The Books I Read in July
Hey Booklover!
It was a busy month for me with The Book Party in Blackpool in the middle of the month, child sickness and then the start of the summer holidays but I am getting my priorities right and have barely watched any TV as I continue to focus on reading. I am not getting through my TBR as much as I should though - three of the books I read this month came from the library so my TBR continues to sit and stare at me!
THE LAST PARTY BY CLARE MACKINTOSH
I am a huge fan of Clare Mackintosh and have read all her books but was a bit slow getting around to this one - however knowing that she was going to be at The Book Party (an event we were at in Blackpool) meant I wanted to finish this and it definitely did not disappoint. I'm not sure how she does it (I can't work out the science) but Clare has such a talent for drawing you in, making the characters so rounded and realistic and flawed that you instantly root for them. A brilliant who-dunnit which kept me gripped right to the last page...and I definitely enjoyed that there was a small element of romance in there too.
ICEBREAKER BY HANNAH GRACE
I very much picked up Icebreaker just because everyone else had been talking about it and even joked with my son that I was about to read an 'ice hockey romance' - how silly! Well, I was wrong - this book was amazing. Much spicier than I normally go for but actually I very much enjoyed that element and it's made me think I might need to dip my toe into a little more spice from now on! I loved this book although I felt the epilogue and particularly the time which had passed when it happened all felt a little unbelievable which was a bit of a shame to end the book like that.
LOVE, THEORETICALLY BY ALI HAZELWOOD
Another library find and another experiment into reading books which everyone else loves. I didn't get on with the Love Hypothesis so hadn't really joined the Ali Hazelwood appreciation club yet - but I will sign up now. I really enjoyed this book, it's very sexy, very flirty and very science-y which I also loved. I'd definitely be keen to read more from Ali in the future.
YOURS TRULY BY ABBY JIMENEZ
When I tell you I was obsessed with this book - it doesn't even scratch the surface. I stayed up way past my bedtime, basically ignored my kids for a couple of days (including actually forgetting to put tea on one night until I was reminded!). This really gripped me in a way that I haven't had a book do in a long time. It was sooo good. Characters with relatable flaws, delicious flirting and a proper will they / won't they throughout. The only aspect I didn't like was the 'mis-communication trope' this is definitely my least favourite trope and this one went on for half the book! Huge recommendation from me though.
That was it for July. I've actually forced myself not to pick up a book since I finished Yours Truly a couple of days ago as I really should get some work done rather than just reading all the time. Next up for me though is going to be The Good Girl Complex by Elle Kennedy which has been on my TBR for a while and then the new one from Ashley Poston, The Seven Year Slip.