📚 July Reading Wrap-Up | 16 Books, Surprises, & One DNF!

It’s time for my July Reading Wrap-Up! I read 16 books this month—one more than last month—and while one ended up being a DNF, I still powered through a variety of genres and emotions. From unexpected favorites to books that didn’t quite land, it was a month of discovery, reflection, and lots of late-night reading. Come see what made the list, what I loved, and what I’m looking forward to next!

Silvercloak

This book took me by surprise. I absolutely love the New Adult feel this novel has with a female MC who is graduating from the magical form of the police academy. This novel follows Saffron, who is immune to magic, and her quest to fulfill a promise and avenge her parents’ deaths leads her to infiltrate the magical gang, the Bloodmoons. There is so much tension & I love the world-building here. I also love the sexual tension between her and the Kingpin’s son, Levan. The magic system is easy to understand, reminiscent of Naomi Novick’s Deadly Education series.

Honestly, it was an addictive ride, fast-paced, and the plot twist at the end was kinda jaw-dropping.

Rating: 4.5 out of 5.

The Lost Queen

So, first of all, thank you to the publisher for an arc of this book. I was excited based on the synopsis of the book. However, it was a little hard to get lost in the novel. I enjoyed the mythology of the story. I am learning about different cultures, history, and mythology. But there was a disconnect. As the characters started to go back and forth between realms, it became harder to follow. I liked the novel overall, particularly how Jolie grew into herself and found her strength, and the message that kindness is not a weakness. But I didn’t love the book, and I wish I had.

Rating: 3 out of 5.

Is That An Aura of Wild Magic Engulfing You, Or Are You Just Pleased to See Me?

I’m sad to say this is a DNF for me. I tried so hard with this one, as it was sent to me personally by the author, but unfortunately, I couldn’t get into it.

I think my problem began from the very beginning. There wasn’t any world-building going on, and it left me feeling lost in the storytelling. Without any way to anchor myself in the story, I could already feel my attention wandering.

However, I still tried to push through. I thought, “I can do it, I can do it.” Unfortunately, I could not. As more characters were introduced, I felt even more lost. Finally, after chapter five, I put the novel down because nothing was engaging to keep me reading.

DNF

The Dryad Storm

This was my highly anticipated read… and I hate to say I was a little underwhelmed.

Now that’s not to say I didn’t like it. However, unlike every other book in the series, I didn’t love it. I honestly think this book should have been split into two books. It’s not only very long, but it also feels very long. I was mind-blown that the first quarter of the book was the prelude. There is a lot of recap, which is good, but it’s just so long; I wanted the story to move on. Not only that, there are a lot of Characters. This is a series you have to read together because there are so many Characters that it’s easy to forget who is who. It’s just a lot. And I started to get annoyed with everyone’s obsession with killing Elloren. Again, if the novel had been split into two, there would have been a moment for the reader to breathe.

Don’t get me wrong, I still liked it, but I’m happy I decided to listen to it on audiobook.

Rating: 3 out of 5.

Bound By Stars

Now here’s a novel I did love. I love Titanic, so when I received this arc from Entangled Teen, I was shocked and excited! And you know what, this novel was excellent. First of all, I love how Starling flipped the genders. But I think what I loved even more was that our FMC was named Weslie, which made me think of Welsie Crusher from TNG. And Weslie was always saving the day.

Here, Weslie has won a robotics competition that gives her a one-way ticket to Mars to present the plans of ISLA – her life-sustaining robot that develops quite the personality. Gotta love her.

I love that Jupiter, our MMC, and part of the Mars aristocracy and heir to one of the Bix Six families, is the artist here with the artist soul. Together, they form a bond that develops into a fantastic romance between the two.

The story moves at a quick pace, and the Boundless, the fastest ship of the stars, well, with the EFE group, begins to unleash mayhem on the fancy space liner. I absolutely loved this novel; it was everything I wanted and more. It had a great fast pace, an intriguing romantic subplot, and a commentary on classism similar to Titanic. Still, with more depth, particularly with the EFE group, it was science fiction from beginning to end. Loved it.

