August TBR (2025)

 Hey guys, this is Abi here, 

And this month is going to be a little different to my other TBR's. To show that I am serious in dwindling my ever-expanding unread books list, I am making a promise to myself: I will not be posting another TBR until all of the books on this list have been read. Not only will that make me more productive in this goal, but I'll also be forced to think of more creative blog posts (because, if you hadn't noticed, they tend to be primarily TBR's and Wrap Ups at this point.)

I'm not going to lie, I'm kind of intimidated by this TBR pile, but it's got to be done. 

It's crunch time. 

I hope you enjoy the post. 

1. The Paris Apartment, by Lucy Foley 

As soon as I think I'm free to choose the next book I want to read, without any restrictions, cue a message from my work colleague, Clare, saying that her friend is fine with me borrowing her two books, that Clare herself has just read and loved. 

I'm fine. I love that she trusts me enough to ask her friend if I can read her books, but at this point it just feels like I'll never have no restrictions. 

If you didn't know, The Paris Apartment is written by best-selling author Lucy Foley, author of The Hunting Party and The Guest List. At this point I'm just under 100 pages in, and really enjoying it. You're following a number of different characters. Jess is the sister of Daniel, the brother with whom she's staying with for a while, until she finds a job and a place to live. The other characters are all Daniel's neighbours, living in the same building. The night that Jess arrives, there is a murder- Daniel is nowhere to be seen. And there are secrets behind every door. 

Right now, Jess has no idea what's happened to Daniel, and none of the neighbours seem to want to help her find out. I get the feeling I'm only at the tip of the iceberg with this story.

The chapters are all about 3-5 pages long, so I'm hoping it's a quick read. More on the wrap up. 

 2. The Moment I Met You, by Debbie Johnson

The minute I saw this, I knew it was a fluffy romance. Which is fine. I'm hoping after the quick-paced story of The Paris Apartment, a change of pacing is what I crave. 

The Moment I Met You tells the story of Elena Goodwin, who went on a dream holiday to Mexico, ten years previously, and in one night, her whole world was ripped from her feet in a single moment. 

Ten years later, she still can't forget the face of the stranger who held her while everything else came crashing round her. 

Thrown back together again, she begins to piece together the truth about that fateful night- and starts to question whether she made the right decision all those years ago. 

350 pages, and a large-ish font. Hopefully I should be able to fly through this in a few days. I really hope so, cos I'm not really in the mood for a romance/comedy at the moment, despite it being summer. 

If I can't get into it in a few days I might DNF it, but we'll see. 

3. Unread Neil Gaiman books 

  
In my Mid-Year Book Freak Out Tag post, I mentioned that I wanted to read all the books that I'd been gifted. Which includes these three. Literally all the books I was gifted is on this list, because they're the most important out of all of them that I own. 

One of those friends will actually read this at some point, which is why so that makes me double as guilty, but you never know, I might have read my gifted book if I was ONLY GIVEN ONE, LIKE I ASKED. Haha. 

Anyway, I'm really not fussed which one of these I read first, so if anyone has read any of these, please let me know if there's one that I should read first. 

4. Girl, Woman, Other, by Bernardine Evaristo 

This book is a map, from the top of Britain to the very bottom. This is Britain as it has never been told. 12 protagonists, 12 stories, that are all entertwined in some way, to be brought together at the ending. It's all in verse, from what I've seen. 

This is a book about a lot of things: love, struggle, passion, luck. 

I have heard nothing but fantastic reviews for this book. 

Even writing about it now, I want to read this first, above all of the others on this list. 

Whether that happens, I highly doubt it. But we'll see. 

5. Great Expectations, by Charles Dickins

I guess I should be happy my friend bought me this, instead of Les Mis, in which case I would be positively weaping. 

We all know the story of Great Expectations- or we should. Great Expectations is the story of Pip. Young, orphaned Pip, who is taught by Miss Havisham, made into a gentleman, and shipped off to London, because of a large sum of money, donated to him by a mysterious benefacotr. Once there, he must discover his true self, his own values and priorities. I've heard there are some rather disturbing events in this novel, but I have no idea what they are. 

I know I'm going to need to be in the right mindset when I tackle this kind of book, but if I want to post another TBR soon, that mood will need to be soon. 

6. A Heart Full of Hatred (Skulduggery Pleasant #17), by Derek Landy 

I rarely leave a Skulduggery Pleasant book for so long after purchasing it. This one has been sitting on my unread shelf for a couple of months now, and although I've had other priorities, that's still unexcusable. A Heart Full of Hatred is the penultimate book in the Skulduggery Pleasant trilogy- the last lot of books he will ever right in this wonderful, wonderful universe. I'm not ready for it to end, to be honest. But there's no need to get emotional, I still have this book to read first. 

This book will not be sitting on this list for long, I'll tell you. 

7. The Miniaturist (The Miniaturist #1), by Jessie Burton

The Miniaturist is a novel I read many, many years ago, under the recommendation of a Waterstones staff member. I wasn't altogether confident on whether I would like it all that much, but was pleasantly surprised to find that I enjoyed it immensely. 

