What I Read in July
Hi, I hope you’ve had a good summer so far! Here’s my monthly reading round-up, including what is probably my favorite book that I’ve read so far this year - I already hope to read it again at some point. I also read two books that were recommended to me on Instagram, which makes me wish I was part of a book club. Until I join (or start) one, be sure to add me on GoodReads so I can keep up with what you’re reading, too :)
what i read in july
barbed wire heart by tess sharpe
5/5 stars
This is probably my favorite book of the year so far; I finished it in a day and already want to read it again. I had read “Far From You” by this author years ago and really liked it, so after a few not-so-great thrillers last month, I wanted to go back to an author I was familiar with whose work I enjoyed, and this absolutely blew me away.
This was gritty, violent, and intense, but also captivating and real.
The writing is so good that I found myself simply enjoying the story, rather than try to guess what’s next. Part of the main character’s plan is laid out for you, but there’s the suspense that something could go wrong; instead of leaning into that or coming up with my own theories, I really let this book unfold and play out like a movie in my head.
Overall, it was much more emotionally-driven with stronger “life lesson” themes than I expected, especially regarding the big twist.
The characterization was top-tier and I’d love to see this turned into a movie or limited series.
Read it here.
the paradise problem by christina lauren
3/5 stars
This was recommended to me by a friend on Instagram and was a total change of pace from what I typically read. No spoilers, but it exceeded my expectations; I found it to be genuinely cute and the lightheartedness was refreshing compared to all of my thrillers and self-improvement books.
It had great pacing, witty dialogue, and definitely some laugh-out-loud moments. The epilogue was longer than what I’m used to; it almost felt like a short story at the end that really wrapped everything up nicely. I’m grateful the authors gave us the epilogue as opposed to dragging it out into a second book.
Overall, I will say that the setting will make you want a vacation and this is such a fun summer beach read.
Read it here.
when she returned by lucinda berry
3/5 stars
This is my second book by Lucinda Berry (I shared my review of “The Perfect Child” last month), and I’v since learned that she is a former psychologist, which definitely influences how she writes her characters. Another signature of hers is that her books have a slow start with lots of detail, leading to abrupt endings, which I don’t particular love.
I gravitated towards this book because of the cult backstory, which I always find intriguing. I wish there were more thrillers that explored cults, but they’re usually disappointing.
This book really does keep you guessing, and the synopsis implies a big twist. I liked that the author used multiple POVs and flashbacks so you feel like you get the full story and can analyze everyone’s motives and biases; it feels like you’re a fly on the wall seeing everything play out. Each character has a clear voice and the flashbacks are italicized, so it’s easy to follow.
To be honest, I thought the different POVs would be used for a bigger twist, but I was disappointed by how the book ended. There was also one plot point leftover that was never addressed or resolved.
Overall this was good, but not great; Berry’s books are well-written but I don’t think her style is for me.
Read it here (free through Kindle Unlimited).
my amy: the life we shared by tyler james
5/5 stars
Written by Amy Winehouse’s best friend who knew her and was present for most of her life - from childhood schooling until the end. Out of all of the books that have been written about her, this is the most insightful.
This is extremely honest; it’s not always flattering to her, yet I wouldn’t say it’s exploitive given what’s already been made public, and you can tell how much he loved her.
This book provides a very raw look at addiction; it’s heartbreaking that she equated sobriety with boredom, and I think it clears up the timeline of her addiction - she had successfully quit using all drugs, but it was the combination of alcoholism and bulimia that was fatal.
It’s made very clear that she hated fame, yet could not escape it, and that destroyed her. I think this also sheds light on how addiction, money, and relationships are related. Her team continued to push a touring career, and she would self-sabotage to get out of it; it really makes you wonder how things would have been different if the people in her life didn’t push her so much.
The older I get, the more i realize how young 27 really is. She deserved better, and even though you know how the story ends, it was still a really sad book.
Read it here.
you love me: a you novel by caroline kepnes
1/5 stars
This is the third book of the “You” series, which is also a popular Netflix show. It’s been a few years since I read the first two books, and because the show differs from the books, I wanted to see how the literary series would end.
I didn’t find the characters to be as likable or engaging comparing to the first two books, which made it harder to get through.
This isn’t as creepy or suspenseful as the first two. In a lot of ways, the plot was similar to the first one, but many of the potential conflicts that arise from Joe’s stalking sort themselves out, eliminating the tension before it even builds.
Sequels are really hard to do, especially when the first is so well-received. I understand authors wanting to capitalize on their success (and we oftentimes want a follow-up, too), but it’s extra disappointing when they fall short. I honestly wish I skipped this book; it didn’t really pick up where the second left off, and felt more like a cash-grab regurgitation than the third book of a well-written series.
