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Goodreads Year in Review
2022 on Goodreads
Whether or not you've had time to write your own reviews, here's a chance to review your entire 2022 reading and post it under this title so that others can see what your reading year was like. Together, all the reviews of 2022 on Goodreads should make an interesting and varied catalogue of books to inspire other readers in 2023.
For those of you who don't like to add titles, you haven't actually 'read', you can place 2022 on Goodreads on an 'exclusive' shelf. Exclusive shelves don't have to be listed under 'to read', 'currently reading', or 'read'. To create one, go to 'edit bookshelves' on your 'My Books' page, create a shelf name such as 'review-of-the year' and tick the 'exclusive' box. Your previous and future 'reviews of the year' can be collected together on this dedicated shelf.
Concept created by Fionnuala Lirsdottir in 2014
Description: Fionnuala Lirsdottir
Initial choice of Paul Cézanne as cover artist for the entire series by Kalliope
Cover art for 2022: Paul Cézanne, Tulips and Apples, 1894
Cover choice and graphics for 2022 by Jayson
For those of you who don't like to add titles, you haven't actually 'read', you can place 2022 on Goodreads on an 'exclusive' shelf. Exclusive shelves don't have to be listed under 'to read', 'currently reading', or 'read'. To create one, go to 'edit bookshelves' on your 'My Books' page, create a shelf name such as 'review-of-the year' and tick the 'exclusive' box. Your previous and future 'reviews of the year' can be collected together on this dedicated shelf.
Concept created by Fionnuala Lirsdottir in 2014
Description: Fionnuala Lirsdottir
Initial choice of Paul Cézanne as cover artist for the entire series by Kalliope
Cover art for 2022: Paul Cézanne, Tulips and Apples, 1894
Cover choice and graphics for 2022 by Jayson
First published January 1, 2022
About the author
Various
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Note: WorldCat is an excellent resource for finding author information and contents of anthologies.
If an editor is known, however, Various is not necessary. List the name of the editor as the primary author (with role "editor"). Contributing authors' names follow it.
Note: WorldCat is an excellent resource for finding author information and contents of anthologies.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 2,147 reviews
January 2, 2023
My 2022 Reading Year in review: https://www.goodreads.com/user/year_i...
AVERAGE RATING FOR THE YEAR: 3.6
All in all, this was a decent reading year. My top reads of the year can be found here: https://www.goodreads.com/review/list...
Here were the original reading goals I had at the beginning of the year...
Much like last year...these are my general goals for this year:
READING GOALS FOR 2022
Read some books.
Hopefully some good books.
Have zero goals about reading said books.
The end.
HOWEVER...I also have a more focused...caveat goal this year...
I have managed to amass a physical tbr of approximately 240 books at present. It used to be worse, but I managed to cut it down a lot this year.
Now, I recognize how privileged this is and how lucky I am. And I'm not complaining; however, this amount of unread books is starting to stress me out, especially given the fact that some of these books have been on my shelves for years and were bought/gifted/thrifted during a time when my tastes were different, i.e., young adult, which I just don't find myself drawn to all that much anymore.
That said, my main goal for this year is to cut this number down significantly, ideally to around 100. Whether that is through reading some books, gifting some books, and/or donating some books, I don't care…
I just want to be able to look at my shelves and see books I love or am excited about...not books that make me feel guilty.
So there you have it.
Here's hoping we all reach our reading goals this year...and if not, no worries. Reading even one decent book is a win, right?
Starting Point: 243 physical tbr books
Progress:
January: Down to 230 books. A mediocre start, but a start nonetheless.
February: Forgot do this in February. Whoops...
March: My reading volume is way down for this point in the year when compared to previous years...but I read exactly as many physical tbr books as I added this month. So while not a total loss, definitely not a "win" either. I'm still at 230.
April/May: I forgot to do May. Man, I really suck at this. But hey, my tbr is down to 222. Yay me.
June: My tbr climbed this month. Sigh. Now back at 224. As far as my reading quality so far this year (since we are halfway), I'll say it's been fairly lackluster. I haven't read anything all that outstanding if I'm being honest. Outside of a few solid smut reads, I don't think I've five-starred much of anything this year.
July:I managed to get down to 215 by the end of this month...And what makes me the most proud of myself is the fact that one of those was a book that has been on my shelf for over a year. Yay me. I also immediately read any newcomers (I believe there were three this month). The majority of the progress, however, was me unhauling some YA books I finally accepted I have exactly zero interest in. I passed them on to family who might have more...interest, that is. Hoping to get to 200 or below by the end of August, although I might be thinking WAY too highly of myself.
August: Managed to get down to 208 by barely staying on top of newcomers and doing some more YA unhauls.
September: Completely fell off the wagon in September and got back up to 217, mostly via a Book Outlet haul. Damn you, Book Outlet.
October: EPIC fail still. Finished the month at 216.
November: Managed to miraculously get down to 199...by doing some ruthless YA dec-luttering. I think I only read two physical tbr books. Excited to get under 200, but it will be short-lived as my BOTM order with three books in it is going to put me back over. Hoping to finish the year under 200 though.
December: Got the tbr down to 195 through by gifting a brand new unread series.
OVERALL 2022 GOAL WRAP-UP:
I obviously didn't reach my goal of getting my tbr down to 100. In fact, when it's all said and done, I really only managed to cut it down by 48 and barely made it to sub 2oo. That said, I was WAY better this year about monitoring how many books I added throughout the year. Outside of one month where I had an eight book Book Outlet haul, I did fairly well in this regard.
Anyway. I would have preferred to be more successful with this goal, but I also don't think it was a total fail either. Gonna continue this journey in 2023 with the eventual hope of reaching a zero tbr.
Hope everyone has a great year!
AVERAGE RATING FOR THE YEAR: 3.6
All in all, this was a decent reading year. My top reads of the year can be found here: https://www.goodreads.com/review/list...
Here were the original reading goals I had at the beginning of the year...
Much like last year...these are my general goals for this year:
READING GOALS FOR 2022
Read some books.
Hopefully some good books.
Have zero goals about reading said books.
The end.
HOWEVER...I also have a more focused...caveat goal this year...
I have managed to amass a physical tbr of approximately 240 books at present. It used to be worse, but I managed to cut it down a lot this year.
Now, I recognize how privileged this is and how lucky I am. And I'm not complaining; however, this amount of unread books is starting to stress me out, especially given the fact that some of these books have been on my shelves for years and were bought/gifted/thrifted during a time when my tastes were different, i.e., young adult, which I just don't find myself drawn to all that much anymore.
That said, my main goal for this year is to cut this number down significantly, ideally to around 100. Whether that is through reading some books, gifting some books, and/or donating some books, I don't care…
I just want to be able to look at my shelves and see books I love or am excited about...not books that make me feel guilty.
So there you have it.
Here's hoping we all reach our reading goals this year...and if not, no worries. Reading even one decent book is a win, right?
Starting Point: 243 physical tbr books
Progress:
January: Down to 230 books. A mediocre start, but a start nonetheless.
February: Forgot do this in February. Whoops...
March: My reading volume is way down for this point in the year when compared to previous years...but I read exactly as many physical tbr books as I added this month. So while not a total loss, definitely not a "win" either. I'm still at 230.
April/May: I forgot to do May. Man, I really suck at this. But hey, my tbr is down to 222. Yay me.
June: My tbr climbed this month. Sigh. Now back at 224. As far as my reading quality so far this year (since we are halfway), I'll say it's been fairly lackluster. I haven't read anything all that outstanding if I'm being honest. Outside of a few solid smut reads, I don't think I've five-starred much of anything this year.
July:I managed to get down to 215 by the end of this month...And what makes me the most proud of myself is the fact that one of those was a book that has been on my shelf for over a year. Yay me. I also immediately read any newcomers (I believe there were three this month). The majority of the progress, however, was me unhauling some YA books I finally accepted I have exactly zero interest in. I passed them on to family who might have more...interest, that is. Hoping to get to 200 or below by the end of August, although I might be thinking WAY too highly of myself.
August: Managed to get down to 208 by barely staying on top of newcomers and doing some more YA unhauls.
September: Completely fell off the wagon in September and got back up to 217, mostly via a Book Outlet haul. Damn you, Book Outlet.
October: EPIC fail still. Finished the month at 216.
November: Managed to miraculously get down to 199...by doing some ruthless YA dec-luttering. I think I only read two physical tbr books. Excited to get under 200, but it will be short-lived as my BOTM order with three books in it is going to put me back over. Hoping to finish the year under 200 though.
December: Got the tbr down to 195 through by gifting a brand new unread series.
OVERALL 2022 GOAL WRAP-UP:
I obviously didn't reach my goal of getting my tbr down to 100. In fact, when it's all said and done, I really only managed to cut it down by 48 and barely made it to sub 2oo. That said, I was WAY better this year about monitoring how many books I added throughout the year. Outside of one month where I had an eight book Book Outlet haul, I did fairly well in this regard.
Anyway. I would have preferred to be more successful with this goal, but I also don't think it was a total fail either. Gonna continue this journey in 2023 with the eventual hope of reaching a zero tbr.
Hope everyone has a great year!
January 2, 2023
This year was probably the best book-wise ever since I became a GR member. Not because I read more books than in any other year (48 were short stories), but because I enjoyed so many of them. I’ve given more 5* than ever and I discovered a lot of new favorite writers, such as Percival Everett. I managed to read quite a few books that I’ve had on my TBR for ages and I enjoyed quite a few of them. From the social point of view, I had wonderful interactions with old and new friends and I thank you all for being here.
Now, a bit of stats because I love them. It is the 1st time I’ve done them so I am a bit excited:
Total books read: 128
Female writers: 52
Male writers:76 (the difference here is mostly due to reading a lot of classic short stories and there weren’t that many female short story writers back then).
Countries: 29
US: 32 (too much)
GB: 18
France: 11 (surprised about this).
Russia: 8 (mostly classic short stories)
Romania: 7 (happy I read more of my local literature)
Argentina/Italy: 6
Type:
Novels: 66
Short Stories (including collections): 48
Poetry: 5
Non-Fiction: 9
My favorite literary fiction:
1. The Trees by Percival Everett
2. The Luminaries by Eleano Catton
3. Germinal by Emile Zola
4. The Promise by Damon Galgut
5. A Man in Love by Karl Ove Knausgard
Elena Knows by Claudia Pineiro
My favorite short stories:
1. The Death of Ivan Ilych by Leo Tolstoy
2. How to Build a Fire and Other Stories by Jack London
3. Hateship, Friendship, Courtship, Loveship, Marriage: Stories by Alice Munro
4. Cursed Bunny by Bora Chung
5. Child’s Play by Ichiyō Higuchi
Favorite mystery: The Shape of Water by Andrea Camilleri
Favorite Romanian novel: Cazemata by Tudor Ganea
Favorite Non-Fiction: The Tribe: Portraits of Cuba by Carlos Manuel Alvares
Favorite Fantasy: The Farseer Trilogy by Robin Hobb
Now, a bit of stats because I love them. It is the 1st time I’ve done them so I am a bit excited:
Total books read: 128
Female writers: 52
Male writers:76 (the difference here is mostly due to reading a lot of classic short stories and there weren’t that many female short story writers back then).
Countries: 29
US: 32 (too much)
GB: 18
France: 11 (surprised about this).
Russia: 8 (mostly classic short stories)
Romania: 7 (happy I read more of my local literature)
Argentina/Italy: 6
Type:
Novels: 66
Short Stories (including collections): 48
Poetry: 5
Non-Fiction: 9
My favorite literary fiction:
1. The Trees by Percival Everett
2. The Luminaries by Eleano Catton
3. Germinal by Emile Zola
4. The Promise by Damon Galgut
5. A Man in Love by Karl Ove Knausgard
Elena Knows by Claudia Pineiro
My favorite short stories:
1. The Death of Ivan Ilych by Leo Tolstoy
2. How to Build a Fire and Other Stories by Jack London
3. Hateship, Friendship, Courtship, Loveship, Marriage: Stories by Alice Munro
4. Cursed Bunny by Bora Chung
5. Child’s Play by Ichiyō Higuchi
Favorite mystery: The Shape of Water by Andrea Camilleri
Favorite Romanian novel: Cazemata by Tudor Ganea
Favorite Non-Fiction: The Tribe: Portraits of Cuba by Carlos Manuel Alvares
Favorite Fantasy: The Farseer Trilogy by Robin Hobb
January 12, 2023
Every Rating & Review for 2022
The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes by Suzanne Collins
(B+) 77% | Good | ⭐⭐⭐ – 01/04/2022
Notes: Awfully banal, too many names to recall, the end carries weight, but too-little-too-late, revealing but not urgent at all.
Poison Ivy: Cycle of Life and Death by Amy Chu
(B+) 76% | Good | ⭐⭐⭐ – 01/09/2022
Notes: It starts alright, all rosy, tight, a budding concept built, but doomed, it zooms, no room to bloom: the final issues wilt.
Suicide Squad Most Wanted: Deadshot by Brian Buccellato
(B+) 78% | Good | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ – 01/10/2022
Notes: A retcon done right, all plot twists and fights, excessive, but clever, some eye-rolls, however, it's bark along with bite.
Suicide Squad Most Wanted: Katana by Mike W. Barr
(B) 72% | More than Satisfactory | ⭐⭐ – 01/11/2022
Notes: At start, a decent solo quest, and art's appealing; the rest is messed once allies guest: annoying and too dated-feeling.
DC Infinite Halloween Special (2007) #1 by Dan Abnett, Paul Dini, David Arquette, Cliff Dorfman, Peter Johnson, Matt Cherniss, Marc Bernardin, Adam Freeman, Tony Bedard, Peter J. Tomasi, Kal-El Bogdanove, Steve Niles, Steven T. Seagle, Mark Waid and Dan DiDio
(B) 74% | More than Satisfactory | ⭐⭐⭐ – 01/11/2022
Notes: An average anthology, a story's celebrity-penned (it's all-time trash, just horrid hash), still, in the end, a decent blend.
Detective Comics (1937-2011) #815 by Shane McCarthy
(B+) 77% | Good | ⭐⭐⭐ – 01/12/2022
Notes: Bright and witty, not grey, though great art, sad to say, does abate all the bloodiness, weight, and distress on display.
Detective Comics (1937-2011) #816 by Shane McCarthy
(B+) 76% | Good | ⭐⭐⭐ – 01/12/2022
Notes: Fun, it's cool, and evergreen, though nothing that I haven’t seen, a bit routine: same crook-pursuing swinging scenes.
Detective Comics (1937-2011) #835 by John Rozum
(B) 73% | More than Satisfactory | ⭐⭐⭐ – 01/12/2022
Notes: Just far-fetched, the villain here, and hero too, feel so askew, not like you knew, more ruthless crimes and derring-do.
Detective Comics (1937-2011) #836 by John Rozum
(B) 74% | More than Satisfactory | ⭐⭐⭐ – 01/12/2022
Notes: A sleuth-and-quarry, somewhat silly Scarecrow story, logic-hidden, plot-hole ridden, props and deathtraps territory.
Saga, Volume One by Brian K. Vaughan
(A-) 83% | Very Good | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ – 01/14/2022
Notes: Brazenly bizarre, creativity's the star, every character's distinct, fleshed-out seamlessly succinct, fine like sci-fi caviar.
Saga, Volume Two by Brian K. Vaughan
(A-) 84% | Very Good | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ – 01/15/2022
Notes: Few things new, but more to chew, still weird, but less and sparing, a smaller-scale family tale, it focuses on pairings.
Saga, Volume Three by Brian K. Vaughan
(A-) 83% | Very Good | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ – 01/16/2022
Notes: Dealing with delusions, and general life confusion, much not-for-me philosophy, but fun and poignant to conclusion.
Saga, Volume Four by Brian K. Vaughan
(A-) 83% | Very Good | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ – 01/17/2022
Notes: Starts mundane, on marriage strain, fidelity eroding, it ends in thrills once secrets spill, and heads resume exploding.
Saga, Volume Five by Brian K. Vaughan
(A-) 84% | Very Good | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ – 01/18/2022
Notes: Returns to form, its travel norm, at best when on-the-go, and players die, some hard goodbyes, some deeply apropos.
Saga, Volume Six by Brian K. Vaughan
(A-) 83% | Very Good | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ – 01/19/2022
Notes: Sunnier and funnier, a less complicated mission, still blood and gore, though cuteness soars: slim plot, fat exposition.
Saga, Volume Seven by Brian K. Vaughan
(A-) 84% | Very Good | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ – 01/20/2022
Notes: About belief and false relief, deep convictions suffer trials, dreary, dark, it leaves its mark in vices, losses and denials.
Saga, Volume Eight by Brian K. Vaughan
(A-) 82% | Very Good | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ – 01/21/2022
Notes: A slower pace, not outer space, emotionally climactic, exchanges shine, though undermined as chatting gets didactic.
Saga, Volume Nine by Brian K. Vaughan
(A-) 84% | Very Good | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ – 01/22/2022
Notes: Dizzying to comprehend the saved-up lives (for death) it spends, as stories blend, and rips your heart out by the end.
Detective Comics (1937-2011) #837 by Paul Dini
(B+) 77% | Good | ⭐⭐⭐ – 01/23/2022
Notes: Nice interplay, but of its day, a tie-in, not its own, but not so intertwined that blind-spots grind, it’s fairly standalone.
Detective Comics (1937-2011) #851 by Dennis O'Neil
(B) 75% | More than Satisfactory | ⭐⭐⭐ – 01/24/2022
Notes: New paradigm, it's low on plausibility, but raised by art ability, no sour lime, it kills the time with decent readability.
Batman (1940-2011) #684 by Dennis O'Neil
(B) 75% | More than Satisfactory | ⭐⭐⭐ – 01/24/2022
Notes: Mediocre, zero flair, a show-up-beat-up, rote affair, its art's still nice, if lacking spice, still, little fare to make you care.
Detective Comics (1937-2011) #866 by Dennis O'Neil
(B+) 77% | Good | ⭐⭐⭐ – 01/24/2022
Notes: Illustrated brilliantly, faux-vintage always works for me, the story's fine, but never shines: its art supplies the energy.
Deadly Class #49 by Rick Remender
(B+) 79% | Good | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ – 01/25/2022
Notes: Conversation-heavy, talk of love and past relations, with a noirish mood and attitude: interests most for implications.
Batman (1940-2011) #713 by Fabian Nicieza
(B+) 76% | Good | ⭐⭐⭐ – 01/25/2022
Notes: It's a rudimentary Robin recap, classic scenes redrawn in lieu of any mystery, nothing new, simply history in review.
XXL Eminem/Punisher (2009) #1 by Fred Van Lente
(B-) 68% | Satisfactory | ⭐⭐ – 01/26/2022
Notes: Firstly, it's bursting with cursing, the worst thing's it's bleeped out in skulls, Eminem's awful dull, zero nuance at all.
Batman: Our Worlds at War #1 by Ed Brubaker
(B+) 77% | Good | ⭐⭐⭐ – 01/26/2022
Notes: Batman plays spy, sneaks around in disguise, though its plot's a bit dry, more or less rectifies with the logic supplied.
Harley Quinn: Our Worlds at War #1 by Karl Kesel
(B) 75% | More than Satisfactory | ⭐⭐⭐ – 01/26/2022
Notes: A series of mishap encounters, all madcap, no downer, and folly it begets: the longer it keeps going, the zanier it gets.
Saga #55 by Brian K. Vaughan
(A-) 84% | Very Good | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ – 01/27/2022
Notes: Quite a bit to process, more shifts and twists than thrills, so much changed, and rearranged, albeit quintessential still.
Deadly Class #50 by Rick Remender
(A-) 83% | Very Good | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ – 01/28/2022
Notes: Filler to start, its actiony parts are one-note but smart, frenetic with art, but, still, it's got heart that its ending imparts.
Convergence by Jeff King, Scott Lobdell and Dan Jurgens
(B-) 69% | Satisfactory | ⭐⭐ – 02/01/2022
Notes: Esoterica and history are lost on me, but still I get the gist, it goes okay to round midway, but flops from all its twists.
Convergence: Infinite Earths, Book One by Justin Gray, Len Wein, Dan Abnett and Paul Levitz
(B) 73% | More than Satisfactory | ⭐⭐⭐ – 02/07/2022
Notes: Five deep-end drops, some float, most flop, on average fine but seldom fun, though decent ones, none hit home runs.
Convergence: Infinite Earths, Book Two by Jeff Parker, Scott Lobdell, Dan Jurgens, Brian Buccellato and Simon Oliver
(B) 75% | More than Satisfactory | ⭐⭐⭐ – 02/13/2022
Notes: Beginning fine, but soon declines, spans great to iffy art, most often lame, mock Hunger Games, its buoyed by its start.
Convergence: Crisis, Book One by Stuart Moore, David Gallaher, Marc Andreyko, Marv Wolfman and Jeff Parker
(B-) 71% | Satisfactory | ⭐⭐ – 02/17/2022
Notes: Less what-if hero mashup than mishmash monster bash-up, all small-potato foes to fight, recondite and deathly trite.
*character limit
Click here for the rest:
- Addendum #1
- Addendum #2
- Addendum #3
- Addendum #4
- Addendum #5
The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes by Suzanne Collins
(B+) 77% | Good | ⭐⭐⭐ – 01/04/2022
Notes: Awfully banal, too many names to recall, the end carries weight, but too-little-too-late, revealing but not urgent at all.
Poison Ivy: Cycle of Life and Death by Amy Chu
(B+) 76% | Good | ⭐⭐⭐ – 01/09/2022
Notes: It starts alright, all rosy, tight, a budding concept built, but doomed, it zooms, no room to bloom: the final issues wilt.
Suicide Squad Most Wanted: Deadshot by Brian Buccellato
(B+) 78% | Good | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ – 01/10/2022
Notes: A retcon done right, all plot twists and fights, excessive, but clever, some eye-rolls, however, it's bark along with bite.
Suicide Squad Most Wanted: Katana by Mike W. Barr
(B) 72% | More than Satisfactory | ⭐⭐ – 01/11/2022
Notes: At start, a decent solo quest, and art's appealing; the rest is messed once allies guest: annoying and too dated-feeling.
DC Infinite Halloween Special (2007) #1 by Dan Abnett, Paul Dini, David Arquette, Cliff Dorfman, Peter Johnson, Matt Cherniss, Marc Bernardin, Adam Freeman, Tony Bedard, Peter J. Tomasi, Kal-El Bogdanove, Steve Niles, Steven T. Seagle, Mark Waid and Dan DiDio
(B) 74% | More than Satisfactory | ⭐⭐⭐ – 01/11/2022
Notes: An average anthology, a story's celebrity-penned (it's all-time trash, just horrid hash), still, in the end, a decent blend.
Detective Comics (1937-2011) #815 by Shane McCarthy
(B+) 77% | Good | ⭐⭐⭐ – 01/12/2022
Notes: Bright and witty, not grey, though great art, sad to say, does abate all the bloodiness, weight, and distress on display.
Detective Comics (1937-2011) #816 by Shane McCarthy
(B+) 76% | Good | ⭐⭐⭐ – 01/12/2022
Notes: Fun, it's cool, and evergreen, though nothing that I haven’t seen, a bit routine: same crook-pursuing swinging scenes.
Detective Comics (1937-2011) #835 by John Rozum
(B) 73% | More than Satisfactory | ⭐⭐⭐ – 01/12/2022
Notes: Just far-fetched, the villain here, and hero too, feel so askew, not like you knew, more ruthless crimes and derring-do.
Detective Comics (1937-2011) #836 by John Rozum
(B) 74% | More than Satisfactory | ⭐⭐⭐ – 01/12/2022
Notes: A sleuth-and-quarry, somewhat silly Scarecrow story, logic-hidden, plot-hole ridden, props and deathtraps territory.
Saga, Volume One by Brian K. Vaughan
(A-) 83% | Very Good | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ – 01/14/2022
Notes: Brazenly bizarre, creativity's the star, every character's distinct, fleshed-out seamlessly succinct, fine like sci-fi caviar.
Saga, Volume Two by Brian K. Vaughan
(A-) 84% | Very Good | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ – 01/15/2022
Notes: Few things new, but more to chew, still weird, but less and sparing, a smaller-scale family tale, it focuses on pairings.
Saga, Volume Three by Brian K. Vaughan
(A-) 83% | Very Good | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ – 01/16/2022
Notes: Dealing with delusions, and general life confusion, much not-for-me philosophy, but fun and poignant to conclusion.
Saga, Volume Four by Brian K. Vaughan
(A-) 83% | Very Good | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ – 01/17/2022
Notes: Starts mundane, on marriage strain, fidelity eroding, it ends in thrills once secrets spill, and heads resume exploding.
Saga, Volume Five by Brian K. Vaughan
(A-) 84% | Very Good | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ – 01/18/2022
Notes: Returns to form, its travel norm, at best when on-the-go, and players die, some hard goodbyes, some deeply apropos.
Saga, Volume Six by Brian K. Vaughan
(A-) 83% | Very Good | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ – 01/19/2022
Notes: Sunnier and funnier, a less complicated mission, still blood and gore, though cuteness soars: slim plot, fat exposition.
Saga, Volume Seven by Brian K. Vaughan
(A-) 84% | Very Good | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ – 01/20/2022
Notes: About belief and false relief, deep convictions suffer trials, dreary, dark, it leaves its mark in vices, losses and denials.
Saga, Volume Eight by Brian K. Vaughan
(A-) 82% | Very Good | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ – 01/21/2022
Notes: A slower pace, not outer space, emotionally climactic, exchanges shine, though undermined as chatting gets didactic.
Saga, Volume Nine by Brian K. Vaughan
(A-) 84% | Very Good | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ – 01/22/2022
Notes: Dizzying to comprehend the saved-up lives (for death) it spends, as stories blend, and rips your heart out by the end.
Detective Comics (1937-2011) #837 by Paul Dini
(B+) 77% | Good | ⭐⭐⭐ – 01/23/2022
Notes: Nice interplay, but of its day, a tie-in, not its own, but not so intertwined that blind-spots grind, it’s fairly standalone.
Detective Comics (1937-2011) #851 by Dennis O'Neil
(B) 75% | More than Satisfactory | ⭐⭐⭐ – 01/24/2022
Notes: New paradigm, it's low on plausibility, but raised by art ability, no sour lime, it kills the time with decent readability.
Batman (1940-2011) #684 by Dennis O'Neil
(B) 75% | More than Satisfactory | ⭐⭐⭐ – 01/24/2022
Notes: Mediocre, zero flair, a show-up-beat-up, rote affair, its art's still nice, if lacking spice, still, little fare to make you care.
Detective Comics (1937-2011) #866 by Dennis O'Neil
(B+) 77% | Good | ⭐⭐⭐ – 01/24/2022
Notes: Illustrated brilliantly, faux-vintage always works for me, the story's fine, but never shines: its art supplies the energy.
Deadly Class #49 by Rick Remender
(B+) 79% | Good | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ – 01/25/2022
Notes: Conversation-heavy, talk of love and past relations, with a noirish mood and attitude: interests most for implications.
Batman (1940-2011) #713 by Fabian Nicieza
(B+) 76% | Good | ⭐⭐⭐ – 01/25/2022
Notes: It's a rudimentary Robin recap, classic scenes redrawn in lieu of any mystery, nothing new, simply history in review.
XXL Eminem/Punisher (2009) #1 by Fred Van Lente
(B-) 68% | Satisfactory | ⭐⭐ – 01/26/2022
Notes: Firstly, it's bursting with cursing, the worst thing's it's bleeped out in skulls, Eminem's awful dull, zero nuance at all.
Batman: Our Worlds at War #1 by Ed Brubaker
(B+) 77% | Good | ⭐⭐⭐ – 01/26/2022
Notes: Batman plays spy, sneaks around in disguise, though its plot's a bit dry, more or less rectifies with the logic supplied.
Harley Quinn: Our Worlds at War #1 by Karl Kesel
(B) 75% | More than Satisfactory | ⭐⭐⭐ – 01/26/2022
Notes: A series of mishap encounters, all madcap, no downer, and folly it begets: the longer it keeps going, the zanier it gets.
Saga #55 by Brian K. Vaughan
(A-) 84% | Very Good | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ – 01/27/2022
Notes: Quite a bit to process, more shifts and twists than thrills, so much changed, and rearranged, albeit quintessential still.
Deadly Class #50 by Rick Remender
(A-) 83% | Very Good | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ – 01/28/2022
Notes: Filler to start, its actiony parts are one-note but smart, frenetic with art, but, still, it's got heart that its ending imparts.
Convergence by Jeff King, Scott Lobdell and Dan Jurgens
(B-) 69% | Satisfactory | ⭐⭐ – 02/01/2022
Notes: Esoterica and history are lost on me, but still I get the gist, it goes okay to round midway, but flops from all its twists.
Convergence: Infinite Earths, Book One by Justin Gray, Len Wein, Dan Abnett and Paul Levitz
(B) 73% | More than Satisfactory | ⭐⭐⭐ – 02/07/2022
Notes: Five deep-end drops, some float, most flop, on average fine but seldom fun, though decent ones, none hit home runs.
Convergence: Infinite Earths, Book Two by Jeff Parker, Scott Lobdell, Dan Jurgens, Brian Buccellato and Simon Oliver
(B) 75% | More than Satisfactory | ⭐⭐⭐ – 02/13/2022
Notes: Beginning fine, but soon declines, spans great to iffy art, most often lame, mock Hunger Games, its buoyed by its start.
Convergence: Crisis, Book One by Stuart Moore, David Gallaher, Marc Andreyko, Marv Wolfman and Jeff Parker
(B-) 71% | Satisfactory | ⭐⭐ – 02/17/2022
Notes: Less what-if hero mashup than mishmash monster bash-up, all small-potato foes to fight, recondite and deathly trite.
*character limit
Click here for the rest:
- Addendum #1
- Addendum #2
- Addendum #3
- Addendum #4
- Addendum #5
December 31, 2022
Well, once again I didn’t finish listing books. I’ll give this year a 4.5. I’ll try again in the new year, which starts tomorrow 😂🤣🙄
****
I’m not going to list tons of books any more. I don’t care! I’ll do a few favs or something … maybe.
Meh…
I’ll try… (5 stars only) PLUS! I’m not reading that many and purging old books. The end!!
1.
The Awakening - Reread
2.
Christmas by the Book
3.
Tied
4.
The Promised Neverland, Vol. 1
5.
BirdNote: Chirps, Quirks, and Stories of 100 Birds from the Popular Public Radio Show
6.
The Bone Shard Emperor
7.
Mary's Monster: Love, Madness, and How Mary Shelley Created Frankenstein
8.
Restless Slumber
9.
Deadly Dreams
10.
Flowers in the Attic
11.
The Velveteen Rabbit 100th Anniversary Edition: The Limited Hardcover Slipcase Edition
12.
The Story of Trees: And How They Changed the World
13.
Giant Days, Vol. 1
14.
Around the World in 80 Trees
15.
Crossroads
16.
Little Women: The Complete Novel, Featuring Letters and Ephemera from the Characters’ Correspondence, Written and Folded by Hand
17.
Delirium
18.
The Island of Missing Trees
19.
Historic Rural Churches of Georgia
20.
Shadow Kiss - Reread
21.
The Stardust Thief
Sweet Dandelion
22.
Heart Bones
23.
BEASTARS, Vol. 18
Mel 🖤🐶🐺🐾
****
I’m not going to list tons of books any more. I don’t care! I’ll do a few favs or something … maybe.
Meh…
I’ll try… (5 stars only) PLUS! I’m not reading that many and purging old books. The end!!
1.
The Awakening - Reread2.
Christmas by the Book 3.
Tied 4.
The Promised Neverland, Vol. 1 5.
BirdNote: Chirps, Quirks, and Stories of 100 Birds from the Popular Public Radio Show 6.
The Bone Shard Emperor 7.
Mary's Monster: Love, Madness, and How Mary Shelley Created Frankenstein 8.
Restless Slumber 9.
Deadly Dreams 10.
Flowers in the Attic 11.
The Velveteen Rabbit 100th Anniversary Edition: The Limited Hardcover Slipcase Edition 12.
The Story of Trees: And How They Changed the World13.
Giant Days, Vol. 114.
Around the World in 80 Trees15.
Crossroads 16.
Little Women: The Complete Novel, Featuring Letters and Ephemera from the Characters’ Correspondence, Written and Folded by Hand17.
Delirium 18.
The Island of Missing Trees 19.
Historic Rural Churches of Georgia20.
Shadow Kiss - Reread 21.
The Stardust Thief
Sweet Dandelion22.
Heart Bones23.
BEASTARS, Vol. 18Mel 🖤🐶🐺🐾
January 2, 2023
January-
Ugly Love, ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ + ❥
Falling For Your Best Friend's Twin, ★ ★ ★ ☆ ☆
The Inexplicable Logic of My Life, ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ + ❥
Outlander, ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆
A Thousand Ships, ★ ★ ★ ★ ★
The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo, ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ + ❥
Animal Farm, ★ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆
The Becoming, ★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Chosen, ★ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆
Fly Away, ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆
Anne of Green Gables, ★ ★ ★ ★ ★
These Violent Delights, ★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Anne of Avonlea, ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆
Anne of the Island, ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆
Our Violent Ends, ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ + ❥
Reminders of Him, ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ + ❥
re-read: 9
°•*⁀➷ favorite:
The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo
February-
Anne of Windy Poplars, ★ ★ ★ ☆ ☆
Anne's House of Dreams, ★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Empire of the Vampire, ★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Daisy Jones & The Six, ★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Layla, ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆
The Love Hypothesis, ★ ★ ☆ ☆ ☆
Catwoman: Soulstealer, ★ ★ ★ ★ ★
The Return, ★ ★ ☆ ☆ ☆
The Roommate, ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆
Daughter of the Deep, ★ ★ ★ ☆ ☆
Heart Bones, ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ + ❥
A RomaJuliette Christmas Special, ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆
Night Shift, ★ ★ ★ ☆ ☆
Night Shadow, ★ ★ ★ ★ ★
The Lives of Saints, ★ ★ ☆ ☆ ☆
Nightshade, ★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Night Smoke, ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆
It Happened One Summer, ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆
The Roommate Situation, ★ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆
Serpent & Dove, ★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Hot Ice, ★ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆
Batman: Nightwalker, ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆
House of Sky and Breath, ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ + ❥
Ruby Red, ★ ★ ★ ☆ ☆
Court, ★ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆
Sammy and Juliana in Hollywood, ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ + ❥
Josh and Hazel's Guide to Not Dating, ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ + ❥
Carry On, ★ ★ ★ ☆ ☆
Sapphire Blue, ★ ★ ★ ☆ ☆
Wayward Son, ★ ★ ☆ ☆ ☆
All Your Perfects, ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ + ❥
Emerald Green, ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆
The Demigod Files, ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆
re-read: 8
°•*⁀➷ favorite:
House of Sky and Breath
March-
Code, ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆
Any Way the Wind Blows, ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆
Exposure ★ ★ ☆ ☆ ☆
Terminal, ★ ★ ★ ☆ ☆
Sorcery of Thorns, ★ ★ ★ ★ ★
We Contain Multitudes, ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ + ❥
The Gentleman's Guide to Getting Lucky, ★ ★ ★ ★ ★
The Lady's Guide to Petticoats and Piracy, ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆
Autoboyography, ★ ★ ★ ☆ ☆
The Nobleman's Guide to Scandal and Shipwrecks, ★ ★ ★ ☆ ☆
Shadow Me, ★ ★ ☆ ☆ ☆
Reveal Me, ★ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆
Believe Me, ★ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆
Ariadne, ★ ★ ★ ★ ★
I'll Give You the Sun, ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆
An Enchantment of Ravens, ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆
The Silent Patient, ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ + ❥
Where the Crawdads Sing, ★ ★ ★ ★ ★
The Bear and the Nightingale, ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆
re-read: 8
°•*⁀➷ favorite:
The Silent Patient
April-
Vespertine, ★ ★ ☆ ☆ ☆
Without Merit, ★ ★ ★ ★ ★
The Cinderella Murder, ★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Night Shield, ★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Night Moves, ★ ★ ★ ☆ ☆
Heartstopper: Volumer One, ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆
The Guest List, ★ ★ ★ ☆ ☆
Reunion in Death, ★ ★ ★ ★ ★
The Shining, ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆
Heartstopper: Volume Two, ★ ★ ★ ★ ★
The War of Two Queens, ★ ★ ★ ☆ ☆
Local Woman Missing, ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆
The Girl in the Tower, ★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Twice in a Blue Moon, ★ ★ ★ ☆ ☆
re-read: 5
°•*⁀➷ favorite:
Reunion in Death
May-
Love at First Fight, ★ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆
Hook, Line, and Sinker, ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆
I Got This: To Gold and Beyond, ★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Anne of Ingleside, ★ ★ ★ ☆ ☆
Turtles All the Way Down, ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ + ❥
A Pho Love Story, ★ ★ ☆ ☆ ☆
What is a Girl Worth?, ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ + ❥
The Charm Offensive, ★ ★ ★ ☆ ☆
The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society, ★ ★ ★ ★ ★
The Winter of the Witch, ★ ★ ★ ★ ★
You've Reached Sam, ★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Float Plan, ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ + ❥
My Year of Rest and Relaxation, ★ ★ ★ ☆ ☆
Jane Eyre, ★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Book Lovers, ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ + ❥
What If It's Us, ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆
Here's To Us, ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆
Maybe in Another Life, ★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Nightwork, ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ + ❥
Malibu Rising, ★ ★ ★ ★ ★
The Honey Don't List, ★ ★ ☆ ☆ ☆
re-read: 3
°•*⁀➷ favorite:
Nightwork
June-
Mansfield Park, ★ ★ ☆ ☆ ☆
Elektra, ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆
Something Wilder, ★ ★ ☆ ☆ ☆
Stonewall, ★ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆
The Suite Spot, ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆
99 Percent Mine, ★ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆
We Are Okay, ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ + ❥
Blood & Honey, ★ ★ ★ ☆ ☆
Regretting You, ★ ★ ★ ☆ ☆
Normal People, ★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Radio Silence, ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆
We Were Dreamers, ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ + ❥
Nick and Charlie, ★ ★ ★ ☆ ☆
Conventionally Yours, ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆
The Soulmate Equation, ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ + ❥
She Drives Me Crazy, ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ + ❥
The Anthropocene Reviewed, ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ + ❥
Call Me By Your Name, ★ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆
Last Call, ★ ★ ★ ☆ ☆
If This Gets Out, ★ ★ ☆ ☆ ☆
Love and Other Words, ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ + ❥
The Handmaid's Tale, ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆
re-read: 2
°•*⁀➷ favorite:
The Anthropocene Reviewed
July-
Crazy Rich Asians, ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆
China Rich Girlfriend, ★ ★ ★ ☆ ☆
Splendid, ★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Dancing at Midnight, ★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Minx, ★ ★ ☆ ☆ ☆
Rich People Problems, ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ + ❥
Defending Jacob, ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆
Courage to Soar, ★ ★ ★ ☆ ☆
Brave New World, ★ ★ ★ ☆ ☆
Out of the Corner, ★ ★ ☆ ☆ ☆
The Bookish Life of Nina Hill, ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ + ❥
Answers in the Pages, ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ + ❥
Blade Breaker, ★ ★ ☆ ☆ ☆
The Chandler Legacies, ★ ★ ★ ☆ ☆
Purity in Death, ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆
Portrait in Death, ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ + ❥
Gregor the Overlander, ★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Gregor and the Prophecy of Bane, ★ ★ ★ ☆ ☆
Gregor and the Curse of the Warmbloods, ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆
Gregor and the Marks of Secret, ★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Gregor and the Code of Claw, ★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Carrie Soto Is Back, ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ + ❥
Heartstopper: Volume Three, ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆
Lore Olympus: Volume One, ★ ★ ★ ☆ ☆
Family of Liars, ★ ★ ☆ ☆ ☆
Lore, ★ ★ ★ ☆ ☆
Heartstopper: Volumer Four, ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ + ❥
A Game of Fate, ★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Get a Life, Chloe Brown, ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆
Active Collections, ★ ★ ★ ☆ ☆
The Wrath and the Dawn, ★ ★ ★ ★ ★
re-read: 4
°•*⁀➷ favorite:
Carrie Soto Is Back
August-
Take a Hint, Dani Brown, ★ ★ ★ ★ ★
The Rose and the Dagger, ★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Act Your Age, Eve Brown, ★ ★ ★ ★ ★
The Near Witch, ★ ★ ★ ☆ ☆
The Ash-Born Boy, ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆
Stuck With You, ★ ★ ★ ☆ ☆
Purple Hearts, ★ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆
A Game of Retribution, ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆
Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine, ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆
The Unbalanced Equation, ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆
The Inheritance Games, ★ ★ ★ ☆ ☆
Kingdom of the Wicked, ★ ★ ★ ★ ★
The Summer I Turned Pretty, ★ ★ ★ ☆ ☆
It's Not Summer Without You, ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆
We'll Always Have Summer, ★ ★ ☆ ☆ ☆
The House Plant, ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ + ❥
Meet Me in the Margins, ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆
Evidence of the Affair, ★ ★ ★ ☆ ☆
Daisy Darker, ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ + ❥
Never Saw You Coming, ★ ★ ☆ ☆ ☆
Kingdom of the Cursed, ★ ★ ★ ☆ ☆
On Earth We're Briefly Gorgeous, ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ + ❥
Dracula, ★ ★ ★ ★ ★
re-read: 7
°•*⁀➷ favorite:
On Earth We're Briefly Gorgeous
September-
Beautiful World, Where Are You, ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆
Maybe Someday, ★ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆
After I Do, ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ + ❥
Book of Night, ★ ★ ★ ☆ ☆
The Hawthorne Legacy, ★ ★ ★ ☆ ☆
Below Zero, ★ ★ ★ ★ ★
The Dead Romantics, ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ + ❥
Geekerella, ★ ★ ★ ★ ★
The Princess and the Fangirl, ★ ★ ★ ☆ ☆
Bookish and the Beast, ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆
The Final Gambit, ★ ★ ★ ☆ ☆
The Tenant of Wildfell Hall, ★ ★ ★ ★ ★
The Bodyguard, ★ ★ ★ ★ ★
One True Loves, ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆
re-read: 4
°•*⁀➷ favorite:
The Dead Romantics
October-
Spellbound, ★ ★ ★ ☆ ☆
Rock Paper Scissors, ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆
Foul Lady Fortune, ★ ★ ★ ★ ★
The Secret History, ★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Killers of a Certain Age, ★ ★ ☆ ☆ ☆
It Starts With Us, ★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Greenlights, ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ + ❥
Gods & Monsters, ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆
Time is a Mother, ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆
Delilah Green Doesn't Care, ★ ★ ★ ★ ★
re-read: 7
°•*⁀➷ favorite:
Greenlights
November-
Part of Your World, ★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Tokyo Ever After, ★ ★ ★ ☆ ☆
The Simple Wild, ★ ★ ☆ ☆ ☆
Friends Lovers and the Big Terrible Thing, ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ + ❥
The Nightingale, ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ + ❥
By the Book, ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆
Under One Roof, ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆
A Million Junes, ★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Every Summer After, ★ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆
Tokyo Dreaming, ★ ★ ☆ ☆ ☆
The Choice, ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ + ❥
The Great Alone, ★ ★ ★ ☆ ☆
We Are the Light, ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆
re-read: 6
°•*⁀➷ favorite:
The Nightingale
December-
Adult Assembly Required, ★ ★ ★ ★ ★
A Discovery of Witches, ★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Babel, ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ + ❥
Home Front, ★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Agnes Grey, ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆
Once Upon an Eid, ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆
Shadow of Night, ★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Off the Map, ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ + ❥
Forever Interrupted, ★ ★ ★ ★ ★
The Book of Life, ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ + ❥
re-read: 3
°•*⁀➷ favorite:
Babel, Or the Necessity of Violence: An Arcane History of the Oxford Translators’ Revolution
Top 10:
1. Carrie Soto Is Back
2. House of Sky and Breath
3. Babel, Or the Necessity of Violence: An Arcane History of the Oxford Translators' Revolution
4. On Earth We're Briefly Gorgeous
5. The Nightingale
6. The Anthropocene Reviewed
7. Nightwork
8. Float Plan
9. The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo
10. The Choice
Ugly Love, ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ + ❥
Falling For Your Best Friend's Twin, ★ ★ ★ ☆ ☆
The Inexplicable Logic of My Life, ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ + ❥
Outlander, ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆
A Thousand Ships, ★ ★ ★ ★ ★
The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo, ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ + ❥
Animal Farm, ★ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆
The Becoming, ★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Chosen, ★ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆
Fly Away, ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆
Anne of Green Gables, ★ ★ ★ ★ ★
These Violent Delights, ★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Anne of Avonlea, ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆
Anne of the Island, ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆
Our Violent Ends, ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ + ❥
Reminders of Him, ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ + ❥
re-read: 9
°•*⁀➷ favorite:
The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo
February-
Anne of Windy Poplars, ★ ★ ★ ☆ ☆
Anne's House of Dreams, ★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Empire of the Vampire, ★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Daisy Jones & The Six, ★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Layla, ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆
The Love Hypothesis, ★ ★ ☆ ☆ ☆
Catwoman: Soulstealer, ★ ★ ★ ★ ★
The Return, ★ ★ ☆ ☆ ☆
The Roommate, ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆
Daughter of the Deep, ★ ★ ★ ☆ ☆
Heart Bones, ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ + ❥
A RomaJuliette Christmas Special, ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆
Night Shift, ★ ★ ★ ☆ ☆
Night Shadow, ★ ★ ★ ★ ★
The Lives of Saints, ★ ★ ☆ ☆ ☆
Nightshade, ★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Night Smoke, ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆
It Happened One Summer, ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆
The Roommate Situation, ★ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆
Serpent & Dove, ★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Hot Ice, ★ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆
Batman: Nightwalker, ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆
House of Sky and Breath, ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ + ❥
Ruby Red, ★ ★ ★ ☆ ☆
Court, ★ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆
Sammy and Juliana in Hollywood, ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ + ❥
Josh and Hazel's Guide to Not Dating, ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ + ❥
Carry On, ★ ★ ★ ☆ ☆
Sapphire Blue, ★ ★ ★ ☆ ☆
Wayward Son, ★ ★ ☆ ☆ ☆
All Your Perfects, ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ + ❥
Emerald Green, ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆
The Demigod Files, ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆
re-read: 8
°•*⁀➷ favorite:
House of Sky and Breath
March-
Code, ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆
Any Way the Wind Blows, ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆
Exposure ★ ★ ☆ ☆ ☆
Terminal, ★ ★ ★ ☆ ☆
Sorcery of Thorns, ★ ★ ★ ★ ★
We Contain Multitudes, ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ + ❥
The Gentleman's Guide to Getting Lucky, ★ ★ ★ ★ ★
The Lady's Guide to Petticoats and Piracy, ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆
Autoboyography, ★ ★ ★ ☆ ☆
The Nobleman's Guide to Scandal and Shipwrecks, ★ ★ ★ ☆ ☆
Shadow Me, ★ ★ ☆ ☆ ☆
Reveal Me, ★ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆
Believe Me, ★ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆
Ariadne, ★ ★ ★ ★ ★
I'll Give You the Sun, ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆
An Enchantment of Ravens, ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆
The Silent Patient, ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ + ❥
Where the Crawdads Sing, ★ ★ ★ ★ ★
The Bear and the Nightingale, ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆
re-read: 8
°•*⁀➷ favorite:
The Silent Patient
April-
Vespertine, ★ ★ ☆ ☆ ☆
Without Merit, ★ ★ ★ ★ ★
The Cinderella Murder, ★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Night Shield, ★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Night Moves, ★ ★ ★ ☆ ☆
Heartstopper: Volumer One, ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆
The Guest List, ★ ★ ★ ☆ ☆
Reunion in Death, ★ ★ ★ ★ ★
The Shining, ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆
Heartstopper: Volume Two, ★ ★ ★ ★ ★
The War of Two Queens, ★ ★ ★ ☆ ☆
Local Woman Missing, ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆
The Girl in the Tower, ★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Twice in a Blue Moon, ★ ★ ★ ☆ ☆
re-read: 5
°•*⁀➷ favorite:
Reunion in Death
May-
Love at First Fight, ★ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆
Hook, Line, and Sinker, ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆
I Got This: To Gold and Beyond, ★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Anne of Ingleside, ★ ★ ★ ☆ ☆
Turtles All the Way Down, ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ + ❥
A Pho Love Story, ★ ★ ☆ ☆ ☆
What is a Girl Worth?, ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ + ❥
The Charm Offensive, ★ ★ ★ ☆ ☆
The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society, ★ ★ ★ ★ ★
The Winter of the Witch, ★ ★ ★ ★ ★
You've Reached Sam, ★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Float Plan, ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ + ❥
My Year of Rest and Relaxation, ★ ★ ★ ☆ ☆
Jane Eyre, ★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Book Lovers, ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ + ❥
What If It's Us, ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆
Here's To Us, ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆
Maybe in Another Life, ★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Nightwork, ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ + ❥
Malibu Rising, ★ ★ ★ ★ ★
The Honey Don't List, ★ ★ ☆ ☆ ☆
re-read: 3
°•*⁀➷ favorite:
Nightwork
June-
Mansfield Park, ★ ★ ☆ ☆ ☆
Elektra, ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆
Something Wilder, ★ ★ ☆ ☆ ☆
Stonewall, ★ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆
The Suite Spot, ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆
99 Percent Mine, ★ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆
We Are Okay, ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ + ❥
Blood & Honey, ★ ★ ★ ☆ ☆
Regretting You, ★ ★ ★ ☆ ☆
Normal People, ★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Radio Silence, ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆
We Were Dreamers, ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ + ❥
Nick and Charlie, ★ ★ ★ ☆ ☆
Conventionally Yours, ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆
The Soulmate Equation, ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ + ❥
She Drives Me Crazy, ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ + ❥
The Anthropocene Reviewed, ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ + ❥
Call Me By Your Name, ★ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆
Last Call, ★ ★ ★ ☆ ☆
If This Gets Out, ★ ★ ☆ ☆ ☆
Love and Other Words, ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ + ❥
The Handmaid's Tale, ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆
re-read: 2
°•*⁀➷ favorite:
The Anthropocene Reviewed
July-
Crazy Rich Asians, ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆
China Rich Girlfriend, ★ ★ ★ ☆ ☆
Splendid, ★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Dancing at Midnight, ★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Minx, ★ ★ ☆ ☆ ☆
Rich People Problems, ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ + ❥
Defending Jacob, ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆
Courage to Soar, ★ ★ ★ ☆ ☆
Brave New World, ★ ★ ★ ☆ ☆
Out of the Corner, ★ ★ ☆ ☆ ☆
The Bookish Life of Nina Hill, ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ + ❥
Answers in the Pages, ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ + ❥
Blade Breaker, ★ ★ ☆ ☆ ☆
The Chandler Legacies, ★ ★ ★ ☆ ☆
Purity in Death, ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆
Portrait in Death, ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ + ❥
Gregor the Overlander, ★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Gregor and the Prophecy of Bane, ★ ★ ★ ☆ ☆
Gregor and the Curse of the Warmbloods, ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆
Gregor and the Marks of Secret, ★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Gregor and the Code of Claw, ★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Carrie Soto Is Back, ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ + ❥
Heartstopper: Volume Three, ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆
Lore Olympus: Volume One, ★ ★ ★ ☆ ☆
Family of Liars, ★ ★ ☆ ☆ ☆
Lore, ★ ★ ★ ☆ ☆
Heartstopper: Volumer Four, ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ + ❥
A Game of Fate, ★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Get a Life, Chloe Brown, ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆
Active Collections, ★ ★ ★ ☆ ☆
The Wrath and the Dawn, ★ ★ ★ ★ ★
re-read: 4
°•*⁀➷ favorite:
Carrie Soto Is Back
August-
Take a Hint, Dani Brown, ★ ★ ★ ★ ★
The Rose and the Dagger, ★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Act Your Age, Eve Brown, ★ ★ ★ ★ ★
The Near Witch, ★ ★ ★ ☆ ☆
The Ash-Born Boy, ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆
Stuck With You, ★ ★ ★ ☆ ☆
Purple Hearts, ★ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆
A Game of Retribution, ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆
Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine, ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆
The Unbalanced Equation, ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆
The Inheritance Games, ★ ★ ★ ☆ ☆
Kingdom of the Wicked, ★ ★ ★ ★ ★
The Summer I Turned Pretty, ★ ★ ★ ☆ ☆
It's Not Summer Without You, ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆
We'll Always Have Summer, ★ ★ ☆ ☆ ☆
The House Plant, ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ + ❥
Meet Me in the Margins, ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆
Evidence of the Affair, ★ ★ ★ ☆ ☆
Daisy Darker, ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ + ❥
Never Saw You Coming, ★ ★ ☆ ☆ ☆
Kingdom of the Cursed, ★ ★ ★ ☆ ☆
On Earth We're Briefly Gorgeous, ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ + ❥
Dracula, ★ ★ ★ ★ ★
re-read: 7
°•*⁀➷ favorite:
On Earth We're Briefly Gorgeous
September-
Beautiful World, Where Are You, ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆
Maybe Someday, ★ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆
After I Do, ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ + ❥
Book of Night, ★ ★ ★ ☆ ☆
The Hawthorne Legacy, ★ ★ ★ ☆ ☆
Below Zero, ★ ★ ★ ★ ★
The Dead Romantics, ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ + ❥
Geekerella, ★ ★ ★ ★ ★
The Princess and the Fangirl, ★ ★ ★ ☆ ☆
Bookish and the Beast, ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆
The Final Gambit, ★ ★ ★ ☆ ☆
The Tenant of Wildfell Hall, ★ ★ ★ ★ ★
The Bodyguard, ★ ★ ★ ★ ★
One True Loves, ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆
re-read: 4
°•*⁀➷ favorite:
The Dead Romantics
October-
Spellbound, ★ ★ ★ ☆ ☆
Rock Paper Scissors, ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆
Foul Lady Fortune, ★ ★ ★ ★ ★
The Secret History, ★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Killers of a Certain Age, ★ ★ ☆ ☆ ☆
It Starts With Us, ★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Greenlights, ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ + ❥
Gods & Monsters, ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆
Time is a Mother, ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆
Delilah Green Doesn't Care, ★ ★ ★ ★ ★
re-read: 7
°•*⁀➷ favorite:
Greenlights
November-
Part of Your World, ★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Tokyo Ever After, ★ ★ ★ ☆ ☆
The Simple Wild, ★ ★ ☆ ☆ ☆
Friends Lovers and the Big Terrible Thing, ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ + ❥
The Nightingale, ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ + ❥
By the Book, ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆
Under One Roof, ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆
A Million Junes, ★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Every Summer After, ★ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆
Tokyo Dreaming, ★ ★ ☆ ☆ ☆
The Choice, ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ + ❥
The Great Alone, ★ ★ ★ ☆ ☆
We Are the Light, ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆
re-read: 6
°•*⁀➷ favorite:
The Nightingale
December-
Adult Assembly Required, ★ ★ ★ ★ ★
A Discovery of Witches, ★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Babel, ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ + ❥
Home Front, ★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Agnes Grey, ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆
Once Upon an Eid, ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆
Shadow of Night, ★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Off the Map, ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ + ❥
Forever Interrupted, ★ ★ ★ ★ ★
The Book of Life, ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ + ❥
re-read: 3
°•*⁀➷ favorite:
Babel, Or the Necessity of Violence: An Arcane History of the Oxford Translators’ Revolution
Top 10:
1. Carrie Soto Is Back
2. House of Sky and Breath
3. Babel, Or the Necessity of Violence: An Arcane History of the Oxford Translators' Revolution
4. On Earth We're Briefly Gorgeous
5. The Nightingale
6. The Anthropocene Reviewed
7. Nightwork
8. Float Plan
9. The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo
10. The Choice
January 2, 2023
Happy New Year! I hope the year ahead is one filled with happiness, fun times and even more great books for you all.
