Tuesday, January 31, 2023

Top Ten Books I Meant To Read in 2022

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

Last year, my list consisted of 12 books - which was way better than 30 from the year prior. For me, this list contains any books that made my monthly TBRs that I did not finish in the year. It's probably always going to be more than 10 because I'm not always the best with sticking to my TBR, but a girl can dream for the day when my list is under 10 haha :) I think I can deal with 23 and so many of these are books on multiple other top ten lists or are books that need to be reviewed for Netgalley or help complete series. I'm determined to knock some of these out in 2023 and keep my list small for next year's "Meant to Read" list.

Currently reading: yellow highlighted

Tuesday, January 10, 2023

Top Ten Most Anticipated Books Releasing in the First Half of 2023

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

  1. Secretly Yours by Tessa Bailey: I'm always excited for a new Tessa Bailey book and this one is grumpy v sunshine trope. So it's gonna be adorable and also angsty! RELEASE DATE: FEB 7, 2023
  2. Just My Type by Falon Ballard: This romance follows a 30 yr old woman who wants to stay single and finds herself crossing paths with her high school ex who happens to be her competitor in their journalism field. RELEASE DATE: FEB 7, 2023
  3. Where Darkness Blooms by Andrea Hannah: This is a thriller and I love the cover and that's really all I want to know about it. RELEASE DATE: FEB 21, 2023
  4. The Firefighter's Dilemma by Mariah Ankenman: The final book in the Mile High Firefighters trilogy. These are short, sweet, and steamy reads and I love them. RELEASE DATE: FEB 27, 2023
  5. The Neighbor Favor by Kristina Forest: This story sounds so sweet with a shy bookworm falling for her neighbor who happens to be an author that goes by a pen name and happens to be her favorite author. RELEASE DATE: FEB 28, 2023
  6. A Witch's Guide to Fake Dating a Demon by Sarah Hawley: I've read an excerpt of this book and I think it will make my favorite reads of the year and I can only hope to read it this year after it releases. RELEASE DATE: MAR 7, 2023
  7. The Love Wager by Lynn Painter: I am excited to get my hands on this. It's a fake dating book which is my FAVE. RELEASE DATE: MAR 14, 2023
  8. The Only Game in Town by Lacie Waldon: I enjoyed The Layover and I'm excited to read more Lacie Waldon books. This one takes place in a small town where two strangers gotta work together to win a game with a huge fortune as a prize. RELEASE DATE: MAR 21, 2023
  9. The Plus One by Mazey Eddings: I need to read book 2 in this trilogy but I have both book 2 and 3 from Netgalley and I plan to binge them. I was obsessed with A Brush With Love. RELEASE DATE: APR 4, 2023
  10. Yours Truly by Abby Jimenez: I loved Part of Your World. I immediately connected with Abby's writing style. This story follows a doctor who has a terrible first impression of another doctor. I have read an excerpt and it did suck me in! RELEASE DATE: APR 11, 2023

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

Monday, January 9, 2023

December 2022 Book Haul

I hauled 2 books in December. I really didn't read too much and life was chaotic that I didn't force it. In 2022, I hauled 102 books and read 71 of them (70%). I have 31 left unread which isn't terrible. I had the goal of 25 books left unread and didn't quite get there. This year, I do hope to haul less and read what I'm hauling. I definitely would like to keep unread under 25 if I'm able. I did read The Dead Romantics in December and loved it :)


KINDLE/AUDIBLE BOOKS
  1.  Totally Folked by Penny Reid (Kindle)

LIBRARY BOOKS
  1. The Dead Romantics by Ashley Poston - borrowed audiobook


Tally for 2022:
Total Books Hauled: 102
Total Physical Books: 5
Total Kindle Books: 51
Total Library Books: 46

What did you buy, borrow, or receive in December?
Have you read any of my hauled books?

Tuesday, January 3, 2023

Top Ten Favorite Reads of 2022

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

I really reined in my list for 2022 and only picked 10 and it was SO HARD. But I did it. It's a good mix of mostly romance and fantasy with a memoir thrown in there.
  1. A Darker Shade of Magic by VE Schwab (January)
  2. The Love Hypothesis by Ali Hazelwood (March)
  3. Darkdawn by Jay Kristoff (April)
  4. Cinderella is Dead by Kalynn Bayron (April)
  5. Delilah Green Doesn't Care by Ashley Herring Blake (May)
  6. The Storyteller by Dave Grohl (July)
  7. Talk Bookish To Me by Kate Bromley (September)
  8. A Very Merry Bromance by Lyssa Kay Adams (October)
  9. Four Dead Queens by Astrid Scholte (November)
  10. The Dead Romantics by Ashley Poston (December)
     

    What books made your list this year?

