The Month of Rereads: July 2019 Reading Wrap Up
Hey hi hello friends, and welcome back to my blog!
I can't believe it's already almost August. This year has felt like it's lasted a full two days. Before we know it it'll be 2020 and I'm not ready for a brand new decade. So apologies in advance for how boring this wrap-up will be, but this month I just felt like the last thing I wanted to do was write book reviews, so I just...didn't. So this wrap-up will be reminiscent of my earlier ones, before I did proper book reviews. I'm just still learning how to balance book reading for pleasure as well as book reading for my job.
Anyway, July! I read 11 books this month, which is definitely lower than my average. I DNF'd one book, and didn't finish two. Three guesses on what those were? Yep, once again, I went a month without finishing The Hero of Ages by Brandon Sanderson. I'm frustrated. I vow that I will finish this book in August! The other book I didn't finish was The Secret History by Donna Tartt, but that's literally because I got swept up into the Raven Cycle again and so I just spent the last week of July in the depth of TRC twitter and pinterest and everything else. I'm trash for this series, honestly.
Okay, let's get into the books that I actually did finish this July.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1. The Chaos of Stars by Kiersten White (ONE DAY READ)
Star Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
Page Count: 277 pages
Read: Jul. 1
Goodreads Review: That was pretty enjoyable to be completely honest, despite having ten thousand different YA tropes. I always enjoy finding more books based on ancient mythologies, and it made me laugh to see the Egyptian gods represented in this way (I feel like if they were around today, they’d probably turn the author into dust for portraying them in such blasphemy). Not my favorite mythology book of all time, but I appreciate it for what it is.
2. Skyward by Brandon Sanderson (Skyward #1)
Star Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
Page Count: 513 pages
Read From: Jul. 3 to Jul. 5
Goodreads Review: Whoa
Final Thoughts: I'm definitely going to pick up the second book
3. Anya's Ghost by Vera Brosgol (ONE DAY READ)
Star Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars
Page count: 224 pages
Read: Jul. 7
Goodreads Review: This was a pretty enjoyable and quick read. A little spooky and a lot deep, Anya’s Ghost tells the story of Annuska Borzakovskaya, a Russian immigrant who more than anything wants to fit in at her American high school. When she falls down a well and encounters a ghost of a murdered girl, she realizes that this is her chance to turn things around. But her new friend is keeping some very dark secrets...
I thought the underlying message of this story was great. It’s all about family and embracing who you are inside, whether it’s about religion or race or heritage. I appreciated the Russian culture being integrated into America, something that I wish was touched on more in schools.
Also, I found the plot twist very intriguing. It made Emily a much more interesting character to me, and seeing Anya work out what had happened to her friend, and try and help her move on was fantastic. This graphic novel is perfect for fans of Neil Gaiman, Katharine Arden, and Michelle Hodkin. A little creepy, a little spooky, a little sad, but not enough to give you the heebies.
4. The Girl From the Well by Rin Chupeco (The Girl From the Well #1)
Star Rating: 3 stars
Page Count: 267 pages
Read From: Jul. 5 to Jul. 7
Goodreads Review: Creepy. I like it.
Final Thoughts: I'm really getting interested in YA horror, so I'm excited to read the next installment.
5. The Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis (ONE DAY READ)
Star Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
Page Count: 767 pages
Read: Jul. 10
Goodreads Review: “When Aslan bears his teeth, Winter meets its death. When he shakes his mane, we shall have spring again.”
It’s been well over a decade since I first read these books and I had nearly forgotten everything about them. And so it was my goal to go back to my childhood and meet the Pevensie’s once again.
Holy heck can I tell you that was a good idea.
I hadn’t realized how much had gone over my head reading these books as a little girl. The religious undertones, the political subterfuge, the debates between heaven and hell? Lewis didn’t fuck around that’s for sure.
And yet it was so easy to lose myself in this world again.
(Side note: when I first read these I read them in the order they were written, but this time I read them chronologically by publication year)
I do think my favorite still remains the lion the witch and the wardrobe, but surprisingly the silver chair and the last battle are tied for second. Extra surprising because I never liked Eustace as a kid so I found the books where he was a predominantly main character kind of boring. Then again my favorite character as a girl was Edmund and well....he definitely didn’t live up to my memories of him. I don’t think I realized how bratty he was??
And I completely forgot about that ending! Wow hecking heck did that just really throw me for a loop. And really as much as I disliked Susan she didn’t deserve that fate (I mean none of them did but like she’s the one left alone? I wouldn’t wish that on my worst enemy).
