AUG WRAP UP | The Books & the Stats

We have reached the point in the year where my introduction to my wrap up is me telling you how good my intentions are and apologies. Basically, as I write this, it’s 18th August. I’m aiming to actually have this up in the first week of September this time around.

EDIT: I’m now finishing this post on 24th September, so we all know that my. good intentions mean nothing.

This month has been slow for me, but I’ve read a nice wide range of ARCs, 2019 releases and previous releases, plus covered a good few genres too! My most notable read of the month was Girls of Storm and Shadow by Natasha Ngan, out in November and the sequel to widely acclaimed Girls of Paper and Fire. I’m hoping to get a full review out soon, but read on for my initial thoughts!

Big Little Lies
by Liane Moriarty
★★★★½

Adult Mystery [GR]

A library audiobook that I loaned because it was there and why not. It actually surprised me with how much I enjoyed it and how invested I was.

After the HBO adaptation, I wondered how much of a typical middle-aged mum kind of book it was, but you know what, it was great.

Girls of Storm and Shadow (Girls of Paper and Fire #2)
by Natasha Ngan
★★★★★

YA Fantasy [GR]

I received an uncorrected proof copy for free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
Any quotes used in this review are subject to change upon release.

A brilliant follow-up to one of my favourite 2018 reads, though I do think Girls of Paper and Fire was better. It was amazing to see old characters and get to know new ones.

This was a feminist masterpiece, and I love that 2019 has been a year of phenomenal feminist fantasy. I am all about it. I’m hoping to get a full review up nearer release day.

A Princess in Theory (Reluctant Royals #1) by Alyssa Cole
★★★★

Adult Romance [GR]

I’ve been wanting to read these books for a while so when I found out the audiobooks were on Spotify, I jumped at the chance.

Amazing diverse royal rom-com and it was just really lovely. This first book centred on a scientist who was working to get through her college bills before a prince shows up to woo her, saying she was his long-lost betrothed. There’s even a mystery side-plot!

A Duke by Default (Reluctant Royals #2) by Alyssa Cole
★★★★

Adult Romance [GR]

The sequel is set in Scotland, where an American girl goes to do a sword-making apprenticeship. When getting over-involved in the love-interest’s life, she discovers he is a Duke, though he doesn’t know it and brings down a whole host of issues.

I loved this book so much, but I shot myself in the foot by listening to the audiobook. The voice actor couldn’t do a Scottish accent and it was… horrific. The book is great, audiobook, not so much.

Under A Dancing Star by Laura Wood
★★★★★

YA Romance [GR]

Last year, I died for Laura Wood’s YA debut, A Sky Painted Gold. It was my ultimate summer recommendation, and her follow-up received the same treatment this year.

Laura has a beautiful narrative style that is both easy-reading and enchantingly descriptive. Under a Dancing Star is a loose Much Ado About Nothing retelling, set in 1930s pre-war Italy.

I ripped through this 400-page book in less than three hours and fell deeply in love with Bea and Ben. It helped that Much Ado is one of my favourite Shakespeare plays, but you don’t need to know anything of the original play to enjoy this. I couldn’t recommend it enough.

The Never Tilting World by Rin Chupeco
★★★★½

YA Fantasy [GR]

I received an uncorrected proof copy for free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
Any quotes used in this review are subject to change upon release.

This is a really intriguing start to a new fantasy series. A lot of my close friends rate Rin Chupeco so I thought it was worth checking out and I really enjoyed this one.

Two narratives intertwine in this book as twins separated and living on opposite sides of the world fight to fix their world after the Breaking. Neither knows the other still lives, both have budding romances (one M/F, one F/F) with magic, mayhem and good intentions going wrong. I’m very excited to see where this one goes.

The Girlfriend (The Boss #2) by
Abigail Barnette
★★★★

Adult Romance [GR]

I read the first in this series in July and really enjoyed it – the sequel was not as good, but still a good addition.

If you’re after a smutty series with a healthy D/s relationship, then I definitely recommend you look up Abigail Barnette.

Spellslinger (Spellslinger #1) by Sebastien de Castell
★★★★½

YA Fantasy [GR]

I was gifted this from Hot Key Books back in 2017 and it just kept slipping back and back but I finally read it and YES.

What a brilliant magical world, filled with loveable characters, a squirrel-cat sidekick (who would kill me for calling him a sidekick) and mayhem abound. I have so excited to get through the rest of this series.

2019 Reading Challenge	Goal	Actual
January	7	12
February	14	21
March	21	30
April	28	37
May	35	43
June	43	52
July	50	61
August	57	69

The below charts are taken from my reading spreadsheet, created annually by Brock Roberts.

2019 Reading Aims	Goal	So Far
Backlist Must-Reads	12	3
Friend Recommendations	10	1
Graphic Novels	6	4
Pre-1995 Books	6	2
Male protagonist / author	25	15

How did your August go? If you posted a wrap-up, link me in the comments!

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