#Shelfie A Sneak Peek at My Reading List and Summer Hauled Books (Part 1)

Hello awesome readers! With the official end of the summer just a couple days away, today I wanted to share a peek at my book shelf. Since covid-19 caught us between homes I don’t have my full library set up, and sadly most of my books are in boxes, but I do have my recent summer hauled books neatly displayed on a shelf for my daily admiration. On the top shelf I have my recent summer purchases, 3 of which are signed. And on the next shelf signed books from authors. I’ll list the books and their descriptions with affiliate links to Amazon for more info and buying options.

Let me know if you discover something new and tempting, and what you are currently reading?

I should have Worn a Curtain by Samyra Alexander

This is a great book about how people can develop eating disorders and the struggles they face. It teaches the reader not to judge by showing how it could happen to anyone, with the right circumstances. It also raises awareness of mental illness. I recently reviewed this book so you can read my full review here.

 

. . .

No doubt you’ve already read this mystery duology, and maybe even this standalone by Karen M. McManus. I feel like the last one to read them but at least now I own them putting me one step closer to reading them! Did you read these mystery novels? Did you like them?

One of Us is Lying (Book 1) and One of Us is Next (Book 2) by Karen M. McManus

Blurb:

Pay close attention and you might solve this.
On Monday afternoon, five students at Bayview High walk into detention.
Bronwyn, the brain, is Yale-bound and never breaks a rule.
Addy, the beauty, is the picture-perfect homecoming princess.
Nate, the criminal, is already on probation for dealing.
Cooper, the athlete, is the all-star baseball pitcher.
And Simon, the outcast, is the creator of Bayview High’s notorious gossip app.

Only, Simon never makes it out of that classroom. Before the end of detention Simon’s dead. And according to investigators, his death wasn’t an accident. On Monday, he died. But on Tuesday, he’d planned to post juicy reveals about all four of his high-profile classmates, which makes all four of them suspects in his murder. Or are they the perfect patsies for a killer who’s still on the loose?

Everyone has secrets, right? What really matters is how far you would go to protect them.

(I’m avoiding the blurb for One of Us is Next in case of spoilers).

Two Can Keep a Secret (Standalone) by Karen M. McManus

Blurb:

Echo Ridge is small-town America. Ellery’s never been there, but she’s heard all about it. Her aunt went missing there at age seventeen. And only five years ago, a homecoming queen put the town on the map when she was killed. Now Ellery has to move there to live with a grandmother she barely knows.

The town is picture-perfect, but it’s hiding secrets. And before school even begins for Ellery, someone has declared open season on homecoming, promising to make it as dangerous as it was five years ago. Then, almost as if to prove it, another girl goes missing.

Ellery knows all about secrets. Her mother has them; her grandmother does too. And the longer she’s in Echo Ridge, the clearer it becomes that everyone there is hiding something. The thing is, secrets are dangerous–and most people aren’t good at keeping them. Which is why in Echo Ridge, it’s safest to keep your secrets to yourself.

. . .

Toddler Discipline for Every Age and Stage by Aubrey Hargis

I’ve started this book and read certain passages of interest. We got this book around the time our baby turned 1 because we could see some early signs of sassiness. The book takes a gentle approach to discipline that is more about understanding their behavior and moods. So far I’ve found the thing that helps when my little one is acting up is to give her my attention and try to distract her from the object of her obsession. She usually gets mad if I’m looking at my computer too long and not paying attention to her or when she wants the bubble machine to run non-stop and we finally put an end to it. Now that she is 16 months old and throwing tantrums like a pro 2 year old it’s time for me to read this one cover to cover. I’m hoping to find it helpful and I’ll review it once I’ve finished it!

If you have any good recommended reading for toddler discipline I’d love to hear it, please leave a comment!

Blurb:

. . .

Scavenge the Stars by Tara Sim

I bought this book because of how much I enjoyed the author’s other book Timekeeper, which I received for free from the publisher (find my review of Timekeeper here). I saw this one on Owlcrate, my new, expensive addiction, and just couldn’t resist. I really respected the way the author handled social issues in the other book and became a quick fan. I hope I love this book just as much!

