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Smart Romance by Rena Rani's avatar

+1000 to this sentiment: Personally, I find this brand of non-fiction that’s all problems, no solutions to be difficult.

Also your commentary on how romcoms have changed so much is fascinating. I immediately want to go read that Laurie Colwin now for purely anthropological reasons.

I did a reread of Nora Roberts for a column two weeks ago, and while she stood up to a reread, it was fascinating to see how much things have changed in terms of how we use interiority to define our characters now via how she used to do it then. Such an interesting and rich topic.

Thanks for such an excellent roundup! You promoted me to pre-order doll parts!

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agatha donkar lund's avatar

If Girl On Girl didn’t do it for you, but you still want an aughts pop girls itch scratched, you might try Hit Girls by Nora Princiotti. It’s just music focused, on pop music of the ‘00s, but might be a better vibe. It was definitely a lot about Princiotti loving the music she was writing about.

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Becca Freeman's avatar

Ooooh, thank you for this rec!

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agatha donkar lund's avatar

Nora reads the audiobook and it was a great listen!

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Vanessa Adkins's avatar

July was a good reading month for me! 10 books, three that could possibly make my top 10 of the year. These Summer Storms, Left of Forever by Tarah DeWitt, and Along Came Amor by Alexis Daria

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Becca Freeman's avatar

3 yearly top 10s is an EXCELLENT reading month indeed!

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Elizabeth's avatar

Two Anne Hathaway releases in 1 year? An embarrassment of riches!

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Rhiannon Johnson's avatar

I’m looking forward to Doll Parts and If You Are Seeing This.

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Jules | Friday Night Readers's avatar

Between you and Jordy on IG recommending Aftertaste, I think I’m going to give it a shot. I was going to skip L.A. Women but your Didion comparison may have sold me too! Last, I have an ARC of Doll Parts and it’s next on my TBR. there are Sylvia Plath elements which I find so intriguing.

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Becca Freeman's avatar

Please read Aftertaste. I feel like it is severely under-hyped! And I, too, am excited for Doll Parts and LA Women. I missed the Didion & Babitz memoir last year, so maybe I'll make it a double feature with LA Women.

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Jules | Friday Night Readers's avatar

Already placed a library hold!!!

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Maddie O’Day's avatar

You have me excited for Loved One! I ordered it in the last B&N preorder sale on a whim bc I’ve followed & enjoyed Aisha’s tv writing career, super looking forward to it after seeing your review!

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Jessica @anindigoday's avatar

I need to borrow Atmosphere!! I've heard from a few friends it is so good. Still working on my literary fic book...almost done lol

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Becca Freeman's avatar

Sadly, I read it on Kindle!

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Jessica @anindigoday's avatar

well then, I shall wait the 34829834 weeks until it's my turn on Libby lol

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