FFAF: The Quarter Year Crisis Book Tag

     

Intro

Can you believe we are already into quarter two of the year? That is absolutely nuts to me. As such, this is the perfect bookish tag! I found it from Dini Panda Reads. It originated from Roisin's Reading over on YouTube.

The Prompts and My Picks

How many books have you read so far?

40

This is only counting books read in quarter 1, not any read so far in April. This feels just fine to me honestly. That said, I am focusing on having fun with reading, not the total number so I'd be happy if it was only 3 so far.

Have you already found a book you think might be a 2026 favorite?

Cambria by A.R. Tyler

Something about this one just totally sucked me in when reading. I truly devoured it in only 2 days which is super fast for me and a physical read. 

Any 1-star books / least favorite book of the year?

No 1-star reads yet, but my last favorite so far for sure is Girl in Pieces by Kathleen Glasgow

I am getting significantly better and DNFing books I am not loving. I have DNFed at least 1 book a month in quarter 1 which I am honestly proud of. This book, I generously gave 2.5 stars, as I really did not love the content. I only finished it to help with my 50 states challenge this year.

Most read genre so far?

Romance

If you have been around here at all, this should not at all be a surprise. It is a favorite for a good reason for me. I get great delight from it and it is what I primarily get ARCs for. That said, it's lead is starting to dwindle.

A book that surprised you?

Hurt Me Not by Davidson King

I have not previously been a fantasy enby (I still would not say I am). That said, I enjoyed buddy reading this with my aunt-in-law a good bit. I will try some now.

A book that’s come out in 2026 already that you want to read but haven’t yet?

And Now, Back to You by B.K. Borison

I still have not read the first book in this series either. It is on my TBR and I hope to get to them both at some point this year. I have not read any of her books yet.

One goal you made that you’re succeeding at

Read at least 10% non-fiction

At the moment it is at 22%, which is fantastic for me! I am so glad to be getting to know what I like in this category!

One goal you made that you need to focus on

Host an amazing WPS for 2026

June is absolutely sneaking up sooner and sooner. I am about to start working on stuff to pull it off now, with the hope of as simple of a June as possible. Wish me luck and be sure to let me know if you'd like to be involved!

Outro

As always, if you'd like to do the challenge, consider yourself tagged. How did your first quarter of reading go? I hope it went well!

FFAF: The Easter Book Tag

    

Intro

Can you believe Easter is in 2 days? Tomorrow I'm hosting a community Easter party so it is the perfect time to do the Easter Book Tag! I found this tag from the Alli the Book Giraffe blog. It originated from the YouTube channel Rosie the Reader.

The Prompts and My Picks

Rabbits: a book that you wish would multiply (become a series)

Cambria by A.R. Tyler

I found something about this book incredibly addictive. I feel like you could follow a side character or two and make an interesting series out of it.

Egg: a book that surprised you

Girl in Pieces by Kathleen Glasgow

This book was a lot darker and triggering than I was lead to believe. It is truly depraved and a difficult read. I barely finished it. 

Hunt: a book that was hard for you to get your hands on

Addicted by Krista & Becca Ritche

As I am on a permanent book-buying ban (I make very low income), I very rarely get the chance to buy books. I got this one with a gift card.

Lambs: a children's book you still enjoy

The Geronimo Stilton series

It is simply lighthearted goofy fun with lovely illustrations. This series has been near and dear to my heart since I was a kid. 

Spring: a book with a cover that makes you think of spring

It Seemed Like a Good Idea by Lauren Blakely

The pretty lavender storefront is totally giving a spring vibe. Gorgeous flowers automatically makes me think of spring.

Jesus: a religous or spiritual book you love

Everything is Spiritual by Rob Bell

I am not a religious or spiritual person at all. It simply does not interest me. This is the only book I've read that would count.

Rising from the dead: a book from a deceased author

The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald

This one is one of my favorite classic books. I did a project about it in English class which made me connect to it even more.

Baskets: a book that is on your wish list right now

Addicted for Now by Krista & Becca Ritchie

As I discussed a bit ago, I am working on collecting this series. This is the next one I need to obtain.

Candy: a book that is sweet

So Not My Mr. Wright by Evie Sterling

Evie is my go-to author for sweeter reads. They are all lovely and lighthearted. This is my favorite of hers.

Outro

Well... this challenge leaned a bit more religious than I am comfortable with. Just remember, I do not support Christianity and the great falsification of what The Bible actually says. This was just meant to be lighthearted fun. As always, if you'd like to do the challenge, consider yourself tagged.

FFAF: Did I Read It? Fall 2025 TBR

My Fall 2025 TBR

1. Galloway's Gospel by San Rebellin
2. The Final Gambit by Jennifer Lynn Barnes
3. The Girl from Devil's Lake by J.A. Jance
4. Cemetery Boys by Aiden Thomas
5. The School for Thieves by Peter Burns

Did I read them?

So funnily enough, this is mad embarrassing for me lmao. That said, let's get into it.

I did not read Galloway's Gospel, but it is still on my physical TBR. Maybe I will read it this fall.

