July Book Haul + Reviews

July Book Haul and Reviews -- Kayla Blogs

I’m sad to say that I didn’t read nearly as many books this month as I did in June. I’m a little disappointed in myself, but I focused a lot more on my blog this month so I think that makes up for it!

July Book Haul

July Book Haul -- Kayla Blogs

Books I’ve purchased this month:

Still Alice by Lisa Genova

Ugly Love by Colleen Hoover

The Rosie Project by Graeme Simsion

And the E-books…

All the Bright Places by Jennifer Niven

Ask the Passengers by A.S. King

July Book Reviews

Like I said, I’m a little disappointed in myself because I only finished 2 books this month. One of them was a re-read.

Song of Summer by Laura Lee Anderson 2/5 stars

I received an electronic advanced reader copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Song of Summer was a cute, boy-meets-girl kind of book. I didn’t love it, but I didn’t hate it either. At times, the story felt almost too predictable and there were definitely lulls.

This book is about a girl named Robin who loves music more than anything (she’s kind of obsessive about it). She meets this boy, Carter, over the summer at the diner where she works. He’s super dreamy and everything is perfect except… He’s deaf! *gasp*

Having taken 2 semesters of ASL so far in college and learning a little bit about Deaf culture, this book kind of annoyed me. I read the author bio in the back of the book and Ms. Anderson said that she had spent a lot of time talking with ASL interpreters and she even took a class at the Pennsylvania School for the Deaf. I think it’s great that she did a lot of research, but the awful way Robin treated Carter at times when it came to the fact that he couldn’t hear really turned me off to this book. She was constantly viewing Carter as “broken”. How can you say you “love” someone (after 2 weeks, what?!) when all you can think about it changing them? I would have been able to let it slide Β if it ended up being a learning experience for Robin and she came to see that she was being ignorant, but the “ending” didn’t give me that vibe.

The book was “cute” but it was really lackingΒ an overall message.

Every Day by David Levithan 5/5 stars

I read this book for a second time because I was fortunate enough to receive an advanced reader copy of the companion novel, Another Day, that is set to release on August 25th.

The book is about A, who wakes up every morning in a different body. A had begun getting used to life when A met a girl named Rhiannon and fell in love. The book is mostly about love and how A comes to terms with feelings of love for someone A can probably never be with.

After reading this book for the second time, I’ve decided that it deserves 5 stars (I had previously given it 4/5). I cannot get over how genius this concept is and I absolutely devoured this book even though it was my second time reading it.

This book comes highly recommended and you should read it soon because Another Day is debuting in just a few short weeks!

 

What did you read this month?

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54 Comments

  1. July 27, 2015 / 12:02 pm

    I read Leave Your Mark by Aliza Licht this month! Just finished it a few days ago actually. Definitely worth the money for sure πŸ™‚

    • July 27, 2015 / 12:32 pm

      I’ll have to check that one out! πŸ™‚

  2. July 27, 2015 / 3:40 pm

    I read Between the Dark and the Daylight by Joan Chittister. It was great inspirational read. Still Alice is on my book shelf waiting to be read.

    • August 7, 2015 / 3:54 pm

      I’ll have to check that out! Thanks, Jazmine!

  3. July 27, 2015 / 5:24 pm

    Great choices!
    I have only started a book “Rich Bitch” but haven’t finished it yet.
    I’ve been so terrible with reading lately even though I have gotten so many new books this summer.

    xoxo, Jenny || Breakfast at Lillys

    • August 7, 2015 / 3:54 pm

      I want to read Rich Bitch! You’ll have to let me know how it is πŸ™‚

  4. July 27, 2015 / 6:07 pm

    I’m re-reading “Eat, Pray, Love” and always find myself enjoying books more the second time around. Especially if there’s been some time in between! Thanks for sharing, I’ll have to look into “Every Day” to add to my reading list!

    • August 7, 2015 / 3:55 pm

      I’ve always wanted to check out “Eat, Pray, Love”! I’m assuming you liked it since you’re re-reading it?

