The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck by Mark Manson

Based on the title, you can probably tell that this book has a LOT of "language" in it, so if that offends you, this is not the book for you. Basically, the lays out the idea that we all care too much, especially in this age of social media. And he seems to present it as a new thought except that this is actually an ancient idea; I would liken it to Aparigraha or "nongreed," basically not wanting what other people have.
Is this a self-help book? Pretty much. Is it disguised by a bunch of fucks and a few shits thrown in? Pretty much. But it's actually not horribly written and has some good gems. If you have read a lot of books like this, there is nothing new. But if you're new to the self-help game, this would be a great starter book.

The Adventurer's Guide to Successful Escapes by Wade Albert White

I really enjoyed the world-building in this book, where orphans can't become adventurers if they have no last name (like Anvil, "Anne") or if their families are notorious (like her friend Penelope Shatterblade). But that doesn't stop Anne from applying to as many adventurer schools as possible. She's pretty much given up hope that she'll be taken before she's kicked out of the orphanage on her thirteenth birthday. Or will she? At the last moment, Anne is informed that the train will be leaving before midnight on the day before Anne's birthday rather than 10 minutes into it, which means that Anne has to stay at the orphanage for another year. But Anne has different plans. And the world has different plans for her as, while she is walking the matron's fire lizard "Dog," a woman appears and tells Anne she has been accepted into a school.
This book is all sorts of crazy sauce -- in the very best way. Just when you think you've figured out the zigs, the book zags. For instance, the headmistress of the Death Mountain Quest Academy is Her Royal Highness Princess Fluffington Whiskers of the Mousetrapper Clan. In short, a cat. There are dragons whose fireballs help aid travel, a book that becomes whatever it needs to be, and a main character who is not only female, she has dark brown skin. A fact that is only mentioned once and then briefly.

So Good by Darcy Burke

Cam Westcott kicks off a new series. This Westcott brother is well-known, and not just by his family, for being a major player. But he's been concentrating more on work lately and is starting to back off the merry-go-round of women. So when he meets Brooke Ellis, a wine distributor, he doesn't want to be interested. But (and even though she says she doesn't want to date him), he decides to trick her into a date. Which is SO romantic (Nope).
Brooke has her own issues. And she knows Cameron's reputation. So she doesn't want to get involved. But she is feeling more and more drawn to Cam.
I quite frankly didn't get the attraction between these two. No, I got the attraction, I just didn't get why they would have an HEA. It was an okay book most of the way through but the last Big Misunderstanding really dropped it a full star for me.

Three stars
This book comes out September 6

The Masked City by Genevieve Cogman

I definitely think that reading the first book in this series would have been very helpful. There was a lot of world building that must have happened in the first book and it took some scrambling to figure out was going on. But still an enjoyable book and I'm looking forward to getting the third soon.
Irene is a librarian (the reason I requested this book from NetGalley) who collects books from various realities because... well, that wasn't explained in this book really. It stabilizes the worlds or something? But her apprentice, Kai, who is a dragon (and maybe Irene is interested in him more than just as an apprentice), has been kidnapped. And he's been taken to a realm of high chaos where even his super-powerful uncle can't go. So Irene has to pair up with one of the Fae, Lord Silver (who was maybe a bad guy in the first book?) to help get him back.
Again, not a lot of backstory (which can definitely be appreciated) but I can tell this is probably a going to be a great series.

Three and a half stars

This book comes out September 6

Big Nate: Revenge of the Cream Puffs by Lincoln Peirce

Everything you want from a Big Nate comic book. Lots of time with his friends, with Jenny and Arnold, with Kim, and with Spitsy. We also get to see Big Nate interacting in school and, of course, in detention. We also learn that he is terrified of cats.
A fun book.
Four and a half stars
This book comes out September 6

Best. State. Ever. by Dave Barry

Do you love Dave Barry? Do you love following "Florida Man" on Twitter? Do you hate Florida? Do you only semi-dislike Florida but wouldn't mind a book making it the butt of all the jokes? Read this book. You'll enjoy it. 
Whether it's mocking an obsession with grapefruits or extolling the virtues of the skunk ape, Mr. Barry's humor shines through in a way that, even after all this time, is incredibly self-deprecating without ever being mean just for the sake of being mean. Checking out the highlights of Florida (including some hot spots and some tourist-y joints), Mr. Barry introduces us to the funnier side of Florida.

Four Stars
This book comes out September 6

Woman in the Shadows by Jane Thynne

I requested this book from NetGalley thinking it might be rather like a Susan Elia MacNeal book. Unfortunately, it was rather more of a trudge (a combination of clunky writing and bad editing as well as a plot moppet whose charms I couldn't quite see).  It may have helped to have read the first book (I did not). There was some recapping but I felt like there was some character exposition that I missed. I did like the character portraits (especially that of Magda Goebells, pointing out the drawbacks of the Nazi system) and the historical aspects, but parts of the plot stretched the suspension of disbelief rather to the stretching point.
Clara Vine is a famous actress who is trying desperately to hide the fact that she hates the current regime, especially since her father is a Nazi sympathizer. He is also English (she is only half German) which is why Clara is invited to the Goebells house to help entertain the Mitford sisters. See, originally they were supposed to tour a nearby bride school but a girl has been murdered and the school has been put on lock down. Then another girl is murdered and Clara is hot on the trail, all while starring in films, being part of the Nazi publicity machine, and being a spy for England.

Three stars
This book comes out September 6