july serves as the middle of my summer break: absolutely no school and zero expectations, except for spending less time reading and more time with my family. of course, since i will go crazy if i don't read something for a long time, of course i had to borrow more books and do all-nighters just to speed things up.
the month has been pretty fast book-wise. i actually didn't end up watching any movies or television shows, i was too under pressure making sure i could get all of my books done.
without further ado, let's talk about what i managed to read this month.
lights out by navessa allen (check tw's)
3 stars
this book was a pretty average choice to start with for july. i liked the first part because it felt more romance-y, but i thought that the second part was pretty boring and it took me out of the story completely. i enjoyed josh as a character along with the somewhat diversity (algerian, american, and italian), but for a doctor, aly didn't really act like one, so she felt like every other fmc in dark romance. If you want something on the average, consider this one, apparently, its also turning into a television show (am i watching it? no.)
credence by penelope douglas
1 star
with 1 star reads i barely say anything nice about them, and this book is included. it is full of pedophilia/incestuous undertones and the fmc is just so weak in this book. the other 3 men (who she is related to and are the mmcs) are very misogynistic and super hypocritical. plus the age gaps between the uncle and the fmc were super creepy when they were mentioned in the story over and over again. I would not recommend this, but if you enjoy taboo romances, this might be for you.
the edge of everything series by nicola Yoon, david yoon, rainbow rowell, david levithan, dustin thao, katie cotugno, and ann liang)
my average rating: 2.5 stars
this is a novella series mainly focusing about angst, self-discovery, and love. there are six books, and i enjoyed most of them. if you want six easy reads and easy wins, i recommend this series to you.
Phantom by h.d. carlton (check tw's)
1 star
this book, like the two other main stories in the cat and mouse duet (which is getting a movie), is total garbage. the only thing the mmc liked about gigi was her cat (iykyk) and her looks. the story is also very insta-lovey (which i hate), so i guess it also does relate to haunting adeline in that way. obviously, reading this book was optional in the duet, but i say to not waste your time.
the diary of a young girl by anne frank
no rating
a beloved classic, the story follows german-born jewish girl anne frank's life while hiding in the secret annexe during the war. the writing was beautiful and i feel like if i was back in those times, anne would have been a friend of mine. over her entries, i saw lots of changes between the beginning and end of the story. even without the afterword, her book is complete on its own. in 2026, anne would've been 97 years old today, while margot would have been a centenarian at 100 (sadly, her own diary was never found). i gave it no rating because i feel like nonfiction should not be rated and it feels a little disrespectful to the frank family. i very much do recommend this book as one you should read before you die.
twilight by stephenie meyer
3 stars
this is somewhat considered a paranormal romance legend, but for me this was pretty average. the only character i didn't enjoy was bella, she seemed to have no backbone was always portrayed as a girl who would always get herself into trouble and never knew how to get out of it until boyfriend dearest comes along and saves her. she is described as basic, which makes no sense since literally everybody else crushes on her? she was also using everyone all the time: her best friend jessica and that guy at the beach (forgot his name) just to get to edward, she was so annoying. edward was alright i guess, i don't really have much to say about him. i would recommend this book for someone who wants a classic-like romance.
ward d by freida mcfadden
3 stars
i don't think i've rated a freida mcfadden book above a 3 before, and i think that is how it's going to be. the beginning was slow and i could only rely on the past narrative just to hear more about peach iced teas, which probably aren't even that good (i'm just glad she picks a new drink later). i don't think i saw the twists coming really, but at some point it was kinda bland. this isn't one of her best thrillers to be honest, but i suppose i still recommend.
falling again by anjelica rose
4 stars
i came into this series blind since i didn't read the first book (whoops). even after crashing the series, i learned about the characters and started liking them. chloe and tyler were pretty cute (and anni and reid), and the past pov chapters were good as well. i recommend this book if you want a good friends-to-romance. thank you so much to netgalley for this arc!
