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What I’ve been reading lately: the new and the notable

Welcome to Quick Lit, where we share short and sweet reviews of what we’ve been reading lately. Usually we share our reviews on the 15th, but tomorrow we have a very special bonus episode of What Should I Read Next to share, so we’re sneaking in Quick Lit a day early.

This month I get to share a bunch of books I’ve been banking, ones that are finally out and ready to talk about! I’m so excited to share them with you today.

Quick Lit September 2017
Young Jane Young

Young Jane Young

Author:
Finally, a new novel from the author of the bestseller The Storied Life of A. J. Fikry! Aviva Grossman, smart, young, and beautiful, lands a prize internship working in a Florida congressman's office. When she has an affair with her boss—and then blogs about it. He emerges unscathed, and she takes the fall. Life as she knew it is over, so she changes her name and moves to Maine. But when she decides to run for public office herself, those long-buried secrets become today's news again. I loved this one because it's simultaneously fun to read and really thought-provoking. More info →
The Four Tendencies: The Indispensable Personality Profiles That Reveal How to Make Your Life Better (and Other People’s Lives Better, Too)

The Four Tendencies: The Indispensable Personality Profiles That Reveal How to Make Your Life Better (and Other People’s Lives Better, Too)

Author:
You know I love a good personality book, right? Gretchen is best known for her work researching habits and happiness, which you may have read all about in books like The Happiness Project and Better Than Before. In the course of that research, she noticed that different people had drastically different responses to the question "How do I respond to expectations?" In this brand-new book, she's compiled what she's learned—that people fit into one of Four Tendencies based on how they respond to inner and outer expectations. I read Gretchen's blog and follow her podcast, but it wasn't until I could read the information in book form that I felt like I really got it and could categorize myself correctly. (Upholder, right here, but you may be a Questioner, Obliger, or Rebel). More info →
Lie to Me

Lie to Me

Author:
Sutton and Ethan Montclair seem to have the perfect marriage—two successful writers who not only love each other, but understand and support each other. Or that's what people think, until Sutton disappears, leaving a note telling Ethan not to look for her. As the hours tick by, Ethan begins to look more and more suspicious, and as a local investigator starts quizzing friends and family, it quickly becomes apparent that their perfect marriage was anything but. And THAT is when things get really creepy... This twisty thriller weaves in extra fun for book-lovers: it's full of the kinds of details about the writing life that makes avid readers' hearts go pitter-patter. I also loved the unusual Franklin TN setting. Domestic noir is hot these days; this new release is best of class. More info →
When We Were Worthy

When We Were Worthy

I'm so excited this hit shelves this week! From the author of the bestseller The Things We Wish Were True. On a small-town Southern Friday night, after the football game, two cars driven by local teens collide, killing three cheerleaders instantly. The only survivor is the driver at fault. Whalen expertly weaves together four voices, of four women whose lives were upended by what happened that night, to reveal to the reader what really happened—and why. Gripping, timely, and hard to put down. BONUS: Joshilyn Jackson narrates the audiobook, and her voice is pitch-perfect for this story. I highly recommend doing this one on audio! More info →
More Than Just Making It: Hope for the Heart of the Financially Frustrated

More Than Just Making It: Hope for the Heart of the Financially Frustrated

Author:
I'm so excited to see this book finally on the shelves! Erin was my due date buddy—and I don't mean that kind of due date. Our manuscripts to our respective publishers were initially due the same day about this time last year. This is Erin's story of going from middle class upbringing to living below the poverty line, and how she made it through those hard times. This book is practical and encouraging for anyone who's ever been hard up—for cash or for hope. More info →
Maranatha Road

Maranatha Road

I've been looking forward to this one for a loooong time! It just came out on September 1. Heather's debut novel tells the story of three generations of women whose lives are changed forever by one man's desperate action. I loved this story about small town secrets, complicated family relationships, and the domino effect of one chance encounter. Highly recommended for fans of Susan Gregg Gilmore's The Funeral Dress, another Southern small-town story about love, unlikely friendships, and hope in the midst of loss. More info →

What have YOU been reading lately? Link up your post below, or tell us all about it in comments!

42 comments

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  1. Myra says:

    Enjoy seeing all your posts about books and reading and have found some great titles from reading your blog. I would be interested to see a post regarding books that have been nominated for an award in 2017. As we near the end of the year (and the reading challenges) I would love to know recommendations and read comments for that category.

  2. Sarah says:

    I wasn’t really looking to add to my immediate TBR list since I’ve got a stack of books that should last me through the end of the year, but Lie to Me looks really interesting especially since I live in south Nashville which is a skip away from Franklin, TN. I may have to work that one in!

