On My Bookshelf: Anticipating August 2017

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Happy August, everyone. I hope this new month has started well for you all, and you’ve already discovered some amazing new reads. Though the start of a new month can mean many things (for some, it might mean heading back to work is edging ever so closer), one of the positive things a new month brings with it is the release of new books.

On My Bookshelf: Anticipating August 2017. Chatting about some of the books I hope to read and new releases! Text © Rissi JC

Since I’ve had the chance to read so many amazing books lately, and am still on this great run, I thought I’d talk about a few of these books today. Below, I’ve collected a list of a few books that are on my read shelf and were amazing, as well as a few of the books coming out this month.

First up, books I’ve read (and think you should too) plus one I plan to read.

*Reviews linked in title

On My Bookshelf: Anticipating August 2017

On My Bookshelf: Anticipating August 2017 #thearchives Click To Tweet

Unraveling by Sara Ella

What happens when happily ever after starts to unravel?

Eliyana Ember doesn’t believe in true love. Not anymore. After defeating her grandfather and saving the Second Reflection, El only trusts what’s right in front of her. The tangible. The real. Not some unexplained Kiss of Infinity she once shared with the ghost of a boy she’s trying to forget. She has more important things to worry about–like becoming queen of the Second Reflection, a role she is so not prepared to fill.

Now that the Verity is intertwined with her soul and Joshua’s finally by her side, El is ready to learn more about her mysterious birth land, the land she now rules. So why does she feel like something–or someone–is missing?

When the thresholds begin to drain and the Callings, those powerful magical gifts, begin to fail, El wonders if her link to Ky Rhyen may have something to do with it. For light and darkness cannot coexist. She needs answers before the Callings disappear altogether. Can El find a way to sever her connection to Ky and save the Reflections–and keep herself from falling for him in the process? – Goodreads, Add on Goodreads

A fast-paced, emotional and complex urban fantasy novel, Sara’s follow up to UNBLEMISHED is not to be missed; no “middle-book syndrome” here. ★★★★½

Lola and the Boy Next Door by Stephanie Perkins

Lola Nolan is a budding costume designer, and for her, the more outrageous, sparkly, and fun the outfit, the better. And everything is pretty perfect in her life (right down to her hot rocker boyfriend) until the Bell twins, Calliope and Cricket, return to the neighborhood. When Cricket, a gifted inventor, steps out from his twin sister’s shadow and back into Lola’s life, she must finally reconcile a lifetime of feelings for the boy next door. – Goodreads, Add on Goodreads

Considering how much I adore ANNA AND THE FRENCH KISS, the fact that I haven’t read its follow up leaves me just a little bit embarrassed. 

True to You by Becky Wade

After a devastating heartbreak three years ago, genealogist and historical village owner Nora Bradford has decided that burying her nose in her work and her books is far safer than romance in the here and now.

Unlike Nora, former Navy SEAL and Medal of Honor recipient John Lawson is a modern-day man, usually 100 percent focused on the present. But when he’s diagnosed with an inherited condition, he’s forced to dig into the secrets of his past and his adoption as an infant, enlisting Nora to help him uncover the identity of his birth mother. 

The more time they spend together, the more this pair of opposites suspects they just might be a perfect match. However, John’s already dating someone and Nora’s not sure she’s ready to trade her crushes on fictional heroes for the risks of a real relationship. Finding the answers they’re seeking will test the limits of their identity, their faith, and their devotion to one another. – Goodreads, Add on Goodreads

Not only is Wade honing her own craft (from book one to this, her newest), she’s also helping to redefine the contemporary genre. All of which she does with grace, complex characters and of course, plenty of swoons. ★★★★★

On My Bookshelf: Anticipating August 2017. Chatting about some of the books I hope to read and new releases! Text © Rissi JC

Lucky in Love by Kasie West

Maddie’s not impulsive. She’s all about hard work and planning ahead. But one night, on a whim, she buys a lottery ticket. And then, to her astonishment—

She wins!

In a flash, Maddie’s life is unrecognizable. No more stressing about college scholarships. Suddenly, she’s talking about renting a yacht. And being in the spotlight at school is fun…until rumors start flying, and random people ask her for loans. Now Maddie isn’t sure who she can trust.

Except for Seth Nguyen, her funny, charming coworker at the local zoo. Seth doesn’t seem aware of Maddie’s big news. And, for some reason, she doesn’t want to tell him. But what will happen if he learns her secret? – Goodreads, Add on Goodreads

Smart, adorable and breezy, this is the kind of page-turning YA lit I love best. West’s “voice” is so much fun, and these characters? Unforgettable. ★★★★★

 ⚞COMING SOON⚟ 

On My Bookshelf: Anticipating August 2017. Chatting about some of the books I hope to read and new releases! Text © Rissi JC

Elite Guardians bodyguard Haley Callaghan may be in South Carolina, but when a photo leads investigators in West Ireland to open a twenty-five-year-old cold case, her life is suddenly in danger. Haley knows how to take care of herself; after all, she’s made a career out of taking care of others. But after an uncomfortably close call, Detective Steven Rothwell takes it upon himself to stay with her–and the young client she has taken under her wing. A protector at heart, he’s not about to let Haley fight this battle alone.

