Category: reading

My Top Books of May

Here are my top books for this month!

  1. The Secret History by Donna Tartt
    I really enjoyed this book! It was incredibly well written, with gorgeous prose, as well as an enjoyable plot. Only 6 students at Hampden college learned Greek, but as soon as Richard arrived, he knew he wanted to be one of them. However, as he joins them, he learns that they have secrets and are planning something even worse. I loved all the characters and getting to see them. It was a really interesting book and I enjoyed all of it.
  2. Ace of Shades by Amanda Foody
    This was also an incredibly amazing book, set in a fantasy world where currency is volts- orbs of energy. Enne’s mother left for New Reyes, aka the City of Sin, and isn’t back yet. Enne, determined to find her, follows her mother’s note and goes to the City, not expecting what she would find there. Levi has been forced into a bad deal and just when he’s ready to be out of it, he gets in even more trouble. It was very well- written and I loved all the characters as well as the plot. It was a great book!
  3. Nine Liars by Maureen Johnson
    I really enjoyed this mystery! Stevie finds that she can’t concentrate back in school, so when David invites her and their friends to Britain, she’s incredibly excited. However, as predicted, she gets caught up in another mystery, one from a few years ago, affecting a friend’s aunt. This story was really interesting and I really enjoyed the mystery!
  4. All of us Villains by Amanda Foody
    This was an amazing book! Every generation, seven families compete to win control of the town’s supply of magic. However this year, it’s not a secret anymore, thanks to a book published by one of the citizens. Still, the families must compete. I loved all the characters as well as the way that they chose to write their own story instead of following the past. It was a great read and I enjoyed the second book as well!
  5. Dead Poet’s Society by N.H. Kleinbaum
    This was a book based off of the movie (of the same name). I really enjoyed the story told and how moving it was! When Mr. Keating arrives at Welton Academy, he strives to change the way the boys see the world. As he shakes up their perception of life, they find themselves reforming the “Dead Poet’s Society”, which changes all of their lives. The ending was incredibly touching and I really enjoyed the book!

    Top Books of January
    Top Books of February
    Top Books of March
    Top Books of April

My Top Books of April

Here are my top books of April!

  1. The Priory of the Orange Tree by Samantha Shannon
    This was such an amazing book set in a fantasy world! It is told in multiple perspectives, with the main ones being Ead, from the North, and Tane from the East. I loved both of these perspectives and the way that their stories were so intricately woven together. It was so wonderful to read and I really enjoyed it!
  2. It’s Only a Game by Kelsea Yu
    This book was action packed and full of mystery and intrigue! Marina has left her old life behind. Now, she’s thriving and happy with who she is and the friends she has made. But when someone starts threatening her and her friends, forcing them to uncover secrets. It was really fun to read and the ending was spectacular!
  3. Sadie by Courtney Summers
    I really enjoyed this book! It was told in two perspectives- one of Sadie, whose sister has been killed and now she’s looking for the killer- and one of a podcast, 5 months later, which is trying to track down Sadie. The dual perspectives are really interesting to read and the story as a whole was really interesting!
  4. Girls Made of Snow and Glass by Melissa Bashardoust
    This retelling of Snow White was really sweet and a lot of fun to read! The whole story is infused with magic- Mina, the stepmother, has a heart of glass, and Lynet, her “daughter” is made out of snow. Additionally, the stepmother, instead of being portrayed as evil, is just trying to keep her kingdom hers. It was a lovely book and I really enjoyed the reimagining!
  5. Spin the Dawn by Elizabeth Lim
    This was a really amazing book! Maia is a gifted tailor, one of the best, and she knows it. But women can’t be tailors. So when her father is called to court, but is unable to go, she disguises herself as her brother and enters the competition to be the new Imperial Tailor. It was a really wonderful book to read and I loved its fantasy!

Top Books of January
Top Books of February
Top Books of March

Letters: A Short Story

Recently, I saw a prompt to write a story told in letters. I hope you enjoy it!

