I kicked off my 2024 reading year with a bang! Not only did I read 3 books in the 5-star range, but I also got a great start on several of my reading goals (picking up more nonfiction, romantasy, and Book of the Month titles). Let’s get into it!

Stats

Total books read: 11

#readmyowndamnbooks: 6

Nonfiction: 4

Romantasy: 2

Book of the Month: 1

How Far the Light Reaches by Sabrina Imbler (5 stars) – This was a gorgeously written nonfiction book that manages to combine memoir and science writing seamlessly through apt metaphor, and the audiobook was gorgeously narrated as well. I had a strong feeling I’d enjoy it, but I hadn’t predicted it to evoke so much emotion in me. If you enjoy learning about sea creatures and/or queer narratives, this is a must-read.

Into Thin Air by Jon Krakauer (5 stars) – This book spawned an entire obsession for me, and after posting about it and hearing from other readers, I know I’m not alone. I not only became obsessed with this tragic expedition, but with Everest and Jon Krakauer as well. His writing is gripping, as is this story, to the point that I was yelling out loud in reaction to what I was hearing (I listened to the audiobook, which I do recommend). I instantly added Krakauer’s other books to my TBR, as well as Anatoli Boukreev’s The Climb, which provides a differing perspective on the expedition. I’m late to the party on this one, and if you are too, do yourself a favor and READ THIS IMMEDIATELY.

Check and Mate by Ali Hazelwood (4.5 stars) – I don’t know if I was expecting Ali Hazelwood’s YA debut to become one of my favorites of her books, but it absolutely did. It’s very Ali Hazelwood, with a Gen Z spin, and chess-centric while still romance-focused. I found both storylines equally interesting, and I loved the side characters just as much as the main couple. Finishing this made me extremely glad that there will be 2 new Ali Hazelwood releases in 2024, or I’d be quite bereft right now.

The Lord Sorcier by Olivia Atwater (4 stars) – This one is actually a prequel novella that was included at the end of Half a Soul and featuring its two male main characters during their meeting and developing friendship. I debating including this as part of Half a Soul or giving it its own review, but because it really has a different feel to Half a Soul (and its own entry on Goodreads), I felt it could stand on its own. It’s a really concise and interesting story about disillusionment with one’s ideals and discovering how to make a difference in a more practical way, as well as a fish-out-of-water story of a young man from Faerie adapting to Regency England during its war with the French.

Half a Soul by Olivia Atwater (4 stars) – This was a really delightful and easy-to-read romantasy set in Regency England and featuring a young woman whose soul was half-stolen by a faerie when she was young, and her unexpectedly befriending the intimidating Lord Sorcier leading to a mission and adventure. I really enjoyed the read and am looking forward to continuing in the Regency Faerie Tales series.

Tripping Arcadia by Kit Mayquist (4 stars) – It’s hard to classify this book in terms of genre; it’s sort of a Gothic eat-the-rich plot involving drugs, poison, nepo babies, and betrayal. I enjoyed it, although I could tell it was a debut, and I’m interested to see what this author comes out with next.

Under the Banner of Heaven by Jon Krakauer (4 stars) – This nonfiction book focuses on the history of Mormonism and its fundamentalist sects using two horrific contemporary murders as a gateway. Its focus is much more on historical events rather than the police investigation, in contrast to the miniseries that shares its name, and it’s extremely informative and well-written. I started this soon after finishing Into Thin Air, my first Krakauer book, and although it didn’t quite live up to his monumental take on Everest exploration and tragedy, I felt I learned a lot and continue to be impressed with his writing.

A Novel Obsession by Caitlin Barasch (4 stars) – This was an absorbing debut novel featuring an “unlikable” main character that makes mistakes from minute one, but whose story is still completely addicting. I really enjoyed it.

All You Can Ever Know by Nicole Chung (4 stars) – This was a moving and emotional memoir about trans-racial adoption, a topic I knew very little about before reading it. I became very emotionally invested in the author’s journey to find her birth family and their subsequent meeting and relationship development.

Pride and Prejudice and Pittsburgh by Rachael Lippincott (3.5 stars) – This was a cute YA time-travel romance that I didn’t find quite as impactful as I was hoping. She Gets The Girl, which was co-authored by Rachael Lippincott, was one of my favorite YA reads a few years ago, so this may have been a case of my expectations being too high.

