July Reading Wrap-Up—Slow Month, Strong Opinions

July was slow on the reading front. Between drafting the third Paranormal Misadventures book (Nightwinger’s Kiss) and the general mental drain of writing, I found myself with less time, energy, and headspace to read.

I only finished four books this month. I also had two DNFs that I’m not including here because I gave up on them so quickly I have nothing of substance to say. The reason? I have zero tolerance for bullies in my fiction. You can read my full rant about that here.

I know bully romance is a thing, and plenty of dark romance fans love it, but it’s not my cup of tea. As soon as the love interest acts like a jerk simply because he’s the alpha and used to bossing people around (I don’t care how much he “loves her deep down”), my interest evaporates.

If the heroine wants to kill him—or at least knock him down a peg—I might keep going just to see how it plays out. But if being bullied by the alphahole makes her inexplicably swoon? I’m out. Not judging if you love it. Read it. Enjoy it. I just won’t be joining you. And I don’t rate books I don’t finish—I cut my losses and move on.

Given that I’m knee-deep in drafting another book, I expect August will also be light on reading too. But I am finally ready to dive into Onyx Storm. It’s been sitting on my Kindle since I finished Iron Flame, and after taking some time to recover from that ending, I’m ready to be emotionally destroyed all over again.

Here’s what I did read in July:

1. My Wife, the Serial Killer by H.J. Garbett

NetGalley ARC. A wickedly sharp suburban gothic with dark humor, emotional depth, and one unforgettable killer. Twisted and compelling.

2. Rose in Chains by Julie Soto

ALC from NetGalley & Hachette Audio. Narrator Ella Lynch brings this fallen kingdom and forbidden romance to life. Magic rooted in the contrast between heart and mind makes this one stand out.

3. Gild by Raven Kennedy

Recommended in a Threads post as an enemies-to-lovers where he’s not a bully. Still waiting for that part—apparently, it happens later in the series, but I didn’t have the patience to stick around for it.

4. The Serpent and the Wolf by Rebecca Robinson

A strong debut that blends classic romantasy tropes with a solid fantasy backbone. Tension, twists, and satisfying emotional beats made this one a win.

That’s it for July! Short list, but still some memorable reads. August will likely look similar, but with Onyx Storm in the mix, I’m sure I’ll have plenty to say next time.