Happy Friday!📚 I should also say happy August:) How was your July? Mine was pretty good. We spent a lot of time at the lake enjoying cookouts, corn hole, fireworks, boating, and lots of walks with Vinny🐾. One of my very favorite weekend things to do is to go to the farmer’s market. I LOVE fresh fruit - peaches, blueberries, blackberries, and watermelon are my favs from the market, along with homemade zucchini blueberry bread.
Reading wise, July wasn’t as good in terms of quantity and quality as June. I may have started July with too high of reading expectations after a stellar June filled with several five star reads. Reading expectations can really impact how we choose books to read and how we feel about those books! I’m starting August with no reading expectations (I “think” this is possible:), just excitement for the possibilities of a few great reads and for what comes next- fall reading!🍂
Question Time…..The questions I ask in weekly threads are meant to be fun and help us connect, so please know you don’t have to answer each question, if you only have the time/desire to answer one, great!
What are your favorite July reads? - feel free to share all of your July reads if you’d like, if you use star ratings I know we’d love to see those too:)
What did you enjoy in July?
What are you looking forward to in August? - books to read or anything else you’re looking forward to!
REMARKABLY BRIGHT CREATURES by Shelby Van Pelt was a favorite 5 ⭐️ read of July- the audio was excellent and I'm still thinking about the story and Marcellis the octopus.
I've been enjoying watching the Olympics, so much so that I haven't been reading in the evenings. I'm in awe of the athletes, esp Simone Biles. I've also been enjoying podcast listening - one of my favorite July listens was on the Ten Percent Happier with Dan Harris podcast- his July 29 episode on the science of manifestation was super interesting
A couple August new release books I'm looking forward to are HOUSE OF GLASS by Sarah Pekkanen, IN EVERY LIFE by Rea Frey, and BLUE SISTERS by Coco Mellors. I'm also so so excited for the return of Emily in Paris this month!!!
Would love to hear how you go with Blue Sisters - I enjoyed her first book but I think I'm done with sad girl novels, please let me know if this one is also so depressing as I'll skip it! Also hanging out for Emily in Paris! x
I enjoyed my vacation to Florida to visit my dad for a week by myself. I had been extremely stressed out caring for my disabled adult son and I desperately needed a break from it and my husband. I went to two different beaches and enjoyed being out on my dad’s Lanai reading and relaxing. I also used the hot tub. It was wonderful and relaxing
My 5 ⭐️ read was All The Colors Of The Dark for July. I was browsing somewhere and discovered a book that i cannot believe that I had never heard of called The Love Songs of W. E. B. Du Bois. It is 29 hours long. I am seriously thinking about starting that in August. I was most looking forward to reading The Wedding People by Alison Espach. I am currently reading it and loving it so much! I am also reading The Only Plane In The Sky: An oral history if 9/11 by Garrett M. Grass in audio. It is incredible. Back to July for moment. A few notable books that I want to mention are Piglet, Unraveling Oliver, What Happened To Nina, Long Island and The Banker’s Wife. Happy weekend everyone!
So glad you’re loving your current reads! I had a feeling you’d feel that way about The Only Plane in the Sky- it’s one of those books you’ll never forget and the audio truly enhances it. I remember when Oprah picked The Love Songs of W E B Du Bois but I couldn’t tackle it because of the length - when I was reading for the podcast- let me know your thoughts if you start it!
The Covenant of Water was 32 hours long and I read it back to back with Robert Galbraith’s most recent book and that book was 30 hours long. So I have high hopes to get through this book. Also forgot to mention that I’m with you on the farmer market. I just spent $92 there on Tuesday.
I absolutely love this story. The book will pull you in immediately on page one. Some people had issues with the writing format. It is not difficult to understand but it’s not everyone’s cup of tea so to speakI absolutely love this story. The book will pull you in immediately on page one. Some people had issues with the writing format. It is not difficult to understand but it’s not everyone’s cup of tea so to speak..
July is always a fun month for me because I go spend a week with my sisters. It’s also where I grew up so it always evokes feelings of nostalgia. My 5 ⭐️ read for July was What Comes After by Joanne Tompkins.
Most anticipated reads for August are All the Colors of the Dark (currently reading We Begin at the End), God of the Woods, and The Wedding People.
My favorite July books were Familiaris by David Wroblewski and The God of the Woods by Liz Moore. For August, I am looking forward to reading a few mysteries/thrillers, which are not my normal genre. I just purchased my first Riley Sager book, Middle of the Night. So, we will see...
