Month: March 2025

TBR | April 2025

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Hello friends!

How are you all doing on this fine, beautiful day? April is just around the corner, which means it’s time for me to share my TBR for the month!

If you read my latest post on How I Create My Monthly TBR Lists, you already know my magical formula to create a fantastic reading month that fits me, my reading goals, and my available time. This is the formula I’m planning on sticking to for this year:

📖 At least 1 paperback
🎧 2 audiobooks
📱 1 ebook
📚 1 manga volume

Other rules include: reading 3 different genres, 1 book from a series, and 1 book from my 30 Oldest Books on my TBR list. It seems like a lot, but it’s really not!

This month’s lineup is looking amazing, but I had to make a last-minute change with one of the books! The original plan was to read the last book of the “Full Throttle” series, “Out of Control”, this month… but I couldn’t wait, so I picked it up immediately after I finished the third book in the series, “Over the Limit”. This means I removed it from my original April TBR! But since I have a ton of books I want to read, this was obviously not an issue and I found a replacement quickly. 🙂

Now that I finished putting together my TBR, let me tell you all about it! I’ve got books from four different series: one I’ll be finishing soon, two I’m in the middle of, and one brand-new addition to the mix! Plus, I also have random non-fiction with a pretty quirky theme and a YA romance added to the mix. So as you see, you’ll find a lot of series this month!

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. Butts: A Backstory by Heather Radke

What a way to start this list, don’t you agree? I know what you’re probably thinking: “Neide, are you seriously going to read a book about butts?” – and my answer is simple, dear friend: “Absolutely“! It’s no secret I like to read random books about random topics occasionally, and I’ve had this book on my TBR for a while now. Since I was looking for a non-fiction book to add to my monthly TBR… why not grab this one (I mean the book, not the butt)? To be completely honest with you, I have no idea what to expect with this read, but I’m hoping I’ll at least learn something new! I’m pretty sure I’ve read weirder books… I think?

Synopsis

“Whether we love them or hate them, think they’re sexy, think they’re strange, consider them too big, too small, or anywhere in between, humans have a complicated relationship with butts. It is a body part unique to humans, critical to our evolution and survival, and yet it has come to signify so much more: sex, desire, comedy, shame. A woman’s butt, in particular, is forever being assessed, criticized, and objectified, from anxious self-examinations trying on jeans in department store dressing rooms to enduring crass remarks while walking down a street or high school hallways. But why? In Butts: A Backstory, reporter, essayist, and RadioLab contributing editor Heather Radke is determined to find out.
Spanning nearly two centuries, this “whip-smart” (Publishers Weekly, starred review) cultural history takes us from the performance halls of 19th-century London to the aerobics studios of the 1980s, the music video set of Sir Mix-a-Lot’s “Baby Got Back” and the mountains of Arizona, where every year humans and horses race in a feat of gluteal endurance. Along the way, she meets evolutionary biologists who study how butts first developed; models whose measurements have defined jean sizing for millions of women; and the fitness gurus who created fads like “Buns of Steel.” She also examines the central importance of race through figures like Sarah Bartmann, once known as the “Venus Hottentot,” Josephine Baker, Jennifer Lopez, and other women of color whose butts have been idolized, envied, and despised.
Part deep dive reportage, part personal journey, part cabinet of curiosities, Butts is an entertaining, illuminating, and thoughtful examination of why certain silhouettes come in and out of fashion—and how larger ideas about race, control, liberation, and power affect our most private feelings about ourselves and others.”

2. Hunting Adaline (Cat & Mouse #2) by H.D. Carlton

In April, I’ll be reading the second book in the “Cat & Mouse” series! Let me tell you, my friend… this series is absolutely INTENSE and CRAZY. I have no idea what to expect, but I’m really curious to see how it all wraps up!

