July 2021 Book Recommendations
July 2021 Book Recommendations: What to Read & What to Skip
Welcome to my regular round up of mini book reviews for my July 2021 book recommendations! I read a few stellar books this month that I’m excited to review!
In my list of July 2021 book recommendations, I include everything I’ve read recently that I finished. I like to share both my five star reads and any misses to help you get a better idea of what you should read or might want to skip.
As always, I love to hear if you agree or disagree with my ratings! Let me know in the comments what you thought of my July 2021 book recommendations.
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July 2021 Book Recommendations
Physical Books:
Sunrise By The Sea
by Jenny Colgan
My adoration of Jenny Colgan continues! Sunrise By The Sea is yet another delightful addition to her collection of novels. This story is the third one to take place on Mount Polbearne so I loved seeing plenty of familiar faces pop in and out.
Marisa is one of the newest residents of the little island, using the remote location to retreat into her grief after losing her beloved grandfather. But the solace and quiet are wildly interrupted by the piano teacher next door. The bear of a man speaks little English and she cannot overcome crippling anxiety. As Marisa slowly works through her grief and anxiety, she finds herself pulled into the affairs of the island and the man next door.
This has all of the charm you can expect from Jenny as well as a frank take on how serious anxiety can be. I was hopeful for Marisa as she went to therapy and learned to overcome her disease. As usual, I also found myself laughing the whole way through at the hilarious dialogue and unexpected circumstances. A must read for everyone!!!
4.5 Stars | Amazon | Bookshop.org
Meet Me In Paradise
by Libby Hubscher
This tear-jerker took me COMPLETELY by surprise! It was sweet and joyful and brave and you can’t help but root for the characters. Marin Cole is NOT the risk-taker in her family. Her job is worrying about her sister and keeping her safe. So it’s a big leap when she agrees to go on an island vacation with Sadie for some rest and relaxation.
However, Sadie never makes it to the island and Marin is left trying to prove to her sister that she’s willing to have an adventure without her. How fortuitous that she meets a man who’s more than happy to show off the island and help document her accomplishments!
This was one of my Once Upon A Book Club subscription box selections, so I enjoyed opening gifts that brought the story to life! You can check out my full Once Upon A Book Club review for more details about this box!
4.5 Stars | Amazon | Bookshop.org
The Seven Day Switch
by Kelly Harms
Two polar opposite moms wake up to find they have switched bodies and must cope with their new lives until they can switch back. I’m honestly not entirely sure how I felt about this? It was…fine?
Things I liked – the viewpoints of how each mom viewed the other and showcasing that all moms feel inadequate, stressed, and in constant competition over anything and everything at times. We got to see their insecurities, and ultimately by the end all of their incredible strengths. This showed that every type of mom is valuable in her own way and doesn’t have to be perfect at every single aspect of parenting.
However, the story simply wasn’t that compelling? I slogged through a decent chunk of it, just turning pages to keep going until the end. If you’re a mom or the concept sounds interesting though, give it a shot (It’s free on Kindle Unlimited)!
3 Stars | Amazon | Bookshop.org
Save For Later!
eBooks (reading from Netgalley / Library):
Roommaid
by Sariah Wilson
Based on the fact that I read this in just two days, you can surmise that I adored it! A rich girl cut off from her family is desperate for a place to live, so she agrees to play roommate / housekeeper for a friend of the family…who turns out to be an absolute god. Part of their agreement is no romantic attachment, so she’ll have to keep this crush under control.
The premise is admittedly a bit silly, but it was endearing and fun to read about Madison’s misadventures in cleaning as well as her friend’s desperation to hook her up with the roommate! I just couldn’t put it down!
Plus, the Kindle version is currently free for Prime members!
4.5 Stars | Amazon | Bookshop.org
How Sweet It Is
by Dylan Newston
Just in time for summer, this adorable rom com is the perfect addition to your vacation bag! When a wedding planner gets roped into organizing a book launch, for a horror writer of all people, she vows to turn her happy ever afters into serious scares.
However, a DISASTROUS first meeting leaves her off kilter and fighting to even keep the job. As the two spend more time together, though, they’re both starting to hope the event will never arrive so they continue to have excuses to meet.
I loved every bit of this, ok somewhat far-fetched, story! It was fun going behind the scenes of event planning and book marketing. Plus, the chemistry between these two was a delight to read!
4 Stars | Amazon | Bookshop.org
AudioBooks:
The Bride Test
by Helen Hoang
Listening to a book on audio is always a gamble for me, since I’ve had some absolute disasters. I picked The Bride Test because I loved Helen Hoang’s first novel, The Kiss Quotient. Her writing style is similar in this one and she does an amazing job seamlessly incorporating a main character with autism. Overall this was a decent read, but I didn’t love it as much as The Bride Test. I’m throwing out the caveat that this could be the result of listening rather than reading?
In summary, Esme is approached with an offer to leave Vietnam and move to America to try to win the heart of a women’s son. With the possibility of a better life for her daughter, Esme decides to say yes.
When she meets Khai, she knows he’s way out of her league, but can’t help being drawn to this unique, thoughtful man. Meanwhile, Khai is not happy with the changes Esme brings, but he starts to realize she’s actually the best thing that’s happened to him in a long time.
3.5 Stars | Amazon | Bookshop.org
If you’d like to track and analyze your reading, check out my Reading Tracker!
What was the best book you read recently?
For more mini book reviews, check out What I Read in June 2021!
Thanks for the intriguing recommendations. I’m adding How Sweet it Is to my TBR list now.
I think I need to read some more Jenny Colgan! I’ve only read one of hers, but they all seem to charming and cozy–kind of what I’m in the mood for lately.
I’m right in the middle of Surviving Savannah by Patti Callahan … and it sure is hard to put this volume down!l