Monday, January 2, 2023

Books I Read in December 2022


I read 3 books and DNF'd 1 book in December.

  • I Want My Epidural Back by Karen Alpert (Kindle, 325 pages, 2016, Adult Nonfiction, Purchased) - 1 star | My DNF Review - DNF'd @ 97 pages
  • The Dead Romantics by Ashley Poston (Audio, 10 hr 24 min, 2022, Adult Romance/Paranormal, Library) - 5 stars | My Review
  • Undercover Engagement by Samanthe Beck (Kindle, 302 pages, 2021, Adult Romance, Netgalley) - 3.5 stars | My Review - Counted towards Netgalley challenge 
  • The Girl in 6E by AR Torre (Kindle, 352 pages, 2013, Adult Thriller, Purchased) - 3.5 stars | My Review - Counted towards Hauled It challenge 
Pages read: 654 + 10 hr 24 min
Pages DNF: 97


READING STATS
BY FORMAT
  • Kindle: 2 (2022 Total: 37)
  • Physical: 0 (2022 Total: 5)
  • Audio: 1 (2022 Total: 66)
BY PAGE COUNT
  • Under 250 pages: 0 (2022 Total: 18)
  • 250 to 400 pages: 3 (2022 Total: 64)
  • 400 to 700 pages: 0 (2022 Total: 25)
  • 700+ pages: 0 (2022 Total: 1)
BY RATING
  • 1 star: 0 (2022 Total: 0)
  • 2 stars: 0 (2022 Total: 14)
  • 3 stars: 2 (2022 Total: 35)
  • 4 stars: 0 (2022 Total: 40)
  • 5 stars: 1 (2022 Total: 19)
BY AUDIENCE
  • MG: 0 (2022 Total: 6)
  • YA: 0 (2022 Total: 39)
  • Adult: 3 (2022 Total: 61)

Sunday, January 1, 2023

January 2023 TBR + Challenge Updates

Happy New Year! First and foremost, I wish everyone happiness and health in the new year and for all the good things to happen to you and your loved ones!

This year, I'm taking a little bit of a different approach to my monthly TBRs. I will be only setting 4 book TBRs. I want to allow myself to mood read more and not have my failed TBR list grow and grow to where it stresses me out. Those books hang in limbo for me until I finally read them.

I'm also setting different goals for my challenges (except for the Series one). So for the past two years, I have hit 100 books. I've been averaging 8 books each month and not feeling stressed to do it. I want to strive to hit 100 and not just 52. My Series goal will remain to finish 20 books. I believe on my updated tracker that I have at least 20 that are completed series on my list that I could potentially finish in the year to complete my challenge. I've been more intentional with picking up new series that are just getting started. Those series also hang out in limbo and stress me out haha. Finally, I have a goal to finish 20 Netgalley books. In past years, I have usually chosen 12 books, but I really want to focus on lowering the amount of Netgalley books I need to read and review. Especially if I want to continue to request books. I have 84 Netgalley books to read.

And as always, I will be participating in the Words & Whimsy Reading Challenge. You sign up and are split into teams and finish books for points. They also have a mini game, photo challenge, and charity challenge to get points for your team as well. They have author chats throughout the month and it's a really fun, inclusive space for bookworms to connect with other bookworms!


My TBR for January:

  • Poison Princess by Kresley Cole
  • She, Myself, and I by Emma Young (Netgalley)
  • The Cursed Sea by Lauren DeStefano (Series)
  • Roxy by Neal Shusterman (Netgalley)


2023 READING CHALLENGES: should be at 0% 
Goodreads Challenge: 0/100 books - 0% ON SCHEDULE!
Series Challenge: 0/20 series - 0% ON SCHEDULE!
Netgalley Challenge: 0/20 books - 0% ON SCHEDULE

What are you planning on reading in January?
What are your reading goals for 2023? Are you participating in any challenges?

Series 2023 Tracker

Happy New Year!

Last year, I tackled a lot of series but towards the end of the year, I tried to be a little more conscience to not start new series - especially those that are unfinished. My goal was to get my series under 40 and I was so very close. I'm starting 2023 in the middle of 41 series.

I definitely would like to try and get that number closer to 25 by the end of the year. Of the series on my list, 20 are actually completed as of the end of 2022. There are 4 series that have 1 book remaining and another 3 that have the last book that will release within 2023. My official goal for the year is to finish 20 series.

