Category: Uncategorized

Looking Back on 2025: Books on the Backlist

I don’t think I did too well with reading books from the backlist this year. But I have a few on my bookshelf that I really, really, really want to knock off my list so I hope I can do in 2026. Anyway let’s see what books I read from the backlist.

Books on the Backlist

Out of 200+ books I read in 2025, 33 books were on the backlist.

Goodreads Year in Books | 2025

It’s another Goodreads Year in Books and I love how they email out these graphics so I don’t have to do the work of making my own! So let’s take a look at how my year on Goodreads went.

This graphic says I read 191 but I know it’s over 200. And the last graphic says it’s 232 which is more accurate! Not sure why it’s different numbers. Except maybe because I’ve been reading January 2026 releases. So maybe the 191 is actual 2025 books and backlist books.

I guess they can’t fit all my 5 star reads. I feel like some books are missing from this graphic like Oathbound by. Tracy Deonn. I’m sure I gave it 4.5 which is a 5 star on Goodreads since they don’t have a half-point rating.

I didn’t realize I lowered my reading challege to 100 – I usually keep it at 125! But this year was so draining on my mental health because of everything going on in our country that reading was my way to stay sane. And at the looks of it, I needed 232 books to keep me sane, which is crazy. Usually I hit a limit at 170 books, where I just can’t read anymore.

Also, I think because I’m an arc reader on NetGalley it’s a given I’m going to hit my reading goals. It’s hard not too – I don’t think my reading challenge really matters anymore. The challenge I’m more concerned with is actually finishing the arcs I have requested. So I’m not looking at how many books I read a year now, I’m just looking to finishing what I requested.

Anyway, how was your #goodreadsyearinbooks ?

Looking Back on 2025: New to Me Authors

These are always fun to do at the end of the year. This year I’ve read the most books ever in a year, so this list might be huge!

