It's August already. Huh. How did that happen? July was a busy month for me and my family, but I still managed to read two bookish books:

Daisy Darker by Alice Feeney centers around an eccentric old woman who is also a well-known author of children's books. She invites all the members of her dysfunctional family to her private island to celebrate her 80th birthday. Tension is already high, even before the birthday girl is found dead in her kitchen. Her death is just the beginning of a violent, deadly game reminiscent of And Then There Were None. Who is killing off the Darkers? And why?

This thriller is exactly what it says it is—dark—and yet, I found it irresistibly compelling and clever. I listened to the book on audio and the narrator, Stephanie Racine, gives a pitch-perfect performance that matched the story to a T. 

I also enjoyed The Wishing Game by Meg Shaffer. This gentle novel is also about a famous author who lives on his own private island. In this case, he's a recluse who hasn't penned a new book in years. When Jack Masterson announces he's finally written another novel and he's offering it as a prize to the winner of an exclusive competition he's hosting, everyone is shocked. The hand-picked contestants have to solve puzzles in a race against time—and each other—to earn the life-changing prize. 

Unlike Daisy Darker, this book is uplifting, optimistic, and magical. I really liked it. 

As for bookish books to read in August, I'm hopefully going to pick up some of the ones I've mentioned already in these monthly posts. I'm not going to add anymore to the list at this point. However, I did just learn some exciting news. Jennifer Ryan—one of my favorite authors of World War II fiction—has a novel coming out in 2024 titled The Underground Library. It's about three very different women who come together to save the library that means everything to them amidst the chaos of war. I can't wait!

What bookish books did you read in July? Which are you planning to pick up in August?