Mini Book Reviews: July 2025

Disclaimer: I received ARCs of Spectacular Things, The Homemade God, and Finding Grace from the publishers and Netgalley in exchange for my honest reviews. This post contains affiliate links.

July was a busy month for me, and I struggled to find time to read. When I did try to read at bedtime, I kept falling asleep, only to have my iPad wake me up by hitting me in the face. One of the hazards of reading on a tablet in bed, I guess!

Anyhoo, I read 6 books this month.  I didn't read all 5 NetGalley books in my July prerelease library because all of my library holds came in at the same time. I had to let a few of them go. One more to read to kick off August, and then I'm going to get back to those NetGalley books. I promise!!

It's a good problem to have! I enjoyed all the books I read this month and there's something for everyone here.

Sisters and soccer prodigies, Mia and Cricket, were raised by their sassy single mother, Liz, who was also a promising athlete before she became pregnant as a teen. As Liz says to her parents when she moves out: 'The soccer dream isn't over, I've just moved the goalposts'. She preaches a can-do attitude to both her girls and instills a winning attitude as she teaches them how to play soccer. Before every game, she ties a red ribbon around their ponytail. Her words guide both girls through the challenges that present during their young lives. The story follows the sisters into adulthood, as Mia navigates motherhood while Cricket plays professional soccer. You don't need to be interested in soccer to enjoy Spectacular Things--there's plenty of family and relationship drama to keep things interesting! I also enjoyed the author's memoir, From the Corner of the Oval, in which she shares her experience as President Obama's stenographer.

It's always difficult for me to review a book that tells a great story but could have been executed better. The Homemade God is the story of 4 grown siblings who travel to the family villa in Italy after the father dies suddenly while swimming in the lake. They arrive to find the villa stripped of all his belongings, including his paintings. Their father's young bride and her cousin tell them nothing of the circumstances, leading to a lot of speculation and disagreement between the siblings. There is also a lot of reminiscing about the past. I kept waiting for something exciting to happen, especially when the autopsy was revealed, but the story just plodded on. Near the end, when the siblings were packing up to leave, I thought I was at the end of the book, but there were a couple more chapters that added nothing to the story. I think the author wanted to tie up loose ends, but it would have been better to leave the reader to speculate. 

Lloyd McNeil is a cop with the Atlanta PD. He has been with the force for over 30 years when he learns that he has a glioblastoma, an aggressive brain tumor. He concocts a plan to cause his own death while on the job, allowing his teenage son to be the recipient of his pension. This mild-mannered cop becomes a supercop, throwing himself into situations that should have killed him...but they don't. He earns the nickname 'Happycop" and becomes a social media sensation. His partner asks him if he's Rambo. The author handles a difficult subject with humor and sensitivity, and not one bit of cringe or melancholy. I later learned that this story will be made into a movie, which makes complete sense. Lloyd McNeil's Last Ride was such an entertaining story!

Wow, what a story! Finding Grace is best read going in blind, so pardon me for being vague. It's about a young family, a mother who desperately wants to have a second child but can't, and the aftermath of a tragedy. It's a love story with a gripping plot that made me so tense at times, I didn't want to turn the pages. But there's no way I couldn't go on--I had to find out what happened. The writing is so crisp and clear that the narrative just flows. Be sure to have some tissues nearby--there are some very emotional moments. It's one of the best books I've read this year so far.

This is a beautiful story about a friendship between 4 children and the legacy they left behind. Beautifully written by the prolific Fredrik Backman, this was a deep dive into those relationships as depicted in a painting. A young runaway happens upon the artist in an alley; he gifts the painting to the girl before he dies. She sets out on a journey, with the painting, to learn more about the friends of the artist. My Friends is a slow build, but written with so much depth and feeling. There are dark moments, but humorous ones as well. My only quibble is the length of the book, but oddly enough, I was sad when I finished it. I didn't want to let go of these characters that I had gotten to know so well! Has that ever happened to you?

I really enjoyed Happy Wife, a page turner about a young woman who serendipitously meets and marries a wealthy attorney in Winter Park, Florida. Of course, all his ex-wife's friends and his work partner hate her. So when he disappears, who is the prime suspect? The story timeline alternates between the past and the present, building to the surprising ending. I had no idea who was responsible, but it was a lot of fun trying to figure it out! 

What have you been reading lately? Do you see any books here that interest you? Any recommendations for me?

I'm linking up with My First 5k and More, Running with Attitude, Run with Pugs, and Zenaida for Fit Five Friday!  I'm also excited to join Farrah for My Month is Booked! Check out the newest link-up: Share Your Shelf with Slices of Life, Memphis Bridges, Overflowing with Thankfulness, and The Other Side of the Road.