May book report
What I read last month!
It’s the first of the month which means it’s time for some book reviews.
Love is an Algorithm by Laura Brooke Robson [ Amazon / Bookshop ]
Eve’s a very popular musician figuring out how to feel about AI and her work; Danny is a tech founder who runs a dating app with an AI chatbot, Bug, that helps people work through their dating anxiety. As they begin a relationship, they have to work through it — one of the first genuinely thoughtful books about AI and relationships that I’ve read in a while. I really liked this.
Like, Follow, Subscribe by Fortesa Latifi [ Amazon / Bookshop ]
A deeply reported look at the world of mom-influencers, specifically those who mine their children for content. What does it feel like to grow up as a kid on the internet? What happens to your sense of self when you are the economic engine for your family? So so so good and scary, and reaffirmed my position about how I talk about/show my kids online (me talking about motherhood = fine, me talking about their childhoods or showing them in public = not fine.)
Transcription by Ben Lerner [ Amazon / Bookshop ]
A very quick read in three parts about (1) the narrator meeting with his 90-year old mentor for an interview and his phone breaking just before the session (2) the response to the publication of the interview later and (3) a narrative from the mentor’s son about fatherhood and family. I liked part 3 a lot, the first two I could take or leave. He’s an objectively great writer.
Our Perform Storm - Carley Fortune [ Amazon / Bookshop ]
Frankie’s fiance ditches her the morning of her wedding and she melts down — then her handsome best friend George volunteers to go with her on the honeymoon that’s already paid for. You can see what happens next, but it’s a fun ride, even if I found Frankie to be kind of annoying. Carley Fortune is just so good.
June Baby by Shannon Garvey [ Amazon / Bookshop ]
As a teenager who just lost her mother, Ruth gets sent to Block Island to live with a stranger, Diana, and Diana’s nephew, Charlie. 10 years later, Ruth is struggling to figure out her life when Diana dies and her shit gets rocked. She reconnects with Charlie and also learns some secrets about her deceased mom. Sweet, sad, made me want to be on a beach in Rhode Island.
Score by Kennedy Ryan [ Amazon / Bookshop ]
Verity and Monk dated in college — when they broke up, they were both devastated. Now a decade+ later, they have to work together on the set of a Harlem Renaissance biopic that Verity’s writing and Monk is composing the score for. Sparks fly again. this is an unbearably hot (like four chili peppers) book and very classic Kennedy Ryan (complimentary.)
The Write Off by Kara McDowell [ Amazon / Bookshop ]
West and Mars briefly dated in college; Mars inspired the hero of West’s very famous YA fantasy trilogy. A decade later, they reconnect at a writing festival on campus where Mars is also an author speaking. I don’t know why I read so many second-chance romances this month but they were all fun!
How to Rule the World - Theo Baker [ Amazon / Bookshop ]
Theo Baker was a freshman at Stanford on the college paper when he uncovered a scandal about the university president messing around with research data that ultimately led the president to resign. This is his memoir about that year — with a deep dive into the total insanity that is the inner circle at Stanford. It was extremely well-written and propulsive; I read it fast! I kind of which he’d write it again in a decade+ because I’d be curious how his feelings on it all change with some time away.
Dolly All the Time - Annabel Monaghan [ Amazon / Bookshop ]
Dolly Brick is a single mom spending the summer in her hometown in Rhode Island to help her dad and brother out — she ends up pretend-dating handsome billionaire Stewart to help him restore his reputation (and maybe have a little fun.) Sometimes fake-dating stories grate on me but this one is so so well done, I stayed up late finishing this. Annabel Mongahan is so good.
The Shippers - Katherine Center [ Amazon / Bookshop ]
After being a runaway bride, JoJo decides to spend her sister’s destination wedding (on a cruise ship) fixing her intimacy issues by trying to reconnect with the guy who granted her her first kiss — with the help of her wingman/childhood best friend, Cooper. Yet another sort-of second-chance romance! Silly, charming, and sweet. I love predictable genre reads.
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Earlier book reviews…
When We’re in Charge is my leadership book for millennials and gen Z trying to do things differently. Pick up a copy in any format you’d like — hardcover, e-book, or audio book (narrated by yours truly) anywhere you get books, including Amazon or Bookshop.org or literally anywhere else. If you have Spotify Premium, you can listen to for free right this very minute. It’ll be out in paperback in September. And heads up, the Kindle version is on sale all of June for just $3.99!
No! Please don't. I enjoy the monthly recap. I'm also nearly done with your book and have found it very useful.
Love your recs - always toggle over to Libby to request your faves from the library. Keep doing it!