The High Mountain Court by A. K. Mulford (3.5 stars) – I’m trying to read more romantasy in 2024, and this first-in-series novel has been on my radar for awhile. I overall enjoyed the plot and characters, but wished the writing had been stronger; I’m undecided as to whether I’ll continue in this series, because I am interested in the main couple featured in book 2.

That’s a wrap on the second-to-last reading month of the year! I managed to read 2 ARCs and 2 books in the 5-star range this month, as well as what I’m pretty sure will be the longest book I’ve read in 2023. Let’s get into it.

Stats

Total books read: 9

#readmyowndamnbooks: 6

ARCs: 2

The Last Tale of the Flower Bride by Roshani Chokshi (4.5 stars) – The Last Tale of the Flower Bride is the perfect book for fans of fairytale retellings, lyrical writing, and settings heavy with atmosphere. Dual POVs center around Indigo, a mysterious woman with familial wealth, a house filled with treasures, and a penchant for the fantastical. Through the perspectives of her new husband struggling with his promises not to investigate her secrets in the present timeline, and her best friend from childhood being drawn into Indigo’s world in the past, we delve into the intrigue surrounding this almost mythical figure. It has aspects of mystery, fabulism, and a coming-of-age story. I didn’t expect to love this one as much as I did, and I look forward to Roshani Chokshi’s next foray into adult lit.

La Petite Mort by Olivie Blake (4.5 stars) -I enjoyed the heck out of La Petite Mort, a short novel by Olivie Blake. It would have been difficult for someone with my reading taste to dislike it, since it features:
-The history and local mythology of a New Orleans setting
-A fish-out-of-water but nevertheless badass bi protagonist
-A variety of supernatural creatures, notably vampires
-A love triangle that’s really more of a manipulation triangle, and/or an enemies triangle
Anyways, if you enjoy Olivie Blake and/or if any of the above appeals to you, this is a great one-sitting read (which I did not read in one sitting, I just think that would be fun).

Iron Flame by Rebecca Yarros (4 stars) – I had a lot of fun reading this sequel to Fourth Wing (making so I did sure quickly to avoid spoilers), although I didn’t feel that the pacing was on par with its predecessor. I still really enjoyed the climactic ending and abundance of action.

10 Things That Never Happened by Alexis Hall (4 stars) (ALC) – I think the cover of this contemporary romance could be better served by adding even a few Christmas lights, as it’s very much a holiday romance and this wasn’t really depicted at all. It’s extremely grumpy/sunshine and features the manager of a Bed, Bath, & Beyond-esque store faking amnesia in an attempt to keep his boss from firing him and his entire store’s staff. The conceit is silly, but the emotional development that both the protagonist and his love interest go through is heartfelt, especially with regard to the boss’s strained relationships with his family and the protagonist’s loneliness. There’s also the great humor you expect from Alexis Hall, with absurd moments and witty dialogue. I received an advanced listener copy of the audiobook of 10 Things That Never Happened from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Starling House by Alix E. Harrow (3.5 stars) – I’ve had mixed results with Harrow’s books in the past; I was disappointed by The Ten Thousand Doors of January but enjoyed her fairytale retelling novellas. Starling House felt quite different than either of those, and I thought that many aspects of it were really strong. I loved the “unlikable” main character, off-the-beaten-path setting, and mysterious folklore aspects, although I really could have done without the romance.

Keeper of Enchanted Rooms by Charlie N. Holmberg (3.5 stars) – This historical fantasy was a bit of a spontaneous choice for me to pick up this month, and I found it to be an overall cozy and enjoyable audiobook experience. I could have done without the romance, which I didn’t realize would be such a large part of the novel, but I enjoyed the unconventionally haunted house and found family aspects.

The Long Game by Elena Armas (3.5 stars) (eARC) – I found Armas’s third contemporary romance to be my least favorite of hers so far, and also the least fun to read. It’s heavier in subject matter, which I don’t usually mind, but the two main characters were both pretty joyless people and that made reading about their romance less entertaining. It was pitched as grumpy/grumpy rather than grumpy/sunshine, but the two came across as more rude and immature than anything else, so much so that I wasn’t sure I was rooting for them to get together. There are moments of cuteness and levity; I liked the parts about the girls’ soccer team, and the small town’s mayor seems like she could be an interesting main character in a spinoff novel, but it was overall a bit too solemn for what I was looking for in a romance. I received an eARC of The Long Game from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I Want to Die But I Want to Eat Tteokbokki by Baek Se-Hee (3.5 stars) – I wished this nonfiction book, which features transcripts between the author and her therapist, had been longer and more fully realized; it had some really strong moments but in my opinion needed more development.

