Month: January 2025

TBR | February 2025

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Hello friends!

How are you all doing today? I hope well!

Today, I’m bringing you another TBR list, this time for February! Can you believe how fast time is passing? I’m reading a lot of series at the moment – with the exception of one book, five of today’s books are part of different series.

If you read my post on How I Create My Monthly TBR Lists, you already know my magical formula to create a reading month. Following the formula, the goal for February is to read 1 paperback, 2 audiobooks, 1 ebook, and 1 manga volume.

Like I said, most of these are part of the series! We have a contemporary romance, a pirate fantasy book, a manga, an historical romance, a thriller, and a young adult fantasy book. So there’s a lot of diversity this month! Surprisingly, there’s not a single non-fiction book here – but I’m not bothered about it, just pointing it out.

So without further ado, here are the books I’m planning on reading:

This is the list I have to share with you today! Let’s take a closer look:

1. On the Edge (Full Throttle #2) by K. Bromberg

In February I’m continuing the “Full Throttle” series by reading the second book in the series. Not sure what to expect from this romance, but from the synopsis it looks good. We’ll see!

Synopsis

“Surely this can’t be the only solution to overhaul my tarnished rep – faking a romance with the good girl intern?
But that’s what my agent says. Just a few months of taming my ways—of shedding Formula 1’s party boy image—will land me a lifetime branding deal. One I desperately need.
The key condition?
Pretend I’m madly in love with my new girlfriend. The quiet wallflower who I figured wouldn’t put me in my place. Yeah. This girl is anything but that.
Maddix Hart is defiant and intelligent. Loyal and real. Determined and sexy. And damn it to hell, before I know it, she’s in my head, in our bed… and if I’m not careful, she’ll see there’s more to me than the man I show the public. She’ll discover the man I hide from the world. The one who struggles to live up to the unrealistic expectations that should never have been mine.
All I have to do is make sure no one sees the truth behind our farce.
But instead, I let my heart get involved. I begin to believe the lie. And now with everything on the line—the deal, a championship, us—am I willing to risk it all to make her see what the rest of the world believes? That we belong together.
A spicy, only-one-bed Formula 1 romance.”

2. The Dream Thieves (The Raven Cycle #2) by Maggie Stiefvater

Another series I’m hoping to continue in February is “The Raven Cycle” series, by reading the second book. I’m absolutely loving the vibe of this series very much, so I’m hoping “The Dream Thieves” will be similar in that aspect.

Synopsis

“Now that the ley lines around Cabeswater have been woken, nothing for Ronan, Gansey, Blue, and Adam will be the same. Ronan, for one, is falling more and more deeply into his dreams, and his dreams are intruding more and more into waking life. Meanwhile, some very sinister people are looking for some of the same pieces of the Cabeswater puzzle that Gansey is after…”

3. Stormbreaker (Seafire #3) by Natalie C. Parker

In February I’m planning on reading the third book in the “Seafire” series! I’m actually enjoying this a lot, so I’m excited to see how the series is going to end. Fingers crossed!

Synopsis

“In this conclusion to the Seafire trilogy, Caledonia Styx will risk everything–her heart, her crew, and even her life–to defeat Lir and take back the Bullet Seas once and for all.
Aric Athair is dead. But the fight for the Bullet Seas is far from over. Caledonia’s nemesis, Lir–the one responsible for getting her parents killed and for turning her brother into a Bullet–has seized control of the warlord’s army.
Caledonia and her crew have fled to Cloudbreak to prepare for an all-out war. And they are not the only ones. Defecting soldiers begin to show up in droves to join their fight. But just as it seems like the tides might be turning, a surprise attack decimates the growing rebellion.
Desperate, with much of her crew missing or worse, Caledonia is forced to make an unlikely and unsteady alliance with a new enemy. It’s a gamble that could cost her everything, but with the fate of the seas in her hands, Caledonia will do whatever it takes. War has come, and it’s time to sink or swim.”

4. Death Note, Vol. 8 by Tsugumi Ohba

I’m ready to finally finish this series this year! So for February I’m going to read one more “Death Note” volume. Hopefully I’ll be able to start a new manga series soon!

Synopsis

“Light – working as Kira, the newest member of the NPA intelligence bureau, and L – has nearly succeeded in creating his ideal world. But the years of uncontested victory have made him complacent, and he is unprepared for a new attack close to home. With his younger sister Sayu kidnapped and the NPA’s Death Note demanded as ransom, Light must travel across the world and confront two new adversaries, each with a very different agenda. Will Light’s quick wits be a match for this new challenge, or will he be forced to choose between Kira’s ambitions and his own family’s lives?”

5. On the Way to the Altar (Bridgertons #8) by Julia Quinn

I can’t believe it: I’m finally finishing the “Bridgerton” series soon! It has been a fun ride, but part of me is happy to finally conclude this series and move on to other stories. This will be about the last Bridgerton sibling, Gregory! He didn’t make a lot of appearances during the series, so I’m not sure exactly what to expect with his history and overall personality, but I’m an excited to find out!

Synopsis

“A funny thing happened…
Unlike most men of his acquaintance, Gregory Bridgerton believes in true love. And he is convinced that when he finds the woman of his dreams, he will know in an instant that she is the one. And that is exactly what happened. Except…
She wasn’t the one. In fact, the ravishing Miss Hermione Watson is in love with another. But her best friend, the ever-practical Lady Lucinda Abernathy, wants to save Hermione from a disastrous alliance, so she offers to help Gregory win her over. But in the process, Lucy falls in love. With Gregory! Except…
Lucy is engaged. And her uncle is not inclined to let her back out of the betrothal, even once Gregory comes to his senses and realizes that it is Lucy, with her sharp wit and sunny smile, who makes his heart sing. And now, on the way to the wedding, Gregory must risk everything to ensure that when it comes time to kiss the bride, he is the only man standing at the altar…”

6. The Paris Apartment by Lucy Foley

My paperback of the month will be Lucy Foley’s “The Paris Apartment”. I’ve tried reading this book in 2024, but I wasn’t feeling it at the time, so I’ve put it to the side and I’ve waited for the right moment to read it – which has come now! I hope the story is good, I don’t have exactly any expectations for now, other than feeling like the story was a little slow in the beginning. But we’ll see!

Synopsis

“Jess needs a fresh start. She’s broke and alone, and she’s just left her job under less than ideal circumstances. Her half-brother Ben didn’t sound thrilled when she asked if she could crash with him for a bit, but he didn’t say no, and surely everything will look better from Paris. Only when she shows up – to find a very nice apartment, could Ben really have afforded this? – he’s not there.
The longer Ben stays missing, the more Jess starts to dig into her brother’s situation, and the more questions she has. Ben’s neighbors are an eclectic bunch, and not particularly friendly. Jess may have come to Paris to escape her past, but it’s starting to look like it’s Ben’s future that’s in question.
The socialite – The nice guy – The alcoholic – The girl on the verge – The concierge.
Everyone’s a neighbor. Everyone’s a suspect. And everyone knows something they’re not telling.”

Aaaand there you have it friends, my TBR list! As usual, I hope you liked this post! Let me know if you have any recommendations for me. You know I’m always grateful for those!

Thank you for reading, have a great day!

