August Book Roundup 2025

My August books were a whirlwind of stories, from cozy cafés and villainous accomplices to heartfelt memoirs and emotional goodbyes. This month's reads took me through small towns, secret societies, hockey rinks, and even Halifax, Nova Scotia. Some books made me laugh, some made me think, and a few just didn’t quite hit the mark.

Here’s a quick roundup of everything I read, what I rated them, and whether I'd recommend adding them to your own TBR pile. As always check out my Goodreads to keep up with my latest books. Alright, let’s dive in!

The Lending Library

Rating: 3.5 stars 

This book was good. I’d consider it a maybe recommendation. Personally, I wasn’t thrilled with the main character. The way she was written made you frustrated with her decision-making, but the overall message behind the book was a good one.

The Third Gilmore Girl

Rating: 5 stars 

I loved this one. I listened to it as an audiobook, which was narrated by Kelly Bishop. She’s had such an interesting life and shares so many great messages and pieces of advice that really made me think about life differently.

On the Way to the Wedding

Rating: 3 stars

This is Gregory’s story, and it wasn’t my favorite book in the series. As the final Bridgerton book, I’m glad to have finished the series. It’s not that I didn’t like his story, but it just didn’t make me feel anything for the characters. Gregory wasn’t really featured in the earlier books, so I think I just didn’t feel as connected to him.

Accomplice to the Villain

Rating: 4 stars 

This was one of my most anticipated releases of the month, and it did not disappoint. I just love these characters, and the plot of the series keeps getting better and better. I cannot wait for the fourth book!

Everyone in My Family Has Killed Someone

Rating: 3.5 stars 

Mystery isn't usually my favorite genre, but I enjoyed the second book in this standalone series, which made me want to read the first. Honestly, this book freaked me out a bit, probably because I was reading it at night! But overall, I enjoyed it and didn’t see the ending coming at all.

The Pumpkin Spice Café

Rating: 3 stars

I think I would’ve rated it higher if I had read it during the fall. It was a cute romance that put a smile on my face. I enjoyed the banter between the main characters and the cozy small-town feel of the book.

The Berry Pickers

Rating: 4.5 stars 

I really enjoyed this book. I was in Halifax, Nova Scotia while reading it, and the story takes place in Nova Scotia/Maine. I loved learning more about life in the 1900s. It’s written from two perspectives, and I thought the storytelling was fantastic. I could barely put it down, even with all the activities planned for my trip.

We All Want Impossible Things

Rating: 3.75 stars 

This book deals with loss, grief, and all the emotions surrounding death and end-of-life care. It’s not something I would typically pick up, but I’m glad I read it. It was powerful, and I appreciated the different aspects of life that were explored throughout the story.

Tom Lake

Rating: 3 stars 

This was my least favorite book of the month. I listened to the audiobook, which is narrated by Meryl Streep, that’s the only reason it didn’t get a 2-star rating. I think I would’ve liked it better if I had read the physical book. The story was good, but I had trouble following it at times.

Shield of Sparrows

Rating: 4 stars 

I really enjoyed this book. I’m disappointed that I have to wait for the next one in the series to come out! I didn’t realize it was the first book in a trilogy when I started it, and it just came out earlier this year. It has all the elements of a romantasy that I love.

Rookie Season

Rating: 3.5 stars

I love a good sports romance. I picked this one as a palate cleanser read, it was quick and easy for me to get through. I enjoyed the storyline and fell in love with the characters. This is the first book in a series, and I’ll definitely be reading the rest.