Book of the Month (BOTM) is a monthly book subscription service offering five new titles each month. Every month, choose one of the five main selections, and up to two additional books. As a longtime BOTM subscriber, I’ve particularly enjoyed trying new authors, new titles and new genres.
Here are the August picks:
Damnation Spring by Ash Davidson
From the publisher: An epic, immersive debut, Damnation Spring is the deeply human story of a Pacific Northwest logging town wrenched in two by a mystery that threatens to derail its way of life.
My thoughts: This was one of my choices and I’m looking forward to reading this one. It sounds like less of a light summer read and one that might be a great fit for fall as the leaves start turning. As a result, I might save this for the end of the month.
Note: Book of the Month offers a couple trigger warnings on this one, saying that it contains plot points about and depictions of infertility and miscarriages.
Goodreads rating: 4.24 (140 ratings)
Publication date: August 3, 2021
The Inheritance of Orquídea Divina by Zoraida Córdova
From the publisher: Perfect for fans of Alice Hoffman, Isabel Allende, and Sarah Addison Allen, this is a gorgeously written novel about a family searching for the truth hidden in their past and the power they’ve inherited, from the author of the acclaimed and “giddily exciting” (The New York Times Book Review) Brooklyn Brujas series.
My thoughts: Fantasy isn’t generally my go-to genre, but this does sound interesting. Córdova has a lengthy backlist of middle grade and young adult fiction. This is her debut for adults. If you’re a fantasy fan, you can be one of the earliest readers because this is an early release.I added this to my library queue.
Goodreads rating: 4.47 (160 ratings)
Publication date: September 7, 2021 (forthcoming)
The Heart Principle by Helen Hoang
From the publisher: A woman struggling with burnout learns to embrace the unexpected—and the man she enlists to help her—in this heartfelt new romance by USA Today bestselling author Helen Hoang.
My thoughts: This is the third installment in The Kiss Quotient series. I don’t believe these need to be read in order. I haven’t read any of the series myself, though, so no promises there.
Goodreads rating: 4.47 (770 ratings)
Publication date: August 31, 2021 (forthcoming)
Not a Happy Family by Shari Lapena
From the publisher: The new domestic suspense novel from the New York Times bestselling author of The Couple Next Door and The End of Her who has sold more than 7 million copies of her books worldwide
In this family, everyone is keeping secrets—even the dead.
My thoughts: You can usually count on Book of the Month to offer at least one suspense/thriller option each month – and this month is no exception. I also added this title to my August box. This will probably be a quicker read, which would be perfect for those end-of-summer days, reading by a pool or other body of water.
Goodreads rating: 4.07 (1,424 ratings)
Publication date: July 27, 2021
Once There Were Wolves by Charlotte McConaghy
From the publisher: From the author of the beloved national bestseller Migrations, a pulse-pounding new novel set in the wild Scottish Highlands. Propulsive and spell-binding, Charlotte McConaghy’s Once There Were Wolves is the unforgettable story of a woman desperate to save the creatures she loves—if she isn’t consumed by a wild that was once her refuge.
My thoughts: Here’s a second contemporary fiction title with an environmental slant. I’m excited to make my way to Scotland through these pages. Travel is still limited these days, so this may be the next best thing.
As a note, BOTM delivers another trigger warning for this one, which includes depictions of violence and sexual assault.
Goodreads rating: 4.36 (391 ratings)
Publication date: August 3, 2021
August add-ons:
In addition to the main five choices, Book of the Month usually includes two to three add-ons. Once you’ve selected a main book, you can choose up to two additional titles each month. These can be from the main five titles, the latest monthly add-ons, or their extensive backlist. Add-ons are completely optional, but sometimes worth it for $9.99 each.
Afterparties by Anthony Veasna So
From the publisher: With nuanced emotional precision, gritty humor, and compassionate insight into the intimacy of queer and immigrant communities, the stories in Afterparties deliver an explosive introduction to the work of Anthony Veasna So.
My thoughts: It took me longer than usual to finalize my selection this month, mainly because of this highly anticipated book of short stories. As part of my BOTM decision (it’s a whole process), I looked up one of So’s stories, “Three Women of Chuck’s Donuts,” in The New Yorker to get a feel for his work. It pulled me in quickly and I could easily see myself devouring the rest of his collection. Once I found out I’d be one of the first on the list for a library hold, I decided to borrow first, then buy.
Goodreads rating: 4.25 (179 ratings)
Publication date: August 3, 2021
We Were Never Here by Andrea Bartz
From the publisher: A backpacking trip has deadly consequences in this “eerie psychological thriller . . . with alluring locales, Hitchcockian tension, and possibly the best pair of female leads since Thelma and Louise” (BookPage), from the bestselling author of The Lost Night and The Herd.
My thoughts: This is this month’s Reese’s Book Club selection – and another title I added to my hold list at the library. While I wait for this one to come in, I may check out one of Bartz’s older titles.
Goodreads rating: 3.99 (212 ratings)
Publication date: August 3, 2021