It wasn't until years later that I stumbled upon it's sequel, The House of Fortune, and remembered how much I enjoyed the first book. 

Hence me putting this on to my TBR list- I've House of Fortune for well over two years now, and it remains unread on my shelf. 

Taking place in the 17th century, we follow eighteen-year-old, newly-wed Nella Oortman as she takes her place at her new household, as wife of wealthy but distant merchant Johannes Brandt. Once there, she is presented with an extroadinary gift: a cabinet sized replica of their home, to be furnished as she sees fit. However, as she begins to uncover the secrets of the household, she realises the dangers they all face. But does she plan to save the people of the household- or destroy them?

8. The Porpoise, by Mark Haddon

The Porpoise. Written by award-winning author Mark Haddon, also author of The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night Time. I will say, The Porpoise sounds very different to that novel, if just as interesting. 

The Porpoise tells the story of a motherless girl, who has grown up in the company of her isolating father. She believes that their relationship is normal- but over time she gets the overwhelming feeling that something is very wrong. 

She has no solace, no escape, so she reaches for stories as a way to leave her strange world- if only for a little while. Her favourite stories are of heroic mortals, and angry Gods, one of whom will eventually come to her rescue. 

Soon, she loses track of where the stories end, and she begins. 

This sounds like a very poetic, gripping, beautiful story, that I don't believe I've ever heard anyone else attempt. I'm very much looking forward to picking this up, especially as it's pretty short. 

9. I Am Pilgrim, by Terry Hayes

Time travel and crime. 

£2 in WH Smiths bargain bin. Of course I picked it up. 

For those reading, if you think I should pick this up first, comment down below. This is your signal. 

Bit of a hefty read, but I've never really been scared of a large page count. And based on all the reviews inside the book, it's absolutely worth it. 

10. Cloud Atlas, by David Nicholls

If you've been following this blog for a while, you probably know that I'm a sucker for interlocking stories. The Authenticity Porject, Blackout, even the Taylor Jenkins Reid's books to an extent: I love stories where random strangers connect and change the world somehow for the other person. That's Cloud Atlas down to a tea. To quote the blurb "Cloud Atlas erases the boundaries of time, genre and language to offer an enthralling vision of humanity's will to power, and where it will lead us." 

I have no idea where this book will lead, but I was excited to read it three years ago when I first laid eyes on it, and I'm even more excited now. 

Okay! That is my August TBR (and likely September TBR to be honest, because who knows how long this lot is going to take me)?

Anyway, as always, feel free to comment down below what your reading plans are for the month, or even which book you think I should read first! 

I hope you have a wonderful evening, and I'll see you all soon! (Hopefully with the My Friends review I've been promising.)

Byeeeeee! 

-Abi xxxxx

July Wrap Up (2025)

 Hey guys, this is Abi here, 

And I'm back with my July Wrap Up (2025)! 

Going into this month I think I was three books behind schedule, which is definitely a good start. But, I pulled my socks up, came up with a plan, and got reading. I was even on track at certain points in the month! But alas, I still remain one book behind my Goodreads reading challenge (when will this torment end?)

But, I have lots of books to share with you guys today, and good news- I'm no longer reading the Earthsea Quartet or A Series of Unfortunate Events series! Finally! 

Anyway, enough rambling on. I hope you enjoy my Wrap Up. 

1. My Friends, by Fredrik Backman 

I did mean to write a review for this, because I loved it so much, and I wanted to share it all with you, but the Mid-Year Book Freak Out Tag reigned supreme when it came to this review. 

I might still, to be honest, I only finished it at the start of July, so I still have all my thoughts sitting close to my chest at the moment, so keep an eye out for that. 

Although My Friends was very much a slow burner, the writing was impeccable as always, and I loved the way these characters just felt like characters at the start, and then you suddenly start feeling so much for them, all at once, as the story rolls along. 

2. Clementine: Book One (Clementine #1), by Tillie Walden 

3. Clementine: Book Two (Clementine #2), by Tillie Walden 

4. Clementine: Book Three (Clementine #3), by Tillie Walden 

Since the release of Clementine: Book Three got pushed back, I've been eagerly waiting for June to roll around so I could marathon the first two novels and finally read the third with them. 

With Volume Three, our heroine is on pretty good footing- excuse the pun- with friends, a cat, security and a person to spend the rest of her days with. Until that person is thrust away from her, never to return. Clementine feels that there's no hope to return to the happiness that she once had, until she's shown the way to another potential family, and another life entirely. But at what cost?

Clementine: Book Three brings about a well-rounded finale to a beloved series of mine, and I'm satisfied with the ending. 

5. Global, by Eoin Colfer

I picked this up in Middlesborough, I think (during our Whitby holiday) and recognised it immediately. Global is written by Eoin Colfer, who also wrote Illegal, which I read a couple of years ago, and loved. Of course I had to have it. Of course I loved it just as much as Illegal. 

Global jumps between two protagonists, Sami and Yuki, in two entirely different places in the world, but both in an equally desperate economic disaster. Sami and his grandfather live in a village along the indian ocean, and are daily risking their lives, trying to gather enough fish to sell to survive, all the while waiting anxiously for the next monsoon. Yuki lives in the far north of Canada, where warming temperature is melting the ice, and endangering the polar bears. Yuki is determined to do something to help. 