2022 has been a challenging year, but also the year I rediscovered my love for reading. I set myself the goal of reading 22 for '22. I surpassed this goal and finished with 38 books read – the most I’ve ever read in a year.
I learned a lot from the books I spent time with, and learned a lot about myself too. I discovered wonderful communities on Goodreads and plenty of new books I otherwise wouldn't know existed. Thank you to anyone who befriended me in the past year, or took the time to comment or send a recommendation. In the ups and downs of life, this Goodreads community has remained a constant positive.
In a year filled with many great reads, it’s impossible to choose a favourite book. 2022 was a year of change, progress and soul-searching, and my reading sometimes reflected this. These were some of the standouts.
While I mostly stayed in one place, my reading traveled the world. From the likes of Shetland: The Ponies at the Edge of the World: A Story of Hope and Belonging in Shetland by Catherine Munro, to here in Tasmania: Nothing Bad Ever Happens Here by Heather Rose – a remarkable, thought-provoking journey into grief, joy and what it means to be alive, to even Antarctica: 537 Days of Winter: A Tale of Resilience, Endurance and Humanity while Stranded in Antarctica During the Pandemic by David Knoff.
Some books will stay with me forever. It’s remarkable how a book can shift your life perspective and provide a constant source of inspiration. The following provided that in abundance, and I know that I’ll return to them, like an old friend, in years to come:
- The Happiest Man on Earth by Eddie Jaku
- Tuesdays with Morrie by Mitch Albom
- You Are Worth It: Building a Life Worth Fighting For by Kyle Carpenter
Two other books that had an impact on my daily life were The Quiz Masters: Inside the World of Trivia, Obsession and Million Dollar Prizes by Brydon Coverdale. It saw me memorising facts, quizzing family and friends, and seeing if I could win obscure prizes like Brydon did in his impressive quizzing career - a solar panel hat was my best effort! Putting on a Show: Manhood, Mates and Mental Health by Rob Mills delved into what makes up the Australian male, with an emphasis on mental health and generating conversation. This book single-handedly gave me strength to reach out for help when life threw curveballs soon after. Thank you, Rob.
I somehow read more memoirs than any other genre this year. Billy Connolly’s autobiography, Windswept & Interesting: My Autobiography was the funniest. It felt like I was sitting with him over cups of tea and biscuits while he told hilarious (and heartbreaking) stories from his life. Other standout memoirs I enjoyed were No Finish Line by Johnny Ruffo, The Storyteller: Tales of Life and Music by Dave Grohl and Ordinary Heroes: A Memoir of 9/11 by Joseph Pfeifer.
I found myself delving into the war genre to educate myself, and to feel closer to my departed grandfathers. I enjoyed both Captain Tom books: Tomorrow Will Be a Good Day: My Autobiography and Captain Tom's Life Lessons, while The Digger of Kokoda: The Official Biography of Reg Chard by Daniel Lane and True Grit by Bear Grylls demonstrated incredible feats of endurance, survival and resilience when humans are thrown into horrific situations.
And speaking of horror, I was checking under the bed following my Halloween read, The Amityville Horror by Jay Anson – this classic will have me reading more of the genre in future. A Spy in Plain Sight: The Inside Story of America's Most Damaging Russian Spy and the Implications for National Security Today by Lis Wiehl was an eye-opening exploration into another kind of horror – the most damaging spy in US history. I'll never look at a footbridge the same!
I hope to read more underrepresented voices and histories in future – such books are particularly important. On this front, I enjoyed the heartbreaking but expertly written Missing from the Village: The Story of Serial Killer Bruce McArthur, the Search for Justice, and the System That Failed Toronto's Queer Community by Justin Ling and The Ballad of Abdul Wade by Ryan Butta - the latter changed how I view Australian history and gave a much-needed voice to the pioneering Afghan cameleers of outback Australia.
This year also saw me reaching for books that have sat on my shelf for many years. Among these were The Guns of Navarone by Alistair MacLean, Biggles and Co. by W.E. Johns and The Boy in the Striped Pajamas by John Boyne. Now my biggest reading goal for 2023 is to enjoy more fiction!
While reading the words of others, I also wrote more of my own. My short stories and writings were published in over a dozen lit journals and magazines across Australia, the US, Canada and UK. It will always feel amazing to see my words in print. If I've learnt something this year, it's that anything is possible.
A big thank you to everyone for making 2022 a memorable year. Special thanks to Affirm Press, Allen & Unwin, Echo Publishing and Pan Macmillan Australia. Thank you also to the various authors who have reached out or befriended me.
Here’s to 2023 being an amazing year filled with more great reading!
2022 has been a challenging year, but also the year I rediscovered my love for reading. I set myself the goal of reading 22 for '22. I surpassed this goal and finished with 38 books read – the most I’ve ever read in a year.
I learned a lot from the books I spent time with, and learned a lot about myself too. I discovered wonderful communities on Goodreads and plenty of new books I otherwise wouldn't know existed. Thank you to anyone who befriended me in the past year, or took the time to comment or send a recommendation. In the ups and downs of life, this Goodreads community has remained a constant positive.
In a year filled with many great reads, it’s impossible to choose a favourite book. 2022 was a year of change, progress and soul-searching, and my reading sometimes reflected this. These were some of the standouts.
While I mostly stayed in one place, my reading traveled the world. From the likes of Shetland: The Ponies at the Edge of the World: A Story of Hope and Belonging in Shetland by Catherine Munro, to here in Tasmania: Nothing Bad Ever Happens Here by Heather Rose – a remarkable, thought-provoking journey into grief, joy and what it means to be alive, to even Antarctica: 537 Days of Winter: A Tale of Resilience, Endurance and Humanity while Stranded in Antarctica During the Pandemic by David Knoff.
Some books will stay with me forever. It’s remarkable how a book can shift your life perspective and provide a constant source of inspiration. The following provided that in abundance, and I know that I’ll return to them, like an old friend, in years to come:
- The Happiest Man on Earth by Eddie Jaku
- Tuesdays with Morrie by Mitch Albom
- You Are Worth It: Building a Life Worth Fighting For by Kyle Carpenter
Two other books that had an impact on my daily life were The Quiz Masters: Inside the World of Trivia, Obsession and Million Dollar Prizes by Brydon Coverdale. It saw me memorising facts, quizzing family and friends, and seeing if I could win obscure prizes like Brydon did in his impressive quizzing career - a solar panel hat was my best effort! Putting on a Show: Manhood, Mates and Mental Health by Rob Mills delved into what makes up the Australian male, with an emphasis on mental health and generating conversation. This book single-handedly gave me strength to reach out for help when life threw curveballs soon after. Thank you, Rob.
I somehow read more memoirs than any other genre this year. Billy Connolly’s autobiography, Windswept & Interesting: My Autobiography was the funniest. It felt like I was sitting with him over cups of tea and biscuits while he told hilarious (and heartbreaking) stories from his life. Other standout memoirs I enjoyed were No Finish Line by Johnny Ruffo, The Storyteller: Tales of Life and Music by Dave Grohl and Ordinary Heroes: A Memoir of 9/11 by Joseph Pfeifer.
I found myself delving into the war genre to educate myself, and to feel closer to my departed grandfathers. I enjoyed both Captain Tom books: Tomorrow Will Be a Good Day: My Autobiography and Captain Tom's Life Lessons, while The Digger of Kokoda: The Official Biography of Reg Chard by Daniel Lane and True Grit by Bear Grylls demonstrated incredible feats of endurance, survival and resilience when humans are thrown into horrific situations.
And speaking of horror, I was checking under the bed following my Halloween read, The Amityville Horror by Jay Anson – this classic will have me reading more of the genre in future. A Spy in Plain Sight: The Inside Story of America's Most Damaging Russian Spy and the Implications for National Security Today by Lis Wiehl was an eye-opening exploration into another kind of horror – the most damaging spy in US history. I'll never look at a footbridge the same!
I hope to read more underrepresented voices and histories in future – such books are particularly important. On this front, I enjoyed the heartbreaking but expertly written Missing from the Village: The Story of Serial Killer Bruce McArthur, the Search for Justice, and the System That Failed Toronto's Queer Community by Justin Ling and The Ballad of Abdul Wade by Ryan Butta - the latter changed how I view Australian history and gave a much-needed voice to the pioneering Afghan cameleers of outback Australia.
This year also saw me reaching for books that have sat on my shelf for many years. Among these were The Guns of Navarone by Alistair MacLean, Biggles and Co. by W.E. Johns and The Boy in the Striped Pajamas by John Boyne. Now my biggest reading goal for 2023 is to enjoy more fiction!
While reading the words of others, I also wrote more of my own. My short stories and writings were published in over a dozen lit journals and magazines across Australia, the US, Canada and UK. It will always feel amazing to see my words in print. If I've learnt something this year, it's that anything is possible.
A big thank you to everyone for making 2022 a memorable year. Special thanks to Affirm Press, Allen & Unwin, Echo Publishing and Pan Macmillan Australia. Thank you also to the various authors who have reached out or befriended me.
Here’s to 2023 being an amazing year filled with more great reading!
December 30, 2022
every year around new year’s eve i write my future self an email. usually reminiscing about the past year’s hardships and reminding him of goals he probably should have accomplished in the new year. sometimes, when things are particularly hard and i expect them to be harder still by the time the email will arrive 365 days from now, i remind him to be gentle with himself.
i had a hard 2021. in comparison 2022 was, if maybe not easier, then certainly more manageable. last year’s email arrived this morning and past-Jonathan has certainly dabbled in being poetic and i would like to share a snippet – just in case you too need a reminder
”please be kind to yourself. take your time. […] do things that bring you joy and don't do things that make you miserable. don't fall in love too quickly, but fall in love. […] fall in love with your friends, with books, with the warm summer breeze at night. fall in love with nature, with going on walks. fall in love with podcasts, with the sun shining in your face. don't be too sad during winter. laugh more, but also: cry, if you need to. be you.
try not to re-read A Little Life.”
good news to 2021 me: i did not re-read A Little Life in 2022! my depression is cured.
and with that welcome to my 2022 Goodreads Wrapped – yes we are doing it again, everyone be excited!!
✨ i have once again gathered all my reading data and analysed it, proving that my degree wasn’t a complete waste of time. did you know it’s a master’s degree now and not a bachelor’s anymore? that’s right, i am smart and i graduated this year (one of these things is truer than the other). let’s go!
✨ i have read 130 books this year. which is half of what i read last year which means i accomplished what i asked myself to do in my 2021 wrapped – read less.
✨ my main reading goal was to dnf more books. which was more or less successful. i have dnf’ed 36 books. should it have been more? yes. but small steps, small steps.
✨ my average rating was 3.04 stars. which is somehow worse than last years, so i’m still a little hater i guess. good for me.
✨ i have manged to give a 5-star rating 26 times. which means about every fifth read was a 5-star read – i take that. that doesn’t sound too bad
✨ but i also gave a 0-star rating 4 times. but Penelope Douglas had it coming and should be thankful i even FINISHED Corrupt (thinking back, that’s probably one i should have dnf’ed)
✨ my favourite genre is, drumroll please, i promise you’ll be shocked – romance. i have read 27 books that i have classified as romance when i analysed the data. i classified another 8 as trashy romance and 4 as trashy smut - you are free to do with that information what you will.
does me reading a lot of romance actually mean it’s my favourite genre though? my average rating for romance is 3.03 stars (SD = 1.52) so … the jury’s still out on this one
✨ to my absolute … what’s the opposite of delight…. dismay, DISGUST, i have read four books which were *gag* romantic thrillers *gag*. i blame (another *gag*) c*h* for popularizing this genre and vow to stay away from them for the rest of my life – lest i die from all that gagging
✨ only 37 books were queer which i will definitely change next year. we are going for a 100% queer book rate, straight books will be thrown out of this household and buried somewhere
✨ in a wild turn of events: i made some friends. i did 13 buddy reads this year (half of those were probably alka… again) but still. thank you to everyone who read with me or watched a TV show or just exchanged some messages ❤️ i am hoping to do more buddy reads next year, so if anyone reading this feels a calling – just message me. it has to be queer though.
✨ and now for the list of my least favourite books this year (dnf’s weren’t counted) in order from -1 to -5 (least favourite)
-1. Pen Pal by J.T. Geissinger
-2. Just by Looking at Him by Ryan O'Connell
-3. Corrupt by Penelope Douglas
-4. Still Beating by Jennifer Hartmann
-5. Hidden Pictures by Jason Rekulak
✨ and now the better list – my top five favourite books from 5 to 1 (love of my life)
5. The Maddest Obsession by Danielle Lori (don’t mention this to me ever though, it’s definitely a lapse in judgement and i was probably drunk when i read it)
4. The Chaos Agents by F. Fox North
3. Release by Lucy Christopher
2. Angels Before Man by rafael nicolás
1. Silver Under Nightfall by Rin Chupeco
✨ and before we go an honourable mention to the (i think) funniest review i’ve written this year: my 1-star review for Taken by the Russian - no braincells were spared when writing this. not that i had any left at that point.
that’s it from me for this year. i can't wait to dive into my reading challenge for next year. which will obviously be 1 book – no reason to overexert ourselves
my goal for 2022 is to dnf more. that's it.
i had a hard 2021. in comparison 2022 was, if maybe not easier, then certainly more manageable. last year’s email arrived this morning and past-Jonathan has certainly dabbled in being poetic and i would like to share a snippet – just in case you too need a reminder
”please be kind to yourself. take your time. […] do things that bring you joy and don't do things that make you miserable. don't fall in love too quickly, but fall in love. […] fall in love with your friends, with books, with the warm summer breeze at night. fall in love with nature, with going on walks. fall in love with podcasts, with the sun shining in your face. don't be too sad during winter. laugh more, but also: cry, if you need to. be you.
try not to re-read A Little Life.”
good news to 2021 me: i did not re-read A Little Life in 2022! my depression is cured.
and with that welcome to my 2022 Goodreads Wrapped – yes we are doing it again, everyone be excited!!
✨ i have once again gathered all my reading data and analysed it, proving that my degree wasn’t a complete waste of time. did you know it’s a master’s degree now and not a bachelor’s anymore? that’s right, i am smart and i graduated this year (one of these things is truer than the other). let’s go!
✨ i have read 130 books this year. which is half of what i read last year which means i accomplished what i asked myself to do in my 2021 wrapped – read less.
✨ my main reading goal was to dnf more books. which was more or less successful. i have dnf’ed 36 books. should it have been more? yes. but small steps, small steps.
✨ my average rating was 3.04 stars. which is somehow worse than last years, so i’m still a little hater i guess. good for me.
✨ i have manged to give a 5-star rating 26 times. which means about every fifth read was a 5-star read – i take that. that doesn’t sound too bad
✨ but i also gave a 0-star rating 4 times. but Penelope Douglas had it coming and should be thankful i even FINISHED Corrupt (thinking back, that’s probably one i should have dnf’ed)
✨ my favourite genre is, drumroll please, i promise you’ll be shocked – romance. i have read 27 books that i have classified as romance when i analysed the data. i classified another 8 as trashy romance and 4 as trashy smut - you are free to do with that information what you will.
does me reading a lot of romance actually mean it’s my favourite genre though? my average rating for romance is 3.03 stars (SD = 1.52) so … the jury’s still out on this one
✨ to my absolute … what’s the opposite of delight…. dismay, DISGUST, i have read four books which were *gag* romantic thrillers *gag*. i blame (another *gag*) c*h* for popularizing this genre and vow to stay away from them for the rest of my life – lest i die from all that gagging
✨ only 37 books were queer which i will definitely change next year. we are going for a 100% queer book rate, straight books will be thrown out of this household and buried somewhere
✨ in a wild turn of events: i made some friends. i did 13 buddy reads this year (half of those were probably alka… again) but still. thank you to everyone who read with me or watched a TV show or just exchanged some messages ❤️ i am hoping to do more buddy reads next year, so if anyone reading this feels a calling – just message me. it has to be queer though.
✨ and now for the list of my least favourite books this year (dnf’s weren’t counted) in order from -1 to -5 (least favourite)
-1. Pen Pal by J.T. Geissinger
-2. Just by Looking at Him by Ryan O'Connell
-3. Corrupt by Penelope Douglas
-4. Still Beating by Jennifer Hartmann
-5. Hidden Pictures by Jason Rekulak
✨ and now the better list – my top five favourite books from 5 to 1 (love of my life)
5. The Maddest Obsession by Danielle Lori (don’t mention this to me ever though, it’s definitely a lapse in judgement and i was probably drunk when i read it)
4. The Chaos Agents by F. Fox North
3. Release by Lucy Christopher
2. Angels Before Man by rafael nicolás
1. Silver Under Nightfall by Rin Chupeco
✨ and before we go an honourable mention to the (i think) funniest review i’ve written this year: my 1-star review for Taken by the Russian - no braincells were spared when writing this. not that i had any left at that point.
that’s it from me for this year. i can't wait to dive into my reading challenge for next year. which will obviously be 1 book – no reason to overexert ourselves
December 23, 2023
Books and cats, books and coffee, books.
Wrapping up 2022 solely from the angle of reading, it was a year that was book-wise mostly fulfilling, unless or maybe because it was another year of not really sticking to intentions (again not getting to re-read Nabokov or Proust, nor books that have been gathering dust on the shelves for years). Mood; serendipitous reading and numerous visits to the local library (and its unsurpassed reading café, my favourite place in town) took me to explore new and more familiar territory, discovering awesome new-to-me voices (Scholastique Mukasonga, Elizabeth Taylor). Fortunately there was also time to curl up loyally with old favourites (Patrick Modiano) and even to add a new favourite to my personal pantheon (Javier Marías) .
Once more, some books that friends recommended to me turned out highlights of the year.
A selection of novels I particularly enjoyed
Fyodor Dostoevsky, Devils
Edith Wharton, The Age of Innocence
Javier Marías A Heart So White
Elizabeth Taylor, Mrs. Palfrey at the Claremont
Willem Frederik Hermans, Au Pair
Scholastique Mukasonga, Kibogo
Patrick Modiano, Scene of the Crime
Christian Oster, Trois hommes seuls
Emmanuel Bove, My Friends
Elisa Shua Dusapin, Winter in Sokcho
Alberto Moravia, The Voyeur
Thomas Bernhard, Woodcutters
Sofi Oksanen, Purge
Sevgi Soysal, Dawn
Penelope Fitzgerald, The Gate of Angels
Hybrids/Blends/Misc
Edmund de Waal, Letters to Camondo
Dominique Fortier, Paper Houses (on Emily Dickinson)
Julian Barnes, The Man in the Red Coat
Deborah Levy, Real Estate
History, biography, philosophy
Harald Jähner, Aftermath: Life in the Fallout of the Third Reich
Eric Roussel, De Gaulle
Graham Robb, Parisians: An Adventure History of Paris
Sarah Bakewell, At the Existentialist Café: Freedom, Being, and Apricot Cocktails
Marlies de Munck, Waarom Chopin de regen niet wilde horen : en andere vragen uit de filosofie van de muziek
Kate Kirkpatrick, Becoming Beauvoir: A Life (with an excursion to two of her novels, The Inseperables and Misunderstanding in Moscow)
Camille Bourniquel, Chopin
Dominique Arban, Dostoïevski
Henri Raczymow, Le Paris retrouvé de Marcel Proust
John Hersey, Hiroshima
Short stories
I do love reading short stories a lot, and thanks to Leonard’s initiative to start and moderate the (still ongoing) The Short Story Club lot of my reading consisted in short stories from Dana Gioia’s compilation The Art of the Short Story. Reading a short story every week not only offers a delightful variety, but also making me read more American authors than usual and quite a few which I hadn’t read before (Hawthorne, Cather, Stephen Crane). From the thirty-some stories we read so far I noticed that I most enjoyed reading more stories by authors that were already favourites (Katherine Mansfield, Miss Brill, Anton Chekhov Misery, James Joyce, Araby)). Apart from the selection for the club, I also enjoyed short stories from Woolf, Mansfield and Kafka brought to my attention by my daughter and by friends: The Legacy, A Cup of Tea and Unhappiness). Toni Morrison's outstanding Recitatif - including the essay Zadie Smith wrote as a foreword - was another highlight.
I loved the short story collections Black Venus(Angela Carter), A Postcard for Annie (Ida Jessen) and To the Stars and Other Stories (Fyodor Sologub).
Graphic novels
Two graphic novels that charmed me were Olivia Burton’s Un Anglais dans mon arbre and Jiro Tanogushi’s Furari ((Apparently another theme I have been reading around was Japan: Kijken in de ziel van Japan; Over het Japanse klooster Kozan-ji en de beroemde dierentekeningen; The Gate; The Thorn Puller; Het dagboek van mijn vader), the pentalogy Le poids des secrets by Aki Shimazaki)
Poetry
I read very little poetry this year (apart from the poems friends posted on GR): a collection of Rilke, two collections by Louise Glück (Faithful and Virtuous Night, Winter Recipes from the Collective, the anthology Poems of Paris – and collections by Ingmar Heytze, Remco Campert and Menno Wigman.
Essays
I mostly enjoyed reading Hillary Mantel’s Mantel Pieces: Royal Bodies and Other Writing from the London Review of Books The White Album (Joan Didion) and parts of Affinities (Brian Dillon); the collection that so far spoke most to me however is the one I will continue reading as soon as it is available again in the library, Salman Rushdie’s Languages of Truth: Essays 2003-2020.
Art
Visiting Lille, Vienna and Paris and a couple of exhibitions running there this year made me read on Paul Klee, Egon Schiele and the friendship of Georges Braque and Picasso. David Hockney: The Arrival of Spring in Normandy, 2020 was memorable as well.
Paris played a role in quite a few books I picked, on purpose or by chance – or the link with Paris was obvious from the title or the subject (Met Parijse Pen, Willem Elsschot in Parijs, Parisians, Chopin, de Gaulle, the novels and the biography of de Beauvoir, Bove), or I was quite surprised of ending up there once again with a Swedish author, writing a novel mostly set in Göteborg but sending her characters to Paris in their student years (Lydia Sandgren, Collected Works).
Closing the year with Catherine Certitude and the illustrations from Jean-Jaques Sempé, once more I would like to thank all of you who make this such a wonderful place of friendship, support and inspiration by engaging into writing on and discussing books and life. Currently reading The Gates of Europe: A History of Ukraine by Serhii Plokly and thinking of what still is going on now we are leaving 2022 behind, the usual best wishes for the new year feel somewhat out of place, but I wish you all peace with these words from the Ukrainian poet Kateryna Kalytko:
War does not abolish the power of tenderness and love.
Shelved as 'on-goodreads'
December 1, 2022↫↫↫↫↫ 2022 ᴿᴱᴬᴰᴵᴺᴳ ᴳᴼᴬᴸˢ ↬↬↬↬↬
™Read 100 books (151/100)
ஜ۩۞۩ஜⒿⓐⓝⓤⓐⓡⓨ-ஜ۩۞۩ஜ ✨Books=6✨
✨✨Average Rating: 4.83
✨✨Best Book:Lolita
✨✨Worst Book:Days Of Blood And Starlight.
1. And I Darken(★★★★)
2. Eyes That Kiss In The Corner(★★★★★)
3. Lolita(Beyond★★★★★)
4. Days Of Blood And Starlight (★★★)
5. The Missing Piece(★★★★★)
6. Six Crimson Cranes (Beyond★★★★★)
ஜ۩۞۩ஜ𝔽𝕖𝕓𝕣𝕦𝕒𝕣𝕪ஜ۩۞۩ஜ-Books(21)
✨✨Average Rating: 3.9
✨✨Best Book: We Free The Stars/Spin The Dawn
7. Three Dark Crowns(★★★)
8. Ace Of Spades(★★★★)
9. Raybearer(Beyond★★★★★)
10.Children Of Virtue And Vengeance(★)
11. Instructions For Dancing(★★★★★)
12. Dread Nation(★★★★)
13. The City We Became(Beyond★★★★★)
14. Charming As A Verb(★★★★)
15. Skin Of The Sea(★★★★)
16. Witches Steeped In Gold(★)
17. The New Jim Crow(★★★★)
18. Harlem Shuffle(★★★)
19. This Poison Heart(★★)
20. The Great Gatsby(★★★★)
21. The Fifth Season(Beyond★★★★★)
22. We Free The Stars(Beyond★★★★★)
23. Unravel Me(★★★★★)
24. Beach Read(★★★★★)
25. Spin The Dawn(Beyond★★★★★)
26. The Shadows Between Us(★★★)
ஜ۩۞۩ஜѪаяcнஜ۩۞۩ஜ-Books(9)
✨✨Average Rating: 4.5
✨✨Best Book: Daughter Of No Worlds
✨✨Worst Book: Throne Of Glass
27. Star Daughter(★★)
28. Renegades(★★★★★)
29. Six Of Crows(Beyond★★★★★)
30. Throne Of Glass(★★)
31. Hearstopper: Volume 2(★★★★★)
32. Daughter Of No Worlds(Beyond★★★★★)
33. Caraval(★★★★)
34.Legendary(★★★★★)
35. Unravel The Dusk(★★★★★)
ஜ۩۞۩ஜ-αρяιℓ-ஜ۩۞۩ஜ-Books(5)
✨✨Average Rating: 5
✨✨Best Book: The Poppy War
36. The Poppy War(Beyond★★★★★)
37. Redemptor(Beyond★★★★★)
38. The Obelisk Gate(Beyond★★★★★)
39. Crier's War(★★★★★)
ஜ۩۞۩ஜ-𝕸𝖆𝖞ஜ۩۞۩ஜ-Books(14)
✨✨Average Rating: 4.61
✨✨Best Book: The Bear And The Nightingale/ Crooked Kingdom
40. Nevernight(★★★★)
41. Rise(★★★)
42. The Bear and The Nightingale(Beyond★★★★★)
43. Malice(Beyond ★★★★★)
44. A Fall Of Marigolds(★★★★★)
45. Finale(★★★★★)
46. Crown Of Midnight(★★★★)
47. She Drives Me Crazy(Beyond★★★★★)
48. Crooked Kingdom(Beyond★★★★★)
49. Sadie(★★★★★)
50. Daughter Of The Pirate King(★★★★)
51. The Mermaid, The Witch, And The Sea(★★★)
52. People We Meet On Vacation(★★★★★)
53. Uprooted(★★★)
ஜ۩۞۩ஜ-𝓙𝓾𝓷𝓮ஜ۩۞۩ஜ-Books(16)
✨✨Average Rating: 4.375
✨✨Best Book: The Girl In The Tower/The Downstairs Girl
54. Misrule(★★★★)
55. The Wicked King(★★★★★)
56. The Downstairs Girl(Beyond★★★★★)
57. These Violent Delights(★★★★)
58. Ignite Me(Beyond★★★★★)
59. One Last Stop(★★★★★)
60. Fly With The Arrow(★★★★)
61. Girl In Pieces(★★★★★)
62. An Ember In The Ashes(★★★)
63. The Atlas Six(★★★)
64. Kingdom Of The Cursed(★★★★)
65. Simon Vs. The Homo Sapiens Agenda(★★★★★)
66. Girl, Serpent, Thorn(★★★)
67. A Darker Shade Of Magic(★★★★)
68. The Grace Year(★★)
69. The Girl In The Tower(Beyond★★★★★)
ஜ۩۞۩ஜ-ᏠᏬᏝᎩஜ۩۞۩ஜ-Books(22)
✨✨Average Rating: 3.954
✨✨Best Book:
70. Iron Heart(★★★★)
71. Cinderella Is Dead(★★★★★)
72. I Kissed Shara Wheeler(Beyond★★★★★)
73. All The Stars And Teeth(★★★)
74.To Bleed A Crystal Bloom(★★★★)
75. To Kill A Kingdom(★)
76. The Corpse Queen(★★)
77. The Light In Hidden Places(★★★)
78. Gallant(★★★★★)
79. Vow Of Thieves(★★★★★)
80. Once Upon A Broken Heart(★★★★★)
81. Blood Heir(★★★★)
82. The Chosen And The Beautiful(★★)
83. The Stone Sky (Beyond ★★★★★)
84. The Gilded Ones(★★★★)
85. Skyhunter(Beyond ★★★★★)
86. The Winter Duke(★★★)
87. The Savage And The Swan (★★★)
88. She Gets The Girl(★★★★)
89. This Woven Kingdom (★★★★)
90. The City Of Brass (★★★★)
91. The Midnight Bargain (★★★)
-ஜ۩۞۩ஜ-𝓐𝓾𝓰𝓾𝓼𝓽-ஜ۩۞۩ஜ-Books(20)
✨✨Average Rating:
✨✨Best Book: The Jasmine Throne/ Delilah Green Doesn't Care
✨✨Worst Book: The Falling In Love Montage
92. Sorcery Of Thorns (Beyond ★★★★★)
93. Wilder Girls (★★★)
94. The Jasmine Throne (Beyond ★★★★★)
95. She Who Became The Sun (★★★)
96. Book Lovers (Beyond ★★★★★)
97. A Lesson In Vengeance (★★★★★)
98. The Bell Jar (★★★★)
99. The Prison Healer (★★★★)
100. Book Of Night (★★)
101. Daughter Of The Moon Goddess (★★★★)
102. Delilah Green Doesn’t Care (Beyond ★★★★★)
103. Beyond The Ruby Veil (★★★★)
104. The Falling In Love Montage (★★)
105. Belle Revolte (★★)
106. A Magic Steeped In Poison (★★★★)
107. The Spanish Love Deception (Beyond ★★★★★)
108. The Bone Shard Daughter (★★★★)
109. The Ten Thousand Doors Of January (★★★★)
110. We Set The Dark On Fire (★★★★)
111. Colorblind (★★★★)
-ஜ۩۞۩ஜ-𝖘𝖊𝖕𝖙𝖊𝖒𝖇𝖊𝖗-ஜ۩۞۩ஜ-Books(12)
✨✨Average Rating:
✨✨Best Book: The Dragon Republic
✨✨Worst Book: Lightlark
112. This Is How You Lose The Time War (Beyond ★★★★★)
113. Gideon The Ninth(★★★★★)
114. A Memory Called Empire (★★★)
115. Daughters Of Nri (★★★)
116. Blood Scion (Beyond ★★★★★)
117. The Midnight Girls (★★★)
118. Excuse Me While I Ugly Cry (★★★)
119. Cake Eater (Beyond ★★★★★)
120. Winter Of The Witch(Beyond ★★★★★)
121. The Dragon Republic (Beyond ★★★★★)
122. The Unspoken Name (★★★)
123. Lightlark (★★)
-ஜ۩۞۩ஜ-Ø₵₮Ø฿ɆⱤ-ஜ۩۞۩ஜ-Books(12)
✨✨Average Rating:
✨✨Best Book: Foundryside
✨✨Worst Book: Library Of The Unwritten
124. Gearbreakers (★★★★★)
125. Foundryside (Beyond ★★★★★)
126. The Order Of The Pure Moon Reflected In The Water (★★★)
127. Penpal (★★★★★)
128. A Proposal They Can’t Refuse (Beyond ★★★★★)
129. Belladonna (★★★)
130. Home Field Advantage (★★★★)
131. The Library Of The Unwritten (★★)
132. Tender Is The Flesh (★★★★★)
133. The Foxhole Court (Beyond ★★★★★)
134. Wildwood Dancing (★★★)
135. Red Rising (★★★)
𝓷𝓸𝓿𝓮𝓶𝓫𝓮𝓻-ஜ۩۞۩ஜ-Books(?)
✨✨Average Rating:
✨✨Best Book: Wild Beautty
✨✨Worst Book: A Dark And Hollow Star
136. The Unbecoming Of Mara Dyers (★★★★★)
137. Ember Of Night (★★★)
138. Her Royal Highness (★★★★)
139. Little Thieves (★★★★)
140. Legend (★★★★)
141. Elatsoe (★★★)
142. The Blood Trials (★★★★)
143. The Final Strife (★★★★)
144. Ninth House (★★)
145. Gilded Wolves (★★★)
146. Wild Beauy (Beyond ★★★★★)
147. A Dark And Hollow Star (★★)
146. Some Girls Do (★★★★★)
147. Hani and Ishus Guide To Fake Dating (★★★)
-ஜ۩۞۩ஜ-𝖉𝖊𝖈𝖊𝖒𝖇𝖊𝖗-ஜ۩۞۩ஜ-Books(?)
✨✨Average Rating:
✨✨Best Book:
✨✨Worst Book:
148. The Factory (Beyond ★★★★★)
149. Bone Criers Moon (currently reading)
™Read 100 books (151/100)
ஜ۩۞۩ஜⒿⓐⓝⓤⓐⓡⓨ-ஜ۩۞۩ஜ ✨Books=6✨
✨✨Average Rating: 4.83
✨✨Best Book:Lolita
✨✨Worst Book:Days Of Blood And Starlight.
