August Wrap Up: 25 Books Read

About: Explore my August Wrap Up featuring 25 books with a 4.03-star average rating. Discover a long-awaited romance favourite and my mystery/thriller journey!

Overview

Outline

August Reflection and Into September

While it’s the end of September, I’m happy that I managed to get my August wrap out before October. After the success of July – I read 31 books and 11,576 pages – I was so excited to maintain this success in August. Even though I had much more time, I didn’t make reading a priority. I finished the month with 25 books and 8,114 pages read. That being said, I had a great reading month in terms of how much I enjoyed the books I read: I averaged a 4.03-star rating. While a significant amount of my 5-star and 4-star reads were actually re-reads, I also read quite a few great backlist books, including Carrie Soto is Back and True Biz.

In August, I slowly started dipping my toe into the mystery/thriller and horror genres with pretty poor results. My first Riley Sager read wasn’t horrible (I gave it 3-stars), but some hugely popular books in these genres were my two worst reads of the month. As I move into September and the Halloween season, I want to start diving into the number of thrillers and horror books I’ve accumulated over the years. The few I read in August, though, have led me to the conclusion that I need deft social commentary and/or believable plot twists to enjoy these genres.

Reading Challenges and Goals Update

Not only did I not read the number of books I wanted to read, but I struggled to reach my monthly goals. I read one 500+ page book and no nonfiction books.

Monthly Goal #1: Read two books longer than 500 pages

I only read one book over 500 pages this month, and that was A Taste of Gold and Iron by Alexandra Rowland.

Monthly Goal #2: Read two nonfiction books

None this month.

Series Finished/Caught Up

1. Would-Be Wallflowers by Eloisa James

Reading Challenges

Books I Read This Month

Did Not Finish

Key: 🔁 re-read | 🤓 reviewed on this blog | 📜 from Up Next Shelf | 🥳 from 2023 Backlist

Hunt Me Darling by Maree Rose
DNF @ 12% (on August 27)

I didn’t like how this book was written. I was looking for a book similar to the Mindf*ck series, but I couldn’t get over that these men (the serial killers) were hurting women 🤢.

2-star Reads

Key: 🔁 re-read | 🤓 reviewed on this blog | 📜 from Up Next Shelf | 🥳 from 2023 Backlist

The Silent Patient by Alex Michaelides
2-stars (Read from August 8 to August 9) 🥳
This book was my least favourite read in August. Read my full review here.

Not That Duke (Would-Be Wallflowers, #3) by Eloisa James
2.75-stars (Read on August 26)
This book was incredibly disappointing. The Hero of this book was the friend who was in love with the Heroine, Yasmin, in book 2, and the author wasn’t able to convince me that he loved the Heroine of this book, Stella. Also, the author went OTT drilling home how Stella was never the Hero’s first choice and could never compare to the alluring Yasmin. Blah. However, I decided to give the book a higher 2-star rating because I loved Stella’s journey so much. You see her come into her own throughout the book, stand up for herself and create meaningful friendships. I just wish she had been given a Hero worthy of her. ❃ Add on Goodreads or The StoryGraph ❃

The Devil’s Own Dare (Wagers and Wallflowers, #12) by Alyssa Clarke
2.25-stars (Read on August 26)
This book was more boring than anything. The Hero is giving the Heroine pointers on how to attract his best friend, and of course, they fall for each other. The third-act separation didn’t need to be as drawn out or as dramatic as it should’ve been. ❃ Add on Goodreads or The StoryGraph ❃

The Southern Book Club’s Guide to Slaying Vampires by Grady Hendrix
2-stars (Read from August 23 to August 30) 🥳
I was so disappointed by this book. It was my first horror novel in a long time, and I had heard nothing but great things. However, I think the author struggled with understanding whether his protagonist, Patricia, was the hero of the tale or yet another ignorant villain, comfortable in their privilege. I also didn’t like the authorial decisions on how he represented the Black community; most of the victims were Black, and not a single middle-class person was Black (the book wasn’t just set in the white suburb either). I didn’t like how the whole book was every single character gaslighting Patricia – even her friends and children! Finally, it wasn’t scary – creepy but not scary. ❃ Add on Goodreads or The StoryGraph ❃

3-star Reads

Key: 🔁 re-read | 🤓 reviewed on this blog | 📜 from Up Next Shelf | 🥳 from 2023 Backlist

