AUGUST WRAP UP
Disclaimer: I read books based on preferences which take into account my faith and personal convictions. Please check any of my recommendations against your own convictions and read responsibly.
Well reader friends, here we are, wrapping up a month that truly had a little bit of everything. August turned out to be a surprisingly solid reading month with an unexpected emphasis on a genre I don’t usually reach for all at once—but I love a good switch-up. My ratings ended up landing all over the map—spanning from a one-star disappointment to a much-anticipated five-star favorite. All in all, August felt like the perfect palate cleanser after a stretch of slump-ish reads. Let’s dive into the stats!
This month, Thrillers and Memoirs tied as my most-read genres. The memoir streak wasn’t intentional, but since I’d been craving a change of pace from heavy plots, I naturally gravitated toward real stories. At the same time, I was still on the hunt for that elusive can’t-miss five-star thriller. And reader friends, I’m happy to say I finally found it! Even better—it was the very book I predicted would be a five-star in my Mid-Year Book Tag. Nothing feels better than being proven right. Now that my thriller itch has been scratched, I feel ready to shift gears as we move into fall reading. But I know what you really want to know: which book hit it out of the park and which one fell completely flat? Let’s dive in!
RATING: 2.75 ⭐️
2025 NEW RELEASE
VIOLENCE: LIGHT 🔪
SPICE: LIGHT ❤️🔥
I kicked off the month with a brand-new thriller from an author I’d actually read not too long ago. While I enjoyed their previous book, this latest release left me wanting more.
In this story, we follow three childhood friends—Julia, David, and Erika—who grew up as neighbors on a lake in Vermont and reunite there every summer as adults. Alongside them, we also get the perspective of David’s nanny Izzy, our female main character. She quickly becomes entangled in the group’s dynamics and what begins as a their usual lakeside escape soon unravels into a tangle of simmering tensions, buried secrets, and the fallout of a missing person that sets the stage for betrayals and shocking revelations.
The pacing of this book was solid with well-structured chapters that made it a quick read. It wasn’t necessarily bad, but the themes—particularly the more sexual elements—just weren’t my cup of tea. Because of that, once the mystery kicked in, the moments meant to build suspense actually felt a bit off-putting, which took away from the thrill for me. On top of that, the big twist reminded me a lot of the one in her previous book, “The Block Party”, which I read just a few months ago—so it didn’t land quite as strongly this time around.
The most likable character by far was Izzy and her connection to the mystery really carried the book for me. Her POV chapters were the highlight. Unfortunately, the ending spiraled into something messy and confusing, with too many threads trying to tie together at once—which honestly just left me wanting it to be over.
Overall, this one left me feeling pretty “meh,” and I don’t see myself reaching for another book by Jamie Day anytime soon.
AGE RECOMMENTDATION: 21+
RATING: 3.25 ⭐️
This was the first memoir I picked up this month and wow—it was raw and absolutely heartbreaking.
The memoir follows Jill Duggar, known for growing up in the famous Duggar family, whose life was broadcast to millions on the TLC show 19 Kids and Counting. She shares an unfiltered look at her experience of being raised in a controlling, overly strict religious household while simultaneously living in the public eye. As Jill pulls back the curtain, what emerges is a story that’s deeply distressing, traumatic, and often difficult to digest.
I really commend Jill and her husband for having the strength and courage to challenge their family system and beliefs, and for stepping away from the toxic parts of that environment. She’s honest about what it took to separate themselves—setting boundaries, seeking therapy, and navigating difficult conversations with her parents—and I appreciated her willingness to disclose on those struggles. So many details of her experience are heartbreaking and devastating—lending to a sobering reminder of how children who grow up in entertainment families, especially those tied to strict religious structures, often carry deep and lasting trauma.
My lower rating comes down to the fact that while this was a strong memoir, I’ve read others that offered a more introspective narrative with deeper reflection. At times, I found myself wishing Jill had gone further in unpacking themes around high-control religious spheres and the invasive nature of entertainment culture. Perhaps the saddest part of this book is realizing just how much trauma and toxic treatment still lingers over her life and shapes her perspective today.
Overall, I appreciated Jill’s ability to acknowledge the good in her family without letting it overshadow the serious issues and toxicity she endured. This memoir would especially resonate with those who watched 19 Kids & Counting or anyone interested in the psychological effects of growing up in highly publicized families.
AGE RECOMMENDATION: 21+
RATING: 4 ⭐️
2025 NEW RELEASE
VIOLENCE: MODERATE 🔪🔪🔪
A thriller set on a tropical island—what more could we ask for? This story unfolds in a dual timeline, told through two POVs: one in the past and one in the present.
