Books in Progress: What I’ve Been Reading Lately – July 2020

Hello, reading friends! It’s the 15th, which means it’s time to talk books — what I’ve read recently, my currently reading stack, and what I have my eye on next.

As usual, I have quite a variety of genres here, though most of them are fiction. I just haven’t been in the mood for nonfiction over the last few weeks, but I’m sure my appetite for those titles will return soon.

In the meantime, I’m just reading all the great stories I can get my hands on and working on finishing up the Harry Potter series. I’m also interested to see how my reading might be different this time next month, since we will be transitioning back into the school year by that point.

Are your kids going back to actual school or will you be continuing to online/home school? How will you be incorporating reading for yourself and your student during that process? I’m thankful that our school system has a good plan in place that will allow our girls to be able to attend, but I know many won’t be able to do so and I’m curious as to what your plans are in that situation.

Other than HP I don’t have any books for kids on this list, but I hope that you will find something interesting for your grownup self today. Reading is great self-care, after all.

This post contains affiliate links, which means I might make some extra coffee money at no extra expense to you if you buy something through one of my links. Read more about that here.

Just Finished:

The Woman in the Green Dress

You can read my full review of this book here, but the short version is that I really enjoyed this dual-timeline mystery/romance set in Australia. I thought the characters were great, the setting took me someplace I’ve always wanted to go, and the ending was a complete surprise.

The Jane Austen Society

I picked up this book knowing very little about it because I had seen it on so many recent favorites list. My overall impression was that I enjoyed it, but it did get off to a slow start. It’s about an unlikely group of friends who take it upon themselves to start a society with the goal of preserving Jane Austen’s legacy in the the English village of Chawton, Austen’s final home. Each deals with their own losses, but the kinship they find over Jane’s books draws them together in a most charming way.

Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire

Although it is loooong (734 pages?!), this has been my favorite Harry Potter book so far. It seems like it brings together so many strands that were introduced in the first three book and weaves them together in a very satisfying way. I also like the fact that the kids are starting to grow up, which means the first hints of some romance and starting to figure out what they might want to do for a career in life after Hogwarts.

Currently Reading:

Summer by the Tides

Summer by the Tides by was a no brainer summer reading bingo choice for a book with ‘summer’ in the title. I love her sweet love stories, and this one is no exception. I’m almost done with it and can’t wait to see how it all wraps up! When Maddy loses her job and her cheating boyfriend all in one day, she thinks things can’t get worse – until she gets the call that her Grandma is missing. She travels to her grandmother’s beach home, only to find her estranged sisters are there as well. As they look for their grandmother and work together to spruce up the old house, family secrets come to light and Maddy finds herself drawn to the handsome widower who lives next door.

Sons of Blackbird Mountain

I know this one was on my list last month, but I got a little delayed getting started on it so it’s back again this month. But it deserves the extra attention so I’m not sorry. If you’ve never heard of this beautiful historical romance you can read the full review I wrote for it a couple of years ago here and I hope you’ll be convinced to pick it up.

The Lost Man

What made me pick this one up? I needed an audiobook, and this one was available, simple as that. Also I’ve repeatedly heard great things that made me want to give this author a try, so there was that also. I’ve only just barely started this one so no thoughts yet, but I’m hopeful that it will live up to the hype.

Up Next:

Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix

All I know about this one is that Harry and Snape are teaming up to help Harry resist/defeat Voldemort. What could possibly go wrong there? I look forward to getting my hands on the next delightful installment in this beloved series on my next library run.

Be the Bridge

I requested that my library purchase this book about racial reconciliation months ago and it finally showed up on my holds list! It should be my turn any day now and I can’t wait to read it and see what I can learn. I’ve heard the author, Latasha Morrison, in an interview and she seems like someone who approaches this topic with so much grace and truth.

The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time

This book has been on my shelf for ages and for some reason now feels like a good time to pick it up, so I already have it set out on my nightstand to start as soon as I finish Sons of Blackbird Mountain. I’m pretty sure I’ve only ever read one other book about a person with autism, so I’m looking forward to reading a story through that perspective.

Thanks to Modern Mrs. Darcy for hosting a quick lit link up! Go check her out if you want to see what even more bloggers are reading right now.

What are you reading right now? Whatever it is, I want to hear about it! Drop me a comment and give me the good, bad, and ugly of your current reading life.