I only read 20 books this month, and a weird range of reads too.

I read 9 picture books, 7 fiction, 2 non-fiction. My favorite being

Wombats are Pretty Weird: A (Not So) Serious Guide by Abi Cushman. There are characters (Gage loved the snake) that will appeal to the littles in your life and just enough information to make those littles smarter! The back pages had photos and facts about the different types of wombats and the page on their cube shaped poop is fun for all.

I managed 5 romances, 2 modern, 2 historical, and 1 teen. My favorite being

The Love Hypothesis by Ali Hazelwood. Ladies in STEM unite! So much fun! If you have a thing for smart men, are inspired by intelligent women, and love some spice then this is the romance for you! It wasn’t without issues, but reading it felt like I was sitting down to eat a big bowl of M&Ms for dinner. I can’t wait to read more by this author.

I also read 6 non-fiction, 2 photography books, 1 health, 1 inspirational journal, 1 graphic biography, and 1 cartoon collection. Two favorites from this group were

Humans of New York by Brandon Stanton. I’m sure most of you have seen Humans of New York online. Brandon Stanton started taking photos of people in various cities along with a caption or story and his blog gained traction. By the time his camera found the humanity and exuberant essence of NYC, people were paying attention. And still are. This book was originally published in 2013. I loved every bit of it. The people, the quick story, the quote, the photos.

A Wealth of Pigeons: A Cartoon Collection by Harry Bliss and Steve Martin. What a fun book this is! If you love Steve Martin’s humor and New Yorker covers you are going to get many chuckles at the mostly single panel funnies in this collection.

Interspersed amongst the rest is the story of Steve Martin and Harry Bliss, told in comic style, and how they came to put together this book. My favorite is when they were checking each other for ticks. It’s a great 20-30 minute read, sure to make you chuckle.

Now for the rest…

4 stars

Queenie: Godmother of Harlem by Elizabeth Colomba and Aurelie Levy.

I’d never heard of Stephanie St. Claire, a Black woman from the Caribbean who ran the Harlem numbers in the 1920s and 30s. This was not a woman’s game and she did it at the same time and in the same city Lucky Luciano was running the mob.

There are flashbacks to her Martinique childhood where you can see what made her the powerhouse she became. This shows the racism of the day and also the way that powerful men thought they could control her through violence and sex.

I loved the two pages about the Harlem Renaissance and the two pages on the famous players in the story. And can we talk about the arresting cover? Gorgeous. A 155 page graphic biography.

Things You Save in a Fire by Katherine Center.

Firefighter Cassie had closed herself off emotionally until one weak moment changed her life. From Austin to Boston, hero to ‘the girl’, and never been kissed to cherished forever, Cassie’s story hit all the sweet spots. A fun and thoughtful read. I loved Cassie’s confidence in herself and getting a feel for life at the fire station.

The Lady Risks All by Stephanie Laurens. Stephanie Laurens was a new author for me and I really liked the unconventional characters, unique circumstances,and very real dangerous mystery of this one. At over 450+ pages i really got to know the characters and why in the 1820s a Duke could not just become owner of gambling houses without sacrifices being made.

My Indigo World: A True Story of the Color Blue by Rosa Chang. For the older elementary or even early middle schooler. Chang shares her memory of all things blue and there is so much great information. It’s all over the place, jumping from her first trip to the blue ocean to growing indigo to Korean history, but in the best possible way.

Goldie Takes a Stand!: Golda Meir’s First Crusade by Barbara Krasher and Kelsey Garrity-Riley. The story of when the future Prime Minister of Israel was 9 and started a society to raise money for school books for impoverished kids. Perfect for littles.

How Do You Spell Unfair?: MacNolia Cox and the National Spelling Bee by Carole Boston Weatherford and Frank Morrison. The illustrations are phenomenal! Gorgeous. The story of a black girl from Ohio who went to the National Spelling Bee, was segregated onstage and not given a fair shake.

This is Your Do-Over: th 7 Secrets to Losing Weight, Living Longer, and Getting a Second Chance at the Life You Want by Michael Roizen MD. It’s never too late to take care of your health. The 7 steps Roizen covers are a mix of stuff I already knew and new information. I liked the emphasis that he put on mental health.

3.5 stars

Ketanji Brown Jackson: A Justice For All by Tami Charles and Jemma Skidmore. This picture book intertwines Jackson’s life with the civil rights issues of the day. It’s busy and could be a little much for littles, but it would be easier for older elementary age kids.

Immortality: A Love Story by Dana Schwartz.

A few months ago I read Anatomy: A Love Story and liked the young adult book. This is the sequel. In the first book Hazel found a way to make me her surgeon dreams come true in 1800s Edinburgh, but saw her love hanged by a mob.

In Immortality, after being imprisoned for helping a woman who had aborted her pregnancy, she is ordered to London to treat Princess Charlotte, the heir to the throne. She’s invited to the elusive Companions to the Death club, where she learns more about the tincture offering everlasting life. This tincture, which she had given to her love Jack, proves to be the real deal.

So, I liked it well enough for the crazy that it was. It’s brings the story that began in Anatomy to a nice end. Although, I’m speaking as an older woman here, I question her big life decision. And some endings are mind boggling, like that of Marie-Anne.

Present Not Perfect: A Journal for Slowing Down, Letting Go and Loving Who You Are by Aimee Chase. This was a cheerful guided journal with fun art. Some of the inspirational art I’ve even cut out and have placed around the house.

Patchwork by Matt de la Pena and Corinna Luyken. When you were a kid what did you think your life woud look like when you gre up? Sometimes you can see the seeds of who you will be, but sometimes your life will take a different direction.

3 stars

On a Beam of Light: A Story of Albert Einstein by Jenniefer Berne. I’ve read many Einstein books with Gage over the years and this was underwhelming. Neither of us cared for the illustrastions, which is a problem for a picture book.

Reiki: Pure and Simple by Jeanne M. Sands. I was curious enough to bring this childrens picture book home and learned a few things I didm’t already know.

Wilde Child by Eloisa James. I’ve read and enjoyed Eloisa James and her historical romances before, but this ended up being just okay for me. It’s the 8th in a series that I haven’t read and, to be blunt, I just got tired of hearing about Thaddeus’s cock (a word frequently used). A lady who wanted to be an actress, a big no no back then, and a future Duke who loved her adventurous spirit was a good story. Even the shared parental difficulties were engaging. Once the spicy scenes started they didn’t stop. So, if lots of spicy is your scene then this might be for you.

Faces of Cleveland by Laura Wimbels. This book, unlike HONY, is a collection of portraits of Clevelanders with just their name and occupation. At the beginning she has several locals tell how they know the author and what it is that makes Cleveland special.  This is not a comprehensive collection in any way, but it’s always nice to celebrate the good things and people of this fine city. Although I’m a suburbanite, I can be downtown in 20 minutes and love this place I’ve called home for 23 years.

I’d Like to Be the Window for a Wise Old Dog by Philip Stead. The pretty cover was my favorite thing.

What was your favorite August read?