July 2025 Reads
The “busy season” of summer has officially arrived and I cannot believe July is already over.
I feel like I haven’t even gotten to enjoy the outdoors as much this year because it’s just been so freaking hot and offensively HUMID. You can thank the sweaty corn of the midwest for that excessive moisture. Yes, corn sweat. It’s a real thing. Look it up.
To keep this intro brief so that you don’t skip it like the start of a recipe on Pinterest, I’ll just provide a few highlight photos from this month lol:
From top left: the gathering event I hosted at my new place, Kate & Dan’s Wedding, Art Fair, and Sare’s Bachelorette!
All righty, let’s get into everything I read in July.
*All summaries are taken or paraphrased from Goodreads.
The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordon
THE LIGHTNING THIEF by Rick Riordon (Percy Jackson and the Olympians, #1)
Rating: 3.5/5 stars
Summary: Lately, mythological monsters and the Olympian gods seem to be walking straight out of the pages of Percy Jackson’s Greek mythology textbook and into his life. Zeus's master lightning bolt has been stolen, and Percy is the prime suspect. Percy and his friends have just ten days to find and return Zeus's stolen property and bring peace to a warring Mount Olympus.
My Thoughts: I had never read this series despite how popular it has become over the years. To complete one of the yearly challenges on Storygraph though, I had to read a book outside of my usual genre. So I decided to lean into some middle grade fantasy with this story. Let me just say, I totally understand why kids and teens love this book. Its format keeps the pace moving quickly, it’s packed with endless action and humor, and Percy’s character makes following him on this quest thoroughly enjoyable. However, allow me to dust off my soap box so that I can properly ROAST some of this book lol. FIRST OF ALL, Percy would be NOTHING without Grover and Annabelle. Percy is the person in your friend group who gets along with literally everyone, but they also have a hard time catching your nonverbal cues when you are trying to get them to leave a conversation because the other person is a little sus or you plainly do not like them lol. Like yeah, Percy, ignore Annabelle, daughter of Athena - goddess of wisdom. She probably won’t know the wisest thing to do in any given situation… ALSO, yer telling me, Poseidon, god of the SEA, can’t get from the Pacific ocean to the Atlantic quicker than 12-year-old Percy can travel across the country to meet with you at the Santa Monica Pier of all places. Like how lazy and also cliche of you?? Anyway, I enjoyed this overall lmao, and definitely recommend it for any young teens in your life. Or if you just enjoy things involving Greek mythology, you might enjoy this!
The Wicked King by Holly Black
THE WICKED KING by Holly Black (The Folk of the Air, #2)
Rating: 4.5/5 stars
Summary: You must be strong enough to strike and strike and strike again without tiring. The first lesson is to make yourself strong. After the jaw-dropping revelation that Oak is the heir to Faerie, Jude must keep her brother safe. To do so, she has bound the wicked king, Cardan, to her, and made herself the power behind the throne. Navigating the constantly shifting political alliances of Faerie would be difficult enough if Cardan were easy to control. But he does everything in his power to humiliate and undermine her even as his fascination with her remains undiminished. When it becomes all too clear that someone close to Jude means to betray her, threatening her own life and the lives of everyone she loves, Jude must uncover the traitor and fight her own complicated feelings for Cardan to maintain control as a mortal in a Faerie world.
My Thoughts: Okay, we love it when the already unstable politics get even messier. With Cardan officially crowned King of Elfhame and Jude acting as his power behind the throne, she’s determined to keep him in check until her younger brother is old enough to rule. But she’s juggling a lot as more ruling courts start joining the group chat of power struggle. Jude now has to outmaneuver not only her calculating stepfather, the General, but also the Queen of the Undersea, whose ocean-dwelling faeries are making some serious moves for the crown. What really stood out to me in this book was Jude’s character development. While some of her impulsiveness from the last book still lingers, she’s clearly grown more strategic, more capable, and far better at executing plans now that her secret coup has succeeded. That said, her interpersonal relationships could still use a little work - especially when it comes to Cardan. The tension between them is frustrating. They get so close to being real with each other, only to retreat behind their emotional armor. Every time they take two steps forward, someone flinches and they stumble three steps back. If you’re not big on romance, don’t worry. This book leans more into the political tensions and high-stakes betrayals than love stories. The end portion of this book made my jaw clench so hard, so I’m obvi moving onto the next book ASAP because I have to know how the current situation plays out. If the Cruel Prince left you feeling a little underwhelmed, just know this second book makes up for what that one lacked!
