Showing posts with label monthly wrap-up. Show all posts
Showing posts with label monthly wrap-up. Show all posts

Thursday, June 4, 2026

Month in Review: May 2026

 

I took this picture in New Zealand!

Welcome to June, everyone! I can't believe we're almost halfway through the year, but I feel like that's how most of us probably feel, haha. Things have been extra busy and all I really want to do is catch up on all my reading, so maybe (fingers crossed) this summer I'll have some extra time to read. I hope you're all able to find some time to read or do whatever fun things you like to do!

In personal news, May was really busy! My husband and I took a trip to New Zealand, which I have to say is probably one of the most beautiful places we've ever been and I already want to go back. We of course visited some Lord of the Rings filming locations (how could we not!? The perk there is that many of those locations are also some incredible spots on their own) as well as many other gorgeous locations. We got to go stargazing one night, which was one of the coolest experiences because I've never really gotten to see such clear night skies with low light pollution, and apparently since only 10% of the world's population lives in the Southern Hemisphere, even less ever have a chance to see some of those skies, so it felt very special. Outside of that, I've just been busy working and trying to keep up with all my classes (and I can finally see the end of the tunnel because they are all finishing up in the next couple weeks, hooray!). 

In reading news, I read much more than I expected to, and I read things I didn't really plan to or expect to, but that's the life of a mood reader sometimes, haha. It was honestly a bit of a weird reading month overall, but sometimes I think those just happen. I also read a lot more ebooks than usual, largely because of traveling and because it's easier to get those than run to my library when I'm busy. I also did not keep up the great reviewing streak I had from April and was disappointed to write very few reviews in May, but I have a lot to make up for that in June. Now that I'm back and getting back into the swing of things, I have quite the schedule lined up for ARCs and review requests, so I'm excited for all of June's reads!

How was your May and what books have you been reading? How's the new year been? Any reading-related goals?  Let me know how your month was below and what you've been reading!
   

# books read: 13


Abyss by Nicholas Binge
Source: NetGalley | Format: eARC
Thoughts: I had a really fun time with this workplace horror of sorts. I loved the mysterious atmosphere Binge built and it makes me want to read his other work even more now. 

Spread Me by Sarah Gailey
Source: Library | Format: Audiobook
Thoughts: This was weird. I'm not sure if I liked it or not, but it was certainly something.

The Salt Grows Heavy by Cassandra Khaw
Source: Library | Format: Ebook
Thoughts: I swore I would never read another Cassandra Khaw book because of how much I've disliked two of her other books, and yet... I actually didn't dislike this one that much? I actually found it quite an interesting concept and it's probably (easily) the best of her books that I've read. I'm still not sure her writing is for me, but this was definitely a moderately pleasant surprise.

The Wreck of the Mentor: A True Story of Death, Despair, and Deliverance in the Age of Sail by Eric Jay Dolin
Source: NetGalley | Format: eARC
Thoughts: I will also be up for a nonfiction shipwreck story, and this one was so fascinating. My review for it is already up if you want to check it out (linked below)!


Convenience Store Woman by Sayaka Murata
Source: Library | Format: Ebook
Thoughts: This has been on my TBR for so long and I'm so glad I finally read it. Murata has a very subtly weird style that worked so well, and while I don't think this is for everyone, it was definitely a worthwhile read.

Life Ceremony by Sayaka Murata
Source: Library | Format: Ebook
Thoughts: And after Convenience Store Woman, I decided to try more of Murata's work and this collection of stories was much, much weirder. Also a bit stomach-churning at time. But honestly, interesting concepts and I think it's worth a weird if you like this style of writing and some really, really odd stuff.

The Girl from the Other Side: Siuil, A Run, Vol. 2 by Nagabe
Source: Library | Format: Ebook
Thoughts: I'm still not 100% sure how I feel about this series, but I am loving the art and the premise is intriguing, so I think I'm enjoying it overall! 

The Girl from the Other Side: Siuil, A Run, Vol. 3 by Nagabe
Source: Library | Format: Ebook
Thoughts: And onto the next one in this series and it's definitely a bit slow going, but I'm still intrigued so I will be continuing.


