Tag: book reviews

Weekly Wrap Up | 8/23/26

Aloha friends!

+ On Friday my kids and I, and one of my besties are flying to California for the Daisy Chain Festival! We are so excited to see Olivia Rodrigo and honestly this was the only way I could get tickets since I lost the Ticketmaster war for her Unraveled Tour (which I still want to see but won’t). It’s also my son’s 14th birthday on Thursday, so what a birthday weekend for him going to an all women’s music festival, supporting us girlies. He’s excited to see Mitski, Doechii, and Chappel Roan and Olivia Rodrigo. My daughter is excited to see Katseye, Chappel and Olivia. I’m excited to see all the acts but honestly with the heat they are predicting that day and me having the kids with me, I think we aren’t going to fully see all of them – we shall see how we do with the heat.

It’s also my first music festival. Like I’ve been to many events outdoors where they had music, etc…but not a full on music festival, and honestly it’s not my type of concert to go to. I’m bougie and old and I need seats 😅. But this is the only way I could see Olivia this year and it’s for charity! So we are sooo excited.

Blog Posts:

Books I Finished

  • Storm Caller by. Nisha J. Tuli
  • Hallowed Bones by. Lucy Smoke
  • The Wretched Divine by. Adalyn Grace
  • Fate so Cruelly Bound by. J.M. Grosvalet
  • Blood so Deadly Divine by. J.M. Grosvalet
  • Daughter of the Tempest by. Braidee Otto
  • Hawk & Sparrow by. Ayana Gray
  • The Wolf Queen’s Curse by. Kaylee Archer
  • The Calamities by. Chuck Wendig – DNF
  • Once Swindled by. Laura Sebastian

Currently Reading:

  • Our Strange Duet by. Erin A. Craig
  • The Age of Blood and Magic by. Hannah Mathewson
  • The Tarot Trials by. Katee Robert
  • A Crown of Blood and Magick by. Amy De La Force
  • Heir of Twisted Lies by. L.J Andrew
  • The Heart Trials by. J. Elle

Shows/Movies/Music I Watched/Listened To:

How was your week? Did you get a lot done? Watch anything good? Read any amazing books or books you didn’t finish? What are you reading?…Leave me a comment below!

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WWW Wednesday | 8/19/26

WWW Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Sam over on Taking on a World of Words.

The idea is pretty simple, every week you dedicate a post to the three W’s:

What are you currently reading?

What have you just finished reading?

What are you going to read next?

We had a hurricane pass under our island over the weekend and it caused flash flooding, heavy rain, high winds – so glad that though our power did go out here and there, it came back on quick. So kids got the day off on Monday because there was a lot of clean up needed around the island I think – lots of huge trees down, etc…

I did get lots of reading done though!

What are you currently reading?

Because I Killed Him by. Erin Birde – 5% – no progress

In the Veins of the Drowning by. Kalie Cassidy – 15%

Every Spiral of Fate by. Tahereh Mafi – 5% – no progress

The Calamities by. Chuck Wendig – arc – 10%

The Wolf Queen’s Curse by. Kaylee Archer – arc/alc – 13%

Storm Caller by. Nisha J. Tuli – arc – 35%

A Forsaken Prophecy by. Stacey McEwan – 2%

A Blood So Deadly Divine (The Deadly Divine, #1) by. J.M. Grosvalet – 8%

What have you just finished reading?

The Best I Never Had by. Amy Buchanan – arc – 3.5 stars/2 🌶️

When the Universe Sings by. Gillian Eliza West – 4 stars/3 🌶️

The House That Eats the Dead by. Max Dody – arc – 4 stars

Daughter of the Tempest by. Braidee Otto – arc – 4.5 stars/1.5 🌶️

This Wretched Alchemy by. Tina Mars – alc – 3 stars/1.5 🌶️

The Queen’s Bodyguard by. Lauren Blackwood – 3 stars/1.5 🌶️

**Daybreak by. Autumn Woods – audiobook – 5 stars/2 🌶️ (I’ve read this already but had to try the audiobook since it was available on Libby – the narrator who does Alex’s voice is so good!)**

What are you going to read next?

Hawk & Sparrow by. Ayana Gray

Our Strange Duet by. Erin A. Craig

The Age of Blood and Magic by. Hannah Mathewson

What are YOU reading right now?

Weekly Wrap Up | 8/16/26

Aloha friends!

+ We’re under a storm/hurricane watch so we’ll see what happens today! At least I get to stay in and read.