Both stories are gripping and fast-paced, and I read the entire thing in one afternoon (probably because it was a graphic novel, but it was still good.)

If anyone knows of any other Eoin Colfer graphic novels, I would love to read them. 

6. Before I Die, by Jenny Downham 

At this point in the month I was struggling with deciding what to read next. I wanted to read something I would enjoy, but also didn't want to take an age to read it, because of the ever looming Goodreads Reading Challenge. Cue Before I Die: one of my favourite fast reads, when I'm in the mood for a sad book that I knew I would enjoy. Before I Die is about more than just a girl dying of cancer. It has a message that I think is very important- to take what you want and never let go. Tessa is dying- there's no getting around that- but she has a list, and a promise to herself: she's not going to die until all ten things on the list are done. 

Before I Die is an emotional, powerful book, and it is always a pleasure to pick it up again. 

7. The Grim Grotto (A Series of Unfortunate Events #11), by Leminy Snicket

8. The Penultimate Peril (A Series of Unfortunate Events #12), by Lemony Snicket

These books have been a long time coming. I think I put them off for two months, maybe. But July, for me, has been my catch up month, where I promised myself that I would finish everything I'd been working for, for seemingly forever. 

Even though you can't tell, because the Earthsea Quartet is four short stories, all in one book, I was alternating the A Series of Unfortunate Events series, and the Earthsea novels, so I didn't get disinterested in either series. 

I honestly think what was stopping me from finishing this series was the start of The Grim Grotto. It starts by descriping the water cycle, and maybe I just wasn't in the mood to read that, in the extremely wordy style that's accustomed in the ASOUE series. Once I got past that, I started gaining speed, and managed to knock out each of these in five days or so. 

The Penultimate Peril felt like the finale for this series, because you get re-introduced to a number of characters that the reader has met over the last 11 novels, except for the extremely chaotic ending that sends the hotel up in smoke. There are only a few select characters that either show up, or get a mentioning in The End, so I thoroughly enjoyed The Penultimate Peril, since it's mostly a review of all of the Baudelaire's woes and troubles since the series began. 

9. Earthsea: The First Four Books (Earthsea Cycle #1-4), by Ursula K. Le Guin

Honestly, thank fuck I finished this. I doubled with reading this and listening to the audiobook with each of the short stories for Earthsea, and it worked wonders for my progress. Each of the next three novels after A Wizard of Earthsea were captivating, entising and full of excitement. I fell in love with this vibrant world, interesting and flawed characters- because geenuinely, so much was packed into each story, each chapter, each page. 

I am aware that there are two more novels I have to read until I have fully completed the series, but I'm going to read those as and when I'm in the mood to read them- hopefully it's sometime this year. 

10. The End (A Series of Unfortunate Events #13), by Lemony Snicket

I'm going to start with this: The End has a completely different feel to the rest of the series. Like I said before, very few characters from the past 12 novels make it to the thirteen book. Kit Snicket is there, Count Olaf is also there, the Baudelaire parents are mentioned throughout, and the Quagmire triplets and Dewey are mentioned occasionally. That's it. Basically, the book starts with the Baudelaires and Count Olaf being ship-wrecked, and landing on a coastal shelf in the middle of nowhere. 

It's soon clear that everything washes up on these shores eventually, the place that the Baudelaires find themselves on. Including, their parents, right before Violet was born. A very big part of this book is Violet, Klaus and Sunny finding our more about why their parents were here, what they were like, as well as trying to find out more about the schism, amongst all the other secrets they've been trying to uncover for the majority of these books. 

It was very detatched to the structure of the other books, but I didn't have any issues with it, with the way it was written, and although I'll undoubtedly be thinking about it for at least another week, I was extremely satisfied with the ending. 

Thankyou Lemony Snicket, and the Baudelaire siblings, for your amusing and unfortunate story. It was a pleasure to read about your lives once more. To another seven years before I come across your books again! 

Okay! Those are all the books I read in July! I'm extremely happy to say that I'm finally free of all the series I've been stringing along (except for some books my colleague gave me to borrow...)

which I'm already reading now. 

As always, feel free to comment down below what you got up to in July, and we can chat about it! 

I hope you have a wonderful day and I'll see you all soon! 

Byeeeee! 

-Abi xxxx

This book possibly has the best blurb I've ever read (in my whole entire life). 

Mid-Year Book Freak Out Tag

 Hey guys, this is Abi here, 

And I know I was meant to be posting a review of My Friends, by Fredrik Backman, but right now that's the last thing I want to post. 

And I'd rather write a long post about something I'm genuinely interested in, instead of trying to invoke enthusiasm into something I'm not. 

I have the whole night to do this, so let's get stuck in! 

~The Best Book You've Read So Far in 2025~

A number of books were contendors for this, including: The Wake Up Call, Sunrise on the Reaping, and Friday Black, but I think Rachel's Holiday edges those just a bit. 

