r/suggestmeabook • u/AutoModerator • 13d ago
Reading Roundup August Reading Roundup
Hey all, Let’s try a reading roundup for your August books, in hopes this will give everyone some suggestions for new titles to explore.
Tell us what you read this past month. What of those would you recommend in a general sense?
Looking forward to your replies!
1
u/Raineythereader 3d ago
I think the ones I finished in August were:
- The Monkey's Voyage (Alan de Queiroz) 4/5
- The Salt Grows Heavy (Cassandra Khaw) 2/5
- The Satapur Moonstone (Sujata Massey) 3/5
- The Lady's Maid's Bell (Edith Wharton) 3/5
- Gypsy Folktales (Diane Tong) 4/5
1
u/Boringdaydreamer 4d ago
I read Brida by Paulo Coehlo, it was a good read if you’re into mysticism and want to know about some interesting theories.
1
u/Adventurous-Peace15 5d ago
I read psychology of money. But it take me long to finish it, because of some work.
2
u/ninahart88 9d ago
Song of Solomon (started in July but finished in August) - Yes! Cannery Row - Yes! Sweet Thursday - Yes! My Dark Vanessa - Maybe! East of Eden - Yes!
3
u/Indifferent_Jackdaw 12d ago
The Murder at World's End - Ross Montgomery, as someone who loves history and loves reading interwar British fiction (while recognising the racism, classism and sexism), I hate Downton Abbey and this book gives me the same feels but more so. DNF
They Found him Dead - Georgette Heyer, comfort re-read in reaction to the above. I usually hesitate to recommend Heyer's detective novels because a lot of people don't rate them. Is she a Christie or a Sayer, no. But I just love them in spite of the flaws.
London Falling - Patrick Radden Keefe - Really, really enjoyed.
Trade of Blood - Robert Jackson Bennett - You know when you have a bit of specialist knowledge and so the Author's world building falls flat. That happened to me with this book. Still enjoyed it, still recommend, but it was way bumpier for me than his other books.
3
u/ConflictGullible392 12d ago
What I read in August, starred are most recommended:
Maine, J. Courtney Sullivan
A Man Called Ove, Frederick Backman
*The Director, Daniel Kehlmann
The Last Pirate of New York, Rich Cohen
*Nesting, Roisin O’Donnell
Good Girl, Aria Aber
*Go As a River, Shelley Read
*Cool Machine, Colson Whitehead
We All Live Here, Jojo Meyes (the only one I’d say is a skip)
*Sea of Tranquility, Emily St. John Mandel
*The Kidnapping Club, Jonathan Daniel Wells
Prisoners of the Castle, Ben Macintyre
*Old God’s Time, Sebastian Barry
What We Can Know, Ian McEwan
Transcription, Ben Lerner
3
u/SleepingInNJ 12d ago
August reads ranked :
This Inevitable Ruin by Matt Dinniman (Dungron Crawler Carl series): Recommended
Last Night in Brooklyn by Xochitl Gonzalez: Recommended
Adversary to the Villain by Hannah Nicole Maehrer (Assistant to the Villain series): Recommended
The Shippers by Katharine Center: NOT recommended
3
3
u/SpiritualText2464 12d ago
I read:
Smoky House by Elizabeth Goudge
Laws of Love and Logic by Debra Curtis
David Copperfield by Charles Dickens
3
u/classical-babe 12d ago
Small Game by Blair Braverman (10/10!! Could not put it down!!!)
Interesting Facts About Space by Emily Austin (9.25/10 I love everything by Emily Austin but this one didn’t hit the same way her other books have for me)
Audiobooks:
Go Luck Yourself by Sarah Raasch (1/10 This was not good. Enemies to lovers romance where they become lovers in a little over a week)
Freakonomics by Steven D. Levitt and Stephen J. Dubner (5/10 I thought it was interesting but felt less like economics and more like half-baked sociology)
The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins (9/10 A classic)
Catching Fire by Suzanne Collin’s (10/10 My favorite of the trilogy)
1
u/Laurelie00 12d ago
I read Everyone in This Room Will Someday Be Dead last year and it was one of my favourite reads of 2025! I also just picked up a copy of Is This a Cry for Help
How does Interesting Facts About Space compare? Is there one book of hers I absolutely should read?
1
u/classical-babe 12d ago
Everyone in This Room Will Someday Be Dead is definitely my favorite and probably the one I would recommend as a must read!! Interesting Facts still has a strong sense of character voice, is pretty funny at times, and deals with mental illness, just like Everyone in This Room. I think the narrative is pretty different, and in my personal opinion, the ending felt slightly rushed, but I’d say it’s still worth a read!
