Can you believe it’s August, friends? I’m so excited to share my summer reads with you!
It’s funny because I couldn’t believe I read 7 books for my spring reads, and yet, here I am again bringing you another 7 book reviews! I have said this before, but I go through these phases where all I want to do is read, and then there are times that you couldn’t pay me enough to read a book, haha! It’s just one of those things for me, but I have been all in on the reading goal lately.
One thing that’s probably helping me along as of late is my newest purchase (via Amazon Prime Day!): meet my Amazon Kindle!
When I was on vacation in Tennessee earlier this month (can’t wait to share some blog post recaps with you on it!!), my SIL talked me into buying one! She’s had one for years and just now decided to upgrade to the latest model. She loves hers and not only did she convince me to buy one, but she also convinced my other SIL and my MIL. So we are a family of Kindles, haha!
My Amazon Prime deal came with 3 months of Kindle Unlimited free and I am loving it so far! I’m still not sure if I want to add another subscription to the collection, but we shall see!
Let’s dive into some of the books I’ve read this summer, friends!
Losing Hope by Colleen Hoover
This is the second book in the Hopeless series and it is from Holder’s perspective (kind of like what Stephenie Meyer did with Twilight when she did Edward’s version of events). I really enjoyed this book, probably because Hopeless is my favorite book from Colleen Hoover so far! I’m a little surprised it hasn’t gotten as much traction as some of her other books, but hey, there’s still time!
While you won’t get much new from this sequel if you’ve already read the first book, it was definitely still worth reading. I loved the change of perspective of the events that happened and made me adore the character even more.
If you missed it, you can read my review of the first book right here!
The Paris Apartment by Lucy Foley
This one ended up being a surprise buddy read with my dear friend Autumn, and it was SO fun!
The Paris Apartment is a multiple-perspective book, and from what my Bookstagram best friend said, this author always does those! I was a little concerned because you’re following the people who are living in this fancy apartment complex, so I feared it was a lot to keep up with. It’s laid out in small chapters though and was really easy to follow along.
This book centers around Jess who needs an escape plan ASAP, so she travels to Paris to stay with her brother Ben. He’s not necessarily looking forward to her coming, and in fact, he’s not even there when she arrives in a foreign place! Jess can’t figure out where her brother is and she quickly realizes that he likely didn’t leave voluntarily. It doesn’t seem as if any of the others living in the apartment complex want to help, yet it’s obvious each of them is hiding something.
I didn’t want to put this book down, that’s how good it was! It keeps you guessing the entire way and I was shocked with the ending! Definitely recommend this one!
The Great Alone by Kristin Hannah
This is one of those books that’s going to follow you for a long time, maybe even haunt you.
Leni is just thirteen-years-old, yet her circumstances send her straight into adulthood and quickly. Her father Ernt is a former POW and suffers greatly from his time in Vietnam. Ernt moves Leni and her mother Cora all the way to Alaska and convinces them that this will be their happy place, and things will get better for them. While things start off well and they meet some nice neighbors, it is not long before things go off the rails from there with Ernt. Leni gravitates towards a sweet teenage boy and they quickly fall for each other. They’re willing to sacrifice anything to be together, even their lives.
This book evoked a lot of emotions for me, it is most certainly not a light read. While it deserves every bit of the five stars and I do highly recommend it, be prepared to shed some tears, get very angry and wish fictional characters were dead (or maybe that’s just me, haha!), and a whole host of other things.
The Housemaid by Freida McFadden
While The Silent Woman is my favorite thriller so far this year, The Housemaid is right behind it! This is the first book I read on my Kindle and I haven’t stopped reading on it ever since, so I feel like that’s a good sign!
We meet Millie, a young woman who is in desperate need of a job as she’s currently living in her car. She seeks a job as a housemaid for a wealthy family in hopes that they will like her and won’t do a background check. The interview goes well and Nina seems like a lovely person with the perfect house, car, husband…everything. Millie is ecstatic to get the new job and have a bedroom to call her own that isn’t her backseat. A switch seems to flip almost overnight and Nina becomes obsessed with making her life miserable – yet, she doesn’t have any idea what Millie is capable of.