Dear,

I know I shouldn’t be writing to you anymore. You made that awfully clear with your last letter. But. All the same, darling, I need you. I need to feel the way that I did on that late summer night in your garden, the stars bright above us, determining our fates and tying us together forever and ever. I need to feel the spark inside of me when you look at me and grin like you used to when we were kids and best friends and oh, so madly in love. I need you, love. And if you deny me that, so be it. I will foster your story, our story and it will be marvelous. I will keep every letter you have written to me, every memory of your joyous, wondrous laugh, every glint of your eyes as you hid a laugh behind your hand, every time your hand grabbed mine. I will treasure the life you have breathed into me forever and I hope you treasure that knowledge. 

With all of my love.



My darling,

It pains my heart to receive no response from you. It is what you told me would happen, I understand, however, I yearn for your sweet paragraphs of your daily amusements. I long to pick flowers from the fields behind your house, then braid them into your hair as you hum the songs you’ve just learned. I ache for how your words sound whispered into my ear as you promise to hold me endlessly. Darling, do you not hear me as I call your name, long and loud, short and sweet? Will you not poke your head out of the window and laugh at me, just once, so I can feel accomplished? Do you deprive me of this too?
I went to the river yesterday, the one where we skipped stones and drank cherry wine, and I thought about you. I wondered what you would think of me, standing at the same spot that you had, climbing the same trees you had, living the same life you had. 

Until the ends of time.


Sweet,

I came by your house the other day. I know, I know, awfully reckless of me, but. Your mother was sick and I had picked up some groceries and if the flowers in my hand were for you- well, no one needed to know that. I knocked on the door, and hearing no answer, let myself in. Your house was empty, the faint, almost eerie, ticking of the grandfather clock. The floorboards had collected a layer of dust, the living room rug rolled up and placed to the side. Sweetheart, I cannot tell you when my stomach began to sink, when the truth set in. It was all I could do to not run to your room, to paw through the drawers, the cabinets, searching for the slightest trace of you. But I gathered myself, and with the slightest tremble in my hand, pushed open your door. And I found it. I found your letter, love. I know it now. You’re gone, off on a grand adventure, and I’m still here, writing letters to your ghost. I understand, my love. I understand. And I love you. Always. 

Your loyal companion.


Beloved,

It has been a year. Not a day goes by that I don’t miss you, without the silent, ever present wish that you were by my side, reading my book over my shoulder. Not a day. Darling, I miss you, that much should be obvious. However, I shall heal. I shall move on, and if your ghost permits it, I shall find someone new. Darling, let me bury this letter by the old willow tree and let it grow with the tree that has watched over us as we lived, loved, and learned. Let me climb the tree and let its branches cover me as I lean my head against its trunk. Let me adore you without needing you, hold on to you without suffocating myself. Darling, let me love you in the only way I know how. 

Forever yours.

Top Books of March

Here are my top books of March!

  1. Thirsty by Jas Hammonds
    This was such an amazing, well-written book. I loved Blake and Anita and the way that Blake learned how to grow and become a better version of herself as she found out who she really was. It was a heart-wrenching book, one that I thoroughly enjoyed reading. I totally recommend it to you!
  2. The Worst Perfect Moment by Shivaun Plozza
    This was such a beautiful book about death and the people who love you. Teagan has just died, and now she’s supposed to be living in her favorite memory forever. The problem is, Zelda, her assigned angel, has put her in her worst memory. As Zelda and Teagan go on a quest, everything starts to click into place. I really enjoyed this book!
  3. Five Survive by Holly Jackson
    This was an amazing murder mystery! When Red and her friends are trapped in a van during Spring Break, they don’t think it can get much worse than that. But there’s a sniper outside who won’t let them go until they reveal a secret. As the night goes on, enemies are made and secrets are spilled. I really enjoyed this book!
  4. The Reappearance of Rachel Price by Holly Jackson
    This was also a great read! Bel and her dad have lived alone for 16 years, when her mom suddenly disappeared. Now, after they’ve all moved on, the last thing anyone expects is Rachel, Bel’s mom, to turn up again. But Rachel’s story doesn’t add up and doesn’t make sense. This was a great read!
  5. The Brothers Hawthorne by Jennifer Lynn Barnes
    This was a really fun book! Jameson, Grayson, Nash, and Xander have always been competitive. But now, Grayson has to learn how to truly love and care and Jameson has entered into a game with even higher stakes. I loved reading this book and putting together all the puzzle pieces. I totally recommend it to you!

