Holy mother of gawd how is it August already?? I CAN’T EVEN. Well then, let’s get to talking about two of the books I read in July.
First up was:
The Nest by Cynthia D’Aprix Sweeney
About In A Sentence or Two: The Plumb siblings are on the verge of receiving a VERY large inheritance…until they find out their money has been used to clean up their brother’s latest and very large mess up. Privately all of them were severely relying on the prospect of this money so they get together to confront their brother about what he’s going to do to fix it.
Thoughts: Oh man, I don’t know what this says about me BUT I just really enjoy reading about family drama and dysfunctional families in fiction (also #richpeopleproblems). So this totally screamed “PICK ME UP!” and it totally delivered on those things. I mean, what’s more fun than the family eff-up making another dumb decision and being the reason you aren’t getting the HUUUUGE inheritance you all thought you were going to get and were BANKING ON — awkward family meeting ahoy. Though I didn’t feel much connection to a lot of the main characters, I adored a few and I just found all the relationship dynamics intriguing PLUS the character development throughout the novel was excellent. I loved reading about all their various lives and how this inheritance shaped the way they lived and the choices they made and how the loss of it would affect their lives. I love, love loved the ending…like so much. [spoiler]He is the epitome of that Tara Banks gif from America’s Next Top Model where she was like “I WAS ROOTING FOR YOU. WE WERE ROOTING FOR YOU.” Like, getting to read from his POV we know that he did TRY, despite his cockiness and overconfidence and giving up when it got hard, but he is so that person in your family who just unfortunately you feel like will never change and you just learn not to rely on them. But I was rooting for him to make it up to his family and actually become a decent human being. But alas, real life. Some people just never do. [/spoiler] Anyways, it was a quick and absorbing read for me but I don’t feel like it completely WOWED me like all the hype led me to believe.
Rating:
Then I read:
This Savage Song by Victoria Schwab
About In A Sentence Or Two: Verity is a city overrun with monsters, born out of violent and dark acts, and is divided by two leaders — one who lets the monsters run free and makes people pay to be protected and one who is trying to keep people safe. Kate and August are the heirs of these men respectively. On opposite sides of this war, they are thrown together when August is given a chance to help the effort and spy on Kate at school but things quickly go awry.
Thoughts: This was my first Victoria Schwab book so yay for losing that author virginity (especially embarrassing since I own most of them). I’m not going to lie — I felt VERY confused regarding the world with this one in the beginning. VERY confused. I’m like I DO NOT GET THIS WORLD WHAT IS HAPPENING but then it started to be pieced together and then I pretty much got enough of it. But that aside — what a unique urban fantasy novel! After I finished it I was like….”man, I’ve never read anything quite like that!” I loved the idea that monsters were born out of the evil and dark acts of the world + turf wars between two very different leaders in one city. There was a perfect amount of important character development where I really got a sense of who these characters were and what motivated them in the depths of their hearts and also a pulse-pounding plot that moved it all forward. I loved August and Kate and their stories definitely tugged at me — the girl who just wants to be loved and accepted by her father and the monster who just wants to be a human. So many beautiful themes pulsing through this dark and lovely novel. Cannot wait for the conclusion and to read more of Victoria’s books!
Rating
Have you read any of these? What did you think?!
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Amanda @ Vivalabooks says
The Nest sounds interesting, but not sure it’s up my alley. And ohmygosh I’ve been hearing so much good things about This Savage Song! I finally gave in and ordered it on Amazon. I can’t wait to read it!
Jamie says
Yeah, if you aren’t sure I would go with your gut! It’s not one where I’d be like OMG EVEN IF IT’S NOT UP YOUR ALLEY READ IT!
Let me know what you think of This Savage Song!!
Amy says
I loved The Nest! And I just think the cover is such a pretty colour 🙂 For some reason I am very attracted to #richpeopleproblems books – probably the same way that I just love Gossip Girl even though everyone in it is kind of the worst? My favourite thing about it was definitely the New-York-iness of it – so many books are set in the city but this felt like one of the few where it really couldn’t have been set anywhere else without losing something.
Jamie says
SAME. I love #richpeopleproblem books! And yeppp totally was in love with Gossip Girl back in the day….total rich people probs! haha And YES “the New York-iness” of it…..I loved that too! I hadn’t thought about how it might lose something not being set there but I think you are super right on that!
Megan says
I got This Savage Song in a subscription box. It’s not at all something I would pick up for myself and I LOVED it. It was such a well crafted story. I was a little confused at the beginning too and I think that may have been deliberate on the author’s part because once she wanted us to know it became very clear.
One of the things I liked best about it was that there wasn’t a romance and I didn’t even notice until the book was over. August and Kate were so well defined. I will be reading the second one for sure!
India says
I want to read Vicious before I read any of Victoria Schwab’s books, but I really do want to pick up The Nest! I checked it out from the library and it was due before I could pick it up. I might check it out again!
Audrey says
This Savage Song sounds really interesting. The whole, “this new world confuses me” happened to me at the beginning of The Lunar Chronicles, but I adjusted pretty quick. This Savage Song sounds unique!
Kay @ It's a Book Life says
I can’t believe it is August!!! I heard so many good things about The Nest and I plan to read This Savage Song soon. 🙂 I am glad you enjoyed them.
Lauren @ Bookmark Lit says
I got THE NEST out from the library and was going to pick it up last week, but I had just finished another ~family drama~ story so I didn’t want to go back-to-back. I unfortunately need to return it now but hopefully I can pick it up again sometime soon! I always think hype can be hit or miss on those books, so I’m glad you enjoyed it despite the hype/expectations. It’s weird when huge bestselling books like that get rave reviews but have like a 3.5 on Goodreads hahah. It makes you wonder who really feels which way… if that even makes sense lol
Louise // Exploring by Starlight says
I haven’t read any of Victoria Schwab’s books, but I definitely really want to! I’ll definitely put her books to the top of my wishlist 😀
Katy Jones says
I love that your reviews really do sound like “you are sitting down with a friend over margaritas.” I have now added The Nest to my “to read” list. Thanks for the post.
kristen says
i have not read either of these yet! i am not sure if i would like the nest, but the victoria book is on my list. i am always nervous about reading a new to me author when they are SO popular. i get really cranky when i don’t understand anything in a new book world, because i feel like i don’t retain it, you know? but i know why they do it, it’s not like they can do an introduction to this world at the start or whatever, and i also kind of hate when they overuse a character who doesn’t know anything in order to teach us.. you know? so basically you can’ t please me and i will complain either way 😉
Lizzy says
Both of these are on my TBR list! And This Savage Song was in the July Owlcrate so I have no excuse. Hehe!
Sabrina Fox says
Both of these covers are absolutely amazing. I’ve been seeing them around the book-o-sphere a lot lately and I want to read This Savage Song SO bad but I’m swamped with review books right now. Eventually, though!
Shannon says
I’ve seen This Savage Song EVERYWHERE and I really need to read it — it sounds so good!
pinklemonadeandpaperbacks.blogspot.com
Megan says
How do you include a link in your blog that contains the rest of the post (link says keep reading)? I would like to include that with some of my longer posts, but I can’t find out how.
Keep posting. I love reading your blog!
Jamie says
Are you on wordpress? If so there is a little thing at the top where you can change it to bold and stuff that is a dashed line with a solid line on top and on bottom of it that is the “insert read more” button!
Mari Chapman says
I’ve been reading Ajax Minor’s book Sun Valley Moon Mountains, and for a fantasy read I have been enamored with it! Loving it!!