Monday, August 4, 2025

Month in Review: July 2025

 July was truly one of the busiest, most stressful, and just all-around chaotic months I've had in a while--and I really thought some of the previous months were crazy! 

In personal news... 
A lot happened in July, but the biggest one to share right now is that we are moving (finally!)! It's a very short move, literally just down the street, but it's a much-needed one to get away from what has been a very stressful home to live in with a very... less than ideal landlord, and we're overall very glad to be getting a fresh start. That being said, I am hoping August will finally be the month I get slightly back on track (which... I think I've said repeatedly over the past couple months so... we'll see). There's also just been a lot going on outside of that and I may get into it as some point, but for now, moving is truly the biggest news, haha. 

In reading news, it was a weird as hell reading month. I read randomly, sporadically, and not at all according to what my plans were. It was also a ridiculously sad blogging month and I only post two reviews, so I very much apologize for that and will be busy writing reviews to catch up (again, hopefully if all goes according to plan!). And this week I am really hoping to catch up on the blogs I read because I miss seeing everyone else's reviews and posts--I always feel so disconnected when I'm not able to keep up for a while.

How was your July and what books have you been reading?  Let me know how your month was below and what you've been reading!
   

# books read: 11

The Incandescent by Emily Tesh ★.75
Source: Owned | Format: Hardcover
Thoughts: I didn't end up enjoying this one quite as much as I'd expected to, but I still thought it had a really interesting concept and I appreciated what the author did with the story. 

Alice With a Why: Return to Wonderland by Anna James ★★★★★
Source: Owned | Format: Hardcover
Thoughts: This was an absolute delight and probably one of my favorite reads from July. Anna James perfectly encapsulated the wit and whimsy of Lewis Carroll's work and absolutely nailed the wordplay present in his work. 

The Hounding by Xenobe Purvis ★★★★
Source: NetGalley | Format: eARC
Thoughts: This was really nicely written and I am obsessed with the cover. 

Arcana Academy by Elise Kova ★★★★
Source: Publisher | Format: Physical ARC
Thoughts: This was solid dark academia that I generally enjoyed, but I can't really say it blew me away or anything. 


Esperance by Adam Oyebanji ★★★.5
Source: NetGalley | Format: Ebook
Thoughts: This was such an interesting concept. I didn't connect with this book as much as I'd hoped to, but I still thought it was a really solid read.

Monstress, Vol. 1: Awakening by Marjorie M. Liu ★★
Source: Library | Format: Ebook
Thoughts: I really expected to love this, but I sadly really didn't. The artwork is gorgeous, but the story felt convoluted and under-developed at the same time. I just couldn't get into it.

It Was Her House First by Cherie Priest ★★★★
Source: Publisher | Format: Physical ARC
Thoughts: I really liked this one and now I want to check out more of Cherie Priest's work!

The Executioners Three by Susan Dennard ★★★
Source: Publisher | Format: Physical ARC
Thoughts: This was fun and quippy and I think many people will love it as a fall mystery. It wasn't quite right for me, but I still generally enjoyed it and thought it had some fun moments. 


New Arcadia: Stage One by Jason Eric Martin ★★★
Source: Library | Format: Audiobook
Thoughts: I feel like I've just been really wanting to try more litRPG, but not much has majorly stuck with me. This one definitely has promise and I may consider checking out the sequel, but not sure if it's for me. If you do read this one, I definitely recommend the audiobook because it's full cast and a great experience!

We Are Legion (We Are Bob) by Dennis E. Taylor ★★★
Source: Library | Format: Audiobook
Thoughts: I'd heard nothing but great things about this one, and while it was very entertaining, it also didn't quite work for me so I'm not sure if I'll be continuing the series. 

Wizard for Hire by Obert Skye ★★★★
Source: Library | Format: Audiobook
Thoughts: This was really fun! I've heard about this series off an on for years but never actually picked it up, so I decided to rectify that and I was pleasantly surprised. 

