Okay, so if you haven’t read Part I of my Summer Pandemic Reads, click here! This is Part II of the books that I read this summer. There were so many good ones. Let’s dive in!
August Reads. /// I just had to get my last bit of summer reading in before starting school again. Here’s what I read! (All authors are BIPOC fiction writers)
6. The Wedding Date by Jasmine Guillory (4/5)
Such a sweet, quick read. I love books by this author because her main character is always a black woman. It’s young, fresh, and relatable. This is the first part of a five-part series. I didn’t read them in order but I think it would’ve been more fun reading them in order. I’ve read 3 out of 5 and can’t wait to read the last two! Even though I think I liked Party of Two and The Proposal more, this was still a fun, light read to my summer reading! Goodreads Synopsis
7. The Vanishing Half by Brit Bennett (4.5/5)
So I absolutely DO NOT like reading books during their ‘hype time’ (if you know what I mean), but I couldn’t stop seeing The Vanishing Half on my Bookstagram timeline and basically everywhere on social media. This story of transformation, gender, identity, family, and race will have you thinking until the last page. There are parts where I had to place my hand over my heart and take a deep breath. Bennett sure does know how to use her words. One of my favorite parts of the Author’s Note (which was phenomenally written by the way) is “What makes us who we are?” This novel is beautifully written (imagery on YES), thought-provoking (we LOVE challenging social constructs), and impactful (Who am I?).
TW: Partner Violence | Goodreads Synopsis
8. The Henna Artist by Alka Joshi. (3.5/5)
No more international trips during 2020 so books are the next best thing. This novel, set in India, tells a story of sisterhood, society/class, and the reality of the cultural implementations of womanhood. Though not my favorite storyline (don’t hate me y’all) the messages within the text had me pausing to take deep breaths to digest the power of the author’s words.
TW: Abortion, Partner Violence | Goodreads Synopsis
9. Everything Inside by Edwidge Danticat (5/5)
This book is a collection of short stories about Haitian culture. I haven’t read a collection of short stories since I studied English at university and honestly forgot. I had some good frustrations while reading this; I didn’t want to stop reading. I just loved how different each story is. In fact, they were different but still were connected to Haitian culture. Sunrise, Sunset was my absolute favorite story. It even made me cry. Danticat is a wonderful, seasoned writer. I read this over the month of August, taking my time with it while following the reading guide from Reese Witherspoon’s book club. I highly recommend it.
10. Get a Life, Chloe Brown by Talia Hibbert
This was such a sweet read. It was quick and quite adorable. If you are looking for something fun and light, pick up one of Talia Hibbert’s novels. I read this right before starting graduate school classes and it was a perfect easy read that had me falling in love for each of the characters. This is another happy, black girl story that tells the story of a young black woman who struggles with fibromyalgia, a disorder characterized by widespread musculoskeletal pain accompanied by fatigue, sleep, memory and mood issues. Chloe is sassy, smart, and takes us on a vulnerable journey towards letting herself feel again.
TW: Emotional Partner Abuse | Goodreads Synopsis
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So that is it for my 2020 Summer Reads! 10 books? Not too bad! I am super excited to get into my summer reads. Since I am back in school, I might not be able to read as much as I did this summer, but I will keep posting for y’all! What are some of your favorite books of 2020? Let me know in the comments down below!
 – August Reads){kind=link}