August Books on the Radar (2025)

Summary

Book Talk Etc. – August Books on the Radar (2025) Summary

Release Date: July 29, 2025

Hosts:

• Tina (@tbretc) from TBR Etc
• Hannah (@hanpickedbooks) from Hand Picked Books

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Introduction

In this engaging episode of Book Talk Etc., hosts Tina and Hannah dive into their eagerly anticipated list of August book releases. Balancing personal anecdotes with in-depth book discussions, they offer listeners a comprehensive guide to their top picks for the month.

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Current Reads and Personal Updates

Before delving into their August selections, Tina and Hannah share updates on their current reads and personal interests.

• Tina's Current Read: Slanting Towards the Sea by Lydia Hildjay
  Tina praises this Croatian debut for its intricate storytelling and rich character development. She highlights the novel's exploration of love, loss, and the impact of Croatia's political landscape on personal relationships.
  “This novel spans 20 years and one life-altering summer in Croatia. It's a love story that delves deep into the complexities of flawed characters making real-life decisions.” [16:11]

• Hannah's Current Read: The Crane Husband by Kelly Barnhill
  Transitioning from middle-grade to adult literature, Hannah appreciates Barnhill's ability to balance whimsy with dark themes. She commends the book for its portrayal of a teenage girl's resilience amidst family turmoil and supernatural elements.
  “The balance between darkness and the everyday was really well done and speaks to the reality that some teens face when they're experiencing a lot of hardship and trauma at home.” [20:00]

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August Books on the Radar

1. People Like Us by Jason Mott

Release Date: August 5th

Tina introduces People Like Us as a deeply personal and dreamlike narrative that intertwines magic with the harsh realities of gun violence. The novel follows two Black writers seeking peace and belonging amidst chaos.

“This is supposed to be a wickedly funny and achingly sad book in one. And it is an utter triumph, bursting with larger than life characters who deliver a very real take on our world.”
– Tina [22:38]

2. The Sunflower Boys by Sam Watchman

Release Date: August 12th

Hannah describes this coming-of-age novel set against the backdrop of contemporary Ukraine's war. It chronicles the journey of two brothers navigating identity, family loss, and resilience.

“It sounds like a powerful blend of identity, family loss, and resilience set against the backdrop of contemporary Ukraine amidst very real and ongoing war.”
– Hannah [26:25]

3. Too Old for This by Samantha Downing

Release Date: August 12th

A thrilling tale of Lottie Jones, a retired serial killer whose past catches up with her when an inquisitive journalist starts probing into her history.

“I love the sound of a retired serial killer. And the COVID of this one is so great. She's holding a hammer behind her back, which kudos to whoever designed this.”
– Tina [28:19]

4. Dogs by C. Mallon

Release Date: August 12th

Hannah introduces this intense narrative set in the small town of Carbon, following Hal as he confronts his haunted past and personal traumas over the course of a single, catastrophic night.

“What really pulled me in is the promise of that slow build through a catastrophic event. And I also love a book about friendship.”
– Hannah [30:14]

5. Forget Me Not by Stacy Willingham

Release Date: August 26th

Tina discusses this missing sister thriller centered around Claire Campbell's quest to uncover the truth behind her sister Natalie's disappearance, intertwined with mysterious diary entries from a vineyard owner.

“If you have read this author before and liked some of their previous books, especially thrillers, you'll enjoy this one.”
– Tina [32:32]

6. Fonseca by Jessica Francis Kane

Release Date: August 12th

Hannah presents Fonseca as an autobiographical novel that fictionalizes the author's journey to northern Mexico, exploring themes of inheritance, creativity, and personal legacy.

“This sounds atmospheric and like a perfect summer beach book to sink into in these final months.”
– Hannah [33:43]

7. Lime Juice Money by Joe Mori

Release Date: August 12th

Tina highlights this debut novel about Layla Wilde, whose quest for a fresh start in Belize spirals into a survival drama filled with unreliable narration and sinister magic.

“It sounds like there is a little bit of an unreliable narration here. You have a woman that's not totally sure if she's hearing things or understanding things correctly.”
– Hannah [36:26]

8. The Island of Last Things by Emma Slowly

Release Date: August 12th

Tina shares her excitement for this novel set on Alcatraz Island, where two zookeepers navigate a dystopian world while contemplating a risky plan to smuggle animals to freedom.

“This is supposed to be propulsive and fiercely hopeful with a heart-stopping final twist. And I can't wait to read this.”
– Tina [42:05]

9. House of Monstrous Women by Daphne Fama

Release Date: August 12th

Hannah introduces this gothic horror novel set in 1986 Philippines, where Josephine faces supernatural challenges in a deadly game hosted by her rumored witch friend.

“This is giving kind of Mexican gothic vibes. If you know, you know. And to save herself, she will have to play to win.”
– Hannah [44:50]

10. Chloe by Connie Briscoe

Release Date: N/A

Tina briefly touches on this novel about a private chef on Martha's Vineyard who falls in love with a billionaire, only to be haunted by secrets and lies.

“I'm having a good time with this. So I don't get the low rating, but I will, of course, report back.”
– Tina [46:00]

11. The Color of Blood by Mona Cabani

Release Date: N/A

Hannah closes the segment with this novella delving into the mind of a serial killer, drawing comparisons to American Psycho for its deep psychological exploration.

“It's one of those books that is so quotable in a way that you just need other people to experience this with you.”
– Hannah [48:07]

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Closing Thoughts

Tina and Hannah wrap up the episode by encouraging listeners to follow them on various platforms and leave reviews to help grow the podcast's community. They also tease future content, including an upcoming discussion on The Color of Blood.

“Remember, everything's better with books.”
– Hannah [51:07]

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Notable Quotes:

• “This is supposed to be a wickedly funny and achingly sad book in one. And it is an utter triumph.” – Tina discussing People Like Us [22:38]
• “The balance between darkness and the everyday was really well done.” – Hannah on The Crane Husband [20:13]
• “This is giving kind of Mexican gothic vibes.” – Hannah on House of Monstrous Women [44:50]

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For detailed links to all the mentioned books, please refer to the show notes of the episode.

