Summer 2020 Book Reviews

Hard to believe summer is coming to an end. How can it be September already? Although we didn’t take a big vacation this summer for the first time EVER, we did enjoy a LOT of day trips! And I definitely had fun exploring many areas of Indiana that I hadn’t visited before. So, overall it was still a win in my book! Speaking of books, ready for reviews of the BEST books to read now?

Looking for fun in Indiana? Check out my Explore Indiana blog post where I round up ALL the counties I’ve visited – if you live near Indiana I guarantee you can find something fun to do near you!

Best Non-Fiction Books Summer 2020

The 12-Week Year by Brian Moran is the best goal setting/ business book I’ve read in a while. It’s not a new one, so I’m not sure how I missed it, but I am glad I picked it up! It’s exactly what I need right now to push myself to reach my goals. I’m in the midst of my first 12-Week Year and I can already feel the momentum and excitement. I can’t wait to reach my goals!!! Next, I plan on purchasing the 12-Week Year Field Guide to help me plan my next 12-Week Year! My rating 4.5 out of 5.

Creating Your Best Life is another very timely book! September is often referred to as the “second New Year.” There is still time to complete your goals, and with kids going back to school, it just feels right to give yourself a fresh start too. One of the things I really like about this book is the Life List Exercises and Worksheets at the end of each chapter. These checklists really help you implement the lessons learned! My rating 4 out of 5.

Best Fiction Books to Read Now

The Invincible Summer of Juniper Jones was one of those books that linger with you for a while. I’m actually having both of my kids read it as I think there are some important issues brought up that will be good for them to think about. In 1955, Ethan Harper is sent to a small town in the South to stay with his Aunt as “punishment” from his dad. Ethan is bi-racial and his dad is white. Until this point, race has pretty much been a non-issue for Ethan. Now, seeing the realities of what being black means in 1955 in the South, Ethan has to face them head-on. When Juniper Jones comes into his life, Ethan has no idea the impact she will have on him, nor his future. My rating 4.5 out of 5.

The Prettiest Star doesn’t shy away from hard topics or the unpleasantness of living and dying of AIDS in the 1980s. After leaving home a few years ago and moving to NYC, Brian returns home to die. Most of his friends have already succumbed to AIDS by this point, and he also has contracted the disease. It’s hard to remember this time period, but back in the ’80s there was a lot of fear around AIDS, and acceptance of anything considered non-traditional was rare. It’s been a while since I found myself sobbing while reading a book, but this one managed to do it. My rating 4.5 out of 5.

How I love a good suspense! And since I thoroughly enjoyed The Good Girl, I picked up The Other Mrs. as soon as it was available. Luckily, I was not disappointed! Sadie and her family have moved from Chicago to start a new life. They have inherited the home (and custody of a moody teen), due to a death in the family. Soon after their move, the next-door neighbor is found dead. I did figure out the plot midway through, but still enjoyed the suspense and there were a few twists I wasn’t expecting. It’s a fun and engrossing escape. My rating 4 out of 5.

As a winner of the 2002 Pulitzer Prize, I felt pretty confident that The Nickel Boys would be a wonderful read. And it is. Thanks to a simple misunderstanding (a product of the era during which this book was set), Elwood is sent to the Nickel Academy. How he and the other boys survived (or didn’t) was eye-opening, tragic, and powerful. What was most disturbing is that this story is based on a real school. My rating 4.5 out of 5.

So what are the best books you’ve read recently? Anything outstanding that I need to add to my TBR list? I plan on spending as much time as possible outside until the weather turns, but then I’m going to need a BIG stack to read!

Are you looking for more book suggestions? Check out my favorite books from Spring 2020 and Winter 2020!

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