Synopsis

“The conclusion to the Cat and Mouse Duet is here…
The Diamond
Death walks alongside me,
But the reaper is no match for me.
I’m trapped in a world full of monsters dressed as men, and those who aren’t as they seem.
They won’t keep me forever.
I no longer recognize the person I’ve become,
And I’m fighting to find my way back to the beast who hunts me in the night.
They call me a diamond,
But they’ve only created an angel of death.
The Hunter
I was born a predator,
With ruthlessness ingrained in my bones.
When what’s mine is stolen from me in the night,
Like a diamond hidden within a fortress,
I find that I can no longer contain the beast.
Blood will paint the ground as I tear apart this world to find her.
And bring her back to where she belongs.
No one will escape my wrath,
Especially not those who have betrayed me.”

3. Blue Lily, Lily Blue (The Raven Cycle #3) by Maggie Stiefvater

Honestly, I’m not loving this series, and I can’t quite understand how it has so many great reviews. I’m starting to think nostalgia plays a big role for a lot of readers. To me, it feels a bit dull and filled with odd elements – but I still want to see it through to the end, just to get the full picture. We’ll see how it goes!

Synopsis

“The third installment in the all-new series from the #1 NEW YORK TIMES bestselling author Maggie Stiefvater!
Blue Sargent has found things. For the first time in her life, she has friends she can trust, a group to which she can belong. The Raven Boys have taken her in as one of their own. Their problems have become hers, and her problems have become theirs.
The trick with found things, though, is how easily they can be lost.
Friends can betray.
Mothers can disappear.
Visions can mislead.
Certainties can unravel.”

4. Death Note, Vol 10: Deletion by Tsugumi Ohba

One more Death Note volume on the horizon! I can see the finish line guys!

Synopsis

“With Near openly suspecting the new L of being Kira and sowing doubt in the hearts of the taskforce members, Light is once again forced to pass the Death Note on to another to take the heat off himself. But this time, Kira chooses a disciple from among his true believers. With no way to contact his successor directly, Light must rely on his faithful follower’s adherence to Kira’s goals. Will this newest move bring Light’s ideal world closer to reality? Or will losing control of the Death Note spell Light’s doom?”

5. The Name Drop by Susan Lee

Like I was saying, this spot was originally reserved for the fourth and final book in the “Full Throttle” series, but I just couldn’t resist and ended up reading it right after finishing the third! Since that left this spot open, I went through my romance TBR (because I still wanted something in the same vein) and stumbled upon this gem. To be honest, I don’t know much about the plot – all I know is that it’s a YA romance perfect for K-drama fans, and honestly, that’s all I need to be sold on it!

Synopsis

“When Elijah Ri arrives in New York City for an internship at his father’s massive tech company, Haneul Corporation, he expects the royal treatment that comes with being the future CEO—even if that’s the last thing he wants. But instead, he finds himself shuffled into a group of overworked, unpaid interns, all sharing a shoebox apartment for the summer.
When Jessica Lee arrives in New York City, she’s eager to make the most of her internship at Haneul Corporation, even if she’s at the bottom of the corporate ladder. But she’s shocked to be introduced as the new executive-in-training intern with a gorgeous brownstone all to herself.
It doesn’t take long for Elijah and Jessica to discover the source of the mistake: they share the same Korean name. But they decide to stay switched—so Elijah can have a relaxing summer away from his controlling dad while Jessica can make the connections she desperately needs for college recommendations.
As Elijah and Jessica work together to keep up the charade, a spark develops between them. Can they avoid discovery—and total disaster—with their feelings and futures on the line?”

6. Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone (Harry Potter #1) by J.K. Rowling

It’s funny how this is the book I’m most excited about! I started the Harry Potter series a couple of decades ago (which is wild to think about), but I never actually finished it. If I remember correctly, I stopped at the fourth book – and for some reason, I never picked it up again!
Now, I really want to give the books a fair chance and experience this incredible story that stole my heart through the movies. Even though I already know most of what happens, I’m beyond excited to finally dive back in!

Synopsis

“Harry Potter has never played a sport while flying on a broomstick. He’s never worn a Cloak of Invisibility, befriended a giant, or helped hatch a dragon. All Harry knows is a miserable life with the Dursleys, his horrible aunt and uncle, and their abominable son, Dudley. Harry’s room is a tiny cupboard under the stairs, and he hasn’t had a birthday party in ten years.
But all that is about to change when a mysterious letter arrives by owl messenger: A letter with an invitation to a wonderful place he never dreamed existed. There he finds not only friends, aerial sports, and magic around every corner, but a great destiny that’s been waiting for him – if Harry can survive the encounter.”

