found him to not be likable as much as that makes sense I just don't like him but I love the book overall I gave it a four out of five because I thought it was a great book and I will continue to read the series the next book I read which is at the library qu coincidentally is Percy Jackson and the Lightning Thief and I loved it all you guys told me I love it and I loved it before you say anything I've not read SE of monsters yet I what happened was I plan to read it and then it had the library return date and I just forgot to renew it so I had to return it I do plan on reading that Series so I will probably not include them a lot in my TBR hours but I plan to read it like I plan to be done with this series before the year's over you can count me for that and I have not seen See's movie strictly because everyone hated it like everyone hated it so I was like I really don't see a point in seeing it right now but I do plan to see when it comes on DVD and I plan to read the book anyway I love lightning th I thought it was a phenomenal book very very adventury I I loved it five out of five of course book I read which I do own but I'm actually learing a friend bar because I loved it so much and that is the running Dream by wenderland vanir I think it's so hard to remember the authors when you don't have the books right in your hand I love this book I I would highly recommend for all of you guys to read it like I want to do its own review honestly if you guys want that let me know because I loved it because it was such a motivator I feel like a lot of times I get down about my life and I get just in a down mood I feel like life's awful and then I read about this about a girl who has lost her leg and she has to overcome that like then I'm like no like look at her look at all the strength she has phenomenal book if you want a great motivational book but it's still fictiony I would highly recommend and really made me want to get up and do something with my life like make it it was just awesome five out of five loved it I can definitely see why I won all those Awards next book I read which I so let a friend Bor because I love it so much The Darkest Minds by Alexander Bracken I won't talk too much about this one because I have its review on it which you can click right here to go watch five out of five go watch the review you need to read this book like now go read it so we can talk about it next book I read on a whim again from the library is is Monument 14 by Emy lebor and I was really excited to read this book because I love the premise of this book I thought it was a great book if you don't know what this book is about it's about like the world kind of coming to an end if you will but these kids they're on their way to school and this hail storm crazy thing happen TR um she like drives into like like almost quit essentially like a Walmart and crashes there and all these kids aging from like 8 to like 17 are stuck in there and like the world's ending and they're stuck in there and they have to survive and I I liked it I hat did the ending I didn't really like the ending that much honestly but I liked it overall there was some stuff I did not like but overall I gave it a three out of five I will be reading the sequel because I'm very intrigued to see what happens next but it wasn't my favorite by any means book I read is Second Chance Summer by Morgan Matson you guys know I love Morgan matson's Amy and Rogers epic detour and I love this one as well there will be a review coming up shortly on this I will say either tomorrow or the next day for sure the review will be up but um for now I'm not going to say too much about it because it will have it own review will link it over here the L until days just throwing it out there so overall I love this book I it made me cry yes yes everyone for all you guys that think I do not cry with books this is the first book that has ever made me cry and figure out why in the review in a couple days you will learn more about me in this review I will be 100% honest with you cuz I get kind of real and it's not really happy stuff so yeah but I loved it overall Morgan Matson I love love you four out of five to this book four out of five which I randomly purchased from B & Noble the other day and I was I made myself not buy any ya because I'm trying to expand my I don't know I've noticed this year I've read a lot more adult books and I really like that I don't I love reading adult books honestly a lot of people ask me why don't I read more adult books primarily yes I do love ya but I love my adult books just as well I also love my chick lip books just as well call me crazy I like them okay I like them the the book I got was the girls Guide to Love and supper clubs and I really like this one this one was about a girl who recently got dumped by her boyfriend who was a huge jerk in the beginning if you read this book like g g to you huge jerk ex-boyfriend and she is a chef pretty much or she wants to be she starts this like secret like Diner club or dinner club and it was amazing I love books that are about love and they have recipes in them sign me up any day call me crazy I loved it I thought it was great four out of five and the cover has a cupcake on it so can't go wrong there the last book I read of this month was also a library book and that is someday someday Maybe