What's Dawn Devouring Lately?
August 2025
August arrives with that bittersweet shift—the sun lingers a little less each evening, and the air hints at the change ahead. But there’s still time to sink into long, golden afternoons with a good book in hand. Whether you’re chasing one last beach read, laying under a tree in a hammock, or exploring new worlds while the crickets sing at dusk. So grab a book, find your sunny spot, and savor these last, golden pages of the season before autumn turns them.
Until Next Month!
Happy Reading! 🤓📚
Battle of the Bookstores By: Ali Brady
I really enjoyed this cute contemporary romance novel with an enemies to lovers troupe. It also has been comped to the 1998 movie, "You've Got Mail". Josie and Ryan both manage bookstores on the same street. Ryan manages the romance bookstore while Josie's shop sells serious contemporary literature. When the new owner of both stores, decides to combine them, the two are put into a direct competition. Only one manager will be hired to run the combined store, May the Best Bookseller Win! The other part of the book revolves around how each Ryan and Josie have struck up online friendships on an online book forum. Here they are known as Bookshop Girl and RJ. Little do they know, that they are actually chatting with each other. I loved all the inside looks into running your own bookstore and book references throughout the book. If you like books about books, enemies to friends to lovers troupes, and anonymous online connections, then this is a book for you. I gave it 🤩🤩🤩🤩 on the devour scale.
The God of the Woods By: Liz Moore
I finally got around to reading this much-hyped book from last summer—and now I understand every bit of the buzz. Holy smokes, did it keep me guessing until the very end!
One of the things I loved most was its genre-blending magic: part historical fiction, part mystery, part thriller—all seamlessly woven together. The narrative shifts between 1961, the present day, and, most prominently, 1975, where the main story unfolds at a summer camp in the Adirondacks. It’s here that Barbara Van Larr vanishes without a trace. But Barbara isn’t the only missing person haunting this town—years earlier, her older brother, Bear, also disappeared. With Barbara’s disappearance, long-buried questions resurface: what really happened to Bear, and could the two cases be connected?
Told through multiple points of view, the story delivers layer after layer of intrigue, red herrings, and gasp-worthy twists. If you love mysteries that keep you on your toes, shifting timelines, and an ending you won’t see coming, then this is a book for you. I gave it 🤩🤩🤩🤩🤩 on the devour scale.
Just for the Summer By: Abby Jimenez
I’ve now read all four books in the Part of Your World series, and this one is hands-down my favorite. I absolutely adored Justin and Emma—two characters with their own traumas and scars who still manage to open their hearts to love. I especially loved the quirky premise: both believe they’re “cursed” because, after every breakup, their ex immediately finds their forever person. So, they decide to date each other—hoping they can break the curse and finally meet “The One”… only to discover that maybe they already have.
What makes this story stand out is that it reminds us true love isn’t just about grand romantic gestures—it’s found in the everyday acts of kindness, unwavering support, and being someone’s safe place. If you enjoy stories with found family, emotional healing, facing fears, and a touch of magical serendipity, then this is a book for you. I devoured it in 2 1/2 days and of course gave it 🤩🤩🤩🤩🤩 on the devour scale.
Summer Romance By: Annabel Monaghan
This book had been sitting on my TBR since last summer, and it turned out to be the perfect late-season read. Ali is juggling more than most: grieving the loss of her mom, navigating a divorce, and raising three young kids. By trade she’s a professional organizer, but her own life—and house—are in total chaos. Then, in a hilariously awkward moment at the dog park, her pup chooses the worst possible place to do his business: right on the shoes of a very handsome man. Mortified, Ali soon realizes this isn’t just any stranger—it’s someone from her past who’s secretly been carrying a torch for her all along. Could this be the summer he finally gets his chance? If you enjoy stories about living in the moment, reclaiming your self-worth, and finding joy even in the midst of grief, then this is a book for you. I devoured it in four days and gave it 🤩🤩🤩🤩🤩 on the devour scale.