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 | The Myth of Normal by Gabor Maté

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“In the most health-obsessed society ever, all is not well.” – 5/5 stars!

Attention! This book contains: trauma, childhood memories, disease, oppressive beliefs, pregnancies, cancer, addiction… and hope.

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.

I can’t even begin to tell you how much I loved this book. It was an eye-opening and thought-provoking read! Dr. Gabor Maté, along with his son Daniel Maté, does a great job of breaking down how trauma and illness develop in a toxic culture, and how society is failing us in this regard. The book is packed with research, real-life stories (including his own personal experiences with traumatic events), and so many eye-opening insights that made me reflect on my own upbringing.
Some of my absolute favorite parts were the chapters on addiction, pregnancy (everything from delivery to postpartum), and cancer near the end—those completely blew my mind! I also really loved the exercise section at the end of the book. It gives you practical, simple steps to help you feel whole again, which makes the reader feel hopeful and empowered. The book does such a great job of normalizing trauma and showing that it’s something we all experience in different ways. It’s definitely one of those books you’ll want to read slowly and take notes on because there’s a lot to absorb!
I know some reviewers have said there’s a lot of parent blaming in the book, but honestly, I don’t think that’s fair. Yes, it acknowledges that our upbringing shapes us in different ways (some good, some bad), but the author makes it clear that our parents did the best they could with the knowledge they had. It’s not about pointing fingers—it’s about understanding the bigger picture. Personally, I really appreciate that approach since I prefer looking at it realistically!
All in all, this book was fascinating, and I saw so much of myself in its pages. It’s, hands down, one of the best books I’ve read in 2024! If you’re even slightly curious about trauma, healing, or just understanding yourself better, this is 100% worth the read!

Review | Home Before Dark by Riley Sager

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“Every house has a story. Ours is a ghost story. It’s also a lie. And now that yet another person has died within these walls, it’s finally time to tell the truth.” – 4.5/5 stars!

Attention! This book contains: best-sellers, haunted houses, family history, poisonous berries, snakes, and creepy paintings.

What was it like? Living in that house.
Maggie Holt is used to such questions. Twenty-five years ago, she and her parents, Ewan and Jess, moved into Baneberry Hall, a rambling Victorian estate in the Vermont woods. They spent three weeks there before fleeing in the dead of night, an ordeal Ewan later recounted in a nonfiction book called House of Horrors. His tale of ghostly happenings and encounters with malevolent spirits became a worldwide phenomenon, rivaling The Amityville Horror in popularity—and skepticism.
Today, Maggie is a restorer of old homes and too young to remember any of the events mentioned in her father’s book. But she also doesn’t believe a word of it. Ghosts, after all, don’t exist. When Maggie inherits Baneberry Hall after her father’s death, she returns to renovate the place to prepare it for sale. But her homecoming is anything but warm. People from the past, chronicled in House of Horrors, lurk in the shadows. And locals aren’t thrilled that their small town has been made infamous thanks to Maggie’s father. Even more unnerving is Baneberry Hall itself—a place filled with relics from another era that hint at a history of dark deeds. As Maggie experiences strange occurrences straight out of her father’s book, she starts to believe that what he wrote was more fact than fiction.
In the latest thriller from New York Times bestseller Riley Sager, a woman returns to the house made famous by her father’s bestselling horror memoir. Is the place really haunted by evil forces, as her father claimed? Or are there more earthbound—and dangerous—secrets hidden within its walls?

