Let’s Talk: What I’ve Been Reading & Loving Lately + How I’ve Read So Much This Year

Hello friends! I’m often asked how I read so much and what books I’m loving lately, so I figured I’d do a little post on it today! 

If you follow me on Goodreads, Instagram, or any other social media, you might’ve seen that I’ve been on a bit of a reading spree lately: I read 36 books last month, and I just finished book 28! I also wanted to say that we’re all readers, no matter how little or how much we read in a certain timeframe. With all that being said, let’s get started! 

How I Plan My Reading

At the beginning of the year, I made a post detailing how I plan out my reading! I’ve mostly abandoned that reading journal, although I’ve started a new journal for all my 5-star reads. Maybe I’ll share that here someday! For now, I’ve found that making a tentative — but flexible — TBR at the beginning of the month is what works best for me, and I’ve continued doing that in Notion. In the screenshots below, you’ll notice that I’ve been reading out of order, and honestly that’s because the order was just the order books popped into my mind when setting up the TBR, or signing up for buddy reads. And of course, it’s totally okay if I don’t get to read every book on it, or if I read something else instead. 

I’ve also got a “priority TBR” table in Notion, which allows me to filter for specific genres or tags if I’m in the mood to read something that’s not on my TBR for the month! I’ve got tags for each genre (stolen from Goodreads), targeted age categories, if it’s on my physical TBR, among others. 

How I Read So Much

This is in part due to a poor sleeping schedule/insomnia, but I also try to set aside time to read every day! I’m a big fan of time-blocking, and I just find it helpful to have that predetermined time set aside to read. If I’m not in the mood to read, I’ll do something else instead, and if I’m not loving my current read, I’ll either DNF it, or set it down to pick it back up another time — there’s no shame in DNFing books! I’ve also been reading fewer ARCs lately, which is why I’ve been able to read more. Reading ARCs just requires me to take more notes and more energy than if I was reading something off my backlist, or even more so, rereading an old favorite. 

I posted about this a little on my bookstagram, but I’m currently trying to read (or reread) every book that I own! I figured this would be a good way to tab all of my books, and to figure out which books I want to keep, and which ones I’d like to donate/declutter. Of course, I have a notion tracker for ths as well! 

I’ve also been venturing into different genres a little more, and trying to pick up more buddy reads (even though I’m not very good at them), which encourages me to read more! 

I will also say that I’ve read more books last year (and this year so far) than I have in a while, just because of quarantine. I might be vaccinated, but the pandemic is far from over, and so I’m still laying low! 

What I’ve Been Loving Lately

Excuse Me While I Ugly Cry by Joya Goffrey

Quinn keeps lists of everything—from the days she’s ugly cried, to “Things That I Would Never Admit Out Loud,” to all the boys she’d like to kiss. Her lists keep her sane. By writing her fears on paper, she never has to face them in real life. That is, until her journal goes missing…

An anonymous account posts one of her lists on Instagram for the whole school to see and blackmails her into facing seven of her greatest fears, or else her entire journal will go public. Quinn doesn’t know who to trust. Desperate, she teams up with Carter Bennett—the last known person to have her journal—in a race against time to track down the blackmailer.

Together, they journey through everything Quinn’s been too afraid to face, and along the way, Quinn finds the courage to be honest, to live in the moment, and to fall in love.

Any main character who loves lists is one that has my heart! This one was already on my TBR as soon as I heard about the premise, but when Quinn messaged me saying “COCO YOU’LL LOVE THIS ONE” after reading, I knew I had to get it immediately! Long story short, I got it on my Kindle immediately, finished it that evening, and absolutely loved it. 

Links for Excuse Me While I Ugly Cry: Goodreads | TheStorygraph | Bookshop | IndieBound

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For the Wolf by Hannah Whitten

I was lucky enough to read an ARC of For the Wolf, and absolutely loved its lush and descriptive storytelling! It definitely gave me strong Ivy by Taylor Swift vibes, and I’ll be anxiously awaiting the sequel.  

As the only Second Daughter born in centuries, Red has one purpose-to be sacrificed to the Wolf in the Wood in the hope he’ll return the world’s captured gods.

Red is almost relieved to go. Plagued by a dangerous power she can’t control, at least she knows that in the Wilderwood, she can’t hurt those she loves. Again.

But the legends lie. The Wolf is a man, not a monster. Her magic is a calling, not a curse. And if she doesn’t learn how to use it, the monsters the gods have become will swallow the Wilderwood-and her world-whole.

Links for For the Wolf: Goodreads | TheStorygraph | Bookshop | IndieBound

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Hang the Moon by Alexandria Bellefleur

I finally read Written in the Stars and Hang the Moon after months of hearing Celina (venusofbooks) tell me how much I’d love them both! While I did enjoy Written in the Stars, Hang the Moon had me squealing — I just love disaster bi’s, friends to lovers, and stories set in Seattle. You can also check out Mary’s review of it here! 

