🏖️ August Reviews 🌴
August 1st-31st
August was another great reading month for me, even though I didn't start reading any of these books until the 7th. I read seventeen books with a total of 3805 pages.
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Book 120: Caught Running
By Madeleine Urban and Abigail Roux
Read August 7th-8th
Pages: 229
Release Year: 2007
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August 2025 reread:
I absolutely adore this story and these characters. Jack and Brandon's romance is one which always brings me joy when I pick it up again. I love this book so much.
September 2020 reread:
One of my all-time favorites! Loved reading this for the third time. It's just so great.
September 2020 reread:
One of my all-time favorites! Loved reading this for the third time. It's just so great.
Book 121: Bloom
By N. R. Walker
Read August 8th
Pages: 205
Release Year: 2024
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Book 122: Love by Night: A Book of Poetry
By S. K. Williams
Read August 9th
Pages: 192
Release Year: 2021
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A collection of poems which gives an intimate story of a relationship. I like how this was written by a couple and that we got both sides of their romance as it built throughout the book. It was such an interesting way of writing. Many of the poems definitely stand out. I'd like to read more of their collections together.
Book 123: Open Road
By M. J. O'Shea
Read August 9th
Pages: 200
Release Year: 2016
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I love a road trip book but this one wasn't as great as I wanted it to be. The whole story I just couldn't believe that Angus was with Brad as long as he was. It took me out of the story but I did enjoy the relationship between Angus and Reece and seeing how that was built over the novel.
Book 124: His Coffee Shop Crush
(Rosedale Seasons #1)
By Elle Waters
Read August 10th
Pages: 176
Release Year: 2023
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A cute romance that I highly enjoyed. I like when we know something before the characters in a book do. I'll definitely look into the other books in this series because I really like this town.
Book 125: The Cranberry Hush
By Ben Monopoli
Read August 10th-11th
Pages: 262
Release Year: 2011
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Vince and Griffin's story went in a direction I never would have expected and I love that. I had this bittersweet feeling throughout the entire book, but it was worth every minute. This is a story about "what-ifs" and being stuck in the past. As someone who heavily relates to the topic of this book, it was hard to read at times.
I highly recommend reading it. 
Every year in the summer, I read at least one Christmas/winter themed book. I enjoyed each of the stories in this volume and like how most of them are set in the same town. I'll always like these romance series where they are companions of each other. It helps you not only get connected with the main characters but also with the secondary ones. 
I highly recommend reading it.
Book 126: Don't Leave Me Alone
(Unlikely Heroes #1)
By Jenny Wood
Read August 11th
Pages: 187
Release Year: 2016
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It wasn't quite the best idea to read this book yesterday but I did highly enjoy it. This was quite an emotional story which had my heart the entire time.
Book 127: XOXO: A Bundle of Cozy Novellas
By Elle Keaton
Read August 14th-15th
Pages: 421
Release Year: 2024
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Book 128: The House with Chicken Legs
By Sophie Anderson
Read August 16th-18th
Pages: 337
Release Year: 2018
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I've been wanting to read this book for years, especially to see a different depiction of Baba Yaga. Marinka was an interesting main character for this story. She is oftentimes not the most likeable but she was so realistic as a character her age. Her journey of self-discovery is filled with her learning from her mistakes. She's a twelve-year-old girl and she acts like it.
What drew me to this book were the aspects of the Russian folklore throughout. Every time I read one of Sophie's books, I want to then pick up more Russian stories. They are so intriguing. I particularly loved the sentient house with chicken legs.
What drew me to this book were the aspects of the Russian folklore throughout. Every time I read one of Sophie's books, I want to then pick up more Russian stories. They are so intriguing. I particularly loved the sentient house with chicken legs.
Book 129: Mismatched:
A Modern Graphic Retelling of Emma
By Anne Camlin
Read August 19th
Pages: 264
Release Year: 2024
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The illustrations in this book were stunning and I loved how each of the pages was designed. So many fit Evan's personality perfectly. This is a familiar story to me and I enjoyed this take on it, but I feel like this was rushed too much in places. I love how many classic books are getting queer retellings.
Book 130: Bookends of Life
By Sonja Koch and Dalys Finzgar
Read August 19th-20th
Pages: 180
Release Year: 2025
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I was drawn into this book by the synopsis and thought it was going to be a new favorite poetry collection. Most of the poems felt like affirmations you would find on the wall in a classroom. They're ones meant to motivate you. These types of poems are fine but they were not something I wanted an entire book of.
There were a few poems I highly enjoyed from the collection that stood out from the others. They were the ones where the poets spoke on their lives. I wish more of the poems were like those.
*Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for my copy of this book. All opinions are my own.*
There were a few poems I highly enjoyed from the collection that stood out from the others. They were the ones where the poets spoke on their lives. I wish more of the poems were like those.
*Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for my copy of this book. All opinions are my own.*
Book 131: Brigg's Dictionary of Fairies: Banshees, Boggarts and Other Folklore Creatures
By Katherine Briggs
Read August 20th
Pages: 192
Release Year: 2025
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Brigg's Dictionary of Fairies is a delightful collection of entries on all sorts of creatures from folklore. I love how so many of the creatures also had short stories to go along with them. This is perfect for fans of folklore who want to learn more about the creatures they know or want to learn about so many others. I know I learned about a lot that I had never even heard before.