      • August 7, 2015 / 5:14 pm

        I actually never finished it the first time.. embarrassing! hah But I finally did and I really enjoyed it! πŸ™‚

  5. July 27, 2015 / 6:22 pm

    You’ve always got great book suggestions! I’ve been switching back and forth between ‘Wheat Bellies’ and ‘Tiny Beautiful Things’ by Cherly Strayed and it’s a hard one to read all at once. It’s pretty deep and emotional so I filter back and forth between it and lighter books.

    xoxo,
    Meghan
    Southern Belle Secrets

    • August 7, 2015 / 3:55 pm

      Thank you SO much, Meghan! I’ve never heard of those two, I’ll have to check them out!

  6. Ally
    July 27, 2015 / 6:53 pm

    Books on books! You have the best book reviews and I always need a good read. I finished Still Alice last week and I really recommend it! The Rosie Project was a bit hard for me to dive into and I didn’t finish it. I’ll be checking Every Day out- it sounds like my cup of tea!

    Alessandra | The PumpUp Blog

    • August 7, 2015 / 3:55 pm

      Every Day is AMAZING! I hope you love it!

  7. July 27, 2015 / 8:56 pm

    I really want to read Still Alice. I read Bittersweet and The Husband’s Secret. I liked them both!

    • August 7, 2015 / 3:56 pm

      I’ve been wanting to read The Husband’s Secret. I’ve been seeing it everywhere!

  8. July 27, 2015 / 9:12 pm

    I love reading too! I’ve heard great things about Still Alice. This month I’m focusing on career oriented books but I am anxious to get back to fiction (:

    • August 7, 2015 / 3:56 pm

      What career oriented books have you been reading?

  9. July 27, 2015 / 11:02 pm

    Still Alice is the best book, especially for a future SLP!!!! You will have to watch the movie as well!!!

    • August 7, 2015 / 3:56 pm

      Yes! I’m so excited to read it. I’m a part of a SLP book club on Goodreads (you should join) and I read Ghost Boy last month which was amazing!

  10. Jillian Goltzman
    July 27, 2015 / 11:31 pm

    I’m a big fan of David Levithan, so that option looks great. I haven’t seen Still Alice the film yet, but had no idea it was a book! Something tells me I’ll sob through it. I’m about to finish Wild and will be starting This is How You Lose Her shortly after. I used to be such an avid reader but I hardly make the time I should. Thanks for sharing your thorough reviews, Kayla!

    xo Jillian

    http://www.cupofcharisma.com

    • August 7, 2015 / 3:57 pm

      It’s so hard finding time to read on top of everything else, right? I always feel guilty letting life get in the way of reading. I’ve been wanting to check out Wild, how did you like it?

    • August 7, 2015 / 3:58 pm

      Yes! When you finish it, please talk to me about it! It’s one of my all-time favorites.

  11. July 28, 2015 / 1:51 am

    All the Bright Places – omg. Get ready for some tears! I loved that books so much. I’ve been wanting to read Every Day. I have it on my bookshelf, but I haven’t grabbed it yet. Looks like I need to!

    • August 7, 2015 / 3:59 pm

      UGH. I’m so scared/excited to read All the Bright Places. I’ve heard it’s amazing but I’m definitely a crier when it comes to books. I cry at the ending of almost every book, haha! Let me know what you think of Every Day!

  12. Ashley
    July 28, 2015 / 2:50 am

    I love Colleen Hoover books! They are easy to get in to and pretty quick reads. I just bought All the Bright Places after hearing so many great reviews. I am a little nervous to read it though because so many people say it’s a tearjerker!
    xo Ashley

    • August 7, 2015 / 4:00 pm

      Yes! Tiffany (the comment below) said to get ready for some tears! I’m nervous! I always cry when I read books (so embarrassing). But I love Colleen Hoover, too! I’d consider her my favorite author right now.

