Can you believe it’s already August? Although I don’t technically have kids going back to school, I do have two who still live by the school calendar—one as a teacher, the other as a grad student. Still, August seems to mark the end of long summer days, even if they haven’t been lazy ones. And while the situation of having a book in my hand doesn’t change from season to season, it is sometimes fun to look back over the short span of a few months and acknowledge the books that stood out.
Remember, my TBR pile is large, so I’m not always reading new releases! Here’s my list (in no particular order):
Knox and Tate by Susan May Warren
These were probably my two most anticipated summer reads. I love Susie’s books. Her heroes are sigh-worthy. Her heroines are strong. The characters always deal with deeper issues than ending up with the one they love and the action is hold-your-breath-will-they-make-it-out-alive kind of stuff. (And yes, I’ve already pre-ordered Ford! I can’t wait!)
My Dear Hamilton by Stephanie Dray and Laura Kamoie
Fascinating novel about Eliza Hamilton, wife of Alexander Hamilton. I devoured the story, then geeked on their writing process notes. Very sound research, but even more than that, very thoughtful fictional decisions about her motivations when there are no surviving accounts to help us know what really happened.
The Seamstress by Allison Pittman
Loved this story woven from a minor character in Dickens’ Tale of Two Cities. A cast of characters with depth and a plot full of twists and turns, all of which capture the tension of the French Revolution.
Now and Then and Always by Melissa Tagg
What could be better than two people falling in love while they try to renovate a house and solve a mystery? And of course since we are back in Melissa’s lovely town of Maple Valley, Iowa, we also get mentions of people and places very familiar to those of us who have read her other books!
The Lost Book of the Grail by Charlie Lovett
A contemporary story with historical interludes, all set in England. Basically a love letter to books and absolutely my cup of tea!
The Lines We Leave Behind by Eliza Graham
A historical, psychological thriller highlighting a piece of WWII history I knew nothing about—the fight for control of Yugoslavia. This is my most recently finished book, but I can’t stop thinking about it. I was captured not only by the story but also by the way it was written.
So there you have it. Historical novels mostly, with a few contemporary pieces woven in.
What about you? What have been your favorite summer reads this summer?
Latest posts by D'Ann Mateer (see all)
- The Cheer Squad - May 7, 2025
- Guest Post: Crystal Caudill - April 16, 2025
- D’Ann’s Favorites - April 13, 2025
I enjoyed My Dear Hamilton and The Seamstress. I also enjoyed Dragonfly by Lelia Meacham.
Oh! I love Lelia Meacham and didn’t know she had a new one out! It’s on my list now!
This summer I’ve read in print or listened to 9 wonderful novels, and since August isn’t over yet, there may be more by the end of August. These nine are A Lady of Willowgrove Hall (on MP3 CD) by Sara Ladd, Where the Crawdads Sing (on CD) by Delia Owens, Catching the Wind by Melanie Dobson, A Reluctant Bride (on MP3 CD) by Jody Hedlund, No Ocean Too Wide by Carrie Turansky, Portrait of a Sister (on CD) by Laura Bradford, In This Moment (on CDs) by Karen Kingsbury, Christy (on MP3 CDs), and Castle on the Rise by Kristy Cambron. I usually have one print novel and one book on CD going simultaneously so that I can still be “reading” when I’m putting on make-up, dressing, fixing my hair, etc. I love to read!
Good for you! Several of those are in my TBR pile. Love that you find ways to keep reading even while doing other things!
I’ve been reading most of Ann Tatlock’s books this year, and loving them. Every Secret Thing is one of my favorites, about a teacher going back to teach in the prep school she attended and finding out the truth about an incident that occurred there in her student days. Another good read this summer is Elisabeth Elliot’s Suffering Is Never for Nothing.
How fun to spend some time reading one particular author’s works. I’ll have to check out Every Secret Thing. And Elisabeth Elliot is always wonderful. Happy reading!
I have Knox and Tate waiting in the wings. Ford is preordered. When he arrives, I’ll read all 3 in order. My latest reads that I enjoyed the most are A Provision for Love by Heather Chapman, Just One Kiss by Courtney Walsh, The Principle of the Path by Andy Stanley (NF), and the first 2 Thatcher Sisters books by Beth K. Vogt. I also listened to Fearless: Imagine Your Life Without Fear by Max Lucado and thought it was excellent.
Great list, Sherri! Knox, Tate and Ford back-to-back-to back will be awesome!!
Although it released in April, I just finished Tamara Leigh’s “Fearless” and LA-LA-LOVED IT!! She owns the market on Christian medieval books and it’s so refreshing to read something from such a different genre and her storytelling is flawless.
Her books are in my TBR pile! I guess that means I need to get to them! 🙂
Some of my favorites from this summer’s reading are No other Will Do by Karen Witemeyer, The Captive Imposter by Dawn Crandall, Messenger of Truth by Jacqueline Winspear, and the Anatomist’s Wife by Anna Lee Huber. Listened to (and loved) Blind Spot and Dead Drift by Dani Pettrey, and Lynette Eason’s first two in her Hidden Identity series. My favorite book this summer has been Trinity-Military War Dog by Ronie Kendig. Now reading The Silent Governess by Julie Klassen and loving it!
Such great books! I need to move a few of those up on my list! 🙂