This will be a beautiful book to add to any collection, especially with the stunning illustrations from Fee Greening. It would be a great companion piece when you are reading a fantasy book with creatures that you don't know. My only complaint is that I wish this was not an abridged version of the text.
*Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for my ARC of this book. All opinions are my own.*
Book 132: Anywhere with You
By Margo Glynn
Read August 22nd-23rd
Pages: 240
Release Year: 2025
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I went into this book thinking that it would be much more on the somber side with the topics of infidelity and divorce, but was pleasantly surprised by the humor. This book had me laughing out loud multiple times. It did have multiple scenes with both Honey and Cara dealing with all the emotions of having cheating spouses. Margo Glynn did a great job of balancing both throughout the book.
Road trip books are favorites of mine. This was a great example of one where the characters grew closer over their adventures. I love the escapism of reading a road trip book and getting to experience the places the characters go to along with them.
Honey and Cara's bond was beautiful and I really enjoyed following them on their road trip. I liked the aspect of the vlogging of their trip, especially how that was used later in the plot. If Margo Glynn writes more books, I'll definitely pick them up. I highly enjoyed Honey and Cara's story.
*Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for my ARC of this book. All opinions are my own.*
Road trip books are favorites of mine. This was a great example of one where the characters grew closer over their adventures. I love the escapism of reading a road trip book and getting to experience the places the characters go to along with them.
Honey and Cara's bond was beautiful and I really enjoyed following them on their road trip. I liked the aspect of the vlogging of their trip, especially how that was used later in the plot. If Margo Glynn writes more books, I'll definitely pick them up. I highly enjoyed Honey and Cara's story.
*Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for my ARC of this book. All opinions are my own.*
Book 133: The Book of Doors
By Gareth Brown
Read August 23rd-24th
Pages: 416
Release Year: 2024
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The Book of Doors is such an intriguing book. It took me about 150 pages to get hooked in, but I didn't want to stop reading once I did. The time travel aspects throughout this are great. An enchanting read for book lovers who like a story with magical books.
Book 134: I Hate Fairyland,
Volume 8: Happy End Game
By Skottie Young
Read August 26th
Pages: 128
Release Year: 2025
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Another great volume in Gert's adventures through Fairyland. Loved the special guest characters!
Book 135: Daedalus is Dead
By Seamus Sullivan
Read August 27th
Pages: 176
Release Year: 2025
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The myth of Icarus and Daedalus has always been one of my favorites from Greek Mythology. I like how this book focuses on the aftermath of Icarus's tragic demise and what this does to his father. We see a very different side of the greatest architect in the world.
This is a tragic tale of a father's journey through the Underworld to be reunited with his son after death. It is told through poetic prose and not only focuses on Daedalus's afterlife, but also gives his version of the events which occurred before he died. The labyrinth, Minotaur, Theseus, King Minos, Ariadne, and many others all play important roles. But the most important aspect of the story is Daedalus dealing with the death of his son and the constant question of why he flew too close to the sun.
Along with getting to know Daedalus, we watch Icarus grow up. I enjoyed the many scenes from his childhood. Icarus is often depicted as foolish in retellings of his myth, if he is given any personality at all. It was refreshing to see a different side of him throughout this novella.
Also, we get to see a different depiction of the Underworld than I have seen before. I was surprised by how much Seamus Sullivan was able to put into the novella. I enjoyed how the narrative goes back and forth through time. We see Daedalus's journey and scenes from the past.
One of my favorite parts of a retelling is seeing the directions a writer chooses to take such a well-known story. Seamus Sullivan did a wonderful job breathing new life into a myth I have loved for most of my life. Daedalus is Dead is definitely a new favorite of mine and I highly recommend it for Greek Mythology fans.
*Thank you to NetGalley for my ARC of this book. All opinions are my own.*
This is a tragic tale of a father's journey through the Underworld to be reunited with his son after death. It is told through poetic prose and not only focuses on Daedalus's afterlife, but also gives his version of the events which occurred before he died. The labyrinth, Minotaur, Theseus, King Minos, Ariadne, and many others all play important roles. But the most important aspect of the story is Daedalus dealing with the death of his son and the constant question of why he flew too close to the sun.
Along with getting to know Daedalus, we watch Icarus grow up. I enjoyed the many scenes from his childhood. Icarus is often depicted as foolish in retellings of his myth, if he is given any personality at all. It was refreshing to see a different side of him throughout this novella.
Also, we get to see a different depiction of the Underworld than I have seen before. I was surprised by how much Seamus Sullivan was able to put into the novella. I enjoyed how the narrative goes back and forth through time. We see Daedalus's journey and scenes from the past.
One of my favorite parts of a retelling is seeing the directions a writer chooses to take such a well-known story. Seamus Sullivan did a wonderful job breathing new life into a myth I have loved for most of my life. Daedalus is Dead is definitely a new favorite of mine and I highly recommend it for Greek Mythology fans.
*Thank you to NetGalley for my ARC of this book. All opinions are my own.*
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