What I’m Reading! // July 2021

July Reading List ☀️

I feel like it was just June…how are we halfway through July already?? Of course I have some more reviews for ya’ll, but I can’t believe how far into the summer we are and I still haven’t picked up a REAL beach read! My July reading list was a total mix of genres.

Well, I grabbed one that I thought was “beachy” and was dead wrong. More details on that one in the August list since it is definitely not one I would recommend. 😂

Maybe I should be taking some requests on what to read next? I am definitely open to suggestions! I also have an ongoing list of “to-read” books on my Goodreads if anyone would like to send me some new adds! Bonus points if you lend me your copy or I can snag it on the NYPL app. But until then, here are a few I finished this past month. 🤓

The A.B.C Murders

By: Agatha Christie

Finished: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (4/5 stars)

My second book from the Agatha Christie collection!

I loved it, but not quite as much as And Then There Were None. My biggest disappointment was early on, when I realized that the main investigator, Hercule Poirot, was not a woman (as I had thought he was for whatever reason). The story felt quite “Sherlock Holmesy,” but in a good way!

I would certainly recommend this book for anyone into mysteries! The dynamic between Poirot and Hastings (Christie’s version of his sidekick, Watson) was especially entertaining and I didn’t guess the end of this one either! Which I’d say is a huge accomplishment for a mystery book written decades ago to achieve.

“Speech, so a wise old Frenchman said to me once, is an invention of man’s to prevent him from thinking.”

The ABC Murders By: Agatha Christie

Who Moved My Cheese?

By: Dr. Spencer Johnson

Finished: ⭐⭐ ½ (2.5/5 stars)

This book had been on my to-read list for years and was recommended for personal development. I had high hopes that it would provide me with some new insight to optimize my mindset and increase productivity! Unfortunately, I don’t think it really hit the nail on the head.

To be fair, the book was written over twenty years ago and is a short story of mice and “Littlepeople” navigating their way through a maze in search of cheese. The introduction felt full of pomp and circumstance and turned me off before even getting to the main story portion. I powered through anyway and was glad to be done, but felt that it came across as a bit pandering.

If you are a newbie to the personal development world and looking for a quick read, this is one you can finish in a few hours! The main points were clearcut and the overarching message seemed to be- stay flexible and adapt to the ever changing world or you will risk being left behind. While I agree that your mentality has a lot to do with your ability to adjust to new experiences, I feel that I’ve read many other books that expressed this concept with greater impact.

“A change imposed is a change opposed.”

Dr. Spencer Johnson

In The Heights: Finding Home

By: Lin-Manuel Miranda, Quiara Alegría Hudes, and Jeremy McCarther

Finished: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (5/5 stars)

It’s definitely no secret that I am a huge musical theatre fan! I love all things Broadway, and regard Lin-Manuel Miranda as a true genius. His creativity and devotion to his work is unparalleled, and both In The Heights and Hamilton were huge game changers for the industry.

In The Heights was nominated for a whooping 13 Tony Awards when it debuted on Broadway in 2008 and won 4. This book starts with the years Lin worked on Heights back when it was just a one-act during his Wesleyan college days. We then follow its inception through workshops in the Drama Bookshop basement through to the present day movie rendition. The movie was set to release during the summer of the 2020 Coronavirus pandemic and had to be delayed a year as a result (it’s actually still in theatres as of this writing)!

I listened to this book on Audible and absolutely loved it. Narrated by America Ferrara and the authors, it’s a very easy listen. The short sections of recuerdos (memories) from the cast are a lovely addition to the story of this musical’s origin and it was interesting to see how the show progressed over the years. If you are a fan of the stage show, this book is a MUST read. 🥰

“In the Heights, I hang my flag up on display,

It reminds me that I came from miles away…”

Lin-Manuel Miranda

A Court of Silver Flames

By: Sarah J. Maas

Finished: ⭐⭐⭐ ½ (3.5/5 stars)

The fourth installment of the A Court of Thorns and Roses is here and it’s…something!

Honestly though, I enjoyed it! But, my first question a few chapters in was- is this a YA book? Because I quickly I discovered that answer is NOooOOoo. Though there were a few risqué scenes throughout the series so far, this book was the first that I felt crossed into the Adult/Romance genre. It had some big sexy energy that is definitely not kid friendly. 😂

Overall though, I dug the female empowerment vibe and the story worked well within the framework of the world. It ended with some unanswered questions so of COURSE I will be reading the next installment when it is released! If you enjoyed the original ACOTR trilogy (or just Nessa and Cassian) this is a definite must-read. If you are still stuck on book one, this might not be worth getting into.

“Keep reaching out your hand.”

A Court of Silver Flames by: Sarah J. Maas

Need some more recs? Check out my Goodreads profile or last month’s book blog post !

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