Everything I Read in August 2025
August was a slower month of reading for me, but I worked my way through a few exciting new releases and some great non-fiction. I also beta read a friend’s manuscript, so my number for the month is technically 10, but, officially speaking, I’m listing it as nine. For rom com fans, I have two great new recommendations, and a handful of engaging romantasy for my fellow fantasy lovers. Read on for my thoughts and book reviews on each!
(Please note: I have denoted books that are currently available with Kindle Unlimited with an * after the title below)
Of the 9 books I read this month, here are my top 3 favorites:
- People Watching by Hannah Bonam-Young
- Love and Other Words by Christina Lauren
- Arcana Academy by Elise Kova
Table of Contents:
August 2025 In Books
Romance & Contemporary Fiction
Love and Other Words by Christina Lauren
5/5 Stars
This was a very sweet second-chance love story between two high school sweethearts. Though there was lots of character development throughout, I felt like some of the MMC’s actions felt like they came out of left field, which pulled me from the story. Overall, though, it was a sweet romance with two book lovers at the center of it.
Love and Other Words by Christina Lauren is available from Amazon here and Bookshop.org here.
People Watching by Hannah Bonam-Young
5/5 Stars
An upcoming romance from Hannah Bonam-Young, People Watching is the third book from this author I’ve read and I absolutely loved it! With a robust cast of characters and interesting dynamics, the audiobook caught my attention from the very start. Even though it deals with tough family matters (deteriorating memory in the FMC’s mother and cancer diagnoses), the story manages to keep a light tone for the majority of the story. Hannah Bonam-Young is especially talented at navigating these types of matters in her writing with nuance, and this book is no exception.
People Watching by Hannah Bonam-Young is available from Amazon here and Bookshop.org here.
Fantasy
Lady Tremaine by Rachel Hochhauser
5/5 Stars
A fresh take on the Cinderella fairy tale, Lady Tremaine is a moody and ethereal read full of falcons and court intrigue. The story turns the traditional fairy tale on its head by telling the story through the perspective of the “evil” stepmother. Truthfully, it took a bit for me to even catch on to the Cinderella storyline — it’s that distinct, in a very cool way!
Lady Tremaine by Rachel Hochhauser is available for pre-order from Amazon here and Bookshop.org here.
Graceless Heart by Isabel Ibañez
3/5 Stars
An immersive historical fantasy set in Renaissance Italy, this upcoming novel from Isabel Ibañez is lyrical from start to finish. With a FMC who makes herself a target by revealing her magical abilities, the novel is a blend of well-researched historical fiction and fantasy. I enjoyed the writing style overall and the story was engaging, though the plot was a bit confusing at times.
Graceless Heart by Isabel Ibañez is available from Amazon here and Bookshop.org here.
Arcana Academy by Elise Kova (Arcana Academy Book 1)
5/5 Stars
Great for fans of Fourth Wing* and Throne of Glass, Arcana Academy is the start of a new fantasy series by Elise Kova. Centered around a FMC with a talent for inking magical tarot cards – both legally and illegally – this story is heavier on the fantasy than the romance, but I would still consider it romantasy. There is a morally gray love interest, hidden identities, tarot based magic, and even a funny cat! The audiobook was so good, I can hardly bring myself to pause it.
Arcana Academy by Elise Kova is available from Amazon here and Bookshop.org here.
Wrath of the Dragons by Olivia Rose Darling (Fear The Flames book 2)
3/5 Stars
After really loving the first book in this series (it’s in my romantasy reading list here), Wrath of the Dragons felt like a bit of a let down. It was quite long — longer than it needed to be, honestly — and felt pretty repetitive by the time I got to chapter 50 and onward. It was entertaining and I’m sure I’ll read the other books in the series when they come out, but I think the story would be well-served with some substantial editing.
Wrath of the Dragons by Olivia Rose Darling is available from Amazon here and Bookshop.org here.
Historical Fiction
The Vatican Princess: A Novel of Lucrezia Borgia by C.W. Gortner
4/5 Stars
Great for fans of historical fiction and those fascinated by the Borgia family, The Vatican Princess follows the story of Lucrezia Borgia, who is often considered a notorious historical figure. In this iteration of Lucrezia’s story, C.W. Gortner expands upon the lore around the papal princess, giving readers a more thorough image of the girl and young woman who was shaped and forged amongst an imposing religious elite.
The Vatican Princess: A Novel of Lucrezia Borgia by C.W. Gortner is available from Amazon here and Bookshop.org here.
Non-Fiction
Mother Tongue: The Surprising History of Women’s Words by Jenni Nuttall
5/5 Stars
Fascinating non-fiction about the history of language about women, Mother Tongue: The Surprising History of Women’s Words by Jenni Nuttall analyzes different themes in each chapter. This book is full of historical analysis on everything from the origin of medical terminology to the ways English speaking people have discussed women’s work, violence against women, and gender identity, among others.
Mother Tongue: The Surprising History of Women’s Words by Jenni Nuttall is available from Amazon here and Bookshop.org here.
Mary Stewart’s People: Life in Mary Stewart’s Scotland by Margaret H.B. Sanderson
3.5/5 Stars
This book is an interesting read for any history lover who is fascinated by 16th century Scotland. There were chapters of Mary Stewart’s People that were very engaging, and others that were less so. Some of the details felt a little ambiguous, and the author seems to throw out a lot of numbers without a lot of analysis, which was a bit confusing at times. Overall, though, the chapters covering individual people (rather than types of people, like priests or workers) were the most interesting, since they tended to give a greater insight into daily life during this time.
Looking for more great Scottish history reads?
Explore my full Scotland themed reading list here.
Curious about the Kindle Unlimited subscription? Want to know if it’s worth the monthly fee?
(Spoiler alert: yes, it certainly is!)
Check out my complete guide to the e-book subscription service here!
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Still searching for your next favorite read?
Check out last month’s reading journal for more great titles for your TBR!
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*Some of the novels featured here were gifted to me as part of various book review programs in which Cats & Coffee participates.
