The Daughter's July Reads

This month was fantastic for reading and I feel like I am finally getting back to my usual reading schedule! Hopefully you all had a great reading month as well. I had a wide range of book genres this month and I really liked spicing it up!

As always, if you're interested in purchasing any of the books listed here, please use our Amazon affiliate links listed below.

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The House in the Cerulean Sea by T.J. Klune

"Hate is loud, but I think you'll learn it's because it's only a few people shouting, desperate to be heard. You might not ever be able to change their minds, but so long as you remember you're not alone, you will overcome."

This book centers on Linus Baker - he is quiet, timid, and leads an exceptionally boring life. He is a caseworker for the Department in Charge of Magical Youth and spends his days auditing orphanages specifically for magical youth. One day he is called to meet before the Extremely Upper Management and is tasked with something dangerous. Linus gets to leave his exceptionally boring life and travel to an island where there is a house in the cerulean sea. I won't say more in terms of the plot, but I will say that this book seriously tugs at your heart strings!

If you were looking for an uplifting, enchanting, masterfully told book, look no further. I loved each and every character.

The Push by Ashley Audrain

Where do I even begin with this book? So disturbingly dark and terrifying, but utterly intriguing and compulsively readable. I really did not enjoy the first half of this book because it is filled to the brim with abuse, alcoholism, and absolutely horrific family stories. However, the second half of this book flew by and I could not put it down!

"A mother's heart breaks a million ways in her lifetime."

Violet is the first child born to her mother and father, and from the start, she has given her mother serious concerns (to put it mildly) about her character and morals. This book is Violet's childhood as told through the lens of her mother. I finished this book at the beginning of July and haven't stopped thinking about it since!

Then She Was Gone by Lisa Jewell

"A man who can't love but desperately needs to be loved is a dangerous thing indeed."

Ellie Mack goes missing at 15 years old. Her mother, Laurel Mack, cannot find closure after her daughter's disappearance but never gives up her search. Slowly, Ellie's tragic fate is unfolded before us and we find ourselves searching for answers alongside Laurel.

I have mixed feelings about this book. It was a fairly fast read but the reading experience was average for me, especially after reading The Push. I think it was average for me because it was fairly predictable so a lot of the tension was taken out of the story. That being said it was still an edgy, dark, and addictive read.

The Maidens by Alex Michaelides

A handsome and charismatic Greek mythology teacher at Cambridge might have everybody fooled except Mariana. Mariana is convinced the Edward Fosca is a murdered and she will stop at nothing to prove it. I rated this 4.5/5 stars because although it is a fast paced, addictive read, it did not live up to this author's previous bestseller, The Silent Patient. I was intrigued by all the characters here and absolutely loved the small scene where characters from his previous book made an appearance in this book! And as we know, I read anything and everything related to Greek mythology. Highly recommend!

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The House in the Cerulean Sea - https://amzn.to/2VyMj1H

The Push - https://amzn.to/2UEDO4m

Then She Was Gone - https://amzn.to/3B2IWAd

The Maidens - https://amzn.to/3BGzEdx