I’m late, I’m late…for posting what I read last month! I got a smidge behind my goal of 50 books for the year and had a slow month, but I’m getting caught up! Here’s (a very short list of) what I read in July:

Three Women is a compelling and titillating chronicle of the real (sex) lives of three women in America. The rawness and nuance of this book are what made it so special to read. My heart broke for each of the women in different ways at different points while reading their stories. Ultimately, this book is an awesome exploration of women’s sexuality and the ways in which it is affected, constrained, or taken advantage of by men.

Overall Score: B+

As a big fan of his first novel, The Underground Railroad, I was super excited to give into Colson Whitehead’s newest novel, The Nickel Boys. I was not disappointed! This novel is heart wrenching. You feel so much for Elwood who, despite circumstances that could have dictated otherwise, walked a straight and narrow and seemed to be making a way for himself until a simple mistake lands him in a juvenile "school" riddled by racism, abuse, and cover ups. The reader watches Elwood attempt to maintain his virtues and beliefs despite his surroundings and the things that happen to him there. There is an unexpected twist near the end of the book that I really enjoyed. I also found it horrifying that Nickel Academy was based on a real place Florida. Overall, my only critique would be that I wish it had been a little longer!

Overall Score: A