In the past, we follow four friends—Tilly, Anna, Linnea, and Evelina—on their annual getaway to a remote island, a trip that ends in the shocking murder of all four girls. In the present, we follow Tessa our female main character. She is a struggling true crime podcaster who returns to the same island ten years later for a friend’s bachelorette party. But Tessa has a secret motive for joining the trip: uncovering the truth behind what really happened to those girls a decade ago. The question is, can she solve the mystery before putting herself and her friends in the same danger?
Right off the bat, I enjoyed that the story was set in Stockholm—the cultural backdrop gave it a fresh twist without distracting from the writing. The book was such a quick, fast-paced read, with short, easy-to-digest chapters that kept the story moving effortlessly. I loved the way the plot unfolded—the author sprinkled in the mysterious elements at just the right times with the dual storylines. They weren’t too early to give things away and they weren’t so obvious that you could piece it all together. Honestly, I couldn’t figure out what was happening until the very end and that’s exactly what I want in a thriller. I kept guessing suspects, only for the author to immediately redirect me, which kept the suspense high and had me fully hooked.
I also really liked Tessa and her character arc—watching her fall from the public’s good graces and wrestle with the cost of redemption added great depth. On the flip side, I wasn’t a fan of some of the relationship subplots, and the sheer number of deaths and their portrayal edged into horror territory at times.
Still, this was a spine-tingling thriller that made for the perfect summer read. I’d definitely recommend it to thriller fans—especially if you like your suspense with an extra eerie edge.
AGE RECOMMENDATION: 21+
RATING: 3.5 ⭐️
2025 NEW RELEASE
VIOLENCE: MILD 🔪🔪
This was one of my most anticipated thrillers of the year and I couldn’t wait to dive in. I had high hopes for a five-star banger. But in the end, it landed more in the middle for me.
The story is told through multiple POVs, with the central voice being Nick Radcliffe—an unreliable, psychotic male main character who keeps you constantly on edge. Alongside Nick, we also hear from Ash, Nina, and Martha—three women who all share a connection to him, though not in the way you might expect. The book traces their separate lives until they converge in a shocking intersection no one could see coming.
This story truly takes you on a psychological rollercoaster. What I enjoyed most? The nuance of being inside Nick’s head. His POV chapters were trippy, unsettling, and gave a chillingly realistic glimpse into how a psychopath might process the world. It was wild and disturbing, but impossible to look away from. That psychological angle is where Lisa Jewell really shines, and it’s what kept me turning the pages.
My main complaint, though, is that the overall plot felt too simple. While the characters’ behaviors had layers of complexity, the storyline itself became easy to piece together. By about a quarter of the way through, I already had a solid grasp of what was happening, which made the thriller element feel anticlimactic. By the end, it read less like a nail-biting thriller and more like a straightforward psychological fiction.
That being said, it was still a stirring story, packed with gripping explorations of manipulation and lies. I’d recommend this one to thriller fans—especially those who prefer their suspense with a heavier psychological edge.
AGE RECOMMENDATION: 21+
RATING: 5 ⭐️
John Mark Coomer hits it out of the park yet again! He’s easily one of my favorite religious authors. In this book he unpacks love, marriage, and sex—what they truly mean and how God intended for us to experience them. As always, he dives deep into the theology, offering clarity to Scriptures and concepts that culture (and even Christians) have sometimes distorted.
I really appreciated how each section was clear and impactful without dragging on. The way he reframed love—shifting it from a fleeting verb (something you can “fall out of”) to a noun defined by self-giving—was such a powerfully shifting reminder. His breakdown of Adam and Eve as the blueprint for marriage was equally insightful, as was his perspective that sexual desire outside of marriage reflects misplaced trust in God’s design.
Beyond marriage, his sections on singleness were refreshing and much-needed in today’s culture, and I loved his myth/truth approach to difficult topics like homosexuality—rooted in both biblical clarity and compassion. Overall, this book offers wisdom for people preparing for marriage, those who’ve been married for years, or anyone seeking to better understand God’s heart for relationships.
I highly recommend if you’re dating, engaged, married, or even just curious about the theology behind love and intimacy.
AGE RECOMMENDATION: 16+
RATING: 4.5 ⭐️
2025 NEW RELEASE
MATURE CONTENT INCLUDED
This was easily my most anticipated memoir of the year! Why? Because I was a huge Alyson Stoner fan growing up. For whatever reason, Alyson was my absolute favorite Disney Channel kid. I’m talking “I wrote a fan mail letter and nearly lost my mind when a personalized, signed headshot came in the mail” favorite. Maybe it was that I always saw myself more as a “best friend” character than a “lead role,” but whatever it was, Alyson was the star I tuned in for. Reading this memoir felt like seeing through the looking glass of all the moments I grew up watching.