1. And I Darken(★★★★)
2. Eyes That Kiss In The Corner(★★★★★)
3. Lolita(Beyond★★★★★)
4. Days Of Blood And Starlight (★★★)
5. The Missing Piece(★★★★★)
6. Six Crimson Cranes (Beyond★★★★★)
ஜ۩۞۩ஜ𝔽𝕖𝕓𝕣𝕦𝕒𝕣𝕪ஜ۩۞۩ஜ-Books(21)
✨✨Average Rating: 3.9
✨✨Best Book: We Free The Stars/Spin The Dawn
7. Three Dark Crowns(★★★)
8. Ace Of Spades(★★★★)
9. Raybearer(Beyond★★★★★)
10.Children Of Virtue And Vengeance(★)
11. Instructions For Dancing(★★★★★)
12. Dread Nation(★★★★)
13. The City We Became(Beyond★★★★★)
14. Charming As A Verb(★★★★)
15. Skin Of The Sea(★★★★)
16. Witches Steeped In Gold(★)
17. The New Jim Crow(★★★★)
18. Harlem Shuffle(★★★)
19. This Poison Heart(★★)
20. The Great Gatsby(★★★★)
21. The Fifth Season(Beyond★★★★★)
22. We Free The Stars(Beyond★★★★★)
23. Unravel Me(★★★★★)
24. Beach Read(★★★★★)
25. Spin The Dawn(Beyond★★★★★)
26. The Shadows Between Us(★★★)
ஜ۩۞۩ஜѪаяcнஜ۩۞۩ஜ-Books(9)
✨✨Average Rating: 4.5
✨✨Best Book: Daughter Of No Worlds
✨✨Worst Book: Throne Of Glass
27. Star Daughter(★★)
28. Renegades(★★★★★)
29. Six Of Crows(Beyond★★★★★)
30. Throne Of Glass(★★)
31. Hearstopper: Volume 2(★★★★★)
32. Daughter Of No Worlds(Beyond★★★★★)
33. Caraval(★★★★)
34.Legendary(★★★★★)
35. Unravel The Dusk(★★★★★)
ஜ۩۞۩ஜ-αρяιℓ-ஜ۩۞۩ஜ-Books(5)
✨✨Average Rating: 5
✨✨Best Book: The Poppy War
36. The Poppy War(Beyond★★★★★)
37. Redemptor(Beyond★★★★★)
38. The Obelisk Gate(Beyond★★★★★)
39. Crier's War(★★★★★)
ஜ۩۞۩ஜ-𝕸𝖆𝖞ஜ۩۞۩ஜ-Books(14)
✨✨Average Rating: 4.61
✨✨Best Book: The Bear And The Nightingale/ Crooked Kingdom
40. Nevernight(★★★★)
41. Rise(★★★)
42. The Bear and The Nightingale(Beyond★★★★★)
43. Malice(Beyond ★★★★★)
44. A Fall Of Marigolds(★★★★★)
45. Finale(★★★★★)
46. Crown Of Midnight(★★★★)
47. She Drives Me Crazy(Beyond★★★★★)
48. Crooked Kingdom(Beyond★★★★★)
49. Sadie(★★★★★)
50. Daughter Of The Pirate King(★★★★)
51. The Mermaid, The Witch, And The Sea(★★★)
52. People We Meet On Vacation(★★★★★)
53. Uprooted(★★★)
ஜ۩۞۩ஜ-𝓙𝓾𝓷𝓮ஜ۩۞۩ஜ-Books(16)
✨✨Average Rating: 4.375
✨✨Best Book: The Girl In The Tower/The Downstairs Girl
54. Misrule(★★★★)
55. The Wicked King(★★★★★)
56. The Downstairs Girl(Beyond★★★★★)
57. These Violent Delights(★★★★)
58. Ignite Me(Beyond★★★★★)
59. One Last Stop(★★★★★)
60. Fly With The Arrow(★★★★)
61. Girl In Pieces(★★★★★)
62. An Ember In The Ashes(★★★)
63. The Atlas Six(★★★)
64. Kingdom Of The Cursed(★★★★)
65. Simon Vs. The Homo Sapiens Agenda(★★★★★)
66. Girl, Serpent, Thorn(★★★)
67. A Darker Shade Of Magic(★★★★)
68. The Grace Year(★★)
69. The Girl In The Tower(Beyond★★★★★)
ஜ۩۞۩ஜ-ᏠᏬᏝᎩஜ۩۞۩ஜ-Books(22)
✨✨Average Rating: 3.954
✨✨Best Book:
70. Iron Heart(★★★★)
71. Cinderella Is Dead(★★★★★)
72. I Kissed Shara Wheeler(Beyond★★★★★)
73. All The Stars And Teeth(★★★)
74.To Bleed A Crystal Bloom(★★★★)
75. To Kill A Kingdom(★)
76. The Corpse Queen(★★)
77. The Light In Hidden Places(★★★)
78. Gallant(★★★★★)
79. Vow Of Thieves(★★★★★)
80. Once Upon A Broken Heart(★★★★★)
81. Blood Heir(★★★★)
82. The Chosen And The Beautiful(★★)
83. The Stone Sky (Beyond ★★★★★)
84. The Gilded Ones(★★★★)
85. Skyhunter(Beyond ★★★★★)
86. The Winter Duke(★★★)
87. The Savage And The Swan (★★★)
88. She Gets The Girl(★★★★)
89. This Woven Kingdom (★★★★)
90. The City Of Brass (★★★★)
91. The Midnight Bargain (★★★)
-ஜ۩۞۩ஜ-𝓐𝓾𝓰𝓾𝓼𝓽-ஜ۩۞۩ஜ-Books(20)
✨✨Average Rating:
✨✨Best Book: The Jasmine Throne/ Delilah Green Doesn't Care
✨✨Worst Book: The Falling In Love Montage
92. Sorcery Of Thorns (Beyond ★★★★★)
93. Wilder Girls (★★★)
94. The Jasmine Throne (Beyond ★★★★★)
95. She Who Became The Sun (★★★)
96. Book Lovers (Beyond ★★★★★)
97. A Lesson In Vengeance (★★★★★)
98. The Bell Jar (★★★★)
99. The Prison Healer (★★★★)
100. Book Of Night (★★)
101. Daughter Of The Moon Goddess (★★★★)
102. Delilah Green Doesn’t Care (Beyond ★★★★★)
103. Beyond The Ruby Veil (★★★★)
104. The Falling In Love Montage (★★)
105. Belle Revolte (★★)
106. A Magic Steeped In Poison (★★★★)
107. The Spanish Love Deception (Beyond ★★★★★)
108. The Bone Shard Daughter (★★★★)
109. The Ten Thousand Doors Of January (★★★★)
110. We Set The Dark On Fire (★★★★)
111. Colorblind (★★★★)
-ஜ۩۞۩ஜ-𝖘𝖊𝖕𝖙𝖊𝖒𝖇𝖊𝖗-ஜ۩۞۩ஜ-Books(12)
✨✨Average Rating:
✨✨Best Book: The Dragon Republic
✨✨Worst Book: Lightlark
112. This Is How You Lose The Time War (Beyond ★★★★★)
113. Gideon The Ninth(★★★★★)
114. A Memory Called Empire (★★★)
115. Daughters Of Nri (★★★)
116. Blood Scion (Beyond ★★★★★)
117. The Midnight Girls (★★★)
118. Excuse Me While I Ugly Cry (★★★)
119. Cake Eater (Beyond ★★★★★)
120. Winter Of The Witch(Beyond ★★★★★)
121. The Dragon Republic (Beyond ★★★★★)
122. The Unspoken Name (★★★)
123. Lightlark (★★)
-ஜ۩۞۩ஜ-Ø₵₮Ø฿ɆⱤ-ஜ۩۞۩ஜ-Books(12)
✨✨Average Rating:
✨✨Best Book: Foundryside
✨✨Worst Book: Library Of The Unwritten
124. Gearbreakers (★★★★★)
125. Foundryside (Beyond ★★★★★)
126. The Order Of The Pure Moon Reflected In The Water (★★★)
127. Penpal (★★★★★)
128. A Proposal They Can’t Refuse (Beyond ★★★★★)
129. Belladonna (★★★)
130. Home Field Advantage (★★★★)
131. The Library Of The Unwritten (★★)
132. Tender Is The Flesh (★★★★★)
133. The Foxhole Court (Beyond ★★★★★)
134. Wildwood Dancing (★★★)
135. Red Rising (★★★)
𝓷𝓸𝓿𝓮𝓶𝓫𝓮𝓻-ஜ۩۞۩ஜ-Books(?)
✨✨Average Rating:
✨✨Best Book: Wild Beautty
✨✨Worst Book: A Dark And Hollow Star
136. The Unbecoming Of Mara Dyers (★★★★★)
137. Ember Of Night (★★★)
138. Her Royal Highness (★★★★)
139. Little Thieves (★★★★)
140. Legend (★★★★)
141. Elatsoe (★★★)
142. The Blood Trials (★★★★)
143. The Final Strife (★★★★)
144. Ninth House (★★)
145. Gilded Wolves (★★★)
146. Wild Beauy (Beyond ★★★★★)
147. A Dark And Hollow Star (★★)
146. Some Girls Do (★★★★★)
147. Hani and Ishus Guide To Fake Dating (★★★)
-ஜ۩۞۩ஜ-𝖉𝖊𝖈𝖊𝖒𝖇𝖊𝖗-ஜ۩۞۩ஜ-Books(?)
✨✨Average Rating:
✨✨Best Book:
✨✨Worst Book:
148. The Factory (Beyond ★★★★★)
149. Bone Criers Moon (currently reading)
Shelved as 'goodreads-year-in-review'
May 18, 20232022 has been a crappy year on a greater scale. The country I come from got mercilessly invaded by a cynical maniac who somehow commands the loyalty of his “subjects”. My parents have their electricity and heat periodically shut off in winter — and according to Putin, my mother and grandmother - who can fluently speak both Ukrainian and Russian — are Nazis to be exterminated. Let’s hope 2023 will restore justice, but until then it’s 2022 coming to the end. 2022, you sucked.
But at least bookwise 2022 was a pretty decent year. At least there’s that.
This was yet another year that proved that my entire being is antithetical to reading lists and plans. Although I managed to somehow - with what feels like minutes to spare - finish my 2022 Hugo Awards project (see at the bottom of this year review), my reading plans otherwise were bowled over by spontaneous reads and on-the-spot buddy reads, which are honestly so much more fun than pre-planned reads anyway. (Hey, Dennis! 👋)
(Yeah, from now on I admit that my reading approach is basically “OOOOOH, SHINY!!!!)
Also, I got my book blog going. I’ve been looking for a way to back up my GR reviews for a while, given random periodic review disappearances/deletions that can happen on GR, so I’m glad I’m doing something about that (although it needs to be organized — someday).
Buddy reads were the absolute highlight of this reading year. Everything is just so much more fun when it’s a buddy read, and crappy books feel less awful when there’s someone to commiserate over them with. Dennis (“Buddy read? Buddy read? Buddy read?” <— me, like an obsessive mantra), Carol, Justin, Stephen, Phil, Nastya (Lymond!!!) , Kevin, Britton, Alex and all the rest of you — you are awesome and you know it.
Chaos Oasis group — I love you, guys. You are lovely and wonderful, and it’s always great to be among friends.
NetGalley has been my friend and source of a few panicked late night reads right before book publishing date. And - Ta Da! - my best finds this year have been 3 Adrian Tchaikovsky books - (Ogres, Eyes of the Void, City of Last Chances) - and absolutely gorgeous NASA Missions to Mars: A Visual History of Our Quest to Explore the Red Planet. Apparently when it comes to NetGalley, except Tchaikovsky, I’m almost exclusively attracted to science and history books. Go nerds!
Best book read through online translation software was the absolutely awesome Hologrammatica which was supposed to be read as a joke (almost) and yet somehow ended up one of the best books of the year, and taught me all about the Komitee der Selbste.
Monsterporn gets a special mention here, because, well, why wouldn’t it? Friends don’t let friends read monsterporn alone, and so we bravely ventured where few ventured before: Egon Tusk in space and ”Are You Yeti For Love? (spoiler alert — no, one is never truly yeti for that kind of love).
Comic books and I got friendlier this year, after the roaring success that Saga was last year. A couple of wonderful adaptations of wonderful books made me ridiculously happy (Slaughterhouse-Five, or the Children's Crusade and To Kill a Mockingbird: A Graphic Novel). And the originals that made me certain that comics are in no way ever inferior to the books with fewer pictures: The Adoption by Zidrou and Velvet, Vol. 1: Before the Living End by Brubaker.
Best nonfiction (Apparently I’ve read roughly a gagillion of these, which is great):
- Space - Why Am I Taller? What Happens to an Astronaut's Body in Space
- Science - What If? 2: Additional Serious Scientific Answers to Absurd Hypothetical Questions
- Nature - A Life on Our Planet: My Witness Statement and a Vision for the Future
- Animals - The Social Lives of Animals
- History - The Rise and Fall of the Dinosaurs: A New History of a Lost World and The Nineties
- Biography: Steve Jobs was the best one, closely followed by The Death of Ayrton Senna.
Biggest turnaround of the year: This goes to Dorothy Dunnett’s Lymond Chronicles. I was so irked with the beginning of The Game of Kings that I only avoided DNF due to not wanting to disappoint Nastya — and suddenly somehow I became a fan, and book 4 of the series should come with a heartbreak warning, and Lymond is awesome, and shut up, Nataliya of the first 100 pages of book 1.
I’ve done quite a few rereads this year, too. My favorites were Vonnegut’s Slaughterhouse-Five, King’s It, Joyland, The Green Mile and 11/22/63, Tchaikovsky’s darkly funny Walking to Aldebaran, Remarque’s heartbreaking All Quiet on the Western Front
Why, oh why the hype? There we’re a few books I’ve approached with heaps of excitement, and in the end it ended up beinga bag of turds a bit underwhelming. The less said about them, the better (and if you want to read more, well, I wrote a few pissed off reviews of these):
- Babel, Or the Necessity of Violence: An Arcane History of the Oxford Translators’ Revolution
- Titus Groan
- Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell
- The Three-Body Problem
- Fairy Tale
- The Galaxy, and the Ground Within
Anyway, goodbye, 2022. Welcome, 2023. You’d better be better.
———————
———————
HUGO AWARDS PROJECT (Sorry, Nebulas, I just did not keep up with you, so you got the boot):
✅ = “Category winner”
❤️ = “My favorite(s) in the category”
Hugo Awards Nominees:
Best Novel:
✅ ❤️ A Desolation Called Peace, by Arkady Martine — 5 stars, review
✔️ The Galaxy, and the Ground Within, by Becky Chambers — 2 stars, review
✔️ Light From Uncommon Stars, by Ryka Aoki — 2.5 stars, review
✔️ A Master of Djinn, by P. Djèlí Clark — 3.5 stars, review
✔️❤️ Project Hail Mary, by Andy Weir — 5 stars, review
✔️ She Who Became the Sun, by Shelley Parker-Chan — 3 stars, review
Best Novella:
✔️ Across the Green Grass Fields, by Seanan McGuire — 2.5 stars, review
✔️❤️ Elder Race, by Adrian Tchaikovsky — 4 stars, review
✔️ Fireheart Tiger, by Aliette de Bodard — 1.5 stars, review
✔️❤️ The Past Is Red, by Catherynne M. Valente — 4.5 stars, review
✅ A Psalm for the Wild-Built, by Becky Chambers — 3.5 stars, review
✔️ A Spindle Splintered, by Alix E. Harrow — 3.5 stars, review
Best Novelette:
✅ ❤️ “Bots of the Lost Ark”, by Suzanne Palmer — 5 stars, review
✔️ “Colors of the Immortal Palette”, by Caroline M. Yoachim — 3.5 stars, review
✔️ L’Esprit de L’Escalier, by Catherynne M. Valente — 4 stars, review
✔️ “O2 Arena”, by Oghenechovwe Donald Ekpeki — 1.5 stars, review
✔️ “That Story Isn’t the Story”, by John Wiswell — 3.5 stars, review
✔️ “Unseelie Brothers, Ltd.”, by Fran Wilde — 3 stars, review
Best Short Story: (Only listing those I read so it looks better🤷♀️)
✅ “Where Oaken Hearts Do Gather”, by Sarah Pinsker (Uncanny Magazine, Mar/Apr 2021) — 4.5 stars, review
✔️“Mr. Death”, by Alix E. Harrow (Apex Magazine, Feb 2021) — 4 stars, review
But at least bookwise 2022 was a pretty decent year. At least there’s that.
This was yet another year that proved that my entire being is antithetical to reading lists and plans. Although I managed to somehow - with what feels like minutes to spare - finish my 2022 Hugo Awards project (see at the bottom of this year review), my reading plans otherwise were bowled over by spontaneous reads and on-the-spot buddy reads, which are honestly so much more fun than pre-planned reads anyway. (Hey, Dennis! 👋)
(Yeah, from now on I admit that my reading approach is basically “OOOOOH, SHINY!!!!)
Also, I got my book blog going. I’ve been looking for a way to back up my GR reviews for a while, given random periodic review disappearances/deletions that can happen on GR, so I’m glad I’m doing something about that (although it needs to be organized — someday).
Buddy reads were the absolute highlight of this reading year. Everything is just so much more fun when it’s a buddy read, and crappy books feel less awful when there’s someone to commiserate over them with. Dennis (“Buddy read? Buddy read? Buddy read?” <— me, like an obsessive mantra), Carol, Justin, Stephen, Phil, Nastya (Lymond!!!) , Kevin, Britton, Alex and all the rest of you — you are awesome and you know it.
Chaos Oasis group — I love you, guys. You are lovely and wonderful, and it’s always great to be among friends.
NetGalley has been my friend and source of a few panicked late night reads right before book publishing date. And - Ta Da! - my best finds this year have been 3 Adrian Tchaikovsky books - (Ogres, Eyes of the Void, City of Last Chances) - and absolutely gorgeous NASA Missions to Mars: A Visual History of Our Quest to Explore the Red Planet. Apparently when it comes to NetGalley, except Tchaikovsky, I’m almost exclusively attracted to science and history books. Go nerds!
Best book read through online translation software was the absolutely awesome Hologrammatica which was supposed to be read as a joke (almost) and yet somehow ended up one of the best books of the year, and taught me all about the Komitee der Selbste.
Monsterporn gets a special mention here, because, well, why wouldn’t it? Friends don’t let friends read monsterporn alone, and so we bravely ventured where few ventured before: Egon Tusk in space and ”Are You Yeti For Love? (spoiler alert — no, one is never truly yeti for that kind of love).
Comic books and I got friendlier this year, after the roaring success that Saga was last year. A couple of wonderful adaptations of wonderful books made me ridiculously happy (Slaughterhouse-Five, or the Children's Crusade and To Kill a Mockingbird: A Graphic Novel). And the originals that made me certain that comics are in no way ever inferior to the books with fewer pictures: The Adoption by Zidrou and Velvet, Vol. 1: Before the Living End by Brubaker.
Best nonfiction (Apparently I’ve read roughly a gagillion of these, which is great):
- Space - Why Am I Taller? What Happens to an Astronaut's Body in Space
- Science - What If? 2: Additional Serious Scientific Answers to Absurd Hypothetical Questions
- Nature - A Life on Our Planet: My Witness Statement and a Vision for the Future
- Animals - The Social Lives of Animals
- History - The Rise and Fall of the Dinosaurs: A New History of a Lost World and The Nineties
- Biography: Steve Jobs was the best one, closely followed by The Death of Ayrton Senna.
Biggest turnaround of the year: This goes to Dorothy Dunnett’s Lymond Chronicles. I was so irked with the beginning of The Game of Kings that I only avoided DNF due to not wanting to disappoint Nastya — and suddenly somehow I became a fan, and book 4 of the series should come with a heartbreak warning, and Lymond is awesome, and shut up, Nataliya of the first 100 pages of book 1.
I’ve done quite a few rereads this year, too. My favorites were Vonnegut’s Slaughterhouse-Five, King’s It, Joyland, The Green Mile and 11/22/63, Tchaikovsky’s darkly funny Walking to Aldebaran, Remarque’s heartbreaking All Quiet on the Western Front
Why, oh why the hype? There we’re a few books I’ve approached with heaps of excitement, and in the end it ended up being
- Babel, Or the Necessity of Violence: An Arcane History of the Oxford Translators’ Revolution
- Titus Groan
- Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell
- The Three-Body Problem
- Fairy Tale
- The Galaxy, and the Ground Within
Anyway, goodbye, 2022. Welcome, 2023. You’d better be better.
———————
———————
HUGO AWARDS PROJECT (Sorry, Nebulas, I just did not keep up with you, so you got the boot):
✅ = “Category winner”
❤️ = “My favorite(s) in the category”
Hugo Awards Nominees:
Best Novel:
✅ ❤️ A Desolation Called Peace, by Arkady Martine — 5 stars, review
✔️ The Galaxy, and the Ground Within, by Becky Chambers — 2 stars, review
✔️ Light From Uncommon Stars, by Ryka Aoki — 2.5 stars, review
✔️ A Master of Djinn, by P. Djèlí Clark — 3.5 stars, review
✔️❤️ Project Hail Mary, by Andy Weir — 5 stars, review
✔️ She Who Became the Sun, by Shelley Parker-Chan — 3 stars, review
Best Novella:
✔️ Across the Green Grass Fields, by Seanan McGuire — 2.5 stars, review
✔️❤️ Elder Race, by Adrian Tchaikovsky — 4 stars, review
✔️ Fireheart Tiger, by Aliette de Bodard — 1.5 stars, review
✔️❤️ The Past Is Red, by Catherynne M. Valente — 4.5 stars, review
✅ A Psalm for the Wild-Built, by Becky Chambers — 3.5 stars, review
✔️ A Spindle Splintered, by Alix E. Harrow — 3.5 stars, review
Best Novelette:
✅ ❤️ “Bots of the Lost Ark”, by Suzanne Palmer — 5 stars, review
✔️ “Colors of the Immortal Palette”, by Caroline M. Yoachim — 3.5 stars, review
✔️ L’Esprit de L’Escalier, by Catherynne M. Valente — 4 stars, review
✔️ “O2 Arena”, by Oghenechovwe Donald Ekpeki — 1.5 stars, review
✔️ “That Story Isn’t the Story”, by John Wiswell — 3.5 stars, review
✔️ “Unseelie Brothers, Ltd.”, by Fran Wilde — 3 stars, review
Best Short Story: (Only listing those I read so it looks better🤷♀️)
✅ “Where Oaken Hearts Do Gather”, by Sarah Pinsker (Uncanny Magazine, Mar/Apr 2021) — 4.5 stars, review
✔️“Mr. Death”, by Alix E. Harrow (Apex Magazine, Feb 2021) — 4 stars, review
Want to read
January 1, 2023As we press through the twilight hours of 2022 towards a new year, reborn in our calendar of hearts and reading goals, I’d be remiss to not reminisce of the days that reside now in the golden necropolis of memory. First and foremost I’d like to extend a thank you to all my friends for the reviews we’ve shared and discussed and bonded through because Goodreads is above all things a community of book lovers and I am proud to share this niche corner of the internet with you all and look forward each day to our interactions. I’m always so grateful for all the support and words are too fragile a medium to capture how much it means to me to be able to interact with all of you across the globe. It was a great year of reading for me, personally, and one in which I think the most fun I had was shitposting about Lord Byron on a warm summer’s night deep in inebriation. But this was also a year I discovered my new favorite author, met a lot of really wonderful people, built a more structured reading list and just simply enjoyed discussing books. So, if you’ll permit my usual loquacity, I’d like to lay out some highlights.
I began the year declaring that 2022 was the year I read Elena Ferrante. I did a quick one-two punch of The Lost Daughter (I still need to see the film) and Troubling Love, enjoying bot immensely. I hit a snag when, about to embark on a winter’s vacation to Minneapolis, my plan to start her tetralogy was foiled by a customer at the bookstore I work in purchasing the first book before me. No bother, I thought, and decided to revisit a book I had always considered a favorite but had never reviewed since it came from pre-goodreads days. Nothing could have been more serendipitous because that book, The Passion by Jeanette Winterson not only reaffirmed itself as a favorite book but launched me into a year-long obsession with Winterson where I now cite them as my favorite author. It couldn’t have come at a better time as my favorite band, Florence and the Machine, also released a new album and the pairing of Winterson’s work and Florence’s music is honest…chefs kiss. It sustained me through the year, threading Winterson with each few books I’d read and I am still just as excited as I was back in the previous winter to read more. This year I completed:
The Passion (favorite novel EVER)
Sexing the Cherry (read entirely on a train ride to and from Chicago to visit the Ukrainian Museum)
Oranges are Not the Only Fruit (pairs well with Florence’s Delliah)
Why Be Happy When You Could Be Normal (pairing Oranges with the memoir is a highly recommended reading adventure)
Written On the Body (also read in Chicago)
Frankissstein
Lighthousekeeping (pairs well with Florence’s Wish That You Were Here)
The Daylight Gate (Florence’s Which Witch for sure)
Weight
The Lion, The Unicorn, and Me
And the literary advent calendar of Christmas Days
Needless to say this has been literary bliss and I love Winterson. I look forward to reading the rest in 2023, here’s a sneak peak:
But I did read other books, I swear. This spring I had a project I called Sobbing With Steinbeck where I reread all the Steinbeck novellas and found that Tortilla Flat still slaps. I also finally succumbed to joining a book club which has been a lot of fun and a lot of drinking. The big surprise hit of the year from that was Carmilla, though I was also pleased to find Kurt Vonnegut Jr. still hit when we read Mother Night. Hell, we even read Second Sex Simone de Beauvoir and I forced everyone to read (and then watch the film) Persepolis.
There were some random reads that I greatly enjoyed, one of the biggest hits being Boulder by Eva Baltasar, Pachinko Parlour by Elisa Shua Dusapin, and I was thrilled to read another Mieko Kawakami with the English translation release of All the Lovers in the Night. Also a huge shoutout to my good friend and coworker Hope who joined me on a lot of reads this year and put up with relentless book discussions.
I did try to be a bit more structured with my reading this year and paired a lot of books together (often for the sake of the reviews). I really enjoyed my queer horror kick this summer, going from Carmilla into Our Wives Under the Sea—a chilly novel I quite enjoyed oddly read during a warm, sunny vacation in Denver—and then followed up with Winterson’s Frankissstein. For that I read Shelley’s Frankenstein along with it to get a better understanding, and enjoyed being creeped out the night I finished it when a deep fog hit when I was walking my dog post-midnight through a field in an unfamiliar area near the place I was staying while my house was being worked on (I also enjoyed doing a lot of reading in unfamiliar places and a different coffee shop or bar due to the displacement). I also paired Winterson’s witch novella with In Defense of Witches, even if only for some pull quotes to better review the former, though finding the latter was a perfect read following up Beauvoir.
One of my favorite reading kicks this year was October when I went full tilt into spooky season. I got deep into some Poe and the Poe-retelling What Moves the Dead, but also read a lot of Stephen Graham Jones, reading The Vampyre to keep the anti-Byron flame alive, and didn’t fall victim to the imagination until right before Halloween when knocking from the stairwell next to the bookstore made me flee quickly only to have to return and open the completely dark coatroom to find my keys while I heard pounding from just behind he door. Thanks, literature, I almost shit myself. I also got down on' a big string of myth retellings after my community did a community read of Circe, my favorite of them all being Ali Smith’s Girl Meets Boy which I read in blissful 80 degree weather under a palm tree during December while drinking rum at Disney. Would recommend.
I did get to play my girl Persephone staffing the library Murder Mystery Party based on Circe, so that was cool, shoutout library programs.
This photo is also a confession I write and underling ALL OVER my books
Speaking of libraries, however, I am glad to be continuing working in the library as well as the local indie bookstore. It allows me to have a lot of interaction with books and readers, but I also get to make fun projects like this Ghost Hunters Bookstore edition video. Though it isn’t always laughs as this past year has seen a lot of attacks on books so I do devote a lot of time to following these issues and trying to find ways to push back, which I wrote about extensively here. So, as always, if you love books I encourage you to support your local library!
As always, I read a lot of poetry this year with my favorites being Noor Hindi, the new Franny Choi, the new US Poet Laureate Ada Limon’s The Hurting Kind and Xie’s The Rupture Tense. I must also recommend the anthology Words for War, a collection of Ukrainian poetry about the Crimean war, which hit quite heavy this year.
I also got down on A LOT of graphic novels, with some notable’s being It’s Lonely at the Center of the Universe, Thieves, Ballad for Sophie, Over My Dead Body and The Sad Ghost Club. I also can’t believe it was just this year we all got treated to the netflix adaptation of Heartstopper!
Wow, what a great year, honestly. Thank you all for the support and conversation. I’ve missed a lot of books I’ve read but it has been lovely looking back over my reading list and seeing all I have enjoyed. A huge part of this year was Annie Ernaux winning the Nobel Prize, which has sent me down a trail of her books, such as my favorite so far being Possession or Shame and I can’t wait to read more in the coming year. I look forward to seeing everyone’s Year-in-review, I’m a sucker for that kind of thing at the New Years mark, and I wish you all a happy holidays and I am certainly going to be doing some pagan shit to bring in the new year. Love you all, thanks for existing and making this a wonderful place.
I began the year declaring that 2022 was the year I read Elena Ferrante. I did a quick one-two punch of The Lost Daughter (I still need to see the film) and Troubling Love, enjoying bot immensely. I hit a snag when, about to embark on a winter’s vacation to Minneapolis, my plan to start her tetralogy was foiled by a customer at the bookstore I work in purchasing the first book before me. No bother, I thought, and decided to revisit a book I had always considered a favorite but had never reviewed since it came from pre-goodreads days. Nothing could have been more serendipitous because that book, The Passion by Jeanette Winterson not only reaffirmed itself as a favorite book but launched me into a year-long obsession with Winterson where I now cite them as my favorite author. It couldn’t have come at a better time as my favorite band, Florence and the Machine, also released a new album and the pairing of Winterson’s work and Florence’s music is honest…chefs kiss. It sustained me through the year, threading Winterson with each few books I’d read and I am still just as excited as I was back in the previous winter to read more. This year I completed:
The Passion (favorite novel EVER)
Sexing the Cherry (read entirely on a train ride to and from Chicago to visit the Ukrainian Museum)
Oranges are Not the Only Fruit (pairs well with Florence’s Delliah)
Why Be Happy When You Could Be Normal (pairing Oranges with the memoir is a highly recommended reading adventure)
Written On the Body (also read in Chicago)
Frankissstein
Lighthousekeeping (pairs well with Florence’s Wish That You Were Here)
The Daylight Gate (Florence’s Which Witch for sure)
Weight
The Lion, The Unicorn, and Me
And the literary advent calendar of Christmas Days
Needless to say this has been literary bliss and I love Winterson. I look forward to reading the rest in 2023, here’s a sneak peak:
But I did read other books, I swear. This spring I had a project I called Sobbing With Steinbeck where I reread all the Steinbeck novellas and found that Tortilla Flat still slaps. I also finally succumbed to joining a book club which has been a lot of fun and a lot of drinking. The big surprise hit of the year from that was Carmilla, though I was also pleased to find Kurt Vonnegut Jr. still hit when we read Mother Night. Hell, we even read Second Sex Simone de Beauvoir and I forced everyone to read (and then watch the film) Persepolis.
There were some random reads that I greatly enjoyed, one of the biggest hits being Boulder by Eva Baltasar, Pachinko Parlour by Elisa Shua Dusapin, and I was thrilled to read another Mieko Kawakami with the English translation release of All the Lovers in the Night. Also a huge shoutout to my good friend and coworker Hope who joined me on a lot of reads this year and put up with relentless book discussions.
I did try to be a bit more structured with my reading this year and paired a lot of books together (often for the sake of the reviews). I really enjoyed my queer horror kick this summer, going from Carmilla into Our Wives Under the Sea—a chilly novel I quite enjoyed oddly read during a warm, sunny vacation in Denver—and then followed up with Winterson’s Frankissstein. For that I read Shelley’s Frankenstein along with it to get a better understanding, and enjoyed being creeped out the night I finished it when a deep fog hit when I was walking my dog post-midnight through a field in an unfamiliar area near the place I was staying while my house was being worked on (I also enjoyed doing a lot of reading in unfamiliar places and a different coffee shop or bar due to the displacement). I also paired Winterson’s witch novella with In Defense of Witches, even if only for some pull quotes to better review the former, though finding the latter was a perfect read following up Beauvoir.
One of my favorite reading kicks this year was October when I went full tilt into spooky season. I got deep into some Poe and the Poe-retelling What Moves the Dead, but also read a lot of Stephen Graham Jones, reading The Vampyre to keep the anti-Byron flame alive, and didn’t fall victim to the imagination until right before Halloween when knocking from the stairwell next to the bookstore made me flee quickly only to have to return and open the completely dark coatroom to find my keys while I heard pounding from just behind he door. Thanks, literature, I almost shit myself. I also got down on' a big string of myth retellings after my community did a community read of Circe, my favorite of them all being Ali Smith’s Girl Meets Boy which I read in blissful 80 degree weather under a palm tree during December while drinking rum at Disney. Would recommend.
I did get to play my girl Persephone staffing the library Murder Mystery Party based on Circe, so that was cool, shoutout library programs.
This photo is also a confession I write and underling ALL OVER my books
Speaking of libraries, however, I am glad to be continuing working in the library as well as the local indie bookstore. It allows me to have a lot of interaction with books and readers, but I also get to make fun projects like this Ghost Hunters Bookstore edition video. Though it isn’t always laughs as this past year has seen a lot of attacks on books so I do devote a lot of time to following these issues and trying to find ways to push back, which I wrote about extensively here. So, as always, if you love books I encourage you to support your local library!
As always, I read a lot of poetry this year with my favorites being Noor Hindi, the new Franny Choi, the new US Poet Laureate Ada Limon’s The Hurting Kind and Xie’s The Rupture Tense. I must also recommend the anthology Words for War, a collection of Ukrainian poetry about the Crimean war, which hit quite heavy this year.
I also got down on A LOT of graphic novels, with some notable’s being It’s Lonely at the Center of the Universe, Thieves, Ballad for Sophie, Over My Dead Body and The Sad Ghost Club. I also can’t believe it was just this year we all got treated to the netflix adaptation of Heartstopper!
Wow, what a great year, honestly. Thank you all for the support and conversation. I’ve missed a lot of books I’ve read but it has been lovely looking back over my reading list and seeing all I have enjoyed. A huge part of this year was Annie Ernaux winning the Nobel Prize, which has sent me down a trail of her books, such as my favorite so far being Possession or Shame and I can’t wait to read more in the coming year. I look forward to seeing everyone’s Year-in-review, I’m a sucker for that kind of thing at the New Years mark, and I wish you all a happy holidays and I am certainly going to be doing some pagan shit to bring in the new year. Love you all, thanks for existing and making this a wonderful place.
Read
January 2, 2023Review of the reading year 2022
For 2022 I read about 1278 books in total which is a extreme amount of books however less than I read in 2020 and 2021. Been trying to cut down my reading obsession and get a more healthy relationship to reading and books in general but not quite there yet but hopefully get closer to my goal for 2023!
I total I had 181 favorites of the year. Won't be posting every single book but will put a more condensed list on favorites with no real order. Won't to an absolute favorites of this year but I have tried to lift forward my favorites of my favorites in this list. Had many more that I loved as well but these obe especially stood out
Iron Widow by Xiran Jay Zhao which was my first five star read and a book I've been thinking about since.
In the dream house by Carmen Maria Machado. Thought I've read this longer time ago but also a book I've been thinking about!
The maid by Nita Prose. Really restarted my love for thriller/crime novels once again!
Grannar i nöd och lust by Christina Olseni and Micke Hansen. Of course I have to include a book in my favorite series about the wonderful old lady Ester Karlsson solving murders. Still bummed that it haven't yet come out in English so I can push it into more people's hands!
Pandora's Jar: Women in Greek myths by Natalie Haynes. Been a little weary about books in similar vain both nonfiction and fiction that become rather popular recently but think I love it!
Doomed by Chuck Palahniuk. Definitely one of the most disturbing series I've read so far but loved it.
The ethical stripper, Sex, work and labour rights in the nighttime economy by Stacey Clare. Must admit that I until this year didn't knew much about sexworkers and learned a lot about it this year and hd debunk more than one assumption I had.
Crying in H mart by Michelle Zauner. One of the best memoirs I've read this year!
Barbarians Taming by Ruby Dixon. The longest series I've finished this year but well worth it!
The ugly little boy by Isaac Asimov and Robert Silverberg. A favorite of mine when I was a teenager and was bit scared I wouldn't enjoy it now. But luckily I did!
Nine minutes Xtra by N.J Adel. One of the first darker romances I really came to enjoy even with the darker elements of it.
Nonbinary: Memories of gender and Identity by Various authors. First time in my life that I finally started to understand my feelings about myself and my identity this year and this was a very helpful collection.
I'm glad my mom died by Jennette McCurdy. This memoir really hit home in a personal level. Won't soon forget it
The lebianas guide to catholic school by Sonora Reyes. One of my favorites YA this year.
Amari and the great game by B.B Alston. Second in a series but definitely did not disappoint as some sequels an do
Eastwind witches by Nova Nelson. Favorite cozy mystery for 2022
Perversion by T.M Frazier. Shocking, hard to listen to sometimes and not an romance book I'll soon forget. Still think about it.
Bad Girls by Camilla Sida. Hard to listen about and an intense memoir.
In search of Mary Seacole: the making of a cultural Icon by Helen Rappaport. Very informative nonfiction about someone I didn't knew about previously
Clowns vs Spiders by Jeff Stand. Surprisingly good horror book.
The weight of blood by Tiffany D. Jackson. Didn't think I'll ever enjoy a Carrie retelling but wow. Favorite horror YA of this year.
Juniper and Thorn by Ava Reid. Intense experience but a good one.
Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller. A reread yes but first time 5 stars. Loved it.
Literary fiction: 203 out of 100
Middle grade: 29 out of 45
YA: 64 out of 50
Fantasy: 81 out of 30
Paranormal: 92 out of 15
Sci Fi: 81 out of 30
Crime: 52 out of 25
Thrillers/suspense: 46 out of 25
Cozy mysteries: 50 out 25
Non fiction: 91 out of 70
Memoir/biography: 55 out of 45
Self-help : 15
Classic: 81 out of 65
Poetry: 7 out of 10
Plays: 5 out of 10
Horror: 57 out of 30
Romance: 139 out of 60
Feel good: 2 out of 10
Erotica: 79 out of 35
Manga: 10
Comics: 7
For 2022 I read about 1278 books in total which is a extreme amount of books however less than I read in 2020 and 2021. Been trying to cut down my reading obsession and get a more healthy relationship to reading and books in general but not quite there yet but hopefully get closer to my goal for 2023!
I total I had 181 favorites of the year. Won't be posting every single book but will put a more condensed list on favorites with no real order. Won't to an absolute favorites of this year but I have tried to lift forward my favorites of my favorites in this list. Had many more that I loved as well but these obe especially stood out
Iron Widow by Xiran Jay Zhao which was my first five star read and a book I've been thinking about since.
In the dream house by Carmen Maria Machado. Thought I've read this longer time ago but also a book I've been thinking about!
The maid by Nita Prose. Really restarted my love for thriller/crime novels once again!
Grannar i nöd och lust by Christina Olseni and Micke Hansen. Of course I have to include a book in my favorite series about the wonderful old lady Ester Karlsson solving murders. Still bummed that it haven't yet come out in English so I can push it into more people's hands!
Pandora's Jar: Women in Greek myths by Natalie Haynes. Been a little weary about books in similar vain both nonfiction and fiction that become rather popular recently but think I love it!
Doomed by Chuck Palahniuk. Definitely one of the most disturbing series I've read so far but loved it.
The ethical stripper, Sex, work and labour rights in the nighttime economy by Stacey Clare. Must admit that I until this year didn't knew much about sexworkers and learned a lot about it this year and hd debunk more than one assumption I had.
Crying in H mart by Michelle Zauner. One of the best memoirs I've read this year!
Barbarians Taming by Ruby Dixon. The longest series I've finished this year but well worth it!
The ugly little boy by Isaac Asimov and Robert Silverberg. A favorite of mine when I was a teenager and was bit scared I wouldn't enjoy it now. But luckily I did!
Nine minutes Xtra by N.J Adel. One of the first darker romances I really came to enjoy even with the darker elements of it.
Nonbinary: Memories of gender and Identity by Various authors. First time in my life that I finally started to understand my feelings about myself and my identity this year and this was a very helpful collection.
I'm glad my mom died by Jennette McCurdy. This memoir really hit home in a personal level. Won't soon forget it
The lebianas guide to catholic school by Sonora Reyes. One of my favorites YA this year.
Amari and the great game by B.B Alston. Second in a series but definitely did not disappoint as some sequels an do
Eastwind witches by Nova Nelson. Favorite cozy mystery for 2022
Perversion by T.M Frazier. Shocking, hard to listen to sometimes and not an romance book I'll soon forget. Still think about it.
Bad Girls by Camilla Sida. Hard to listen about and an intense memoir.
In search of Mary Seacole: the making of a cultural Icon by Helen Rappaport. Very informative nonfiction about someone I didn't knew about previously
Clowns vs Spiders by Jeff Stand. Surprisingly good horror book.
The weight of blood by Tiffany D. Jackson. Didn't think I'll ever enjoy a Carrie retelling but wow. Favorite horror YA of this year.
Juniper and Thorn by Ava Reid. Intense experience but a good one.
Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller. A reread yes but first time 5 stars. Loved it.
Literary fiction: 203 out of 100
Middle grade: 29 out of 45
YA: 64 out of 50
Fantasy: 81 out of 30
Paranormal: 92 out of 15
Sci Fi: 81 out of 30
Crime: 52 out of 25
Thrillers/suspense: 46 out of 25
Cozy mysteries: 50 out 25
Non fiction: 91 out of 70
Memoir/biography: 55 out of 45
Self-help : 15
Classic: 81 out of 65
Poetry: 7 out of 10
Plays: 5 out of 10
Horror: 57 out of 30
Romance: 139 out of 60
Feel good: 2 out of 10
Erotica: 79 out of 35
Manga: 10
Comics: 7
Shelved as 'year-in-review'
January 4, 2024
Reading Challenge
Storygraph. Spotify. Youtube. Pinterest. Twitter. Instagram. Linktree.
