I truly am so excited to be back doing this. I had to remind myself on hiatus that taking a break is what I needed but I truly did miss this.
I am quite proud of the reading that I did in 2022 and I am going to push myself to read even more this year. As I have mentioned before one of my goals this year is to finish all of the series that I have started, both in 2022 and overall. Thus, many of my TBR lists this year will be full of sequels and continuations of series. I will do my best to not include spoilers but sometimes in book reviews it is just part of business.
Anyways, now that I’ve established “ground rules”, let’s get into what I want to read in the month of January!
Clockwork Angel by Cassandra Clare
I know what I said above, I want to finish the series that I have already started and this is the first of a new series but hear me out, I have been wanting to read this for awhile and after I was finally able to FIND this book (which is more of a challenge than you would expect for a book that is nearly a decade old) I want to start it as soon as possible. You all have seen my opinion on the Mortal Instrument series but I heard that the Infernal Devices is far superior and I am just holding out for it.
Lightbringer by Claire Legrand
I have had this in at least one of my previous TBR lists and yes, I still haven't read it (hence why one of my goals is to finish series). I really loved the first two books in this series I just don’t want it to end. This is quite a large book so If I do decide to read this I will probably try to read some shorter or stand alone novels to help my brain not shut down.
Sorcery of Thorns by Margaret Rogerson
Now for a standalone. I actually just bought this and honestly, I wouldn’t have picked this up if Hannah (From Aclockworkreader) didn’t make a reading vlog about this novel and loved it. It seems like something I would like I am just not sure why I always gravitate towards series instead of stand-alone novels. I have this book right in front of me and I actually plan on starting it after drafting this post (remember to keep up with me on Goodreads/Instagram @jooniens !)
A Reaper at the Gates by Sabaa Tahir
I started An Ember in the Ashes in November of 2022 and it has been true love. A Torch against the Night was my last read for 2022 and it was a great way to end a year of reading. This entire series has swept me off of my feet and I am so excited to keep reading, I just love these characters and this world so much. I accidentally bought this thinking that it was the second book so I had to go back to Barnes and Noble later (what a shame).
There isn’t a lot on this list because half of my Goodreads TBR has gone missing(?) I know I trimmed it down but I don’t think I had gotten rid of so much. Hopefully, I will be able to knock some of these titles off and start 2023 with some great reads.
Also, note that I will be bringing back the Mid-Month Reading updates however they will be brief posts and not as long as they were previously.
Have a very happy and safe new year!
Much Love,
June <3
2022 End of the Year Wrap-Up
I am so excited to be back from my hiatus! It was a much needed break and I am happy to announce that I have finished my 3rd semester of college and was able to spend more time with friends and family.
2022 was certainly a year of growth for me. I really grew into my responsibilities and I could not be more proud of myself. Not only was I productive in self care this year but also in reading. My Goodreads reading goal this year was 40 compared to last year’s goal of 29. I was also able to complete my goal this year and read a total of 40 books! This makes me very excited, last year my goal was far less and I wasn’t able to complete it so I am extra proud of the progress I have made. Another goal I had this year was to not re-read as many books and make myself branch out into new territories, I was also able to do that, only re-reading 4 books.
I will not be going in depth for many of these books as I have given reviews for many on Goodreads or they have made it onto this blog already. I'm going to keep my comments on what I read this year brief unless there is something special I want to mention. As always, full thoughts (during and after reading) are on Goodreads, so if you want to know more about what I thought, check there or DM me (here or on Instagram @Jooniens )
(also note before reading, on Goodreads I will round up my scores accordingly hence why you will see a difference in ratings!)
No more waiting, here are all of the books I read in 2022!
The Final Girl Support Group by Grady Hendrix
I love Hendrix’s work but his other novels definitely outshine this one.
3.5/5 Stars
Gumiho by Kat Cho
A little over dramatic for my taste, an interesting concept though.
