I’m really happy with how my reading went this month. For the first time in quite a while, I found myself consistently picking up books again and ended July with three finished reads. Considering there were months over the past year where I didn’t finish a single book, I’m calling that a win.
Read on for my reviews of everything I read this month!
Reading Stats
Books read: 3
Total pages: 1, 402
Average rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ / 5
While I’m very happy with finishing three books this month, my Goodreads challenge loves to remind me that I am 6 books behind my goal. I choose optimism, though ,and hopefully I can still save this reading challenge. After all, as Goodreads also tells me, I have 151 days left!
My Reviews
This month I read Never Lie by Freida McFadden, Ghosts by Dolly Alderton, and Saving 6 by Chloe Walsh. Here’s a look back at each of them and how they measured up.
Never Lie by Freida McFadden
Never Lie was my first book of July, and it had me hooked from the very first page. The story follows newlyweds Tricia and Ethan, who become trapped in an isolated house during a blizzard, only to discover that it once belonged to a psychiatrist who disappeared without a trace. As Tricia uncovers hidden recordings of the psychiatrist’s therapy sessions with her patients, the mystery slowly unfolds.
I really enjoyed the fast-paced plot, which kept me guessing until the very end. I even thought I’d worked out the main twist early on, but I was happily proven wrong. Although I found some parts of the story a little unrealistic and the ending slightly too convenient, it was an entertaining thriller that was difficult to put down. If you enjoy twisty, suspenseful reads, I’d definitely recommend giving this book a read!
Ghosts by Dolly Alderton
Despite its title, Ghosts isn’t about the supernatural. Instead, it explores modern dating, friendship, family, and the many ways people can become ghosts in one another’s lives. The story follows Nina Dean, a successful food writer navigating life in her thirties. As her friends settle down, her father begins to lose his memory, and a promising new relationship forces her to confront the realities of love and loneliness.
What I loved most about this novel was Nina herself. She felt like an incredibly authentic and relatable protagonist. Dolly Alderton’s writing captured the small, everyday moments of life with warmth, humour and honesty. Although I wasn’t convinced by one minor subplot involving Nina’s neighbour, it did little to affect my enjoyment of the overall story. Ghosts was a thoughtful and beautifully written novel that has quickly become one of my favourite contemporary reads.
Saving 6 by Chloe Walsh
Saving 6 was my final read of July and was one that completely captured my heart. The story follows Joey Lynch, a teenager trying to protect his younger siblings from an abusive home life while battling addiction and the weight of responsibilities far beyond his years. Along the way, he develops a relationship with Aoife Molloy, whose kindness offers him a glimpse of hope.
Joey was such a compelling and heartbreaking protagonist that I found myself rooting for him from beginning to end. Chloe Walsh does an incredible job portraying the realities of addiction and its impact on both the individual and those around them, making Joey’s story feel raw and emotionally authentic.
However, the plot occasionally felt drawn out and repetitive. While I understand this reflects the cyclical nature of addiction, I did feel the pacing slowed in places. Nevertheless, Saving 6 was an emotional and memorable read that has left me eager to continue the rest of the series!
Overall, July felt like a really positive reading month. Three books might not seem like loads, but after spending much of the last year reading very little, I’m really happy to be finding my way back into books. Hopefully August will be just as good!
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