Everything I Read in July 2023
Holy hell, where did July (and the Summer for that matter) go?! I logically know that the Summer (my life of blissful freedom) goes by quickly, but it truly takes me my surprise each year how fast August comes. That is because, I was very busy in July having SO. MUCH. FUN. What did I do, you ask? Well, just about everything I damn near wanted- slept in, took so many workout classes, went to movies, caught up with friends, and drank many glasses of wine. In addition, I also went for a quick weekend trip to Charlottesville (my favorite town) to celebrate my parents 45th wedding anniversary. Then, I spent a week exploring Santa Barbara, where I attended a neuroscience conference at UCSB. Even though this felt like one for the books, August is promising another great lineup to wrap up summer with a trip to LA. Check back in next month to see what special things I did out west!
Ok books…the real reason you all are here! When July hit, I finally hit my summer stride and could fully relax/enjoy the time off. That means that I was able to devour books this month. Specifically, I read 7 books last month, and some were absolute favorites. Let’s take a look at them here. I am going to review them from my least favorite to the ones I adored. Don’t just skip the bottom!
7 books total:
4 suspense, 1 historical fiction, 1 narrative nonfiction, 1 contemporary fiction
#7: Zero Days- Ruth Ware
I REALLY wanted to like this book, but it just fell flat for me! Ruth Ware is a powerhouse in the suspense genre, one of my favorites, but her newest book just felt long, drawn out, and frankly, not that suspenseful. I started it as an audiobook in Santa Barbara and it took me 2 weeks to finish, if that says anything. The premise was simple- a husband and wife cyber security team is hired for a job. When the husband is murdered, his wife is left to put the pieces together and solve the murder, even when she is being treated as suspect number one by the police. I just had higher hopes for this one!
#6: Between Two Strangers- Kate White
My suspense books just weren’t my favs this month! Don’t get me wrong, this one was entertaining. However, I had some seriously great books this month. Between Two Strangers has a young, struggling artist on a mission to figure out why she was left with a huge inheritance from a man she only met once. It’s a little more salacious than that…he was a one night stand. Like I said, it wasn’t a bad read, but it just wasn’t a favorite in the suspense genre!
#5: I Could Live Here Forever- Hanna Halperin
This one is for anyone who loved, Tell Me Lies. This felt eerily similar with young women, who find themselves in relationships with men who needed to be saved. Unfortunately for Leah, the main character, she is not able to discover that you can’t save others from their own demons. This dark and twisty relationship thriller will keep you hooked, but also frustrated that Leah accepts so much trouble from her boyfriend!
#4: The Only One Left- Riley Sager
Let me be clear: I really liked this book! It is only 4th, because I read some seriously fantastic books this month and the suspense books just couldn’t match the others! A family is murdered at their mansion in the 1920s. The only survivor, Leonore, was one of the children, who was never convicted, but forever treated as if she were guilty of the tragedy. Decades later, when a new caretaker has been hired to look after Leonore, new information and clues are brought to light about what really happened that fateful night!
#3: Have You Seen Luis Velez?- Catherine Ryan Hyde
Yes, now we are getting to the books that I can’t stop thinking about! This book was exactly what I needed to palette cleanse after so many suspense books. Have You Seen Luis Velez? is the sweetest story about an unlikely friendship. A young teenage boy, who struggles to connect with his peers and family, befriends an elderly, blind woman in his apartment building. Their friendship is mutually beneficial, as both are able to grow and connect with the world around them through their bond. This rec came from Mama Hook, and she steered me in the right direction. Read this if you are in the need for a heartwarming story!
#2: The Secret Book of Flora Lea- Patti Callahan Henry
Historical based books dominated my top 2, and I can’t help but love books about ww2! I am always surprised by the amount of incredible stories, both fiction and nonfiction, that come from this point in history. This runner-up on my list is a historical fiction piece that sheds light on Operation Pied Piper, an evacuation of English children to the countryside to keep them out of harms way in London. While this piece of history is real, the book is based on a fictional story of two sisters, who become separated when they are removed from their home and sent to live in Oxford. Their separation is detailed over decades, as one sister refuses to give up on her long-lost sister. The Secret Book of Flora Lea was just beautifully written, and the story was so rich and unique. This is a must read in my book!
#1: Boys in the Boat- Daniel James Brown
Without a doubt, this was my clear favorite of the month (and maybe the year)! If you know me personally or ask me for a book rec, this book is going to come up in conversation! I flew through it on a plane to the West coast, and I was sad when it ended. As I previously wrote, I love stories from WW2, and this one is even more special since it is true! In the 1930s, the US was in the middle of a depression and the world was on the brink of a war. The sport of crew was at its heyday, and seen as only a past-time for the elite and wealthy. The University of Washington and Berkeley rigorously started to build and strengthen their crew programs to compete and be noticed at collegiate and national levels, not only with schools out east, but also the world. With 9 boys from Washington and the west, they were seen as unlikely crew athletes. Through their unwavering dedication, hard work, and the right combination of skills, they became national champions and went onto to the 1936 Olympics set in Berlin. With odds stacked against them, this is a true underdog story with our American team defeating the Germans in their own backyard just at the precipice of war. I truly cannot recommend this book enough!
July was full of great reading, and I am so excited to see what August has in store!! Check back next month for another book (and life) recap. I hope summer is bringing everything you need from relaxation to fun. I know it is for me!
xoxo,
L