July 2023 Wrap-up
I think almost every single book I read this month was a library book that was (almost) overdue. This includes many books I ordered when I was in a romance book mood but was sadly out of the mood by the time I read them.
Here we go. A short look at the books I read this month.
Loves:
Something Fabulous by Alexis Hall
My second book from Alexis Hall, Something Fabulous. This author is two for two. I loved A Lady for a Duke and while that is still my favorite, Something Fabulous, was such a fun read. Lots of banter, fun adventures, and exciting characters.
Elatsoe by Darcie Little Badger
Elatsoe is set in a fantastical America as Ellie, a girl who can speak to the dead, tries to solve the murder of her cousin. This was such a fun and heartfelt read. I loved the look into an indigenous magic system, this really stood out in the book. It was a bit predictable but I don't think that aspect detracted from the reading experience.
Annihilation by Jeff VanderMeer
After watching the movie and being thoroughly disappointed I decided to reread Annihilation. VanderMeer just has a way with words and can shape a landscape out of them beautifully. I felt like I caught so many new things from this book on second reading and at the same time it was almost like the first read because it’s been so long since I first read it. This is one of my favorite books I’ve ever read and I’m not debating whether I should read the rest of the trilogy.
Hell's Paradise by Yuji Kaku
These volumes are where Hell's Paradise (vol. 4-6) really picks up. Our main characters are solidified and the mystery is developing. Really enjoyed this and the art is so good.
I continued on with volumes 7-9 of Hell's Paradise and feel the same way. The action is easy to follow and packs a punch while still having characters you root for.
Likes:
The Road by Cormac McCarthy
The Road is a book I feel like everyone has read. I am on the fence about it. The beginning was slow for me and took a while to get into the style of the writing. The middle got me. I cried a billion times and despaired over the characters and their fates, but the end just didn’t pull together. I’m not sure why but the last couple of pages felt like it wasn’t working with the rest of the book.
A Phoenix First Must Burn by Patrice Caldwell
My sister lent me this book of short stories edited by Patrice Caldwell. A Phoenix First Must Burn was a bit of a mixed bag. Some were really good and others weren’t my favorite. “Hearts Turned to Ash” by Dhonielle Clayton, “Kiss the Sun” by Ibi Zoboi, and “Gilded” by Elizabeth Acevado were some of my favorites.
Loveless by Alice Oseman
Loveless is set in college and follows three friends and the new friends they meet along the way. Another young adult book that delves not into romance, but being asexual, and the love between friends. The pacing felt slightly off, sometimes rushed and sometimes too slow, but overall this was fun.
The Affair of the Mysterious Letter by Alexis Hall
The third novel from Alexis Hall, The Affair of the Mysterious Letter, was a diverse, paranormal, LGBT retelling of Sherlock Holmes and John Watson. It was such a creative read. It did have so many details and world building that you could get confused, especially since I don’t read too much science fiction, but I decided to just have fun with it. The characters really bring this to life and I loved the changes / additions to Holmes and Watson here. Haas and Wyndham are both so funny in their own right. This was the end of my book a day read-a-thon and it was off to a vacation where I read through Annihilation at a slow pace.
Black Butler by Yana Toboso
Black Butler is a show I watched ages ago and read the first three volumes because I was procrastinating at the library. It’s much as I remember. The art is great and I’m intrigued by the mystery of the Phantomhive house.
Okays:
Out of the Blue by Jason June
I loved the cover of Out of the Blue but unfortunately, the rest didn’t live up to it. One reason is that cheating is one of the main plot points multiple times and through this book I’ve found out I don’t care for that trope. I did love Crest and their pov, plus the merfolk world building was interesting.
Meet Cute Diary by Emery Lee
Loveless, The Affair of the Mysterious Letter, Elatsoe, and Meet Cute Diary, are four books I read in four days before a road trip. They had to go straight back to the library. Meet Cute Diary was the first one. The main character is so young and tries to find love even if the person he dates doesn’t treat him right. I’m also not used to the young adult genre and so it was a bit slow for me without payoff at the end.