At the end of it all I just really want thank CS Lewis for giving us this world. Narnia was such a huge part of my childhood, along with Hogwarts and Camp Half-Blood and Middle Earth. It made me the reader I am today. So thank you.
For Narnia!
6. Red, White, and Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston (REREAD) (ONE DAY READ)
Star Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
Page Count: 423 pages
Read: Jul. 11
Goodreads Review: So insomnia reared it’s ugly head and with the remnants of a political-debate induced panic attack (don’t even ask) I knew there was only one book that could really truly make me feel good and so once again not even two months after having read it the first time I picked this beauty up and once again finished it within six hours so hi emotional wreck party of one can I get a whiskey neat and maybe Ellen Claremont for president?
Final Thoughts: I also have a review on my blog here: https://allyemreads.blogspot.com/2019/05/red-white-royal-blue-gush.html
7. Prince Charming by Rachel Hawkins (Royals #1)
Star Rating: 2 out of 5 stars
Page Count: 296 pages
Read From: Jul. 10 to Jul. 11
Goodreads Review: I just...I don’t...I have no words.
I’m usually not super critical about books. Like, I tend to think of myself as even a little too nice, which I know can be a problem for book reviewers. But I truly honestly don’t have “too nice” things to say about this.
But before y’all come over thinking I’m gonna be spilling tea or whatever, I don’t do trash reviews okay? I’m not going to rag on a book, even if I disliked it.
But yeah, I disliked it.
It was honestly one of the most tropey YA romances I have ever read. I’ve read fan fiction that had more intrigue than this. Every single plot twist was incredibly dull and predictable. This book felt like a telenovela and a hallmark movie had a child together. And I mean sure if that floats your boat, go for it my dude. Just soooo not my thing.
Also, WHAT was with that “What a Girl Wants” attitude that our main character had the entire time? Like, I get that it’s not everyone’s dream to be a princess growing up, but wow was the “I’m not like other girls” mentality strong in this one. The only interesting part of this book was Princess Flora, and she had maybe .2 seconds of page time.
Does this mean I’m probably going to read the second book and see if Flora lives up to my standards, and if the writing improved? Yeah, most likely.
I feel like that’s beside the point, however. I went through the chapters of this story feeling less and less enthused, my bullshit limit close to its breaking point, and lost absolutely ALL interest at Sebastian’s confession. It truly was a telenovela moment. All I needed was dramatic music and an abrupt commercial break. But at that point I was nearly finished and decided to just ride it out.
And I got zero justification in that decision.
I just...it was so cliche! It was the kind of story you watch on tv at 2 in the morning because nothing else is on, and yeah you swoon over the pretty actors and actresses, but you’re dying of laughter because how on earth could someone think of something this pretentious? Well...there you have it folks.
All in all, this was just a very bad 2000s era chick flick trying to fulfill its own Princess Diaries dreams.
2 stars. Not worth my time.
8. The Raven Boys by Maggie Stiefvater (The Raven Cycle #1) (REREAD)
Star Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
Page Count: 409 pages
Read From: Jul. 14 to Jul. 16
No Review Available
Final Thoughts: Like I said I was just really in a TRC mood so yeah I decided to reread the series. For the third time. Zero regrets.
9. The Dark Vault by Victoria Schwab (REREAD)
Star Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
Page Count: 704 pages
Read From: Jul. 19 to Jul. 20
No Review Available
Final Thoughts: Another reread and again zero regrets. I'm in love with a boy named Templeton.
10. The Dream Thieves by Maggie Stiefvater (The Raven Cycle #2) (REREAD)
Star Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
Page Count: 439 pages
Read From: Jul. 24 to Jul. 26
No Review Available
11. Blue Lily, Lily Blue by Maggie Stiefvater (The Raven Cycle #3) (REREAD)
Star Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
Page Count: 391 pages
Read From: Jul. 27 to Jul. 29
No Review Available
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total Page Count: 4,710 pages
Favorite Book of July: Skyward by Brandon Sanderson
Least Favorite Book of July: Prince Charming by Rachel Hawkins
DNF'd books of July: Crown of Feathers by Niki Pau Preto
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Okay, there you have my July wrap-up! I didn't want to count any rereads as my favorite book this month, hence why a four star book is getting that title. Obviously I will be reading the fourth book in the Raven Cycle in August, as well as finishing the two I'm still working on.
