Fiction Round-Up
Top Fictional Reads of Summer 2023
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I started this year out strong with a reading journal, full collages and written thoughts with quotes. Then, by April or May, I was burnt out, and I haven’t picked it up since. I am, honestly, quite disappointed in myself, but my flare for collage seems to be on hiatus. I am completely unmotivated to create in that way, and again… disappointing.
Just because I haven’t been keeping up on my reading journal doesn’t mean I haven’t been reading. As you’ve seen in previous love letters, I do best with audiobooks. I know not everyone can process auditory input like that. By using audiobooks, I am able to read upwards of 6 books a month, whereas with ebooks or physical books, I can only get through 1-3 a month. For audiobooks, I use Libby and my library card.
My summer this year started off with Sassy Latte’s book club read of Parable of the Sower. I listened to this book, and I am wondering if reading it would have left me more engaged. I loved the concepts and ideas of this book. The narrator left me wanting more depth due to their monotone voice. I love books with lots of character development. This book was a lot of world building. So while the execution was not my favorite, I loved the concept and themes of the book! I loved the empathy, the collectivism, and of course, “God is Change” caught my eye and held my attention. The entire ideology made so much sense to me. Despite the execution, I would still highly recommend it!
Sassy Latte does a great synopsis on their Patreon book club, if you are interested in checking that out. It’s $5 to join. Their words are far more eloquent than mine.
Due to who I am, I can’t just easily drop a series, trilogy, dilogy, etc. Even though I had a harder time with Parable of the Sower than I expected, I listened to Parable of the Talents as well. If you are more of a character development type reader, this is the book for that connection! I loved this book, and once I started reading it, I really understood the pacing and writing of Sower better. This book needs that foundation because here we get into more depth. I really loved this book. It was fascinating, fast-paced, character-oriented, and the parallels between government corruption in it and MAGA right now are wildly and scarily accurate. There were moments where I had to pause and breathe because their reality may soon become ours.
This is a re-read for me. The first time I listened to it. Now I am in the process of reading it with my eyes! Something about me is that I have cycles for reading fiction and nonfiction. When I was listening to Skin of the Sea, I was in a transitional period from fiction to nonfiction where nothing was really keeping my attention. I did not hate the book by any means, but I was not fully invested. I keep seeing rave reviews and am wondering what I missed. I am re-reading it, and I am enjoying it. I am glad I listened so I have the word pronunciations in my head already.
This is a historical fantasy book that takes place in the 1400s in West Africa. Our main character is one of the Mami Wata (mermaid), and she goes on an adventure! This book has some little mermaid themes and feels, but it also really hits on the slave ships, the realities of the slave ships, and the pain. Again, I think the first time I read it, I just was not in the headspace for it. Upon this second reading, it feels more fluid and easier to get through!
I just finished Mexican Gothic last week. It was really, really good. It is not my normal genre. Ya girl doesn’t handle the spooky scaries or thrillers well, but I went in without knowing a thing, and I enjoyed it! I listened to this one as well. The narrator was quite monotoned (which is my issue with a lot of narrators), but I got through it, and the plot had me guessing the entire time! It is a ghost story with a twist. I don’t want to say much because honestly? This is a book you should go into blindfolded. Please check TWs below because … there are many.
I really liked how the exploitation of Mexican miners was at the forefront of the story. This was fiction, but you could tell that there were historical facts involved too. My favorite part about this book was the historical contexts and the super secret reveal at the end. This book needs many, many trigger warnings including eugenics, inc*st, SA, narcissistic abuse, gaslighting, etc.
I finished The Extraordinaries yesterday. I binged it, finishing all 15 hours in about 2 days. This novel is by TJ Klune, and I fell in love with his story The House in the Cerulean Sea earlier this year. What I love about his writing is the queerness, and he is also really good at highlighting the characteristics of ADHD and Autism in ways that are not overly stereotypical. Nick is our main character in The Extraordinaries, and he has some severe ADHD. What I liked about this portrayal was the random bouts of rage, the inability to keep quiet, and the raging headaches that knock us out for hours from all of the rushing thoughts.
This story is about a teenage boy and his friends at high school. All well and normal right? Well, they happen to live in a world where both Tumblr and slash fic exist, but so do real life superheroes called Extraordinaries. This book is about finding one’s self through the loss and grief of a parent, managing the executive dysfunction of ADHD, and navigating teenage-hood and life as a queer kid. It also involves superheroes. I really enjoyed this book. I listened to it, and the narration is perfect. It’s like listening to a movie. The acting is phenomenal.
It has some really, really embarrassing moments that caused me to put the book on timeout because that secondhand embarrassment will have me writhing in pain. I wasn’t sure I could get beyond the high school drama at first, but I am so glad that I did. In the last quarter of the book I was bawling my eyes out. I felt just as seen and hurt as Nick did during that fight with his dad, replaying similar comments from my family in my head as I sat and listened and wept. I have started the second book, and I am once again writhing in pain from the embarrassment inflicted upon us as readers…
The last book I want to mention is Scythe. My partner has been wanting me to read this since 2020. I am only now getting to it. There is no audiobook for it, and that is why it has taken me so long. My partner is forever in trouble for lying to me because I asked if I needed to be prepared to lose a specific character, and he said no. HE LIED. At any rate… I am really enjoying it. It is taking me longer because again, it requires eyes on, but it is a fun YA sci-fi. It’s like The Giver had a baby with something else. Instead of a dystopian story, it’s a utopia… where the power of death has been granted to the Scythedom.
Let me know what you’re reading! Have you read any of these? What did you think of them? Will any of these make your list?
Please check out
’s book recommendation post:
Wishing you well this week! May your life offer what you need in this moment.
With love,
Aventurine ✨
I need to read more fiction! The last fiction book I listened to was The Last Cuentista and it's was pretty good. I want to read many of the ones you listed. Thank you for the shout-out and the recommendations!
I wanna read scythe so bad, but no audiobook. Glad to hear you enjoyed it