How many times have you read your favorite book or How many times have you read your favorite book or series? 🤎

I’m a big fan of rereading, so my favorite books are picked up over and over again. I’ve read some of my favorites every single year for the last six years and some I’ve read countless times since childhood (here’s lookin at you, Narnia) 🙈

I love when I find a new book to add to my reread list. What was the last one you added? 🔁

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#readersofinstagram #bookphotography #igreads #bookrecommendations #bookobsessed #cozyreads #bookaesthetic #flatlaylove #readingescape #readingvibes #bookishvibes #booknerd #bookcommunity #booklover cozy read, escapism, book hangover, book recs, TBR, reread worthy, late-night chapters, weekend read, comfort book
Are there any book small towns you’d like to liv Are there any book small towns you’d like to live in? 📍

I think I’d sell a kidney to live in Inglewild 😂 Small towns give me such happiness and this one seems especially cozy and filled with so many entertaining people 🙈

I kinda wish this series would last forever, but simultaneously, I just live for ANYTHING BK Borison writes 😍 I adored First Time Caller as well and can’t wait for more of that story to unfold! 📖

Have you read any of this author’s books? 🤎 

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#readersofinstagram #bookphotography #igreads #bookrecommendations #bookobsessed #cozyreads #bookaesthetic #flatlaylove #readingescape #readingvibes #bookishvibes #booknerd #bookcommunity #booklover #booksmalltowns #smalltownbooks cozy read, romance books, book recs, TBR, reread worthy, late-night chapters, weekend read, comfort book
Have you already read any of your most anticipated Have you already read any of your most anticipated books this year? 😍

I felt like I was counting down the days to Oathbound and Sunrise on the Reaping—and both of them definitely lived up to my expectations (best feeling ever)! 🙌🏼

Now to fully immerse myself in some of my fantasy ARCs and continue listening to EmHen’s latest! 🤎

Were any of these on your 2025 TBR? 📚

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#readersofinstagram #bookphotography #igreads #bookrecommendations #bookobsessed #cozyreads #bookaesthetic #flatlaylove #readingescape #readingvibes #bookishvibes #booknerd #bookcommunity #booklover cozy read, escapism, book hangover, fantasy world-building, book recs, TBR, reread worthy, late-night chapters, weekend read
Who are some of your favorite book siblings? 📖 Who are some of your favorite book siblings? 📖

I really love getting the chance to see a great sibling dynamic in a book—especially in fantasy, and *especially especially* if they work together! 🤝🏼

Unseelie had the most interesting twins in it and I loved seeing their similarities, their differences, and how they used both throughout the story! 🤎

