August is here, and with it comes the release of my latest book round-up, featuring the books I have enjoyed reading over the last month. I read a wide range of texts over the past 31 days, including some for my work and also some to keep up with Sunshine’s reading. However, I have selected the ten that I think my adult readers may enjoy adding to their bookshelves.
There’s an electric mix of novels to choose from this month, from romance to fantasy, informational texts and rich literary choices. A number of them made me cry, whilst others had me laughing out loud. They are all likely to evoke an emotional response, so you need to choose one that will satisfy your current state. You choose.
Of course, I have provided a small snapshot of my thoughts and feelings for each selection.
Books for Mums Who Love to Read
Table of Contents
- When the Moon Hatched | Sarah A. Parker
- Weyward | Emilia Hart
- The Passengers on the Hankyu Line | Hiro Arikawa
- The Bright Years | Sarah Damoff
- Fundamentally | Nussaibah Younis
- Our Infinite Fates | Laura Steven
- The Three Lives of Cate Kay | Kate Fagan
- Pictures of You | Emma Grey
- All the Colours of the Dark | Chris Whitaker
Currently reading: There Are Rivers in the Sky | Elif Shafak
When the Moon Hatched | Sarah A. Parker
“She's an assassin on the run. Raeve’s job is to complete orders and never get caught. Until a rival assassin devastates her world, and she is captured by a group of powerful fae.
He's the dragon rider who'll stop at nothing to save her. Crushed by the loss of his great love, Kaan Vaegor hunts the world for answers. Then a clue lures him to the capital's high-security prison, where he finds Raeve …
Together, they'll burn it all down”
I ‘borrowed’ When the Moon Hatched from Sunshine’s bookshelf, where it had sat for almost a year following her reading it over a few days. It started appearing in some of my social media feeds, and since I follow an Australian author, I thought I would give it a try.
I enjoy reading novels with strong female leads, but I have noticed that they often blend into the same archetype. This bores me, so I’m hoping that I Raeve would be different. I would say she was different enough to maintain my interest, and then there were the spicy scenes. This made me question why I’ve refrained from censoring what Sunshine reads. <heads off to check her shelf>
Back to the book – When the Moon Hatched focuses on Raeve, an assassin whose job it is to kill. She’s snarky, she’s heart, and she rarely loses until she does. There are dragons and fae, and suddenly, a quest to uncover Raeve’s past and save the world.
3 stars
Currently on Amazon Unlimited (free with your subscription).
Weyward | Emilia Hart
“In the present day, Kate flees a traumatic relationship to the Cumbrian cottage she inherited from her great-aunt; but the cottage hides secrets of its own. In 1942, Violet rebels against her father’s ideas of a ‘proper young lady’ … until he takes matters into his own hands. In 1619, Altha is on trial for witchcraft, implicated in the gruesome death of a local man. Three women they tried to cage – but Weyward women belong to the wild. And they cannot be tamed…”
My goodness, this is a hauntingly beautiful novel that quickly pulled me into its captivating timelines. I couldn’t put it down. Whilst witches and magic of the periphery, it is so much more than this. It explores womanhood and the intergenerational nature of oppression and resilience. I will be recommending this one to add to your bookshelf.
5 stars
The Passengers on the Hankyu Line | Hiro Arikawa
“The contents of each traveller's heart is a mystery known only to themselves. Trundling through the scenic countryside of Kyoto and Osaka is the Hankyu line, a burgundy-coloured electric train that has been carrying its commuters to their destinations for decades. Throughout a single journey in springtime, and the return journey six months later, just as the leaves begin to fall-”
A few years ago, I read Arikawa’s novel The Travelling Cat Chronicles and loved it, so I grabbed her latest novel as soon as it was released. This is quite an easy read, reminding us that everyday kindness can have a big impact.
3.5 stars
The Bright Years | Sarah Damoff
“Ryan and Lillian Bright are deeply in love, recently married, and now parents to a baby girl, Georgette. But Lillian has a son she hasn’t told Ryan about, and Ryan has an alcohol addiction he hasn’t told Lillian about, so Georgette comes of age watching their marriage rise and fall.
When a shocking blow scatters their fragile trio, Georgette tries to distance herself from reminders of her parents. Years later, Lillian’s son comes searching for his birth family, so Georgette must return to her roots, unearth her family’s history, and decide whether she can open up to love for them—or herself—while there’s still time.”
I went in expecting a romance (and yes, the meet-cute between Lillian and Ryan is completely swoon-worthy), but what unfolds is something far more layered and emotionally resonant.
This book is not just about love; it’s about loss, grief, memory, and the choices we carry. It sneaks up on you, tender and charming at first, then slowly unspools into something heartbreakingly human.
As a debut, this is seriously impressive. The writing is sharp yet lyrical, the pacing perfectly measured, and the use of multiple narrators brings a depth to each moment. Every character feels real, flawed, raw, and vividly alive.
If you love books that make you feel everything—hope, sorrow, joy, ache- then this one is for you. I’m emotionally wrecked and weirdly grateful for it
4.5 stars
Fundamentally | Nussaibah Younis
“Nadia is an academic who's been disowned by her puritanical mother and dumped by her lover, Rosy. She decides to make a getaway, accepting a UN job in Iraq. Tasked with rehabilitating ISIS women, Nadia becomes mired in the opaque world of international aid, surrounded by bumbling colleagues.