New to Me Authors in 2025

  • Ruin by. Gillian Eliza West
  • Yes No Maybe by. Jessica Sherry
  • The Lotus Shoes by. Jane Yang
  • Nature of Frost by. Jus Accardo
  • Anathema by. Keri Lake **
  • Amid Clouds and Bones by. Ella Fields
  • Everything I Promised You by. Katy Upperman **
  • The Rose Bargain by. Sasha Peyton Smith
  • The Serpent and the Wolf by. Rebecca Robinson
  • A Court Bright and Broken by. Amy Patrick
  • One in a Million by. Beverley Kendall
  • Spells, Strings, and Forgotten Things by. Breanna Randall
  • A Journey to Us by. Lady B
  • OF Earthly Delights by.. Goldy Moldavsky
  • Five Broken Blades by. Mai Corland**
  • All the Stars Align by. Gretchen Schreiber
  • Their’s Vicious Games by. Joelle Wellington
  • Lovely Dark and Deep by. Elisa A. Bonnin
  • A Desert of Bleeding Sand by. Lucia Damisa
  • Booked For Summer by. Kathryn Freeman
  • Their Monstrous Hearts by. Yiğit Turman
  • The Frozen River by. Ariel Lawhon
  • Love Spells Trouble by. Nia Davenport
  • Pride of Die by. C.L. Montblanc
  • Phantasma by. Kaylie Smith**
  • Silvercloak by. L.K. Steven
  • The Never List by. Jade Presley
  • A Fate Forged in Fire by. Hazel McBride
  • Embrace the Serpent by. Sunya Mara
  • Silver Elite by. Dani Francis
  • Shield of Sparrows by. Devney Perry
  • Predatory Natures by. Amy Goldsmith
  • Pigeon-Blood Red by. Ed Duncan
  • Bound By Inked Flame by. Ava Larksen
  • Love Unmasked by. Becky Dean
  • Thorn Season by. Kiera Azar
  • Mayra by. Nicky Gonzalez
  • Love at Full Tilt by. Jenny L. Howe
  • On Wings of Blood by. Briar Boleyn**
  • Enigma by. RuNyx
  • You Between the Lines by. Katie Naymon
  • Of Flame and Fury by. Mikayla Bridge
  • The Homemade God by. Rachel Joyce
  • Soul of Shadow by. Emma Noyes
  • Game On by. Ki Stephens
  • The Wolf King by. Lauren Palphreyman**
  • Metal Slinger by. Rachel Schneider
  • Dire Bound by. Sable Sorensen
  • Before I Let Go by. Kennedy Ryan
  • Dream By the Shadows by. Logan Karlie
  • The Nightblood Prince by. Molly X. Chang
  • Girl, Goddess, Queen by. Bea Fitzgerald
  • Witch You Would by. Lia Amador
  • While the Dark Remains by. Joanna Ruth Meyer
  • Coffin Moon by. Keith Rosson
  • Heir of Storms by. Lauryn Hamilton Murray
  • Sweet Heat by. Bolu Babalola
  • Dead of Summer by. Ryan La Sala
  • Blood Moon by. Britney S. Lewis
  • Witch of the Wolves by. Kaylee Archer
  • Endless Anger by. Sav R. Miller
  • The Austen Affair by. Madeline Bell
  • Hekate: The Witch by. Nikita Gill
  • And the River Drags Her Down by. Jihyun Yun
  • Moth Dark by. Kika Hatzpoulou
  • Heartsick by. Kristina Forest
  • My Favorite Holidate by. Lauren Blakely
  • Immortal Consequences by. I. V. Marie
  • Bitten by. Jordan Stephanie Gray
  • To Cage a Wild Bird by. Brooke Fast
  • With Thoughts of Jason by. Caleb A. Mertz
  • Blackthorn by. J.T. Geissinger
  • Middle of the Night by. Riley Sager
  • Burning Daylight by. Emily McIntire
  • Ship of Spells by. H. Leighton Dickson
  • Terror at the Gates by. Scarlett St. Clair
  • Alchemised by. SenLinYu
  • The Death-Made Prince by. Lisette Marshall
  • A Kiss of Hammer and Flame by. Amy De La Force
  • Persephone’s Curse by. Katrina Leno
  • Trail Rides & Starry Eyes by. Katrina Emmel
  • The Uninvited by. Nancy Banks
  • Spark of the Everflame by. Penn Cole
  • Dead Fake by. Vincent Ralph**
  • A Curse of Shadows and Ice by. Catharina Maura
  • Smoke and Scar by. Gretchen Powell Fox
  • Drive Me Crazy by. Lizzy Dent
  • We Who Have No Gods by. Liza Anderson
  • Your Knife, My Heart by. K.M. Moronova**
  • A Dance with Waves and Flames by. M. B. Reese
  • We’ve Hit Turbulence by. Jessica L. Cozzi
  • A Vow of Shadow Blood by. Charlene Atrobus
  • Song of the Stars by. Kaiti Mills
  • Oxford Blood by. Rachael Davis Featherstone
  • Seven Deadly Trials by. Amber Hamilton
  • Wings of Ash & Flame by. Jocelyn Bleu
  • Not in My Book by. Katie Holt
  • Daggermouth by. H.M. Wolfe
  • Good Spirits by. B.K. Borison
  • The Book of Blood & Roses by. Annie Summerlee

Any title with a (**) means I read two books from this author this year!

I read 101 new-to-me authors this year! 👏🏽 WOW. Last year I only read from 45 new authors, but this year was a crazy year.

How many new to you authors did you read in 2025? Or who is your new favorite?

Let me know in the comments!

Book Releases in January-March 2026

2026 is just around the corner and I already have a long list of books I would LOVE to eventually read! I am blessed that I can get arcs from NetGalley – so I have already read a few of these. Here is a snapshot of what is coming out in January – March 2026!

January 2026:

**any book with a star rating is an arc I have already read and reviews will be posted nearer to publication**

February 2026:

March 2026:

Are there any books you are looking forward to in 2026?

Most Anticipated Book Releases | May 2025

I actually haven’t done one of these all of 2025 so far, so let’s start it up again. There are some exciting book releases coming up this month! Here is what I’m looking forward to in May!

This is what I’m looking forward to:

The titles above are books I haven’t read but I think I also should showcase the arcs I read that are releasing this month. So here they are:

A Fate Forged in Fire by. Hazel McBride – ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

What is your most anticipated book release this month?

Black History Month: Books By Black Authors

February is Black History Month so let’s celebrate some amazing Black authors!

