I’m super happy with how this graphic turned out. I guess I’m getting better at Procreate!
It’s that time of year again, where I attempt to do my favorite annual reading challenge. I set certain books for just this challenge. I’ve discovered so many of my favorite series with this challenge!
NETGALLEY
Once More Upon a Time by Roshani Chokshi What Once Was Mine by Liz Braswell Lakesedge by Lyndall Clipstone The Nature of Witches by Rachel Griffin Foretold by Violet Lumani How Witchcraft Saved My Life by Vincent Higginbotham
SCRIBD
Ghost Wood Song by Erica Waters Poisoned by Jennifer Donnelly The Girl and the Ghost by Hanna Alkaf Goosebumps #16: The Scarecrow Walks at Midnight by RL Stine The Night Garden by Polly Horvath Cinders & Sparrows by Stefan Bachmann The Queen Underneath by Stacey Filak
TBR
Once Upon a Broken Heart by Stephanie Garber The Toy Makers by Robert Dinsdale Curses by Lish McBride Gold Spun by Brandil June Curse of the Wolf King by Tessonia Odette A Curse So Dark and Lonely by Brigid Kemmerer The Bone Houses by Emily Lloyd Jones Midnight Sun by Stephanie Meyer There Will Come a Darkness by Katy Rose Pool All The Stars and Teeth by Adalyn Grace
I’m obviously not going to finish this entire list, especially considering how busy my October already is with my shop, doing blogtober, doing drawing prompts and with my trip coming up later this month! But I do want to get through as many as I can and I’m even hoping to find time on my trip to read in the parks like I use to! This is basically a list to remind me of what books I need to get to lol. I took such a long break from reading that I feel super behind; but it’s hard to find time to read when you’re watching a toddler. I can barely find time to sleep (it’s 340am right now and I’m trying to finish this post).
I thought of finishing The House of Salt and Sorrow but it got really creepy, so I shut it and didn’t pick it back up after that lol. Not sure if I’ll ever finish it, but I really want to!
What are some of the reads you’re hoping to get to this spooky szn?
I always seem to do really well with my reading challenge in January. It’s like, yes. A brand new start. So excited. So inspired! So I’m not even going to say how happy/excited I am because who knows what’ll happen next month lol.
Okay, this book took me by surprise. I LOVE Middle Grade books because I always feel like they pack such a hard punch when they have some sort of meaning or lesson attached. And when you’re really not in the mood for a romantic element in a book, MG is the way to go.
I had put this down when it was first released because I was being a wimp and getting scared. Yo, there’s nothing SCARY about this book. Every element that is suppose to be creepy, I mean is, but I found it all to be so much more fascinating. I wanted to know more about Cassy and why she can do what she does. And how does it all work. And I’m still trying to figure out if her parents actually see/believe in ghosts…. or? I had thought to binge this series but the last book doesn’t come out until I think March. And yes, I pre-ordered the OwlCrate exclusive! Even though I don’t own the other 2 in physical form but that is OKAY.
There’s just so much I could gush about when it comes to this book but I linked my review instead!
| The Prince and the Troll by Rainbow Rowell
Unpopular opinion but… for some reason it bothers me when there’s real life things in books or tv shows. By “real life things” I mean brand name things. I don’t know if I’ll formally review t’his book or series because it just keeps getting worse with each book. I was a bit disappointed with this one because Rainbow Rowell, hello! And because for literally the entire book up until the last 2 pages, NOTHING MAKES SENSE. The ending itself didn’t make sense either. NOTHING. MADE. SENSE. OMG.
The ending was equivalent to when you’re in bed with someone and you’re really close to an orgasm and they’re like “yeah no, let’s switch” and you’re left feeling super confused, a little angry and totally unsatisfied. I literally can’t think of another example to explain how this book made me feel.
| Unmade by Sarah Rees Brennan
I DID IT. AFTER LIKE 8 YEARS I FINALLY FINISHED THE SERIES. Because my stubborn ass just couldn’t cope with the fact I’d have to say goodbye to Kami, Ash and JARED. So I figured if I held off on this book, they could (somehow) live forever… floating around somewhere in my mind. I have no idea ok. But I just wasn’t ready.
And it turns out, you shouldn’t wait that look to finish a series you loved. Because 1) your tastes in genres/book may have changed 2) you’ll probably forget what the heck even happened in the prior books and 3) SOMETHING SO TRAGIC COULD HAPPEN THAT YOU DONT KNOW HOW TO FEEL ANYMORE. I took like a week off after reading a particular part that just… HOW COULD YOU SARAH, SERIOUSLY?!?!?!