In a sweeping plot that takes them into long-buried memories–and the depths of the heart–Haley and Steven will have to solve the mystery of Haley’s past while dodging bullets, bombs, and bad guys who just won’t quit. – Goodreads, Add on Goodreads


Roundabout these parts, dirt roads don’t just get you from point A to point B. They intersect to create a maze of life often missed when outsiders drive through a sleepy town. The number on the population sign might seem insignificant, but a few short steps from the beaten path, there’s more than meets the eye. 

Look a little closer… That sleek out-of-town convertible is bringing former pageant queen Brooke Langdon back into town for the first time in a decade. She’s dragging nothing with her but the hyphen in her last name. Gatlin Moore is running his tractor along the fence line, spending his days keeping up his parents’ farm instead of living out his dreams in Nashville. The sheriff is pulling into Holly Christian’s driveway, preparing to tell her that her life’s about to crumble. And Hunter Pearce, the guy everyone calls when they need something fixed? He’s racing to Holly’s place too, wondering if things are too broken to put back together. 

Welcome to Hope Canyon. This is our backroads story.  – Goodreads, Add on Goodreads  


New York City, 2118. A glittering vision of the future, where anything is possible – if you want it enough.

Manhattan is home to a thousand-story supertower, a beacon of futuristic glamour and high-tech luxury… and to millions of people living scandalous, secretive lives.

Leda is haunted by nightmares of what happened on the worst night of her life. She’s afraid the truth will get out – which is why she hires Watt, her very own hacker, to keep an eye on all of the witnesses for her. But what happens when their business relationship turns personal?

When Rylin receives a scholarship to an elite upper-floor school, her life transforms overnight. But being here also means seeing the boy she loves: the one whose heart she broke, and who broke hers in return.

Avery is grappling with the reality of her forbidden romance – is there anywhere in the world that’s safe for them to be together?

And then there’s Calliope, the mysterious, bohemian beauty who’s arrived in New York with a devious goal in mind – and too many secrets to count.

Here in the Tower, no one is safe – because someone is watching their every move, someone with revenge in mind. After all, in a world of such dazzling heights, you’re always only one step away from a devastating fall…. – Goodreads, Add on Goodreads


She will become one of the world’s greatest heroes: WONDER WOMAN. But first she is Diana, Princess of the Amazons. And her fight is just beginning. . . .

Diana longs to prove herself to her legendary warrior sisters. But when the opportunity finally comes, she throws away her chance at glory and breaks Amazon law—risking exile—to save a mere mortal. Even worse, Alia Keralis is no ordinary girl and with this single brave act, Diana may have doomed the world.

Alia just wanted to escape her overprotective brother with a semester at sea. She doesn’t know she is being hunted. When a bomb detonates aboard her ship, Alia is rescued by a mysterious girl of extraordinary strength and forced to confront a horrible truth: Alia is a Warbringer—a direct descendant of the infamous Helen of Troy, fated to bring about an age of bloodshed and misery.

Together, Diana and Alia will face an army of enemies—mortal and divine—determined to either destroy or possess the Warbringer. If they have any hope of saving both their worlds, they will have to stand side by side against the tide of war. – Goodreads, Add on Goodreads  

This list is a mere few of the books arriving in stores this month. The reason they’re featured is because I’m curious about or anticipating these few. Tell me, what books have caught your eye? Comment down below with all the book love and thoughts. 

Thank you for visiting! Come back soon.

About Rissi JC

amateur graphic designer. confirmed bookaholic. bubbl’r enthusiast. critical thinker. miswesterner. social media coordinator. writer.

10 comments

  1. I'm super excited about THE DAZZLING HEIGHTS. THE THOUSANDTH FLOOR was a total guilty pleasure read for me– and I need those every now and again!! Also, YES to LOLA!! I lovedddd Cricket!!

    1. Same here, Michelle. 'Floor' was a guilty pleasure read for me as well. And sometimes, don't you just love those kinds of books?? :)

      CANNOT wait to read Lola! Seriously, I *need* to prioritize it this month.

      Thanks so much for stopping by.

  2. I love Kasie West so I can't believe I haven't read more of her books, like Lucky in Love! I'm so excited for Wonder Woman. The Dazzling Heights has a stunning cover…I'm presuming that's a sequel. I still haven't read Anna and the French Kiss, but I've been meaning to buy it ever since reading your thoughts. Great list, Rissi!

    1. Lucky in Love is 100% adorableness, Bekah. Hope you enjoy any and all of the Kasie West books you read. :)

      Yes, 'Dazzling' is a sequel to The Thousandth Floor, which I totally read for its cover alone. ;)

      'Anna' is so cute. But then, I do now I overgush about it. ;)

      Thanks for visiting!

    1. That's what I keep hearing, Cait, and I'm one happy girl. Especially after loving 'Anna' SO MUCH. Hopefully I'll finally read 'Lola' in the next month.

      YAY! Glad to know Leigh's books are memorable. I've yet to read any, but I'm looking forward to it. :)

      Glad you stopped by!

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