A Cuppa Cosy Reads – August 2025

I feel like this year is just flying by and I can’t catch up! Before we know it, it will be time to be talking about the year as a whole and new reading goals- which is scary to think about. I would say August was a fairly average reading month for me; a couple of standouts, but on the whole nothing super special in any of the books. I read a total of 8 books and gave an average rating of 3.28. 

Loving a Vampire is Total Chaos by Aura Hayes 2 Stars – This book was total chaos…

Mean Moms by Emma Rosenblum 3.5 Stars – This book was so much fun in all good ways, but it was also just a standard thriller esque story. 

A Witch’s Guide to Magical Innkeeping by Sangu Mandanna 4 Stars – I thoroughly enjoyed all the coziness this book brought, but I also felt a little let down (possibly because it was so built up after all the publishing delays). 

Rush Week by Michelle Brandon 3 Stars – Another average thriller, though this one was more boring in certain parts than Mean Moms. I don’t know if it was too much with reading it during Rush Week or if it was the book itself (probably the latter to be honest).

Automatic Noodle by Annalee Newitz 4 Stars – This was just a delightful novella- I could have read more about these robots trying to open a noodle spot. 

Sword Catcher by Cassandra Clare 3.75 Stars – While I enjoyed this immensely and am looking forward to picking up the second, I also felt like at times it was a bit…long winded and was repeating itself in ways that wasn’t necessary (the author does a great job at showing not telling, but then would tell us after). 

How to Make a Horror Movie and Survive by Craig DiLouie 3 Stars – This was solid in some parts and yet feel short in other parts. I felt like it was a little drawn out, so when we got to the punchy parts, it was already a little tiring to read. I enjoyed the last sections, but the lead up was a little overdone. 

To Have and To Heist by Sara Desai 3.5 Stars – This was cute and fun and a great comedy of errors, but I don’t think I need to read any further. 

And that’s it! A solid month if not as high a rating as I’d like. On to September and the start of all the autumnal reads. 

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August 2024 Reading Wrap Up

I feel like posting a reading wrap up is a sure sign that we are back! Back in action! August was quite the reading month- I introduced a new series on my social media (IG, Facebook, Tik Tok all- @acuppacosy) where I pair a couple of books with a cocktail of a sort and then you get my thoughts on the cocktail, the books and if it worked out. I’ve filmed two episodes so far (posted one, another is coming very soon!) and I truly am enjoying it. I’ve also posted a “silent review” video to pair with this post. So, shameless plug if you’re not following me on social media, you’re possibly missing out haha! 

 Ok. Let’s get into books and thoughts and reviews, shall we? A little stat breakdown for you- I read a total of 7 books (and DNF’d 1), with an average rating of 3.12. My favorite was The Spellshop by Sarah Beth Durst, and my least favorite was Quicksilver by Callie Hart. See all my thoughts below! 

Tomorrow & Tomorrow & Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin 4 Stars I really enjoyed this story- it is simply a coming-of-age story, with a minor climatic event, but ultimately it is a story of friendship. It ambles around a little bit, but in a way that works, and the writing is wonderful. 

 Quicksilver by Callie Hart 1 Star This was not my jam…at all. I found the trope redundant; I wasn’t a fan of the characters. Not sure what else, but it just did not work for me.  

Born of Blood and Ash by Jennifer L. Armentrout 4 Stars I really enjoyed this concluding novel to the series- and make no mistake, this is the superior series in the world that Jennifer Armentrout has created.  

The Spellshop by Sarah Beth Durst 5 Stars This was easily one of my favorite books of the month, maybe even of the year. This was just a wholesome cozy fantasy romance. Very low stakes, I would almost just consider this a cozy romance, but there are some fantasy elements within. 

 Kill for Me, Kill for You by Steve Cavanaugh 3.5/4 Stars I’m not sure where this falls on the rating scale. I enjoyed this book, and the twist was spot on (both of them), but I also didn’t feel super strongly about “loving” it. It is a solid thriller.  

Horror Movie by Paul Tremblay 2 Stars Boy was this a disappointment. I liked the script, that was where Tremblay really shined, but when we went into the narrative of the book it lost me. I can understand the reasoning and where the jarring can work for the story, but instead for me it just pulled me out in a different way.  

***Quick interjection- when it comes to romance, I don’t typically have a lot to say, so you might see the next two reviews (and future romance ones) being a bit shorter. And yes, I’m reading romance, I started sometime in the New Year, and it has stuck haha.  

Drive Me Crazy by Carley Robyn 3 Stars This was a solid romance- a racing romance that I quite enjoyed. The spice level wasn’t the highest I’ve ever read, but it was a cute one that I enjoyed.  

The Art of Catching Feelings by Alicia Thompson 3 Stars This was another solid romance- I might have preferred this one above Drive Me Crazy. A bit more spice and the third act was a bit more…a fight (?) rather than a miscommunication.   

That wraps up August! I will say- I am excited to get into the ‘Ber months, the more atmospheric reads, the darker novels. Happy Reading!

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