It’s time for my first half of July 2025 book review post! I am sharing what I read in July so far, although I am skipping my 5 star reads to share later in the month. The Amazon links to the books I’ve read are affiliate links and if you use them and make a purchase, I may receive a small commission. If you’ve read any of these books or are interested in them, I’d love to hear about it in the comments!
Title: Come As You Are
Author: Dahlia Adler
Genre: YA Contemporary
Publisher: Wednesday Books, 5/27/25
Source: Gift
Why I Read It: I like her books
My Rating: 3 Stars
Come As You Are by Dahlia Adler is about Evie, full name Everett, who begins attending a boarding school and is accidentally placed in an all boys’ dorm. She becomes friends with twins Salem and Sabrina and works on getting over her past hurts and trusting new people. She makes a deal with Salem to help him be a good kid while he helps her be bad. Opposites attract, right?
“Hot on the heels of a broken heart, Everett ‘Evie’ Riley arrives at Camden Academy ready for a new beginning – one far away from her cheating ex-boyfriend, the sister who stole him, and the best friend who let it happen. But her fresh start is stopped in its tracks when she’s accidentally placed in an all-boys dorm, with no choice but to stay. When rumors and gossip about Evie’s housing predicament spread like wildfire, she decides the only way to survive is to lean into her questionable new reputation… but she’s definitely going to require help. Her grumpy emo dorm mate Salem Grayson isn’t exactly her first choice, but he does need her help to repair his relationship with his parents every bit as much as she needs his to learn how to be cool. And so they make a pact: he’ll teach her how to be bad, if she teaches him how to be good. It’s a flawless plan, except while Salem thrives academically, romantically, and–annoyingly enough– even physically, Evie’s quest feels like one dead end after another. But when Evie realizes what she wants more than anything, she’ll have to contend with her thrice-broken heart and figure out how to become someone capable of chasing happiness.”
This coming of age story was not my favorite and definitely not my favorite by this author. Those with the dream of attending boarding school may enjoy it more than I did.
Title: Such Good People
Author: Amy Blumenfeld
Genre: Contemporary
Publisher: SparkPress, 7/8/25
Source: BookSparks
Why I Read It: Sent to me for my review
My Rating: 3.5 Stars, Rounded up to 4 Stars
Such Good People by Amy Blumenfeld is about April, whose childhood best friend Rudy was involved in an altercation which sent him to jail for murder. Now that April’s husband is running for office, her connection to Rudy and the event, as well as Rudy’s release, begin to cause issues. Jillian, a journalist, starts to uncover the truth about what happened.
“It’s 10 p.m. on a Thursday in the spring of her freshman year of college, and April is standing at the back of a crowded Manhattan bar waiting for her friend, Rudy, to arrive. Their eyes lock the moment he enters the room, and in an instant, lives and legacies are altered forever. Within hours, Rudy is arrested. Within days, April is expelled. Within weeks, he’s incarcerated. And within months, she meets Peter, a prodigious young attorney who makes her world recognizable again. Nearly fifteen years later, April is happily living in Chicago married to Peter, a mother of three with a fulfilling career and standing yoga date with her girlfriends. On the eve of Peter’s election for local office, Rudy is up for parole. Headlines explode about April’s past, jeopardizing Peter’s campaign and everything they hold dear. Suddenly, April is faced with an impossible choice: protecting the life she created, or the person who sacrificed everything to make that life a possibility. Such Good People is a captivating portrait of blurred lines, divided loyalties, and what it means to love purely, steadfastly, and interminably.”
This story was so frustrating because no one was there for Rudy when he was convicted. Jillian is redeemed but she should have been there when it all started. This is the sad reality of wrongful convictions and the need for justice reform. While things seemed to come together very neatly, the story was compelling and interesting, as well as quick to read.
Title: Don’t Let Him In
Author: Lisa Jewell
Genre: Thriller
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Audio, 6/24/25
Source: Audio Publisher
Why I Read It: I enjoy her books
My Rating: 4 Stars
Don’t Let Him In by Lisa Jewell is about Ash, whose mom Nina meets Nick after Ash’s father dies and Ash suspects he is not telling them the truth. She begins to look into Nick’s past. At the same time, Martha’s husband Al keeps disappearing for days at a time but he always seems to have good excuses. Nick had his own chapters, and they were quite unsettling. He seemed to be a typical Lisa Jewell male character!