Have you read this one yet? ✨

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#readersofinstagram #bookphotography #igreads #bookrecommendations #bookobsessed #cozyreads #bookaesthetic #flatlaylove #readingescape #readingvibes #bookishvibes #booknerd #bookcommunity #booklover escapism, book hangover, fantasy world-building, book recs, TBR, reread worthy, late-night chapters, weekend read, comfort book
Have any books taken you by surprise lately, and i Have any books taken you by surprise lately, and if so, which ones? 😳
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I tend not to stray very far from my comfort zone of fantasy and fluffy romance, but I recently read WE’LL PRESCRIBE YOU A CAT, a translated novel about a magical mental health clinic that loans out cats to their patients. 🐈 It was absolutely fantastic in every way and became my first 5-star read of the year (outside of my rereads). 🙌🏼 
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Magical realism has always been a favorite genre of mine, but I usually struggle a lot with translated books. 😅 It was such a treat to immerse myself in this story and I can’t wait to read the sequel soon! 📖
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What was your last 5-star read? ⭐️ 
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#cozyvibes #coffeeandbooks #bookaesthetic #bookflatlay #booksofinstagram #booksandcoffee #cozyaesthetic #translatedbooks #magicalrealism #wellprescribeyouacat #berkleybooks books | japanese novel | book flatlay | cozy book aesthetic | book recommendations | coffee and books | cozy vibes
Did you discover any new (or new-to-you) authors i Did you discover any new (or new-to-you) authors in the past year? ☕️
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I know they say “don’t judge a book by its cover,” but let’s be real… we all do it! 😂 When I saw the cover for The Lovers, I was instantly obsessed—and then I read the synopsis! I knew I needed it in my life right away, and I wasn’t disappointed. 🤎
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This book is full of self-discovery, sapphic sweetness, and some truly hilarious moments that had me laughing til my stomach hurt. 🙌🏼 I loved every minute of it and about burst into tears when @berkleypub sent me a copy! 🥹
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Rebekah’s storytelling was fantastic and I can’t wait to read her upcoming book, The Sun and the Moon, when it comes out in August! 📖
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Is this a title you’ve picked up or added to your TBR? 📚
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#cozyvibes #coffeeandbooks #bookaesthetic #bookflatlay #booksofinstagram #booksandcoffee #cozybookstagram #cozyaesthetic #theloversbook books | sapphic books | queer books | book flatlay | cozy book aesthetic | book recommendations | coffee and books | cozy vibes
Are there any series you’re hoping to finish thi Are there any series you’re hoping to finish this year? 📚
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Typically, I’m someone who flies through series and prioritizes finishing them as soon as I possibly can. However, over the last few years, I’ve done a poor job completing all of the series I start, so I’m trying to make it a goal to finish them up! 👏🏼
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Some series that I’ve got on my list to finish:
📖 Girls of Paper and Fire
📖 Legacy of Orïsha (especially with the adaptation news!)
📖 Beasts of Prey
📖 The Inheritance Cycle
📖 The Atlas
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I’ve also got several that I’d like to start… but that’s another story entirely. 🙈
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Have you read any of these? 🤎
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#cozyvibes #coffeeandbooks #bookaesthetic #bookflatlay #booksofinstagram #booksandcoffee #cozybookstagram #cozyaesthetic #fantasybooks books | book series | book flatlay | cozy book aesthetic | book recommendations | coffee and books | cozy vibes
Tell me just ONE of your auto-buy authors! 🫡
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I read The Charm Offensive a few years ago and instantly fell in love with Alison’s writing and the way the book made me feel so seen. 🥰 
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When I got an ARC of Kiss Her Once for Me, I was thrilled and once again inhaled the book. Yet again, it was a story that made me feel understood. 🥹
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I pretty much sobbed my way through Here We Go Again on audio and immediately purchased a physical copy so I could put myself through both the heartache and deep belly laughing again and again. 😅
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@alisoncochrun is forever and ever going to be an auto-buy author for me. 🤎
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Have you read any of these books? 📚
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#cozyvibes #coffeeandbooks #bookaesthetic #bookflatlay #booksofinstagram #booksandcoffee #cozybookstagram #cozyaesthetic #alisoncochrun books | sapphic books | queer books | book flatlay | cozy book aesthetic | book recommendations | coffee and books | cozy vibes
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Books, Monthly Wrap-Ups · June 1, 2022

May 2022 Reading Wrap-Up

The books I read in May 2022 were some of my favorites. This is interesting because it was also the first time I ever experienced any kind of reading slump!

A “reading slump” is something I had never even heard of until I joined bookstagram. The idea of a period of time where there’s little desire to read or any books that interest me was just a foreign concept. However, this month, I experienced that for the first time ever. Now, I still managed to read 3 books during the week that it happened, but one of them was already mostly done on Sunday morning and the second was one I read within a day. The third book? Well, let’s just say I picked one terrible week to choose a 941-page novel. I was stressed with my cat’s health issues, work, and so many other things and that long, drawn-out book was not doing me any favors.

Thankfully, I found my way out of the slump with a fantastic middle-grade book that I wound up loving! It helped kick me into gear and I ended the month strong with several 5-star reads. In fact, while I didn’t do a great job checking off my original TBR list, I managed to find many new favorite books. I can’t even pick a top title from May because so many of them wound up on my 2022 faves and even my all-time faves list! Keep on reading to see which ones stood out to me the very most!


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The 17 Books I Read in May 2022

If you’re interested in more bookish content, follow my StoryGraph account for live reviews, and take a look at my bookstagram – where I share aesthetic coffee and book photos!

Books That Got a 5-Star Rating

Defy the Night (Defy the Night #1)

by Brigid Kemmerer

Book Synopsis

From New York Times bestselling author Brigid Kemmerer comes a blockbuster fantasy series about a kingdom divided by corruption, the prince desperately holding it together, and the girl who will risk everything to bring it crashing down.

The kingdom of Kandala is on the brink of disaster. Rifts between sectors have only worsened since a sickness began ravaging the land, and within the Royal Palace, the king holds a tenuous peace with a ruthless hand.

King Harristan was thrust into power after his parents’ shocking assassination, leaving the younger Prince Corrick to take on the brutal role of the King’s Justice. The brothers have learned to react mercilessly to any sign of rebellion–it’s the only way to maintain order when the sickness can strike anywhere, and the only known cure, an elixir made from delicate Moonflower petals, is severely limited.

Out in the Wilds, apothecary apprentice Tessa Cade is tired of seeing her neighbors die, their suffering ignored by the unyielding royals. Every night, she and her best friend Wes risk their lives to steal Moonflower petals and distribute the elixir to those who need it most–but it’s still not enough.

