In July I turned my phone off for a week and read eleven books, applied to fifteen jobs, and won NaNo for the first time ever. I also started rewatching Broadchurch and got obsessed with Hamilton.

Looking at these books, it feels like I read some of them a YEAR ago.

1.

I had gotten myself this book awhile back, and I read it. It took me awhile, and I didn't love it, but I liked it. The end.

2.

Next started a massive lineup of ebooks I read on my Libby app. This was a short, uneventful book. It showed how life in the Japanese internment camps really didn't suck that much, but also majorly sucked.

3.

I forgot to screenshot the synopsis of this book but we're gonna run out of room, anyway. So basically, this was a book of writing advice, and I enjoyed it very much, because it had one of the few pieces of advice I've ever taken to heart. She said that unless the core of your book contains something you strongly believe in, then you will get nowhere with it. And I was like wow, that really explains everything and I never thought of it that way.

4.

Next up, my Libby app was like
"yo you should read this random book you've never heard of" and I was like "yes master." This was SO GOOD. I never would have guessed. It had such Giver vibes. Dystopia might be a tired genre but this really was a good one.

5.

This was the next book Libby recommended to me and I'd been meaning to read it FOREVER. So I downloaded it. And listen, there's a lot a person could criticize about this book. I get that. BUT I FREAKING LOVED IT. I loved Starr's life and her family. Also my internal monologue was like Starr's for like a week after I finished reading.

6.

Next, Libby recommended this. I kept grabbing whatever was recommended to me because I didn't have any other ideas. The descriptions were really good. And basically, that was the entire book? I liked it, but at the same time it was p a i n f u l l y s l o w. And a little depressing. It took me like a week to read.

7.

Next, I downloaded two kids' books I had been wanting to read for a long time. This was really really good, but it CRUSHED MY DANG HEART. I did not sign up for that?!

8.

This was the other one. This book was deep and dark. It was fantastic as well, but after these two books I was like, geez, so much for middle-grade to lighten the mood.

9 & 10

These two were re-reads of physical books I already owned, so I didn't include the synopsis. The Everlasting Story of Nory was my favorite book from last year, and Room is never not good. I still get literal chills at the ending.

11.

Finally, a Kid Lit Exchange book arrived. I was so hungry for a new, physical book that I didn't care what the heck it was. I sat down and read it immediately. It was so so good!!! You can see my review on Instagram. I'm sorry I can't keep it.

And there went July. What will August hold for the world?