It's I Read a Book Once's one year anniversary! I can't believe that I've been sharing my opinions on books and summarizing them with too much detail for a year now. To celebrate I decided to do an extra special episode where I reflect on my journey this past year. I reflect on the lessons I've learned, talk about the challenges I've faced, do a little bit of data analysis, and attempt a "meet the book podcast" segment that was a bit of a hot mess.

Romance returns with this book community favorite The Kiss Quotient by Helen Hoang. This book follows Stella, an autistic woman, who hires an escort to teach her how to be in a relationship. I talk about my journey in deciding to read this book, air my frustrations with one particular scene in the book, and express my love for Stella's character.

I couldn't stop at just one highly recommended memoir, I had to read two. Hillbilly Elegy by J.D. Vance tells the story of both him and his family, detailing the culture of the Appalachian region and the highs and lows that come with it. I spend a lot of time reflecting on the political points Vance makes, comparing this memoir with The Other Wes Moore, and highlighting random connections to my classes in college. 

I branched out from my comfort zone and actually read a memoir! The Other Wes Moore by Wes Moore follows the extremely different lives of two men with the same name examining how two black men born streets away from each other could have such drastically different lives. The author is a Rhodes Scholar and the "other" Wes Moore is serving a life sentence. I spend some time talking about the genre, question what made their paths diverge, and wonder if one's fate could have been the other's.

WWII historical fiction always tends to be focus on white people and Jewish people, largely leaving out the stories of other people of color. Kaia Alderson's debut novel Sisters in Arms provides a fresh new perspective on WWII, following the stories of Grace and Eliza two black women part of the only all-Black battalion of the Women's Army Corps. I discuss the importance of having a book about black women's roles during WWII, explain the central relationship between Grace and Eliza, and lament I didn't get the romantic ending I wanted.

This week I break from my traditional episode format to bring you the mid-year book freak out tag. This tag asks questions about the books you read in the first half of the year, and even though I'm a month late with my answers I still thought I'd give it a go. I talk about my favorite and least favorite books of 2021 so far, books I want to read this year that I haven't, and books that have made me cry and made me happy.

I thought I'd read a fun YA book by a popular author and pass it off to my sister. Instead Instructions for Dancing by Nicola Yoon was a disjointed disappointment I wish I'd never picked up. I am extremely harsh in my review of this book, which follows Evie as she deals with a curse where she sees how a couple will break up when they kiss. I bash the main character for being selfish, spend at least five minutes ranting about the end of the book, and can't seem to find anything nice to say.

After a long and unannounced break I'm back and better than ever with Jill Shalvis's Love for Beginners. This book follows Emma as she tries to make a new life for herself after waking up from a coma, which includes finding a new apartment, new boyfriend, and new job. I get sidetracked by my love of coma stories, question the pacing in this book, and celebrate the great female friendship between Emma and Ali.

I don't take it lightly when I say this is the best book I've read so far in 2021. The Last Thing He Told Me by Laura Dave is an atypical thriller novel that follows Hannah and her step-daughter Bailey as they learn her husband isn't who he said he was. I can't stop talking about how good this book was, explain why this type of thriller worked for me, and praise the familial bonding we see throughout the book.

Historical fiction tends to cover the same time periods and stories, but Kim Michele Richardson's The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek diverges from this pattern. We follow the main character Cussy Mary who is a Pack Horse Librarian during the Great Depression and also has a rare blood condition that makes her skin blue. I discuss how this book was character driven instead of plot driven, express my appreciation for learning about unknown historical stories, and talk about the ambiguous ending.