As rumors spread that the cure no longer works and sparks of rebellion begin to flare, a particularly cruel act from the King’s Justice makes Tessa desperate enough to try the impossible: sneaking into the palace. But what she finds upon her arrival makes her wonder if it’s even possible to fix Kandala without destroying it first.

Set in a richly imaginative world with striking similarities to our own, Brigid Kemmerer’s captivating new series is about those with power and those without . . . and what happens when someone is brave enough to imagine a new future.

Click here to read my review

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Part of Your World

by Abby Jimenez

Book Synopsis

The New York Times bestselling author of Life’s Too Short delivers a refreshingly modern fairy tale perfect for fans of Casey McQuiston and Emily Henry.

After a wild bet, gourmet grilled-cheese sandwich, and cuddle with a baby goat, Alexis Montgomery has had her world turned upside down. The cause: Daniel Grant, a ridiculously hot carpenter who’s ten years younger than her and as casual as they come—the complete opposite of sophisticated city-girl Alexis. And yet their chemistry is undeniable.

While her ultra-wealthy parents want her to carry on the family legacy of world-renowned surgeons, Alexis doesn’t need glory or fame. She’s fine with being a “mere” ER doctor. And every minute she spends with Daniel and the tight-knit town where he lives, she’s discovering just what’s really important. Yet letting their relationship become anything more than a short-term fling would mean turning her back on her family and giving up the opportunity to help thousands of people.

Bringing Daniel into her world is impossible, and yet she can’t just give up the joy she’s found with him either. With so many differences between them, how can Alexis possibly choose between her world and his?

Click here to read my review

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Weather Girl

by Rachel Lynn Solomon

Book Synopsis

A TV meteorologist and a sports reporter scheme to reunite their divorced bosses with unforecasted results in this charming romantic comedy from the author of The Ex Talk.

Ari Abrams has always been fascinated by the weather, and she loves almost everything about her job as a TV meteorologist. Her boss, legendary Seattle weatherwoman Torrance Hale, is too distracted by her tempestuous relationship with her ex-husband, the station’s news director, to give Ari the mentorship she wants. Ari, who runs on sunshine and optimism, is at her wits’ end. The only person who seems to understand how she feels is sweet but reserved sports reporter Russell Barringer.

In the aftermath of a disastrous holiday party, Ari and Russell decide to team up to solve their bosses’ relationship issues. Between secret gifts and double dates, they start nudging their bosses back together. But their well-meaning meddling backfires when the real chemistry builds between Ari and Russell.

Working closely with Russell means allowing him to get to know parts of herself that Ari keeps hidden from everyone. Will he be able to embrace her dark clouds as well as her clear skies?

Click here to read my review

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Shot Clock

by Justin A. Reynolds and Caron Butler

Book Synopsis

Former NBA All-Star Caron Butler and acclaimed author Justin A. Reynolds tip off the first book in a new middle grade series about a young boy trying to make his mark on an AAU basketball team coached by a former NBA star in his hometown. Perfect for fans of The Crossover and the Track series.

Tony loves basketball. But the game changed recently when his best friend, Dante, a hoops phenom, was killed by a police officer. Tony hopes he can carry on Dante’s legacy by making the Sabres, the AAU basketball team Dante took to two national championships.

Tony doesn’t make the team, but Coach James likes what he sees from Tony at tryouts and offers him another chance: join the team as the statistician. With his community reeling and the team just finding its footing on the court, can Tony find a path to healing while helping to bring the Sabres a championship?

Click here to read my review

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We Were Dreamers: An Immigrant Superhero Origin Story

by Simu Liu

Book Synopsis

The star of Marvel’s first Asian superhero film, Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings, tells his own origin story of being a Chinese immigrant, his battles with cultural stereotypes and his own identity, becoming a TV star, and landing the role of a lifetime.

In this honest, inspiring and relatable memoir, newly-minted superhero Simu Liu chronicles his family’s journey from China to the bright lights of Hollywood with razor-sharp wit and humor.

Simu’s parents left him in the care of his grandparents, then brought him to Canada when he was four. Life as a Canuck, however, is not all that it was cracked up to be; Simu’s new guardians lack the gentle touch of his grandparents, resulting in harsh words and hurt feelings. His parents, on the other hand, find their new son emotionally distant and difficult to relate to – although they are related by blood, they are separated by culture, language, and values. 

As Simu grows up, he plays the part of the pious child flawlessly – he gets straight A’s, crushes national math competitions and makes his parents proud. But as time passes, he grows increasingly disillusioned with the path that has been laid out for him. Less than a year out of college, at the tender age of 22, his life hits rock bottom when he is laid off from his first job as an accountant. Left to his own devices, and with nothing left to lose, Simu embarks on a journey that will take him far outside of his comfort zone into the world of show business. 

