This summer was a really successful reading season for me. I read a few books, listened to audiobooks and there were also some books I didn’t finish. Since my reading game was strong this summer it has led me to make a very ambitious fall TBR list. Please send all your positive reading vibes my way.
Make sure you keep an eye out for more reading wrap ups because I definitely want to do more. In the meantime here are the books I’ve read towards the end of the summer.
Books I Loved
The Girl With The Louding Voice by Abi Dare
The Girl with the Louding Voice (ad) was a phenomenal read. Dare has a way of writing that just instantly pulls you in as the reader. This story follows a young girl who is sold off and forced to marry a man so that her father can get money to pay the bills. Throughout the story we follow her as she constantly strives to get more out of life and have her voice heard. The main character is likable and I found myself rooting for her throughout the whole book. It’s a gripping story that will break your heart and make you feel angry all at the same time. This is definitely a book I can see myself reading years from now.
The Bear by Andrew Krivak
What would you do if you were the last person on earth? This story follows a girl who finds herself to be the last human on earth. The Bear (ad) is a thought provoking story about survival as well as loss. This book kept me up at night; It made me think about what’s important in life and what we truly need to live a fulfilling life. It’s a short but incredibly written book. I highly recommend The Bear by Andrew Krivak (ad).
Audiobooks
The Kiss Quotient by Helen Hoang
There was so much hype around The Kiss Quotient (ad) on booktube so I obviously had to read it. It follows Stella Lane who really wants to get better in the romance department. She hires a professional to teach her what she thinks is necessary to be in a successful relationship.
It was a very interesting read and I really enjoyed the audiobook. If you are looking for a romance read then this one is a good one to look into. I really want to highlight how diverse and inclusive this book is. I’ve never read a book where the main character has Asperger’s, and I’m glad that I was able to learn a little bit more about it while also enjoying a fun romance book. This was the perfect romance summer read.
Red Queen by Victoria Aveyard
The Red Queen (ad) was a fun audiobook. In the beginning it really reminded me of the Hunger Games and that almost made me stop listening to the audiobook. However, after a few chapters the story develops into it’s own story, and I found myself really enjoying it. If you like action packed books filled with court life and betrayal then this one is definitely for you.
We Are Okay by Nina LaCour
We Are Okay (ad) had been on my TBR list for what seemed like forever. I listened to it, and I loved it. This book has themes such as loss, grief and loneliness. I found myself really rooting for the main character throughout the whole story and at times I’d even get frustrated because I really wanted her to be more than okay. We Are Okay has a great plot and character development which are two things I really look for in a book. We Are Okay was a great summer read.
Halfway to the Grave & One Foot in the Grave by Jeaniene Frost
I listened to the first two books of the Nigh Huntress series (ad). This is going to be a series I’m definitely going to continue reading this fall. It’s fun, action pact, and it also has romance and vampires. What more could you want? If you want to listen to a book series that’s fun and not too serious then this is the one for you. It kind of reminds me of Buffy the Vampire Slayer.
Books I Didn’t Finish
The Two Lives of Lydia Byrd by Josie Silver
This one started off strong, but about halfway through I found it to become a bit stagnant. This story is about a girl who’s fiancé dies on her birthday. She later finds herself between two worlds. In one of them her fiancé is dead, and in the other one he is still alive. She struggles to find a balance between the two worlds. I really liked the first quarter of the book and once I got about a little after halfway I felt like there wasn’t as much character development as I would have liked. The Two Lives of Lydia Bird (ad) was a book I really wanted to like, but sadly it didn’t live up to the hype.
Vox by Christina Dalcher
I was really intrigued by Vox (ad) because it gave me The Handmaid’s Tale vibes. However, when I started listening to the audiobook the similarities between Vox and The Handmaid’s Tale were just too much that I felt like I was reading the same story. After a few chapters I decided this book was not for me.
What books did you read this summer? I’d love to know your book recommendations down in the comments. Thank you so much for reading.
