And The Trees Crept In by Dawn Kurtagich

Started: 21.9.26

DNF: 22.9.26

Hardcover

This was just a bit too weird for me, I couldn't get into it. 

The Overnight Guest by Heather Gudenkauf

Started: 18.9.26

Finished: 22.9.26

Kindle Unlimited

Really enjoyed this! It was sometimes a bit confusing because there were a couple of different timelines going on, and one where the 'when' wasn't obvious at first, but overall it was a great thriller.

I really enjoyed the murder mystery aspect, I don't think I'd have minded if the whole book was just set in that timeline. 

I even shed a few tears at the end, and I hardly ever cry at books these days, so that is a good thing, I guess?

Verity by Colleen Hoover

Started: 14.9.26

Finished: 20.9.26

Paperback

This is essentially a book about a woman reading a book. She's supposed to be writing a book too, but she's a bit busy falling for another woman's husband. And reading.

I've seen that Verity (this book) gets a lot of hate. It kept me reading to the end, because I wanted to know what the twist was, but it was touch and go. Although they were part of the 'plot within the plot' there were some pretty horrible scenes involving child abuse where I seriously considered DNF-ing it.

Overall, not bad, but not great.

The Mental Load Diaries by Cat Sims

Started: 8.9.26

DNF: 18.9.26

Kindle

I used to follow Cat Sims on Instagram, so this was on my radar for a while. I've read a few chapters and got the gist of it, but to be honest, reading about someone else's mental load is kind of just adding to my own! So I don't think I want to finish this. 

No Exit by Taylor Adams

Started: 12.9.26

Finished: 17.9.26

Kindle Unlimited

This was really good, it had me gripped all the way through. I do enjoy the 'survival in remote location' trope, and that's exactly what this book was. I don't usually spot the twists and turns in thrillers, but there were a few occasions where I wanted to give the main character a shake and say "don't do that!" I'm sure that was the point though, it was definitely the kind of book that makes you think, what would I do in this situation? And as that famous thriller line goes, once I'd read those last couple of pages, I "let out a breath I didn't know I'd been holding..."

The Miniaturist by Jessie Burton

Started: 12.9.26

DNF: 13.9.26

Paperback

Only read to about page 28, but I just wasn't getting into this. Once I'd decided to DNF I read some reviews, and it sounds like I wouldn't have enjoyed it anyway.

At The Bottom Of The Garden by Camilla Bruce

Started: 27.8.26

Finished: 12.9.26

Paperback

I enjoyed this book, but even though it was only 351 pages, it seemed to go on forever! When I was about halfway through I remember thinking, "well, surely that's it, there's nothing more to happen now?" and in a way, not much else did happen, it was a bit repetitive. I did like the sisters, and Dina, and the 'familiars'. I thought it was quite an unusual, but fun, angle to have the ghosts visible to everyone. It was difficult to feel any sympathy for Clara, even given her unfortunate upbringing, but her refusal to be anything other than just really annoyed by the ghosts was quite amusing!

August Reading Wrap Up

Definitely hit a bit of a slump in August. I've been doing a lot of housework, decluttering, that kind of thing, which has kept me so busy that I haven't had time to read much. So this is all I've managed:

1. Dear Committee Members by Julie Schumacher

Funny in places, but overall a bit disappointing.

2. Dead Silence by S. A. Barnes

Quite enjoyed it, sci-fi horror

3. Before And After by Andrew Shanahan

Unusual take on a zombie apocalypse

4. How To Survive A Horror Story by Mallory Arnold

Even though it was a horror story, so really 'anything goes', for some reason I had trouble suspending my disbelief.

5. Six Of Crows by Leigh Bardugo

I thought I might've liked this, but I really struggled with all the weird names and it was putting me off straight away! I know that weird names are a given in fantasy novels, but these ones just felt a bit OTT, so I DNF'd quite quickly.

6. When Women Were Dragons by Kelly Barnhill

I actually read quite a lot of this before I DNF'd it, I'm sure I was well past 100 pages. I wasn't too keen on the switching back and forth between the story and the scientific reports, I think I'd have preferred just Alex's story, though I understand the 'science stuff' filled in a lot of what she didn't know. Other than that, I found some elements to be very repetitive, and I just got to a point where I wasn't really bothered about reading any more.

Slump

I'm in a bit of a reading slump at the moment. We went on holiday at the beginning of August and I only took my Kindle, but I had this idea that I'd get loads of reading done, in between the other things we were doing. In reality, I couldn't decide what book to choose, and then I think I only read one! 

Since I got back, I've decided to leave the Kindle alone and try to get through some more paperbacks. I haven't used my TBR Jar; instead, I'm currently reading in alphabetical order of author surname! Just because! But it's still been a bit hit and miss. 

Part of me wants to force myself to read the books that I'm less excited about, and part of me thinks I should ignore everything else and only focus on the ones that I really want to read, even if they're on my Kindle. It's a dilemma!

When Women Were Dragons by Kelly Barnhill

Started: 24.8.26

DNF: 27.8.26

Paperback

A bit repetitive?