August 2025 Reading Wrap Up

It’s hard to believe another summer month has come and gone, but here we are with my August 2025 reading wrap-up.

I read something the other day that said for teachers, June is one beautiful Friday, July is one amazing Saturday, and August is one long, scary Sunday. I’ve never felt something so deep in my core. With August wrapping up, it’s time for me to return to reality!

This month was a blend of soaking up those last warm cottage days while slowly shifting into a cozy fall reading mode. My reading really reflected that. From nostalgic re-reads to buzzy new releases, it was such a fun mix of stories!

In total, I read six books in August—two new releases and three backlist titles. I was able to carry on my momentum from July, which was great. Now that school is back in session, I’ll be curious to see how my reading fares. But I’m hoping for a fun reading month!

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A Curious Beginning by Deanna Raybourn. This one has been sitting on my shelf forever, and I’m so glad I finally picked it up. It was the perfect mix of mystery, history, and a touch of chemistry between the characters. Veronica and Stoker were such a fun duo, and I can’t wait to continue the series to see what kind of adventures they get up to!

Every Summer After by Carley Fortune. Every Summer After was a re-read for me, and honestly, I loved it just as much the second time around. This might be one of my all-time favourite books. Maybe it’s the connection to cottage and lake life, or maybe it’s just how wonderful Sam and Percy’s story is, but I adore it. I decided to revisit it before diving into One Golden Summer, and I’m so glad I did. It’s such a stunning and well-written story that will forever stick with me.

I love the Canadian setting, the connection between the characters, and Carley Fortune’s writing. The whole book is pure perfection. I have a feeling reading Every Summer After and One Golden Summer will become a yearly tradition—reading them by the dock at the cottage, especially now that I own the collector’s edition of Every Summer After.

One Golden Summer by Carley Fortune. Immediately after reading Every Summer After, I jumped into One Golden Summer. I adored this book—dare I say it might be my favourite read of the year so far? I loved that Charlie finally got his story, and it was sweet, charming, and everything I hoped for. His cheeky but more mature character growth was perfect, and I loved Alice’s connection to the lake and her slow-burning romance with Charlie. Plus, the cameos from Sam and Percy were the icing on the cake. I fear I may be on the hunt for some yellow motorboats on my lake now that I’ve read One Golden Summer. Truly perfection!

Total Dreamboat by Katelyn Doyle. This library hold was such a fun summer read! I loved that it was mostly set on a cruise ship, especially since I love cruising. I loved the setting and the playful characters—it made for a lighthearted experience. My only criticism is that it leaned a bit too much into insta-love for my taste—I like when relationships have more time to develop. Still, Total Dreamboat was a great summer book, and I enjoyed my reading experience!

The Night She Disappeared by Lisa Jewell. This was my August book club pick, and overall, it was just okay for me. I don’t read a ton of mysteries, but when I do, I want to be completely gripped—and this one didn’t quite deliver. I found some of the twists a little predictable (which is crazy because I never guess correctly). That said, I did enjoy the alternating timelines and how everything wrapped up. While it wasn’t a standout, I’ve heard good things about None of This is True, so I may give her another try at some point.

City of Bones by Cassandra Clare. I had such a strong desire to revisit the Shadowhunters series, and this re-read really hit the nostalgic spot. Yes, it reads a little young to me now, but it’s still so much fun. I loved revisiting this world and remembering why this series was such a big part of my reading journey as a teen. I can’t wait to continue the re-read and dive back into the rest of the series.