3/5 Stars
Scythe by Neal Shusterman (2018 Re-read)
Just reaffirmed my love for this series, full thoughts on Goodreads.
5/5 Stars
Clap When You Land by Elizabeth Acevedo
Fairly unmemorable, I enjoyed reading it.
3/5 Stars
Mistborn by Brandon Sanderson
An instant favorite.
5/5 Stars
One True Loves by Taylor Jenkins Reid
Not my favorite book by this author but enjoyable and memorable.
3/5 Stars
The Secret Lives of Church Ladies by Deesha Philya
An excellent collection of short stories that touched my heart.
4/5 Stars
Salt to the Sea by Ruta Sepetys
A quick and easy read, not my favorite book by this author.
3/5 Stars
The Wife Upstairs by Rachel Hawkins
A surprisingly good read that kept my drives to work interesting.
3.5/5 Stars
Darius the Great is Not Okay by Adib Khorram
A touching book that sticks with me to this day. A favorite to come out of YA.
4.5/5 Stars
The Well of Ascension by Brandon Sanderson
An excellent and action packed sequel to Mistborn.
4.5/5 Stars
I Kissed Sarah Wheeler by Casey Mcquiston
I think Mcquiston should stick to Adult novels, it doesn't compete with other YA on the market.
2.5/5 Stars
American Panda by Gloria Chao
A cute coming of age story. Enjoyable but not exactly unique.
3.5/5 Stars
All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr
A very disappointing book for a Pulitzer Prize winner. Full thoughts on Goodreads
2.5/5 Stars
The Summer I Turned Pretty by Jenny Han
A super cute summer read. Not the height of literature but fun to read.
2.5/5 Stars
Dumplin’ by Julie Murphy
Such a fun concept with an unlikable main character.
3/5 Stars
The Raven Boys by Maggie Stiefvater
The hype got to this one for me but I still loved reading it.
4.5/5 Stars
Palm Beach by Mary Adkins
The Worst of The Year. I hated this book.
1/5 Stars
First Love, Take Two by Sajni Patel
A cute romance book, super formulaic but enjoyable.
3/5 Stars
To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before by Jenny Han
My second Jenny Han book, I liked it a lot more than TSITP.
4/5 Stars
Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens
A truly excellent novel. One of my favorites of the year.
5/5 Stars
Hot Under His Collar by Andie J. Christopher
A trash romance book, not much else to say.
2/5 Stars
The Grace Year by Kim Ligget
A book that I wasn’t expecting to like nearly as much as I did.
4.5/5 Stars
A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder by Holly Jackson
This is THE murder mystery. This sets the standard.
5/5 Stars
Every Vow You Break by Peter Swanson
Awful thriller. Like what the hell was this.
1.5/5 Stars
City of Glass by Cassandra Clare
You all know how I feel about these books.
3/5 Stars
Furyborn by Claire Legrand (2020 Re-read)
This was technically a re-read but I remembered nothing about it and I am so thankful for that.
5/5 Stars
Kingsbane by Claire Legrand
A solid sequel but I much prefer the first book.
4/5 Stars
City of Glass by Cassandra Clare
A really good conclusion to the series. I have complaints but y’all know them.
3.5/5 Stars
Good Girl, Bad Blood by Holly Jackson
This is certainly one of the books of all time. I liked the first one better.
3.5/5 Stars
The Way of Kings by Brandon Sanderson
This was a massive book. Not just in terms of size but also in content. An instant classic.
5/5 Stars
House of Salt and Sorrows by Erin A. Craig
I went into this book with no expectations and it was an okay read.
2.5/5 Stars
The Violent Delights by Chloe Gong
This is another case where the hype really got to me for this book, wish I would have read it earlier.
3/5 Stars
Kill Creek by Scott Thomas
Entertaining and worth the read, especially in October.
4/5 Stars
Flame in the Mist by Renée Adhieh (2nd time re-reading)
My favorite comfort book.