This was one of the thrillers I picked up randomly this month, and it turned out to be an amazing, wild ride! I can confidently say it has become one of my favorite Riley Sager books. I absolutely loved the haunted gothic mansion vibe (possibly paranormal) and the mysteries waiting to be uncovered.
The story was incredibly creepy and suspenseful, and I kept wondering what really happened in Baneberry Hall—I just regret reading it at night because of how scary it was! The main character, Maggie Holt, has just inherited an old mansion where she lived when she was five. Her father wrote a best-selling book about their time in the house, but Maggie has no memory of it and doesn’t know why they left in the first place. Her parents purposely kept the reason from her. Before he passed away, her father warned her never to return to the house—which, of course, she does. Determined to renovate and sell it, she ends up on a journey to uncover the truth about what really happened there and whether her father’s book was fact or fiction.
As for the characters, they were well-developed but not particularly likable (though not terrible either). Maggie could be a bit annoying at times, and I didn’t care much for Dane. However, I was very intrigued by her parents and the secrets they were hiding from her!
The writing was excellent—fast-paced, full of surprises, and packed with plot twists that kept the story engaging. While it starts off a bit slow, it quickly becomes impossible to put down. One of my favorite aspects was the way the author incorporated chapters from Maggie’s father’s book within the main story—essentially a book within a book. These chapters were inserted at just the right moments, adding an extra layer of depth without being confusing!
The ending was fantastic—I was constantly trying to piece the story together, but it kept taking unexpected turns! I never would have guessed the truth until I read it.
For a random pick, this turned out to be an incredible and unexpected read. Definitely one of my favorite Riley Sager books—I highly recommend it!

Review | Push (Precious #1) by Sapphire

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“I feel like my blood a giant river swell up inside me and I’m drowning. My head all dark inside. Feel like giant river I never cross in front me now. Ms Rain say, You not writing Precious. I say I drownin’ in river. She don’t look me like I’m crazy but say, If you just sit there the river gonna rise up drown you! Writing could be the boat to carry you to the other side.” – 4.5/5 stars!

Attention! This book contains: neon yellow leggings, journals, math, pregnancies, welfare, the alphabet, amazing teachers, poems, crack, HIV, poverty, racism, and a ton of abuse.

Precious Jones, an illiterate sixteen-year-old, has up until now been invisible to the father who rapes her and the mother who batters her and to the authorities who dismiss her as just one more of Harlem’s casualties. But when Precious, pregnant with a second child by her father, meets a determined and radical teacher, we follow her on a journey of education and enlightenment as she learns not only how to write about her life, but how to make it truly her own for the first time.

This was almost a perfect read for me! I was sooo close to rating this a 5-star read, but I had to lower my rating after getting to the end. Just to be clear, I personally have no issues with books with open endings, but this book ends like the author got tired of writing because it ended very abruptly. I believe that for a book with this intensity and complexity, we could have gotten a proper ending – happy or not, open or not! Other than that, the book was a 5-star read for me.
We have to talk about our amazing main character Precious. She was an incredibly brave young woman that I believe represents a lot of young woman. Although she is disruptive and very angry with her situation in life, it’s impossible to not admire her as a reader for fighting for a better future for her and her kids. She was an amazing main character! As the other characters go, I have to praise her teacher Mrs. Rain and also her colleague Rita. Both awesome side characters that made a very positive impact on Precious. As a side note, I wish there was more about her first daughter who has Down Syndrome. She never really appears in the story, and I would love to see how she would connect with her.
As the writing goes, it was genius! The book is written from Precious’ point of view, so the writing pairs with the fact she is illiterate – which means the sentences don’t have punctuation, words are written incorrectly, etc. This was a very interesting addition to the story because it made it more realistic, but I’ll admit there were times that it was a little difficult to keep up with the story since Precious writes the way she talks. With that said, I do appreciate the fact that the author improves her writing as the book progresses because she gets better with practice – that was a nice touch!
Of course, by now you can probably tell there are many difficult topics portrayed in this book. Some of these topics include racism, poverty, and violence… but the one that made me the most uncomfortable was the constant sexual abuse from BOTH her parents. These were the most difficult parts for me to read because they got a little graphic – so keep that in mind if you’re considering reading this book.
It was a very sad story – and a little more graphic than I thought it would be if I’m being honest –, but Precious was a very inspiring character, and you have no choice but to root for her and her happiness! Incredible book.