Reading Goals 2022-
-Read 50 books ~Read 250~
-Read more classics & adult fantasy
-Read more 'diverse' & translated books
-Post on my blog & YT channel
-Write more reviews
Hardback(📙)Paperback(📚)E-book(📃)Audiobook(🎧)Re-reads(📖)Buddy Reads(👋)BOTM’s(📓) 2022 Releases(❤️)
JANUARY- Books-7
1. The Mysterious Affair at Styles★★★★🎧
2. The Picture of Dorian Gray★★★★★🎧👋
3. This Savage Song★★★★★🎧👋
4. The Wife Upstairs★★★★📃👋
5. The Ivory Key★★★★★📃👋❤️
6. My Dark Vanessa★★★★📃👋
7. Scythe★★📃👋
FEBRUARY- Books-12
8. Crier's War★★★★★📃
9. Iron Heart★★★★★📃
10. The Little Mermaid★★★★★📃
11. Vinyl Moon★★📃❤️
12. Our Dark Duet★★★★★🎧👋
13. This is How You Lose The Time War★★📃
14. Don't Cry For Me★★★📃❤️
15. Tiny Habits: The Small Changes That Change Everything★★★.5📃
16. Ghost Boys★★★.5📃
17. Comfort Me With Apples★★📃
18. D'Vaughn and Kris Plan a Wedding★★★.25📃❤️
19. Lie With Me★★★★📃
MARCH- Books-37
20. Icebreaker★★★★★📃❤️
21. Only A Monster★★★.5📃👋❤️
22. You Truly Assumed★★★★📃👋❤️
23. One Last Summer★★★📃❤️
24. When Tara Met Farah★★★📃
25. I Kissed Alice★★.5📃
26. The Wildwood Bakery★★★★📚👋
27. I Wish You All The Best★★★.5📃
28. The Cardigans★★📃
29. Boys Don't Cry (by Fíona Scarlett)★★★📃
30. The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse★★📙👋
31. The Great Gatsby★★★📃👋
32. People We Meet On Vacation★★★.5📃👋
33. Junk Shop Blues★★📃
34. Love Somebody★★★.25📃❤️👋
35. Sing Anyway★★★★📃
36. Our Favorite Songs★★★📃
37. Wherever Is Your Heart★★★📃❤️
38. An Elderly Lady Is Up To No Good★★★📃
39. Ugly Love★★★📃
40. The Man With The Glass Eye★★★📃
41. Changing Faces★★★📃
42. It's Witchcraft★★★📃
43. The Almanack of Naval Ravikant: A Guide to Wealth and Happiness★★★.3📃
44. Where There's Smoke★★★📃
45. The Wedding Setup★★★★📃❤️
46. Summer Bird Blue★★★★📃
47. The Importance of Being Earnest★★★★📃
48. Cult Of Personality★★★📃
49. Collateral Damage★★★📃
50. A Single Bright Candle's Flame★★★📃
51. Backdraft★★★📃
52. Crescendo★★★📃
53. The Hater's Game: Part 1★★★📃
54. The Hater's Game: Part 2★★★📃
55. The Golden Ratio★★★📃
56. In Sequence★★★📃
APRIL- Books-44
57. Cold Calculation★★★📃
58. Hard Angle★★★📃
59. Hani and Ishu's Guide to Fake Dating★★📃👋
60. Smile Like You Mean It★★★.5📃
61. Ophelia After All★★★★★📃❤️👋
62. A Good Girl's Guide To Murder★★★.5📃👋
63. She Gets The Girl★★★★📃❤️
64. Nothing Burns as Bright as You★★★★★📃❤️
65. Boys Don't Cry (by Meghna Pant)★★★★.5📃❤️
66. Deep Spiral★★★📃
67. Divine Proportion★★★📃
68. Triangulation★★★📃
69. Trajectory★★★📃
70. Occam's Razor★★★📃
71. The Hating Game★★.5📃👋
72. The Wall of Winnipeg and Me★★★.5📃
73. Galatea★★📙
74. The 7 Habits of Highly Effective Network Marketing Professionals★★★📚
75. Heartstopper: Volume One★★★★★📃👋📖
76. The Tea Dragon Festival★★📃
77. Boyfriends★★★★📃
78. Princess Princess Ever After★📃
79. Fractal Recursion★★★★📃
80. Nor Are There Plenty of Bees★.5📃❤️
81. Convergence★★★★📃
82. White Rabbit, Part I★★★★📃
83. Heartstopper: Volume Two★★★★★📃👋📖
84. Heartstopper: Volume Three★★★★★📃👋📖
85. Heartstopper: Volume Four★★★★★📃👋📖
86. Vicious★★★★★📃👋
87. White Rabbit, Part II★★★★📃
88. Maybe In Another Life★★★📃👋
89. Heartstopper: The Mini Comics★★★★★📃📖
90. Spy x Family, Vol. 1★★★.75📃
91. Spy x Family, Vol. 2★★★.5📃
92. Spy x Family, Vol. 3★★★★📃
93. Spy x Family, Vol. 4★★★📃
94. The Tea Dragon Tapestry★★.5📃
95. The Prince and the Dressmaker★★★📃
96. Call It What You Want★★★.5📃👋
97. The Chandler Legacies★★★★📃👋❤️
98. Chaser (by Dharma Kelleher)★★★📃👋
99. Nick & Charlie★★📃
100. Circe★★★.5🎧👋
MAY- Books-28
101. Four Aunties & A Wedding★★★📃❤️
102. Convenience Store Woman★★★📃
103. The Jasmine Throne★★★.5📃
104. Seven Days in June★★★.5📃
105. Amal Unbound★★★★★📃👋
106. Omar Rising★★★📃👋❤️
107. Purple Hyacinth, Season 1★★★📃
108. Almond★★★📃
109. It All Comes Back To You★★★📃👋
110. Kari★.5📃👋
111. Gallant★★🎧👋❤️
112. Lay Your Sleeping Head★★★.75📃
113. Tokyo Ever After★★★★.5📃👋
114. Fifteen Hundred Miles from the Sun★★★★📃
115. Yolk★★★★📃
116. The Prince of Magic and Lies★★★★★📃👋❤️
117. Acception (Season 1)★★★★📃
118. The Doctors are Out★★★★📃
119. Acception (Season 2)★★★★📃
120. Always Human★★★★📃
121. The Steadfast Tin Soldier★★★★📃
122. The Four Of Them★★★★📃
123. Book Lovers★★★★★📃❤️
124. Under One Roof★★📃❤️
125. Daughter Of The Moon Goddess★★📃👋❤️
126. Crumbs (Season 1)★★★📃👋
127. Crumbs (Season 2)★★★📃👋
128. Cherry Blossoms★★📃
JUNE- Books-30
129. Cinderella Is Dead★★📃
130. Seeing Gender: An Illustrated Guide to Identity and Expression★★★★★📃👋
131. In the Ravenous Dark★★📃
132. The Color Purple★★★★📃👋
133. Every Heart a Doorway★★★.5📃
134. Ellen Outside the Lines★★★★📃❤️
135. Vengeful★★★★📃👋
136. Boyfriend Material★★★📃👋
137. How We Fight For Our Lives★★★★📃
138. Neon Gods★★★★★📃
139. Electric Idol★★★★★📃
140. Stone Heart★★★★📃
141. Kill Game★★★📃
142. Trick Roller★★★📃
143. Cash Plays★★★📃
144. One-Eyed Royals★★★📃
145. A Chip and a Chair★★★📃
146. Iron Widow★★📃
147. Winter Before Spring★★★📃
148. Pet★★★📃
149. The Girl from the Sea★★★📃
150. Beauty and the Besharam★★★★📃❤️
151. Laura Dean Keeps Breaking Up with Me★★★.5📃
152. The Lady's Guide to Celestial Mechanics★★★.5📃
153. Obie Is Man Enough★★★★.5📃
154. Red Panda Girlfriend★★★.5📃
155. Dare to Live, Dare to Love★★★📃
156. The Prince of Southland★★★.5📃
157. Cheer Up: Love and Pompoms★★★.5📃
158. Never Been Kissed★★★📃
JULY- Books-10
159. You Deserve Each Other★★★.5📃
160. My Mechanical Romance★★★★📃❤️
161. Stuck With You★★★📃
162. Falling Into Place★★★📃
163. Starfish★★★★📃
164. Sweet Filthy Boy★★★.25📃
165. The Unhoneymooners★★.5📃
166. Party Favors★★★📃
167. Milk and Honey★★📃
168. The Bridge Kingdom★★★★📃
AUGUST- Books-30
169. The Traitor Queen★★★.5📃
170. The Calm Before The Storm★★★📃
171. The Bone Shard Daughter★★★★.5📃
172. A Dowry of Blood★★★★📃
173. The Terracotta Bride★★★📃
174. The Girl Who Fell Beneath The Sea★★★★📃❤️
175. Waiting on a Bright Moon★★★📃
176. The Vishakanya's Choice★★★📃
177. The Stardust Thief★★★★📃❤️
178. House of Salt and Sorrows★★★★📃
179. Binti★★★📃
180. The Risk★★★.5📃
181. Sidetracked★★★📃
182. Scarlet Angel★★★📃
183. All The Lies★★★📃
184. Paint It Red★★★📃
185. Daughter of the Pirate King★★★📃
186. Daughter of the Siren Queen★★★📃
187. The Drowning Eyes★★★📃
188. To be Your Girl★★.5📃
189. All Systems Red★★★📃
190. Masters of Iron★★★.5📃
191. The Sky Blues★★★📃
192. The Kiss Quotient★★★📃
193. Juliet Takes A Breath★★★📃
194. The Worst Best Man★★★★📃
195. The Wedding Crasher★★★★★📃❤️
196. Ayesha At Last★★★★📃
197. Make a Scene★★★.5📃
198. The Shaadi Set-Up★★★★📃
SEPTEMBER- Books-12
199. The Wedding Date★★★📃
200. The Stranger in Seat 8B★★★📃
201. I'm (So) Not Over You★★★📃❤️
202. Crush★★★.5📃
203. Once Upon a K-Prom★★★.5📃❤️
204. Well-Behaved Indian Women★★★★.5📃
205. Down Among the Sticks and Bones★★★.5📃
206. Below Zero★★.5📃❤️
207. TJ Powar Has Something to Prove★★★.25📃❤️
208. The Magic School Bus Gets Planted: A Book About Photosynthesis★★★📚
209. Red, White & Royal Blue★★★.5📃
210. The Sun and Her Flowers★★📃
OCTOBER- Books-13 (~in progress~)
DNF's
1. Fiona and Jane- January: was not interested
Years in Reviews-
2021
Storygraph. Spotify. Youtube. Pinterest. Twitter. Instagram. Linktree.
Reading Goals 2022-
-Read more classics & adult fantasy
-Read more 'diverse' & translated books
-Post on my blog & YT channel
-Write more reviews
Hardback(📙)Paperback(📚)E-book(📃)Audiobook(🎧)Re-reads(📖)Buddy Reads(👋)BOTM’s(📓) 2022 Releases(❤️)
JANUARY- Books-7
1. The Mysterious Affair at Styles★★★★🎧
2. The Picture of Dorian Gray★★★★★🎧👋
3. This Savage Song★★★★★🎧👋
4. The Wife Upstairs★★★★📃👋
5. The Ivory Key★★★★★📃👋❤️
6. My Dark Vanessa★★★★📃👋
7. Scythe★★📃👋
FEBRUARY- Books-12
8. Crier's War★★★★★📃
9. Iron Heart★★★★★📃
10. The Little Mermaid★★★★★📃
11. Vinyl Moon★★📃❤️
12. Our Dark Duet★★★★★🎧👋
13. This is How You Lose The Time War★★📃
14. Don't Cry For Me★★★📃❤️
15. Tiny Habits: The Small Changes That Change Everything★★★.5📃
16. Ghost Boys★★★.5📃
17. Comfort Me With Apples★★📃
18. D'Vaughn and Kris Plan a Wedding★★★.25📃❤️
19. Lie With Me★★★★📃
MARCH- Books-37
20. Icebreaker★★★★★📃❤️
21. Only A Monster★★★.5📃👋❤️
22. You Truly Assumed★★★★📃👋❤️
23. One Last Summer★★★📃❤️
24. When Tara Met Farah★★★📃
25. I Kissed Alice★★.5📃
26. The Wildwood Bakery★★★★📚👋
27. I Wish You All The Best★★★.5📃
28. The Cardigans★★📃
29. Boys Don't Cry (by Fíona Scarlett)★★★📃
30. The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse★★📙👋
31. The Great Gatsby★★★📃👋
32. People We Meet On Vacation★★★.5📃👋
33. Junk Shop Blues★★📃
34. Love Somebody★★★.25📃❤️👋
35. Sing Anyway★★★★📃
36. Our Favorite Songs★★★📃
37. Wherever Is Your Heart★★★📃❤️
38. An Elderly Lady Is Up To No Good★★★📃
39. Ugly Love★★★📃
40. The Man With The Glass Eye★★★📃
41. Changing Faces★★★📃
42. It's Witchcraft★★★📃
43. The Almanack of Naval Ravikant: A Guide to Wealth and Happiness★★★.3📃
44. Where There's Smoke★★★📃
45. The Wedding Setup★★★★📃❤️
46. Summer Bird Blue★★★★📃
47. The Importance of Being Earnest★★★★📃
48. Cult Of Personality★★★📃
49. Collateral Damage★★★📃
50. A Single Bright Candle's Flame★★★📃
51. Backdraft★★★📃
52. Crescendo★★★📃
53. The Hater's Game: Part 1★★★📃
54. The Hater's Game: Part 2★★★📃
55. The Golden Ratio★★★📃
56. In Sequence★★★📃
APRIL- Books-44
57. Cold Calculation★★★📃
58. Hard Angle★★★📃
59. Hani and Ishu's Guide to Fake Dating★★📃👋
60. Smile Like You Mean It★★★.5📃
61. Ophelia After All★★★★★📃❤️👋
62. A Good Girl's Guide To Murder★★★.5📃👋
63. She Gets The Girl★★★★📃❤️
64. Nothing Burns as Bright as You★★★★★📃❤️
65. Boys Don't Cry (by Meghna Pant)★★★★.5📃❤️
66. Deep Spiral★★★📃
67. Divine Proportion★★★📃
68. Triangulation★★★📃
69. Trajectory★★★📃
70. Occam's Razor★★★📃
71. The Hating Game★★.5📃👋
72. The Wall of Winnipeg and Me★★★.5📃
73. Galatea★★📙
74. The 7 Habits of Highly Effective Network Marketing Professionals★★★📚
75. Heartstopper: Volume One★★★★★📃👋📖
76. The Tea Dragon Festival★★📃
77. Boyfriends★★★★📃
78. Princess Princess Ever After★📃
79. Fractal Recursion★★★★📃
80. Nor Are There Plenty of Bees★.5📃❤️
81. Convergence★★★★📃
82. White Rabbit, Part I★★★★📃
83. Heartstopper: Volume Two★★★★★📃👋📖
84. Heartstopper: Volume Three★★★★★📃👋📖
85. Heartstopper: Volume Four★★★★★📃👋📖
86. Vicious★★★★★📃👋
87. White Rabbit, Part II★★★★📃
88. Maybe In Another Life★★★📃👋
89. Heartstopper: The Mini Comics★★★★★📃📖
90. Spy x Family, Vol. 1★★★.75📃
91. Spy x Family, Vol. 2★★★.5📃
92. Spy x Family, Vol. 3★★★★📃
93. Spy x Family, Vol. 4★★★📃
94. The Tea Dragon Tapestry★★.5📃
95. The Prince and the Dressmaker★★★📃
96. Call It What You Want★★★.5📃👋
97. The Chandler Legacies★★★★📃👋❤️
98. Chaser (by Dharma Kelleher)★★★📃👋
99. Nick & Charlie★★📃
100. Circe★★★.5🎧👋
MAY- Books-28
101. Four Aunties & A Wedding★★★📃❤️
102. Convenience Store Woman★★★📃
103. The Jasmine Throne★★★.5📃
104. Seven Days in June★★★.5📃
105. Amal Unbound★★★★★📃👋
106. Omar Rising★★★📃👋❤️
107. Purple Hyacinth, Season 1★★★📃
108. Almond★★★📃
109. It All Comes Back To You★★★📃👋
110. Kari★.5📃👋
111. Gallant★★🎧👋❤️
112. Lay Your Sleeping Head★★★.75📃
113. Tokyo Ever After★★★★.5📃👋
114. Fifteen Hundred Miles from the Sun★★★★📃
115. Yolk★★★★📃
116. The Prince of Magic and Lies★★★★★📃👋❤️
117. Acception (Season 1)★★★★📃
118. The Doctors are Out★★★★📃
119. Acception (Season 2)★★★★📃
120. Always Human★★★★📃
121. The Steadfast Tin Soldier★★★★📃
122. The Four Of Them★★★★📃
123. Book Lovers★★★★★📃❤️
124. Under One Roof★★📃❤️
125. Daughter Of The Moon Goddess★★📃👋❤️
126. Crumbs (Season 1)★★★📃👋
127. Crumbs (Season 2)★★★📃👋
128. Cherry Blossoms★★📃
JUNE- Books-30
129. Cinderella Is Dead★★📃
130. Seeing Gender: An Illustrated Guide to Identity and Expression★★★★★📃👋
131. In the Ravenous Dark★★📃
132. The Color Purple★★★★📃👋
133. Every Heart a Doorway★★★.5📃
134. Ellen Outside the Lines★★★★📃❤️
135. Vengeful★★★★📃👋
136. Boyfriend Material★★★📃👋
137. How We Fight For Our Lives★★★★📃
138. Neon Gods★★★★★📃
139. Electric Idol★★★★★📃
140. Stone Heart★★★★📃
141. Kill Game★★★📃
142. Trick Roller★★★📃
143. Cash Plays★★★📃
144. One-Eyed Royals★★★📃
145. A Chip and a Chair★★★📃
146. Iron Widow★★📃
147. Winter Before Spring★★★📃
148. Pet★★★📃
149. The Girl from the Sea★★★📃
150. Beauty and the Besharam★★★★📃❤️
151. Laura Dean Keeps Breaking Up with Me★★★.5📃
152. The Lady's Guide to Celestial Mechanics★★★.5📃
153. Obie Is Man Enough★★★★.5📃
154. Red Panda Girlfriend★★★.5📃
155. Dare to Live, Dare to Love★★★📃
156. The Prince of Southland★★★.5📃
157. Cheer Up: Love and Pompoms★★★.5📃
158. Never Been Kissed★★★📃
JULY- Books-10
159. You Deserve Each Other★★★.5📃
160. My Mechanical Romance★★★★📃❤️
161. Stuck With You★★★📃
162. Falling Into Place★★★📃
163. Starfish★★★★📃
164. Sweet Filthy Boy★★★.25📃
165. The Unhoneymooners★★.5📃
166. Party Favors★★★📃
167. Milk and Honey★★📃
168. The Bridge Kingdom★★★★📃
AUGUST- Books-30
169. The Traitor Queen★★★.5📃
170. The Calm Before The Storm★★★📃
171. The Bone Shard Daughter★★★★.5📃
172. A Dowry of Blood★★★★📃
173. The Terracotta Bride★★★📃
174. The Girl Who Fell Beneath The Sea★★★★📃❤️
175. Waiting on a Bright Moon★★★📃
176. The Vishakanya's Choice★★★📃
177. The Stardust Thief★★★★📃❤️
178. House of Salt and Sorrows★★★★📃
179. Binti★★★📃
180. The Risk★★★.5📃
181. Sidetracked★★★📃
182. Scarlet Angel★★★📃
183. All The Lies★★★📃
184. Paint It Red★★★📃
185. Daughter of the Pirate King★★★📃
186. Daughter of the Siren Queen★★★📃
187. The Drowning Eyes★★★📃
188. To be Your Girl★★.5📃
189. All Systems Red★★★📃
190. Masters of Iron★★★.5📃
191. The Sky Blues★★★📃
192. The Kiss Quotient★★★📃
193. Juliet Takes A Breath★★★📃
194. The Worst Best Man★★★★📃
195. The Wedding Crasher★★★★★📃❤️
196. Ayesha At Last★★★★📃
197. Make a Scene★★★.5📃
198. The Shaadi Set-Up★★★★📃
SEPTEMBER- Books-12
199. The Wedding Date★★★📃
200. The Stranger in Seat 8B★★★📃
201. I'm (So) Not Over You★★★📃❤️
202. Crush★★★.5📃
203. Once Upon a K-Prom★★★.5📃❤️
204. Well-Behaved Indian Women★★★★.5📃
205. Down Among the Sticks and Bones★★★.5📃
206. Below Zero★★.5📃❤️
207. TJ Powar Has Something to Prove★★★.25📃❤️
208. The Magic School Bus Gets Planted: A Book About Photosynthesis★★★📚
209. Red, White & Royal Blue★★★.5📃
210. The Sun and Her Flowers★★📃
OCTOBER- Books-13 (~in progress~)
DNF's
1. Fiona and Jane- January: was not interested
Years in Reviews-
2021
January 2, 2023
First time doing this, so let's see how this goes!
My goal for 2022: read 100 books ✔
Books read: 164 🥳🥳
KEY:
❤ - monthly favorite
💫 - new all time favorite
👎- worst book of the month
😭 - cried
😒 - disappointing
😃 - better than expected
📚 - long series
📙 - reread
◇ NOTE: rereads do not count towards my favorite book of the month or the Top 10 books of the year ◇
Series I'd Like to Read this year:
- The Folk of the Air trilogy (2/3)
- Six of Crows duology (2/2) ✔
- Red Queen series (3/4)
- Warcross duology (2/2) ✔
- Magnus Chase series (3/3) ✔
- Caraval trilogy (3/3) ✔
- Spin the Dawn duology (1/2)
Books I'd Like to Read this year:
- Legendborn ✔
- The Inheritance Games ✔
- The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes ✔
- They Both Die at the End ✔
- Children of Virtue and Vengeance ✔
(I only joined Goodreads recently so I don't have a record for all the books i read in the first couple of months for this year. Too many to remember! 😂)
• APRIL:
Total books read: 18
Favorite book: Mockingjay/ They Both Die at the End
Worst book: Goodbye Stranger
DNFs: None
BOOKS READ:
- The Impossible- ★★☆☆☆ 😒
- Mockingjay- BEYOND ★★★★★ ❤💫😭
- Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children- ★★★☆☆.5 📚
- Renegades- ★★★★☆
- The Ivory Key- ★★★★☆
- They Both Die at the End- BEYOND ★★★★★ ❤😭
- Glass Sword- ★★★★☆ 📚
- Caraval- ★★★☆☆.5 😒
- Knife Edge- ★★★★★ 📚
- Children of Virtue and Vengeance- ★★★★★
- Skulduggery Pleasant- ★★★☆☆ 📙
- The Scorch Trials- ★★☆☆☆.5 😒
- The Death Cure- ★★★☆☆ 😒
- Two Can Keep A Secret- ★★★☆☆.5
- Spin the Dawn- ★★★★☆
- Checkmate- ★★★★★ 📚
- The Last Bear- ★★★☆☆.5
- Goodbye Stranger: ★★☆☆☆👎
• MAY:
Total books read: 18
Favorite book: A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder/ Ruin & Rising
Worst book: My Secret Lies with You
DNFs: 2 (Following Frankenstein, You Only Live Once)
BOOKS READ:
- Double Cross (Noughts and Crosses #4)- ★★★★☆ 📚
- Ruin and Rising- ★★★★★ ❤
- My Secret Lies With You- ★☆☆☆☆👎😒
- The Demon in the Wood- ★★★★☆
- A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder- BEYOND ★★★★★ ❤💫
- A Curse so Dark and Lonely- ★★★★☆ 😃
- A Face Like Glass- ★★★☆☆ 😒
- Tristan Strong Punches a Hole in the Sky- ★★★★☆
- Traitor to the Throne- ★★★★☆.5 😃
- Following Frankenstein- DNF 😒
- Scythe- ★★★☆☆.5
- Alex, Approximately- ★★☆☆☆ 😒
- Forest of a Thousand Lanterns- ★★★☆☆ 😒
- Other Words for Home- ★★★★☆
- The Chime Seekers- ★★★☆☆.5 😃
- Crossfire (Noughts and Crosses #5)- ★★★☆☆.5 😒📚
- Shatter Me- ★★★☆☆ 😒📚
- You Only Live Once- DNF 😒
• JUNE:
Total books read: 18
Favorite book: Good Girl, Bad Blood / The Wicked King
Worst book: Where the Crawdads Sing :(
DNFs: 1 (Where the Crawdads Sing)
BOOKS READ:
- Take Me With You When You Go- ★★★★☆
- Danger at Dead Man's Pass- ★★★☆☆ 📚
- The Storm Crow- ★★★☆☆.5 😃
- The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes- ★★★★☆
- Magnus Chase and the Sword of Summer- ★★★★☆
- Good Girl, Bad Blood- BEYOND ★★★★★ ❤💫
- The Crow Rider- ★★★☆☆.5
- As Good As Dead- ★★★☆☆ 😒
- The Cruel Prince- ★★★★☆
- Where the Crawdads Sing- DNF 😒👎
- Warcross- ★★★★☆
- Internment- ★★☆☆☆.5 😒
- Sabotage on the Solar Express- ★★★☆☆.5 📚
- The Wicked King- BEYOND ★★★★★ ❤💫
- The Lost Heir (Wings of Fire #2)- ★★★☆☆
- Boys Don't Cry- ★★★☆☆.5
- King's Cage- ★★★★☆ 😃📚
- Looking for Alaska- ★★☆☆☆ 😒
• JULY:
Total books read: 17
Favorite book: Six of Crows 💕💗❤
Worst book: The Medusa Project #1: The Set-Up
DNFs: 2 (Magnus Chase and the Ship of the Dead, the Set-Up)
BOOKS READ:
- Magnus Chase and the Hammer of Thor- ★★★☆☆.5
- Six of Crows- BEYOND ★★★★★ ❤💫💫
- Raybearer- ★★★★☆
- Legendborn- BEYOND ★★★★★ ❤💫
- Moonchild: Voyage of the Lost and Found- ★★☆☆☆ 😒
- Wildcard- ★★★☆☆.5
- Everless- ★★★☆☆ 😒
- Heartstopper: Volume 1- ★★★★☆
- Heartstopper: Volume 2- ★★★★☆
- Heartstopper: Volume 3- ★★★★☆
- Heartstopper: Volume 4- ★★★★☆
- The Inheritance Games- ★★★★☆
- Broken Things- ★★☆☆☆ 😒
- Salt to the Sea- ★★★★☆ 😭😭
- Magnus Chase and the Ship of the Dead- DNF 😒
- The Boneless Mercies- ★★★☆☆.5 😃
- The Medusa Project #1: The Set-Up- DNF 😒👎
• AUGUST:
Total books read: 16
Favorite book: Heir of Fire ❤
Worst book: The Wishing Bones/ The Smoke Thieves
DNFs: 1 (Carry On)
BOOKS READ:
- Catwoman: Soulstealer- ★★★★☆ 😃
- All This Time- ★★★☆☆ 😒
- Legendary- ★★★★☆ 😃
- The Smoke Thieves- ★★★☆☆ 😒👎
- The Wishing Bones- ★★★☆☆👎
- Now is the Time for Running- Unrated (read for school)
- Hollow City- ★★★☆☆.5 📚
- Heir of Fire- BEYOND ★★★★★ ❤💫📚
- Save the Date- ★★★☆☆.5
- The Turn of the Key- ★★★☆☆ 😒
- Rumaysa: A Fairytale- ★★★☆☆
- The Assassin's Blade- ★★★★☆ 😭
- Challenger Deep- ★★★☆☆ ?? 😒
- Onyeka and the Academy of the Sun- ★★★☆☆.5
- Carry On- DNF 😒
- York: The Shadow Cipher- ★★★☆☆ 😒
• SEPTEMBER:
Total books read: 11
Favorite book: CROOKED KINGDOM 🤌🤌❤❤
Worst book: The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Nighttime
DNFs: 3 (Library of Souls, Finding Jupiter, Seven Endless Forests)
BOOKS READ:
- The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Nighttime- ★★☆☆☆.5 😒👎
- Library of Souls- DNF (for now)
- Batman: Nightwalker- ★★★★☆ 😃
- The Mapmakers- ★★★★☆
- Valiant- ★★★☆☆ 😒
- The Midnighters- ★★★★☆
- Finding Jupiter- DNF 😒
- Crooked Kingdom- BEYOND ★★★★★ ❤❤💫💫😭😭
- Red Queen- ★★★★☆ 📙 📚
- Seven Endless Forests- DNF 😒
- Finale- ★★★★☆.5 😃
• OCTOBER:
Total books read: 13
Favorite book: Queen of Shadows / The Merciless Ones / Empire of Storms ❤
Worst book: Evermore
DNFs: None
BOOKS READ:
- Queen of Shadows- BEYOND ★★★★★ ❤💫📚
- This Wicked Fate- ★★★★☆
- Wonder Woman: Warbringer- ★★★☆☆.5 😃
- The Merciless Ones- BEYOND ★★★★★ ❤
- Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine- ★★★★☆ 😃
- Evermore- ★★☆☆☆ 😒👎
- Brightstorm- ★★★☆☆.5 😃
- Summerland- ★★★☆☆ 😒
- The Hate U Give- ★★★★☆.5
- The Hawthorne Legacy- ★★★★☆.5 😃
- Empire of Storms- BEYOND ★★★★★ ❤💫📚
- Amari and the Great Game- ★★★☆☆.25 😒
- Carve the Mark- ★★★☆☆.5 😃
• NOVEMBER:
Total books read: 11
Favorite book: The Promised Neverland Vol. 1
Worst book: The Fates Divide
DNFs: 1 (The Truth About Keeping Secrets)
BOOKS READ:
- The Fates Divide- ★★☆☆☆ 😒👎
- Field Notes on Love- ★★★☆☆.5 😃
- The Truth About Keeping Secrets- DNF 😒
- The Fountains of Silence- ★★★★☆ 😃
- Heist Society- ★★★☆☆
- Catching Fire- BEYOND ★★★★★ 📙💫
- Mockingjay- BEYOND ★★★★★ 📙💫
- Wyrd Sisters- ★★★☆☆.25 😃📚
- The Promised Neverland Vol.1- ★★★★☆ 😃📚 ❤ (my first manga!)
- The Promised Neverland Vol. 2- ★★★★☆ 😃📚
- The Belles- ★★★☆☆.5
• DECEMBER:
Total books read: 9
Favorite book: Tower of Dawn / Kingdom of Ash / These Violent Delights ❤
Worst book: None
DNFs: None
BOOKS READ:
- Tower of Dawn- BEYOND ★★★★★ ❤💫📚😭
- Faking Normal- ★★★★☆ 😭
- Kingdom of Ash- BEYOND ★★★★★ ❤💫📚😭
- The Scorpio Races- ★★★☆☆.25 😒
- Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince- BEYOND ★★★★★ 📙💫📚
- These Violent Delights- BEYOND ★★★★★ ❤💫
- Sorcery of Thorns- ★★★★☆.5. 😃
- The Final Gambit- ★★★★☆ 😃
- Let It Snow- ★★★☆☆
• TOP TEN BOOKS OF THE YEAR:
♡ Six of Crows duology ❤
♡ Throne of Glass series
♡ Legendborn
♡ Hunger Games trilogy
♡ The Wicked King
♡ These Violent Delights
♡ A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder trilogy
♡ Sorcery of Thorns
♡ Finale
♡ The Inheritance Games trilogy
Honorable mentions:
♧ The Merciless Ones
♧ Shadow and Bone trilogy
♧ This Poison Heart duology
♧ Raybearer
Longest book read: Kingdom of Ash (980 pages)
Shortest book read: The Demon in the Wood (30 pages)
OVERALL, it was a great reading year!! 🤩🤩 I may have had a lot of disappointing reads, but I also found loads of new favorites as well!! Really happy with my reading this year and I'm so excited to read more in 2023!! 🥰🥰
My goal for 2022: read 100 books ✔
Books read: 164 🥳🥳
KEY:
❤ - monthly favorite
💫 - new all time favorite
👎- worst book of the month
😭 - cried
😒 - disappointing
😃 - better than expected
📚 - long series
📙 - reread
◇ NOTE: rereads do not count towards my favorite book of the month or the Top 10 books of the year ◇
Series I'd Like to Read this year:
- The Folk of the Air trilogy (2/3)
- Six of Crows duology (2/2) ✔
- Red Queen series (3/4)
- Warcross duology (2/2) ✔
- Magnus Chase series (3/3) ✔
- Caraval trilogy (3/3) ✔
- Spin the Dawn duology (1/2)
Books I'd Like to Read this year:
- Legendborn ✔
- The Inheritance Games ✔
- The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes ✔
- They Both Die at the End ✔
- Children of Virtue and Vengeance ✔
(I only joined Goodreads recently so I don't have a record for all the books i read in the first couple of months for this year. Too many to remember! 😂)
• APRIL:
Total books read: 18
Favorite book: Mockingjay/ They Both Die at the End
Worst book: Goodbye Stranger
DNFs: None
BOOKS READ:
- The Impossible- ★★☆☆☆ 😒
- Mockingjay- BEYOND ★★★★★ ❤💫😭
- Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children- ★★★☆☆.5 📚
- Renegades- ★★★★☆
- The Ivory Key- ★★★★☆
- They Both Die at the End- BEYOND ★★★★★ ❤😭
- Glass Sword- ★★★★☆ 📚
- Caraval- ★★★☆☆.5 😒
- Knife Edge- ★★★★★ 📚
- Children of Virtue and Vengeance- ★★★★★
- Skulduggery Pleasant- ★★★☆☆ 📙
- The Scorch Trials- ★★☆☆☆.5 😒
- The Death Cure- ★★★☆☆ 😒
- Two Can Keep A Secret- ★★★☆☆.5
- Spin the Dawn- ★★★★☆
- Checkmate- ★★★★★ 📚
- The Last Bear- ★★★☆☆.5
- Goodbye Stranger: ★★☆☆☆👎
• MAY:
Total books read: 18
Favorite book: A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder/ Ruin & Rising
Worst book: My Secret Lies with You
DNFs: 2 (Following Frankenstein, You Only Live Once)
BOOKS READ:
- Double Cross (Noughts and Crosses #4)- ★★★★☆ 📚
- Ruin and Rising- ★★★★★ ❤
- My Secret Lies With You- ★☆☆☆☆👎😒
- The Demon in the Wood- ★★★★☆
- A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder- BEYOND ★★★★★ ❤💫
- A Curse so Dark and Lonely- ★★★★☆ 😃
- A Face Like Glass- ★★★☆☆ 😒
- Tristan Strong Punches a Hole in the Sky- ★★★★☆
- Traitor to the Throne- ★★★★☆.5 😃
- Following Frankenstein- DNF 😒
- Scythe- ★★★☆☆.5
- Alex, Approximately- ★★☆☆☆ 😒
- Forest of a Thousand Lanterns- ★★★☆☆ 😒
- Other Words for Home- ★★★★☆
- The Chime Seekers- ★★★☆☆.5 😃
- Crossfire (Noughts and Crosses #5)- ★★★☆☆.5 😒📚
- Shatter Me- ★★★☆☆ 😒📚
- You Only Live Once- DNF 😒
• JUNE:
Total books read: 18
Favorite book: Good Girl, Bad Blood / The Wicked King
Worst book: Where the Crawdads Sing :(
DNFs: 1 (Where the Crawdads Sing)
BOOKS READ:
- Take Me With You When You Go- ★★★★☆
- Danger at Dead Man's Pass- ★★★☆☆ 📚
- The Storm Crow- ★★★☆☆.5 😃
- The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes- ★★★★☆
- Magnus Chase and the Sword of Summer- ★★★★☆
- Good Girl, Bad Blood- BEYOND ★★★★★ ❤💫
- The Crow Rider- ★★★☆☆.5
- As Good As Dead- ★★★☆☆ 😒
- The Cruel Prince- ★★★★☆
- Where the Crawdads Sing- DNF 😒👎
- Warcross- ★★★★☆
- Internment- ★★☆☆☆.5 😒
- Sabotage on the Solar Express- ★★★☆☆.5 📚
- The Wicked King- BEYOND ★★★★★ ❤💫
- The Lost Heir (Wings of Fire #2)- ★★★☆☆
- Boys Don't Cry- ★★★☆☆.5
- King's Cage- ★★★★☆ 😃📚
- Looking for Alaska- ★★☆☆☆ 😒
• JULY:
Total books read: 17
Favorite book: Six of Crows 💕💗❤
Worst book: The Medusa Project #1: The Set-Up
DNFs: 2 (Magnus Chase and the Ship of the Dead, the Set-Up)
BOOKS READ:
- Magnus Chase and the Hammer of Thor- ★★★☆☆.5
- Six of Crows- BEYOND ★★★★★ ❤💫💫
- Raybearer- ★★★★☆
- Legendborn- BEYOND ★★★★★ ❤💫
- Moonchild: Voyage of the Lost and Found- ★★☆☆☆ 😒
- Wildcard- ★★★☆☆.5
- Everless- ★★★☆☆ 😒
- Heartstopper: Volume 1- ★★★★☆
- Heartstopper: Volume 2- ★★★★☆
- Heartstopper: Volume 3- ★★★★☆
- Heartstopper: Volume 4- ★★★★☆
- The Inheritance Games- ★★★★☆
- Broken Things- ★★☆☆☆ 😒
- Salt to the Sea- ★★★★☆ 😭😭
- Magnus Chase and the Ship of the Dead- DNF 😒
- The Boneless Mercies- ★★★☆☆.5 😃
- The Medusa Project #1: The Set-Up- DNF 😒👎
• AUGUST:
Total books read: 16
Favorite book: Heir of Fire ❤
Worst book: The Wishing Bones/ The Smoke Thieves
DNFs: 1 (Carry On)
BOOKS READ:
- Catwoman: Soulstealer- ★★★★☆ 😃
- All This Time- ★★★☆☆ 😒
- Legendary- ★★★★☆ 😃
- The Smoke Thieves- ★★★☆☆ 😒👎
- The Wishing Bones- ★★★☆☆👎
- Now is the Time for Running- Unrated (read for school)
- Hollow City- ★★★☆☆.5 📚
- Heir of Fire- BEYOND ★★★★★ ❤💫📚
- Save the Date- ★★★☆☆.5
- The Turn of the Key- ★★★☆☆ 😒
- Rumaysa: A Fairytale- ★★★☆☆
- The Assassin's Blade- ★★★★☆ 😭
- Challenger Deep- ★★★☆☆ ?? 😒
- Onyeka and the Academy of the Sun- ★★★☆☆.5
- Carry On- DNF 😒
- York: The Shadow Cipher- ★★★☆☆ 😒
• SEPTEMBER:
Total books read: 11
Favorite book: CROOKED KINGDOM 🤌🤌❤❤
Worst book: The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Nighttime
DNFs: 3 (Library of Souls, Finding Jupiter, Seven Endless Forests)
BOOKS READ:
- The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Nighttime- ★★☆☆☆.5 😒👎
- Library of Souls- DNF (for now)
- Batman: Nightwalker- ★★★★☆ 😃
- The Mapmakers- ★★★★☆
- Valiant- ★★★☆☆ 😒
- The Midnighters- ★★★★☆
- Finding Jupiter- DNF 😒
- Crooked Kingdom- BEYOND ★★★★★ ❤❤💫💫😭😭
- Red Queen- ★★★★☆ 📙 📚
- Seven Endless Forests- DNF 😒
- Finale- ★★★★☆.5 😃
• OCTOBER:
Total books read: 13
Favorite book: Queen of Shadows / The Merciless Ones / Empire of Storms ❤
Worst book: Evermore
DNFs: None
BOOKS READ:
- Queen of Shadows- BEYOND ★★★★★ ❤💫📚
- This Wicked Fate- ★★★★☆
- Wonder Woman: Warbringer- ★★★☆☆.5 😃
- The Merciless Ones- BEYOND ★★★★★ ❤
- Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine- ★★★★☆ 😃
- Evermore- ★★☆☆☆ 😒👎
- Brightstorm- ★★★☆☆.5 😃
- Summerland- ★★★☆☆ 😒
- The Hate U Give- ★★★★☆.5
- The Hawthorne Legacy- ★★★★☆.5 😃
- Empire of Storms- BEYOND ★★★★★ ❤💫📚
- Amari and the Great Game- ★★★☆☆.25 😒
- Carve the Mark- ★★★☆☆.5 😃
• NOVEMBER:
Total books read: 11
Favorite book: The Promised Neverland Vol. 1
Worst book: The Fates Divide
DNFs: 1 (The Truth About Keeping Secrets)
BOOKS READ:
- The Fates Divide- ★★☆☆☆ 😒👎
- Field Notes on Love- ★★★☆☆.5 😃
- The Truth About Keeping Secrets- DNF 😒
- The Fountains of Silence- ★★★★☆ 😃
- Heist Society- ★★★☆☆
- Catching Fire- BEYOND ★★★★★ 📙💫
- Mockingjay- BEYOND ★★★★★ 📙💫
- Wyrd Sisters- ★★★☆☆.25 😃📚
- The Promised Neverland Vol.1- ★★★★☆ 😃📚 ❤ (my first manga!)