  13. edwina mapenzi
    July 28, 2015 / 7:19 am

    I read A series of Unfortunate Events book 8 and 9, 13 Reasons Why, The Duff and I want to start The absolute true diary of a part time indian but thanks to you I might bump Still Alice up my list

    theedfiles.blogspot.com

    • August 7, 2015 / 4:02 pm

      I could never get into A Series of Unfortunate Events books. They were always way too sad for me. I haven’t tried to pick up any of them lately so maybe I should try to read them again! And 13 Reasons Why is SUCH a great book. I really enjoyed it. I bought The DUFF in June for my Kindle but I haven’t gotten around to reading it yet. What did you think?

  14. July 28, 2015 / 8:10 am

    This is reminding me of the very long summer reading list that I need to tackle haha! Every Day sounds amazing, I need to check that out!

    xo, Alicia | Alicia Tenise

    • August 7, 2015 / 4:02 pm

      Yay! I hope you love Every Day, it’s such a unique story.

  15. July 28, 2015 / 8:43 am

    I loved hearing your opinions on these books πŸ™‚ I have been really into career books right now. I’m working on Leave Your Mark at the moment!

    XX, SS || A Little Seersucker Sass

    • August 7, 2015 / 4:02 pm

      I’m going to read that book eventually! My TBR list is extraordinarily high. I also want to read Rich Bitch. Have you read it?

  16. Ashley Vickney
    July 28, 2015 / 9:05 am

    I’ve been really into readying old classics lately. I love your book reviews! I need to read more and Netflix left, I have to start school soon!
    xoxo

    • August 7, 2015 / 4:03 pm

      What sorts of classics have you been reading, Ashley?

  17. Allison Ellzey
    July 28, 2015 / 9:55 am

    I haven’t read all that much this month either! But when I get on a roll, I could read multiple books in a week!

    • August 7, 2015 / 4:03 pm

      I’m hoping I can start reading more once my internship is over! But even then, I only have a week until classes start! I think I need a vacation

  18. Lauren Ashley
    July 28, 2015 / 11:06 am

    I haven’t read at ALL this summer. So bad… but I love seeing what you think about these books!

    Lauren

    The Fashionista’s Diary

  19. Marie Huang
    July 28, 2015 / 12:44 pm

    I LOVE hearing about what everyone is reading! Every Day is such an intriguing concept for a book! I will definitely be adding that to my list!

    XOXO.

    Marie H.

    Progression By Design

  20. July 28, 2015 / 1:23 pm

    I love all Colleen Hoover books! Ugly Love is really good and so are all of her other novels. I would totally recommend checking them out as well πŸ™‚

    Annie // Annie N Belle

    • August 7, 2015 / 4:04 pm

      I own almost all of her books and have read both the Slammed series and the Hopeless series. I absolutely loved them both. Can’t wait to devour all of her other books!

  21. July 28, 2015 / 3:23 pm

    Great book reviews, glad you kept them honest as well! I definitely haven’t been reading as much as I should have, but I am steadily trying to get back into reading regularly.

    • August 7, 2015 / 4:05 pm

      Thanks, Amanda! I hope you can get back to reading but it’s so tough when there are so many other things going on!

  22. Cat
    July 28, 2015 / 5:57 pm

    Wow Every Day sounds like a very unique concept and a fun read!

    • August 7, 2015 / 4:05 pm

      It really is! You should definitely check it out πŸ™‚

  23. July 29, 2015 / 10:07 pm

    I love reading about book hauls! I have to make more time for reading πŸ™‚

    • August 7, 2015 / 4:05 pm

      It’s a huge problem for me. There aren’t enough hours in the day to blog, work, AND read!

  24. July 30, 2015 / 10:36 pm

    I really need to read more. Now that I just graduated from college, I still need to keep my mind sharp! I have a few novels sitting on my bedside table right now that I keep telling myself I’m going to pick up and read. I’m hoping to finish all of them by the end of August!

    • August 7, 2015 / 4:06 pm

      What books are on your list to read, Sammi?

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