August Reads! ✨

📖Coraline by Neil Gaiman (adapted and illustrated by P. Craig Russell) : 4 ⭐️

I have recently just gotten into reading graphic novels. I have never read the actual novel, but I am a big fan of the movie adaptation, so I thought I would give this a try. I didn’t realize how many details were altered/omitted between the story and the movie, so I am really glad that I read this and experienced the “Neil Gaiman” version of Coraline. Although it was a fun story to read, I can honestly say that my greatest appeal with Coraline was definitely the animation and vibes to the movie and not so much the story itself. Not to say the story isn’t great, because it definitely is! I just can’t say that the book had such an impact on me that warranted 5 stars. Therefore, I gave it 4 stars! I have collected several Neil Gaiman books over the years and I look forward to reading more!

📖Heartstopper Vol 1 & 2 by Alice Oseman : 5 ⭐️

I have been on the hunt for these books for forever, and I was so excited to get my hands on the first three at my local HPB! I am admittedly cheap when it comes to buying books, so I try to make most of my purchases through second hand if possible! This ensures that I am able to buy MORE books at one time. Lol Anyways, this story is so cute. The art style is also adorable. Nick and Charlie are both just precious and I want to be their best friends. To be a part of their journey is an honor, and I look forward to continuing on with the series!

📖ACOTAR, ACOMAF, ACOWAR by Sarah J Maas : NR

This was a re-read for me! I actually began the series in 2022, was OBSESSED, but then really procrastinated on picking up ACOFAS so I decided to restart the whole series, and I am really glad I did! I forgot a lot of really important plot points and ended up having a lot of fun experiencing the journey of ACOTAR all over again. It was a little wild reading ACOTAR again knowing what I know now (IYKYK) but still didn’t take away from the entire experience! I am looking forward to finishing out the series possibly during September/October. I am ready to get it done and move on, but I also have so many other books I want to read that it is hard to settle on what! As always, ACOTAR will have a special place in my heart. The way I felt reading this is how 13 year old me felt reading Twilight. Listen…I love all kinds of books. Fantasy is my favorite , and not necessarily ~romantasy~… but dang it, sometimes I just want to escape to a far away world with really good looking fae, and this series does just that! So for this reason alone, I give it all 5 stars! Also, in case you are wondering, my favorite is ACOWAR. I love nothing more than an epic battle and being ripped to shreds emotionally.

📖Foxglove by Adalyn Grace : 3.75 ⭐️

Book number two in the Belladonna series! I was obsessed when I read Belladonna last year (or maybe it was earlier this year?), and wasn’t expected the twist and turns in the book at all! That being said, Foxglove also did not disappoint! I love the world, I love the romance, and I love the mystery. Signa and Blythe are both such strong female characters. I loved their relationship with each other, as well as their banter with other characters. I am assuming that Wisteria will pick up more on Blythe’s story so I can’t wait to see how that unfolds! It was definitely a cozy read for me, and I am looking forward to picking up Wisteria in the near future!

📖The Dead Romantics by Ashley Poston: 4 ⭐️

Why did this book have to be so cute? I just love Ashley Poston’s writing so much. This is another one of those books where I got the emotional gratification out of it that I was searching for and that is all I really needed it to be! The banter was fun, the romance was adorable, and dang it…the mayor was a dog! I loved it so much. I mean yeah, I could’ve guessed how it was going to end within the first 10 pages, but I wasn’t looking for a mystery so that is perfectly okay! I loved every page I read of that book and I would (and probably will) do it all over again!

📖The Midnight Feast by Lucy Foley: 4 ⭐️

This is my favorite book I have read by Lucy Foley. It was fun, a little creepy, and kept me guessing until the very end. The characters were entertaining and so was the story as a whole. Although I enjoyed it, I still have yet to find a thriller that just really blows me away, so I am saving my 5 star review for when that day comes!

📖The Housemaid by Freida Mcfadden: 3 ⭐️

I enjoyed this book, I really did. I wasn’t expecting the twists, the family creeped me out in the beginning, and I was left with an uneasy feeling throughout the entire book, which is exactly how I want to feel during a story like this. The reason I can’t bring myself to round up to 4 stars is because I think I just didn’t love the entirety of the plot. Like, it was great. Even my 12 year old was enthralled, but I think maybe it just wasn’t for me. At the end of the book I was satisfied and didn’t hate that I read it, but I was also not left with the desire to continue the series.

📖Rhapsodic by Laura Thalassa: 3 ⭐️

Okay, I think I gave this book a higher review on Goodreads and I really need to amend that. Sometimes I think my judgement is blurred after finishing a book and I need to take a moment to really process what I just read. I’ll be honest, there were times in this book where I was INVESTED. I was IN LOVE. But most of the time I was bored, I was a little grossed out, and I was cringing hard core. I try not to be a hater, I really do. Which I think is one reason I am so generous with ratings. I want to try to convey my feelings about this book in the most un-negative way possible. So here goes. A) I know this is probably a me problem, but why do we portray edgy dudes wearing band tees and they’re always like KISS or AC/DC?! Like he could have got that at TJ MAXX! Be so serious. I am just kind of immediately put off when I see that. Not knocking the bands but also…let’s branch out. Let’s maybe even make up a band so then I don’t have to judge the MMC that I am SUPPOSED to be swooning over! B) I still couldn't get on board with the story line of meeting her at 16 and knowing that you are in love with her even though you are like...hundreds of years old. Like I understand that in this universe, 16 is of age, but in my world that is very taboo and I just couldn't stop imagining myself at 16 or even when my daughters are 16 and how I would feel if they were hanging out with a very very old (albeit HOT) faerie dude. It just wouldn't leave my mind and in turn ruined the story for me a bit. OKAY so some positives about this book. The villain was villaining. It was all quite creepy and pretty dark. The spice was spicy. I am unsure if I will continue the series. I am not completely invested in the series enough to pick up the next book asap, but I am just a little curious to see how things play out.

📖Quicksilver by Callie Hart: 4.5 ⭐️

Where do I even start with this book? This is book took me through ALL ranges of emotion. I was laughing, blushing, screaming, CRYING. I love it. I just don't even know what all to say except for that you need to read this asap if romantasy is in your preferred genres! I am just as invested as I was when I first read ACOTAR, but maybe even more so. Kingfisher is basically Rhysand if he was more of an asshole...and the SPICE? It is very present. Just read the book. Go do it right now.

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