Review | Priest (Priest #1) by Sierra Simone

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““Si vis amari, ama,” you tell me. If you wish to be loved, love.” – 3/5 stars!

Attention! This book contains: rosaries, confessional booths, celibacy, churches, rules, sins, and red lipstick.

There are many rules a priest can’t break: A priest cannot marry. A priest cannot abandon his flock. A priest cannot forsake his God.

I’ve always been good at following rules. Until she came. My name is Tyler Anselm Bell. I’m twenty-nine years old. Six months ago, I broke my vow of celibacy on the altar of my own church, and God help me, I would do it again. I am a priest and this is my confession.

Priest is a standalone, full-length novel with an HEA.  For mature audiences only

This was a little disappointing, but maybe I had high hopes for it?
I don’t read a lot of taboo romances, but this book piqued my interest because of its nature – a forbidden romance with a priest as a main character. And while the idea was interesting… the story did not deliver.
I think what disappointed me the most about this book was how weak the plot was. Everything felt too… artificial? We have Father Bell who is very holy (but apparently is also always horny), and he “falls in love” with a stripper who happens to be very rich and super intelligent? I mean, c’mon…
I was expecting a little more other than the taboo aspect, but there were a lot of things that felt flat to me. Both main characters were very bland, immature, and one-dimensional, and I kept thinking about how they were always contradicting themselves and their own story. With that said, for the most part, I liked Father Bell as a character – Poppy I didn’t like as much. She came to the church seeking absolution for her sins, but she clearly didn’t want it since she was constantly and deliberately trying to seduce the priest.
The “romance” they had was only based on sex, they didn’t actually build a relationship so it was essentially an insta-love story – which is also not my favorite trope to begin with. The spice was good though, and that’s why I’m giving this a 3 instead of a 2!
At the end of the day, it was entertaining for what it is, but it wasn’t a great book. I’ve heard great things about the second book in the “Priest” series, so I’ll probably read that and decide afterward if I’ll continue reading the series! If I were to recommend this book to other readers, I would say to read it if you’re in the mood to read something easy and hollow, but full of smut.

Review | The House Across the Lake by Riley Sager

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“The lake is darker than a coffin with the lid shut,” she’d say. “And as deep as the ocean. If you sink under, you’ll never come back up again. You’ll be trapped forever.”– 3/5 stars!

Attention! This book contains: lakes, models, social media, police investigators, drugs, and deceit.

Casey Fletcher, a recently widowed actress trying to escape a streak of bad press, has retreated to the peace and quiet of her family’s lake house in Vermont. Armed with a pair of binoculars and several bottles of liquor, she passes the time watching Tom and Katherine Royce, the glamorous couple who live in the house across the lake. They make for good viewing—a tech innovator, Tom is rich; and a former model, Katherine is gorgeous.

One day on the lake, Casey saves Katherine from drowning, and the two strike up a budding friendship. But the more they get to know each other—and the longer Casey watches—it becomes clear that Katherine and Tom’s marriage is not as perfect and placid as it appears. When Katherine suddenly vanishes, Casey becomes consumed with finding out what happened to her. In the process, she uncovers eerie, darker truths that turn a tale of voyeurism and suspicion into a story of guilt, obsession and how looks can be very deceiving.

With his trademark blend of sharp characters, psychological suspense, and gasp-worthy surprises, Riley Sager’s The House Across the Lake unveils more than one twist that will shock readers until the very last page.

If I’m being honest, this book was a little disappointing. I’ve been in a huge Riley Sager kick, so I’ve been reading his books whenever I have the chance. But this book… was a bit of a failure for me.
The thing that bothered me the most about this book is how it has a paranormal element. He has some books where he hints about paranormal events, but this is the first time I’ve seen him confirm the events. Maybe it’s because I had high expectations and thought “there’s no way he’ll use this storyline for obvious reasons”, but the author went there… and in my humble opinion, it didn’t go very well.
The story itself was not very strong. I was interested in the beginning, but slowly I started losing interest. I liked the characters very much, and in true Riley Sager’s fashion, there are plenty of plot twists – that was a plus for me!
So… I don’t know about this one. I was invested in the beginning, but the end disappointed me. Probably one of my least favorite books from this author.

Special | How I Create My Monthly TBR Lists (Updated)

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Hello friends!

The New Year has given me plenty of opportunities to reflect on my reading habits, and consequently on how I create my reading months. Although you know by now that I already have a formula that I’ve been using every month, this year taught me that I may need to make a few small adjustments!

So today’s post will be exactly about that. I feel the need to revisit the rules and make small changes for the lists to be more adapted to my lifestyle, so I thought I would write it down – and why not share it with you?

So here is my (new-ish) formula to create a balanced monthly TBR list that works for me, and if it has been working for me:

1. Read 1 paperback per month (UPDATED)

I’ve had this goal for a while now and let me tell you why it is important for me to follow it: I own so many physical copies of books that it’s getting ridiculous. I think it’s important for me to keep reading books in this format so I can finally reduce my book collection… but it’s not very easy to achieve this every single month.

Is this rule working? Not really if I’m being honest. In fact, the reason why I’m writing this post is in essence because of this rule! Overall, this has been a very difficult thing to achieve some months, because I can’t bring my physical books with me as easily as I do my ebooks and audiobooks. Meaning, I don’t grab my physical copies as often as I do for other formats.

The change: Instead of committing to reading 2 physical books per month, I’m committing to reading only 1. Of course, it depends on the month, but overall this has been a very difficult thing to achieve, so I’m making my life a little easier and stress-free with this decision. I still want to tackle my physical TBR by being consistent, but I’ve come to terms that it is probably going to be a long process, so I’ll just do it slower! This is going to take off the stress I’ve been feeling for not accomplishing this every single month.

2. Listen to 2 audiobooks

This “rule” is also important to me but for a different (similar) reason. Yes, my physical TBR is long, but my overall TBR is way longer. By listening to audiobooks I’m able to finally get to books I really wanted to read that I don’t necessarily have in the physical format. This is a huge advantage also because I can listen to them while running errands, doing what I call “no-brain” tasks, and even monotonous work. All benefits!

Is this rule working? Yes! This is probably the format that is easier to grab for me because I can do other things at the same time (cleaning, working out, driving, etc.). So this is not difficult for me to achieve, so no changes are necessary.

3. Read 1 ebook

My e-reader is a very special tool to me and I love it so much that I always take it with me everywhere I go – grocery shopping, the gym, on walks… you never know when you’re going to need entertainment! My goal is to read one book per month in it because, not only do I take it with me everywhere, but it’s also good to read books that I don’t have physical copies for and for books I don’t feel like listening on audio. That way I can cover a lot of books!

Is this rule working? Another yes! This format is still easy for me to grab because my small Kobo follows me everwhere. No changes here either!

4. Pick at least 3 different genres every month

This is another important “rule” for two reasons. The first one is how I always try to read different genres. I always wanted to be a diverse reader, so if I try and read at least 3 different genres every month, I’ll be more than happy! The second reason is that when I first started reading multiple books at the same time, I started to mix stories if they were similar. This was something that I noticed and quickly fixed: I no longer read similar stories (similar characters, atmosphere, environment) at the same time. That is also easier to fix if I read different genres.

