Overall mood: calm – that seems to be the only way to explain how I managed to read 30 books this month. Yes, you read that right. I read 30 books in the month of July. What is important to know before you read the rest of this monthly summary is that a half dozen of these reads where fewer than 200 pages each. Another dozen were from series I have been reading and getting up to date with, if not finishing completely. There have also been several that I knew going into them I would love, and I was proven right, so reading them too no time at all. This calm feeling that has filled my month of reading, paired with my reading zoomies, is why I read so much.

Books read:

An Academic Affair by Jodi McAlister, 4.5/5

I really love this one, not just for its academic setting but the cosy smalltown romance vibes it brings along with it. The setting is beautiful and with it the charaters carry so much potential and promise. Cannot wait to see how this story world and its protagonists build in future books. This is one of the light academia readers out there and the romance readers too.

A Dead and Stormy Night by Steffanie Holmes, 4/5

A small-town mystery that is not without its romance! There is murder, there is drama, there is tension, and the are interactions that are teasing and hilarious. This is one of the cosy mystery books that gives you a bit of everything and the series looks like it will be developing in a very different way than I have read before.

The Art of Catching Feelings by Alicia Thompson, 4.5/5

A light-hearted romance with deeper, more mature themes that make this a fulfilling and comforting read. The interactions and relationship developments are fun and interesting while the drama and internal conflicts drum the tension up to make for an engrossing plot. It is a quick read, but definitely something to fill your aternoon with and leave you thinking about things for a while.

Baptism of Fire by Andrzej Sapkowski, 3.5/5

Slow-going with not enough focus on the main characters for my liking, I feel that this story world is too large and the expositionary details not relevant to the immediate plot and action. Things are starting to pick up, but there is still a stunted feel to the pace and the tension. Hoping it gets better from here because I’m not enjoying this series that much.

Carved in Blood by Michael Bennett, 5/5

From start to finish I was invested and the twists and reveals along the way made for excellent complexities to the plot and overall story. I love these characters, the action, the interactions and dynamics, and the set up for future reads. 100% buying this seriesthanks to Carved in Blood, and I strongly advise you read this series as soon as possible.

Well Met by Jen DeLuca, 4.5/5

As someone who has never been to a rennaisance fair, this novel did everything and more to bring that experience to life. I could feel the whimsical vibes radiating from this novel as I read it. I couldn’t get enough of the characters, the drama is entertaining and exciting, and the overall feel of the book is lovely. I recommend giving this series a go when you see it.

Well Played by Jen Deluca, 4/5

My least favourite of the series, but a cute and fun romance nevertheless. The charactersare intersting, the drama build up engaging, but the reveal is a little fumbled. I found myself disliking him for how he reacted, but that’s better than feeling indifferent to him throughout the book and that certainly wasn’t the case.

Well Metched by Jen DeLuca, 4.5/5

What I think I liked most about this one is that fact that there is a romance where the woman is older, a mother, and it gives a different perspective to read in a romance. The characters are fun, likable, and complex, and their interactions are humourous and interesting to follow. Not my favourite in the series, but I certainly like it a lot.

Well Travelled by Jen DeLuca, 4/5

The conclusion to this cute and cosy whimiscal romance series sets everything right, leaving a sweet and satisfying ending to it all. The characters have been hanging around for a while, but to finally see their story come to fruition is a rewarding feeling. I quite liked this one and had a lot of fun reading it.

The Knight and The Moth by Rachel Gillig, 4.5/5

This gothic dark fantasy sets a grim but compelling scene, establishing the nation its set in and the magic system well. The characters are interesting and likeable, though perhaps not their names, and overall it was a great YA fantasy read. It will be interesting to see how this develops in the second novel.

The Tower of the Swallow by Andrzej Sapkowski, 4/5

This is my favourite of the novel series, but unfortunately that isn’t a difficult place to be. Nevertheless, I liked the action and character focuses in this one, Ciri’s prominence in the story, and the plotting of the story overall. Still getting sick and tired of perspectives I don’t care about coming up to tell stories about things I don’t view as relevant to the main plot.

Network Effect by Martha Wells, 4.5/5

I love this novel, not only because we get so much more Murderbot in one book, but because the plot and the characters and the humour throughout is just priceless. I love ART and Murderbot’s interactions and the action in this one is so gripping and entertaining. I will forever hold this one close to my heart.

Sunrise on the Reaping by Suzanne Collins, 5/5

So much better than my reaction to The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes, sunrise on the Reaping get right back into the heart of the original trilgoy and brings out those intentions to shove them in your face. The tragedy, the spectacle, the manipulation, the stories, and the truth. It is all out there in this one, and the fact I couldn’t stop reading it is a sure sign I could not get enough of it. A must read for everyone.

Crying in H-Mart by Michelle Zauner, 4.5/5

It is a rough but beautiful read full of heartache, history, food, and love. There were many moments I felt the need to pause and consider the events, the people, the actions and reactions. Another part of me felt a deep connection to the author for struggling with my own identity. It is a short yet powerful read so many would benefit from picking up, and I encourage you to do so.

An Angel at my Table by Janet Frame, 4/5

This sweet yet shocking autobiography will tug and your heartstrings and pique your curiosity while giving you that much-needed break from fantasy. It is non fiction with a difference, a compelling flourish of poetry here and a deeply emotive display of thoughts there. It is a novel for a wide range of readers, and deserving of so much love, praise, and appreciation.