Even worse for me was The Final Gambit... I still have not even finished the book before it in the series. I love this series and basically all of her books in general. As such, I am terrible about saving them for "a rainy day" that seems to never come. 

In the case of The Girl from Devil's Lake, it is also still on my physical TBR. I may get to it in April though as it can fulfill a prompt for the Magical Readathon.

Finally I can feel a tiny bit better about myself. I read and gave Cemetery Boys 5 stars. It was fantastic. I was even sent another book by this author because I loved that one so much!

Lastly, I do not even recognize the title of The School for Thieves. I decided to look it up and am even more confused. Was it a lapsed library hold as it definitely wasn't an ARC.

 

Outro

Welp, this was not a fun time for me XD at least I read one. Even if I also did not recognize one. This is why my TBRs I make now are all ARCs or books I already have out at the library. That is really the only way I will ever stick to it.

FFAF: Spring Cleaning Book Tag

   

Intro

I am so happy that spring is upon us! At the time of writing this blog it's in the 80s outside which is so warm! As such, I've got the cleaning bug. That's where the spring cleaning book tag comes in! I found it on the Book Cheshire Cat blog. The tag is originally from Between the Shelves. Let's clean up!

The Prompts and My Picks

Getting started: a book series you've been wanting to read

The Addicted/Calloway Sisters series by Krista and Becca Ritchie

I absolutely adore the Webs We Weave series that these sisters also write. I've heard amazing things about this series. The only reason I have read it yet is that I want to read it physically. As I am trying to maintain a book buying ban, I am only very slowly able to obtain the series. So far, I have collected the first two books.

Cleaning/organizing the closet: the best way to organize books

The simplest answer is, however they fit and works for you. 

I think in my official library I hope to have once I move, I would sort by genre and keep series together. Other than that, just a vibe really.

Getting rid of unnecessary things: book/series you no longer need

Let Me Count the Ways by Laurel Osterkamp

I have read this book and don't think I would ever reread it. As such, I do not find the need to keep it.

Get some air: you favorite lighthearted read

One Golden Summer by Carley Fortune

This was one of my top reads of last year. It was oh so good and perfect for me during the time I listened to it. I loved it on so much. Highly recommend! 

Clean out the kitchen cupboards: favorite food-themed read

Café con Lychee by Emery Lee

This was such a nice YA read. It's got queer rep and portrays culture so well! You should absolutely check it out if given the chance.

Dust the shelves: what's the fifth book on your bookshelf

The Grandest Game by Jennifer Lynn Barnes

As she is my favorite author, her books come up first on my shelves. This series is currently ongoing so I look forward to finishing it!

Wishing for the end: a 2026 release you are excited about

Game On by Navessa Allen

I have just read the second book in this series. While I did not enjoy it as much as the first book in the series, I still enjoyed my time with it. I'm curious to see if book three works better for me.

Long but satisfying: the longest book series you've read

The Wolf Mountain Ranchers series by Erin FitzGerald

I am not counting any of the series that I read as a kid and know I never finished (as some are still getting books added). As such, this series with 5 main books and a novella is the longest series I have finished as an adult.

Outro

Are you feeling cleaner? I know I am! If you are interested in doing this one, consider yourself tagged!

FFAF: In My Audiobook Era Tag

 

Intro

I have been an audiobook fan hardcore for the last few years. As such, this is the perfect challenge for me! I got the prompts from Alli the Book Giraffe whose list can be found here. Let's dive into it!

The Prompts and My Picks

The first audiobook I ever listened to: While I am not particularly confident about this, I think it might've been Impulse by Ellen Hopkins

My favorite narrators: I enjoy Emma Wilder, J.F. Harding, and Stella Hunter.

My preferred audiobook platforms: it is a whole lot of Libby, with some BookFunnel, and NetGalley for ARCs.

A book I enjoyed on audio that I might not have liked physically: My Roommate From Hell by Cale Dietrich

My go-to audiobook speed: I actually listen to almost everything at 3x speed. I know, I'm a heathen, but my ADHD likes it. My fiancée thinks I'm crazy for it. 

I prefer multi-narration when available

I listen while multitasking for example, I am listening to an audiobook while I write out this blog. I also color, journal, and do things like laundry while listening to audiobooks. It's how I'm able to read so many books in a year.

My biggest audiobook pet peeve: all characters sound the same and it doesn't suit the characters at all. Also when someone mispronounces a bunch of words.

A book I'd love to make into an audiobook: Bunny Season by Bindi Kennedy

My all time favorite audiobook experience: Lights Out by Navessa Allen. The narration was so funny and immersive. I feel like the narrators truly added to the experience and had such perfect delivery.

Have I ever listened to an audiobook that made me pause and say "wait, what did I just hear?": Oh gosh, Just Pervs by Jess Taylor. That book was truly awful and completely grossed me out to hear in headphones.

Outro

This was a lot of fun! These prompts actually made me stop and think about my audiobook experience. Are you an audiobook lover?

FFAF: Romance Reader Book Tag

  

Intro

As Valentine's Day is tomorrow, it is definitely the perfect time to talk all about romance books. It is my favorite genre after all! I got the prompts from Alli the Book Giraffe whose list can be found here. Let's dive into it!