If you love twisty thrillers, this one is for you! It keeps you on your toes for the whole book!
The Housemaid’s Secret by Freida McFadden
After devouring the first book, I immediately started on the sequel for The Housemaid!
This book continues to follow Millie after her time being the live-in housemaid of the Winchesters. Anxious to start fresh with a new family, preferably one that has no idea who she is, she places an ad for work. Douglas Garrick reaches out to her, a very private, successful businessman, and hires her right away. He has one rule: don’t disturb his very ill wife. Millie can’t help herself from checking in on Mrs. Garrick when hears sobs behind her bedroom door, and that very moment changes everything.
I don’t want to give anything away from the first book, so I’ll just say that once you read The Housemaid – you’re going to want to rush to read this one! Such a fantastic thriller!
The 5 AM Club by Robin Sharma
I really wanted to love this book. I enjoy getting up early and already experience a lot of benefits from it, so I thought this would be a great pick. Sadly, this one fell flat for me.
What I expected was a self-help type of book that would talk about why many successful people wake up before the sun comes up. What I got was a story-type of book that had a mentor sharing how to have a better life with some struggling characters. While it does share some words of wisdom throughout the book (reasoning behind the three stars), it just completely lost me at times.
I don’t know if it’s the story itself or just because I like personal development books that sort of spell everything out. I don’t really like the idea of using a fictional story for a self-help book.
The Summer I Turned Pretty by Jenny Han
This was a really good, cute book!
Imagine spending every summer in a beach house with your favorite people – that was Belly’s reality. Her mom, Susannah, and of course the boys, Jeremiah and Conrad. The boys had been a little bit of everything to her…best friends, brothers, and even crushes. Sixteen and blossoming, this summer changes everything as Belly knows it and it’s sure to be one that she’ll never forget.
Trigger warning: cancer.
I haven’t watched it yet, but you may have seen The Summer I Turned Pretty has turned into a tv series on Amazon Prime!
That’s a wrap on my summer reads 2023 (SO FAR!), friends! I truly hope you found a book or two to add to your TBR pile!
If you want to follow along in real time, you can follow me over on my Goodreads account!
- Have you been reading a lot lately?
- What are some of your favorites?
- Do you have an Amazon Kindle?
I loved the Housemaid books too! I have heard bad reviews on the 5 AM Book Club book, and haven’t picked it up as a result.
I love my Kindle Fire. They last me about two years, but for the price point, they are awesome.
I’m so glad you loved the Housemaid series, too! It really makes me want to read more of her books!
I will keep note of that in case I need to replace mine in a couple of years! Fingers crossed, haha, but like you said, they are pretty affordable and worth it if you do need to replace them every so often!
I’m hoping to read The Paris Apartment in the fall! It looks good. I have read a lot of Kristin Hannah’s books, including The Great Alone. I had some sort of review site I was doing several years ago and they sent me 3-4 of her books for free and I loved them all!
Carrie
curlycraftymom.com
I hope you’ll love the Paris Apartment when you read it! 🙂 Oh wow, that is an awesome score to get some of her books for free!!
I’ve contemplated getting a Kindle, but I really like to hold a book in my hands. Congrats on reading another seven books! I’ve surpassed my Goodreads goal and have read 17 of 15 books this year. I haven’t read any of these, and will add them to my library list! Thanks for sharing your reviews!
Jill – Doused in Pink
I completely understand that dilemma, Jill! I do prefer to have a book in my hands, but was also blown away by the screen (it’s glare free and really feels like a book, funny enough, haha!). I hope you’ll love it if you decide to buy one at some point! That is fantastic that you’ve already made your Goodreads goal and then some! Congrats, my friend! 🙂 And you are more than welcome on the reviews, I appreciate you for coming over and reading them!!