The Queen of Nothing by Holly Black
THE QUEEN OF NOTHING by Holly Black (The Folk of the Air, #3)
Rating: 4/5 stars
Summary: Power is much easier to acquire than it is to hold onto. Jude learned this lesson when she released her control over the wicked king, Cardan, in exchange for immeasurable power. Now as the exiled mortal Queen of Faerie, Jude is powerless and left reeling from Cardan’s betrayal. She bides her time determined to reclaim everything he took from her. Opportunity arrives in the form of her deceptive twin sister, Taryn, whose mortal life is in peril. Jude must risk venturing back into the treacherous Faerie Court, and confront her lingering feelings for Cardan, if she wishes to save her sister. But Elfhame is not as she left it. War is brewing. As Jude slips deep within enemy lines she becomes ensnared in the conflict’s bloody politics. And, when a dormant yet powerful curse is unleashed, panic spreads throughout the land, forcing her to choose between her ambition and her humanity.
My Thoughts: Okay, so the last book left us on a major cliffhanger with Jude getting banished to the mortal realm after agreeing to release her hold on King Cardan. Even though she’s basically a SIMP for the faerie world (and literally its queen), she can’t risk showing her face in Elfhame or she might be executed for treason. But when her twin sister is summoned to testify before the royal court, Jude has to take her place because unlike Taryn, Jude can actually resist fae magic. Unsurprisingly, the second Jude steps back into the faerie world, she’s thrown right back into the political cluster fuck that got her exiled in the first place. I’ve got to be honest, I was a little frustrated with how long it took for Jude’s character development to kick in. It felt like we were pretty deep into the book before she started making smarter choices. She was constantly distrusting the wrong people while totally trusting the ones she absolutely shouldn’t. Also we GOTTA talk about the whole “Cardan turns into a giant worm” situation. Like, WUT LOL?! It’s tied to some old prophecy about the kind of king he’d become, and everyone’s obsessed with it, but I definitely did not have “giant worm” on my faerie fantasy bingo card. All I could picture was that episode of SpongeBob with the Alaskan bull worm where Sandy rides it like she’s back in Texas. Totally unhinged, but also kind of iconic. Anyway, final thoughts on the series: I enjoyed the journey overall. It had the drama, the betrayal, the magic. But I do wish the final book had ended on a stronger note. Still, if you like messy fae politics and slow-burn power plays, this series delivers.
The Frozen River by Ariel Lawhon
THE FROZEN RIVER by Ariel Lawhon
Rating: 4.5/5 stars
Summary: Maine, 1789: When the Kennebec River freezes, entombing a man in the ice, Martha Ballard is summoned to examine the body and determine cause of death. As a midwife and healer, she is privy to much of what goes on behind closed doors in Hallowell. Her diary is a record of every birth and death, crime and debacle that unfolds in the close-knit community. Months earlier, Martha documented the details of an alleged rape committed by two of the town’s most respected gentlemen—one of whom has now been found dead in the ice. But when a local physician undermines her conclusion, declaring the death to be an accident, Martha is forced to investigate the shocking murder on her own. Over the course of one winter, as the trial nears, and whispers and prejudices mount, Martha doggedly pursues the truth. Her diary soon lands at the center of the scandal, implicating those she loves, and compelling Martha to decide where her own loyalties lie.