To-Be-Finished:
None! (that I recall, at least)
 Posts:
Blog Memes:

Saturday, August 2, 2025

Anticipated August 2025 Releases

 


August is here and so are many fantastic new books! I am woefully behind on just about every single blog post that I need to be writing, but fortunately August is only beginning so there's still time to get excited about all of these. Be sure to let me know which August releases you're most looking forward--and definitely let me know if any of your most anticipated August releases are missing from this list! Happy reading, everyone!

The Island of Last Things by Emma Sloley || August 12th -- Amazon | Bookshop.org

Women, Seated by Zhang Yueran, transl. Jeremy Tiang || August 12th -- Amazon | Bookshop.org

Hemlock & Silver by T. Kingfisher || August 19th -- Amazon | Bookshop.org

Sunbirth by An Yu || August 5th -- Amazon | Bookshop.org

A Game in Yellow by Hailey Piper || August 12th -- Amazon | Bookshop.org

The Magician of Tiger Castle by Louis Sachar || August 5th -- Amazon | Bookshop.org

The Last Soul Among Wolves by Melissa Caruso || August 19th -- Amazon | Bookshop.org

Secret Lives of the Dead by Tim Lebbon || August 26th -- Amazon | Bookshop.org

Lessons in Magic and Disaster by Charlie Jane Anders || August 19th -- Amazon | Bookshop.org

This Vicious Hunger by Francesca May || August 26th -- Amazon | Bookshop.org

Katabasis by R.F. Kuang || August 26th -- Amazon | Bookshop.org

Automatic Noodle by Annalee Newitz || August 5th -- Amazon | Bookshop.org

The Unseen by Ania Ahlborn || August 19th -- Amazon | Bookshop.org

Between Two Rivers: Ancient Mesopotamia and the Birth of History by Moudhy Al-Rashid || August 12th -- Amazon | Bookshop.org

13 Months Haunted by Jimmy Juliano || August 12th -- Amazon | Bookshop.org

House of Monstrous Women by Daphne Fama || August 12th -- Amazon | Bookshop.org

Lucky Day by Chuck Tingle || August 12th -- Amazon | Bookshop.org

The Faceless Thing We Adore by Hailey Piper || August 5th -- Amazon | Bookshop.org

The Society of Unknowable Objects by Gareth Brown || August 12th -- Amazon | Bookshop.org

The Art of a Lie by Laura Shepherd-Robinson || August 5th -- Amazon | Bookshop.org

The Martians: The True Story of an Alien Craze that Captured Turn-of-the-Century America by David Baron || August 26th -- Amazon | Bookshop.org

The Possession of Alba Diaz by Isabel Canas || August 19th -- Amazon | Bookshop.org

Tantrum by Rachel Eve Moulton || August 5th -- Amazon | Bookshop.org

Rope: How a Bundle of Twisted Fibers Became the Backbone of Civilization by Tim Queeney || August 12th -- Amazon | Bookshop.org

A Mother's Guide to the Apocalypse by Hollie Overton || August 19th -- Amazon Bookshop.org

Black Moses: A Saga of Ambition and the Fight for a Black State by Caleb Gayle || August 12th -- Amazon | Bookshop.org

House of the Beast by Michelle Wong || August 5th -- Amazon | Bookshop.org

This is My Body by Lindsay King-Miller || August 5th -- Amazon | Bookshop.org

Voidwalker by S.A. MacLean || August 19th -- Amazon | Bookshop.org

Black Flame by Gretchen Felker-Martin || August 5th -- Amazon | Bookshop.org

The Sunflower Boys by Sam Wachman || August 12th -- Amazon | Bookshop.org

LA Women by Ella Berman || August 5th -- Amazon | Bookshop.org

Clodia of Rome: Champion of the Republic by Douglas Boin || August 12th -- Amazon | Bookshop.org

What are your anticipated August releases?