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!
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
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
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
Non Fiction
Technically, my first review book of the month was non-fiction! So at least I read one this month haha.
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
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!
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
I haven’t done the Magical Readathons yet, but I plan to next time! They look so fun, and should really help with my (unofficial) 2020 plan of reading mostly books that I already own.
I really need to get back to the Sandman books. I started them ages ago, then stopped (I think mu library at the time only had the first one?) and never went back. But they always looked amazing and I enjoyed that first volume.
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They’re so fun!! I hope you join in next year 🙂 Maybe you could get back to Sandman then 😉
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I really hope to get into the fun readathons next year! I’m planning to not have any long-term reading goals (other than book count on GR) specifically to leave myself time for the fun readathons.
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I’m going to hold you to it 😉
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Uh oh… I mean, yay accountability! 😉
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