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Connect with Hosts:

• Instagram:

  • Tina: @tbretc
  • Hannah: @hanpickedbooks

• YouTube:

  • Book Talk Etc.

• Email:

  • [e-mail]

• Patreon:

  • patreon.com/booktalketc for exclusive content and community access.

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Remember, everything's better with books. Happy reading!

Transcript

[Hannah]

I prepped my loving lately to be able to do the desk view. I'm so excited.

[Tina]

Oh, my God, I can't wait. I know you said you had to prep it, so I was like, is it. Is it a wearable for some reason? I was like, it's a Snuggie. Oh, man, I wish that was my first thought. Welcome to Book Talk Etc, a podcast bound to grow your tbr. Hi, I'm Tina from TBR Etc.

[Hannah]

And I'm Hannah from Hand Picked Books.

[Tina]

This is a conversational podcast about books and more from two Midwest Mood readers who are easily distracted by new releases. And today, we are sharing our August books on the radar.

[Hannah]

If you enjoy listening, we'd love for you to follow us on Apple Podcasts or your favorite podcast app. And if you have a quick minute, please consider leaving us a review on Apple Podcasts or sharing us on social media. It truly helps us connect with other book lovers.

[Tina]

Hey, Hannah.

[Hannah]

Hey, Tina. How's it going?

[Tina]

I mean, great. I just spent about 15 minutes traumatizing Hannah with my birth story with Cassia. So, you know, we're nice. We are nice.

[Hannah]

And I actually shed a tear also. Yeah, it's a single tear.

[Tina]

It's funny. It's got its ups, it's got its downs, but it all worked out in the end.

[Hannah]

Tina's a good storyteller, too. Highly recommend.

[Tina]

It's a good one.

[Hannah]

Well, no, I don't highly recommend your birth story. I highly recommend you as a storyteller.

[Tina]

As a storyteller. Yeah. I hope nobody has a similar story. But at any rate, I am excited to talk August books. You heard in the intro. I'm like, oh. And we're sharing our August books on the radar. Because I'm like, that's what's written there. But surely that's not right.

[Hannah]

It could not be August. Yeah, over halfway through the year, we're getting toward fall. I have to take my kids back to school shopping in just a few short weeks.

[Tina]

Crazy.

[Hannah]

It's nuts.

[Tina]

Crazy. I know. And everyone's like, oh, I'm ready for spooky season now. Listen, so am I. However, you know that spooky season's only like, six weeks because. And then after that, it's the fricking holidays. Question mark. I know that doesn't feel right.

[Hannah]

I'm trying to soak in the last few weeks of summer, not because I enjoy the heat, but because I don't want the year to be over. And once fall gets here, I love the fall. But like you said, it goes by so fast and then it's over. And then the year is over pretty much. Because holiday season. Who remembers that time of year anyway? Like, you're just. I feel like I am like separate from my body during the holiday season. I'm just like watching myself manically run around. I don't want to be that way this year, but last year was. Was like that over the holidays, so.

[Tina]

Yeah. Well, I'll remind you in November to relax a little bit. We'll see how that goes.

[Hannah]

I need to. It's. It's a lot of times because of work too. It's a busy season for work.

[Tina]

Oh, sure.

[Hannah]

Trying to like save holiday stuff on top of it is tricky.

[Tina]

Not great. But at any rate, we are still in the summer and we will be sharing our August titles that we are excited for again. Yeah, again. It was pretty easy to choose the five titles that I'm going to bring. And we also are going to share what we're currently reading. And mine is I. Mine's exciting. So that'll be at the end of the episode. But I have a lot to say about really all the books that are in front of me. But I will begin with my loving lately. And here's my loving lately. It's not what you think it is, Hannah.

[Hannah]

Hey.

[Tina]

It is a face tool. It is called the Age. Our booster pro from the company Medicube. When I tell you I'm obsessed with this thing, booster mode level one. Now, I have had this thing since March 2024, so I can thoroughly recommend it and what it is. Okay, I'll put it down and stop playing with it. What it is, is really. It's a. Okay. I don't know that I can tell you what it is because I. What it does is evidently when you put your skin care on, it sort of enhances absorption, helps with radiance, elast poor care. And like, if you have acne, there's like four different levels. I'm sorry, there's four different colors and then there's five levels within each. And so it's sort of like a thing that you would use when you're getting a facial, but you can do it at home. And I just like this thing for me, I like it when I. After I do my skin care, I feel like it really helps with any puffiness I have. I also think part of it's in my brain. I just like the feeling of it. But I will say my skin feels incredible when I actually remember to do it. I'm Going to level four. I have a video that I'll insert here for the folks on YouTube, but I am wearing makeup, so this is kind of gross, actually. But basically this is sort of what you do. You just rub it all around your face and you use the different, different levels. I have a fair amount of people that tell me I don't look my age. So I'm like, well, maybe this, you know, is helpful. This thing's pricey. I bought it when I was teaching two classes. And I will link in our notes the YouTube video that sold me on it. It's by my favorite beauty youtuber. Her name is Tati. She really sold me on the benefits of this dang thing. And again, I've been using it a year and a half and I can confirm that I love it. Medicube has been going pretty viral, actually, on TikTok. I've seen a lot of people share their pore pads, which I also really like. And there's this gel that I got recently that just. And it. It actually does help this thing worth work better. I'm a big fan and I'm like, you know what? It's time I, you know, share my secrets and my loving. Lately, I've been loving for a while. It is the Medicube age, our booster pro.

[Hannah]

I have been seeing the Medicube pads all over my TikTok. Super viral. I was going to ask if you had used those also. It sounds like you have.

[Tina]

I have. I got them more recently. Really like them. Super easy to use. We will link those as well, just so you can see what we're looking at. But yeah, I use those. That is more kind of a poor minimizer at this point. I'm just kind of slapping stuff on, you know, and hoping that it works. But, like, how does my skin react to it? Does it feel better when I'm using really good skin? Thanks. Don't look too close. Makes me uncomfortable.

[Hannah]

I won't.

[Tina]

I can't accept a compliment. I won't. I can't, and I won't receive it.

[Hannah]

Just say, I receive that.

[Tina]

I receive that. Thank you. Thank you.

[Hannah]

You're welcome.

