This month’s recap might be a bit longer than usual: July was one of those months where looking back, you can see that a lot happened, but in the moment, it didn’t feel as much. Or maybe that’s because it was so very hot to start the month. Thankfully we had a major cold front move through that brought several inches of rain and washed away the 90s. And I am crossing all my fingers that we’ve seen the last of those! I did see the first early goldenrod blooms Friday, so we are getting closer to moderate temperatures. Okay, let’s look back at July, shall we?
📖 Pride, Prejudice and Peril | Katie Oliver | ⭐⭐⭐⭐
📖 The Fatal Unpleasantness at Netherfield | Claudia Gray | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
📱 The Storm | Rachel Hawkins| ⭐⭐⭐
🎧 Dolly All the Time | Annabel Monaghan | ⭐⭐⭐⭐
📖 The Chowder House Murder | Lee Hollis | ⭐⭐⭐⭐
📖 A Founding Mother | Stephanie Dray & Laura Kamoie | ⭐⭐⭐⭐
It feels like so little reading happened in July. Some things I flew through {the Austenesque mysteries}, and others took unexpectedly long to read {A Founding Mother took the entire month}. That inconsistency has been the ongoing theme of 2026 reading: books are either taking 3 days or a whole month. Obviously, judging by the stars given out for July, the reading is good, it’s just weirdly paced. But the numbers on my little library sign keep going up, and maybe I’m “behind,” but I’m also pleased with my reads.
It’s interesting to me the way format shifts and changes, with print dominating again this month. While I’m not tracking as many statistics this year, I am still noting source, and July was evenly split between my own books and the Library. As my TBR continues to battle the unpredictability of my holds list, this is always an interesting number to watch.
Listening:
Honestly, not much. I only managed one audiobook in July, and you can tell it’s been too hot to walk. This section will probably increase again as the temperatures start leveling out. Hopefully.
Watching:
There was actually some viewing in July! Shocking, I know. With a long holiday weekend, and intense heat that kept us inside most of the daylight hours, we managed a little afternoon viewing.
- 📺 House of the Dragon (Season 2) | HBOmax
Yes, that says Season 2. We’re running behind, but the opening episode of Season 2 was rough and when we first saw it last year, the time was not right. With the heat and a long weekend for Mr, we decided to skip the first episode and try again. Of course there was so much intrigue and {too much} blood and dragon fire, but that season finale? Masterfully done, especially the last say 5 minutes? Now that’s how you close a season and set a new one up. {It also gave me really strong Maasverse vibes for some reason, which I am a-ok with!}. - 📺 House of the Dragon (Season 3) | HBOmax
We actually caught up to the “live” version, and had to join those waiting week by week for a new episode to drop. Although instead of catching the new episode(s) at drop, we’re letting them build up again and then will dive back in. - 📺 The Count of Monte Cristo | PBS Passport/Masterpiece
We picked up a few more episodes of this one, and are almost finished! This man’s revenge plot is … astonishingly detailed and so very intricate. - 📺 What I Like About You (Season 2) | Netflix
Picked up where I left off in the Spring, and am about halfway through Season 2. It’s been so long since I last watched this show, I’d forgotten a lot of the “little things” – like I remembered the fancy Loft Val and Holly moved into, but not how they got there. It’s an enjoyable nostalgia watch that doesn’t require a lot of focus or thinking.
On the Blog:
Fun fact: going into the month, I had a list of posts I was planning to feature in July. Of that list, I think 3 of them actually made it to the blog. The lists, I am learning, are more for brainstorming than actual plans: it helps to see the ideas I’ve come up with, and even if they happen in another month – they can still happen. Anyway … all that to say, it was an interesting month on the blog.
There were two exciting chicken updates: first a look at how they grew from week to week, and then moving outside with the big chickens! {I am also so happy that I only had to put them to bed for 3 nights before they learned to put themselves up. Crawling around on hands and knees in the chicken coop was as fun as it sounds…}. All things summer days were discussed in a Tea Time post, including a peek at the mix of tomatoes we’re enjoying. While the heat limits some of my baking, I’m still managing to make batches of this easy homemade granola, to enjoy with fresh {local} fruit and Greek yogurt. And with all of that, I still managed to have pictures beyond the posts, and was able to feature Glimpses of July.
Picking back up the reading thread, we hit the halfway mark of Summer of Jane, and I’m nowhere near making the progress I thought I would. When not reading, I’m continuing to build book lists, like the rabbit trail of Julia Child books. I’ve also been working on ideas and lists for My Christmas is Booked, because that time is swiftly approaching. And Fall reads: there are some really good ones coming out! {Or at least, the covers + titles look good}. Might have to do a little Fall feature …
Shared on Instagram, but including here too: my birthday month book haul! Between BOTM, a birthday bookstore trip, and needing “shelf trophy” copies of the Villain series, it was a good month. {And at the time of writing, I’ve already read 2 of these new additions!}.
How was your July?
Hopefully you too have had a break in the intense heat, and rain if needed!
What was the best read/listen/watch of the month for you?
What are you most excited about in August? I’m waiting on my preorder of Adversary to the Villain to be delivered … So. Excited.