4/5 Stars
Truthwitch by Susan Dennard
Not what I was expecting to read but I absolutely loved this book.
4.5/5
Ink by Amanda Sun
Showed me just how much my reading taste has changed.
1.5/5 stars
An Ember in the Ashes by Sabaa Tahir
OMG did I love this book. It instantly became a favorite of all time
5/5 Stars
Serpent and Dove by Shelby Maurin
I enjoyed this book and would recommend it to lovers of enemies to lovers.
3.75/5 Stars
A Torch Against the Night by Sabaa Tahir
An amazing sequel, this series is becoming a favorite.
4/5 stars
Now for some re-caps:
My Favorites of 2022:
Mistborn by Brandon Sanderson
Furyborn by Claire Legrand
An Ember in the Ashes by Sabaa Tahir
A Good Girl's Guide to Murder by Holly Jackson
My Worst Reads of 2022:
Palm Beach by Mary Adkins
Every Vow You Break by Peter Swanson
Ink by Amanda Sun
Hot Under His Collar by Andie J. Christopher
I am so happy to be back doing this blog. I truly missed this and I hope y’all did too. I only have one goal for 2023 and that is to finish all of these series that I started this year. Unfortunately, I won’t be posting a January TBR as I’m currently traveling but I will be bringing back the Mid-Month reading update and will be making one for January.
I’m happy to be back and I can’t wait for the new year.
Much love,
June <3
Hello reader babes!
I have really no excuse when it comes to writing this the second week of September. But hey, better late than never right? I'm literally writing this at work so I hope you guys enjoy it.
In the hot month of August I read a total of 4 books which was my goal! Some were excellent, others...not so much. Some of these I discussed in my Mid-August reading update however, fresh faces are here as well.
*Spoilers will be indicated by asterisks around the book title*
NOTE: From here on out mid-month updates will only discuss my current read and how many books I have read thus far. Just to keep the Wrap-up interesting :)
I have already tore into this book pretty hard in my Mid-August Update so I don't feel the need to do so again here. I just didn't like this book, the plot was odd and it didn't feel flushed out at all. It read like a fanfiction that shouldn't have gotten published.
I liked this book. That seems like a bad review but I truly feel neutral about it. It felt like a middle book, lots of filler and just weird plot line. The ending battle scene was super good and I will never forgive Ms. Clare for what happened to my baby Simon in this book. He deserves better. I have a lot to comment on regarding Clary and Jace but that will come with my blurb on City of Glass.
I read this for the first time in September of 2020 but I think God decided that it wasn't the time for me to read it and blanked it from my memory so that when I read it this time it was like the first time reading it. I knew the overarching plot but holy crap did this novel blow my socks off. I loved the characters, their bonding moments, the action just everything had me on the floor and head over hills in love.
I finished Furyborn while on shift at my job and as soon as I got home I ran for my bookshelves and grabbed this. I gave this book a lower rating and not just because it had tons of filler. I loved focusing more on Eliana's character, is was great to see a protagonist struggle and not be just immediately good at everything. The twist at the end was fantastic. I only have one real complaint with this book and that has to deal mainly with the amount of spice in it. The first book definitely had spice but it was about what I would expect for a YA novel but this book seemed to have a spice scene each chapter and some of it was very explicit. It kind of took away from the rest of the book and those scenes definitely could have been used in other ways.
August was a really good reading month for me and I'm glad I slowed down a bit from the book monster I was in July. Now that school is in full swing it's hard to read as much as I used to (and thus, posting is more difficult too). I'm glad y'all are sticking with me and I'm thrilled to see what September has in store.
Much Love,
June <3
Hey y'all, it's been a while hasn't it? To be honest, I planned on posing a June Wrap-up + July TBR but by the time I got around to doing it, it was halfway through June and It felt wrong. This month I plan on doing better with posting now that I have settled into the rhythm of my life.
