Intro

We’re back to doing roundups! It’s been a while (hello, 2020 flashbacks), but honestly, I missed chatting about what I read each month. So here we are, resurrecting the tradition—this time with more chaos, more candour, and way better book picks (I think?). Let’s dive into what July 2025 looked like on my reading list.

July 2025 Reading Roundup

I started the month on a light note with The Last Straw (Diary of a Wimpy Kid #3). Greg Heffley and his middle-school problems never disappoint. There’s something comforting about how dramatic his life is—makes you feel like your own chaos is completely normal.

But after living in Greg’s world for a while, I wanted something different. Because let’s face it: after reading about his absurd life events, you can’t just keep going in the same lane. So, I went completely off-road and picked up something at random: The Giver of Stars.

Historical fiction.

My first ever.

Who even am I?

But honestly, horseback librarians in Kentucky? That’s not a sentence I thought I’d ever type, and yet here we are.

Next, I needed something a little closer to home, so I reached for The House Across the Street by Lesley Pearse. A little drama, a sprinkle of suspense—just enough to keep me hooked without throwing me off the wagon.

Then came my rebellious streak. I abandoned The House That Spoke (sorry, haunted mansions, you didn’t stand a chance) and went straight to the source: Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland. Because when in doubt, pick the book that inspired the one you abandoned. Talking rabbits and disappearing cats > mysterious old houses, any day. And indeed a wonderland Alice took me to. Amazed by that story.

Of course, I couldn’t stay away from my comfort zone for long. So, I slid back into Kinsella-land with I Owe You One. Because sometimes you just need Sophie Kinsella to make you laugh and roll your eyes in the same chapter.

I came back to The House That Spoke, but couldn’t get past a few pages. Sorry to say, it wasn’t my cuppa.

And then… guess who came crawling back? Me, to Greg Heffley. Yep, ended the month with Dog Days (Wimpy Kid #4). At this point, I think Greg and I need boundaries.

Currently Reading (or trying to…)

Because clearly finishing books isn’t enough—I like to keep a few simmering on the side:

• Shuter Murgh Riasat by Mustansar Hussain Tarar
  Picked this up on July 23rd because… why not. So far, I have mixed feelings.

• The House That Spoke by Zuni Chopra
  Picked it up on July 15th. The poor book I abandoned twice (sorry!) but have decided to give another shot, SOON. Let’s see if the haunted house can finally speak to me… or if this turns into another DNF confession.

• Delusions of Grandma by Carrie Fisher
  Started on July 8th, for the third time since this book came into my possession and honestly, can’t relate to Carrie—who people find quirky, self-aware, and sharp.

• Little Women by Louisa May Alcott
  Began on July 21st. I know, I know… “Finally?” Yes. I’m late to the March sisters party, but better late than never. Current thoughts: Jo is everything people promised me she’d be. Also because “Little Women played an important role in The Giver of Stars.

So, what’s the July vibe? A little bit of everything: cartoons, classics, cowboys, and a dash of chaos. Honestly, my TBR looks like it needs therapy, but hey—that’s what makes reading fun.

Shabana Mukhtar