Is this rule working? This was always easy to achieve, so I’m keeping this as it is! Since I pick 6 books every month to read, it’s easy to just pick 3 different genres.

5. Read manga every month

I have so many manga series that I want to read, that I decided I should always be reading at least one month. A quick note: this doesn’t mean that I’ll be finishing an entire series every month. The goal here is for me to just pick at least one volume from the current series I’m reading and read it throughout the month. If I don’t finish the series that month, I’ll continue the next month until it’s finished. I love manga and I believe it’s a great palate cleanser to read between books!

Is this rule working? Although I’m having a small break for the holiday season, this rule is also working very well for me. Mangas are easy to read and I always have a manga ready on my phone to pick up. So this is another goal I’m not touching.

6. Read 1 book from my “30 Oldest Books on my TBR” list

If you don’t know, I’m keeping a list of the 30 books that have been on my TBR for the longest time, and I want to tackle them slowly. They deserve to be read, and I’m determined to read at least 10 of these before I get an updated version of the list again! I have the tendency to pick more recent books, so the goal here is to make sure I’m reading some of the oldest books on my TBR, and give them the love they deserve!

Is this rule working? Overall… it is working. To be honest, at first, I was thinking about changing this goal and make a little more flexible by making it optional. But I know myself, and that would mean they would be at the bottom of the list for way longer! So after some thought, I decided to leave it untouched because it’s been really nice to see the older books getting out of the list!
I guess the only difficulty I’ve had here is that sometimes I’m not in the mood to pick a book from that list because I want something that has caught my eye more recently. But at the end of the day, I’m also just committing to a single book… so can I really complain? I’ll make an effort to keep this goal going!

7. Read 1 book from a series

As I told you multiple times, I have a hard time reading the series – I have bookish commitment issues. So if I try to read at least one book from a series per month I’ll be making progress with a series! It doesn’t matter the format, as long as I read a series!

Is this rule working? Another staple in this list that will kept untouched. This is very easy to do as well, so no need to make changes here.

So as you can see, only the first point is going to be updated to be a little more stress-free, but I’m still keeping the other goals untouched. I think it’s important to remind (mostly myself) that life happens and sometimes things don’t work out the way we want. With that said, I’m going to try and follow this format whenever possible!

What about you, do you have any “reading rules”? Tell me all about it!

Thank you for reading friends! See you in the next one.

The Worst Books I’ve Read in 2024

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Hello my dear friends!

I hope you are all doing well! I’m sure you read my last post “The Best Books I Read in 2024”, so you already know I had a great reading year and I was happy that most of the books I picked were good and interesting… but that doesn’t apply to all of them!

I’ve also picked up some books that I ended up not liking, so that’s exactly what I’m sharing with you today: the worst books I read in 2024!

I have to say that I’m surprised I’ve had so many to share with you this year. I don’t know why, but I’ve had the impression that I didn’t have that many negative ratings in 2024. Obviously, I was wrong because I ended up picking up 8 books with a negative rating (given by me) from my Goodreads account. So I’m going to tell you all about them and the reasons why I disliked them.

Now here’s today’s disclaimer: not all of these are what I consider bad books – I just didn’t like reading them. Please don’t take it personally if I mention a book you loved! We all have different opinions and tastes when it comes to reading and I’m not trying to offend anyone… this is just my personal opinion!

Okay, now let’s go into the list! Here are the books:

1. Entwined by Heather Dixon

Yeah, this book was not for me! This is a retelling of the “Twelve Dancing Princesses” story – which I’m not the biggest fan of in the first place. I just think this could have been way shorter – it dragged out so much and it was very unnecessary! The pacing was slow, and I lost interest because nothing engaging ever happened. The characters were bland, uninteresting, and lacked development. Also, the romance was mostly nonexistent, which was disappointing because I thought it screamed romance. The story wasn’t terrible, but the slow pace, lack of character development, and the overall plot didn’t make me a fan. I’m sure there are better retellings out there, so I would skip this one if I were you!

Synopsis

“Just when Azalea should feel that everything is before her—beautiful gowns, dashing suitors, balls filled with dancing—it’s taken away. All of it. And Azalea is trapped. The Keeper understands. He’s trapped, too, held for centuries within the walls of the palace. So he extends an invitation.
Every night, Azalea and her eleven sisters may step through the enchanted passage in their room to dance in his silver forest, but there is a cost. The Keeper likes to keep things. Azalea may not realize how tangled she is in his web until it is too late.”

2. The Chosen and the Beautiful by Nghi Vo

I was tricked into reading “The Great Gatsby” again – how could I imagine by the title and cover this was going to be a retelling of that classic? I was at least hoping the story would be changed to accommodate the magic, the Vietnamese representation, and an LGBTQ representation of the plot like the synopsis indicates – but that did not happen.
I just don’t see the point of writing the exact same story with a different POV and adding random magical elements here and there. Although I found some beauty in the writing, it was underwhelming, nothing exciting happened, nothing was ever explained, and frankly, the magic was almost non-existent. I guess I could recommend this to the fans of the original book, but what would be the point? Just reread the original!

Synopsis

“Immigrant. Socialite. Magician.
Jordan Baker grows up in the most rarefied circles of 1920s American society—she has money, education, a killer golf handicap, and invitations to some of the most exclusive parties of the Jazz Age. She’s also queer, Asian, adopted, and treated as an exotic attraction by her peers, while the most important doors remain closed to her.
But the world is full of wonders: infernal pacts and dazzling illusions, lost ghosts and elemental mysteries. In all paper is fire, and Jordan can burn the cut paper heart out of a man. She just has to learn how.
Nghi Vo’s debut novel The Chosen and the Beautiful reinvents this classic of the American canon as a coming-of-age story full of magic, mystery, and glittering excess, and introduces a major new literary voice.”

3. The Breakup Tour by Emily Wibberley & Austin Siegemund-Broka

This book was very disappointing. I was hyped because of how popular it became and because it was “inspired” by Taylor Swift – but at the end of the day, it is not a good book. The characters were so boring and had zero personality (especially Max); the romance was boring and they had no chemistry; there were elements added to the book that shouldn’t be there in the first place; the book progresses with little action (there’s a lot of internal dialogs and introspective); and there was so much room and inspiration from Taylor’s tour to add details and to develop the story to make it rich, but the authors kept it very superficial and it wasn’t fun to read about. I was disappointed and bored and I wouldn’t recommend this to other swifties.

Synopsis

“A rising-star musician has a second chance at love with an old flame she remembers all too well in this swoony romance from the acclaimed authors of The Roughest Draft.
Riley Wynn went from a promising singer-songwriter to a superstar overnight, thanks to her breakup song concept album and its unforgettable lead single. When Riley’s ex-husband claims the hit song is about him, she does something she hasn’t in ten years and calls Max Harcourt, her college boyfriend and the real inspiration for the song of the summer.
Max hasn’t spoken to Riley since their relationship ended. He’s content with managing the retirement home his family owns, but it’s not the life he dreamed of filled with music. When Riley asks him to go public as her songwriting muse, he agrees on one he’ll join her in her band on tour.
As they perform across the country, Max and Riley start to realize that while they hit some wrong notes in the past, their future could hold incredible things. And their rekindled relationship will either last forever or go down in flames.”