The Traitor Baru Cormorant by Seth Dickenson, 4/5

A dark, intense, lush adult fantasy full on political shiftings, tense engagements, compelling characters and brutal action. It has that feel of The Poppy War or maybe even Game of Thrones, while still being an intriguing and enticing world of its own merit. Definitely something to consider picking up.

The Lady of the Lake by Andrzej Sapkowski, 3.5/5

Not the ending I was hoping for. Not only was I underwhelmed for most of the story given the perspectives are all from characters I care about, but the conflict of interest occurred might earlier than expected and the denouement was disappointing. I don’t know if I would be able to explain what happens in this novel and I’m thankful I don’t have to try.

The Word for World is Forest by Ursula K. Le Guin, 4/5

This short but sharp read is great commentary on collonialism and social relations between peoples. While it is a sci-fi with a spae setting, the themes are relevant not only back when the novel was written, but right now as well. It is lush and insightful while still given criticism where it is due. Also, for the film buffs out there, this inspired Avatar to an extent.

Notes on an Execution by Danya Kukafka, 4.5/5

This novel is definitely worth its praise and moment in the spotlight. The way in which the story is told is different and intriguing, the characters are complex, and the tone of the novel really immerse you in a dark and eerie place. I have some reservations about it, really just wishing it went a little further into the darkness, but overall I was really glad to have read this book recommendation from bookstagram.

Murder at the Bookstore by Susan Minix, 4/5

This is an interesting one, but also missed the mark for me. There are so many things that could have made it really interesting, but there seems to have been a but of a disconnect. I also am not quite a fan of the protagonist, but I am hopeful for the next book in the series. I guess you will find you next month if I ended up reading it or not.

Play with Me by Becka Mack, 4.5/5

I can get behind this series. The vibe is similar to other sports romance out there, especially the ice hockey ones, but the characters and the interactions and dynamics between them give Play with Me and this series a feel of its own. I find myself drawn to them and this story world more so than others in the same realm of romance, and I would definitely suggest others give it a go.

A Natural History of Dragons: A Memoir by Lady Trent by Marie Brennan, 4/5

I enjoyed this historical fantasy a lot, and the unique storytelling has me intrigued for the rest of the series. The cosy fantasy feel mixed in with more mature, insightful commentary gives an enticing feel and the illustrations throughout the novel contribute to a greater depth of the story, not to mention make me pause and admire the artwork.

Unravel Me by Becka Mack, 4.5/5

I knew a single-parent story was coming for this series and I lapped it up just the same. The characters are so precious and the interactions between the group are so heartfelt and compelling. This series is really doing a number on my heart and threatening to make me pay (I have them on wishlists, but I might be biting the bullet and buying them outright shortly). Highly recommend.

Fugitive Telemetry by Martha Wells, 4.5/5

Fun, sarcastic, petty and witty, Murderbot and their escapades continue to amuse me. This short novella continues to expand the story world and provide something new while incorporating the characters who have been around since day one. There is a slight shift in narrative style with this one (or perhaps that’s just how I read it), but it feels cohesive with the series.

Season of Storms by Andrzej Sapkowski, 4/5

This standalone Witcher novel feels like the baby bear’s porridge in the Goldilocks tale – not too concise like the short stories but not too long-winded and expositional like the novel series. I really like the amount of detail within this section of the stories, and Geralt as a character is able to come out a little more and show his personality which was overshadowed in the novels.

Fall with Me by Becka Mack, 4.5/5

This series has become a favourite of mine, and Fall with Me continues to push what I thought was possible with how much I love these characters. There is a jump up in terms of the explicit scenes compared to earlier books, but the crux of the novel remains well grounded, its characters mature and complex, and their dynamics truly worthy of found family gold. Highly recommend this series to the point of stealing your library card and requesting the novels on your behalf.

Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck, 4/5

I don’t read a lot of classic literature, but Of Mice and Men isn’t too bad in my books. It is a short read, with a slice-of-life feel that cuts to the chase and lets the characters and imagery develop the themes and deeper meanings to the text. I can see how school kids could tire of this as forced reading, but for fun it was a decent read.

Great Big Beautiful Life by Emily Henry, 4/5

Having just finished this novel before writing up these mini reviews, I am still ruminating on it, but my initial reaction is that it is a little lacklustre and underwhelming compared to her previous works, namely Funny Story which is my favourite of hers. With story elements reminiscent of the Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo, this romance has two things going on and I’m not sure if they work together to the best of their potential. You’ll have to check in with my full review later to see what my final verdict is.

Letters to a Young Poet by Rainer Maria Rilke, 4/5

An insightful, eye-opening series of exchanges between to artist where contributions of mentorship, philosophy, and beauty culminate in passage that feel they could have been written in recent years. It is a short read, yet there is enough to take away from it, making it informative and a refreshing non fiction break from the fictional story worlds I tend to pick up.

Of Mice and Murder by Steffanie Holmes, 4/5

Of Mice and Murder certainly steps things up in the spice department to what was in A Dead and Stormy Night, but aside from that it is a small-town mystery novel with all its wacky characters and finer details. Given the reverse harem element to the series though it isn’t something I can recommend to just anyone. If that’s your cup of tea, have at it! If you don’t know what reverse harem is then it is best you keep it that way.