- The Promised Neverland Vol. 2- ★★★★☆ 😃📚
- The Belles- ★★★☆☆.5
• DECEMBER:
Total books read: 9
Favorite book: Tower of Dawn / Kingdom of Ash / These Violent Delights ❤
Worst book: None
DNFs: None
BOOKS READ:
- Tower of Dawn- BEYOND ★★★★★ ❤💫📚😭
- Faking Normal- ★★★★☆ 😭
- Kingdom of Ash- BEYOND ★★★★★ ❤💫📚😭
- The Scorpio Races- ★★★☆☆.25 😒
- Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince- BEYOND ★★★★★ 📙💫📚
- These Violent Delights- BEYOND ★★★★★ ❤💫
- Sorcery of Thorns- ★★★★☆.5. 😃
- The Final Gambit- ★★★★☆ 😃
- Let It Snow- ★★★☆☆
• TOP TEN BOOKS OF THE YEAR:
♡ Six of Crows duology ❤
♡ Throne of Glass series
♡ Legendborn
♡ Hunger Games trilogy
♡ The Wicked King
♡ These Violent Delights
♡ A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder trilogy
♡ Sorcery of Thorns
♡ Finale
♡ The Inheritance Games trilogy
Honorable mentions:
♧ The Merciless Ones
♧ Shadow and Bone trilogy
♧ This Poison Heart duology
♧ Raybearer
Longest book read: Kingdom of Ash (980 pages)
Shortest book read: The Demon in the Wood (30 pages)
OVERALL, it was a great reading year!! 🤩🤩 I may have had a lot of disappointing reads, but I also found loads of new favorites as well!! Really happy with my reading this year and I'm so excited to read more in 2023!! 🥰🥰
December 31, 2022
goals for 2022:
- read 100 books (100/100)
- read all cassandra clare books (0/20)
- read more diverse books
- write more reviews
YEAR REVIEW
books read: 100
average rating: 3.62 stars
pages read: 33947
top 5 books:
→ Daisy Jones & The Six
→ Daughter of No Worlds
→ House of Sky and Breath
→ A Conjuring of Light
→ Summer’s Edge
JANUARY
books read: 23
average rating: 4.0 stars
pages read: 6752
best: A Conjuring of Light
worst: Layla
→ A Conjuring of Light by V.E. Schwab : 5 ⭐
→ Wicked Lies Boys Tell by K. Webster : 3 ⭐
→ This Savage Song by Victoria Schwab : 3 ⭐
→ Perfect on Paper by Sophie Gonzales : 4 ⭐
→ People We Meet on Vacation by Emily Henry : 4 ⭐
→ Shatter Me by Tarereh Mafi : 4 ⭐ (rr)
→ Our Dark Duet by Victoria Schwab : 4 ⭐
→ Icebreaker by A.L. Graziadei : 5 ⭐
→ Cold the Night, Fast the Wolves by Meg Long : 4.5 ⭐
→ My Love Mix-Up! vol. 1 by Wataru Hinekure : 4 ⭐
→ Attack on Titan vol. 1 by Hajime Isayama : 4 ⭐
→ Please Ignore Vera Dietz by A.S. King : 3 ⭐ (rr)
→ Reminders of Him by Colleen Hoover : 5 ⭐
→ The Risk by S.T. Abby : 4 ⭐️
→ Sidetracked by S.T. Abby : 4 ⭐️
→ Scarlet Angel by S.T. Abby : 4 ⭐️
→ All the Lies by S.T. Abby : 4.5 ⭐️
→ Paint it all Red by S.T. Abby : 4.5 ⭐️
→ All Your Perfects by Colleen Hoover : 5 ⭐️
→ Layla by Colleen Hoover : 3 ⭐️
→ City of Ghosts by Victoria Schwab : 3.5 ⭐️
→ Tunnel of Bones by Victoria Schwab : 3.5 ⭐️
→ Bridge of Souls by Victoria Schwab : 3.5 ⭐️
FEBRUARY
books read: 11
average rating: 3.95 stars
pages read: 4128
best: House of Sky and Breath
worst: Fireheart Tiger
→ All the Young Dudes vol. 1 by MsKingBean89 : 5 ⭐️
→ Every Last Word by Tamara Ireland Stone : 3.5 ⭐️
→ Voices by David Elliott : 2 ⭐️
→ A Spindle Splintered by Alix E. Harrow : 3.5 ⭐️
→ House of Earth and Blood by Sarah J. Maas : 5 ⭐️ (rr)
→ Milk and Honey by Rupi Kaur : 4 ⭐️
→ House of Sky and Breath by Sarah J. Maas : 5 ⭐️
→ Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas : 5 ⭐️ (rr)
→ The Girl Who Fell Beneath the Sea by Axie Oh : 4.5 ⭐️
→ Vicious by V.E. Schwab : 4.5 ⭐️
→ Fireheart Tiger by Aliette de Bodard : 1.5 ⭐️
MARCH
books read: 20
average rating: 3.85 stars
pages read: 7114
best: Daughter of No Worlds
worst: Swan Song
→ All the Young Dudes vol. 2 by MsKingBean89 : 5 ⭐️
→ Gallant by V.E. Schwab : 5 ⭐️
→ Sheets by Brenna Thummler : 2.5 ⭐️
→ Mexican Gothic by Silvia Moreno-Garcia : 3 ⭐️
→ The Selection by Kiera Cass : 5 ⭐️ (rr)
→ Swan Song by C. Lymari : 1 ⭐️
→ Girl, Interrupted by Susanna Kaysen : 2.5 ⭐️
→ 5 Seconds Before a Witch Falls in Love by Zeniko Sumiya : 3 ⭐️
→ All That’s Left in the World by Erik J. Brown : 5 ⭐️
→ Daughter of No Worlds by Carissa Broadbent : 5 ⭐️
→ Only Mostly Devastated by Sophie Gonzales : 4 ⭐️
→ The Book of Cold Cases by Simone St. James : 4 ⭐️
→ Ace of Spades by Faridah Àbíké-Íyímídé : 4 ⭐️
→ Bruised by Tanya Boteju : 2 ⭐️
→ Noragami vol. 1 by Adachitoka : 4 ⭐️
→ The Wicker King by K. Ancrum : 3 ⭐️
→ Edgewood by Kristen Ciccarelli : 4 ⭐️
→ Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas : 5 ⭐️ (rr)
→ Crown of Midnight by Sarah J. Maas : 5 ⭐️ (rr)
→ Heir of Fire by Sarah J. Maas : 5 ⭐️ (rr)
APRIL
books read: 13
average rating: 4.27 stars
pages read: 5120
best: The Inheritance Games
worst: The Never King
→ Queen of Shadows by Sarah J. Maas : 5 ⭐️ (rr)
→ The Never King by Nikki St. Crowe : 3 ⭐️
→ 14 Ways to Die by Vincent Ralph : 3.5 ⭐️
→ The Inheritance Games by Jennifer Lynn Barnes : 4.5 ⭐️
→ The Hawthorne Legacy by Jennifer Lynn Barnes : 4.5 ⭐️
→ Heartstopper vol. 1 by Alice Oseman : 5 ⭐️ (rr)
→ She Gets the Girl by Rachael Lippincott : 4 ⭐️
→ Heartstopper vol. 2 by Alice Oseman : 5 ⭐️ (rr)
→ Heartstopper vol. 3 by Alice Oseman : 5 ⭐️ (rr)
→ Heartstopper vol. 4 by Alice Oseman : 5 ⭐️ (rr)
→ Empire of Storms by Sarah J. Maas : 5 ⭐️ (rr)
→ The Paris Apartment by Lucy Foley : 3 ⭐️
→ Aces Wild: A Heist by Amanda DeWitt : 3 ⭐️ (arc)
MAY
books read: 5
average rating: 3.50 stars
pages read: 1693
best: Daisy Jones & The Six
worst: Book of Night
→ Book of Night by Holly Black : 2 ⭐️
→ The Ghosts of Rose Hill by R.M. Romero : 3 ⭐️
→ Daisy Jones & The Six by Taylor Jenkins Reid : 5 ⭐️
→ My Mechanical Romance by Alexene Farol Follmuth : 4.5 ⭐️ (arc)
→ Air Awakens by Elise Kova : 3 ⭐️
JUNE
books read: 7
average rating: 3.86 stars
pages read : 2523
best: I Kissed Shara Wheeler
worst: Message Not Found
→ I Kissed Shara Wheeler by Casey McQuinston : 4.5 ⭐️
→ Summer’s Edge by Dana Mele : 4.5 ⭐️
→ Message Not Found by Dante Medema : 3 ⭐️
→ Hell Followed With Us by Andrew Joseph White : 4.5 ⭐️
→ Hotel Magnifique by Emily J. Taylor : 3 ⭐️
→ Fire Falling by Elise Kova : 3.5 ⭐️
→ Earth’s End by Elise Kova : 4 ⭐️
JULY
books read: 3
average rating: 4.0 stars
pages read: 1185
best: Water’s Wrath
worst: Crystal Crowned
→ Water’s Wrath by Elise Kova : 4 ⭐️
→ Crystal Crowned by Elise Kova : 4 ⭐️
→ Caraval by Stephanie Garber : 4 ⭐️
AUGUST
books read: 0
average rating:
pages read: 0
best:
worst:
SEPTEMBER
books read: 1
average rating: 3.0 stars
pages read: 400
best:
worst:
→ The Final Gambit by Jennifer Lynn Barnes : 3 ⭐️
OCTOBER
books read: 1
average rating: 5.0 stars
pages read: 160
best:
worst:
→ The Heartstopper Yearbook by Alice Oseman : 5 ⭐️
NOVEMBER
books read: 2
average rating: 4.0 stars
pages read: 507
best: Throne of Glass
worst: Fairytales of the Macabre
→ Fairytales of the Macabre by Olivie Blake : 3 ⭐️
→ Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas : 5 ⭐️ (rr)
DECEMBER
books read: 14
average rating: 4.0 stars
pages read: 4227
best: Five Survive
worst: The Dark One
→ The Dark One by Nikki St. Crowe : 2.5 ⭐️
→ Five Survive by Holly Jackson : 4.5 ⭐️
→ Crown of Midnight by Sarah J. Maas : 5 ⭐️ (rr)
→ Heir of Fire by Sarah J. Maas : 5 ⭐️ (rr)
→ Queen of Shadows by Sarah J. Maas : 5 ⭐️ (rr)
→ Daisy Darker by Alice Feeney : 2.5 ⭐️
→ Heartstopper vol. 1 by Alice Oseman : 5 ⭐️ (rr)
→ Chainsaw Man vol. 1 by Tatsuki Fujimoto : 4 ⭐️
→ Chainsaw Man vol. 2 by Tatsuki Fujimoto : 3 ⭐️
→ Chainsaw Man vol. 3 by Tatsuki Fujimoto : 4 ⭐️
→ Chainsaw Man vol. 4 by Tatsuki Fujimoto : 4 ⭐️
→ Chainsaw Man vol. 5 by Tatsuki Fujimoto : 4 ⭐️
→ Chainsaw Man vol. 6 by Tatsuki Fujimoto : 4 ⭐️
→ Chainsaw Man vol. 7 by Tatsuki Fujimoto : 3.5 ⭐️
- read 100 books (100/100)
- read all cassandra clare books (0/20)
- read more diverse books
- write more reviews
YEAR REVIEW
books read: 100
average rating: 3.62 stars
pages read: 33947
top 5 books:
→ Daisy Jones & The Six
→ Daughter of No Worlds
→ House of Sky and Breath
→ A Conjuring of Light
→ Summer’s Edge
JANUARY
books read: 23
average rating: 4.0 stars
pages read: 6752
best: A Conjuring of Light
worst: Layla
→ A Conjuring of Light by V.E. Schwab : 5 ⭐
→ Wicked Lies Boys Tell by K. Webster : 3 ⭐
→ This Savage Song by Victoria Schwab : 3 ⭐
→ Perfect on Paper by Sophie Gonzales : 4 ⭐
→ People We Meet on Vacation by Emily Henry : 4 ⭐
→ Shatter Me by Tarereh Mafi : 4 ⭐ (rr)
→ Our Dark Duet by Victoria Schwab : 4 ⭐
→ Icebreaker by A.L. Graziadei : 5 ⭐
→ Cold the Night, Fast the Wolves by Meg Long : 4.5 ⭐
→ My Love Mix-Up! vol. 1 by Wataru Hinekure : 4 ⭐
→ Attack on Titan vol. 1 by Hajime Isayama : 4 ⭐
→ Please Ignore Vera Dietz by A.S. King : 3 ⭐ (rr)
→ Reminders of Him by Colleen Hoover : 5 ⭐
→ The Risk by S.T. Abby : 4 ⭐️
→ Sidetracked by S.T. Abby : 4 ⭐️
→ Scarlet Angel by S.T. Abby : 4 ⭐️
→ All the Lies by S.T. Abby : 4.5 ⭐️
→ Paint it all Red by S.T. Abby : 4.5 ⭐️
→ All Your Perfects by Colleen Hoover : 5 ⭐️
→ Layla by Colleen Hoover : 3 ⭐️
→ City of Ghosts by Victoria Schwab : 3.5 ⭐️
→ Tunnel of Bones by Victoria Schwab : 3.5 ⭐️
→ Bridge of Souls by Victoria Schwab : 3.5 ⭐️
FEBRUARY
books read: 11
average rating: 3.95 stars
pages read: 4128
best: House of Sky and Breath
worst: Fireheart Tiger
→ All the Young Dudes vol. 1 by MsKingBean89 : 5 ⭐️
→ Every Last Word by Tamara Ireland Stone : 3.5 ⭐️
→ Voices by David Elliott : 2 ⭐️
→ A Spindle Splintered by Alix E. Harrow : 3.5 ⭐️
→ House of Earth and Blood by Sarah J. Maas : 5 ⭐️ (rr)
→ Milk and Honey by Rupi Kaur : 4 ⭐️
→ House of Sky and Breath by Sarah J. Maas : 5 ⭐️
→ Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas : 5 ⭐️ (rr)
→ The Girl Who Fell Beneath the Sea by Axie Oh : 4.5 ⭐️
→ Vicious by V.E. Schwab : 4.5 ⭐️
→ Fireheart Tiger by Aliette de Bodard : 1.5 ⭐️
MARCH
books read: 20
average rating: 3.85 stars
pages read: 7114
best: Daughter of No Worlds
worst: Swan Song
→ All the Young Dudes vol. 2 by MsKingBean89 : 5 ⭐️
→ Gallant by V.E. Schwab : 5 ⭐️
→ Sheets by Brenna Thummler : 2.5 ⭐️
→ Mexican Gothic by Silvia Moreno-Garcia : 3 ⭐️
→ The Selection by Kiera Cass : 5 ⭐️ (rr)
→ Swan Song by C. Lymari : 1 ⭐️
→ Girl, Interrupted by Susanna Kaysen : 2.5 ⭐️
→ 5 Seconds Before a Witch Falls in Love by Zeniko Sumiya : 3 ⭐️
→ All That’s Left in the World by Erik J. Brown : 5 ⭐️
→ Daughter of No Worlds by Carissa Broadbent : 5 ⭐️
→ Only Mostly Devastated by Sophie Gonzales : 4 ⭐️
→ The Book of Cold Cases by Simone St. James : 4 ⭐️
→ Ace of Spades by Faridah Àbíké-Íyímídé : 4 ⭐️
→ Bruised by Tanya Boteju : 2 ⭐️
→ Noragami vol. 1 by Adachitoka : 4 ⭐️
→ The Wicker King by K. Ancrum : 3 ⭐️
→ Edgewood by Kristen Ciccarelli : 4 ⭐️
→ Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas : 5 ⭐️ (rr)
→ Crown of Midnight by Sarah J. Maas : 5 ⭐️ (rr)
→ Heir of Fire by Sarah J. Maas : 5 ⭐️ (rr)
APRIL
books read: 13
average rating: 4.27 stars
pages read: 5120
best: The Inheritance Games
worst: The Never King
→ Queen of Shadows by Sarah J. Maas : 5 ⭐️ (rr)
→ The Never King by Nikki St. Crowe : 3 ⭐️
→ 14 Ways to Die by Vincent Ralph : 3.5 ⭐️
→ The Inheritance Games by Jennifer Lynn Barnes : 4.5 ⭐️
→ The Hawthorne Legacy by Jennifer Lynn Barnes : 4.5 ⭐️
→ Heartstopper vol. 1 by Alice Oseman : 5 ⭐️ (rr)
→ She Gets the Girl by Rachael Lippincott : 4 ⭐️
→ Heartstopper vol. 2 by Alice Oseman : 5 ⭐️ (rr)
→ Heartstopper vol. 3 by Alice Oseman : 5 ⭐️ (rr)
→ Heartstopper vol. 4 by Alice Oseman : 5 ⭐️ (rr)
→ Empire of Storms by Sarah J. Maas : 5 ⭐️ (rr)
→ The Paris Apartment by Lucy Foley : 3 ⭐️
→ Aces Wild: A Heist by Amanda DeWitt : 3 ⭐️ (arc)
MAY
books read: 5
average rating: 3.50 stars
pages read: 1693
best: Daisy Jones & The Six
worst: Book of Night
→ Book of Night by Holly Black : 2 ⭐️
→ The Ghosts of Rose Hill by R.M. Romero : 3 ⭐️
→ Daisy Jones & The Six by Taylor Jenkins Reid : 5 ⭐️
→ My Mechanical Romance by Alexene Farol Follmuth : 4.5 ⭐️ (arc)
→ Air Awakens by Elise Kova : 3 ⭐️
JUNE
books read: 7
average rating: 3.86 stars
pages read : 2523
best: I Kissed Shara Wheeler
worst: Message Not Found
→ I Kissed Shara Wheeler by Casey McQuinston : 4.5 ⭐️
→ Summer’s Edge by Dana Mele : 4.5 ⭐️
→ Message Not Found by Dante Medema : 3 ⭐️
→ Hell Followed With Us by Andrew Joseph White : 4.5 ⭐️
→ Hotel Magnifique by Emily J. Taylor : 3 ⭐️
→ Fire Falling by Elise Kova : 3.5 ⭐️
→ Earth’s End by Elise Kova : 4 ⭐️
JULY
books read: 3
average rating: 4.0 stars
pages read: 1185
best: Water’s Wrath
worst: Crystal Crowned
→ Water’s Wrath by Elise Kova : 4 ⭐️
→ Crystal Crowned by Elise Kova : 4 ⭐️
→ Caraval by Stephanie Garber : 4 ⭐️
AUGUST
books read: 0
average rating:
pages read: 0
best:
worst:
SEPTEMBER
books read: 1
average rating: 3.0 stars
pages read: 400
best:
worst:
→ The Final Gambit by Jennifer Lynn Barnes : 3 ⭐️
OCTOBER
books read: 1
average rating: 5.0 stars
pages read: 160
best:
worst:
→ The Heartstopper Yearbook by Alice Oseman : 5 ⭐️
NOVEMBER
books read: 2
average rating: 4.0 stars
pages read: 507
best: Throne of Glass
worst: Fairytales of the Macabre
→ Fairytales of the Macabre by Olivie Blake : 3 ⭐️
→ Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas : 5 ⭐️ (rr)
DECEMBER
books read: 14
average rating: 4.0 stars
pages read: 4227
best: Five Survive
worst: The Dark One
→ The Dark One by Nikki St. Crowe : 2.5 ⭐️
→ Five Survive by Holly Jackson : 4.5 ⭐️
→ Crown of Midnight by Sarah J. Maas : 5 ⭐️ (rr)
→ Heir of Fire by Sarah J. Maas : 5 ⭐️ (rr)
→ Queen of Shadows by Sarah J. Maas : 5 ⭐️ (rr)
→ Daisy Darker by Alice Feeney : 2.5 ⭐️
→ Heartstopper vol. 1 by Alice Oseman : 5 ⭐️ (rr)
→ Chainsaw Man vol. 1 by Tatsuki Fujimoto : 4 ⭐️
→ Chainsaw Man vol. 2 by Tatsuki Fujimoto : 3 ⭐️
→ Chainsaw Man vol. 3 by Tatsuki Fujimoto : 4 ⭐️
→ Chainsaw Man vol. 4 by Tatsuki Fujimoto : 4 ⭐️
→ Chainsaw Man vol. 5 by Tatsuki Fujimoto : 4 ⭐️
→ Chainsaw Man vol. 6 by Tatsuki Fujimoto : 4 ⭐️
→ Chainsaw Man vol. 7 by Tatsuki Fujimoto : 3.5 ⭐️
Shelved as 'year-in-review'
February 20, 2023Reading Goals:
~Read 70 books (105/70) (WOO)🎉✅
~Read some popular books ✅
~Have fun ✅😎
~READ KING OF SCARS AND STOP PUTTING IT OFF ✅
~Finish the Throne of Glass series ✅
Series I want to read/finish:
Throne of Glass (including the novellas): (8/8) ✅
Shatter Me (not including the novellas): (6/6) ✅
Serpent & Dove: (3/3) ✅
A Court of Thorns and Roses: (4.5/4.5) ✅
Key:
(Rereads don't count towards the favorites of each month)
😭- I cried
📖- Re-read
❤- New favorites
😒- Annoyed disappointment
😞- Sad disappointment (don't ask why there are 2 categories- I don't know)
Pages read: 43,291
(My "Reading Wrapped" is at the bottom of this review if you want to skip to it! I saw it going around TikTok so I decided to do that here, just in writing form. I know Goodreads kind of has its own, but I wanted to add more information)
January (My birthday month!)
Average rating: 4.33
Books read: 15 (This was apparently a good month!)
Favorite book: Six of Crows/Crooked Kingdom
Least favorite book: One Dark Throne
1. Daughter of the Siren Queen: ★★★★☆
2. Instant Karma: ★★★★☆
3. Six of Crows: ★★★★★ ❤(My Review)
4. Truly Devious: ★★★★☆ (My Review)
5. Bone Crier's Moon: ★★★★☆
6. Lady Midnight: ★★★★☆ (My Review)
7. Defy the Night: ★★★★☆
8. Good Girl, Bad Blood: ★★★★★ (4.5) (My Review)
9. As Good As Dead: ★★★★★ (4.5) (My Review)
10. The Shadows Between Us: ★★★★★ ❤📖(My Review)
11. Crooked Kingdom: ★★★★★ ❤😭(My Review)
12. Tweet Cute: ★★★★☆ (3.5) (My Review)
13. The One: ★★★★★ ❤😭📖(My Review)
14. Fable: ★★★★★ (4.5) (My Review)
15. One Dark Throne: ★★★★☆ (My Review)
Comments: I read a lotta books this month! Six of Crows and Crooked Kingdom were INCREDIBLE and The Shadows Between Us was a great book. I finished the A Good Girl's Guide to Murder trilogy and I also completed the Daughter of the Pirate King duology!
February
Average rating: 4.14
Books read: 7 (drastic drop)
Favorite book: Sorcery of Thorns
Least favorite book: Two Dark Reigns
1. Shatter Me: ★★★★☆ (My Review)
2. Unravel Me: ★★★★☆ (My Review)
3. Two Dark Reigns: ★★★☆☆
4. Dance of Thieves: ★★★★★ (My Review)
5. An Enchantment of Ravens: ★★★★☆ (My Review)
6. Sorcery of Thorns: ★★★★★ (My Review)
7. The Outsiders: ★★★★☆ (My Review)
Comments: I found a new amazing stand alone, and a new great duology, Dance of Thieves! I started Shatter Me and I have yet to read the rest of the series.
March
Average rating: 4.5
Books read: 3 (Bad month apparently)
Favorite book: Stalking Jack the Ripper
Least favorite book: Beasts and Beauty
1. Namesake: ★★★★★ (4.5) (My Review)
2. Stalking Jack the Ripper: ★★★★★ ❤(My Review)
3. Beasts and Beauty: ★★★★☆ (My Review)
Comments: I found one of my all-time favorite series, Stalking Jack the Ripper, and met one of my favorite love interests ever, the lovely Thomas Cresswell! I finally also finished a book I started in December!
April
Average rating: 4.41
Books read: 6
Favorite book: You've Reached Sam
Least favorite book: A Magic Steeped in Poison
1. Rebel Spring: ★★★★★ (4.5) (My Review)
2. Gathering Darkness: ★★★★★ (4.5) (My Review)
3. Frozen Tides: ★★★★★ (4.5) 😭(My Review)
4. Crystal Storm: ★★★★☆ (My Review)
5. You've Reached Sam: ★★★★★ 😭(My Review)
6. A Magic Steeped in Poison: ★★★★☆ (My Review)
Comments: You've Reached Sam made me cry, and I have almost completed the Falling Kingdoms series!
May
Average rating: 4.2
Books read: 14
Favorite book: These Violent Delights
Least favorite book: The Girl of Fire and Thorns/Tangerine
1. A Heart So Fierce and Broken: ★★★★☆ (My Review)
2. A Vow So Bold and Deadly: ★★★★☆ (My Review)
3. Tangerine: ★★☆☆☆ (2.5) 😒(My Review)
4. The Girl of Fire and Thorns: (DNF) 😒(My Review)
5. These Violent Delights: ★★★★★ ❤(My Review)
6. House of Salt and Sorrows: ★★★★★ (4.5) (My Review)
7. My Lady Jane: ★★★★★ ❤(My Review)
8. Fangirl: ★★★★★ ❤(My Review)
9. Our Violent Ends: ★★★★★ ❤😭(My Review)
10. A RomaJuliette Christmas Special: ★★★★★ (4.5) (My Review)
11. We Were Liars: ★★★☆☆ (2.7) 😞(My Review)
12. Hunting Prince Dracula: ★★★★★ ❤(My Review)
13. Gilded: ★★☆☆☆ (2.5) 😒(My Review)
14. An Ember in the Ashes: ★★★★★ ❤(My Review)
Comments: It was SO hard to choose a favorite for this month, since there were so many good books to choose from. I found one of my favorite new stand-alones, a new fave duology, and so many great books. While I was disappointed with Gilded because I typically love Marissa Meyer's books, I won't let that dampen my attitude. May was a great reading month.
June
Average rating: 4.75
Books read: 4
Favorite book: Capturing the Devil/The Book Thief
Least favorite book: Escaping from Houdini
1. Escaping from Houdini: ★★★★★ (4.5) ❤(My Review)
2. Capturing the Devil: ★★★★★ ❤(My Review)
3. We Hunt the Flame: ★★★★★ (4.5)(My Review)
4. The Book Thief: ★★★★★ ❤😭(My Review)
Comments: I finished the Stalking Jack the Ripper series, and all the books this month were either 4.5 stars or 5! The Book Thief made me cry and I felt so many different emotions, and it was such an impactful book, one of my new favorites.
July
Average rating: 4.28
Books read: 7
Favorite book: Today Tonight Tomorrow
Least favorite book: After the Bridge
1. I Kissed Shara Wheeler: ★★★★☆ (My Review)
2. Today Tonight Tomorrow: ★★★★★ ❤😭(My Review)
3. After the Bridge: ★★☆☆☆ (My Review)
4. Vow of Thieves: ★★★★★ (4.5) 😭(My Review)
5. Throne of Glass: ★★★★★ (4.5) ❤(My Review)
6. Salt to the Sea: ★★★★★ 😭(My Review)
7. Better than the Movies: ★★★★★ ❤(My Review)
Comments: Really good reading month! Found two of my favorite contemporaries, started Throne of Glass, and all of these books were really good! (Except After the Bridge, but we don't talk about that)
August
Average rating: 4.54
Books read: 12
Favorite book: Queen of Shadows
Least favorite book: Save the Date
1. Crown of Midnight: ★★★★★ ❤ (My Review)
2. Heir of Fire: ★★★★★ ❤ (My Review)
3. Queen of Shadows: ★★★★★ ❤ (My Review)
4. The Queen of Nothing: ★★★★★ ❤😭📖(My Review)
5. Wes and Liz's College Road Trip: ★★★★★ (4.5) (My Review)
6. These Violent Delights: ★★★★★ ❤📖 (My Review)
7. Our Violent Ends: ★★★★★ ❤📖😭 (My Review)
8. My Mechanical Romance: ★★★☆☆ 😞 (My Review)
9. Better than the Prom: ★★★★★ (4.5) (My Review)
10. Save the Date: (DNF) ★★☆☆☆ (2.5) (My Review)
11. The Cruel Prince: ★★★★★ ❤📖 (My Review)
12. The Wicked King: ★★★★★ ❤📖 (My Review)
Comments: This was a great reading month! I regained access to all my books (I was moving) so I did a lot of rereading, discovered I was DEFINITELY not in a contemporary phase, and I love the Throne of Glass series. But seriously, this month was great, I read a lot of books, the good and the bad.
September
Average rating: 4.37
Books read: 8
Favorite book: The Ballad of Never After
Least favorite book: The Lucky List
1. Ignite Me: ★★★★★ (4.5) (My Review)
2. Restore Me: ★★★☆☆ (3.5) 😞 (My Review)
3. Six of Crows: ★★★★★ ❤📖 (My Review)
4. Crooked Kingdom : ★★★★★ ❤📖😭 (My Review)
5. The Lucky List: ★★★☆☆ (3.5) (My Review)
6. I Must Betray You: ★★★★☆ (My Review)
7. The Ballad of Never After: ★★★★★ ❤😭 (My Review)
8. Becoming the Dark Prince: ★★★★★ (4.5) (My Review)
Comments: This was a decent month. Some great rereads and reads, some average ones. I got to the Ballad of Never After and I will never recover.
October
Average rating: 4.16
Books read: 12
Favorite book: Kingdom of Ash
Least favorite book: Uglies
1. Defy Me: ★★★☆☆ (3.8) 😞 (My Review)
2. Finale: ★★★★★ ❤📖 (My Review)
3. The Love Hypothesis: ★★★★★ ❤ (My Review)
4. Magic Dark and Strange: (DNF) (My Review)
5. The Song of Achilles: ★★★★☆ 😭😞 (My Review)
6. Empire of Storms: ★★★★★ 😭❤ (My Review)
7. Tower of Dawn: ★★★★★ 😭❤ (My Review)
8. Isla and the Happily Ever After: (DNF) ★★☆☆☆ (2.5) (My Review)
9. Uglies: (DNF) ★★☆☆☆ (My Review)
10. Kingdom of Ash: ★★★★★ 😭❤ (My Review)
11. House of Hollow: ★★★★☆ (My Review)
12. Serpent & Dove: ★★★★★ (4.5) ❤(My Review)
Comments: This was a pretty good month! I finished the Throne of Glass series which caused me spain without the s, and I read some bad books and dnf'd a lot, but I also started a great series, Serpent and Dove! Also found my new favorite rom-com!
November
Average rating: 4
Books read: 9
Favorite book: A Court of Silver Flames
Least favorite book: Tithe
1. A Court of Thorns and Roses: ★★★★☆ ❤(My Review)
2. I'll Give You the Sun: ★★★★☆ (My Review)
3. A Court of Mist and Fury: ★★★★★ ❤(My Review)
4. A Court of Wings and Ruin: ★★★★★ (4.5) ❤😭(My Review)
5. A Court of Frost and Starlight: ★★★★☆ (My Review)
6. A Court of Silver Flames: ★★★★★ ❤😭(My Review)
7. Tithe: (DNF) ★★☆☆☆ 😒😞(My Review)
8. The Assassin's Blade: ★★★★★ (4.5) ❤😭(My Review)
9. King of Scars: ★★★☆☆ 😞(My Review)
Comments: This month was pretty good. I read the whole ACOTAR series which was an emotional roller coaster, and I finally brought myself to read King of Scars, which was rather disappointing. I finally fully finished the Throne of Glass series and I'm not okay.
December
Average rating: 2.94 (yikes)
Books read: 9
Favorite book: Skyward
Least favorite book: Anna and the French Kiss
1. You'll Be the Death of Me: ★★★☆☆ (My Review)
2. Anna and the French Kiss: ★☆☆☆☆ (My Review)
3. Blood & Honey: ★★★☆☆ 😒😞(My Review)
4. The Cousins: ★★★☆☆ (3.5) (My Review)
5. The Lost Sisters: ★★☆☆☆ (2.5) (My Review)
6. Gods & Monsters: ★★★★☆ (My Review)
7. Imagine Me: ★☆☆☆☆ (1.5) 😒(My Review)
8. The Do-Over: ★★★☆☆ 😒😞(My Review)
9. Skyward: ★★★★★ ❤(My Review)
Comments: This month sure was interesting. Ok, it was terrible. I finally finished the Shatter Me series, and I also finished the Serpent & Dove series. I read some of the worst books I've ever read in my life, but I also ended the year with an AMAZING book so it balances out I guess.
Favorite Series/Books of the Year (no order):
Throne of Glass (all-time fave)
Stalking Jack the Ripper
Six of Crows
A Court of Thorns and Roses
Skyward
(There are others that I loved but just can't be compared to these because I loved these ones so much)
Worst Books I Read This Year:
Anna and the French Kiss
Imagine Me (believe me, I'm more than disappointed)
Isla and the Happily Ever After
Tithe
Average Rating:
4.2 stars
My Most Read Author:
Sarah J. Maas: 13 books
Amount of Books Per Rating (the counting is definitely off but I'm lazy and don't want to go back):
★★★★★- 38 (I'm really generous I guess)
★★★★☆.5- 21
★★★★☆- 24 (I must've counted this wrong, there's no way I gave out more 5 stars than 4 stars)
★★★☆☆.5 (and other numbers because I'm weirdly specific)- 5
★★★☆☆- 6 (...wow)
★★☆☆☆.5 (and other number because, again, I'm specific)- 6
★★☆☆☆- 3
★☆☆☆☆.5- 1 (reserved for a very special book)
★☆☆☆☆- 1 (worst book of the year)
Amount of Books That Made Me Cry:
20 books (I'm either an emotional person or an emotionless person- no in between)
Amount of Rereads:
10 books (I was in a rereading mood when I moved into my new house)
Longest and Shortest Book:
Kingdom of Ash: 980 pages (I don't even know how I finished it in such a short amount of time-)
The shortest book technically would be A RomaJuliette Christmas Special, but that's not technically really a book. So I'll only count the physical books for this one.
The Outsiders: 192 pages
Average Page Amount:
412 pages
So yep that's all I can think of right now, but thank you all for an amazing reading year!! 🫶 Why does this feel so bittersweet 🥹
~Read 70 books (105/70) (WOO)🎉✅
~Read some popular books ✅
~Have fun ✅😎
~READ KING OF SCARS AND STOP PUTTING IT OFF ✅
~Finish the Throne of Glass series ✅
Series I want to read/finish:
Throne of Glass (including the novellas): (8/8) ✅
Shatter Me (not including the novellas): (6/6) ✅
Serpent & Dove: (3/3) ✅
A Court of Thorns and Roses: (4.5/4.5) ✅
Key:
(Rereads don't count towards the favorites of each month)
😭- I cried
📖- Re-read
❤- New favorites
😒- Annoyed disappointment
😞- Sad disappointment (don't ask why there are 2 categories- I don't know)
Pages read: 43,291
(My "Reading Wrapped" is at the bottom of this review if you want to skip to it! I saw it going around TikTok so I decided to do that here, just in writing form. I know Goodreads kind of has its own, but I wanted to add more information)
January (My birthday month!)
Average rating: 4.33
Books read: 15 (This was apparently a good month!)
Favorite book: Six of Crows/Crooked Kingdom
Least favorite book: One Dark Throne
1. Daughter of the Siren Queen: ★★★★☆
2. Instant Karma: ★★★★☆
3. Six of Crows: ★★★★★ ❤(My Review)
4. Truly Devious: ★★★★☆ (My Review)
5. Bone Crier's Moon: ★★★★☆
6. Lady Midnight: ★★★★☆ (My Review)
7. Defy the Night: ★★★★☆
8. Good Girl, Bad Blood: ★★★★★ (4.5) (My Review)
9. As Good As Dead: ★★★★★ (4.5) (My Review)
10. The Shadows Between Us: ★★★★★ ❤📖(My Review)
11. Crooked Kingdom: ★★★★★ ❤😭(My Review)
12. Tweet Cute: ★★★★☆ (3.5) (My Review)
13. The One: ★★★★★ ❤😭📖(My Review)
14. Fable: ★★★★★ (4.5) (My Review)
15. One Dark Throne: ★★★★☆ (My Review)
Comments: I read a lotta books this month! Six of Crows and Crooked Kingdom were INCREDIBLE and The Shadows Between Us was a great book. I finished the A Good Girl's Guide to Murder trilogy and I also completed the Daughter of the Pirate King duology!
February
Average rating: 4.14
Books read: 7 (drastic drop)
Favorite book: Sorcery of Thorns
Least favorite book: Two Dark Reigns
1. Shatter Me: ★★★★☆ (My Review)
2. Unravel Me: ★★★★☆ (My Review)
3. Two Dark Reigns: ★★★☆☆
4. Dance of Thieves: ★★★★★ (My Review)
5. An Enchantment of Ravens: ★★★★☆ (My Review)
6. Sorcery of Thorns: ★★★★★ (My Review)
7. The Outsiders: ★★★★☆ (My Review)
Comments: I found a new amazing stand alone, and a new great duology, Dance of Thieves! I started Shatter Me and I have yet to read the rest of the series.
March
Average rating: 4.5
Books read: 3 (Bad month apparently)
Favorite book: Stalking Jack the Ripper
Least favorite book: Beasts and Beauty
1. Namesake: ★★★★★ (4.5) (My Review)
2. Stalking Jack the Ripper: ★★★★★ ❤(My Review)
3. Beasts and Beauty: ★★★★☆ (My Review)
Comments: I found one of my all-time favorite series, Stalking Jack the Ripper, and met one of my favorite love interests ever, the lovely Thomas Cresswell! I finally also finished a book I started in December!
April
Average rating: 4.41
Books read: 6
Favorite book: You've Reached Sam
Least favorite book: A Magic Steeped in Poison
1. Rebel Spring: ★★★★★ (4.5) (My Review)
2. Gathering Darkness: ★★★★★ (4.5) (My Review)
3. Frozen Tides: ★★★★★ (4.5) 😭(My Review)
4. Crystal Storm: ★★★★☆ (My Review)
5. You've Reached Sam: ★★★★★ 😭(My Review)
6. A Magic Steeped in Poison: ★★★★☆ (My Review)
Comments: You've Reached Sam made me cry, and I have almost completed the Falling Kingdoms series!
May
Average rating: 4.2
Books read: 14
Favorite book: These Violent Delights
Least favorite book: The Girl of Fire and Thorns/Tangerine
1. A Heart So Fierce and Broken: ★★★★☆ (My Review)
2. A Vow So Bold and Deadly: ★★★★☆ (My Review)
3. Tangerine: ★★☆☆☆ (2.5) 😒(My Review)
4. The Girl of Fire and Thorns: (DNF) 😒(My Review)
5. These Violent Delights: ★★★★★ ❤(My Review)
6. House of Salt and Sorrows: ★★★★★ (4.5) (My Review)
7. My Lady Jane: ★★★★★ ❤(My Review)
8. Fangirl: ★★★★★ ❤(My Review)
9. Our Violent Ends: ★★★★★ ❤😭(My Review)
10. A RomaJuliette Christmas Special: ★★★★★ (4.5) (My Review)
11. We Were Liars: ★★★☆☆ (2.7) 😞(My Review)
12. Hunting Prince Dracula: ★★★★★ ❤(My Review)
13. Gilded: ★★☆☆☆ (2.5) 😒(My Review)
14. An Ember in the Ashes: ★★★★★ ❤(My Review)
Comments: It was SO hard to choose a favorite for this month, since there were so many good books to choose from. I found one of my favorite new stand-alones, a new fave duology, and so many great books. While I was disappointed with Gilded because I typically love Marissa Meyer's books, I won't let that dampen my attitude. May was a great reading month.
June
Average rating: 4.75
Books read: 4
Favorite book: Capturing the Devil/The Book Thief
Least favorite book: Escaping from Houdini
1. Escaping from Houdini: ★★★★★ (4.5) ❤(My Review)
2. Capturing the Devil: ★★★★★ ❤(My Review)
3. We Hunt the Flame: ★★★★★ (4.5)(My Review)
4. The Book Thief: ★★★★★ ❤😭(My Review)
Comments: I finished the Stalking Jack the Ripper series, and all the books this month were either 4.5 stars or 5! The Book Thief made me cry and I felt so many different emotions, and it was such an impactful book, one of my new favorites.
July
Average rating: 4.28
Books read: 7
Favorite book: Today Tonight Tomorrow
Least favorite book: After the Bridge
1. I Kissed Shara Wheeler: ★★★★☆ (My Review)
2. Today Tonight Tomorrow: ★★★★★ ❤😭(My Review)
3. After the Bridge: ★★☆☆☆ (My Review)
4. Vow of Thieves: ★★★★★ (4.5) 😭(My Review)
5. Throne of Glass: ★★★★★ (4.5) ❤(My Review)
6. Salt to the Sea: ★★★★★ 😭(My Review)
7. Better than the Movies: ★★★★★ ❤(My Review)
Comments: Really good reading month! Found two of my favorite contemporaries, started Throne of Glass, and all of these books were really good! (Except After the Bridge, but we don't talk about that)
August
Average rating: 4.54
Books read: 12
Favorite book: Queen of Shadows
Least favorite book: Save the Date
1. Crown of Midnight: ★★★★★ ❤ (My Review)
2. Heir of Fire: ★★★★★ ❤ (My Review)
3. Queen of Shadows: ★★★★★ ❤ (My Review)
4. The Queen of Nothing: ★★★★★ ❤😭📖(My Review)
5. Wes and Liz's College Road Trip: ★★★★★ (4.5) (My Review)
6. These Violent Delights: ★★★★★ ❤📖 (My Review)
7. Our Violent Ends: ★★★★★ ❤📖😭 (My Review)
8. My Mechanical Romance: ★★★☆☆ 😞 (My Review)
9. Better than the Prom: ★★★★★ (4.5) (My Review)
10. Save the Date: (DNF) ★★☆☆☆ (2.5) (My Review)
11. The Cruel Prince: ★★★★★ ❤📖 (My Review)
12. The Wicked King: ★★★★★ ❤📖 (My Review)
Comments: This was a great reading month! I regained access to all my books (I was moving) so I did a lot of rereading, discovered I was DEFINITELY not in a contemporary phase, and I love the Throne of Glass series. But seriously, this month was great, I read a lot of books, the good and the bad.
September
Average rating: 4.37
Books read: 8
Favorite book: The Ballad of Never After
Least favorite book: The Lucky List
1. Ignite Me: ★★★★★ (4.5) (My Review)
2. Restore Me: ★★★☆☆ (3.5) 😞 (My Review)
3. Six of Crows: ★★★★★ ❤📖 (My Review)
4. Crooked Kingdom : ★★★★★ ❤📖😭 (My Review)
5. The Lucky List: ★★★☆☆ (3.5) (My Review)
6. I Must Betray You: ★★★★☆ (My Review)
7. The Ballad of Never After: ★★★★★ ❤😭 (My Review)
8. Becoming the Dark Prince: ★★★★★ (4.5) (My Review)
Comments: This was a decent month. Some great rereads and reads, some average ones. I got to the Ballad of Never After and I will never recover.
October
Average rating: 4.16
Books read: 12
Favorite book: Kingdom of Ash
Least favorite book: Uglies
1. Defy Me: ★★★☆☆ (3.8) 😞 (My Review)
2. Finale: ★★★★★ ❤📖 (My Review)
3. The Love Hypothesis: ★★★★★ ❤ (My Review)
4. Magic Dark and Strange: (DNF) (My Review)
5. The Song of Achilles: ★★★★☆ 😭😞 (My Review)
6. Empire of Storms: ★★★★★ 😭❤ (My Review)
7. Tower of Dawn: ★★★★★ 😭❤ (My Review)
8. Isla and the Happily Ever After: (DNF) ★★☆☆☆ (2.5) (My Review)
9. Uglies: (DNF) ★★☆☆☆ (My Review)
10. Kingdom of Ash: ★★★★★ 😭❤ (My Review)
11. House of Hollow: ★★★★☆ (My Review)
12. Serpent & Dove: ★★★★★ (4.5) ❤(My Review)
Comments: This was a pretty good month! I finished the Throne of Glass series which caused me spain without the s, and I read some bad books and dnf'd a lot, but I also started a great series, Serpent and Dove! Also found my new favorite rom-com!
November
Average rating: 4
Books read: 9
Favorite book: A Court of Silver Flames
Least favorite book: Tithe
1. A Court of Thorns and Roses: ★★★★☆ ❤(My Review)
2. I'll Give You the Sun: ★★★★☆ (My Review)
3. A Court of Mist and Fury: ★★★★★ ❤(My Review)
4. A Court of Wings and Ruin: ★★★★★ (4.5) ❤😭(My Review)
5. A Court of Frost and Starlight: ★★★★☆ (My Review)
6. A Court of Silver Flames: ★★★★★ ❤😭(My Review)
7. Tithe: (DNF) ★★☆☆☆ 😒😞(My Review)
8. The Assassin's Blade: ★★★★★ (4.5) ❤😭(My Review)
9. King of Scars: ★★★☆☆ 😞(My Review)
Comments: This month was pretty good. I read the whole ACOTAR series which was an emotional roller coaster, and I finally brought myself to read King of Scars, which was rather disappointing. I finally fully finished the Throne of Glass series and I'm not okay.
December
Average rating: 2.94 (yikes)
Books read: 9
Favorite book: Skyward
Least favorite book: Anna and the French Kiss
1. You'll Be the Death of Me: ★★★☆☆ (My Review)
2. Anna and the French Kiss: ★☆☆☆☆ (My Review)
3. Blood & Honey: ★★★☆☆ 😒😞(My Review)
4. The Cousins: ★★★☆☆ (3.5) (My Review)
5. The Lost Sisters: ★★☆☆☆ (2.5) (My Review)
6. Gods & Monsters: ★★★★☆ (My Review)
7. Imagine Me: ★☆☆☆☆ (1.5) 😒(My Review)
8. The Do-Over: ★★★☆☆ 😒😞(My Review)
9. Skyward: ★★★★★ ❤(My Review)
Comments: This month sure was interesting. Ok, it was terrible. I finally finished the Shatter Me series, and I also finished the Serpent & Dove series. I read some of the worst books I've ever read in my life, but I also ended the year with an AMAZING book so it balances out I guess.
Favorite Series/Books of the Year (no order):
Throne of Glass (all-time fave)
Stalking Jack the Ripper
Six of Crows
A Court of Thorns and Roses
Skyward
(There are others that I loved but just can't be compared to these because I loved these ones so much)
Worst Books I Read This Year:
Anna and the French Kiss
Imagine Me (believe me, I'm more than disappointed)
Isla and the Happily Ever After
Tithe
Average Rating:
4.2 stars
My Most Read Author:
Sarah J. Maas: 13 books
Amount of Books Per Rating (the counting is definitely off but I'm lazy and don't want to go back):
★★★★★- 38 (I'm really generous I guess)
★★★★☆.5- 21
★★★★☆- 24 (I must've counted this wrong, there's no way I gave out more 5 stars than 4 stars)
★★★☆☆.5 (and other numbers because I'm weirdly specific)- 5
★★★☆☆- 6 (...wow)
★★☆☆☆.5 (and other number because, again, I'm specific)- 6
★★☆☆☆- 3
★☆☆☆☆.5- 1 (reserved for a very special book)
★☆☆☆☆- 1 (worst book of the year)
Amount of Books That Made Me Cry:
20 books (I'm either an emotional person or an emotionless person- no in between)
Amount of Rereads:
10 books (I was in a rereading mood when I moved into my new house)
Longest and Shortest Book:
Kingdom of Ash: 980 pages (I don't even know how I finished it in such a short amount of time-)
The shortest book technically would be A RomaJuliette Christmas Special, but that's not technically really a book. So I'll only count the physical books for this one.
The Outsiders: 192 pages
Average Page Amount:
412 pages
So yep that's all I can think of right now, but thank you all for an amazing reading year!! 🫶 Why does this feel so bittersweet 🥹
Read
March 4, 2022Update at the bottom.
___
This is my first year keeping a narrative reading log. I’m hoping it allows me to be more intentional and deliberate about my reading. Over the last year, I’ve built up such a backlog of books that I feel pressure to read fast and get on to the next one. I’d like to reverse that tendency.
My reading mostly falls into two categories. First are books I receive from small press subscriptions. These tend to be innovative or translated novels or story collections. Second are all the other books I pick up. Most of the books in the second category are new literary fiction or poetry and I try to read these with other people, whether with an online community or friends.
My primary goal this year is to broaden my reading beyond North Atlantic literature. In particular, I’d like to read more African and Caribbean fiction. At some point this year, I hope to dive into Abdulrazak Gurnah’s work. Beyond that, I’d like to read writers from a variety of backgrounds.
Another emphasis will be continuing to explore queer and LGBTQ+ works. This has been a goal for several years. This year I’d like to focus on queer authors from outside North America. I would also like to focus on innovative works that are structurally, as well as thematically, queer. Isabel Waidner is one writer in particular I’d like to read more.
My plan is to update this throughout the year. As always, I welcome comments here or on the books I read. I try to be as interactive as possible.
January:
I finished eight books in January. By far, the most memorable was Tender by Ariana Harwicz. Tender is more streamlined than Harwicz's earlier Die, My Love, and even more unsettling. For Tender, Harwicz eliminated the chapter breaks, condensing the narrative into a single 75-page force.
The other standout was The Things We've Seen by Augustin Fernandez Mallo. As a follow up to his Nocilla Trilogy, his latest work is perhaps his most sophisticated yet. Not quite a trilogy itself, The Things We've Seen is a triptych of shorter works that depict the after effects of war and take their cue from the epigraph: "It's a mistake to take the things we've seen as given."
Most of my time this month has been reading To Paradise, the newest from Hanya Yanagihara, which I haven't finished yet. Like The Things We've Seen, To Paradise is a triptych and shares remarkably similar themes.
Another book I enjoyed this month was Marwa Halal's latest poetry collection, Ante body. Halal is one of a new generation of American poets who urgently explores contemporary issues like police violence and the apartheid state in the Middle East. What sets Halal apart is her exploration of forms, with her latest collection the most exciting yet.
Other books I read this month: How to Write an Autobiographical Novel: Essays; Four Minutes; Happy Stories, Mostly; and Wilder Winds. Each of these was good, and I'd recommend them to the right reader, but none was particularly groundbreaking.
The disappointment this month was Fiona and Jane. Objectively, this wasn't awful, but it ticked several of my pet peeve boxes: generic voice, literary pretentions, splashy cover, and a big marketing push by the publisher that wasn't backed up by the prose. I would skip this one.
February:
I finished eight books in February, staring with To Paradise. I had mixed feelings about To Paradise, which contains three separate books that more or less stand alone. Book 3 was excellent - an apocalyptic story set in New York during the latter half of the 21st century. Books 1 and 2 were less successful.
My favorite books this month were Occupation, by Julian Fuks and tr. Daniel Hahn, and Our Lady of the Nile, by Scholastique Mukasong and tr. Melanie Mauthner. Somebody Loves You by mona arshi was very good as well.
The Longcut, a forthcoming debut by Emily Hall, is an interesting and innovative short novel from Dalkey Archive Press. It didn't quite work for me, but I still enjoyed it. In The Dark, Seasons in Hippoland, and I Will Die in a Foreign Land were less memorable.
___
This is my first year keeping a narrative reading log. I’m hoping it allows me to be more intentional and deliberate about my reading. Over the last year, I’ve built up such a backlog of books that I feel pressure to read fast and get on to the next one. I’d like to reverse that tendency.
My reading mostly falls into two categories. First are books I receive from small press subscriptions. These tend to be innovative or translated novels or story collections. Second are all the other books I pick up. Most of the books in the second category are new literary fiction or poetry and I try to read these with other people, whether with an online community or friends.
My primary goal this year is to broaden my reading beyond North Atlantic literature. In particular, I’d like to read more African and Caribbean fiction. At some point this year, I hope to dive into Abdulrazak Gurnah’s work. Beyond that, I’d like to read writers from a variety of backgrounds.
Another emphasis will be continuing to explore queer and LGBTQ+ works. This has been a goal for several years. This year I’d like to focus on queer authors from outside North America. I would also like to focus on innovative works that are structurally, as well as thematically, queer. Isabel Waidner is one writer in particular I’d like to read more.
My plan is to update this throughout the year. As always, I welcome comments here or on the books I read. I try to be as interactive as possible.
January:
I finished eight books in January. By far, the most memorable was Tender by Ariana Harwicz. Tender is more streamlined than Harwicz's earlier Die, My Love, and even more unsettling. For Tender, Harwicz eliminated the chapter breaks, condensing the narrative into a single 75-page force.
