This blog post is all about the books I read in July.
I’ve been on a bit of a reading spree lately, picking up everything from heartwarming romance to unsettling literary fiction.
Some were absolute gems I couldn’t put down, while others… well, let’s just say they won’t be making my all-time favourites list.
Here’s a quick roundup of the books I read in July with my honest thoughts and ratings.
RELATED book blog posts to read:
- Reviews of the 8 Books I Read in June 2025
- Reviews of the 8 Books I Read in May 2025
- Best 100 Books of the 21st Century: How Many Have You Read?
- Reviews of the 8 Books I Read in April 2025
- Reviews of the 8 Books I Read in March 2025
This blog post is all about the books I read in July.
Reviews of the 9 Books I Read in July 2025
Below are the nine books I read in July and their reviews and ratings.
1. The Coin by Yasmin Zaher
A literary debut about an unnamed, wealthy Palestinian woman living in New York City. She becomes consumed by obsessive cleaning rituals and fixates on a coin she swallowed as a child, which she believes is still lodged in her body. The novel explores themes of class, wealth, identity, obsession, and control, blending surreal and poetic prose with a psychological focus.
My Rating: ★★★
The Coin by Yasmin Zaher is one of those books that’s hard to pin down. It’s part unsettling character study, part social commentary, and completely unlike anything I’ve read before. Zaher’s writing is sharp, strange, and often beautiful, but also a bit disjointed at times, which made it hard for me to fully connect with the story. I admired the originality and the boldness, but I wasn’t totally swept away. For me, it was an intriguing, if slightly alienating, read.
2. Say You’ll Remember Me by Abby Jimenez
A contemporary romance centering on two characters from very different backgrounds who are brought together by chance. The story follows their relationship as they navigate personal challenges, family dynamics, and societal expectations. It combines romantic development with themes of loyalty, resilience, and self-discovery.
My Rating: ★★★
Abby Jimenez delivers another heartfelt romance that blends sweetness with just enough emotional weight to keep it from feeling fluffy. The characters are lovable and well-developed, with chemistry that feels effortless, and the story has just the right mix of humour and heartache. While it’s a tad predictable in places, I didn’t mind because I was so invested in the journey. Perfect if you want a warm, feel-good read that still tugs at your heartstrings.
3. The Hawthorne Legacy (2) by Jennifer Lynn Barnes
The second installment in The Inheritance Games series continues the story of Avery Grambs, a teenager who unexpectedly inherits a billionaire’s fortune. This book deepens the puzzle of the Hawthorne family estate, introducing new riddles, hidden clues, and shifting alliances, while exploring the mystery of Avery’s connection to the Hawthornes.
My Rating: ★★★
The second book in The Inheritance Games series keeps the puzzles and drama going, but for me, it didn’t quite hit the high of the first. The mystery is still fun, the riddles are clever, and the mansion setting remains a standout, but the love triangle got a bit repetitive. If you enjoyed the first book, this is worth reading to see the story unfold, but it felt more like a bridge to the finale than a standout on its own.
4. The Nickel Boys by Colton Whitehead
A historical novel set in 1960s Florida, based on the real-life Dozier School for Boys. It follows Elwood Curtis, an idealistic African American teenager, and his friend Turner, as they endure the brutal realities of life in a segregated reform school. The novel examines systemic racism, injustice, and the long-term impact of institutional abuse.
My Rating: ★★★
A devastating, beautifully written novel that shines a light on a horrific chapter of American history. Following two boys in a brutal reform school in 1960s Florida, the story is both intimate and deeply political, with writing so precise it hits like a gut punch. It’s not an easy read, but it’s an important one. The kind of book that lingers long after you’ve turned the last page.
5. M Train by Patti Smith
A memoir in which Patti Smith reflects on her life, art, travel, and personal relationships. The book moves non-linearly between past and present, combining diary-like entries with photographs. It covers her creative process, time spent in cafés, journeys to far-flung locations, and meditations on loss and memory.
