Tier Ranking the books I read in July 2023

Below are the books I read this last month and the tier ranking I gave them on Goodreads from worst to best. These are not including the books I did not finish but ranked anyways just to be done with them. If you are looking for your next read, would recommend those near the bottom of the list. What was your favorite summer read?

1 Star Books:

2 Star Books:

The Wolf Den by Elodie Harper

Genre (Historical, Mythology)

Reasoning: I had such high hopes for this book. I went in thinking this might rival Clytemnestra or Circe and it fell so far behind. It was 500+ pages of the exact same scene just repeated over and over. I have nothing else to say other than don’t waste your time with this.

Beyond that, the Sea by Laura Spence-Ash

Genre (Historical Fiction)

Reasoning: I really did not like this book. I found it very monotone and very difficult to get through. It had so many different storylines going on that I felt like you could’ve gotten rid of a few of them and it would’ve been ok or could’ve gotten rid of like 50 pages. There just was a lot of extra detail that was not needed. If I didn’t read this for a book club, probably would not have finished it.

3 Star Books:

The Love Hypothesis by Ali Hazelwood

Genre (Romance)

Reasoning: This is a very cute romance that I flew through in about a day. Olive is a little much at some points but I liked how it wasn’t your typical romance. Definitely learned some different aspects of science I probably would not have gotten from reading other books. Will probably check out some of her others.

The Housemaid by Freida McFadden

Genre (Thriller)

Reasoning: It’s a page-turner for sure but definitely felt a bit cliche. If you have read The Last Mrs. Parrish it is very similar but better. The twists are a little predictable but I didn’t feel like it took away from the book. Will check out her next book in this series to see if I have similar feelings.

Winter in Paradise by Elin Hilderbrand

Genre (Women’s Fiction, Contemporary)

Reasoning: If you are looking for a cozy beach read, can’t do much better than the wonderful Elin Hilderbrand. However, this one wasn’t particularly my favorite. I just felt like they tried to pack too many different storylines in this one book. Though it did have me dreaming of being on a beach in the Caribbean.

4 Star Books:

The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches by Sangu Mandanna

Genre (Fantasy, Romance)

Reasoning: A feel, good cozy fantasy that has you wanting to hug the book after you read it. It’s filled with quotes that you want to print out and frame all around your house. While it wasn’t to the exact level that TJ Klune is in terms of cozy fantasies, it still was a really good feel-good book that just made you smile while reading. Will be checking out some of her others.

A Fire Sparkling by Julianne MacLean

Genre (Historical Fiction, Romance)

Reasoning: A fast-paced historical fiction, that gets you from the beginning. It has you wanting to read just one more chapter. I don’t know if I would put it on the same level as how much I enjoyed The Nightingale and Beneath a Scarlet Sky but there definitely were some twists I wasn’t seeing. Does get a little cheesy at some points.

5 Star Books:

Dreamland: The True Tale of America’s Opiate Epidemic by Sam Quinones

Genre (Nonfiction)

Reasoning: I listened to this book, and despite my strong dislike of audiobooks, I feel like this is the way to read this particular book. The author makes it incredibly engaging with the audience. It wasn’t filled with a bunch of scientific stuff or an overload in facts. He told real people’s stories. The parents that had lost a child, original dealers from Mexico, doctors from across the country and so many more. It’s a sensitive topic that has impacted so many of us.

Until Next Time, The Library Abroad