[Tina]

I know somebody said it over the weekend. They're like, we were talking about something like, wait, you're 41? I didn't know you were that old. They were like, you know, six years younger than me. And I was like, thanks. And I'm like, but don't worry. I'm sure one day they're like, you don't look at. I'm like, I'm sure one day I'm going to show.

[Hannah]

Now we disregard the compliments.

[Tina]

Wait, I know, I know. Yeah. So anyway, I didn't want to gatekeep. This is something that I use and if nothing else, it is a form of self care because I use it at night. I use it when I'm like reading and I just. When I go through the full cycle. Because you could do it up to like five minutes. It times you. When I do the full cycle, that's 20 minutes of self care that I.

[Hannah]

Yeah, that's really nice.

[Tina]

I like when I use it.

[Hannah]

I do have one more question about it.

[Tina]

Okay.

[Hannah]

And then I promise I'll be done. But does that count as like gua sha when you're doing it?

[Tina]

Sim. Very similar.

[Hannah]

So it's. That's probably why it helps with the puffiness.

[Tina]

Lymphatic drainage.

[Hannah]

Yeah, it's helping drain all that liquid and puffiness out of your face.

[Tina]

Exactly. Yes.

[Hannah]

Well, love that. For you and for everyone who's going to try the magic, it's pretty great. My loving lately is a game on my switch and it's one that I've had for a while actually, but I just got back into it and it's Disney's Dreamlight Valley. And this is a cozy farming and city building sim that feels so nostalgic because all of the characters, all of the NPCs, they're all Disney characters. And you get to continue to unlock them, doing quests and you can literally spend hours either making your house cute or rebuilding the city or farming items for builds or just doing fun quests with, you know, Goofy and Kristoff and Donald Duck and Ariel. They even include villains, which I love. So you can do quests for Scar and Ursula and Mother Gothel. So I love that they include the villains because that's a part of Disney lore. I also love that this game is updated all the time. So it's. And I. Well, a lot of games are updated all the time. But like right now there is a new character, Cinderella, that we've all been waiting for. We know that it's coming in the fall or the winter, so it's a character that we get to look forward to. We know that update is coming and they do that all the time. And it's just fun that there's never going to be an end. You know, I know that stresses some people out, but for me I'm like, oh, it's nice to know that there's always going to be something new.

[Tina]

I think it's great.

[Hannah]

Yeah, I love that too. So anyway, I've been loving it. I'm actually going to show a little bit of the gameplay because it's so fun. And for those that are watching on YouTube, you can see. Oh, here we go. So cute, so cozy. And oh, look, there is Dr. Scrooge. And let's walk over here.

[Tina]

Who are you? Are you. That's your.

[Hannah]

Yeah. So this is my character. That's my avatar. She's running around. So anyway, I have been loving this. And that is Disney's Dreamlight Valley.

[Tina]

Crushed it. Look at you using the dropdown feature. Perfect. I'm so proud of you. See, we have to make stupid faces. We're like, we can't receive. We can't just be like, great, thanks.

[Hannah]

I know.

[Tina]

Thanks.

[Hannah]

Thanks mom.

[Tina]

Thanks, Mom.

[Hannah]

See, I just made it funny again.

[Tina]

Thanks, Mom. Well, I was just telling John, I think because I saw you or somebody else had. It was a YouTuber. I watch her wife got a switch and then like two scenes later she's like, and now I have a switch. And I'm like, maybe John needs the new new one and I'll take your old one and like we can game together. I don't know. I'm.

[Hannah]

I'm thinking about giving this one to. I'm thinking about giving this one to my seven year old and letting myself get a new one eventually. My sa.

[Tina]

I feel like, I feel like that is allowed.

[Hannah]

Yeah. Because I want, I want one of the. I have the light, the switch light. And I want one that has like the separate handles that I could hook up to a gaming system if I wanted to.

[Tina]

Oh yeah, that's the one Jonathan has. I didn't realize there were different options.

[Hannah]

Yep. Yeah, mine doesn't like the handles don't come off or anything.

[Tina]

That is kind of cute though.

[Hannah]

It is kind of cute and it's nice that it's just one.

[Tina]

One little.

[Hannah]

And it looks like the screen is bigger on the other one, but it's actually not. It just looks bigger because the whole device is.

[Tina]

Right. Right. But maybe I'll steal his and try it out for a moment.

[Hannah]

Well, what are you. What was your latest read?

[Tina]

My latest read is a book called Slanting towards the Sea by Lydia Hildjay. And this is a book that is a debut and it's actually fascinating because she is a Croatian author and she wrote this debut in English, which is her second language. And this book was on my Summer Bonanza list. I initially heard about it from Renee and Renee did a. I want to say she. She said she had an author chat with her and she said she spoke to this author for like two hours. And she said she was just so wonderful. And I can see why they spent so much time on the phone together because this book is really, really good. It spans 20 years and one life altering summer in Croatia. This is a love story of sorts. It is about Ivana, who divorced the love of her life, Vladho, a decade ago. And they met when they were students and got married. And during this time, Croatia was alive with hope and promise. But the challenges of living in a burgeoning country extinguished Ivana's dreams one after another in a devastating secret, forced her to set Vladho free. And when I read that part of the synopsis, I'm like, what do you mean? How does Croatia's politics play a role in your relationship? And it becomes very clear when you read what happens now. It's years later and Vladho is remarried and he is a proud father of two. While Ivana's life is not quite where she had hoped, she's now in her 30s and she comes back to her childhood home to care for her ailing father. And she doesn't have very many friends in the area. He stayed and so they sort of strike up this friendship. And they're really close, he, Ivana and his new wife Marina. They are very close to the point where Ivana is the God mother of one of their children. I'm like, that is interesting. And then the catalyst for this story is that a new man enters Ivana's life and sort of disrupts things and it forces a reckoning for everybody. This book is incredibly well written. I could tell from page one that I was like, oh, I see. Okay. I'm dealing with a really, really solid, well written story immediately. I am you know, highlighting and you know, I love books when you're sort of just googling as you go along. I feel like I learned new words in this, you know, in certain words that they were talking about in Croatia and what they mean as it pertains to weather. This one is complicated. It's complex, right? So it's not a story that you're like, oh, I loved everybody. I loved these characters. It is filled with three dimensional characters that make decisions that will be like, have you scratching your head. But just like real people, you know, sometimes your friends and family in real life do things and you're like, wow, that's an interesting choice. That's how it goes in this novel. It is pretty beautiful. And I will say it deals with something very specific. And, gosh, I wish I could tell you what it is, but I can't because it would spoil a lot of the plot. So I would just recommend, if you're particular or fragile around any issues, look at storygraph, because it'll be listed in there as one of the content warnings. Because it was pretty real. It was real, right? And I could totally see if that is something you grapple with, that you would be. It would be hard for you to read. If you like complicated love stories, you've got it here. Again, if you like stories with flawed characters, you've got that here. It's very summer, very atmospheric, and Croatia is a character in and of itself. Made me want to visit. Made a lot of people, I think, who read this book want to visit. And I have to listen to Renee's interview because I'm like, there's no way this wasn't personal. Like, there's no way she could have written this story. And I'm speculating, but boy, oh, boy, was it just raw and realistic. And I flew through this almost in a bad way because I'm like, wow, it's already over, right? And I sort of wish that I could have savored it a little bit more. But the book exists and I could always go back and annotate as we like to do. But I can't stress enough how well written this is. It's beautifully written, but not in a way that's overworked or overdone. It loosely reminded me of the Paper palace by Miranda Cowley Heller, sort of in that there's complicated, flawed characters, but.