The Prompts and My Picks

What age did you start reading romance novels? I do not exactly remember, but I think I read a romance or two in middle school. Since then, my consumption of the genre has skyrocketed.

If you could pick one hero to meet from your favorite romance novels who would it be and why? Oh gosh, this is a tough one. Maybe Mark from Something Lost by Erin Fitzgerald. I feel like he has a pretty similar personality and mannerisms to my fiancée, so I feel like we would get along well. 

Who is your favorite romance authors and why? I enjoy Erin FitzGerald, Dani Galliaro, Maren Moore, and Harriet Ashford because they write incredible indie romance stories that feel like home.

What is a favorite romance novel to re-read? Soooooo, I don't actually reread almost at all. So uh, the only romance I have considered rereading is Love on the Brain by Ali Hazelwood so I can annotate it.

What book would you recommend to a non romance reader? I would recommend any books in the Colson Creek series by Erin FitzGerald because they are fantastic stories with such loveable characters. But more importantly, all of the books also have strong suspense storylines which adds a bit beyond the romance to get a good start.

Which is your favorite, contemporary, suspense, or historical and why? In the past, I would wholeheartedly say contemporary because that is what most of my favorite authors write. As of late, it is honestly romantic suspense. It makes me wanna keep reading endlessly. I will always kinda hate historical because all I can focus on is how it is inaccurate. 

Outro

I feel like this was the perfect tag to celebrate Valentine's Day. Are you a fellow romance lover? I would love to hear your recs!

FFAF: Did I Read My 10 Before the End

Intro

Now that 2026 is here, my time has expired to finish my "10 before the end" books of last year. I will tell you now, not all of these were finished and we will get into that. That said, progress did happen, so we are gonna celebrate the wins regardless of completion.

✅ means completed

💔 means untouched

🔆 means progress was made on it

The Books

1. Merry Little Kissmas by Lauren Blakely ✅
2. The Hawthorne Legacy by Jennifer Lynn Barnes 🔆
3. The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton 🔆
4. The Autist's Guide to the Galaxy by Clara Törnvall 🔆
5. Darling Girls by Sally Hepworth 💔
6. The Tao of Pooh by Benjamin Hoff 🔆
7. My Roommate from Hell by Cale Dietrich ✅
8. Most Eligible by Isabelle Engel ✅
9. Dolls of Our Lives by Mary Mahoney and Allison Horrocks 🔆
10. Yule be Mine by Piper Rayne ✅

Discussion

See, it's not thattttt bad, I only entirely neglected 1 book. You can also blame my fiancée for two of these being unfinished (The Outsiders and The Autist's Guide to the Galaxy) as we are reading those together and they are way less inclined to reading than I am.

I enjoyed the books I finished and honestly did not read all that much time in December so it is unsurprising I am still in the middle of many of these. 4/10 is pretty good for prioritizing ARCs over anything and otherwise being a mood reader.

Outro

How did you do if you had a 10 before the end? Please tell me I am not the only one who did not finish half of it. I am still proud of kind of committing to a TBR that I considered no stakes. Let's just say, any other TBRs I make in the future of a similar nature are just for funsises.

 Free For All Friday: My Picks for the Goodreads Choice Awards Round 1

Intro

Am I sharing a Friday post on a Tuesday? Yes, yes I am. I wanted to post this last Friday but honestly needed more time to brew my thoughts so here it is now.

It is once again that time of year for book awards. The one where I can actually have a say in is the Goodreads choice awards! While I am not a huge fan of the ethics and morals of Goodreads, it is a must for supporting indie authors. I'll share my deeper thoughts at the end. Let's dive into my picks!

The Categories

• Fiction
• Historical fiction
• Mystery & thriller
• Romance
• Romantasy
• Fantasy
• Science fiction
• Horror
• Debut novel
• Audiobook
• Young adult fantasy and sci-fi
• Young adult fiction
• Nonfiction
• Memoir
• History & biography

My Picks and Explanations

Fiction: The Girls Who Grew Big by Leila Mottley

I have not read any of the books in this category yet but multiple are on my TBR. I decided to pick the book that included representation I found important. In the time of unhealthy beauty standards, a cover with a "chubby" girl on it says and lot and says what I want to see more of.

Historical Fiction: Broken Country by Clare Leslie Hall

Another category where I have not yet picked any up. I decided to pick the book I have seen the most of my fellow bookish friends enjoy. When this one came out, I saw a ton of praise for it. 

Mystery & Thriller: Vera Wong's Guide to Snooping (On a Dead Man) by Jesse Q. Sutanto

I read this one and had a good time with it. Sutanto writes a comedic mystery better than most. Every book of his I have picked up I enjoyed. This one was no exception. You can find my complete review of it here.

Romance: Till Summer Do Us Part by Meghan Quinn

Unsurprisingly, this is the category I struggled the most with picking a book for. I love many of these authors and their stories. I ended up picking a 5-star read of mine which is a contender for my top of the year! I highly recommend it and you can see my review here.