4. Break You (Boys of Trinity Hall #1) by M.V. Ellis

Yeah, I didn’t like this at all. There was nothing about this book that made any sense, and unfortunately, it wasn’t a pleasant reading experience. The romance was non-existent and there was zero chemistry between the main characters. I love smut, but I wish there was some sort of romantic relationship developed between the characters – or even an actual plot. And not only the romance was bad, but there were so many instances from this book that make zero sense.

Synopsis

“Xavier
This is not a love story.
I hate you not for who you are, but what you represent.
I’m the whispers in the darkness you can’t quite hear.
I’m the unease that can’t be explained, but won’t go away.
I’m your worst nightmare come to life.
I’m the filthy rich guy who’s coming for revenge.
Everything you’ve ever had.
Everything you hold dear.
I won’t stop until I break you.

Rocky
You were once my savior.
Now you’re my bully.
I’m the girl from the wrong side of the wrong side of the tracks.
No match for your money, your might, or your wrath.
But I’m not going down without a fight.
When I go, I’ll take you with me.
Because we’re more alike than you want to admit.
And more connected than you know.
This is not a love story.”

5. Living With Kidney Stones by Samantha Bowick

This book is here because I don’t think it’s very helpful. The author talks mostly about symptoms, possible treatments, and her experience dealing with health insurance and medical professionals. The few facts the book presents and that matter are not very complete. Maybe this could help some U.S. patients – which is not my case – in the sense that they could understand what the hospital experience would be like, but other than there’s nothing too valuable you can take from this book.
I wish the author shared the advice she received from doctors and her own experience of what she learned along the way to prevent stones. There are great books on the subject out there, but unfortunately, this is not one of them.

Synopsis

“Living with Kidney Stones is a health resource for anyone who has ever suffered with the pain of kidney stones.
One in 10 individuals will suffer from kidney stones at some point in their life. Composed of hard, painful mineral deposits forming inside the kidneys, these stones are both crippling and potentially chronic. Thankfully, patients can take action to reduce their chances of developing or redeveloping kidney stones by following a good diet, observing proper self-care, and adopting a comprehensive wellness plan.
To that end, Living with Kidney Stones offers the most up-to-date information on this illness, paired with heartfelt insight from an actual kidney stone sufferer.
Living with Kidney Stones also
• Easy-to-understand information on types and causes of kidney stones
• The latest information on kidney stone testing
• Traditional and alternative options for a broad, full-body approach to wellness
• Guidance on self-care techniques for patients, families and caregivers
• Valuable medical and community resources for kidney stone sufferers
Learning to manage your risk factors for kidney stones can seem overwhelming, but by taking everything one day at a time and making sure you’re provided with the care and support you need, you can minimize your risk while maximizing your quality of life. Don’t just live with kidney stones— live well.”

6. Isla and the Happily Ever After (Anna and the French Kiss #3) by Stephanie Perkins

I loved the other books in the series, but this was such a weird book to me. Isla was OBSESSED with her crush in a very toxic way, and it was too much! I was hoping there was a message here like “don’t be obsessed with boys and focus on you”, but it felt like it was being portrayed as a quirky, cute quality. She’s also very jealous and insecure, and it was painful to read – and worse, it was just glossed over like it didn’t matter. I seriously couldn’t stop cringing while reading this book! Isla is probably one of the most immature characters I have ever read in YA – and that’s saying a lot, knowing I’ve read a LOT of YA books. And also, if you like the miscommunication trope, oh boy, this book is for you! I just couldn’t get over the immaturity and it ruined the book for me. Too bad this is how I concluded the series!

Synopsis

“Love ignites in the City That Never Sleeps, but can it last?
Hopeless romantic Isla has had a crush on introspective cartoonist Josh since their first year at the School of America in Paris. And after a chance encounter in Manhattan over the summer, romance might be closer than Isla imagined. But as they begin their senior year back in France, Isla and Josh are forced to confront the challenges every young couple must face, including family drama, uncertainty about their college futures, and the very real possibility of being apart.
Featuring cameos from fan-favorites Anna, Étienne, Lola, and Cricket, this sweet and sexy story of true love—set against the stunning backdrops of New York City, Paris, and Barcelona—is a swoonworthy conclusion to Stephanie Perkins’s beloved series.”

7. I’ll Just Be Five More Minutes by Emily Farris

Another miss for me! This book is described as an autobiographical collection of stories, focused on the author’s experience living with ADHD.
At first, I was enjoying it, but as the book progressed I started losing interest. The book was all over the place – I get that the author was showing how her brain works, but I think this backfired and decreased the quality of the book. That could also be achieved if the book was a little more organized and structured. There were so many moments where I thought to myself “what is she even talking about”.
Also, it seems like the book was focused on quirks and personality over ADHD. There are a lot of stories in the book that weren’t relevant and at some point, it felt like the author was just rambling talking about random events that happened – and worse, I feel like the diagnosis was used as an excuse for her poor behavior towards others. It was weird because at some point it felt like I was just reading a random, quirky biography of someone who sees themselves as a main character. I wouldn’t recommend this!

Synopsis

“A hilariously honest, heartwarming essay collection about life, love, and discovering you have ADHD at age 35. 
Despite being a published writer with a family, a gaggle of internet fans, and (most shockingly) a mortgage, Emily Farris could never get her act together. As she saw it, disorganization was one of her countless character flaws—that is, until she was diagnosed with ADHD at age 35. Like many women and girls who go undiagnosed, Farris grew up internalizing criticisms about her impulsivity and lack of follow-through. She held on to that shame as she tried (and often failed) to fit into a world designed for neurotypical brains. 
I’ll Just Be Five More Minutes is a personal essay collection of laugh-out-loud funny, tear-jerking, and at times cringe-worthy true stories of Farris’s experiences as a neurodivergent woman. With the newfound knowledge of her ADHD, Farris candidly reexamines her complicated relationships (including one with a celebrity stalker), her money problems, the years she spent unknowingly self-medicating, and her hyper-fixations. 
I’ll Just Be Five More Minutes is a powerful collection of deeply relatable, wide-ranging stories about a woman’s right to control her own body, about overwhelm and oversharing, about drinking too much and sleeping too little, and about being misunderstood by the people closest to you. At its heart, it’s about not quite fitting in and not understanding why.”

8. Wake Up Sleeping Beauty (Ohayou, Ibarahime #1) by Megumi Morino

This was probably one of the worst books in today’s list. I found this series randomly, and I thought it would be a really simple and cute, romantic, 6-volumes manga series. Well, I don’t know exactly what I expected, but it wasn’t what I ended up reading. This is SUCH a weird story! I’m guilty of judging books by the covers, but this is WAY darker than it appears to be. And I think it’s a paranormal story? I’m not entirely sure, and I never will be sure because I’m not going to continue it. I kind of regret starting it in the first place, if I’m being honest. It’s too weird and uninteresting.

