Spring has arrived, and I am going to be honest with you: I have been in a reading slump.  Not the dramatic, staring-at-my-bookshelf-in-despair kind, but the slower, quieter kind — where I keep picking things up and putting them back down, or finishing something and feeling underwhelmed instead of excited for whatever comes next.  If you’ve been here a while, you might remember I shared something similar after a disappointing read earlier this year, and I thought I was out of it. Reader, I was not fully out of it. But here’s what I’ve been thinking about: part of the slump might just be genre fatigue.  I’ve been heavy in…

A love letter to my ever-growing, slightly neglected, deeply intentional stack. Let me be honest with you about something: I am not just a reader. I am a collector. And there is a difference. A reader finishes one book and reaches for the next.  A collector finishes one book, reaches for the next, spots something beautiful at Barnes & Noble on the way home, adds three more to the cart during a late-night browsing session, and then arranges everything on the shelf in a way that is visually satisfying even if chronologically chaotic.  The TBR pile is not just a reading list. It’s an atmosphere. It’s the comfort of knowing…

It’s been so long since I’ve written a TBR! Ah! I will say, there is something so cozy about reading in the colder months.  Maybe it’s the colder evenings, the soft blankets, or the joy of reaching for something that feels like an escape.  Lately, my reading has felt like a return to my bookish roots – slow, warm, and intuitive.  (My life has recently been turned upside down, I have started a Substack to work through my grief + complicated feelings. Content warning: This Substack discusses the passing of my brother.) I’ve recently lifted my book buying ban and have thus bought a bunch of new books! Going to…

Lately, I haven’t been reading as actively as I’d like to be.  Life has been full, and while I always keep books close, I’ve felt that familiar drift where finishing a story feels harder than it used to be.  But here’s the thing: new releases always reignite that spark for me.  The promise of continuing a series, a fresh premise for a favorite author, or even just the joy of knowing something new is waiting.  It is always enough to pull me back in.  So, here are the upcoming releases I am most excited about right now.  A mix of fantasy, gothic, and contemporary. Even though fantasy romance will always…

April is shaping up to be an awesome month of reading for fantasy romance girlies. With everything from gothic curses to dragon royalty, morally grey heroes and a delicious spicy slow burn.  Whether you’re looking for your next epic series or something dark and romantic to takeover your whole weekend, these new releases promise magic, intrigue, and plenty of swoon-worthy romance.  So let’s dive right in!  Already Released House of Blight by Maxym M. Martineau Release date: April 8th Goodreads / Storygraph This gothic romantasy centers on Edina Brillwyn, a healer whose gift comes at a personal cost. When her brother becomes sick with a mysterious blight, Edina seeks help…

I love fantasy romance but some of the most popular and recommended books, I just can’t see myself getting into.  I’ll be talking mostly about series. Some I have read the first and/or second book but will not be reading the rest of the series. And some series I just don’t want to start for various reasons.  Please keep in mind that popular is subjective and these are just my opinions. And like I said, if you can change my mind about any of the books on this list, I might be convinced to give some of these books a read.  But more importantly, if you love any of these…

If you’re anything like me, fall is for the dark academia girlies and winter is for the cozy fantasy girlies.  (Also girlies is me, I am the girlies.) Last winter I had read so many fantasy romance novels, part of me wanted a break. So I complied a list of some non-romance winter book recs. But this year, I just want a cozy story set during winter.  So this list is curated based on the season in which the story is set. There may be romance, it may be more fiction than fantasy, or may even be a completely different genre like sci-fi or a thriller.  So let’s dive right…

As the cozy season begins to push the last bit of warmth out, there is nothing better than curling up with a good book. But second to that, is curling up and watching a cozy-coded movie or tv show.  Most of the recs on this list are pretty tame, meant for teenage/young adult audiences, and I’m very much leaning into my nostalgia as a 90s baby. Let’s start with shows. These are some of my absolute favorite to rewatch during the fall.  Grimm Portland detective Nick Burkhardt, descended from a long line of warriors known as Grimms, defends his city from magical creatures known as Wesen, which are part human…

I first read A Court of Thorns & Roses (ACOTAR) by Sarah J. Maas in July 2023. Then I quickly devoured the 5 books currently published in the series within 3 weeks.  This series still somehow has me in a chokehold. I think about these characters and storylines more often than I should.  Sometimes I wish I could go back and re-read this series again for the first time. And to be honest, I definitely had one of my worst book slumps after reading this series.  If I could go back to past me and give her some book recs to get out of that reading slump sooner than later,…

If you’re a regular reader or you’ve read any of my posts from summer 2024, you’ll know that I am currently clawing my way out of an unrelenting reading slump.  Something that almost always ends a reading slump immediately for me, is a new book. Whether it is a debut author who’s on my radar or a new book in a series, I previously enjoyed. And fall is my absolute favorite time to read in because no matter the weather, it is always cozy reading vibes in fall!  So I’ve compiled a short list of the books I’m looking forward to reading this fall, as well as taking recs for…