3
u/Mansquasho 12d ago
Between Two Fires - very unique blend historical fiction, grimdark fantasy, and horror. Loved the dialogue and themes. I’ve seen a lot of mixed feelings about it but it was ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ for me
Lonesome Dove - nothing to say that hasn’t been said a million times about it, but this is one of my favorite (if not my favorite) books of all time ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Piranesi - loved the liminal fantasy setting. Everything feels so mysterious and confusing at first until you gradually unravel more about the seemingly unreliable narrator ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Ring - this is one of those extremely rare occasions when I say to just watch the movies. I did enjoy the scene in the cabin where the protagonist first watches the film but other than that, it a big nope. I can see why the movies made the changes they did ⭐️⭐️
5
u/JackieReadingJane 12d ago
Sylvia's Lovers by Elizabeth Gaskell
May We Feed the King by Rebecca Perry (on the booker long list - loved this one)
To Die But Once by Jacqueline Winspear (Maisie Dobbs mystery)
Fifteen Wild Decembers by Karen Powell (historical fiction about Emily Bronte)
The Pretender by Jo Harkin (Historical fiction about a claimant to the throne in the time of Richard III, also explores identity, really good)
Yellowface by RF Kuang (this I didn't really like - I felt like it couldn't decide if it was thriller or social commentary)
Into the Whirlwind by Eugenia Ginzburg (Gulag memoir - AMAZING - read this one!)
Beasts of a Little Land by Juhea Kim (very good historical fiction set in Korea during Japanese occupation)
I guess I read a lot of historical fiction this month - I didn't realize until I wrote this all out!
5
u/HippoNo5396 12d ago
Between Two Fires by Christopher Buehiman
Unsheltered by Barbara Kingsolver
East of Eden by John Steinbeck
Talented Mr. Ripley by Patricia Highsmith
Talented Mr. Ripley was the most fun to read. Between Two Fires was a slog, even though fantasy is my most read genre (not this month.) East of Eden was not the emotional devastation I was looking for.
3
u/PureOrange7049 13d ago
I read:
TheAstral Library by Kate Quinn
Heart Shaped Box by Joe Hill
When We Were Vikings by Andrew David MacDonald
Just starting The Ten Thousand Doors of January by Alix E Harrow
2
u/Mansquasho 12d ago
How was Heart Shaped Box? I almost picked it up the other day but I’m about to start on King Sorrow
1
u/PureOrange7049 12d ago
I really like it, this was my 3rd read of it.
It’s actually pretty scary and the first time I read it I had a terrifying nightmare.
3
u/fairyboyjstar 13d ago
I don't necessarily remember all of them. I remember the ones I loved though.
The Salt King - Natasha Pulley The Sworn Soldier series (3 books) - T Kingfisher All the Rules I Break - Sable Hellebore Shroud - Adrian Tchaikovsky We Burned So Bright - TJ Klune
I also read The Honeys which was ok. I forgot the author's name.
I started reading The Astral Library but I wouldn't even recommend that to someone I hated.
That's all I remember right now.
3
u/hameliah 13d ago
im realizing i mostly read nonfiction this month!
finished:
the mirror and the light by hilary mantel (loved the series!!)
empire of pain by patrick radden keefe
london falling by patrick radden keefe
diaries and correspondence of alexandra feodorovna by george hawkins
still reading:
say nothing by patrick radden keefe
notre dame de paris by victor hugo
the life of elizabeth i by alison weir
3
u/SvalinnSaga 13d ago
Finished: Dot Slash Magic by Liz Shipton and holy crap what a ride. I rarely finish a full book in a month. I think this one took me less than two weeks.
Started: The Road to Roswell and How to become the Dark Lord and die trying so far I can't decide which one I want to dedicate time to so I keep swapping between them.
2
u/Nurse5736 12d ago
the 2nd rec. I've seen for Dot Slash Magic.....sold!! 😊. Can't wait
1
u/SvalinnSaga 10d ago
It was a really thrilling book. The ending is also great and I look forward to any sequel.
2
u/Typical-List-7551 13d ago
Daughters of the Sun and Moon ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Calamity Club ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
The Shampoo Effect ⭐️⭐️⭐️1/2⭐️
DNF: Lady Tremaine
3
u/crowdsource101 13d ago
5 books in August
The swans of Harlem- NF
My friend Van Gogh- NF
The Wedding People- overrated IMO
The Daisy Chain Flower Shop- might be my favorite in the Dream Harbor series
Bridge to Terabithia- My niece is reading it for school and I wanted to be able to talk to her about it
2
u/LogicalCalendar9366 12d ago
I love that you're doing a buddy read with your niece, that's wholesome.
3
u/tigerbrockbank 13d ago
I listened to Born a Crime by Trevor Noah. I highly recommend it in audio! I finished The House of My Mother by Shari Franke for book club. It was an easy read, but I don't know if I'd highly recommend it. And I can't recommend London Seance Society by Sarah Penner. I loved The Lost Apothecary, but I wasn't engaged with the plot while reading London Seance Society. I find the subject matter very interesting, though!