Love Shots by Travis M. Riddle
Source: Author | Format: Ebook
Thoughts: I'm always excited to read more from Travis M. Riddle and I had such a fun time with this satirical thriller! My review for this one is linked below if you want to check it out!

Nine Goblins by T. Kingfisher
Source: Library | Format: Ebook
Thoughts: I was so curious about this older release of Kingfisher's and while I think it was very clever and cute, I'm not sure it's going to be one of my favorites from Kingfisher. 

Stay for a Spell by Amy Coombe
Source: Owned | Format: Hardcover
Thoughts: This isn't something that I would necessarily typically pick up, but I chose to read it as my bedtime read and it was honestly a perfect pick for that. It very much felt like a modern day fairy tale of sorts.


Mushishi, Vol. 1 by Yuki Urushibara
Source: Library | Format: Ebook
Thoughts: This was quite odd, but I think I enjoyed it--I thought the general concepts explored were pretty interesting and appreciated the creativity.

The Village Beyond the Mist by Sachiko Kashiwaba
Source: Library | Format: Audiobook
Thoughts: This was a really cute middle grade story. I found the first half much stronger than the latter half, but it's still a really sweet book overall.

To-Be-Finished:
None! (that I can recall...)

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Saturday, April 4, 2026

Month in Review: March 2026

 

Aaaand it's April! How are we holding up so far this year? I hope you're all doing well and hanging in there, finding some joy in your daily life, and reading incredible books. This year has been crazy hectic and turbulent for me for so many reasons and it sounds like a lot of people I know have been having some wild years as well, so I hope if your year has been crazy that it's in a good (or at least neutral!) way. And uh, what was up with those heat waves here in SoCal? I did not want 90 degree weather in March, haha. 

In personal news.. I started a new job in March! Up until now, I've been doing a lot of contract/part-time work so my hours were always pretty random or more "work whenever to get the work done," so I'm now on regular full time business hours (but still fully remote, so I'm extremely grateful for that!) and I'm just getting used to that. It is nice not having to juggle a million different things (though I am still doing some contract work on the side right now so it's a little hectic still, haha). But I'm enjoying the work so far, my coworkers have been lovely, and it's a weight off my shoulders to finally have some consistent, reliable work for now.
But, admittedly, I have been struggling a tiny bit with all the work plus some community college courses (I'm taking five--yes, five--classes.... all of which I signed up for before I got the new job, and let's just say I wouldn't have done all of them if I'd known, lol, but we're trying our best here since we're past the refund drop date) and still trying to make time for reading and blogging... but I am nothing if not stubborn and determined (to my detriment, perhaps), so we're going to keep trying to keep up, haha. Hopefully in a couple months things will calm down again--fingers crossed, at least. :)

In reading news,  I read more than I expected! I finally decided to start catching back up on the Wayward Children series, so you'll see that reflected below with books #8-10, and I also managed a re-read of The Magicians by Lev Grossman because I've just been so curious to see how I feel about it now, since I first read it over a decade ago (I can't be that old!) and I want to finally finish the trilogy, and I think many of my opinions are the same, but maybe some are different. I don't think I read any five star books in March, but April is already looking promising, so I'm not going to hold too much weight to that, haha. I also managed to get more reviews up, and I'm hoping to maintain that momentum in April. :) Now I just need to catch up on everyone else's blogs!

How was your March and what books have you been reading? How's the new year been? Any reading-related goals?  Let me know how your month was below and what you've been reading!
   

# books read: 13
(I feel like this is really more like 11 since I just had a little bit left to finish, but the total count is 13, so for accurate tracking, I'm leaving it there.)


Crawlspace by Adam Christopher
Source: Publisher | Format: Physical ARC
Thoughts: This was overall a quite disappointing read. My review is already up, so be sure to take a look if you want to know more of my thoughts.

No Man's Land by Richard K. Morgan
Source: Publisher | Format: Physical ARC
Thoughts: This was an interesting one and I generally had fun with it. Reminds me a bit of the 'urban fantasy male protagonist' style a la Dresden Files or The Fetch Phillips Archives (though I much prefer the latter).

