Tag Archives: Book Review

March Reading Check-In

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I can’t believe we’re already done with Q1. March went by quicker than I expected! I had a good reading month, with romance dominating the charts, which wasn’t surprising.

I finished all of Rachel Reid’s backlist, which feels bittersweet. I enjoyed each of her books, but I’m sad I don’t have anything new from her to read until Unrivaled releases next year. I do want to reread Heated Rivalry and The Long Game at some point this year, but I’m not sure when since there are so many great new releases coming out.

The Long Game beat out Heated Rivalry for the number one spot in the series and ended up being my favorite read of March. I really loved how Rachel explores a more vulnerable side of Ilya, and I’m curious how that will translate in the show next year.

With the announcement of ACOTAR 6 and 7, I finally decided to take the plunge into the Throne of Glass series by SJM. Once I finish, I’ll be caught up with her backlist. I’ve read the prequel and the first two books so far, and they’ve definitely held my interest.

March ended up being a month where I stayed in familiar spaces and let that guide my reading. I found myself reaching for romance consistently, especially within series or authors I already knew I enjoyed. Instead of jumping between too many different books, staying immersed in a few worlds made reading feel more natural and steady.

I also noticed that I’ve become more honest with my reading. Not everything worked for me this month, but I didn’t feel the need to push through or rate things higher than they deserved, which made the overall experience feel more aligned with what I actually enjoy.

Overall, March felt steady and consistent. I’m still figuring out what rhythm works best for me, but leaning into what feels familiar and engaging continues to make reading feel more enjoyable and sustainable.

Going into April, I’m planning to stay intentional with my reading by focusing on new releases that interest me while keeping up with the ARCs I’ve been approved for.

February Reading Check-In

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February was a short but extremely busy month. I was honestly surprised that I got any reading done at all. Between everything going on, I leaned even harder into picking up whatever sounded comforting or exciting in the moment.

One of my biggest highlights was receiving an eARC of one of my most anticipated March releases, Across the Vanishing Sky (thank you Bloom Books for the free ARC). As the first book in the Starlight Grove series, it completely delivered! It had everything I was hoping for and more! I loved spotting the Easter eggs and getting to know a new cast of characters. There is something special about diving into the start of a series and knowing you have an entire world ahead of you.

I also finally caved and started the Game Changers series. I am genuinely kicking myself for waiting this long! I am usually hesitant to pick up books or shows that are heavily hyped because they tend to be hit or miss for me. But this series turned out to be a comfort I did not know I needed! The characters, the emotional arcs, and the sense of found family made it such an immersive reading experience.

I am about halfway through The Long Game, but here are my rankings so far:

  1. Heated Rivalry
  2. Role Model
  3. Common Goal
  4. Tough Guy
  5. Game Changer

I am not sure whether The Long Game will top Heated Rivalry or bump Role Model out of its second spot, but I am excited to find out.

Overall, February reminded me that even during busy seasons, reading can still carve out space for comfort and connection. I did not read as much as I might have in a quieter month, but what I did read truly worked for me. And at this point, that matters more than the number.

August Favorites 📖💅

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As August slips away, we’re still in the middle of a heatwave as September begins, which comes as no surprise. I’ve already got fall on my mind and just need the weather to catch up. Here are two standouts from the past month that brought me joy: a gripping first book in a brand new series by thriller queen Karin Slaughter, and a dazzling Lights Lacquer polish that has me craving fall more than ever.

📖 Favorite book I read: We Are All Guilty Here by Karin Slaughter

Thank you William Morrow for the free advanced copy of We Are All Guilty Here by Karin Slaughter.

In the small town of North Falls, the disappearance of two teenage girls during the fireworks proves that no one truly knows each other. Officer Emmy Clifton, burdened by guilt, is determined to find them and uncover the secrets the town has been hiding.

Karin Slaughter is an auto-read author for me so it was no surprise that her latest book, We Are All Guilty Here (the first in the North Falls series), is a 5-star read! This is one of those books you should go into without knowing too many details so you can experience every surprise. This slow-burn police procedural had me on my toes until the very end. I thought I had it all figured out, but twist after twist kept me guessing and I could not put it down. The emotional, deeply flawed characters hit me to my core. Slaughter did an incredible job weaving together two timelines with enough clarity to keep me fully invested. There were moments that felt heavy where I truly sympathized with Emmy or Jude and moments that left me completely shell-shocked. Highly recommend picking this one up. Now I can’t wait for the next book in the series!

💅Favorite Manicure: Lights Lacquer Saddle Up

Saddle Up is part of the Lights Lacquer Headed West fall collection. I’m actually surprised that I chose another red as my favorite given that I don’t really wear red manis that much. I’m obsessed with how this specific shade reminds me of fall. I love how opaque and creamy it is. This will definitely be a repeat mani this upcoming season!

Fall may not be here yet, but my TBR and polish picks are already there.