Rachel's Holiday is the second novel in The Walsh Family series, centering around the three Walsh sisters as they navigate their hyper-active lives, working through issues and generally stumbling through life. I've heard each novel in this series is pungent, honest and empowering, and even though they're all as big as this, I'm determined to get to all of them. 

Rachel is the middle Walsh child, and this novel follows her to an addiction centre, though she's convinced her drug taking is exactly the same as everyone else's- normal. Over 600 pages or so, we see her in denial, convinced that this rehabilitation centre is just a holiday. Then she's chasing a guy, but over time we see her broken down by the people closest too, and then to the end of her stay, out into the bright world. 

Altogether this was such an amazing read, and I can't wait to sink my teeth into the rest of Marian Keyes' other novels. 

~Best Sequel You've Read in 2025~ 

Haven't actually read many sequels this year, given a lot of my chosen books have been re-reads so far this year, but I'm going to elect The Troublemakers, by Tamzin Merchant for this. 

The Troublemakers is the epic finale for the Cordelia Hatmaker trilogy, where her seabound father and Cordelia finally make their journey out to sea, after being reunited at last. After the first two books wrapped up everything that was going on; the maker families all working in harmony again, and magic about to be restored, I was curious as to what was left, but honestly, there was so much more to come. 

A whole new cast of characters, as well as some favourites from the first two books, and a quest to clear Cordelia's name after she makes a catastrophic mistake that gets her banished from her home. I'm eagerly awaiting Merchant's next novel, about the origins of Making. 

~New Release You Haven't Read Yet, But Want To~

THIS. 

Strangers in Time was my first choice in Whitby, but unfortunately the bookshop didn't stock it. But, I am determined to read this before the end of the year. If I get desperate enough, I have my anniversary voucher that I can obtain it from. 

Strangers in Time is basically about a bookstore owner, Ignatus, and two teenager, fighting to get through the horrors of the Blitz the only way they know how- by relying on eachother. If you want more in-depth details about this book, you can look on my Anticipated Releases post for April-June. 

This is David Baldacci's first historical fiction novel, and I am eager to see what I think of it. 

~Most Anticipated Release for the Second Half of the Year~

It's a book about a pensioner-that's also a murderer. Although she doesn't do that anymore. 

Until now. 

That's really all I think I need to say to be honest. 

~Biggest Disappointment~

I bet some of you are surprised by this choice, especially as I picked The Troublemakers as best sequel. But the minute I found out that Cordelia wouldn't be setting out to sea to search for her father, my progress dwindled significantly with this book. 

It all worked out in the end, her place to be was right there in London with her family, but I was expecting her to stowoway in a mystery boat with her friend Goose, and when that didn't happen, I was slightly disappointed. 

~Biggest Surprise~

Tbe Pieces of Ourselves surprised me so much. 

As soon as I got a little ways in, I could not put this book down. 

It tells the story of Flora, who after an 'incident' and a surprise bipolar diagnosis, has had to put her life on hold. Her only reason for getting up in the morning is her job at the hotel she works at. 

Until a mysterious guest arrives, and requests her help at discovering his grandmother's past- which has something to do with the hotel. 

As Flora and Hal start to uncover the secrets to his heritage, Flora is in a battle with herself- figuring herself out, finding out what her new 'normal' is- and in doing so, finding herself a little closer to Hal. 

I knew I would like this, especially after loving Theatrical so much, but I never expected to be clawing through every page, anxious to find out what was going to happen next. 

Maggie Harcourt is an author to watch, guys. 

~Favourite New Author (to you)~

Ursula K. Le Guin- Author of the Earthsea novels. 

Which I finish this very afternoon (The Earthsea Quartet I mean, so the first four books). 

Her writing is up there with Tolkein, to be honest. 

Her stories are full of adventures, dramatic fighting and escapes, great triumphs and devastating deaths. 

Such a wonderful storyteller- And I've only just started reading her work. 

~Newest Fictional Crush~ 

Only one that springs to mind is from a tv show, from the 90s. 

John Carter, from ER. Yes I'm aware that George Clooney was also in this show. But I'm seen this character grow from a clueless student, taking charge in a meltdown, and aspiring to be the best doctor he can be. I'm currently in Season 5/15 and I never want to slow down. 

~Newest Favourite Character~

Does tribute Haymitch count as a new character if I've technically met them before?

Well, I've never met him at this age, so I'm counting it. 

And Maysilee. And Wyatt. And young Wiress, Beetee, Mags and Effie. 

~Book That Made You Cry~

Easy. Tear-jerker every time. It may seem heartless, but I read this when I was something quick that I know I'll enjoy reading. Because the thing is, this isn't a book about a teenage girl dying of cancer. It's a book about living each day like it's your last. It's about taking what you want with both hands and not letting go until you have no choice. 

I will always cry during my re-read of this book, because it's a sad book. But it's also a powerful book.

Basically, Tessa has a list. Ten things, the first being sex. And she's not going to die until all ten are done. But the thing is, getting what you want doesn't always get you what you need. And sometimes the most unexpected things become important. 

I came across this book over a decade ago, in my secondary school library. It was a favourite from day one, and I think I've shed more tears over this book than all my other favourite tear-jerkers combined. 

