November 2023 Book Haul

I have hauled more than I'd like to lately so I tried to go a bit more lowkey in November. Then I hauled 10 books. To be fair, I have read 7 of 10 books hauled and I'm currently reading 1 of the unread books. And my plan is to read the last 2 books this month. We'll see how that goes :) I will say that I'm at 78% of hauled books read for the year and I'm really happy about that!

PURCHASED BOOKS

1. Same Time Next Year by Tessa Bailey (Kindle First) 
2. Snapped by Alexa Martin (Audible)
3. Court of Lions by Somaiya Daud (Audible)
4. Iris Kelly Doesn't Date by Ashley Herring Blake (Audible)
   

LIBRARY BOOKS

1. An Echo in the Bone by Diana Gabaldon (Audio)
2. My Roommate is a Vampire by Jenna Levine (Audio)
3. Written in my Own Heart's Blood by Diana Gabaldon (Audio)
4. Go Tell the Bees That I Am Gone by Diana Gabaldon (Audio)
5. Extra Witchy by Ann Aguirre (Audio)
6. The Only Purple House in Town by Ann Aguirre (Kindle)
   

Tally for 2023:
Total Books Hauled: 83 (Read: 65 / Unread: 18)
Total Purchased Books: 18 (Read: 7 / Unread: 11)
Total Review Books: 9 (Read: 4 / Unread: 5)
Total Library Books: 56 (Read: 54 / Unread: 2)

What did you buy, borrow, or receive in November?

Have you read any of my hauled books?

Books I Read in November 2023

I read 13 books in November.

• Furyborn by Claire Legrand (Audio, 17 hr 24 min, 2018, YA Fantasy, Library) - 3 stars | My Review
• A Breath of Snow and Ashes by Diana Gabaldon (Audio, 57 hr 48 min, 2005, Adult Historical Fiction, Library) - 3.5 stars | My Review - Counted towards Series challenge 
• Record of a Spaceborn Few by Becky Chambers (Audio, 11 hr 36 min, 2018, Adult Sci Fi, Purchased) - 3 stars | My Review - Counted towards Series challenge
• Echo in the Bone by Diana Gabaldon (Audio, 45 hr 59 min, 2009, Adult Historical Fiction, Library) - 3.5 stars | My Review - Counted towards Series challenge
• The Galaxy, and the Ground Within by Becky Chambers (Audio, 9 hr 55 min, 2021, Adult Sci Fi, Purchased) - 4 stars | My Review - Counted towards Series challenge
• My Roommate is a Vampire by Jenna Devine (Audio, 8 hr 59 min, 2023, Adult Romance, Library) - 4.5 stars | My Review
• Written in My Own Heart's Blood by Diana Gabaldon (Audio, 45 hr, 2014, Adult Historical Fiction, Library) - 3.5 stars | My Review - Counted towards Series challenge
• Text Appeal by Amber Roberts (Kindle, 319 pages, 2023, Adult Romance, Review) - 3 stars | My Review - Counted towards Netgalley challenge
• Unfortunately Yours by Tessa Bailey (Audio, 10 hr 52 min, 2023, Adult Romance, Review) - 5 stars | My Review - Counted towards Netgalley challenge, Series challenge
• Snapped by Alexa Martin (Audio, 11 hr 21 min, 2020, Adult Romance, Purchased) - 4 stars | My Review - Counted towards Series challenge
• Court of Lions by Somaiya Daud (Audio, 9 hr 46 min, 2019, YA Fantasy, Purchased) - 4 stars | My Review - Counted towards Series challenge
• Extra Witchy by Ann Aguirre (Audio, 10 hr 11 min, 2022, Adult Romance/Paranormal, Library) - 4 stars | My Review - Counted towards Series challenge
• Iris Kelly Doesn't Date by Ashley Herring Blake (Audio, 11 hr 52 min, 2023, Adult Romance, Purchased) - 4 stars | My Review - Counted towards Series challenge
  

Pages read: 319 pages + 248 hrs 49 min
Pages DNF: 0

December 2023 TBR + Challenge Update

And we've come to the last TBR of 2023 - phew! I have a library book, 2 random books I've had for forever, and a book that continues to make it to my TBR but I put it off because I rarely read physical books anymore. I'm expecting some time off for the holidays, so I want to make time for reading physical books!
 

My TBR for December:

• Go Tell the Bees That I Am Gone by Diana Gabaldon (Audio)
• Five Feet Apart by Rachael Lippincott (Audio) 
• Jeannie Out of the Bottle by Barbara Eden (Audio)
• Soul of the Stars by Ashley Poston (Hardcover)
  

2023 READING CHALLENGES: should be at 91% 
Goodreads Challenge: 116/100 books - 116% COMPLETED 10/15
Series Challenge: 25/20 series - 125% COMPLETED 11/29
Netgalley Challenge: 10/20 books - 50% BEHIND!

What are you planning on reading in December?

October 2023 Book Haul

I hauled 11 books in October which is more than I've done in a bit. 3 were free on Kindle, I used an Audible credit for Britney's book, and the remaining 7 are library. I've read Britney's book and 6 of 7 library books. I'm currently reading the final library book.