Blog Posts:

Books I Finished

  • The Best I Never Had by. Amy Buchanan
  • Bonfire & Bliss Bookstore by. Brittanee Nicole
  • Want Me, Take Me, Haunt Me, Make Me by. Isabel Crowley
  • The House That Eats the Dead by. Maty Doty
  • When the Universe Sings by. Gillian Eliza West
  • Full Throttle by. J.K. MacLaren
  • Sorrow & Strangers by. Jeanette Rose & Alexis Rune
  • The Queen’s Bodyguard by. Lauren Blackwood
  • This Wretched Alchemy by. Tina Mars

Currently Reading:

  • In the Veins of the Drowning by. Kalie Cassidy
  • The Calamities by. Chuck Wendig
  • The Wolf Queen’s Curse by. Kaylee Archer
  • Storm Caller by. Nisha J. Tuli

Shows/Movies/Music I Watched/Listened To:

+ Still by. Karol G and Bruno Mars – so good!

How was your week? Did you get a lot done? Watch anything good? Read any amazing books or books you didn’t finish? What are you reading?…Leave me a comment below!

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WWW Wednesday | 8/12/26

WWW Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Sam over on Taking on a World of Words.

The idea is pretty simple, every week you dedicate a post to the three W’s:

What are you currently reading?

What have you just finished reading?

What are you going to read next?

I’ve been trying to finish up arcs for August, here’s hoping I can do it on time.

What are you currently reading?

Because I Killed Him by. Erin Birde – 5% – no progress

In the Veins of the Drowning by. Kalie Cassidy – 15%

Every Spiral of Fate by. Tahereh Mafi – 5% – no progress

The Best I Never Had by. Amy Buchanan – arc – 22%

When the Universe Sings by. Gillian Eliza West – 22%

The House That Eats the Dead by. Max Dody – arc – 12%

The Calamities by. Chuck Wendig – arc 5%

What have you just finished reading?

Sorrow & Strangers by. Jeanette Rose and Alexis Rune – 3 stars/4 🌶️

The Lion & the Deathless Dark by. Carissa Broadbent– 5 stars/2 🌶️

Immortal Rose by. Alexandra Bracken – arc & alc – 4 stars/1.5 🌶️

Bonfire & Bliss Bookstore by. Brittanee Nicole – arc – 4 stars/3 🌶️

Want Me, Take Me, Haunt Me, Make Me by. Isabel Crowley– 3 stars/2 🌶️

Nest of Tongues by. Randy Ribay – 3 stars

Full Throttle by. J.K. MacLaren – 4 stars/ 2 🌶️

What are you going to read next?

The Queen’s Bodyguard by. Lauren Blackwood

The Wolf Queen’s Curse by. Kaylee Archer

Hawk & Sparrow by. Ayana Gray

Our Strange Duet by. Erin A. Craig

The Age of Blood and Magic by. Hannah Mathewson

What are YOU reading right now?

Weekly Wrap Up | 8/9/26

Aloha friends!

+ Kids are back in school which has left me a little more time to read and blog. I even watched a show on Amazon Prime and have to catch up on House of Dragon before my expired subscription to HBO MAX kicks in.

Blog Posts:

Books I Finished

  • Dangerous Haven by. Luna Pierce
  • Nest of Tongues by. Randy Ribay
  • Conform by. Ariel Sullivan
  • Kissed by the Gods by. Caty Rogan
  • The Lion & the Deathless Dark by. Carissa Broadbent
  • Immortal Rose by. Alexandra Bracken

Currently Reading:

  • In the Veins of the Drowning by. Kalie Cassidy
  • The Best I Never Had by. Amy Buchanan
  • The Calamities by. Chuck Wendig
  • Bonfire & Bliss Bookstore by. Brittanee Nicole
  • Want Me, Take Me, Haunt Me, Make Me by. Isabel Crowley

Shows/Movies/Music I Watched/Listened To:

+ Olivia Rodrigo – You Seem Pretty Sad For A Girl So In Love

+ Ariana Grande – Petal

+ SB 19

+ Sterling Point (Amazon Prime) – I decided to watch this because I saw a tiktok video that showed how the opening song on episode one was Maggots for Brains by Olivia Rodrigo and I was intrigued. Binged it in 2 days. Loved it! It’s a young adult drama with romance, but very coming of age and it has family secrets – but it’s fun and the way it’s shot, the dialogue felt realistic which I loved. It’s funny, awkward but so heartfelt and emotional at times too. It felt so refreshing!

