August 2019 Wrap-Up!

Hey lovelies! 🙂 We’ve got a lot to get through in this wrap-up so let’s just jump right in, shall we?! Here’s what I read in August!

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Review Books

I’ll Be There For You: The One About F.R.I.E.N.D.S by Kelsey Miller

I’m so glad I finally made time for this one! It reminded me exactly what I love about Friends. I’d definitely recommend this if you’re a fan of the show, though take it with a little pinch of salt – I don’t entirely think that we should judge things that are a product of their time through a modern lens.

N.E.W.T.s prompt: Defence Against the Dark Arts – Acceptable – A book that is black under the dust jacket

 

Forget Me Not by Claire Allan

This is the third thriller I’ve read from Allan and probably my least favourite. Though as I said in my original review, even her weakest book is still a strong and entertaining read! I think I’m just getting used to the way Allan lays her clues so I found it easier to work out the twist in this one.

N.E.W.T.s prompt: Muggle studies – Acceptable – cover that includes an actual photo element

 

The Butcher’s Daughter by Victoria Glendinning

I read this book for a blog tour and found it incredibly slow. However, it was a unique take on a period of history that has been explored through many lenses but not, to my knowledge, this particular perspective.

N.E.W.T.s prompt: Potions – Exceeds Expectations – A book with a cover in your Hogwarts house colour

The Wild Book by Juan Villoro

This was such a cute middle grade read about the magic of stories. The translation flowed really nicely and I would recommend this to book lovers of all ages.

N.E.W.T.s prompt: Arithmancy – Acceptable – A book that ends on an even page number

 

Let’s Call It A Doomsday by Katie Henry

New favourite alert! I am going to be recommending this one a LOT. Full review coming soon. All you need to know for now is I LOVED IT.

N.E.W.T.s prompt: Transfiguration – Acceptable – A book with LGBTQ+ representation

 

The Deaths and Afterlife of Aleister Crowley by Ian Thornton

Sadly, this one was a DNF after not very long at all. It’s partly my own fault because I honestly thought this book was about something completely different. I still gave it a chance but I just couldn’t connect with it.

N.E.W.T.s prompt: This would have given me an outstanding in Transfiguration for a book over 500 pages but I didn’t count it since I only read about 50 pages!

 

Johnny Ruin by Dan Dalton

I really enjoyed this quirky mental health read surrounding a man’s suicide attempt. I thought it was cleverly done and I liked how the author balanced humour with poignancy throughout.

N.E.W.T.s prompt: Charms – Outstanding – Spongify (Softening charm) – A paperback book

 

Perfect Crime by Helen Fields

The latest instalment in this series was another enjoyable read, if slightly formulaic this time around. Maybe I’m just getting used to the author’s style, as with Claire Allan above. Honestly though, I’m trash for this series and I’ll definitely be continuing with it when the next one comes out.

N.E.W.T.s prompt: Transfiguration – Exceeds Expectations – A book that isn’t the first in a series

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Books from my TBR

Enchantée by Gita Trelease

I had high expectations for this book but I was also nervous that it wouldn’t live up to them. Thankfully, I found it a gorgeous read that has stayed with me long after finishing it.

N.E.W.T.s prompt: Charms – Acceptable – A book you think has a gorgeous cover

 

Radio Silence by Alice Oseman

This one is another new favourite! I honestly connected with this one so much and I’m already planning to buy more Alice Oseman books.

N.E.W.T.s prompt: Defence Against the Dark Arts – Oustanding – Cornish Pixie! A book written by an English author or set in England

 

On The Come Up by Angie Thomas

Angie Thomas has triumphed again with another powerful story. It was hard not to compare this one with The Hate U Give; I personally enjoyed THUG more but On The Come Up is definitely a strong story in its own right

N.E.W.T.s prompt: Muggle Studies – Outstanding – A book written by a person of colour

 

Normal People by Sally Rooney

I can understand why this is a polarising book. It’s an intense character study with little-to-no plot so readers who like a lot of action probably won’t enjoy this one. As it was, I liked it but wouldn’t call it a new favourite.

N.E.W.T.s prompt: Potions – Acceptable – Read a friend’s favourite book

 

A Darker Shade of Magic by V. E. Schwab

This is one of the twelve books I must read this year and man, I’m kicking myself for not getting to this one sooner. I always knew I would love it and I hate myself for taking so long to pick it up.

N.E.W.T.s prompt: Defence Against the Dark Arts – Exceeds Expectations – Gilderoy’s memory charm! The first book you remember from your TBR

 

Sandman Vol.1: Preludes & Nocturnes by Neil Gaiman

I finally took the plunge on Neil Gaiman’s graphic novels. I can see why this series is hailed as one of the greats. It was obvious that a lot of this volume was laying the groundwork for the volumes to come – I’m excited to continue!

N.E.W.T.s prompt: Charms – Exceeds Expectations – a comic/graphic novel/manga

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Rereads

One Flew Over The Cuckoo’s Nest by Ken Kesey

Just as poignant as the first time I read it, if not more so due to the nature of my job these days. The narrative voice is genius.

N.E.W.T.s prompt: Muggle studies – Exceeds Expectations – A book set in the real world

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Non Fiction

Technically, my first review book of the month was non-fiction! So at least I read one this month haha.

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Stats

Total pages: 4798

Average pages per day: 154.8

Longest book: Enchantée (480 pages)

Shortest book: Johnny Ruin (185 pages)

Favourite read of the month: Radio Silence/Let’s Call It A Doomsday

Biggest disappointment of the month: The Deaths & Afterlife of Aleister Crowley

Male authors: 5

Female authors: 10

Multiple authors: 0

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N.E.W.T.s wrap-up

I managed to hit 14 of the prompts for the magical readathon, and I got all the grades I needed to become a mind medic! (You may remember me completing the O.W.L.s and saying that I couldn’t go on to achieve this career as I hadn’t hit one of the prompts… well I subsequently did ‘extra credit’ for that subject so that I could progress as originally planned. I’m extra like that.)

This is honestly one of the most detailed readathons in existence and it’s a great way to tick off a lot of books from your backlist. I definitely recommend doing it next year if you missed it this time.

Here is a final roundup of what I read!

N.E.W.T.s required:-

Outstanding in Charms

• A: Enchantée
• E: Sandman Vol.1: Preludes & Nocturnes
• O: Johnny Ruin

Outstanding in Defence Against the Dark Arts

• A: I’ll Be There For You: The One About F.R.I.E.N.D.S
• E: A Darker Shade of Magic
• O: Radio Silence

Exceeds Expectations in Muggle Studies (I actually achieved an ‘outstanding’!)

• A: Forget Me Not
• E: One Flew Over The Cuckoo’s Nest
• O: On The Come Up

Exceeds Expectations in Potions

• A: Normal People
• E: The Butcher’s Daughter

Exceeds Expectations in Transfiguration

• A: Let’s Call It A Doomsday
• E: Perfect Crime

And then I got an ‘acceptable’ in Arithmancy just since the final book I read fit the prompt! So overall, a great reading month!

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Well this wrap-up ended up a million times longer than I thought it would be – cookies for you if you made it to the end! Did you take part in the N.E.W.T.s readathon? What wizarding career did you go for?! Let me know in the comments! x