PURCHASED BOOKS

1. Faking It With the Grump by Kate O'Keeffe (Kindle) 
2. The Woman in Me by Britney Spears (Audible)
3. Recipe for Second Chances by Ali Rosen (Kindle First)
4. The Wrong Bridesmaid by Lauren Landish (Kindle)
   

LIBRARY BOOKS

1. The Drums of Autumn by Diana Gabaldon (Audio) 
2. LIFELIK3 by Jay Kristoff (Audio)
   
3. The Fiery Cross by Diana Gabaldon (Audio)
4. Arsenic & Adobo by Mia P. Manansala (Audio)
5. The 7 1/2 Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle by Stuart Turton (Audio)
6. Furyborn by Claire Legrand (Audio)
7. A Breath of Snow and Ashes by Diana Gabaldon (Audio)
   

Tally for 2023:
Total Books Hauled: 73 (Read: 55 /Unread: 18)
Total Purchased Books: 14 (Read: 4 /Unread: 10)
Total Review Books: 9 (Read: 2 /Unread: 7)
Total Library Books: 50 (Read: 49 /Unread: 1)

What did you buy, borrow, or receive in October?

Have you read any of my hauled books?

Books I Read in October 2023

I read 7 books and DNF'd 1 book in October.

• The Drums of Autumn by Diana Gabaldon (Audio, 44 hr 50 min, 1996, Adult Historical Fiction, Library) - 5 stars | My Review - Counted towards Series challenge
• The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams (Audio, 5 hr 51 min, 1980, Adult Sci Fi, Purchased) - 4 stars | My Review - Counted towards Series challenge
• LIFELIK3 by Jay Kristoff (Audio, 12 hr 27 min, 2018, YA Sci Fi, Library) - 3 stars | My Review - Counted towards Series challenge
• The Fiery Cross by Diana Gabaldon (Audio, 55 hr 30 min, 2001, Adult Historical Fiction, Library) - 4 stars | My Review - Counted towards Series challenge BOOK 100 COMPLETING GOODREADS CHALLENGE!!
• Arsenic and Adobo by Mia P. Manansala (Audio, 9 hr 20 min, 2021, Adult Mystery/Thriller, Library) - 4 stars | My Review - Counted towards Series challenge
• The 7 1/2 Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle by Stuart Turton (Audio, 17 hr 4 min, 2018, Adult Mystery/Thriller, Library) - 1 star | My DNF Review - DNF'd @ 9% 
• A Closed and Common Orbit by Becky Chambers (Audio, 11 hr 29 min, 2018, Adult Sci Fi, Purchsaed) - 4 stars | My Review - Counted towards Series challenge
• The Woman in Me by Britney Spears (Audio, 5 hr 31 min, 2023, Adult Nonfiction, Purchased) - 5 stars | My Review 
  

Pages read: 144 hr 58 min
Pages DNF: 1 hr 32 min

What did you read in October?

November 2023 TBR + Challenge Update

Good morning and happy November! I have 3 library books on my TBR and one Netgalley book that I'm still in the middle of. I have been so tired for the last few months that if I do read at all in bed at night...it's like 3 pages and I'm out. Nick got me this really nifty Kindle holder that clamps onto the bed and I don't have to hold my Kindle to read in bed! It's the coolest but also makes it easier for me to be super cozy and not have the adrenaline of the Kindle smacking me in the face or falling off the bed to wake me up.

I finished my Goodreads challenge in October and I'm just trucking along for the most part just mood reading. It's working for me.

My TBR for November:

• A Breath of Snow and Ashes by Diana Gabaldon (Audio)
  
• Furyborn by Claire Legrand (Audio)
• Record of a Spaceborn Few by Becky Chambers (Audio)
• Text Appeal by Amber Roberts (Kindle - Netgalley)
  

2023 READING CHALLENGES: should be at 83% 
Goodreads Challenge: 103/100 books - 103% COMPLETED 10/15
Series Challenge: 12/20 series - 60% BEHIND!
Netgalley Challenge: 8/20 books - 40% BEHIND!

What are you planning on reading in November?

September 2023 Book Haul

I did not haul a ton of books in September. One is purchased, the other 4 are borrowed from the library. The only one I have not read is the purchased book. Holding steady from last month at 77% hauled books I have read.

PURCHASED BOOKS

1. Barbarian Alien by Ruby Dixon (Kindle)
   

LIBRARY BOOKS

1. Voyager by Diana Gabaldon (Audio)
2. True Love Experiment by Christina Lauren (Audio)
3. Love, Theoretically by Ali Hazelwood (Audio)
4. A Lady's Guide to Mischief and Mayhem (Audio)
   

Tally for 2023:
Total Books Hauled: 62 (Read: 48 /Unread: 14)
Total Purchased Books: 10 (Read: 3 /Unread: 7)
Total Review Books: 9 (Read: 2 /Unread: 7)
Total Library Books: 43 (Read: 43 /Unread: 0)

What did you buy, borrow, or receive in September?

