Books I Read in July 2022

It’s been a while since I’ve done a monthly book review roundup, but I’m back and more excited than ever. Just because I haven’t been posting doesn’t mean I haven’t been reading. In fact, I’m ahead of my Goodreads 2022 Reading Challenge, so I’m pretty proud of myself. 

This also means that today’s book review roundup is going to encapsulate all the books I’ve read since my last book review post (which was back in March), so sit back, relax and get ready to learn about what I’ve been reading lately.

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The Happy Ever After Playlist (The Friend Zone, #2 by Abby Jimenez

Artist Sloan Monroe just can’t seem to get her life on track. But one trouble-making pup who randomly jumps into her car with a “take me home” look in his eyes is about to change everything. Then, after weeks of unanswered texts, Tucker’s owner reaches out. He’s a musician on tour in Australia. And bottom line: He wants Tucker back. 

Well, Sloan’s not about to give up her dog without a fight. But what if this Jason guy really loves Tucker? As their flirty texts turn into long calls, Sloan can’t deny a connection. Jason is hot and nice and funny. There’s no telling what could happen when they meet in person. The question is: With his music career on the rise, how long will Jason really stick around? And is it possible for Sloan to survive another heartbreak?

The Happy Ever After Playlist wasn’t what I expected in the best way. The first book, The Friend Zone, is one of my favourites and I put off reading The Happy Ever After Playlist because I wasn’t sure if it would measure up. It did. My wonderful sister gave me her copy to read and I flew through it so fast. Like the first book, there’s depth to the plot. It’s not all sunshine and rainbows, and the pace of the story was perfect. It wasn’t too fast or slow, and it had the perfect amount of romantic scenes.

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How Sweet It Is by Dylan Newton

Event planner Kate Sweet is famous for creating the perfect happily-ever-after moment for her clients’ dream weddings. So how is it that her best friend has roped her into planning a bestselling horror writer’s book launch extravaganza? But the second Kate meets—or rather, accidentally maims—the drop-dead-hot Drake Matthews, her well-ordered life quickly transforms into an absolute nightmare.

Drake Matthews is tired of the spotlight and tired of his reputation as the Knight of Nightmares. He’s really a nice guy! But he’s not prepared for Kate, a fearless agent of chaos in steel-tipped stilettos, or for that sweet sting of attraction he feels for her. She’s inspiring him to take his writing in a whole new direction—one that no one expects. Because now Kate and Drake are changing up the rules, and this plot twist might just surprise everyone . . . including themselves.

I’ve always dreamed of being an event planner (I even still think about it), so I love that How Sweet It Is is about one. It’s also about an author, and I feel like romances about authors always hit the spot (Beach Read by Emily Henry, I’m looking at you). I liked the dynamic between the characters in this book and it was a light, easy read. 

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Something Wilder by Christina Lauren

Growing up the daughter of notorious treasure hunter and absentee father Duke Wilder left Lily without much patience for the profession…or much money in the bank. But Lily is nothing if not resourceful, and now uses Duke’s coveted hand-drawn maps to guide tourists on fake treasure hunts through the red rock canyons of Utah. It pays the bills but doesn’t leave enough to fulfill her dream of buying back the beloved ranch her father sold years ago, and definitely not enough to deal with the sight of the man she once loved walking back into her life with a motley crew of friends ready to hit the trails.

But when the trip goes horribly and hilariously wrong, the group wonders if maybe the legend of the hidden treasure wasn’t a gimmick after all. Alone under the stars in the isolated and dangerous mazes of the Canyonlands, Leo and Lily must decide whether they’ll risk their lives and hearts on the adventure of a lifetime.

I’m a fan of Christina Lauren’s work, so I was shocked when my sister told me she couldn’t get into Something Wilder. I decided to take a chance and read it anyway, and I was hooked, but it also wasn’t what I was expecting. There was romance, but there was also action, suspense and crime. It wasn’t my favourite book I’ve read, but it’s worth a read, especially if you like adventure stories.

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Well Played (Well Met, #2) by Jen DeLuca

Stacey is jolted when her friends Simon and Emily get engaged. She knew she was putting her life on hold when she stayed in Willow Creek to care for her sick mother, but it’’s been years now, and even though Stacey loves spending her summers pouring drinks and flirting with patrons at the local Renaissance Faire, she wants more out of life. Stacey vows to have her life figured out by the time her friends get hitched at Faire next summer. Maybe she’ll even find The One.

