July was a great month for me. I have been greatly enjoying my summer vacation, so it’s been nice to take time to reconnect with me and friends and just not be stressed all the time. I also went on a mini honeymoon with my husband to celebrate our first wedding anniversary. I received some amazing books, and read so many wonderful books as well. You’ll find all of this below the cut.
Books I hauled in July:
- Ghost Station by SA Barnes
- Dead Silence by SA Barnes
- Diavola by Jennifer Marie Thorne
- Filthy Rich Fae by Geneva Lee
- Finding Mr. Write by Kelley Armstrong
- Not In Love by Ali Hazelwood
- Horror Movie by Paul Tremblay
- First Test (Graphic Novel) by Tamora Pierce
- Volume 0 (Issue 2) by Various Authors
- God of the Woods by Liz Moore
- Bridgerton Books 1 and 2 Omnibus by Julia Quinn
Books I read in July:
1. Sinner by Sierra Simone
Rating: 4 Stars
Format: eBook
Review: This was a really well-written book, and it really made me emotional in a way that I didn’t fully expect. Sean was a really interesting character, and the way he felt that everything was resting on his shoulders and was his responsibility was really interesting for me. I found the general premise of the story interesting. There was an age gap, which isn’t necessarily my usual vibe but it worked for the story.
2. Gloria by Sierra Simone
Rating: 4 Stars
Format: eBook
Review: This was a super cute short story to wrap up Sean and Zenny’s story. They really make a cute couple, and I liked getting to see their wedding. I liked the snowed in aspect of the story. It’s very, very cute.
3. A Familiar Betrayal by Brianna North
Rating: 3 Stars
Format: eBook
Review: This had a really intriguing premise to it because there’s been a lot of discussion of mommy vloggers/bloggers lately and the negative effects of that. I was intrigued by the concept of a mommy vlogger situation going horribly wrong in an entirely unexpected way. The discussion of influencer culture was really interesting as well. However, the overall execution didn’t blow m out of the water. However, I had fun reading it so that was worthwhile. It just wasn’t the best thing I’ve ever read.
4. Episode Thirteen by Craig DiLouie
Rating: 5 Stars
Format: eBook
Review: This was a really cool book. I enjoyed the way it was structured with the mixed media and getting to see the different characters’ perspectives. The ghosts and haunted house elements were very fun, and definitely spooky. I found myself a bit creeped out by all the things they were discovering, and the mixed media style really added to the atmosphere of all of that. I found myself super surprised by the ending of the story.
5. Ghost by A. Zavarelli
Rating: 4 Stars
Format: eBook
Review: This is a series that I’m actually really enjoying. I liked this book better than book two because I found the main couple, Alexei and Talia, to be a more interesting couple than the couple featured in book two. I also found the plot of book two to be more interesting in general. I enjoyed the overlap of the characters we have met so far in books one and two. However, I have to admit that I’m not super loving the pregnancy trope that seems to keep coming up, which may be a consideration for me going forward in this series.
6. Ghost Station by SA Barnes
Rating: 5 Stars
Format: Physical Copy
Review: This was a super creepy read and I had so much fun buddy reading it with Kari. It’s been a while since we’ve done that so it was fun to dive in again. Space stuff does have a tendency to be extra scary for me, so this had a lot of spookiness going for me. The author threw in some other spooky elements and it just ended up being a perfect storm for me. I liked Ophelia as a character, and I found her perspective very interesting. I liked all of the side characters, and the way that they interacted with each other. The tension was built very well.
7. Foul Lady Fortune by Chloe Gong
Rating: 4 Stars
Format: Audiobook
Review: This was a fun continuation of the Shanghai world that Chloe Gong first built in the Our Violent Delights duology. I liked getting to see the characters from the original series and getting to find out what had happened to them since. I also really liked the new characters that were introduced in this series. The story arc was intriguing and the plot had me hooked. It was definitely a hard hitting story.