I’m reading God of the Woods and also trying to finish Swan Song. I’ve also been absolutely loving the Olympic coverage!! My reading has slacked because of it, hehe. I’m looking forward to the new book by the author of Stone Cold Fox; her new one is We Love the Nightlife!
Renee, I totally get the whole expectations thing - it has definitely impacted my reading, at times, as well!! My favorite July reads were All the Colors of the Dark, The Same Bright Stars and Summer Romance! I just finished out the month with a week at the beach, plus it was my birthday month, so July has been pretty great! Talk about expectations…pretty sure August is going to be a bummer after all of that! 😂
haha well you may have to lower your August expectations right? Happy belated birthday! Your beach reading pic on IG made me jealous- beach reading is the best. So glad you had several winners for July 👏🏻
I definitely want to read Sea of Tranquility- did you read The Glass Hotel first? I just read Station Eleven (finally) in the spring and loved it, but so far my fav of hers is The Singer’s Gun
Yes I did read The Glass Hotel back in 2022 and loved it. I haven’t read The Singer’s Gun yet and will put that in my radar. I also heard that she’s writing a screenplay for her first novel, Last Night in Montreal, which I haven’t read yet.
My favorite July reads were When Among Crows, Enemies to Lovers, and The Seven Year Slip. I rated them all between 4 and 5 stars! My kids went back to school in July so I feel like it was a really strange month. I'm looking forward to following more of the Olympics coverage in August.
Remarkably bright creatures is a top forever read for me! I absolutely loved that book. I had a great reading month in July, I read ten and had THREE five stars- The god of the woods, Lulu dean’s library of banned books and all the colors of the dark. Also, honorable mentions to the Lion Women of Tehran and Summer Romance. Annabel Monaghan seems to be the only rom com author I enjoy! I’m also so looking forward to seeing Emily again ☺️
My best book of July was The God of the Woods- 5⭐️- followed by Last House at 4.5⭐️! I went back to work this week (school begins super early in the south) and we’ve been obsessively watching the Olympics over the last week, so my reading will definitely slow down a bit now. I’m looking forward to my college aged daughter coming home this week and track and field starting! I’m super pumped about any particular book in August but I always look forward to reading. ☺️📚
Happy 40th!🎉 I've never heard of this book, just looked it up and it sounds really good! And super high ratings- the synopsis reminded me of the book Still Missing by Chevy Stevens- have you read that one? That's an intense thriller that had plenty of twists and turns
My July was busy but I'm enjoying seeing some small buds on the branches and daffodil leaves starting to pierce the ground - Spring's just around the corner!
My favourite July reads were The Middle of the Night by Riley Sager and The Paris Novel by Ruth Reichl. I really enjoyed knitting a big soft woolen hood for myself while listening to audiobooks. And I'm looking forward to my next reading retreat in August - 3 nights in a beautiful house all on the coast all by myself with my books!
I've still got another week so it depends what I get through in the next week - but on the current list is The Sleepwalkers by Scarlett Thomas, finishing off Fellowship Point by Alice Elliot Dark and the latest Shady Hollow! x
I gave into FOMO and read God of the Woods! Fantastic...I love a mystery that is more character driven and less plot! I kept it up with the mystery/thrillers. We Begin at the End by Chris Whitaker and She Rides Shotgun by Jordan Harper were awesome backlist. FOMO got me though-I believed it! And actually bought a hard copy of the newest Riley Sager book and it was so very 'meh'.
Since August is Women in Translation Month-I've shopped my shelves and am into my third book, which I think has the potential to be a smash here-Pink Slime by Fernanda Arias (translated from the Spanish). Its cli-fi with so much more. Done so well-nothing wasted. Slim novel-its awesome!!
And here in CO, I am looking forward to Rocky Ford Cantaloupe and Palisade Peaches!
Love that FOMO paid off for you with God of the Woods! I didn't know August is Women in translation month, I'll have to make sure I read something for it
My reading was not all that great due to travel but had a great time on my trips! My favorite by far was God of the Woods. I also started The Briar Club which I am really enjoying.
I am looking forward to Fall Reading! I had to light an Apple Bourbon candle in my office because I am so ready!
I had a great girls trip to Savannah and some time with my sister at the lake!
