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August 2025 Book Reviews

  • Writer: Ash
    Ash
  • Aug 27
  • 3 min read

Quick Disclaimer - This post contains affiliate links, meaning that if you make a purchase through these, I may earn a small commission. Please see my "privacy policy" for more information. Also, there may be SPOILERS.


Hi friends! Curious to find out what I've been reading this month? Well, check out my August 2025 book reviews!


Previous 2025 Book Reviews:



I'm up to 40 books read woooo!


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August 2025 Book Reviews


  1. Cheat Sheets for Life - Ayesha Ratnayake: This was a quick, fun read, but there were a lot of things in the book that didn't really apply to me, so I'm kinda on the fence about it. However, I did enjoy that there was a lot of research peppered throughout the book. It would be good for someone looking for a type of self-help book where they want it to be more fun (I hope that makes sense). I give this book a 5/10.

  2. The Dream Hotel - Laila Lalami: If you're ever in the mood for some dystopian fiction, then this book is for you. It's something that I think most people who use technology and struggle with sleep can relate to. It's also got a similar vibe to 1984's Thought Police, but I think people knew about them in 1984. It's a story that feels uncomfortably real, relatable, and terrifying in parts. Some parts are a bit slow, and you start to give up hope about halfway through, but it gets better as the story goes on. It would be a good book to teach to English students. I rate this a 7/10.

  3. The Stranger Diaries - Elly Griffiths: The Stranger Diaries hooked me from the blurb, but I found myself wanting more of the stranger's writing in Clare's diaries - like more mystery, I guess. I did enjoy the three-person narrative: Clare, Georgie, and Harbinder. And, the whole way through the book, I didn't expect the murderer to be who it was, so I was pleasantly surprised. Good character development, but also, why did no one seem to worry about a 15-year-old high school student dating a 21-year-old? That is SUS. I think this book would make a great movie, definitely a murder mystery rather than crime fiction. Parts of me kinda wish it were a bit longer, so the author could dive into the hauntings of RM Holland a bit more. I rate this book an 8.5/10.

  4. Foreclosure Gothic - Harris Lahti: I think that I should have read American Gothic before I read this book. I'm going to put that on my TBR list. This was a strange read for me. It was a series of short stories based on one family's entire lives, so it was interesting to go through that with them. However, for a horror novel, there didn't seem to be a whole lot of horror - it alluded to it a lot, but I wasn't scared once. There was so much of "oh, is there a ghost there?" or "is something going to happen," but it never did. I mean, at the end, something bad happens, but it's kinda normal. A bit disappointed in this one so maybe a 6/10.

  5. A Few Rules for Predicting the Future - Octavia E. Butler: This isn't really a full book, more of a short story/essay, but I'm putting it here anyway because I read it. I was hoping it was going to have some sort of humour aspect to it, but it was more just written in the eyes of someone who was like "yeah, no sh*t that was going to happen" haha. I enjoyed it from a sociological perspective and may Octavia rest in peace. Great essay, 10/10.


I've been struggling on and off with migraines and other health issues this past week, so I'm not pushing myself to read too much. I did just start a book called Hidden Pictures, though, and I accidentally read some spoilers, so I'm interested to see how it goes. It doesn't have the best reviews. Maybe I will get close to reading 100 books this year. I'm just glad I'm well past my 20-30 goal because I barely ever get there.


Let me know what you're reading right now!


Thanks for reading!

Ash xx



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