Well OBVIOUSLY this is a good book. I‘m rereading so I can go into Ballad and Sunrise with all the info I need. It took me a minute to get into Collins‘ writing style, and since the YA voice isn‘t something I‘ve read in a LONG time. But first one down! Four to go!

4.5 stars | #ya #dystopia #modernclassic

A pretty good reading month! Currently my most books read this year (thank you Libby and earbuds at work). At this point, I‘m one book away from my 2025 reading goal of 60, and Fable says I‘ll hit my stretch goal of 75 in September! 🥳 I‘m also one book away from beating my Most Books per Year record of 59 from 2023! Let‘s goooooo

The infantilization of a 39yo man gave me the BIGGEST ick. And the miscommunication? You are BOTH in your 30s, I need you to talk to each other like adults. I appreciate the continued emphasis on mental health, but oh my god. Y‘all need therapy, lots of it.

2 stars | #romance

I don‘t remember finishing this one the first time I read it about 3 years ago, but then I kept hitting story beats I remembered, so maybe I did? Regardless, wonderful little novella. The fish scene still hurts me on a personal level.

4 stars | #scifi

This was…okay. I was more intrigued with the character of Aeneas than either of our MCs, tbh. And some of the parts about cosplay and writing fanfic and being judged for it just…fell flat in the year of our lord 2025. As far as I know, you‘re only judged if it‘s bad, not if you do it at all. 🤷🏼‍♀️

3 stars | #romance

This one was so sweet. The least believable in terms of real life, but I still ate it up. And you go, Eve!! I always believed in you!! She and Jacob did have me giggling and kicking my feet quite a lot.

4 stars | #romance

As someone with a very high (academic) work drive, and who‘s had panic attacks over assignments, I see you Dani Brown. Also the fake dating? One of my favorite romance tropes, and Talia Hibbert, please never stop writing romances. I love the continued focus on mental health that was introduced with Red in the last book (love you Zaf), and I can‘t wait to start on the next one. Also love some bi rep!! 🩷💜💙

4.5 stars | #romance

I‘ve been SLEEPING on Talia Hibbert and I‘m SO SORRY!! I ate this one up (delicious), and I already have the second one playing. Ugh! I love Chloe and Red, may they live happily ever after.

4.5 stars | #romance

This one was much better than the first one. The ending still left something to be desired but UGH I love a fake-dating plotline.

3.5 stars | #romance #paranormalromance #vampire

While I did listen to this one in one sitting, I think it‘s just this side of too silly. Too many pop culture references (what do you MEAN TikTok played an unironic roll in the finale 😭😭) and Frederick was just…weird. The whole sexualization of both characters was a LOT. I never wanna hear a “17th c man” describe a modern woman in a bikini again thank you.

2.5 stars | #romance #paranormalromance #vampire

This was cute! Dex changed a LOT between Well Played and Well Traveled, and I like that it was for a no-nonsense lawyer turned Tarot reader lol. This made me wanna pack all my stuff up and take a roadtrip tour of the Eastern/Southern ren faires. It felt a lot shorter than the other three, but I had a good time. Well Matches is still my fav tho :)

3 stars | #romance #renfaire #renaissancefaire

This is why I struggle-bussed my way through book 2, because this one was good! Once again I wish the grown adults would simply talk to each other but whatever. I had a good time. If you don‘t mind age gaps and MILFs, give this one a go.

3.5 stars | #romance #renfaire

Listen, I went into this knowing it was a catfish romance, but like…neither of them had an arc?? Stacy needs some self worth, Dex and Daniel need some therapy, and also maybe they should all work on themselves before they get into relationships. I even forgave the initial catfishing, but everything after? UGH.

1.75 stars | #romance #renfaire

I am SO excited for my hardcover copy to come in, but I just finished!!! If you‘re a fan of dark academia, horror, monster girls, and don‘t mind a little gore? Okay, a LOT of gore. 😅 But read this book! Cassandra Khaw‘s writing is so so so pretty, even when everything is slimy, gross, nasty. If you liked The Salt Grows Heavy and/or Someone You Can Build a Nest In, you‘ll like this book.

