Christen Krumm

Reader | Writer | Serious Coffee Drinker

  • Christen Krumm
  • Home
  • About
  • Notebook Musings
  • Books
  • Podcast
  • Atlas of Neely Spencer

Summer Book Report

IMG_4623

I had every intention of doing a monthly summer book report, but the summer was way busy and I unofficially took time off from the blog … I ended up on a little bit of a reading binge (I’m going to chock it up to husband working a couple of 3rd shifts as well as summer reading challenge put on by @Lunasluckymoon on Instagram). Did you read this summer? What were your favorite reads?

Note: This post does contain affiliate links.

A Painted Summer | Amy Matayo

Loved this novella. It’s short, so I read it super fast. It’s about a former homeschooler (so, I could totally relate). I fell for the hero super fast. Overall a cute read definitely worth reading if you are in the mood for something light and happy.

Furiously Happy: A Funny Book About Horrible Things | Jenny Lawson

When your brother-in-law randomly calls in the middle of the day and tells you that you have to read this book, you request from your library and read it as fast as you can. Multiple times I was laughing out loud (at so many inappropriate things). This book was super entertaining.

After You | Jojo Moyes

This is the second book in the Me Before You series. I remember reading the first book because there was so much controversy surrounding it. The second book was just ok. I still love Jojo’s writing, this story was just … okay. I am looking forward to the third book, Still Me, which I have heard is a lot better than this one.

A Wrinkle in Time | Madeleine L’Engle

E and I read this one together before we watched the movie. It was my first read (I know, I know). I went back and forth between “this is so weird” and “this is so good”. For the most part, I loved it. I love the messages weaved throughout. E and I both decided that we loved the book better than the movie. I so loved the messages in the movie, but the book was definitely better.

The Royal We | Heather Cocks

I’ll admit. I have been bit with the “royal” bug. I love seeing everything Meghan Markle. I grabbed this book (based loosely off of Kate and William’s story). It took me forever to get through this book (I felt like it was really long — I think it covered six years?) It was good, but not going down in my “most favorite book ever”.

Death in the Floating City | Tasha Alexander

I will always be a fan of the Lady Emily mysteries. This was the seventh one and still just as enjoyable as the first.

Meghan: A Hollywood Princess | Andrew Morton

Maybe I am a little obsessed with all things England and princess right now. I loved Meghan on Suits and now love her as the new princess.

Brazen | Penelope Bagieu

This was a super fun one. A graphic novel of such telling quick stories of women who changed history. <3

The Anomaly | Michael Rutger

I didn’t like this one as much as I thought I was going to. It was my Book of the Month club pick and pitched as X-Files meets Indiana Jones. It was entertaining enough to keep me reading. At about chapter 35, the pace finally got going for a bang of an ending.

Gone Rogue: Wires and Nerve #2 | Marissa Meyer

I will always and forever love Marissa Meyer. This graphic novel series continuing the Lunar Chronicles series is golden.

Unbreakable | Sara Ella

This was the final book in the Unblemished series. It’s a little bittersweet. I was there at the series beginning and this was a great ending to the entire thing.

The Truth Between Us | Tammy L. Gray

This was another fun, quick read. More on the chick lit side, but if you’re looking for something easy (while good) this would be your pick! You can see a full review on it here.

When Through Deep Waters | Rachelle Dekker

Rachelle Dekker is another one of those authors that I just love everything they write. When Through Deep Waters was a lot different from her first series, but I still loved it. You can see a full review on it here.

Song of a Captive Bird | Jasim Darznik

This one isn’t something I’d normally pick up, but at the recommendation from a friend requested it from the library and then promptly devoured it. This is one of the main reasons I love recommendations — they lead you to read something in a genre you wouldn’t normally read, and you’ll end up discovering new favorites.

The Bone Season | Samantha Shannon

This one I found on Instagram (via a late night scroll and discovering the author). She’s British and described this as dystopian — I was sold. It was a little different then what I generally enjoy, but oh my sweet goodness did I love love love this book. I hear there is a read-a-long going on for this series and we’re reading book two this month — can’t wait to dive in!

My Plain Jane

The Jane series. Sigh. These are such great books. My Plain Jane is the second book in the series but is completely stand alone. Jane Eyre meets Ghostbusters — pure perfection.

Bolivar | Sean Rubin

This was a graphic novel I picked up in the children’s section of my library. I loved it. Apparently, there is a movie coming out based on the book — I’m so there

The Opposite of Loneliness | Marina Keegan

I’m finding that I super loving books of essays. This one was written by a Yale graduate who died a few days after graduating. Her family, friends, and professors gathered all her writings and put them in this book. I loved each short story and essay — I kinda wish there were more. Definitely worth a read!

Spread the love

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Pinterest
  • Email
«
»

stuff 0

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

christen e krumm | author | blogger | coffee addictI'm Christen. I'm a reader, writer, and I seriously love coffee.

Connect with me

  • Email
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • YouTube

Currently Reading

Search

Life on the Gram

Christen Krumm

christenkrumm

Podcaster @exploringtheblankpagepodcast | Author of On the Golden Cliffs & It Happened at Christmas & Meet Me at the Christmas Cottage

We will see who makes it out alive … We will see who makes it out alive …
I mean … maybe, but let’s not get too crazy. I mean … maybe, but let’s not get too crazy. 

Have you made goals (writing or otherwise) for this year?! Let me hear! I wanna cheer you on!
New day, sameish view, same coffee shop. New day, sameish view, same coffee shop.
At my favorite place, writing this book that only At my favorite place, writing this book that only wants to be written when I’m not at home.
Merry Christmas from Neely Spencer. Head over to S Merry Christmas from Neely Spencer. Head over to Substack if you want to see a special message about Neely Spencer (and I share some goodies too!!) 

