Summer is in full swing and I can feel it in my reading choices. Don’t be surprised if this summer is filled with a whole lot of romance beach reads. Does that happen to anyone else? I am definitely a seasonal reader of certain genres and I think it’s one of the ways I continue to enjoy reading so much. If you normally put restrictions on your books like alternating fiction and non-fiction, I challenge you to let that go over the summer and just read whatever feels the most fun next! 

Now let’s get on with everything I read last month. Spoiler alert you are going to want to add all of these books to your TBR pile. 

What I Read Last Month

The Paris Apartment: Lucy Foley does it again with another amazing thriller. This book hooks you from the first few chapters as Jess, who is running away from her last job and seeking some peace and quiet with her brother in Paris, finds he’s not there. The longer her brother is missing the more she tries to search for him, even when it means putting herself in danger. 

Book Lovers: this book was my most anticipated read of the year and I am sad that it’s already over. Emily Henry absolutely delivered with this romance. You will find yourself smiling and crying along with the characters. Do not start this unless you are ready to finish it in one sitting. 

By the Book: I was so excited to read a new book by Jasmine Guillory that I didn’t even read what it was about until halfway through when I thought to myself “this story seems very familiar”. This romance is a retelling of Beauty and the Beast with a bookish spin. The beast is a high-profile author who will not send in a single page or even respond to emails about his book and Belle is Izzy, an assistant at the publishing house who is eagerly awaiting his book. This was such a cute fun read, and it was nice to see Guillory branch out!

Portrait of a Thief: this month’s Literary League Book Club pick was phenomenal. This book is about the colonization of art and the complexity of the Chinese American identity. It follows college-aged Asian American students who attempt to steal back five priceless Chinese sculptures, looted from Beijing centuries ago. I highly recommend picking up this book, it was fast-paced and truly a joy to read. 

I have a handful of books that I am wrapping up this week and can’t wait to share with you next month. Which of these books are you adding to your TBR pile?