The book itself was amazing—beautifully written, full of deep reflection and hard-won personal growth. Alyson shares the dismantling of being in the public eye: workaholism, perfectionism, people-pleasing, and the loss of self that can come with chasing others’ expectations. I resonated so much with Alyson’s journey of moving from achievement-driven living to finding peace and joy in simplicity. Other parts of Alyson’s story weren’t my lived experience, but I still appreciated learning how they shaped who Alyson is today. I truly admire the emotional and mental deconstruction Alyson’s done after her career and childhood— it was honest, sobering, incredibly brave, and most definitely not easy.
There was nothing to dislike in this memoir, aside from the fact that it covers many heavy, potentially triggering topics—which Alyson does disclose upfront. It should be said that this book deals with mature themes, but Alyson approaches them with care and honesty. What makes it all the more admirable is how Alyson has turned the pain into a platform to advocate for change and help others in countless ways.
The biggest takeaway for me was perspective. Growing up, I often fantasized about being on Disney Channel (who didn’t?), but this memoir makes clear that fame, status, and notoriety aren’t what they seem. In fact, the greatest gift might just be growing up as a normal kid. It’s all a moving reminder that you never know the reality behind the faces and shows we idolize.
I highly recommend this memoir—not only for fans of Alyson or Disney Channel, but for anyone interested in stories of self-growth, healing, and learning to reclaim your life.
AGE RECOMMENDATION: 21+
RATING: 1.75 ⭐️
MATURE CONTENT INCLUDED
This was sadly my dreaded one star review. I picked this one up because—hello, Survivor fan here! While Parvati was never my all-time favorite player, she was undeniably one of the most entertaining and notorious winners, so I figured her memoir would be interesting. Unfortunately, it just wasn’t what I hoped for, and I walked away pretty disappointed.
The first quarter of the book started off okay, but things quickly went downhill for me. While Parvati does show glimpses of the personal work she’s done, the level of self-awareness and ownership often felt stalled. Even her Survivor experiences were vaguely recounted, which was surprising given how much that shaped her public persona. Overall, the memoir felt a little surface level—more like snapshots from different moments in her life than a cohesive story with a strong through line.
On the plus side, her narration style is warm, relatable, and engaging, which definitely carried the book and kept me listening. But I kept wishing for deeper self-reflection and a more layered look at her journey. Some parts also rubbed me the wrong way simply because of differing perspectives—which is totally valid since it’s her story, but it made the reading experience less enjoyable for me personally. By the last few chapters, I was upping the speed to x2 to hurry and get through to the end.
Parvati has clearly been through a lot and her unique upbringing and adulthood give her a distinct lens on life. But unless you’re a die-hard Parvati fan, I wouldn’t recommend this. For fellow Survivor fans who are just curious, like I was, I’d say skip it and pick up something else.
AGE RECOMMENDATION: 21+
RATING: 5 ⭐️
VIOLENCE: MILD 🔪🔪
August truly saved the best for last. I went into this book hoping Stacy Willingham wouldn’t disappoint and she absolutely did not! Finally, I got the perfect psychological suspense thriller that revived my love for this crazy genre.
The story follows Claire, a journalist in the middle of an early-adulthood crisis. After quitting her job when she’s overlooked for a promotion, she reluctantly returns to her hometown in South Carolina—the same town she hasn’t set foot in since her sister Natalie disappeared 22 years earlier. With a long summer ahead, she takes a job at the same place her sister worked that fateful summer, only to find herself tangled in a mystery closely connected to Natalie’s disappearance.
And wow. This was the thriller I had been waiting for. It struck the perfect balance: not overly wild, violent, or unbelievable, but a seamless blend of psychological suspense and layered mystery. The writing was vivid and atmospheric, pulling me into both the beauty and eeriness of the setting. I loved the nuance of the mystery—each layer revealed just enough to keep me hooked, without ever tipping its hand too soon. I was on edge the entire time, and when the twists did come, they landed perfectly.
The pacing was excellent, especially the way Willingham alternated between the present and the past (told through diary entries). The reveals were timed with precision and there was still space at the end for meaningful character growth. I was also impressed with how she tied together so many threads without the story feeling cluttered. And the final tie-in to the title? Chef’s kiss—the double meaning of Forget Me Not being tied to both Natalie’s relationship with Claire and finally telling all the different girls’ stories was deeply satisfying.
Obviously, I highly recommend this book—especially if you’re looking for a thriller with minimal violence but plenty of psychological punch. Willingham has officially cemented herself as one of my top thriller authors and I cannot wait to see what she gives us next!
AGE RECOMMENDATION: 18+