Through a swath of rejection and comical mishaps, Simu’s determination to carve out a path for himself leads him to not only succeed as an actor, but also to open the door to reconciling with his parents.

We Were Dreamers is more than a celebrity memoir – it’s a story about growing up between cultures, finding your family, and becoming the master of your own extraordinary circumstance.

No review

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For the Throne (The Wilderwood #2)

by Hannah Whitten

Book Synopsis

Read the breathtaking sequel to FOR THE WOLF, the instant NYT and USA Today fantasy bestseller. Red’s sister Neve is trapped in a mysterious land of twisted roots, lost gods, and mountains made of bone, and the only clues to her rescue are a magic mirror and a dark prince who wants to bring the whole thing crumbling down. 

The First Daughter is for the Throne

The Second Daughter is for the Wolf…

Red and the Wolf have finally contained the threat of the Old Kings but at a steep cost. Red’s beloved sister Neve, the First Daughter is lost in the Shadowlands, an inverted kingdom where the vicious gods of legend have been trapped for centuries and the Old Kings have slowly been gaining control. But Neve has an ally–though it’s one she’d rather never have to speak to again–the rogue king Solmir. 

Solmir wants to bring an end to the Shadowlands and he believes helping Neve may be the key to its destruction. But to do that, they will both have to journey across a dangerous landscape in order to find a mysterious Heart Tree, and finally to claim the gods’ dark, twisted powers for themselves.

Click here to read my review

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Books That Got a 4 or 4.5-Star Rating

The No-Show

by Beth O’Leary

Book Synopsis

Three women who seemingly have nothing in common find that they’re involved with the same man in this smart new rom-com by Beth O’Leary, bestselling author of The Flatshare.

Siobhan is a quick-tempered life coach with way too much on her plate. Miranda is a tree surgeon used to being treated as just one of the guys on the job. Jane is a soft-spoken volunteer for the local charity shop with zero sense of self-worth.

These three women are strangers who have only one thing in common: they’ve all been stood up on the same day, the very worst day to be stood up—Valentine’s Day. And, unbeknownst to them, they’ve all been stood up by the same man.

Once they’ve each forgiven him for standing them up, they are all in serious danger of falling in love with a man who may have not just one or two but three women on the go….

Is there more to him than meets the eye? Where was he on Valentine’s Day? And will they each untangle the truth before they all get their hearts broken?

Click here to read my review

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Love Times Infinity

by Lane Clarke

Book Synopsis

The swoon of Nicola Yoon meets the emotional punch of Elizabeth Acevedo in this layered rom-com that answers big questions about identity, family, and love.

High school junior Michie is struggling to define who she is for her scholarship essays, her big shot at making it into Brown as a first-generation college student. The prompts would be hard for anyone, but Michie’s been estranged from her mother since she was seven and her concept of family has long felt murky. Enter new kid and basketball superstar Derek de la Rosa. He is very cute, very talented, and very much has his eye on Michie, no matter how invisible she believes herself to be.

When Michie’s mother unexpectedly reaches out to make amends, and with her scholarship deadlines looming, Michie must choose whether to reopen old wounds or close the door on her past. And as she spends more time with Derek, she’ll have to decide how much of her heart she is willing to share. Because while Michie may not know who she is, she’s starting to realize who she wants to become, if only she can take a chance on Derek, on herself, and on her future.

Click here to read my review

Amazon | Book Depository | Bookshop

The Lightning Thief (Percy Jackson and the Olympians #1)

by Rick Riordan

Book Synopsis

Percy Jackson is a good kid, but he can’t seem to focus on his schoolwork or control his temper.And lately, being away at boarding school is only getting worse – Percy could have sworn his pre-algebra teacher turned into a monster and tried to kill him. When Percy’s mom finds out, she knows it’s time that he knew the truth about where he came from, and that he go to the one place he’ll be safe.

She sends Percy to Camp Half Blood, a summer camp for demigods (on Long Island), where he learns that the father he never knew is Poseidon, God of the Sea. Soon a mystery unfolds and together with his friends—one a satyr and the other the demigod daughter of Athena – Percy sets out on a quest across the United States to reach the gates of the Underworld (located in a recording studio in Hollywood) and prevent a catastrophic war between the gods.

Click here to read my review

Amazon | Book Depository | Bookshop

Books That Got a 3 or 3.5-Star Rating

Insurgent (Divergent #2)

by Veronica Roth

Book Synopsis

Fighting for survival in a shattered world… the truth is her only hope.

The thrillingly dark sequel to No. 1 New York Times bestseller, DIVERGENT.

I have done bad things. I can’t take them back, and they are part of who I am.

Tris has survived a brutal attack on her former home and family. But she has paid a terrible price. Wracked by grief and guilt, she becomes ever more reckless as she struggles to accept her new future.