Updated 12/30
FINISHED 15 SERIES IN 2023
STARTED 20 SERIES IN 2023
DNF'D 12 SERIES IN 2023
READ 68 BOOKS IN SERIES IN 2023

TOTAL: 35

XX. Splintered (1/3)
  • Unhinged (Book 2)
  • Ensnared (Book 3) - THE END. - no longer interested.
1. Elemental Assassin (15/19)
  • Snared (Book 16)
  • Venom in the Veins (Book 17)
  • Sharpest Sting (Book 18) 
  • Last Strand (Book 19) - THE END.
X. The Raven Cycle (4/4)
  • Blue Lily, Lily Blue (Book 3) - 04/21/2023
  • The Raven King (Book 4) - THE END.- 04/25/2023
2. Perfected (1/3)
  • Tarnished (Book 2)
  • Unraveled (Book 3) - THE END.
3. The Glass Spare (1/2)
  • The Cursed Sea (Book 2) - THE END.
4. Winston Brothers (3/7)
  • Beard in Mind (Book 4)
  • Dr. Strange Beard (Book 5)
  • Beard With Me (Book 6)
  • Beard Necessities (Book 7) - THE END
5. Saga (10/11)
  • Saga, Volume 10 (Book 10) - 02/08/2023
  • Saga, Volume 11 (Book 11)
6. The Delphi Trilogy (1/3)
  • The Delphi Resistance (Book 2)
  • The Delphi Revolution (Book 3) - THE END.
7. Heart of Iron (1/2)
  • Soul of Stars (Book 2) - THE END.
XX. The Witchlands (2/5)
  • Windwitch (Book 2) - 08/21/23
  • Bloodwitch (Book 3) - no longer interested.
  • Witchshadow (Book 4)
  • Untitled (Book 5) - Unknown Release - THE END.
XX. A Court of Thorns and Roses (4/6)
  • Untitled (Book 5) - Unknown Release
  • Untitled (Book 6) - Unknown Release - THE END. - no longer interested.
8. Knitting in the City (1/7)
  • Friends Without Benefits (Book 2) 
  • Love Hacked (Book 3)
  • Beauty and the Mustache (Book 4)
  • Happily Ever Ninja (Book 5)
  • Dating-ish (Book 6)
  • Marriage of Inconvenience (Book 7) - THE END.
XX. Elements of Chemistry (1/3)
  • Heat (Book 2)
  • Capture (Book 3) - THE END. - no longer interested.
9. The Bromance Book Club (5/6)
  • Untitled (Book 6) - Unknown Release - THE END. 
XX. Playbook (4/4)
  • Snapped (Book 4) - THE END. - 11/27/2023
XX. Well Met (4/5)
  • Well Traveled (Book 4)  - 03/14/2023
  • Untitled (Book 5) - Unknown Release - no longer interested.
10. A League of Extraordinary Women (1/4)
  • A Rogue of One's Own (Book 2) 
  • Portrait of a Scotsman (Book 3)
  • The Gentleman's Gambit (Book 4)

11. The Daevabad Trilogy (1/3)

  • The Kingdom of Copper (Book 2)
  • The Empire of Gold (Book 3) - THE END.

12. Legendborn (2/3)

  • Bloodmarked (Book 2) - 01/10/2023
  • Untitled (Book 3) - Unknown Release - THE END.

13. Primas of Power (2/3)

  • Along Came Amor (Book 3) - Jan 2024 Release
XX. Cassidy Blake (3/3)
  • Tunnel of Bones (Book 2) - 04/11/2023
  • Bridge of Souls (Book 3) - THE END. - 04/11/2023

XX. Nevermoor (3/4)

  • Silverborn: The Mystery of Morrigan Crow (Book 4) - Sep 2024 Release- no longer interested
XX. Mirage (2/2)
  • A Court of Lions (Book 2) - THE END. - 11/28/2023