How was your week? Did you get a lot done? Watch anything good? Read any amazing books or books you didn’t finish? What are you reading?…Leave me a comment below!

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WWW Wednesday | 8/5/26

WWW Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Sam over on Taking on a World of Words.

The idea is pretty simple, every week you dedicate a post to the three W’s:

What are you currently reading?

What have you just finished reading?

What are you going to read next?

My kids are back in school today so summer is over for us, boo! But the kids were getting restless at home – my kids hate waking up early but they do like being challenged with school work which I’m glad about. It will give me a little more quiet time in the middle of the day so that will be nice.

What are you currently reading?

Because I Killed Him by. Erin Birde – 5% – no progress

In the Veins of the Drowning by. Kalie Cassidy – 5% – no progress

Every Spiral of Fate by. Tahereh Mafi – 5% – no progress

The Best I Never Had by. Amy Buchanan – arc – 22%

The Lion & the Deathless Dark by. Carissa Broadbent – 10%

Nest of Tongues by. Randy Ribay – arc – 10%

What have you just finished reading?

Kissed by the Gods by. Caty Rogan – 4 stars/2 🌶️

Conform by. Ariel Sullivan – 4 stars/1 🌶️

Dangerous Haven by. Luna Pierce – alc – 3.5 stars/3 🌶️

The Killing Rules by. Bree Despain – arc – 3.5 stars

Vow of Eternal Night by. Lily Crozier – arc – 3.5 stars/🌶️.5

Daybreak by. Autumn Woods – 4.5 stars/2 🌶️

What are you going to read next?

Prophecy & Power by. Amy Yorke

Want Me, Take Me, Haunt Me, Make Me by. Isabel Crowley

Bonfire & Bliss Bookstore by. Brittanee Nicole

The Queen’s Bodyguard by. Lauren Blackwood

The House That Eats the Dead by. Max Dody

The Calamities by. Chuck Wendig

What are YOU reading right now?

Weekly Wrap Up | 8/2/26

Aloha friends!

+ It is AUGUST so that means my kids go back to school in 3 days. Summer is kinda over for us and it’s back to the school routine!

+ Looking forward to my last trip of this year – at the end of the month, to the Daisy Chain Festival with my kids and one of my besties.

Blog Posts:

Books I Finished

  • To Dream in Darkness by. Ann Liang (alc)
  • Kiss of the Black Flame by. Helen Schuerer
  • Vow of Eternal Night by. Lily Crozier
  • Daybreak by. Autumn Woods
  • The Killing Rules by. Bree Despain

Currently Reading:

  • In the Veins of the Drowning by. Kalie Cassidy
  • The Best I Never Had by. Amy Buchanan
  • The Calamities by. Chuck Wendig
  • Dangerous Haven by. Luna Pierce
  • Nest of Tongues by. Randy Ribay

Shows/Movies/Music I Watched/Listened To:

+ Olivia Rodrigo – You Seem Pretty Sad For A Girl So In Love – still listening to this

+ Ariana Grande – Petal – it’s different from her usual sound but I like it!

+ SB 19 – Lollapalooza – I caught a clip and was curious after liking the slow song they sang, Wakas. Then I kind of went on a semi-deep dive about them watching their videos on youtube and listening to some of their songs.

+ Charli xcx – Lollapalooza – I liked her set!

How was your week? Did you get a lot done? Watch anything good? Read any amazing books or books you didn’t finish? What are you reading?…Leave me a comment below!

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Monthly Wrap Up | July 2026

I was on a roll reading in July! And read some really good books.

I read 28 books in July!

  1. Ruinous Ends by. I.V. Marie – arc
  2. Tides of Fortune by. Lauryn Hamilton Murray – arc
  3. Dominion by. Jean Kwok – arc
  4. Song For Another Home by. Sora Lee Reed – arc
  5. To Drown a Witch by. Lindsay Olsson – arc
  6. Us Deadly Few by. Alexis Patton – arc
  7. The Someday Garden by. Ashely Poston
  8. A Bargain so Bloody by. Vasilisa Drake
  9. The Raven at the Ash Door by. K.A. Linde
  10. A Magic so Deadly by. Vasilisa Drake
  11. Vows of Blood and Deception by. Aria Ashbrook
  12. Queen of the Night Sky by. Amalie Howard
  13. Forsaking Midnight by. Emily McIntire – alc
  14. An Arcane Education by. Lyla Andrews – arc
  15. Ravenous by. Kresley Cole – arc
  16. The Anatomy of Magic by. Alexis L. Menard
  17. The Serpent’s Throne by. Kathryn Ann Kingsley
  18. The Dark in Her Veins by. M.K. Lobb – arc
  19. Prince of the Sun by. Emma Noyes – arc
  20. Roses & Ruin by. Hazel Cross – arc
  21. Wrecked by. Bree L. Mina -arc
  22. Winterveil by. Ava Reid – arc
  23. Gingerbread Bread by. Lindsay Lovise – arc
  24. These Vile Hearts by. Melody Robinette – arc
  25. To Dream in Darkness by. Ann Liang – alc
  26. Kiss of the Black Flame by. Helen Scheuerer -arc
  27. Daybreak by. Autumn Woods
  28. Vow of Eternal Night by. Lily Cozier