[Hannah]

And, like, the tone.

[Tina]

Maybe in the tone. But I liked this one just as much. I like them both a lot, really. But, yeah, that is Slanting Toward the Sea by Lydia hilljay.

[Hannah]

Oh, it sounds so beautiful.

[Tina]

It's so good. And, like, it's propulsive, too. I do think you'd like it. I do think you'd like it. It's propulsive, too. It's not purple prose, even though it might be, because it's really well written. And like, again, you're like, damn, out of my. My mind. But, yeah, it's accessible and it's not overworked. It's just really, really good. And, you know, give it a shot. Pick it up.

[Hannah]

Okay, I will one day.

[Tina]

At some point.

[Hannah]

At some point, I will. My latest read is the Crane Husband by Kelly Barnhill, and I am familiar with Kelly Barnhill's middle grade. She wrote the Girl who Drank the Moon, which is one of my favorite books of all time. This was her foray into adult literature, although if I hadn't known I would have thought that this was young adult. It is mature, but we're following a 15 year old character in the story. I don't say that as a bad thing at all, but I just think that it's clear that her excellence is with following kids and children. But this particular story is a dark fairy tale about a young teenage girl who is the backbone of her small midwestern family. She is caring for her younger brother and she's also managing her family's finances. She does everything. She feeds her brother, she takes him to school, she does the books for her mom's business. Her mom is an artist and she does all of this while her mother takes in a new lover who also happens to be a 6 foot tall crane with a menacing air and terrifying presence. And that's all I'll say, because that's all you need to know. This is a short book, it's just under 200 pages and you really just want to go along for the ride with this one. Kelly Barnhill's writing is some of my favorite type of writing. She really balances whimsy and lyrical writing while also keeping the reader grounded enough to not make me feel like I am losing myself in the words or getting distracted by the writing. It's similar to what you were talking about with Slanting Toward the Sea that it's just beautiful writing that you want to get lost in and that you can really appreciate while still paying attention to what's actually happening in the story. What I liked the most about this one is the balance between darkness and the everyday. The story would one moment be balancing this magical interpretation of neglect and abuse that's happening within the home and then the next chapter would be about her high school being covered in prom paraphernalia and everybody being so excited about spring and the juxtaposition between trauma and the normalcy of everyday teenhood was really well done and speaks to the reality that some teens face when they're experiencing a lot of hardship and trauma at home. I also love that this is a nameless character. I felt really connected to this 15 year old narrator of the story even though she remained nameless throughout the entire book. And yeah, if you couldn't tell, I really, really enjoyed this one. This is a contemporary retelling of a Japanese folktale which I will link that story that I read about the folktale in the show notes if you're curious. I was. Overall, beautiful, beautiful story. And I would recommend it to anyone who loves myth or folklore or retellings of any kind. And that is the Crane Husband by Kelly Barnhill.

[Tina]

Good one. I've not heard of it.

[Hannah]

I haven't heard a lot of people talk about this one at all. But one of my really good friends, Molly, from Molly, Reads, read it a while ago, and we share a lot of similar taste, and I just, for whatever reason, remember her recommending it. And I kind of wanted a short book to fly through, so I decided to pick it up, and I'm glad that I did.

[Tina]

I need more novellas in my life.

[Hannah]

Yeah, I'm reading. Well, you'll learn about it later. I'm reading another one right now.

[Tina]

Excuse me.

[Hannah]

I know how.

[Tina]

What makes a novella a novella? Is it like a hundred? 200?

[Hannah]

I consider it under 200 pages.

[Tina]

Under 200. Okay.

[Hannah]

Yeah. But I. I guess I don't know if that's like 100. Correct.

[Tina]

I know. Now I'm like, great. I've asked the question, you know, I'm.

[Hannah]

Going to Google it.

[Tina]

I know.

[Hannah]

Word count breakdown. So I guess it's done Per word count more than it is for pages. So novella is about 20,000 to 50,000 words.

[Tina]

How many pages is.

[Hannah]

I know. I'm doing 20,000 words. 50,000 words? Yeah.

[Tina]

Oh, 66 to 166. Yeah. You were right on the money, basically.

[Hannah]

Okay, yeah.

[Tina]

Yeah.

[Hannah]

So anything, like, kind of right under 200 pages.

[Tina]

Got you. Okay, cool. Well, let's do something.

[Hannah]

Shall we? Get into these books on the radar.

[Tina]

Books on the radar, yeah.

[Hannah]

I'm excited.