July was a great reading month for me. By the end of June I had caught up with my reading goal, and this month I've been consistently about 1 book ahead (BTW follow me on Goodreads!)
In total, I read 5 books this month, which isn't as many as other people but I am rather proud of the progress I made as well as the quality of the books I managed to read this month. The reads this month definitely lead up to an exciting August TBR. Without further ado, let's get into it.
I read The Summer I Turned Pretty in the later weeks of June and while it certainly wasn't the greatest work of literature, it was a fun read. After scrolling through some reviews and watching videos about those who read romance/contemporary books more than I, I heard that this was the preferred Jenny Han book series. I have to say that I agree. While this book DEFINITELY read like an older YA romance novel, it was thoroughly entertaining. I think both Josh and Peter were thoroughly boring as love interests. They were just so regular. It was still entertaining to read and I had a fun time.
After seeing the trailers for the movie that came out in Mid-July I thought to myself "Ah crap, now I have to read it." I remember when this book came out and my local library deemed it a book club read. I don't know about y'all's local library, but mine tends to pick not great reads for their book club. So needless to say, My expectations were kind of low but holy crap I absolutely love this book. Not only was the writing absolutely gorgeous, but I was actually rooting for Kya and the twist I did not see coming. I had theories about it and my theory could not have been farther from what actually happened. However, now I don't want to see the movie anymore because I don't think it will live up to how I feel about the book. It came full circle and I probably won't see the movie until it becomes available on Amazon prime or something.
I saw this while scrolling through my library and internally "This looks awful, it's going in the pile." I burned through this book in about 2 days and while it entertained me it was...not good. It was fun to read, the plot was entertaining and I don't think I've seen this kind of priest/church member romance in mainstream media (not including those odd Amish romances your mom reads) besides the show Fleabag. The characters didn't feel like they had a lot of chemistry but it ended up on my "trash in a good way" shelf on Goodreads because of how entertaining it was to me.
I technically started reading this book in mid-June through the audiobook which I checked out through Libby but I returned It because I just wasn't listening to it enough. I ended up re-checking it out later in July and finally finishing it. My first comment on this book is that this isn't a great YA novel. There were very graphic descriptions of violence and gore. I am not complaining but I think that Kim Ligget would have made this an EXCELLENT adult novel. Beyond that, I'm not sure how I feel about this book. Tierney was kind of annoying to listen to (or maybe that was just the audiobook narrator) yet I still managed to root for her. I wish more of the social dynamics would have been explored and maybe some better explanations of the history of this society. The twist came out of nowhere and didn't make much sense and the ending left me guessing what happened (and not in a good way). I'm sure the author did that intentionally, but it just didn't work for me.
Technically, I finished this book just as August 1st rolled into the year but I'm still counting it as a July read. I picked this up randomly and I guess that I need to do that with books more because I absolutely adored this book. I'm not usually a thriller reader and especially not a YA thriller reader. I absolutely loved Pippa and this book kept me entertained from start to finish. In other thrillers that I have read, the first 1/3 of the novel tends to provide background information and character development/info dumping. This novel added leads, new theories and it kept me intrigued in the story. I had a few theories thanks to the plethora of details the reader gets yet I couldn't have guessed the twists, yes plural. In the last 50 pages, there was this massive twist and I thought, oh that is kind of underwhelming but then another twist came right after practically slapping me in the face. Do you know that meme of Sheldon Cooper where he says "I don't need sleep, I need answers"? that was me for the last 100 pages of this book and I can't wait to read the rest of the series (although I'm not sure how it is a series).
Edit: It was so late I forgot to sign off...
I'm so glad that July was such a great reading month for me. After the reading month that was June, I am glad that I actually enjoyed (most) of the books that I read this month. August TBR coming later this week, originally planned to put it in this post but I'd like to go to bed. Thanks for sticking with me even though I didn't post for a month or so, you mean the world to me.
Much Love,
June <3