Top Books of January
Top Books of February

Top Books of February

Here are my top reads for this month!

  1. Ruthless Vows by Rebecca Ross
    This was an incredible second book! I loved diving back into the world of Oath, except this time with a more direct view of the battle as we get to see Dacre, one of the leading forces and Enva, his opponent. It was beautifully written and I loved reading about Iris and Roman again. I really enjoyed this finale to the duology!
  2. Jasmine Zumideh Needs a Win by Susan Azim Boyer
    I really enjoyed this book! Jasmine needs to get out of California and into NYU asap. And she knows she can do it, but only if she becomes Senior-Class President. And it should be easy! But when her heritage is suddenly all anyone can talk about, she needs to pick between standing up for who she is and her future. I really enjoyed this book!
  3. The Kinder Poison by Natalie Mae
    I really loved this book! Zahru just wants adventure. So when she gets the chance to sneak into the palace to watch the Crossing, she’s more than ready. But she gets confused for a competitor, she’s suddenly thrust into a dangerous world filled with dangerous people. This book was really fun to read and I really enjoyed it!
  4. The Other Merlin by Robyn Schneider
    This book was amazing! Emry knows she’s good at magic, better than her brother. But girls are forbidden to learn or practice magic. When a summons from the king comes, to find his next court wizard, Emry leaps at the chance. I really enjoyed this book!
  5. Hercule Poirot’s Silent Night by Sophie Hannah
    This book takes Agatha Christie’s characters and imagines them in a completely new murder mystery- this time in Norfolk-where a seemingly impossible murder has occurred. I really enjoyed this book and the new writing of Hercule Poirot!

    Top Books of January

The Shadow: Poetry Prompt

Hi! I wrote this short story from the prompt, “You wake up trapped in a strange castle with no memory of how you got there and there’s something lurking in the shadows as you explore the halls.”. I hope you enjoy!

There was a faint, dull throbbing in Emery’s head as she looked up to see stone, more stone than she’d ever seen in her life, elaborate windows, and a gorgeous, gorgeous view of rolling hills and green pastures. She sat up, pressing a hand to her forehead, adjusting the tiara (tiara?) that sat on her head, walking over to the window. The glass was cool to touch, foggy with condensation, and she resisted the urge to draw on it, to sit there and doodle and forget her senses and why she was there and really where she was.
She took a deep breath, walking over to the door, and pulling it open with a sense of finality. The hallway was deserted, completely silent. Emery’s gaze darted to the side, seeing a faint wisp of something, something dark, menacing, hiding in the corner, a shadow, really. It called to Emery, telling her to touch it, to let its cool, refreshing solitude wash over her. 
Emery blinked and the moment was gone, the voice of the shadow just a figment of her imagination. Maybe the whole castle is too. Maybe I’ll wake up in just 5 minutes and I’ll never see this place. Wouldn’t that be nice. She continued walking down the hallway, pausing as a stairway appeared in front of her, so sudden it was like it was enchanted. She risked a glance behind her, watching the shadows in the corner shrink and grow, pulsing towards her. She pushed down her growing sense of dread and continued up the staircase, counting the steps as she did, pushing open a small door at the top of the stairs to open up into a small room. One of the castle’s turrets, she would assume, a square one. 
The shadow was back.
It sat at the top of the stairs, as if waiting for Emery to turn around and notice it. Emery closed her eyes. On top of everything, this…creature (?) just had to be following her. As she turned around to examine the room, its voice spoke in her head once more, loud, bold, unafraid. I know you want to go home…Emery. Or Emmie. That’s what they call you isn’t it? And you hate it, but I bet you’d be ok with being called Emmie if it got you out of here. If it got you away from me.
Emery closed the book she was studying with a thud, letting the cover slam down on its antique, ink-ridden pages. She shook her head. She was imagining things, because shadows couldn’t talk, let alone talk in people’s heads, and this place must be making her dream. It must all be a dream and she would wake up and be normal and go to school and live her normal life and-
You know, it’s sweet how you have all these hopes and dreams. Most people that end up here don’t. And so, they end up being these unsatisfying hosts, but you. You’re different. Aren’t you, Emmie?
The shadow was almost on top of her. And then it was in her and then it was her and her thoughts and the shadow’s thoughts were just one and the same and there was no distinguishing, no real difference between the two.
The shadow wanted a host, after all. And it had gotten one.