I just read another book by The Summer I Turned Pretty author. It was “To all the boys I’ve loved” and it was fabulous. Now I want to see the Neflix show.
OOXX
Jodie
http://www.jtouchofstyle.com
That is awesome, Jodie! I’ve heard so many good things about that series, too! I hope you’ll love the Netflix show when you watch it!
Reading is just wonderful, it really transports you to another place. You have done well with your reading list. I haven’t got a Kindle, but I read on my iPad. Great reviews!
Janet
http://www.rediscoveringmystyle.com
That’s so well said Janet, I couldn’t agree more! Thanks so much! I used to read on my iPad mini a lot when I first got it, makes things so handy!
I’ve heard really good things about The Housemaid!
Jennifer
Curated by Jennifer
It was amazing and so different from a lot of other thrillers out there! Hope you’ll love it if you read it!
First off, love your new Kindle. So pretty! I watched The Summer I Turned Pretty a couple of months ago and loved it. There is another season now so I can’t wait to see it. You will love the first season. You are such an avid reader my friend. Glad you making most of your subscription.
https://www.kathrineeldridge.com
Thank you tons, Kathrine! My SIL encouraged me to grab a case because she never did haha, and I knew this had to be mine when I saw it! I need to watch the show still, but feel like I’ll love it as well! 🙂 Thanks again my dear friend!
I enjoyed reading your thoughtful reviews! The Paris Apartment has been on my list for a while now, and I’m looking forward to reading it this summer. Thanks for sharing!
Aww, that makes me so happy! I truly hope you’ll love it as much as I did when you read it! 🙂 Thanks so much for reading!
We’re going on vacation next week, and and I’ve saved one book for that last trip! So looking forward to spending some quiet time reading at the lake.
Shauna
http://www.lipglossandlace.net
That sounds absolutely perfect, Shauna! I hope you had an amazing vacation!
These are some very interesting reads…thanks for sharing them dear 🙂
Beauty and Fashion/Glamansion/Rampdiary
Aww, thanks Rashmi, I appreciate you stopping by and reading! 🙂
So funny because I go through phases like that too. I recently heard of Collen’s books…want to check them out.
http://www.fashionradi.com
I’m so glad I’m not alone, haha! Oh, I hope you’ll love Colleen Hoover’s books, she really has some good ones!
Looks like you’re on a roll with the books! I’ve not read anything recently apart from ‘that’s not my sloth’ haha!
Corinne x
Haha, I love it Corinne! Hope you’re able to have some quiet reading time soon! 🙂
Great list, I do know the Paris Apartment blog before, must read the book now!
Hope you’ll love the book, friend!!
I need that one.
Thanks for sharing such a great idea!
Looking forward for the next post.
Diana
Layered Hairstyle Trend With Curtain Bangs That’ll Change Your Look
Thanks, Diana!!
Kristin Hannah is my favorite fiction author. So, love that she made your list. 🙂 Kindles are great, but I still prefer to hold a book in my hands. I’m so old school. 😉
http://lizzyslatest.com/
Oh, that’s awesome Lizzy! She was well deserved on the list, such a fantastic book even though it was a sad one. I can totally understand being old school my friend, holding a book still feels best!
I have heard mixed things about the Paris Apartment so it is on my want to read list but I’ve been prioritising other books over it at the moment. Your review makes me want to pick it up sooner! It’s great that you are getting so close to your reading goal this year and you are enjoying using your new kindle! 🙂
I can totally understand that Mica, those types of mixed reviews always make me want to read them later on too, haha. I do hope you’ll love it though if you decide to read it – for me, it was a winner! Thanks so much on the reading goal note, I’ve sort of dwindled down again, but I’ll get back in the reading zone again I’m sure, haha. 🙂
Paris apartment is on my list! I think I will pick it up this weekend. Have a great day!