Romantasy: Mate by Ali Hazelwood

Admittedly, this is a genre I flat out do not read. I do not like fantasy and do not have opinions on it. That said, there are multiple authors here who are awful human beings that deserve way less popularity. As such, I decided to choose Ali Hazelwood's book as I do like other books she has written (her STEM romances specifically).

Fantasy: King Sorrow by Joe Hill

This one is written by Stephen King's son. While King is not a great person, from what I know his son is okay. I do not read fantasy at all so again no strong opinions. That said, I actually did just received this book so that is why I picked it. If you like incredibly chunky books, this may be for you.

Science Fiction: Of Monsters and Mainframes by Barbara Truelove

You may not have guessed this, but I also do not really read sci-fi. (I promise I read a variety of genres, just not these last few). The only one of these books I am familiar with is by an author I have learned has said hateful rhetoric so I will not be supporting that. As such, I truly just picked a book with an interesting cover. I also just discovered it is published by a creator I enjoy which makes this even more exciting!

Horror: Lucky Day by Chuck Tingle

I am only now dipping my toes into horror. I do not like scary things and am a total scaredy cat, so be patient with me for any horror reviews. I picked the book by the only author I have read from before. I enjoyed Bury Your Gays by him, at least as much as I will ever enjoy true horror. You can find my review for that here. 

Debut Novel: The Irish Goodbye by Heather Aimee O'Neill

Somehow I have not heard of a single book in this entire category. Not once... There have been so many fantastic debut releases this year, but nope, these feel truly random. As such, I closed my eyes and picked one. Let me know if there are any good books in this category that I should give my love to!

Audiobook: Tourist Season by Brynne Weaver

I had a couple of potentials for this category but decided to go for the author whom I loved the most books for. I loved her Ruinous Love trilogy. You can find my review for the second of these here.

Young Adult Fantasy & Sci-Fi: Sunrise on the Reaping by Suzanne Collins

I haven't read any of the books in this category. I picked the book that a few of my best friends quite enjoyed. As they don't use bookish social media, I feel like this vote is for them. 

Young Adult Fiction: Glorious Rivals by Jennifer Lynn Barnes

This one was a super easy choice to make. Jennifer Lynn Barnes is my favorite author ever. My only auto-buy author as someone who spends almost nothing on books. Anything I can do to support her, I gladly will. 

Nonfiction: Everything Is Tuberculosis: The History and Persistence of Our Deadliest Infection by John Green

I have not picked up any of the books in this category yet, but I have heard fantastic things from loved ones about this and have it on my TBR. I used to read his fiction books when I was younger. 

Memoir: 107 Days by Kamala Harris

I've been reading more memoirs this year, of people I find fascinating. I like to audiobook them while being productive. As a proud Kamala voter, you know I had to pick this one up. (If you are Trumpie, get the actual fuck off my blog, there is no space for your disgusting views here). 

History & Biography: Sisters in Science by Olivia Campbell

I am not much of a history reader, that is my father's thing really. I picked the one that sounded the most fascinating that is also clearly feminist-coded. 

The Problems

Goodreads is an Amazon created platform. As such, it is incredibly capitalist-coded and is the most mainstream book review platform. The authors and books nominated are very clearly based on who Amazon wants to promote.

I wish there were way more POC, queer, and disabled nominees. It's very white-washed and cishet unfortunately. The diversity of the world and books released in 2025 is not at all reflected well in these nominations. I am genuinely outraged by it, but simultaneously not at all surprised given Goodreads' history. 

Outro

We made it! There were a lot of categories that I was going in blind for. If you have any recs for those categories, I am happy to vote for them in the coming rounds! Are any of our picks the same? How do you feel about the lack of diversity in this opening round?

 Free For All Friday: 10 Before the End

Intro

As this year comes to a close, I wanted to recap the books I still hope to read before the end of the year. That is where "10 before the end" comes along. It is a trend that encourages us to make a TBR with a new year's due date. Can you believe there are only 2 months left in 2025?

A lot of these I am currently in the middle of. A couple are ARCS. I am hoping I end up loving every one. Let's get into them!

My Picks

1. Merry Little Kissmas by Lauren Blakely
2. The Hawthorne Legacy by Jennifer Lynn Barnes
3. The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton
4. The Autist's Guide to the Galaxy by Clara Törnvall
5. Darling Girls by Sally Hepworth
6. The Tao of Pooh by Benjamin Hoff
7. My Roommate from Hell by Cale Dietrich
8. Most Eligible by Isabelle Engel
9. Dolls of Our Lives by Mary Mahoney and Allison Horrocks
10. Yule be Mine by Piper Rayne

Outro

I have a nice variety of reads in my future (assuming I actually get to these.) I am hyped for each and every one. Have you read any of these? If not, what is on your ten before the end? I will see you again next week!

 Free For All Friday: Did I Read It? Popular Romance Releases of 2024

Intro

This is my first-ever edition of Did I Read It. Where I will break down a list of Popular book releases in 2024 by month. I'll let you know if I read it and my rating, if I DNFed it, or if it is on my TBR. 

