August was a month of high highs (a five-star book!) and low lows. I read a number of depressing, sad books that weren’t very fun but variety is the spice of life. I’m a person who needs variety and I like to provide variety to my readers as well. You’ll certainly find that in my book reviews below. I hope you find a title that sparks your interest.

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Excellent (4.5 – 5 Stars)

A Witch’s Guide to Magical Innkeeping

Published Date: July 2025

Genre: Fantasy

How I Read: Paper

Sera was a very powerful witch until she used most of her magic to resurrect her beloved aunt from the dead. The Guild exiled her for the act and for the last 15 years, Sera has been missing her glorious magic, running an enchanted inn with her aunt that welcomes guests who need it the most.

Currently staying at the inn are a knight, Sera’s young witch nephew, a witch trapped in the body of a fox, and other fun characters. The goal is to get Sera’s full magic back but the spell is in a book in a restricted section of the library run by the Guild.

This is such a cozy read, I absolutely adored it. I will read everything this author puts out. It’s just as wonderful as her other book I loved. There’s romance (no spice), found family, and fighting against a witch who is abusing his power. The cute hyjinxs and non-magical humans who support the main character make this book excellent.

Great (4 Stars)

Far and Away

Published Date: June 2025

Genre: Fiction

How I Read: Paper

This is an enjoyable read, perfect for summer or for reading while traveling.

Two women very suddenly swap homes, one in Dallas and one in Germany. The Texas family has a teenage son who just got into major trouble at school. The town is now turning against the family and the dad is currently on “Mars” (he’s actually partaking in a simulation in New Mexico but completely incommunicado). The mom decides to take her three kids to Germany for the summer to escape.

The German couple gets an unexpected job offer in Dallas when the husband’s funding gets pulled for his original summer plans.

There’s language miscommunication, cultural differences, etc that all lead to some pretty funny circumstances in otherwise stressful situations for these two women. Both have concerns about their marriages, their children, and their careers. I liked the book a lot but there were almost too many characters at times. Also, there were a few too many plot lines happening but it certainly wasn’t slow or boring!

When In Rome

Published Date: September 2022

Genre: Romance

How I Read: Paper

Four stars is probably a generous rating but I’ve had a rougher reading month and this was the easy, good, and predictable romance I needed.

This is the first book in the series though I’ve already read two of the other books. Amelia is the pop star Rae Rose. She spontaneously escapes to the small town of Rome, Kentucky before leaving on her next large tour.

Noah is a small-town pie baker with three sisters who doesn’t even have a cell phone. He allows Amelia to stay at his house while her car is being fixed and you know the rest.

Expect romance but no spice. It’s cute. I love the small town vibes. It was fun knowing all the characters already from my previous reading.

A Flower Traveled in My Blood

Published Date: July 2025

Genre: History

How I Read: Paper

This non-fiction book had a slow start for me. The first part is all about the roller coaster of Argentina’s political leaders starting in the ’50s. Then it describes how the military took over and disappeared tens of thousands of people, including hundreds of pregnant women.

Realizing that their sons and daughters were likely dead, a group of Abuelas joined together in search of missing grandchildren. That’s where the story picked up for me. These women were relentless in their search.

Their devotion to proving that these babies were stolen and given away to other families led to the renowned scientist Mary-Claire King developing genetic testing. It was fascinating to learn about her amazing accomplishments and what the DNA testing has helped human rights groups achieve.

The last part of the story is about reuniting a number of the stolen babies (now adults) with their biological families and the government deciding to put members of the military on trial for their heinous crimes of torture and kidnapping. This book would lead to great discussions for a more serious book club or class.

It’s a hard book to read. Often, you will be sick to your stomach realizing how recently this all occurred. It’s essential to learn history to open our eyes to the atrocities of the past or we are doomed to repeat them.

The Unselected Journals of Emma M. Lion

Published Date: November 2019

Genre: Historical Fiction

How I Read: Audio

Everyone is right about this series, it’s incredible! I only got through book two during August but I have a feeling the entire series will end up being five stars for me.

Please keep in mind – the first book is boring and you will want to stop. Don’t. It keeps getting better and better. I’m literally laughing out loud at some parts. I was hooked after book two, but for some readers I’ve heard it takes even longer. You fly through the books because they are super short (hence journals). It’s witty.

It’s set in London, 1883. The journals are written by a young woman returning to London after a few years away. She has a horrible uncle, an aunt who needs her to play the foil to her beautiful cousin’s season, a new interesting tenant, and financial problems. We can’t forget the local ghost! The town has a lot of quirks and it’s wonderful.