8. Heroine by Mindy McGinnis
Rating: 4 Stars
Format: Physical Copy
Review: This book had an insane opening line, and it hooked me from the start. That being said, it was a difficult read in how realistic it felt reading about the protagonist’s descent into drug use. It was very much a slippery slope and reading her rationalization made it incredibly powerful. The story had an interesting plot. Mindy McGinnis holds no punches and I love her for it. I was pleased with how the book resolved at the end.
9. Gone Tonight by Sarah Pekkanen
Rating: 4 Stars
Format: Audiobook
Review: This was an interesting mystery though not my favourite that I have read. I liked the complicated family dynamics between the mother and the daughter, but I feel like I expected the mystery to be bigger than it was and was a bit let down by the reveal. That’s more a me issue than the author though. She built good tension and the twists were surprising.
10. Horror Movie by Paul Tremblay
Rating: 5 Stars
Format: Physical Copy
Review: This book was SOOOO good. I really enjoyed the mixed media elements and the way it switched between different timelines to help you understand the whole story. I have really been loving mixed media lately, and this one was pretty well done. The premise of the story was really interesting as well. The characters were interesting. Overall, it was very spooky and I had a great time reading it.
11. First Test (Graphic Novel) by Tamora Pierce
Rating: 4 Stars
Format: Physical Copy
Review: This was a decent adaptation of one of my most favorite books. However, I will say that it was missing some of the charm of the book it was attempting to adapt. But on the whole, I did have a great time while reading it. The art was really beautiful, though spidrens definitely looked different than I thought. I thought they would look a bit more cursed. However, I hope they keep going with adapting this series, and I hope they adapt the rest of them.
12. The Honeys by Ryan La Sala
Rating: 4 Stars
Format: Audiobook
Review: This was a really interesting story. I don’t think I ever would have been able to guess just where this book was going to go (even considering the title), but I enjoyed every second of the ride. I really liked the atmosphere of the story, and how whimsical but also creepy it all came across. The author did a great job at building tension.
13. Last Violent Call by Chloe Gong
Rating: 4 Stars
Format: Physical Copy
Review: This was a great collection of novells. I liked getting to see Roma and Juliette again. I also liked seeing Benedikt and Marshall together. The stories in each were very interesting. I think I liked Benedikt and Marshall’s slightly more since they were trying to solve a murder on a train, which was a fun premise. However, both were great.
14. Foul Heart Huntsman by Chloe Gong
Rating: 4 Stars
Format: Physical Copy
Review: This was a decent series concluder. I liked the characters, and I really enjoyed the high stakes. The story was pretty twisted and twisty. It kept me guessing about what was going to happen next. The ending was good.
15. The Story of My Life by Helen Keller
Rating: 3 Stars
Format: Audiobook
Review: I enjoyed hearing the story of Helen Keller’s life in her own words. It was really interesting to see how she overcame the huge challenges that she had been presented with. The edition I read also included her letters to people she corresponded with throughout her life, which was interesting as well but not my favourite part of the story.
16. A Game for Swallows by Zeina Abirached
Rating: 4 Stars
Format: eBook
Review: This was an interesting story. I did not know about these events so I found it interesting to read about. I really felt for the people in the story who had to live through these events. The art style was really unique, and I really enjoyed the way the story was illustrated. The story was well-done.
17. The Lost Adventures and Team Avatar Tales by Various Authors
Rating: 4 Stars
Format: eBook
Review: I really enjoyed this collection of stories. It was dun to see all the different little adventures featuring my favourite characters from the show. I didn’t love all of the different art styles, but on the whole it was a pretty good collection. The characters are close to my heart.
18. Surviving the City by Tasha Spillet
Rating: 4 Stars
Format: eBook
Review: This was a super quick read, but it got a lot across. The topic is one that is important to be educated about, Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls (MMIWG). I liked the art stlye and how the story was told. However, I really wanted more of the story and for certain elements to be developed more. I wanted it to be longer. I still highly recommend it.