Shielding Lily by Alexa Riley
3.5-stars (Read from August 3 to August 4) 🔁
This re-read was a throwback to the shorter and simpler erotica romances I used to read in undergrad. While the simplicity of the plot (and insta-love) is appealing, when I feel a slump coming on, I always end up wishing there was more emotional development between the main characters. ❃ Add on Goodreads or The StoryGraph ❃

The Wedding Season by Katy Birchall
3-stars (Read from August 9 to August 10)
I picked up this book when I was having a bad day; I wanted something light but also something that had “life gets better” vibes, and it delivered. However, while The Wedding Season does have a romance, it very much takes a back seat to the protagonist’s healing journey after being left at the altar by her boyfriend of ten years. ❃ Add on Goodreads or The StoryGraph ❃

Undone by the Ex-con (Just for Him, #2) by Author
3-stars (Read from Month X to Month X)
This book follows a steamy opposites-attract romance between a retired professional ballerina (who’s a member of “high society”) and an ex-con turned famous memoir author. While the main characters had lots of chemistry, the plot was lacklustre. However, I appreciated the depiction of the Heroine’s struggles with her diabetes diagnosis, and it’s impact on her life. ❃ Add on Goodreads or The StoryGraph ❃

The Only One Left by Riley Sager
3.25-stars (Read on August 14) 📜
My second mystery/thriller of the year, and while it was better than The Silent Patient, it still felt pretty meh. What I liked about this story was the writing, atmosphere (haunted house, anyone?), and the complex characters. However, the plot twist was once again unbelievable and quite convoluted. ❃ Add on Goodreads or The StoryGraph ❃

Artfully Yours by Joanna Lowell
3-stars (Read on August 22)
I had high hopes for this historical romance after seeing a Bookstagrammer review it. The romance follows an (unwilling) art forger Heroine and a Hero who’s a professional art critic who makes it his business to catch forgers. There was such a great opportunity for a genuine enemies-to-lovers romance with high angst. Instead, the romance was quite vanilla. Plus, a number of supporting characters were abruptly introduced, which threw me off. ❃ Add on Goodreads or The StoryGraph ❃

4-star Reads

Key: 🔁 re-read | 🤓 reviewed on this blog | 📜 from Up Next Shelf | 🥳 from 2023 Backlist

Deep as the Sky, Red as the Sea by Rita Chang-Eppig
4-stars (Read on August 4) 📜
A historical fiction that explores the rise of Shek Yeung, the real-life legendary Chinese pirate queen of the 18th century. This book realistically explored the circumstances of why so many people turned to pirating, which I appreciated. There were many queer relationships – more so between the men because (of course) women were criticized for not “doing their duty” by having kids. I will say that if you’re expecting a fast-paced adventure, this is not the book. Instead, the narrative is much more introspective and remarks on how Shek Yeung’s life as a pirate queen contrasts with society’s expectations of her as a mother and wife. ❃ Add on Goodreads or The StoryGraph ❃

The Invisible Hours by Alice Hoffman
4-stars (Read from August 21 to August 22) 📜
I decided to give Alice Hoffman a second chance after DNFing Practical Magic last winter. I’m so happy I decided to read this book; it was the perfect fall transition read. It follows the protagonist as she discovers books and depends on them to escape the cult she’s been raised in. Her favourite book is The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne, and through ~magic~ she manages to go back in time and meet her favourite author. I loved learning about The Scarlet Letter through Alice Hoffman’s eyes and the subtle feminist commentary that persists throughout the narrative. While the book is slow-paced, it’s incredibly atmospheric and, through the author’s use of magical realism, creates a world where one can achieve the (seemingly) impossible. ❃ Add on Goodreads or The StoryGraph ❃

A Taste of Gold and Iron by Alexandra Rowland
4.25-stars (Read from August 22 to August 23)
This book has been on my to-be-read list since the beginning of the year, and I finally got around to it! I loved the world-building and queer normativity in this book. It’s a romantic fantasy that has an intriguing mystery underpining its plot, which Kadou (the prince) is tasked with solving. The romance between Kadou and his bodyguard, Evemer, is a genuine enemies-to-lovers situation. I loved seeing them bond and slowly start to fall for each other. One big complaint, though, was how abruptly the book ends. ❃ Add on Goodreads or The StoryGraph ❃

