Bookish Thoughts for July
There was plenty of light and fluffy summer reading this month, but… I took a detour and spent time with some wonderful parenting books. Being in children’s ministry (and being a homeschool mom), I’m always looking for books to recommend. From Monica Swanson to Sally Clarkson to Cindy Rollins, I learned so much this month. All of these women have raised grown children and have written down their experiences and wisdom. I am so thankful for their voices! Also, Monica and Sally have invited their children to share (and for Monica, her husband as well) their family story has well. I love when families collaborate on books. Not only to do see one side of their family, but we get to see the layers of family experience. It’s a powerful testimony!
Fiction highlights of the month were the Sweet as Sugar Maple series by Kate Watson and The Falling for Summer series (by various authors) with all it’s beachy vibes. I re-read the Caraval series and the Once Upon a Broken Heart series by Stephanie Garber. These have all been fun summer reads. I’ve enjoyed meeting new characters along with revisiting familiar faces. I love new books, but I will always be a re-reader as well! Summer reading in July has definitely been a good mix.

Top Picks for July

The Book List for July
1 Star = I did not like it. 2 stars = It was okay. 3 stars = I liked it. 4 stars = I really liked it. 5 stars = It was amazing.
Non-Fiction:
- Different: The Story of an Outside-the-Box Kid and the Mom Who Loved Him by Sally Clarkson and Nathan Clarkson – 4 stars
- Mere Motherhood: Morning Times, Nursery Rhymes, & My Journey Toward Sanctification by Cindy Rollins – 4 stars
- Raising Amazing: Bringing Up Kids Who Love God, Like Their Family, and Do the Dishes without Being Asked by Monica Swanson – 5 stars
- Becoming Homeschoolers: Give Your Kids a Great Education, a Strong Family, and a Life They’ll Thank You for Later by Monica Swanson – 4 stars
- NLT Filament Bible Journal: Luke – 5 stars
Fiction:
- Strawberry Fields for Never by Kate Watson – 4 stars
- Baby Llama Drama by Kate Watson – 4 stars
- It’s Always Sonny by Kate Watson – 3 stars
- Love and Treasure by Carina Taylor – 3 stars
- Caraval by Stephanie Garber – 4 stars
- Legendary by Stephanie Garber – 3 stars
- Finale by Stephanie Garber – 3 stars
- Once Upon a Broken Heart by Stephanie Garber – 3 stars
- The Ballad of Never After by Stephanie Garber – 4 stars
- A Curse for True Love by Stephanie Garber – 3 stars
- Summer Tease by Martha Keyes – 3 stars
- Beauty and the Beach by Gracie Ruth Mitchell – 3 stars
- One Happy Summer by Becky Monson – 3 stars
- The Roommate Situation by Katie Bailey – 3 stars
- The Neighbor War by Katie Bailey – 3 stars
