Reading Roundup #68: To Know Thyself is the Beginning of Wisdom

I love a good adventure or a mystery as much as the next person, but there is something uniquely satisfying about seeing characters unravel the mysteries of their own souls. In each of this week’s books, the protagonists struggle to know who they are and what they want, but by the end, they’re all a little closer thanks to the good friends at their sides.

Anne of the Island (Anne of Green Gables #3) by L.M. Montgomery: One of my favorites in the Anne series, Anne of the Island follows Anne through her time at Redmond College, where she meets new friends, has adventures, and comes to know her own heart at last. It’s the perfect mix of slice-of-life with Anne and her buddies, comedy, drama, and yes, our favorite — romance! Not only do I love rereading this, but I often find myself going back to specific chapters depending on my mood and what I want to feel while reading. It owns a special place in my heart.

The Stardust Thief (The Sandsea Trilogy #1) by Chelsea Abdullah: I was a little unsure in the beginning, but oh boy, when this book gets going, it’s really fun. Commanded by a violent sultan and compelled by underhanded schemes, a ragtag crew including a merchant, a jinn, a jinn-hunter, and a prince set out to find a legendary magic lamp and and have their loyalties — and sometimes their very realities — tested along the way. Each is not quite what they seem, even to themselves, and watching the characters grow with each revealed secret was satisfying. Abdullah deftly weaves in tales from One Thousand and One Nights, never using them as a crutch but as foundation for her own tale of magic and friendship. I really enjoyed this and wish I didn’t have to wait for the sequel now!

A Thousand Miles by Bridget Morrissey: Exactly what I didn’t know I needed, this story of estranged best friends embarking on a road trip is funny, heartfelt, messy, and achingly human, and I devoured it as fast as I could. In real life, Dee and Ben probably would drive me crazy with either love or exasperation or both — and actually, that’s exactly what they do in fiction, too — precisely because they are so realistically jagged and beautiful. Morrissey does a great job of portraying teenage and adult hurts that feel real without ever veering into melodramatic screaming matches, and she’s great at undercutting tense moments with humor and grounding romance with sincerity. In short, this was a good read that gave me a lot to think about, and I can see myself coming back to it next time I need some therapy by way of fiction. My thanks to NetGalley and Berkley for providing an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Have you read any of these books? And if so, what did you think? If not — have I convinced you they’re worth a try?

—b