Your trips sound fun! Travel does make reading harder that's for sure. An Apple Bourbon candle sounds perfect for fall- it was storming and chilly tonight here and it felt like fall was in the air
I am so excited also because TJ Newman is my favorite author and I got approved on NetGalley to read her newest book, which I started last night. Her books are so propulsive. The book is Worst Case Scenario about a plane that crashes into a nuclear power plant in Minnesota and the aftermath. It publishes on August 13th.
I had an excellent month of reading in July! I read 13 books and I enjoyed almost all of them. I had two 5⭐️ reads, one almost 5⭐️ book and three 4.5⭐️ books. My favorites were The Dearly Beloved (all of the stars for this book!), Colton Gentry’s Third Act and The Lion Women of Tehran. My biggest disappointment was The Guncle Abroad started out great, but then got annoying before it wrapped up nicely. It was only 3 stars.
Also looking forward to reading some big summer book reads I haven’t gotten to yet like All of the Colors of the Dark and Just for the Summer as well as a couple backlist picks that are on my battle of the backburners challenge for myself
My five ⭐️ read is All the Colors of the Dark and Winter Garden by Kristin Hannah for July. I’m looking forward to my August reads, currently reading The Winner, so far a fantastic read! I’m also looking forward to reading recs from July, Italian themed, The Marraige Portrait, Still Life, August Blue and Diavola. I’m so excited for my August reads!
July was a very slow reading month for me, but I did enjoy The Laughter as well as a book one of my friends recommended called The Fox and I (audio). My July was packed full of travel and friends which was amazing. I am looking forward to more routine in August as my travels pause for a while.
REMARKABLY BRIGHT CREATURES by Shelby Van Pelt was a favorite 5 ⭐️ read of July- the audio was excellent and I'm still thinking about the story and Marcellis the octopus.
I've been enjoying watching the Olympics, so much so that I haven't been reading in the evenings. I'm in awe of the athletes, esp Simone Biles. I've also been enjoying podcast listening - one of my favorite July listens was on the Ten Percent Happier with Dan Harris podcast- his July 29 episode on the science of manifestation was super interesting
A couple August new release books I'm looking forward to are HOUSE OF GLASS by Sarah Pekkanen, IN EVERY LIFE by Rea Frey, and BLUE SISTERS by Coco Mellors. I'm also so so excited for the return of Emily in Paris this month!!!
Would love to hear how you go with Blue Sisters - I enjoyed her first book but I think I'm done with sad girl novels, please let me know if this one is also so depressing as I'll skip it! Also hanging out for Emily in Paris! x
I enjoyed my vacation to Florida to visit my dad for a week by myself. I had been extremely stressed out caring for my disabled adult son and I desperately needed a break from it and my husband. I went to two different beaches and enjoyed being out on my dad’s Lanai reading and relaxing. I also used the hot tub. It was wonderful and relaxing
I'm so glad you enjoyed your time in Florida. It sounds like you had some much needed rest and relaxation - and reading!
I love fresh fruit, I don’t take for granted being blessed and having access to so much fresh produce, at reasonable prices.
My 5⭐️ read for July is most definitely Tom Lake!
Agree, I'm very lucky to live near farmer's markets.
My 5 ⭐️ read was All The Colors Of The Dark for July. I was browsing somewhere and discovered a book that i cannot believe that I had never heard of called The Love Songs of W. E. B. Du Bois. It is 29 hours long. I am seriously thinking about starting that in August. I was most looking forward to reading The Wedding People by Alison Espach. I am currently reading it and loving it so much! I am also reading The Only Plane In The Sky: An oral history if 9/11 by Garrett M. Grass in audio. It is incredible. Back to July for moment. A few notable books that I want to mention are Piglet, Unraveling Oliver, What Happened To Nina, Long Island and The Banker’s Wife. Happy weekend everyone!
So glad you’re loving your current reads! I had a feeling you’d feel that way about The Only Plane in the Sky- it’s one of those books you’ll never forget and the audio truly enhances it. I remember when Oprah picked The Love Songs of W E B Du Bois but I couldn’t tackle it because of the length - when I was reading for the podcast- let me know your thoughts if you start it!
The Covenant of Water was 32 hours long and I read it back to back with Robert Galbraith’s most recent book and that book was 30 hours long. So I have high hopes to get through this book. Also forgot to mention that I’m with you on the farmer market. I just spent $92 there on Tuesday.
I’m in line to borrow All The Colors of the Dark on Libby. Thx for sharing that it was a 5 ⭐️ for you! Can’t wait to get it!