Number Go Up: Inside Crypto’s Wild Rise and Staggering Fall by Zeke Faux (3 stars) – Parts of this were interesting, but if you’re looking to read a great book about the scams inherent in the crypto world, I’d instead recommend Easy Money by Ben McKenzie and Jacob Silverman. I just didn’t find Number Go Up to be as compelling or interestingly written as that one.

Yes, I already posted my October wrap-up, but that doesn’t mean I forgot about September!

Stats

Total books read: 9

#readmyowndamnbooks: 5

Novellas: 2

The Atlas Paradox by Olivie Blake (5 stars) – This series is all about characters and vibes, and I’m relieved that I loved this second installment almost as much as the first. It made me extremely excited for The Atlas Complex, which comes out in January.

Such Sharp Teeth by Rachel Harrison (4.5 stars) – Is this my new favorite Rachel Harrison book?? It’s hard to decide, because I’ve loved everything I’ve read from her, but Such Sharp Teeth is definitely one of her strongest. Werewolf transformation is used to explore past trauma and the body horror aspects of womanhood, and it does very well exploring family and friend dynamics alongside and interwoven with its supernatural plotline. Really, really well done.

The Two Doctors Gorski by Isaac Fellman (4 stars) – I’ll pick up almost anything categorized as dark academia, and this novella was no different. It definitely took a different turn than I was expecting, which I appreciated, and had a very interesting premise and message.

House of Hunger by Alexis Henderson (4 stars) – I think I may have anticipated a more subtle Gothic story with this one, but it’s definitively horror, and sometimes quite graphic. I liked our indomitable protagonist and the author’s imaginative take on the Blood Countess story.

The Pallbearers Club by Paul Tremblay (4 stars) – I would say that this book isn’t my typical genre, but I do gravitate overall to books that sound strange, so maybe it is. The audio performance of this one is very well done and manages to capture the spirit of two narrators who disagree over the unfolding of events; it’s an atmospheric fall read that avoids overt gore but still manages to be subtly creepy.

Codename Charming by Lucy Parker (3.5 stars) – I wasn’t wowed by this follow-up to Battle Royal in the Palace Insiders series. The romance between an assistant to the royal family and a bodyguard was cute, but I wasn’t as captivated by these leads as I have been by some of Parker’s past protagonists.

What the Hex by Alexis Daria (3.5 stars) – A cute, witchy, rivals-to-lovers romance novella set on a hidden island populated by magical families and set during a wedding uniting two of them. Our main characters, the Maid of Honor and Best Man, need to work together to save the wedding and free their families from an unexpected curse; hijinks and chemistry ensue. This was a fun audio listen for Halloween season.

Once Upon a Broken Heart by Stephanie Garber (3 stars) – This YA romantasy trilogy is extremely popular on BookTok, so I wanted to give it a try; I did find the main characters interesting, but I wasn’t a huge fan of the writing style. I’m not sure yet if I’ll continue to the sequel.

None of This is True by Lisa Jewell (3 stars) – I picked up this thriller for book club, and although the premise sounded really interesting and I liked the multi-format audio performance, the actual plot was lackluster for me.

In July, I went to France for a wedding, and then went on a group trip through Scandinavia that I absolutely loved. I did some travel reading and ended up with a mood-read as well. I may not have found any new 5-star reads, but I certainly still picked up some great ones. Let’s get into the stats!

Stats

Total books read: 9

#readmyowndamnbooks: 6

Re-reads: 1

Reviews

The Love Hypothesis by Ali Hazelwood (5 stars) (re-read) – Due to moving stress, I found myself in need of a comforting re-read with a guaranteed HEA, and literally binge-read this book in a single day. From my initial review: I honestly just enjoyed the crap out of this book–it’s grumpy/sunshine fake dating in an academia setting, based on Star Wars fanfiction, and it’s extremely sweet and also very funny. It’s a book that I can see myself re-reading when I’m in a bad mood, and if you’re a romance fan, I definitely recommend picking it up!

Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros (4 stars) – Ok, so this book is everywhere right now, so I’m not going to do a long-winded review. This book has a lot in common with other popular fantasy/romance books, and it still manages to be a fast-paced and extremely entertaining read despite reminding me of several other series. It’s compelling, it’s action-packed, it’s got a good romance, and it made me like dragons more than I normally do.