Have you read any of my hauled books?

Books I Read in September 2023

I read 22 books and DNF'd 1 book in September.

• Brave New World by Aldous Huxley (Audio, 8 hr, 1932, Adult Dystopia, Purchased) - 2 stars | My Review
• The Princess Diaries by Meg Cabot (Audio, 5 hr 54 min, 2000, YA Contemporary, Purchased) - 3 stars | My Review 
• Uglies by Scott Westerfeld (Audio, 10 hr 12 min, 2005, YA Dystopia, Purchased) - 3 stars | My Review
• Graceling by Kristin Cashore (Audio, 12 hr 5 min, 2008, YA Fantasy, Purchased) - 4.5 stars | My Review - Counted towards Series challenge
• The Crucible by Arthur Miller (Audio, 1 hr 58 min, 1953, Adult Historical Fiction, Purchased) - 3 stars | My Review  
• Fever 1793 by Laurie Halse Anderson (Audio, 6 hr 12 min, 2000, YA Historical Fiction, Purchased) - 3 stars | My Review
• The Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold (Audio, 10 hr 53 min, 2007, Adult Mystery/Thriller, Purchased) - 3.5 stars | My Review
• The Coldest Girl in Coldtown by Holly Black (Audio, 12 hr 6 min, 2011, YA Paranormal, Purchased) - 3 stars | My Review
• Animal Farm by George Orwell (Audio, 3 hr 11 min, 1946, Adult Satire, Purchased) - 3 stars | My Review 
• 1984 by George Orwell (Audio, 11 hr 22 min, 1949, Adult Satire, Library) - 4 stars | My Review
• Glass Houses by Rachel Caine (Audio, 8 hr 43 min, 2006, YA Paranormal, Purchased) - 3 stars | My Review - Counted towards Series challenge
• Voyager by Diana Gabaldon (Audio, 43 hr 46 min, 1993, Adult Historical Fiction, Library) - 5 stars | My Review - Counted towards Series challenge
• The True Love Experiment by Christina Lauren (Audio, 10 hr 52 min, 2023, Adult Romance, Library) - 5 stars | My Review
• Breaking Free by Rachel Jeffs (Audio, 8 hr 3 min, 2020, Adult Nonfiction, Library) - No rating | My Review
• White Cat by Holly Black (Audio, 6 hr 40 min, 2010, YA Paranormal, Purchased) - 2 stars | My Review - Counted towards Series challenge 
• The Star-Touched Queen by Roshani Chokshi (Audio, 9 hr 22 min, 2016, YA Fantasy, Purchased) - 2.5 stars | My Review - Counted towards Series challenge
• The Scorpio Races by Maggie Stiefvater (Audio, 12 hr 6 min, 2011, YA Fantasy, Purchased) - 3 stars | My Review
• The Forbidden Wish by Jessica Khoury (Audio, 11 hr 53 min, 2016, YA Fantasy, Purchased) - 3.5 stars | My Review - Counted towards Series challenge
• Beauty Queens by Libba Bray (Audio, 14 hr 33 min, 2011, YA Contemporary, Purchased) - 4 stars | My Review
• Love, Theoretically by Ali Hazelwood (Audio, 12 hr 33 min, 2023, Adult Romance, Library) - 4 stars | My Review
• A Lady's Guide to Mischief & Mayhem by Manda Collins (Audio, 7 hr 36 min, 2020, Adult Historical Fiction) - 1 stars | My DNF Review - DNF'd @ 17%
• The Hobbit by JRR Tolkien (Audio, 3 hr 52 min, 1937, Adult Fantasy, Purchased) - 4 stars | My Review
• Naked in Death by JD Robb (Audio, 10 hr 17 min, 1995, Adult Thriller/Mystery, Purchased) - 4 stars | My Review - Counted towards Series challenge 
  

Pages read: 234 hr 33 min
Pages DNF: 1 hr 17 min

What did you read in September?

October 2023 TBR + Challenge Update

I had a very busy September and October will be just as busy since it's marching band season. In September, I decided to just pull some old old TBR books out in audio format. I ended up listening to 22 books and DNF'd 1 audiobook. I knocked out a ton of the old TBR. I figure I'm just going to continue that in October.

I'm almost done with my Goodreads challenge for the year with just 4 books to go. I would like to concentrate more on Netgalley books but I don't have mental space to really just buckle down and sit and physically read a book. We'll see, but for now, I'll probably end the year not meeting my Netgalley or Series goals.

My TBR for October:

• Text Appeal by Amber Roberts (Netgalley/Kindle)
  
• Drums of Autumn by Diana Gabaldon (Audio)
  
• The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams (Audio)
• LIFELIK3 by Jay Kristoff (Audio)
  

2023 READING CHALLENGES: should be at 75% 
Goodreads Challenge: 96/100 books - 96% AHEAD!
Series Challenge: 16/20 series - 80% AHEAD!
Netgalley Challenge: 8/20 books - 40% BEHIND!

What are you planning on reading in October?

Top Ten Books on my Fall 2023 TBR

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly bookish meme hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl. More information here.