I absolutely love this story. The book will pull you in immediately on page one. Some people had issues with the writing format. It is not difficult to understand but it’s not everyone’s cup of tea so to speakI absolutely love this story. The book will pull you in immediately on page one. Some people had issues with the writing format. It is not difficult to understand but it’s not everyone’s cup of tea so to speak..
Zucchini blueberry bread sounds wonderful!
July is always a fun month for me because I go spend a week with my sisters. It’s also where I grew up so it always evokes feelings of nostalgia. My 5 ⭐️ read for July was What Comes After by Joanne Tompkins.
Most anticipated reads for August are All the Colors of the Dark (currently reading We Begin at the End), God of the Woods, and The Wedding People.
My favorite July books were Familiaris by David Wroblewski and The God of the Woods by Liz Moore. For August, I am looking forward to reading a few mysteries/thrillers, which are not my normal genre. I just purchased my first Riley Sager book, Middle of the Night. So, we will see...
I'll be interested in hearing what you think of Middle of the Night!
Middle of the Night is Sagers best best in my opinion - if you like Stephen King I think you'll love this! x
Thank you...I do like Stephen King's non-horror books and have read several of them.
I’m reading God of the Woods and also trying to finish Swan Song. I’ve also been absolutely loving the Olympic coverage!! My reading has slacked because of it, hehe. I’m looking forward to the new book by the author of Stone Cold Fox; her new one is We Love the Nightlife!
I really enjoyed Stone Cold Fox on audio! Was looking forward to her new book but balked when I learned it has vampires lol.
Did you like Stone Cold Fox? That’s still on my tbr and I just grabbed the audio recently, I love a con/heist story
Yes, I really liked that book! It was a quick read for me. If you like rich people and con stories, it’s a must!
Renee, I totally get the whole expectations thing - it has definitely impacted my reading, at times, as well!! My favorite July reads were All the Colors of the Dark, The Same Bright Stars and Summer Romance! I just finished out the month with a week at the beach, plus it was my birthday month, so July has been pretty great! Talk about expectations…pretty sure August is going to be a bummer after all of that! 😂
haha well you may have to lower your August expectations right? Happy belated birthday! Your beach reading pic on IG made me jealous- beach reading is the best. So glad you had several winners for July 👏🏻
Mine is Sea of Tranquility and Letters to a Young Poet (which I read on my birthday and making it extra special)
I definitely want to read Sea of Tranquility- did you read The Glass Hotel first? I just read Station Eleven (finally) in the spring and loved it, but so far my fav of hers is The Singer’s Gun
Yes I did read The Glass Hotel back in 2022 and loved it. I haven’t read The Singer’s Gun yet and will put that in my radar. I also heard that she’s writing a screenplay for her first novel, Last Night in Montreal, which I haven’t read yet.
I loved Sea of Tranquility! I read it in 1 day!
yes! short and succinct!
My favorite July reads were When Among Crows, Enemies to Lovers, and The Seven Year Slip. I rated them all between 4 and 5 stars! My kids went back to school in July so I feel like it was a really strange month. I'm looking forward to following more of the Olympics coverage in August.
That’s so early for your kids! 😫 I am loving the Olympics right now - very excited for the upcoming running/track & field events!
Me too! After gymnastics that’s what I enjoy the most.
Remarkably bright creatures is a top forever read for me! I absolutely loved that book. I had a great reading month in July, I read ten and had THREE five stars- The god of the woods, Lulu dean’s library of banned books and all the colors of the dark. Also, honorable mentions to the Lion Women of Tehran and Summer Romance. Annabel Monaghan seems to be the only rom com author I enjoy! I’m also so looking forward to seeing Emily again ☺️
whoa 3 five stars is awesome! I wasn’t sure I’d love Remarkably Bright Creatures but I was all in almost immediately. Marcellus ❤️
My best book of July was The God of the Woods- 5⭐️- followed by Last House at 4.5⭐️! I went back to work this week (school begins super early in the south) and we’ve been obsessively watching the Olympics over the last week, so my reading will definitely slow down a bit now. I’m looking forward to my college aged daughter coming home this week and track and field starting! I’m super pumped about any particular book in August but I always look forward to reading. ☺️📚
wow your school does start early! You’ve made me bump up Last House:)
My favorite book in July was the thriller Gray After Dark by Noelle W Ihli ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
I celebrate my 40th birthday yesterday so it was a nice day.