Lucien by J.R. Thornton
Source: Publisher | Format: Physical ARC
Thoughts: This was a very solid 'dark' academia book (I put dark in single quotes because I'm not really sure I'd consider it that, but it seems to be the catchall these days) that didn't 'wow' me, but also wasn't a bad book at all. My review for this one is also up!

Lost in the Moment and Found (Wayward Children #8) by Seanan McGuire
Source: Library | Format: Ebook
Thoughts: I've been meaning to catch up on this series since, well, since whenever this book came out! I'm glad to finally be all caught up, but I definitely find this series incredibly hit or miss for me these days. This one was very interesting, and I liked exploring the shop and story with Antsy.

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Mislaid in Parts Half-Known (Wayward Children #9) by Seanan McGuire
Source: Library | Format: Ebook
Thoughts: This one was a bit hit or miss for me in parts, I found the pacing a bit off. 

Adrift in Currents Clean and Clear (Wayward Children #10) by Seanan McGuire
Source: Library | Format: Audiobook
Thoughts: I wanted to like this one more than I did. The story was interesting, but I just wasn't connecting with it for some reason.

The Geomagician by Jennifer Mandula
Source: NetGalley | Format: eARC
Thoughts: My review for this one is also already up. I enjoyed some aspects of it, but it wasn't quite what I was expecting/hoping for and had some things I didn't love. Still, I think many will enjoy this one.

The Magicians (The Magicians #1) by Lev Grossman (re-read)
Source: Owned | Format: Hardcover
Thoughts: Oh boy was this an interesting re-read! I remembered that I didn't love Quentin, but couldn't remember why... until we got far enough into the book that I was like "ah, yes, there we are. Quentin does still suck." Still, I actually think this book is brilliant in its own right. It feels so purposefully frustrating and odd and familiar yet unfamiliar and I find that so compelling. I still completely understand why it's so divisive and why I probably never made it past the second book when I first read them, but it also feels so... important, to me? Like it feels like an important part of fantasy culture and history and development in weird ways that I won't get into here, but perhaps I'm just reading too much into it. Regardless, we are on to the next one!

The Feather Wars: And the Great Crusade to Save America's Birds by James H. McCommons
Source: NetGalley | Format: eARC
Thoughts: This was a fascinating nonfiction read about the history of bird populations in America and I definitely recommend it! My review for this is already up, too. 

An Arcane Study of Stars by Sydney J. Shields
Source: Publisher | Format: Physical ARC
Thoughts: Oh man, this book was... something. My review will be up this month to line up with its release. It was so promising yet also so... odd. It started off mostly strong, but then took some turns. I have a lot of thoughts!

Rise of the Evening Star (Fablehaven #2) by Brandon Mull
Source: Owned | Format: Hardcover
Thoughts: Finally got to continue this series and I'm still just so unsure of it sometimes, haha. Half of me absolutely loves it and I'm captivated by how dark it seems, but then half of me feels like some things are just not quite right. But regardless, I love the imagination in this series and will likely continue because I can't say no to a fascinating world and premise. 

The Trident and the Pearl by Sarah K.L. Wilson
Source: Publisher | Format: Physical ARC
Thoughts: This is another one of those that started off well, but then I think I just got a bit bored? 

Agnes Aubert's Mystical Cat Shelter by Heather Fawcett
Source: NetGalley | Format: eARC
Thoughts: To my immense disappointment, I just did not connect with this book very much. I really wanted to love it, but something just wasn't working for me. Don't you hate it when you want to love a book and don't? (And especially when everyone else seems to have had such a fun time with it!)

To-Be-Finished:
None that I can remember!
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Sunday, February 8, 2026

Month in Review: January 2026


January continues to earn its reputation as the longest month of year, haha. I might be in the minority, but I don't typically mind it because I feel like it gives me plenty of time to adapt to a new year... but maybe that's just me. This post is up a bit later than I intended, but this past week has just been hectic as hell so I'm glad I'm getting it up at all. I have felt very fortunate to live in Southern California this month as I've seen the crazy winter storms hit so many places throughout the country, so I hope if you are somewhere caught up in all of that that you are safe and doing well!