January Top Reads

Here are my top reads for January!

  1. Aristotle and Dante Dive Into the Waters of the World by Benjamin Alire Sáenz
    This was a sequel to “Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe” and I really enjoyed it! I loved the prose and the way that we got to see so much character development and love from Aristotle (Ari). It was such a sweet and beautifully written book and I really loved reading it!
  2. Castles in Their Bones by Laura Sebastian
    This book was amazing! Sophronia, Daphne, and Beatrix have been raised since birth to be the perfect queens. Not to rule, but to stop the rulers, bringing down the monarchies of each of their nations so that their mother can claim more land. I really enjoyed this book and each character!
  3. The Perfect Guy Doesn’t Exist by Sophie Gonzales
    I really enjoyed this book! It was wholly based on fanfiction, which I absolutely enjoyed. Ivy is looking forward to having the house for herself, but when she wakes up with her favorite character from her favorite tv show, everything spirals out of control. Suddenly, her fanfics start coming to life! I really enjoyed this book!
  4. They Both Die at the End by Adam Silvera
    Death-cast tells people when they’re going to die. And so, when Mateo and Rufus get the call, they know they have to live their last day perfectly. And so, as they find each other, they live out their last day together. This book was perfectly sweet and sad and I really enjoyed it!
  5. Zhara by S. Jae-Jones
    This was a really good book! I loved meeting Zhara and learning about who she is and what she would do for her loved ones. It was amazing to see her character development and how that bled into her becoming the strongest version of herself. I can’t wait to read the next book!

This month I read 15 books!

Top Books of the Year

  1. The Sunbearer Trials by Aiden Thomas
    This was such a good book! Teo is just a Jade, so he’s ready to sit back and watch The Sunbearer Trials while the Golds participate. But when he and another Jade get selected, suddenly his life is torn apart. Teo has to learn to believe in himself and who his real friends are while trying not to get last and be sacrificed. This was such an amazing book and I can’t wait to read the next one!

    I really enjoyed this book because of all the representation and the way that mythology was re-imagined.

    Call Me Athena: Girl from Detroit by Colby Cedar Smith
    This was such an amazing book! We get to see 3 different perspectives, Mary’s and her parents’. I loved the style of writing and the way poetry was eloquently used to tell the story of a French-Greek girl struggling to fit in. The author also included many beautifully written lines that still stick with me. It’s an amazing book!

    I really enjoyed this book because of the amazing writing and the quotes that stuck out to me. It was a great read told between dual perspectives.
  2. Clytemnestra by Costanza Casati
    This was such an amazing book! I’d heard about it for a really long time and so when I was able to get it, I was really excited! This book is about Queen Clytemnestra, one of the most infamous characters in Greek mythology, as she murdered her own husband after watching him kill their daughter as a sacrifice. I loved the way Clytemnestra was portrayed in the book, especially as we got to see her early years and how that led up to who she is. It’s a great story!

    I especially enjoyed this book because of my love for Greek Mythology, especially the character Clytemnestra. I’d heard of this book for a while before it’s publication and I was so happy to be able to get it once it released and it definitely lived up to my expectations.
  3. Medusa’s Sisters by Lauren J.A. Bear
    I adored this book! It takes the tale of Medusa, one that’s been told many, many times, and reimagines it from the perspective of her two sisters- Stheno and Euryale, who remain virtually unheard of. It takes the story of the Gorgons from the very beginning- since they were born. We learn who they were as they grew up- what made them happy, how they each changed to fit their environment, and so on. I really enjoyed this book and totally recommend it to you!

    Medusa is another character in Greek Mythology who’s often painted as the villain and there have been so many retellings of her story. This one was one that I hadn’t seen before and it instantly captivated me.
  4. Their Vicious Games by Joelle Wellington
    This was an amazing book! I loved the way that Adina grew, as she chose to make her own destiny and rules instead of falling in line with tradition. I loved the whole story and the stereotypes that it turned on its head. It was an amazing book and I totally recommend it to you!

