July Reading Recap & Recommendations

The days of reading for hours in the pool have sadly escaped us, but we can relive the warm summer days together by recapping our best books. 

I read 9 books this month, many being very popular on TikTok and Instagram, and I had some unpopular thoughts about them. Lets get into it.

Every Summer After by: Carley Fortune

For six summers, Persephone and Sam were neighbors who grew up together and learned about love during those months by the lake each year. It's been a decade since Persephone made the biggest mistake of her life, and a jarring phone call brings her right back. The the lake. To the summers. To Sam. Does he know her secret? Will he ever forgive her? Will they be able to move forward?

This book was on just about every other TikTok that appeared on my feed this summer, so I finally bit the bullet and bought this one. I will say this book is very similar to Love and Other Words by Christina Lauren, so if you liked that one you may enjoy this one as well. Personally I liked Christina Lauren's book much better.

Overall, I enjoyed this book a lot but I think two things brought the rating down for me. One being I had way to high of expectations from all of the hype. Two, the plot twist / reason the characters were disconnected for so long, really didn't set well with me. It is hard to root for characters when you feel like you could never forgive them. I felt that the main character did something unforgiveable and therefore I couldn't pull for the "happily ever after" as much as I wanted to. Warning, some adult content is mentioned.

Rate: 3 out of 5 Stars

It Happened One Summer by: Tessa Bailey

A high-maintenance, wealthy, and out of touch socialite has to move to a small fishing town to help run her deceased father's dive bar where she starts to fall for one of the grumpy local fisherman who judges her every move.

Let me start by saying yowza this one was rated R in the spice department. I was also very uncomfortable with the domineering masculinity in this book. This is another book that is very hyped and is soon being turned into a movie so maybe my expectations were too high. I absolutely loved the setting of this book and the supporting characters were the BEST. It was a quick read and had to potential to be a book I loved but it unfortunately had a few things in it I didn't care for. 

Rate: 3 out of 5 Stars

If We Break: A Memoir of Marriage, Addiction, and Healing by: Kathleen Buhle

This is a memoir from Kathleen, who was married to Hunter Biden, son of President Biden. Kathleen and Hunter had made an entire life together, and after years of financial ruin, addiction, and lies, it was their adult children who broke the news to their mom that he had been cheating on her with his dead brothers widow. 

This was heartbreaking and interesting. This story doesn't dive deep into much about President Biden at all but seeing the Biden family response to a lot of what they went through is telling. This book was hard to read, but a good read too.

Rate: 4 out of 5 Stars

Too Good to Be True by: Carola Lovering

I don't even know how to describe this story nor do I want to waste energy doing so. I hated this story and thought it was beyond confusing and uninteresting. 

Rate: 1 out of 5 Stars

November 9 by: Colleen Hoover

Fallon meets Ben the day before her cross-country move and their untimely attraction leads them to spend Fallon's last full day in L.A. together. Her eventful life becomes the creative inspiration aspiring novelist Ben was looking for. After this day together, Fallon and Ben vow to meet up every year on this exact day without contact the remaining days of the year. Their pact was going well until Fallon realizes that Ben may have been lying to her for the sake of an epic plot twist in his book.

This book was INSANE and AMAZING. Colleen Hoover always creates books that can pack an emotional punch while simultaneously being light enough to consume in one sitting. This plot was incredible, the characters were so loveable, and overall I just devoured this one. I was a tad upset at the plot twist with one of the characters, but overall, I recommend. 

I wouldn't say this one is rated R but definitely covers some adult content.

Rate: 4.5 out of 5 Stars!

Blind Kiss by: Renee Carlino

This is a story about two people who spend years denying their attraction and chemistry in support of one another's dreams and aspirations. Love isn't always convenient and sometimes it takes fourteen years before you're willing to make the sacrifices needed to make it work.

Ugh this book was just overall frustrating and annoying. Don't recommend.

Rate: 1 out of 5 stars

The Light we Lost by: Jill Santopolo

Lucy and Gabe met as seniors in college during a catastrophic world event and their trauma ties them together for life. Though during the years they are separated by secrets, hurt, and continents, they are always tied together.

This one was disappointing for me too. I have heard so many people say this book made them cry and I just don't see it. I personally hate books where an innocent person is hurt in the crossfires of a past love that another character downplays. Bookish Pet PEEVE. This one was eh for me.

Rate: 2 out of 5 Stars

Again, but Better by: Christine Riccio

Shane feels like she has been doing college all wrong. She prefers to stay in and read and is often viewed as a hermit. When she decides to study abroad for a semester in London, abandoning all of her introverted habits, lying to her parents, and falling in love, she is certain she has done the right thing. When all of her lies come crashing down on her new life though, she wishes she could have a second chance to do it differently. Her wish comes true.

I was loving the first half of this book so much. But when her wish came true to relive her semester abroad and I realized I now had to read it again, I was frustrated. It was an odd book honestly.

Rate: 2 out of 5 Stars

The Upside of Falling by: Alex Light

Seventeen-year-old Becca does not believe in love after what her parents went through, so when she finds herself in a fake dating situation with the most popular boy in school, she isn't worried about it becoming anything more. What Becca doesn't expect is her fake-boyfriend Brett to become her most trusted friend and confidant. While simultaneously going through his own family drama, Brett helps Becca find healing and peace while also showing her love can exist.

I love a fake dating YA romance y'all and this one was as cute as can be. This can be read quickly and I recommend it for getting out of a reading slump which I had needed.

Rate: 3.5 out of 5 Stars

Those were my July books! I know I didn't love all of them and struggled with some popular recommendations. what are your thoughts? What have you been reading recently?

Chat soon, xoxo.