It's that time again. Seasonal TBR is upon me and I have not made near as much progress as I had hoped. My reading definitely took a dip in the last few months with the school year starting and marching band fully underway. I have 8 books that are leftover and added 2 new ones. Some of these I have to read the physical book and that is definitely intimidating me. I just haven't picked up a physical book in so long. Maybe as the weather begins to cool down I'll pick up one of these and actually finish them!

1. Always Jane by Jenn Bennett - Leftover from my 2022 Seasonal TBR (All 4) + Spring & Summer 2023 TBR - Netgalley book
   
2. Soul of Stars by Ashley Poston - Leftover from my Summer, Fall, & Winter TBR + Spring & Summer 2023 TBR
3. The Cursed Sea by Lauren DeStefano - Leftover from my Summer, Fall, & Winter TBR + Spring & Summer 2023 TBR
4. Black Witch Magic by Mila Nicks - Leftover from my Fall & Winter TBR + Spring & Summer 2023 TBR
5. Unfortunately Yours by Tessa Bailey - Leftover from my Summer 2023 TBR - Netgalley book
   
6. The Love Theorem by Camilla Isley - Leftover from my Summer 2023 TBR - Netgalley book
7. Text Appeal by Amber Roberts - Leftover from my Summer 2023 TBR - Netgalley book
8. The Final Empire by Brandon Sanderson - Leftover from my Summer 2023 TBR
9. The Drums of Autumn by Diana Gabaldon - I have been on a roll listening to the Outlander books. I've only watched through season 5 and would love to at least catch up.
   
10. The Midnight Orchestra by Jessica Khoury - I meant to read this in the same month it published and I received it. In January 2022. So almost 2 years ago now. Whoops.
    

What books are on your seasonal TBR?
What books on my TBR should I get to first?

August 2023 Book Haul

I hauled quite a few books this month - all library. I have read all of the books I've hauled. I'm at 77% for books that I have read hauled this year (what a weird sentence), up from 71% last month. Again I say that I hope to continue this trend. I have 13 books that have been hauled that I have not read.

LIBRARY BOOKS

1. Happy Place by Emily Henry (Audio)
2. Arrival Stories by Amy Schumer and Christy Turlington Burns (Audio)
3. Something Wilder by Christina Lauren (Audio)
   
4. Windwitch by Susan Dennard (Audio)
5. How Y'all Doing by Leslie Jordan (Audio)
6. The Southern Book Club's Guide to Slaying Vampires by Grady Hendrix (Audio)
7. Practice Makes Perfect by Sarah Adams (Audio)
8. A Dragonfly in Amber by Diana Gabaldon  (Audio)
9. Borrow My Heart by Kasie West (Audio)
   

Tally for 2023:
Total Books Hauled: 57 (Read: 44 / Unread: 13)
Total Purchased Books: 9 (Read: 3 / Unread: 6)
Total Review Books: 9 (Read: 2 / Unread: 7)
Total Library Books: 39 (Read: 39 / Unread: 0)

What did you buy, borrow, or receive in August?

Have you read any of my hauled books?

Books I Read in August 2023

I read 11 books in August.

• Happy Place by Emily Henry (Audio, 11 hr 3 min, 2023, Adult Romance, Library) - 5 stars | My Review
• Arrival Stories: Women Share Their Experiences Becoming Mothers by Amy Schumer and Christy Turlington Burns (Audio, 5 hr 53 min, 2022, Adult Nonfiction, Library) - 5 stars | My Review
• Something Wilder by Christina Lauren (Audio, 9 hr 27 min, 2022, Adult Romance, Library) - 4 stars | My Review
• The Royal We by Heather Cocks and Jessica Morgan (Audio, 17 hr 54 min, 2015, Adult Romance, Purchased) - 3 stars | My Review
• How Y'all Doing? by Leslie Jordan (Audio, 4 hr 14 min, 2021, Adult Nonfiction, Library) - 5 stars | My Review 
• Windwitch by Susan Dennard (Audio, 14 hr 42 min, 2017, YA Fantasy, Library) - 3.5 stars | My Review - Counted towards Series challenge
• The Southern Book Club's Guide to Slaying Vampires by Grady Hendrix (Audio, 13 hr 49 min, 2020, Adult Paranormal, Library) - 5 stars | My Review 
• Out of the Blue by Jason June (Audio, 10 hr 15 min, 2022, YA Fantasy, Library) - 4 stars | My Review
• Practice Makes Perfect by Sarah Adams (Audio, 10 hr 13 min, 2023, Adult Romance, Library) - 5 stars | My Review - Counted towards Series challenge 
• Dragonfly in Amber by Diana Gabaldon (Audio, 38 hr 54 min, 1992, Adult Historical Fiction, Library) - 5 stars | My Review - Counted towards Series challenge
• Borrow My Heart by Kasie West (Audio, 7 hr 35 min, 2023, YA Romance, Library) - 4 stars | My Review
  

Pages read: 144 hr 1 min
Pages DNF: 0

September 2023 TBR + Challenge Update

I cannot believe August is gone and September is here. September is jam packed with lots of band and school events. I know I won't get a second to breathe, so I'm hoping to just listen to some audiobooks at work like I did in August and really just knock out some of my past TBR books and not take it so seriously.