The other standout was The Things We've Seen by Augustin Fernandez Mallo. As a follow up to his Nocilla Trilogy, his latest work is perhaps his most sophisticated yet. Not quite a trilogy itself, The Things We've Seen is a triptych of shorter works that depict the after effects of war and take their cue from the epigraph: "It's a mistake to take the things we've seen as given."
Most of my time this month has been reading To Paradise, the newest from Hanya Yanagihara, which I haven't finished yet. Like The Things We've Seen, To Paradise is a triptych and shares remarkably similar themes.
Another book I enjoyed this month was Marwa Halal's latest poetry collection, Ante body. Halal is one of a new generation of American poets who urgently explores contemporary issues like police violence and the apartheid state in the Middle East. What sets Halal apart is her exploration of forms, with her latest collection the most exciting yet.
Other books I read this month: How to Write an Autobiographical Novel: Essays; Four Minutes; Happy Stories, Mostly; and Wilder Winds. Each of these was good, and I'd recommend them to the right reader, but none was particularly groundbreaking.
The disappointment this month was Fiona and Jane. Objectively, this wasn't awful, but it ticked several of my pet peeve boxes: generic voice, literary pretentions, splashy cover, and a big marketing push by the publisher that wasn't backed up by the prose. I would skip this one.
February:
I finished eight books in February, staring with To Paradise. I had mixed feelings about To Paradise, which contains three separate books that more or less stand alone. Book 3 was excellent - an apocalyptic story set in New York during the latter half of the 21st century. Books 1 and 2 were less successful.
My favorite books this month were Occupation, by Julian Fuks and tr. Daniel Hahn, and Our Lady of the Nile, by Scholastique Mukasong and tr. Melanie Mauthner. Somebody Loves You by mona arshi was very good as well.
The Longcut, a forthcoming debut by Emily Hall, is an interesting and innovative short novel from Dalkey Archive Press. It didn't quite work for me, but I still enjoyed it. In The Dark, Seasons in Hippoland, and I Will Die in a Foreign Land were less memorable.
Read
January 2, 2023بعد از شهریور سه ماه ذهنم فلج شد. نه میتونستم کتاب بخونم نه هیچ کار مفید دیگهای میتونستم بکنم. بعد که کم کم سعی کردم خودم رو بکشم بیرون به نظرم رسید وظیفه دارم کتابهایی با موضوع مطالعات زنان بخونم و دیگه حق ندارم در این زمینه بی اطلاع باشم. شروع کردم با پرس و جو یه لیست برای خودم درست کردم، اول سه تا کتاب مقدماتی که نظریات فمینیستی رو توضیح میدن، تا یه مقدار بیام توی باغ.
بعد برای این که مرتبط باشه با حوزه مطالعاتیم، یه سری کتاب انتخاب کردم در مورد زن و حقوق زن در ادیان. به تدریج با جستجو کتابهای بیشتری پیدا خواهم کرد.
مخصوصاً به کتابخوانهای مرد: سعی کنید در این مورد بخونید. نظام آموزشی ما بهمون آموزش نداده، برای همین باید خودمون به خودمون آموزش بدیم و فکر کنم کمترین کاریه که الان ازمون برمیاد. از این شوک بزرگ استفاده کنیم برای هشیار شدن و هشیار کردن دیگران.
سه کتاب مقدماتی که انتخاب کردم برای خودم، اینان:
سیطره جنس
فمینیسم
درآمدی جامع بر نظریههای فمینیستی
اگر کتاب خوبی در این حیطه سراغ دارید، ممنون میشم اگر معرفی کنید.
بعد برای این که مرتبط باشه با حوزه مطالعاتیم، یه سری کتاب انتخاب کردم در مورد زن و حقوق زن در ادیان. به تدریج با جستجو کتابهای بیشتری پیدا خواهم کرد.
مخصوصاً به کتابخوانهای مرد: سعی کنید در این مورد بخونید. نظام آموزشی ما بهمون آموزش نداده، برای همین باید خودمون به خودمون آموزش بدیم و فکر کنم کمترین کاریه که الان ازمون برمیاد. از این شوک بزرگ استفاده کنیم برای هشیار شدن و هشیار کردن دیگران.
سه کتاب مقدماتی که انتخاب کردم برای خودم، اینان:
سیطره جنس
فمینیسم
درآمدی جامع بر نظریههای فمینیستی
اگر کتاب خوبی در این حیطه سراغ دارید، ممنون میشم اگر معرفی کنید.
December 25, 2022
.
Ahoy there, fellow shipmates and bookaneers!
My book tally was deplorably low this year, what with Beyoncé and Jay-Z persistently flying me out to their hilltop mansion for cocktails, and William and Kate dropping by for tea and biscuits at all hours of the day. I barely had time to think, much less pick up a book. : (
In any case, I did settle down to read more than a few, and here they are...
FIVE-STAR REVIEWS *****
Broken Rhodes: Kimber Silver
Moving On: Sara Steger
The Keepers of the House: Shirley Ann Grau
The Brothers Karamazov: Fyodor Dostoevsky
Full Circle Undivided: Wendy E Slater
Catch the Moon, Mary: Wendy Waters
FOUR-STAR REVIEWS ****
The Heart of the Matter: Graham Greene
Breakfast of Champions: Kurt Vonnegut
Collected Stories: Gabriel García Márquez
The Signalman (A Ghost Story for Christmas): Charles Dickens
The Caterpillar: Lydia Davis
A Shocking Accident: Graham Greene
The Lion's Den: Anthony Marra
Our Lady of the Artilects: Andrew Gillsmith
The Exchange: Jon Langford
Breakfast: John Steinbeck
Misery: Anton Chekhov
Wishing you all a sparkling new year of spectacular reads and contented lives!
Big Love,
Kevin x
Ahoy there, fellow shipmates and bookaneers!
My book tally was deplorably low this year, what with Beyoncé and Jay-Z persistently flying me out to their hilltop mansion for cocktails, and William and Kate dropping by for tea and biscuits at all hours of the day. I barely had time to think, much less pick up a book. : (
In any case, I did settle down to read more than a few, and here they are...
FIVE-STAR REVIEWS *****
Broken Rhodes: Kimber Silver
Moving On: Sara Steger
The Keepers of the House: Shirley Ann Grau
The Brothers Karamazov: Fyodor Dostoevsky
Full Circle Undivided: Wendy E Slater
Catch the Moon, Mary: Wendy Waters
FOUR-STAR REVIEWS ****
The Heart of the Matter: Graham Greene
Breakfast of Champions: Kurt Vonnegut
Collected Stories: Gabriel García Márquez
The Signalman (A Ghost Story for Christmas): Charles Dickens
The Caterpillar: Lydia Davis
A Shocking Accident: Graham Greene
The Lion's Den: Anthony Marra
Our Lady of the Artilects: Andrew Gillsmith
The Exchange: Jon Langford
Breakfast: John Steinbeck
Misery: Anton Chekhov
Wishing you all a sparkling new year of spectacular reads and contented lives!
Big Love,
Kevin x
December 24, 2022
Hello, it's me, Queen of Trash ✨️
I suck at reading goals. I suck at goals in general, actually. My brain is like a spinning hamster wheel (hamster included) in that it's always turning, but doesn't always know where it's going, interspersed with moments of "I REQUIRE FOOD AND WATER NOW! THE WHEEL MUST STOP!"
Soooo let me make a list of goals.
These are the WIPs I need to get around to finishing because I'm just as trash at making writing goals as I am at making reading goals:
✨️ Batter My Heart (AKA, THE BOOK THAT NEVER FUCKING ENDS) -- I DID IT!
✨️ Rent Girl (HIGH KEY EXCITED FOR THIS) -- I DID THIS TOO! WHAAAAAT
✨️ Court the Night (UGH HELP I HAVE NO IDEAS)
✨️ Little Deaths (IT'S NOT WHAT YOU THINK... OR IS IT??!) -- Ohmigod she PUBLISHED IT. And after having a legit panic attack on release day, thinking everyone would hate it... not everyone hated it! In fact, most people liked it! I'm so HAPPY! ;~;
✨️ Wildscape (LUCA MECOZZI IS BACK, BITCHES) -- CURRENTLY WRITING!
✨️ Evergloom (GHOSTS OR SOME SHIT IDK)
Productivity, who that?
Reading goals:
✨️ Whittle the number of books on my Kindle down from 1k to 700. I know there's some shit on there that I impulse-bought that I'm never going to read. IT MUST BE PURGED. -- Well this was a fail because I'm almost at 2k now. What the fuck am I doing. Curse those 99c sales.
✨️ Do more buddy-reads! I like buddy-reads. I am not very good at buddy-reads. I need to practice being a better buddy-reader.
✨️ Read more books by PoCs/books with disability rep/neurodivergent rep/etc. A few years ago I realized that I read under ten a year??? That was not good. Since then I've ramped that number up quite a bit, but ✨️ we can always do better ✨️
✨️ Post on Instagram every day. JK I'M NOT GONNA DO THIS. BUT I CAN DREAM. (Are you following me on Instagram, BTW? I post pictures of old romances in nature: https://www.instagram.com/alwaysbeebo...)
✨️ Read a career/work-related book at least once a month. Because I'm a boss bitch in tech. >:D
✨️ Cross post more to Amazon and Twitter, even though I'm a lazy shit. (You can follow me on Twitter too if you want, but it's very much "old woman yells at cloud," BECAUSE FUCK YOU, CLOUDS. CALIFORNIA IS ON FIRE AND YOU WON'T GIVE US RAIN? THAT IS SOME BS, YOU STINGY WHITE WISPS OF WATER VAPOR: https://twitter.com/NeniaCampbell) -- Mad success with this one actually. I'm giving myself an A.
✨️ Make more of an effort to reach out to authors whose books I loved and tell them they are awesome. :') Because authors need love too. -- SUCCESS. Also made some new authors buddies over this outreach program and my bitter jaded heart is weepy and soft about this.
✨️ Go through my wishlist and to-read shelves and delete the things that I no longer want to read/probably am not going to read.
✨️ Engage more on GR. I feel like sometimes my feed gets so bogged down with content that I accidentally ignore people and I feel bad about that. IT'S NOT ON PURPOSE I'M SORRY.
✨️ Stop beating myself up over things I can't help and focus on things I can actually change
✨️ Try to be a better person overall because being trash is for books and not for people
✨️ Something I probably forgot but is definitely important oh well
I suck at reading goals. I suck at goals in general, actually. My brain is like a spinning hamster wheel (hamster included) in that it's always turning, but doesn't always know where it's going, interspersed with moments of "I REQUIRE FOOD AND WATER NOW! THE WHEEL MUST STOP!"
Soooo let me make a list of goals.
These are the WIPs I need to get around to finishing because I'm just as trash at making writing goals as I am at making reading goals:
✨️ Court the Night (UGH HELP I HAVE NO IDEAS)
✨️ Wildscape (LUCA MECOZZI IS BACK, BITCHES) -- CURRENTLY WRITING!
✨️ Evergloom (GHOSTS OR SOME SHIT IDK)
Productivity, who that?
Reading goals:
✨️ Whittle the number of books on my Kindle down from 1k to 700. I know there's some shit on there that I impulse-bought that I'm never going to read. IT MUST BE PURGED. -- Well this was a fail because I'm almost at 2k now. What the fuck am I doing. Curse those 99c sales.
✨️ Do more buddy-reads! I like buddy-reads. I am not very good at buddy-reads. I need to practice being a better buddy-reader.
✨️ Read more books by PoCs/books with disability rep/neurodivergent rep/etc. A few years ago I realized that I read under ten a year??? That was not good. Since then I've ramped that number up quite a bit, but ✨️ we can always do better ✨️
✨️ Post on Instagram every day. JK I'M NOT GONNA DO THIS. BUT I CAN DREAM. (Are you following me on Instagram, BTW? I post pictures of old romances in nature: https://www.instagram.com/alwaysbeebo...)
✨️ Read a career/work-related book at least once a month. Because I'm a boss bitch in tech. >:D
✨️ Go through my wishlist and to-read shelves and delete the things that I no longer want to read/probably am not going to read.
✨️ Engage more on GR. I feel like sometimes my feed gets so bogged down with content that I accidentally ignore people and I feel bad about that. IT'S NOT ON PURPOSE I'M SORRY.
✨️ Stop beating myself up over things I can't help and focus on things I can actually change
✨️ Try to be a better person overall because being trash is for books and not for people
✨️ Something I probably forgot but is definitely important oh well
Shelved as 'review-of-the-year'
April 17, 2022
✧: 𝑗𝑎𝑛𝑢𝑎𝑟𝑦
↻ Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone. 5 stars.
↻ Dial A for Aunties by Jesse Q. Sutanto. 4.5 stars.
↻ The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien. 5 stars.
↻ Punderworld by Linda Šejić. 4 stars.
↻ Lore Olympus s2 by Rachel Smythe. 5 stars.
↻ Starsight by Brandon Sanderson. 5 stars.
↻ Red Queen by Victoria Aveyard. 1.5 stars.
↻ Queen Song by Victoria Aveyard. 3 stars.
↻ Caraval by Stephanie Garber. 3.5 stars.
favorite book:
Starsight.
least favorite book:
Red Queen.
✧: 𝑓𝑒𝑏𝑟𝑢𝑎𝑟𝑦
↻ The Ex Hex by Erin Sterling. 4 stars.
↻ The Rebound by Catherine Walsh. 4 stars.
↻ Magik #1 by Chris Claremont. 3 stars.
↻ Magik #2 by Chris Claremont. 3 stars.
↻ Magik #3 by Chris Claremont. 4 stars.
↻ Magik #4 by Chris Claremont. 5 stars.
↻ The Wedding Ringer by Kerry Rea. 4.5 stars.
↻ Just Friends by Jo Lovett. 3 stars.
↻ The Lighthouse Witches by C.J. Cooke. 4.75 stars.
favorite book:
The Lighthouse Witches.
least favorite book:
None.
✧: 𝑚𝑎𝑟𝑐ℎ
↻ After the Wedding by Laura Elliot. 2.5 stars.
↻ Don Álvaro by Duque de Rivas. 2 stars.
↻ King of Scars by Leigh Bardugo. 4 stars.
↻ Allison's Adventures in Underland by C.M. Stunich. 4 stars.
↻ The Family Holiday by Shalini Boland. 4 stars.
↻ The Killer's Family by Miranda Smith. 3 stars.
↻ On the Same Page by Penelope Janu. 2 stars.
↻ My Mechanical Romance by Alexene Farol Follmuth. 5 stars.
favorite book:
My Mechanical Romance.
least favorite book:
After the Wedding.
✧: 𝑎𝑝𝑟𝑖𝑙
↻ Pepita Jimenez by Juan Valera. 1.5 stars.
↻ Four Aunties and a Wedding by Jesse Q. Sutanto. 4 stars.
↻ Invincika by Varun Sayal. 3 stars.
✧: 𝑚𝑎𝑦
✧: 𝑗𝑢𝑛𝑒
✧: 𝑗𝑢𝑙𝑦
✧: 𝑎𝑢𝑔𝑢𝑠𝑡
✧: 𝑠𝑒𝑝𝑡𝑒𝑚𝑏𝑒𝑟
✧: 𝑜𝑐𝑡𝑜𝑏𝑒𝑟
✧: 𝑛𝑜𝑣𝑒𝑚𝑏𝑒𝑟
✧: 𝑑𝑒𝑐𝑒𝑚𝑏𝑒𝑟
››
my goal for 2022 is 100 books.
but also:
➳ read a big part of my every-day-growing tbr shelf.
➳ read more classics.
➳ read more historical romances.
➳ read more arcs.
➳ read perhaps 5 nonfiction books.
➳ read way more comics.
➳ and of course, enjoy my books!
↻ Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone. 5 stars.
↻ Dial A for Aunties by Jesse Q. Sutanto. 4.5 stars.
↻ The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien. 5 stars.
↻ Punderworld by Linda Šejić. 4 stars.
↻ Lore Olympus s2 by Rachel Smythe. 5 stars.
↻ Starsight by Brandon Sanderson. 5 stars.
↻ Red Queen by Victoria Aveyard. 1.5 stars.
↻ Queen Song by Victoria Aveyard. 3 stars.
↻ Caraval by Stephanie Garber. 3.5 stars.
favorite book:
Starsight.
least favorite book:
Red Queen.
✧: 𝑓𝑒𝑏𝑟𝑢𝑎𝑟𝑦
↻ The Ex Hex by Erin Sterling. 4 stars.
↻ The Rebound by Catherine Walsh. 4 stars.
↻ Magik #1 by Chris Claremont. 3 stars.
↻ Magik #2 by Chris Claremont. 3 stars.
↻ Magik #3 by Chris Claremont. 4 stars.
↻ Magik #4 by Chris Claremont. 5 stars.
↻ The Wedding Ringer by Kerry Rea. 4.5 stars.
↻ Just Friends by Jo Lovett. 3 stars.
↻ The Lighthouse Witches by C.J. Cooke. 4.75 stars.
favorite book:
The Lighthouse Witches.
least favorite book:
None.
✧: 𝑚𝑎𝑟𝑐ℎ
↻ After the Wedding by Laura Elliot. 2.5 stars.
↻ Don Álvaro by Duque de Rivas. 2 stars.
↻ King of Scars by Leigh Bardugo. 4 stars.
↻ Allison's Adventures in Underland by C.M. Stunich. 4 stars.
↻ The Family Holiday by Shalini Boland. 4 stars.
↻ The Killer's Family by Miranda Smith. 3 stars.
↻ On the Same Page by Penelope Janu. 2 stars.
↻ My Mechanical Romance by Alexene Farol Follmuth. 5 stars.
favorite book:
My Mechanical Romance.
least favorite book:
After the Wedding.
✧: 𝑎𝑝𝑟𝑖𝑙
↻ Pepita Jimenez by Juan Valera. 1.5 stars.
↻ Four Aunties and a Wedding by Jesse Q. Sutanto. 4 stars.
↻ Invincika by Varun Sayal. 3 stars.
✧: 𝑚𝑎𝑦
✧: 𝑗𝑢𝑛𝑒
✧: 𝑗𝑢𝑙𝑦
✧: 𝑎𝑢𝑔𝑢𝑠𝑡
✧: 𝑠𝑒𝑝𝑡𝑒𝑚𝑏𝑒𝑟
✧: 𝑜𝑐𝑡𝑜𝑏𝑒𝑟
✧: 𝑛𝑜𝑣𝑒𝑚𝑏𝑒𝑟
✧: 𝑑𝑒𝑐𝑒𝑚𝑏𝑒𝑟
››
my goal for 2022 is 100 books.
but also:
➳ read a big part of my every-day-growing tbr shelf.
➳ read more classics.
➳ read more historical romances.
➳ read more arcs.
➳ read perhaps 5 nonfiction books.
➳ read way more comics.
➳ and of course, enjoy my books!
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Read
January 3, 2023
☀ 𝙶𝚎𝚗𝚎𝚛𝚊𝚕 𝙱𝚘𝚘𝚔𝚒𝚜𝚑 𝙶𝚘𝚊𝚕𝚜 ☀
☀ Stick to my TBR more;
☀ Try to read at least 15 classics/cults;
☀ DNF books I don't get into by the first 50 pages;
▼△▼△▼△▼△▼
❉𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟮 𝗕𝗼𝗼𝗸𝘀❉
(𝕋𝕆𝕋𝔸𝕃: 𝟙𝟝𝟝; 𝔻ℕ𝔽𝕤: 𝟙𝟡; 𝔸𝕍𝔾 ℝ𝔸𝕋𝕀ℕ𝔾𝕊: 𝟛,𝟝𝟜)
⇧ 𝚏𝚊𝚟𝚘𝚛𝚒𝚝𝚎 𝚋𝚘𝚘𝚔 𝚘𝚏 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚢𝚎𝚊𝚛: 𝙳𝚊𝚒𝚜𝚢 𝙹𝚘𝚗𝚎𝚜 & 𝚃𝚑𝚎 𝚂𝚒𝚡
⇩𝚕𝚎𝚊𝚜𝚝 𝚏𝚊𝚟𝚘𝚛𝚒𝚝𝚎 𝚋𝚘𝚘𝚔 𝚘𝚏 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚢𝚎𝚊𝚛: 𝚃𝚑𝚎 𝙻𝚘𝚟𝚎 𝙷𝚢𝚙𝚘𝚝𝚑𝚎𝚜𝚒𝚜
▼△▼△▼△▼△▼
🄹🄰🄽🅄🄰🅁🅈
(𝕋𝕆𝕋𝔸𝕃: 𝟙𝟞; 𝔻ℕ𝔽𝕤: 𝟚; 𝔸𝕍𝔾 ℝ𝔸𝕋𝕀ℕ𝔾𝕊: 𝟛,𝟟𝟝)
❉ Spin The Dawn • 4½ (♛)
❉ The Girls Are All So Nice Here • 4/5 (☠)
❉ Angelfall • 4/5 (♛-✄)
❉ Rebel of the Sands • 4/5 (♛-✄)
�� The Sorority Murder • 2/5 (☠)
❉ The Love Hypothesis • 2/5 (ℜ)
❉ These Violent Delights • 3/5 (♛-ℜ-๑)
❉ Animal Farm • 4/5 (✒-♪)
❉ Demon • 4½/5 (☠)
❉ Kingdom of the Wicked • 4½/5 (♛)
❉ Getting Real • 4/5 (ℜ-♪)
❉ Once Upon a Broken Heart • 2/5 (♛)
❉ The Spanish Love Deception • DNFd 66% (ℜ)
❉ Marriage for One • DNFd 78% (ℜ)
❉ The Cruel Prince • 5/5 (♛-√)
❉ The Wicked King • 5/5 (♛-√)
⇧ 𝚏𝚊𝚟𝚘𝚛𝚒𝚝𝚎 𝚋𝚘𝚘𝚔 𝚘𝚏 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚖𝚘𝚗𝚝𝚑: 𝙺𝚒𝚗𝚐𝚍𝚘𝚖 𝚘𝚏 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚆𝚒𝚌𝚔𝚎𝚍
⇩𝚕𝚎𝚊𝚜𝚝 𝚏𝚊𝚟𝚘𝚛𝚒𝚝𝚎 𝚋𝚘𝚘𝚔 𝚘𝚏 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚖𝚘𝚗𝚝𝚑: 𝚃𝚑𝚎 𝙻𝚘𝚟𝚎 𝙷𝚢𝚙𝚘𝚝𝚑𝚎𝚜𝚒𝚜
════ ⋆★⋆ ════
🄵🄴🄱🅁🅄🄰🅁🅈
(𝕋𝕆𝕋𝔸𝕃: 𝟙𝟡; 𝔻ℕ𝔽𝕤: 𝟚; 𝔸𝕍𝔾 ℝ𝔸𝕋𝕀ℕ𝔾𝕊: 𝟛,𝟜𝟜)
❉ The Queen of Nothing • 5/5 (♛-√)
❉ For Your Own Good • DNFd 30% (☠)
❉ A Curse So Dark and Lonely • 4½/5 (๑-♛-✄)
❉ Rock Paper Scissors • DNFd 45% (☠)
❉ Fable • 4½/5 (♛)
❉ Instamom • 2/5 (ℜ-✎)
❉ Social Creature • 4/5 (☠-✄)
❉ Psycho • 4/5 (✒)
❉ Aurora's End • 3/5 (♛)
❉ Unspeakable Things • 3/5 (☠-♪)
❉ Maid of Dishonor • 2/5 (ℜ)
❉ Josh and Gemma Make a Baby • 4/5 (ℜ)
❉ It Ends with Us • 4/5 (©)
❉ Good Girl Complex • 4/5 (ℜ-♪)
❉ All Eyes on Her • 2/5 (☠-♪)
❉ House of Sky and Breath • 3½/5 (♛)
❉ Everless • 3/5 (♛-✄)
❉ Reckless Girls • 3/5 (☠-♪)
❉ Birthday Girl • 3/5 (ℜ)
⇧𝚏𝚊𝚟𝚘𝚛𝚒𝚝𝚎 𝚋𝚘𝚘𝚔 𝚘𝚏 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚖𝚘𝚗𝚝𝚑: 𝙵𝚊𝚋𝚕𝚎
⇩𝚕𝚎𝚊𝚜𝚝 𝚏𝚊𝚟𝚘𝚛𝚒𝚝𝚎 𝚋𝚘𝚘𝚔 𝚘𝚏 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚖𝚘𝚗𝚝𝚑: 𝙼𝚊𝚒𝚍 𝚘𝚏 𝙳𝚒𝚜𝚑𝚘𝚗𝚘𝚛
════ ⋆★⋆ ════
🄼🄰🅁🄲🄷
(𝕋𝕆𝕋𝔸𝕃: 𝟙𝟜; 𝔻ℕ𝔽𝕤: 𝟛; 𝔸𝕍𝔾 ℝ𝔸𝕋𝕀ℕ𝔾𝕊: 𝟛,𝟝𝟜)
❉ A Little Life • 3/5 (©)
❉ Hook, Line, and Sinker • 3/5 (ℜ)
❉ The Assignment • 4/5 (ℜ)
❉ These Silent Woods • 3/5 (☠-♪)
❉ The Book of Ivy• 3/5 (✄-♛-ℜ)
❉ These Hollow Vows • 3½/5 (♛-ℜ)
❉ The Shadows Between Us • 5/5 (♛-ℜ-✄)
❉ Delilah Green Doesn't Care • 4/5 (ℜ)
❉ Rhapsodic • DNFd at 12% (♛-ℜ)
❉ The Savior's Champion • DNFd 13% (☠-✄)
❉ The Rest is Silence • DNFd 15% (☠-ℜ-๑)
❉ Master of Salt & Bones • 3½/5 (๑-☠-ℜ)
❉ Mr. Wrong Number • 3/5 (ℜ)
❉ The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue • 4/5 (♛-ℜ)
⇧𝚏𝚊𝚟𝚘𝚛𝚒𝚝𝚎 𝚋𝚘𝚘𝚔 𝚘𝚏 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚖𝚘𝚗𝚝𝚑: 𝚃𝚑𝚎 𝚂𝚑𝚊𝚍𝚘𝚠𝚜 𝙱𝚎𝚝𝚠𝚎𝚎𝚗 𝚄𝚜
⇩𝚕𝚎𝚊𝚜𝚝 𝚏𝚊𝚟𝚘𝚛𝚒𝚝𝚎 𝚋𝚘𝚘𝚔 𝚘𝚏 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚖𝚘𝚗𝚝𝚑: 𝚃𝚑𝚎 𝚂𝚊𝚟𝚒𝚘𝚛'𝚜 𝙲𝚑𝚊𝚖𝚙𝚒𝚘𝚗
════ ⋆★⋆ ════
🄰🄿🅁🄸🄻
(𝕋𝕆𝕋𝔸𝕃: 𝟝; 𝔻ℕ𝔽𝕤: 𝟘; 𝔸𝕍𝔾 ℝ𝔸𝕋𝕀ℕ𝔾𝕊: 𝟛)
❉ A Court of Mist and Fury • 4/5 (♛-ℜ-√)
❉ The Viscount Who Loved Me • 3/5 (ℜ)
❉ Starcrossed • 3/5 (♛-ℜ-√)
❉ Pestilence • 2/5 (♪-♛-ℜ)
❉ Belle Morte • 3/5 (✎-♛-ℜ)
⇧𝚏𝚊𝚟𝚘𝚛𝚒𝚝𝚎 𝚋𝚘𝚘𝚔 𝚘𝚏 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚖𝚘𝚗𝚝𝚑: 𝙰 𝙲𝚘𝚞𝚛𝚝 𝚘𝚏 𝙼𝚒𝚜𝚝 𝙰𝚗𝚍 𝙵𝚞𝚛𝚢
⇩𝚕𝚎𝚊𝚜𝚝 𝚏𝚊𝚟𝚘𝚛𝚒𝚝𝚎 𝚋𝚘𝚘𝚔 𝚘𝚏 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚖𝚘𝚗𝚝𝚑: 𝙿𝚎𝚜𝚝𝚒𝚕𝚎𝚗𝚌𝚎
════ ⋆★⋆ ════
🄼🄰🅈
(𝕋𝕆𝕋𝔸𝕃: 𝟡; 𝔻ℕ𝔽𝕤: 𝟚; 𝔸𝕍𝔾 ℝ𝔸𝕋𝕀ℕ𝔾𝕊: 𝟛,𝟜𝟚)
❉ The Awakening • 3/5 (♛-ℜ)
❉ Ruthless Fae • 4/5 (♛-ℜ)
❉ The Reckoning • 4/5 (♛-ℜ)
❉ Shadow Princess • 3/5 (♛-ℜ)
❉ Oath Taker DNFd 31% • (♛-ℜ)
❉ Beach Read DNFd 27% • (©-ℜ)
❉ The Roughest Draft • 4/5 (♪-©-ℜ)
❉ Book Lovers • 4/5 (©-ℜ)
❉ Think Outside the Boss • 2/5 (ℜ)
⇧𝚏𝚊𝚟𝚘𝚛𝚒𝚝𝚎 𝚋𝚘𝚘𝚔 𝚘𝚏 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚖𝚘𝚗𝚝𝚑: 𝙱𝚘𝚘𝚔 𝙻𝚘𝚟𝚎𝚛𝚜
⇩𝚕𝚎𝚊𝚜𝚝 𝚏𝚊𝚟𝚘𝚛𝚒𝚝𝚎 𝚋𝚘𝚘𝚔 𝚘𝚏 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚖𝚘𝚗𝚝𝚑: 𝙾𝚊����𝚑 𝚃𝚊𝚔𝚎𝚛
════ ⋆★⋆ ════
🄹🅄🄽🄴
(𝕋𝕆𝕋𝔸𝕃: 𝟙𝟞; 𝔻ℕ𝔽𝕤: 𝟜; 𝔸𝕍𝔾 ℝ𝔸𝕋𝕀ℕ𝔾𝕊: 𝟛,𝟛𝟛)
❉ The Wedding Crasher • DNFd 25% (ℜ)
❉ Rag Doll Girls • 2/5 (☠)
❉ City of Gods and Monsters • DNFd 23% (♛-ℜ)
❉ The Rivals • 3/5 (ℜ)
❉ The Darkness Outside Us • 3/5 (♛-ℜ)
❉ Enemies With Benefits • 4/5 (♪-ℜ)
❉ Pucked Off • 3/5 (ℜ)
❉ Boyfriend Material • 4/5 (ℜ)
❉ So That Happened • 3/5 (ℜ)
❉ Making Faces • 5/5 (©-ℜ)
❉ The Last Magician • DNFd 30% (♛-✄)
❉ The Summer We Forgot • 3/5 (✎-☠)
❉ Consider Me • 4/5 (ℜ)
❉ Girls of Paper and Fire • DNFd 30% (♛-✄)
❉ Bow Before The Elf Queen • 3/5 (♛-ℜ)
❉ Something Wilder • 3/5 (©-ℜ)
⇧𝚏𝚊𝚟𝚘𝚛𝚒𝚝𝚎 𝚋𝚘𝚘𝚔 𝚘𝚏 𝚝𝚑���� 𝚖𝚘𝚗𝚝𝚑: 𝙱𝚘𝚢𝚏𝚛𝚒𝚎𝚗𝚍 𝙼𝚊𝚝𝚎𝚛𝚒𝚊𝚕
⇩𝚕𝚎𝚊𝚜𝚝 𝚏𝚊𝚟𝚘𝚛𝚒𝚝𝚎 𝚋𝚘𝚘𝚔 𝚘𝚏 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚖𝚘𝚗𝚝𝚑: 𝚁𝚊𝚐 𝙳𝚘𝚕𝚕 𝙶𝚒𝚛𝚕𝚜
═════ ★⋆ ════
🄹🅄🄻🅈
(𝕋𝕆𝕋𝔸𝕃: 𝟙𝟘; 𝔻ℕ𝔽𝕤: 𝟘; 𝔸𝕍𝔾 ℝ𝔸𝕋𝕀ℕ𝔾𝕊: 𝟛,𝟞𝟝)
❉ A Court of Wings and Ruin • 4,5/5 (♛-ℜ)
❉ A Court of Silver Flames • 5/5 (♛-ℜ)
❉ Gild • NOT RATED (♛-ℜ)
❉ The Boss Project • 3/5 (ℜ)
❉ Empire of Storms • 4/5 (♛-ℜ)
❉ River of Shadows • 4/5 (♛-ℜ)
❉ Dance of Thieves • 4/5 (♛-ℜ-✄)
❉ Daisy Jones & The Six • 5/5 (©)
❉ The Bodyguard • 3/5 (ℜ)
❉ Malibu Rising • 4/5 (©)
⇧𝚏𝚊𝚟𝚘𝚛𝚒𝚝𝚎 𝚋𝚘𝚘𝚔 𝚘𝚏 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚖𝚘𝚗𝚝𝚑: 𝙳𝚊𝚒𝚜𝚢 𝙹𝚘𝚗𝚎𝚜 & 𝚃𝚑𝚎 𝚂𝚒𝚡
⇩𝚕𝚎𝚊𝚜𝚝 𝚏𝚊𝚟𝚘𝚛𝚒𝚝𝚎 𝚋𝚘𝚘𝚔 𝚘𝚏 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚖𝚘𝚗𝚝𝚑: 𝙶𝚒𝚕𝚍
════ ⋆★⋆ ════
🄰🅄🄶🅄🅂🅃
(𝕋𝕆𝕋𝔸𝕃: 𝟛𝟘; 𝔻ℕ𝔽𝕤: 𝟛; 𝔸𝕍𝔾 ℝ𝔸𝕋𝕀ℕ𝔾𝕊: 𝟛,𝟝𝟙)
❉ The Last To Vanish • 3/5 (☠)
❉ The Age of Innocence • 4/5 (✒-ℜ)
❉ The Hawthorne Legacy • 3/5 (☠-ℜ)
❉ As I Lay Dying • 3/5 (✒)
❉ Secondborn • 4/5 (♛-ℜ)
❉ Puck Me Secretly • 2/5 (ℜ)
❉ Lie With Me • 4/5 (©-ℜ)
❉ The Summer Proposal • 3/5 (ℜ)
❉ Savage Lands • 4/5 (♛-ℜ)
❉ Wild Lands • 4/5 (♛-ℜ)
❉ Silverglass • 3/5 (♛)
❉ Dead Lands • 4/5 (♛-ℜ)
❉ Stay Awake • 3,5/5 (☠)
❉ The Great Gatsby • 4/5 (✒)
❉ Praise • DNFd 22% (ℜ)
❉ Passing • 4/5 (✒)
❉ Lie to Me • 3/5 (©-ℜ)
❉ Shieldsworn • 4/5 (♛-ℜ-✎)
❉ The Unseelie Prince • 2,5/5 (♛-ℜ)
❉ The Cruel Prince • 5/5 (♛-ℜ-√)
❉ Meet Your Match • 4/5 (♛-ℜ-FANFIC)
❉ A Lust For Blood • 4/5 (♛-ℜ-✎)
❉ The Call of Jonas Creed • 4/5 (♛-✎)
❉ Let It Snow • 2/5 (ℜ-✎)
❉ Reforged • 4/5 (♛-ℜ-✎)
❉ Tin • 4/5 (♛-ℜ)
❉ Reluctantly Yours • 4/5 (ℜ)
❉ The IT Girl • 2/5 (☠)
❉ Tower of Dawn • DNFd 53% (♛-ℜ)
❉ Relentless • DNFd 14% (♛-ℜ)
⇧𝚏𝚊𝚟𝚘𝚛𝚒𝚝𝚎 𝚋𝚘𝚘𝚔 𝚘𝚏 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚖𝚘𝚗𝚝𝚑: 𝚃𝚒𝚗
⇩𝚕𝚎𝚊𝚜𝚝 𝚏𝚊𝚟𝚘𝚛𝚒𝚝𝚎 𝚋𝚘𝚘𝚔 𝚘𝚏 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚖𝚘𝚗𝚝𝚑: 𝙻𝚎𝚝 𝙸𝚝 𝚂𝚗𝚘𝚠
════ ⋆★⋆ ════
🅂🄴🄿🅃🄴🄼🄱🄴🅁
(𝕋𝕆𝕋𝔸𝕃: 𝟙𝟙; 𝔻ℕ𝔽𝕤: 𝟙; 𝔸𝕍𝔾 ℝ𝔸𝕋𝕀ℕ𝔾𝕊: 𝟛,𝟞𝟡)
❉ The Last Tale of the Flower Bride • 5/5 (ℜ-☠)
❉ The Queen of Nothing • 5/5 (♛-ℜ-√)
❉ The Wicked King • 5/5 (♛-ℜ-√)
❉ Raine of Fire • 3/5 (♛-✎)
❉ Coraline • 4/5 (♛)
❉ You Deserve Each Other • 4/5 (ℜ)
❉ Graceling • DNFd pg 102 (♛-ℜ)
❉ The Book of Azrael • 3/5 (♛-ℜ-✎)
❉ Kingdom Of The Wicked • 4,5/5 (♛-ℜ-√)
❉ Dark Fae • 3/5 (♛-ℜ)
❉ Delilah Green Doesn't Care • 4/5 (ℜ-√)
⇧𝚏𝚊𝚟𝚘𝚛𝚒𝚝𝚎 𝚋𝚘𝚘𝚔 𝚘𝚏 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚖𝚘𝚗𝚝𝚑: 𝚃𝚑𝚎 𝙻𝚊𝚜𝚝 𝚃𝚊𝚕𝚎 𝚘𝚏 𝚃𝚑𝚎 𝙵𝚕𝚘𝚠𝚎𝚛 𝙱𝚛𝚒𝚍𝚎
⇩𝚕𝚎𝚊𝚜𝚝 𝚏𝚊𝚟𝚘𝚛𝚒𝚝𝚎 𝚋𝚘𝚘𝚔 𝚘𝚏 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚖𝚘𝚗𝚝𝚑: 𝚁𝚊𝚒𝚗𝚎 𝚘𝚏 𝙵𝚒𝚛𝚎
════ ⋆★⋆ ════
🄾🄲🅃🄾🄱🄴🅁
(𝕋𝕆𝕋𝔸𝕃: 𝟠; 𝔻ℕ𝔽𝕤: 𝟙; 𝔸𝕍𝔾 ℝ𝔸𝕋𝕀ℕ𝔾𝕊: 𝟛,𝟚𝟠)
❉ Kingdom Of The Feared • 3/5 (♛-ℜ)
❉ Into The Drowning Deep • 5/5 (🎃-♛-☠)
❉ Dead Silence • 2/5 (🎃-♛-☠)
❉ The Deal • 3/5 (√-ℜ)
❉ Into The Miso Soup • 3/5 (🎃-☠)
❉ Convenience Store Woman • 3/5 (🎃-©)
❉ The Mistake • 4/5 (√-ℜ)
❉ Cookie Bait • DNF pg 47 (ℜ)
⇧𝚏𝚊𝚟𝚘𝚛𝚒𝚝𝚎 𝚋𝚘𝚘𝚔 𝚘𝚏 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚖𝚘𝚗𝚝𝚑: 𝙸𝚗𝚝𝚘 𝚃𝚑𝚎 𝙳𝚛𝚘𝚠𝚒𝚗𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝙳𝚎𝚎𝚙
⇩𝚕𝚎𝚊𝚜𝚝 𝚏𝚊𝚟𝚘𝚛𝚒𝚝𝚎 𝚋𝚘𝚘𝚔 𝚘𝚏 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚖𝚘𝚗𝚝𝚑: 𝙳𝚎𝚊𝚍 𝚂𝚒𝚕𝚎𝚗𝚌𝚎
════ ⋆★⋆ ════
🄽🄾🅅🄴🄼🄱🄴🅁
(𝕋𝕆𝕋𝔸𝕃: 𝟜; 𝔻ℕ𝔽𝕤: -; 𝔸𝕍𝔾 ℝ𝔸𝕋𝕀ℕ𝔾𝕊: 𝟜,𝟚𝟝)
❉ Hidden Pictures • 5/5 (🎃-☠)
❉ The Scorpio Races • 5/5 (♛-√)
❉ Violet Made of Thorns • 4/5 (♛-ℜ)
❉ Warrior of the Wild • 3/5 (✄-♛-ℜ)
⇧𝚏𝚊𝚟𝚘𝚛𝚒𝚝𝚎 𝚋𝚘𝚘𝚔 𝚘𝚏 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚖𝚘𝚗𝚝𝚑: 𝙷𝚒𝚍𝚍𝚎𝚗 𝙿𝚒𝚌𝚝𝚞𝚛𝚎𝚜
⇩𝚕𝚎𝚊𝚜𝚝 𝚏𝚊𝚟𝚘𝚛𝚒𝚝𝚎 𝚋𝚘𝚘𝚔 𝚘𝚏 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚖𝚘𝚗𝚝𝚑: -
════ ⋆★⋆ ════
🄳🄴🄲🄴🄼🄱🄴🅁
(𝕋𝕆𝕋𝔸𝕃: 𝟙𝟛; 𝔻ℕ𝔽𝕤: 𝟙; 𝔸𝕍𝔾 ℝ𝔸𝕋𝕀ℕ𝔾𝕊: 𝟛,𝟞𝟚)
❉ Finding Me • 5/5 (©)
❉ A Prince So Cruel • 2/5 (♛-ℜ)
❉ Hooked • 4/5 (ℜ)
❉ All These Bodies • 3/5 (☠)
❉ To The Lighthouse • 4/5 (✒)
❉ Temper • 4/5 (☠)
❉ City Of Thorns • 2/5 (♛-ℜ)
❉ A Court of Silver Flames • 5/5 (√-♛-ℜ)
❉ Neon Gods • 4/5 (♛-ℜ-๑)
❉ A Ruin Of Roses • 3/5 (♛-ℜ-๑)
❉ Wretched • 3,5/5 (♛-ℜ-๑)
❉ Her Soul To Take • 4/5 (☠-♛-ℜ)
❉ Marked DNF at 31% (☠-♛-ℜ)
⇧𝚏𝚊𝚟𝚘𝚛𝚒𝚝𝚎 𝚋𝚘𝚘𝚔 𝚘𝚏 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚖𝚘𝚗𝚝𝚑: 𝙷𝚘𝚘𝚔𝚎𝚍
⇩𝚕𝚎𝚊𝚜𝚝 𝚏𝚊𝚟𝚘𝚛𝚒𝚝𝚎 𝚋𝚘𝚘𝚔 𝚘𝚏 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚖𝚘𝚗𝚝𝚑: 𝙰 𝙿𝚛𝚒𝚗𝚌𝚎 𝚂𝚘 𝙲𝚛𝚞𝚎𝚕
▼△▼△▼△
☠: 𝚃𝙷𝚁𝙸𝙻𝙻𝙴𝚁/𝙷𝙾𝚁𝚁𝙾𝚁/𝙶𝙾𝚃𝙷𝙸𝙲;
♛: 𝙵𝙰𝙽𝚃𝙰𝚂𝚈/𝚂𝙲𝙸-𝙵𝙸/𝙰𝙳𝚅𝙴𝙽𝚃𝚄𝚁𝙴;
ℜ: 𝚁𝙾𝙼𝙰𝙽𝙲𝙴/𝚂𝙼𝚄𝚃;
๑: 𝚁𝙴𝚃𝙴𝙻𝙻𝙸𝙽𝙶
✎: 𝙰𝚁𝙲;
©: 𝙲𝙾𝙽𝚃𝙴𝙼𝙿𝙾𝚁𝙰𝚁𝚈
♪: 𝙰𝚄𝙳𝙸𝙾𝙱𝙾𝙾𝙺;
✒: 𝙲𝙻𝙰𝚂𝚂𝙸𝙲/𝙲𝚄𝙻𝚃;
√: 𝚁𝙴-𝚁𝙴𝙰𝙳;
✄: 𝙱𝙾𝙾𝙺𝚂 𝙵𝚁𝙾𝙼 #𝙿𝙴𝙽𝙶𝚄𝙸𝙽𝙾𝙽𝙰𝚃𝙱𝚁𝙼𝙸𝚂𝚂𝙸𝙾𝙽
🎃: 𝚂𝙿𝙾𝙾𝙺𝚃𝙾𝙱𝙴𝚁 𝙻𝙸𝚂𝚃
☀ Stick to my TBR more;
☀ Try to read at least 15 classics/cults;
☀ DNF books I don't get into by the first 50 pages;
▼△▼△▼△▼△▼
❉𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟮 𝗕𝗼𝗼𝗸𝘀❉
(𝕋𝕆𝕋𝔸𝕃: 𝟙𝟝𝟝; 𝔻ℕ𝔽𝕤: 𝟙𝟡; 𝔸𝕍𝔾 ℝ𝔸𝕋𝕀ℕ𝔾𝕊: 𝟛,𝟝𝟜)
⇧ 𝚏𝚊𝚟𝚘𝚛𝚒𝚝𝚎 𝚋𝚘𝚘𝚔 𝚘𝚏 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚢𝚎𝚊𝚛: 𝙳𝚊𝚒𝚜𝚢 𝙹𝚘𝚗𝚎𝚜 & 𝚃𝚑𝚎 𝚂𝚒𝚡
⇩𝚕𝚎𝚊𝚜𝚝 𝚏𝚊𝚟𝚘𝚛𝚒𝚝𝚎 𝚋𝚘𝚘𝚔 𝚘𝚏 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚢𝚎𝚊𝚛: 𝚃𝚑𝚎 𝙻𝚘𝚟𝚎 𝙷𝚢𝚙𝚘𝚝𝚑𝚎𝚜𝚒𝚜
▼△▼△▼△▼△▼
🄹🄰🄽🅄🄰🅁🅈
(𝕋𝕆𝕋𝔸𝕃: 𝟙𝟞; 𝔻ℕ𝔽𝕤: 𝟚; 𝔸𝕍𝔾 ℝ𝔸𝕋𝕀ℕ𝔾𝕊: 𝟛,𝟟𝟝)
❉ Spin The Dawn • 4½ (♛)
❉ The Girls Are All So Nice Here • 4/5 (☠)
❉ Angelfall • 4/5 (♛-✄)
❉ Rebel of the Sands • 4/5 (♛-✄)
�� The Sorority Murder • 2/5 (☠)
❉ The Love Hypothesis • 2/5 (ℜ)
❉ These Violent Delights • 3/5 (♛-ℜ-๑)
❉ Animal Farm • 4/5 (✒-♪)
❉ Demon • 4½/5 (☠)
❉ Kingdom of the Wicked • 4½/5 (♛)
❉ Getting Real • 4/5 (ℜ-♪)
❉ Once Upon a Broken Heart • 2/5 (♛)
❉ The Spanish Love Deception • DNFd 66% (ℜ)
❉ Marriage for One • DNFd 78% (ℜ)
❉ The Cruel Prince • 5/5 (♛-√)
❉ The Wicked King • 5/5 (♛-√)
⇧ 𝚏𝚊𝚟𝚘𝚛𝚒𝚝𝚎 𝚋𝚘𝚘𝚔 𝚘𝚏 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚖𝚘𝚗𝚝𝚑: 𝙺𝚒𝚗𝚐𝚍𝚘𝚖 𝚘𝚏 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚆𝚒𝚌𝚔𝚎𝚍
⇩𝚕𝚎𝚊𝚜𝚝 𝚏𝚊𝚟𝚘𝚛𝚒𝚝𝚎 𝚋𝚘𝚘𝚔 𝚘𝚏 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚖𝚘𝚗𝚝𝚑: 𝚃𝚑𝚎 𝙻𝚘𝚟𝚎 𝙷𝚢𝚙𝚘𝚝𝚑𝚎𝚜𝚒𝚜
════ ⋆★⋆ ════
🄵🄴🄱🅁🅄🄰🅁🅈
(𝕋𝕆𝕋𝔸𝕃: 𝟙𝟡; 𝔻ℕ𝔽𝕤: 𝟚; 𝔸𝕍𝔾 ℝ𝔸𝕋𝕀ℕ𝔾𝕊: 𝟛,𝟜𝟜)
❉ The Queen of Nothing • 5/5 (♛-√)
❉ For Your Own Good • DNFd 30% (☠)
❉ A Curse So Dark and Lonely • 4½/5 (๑-♛-✄)
❉ Rock Paper Scissors • DNFd 45% (☠)
❉ Fable • 4½/5 (♛)
❉ Instamom • 2/5 (ℜ-✎)
❉ Social Creature • 4/5 (☠-✄)
❉ Psycho • 4/5 (✒)
❉ Aurora's End • 3/5 (♛)
❉ Unspeakable Things • 3/5 (☠-♪)
❉ Maid of Dishonor • 2/5 (ℜ)
❉ Josh and Gemma Make a Baby • 4/5 (ℜ)
❉ It Ends with Us • 4/5 (©)
❉ Good Girl Complex • 4/5 (ℜ-♪)
❉ All Eyes on Her • 2/5 (☠-♪)
❉ House of Sky and Breath • 3½/5 (♛)
❉ Everless • 3/5 (♛-✄)
❉ Reckless Girls • 3/5 (☠-♪)
❉ Birthday Girl • 3/5 (ℜ)
⇧𝚏𝚊𝚟𝚘𝚛𝚒𝚝𝚎 𝚋𝚘𝚘𝚔 𝚘𝚏 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚖𝚘𝚗𝚝𝚑: 𝙵𝚊𝚋𝚕𝚎
⇩𝚕𝚎𝚊𝚜𝚝 𝚏𝚊𝚟𝚘𝚛𝚒𝚝𝚎 𝚋𝚘𝚘𝚔 𝚘𝚏 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚖𝚘𝚗𝚝𝚑: 𝙼𝚊𝚒𝚍 𝚘𝚏 𝙳𝚒𝚜𝚑𝚘𝚗𝚘𝚛
════ ⋆★⋆ ════
🄼🄰🅁🄲🄷
(𝕋𝕆𝕋𝔸𝕃: 𝟙𝟜; 𝔻ℕ𝔽𝕤: 𝟛; 𝔸𝕍𝔾 ℝ𝔸𝕋𝕀ℕ𝔾𝕊: 𝟛,𝟝𝟜)
❉ A Little Life • 3/5 (©)
❉ Hook, Line, and Sinker • 3/5 (ℜ)
❉ The Assignment • 4/5 (ℜ)
❉ These Silent Woods • 3/5 (☠-♪)
❉ The Book of Ivy• 3/5 (✄-♛-ℜ)
❉ These Hollow Vows • 3½/5 (♛-ℜ)
❉ The Shadows Between Us • 5/5 (♛-ℜ-✄)
❉ Delilah Green Doesn't Care • 4/5 (ℜ)
❉ Rhapsodic • DNFd at 12% (♛-ℜ)
❉ The Savior's Champion • DNFd 13% (☠-✄)
❉ The Rest is Silence • DNFd 15% (☠-ℜ-๑)
❉ Master of Salt & Bones • 3½/5 (๑-☠-ℜ)
❉ Mr. Wrong Number • 3/5 (ℜ)
❉ The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue • 4/5 (♛-ℜ)
⇧𝚏𝚊𝚟𝚘𝚛𝚒𝚝𝚎 𝚋𝚘𝚘𝚔 𝚘𝚏 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚖𝚘𝚗𝚝𝚑: 𝚃𝚑𝚎 𝚂𝚑𝚊𝚍𝚘𝚠𝚜 𝙱𝚎𝚝𝚠𝚎𝚎𝚗 𝚄𝚜
⇩𝚕𝚎𝚊𝚜𝚝 𝚏𝚊𝚟𝚘𝚛𝚒𝚝𝚎 𝚋𝚘𝚘𝚔 𝚘𝚏 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚖𝚘𝚗𝚝𝚑: 𝚃𝚑𝚎 𝚂𝚊𝚟𝚒𝚘𝚛'𝚜 𝙲𝚑𝚊𝚖𝚙𝚒𝚘𝚗
════ ⋆★⋆ ════
🄰🄿🅁🄸🄻
(𝕋𝕆𝕋𝔸𝕃: 𝟝; 𝔻ℕ𝔽𝕤: 𝟘; 𝔸𝕍𝔾 ℝ𝔸𝕋𝕀ℕ𝔾𝕊: 𝟛)
❉ A Court of Mist and Fury • 4/5 (♛-ℜ-√)
❉ The Viscount Who Loved Me • 3/5 (ℜ)
❉ Starcrossed • 3/5 (♛-ℜ-√)
❉ Pestilence • 2/5 (♪-♛-ℜ)
❉ Belle Morte • 3/5 (✎-♛-ℜ)
⇧𝚏𝚊𝚟𝚘𝚛𝚒𝚝𝚎 𝚋𝚘𝚘𝚔 𝚘𝚏 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚖𝚘𝚗𝚝𝚑: 𝙰 𝙲𝚘𝚞𝚛𝚝 𝚘𝚏 𝙼𝚒𝚜𝚝 𝙰𝚗𝚍 𝙵𝚞𝚛𝚢
⇩𝚕𝚎𝚊𝚜𝚝 𝚏𝚊𝚟𝚘𝚛𝚒𝚝𝚎 𝚋𝚘𝚘𝚔 𝚘𝚏 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚖𝚘𝚗𝚝𝚑: 𝙿𝚎𝚜𝚝𝚒𝚕𝚎𝚗𝚌𝚎
════ ⋆★⋆ ════
🄼🄰🅈
(𝕋𝕆𝕋𝔸𝕃: 𝟡; 𝔻ℕ𝔽𝕤: 𝟚; 𝔸𝕍𝔾 ℝ𝔸𝕋𝕀ℕ𝔾𝕊: 𝟛,𝟜𝟚)
❉ The Awakening • 3/5 (♛-ℜ)
❉ Ruthless Fae • 4/5 (♛-ℜ)
❉ The Reckoning • 4/5 (♛-ℜ)
❉ Shadow Princess • 3/5 (♛-ℜ)
❉ Oath Taker DNFd 31% • (♛-ℜ)
❉ Beach Read DNFd 27% • (©-ℜ)
❉ The Roughest Draft • 4/5 (♪-©-ℜ)
❉ Book Lovers • 4/5 (©-ℜ)
❉ Think Outside the Boss • 2/5 (ℜ)
⇧𝚏𝚊𝚟𝚘𝚛𝚒𝚝𝚎 𝚋𝚘𝚘𝚔 𝚘𝚏 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚖𝚘𝚗𝚝𝚑: 𝙱𝚘𝚘𝚔 𝙻𝚘𝚟𝚎𝚛𝚜
⇩𝚕𝚎𝚊𝚜𝚝 𝚏𝚊𝚟𝚘𝚛𝚒𝚝𝚎 𝚋𝚘𝚘𝚔 𝚘𝚏 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚖𝚘𝚗𝚝𝚑: 𝙾𝚊����𝚑 𝚃𝚊𝚔𝚎𝚛
════ ⋆★⋆ ════
🄹🅄🄽🄴
(𝕋𝕆𝕋𝔸𝕃: 𝟙𝟞; 𝔻ℕ𝔽𝕤: 𝟜; 𝔸𝕍𝔾 ℝ𝔸𝕋𝕀ℕ𝔾𝕊: 𝟛,𝟛𝟛)
❉ The Wedding Crasher • DNFd 25% (ℜ)
❉ Rag Doll Girls • 2/5 (☠)
❉ City of Gods and Monsters • DNFd 23% (♛-ℜ)
❉ The Rivals • 3/5 (ℜ)
❉ The Darkness Outside Us • 3/5 (♛-ℜ)
❉ Enemies With Benefits • 4/5 (♪-ℜ)
❉ Pucked Off • 3/5 (ℜ)
❉ Boyfriend Material • 4/5 (ℜ)