“Nina Swann is intrigued when she received a condolence card from Nick Radcliffe, an old friend of her late husband, who is looking to connect after her husband’s unexpected death. Nick is a man of substance and good taste. He has a smile that could melt the coldest heart and a knack for putting others at ease. But to Nina’s adult daughter, Ash, Nick seems too slick, too polished, too good to be true. Without telling her mother, Ash begins digging into Nick’s past. What she finds is more than unsettling…Martha is a florist living in a neighboring town with her infant daughter and her devoted husband, Alistair. But lately, Alistair has been traveling more and more frequently for work, disappearing for days at a time. When Martha questions him about his frequent absences, he always has a legitimate explanation, but Martha can’t share the feeling that something isn’t right. Nina, Martha, and Ash are on a collision course with a shocking truth that is far darker than anyone could have imagined. And all three are about to wish they had heeded the same warning: Don’t let him in. But the past won’t stay buried forever.”
While the timelines initially confused me, I really liked how the ending came together. I was glad the women characters stopped acting dumb! The audio was well done and definitely kept me listening.
Title: This Book Might Be About Zinnia
Author: Brittney Morris
Genre: YA Contemporary
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Books For Young Readers, 7/1/25
Source: Publisher
Why I Read It: Sent to me for my review
My Rating: 3.5 Stars, Rounded up to 4 Stars
This Book Might Be About Zinnia by Brittney Morris is about Zinnia, who is adopted and reads a book that seems to be about her story. In the past, Tuesday writes a story in her journal, but the journal is lost. So when Zinnia sets out to meet the author of the book, she may or may not find her actual birth mother.
“It’s the year 2024, and Zinnia Davis is on a mission to ace her personal essay. But when an admissions rep hints that her adoption story is “lacking heart,” she has to figure out a new spin. Frankly, Zinnia doesn’t know much about her birth parents; that is, until her favorite author releases a new novel—Little Heart—about a princess with a heart-shaped birthmark on her forehead and separated from her mother at birth…just like Zinnia. Could this be her birth mother? Flashback to 2006, and teenager Tuesday Walker is barely making it through high school after experiencing a loss that had her on leave for months. To cope, Tuesday writes a series of entries in a journal, but when the journal is lost, it feels like reliving the trauma all over again. Tuesday’s search for the journal uncovers dangerous secrets about her past, her crush, and her own mother’s story. If Tuesday isn’t careful in her search, Zinnia will have to reap the consequences in the present.”
The book I read was an advanced copy, so I’m not sure if there were further edits. There were places where things didn’t quite make sense – like it said that Zinnia read the last paragraph of the book, but it also said she didn’t finish it. There was supposed to be a twist in the book she was reading, but I wasn’t sure what it was. So things like that took me out of the story. Otherwise, I liked Zinnia and Tuesday and there was good potential in their stories.
Title: The Night Sparrow
Author: Shelly Sanders
Genre: Historical Fiction
Publisher: Harper Perennial, 7/1/25
Source: Publisher
Why I Read It: Sent to me for my review
My Rating: 3 Stars
This story is based on the true story of female WWII snipers and is about Elena. When her family is killed, she signs up for sniper training.
“With the Nazi invasion of the Soviet Union, Elena Bruskina’s world collapses. The ambitious university student and her Jewish family are quickly forced into the Minsk ghetto where thousands are immediately murdered, including her father and brother. Then her younger sister is publicly executed on false charges and her mother is shot. Alone with her grief, Elena escapes the ghetto, determined to avenge her family’s deaths. Heading to Moscow, she enrolls in the Red Army’s newly created Central Women’s Sniper Training School. After rigorous training, she becomes a member of an all-female sniper platoon, a community of brave young women willing to give their lives to defend their country. Then Elena is chosen for a secret mission—a daring and highly dangerous plan to capture the face of evil itself: Hitler.”
The two timelines in this book are about her training and fighting, and her later mission to track down and capture Hitler. I’m not sure that the book needed two timelines, as they were a little confusing, taking place only a few years apart. The historical notes from actual snipers were interesting and I also appreciated learning about women in combat.
Title: Island Creatures
Author: Margarita Engle
Genre: YA Contemporary in Verse
Publisher: Atheneum Books For Young Readers, 7/8/25
Source: Publisher
Why I Read It: Sent to me for my review
My Rating: 4 Stars
This book in verse is about Cuban teens Vida and Adán working at a wildlife refuge. They knew each other as children and are now reunited.
“Every day, Vida reads to the creatures at the wildlife rescue center and dreams of her childhood in Cuba, where she and her best friend Adán adventured through the island rescuing animals from harm. Unbeknownst to her, Adán has also moved to Florida and is feeling trapped in his new home, buffeted by the stormy fights between his abuelo and papi. When a chance encounter with a captive fox leads to their reunion, Vida and Adán are able to find refuge from the cruelty that surrounds them in their soaring, rekindled romance. Their love reaches new heights as they work together at the zoo that rescues rare species, but soon they realize that this peace is only temporary. Much like the wildlife they want to protect, Vida and Adán are caught in a cycle of distrust and heartlessness. As old family grudges and painful memories come to light, can they and their families learn to heal and forgive each other for a brighter, kinder future?”
