book reviews

The Best Books I Read in August 2022

Posted on by AmandaKay
Photo by Polina Tankilevitch

It wasn’t until I saw another book blogger post their August 2022 recap that I realized it is indeed the end of another month. As predicted, August flew by in a hectic, stressful whirlwind. Nevertheless, it ended up being a pretty decent reading month, all things considered. 

I read a total of 7 books this month, which is slightly more than in either June or July. Getting back into audiobooks helped tremendously. The start of the semester at the local universities (including the one where I work) always increases my commute, since I drive through three campuses on my way home. When the students come back, so does the traffic. On the bright side, it means more audiobook time. 

Let’s take a look at the best of the best from the books I read in August! 

(Full disclosure(s): This post uses Bookshop.org affiliate links. Books with an asterisk were received as complimentary review copies in exchange for my honest opinion.) 

The Bodyguard* by Katherine Center

I was a bit dubious about The Bodyguard, but every review I read was so glowing, I decided I had to give it a try. It helped that I was approved for an audio review copy on NetGalley. 

I’m really glad I gave this one a go! It was such a fun reading experience and a unique premise, and the audio narration was on point. My full review went up earlier this month, and you can check it out here: “The Bodyguard” Caught Me By Surprise

Save Yourself* by Cameron Esposito 

I had never heard of Cameron Esposito before receiving a PR email about the paperback release of her memoir, Save Yourself. I liked the sound of the book and adored the cover, so I decided to give it a go. Shortly thereafter, Esposito gave an interview on one of the podcasts I listen to (Forever35) and I knew I had to listen to the book on audio. 

This memoir has jokes and it has heart. Some of the essays fell a little flat at the end, and some of the jokes felt a little forced in, but overall this is a powerful memoir about growing up religious and gay and learning to reconcile those identities, slowly and with a lot of missteps. I didn’t write a full review of this one because I took the side-joke comment “please don’t review this book” very seriously, on account of who I am as a person. 

Kitchen Table Tarot by Melissa Cynova 

This book has lived on the bookshelf in my yoga room/home office for ages. It’s lived on many a bookshelf before I lived in a house with space for a yoga room/home office. Kitchen Table Tarot is a down-to-earth, personable guide to tarot reading and the meanings of each card in the standard Rider-Waite style deck. 

I love the way Cynova makes the cards approachable while also grounding her information in the ethics of tarot reading. This feels like an essential guide for a beginner reader and a phenomenal supplement for someone who has been reading the cards for a while. My full review is available here: Pull Up a Chair and Let’s Talk Tarot

Honorable Mentions

This month, I also read… 

In all, August was a pretty okay reading month and a pretty overwhelming work month. I’m really looking forward to cozy fall reading with candles and blankets and, of course, snuggles from my cuddle curl pup, Azula. 

Happy September and happy back to school season for those who celebrate (aka those in school, working in education, or with kiddos who go to school). I’m excited to see what reading adventures we get into this month, book friends! 

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Mini Review: How to Be a Moonflower

Posted on by AmandaKay
Cover image from Bookshop.org

(Full disclosure: This post contains Bookshop.org affiliate links).

It’s no secret here at Your Book Friend that I’ve been in a bit of a reading slump. I just haven’t felt much like reading lately, for a variety of reasons I won’t go into here. 

Yet, I did recently finish at least one book. How to be a Moonflower by Katie Daisy isn’t a book I would ever have picked out for myself. I received it as a gift from a friend who, unlike me, often stays up past 9pm. 

It’s a collection of illustrations with quotes and tips for how to embrace the various phases of nighttime. The hardcover book is in full color, every page a piece of art. Beauitful artistic renderings of the night, a time which I, a chronic morning person, usually spend sleeping. 

I decided to read slash admire a few pages of this book each night before bed, to settle in to the would-be darkness. This time of year, I am often in bed before it’s truly dark, and this book being a love letter to nighttime made me realize I kind of miss that darkness. A little bit. I’ll take that back once it’s winter and getting dark at 4pm, I’m sure. 

How to be a Moonflower is more of a visual experience than a reading one, though I did appreciate some of the quotes and recipes. Every page is stunningly beautiful and the light musings intersperced with the images were very soothing. 

My only complaint with this book is that some of the pages are a bit difficult to read due to the combination of colors from the artwork and the handwritten style of the text.

In all, though, I thoroughly enjoyed this book of love letters to the phases of night. Will I plant a night garden? Probably not. But will I flip through this book at bed time to help me settle in to the night? Most likely. 

If you enjoy illustrations and/or the night, this might be a nice book for you to keep on your bedside or coffee table, whichever you like. I’m certainly glad it wound up in my life and am even considering buying another book by the same author/illustrator. 

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