    I loved the diversity of this book and the idea of making your own life- which was what this book was all about! It was filled with high stakes and competition and I really enjoyed it!
  5. Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros
    This was such an amazing and fun book, filled with dragons and daring. I really enjoyed the premise and the book didn’t disappoint! Reading about Violet was incredible and I enjoyed her journey with her dragons, Adarna and Tairn, the whole time. This was a great book!

    This book was amazing to read, especially with all the worldbuilding! It was a perfect blend of fantasy and romance and I really enjoyed it!

Top Books of January: click here
Top Books of February: click here
Top Books of March: click here
Top Books of April and May: click here
Top Books of June: click here
Top Books of July: click here
Top Books of August: click here
Top Books of September and October: click here
Top Books of November: click here
Top Books of December: click here

Top Reads of December

  1. Burn Down, Rise Up by Vincent Tirado
    I really enjoyed this book! It was an amazing horror read, with a hidden villain that was incredibly satisfying to take down. I loved reading about Raquel and her journey to save her mom and her crush’s cousin. But what seems like just myth and legend turns out to be very, very real. I really loved this book and the way that each character was fleshed out. It was an amazing read and I totally recommend it to you!
  2. Sword Catcher by Cassandra Clare
    This was such a mystical book in which magic thrives. I loved reading about Kel and Lin and the way that they choose who to trust and who to believe in and if they can believe in the deals of the Ragpicker King, the criminal leader of the city. I really enjoyed this book and the way that the plot and characters were written. It’s a great book!
  3. The Hand on the Wall by Maureen Johnson
    This was the final book in the Truly Devious series and it was amazing to read! Stevie has solved the mystery. The one that no one has been able to solve or even come close to uncovering. However, this victory comes when a series of murders has been attacking her own present-day life. I really enjoyed the final book in this trilogy and the way that it ended. It was such a great read!
  4. The Phoenix King by Aparna Verma
    This book was perfectly mysterious and I really enjoyed it! We got the story from multiple perspectives- Elena, the crown princess, Leo, her father, Yassen, her guard, and many others. It was an amazing book and I loved getting to know all the characters. I really enjoyed this book!
  5. Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros
    This was such an amazing and fun book, filled with dragons and daring. I really enjoyed the premise and the book didn’t disappoint! Reading about Violet was incredible and I enjoyed her journey with her dragons, Adarna and Tairn, the whole time. This was a great book!

Top Books of January: click here
Top Books of February: click here
Top Books of March: click here
Top Books of April and May: click here
Top Books of June: click here
Top Books of July: click here
Top Books of August: click here
Top Books of September and October: click here
Top Books of November: click here

Top Books of November

  1. Truly, Devious by Maureen Johnson
    This was a great murder mystery told in 2 different time periods- one in the “present day” and one from when the murder happened. I really enjoyed the plot and the way that we got to see so much of Stevie’s real character. It was a super interesting story and I totally recommend this series to you!
  2. The Vanishing Stair by Maureen Johnson
    This is the second book of the Truly, Devious trilogy and I enjoyed it just as much as the previous book. In this book, we can see how close Stevie is to her friends and the way that she struggles
  3. The Agathas by by Kathleen Glasgow and Liz Lawson
    This was another great murder mystery! Iris and Alice never asked to be paired up, in fact the two are almost exactly opposite. But the disappearance of one of Alice’s ex-friends connects them both as they know they have to figure out who did it because the police certainly aren’t going to do anything. I really enjoyed the way that we not only got to learn about the mystery but also how
  4. Tokyo Ever After by Emiko Jean
    I really loved this book! When Izzy contacted her dad, she wasn’t expecting to make contact with the crown prince of Japan. But when her home gets swarmed by paparazzi and bodyguards, she has to adapt to her new life in Japan. Izzy is such a sweet character and I loved seeing how she adapted to fit in a completely new world with new friends and threats. I really enjoyed this book!
  5. Divine Rivals by Rebecca Ross
    This was such a magical book from the very beginning! Iris’ brother is on the war front and all that comforts her is writing letters to him. Letters that he’ll never get, that he’ll never read. But when someone writes her back, they open up their hearts to each other. I really enjoyed this book and the settings. I cant wait to read the next one!

Top Books of January: click here
Top Books of February: click here
Top Books of March: click here
Top Books of April and May: click here
Top Books of June: click here
Top Books of July: click here
Top Books of August: click here
Top Books of September and October: click here