Reviews I Posted On My Blog: 24 Books

5 Star Reads – ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

4.5 Star Reads – ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

4 Star Reads – ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

3.5 Star Reads – ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫:

3 Star Reads – ⭐️⭐️⭐️:

2.5 Star Reads – ⭐️⭐️💫

2 Star Reads – ⭐️⭐️

How was your month?

Find me here: Instagram (bookstagram) | TikTok | Etsy

WWW Wednesday | 7/29/26

WWW Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Sam over on Taking on a World of Words.

The idea is pretty simple, every week you dedicate a post to the three W’s:

What are you currently reading?

What have you just finished reading?

What are you going to read next?

This is the last week of July – here we go! We got back to school next week for the kiddos, so I’ll have a little more quiet time to read, or so I like to think. 😅

What are you currently reading?

Because I Killed Him by. Erin Birde – 5% – no progress

In the Veins of the Drowning by. Kalie Cassidy – 5%

Every Spiral of Fate by. Tahereh Mafi – 5%

The Best I Never Had by. Amy Buchanan – arc – 22%

The Killing Rules by. Bree Despain – arc – 16%

Vow of Eternal Night by. Lily Crozier – arc – 1%

What have you just finished reading?

Kiss of the Black Flame by. Helen Scheuerer – arc – 4.5 stars /2 🌶️

To Dream in Darkness by. Ann Liang – arc/alc – 3.5 stars

Wrecked by. Bree L. Mina – arc – 3.5 stars/ 2 🌶️

Gingerbread Bones by. Lindsay Lovise – arc – 4 stars

Winterveil by. Ava Reid – arc – 3.5 stars

The False Vow by. Lydia Gregovic – arc – 3.5 stars/ 1 🌶️ fade to black

These Vile Hearts by. Melody Robinette – arc – 4 stars/1🌶️

What are you going to read next?

Prophecy & Power by. Amy Yorke

Nest of Tongues by. Randy Ribay

Want Me, Take Me, Haunt Me, Make Me by. Isabel Crowley

Bonfire & Bliss Bookstore by. Brittanee Nicole

What are YOU reading right now?

Weekly Wrap Up | 7/26/26

Aloha friends!

+ Counting down to back to school for the kiddos! I still have to do back to school shopping but I’ve been so lazy after our guests left Hawaii.

+ I have been on a roll with reading though – I feel like once the bar mitzvah was over, a weight lifted off my chest and I could devote more time to reading.

Blog Posts:

Books I Finished

  • Roses & Ruin by. Hazel Cross
  • Gingerbread Bones by. Jennifer Lovise
  • Nightwitch by. Jaymin Eve (DNF)
  • Winterveil by. Ava Reid
  • These Vile Hearts by. Melody Robinette
  • The False Vows by. Lydia Gregovic
  • Wrecked by. Bree L. Mina

Currently Reading:

  • The Killing Rules by. Bree Despain
  • In the Veins of the Drowning by. Kalie Cassidy
  • To Dream in Darkness by. Ann Liang (alc)
  • The Best I Never Had by. Amy Buchanan
  • Kiss of the Black Flame by. Helen Schuerer

Shows/Movies/Music I Watched/Listened To:

+ Olivia Rodrigo – You Seem Pretty Sad For A Girl So In Love – still listening to this

+ The Ballad of Songbird and Snakes (Netflix) – finally watched this and it was pretty good.

+ Wicked For Good (Netflix) – definitely loved the first movie more, but I still got teary eyed at the end when Elphie and Glinda sing their duet.

How was your week? Did you get a lot done? Watch anything good? Read any amazing books or books you didn’t finish? What are you reading?…Leave me a comment below!

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