Until next time!
I can't believe it's already almost August. This year has felt like it's lasted a full two days. Before we know it it'll be 2020 and I'm not ready for a brand new decade. So apologies in advance for how boring this wrap-up will be, but this month I just felt like the last thing I wanted to do was write book reviews, so I just...didn't. So this wrap-up will be reminiscent of my earlier ones, before I did proper book reviews. I'm just still learning how to balance book reading for pleasure as well as book reading for my job.
Anyway, July! I read 11 books this month, which is definitely lower than my average. I DNF'd one book, and didn't finish two. Three guesses on what those were? Yep, once again, I went a month without finishing The Hero of Ages by Brandon Sanderson. I'm frustrated. I vow that I will finish this book in August! The other book I didn't finish was The Secret History by Donna Tartt, but that's literally because I got swept up into the Raven Cycle again and so I just spent the last week of July in the depth of TRC twitter and pinterest and everything else. I'm trash for this series, honestly.
Okay, let's get into the books that I actually did finish this July.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1. The Chaos of Stars by Kiersten White (ONE DAY READ)
Star Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
Page Count: 277 pages
Read: Jul. 1
Goodreads Review: That was pretty enjoyable to be completely honest, despite having ten thousand different YA tropes. I always enjoy finding more books based on ancient mythologies, and it made me laugh to see the Egyptian gods represented in this way (I feel like if they were around today, they’d probably turn the author into dust for portraying them in such blasphemy). Not my favorite mythology book of all time, but I appreciate it for what it is.
2. Skyward by Brandon Sanderson (Skyward #1)
Star Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
Page Count: 513 pages
Read From: Jul. 3 to Jul. 5
Goodreads Review: Whoa
Final Thoughts: I'm definitely going to pick up the second book
3. Anya's Ghost by Vera Brosgol (ONE DAY READ)
Star Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars
Page count: 224 pages
Read: Jul. 7
Goodreads Review: This was a pretty enjoyable and quick read. A little spooky and a lot deep, Anya’s Ghost tells the story of Annuska Borzakovskaya, a Russian immigrant who more than anything wants to fit in at her American high school. When she falls down a well and encounters a ghost of a murdered girl, she realizes that this is her chance to turn things around. But her new friend is keeping some very dark secrets...
I thought the underlying message of this story was great. It’s all about family and embracing who you are inside, whether it’s about religion or race or heritage. I appreciated the Russian culture being integrated into America, something that I wish was touched on more in schools.
Also, I found the plot twist very intriguing. It made Emily a much more interesting character to me, and seeing Anya work out what had happened to her friend, and try and help her move on was fantastic. This graphic novel is perfect for fans of Neil Gaiman, Katharine Arden, and Michelle Hodkin. A little creepy, a little spooky, a little sad, but not enough to give you the heebies.
4. The Girl From the Well by Rin Chupeco (The Girl From the Well #1)
Star Rating: 3 stars
Page Count: 267 pages
Read From: Jul. 5 to Jul. 7
Goodreads Review: Creepy. I like it.
Final Thoughts: I'm really getting interested in YA horror, so I'm excited to read the next installment.
5. The Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis (ONE DAY READ)
Star Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
Page Count: 767 pages
Read: Jul. 10
Goodreads Review: “When Aslan bears his teeth, Winter meets its death. When he shakes his mane, we shall have spring again.”
It’s been well over a decade since I first read these books and I had nearly forgotten everything about them. And so it was my goal to go back to my childhood and meet the Pevensie’s once again.
Holy heck can I tell you that was a good idea.
I hadn’t realized how much had gone over my head reading these books as a little girl. The religious undertones, the political subterfuge, the debates between heaven and hell? Lewis didn’t fuck around that’s for sure.
And yet it was so easy to lose myself in this world again.
(Side note: when I first read these I read them in the order they were written, but this time I read them chronologically by publication year)
I do think my favorite still remains the lion the witch and the wardrobe, but surprisingly the silver chair and the last battle are tied for second. Extra surprising because I never liked Eustace as a kid so I found the books where he was a predominantly main character kind of boring. Then again my favorite character as a girl was Edmund and well....he definitely didn’t live up to my memories of him. I don’t think I realized how bratty he was??
And I completely forgot about that ending! Wow hecking heck did that just really throw me for a loop. And really as much as I disliked Susan she didn’t deserve that fate (I mean none of them did but like she’s the one left alone? I wouldn’t wish that on my worst enemy).
