Welcome to Quick Lit, where I share short and sweet reviews of what I’ve been reading lately on (or around) the 15th of the month, and invite you to do the same.
Despite the sweltering temps where I live, my brain is in many ways now firmly in back-to-school mode. But my late July and early August reading have been summer-all-the-way, especially because I also spent a week at the beach during this window. For me, summer reading at this point in the season means lots of backlist, new books that weren’t on my radar (or didn’t serve my intended aims) when I was compiling our Summer Reading Guide, and then looking ahead to consider Fall Book Preview selections.
My audiobook listening has been on the lighter side lately, partly because I’ve spent most of my listening time with a single 1,344 page book, and partly because lots of family time means less time spent solo listening. Regardless, one great audiobook is still represented today.
I hope you find something that looks intriguing for your TBR here (and in these comments), and I look forward to browsing your recent reads below. Thanks in advance for sharing your short and sweet book reviews with us!
Welcome to August Quick Lit
Ballad of the Whiskey Robber
These Days
Christmas Is All Around
What have YOU been reading lately? Tell us about your recent reads—or share the link to a blog or instagram post about them—in comments.
32 comments
I’ve read a little less than usual this month but still have a variety of books I’m reviewing! Come see my favorite fantasy of the entire year, plus romances and thrillers!
https://neverenoughnovels.com/2025/08/14/august-2025-mini-book-reviews/
Just finished Flashlight by Susan Choi. Literary fiction/historical fiction. My favorite book of my year so far. So well written. The characters are richly developed. The journey you take with a fairly small cast of characters is riveting, poetic, and real. Don’t read ahead too much about the story. Just read it!
That’s a very long audiobook! ha. But why not? 🙂
I usually only share books I love (I found 8 this month!) like “Algospeak” and “Dream State.” But this time I also had to share a classic I did NOT like. I wonder what you think about it?
See them all here:
https://lisanotes.com/8-books-worth-my-time-and-1-that-wasnt/
In this month’s Literary Chatter – 5 slim books that slip right into your bag (including I’d Rather Be Reading!) + a tee shirt that hits home + the Kindle goodies we 🤍 to sift through.
https://lindastoll.substack.com/p/5-slim-volumes-porch-193
This month I’m reviewing a couple of excellent thrillers; an epistolary novel that might be my favorite book of the year (that everyone else is loving too!); a romantic comedy that didn’t quite meet expectations; a childhood classic I enjoyed with my kids; and some thought-provoking nonfiction (which, unfortunately, included my only first 2-star book of the year).
https://kendranicole.substack.com/p/quick-lit-august-2025
Christmas in July sounds fun!
Here’s what I read on my summer vacation:
https://www.allthebooksihaventread.com/blog-1/2025/8/14/what-i-read-on-my-summer-vacation
Just read a review of These Days yesterday!
I’ve got a month of middle grade, including a book I think is a definite Newbery contender. https://carolinestarrrose.com/quick-lit-what-ive-been-reading-lately-46/
Christmas All Around looks adorable! I’m putting together my holiday reading list now so I’ll have to add this one.
Here’s what I’ve been reading: https://readeatrepeat.net/2025/08/books-in-progress-august-2025/
Always love seeing what you’re reading! Thank you for sharing. Adding Christmas is All Around to my TBR 🎄 Summer is always a slower reading season for mer, but I was happy with my July reads.
https://substack.com/@ourlittlebookcollection/p-169569839
Texas Monthly and Texas Book Festival have started The Texas Book Club and their first selection is Larry McMurtry’s Lonesome Dove. I have two 1980’s copies and had always meant to read it. They have a schedule and started 8/11 and end 9/28. I’d watched the television series. I love the characters. Funny, because it is actually very slow motion when you think about it, but I do not mind, because of the colorful characters and the descriptive passages. Lonesome Dove, the town is in and of itself a character. Because the book is long (843 pages), I’ll be reading other books as I go. Currently also reading Swimming in Paris: A Life in Three Stories
Colombe Schneck. We had a cyber attack in our county library system and as a result our catalog has been down since early this year. We are have not had new releases since that time. We are supposed to be fully up and running next month. I am excited, but at the same time, I have enjoyed just browsing the stacks. Our book club recently read Before We Were Yours by Lisa Wingate. That was great for discussion. Now we are reading The Falcon Thief by Joshua Hammer.
Thanks for sharing Anne! I’ve just started These Summer Storms by Sarah Maclean and The Unraveling of Julia by Lisa Scottoline. And I just finished VE Schwab’s latest book, Bury our Bones in the Midnight Soil. That one surprised me a little. I think I was expecting a similar compelling plot and pacing as The Invisible Life of Addie La rue, but this was a slower burn. Very character driven. In the end, I’m glad I stuck with it ,but it took until the introduction of the third narrator to really pick up and then I raced through. So if you enjoy gothic/fantasy fiction this will be a great fall read. I also finished the Martha’s Vineyard Book Club. So this one wasn’t what I expected: a frothy summer read. I enjoyed this but it def has heavier themes and so it didn’t qualify as a true summer read for me. Still would recommend if you enjoy WW2 era stories and it def imparted some historical relevance that I wasn’t aware of.
