Books I Read in July

Well hello, August.

This past week we’ve had a lot of rain (a LOT) because of a tropical storm. And tornadoes. Because it’s 2020. NBD. It’s made me want to curl up with a book all week instead of doing other productive things.

But before we dive too deep into August-related content, I want to take a second to recap the books I read in July. To be honest, I didn’t think I read that much in July but now looking at the list, I guess I did? As of July 31, I’ve read 41 books in 2020, which means I’m 9 books away from my yearly goal. Woot woot!

Here are the 6 books I read July.

Little Fires Everywhere — Celeste Ng (4.5/5 stars)

I really liked this book. Like a lot. It was a shorter read but kept my attention the whole time. It follows multiple characters at once and creeps towards an ending where everything comes together. I love that. I’ve never watched the TV series but now I want to!

White Fragility: Why It’s So Hard for White People to Talk About Racism — Robin DiAngelo (3/5 stars)

This book, on the other hand, not so much. There were definitely points I agreed with but a lof of what she said was off the mark. I read it because a lot of people recommended it and it was available as an audiobook. I want to stay educated on this subject and continue to actively fight against racism so if there are books you recommend, please let me know.

When Life Gives You Lululemons — Lauren Weisenberger (4/5 stars)

I bought this as a used book on Amazon for $5. You really can’t beat that, and then it sat on my shelf for months because other books grabbed my attention more strongly. Plus, this book has a reputation for being more of a light beach read, which is true. I love the Devil Wears Prada series (and movie) and this is part of that. It follows Emily’s story which I liked. Not the most educational or difficult read by any means but it’s a great beach read!

The Hiding Place — Corrie Ten Boom (5/5 stars)

I decided to re-read this book since it’s been since at least high school since I’ve read it. It’s definitely a must-read, incredible story of a woman who stands up for her faith no matter the circumstance. It’s based in WW2 and is a true story.

Hiding in the Light — Rifqa Bary (4/5 stars)

Hiding in the Light is another autobiography I read this month. It’s about Rifqa Bary, a girl who converted from Islam to Christianity and risked literally everything for her faith. It’s unbelievable the things she went through and the crazy part is, it happened not that long ago.

Brother & Sister: A Memoir — Diane Keaton (2.5/5 stars)

I snuck this audiobook in the last week of July. It was narrated by Diane Keaton and is a true story about her and her brother and the very opposite lives they have. She is a famous and successful actress while Randy is a reclusive alcoholic. Although it was an interesting listen, I don’t really recommend it and honestly would’ve given up on reading it had it been a physical book.