Everything I Read in July 2024

Reading wise, my July was dominated by Julia Brannan’s The Jacobite Chronicles, six books that I blew through because I simply could not put them down. Besides this historical fiction series, though, there were plenty of other great reads that I would recommend you check out. First, The Cliffs by J. Courtney Sullivan is a gripping new contemporary/historical fiction blend that kept me engaged through to the end. Second, the audiobook of First Lie Wins by Ashley Elston had me making up chores around the house just so I could keep listening to the story!

Of the 14 books I read this month, here are my top 5 favorites:

P.S. to track my reading, I started using the StoryGraph website and app. This reading tracker is really cool and gives you all kinds of interesting stats about your reading style. Plus, the app gives great recommendations based on books you’ve previously read and loved. Check out everything I’m currently reading and add me on the app here!

July 2024 In Books

Normal People by Sally Rooney

4/5 Stars

There were parts of this book that I loved, and parts that I could not wrap my head around. It follows two characters from their late teens, through college, and their twenties, as they realize who they are and what they want from life. After all the accolades I knew the book received, I was a little let down by it. There were many poignant and clever moments throughout, which bolsters its rating for me, but I found myself more frustrated with the characters by the end than anything else. But maybe that’s the point.

Normal People by Sally Rooney is available from Amazon here.

This Will Be Fun by E.B. Asher

5/5 Stars

A cozy romantasy novel about a group of heroes after their heroic deeds, This Will Be Fun is an enjoyably-contemporary work of magical fiction. The novel starts just before the heroes save the city, and then jumps a decade into the future, where they are grappling with fame (or infamy) and the messy parts of life. I particularly enjoyed the stand-ins for technology in this world, with their own Uber-style chariot services, magical text message alternatives, and so on. In all, it was a thoroughly clever novel.

This Will Be Fun by E.B. Asher is available for pre-order from Amazon here.

Talismans, Teacups, and Trysts by K. Starling (Alderwood Regency Fantasies Book #1)

5/5 Stars

If Downton Abbey or Bridgerton became a cozy magical mystery novel, it would result in Talismans, Teacups, and Trysts. With a plucky heroine and domesticated dragons, this book sees Penelope Sedgewick’s powers of deduction tested by an elopement-turned-murder. This is the first novel in what is to be the Alderwood Regency Fantasies, which sounds quite promising!

Talismans, Teacups, and Trysts by K. Starling is available from Amazon here.

Twisted Games by Ana Huang **(Twisted Book #2)**

5/5 Stars

The second book in Ana Huang’s bookstagram-famous Twisted series, Twisted Games follows Bridget von Ascheberg, a stubborn princess living stateside, and her bodyguard, Rhys Larsen. It was an entertaining romance read overall, and I enjoyed the tie-ins from the first book in the series (which I reviewed here).

Twisted Games by Ana Huang is available from Amazon here.

The God of the Woods by Liz Moore

5/5 Stars

A robust mystery novel surrounding two disappearances in the Adirondack mountains, The God of the Woods truly kept me guessing until the end. With multiple timelines and a large cast of characters, I found the audiobook a bit confusing at times, but came to think that was Liz Moore’s intention — to really get the reader into the headspace of the characters trying to figure out just what happened to the two missing persons. In all, it was a fascinating read and it is clear Moore did extensive research on the region and forests in order to craft this novel. I definitely recommend picking it up!

The God of the Woods by Liz Moore is available from Amazon here.

The Jacobite Chronicles by Julia Brannan

Overall Series Rating: 4.5/5 Stars

(FYI there are references and descriptions of sexual assault and other violence in this book series, just a heads up.)

I posted about this series on Instagram and could not put it down! I wound up reading all six books in the month (they read quickly). Diana Gabaldon, author of the Outlander book series (which I love!), had recommended it via her Facebook page a while back and it was available for free with Kindle Unlimited, so I decided to give it a shot. The series is set around the Jacobite uprising of 1745, when Charles Edward Stuart, or Bonnie Prince Charlie, attempted to regain the British throne for his father, James Francis Edward Stuart. The first book, Mask of Duplicity, was more about stage setting for the series, establishing a few key characters and introducing the political conflict in broader terms. It dragged at times and I couldn’t understand why some of the characters were important. All that becomes clear in book two, though, so stick with it!

In this second book, the protagonist, Beth Cunningham marries the eccentric Sir Anthony Peters, a big character from book one, and finds there’s more to him than meets the eye. Beth, a secret Jacobite supporter herself, is quickly thrust into the growing rebellion, at great risk to herself and her family. From book two on, the series really takes off, delving into the Jacobite rebellion and ultimate defeat at Culloden Moor.

Mask of Duplicity by Julia Brennan is available from Amazon here.

First Lie Wins by Ashley Elston

5/5 Stars

I don’t often go for psychological thrillers, but I read two this month: first, The God of the Woods and then First Lie Wins. I listened to First Lie Wins as an audiobook and could not bring myself to hit pause! It kept me engrossed from start to finish. The novel follows Evie Porter, the current identity of the protagonist who works as a covert operative for the mysterious Mr. Smith. Evie finds that, after a failed mission, Mr. Smith is testing her, and she is determined to find out just who he is so she can bring down his operation. The writing is smart and I found my jaw dropping at regular intervals throughout the audiobook.

First Lie Wins by Ashley Elston is a v ailable from Amazon here.

The Cliffs by J. Courtney Sullivan

5/5 Stars

This book centers on a secluded Victorian house on the coast of Maine with a troubled past. When protagonist Jane Flanagan discovers the house as a teenager, it is simply abandoned without explanation. Years later, it is bought and renovated into an extravagant summer home. However, strange things keep happening around the home. Jane seeks to uncover the house’s history and ultimately takes the reader on a journey through its long, dark history. There are multiple generations and points of view throughout the book, which took a bit for me to get the hang of, but the story ultimately comes together masterfully.

The Cliffs by J. Courtney Sullivan is available from Amazon here.

The Bookshop: A History of the American Bookstore by Evan Friss

5/5 Stars

A quick and fascinating read, Evan Friss follows the birth, development, decline, and rebirth(s) of the American bookstore. Described as “a love letter to bookstores,” this book is certainly that. It made me want to, simultaneously, open my own bookstore and then go to all my favorite bookstores. With detailed and, at times, challenging insights, The Bookshop describes why the bookshop is a necessity to American life.

The Bookshop: A History of the American Bookstore by Evan Friss is available for pre-order from Amazon here. It comes out August 6.

Shop the Books Featured In This Post

What have you been reading lately?
Share your favorites in the comments so I can add them to my TBR pile!

Still searching for your next favorite read?
Check out my June reading journal for more great titles for your TBR!

*This page contains affiliate links, so we may earn a small commission when you make a purchase through links on our site at no additional cost to you.

*Some of the novels featured here were gifted to me as part of various book review programs that Cats & Coffee is a part of. I was not required to post about the novel in exchange for getting a copy to read. All thoughts and opinions are my honest own.

Everything I Read This Month: July 2024

Everything I Read in July 2024

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