Here are a few books that I have read over the past few years and books that are on my TBR list:

I read this cozy romance last year called Deja Brew by. Celestine Martin and really enjoyed it! It’s part of a series so I’m hoping to read the other two.

Highly Suspicious and Unfairly Cute by. Talia Hibbert

Definitely want to read more from this author!

I Was Told There Would Be Romance by. Marie Arnold – this cover looks so cute! This one is on my TBR list.

A Legend in the Baking by. Jamie Wesley – this one looks cute! And it’s a foodie book, which I haven’t read much this past year. So I need to get back on it – this one is on my TBR.

Sleep Like Death by. Kalynn Bayron is on my TBR list. I’ve read three other books from this author:

One of my most anticipated reads this year is Oathbound by. Tracy Deonn! I’ve read the other two books in the series as well:

Bloodmarked by. Tracy Deonn (The Legendborn Cycle, #2)

Legendborn by. Tracy Deonn (The Legendborn Cycle, #1)

The Poisons We Drink by. Bethany Baptiste was a book I read last year and I thought the magic system was really cool!

The Davenports by. Krystal Marquis

The Blackwoods by. Brandy Colbert – this was a multigenerational story and it was like a soap opera, loved the drama.

Curvy Girl Summer by. Danielle Allen – this one is on my TBR!

The Fifth Season by. N.K. Jemisin has been on my TBR for awhile now. I’ve heard only good things about this author and series!

One of my favorite authors is Tiffany D. Jackson and I’m waiting patiently for another book from her! These are the books I’ve read from her:

Monday’s Not Coming by. Tiffany D. Jackson

Grown by. Tiffany D. Jackson

White Smoke by. Tiffany D. Jackson

The Weight of Blood by. Tiffany D. Jackson

What are some of your favorite Black authors?

2024 | A Year in Review

It’s that time again in the year, the end of the year where I look back and see how much I’ve read during the year. The only place I track my reading is on Goodreads so this is what Goodreads says I’ve read:

I read 181 books last year and this year just 134 (3 books were read by my daughter) and I am very happy with that. My goal was to read less, so I don’t burn out and I did a good job! *pats myself on the back**.

Of course a Sarah J. Maas book is going to be the longest one I’ve read this year! lol not a surprise at all. As for the shortest book? Well my daughter read that one and since my kindle app is linked to my Goodreads, it picks up the books she’s read. And a 385 page book sounds like a dream – I’m glad that’s the average length of a book I’ve read this year!

I finally read Verity and I’m excited to see how they adapt it into a movie. My least shelved book is from an indie author who asked me to read and review her book called Spindleheart. My rating average basically stayed the same from 2023 which is interesting.

This was my first review of the year….

And supposedly my last review…this was a good one!

Here are some stats of how I rated books this year. I have a lot of 4 star books only because if I give it a 3.5 rating, I round up since Goodreads doesn’t allow us to do half stars.

I didn’t do many blog tours this year – very, very few:

BLOG TOUR} The Summer Swap by. Sarah Morgan | Book Excerpt

Blog Tour} The Catch by. Amy Lea | ARC Review

As for some personal favorites of mine this year:

The Women by. Kristin Hannah

The Last Bloodcarver by. Vanessa Le

Heartless Hunter (The Crimson Moth #1) by. Kristen Ciccarelli

Funny Story by. Emily Henry

Not Another Love Song by. Julie Soto

The Thirteenth Child by. Erin A. Craig

The Songbird & the Heart of Stone by. Carissa Broadbent

Quicksilver by. Callie Hart

How was your reading year? Did you reach your reading goals? What was your favorite books of 2024?

Looking Back on 2024: Books on the Backlist

I did read some books from the backlist this year. I’m not good at trying to clear my TBR list EVER…I just try to get some books I’ve been wanting to read from the online library so if my backlist titles are few…that’s why. Let’s take a look at the backlist titles I read in 2024.

