Another reading month down in 2023! How did we do in August? Did we read any new favorites? Keep on reading for our August wrap up.

Candyce

August actually ended up being a really good reading month for me. So I’m really confident that I’ll be able to complete my 30 books for 30 days challenge. In August I read 24 books (13 paperbacks, 7 audiobooks, 2 ebooks, 1 hardcover, and 1 eARC). My average rating was a 3.8, so it’s clear I unfortunately had some books I didn’t care for. Let’s talk about the books I read.

The Gilded Wolves – Roshani Chokshi

The Gilded Wolves is a historical ficiton/fantasy book that was such a pleasant surprise. This book is filled with history, puzzles, action, and an amazing set of characters. I love that we get multiple POVs and I couldn’t put this book down.

The Silvered Serpents – Roshani Chokshi

After loving The Gilded Wolves, I dived into the sequel. This was just as exciting, maybe even more. I loved being with these characters while they’re off to another kind of heist and solving puzzles. All while trying to save one of their lives basically. The third one will be read really soon!

Way of the Argosi – Sebastien de Castell

Ferius is a character we meet in Spellslinger, but Way of the Argosi is a prequel story just about her. I loved learning about her earlier life and believe me it wasn’t an easy one. This book was filled with some amazing lessons not only for the main character, but for anyone reading it really. I can’t wait to read more about Ferius.

Vengeful – VE Schwab

Vengeful has a cast full of main characters that are all villains and basically none of them are likable. Except VE Schwab really gets you to feel for these villains by telling their stories and reading from the POVs. I loved that the timelines crossed through each other. It just worked so well. I’m so glad there’s going to be a third book.

Dear Grumpy Boss – Julia Wolf

A brother’s best friend romance? I can handle that. Weston and Elise were great characters and I already have at least three side characters I hope get their own story. Dear Grumpy Boss was a five star read for me until the last 100 pages, because I didn’t feel like we really needed them. There was already a third act break up and I didn’t care for the extra drama.

Pretend You’re Mine – Lucy Score

I’ve been wanting to read more Lucy Score and I love these new Hodder & Stoughton covers!! Pretend You’re Mine is almost 500 pages, but I couldn’t put it down. Luke and Haper come into each other’s lives after a wild evening, but neither of them knows what’s about to happen. They start fake dating, so that Luke’s family leaves him alone, but that’s not the ending of it all. In come feelings and a lot happens. This was such an emotional read, but it was so good!

So Happy for You – Celia Laskey

So Happy for You is a book I kept seeing everywhere after it released and it seemed to get a lot of amazing reviews. Unfortunately, this one didn’t work for me. I’m still really not sure what I read. I loved the take on wedding traditions and in many ways things can go to far, but the thriller aspect in this story was barely there and it was resolved way too quickly.

The Spare Room – Andrea Bartz

The Spare Room was another book I kept seeing everywhere and I have to say I was curious. This book was a very fast read and the writing had me flying through the book. That being said the main character annoyed me most of the story and things felt too out there when everything was revealed. The author did have me wanting to keep on reading, because I did want to see how it all played out.

Hide – Kiersten White

Hide was a book I got last year, but never got around to. Horror isn’t my go to genre, but I was curious about the competition in an abandoned amusement park. The premise was really interesting and I was curious to see how it played out, but for me the writing was an issue. There were multiple POVs, but they switched without warning and sometimes in the middle of a paragraph. It didn’t feel like we got to know any of the characters and I felt the ending was a bit rushed.

Neon Gods – Katee Robert

The Dark Olympus series is one I see everywhere on bookstagram and BookTok and I was kind of afraid of the hype. That being said I was still really curious and decided to read Neon Gods and couldn’t put it down. I loved this Hades and Persephone retelling. It was spicy, but also full of politics and character development.

A Court of Thorns and Roses – Sarah J Maas

I’ve decided to do a reread of Sarah J Maas books and started with A Court of Thorns and Roses. This was my third time reading this one. I was surprised how many little details I had forgotten and how many times I thought, didn’t this happen later on? Haha. It was great being back in this world and I’m excited to continue.

If He Had Been with Me -Laura Nowlin

If He Had Been with Me is another really hyped book at the moment and one of my Bookstagram chooses my next four reads TBR. Finn and Autumn’s story had me smiling, frustrated, and smiling, but also had me in tears. I couldn’t put it down. Part of me still isn’t sure what to think of the ending, but all in all I loved this book.

Funny You Should Ask – Elissa Sussman

After getting an eARC of this author’s next book, Once More with Feeling, I decided I wanted to read Funny You Should Ask first (even though you don’t have to). I’m currently reading Once More with Feeling and there was a little Easter Egg for this book, so I’m happy I read in this order. I saw a lot of mixed reviews about Funny You Should Ask, but I really loved it. There was a great mix of then and now chapters and the blog posts/news articles added a lot to the story lines. Chani and Gabe’s story was a really interesting and entertaining read.

