In case your to-be-read pile is not big enough already…
Here are 8 must-read books
(& one film adaptation)
hitting the shelves this month!
The Other Side of Lost
by Jess Kirby
Young Adult Fiction
07 August 2018
HarperTeen
Synopsis: The Other Side of Lost is essentially a fictionalized, young adult version of Wild by Cheryl Strayed. Mari is an internet sensation. She struggles to keep up the happy-go-lucky persona for her followers and ultimately has a breakdown. To heal, she immerses herself in the wilderness and sets out to hike extreme terrain. Mari pushes her limits, both physically and emotionally, in hopes of rediscovering her true self.
Pieces of Her
by Karen Slaughter
Mystery/Thriller
21 August 2018
William Morrow
Synopsis: With eighteen novels selling over 35 million copies worldwide, Slaughter has done it again with her latest novel, Pieces of Her. Andrea thinks she knows everything about her mother. That is, until a trip to the mall ends with her mother getting shot and rushed to the hospital. This was not a random attack; the shooter has been trying to track down her mother for 30 years. In desperation, Andrea realizes that there is so much more that her mother was hiding.
My Life as a Goddess: A Memoir through (Un) Popular Culture
by Guy Branum
Memoir
31 July 2018
Atria Books
Synopsis: From the popular comedian himself, this hilarious anecdotal story brings us on a lifelong journey. From a boy raised in a small farming town to the “sassy gay friend” living large in Los Angeles, Branum gets satirically deep about self-acceptance and reflection.
Vox
by Christina Dalcher
Sci-Fi/Dystopia
21 August 2018
Berkley
Synopsis: The government enforces a new law that women are no longer allowed more than 100 words per day. Then they take away their education and their jobs. Dr. Jean McClellan and her daughter are determined to fight for their rights. For lovers of The Handmaid’s Tale and Red Clocks, this latest feminist dystopian novel is thought provoking and an absolute must-read!
Dopesick: Dealers, Doctors, and the Drug Company that Addicted America
by Beth Macy
Nonfiction/Health
07 August 2018
Little, Brown and Company
Back Cover Synopsis: “In this masterful work, Beth Macy takes us into the epicenter of America’s twenty-plus year struggle with opioid addiction. From distressed small communities in Central Appalachia to wealthy suburbs; from disparate cities to once-idyllic farm towns; it’s a heartbreaking trajectory that illustrates how this national crisis has persisted for so long and become so firmly entrenched.”
Heretics Anonymous
by Katie Henry
Young Adult Contemporary
07 August 2018
Katherine Tegen Books
Synopsis: Michael’s dad just moved their family to a new town. Again. If that is not bad enough, he is an atheist enrolled in a strict Catholic school. He feels like an outcast and befriends the other “misfits”; he joins “Heretics Anonymous”. Together, they rebel – challenging the schools hypocrisy. But Michael takes the plan one step too far…
Severance
by Ling Ma
Science Fiction
14 August 2018
Farrar, Straus and Giroux
Synopsis: Candace Chen is a cog amidst the hustle and bustle of New York City. She keeps her head down and follows a routine, a “millennial drone” if you will. In this particular sci-fi coming of age story, a fatal fever has plagued the city. People flee and chaos breaks out, Candace does everything she can to survive.
The Incendiaries
by R. O. Kwon
Contemporary Fiction
31 July 2018
Riverhead Books
Synopsis: In the midst of grieving her mother’s recent death, Phoebe Lin enters her freshman year at a prestigious university. She goes to class, meets a boy, and becomes involved in an extremist terrorist cult. The Incendiaries eloquently weaves a fractured love story with a story about mind control, terrorism, grief, and escape.
Crazy Rich Asians
by Kevin Kwan
Fiction
11 June 2013
Doubleday
This book is filled to the brim with romance, family drama, forbidden love, fashion, wealth, history, and hilarious characters. Though published a few years back, Crazy Rich Asians is a must-read (if you have not already) for this month because the movie hits theaters August 15th!