Yet if Tris wants to uncover the truth about her world, she must be stronger than ever… because more shocking choices and sacrifices lie ahead.

Click here to read my review

Amazon | Book Depository | Bookshop

Raybearer

Raybearer (Raybearer #1)

by Jordan Ifueko

Book Synopsis

The epic debut YA fantasy from an incredible new talent–perfect for fans of Tomi Adeyemi and Sabaa Tahir

Nothing is more important than loyalty. But what if you’ve sworn to protect the one you were born to destroy?

Tarisai has always longed for the warmth of a family. She was raised in isolation by a mysterious, often absent mother known only as the Lady. The Lady sends her to the capital of the global empire of Aritsar to compete with other children to be chosen as one of the Crown Prince’s Council of Eleven. If she’s picked, she’ll be joined with the other Council members through the Ray, a bond deeper than blood. That closeness is irresistible to Tarisai, who has always wanted to belong somewhere. But the Lady has other ideas, including a magical wish that Tarisai is compelled to obey: kill the Crown Prince once she gains his trust. Tarisai won’t stand by and become someone’s pawn–but is she strong enough to choose a different path for herself?

With extraordinary world-building and breathtaking prose, Raybearer is the story of loyalty, fate, and the lengths we’re willing to go for the ones we love.

Click here to read my review

Amazon | Book Depository | Bookshop

The House in the Cerulean Sea

by TJ Klune

Book Synopsis

Lambda Literary Award-winning author TJ Klune’s bestselling, breakout contemporary fantasy

Linus Baker is a by-the-book case worker in the Department in Charge of Magical Youth. He’s tasked with determining whether six dangerous magical children are likely to bring about the end of the world.

Arthur Parnassus is the master of the orphanage. He would do anything to keep the children safe, even if it means the world will burn. And his secrets will come to light.

The House in the Cerulean Sea is an enchanting love story, masterfully told, about the profound experience of discovering an unlikely family in an unexpected place–and realizing that family is yours.

Click here to read my review

Amazon | Book Depository | Bookshop

Court (Crave #4)

by Tracy Wolff

Book Synopsis

No one survived the last battle unscathed. Flint is angry at the world, Jaxon is turning into something I don’t recognize, and Hudson has put up a wall I’m not sure I’ll ever break through.

Now war is coming, and we’re not ready. We’re going to need an army to have any hope of winning. But first, there are questions about my ancestors that need answers. Answers that might just reveal who the real monster is among us.

And that’s saying something in a world filled with bloodthirsty vampires, immortal gargoyles, and an ancient battle between two gods.

There’s no guarantee that anyone will be left standing when the dust settles, but if we want to save this world, I have no choice. I’ll have to embrace every part of me…even the parts I fear the most.

Click here to read my review

Amazon | Book Depository | Bookshop

The Princess and the Fangirl: A Geekerella Fairytale (Once Upon a Con #2)

by Ashley Poston

Book Synopsis

The Prince and the Pauper gets a modern makeover in this adorable, witty, and heartwarming young adult novel set in the Geekerella universe by national bestselling author Ashley Poston.

Imogen Lovelace is an ordinary fangirl on an impossible mission: save her favorite character, Princess Amara, from being killed off from her favorite franchise, Starfield. The problem is, Jessica Stone, the actress who plays Princess Amara, wants nothing more than to leave the intense scrutiny of the fandom behind. If this year’s ExcelsiCon isn’t her last, she’ll consider her career derailed.

When a case of mistaken identity throws look-a-likes Imogen and Jess together, they quickly become enemies. But when the script for the Starfield sequel leaks, and all signs point to Jess, she and Imogen must trade places to find the person responsible. That’s easier said than done when the girls step into each other’s shoes and discover new romantic possibilities, as well as the other side of intense fandom. As these princesses race to find the script-leaker, they must rescue themselves from their own expectations, and redefine what it means to live happily ever after.

Click here to read my review

Amazon | Book Depository | Bookshop

The Iron Knight (The Iron Fey #4)

by Julie Kagawa

Book Synopsis

My name – my True Name – is Ashallayn’ darkmyr Tallyn. I am the last remaining son of Mab, Queen of the Unseelie Court. And I am dead to her. My fall began, as many stories do, with a girl…

To cold faery prince Ash, love was a weakness for mortals and fools. His own love had died a horrible death, killing any gentler feelings the Winter prince might have had. Or so he thought.

Then Meghan Chase – a half human, half fey slip of a girl – smashed through his barricades, binding him to her irrevocably with his oath to be her knight. And when all of Faery nearly fell to the Iron fey, she severed their bond to save his life. Meghan is now the Iron Queen, ruler of a realm where no Winter or Summer fey can survive.