Fairytales of the Macabre by Olivie Blake (4 stars) – I’m in my Olivie Blake era and I never want to leave. I found Blake’s indie-published trilogy of short story collections on Amazon soon before it was announced that they’re being edited and combined into a single collection for a mainstream publisher, and I’m glad to have found them first in their original and complete forms. This was a solid collection of dark fairytale retellings with unexpected twists, and I look forward to the next two in this series.

My Mechanical Romance by Alexene Farol Follmuth (4 stars) – This is written under beloved adult fantasy author Olivie Blake’s real name (Blake is a pen name), under which she writes YA. I knew already that I loved her adult work (The Atlas Six was stellar) and I ended up loving her take on YA as well. This book deals heavily with women in STEM, a topic close to my heart, and included well-developed friendships and romances as well. I’ll continue picking up lots from this author.

Under a White Sky by Elizabeth Kolbert (4 stars) – Kolbert’s writing about the environment and climate change research is interesting and informative; I also enjoyed her book The Sixth Extinction. The audio narration was well done also.

Alexandra Petri’s U.S. History: Important American Documents I Made Up by Alexandra Petri (3.5 stars) – This was a bit underwhelming for me; my expectations may have been too high. I loved the concept of the premise (humorous takes on U.S. history) but didn’t find the execution as funny as I wanted it to be. It was still a fun read, but not a laugh-out-loud one.

Thank You for Listening by Julia Whelan (3.5 stars) – I liked the idea of a book about an audio narrator written and narrated by an audio narrator probably a bit more than the actual storyline of this book. I enjoyed the family and friendship dynamics, as well as the main character’s journey, but didn’t vibe with the romance. I also don’t really think this should have been marketed as romance, as the book would have worked just fine without that element.

For Butter or Worse by Erin La Rosa (3.5 stars) – A food-focused contemporary romance about rival chefs fake dating that was fun but didn’t necessarily blow me away.

The Woman Who Fooled by World by Beau Donelly and Nick Toscano (3 stars) – I first heard about Instagram scammer Belle Gibson on the Maintenance Phase podcast, and picked up this audiobook for an easy nonfiction read. It wasn’t as interesting as I was hoping.

My belated June post is here! I focused a lot of my reading on LGBTQIA+ reads for Pride month, listened to several nonfiction reads, and read a pick for my book club. Let’s get into it!

Stats

Total books read: 9

LGBTQIA+ books: 5

#readmyowndamnbooks: 4

Reviews

Poverty, by America by Matthew Desmond (5 stars) – I felt like I learned a lot from this very short and effective audiobook. I think there’s still a lot for me to learn on this topic, but this was informative as well as a call to action, and I’d highly recommend it.

Imogen, Obviously by Becky Albertalli (4.25 stars) – My YA reads keep knocking it out of the park in 2023! I’ve never read Becky Albertalli before but follow her on Instagram, and so I’ve been eyeing her newest release for so long that I eventually pre-ordered the audiobook. And I’m so glad I did! This book is so sweet and reads so authentic (I do know that Albertalli based some of it on her personal experiences, but within a YA lens), and it’s full of well-developed and interesting side characters that I enjoyed spending time with. The friendships and family relationships are just as important as the central romance, and it’s really a book about Imogen learning about herself and her bisexuality. This bi reader gives it a definite recommendation!

The Foxglove King by Hannah Whitten (4 stars) – I really enjoyed this macabre fantasy featuring death magic, court politics, spying, mystery, and a love triangle. Its sequel, The Hemlock Queen, will be out next year.

Our Wives Under the Sea by Julia Armfield (4 stars) – A dreamlike fabulist short novel told in dual perspectives, one of which created fascinating tension and the other frustratingly stagnant. I enjoyed the book’s conclusion, but I thought it could have been condensed to be more effective.

The Fiancee Farce by Alexandria Bellefleur (4 stars) – One of my favorite contemporary romances of the year! In addition to a gorgeous cover, I really enjoyed the fake engagement premise and loved both of our main characters, as well as their dynamic with one another. Alexandria Bellefleur’s writing continues to work really well for me, and I look forward to her next release.

Forget Me Not by Alyson Derrick (4 stars) – This YA contemporary romance featured amnesia, which I wasn’t sure how I’d feel about, but I like the way the story was handled and the dynamic between the two main characters. I’m having great luck with YA in 2023.

