Category: Monthly update

Reading update

I read 10 books in August, one more than the previous month fuelled by a determination to complete the 20 Books of Summer reading challenge. You can find out how I got on here.

I managed to finish reading all the ARCs that published in August. However I didn’t get to all those publishing in September which had been my objective. To be fair, there were ten. I’ve managed four so far so I have a busy month of reading ahead. On the bright side they include books by some of my favourite authors and lots of historical fiction.

Here are the books I read, with links to my reviews. As you can see, I have quite a few reviews still left to write.

• The Knife Maker of Venice by David Gilman
• Trials of the Heart by Stephen Wade
• Conqueror (Agricola #4) by Simon Turney
• A Shroud of Snow by Sarah Hawkswood
• Our Noble Selves by Kate Atkinson
• A Thought Without Collision by Adrian Duncan
• Careless People by Sarah Wynn-Williams
• The Correspondent by Virginia Evans
• Seething Lane by Jack Jewers
• Farewell to Eden by Sebastian Faulks

My favourite book this month was Our Noble Selves by Kate Atkinson, although Farewell to Eden by Sebastian Faulks came a close second.

Blog update

I published 24 blog posts in August:

Book reviews/author features – 5
Memes – 9
Reading updates – 10

For those who like their stats, my blog received 10.9k views in August, up 26% on the previous month. All-time views now stand at 538,270. Thanks to everyone who took the time to read my reviews and/or leave comments last month.

Reading goals update

• Goodreads – 65/104, still 4 books behind schedule
• Read 20 books that have been in my TBR for over 2 years – 3/20, same as last month
• When Are You Reading? Challenge – 9/12, 1 more than last month
• Historical Fiction Reading Challenge – 31/50, 5 more than last month
• Classics Club List 2 – 4/50, same as last month
• Read all the books on the Walter Scott Prize for Historical Fiction 2026 longlist – 9/12, same as last month
• NetGalley feedback ratio – 97%, same as last month
• Audiobooks – 6/12, same as last month

Plans for September..

• Get up-to-date with reviews
• Read the remaining ARCs with September publication dates
• Read the book chosen for me in the latest Classics Club spin – Creatures of Circumstance by W. Somerset Maugham
• Identify books to fit the remaining time periods I need to complete the When Are You Reading? Challenge
• Start reading ARCs with October publication dates
• If I can, fit in a few books on the Booker Prize longlist

Reading update

I read eight books in July, one less than the previous month. I didn’t quite manage to read all the ARCs I have with August publication dates which was my objective. (I’m trying to stay one month ahead.) I have three left, one of which I’m currently reading.

Here are the books I read, with links to my reviews (if I’ve written them yet):

Land by Maggie O’Farrell
Where Are the Kings by Donal Ryan
Invitation from a Dictator by Rory Clements
The Millionaire Waltz by Anthony Quinn
The Eagle & the Wolf by Gordon Doherty
The Draw of the Sea by Wyl Menmuir
Fair Play by Louise Hegarty
Little Spark by Jess Kidd

My favourite book was this month was Land by Maggie O’Farrell, although The Draw of the Sea by Wyl Menmuir came a close second.

Blog update

I published 28 blog posts in July:

Book reviews – 7
Memes – 14
Reading updates – 7

For those who like statistics, my blog received 8.7k views in July, up 8% on the previous month. All-time views now stand at 528,614. Thank you to everyone who took the time to read my reviews and/or leave comments last month.

Reading goals update

• Goodreads – 55/104, still 4 books behind schedule
• 20 Books of Summer – 15/20, 6 more than last month
• Read 20 books that have been in my TBR for over 2 years – 3/20, same as last month
• When Are You Reading? Challenge – 8/12, same as last month
• Historical Fiction Reading Challenge – 26/50, 4 more than last month
• Classics Club List 2 – 4/50, same as last month
• Read all the books on the Walter Scott Prize for Historical Fiction 2026 longlist – 9/12, same as last month
• NetGalley feedback ratio – 97%, up from 96% the previous month
• Audiobooks – 6/12, 1 more than last month

Plans for August..

• Continue to work through my 20 Books of Summer list
• Finish writing reviews of the books I read in July
• Read The Correspondent by Virginia Evans for my book club
• Read the final 3 ARCs with August publishing dates
• Start reading the 9 ARCs with September publishing dates (eek!)