❉ So That Happened • 3/5 (ℜ)
❉ Making Faces • 5/5 (©-ℜ)
❉ The Last Magician • DNFd 30% (♛-✄)
❉ The Summer We Forgot • 3/5 (✎-☠)
❉ Consider Me • 4/5 (ℜ)
❉ Girls of Paper and Fire • DNFd 30% (♛-✄)
❉ Bow Before The Elf Queen • 3/5 (♛-ℜ)
❉ Something Wilder • 3/5 (©-ℜ)
⇧𝚏𝚊𝚟𝚘𝚛𝚒𝚝𝚎 𝚋𝚘𝚘𝚔 𝚘𝚏 𝚝𝚑���� 𝚖𝚘𝚗𝚝𝚑: 𝙱𝚘𝚢𝚏𝚛𝚒𝚎𝚗𝚍 𝙼𝚊𝚝𝚎𝚛𝚒𝚊𝚕
⇩𝚕𝚎𝚊𝚜𝚝 𝚏𝚊𝚟𝚘𝚛𝚒𝚝𝚎 𝚋𝚘𝚘𝚔 𝚘𝚏 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚖𝚘𝚗𝚝𝚑: 𝚁𝚊𝚐 𝙳𝚘𝚕𝚕 𝙶𝚒𝚛𝚕𝚜
═════ ★⋆ ════
🄹🅄🄻🅈
(𝕋𝕆𝕋𝔸𝕃: 𝟙𝟘; 𝔻ℕ𝔽𝕤: 𝟘; 𝔸𝕍𝔾 ℝ𝔸𝕋𝕀ℕ𝔾𝕊: 𝟛,𝟞𝟝)
❉ A Court of Wings and Ruin • 4,5/5 (♛-ℜ)
❉ A Court of Silver Flames • 5/5 (♛-ℜ)
❉ Gild • NOT RATED (♛-ℜ)
❉ The Boss Project • 3/5 (ℜ)
❉ Empire of Storms • 4/5 (♛-ℜ)
❉ River of Shadows • 4/5 (♛-ℜ)
❉ Dance of Thieves • 4/5 (♛-ℜ-✄)
❉ Daisy Jones & The Six • 5/5 (©)
❉ The Bodyguard • 3/5 (ℜ)
❉ Malibu Rising • 4/5 (©)
⇧𝚏𝚊𝚟𝚘𝚛𝚒𝚝𝚎 𝚋𝚘𝚘𝚔 𝚘𝚏 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚖𝚘𝚗𝚝𝚑: 𝙳𝚊𝚒𝚜𝚢 𝙹𝚘𝚗𝚎𝚜 & 𝚃𝚑𝚎 𝚂𝚒𝚡
⇩𝚕𝚎𝚊𝚜𝚝 𝚏𝚊𝚟𝚘𝚛𝚒𝚝𝚎 𝚋𝚘𝚘𝚔 𝚘𝚏 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚖𝚘𝚗𝚝𝚑: 𝙶𝚒𝚕𝚍
════ ⋆★⋆ ════
🄰🅄🄶🅄🅂🅃
(𝕋𝕆𝕋𝔸𝕃: 𝟛𝟘; 𝔻ℕ𝔽𝕤: 𝟛; 𝔸𝕍𝔾 ℝ𝔸𝕋𝕀ℕ𝔾𝕊: 𝟛,𝟝𝟙)
❉ The Last To Vanish • 3/5 (☠)
❉ The Age of Innocence • 4/5 (✒-ℜ)
❉ The Hawthorne Legacy • 3/5 (☠-ℜ)
❉ As I Lay Dying • 3/5 (✒)
❉ Secondborn • 4/5 (♛-ℜ)
❉ Puck Me Secretly • 2/5 (ℜ)
❉ Lie With Me • 4/5 (©-ℜ)
❉ The Summer Proposal • 3/5 (ℜ)
❉ Savage Lands • 4/5 (♛-ℜ)
❉ Wild Lands • 4/5 (♛-ℜ)
❉ Silverglass • 3/5 (♛)
❉ Dead Lands • 4/5 (♛-ℜ)
❉ Stay Awake • 3,5/5 (☠)
❉ The Great Gatsby • 4/5 (✒)
❉ Praise • DNFd 22% (ℜ)
❉ Passing • 4/5 (✒)
❉ Lie to Me • 3/5 (©-ℜ)
❉ Shieldsworn • 4/5 (♛-ℜ-✎)
❉ The Unseelie Prince • 2,5/5 (♛-ℜ)
❉ The Cruel Prince • 5/5 (♛-ℜ-√)
❉ Meet Your Match • 4/5 (♛-ℜ-FANFIC)
❉ A Lust For Blood • 4/5 (♛-ℜ-✎)
❉ The Call of Jonas Creed • 4/5 (♛-✎)
❉ Let It Snow • 2/5 (ℜ-✎)
❉ Reforged • 4/5 (♛-ℜ-✎)
❉ Tin • 4/5 (♛-ℜ)
❉ Reluctantly Yours • 4/5 (ℜ)
❉ The IT Girl • 2/5 (☠)
❉ Tower of Dawn • DNFd 53% (♛-ℜ)
❉ Relentless • DNFd 14% (♛-ℜ)
⇧𝚏𝚊𝚟𝚘𝚛𝚒𝚝𝚎 𝚋𝚘𝚘𝚔 𝚘𝚏 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚖𝚘𝚗𝚝𝚑: 𝚃𝚒𝚗
⇩𝚕𝚎𝚊𝚜𝚝 𝚏𝚊𝚟𝚘𝚛𝚒𝚝𝚎 𝚋𝚘𝚘𝚔 𝚘𝚏 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚖𝚘𝚗𝚝𝚑: 𝙻𝚎𝚝 𝙸𝚝 𝚂𝚗𝚘𝚠
════ ⋆★⋆ ════
🅂🄴🄿🅃🄴🄼🄱🄴🅁
(𝕋𝕆𝕋𝔸𝕃: 𝟙𝟙; 𝔻ℕ𝔽𝕤: 𝟙; 𝔸𝕍𝔾 ℝ𝔸𝕋𝕀ℕ𝔾𝕊: 𝟛,𝟞𝟡)
❉ The Last Tale of the Flower Bride • 5/5 (ℜ-☠)
❉ The Queen of Nothing • 5/5 (♛-ℜ-√)
❉ The Wicked King • 5/5 (♛-ℜ-√)
❉ Raine of Fire • 3/5 (♛-✎)
❉ Coraline • 4/5 (♛)
❉ You Deserve Each Other • 4/5 (ℜ)
❉ Graceling • DNFd pg 102 (♛-ℜ)
❉ The Book of Azrael • 3/5 (♛-ℜ-✎)
❉ Kingdom Of The Wicked • 4,5/5 (♛-ℜ-√)
❉ Dark Fae • 3/5 (♛-ℜ)
❉ Delilah Green Doesn't Care • 4/5 (ℜ-√)
⇧𝚏𝚊𝚟𝚘𝚛𝚒𝚝𝚎 𝚋𝚘𝚘𝚔 𝚘𝚏 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚖𝚘𝚗𝚝𝚑: 𝚃𝚑𝚎 𝙻𝚊𝚜𝚝 𝚃𝚊𝚕𝚎 𝚘𝚏 𝚃𝚑𝚎 𝙵𝚕𝚘𝚠𝚎𝚛 𝙱𝚛𝚒𝚍𝚎
⇩𝚕𝚎𝚊𝚜𝚝 𝚏𝚊𝚟𝚘𝚛𝚒𝚝𝚎 𝚋𝚘𝚘𝚔 𝚘𝚏 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚖𝚘𝚗𝚝𝚑: 𝚁𝚊𝚒𝚗𝚎 𝚘𝚏 𝙵𝚒𝚛𝚎
════ ⋆★⋆ ════
🄾🄲🅃🄾🄱🄴🅁
(𝕋𝕆𝕋𝔸𝕃: 𝟠; 𝔻ℕ𝔽𝕤: 𝟙; 𝔸𝕍𝔾 ℝ𝔸𝕋𝕀ℕ𝔾𝕊: 𝟛,𝟚𝟠)
❉ Kingdom Of The Feared • 3/5 (♛-ℜ)
❉ Into The Drowning Deep • 5/5 (🎃-♛-☠)
❉ Dead Silence • 2/5 (🎃-♛-☠)
❉ The Deal • 3/5 (√-ℜ)
❉ Into The Miso Soup • 3/5 (🎃-☠)
❉ Convenience Store Woman • 3/5 (🎃-©)
❉ The Mistake • 4/5 (√-ℜ)
❉ Cookie Bait • DNF pg 47 (ℜ)
⇧𝚏𝚊𝚟𝚘𝚛𝚒𝚝𝚎 𝚋𝚘𝚘𝚔 𝚘𝚏 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚖𝚘𝚗𝚝𝚑: 𝙸𝚗𝚝𝚘 𝚃𝚑𝚎 𝙳𝚛𝚘𝚠𝚒𝚗𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝙳𝚎𝚎𝚙
⇩𝚕𝚎𝚊𝚜𝚝 𝚏𝚊𝚟𝚘𝚛𝚒𝚝𝚎 𝚋𝚘𝚘𝚔 𝚘𝚏 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚖𝚘𝚗𝚝𝚑: 𝙳𝚎𝚊𝚍 𝚂𝚒𝚕𝚎𝚗𝚌𝚎
════ ⋆★⋆ ════
🄽🄾🅅🄴🄼🄱🄴🅁
(𝕋𝕆𝕋𝔸𝕃: 𝟜; 𝔻ℕ𝔽𝕤: -; 𝔸𝕍𝔾 ℝ𝔸𝕋𝕀ℕ𝔾𝕊: 𝟜,𝟚𝟝)
❉ Hidden Pictures • 5/5 (🎃-☠)
❉ The Scorpio Races • 5/5 (♛-√)
❉ Violet Made of Thorns • 4/5 (♛-ℜ)
❉ Warrior of the Wild • 3/5 (✄-♛-ℜ)
⇧𝚏𝚊𝚟𝚘𝚛𝚒𝚝𝚎 𝚋𝚘𝚘𝚔 𝚘𝚏 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚖𝚘𝚗𝚝𝚑: 𝙷𝚒𝚍𝚍𝚎𝚗 𝙿𝚒𝚌𝚝𝚞𝚛𝚎𝚜
⇩𝚕𝚎𝚊𝚜𝚝 𝚏𝚊𝚟𝚘𝚛𝚒𝚝𝚎 𝚋𝚘𝚘𝚔 𝚘𝚏 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚖𝚘𝚗𝚝𝚑: -
════ ⋆★⋆ ════
🄳🄴🄲🄴🄼🄱🄴🅁
(𝕋𝕆𝕋𝔸𝕃: 𝟙𝟛; 𝔻ℕ𝔽𝕤: 𝟙; 𝔸𝕍𝔾 ℝ𝔸𝕋𝕀ℕ𝔾𝕊: 𝟛,𝟞𝟚)
❉ Finding Me • 5/5 (©)
❉ A Prince So Cruel • 2/5 (♛-ℜ)
❉ Hooked • 4/5 (ℜ)
❉ All These Bodies • 3/5 (☠)
❉ To The Lighthouse • 4/5 (✒)
❉ Temper • 4/5 (☠)
❉ City Of Thorns • 2/5 (♛-ℜ)
❉ A Court of Silver Flames • 5/5 (√-♛-ℜ)
❉ Neon Gods • 4/5 (♛-ℜ-๑)
❉ A Ruin Of Roses • 3/5 (♛-ℜ-๑)
❉ Wretched • 3,5/5 (♛-ℜ-๑)
❉ Her Soul To Take • 4/5 (☠-♛-ℜ)
❉ Marked DNF at 31% (☠-♛-ℜ)
⇧𝚏𝚊𝚟𝚘𝚛𝚒𝚝𝚎 𝚋𝚘𝚘𝚔 𝚘𝚏 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚖𝚘𝚗𝚝𝚑: 𝙷𝚘𝚘𝚔𝚎𝚍
⇩𝚕𝚎𝚊𝚜𝚝 𝚏𝚊𝚟𝚘𝚛𝚒𝚝𝚎 𝚋𝚘𝚘𝚔 𝚘𝚏 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚖𝚘𝚗𝚝𝚑: 𝙰 𝙿𝚛𝚒𝚗𝚌𝚎 𝚂𝚘 𝙲𝚛𝚞𝚎𝚕
▼△▼△▼△
☠: 𝚃𝙷𝚁𝙸𝙻𝙻𝙴𝚁/𝙷𝙾𝚁𝚁𝙾𝚁/𝙶𝙾𝚃𝙷𝙸𝙲;
♛: 𝙵𝙰𝙽𝚃𝙰𝚂𝚈/𝚂𝙲𝙸-𝙵𝙸/𝙰𝙳𝚅𝙴𝙽𝚃𝚄𝚁𝙴;
ℜ: 𝚁𝙾𝙼𝙰𝙽𝙲𝙴/𝚂𝙼𝚄𝚃;
๑: 𝚁𝙴𝚃𝙴𝙻𝙻𝙸𝙽𝙶
✎: 𝙰𝚁𝙲;
©: 𝙲𝙾𝙽𝚃𝙴𝙼𝙿𝙾𝚁𝙰𝚁𝚈
♪: 𝙰𝚄𝙳𝙸𝙾𝙱𝙾𝙾𝙺;
✒: 𝙲𝙻𝙰𝚂𝚂𝙸𝙲/𝙲𝚄𝙻𝚃;
√: 𝚁𝙴-𝚁𝙴𝙰𝙳;
✄: 𝙱𝙾𝙾𝙺𝚂 𝙵𝚁𝙾𝙼 #𝙿𝙴𝙽𝙶𝚄𝙸𝙽𝙾𝙽𝙰𝚃𝙱𝚁𝙼𝙸𝚂𝚂𝙸𝙾𝙽
🎃: 𝚂𝙿𝙾𝙾𝙺𝚃𝙾𝙱𝙴𝚁 𝙻𝙸𝚂𝚃
January 13, 2023
It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness…
I’m just kidding; there’s no past tense. It’s 2023–as always, my retrospective is done full review-mirror–and it is still the Age of Foolishness, nary a drop of wisdom to drink. Speaking of ages, I think we can all agree that a new age began with 2020, can’t we? Pre- and post- SARS-CoV-2. For many, the quarantine of 2020 became the Year of the Pause, an interminable time that extended into 2021, and I was no different. 2022 felt stuttering and rusty, like it was attempting to shift into functionality but was unsure of what that looked like.
Judging from my friends’ reviews as well the general output of our content creators, I do not think I am alone in this sentiment. For every two steps forward, it was a step back–or do I mean the reverse? On the personal level, this manifested as a welcome return to in-person nursing and more ambivalent return to in-person dating (obviously at different times). It took a mere seven months for me to exhaust that stored-up extroversion, overfilling my socialization battery. Let 2023 be the return to social isolation! Just kidding.
Sort of.
But we’re here to talk books, right? Well, sure. Because it was a year of embracing the external challenge, I stuck to comfort reads. Without a doubt, Kobna Holdbrook-Smith was my preferred storyteller and The Hanging Tree my favorite story. I was underwhelmed by most of the new books I read, with the exception of Vo’s Into the Riverlands, Cameron’s Artifact Space, and my singular five-star fantasy, Mr. Death by Harrow. Novellas were my saving grace and sometimes, shockingly, advance reader copies. In my normal mood for irreverence, the year deserves a few special carol awards.
2022 Awards
Preferred Theme: I joked in one review that my preference is Chicks-In-Space, but it is really more Agender-in-Space, or Asexual-in-Space. Becky Chambers, Martha Wells' Murderbot re-reads come to mind. Once in awhile, a few others slip in like Thin Air and The Freeze-Frame Revolution.
Most Erroneous Shelving: Hyperion. On my shelves since 2012, somehow it made it onto my Goodreads ‘Read’ list. Still haven’t read it. Some day I will, I swear. Probably. Maybe.
Second Most Erroneous Shelving: Mr. Death is shelved under own title and under magazine edition, because, well, Goodreads. Harrow proves once again that I adore her in short-form.
Believe the Hype: Novik’s Scholomance series, read in entirety with the release of the final installment, The Golden Enclaves. Also recommended with a team of buddies who can help digest the frenetic pace of Novik’s storytelling.
Most Unknown Book Among My Friends: The Gifts of Imperfection by Brene Brown. Is your internal voice critiquing your actions, days, performance, statements, standards, whatever? She’ll help you find some compassion for yourself.
Book I Want To Live In: Pip Bartlett's Guide to Magical Creatures. Super-cute with great illustrations by Stiefvater.
Interesting Untracked Stat: at least fifteen of the books I’ll admit to reading were re-reads.
Untracked Secret: I re-listened to Peter Grant series way, way more than I’ll admit to. No, I’m not going to tell you how many times. Yes, I am listening to The Hanging Tree right now. Yes, when I finish, I'll likely cue up Lies Sleeping.
And last, but not least:
Best Social Media Community Award: I never think of Goodreads as social media, but I suppose it is. You people are definitely my kind of people, book nerds who continue to bring humor, inspiration, company, and even more books for my To Be Read list. Book Riot’s sweet nomination as a Person To Follow is, in my mind, a reflection on the people around me who provide space and audience. Y’all are the best. Thank you for your comments, likes, friendships, and buddy reads. 😘
I’m just kidding; there’s no past tense. It’s 2023–as always, my retrospective is done full review-mirror–and it is still the Age of Foolishness, nary a drop of wisdom to drink. Speaking of ages, I think we can all agree that a new age began with 2020, can’t we? Pre- and post- SARS-CoV-2. For many, the quarantine of 2020 became the Year of the Pause, an interminable time that extended into 2021, and I was no different. 2022 felt stuttering and rusty, like it was attempting to shift into functionality but was unsure of what that looked like.
Judging from my friends’ reviews as well the general output of our content creators, I do not think I am alone in this sentiment. For every two steps forward, it was a step back–or do I mean the reverse? On the personal level, this manifested as a welcome return to in-person nursing and more ambivalent return to in-person dating (obviously at different times). It took a mere seven months for me to exhaust that stored-up extroversion, overfilling my socialization battery. Let 2023 be the return to social isolation! Just kidding.
Sort of.
But we’re here to talk books, right? Well, sure. Because it was a year of embracing the external challenge, I stuck to comfort reads. Without a doubt, Kobna Holdbrook-Smith was my preferred storyteller and The Hanging Tree my favorite story. I was underwhelmed by most of the new books I read, with the exception of Vo’s Into the Riverlands, Cameron’s Artifact Space, and my singular five-star fantasy, Mr. Death by Harrow. Novellas were my saving grace and sometimes, shockingly, advance reader copies. In my normal mood for irreverence, the year deserves a few special carol awards.
2022 Awards
Preferred Theme: I joked in one review that my preference is Chicks-In-Space, but it is really more Agender-in-Space, or Asexual-in-Space. Becky Chambers, Martha Wells' Murderbot re-reads come to mind. Once in awhile, a few others slip in like Thin Air and The Freeze-Frame Revolution.
Most Erroneous Shelving: Hyperion. On my shelves since 2012, somehow it made it onto my Goodreads ‘Read’ list. Still haven’t read it. Some day I will, I swear. Probably. Maybe.
Second Most Erroneous Shelving: Mr. Death is shelved under own title and under magazine edition, because, well, Goodreads. Harrow proves once again that I adore her in short-form.
Believe the Hype: Novik’s Scholomance series, read in entirety with the release of the final installment, The Golden Enclaves. Also recommended with a team of buddies who can help digest the frenetic pace of Novik’s storytelling.
Most Unknown Book Among My Friends: The Gifts of Imperfection by Brene Brown. Is your internal voice critiquing your actions, days, performance, statements, standards, whatever? She’ll help you find some compassion for yourself.
Book I Want To Live In: Pip Bartlett's Guide to Magical Creatures. Super-cute with great illustrations by Stiefvater.
Interesting Untracked Stat: at least fifteen of the books I’ll admit to reading were re-reads.
Untracked Secret: I re-listened to Peter Grant series way, way more than I’ll admit to. No, I’m not going to tell you how many times. Yes, I am listening to The Hanging Tree right now. Yes, when I finish, I'll likely cue up Lies Sleeping.
And last, but not least:
Best Social Media Community Award: I never think of Goodreads as social media, but I suppose it is. You people are definitely my kind of people, book nerds who continue to bring humor, inspiration, company, and even more books for my To Be Read list. Book Riot’s sweet nomination as a Person To Follow is, in my mind, a reflection on the people around me who provide space and audience. Y’all are the best. Thank you for your comments, likes, friendships, and buddy reads. 😘
December 30, 2022
As always, I have had a marvellous reading year in 2022, aided by the brilliant Goodreads community and the reviews people write that greatly help us make decisions on what to read. Those of us who have been on this site for some time, like me, could not do without all our goodreads friends and others, all of you deserve to be celebrated for the time and effort you put into writing reviews. I don't usually pick a book that has stood out for me, but this year I am, it is Home Fire by Kamila Shamsie, although unfortunately the review I wrote for it disappeared. For those of you interested in what I read this year, here is the link:
https://www.goodreads.com/user_challe...
I am really conscious that so many of us in Britain and globally came through the pandemic only to now find ourselves struggling financially with the cost of living crisis, I fervently hope things will improve next year. Happy New Year to all my wonderful Goodreads friends and everyone on this site.
♥️
https://www.goodreads.com/user_challe...
I am really conscious that so many of us in Britain and globally came through the pandemic only to now find ourselves struggling financially with the cost of living crisis, I fervently hope things will improve next year. Happy New Year to all my wonderful Goodreads friends and everyone on this site.
♥️
Read
January 8, 2023Overall 2022 was solid, with me ending the year at 64.521 pages, 213 books, 1.889 friends. How High We Go in the Dark was my most liked review, garnering 195 likes.
Favorite fiction read this year was The Poppy War by R.F. Kuang.
Favorite non-fiction book was tied between Chip War: The Fight for the World's Most Critical Technology from Chris Miller and De Zwijger: Het leven van Willem van Oranje from René van Stipriaan.
My favourite reread was Ghostwritten by David Mitchell.
Honorable mentions to The Found and the Lost: The Collected Novellas of Ursula K. Le Guin, showing the brilliance of Le Guin and Hajime Isayama and his Attack on Titan series.
Largest disappointment was Without Ever Reaching the Summit: A Journey
December turned out to be a record with 10.108 pages read, with over 41 books
This was mainly due to me finishing Attack on Titan manga from Hajime Isayama. Initially I found it hard to relate to the work but the last 5.000 pages swept me away. Chip War: The Fight for the World's Most Critical Technology was an excellent non-fiction book while Six of Crows turned out to be the disappointment of the month.
November was 2.845 pages and 7 books, with The Found and the Lost: The Collected Novellas of Ursula K. Le Guin my favourite work, showcasing the remarkable talent and variety of Ursula K. Le Guin. Young Stalin was a very good non-fiction work and I enjoyed the poetry in The Man With Night Sweats by Thom Gunn
In October I read 10 books and 3.478 pages
I enjoyed in terms of non-fiction Invisible Women: Data Bias in a World Designed for Men most, and for fiction I revisited Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix. I disliked The Mushroom at the End of the World: On the Possibility of Life in Capitalist Ruins as a pretentious piece of work.
During September I read less than any month this year - 11 books - 3.439 pages
I enjoyed The Trees from Percival Everett, my personal favorite to win this years Booker prize, most of the more contemporary fiction I read. Parable of the Sower of Octavia E. Butler was an excellent classic I discovered during this month.
In August 23 books - 5.189 pages, I continued my literary travel around the world. I highly enjoyed Black Garden: Armenia and Azerbaijan Through Peace and War as non-fiction work and People Want to Live and The Ministry of Guidance as excellent short story bundles.
July 24 books - 5.811 pages
This month featured a literary trip around the world, one of the challenges of the group I am co-moderator for. Stalin: The Court of the Red Tsar was a non-fiction higlight, while The Divers' Game reinforced my belief that I should read more fiction from Jesse Ball. The Book of Strange New Things was my biggest dissapointment of the month.
June 11 books - 4.782 pages
The Poppy War by R.F. Kuang was very good this month. I also enjoyed The Third Person, a graphic novel on being trans in the modern world. Biggest disappointment was classic I Capture the Castle.
May 16 books - 7.238 pages
I finally finished Death Note, a massive 2.400 page manga this month. Favourite read was De Zwijger: Het leven van Willem van Oranje, fantastic non-fiction on the progenitor of the current royal house of The Netherlands, and the independence struggle he led against Spain in a tumultuous 16th century. Open Water by Caleb Azumah Nelson was my favourite fiction read.
April 15 books - 4.342 pages
Long overdue but Beautiful World, Where Are You from Sally Rooney was my read of the month. I was disappointed in Cat's Cradle by Kurt Vonnegut Jr. and found The Boundless Sea: A Human History of the Oceans, longest book of the year till now, not as strong as I had hoped.
March 17 books - 5.033 pages
I was a bit disappointed in sci-fi by Dan Simmons his Endymion books at the start of the month. The Booker International Prize 2022 longlist had some highlights on it, both The Book of Mother and Love in the Big City were strong 4 star books. Favorite read of the month was a reread: Watchmen, being as dark and brilliant as I remembered it to be.
February 21 books - 6.618 pages
Despite being the shortest month, last month had me reading the most number of pages ever. Non-fiction that was very good included Empire of Pain: The Secret History of the Sackler Dynasty and Revolusi: Indonesië en het ontstaan van de moderne wereld. The Eye of the World was a reread and still earned 5 stars. The Cold Millions from Jess Walter was a book of a new to me author I really enjoyed and also gave 5 stars. Finally in terms of poetry I finished my foray into the work of Louise Glück, with excellent bundles Ararat and The Seven Ages.
January 17 books - 5.792 pages
Definitely the longest book was A Memory of Light by Robert Jordan, coming hot on the Amazon Prime series, nice to return to the world of the Wheel of Time. My favorite book of the month was my reread of Ghostwritten by David Mitchell. The Every by Dave Eggers disappointed. A Good Year by Polis Loizou was an unexpected treasure.
For the year in general I don't have any super concrete goals upfront and with a return to university I doubtlessly will read less than in 2021.
For comparison purposes: I start the year with 2.438 books in total on Goodreads, with my read books increasing from 529 to 720. In terms of well liked reviews Klara and the Sun garnered 341 likes last year.
Favorite fiction read this year was The Poppy War by R.F. Kuang.
Favorite non-fiction book was tied between Chip War: The Fight for the World's Most Critical Technology from Chris Miller and De Zwijger: Het leven van Willem van Oranje from René van Stipriaan.
My favourite reread was Ghostwritten by David Mitchell.
Honorable mentions to The Found and the Lost: The Collected Novellas of Ursula K. Le Guin, showing the brilliance of Le Guin and Hajime Isayama and his Attack on Titan series.
Largest disappointment was Without Ever Reaching the Summit: A Journey
December turned out to be a record with 10.108 pages read, with over 41 books
This was mainly due to me finishing Attack on Titan manga from Hajime Isayama. Initially I found it hard to relate to the work but the last 5.000 pages swept me away. Chip War: The Fight for the World's Most Critical Technology was an excellent non-fiction book while Six of Crows turned out to be the disappointment of the month.
November was 2.845 pages and 7 books, with The Found and the Lost: The Collected Novellas of Ursula K. Le Guin my favourite work, showcasing the remarkable talent and variety of Ursula K. Le Guin. Young Stalin was a very good non-fiction work and I enjoyed the poetry in The Man With Night Sweats by Thom Gunn
In October I read 10 books and 3.478 pages
I enjoyed in terms of non-fiction Invisible Women: Data Bias in a World Designed for Men most, and for fiction I revisited Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix. I disliked The Mushroom at the End of the World: On the Possibility of Life in Capitalist Ruins as a pretentious piece of work.
During September I read less than any month this year - 11 books - 3.439 pages
I enjoyed The Trees from Percival Everett, my personal favorite to win this years Booker prize, most of the more contemporary fiction I read. Parable of the Sower of Octavia E. Butler was an excellent classic I discovered during this month.
In August 23 books - 5.189 pages, I continued my literary travel around the world. I highly enjoyed Black Garden: Armenia and Azerbaijan Through Peace and War as non-fiction work and People Want to Live and The Ministry of Guidance as excellent short story bundles.
July 24 books - 5.811 pages
This month featured a literary trip around the world, one of the challenges of the group I am co-moderator for. Stalin: The Court of the Red Tsar was a non-fiction higlight, while The Divers' Game reinforced my belief that I should read more fiction from Jesse Ball. The Book of Strange New Things was my biggest dissapointment of the month.
June 11 books - 4.782 pages
The Poppy War by R.F. Kuang was very good this month. I also enjoyed The Third Person, a graphic novel on being trans in the modern world. Biggest disappointment was classic I Capture the Castle.
May 16 books - 7.238 pages
I finally finished Death Note, a massive 2.400 page manga this month. Favourite read was De Zwijger: Het leven van Willem van Oranje, fantastic non-fiction on the progenitor of the current royal house of The Netherlands, and the independence struggle he led against Spain in a tumultuous 16th century. Open Water by Caleb Azumah Nelson was my favourite fiction read.
April 15 books - 4.342 pages
Long overdue but Beautiful World, Where Are You from Sally Rooney was my read of the month. I was disappointed in Cat's Cradle by Kurt Vonnegut Jr. and found The Boundless Sea: A Human History of the Oceans, longest book of the year till now, not as strong as I had hoped.
March 17 books - 5.033 pages
I was a bit disappointed in sci-fi by Dan Simmons his Endymion books at the start of the month. The Booker International Prize 2022 longlist had some highlights on it, both The Book of Mother and Love in the Big City were strong 4 star books. Favorite read of the month was a reread: Watchmen, being as dark and brilliant as I remembered it to be.
February 21 books - 6.618 pages
Despite being the shortest month, last month had me reading the most number of pages ever. Non-fiction that was very good included Empire of Pain: The Secret History of the Sackler Dynasty and Revolusi: Indonesië en het ontstaan van de moderne wereld. The Eye of the World was a reread and still earned 5 stars. The Cold Millions from Jess Walter was a book of a new to me author I really enjoyed and also gave 5 stars. Finally in terms of poetry I finished my foray into the work of Louise Glück, with excellent bundles Ararat and The Seven Ages.
January 17 books - 5.792 pages
Definitely the longest book was A Memory of Light by Robert Jordan, coming hot on the Amazon Prime series, nice to return to the world of the Wheel of Time. My favorite book of the month was my reread of Ghostwritten by David Mitchell. The Every by Dave Eggers disappointed. A Good Year by Polis Loizou was an unexpected treasure.
For the year in general I don't have any super concrete goals upfront and with a return to university I doubtlessly will read less than in 2021.
For comparison purposes: I start the year with 2.438 books in total on Goodreads, with my read books increasing from 529 to 720. In terms of well liked reviews Klara and the Sun garnered 341 likes last year.
January 11, 2023
Dear Friends, Followers and Goodsreads Community : (thanks to Fionnuala for starting this tradition !!!)
Happy 2022 to my Friends and Followers and the General Goodreads Community.
Well my lovely bf and I have finally moved away from the big city and are now temporarily renting half of a house from very good friends in a small Central Ontario village. I love it here ! I am immersed in making art, meditation, playing piano, joining a choir and lots of hiking. Autumn was so fucking beautiful here and we walked upwards of 15 to 20 km five days a week. I have met some young friends and we do lots of fun stuff together. We have dinner with our housemates daily and I do most of the cooking. We will be here for 18 months or so as we have decided to have our forever home built somewhere in Southwestern Ontario. I am excited to plan this. We are currently scouting locations and architects. Our ultimate goal will be to also get a small condo in either Northern New Mexico or more likely Belize. For the next 18 months though I am going to love it here each and every day ! I do not miss Toronto one bit and we have not been back since although family and friends have visited us here.
I will also further continue to decrease the amount of time I spend on this site. I love seeing many of you here and will continue to do so very briefly on a daily basis but I will not be reading as many reviews or commenting nearly as much. This was very helpful this year and I realize social media is only psychologically healthy for me in very small daily doses.
I will be using this site to write reviews to keep track of what I'm reading, to correspond with some really lovely people and read a few reviews here and there and comment only a little too with people that I have grown very fond of. Many of my GR buddies read books that I would not go near and I love to get a little taste of those books through your reviews. I also learn of some really great books and expand my horizons !
I also look forward to reading ALL your year end reviews and since they are my favorite I will limit myself to one per day starting January 1st !
Ok onto Jaidee's annual book awards. We will start with the raspberries, move onto some fun and unique awards and then end off with the best of the best of the reading year…PS I attempted 72 reads and completed over 64 of them...I also had twelve 5-stars books, as well as eight 4.5 stars books and ten 4star books (terrific!!)....
Book I Was Most Afraid to Hate (or in the case of the runner up greatly dislike)- both of these are greatly loved by my partner (oh well...lol)
Runner Up
The Sense of an Ending by Julian Barnes(2011). Booker prize winner about the complaints of a garden variety narcissist...no thanx ! Ugh ! (1.5 stars)
Absolutely Hated (Winner) !
Klara and the Sun by Kazuo Ishiguro (2021) I wanted to bitch slap this robot and I could not finish this book ! (1 star)
Worst Reads of the year:
Runner Up:
The Swap by Robyn Harding (2020)
Half "utterly idiotic, cop-out, shyt show" stars !!!
Absolute Worst:
Never Saw Me Coming by Vera Kurian(2021)
Half "shitshow, repulsive, dysgustyng" stars !!
Most Disappointing Reads of the Year
Third Place
American Predator by Maureen Callahan (2019)
This should have been amazing rather than barely mediocre (2.5 stars)
Second Place
The Island of Missing Trees by Elif Shafak (2021)
Let's just say Hera and I are still drinking too much wine to drown our sorrow (1 star)
Most Disappointing
Fresh Water for Flowers by Valerie Perrin (2018) (1.9 stars)
One of the most disappointing reads of my life...Celine Dion and I are coming out with a double album about it !!
The Shoulda Woulda Coulda Award (This book was supposed to reach great status)
The Comeback by Ella Berman (2020) (3 stars)
This started off so bloody astutely and could have been as great as My Dark Vanessa but sadly petered out in the last third....
The Jeez Louise Award –for the book that I cannot believe truly exists
Dragged Into the Light by Tony Russo (2020) (3.5 stars)
Holy Shite....Conspiracy theories galore blew my MIND !
The Failure as a Reader Award (my fault not the author's)
Mink River by Brian Doyle (2010) (2 stars)
A beautifully written book that I did not want to resent so I stopped early on...
