What I Read in July 2023
This month was a doozy. There’s so much going on in my personal life that I’m honestly surprised I made time to read. I gave up 3/4 of the way through my Book Pics in July Challenge on Instagram but I still managed to read every day in July for a Facebook fundraiser I did for the American Cancer Society. I’ll call that a win.
Some quick stats for you:
6 books total
2 audiobooks
1 cookbook
3 Kindle books
1347 pages read
19 hours listened
I’m also in the middle of two books for book clubs — Wild Things by Sally Rippin and The Idiot by Elif Batuman.
My goal for August is to slow down my reading. I took on too much in July and felt like I couldn’t give any one book my full attention. I’m usually great at managing multiple readings but I’m not afraid to admit this month took a toll on me. I think reading should be fun and relaxing and I’m going to be more mindful that it doesn’t become a chore.
This newsletter has a bonus review of Lease on Love from June because I published my newsletter on the last day of the month and then finished that book later in the evening. Oops!
Psst… if you find your next great read in this newsletter, consider supporting my work and keeping me caffeinated while I write.
Lease on Love by Falon Ballard
Synopsis: After getting passed over for an overdue—and much-needed—promotion, Sadie Green is in desperate need of three things: a stiff drink, a new place to live, and a one-night stand. When one drink turns into one too many, Sadie mixes up a long-ignored dating app for a roommate-finding app and finds herself on the doorstep of Jack Thomas’s gorgeous Brooklyn brownstone. Too bad she’s more attracted to his impressive real estate than she is to the man himself.
Jack, still grieving the unexpected death of his parents, has learned to find comfort in video games and movie marathons instead of friends. So while he doesn’t know just what to make of the vivaciously verbose Sadie, he’s willing to offer her his spare bedroom while she gets back on her feet. And with the rent unbeatably low, Sadie can finally pursue her floristry side hustle full-time. The two are polar opposites, but as Sadie’s presence begins to turn the brownstone into a home, they both start to realize they may have just made the deal of a lifetime.
My Thoughts: I actually finished this book on the last day of June but had already posted my June wrap-up.
If you need a romance to save for Thanksgiving, this is it. Lease on Love is a realistic story about what could happen if you just go after what you want. Sadie gets fired from her job and decides to pursue a career change when she drunkenly “swipes right” on a roommate app instead of a dating app. She gets matched with Jack, who appears to be a trust fund baby who inherited a pretty sweet Brooklyn brownstone. The reader knows from the beginning that Sadie and Jack have the hots for each other. Despite randomly holding hands all the time as just friends (is that a normal thing?), they are slow to reveal their feelings.
Sadie’s inner dialogue is so funny! She’s a typical millennial and some of the scenes with her friends Gemma, Harley, and Nick had me laughing out loud. I love a book with text message threads in it. Their friendship definitely gives off 90s sitcom vibes. Both Sadie and Jack show a lot of growth throughout the story and while I didn’t love the ending, I loved that it wrapped up the conflict.
CW: Death of a parent, Narcissistic parent
The Beginning of Everything by Jackie Fraser
Synopsis: After escaping a bad relationship, Jess Cavendish is running and leaving it all behind, carrying just a few treasured belongings in her knapsack. She needs to start over, but that means sleeping where she can and making the most of her slim savings. Luckily, she comes across a recently sold, unoccupied house. It couldn’t hurt to stay there while she saves up enough to get her own place, right?
Gethin Thomas is also looking to move on after the end of a long-term relationship. He’s returned to his hometown, anxious to renovate the fixer-upper he bought and move out of his sister’s cramped guest room. When he walks through the door one morning, he finds Jess, who’s ready to run again, and surprises them both by offering to let her stay. It feels like the right thing to do, but Jess doesn’t want a handout. They strike a Jess will help with the restoration, furnishing, and decorating in exchange for room and board.
My Thoughts: The Beginning of Everything is a slow-burn romance with middle-aged characters. After Jess escapes an abusive relationship, she finds herself seeking shelter in a vacant house in Wales. When Gethin (the new owner) discovers Jess, he invites her to stay as a boarder instead of putting her out on the streets. The two develop an unlikely friendship that in time turns into much more.
It was hard for me to get over the fact that Gethin let a total stranger stay in his house and help him renovate it. It felt really unrealistic to me, otherwise, I might have rated this book higher. The plot is what makes this whole story unique, though. I've never read anything like it. The writing is so good. Jackie Fraser is great at writing dialogue. She uses a lot of broken sentences and ellipses that make the characters feel so relatable. At the same time, I could see how some readers might find that distracting and hard to get through.
