Yesterday we talked about the new books we added to our collections in August, and now it’s time to talk about what we read. Did we have a good reading month? Did we find any new favorites? Keep on reading to find out!

Candyce

In August I read 28 books (9 eARCs, 8 paperbacks, 7 audiobooks, and 4 eBooks), and my average rating was a 3,9. There were a few disappointments this month, but also some excellent reads. All in all, I can’t complain how my reading went this month. Let’s take a look at the books I read.

How to Make Friends with the Dark – Kathleen Glasgow

After saying I’ll read this so many times, I finally did! How to Make Friends with the Dark isn’t an easy read at all. Our main character loses her mother suddenly and we follow her after that happens. Grief is a big part of this story, but it’s very well written. I’m glad I finally read this book.

American Royals & Majesty – Katharine McGee

I’ve had both of these books on my shelves for quite a long time and I finally read them. The concept of the USA having a monarchy instead of a president is interesting and I loved how it was incorporated in this story. We get multiple POVs and it had me hooked. I really want to get the next two books in this series soon. I will say that I wish there were a few extra POVs in these.

Riley Thorn and the Dead Guy Next Door – Lucy Score

It took me a few years, but I finally read Riley Thorn and the Dead Guy Next Door. This reluctant psychic romantic comedy was so much fun. I loved the romance, the side characters, and the mystery. I’ll definitely be reading the rest of the series.

The Girls I’ve Been – Tess Sharpe

The Girls I’ve Been ended up being such an emotional and intense read and I wasn’t expecting that. Nora was raised by a con artist and has almost never been herself. She was always playing a part to help her mother con a man. Until one day her mother fell in love and things got bad. We get everything happening at the bank when she’s there with friends and robbers come in, and we get little glimpses of her past. I don’t want to say much, because you need to read this one not knowing much, but it’s so good!

What Happens After Midnight – K.L. Walther

What Happens After Midnight is a cute YA contemporary romance. Lily has always been a good girl and is just about done with her senior year of high school. Her mother is a teacher at a boarding school, so she’s always gone there. Except when the senior prank comes around she realizes she may have missed out on some high school fun. During this prank she just happens to spend more time with her ex, and it’s clear things were never really done with them. I loved this second chance story!

If We Ever Meet Again – Ana Huang

A romance that starts off with our main characters breaking up was interesting, because we didn’t get any of their story until after that. Unfortunately, I didn’t enjoy this one. It seems like a lot stayed on the surface, and we got more told to us than we actually saw. I don’t really feel like we ever got to know these characters and there were some tropes and added drama that’s just not for me. I’m still debating on if I want to continue this series.

Pack Up the Moon – Kristan Higgins

Pack Up the Moon is a book I saw while watching a booktube video and it sounded like something I’d love. Lauren is terminally ill and leaves 12 letters behind for her husband. One for each month the first year after she passes. We also get her POV before that and it switches with Josh dealing with the aftermath of losing Lauren. This is such an emotional book, and the tears were streaming down my face near the end, but I’m glad I read this story.

It Started with a Book – Camilla Isley

It Started with a Book is a fast and fun read. I’m sure many of us have wanted to jump into our favorite books or have our favorite book characters come to life, and that happens in this one. It was a quick and fun read, but I think it tried to fit too many book tropes/cliches into one story. I had a good time.

Asking for a Friend – Kara H.L. Chen

Asking for a Friend isn’t just a lighthearted young adult romance, but goes a lot deeper than I was expecting. Our main character’s relationship with her family and their expectations play a bigger role than anything in this story and I have to say I appreciated it. In the end, I think I was more invested in that aspect of the story than the romance.

Fun Fact: I Love You – Gina Lynn Larsen

This friends to lovers romance ended up being something I love more than expected. Nellie and Jensen haven’t been really close for a while, but this changes when tragedy strikes. They become really close and I loved how this developed. Also, these characters even really communicated. There were some secrets that were talked out and no extra anger or drama was added to the story. I’m really glad I listened to Fun Fact: I Love You.

Last Seen Online – Lauren James

I kept seeing this YA murder mystery on bookstagram and it seemed like something I would enjoy, so I decided to listen to the audiobook. If I’m honest, this one wasn’t my favorite. I’m not sure if it’s because I only listened to the audiobook or my mood, but I expected to love Last Seen Online more. I did appreciate how this was told and showed the obsessive side of fandoms and how things can get to be a bit extreme.

Sunrise Nights – Jeff Zentner & Brittany Cavallaro

Sunrise Nights was a book that I ended up loving so much. Our main characters only saw each other at summer camp and spent their sunrise nights together (art camp’s dusk-to-dawn closing celebration). I loved reading about them getting close and distracting each other from some of their problems at home. I’ll definitely reread this in the future.

Love Lessons – Sidney Halston

I listened to the audiobook for Love Lessons during my commute to work on a day that the trains weren’t riding like they were supposed to. I definitely picked a good one for that. Love Lessons was a fun enemies to lovers/accidental pregnancy romance. I enjoyed Valerie and Alexander together, but I didn’t always feel the connection. Sometimes things developed without any notice and I guess I just wanted a bit more depth?

The Villain Edit – Laurie Devore

The Villain Edit has a main character who is an author, but her career isn’t going well, so she goes on a Bachelor type of show to try and boost her career. Of course, there’s a lot of drama and it seems that they’re trying to make her seem like a villain. It honestly wouldn’t surprise me if these shows are staged like in this book. While I didn’t always love this story, the ending was one I definitely thought was satisfying.

