August 2026 reading round up

August was a busy month for me and as such, not actually a great reading month. I'm still ahead of schedule when it comes to hitting my 100 books target for 2026, and as always I'm sharing below all the books I read in August 2026 and what I thought of them...

The Missing Sister by Lucinda Riley

I was so deep into this series throughout July, and I read the seventh book in the series at the beginning of August. It's a bit of a weird one, as the original sisters embark on a journey to discover the 'missing' sister - the seventh piece of the puzzle, who wasn't actually adopted by Pa Salt for reasons unknown. Honestly at this point I felt like I was kind of over it all, and the story really dragged a bit, and as she was never actually adopted into the family I still struggle to see the relevance. There's only one book to go, the story of Pa Salt, and I'm hoping that will make *everything* a bit clearer. 3 stars.

Glow Job by Kristen Bailey

I had soooo much fun with this one. It follows Ben, a chef/restaurant owner who has inherited a villa in Ibiza, and Chloe - burnt out and in desperate need of a holiday, who winds up attending the retreat that Ben starts hosting at said villa. It's just a whole barrel of laughs, awkward moments, fumbling romance and sunshine. One of my favourite reads of the year! 5 stars. (NetGalley arc)

Getting Away With Murder by Shari Lapena

I listened to this as an audiobook, and it's a decent domestic thriller; Jill and Ted are broke, and Ted's brother is incredibly rich, and together they decide to get rid of him in order to inherit his millions. But of course, things don't quite go to plan... it's nothing groundbreaking but it was an easy, enjoyable listen! 4 stars.

This Book Made Me Think of You by Libby Page

This was our book club pick for August and my god was it gorgeous! It's a sensational read about grief and the power of both books and friendship, and Libby Page just writes so beautifully. We follow X, a grieving young widow, who discovers that her late husband has left her one book a month starting from her birthday 6 months after his death. These books all have a reason behind them, and lead to some incredible adventures that allow her to heal over time. Simply gorgeous, 5 stars.

Around the World in 80 Dates by Jasmine Burke

Another one I just enjoyed immensely and had so much fun with; Amorie accidentally goes viral with a rant about her love life, and ends up with a column in a travel magazine where she has to go on 80 dates in the span of 6 months, while inter-railing around Europe. On day one she meets Noah, who becomes her travel buddy - he's looking for a steady girlfriend, so they agree to help each other. You can imagine the rest... stunning, brilliant, funny and just a good time for a holiday read. 4 stars! (NetGalley arc)

So, not many books read but some real gems in there this month - hopefully September, as we get into cosy season, will have a few more good ones coming through...