Read time – 6 minutes
My Top Picks, a Spotlight Read, and the DNF Graveyard
July flew by in a swirl of sunshine, library books, and a few digital ARCs I couldn’t resist. This month’s reading journey brought small-town charm, witty aunties, clever puzzles, and a few unexpected entries to my DNF pile. One book, though, completely swept me away in just four hours, and that’s my Spotlight Book of the Month!
Whether you’re looking for a cozy mystery, snarky humor, or thoughtful storytelling with cultural heart, I’ve got something to add to your TBR. Let’s dive in.
Note: All titles below include clickable Goodreads links—feel free to explore each book in more detail! 😊📚
🌟 Spotlight of the Month
⏳THE BOOK OF LOST HOURS by Hayley Gelfuso
🗓️ Release Date: August 26, 2025
📚 Genre: Fantasy, Historical Fiction, Time Travel | 📦 ARC | ⏱️ Read in One Sitting
Full review here
Some books ask to be savored. This one demanded to be devoured. I read The Book of Lost Hours in one breathless, four-hour sitting. An emotional, lyrical fantasy that surprised me with its quiet power. It’s the kind of story that lingers in your mind and heart long after the last page.
Add this to your pre-order list. You’ll thank me later.
🆕 ARCs I Read and Recommend
Here are three advance copies that stood out this month, each one bringing its own flavor of charm, mystery, and immersive storytelling. Pre-order them now so you’re first in line when they hit shelves!
🍵 Tea with Jam and Dread by Vicki Delaney
🗓️ Release Date: August 29, 2025
One-word review: Inviting
Another cozy treat from the Tea by the Sea series! This time, Lily Roberts and her crew head across the pond to England, where murder finds them in a noble manor steeped in history, secrets, and jam. Light, charming, and oh-so-British—it’s like curling up with a warm scone and a good book.
👉 Read my full review here
🏡 The Marigold Cottages Murder Collective by Jo Nichols
🗓️ Release Date: August 19, 2025
One-word review: Enchanting
Set in a charming coastal community with a cast of quirky tenants, this one blends humor, heart, and an unexpected twist of murder. It’s equal parts cozy and clever, with strong found-family vibes and a landlady you’ll root for from page one.
👉 Read my full review here
🎄 O, Deadly Night by Vicki Delaney
🗓️ Release Date: October 14, 2025
One-word review: Atmospheric
A perfect holiday mystery that captures the magic—and mayhem—of the season. Expect twinkle lights, festive tension, and a deliciously slow-building suspense. Vicki Delaney knows how to make even murder feel merry (with a side of menace
👉 Read my full review here
✅ July Recommendations You Need on Your TBR
These are the stories that charmed, moved, and entertained me during this extremely hot July that we had in Canada. I enthusiastically recommend you add these to your reading list:
🧩 A Most Puzzling Murder by Bianca Marais
One-word review: Ingenious
An interactive mystery filled with real puzzles woven into the storyline. Readers are invited to solve the clues alongside Destiny Whip—and you can even email her for help! Clever, fresh, and deeply satisfying. 👉 Read my full review here
🇮🇳 Detective Aunty by Uzma Jalaluddin
One-word review: Charming
An observant, intelligent Indian-Canadian auntie uses her “auntie vibes” and cultural intuition to solve a murder—and protect her daughter. Loved the humor, the insight, and the strong female lead. Give us more Auntie sleuths, please! 👉 Read my full review here
📝 Widows and Orphans by Kate Hilton & Elizabeth Renzetti
One-word review: Witty
Smart, sharp, and full of heart. This one features a big-city journalist navigating small-town life, female friendships, and the politics of community—all with dry humor and emotional resonance. 👉 Read my full review here
📖 Lula Dean’s Little Library of Banned Books by Kirsten Miller
One-word review: Uplifting
A timely, bold, and laugh-out-loud funny story with big things to say about history, censorship, and the role of community. Kirsten Miller, author of The Change, brings us a bracing, wildly entertaining satire about a small Southern town, a pitched battle over banned books, and a little lending library that changes everything. 👉 Read my full review here
🫖 Vera Wong’s Guide to Snooping on a Dead Man by Jesse Q. Sutanto
One-word review: Delightful
Auntie Vera is back with her signature snark, meddling charm, and a murder to solve with help from her found family. A cozy mystery full of cultural flavor, laugh-out-loud moments, and heartwarming connection. 👉 Read my full review here
🎬 Murder in TinselTown by Max Nightingale
One-word review: Engaging
A uniquely immersive choose-your-own-path murder mystery where you are the detective. I had a blast flipping back and forth to track clues and suspect alibis. It’s part game, part whodunnit, and 100% fun. 👉 Read my full review here
🔮 Looking Ahead: My August TBR
So many exciting reads lined up for next month! There’s a mix of mysteries, magical realism, cozy chaos, and bookish adventures awaiting me in August.
- No One Was Supposed to Die at This Wedding by Catherine Mack
- The Missing Maid by Holly Hepburn
- Dallergut’s Dream Department Store by Mi-Ye Lee
- Death on the Island by Eliza Reid
- The Book of Doors by Gareth Brown
- Escape from Mr. Lemoncello’s Library by Chris Grabenstein
- Lucky by Marissa Stapley
- Marble Hall Murders by Anthony Horowitz
Let me know if you’ve read any of these, or if there’s something I should add to the list!
📝 Bonus: I Published a Short Story
This month wasn’t just about reading. It was also about remembering! Remembering what it felt like to lose myself in words. To create something tender, unfinished, and meaningful. After more than two years away from writing fiction, I’ve finally returned, and I don’t ever want to let go of that magic again.
“Waiting for Dawn” is more than a short story. It’s a quiet echo of something I started years ago, when I wrote a piece called “The Rainbow“. That version was raw and searching. This one is the bloom. The full breath. The truth.
It’s still soft and simple. But it holds all the patience and hope I always meant for it to carry. Writing it felt like coming home to myself.
So, if you’ve been waiting for something new from me, THANK YOU!
If you’re just joining me, Welcome!
And if something in this story touches you, I hope it reminds you that it’s never too late to return to what you love. Sometimes, the pause is part of the process. The waiting is part of the dawn.
👉 Read “Waiting for Dawn” here
📖 Reading time: 10 minutes
💬 Let’s Chat
Have you read any of these books? What are you most looking forward to reading in August?
Comment below or tag me on socials. I love chatting books.
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