Synopsis

“This funny and heartrending romantic manga set in modern Tokyo is not the fairy tale you remember! This time, Prince Charming is a teenage janitor, and Sleeping Beauty’s curse is a supernatural, gender-bending dream that threatens to pull them both into a deeper and deeper slumber…
THE AWAKENING
High schooler Tetsu Misato is hardworking, frugal, and easily scared, but he commits to a part-time job at the mansion on the hill—the one that’s rumored to be haunted. As he toils away, he notices a building separate from the estate, and the mysterious girl who lives within it: Shizu Karasawa. Tetsu slowly becomes enchanted by Shizu’s lonely smile, but by their second encounter, he quickly finds himself in over his head. There’s an unsettling feeling he can’t quite shake, but there’s love there, too.”

Like I said, please take my opinion with a grain of salt. Everyone likes what they like and we all have different opinions!

So tell me, have you ever read any of these books? Let me know in the comments! I hope you enjoyed this post and I will see you in my next post!

The Best Books I’ve Read in 2024

On By NeideIn Recommendations, ThoughtsLeave a comment

Hello friends!

How are y’all doing? You already know January is a month of reflection for me, so starting with today’s post, I will do a little wrap-up to talk about all the books that were part of my past reading year. You know me, I have to tell you all about my favorite reads of 2024!

I’ve read amazing books last year that I want to share with you, so today’s post is exactly about that! And who knows, maybe you’ll find yourself a few new books to read. I ended up reading 75 books in 2024 and there were plenty 4 and 5-star ratings, but today you’ll only find the crème de la crème!

It’s funny because when I was going through my Goodreads to find my 2024 favorites, I thought I would find more variety, genre-wise. I thought I was going to find books from different genres such as romance, self-development, memoirs, science, literary fiction, science-fiction, fantasy, and thrillers. But what REALLY ended up happening is that it seems like most of my favorite books were non-fiction (4/6), one was romance, and another one was a thriller. This was something I found very surprising and unexpected!

Another thing I found surprising was the fact I only picked 6 favorite books this year. I usually have a bigger list – almost double the amount of books -, but this year, I had very few favorite books to share with you. Which is also a very odd thing to happen!

Regardless, I still have a selection of books to share with you today! Just a small disclaimer: these are not necessarily books that came out last year! This list is focused on my personal reading year and the books that were part of it. Meaning: you’ll find a few oldies here!

Ok so now that we got that out of the way, let’s get into it! Below each book you’ll find the respective synopsis in case you’re curious. Here are my favorite 6 books I read in 2024:

Let’s take a look at the books individually!

1. More Than We Can Tell (Letters to the Lost #2) by Brigid Kemmerer

I read this book in one sitting – that should tell you how amazing it was! I thought it would be difficult for it to be as good as the first book, “Letters to the Lost” (which was also incredible), but I was wrong. This story gives you all the feels – both main characters have their ghosts, so the story is sad and heavy, especially when you begin to understand their backstories a little better. But at the same time, it’s a very heartwarming story.
This is a good book because it has great characters, great character development, and also great relationships. The romance was cute, but it’s not only a romance story – it’s about growing up and learning to deal with life’s traumas. Despite the heavy subjects, it’s an easy book to follow, it is detailed, and it is very easy to empathize with the characters. It’s an excellent book, and I’m glad I finally read it and concluded the duology. I honestly can’t recommend this duology enough. It’s beyond amazing for a contemporary YA!

Synopsis

“Rev Fletcher is battling the demons of his past. But with loving adoptive parents by his side, he’s managed to keep them at bay…until he gets a letter from his abusive father and the trauma of his childhood comes hurtling back.
Emma Blue spends her time perfecting the computer game she built from scratch, rather than facing her parents’ crumbling marriage. She can solve any problem with the right code, but when an online troll’s harassment escalates, she’s truly afraid.
When Rev and Emma meet, they both long to lift the burden of their secrets and bond instantly over their shared turmoil. But when their situations turn dangerous, their trust in each other will be tested in ways they never expected. This must-read story will once again have readers falling for Brigid Kemmerer’s emotional storytelling.”

2. How to Keep House While Drowing by K.C. Davis

I have never thought I would feel so validated after reading a book, but here we are! The title describes exactly what this book is about, how to keep your house clean and organized when feeling overwhelmed.
There are a lot of great ideas and advice in this book, such as care tasks are morally neutral (there’s no point in being ashamed because care tasks are not related to morality); rest is a right, not a reward; reset the space for functionality instead of thinking about “having to do it”. The author reinforces over and over again that we deserve kindness and compassion. The goal of this book is to tell you it’s okay – It’s okay not to have everything figured out. It’s okay to not have a perfectly clean and organized home. It’s okay to feel overwhelmed sometimes. It’s a really good book to pick up, whether you’re having trouble keeping house or not.

Synopsis

“How to Keep House While Drowning will introduce you to six life-changing principles that will revolutionize the way you approach home care—without endless to-do lists. Presented in 31 daily thoughts, this compassionate guide will help you begin to get free of the shame and anxiety you feel over home care.
Inside you will learn:
· How to shift your perspective of care tasks from moral to functional;
· How to stop negative self-talk and shame around care tasks;
· How to give yourself permission to rest, even when things aren’t finished;
· How to motivate yourself to care for your space.”

3. Confessions by Kanae Minato

This book is INCREDIBLE! It was one of the best books I’ve ever read, and I will never shut up about it. I don’t think I have ever read something like this before! I don’t want to spoil the story because the book gets right into it from the start, so I’ll advise you to read the synopsis to get a gist of what the story is about. I’m in awe of this book. The fact that it was super shocking and devious made this book very different from other thrillers in my eyes. I seriously couldn’t put it down, and when I did it was because I had to! Can’t recommend this enough for thriller fans!

Synopsis

“Her pupils killed her daughter.
Now, she will have her revenge.
After calling off her engagement in wake of a tragic revelation, Yuko Moriguchi had nothing to live for except her only child, four-year-old Manami. Now, following an accident on the grounds of the middle school where she teaches, Yuko has given up and tendered her resignation.
But first she has one last lecture to deliver. She tells a story that upends everything her students ever thought they knew about two of their peers, and sets in motion a maniacal plot for revenge.
Narrated in alternating voices, with twists you’ll never see coming, Confessions explores the limits of punishment, despair, and tragic love, culminating in a harrowing confrontation between teacher and student that will place the occupants of an entire school in danger. You’ll never look at a classroom the same way again.”

4. The Myth of Normal by Gabor Maté

Another great book I read in 2024 that is going to stay with me for a very long time! It’s a book written by a doctor talking about how trauma and illness develop when you are living in a toxic culture. It was a very fascinating book that opened my eyes to how much our environment and society play a role in our physical and mental health. I saw myself a lot in it, and it definitely changed my perspective. Definitely worth reading!

Synopsis

“By the acclaimed author of In the Realm of Hungry Ghosts, a groundbreaking investigation into the causes of illness, a bracing critique of how our society breeds disease, and a pathway to health and healing.
In this revolutionary book, renowned physician Gabor Maté eloquently dissects how in Western countries that pride themselves on their healthcare systems, chronic illness and general ill health are on the rise. Nearly 70 percent of Americans are on at least one prescription drug; more than half take two. In Canada, every fifth person has high blood pressure. In Europe, hypertension is diagnosed in more than 30 percent of the population. And everywhere, adolescent mental illness is on the rise. So what is really “normal” when it comes to health?
Over four decades of clinical experience, Maté has come to recognize the prevailing understanding of “normal” as false, neglecting the roles that trauma and stress, and the pressures of modern-day living, exert on our bodies and our minds at the expense of good health. For all our expertise and technological sophistication, Western medicine often fails to treat the whole person, ignoring how today’s culture stresses the body, burdens the immune system, and undermines emotional balance. Now Maté brings his perspective to the great untangling of common myths about what makes us sick, connects the dots between the maladies of individuals and the declining soundness of society—and offers a compassionate guide for health and healing. Co-written with his son Daniel, The Myth of Normal is Maté’s most ambitious and urgent book yet.”