Blurb:

When Amaya rescues a mysterious stranger from drowning, she fears her rash actions have earned her an even longer sentence on the debtor ship where she’s been held captive for years. Instead, the man she saved offers her unimaginable riches and a new identity, setting Amaya on a perilous course through the coastal city-state of Moray, where old-world opulence and desperate gamblers collide.

Amaya still only wants one thing: revenge against the man who ruined her family and stole the life she once had. But the more entangled she becomes in this game of deception–and as her path intertwines with the son of the man she’s plotting to bring down–the more she uncovers about the truth of her past. And the more she realizes she can’t trust anyone but herself.

Packed with high-stakes adventure, romance, and dueling identities, this gender-swapped retelling of The Count of Monte Cristo is the first novel in an epic YA fantasy duology.

. . .

The Kingdom of Back by Marie Lu

I’ve been wanting to read more books by Asian authors as I explore what my own Asian heritage means to me, so again when I saw this one on Owlcrate and read the blurb I just couldn’t resist. I’ve heard nothing but good things about books by Marie Lu for YEARS now (like Warcross and the Legend series) and I’m so happy to finally have my own copy. Have you read this one, if so what did you think?

Blurb:

Two siblings. Two brilliant talents. But only one Mozart.

Born with a gift for music, Nannerl Mozart has just one wish–to be remembered forever. But even as she delights audiences with her masterful playing, she has little hope she’ll ever become the acclaimed composer she longs to be. She is a young woman in 18th century Europe, and that means composing is forbidden to her. She will perform only until she reaches a marriageable age–her tyrannical father has made that much clear.

And as Nannerl’s hope grows dimmer with each passing year, the talents of her beloved younger brother, Wolfgang, only seem to shine brighter. His brilliance begins to eclipse her own, until one day a mysterious stranger from a magical land appears with an irresistible offer. He has the power to make her wish come true–but his help may cost her everything.

In her first work of historical fiction, #1 New York Times bestselling author Marie Lu spins a lush, lyrically-told story of music, magic, and the unbreakable bond between a brother and sister.

. . .

Your Name is a Song by Jamilah Thompkins-Bigelow Illustrated by Luisa Uribe

I’ve been reading this book to my little girl. I got it for her after seeing it on Twitter because her name has already gotten us some weird comments. Her name is Vivica, which is a perfectly ‘real’ earth human name unlike the criticism I’ve received for my name, O (which is real to me, silly humans). We didn’t create her name, it’s been around for ages so I was really not expecting people to say weird things like “that’s an unusual one” or make me repeat the pronunciation 500 times. (Vih-vih-cah). We’ve also gotten a lot of “I’ve never heard that one before” to which I always remind people of the beautiful Vivica A. Fox. So yeah, apparently people can be very easily thrown off by names that they don’t hear every day which is why I thought this book was too good to pass up. I’m working on getting a review up soon. My daughter absolutely loves it she even gave it a hug the first time we read it. It’s a beautiful book that features a bunch of great names that originated all over the world, not gonna lie I got a little teary eyed when I saw the name Trayvon. The pronunciation of every name is written out for the readers convenience and the illustrations are absolutely stunning.

Blurb:

Frustrated by a day full of teachers and classmates mispronouncing her beautiful name, a little girl tells her mother she never wants to come back to school. In response, the girl’s mother teaches her about the musicality of African, Asian, Black-American, Latinx, and Middle Eastern names on their lyrical walk home through the city. Empowered by this newfound understanding, the young girl is ready to return the next day to share her knowledge with her class. Your Name is a Song is a celebration to remind all of us about the beauty, history, and magic behind names.

. . .

 

That’s it for the top shelf! As excited as I am for all these books I’m even more excited for the books on the next shelf! Join me in Part 2 to see the books I got from authors! I’ll also have an updated picture of my shelf tomorrow on Part 2!

 

---

This post contains affiliate links to Amazon. If purchases are made using these links I may receive a small commission which helps support my site!