[Tina]

Let's go ahead and get into our books on the radar. I have one in front of me now. I don't know. Is this one on your list? I'm not sure. People Like Us. Jason Mott. Okay, good. All right. So the first one that I have is People Like Us by Jason Mott. And I read his book, hell of a book. And I really enjoyed it. I thought it was just so well done. And this one is interesting. It's got a really interesting setup. And I'm holding, you know, one of the inserts that this book came with because I had, you know, got an early copy of it. And he says that somebody had asked him, are you afraid of America? Are you afraid of America? And he says, people like us. People Like Us is my attempt to find my answer to that question and with luck, help you find your own answer.

[Hannah]

Say less.

[Tina]

He also says, thank you for reading my book. Oh, and my publisher would really like me to ask you to spread the word about it in a Rhonda's publication date, which I think is so great. And I love when they enter little notes like that. Me too. So this is not a memoir, but he says it's very deeply personal and while it's rooted in reality and explodes with dreamlike experiences that pull a reader in and don't let go. From the ability to time travel to sightings of sea monsters and peacocks and feelings of love and memory so real they hurt. And I'm nervous, but I'm sticking with it because I know this author can pull it off. So it's about two black writers who are trying to find peace and belonging in a world that is full of gun violence. One is on a global book tour after a big prize win, and the other is set to give a speech at a school that has suffered a school shooting. And their two story lines merge and they've got truth and antics in equal measure. Characters, I guess, drink booze out of an award trophy. Menaces lurk in the shadows. Handguns seem to hover in the air, and dreams endure against all odds. This is supposed to be a wickedly funny and achingly sad book in one. And it is an utter triumph, bursting with larger than life characters who deliver a very real take on our world. So this is going to be a book where you're just going to have to read it for yourself. And I am looking forward to it. So thank you to Dutton for sending me an early copy. This one comes out on August 5th, so you don't have to wait too long. It's also not terribly long. It's 288 pages and I am looking forward to reading it. This one is People Like Us by Jason Mott.

[Hannah]

That book sounds like it has a lot going on, but it is the perfect length. That is the perfect length book, in my opinion.

[Tina]

That's a good length, right?

[Hannah]

At 300 pages, 280. It's like fully fleshed out, but also you could get through it quickly.

[Tina]

There's like little drawings in here, like at the beginning of a chapter. Yeah. I'm curious. Yeah. It looks like some words are blocked off, so I wonder if that's like, somebody's name. Anyway, he experiments and hopefully it's a. Hopefully it works out well.

[Hannah]

My first book is the Sunflower Boys by Sam Watchman. This one comes out on August 12th. Is this one that you've heard of or that you have?

[Tina]

I have heard of it, but it's not on my list today.

[Hannah]

Okay, perfect. So this one opens on a February night when Artem and his little brother Yuri are jolted awake by explosions. The war has started and it completely shatters their lives. Russian forces have invaded their town and this leaves the two boys to run and go into hiding. Before the war, 12 year old Artem's life was pretty easy and very typical. He had been helping his grandfather's Sunflower farm, which sounds so cute, and sketching in his notebook and swimming in the river and quietly. He has also started grappling with romantic feelings for his best friend Victor, and this is something that felt impossible for him to embrace in a culture where this was not accepted. So alongside the trauma and chaos of war, he is also trying to understand who he is and what kind of future he might be allowed to hope for. With nothing but their backpacks and each other, we follow these two brothers as they set out across Ukraine, hoping to reunite with their father who has been working in America. This book is being described as a heartbreaking but beautifully written coming of age novel in the vein of what Belongs to you and Swimming in the Dark. I am not personally familiar with those two books, but without reading this next one that I am going to mention, it kind of sounds similar in tone and theme to the Lilac People by Milo Todd, which I heard a lot people talk about.

[Tina]

Yes.

[Hannah]

I'm just so intrigued. It sounds like a powerful blend of identity, family loss and resilience set against the backdrop of contemporary Ukraine amidst very real and ongoing war. I have a feeling this one is going to be devastating but really powerful. And that is the Sunflower Boys by Sam Watchman.

[Tina]

It's so funny. You comped it or, you know, said it reminded you of the Lilac People because I had that same thought and I almost stopped you and said you brought this as a shelf edition. But I didn't. And then I was like, no, this is the sunflowers, not the lilacs. Different. But these. Yeah, they. They sounded similar.

[Hannah]

The names are even similar too.

[Tina]

Yeah, interesting. It is. All right, next up is Too Old for this by Samantha Downing. Comes out on August 12th. And this is about a retired serial killer. And her name is Lottie Jones. And Lottie thought her crimes were behind her. She is done killing because decades earlier she changed her identity and tucked herself away in a small town. Now her most exciting nights consist of the weekly bingo games at the local church and gossiping with friends. But then an investigative journalist named Plum Dixon shows up on her doorstep and Starts asking questions about Lottie's past and specifically her involvement with numerous unsolved cases. And Lottie cannot have this, but getting away with murder is very hard, even when you're young. And when Lottie receives another annoying knock on the door, she realizes this crime might just be the death of her. I would not be in this situation because I don't like answering my door. So they could knock, but nobody would be home. But I love the sound of a retired serial killer. And the COVID of this one is so great. She's holding a hammer behind her back, which kudos to whoever designed this. I think this sounds. I. I hate to say it, but it sounds really fun. This one is too old for this by Samantha Downing.

[Hannah]

Yeah, I agree. That one does just sound.

[Tina]

It sounds like a fun time. It really does.

[Hannah]

And have you read Samantha Downing before?

[Tina]

I have, but I couldn't tell you which books. I know I did.

[Hannah]

I feel like I've heard. I haven't read from her either, but I've heard really good things about her books. So my next one is Dogs by C. Mallon.

[Tina]

What?

[Hannah]

And I know it's literally just called Docs. And this also comes out on August 12th from Scribner. And in this one, we are following Hal, who is haunted and withdrawn as the specter of violence in his small town. Safety and comfort are hard. One in Carbon, that's the name of his town, which is also just kind of an interesting name. And this is a town dogged by stories of desperation and brutality. And his own home is very troubled, and he has many unspoken memories. Hell's greatest peace is found in the company of his dearest friend, Cody John, who offers him compassion and a window and hope for a better life. This story happens over the course of a single night, which I love, and a catastrophic chain of events gets set into motion. So this is a book that ends up climaxing toward an explosive conclusion. And that's another thing that I really love. This book is said to be unflinching, resolute, and beautifully rendered. A stunning exploration of trauma, real love, and the limit of our ability to reach one another. So, yeah, I don't know. I'm very intrigued. What really pulled me in is the promise of that slow build through a catastrophic event. And I also love a book about friendship. So I think that this one sounds really promising, and that is Dogs by C. Mallon.