XOXO – Axie Oh

XOXO is a book I’ve had on my TBR for way too long, but finally sat down to read it. This story was really cute, but also a lot more than just the cute romance. Jenny goes through a lot and going to a performing arts school in Seoul really gives her time to think about what she wants and maybe open her up to more than just playing cello. I definitely want to read more by Axie Oh now.

As Above, So Below – Dana Islay

I was really excited for this witchy book, but ended up really disappointed. It started off really strong with our main character being pushed out of her family after being accused of taking everyone’s magic. After that though, it ended up being just a lot of smut and a rushed ending. I don’t want to be harsh, but that’s the only thing I can really make of it.

Christmas in Quincy – Devney Perry

I read Indigo Ridge awhile ago, so I decided it was time to read the prequel novella. Christmas books always make me happy and I love how it was incorporated in this enemies to lovers/forbidden romance. Cleo and Austin were such fun characters and the only comment I have about this book is that I wish it was a full novel.

My Roommate is a Vampire – Jenna Levine

My Roommate is a Vampire was one of my most anticipated releases of the month and I was really happy I had the chance to read an eARC. This book was such a fun read and had me laughing out loud frequently. Unfortunately, it wasn’t a 5 star read, because I missed a bit of depth and time with these characters. The ending was also a tad rushed in my opinion. I still enjoyed My Roommate is a Vampire and recommend to anyone looking for a fun book.

Kiss and Don’t Tell – Meghan Quinn

Meghan Quinn hasn’t done me wrong yet and Kiss and Don’t Tell was another amazing read. It had me laughing and even in tears. I love how she can switch between being lighthearted, but also dealing with some serious things. Winnie and Pacey were so much fun to read about!

Love Me Do – Lindsey Kelk

Love Me Do was a fun romance, but it wasn’t my favorite by this author. Our main character spends time at her sister’s house and ends up writing letters for someone trying to impress a guy she likes and ends up falling for him. Things get messy and it was interesting, and of course we get a happily ever after, but it just wasn’t my favorite.

This Might Get Awkward – Kara McDowell

This Might Get Awkward was so cute! Our main character has social anxiety and her world turns upside down when she saves a guy’s life (who she likes) and people end up thinking she’s his girlfriend while he’s a in a coma. During all of this she gets close to his brother and I loved seeing them grow closer. This book had me smiling and hit me in all the feels and our main character grows a lot.

All Systems Red – Martha Wells

All Systems Red was a book club read in August and was a reread for me. I decided to listen to the audiobook this time and enjoyed myself just as much as the first time around. Murderbot was still such a fun character and I’ve decided I really need to continue with this series soon.

Snow Place Like LA – Julie Murphy and Sierra Simone

We meet Angel and Luca in A Merry Little Meet Cute and I’m glad we get a little novella about their love story. Luca ends up heartbroken when Angel goes to Paris after the movie they film, but when they start hanging around again in LA during the summer things start to heat up. This was a fun second chance romance and it made me excited for A Holly Jolly Ever After in a couple of months.

Summer Hates Christmas – Rachel Dove

All I need is to see Christmas in the title to know I want to read it. I love the idea of a character not liking Christmas for all types of reasons, but ends up seeing the love of the season near the end. That was the case in Summer Hates Christmas as well, but I didn’t like Summer. I understand her character, but it was just a bit too much for me.

Don’t Swipe Right – L.M. Chilton

Can you imagine going on dates after swiping right to only have your dates end up murdered? Me neither, so I needed to read this story. Don’t Swipe Right was an interesting read even if just a tad unbelievable at times with how our main character acted at times. All in all, an entertaining read.

Isabelle

After a pretty good reading month in July I only finished 2 books in August. I just didn’t have the brain capacity to read that much unfortunately. Thanks to audiobooks I did finish 2 books and I will say I’m about to finish another book. Hopefully september will be better!

Kingdom of Ash- Sarah J. Maas

I finally finished this huge book haha. And no, I don’t have any tears left. I adore this series so much and while I think this final book is amazing, it also keeps on breaking my heart over and over again.

A Court of Thorns and Roses – Sarah J. Maas

This was my first time rereading ACOTAR. I’m rereading everything before the release of Crescent City book 3. A Court of Thorns and Roses was always one of my least favorite Sarah J. Maas books and this reread confirmed that for me. It was an enjoyable read but I was so annoyed at Feyre and never liked Tamlin that much. I am excited to dive back into A Court of Mist and Fury!

So that’s our August wrap up! Have you read any of the books we have? What were your favorite August reads? Let us know in the comments! We’d love to hear from you.