Welcome back to my monthly wrap-up, a retrospective of book reviews and my favorite things I’ve tried and loved through the month. Looking for more book reviews and recommendations from past months? You can find ‘em all here. This is A LONG ONE (in a good way— lots of stuff to recommend for your TBR!) so click here to view in browser.
Damn, there goes July. I still feel like summer hasn’t started, and it’s technically almost over. This was a weird weather one on the East Coast, and the first time in five years summer hasn’t played out in a familiar rhythm for me. Did you feel funky too?
I did an awesome job not shopping this month until juuuust the very end, but I’m feeling really good about a few purchases I made last week: an on-sale gingham dress that didn’t feel too twee or nap-dress-y for me, a spaghetti strap madras mini dress, and a cool take on a denim button-up.
We’ll see if any of it sticks. I used to be a huge Rent the Runway girl back in my NYC days and I really love the “borrow instead of buy” economy… I’ve not tried some of the newcomers like Pickle, but I am trying out Vivrelle this month too so I will keep you posted on how it goes! I don’t ever buy myself designer stuff so borrowing a bag for the month feels like a TREAT. I get a code for any readers who want to try, you get a month free with code AZORAZOE.
Now all I need is for August and September behave like summer so I actually get a chance to wear a dress and a cute crochet bag somewhere this summer…!!!
ICYMI, I published a bunch of things in July that I’m super proud of and are worth a perusal:
My first short story and the first time I published (semi) fiction for you! I went to Nantucket and came back an Elin Hilderbrand character.
In the vein of one of my years-old most-read posts, I shared a bit more about what sustainable swaps I think are the most realistic and impactful!
30 reads from my favorite genre that I think could turn even the biggest haters!
And fun announcement alert, I’ve never done this before: I want to give a bunch of books away for one paid subscriber this month! If you’re jonesing for more summer reads, drop a comment on this post (it can be anything, a book emoji for all I care!) and I’ll DM one winner for their address and send them a little bookish care package. If it’s a fun treat, maybe I’ll do giveaways with reads from my monthly book reviews every month. 👀
Note: Comments and entry in this giveaway are limited to my paid subscribers, but you can become a paid subscriber for basically the price of 1 hardcover book! I’m doing a little promo right now where you can click here for 40% off for one year.
On the days when the sun shined in July, I leaned all the way in. These are a few of my peak summer favorites… not always glamorous, but definitely always useful. You know the rules: these are all things I have used and loved this month, straight from the horse’s mouth. Nothing unloved or untested!
My mom and multiple readers have tried to put me onto Archies flip flops whenever I’ve sung the praises of my beloved Brazil Havaianas. Archies have arch support and are basically orthopedic shoes in disguise, meant for people with high arches or plantar fasciitis (moi). As usual, my mom and my readers were correct, I regret taking this long to buy a pair of Archies…
This BANGIN’ new sunscreen from one of my favorite SPF brands, Dune. Both the can and formula feel more expensive and luxe than you’d think, I highly recommend for your next beach day. Multiple people who have borrowed my sunscreen have commented on both the spray nozzle being elite and the sunscreen smelling fab!
And another savior that was a bedfellow of the sunscreen’s and kept me from peeling or becoming lobster-like this month: my trusty tin of coconut, lavender and blue tansy aftersun. Simple stuff, good stuff! It smells fantastic.
My go-to summer necklace has been this affordable gold collar with interchangeable fishy, pearl, bezel and shell charms. I usually just wear one charm at a time, but I have also been adding the charms to other necklaces, which is so fun! It’s 25% off in BaubleBar’s big biannual sale, and I thought it was already a very good price— highly reco!
I’m sorry if I’m boring you with my repetition, but the Negative Whipped pajamas are worth every dime of their insane price! I got them in navy blue and sized up and the feeling of putting them on after my post-beach shower… GOD, that’s good!!!
First Rodeo is a twice-weekly-ish newsletter about books, work, healing, and the art of getting back up when life knocks you on your ass. 💫 Sometimes it’s reflective, sometimes silly, but always honest.
This month brought a glut of great reads, including two 5-star books… the best. No better feeling than getting completely immersed in something you’re loving.
Without further ado, 12 July reads and book reviews— organized by genre— for you to consider! I even threw in a stack of the books that I DNF’d this month (eek!) and why.
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