July isn’t quite over yet but it is the last Saturday of the month, and that means that it’s time to take a look at the books that I’ve acquired.
I’m linking this up to the Stacking the Shelves meme hosted by Marlene @Reading Reality, which allows us to share the books we’ve acquired (either bought, gifted or borrowed) each week – even though I don’t post each week, I enjoy being able to see what other people are excited about. Please see my first post for a discussion of why I don’t participate weekly/my concerns about book hauls and over consumerism.
Without further ado, let’s take a look at the books I’ve acquired in July! (I would say this far, but I’m not planning on buying any more books before the end of the month – I might buy a couple in August as a celebration for finishing my thesis, but we’ll see.)
I have included links to purchase the books without supporting Amazon! If you’re based in the UK, please use the Bookshop.org UK affiliate links and support independent bookshops (where not available on Bookshop.org, I have included an alternative independent bookshop you can buy from directly). If you’re international, Blackwell’s ship all over the world and the cost of delivery is included in the listed price, so no nasty surprises. And of course, you can always request a book from your local library instead!
A Witch’s Guide to Magical Innkeeping by Sangu Mandanna
Exiled from her Guild after losing her powers resurrecting her great-aunt Jasmine, Sera Swan now (reluctantly) helps Jasmine run an enchanted in. Then she finds an old spell that could help her restore her power, and with the help of handsome and icy magical historian Luke Larsen, she just might be able to pull it off.
I read this a couple of months ago from the library and have been waiting for the paperback release to get myself a copy.
So Long a Letter by Mariama Bâ
Recently widowed, Ramatoulaye must take sole responsibility for the long mourning process of her late husband. A husband she has not seen in over four years – not after he married his second wife. In a letter to her friend, Ramatoulaye recalls both of their experiences as students impatient to change the world, as wives suffering in the private sphere of marriage, and as mothers witnessing the dangers of Westernisation.
I’m trying to work on my Storygraph Reads the World challenge, and this will fill the Senegal prompt.
Under the Oak Tree (The Novel) Vol. 3 by Suji Kim
Translated from the hit Korean webnovel about an arranged marriage between the daughter of a powerful Duke and a low-born knight turned war hero.
I read volumes 1 and 2 in May and have been looking forward to volume 3 (it came out end of June). I posted a series review for the first three volumes yesterday if you’re interested!
I Who Have Never Known Men by Jacqueline Harpman
Thirty-nine women are kept isolated in a cage deep underground with no memory of how they got there and only a vague recollection of their lives before. But as numberless years part, a young girl – the fourtieth prisoner – sits alone and outcast in the corner. She will be their key to escape and survival in the strange world that awaits them. The woman who will never know men.
One of my friends finished this book and wanted to know my thoughts but even though I have seen it everywhere, I’m yet to read it. He gave me his copy to read so we’ll see what I think when I get around to it (hopefully soon).
I’ve also had so much luck with review copies this past month, so I thought I’d show off all of the review copies I’ve received as well!
The Serpent’s Longing by Manita Kumari is an Indian fantasy novel that came out in May. The author contacted me about reading a review copy, so hopefully I’ll get to that in August and let you all know what I think!
Apart from that, I have been approved for four upcoming releases on Netgalley: two works of translated fiction (one Taiwanese, one Japanese) and three SFF releases. When I got the email that I had been approved for the new Becky Chambers book, I genuinely squealed. I’ve already finished it and I promise a review is coming very shortly even though that book has the latest publication date of all the ARCs. That’s just how these things work out (oops).
Shop this list on Bookshop.org UK and support independent bookshops.
If you are based in the UK and want to support independent bookshops, please consider buying the books on this list via my storefront on Bookshop.org UK. If you do, I get 10% commission and so do British independent bookshops (without affecting the price you pay).
If you can’t buy the books right now but want to read them, please check your local library (or request them)! Together we can keep these important community resources alive.
And that’s it! What books have you acquired in July so far?
And have you read any of these books? What did you think?
Keira x
![[Review] Under the Oak Tree #1-3 by Suji Kim](https://keirasbookmark.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/screenshot-2026-07-24-at-13.08.09.png?w=800&h=600&crop=1)
Keira's Bookmark 