Hello there! I have been nothing but scarce this year and while part of it comes from a busy schedule, there's also a newfound wariness that comes from the feeling that I have to be careful of what I put out to the world. When we all end up having a corner of the internet to ourselves through social media, it becomes easy for anyone to step in and engage with our thoughts. Maybe I'm reading too much into it, I do have a tendency to overthink, but I'm definitely feeling conflicted on wanting to promote my space and increase social engagement but also wanting to keep my thoughts away from public eye.

Anywho, can you tell my blogging skills are a bit rusty from disuse? Despite my lack of activity here, I have been doing pretty well in the realm of reading. I've managed to finish a total of seven books so far through multiple formats and thought I'd try doing a quarterly wrap-up since I don't read enough for monthly ones anymore.

            
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the picture of dorian gray by oscar wilde
★★★★ - physical
I was so incredibly proud of myself when I finished this because I've had a copy on my shelves for over five years. While I do have a soft spot for classics, I still struggled a lot to sit myself down and read one through without a class syllabus keeping me on task. For all that I was expecting from this book, I was really surprised by how much fun I had. The conversations between characters, through some lengthy monologues from Sir Henry, included so much commentary on British society, youth, and love. In some cases, I wish I was reading this for a class because I would have loved for an opportunity to really analyze the text.

the kiss quotient by helen hoang
★★★☆ - audio/ebook
I went through a bit of a phase where I just wanted something cute and fluffy and have seen The Kiss Quotient around but reviews were always been iffy. Picking this up on audio was quite a surprise because I found myself really rooting for the characters. The insta-attraction was believable and while Stella and Michael have their fair share of miscommunication, I was still easily won over by their chemistry and relationship development.

the honeys by ryan la sala
★★★★ - audio
Technically, I started this in December but with all the end of year madness I never ended up finishing the audiobook until February. The Honeys is an example of me dipping into YA horror and I can't tell if I'm intrigued or scared. One thing's for sure, the audiobook production is hands down one of the best I've ever listened to. I legit got chills multiple times and Ryan La Sala's exploration of grief, gender fluidity, and societal wealth was absolutely stunning.

this time it's real by ann liang
★★★☆ - physical
Ann Liang's sophomore novel brought out all the adorable chemistry that I loved from her debut and this could very well be one of my new comfort reads for a dose of serotonin. In a class fake-dating trope, Eliza and Caz team up to conquer the newfound popularity Eliza is receiving after her essay goes viral. The banter and gentle buildup of their relationship, along with the mouthwatering food adventures they go on together, create the softest couples ever in YA that need to be protected at all costs.
review

          

the last tale of the flower bride by roshani chokshi
★★★★☆ - physical
My first favorite of the year and one that officially solidified Roshani Chokshi as one of my favorite authors, The Last Tale of the Flower Bride is haunting and gorgeously written. It feels like you are kept on the edge of something magical and nobody is to be trusted. The blending of the otherworld and our reality with the faintest touch of magic accompanied by a plot line that unfolds like the best secret gives me the absolute chills just thinking about it.
review

twisted love by ana huang
★★★ - ebook
Are billionaire romances realistic? No. But they do have their magnetic charm and can be quite entertaining to read. I'll admit, I'm not the biggest fan of Alex and Ava as a couple and individuals as they fall very neatly into the classic tropes and character arcs. However, is this book addicting to read? Yes, I think I read all 400-something pages in a day and while this couple is not my favorite, I am finding myself quite intrigued by the rest of the friend group so I'll probably end up picking up some other Ana Huang books in the future.

the stolen heir by holly black
★★★☆ - audio
I honestly didn't think I was going to continue with the Elfhame world when The Stolen Heir was announced by I've surprisingly heard very little since its release and my curiosity was piqued. The audiobook was decent overall but the plot didn't quite captivate me as much as the original trilogy. Regardless, it's so much easier to like Oak and Suren as characters and despite their twisted fae nature, there's something gentler about them that I love. With that said, I do think I'll continue with the sequel just to see how everything plays out and because I want answers - especially after that ending.

We're going to quietly ignore the fact that I've had this in the drafts for over two weeks but it's finished and that's what matters. I'm making a promise to myself to incorporate blogging back into my life because I do genuinely love what I've created over the years. While I have developed a newfound wariness of social media, I have also missed the interactions and connections I've made. I guess it all comes down to curating a safe space for yourself and hopefully the right people will be there.

What have you been reading recently?