July Lookback

 Hi everyone!

As July winds down, I’ve been feeling the need to hit pause and take stock. A little mid-year review, if you will; what I’ve read, what I’ve been up to, and what goals I still want to work on (reading and otherwise) for the rest of the year.

So far in 2025, I’ve read over 100 books (yay!) and a few of them have really stood out as five-star favorites. But before I get into all that, let me share what I’m currently reading.

I finally picked up the Edge of Collapse series, which has been sitting on my TBR for way too long. They’re on Kindle Unlimited right now, so I figured it was the perfect time to dive in, and I’m so glad I did. These books are post-apocalyptic thrillers with a romantic edge, and they are intense in the best way. The world has basically been reset after an EMP blast over America, and the writing pulls you right into the grit and chaos. The characters feel so genuine, and the story is completely immersive. Hands down, this has been the best series I’ve started this year (so far). If you’re into survival stories with strong character development, definitely check them out. You can find them on Amazon here:

Edge of Collapse: An Apocalyptic Survival Thriller

I’m also reading an early copy of The Battle of the Bookshops by Poppy Alexander—thank you, Goodreads! I’ll be sharing a full review later this month, but it’s shaping up to be a charming Romeo and Juliet-style story set in a cozy British village. Total comfort read energy with some fun rivalry vibes.

You can grab The Battle of the Bookshops here:

The Battle of the Bookshops: A Heartwarming Enemies-to-Lovers Novel of Romance, Rivalry, and the Fight to Save a Cherished Bookstore in a Quaint Seaside Town―Perfect for Summer Reading

Outside of reading, I did something big this summer: I took two full weeks off work. For the first time ever. It was so needed, and honestly, it was the best thing I’ve done for myself in a long time. I got to spend real, uninterrupted time with my family, most of it outside. We even went camping together for the first time!

Now, I haven’t been camping in years. The last time I tried, I had three kids under five and told myself never again. Shoutout to anyone who’s ever tried to camp with toddlers. But now that my youngest is five, we finally gave it another shot. And it was amazing. Messy, chaotic, and full of those little moments that make your heart burst. I can’t wait to go again.

That said, coming home to a hot shower and my own bed felt like pure luxury. Next time, I’ll definitely be bringing more padding for sleeping. My body is not quite as resilient as it used to be.

I’ll be back soon with that full review of The Battle of the Bookshops and a look at my top reads so far this year. If you’ve done your own mid-year check-in—or picked up a new favorite—I’d love to hear about it in the comments!

Until next time,

The Scribbler