Hi friends! How did your reading go in the month of July? Did you read any amazing books? Or you were too busy being outside, enjoying some beautiful weather?
My reading month was okay, not great. Here are the books I read this month.
Never Saw Me Coming by Vera Kurian
Half the time I wasn’t sure if I loved it or loathe it. A different type of book, that’s for sure. It contained many twists and turns, and I couldn’t help but suspect every single person. Nonetheless, an entertaining read that will keep you hooked.
Synopsis
At Adam’s university, there’s a special program that studies psychopaths.
Chloe Sevré, one of the participants is 18 but acts as if she’s been around the block once or twice. Vengeful and super clever, she’s always scheming something. Her ultimate goal is to seek revenge on a boy who did something to her back when she was twelve years old.
Not long into the semester, one of the participants is found murdered, and Chloe starts to worry for her own safety.
Charles, Andre, Emma, and Will, all participants in the clinical study, act weird and they all have something to hide.
Thoughts
Although I loved the setting and the storyline was interesting enough to keep me on my toes, I didn’t love it. Therefore I only gave it three stars on Goodreads.
About three-quarters into the book, the author brought in a shocking twist. It is something I wondered about but still took me by surprise. The book had enough suspense, and it delved into the thinking of psychopaths that lack empathy. It shows that the author’s area of expertise is psychology.
All in all, it is a good book, just not a great one, in my opinion.
Smoke Screen By Thomas Enger and Jorn Lier Horst
Second in the series by Horst and Enger, this time crime-fighting duo Alexander Blix and Emma Ramm encounter a terrorist attack. A Nordic Noir book was the July read-along organized by Aina, aka @readbydusk on Instagram.
Synopsis
The mother of a missing two-year-old is gravely injured in a terrorist attack in Olso on New Year’s Eve. Usually, the annual fireworks are a joyful occasion, but this time people are injured, Emma’s journalist boyfriend among the casualties. Once detective Alexander Blix and blogger Emma Ramm start their investigation, things don’t point out to be a terrorist attack. But what could be the reason behind this heinous attack?
Thoughts
Although I loved the duo’s first installment in the series, Death Deserved, this second book wasn’t as great. The dynamic between the two main characters seemed off. That was one thing that bothered me.
Another thing that I didn’t love was the way the presumed-injured mother was portrayed. She seemed like a very volatile, unstable person, and the way the authors wrapped up her character left me feeling kind of WTF did I just read? Who does that?
I‘m not going to say more about it because that will spoil it for you, in case I got you curious and you’ll read the book at some point.
All that being said, I still gave it four stars on Goodreads, and you should definitely consider it, especially if you’re a bona fide Nordic Noir fan like myself.
All Her Little Secrets by Wanda M. Morris
I heard about this book on Instagram, but don’t recall from whom. Probably a few fellow readers like myself loved it. And the cover got me intrigued. Yes, I’m a sucker for beautiful covers, and this one is gorgeous.
Synopsis
After the sudden death of her boss, lawyer Ellice Littlejohn gets in over her head by trying to keep her past from coming out. With deeply buried secrets of her own, she’s worried the cops will suspect her. But once she starts digging into Michael’s death, she uncovers a disturbing coverup at the company she works at. A twisted story that touches on a few very current subjects America is still dealing with today.
Thoughts
I loved the plot and the way the author developed the characters. The beginning was a bit slow for me, but after the first 100 pages or so it picked up. Then I couldn’t wait to get through the whole story.
I couldn’t help but feel for Ellice and the pain she was going through because of the life choices she made. Trapped with difficult decisions to make, you can’t help but side with her.
A great debut novel by Wanda M. Morris, I will definitely pick up her next book coming up later in the year.
Get a Life, Chloe Brown, by Talia Hibbert
After about three months, I finally finished this book! Hooray! It was a lightweight read, but I had so many library books that came in at once, that I kept putting it on the back burner. But I’m glad I finally got to finish it.
Synopsis
Chronically ill computer geek Chloe Brown makes a bucket list that she wants to get through asap. The list is entitled “Get A Life”, and the first item on her list is to move out of her parent’s mansion in her quest for independence. In her new apartment complex, she meets Redford Morgan, “Red”, the handyman. Through a series of awkward encounters, the two end up getting to know each other very well.
Thoughts
It was a cute rom-com that is easy to read and will get anyone out of a reading slump. Although I didn’t love it, I liked it well enough and it made me chuckle a few times. I would recommend it to someone who’s looking for a lighthearted read, or someone who’s been struggling with their reading lately.
I already purchased the third installment in the Brown Sisters trilogy, Act Your Age, Eve Brown. So I will continue with the series because it’s the type of book that lifts your mood when you’re feeling down.
A Flicker in the Dark by Stacy Willingham
I must say, this is my favorite book of July. A great way to end the month.
It is beautifully written, the plot well structured, and the main character well developed.
Synopsis
Chloe Davis is a psychologist with a private practice in Baton Rouge, getting married in a few short weeks. Coincidentally, her wedding date is also the 20-year anniversary of the arrest of her father for the disappearance of six teenage girls that were found murdered. As she is busy planning her wedding, two girls are found murdered. The similarities to the previous cases are too obvious for them to be random. But Chloe needs answers, and she won’t stop until she finds the copycat killer.
Thoughts
With the great main character she developed, Stacy Willingham got me hooked from the first page. Chloe Davis is a likable character you cannot help but root for. This spellbinding thriller is clever and contains many twists and turns. The last few pages confirmed my initial suspicions, making me love the book even more.
I can’t say more than that without ruining the book for you, but please read it. If you love thrillers, then definitely pick it up. An excellent debut novel by an author I will surely read in the future.
Concluding Words
July was a decent reading month, but not a great one. I did like all the books I read and loved the last one I ended the month with. What did you read in July? Let me know in the comments, always like to hear from you guys. Until next time, keep reading fellow bookworms.
