Even though I wasn’t reading this summer- it didn’t stop me from buying books. What can I say? I have a problem. Barnes & Noble had a great sale a couple weeks ago so I picked up a few things.
Afterland by Lauren Beukes
In a world where most of the men are dead (after an event known as Manfall) a mother and son flee across the country in search of a safer place, encountering anarchist communes and crazed cults. I’ve read a couple books by Beukes now and while they each left something to be desired – the blurb on this one is too good to ignore.
The Confessions of Young Nero by Margaret George
Historical Fiction has always kind of been my first love, especially anything relating to Greeks, Romans and Vikings. So of course, when this was released a couple years ago, it caught my attention. This is a different look at one of Rome’s most famous Emperors, that one that fiddled while Rome burned.
Bird Box by Josh Malerman
I’ve already seen the movie- but this seemed perfect to keep away one of my longest reading slumps. It’s relatively short, the chapters are quick and suspenseful. Malerman has a sequel out to this now called Malorie that I’d also like to read, but I knew I couldn’t pick it up until I’d actually read this one.
The Turn of the Key by Ruth Ware
The Turn of the Key is about a nanny who takes a job in a smart home in the Scottish Highlands. What she doesn’t know is the children are a nightmare, the parents are absent, and the “smart” home has it’s own ideas about how to operate. This was another book that seemed perfect for my current reading mood so I picked it up on a whim.
That was it for this haul- but I’m excited to share some of my other summer purchases too! I’ve already made it through two of these books and loved them. Have you read any of these books? What did you think?
On a side note- this is my first time using WordPress’s new Block Editor. It’s okay but also kind of weird? So I apologize if the formatting is wonky. Might take some getting used to.
Hamlets & Hyperspace 
I have bought so many books lately! It might be because I’m bored, though. I really want to read Afterland too, is that one you’ve read already? And I’m terrified of the block editor but I understand there’s a classic block so its almost the same. Are you using that?
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Haha- I so understand buying books because you are bored. Isn’t that the worst? Buying them wondering if you’ll even have time to read them? And I started Afterland today but have not finished it yet. So far I really like the writing, it’s snappy.
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I’ve gone on a few book buying sprees lately, and I don’t regret a single one. 🙂
I wasn’t a huge fan of Afterland (it could have been so much more), but I’ll be curious to hear what you think.
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That’s a bummer! I have high hopes for it but I’m not expecting much if that makes sense. I think Beukes is a little above my head sometimes.
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Loved Bird Box, haven’t seen the film.😂
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Well you should see the film if you have access to it! Having just finished the book I actually thought the movie was a little better? But it could just be my attention span lately.
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I don’t have access to it, I don’t have Netflix, but there are always ways.😂
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Afterland’s cover is ABSOLUTELY GORGEOUS, Sarah! And oh my god I AM SOOO LOOKING FORWARD TO READ The Turn of The Kye myself! I hope you enjoy all of these lovely reads! ❤ ❤
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Hey there! I meant to respond to you last week and your comment somehow got lost (I was behind on responses so I’m sorry!). But THANK YOU for the warm welcome back and for checking in! I’ll admit a lot of my wanting to read Afterland was about that gorgeous cover! And Turn of the Key was really good so I hope you get a chance to check it out soon!
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Ohh that’s totally alright, Sarah!! And yess I AM SOO SOO GLAD THAT YOU ARE BACKKK!! 😍😍😍😍
Ohh??! I hope to get to it soon then!! 😍😍😍
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I’ve always wanted to read a Margaret George book but the lengths are always so daunting to me! (Despite that I do still have her Mary Queen of Scots book in my TBR haha). Enjoy!
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I enjoyed Bird Box, both the novel and the movie. I will say that it irritated me that Malorie is supposed to be a young woman who doesn’t really want children, but the movie chose Sandra Bullock, who is 56 years old, to play her. If her real age matched Malorie’s age, she would have been 50 when she got pregnant.
I also enjoyed The Turn of the Key. I couldn’t quite figure out where it was going, and Ware gives plenty of twists to keep you entertained. I always listen to her books on audio because Imogen Church reads them so dang well.
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I heard that about Ware’s audio! And I’ll agree in movie Malorie didn’t really match up with in book Malorie, but I still enjoyed them both.
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There’s also going to be this fun part where you think, “Wow, Malerman doesn’t know anything about umbilical cords.” And when you get there, you’ll think that, then you’ll think of me, lol.
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Omg – I KNOW. I was like how did no mothers give input on this?
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I haven’t read any of these, but I can see where Ruth Ware’s books would be perfect for get-out-of-slump reading. The one of hers I’ve read was super fast-paced!
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Which one did you read? Did you like it? I would love to check out some her other stuff. And yes it’s all been great for keeping me reading!
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I read The Woman in Cabin 10. It wasn’t all that believable (including some anxiety behavior in the MC which seemed to be there only when convenient) but it was entertaining! I recall that there is an attempted assault scene at the start which is never explained satisfactorily, so if that’s a thing maybe don’t read this one.
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That’s exactly how I’d describe Turn of the Key.. maybe not always believable.. definitely entertaining.
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I guess as long as that’s all you’re expecting you’ll be fine!
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