August 2026 reading is a wrap! Did you have a favorite August read?
August 2026 Reading Wrap Up
August Summary: Out of 9books completed, I had four 4-star reads, three 3-3.5-star reads, and two 2-star reads. I had one DNF. Not my most spectacular reading month.
My favorite of my four-star reads is Marriage by the Sea by Jody Hedlund. I always enjoy her stories and writing.
Helen from Fair are the Meadows is my August Captivating Character of the month. I read the book in July, and it’s being published in September. My blog feature, Captivating Characters of the Month, is hosted by yours truly (details in the linked post). Check it out and link up (blog post, goodreads reviews, etc.) with me!
***This post contains Amazon affiliate links.
ARC=Advanced Readers Copy (complimentary copy for review before pub date)
A Marriage By the Sea by Jody Hedlund (ARC)
4 Stars. (ARC) Historical Fiction (1852). Marriage of Convenience. Romance. Maine (Pub Date: 11/17/2026)
Wit, Wiles, and Courtship by Jennie Goutet (ARC)
4 Stars. (ARC) Historical Fiction. Regency Romance. Friends to More. England (my Goodeads review)
Christmas Wishes for the Great Western Railway Girls by Jane Lark (ARC)
4 Stars. (ARC) Historical Fiction (WWII home front). Friendship. Women Supporting Women. England. My review of Christmas Wishes for the Great Western Railway Girls.
The Cotswold Christmas Shop by Jill Steeples (ARC)
4 Stars. (ARC) Contemporary Fiction. Books About Books/Book Shops. Romance. My review of Cotswold Christmas Shop.
The Brunswick by Callie Murray
3.5 Stars. Historical Fiction (1939). Refugee Children. Romance. Georgia. Not Reviewed.
Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen
3 Stars. Classic Literature. England. Not reviewed.
Good People by Patmeena Sabit
3 Stars. Contemporary Fiction. Diverse Read. Complicated Family Drama. Very Sad. Not reviewed.
When the Cranes Fly South by Lisa Ridzen
2 stars. Contemporary Fiction. Character-driven. Reflective. Well-written but Depressing. Not reviewed.
The Last One Out by Jane Harper
2 Stars. Contemporary Fiction. Complicated Family Drama. Grief. Atmospheric and Strong Sense of Place. Mysterious Death of a Young Adult. Very Slow Paced. Not reviewed.
DNF: Yellow Face by R.F. Kuang
DNF @ 10 %. Sometimes you know within the first few pages. I wasn’t connecting with the characters, the content, or the tone.
QOTD:
Did we read any of the same books?
Did you have a favorite August read?
August Blog Posts
Helen: August Captivating Character of the Month
Dolly Parton: Songteller Review
Mini Reviews: Christmas Wishes for the Great Western Railway Girls, The Cotswold Christmas Shop, The Perfect Gift
Books Set in Places I’ve Visited
3 Memorable Reads of Summer 2026
The Briar Club Review
No One’s Coming Review
Series I’ve Enjoyed
The Little Porto Book Club Review
The Last Library of Paris Review
Meeting Her Match Review
The Heiress and the Woodsman Review
A Promise For Tomorrow Review
Reblog: Best of the Best: 2015-2025
Book Club Kit: The Burning Side
Summer at Flora’s House Review
Daughters of Tuscany Review
Animals on the Cover
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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