XX. Wayfarers (4/4)

  • A Closed and Common Orbit (Book 2) - 10/24/2023
  • Record of a Spaceborn Few (Book 3) - 11/10/2023
  • The Galaxy, and the Ground Between (Book 4) - THE END. - 11/10/2023
XX. Crown of Feathers (1/3)
  • Heart of Flames (Book 2) - DNF @ 58%
  • Wings of Shadow (Book 3) - THE END. - no longer interested
XX. Fix-It Witches (4/4)
  • Boss Witch (Book 2) - 03/21/2023
  • Extra Witchy (Book 3) - 11/28/2023
  • The Only Purple House in Town (Book 4) - DNF @ 8%
14. Camelot Rising (2/3)
  • The Camelot Betrayal (Book 2)
  • The Excalibur Curse (Book 3) - THE END.
XX. Serpent & Dove (3/3)
  • Blood and Honey (Book 2) - 02/17/2023
  • Gods & Monsters (Book 3) - THE END. - 02/20/2023
15. Mary (2/3)
  • My Salty Mary (Book 3) - Aug 2024 Release - THE END. 
XX. Mile High Firefighters (3/3)
  • The Firefighter's Dilemma (Book 3) - THE END. - 02/28/2023
16. The Diviners (1/4)
  • Lair of Dreams (Book 2)
  • Before the Devil Breaks You (Book 3)
  • The King of Crows (Book 4) - THE END.
17. Written in the Stars (1/3)
  • Written in the Stars (Book 1)
  • Hang the Moon (Book 2)
XX. A Brush with Love (3/3)
  • Lizzie Blake's Best Mistake (Book 2) - 03/26/2023
  • The Plus One (Book 3) - 06/11/2023
18. Mystwick (1/2)
  • The Midnight Orchestra (Book 2)
19. From Blood & Ash (1/7)
  • A Kingdom of Flesh and Fire (Book 2)
  • The Crown of Gilded Bones (Book 3)
  • The War of Two Queens (Book 4)
  • A Soul of Ash and Blood (Book 5)
  • The Primal of Blood and Bone (Book 6) - 2024 Release
  • Untitled (Book 7) - Unknown Release 
XX. The Spark House (3/3)
  • Make a Wish (Book 3) - THE END. - 04/08/2023
XX. Bright Falls (3/3)
  • Astrid Parker Doesn't Fail (Book 2) - 02/16/2023
  • Iris Kelly Doesn't Date (Book 3) - THE END. - 11/29/2023
XX. Wicked Villains (7/7)
  • The Beast (Book 4) - 01/02/2023
  • The Sea Witch (Book 5) - 01/14/2023
  • Queen Takes Rose (Book 6) - 01/19/2023
  • Wicked Villains Shorts (Book 7) - THE END. 01/24/2023

20. Empire of the Vampire (1/3)

  • Empire of the Damned (Book 2) - Feb 2024 Release
  • Untitled (Book 3) - Unknown Release

21. Ex Hex (2/3)

  • The Wedding Wish (Book 3) - Oct 2024 Release

22. Ice Planet Barbarians (1/19)

  • Barbarian Alien (Book 2)
  • Barbarian Lover (Book 3)
  • Barbarian Mine (Book 4)
  • Barbarian's Prize (Book 5)
  • Barbarian's Mate (Book 6)
  • Barbarian's Touch (Book 7)
  • Barbarian's Taming (Book 8)
  • Barbarian's Heart (Book 9)
  • Barbarian's Hope (Book 10)
  • Barbarian's Choice (Book 11)
  • Barbarian's Redemption (Book 12)
  • Barbarian's Lady (Book 13)
  • Barbarian's Rescue (Book 14)
  • Barbarian's Tease (Book 15)
  • Barbarian's Beloved (Book 16)
  • Barbarian's Seduction (Book 17)
  • Barbarian's Treasure (Book 18)
  • Barbarian's Bride (Book 19) 
XX. Legend (3/3)
  • Legend (Book 1) - 02/02/2023
  • Prodigy (Book 2) - 02/03/2023
  • Champion (Book 3) - THE END. - 02/05/2023
23. The Merriwell Sisters (1/3)
  • Never Fall for Your Fiancee (Book 1) - 02/22/2023
  • Never Rescue a Rogue (Book 2)
  • Never Wager With a Wallflower - THE END.
XX. Bridgertons (8/8)
  • The Duke & I (Book 1) - 03/05/2023
  • The Viscount Who Loved Me (Book 2) - 03/06/2023
  • An Offer from a Gentleman (Book 3) - 03/07/2023
  • Romancing Mister Bridgerton (Book 4) - 03/08/2023
  • To Sir Phillip, With Love (Book 5) - 03/08/2023
  • When He Was Wicked (Book 6) - 03/09/2023
  • It's in His Kiss (Book 7) - 03/10/2023
  • On the Way to the Wedding (Book 8) - THE END. - 03/13/2023
XX. Thornchapel (1/4)
  • A Lesson in Thorns (Book 1) - 03/12/2023
  • Feast of Sparks (Book 2) - no longer interested.
  • Harvest of Sighs (Book 3)
  • Door of Bruises (Book 4) - THE END.
24. Fire and Thorns (1/4)
  • The Girl of Fire and Thorns (Book 1) - 03/15/2023
  • The Crown of Embers (Book 2)
  • The Bitter Kingdom (Book 3)
  • The Empire of Dreams (Book 4) - THE END.
25. A Vine Mess (2/2)
  • Secretly Yours (Book 1) - 03/27/23
  • Unfortunately Yours (Book 2) - 11/25/23
XX. Alex Stern (2/3)
  • Hell Bent (Book 2) - 03/02/23
  • Untitled (Book 3) - Unknown Release - no longer interested.
XX. This Poison Heart (2/2)
  • This Poison Heart (Book 1) - 03/30/23
  • This Wicked Fate (Book 2) - THE END. - 04/03/23
26. Glimmer Falls (1/2)
  • A Witch's Guide to Fake Dating a Demon (Book 1) - 05/04/23
  • A Demon's Guide to Wooing a Witch (Book 2)
XX. The Band (1/3)
  • Kings of the Wyld (Book 1) - 05/17/23
  • Bloody Rose (Book 2)- no longer interested.
  • Outlaw Empire (Book 3) - Unknown Release
XX. Greatcoats (1/4)
  • Traitor's Blade (Book 1) - 05/22/23
  • Knight's Shadow (Book 2)
  • Saint's Blood (Book 3)
  • Tyrant's Throne (Book 4) - THE END. - no longer interested.