[Tina]

What a funny. What a funny title. Yeah, because it's almost hard to look up, right? Because you're like, dogs. Dogs.

[Hannah]

I know. I Actually did. I had to. I had to actually google the book Dogs by C. Mallon and then find it like on the publisher site because it was really hard to pull up on Goodreads and Storygraphy. I have another book that I'm bringing that has just a one word title.

[Tina]

I kind of like a one word title personally.

[Hannah]

Me too, me too. All right, what's your next one?

[Tina]

All right, next is a repeat author for me. This is Forget Me not by Stacy Willingham. This one comes out on August 26th and it's a missing sisters story. And I feel like there are so many books that start with that premise and I'm okay with it. I. I still will read it because in this one it centers actually on a vineyard, which I think is kind of fun. But it starts 22 years ago. Claire Campbell's sister Natalie disappeared shortly after her 18th birthday. Days later, her blood was found in a car. Its owner was arrested and the case was closed. And in the years since, Claire has attempted to put her traumatic past behind her until an unexpected call from her father forces her to come home and faced everything, face it all anew. I love when characters are forced to come home for one reason or another. And so she's spending the entire summer at home. She's not looking forward to it. And she gets this temporary job at a vineyard and she's like, perfect, this will be a great way to spend my summer if I have to be here. Might as well work at a vineyard. And she starts to settle in. But then something weird happens. She finds an old diary written by one of the vineyards owners. And what starts as a story of young rebellion and love turns into something more sinister. And Claire becomes more and more obsess with the diaries contents and feels like her own sister's disappearance might somehow be tied to it all. So I don't love a journal. Personally, I don't know, I'm always sort of hit or miss with journal entries. But I have read this author before and I quite liked her book. The one I liked and read was all the Dangerous Things. I thought it was really good. So I'm always happy to give another thriller author a shot, especially if I've liked some of their previous books. So this one is Forget Me not by Stacy Willingham.

[Hannah]

Yeah, that one sounds good. That's another thriller author that I haven't read from that I would like to try.

[Tina]

Yeah, she is pretty good. More of a slow burn, well paced type story versus like a popcorn thriller. But I like those.

[Hannah]

Yeah, me too. So you mentioned a journal in that book. And this one also deals with a literary journal. It's Fonseca by Jessica Francis Kane. This one is another one that comes out on August 12th. Seems like that's a huge pub day. This one comes out from Penguin Press. It is set in winter of 1952, and we're following Penelope Fitzgerald, whose husband is an alcoholic. They have a literary journal and it's on the brink. And she is pregnant with their third child. She then receives a letter from two elderly sisters named Delaney, and these distant relations with a silver mine who dangle the possibility of an inheritance that she recognizes as a creative and practical lifeline. I would not personally find that practical if I got Inheritance in the mail, but I would hope that it was true.

[Tina]

Right.

[Hannah]

From my understanding, though, this is actually a bit of an autobiographical novel that fictionalizes the author's real trip to northern Mexico in pursuit of her own legacy. So while it seems maybe a little far fetched in the synopsis, it sounds like it's similar to a story that the author experienced, and this is kind of her auto fiction of that account. This sounds atmospheric and like a perfect summer beach book to sink into in these final months. And that's Fonseca by Jessica Francis Kane.

[Tina]

I just discovered a new buzzword for myself and it is inheritance. I love a book with an inheritance about inheritance. Love it. I kind of forgot. That is something I like to read about now. You'd also mention travel in that one. This next one incorporates travel as well. It's called Lime Juice Money by Joe Mori. And this one comes out on August 12th. This one's comped to the White Lotus and Nine Perfect Strangers, which I'm like, fine, you got me. And the quick sentence, or the quick synopsis, is it's a debut that follows a woman trapped in an increasingly volatile relationship 5,000 miles from home in a Central American jungle. So it says. When disaster strikes, hearing impaired Layla Wilde leaves London with her new partner, Adrian, and her young children, hoping for a fresh start in the verdant jungle of Belize. There she can be closer to her botanist father, get away from her sister, and maybe find a way to open the restaurant she's always dreamed of. While the jungle is mesmerizingly beautiful, it's also unforgiving and brutally hot, filled with deadly creatures and sinister magic. Layla's fragmented recollections of the past are increasingly bewildering. And the gunshots she hears at night through her worsening tinnitus seem to be getting closer. And she still doesn't understand why her father tried to turn her against Adrian when they first met, Though maybe she just misheard. Uncovering long buried secrets that threatened to derail everything. She must somehow find the courage and resilience she needs to survive. Or is she destined to disappear into the shadows like the orchid her father named her after? Okay, so there you have it. It sounds like there is a little bit of an unreliable narration here. You have a woman that's not totally sure if she's hearing things or understanding things correctly. And I listen. I'm ready. Would love to take a trip to Belize. So let's go ahead and add this to the tbr. It is lime juice Money by Joe Mori.

[Hannah]

Fun fact. I have been to Belize before, and it is my favorite place.

[Tina]

Really?

[Hannah]

Ever been? Yes. I went on a Caribbean cruise, which. I know. I know. Cruise.

[Tina]

I didn't say nothing. Say a word.

[Hannah]

I know.

[Tina]

Say a word.

[Hannah]

It was the first vacation Dustin and I ever took together. You're like, I gotta take a drink. I gotta take a drink for that one cruise. But Belize was one of our stops. And I think about it, still regularly. It was just stunning. We went snorkeling, which, if you know me, you know, that was the most scary thing I've ever done in my life.

[Tina]

But it was also.

[Hannah]

I. I won't ever forget it. It's just, like, imprinted in my brain. Yeah, it was so beautiful. And the beer there was really good.

[Tina]

Really. So random.

[Hannah]

It was like a local beer. And I don't know if I've had a better, like, light summer lager ever since.

[Tina]

Oh, man.