5. Mirror Work by Louise Hay

Another great book I read in 2024! This is one heck of a book, my friends – you have to read it! In “Mirror Work”, the author shows readers how we can heal ourselves by taking her 21-day journey of mirror work. The days are divided by chapters, so the goal is to read a chapter each day to complete the 21 days. Each day focuses on a specific topic, such as healing the inner child, letting go of anger, letting go of fear, etc. It is a very well–structured book, and the chapters are fairly short, so you’ll take 10 minutes of your day to read it! I enjoyed this book a lot and I took a lot from it – so that’s why I will always recommend it to other self-development readers. This ended up being a life-changing book for me, and I can’t recommend it enough! I loved it so much that I still read a chapter once in a while to start my day the right way. If you’re into self-development, this is a must!

Synopsis

“Mirror work has long been Louise Hay’s favorite method for cultivating a deeper relationship with yourself, and leading a more peaceful and meaningful life.
The Mirror Principle, one of Louise’s core teachings, holds that our experience of life mirrors our relationship with ourselves; unless we see ourselves as loveable, the world can be a dark and lonely place.
Mirror work—looking at oneself in a mirror and repeating positive affirmations—was Louise’s powerful method for learning to love oneself and experience the world as a safe and loving place.
Each of the 21 days is organized around a theme, such as monitoring self-talk, overcoming fear, releasing anger, healing relationships, forgiving self and others, receiving prosperity, and living stress-free.
The daily program involves an exercise in front of the mirror, positive affirmations, journaling, an inspiring Heart Thought to ponder, and a guided meditation.
Packed with practical guidance and support, presented in Louise’s warmly personal words, MIRROR WORK—or Mirror Play, as she likes to call it—is designed to help
• Learn a deeper level of self-care
• Gain confidence in their own inner guidance system
• Develop awareness of their soul gifts
• Overcome resistance to change
• Boost self-esteem
• Cultivate love and compassion in their relationships with self and others
“Mirror work—looking deeply into your eyes and repeating affirmations—is the most effective method I’ve found for learning to love yourself and see the world as a safe and loving place. I have been teaching people how to do mirror work for as long as I have been teaching affirmations.
The most powerful affirmations are those you say out loud when you are in front of your mirror. The mirror reflects back to you the feelings you have about yourself.
As you learn to do mirror work, you will become much more aware of the words you say and the things you do. You will learn to take care of yourself on a deeper level than you have done before.
The more you use mirrors for complimenting yourself, approving of yourself, and supporting yourself during difficult times, the deeper and more enjoyable your relationship with yourself will become.”
Love,
Louise Hay”

6. The Big Bang Theory by Jessica Radloff

Of course, this book is here, it’s incredible! This is a very complete piece of work that allows us to take a peak behind the scenes from the time “The Big Bang Theory” was only an idea to the creation of the prequel show, “Young Sheldon”! There are so many things that happened that the viewers can only find out by reading this book, myself included. What really amazed me was the amount of information the author was able to put together and then create a very well-structured, entertaining, and informative book! Everyone who participated in creating this book opened up and talked about all aspects of the show, including what they were going through on a personal level – and even more surprising was how vulnerable and honest they were, even talking about personal relationships on set and conflicts.
Needless to say, this is a must-read for all lovers of “The Big Bang Theory” like myself.

Synopsis

“The definitive, behind-the-scenes look at the most popular sitcom of the last decade, The Big Bang Theory, packed with all-new, exclusive interviews with the producers and the entire cast. The Big Bang Theory is a television phenomenon. To the casual viewer, it’s a seemingly effortless comedy, with relatable characters tackling real-life issues, offering a kind of visual comfort food to its millions of dedicated fans. But the behind-the-scenes journey of the show from a failed pilot to a global sensation is a fascinating story that even the most die-hard fans don’t know in its entirety.  The Big Bang The Definitive, Inside Story of the Epic Hit Series is a riveting, entertaining look at the sitcom sensation, with the blessing and participation of co-creators Chuck Lorre and Bill Prady, executive producers Steve Molaro and Steve Holland, as well as Johnny Galecki, Jim Parsons, Kaley Cuoco, Simon Helberg, Kunal Nayyar, Melissa Rauch, Mayim Bialik, and more. Glamour senior editor Jessica Radloff, who has written over 150 articles on the series (and even had a cameo in the finale!), gives readers an all-access pass to its intrepid producing and writing team and beloved cast. It’s a story of on-and-off screen romance told in hilarious and emotional detail, of casting choices that nearly changed everything (which even some of the actors didn’t know until now), of cast members bravely powering through personal tragedies, and when it came time to announce the 12th season would be its last, the complicated reasons why it was more difficult than anyone ever led on. Through hundreds of hours of interviews with the sitcom’s major players, Radloff dives into all this and much more. The book is the ultimate celebration of this once-in-a-generation show and a must-have for all fans.
“Talking with Jessica, I realized how easy it had been for me to kind of put all 12 years of my time on Big Bang Theory under one general umbrella, as it were. The questions she asked and the information she’d reveal to me from someone else she’d interviewed forced me into a frame of mind where each season – and sometimes each episode – became it’s own, separate entity again… Frankly, it turned into a version of therapy I hadn’t realized I’d needed and couldn’t have known how much I’d enjoy.” —Jim Parsons”

Great books huh? Well, but not everything is sunshine and roses… I also read a few “bad” books! And that’s what I’m bringing you in my next post: “The Worst Books I’ve Read in 2024”! Stay tuned for that. 🙂

What about you? What were the best books you read last year? Did you read any of the books I included in the list? Let me know in the comments!

See you in the next one!

Revisiting My 2024 Reading Goals

On By NeideIn ThoughtsLeave a comment

Hello friends!

I hope you’re all doing well. Today I have a very interesting post to share with you!

If you read one of my most recent posts “My 6 Reading Goals for 2025“, you know I’ve set a few goals for the new year. But last year, around the same time, I shared with you “My 8 Reading Goals for 2024“. So I thought it would be a fun idea to revisit all the reading goals I set for 2024 and see if I achieved them – and probably laugh with me about how miserably I failed.

I always like setting a few yearly goals for reading because I think it’s the perfect opportunity to push boundaries, explore new things, and get out of my comfort zone! So for the most part, I take these goals seriously. You’ll see I ended up achieving 5/8 goals – 2 of them being related to reducing my physical TBR, and the other not being super relavant if I’m being honest -, so I’m not super mad about it!

In the following list, I will list all of my reading goals for 2024. In front of each goal, I added a ✔️ (if I achieved it) or a ❌ (if I failed).