~Book That Made You Happy~

This could be considered a happy book, but also a sad book. The reason this books makes me happy is because I know that there aren't many things that are a constant in life, but good friends, if they're the right ones for you, can last a lifetime. Everybody needs someone to be weird with, to feel they can tell them anything, and your friends are it. 

Friends are the centre of this book, so I can't think of a worthier candidate for this category. 

~Most Beautiful Book You've Bought (Or Received)~

Technically I received this last September, but it's still in the space of a year, so I'm going with it. 

Just look at it. Absolutely stunning cover, there was no way I was going to pick anything else. 

Yes, I still need to read it, but it's going on the priority list for the rest of the year (along with a couple of other classics). 

~What Books Do You Want To Read By the End of the Year~

Off the top of my head, all my gifted books:

1. All of my Neil Gaiman books

2. Great Expectations, by Charles Dickins

3. Nicholas Nickleby

4. The Scarlet Letter

5. The House of Fortune, by Jessie Burton (which also includes a re-read of The Miniaturist)

~Favourite Book to Movie Adaptation You've Read Seen This Year~

I'm actually currently re-watching Heartstopper, just finished Series One, so I'm going to slightly change the question and select Heartstopper. I haven't seen Series Three yet, which is why I'm re-watching, but truly, the phrase 'absence makes the heart grow stronger' really is accurate in this case. 

It really is wonderful to be able to watch the Charlie and Nick story right from the start- and I know I'm going to just love Series Three. 

Okay! That is the Mid-Year Book Freak Out Tag! *Phew*! Finally finished. 

I hope you guys like reading this tag, because that literally took me hours. 

Anyway, as always, I'm opting out of tagging, because I'm everyone who has a blog has done this tag, but of course, it's basically a tradition on here now. 

Feel free to comment your answers down below, and I'll see you all soon for my July Wrap Up (another long one, I've finished 9 books so far). 

Okay, I hope you have a wonderful day and I'll see you all soon! 

Byeeeeee! 

-Abi xxxxxxx

 

July TBR (2025)

 Hey guys, this is Abi here, 

Welcome to the first TBR for the second half of the year- and for once it doesn't feel like the time has gotten away- it feels like, because of the heat, it feels like July weather. 

I'm treating July as a catching up month. I want to finish all of the ongoing series' that I'm currently in the middle of, and start afresh in August. I'll be happy if I manage that. 

So without further ado, here's my July TBR. 

1. Global, by Eoin Colfer

I was originally going to have the Clementine graphic novel trilogy in place here, but since we're already a week into July, I've already finished them. 

I didn't even own Global a week ago, but I received it as an anniversary present in Lincoln on Saturday, and right now, I'm two books behind on my Goodreads Reading Challenge. So I'm calling in the big guns. 

Global is a survival graphic novel, following two children in a climate crisis, who are just trying to find a stroke of luck- and survive at the same time. Produced from the award-winning team that created Illegal, comes another moving graphic novel about climate change- and what it takes to change your luck- for the better. 

2. The Earthsea Quartet: The First Four Books, by Ursula K. Le Guin

I'm currently one story into this novel, and the plan for this is to read a story between the Series of Unfortunate Events novels'. As we all know, due to the screw up this book was for me back in June, this might not go to plan. Which is fine because, I'll be taking this book at my own pace, and taking all of it in. 

I thought that the four stories within this novel was the be-all-and-end-all The Earthsea Quartet, but it turns out there's two more books after this. This changes nothing. 

I know I'm going to love this award-winning, absolute legend of a series. 

3. The Grim Grotto (A Series of Unfortunate Events #11), by Lemony Snicket

4. The Penultimate Peril (A Series of Unfortunate Events #12), by Lemony Snicket 

5. The End (A Series of Unfortunate Events #13), by Lemony Snicket 

I really need to finish this series. End of. 

I'm convinced that The Grim Grotto is what's stopping me. 

Once I get past that, it's just a big wrap up to the end- we find out about the sugar bowl, the potentially-alive adult, the last safe place, and what's going to happen in the end. It's high time I followed the Baudelaire orphans to the end of their rope, and their story as a whole. 

And then I'll be re-watching the series again. 

If I somehow manage to read all of those, and have some time left, I'm going to pick three books at random (that aren't brand new) and just pick the book I want to read the most. 

That's highly unlikely though. 

Okay1 Those are all the books I want to read this month. I really hope I manage to finish all of these, because I desperately need a clean slate in August. 

Okay! I hope you have a wonderful evening and I'll see you all soon, with my review My Friends, by Fredrik Backman! 

Byeeeee! 

-Abi xxxxx

June Wrap Up (2025)

 Hey guys, this is Abi here, 

And June went... 

terribly. 

Fucking terribly. 

I read 3 books. 

And that's it. 

And everybody knows them. 

So, as well as talking about these books, I'm going to write about the other thinks I'm working through (TV shows, videogames etc.)

I hope you enjoy, 

(You can click off this post if you want to.) 

