Happy Thursday! It’s hard to believe July is almost over—I swear the 4th was just last week! Summer weekends are always so busy, especially with a toddler, so I am so excited for this coming weekend, as we have nothing on our calendar. I can’t wait to relax and spend quality time with my family.
July was a great month of reading for me with some amazing reads. On top of these four books that were pure entertainment, I have also been diving into two other non-fiction books focused on nutrition for anxiety and big emotions that toddlers experience and how to handle them. I’ve been reading those bits at a time so I haven’t finished either of them but maybe I’ll have to review those once I am done.
As for the July reads, let’s get into it…
Invisible Girl by Lisa Jewell
Invisible Girl follows the perspectives of three different groups – Saffyre Maddox, Owen Pick, and the Fours family. Owen lives across the street from the Fours family and is put on leave from his teaching job after sexual assault allegations against him come out and the school dives into an investigation. Roan Fours is a child psychologist who has been treating Saffyre for a couple of years but then their therapy sessions end and Saffyre sets out to stay connected to Roan. Saffyre discovers things about both Roan and his family that she never imagined. Then Saffyre goes missing and a string of sexual assaults come to light that takes place close to the Fours’ home. The last person to see Saffyre alive is Owen. The rest of the book sets out to find out what has been happening to local girls and what happened to Saffyre Maddox.
I really liked this one because it brings some real-life trauma experiences into the story, without being too graphic or over the top. This was an easy read and I love the point of view of both Saffyre and Owen. They are both misunderstood and love how their stories evolve throughout the book.
The Paris Apartment by Lucy Foley
Jess needs a place to stay for a while, so she contacts her half-brother, Ben, who recently moved into an apartment in Paris. However, when Jess arrives, Ben is nowhere to be found. She also starts to question how Ben could afford this place and as she begins to investigate his disappearance, she uncovers secrets about the other tenants in the building, each hiding their own.
The Paris Apartment was high-paced and some others have said it seemed frenzied but when a book involves a missing person, I like the panicked feeling because that’s exactly how someone would be acting in that situation. There are overall mixed reviews on this book but I found it entertaining and loved how the book ended.
The Night Shift by Alex Finlay
The Night Shift begins on New Year’s Eve 1999 (AKA Y2K) however, none of the crazy apocalyptic events occur. What does occur are multiple murders at a Blockbuster store, leaving three dead and one survivor. A suspect is identified but quickly flees the area and has not been seen again. Fifteen years later, another attack occurred in the same town at an ice cream store, with again three casualties and one survivor. The book follows the two survivors, the brother of the suspect from the first attack, and the FBI agent assigned to solving the cases.
I couldn’t put this book down! I love stories with multiple POVs and quick chapters, and The Night Shift provided both. The final chapters had my heart racing with a great ending. I highly recommend it!
Little Secrets by Jennifer Hillier
Marin and Derek are college sweethearts who have become very successful – Marin owns a hair salon with celebrity clients and Derek owns his own company. They have a son, Sebastian, who is taken in broad daylight. Over a year later, he is still missing and the search for him has all but dried up. Marin hires a private investigator to continue the search for their son, but she ends up uncovering something else completely. Derek is having an affair with a younger woman. Marin has already lost her son and isn’t willing to lose the only family she has left in Derek. Little Secrets follows Marin’s journey to finding her son and saving her marriage while uncovering other secrets along the way.
I read Little Secrets in two days—I was hooked from the start! While I did predict one twist before it was revealed, it didn’t diminish my love for the book at all. By the end, I was almost in tears. That’s what I call a major book win!
July was a fantastic month of reading for me, and I’m excited to see what August brings. If you’ve come across any must-reads lately, please share them with me!
Wishing you all a wonderful rest of the week and an amazing weekend!