This emoji means read ✅

This emoji means DNFed 💀

This emoji means TBR 😁

January

• Arya Khanna’s Bollywood Moment by Arushi Avachat
• Hedging Your Bets by Jayne Denker
• Red String Theory by Lauren Kung Jessen 😁
• Thoroughly Pucked by Lauren Blakely 😁
• Love, Naturally by Sophie Sullivan
• The (Fake) Dating Game by Timothy Janovsky 😁 (physically owned)
• Canadian Boyfriend by Jenny Holiday 😁 (physically owned)

February

• Fangirl Down by Tessa Bailey 😁
• Bride by Ali Hazelwood
• When Grumpy Met Sunshine by Charlotte Stein 😁
• The Reason I Married Him by Meghan Quinn 😁
• The Catch by Amy Lea
• Girl Abroad by Elle Kennedy 😁

March

• Expiration Dates By Rebecca Serle 💀
• This Could Be Us by Kennedy Ryan 😁
• If You Hate Me by Helena Hunting
• Happily Never After by Lynn Painter 😁
• The Almost Romantic by Lauren Blakely 😁
• Swift and Saddled by Lyla Sage

April

• Bridesmaid for Hire by Megan Quinn 😁
• The Rule Book by Sarah Adams
• Just for the Summer by Abby Jimenez ✅ (⭐⭐⭐⭐✨)
• How to End a Love Story by Yulin Kuang  ✅ (⭐⭐⭐⭐✨)
• Wild Love by Elsie Silver ✅ (⭐⭐⭐⭐✨)
• Late Bloomer by Mazey Eddings 😁
• Taming 7 by Chloe Walsh
• Funny Story by Emily Henry ✅ (⭐⭐⭐⭐)
• King of Sloth by Ana Huang

May

• This Summer Will Be Different by Carley Fortune ✅ (⭐⭐⭐⭐✨)
• My Not So Perfect Summer by Phoebe MacLeod
• You Should Be So Lucky by Cat Sebastian 😁
• Summers at the Saint by Mary Kay Andrews
• The Paradise Problem by Christina Lauren ✅ (⭐⭐⭐⭐✨)
• The One I Left Behind by Piper Rayne 😁
• The Dixon Rule by Elle Kennedy 😁

June

• Leather & Lark by Brynne Weaver ✅ (⭐⭐⭐⭐✨)
• Summer Romance by Annabel Monaghan ✅ (⭐⭐⭐⭐)
• Daydream by Hannah Grace ✅ (⭐⭐⭐⭐✨)
• My Royal Showmance by Lexi Blake
• Triple Sec by TJ Alexander 😁
• All My Kisses For You by Monica Murphy
• Not in Love by Ali Hazelwood ✅ (⭐⭐⭐⭐✨)
• The Rom-Commers by Katherine Center ✅ (⭐⭐⭐✨)
• The P*ssy Next Door by Amy Award ✅ (⭐⭐⭐⭐✨)
• Hearts on Thin Ice by Katie Kennedy
• One-Star Romance by Laura Hankin 💀
• The Art of Catching Feelings by Alicia Thompson
• Love Unwritten by Lauren Asher 😁
• A Thousand Broken Pieces by Tillie Cole
• Pucking Sweet by Emily Rath 😁
• A Novel Love Story by Ashley Poston ✅ (⭐⭐⭐⭐✨)

July

• Dishonestly Yours by Krista Ritchie and Becca Ritchie ✅ (⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐) BEST BOOK OF 2024
• Body Check by Elle Kennedy 😁
• The Love of My Afterlife by Kirsty Greenwood
• The Summer Pact by Emily Giffin ✅ (⭐⭐⭐)
• The Next Best Fling by Gabriella Gamez
• Until Next Summer by Ali Brady 😁
• Play Along by Liz Tomforde 😁
• Business Casual by B.K. Borison
• The Au Pair Affair by Tessa Bailey 😁
• The Ex Vows by Jessica Joyce 😁
• Not Another Love Song by Julie Soto 😁 (physically owned)
• A Thousand Broken Pieces by Tillie Cole
• Ne’er Duke Well by Alexandra Vasti
• The Fiance Dilemma by Elena Armas ✅ (⭐⭐⭐⭐✨)
• Slow Dance by Rainbow Rowell

August

• The Pairing by Casey McQuiston 😁
• The Great Dating Fake Off by Livy Hart
• The Truth According to Ember by Danica Nava 😁
• Worst in Show by Anna E. Collins
• The Bonus by T.L. Swan
• Wicked Serve by Grace Reilly ✅  (⭐⭐⭐⭐✨)
• The Break-Up Pact by Emma Lord ✅  (⭐⭐⭐⭐✨)
• Bridesmaid Undercover by Meghan Quinn 😁
• Morbidly Yours by Ivy Fairbanks
• Cash by Jessica Peterson
• Magical Meet Cute by Jean Meltzer 😁
• The Cinnamon Bun Book Store by Laurie Gilmore