Rating: 4.5 out of 5.

A Curse Carved in Bone

You know, I’ve to say that I liked this book more than the previous one. I think the story moved a little faster & Freya develops wonderfully. I also like that we got to see Bjorn’s point of view. The pacing was just faster & the character dynamics were stronger. If you recall from book one, Freya’s constant lust for Bjorn was one of my most significant issues. But here we see the return of the fierce heroine we all know her to be. Her journey to the underworld to see Hel & undermine her & reclaim her destiny was incredible. I also owed the plot twist that kept popping up.

Honestly, read this novel in a day because it was so good.

Rating: 4 out of 5.

Never Thought I’d End Up Here

Once again, I find myself reading a Liang book in one day. I love the self-discovery aspect of the novel. The novel follows Leah Zhang, an American teenager and former model, who is forced to go on a cultural immersion trip to China after accidentally cursing her cousin at a wedding because she had forgotten most of her Mandarin.

On the trip, she is reunited with her childhood nemesis, Cyrus Sui, the boy who lied and got her expelled a few years prior. This gave Leah the chance to reinvent herself, transforming from an awkward girl into a pretty, self-confident one. However, trying to get people to like her for who she pretends to be leaves her as unhappy as the modeling career she pursued, which she pursued not to waste her talents.

I love how she transitions from insecurity to pretending to be someone she’s not, and then to embracing her unique qualities, like her laughter, and discovering her passions. I think it’s moving and relatable because we often try to change who we are to fit a mold that appeals to others. But here, not only is she reconnecting to her culture, she is reconnecting to her deeper self, the parts of herself she tried to hide away, those things that made her different.

This book is a charming and heartfelt young adult rom-com, blending humor, romance, and introspection. The character development is realistic, and the way it explores cultural identity is top-tier. I also loved the witty dialogue between the characters and the way it moved, keeping me hooked from beginning to end.

Rating: 3.5 out of 5.

The Enemy’s Daughter

I’ve said it before, and I will repeat it: I am a sucker for a retelling. This is a Tristan and Isolde retelling with a dystopian setting that makes it stand out. This is a single POV novel that takes place 37 years after the “world ended.” Isadora is the daughter of the Chief of the five clans, who are at war with Kingsland, a colony thought to be brutal. But when Isadora meets Tristan, she discovers not all is what it seems and that most of her life has been a lie.

I love that she wants to study medicine. She is eager to find peace between the two colonies and slowly begins to fall in love with Tristan. There is a bit of fantasy here, but it is tied to science. The town of Kingsland was affected by the radioactivity of the bombs, and the first settlers there can form telepathic connections with their partner. I thought that was pretty cool, how we have this dystopian setting with just a splash of fantasy, but based in science fiction. Honestly, it was a quick read, and I devoured it. Huge thanks again to the publisher for sending me a copy of the book.

Rating: 4.5 out of 5.

Sense and Second-Degree Murder

I’m so glad that I finally made the time to read this novel! I loved books 1 and 3 in the series, and I love that the series is interconnected, taking place in the same universe that Price has created.

I found it amazing to see the story develop, particularly as it delved into forensic science and private investigation. It makes it stand out, but also pulls me in because it does challenge what was socially acceptable during the Regency era.

The characters are what stood out the most. Elinor and Margaret are brilliant. Their sisterly dynamic is well done, and I loved their voices and how the story was split between their POVs to build up the mystery and intrigue as they investigate their father’s murder.

I also loved how the plot twists and how the story unfolded. I can honestly say I did not see that coming, and that’s the best feeling of all.

Rating: 4 out of 5.

A Curse for the Homesick

You know I liked this book more than I thought I would.

I was surprised when I received this book in the mail from the publisher. Not something I would typically read or pick up. Whenever I receive just a book in the mail, I think I will give it a shot.

The story was fascinating, set on a mythical island off the shores of Scotland. There, women, three at a time, are afflicted with the Skeld curse. For 3 months, these women risk turning anyone they see into a store killing them.