-Nina
http://www.stylingwithnina.com/2023/08/what-i-wore-for-day-in-nyc.html
I hope you loved it Nina if you picked it up! 🙂 Wishing you a fantastic day!
What a great list of books you read this summer! I love the case you have on your Kindle too! 🙂 Thanks for sharing!
melissakacar.com
Aww, thanks so much Melissa! 🙂 I appreciate you stopping by and reading!
What a wonderful review round up. You have me so excited for that Colleen Hoover book. I haven’t read that yet. I find Kristin Hannah to be hit or Miss the past few years. This one looks great! Have a wonderful weekend lovely!
Oh, I hope you’ll love it as much as I did Andrea! 🙂 It’s the only book I’ve read by Hannah, but I can definitely see where you’re coming from by listening to others’ reviews of some of her books. I hope you’re having a fantastic day!
What a great case for Kindle <3 I know books by Hoover 😀
Aww, thanks Kinga!! 🙂 Hope you’ve enjoyed some of her books, too!
Yes, I did 😀 Have a nice (almost) weekend 😀
Yay!! Thank you bunches and wishing you the very same!! 🙂
I have a kindle but normally i end up using the app on my phone! It’s convenient only to charge one item and I always have my phone with me. I haven’t read any of these and they look good! Thanks for sharing your thoughts!
I can definitely see using the phone app as a bonus! I like that the app has color too, and it is handy to always have it with you. Thanks so much Laura, I appreciate you!
Adding some of these to my list. Thanks for sharing friend. Hope all is well.
http://www.rsrue.blogspot.com
I hope you’ll love the books when you read them, Regine! Thanks so much, my friend, and hope all is well with you too! 🙂
I need to read The Summer I turned Pretty. Love your new kindle!
Ashh | That September Muse
Hope you’ll love it, Ashh! Thank you tons!
Thanks for sharing your summer reads. I really enjoyed ‘The Paris Apartment” and ‘The Housemaid” is on my list!
I love your new kindle – it’s so pretty.
Julia x
https://www.thevelvetrunway.com
I’m so happy you enjoyed The Paris Apartment (if my memory serves me right, I think you’re the one that suggested it to me at the beginning of this year!) and I hope you’ll love The Housemaid as much as I did! Thanks so much Julia!
These are interesting reads
https://www.melodyjacob.com/2023/08/iro-and-buba-look-so-good-on-me.html
Thanks so much, Melody!!
I just wanted to say hi from one fellow blogger to another! I recently just started reading and now I want to make it a goal of mine to read at least 3 books a month. How do you make time with creating content and finding time to read? I always feel like there is something that needs to be done when I’m on the back end of wordpress. I hope to post book related posts on my blog soon. The next book I want to read is “A little life”
thanks for sharing your summer reads 🙂
Aww, so happy you stopped by and said hello Serina! Hope you’re having a fantastic week so far. 🙂 I love that goal, three books a month can be a lot, but with a good routine (and a good book!) it can fly by in no time. I tend to go through phases with reading, I’m actually in a phase where I can’t seem to pick up one at the moment, haha. But I like to pick a time where I typically have a half an hour or so and read at that time each day, and that helps to create more of a routine. Early mornings are usually good for me while things are quiet, or late afternoon. You are so right about there always being something to do when it comes to blogging! I think that would be awesome to share book-related posts on your blog, they’re always one of my fave to share and people really seem to love them!
I’ll head over and check out your blog! Thanks again so much for stopping by! 🙂
I get those phases too! I am always searching up good book reviews and trending books. I completely agree about having a routine, I try to read at least 1 chapter with my coffee before I start my day. And right before bed too! Anyways, I’m looking forward to more of your posts on your blog!
Hope you have a great week! 😊
That sounds so good Serina, I love having my coffee while reading. Just adds an extra cozy factor! 🙂 Thank you SO much and I hope you’ll love my other posts, and can’t wait to check out more of yours as well! Wishing you a fantastic week!