Was it too long? Yes. Was I annoyed with the constant interruptions? Also yes. But would I read this again? A third yes. Listen: I love my little guys, paladins and nun-bears both, and I just want them to be happy. Istvhan and Clara both need a NAP, STAT. The ending reminded me a LOT of the Six of Crows duology (parts of both).

3.5 stars | #fantasy #romance #romantasy

STOP these two were the cutest omg. I had such a good time in this world. Kingfisher really knows how to build the setting without you even really realizing it. I like that I can recognize her writer‘s voice from horror across to this cozy fantasy, and I know I can trust her lol. Anyway, if you like Baldur‘s Gate, read this book.

4.5 stars | #fantasy #cozyfantasy #romantasy

Idk what it is about these cowboy romances but they just kinda fall out of my head the minute I‘m finished. They‘re short, sweet, and a little smutty, so they‘re fine if you‘re looking for a romance hit, but I don‘t think they‘ll get anywhere near my favorites of the year. That being said, I liked Ada and Wes, they were cute. I wished Ada spent more than 8 months on her dream tho, that‘s such a short time.

3 stars | #romance

Meh. I like bodyguard romances, but this one just felt… I think maybe if I‘d read the first book, I‘d be able to follow better, but I am not interested in backtracking. It‘s fine, but certainly not the best rom I‘ve read this year.

2.75 stars | #romance

This was just the sticky-sweet I was looking for from Mandanna, and I had such a good time UNTIL the very end (spoilers in the comments). The strength from this one, and the first Mandanna witchy romance I‘ve read, are the side characters that fill out the story behind the romance. It‘s so colorful and cozy and the settings are so lovely. Good time, and a perfect cold-weather read.

?? stars (I‘m sitting on this one a minute | #romance

Oh my GOD UGH. This one almost had me crying at work. Just…the way the characters interact, you can *feel* the history between them. Shanghai is described in ways where I can see the tensions rising between all the groups, and while I had the main antagonist lowkey spoiled for me (my fault, I went snooping), it was still such a satisfying end to the duo. Can‘t wait to continue on with the others!!

5 stars | #historicalfantasy #romance

This one‘s been on my physical TBR for a while, and I finally read it! The movie was okay (but that ART STYLE OMG!!), but of course the book is better. You get more nuance behind the characters that just couldn‘t be fit into an hour and a half. Feels like a timely read, where maybe the “bad guys” aren‘t really the enemy, and the people who make the rules are never the ones to stick to them. Hmm.

4.5 stars | #graphicnovel #fantasy

Same goes for this one!! I was rooting for Cal until he punted Iris under the bus for a man who has done nothing but belittle her and order her around. Declan getting wooing and begging forgiveness advice from ROWAN is laughable bc neither of these men has respected a “no” in their life, nor has either of them truly groveled for the women they “love.” And none of the Kane brothers believes in therapy!! When I catch one of them in a dark alley !

😐 I hate these men. God, where do I even begin?? The saying “there are no ethical billionaires” applies to the fictional ones too. Zahra was…fine. But Rowan? Rowan wouldn‘t know consent or boundaries if they hit him. The amount of times he just steamrolls thru to get his way is infuriating, and it always works??? Someone has GOT to knock his ego on its ass. Don‘t get me started on the age gap and he‘s her BOSS??? UGH.

1 star | #romance ???

As a former camp counselor for GSCV (2017-2023, technically; Klutziana “Klutzy” Louise Pamunkey-Fallz-Peg-Cooke, head of archery) this scratched that camp itch for me. The camp names, the activities (even if they were far grander than my camp‘s), the vibe. Spot on. The story tho? Felt a little lacking for me. There was a ton of feelings in the beginning that…didn‘t have great payoff? Idk, I felt disproportionately angry for it to end like that.

Ooooh listen I had to read Romeo and Juliet in high school and this made me actually want to read it again?? I had a great time. I did have to keep reminding myself that Roma and Juliette are like 19 though, and it‘s the 1920s, bc they seemed so much older. I already have the sequel borrowed on Libby tho!

4 stars | #historicalfantasy

Second board! Now to the fall/winter colors. Thank you @Lauredhel for the #pantone2025 challenge, this is so much fun!

I think i forgot to post this when I finished it, and the other one‘s done too I just haven‘t updated it. Looking forward to the Fall/Winter colors!!

#pantone2025

Olivia Dade doesn‘t write stupid miscommunication challenge level: impossible. This pissed me off, probably bc it‘s EXACTLY what Lauren and Alex did in the last book, and I‘m tired of these 30yo people supposedly in therapy not talking to each other!! It‘s not that hard!!!

2 stars | #romance

Anyone who calls this a slow burn, we have beef lol. The audiobook is 7hrs; that‘s not slow burn. This romance happens over a matter of weeks; that‘s not slow burn. There are fanfics out there with 200k words and the main characters touched hands like 50 chapters in; THAT‘S slow burn. This was a cute lil romance romp, and I will be reading the second, but one thing it‘s not is slow burn 😭

3 stars | #romance

Somehow? The movie was better? Idk. I watched the movie a few months ago and then found out it was a book, so I went in knowing vaaaaguely what to expect. The ending of the book is better imho, but the movie overall is more memorable. There was too much about the sex lives of high schoolers, including some blatant assault that‘s just…not discussed?? And the killer‘s motives were better than movie killer‘s.

2 stars | #thriller #notYA

Ngl, these two stressed me TF out. I had to take a break from their miscommunications bc it was making me so anxiousssss. I wish Julia‘d faced more consequences, and if/when I listen to the sequels, I hope they follow thru on their plans with her bc JAIL. She deserves JAIL. Anyway, hope DJ and Trisha have a long and happy life together :)

4 stars | #romance #twowitches #twowitcheslammas

Mmmm I thought this was YA, since the MC is 16, but…maybe like older YA?? It was alright. The story felt a little half-baked, and it was a lot of sitting around and waiting for things to happen. Also, how in this small town has no one noticed a BASEMENT full of goths going missing???

3 stars | #vampires #ya?? #contemporaryfantasy

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

4.5 stars | #ya #dystopia #modernclassic

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

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

2 stars | #romance

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

4 stars | #scifi

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

3 stars | #romance

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

4 stars | #romance

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

4.5 stars | #romance

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

4.5 stars | #romance

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

3.5 stars | #romance #paranormalromance #vampire

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

2.5 stars | #romance #paranormalromance #vampire

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

3 stars | #romance #renfaire #renaissancefaire

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

3.5 stars | #romance #renfaire

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

1.75 stars | #romance #renfaire

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

4 stars | #darkacadmemia #horror

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

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

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

3 stars | #romance #twowitches #twowitchesbeltane

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

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

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

3 stars | #romance

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

2.5 stars | #romance #lgbtqia

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

4 stars | #romance #witches #twowitches #beltane

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

3 stars | #highfantasy #dragons #twowitches #beltane

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

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

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

3 stars

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

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

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

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

4 stars | #gothic #horror #ghosts #sapphic

Hey so @bookwyrm7 that was devastating…

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

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

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

#mentalhealthmonday @Kerrbearlib

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

3 stars | #dystopia #ya

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

1.5 stars | #romantasy #romance

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

1.5 stars | #romance

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

4 stars | #fantasy #ya

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

3 stars | #dystopia #ya