My 20 Books Of Summer 2021: Progress Update #20booksofsummer21

20-books-of-summerWith just under a month left to go I’m continuing to make good progress but I still have some chunky books left on my list.

The annual 20 Books of Summer challenge is run by my namesake, Cathy at 746 Books.  This year it takes place between 1st June and 1st September 2021.  As (the other) Cathy explains, the rules are simple.  Take the Books of Summer image, pick your own 10, 15 or 20 books you’d like to read and add your link to Cathy’s master post here so she knows you’re taking part.

The rules are accommodating as well.  Want to swap a book? Go for it.  Fancy changing your list half way through? No problem.  Deciding to drop your goal from 20 to 15? She’s fine with that too.

I decided to aim for the full 20 once again. In putting together my list, I concentrated on blog tour commitments I had from June onwards, books on my NetGalley To Read shelf that published in June, July and August, and books I’ve received as Readers First giveaways but still haven’t read. My thinking was the first category contains books I need to read soon anyway, the second category will help me maintain my 80% plus NetGalley feedback ratio and the third will assuage any guilt at my tardiness in posting the expected reviews. So far that strategy seems to be working, as you can see below!

Links from the titles will take you to the book description on Goodreads or to my review when I’ve read them.


Read and reviewed

This Is How We Are Human by Louise Beech (Orenda Books)
The Serpent King by Tim Hodkinson (Aries)
The Fort (City of Victory #1) by Adrian Goldsworthy (Head of Zeus)
Scandalous Alchemy by Katy Moran (Head of Zeus)
Everything Happens for a Reason by Katie Allen (Orenda Books)

One Last Time by Helga Flatland (Orenda Books)
Two Women In Rome by Elizabeth Buchan (Corvus)
Mrs England by Stacey Halls (Manilla Press)
Yours Cheerfully by A J Pearce (Picador)
This Lovely City by Louise Hare

This Shining Life by Harriet Kline (Doubleday)
Those I Have Lost by Sharon Maas (Bookouture)
Cecily by Annie Garthwaite (Viking)
Three Little Truths by Eithne Shortall (Corvus)
The Fair Botanists by Sara Sheridan

Yet to be read

Gallowstree Lane (Collins & Griffiths #3) by Kate London (Corvus)
A Corruption of Blood (Raven, Fisher and Simpson #3) by Ambrose Parry (Canongate)
The Unfortunate Englishman (Joe Wilderness #2) by John Lawton (Atlantic)
A Line to Kill (Hawthorne and Horowitz Mystery #3) by Anthony Horowitz (Century)
Unsettled Ground by Claire Fuller (Fig Tree)

Wish me luck! If you’re taking part too, enjoy your summer of reading.

My Week in Books – 18th July 2021

MyWeekinBooks

On What Cathy Read Next last week

Blog posts

Monday – I published my review of For Lord and Land by Matthew Harffy as part of the blog tour.

Tuesday This week’s Top Ten Tuesday topic was Book Titles That Are Questions. I also shared my review as part of the blog tour for The Book of Echoes by Rosanna Amaka 

WednesdayWWW Wednesday is the opportunity to share what I’ve just read, what I’m currently reading and what I plan to read next… and to have a good nose around what others are reading. 

Thursday – I shared my review of Songbirds by Christy Lefteri

Friday – I published my review of World War 2 thriller Kyiv by Graham Hurley as part of the blog tour. 

Saturday – I shared my list for the latest Classics Club Spin. As I only have two books left on my Classics Club list  I’m aiming to read them both. 

As always, thanks to everyone who has liked, commented on or shared my blog posts on social media.


New arrivals

A Single RoseA Single Rose by Muriel Barbery, translated by Alison Anderson (ARC, courtesy of Gallic Books)

Rose has turned 40, but has barely begun to live. When the Japanese father she never knew dies and she finds herself an orphan, she leaves France for Kyoto to hear the reading of his will.

In the days before Haru’s last wishes are revealed, his former assistant, Paul, takes Rose on a tour of the temples, gardens and eating places of this unfamiliar city. Initially a reluctant tourist and awkward guest in her late father’s home, Rose gradually comes to discover Haru’s legacy through the itinerary he set for her, finding gifts greater than she had ever imagined.

This stunning novel from international bestseller Muriel Barbery is a mesmerizing story of second chances, of beauty born out of grief and roses grown from ashes.


On What Cathy Read Next this week

Currently reading

Planned posts

  • Book Review: The Reading List by Sara Nisha Adams
  • Top Ten Tuesday
  • WWW Wednesday
  • Book Review: Vanish in an Instant by Margaret Millar