July 31, 2019
July Reading Wrap Up
*This post contains Amazon affiliate links.
July was a productive reading month and I am happy to report several four-star reads. Find all my July reads listed below in order of Star Rating. Keep in mind that I normally recommend five- and four-star reads on the blog; three-star reads receive mixed reviews from me for various reasons; and two-star reads are books that were not for me. One star reads are usually shelved as DNF.
My favorite read of the month is Hum if You Don’t Know the Words.
Did we read any of the same books?
Titles are Amazon affiliate links and my available reviews are linked.
Hum if You Don’t Know the Words by Bianca Marais
4 Stars. Thought-provoking historical fiction. I love diverse reads! Brief Goodreads Review.
The Unlikely Adventures of the Shergill Sisters
by Balli Kaur Jaswal
4 Stars. Engaging, zany, and light women’s fiction with some thoughtful themes. A great choice to take on vacation in August! Full review here.
The Romanov Bride by Robert Alexander
4 Stars. For fans of Russian history. Brief Goodreads Review.
The Love Song of Miss Queenie Hennessy
by Rachel Joyce
4 Stars. A companion read to The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry (5 Stars). Full Review Here.
What the Wind Knows by Amy Harmon
4 Stars Romantic time travel. Not yet reviewed.
The Rest of the Story by Sarah Dessen
3.5 Stars (rounded to 4 on Goodreads). YA Fiction. Teenage storylines but loved the theme of hearing the “stories.” Brief Goodreads Review.
The Bookish Life of Nina Hill by Abbi Waxman
3.5 Stars. (rounded to 4 on Goodreads) 90% of this book I LOVED! I didn’t find Chapter 5 to my taste (Ch 5 doesn’t impact the story and you can skip or scan it!). Brief Goodreads Review.
Miracle Creek by Angie Kim
3.5 Stars. A compelling contemporary fiction read but left me with mixed feelings. Full Review Here.
Recursion by Blake Crouch
3 Stars. For fans of Dark Matter. I’m not a huge science fiction fan, but others have loved it! For me, it was interesting and OK. Not yet reviewed.
The Accidental Beauty Queen by Teri Wilson
3 Stars. Chick Lit. A fun and fast read with very little substance. Not reviewed.
I Miss You When I Blink by Mary Laura Philpott
2 Stars. An entertaining memoir/journal, but I wished for more substance. Very Brief Goodreads Review.
DNF
2 Stars. I set aside The Gifted School by Bruce Holsinger. Although it’s received some excellent reviews, it wasn’t the right read for me. At 60% I was bored with unlikeable characters and their privileged drama. The 60% I read, I rated 2 stars. I hear it has a great ending with a fun plot twist…..but I couldn’t do it.
Let’s Discuss!
What did you read in July?
Did we read any of the same books?
Which of these books is on your TBR?
Happy Reading Book Buddies!
“Ah, how good it is to be among people who are reading.”
~Rainer Maria Rilke
“I love the world of words, where life and literature connect.”
~Denise J Hughes
“Reading good books ruins you for enjoying bad ones.”
~Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society
“I read because books are a form of transportation, of teaching, and of connection! Books take us to places we’ve never been, they teach us about our world, and they help us to understand human experience.”
~Madeleine Riley, Top Shelf Text
In Case You Missed It:
2 Year Blogiversary & Giveaway!
My Best Reads of the Year So Far
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***Blogs posts may contain affiliate links. This means that at no extra cost to you, I can earn a small percentage of your purchase price.
Unless explicitly stated that they are free, all books that I review have been purchased by me or borrowed from the library.
Book Cover and author photo are credited to Amazon or an author’s (or publisher’s) website.
So happy you enjoyed Hum If You Know the Words. It’s been on my list for awhile!
Eager to get my eyes on her new release now!
Great wrap up Carol! I’m trying to squeeze another book in today, so my wrap up won’t be posted until tomorrow.
Thanks Nicki! Happy end of July reading! I posted a bit early because I knew I wouldn’t finish another read. I don’t think there are any rules about when we post! 😂 I love reading all the wrap up posts! 😍
I love reading them too and you’re right there are no rules about when to post 😂
Great reading month for you! It’s good you read more books that you ended up enjoying!
That’s always a good month! 👍 Thanks for commenting!
I really enjoyed Hum If You Know the Words and The Unlikely Adventures of the Shergill Sisters! It was so intriguing to learn more about the cultures from both novels!
Here are my recent reads: https://elle-alice.blogspot.com/2019/07/july-book-reviews.html
Yes those reads were sooo memorable! Have you read If You Want to Make God Laugh? It’s on my fall TBR 👍