My Rating: ★★★
Patti Smith’s M Train is like wandering through a dream with a poet for company. It’s part memoir, part meditation on creativity, coffee, and the everyday moments that shape a life. Her writing is lyrical and deeply personal, and while the narrative meanders, that’s part of its charm. It’s a book to sink into slowly, letting her words wash over you.
6. May You Have Delicious Meals by Junko Takase
A short Japanese novel following a solitary office worker in Tokyo. The narrative focuses on her daily routines, small interactions with colleagues and acquaintances, and quiet observations of the world around her. It offers a minimalist portrayal of contemporary urban life in Japan.
My Rating: ★★★
This quiet, introspective Japanese novel follows an office worker whose solitary life revolves around small rituals and the people who briefly pass through it. While the premise is delicate and understated, I found the pacing too slow and the emotional connection a bit thin. I appreciated the subtle observations, but it left me feeling more detached than moved.
7. The Virgin Suicides by Jeffrey Eugenides
A novel narrated collectively by a group of neighbourhood boys recalling their teenage obsession with the five Lisbon sisters. Set in suburban Michigan in the 1970s, the story chronicles the sisters’ lives and eventual suicides, reflecting on memory, adolescence, and the impact of tragedy on a community.
My Rating: ★★★
Dark, dreamy, and hypnotic, The Virgin Suicides captures suburban malaise and adolescent obsession like nothing else. Told through the collective voice of neighbourhood boys who watch the Lisbon sisters from afar, it’s both beautiful and haunting. Eugenides’ prose is gorgeous, and while the story is tragic, it’s also strangely tender.
8. Clickbait by Holly Baxter
A satirical novel set in the world of digital journalism, following a young writer navigating the pressures of producing viral content. It portrays the behind-the-scenes culture of online media, exploring issues of sensationalism, workplace politics, and the influence of the internet on storytelling.
My Rating: ★★★
A sharp and satirical look at online media, viral culture, and the pressure to constantly churn out content, or ‘churnalism’ as the writer labelled it. It’s witty and biting in places, with some laugh-out-loud moments, but it can also feel a bit heavy-handed at times. I liked its timely premise and commentary, but the execution didn’t fully land for me. Plus, if you’re looking for the world’s most unlikeable main character, you’ll find them here.
9. What If Cats Disappeared From the World by Genki Kawamura
A Japanese novel about a terminally ill man who makes a deal with the devil: for each extra day of life, something will disappear from the world forever. Through the disappearances, he reflects on love, relationships, and what gives life meaning. The story blends magical realism with philosophical themes.
My Rating: ★★★
A whimsical yet bittersweet novel about a man who makes a deal with the devil to extend his life, but at the cost of erasing things from the world. It’s a quirky, thoughtful meditation on what we value most, wrapped in magical realism. I liked the concept more than the actual execution, but it’s still a sweet, easy read for a quiet afternoon.
Final Thoughts
This batch of books had a real mix. Some I’ll happily recommend to friends, others I probably won’t think about again.
If you’re in the mood for something heartfelt and uplifting, go for Say You’ll Remember Me or M Train.
If you want something more intense, The Nickel Boys and The Virgin Suicides are both beautifully written and emotionally impactful.
And if you’re just here for quirky, thoughtful fiction, If Cats Disappeared from the World might be your next cozy afternoon pick.
RELATED book blog posts to read:
- Reviews of the 8 Books I Read in June 2025
- Reviews of the 8 Books I Read in May 2025
- Best 100 Books of the 21st Century: How Many Have You Read?
- Reviews of the 8 Books I Read in April 2025
- Reviews of the 8 Books I Read in March 2025
By Orlagh Shanks
Orlagh Shanks is the Editor of Orlagh Claire, an award-winning travel and lifestyle blog.
After working in the PR & Influencer Marketing industry, Orlagh quit her job to travel Asia for 12 months and move to Sydney, Australia where she is now a full-time travel blogger and content creator sharing travel tips and recommendations for all 30 of the countries she’s visited so far.
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