I read 10 books in August, which is way more than a typical month, and I continue to have late night baby feedings to thank for all the reading I've been getting done. 

My Kindle has been a real work horse lately, and I've developed a newfound appreciation for it. It's just so much easier to read by the light of the Kindle in the middle of night and it's much easier to read that one handed than a physical book at the moment. 

I also continue to reach for lighter, faster and easier reads because my brain can't really process much heavier these days. 

So without further ado, here are the 10 books I read in August -- largely mysteries, thrillers and light-hearted fare. 

Five Stars

Mad Honey by Jodi Picoult
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This book certainly lived up to the hype, and I tore through it. High schooler Asher lives with his mom Olivia, a bee keeper, in a small town, and he loves his girlfriend Lily. This book is told through the perspective of Lily and Asher's mom after Asher is arrested for Lily's death. Lily's story is told backwards in time while Olivia's is told moving forward. It's hard to say too much without giving away one of the bigger surprises in the book, but boy this was so good, and I'm so glad I finally got it off the waitlist at the library.

Four Stars

Pretty Guilty Women by Gina LaManna
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This book pulled me in from the first page and I totally flew through it. A man is killed at a wedding and four different women confess to the crime. But their stories don't quite match the evidence. The book jumps back and forth in time starting from the moment that guests arrive to the lavish wedding and wrapping up with all of them being interviewed by the police. Really enjoyed this as a fun and fast suspense book.

Birth: Three Mothers, Nine Months, and Pregnancy in America by Rebecca Grant
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I found this book super interesting perhaps because I’d just given birth myself. It followed three pregnant woman all of whom hope to give birth at a birth center as opposed to in a hospital. It follows each of their pregnancies as well as looking into how we ended up with the current maternal health situation that we have in this country.

A Very Typical Family by Sierra Godfrey
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This is one of the rare books I liked even though I could not stand the main character. She is pretty much insufferable through out the entire book, and I really got sick of the giant pity party she was throwing herself, but the characters surrounding her were so weird and so quirky and the book's storyline was kind of out there, and yet I found myself flying through this book pretty highly entertained.

Three Stars

While Justice Sleeps: A Novel by Stacey Abrams
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Supreme Court Justice Wynn’s health has been deteriorating and he ends up in a coma two weeks before the end of the court’s term. With major decisions hanging in the balance, he chooses a questionable POA to carry out his wishes. This was a great thriller, but some of the science parts of the plot got a bit technical and were a bit hard to follow until later in the story, hence only three stars instead of four.

People We Meet on Vacation by Emily Henry
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I usually tear through Emily Henry's books, but this one was only so so in comparison to some of her others. I think the main reason I wasn't quite as into this book is because I didn't love the main character. And since this book really centers around only two characters, not liking one of them made it hard to love the book overall. It was still a light and fast read, but I'd recommend most of her other books before this one.

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In My Dreams I Hold a Knife by Ashley Winstead
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I feel like this book came highly recommended at some point, but I only felt meh about it. The main character was highly unlikable and was trying too hard to prove herself basically the entire time. A group of friends heads back to college for a reunion. While they're there, they're forced to reckon with the murder of one of their friends that has remained unsolved to this day. The title of this book also didn't make a whole lot of sense to me because there was no knife. The murder weapon was a pair of scissors. I stuck with the story because I was invested in finding out who had done it.

Between Two Strangers by Kate White
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I usually love Kate White's mysteries, but this was just so so for me. A woman gets a call from a lawyer saying she's been left a large inheritance from someone she doesn't know. As she tries to figure out why she's been left this money, strange things start to happen, her apartment gets broken into, her art studio is targeted. By the end of the book, she's eventually able to put the pieces together, but this just moved a little slower for me over all.

The Only One Left by Riley Sager
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Several years ago, tragedy struck the Hope family when the matriarch and patriarch are found stabbed to death and one of their daughters is found hanging in the dining room. Police arrested the other daughter Lenora, but never had the evidence to convict her. Fast forward in time, Kit is hired as a home health aid for Lenora who still lives in the family home, but has suffered a stroke and needs around the clock care. The previous health aid disappeared without a trace, and Kit immediately experiences stranger sounds and noises as soon as she moves in. I usually love Riley Sager's books, but this one was a little slower than some of his others, hence the three star rating.

Must Love Flowers by Debbie Macomber
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

This was a sweet book about two woman who've suffered losses trying to determine what their lives look like and how they move forward. Joan is a widow who lost her husband four years ago, and has never been able to move forward. Maggie struggles to deal with an alcoholic father after her mother dies. The two woman form an unlikely friendship as they help each other move forward. This book was just a very cozy and comforting read.