[Hannah]

Took me back a memory lane.

[Tina]

I'm so glad. See, maybe. Maybe you read that one. That could be a thr. That works for you.

[Hannah]

Anything compared to White Lotus, Right?

[Tina]

I know.

[Hannah]

Okay, my next one. We're switching gears a little bit. We're going with nonfiction, and I'm going to talk about Anatomy of a Con Artist by Jonathan Walton. We have a different pub date. It's August 19th, and it's from an imprint called Rodale Books. So this is a story about this author. Jonathan Walton was scammed out of nearly $100,000 by a devious con artist, and he was turned away by police. He was infuriated and armed with investigative skills he had gained from years as a TV reporter, he ended up launching his own investigation. And he built a really compelling criminal case that authorities couldn't ignore. He got his con artist charged, prosecuted, and convicted. And then he devoted his life to help other victims do the same which just sounds so awesome. And this book packs in everything that he learned. So some con artists scheme for money, some for attention, some just for the thrill of lying. And if you think that it can't happen to you, then you are exactly the kind of mark a professional con artist is looking for. So this is a really insightful guide and sounds so compelling. I've recently read more nonfiction, kind of in this investigative journalism style, and I'm really interested in reading more. This subject in particular sounds really fascinating to me. I was obsessed with the Scamanda story when that got released, and I brought Sweet Bobby, that podcast series earlier this year, which was a catfishing con. And it's just something that. But unfortunately happens far too often, and I find the psychology behind it really interesting. So that is the Anatomy of a Con Artist by Jonathan Walton.

[Tina]

Speaking of Jonathan's, my Jonathan would love this book. He listens to this YouTube channel that is like people who get these phone calls from people trying to con them, but they troll them back, basically. He, like, listens to this all the time. So I feel like he would really like this nonfiction book. So one for Jonathan to add to his list?

[Hannah]

Absolutely. I'll have to ask him what that YouTube channel is. You said it was a YouTube channel.

[Tina]

It's YouTube. We'll link it in the show notes. Yeah, I have no clue. It's just on sometimes. But, yeah, we'll link it there in case it sounds interesting.

[Hannah]

Yes, I'll ask him what that one is because I might enjoy that as well.

[Tina]

All right. I am excited for my last book. It is called the island of Last Things by Emma Slowly. This comes out on August 12th. This sounds interesting. And it's comped to Charlotte McConaughey, which you don't see very often. So I'm like, okay, let me see what you got going here, because this is a book about two zookeepers at the last zoo in the world. And I could cry just reading that sentence because where have all the zoos gone? I don't want to know. I'm really upset already. And Camille is our main character. She has always preferred animals to people. The wild has nearly disappeared. But as a zookeeper at the last zoo in the world on Alcatraz island, she spends her days caring for playful chimpanzees, gentle tree frogs, and a restless jaguar. Outside, resistance groups and brutal cartels fight to shape the world's future. But Camille is safe within her routines. That is, until a new zookeeper sailor arrives from Paris. From their first meeting, Camille is drawn To Sailor, who seems to see something in Camille that no one has before. They bond over their shared passions and shared dreams and they come up with ways to improve their lives. And then Sailor starts whispering about an idyllic secret sanctuary where wild animals now roam free. Camille begins to imagine a new kind of life with Sailor by her side. Sailor knows all too well the dangers beyond Alcatraz. But she increasingly chafes at the zoo's rigid rules. She hatches a reckless plan to smuggle one of the most prized animals off the island to freedom and invites Camille to join her. The consequences if they fail would be catastrophic. And sailors contacts at the sanctuary go dark just as the threats from the cartels grow more extreme. And Camille must decide if they are going to risk everything for the potential of a better world. This is supposed to be propulsive and fiercely hopeful with a heart stopping final twist. And I can't wait to read this. It's only 272 pages. It sounds like it would be sweeping, but it sounds like the author gets it done under 300. I almost added this to my summer bonanza, but I thought it could be maybe too sad, but I will find out. I am excited. That is the island of Last Things by Emma Slowly.

[Hannah]

I was looking this up as you were talking and the COVID is striking.

[Tina]

It is.

[Hannah]

Know if I want to say I like it, although I. I don't hate.

[Tina]

It, but it's just very striking.

[Hannah]

It's one that you look at and you're like, what is happening?

[Tina]

It's a jaguar biting an arm of a person.

[Hannah]

Very interesting.

[Tina]

Yes.

[Hannah]

Okay.

[Tina]

It's really nice.

[Hannah]

I've got one more for us. My last one is House of Monstrous Women by Daphne Fama. It's another August 12th release. Y' all love me. I know. So many good ones coming out on that day. And this one's coming out from Berkeley. This is about a young woman who is drawn into a dangerous game after being invited to a maze like home of her childhood best friend, a rumored witch. And this is a gothic horror set in 1986 Philippines. Ah, so this is one of those books where there's a game involved. And in this game there's only one rule, and that's to survive. Orphaned after her father's political campaign ended tragically, Josephine is alone, taking care of the family home while her brother is off where a revolution is brewing. But an unexpected invitation from her childhood friend to her house offers an escape. Why don't you come visit and we can play games like we used to. If Josephine wins. She will get whatever her heart desires. Her brother is invited as well. And it's time they had a talk. Talk. Josephine has heard about the dark whispers about her friend and that she's a witch and that her family puts curses on people. But still she is just desperate enough to seize this chance to change her destiny, heal her family. Except the house is strange and bad things start happening. It's a labyrinth, it's dangerous. It's also close to the sea, which I love, and I think it's going to add another high stakes element to the story. Also, a sickly sweet smell clings to the walls. So this is giving kind of Mexican gothic vibes. If you know, you know. And to save herself, she will have to play to win. But in this house, victory is earned with blood. This is a lush new voice in horror. This is a debut novel. It is set during the upheaval of the 1986 Philippines and the people power revolution. So sounds really interesting and also fun and really dark. And that is the House of Monstrous Women by Daphne Fama.

[Tina]

That sounds so good.

[Hannah]

Yeah. I like. I think I like a game. I. I almost said I know I do, but then I feel like at times I've said, oh, I don't like a game element. So I think I'm still deciding. But this one sounds really good.