My Thoughts: This book absolutely lives up to the hype, and the fact that it’s based on a true story makes it even more powerful. The story follows Martha Ballard, a midwife and healer in the town of Hallowell, who knows all about the private lives of her neighbors. She keeps a meticulous diary of every birth, death, and illness in the community - including a disturbing account of an alleged rape involving the pastor’s wife and two respected men in town. When one of those men, Joshua Burgess, is found dead face down in the icy river, Martha is the first to examine the body and perform an autopsy. Her conclusion is that Joshua was murdered. But when a newly arrived physician (who just so happens to be close with the local judge) questions her findings and authority, Martha decides to take matters into her own hands and uncover the truth herself. This book has so many complex layers. Set during a time when women had little voice or power, it paints a vivid picture of how even someone like Martha, with decades of medical experience, was constantly dismissed and undermined. It was infuriating, heartbreaking, and yet so deeply satisfying to see her refuse to back down. Martha’s fight to advocate for the women in her community and to speak up when others tried to silence her is what makes this story so phenomenal. If you’re looking for a historical fiction novel that’s immersive, moving, and grounded in real-life resilience, this is a must-read. And definitely don’t skip the author’s note! It adds so much context and depth to Martha’s story.
Sounds Like Love by Ashley Poston
SOUNDS LIKE LOVE by Ashley Poston
Rating: 3.75/5 stars
Summary: Joni Lark is living the dream. She’s one of the most coveted songwriters in LA…and she can’t seem to write. There’s an emptiness inside her, and nothing seems to fill it. When she returns to her hometown of Vienna Shores, North Carolina, she hopes that the sand, the surf, and the concerts at The Revelry, her family’s music venue, will spark her inspiration. But when she gets there, nothing is how she left it. Her best friend is avoiding her, her mother’s memories are fading fast, and The Revelry is closing. How can she think about writing her next song when everything is changing without her? Until she hears it. A melody in her head, lyric-less and half-formed, and an alluring and addictive voice to go with it—belonging, apparently, to a wry musician with hangups of his own. Surely, he’s a figment of her overworked imagination. But then the very real man attached to the voice shows up in Vienna Shores. He’s aggravating and gruff on the outside—nothing like the sweet, funny voice in Joni’s head—and he has a plan: They’ll finish the song haunting them both, break their connection, and hope they don’t risk their hearts in the process. Because that song stuck in their heads? Maybe it’s there for a reason.
My Thoughts: What I love about Ashley Poston’s writing is the way she weaves magical realism into her stories without making it feel far-fetched. It’s subtle, grounded, and blends seamlessly into the emotional core of her books—which is usually romance, and this book carries that same quiet magic. In this story, we follow Joni, a successful and in-demand songwriter in LA who suddenly finds herself creatively blocked after her mom is diagnosed with early-onset dementia. Right before heading home to North Carolina, she crosses paths with Sebastian Fell—a former boy band member and the son of a legendary rocker her parents adore. She’s not impressed and figures that’s the end of it. But once she’s back home, she starts hearing a melody - and a voice - in her head. Not-so-spoiler alert: it’s Sebastian. And the only way to break the mysterious connection between them is to finish writing a song together. I really enjoyed their dynamic. There’s something so moving to me about two characters going through difficult, lonely experiences on their own, slowly finding connection and comfort in each other. It gave the story a lot of heart. Joni’s family and the cast of side characters brought so much personality to the story, too. I could practically hear the noise of one of their chaotic family dinners. Some moments leaned a little cheesy, but overall, I thoroughly enjoyed it. It’s not my favorite Ashley Poston book, so I wouldn’t recommend starting here if you’re new to her writing. But if you already enjoy her blend of heart, magic, and romance, I think you’ll find a lot to love in this one.
The Boyfriend by Freida McFadden
THE BOYFRIEND by Freida McFadden
Rating: 4.5/5 stars
Summary: Sydney Shaw, like every single woman in New York, has terrible luck with dating. She’s seen it all: men who lie in their dating profile, men who stick her with the dinner bill, and worst of all, men who can't shut up about their mothers. But finally, she hits the jackpot. Her new boyfriend is utterly perfect. He's charming, handsome, and works as a doctor at a local hospital. Sydney is swept off her feet. Then the brutal murder of a young woman―the latest in a string of deaths across the coast―confounds police. The primary suspect? A mystery man who dates his victims before he kills them. Sydney should feel safe. After all, she is dating the guy of her dreams. But she can’t shake her own suspicions that the perfect man may not be as perfect as he seems. Because someone is watching her every move, and if she doesn’t get to the truth, she’ll be the killer’s next victim...