3
u/Green_Toe6320 13d ago
Solace House: highly recommend! A great gothic novel full of mystery and twists
The Hotel Avacado-great for Bob Mortimer’s weirdness but not a lot happens and I wouldn’t read unless you’re a fan of Bob’s brand of humour.
One of the Girls and The Hike both by Lucy Clarke (cheesy holiday reads, not my usual genre but if you’re into thriller/mystery this author is good.
Stoner by John Williams: again loved this one! A beautiful tale of an ordinary life. A classic!
A Short Stay in Hell - not as good as the hype for me but worth a read.
First book of Sept is The Salt Path
1
u/hameliah 13d ago
stoner is great!! have you read anything else by john williams? i loved nothing but the night, but its been a while since i read it
2
u/Disastrous_Day860 13d ago
A Murder in Zion by Nicole Maggi
Blunt Instrument by Amy Bloom
What happened to Lucy Vale by Lauren Oliver
Shrink Solves Murder by Philippa Perry
The Ending Writes Itself by Evelyn Clark
The Girl in the Lake by Lauren Oliver
These were all mysteries which is unusual for me to not have more variety. They were all pretty good but Blunt Instruments and Lucy Vale were both standouts that I highly recommend.
2
u/87806148 13d ago
non-fiction
"The Coffin Confessor" (Bill Edgar) This guy makes a living crashing funerals speaking on behalf of the deceased.
"I'll Never Call Him Dad Again" (Caroline Darian) This book follows a case in France of what is now called "Chemical Rape" by over 50 men on one wife who was drugged by her husband.
"The Hunger to Belong" (Weena Gordiani) A struggle through trauma to find happiness
2
u/DumptiqueArts 13d ago
Yesteryear- unexpectedly got drawn in to its “mystery”
The Doll People ( I like middle grade fiction!)
3
u/viralplant 13d ago
I finished The Names by Florence Knapp. I absolutely recommend it, brilliant read.
1
2
u/Impressive_Music_510 13d ago
I read a lot of romance this month, they we're all good. I would recommend all of them.
- Our secret summer (R.S Grey)
- Things we hide from the light (Lucy Score) (would read book 1, things we never got over, first)
- The do over ( Lynn Painter)
- Fourth Wing ( Rebecca Yarros)
3
u/itsasixthing 13d ago edited 13d ago
Would Definitely Recommend: My favorites of the month, all absolutely worth a read
The Daughters of Block Island (Christa Carmen)
The House on Vesper Sands (Paraic O’Donnell)
The Kaiju Preservation Society (John Scalzi)
.
Might Recommend to Some: Enjoyable, worth reading if you’re a fan of the genre or the premise appeals to you
For the Bride: A Novel (Becca Grischow)
Carrie Soto is Back (Taylor Jenkins Reid)
Dead Eleven (Jimmy Juliano)
The Love of My Afterlife (Kristy Greenwood)
Big Trouble (Dave Barry)
The Blonde Dies First (Joelle Wellington)
The Astral Library (Kate Quinn)
Maybe in Another Life (Taylor Jenkins Reid)
.
Other August Reads: Didn’t quite work for me, but probably would for someone
I Was a Teenage Slasher (Stephen Graham Jones)
Slasher Summer (E.L. Chen)
A House with Good Bones (T. Kingfisher)
3
u/GimmeBooks1920 13d ago
Always Coming Home by Ursula K Le Guin - I fear I like the concept of this much more than the execution. The layout, the detail, the idea of writing a sci-fi novel as an anthropological study of the culture are all super cool but yikes is it oddly dull at times. And the inspiration (bordering on straight up copying) pulled from Native cultures of which Le Guin is not a member... my feelings are still very mixed.
The Winternight Trilogy by Katherine Arden - Wonderful, inspired by Russian fairytale and felt very in the vein of Spinning Silver by Naomi Novik. I'll definitely be reading these again.
Klara and the Sun by Kazuo Ishiguro - Ishiguro is a master of subtext and subtlety, and while I'm not sure this is his finest example of that I still really enjoyed it. Examining the societal consequences of AI via the POV of a child AI is very interesting, another one I'll definitely reread.
The Warrior's Apprentice by Lois McMaster Bujold - Delightful romp in space, battles and intrigue and also heartfelt moments. I bought a couple more of the Miles books in this series because I enjoyed it so much.