a good girl's guide to murder by holly jackson
5 stars
i heard a lot about this book, so when it opened up in my library, i took it right away. the story follows pippa fitz-amobi as she investigated a closed-case murder. obviously, i knew this was going to be a bit unrealistic, but even for an unrealistic one there was some reality. i liked how the story wasn't all about the mystery part, pip has friends who love her and they hang out, she has her family and dog as well. i also liked the diversity: pip's best friend is lesbian, her step-father and step-brother originate from nigeria (woop woop!!), sal and ravi are indian. i totally recommend this as a modern thriller classic!
june first by jennifer hartmann (check tw's)
1 star
hell no. this was another taboo dark romance between a girl named june and her adopted brother brant. both were so annoying. the only one i liked was their brother (june's actual brother), but of course something always has to happen. the times when they're lusting over each other give me the ick. i would not recommend this.
i hope this doesn't find you by ann liang
5 stars
i love ann liang so much and this book was probably my favorite. this was an enemies to lovers book and i loved both sadie and julius, they are so cute together. sadie was very relatable as someone who always wants to do well, the utter perfectionist, she is me and i am her. i totally recommend this book!
crave by tracy wolff
3 stars
this book was alright. it was inspired by twilight but without the witches and dragons that this book included, and also minus the dark academia theme. personally i think this book didn't need to be 500 pages long, maybe at least 430 would be good. grace is less annoying, jaxon is alright i guess, why did lia come out of nowhere? that part made no sense, and the last chapter threw me off.
trust fall by lynn painter
4 stars
i got this as an arc from netgalley, and knowing that i love lynn painter, this was really good. julia was relatable as who she was on the inside, and i liked damien and his tortoiseshell glasses. they were pretty cute at the end, plus the cover looks amazing! i would definitely recommend it after it's released.
never thought i'd end up here by ann liang
4 stars
after the success of the first ann liang book i read, i decided to read another one, and it did not disappoint. first of all, i love the cover so much, it's so cute and cyrus is cute asf. i loved their relationship, and leah was so relatable as someone who couldn't really connect with their heritage until she actually went there. hopefully i get a book with daisy and oliver, they're so cute even as side characters. obviously recommend.
the web of lies duet (check tw's)
average rating: 1 star
this was a really bad duet. it was another taboo romance, but only because it was on my 26 in 2026 and i felt like wiping something off of the list. the romance happens between malachi (who is mute) and olivia vize (malachi's adopted sister) vize. i mean, they did horrible things, and malachi is literally a rapist. i highly do not recommend.
the problem with wishes by hazel calder
3 stars
you can read more here!
say you'll remember me by abby jimenez (check tw's although its not dark romance)
2 stars
this book was kinda insta-lovey, i mean, he asked her on a date even though they've only known each other for two days?? the modern language was atrocious in this book, i don't know about anybody else, but i absolutely hate it when language and other things (like, in this book: would you love me if i was a worm, rhysand +acotar, alpha-male, be freaking for real, left on read, hits different and more) get included in books, it feels icky. i don't think i would recommend this as a summer read.
five brothers by penelope douglas (check tw's)
1 star
this was another dark romance, and i hated it. the fmc is literally a doormat and just lets the other mmc (there are 4) step all over her. the main part of the story is krisjen bouncing from room tooom fucking other people because she just needs to know who gave her the best sex of her life on the couch. i skipped so much of it, and it's going to be a television show. do not recommend.
a beautiful couple by leslie wolfe
2 stars
you can read more here!
let's pretend by e. salvador (check tw's)
3 stars
this book was pretty good, i enjoyed the fact that not all of them were white, and also i enjoyed the kink-friendliness and inclusion. the ending really shocked me, so my eye is out for the second book, and yours should too. i recommend this book if you want a quick-win (at ~200 pages) but still gradually increasing romance.
and with that, our wrap-up of july has finished with an average rating of 2.6 stars, which was the same as last month. hopefully august provides better reads for both me and you!
➹⁀ ➷ all my love, chi xx
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