This would be such a great beach read. The characters and plot develop slowly. It’s meant to be savored. There’s ongoing tension throughout the book and it’s all very predictable (in the best way) how it will end. Unfortunately, the resolution comes a little too late in the story and it left me wanting a bit more. For Jess and Gethin’s lives to be so messy, things tied up a little too neatly.
This story is about fresh starts, healing trauma, found family, resilience, hope, and so much more. It’s a tender and heartwarming story. The Beginning of Everything isn’t your typical romance but it will draw you in from the first chapter and you’ll be so glad you spent some time with Jess and Gethin.
Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing for the advance review copy. This book is set to publish on September 26, 2023.
Mr. Wrong Number by Lynn Painter
Synopsis: Things get textual when a steamy message from a random wrong number turns into an anonymous relationship in this hilarious rom-com by Lynn Painter.
Bad luck has always followed Olivia Marshall…or maybe she’s just the screw-up her family thinks she is. But when a “What are you wearing?” text from a random wrong number turns into the hottest, most entertaining—albeit anonymous—relationship of her life, she thinks things might be on the upswing….
Colin Beck has always considered Olivia his best friend’s annoying little sister, but when she moves in with them after one of her worst runs of luck, he realizes she’s turned into an altogether different and sexier distraction. He’s sure he can keep his distance, until the moment he discovers she’s the irresistible Miss Misdial he’s been sort of sexting for weeks—and now he has to decide whether to turn the heat up or ghost her before things get messy.
My Thoughts: My friend Hannah recommended this on audiobook and I’m so glad I trusted her! This book was so cute! When "Mr. Wrong Number" accidentally sends a steamy text to "Miss Dial" (probably the only pet names I've ever enjoyed reading in a romance), it's the beginning of an anonymous relationship filled with sexy and playful banter. Through a series of misadventures, you learn that Olivia actually has the hots for her brother's best friend... the one she currently shares an apartment with... and the feelings are more than mutual. I'm not usually a fan of miscommunication tropes and I could have done without a 3rd act breakup but this book was pure fun. It's lighthearted, Olivia is able to make fun of herself, and it's filled with electric chemistry, flirty teasing, and dual POVs. I highly recommend listening on audio! Both narrators did great male and female voices. I'll be looking to pick up book #2 of this series soon. I’m waiting for my library to get the audiobook!
Lily and the Octopus by Steven Rowley
Synopsis: The magic of this novel is in the read, and we don’t want to spoil it by giving away too many details. We can tell you that this is a story about that special someone: the one you trust, the one you can’t live without.
For Ted Flask, that someone special is his aging companion Lily, who happens to be a dog. Lily and the Octopus reminds us how it feels to love fiercely, how difficult it can be to let go, and how the fight for those we love is the greatest fight of all.
My Thoughts:
“It's natural, as our loved ones age, to start grieving their loss. Even before we lose them.”
Cue the tears!
If you’ve ever had a beloved pet, this will be a hard book to get through… but it’s worth the read. In Lily and the Octopus, Steven Rowley expertly captures why dogs are a man’s best friend. The book is filled with over-the-top humor paired with analogies that help the reader gently explore the topic of grief. The writing leans towards magical realism which sucked me in immediately. Even though I could tell from the beginning where the story was going, I didn’t want Ted and Lily's adventures to end. If you’re looking for a book that will take you on a rollercoaster ride of emotions, you must pick this one up!
Thank you to Simon Books for the free review copy.
Just My Type by Falon Ballard
Synopsis: Lana Parker has never been single for long. After a disastrous break-up with her high school boyfriend, Seth Carson, Lana's bounced from long-term relationship to long-term relationship. She's an expert girlfriend, even acting as the resident dating and relationship columnist for one of Los Angeles's trendiest websites. But now, at the age of thirty, Lana suddenly finds herself single again, and she's determined to stay that way, no matter how challenging.
That is, until her high school ex, Seth, now a journalist in his own right, takes an assignment at Lana's site. Ready to put down roots after years of traveling and freelancing, Seth becomes not only Lana's colleague but also her competitor. With their combative relationship history--and undeniable chemistry--they quickly find themselves pitted against each other in a battle of wits: writing an article series that goes against dating type. For Lana, that means writing about staying single and embracing it. For Seth, it's learning to settle down and become boyfriend material. Whoever's is most popular wins a highly coveted columnist spot that either could only dream of. But when the two square off against one another, it's not only their careers on the line--it's also their hearts.
My Thoughts: When the lifestyle and romance publication Lana works for is sold, the last thing she expects is to be competing for a promotion against her ex-boyfriend and high school sweetheart, Seth. Lana is challenged to have a more spontaneous dating life and Seth is asked to say goodbye to his serial dating days. Even though they broke up 12 years ago, it’s clear that the two have great chemistry. As they spend more time together they realize there may be more unfinished business between them than a little friendly workplace competition.
