What I Read in August 2024

Hi friend! I finished another 10 books in August which is getting to be the norm for me. I never thought I’d be the kind of person who would finish 10 books in a year, let alone 10 books in a month. I’m grateful to have found a reading groove with audiobooks. Without that format, I wouldn’t get through nearly as many books. It’s also my favorite service provided by my local library.

I stopped reading One Last Summer by Kate Spencer when the audio files corrupted. At 40%, I wasn’t very invested in the story and it was a happy accident that forced me to DNF. I also put aside The Four by Ellie Keel for later in the winter. I think I will enjoy the dark academia setting when the nights are a little longer.

My favorite books from August were One-Star Romance by Laura Hankin, and two books coming out in the coming months: The Slowest Burn by Sarah Chamberlain and How to Help a Hungry Werewolf by Charlotte Stein.

I had a busy month personally and professionally so I’m ending August feeling accomplished with the number of pages I read! Keep reading for full reviews of everything I read this month.

Psst… if you find your next great read in this newsletter, consider supporting my work and keeping me caffeinated while I write.

August Book Reviews

Done and Dusted by Lyla Sage
⭐⭐⭐

Genre: Cowboy Romance
Pages: 356
Format Read: audiobook, borrowed from the library

Clementine “Emmy” Ryder is at a crossroads in her life after an accident sidelines her horse riding career. She reluctantly returns to her hometown, where she reconnects with Luke Brooks, the local bar owner and a close friend of her brother. Despite their history, they both feel a strong attraction, but must navigate the complexities of their relationship and the potential consequences.

This was a really cute, quick introduction to cowboy romances for me. There wasn’t a lot of depth to the characters aside from some family conflict but their chemistry was off the charts! I love a dual POV. The spice had me sweating! I think this could’ve benefited from being a little longer so the author could really develop the characters. I’ll definitely read Book #2 in the series when I need another palate cleanser.

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The Slowest Burn by Sarah Chamberlain
⭐⭐⭐⭐

Genre: Romance
Pages: 336
Format Read: Kindle, DRC from NetGalley, this book is expected to be published on September 24th

Kieran O'Neill is dominating the cooking scene, winning a TV show, teetering on the brink of launching his own restaurant, and securing a cookbook deal. He should feel like he’s on top of the world but his family doesn't bat an eyelid, planning anything is a rollercoaster due to his ADHD, and his ghostwriter, Ellie Wasserman, is a tough nut to crack. Ellie is a widowed superwoman forced to juggle family duties and a high-stakes job... all while trying to rediscover who she is and carve her own path forward in her 30s. The Slowest Burn is a heartwarming love story told from a dual POV (my favorite in romance novels). Chamberlain effortlessly tackles heavy topics like sobriety, ADHD, deadbeat parents, and grief after loss. There was a considerable amount of focus on mental health and it was done in a way that didn’t feel cheesy. The foodie elements and Ellie’s cat made this an especially cozy romance. Both characters show significant growth throughout the story. The Slowest Burn has a great storyline with a slow burn that definitely packs some heat by the end! I hope Sarah’s next book is Kieran and Ellie’s cookbook!

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The Wedding People by Allison Espach
⭐⭐⭐

Genre: Literary Fiction
Pages: 384
Format Read: audiobook from Libro.fm

The Wedding People is one of those buzzy summer books you’ll be seeing everywhere.

Phoebe Stone arrives at the Cornwall Inn in Newport, Rhode Island, wearing a green dress and gold heels. Despite being mistaken for a wedding guest, she is actually the only guest not there for the event. Phoebe had dreamt of coming here with her husband for years, but now she's alone. The bride, who has planned for every detail except Phoebe, finds herself confiding in her.

Am I heartless? I just didn't love this. Something about the writing reminded me a lot of Anxious People by Fredrik Backman and I can see why it resonated with a lot of readers. I didn't connect with the dark humor, which is strange for me.

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Not in Love by Ali Hazelwood
⭐⭐⭐

Genre: Romance
Pages: 384
Format Read: audiobook from Libro.fm

The beginning of the book states that Not in Love is "less of a rom-com and more of an erotic romance", which is why this story feels like a departure from the rest of Hazelwood’s STEMinist books. Because of some of the kinks that come into play, this book feels darker and grittier than some of Hazelwood’s other books, while still having some of the same themes that I think readers have come to expect from her. The spice was great, but I think the author missed an opportunity to make the FMC Ace. It seemed to be heavily implied for the first half of the story but of course, Eli ends up being the savior to all of Rue’s sexual frustrations.

I listened on audio and I did not think the narrators were a good match for the dual POV. The MMC’s voice was deep and gravelly (exactly what I pictured for the commanding Eli) while the FMC’s voice was a little too Valley girl to imagine Rue as an equal to Eli.

Not in Love has a forbidden workplace romance, rivals to lovers, and insta-lust tropes. The found friendships in this book are welcoming and help ground both main characters in a way that their families never could. Worth the read if you’re a fan of Ali Hazelwood but this certainly wasn’t my favorite novel of hers.

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Rachel Weiss’s Group Chat by Lauren Appelbaum
⭐⭐⭐

Genre: Women’s Fiction
Pages: 320
Format Read: Kindle, DRC from NetGalley, this book is expected to be published on September 24th

The premise of this story was really promising, but the execution didn't quite hit the mark for me. There were a ton of characters with too many side quests, so it felt a bit all over the place. A lot of the action didn’t really add much value to the main storyline. That said, it was still a super fun book to read. Every character is just so over the top!