My Thoughts: This was my second Freida McFadden book, but my first experience with her writing via audiobook and I am pleased to report it did not disappoint. The book bounces between the present where 34-year-old Sydney Shaw is navigating the dating scene and after a few disaster dates, has basically given up on men. A few weeks after her friend and neighbor, Bonnie, is brutally murdered inside her apartment, Sydney hits it off with a handsome, successful doctor and immediately falls head over heels for this unicorn. Meanwhile the police are still trying to figure out who killed her friend and whether it’s part of a recent pattern of murders. Then we also get a glimpse of the past from the perspective of a boy named Tom. A few girls from his high school have gone missing recently and the police are trying to figure out what’s happening. Though Tom definitely has some dark thoughts, he manages never to act on them. Y’all. As a woman dating in her thirties, this book makes me never want to date again lol. I was absolutely reeling trying to figure out the connection between the two timelines and characters mentioned throughout because I KNEW it couldn’t be THAT obvious. However, my jaw was on the FLOOR once the plot twist was revealed. I was just like OH MY GOD HOW DID I NOT SEE THAT?? Needless to say, if you like a quick and twisty thriller, I highly recommend picking this up!
Beach Read by Emily Henry
BEACH READ by Emily Henry (REREAD)
Rating: 4.5/5 stars
Summary: Augustus Everett is an acclaimed author of literary fiction. January Andrews writes bestselling romance. When she pens a happily ever after, he kills off his entire cast. They’re polar opposites. In fact, the only thing they have in common is that for the next three months, they’re living in neighboring beach houses, broke, and bogged down with writer’s block. Until one hazy evening, one thing leads to another and they strike a deal designed to force them out of their creative ruts: Augustus will spend the summer writing something happy, and January will pen the next Great American Novel. She’ll take him on field trips worthy of any rom-com montage, and he’ll take her to interview surviving members of a backwoods death cult (obviously). Everyone will finish a book and no-one will fall in love. Really.
My Thoughts: This was my book club’s summer pick, and although it was a reread for me, it had been about four years since I first picked it up. According to my original review, I gave it five stars, and this time around, I decided to try the audiobook to see how the experience compared. Let me just say: Julia Whelan could read the ingredients off a Campbell’s soup can and I’d still be hooked. So the fact that she narrates this book was a total bonus. My second read was just as fulfilling as the first. Set in a fictional beach town along Lake Michigan, the setting is so vividly written it’s easy to picture yourself right there with the sun on your face and sand inbetween your toes. The characters are beautifully flawed and deeply real, and their emotional arcs hit just as hard this time around. Unsurprisingly, I was obsessed with the banter between January and Gus, and completely swooned over their undeniable connection. That said, now that I’m more familiar with Emily Henry’s writing style, the romance didn’t hit me quite as hard as it did the first time. The magic was still there, but the initial wow factor had naturally worn off a bit - hence the (very gentle) half-star deduction. Still, I’d absolutely recommend this to anyone looking for the perfect summer romance with a lake escape.
The Priory of the Orange Tree by Samantha Shannon
THE PRIORY OF THE ORANGE TREE by Samantha Shannon
Rating: 3.25/5 stars
Summary: A world divided. A queendom without an heir. An ancient enemy awakens. The House of Berethnet has ruled Inys for a thousand years. Still unwed, Queen Sabran the Ninth must conceive a daughter to protect her realm from destruction – but assassins are getting closer to her door. Ead Duryan is an outsider at court. Though she has risen to the position of lady-in-waiting, she is loyal to a hidden society of mages. Ead keeps a watchful eye on Sabran, secretly protecting her with forbidden magic. Across the dark sea, Tané has trained to be a dragonrider since she was a child, but is forced to make a choice that could see her life unravel. Meanwhile, the divided East and West refuse to parley, and forces of chaos are rising from their sleep.
