What I Read: July 2025

Did July go by incredibly fast for anyone else? Amid the usual summertime craziness, I still managed to carve out some time to read five books. July’s lineup was a mix of easygoing summer stories and some intense, emotional narratives. Here are my quick thoughts on each:

False Witness by Karin Slaughter
⭐⭐⭐⭐
This book was intense. The topics were heavy, and my emotions were all over the place—from empathy to anger. It’s an incredible story about the lengths people will go for their family and for justice.

Till Summer Do Us Part by Meghan Quinn
⭐⭐⭐⭐
A very cute rom-com that I could not put down. I’d call this a strangers-to-lovers story. The FMC and her best friend’s brother pretend to be a couple at a marriage counseling retreat, where therapy sessions sometimes include sex toys. I laughed my way through this one and can’t wait to pick up another Meghan Quinn book.

The Housemaid's Wedding by Freida McFadden
⭐⭐⭐
A quick read, but ultimately not very memorable—probably my least favorite McFadden so far.

Lights Out by Navessa Allen
⭐⭐⭐
I’d heard this book was spicy, but wow… I was still unprepared for just how spicy. Let’s just say I found myself blushing once or twice while reading.

One Golden Summer by Carley Fortune
⭐⭐⭐⭐
I had high hopes for this sequel to Every Summer After. It was sweet but left me wanting more. The story focuses on Alice and Charlie, but I found Alice a bit boring—Charlie’s storyline was far more compelling. I’d highly recommend Every Summer After, but I think you could skip this one.

July might have flown by, but I’m glad I squeezed in some truly memorable (and sometimes blush-inducing) reads. From gripping suspense to laugh-out-loud romance, this month reminded me why I love mixing genres in my reading life. Now I’m off to see what August’s TBR list has in store—hopefully just as much variety and maybe a new favorite or two.