Books-In-Review: Summer Reads 2018

As some of you may know, I'm a college student and a bookworm; however, the problem with being both is that you don't get to really indulge yourself in/enjoy a book during most of the year because of school and commitments. The only time I do get to really enjoy books is in the summer (which is why I read a sh*t ton during this time). I've read (and am reading) some really good books this summer and I want to share them with you. Here’s a review of the books I’ve read during this summer of 2018:

In the Country We Love: My Family Divided

Diane Guerrero with Michelle Burford

With the current political climate, it's been a tough time for immigrants and immigrant families. So when this Orange is the New Black actress released her book just months before Trump was elected president, it was really important and necessary (and not surprisingly, got a lot of press). In the Country We Love: My Family Divided, Guerrero talks about the deportation of her parents when she was only 14 and how that affected her upbringing (made high school difficult, led to her depression and many suicide attempts, and made adulthood almost near impossible). Guerrero not only speaks about the emotional and mental impacts of immigration and the separation of families, but she also discusses America's disregard for immigrant lives and our disgusting immigration laws/policies. Guerrero speaks about how the U.S. government failed her when they didn't ask about her, or come to her with adoption options, when she came back home from school to find her apartment empty. Alone and afraid, she reached out to parents of friends for housing and financial support, on her own. With current immigration laws tight and Trump's 'zero tolerance' policy being debated all over the news, Guerrero's book could not be a more relevant and necessary read. Guerrero could teach us a thing or two about how unlawful our current laws are and how important it is to keep families together. Get the book here!

They Both Die at the End

Adam Silvera

I'm not usually one to pick up new books, or books from up-and-coming authors (I usually stick to the classics and books I know are good from countless reviews and air time), but I received this book as part of a giveaway Books on the Subway was doing to gift followers tickets to BookCon 2018 and since I was looking for a new book to pick up, I said: "Why not?". I'm glad I picked up this book because I couldn't put it down once I started reading. They Both Die at the End tells the story of two teenage boys, Rufus (17) and Mateo (18) who receive a call from DeathCast one day informing them that they will die sometime in the next 24-hours. Freaked out (as one would be) and afraid to die alone, the two boys reach out to the Internet for company and reassurance. They meet each other through the Last Friend app – an app that connects deckers (people who got a call from DeathCast) with other deckers and non-deckers who want to give company to strangers on their last day on Earth. They Both Die at the End is a beautiful story about love, friendship, shame, guilt, regret, and the importance of meaningful relationships. This book will inspire you to reach out to your old school friend and never take a day, or person, for granted. Get the book here!

Playing with Matches: A Novel

Hannah Orenstein

Playing with Matches by Hannah Orenstein is the perfect beach read. I picked up this book because it was Books on the Subway's #OffTheRailsBookClub pick for the month of July (and the cover looked nice!). I was not disappointed when I read Orenstein's fun-loving novel about dating, relationships, and being a young matchmaker in New York City with little dating experience yourself. I found myself empathizing with the main character because of how sh*t men are and how hard it is to navigate dating in a large metropolitan area, or anywhere for that matter. You need to add this book to your beach bag/reading list now. You won't regret picking it up. Get the book here! 

The Five People You Meet in Heaven

Mitch Albom

I guess you can say that the concept of death was a trend with the books I've read this summer because shortly after reading one book about death, I picked up another. The Five People You Meet in Heaven tells the story of Eddie, an amusement park maintenance worker who is killed in the place he came of age, Ruby Pier, by a falling amusement park ride. After his death, Eddie is welcomed into Heaven where he meets five people whom he had an impact on or had an impact on him during his time on Earth – the Blue Man, the Captain, Ruby, his late wife, and a girl from the war in the Philippines – to learn why he lived and what for. This fiction novel is a great story about love, regret, sacrifice, and purpose. Although it may seem that Eddie lived an uneventful life before his death (something he feels himself and speaks about), Albom teaches us all that every single person on this Earth has a purpose no matter how "uneventful" or ordinary their life may be. Get the book here!

Xo, Naydeline