Tag Archives: Reflection

April Reading Check-In

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April ended up being a mixed bag for reading. I had a couple of standout reads, but it was also my highest DNF month (10 to be exact). It was great being able to read my most anticipated releases, make a dent in my ARCs, and sprinkle in some mood reads.

After looking at everything I read this month, I noticed a clear pattern. I tend to enjoy character-driven stories with emotional depth. It also made me realize that I was DNF’ing more books than usual because the ones that weren’t working didn’t hit that level of emotional engagement for me.

I had two favorite books this month. The first was Rites of the Starling by Devney Perry, which released earlier this month and is the sequel to Shield of Sparrows. My other favorite was Score by Kennedy Ryan, which releases May 19 (thank you to Forever for the free eARC).

Going into May, I want to continue prioritizing ARCs while still sprinkling in mood reads to keep things enjoyable.

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.