With the unwelcome company of his archrival, Summer Court prankster Puck, and the infuriating cait sith Grimalkin, Ash begins a journey he is bound to see through to its end – a quest to find a way to honor his vow to stand by Meghan’s side.

To survive in the Iron Realm, Ash must have a soul and a mortal body. But the tests he must face to earn these things are impossible. And along the way Ash learns something that changes everything. A truth that challenges his darkest beliefs and shows him that, sometimes, it takes more than courage to make the ultimate sacrifice.

Click here to read my review

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Books That Got a 2 or 2.5 -Star Rating

The Summer I Turned Pretty (Summer #1)

by Jenny Han

Book Synopsis

Belly has an unforgettable summer in this stunning start to the Summer I Turned Pretty series from the New York Times bestselling author of To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before (now a major motion picture ), Jenny Han.

Some summers are just destined to be pretty.

Belly measures her life in summers. Everything good, everything magical happens between the months of June and August. Winters are simply a time to count the weeks until the next summer, a place away from the beach house, away from Susannah, and most importantly, away from Jeremiah and Conrad. They are the boys that Belly has known since her very first summer–they have been her brother figures, her crushes, and everything in between. But one summer, one wonderful and terrible summer, the more everything changes, the more it all ends up just the way it should have been all along.

Click here to read my review

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Books That Got No Rating

The Anthropocene Reviewed

The Anthropocene Reviewed

by John Green

Book Synopsis

The Anthropocene is the current geologic age, in which humans have profoundly reshaped the planet and its biodiversity. In this remarkable symphony of essays adapted and expanded from his groundbreaking podcast, bestselling author John Green reviews different facets of the human-centered planet on a five-star scale—from the QWERTY keyboard and sunsets to Canada geese and Penguins of Madagascar.

Funny, complex, and rich with detail, the reviews chart the contradictions of contemporary humanity. As a species, we are both far too powerful and not nearly powerful enough, a paradox that came into sharp focus as we faced a global pandemic that both separated us and bound us together.

John Green’s gift for storytelling shines throughout this masterful collection. The Anthropocene Reviewed is a open-hearted exploration of the paths we forge and an unironic celebration of falling in love with the world.

Click here to read my review

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What was the best book you read in May?

In: Books, Monthly Wrap-Ups · Tagged: May reading wrap-up, May reads, monthly reading wrap-up, reading wrap-up, what I read in May

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February 2023 Reading Recap and Ratings by The Espresso Edition cozy lifestyle and book blogFebruary 2023 Reading Wrap-Up
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Eri
3 years ago

Wow, I don’t think I have ever read 17 books within a month. You had an amazing reading month. Weather Girl is one of the books I do intend to read some time. Thank you for sharing your impressions about those books!

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Jodie
3 years ago

You had such a great month! I just pulled out of a slump too with some great reads in May! Thanks for sharing your May in books! Have a wonderful June!

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I'm All Booked Up
3 years ago

Even with a reading slump, you managed to read a lot! We want to reread The Summer I Turned Pretty before the TV Show release.

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Fadima Mooneira
3 years ago

Bravo! You read cool books last month. I hope you will read more this month. I also want to read Simu Liu’s book. But still haven’t found it at any bookstores yet.

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lo
3 years ago

The fact that THIS is your reading + you felt off is like whattt 😳 praying things work out + your cat is fine! Definitely always leave here thinking I need to up my reading. Great post!

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Charlie
3 years ago

So many books that I have not heard of. The only two that I have read, are insurgent and Percy Jackson the lightning thief. The other not heard of will check them out. Thank you for sharing.

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Lizzie
3 years ago

Aw I think we all go through slumps at some point but you still did so well with your reading this for this past month! So many good books here! Also, I hope your cat is doing okay <3

Lizzie
http://www.lizzieinlace.com

Reply
Abigail
3 years ago

You had an amazing month!

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Wendy
3 years ago

Nice month of reading!! I also just loved Part of Your World!!

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readandreviewit
3 years ago

Wow, you had such an amazing reading month – despite your slump! I’m so happy to see that you enjoyed Defy The Night, that’s on my tbr, and having read and loved both Opposite Of Always and Today Tonight Tomorrow I’ll have to check out Shot Clock and Weather Girl too. Thank you so much for sharing x

Reply
ProjectGirl2Woman
3 years ago

I read a lot, a lot, but 17 books a month is a slump :’) I will definitely check out some of your reads.

Reply
Lover of Romance
3 years ago

oh no you had a book slump? Those are the worst. I didn’t experience mine until I started blogging about five years into it. So I hope reading is smooth sailing for you in June., It looks like you had some solid reads though. I have heard many good things about the Abby Jimenez one.

