July books!
Sort of a meh month for reading, tbh
I didn’t love most of what I read this month — it took me a while to finish things and I mostly forgot them the minute they were over. (Was it me? Or was it the books? No way to know!)
That being said, there were still a few stand-outs…
An Ugly Truth - Sheera Frankel & Cecilia Kang - This book will infuriate you. TWo NYT reporters who’ve spent years reporting on Facebook go deep specifically into the last 5-6 years of the company and Zuckerberg & Sandberg’s leadership. I had to put it down a few times because I got so angry.
The View Was Exhausting - Mikaella Clements & Onjuli Datta - Win Tagore, a famous British Indian actress, has been faking a romance with billionaire playboy Leo for a decade to further her career. When a secret of Leo’s comes to light while on a trip in the French Riviera, everything gets thrown into chaos and they have to hide out and figure things out. A very endearing romance overlaid with thoughtful criticism on the racism & sexism in Hollywood and the ways celebrities create their own image.
Rosaline Palmer Takes the Cake - Alexis Hall - A romance set within a Great British Bake Off-esque show. Nearly as soothing as GBBO (although a flag there is some discussion of sexual assault).
The Other Black Girl - Zakiya Dalila Harris - Nella is the only Black woman who works at her publishing house and she is absolutely over it with the racism and microaggressions. One day a new employee starts — another Black woman named Hazel — who immediately becomes a star. At the same time, Nella starts getting threatening notes, hostile calls, and creepy followers. Shit gets spooky. If you liked Get Out, you’ll like this.
They’ll Never Catch Us - Jessica Goodman - Stella and Ellie are sisters and opposites in nearly every way except for their shared love of cross-country, which they both run in high school in their Catskills mountain town (which has an eerie history of teenage girl runners being found dead in the woods). When new girl and star runner Mila shows up, and then a few months later, is also found dead, the sisters are wrapped up in the investigation. An excellent twist at the end combined with very thoughtful critiques of women in sports, mental health, and rage — all in all, a truly engrossing YA-ish thriller.
For a full reading list, check the spreadsheet. If this was forwarded to you, sign up!