In Defense of Witches: The Legacy of the Witch Hunts and Why Women Are Still On Trial by Mona Chollet (4 stars) – An informative manifesto about the historical mistreatment of women and how it continues in society today. I thought this was very well done, but it did drag for me through the last part.

The Guncle by Steven Rowley (3.5 stars) – I read this one for my book club, and found it at times sweet and at others too saccharine for my taste. It was a fairly entertaining audiobook, but a bit too cute for me to pick up if it hadn’t been a club pick.

Hey, Hun: Sales, Sisterhood, Supremacy, and the Other Lies Behind Multilevel Marketing by Emily Lynn Paulson (3 stars) – I’m very interested in learning more about the scams and scandals of MLMs, particularly after watching the documentary LuLaRich, but this memoir was just OK for me.

Stats

Total books read: 9

2023 releases: 3

#readmyowndamnbooks: 3

Babel by R. F. Kuang (5 stars) – I started reading Babel at the very beginning of the year, and this weekend I finally finished it! Sometimes when I’m really loving a book, I read it extremely slowly, until I get to a certain threshold and need to devour it. I knew when I started it that Babel would be a 5 star read for me (and all of the glowing reviews were further clues in that direction) but it’s hard to prepare yourself for a book this devastatingly powerful. I’ll be thinking about this one for a long, long time.

Magic Tides by Ilona Andrews (4.5 stars) – Ilona Andrews is bringing joy to the world by coming out with new novellas starring Kate Daniels, heroine of their 10-book series (and my favorite UF series of all time) that take place after the end of book 10. I knew I’d love this book, but it was actually even better than I expected, possibly because I love Kate and all of the side characters so much. This was a great first-in-series/follow-up-to-series which made me immediately wish the next book was out. Luckily, it’s out in June!

The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches by Sangu Mandanna (4 stars) – Contemporary paranormal romances have been a mixed bag for me, so I was initially skeptical of this one until a friend convinced me to give it a try. And it was extremely cute! All of the side characters were delightful, and it was a very happy book, which is very much needed sometimes.

Wordslut: A Feminist Guide to Taking Back the English Language by Amanda Montell (4 stars) – A nonfiction book that was both interesting and informative that I’d recommend to readers of feminist works who are also interested in history and etymology.

If Only You by Chloe Liese (4 stars) – This is the 6th book in Liese’s contemporary romance Bergman Brothers series, but it’s only my second read in the series since I’m approaching it very out of order. I previously loved her modern Shakespeare retelling Two Wrongs Make a Right and enjoyed her Christmas novella The Mistletoe Motive, so now I’m jumping into her longest-running series. I’m not usually interested in sports romances, but Liese’s focus is much more centered around emotional growth and mental health, which keeps me coming back to her work. Ziggy is a great main character to root for, and I enjoyed both the romance and Liese’s writing.

Secretly Yours by Tessa Bailey (4 stars) – I’ve gone back and forth a lot about Tessa Bailey on this blog; Secretly Yours was one of hers that worked for me. It’s cute and enjoyable, although I did want the main characters to communicate more. I do plan to pick up its follow-up, Unfortunately Yours, featuring side characters introduced in this one.

Sweep of the Heart by Ilona Andrews (4 stars) – After Magic Tides, I needed more Ilona Andrews in my life, so I picked up their 2022 scifi release that features an alien version of The Bachelor but to pick a consort for the ruler of a bunch of planets. It was a really fun read, even if this isn’t my favorite series of theirs.

Book of Night by Holly Black (4 stars) – I wasn’t a huge fan of Holly Black’s Cruel Prince trilogy (I know, don’t hate me) but I enjoyed some of her earlier work enough to pick up her adult debut, Book of Night. I saw it getting so many negative reviews from fans of her YA that I wondered if, conversely, I might like it, and that instinct seems to have been correct. It’s a contemporary fantasy set in Western Massachusetts about 25 years after the art of shadow magic has been introduced to the world, and our morally grey protagonist is just trying to take care of herself and her sister while staying distant from her former life of crime. But when a man is murdered over a stolen book, she gets drawn into a mystery. The writing is skillful and I was a fan of Charlie, our “unlikable” protagonist, that we get to know both through her present as a bartender and her past getting drawn into becoming a thief and con artist due to a difficult childhood.

The Pisces by Melissa Broder (3 stars) – A disappointment after I enjoyed/was impressed by her sophomore novel Milk Fed. This just didn’t feel interesting or innovative enough for me despite the fact that one of the main characters is a merman.