For the Love of Reading, August 2025

I read 7 books in the month of August, let’s take a look at my reviews.

Speak to Me of Home by Jeanine Cummins
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
I thoroughly enjoyed this multi generational story of 3 generations of women in a Puerto Rican and Irish family. The shifting perspectives, the alternating timeline, the compelling plot, and the well crafted writing came together to create a heartfelt and absorbing novel. Cummins explores the relationship between mothers and daughters in a way that feels realistic without being overly dramatic and her overall theme of how we value and stay true to ourselves and our heritage is lovingly drawn. I was hesitant to read this after the controversy surrounding American Dirt but when I realized that Ann Patchett stood by Cummins I decided I could, too. Recommended for fans of women’s fiction.

Wild Dark Shore by Charlotte McConaghy
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
But here is the nature of life. That we must love things with our whole selves, knowing they will die.
Absorbing, raw, gorgeous, and devastating are the words I would use to describe this book. The setting is completely compelling; McConaghy writes beautiful descriptions of life on this remote island in Antarctica. The penguins and whales, the unrelenting wind and cold, the urgency and futility of trying to save seeds from extinction, could all be bleak but somehow it is instead transformed into something purposeful and beautiful. She raises some very real concerns about the future of our planet and life as we know it (everything is going to burn, drown, or starve) but still manages to leave you with a feeling of hope. Highly recommended.

Maine Characters by Hannah Orenstein
My rating: 3 of 5 stars
Maine Characters had a great setting, I loved the vibe of a small coastal town in Maine and there were some fun, summery moments that made me feel like I was right there on the lake. Overall, though, this book just didn’t quite hit the mark for me. The story felt a bit repetitive, and while the characters had potential, they didn’t really grow or evolve in a way that felt authentic. It was entertaining in a low level way and engaging enough to finish, but I kept wishing for more depth and less predictability. Recommended if you’re looking for a light summer read with slightly annoying characters and a satisfying ending

Yellowface by R.F. Kuang
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
I was completely enthralled by this book and honestly don’t know why I put off reading it for so long because once I finally picked it up, I couldn’t put it down. Yellowface is sharp, clever, and biting in the best way. R.F. Kuang dives deep into questions of authorship, privilege, and who gets to tell certain stories, and does it all through a main character who is completely unlikable yet absolutely fascinating to follow. I found myself routing for this incredibly selfish and diabolical woman even though I knew what she had done was horrible. The pacing is fantastic, the tension builds beautifully, and the ending is utterly brilliant and turns the whole book upside down. The whole thing left me feeling both entertained and a little unsettled, signs of a really great read. Highly recommended.

A Family Matter by Claire Lynch
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
I devoured this powerful and heartbreaking novel in just over a day as I was completely drawn into the story from the first page. It’s a devastating portrayal of one family and how the legal system, prejudice, and outdated beliefs destroyed the parent/child relationship. So much could have been different if these people just talked to each other. Instead, silence, assumptions, and societal prejudice take over, with terrible consequences. While it’s fiction, it echoes real injustices that many families faced and not very long ago. Highly recommended.

The Safekeep by Yael van der Wouden
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Everything about this novel is quiet and that makes it incredibly impactful. The characters are not at all likable, stuck in their own repression, holding back their desires, their grief, their motives, and even their words. There is a tension that hums beneath every interaction and meeting and when emotions do erupt to the surface the consequences are severe. There’s a twist I didn’t see coming and that added to the overall drama. Highly recommended for literary fiction readers who enjoy character driven novels.

Murder at Cape Costumers by Maddie Day
My rating: 3 of 5 stars
In the newest entry in the Cozy Capers Book Group series, Maddie Day brings us back to Cape Cod for yet another murder in the fictional town of Westham. Unlike previous books in the series, the mystery almost takes a back seat to the personal life of Mac Almeida, our protagonist. This was a welcome change for me as the reason I return to the series is to be entertained by the lives of the characters in the story and not so much for the murders, which can get to be contrived after more than a few books. There is some personal heartbreak for Mac and her family along with plenty of delicious food, book club gatherings, and Cape Cod scenery. Recommended for fans of the series.
Thank you to NetGalley and Kensington Publishing for providing me with a free copy in exchange for an honest review.

You know it’s a good reading month when 5 out of 7 books are 4 star reads! I hope you found something here to add to your TBR.