September

• Prime Time Romance by Kate Robb
• Wild Eyes by Elsie Silver 😁
• You Belong with Me by Mhairi McFarlane 
• Caribbean Crush by R.S. Grey 😁
• The Royals Upstairs by Karina Halle
• The One I Didn’t See Coming by Piper Rayne
• Hex and Hexability by Kate Johnson
• All Signs Point to Malibu by Jennifer Snow ✅ (⭐⭐✨)
• My Vampire Plus-One by Jenna Levine
• Can’t Help Falling in Love by Sophie Sullivan
• A Jingle Bell Mingle by Julie Murphy and Sierra Simone
• Adam & Evie’s Matchmaking Tour by Nora Nguyen 😁

October

• Nothing Like the Movies by Lynn Painter 😁
• Make The Season Bright by Ashley Herring Blake
• One Big Happy Family by Susan Mallery
• The Holiday Honeymoon Switch by Julia McKay
• The Nightmare Before Kissmas by Sara Raasch 😁
• Love You a Latke by Amanda Elliot 😁
• Mistletoe Season by Sheila Robert, Kathleen Fuller, and Pepper Basham
• Wish I Were Here by Melissa Wiesner
• Bull Moon Rising by Ruby Dixon
• The Christmas Countdown by Holly Cassidy
• How My Neighbor Stole Christmas by Meghan Quinn 😁
• Love & Lattes by Beth Reekles

November

• Lost and Lassoed by Lyla Sage 😁
• Mistletoe Mischief by Codi Hall
• Hexed by Emily McIntire ✅ (⭐⭐⭐⭐)
• Puck and Prejudice by Lia Riley
• Pickleballers by Ilana Long 😁
• Merry Kissmas by Piper Rayne 😁
• Variation by Rebecca Yarros (FUCK HER)
• The Mirror by Nora Roberts
• The Songbird and the Heart of Stone by Carissa Broadbent

December

• Under Loch and Key by Lana Ferguson 😁
• PS: I Hate You by Lauren Connolly
• The Mistletoe Mix-Up by Codi Hall 😁

 Free for All Friday: NetGalley TBR Updates (Sept 2025)

Intro

I have been quite the user of NetGalley lately, so my TBR is stacking up (at least for me). This extra sucks because I had *just* gotten my review ratio up to 81% when I got a bulk bunch of approvals. Now it is 77%, which still isn't too bad. Let's dive into what books are actually there!

My TBR

• A Killer Wedding by Joan O'Leary (Sept 2025)
• Last Chance Live! by Helena Haywoode Henry (Oct 2025)
• In Love's Key, Reprised by Guri Nojiro (Sept 2025)
• To Cage a Wild Bird by Brooke Fast (Mar 2026)
• Get Over It, April Evans by Ashley Herring Blake (Feb 2026)

Outro

I am quite excited for all of these, honestly. The variety is honestly my favorite part! Each of these should be a spectacular read, so keep an eye out over the next few months to see my thoughts on these! What is your NetGalley TBR looking like?

 Free For All Friday: Roll the Dice Challenge

Intro

I found the roll the dice challenge on Twirling Book Princess blog and put it in my back pocket for a rainy day. This is that rainy day.

If you would like to do this challenge, consider yourself tagged!

The Prompts

• Favorite standalone
• Favorite sequel
• Favorite trilogy
• Favorite four-word title
• Last 5-star read
• Six books I recommend

My Picks

Favorite Standalone

Pillow Thoughts by Courtney Peppernell

This is a beautiful and relatable poetry collection.

Favorite Sequel

Destructively Mine by Krista and Becca Ritchie

The first book in this series is one of my favorite books of all time. The sequel just gave me even more of what I have been desperately craving. I loved every moment and the new reveals. 

Favorite Trilogy

The Inheritance Games by Jennifer Lynn Barnes

Absolutely nobody should be surprised that books by my favorite author are on my list. I found this series to be a lot of fun. Is it technically longer than 3 books... maybe... but the core story is a trilogy, so shush.

Favorite Four-Word Title

We All Fall Down by Erin FitzGerald

While I cannot explain why, this title is absolutely perfect for this series and book in particular. I love its simplicity while simultaneously telling so much. Erin, you know I love you and your books so much! Y'all should support her!

Last Five-Star Read

One Golden Summer by Carley Fortune

This book was exactly what I needed when I read it! It's quintessentially summer and a quick feel-good read.

Six Books I Recommend

Till Summer Do Us Part by Meghan Quinn

The Trouble with Love and Coaches by Harriet Ashford

The First to Die at the End by Adam Silvera

Bridesmaid by Chance by Meghan Quinn

The Wiener Across the Way by Amy Award

Bunny Season by Bindi Kennedy

Outro

This was the absolute perfect and quick challenge! To my fellow bloggers, you should totally try it! I am also ecstatic that I was able to include all of my 5-star reads so far this year! It worked out so wonderfully.

Unfortunately, I have a super-long workday next Friday, so I won't be back then. That said, you can still catch me here earlier on that week!

 Free for All Friday: In My Audiobook Era Tag

Intro

I am very much in my audiobook era lately. As such, this challenge is absolutely perfect for me right now! I cannot wait to gush about all of my favorite audiobooks with all of you lovelies!

I found this from Dini Panda Reads, so thank you for the inspiration!

As always, anyone who sees this and is interested is allowed to do this tag. 

