August felt like it flew by, and I don’t know how I finished five books, but it seems like I’m back on track to my typical amount I read in a month. My YTD is now 41 books, so I’ll probably hit my goal of 50 books by the end of October.
I’m counting three of the books for my Summer Reading Challenge. At this rate, I will not be able to finish my challenge by the first day of fall, but that’s alright. I’m still making progress on my TBR list, even if it’s slower than I would like. I did read one fiction and one nonfiction still, so I met that goal at least.
What I Read
The Tainted Cup by Robert Jackson Bennett
410 pages | Mystery Fantasy | 5 stars
I read this for my book club for August, and I absolutely loved it! It felt more like a mystery than a fantasy, it just happened to be in a fantasy world, but it’s so good. Definitely gives Sherlock and Watson vibes. It was also such a quick read despite it being 410 pages.
Culpability by Bruce Holsinger
350 pages | Contemporary Fiction | 3 stars
I was really interested in the premise of this book, but it fell a little flat for me. I was more interested in the implications of the AI in the world, but it quickly turned into a family drama with lackluster reveals.
The Last One at the Wedding by Jason Rekulak
338 pages | Thriller | 2 stars
I’ve been meaning to read this one off my TBR shelf, and I maybe should’ve just left it there. It was not at all the type of thriller I thought it would be, and it became a weird commentary on how rich people get away with everything. Also there were a few scenes that I found really gross.
Tilt by Emma Pattee
229 pages | Contemporary Fiction/Thriller | 5 stars
This was one of the books on my 25 Anticipated Reads for 2025. I really enjoyed it! It was a quick read since it’s only 229 pages, and it was gripping from the start. It didn’t end how I had hoped, but it was still a really interesting read.
Dark Tides: The Great Boston Molasses Flood of 1919 by Stephen Puleo
273 pages | Nonfiction- History | 5 stars
I bought this book when I visited Boston over Memorial Day, and I read it now so I can do a podcast episode on it soon. It was really interesting to learn more about this disaster. It also goes into the victims’ lives before the tank collapsed, and had most information on leading up to the disaster and the aftermath than I had found anywhere else.
Favorite Book of the Month
My favorite book for this month was The Tainted Cup by Robert Jackson Bennett. I was hooked into the story and ended up reading it so fast! I also loved the world he built, so I’m looking forward to reading the second book in the series soon.
What was your favorite book you read in August? Leave it in the comments!
Love what you’re reading here? Support the blog and fuel my next cozy reading session by buying me a coffee.
Notes from the Shelf 
Leave a comment