So Tess, our FMC, wants nothing more than to run away from the island and escape the curse. And all while falling in love with Soren, the son of the person her mother inadvertently killed when she turned into a skeld. It’s a non-linear story, but it was easy to follow, pulling the reader into the romance between Soren and Tess, the love they share, and the challenges they face in rectifying their past and coming to terms with it. It is moving and complex, showcasing significant character growth and strengthening their dynamics.

Rating: 4 out of 5.

Salvación

Before I begin, I need Univision or someone to turn this novel into a telenovella.

Yes, that’s how much I loved this novel.

The characterization was top-tier. I love how Lola developed as a character; the dynamics were very realistic. Mexican women repressing their feelings, honestly, so realistic & relatable. I think Proudman did a fantastic job of not only celebrating her car two but also showcasing some of the problems & the way to heal from them.

I also love the commentary on the discussion of land, I know the Mexican’s Stole the land from the Native Americans & how the Yankees took the land from the Mexican’s. I think Proudman could have spent more time building the romance. I liked Lola & Alejandro & I enjoyed their dynamics; however, I felt their romance was a bit rushed.

Such a great novel, loved it.

Red Rising

This was such a good book. I absolutely loved this book. The writing style captivated me from the very beginning, particularly when we first meet Darrow and are introduced to his world. I loved the way the story developed and the way the world was built, steady brick by steady brick. We have to understand this world and the way the Reds are forced to live, kept in the dark.

The story moves effortlessly, following Darrow on his journey with Dancer and Harmony, the way he is changed by Zanzibar the Carver and transformed into a Gold. But his mind is his own; his mind is his greatest weapon. And as the story develops, the tension rises, and you get to see Darrow grow into himself at the Institute. I loved the play on Roman Mythology and the dystopian atmosphere of the novel. I also loved how it, in some ways, reminded me of Hunger Games, as they pit the students against one another, not in a culling, but in a study, instead, to build warriors.

I was hooked from beginning to end, and I can’t wait to follow up with Golden Son.

The Sister of the South

I can’t believe I’m finally done re-reading Deltora’s Quest to my son. I absolutely love this series, and it aged so well. I stand by my statement; this would make for a great 4-season limited series. And I’m so glad my son loved it too. It is action-packed, full of adventure and high stakes, but also great characterization and development. This is a series I would read again and again to my son and one I’m hoping he will read on his own once he’s older.

The Stone Witch of Florence

So this was a pretty cool read! I loved the tone of the novel because, despite being a historical fiction piece with a splash of fantasy, it didn’t feel dry or dragged out. The novel takes place in 1348 during the Black Death in Italy. Ginevra is a witch, to sum it up. But not a witch in the typical witch. She can harness the hidden powers of gemstones and heal sickness.

But after being exiled by the church years before, she has returned to the city at the behest of the church to track down a thief who is stealing priceless relics. Again, I loved the tone of the novel, how it had a sort of modern feel that did not take me out of the novel. It still felt like a historical setting, and the slight modernization just captured my attention and held me gripped in the plot and the story, and made me invested in the characterization. And her relationship with the Inquisitor? I loved that development and growth between them.

Time After Time

A dual timeline novel follows the sapphic romance of Elizabeth and her handmade Patricia in the roaring 20s era and the present day budding romance between Libby and Tish. I love the idea of reincarnation in the novel, particularly how it explores love and the fear of falling in love, highlighting the scary aspects of love in any form.

I loved both timelines and felt that they were both emotionally impactful. There were times when one was more impactful than the other, but I found myself invested in both of them.

I will say, something that caught me off guard was Honey Harper. She was a minor character in Elizabeth’s timeline, transforming from enemy to best friend. It was such a quick flip of character for her, but getting to know her in just a few chapters, I loved how she became instantly devoted to Elizabeth and became her best friend and advocate. That caught me by surprise. But I think that shows how impactful and emotive the writing style was.

Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon Eternal Edition, Vol. 7

What can I say that I haven’t already said? I love Sailor Moon and appreciate how the story unfolds and how fast-paced it is. However, even though it is fast-paced, we’re not losing sight of characterization and growth. The dynamics remain strong, and the artwork is truly amazing.