The Prompts

• What is the first audiobook you ever listened to?
• Who are your favorite narrators?
• What audiobook platform do you use?
• What book did you love on audio that you might not have enjoyed reading physically? 
• What is your go-to audiobook speed?
• Do you prefer single or dual/multi-narration?
• Do you listen while multitasking, or do you sit and listen like a movie?
• What's your biggest audiobook pet peeve? 
• If you could have any book made into an audiobook, which one would it be?
• What's your all-time favorite audiobook experience?
• Have you ever listened to an audiobook that made you pause and say, "Wait... what did I just hear?!"

My Responses and Discussion

What is the first audiobook you ever listened to?

Becoming by Michelle Obama

This was the first audiobook I remember reading, and I must say it was a fantastic choice! It is narrated by her, and that adds oh so much value. Hearing her read her own life story was truly inspiring. I highly recommend it if you haven't read it already! It certainly opened up the world of audiobooks for me. 

Who are your favorite narrators?

Jacob Morgan

Admittedly, I do not know many narrator names. It is something I want to work on. Jacob is one of the few ones I recognize, and I know I enjoy his intonation. 

What audiobook platform do you use?

Libby, Bookfunnel, and occasionally Spotify

Libby is the platform I use the most by far. I love using my local library, and bonus points that it is free! It also allows good speed customization and scrolling, which I appreciate. Bookfunnel is usually how I get and listen to any ALCs (advanced listener copies) of audiobooks. It is always exciting when I get the chance to use them. Every once in a while, I use Spotify for audiobooks. I do enjoy the platform for listening, so perhaps I will use it more soon.

What book did you love on audio that you might not have enjoyed reading physically?

Bury Your Gays by Chuck Tingle

This book would be way too scary for me in any format other than audio. With audio, I am able to let the scary parts play very quickly, so it went by speedily. It makes sure I do not focus on my fear too much, but get to enjoy the whole narrative. 

What is your go-to audiobook speed?

3x speed

Yes, really. I do, in fact, listen to almost all books that quickly. My ADHD works better when I can process words faster. Especially on low focus days, if I wanna read, it's gonna have to be a quick audiobook. My partner says it is my superpower, which I do not really deny.

Do you prefer single or dual/multi-narration?

Multi-narration

I enjoy multiple narrators because I feel it makes the experience feel a lot more immersive. Then you get the feeling of real dialogue and different accents as applicable. That said, I will never skip a book just because it has single narration. 

Do you listen while multitasking, or do you sit and listen like a movie?

Multitasking

As mentioned before, my ADHD makes my listening needs and experience unique. As such, I often use audiobooks to make mundane tasks feel bearable. Things like laundry, grinding in video games, or even calming activities like coloring are made so much better with an audiobook for me. That said, there are times that I do just listen to the book if I have nothing else I need to be doing, or I feel like the book requires more attention to follow. 

What's your biggest audiobook pet peeve?

Continuous mispronunciation

To be clear, I am not talking about different accents or dialects. I am talking about things like the "freesh ava ca do" meme. It does not happen often, but when it does, I cannot stand the book and have to turn it off. 

If you could have any book made into an audiobook, which one would it be?

Bunny Season by Bindi Kennedy

I have mentioned this book countless times on my blog this year, but it is for good reason. It is an incredible story that absolutely needs more love. I highly enjoyed the story and think the banter and funny moments would transfer fantastically to audio. 

What's your all-time favorite audiobook experience?

Lights Out by Navessa Allen

This was an incredibly tough choice to make for me, but I remember thinking the narration for this one was truly perfect! The tone and sarcasm at various moments translated so well and made me feel like I was really there with the characters.

Have you ever listened to an audiobook that made you pause and say, "Wait... what did I just hear?!"

Will My Cat Eat My Eyeballs by Caitlin Doughty

I feel like the name says it all. It definitely had moments that were surprising, but I still quite enjoyed it for its informative nature. I've discussed this book many times on here, so I shall not rant more. 

Outro

This challenge was a lot of fun! It has a nice variety of questions that really made me think. Are you an audiobook fan? I'd love to hear all about your favorites! See you next Friday for another something fun!

Free for All Friday: Mid-Year Book Freakout Tag 2025

 Mid-Year Book Freakout Tag

Intro

Is it still close enough to mid-year to do this, right? Given how little I've read in July, I totally think it is. If anyone would still like to do this at the end of July, consider yourself tagged. 

This tag originated on the Earl Grey Books YouTube channel. I found it from the bookchestirecat blog. Thank you to them for the inspiration.

Now it is time to reflect on my reading so far and hope that the second half of the year lives up to it!  Let's get into the prompts and my picks!

The Prompts

• Best book you've read so far
• Best sequel you've read so far 
• New release you haven't read yet, but want to 
• Most anticipated release for the second half of 2025 
• Biggest disappointment 
• Biggest surprise 
• Favorite new (to you) author
• Newest favorite character
• Book that made you cry
• Book that made you happy
• Favorite book-to-screen adaptation
• Favorite review
• Books you need to read by the end of the year

My Picks and Discussions

Best book I've read so far

The First to Die at the End by Adam Silvera

I unsurprisingly totally loved this one! It really made me think and provided a lot more information about the world and the start of Death Cast. I enjoyed tandem reading it. This story will stick with me for a long time which is why it is currently my number one.