4 stars | #darkacadmemia #horror

I picked up this book SOLELY for the fact that Vico Ortiz read for one of the characters, and this is such a heart warming story?? Coming of age magical realism about accepting yourself in every way possible, I loved it and immediately recommended it to a friend lol.

4.25 stars | #urbanfabtasy ? #ya #lgbtqia #lgbt #magicalrealism #twowitches #twowitchesbeltane

This fills the same spot in my head as reality TV, which is what they were going for so cheers to that. Unfort, Bea is just…idk. She feels so blah? And she makes some INTERESTING (derogatory) choices throughout this book, starting with knowingly sleeping with a woman‘s fiance?? Girl.

3 stars | #romance #twowitches #twowitchesbeltane

As an interlude between reading all 4 Inheritance Cycle books and then almost spring-boarding myself into Murtagh, this was nice! I liked seeing different aspects of Alegaesia and checking in on my fav (even tho his story was the shortest smh my head).

4 stars | #fantasy #highfantasy #shortstories #twowitchesbeltane #twowitches

Once again, we hit the “hey, why don‘t y‘all try talking to each other like adults?” in a romance. The vibes of the renaissance faire tho? Ooh, it hits different. Makes me so excited for Ren season (she says, actively building her replacement outfit). I might read the next few on those vibes alone, but I heard book 2 is a catfishing romance? We‘ll see…

3 stars | #romance

Luc drove me f*cking insane. There were so many times where I wanted to ✨scream✨ at him to shut. up. Stop talking. Not a single one of these characters has a braincell among them they‘re willing to use, and from the reviews I‘ve read for Husband Material, I‘m gonna pass. None of these people are real in a way that isn‘t even fun. No thank you!

2.5 stars | #romance #lgbtqia

I had a great time. Love a man with an Irish accent. Can‘t wait for Mandanna‘s next book this year!!

4 stars | #romance #witches #twowitches #beltane

I DID IT. But these will be the only High Fantasy novels I read this year because I hate High Fantasy. :) The after-climax ending for this series was two hours long. I‘m just here for my Murtagh, and I‘ve got one more book before I get to him. 😭

3 stars | #highfantasy #dragons #twowitches #beltane

For the love of all the gods and all the dragons… I get that Paolini has created this very full world, but good lord do I need a 20 min description of something that can be said in a paragraph? (Dear Reader, High Fantasy is not for me lol) One more and then I can read Murtagh. 😭

2.5 stars | #highfantasy #fantasy #dragons #twowitches #beltane

…Eragon with the elves was starting to piss me off LOL. I wish Arya could say “hey no, this age gap is weird, we can‘t date” and Eragon would respect that? I get that he‘s legit 17 but damn. No means no, and having to apologize TWICE in the same book with the same lame excuses is just…brother. I kept it pushing, though, bc I liked seeing Roran mature, and checking in with Nassuada. Also, Murtagh. :) I‘m a Murtagh girlie thru and thru.

3 stars

Have you ever asked yourself the question: “What if a UHaul Lesbian was also a Shape-Shifting, Man-Eating Monster?”

I loved the light-hearted style of the writing for some really gore-heavy scenes. Honestly, the whole book was so fun until the last hour, where we sink into that Romance writing for the post-climax downhill coast to the end. It‘s fine! I just personally don‘t like them.

4 stars | #horror #romance #lesbian #acerep #sapphic

GOD I love a gothic. Lesbian gothic too? Delicious. I liked the two tones, the interviews with Dr Montague and Roosje telling her story between them. I‘m a big fan of books that tell me what‘s happened and help me figure out the how and why.

4 stars | #gothic #horror #ghosts #sapphic

Hey so @bookwyrm7 that was devastating…

First book off my #auldlangspine list! Genuinely had me crying at work, how dare you 😭

5 stars, @Lin3han you‘d love this one.

