It’s hard to believe that August is here already. I’m starting to see back-to-school sales everywhere I go. The funny thing is that every time I see one, I do a little happy dance inside. Because I don’t have to prepare for back-to-school! Because I did it! Because I graduated!
One of the perks of graduating is that I now have much more time to spend reading, blogging, and working. Speaking of working, I am excited to announce two new services available through Kait’s Bookshelf – book promotion and product promotion. In addition, I am excited to have taken on some new writing opportunities this month, and I will share more on that later. I am also very proud to share the new official Kait’s Bookshelf logo. Honestly, when I think about all that’s happened in July, it’s a little overwhelming. It is an exciting time for sure and I will continue to share as I have news regarding the website, the business, and new services.
But for now, it’s time for my July wrap-up, a brief summary of the book reviews and blog posts I shared this month in addition to highlighting my favorite title from this month’s reads. So, without further ado, my July wrap-up!
Book Reviews:
Sisters One, Two, Three by Nancy Star was my first read of July, what I consider my first real summer read. This book surprised me. For various reasons, when I started this book, I got the sense that I wasn’t going to like it and was afraid I might not even finish it. Then, I found myself reading the first half of it in one day. The characters were so well-written and developed that I couldn’t put the book down. If you enjoy emotionally complex characters, then you should give Sisters One, Two, Three a try.
The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid was my second summer read. This book caught my attention when it kept popping up in my Instagram feed. The cover was gorgeous and the synopsis was intriguing. This story is set in one of my favorite genres – the Golden Days of Hollywood. The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo is my highlighted title for the month of July. Not only was it beautifully written, but I loved that the book surprised me, and even now, weeks after finishing it, I still find myself thinking of Evelyn’s story and wishing I could read more. I know I will read this book again sometime in the future, and if you haven’t read it yet, then you’re missing out!
Differella by Jim and Kay Story is a new children’s book that is near and dear to my heart. This was written and illustrated by my aunt and uncle who hope to bring awareness to kids like Differella, who are a little bit different. Differella is a little girl on the Autism spectrum who sees and feels the world differently than others. I think everyone – kids, parents, teachers – EVERYONE – should read this book.
The Best Kind of People by Zoe Whittall is an upcoming release from Random House. The synopsis was intriguing – George Woodbury, a husband and father from a prominent and wealthy family, suddenly finds himself accused by several school age girls. The book was very well written and I liked that Zoe Whittall focused more on the accused’s family and less on the accused himself. It’s not so much about whether or not Mr. Woodbury was guilty or not guilty, but more about rape culture and the effects that these accusations have on his family and their lives, both short and long term. It was a fascinating read, which I believe will have a lot of people talking when it releases in September.
My final book of July was Revival by Stephen King. This was my very first Stephen King book. I was always too afraid to read his work in the past because I’ve never really cared for scary stuff. However, I was pleasantly surprised to find King’s writing, in this novel anyway, had more of a psychologically scary effect rather than a “monsters lurking around the corner” effect. The story of Jamie and Reverend Jacobs and how their lives continued to cross paths was interesting and, I think, true to life. If you’re a King fan or if you’re looking for somewhere to start, consider giving Revival a try.
Book News and Literary Services:
For some time now I have wanted to write a post about online book shopping. Last year, I started a sort of treasure hunt to find some old and out of print books from my childhood. I was thrilled to find several that I was looking for and at very reasonable prices. I thought the nice thing to do would be to share some of the great online used bookstores that I’ve uncovered in the hopes that others might be able to find some treasure of their own. If you missed that post, you can read it here: Treasure Hunting! My Favorite Online Bookstores
Over the last year, I have had several authors express to me that one of their biggest pain points is getting their books promoted. So I decided to put together a post for new authors with tips for promoting your book without breaking the bank. I also used this post as an opportunity to introduce one of the new services I am now offering through Kait’s Bookshelf – book promotion. I am very excited to be expanding my services and to help authors get their books out there. If you are looking to promote a book or another form of media, some of the tips in this post might be helpful to you. You can read it here: Promoting Your Book as a New or Self-Publishing Author
Well, that’s it for July! I hope you enjoyed my book reviews and posts, and I hope you’re excited to see Kait’s Bookshelf continuing to grow and expand (I know I am!). I have a lot of reads lined up for the next couple of months, and I’m already getting excited about upcoming Fall releases.
If you could choose one book from your July reads to highlight as your favorite, which would it be and why?
Happy Reading!
– Kait
Up Next: A list of upcoming children’s and middle grade books for Fall. Subscribe to the blog or sign up with your email here so you don’t miss out!