I’ve been reading books for our book club; James (excellent) and Book and Dagger (interesting non-fiction about how librarians and scholars played a role in the spy game in WWII. It was compelling but long and overly stuffed with details). For fun, I’ve been reading The Unselected Journals of Emma M. Lion. Highly recommend.
Audio is my favorite for the really long ones!
I read quite a variety this past month, including some really excellent ones! https://cocoonofbooks.blogspot.com/2025/08/what-ive-been-reading-lately-quick-lit.html
Books #62-72 of the year: https://thereisnosuchthingasagodforsakentown.blogspot.com/2025/08/reading-update.html
I just finished “Hazel Says No” by Jessica Berger Gross and “Queen of Scots: the True Life of Mary Stuart” by John Guy.
I have a copy of Whiskey Robber on my shelf, still unread. I find it hard to get past the (IMO) hideous cover, but I would like to tackle it soon. My recent reads are:
* Jane and Dan at the End of the World by Colleen Oakley (4 stars) – a fun romp and reflection on a marriage in a slump.
* First Lie Wins by Ashley Elston (4 stars). I think enjoyed this twisty book more than I expected, but found the plot extremely far fetched.
* The Favorites by Layne Fargo (5 stars, audiobook) – I think J saw this described on a post here as a mash-up of Daisy Jones and the Six with the cutthroat world of competitive ice dancing. That is an accurate description! Loved the full cast audiobook!
* My Friends by Fredrik Backman (4 stars) – I was a bit disappointed by this one, as it just didn’t find it nearly as riveting as the Beartown trilogy. I think I am an outlier on this one…
Happy Reading!
I was also disappointed in My Friends.
I just finished “The Eighth Life” by Nino Haratischwili on audio. It was an incredible experience.
I’ve had a GREAT month!! Starting with:
“Here is New York”, an oldie by E B White. Excellent. He can write.
“You are Here”, by David Nicholls. I liked it very much. Liked Marnie and Michael.
“11-22-63” by Stephen King. A behemoth that actually didn’t capture my attention as much as I expected, but well done.
“The Correspondent” by Virginia Evans. BEST BOOK OF 2025!!! LOVED!!
“Broken Country” by Clare Leslie Hall. Definitely propulsive, like a thriller. Can’t agree with the adultery. On Team Frank.
“West with the Night” by Beryl Markham. Not what I was expecting, but wow, can SHE write!! Should have been a writer, not a pilot.
“To Build a Fire”, short story by Jack London, first read in school, this time I read it to my husband. Worth it!
“Hadley and Grace” by Suzanne Redfearn. Yes, a bit of Thelma and Louise in it, and great fun! Desperate, but satisfying.
“Heartwood” by Amity Gaige. Better than “Sea Wife”, I was immersed! Very good! Loved the setting and the diverse people looking for the lost hiker.
“Eddie Winston is Looking for Love” by Marianne Cronin. Another quirky, funny story with the 2 main characters being young and very old. This one was lighter, and I loved it.
“The Names” by Florence Knapp. Great premise, not quite what I expected, but still good. Serious spousal abuse, hard to read those parts. Tip: Take notes on the different timelines.
“The Connollys of County Down” by Tracey Lange. Very good, set in NY, woman just getting out of prison, I loved it, and am looking for her other books!
I mean, did I have a good month, or what??
I just finished Broken Country. I couldn’t believe all the bad choices she made. Definitely team Frank!
Suzy, you definitely had a great month! I have several tabs opened from your recommendations. Thank you for sharing!
Are you glad to have spent a huge chunk of time listening to The Power Broker? I am interested in reading about Robert Moses…but is it worth it?
Let me get through the final 30% and I’ll report back!
If you are looking for heartwarming reading a favourite author of mine is Freya Sampson. This weekend I finished her recent book, The Busybody Book Club. Lots of twists and turns and interesting characters, especially Phyllis and Arthur. It’s set in a charming Cornish seaside village with a community centre that is the heart of the community. I also loved her book, The Lost Ticket about finding a lost love.
Oh I adored that book.
My summer reading has been a little on the deeper side but worth it. Check
out what I read this month https://myviewofthehoneypot.blogspot.com/2025/08/what-i-read-august.html
Madness sounds positively chilling!
I have been waiting for Karen Swallow Prior’s book on calling, and it did not disappoint! My thoughts here: https://michelemorin.net/2025/07/30/how-to-know-if-youve-found-your-true-calling/
I’m halfway through the 9th Outlander book – what with the last season coming up and the tenth book coming out soon, I thought I better get on it.
I love Christmas stories, but closer to Christmas! I added Christmas All Around to my holds list but suspended it. I am a voracious library user and was able to expand my holds list to maybe 25? I am forever suspending or shifting my holds before trips or for a later time.
Any chance you and your team could present some favorite holiday reads later in September? Then I could get my holiday reading lined up early!
I only have 3 books this month, all on audio. All were great reads, though!
The Rose Code
The Anxious Generation
Cue the Sun!
https://www.sincerelystacie.com/2025/08/quick-lit-august-2025/
I just finished Jane Austen’s Bookshelf. Definitely learned a lot and added several titles to my TBR.
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