  3. Guest says:

    Thanks for the list! My favorite recent reads: Assimilate or Go Home by D.L. Mayfield; Year of Yes by Shonda Rhimes; The Bookshop on the Corner by Jenny Colgan.

  4. Victoria says:

    I just finished 11/22/63 and I loved it. I’ve steered clear of Stephen King for years because honestly I’m not a big horror fan and his books terrified me. This one was sold to me by repeated mentions on your podcast and I could not put it down. Fantastic writing, great premise and definitely one I would not have read without your recommendation.

    • Mary Ann says:

      Yes, I enjoyed Sourdough even more than I had expected to. As quirky as it was it also had me thinking a lot about the nature of work and bringing food to the table. Highly recommended it to anyone.

  5. SassyApple says:

    I found the best series this month, ‘Chronicles of Saint Mary’s.’ An English academy of historians who travel back in time to correct or confirm the established historical ‘facts.’ They’re never to interfere with events….you can see where that’s headed. Dr. Who fans will love this series, history buffs will love this series, but what really hooks me is the characters & relationships amongst the historians, and most of all, these books are laugh out loud (not just lol) FUNNY. Also, for those of you who are power readers, it’s a nice long series with more to come. Let me know if you’ve read them!

  6. Katie says:

    Does Lie to Me have any element of child abuse or intended harm to a child? It looks very good, but I can’t handle that subject, especially when it’s a baby.

  7. I’ve been wading through, Dr. Thorne, a classic by Anthony Trollope. I was introduced to this book by Julian Follows adaptation on Amazon. Don’t get me wrong, it’s a wonderful look at the upper classes, their prejudices and follies in 1850s England, it’s just long. And with any classic author you have to get used to their style of writing, which is so different than modern written work.

  8. Jennifer N. says:

    Recent reads I’ve enjoyed recently include The Hate U Give (*****), The Fifth Season (****), Bad Feminist (*****), and The Underground Railroad (****). I’ve been on a bit of a diverse author’s binge. The Hate U Give should be required reading and I loved Bad Feminist almost as much. Right now I’m reading Parable of the Sower and listening to The Glass Castle, both of which I’m enjoying. I have plans to read lots of spooky Halloween-themed stuff starting in October and I am really looking forward to it!

  9. Katee says:

    I’m currently reading Sourdough by Robin Sloan and Six Stories by Matt Weslowski. I’m doing a quick 72 hour trip home, with lots of airplane time, so I’m hoping to finish both of them this weekend. I just finished reading The Seven Husband of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid. I highly recommend it to anyone looking for a quick read and who enjoys fictional writing about old Hollywood starlets. The story is kinda “beachy” but the story kept me intrigued and wanting more. I devoured it.

  10. Cheryl says:

    Though it’s Fall, thought I’d share my favorite read of the summer: The Summer that Melted Everything by Tiffany McDaniel. I was fortunate to then meet this fellow Ohioan at an author’s picnic! I found this a powerful, provocative literary feat–harrowing, heartening & moving. And a perfect preamble to my book grp’s read of Paradise Lost next month. Can’t believe the depth of this debut & can’t wait for more novels!

  11. Dana Kumerow says:

    This week is the Ashe County (NC) Literary Festival so I have been reading books by the festival authors in preparation.

    Final Vinyl Days by Jill McCorkle ( short stories) Filled with Southern humor, charm and poignancy.
    Ferris Beach by Jill Mcorkle ( novel) Great coming-of-age story.
    The Patron Saint of Dreams By Philip Gerard ( essays) Brilliantly crafted essays on a variety of topics from hurricanes to grizzly bears. The piece that the collection is named for is so moving and powerful, about his mother.

    The Supremes at Earl’s All- You- Can -Eat By Edward Kelsey Moore ( novel) Funny, uplifting and moving.

    Also read The festival read The Underground Railroad By Colson Whitehead. Dark, haunting and magical.

    Other books I’ve been reading:

    The Mistletoe Murder and other Stories by PD James. Last offerings from my favorite mystery novelist who passed away 3 years ago.

    The Queen of Katwe. non-fiction. Young girl in Africa becomes an unlikely chess champion.

  12. Annette B Silveira says:

    I recently finished Of Mess and Moxie by Jen Hatmaker which was wonderful. Right now, I’m in the middle of The Four Tendencies by Gretchen Rubin and Bored and Brilliant by Manoush Zomorodi. I just received notice that my copy of your book, Anne, will be on its way to me soon!

  13. Mary says:

    Lie to Me look like something I would enjoy, I’m a writer and I love stores with a twist. When we were Worthy looks great, I was a cheerleader in high school and got in a car accident with a basketball player driving. We were ok but I anything could have happened. Thank you for sharing. 🙂

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