by Lauren Graham yes Lauren gram AKA Laura Gilmore for you guys that love Gilmore Girls as much as I do I was disappointed with this book from being 100% honest I was I went into it with high high hopes because I love Lauren Grant so much I love Gore girls guys you know it's my alltime favorite show and I didn't like this book that much it's about a girl named Franny it's about it's set in the 9s it's about her going to New York and like she sets a deadline for herself to like get to a certain point in her career in her acting career and you know if not she would move away and I just it felt kind of short for me I didn't love it I'm sad to say that because I love Lauren Graham I love you but I just overall I didn't enjoy this book I give it a three out of five I'm sorry to tell you that that was all the books I read in August talk about the books I'm reading in September September is one of my favorite months of the year you may ask why because it is my birthday month so of course for my birthday month I'm picking books some want to read because it's my birthday month I'm turning the big 25 this month 25 half of the 20s is gone where did it go I don't know I pick books I really wanted to read so yeah let's talk about the books I wanted to read the first book I want to read is the archives by Victorious Schwab I if you hear a Schwab I think of like a Q-tip don't ask me why this one is very hard to explain it's about Keepers I know that Jesse the reader loves it I know that a ton of other people love it I hope to love it as well I plan to read is Rush the game book one by Eve silver this is a book about these kids that are I guess thrown into like a game and there's no like practice or anything like once you're in there you have to be in there I I think it's about that it looks very intriguing to me so I really hope to like it you never know I haven't heard too much about it so books I plan to read are were all in my book haul so the good news is at least when I buy my books I read them that's a good thing the next book is one I just saw it again it's big girl panties by stepan EV Evan I always pronounce the name wrong and everybody's like you pronounce it wrong guess what not perfect this is a contemporary adult novel it's about a girl that a woman who loses her husband and she meets a trainer and they start training and I think she falls in love with them I'm excited to read it I think it'll be a fun contemporary novel we'll have to see all right the next two books okay are books I've haul my last haul and that is Mr P 24-hour book story by Robin Sloan you guys know how much I wanted to this book now I can read it it's about a bookstore a guy that works at a bookstore and like magical things happen I think I've heard nothing but good things about this book so I cannot wait to read it yay same goes for this book which is 45 lbs more or less by K Barson but I'm excited to read it the last book I plan to read which I'm also very excited for is unraveling by Tera M Tera Mafi Terra Miss Mafi you have a hardening to pronounce sorry to tell you that and this is the sequel to Shatter Me which I loved I cannot wait to read this one and before you're like wait a second have you read destroy me is that what it's called the Nolla I do plan to read that so just calm calm down I will read that for sure 100% I will definitely read The novella before I attempt this one okay wait my book jar I haven't really slacking on the book jar I've pulled like two books from this and I haven't read either of them so what's the pointl in this book jar who knows here we go let hope we get a good one all right o okay I'm good with this one that my book jar has chosen is talking to girls about Duran Duran by Rob sheld a lot of you guys have recommended this to me so I cannot wait to read it it's about I think it's um almost like a memoir and I'm excited to read it it's more like 80s and that kind of stuff and I love read books like that so yeah I'm excited to read it know the rules vote for the two books you want to see reviews on and you shall get them and yeah what books did you guys read this past month was it a good month bad month you know whatever and what books are you planning to read for September have a great rest of your week I will see you guys next time bye you got your blue shoes in the way you wear your hat makes me be smilehio everyone today I'm here to do another wrapup TBR the month has flown by I can't believe August is already over can you about the books I read in August and the books I'm planning to read in September August I read a grand total of 10 books another amazing month for me I would have never guessed I would had another amazing month I'm excited and I'm thrilled I had another great month I mean 10 books holy crap that's a lot I don't know what has caused this reading spurt for me these past couple of months but I'm loving it and I'm hoping it stays keeps stays keeps up you know that kind of stuff first book I read that is at the library and is shopaholics ties the not and it is the third book I think in the shopaholic series I enjoy this series overall it's by Sophie canella you guys know how much I love Sophie canella I will say this is my least favorite of the series so far which is quite shocking for me because as you all know I'm a wedding photographer so I love weddings and