Happy 40th!🎉 I've never heard of this book, just looked it up and it sounds really good! And super high ratings- the synopsis reminded me of the book Still Missing by Chevy Stevens- have you read that one? That's an intense thriller that had plenty of twists and turns
Thank you 🌸 I have not read that one, but will check it out cause anything similar to Gray After Dark I am interested to 🤩
My July was busy but I'm enjoying seeing some small buds on the branches and daffodil leaves starting to pierce the ground - Spring's just around the corner!
My favourite July reads were The Middle of the Night by Riley Sager and The Paris Novel by Ruth Reichl. I really enjoyed knitting a big soft woolen hood for myself while listening to audiobooks. And I'm looking forward to my next reading retreat in August - 3 nights in a beautiful house all on the coast all by myself with my books!
Your reading retreat sounds amazing, I’m sure you will have the most relaxing 3 days of reading- have you started planning what books you’ll take?
I've still got another week so it depends what I get through in the next week - but on the current list is The Sleepwalkers by Scarlett Thomas, finishing off Fellowship Point by Alice Elliot Dark and the latest Shady Hollow! x
I gave into FOMO and read God of the Woods! Fantastic...I love a mystery that is more character driven and less plot! I kept it up with the mystery/thrillers. We Begin at the End by Chris Whitaker and She Rides Shotgun by Jordan Harper were awesome backlist. FOMO got me though-I believed it! And actually bought a hard copy of the newest Riley Sager book and it was so very 'meh'.
Since August is Women in Translation Month-I've shopped my shelves and am into my third book, which I think has the potential to be a smash here-Pink Slime by Fernanda Arias (translated from the Spanish). Its cli-fi with so much more. Done so well-nothing wasted. Slim novel-its awesome!!
And here in CO, I am looking forward to Rocky Ford Cantaloupe and Palisade Peaches!
Love that FOMO paid off for you with God of the Woods! I didn't know August is Women in translation month, I'll have to make sure I read something for it
Red Queen or something Icelandic would be an excellent choice!
I've read Red Queen, I may find a Scandinavian thriller or something by a French author as French translations have worked great for me in the past
My reading was not all that great due to travel but had a great time on my trips! My favorite by far was God of the Woods. I also started The Briar Club which I am really enjoying.
I am looking forward to Fall Reading! I had to light an Apple Bourbon candle in my office because I am so ready!
I had a great girls trip to Savannah and some time with my sister at the lake!
Your trips sound fun! Travel does make reading harder that's for sure. An Apple Bourbon candle sounds perfect for fall- it was storming and chilly tonight here and it felt like fall was in the air
I am so ready for that time of year Renee! It’s my favorite reading season!
I am so excited also because TJ Newman is my favorite author and I got approved on NetGalley to read her newest book, which I started last night. Her books are so propulsive. The book is Worst Case Scenario about a plane that crashes into a nuclear power plant in Minnesota and the aftermath. It publishes on August 13th.
congrats on getting an early copy👏🏻
I had an excellent month of reading in July! I read 13 books and I enjoyed almost all of them. I had two 5⭐️ reads, one almost 5⭐️ book and three 4.5⭐️ books. My favorites were The Dearly Beloved (all of the stars for this book!), Colton Gentry’s Third Act and The Lion Women of Tehran. My biggest disappointment was The Guncle Abroad started out great, but then got annoying before it wrapped up nicely. It was only 3 stars.
wow you had a great reading month of highly rated books! Glad Colton was a winner for you, that was a really good read
Also looking forward to reading some big summer book reads I haven’t gotten to yet like All of the Colors of the Dark and Just for the Summer as well as a couple backlist picks that are on my battle of the backburners challenge for myself
I really enjoyed “Crow Talk” by Eileen Garvin. It was my first ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ of the year!
July reading was good to you!!
My five ⭐️ read is All the Colors of the Dark and Winter Garden by Kristin Hannah for July. I’m looking forward to my August reads, currently reading The Winner, so far a fantastic read! I’m also looking forward to reading recs from July, Italian themed, The Marraige Portrait, Still Life, August Blue and Diavola. I’m so excited for my August reads!
July was a very slow reading month for me, but I did enjoy The Laughter as well as a book one of my friends recommended called The Fox and I (audio). My July was packed full of travel and friends which was amazing. I am looking forward to more routine in August as my travels pause for a while.