I'm ahead on my Goodreads challenge and behind in both series and Netgalley challenges. Unless I do a full on month of only my galley books, I don't think I'm finishing that challenge this year. I also checked in on my series and realized I'm now in the middle of more series than I started the year with...despite finishing 12 ::face palm::

Oh well! They really are just challenges that I'm trying to complete for me, but nothing happens if I don't finish them.

My TBR for September:

• The Princess Diaries by Meg Cabot (Audio)
• Brave New World by Aldous Huxley (Audio)
• Uglies by Scott Westerfeld (Audio)
• Graceling by Kristin Cashore (Audio)
  

2023 READING CHALLENGES: should be at 67% 
Goodreads Challenge: 72/100 books - 72% AHEAD!
Series Challenge: 12/20 series - 60% BEHIND!
Netgalley Challenge: 8/20 books - 40% BEHIND!

What are you planning on reading in September?

July 2023 Book Haul

Again, staying fairly steady with hauling - and there are only 5 books this month. I have read 3 of them as they were library books. The other two were "purchased" in that I checked my Kindle wishlist and they were free. So I have still only actually paid for 7 books this year out of the 48 I have hauled. I have read 71% of the hauled books which is up from 70% last month. Hoping to continue that trend. There are now 14 books hauled that remain unread. Really pleased with how this year is shaking out!

PURCHASED BOOKS

1. The Hate Zone by Gigi Blume (Kindle)
2. Farm Cove Bliss by E.D. Hackett (Kindle)
   

LIBRARY BOOKS

1. Moorewood Family Rules by HelenKay Dimon (Audio)
2. The Seven Year Slip by Ashley Poston (Audio)
3. You're Not Supposed to Die Tonight by Kalynn Bayron (Audio)
   

Tally for 2023:
Total Books Hauled: 48 (Read: 34 / Unread: 14)
Total Purchased Books: 9 (Read: 3 / Unread: 6)
Total Review Books: 9 (Read: 2 / Unread: 7)
Total Library Books: 30 (Read: 29 / Unread: 1)

What did you buy, borrow, or receive in July?

Have you read any of my hauled books?

Books I Read in July 2023

I read 4 books and DNF'd 1 book in July.

• Here for the Drama by Kate Bromley (Kindle, 351 pages, 2022, Adult Romance, Library) - 1 stars | My DNF Review - DNF'd at 26%
• Moorewood Family Rules by HelenKay Dimon (Audio, 10 hrs, 2023, Adult Mystery, Library) - 3 stars | My Review
• The Seven Year Slip by Ashley Poston (Audio, 9 hr 43 min, 2023, Adult Romance, Library) - 4 stars | My Review
• You're Not Supposed to Die Tonight by Kalynn Bayron (Audio, 6 hr 14 min, 2023, YA Thriller, Library) - 5 stars | My Review 
• The Witch Haven by Sasha Peyton Smith (Audio, 13 hr 31 min, 2021, YA Historical Fantasy, Purchased) - 3.5 stars | My Review - Counted towards Series challenge
  

Pages read: 39 hr 28 min
Pages DNF: 91 pages

August 2023 TBR + Challenge Update

July started off kind of slow for me and then I listened to 4 audiobooks, so it is what it is there. I forget that I was reading 8 books minimum for years. Now that I am out of the swing of things, I'm struggling to pick it back up. I still hope to finish at least 4 and would really love to actually stick with my TBR (not my strong suit hah!).

I'm still slightly ahead in Goodreads and series challenges. And behind in my Netgalley challenge. If I read my 3 Netgalley books this month - I still won't be caught up but I'll be closer.

My TBR for August:

• Always Jane by Jenn Bennett (Kindle - Netgalley)
• Black Witch Magic by Mila Nicks (Kindle - Netgalley)
• Text Appeal by Amber Roberts (Kindle - Netgalley)
• Soul of Stars by Ashley Poston (Hardcover)
  

2023 READING CHALLENGES: should be at 58% 
Goodreads Challenge: 63/100 books - 63% AHEAD!
Series Challenge: 12/20 series - 60% AHEAD!
Netgalley Challenge: 8/20 books - 40% BEHIND!

What are you planning on reading in August?

June 2023 Book Haul

I am staying nice and steady at 4 books hauled. I have read one of these and plan to read the other library book in July. I'm down from 74% to 70% read of the books hauled this year so far. I don't really think that's too bad. I would like to read the other 13 books I've hauled and end the year reading all the books I've hauled. :) Also I will say that I'm surprised that I've only purchased 7 books this year - the rest have been borrowed or received for review. I'm fairly certain that some of those were free books too but I lump them in with purchased because I don't really have a category for them. IE Role Playing was free with Kindle First. In July, I have hauled a book that became free off my Kindle wishlist.