19. Avatar: The Last Airbender – Smoke and Shadow Part 1 by Gene Luen Yang
Rating: 4 Stars
Format: eBook
Review: I really enjoyed this storyline, and seeing what it was like for Zuko as he tried to rule the Fire Nation. I liked Zuko’s character development, and it was really interesting to see his mother and see her come back to the Fire Nation and how that affected her. I liked the art style quite a lot.
20. Avatar: The Last Airbender – Smoke and Shadow Part 2 by Gene Luen Yang
Rating: 4 Stars
Format: eBook
21. Avatar: The Last Airbender – Smoke and Shadow Part 3 by Gene Luen Yang
Rating: 4 Stars
Format: eBook
22. Not in Love by Ali Hazelwood
Rating: 5 Stars
Format: Physical Copy
Review: I really loved this book. It was my first contemporary Ali Hazelwood, and I ended up really enjoying it. Eli and Rue were very interesting characters, and I really enjoyed their interactions and how they came together. They were both very well-developed characters, and the way they relied on each other was so lovely. The storyline was very, very well-done.
23. Heather, The Totality by Matthew Weiner
Rating: 3 Stars
Format: Audiobook
Review: This was a rather strange book. The concept was kind of interesting. I liked the inclusion of different perspectives. I just don’t think that the execution of the story was completely for me.
24. The Time Machine by H.G. Wells
Rating: 3 Stars
Format: Audiobook
Review: This was an interesting story, but not my favourite on the whole. I’m glad I can say that I have read this though.
25. Other Words for Home by Jasmine Warga
Rating: 4 Stars
Format: Audiobook
Review: This was a very well-written novel. The main character was very empathetic. I really felt for her as she went through the events she faced in the novel. The other characters were also very interesting I highly recommend this.
26. Number the Stars by Lois Lowry
Rating: 4 Stars
Format: Audiobook
Review: This was a well done middle grade novel. It was well-written. It was also interesting to read a realistic fiction novel from this author because I think I’ve only read The Giver series by her. The storyline had some good tension built into it. It was a good read, and quick and accessible.
27. Have I Told You This Already? by Lauren Graham
Rating: 4 Stars
Format: Audiobook
Review: This was an interesting collection of anecdotes. I enjoyed listening to them in her own voice. It was cool to hear her stories, and I think I’ll have to check out her other book too.
28. Avatar: The Last Airbender – North and South Part 1 by Gene Luen Yang
Rating: 4 Stars
Format: eBook
Review: This was an interesting story. I really liked the art. I also enjoyed reading about Katara and Sokka’s return to their home and seeing their dynamic. I look forward to reading about what happens next.
29. This Poison Heart by Kalynn Bayron
Rating: 4 Stars
Format: Physical Copy
Review: This was an interesting fantasy novel. The premise of plant magic combined with elements of mythology was very fun. I really liked Briseis as a character. It was very interesting to watch her grow into her power and also try to figure out what exactly was going on with her. She had some good character growth. The story was gripping.
30. Finding Mr. Write by Kelley Armstrong
Rating: 4 Stars
Format: Physical Copy
Review: I’m going to be writing a full review of this for the blog, so keep your eyes peeled for that.
31. Seizure by Kathy Reichs
Rating: 3 Stars
Format: Audiobook
Review: I liked the plot of this story and the way the characters were trying to save their pack by trying to find some long lost treasure. I do struggle to suspend my disbelief with some of the core concepts of the world. However, it was fun enough.
32. This Wicked Fate by Kalynn Bayron
Rating: 4 Stars
Format: Physical Copy
Review: I really enjoyed the continuation of this series, and seeing Briseis get to know her biological family more. The plot was quite tense and the stakes were very high. However, on the whole it was a very interesting read. I was happy with the ending of the story.
Leave a Reply