Between cramming in last-minute summer activities, squeezing in a few more camping trips, and getting knocked flat by the head cold from hell, August pretty much flew by without leaving me much time to write reviews. With everything going on, the month was over before I knew it.
Now it is September, and even though we are apparently breaking heat records, I am ready to shift into cozy season. I want the blankets, the tea, and a slower pace. Hopefully this month will bring exactly that.
As far as reading went in August, it was a bit of a mixed bag. I had a lot of one to three star reads, which had me questioning if maybe it was just me. Some books I was really excited for ended up being disappointing and hard to get through. Others completely surprised me in the best way, like Dungeon Crawler Carl.
So here are the most notable books I read in August, both the good and the not so good.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Favorites of the Month
Dungeon Crawler Carl & Carl’s Doomsday Scenario by Matt Dinniman
I finally picked up this series after seeing it everywhere on Goodreads and Facebook (I am not on TikTok lol) but I am glad I decided to give it a try. These books were incredible. I read the first two in August and immediately started the third one because I could not stop.
The humor, the chaos, and the creativity were exactly what I needed. I even told my 18-year-old son he has to read them. I may end up texting him random quotes from the books daily until he gives in 😂
If you want something funny, brutal, and surprisingly heartfelt, this series really does deserve the hype.
What Lies in the Woods by Kate Alice Marshall
I read this while camping, which ended up being the perfect setting. The atmosphere made it even better, and this book had twists that honestly caught me off guard. More than once I found myself gasping out loud. It kept me hooked the whole way through and reminded me why I love thrillers so much.
If you like twisty mysteries that keep you guessing, this one is worth picking up.
The Berry Pickers by Amanda Peters
This one broke my heart. It is a beautifully written story that is heavy with loss and grief. It was hard to read at times because of how sad it was, but it stayed with me long after I finished. Painful and powerful, it is definitely worth reading if you are in the mood for something more emotional.
Solid Reads
Please Don’t Lie by Christina Baker Kline & Anne Burt
This was a solid thriller that pulled me in right away. The writing captured the tension and unease of being trapped in a situation with someone you thought you could trust, only to realize you were wrong. It had just the right balance of suspense and creepiness to keep me invested.
The Lost Story by Meg Shaffer
This one surprised me. I expected something lighter, but it turned out to be a cozy fantasy with a little more emotional weight. There was mystery, danger, and some melancholy that touched on human flaws in a thoughtful way. It felt both comforting and engaging, and I enjoyed the mix.
The Disappointments
Blood Slaves by Markus Redmond
I was excited to find a copy of this so quickly after it came out on PangoBooks, and I grabbed it without hesitation. Unfortunately, it did not live up to my expectations. Some of the horror elements were interesting, but I struggled to stay invested. It felt like it was missing something that would have really pulled me in.
I Think I’m in Love With an Alien by Ann Aguirre
This one had a fun found-family element, which I usually love, but the rest of it fell flat. At over 400 pages, not much really happened, and some parts felt inconsistent. For example, the main female character has a fascination with aliens and even has tentacle “toys,” but then is written as asexual with only one mildly spicy scene. It just did not make sense.
I was hoping for something closer to Ruby Dixon’s style, fun and more developed, but this one felt slow and meandering. Even the side characters pairing off did not go anywhere. Overall, it was a letdown.
Hemlock and Silver by T. Kingfisher
I wanted to like this one, but it just did not work for me. The writing style felt jerky and uneven, which made it hard to get into the flow of the story. For most of the book, I kept waiting for something to happen, and nothing really did until the last few chapters. By then, I was more bored than invested. I know T. Kingfisher has a big following, but this one was a miss for me.
And that wraps up my August!. Some hits, some misses, but thankfully a few books that made the rougher reads worth it.
Any on this list that you read? What did you think of them? Let me know in the comments!
Happy September!
-The Scribbler
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