My Thoughts: Woof. Lately I’ve been second-guessing whether I’m actually a high fantasy girly anymore, but I mean, this was high-high fantasy. The story felt dense, and at over 800 pages, getting through it was a serious slog, especially at the beginning. The narrative jumps not only between the eastern and western regions of the world, but also between different kingdoms within those regions - and then again between multiple characters in those kingdoms. So keeping track of who’s where, what they’re doing, and why felt like mental gymnastics. Add in complex religious systems, layered political hierarchies, and an intricate magic structure, and it’s a lot to juggle. The pacing didn’t help either. The first half of the book was the slowest of slow burns. Things finally picked up around the midpoint with more action, higher stakes, and dangerous quests, which added some much-needed momentum. But then around the 80% mark, the pace dipped again, and the story started to feel disjointed. Honestly, I think this book would’ve worked better split into two. The writing is objectively strong, the premise is original, and there are a lot of compelling elements throughout. Personally though, the juice just wasn’t worth the squeeze on this one (pun very much intended).
The Teacher by Freida McFadden
THE TEACHER by Freida McFadden
Rating: 3/5 stars
Summary: Lesson #1: trust no one. Eve has a good life. She gets up each day, gets a kiss from her husband Nate, and heads off to teach math at the local high school. All is as it should be. Except… Last year, Caseham High was rocked by a scandal involving a student-teacher affair, with one student, Addie, at its center. But Eve knows there is far more to these ugly rumors than meets the eye. Addie can't be trusted. She lies. She hurts people. She destroys lives. At least, that's what everyone says. But nobody knows the real Addie. Nobody knows the secrets that could destroy her. And Addie will do anything to keep it quiet.
My Thoughts: Okay, I’d heard mixed reviews about this one before diving in. Two of my friends have read several of Freida McFadden’s books - one loved this one, the other hated it - so I really didn’t know what to expect going in. Let me just say: if you’re into unlikable characters and unreliable narrators, this book is the ultimate combo meal. The story is told primarily from two perspectives: Eve, a 30-year-old high school math teacher stuck in a miserable marriage and obsessed with designer shoes, and Addie, a junior at the same school who’s become a pariah ever since she got a teacher fired over rumors of an inappropriate relationship. I could NOT stand Addie. She’s so unhinged and naive it made my teeth grind. Eve wasn’t exactly a ray of sunshine either - pretty cold toward her students and not the easiest to root for - but I found her chapters more tolerable overall. The twist comes very late in the book, and I have to admit I did not see it coming. At all. That said, it also felt a bit like a “gotcha!” moment. There weren’t many clues or breadcrumbs to help you piece things together, so while the shock factor was there, it lacked that satisfying “ohhh I had a hunch” feeling. Still, if you’re looking for a mystery/thriller that doesn’t lean too heavily on gore or body count, this one is a solid pick. There’s a bit of darkness, but the real story is about piecing together the character dynamics and figuring out how the prologue fits into it all. Not my favorite Freida book so far, but I’m definitely enjoying her writing.
Savor It by Tarah DeWitt
SAVOR IT by Tarah DeWitt
Rating: 3.5/5 stars
Summary: Summer won't last forever. Sage Byrd has lived in the coastal town of Spunes, Oregon (not to be confused with Forks, Washington) her entire life. She's learned to love her small world, with the misfit animals on her hobby farm, and her friendships with the town’s inhabitants. But when her 5-year relationship ends and her ex, town-golden-boy Ian, suddenly gets engaged, Sage needs a win―something that will convince everyone to stop pitying her all the time, and to put Ian in his place. The Festival of Spunes, the town’s annual summer competition, would be the perfect opportunity. She just needs a partner. Fisher Lange was a hotshot chef in New York City until the loss of his sister left him numb, grieving, and responsible for his teenage niece Indy. When Fisher loses his Michelin star along with his love of cooking, his boss sends him and Indy to Spunes on a much-needed summer sabbatical to consult on a restaurant opening. But when clashes with the townspeople threaten his last chance to redeem himself and a kiss with his new neighbor Sage leads to dating rumors, a strategic alliance might just be the best way to turn things around. A deal is struck. Sage will improve Fisher’s image in the eyes of the town and remove the roadblocks he is facing with the restaurant, and Fisher will be Sage’s partner for the competition. But as their pact quickly turns into steamy rendezvous, emotional wounds begin to heal, and the pair tries to savor every moment, they start to realize that summer is racing by much faster than they would like...
