MJV Bookish Thoughts: Summer 2023 Reading Update July Wrap-Up
Welcome back to My Jamaican Vignettes. Today is a quick check in post. My summer 2023 reading update and July wrap-up. I only read two books in July and only one of those books was on my official summer 2023 reading list.
In July I hit a major reading slump and the very idea of reading ARCs made me feel blah. But I’m still going to try to read them this month but after that I’m skipping NetGalley, BookSirens and Edelweiss for a while. I have some fun things planned in my personal life and work is also getting busy and will get significantly busier closer to the end of the year. So what I’m saying is I’d rather not review early reader copies of books.
Instead I’ll read the books (physical, ebooks and audiobooks) that I already own or have access to via my paid subscriptions.
So let’s discuss the two books I managed to read in July.
Summer 2023 Reading Update July 2023 Wrap-Up
The Rebel King by Kennedy Ryan
I finally completed this duology. Honestly it started off strong like action packed and then I lost interest or didn’t connect with Lennix and Maxim so this book took me most of July to complete. I rated it three-stars.
You get your happy ending for the couple. There was a lot of tension and drama and political drama to be more precise.
If you like second chance romance, US politics and you’re already a fan of Kennedy Ryan’s works then pick this up.
I got this book via NetGalley in exchange for my review and opinions.
Alliance With His Stolen Heiress by Lydia San Andres
This was my second Lydia San Andres book for 2023. And I liked it. This was just what I needed after The Rebel King. Historical romance with hijinks and adventure and knife fights and kidnappings and shootings. It was fun. I rated this four-stars and I feel like I went into this lighter because there was no pressure to create a review and give feedback because I was reading a book I purchased for myself to read whenever I fancied and that’s what I’m going to focus on for the rest of 2023.
Currently Reading
I switched from the audiobook and bought an ebook copy of Hungry Ghosts so I could read it with my eyes. Ideally I’d love to complete this by the time this post goes live. (I am drafting this on Emancipation Day Tuesday 1 August 2023).
This is historical fiction set in Trinidad and Tobago in the 1940s. Very atmospheric.
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That’s it for summer 2023 reading update. I hope my August wrap-up will be more interesting. And I’ll have more books that I loved to share with you guys.
Next week I’ll be sharing the mystery series that I’m currently reading and loving.
Before I sign off, what’s your favourite book that you’ve read so far in summer 2023?
Until then, happy reading!
Chantel DaCosta
Chantel DaCosta is a storyteller, editor and lifestyle blogger. She is passionate about mental health awareness and Jamaican women's own-voices stories.