Review | Felones de Se by LindaAnn LoSchiavo

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“You did not call me on your way to ash
as angst unbuttoned from the terrified
fist your heart had become, swung loose, released.
Today is Tuesday – but no lunch is served.
You can’t escape woe’s blacked out page because
my memory’s the urn I’ll store you in.” – 4.5/5 stars!

Attention! This book contains: seagulls, hula girls, Tuesdays, pain, bridges, and… grief.

With a sprinkling of dark humor and a full measure of compassion, “Felones de Se: Poems about Suicide” is surprising, suffused with eerie details, quirky, and inspired by actual suicides, one of them a blood relative.

I’m not a huge poetry reader, but I found myself reading this from front-to-back a few times! This was a very interesting read, and I don’t think I’ve read a book like this before.
I was curious about what the title meant, so I did some research, and I found out that the expression “felones de se” was used in medieval English law to refer to people who committed suicide – “felones” comes from “felony”, and “de se” means “of oneself”. It seems like in the old English law, suicide was considered a felony, and the crown would confiscate the property of the deceased’s family. I found this very curious!
What I found so interesting about these books is that the author wrote a poem about her cousin, but she also worte poems about other real suicides. And she added small notes at the bottom to give the reader some context of what happened in each one. And of course, I did some research of my own! I found the Saudi Arabia sisters’ suicide particularly interesting and sad.
It’s hard to pick a favorite – it definitely feels like Joseph LoSchiavo’s poem felt more personal (for obvious reasons), but there were many other poems with interesting backstories.
As a side note, I loved the illustrations! I think it really complemented the book in a beautiful way.
Definitely worth picking it up if you like reading poetry.

Review | The Cheerleader by Kara Thomas

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“But after a while, searching for the answers felt like grasping around in the dark. At some point, you have to choose to live in the light.” – 3.25/5 stars!

Attention! This book contains: cheerleaders, investigations, secret notes, and hidden cell phones.

There are no more cheerleaders in the town of Sunnybrook.

First there was the car accident—two girls gone after hitting a tree on a rainy night. Not long after, the murders happened. Those two girls were killed by the man next door. The police shot him, so no one will ever know why he did it. Monica’s sister was the last cheerleader to die. After her suicide, Sunnybrook High disbanded the cheer squad. No one wanted to be reminded of the girls they lost.

That was five years ago. Now the faculty and students at Sunnybrook High want to remember the lost cheerleaders. But for Monica, it’s not that easy. She just wants to forget. Only, Monica’s world is starting to unravel. There are the letters in her stepdad’s desk, an unearthed, years-old cell phone, a strange new friend at school… Whatever happened five years ago isn’t over. Some people in town know more than they’re saying. And somehow Monica is at the center of it all.

There are no more cheerleaders in Sunnybrook, but that doesn’t mean anyone else is safe.

I’ve had this book on my TBR List for a very long time because the synopsis seemed interesting: 5 cheerleaders are killed suspiciously in a short amount of time; and a few years after the school decides to do a memorial to celebrate their lives – and that’s when Monica, one of the cheerleaders’s sister decides to start investigating the deaths on her own. So, needless to say, I had high hopes… but I have to admit I was a little disappointed with the reading experience.
This story had the potential to be engaging and thrilling, but the plot felt flat to me. There were a few revelations here and there, but I can’t say I was surprised at any of them. Also, the story has little action to keep you interested.
If you’re interested in reading this, I would point out the trigger warnings for sexual assault and substance abuse. I will say I appreciate how realistic the story felt because of these topics – the characters and their experiences felt real most of the time.
Not a terrible book, just okay – it’s not a very memorable book. Personally, I needed more action and a wow factor to make it a good young adult mystery.

Review | Borrow My Heart by Kasie West

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“Always date a boy who loves animals.” – 4/5 stars!

Attention! This book contains: cute dogs, coffee shops, social media, viral videos, shelters, coworkers, secrets, catfishes, and a lactose intolerance.

When a girl overhears a guy getting verbally destroyed by his friends for being catfished, she jumps in to save the day—and pretends to be his online crush.