This was a cute high school sweetheart/second chance/enemies to lovers romance heavy on the miscommunication trope. Up until the 75% mark the MCs are still playing a very frustrating game of will they or won’t they. It was a slow burn for me although I did enjoy the character growth from both Lana and Seth as a result of their competition challenges. Just My Type is nerdy at times (lots of Marvel references) and has great mental health rep (Lana’s conversations with her therapist felt like a warm hug). It’s predictable and a little long but I really did enjoy the characters (workplace friendships), witty banter, pop culture references, and office setting! Overall a cute contemporary romance... I just wish the majority of the story would've been like the ending.
Best read while listening to Sunflower, Vol. 6 by Harry Styles
A December to Remember by Jenny Bayliss
Synopsis: Wildly different half-sisters Maggie, Simone, and Star have hardly seen each other since their sprightly summers at Rowan Thorp, their eccentric father Augustus's home. Known for the fruitful ways in which his bustling knick-knack shop kept the tired town afloat, Augustus was loved by all and known by none, not even his daughters.
Now, years later, the three estranged women are unexpectedly reunited at the reading of Augustus's will. Maggie, Simone, and Star are shocked to find out that Augustus has engineered a series of hoops through which the three women must jump to unlock their inheritance--the last thing any of them want to do. But Maggie and Star desperately need the money. And who would Simone be to resist?
Through hilarious goose chases, community mishaps, and one heart-warming winter solstice celebration, love, hope, and reconciliation is in the air, if only the three sisters can let themselves grasp it.
My Thoughts: Three estranged half-sisters are reunited when their father dies. It’s up to them to come together to save North Novelties & Curios and restore the magic of the winter solstice to the close-knit town of Rowan Thorpe. I had some trouble keeping the three sisters (Maggie (Marguerite), Simone, and Star (Heavenly-Stargazer Rosehip) straight because they're written in mostly the same voice. This was further complicated by the fact that there are so many side characters. This book lacked some of the Christmas charm for me because each sister had their own associated cast of side characters and trauma they were dealing with on top of having to throw together a huge town festival and sort through their late father’s estate. There was a lot going on and the book dealt with some deeper themes I wasn’t expecting— family legacy, death of a parent, displacement, identity, self-worth, stalking, drug addiction, IVF and motherhood. At the same time, I adored the setting and townspeople. It reminded me a lot of my own small town where everyone knows everyone. While they could be nosy and overbearing, they adopted the North sisters as their own and made sure their winter solstice celebration was a success. A December to Remember had all the cozy vibes. Hot cocoa, snow, small-town romance, and bird watching. While each of the sisters had their own romances, I appreciated that in the end, the story was more about their love for each other.
A HUGE thank you to NetGalley, the publisher G.P. Putnam's Sons, and Jenny Bayliss for an ARC of one of my most anticipated holiday reads! While it wasn’t a 5 star read for me, I’d recommend this to anyone looking for a cozy holiday read that has a bit more depth than a rom-com. I think Bayliss is great at writing contemporary women’s lit that is heartwarming.
The Glucose Goddess Method by Jessie Inchauspe
Synopsis: In her first book, the instant #1 internationally bestselling Glucose Revolution, Jessie Inchauspé offered a revolutionary framework for healing through science-backed nutrition hacks. Now, in The Glucose Goddess Method, she shares the "best practical guide for managing glucose to maximize health and longevity" (David Sinclair, PhD, New York Times bestselling author of Lifespan) with this four-week program to incorporating the principles of how to avoid glucose spikes into your everyday life.
Complete with 100 recipes and an interactive workbook, you are guided through four simple, science-proven ways to steady your blood sugar, gaining boundless energy, curbing your cravings, clearing your skin, slowing your ageing process, and sleeping better than you ever have before. You will create positive new habits for life. The best part? You won't be counting calories and can still eat all the foods you love.
My Thoughts: I should probably wait to give this book a full review until I try out the method myself but here are some initial thoughts. I discovered Jessie on Instagram and I’ve found her infographics extremely helpful in reframing my relationship with my body. What I love about her 4-week method is that it’s not about counting calories or restrictive dieting. She provides scientific proof for simple hacks that can greatly change the way your body processes sugar. I feel like her gentle easy approach sets you up for lasting changes. While there are plenty of recipes, this isn’t your typical cookbook. There’s plenty to read and digest. The recipes are quick and probably things you can make with food you have in your fridge or pantry already. I really appreciate Jessie’s humor and confidence. Her writing feels friendly and approachable. I’m looking forward to starting this method next month to get a handle on some mental health, brain fog, and fatigue issues.
You can keep up with my reading journey in real time on Goodreads or Instagram.
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Ohh you’ve convinced me to look into Mr. Wrong Number. Thanks for the recs!