My best friend Karami saw a Reel one day about a sort of blind date book exchange, but with a twist. Instead of buying new books for each other, you shop each other’s book shelves! We decided to do it for the rest of this year, except by the time we started it was midway thru July already. We just told each other what to read for the month, and decided to start with August.

My July pick for her was to read Flock by Kate Stewart, book one of the Ravenhood series. I bought this series, which was originally self-published, for her birthday in May, and now they’re being released by publisher Kensington. This book series has been popular on TikTok, and I absolutely loved it. The characters felt like they became a part of me. I’ll recommend this series to anyone and everyone who likes romance, or is maybe looking to go a little bit darker.

Her July pick for me was Final Offer by Lauren Asher. I had read the first two books of the Dreamland Billionaires series a while back, but for some reason just didn’t move this one up my list. I had liked the first two, and although I didn’t remember every detail, it quickly came back to me. Callahan “Cal” Kane is the third of the Kane brothers trying to earn their inheritance from their grandfather. His task is to spend the summer at his family’s lake house before selling it. I didn’t remember Cal being such a dark character from the past books; he seemed more like the fun-loving brother. But I enjoyed his second-chance relationship with Lana and her daughter.

I went to her house at the end of July and stole 5 books, brought them home, and wrapped them in paper grocery bags. Honestly it felt like I was back in middle school covering my school books! Then I drew on the covers and spines for the month she should read them. She then came to my house to take 5 of my books and wrap them for me. On August 1st we unwrapped our books. My choice for her was This Summer Will be Different by Carley Fortune, a summertime romance based in Prince Edward Island that also featured a strong relationship with the character’s best friend. Her pick for me was Real Americans by Rachel Khong, a book that she had recently read and found wonderful.

Come back to check out the rest of our blind date books as the year goes on!