Best of the Bunch (August 2025)

Today I'm sharing the best book I read in August.

Of the 10 books I read this month, I had two 5-star reads:

A Monster Calls by Patrick Ness

You'll Never Believe What Happened to Lacey: Crazy Stories About Racism by Amber Ruffin and Lacey Lamar

This was a very hard decision because these books were both so good, and they're so different! I would honestly recommend both of them — and they're both pretty quick reads! — but if I had to push one into more readers' hands, I know which one I'd pick for my Best of the Bunch.

The book description says You'll Never Believe What Happened to Lacey "tackles modern-day racism with the perfect balance of levity and gravity," and that's exactly right. In sharing these stories of the off-the-wall racist nonsense Lacey (and occasionally Amber and others in their family) have to deal with on a regular basis, the sisters rarely stray from the tone of "This is so terrible you have to laugh about it." If you're the kind of person who immediately tries to find a "reasonable," non-racist explanation for situations that Black people tell you are racist, I dare you to come out of this book with that instinct intact. I'm very glad I was able to get both the audiobook and the ebook of this, as there are pictures throughout the book but lots of audio-only bonuses as well. (Amber singing to her dad had me laughing uncontrollably.) It's a quick read/listen but well worth it.

What is the best book you read this month? Let me know in comments, or write your own post and link up below!

Looking back:
One year ago I was reading: Jessica, Destination Unknown, You Don't Have a Shot, The Little Book of Living Small, and Nimona
Five years ago I was reading: Thank You for Voting and Dear Martin
Ten years ago I was reading: Jesus Calling, The Witch of Blackbird Pond, Still Alice, Brain on Fire, and A General Theory of Love

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