When Stacey imagined “The One,” it never occurred to her that her summertime Faire fling, Dex MacLean, might fit the bill. While Dex is easy on the eyes onstage with his band The Dueling Kilts, Stacey has never felt an emotional connection with him. So when she receives a tender email from the typically monosyllabic hunk, she’s not sure what to make of it.

Faire returns to Willow Creek, and Stacey comes face-to-face with the man with whom she’s exchanged hundreds of online messages over the past nine months. To Stacey’s shock, it isn’t Dex—she’s been falling in love with a man she barely knows.

Well Played is another easy-to-read romance that is engaging, lighthearted and full of romantic scenes and drama. I love the Renaissance Faire setting of the book, as it adds a touch of whimsy to the plot. It’s the perfect summer afternoon read.

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Don’t Let Me Fall by Kelsie Rae

TikTok doesn’t usually sway my purchases, but I couldn’t help but run to Amazon when I saw a TikTok promoting this book. Don’t Let Me Fall was written by a BookTok author and I read it so fast. It’s cheesy, dramatic and reminds me of the One Direction fanfiction I used to read as a teenager, which is why I loved this book so much. Was it the best writing? No, but it was fun to read and spicy.

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Book Lovers by Emily Henry

Nora Stephens’ life is books—she’s read them all—and she is not that type of heroine. Not the plucky one, not the laidback dream girl and especially not the sweetheart. In fact, the only people Nora is a heroine for are her clients, for whom she lands enormous deals as a cutthroat literary agent, and her beloved little sister Libby.

Which is why she agrees to go to Sunshine Falls, North Carolina for the month of August when Libby begs her for a sisters’ trip away—with visions of a small town transformation for Nora, who she’s convinced needs to become the heroine in her own story. But instead of picnics in meadows, or run-ins with a handsome country doctor or bulging-forearmed bartender, Nora keeps bumping into Charlie Lastra, a bookish brooding editor from back in the city. It would be a meet-cute if not for the fact that they’ve met many times and it’s never been cute.

If Nora knows she’s not an ideal heroine, Charlie knows he’s nobody’s hero, but as they are thrown together again and again—in a series of coincidences no editor worth their salt would allow—what they discover might just unravel the carefully crafted stories they’ve written about themselves.

I would be shocked if Emily Henry wrote a book I didn’t love. I bought Book Lovers right before I left for my Greece trip, so it was my vacation read and I devoured the book. I read it on ferries, on the beach and the wear and tear definitely proves that. Once I started reading, I couldn’t put it down and I looked forward to the five hour ferry rides just so I could spend the entire trip reading.

The character dynamic in this book is incredible, and there is suspense, enemies-to-lovers romance and family moments. I wanted to read it again as soon as I finished. Book Lovers is the perfect book, and I highly recommend everyone to read at least one Emily Henry book.

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The Mall by Megan McCafferty 

The year is 1991. Scrunchies, mixtapes and 90210 are, like, totally fresh. Cassie Worthy is psyched to spend the summer after graduation working at the Parkway Center Mall. In six weeks, she and her boyfriend head off to college in NYC to fulfill The Plan: higher education and happily ever after. 

But you know what they say about the best laid plans…

Set entirely in a classic “monument to consumerism,” the novel follows Cassie as she finds friendship, love, and ultimately herself, in the most unexpected of places.

I found it extremely hard to get into The Mall. It started off pretty slow and took a few chapters to get into the plot of the book. For a while, I didn’t even know what the book was about. There’s an adventure plot to this book, once you get past the opening chapters, which made the book more exciting, but overall, the book was average. I wouldn’t read it again, and I barely finished it in the first place. 

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Undercover Bromance (Bromance Book Club, #2)

Liv Papandreas has a dream job as a sous chef at Nashville’s hottest restaurant. Too bad the celebrity chef owner is less than charming behind kitchen doors. After she catches him harassing a young hostess, she confronts him and gets fired. Liv vows revenge, but she’ll need assistance to take on the powerful chef.

