Happy August! How in the world did August already get here? I started the month with a bang on my reading. Looking at my reading log, I was finishing a book every few days. I actually devoured four audiobooks this month. Let’s take a look at my reading wrap-up for July 2021.
Going back to my reading this month, I started really well. Then, my husband was on vacation the last week of the month, and we took a mini camping trip. I struggled reading that week. Between camping and having my husband around, reading and blogging just went by the wayside. Oh, and my youngest decided to pick up a cold for the end of the week and had to be tested to be on the safe side. I knew she was sick because she just had to snuggle up to me the whole day on Friday. Thank goodness the Olympics are happening, so I had something to watch while I was pinned down to the couch by my 13-year-old.
Now on to the reason we are all here, the monthly reading wrap-up.
July 2021 Reading Wrap Up
Out of the five books I listed in my June Reading Wrap Up to read in July, I attempted to read all of them. But sadly, I had to DNF two of them. But in total, for July, I read 8 books.
- Nemesis by Agatha Christie
- Indians on Vacation by Thomas King
- Firekeeper’s Daughter by Angeline Boulley
- Dear Mrs. Bird by A.J. Pearce
- The Kitchen Front by Jennifer Ryan
- Perfect on Paper by Sophie Gonzales
- Second First Impressions by Sally Thorne
- A Bad Day for Sunshine by Darynda Jones
DNF Books
- One Last Stop by Casey McQuiston
- Perfect by Rachel Joyce
- Cemetery Boys by Aiden Thomas
A Brief Summary of Each Book
Book 1: Nemesis by Agatha Christie
Nemesis is the 12th and final book from Agatha Christie to feature Miss Jane Marple. It was originally published in 1971. I read this as part of the Read Christie 2021, and the June prompt was a Book Featuring a Garden. And oh boy, does this book feature a garden!
Miss Marple received a letter from an acquaintance, a Mr. Jason Rafiel. He had recently passed away and was hoping she could assist him in righting a wrong. The problem is, he didn’t tell her what that wrong was. One for a challenge, Miss Marple accepts the challenge and finds herself on a bus tour around England, looking at grand houses and glorious gardens.
Book 2: Indians on Vacation by Thomas King
Blackbird (Bird) Mavrias and Mimi Bull Shield are searching for Mimi’s mysterious uncle Leroy and the Crow Bundle in Prague. Bird hopes Prague is the last stop on their journey, as he’s not a fan of traveling.
On their first morning in Prague, Bird meets with Oz while having breakfast. They discuss various topics, including who they are and what they are searching for.
Bird knows what Mimi is searching for; her lost family story. But what about him? What is he searching for? Or who is he searching for? Does any of his searching help make the world a better place?
Book 3: Firekeeper’s Daughter by Angeline Boulley
Daunis Fontaine is a biracial, unenrolled member of the Ojibwe tribe in Sault St. Marie. She has never quite fit in, either on the reservation or in her hometown. She is set to attend university when tragedy strikes her family, and she decides to stay closer to home.
Daunis finds herself falling for the new guy on the hockey team her brother is the captain of. She suspects there’s more to him than he lets on. Daunis learns the truth after witnessing a murder.
She finds herself being pulled into a criminal investigation that is bigger than she realizes. If she follows through with the investigation, will it help her hometown or the reservation? What will her actions cost her?
Book 4: Dear Mrs. Bird by A.J. Pearce
It’s 1941, in London, and Emmeline Lake wants to be a war correspondent. But there aren’t many such roles for women. One day she finds a job posting for a Junior Assistant for Mrs. Henrietta Bird. Emmy is excited as she sees it as a way to get her foot in the door to be the journalist she dreams of. Instead, she finds herself a typist for Women’s Friend magazine. Mrs. Bird refuses to read inappropriate letters from readers. What is inappropriate? Letters about love, grief, and moral weakness.
Emmy thinks even these women deserve to have their letters answered. She takes it upon herself to do so. After all, what could go wrong?
Book 5: The Kitchen Front by Jennifer Ryan
World War II has been raging for 2 years. The Nazis have destroyed cities and cut off supplies, causing food shortages throughout Britain. The Kitchen Front is a radio show created in the hopes of helping housewives work with the rationing and make the food go further. The trouble? It was hosted by a man, who many women feel doesn’t understand what they are facing. The BBC agrees and runs a contest to help find a female voice for the show. For four women, this contest is the chance to better their lives.
Each contestant has her own battles to fight. Will the contest make them fight each other, or will they come together and support each other?
Book 6: Perfect on Paper by Sophie Gonzales
Darcy Phillips is a high school student who loves to give anonymous relationship advice to her schoolmates. The system is easy; the letters are dropped in an unused locker at the school, and Darcy emails advice to the letter writers.
The system works perfectly until one day when Alexander Brougham catches her in the act of retrieving the locker contents. He needs relationship coaching and offers Darcy a handsome fee for her time. To keep her secret safe, she agrees to help him.
She has her own reasons for keeping her identity safe. If people find out, more secrets may surface. And can any high schooler really stand to have the rest of the school know their secret?
Book 7: Second First Impressions by Sally Thorne
Ruthie is an administrative assistant at Providence Luxury Retirement Villa and resides on-site in case of emergencies. She is in her mid-twenties but feels as though she is older than many of the residents she helps take care of.
Teddy is a happy-go-lucky kind of guy. While he may come from money, he prefers to do his own thing, even if that means growing his hair long and covering himself in tattoos.
The safety and security that Ruthie desires the most come under threat; will she have anyone to rescue her?
Book 8: A Bad Day for Sunshine by Darynda Jones
Del Sol, New Mexico’s new sheriff, Sunshine Vicram, has returned home a little unsure how she won the position as she never entered the election. Reunited with her best friend, Quincy, they wonder what their first day on the job together will bring. Little did she know, the muffin basket would bring a car through the front window of the sheriff’s office, followed shortly after by a US Marshall.
The town is full of secrets, and Sunshine is determined to keep some buried. She is also determined to uncover the biggest secret of all–what happened to her fifteen years ago?
DNF Books
I really wanted to like all of the books that I DNFed in July. Cemetery Boys was an audiobook I made the mistake of trying to read when I was distracted, so I hope to try that one again. The other two, I honestly don’t think I will try them again.
August 2021 TBR
I just finished a book I started while on vacation, Murder at the Vicarage by Agatha Christie. I will add this one to my August wrap-up.
- The Paris Library by Janet Skeslien Charles
- The One Hundred Years of Lenni and Margot by Marianne Cronin
- Evil Under the Sun by Agatha Christie
- Summer Hours at the Robbers Library by Sue Halpern
- The Dating Plan by Sara Desai
- Looking for Me by Beth Hoffman
Looking for some more ideas to read? Check out my other monthly reading wrap-ups.
I love the sound of Perfect On Paper!
Love this roundup! Oh no! You didn’t finish Casey McQuiston’s new one! I’ve heard mixed reviews actually.
Interesting wrap-ups!!! Saved 3 books from the list to read, Depending upon how my schedule turned out.
Interesting ✌ I plan on reading some of your recommendations …Depending upon how my schedule turns out.