I loved how the story focused on Rachel’s family and friendships. Even her job was a well thought out part of the story. But the romance and chemistry between Rachel and her two book boyfriends didn’t really do it for me. In the original Pride & Prejudice, Mr. Darcy and Elizabeth don’t spend much time together before his failed proposal, but in Austen’s story, there were balls, run-ins, and dinners that led to in-person interactions—not just Instagram comments and an awkward profession of love over a run-in on a family vacation. I’m not sure I’d categorize this book in the romance genre, perhaps women’s fiction.

I did appreciate the author writing such an authentic character—someone who makes mistakes, doesn’t have everything figured out, isn’t quite sure what she wants from life, and only starts learning from her mistakes after facing some pretty serious consequences. Because Rachel was such a mess, it made her character feel more genuine and real to me.

Another huge thank you to

Sri Juneja

for putting this book on my radar. I can’t resist an Austen retelling.

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Stuck with You by Ali Hazelwood
⭐⭐

Genre: Romance
Pages: 127
Format Read: audiobook, borrowed from the library

Mara, Sadie, and Hannah, friends and scientists, agree: in love and science, opposites attract and rivals ignite. Sadie, a STEM woman, knows civil engineers build bridges, but being trapped in an elevator with her ex, Erik, changes things. Despite her resistance, Sadie wonders if there's more to Erik than meets the eye. Maybe even burned bridges can still be crossed.

This was sadly a no for me. Skip.

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Under One Roof by Ali Hazelwood
⭐⭐⭐

Genre: Romance
Pages: 112
Format Read: audiobook, borrowed from the library

Mara, an environmental engineer, understands ecosystems' delicate balance. Her roommate, Liam, a big-oil lawyer, doesn't follow house rules. Despite her growing affection for him, she's not willing to give up her inheritance without a fight.

This was such a slow burn and the transitions were distracting. It wasn’t my favorite novella but I do like a roommates trope and it had that. Better than Under One Roof but Below Zero was my favorite of the STEMinist novellas by far!

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How to Help a Hungry Werewolf by Charlotte Stein
⭐⭐⭐⭐

Genre: Romance
Pages: 368
Format Read: Kindle, DRC from NetGalley, this book is expected to be published on October 1st

This book was a romp! I haven't had so much fun reading a romance in a while. When Cassie's childhood best friend fat-shames her, the last thing she expects is to end up back in her hometown and forced to save him. It turns out he's a werewolf and she might just be a witch! It's a lot for Cassie to come to terms with so I appreciated that the author took some time to explore that internal struggle. Cassie is filled with so much AWE and wonderment for the world when she's able to see things through new eyes. You have to suspend your disbelief to enjoy this book. Parts of it are silly and downright absurd. Oh, and STEAMY. There's some fated mate stuff that comes on fast and hard. If you love the friends-to-enemies-to-lovers trope and aren't afraid of a little campy paranormal romance, this is a cozy read perfect for fall! I honestly enjoyed every second of it.

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One-Star Romance by Laura Hankin
⭐⭐⭐⭐

Genre: Women’s Fiction
Pages: 368
Format Read: audiobook, borrowed from the library

I’m a big fan of Laura Hankin’s writing and One-Star Romance was no exception. Most of the book reads more like women’s lit and I wish there was more emphasis on the romance between Natalie and Rob. Natalie is an immature struggling writer and Rob is a career academic. Despite their inital conflict, the duo’s undying love for their best friends keeps pulling them back together, creating a dynamic that is magnetic. They’ve all got their own lives and One-Star Romance explores how their decisions affect each other over a series of years. I feel like the title does the story a disservice. There were a few sections of the book that got bogged down by side characters that didn’t really propel the story forward but overall I enjoyed this book and found a lot of the topics explored to be endearing. Rob’s struggle with his dad’s dementia diagnosis hit really close to home for me and Hankin handles it with so much care. If you’re read any of her other books, you’ll know that Hankin excels at writing female friendships, especially ones that feel realistic in adulthood. I think if you go into this book with the expectation that it isn’t a rom-com, you’ll enjoy it!

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The Rereading Project Update

In January, I challenged myself to reread 12 books from my childhood that made a significant impact on my life as a reader. You can see my full list in the post linked below!

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My daughter and I finished Kristy’s Big Day and Karen’s Worst Day from the Baby-Sitters Club graphic novel series. I enjoyed both of these a lot! After reading 8 of these (so far) this year, I think the Baby-Sitters Little Sister series is more suited to the elementary school age range. They use slightly fewer words and more pictures, and I seem to get more interaction from my 1st grader on these titles!

What’s up next in September:

• I’m so close to finishing my summer NetGalley digital review copies. I’m continuing If I Stopped Haunting You by Colby Wilkens and then I have two more lined up: Most Wonderful by Georgia Clark and Perfect Fit by Clare Gilmore.

• For my rereading project, I haven’t decided if I’m going to finish Lolita or put it to the side yet another month and reread one of my all-time favorite books, The Catcher in the Rye by J. D. Salinger.

• My library hold for Lady Macbeth by Ava Reid came in this week so I’ve got a couple of weeks to work my way through it! I’ll be prioritizing this book first in September.

• We picked up a box set of the Diary of a Wimpy Kid books and my 1st grader wants to take a break from the BSC series and dive into those!

• Both of my kids have Scholastic Book Fairs coming up this month and I can’t wait to see what books they select! Flipping through the flyer and circling books excites me just as much as an adult as it did as a kid.

You can keep up with my reading journey in real time on Goodreads or The Storygraph!

Tell me, what was the best book you read in August? What fall book releases are you pre-ordering? My copy of Daydream by Hannah Grace is on the way!

Happy reading,

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