July Wrap-Up

July was a busy month for me! I traveled a bunch and met tons of new friends. I was away at camp for a week as well as on a missions trip in New York City for a week! Which also means I had no time whatsoever those weeks to read! However, I did manage to get some short books in this month. I’ve definitely missed reading. I have a bunch of good reads planned for August, but for now here are the books I read in July! 

Empress of a Thousand Skies by Rhoda Belleza - 55%
This story set itself up for an extraordinary adventure through space and time: an escaped princess set on revenge and taking back her throne, then a boy from a reality show suddenly turned murderer by the rumors. This world was vast and exciting, and the topics such as privacy and advanced technology were discussed. However, the book fell flat for me in lots of ways, and it was a struggle to get through. If you want to hear my full                                                   thoughts, check out my spoiler-free review here!

Wires and Nerve by Marissa Meyer and Art by Douglas Holgate - 90%
This graphic novel was an anticipated release, and it really didn’t disappoint. The story follows Iko as she helps round up the old Lunar wolf soldiers. It was a solid spin-off of one of my favorite series of all time. I loved catching glimpses of all my favorite characters and OTPs. This book definitely wasn’t my favorite graphic novel of all time, but the art style was incredible (blue monochromatic!!) and this book was a joy to read.

Paper Hearts by Meg Wiviott - 88% This historical fiction book is set in 1940s Europe in the midst of World War II. It follows the true story of two Polish girls sent to Auschwitz. They set out to send a birthday card to their friend when it is basically impossible. This book was written in verse, so I read it very quickly and let me just tell you: I loved this story. I admire the author and the real people that helped to tell this story of strength and bravery. Sometimes, I thought the verse could be stronger, but it's a story I think everyone should experience.

Before I Fall by Lauren Oliver: 91%                          One of the classic YA books, I listened to this book on audiobook and while it took FOREVER, I really enjoyed it. The premise of this book is basically that Sam, a really terrible person, is destined to live the same day over and over, unless she can stop it. I was afraid of this book getting repetitive, but each day was interesting and different and funny in its own way. The part that really made the story for me was Sam’s growth. She didn’t change right away, nor did she find out that faking the change really worked. Also, the romance was adorable. If you need an audiobook for a long car ride, this is a good one.

So as summer comes to an end, (cries) I'm hoping to cram in lots of good books before I'm buried alive in loads of homework. Hope you have a good rest of the summer!

Lots of love, 

                      Ellie