August 2025 reading is a wrap! How is your reading year progressing? Did you have a favorite August read?
August 2025 Reading Wrap Up
August Summary: Out of 13 books completed, I experienced one 5-star read, two 4.5-star reads, five 4-star reads, one 3.5-star read, and four 3-star reads.
My most memorable and compelling fiction read in August was Theo of Golden by Allen Levi. Theo is also my Captivating Character for August. Join the Link Party for #CaptivatingCharacters25 hosted by yours truly…details here. Check it out and link up (blog post, goodreads reviews, etc.) with me!
Don’t miss my first Summer Reading Guide and my blog collaboration project, One Must Read Book of the Summer.
***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)
Theo of Golden by Allen Levi
5 Stars. Literary Fiction, Contemporary Fiction, Kindness. Don’t miss this one, which will be on my best of year list! Theo is my Captivating Character of August.
The Harvey Girls by Juliette Fay (ARC)
4.5 Stars. (ARC) Historical Fiction (1920s), Friendship, Women Supporting Women, Rail Travel. My review of The Harvey Girls here.
The Story She Left Behind by Patti Callahan Henry
4.5 Stars. Historical Fiction (1952), Family Life, Mothers/Daughters, Secrets, Mystery. My review of The Story She Left Behind.
The Weight of Snow and Regret by Elizabeth Gauffreau (ARC)
4 Stars. (ARC) Historical Fiction (1968), Hardships, The Last Poor Farm in Vermont. Review on pub date: 10/1/2025.
Hopeful Hearts at the Wartime Hotel by Maisie Thomas (ARC)
4 Stars. (ARC) Historical Fiction (WWII home front), #2 in a series, Women Supporting Women. Review on pub date: 11/7/2025.
The Great Western Railway Girls do Their Bit by Jane Lark (ARC)
4 Stars. (ARC) Historical Fiction (WWII home front), #2 in a series, Friendship, Women Supporting Women. Review on pub date: 9/27/2025
The Incredible Kindness of Paper by Evelyn Skye
4 Stars. Contemporary Fiction, Some Magical Realism. Not yet reviewed.
Astrid the Unstoppable by Maria Parr (MG)
4 Stars. Contemporary Fiction, Middle Grade, Family Life, Zany and fast-paced. Not reviewed.
Meet Me in the Orchard by Carolyn Brown (ARC)
3.5 Stars. (ARC) Contemporary Fiction, Family Life, Romance. Review coming.
Cat’s People by Tanya Guerrero
3 Stars. Contemporary Fiction, Friendship, Told from a cat’s POV. Not reviewed.
In the Time of Five Pumpkins by Alexander McCall Smith (ARC)
3 Stars. (ARC) Contemporary Fiction, #26 in a (tired) series (although this one was more engaging that the last few), Diverse Read, Character-driven. Review on pub date: 9/30/2025.
Better Days on Dressmaker’s Alley by Rosie Clark (ARC)
3 Stars. (ARC) Historical Fiction (1926), #3 in a series, Dressmaking, Women in Business, Romance. Review on pub date: 10/1/2025
Wild Dark Shore by Charlotte McConaghy
3 Stars. Contemporary Fiction, Climate Fiction, Family Drama, Mystery, BLEAK. Not Reviewed.
QOTD:
Did we read any of the same books?
Did you have a favorite August read?
August Blog Posts
Captivating Character of August
Remember Review
Favorite Snacks
The Secret Book Society Review
The Story She Left Behind Review
Faking Christmas Review
Books With High Page Counts
The Lost Baker of Vienna Review
Wedding Bells for the East End Library Girls Review
Still Alice Review
The Keeper of Hidden Books Review
Last Stop on the Wonderland Express Review
The Harvey Girls Review
End Your Reading Slump
The Most Wonderful Time of the Year Review
Three Holidays and a Wedding Review
Dear Miss Lake Review
The Storytellers Review
If You Don’t Read [insert genre], Try This One
Happy Reading Book 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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I hope September is another great reading month for you, Carol. 📚💖
Thanks Sandy! Happy September reading! 📚
That’s a good number of books Carol. One of my favourite books in August was The Second Chances Book Club by Stephanie Butland.
Oh, I love the Butland story. In the U.S. it’s called The Book of Kindness.
Looks like a fab bookish month, Carol!
Added to my best of year list….so yes, a good month!
Nice list, Carol! I haven’t read anything from your list, but I’m interested in The Story She Left Behind and Cat’s People, so I’ll add those to my reading list.
https://embracethepandemonium.wordpress.com/
Happy reading Roxanne!
Congrats on an awesome August reading list, have a super September!
Thanks! 🪴 Happy reading Shelleyrae!