Whilst I didn’t get the extreme temperatures many people suffered, July has been a hot old month. My parents came to visit and it’s the second year that I’ve swum in the English Channel. I guess I should be worried about climate change, but it’s hasn’t seemed quite so dry this year. We had some stormy weather this week which has battered the tomatoes somewhat. The poor sunflowers didn’t make it.


Giant redwoods in the New Forest.

I’m starting to get back into review writing, though still have loads of read books without reviews. I think it’s partially having a bunch of meh reads due to challenges and I don’t really want to fill the blog with me moaning about books! Also it’s harder for me to review audiobooks it seems. I’ve never changed my review policy to say I accept audiobooks for review and I think that might be sensible, as sometimes my commuting frame-of-mind doesn’t absorb enough. Though it does depend a lot on the book in question.


Donkeys at Beaulieu.

Oh yeah, my phone broke this month too, but Google were really helpful in getting me a replacement despite me not buying it from them (Currys were useless, they said they’d repair it but not replace it, yeah right).


Scully is unimpressed by the dogs guarding the Montague Arms.

Here’s what made it onto the blog…

Reviews:

Sadie by Courtney Summers The Binding by Bridget Collins
The Paper & Hearts Society by Lucy Powrie Trinity by Louisa Hall An Absolutely Remarkable Thing by Hank Green

Also read:

Educated by Tara Westover ★★★★
POPSUGAR: 28. A book recommended by a celebrity you admire

Killers of the Flower Moon by David Grann ★★★★
ATY: 48. A book that was a finalist or winner for the National Book Award for any year

Animal Farm by George Orwell ★★★★★
POPSUGAR: 49. A book that has inspired a common phrase or idiom
ATY: 27. A book off of the 1001 books to read before you die list

The Time Traveler’s Wife by Audrey Niffenegger ★★
POPSUGAR: 5. A book with at least one million ratings on Goodreads

King of Scars by Leigh Bardugo ★★★★
POPSUGAR: 50. A book set in an abbey, cloister, monastery, vicarage, or convent

Warcross by Marie Lu ★★
POPSUGAR: 45. A LitRPG book

The Strange Case of the Alchemist’s Daughter by Theodora Goss ★★★
ATY: 25. 4 books inspired by the wedding rhyme: Book #3 Something Borrowed

The Kingdom by Jess Rothenberg ★★★★

Blogged about:

N.E.W.T.s Required Reading
On My Radar: August