[Tina]

I don't like this cover. It is.

[Hannah]

I don't either. The COVID is not great. I would agree with you.

[Tina]

Is that not nice? It like viscerally gifts me. Like it's not my fave, but it's brightly colored which is cool.

[Hannah]

It is. The font is a little strange and it's. It's kind of busy in a way that I don't love personally.

[Tina]

Yeah. But does something funky to me.

[Hannah]

Agreed.

[Tina]

But I alluded to this book earlier and I think I'm going to try and finish it off after we are done. Here it is is Chloe A Novel of Secrets and Lies by Connie Briscoe. And I'm reading this in preparation for an upcoming podcast episode. Got it from the library and I didn't know much about it. Picking it up. I really just liked the subtitle A Novel of Secrets and Lies. And I really liked the COVID I thought it was pretty. And it's about this private chef who is working at Martha's Vineyard. And I love a private chef moment.

[Hannah]

Me too.

[Tina]

And. And that's all I knew. I was like, okay, cool. Let me see where this goes. What I didn't realize I didn't keep reading on the synopsis is that she meets a billionaire man that lives on the island, and the two end up falling in love. And I also didn't realize that this is a Rebecca reimagining. So this man lost his wife previously. And I have a feeling, obviously, our main character, whose name is angel, is going to be haunted by Chloe. Now, I don't know if it's going to be a literal haunting or if it's a potential, you know, like a hallucination type deal, but either way, I'm here for it. This has a 3.0 rating on Goodreads. I was like, what? I didn't know that when I picked this up, and it doesn't bother me, but I'm like, I have read way worse books than this, and I still have 100 pages to go, so maybe things will take a turn. But I'm like, I am having a good time with this. So I don't get the low rating, but I will, of course, report back. Back, most likely in our next episode. But this book is Chloe by Connie Briscoe.

[Hannah]

Yeah, I really like the COVID of that. I love a floral cover.

[Tina]

Me, too.

[Hannah]

When you first were starting talking about it, it sounded like it might be like a biography or a memoir. But it sounds like a memoir, right? It looks like a memoir.

[Tina]

A memoir. That is so spot on. Especially a novel of secrets and lies. Like, I could totally see that. That being a memoir. And it's not. It is definitely not. And what's making me laugh in this is the guy's a literal billionaire, and she's like, I don't know if I should, like, quit my job. Like, I have to work. I don't know if I should do this. I'm like, just go with him. Who cares? He will take care of it.

[Hannah]

You can deal with anything.

[Tina]

Yeah. So I imagine I haven't read any reviews yet, but I'm like, I bet people don't like this guy. But anyway, I digress.

[Hannah]

Well, my next one is also one that you might hear about in our next episode, and that is the Color of Blood by Mona Cabani. Have you heard of this one?

[Tina]

No, but it's gross. What is she doing?

[Hannah]

And let me tell you, I have so many quotes that I could share that I. I might. I might share when I talk about this one. I also might spare you, but it's one of those books that is so quotable in a way that you just. You need other people to experience this with you, you know? And it's about a serial killer. We're following the serial killer. We're in his mind. It's kind of reminding me of American Psycho in that way. But this character, this man that we are following is an absolutely horrible person. But he's so pretentious and hard to read from. But like, I have to know what is going to happen next. And the writing is ridiculous and compelling. I'm excited to talk about this one. That's the Color of Blood by Mona Cabani.

[Tina]

Is that the. Is that a novella?

[Hannah]

Yes, I think it's technically considered one. It's like 190 pages. So it's like right at that 200 mark.

[Tina]

Gotcha.

[Hannah]

This is actually one that I picked up with my friend Emma that we buddy read books. We buddy read a book every month together and we have had started another one that I DNF'd and I was like, I really. Because we're very committed to. We do do a book once a month. And I was like, we've got 10 days left of the month. We can still fit one in. Maybe we just make it a little small.

[Tina]

Make it a small book.

[Hannah]

So we, we landed on this one and I thought it was perfect because it happens to fit in for what we're talking about next.

[Tina]

Oh, that is perfect. Yes.

[Hannah]

Yep. And I was like, let's do that one.

[Tina]

Sounds good. I was gonna ask how you found that, but I need to read more horror novellas in my life. I really do.

[Hannah]

Because you loved Rest Stop, right?

[Tina]

I loved Rest Stop. Good point. I forgot that I loved. I was gonna say I've never read one, but I have and I loved it. Look who's remembering things.

[Hannah]

Only when it's not important, right?

[Tina]

And it's. Yeah, I totally get that. Literally. Well, that's. That is it for today. We thank you for spending a part of your day with us. Links to all the books mentioned can be found in the show notes and if you enjoyed today's episode, you can help us by following wherever you listen and by leaving a review on Apple Podcasts. It helps us get our show out to new listeners and grows our audience. And don't forget, if you'd like access to exclusive bonus content and community, you can join us for $5 a month on patreon.com booktalk etc.

[Hannah]

If you'd like to connect with us, you can email us@booktalk etcmail.com you can also connect with us both at Booktalk Etc. On Instagram and on YouTube. You can find Tinabrec and Hannah at handpickedbooks. Talk to you next week. And in the meantime, remember, everything's better with books. Go.

[Tina]

Look at me. I'm fancy.

[Hannah]

You are fancy. Jealous? I got coffee. Don't at me with coffee at night. It's fine.

[Tina]

It's 9:30 at night, but, you know, whatever.

[Hannah]

It'll make me zonk out.

[Tina]

Whatever blows your hair back. That is so funny. Yeah, you told me all about it.

[Hannah]

My current recipe is that premier protein.

[Tina]

Yes.

[Hannah]

The caramel premier protein. And then that stock coffee. Oh, cold brew.

[Tina]

Love it.

[Hannah]

It was yummy.

[Tina]

It's so good. I only drink. I only drink the stock coffee when we're on vacation. That's like my vacation treat to myself. Like, especially for like an Airbnb. I'm like, great, I'm going to get the stock coffee because usually I just do my cafe pastello, which is much.

[Hannah]

Cheaper and tastes really good. Cafe is really good.

[Tina]

It's so good. And it's so. What's the word? Caffeine. Yeah.