MOST AVERAGE OF AVERAGE AWARD
I would say that this is the book that divided the good and excellent from the fair and bad
The Searcher by Tana French (2020) (3 stars) A darkly beautifully written book with oh so many flaws!
REVIEWS I HAD THE MOST FUN WRITING
4th Place
Sin Eater by Megan Campisi (2020) (1 star)
3rd Place
The End of Men by Christina Sweeney (2021) (2 stars)
2nd Place
Grand Union by Zadie Smith (2020)(4 stars)
Mostest Fun
Evidence of the Affair by TJR (2018) (1.5 stars)
THE BOOK WHERE I WISH I WAS EDITOR AWARD
Runner Up
Hurry Home by Roz Nay (2020) (2.5 stars)
Winner
City of Vengeance by DV Bishop (2021) (3 stars)
GUILTY PLEASURE AWARD
Runner Up
Revenge by Tom Bower (2022) (4 stars)
Winner
The Peony Pavilion by fulushouxi (2022) (4stars)
BOOK THAT I WISH MORE OF YOU WOULD READ AWARD
How We Disappear by Tara Lynn Masih(2022) (4.23 stars)
PLEASANT SURPRISE AWARD
Runner Up
The Dog of Tithwal by SH Manto (1947) (3.75 stars)
Winner
Shame by Karin Altvegen (2007) (4 stars)
Honorable Mention Awards -Books that achieved 4.5 star status !!
Rabbit Hole by Mark Billingham (2021)
Death in Delft by Graham Brack (2020)
Intimations by Zadie Smith (2020)
Laptop from Hell by Miranda Devine (2021)
The Berlin Crossing by Kevin Brophy (2012)
Violet Bent Backwards over the Grass by Lana Del Rey (2020)
Meow by Tizzy Cottingham (2022)
A History of Magic and Witchcraft by Frances Timbers (2019)
Now we will do Jaidee's Top Ten Awards. . I will list the book and a phrase that encapsulates for me why the book is great. These are all five star books !!
(Drum Roll Please....)
10th place (Tie)
Tentacle by Rita Indiana (2015)
"harsh complex queer machismo"
Midnight Train to Prague by Carol Windley (2020)
"elegant, ultrafeminine, romantic and then..."
9th place
Resistance by Tori Amos (2020) "primordial, humanitarian, at times a bit grandiose"
8th place
Dirty Work by Eyal Press (2021) "pop sociology at its most helpful and best"
7th place
Intimacies by Katie Kitamura (2021)"derealized, implosive, exceptional"
6th place
American Heiress by Jeffrey Toobin (2016) "absolutely fucking bonkers"
5th place
Consent by Annabel Lyon (2020) "jagged, twisted and oh so Canadian"
4th place
The Divine Boys by Laura Restrepo (2018)"a psychodrama, a melodrama, a crime drama, a fuckin masterpiece"
Now to the medal Award Winners (the strings are furiously playing in the background)
Bronze (3rd Favorite Read)
The Great Passion by James Runcie (2022)"transcendent, breathtaking, astonishing"
Silver (2nd Favorite Read)-Tie
Two amazingly perfect reads take Silver this year !
Young Mungo by Douglas Stuart (2022) "perceptive, powerful, painful, poignant"
The Resurrection of Joan Ashby by Cherise Wolas (2017) "transformative, elegant, inspirational"
Gold (Mostest Favorite Read)
To Paradise by Hanya Yanagihara (2022) "The pinnacle of reading"
Hark ye Hark ye.... We have a new book to add to Mount Olympus. There are currently three books there
Joining them is of course
Likely the best reading experience I have ever had. I bow down to Empress Yanagihara !
Wishing you all the best of health, happiness and books in 2023!
Happy 2022 to my Friends and Followers and the General Goodreads Community.
Well my lovely bf and I have finally moved away from the big city and are now temporarily renting half of a house from very good friends in a small Central Ontario village. I love it here ! I am immersed in making art, meditation, playing piano, joining a choir and lots of hiking. Autumn was so fucking beautiful here and we walked upwards of 15 to 20 km five days a week. I have met some young friends and we do lots of fun stuff together. We have dinner with our housemates daily and I do most of the cooking. We will be here for 18 months or so as we have decided to have our forever home built somewhere in Southwestern Ontario. I am excited to plan this. We are currently scouting locations and architects. Our ultimate goal will be to also get a small condo in either Northern New Mexico or more likely Belize. For the next 18 months though I am going to love it here each and every day ! I do not miss Toronto one bit and we have not been back since although family and friends have visited us here.
I will also further continue to decrease the amount of time I spend on this site. I love seeing many of you here and will continue to do so very briefly on a daily basis but I will not be reading as many reviews or commenting nearly as much. This was very helpful this year and I realize social media is only psychologically healthy for me in very small daily doses.
I will be using this site to write reviews to keep track of what I'm reading, to correspond with some really lovely people and read a few reviews here and there and comment only a little too with people that I have grown very fond of. Many of my GR buddies read books that I would not go near and I love to get a little taste of those books through your reviews. I also learn of some really great books and expand my horizons !
I also look forward to reading ALL your year end reviews and since they are my favorite I will limit myself to one per day starting January 1st !
Ok onto Jaidee's annual book awards. We will start with the raspberries, move onto some fun and unique awards and then end off with the best of the best of the reading year…PS I attempted 72 reads and completed over 64 of them...I also had twelve 5-stars books, as well as eight 4.5 stars books and ten 4star books (terrific!!)....
Book I Was Most Afraid to Hate (or in the case of the runner up greatly dislike)- both of these are greatly loved by my partner (oh well...lol)
Runner Up
The Sense of an Ending by Julian Barnes(2011). Booker prize winner about the complaints of a garden variety narcissist...no thanx ! Ugh ! (1.5 stars)Absolutely Hated (Winner) !
Klara and the Sun by Kazuo Ishiguro (2021) I wanted to bitch slap this robot and I could not finish this book ! (1 star)Worst Reads of the year:
Runner Up:
The Swap by Robyn Harding (2020)Half "utterly idiotic, cop-out, shyt show" stars !!!
Absolute Worst:
Never Saw Me Coming by Vera Kurian(2021)Half "shitshow, repulsive, dysgustyng" stars !!
Most Disappointing Reads of the Year
Third Place
American Predator by Maureen Callahan (2019)This should have been amazing rather than barely mediocre (2.5 stars)
Second Place
The Island of Missing Trees by Elif Shafak (2021)Let's just say Hera and I are still drinking too much wine to drown our sorrow (1 star)
Most Disappointing
Fresh Water for Flowers by Valerie Perrin (2018) (1.9 stars)One of the most disappointing reads of my life...Celine Dion and I are coming out with a double album about it !!
The Shoulda Woulda Coulda Award (This book was supposed to reach great status)
The Comeback by Ella Berman (2020) (3 stars)This started off so bloody astutely and could have been as great as My Dark Vanessa but sadly petered out in the last third....
The Jeez Louise Award –for the book that I cannot believe truly exists
Dragged Into the Light by Tony Russo (2020) (3.5 stars)Holy Shite....Conspiracy theories galore blew my MIND !
The Failure as a Reader Award (my fault not the author's)
Mink River by Brian Doyle (2010) (2 stars)A beautifully written book that I did not want to resent so I stopped early on...
MOST AVERAGE OF AVERAGE AWARD
I would say that this is the book that divided the good and excellent from the fair and bad
The Searcher by Tana French (2020) (3 stars) A darkly beautifully written book with oh so many flaws!REVIEWS I HAD THE MOST FUN WRITING
4th Place
Sin Eater by Megan Campisi (2020) (1 star)3rd Place
The End of Men by Christina Sweeney (2021) (2 stars)2nd Place
Grand Union by Zadie Smith (2020)(4 stars)Mostest Fun
Evidence of the Affair by TJR (2018) (1.5 stars)THE BOOK WHERE I WISH I WAS EDITOR AWARD
Runner Up
Hurry Home by Roz Nay (2020) (2.5 stars)Winner
City of Vengeance by DV Bishop (2021) (3 stars)GUILTY PLEASURE AWARD
Runner Up
Revenge by Tom Bower (2022) (4 stars)Winner
The Peony Pavilion by fulushouxi (2022) (4stars)BOOK THAT I WISH MORE OF YOU WOULD READ AWARD
How We Disappear by Tara Lynn Masih(2022) (4.23 stars)PLEASANT SURPRISE AWARD
Runner Up
The Dog of Tithwal by SH Manto (1947) (3.75 stars)Winner
Shame by Karin Altvegen (2007) (4 stars)Honorable Mention Awards -Books that achieved 4.5 star status !!
Rabbit Hole by Mark Billingham (2021)
Death in Delft by Graham Brack (2020)
Intimations by Zadie Smith (2020)
Laptop from Hell by Miranda Devine (2021)
The Berlin Crossing by Kevin Brophy (2012)
Violet Bent Backwards over the Grass by Lana Del Rey (2020)
Meow by Tizzy Cottingham (2022)
A History of Magic and Witchcraft by Frances Timbers (2019)Now we will do Jaidee's Top Ten Awards. . I will list the book and a phrase that encapsulates for me why the book is great. These are all five star books !!
(Drum Roll Please....)
10th place (Tie)
Tentacle by Rita Indiana (2015)"harsh complex queer machismo"
Midnight Train to Prague by Carol Windley (2020)"elegant, ultrafeminine, romantic and then..."
9th place
Resistance by Tori Amos (2020) "primordial, humanitarian, at times a bit grandiose"8th place
Dirty Work by Eyal Press (2021) "pop sociology at its most helpful and best"7th place
Intimacies by Katie Kitamura (2021)"derealized, implosive, exceptional"6th place
American Heiress by Jeffrey Toobin (2016) "absolutely fucking bonkers"5th place
Consent by Annabel Lyon (2020) "jagged, twisted and oh so Canadian"4th place
The Divine Boys by Laura Restrepo (2018)"a psychodrama, a melodrama, a crime drama, a fuckin masterpiece"Now to the medal Award Winners (the strings are furiously playing in the background)
Bronze (3rd Favorite Read)
The Great Passion by James Runcie (2022)"transcendent, breathtaking, astonishing"Silver (2nd Favorite Read)-Tie
Two amazingly perfect reads take Silver this year !
Young Mungo by Douglas Stuart (2022) "perceptive, powerful, painful, poignant"
The Resurrection of Joan Ashby by Cherise Wolas (2017) "transformative, elegant, inspirational"Gold (Mostest Favorite Read)
To Paradise by Hanya Yanagihara (2022) "The pinnacle of reading" Hark ye Hark ye.... We have a new book to add to Mount Olympus. There are currently three books there
Joining them is of course
Likely the best reading experience I have ever had. I bow down to Empress Yanagihara !
Wishing you all the best of health, happiness and books in 2023!
Shelved as 'year-in-review'
January 2, 2023Reading Goals 2022:
- 150 books (135/135) ✅
- Read at least 20 books in Spanish (18/20)
- Read a nonfiction book
- Read 5 classics (5/5) ✅
- Read a poetry book
Series/ duologies I need to finish:
• Truly Devious ✅
• Infernal Devices ✅
• Stalking Jack the Ripper ✅
• Raven Cycle
• Aurora Cycle
• Mortal Instruments
• Sands of Arawiya
• Dance of Thieves
• Gumiho
• The Merciful Crow
📚- buddy reads
January books
Read : 13
- The Sweetest Oblivion by Danielle Lori - 3⭐️
- The Flatshare by Beth O'Leary - 3⭐️
- Escaping from Houdini by Kerri Maniscalo - 2⭐
- Kulti by Mariana Zapata- 5⭐
- The Maddest Obsession by Danielle Lori - 4⭐
- The Vanishing Stair by Maureen Johnson - 4⭐
- Not Here to be Liked by Michelle Quach - 2⭐
- Princesa Mecánica (Clockwork Princess) by Cassandra Clare - 5⭐
- Antes de Diciembre by Joana Marcús - 2⭐
- Pretty Reckless by L.J Shen - 2⭐
- The Hand on the Wall by Maureen Johnson - 4⭐
- Go Ask Alice by Anonymus - 2⭐
- Down Comes the Night by Allison Saft - 4⭐📚
Average pages: 410
Average rating: 3.2
Best: Kulti, The Vanishing Stair, Princesa Mecánica
Worst: Escaping from Houdini, Not Here to be Liked, Antes de Diciembre, Pretty Reckless
January comments:
- this reading month wasn't the best, I read many books that I didn't like (had to push through them)
- I finished my favorite trilogy of all time (Infernal Devices) and cried and laughed so at least there's that
- Met one of my favorite characters ever (Cecy I LOVE YOU)
- I also think I found my favorite romance of the year!! (It's probably really soon to say this, but who cares?)
February books
Read : 11
- Addicted to You by Krista and Becca Ritchie - 3⭐
- Asesinato en el Orient Express by Agatha Christie - 5⭐
- The Bridge Kingdom by Danielle L. Jensen - 4⭐
- From Lukov with Love by Mariana Zapata - 5⭐
- To Love Jason Thorn by Ella Maise - 1⭐📚
- A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens - 3⭐📚
- The Chase by Elle Kennedy - 3⭐
- Skyward by Brandon Sanderson - 5⭐
- The Infinity Courts by Akemi Dawn Bowman- 4⭐
- Becoming the Dark Prince by Kerri Maniscalco - 4⭐
- The Darkest Temptation by Danielle Lori - 3⭐
Average pages: 394
Average rating: 3.7
Best: From Lukov with Love, Asesinato en el Orient Express, Skyward
Worst: To Love Jason Thorn
Februrary comments:
- I didn't read much, but the books I read I mostly really liked
- I got to fall back in love with science fiction
- Read one of my favorite contemporary romances of all time (From Lukov with Love)
- I read and loved an Agatha Christie book
March books
Read : 11
- La Vida Invisible de Addie LaRue by VE Schwab - 5⭐
- Three Dark Crowns by Kendare Blake - 3⭐
- Blue Lily Lily Blue by Maggie Stiefvater - 4⭐
- Me Before You by Jojo Moyes - 4⭐
- Vox by Christina Dalcher - 2⭐📚
- Normal People by Sally Rooney - 3⭐📚
- City of Fallen Angels by Cassandra Clare - 2⭐
- Mindfuck series by S.T. Abby (5 books) - 3.5⭐
- The Risk by Elle Kennedy - 4⭐
- Throttled by Lauren Asher - 4⭐
- The Fine Print by Lauren Asher- 2⭐
Average pages: 460
Average rating: 3.65
Best: La Vida Invisible de Addie LaRue
Worst: City of Fallen Angels, The Fine Print
March comments:
- Read The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue and haven't been able to stop thinking about it
- Read a lot of romance to get me out of my reading slump
- Continued with TMI!!! let's see if I can finally finish it
- Slow reading month overall
April books
Read: 10
- Skyhunter by Marie Lu - 4⭐️
- You Deserve Each Other by Sarah Hogle- 5⭐️
- The Roommate by Rosie Danan - 1⭐️
- City of Lost Souls by Cassandra Clare - 4⭐️
- If This Gets Out by Sophie Gonzales and Cale Dietrich - 5⭐️
- Wings of Ebony by J. Elle - 3⭐️
- The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor J. Reid - 5⭐️
- Dead Poets Society by N H Kleinbaum - 3⭐️
- The Sun is Also a Star by Nicola Yoon- 2⭐️
Rereads:
- The Fault in Our Stars by John Green - 4⭐️
Average pages: 368
Average rating: 3.6
Best: You Deserve Each Other, If This Gets Out, The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo
Worst: The Roommate, The Sun is Also a Star
April comments:
- I rated THREE books 5⭐ which is absolutely amazing
- Didn't read much but I enjoyed it
- Got to revisit a middle school favorite
May books
Read: 12
- Illusions of Fate by Kiersten White - 4⭐
- Inheritance by Katharine McGee (novella) - 3⭐📚
- It Happened One Summer by Tessa Bailey - 2⭐
- Under One Roof by Ali Hazelwood - 2⭐📚
- Book Lovers by Emily Henry - 5⭐
- Anhelo by Tracy Wolff - 3.5⭐️
- The Play by Elle Kennedy - 4⭐️
- Capturing the Devil by Kerri Maniscalo - 3⭐
- Girl from the Sea by Molly Knox Ostertag - 3⭐
- Some Girls Do by Jennifer Dugan - 4⭐
Rereads:
- The Summer I turned pretty by Jenny Han - 3⭐
- It's not summer without you by Jenny Han - 3.5⭐
Average pages: 329
Average rating: 3,3
Best: Book Lovers, Some Girls Do
Worst: It Happened One Summer, Under One Roof
May comments:
- Got an arc for what became one of my favorite romances EVER
- Reread one of my favorite middle school series (didn't love it as much, but I'm still Team Conrad)
- Read some sapphic romances that I had wanted to read for a while
- Finished the Stalking Jack the Ripper series!
June books
Read: 11
- Icebreaker by A.L. Graziadei - 4.5⭐
- Spy x Family Vol. 1 by Tatsuya Endo - 3⭐
-My Mechanical Romance by Alexene Farol Follmuth - 5⭐
- Ricochet by Krista Ritchie, Becca Ritchie - 3⭐
- The Gilded Wolves by Roshani Chokshi - 3 ⭐
- I Kissed Sarah Wheeler by Casey McQuiston - 2⭐
- El Candor del Padre Brown by G. K. Chesterton - 2⭐
- The Summer of Broken Rules by K.L. Walther - 4⭐
- Rivals by Katherine McGee - 4⭐
- One Italian Summer by Rebecca Serle - 2⭐
Rereads
- We'll always have summer by Jenny Han - 3⭐
Average pages: 296
Average rating: 3.2
Best: Icebreaker, My Mechanical Romance.
Worst: El Candor del Padre Brown, One Italian Summer, I Kissed Sarah Wheeler
June comments:
- Went on a trip so didn't have as much time to read as I thought
- Read one of my favorite lgbtq+ romance books ever, which I totally recommend (Icebreaker)
MID-YEAR:
-Books read: 68
-Best books so far: Kulti, Mechanical Princess, From Lukov with Love, Skyward, The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue, You Deserve Each Other, If This Gets Out, The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo, and Book Lovers
-Newest Release I haven’t read yet, but want to: Gallant ✅, Book of the Night, and Hotel Magnifique
-Most anticipated releases: Foul Lady Fortune, It Starts with Us, The Final Gambit, The American Roommate Experiment, and Love on the Brain ✅
-Biggest Disappointment: the Gilded Wolves, It Happened One Summer, The Fine Print, To Love Jason Thorn, The Roommate, Not Here to be Liked, and Escaping from Houdini
-Biggest surprise: City of Lost Souls and Rivals
-New fictional crushes: Ivan Lukov, Kulti, Charlie Lastra, and Jake Connelly
-New favorite characters: Brenna, Nora Stephens, Addie LaRue, Evelyn Hugo, and Spensa
-Most read authors: S.T Abby (5)
July books
Read: 14
- Stuck with You by Ali Hazelwood - 3⭐️
- Every Summer After by Carley Fortune - 4⭐️
- A Thousand Miles by Bridget Morrissey - 4⭐
- The Infinity Between Us by N.S. Perkins - 3⭐
- Collided by Lauren Usher - 3⭐
- A Show for Two by Tashie Bhuiyan - 3⭐
- A Million Kisses in Your Lifetime by Monica Murphy - 2⭐
- La Paciente Silenciosa by Alex Michaelides - 5⭐
- Meet Me Halfway by Lilian T. James - 2⭐
- The Kingdom of Wicked by Kerri Maniscalco - 3⭐
- From Blood and Ash by Jennifer L. Armentrout - 4⭐
- The Beautiful by Renée Ahdieh - 3⭐
- They're Watching You by Chelsea Ichaso (arc) - 3⭐
- Arrivederci, amor by Susana Rubio - 4⭐
Average pages: 403
Average rating: 3.28
Best: La Paciente Silenciosa
Worst: A Million Kisses in Your Lifetime, Meet Me Halfway.
July comments:
- Read a lot even though I went on vacation
- Overall not a bad reading month
- Read a lot of romance and kinda got back into fantasy
- Read some books in Spanish :)
August books
Read: 14
- Tengo un Whatsapp by Susana Rubio - 1.5⭐
- Death by Society by Sierra Elmore (arc) - 2⭐️
- The Girls I’ve Been by Tess Sharpe - 4⭐️
- Lore Olympus: season 2 by Rachel Smythe - 3⭐
- A Kingdom of Flesh and Fire by Jennifer L. Armentrout - 3⭐
- Paper Girls by Brian K. Vaughan - 2⭐
- Ciao, bonita by Susana Rubio - 3⭐
- Starsight by Brandon Sanderson - 4⭐
- Gallant by V.E. Schwab - 2⭐
- You'll be the Death of Me by Karen M. McManus - 4⭐
- The Final Gambit by Jennifer Lynn Barnes - 3⭐📚
Re-reads:
- ¡Un año fuera de casa! by Ana Punset - 3⭐
- Sueños en la gran manzana by Ana Punset - 2⭐
- Desayuno en Central Park by Ana Punset - 2⭐
Average pages: 372
Average rating: 2,7
Best: The Girls I've Been, Starsight and You'll be the Death of Me
Worst: Tengo un Whatsapp, Death by Society, Paper Girls, Sueños en la gran manzana, Desayuno en Central Park, Gallant.
August comments:
- Read a lot of books!
- Got to reread one of my middle school favorites even if I didn't love it as much anymore
- My average rating went down
- Disappointed by most of these
- Finished the Inheritance Games series!!!!
September books
Read: 9
- Dear Aaron by Mariana Zapata - 3.5⭐
- Wrecked by Lauren Asher - 4⭐
- Twisted Love by Ana Huang - 1⭐
- Archer's Voice by Mia Sheridan - 3⭐
- The American Roommate Experiment - 4⭐📚
- Buonasera princesa by Susana Rubio - 4⭐
- The Crown of Gilded Bones by Jennifer L. Armentrout - 3⭐
- She Gets the Girl by Rachael Lippincott, Alyson Derrick - 4⭐
Re-reads:
- Perfecto Error by Ali Novak - 3⭐
Average pages: 408
Average rating: 3.18
Best: Wrecked and She Gets the Girl
Worst: Twisted Love
September comments:
- Really bad reading month for me
October books
Read: 8
- Monday's Not Coming by Tiffany D. Jackson - 4⭐
- Tomboys Don't Like Christmas by Christina Benjamin - 2⭐
- The Dare by Elle Kennedy - 3⭐
- Icebreaker by Hannah Grace - 3⭐
- Foul Lady Fortune by Chloe Gong - 5⭐📚
- Matar es Fácil by Agatha Christie - 2⭐
- The Shadows Between Us by Tricia Levenseller - 4⭐
- An Enchantment of Ravens by Margaret Rogerson - 2⭐
Average pages: 357.5
Average rating: 3.125
Best: Foul Lady Fortune
Worst: An Enchantment of Ravens and Tomboys don't like Christmas and Matar es Facil.
October comments:
- Even a worse reading month than September but I'm motivated for November
- Chloe Gong did it again with Foul Lady Fortune!!
November books
Read: 7
- The Last Encore by Elodie Colliard - 4⭐
- Below Zero by Ali Hazelwood - 3⭐
- Love on the Brain by Ali Hazelwood - 5⭐
- Sick Kids in Love by Hannah Moskowitz - 3⭐
- Identity by Alexia Mantzouranis - 3⭐
- Hither, Page by Cat Sebastian - 3⭐
- It Starts With Us by Colleen Hoover - 5⭐
Average pages: 317
Average rating: 3.28
Best: Love on the Brain and It Starts With Us
Worst: Below Zero
December books
Read: 11
- Not My Problem by Ciara Smyth - 4⭐
- Zodiac Academy #1 by Susanne Valenti, Caroline Peckham - 3⭐
- Water Under the Bridge by Kels Stone, Denise Stone - 4⭐
- Ruthless Fae by Susanne Valenti, Caroline Peckham - 3⭐
- Happy Place by Emily Henry (arc) - 5⭐
- On a Sunbeam by Tillie Walden - 3⭐
- The Mistletoe Motive by Chloe Liese - 4⭐
- Riden's Chapter by Tricia Levenseller - 3⭐
- The Emperor's soul by Brandon Sanderson - 5⭐
- All the Stars and Teeth by Adalyn Grace - 4⭐
- Ocho by Rebecca Stone - 3.5⭐
Average pages: 358.3
Average rating: 3.8
Best: Happy Place, The Emperor's soul
Worst: N/A
END OF THE YEAR:
Well, I accomplished... uhhh my reading goal and classics goal! at least that's something. I know I said this last year but I SWEAR that I'll try to read a poetry book next year and try to read more in Spanish :)
*Stats from StoryGraph (really recommended app btw)
-Books read: 135
-Books reread: 7
-Buddy reads: 10
- Most read author: S.T. Abby (5)
- Most read genre: romance, contemporary, and fantasy (in order)
Average rating: 3,37
Average pages: 362
BYE BYE 2022!!! Thank you for so many marvelous books
2021 Year in Review
2023 Year in Review
- 150 books (135/135) ✅
- Read at least 20 books in Spanish (18/20)
- Read a nonfiction book
- Read 5 classics (5/5) ✅
- Read a poetry book
Series/ duologies I need to finish:
• Truly Devious ✅
• Infernal Devices ✅
• Stalking Jack the Ripper ✅
• Raven Cycle
• Aurora Cycle
• Mortal Instruments
• Sands of Arawiya
• Dance of Thieves
• Gumiho
• The Merciful Crow
📚- buddy reads
January books
Read : 13
- The Sweetest Oblivion by Danielle Lori - 3⭐️
- The Flatshare by Beth O'Leary - 3⭐️
- Escaping from Houdini by Kerri Maniscalo - 2⭐
- Kulti by Mariana Zapata- 5⭐
- The Maddest Obsession by Danielle Lori - 4⭐
- The Vanishing Stair by Maureen Johnson - 4⭐
- Not Here to be Liked by Michelle Quach - 2⭐
- Princesa Mecánica (Clockwork Princess) by Cassandra Clare - 5⭐
- Antes de Diciembre by Joana Marcús - 2⭐
- Pretty Reckless by L.J Shen - 2⭐
- The Hand on the Wall by Maureen Johnson - 4⭐
- Go Ask Alice by Anonymus - 2⭐
- Down Comes the Night by Allison Saft - 4⭐📚
Average pages: 410
Average rating: 3.2
Best: Kulti, The Vanishing Stair, Princesa Mecánica
Worst: Escaping from Houdini, Not Here to be Liked, Antes de Diciembre, Pretty Reckless
January comments:
- this reading month wasn't the best, I read many books that I didn't like (had to push through them)
- I finished my favorite trilogy of all time (Infernal Devices) and cried and laughed so at least there's that
- Met one of my favorite characters ever (Cecy I LOVE YOU)
- I also think I found my favorite romance of the year!! (It's probably really soon to say this, but who cares?)
February books
Read : 11
- Addicted to You by Krista and Becca Ritchie - 3⭐
- Asesinato en el Orient Express by Agatha Christie - 5⭐
- The Bridge Kingdom by Danielle L. Jensen - 4⭐
- From Lukov with Love by Mariana Zapata - 5⭐
- To Love Jason Thorn by Ella Maise - 1⭐📚
- A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens - 3⭐📚
- The Chase by Elle Kennedy - 3⭐
- Skyward by Brandon Sanderson - 5⭐
- The Infinity Courts by Akemi Dawn Bowman- 4⭐
- Becoming the Dark Prince by Kerri Maniscalco - 4⭐
- The Darkest Temptation by Danielle Lori - 3⭐
Average pages: 394
Average rating: 3.7
Best: From Lukov with Love, Asesinato en el Orient Express, Skyward
Worst: To Love Jason Thorn
Februrary comments:
- I didn't read much, but the books I read I mostly really liked
- I got to fall back in love with science fiction
- Read one of my favorite contemporary romances of all time (From Lukov with Love)
- I read and loved an Agatha Christie book
March books
Read : 11
- La Vida Invisible de Addie LaRue by VE Schwab - 5⭐
- Three Dark Crowns by Kendare Blake - 3⭐
- Blue Lily Lily Blue by Maggie Stiefvater - 4⭐
- Me Before You by Jojo Moyes - 4⭐
- Vox by Christina Dalcher - 2⭐📚
- Normal People by Sally Rooney - 3⭐📚
- City of Fallen Angels by Cassandra Clare - 2⭐
- Mindfuck series by S.T. Abby (5 books) - 3.5⭐
- The Risk by Elle Kennedy - 4⭐
- Throttled by Lauren Asher - 4⭐
- The Fine Print by Lauren Asher- 2⭐
Average pages: 460
Average rating: 3.65
Best: La Vida Invisible de Addie LaRue
Worst: City of Fallen Angels, The Fine Print
March comments:
- Read The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue and haven't been able to stop thinking about it
- Read a lot of romance to get me out of my reading slump
- Continued with TMI!!! let's see if I can finally finish it
- Slow reading month overall
April books
Read: 10
- Skyhunter by Marie Lu - 4⭐️
- You Deserve Each Other by Sarah Hogle- 5⭐️
- The Roommate by Rosie Danan - 1⭐️
- City of Lost Souls by Cassandra Clare - 4⭐️
- If This Gets Out by Sophie Gonzales and Cale Dietrich - 5⭐️
- Wings of Ebony by J. Elle - 3⭐️
- The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor J. Reid - 5⭐️
- Dead Poets Society by N H Kleinbaum - 3⭐️
- The Sun is Also a Star by Nicola Yoon- 2⭐️
Rereads:
- The Fault in Our Stars by John Green - 4⭐️
Average pages: 368
Average rating: 3.6
Best: You Deserve Each Other, If This Gets Out, The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo
Worst: The Roommate, The Sun is Also a Star
April comments:
- I rated THREE books 5⭐ which is absolutely amazing
- Didn't read much but I enjoyed it
- Got to revisit a middle school favorite
May books
Read: 12
- Illusions of Fate by Kiersten White - 4⭐
- Inheritance by Katharine McGee (novella) - 3⭐📚
- It Happened One Summer by Tessa Bailey - 2⭐
- Under One Roof by Ali Hazelwood - 2⭐📚
- Book Lovers by Emily Henry - 5⭐
- Anhelo by Tracy Wolff - 3.5⭐️
- The Play by Elle Kennedy - 4⭐️
- Capturing the Devil by Kerri Maniscalo - 3⭐
- Girl from the Sea by Molly Knox Ostertag - 3⭐
- Some Girls Do by Jennifer Dugan - 4⭐
Rereads:
- The Summer I turned pretty by Jenny Han - 3⭐
- It's not summer without you by Jenny Han - 3.5⭐
Average pages: 329
Average rating: 3,3
Best: Book Lovers, Some Girls Do
Worst: It Happened One Summer, Under One Roof
May comments:
- Got an arc for what became one of my favorite romances EVER
- Reread one of my favorite middle school series (didn't love it as much, but I'm still Team Conrad)
- Read some sapphic romances that I had wanted to read for a while
- Finished the Stalking Jack the Ripper series!
June books
Read: 11
- Icebreaker by A.L. Graziadei - 4.5⭐
- Spy x Family Vol. 1 by Tatsuya Endo - 3⭐
-My Mechanical Romance by Alexene Farol Follmuth - 5⭐
- Ricochet by Krista Ritchie, Becca Ritchie - 3⭐
- The Gilded Wolves by Roshani Chokshi - 3 ⭐
- I Kissed Sarah Wheeler by Casey McQuiston - 2⭐
- El Candor del Padre Brown by G. K. Chesterton - 2⭐
- The Summer of Broken Rules by K.L. Walther - 4⭐
- Rivals by Katherine McGee - 4⭐
- One Italian Summer by Rebecca Serle - 2⭐
Rereads
- We'll always have summer by Jenny Han - 3⭐
Average pages: 296
Average rating: 3.2
Best: Icebreaker, My Mechanical Romance.
Worst: El Candor del Padre Brown, One Italian Summer, I Kissed Sarah Wheeler
June comments:
- Went on a trip so didn't have as much time to read as I thought
- Read one of my favorite lgbtq+ romance books ever, which I totally recommend (Icebreaker)
MID-YEAR:
-Books read: 68
-Best books so far: Kulti, Mechanical Princess, From Lukov with Love, Skyward, The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue, You Deserve Each Other, If This Gets Out, The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo, and Book Lovers
-Newest Release I haven’t read yet, but want to: Gallant ✅, Book of the Night, and Hotel Magnifique
-Most anticipated releases: Foul Lady Fortune, It Starts with Us, The Final Gambit, The American Roommate Experiment, and Love on the Brain ✅
-Biggest Disappointment: the Gilded Wolves, It Happened One Summer, The Fine Print, To Love Jason Thorn, The Roommate, Not Here to be Liked, and Escaping from Houdini
-Biggest surprise: City of Lost Souls and Rivals
-New fictional crushes: Ivan Lukov, Kulti, Charlie Lastra, and Jake Connelly
-New favorite characters: Brenna, Nora Stephens, Addie LaRue, Evelyn Hugo, and Spensa
-Most read authors: S.T Abby (5)
July books
Read: 14
- Stuck with You by Ali Hazelwood - 3⭐️
- Every Summer After by Carley Fortune - 4⭐️
- A Thousand Miles by Bridget Morrissey - 4⭐
- The Infinity Between Us by N.S. Perkins - 3⭐
- Collided by Lauren Usher - 3⭐
- A Show for Two by Tashie Bhuiyan - 3⭐
- A Million Kisses in Your Lifetime by Monica Murphy - 2⭐
- La Paciente Silenciosa by Alex Michaelides - 5⭐
- Meet Me Halfway by Lilian T. James - 2⭐
- The Kingdom of Wicked by Kerri Maniscalco - 3⭐
- From Blood and Ash by Jennifer L. Armentrout - 4⭐
- The Beautiful by Renée Ahdieh - 3⭐
- They're Watching You by Chelsea Ichaso (arc) - 3⭐
- Arrivederci, amor by Susana Rubio - 4⭐
Average pages: 403
Average rating: 3.28
Best: La Paciente Silenciosa
Worst: A Million Kisses in Your Lifetime, Meet Me Halfway.
July comments:
- Read a lot even though I went on vacation
- Overall not a bad reading month
- Read a lot of romance and kinda got back into fantasy
- Read some books in Spanish :)
August books
Read: 14
- Tengo un Whatsapp by Susana Rubio - 1.5⭐
- Death by Society by Sierra Elmore (arc) - 2⭐️
- The Girls I’ve Been by Tess Sharpe - 4⭐️
- Lore Olympus: season 2 by Rachel Smythe - 3⭐
- A Kingdom of Flesh and Fire by Jennifer L. Armentrout - 3⭐
- Paper Girls by Brian K. Vaughan - 2⭐
- Ciao, bonita by Susana Rubio - 3⭐
- Starsight by Brandon Sanderson - 4⭐
- Gallant by V.E. Schwab - 2⭐
- You'll be the Death of Me by Karen M. McManus - 4⭐
- The Final Gambit by Jennifer Lynn Barnes - 3⭐📚
Re-reads:
- ¡Un año fuera de casa! by Ana Punset - 3⭐
- Sueños en la gran manzana by Ana Punset - 2⭐
- Desayuno en Central Park by Ana Punset - 2⭐
Average pages: 372
Average rating: 2,7
Best: The Girls I've Been, Starsight and You'll be the Death of Me
Worst: Tengo un Whatsapp, Death by Society, Paper Girls, Sueños en la gran manzana, Desayuno en Central Park, Gallant.
August comments:
- Read a lot of books!
- Got to reread one of my middle school favorites even if I didn't love it as much anymore
- My average rating went down
- Disappointed by most of these
- Finished the Inheritance Games series!!!!
September books
Read: 9
- Dear Aaron by Mariana Zapata - 3.5⭐
- Wrecked by Lauren Asher - 4⭐
- Twisted Love by Ana Huang - 1⭐
- Archer's Voice by Mia Sheridan - 3⭐
- The American Roommate Experiment - 4⭐📚
- Buonasera princesa by Susana Rubio - 4⭐
- The Crown of Gilded Bones by Jennifer L. Armentrout - 3⭐
- She Gets the Girl by Rachael Lippincott, Alyson Derrick - 4⭐
Re-reads:
- Perfecto Error by Ali Novak - 3⭐
Average pages: 408
Average rating: 3.18
Best: Wrecked and She Gets the Girl
Worst: Twisted Love
September comments:
- Really bad reading month for me
October books
Read: 8
- Monday's Not Coming by Tiffany D. Jackson - 4⭐
- Tomboys Don't Like Christmas by Christina Benjamin - 2⭐
- The Dare by Elle Kennedy - 3⭐
- Icebreaker by Hannah Grace - 3⭐
- Foul Lady Fortune by Chloe Gong - 5⭐📚
- Matar es Fácil by Agatha Christie - 2⭐
- The Shadows Between Us by Tricia Levenseller - 4⭐
- An Enchantment of Ravens by Margaret Rogerson - 2⭐
Average pages: 357.5
Average rating: 3.125
Best: Foul Lady Fortune
Worst: An Enchantment of Ravens and Tomboys don't like Christmas and Matar es Facil.
October comments:
- Even a worse reading month than September but I'm motivated for November
- Chloe Gong did it again with Foul Lady Fortune!!
November books
Read: 7
- The Last Encore by Elodie Colliard - 4⭐
- Below Zero by Ali Hazelwood - 3⭐
- Love on the Brain by Ali Hazelwood - 5⭐
- Sick Kids in Love by Hannah Moskowitz - 3⭐
- Identity by Alexia Mantzouranis - 3⭐
- Hither, Page by Cat Sebastian - 3⭐
- It Starts With Us by Colleen Hoover - 5⭐
Average pages: 317
Average rating: 3.28
Best: Love on the Brain and It Starts With Us
Worst: Below Zero
December books
Read: 11
- Not My Problem by Ciara Smyth - 4⭐
- Zodiac Academy #1 by Susanne Valenti, Caroline Peckham - 3⭐
- Water Under the Bridge by Kels Stone, Denise Stone - 4⭐
- Ruthless Fae by Susanne Valenti, Caroline Peckham - 3⭐
- Happy Place by Emily Henry (arc) - 5⭐
- On a Sunbeam by Tillie Walden - 3⭐
- The Mistletoe Motive by Chloe Liese - 4⭐
- Riden's Chapter by Tricia Levenseller - 3⭐
- The Emperor's soul by Brandon Sanderson - 5⭐
- All the Stars and Teeth by Adalyn Grace - 4⭐
- Ocho by Rebecca Stone - 3.5⭐
Average pages: 358.3
Average rating: 3.8
Best: Happy Place, The Emperor's soul
Worst: N/A
END OF THE YEAR:
Well, I accomplished... uhhh my reading goal and classics goal! at least that's something. I know I said this last year but I SWEAR that I'll try to read a poetry book next year and try to read more in Spanish :)
*Stats from StoryGraph (really recommended app btw)
-Books read: 135
-Books reread: 7
-Buddy reads: 10
- Most read author: S.T. Abby (5)
- Most read genre: romance, contemporary, and fantasy (in order)
Average rating: 3,37
Average pages: 362
BYE BYE 2022!!! Thank you for so many marvelous books
2021 Year in Review
2023 Year in Review
January 4, 2023
maybe 2023 will be better? i pretty much gave up goodreads halfway through last year but i'd like to return. i used to have fun here.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
i'm feeling well enough to sit at the computer now, and i thank you all for your well-wishes. truly.
i always get cut off on these things, so i'll keep it brief and do a round-up elsewhere at the end of 2022. if we make it. fingers crossed.
in 2021, i set myself five monthly goals:
1) complete one month-long book-project book (cookbook, coloring, drawing, etc)
2) read one free tor short each week
3) read one ARC each month i'd been so excited to get my hands on and then...never read
4) read one book each month by an author i have never read despite owning more than one of their books.
5) read one book each month by an author i love that i haven’t gotten around to reading yet
although i conquered my own challenge(s), i have concluded that five was...too ambitious, since there were always ARCS falling into my lap i felt obligated to read ASAP, while all the shiny new books i wanted to devour got pushed aside. this year, i am being somewhat less heroic, so i can read more books i really want to read.
i'm still going to do the monthly project and weekly tor shorts, since i've been doing those for years, although i am taking january off from the project-book-challenge to recuperate from 2021 and covid-weariness.
i am setting myself two official challenges:
MONSTERPORN: i used to read and review a lot of monsterporn, but then fell out of the habit a couple of years back. many have requested i return to the practice, and this is the year i'm making alla their goofy, smutty dreams come true.
IMPORTS: read one book each month that was not published in my country that i wanted badly enough to have a copy shipped to me from abroad and then...never read.
i am also setting two lesser monthly challenges that i may or may not go out of my way to achieve:
YA: i only read ten YA books last year, although i bought a ton of them, so i'm going to try to slip one in each month, if life permits.
SERIES: oh, man—so many series i have started and kept up on, purchase-wise, but not reading-wise. imma try to finish a bunch of them this year.
my bird-aversion is excited by the fact that there's some overlap between these two loose goals which will oftentimes allow me to kill TWO WHOLE BIRDS with one challenge.
i am also, for the first time ever, doing a daily project that will last the whole year through.
in other hopes & dreams, i'm going to try to secure my dream job this year. i need to claw my way out of this retail rut and lock down a regular gig where my stellar readers' advisory skills can be put to use. if you have any leads, i'm all ears.
let's do this.
***************************************
if my 2022 goal was "to get covid," i have succeeded.
i'll post my reading goals here as soon as i'm less wobbly. if i don't...draw your own conclusions/it's been lovely/&etc.
January 26, 2023
Book-wise, 2022 turned out to be quite a year for me. I read 107 books in all - 32 more than I challenged myself to read back in January. However, this feat is far less impressive than it sounds, as a good fifty of the books I finished were graphic novels, and - let's be honest - it's easier to read books quickly when the pages are two-thirds picture. Nevertheless, I read some really incredible novels this year, and for those of you who are interested, my top ten favourites were:
10 Himself by Jess Kidd
9 Hear No Evil by Sarah Smith
8 Moving On by Sara Steger
7 The Trees by Percival Everett
6 Chouette by Claire Oshetsky
5 Winter by Ali Smith
4 The Scout of Wounded Knee by Michael McLellan
3 Forgive by Jenni Daiches
2 Kindred by Octavia Butler
1 Consider the Lilies by Iain Crichton Smith
The writing challenge I set myself at the turn of the year quickly changed, as in February I decided to concentrate my efforts on writing and illustrating a picture book rather than a third novel. The result is 'Not MY Birthday', which features a few characters from my second novel, A Matter of Life and Death, and which I hope to finish by the end of spring.
I also set myself a couple of additional goals, to sell a thousand copies of my books and to reach 500 ratings here on Goodreads. In the end, I sold close to double my target and - thanks to many of you lovely people - ended the year with a total 552 ratings on this site.
So, that's that. A good year all round. And while it's too early to say what 2023 will bring, I wish you a year filled with new adventures, good fortunes and many, many wonderful reads!
* * * * *
Jan 2022.
It's far too soon, I know, but I'm giving this a five-star review. After all, it's good to be optimistic, and who knows - perhaps fate will deal me a kind hand if I spread some good cheer on this site.*
I'm setting equally optimistic reading and writing goals for this year, not for the above reasons, but because I know stubborn pride will force me to meet them regardless of how the year pans out.
So, my goals:
Read 75 books
Write the first 30,000 words of my third novel
And that's it. Easy peasy, maybe.
Have a great year, folks 😃
* It won't.
10 Himself by Jess Kidd
9 Hear No Evil by Sarah Smith
8 Moving On by Sara Steger
7 The Trees by Percival Everett
6 Chouette by Claire Oshetsky
5 Winter by Ali Smith
4 The Scout of Wounded Knee by Michael McLellan
3 Forgive by Jenni Daiches
2 Kindred by Octavia Butler
1 Consider the Lilies by Iain Crichton Smith
The writing challenge I set myself at the turn of the year quickly changed, as in February I decided to concentrate my efforts on writing and illustrating a picture book rather than a third novel. The result is 'Not MY Birthday', which features a few characters from my second novel, A Matter of Life and Death, and which I hope to finish by the end of spring.
I also set myself a couple of additional goals, to sell a thousand copies of my books and to reach 500 ratings here on Goodreads. In the end, I sold close to double my target and - thanks to many of you lovely people - ended the year with a total 552 ratings on this site.
So, that's that. A good year all round. And while it's too early to say what 2023 will bring, I wish you a year filled with new adventures, good fortunes and many, many wonderful reads!
* * * * *
Jan 2022.
It's far too soon, I know, but I'm giving this a five-star review. After all, it's good to be optimistic, and who knows - perhaps fate will deal me a kind hand if I spread some good cheer on this site.*
I'm setting equally optimistic reading and writing goals for this year, not for the above reasons, but because I know stubborn pride will force me to meet them regardless of how the year pans out.
So, my goals:
Read 75 books
Write the first 30,000 words of my third novel
And that's it. Easy peasy, maybe.
Have a great year, folks 😃
* It won't.
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