#SBS July Wrap-Up

Welcome to our monthly feature where we talk about what we read, adopted into our libraries, and what’s on our minds. After hosting #SignedBookSundays on instagram for 5+ years, we have transitioned to this format as a way to share signed books and talk about bookish (and personal) highlights. Join us the last Sunday or last day of every month (or whatever day today is…)!

In Case You Missed It

• Read Queer All Year Fall 2023 Anticipated Reads & Bookshop page
• Its the dog days of summer, and we haven’t been putting too much time into content, but August begins promo season again, so you will see more from us!
• The old signed books page has broken, so I created a new one, Where to Buy Signed Books, so if you bookmarked it or linked to it, update your links, please!
• We curate a Bookshop page with most of the current YA New Releases – please consider supporting us by buying books through our links or shop, or we have a Ko-Fi!

What We Read

Kelly: Back to my (new) average of 6 books this month, I was chatting with my niece who also reads, and she was shocked to hear that I read 6 books, and then I remembered most people don’t even read more than 12 books a year (real stat!!) let alone in a month (former average) so I need to be happy with any reading I accomplish. Even though I deeply want to read 10+ books a month. Standouts were:

• The Seven Year Slip by Ashley Poston – 5 stars – look I don’t read a lot of typical m/f romance, but when there’s a little bit of magic and when it’s from a queer author I freaking adore, you know I am there with bells on *aka release week* and I devoured the book. It also put me in a massive book hangover, where I just thought about this one for a while. It definitely invaded all my thoughts.
• Ander & Santi Were Here by Jonny Garza Villa – 4.5 stars – a poetic and beautifully written story about family, culture, art, and finding & fighting for love. As well as our racist immigration policies. #AbolishICE

Christy: I READ 10 WHOLE BOOKS THIS MONTH. Pls clap. I can’t remember the last time I read this many books in a month.

• Imogen, Obviously by Becky Albertalli – I knew this book was going to break me (in the best way). And it delivered. What a love note to all of us comphets finding themselves later in life.
• The Seven Year Slip by Ashley Poston – LMAO three of the books I read in July were by Ashley. Almost like she’s an autobuy…(but seriously when do we get our gay romance?!).

What We Hauled

Where we share our gifted and promotional books from authors and publishers, as well as the signed books we purchased (this is #SBS after all)! You can check our Where to Buy Signed Books page for more!

Kelly’s Highlights

• Mother Nature by Jamie Lee Curtis & Illustrated by Karl Stevens, Russell Goldman – Releasing August 8th – Thank you to Titan Comics for the finished copy!
• Pride and Prejudice and Pittsburgh by Rachael Lippincott  – Releasing August 29th – Thank you Simon Teen for the advance copy!
• Secret of the Reaping by Kalynn Bayron – Releasing October 10th – Thank you Bloomsbury for the advance copy!
• The Otherwoods by Justine Pucella Winans – Releases September 12th – Thank you to Bloomsbury for the advanced copy!
• Damned If You Do by Alex Brown – Available Now – Thank you Page Street YA for the finished copy!
• Ghosted by Amanda Quain – Available Now – Thank you to Wednesday Books for the finished copy!
• Hocus Pocus The Official Cookbook by Elena Craig & S.T. Bende – Available Now – Thank you Insight Editions & S.T. Bende for the finished copy!

Christy’s Highlights

• Hocus Pocus: The Official Cookbook by Elena Craig & S.T. Bende – S.T.’s Disney enthusiasm is undeniable and I love love love all the cookbooks she’s doing. TY for sending this one!
• The Only One Left by Riley Sager – One of my favorite tropes!
• Damned If You Do by Alex Brown – TY to PageStreet. I have been waiting for this book!
• Just Do This One Thing for Me by Laura Zimmerman – TY to Penguin! I love the cover of this one.

What We Hope to Read

Kelly: I did get to two of the Pride TBR carryovers this month but I did not read very much…and of course there are always more and more books to add to the TBR!

• Ander & Santi Were Here by Jonny Garza Villa
• Only This Beautiful Moment by Abdi Nazemian
• The Luis Ortega Survival Club by Sonora Reyes
• Something Like Possible by Miel Moreland
• I’ll Take Everything You Have by James Klise
• Chasing Pacquiao by Rod Pulido
• Painted Devils by Margaret Owen

Christy: I read both books on my list last month #winning.

• Find Him Where You Left Him Dead by Kristen Simmons
• A Quantum Love Story by Mike Chen

On the Top of Our Minds

Kelly: 

July went by in a blink. I swear to goodness this wrap-up post is mostly a huge reminder how time is flying by and I feel like some ghost of myself who is stuck in the past. Sounds like a book I should read… Is there anyway to make myself feel accomplished or that I’m not being run over by time. I work, I take care of my special needs dogs, I make dinner, I clean…I do it all over again and again. Maybe squeeze some reading in there, gardening, yard work… ugh adulting really sucks. I am thinking I should sell all my stuff and head to the woods. That definitely might free up more time to read!

But seriously this month I am determined to get myself back on booksta and try and make myself feel like my hobby means something again.

Christy:

How was July only a few days ago and yet I remember nothing about the month? How are we already in spooky season? Where did the time go?

Started the month in Prague. Had a better time there than Paris. Touristy stuff is just not for me. Saw Fall Out Boy twice. Spent some time in California. Visited Iowa for a send off at RAGBRAI. Hung out at Disneyland. Saw Sad Summer Fest! It’s been a busy summer with no stopping anytime soon.