XX. Outlander (9/9)

  • Outlander (Book 1) - 06/20/23
  • Dragonfly in Amber (Book 2) - 07/30/23
  • Voyager (Book 3) - 09/17/23
  • Drums of Autumn (Book 4) - 10/05/23
  • The Fiery Cross (Book 5) - 10/15/23
  • A Breath of Snow and Ashes (Book 6) - 11/09/23
  • An Echo in the Bone (Book 7) - 11/15/23
  • Written in My Own Heart's Blood (Book 8) - 11/22/23
  • Go Tell the Bees That I Am Gone (Book 9) - 12/08/23
27. The Witch Haven (1/2)
  • The Witch Haven (Book 1) - 07/28/23
  • The Witch Hunt (Book 2) - THE END.

28. When In Rome (1/2)

  • When in Rome (Book 1)
  • Practice Makes Perfect (Book 2) - 08/25/23 
29. Borrow My Heart (1/?)
  • Borrow My Heart (Book 1) - 08/25/23 
  • Untitled Book 2 - Unknown Release
30. Graceling (1/5)
  • Graceling (Book 1) - 09/05/23
  • Fire (Book 2)
  • Bitterblue (Book 3)
  • Winterkeep (Book 4)
  • Seasparrow (Book 5) - THE END.
31. In Death (1/-)
  • Naked in Death (Book 1) - 09/29/23
  • Glory in Death (Book 2) - 12/21/23 
  • Immortal in Death (Book 3)

32. Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy (1/5)

  • The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy (Book 1) - 10/06/23
  • The Restaurant at the End of the Universe (Book 2) 
  • Life, The Universe, and Everything (Book 3)
  • So Long, and Thanks for All the Fish (Book 4)
  • Mostly Harmless (Book 5) - THE END.
33. Tita Rosie's Kitchen Mystery (1/4)
  • Arsenic and Adobo (Book 1) - 10/17/23
  • Homicide and Halo-Halo (Book 2) 
  • Blackmail and Bibingka (Book 3)
  • Murder and Mamon (Book 4)
34. Mistborn (1/7)
  • The Final Empire (Book 1) - 12/14/2023
  • The Well of Ascension (Book 2)
  • The Hero of Ages (Book 3)
  • The Alloy of Law (Book 4)
  • Shadows of Self (Book 5)
  • The Bands of Mourning (Book 6)
  • The Lost Metal (Book 7)

35. Throne of Glass (1/7)

  • Throne of Glass (Book 1) - 12/20/2023
  • Crown of Midnight (Book 2)
  • Heir of Fire (Book 3)
  • Queen of Shadows (Book 4)
  • Empire of Storms (Book 5)
  • Tower of Dawn (Book 6)
  • Kingdom of Ash (Book 7)
TOTALS FOR 2022
STARTED: 54
FINISHED 21 SERIES IN 2022
STARTED 15 SERIES IN 2022
READ 61 BOOKS IN SERIES IN 2022
DNF'D 7 SERIES IN 2022
TOTAL: 41