Brendon Lowell loves love. It’s why he created a dating app to help people find their one true pairing and why he’s convinced “the one” is out there, even if he hasn’t met her yet. Or… has he? When his sister’s best friend turns up in Seattle unexpectedly, Brendon jumps at the chance to hang out with her. He’s crushed on Annie since they were kids, and the stars have finally aligned, putting them in the same city at the same time.

Annie booked a spur-of-the-moment trip to Seattle to spend time with friends before moving across the globe. She’s not looking for love, especially with her best friend’s brother. Annie remembers Brendon as a sweet, dorky kid. Except, the 6-foot-4 man who shows up at her door is a certified Hot Nerd and Annie… wants him? Oh yes.

Getting involved would be a terrible idea—her stay is temporary and he wants forever—but when Brendon learns Annie has given up on dating, he’s determined to prove that romance is real. Taking cues from his favorite rom-coms, Brendon plans to woo her with elaborate dates straight out of Nora Ephron’s playbook. The clock is ticking on Annie’s time in Seattle, and Brendon’s starting to realize romance isn’t just flowers and chocolate. But maybe real love doesn’t need to be as perfect as the movies… as long as you think your partner hung the moon.

Links for Hang the Moon: Goodreads | TheStoryGraph | Bookshop | IndieBound

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Rosaline Palmer Takes the Cake by Alexis Hall

I’d recognized Alexis Hall from Boyfriend Material, which I’d heard loads about, but hadn’t gotten to yet at that point! Still, after hearing that Rosaline Palmer Takes the Cake had solid Great British Bake Off vibes, I knew I had to read it! It’s charming, and sure to leave you hungry — and in the mood to rewatch Great British Bake Off once you’re done!

Links for Rosaline Palmer Takes the Cake: Goodreads | TheStorygraph | Bookshop | IndieBound

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Spin the Dawn & Unravel the Dusk  by Elizabeth Lim

This Mulan meets Project Runway YA fantasy duology is absolutely phenomenal, and I honestly should’ve picked it up sooner! I’d been meaning to read this for about two years now, maybe longer, and Maia is definitely one of my favorite heroines now! 

Maia Tamarin dreams of becoming the greatest tailor in the land, but as a girl, the best she can hope for is to marry well. When a royal messenger summons her ailing father, once a tailor of renown, to court, Maia poses as a boy and takes his place. She knows her life is forfeit if her secret is discovered, but she’ll take that risk to achieve her dream and save her family from ruin. There’s just one catch: Maia is one of twelve tailors vying for the job.

Backstabbing and lies run rampant as the tailors compete in challenges to prove their artistry and skill. Maia’s task is further complicated when she draws the attention of the court magician, Edan, whose piercing eyes seem to see straight through her disguise.

And nothing could have prepared her for the final challenge: to sew three magic gowns for the emperor’s reluctant bride-to-be, from the laughter of the sun, the tears of the moon, and the blood of stars. With this impossible task before her, she embarks on a journey to the far reaches of the kingdom, seeking the sun, the moon, and the stars, and finding more than she ever could have imagined.

Links for Spin the Dawn: Goodreads | TheStorygraph | Bookshop | Indie Bound

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The Girls I’ve Been by Tess Sharp 

I picked this one up because of my dear friend Quinn (check out her review here), and absolutely loved it! It’s honestly YA Thriller at its finest, and I loved the transcripts, the timelines, and all the different girls Nora’s been — and how distinct they all were from one another. Caitlyn also reviewed it for the blog, which you can read here! 

Nora O’Malley is a lot of things. A sister. An ex. A secret girlfriend. Kind of crooked, but reformed… somewhat.

Nora O’Malley’s been a lot of girls. As the daughter of a con-artist who targets criminal men, she grew up her mother’s protege. But when mom fell for the mark instead of conning him, Nora pulled the ultimate con: escape.

For five years she’s been playing at normal. But she needs to dust off the skills she ditched because she has three problems:

#1: her ex walked in on her with her girlfriend. Even though they’ve all been inseparable for months, Wes didn’t know about her and Iris.

#2: The morning after, they all have to meet to deposit the fundraiser money they raised together. It’s a nightmare that goes from awkward to deadly.

Because #3: right after they get in the bank, two guys start robbing it.

But they have no idea who they’re really holding hostage.

The robbers are trouble. Nora’s something else entirely.

Links for The Girls I’ve Been: Goodreads | TheStoryGraph | Bookshop | IndieBound

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What books have you read & been loving lately? Let me know in the comments below!