Good (3.5 Stars)

We Begin at the End

Published Date: March 2020

Genre: Mystery

How I Read: Audio

Not to gender stereotype, but in my opinion, this book is a “dude read”. I could see guys, especially older men, being into this slower crime drama. This genre isn’t my favorite. The story moved too slowly for me and it felt long. It was a mostly sad story and I didn’t care what happened in the end.

Duchess is a 13-year-old girl taking care of her younger brother because her mom cannot be counted on to do so. Duchess is an outlaw. She’s protective of those she loves and takes justice into her own hands.

The town’s chief of police tries to look after the kids since he was childhood friends with their mother. His best friend was dating their mom when, as teens, a tragic accident affected their lives forever.

There’s murder, arson, threats, lies, and long-lost family. The ending is good. I would recommend this book to readers who like this genre.

Wild Dark Shore

Published Date: March 2025

Genre: Fiction

How I Read: Audio

I don’t understand why everyone loves this book so much. Yes, it’s written well, but it’s depressing and wasn’t a page turner for me. Plus, the romance in it is absolutely ridiculous.

The Salt family (a man and his three children) live on a remote island near Antarctica as caretakers. They’re preparing to leave soon as climate change is making it uninhabitable and the seeds from a world seed bank need to be packed up and moved.

One night a woman washes ashore and the reader starts to question why communications on the island were destroyed and where all the scientists went. It definitely seems like there were murders or at least dead bodies of some kind.

As the story moves along, they are all waiting for the last ship to come and get them off the island. The woman (the wife of the head scientist) is wondering where her husband is and is learning more and more about this unusual family. I didn’t get sucked into it, though it is an interesting and unique concept.

Problematic Summer Romance

Published Date: May 2025

Genre: Romance

How I Read: Paper

The repetitiveness of the age gap “problem” became nauseating. It wasn’t a believable relationship for me and the book was just fine.

Maya is 23 and has been in love with her much older brother’s best friend for 3 years. Conor refuses to let their relationship go further because of their age difference. Ten months ago, Conor went silent on their extremely close friendship.

Now Maya’s brother is getting married in Italy and they will all be together for many days leading up to the wedding, along with two of Conor’s ex-girlfriends.

The story jumps back and forth between three years before when they made their big connection and the present time. Will events at the wedding turn their relationship into a romance (finally), reignite their friendship, or sever their ties forever?

House of Flame and Shadow

Published Date: January 2024

Genre: Fantasy

How I Read: Audio

This is book three in the Crescent City series. I’ll admit, this is not my favorite fantasy series, though it started strong (I liked book one a lot!). There are SO many characters. Plus, in this book, some characters and settings from ACOTAR get mixed in and I don’t like that. Keep series separate please!!

Bryce is still fighting the Asteri with her friends and mate. It’s all about finding her power, reuniting symbols from the past, discovering ancient secrets, to ultimately free their world or die trying.

By the end, I was bored with all the battles. The limited spice wasn’t doing it for me anymore. The book was so long but I finished the series and now I’m ready to move on to another.

Okay (3 Stars)

Don’t Let Him In

Published Date: June 2025

Genre: Fiction

How I Read: Kindle

I was angry reading this book, which is the point – the writing is good. But reading the book I felt frustrated and annoyed the entire time. That’s not necessarily how I want to feel during my limited downtime during the day.

A 55-year-old con man has spent his adult life marrying women, making them feel loved and amazing while lying to them. He convinces the women to go into debt for him and then he eventually ghosts (or worse) each wife for the next best thing.

His newest prey is a recent widow of a popular restaurateur. The adult daughter feels that something is off and starts looking into him and finds out a lot more than she bargained for. But given her past, will her mom believe her claims or will she be his next victim?

Hearing his point of view during the story was interesting. I can see why people might like this book; it just wasn’t for me.

Klara and the Sun

Published Date: March 2021

Genre: Dystopian Fiction

How I Read: Kindle

The writing is good but the story isn’t one that interests me. It’s a great book for a book club discussion. Many ethical and moral issues arise within the story surrounding the use of AI.

Set in the future, Klara is a robot in a store that hopes to be purchased by a child. Finally, one day a girl keeps her promise and comes back for her. The girl is sick and Klara’s job is to keep the girl company, alert the mom or housekeeper if the girl is unwell, and overall assist the girl in whatever she needs.

It’s unclear what the girl is sick with but we know her older sister died and the sickness might be a consequence of being “lifted,” a choice parents were given to mess with genetics.

The girl’s only true friend is the boy next door who wasn’t lifted and now probably won’t get into college.

The story keeps you guessing a lot about what is really going on and what the motivations of certain characters are but the answers come fairly quickly. It’s unique and smart.

Want to check out more of my favorite books? Take a look at my July Book Reviews and Ratings!