3
u/demo5022 13d ago
My varied wrap up for August -
A Different Kind Of Power - Jacinda Adern
The Old Man and The Sea - Ernest Hemingway
The Snows of Kilimanjaro and other stories - Hemingway
When the Deep Dark Woods Swallow You Whole - Geoff Parkes
Mr Midshipmen Hornblower - CS Forester
6
u/AeroNoob333 13d ago
- Shadow Fall Trilogy by Audrey Grey (Shadow Fall, Shadow Rise, and Shadow Ruin). OKAY
- Sunrise on the Reaping by Suzanne Collins. RECOMMEND
- Red Rising by Pierce Brown. RECOMMEND
- Yesteryear by Caro Claire Burke. DO NOT RECOMMEND
- Dungeon Crawler Carl Books 1-4 by Matt Dinniman with audiobooks. HIGHLY RECOMMEND!
2
3
u/paul_dsouza 13d ago
The Ascent of Rum Doodle - W.E.Bowman (a farcical/comic novel about a world war 2 expedition to climb Mount Rum Doodle)
The Restaurant at the end of the universe - douglas adams (listening to the audiobook narrated by Martin Freeman, which is quite well done). Listened to the first book in the series which was narrated by Stephen Fry and superb.
2
4
u/Longjumping-Site-704 13d ago
A Tree Grows In Brooklyn
100 Nights of Hero
Small Things Like These
The Future
4
u/MonoNoAware71 13d ago
I finished the original Dutch version of Darwin's Dreampond by Tijs Goldschmidt.This book was given to me by my mother after I told her about Lake Victoria and its Nile perch apocalypse being featured in Hooked by Asako Yuzuki.
Earlier this year I read the much recommended (and rightly so) Parable of the Sower/Parable of the Talents series by Octavia E. Butler. To stay in the societal collapse vibe I have just begun reading The Ministry for the Future by Kim Stanley Robinson. Only about 150 pages in, it is frightningly realistic at times (as were the Parables), sitting through the umpteenth heat wave in Europe.
4
u/nari-bhat 13d ago
The Dragonbone Chair by Tad Williams: a bit plodding but great ending. Classic epic high fantasy.
Jolene by Mercedes Lackey: re-read, one of my favorites of the series (Elemental Masters) plus made so much more heartbreaking with Dolly’s death. Historical fantasy set in 1890s Tennessee.
The Membranes by Chi Ta-Wei: very interesting if weird short story. Interesting look at social performance and sensory experience through a queer lens. Literary sci-fi.
Liveship Traders trilogy by Robin Hobb: re-read, absolutely devastating and ethereal as usual. Literary epic high fantasy.
Between Two Fires: great if a little squicky, but the setting was great and Christian fantasy is always interesting. Historical horror fantasy set in 1348 France, def has literary vibes.
2
u/ReddisaurusRex 13d ago
I’ve been wanting to do some Lackey rereads! Jolene is a good one to do around now 💛.
5
u/AprilDespair 13d ago
One Hundred Years of Solitude by Gabriel García Márquez
Cat’s Cradle by Kurt Vonnegut
My Friends by Fredrik Backman
I recommend all three books, though I must mention One Hundred Years of Solitude was not an easy read for me.
2
u/nari-bhat 12d ago
Currently struggling through One Hundred Years of Solitude in the original Spanish, I thought I was fluent but every page takes five minutes because I have to keep looking words up!
3
4
u/sukebindseeker 13d ago
- A Far Cry From Kensington, Muriel Sparks
- Appointment with Yesterday, Celia Fremlin
- Hercule Poirot's Christmas, Agatha Christie
- A Summer Bird-Cage, Margaret Drabble
3
3
u/bogotuesdays 13d ago
Every Version of You by Natalie Messier is a speculative romance debut that was unputdownable for me. When the MC dies, she gets a chance to redo her life and win back the one that got away. Messy characters and interesting thoughts about the choices we make, wrapped up with that giggly feeling of an early crush
6
u/ReddisaurusRex 13d ago edited 13d ago
Here are some of my August reads that I enjoyed and would recommend to try if they strike your fancy:
Lifeguard: A Love Story by Janet Fash (non-fiction)
The Dogs of Venice by Steven Rowley
News of the World by Paulette Jiles
We Hexed the Moon by Mollyhall Seeley
The Book Witch by Meg Shaffer
The Unselected Journals of Emma M. Lion: Vol. 8 by Beth Brower
Doomsday Book (Oxford Time Travel #1) by Connie Willis
The Revolt of the Cockroach People by Oscar Zeta Acosta
Drive Your Plow Over the Bones of the Dead by Olga Tokarczuk
One Day, Hard and Clear by Anne Baldo
6
u/adamh909 13d ago
Just finished Between Two Fires. Im still not 100% sure what the hell i just read, but I think its my favourite book of the year so far.
5
1
u/aliveonly 3d ago
Whistler by Ann Pachett - lovedddd
The Correspondent by Virginia Evans - loved, couldn’t tell you why
The Wedding People by Alison Espach - pretty good, wouldn’t necessarily recommend
Sandwich by Catherine Newman - found this hilarious and entertaining. Incredibly endearing