Reply
Neely Moldovan
3 years ago

So I have never read any of the summer I turned pretty books but I really want to watch the show! I did love the no show!

Reply
Lee
3 years ago

A 941 page novel!?!? HOLY girl! Lol! I’m glad you got out of your slump and found your way back to reading so much since it’s clearly something you love so dearly. I’ve added the weather girl to my to read list – it sounds like such a fun book, exactly what I need as we ease into summer and my last 6 weeks of pregnancy!
Lee

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15 Novels I Hope to Pick Up in June 2022

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How many times have you read your favorite book or How many times have you read your favorite book or series? 🤎

I’m a big fan of rereading, so my favorite books are picked up over and over again. I’ve read some of my favorites every single year for the last six years and some I’ve read countless times since childhood (here’s lookin at you, Narnia) 🙈

I love when I find a new book to add to my reread list. What was the last one you added? 🔁

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#readersofinstagram #bookphotography #igreads #bookrecommendations #bookobsessed #cozyreads #bookaesthetic #flatlaylove #readingescape #readingvibes #bookishvibes #booknerd #bookcommunity #booklover cozy read, escapism, book hangover, book recs, TBR, reread worthy, late-night chapters, weekend read, comfort book
Are there any book small towns you’d like to liv Are there any book small towns you’d like to live in? 📍

I think I’d sell a kidney to live in Inglewild 😂 Small towns give me such happiness and this one seems especially cozy and filled with so many entertaining people 🙈

I kinda wish this series would last forever, but simultaneously, I just live for ANYTHING BK Borison writes 😍 I adored First Time Caller as well and can’t wait for more of that story to unfold! 📖

Have you read any of this author’s books? 🤎 

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#readersofinstagram #bookphotography #igreads #bookrecommendations #bookobsessed #cozyreads #bookaesthetic #flatlaylove #readingescape #readingvibes #bookishvibes #booknerd #bookcommunity #booklover #booksmalltowns #smalltownbooks cozy read, romance books, book recs, TBR, reread worthy, late-night chapters, weekend read, comfort book
Have you already read any of your most anticipated Have you already read any of your most anticipated books this year? 😍

I felt like I was counting down the days to Oathbound and Sunrise on the Reaping—and both of them definitely lived up to my expectations (best feeling ever)! 🙌🏼

Now to fully immerse myself in some of my fantasy ARCs and continue listening to EmHen’s latest! 🤎

Were any of these on your 2025 TBR? 📚

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#readersofinstagram #bookphotography #igreads #bookrecommendations #bookobsessed #cozyreads #bookaesthetic #flatlaylove #readingescape #readingvibes #bookishvibes #booknerd #bookcommunity #booklover cozy read, escapism, book hangover, fantasy world-building, book recs, TBR, reread worthy, late-night chapters, weekend read
Who are some of your favorite book siblings? 📖 Who are some of your favorite book siblings? 📖

I really love getting the chance to see a great sibling dynamic in a book—especially in fantasy, and *especially especially* if they work together! 🤝🏼

Unseelie had the most interesting twins in it and I loved seeing their similarities, their differences, and how they used both throughout the story! 🤎

