What I’m Reading Now (8/7/17)

Last week was an awesome reading week…things are definitely back on track in that department! 

I also shared my first #buildsarahsbookshelves library acquisition! I’m putting together a very selective library for my new (but small) built-in bookshelves and am sharing each book I acquire on Instagram (follow me at sarahsbookshelves)! And, I’m trying to acquire all these new books at rock bottom prices.

For the bargain price of $2.00 courtesy of the Larchmont Public Library‘s sale cart, my first acquisition is…

For the first time in a decade, I’m going to have my very own built-in bookshelves! The only problem is I don’t have much to fill them with since I read almost exclusively on my Kindle. Yes, I am a book blogger with no books 📚! ______________ So, I need to assemble a library. I don’t have a ton of space on my built-ins, so this library will be very selective. And, my goal is to purchase all the books at bargain prices. I’ll be tracking all my purchases right here under the hashtag #buildsarahsbookshelves! ______________ My first purchase is THE MOTHERS by @britrbennett. It was one of my top 3 books of 2016 and the writing is just gorgeous. And, thanks to the Larchmont Public Library’s sale cart, I picked up this beauty for just $2.00! ______________ Stay tuned to see what else makes the shelves! #bookstagram #amreading #library #librarybooks @riverheadbooks

A post shared by Sarah’s Book Shelves (@sarahsbookshelves) on

And, I have to share an awesome and totally unexpected side benefit of this project…after seeing my Instagram post, a friend commented that they wanted to contribute a book to my library! What a fun surprise!

Hosted by The Book Date.

This post contains affiliate links.

I finished reading…

Shadow of the Lions, Emma in the Night


Shadow of the Lions
 by Christopher Swann (August 1, 2017)
A solid, 4 star campus mystery! Mini review coming.
Affiliate Link: Buy from Amazon

Emma in the Night by Wendy Walker (August 8, 2017)
Best psychological thriller I’ve read since Gone Girl! But, do not mistake this as a comparison to Gone Girl…they’re different books. What I mean is that this is the first time since Gone Girl that I’ve read a psychological thriller that is equally satisfying. If you’re going on one last vacation in August, grab this book for your beach bag! You won’t regret it.

Affiliate Link: Pre-Order from Amazon

I’m currently reading…

The Heirs by Susan Rieger


The Heirs
 by Susan Rieger (May 23, 2017)
I’m almost finished with this story about a wealthy family in Manhattan (shocking that I’m reading this kind of book, right?! Ha!) by the author of The Divorce Papers…and this one couldn’t be more different from The Divorce Papers! It’s a nice, easy read with good, if not overly elaborate writing. 

Affiliate Link: Buy from Amazon

Upcoming reading plans…

Unless one of my library holds comes in, I’m going to continue with August releases!

Stay With Me by Ayobami Adebayo


Stay With Me by Ayobami Adebayo (August 22, 2017)
This debut about a Nigerian married couple who reconsider polygamy after the wife has trouble getting pregnant. It’s been compared to Fates and Furies and Margaret Atwood (author of The Handmaid’s Tale) has apparently been supporting it on Twitter, but a blogger I trust was recently underwhelmed by it. I’m going in with tempered expectations. 

was reading…

One Year Ago: I read an awesome page turner that was a late addition to last year’s Summer Reading Guide!

Two Years Ago: I was reading one of the big books of BEA 2015…and it was a total stinker.

How was your reading week?

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27 Comments

  1. Renee wrote:

    I still need to read The Mothers! What a great bargain find that was. I’ve gotten some of my 5 star favorites in hardcover for my bookshelves from my library’s bargain shelf as well! I think I’ll give Emma in the Night a try since you and several other blogging friends have liked it so much. I tend to immediately pass on psych thrillers…unless it’s Dennis Lehane:)…but with so many loving that one, I think I need to try it.

    Posted 8.7.17 Reply
  2. Angela wrote:

    I’m really looking forward to Emma in the Night. You’re the second blogger today I’ve seen highly recommend this book! I also have The Heirs on my TBR.

    Posted 8.7.17 Reply
  3. Beth F wrote:

    Okay, Emma in the Night is getting bumped up! So fun to put together your bookshelves!

    Posted 8.7.17 Reply
  4. Nice find! I want to read Stay With Me soon too.

    Posted 8.7.17 Reply
  5. Hmmm…I really liked Emma in the Night, but maybe not quite as much as you. I guessed almost all of the ending pretty early in the story. I’ll be very interested to hear what you think of Stay With Me. I hadn’t seen the Fates and Furies comparison, but I can see why people would say that. I was traveling and pretty distracted while reading it, so feel like I really need to mull it over more before writing a review. Still want to get to The Heirs.

