What's Dawn Devouring Lately?
July 2026
July always feels like the heart of summer—the season of slower mornings, vacations, afternoons by the pool, and a little extra time to get lost in a good book. My reading this month reflected that relaxed pace, with stories that entertained, surprised, and kept me turning pages long after I should have gone to bed. Whether you're packing a beach bag, planning a road trip, or simply looking for your next great read, I hope you'll discover something here to add to your own summer reading stack. Happy reading!
Until Next Month!
Happy Reading! 😎📚
Songs for Clara By: Larry Denninger
Songs for Clara was the July selection for my in-person book club, and while I wasn't sure it would be my kind of book, I ended up pleasantly surprised. Written by a local Michigan author, it was an added bonus to have him join us for our book club discussion and share the inspiration behind the story.
Set in 1986, the novel follows Frank, a young man who discovers a collection of handwritten songs tucked away in his parents' attic. His mother has passed away, and his father is living in a memory care facility with Alzheimer's disease, leaving Frank with no one to ask about the mysterious songs or the woman they were written for. Determined to uncover the truth, he begins searching for Clara and the story behind the music.
As Frank peels back the layers of his family's past, he uncovers long buried secrets, broken promises, and unexpected truths that force him to question everything he thought he knew about his parents and their lives. If you like books about family, love, forgiveness, and the lasting impact of the choices we make, then this is a book for you. While it wasn't a book I would have normally picked up on my own, I'm glad my book club introduced me to it and I highly recommend that you also give it a try. I gave it 🤩🤩🤩🤩 on the devour scale.
Whistler By: Ann Patchett
Don't let the horse on the cover fool you! This isn't a book about horses. Instead, it's a beautifully written, character driven novel centered on Daphne Fuller, a 53-year-old woman who unexpectedly reunites with Eddie Triplett, the stepfather she hasn't seen since childhood, while visiting the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Their chance encounter rekindles a deep bond that was abruptly severed decades earlier, prompting them both to reflect on the choices, losses, and acts of love that have shaped their lives.
Patchett masterfully tells this story through alternating past and present timelines, making you feel as though you're sitting beside the characters, listening in as Daphne shares her past memories. At its heart, Whistler is a moving story about forgiveness, family, and the lasting impact one person can have on another's life. If you enjoy heartwarming novels with richly developed characters, dual timelines, and emotional depth, then this is a book for you. I gave it 🤩🤩🤩🤩🤩 on the devour scale.
We Burned So Bright By: TJ Klune
I don't typically gravitate toward speculative fiction, but T.J. Klune's latest novella was the perfect palate cleanser between some of the heavier books I read this month. The story follows an elderly married gay couple who are trying to make peace with the knowledge that the world will end in just thirty days when a black hole collides with Earth. Determined to make the most of the time they have left, they set off in their aging RV on one final road trip from Maine to Washington to take care of some unfinished business.
Along the way, they encounter an unforgettable cast of characters, some delightfully quirky, others genuinely dangerous, but all adding depth and humanity to their journey. Beneath the road trip adventure lies a thought provoking question that lingers long after the final page: What if we tried our hardest, and our hardest just wasn't good enough?
At just 160 pages, this novella packs an emotional punch. If you enjoy books told through short, vignette like chapters that celebrate love, hope, and the resilience of humanity while leaving you reflecting on life's biggest questions, then this is a book for you. I gave it 🤩🤩🤩🤩 on the devour scale. Thank you to Deb, the owner of Calliope BookShelf, for pressing it into my hands.
The Summer of Yes By: Courtney Walsh (audio book)
The Summer of Yes was the July selection for my Get Literate Community book club, and it made for a delightful summer read. Since both the ebook and audiobook were available on Hoopla, I opted for the audio version. It was the perfect companion for running errands, taking walks, and making the most of these hot summer days.
The story follows two unlikely friends, Kelsey and Georgina, who meet by chance while sharing a hospital room. Kelsey is recovering after being hit by a car, while Georgina is undergoing kidney dialysis. On a whim, Kelsey proposes that they embark on a road trip where they must say "yes" to every opportunity that comes their way.
