What better way to celebrate my birthday than by spending time with books from some of my favorite authors and genres? This month brought a perfect mix of comfort reads and exciting new discoveries, with a few new favorites joining my long-standing go-tos. I hope your reading month was just as rewarding and that you found something new to love along the way. It was exactly the reading refresh I needed before the back-to-school season begins and life starts moving a little faster again.
All told, I read 11 books in July – 5 print copies and 6 audiobooks. Four of these were pre‑release previews, and I’ll link to our full reviews below, along with our Bookshop.org page if you’d like to preorder your own copies.
5 Stars
- Abscond, Abraham Verghese
- Brighter Than Before, Courtney Walsh
- God’s Country, William Kent Krueger
- One Summer in Savannah, Terah Shelton Harris
4 Stars
- The Incredible Winston Browne, Sean Dietrich
- Killing Lincoln, Bill O’Reilly & Martin Dugard
- Same Time Next Summer, Annabel Monaghan
- Sex Positive, Brooklyn Rose
- Under the Whispering Door, TJ Klune
3 Stars
- Pop!, Angel Luis Colon
Top Read of July
With four outstanding 5-star reads from some of my favorite authors, choosing a Book of the Month was no easy task. Each stood out for a different reason: a heartfelt coming-of-age story, a thoughtful journey of midlife self-discovery, a gripping backcountry crime thriller, and a moving tale of redemption and hope. But only one earned a perfect 5.0 rating, and God’s Country by William Kent Krueger ultimately rose above an exceptionally strong field. In fact, Krueger’s vivid portrayal of the Boundary Waters left such an impression that I’ve already started looking into how to experience this breathtaking wilderness for myself.
God’s Country earns its perfect score through Krueger’s masterful blend of suspense, atmosphere, moral complexity, and emotional depth. Set amid the rugged beauty of Minnesota’s Boundary Waters, the novel carries a constant undercurrent of tension, fueled by Cork O’Connor’s ominous vision of his own death and the violence gathering on the horizon. Yet what elevates the story beyond a compelling thriller is its humanity. Through richly drawn characters, deeply felt family relationships, and thoughtful explorations of conscience and faith, Krueger creates a mystery with genuine emotional weight. The result is a novel that is both gripping and profoundly moving—one that lingers in the mind long after the final page is turned.
God’s Country hits shelves August 18th! You can read my full review and find a link to preorder your copy here.
Next Month
If you, like me, grew up devouring Nancy Drew and The Hardy Boys, August’s reading challenge was made for you! In middle school, I worked my way through nearly every book in both series, often sneaking in a few extra pages after finishing my class assignments. You could say mysteries were my first literary love—and that fascination has never really left me.
This month, we’re celebrating some of the genre’s most beloved elements: the indispensable sidekick cat, clever detective work, true crime revelations, and books written by women. Of those prompts, the last two have especially captured my attention. While I’ve never fully embraced the true crime podcast craze, I’ve found myself increasingly drawn to true crime authors, particularly after hearing several speak at recent book festivals. I’m also a longtime admirer of the incredible women shaping the mystery and thriller genre, from Karen Slaughter to Patricia Cornwell and beyond. I can’t wait to explore these prompts and discover some great reads together over the next few weeks!
I invite you over to our StoryGraph reading challenges where you can follow along, check off the prompts, and see what the rest of our community is choosing for these challenges. Don’t forget you can also follow along on our social media pages like Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, and Pinterest to continue the conversation!
A few sponsored books I’m reading this month:
- Mother Daughter Sister Stranger, Hank Phillippi Ryan
- Tom Clancy: Pressure Depth, Jack Stewart
- The Trial of Patty Hurst, Celine Fitzmaurice
- The Christmas Guest, BP Walter
I can’t wait to read these great books with you – keep an eye out for the monthly newsletter next week with other great suggestions for our August prompts!
This post contains affiliate links.
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