I liked that the story involved climate issues and wildlife, as both teens found their place in their work at the rescue center. I read this book in a day, as books in verse tend to be quite quick to read!
Title: The Man Ban
Author: Nicola Marsh
Genre: Rom Com
Publisher: Penguin Audio, 7/27/21
Source: Publisher – Print, Library – Audio
Why I Read It: Backlist
My Rating: 4 Stars
From my 25 in ’25 list, I listened to The Man Ban by Nicola Marsh, which is about Harper, who has sworn off dating after a bad break up. She meets Manny at a wedding and then again at a conference, and they start to fall for each other.
“Harper Ryland has been on a self-imposed man ban for the last twelve months, after a particularly horrible breakup. Instead, she’s focusing on the one thing she can control: her career as an up-and-coming food stylist. Harper’s latest gig is her best friend’s wedding, and she receives glowing praise throughout the night. When the Best Man, Manny Gomes, belittles her hard work, she wants to stab him with skewers from the buffet table, but she can think of something much better: to lead him on the entire wedding and then humiliate him in sweet revenge. When the handsome Anglo-Indian doctor shows up in New Zealand a week later, while Harper’s on her first international job, it’s the last thing she needs. Everything about him rubs her the wrong way, but when suave Manny steps in to help after an unfortunate disaster, his chivalry gets under her skin a little, and Harper discovers lifting her ban while overseas is exactly what the doctor ordered. Manny isn’t looking for anything but fun either–especially not marriage, like his grandmother Izzy keeps pushing on him. But there’s something about Harper that makes him want more, even though she keeps her distance, and they’re about to discover how far he’s willing to go to be with her. . . .”
This couple had major insta lust, leading to insta love and a fast engagement. The conflict between them was predictable. I liked the Anglo-Indian representation and that this takes place in Australia – the narrators’ accents were nice to listen to! Harper also has vitiligo, which is something I have not read about before. This book was pretty spicy as well.
Title: The Extremely Embarrassing Life of Lottie Brooks
Author: Katie Kirby
Genre: Middle Grade Contemporary
Publisher: Random House Books For Young Readers, 7/1/25, originally published in 2021
Source: Publisher
Why I Read It: Sent to me for my review
My Rating: 4 Stars
This extremely cute book is about Lottie, whose best friend moves away and leaves her to find new friends while dealing with puberty, her little brother, her mom’s pregnancy, mean girls, crushes, and more.
“Hi, I’m Lottie Brooks! I’m 11 (and 3/4) years old and this is my diary. Before you read, though, you should be warned. This book is going to include mortifying moments like bra shopping with your mom and your seven-year-old brother, showing up to class with cereal in your hair, watching your dad sing horrible karaoke, standing awkwardly at your first school dance, and so many more humiliating occurrences. Turn away now if you’d rather not read about such excruciating experiences. It would be entirely understandable and highly recommended!”
I found this book very enjoyable, funny, and fun to read. It was fast for me as well!
Title: The One and Only Vivian Stone
Author: Melissa O’Connor
Genre: Historical Fiction
Publisher: Gallery Books, 7/28/25
Source: Author
Why I Read It: Sent to me for my review
My Rating: 4 Stars
When Margot finds a set of cassette tapes in her grandmother’s attic, she goes to her old boyfriend Leo and asks him to help her fix them so she can listen to them – so they end up listening together. On the tapes, they here the story of Vivian, an actress from the 50s. As they listen, the mystery as to her connection with Margot’s grandmother grows.
“After her grandmother’s death, thirty-something Margot DuBois prepares to sell the house quickly so she can go back to her predictable life in Santa Barbara. There, no one knows she used to write and how not succeeding wrecked her confidence. While cleaning out the attic, she comes across eight unlabeled cassette tapes. Unable to use the damaged tape player, she calls in a favor from Leo—her first love and first epic heartbreak—and they strike a deal: he’ll fix the player if he can hear what’s on the tapes. When they manage to listen, the two are shocked to hear the voice of comedic legend Vivian Stone. Why did she record these tapes and how did Margot’s grandmother get them? Between listening to Vivian recount everything from her forbidden love for Hollywood’s leading actor, to working under a misogynistic exec, to her chemistry with her costar-turned-husband on TV, Margot and Leo fall down a memory lane of their own. Margot is inspired by Vivian’s tenacity and courage to keep fighting for the life she wants, but everything changes when Vivian reveals a secret tied to her past in this moving exploration of how it’s never too late to start over.”