The Naturals (The Naturals, #1) by Jennifer Lynn Barnes
4-stars (Read on August 29) 📜
Like everyone else this summer, I had to read this book after learning its premise: talented teenagers are recruited by the FBI to catch serial killers and solve cold cases. I flew through this book. And, while the plot got a bit wild (yes, even more unbelievable than teenagers being recruited than the FBI), it was still fun (hence the 4-star read). It also ends on an intriguing note that hints at a larger mystery that will span the entire series: who killed the protagonist’s mother? Of course, there’s a love triangle, but it’s more like a love square since one of the girls on the team has an on-again-off-again relationship with one of the guys. Very angsty, but it didn’t take up too much of the story, which I appreciated. ❃ Add on Goodreads or The StoryGraph ❃

True Biz by Sara Nović
4.75-stars (Read from August 30 to August 31) 🥳
I learned so much from reading this book! If it’s possible, I definitely recommend reading it physically as American Sign Language words and phrases are drawn on the pages to show what the hand movement would look like. The reader is also educated on the history of ASL and other facts. Turning to the story, the three main perspectives explored what being D/deaf and attending a school for the D/deaf means: the principal is concerned with decreasing state funding, the popular golden boy who comes from a long legacy of Deaf people is grappling with a hearing sister, and the new student who is learning ASL for the first time despite being born Deaf. The book also educated me on the medicalization of Deafness and how doctors actually tell parents not to let their kids with cochlear implants learn ASL as it gives them a better chance at hearing. Which is obviously false! However, it wasn’t quite a 5-star read because there was no closure. While the characters didn’t need to have a “happy ending” per se, the last scene needed to feel like “the end” or “the end for now,” and it didn’t. ❃ Add on Goodreads or The StoryGraph ❃

5-star Reads

Key: 🔁 re-read | 🤓 reviewed on this blog | 📜 from Up Next Shelf | 🥳 from 2023 Backlist

Her Wicked Marquess (Sinful Wallflowers, #2) by Stacy Reid
5-stars (Read from August 2 to August 4) 🔁
This historical romance is now a staple re-read – I’ve read it three times now. I love the relationship between the main characters in Her Wicked Marquess. It has the perfect blend of emotional intimacy and compelling tension, a result of their opposites-attract dynamic. This romance also has a suspenseful story of revenge that keeps the reader hostage. ❃ Add on Goodreads or The StoryGraph ❃

Our Missing Hearts by Celeste Ng
5-stars (Read from August 5 to August 7) 🥳
If you like quiet reads with lots of introspective commentary, then look no further than Our Missing Hearts. While this book is a dystopian novel that has a lot to say about state censorship and control, at its core, it is a book about a complex relationship between a son and his mother. The author calls attention to the very real surge in anti-Asian rhetoric, its traces in history, and government programs – like the Sixties Scoop in Canada – that were used to control racialized communities. While fiction, this book is very much based on real events and gives the reader a lot to think about. ❃ Add on Goodreads or The StoryGraph ❃

Red, White & Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston
5-stars (Read from August 7 to August 8) 📜
This book was my favourite read in August! Read my full review here.

Carrie Soto is Back by Taylor Jenkins Reid
5-stars (Read from August 10 to August 11) 🥳
I adored Carrie Soto’s rough-around-the-edge personality. Enjoying Carrie’s salty (and egoistic) character is definitely a requirement to enjoy the book. I loved Carrie’s journey as she attempts a comeback after being retired for six years; following her through the four Grand Slams of the year was so exciting. I thought the author wrote the tennis matches in a way that made tennis accessible for those who don’t follow the sport, and they were so fun to read! I felt like I was watching a real match. There’s also a romance, but it definitely takes a back seat to Carrie’s character development. My favourite part of this book, however, was Carrie’s relationship with her dad. The author did such a great job exploring the complexities of their relationship – how much he wanted her to win when she was younger, how much pressure that put on her, and how much he just wants her to enjoy the sport now. ❃ Add on Goodreads or The StoryGraph ❃

Assistant to the Villain (Assistant to the Villain, #1) by Hannah Nicole Maehrer
5-stars (Read on August 14) 📜
So, this was definitely a 5-star read for me. I recognized that the writing wasn’t amazing, but I loved the premise so much: the protagonist needs a job to support her family, and the Villain offers her a great salary and benefits! It was so funny; I loved The Office-esque dynamics. Of course, the grumpy/sunshine dynamic was perfect. And the fact that we got a few chapters from the Villain’s perspective really helped flesh out their dynamic. The only drawback is that the book ends on a pretty big cliffhanger, so I’m counting the days until Book 2 comes out. ❃ Add on Goodreads or The StoryGraph ❃