At the end of it all I just really want thank CS Lewis for giving us this world. Narnia was such a huge part of my childhood, along with Hogwarts and Camp Half-Blood and Middle Earth. It made me the reader I am today. So thank you.
For Narnia!
6. Red, White, and Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston (REREAD) (ONE DAY READ)
Star Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
Page Count: 423 pages
Read: Jul. 11
Goodreads Review: So insomnia reared it’s ugly head and with the remnants of a political-debate induced panic attack (don’t even ask) I knew there was only one book that could really truly make me feel good and so once again not even two months after having read it the first time I picked this beauty up and once again finished it within six hours so hi emotional wreck party of one can I get a whiskey neat and maybe Ellen Claremont for president?
Final Thoughts: I also have a review on my blog here: https://allyemreads.blogspot.com/2019/05/red-white-royal-blue-gush.html
7. Prince Charming by Rachel Hawkins (Royals #1)
Star Rating: 2 out of 5 stars
Page Count: 296 pages
Read From: Jul. 10 to Jul. 11
Goodreads Review: I just...I don’t...I have no words.
I’m usually not super critical about books. Like, I tend to think of myself as even a little too nice, which I know can be a problem for book reviewers. But I truly honestly don’t have “too nice” things to say about this.
But before y’all come over thinking I’m gonna be spilling tea or whatever, I don’t do trash reviews okay? I’m not going to rag on a book, even if I disliked it.
But yeah, I disliked it.
It was honestly one of the most tropey YA romances I have ever read. I’ve read fan fiction that had more intrigue than this. Every single plot twist was incredibly dull and predictable. This book felt like a telenovela and a hallmark movie had a child together. And I mean sure if that floats your boat, go for it my dude. Just soooo not my thing.
Also, WHAT was with that “What a Girl Wants” attitude that our main character had the entire time? Like, I get that it’s not everyone’s dream to be a princess growing up, but wow was the “I’m not like other girls” mentality strong in this one. The only interesting part of this book was Princess Flora, and she had maybe .2 seconds of page time.
Does this mean I’m probably going to read the second book and see if Flora lives up to my standards, and if the writing improved? Yeah, most likely.
I feel like that’s beside the point, however. I went through the chapters of this story feeling less and less enthused, my bullshit limit close to its breaking point, and lost absolutely ALL interest at Sebastian’s confession. It truly was a telenovela moment. All I needed was dramatic music and an abrupt commercial break. But at that point I was nearly finished and decided to just ride it out.
And I got zero justification in that decision.
I just...it was so cliche! It was the kind of story you watch on tv at 2 in the morning because nothing else is on, and yeah you swoon over the pretty actors and actresses, but you’re dying of laughter because how on earth could someone think of something this pretentious? Well...there you have it folks.
All in all, this was just a very bad 2000s era chick flick trying to fulfill its own Princess Diaries dreams.
2 stars. Not worth my time.
8. The Raven Boys by Maggie Stiefvater (The Raven Cycle #1) (REREAD)
Star Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
Page Count: 409 pages
Read From: Jul. 14 to Jul. 16
No Review Available
Final Thoughts: Like I said I was just really in a TRC mood so yeah I decided to reread the series. For the third time. Zero regrets.
9. The Dark Vault by Victoria Schwab (REREAD)
Star Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
Page Count: 704 pages
Read From: Jul. 19 to Jul. 20
No Review Available
Final Thoughts: Another reread and again zero regrets. I'm in love with a boy named Templeton.
10. The Dream Thieves by Maggie Stiefvater (The Raven Cycle #2) (REREAD)
Star Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
Page Count: 439 pages
Read From: Jul. 24 to Jul. 26
No Review Available
11. Blue Lily, Lily Blue by Maggie Stiefvater (The Raven Cycle #3) (REREAD)
Star Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
Page Count: 391 pages
Read From: Jul. 27 to Jul. 29
No Review Available
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total Page Count: 4,710 pages
Favorite Book of July: Skyward by Brandon Sanderson
Least Favorite Book of July: Prince Charming by Rachel Hawkins
DNF'd books of July: Crown of Feathers by Niki Pau Preto
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Okay, there you have my July wrap-up! I didn't want to count any rereads as my favorite book this month, hence why a four star book is getting that title. Obviously I will be reading the fourth book in the Raven Cycle in August, as well as finishing the two I'm still working on.
Until next time!
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