Bookaddict24-7′s July 2017 Book Wrap Up!
I read 18 (!) books this month (6 were ebooks). Wow. This month started really badly for me because of a death in the family, so I thought I was going to be swallowed by a reading slump for the whole month (that’s mainly why I made that post about reading slumps and summer vacations). I was also on vacation for eight days and I read A LOT of fluffy contemporary novels, too.
I’m going to try something new and just link up the titles of the books to Goodreads so you can add them to your tbr!
What did you read this month? I’d love to know!
Changes in Latitude by Jen Malone
I read a lot of summer themed books this month and while this wasn’t a perfect read, it was a lot of fun! This was about a girl who has to go with her mom and brother on a sea trip to deliver a boat to Mexico after her parents divorced. I understand the rating on Goodreads because of how the protagonist acted in regards to some of the issues in her life, but this was light, fluffy, and quick.
16 Ways to Break a Heart by Lauren Strasnick
UGH. This book is my least favourite book (so far) this year, simply because of the normalization of its problematic issues within the novel.
I wrote a rant about this book on Goodreads here.
Love & Gelato by Jenna Evans Welch
Welch’s novel follows a teenaged girl who moves to Italy to live with her dad after her mom’s death. There she has Italian adventures inspired by her mom’s journal and meets a cute American Italian boy.
I loved this book. It was summer in the form of pages and letters. This GIF basically explains the summer vibe of this book (also, I just really like this GIF):
The Summer My Life Began by Shannon Greenland
Greenland’s novel was about a girl who comes from a wealthy and very pre-set life and is invited to spend the first half of the summer with her aunt at her bed & breakfast.
I wrote a mini review on Goodreads here. It was a very summery read!
The Kissing Booth by Beth Reekles
Here’s another book that I was extremely disappointed with. I don’t know what disturbs me more, that this book is being made into a movie or that this book was written by a 17 year-old girl (and that was at the time of publishing, she could have been younger when it was first written).
You can check out my rant review here.
How My Summer Went Up In Flames by Jennifer Salvato Doktorski
HMSWUIF was a funny and cute read! The book follows a girl who decides to go on a road trip with her childhood friend and his friends after she’s been issued a restraining order against her ex-boyfriend.
I enjoyed the romance, self-growth, and the adventure (I’m putty for road trip books).
The Trouble with Flirting by Claire LaZebnik
LaZebnik’s novel is about a girl who goes to a summer camp for acting but to help her Aunt with the cast costumes. There she makes new friends and finds herself in a cheesy (but so much fun) romance. There is a love triangle in this and I normally hate them, but this was just so good.
From my Goodreads mini mini-review:
I can't even explain what happened to me while reading this book. I just...I picked it up and I VERY RARELY (Damn you, laundry) put it down. This was dramatic (no pun intended), quirky, fun, and just pure addicting fluff of a summer read and I absolutely loved it all.
I Was a Non-Blonde Cheerleader by Kieran Scott
Annisa is new to her Florida High School, where every girl is blonde. Back in New Jersey, she was a cheerleader and she decides to try out for the team at her new school, despite being the only brunette girl in her new school.
I read this book when I was in my early twenties and I remember enjoying it a lot. I enjoyed my re-read and would recommend it for anyone looking for a very fluffy contemporary read.
Brunettes Strike Back by Kieran Scott
This is the sequel to the above book. I’m not going to say much because of spoilers, but Annisa was really annoying. I’m not going to lie, it was a bit of a struggle to read this one.
A Non-Blonde Cheerleader in Love by Kieran Scott
This is the final book in the Cheerleader series. I liked it much more than the sequel, but again, I can’t say much for fear of spoilers, but this brought back some serious nostalgia about Kieran Scott’s writing.
What to Say Next by Julie Buxbaum
Buxbaum’s novel follows two very different characters as they try to understand high school through their vastly different POVs. I really, really enjoyed this book.
I wrote a review on Goodreads here.
Don’t Kiss the Messenger by Katie Ray & Katie Kacvinsky
CeCe has a scar on her face and is used to people always staring and making assumptions. That is, until she meets the new transfer student.
I wrote a mini mini-review on Goodreads here.
Spirit Hunters by Ellen Oh
Harper and her family have just moved to a new house that has weird cold spots, strange shadows, and an ominous atmosphere. When her brother introduces his new “friend”, who no one else but him can see, things start to get even weirder and creepier.
This was a middle grade novel and I honestly was not expecting such a creepy story. I absolutely LOVED it. I had a few minor issues with the writing, like the protagonist not getting her big “told you so” moment.
Emmett is one of only a few kids chosen for a special program that will have him going to another planet for one of the world’s largest corporations. During his trip to the planet, he and the others will be faced with challenges that will force them to face their new and darker-than-they-thought reality.
I posted a review on Goodreads here.
The Countdown Conspiracy by Katie Slivensky
This was the second middle grade book I read this month and I’m so happy that I enjoyed both. The protagonist, Miranda, is chosen to represent the US in a program that will prep her and the other chosen children for their future trip to Mars.
I posted a review on Goodreads here.
Thrill Ride by Rachel Hawthorne
I’m trying to read a bunch of my contemporary mass markets and this was one of them!
Megan scores a job at an amusement park, which is both awesome because it’s freedom from her sister’s wedding, and bad because it means that she and her boyfriend will be apart for a while.
I loved the cheesiness of this book, even though Megan is judgmental and a little bit of a buzzkill.
Scary Beautiful by Niki Burnham
Chloe is a very beautiful girl who is dumped by her boyfriend of more than two years before he moves across the country. Now she has to learn how to be single and try new things in her Junior year of high school.
I really enjoyed this book and felt really sad for the protagonist since her friends were jealous assholes.
Suite Dreams by Rachel Hawthorne
Alyssa is staying at her college campus during the winter break and since her boyfriend has decided to go on a break from both the relationship and the States, she’s going to have a very underwhelming vacation...until Jude the Australian arrives.
This was just pure cheesy fun. There were some unanswered questions and the story ran a little short, but it was an OK read for what it was.