Wren is used to being called a control freak. She doesn’t care; sticking to the list of rules she created for herself helps her navigate life. But when a cute guy named Asher walks through the door of her neighborhood coffee shop, the rulebook goes out the window.

Asher is cute, charming… and being catfished by his online crush. So Wren makes an uncharacteristically impulsive decision—she pretends to be the girl he’s waiting for to save him from embarrassment. Suddenly she’s fake-dating a boy she knows nothing about. And it’s… amazing.

It’s not long before Asher has her breaking even more of her own rules. But will he forgive her when he finds out she’s not who she says she is? Wren’s not so sure… After all, rules exist for a reason.

Does Kasie West ever miss? I don’t think so! This was such a cute book! I’m a huge fan of hers and have read almost all of her books, so I wasn’t surprised by how much I enjoyed this one.
What I loved most about this book was its theme—it’s perfect for animal lovers! It feels like the author wanted to create a story in honor of her late dog, which makes it even more special.
Our main character, Wren, is a volunteer at an animal shelter, and she has a favorite dog named Bean (seriously, the cutest name ever!). Bean has been in the shelter for nine months without being adopted, making him the longest resident there. I found this interesting because, in reality, many animals spend their entire lives in shelters without ever finding a home. I think the author made this choice to keep the story a bit lighter, which makes sense, but it still got me thinking!
Now, onto the romance! Wren meets the love interest in an interesting way—she overhears him and his friend talking about how he’s waiting for a date who never shows up. His friend teases him about being catfished, and Wren, feeling bad for him, decides to pretend she’s the girl he was supposed to meet. And I’ll leave it at that!
The only thing I didn’t love was the social media aspect of the story. It’s just a personal pet peeve—I’m not a fan of books that focus a lot on posts, likes, and going viral, so take my opinion with a grain of salt!
Overall, this book was super adorable. The romance was sweet, the plot was engaging, and I was rooting for Bean the entire time. Definitely recommend it!

Wrap-Up | What I Read in February 2025

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Hello friends!

As always, I hope you’re doing well. February is now behind us, so that means I have a brand new Wrap-Up to share with you today – how exciting!

Dare I say… I’m on fire in 2025? I’ve had another great reading month in February because not only I was able to read books from my monthly TBR, but I also liked every single book I have read!

I wasn’t able to read as much in February due to lack of time – and you’ll definitely see that by the amount of books I’ve read this month -, but I’m still happy I was able to read books from my monthly TBR as well as an ARC I received this month.

To be honest, I stopped accepting new ARCs for review a long time ago because I wanted to focus solely on books that genuinely interested me. However, in February, I made an exception and picked up a poetry ARC because its concept was too intriguing to pass up. I’ll tell you all about it in a moment!

Another exciting thing that has happened is that I’ve finished two series I started last year, the “Seafire” trilogy and the (way too long, but still cool) “Bridgertons” series. So I think we both can agree this was a successful reading month!

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. On the Way to the Wedding (Bridgertons #8) by Julia Quinn: 4.5/5⭐

I can’t believe I finally finished the “Bridgertons” series – and on a great note, I might add. This series was a rollercoaster! Of course, some books were better than others, but I had a great time reading Gregory’s story. This book in particular was very good – it’s not the most unique story compared to Eloise’s or Benedict’s for example, but the author was still able to create a unique story with a simpler plot. In this book, Gregory “falls” in love with someone else first, and then finds his soulmate where he least expects it! I’m very happy I gave this series a chance because I had a great time reading it. Now I’m looking forward to watching the Netflix adaptations now that I know how the original stories!

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…”

2. Stormbreak (Seafire #3) by Natalie C. Parker: 4.25/5⭐

I had a blast reading this series! I’ll admit I was a little skeptical going into it because it’s hard for me to find outstanding pirate-themed series nowadays, so I thought this was going to end up being another series that I wish was better. But it wasn’t the case (finally)! I had a lot of fun reading it – I especially liked all the characters (especially our main character, Caledonia Styx) and the crazy plot. It’s a really great story that I will definitely recommend to other readers who enjoy pirate stories.