stuff but I just felt this one to be very unbelievable like the situation she was put in I was like really really icky really overall I gave it a three out of five I will continue to read the series but I'm not in huge demand or in huge rush to read them at the moment next book which I read was also from the library and that is called the first husband by Lauren Dave I think sorry this was a contemporary one it was I read it on a whim at the library I don't know why I picked it up and I really didn't like it to be honest that much I think it had a great start I was excited about it and then it just kind of faltered for me I wouldn't say I wouldn't recommend it honestly I only gave it a three out of five so you know have the next book I read which is reboot by Amy Tina I love this one will I say I love it as much as everyone else does probably not which is kind of shocking the premise was a great for I felt like I I didn't love Callum like I think a lot of people love Callum but I found him to not be likable as much as that makes sense I just don't like him but I love the book overall I gave it a four out of five because I thought it was a great book and I will continue to read the series the next book I read which is at the library qu coincidentally is Percy Jackson and the Lightning Thief and I loved it all you guys told me I love it and I loved it before you say anything I've not read SE of monsters yet I what happened was I plan to read it and then it had the library return date and I just forgot to renew it so I had to return it I do plan on reading that Series so I will probably not include them a lot in my TBR hours but I plan to read it like I plan to be done with this series before the year's over you can count me for that and I have not seen See's movie strictly because everyone hated it like everyone hated it so I was like I really don't see a point in seeing it right now but I do plan to see when it comes on DVD and I plan to read the book anyway I love lightning th I thought it was a phenomenal book very very adventury I I loved it five out of five of course book I read which I do own but I'm actually learing a friend bar because I loved it so much and that is the running Dream by wenderland vanir I think it's so hard to remember the authors when you don't have the books right in your hand I love this book I I would highly recommend for all of you guys to read it like I want to do its own review honestly if you guys want that let me know because I loved it because it was such a motivator I feel like a lot of times I get down about my life and I get just in a down mood I feel like life's awful and then I read about this about a girl who has lost her leg and she has to overcome that like then I'm like no like look at her look at all the strength she has phenomenal book if you want a great motivational book but it's still fictiony I would highly recommend and really made me want to get up and do something with my life like make it it was just awesome five out of five loved it I can definitely see why I won all those Awards next book I read which I so let a friend Bor because I love it so much The Darkest Minds by Alexander Bracken I won't talk too much about this one because I have its review on it which you can click right here to go watch five out of five go watch the review you need to read this book like now go read it so we can talk about it next book I read on a whim again from the library is is Monument 14 by Emy lebor and I was really excited to read this book because I love the premise of this book I thought it was a great book if you don't know what this book is about it's about like the world kind of coming to an end if you will but these kids they're on their way to school and this hail storm crazy thing happen TR um she like drives into like like almost quit essentially like a Walmart and crashes there and all these kids aging from like 8 to like 17 are stuck in there and like the world's ending and they're stuck in there and they have to survive and I I liked it I hat did the ending I didn't really like the ending that much honestly but I liked it overall there was some stuff I did not like but overall I gave it a three out of five I will be reading the sequel because I'm very intrigued to see what happens next but it wasn't my favorite by any means book I read is Second Chance Summer by Morgan Matson you guys know I love Morgan matson's Amy and Rogers epic detour and I love this one as well there will be a review coming up shortly on this I will say either tomorrow or the next day for sure the review will be up but um for now I'm not going to say too much about it because it will have it own review will link it over here the L until days just throwing it out there so overall I love this book I it made me cry yes yes everyone for all you guys that think I do not cry with books this is the first book that has ever made me cry and figure out why in the review in a couple days you will learn more about me in this review I will be 100% honest with you cuz I get kind of real and it's not really happy stuff so yeah but I loved it overall Morgan Matson I love love you four out of five to this book four out of five which I randomly purchased from B & Noble the other day and I was I made myself not buy any ya because I'm trying to expand my I don't know I've noticed this