#serialfiction
It Happened at Christmas or Meet Me at the Christm It Happened at Christmas or Meet Me at the Christmas Cottage? Choices choices…

#christmasbooks
Meet Me at the Christmas Cottage is a force proxim Meet Me at the Christmas Cottage is a force proximity Christmas story about a grumpy writer who rents a cottage on Jonathon Island at Christmas to get her book written (which she is so behind on). She never expected to get snowed in with a hunky Army doctor! 

Read now on KU!
✨GIVEAWAY✨ Win a signed copy of Meet Me at th ✨GIVEAWAY✨

Win a signed copy of Meet Me at the Christmas Cottage + 2 pair of Christmas socks (just like Jonah wears!) 

👉 to enter:

1️⃣ follow this account 

2️⃣ tag your friends + let me know your favorite Christmas tradition 

3️⃣ bonus - share in your stories!! 

Winner will be announced on Wednesday, December 3!
Happy Thanksgiving! 🍁🍽 🦃 I am so thankf Happy Thanksgiving! 🍁🍽 🦃 

I am so thankful for each and every one of you!!
I was up to my ears with rejections for my YA dyst I was up to my ears with rejections for my YA dystopian and ready to throw in the towel. My best friend suggested I try writing YA rom com (remember that @neysawalker ?) … which was laughable (since I liked killing characters not having the happily ever after.) But what she said stuck and I eventually started thinking about this girl named Murphy who watched her crush slip and fall at the airport leading to him being in coma, her being mistaken for his girlfriend, and then meeting his best friend and actually falling in love … 

Get It Happened at Christmas wherever you purchase your books (or request from the library!!)
It Happened at Christmas is my nod to my favorite It Happened at Christmas is my nod to my favorite 90s rom com While You Were Sleeping — but making it YA! 

What happens when your crush is in coma, and you get mistaken for his girlfriend, but then his best friend arrives on scene (with a swoon accent) and then you find yourself falling for him? 

This one is a lot of fun! It’s available wherever you buy books (or you can request from your library!)
I signed a contract with @blinkyabooks to bring y’all a YA murder mystery! 

I can’t share a whole lot yet, but here are some vibes for you to enjoy!!
Want to read chapter 11? It’s available now on Want to read chapter 11? 

It’s available now on Substack! #atlasofneelyspencer
Read the first eleven chapters of Atlas of Neely S Read the first eleven chapters of Atlas of Neely Spencer on Substack now!
My ten before the end … What are your ten? My ten before the end …

What are your ten?
It Happened at Christmas is a YA Christmas romcom It Happened at Christmas is a YA Christmas romcom available now!
🎄🎅 Meet Me at the Christmas Cottage is now a 🎄🎅 Meet Me at the Christmas Cottage is now available!
🎄🎄Unbox my Christmas books with me! 🎄🎄 🎄🎄Unbox my Christmas books with me! 🎄🎄

👉 Details for the book signing dropping soon!
🍰🍰 • What happens when a family of former 🍰🍰
•
What happens when a family of former pro football players buys the town of Sheet Cake, Texas? A lot of small-town drama and unexpected love stories, that’s what!
•
•
I’m so excited to dive into The Wild Card! Emma St Clair is the queen when it comes to romcoms and I always get super excited when she releases another book (seriously, everything she writes is so good!) I’ll drop a little about this one in the comments!
•
•
⭐️GIVEAWAY⭐️
•
⇒ (1) winner will receive a paperback of the book, art print, bookmark, and sticker!

⇒ TO ENTER

⇒ LIKE, SAVE, and SHARE this post

⇒ FOLLOW me @christenkrumm @kikimojo @justreadtours

⇒ TAG a friend (up to 3x per post)

⇒ VISIT each hosted post of this tour for more entries. Schedule at @justreadtours. (US only. Void where prohibited by law or logistics. Instagram is not affiliated with nor responsible for this giveaway. Giveaway ends at 11:59 PM EST on November 12, 2025.)
•
•
•
#justreadtours #TheWildCard #LoveStoriesinSheetCake #EmmaStClair
With the holidays just around the corner, it’s t With the holidays just around the corner, it’s time to stock up on some excellent holiday reading material!

We’ve got you covered. Everything from Victorian Murder Mysteries to RomCom to Lyrical Prose, all centered around the season.

Enter to win physical copies of:

@christenkrumm’s Meet Me at the Christmas Cottage AND It Happened at Christmas 

@a.j.skelly’s Murder at Mistlethwaite Manor

@emiliehaney_author’s Maid at Christmas

@betsystamanthaddox’s Holly and Nick Hate Christmas

@nataliewalters_writer’s Better Watch Out

@chelseabobulski’s All I Want for Christmas is the Girl Next Door

Lorie Langdon’s Once Upon a Christmas Past

@brittanyedenauthor’s Wishes

Click the link in bio to enter for a chance to win! Giveaway runs until November 15th - and winner will be announced on the 17th. US addresses only (I know, I know … but shipping’s a beast). This giveaway isn’t affiliated with Meta.
Load More... Follow on Instagram

Things of Note

Unless otherwise stated, all words and photos on this blog are my own. Sometimes I use affiliate links for products in posts as well as on my other social media sites. "We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites." Occasionally I receive books or products free of charge. This will be clearly noted and please know that when I am writing about something the words and opinions expressed are always my own. Thank you so much for reading.

Copyright © 2026 · Christen Krumm by SA Designs

 

Loading Comments...