A Lackluster 2024 Summer Reading Recap

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I wish I could write that I spent this summer traveling, visiting friends/family, and just enjoying myself. While also reading through a good chunk of my tbr. Instead, I spent my summer drowning in corporate nonsense and found myself back in old (bad) habits. 

Like laying on the couch in biker shorts, mindlessly eating chips and watching whatever re-watch I settled on. Just so that my mind could have a break.

My reading slowed quite a bit this summer. I read nothing in June, and then slowly got back into my reading in July.

Things at work are still (unfortunately) hectic and stressful, but I’m reminding myself of why I love to read and letting my love of books anchor me outside of work. 

Without being too ranty or this sounding like a journal entry, let’s jump right in!

What I read this summer:

• Shadow & Storms by Helen Scheurer
• Reckless by Lauren Roberts
• Wisteria by Adalyn Grace
• The Crown of Oaths and Curses by J. Bree

Shadow & Storms by Helen Scheurer

Goodreads / Storygraph

I wanted to love this book far more than I actually did. This series genuinely could have been a trilogy and still worked just as well. 

A lot of the beginning was repetitive and drawn out. It felt like little pockets of suspense were tucked away throughout the first 50% of the book for no reason. 

The ending felt a bit like a cop out, if I am being honest. Everything just ended so quickly and a bit too easily. 

But I have very much come to enjoy this series, and this book ends the story on an interesting note. I am very excited to see where else we go in the world of Thezmarr as the author has announced more books set in this world, just a new series. 

So a solid 4 stars out of 5 stars. 

Blood & Steel / Vows & Ruin / Fate & Furies / Shadow & Storms / Full Series Review

Reckless by Lauren Roberts

Goodreads / Storygraph

I was very anxious for this book to publish. I thought a lot about which direction the author might take for this book, after the ending of the first. 

But it was kind of a let down. It read more like a dystopian romance, with some of Kitt’s whining thrown in for *drama*. 

Some of the other revelations were so unnecessary and this book makes me not want to continue on with the series. 

Like the author has just discovered an overused YA trope and is gonna run with it. 

So we shall see what happens with this mess of a series. 

I’ll leave my initial rating of 3 stars out of 5 stars because I’m trying to be less mean. 

Powerless Review / Reckless Review

Wisteria by Adalyn Grace

Goodreads / Storygraph

Finally! Something delicious! 

The third book in the Belladonna series downloaded to my Kindle, and I was not ready to say goodbye. 

To Signa, to Blythe, to Sylas/Death, or to Aris/Fate. 

This series starts with Signa and her story, merges with Blythe in the second book, and finishes the series with Blythe. 

The world is atmospheric, and I love the authors writing style. While I admit there were small things I wasn’t a fan of, I genuinely came to love Blythe and Aris/Fate’s story together. 

There is still so much to learn about this world that I wish we had gotten more. But the ending was quite bittersweet and I am very sad to go. 

4.5 stars out of 5 stars. 

Belladonna Review / Foxglove Review / Wisteria Review

The Crown of Oaths and Curses by J. Bree

Goodreads / Storygraph

Let me first start by saying this is my first AND last J. Bree book. 

The Crown of Oaths and Curses is a fantastic Epic Fantasy book about two enemies that are fated together, but will not reject their fate, as they are both too well aware of the destruction that can follow. 

My biggest problem with this book is the MMC, Soren. The writing was okay, definitely repetitive and heavy at times. 

But Soren’s inability to realize at any point, even after our FMC Rooke saved the lives of those closest to him, THAT SHE WAS NOT OUT TO GET HIM!

So saving myself a headache and a half, I did some digging. On not just this series, but J. Bree and I do not like what I found. 

Aside from weird publishing practices, this series goes completely haywire in the second book.

I read spoilers of Reddit and decided to just sit the rest of the series out. Especially because the only thing that would get me through the second book is Soren’s constant groveling to Rooke, but apparently there is none. 

So 2.5 stars out of 5 stars.

Literally because Rooke and Roan’s infant son were the only likable characters in this infuriating story. 

Overall, I am ready for a soft reset as summer comes to an end and we welcome fall. 

I’m so ready to snuggle up, fall weather, and a Gilmore Girls re-watch. As well as some upcoming book releases, I am not so patiently waiting for. 

My summer reading could’ve been better, but it’s okay. I acknowledge that life was life-ing a bit too much, and I just needed time to recover. 

How did your summer reading go? 

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