I also found myself rooting for Ash. Which… was weird. Also, I have questions. How did people not like over throw Rob? Just for like fun? I haven’t written a review for this yet but I think it might be time to.
Ya’ll I don’t know what was happening here but can you say ~ sexual tension ~? I really need to read the rest of this mini series thing they’re doing. Also, a part of this book creeped me out more than any part in City of Ghosts did.
| Hazel and Gray by Nic Stone
Guys, I literally don’t even want to talk about how disappointing this book was.
| The Princess Games by Soman Chainani
At this point I’m ready to just DNF the rest of the series. Idc if I just wanted to get to the last book. The thing is, these don’t even have an order. They all read like solo book because NONE OF THE DAMN THEMES MAKE ANY DAMN SENSE.
THIS. BOOK. WAS. WTF. LEGIT IDK WHAT ELSE TO SAY EXCEPT WHAT IN THE ACTUAL FUCK?!
My review of this book: JUST NO.
| Kawaii Kitties
This is the second art book I’ve requested from NetGalley and they’ve both been super cute, super helpful and super easy to understand. I did pre-order this because I need it in my collection that is just now starting. With this book.
| Love, Almost by Hayley Doyle
I have mixed feelings about this book; on one hand I remember when I was 5 months in with my ex husband. He proposed somewhere in there at Disneyland and I remember feeling like this is my forever and I mean he was, until we were 30. I remember that the thought of him dying legit killed me inside. It was a fear we both had of each other. Last I talked to him years ago he said he still checks my social media to make sure I’m still alive. Not sure if he still does but I gotta admit hearing that put me off and kinda irritated me.
Learning to live without someone that you feel like your life JUST began with can be just as heartbreaking as living a whole lifetime with them. While my ex husband didn’t die, the him I knew and loved did. And sometimes it’s still hard for me to remember I don’t know who he is now, and he doesn’t know who I am. It’s hard to remember that I have memories he wasn’t there for. It’s such a incomplete feeling almost. This book definitely triggered those memories for me.
BEST READ: City of Ghosts
LEAST FAV READ: Hazel and Gray // The Princess Games
What was your favorite read of January or what are you looking forward to reading in next month?
This post contains affiliate links used to support this blog, my daughters snack problem and coffee for one tired mama.
October is such a weird month for me this year; I’m trying to get back into the swing of the things I usually do since my meds allow me to think more clearly and more for myself. But with that I’m so overwhelmed with how much I’ve missed through out the last few years.
Healing is a journey, not a destination.
Something I try to remind myself whenever I feel myself “disappointed” with my lack of progress. But I’m starting to rebuild things, retry things and reapply for things. One being something that’s always been super important to me, my October Reading Challenge.
And tbh, writing this is a challenge all on it’s own with the baby trying to get on my lap then off my lap then on… CHILD I’M WRITING lol. My ORC has always been important to me because it’s the one month of the year I force myself to read all my “scarier” books. I’m such a wuss and anxiety/intrusive thoughts literally don’t make it any better but I LOVE reading scary/suspenseful books! I always have! I grew up reading Fear Street ONLY. And of alllll the books in that 90’s series, there was only one scary part I remember. It was one of the cheerleader series books; some cheerleaders sister was taking a shower and a ghost or whatever had turned her shower water too hot and killed her. As an adult now I have so many questions at how that was possible. But as a kid, I was freaked out lol.
I’ve found my favorite reads through this challenge over the years including Unspoken by Sarah Rees Brennan, Hex Hall by Rachel Hawkins, and Some Quiet Place by Kelsey Sutton and a ton of books I thought would be scary but I completely enjoyed like Amber House or The Ghost House or Vines.
I stumbled on this challenge while watching an OwlcrateJR YouTube video for the month of March where they talked about the middle grade titles they hoped to read in March and I thought it was an awesome idea to join in. My TBR is overflowing with middle grade titles I have yet to get around to!
Some of the titles will be from OwlcrateJR, and others will be ones that I’ve been meaning to get around to. I don’t exactly hope to read all of these titles, but at least half would be ideal!
A few Kindle reads I hope to get to; Breadcrumbsis a re-read but it’s one of my favs!
On Audible I’m aiming for The Land of Stories and An Enchantment of Ravensis one I really wanna get to! Does anyone else worry they’ll get lost while listening to an audiobook? I always worry about that but I really wanna get some of my Audible TBR done and I figured this would be the perfect chance to do just that!
Are you participating in Middle Grade March? What are some titles you hope to tackle?
