Everything I Read in July-August 2026
Unfortunately, I only managed to finish six books in the last couple of months. Between our recent trip to Spain and transitioning into a new job, I didn’t have as much time as usual to listen to audiobooks or read much in general! Of the six books I did read, two books were nonfiction, and the rest were fiction: a mix of literary, contemporary, romance, and sports.
My reading goals for 2026 are 50 books and 14,000 pages. I’m currently behind on both goals so hopefully I can get settled and find more time to read in the last four months of the year. If you’re also a reader, join StoryGraph and add me as a friend: my username is cottoncashmerecathair! And please share your favorite recent read(s) in the comments.
READ NEXT: Everything I Read in May-June 2026
Everything I Read in July-August 2026
Physical Books
Tiny Experiments by Anne-Laure Le Cunff
I received this book because I attended the Craft + Commerce conference in 2025, and the author was one of the keynote speakers.
I’ve been less inclined to reach for business-focused nonfiction books as of late, but I like that the overall message of the book is applicable to many aspects of life.
This is a good book to read if you find yourself tending to focus too much on the end goals and not enough on the process of discovering and tweaking and being okay with not being perfect. It’s may not be ground-breaking information, but there are some helpful nuggets.
Ebooks
ATMOSPHERE by Taylor Jenkins Reid
I’ve had this book on hold through my library since it was released a year ago, and I finally ended the suspension before it was up.
I don’t know why I waited so long to read it; I absolutely LOVED this book! It took me a few chapters to get into it, but once I did, I didn’t want to stop reading! I finished it during our trip to Spain, and it was the perfect travel companion.
I’ve always loved outer space, so I really enjoyed all of the scientific aspects of it. It got technical at times, but it felt approachable (though I do have degrees in the sciences, so my brain is already wired for that stuff).
You will likely smile your way through this book and maybe shed some tears or experience brief moments of panic that feel like they’ll never end. The emotional rollercoaster is worth it, though!
Audiobooks
Jump by Tiffany Noelle Chacon
I found this audiobook through my library when looking for a different horseback riding-related book. It looked cute, so I decided to listen to it! I also wanted to see how close the riding descriptions were to reality.
I was pleasantly surprised by this novel! It’s super cute and perfect for teenagers, especially other riders. I felt like I was immersed in their world and was bummed when the story ended. I thought the author did a great job describing everything relating to the riding, and it was fun to “see” the jumper courses through the descriptions!
Left of Forever by Tarah DeWitt
I loved the first book in the Savor It series and was so looking forward to the next book in the series. Book two doesn’t follow the same characters as book one, but the main characters from book one make appearances in book two occasionally, so I think it’s important to read them in order.
For some reason, I wasn’t as enthralled by Left of Forever as I was by the first book. Maybe it felt a little bit more unbelievable? Or maybe slow with the plot?
While the first book had a few steamy scenes, this book had many more steamy scenes. I don’t mind them, but I feel like there were a lot of times the story wasn’t really going anywhere because of that, and I wanted more plot.
Sisterhood Everlasting by Ann Brashares
This is the fifth and final book in the Sisterhood series. It is not the most uplifting book, so I don’t recommend it if you’re looking for something on the happier side. It deals with the more heavy/dark aspects of life, especially now that Carmen, Lena, Tibby, and Bridget are all 10 years older and figuring out what their lives look like in their late 20s.
Even though this wasn’t my favorite book and I wasn’t really in the mood for the heaviness that it exuded, I’m glad I re-read this series, and listening to it all on audiobook was a great way to make the work days go faster!
Hood Feminism by Mikki Kendall
This was an excellent book, and the author narrated the audiobook, which was also an excellent experience overall.
The author wrote essays on topics relating to feminism and how modern feminism is most focused on the experiences of white women and has been (whether unintentionally or intentionally) excluding the experiences of Black women. It’s a good reminder that your feminism isn’t feminism unless it includes ALL women, not just the women that look and speak like you do. The shorter length of this book makes it super approachable, and I think everyone should be required to read this book.