Books on the Backlist

  • The Endless War (The Bridge Kingdom, #4) by. Danielle L. Jensen
  • The Great Alone by. Kristin Hannah
  • Nettle & Bone by. T. Kingfisher
  • The Fine Print by. Lauren Asher (Dreamland Billionaires, #1)
  • Heart of the Sun Warrior (The Celestial Kingdom, #2) by. Sue Lynn Tan
  • Some Mistakes Were Made by. Kristin Dwyer
  • Verity by. Colleen Hoover
  • King of Greed (Kings of Sin, #3) by. Ana Huang
  • Check & Mate by. Ali Hazelwood
  • A Fire Endless by. Rebecca Ross
  • The Unmaking of June Farrow by. Adrienne Young
  • The Ever King (The Ever Seas, #1) by. L.J. Andrews
  • The Undertaking of Hart and Mercy by. Megan Bannen
  • Butcher & Blackbird by. Brynne Weaver

Let me know in the comments!

Looking Back on 2024: New to Me Authors

I feel like I read a bunch of new authors this year – let’s take a look!

New to Me Authors in 2024

  • If I Promise You Wings by. A.K. Small
  • These Deadly Prophecies by. Andrea Tang
  • The Summer She Went Missing by. Chelsea Ichado
  • Snowglobe by. Soyoung Park
  • Compass and Blade by. Rachel Greenlaw
  • The Half King by. Melissa Landers
  • The Last Bloodcarver by. Vanessa Le
  • Nettle & Bone by. T. Kingfisher
  • The Fine Print by. Lauren Asher
  • So Let Them Burn by. Kamilah Cole
  • The Poisons We Drink by. Bethany Baptiste
  • A Winter Wish by. Emily Stone
  • Spindleheart by. T. I. Avens
  • Beautiful Villain by. Rebecca Kenney
  • Curious Tides by. Pascale LaCelle
  • Just for the Summer by. Abby Jimenez
  • Warm Hands of Ghosts by. Katherine Arden
  • Flawless Girls by. Anna-Marie McLemore
  • The Calculation of You and Me by. Serena Kaylor
  • Dungeons and Drama by. Kristy Boyce
  • A Magic Fierce & Bright by. Hemant Nayak
  • This Summer Will Be Different by. Carley Fortune
  • Not Here to Be Liked by. Michelle Quach
  • A Song to Drown Rivers by. Ann Liang
  • Birding with Benefits by. Sarah T. Dubb
  • All Roads Lead to Rome by. Sabrina Fedel
  • The Girl with No Reflection by. Keshe Chow
  • Castle of the Cursed by. Romina Garber
  • The Monstrous Kind by. Lydia Gregovic
  • Happy Medium by. Sarah Adler
  • Filthy Rich Fae by. Geneva Lee
  • Dishonestly Yours by. Krista & Becca Ritchie
  • Fledgling by. S.K. Ali
  • Deja Brew by. Celestine Martin
  • Fear of the Flames by. Olivia Rose Darling
  • Road of Bones by. Demi Winters
  • House of Thorns by. Isabel Strychacz
  • Eleven Houses by. Colleen Oakes
  • The Wren in the Holly Library by. K.A. Linde
  • Bloodguard by. Cecy Robson
  • Truly, Madly, Deeply by. Alexandria Bellefleur
  • Cloak of the Vampire by. Sapir A. England
  • Darkly by. Marisha Pessl

I read from 45 new-to-me authors this year! 👏🏽 My favorites that I would definitely read from again are:

Vanessa Le, Marisha Pessl, Demi Winters, Geneva Lee, Sabrina Lee, Lydia Gregovic, Sarah Adler, Serena Kaylor, T. Kingfisher, Emily Stone, Kristy Boyce

How many new to you authors did you read in 2024? Or who is your new favorite?

Let me know in the comments!

Looking Back on 2024: Series That I Started or Finished

I did a similar post last year to see what series I started and finished during the year. It’s very interesting to see if I stick to a series or not. It’s so hard sometimes to get back into a series after waiting so long for the next book since I don’t re-read a lot of books anymore.