Have you read this one yet? ✨

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#readersofinstagram #bookphotography #igreads #bookrecommendations #bookobsessed #cozyreads #bookaesthetic #flatlaylove #readingescape #readingvibes #bookishvibes #booknerd #bookcommunity #booklover escapism, book hangover, fantasy world-building, book recs, TBR, reread worthy, late-night chapters, weekend read, comfort book
Have any books taken you by surprise lately, and i Have any books taken you by surprise lately, and if so, which ones? 😳
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I tend not to stray very far from my comfort zone of fantasy and fluffy romance, but I recently read WE’LL PRESCRIBE YOU A CAT, a translated novel about a magical mental health clinic that loans out cats to their patients. 🐈 It was absolutely fantastic in every way and became my first 5-star read of the year (outside of my rereads). 🙌🏼 
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Magical realism has always been a favorite genre of mine, but I usually struggle a lot with translated books. 😅 It was such a treat to immerse myself in this story and I can’t wait to read the sequel soon! 📖
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What was your last 5-star read? ⭐️ 
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#cozyvibes #coffeeandbooks #bookaesthetic #bookflatlay #booksofinstagram #booksandcoffee #cozyaesthetic #translatedbooks #magicalrealism #wellprescribeyouacat #berkleybooks books | japanese novel | book flatlay | cozy book aesthetic | book recommendations | coffee and books | cozy vibes
Did you discover any new (or new-to-you) authors i Did you discover any new (or new-to-you) authors in the past year? ☕️
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I know they say “don’t judge a book by its cover,” but let’s be real… we all do it! 😂 When I saw the cover for The Lovers, I was instantly obsessed—and then I read the synopsis! I knew I needed it in my life right away, and I wasn’t disappointed. 🤎
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This book is full of self-discovery, sapphic sweetness, and some truly hilarious moments that had me laughing til my stomach hurt. 🙌🏼 I loved every minute of it and about burst into tears when @berkleypub sent me a copy! 🥹
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Rebekah’s storytelling was fantastic and I can’t wait to read her upcoming book, The Sun and the Moon, when it comes out in August! 📖
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Is this a title you’ve picked up or added to your TBR? 📚
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#cozyvibes #coffeeandbooks #bookaesthetic #bookflatlay #booksofinstagram #booksandcoffee #cozybookstagram #cozyaesthetic #theloversbook books | sapphic books | queer books | book flatlay | cozy book aesthetic | book recommendations | coffee and books | cozy vibes
Are there any series you’re hoping to finish thi Are there any series you’re hoping to finish this year? 📚
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Typically, I’m someone who flies through series and prioritizes finishing them as soon as I possibly can. However, over the last few years, I’ve done a poor job completing all of the series I start, so I’m trying to make it a goal to finish them up! 👏🏼
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Some series that I’ve got on my list to finish:
📖 Girls of Paper and Fire
📖 Legacy of Orïsha (especially with the adaptation news!)
📖 Beasts of Prey
📖 The Inheritance Cycle
📖 The Atlas
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I’ve also got several that I’d like to start… but that’s another story entirely. 🙈
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Have you read any of these? 🤎
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#cozyvibes #coffeeandbooks #bookaesthetic #bookflatlay #booksofinstagram #booksandcoffee #cozybookstagram #cozyaesthetic #fantasybooks books | book series | book flatlay | cozy book aesthetic | book recommendations | coffee and books | cozy vibes
Tell me just ONE of your auto-buy authors! 🫡
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I read The Charm Offensive a few years ago and instantly fell in love with Alison’s writing and the way the book made me feel so seen. 🥰 
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When I got an ARC of Kiss Her Once for Me, I was thrilled and once again inhaled the book. Yet again, it was a story that made me feel understood. 🥹
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I pretty much sobbed my way through Here We Go Again on audio and immediately purchased a physical copy so I could put myself through both the heartache and deep belly laughing again and again. 😅
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@alisoncochrun is forever and ever going to be an auto-buy author for me. 🤎
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Have you read any of these books? 📚
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#cozyvibes #coffeeandbooks #bookaesthetic #bookflatlay #booksofinstagram #booksandcoffee #cozybookstagram #cozyaesthetic #alisoncochrun books | sapphic books | queer books | book flatlay | cozy book aesthetic | book recommendations | coffee and books | cozy vibes
What are five books or five series you find yourse What are five books or five series you find yourself constantly recommending? 🖐🏼
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TODAY IS MY 5TH BOOKSTAVERSARY! ☕️
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In honor of five years in this community, I wanted to share five books and five series I’m always recommending. These are stories that mean so much to me that I just wish everyone I encounter would read and love them too! 🥰
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FIVE STANDALONE BOOKS:
📖 The Nature of Witches
📖 The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue
📖 The Midnight Library
📖 The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo
📖 Echo North
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FIVE SERIES:
📚 Shadow and Bone
📚 Shades of Magic
📚 The Prison Healer
📚 The All Souls Trilogy
📚 Bright Falls
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I have so many more that I could share, but these are just a few that have made my life a little brighter 🤎
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When is your bookstaversary? 🤔
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#cozyvibes #coffeeandbooks #bookaesthetic #bookflatlay #booksofinstagram #booksandcoffee #booksbooksbooks #cozyaesthetic #bookstaversary books | book flatlay | cozy book aesthetic | book recommendations | coffee and books | cozy vibes
Are you planning any rereads this year? 🔁
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Rereading is something that I absolutely love to do. While there are countless new releases to get excited about, there’s something incredibly comforting about revisiting my favorite books. 🥹
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One of my favorite series to reread is SHADES OF MAGIC. Nothing gets me quite as excited and emotional as those opening words: “Kell wore a very peculiar coat…” 🙌🏼 AH! Just writing that makes me anxious to pick up this comfort series again this year. 🙈
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Have you read this phenomenal series? 📚
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#cozyvibes #coffeeandbooks #bookaesthetic #bookflatlay #booksofinstagram #booksandcoffee #shadesofmagic #cozyaesthetic #adarkershadeofmagic #veschwabfeatures #adsomfeatures #adsom books | v.e. schwab | book flatlay | cozy book aesthetic | book recommendations | coffee and books | cozy vibes | adsom | a darker shade of magic

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