Ok, ready to take a look? So here are the reading goals I set for 2024 and what happened during the year:

1. Read 60 books: ACHIEVED ✔️

In 2024 I ended up reading 75 books, so it’s safe to say this goal was achieved. This goal was not very hard for me to achieve because this has been my yearly goal for the last few years. This means I read an average of 6.25 books per month. At this point, I’m used to reading this many books, but I’m still glad it was achieved!

2. Reduce book collection to less than 230 books: FAILED ❌

Another year, another flop. I swear this is one of the hardest goals to achieve! Even though I set a higher number this time and was able to sell a few of my books, I still failed to achieve this goal. I’m not super mad about it because I didn’t buy a single physical book in 2024 (which is incredible to me!), so I didn’t make my collection bigger which is the main reason why this goal is here.

3. Read 24 books from my physical TBR: FAILED ❌

This was also a major flop! I ended up reading only 10 books from my physical TBR this year, so I didn’t even read half the amount of books that I originally intended! This is probably one of the goals I’m the most sad about because I really wanted to diminish my physical collection. Oh well, I’ll try to do better in 2025!

4. Read 2 fantasy series I have always wanted to read: ACHIEVED ✔️

Another goal that was achieved! Wow, who am I and what did I do to Neide? I was able to conclude the “Ink” and “Sea Witch” fantasy series, so this was another hit! I’m very proud of myself for this one.

5. Read 1 big book (>500 pages): ACHIEVED ✔️

Do you see that, friends? I did it this year! If you read my “My Fear of Big Books” post, you know I’m intimidated by big books, so I wanted to work on this fear of mine because I don’t want to miss out on all the amazing stories out there. I didn’t have much choice here if I’m being honest, because I wanted to finish the “Dreamland Billionaires” series either way… but a win is a win!

6. Only buy 12 books max: ACHIEVED ✔️

I already gave you a spoiler in goal #2, but I’ll tell you again: I bought 0 physical books this year! Can you freaking believe it?! I’m so surprised with myself, I didn’t know I had it in me! I’ll admit it was difficult at times when I was browsing my local bookstores, but I just had to remind myself that it’s very difficult to go through my physical TBR as it is, and I can just buy the books for my Kobo without taking physical space. It was difficult, but I’m proud of myself for being strong!

7. Read 10 pages or a chapter a day: ACHIEVED ✔️

Well, to be honest with you, I didn’t actually make a mental check every day to see if I read that day or not, but I know I was reading something all the time so I’m counting this goal as done! The real goal here was to make sure I was always reading something, and I believe I achieved that in 2024. So another green check for this one!

8. Use my TBR Prompt List with my TBR Wheel: FAILED ❌

I don’t think this idea even left the first month of 2024, so I’m going to say this was a HUGE failure. I wanted to add some spontaneity to my reading months, but I honestly forgot about this goal in its entirety. The idea was and is still is really good, but maybe I’ll do this more casually from now on.

And there you have it friends, my reading year. Wow, I’m impressed with myself… this went smoother than I thought! I achieved a lot in 2024 and I made a lot of progress with my reading (and discipline). I can only hopefully I’ll achieve more and better in 2025! 🙂

What about you? Have you revisited your goals? Let me know how your year went! 🙂

Have a great day friends!

Wrap-Up | What I Read in December 2024

On By NeideIn Wrap-Up2 Comments

Hello friends!

How are you all doing? Can you believe it, here we are in 2025! I’m so excited to publish my first post of 2025 today and share with you all the books I read in December – yup, that’s how we’re starting the year!

December was a nice reading month because even though it was pretty busy with the holidays and with my 9 to 5, I was able to read a ton of books that I enjoyed. I threw my bookish rules out of the window and I decided to read random books I really wanted!

Funny enough, I didn’t read any holiday-themed books, so you won’t find any here. I’m usually not a seasonal reader, so there is no surprise there.

Ok, let’s take a look at the books, shall we?

This is the list I have to share with you today! Let’s take a closer look:

1. Check & Mate by Ali Hazelwood: 4/5⭐

I don’t think I’ve ever read a story with a chess theme before, so this was a very interesting and fun read to me! I enjoyed this book for the most part: it was fast-paced, there were plenty of fun situations, and I liked the chess theme very much. I also enjoyed the romance, and the situations created by the author for them to keep meeting – that was one of my favorite things about this book. There were a few things about this book that I didn’t love and it’s not a perfect book by any means, but at the end of the day the story was entertaining and I had fun reading it. Who knew chess could be so fun? I probably wouldn’t recommend this to a younger audience like pre-teens (and younger) because there’s a lot of sex talk, I believe it is fine for older audiences.

Synopsis

“Mallory Greenleaf is done with chess. Every move counts nowadays. After the sport led to the destruction of her family four years earlier, Mallory’s focus is on her mom, her sisters, and the dead-end job that keeps the lights on. That is, until she begrudgingly agrees to play in one last charity tournament and inadvertently wipes the board with notorious “Kingkiller” Nolan Sawyer: current world champion and reigning bad boy of chess.
Nolan’s loss to an unknown rook-ie shocks everyone—especially Mallory. What’s even more confusing? His desire to cross pawns again. What kind of gambit is Nolan playing? The smart move would be to walk away. Resign. Game over. But Mallory’s victory opens the door to sorely needed cash prizes and, despite everything, she can’t help feeling drawn to the enigmatic strategist….
As she rockets up the ranks, Mallory struggles to keep her family safely separated from the game that wrecked it in the first place. And as her love for the sport she so desperately wanted to hate begins to rekindle, Mallory quickly realizes that the games aren’t only on the board, the spotlight is hotter than she imagined, and the competition can be fierce(-ly attractive. And intelligent…and infuriating…)”

2. Priest (Priest #1) by Sierra Simone: 3/5⭐

This was a little disappointing to me if I’m being honest – but maybe I had high hopes for it? I was expecting a little more from the plot because other than the taboo aspect… it doesn’t deliver much more. I’ve heard great things about the second book in the “Priest” series, so I’ll probably read that and decide afterwards if I’ll continue reading the series!

Synopsis

“There are many rules a priest can’t break: A priest cannot marry. A priest cannot abandon his flock. A priest cannot forsake his God.
I’ve always been good at following rules. Until she came. My name is Tyler Anselm Bell. I’m twenty-nine years old. Six months ago, I broke my vow of celibacy on the altar of my own church, and God help me, I would do it again. I am a priest and this is my confession.”

3. Lights Out (Into Darkness #1) by Navessa Allen: 4/5⭐

Another taboo romance! TikTok made me read this story, and I have to say I enjoyed it very much. I’m usually not very into social media-themed books (or taboo romances for that matter), but I had fun reading this and I didn’t mind it too much. I know the next book in the series will come out in 2025, so I think I’ll pick it up when I get it!

Synopsis

““I don’t need another kink.”
That thought pops into my head whenever I pull up my favorite social media app, but alas, every time I scroll, I learn something new about myself, and another one is born. And yes, I know I’m responsible for what the algorithm shows me, but I’m trying to ignore that fact.
Lately, my feed has been dominated by masked men. I’ve favorited videos with them dressed in full cosplay, decked out in futuristic military apparel, and wrapped up like ghouls.
But more than anything else, my FYP is filled with shirtless men wearing ghost masks. Bonus points if they’re heavily tattooed, wielding a knife, or covered in fake blood. At night, I dream about being chased by them, of them catching me and doing deliciously dark things to my more than willing body.
I never could have guessed that by sending one drunken text, those dreams would become my new reality.”

