This will actually be one of my shortest wrap ups in quite some time. I spent the majority of August (painfully) trying to get through as many festive ARCs as I can and I don’t feel better for it. I’ve DNF’d two of them and the one I’m currently reading is starting to feel a little stale. Basically, I’ve forced myself into a slump so I haven’t been reading very much recently. 

How to Survive a Horror Sequel by Scarlett Dunmore

Read: 1/8/25 – 6/8/25

*I was given an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review*

I can’t remember the exact dates I read this, it could have been during July, which I think it was. However, it’s not long been added to Goodreads (I’ve started writing this post on the 23rd August) so I wasn’t able to track it at the time.

This was a very solid sequel but definitely wasn’t as good as the original. I posted my review about a week ago, so if you want to read my full thoughts you can do so with the link below (if I remember to edit this because it’s published).

Synopsis: Can you be a final girl and survive your own horror movie – twice?

Almost a year after the horrors of Harrogate, Charley is slowly regaining some semblance of a normal life in a small village called Briar’s Hill, AKA ‘The Devil’s Punchbowl’. Then she befriends the local misfits and learns of her new home’s ties to witchcraft – and realises that Briar’s Hill has more secrets than she bargained for.

However, the town’s troubled past might just be the key to Charley understanding her ability to speak to the dead, especially with Halloween approaching. But when the Harrogate Killer makes a shocking return, blood is spilled and an entirely new terror is unleashed.

Before Charley can flee town, the dead are talking and if she doesn’t start listening, they’ll find ways to make her. Charley’s horror knowledge will be put to the test once more, and if she and the Harrogate Killer don’t figure out how to work together, they’ll be trapped in Briar’s Hill forever. Or worse – buried in it.

Five Little Liars by Amanda K. Morgan

Read: 6/8/25 – 11/8/25

Not a great way to start the month. I feel like I haven’t given many one star ratings yet this year but August really did test me.

This is basically a poor imitation of One Of Us Is Lying but without a single likeable character. Don’t get me started on the ending, absolutely ridiculous. I was willing to give it a slightly higher rating, maybe a very generous 2.5 stars out of five, but the cop out ending ruined the entire book.

Synopsis: Nothing ruins summer vacation like a secret . . . especially when that secret is a dead teacher.

Ivy used to be on top of the social ladder, until her ex made that all go away. She has the chance to be Queen Bee again, but only if the rest of the group can keep quiet.

Tyler has always been a bad boy, but lately he’s been running low on second chances. There’s no way he’s going to lose everything because someone couldn’t keep their mouth shut.

Kinley wouldn’t describe herself as perfect, though everyone else would. But perfection comes at a price, and there is nothing she wouldn’t do to keep her perfect record – one that doesn’t include murder charges.

Mattie is only in town for the summer. He wasn’t looking to make friends, and he definitely wasn’t looking to be involved in a murder. He’s also not looking to be riddled with guilt for the rest of his life . . . but to prevent that he’ll have to turn them all in.

Cade couldn’t care less about the body, or about the pact to keep the secret. The only way to be innocent is for someone else to be found guilty. Now he just has to decide who that someone will be.

With the police hot on the case, they don’t have much time to figure out how to trust each other. But in order to take the lead, you have to be first in line . . . and that’s the quickest way to get stabbed in the back.

Misdirected by Lucy Parker

Read: 8/8/25 – 12/8/25

This was surprisingly lacklustre, even the narration, which I was very excited about. I haven’t posted my review for this yet but it’s a little all over the place. I basically didn’t form a single opinion on this book for the entire 9 and a half hours I spent listening to it. Not sure what that says about me or the book but it was ok.

Synopsis: Hattie Murton never dreamed of TV stardom. A straight-from-a-fairytale encounter with a casting agent somehow landed her a part on what she’d thought would be a one-off pilot for Leicester Square, a bodice-ripping drama adapted from a bestselling romance novel. Buoyed by a surge in demand for romantic dramas, the show instead propelled its core cast to household-name status within a month.

Hattie tries to look on the positive side of all situations, but four seasons of brutal press, overly invested fans, and a cutthroat industry that’s never quite felt like the right fit would give even Pollyanna an edge of cynicism. And high on the ‘con’ list when it comes to her current and unintended career is having to share a set and some horrendously early starts with Anthony Rafe. Leicester Square villain. A-lister. Absolute prat.

In the new season’s scripts, it appears that her previously sane, rational character is about to lose her mind and begin an unexpected and unsettlingly graphic affair with the series villain. Forced into close—very close and very…intimate—proximity with the man everyone loves to hate, Hattie’s horror is matched only by Anthony’s drawling disdain. But when very real chemistry sparks during their scripted love scenes, Hattie begins to think the industry’s legendarily heartless Bad Guy might just have a pulse after all. And Anthony, for his part, is caught off-guard by the way his heart races when he’s around his aggravating onscreen lover.

As reality starts to imitate art a little too close for comfort, the world’s most unlikely couple might just have more in common than they thought…

Falling by Janisha Boswell

Read: 11/8/25 – 13/8/25

*I was given an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review*

This book was genuinely a saving grace. I was feeling so down and unmotivated to read, but I knew I had to pick this up as the publication date was nearing. It’s actually still not out at the time of posting this wrap up, so I won’t say too much.

However, what I will say is: I loved this. It starts out a little hit or miss, but I got invested in the characters very quickly.

My review is coming in a few days and the book will be published in a couple of weeks.

Synopsis: Welcome to North University!

Wren Hackerly refuses to quit. Figure skating has always been her life, but after her ex humiliates her on the ice and her career hangs in the balance, she needs a comeback. With her college team’s morale – and funding – crumbling, she has to find a way to keep people interested.

Miles Davis is North University’s golden boy, famed for his hockey skills and movie-star looks. But after a team tragedy, he’s the only one still struggling to bounce back, making it hard to care about the sport that once defined him.

When a bet-turned-date throws them together, they realise they might just be the perfect pair. A fake-dating pact could help Wren rebuild her reputation and Miles find his way back to the ice. But as Miles’ kindness thaws Wren’s frozen heart, and the line between real and fake begins to blur, will either of them admit to feelings that aren’t just for show?

The Pizza Man by Eddy Twice

Read: 14/8/25

*I was given an ARC of this audiobook in exchange for an honest review*

This book was almost laughably bad, for my personal taste. I reckon there are people out there that will love this but I hated it. Sorry to the author but I did not have a good time. Not only was the audio production all over the place, entire sentences would be repeated and the quality was terrible, but the plot was ridiculous. 

I go into quite a lot of detail about everything wrong with this book in my review, so if you’re looking for a laugh, check it out below.

ARC Review: The Pizza Man by Eddy Twice

Synopsis: Bella’s life at the advertisement agency is all about work, until Joe, a pizza delivery guy in an oversized costume, unexpectedly becomes her client.

With stolen glances, shared moments, and lingering kisses, Bella finds herself drawn to Joe’s carefree spirit and infectious charm—a stark contrast to her life.

Now, Bella must embrace the unknown for a chance at true happiness, or retreat to the safety of her familiar world?

Immerse yourself into this heartwarming, light romance and discover if Bella dares to rewrite the rules of her heart.

This is where my wrap up ends. I’m currently still reading a festive ARC and I’ve planned to get at least one more in before the end of the month (I’m still in August while writing this) so I don’t have any more reads to talk about.

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