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.”

3. On the Edge (Full Throttle #2) by K. Bromberg: 4.5/5⭐

Woooow I loved this! To be honest, I wasn’t super excited to continue this series after reading the first book – it wasn’t bad, but it didn’t pique my interest like I thought it would –, but I was surprised with how much I had fun reading this second book. I really liked the characters and their chemistry together – also, there’s a sharing-one-bed trope, which is always a treat for a romance reader! This was way better than the first book in my opinion – the plot was better, the characters were better, the romance was top notch… Now I can’t wait to read the next book, I hope it’s just as good as this one.

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.”

4. Felones de Se by LindaAnn LoSchiavo: 4.5/5⭐

Now here’s an interesting ARC I’ve received in February! I’m not a huge poetry reader, but I found myself reading this from front-to-back a few times. This was a very interesting read, and I can honestly say I don’t think I’ve read anything like this before. The author wrote a poetry book about suicide – inspired by her cousin taking his own life, but she also wrote poems about other real suicides and even includes small notes at the bottom to give the reader some context of what happened in each case. It was a very interesting and unique book, definitely worth picking it up if you like reading darker poetry.

***A big thank you to LindaAnn and BookSirens for the free ARC in exchange for an honest review. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.***

Synopsis

“With a sprinkling of dark humor and a full measure of compassion, “Felones de Se: Poems about Suicide” is surprising, suffused with eerie details, quirky, and inspired by actual suicides, one of them a blood relative.”

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!

TBR | March 2025

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Hello friends!

I heard from a little birdie that you wanted to know what I’ll be reading in March – so here I am to deliver! Please do not feed into my delusions. You have been warned!

I’m very excited to start my reading month because I picked up amazing books! Since I finished two series in February, I had room to add other books that have been on my mind.

If you read my latest post on How I Create My Monthly TBR Lists, you already know my magical formula to create a fantastic reading month that fits me, my reading goals, and my available time. This is the formula I’m planning on keeping for this year: read at least 1 paperback, 2 audiobooks, 1 ebook, and 1 manga volume. Other rules include: reading 3 different genres, 1 book from a series, and 1 book from my 30 Oldest Books on my TBR list. It seems like a lot, but it’s really not!

So to fit all these “rules” I made for myself, I picked 6 books that fit my goals – it definitely helps that I have an endless TBR! You’ll see that I’ll be continuing some series, starting a new one, and I plan on picking a few random stand-alone books that have been on my mind for a while!

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. The Second Chance Convenience Store (The Second Chance Convenience Store #1) by Kim Ho-Yeon

I had to put the cover published in Portugal because I think it is absolutely stunning – and yes, of course, it’s one of the reasons why I picked this up in the first place. I have this beauty in paperback and I’m very excited to grab it in March as my paperback read of the month.

Synopsis

“In this million-copy international bestseller from Korea, the owner of a corner store takes in an unhoused man who does a good deed, a kind soul whose presence will transform the whole neighborhood—a heartwarming tale of community and redemption reminiscent of the bestselling novels of Matt Haig and Gabrielle Zevin.
Dok-go lives in Seoul Station. He can’t remember his past, and the only thing he knows for certain is that he could really use a drink. When he finds a lost wallet filled with documents, his life is drastically changed.
Mrs. Yeom, a retired history teacher and current owner of her neighborhood’s corner store, is distraught over the loss of her purse, until she receives a mysterious call from the person who found it. To thank this down-on-his-luck stranger, she offers him a free meal from the convenience store. Seeing the joy the food brings him, Mrs. Yeom impulsively invites him to stop by for lunch every day.
In a twist of fate, Dok-go saves the store from a robber—a brave act that propels Mrs. Yeom to offers the bear-like man a job working the night shift, despite the objections of her wary employees. The store’s new employee quickly wins over the quirky denizens of the neighborhood, becoming a welcoming ear and source of advice for his coworkers and neighbors’ problems, and helping his new boss save the store from financial ruin. But just when things are looking up for Dok-go, Mrs. Yeom’s good-for-nothing son, eager to sell the store, hires a detective to dig into the mysterious man’s past and what he seems to be trying so hard to forget.
The Second Chance Convenience Store is a moving and joyful story of a woman fighting for her community and a man who has lost everything except the will to try again.”

