July Books 2023

The Celebrants by Steven Rowley - 4/5 🪩

I'm leaning more 3.5 than 4, but The Celebrants was still a good read! (The third act gave it the boost it needed to save it from being just average). The changing of timelines and perspectives was a little tricky in the beginning, but I got the hang of it. I liked the plot of friends from college staying true to the funeral pact they made decades ago. I think it's so important to express your appreciation to the important people in your life while they're still around to receive it.

Out-of-context GoodReads updates:

• 21% - that's acc so tea

• 28% - AWE like this is the standard fr

• 39% - "all that mattered was the beauty of right now."

• 42% - yes, but they black?

• 55% - omg 🥲 (sayak ignore this)

• 70% - wait awe this really cute

• 71% - WHAT marielle... girl........

• 74% - tuffy?

• 74% - naomi is unhinged but that's queenie idc

• 84% - happiness begins playing in the back while reading this chapter is insane

• 88% - i didn't know they BOTH swam what

• 91% - omg??????

• 91% - wait so it's just jordy who swims?

• 91% - thank GOD

• 94% - sobbing

• 99% - wait i had no clue this was based on real people. that's so cool

Unfortunately Yours by Tessa Bailey - 2/5 🪩

After the disaster that was Secretly Yours, I didn't think I would read the sequel, but I felt optimistic that Secretly Yours, was just a fluke and that the Tessa I know and love would return with the next one. I was wrong. Though there were glimpses of the literary genius behind It Happened One Summer, the editing, dialogue and the entirety of August's characterization caused this book to crash and burn like its predecessor. However, though I felt many things while reading this, I never felt like I wanted to DNF it. Unfortunately Yours wasn't good, but it wasn't boring either. It was kind of like a car wreck, as much as I knew I should stop, I couldn't put it down.

The pacing was odd, but I surprisingly didn't hate it. The wedding should've taken place a little later, but I don't think it would've made that much of a difference in the grand scheme. Especially, when the conflict, or at least what we were supposed to think was the conflict, didn't really exist. I think the whole 'they both thought they were helping the other out but secretly just wanted to get married for love' thing could've been cute if it was executed better and wasn't trying to cover up the actual conflict which was August's PTSD.

August's overprotectiveness stems from his experience in the military and not once did I find his actions endearing or noble. That man needs serious help and I don't think marrying someone he barely knows is the solution. Especially, when he has a hero complex and attachment issues. Looking back, the movie Purple Hearts was bad, but this was just beyond.

Also, I'm still trying to understand where her love for August came from because literally up until she found out he was only in the wine business to keep his deceased friend's dream alive, she had no respect for him. She found him attractive, but she was only interested in a physical transaction. From what was established in the first book, it seems unlike Natalie to fall for someone out of pity.

I could go on about the questionable editing and continuity errors, but I think I've made my point. I don't know if Tessa could ever produce another dualogy with the same Bellenger Sisters' magic, but until then, I think I'll be taking a break from Ms. Bailey.

Out-of-context GoodReads updates:

• 2% - i knew this book was going to be bad but i picked it up anyway...

• 8% - omg???

• 8% - ??????????

• 9% - even if she was rich like what is the beef abt? she outworks him on literally every front

• 9% - "maybe a couple of suspicious tissues" 😭😭😭

• 12% - REAL

• 13% - YESSSSS

• 19% - this is acc so unserious like what???

• 19% -i'm v confused by what their dynamic is supposed to be now

• 25% - that's acc so real like maybe i am that crazy

• 25% - wait but now he's gonna know it's fake like???

• 27% - ????????????? no seriously, was there an editor?

• 29% - okay but the wine is still bad.............

• 30% - wait i'm so confused why would she keep them on

• 37% - i'm glad that it was acknowledged how bad that sounds

• 35% - forgot to mention how insane august was for saying that to her mom like..........

• 39% - ew like y'all are literally in the middle of a bar.... have some class fr

• 40% - august is so unserious like this overprotective bs needs to go

• 45% - one month is NOT enough time for this to be believable like???

• 47% - omg??

• 47% - ugh he's such a man like if my fiancé said that to me down the aisle i WOULD have clocked him

• 48% - oh so now they're both lying? this is gonna be interesting

• 48% - wdym not real...

• 48% - mind you she's a grown adult

• 51% - LMAO

• 56% - never in my life have i had to endure a more insufferable male lead

• 58% - oh he's HORRIBLE and i do NOT feel bad for him at ALL

• 60% - i still don't care tbh

• 61% - wait is this why purple hearts got all the backlash? like i get it now

• 64% - this is the tessa i remember!

• 66% - ... that's it?

• 67% - ouuu she kinda ate that

• 68% - omg that's SINISTER

• 68% - wdym he counted the number of fights???

• 70% - at least he had the decency to ask like i wish everyone did that...

• 70% - see this is propaganda i was talking abt because this literally happens to no one

• 71% - he's acc so annoying like idc if it's ptsd just shut up

• 72% - oh?? wait a minute

• 73% - hmm he's still annoying but at least he didn't run away

• 73% - if this is what love is, i don't think i want it

• 74% - omg 🙄🙄🙄🙄

• 74% - it's times like these when i miss book lovers

• 75% - i would like to have a word w the editor

• 80% - have some CLASS

• 80% - he's acc so dumb

• 84% - is it ever that serious?

• 87% - girl you are a white woman w a trust fund like be so fr

• 91% - so is he just not gonna tell her?

• 91% - ew

• 95% - okay fine ig she did the same thing

• 95% - sorry how long ????????

• 96% - what a loser

The Minds of Billy Milligan by Daniel Keyes, Roger Wayne (Narrator) - 4/5 🪩

I read this book to get more context before I watched Tom Holland's show, The Crowded Room, but then I wanted to know more about the Milligan case and Dissociative Identity Disorder, so I fell down a rabbit hole. I'm not sure how much of this book is true, but objectively, it was good. Daniel Keyes was able to write an immersive and informative novel that translated well into the audio format. I recommend a dive into the Billy Milligan case for any of the true-crime girlies out there!

Out-of-context GoodReads updates:

• 33% - this entire thing is insane btw

• 40% - wow. just loser after loser

• 40% - oh that's SICK

• 85% - this is all just so much

The Rest

Other books I read this month

Still Reading:

• Reggie & Delilah's Year of Falling by Elise Bryant

Related Stories