BOOKS READ IN JUNE
1. The Hunger Games (The Hunger Games #1), by Suzanne Collins

2. Catching Fire (The Hunger Games #2), by Suzanne Collins

3. Mockingjay (The Hunger Games #3), by Suzanne Colins

This is literally all I read. I read them all inside a couple of weeks (might even have been quicker than that) and was all ready to have an amazing read month. Cue trying a couple of different books that I didn't get as invested in as much as I wanted, and boom! Stuck in a reading slump. 

I think I'm slowly coming out of it with my current read, but I still have a long way to go until I catch up on my Goodreads goal (currently 4 books behind). 

But outside of that, I definitely think it was the right decision to start this series. Despite the fact that I have three books left of A Series of Unfortunate Events, and I'm currently one story into the Earthsea Quartet, I was ready to engulf all of Katniss Everdeen's story with absolutely everything. Now I feel like I'm ready to watch the SOTR film (and no, it's not too soon. Only 506 days to go!)

BOOKS/SERIES IN PROGRESS

1. A Series of Unfortunate Events series- Next read is The Grim Grotto (Book 11). 

I've been reading this series since February. Four books that first month, then three for the rest. I have the last three books that need to be read, so the series can be wrapped up. I'm hoping I'll get to these next month, but it's not my main priority, as much as I hate to admit it. 

As you can see from the cover, the Baudelaire orphans take to the sea in The Grim Grotto, which means a submarine of some kind. 

Not willing to divulge more than that, because other than remembering that some more characters are introduced, and one of them is put in immediate danger, I can't remember any more. 

2. Earthsea (Earthsea Cycle 1-4#), by Ursula K. Le Guin 

Even if this pulls me further behind in my Goodreads goal, I don't care. The Earthsea Quartet is too good a piece of writing to ignore. The font is small, it's difficult to keep reading for long periods of time, but everytime I pick it up, I'm invested. 

Earthsea follows one wizard, not telling you his name, on his journeys over the course of his life. He starts as a young boy, realising his worth as a wizard at the academy for wizards in training, and follows his highs and lows into adulthood and beyond. I don't want to look into what comes next, because that might spoil it, but you can certainly find out on it's Goodreads page. 

I've currently finished book 1, and am about 160 pages into it. It contains 700+ pages, so it's going to be a big time commitment on my part, but I'm willing. 

CURRENT READ

I have about 170 pages left of this, and although I doubt I'll finish this tomorrow, I'm hopinh it won't take me much longer to finish than that. 

Now, I didn't specifically pick this book, it was more chosen for me. You see, when I was in Whitby bookshop, I approached the sales assistant, and asked her:

"Do you have either Strangers in Time, by David Baldacci, or any book by Fredrik Backman?" 

I only saw this because it was piled high, on top of the many bookshelves in the room. 

Seems I'm not alone in wanting to read from him. 

You guys, although art might not be everyone's cup of tea, I can assure you that this book most likely is. 

I'm ashamed at how long it's taken me to get this far into it. 

I finally had some free time to get through some of it, and honestly, it's been such a great read so far. Will definitely be reviewing this later. 

WHAT ELSE I'VE DONE THIS MONTH.

1. PB'd at the 10K- Carnival 10K, officially my most hated race, due to bad luck on my last three attempts. PB: 48:31.

Never doing that race again. I'm done.

2. WHITBY HOLIDAY- I can't believe I've been back a week already. 

I drank gin everyday. I ran/walked up the 199 steps- multiple times. Went to the Gin Distillery tour. Saw sunrise on the Abbey. Had such a lovely time that we're going back again next year. 

3. Bought a tent. Had cats in it. 

4. Got Jonah on Dead By Daylight. Can't wait to play more of him. 

Okay! That is everything I read and got up to in the month of June! 

As always, comment what it was that you got up to this month, and we can chat about it! 

I hope you have a wonderful evening, and I'll see you all soon! 

Byeeee! 

-Abi xxxxx

Anticipated Releases (July-September 2025)

 Hey guys, this is Abi here, 

And I'm here with my Anticipated Releases for the next three months! There aren't a huge quantity of books to talk about, but rest assured I am still very excited for them! 

I hope you enjoy reading about them. 

~July~

1. Sunburned, by Katherine Wood 

Release date: 1/7/2025

When Audrey's ex Tyson calls, after years of radio silence, threatening to expose the skeletons hiding in her closet unless she helps him figure out who is blackmailing him, Audrey wants to do nothing more than refuse. But a foot has washed up on the shore of Tyson's very succesful tech company, and if word gets out that it belongs to a person they both share a connection with, it could be- problematic, to say the least. 

But when Audrey arrives, purely to observe Tyson's household, and all the guests in it, she realises that everyone has motive to be killer. Could it be the gorgeous Belgian wife, whose wings he keeps clipped? Could it be the younger brother who has always been in Tyson's shadow? Any one of Tyson's guests would have good reason. And Audrey better figure who the culprit is- and fast- or she too, could be the next target. 

 This feels like a mix of Diana Urban's novels, the fiction genre (so not YA) and a bit of Karen McManus. I love both of those authors, so this definitely feels like a book that I'm going to enjoy. I just hope I actually pick it up. 

