Here’s my July 2023 Reading Wrap Up. How was your July reading month?
July 2023 Reading Wrap Up
July was a “mixed bag” reading month. Although I didn’t have one 5 star read, I enjoyed an abundance of 4 star reads. Out of the 13 books completed, I had nine 4-star reads, three 3-star reads, and one 2.5-star read.
My most memorable fiction read this month was probably The Covenant of Water by Abraham Verghese because of the accomplishment I felt after finishing this hefty and memorable tome. My favorite nonfiction was Life in Five Senses by Gretchen Rubin. (not yet reviewed)
***This post contains Amazon affiliate links.
Titles are Amazon affiliate links or my linked reviews.
ARC=Advanced Readers Copy (complimentary copy for review before pub date)
The Covenant of Water by Abraham Verghese
4 Stars. Multigenerational historical fiction set in India; literary fiction.
Life in Five Senses by Gretchen Rubin
4 Stars. Nonfiction; essays (not yet reviewed)
The Orphan Twins by Lesley Eames
4 Stars. Historical Fiction. (not yet reviewed)
Happy Ever After For the Cornish Midwife by Jo Bartlett
4 Stars. Contemporary Women’s Fiction. #8 in a series. (not yet reviewed)
What Would Jane Austen Do? by Linda Corbett (ARC)
4 Stars. (ARC) Contemporary Women’s Fiction; romance. A nod to all things Austen. (review coming soon)
Land Girls at the Wartime Bookshop by Lesley Eames
4 Stars. Historical fiction (WWII). My new favorite author for women on the homefront stories. (review coming soon)
The Bookbinder by Pip Williams
4 Stars. Historical Fiction (WWI). A book about books, a woman’s pursuit of education, and bookbinding. (not yet reviewed)
Brave the Wild River by Melissa L. Sevigny
4 Stars. Nonfiction; biographical narrative nonfiction, botany. The story of the two real-life women botanists who dared to brave a dangerous boat expedition through the Grand Canyon in 1938 to map the botany along the Colorado River. (not reviewed)
How to Read Literature Like a Professor by Thomas C. Foster
4 Stars. Nonfiction, essays, literary analysis. This was a bit more academic (textbook) than I expected and I skimmed many sections. (not reviewed)
The Inn on Bluebell Lane by Kate Hewitt (ARC)
3.5 Stars. (ARC) Women’s Fiction, family drama. I requested this because I love Hewitt’s “vicarage” series. I wished that the main character in BlueBell Lane had been more likable and less whiney. (review coming soon)
The Summer of Broken Rules by K.L. Walther (YA)
3 Stars.. Contemporary young adult. It has been a while since I’ve read a young adult selection and this one is entertaining with limited profanity. Romance fades to black. (not reviewed)
The Pumpkin Spice Cafe by Laurie Gilmore (ARC)
3.5 Stars. (ARC) Contemporary Romance (grumpy/sunshine). Small-town “Stars Hollow” vibes, but with SPICE (more than I expected!). If you like open-door romance, this is an entertaining story. If spicey is not your preference, I’d skip this one! (review coming soon)
The Life Council by Laura Tremaine
2.5 Stars. Nonfiction, essay. A rundown of ALL her friendships, girls’ trips, and girlfriend drama. Although I love the topic, I found little to relate to or be inspired by here. In fact, you might feel bad if you don’t have a multitude of friends or similar financial resources.
July Wrap Up QOTD:
Did we read any of the same books?
Did you have a favorite July read?
July Blog Posts
Books Set in Paris
The Covenant of Water Review
Blogiversary #6
Becoming Madam Secretary (cover reveal)
10 Popular Books I Did Not Finish
Women on the Home Front During War Years
Women of the Post Review
Eleanor Recommends (Guest Post)
10 Books With One Word Titles
Summer’s One “Must Read” Book (collaboration)
Ladies of the Lake Review
Hello Stranger Review
No Two Persons Review
Happy Reading Bood Friends!
“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
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Books I review are purchased by me or borrowed from the library unless explicitly stated that they are free (arcs).
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13 books is fantastic Carol,especially with one of them being a tome! 😀
Thanks Nicki! I think during a July heatwave I must have read a lot!
Two favourite July reads. From Now Until Forever by Rowan Coleman which I reviewed yesterday and Wait For Me by Santa Montefiore which I’m reviewing on Saturday. A good reading month for you 😊
Thanks for sharing your favs! Happy August reading!
I keep hearing a lot of good things about Covenant of Water. I have Cutting for Stone by the same author on my Kindle. It was highly recommended by a friend. When it went on sale, I bought it immediately but haven’t read it yet. Have you read Cutting for Stone?
No I haven’t read Cutting For Stone but I’d like to!
I think I read How to Read Literature Like a Professor or check it out at the library once.
Have a great August reading month.
I think I might have enjoyed the children’s version more! 😂😂😂 Happy reading!
Great reading month, especially finishing that 700+ page tome. I already have an ARC of Pumpkin Spice Cafe, so thanks for the warning. I hope August will give you a few of those 5 star reads.
709 pages should count for more than one book! Where’s my extra credit?!
😂😂