The Five Year Lie – Sarina Bowen

I’ve read romances by Sarina Bowen and enjoyed them. The Five Year Lie is her first thriller and I have to say this one kept me on the edge of my seat. There were some surprising and interesting twists and turns. The ending isn’t one I quite get, but all in all, I really enjoyed this one.

The Coppersmith Farmhouse – Devney Perry

The Coppersmith Farmhouse is Devney Perry’s first book I believe, and I decided I needed to give it a go. This book started out really strong. I love small town stories where characters go for a new start. That being said Gigi and Jess really annoyed me at times. I just couldn’t really connect with them. I did like the little suspenseful part of the story.

Here Lies a Vengeful Bitch – Codie Crowley

I don’t read much horror, but Here Lies a Vengeful Bitch sounded like one I’d enjoy. I can’t imagine waking up on a mountain and being dead, and not knowing what happened. Our main character tries to figure this out. It was an interesting story and I’m glad I read it. I would’ve loved just a little more information behind the mountain that raises the dead and the lore of that, but all in all, Here Lies a Vengeful Bitch was an enjoyable read.

The Au Pair Affair – Tessa Bailey

The Au Pair Affair was a fun single dad/nanny romance that had me laughing out loud quite a bit. I enjoyed Burgess and Tallulah and I enjoyed that he really fell first. This was a five star read for quite some time until we ended up getting what felt like a second third act break up? I’m not a fan of those and it kind of felt unnecessary in this one. It was still a fun read though.

The Game Changer – Lana Ferguson

The Game Changer was such a pleasant surprise and this sports romance has become a favorite. It has a brother’s best friend and fake dating romance. We have humor, spice, communication, and no third act break up! Need I say more?!?

Four Eids and a Funeral – Faridah Àbíké-Íyímídé & Adiba Jaigirdar

I’ve loved books by both of these authors, so I was excited to see what they did writing together. Tiwa and Said were best friends and things changed. Until they start to work together to save their Islamic Center. This book had friendship, grief, romance, fighting for yourself and community, and so much more! There was a little twist near the ending that I didn’t really get, but all in all this was a good story.

Cage of Dreams – Rebecca Schaeffer

Cage of Dreams is the second and final book in the City of Nightmares duology. The idea of going to sleep and waking up to be turned into one of your worst nightmares is really creepy. This story continues right after the events of City of Nightmares, and I enjoyed this one. I can’t say much with this being a sequel. I think I enjoyed this one just a little less than the first book, but all in all, I’m glad I read this duology.

Close to Me – Monica Murphy

After loving A Million Kisses in Your Lifetime, I decided to try another book by her. Close to Me sounded like one I’d really enjoy. In all honesty, I should’ve DNF’d this one after the first 10%. So much just wasn’t for me. I don’t think I’ll continue with this series.

Silent Sister – Megan Davidhizar

Silent Sister was a pleasant surprise and I ended up loving this mystery. We get a dual timeline which kept me guessing. Even though I did guess part of the reveal, I didn’t mind it this time around. Also, this is more than just a mystery, and deals with grief, growing up, finding your place, and much more. I definitely hope Megan writes more stories.

Prime Time Romance – Kate Robb

I was so excited to read my eARC of Prime Time Romance. Besides reading, I’m a big fan of TV shows, so the idea of being sucked into your favorite show was very interesting. The romance was fun, the references to TV shows I know, and all of the characters made this such a great book.

The Book Swap – Tessa Bickers

Books about books are something I love, so when I saw The Book Swap, I had to request an eARC. The Book Swap was everything I wanted and more. This second chance story starts with books. Erin accidentally leaves her annotated copy of To Kill a Mockingbird in a little free library, and is really upset. Except it eventually comes back and someone has answered all of her annotations. This is where our journey starts, but it ends up being about family, grief, healing, second chances, communication, books, and opening up. I really hope Tessa Bickers writes more books.

This Used to Be Us – Renee Carlino

I was intrigued by This Used to Be Us because it’s about a couple who is actually divorcing after 20 years of marriage. We get dual POV and Danielle and Alex are adjusting to their new lives. I loved how we kept getting memories and glimpses of their relationship. This Used to Be Us felt realistic and I enjoyed that both of these characters were unlikable at times. While the story went as I was kind of expecting, This Used to Be Us used hit me in all the feels. I never expected to be tearing up like I did while reading this book.

This Vicious Grace – Emily Thiede

I actually didn’t really  I had an eARC of this until a friend of mine wanted to buddyread This Vicious Grace. I think this was a read now book once on Netgalley. This Vicious Grace was such a pleasant surprise! I loved the setting, the magic, the characters, and all the little twists and turns. The last few chapters had me on the edge of my seat. I’ll be reading the sequel in September.

 

Isabelle

This was a pretty horrible reading month for me haha. I’ve been quite busy (and I’ve been reading a long fanfic) which means I’ve only finished 1 book. It’s been a while since I’ve read so little! Hopefully I can pick my speed up a bit more this coming month.

The Ashes & the Star-Cursed King – Carissa Broadbent

I had been wanting to read this one since it released and I finally came around to it. Most of the important details were still pretty sharp in my mind and they were also mentioned when necessary. I really enjoyed reading this one but I did like the first one better.

So that’s our August wrap up. Have you read any of these? What did you think? Or what was your favorite book of the month? Let us know in the comments. We’d love to hear from you!