2. Clementine Book Three (Clementine #3), by Tillie Walden

Release date: 8/7/25

THE FINAL VOLUME IS BEING RELEASED. After an eight month delay, Clementine will finally be coming to a close. I'm not ready for this trilogy to end, but you can bet I'll be re-reading books 1 and 2 in anticipation of this release. 

I first played The Walking Dead series a decade ago, drawn in by the choices and the characters. Thoroughout, we see Clementine mature from a young girl, to an adult, trying to do her best by a child that no longer has any parents- much like herself in the early stages of the epidemic. 

When those games ended, I was overjoyed at reading more about what happens to Clementine beyond the videogames- and that's about to close. You can bet I'm going to be a blubbering mess when I reach this book's final pages. 

And then probably start the videogames all over again. 

Fairwell, Clementine. It's been nice to know you. 

3. Fast Boys and Pretty Girls, by Lo Patrick 

Release date: 8/7/25

Following a semi-successful career as a teen model, Danielle Greer has settled back home- to North Georgia, in the mountains- with her husband and four daughters. One stifling, lazy afternoon, when they are wandering the ravine behind her house, purely by chance, they come across a body. 

Well, Danielle knows who the body isn't, and that's Benji Law, the boyfriend that was killed in a motorcycle accident, on the main street off her house. 

So when a local police officer, Cady Benson, is called to investigate, Danielle's world is turned upside down, and she's thrust back into those dark, terrible days after Benji's death, and memories from that time start to resurface. 

They say you can never go home, once you leave for good. And sometimes, you shouldn't. 

Fast Boys and Pretty Girls jumps from two points in Danielle's life. Her life as a young girl, being spotted in small-town Goergia, and being catapulted in model-hood; and then when she's returned home with her husband and four daughters, in the home she grew up in, and all the events that unfold after uncovering the body. 

I like the sound of this, the style, how it jumps between time periods. I think it'll be an interesting read. I hope I enjoy it, as most of the Goodreads reviews are three stars. 

4. Codebreaker, by Jay Martel 

Release date: 22/7/25

Codebreaker stood out to me above a million other releases in July, purely because of the cover. It has that sheak late 90s- early 2000 film cover, like from Catch that Kid, or Panic Room that stands out to me above the rest. 

Aside from that, finding out that this book is basically a race to find something before the government, developed from a puzzle sent to the protagonist's (Mia's) fugitive father, has Codebreaker completely sold to me. 

Obviously, there's more to it than that. There's betrayal, from Mia's dad, after the Government officials sent to Mia's doorstep leave her without her mother, just weeks away from her seventeenth birthday. There's romance, with Logan, a charming hacker that helps Mia with outsmarting the Government, and helps her on the way to figure out the most well-kept secrets across American History. 

Basically, what else could you ask for?

5. Not Quite Dead Yet, by Holly Jackson 

Relkease date: 22/7/25

The #1 New York Times bestselling author Holly Jackson- author of A Good Girl's Guide to Murder gives you her first Adult thriller- a race against the clock to solve her own murder. 

In seven days Jet Mason will be dead. 

The doctors are convinced that the catastrophic head injury she suffered will, in the space of a week, turn into a brain aneurysm, and that means she's out of time. 

But first, she is going to solve it. She's going to find out who killed her. 

I've never read a Holly Jackson book, but I have watched A Good Girl's Guide to Murder- and that's enough to make me want to read some of her work. I can't wait for this to be released. 

~August~

1. Too Old For This, by Samantha Downing

Release date: 12/8/25

I don't really think I need to say more than this: 

• Retired serial killer Lottie, changed her identity and tucked herself away in a small-town, the smaller the better. 
• Hasn't been tempted for over 20 years. Her most exciting times are bingo nights with her friends, round the club. 
• Until investigator journalist Plum Dixon comes knocking, asking her questions about her involvement in past, unsolved cases. Lottie can't have that. 
• Murder is hard enough when you're young. But when Lottie receives another annoying knock at the door, she thinks that this might just be the death of her. 
• 
  

2. Hemlock and Silver, by T. Kingfisher

Release date: 19/8/25

From the Hugo award winner, T. Kingfisher, comes the latest dark 'Snow White' retelling, dripping in poison, treasion and intrigued. 

Healer Anja regularly drinks poison. 

Not to die- but to find cures that everyone but she has more or less given up on. 

When she's approached by none other, but the King himself. 

His daughter, Snow, is dying, and nothing seems to be able to cure her. And the King is even willing to try Anja's unorthordox methods to save her. 

Aided by a taciturn guard, a narcisstic cat, and a passion for the scientist method, Anja rushes to aid the princess, but alas, nothing seems to work. Until she comes across a hidden world, delved deep inside a magic mirror. This dark realm may hold the key to what is making Snow sick. 

Or it might contain something that could kill them all. 

T. Kingfisher's books seem to be everywhere, all at once. I could of sworn that I've seen two releases when I was looking through the endless books that are being released. I've even seen one in the Waterstones I wandered into last week. 

Also, it's been ages since I've read a retelling- and this one looks like one I can sink my teeth into- I'm excited. 