The Sweetness of Forgetting By: Kristin Harmel
This month’s book club pick was a moving historical fiction novel that blends past and present beautifully. The story centers on Hope and her grandmother Rose (Mamie), who immigrated from France to escape WWII. In a rare moment of clarity from her Alzheimer’s, Rose gives Hope a list of names and asks her to travel back to France to solve a seventy-year-old mystery. As Hope unravels the pieces bit by bit, she uncovers shocking truths that change everything she thought she knew. If you enjoy historical fiction, love stories, and happy endings, then this is a book for you. I gave it 🤩🤩🤩🤩 on the devour scale and can’t wait to dive into discussion with my book club!
Everyone is Lying to You By: Jo Piazza - Audio Book
Nora Goes Off Script By: Annabel Monaghan
This was one of my Top Ten Books of 2022. It is by the same author of Summer Romance, reviewed above. Here's the blurb: Nora Hamilton knows the formula for love better than anyone. As a romance channel screenwriter, it’s her job. But when her too-good-to work husband leaves her and their two kids, Nora turns her marriage’s collapse into cash and writes the best script of her life. No one is more surprised than her when it’s picked up for the big screen and set to film on location at her 100-year-old-home. When former Sexiest Man Alive, Leo Vance, is cast as her ne’er do well husband Nora’s life will never be the same.
The morning after shooting wraps and the crew leaves, Nora finds Leo on her porch with a half-empty bottle of tequila and a proposition. He’ll pay a thousand dollars a day to stay for a week. The extra seven grand would give Nora breathing room, but it’s the need in his eyes that makes her say yes. Seven days: it’s the blink of an eye or an eternity depending on how you look at it. Enough time to fall in love. Enough time to break your heart.
Filled with warmth, wit, and wisdom, Nora Goes Off Script is the best kind of love story—the real kind where love is complicated by work, kids, and the emotional baggage that comes with life. For Nora and Leo, this kind of love is bigger than the big screen.
"Music for Reading" Spotify Playlists
Spotify’s “music for reading” (sometimes called “reading music” or “study playlists”) usually means curated playlists of instrumental, low-distraction tracks—often soft piano, acoustic guitar, gentle jazz, ambient electronic, or even classical pieces.
It’s good for reading because:
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No lyrics to compete with your brain – Instrumentals don’t pull your attention away from the words on the page.
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Creates a cozy atmosphere – Soft music makes your reading nook feel more inviting.
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Helps you focus – A steady, calm rhythm can help block out distracting background noise.
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Sets the emotional tone – The music can match the mood of your book, making the story more immersive.
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Signals “reading time” – Listening to the same type of playlist can train your brain to settle into reading mode faster.
Leanne - Netflix
Leanne's (Leanne Morgan) world is turned upside down when her husband of 33 years unexpectedly leaves her for another woman. Supported by her family, including her ride-or-die sister Carol (Kristen Johnston), Leanne learns to embrace the chaos and finds strength, laughter and hope in the most unexpected places. This heartfelt comedy proves that it's never too late to rewrite your story.
Happier with Gretchen Rubin podcast
Gretchen Rubin's podcast is titled "Happier with Gretchen Rubin". It's a weekly podcast where she and her sister, Elizabeth Craft, discuss practical strategies and personal stories to help listeners build happier habits. The podcast also includes segments like "Try This at Home" and "Know Yourself Better" to offer actionable advice. Link to podcast
This month, I have been learning about the difference between self-care and self-compassion. According to psychologist Dr. Kristin Neff, there is overlap between self-care and self-compassion. “Self-care usually refers to behaviors you engage in,” she explains. Think of activities like exercise, rest, going for a walk, or reading a book. As the term suggests, it’s about taking care of yourself.
“Self-compassion, on the other hand, is about how you respond to yourself when you’re suffering,” Neff clarifies. While self-care can be practiced at any time, it doesn’t necessarily involve offering yourself kindness and understanding during difficult moments.
“You may not always have time for self-care, but you can still be there for yourself emotionally with compassion. And that’s where the key difference lies,” she says. For example, when you haven’t slept well, you can acknowledge your exhaustion with kindness rather than self-criticism, offering yourself patience and understanding instead of frustration. I encourage you to take the time to watch the Ted Talk I've included and read the attached article. I hope you find it as helpful as I did when it comes to thinking about our self-talk and how we show up for ourselves.
Coloring Table
Outside Snack Table
Puzzle Table
Inside Snack Table
Fun Reading Gift Bags
Coffee/Tea Station