Best sequel I've read so far

Destructively Mine by Krista and Becca Ritchie

I have tremendously adored both of the books in this series so far. I am truly obsesessed with the characters in particular. Having a whole cast of morally grey individuals is fascinating and creates a lot of wonderful tension. I ate up every additional tidbit this sequel provided. 

New release I haven't read yet, but want to

Caught Up by Navessa Allen

The audiobook for the first one was truly fantastic! I am excited to see what I think of the second, and yes, I will absolutely be consuming the audiobook for it too!

Most anticipated release for the second half of 2025

Red Card by Maren Moore

Maren Moore is quickly becoming my favorite sports romance author to date. The way she writes swoony chemistry moments is incredible. This is her first trad published book, so I am so happy for her! I have the ARC for it, which I will be starting very soon!

Biggest disappointment

Never Been Shipped by Alicia Thompson

The publisher actually reached out to me to offer me the ARC for this one. I was totally ecstatic to be working with a major publisher. Unfortunately, this book was a huge DNF for me. I could not tolerate the utter lack of development of the characters over time. Needless to say, I probably won't be working with the publisher again for a while.

Biggest surprise

Will My Cat Eat My Eyeballs?: Big Questions from Tiny Mortals about Death by Caitlin Doughty

To clarify, I am not sure that I enjoyed this book. I have loved her YouTube channel for years and the way she tells stories. What surprised me was how much value I think this book has. Yes, it is a bit morbid; any book about death will be. The way that death is discussed feels so natural (as it should). I would totally recommend this book to anyone with any kind of questions about death. It discusses everything in a very approachable way.

Favorite new (to you) author

Courtney Peppernell

I will be discussing the book of hers I read further below for another prompt, so here I will simply discuss her writing. Her approach to poetry is beautiful and eye-opening. Her poetry made me feel not only seen but understood. I am not usually one to pick up a poetry book, but I happened to find the book below in a little free library and decided to give it a shot. I am so glad I did and hope to read more of her poetry in the future. 

Newest favorite character

Donna from the Colson Creek series by Erin FitzGerald

This is a character that very quickly wormed her way into my heart. While she is not a main character in the books, she is absolutely a prominent one. She is the caring mother figure we all need in life. Her spunk, wit, and caring nature made her rise quickly to the top of my list. I am usually pretty terrible at remembering character names, so it is saying a lot that I will never forget hers. 

Book that made you cry

Pillow Thoughts by Courtney Peppernell

I told you I would be discussing Peppernell's book more, well, here I am. This book covers a lot of very relatable subjects pertaining to love. Some happy and some sad. It made me think thoughtfully about loved ones I have lost, which brought about a few tears. I am very happy I read it, and the tears honestly just let me feel even more connected to the poems. If you think there is even a slight chance you would enjoy a bit of poetry, this book is worth picking up. 

Book that made you happy

One Golden Summer by Carley Fortune

This book gave me that stereotypical summer read feeling I was craving so bad. Yes, her books are all pretty similar, and I'm happy about that because I adore her writing style and would love more of it. It gave me all of the warm fuzzies and hope for life. I listened to this one on a road trip and spent most of the time just envisioning being on the lake with the characters, which was glorious. 

Favorite book-to-screen adaptation

The Hunting Wives (by May Cobb)

I'll be honest, I do not watch a lot of book-to-screen adaptations, especially if I read the book. They often are totally ruined because they are not like what I pictured in my head. The Hunting Wives on Netflix is not that loyal to the book by the time the season is over. It reminded me of the Riverdale series in that it seemed to mostly borrow all of the existing characters and what their relationships would be, and add a ton to it. If I were solely wanting it to be a loyal adaptation of a book I was obsessed with, I would be disappointed. That said, if I judge it as a series of its own, I quite liked it and plan to watch any future seasons. 

Favorite review

The Trouble with Love and Coaches by Harriet Ashford

This book was a delightful read that I gave 5 stars. I am one of Harriet's friends now, and honestly, my review totally showed that. It is definitely a lot of praise for her, but I love it for that very reason. You should check it out to witness me gush if nothing else. 

Books I need to read by the end of the year

The Tao of Pooh by Benjamin Hoff

The Autist's Guide to the Galaxy by Clara Törnvall

I could probably put my entire physical TBR here, and it would be a reasonable response to this prompt. I picked two books that I am in the middle of because I do not want them to further fall to the wayside to never be finished. They are both non-fiction because I made it a goal to read notably more non-fiction books this year than I did last year. I want to keep at least 10% non-fiction if not higher. I am loving both of these books a lot, but they do require me to think and truly process what they have to say, which is why they are currently unfinished. Help keep me accountable to finish these, y'all!

Final Thoughts

This was such a fun (though time-consuming) tag! I appreciated the chance to reflect on my reads so far this year and consider what I want to be part of my reading for the rest of the year. Do we have any in common? Now I am looking forward to further reflection at the end of the year. I wonder how many of my picks will be different. For now I bid you adieu and hope to see you next Friday for another fun tag!