3. Katabasis, by R.F. Kuang

Release date: 26/8/25

This could be R.F. Kuang's shopping list for all I care. Her stories are always immense, and I only have one left until I've read the lot. This could not have come at a better time. 

There's no better way to explain this story, than to quote it. So here's the Goodreads blurb:

"Two graduate students must put aside their rivalry and jounrey to hell to save their professor's 

soul, perhaps at the cost of their own. 

Alice Law has only ever had one goal: to become one of the brightest minds in the field of Magick. 

She has sacrificed everything to make that a reality- her pride, her health, her love life, and most

definitely her sanity. All to work with Professor Jacob Grimes at Cambridge, the greatest magician in 

the world- that is, until he dies in a magical accident that could possibly be her fault. 

Grimes is now in Hell, and she's going in after him. Because his recommendation could hold her

very future in his now incorporeal hands, and even death is not going to stop the pursuit of her

dreams. Nor will the fact that her rival, Peter Murdock, has come to the same conclusion." 

So what I'm getting is a dark academia, rivales, and an epic journey into hell. If I'm not gifted for this book for my birthday I'm sure as hell walking into the shop the next day and purchasing it. 

4. The Secret Book Society, by Madeline Martin 

Release date: 26/8/25

Eleanor Clarke- a devoted mother, suffering under the hands of her tyranny husband. 

Rose Wharton- an american dollar princess, struggling to conform to her new life as an aristocratic wife. 

Lavinia Cavendish- an artistic young woman, haunted by a family secret. 

Under the pretence of Lady Duxbury's afternoon tea, in her home, they all find safety, and security, free to speak their long buried thoughts. As the women form deep, heart-warming friendships, they uncover secrets about their marriages, their pasts, and the risks they take. But they are all drawn to Lady Duxbury, the thrice widdowed wife, whose untimely deaths have often led to whispers of murder. 

As secrets are uncovered, within the Secret Book Society, their courage is their only weapon in the oppressive world that has kept them silent, but when the secrets turn serious, one misstep could cost them everything. 

You know, every book that I add to the list, I want to read. Every single time (I mean duh, that's why it's called Anticipated Releases, Abigail), but I also have to stomach the fact that I'm probably not going to get to all of them. But at this precise moment, this is the book that I want to read the most. That might change after the next one. Or the one after that. But right now, The Secret Book Society is the most interesting one to me. 

~September~ 

1. Among the Burning Flowers (The Roots of Chaos #0.5), by Samantha Shannon 

Release date: 11/9/25 (UK)

A SHORTER PREQUEL TO PRIORY!

I've mostly forgotten Priory of the Orange Tree, but since this comes first, I won't even need to read anything in preparation for this release! 

*After research*

Okay, so maybe I should read A Day of Fallen Night first since it takes place more or less 200 years before Among the Burning Flowers begins. 

But still- time to pick up a Samantha Shannon book again! 

I couldn't be more thrilled. 

2. Slashed Beauties, by A. Rushby 

Release date: 23/9/25

This book has so many details to it, I don't think a summary will do it justice. So I'm just going to quote the blurb again. 

"A gothic feminist body horror in two timelines revolving around three Anatomical Venuses- ultrarealistic wax figures of women- that come to life at night to murder men who have wronged

them 

Souel, present day. Antiques dealer Alys's task is nearly complete. She has at last secured Elizabeth, 

the third and final Anatomical Venus. Crafted in eighteenth-century London and modeled after real-life

sex workers to entice male medical students, these eerie wax figures, known as Slashed

beauties, carry unsavory lore. Legend has it that the figures are bewitched, and come to life at night, 

to murder men who have wronged them. Now Alys embarks for England, where she knows what

she must sever her cursed connection to the Venuses once and for all. 

London, 1763. Abandoned and penniless in Covent Garden, wide-eyed Eleanor and another young woman, Emily, are taken under the wing of beautiful and beguiling Elizabeth, one of the city’s most highly desired courtesans among the rich and powerful. But as Eleanor is seduced deeper into a web of money, materialism, and men, it seems that Elizabeth may not be the savior she appears to be.

As the timelines begin to intersect, it becomes clear that the women’s stories are linked in deeper, darker ways than it initially seems. And that the only method for Alys to end the witchcraft that binds her legacy is to gather all three models in one place and destroy them."

The closest comparison I have to this book is probably The Miniaturist, by Jessie Burton. Based in Victorian times, it tells the story of a newly married bride, who is them shipped off to her wealthy merchant husband's house, and as a home-coming gift, is given an exact replica of the house, complete with furnishings and characters. 

But that in no way is a comparison to the blood thirsty telling of the sex workers in victorian times, or the wax figures coming to life and making off with the men that have done them wrong. I can honestly say that I have never come across a book such as this one. I can honestly say that I am very much looking forward to seeing this in bookstores. 

Okay! Those are all the books I am anticipating in the next three months! If you have any releases that you're looking forward to, feel free to let me know in comments (especially if it's on this list). 

I hope you all have a wonderful evening, and I'll be seeing you soon! 

Byeeee! 

-Abi xxxxxx