Through alternating points of view, we gradually uncover each woman's past while Georgina's estranged husband and son become increasingly woven into the story. I appreciated that the characters were imperfect, relatable, and easy to root for, although a few of the plot developments required a bit of disbelief.
Overall, this was an enjoyable, character-driven novel that explores friendship, second chances, and stepping outside your comfort zone. It even had me wondering what my own "Summer of Yes" might look like. If you enjoy character-driven stories, alternating perspectives, road trips, and a bit of family drama, then this is a book for you. I gave it 🤩🤩🤩 1/2 on the devour scale.
Dolly All the Time By: Annabel Monaghan
I'm so glad I squeezed this one in before the end of the month! It's the newest release from one of my favorite romance authors, Annabel Monaghan, and it was an absolute "chef's kiss" filled with everything I want in the perfect summer read.
Dolly is the person everyone in her family turns to when life goes sideways. A small fire at the family home? She's on it. A roof that needs replacing before the house is condemned? She'll figure it out. A stranger stranded on the side of the road with a flat tire? Of course she stops to help. What she doesn't realize is that the stranded driver is Stewart Whitfield, the handsome heir to one of Rhode Island's wealthiest families.
Their chance encounter leads Stewart to ask Dolly for one more favor: would she pretend to be his girlfriend for the summer? As with any great fake-dating romance, their arrangement quickly starts to feel a little too real, and both begin to wonder if they may have found the person they were meant to be with after all.
I loved cheering for Dolly as she slowly learned that it's okay to let others take care of her for a change. Filled with witty banter, lovable characters, plenty of chemistry, and a dreamy summer setting, this was the kind of romance I couldn't put down. If you're a fan of fake dating, slow-burn romance, and stories that leave you smiling long after you turn the last page, then this a book for you. I gave it 🤩🤩🤩🤩🤩 on the devour scale.
Same Time Next Summer By: Annabel Monaghan
Same Time Next Summer is a book that I read in the summer of 2023.. I recall that I devoured this book in one day!!! Sam's life is exactly where it's supposed to be. She's engaged to Jack, a successful doctor whose carefully structured routines should be reassuring. She has a promising career in Manhattan and is heading to her family's Long Island beach house to tour a wedding venue and finalize plans for the future she's worked so hard to build. But the moment she arrives, everything begins to unravel.
Wyatt is there. The boy who shattered her heart when she was seventeen shouldn't have the power to shake her now. Yet hearing the familiar strains of his guitar drifting through the warm summer night awakens memories Sam thought she'd buried long ago—their secret nights in the treehouse, the intensity of first love, and the painful truth about why they fell apart.
As Wyatt reenters her life, the connection between them proves just as powerful as ever. Forced to confront the person she once was and the life she's planned for herself, Sam must decide whether to hold on to the future she's chosen or take a chance on the love she never truly left behind. If you like books about first loves, chapters that alternate from past to present, and set on a beach, then this book is for you. I give it 🤩🤩🤩🤩🤩 on the devour scale. Warning: only start when you have plenty of time to read in one sitting.
Four Seasons - Season 2 (Netflix)
Season 2 of The Four Seasons is currently streaming on Netflix. The eight-episode season follows the friend group as they navigate their grief and existential crises following the sudden death of Nick, while continuing their seasonal vacation traditions with new destinations like upstate New York, the Jersey Shore, and Italy. Watch Trailer Here
Good news! I also heard that the show has already been approved for Season 3.
Diarra from Detroit (Season 1) Amazon Prime
Diarra from Detroit is a dark comedy mystery series created by and starring Diarra Kilpatrick. The story follows Diarra, a recently divorced schoolteacher who becomes convinced she's been ghosted by her Tinder rebound. What begins as a quest to track down her missing date quickly spirals into a much larger investigation, drawing her into a decades-old mystery and the dangerous criminal underworld of Detroit. Blending sharp humor, suspense, and unexpected twists, the series delivers an entertaining mix of comedy and crime drama. Watch Trailer Here
Acrylic Painting
