The Books I Read in July
My last reading wrap-up has been a couple of months, but I am so glad to be back with another one. July was a whirlwind of emotions, quiet moments, and much-needed escapes into books. I didn’t read a huge number of books this month, but the books I did dive into? They hit hard. Here’s a look at what I read and what I thought about each one.
1. Kingdom of Ash by Sarah J. Maas
I finally finished the Throne of Glass series, and wow—what a wild ride. Kingdom of Ash was emotional, action-packed, and incredibly satisfying after investing in these characters for so long. I got emotional, I cheered and yelled numerous times, and I may never recover from a few of those scenes (if you know, you know). This was a true testament to Sarah J. Maas’s ability to craft an epic conclusion.
5⭐️ (Fantasy)
Bookshop.org/Amazon
2. Atmosphere by Taylor Jenkins Reid
While I enjoyed Atmosphere, it didn’t hit quite as hard for me as some of Taylor Jenkins Reid’s previous novels. The storyline was so good—centered around women fighting for their place in the early space program—and I loved reading about that historical backdrop. The exploration of family dynamics was layered and complex, dealing not just with parental relationships but sibling ones as well. One of my favorite parts of the story was how strong of a parental figure the main character became for her niece. It really dives into the idea of what it means to be a parent, beyond our traditional norms.
The romance? Complicated. Heart-wrenching in parts. I won’t spoil anything, but there were some storylines that really broke my heart. While the ending didn’t land as powerfully for me, I still found this to be a moving and thoughtful read—just not my favorite from her catalog.
4.5 -5⭐️ (I keep going back and forth on the rating or this one)
3. Insignificant Others by Sarah Jio
This was my first read by Sarah Jio, and now I’m kicking myself for not picking up her books sooner—I absolutely loved Insignificant Others. I honestly don’t remember what led me to add it to my library list (a recommendation, maybe?), but I’m so glad I did.
The story explores such a fascinating “what if” concept: what would your life look like if you had stayed with someone from your past? Each day, the main character wakes up in an alternate version of her life—one where she ended up with a different ex—and it really made me think about choices, regrets, and how our paths shape us. It’s emotional, a little bit magical, and filled with heart. I devoured this one and immediately added more of Sarah Jio’s books to my TBR.
4⭐️ (Magical Realism, Romance)
4. My Favorite Bad Decision by Elizabeth O’Roark
This was the spicy, angsty romance I didn’t know I needed. Elizabeth O’Roark delivers a story full of sharp banter, complicated feelings, and yes—lots of questionable choices, but you root for the characters anyway. The title couldn’t be more fitting: it’s about embracing our messiest moments (only one tent!!) and finding meaning in the chaos of it all. Perfect if you’re looking for romance with heart, major enemies to lovers vibes, and a bit of heat.
3.5⭐️ (Romance)
Bookshop.org/Amazon (Also on KU)
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