My Thoughts: This was such a cute read! It had been a while since I dipped back into a Kindle Unlimited, country-themed romance, but I was craving something comforting and familiar, and this book totally hit the spot. Sage Byrd has spent her whole life in Spunes, Oregon. She’s built a reputation as a beloved teacher, friendly neighbor, and the go-to person for anyone who needs a hand. But after a recent breakup with one of the town’s golden boys, she’s over the pitying looks and comments. Determined to prove she’s doing just fine, Sage decides to enter (and win) the town’s annual summer competition. All she needs now is a partner. Enter Fisher, a James Beard Award–winning chef, who’s spending the summer in Spunes with his teenage niece. Both of them are in need of a break from their lives in New York and Nebraska, and Fisher just so happens to land a sabbatical in the quiet coastal town. He’s staying on the other side of Sage’s farm, so their paths were bound to cross. It started with a bit of a slow burn attraction between Sage and Fisher, but as soon as that spark ignited, you might as well have thrown gasoline over the two. The plethora of quirky side characters is what made this book entertaining though - especially all of Sage’s animals lol. I wouldn’t say this was a mind-blowing romance novel by any means but it gave me what I needed and I enjoyed it overall.
We Could Be Rats by Emily Austin
WE COULD BE RATS by Emily R. Austin
Rating: 3.5/5 stars
Summary: Sigrid hates working at the Dollar Pal but having always resisted the idea of growing up into the trappings of adulthood, she did not graduate high school, preferring to roam the streets of her small town with her best friend Greta, the only person in the world who ever understood her. Her older sister Margit is baffled and frustrated by Sigrid’s inability to conform to the expectations of polite society. But Sigrid’s detachment veils a deeper turmoil and sensitivity. She’s haunted by the pains of her past—from pretending her parents were swamp monsters when they shook the floorboards with their violent arguments to grappling with losing Greta’s friendship to the opioid epidemic ravaging their town. As Margit sets out to understand Sigrid and the secrets she has hidden, both sisters, in their own time and way, discover that reigniting their shared childhood imagination is the only way forward. What unfolds is an unforgettable story of two sisters finding their way back to each other, and a celebration of that transcendent, unshakable bond.
My Thoughts: A few months ago, I read Interesting Facts About Space by Emily R. Austin (review here) and freaking loved how real that character felt and the quirkiness to this author’s writing. So when I saw she was publishing a new book soon, I had to jump on it. This time around I went the audiobook route and was glad I did since the subject matter of this story was a bit heavier than I bargained for. The first portion of the book features many failed attempts at suicide notes written by one of the sisters this book follows, Sigrid. We get a better look inside her brain, what was going on in her life, and what drove her to follow through with it. Then we switch perspectives to her sister Margrit who is grappling with the aftermath of her sister’s decision and how that inflates anxiety, gulit, and more into her everyday life. The plot twist was one I did not see coming and had me glued to the remainder of the book. Though this story was definitely dark, it still incorporated Austin’s signature quirkiness that made the overall tone much lighter than I expected. Obviously check trigger warnings on this one, but I’d recommend it for a reflective read.
That’s it for July!
Hoping to have some fantasy redemption in August, but we shall see where my mood takes me! In the meantime, I’ll be floating through one of the busiest social seasons I’ve had in a while. Catch me taking regular naps out here lol.
2025 Book Count: 91
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YOUR TURN! What is one of your favorite reads of July?