1. We‘re doin‘ okay! Physically feeling bad (boyf‘s been sick) but I have stuff to DO 😤
2. Both? Positive on some sites (Insta Reels is all puppies, kittens, and travel) and negative on others (doom scrolling thru TikTok to keep up with the times)
3. Yeah, but not super long breaks. I‘m hardly ever on Insta, and I have a timer for 1 hour on TT/day. It helps.

#mentalhealthmonday @Kerrbearlib

I DNF‘d this book back in…2015? 2014? My freshman year of HS, soon after it‘d come out, bc I was so mad at the characters. Well, I finally finished it! (Please clap 😭) Genuinely a 2⭐️ book that is getting a 3⭐️ rating from me just for Roth‘s decision about Tris in the end bc NO ONE was doing that back in the day. It‘s been done since and better (looking at you RF Kuang), but I have to respect it.

3 stars | #dystopia #ya

I think this author‘s just not for me. Besides the vampires and age difference this was basically A Touch of Darkness, and I greatly dislike that once again the FMC doesn‘t TALK to anyone about her issues!! The ending left me with too many questions, not enough answers. And one more thing in the comments bc I guess it‘s a spoiler? Even if I saw it coming the MOMENT it was hinted at.

1.5 stars | #romantasy #romance

Well that was…something. I think I prefer Katee Robert‘s Hades x Persephone retelling, since this one dragged for the last two hours of the audiobook. If these two would just, idk, talk? to each other? So many of their issues would‘ve been resolved. Also, Persephone is 21. Like human 21. And Hades is literally millions of years old. No thanks, my curiosity is satiated, I won‘t be continuing this series.

1.5 stars | #romance

Reread so I can get to Murtagh this year! Somehow I read a 16hr audiobook in 18hrs 🤪 8 week wait for Eldest, so I move on to some of the others I‘ve got on loan.

4 stars | #fantasy #ya

I had a better time with this reread than Divergent. I liked how Tris‘ PTSD and mental health was handled, until like the last 25%. I still think Tris and Four are TERRIBLE for each other. Y‘all can be friends, but stop dating lol. It‘s a two week wait to get my hands on Allegiant, so pausing on this project now.

3 stars | #dystopia #ya

I like the new covers, and I‘ve been on an audiobook kick at work, so when this one was available on Libby, I figured why not? Allegiant was the first book I remember deciding to DNF in high school, and I want to see if this holds up from the 2010‘s YA Dystopia craze (spoiler: it does not). I hate the age/maturity gap between Tris and Four, I like the allegories Roth is trying to make, but I just…

2 stars | #dystopia #ya

I just…can‘t do it for the remaining SIX HOURS of my audiobook after slogging thru 7.5 hours. Ironically I moved on to Divergent, also with a Beatrice, and can tell you it‘s not the format, it‘s just the book.

Normalize the ability to quit books you know you‘re not going to enjoy, and protect your peace 😤

I think I finished 7 books this month? Including my first DNF of the year. Hoping to keep this momentum going!!

I am genuinely so bored. The mix of some of my fav tropes and some I HATE is really just making this “meh”. I need a silly little romance to do my work too, not whatever soap drama is happening hereeeee. There‘s still 6 hours left?? And three more books???

This one however? Had me heated and was never. ending. First, I love a pathetic man, but there was something so Reddit Incel about Ben that it gave me the BIGGEST ick. Second, the power dynamic? Abhorrent. Don't keep reminding me that he could literally order her to off herself and then tell me they're in love. Third, Elleanore kept having to sideline her literal PTSD episodes to help Ben with his anxiety he refused to treat. >:|

1.5 stars

THIS one I liked more. The banter between Little Sh*t Asteroth and Always Fighting Calladia was tasty. Maybe I'm just a sucker for...well, this wasn't exactly enemies to lovers, but it was close! As close as you can probably get in contemporary fiction. The ending was...interesting, but I can appreciate that these books, while romances, try to tackle Big Issues(TM) as well as personal ones.