Read it here.
lost to dune road by kara thomas
4/5 stars
I previously read and loved “The Cheerleaders” by this author and in anticipation of its sequel/ sister novel, wanted to read something else she had written.
Right off the bat, this reminded me of the Long Island serial killer case, and while I’m not 100% sure if the author drew inspiration from it, there are definitely similarities.
This book attempts to do a lot - there are two victims with different stories, plus lots of suspects for each case. It was a little difficult to differentiate between the different storylines, even though they connect in the end.
Dark and gritty, what made this interesting for me was the main character and her point of view. Lee is a disgraced reporter turned PI investigating the case that ruined her journalism career, and I enjoyed seeing how she utilized her reporting skills to solve a crime.
Ultimately, this book would have been better if it was edited down a little more. As it is, it would probably be better as a movie since there’s so much going on.
Read it here (free through Kindle Unlimited).
last night at the hollywood canteen by sarah james
3/5 stars
This was recommended to me by one of my college friends, Maddy, who read it for her book club.
A murder mystery set in the 1940s, this was my first historical fiction that wasn’t a school requirement and it was much more engaging than I thought it would be.
The author jumped right in to the story, and the pacing throughout was quick yet slightly-surface level.
I loved the witty group dialogue and self-deprecating humor. The book is very character-driven, especially since the author couldn’t rely on social media to drive the plot. Overall, it reminded me of the game Clue.
I’d recommend this to anyone who loves old Hollywood; you’ll love the references and nods to real-life actors and actresses.
Read it here.
what happened to you?: conversations on trauma, resilience, and healing by bruce d. perry and oprah winfrey
4/5 stars
As the title suggests, this book is a series of conversations between Oprah and a psychiatrist. It would be very easy to follow as an audiobook, and I’ve heard that both authors narrate it themselves.
This book explores some of the connections between neuroscience and childhood development; it balances research with real-life examples and is written very simply in layman’s terms. There are a few graphics that help illustrate certain concepts, too (and the graphics don’t lose quality on Kindle).
Without being too long or drawn-out, this book covers a lot of topics - disassociation, self-harm, people pleasing, racism and implicit bias - and connects it all back to early development. I found it best to read one chapter a day.
I highly recommend reading this if you’re a parent or work with children as it focuses a lot on infant and early childhood experiences.
Biggest takeaways:
“The fundamental question ‘What happened to you?’ can help each of us know a little more about how experiences - both good and bad - shape us… [it] honors the power of the past to shape our current functioning.” (p.16)
“Our internal view of the world becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy; we project what we expect, and that helps elicit what we expect.” (p.51)
“We elicit from the world what we project into the world, but what you project is based upon what happened to you as a child.” (p.56)
“Therapy is more about building new associations, making new, healthier default pathways. It is almost as if therapy is taking your two-lane dirt road and building a four-lane freeway alongside it. The old road stays, but you don't use it much anymore. Therapy is building a better alternative, a new default.” (p.183)
“Consider relational poverty - lack of connectedness - as an adversity. Poverty of relationship can disrupt normal development, influence how the brain works, put you at risk for physical and mental health problems. It's absolutely not good for you.” (p. 265)
Read it here (free through Kindle Unlimited).
emma in the night by wendy walker
2/5 stars
The premise of this book was intriguing and I wanted to love it, but it was so slow.
This is a family-driven thriller with psychological elements; the character dynamics add tension but there wasn’t much suspense.
One area where this author shines is in her vivid, layered depiction of narcissistic personality disorder. It felt like you were in the room with the characters; this aspect of the story was heavy and hard to read at times.
There’s a quote in the book that says, “A story is more than the recounting of events,” but that’s what this book felt like. It was long-winded and bland at times, but the ending neatly ties everything together.
Read it here (free through Kindle Unlimited).
family of liars by e. lockhart
4/5 stars
This is the prequel to We Were Liars, yet it was released second and meant to be read in that order. If you haven’t read We Were Liars, I highly recommend it; it was one of my favorite books of 2020.
This book focuses on the parents’ generation from We Were Liars, but is set in the 80s when they were teenagers so it is still YA, but doesn’t feel immature.
I liked how the author intersperses well-known fairytales throughout the narrative to suggest greater themes/ life lessons. She plays with formatting and fragmented sentences as well; you can really tell how much consideration she puts into writing as her craft and I recommend reading this rather than listening to the audiobook so you don’t miss out.
While there isn’t an earth-shattering twist in this book like there is We Were Liars, I think this is well-written and engaging from start to finish.
Much more emotional than you’d expect, the author does a great job at exploring the layers of grief and death in relation to family dynamics; it’s part of what made this series so special to read, and definitely makes you think.
It’s hard to top the first book, and We Were Liars definitely set the bar high, but this was great.
Read it here.