PURCHASED BOOKS

1. Role Playing by Cathy Yardley (Kindle First)
   

REVIEW BOOKS

1.  Never Wager with a Wallflower by Virginia Heath (Kindle - Netgalley)
   

LIBRARY BOOKS

1. Outlander by Diana Gabaldon (Audio)
2. Out of the Blue by Jason June (Kindle)
   

Tally for 2023:
Total Books Hauled: 43 (Read: 13 / Unread: 30)
Total Purchased Books: 7 (Read: 3 / Unread: 4)
Total Review Books: 9 (Read: 2 / Unread: 7)
Total Library Books: 27 (Read: 25 / Unread: 2)

What did you buy, borrow, or receive in June?

Have you read any of my hauled books?

Books I Read in June 2023

I read 2 books in June.

• The Plus One by Mazey Eddings (Kindle, 314 pages, 2023, Adult Romance, Library) - 3.5 stars | My Review - Counted towards Netgalley and Series challenge
• Outlander by Diana Gabaldon (Audio, 33 hr 38 min, 1991, Adult Historical Fiction, Library) - 4 stars | My Review - Counted towards Series challenge
  

Pages read: 314 + 33 hr 38 min
Pages DNF: 0

July 2023 TBR + Challenge Updates

Hello, hello! June was not a super successful reading month for me (finished 2 books) because I read Outlander and then found out that most of it is on Netflix and started watching that in bed instead of reading. I really want to get through 4 books in the month of July. This will be one of the busiest months for me, but I think if I can buckle down, I can finish 4.

I'm currently slightly ahead in my Goodreads and series challenge and slightly behind in my Netgalley challenge. I'm trying to focus on my seasonal TBRs to really get those cleared out. 3 of these 4 books come from there. I would love to read some predicted 5 stars books if I finish these 4 and decide to mood read a little.

My TBR for July:

• Out of the Blue by Jason June (Kindle - Library)
  
• Always Jane by Jenn Bennett (Kindle - Netgalley)
• Black Witch Magic by Mila Nicks (Kindle - Netgalley)
• The Witch Haven by Sasha Peyton Smith (Hardcover - Purchased)
  

2023 READING CHALLENGES: should be at 50% 
Goodreads Challenge: 59/100 books - 59% AHEAD!
Series Challenge: 11/20 series - 55% AHEAD!
Netgalley Challenge: 8/20 books - 40% BEHIND!

What are you planning on reading in July?

Top Ten Most Anticipated Releases for Second Half 2023

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly bookish meme hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl. More information here.

I am now at the point where pretty much all of my anticipated reads are rom-com style books and I am okay with that. They are my absolute favorite and guilty pleasure!

1. Role Playing by Cathy Yardley: I actually got this via Kindle First so I'm even more excited because I already had it on my TBR. It's about two middle-aged gamers who start their relationship online. Also grumpy and sunshine :) RELEASE DATE: JUL 1, 2023
   
2. Business or Pleasure by Rachel Lynn Soloman: This is about a ghostwriter who gets tasked with writing a memoir for a c-list actor that she just had an awkward one night stand with. RELEASE DATE: JUL 4, 2023
3. The Deja Glitch by Holly James: A Groundhog Day love story where the guy needs the girl to fall in love with him - UGH. Sounds so cute! RELEASE DATE: AUG 1, 2023
4. The Roommate Pact by Allison Ashley: Roommates who have a deal to be friends with benefit if both are single when they are forty. I love a roommate trope! RELEASE DATE: AUG 1, 2023
5. Text Appeal by Amber Roberts: I have a galley of this and I'm really excited to read it. It's about a programmer who takes up a sexting job after getting fired from her STEM job...and of course falls in love with someone she's sexting. RELEASE DATE: AUG 8, 2023
6. My Roommate is a Vampire by Jenna Levine: The title really says it all...so now there is a roommate trope with vampires. This was made for me. RELEASE DATE: AUG 15, 2023
   
7. This Spells Disaster by Tori Anne Martin: Fake dating trope but not only fake dating...it's sapphic! AND WITCHY! RELEASE DATE: SEP 12, 2023
   
8. Iris Kelly Doesn't Date by Ashley Herring Blake: This is the third book in the Bright Falls series. I have loved these books so far. This one has a romance writer and fake dating. And it's also sapphic. RELEASE DATE: OCT 24, 2023
   
9. Do Your Worst by Rosie Danan: This one is a sort of enemies to lovers. Riley is hired to break a curse on a Scottish castle and Clark needs Riley off his survey site. Antics ensue. RELEASE DATE: NOV 14, 2023
   
10. A Demon's Guide to Wooing a Witch by Sarah Hawley: The sequel to A Demon's Guide to Fake Dating a Witch - I am hoping this one will be as good as the first. I love a witchy read. This one also features an amnesia trope! RELEASE DATE: NOV 28, 2023
    

What books are on your most anticipated list?Did any of mine make your list?

Top Ten Books on my Summer 2023 TBR

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly bookish meme hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl. More information here.

Like last go-around, I'm posting a few days late here. I read half of what was on my list from last time, so making some progress. Although I would really love to start these suckers fresh. My reading is definitely starting to take a dip but we'll see what happens by fall! I'm adding 5 new books to the seasonal TBR.

