Good morning! As I write this, I’m currently in Colorado visiting my best friend from college. The mountains are breathtaking (literally) and I’ve had more time than usual to explore small town coffee shops and read delicious new novels. Today I’m going to share all my thoughts on the books I’ve read this month. Ready? Reading recap, here we go…
Girl, Stop Apologizing // Rachel Hollis
I don’t know if I can find enough praise for this book, except to say it is exactly what I needed to hear right now. After reading Girl, Wash Your Face back in May, I checked this sequel out from the library and read four chapters before putting it down and buying it in hardcover so I could go through and underline everything.
In fact, I enjoyed it so much I was scribbling down notes in the margins and highlighting entire passages. It’s that powerful.
The entire message of the book is summed up in a single sentence of the introduction: “We need you to stop apologizing for being who you are and become who you were meant to be.”
Although that’s the main premise of the book, here are five messages that I needed to hear the most from this book:
- Once you stop apologizing for who you are, you can truly become who you were meant to be. God has given you bigger-than-life dreams and it’s up to you whether you want to tap into your passion and potential and make your dreams a reality. The key to confidence is to believe in yourself.
- Don’t waste your life trying to please other people. Stop looking for validation from other people to satisfy you. No matter how hard you work, you will never be enough, do enough, or have enough for everyone. Let the opinions of other people go, and you’ll find freedom to become yourself.
- You don’t need anyone’s permission to live your life. You don’t need anyone’s permission to believe in yourself, to go hardcore after your goals, to resolve your insecurities, or to make steps towards your future. Anyone else’s opinion of you is irrelevant; it won’t affect you unless you allow it.
- If you want to be more confident, hang out with other people who are. Everything in your life—from the people you hang out with, to the food you eat, to the things you spend your time on—is there because you choose it. You choose how you spend your days. Choose wisely.
- Without a vision, you’ll never reach your destination. Do the planning. Map out a ten-year plan. Create a morning routine. If you really want to achieve your goals, you have to be able to visualize your goal down to the last detail, set a timeline, and make a realistic plan to achieve it.
I needed to hear all this advice so badly because I apologize all of the time. It’s instinctive, by this point. But I’m tired of apologizing for no reason, when I did nothing wrong, when I don’t even feel sorry in the first place.
If you’re anything like me, this book is perfect for you: to have Rachel Hollis sit down with you and tell you straight up to stop apologizing for being yourself, for having big dreams, for having ambition, and to just be yourself fearlessly. Stop apologizing!
How to Be Both // Ali Smith
This groundbreaking novel by Ali Smith is told in two perspectives. One story is set in modern-day Cambridge, told from a teenage girl’s perspective as she adjusts to life after her mother’s sudden death. The second story is set in 15th-century Italy, narrated by Renaissance painter Francesco del Cossa as she works on a series of frescoes in Ferrara, Italy.
Together, both stories intertwine to weave a complete story about the dualities of the world: past and present, light and darkness, ancient and modern, art and reality, masculinity and femininity, sight and blindness. Ali Smith explores how all dichotomies are really dependent on each other, and reflects on how these themes are not necessarily one way or another, but “both.” In short, this book defies explanation.
I read this book this week because my friend said it was one of her favorite books ever (which is a pretty big deal, in my book). And even though it doesn’t necessarily match taste in literature, I still enjoyed and appreciated the story for its stylistic elements. It’s very postmodern—a very “literary” book, if you know what I mean—so if you’re a fan of groundbreaking modern writing, you’ll enjoy How to Be Both.
Empire of Storms // Sarah J. Maas
If you’ve been following me lately, you’ll know I’m slowly but steadily working my way through Sarah J. Maas’s Throne of Glass fantasy series, at another good friend’s recommendation. And let me tell you, this book was the game-changer. Until this installment, I was just hanging in there, a little unconvinced by the characterization and the worldbuilding, but I kept going because my friend promised it “got better.” But guys, it. got. better.
Empire of Storms follows half-Fae queen Aelin Galanthyius as she begins her journey to reclaim her rightful throne as Queen of Terrasen. She’s facing enemies on both sides of the globe and her list of allies is running short. And with magic freed, the stakes are higher than ever.
Even though this book blew me away, I’d still like to put out a little disclaimer. I’d personally label this series as awesome for anyone 18+, because of the graphic content. There are two scenes where things get spicy in the romance department, not to mention the generally dark inclination of epic fantasy warfare. All things considered, though, Maas tells a great story without having to resort to anything too graphic.
Having said that, can we just talk for a minute about some scenes that blew my mind? (spoilers ahead!)
- First of all, that sea dragon fight. WOW. Not only was it intense and cinematic, but it was also so vivid that I could picture every detail. Battle sequences are tough because it’s easy to lose track of what’s happening, but Maas never let the momentum slip for a second.
- The chilling moment when the mirror’s memories finally make sense, when Aelin and Manon fully understand the weight of the “Queen Who Was Promised” prophecy.
- Nameless is my price. Nameless is my price.
- That whole climax between Aelin and Maeve, and the aftermath, was just one plot twist grenade after the next. Genius.
- The arrival of the Thirteen, and then the arrival of her allies from all ends of the globe, had to be one of the most satisfying scenes I’ve ever read.
And Then There Were None // Agatha Christie
Here’s the premise. Ten people, all completely unconnected, are invited to stay on a private island under mysterious circumstances. Once they arrive, however, they are each accused of murders they didn’t commit, trapped on the island with no hope of escape, and—because this is Agatha Christie, you should not be surprised—they are also slowly murdered off, one by one, according to a prophetic poem that ultimately ends with the line “and then there were none.”
Whether you like a good thrilling mystery or historical fiction, this novel has the best of both worlds. Agatha Christie’s mysteries never disappoint: they’re tasteful, clean, and enjoyable. It’s a perfect summer read and you’ll be on the edge of your metaphorical seat to the last page.
It feels so good to make progress on my reading stack again! Coming up on my July reading list are Jennifer Niven’s All The Bright Places, Delia Owen’s Where the Crawdads Sing, Michael Alan Singer’s The Untethered Soul, and Patricia Falvey’s The Girls of Ennismore. I’ll keep you posted on all those in the next monthly reading recap.
<3 Olivia Grace
