I definitely fell behind in reading during August. I really don’t enjoy the end of summer, but not for the reasons you may think. I hate sticky, extreme August heat and the slowing effect it has on me, and two weeks into the month, I inevitably just want autumn, sweaters, and a better feeling of structure back in my life. August was so disgustingly hot this year that it definitely affected my desire to read, and it didn’t help that the books I ended up finishing were a little difficult to get into and not incredibly memorable overall. So, fingers crossed for a more enjoyable reading month after August’s slight letdown!
Crazy Rich Asians, by Kevin Kwan (★★★☆☆)
I would actually rate this as a 3.5-star read. I managed to read Crazy Rich Asians right before seeing the movie adaptation, which was an unexpected win. In case you haven’t followed the hype around this story the past few months, Kwan’s first book of his trilogy series follows Chinese-American Rachel as she and her boyfriend Nick visit his extremely wealthy family in Singapore ahead of his best friend’s wedding. Rachel tries to adjust to the cultural differences and some friends and family members’ disapproval of her, while some of Nick’s relatives face their own issues leading up to the anticipated wedding celebrations.
The movie was very cute, and I think filmmakers’ slight changes from the book complimented the story perfectly. As for Kwan’s book, it was okay. Parts of it definitely dragged, partially because the perspective changes every chapter and some characters’ narrations were more enjoyable than others. There was also a lot of unnecessary background and details, although I did find some the cultural footnotes and explanations interesting. Even with a film sequel now in the works, I don’t think I’m invested enough in the characters to actually read the rest of the trilogy.
Match Made in Manhattan, by Amanda Stauffer (★★☆☆☆)
In my original note about this book, I gave it 2.5 stars, but honestly, the more time I have away from it, the more annoyed I feel about it, hence the two stars. Alison breaks up with her longtime boyfriend, ventures into the world of online dating (Match.com, as the reader is persistently reminded), and literally just goes on dates with different guys for the entire book. For real. It reads like a list of dates that are never too terrible but never too great, and although some men stay in her life longer than others, they eventually all blend together. Alison has forgettable, interchangeable friends who serve no purpose other than hearing her vent about her dates, a unique job the reader hears just enough about to feel vaguely interested, and honestly comes across as a bit of a Mary Sue. The writing had its moments of greatness, but overall, I definitely wouldn’t recommend this.
Keep the Home Fires Burning, by S. Block (★★★☆☆)
This continuation of the short-lived TV series Home Fires is also a 3.5-star read. I finished this two-season British import on Amazon Prime over the course of a weekend early in the summer, and then learned that it was unexpectedly cancelled after the Season 2 finale ended with a major cliffhanger. The book picks up right where the series left off, and it’s written by the show’s creator. Home Fires was about a women’s group in an English village as World War II begins and their world turns upside down. As the show did, the book mainly follows five or six different women in the village, who are helping the war effort while experiencing personal issues like domestic abuse, love affairs, hidden sexuality, and impending widowhood.
As someone who’s more accustomed to writing scripts, Block still excelled in writing a story in novel form and creating some beautiful prose. He plans to write enough books to carry the characters through the end of the war, which was the intended endpoint of Home Fires. Although I enjoyed seeing some storylines from the show progress in Keep the Home Fires Burning, I was ready to be done with the book by the end. However, it also ended with unresolved stories, so I wouldn’t be surprised if I eventually read the next book too to see what happens.
What about you? What have you read recently?
Bookworms and Fangirls 
Great article!
I read The Handmaid’s Tale last summer before starting the TV series. I agree, you have to be in the right mood to read it. The book to tv adaptation for The Handmaid’s Tale was really well done. I just finished the second season not too long ago, and I was curious to see how they would pull off a new story away from the book. The second season was equally as good as the first season. So when you read or start the show, it’s definitely worth the read/watch.
I, at some point am going to start reading Crazy Rich Asians. I love Constance Wu on Fresh off the Boat and can’t wait to see the movie. Although, my preference is to read the book and then watch the adaptation, and who knows when I’ll start the book, LoL.
I read You by Caroline Kepnes over the summer in anticipation of the Lifetime series. Currently, reading the sequel.
I had You on my TBR list, but I’m actually feeling pretty reluctant about starting that one too. I’m already iffy about stories with really graphic writing and disturbed characters, and I’ve read enough reviews of You to feel that it might not be for me. The concept is definitely interesting though!
I think you’re fine with whichever order you decide to take in the book and movie of Crazy Rich Asians! The movie is a more lighthearted treat after the book, while the book provides a very immersive and interesting look into this family and characters you didn’t see much from in the movie. As for Handmaid’s Tale, it definitely looks like I’m trying out the TV show first!
Thanks for reading!
I totally get what you mean about You. The lead character of Joe, is a character that has gone off the rails from crazytown, to say the least, LoL. I did see the first episode of the Lifetime series. Definitely well adapted from book to tv.
I definitely plan on trying to read Crazy Rich Asians this year. Thanks for all the insight on the book/movie.
The Handmaid’s Tale series is really a great one. Elisabeth Moss is just incredible.
Yep – same feelings about Crazy Rich Asians. I’m excited that the other books are going to be made into movies, only because I need more Constance Wu and Henry Golding in my life. And Awkwafina. 🙂 But I won’t be reading the rest of the series because meh. I’d rather spend my time reading other stuff!
Ooh yes, Awkwafina was a highlight of the movie for me! Yeah, there’s no desire to read the other books. Plus, it looks like the sequel is going to delve into Astrid a lot more, and there was plenty of her story seen in the first book that the movie didn’t cover! My bet is that the followup film will use a lot of that old info there.