1. Always Jane by Jenn Bennett - Leftover from my 2022 Seasonal TBR (All 4) + Spring 2023 TBR - Netgalley book
   
2. The Witch Haven by Sasha Peyton Smith - Leftover from my 2022 Seasonal TBR (All 4) + Spring 2023 TBR
3. Soul of Stars by Ashley Poston - Leftover from my Summer, Fall, & Winter TBR + Spring 2023 TBR
4. The Cursed Sea by Lauren DeStefano - Leftover from my Summer, Fall, & Winter TBR + Spring 2023 TBR
5. Black Witch Magic by Mila Nicks - Leftover from my Fall & Winter TBR + Spring 2023 TBR
6. Out of the Blue by Jason June - I watched an author chat and got very excited to read this one. And par the course, never picked it up! I had it on suspended hold at the library but forgot to extend, so this one is borrowed and ready to read. 
7. Unfortunately Yours by Tessa Bailey - A sequel and a book I have received from Netgalley...and this is on my June TBR. June's coming to an end so I really would like to keep this at the forefront and actually read it.
8. The Love Theorem by Camilla Isley - Another Netgalley book on my June TBR that I haven't gotten to yet but really want to read asap.
9. Text Appeal by Amber Roberts - Also another Netgalley book but this one I would love to read before its release in August.
10. The Final Empire by Brandon Sanderson - I really really want to read this and it's on my 5 star prediction list. I gotta get it on another TBR and force myself to do it. I'm so intimidated by its size.
    

What books are on your seasonal TBR?
What books on my TBR should I get to first?

May 2023 Book Haul

I tend to haul less when I'm busier and not reading as much. In May, I only hauled 4 books. I've read one of these and hope to read 2 of them in June. I'm down to 74% on having read the books I've hauled this year so far. In the grand scheme of things, I only have 10 books that I haven't read that I've hauled in 2023, which is fantastic!

PURCHASED BOOKS

1. A Thousand Recipes for Revenge by Beth Cato (Kindle)
   

REVIEW BOOKS

1.  Unfortunately Yours by Tessa Bailey (Kindle)
   

LIBRARY BOOKS

1. The Heartbreak Bakery by AR Capetta (Audio)
2. Here for the Drama by Kate Bromley (Kindle)
   

Tally for 2023:
Total Books Hauled: 39 (Read: 29/Unread: 10)
Total Purchased Books: 6 (Read: 3/Unread: 3)
Total Review Books: 8 (Read: 2/Unread: 4)
Total Library Books: 25 (Read: 24/Unread: 1)

What did you buy, borrow, or receive in May?

Have you read any of my hauled books?

Books I Read in May 2023

I read 6 books in May.

• The Vegas Diaries by Holly Madison (Audio, 8 hr 9 min, 2016, Adult Nonfiction, Purchased) - 3.5 stars | My Review
• The Heartbreak Bakery by AR Capetta (Audio, 10 hr 22 min, 2021, YA Contemporary, Library) - 3 stars | My Review
• A Witch's Guide to Fake Dating a Demon by Sarah Hawley (Kindle, 395 pages, 2023, Adult Paranormal Romance, Library) - 4 stars | My Review - Counted towards Series challenge 
• One, Two, Three by Elodie Nowodazkij (Kindle, 298 pages, 2014, YA Contemporary, Netgalley) - 3.5 star| My Review - Counted towards Netgalley challenge
• Kings of they Wyld by Nicholas Eames (Audio, 17 hr 49 min, 2017, Adult Fantasy, Purchased) - 5 stars | My Review - Counted towards Series challenge
• Traitor's Blade by Sebastian De Castell (Audio, 12 hr 51 min, 2014, Adult Fantasy, Purchased) - 4 stars | My Review - Counted toward Series challenge
  

Pages read: 693 + 49 hr 11 min
Pages DNF: 0

June 2023 TBR + Challenge Updates

I knew May was going to be busy and I was totally right. June should be a teensy bit less busy and I hope to get some good reading completed. My goal is to finish the 4 books on my TBR - but I would like to read at least 6 to stay on target for my yearly goal.

I am still slightly ahead on my Goodreads challenge and series challenge but slightly behind in my Netgalley challenge. So half of my 4 book TBR is books I need to review. 3 of these are rom-com type reads and those are typically really easy for me to get through. Witch Haven is one that I NEED to read. It's been on so many TBRs and so many Top Ten lists.

 
My TBR for June:

• Here for the Drama by Kate Bromley (Kindle)
• Unfortunately Yours by Tessa Bailey (Kindle - Netgalley/Series)
• The Love Theorem by Camilla Isley (Kindle - Netgalley)
• The Witch Haven by Sasha Peyton Smith (Hardcover)
  

2023 READING CHALLENGES: should be at 41% 
Goodreads Challenge: 57/100 books - 57% AHEAD!
Series Challenge: 10/20 series - 50% AHEAD!
Netgalley Challenge: 7/20 books - 35% BEHIND!

