Books I Meant to Read This Month

by Donna Huber

Every month I usually leave a book or two from the list I planned for the month in the TBR pile. This month has been a horrible reading month. I had real trouble focusing on books the first week or so of the month as I grieved the death of my father. I only finished 7 books (so far): 1 was a book I have been reading all summer for work, and 4 were audiobooks. So I have a bunch of books languishing in my TBR pile that hit shelves this month, and I wanted to give a little shout-out to them.

Amazon affiliate links are used on this site. Free books were provided for an honest review.

The Castle in the Glen by Rhys Bowen

August 2026; Lake Union Publishing; 978-1662527203
audio, ebook, print (424 pages); women's fiction

The Story: A ghostwriter plunges into danger as she unravels the dark secrets of a powerful Scottish family in a thrilling novel of romance and mystery.

The Appeal: I love Bowen's cozy mystery series Her Royal Spyness. Her standalone novels are usually filled with intrigue, and while there is usually romance, it isn't usually too spicy.

Buy The Castle in the Glen at Amazon

Murder Bites by Mimi Montgomery

August 2026; Bantam; 979-8217092536
audio, ebook, print (320 pages); cozy mystery

The Story: A city transplant in a dog-obsessed small town becomes the prime suspect when the local dog walker is murdered.

The Appeal: I definitely have a thing for cozy mysteries. The cover really caught my eye and made me think that it might be different than the typical ones I read - I love finding a unique take on the genre. You can check out MK's review if you want to know more.

Buy Murder Bites at Amazon

Death on the Books by Victoria Gilbert

August 2026; Crooked Lane Books; 979-8892427333
audio, ebook, print (320 pages); cozy mystery

The Story: A sleuthing library director is on the case when a patron drops dead in the tenth installment of Victoria Gilbert’s critically acclaimed Blue Ridge Library mysteries.

The Appeal: This is always a fun mystery, and I really like the characters.

Buy Death on the Books at Amazon

Nearshore by Steve Hawk

August 2026; Viking; 979-8217062331
audio, ebook, print (352 pages); thriller

The Story: A churning mix of literary suspense and coastal noir—where the clash between land and sea unearths Silicon Valley’s darkest secret, and three people must reckon with all that is at stake in an age shadowed by greed, totalitarianism, and nuclear terror.

The Appeal: This is the author's debut novel, so I'm not sure what to expect. From the description, it feels like it will be a high-octane thriller.

Buy Nearshore at Amazon

Murder Stage Left by Verity Bright

August 2026; Bookouture; 978-1805509196
audio, ebook, print (306 pages); cozy mystery

The Story: Lady Swift and her handsome husband Hugh Seldon are totally charmed by the picturesque town where Shakespeare once lived. Everyone is abuzz with chatter about the upcoming production of Macbeth… But wait, is that a body backstage?

The Appeal: I love the characters and the 1920s vibe. If I finish my current read before the end of the week, I will pick this one up.

Buy Murder Stage Left at Amazon

Did any of these books make it into (and out of) your TBR pile this month?

Donna Huber is an avid reader and natural encourager. She is the founder of Girl Who Reads and the author of how-to marketing book Secrets to a Successful Blog Tour. 

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