    I know this is a busy week for you. Hope everything goes smoothly!

    Posted 8.7.17 Reply
  6. hillary wrote:

    the mothers WAS a good deal. I still live in a tiny apartment so I am jealous of your built in bookshelves lol.

    Posted 8.7.17 Reply
  7. Kathy Martin wrote:

    Good luck on filling your bookshelves. I read mostly on my Kindle these days too unless I buy something to read and donate. Come see my week here. Happy reading!

    Posted 8.7.17 Reply
  8. I loved Emma in the Night…it was one of my favorites for July. I also enjoyed The Mothers, which I read last year, I think. Enjoy!

    I had to add The Heirs to my bookmarked section of Amazon. It sounds really tempting.

    Enjoy your week, and here are MY WEEKLY UPDATES

    Posted 8.7.17 Reply
  9. Tara wrote:

    Well, I guess I’m going to have to try out Emma in the Night, then! I’m still waiting on some library holds and may get stuck in between; I know how long you’ve been waiting for a good thriller, so the fact that you enjoyed this one says so much – ha! Hope you had a good weekend and that things are moving along…pun sort of intended. 😉

    Posted 8.7.17 Reply
  10. I’m currently reading Emma in the Night, and so far it’s very good. I loved Stay With Me, so I’ll be interested in your opinion once you’ve read it.

    Posted 8.7.17 Reply
  11. What a novel way to fill those bookshelves. I love it and you’ll have some fun tracking down books.

    Posted 8.7.17 Reply
    • Sarah Dickinson wrote:

      It’s been fun so far!

      Posted 8.9.17 Reply
  12. I’m going to add Stay with Me to My wishlist. Come see what I’m reading.

    Posted 8.7.17 Reply
    • Sarah Dickinson wrote:

      Well…I’ve now tried it and didn’t make it every far. The writing style wasn’t hitting the spot. 🙁

      Posted 8.9.17 Reply
  13. I would just like to say that I am intensely jealous that you are getting built-in bookshelves. Also, I am very much looking forward to reading The Mothers sometime this fall. Have fun building your library!

    Posted 8.7.17 Reply
    • Sarah Dickinson wrote:

      Haha – thanks! And I’m intensely jealous that you get to read The Mothers for the first soon! I’d love a time machine to do that again!

      Posted 8.9.17 Reply
  14. Melinda wrote:

    Ah yes, Library book sales are the bomb for getting good books at low prices. I’ve had to stay away from my library’s sale because I keep coming home with too many books!

    Posted 8.8.17 Reply
    • Sarah Dickinson wrote:

      A good problem to have!

      Posted 8.9.17 Reply
  15. Greg wrote:

    Emma in the Night caught my eye and I can’t wait to read that one. Glad to hear it was so good!

    Posted 8.8.17 Reply
    • Sarah Dickinson wrote:

      Hope it works for you!

      Posted 8.9.17 Reply
  16. Karen Blue wrote:

    I recently read Emma in the Night and I really liked it. Did you read All is Not Forgotten by Wendy Walker? It blew me away last year and Emma was almost as good. I am planning on reading The Mothers very soon, as in the next month or so. Glad to hear you liked it so much. I am really curious about Shadow of the Lions, it looks really good. Anyways, happy reading!

    Posted 8.8.17 Reply
    • Sarah Dickinson wrote:

      I did read All is Not Forgotten, but I actually liked Emma a lot better! I wrote a spoiler discussion post on Forgotten talking about my issues with it.

      Hope you enjoy The Mothers and possibly Shadow of the Lions!

      Posted 8.9.17 Reply
  17. Michelle wrote:

    Your comment about taking Emma in the Night is perfect. I literally started it, ended up spending the entire day either sitting near or in the pool with the book connected to my hand. I did not leave the pool until I had finished reading it. I believe my parents and husband came outside to keep me company at one point in time, but I ignored all of them. That need to read and finish a book in one sitting has not happened to me in a long, long time.

    Posted 8.8.17 Reply
    • Sarah Dickinson wrote:

      I love that and your comment was what made me decide not to pass it over! And it’s the best feeling when that happens with a book!

      Posted 8.9.17 Reply
  18. I saw you mention liking Emma in the Night on twitter and it helped bump it to the top of my to-read list. I’m actually starting it today 🙂

    Posted 8.9.17 Reply
    • Sarah Dickinson wrote:

      Yay – I hope you love it!

      Posted 8.9.17 Reply
  19. Heather Hicks wrote:

    I would recommend Edge of Sawtooth by Pete Ryan. It’s fantastic. Pretty intense and reads like a non fiction. I love thrillers like that though that read like it’s a true story. Ryan has a knack for it apparently. petejryan.net for his info.

    Posted 8.10.17 Reply

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