4. When He Was Wicked (Bridgertons #6) by Julia Quinn: 3/5⭐

Francesca’s story was a little underwhelming to me – and if I’m being honest I found her very annoying. I didn’t find her story interesting, and it’s probably one of my least favorites of the entire series. It wasn’t exactly bad, but it was boring and I didn’t care for any characters. At the end of the day, it was a meh book.

Synopsis

“In every life there is a turning point.
A moment so tremendous, so sharp and breathtaking, that one knows one’s life will never be the same. For Michael Stirling, London’s most infamous rake, that moment came the first time he laid eyes on Francesca Bridgerton.
After a lifetime of chasing women, of smiling slyly as they chased him, of allowing himself to be caught but never permitting his heart to become engaged, he took one look at Francesca Bridgerton and fell so fast and hard into love it was a wonder he managed to remain standing. Unfortunately for Michael, however, Francesca’s surname was to remain Bridgerton for only a mere thirty-six hours longer — the occasion of their meeting was, lamentably, a supper celebrating her imminent wedding to his cousin.But that was then… Now Michael is the earl and Francesca is free, but still she thinks of him as nothing other than her dear friend and confidant. Michael dares not speak to her of his love… until one dangerous night, when she steps innocently into his arms, and passion proves stronger than even the most wicked of secrets…”

5. The House Across the Lake by Riley Sager: 3/5⭐

If I’m being honest, this book was a little disappointing. I’ve been in a huge Riley Sager kick, so I’ve been reading his books whenever I have the chance. The thing that bothered me about this book is how it has a paranormal element. He has some books where he hints about paranormal events, but this is the first time I’ve seen him confirm the events. So… I don’t know about this one.

Synopsis

“Casey Fletcher, a recently widowed actress trying to escape a streak of bad press, has retreated to the peace and quiet of her family’s lake house in Vermont. Armed with a pair of binoculars and several bottles of liquor, she passes the time watching Tom and Katherine Royce, the glamorous couple who live in the house across the lake. They make for good viewing—a tech innovator, Tom is rich; and a former model, Katherine is gorgeous.
One day on the lake, Casey saves Katherine from drowning, and the two strike up a budding friendship. But the more they get to know each other—and the longer Casey watches—it becomes clear that Katherine and Tom’s marriage is not as perfect and placid as it appears. When Katherine suddenly vanishes, Casey becomes consumed with finding out what happened to her. In the process, she uncovers eerie, darker truths that turn a tale of voyeurism and suspicion into a story of guilt, obsession and how looks can be very deceiving.
With his trademark blend of sharp characters, psychological suspense, and gasp-worthy surprises, Riley Sager’s The House Across the Lake unveils more than one twist that will shock readers until the very last page.”

6. Misery by Stephen King: 4/5⭐

This book was really good! I don’t pick up Stephen King’s books very often, but ever since I started this a long time ago (but never finished it), I knew I wanted to read the entire thing one day. It’s such a creepy book! This gave me so much anxiety at times – for example, in that chapter when he sneaks out of the room but hears her car pulling into the driveway, so he has to rush back to the room in the wheelchair so she doesn’t catch him out of place. That scene was insane! It was a very enjoyable read that felt very real.

Synopsis

“Paul Sheldon is a bestselling novelist who has finally met his number one fan. Her name is Annie Wilkes, and she is more than a rabid reader—she is Paul’s nurse, tending his shattered body after an automobile accident. But she is also furious that the author has killed off her favorite character in his latest book. Annie becomes his captor, keeping him prisoner in her isolated house.
Annie wants Paul to write a book that brings Misery back to life—just for her. She has a lot of ways to spur him on. One is a needle. Another is an axe. And if they don’t work, she can get really nasty.”

7. I Hope This Doesn’t Find You by Ann Liang: 5/5⭐

Oh my gosh, I loved this a lot! It was a last minute read, because I finished all my audiobooks for the month, but I still wanted to listen to another one before the year was over, so I picked this one to end the year – it ended up not being the last book I read in 2024, but I thought it was at the time. Now I can’t believe I’ve wanted to read this numerous times before and never did. Now that I finally took the time to read it, I fell in love with it. This was a really nice YA contemporary romance—I needed a story like this.

Synopsis

“Snarky and romantic, I Hope This Doesn’t Find You is Never Have I Ever meets To All the Boys if Lara Jean wrote hate emails instead of love letters.
Sadie Wen is perfect on paper: school captain, valedictorian, and a “pleasure to have in class.” It’s not easy, but she has a trick to keep her model-student smile plastered on her face at all times: she channels all her frustrations into her email drafts. She’d never send them of course — she’d rather die than hurt anyone’s feelings — but it’s a relief to let loose on her power-hungry English teacher or a freeloading classmate taking credit for Sadie’s work.
All her most vehemently worded emails are directed at her infuriating cocaptain, Julius Gong, whose arrogance and competitive streak have irked Sadie since they were kids. “You’re attention starved and self-obsessed and unbearably vain… I really hope your comb breaks and you run out of whatever expensive hair products you’ve been using to make your hair appear deceptively soft…”
Sadie doesn’t have to hold back in her emails, because nobody will ever read them… that is, until they’re accidentally sent out.
Overnight, Sadie’s carefully crafted, conflict-free life is turned upside down. It’s her worst nightmare — now everyone at school knows what she really thinks of them, and they’re not afraid to tell her what they really think of her either. But amidst the chaos, there’s one person growing to appreciate the “real” Sadie — Julius, the only boy she’s sworn to hate…”

8. Made in Korea by Sarah Suk: 3.25/5⭐

The theme for this book was very interesting—a battle between the main characters over who sells more K-Beauty products. When I started this book, I knew it would be a romance, but I did not know about the premise. I admit I was surprised with the concept and the choice of the plot, but it was fun. I wasn’t super amazed with the story, but I’ve read worse.

Synopsis

“A romantic comedy about two entrepreneurial Korean American teens who butt heads—and maybe fall in love—while running competing Korean beauty businesses at their high school.
There’s nothing Valerie Kwon loves more than making a good sale. Together with her cousin Charlie, they run V&C K-BEAUTY, their school’s most successful student-run enterprise. With each sale, Valerie gets closer to taking her beloved and adventurous halmeoni to her dream city, Paris.
Enter the new kid in class, Wes Jung, who is determined to pursue music after graduation despite his parents’ major disapproval. When his classmates clamor to buy the K-pop branded beauty products his mom gave him to “make new friends,” he sees an opportunity—one that may be the key to help him pay for the music school tuition he knows his parents won’t cover…
What he doesn’t realize, though, is that he is now V&C K-BEAUTY’s biggest competitor.
Stakes are high as Valerie and Wes try to outsell each other, make the most money, and take the throne for the best business in school—all while trying to resist the undeniable spark that’s crackling between them. From hiring spies to all-or-nothing bets, the competition is much more than either of them bargained for.
But one thing is clear: only one Korean business can come out on top.”

As usual, I’ll be posting the reviews for these books soon.

What about you guys? How was your reading month? Let me know in the comments! Thank you for reading friends, I’ll catch you guys later!