2. Haunting Adeline (Cat & Mouse #1) by H.D. Carlton

Guys, I’m doing it. I’m finally reading it. I consider myself an open-minded person when it comes to reading… but I wonder if the taboo in this book will be too much for me? I’ve gotten a few mixed reviews from friends, so I’m very curious to read this. Either way, I’m diving in and I’ll keep you posted on my thoughts!

Synopsis

“The Manipulator
I can manipulate the emotions of anyone who lets me.
I will make you hurt, make you cry, make you laugh and sigh.
But my words don’t affect him. Especially not when I plead for him to leave.
He’s always there, watching and waiting.
And I can never look away.
Not when I want him to come closer.
The Shadow
I didn’t mean to fall in love.
But now that I have, I can’t stay away.
I’m mesmerized by her smile, by her eyes, and the way she moves.
The way she undresses…
I’ll keep watching and waiting. Until I can make her mine.
And once she is, I’ll never let her go.
Not even when she begs me to.”

3. Push (Precious #1) by Sapphire

I’ve been wanting to read this book for a very long time, so in March I’m reading it! I remember watching bits of the movie here and there when I was younger, but I never had the courage to watch the entire thing because of how heartbreaking it was. But I’m changing it this month! I will finally read the entire story and know what is about. I’m sure this will be an impactful read!

Synopsis

“Precious Jones, an illiterate sixteen-year-old, has up until now been invisible: invisible to the father who rapes her and the mother who batters her and to the authorities who dismiss her as just one more of Harlem’s casualties. But when Precious, pregnant with a second child by her father, meets a determined and highly radical teacher, we follow her on a journey of education and enlightenment as Precious learns not only how to write about her life, but how to make it her own for the first time.”

4. Death Note, Vol. 9 by Tsugumi Ohba

I’m determined to finish this manga series in 2025! I’m starting to lose interest at this point, so I can’t wait to move to other stories. I’m curious to know how this story will end?

Synopsis

“Light has always been confident in his ability to out-think everyone, but L’s protégés are proving to be more of a challenge than he anticipated. The more Light mentally maneuvers, the tighter the net around him becomes. And now Near and Mello are working to break the task force apart and expose Kira from within! Light has always held up under pressure in the past, but will the stress of this new line of attack and the strain of maintaining three different personalities be the beginning of his end?”

5. Over the Limit (Full Throttle #3) by K. Bromberg

I’ve had mixed experiences with this series – the first book was okay, the second book was incredible… so I wonder what my thoughts will be about the third book. I’m definitely curious and I want to see what the story will be about, so fingers crossed! I just hope it’s a good one.

Synopsis

“You don’t mess around with a teammate’s ex. Ever. But that’s easier said than done when it comes to Blair Carmichael. She’s sexy, intelligent, gorgeous, and one hundred percent off-limits.
And I’ve never fallen harder.
But I can’t touch (when I most definitely want to).
My team’s success and my chance at a new contract for next season depend on me keeping my hands on the wheel. And off her curves.
As the season progresses, we secretly steal as much time as we can together—in hotel rooms, after races, anywhere we can’t be found out. A real romance out in the open would risk her job in the industry, her reputation, and my image–not to mention my strained relationship with my teammate.
I’ve lived my whole life with one mantra. Team first. What I want outside of my racing career hasn’t factored in.
Until now.
Until Blair.
She deserves the world and I plan on giving it to her. Even if I have to walk away from the biggest contract of my career.
A forbidden, Formula 1 romance.”

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

If you’ve been paying attention to my posts, you’ve noticed this book is still here since the last TBR. The thing is, I was expecting to finish the first book in January, but that didn’t happen! As I’m writing this, I’m not even sure if I’ll finish the first book in February – but either way, I’m planning on finishing it soon to read the second book in March. We’ll see!

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…”

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!