4 stars | #romance #paranormal #witch

I was looking for an audiobook at work on Spotify that was under their 15 hour limit and behold! A book my aunt had recently read the sequel to! I enjoyed this one. It was a fun little romp, another witchy paranormal romance I could add to my collection for this year. If you're looking for something to just...put on, or a palette cleanser after something heavy, this one is pretty good.

3.5 stars | #romance #paranormal #witch

Somehow?? An Ali Hazelwood book was my favorite for the month. No one is more shocked than me, considering my personal vendetta agains her and her #steminist novels that are…just the same book. BUT I‘ll review that later. Four books (technically five if you count The Ritual 🤢). Pretty good start to the year!

#january #recap

A reread, but I‘m being kinder to it the second time than I was my first read. I still think the weight Vivi puts on Rhys‘ betrothal is too much, but hey, gotta second chance romance it somewhere. I do need some hard and fast magic rules tho bc Vivi doing “big magic” like the candle and the summoning? I don‘t even know what this world would consider big magic. Gimme rules! Outlines! Something! Overall, fun, fast, and easy.

3⭐️| #romance #reread

Ooh I‘m so excited for this list from @bookwyrm7 !! A few of them I‘ve already read (and loved), but I thiiink…I‘ll start with either 9 (I live about 6 hours from the Arctic), 16 (a coworker just found out about this gem and I‘ve been meaning to read it), or 19 (which I already have).

Thank you to @monalyisha for organizing #auldlangspine!!

Grand total: 5685 points! I finished 5 books, bringing my 2024 total to 40 books :) Thanks again to the hosts, and special thanks to @StayCurious my team lead!! Until next year~~ #wintergames2024 #wintergames #christmaschapterchasers #xmaschacha

HATED this book. Would‘ve been DNF #1 of 2025 if I hadn‘t been buddy-reading with @Lin3han . Four middle-aged white British men wander into the woods and awaken an old Swedish god, who defends her territory. I was rooting for everyone to die bc they were all terrible for their blatant misogyny, fatphobia, antisemitism, and homophobia.

#wintergames #xmaschacha #cozychristmas #12booksofchristmas #20in4 #sugarrush #readouttheold

LOVED this one! So glad boyf got it for me for Jolabokaflod. I‘m honestly a little mad I hadn‘t picked it up before then! After three great books from T Kingfisher, safe to say they‘re a solid new favorite.

#wintergames #xmaschacha #adventathon #cozychristmas #12booksofchristmas

Easily my least favorite and honestly? With the downward trend, I may not finish this series. Nina does some HORRIBLE things and is basically given a slap on the wrist, and also the back says Morty is “nonbinary” but is never referred to as they/them, only he/him the ENTIRE book. Granted, they say their pronouns are he/they, but there‘s a whole convo where they explain that they‘re uncomfy being labelled as just a man. 😐

Another reread! This one…wasn‘t as good as the first. For one, Issa at one point compared being an Avramov in Thistle Grove to being a Black man in the US South and…no??? Not at all the same. For two, I just think the resolution to the problem is a little lackluster.

#wintergames #xmaschacha #adventathon #oatmealescape

Reread! I got a couple witchy Christmas romances in anticipation of the #wintergames but it‘d been a while since I read the first two. I forgot it was wlw, which was a pleasant surprise, and it‘s just a fun lil romance.

#xmaschacha #adventathon #20in4 #firstsnowreadathon #gingerbreadjourney #oatmealescape

Jolabokaflod is a tradition I‘ve started doing with my partner, and we get to do it for the first time together this year. :) It reminds me of my family‘s tradition growing up, where Xmas Eve we‘d get to open one present that always had a book and pj‘s. The pj‘s continue (ours are stuck in the mail rn) and I‘m happy to bring books back into the equation too. #xmaschacha #wintergames2024 #wg2024

Yule tradition! I used to have an elaborate setup for burning new year wishes, and alas it was lost in the move SO. This year I got a free candle from work and my boyf‘s wish burned to the bottom of the candle in record time lol. Happy Yule to all that celebrate!

#wintergames #xmaschacha