I also posted my Best Books of 2025 and my 2025 Reading Stats posts if you missed those!

In personal news.. January has been... a lot. The good news is that I started a new part-time job and I still have a couple interviews and leads, so fingers crossed things end up going well and work out in whatever way they are meant to. There's also some less fun personal things that have happened in my life in January, but let's just focus on the positive, haha. 

In reading news, it was a pretty decent reading month. I started out strong, but then fizzled out a bit as the month got crazier. Still, I'm not complaining! I read some great books this and I don't think I really disliked any, so that's always a plus for me. I posted about a review a week which is less than I meant to, but I'm trying to be realistic about what I can feasibly get up right now, haha, so I'm going to just accept it and keep trying to improve each month. 

How was your January and what books have you been reading? How's the new year been? Any reading-related goals?  Let me know how your month was below and what you've been reading!
   

# books read: 11


The Place Where They Buried Your Heart by Christina Henry
Source: Owned | Format: Hardcover
Thoughts: I finally got around to this one and really enjoyed it! I appreciated how unique it felt for a haunted house type of story. 

Native America: The Story of the First Peoples by Kenneth L. Feder
Source: NetGalley | Format: Audiobook
Thoughts: This is a fantastic overview of the history Native American peoples and I thought the author did an incredible job of explaining things clearly and in a very readable manner. It has more of an introductory vibe to me, so if you're new to learning about Native American history, this is a great place to start. 

The Temple of Fortuna by Elodie Harper
Source: Owned | Format: Hardcover
Thoughts: I'm not sure why it's taken me so long to finally finish this trilogy, but I'm so glad I finally did because it was a very solid ending to a fantastic trilogy. 

Patchwork Dolls by Ysabelle Cheung
Source: Publisher | Format: Physical ARC
Thoughts: This was an incredibly thought-provoking and weird (good weird!) collection of stories and my review for it will be up next week!


Midnight in Chernobyl by Adam Higginbotham
Source: Library | Format: Audiobook
Thoughts: For some reason, I though I read this years ago. And then I realized I hadn't, so I decided to finally check it out and it was very informative. I still hold true to the belief that it is exceedingly rare for any catastrophic event/etc. to ever be handled well by any government/people in power... and this was not an exception.

Just Watch Me by Lior Torenberg
Source: NetGalley | Format: eARC
Thoughts: This was a bit of an adrenaline-fueled fever dream that I was hooked on for the entire ride. 

The Compound by Aisling Rawlee
Source: Library | Format: Hardcover
Thoughts: I started reading this a couple months ago, but couldn't really get into it so set it aside. But then I started hearing so many mixed things about it that I was tempted to try it again, so I did and I was much more engaged this time--I found it to be surprisingly compelling and an interesting look at social dynamics and individual nature. 

Detour by Jeff Rake & Rob Hart
Source: NetGalley | Format: eARC
Thoughts: Detour is a sci-fi/space thriller with a super intriguing concept. It's a bit slow to start, but places with some fun ideas and I'm eager for more.


Eden of Witches, Vol. 2 by Yumeji
Source: Library | Format: Ebook
Thoughts: I've been enjoying checking this one out, though I wouldn't say I'm overly hooked on it. I really love some of the art!

The Aftermyth by Tracy Wolff
Source: Publisher | Format: Hardcover
Thoughts: This was such a fun Greek mythology-inspired middle grade read, and my review is already up for it!

The Power of Guilt by Chris Moore
Source: NetGalley | Format: ALC
Thoughts: My focus hasn't been great with fiction books on audio lately, so I've been trying to stick to more nonfiction and this was one I saw on NetGalley so decided to give it a read. Although I didn't find too much to be necessarily "groundbreaking," I think it does make some really interesting points about guilt and where it manifests, its effects, guilt vs. shame, and more--I'd recommend it!

To-Be-Finished:
For Human Use by Sarah G. Pierce
I really tried with this one, but it just wasn't working for me. I really love the concept and thought this book would be amazing, but the directions it took and how it explored the concept were pretty disappointing and, honestly, a bit boring, so I've set it down for now. 
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