year I've read a lot more adult books and I really like that I don't I love reading adult books honestly a lot of people ask me why don't I read more adult books primarily yes I do love ya but I love my adult books just as well I also love my chick lip books just as well call me crazy I like them okay I like them the the book I got was the girls Guide to Love and supper clubs and I really like this one this one was about a girl who recently got dumped by her boyfriend who was a huge jerk in the beginning if you read this book like g g to you huge jerk ex-boyfriend and she is a chef pretty much or she wants to be she starts this like secret like Diner club or dinner club and it was amazing I love books that are about love and they have recipes in them sign me up any day call me crazy I loved it I thought it was great four out of five and the cover has a cupcake on it so can't go wrong there the last book I read of this month was also a library book and that is someday someday Maybe by Lauren Graham yes Lauren gram AKA Laura Gilmore for you guys that love Gilmore Girls as much as I do I was disappointed with this book from being 100% honest I was I went into it with high high hopes because I love Lauren Grant so much I love Gore girls guys you know it's my alltime favorite show and I didn't like this book that much it's about a girl named Franny it's about it's set in the 9s it's about her going to New York and like she sets a deadline for herself to like get to a certain point in her career in her acting career and you know if not she would move away and I just it felt kind of short for me I didn't love it I'm sad to say that because I love Lauren Graham I love you but I just overall I didn't enjoy this book I give it a three out of five I'm sorry to tell you that that was all the books I read in August talk about the books I'm reading in September September is one of my favorite months of the year you may ask why because it is my birthday month so of course for my birthday month I'm picking books some want to read because it's my birthday month I'm turning the big 25 this month 25 half of the 20s is gone where did it go I don't know I pick books I really wanted to read so yeah let's talk about the books I wanted to read the first book I want to read is the archives by Victorious Schwab I if you hear a Schwab I think of like a Q-tip don't ask me why this one is very hard to explain it's about Keepers I know that Jesse the reader loves it I know that a ton of other people love it I hope to love it as well I plan to read is Rush the game book one by Eve silver this is a book about these kids that are I guess thrown into like a game and there's no like practice or anything like once you're in there you have to be in there I I think it's about that it looks very intriguing to me so I really hope to like it you never know I haven't heard too much about it so books I plan to read are were all in my book haul so the good news is at least when I buy my books I read them that's a good thing the next book is one I just saw it again it's big girl panties by stepan EV Evan I always pronounce the name wrong and everybody's like you pronounce it wrong guess what not perfect this is a contemporary adult novel it's about a girl that a woman who loses her husband and she meets a trainer and they start training and I think she falls in love with them I'm excited to read it I think it'll be a fun contemporary novel we'll have to see all right the next two books okay are books I've haul my last haul and that is Mr P 24-hour book story by Robin Sloan you guys know how much I wanted to this book now I can read it it's about a bookstore a guy that works at a bookstore and like magical things happen I think I've heard nothing but good things about this book so I cannot wait to read it yay same goes for this book which is 45 lbs more or less by K Barson but I'm excited to read it the last book I plan to read which I'm also very excited for is unraveling by Tera M Tera Mafi Terra Miss Mafi you have a hardening to pronounce sorry to tell you that and this is the sequel to Shatter Me which I loved I cannot wait to read this one and before you're like wait a second have you read destroy me is that what it's called the Nolla I do plan to read that so just calm calm down I will read that for sure 100% I will definitely read The novella before I attempt this one okay wait my book jar I haven't really slacking on the book jar I've pulled like two books from this and I haven't read either of them so what's the pointl in this book jar who knows here we go let hope we get a good one all right o okay I'm good with this one that my book jar has chosen is talking to girls about Duran Duran by Rob sheld a lot of you guys have recommended this to me so I cannot wait to read it it's about I think it's um almost like a memoir and I'm excited to read it it's more like 80s and that kind of stuff and I love read books like that so yeah I'm excited to read it know the rules vote for the two books you want to see reviews on and you shall get them and yeah what books did you guys read this past month was it a good month bad month you know whatever and what books are you planning to read for September have a great rest of your week I will see you guys next time bye you got your blue shoes in the way you wear your hat makes me be smile\n"