Books I've Read In August

Happy September! And happy first day back at school for my kids! Hooray. The last six weeks have been utterly wonderful, but I'm certainly looking forward to creating a bit of structure to our lives. August has been a really good reading month for me. I'm glad as the last few months has felt a little slow. so I'm glad to have made a dent in my TBR pile. It feels refreshing to have gotten through three books during last month. Especially when they've been such goodies! So without further ado, these are the three books I've read in August.

Books I've Read In August

1. The Summerhouse by James Patterson & Brendon DuBois

Synopsis

In Sullivan County, Georgia, Sheriff Emma Williams is faced with a chilling case: seven murder victims found at a historic lake house, with four Army Rangers from the local base accused. Major Jeremiah Cook leads an elite investigative team and sees a different side of the evidence than Emma does. The seasoned investigator knows the sheriff’s inexperience with multiple homicides could hinder the case. To solve the mystery, Cook must persuade the tight-knit community that these murders are tied to deeper, long-buried secrets connected to The Summer House. With two conflicting versions of the truth, only one can survive, and uncovering it could change everything.

Review

The Summerhouse was a brilliant slow burner for me! I wouldn't say I was particularly gripped from the beginning, but as I got further through the book I enjoyed it more and more. From relatively early on it becomes apparent that everything isn't as it seems, and chapter by chapter more of the mystery unfolds. The pace of The Summerhouse is really great, it's really suspenseful and a brilliant read!

One thing I will say about this book however, is that it's quite wordy. The characters are quite often given their full army titles which I found quite hard to get on board with. Instead of being called Sanchez for example, the character was more often than not (or that's what it felt like) as Special Agent Manuel Sanchez, which I found to be quite a mouthful at times.

But apart from that - Great read!

Rating - 4 Stars

2. One By One by Frieda McFadden

Synopsis

Claire Matchett’s peaceful vacation quickly turns into a nightmare when her minivan breaks down on a remote dirt road. With no phone service, she and her friends must hike through dense, unfamiliar woods, only to become hopelessly lost. What began as a relaxing getaway to repair her marriage and escape daily stress becomes a fight for survival as members of the group start dying mysteriously, one by one. Is a wild animal stalking them, or is the true threat someone within their own circle? As tension and fear escalate, it becomes clear that only one of them will make it out alive.

Review

Now this is a book that I absolutely devoured! I managed to get through One By One in less than two days. I think after my previous, more meatier read, I needed something like this. I ate it up, page by page, and really enjoyed it.

I described this book to my friend as like 'reading Hollyoaks', and what I mean by that is the plot is wild and far fetched, but I still couldn't stop myself from loving it. The book itself is really easy to read. Chapters are short and snappy which makes it a breeze to get through. It was just brilliant!

Although I didn't figure out the final twist there were lots of things I did solve along the way. I'm a big thriller girlie and find my brain always goes ten to the dozen while reading, so I'm always looking for loopholes in the plot.

Whilst I ate this one up, I did give a lower star rating. And that's purely down to how unbelievable the storyline is. I would still absolutely recommend this book if you're looking for an entertaining, quick read.

Rating - 3 stars

3. Ward D by Frieda McFadden

Synopsis

Medical student Amy Brenner dreads her overnight rotation on Ward D, the hospital’s locked psychiatric unit. She has her own secret reasons for fearing this assignment, reasons she must keep hidden at all costs. But as the night wears on, Amy realises something is terribly wrong within the ward’s secure walls. Patients and even staff begin disappearing without explanation, and the atmosphere turns from unsettling to deadly. Trapped inside with no way out, Amy must face both her past fears and the terrifying reality closing in around her. What began as her worst nightmare may become the night she never escapes.

Review

I knew I was going to get on with Ward D because A, its' a Frieda McFadden book and B, because of the subject matter. I find psychiatric health really interesting so getting stuck into this book was always going to be easy!

I really enjoyed how Ward D frequently changed between Amy's past and present. I found this really engaging, as with each tense change my brain was coming up with different ideas and plot twists. Just when you think you've cracked it, you're back to square one! Something I found particularly gripping!

I loved how the book develops each and every character throughout the story. I really felt like I understood the characters (even if I don't necessarily understand their diagnoses) and enjoyed each and every one of them... Even the ones you're not supposed to like.

The twist at the end shocked me! It's the kind of book I'd like to read again, knowing what I know now. I can imagine there's plenty of areas that would feel like a complete giveaway... Rather like watching Shutter Island!

Rating - 4 stars

To Conclude

August has been a fab reading month for me. I'm so glad to have found my groove again!

I've just recently picked up two newbies from Lisa Jewell which I'm really excited to read. I feel like Lisa Jewell is everywhere on my TikTok for you page as recommended for thriller girlies, so I'm excited to get stuck in. Do let me know if you've read anything from her.

For More Bookish Inspiration

• Books I've read in January
• Books I've read in February
• Books I've read in March
• Books I've read in April
• Books I've read in May
• Books I've read in June
• Books I've read in July