Your birthday haul looks amazing, Rebecca, and Jane looks pretty thrilled with it as well! July was unbearably hot here too. I think I’m ready to start reading about snow!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I do think Jane approved of the new additions! 😀 I find myself very ready for Fall at this point – I know why my social media feeds are full of those calling it Augtober/ “the new start of Fall”
LikeLiked by 1 person
I feel so bad for gardens and plants when it’s so crazy-hot outside! July was way too hot for walks here too 😦 The Fatal Unpleasantness at Netherfield sounds so intriguing I’m glad you loved it. Gonna look it up, do you have to read these in order?
LikeLiked by 1 person
Don’t feel too bad for my basil or zinnias: they have been THRIVING in the ridiculous heat. I’ve never seen plants so happy, haha… The rest of us are wilting 😉
While in theory each of the mysteries in the Mr Darcy & Miss Tilney series are standalones, you really do need to read them in order. They make reference to previous murders/cases, but mainly you need to watch the relationship between Jonathan and Juliet develop “in real time”. It’s the slowest burn in the history of slow burns, and it is *so* good 😀 ❤ Plus it is extremely gratifying to watch Gray kill off all the characters we hate along the way, LOL!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Ahah okay then I won’t feel bad for those ones, I’m glad there are some plants that are thriving even though it’s not exactly what I expected haha. If only we were all zinnias or basil 🤣.
Ah okay amazing, so it’s a mystery series with a romance that grows throughout the series (instead of a romance series with a different couple in each installment?) I’m always looking for more of those because Veronica Speedwell, The Librarian of Crooked Lane, and Manners and Monsters are mystery/romances of that kind and I love them all! That actually makes me want to read it even more! Ahaha that does sound like a bonus lol. I’m sold!!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes, it’s very much like the Glass Library series with the mysteries changing each book + the romance building over time! Just no magic in this one 😉 It’s such a fun series, and they get better with every book.
LikeLiked by 1 person
That is JUST the vibe that I want! 😀 Even without the magic 😛 hehe. I’m so glad to hear that!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’m glad you got some rain and cooler temperatures at last. Here its technically cooler than it has been but still feels overly stuffy. There’s a breeze today though which is heavenly. Although sadly the temperatures looks to be creeping back up again over the weekend 😪
It looks like you’ve had a great reading month with all of those high ratings. I’m especially pleased to hear that the latest from the Claudia Gray series was such a hit for you. Its a shame to see that The Storm was the weak link though.
That birthday book haul looks amazing. I’m so excited to read the Assistant To The Villian series myself sometime. Im also particularly intrigued by When Dealing With Dragons and The Someday Garden. I hope you love them all. And once again Happy Birthday 🥰🥰 (I think I wished you one when you mentioned it was coming up at least).
I’m glad to hear that you got on better with House Of The Dragon this time around. I don’t blame you for storing the remainder up for a binge watch though as these episode endings keep leaving me craving more. I’ve always been curious about The Count of Monte Cristo too. I feel like I should try the book first but I find a chunky classic truly daunting. Massive fantasy titles are must reads for me though and causes of excitement length wise 😂
Glad to hear the chickens got the hang of taking themselves to bed so quickly.
I hope you have a wonderful month and looking forward to your fall releases posts if you decide to make one
LikeLiked by 1 person
I hear you on the technically cooler but still overly stuffy… the humidity has been so bad than even though we are only 80something it feels so much worse 😜 The breezes are lovely though!
I really expected more of The Storm, but it still wasn’t terrible 😂 Claudia Gray continues to delight and I am so ready for Book 6 already!
I think you will love the Villain series! It is hilarious {when I have listened to the previous installments, I’d be cackling out loud}, and just so fun. I had to own copies 😁 And thank you 🥰🥰 it was a wonderful birthday month!
Here’s to a cooler and fabulous August for us both! 💕
LikeLiked by 1 person
Love the bday book haul! I think I love for any book haul really, even if I’m much slower in reading the books I purchase lol!
Also glad that the temperature is coming down for you there. It’s lovely here in India too this time of the year with the rains. Best enjoyed indoors though lol..
I had a good month of reading in July, posted my recap today. But I also struggled a bit mentally so hoping August will be kinder to me☺️
LikeLiked by 1 person
Book hauls are always a good thing 😀 And yeah, I’m much slower reading them than adding them 😉 LOL
But I see this quote periodically that collecting books and reading books are actually 2 different hobbies 😀
Yay for rains and lovely weather 🙂 Indoors reading time on a rainy day is good stuff.
I’m about to go check your recap! 😀 I hope August is a kind, gentle, lovely month for you ❤
LikeLiked by 1 person
I love your “books read” sign and how it represents your blog! I’m glad you got some rain – we are so dry here and have had a disastrous fire season in our province. I hope you’re having a great August!
LikeLiked by 1 person
A girlfriend gifted me the sign for Christmas, and it has been so much fun this year! 🙂
Oh yikes! Fires are not good! That’s not something we usually have to deal with in the part of the state I’m in, but I know the mountains and coast have had some issues. Hopefully you get some much needed rain!!! And are having a fabulous August yourself ❤
LikeLike