## August 2026 Most Anticipated Releases

Bindery refers to a studio, workshop or factory where sheets of (usually) paper are fastened together to make books, but also where gold and other decorative elements are added to the exterior of books, where boxes or slipcases for books are made and where the restoration of books is carried out.

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### Mini Review Monday - July 27, 2026
I was traveling for a chunk of last week, so I only finished two books this week. They were both excellent plane reads, though, so good job with that timing, me. Books marked with an * were gifted to me.

**Coldwire by Chloe Gong* -** The sequel to this book is almost here, so I figured I should probably finally get around to it! I have loved every Gong book I've read and this is no exception. I was so drawn into this cyberpunk dystopia. You know I love a prickly girl character, and this book is full of them. It’s excellent and horrifying how you can see exactly the trajectory our world might take to become the world of Coldwire. I found it a little hard to follow the reveal near the end, but I think that’s on me rather than the author since other reviewers didn’t seem to have that problem.

**This Princess Kills Monsters by Ry Herman* -** I am very into fantasy comedy right now and this one is chef's kiss excellent. It reminded me a lot of The Princess Bride, if that story was more queer. It's deeply silly while also giving old fairytales a new point of view. Literally everything about this book is a delight.

### Mini Review Monday - July 20, 2026
Hello and happy Monday! I'm writing this post earlier than usual because I have been traveling the last few days, so this is really a roundup of books I read up through last Wednesday.

**The Correspondent by Virginia Evans* -** Yes, everyone is right about this book! It's so lovely! It's heartfelt and funny, and I actually laughed and gasped out loud while listening. If you're an audiobook person, I do recommend that route, as it's done with half a dozen or so narrators, which really helps bring the letters to life.

**Make Me Better by Sarah Gailey* -** Sadly, this is probably my least favorite Gailey book to date. It's soooo sloowwww. I did like the blending of cults and the supernatural, and it's fine by me if things never get fully explained. But you can't take what's obvious from like page five and try to make it a grand reveal at the end of the book.

**Stops Along The Way by Anna Sortino* -** Sortino is an author that I think is super underrated. She writes YA featuring disabled characters, mainly teens who are Deaf/hard of hearing. Her books are so great showing what it might be like to live every day with the specific disabilities her characters have.

### Mini Review Monday - July 13, 2026
This was a very slow reading week for me. I plowed through two books last weekend during the heatwave and then...stopped, ha. I couldn't focus, and then a migraine whacked me at the end of the week. Anyway, here's what did get read. Books marked with a * are books I was gifted.

**Murder In The Dressing Room by Holly Stars* -** A cozy mystery about the murder of the owner of a drag cabaret? Yes, please! With this one, I loved the characters and story but not the execution.

**I Love You Don't Die by Jade Song* -** Anyone who gave this one a low rating is INCORRECT. I love love love Song's writing style.