In Harmony by Emma Scott
5-stars (Read from August 14 to August 15) 🔁
If you like Shakespeare-inspired romances, look no further. This is a new adult high school romance between a wealthy New Yorker whose family has just moved to a small town and a boy from the wrong side of the tracks. All this small-town has going for it really is the community play it puts on each season, and of course, the Hero is an actor prodigy. I loved how a big part of this book is actually the Heroine finding emotional refuge in acting and learning how to slowly trust and befriend people again after New York. There’s a lot of angst and emotions in this romance, but I thought the ending was worth it. ❃ Add on Goodreads or The StoryGraph ❃

Scarlet Angel (Mindf*ck, #3) by S.T. Abby
5-stars (Read from August 18 to August 19) 🔁
This series will never not hit – I think this is my fourth re-read! Scarlet Angel has the best scene (in my opinion): the Heroine finally goes head to head with the serial killer who’s been terrorizing the Hero. She also continues to get more intertwined with the Hero and his team, which has big implications for her long-term revenge goals. BTW: this is a romance between a serial killer avenging a wrong (understatement but no spoilers) that was committed in her small town when she was 16 and the FBI agent who’s unknowingly trying to catch her.❃ Add on Goodreads or The StoryGraph ❃

All the Lies (Mindf*ck, #4) by S.T. Abby
5-stars (Read on August 19) 🔁
It’s wild how these books – novellas? – are so short (under 150 pages) and yet carry such a large punch. In this book, the FBI squad heads to the Heroine’s hometown and starts putting together the puzzle of what happened almost 10 years ago. Of course, the Heroine’s life is much more stressful since she’s busy exacting her revenge, trying to stay a step ahead of the FBI, oh and protecting her FBI boyfriend from the corrupt cops of her hometown. ❃ Add on Goodreads or The StoryGraph ❃

Paint It All Red (Mindf*ck, #5) by S.T. Abby
5-stars (Read on August 19) 🔁
Wow. Whenever I read the last book in this series, I’m blown away that the author was able to deliver the revenge the Heroine was working towards for five novellas. My favourite aspect of this romance series is how capable the Heroine is. The series is such a fun read and will definitely be one that I re-read more in the future. ❃ Add on Goodreads or The StoryGraph ❃

The Making of a Highlander (Midnight in Scotland, #1) by Elisa Braden
5-stars (Read on August 26) 🔁
The relationship between the main characters in The Making of a Highlander is the best. They both think the other is ridiculous – he’s too pretty, and she curses like a dockworker – which makes for some great banter and character development. I would classify this as a slow romance since they’ve known each other for four years, and the book takes place over a year. There’s a lot going on in this romance (in a good way): there are ~magical realism~ reasons why the Heroine needs to marry a gentleman, and the Hero is hiding the fact that he’s not only a gentleman but a Viscount (and son of an Earl), and the Heroine’s family is going through it, as a villain has gotten one of her older brothers wrongfully imprisoned. Of course, the best part is how the Hero loves the Heroine for exactly who she is – swear words and all. ❃ Add on Goodreads or The StoryGraph ❃

The Taming of a Highlander (Midnight in Scotland, #2) by Elisa Braden
5-stars (Read on August 27) 🔁
I was pleasantly surprised by how much I loved – and continue to love – this book. The author deftly employs the marriage of convenience trope to circumvent the Heroine’s fear of love (and losing her independence) and the Hero’s tunnel vision in exacting revenge on the man who wrongfully imprisoned him. For two characters who couldn’t be more different, I loved how they leaned into each other’s idiosyncrasies. Of course, there’s also quite a bit of suspense as the Hero hunts down his nemesis. ❃ Add on Goodreads or The StoryGraph ❃

August Stats

Favourite and Least Favourite Reads

Most Favourite: Red, White & Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston. See why here.

Least Favourite: The Silent Patient by Alex Michaelides. See why here.

Quick Facts

• Most books (6) were Paperbacks from my own shelves.
• Most books (11) were 5-star reads.
• Most books (6) were historical romance.
• My most-read author was S.T. Abby, with 3 books.

Longest and Shortest Reads

Longest Book: A Taste of Gold and Iron by Alexandra Rowland ~ 512 pages

Shortest Book: Scarlet Angel by S.T. Abby ~ 139 pages

Top of My Want-to-Read List

September To-Be-Read

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