Vivian’s story was very compelling, detailing what it was like to be a female actress at the time. I did figure out her connection to Margot’s grandmother before it was revealed, but I enjoyed how Margot and Leo found out as well. This was an excellent debut and I will definitely read more from this author in the future. A quote I liked: “That’s all we can do, isn’t it? What we think is best. Sometimes we get it right, and sometimes we don’t.”
Title: Happy Endings
Author: Thien-Kim Lam
Genre: Rom Com
Publisher: Harper Audio, 5/18/21
Source: Publisher – Print, Library – Audio
Why I Read It: Backlist
My Rating: 3.5 Stars, Rounded up to 4 Stars
The second book I read from my 25 in ’25 Backlist list was Happy Endings by Thien-Kim Lam. Like The Man Ban, it also featured an interracial couple and a spicy story. This is about Trixie, who previously dated Andre when they both lived in New Orleans, until he broke up with her on a post it note and left town. Now, they are both in D.C., where Andre runs a soul food restaurant and Trixie sells sex toys and teaches classes about sexuality, much to her traditional Vietnamese parents’ disappointment. Their reunion leads to lots of spicy hook ups.
“Trixie Nguyen is determined to make her sex toy business a success, proving to her traditional Vietnamese parents that she can succeed in a nontraditional career. She’s made a fresh start in Washington DC, and her first pop-up event is going well—until she runs into the ex who dumped her. With a Post-it note. The last person Andre Walker expected to see in his soul food restaurant was the woman he left behind in New Orleans. Their chemistry is still scorching, but he’s desperately trying to save his family restaurant from gentrifying developers. The solution? Partnering with his ex to turn Mama Hazel’s into a vibrator pop-up shop for hungry and horny clients. Thanks to their steamy truce, both businesses start to sizzle and their red-hot desire soon reignites deeper feelings. But when Trixie receives an incredible career opportunity, will pride ruin their second chance at happiness?”
I liked the female friendships in this one, as well as the food descriptions and Trixie herself. I did not like Andre. He was a jerk to Trixie up until the very end, and I didn’t think he deserved her forgiveness!
Title: Worth Fighting For
Author: Jesse Q Sutanto
Genre: Rom Com
Publisher: Hyperion Ave, 6/3/25
Source: TLC Book Tours
Why I Read It: Sent to me for my review
My Rating: 3 Stars
I love Jesse Q Sutanto and I have been wanting to read the Meant To Be series Disney retellings, so I was excited to receive this book. It is a retelling of Mulan, and is about a character named Mulan, who works with her father in an equity company. The company wants to acquire a whisky producer, run by Shang and his family, whose basic sales plan is very male focused and masculine. So when Mulan’s father ends up in the hospital and Mulan has to meet with the family run company, she decides to assume her father’s name and pretend that it was she who was communicating with Shang all along. When Mulan meets Shang in person, they begin to fall for one another.
“As the right hand of her father’s private equity company, Fa Mulan knows what it takes to succeed as a woman in a man’s world: work twice as hard, be twice as smart, and burp twice as loud as any of the other finance bros she works with. So when her father unexpectedly falls ill in the middle of a critical acquisition, she is determined to see it through. There’s just one hitch: the family company in question is known for its ultra masculine whiskey brand, and the brood of old-fashioned aunts, uncles, and cousins who run it—lead by the dedicated but overworked Shang—will only trust Mulan’s father, Fa Zhou, with the future of their business. Rather than fail the deal and her father, Mulan pretends she’s Fa Zhou. Since they’ve only corresponded over email, how hard could it be to keep things moving in his absence? But the email leads to a face-to-face meeting, which leads to an invitation to a week long retreat at Shang’s family ranch. One meeting she can handle, but a whole week of cattle wrangling, axe-throwing, and learning proper butchering techniques, all while trying to convince Shang’s dubious family that this young woman is the powerful private equity CEO they’ve been negotiating with? Not so much—especially as she finds it harder and harder to ignore the undeniable spark between her and Shang. Can she keep her head in the game and make her father proud, all while trying not to fall into a trough, or in love with Shang?”
Mulan’s visit to Shang’s family ranch could have been funny, and some of it was. The insta love was normal for a Disney inspired story. I also enjoyed Mulan’s best friend and sidekick, Mushu. But overall, I found the story to be a bit too slow. This was definitely not my favorite Jesse Q Sutanto book!
This post includes 11 of the books I read this month. Eight were print books and 3 were on audio. Seven of these were adult books, 3 were YA, and 1 was middle grade. Genres included contemporary, thriller, historical fiction, and rom com.
Have you read any of these books or do you want to? What have you been reading lately?