Sara is a precocious and sweary East Londoner who joined ISIS at just fifteen. Nadia is struck by how similar they are: both feisty and opinionated, from a Muslim background, with a shared love of Dairy Milk and rude pick-up lines.
A powerful friendship forms between the two women, until a secret confession from Sara threatens everything Nadia has been working for.”
I had mixed feelings about Fundamentally. While the premise held promise, the story ended up being quite predictable. Nadia’s character, in particular, left me frustrated; her tendency to project her trauma onto others, especially Sara, made her feel reactive and emotionally stunted. It was hard to root for her at times.
That said, the book’s saving grace was its sharp, witty humour. The glimpses into the chaos and contradictions of working within the UN were compelling, and the satire helped carry me through to the end. Despite its flaws, Fundamentally had moments of clarity, honesty, and bite that made it worth finishing.
3 stars
Our Infinite Fates | Laura Steven
“A star-crossed lovers romance that spans a millennia, for fans of The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue, They Both Die at the End and One Day
They've loved each other in every lifetime. They've killed each other in every one.
Evelyn can remember all her past lives. She can also remember that in every single one, she's been murdered before her eighteenth birthday.”
Our Infinite Fates is a haunting, gorgeously crafted exploration of love, fate, and the tragedy of repetition. The premise instantly hooked me: two souls—Evelyn and Arden—fated to kill each other before they turn 18, lifetime after lifetime. From the trenches of WWII to the Viking age, to ancient Greece and today, we’re taken on a stunning journey through history, heartbreak, and what it means to be bound to someone across time.
Laura Steven’s writing is almost lyrical. It flows like poetry, with each chapter layering a new life, a new heartbreak, a new death. This sense of urgency and sorrow seeps through the page; you feel every cut, every moment that’s stolen too soon. It’s immersive, devastating, and beautiful all at once. I read this in one sitting.
If you’re looking for a book that blends history, soul-deep romance, and philosophical weight with breathtaking prose, Our Infinite Fates will sweep you up in its eternal loop—and you might not want to leave.
4 Stars.
The Three Lives of Cate Kay | Kate Fagan
“Cate Kay is the most famous author on the planet. But it's just a name. Somehow, despite her bestselling novels and the record-breaking film franchise, the writer has remained completely anonymous.
Anne Marie Callahan is the name nobody knows. Only the people she left behind. And Annie knows there's no one there anymore who could connect the dots between the girl who ran away all those years ago and the famous novelist.
If you asked, she'd say her name was Cass Ford. That's what her barista shouts each morning. And it's how she introduces herself to the woman she'll eventually call the love of her life.
Three names, three lives. But Cate Kay is finally ready to tell you who she really is.
And when the truth is out, will everyone's favourite novelist hold on to her place in our hearts or are some betrayals impossible to forgive?”
What a great read! I couldn’t put this one down. Complex women. A great story. I wanted to know what was going to happen next. The writing drew me in. I became Cass’s silent friend.
4 Stars.
Pictures of You | Emma Grey
“Evie Hudson should be grieving her dead husband, but since the car crash that claimed his life, she can't remember him at all. The only person who can help her piece her past together is her high-school best friend, Drew Kennedy.
When snippets of her memory start falling into place, she wonders exactly how she ended up in a life that couldn't be further from the one she dreamed of. This time around, she's seeing all the things she missed . . . and the picture isn't pretty.”
I grabbed this book on a whim, predominantly because Emma Grey is an Australian writer. I was so engrossed in the novel that after starting it just after lunch, my family didn’t see me until I finished later that night. The premise intrigued me: imagine waking up and forgetting the last 10-20 years of your life! There are many twists and turns in Pictures of Yo, but I found it deeply satisfying.
4 Stars,
All the Colours of the Dark | Chris Whitaker
“For Joseph 'Patch' Macauley and Saint Brown, it comes late one summer as Patch is abducted from their hometown. Devastated, Saint devotes her days to finding her best friend.
Held in total darkness, Patch is hopeless and alone - until he feels a hand in his. Though he never sees the girl, they fall in love. When he escapes, he's left with only her voice and name - and promises to spend the rest of his life searching for her.
As Saint's heart breaks for the boy she lost - and the man he becomes - she will shadow his journey, to uncover the truth behind who took him.
Over a lifetime driven by obsession, Patch and Saint must sacrifice everything for redemption, justice, and, ultimately, love - even if that means losing each other forever…”
This is one of those books where you find yourself holding your breath, waiting for the climax to peak. Heartbreaking and haunting, you won’t forget All the Colours of the Dark quickly. I have also heard that it will shortly become a movie. I’ll be buying tickets!
4.5 stars.
There Are Rivers in the Sky | Elif Shafak
Currently reading.
“There Are Rivers in the Sky is a rich, sweeping novel set between the 19th century and modern times, about love and loss, memory and erasure, hurt and healing, centred around three enchanting characters living on the banks of the River Thames and the River Tigris - their lives all curiously touched by the epic of Gilgamesh.”
This is such a gloriously beautiful book. I am only halfway through. I’m deeply invested in Arthur’s story, and am struggling to pace myself so I don’t rush to the end and miss out on all the details. It is like unravelling a fairytale with so many layers.
As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases when you click over to Amazon. Thank you for supporting the Kid Bucket List!
Past Reads
If you are keen. to work through my past reads, please review the following posts: