After returning to reading after so long, I feel like part of my brain is trying to catch up on all the wonderful authors and books I have missed.  One of my reading resolutions for August is to try to slow down and really savour the books I am reading—they all do not need to be finished in a day! That being said, I read some absolutely outstanding books in July. 

Books I’m Glad I Read

Everything’s Coming Up Rosie by Courtney Walsh
Format: Libby ebook
Content Warnings: None

I decided to give this book a second chance after DNF’ing it last month.  It is a cute book.  I found I enjoyed the premise once I got passed the prolonged awkward meet-cute.  I will read more of Courtney Walsh in the future.

The One with the Kiss Cam by Cindy Steel
Format: Library book
Content Warnings: occasional mild language; trigger warning for parental abandonment

It is difficult for me to decide where to place this book.  I really enjoyed reading it, but I don’t think it is one I will reread or seek to purchase.  Duke is such a cinnamon roll and a memorable MMC.  The meet-cute has just the right measure of charming and awkward.  I am planning on taking Rebel Summer by Cindy Steel on vacation with me this month, so I certainly recommend her writing.

Rival Darling by Alexandra Moody
Format: Library book
Content Warnings: frequent moderate language; frequent underage drinking; trigger warning for parental abandonment

I struggled with this book.  I wanted to read a hockey romance that was “kisses only,” but this one was not for me.  As a hockey loving Canadian girl, I struggled with the realism of some of the hockey elements, or lack thereof.  It felt like hockey could have been replaced by any sport.  I really wanted hockey to form the atmosphere of the book.  I also struggled with some of the casual underage drinking.  A party scene is one thing, but a teenager drinking out on the deck just because seemed unnecessary for me.  If you are okay with those elements and want romance to be more at the forefront instead of the sport, this book would be a good choice.

Books I Liked

The Vacation Shift by Lily Chu
Format: Spotify audiobook and Libby ebook
Content Warnings: Occasional mild language; trigger warnings for divorce and separation and previous death of a parent.

Where I felt like the teenagers in Rival Darling were trying to be adult, the teenagers in The Vacation Shift felt like teenagers.  Lily Chu takes the reader on a whirlwind tour of Japan in this young adult novel.  Ivy is a realistic, engaging character.  Matteo is an excellent foil to her character.  Mild spoiler warning: I believe it is important that YA novels with romantic elements incorporate details about consent.  This book is kisses-only, but I did really appreciate that in the kissing scene, the boy did check in if kissing her was okay and that she was enjoying it, which contrasted to another scene at the beginning of the book.

Same Time Next Summer by Annabel Monaghan
Format: Spotify audiobook and library book
Content Warnings: Infrequent adult language; a couple of cracked-door scenes; trigger warnings for infidelity and anxiety

This might be a book I loved.  Regardless, it feels like a quintessential summer read.  If you are reading through the Annabel Monaghan backlist, do not skip this one.

Just for the Summer by Abby Jimenez
Format: Libby ebook
Content Warnings: Moderate adult language; sexual references; cracked door scene; trigger warnings for previous parental abandonment and foster care

You can read my full review here.  It’s a beautiful book about second chances and finding real love. 

Every Time I Go on Vacation Someone Dies; No One was Supposed to Die at this Wedding; and This Weekend Doesn’t End Well for Anyone by Catherine Mack
Format: Library and personal copies
Content Warnings: Moderate adult language; closed door scenes; Every Time I Go on Vacation Someone Dies has some religious irreverence in the first two chapters; previous parental death

Let’s tackle the whole trilogy together.  Eleanor’s fourth-wall breaking narration sells the series for me.  It feels less like reading a murder mystery and more like catching up with your very dramatic, exuberant best friend.  I will post a full review of the entire series in the future.  Also, Oliver is one of my favourite book boyfriends.

Bookmarked for Love by Sarah Monzon
Format: Personal copy
Content Warnings: None; mild trigger warning for infertility in the epilogue

The last in the Checking Out Love series follows Martha, a 38 year old librarian who finds herself reconnecting with her childhood crush, a 46 year old publishing magnate.  I quite enjoyed reading Martha’s story.  While her narration did not resonate with me as much as Evangeline’s or Hayley’s, I still loved the conclusion to this trilogy.

By the Book and Half-Baked by C.A. Steinhaus
Format: Personal copies
Content Warnings: Infrequent adult language; closed door scenes; trigger warning for gun use in By the Book

C.A. Steinhaus is one of my new favourite indie authors.  She is an engaging writer and the first two books in the Foxport series met all my expectations.  Both books have swoony romances without the third act breakup we all dread.  The books are interconnected but could be read as standalones.  In both books, I enjoyed each of the male-female narrations as much as the other, which is rare.  I am anxiously awaiting the delivery of the third book in the series, All Spruced Up as I write this.  

Just Don’t Fall by Emma St. Clair
Format: Personal copy
Content Warnings: None; a digital epilogue is fade-to-black with a married couple

July was a solid month for indie romances.  Just Don’t Fall did not disappoint me as a hockey-focused romance.  The sport does fill the atmosphere of the book and makes it very realistic.  I really liked how Logan worked hard to show Parker how he felt.  I did a review of it on my Instagram I think you should check out! The next book in the series, Absolutely Not in Love is on my August TBR.

Books I Loved

Hearts in Circulation by Sarah Monzon
Format: Library; personal copy
Content Warnings: None

I am planning on a longer post about Hearts in Circulation.  I loved the neurodivergent representation in this book.  As an autistic person, it brought me so much joy to read a book with a neurodivergent romantic lead who experiences the same sensory issues I do.  Absolutely highly recommend.  I finished it and then promptly started reading it all over again.

An Overdue Match by Sarah Monzon
Format: Personal copy
Content Warnings: None

Sarah Monzon does such a fantastic job representing characters you do not see a lot of in fiction.  In this case, our FMC has alopecia and our MMC is an Asian biracial character.  Like Hearts in Circulation, it is part of the Checking Out Love series.  I did not read the books in order.  While this is beneficial, it is not necessary. 

This Summer Will Be Different by Carley Fortune
Format: Personal copy
Content Warnings: Multiple open-door scenes; frequent adult language

This was a reread for me.  The PEI setting was my favourite part of the book this time around. 

Into the Blue by Emma Brodie
Format: Libby ebook
Content Warnings: Multiple open-door scenes; frequent adult language

If you have not read my full review of Into the Blue, you can read it here.  I am still in a book hangover with this one.  While it’s not for everyone (no book is), it snagged the lit student part of my brain and just won’t let go.  I was in Indigo yesterday and nearly bought the paperback, but I’m going to hold out for when they have the hardcover back in stock.

Say You’ll Remember Me by Abby Jimenez
Format: Library book
Content Warnings: Two cracked door scenes; moderate use of adult language; sexual references; trigger warnings for dementia care

I devoured this book in a day.  My husband and I dated long distance for three years after one date right before his college graduation.  It is surprisingly hard to find a book that doesn’t cave into the “long distance break up” trope.  This one does not.  It might be my favourite Abby Jimenez.

Nora Goes Off Script by Annabel Monaghan
Format: Audible audiobook and Libby ebook
Content Warnings: One or two cracked-door scenes; infrequent use of adult language; trigger warnings for divorce and abandonment

If you will recall, I DNF’ed this book last month.  Don’t come after me, but the way Leo kept trespassing into the house in the beginning of the book gave me “Cat in the Hat” vibes.  There is a long story about my Kindergarten teacher using this book to give a moral lesson on housebreaking and trespassing, but I digress.  I was not prepared for the emotional ringer I would be put through by this book! I knew we would get a happily ever after, I understood why Leo acted the way he did, but the misunderstanding trope in this book upset me a little. 

That was a lot of books! If I could only choose two, I think my stand-outs of the month were Into the Blue and Hearts in Circulation, but then of course I feel bad for leaving all the other books I loved behind!

Did we read any of the same books in July? If so, what are they or what was your favourite?