Series That I Started or Finished in 2024

Here’s what I started:

  • A Tempest of Tea (Blood and Tea, #1) by Hafsah Faizal
  • Heartless Hunter (The Crimson Moth, #1) by. Kristen Ciccarelli
  • A Fate Inked in Blood (Saga of the Unfated, #1) by. Danielle L. Jensen
  • Snowglobe (Snowglobe Duology) by. Soyoung Park
  • The Last Bloodcarver (The Last Bloodcarver) by. Vanessa Le
  • The Veiled Kingdom (The Veiled Kingdom) by. Holly Renee
  • Curious Tides (Drowned Gods) by. Pascale LaCelle
  • When the Moon Hatched (Moonfall) by. Sarah A. Parker
  • Heavenbreaker (Heavenbreaker) by. Sara Wolf
  • The Ever King (The Ever Seas Series) by. LJ Andrews
  • Butcher & Blackbird (The Ruinous Love Trilogy) by. Brynne Weaver
  • Heir (Heir Duology) by. Sabaa Tahir
  • The Dagger and the Flame (The City of Fantome series) by. Catherine Doyle
  • Dishonestly Yours (Webs We Weave series) by. Krista & Becca Ritchie
  • The House at Watch Hill (The Watch Hill Trilogy) by. Karen Marie Moning
  • Fledgling (The Keeper’s Records of Revolution series) by. S.K. Ali
  • A Fire in the Sky (A Fire in the Sky series) by. Sophie Jordan
  • Fear the Flames (Fear the Flames series) by. Olivia Rose Darling
  • The Road of Bones (The Ashen series) by. Demi Winters
  • The Games Gods Play (The Crucible series) by. Abigail Owen
  • Filthy Rich Fae (Filthy Rich Fae series) by. Geneva Lee
  • Fangs for Nothing (The Nevermore Murder Club & Smutty Book Coven) by. Steffanie Holmes
  • The Wren in the Holly Library (The Oak and Holly Cycle series) by. K.A. Linde
  • Zodiac Rising (Descendants of the Zodiac series) by. Katie Zhao
  • The Half King (The Half King series) by. Melissa Landers
  • Bloodguard (Old Erth series) by. Cecy Robson

The ones I won’t be continuing are:

  • Snowglobe (Snowglobe Duology) by. Soyoung Park – from what I remember it was intriguing but don’t know if it’s enough for me to read part two.
  • When the Moon Hatched (Moonfall) by. Sarah A. Parker – this first book was SO long, but I pushed through. I don’t know if I have the patience to read a book two.
  • Butcher & Blackbird (The Ruinous Love Trilogy) by. Brynne Weaver – read this because of the hype and this was entertaining but not interested in the rest of the series.
  • Fledgling (The Keeper’s Records of Revolution series) by. S.K. Ali – entertaining dystopian read but would have to be in the right mood to read it.
  • Fear the Flames (Fear the Flames series) by. Olivia Rose Darling – I liked this one but didn’t love the flow and wasn’t connecting to the characters.
  • Fangs for Nothing (The Nevermore Murder Club & Smutty Book Coven) by. Steffanie Holmes – this was fun but no interest in continuing unless I have nothing else to read
  • The Wren in the Holly Library (The Oak and Holly Cycle series) by. K.A. Linde – bought this because the book cover was pretty but ugh, I didn’t love the story, wanted more from the story.
  • Zodiac Rising (Descendants of the Zodiac series) by. Katie Zhao – interesting world building but didn’t love.
  • Bloodguard (Old Erth series) by. Cecy Robson – another pretty cover but story was okay.

Here are the series that I finished:

I finished 12 series this year! Many were duologies which makes it easier to finish.

  • Ruthless Vows (Letters of Enchantment series) by. Rebecca Ross
  • Destroy the Day (Defy the Night series) by. Brigid Kemmerer
  • The Prisoner’s Throne (The Stolen Heir Duology) by. Holly Black
  • A Fire Endless (An Elements of Cadence series) by. Rebecca Ross
  • Ghostsmith (House of the Dead series) by. Nicki Pau Preto
  • The Mirror of Beasts (Silver in the Bone series) by. Alexandra Bracken
  • Nothing Like the Movies (Better Than the Movies series) by. Lynn Painter
  • The Blood Orchid (The Scarlet Alchemist series) Kylie Lee Baker
  • Wisteria (Belladonna series) by. Adalyn Grace
  • Fangs for Nothing by. Steffanie Holmes
  • The Whispering Night (The Luminaries series) by. Susan Dennard
  • The Darkness Within Us (The Shadows Between Us series) by. Tricia Levenseller

What series did you start or finish in 2024?

Let me know in the comments!