Unfortunately, that means turning to Braden Mack. When Liv’s blackballed from the restaurant scene, the charismatic nightclub entrepreneur offers to help expose her ex-boss, but she is suspicious of his motives. He’ll need to call in reinforcements: the Bromance Book Club.

Inspired by the romantic suspense novel they’re reading, the book club assists Liv in setting up a sting operation to take down the chef. But they’re just as eager to help Mack figure out the way to Liv’s heart. . . even though she’s determined to squelch the sparks between them before she gets burned.

Crazy Stupid Bromance (Bromance Book Club, #3) by Lyssa Kay Adams 

Alexis Carlisle and her cat café, ToeBeans, have shot to fame after she came forward as a victim of a celebrity chef’s sexual harassment. When a new customer approaches to confide in her, the last thing Alexis expects is for the woman to claim they’re sisters. Unsure what to do, Alexis turns to the only man she trusts—her best friend, Noah Logan.
 
Computer genius Noah left his rebellious teenage hacker past behind to become a computer security expert. Now he only uses his old skills for the right cause. But Noah’s got a secret: He’s madly in love with Alexis. When she asks for his help, he wonders if the timing will ever be right to confess his crush. 
 
Noah’s pals in The Bromance Book Club are more than willing to share their beloved “manuals” to help him go from bud to boyfriend. But he must decide if telling the truth is worth risking the best friendship he’s ever had.

I love the Bromance Book Club Series with a passion and have never been disappointed by the books. I read Undercover Bromance and Crazy Stupid Bromance back-to-back, and they gave me so much happiness. The books are funny, compelling and the writing is strong.

Hook, Line and Sinker (Bellinger Sisters, #2) by Tessa Bailey

King crab fisherman Fox Thornton has a reputation as a sexy, carefree flirt. Everyone knows he’s a guaranteed good time—in bed and out—and that’s exactly how he prefers it. Until he meets Hannah Bellinger. She’s immune to his charm and looks, but she seems to enjoy his… personality? And wants to be friends? Bizarre. But he likes her too much to risk a fling, so platonic pals it is.

Now, Hannah’s in town for work, crashing in Fox’s spare bedroom. She knows he’s a notorious ladies’ man, but they’re definitely just friends. In fact, she’s nursing a hopeless crush on a colleague and Fox is just the person to help with her lackluster love life. Armed with a few tips from Westport’s resident Casanova, Hannah sets out to catch her coworker’s eye… yet the more time she spends with Fox, the more she wants him instead. As the line between friendship and flirtation begins to blur, Hannah can’t deny she loves everything about Fox, but she refuses to be another notch on his bedpost. 

Hook, Line and Sinker is a classic romance novel. It has drama, build up and plenty of spicy romance scenes. It wasn’t my favourite romance book that I’ve read, but it was an easy read. It’s a great book to get you out of a reading slump. One note is that this is the second book in a series by Tessa Bailey, and the beginning references the first book a few times. I haven’t read the first book, so this took me out a bit, but you can still read this book without reading the first one.

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One Italian Summer by Rebecca Serle

When Katy’s mother dies, she is left reeling. Carol wasn’t just Katy’s mom, but her best friend and first phone call. She had all the answers and now, when Katy needs her the most, she is gone. To make matters worse, their planned mother-daughter trip of a lifetime looms: to Positano, the magical town where Carol spent the summer right before she met Katy’s father. Katy has been waiting years for Carol to take her, and now she is faced with embarking on the adventure alone.

But as soon as she steps foot on the Amalfi Coast, Katy begins to feel her mother’s spirit. Buoyed by the stunning waters, beautiful cliffsides, delightful residents, and, of course, delectable food, Katy feels herself coming back to life.

And then Carol appears—in the flesh, healthy, sun-tanned, and thirty years old. Katy doesn’t understand what is happening, or how—all she can focus on is that she has somehow, impossibly, gotten her mother back. Over the course of one Italian summer, Katy gets to know Carol, not as her mother, but as the young woman before her. She is not exactly who Katy imagined she might be, however, and soon Katy must reconcile the mother who knew everything with the young woman who does not yet have a clue.

I’m generally a fan of Rebecca Serle’s writing, and I was so excited for One Italian Summer, but this book wasn’t what I hoped. The writing was great and I loved the descriptions, but the plot didn’t do much for me. It felt unrealistic and a bit weird. 

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