What are you planning on reading in June?

April 2023 Book Haul

April was crazy busy so I didn't haul a ton of books - only 7. I'm trying to be a teensy bit more intentional with my hauls. I have read 3 of the 4 library books - currently reading the other. I got a free book off my Kindle wishlist and then hauled 2 Netgalley books. I'm down from the 82% last month to 77% for having read books hauled this year. Still pretty happy with that.

PURCHASED BOOKS

1.  Ten Trends to Seduce Your Bestfriend by Penny Reid (Kindle)
   

REVIEW BOOKS

1. Pestilence by Laura Thalassa (Kindle)
2. The Love Theorem by Camilla Isley (Kindle)
   

LIBRARY BOOKS

1. This Wicked Fate by Kalynn Bayron (Audio)
2. A Witch's Guide to Fake Dating a Demon by Sarah Hawley (Kindle)
3. Troublemaker by Leah Remini (Audio)
4. The Raven King by Maggie Stiefvater (Audio)
   

Tally for 2023:
Total Books Hauled: 35 (Read: 27/Unread: 8)
Total Purchased Books: 5 (Read: 3/Unread: 2)
Total Review Books: 7 (Read: 2/Unread: 5)
Total Library Books: 23 (Read: 22/Unread: 1)

What did you buy, borrow, or receive in April?

Have you read any of my hauled books?

Books I Read in April 2023

I read 10 books in April.

• This Wicked Fate by Kalynn Bayron (Audio, 9 hr 16 min, 2022, YA Fantasy, Library) - 3.5 stars | My Review - Counted towards Series challenge
• Make a Wish by Helena Hunting (Kindle, 320 pages, 2022, Adult Romance, Library) - 4 stars | My Review - Counted towards Series challenge
• Tunnel of Bones by Victoria Schwab (Audio, 5 hr 5 min, 2019, MG Paranormal, Purchased) - 4 stars | My Review - Counted towards Series challenge
• Bridge of Souls by Victoria Schwab (Audio, 5 hr 36 min, 2021, MG Paranormal, Purchased) - 4 stars | My Review - Counted towards Series challenge
• Troublemaker by Leah Remini (Audio, 7 hr 12 min, 2017, Adult Nonfiction, Library) - 4 stars | My Review
• The Raven Boys by Maggie Stiefvater (Audio, 11 hr 8 min, 2012, YA Paranormal, Purchased) - 4 stars | My Reread Review - Counted towards Series challenge 
• The Dream Thieves by Maggie Stiefvater (Audio, 12 hr 45 min, 2013, YA Paranormal, Purchased) - 3.5 stars | My Reread Review - Counted towards Series challenge
• Blue Lily, Lily Blue by Maggie Stiefvater (Audio, 10 hr 3 min, 2014, YA Paranormal, Purchased) - 4 stars | My Review - Counted towards Series challenge
• The Raven King by Maggie Stiefvater (Audio, 11 hr 51 min, 2016, YA Paranormal, Library) - 4 stars | My Review - Counted towards Series challenge
• Will Grayson, Will Grayson by John Green and David Leviathan (Audio, 7 hr 51 min, YA Contemporary, Purchased) - 3.5 stars | My Review
  

Pages read: 320 + 80 hr 47 min
Pages DNF: 0

May 2023 TBR + Challenge Updates

What a wild ride April was! I continue to be insanely busy and will be throughout May too. I've decided that I am going to take a break from playing Words & Whimsy reading challenge. I've done it for 2 whole years - they also recently changed their platform and it's hard for me to keep up with it. I'm going to continue to hope to read 8 books a month but my true goal is 4. I'm halfway through my yearly challenge in just 4 months! To finish out the year, I need to read at least 6 books each month. I keep putting a physical book on my TBR and I really need to just buckle down and pick up a real book for once! The remaining 3 on my TBR are Kindle books.

I am ahead on my series challenge and just slightly behind in my Netgalley challenge, so I would like to focus on it at some point. I might do that in August because of the alliteration of ARC August ;) But it really just depends on how that goes over the next few months. I also recently went through my Goodreads shelves and my to-read list got a lot smaller. It took me a few weeks to go through everything so I most likely won't do that again for a few more years. I basically went through everything published before 2015 and if I didn't have access to it and wasn't super wanting to read it still, it came off my list. I have a habit of putting some kind of obscure books on my list and then you cannot get it unless you buy it used on Amazon and I'm not that hard up to have more physical books in my house that I don't really want to read.

My TBR for May:

• Traitor's Blade by Sebastian de Castell (Physical - Series)
  
• The Heartbreak Bakery by AR Capetta (Kindle)
  
• The Vegas Diaries by Holly Madison (Kindle)
  
• One, Two, Three by Elodie Nowdazkij (Kindle - Netgalley)
  

2023 READING CHALLENGES: should be at 33% 
Goodreads Challenge: 51/100 books - 51% AHEAD!
Series Challenge: 10/20 series - 50% AHEAD!
Netgalley Challenge: 6/20 books - 30% BEHIND!

What are you planning on reading in May?