Tag: horror

Book Tag: Mid-Year Freak Out 2026
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Book Tag: Mid-Year Freak Out 2026

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Hello, reader!

It pains me to say this… but we’re already halfway through 2026 😦 Time is an illusion, I swear. Although the fact that there are only six more months of the year has me in a bit of an existential crisis, there is good news. That also means it’s the perfect time to do the Mid-Year Freak Out Book Tag! I believe this lovely tag was created by Read Like Wildfire over on BookTube, but please correct me if I’m wrong!

Now, let’s jump in, shall we?

Best Book You’ve Read in 2026

Though I started off the year with two five star reads, I really haven’t read a lot of hits this year. I’m currently sitting on only five 5 star reads! You’d think that would make it easy to choose my favorite from the bunch, but I have to admit I wavered a bit. In the end, though, I went with one of the first ones: The Buffalo Hunter Hunter by Stephen Graham Jones. I still think about this book fairly regularly even though I read it in January! It’s such a gripping, haunting story that is going to stick with me for awhile.

Best Sequel You’ve Read in 2026

This is much easier because I’ve only read one sequel in 2026 that was five stars! That distinction goes to The Obelisk Gate by N.K. Jemisin has to take the prize. Not only was it incredible, but it managed to beat the second-book curse! I’m so glad I finally picked it up because it was well worth the wait. Now I just need to make sure I don’t wait another obscenely long amount of time before reading the last book in this trilogy.

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WWW Wednesday: July 1st, 2026
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WWW Wednesday: July 1st, 2026

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It’s time for another WWW Wednesday! This is a bookish meme hosted by Taking on a World of Words where bloggers answer the 3 Ws:

  1. What are you currently reading?
  2. What did you recently finish reading?
  3. What do you think you’ll read next?

If you’d like to learn more about any of these books, click on the cover to be taken to the Goodreads page.

Current Reads

  • The Secret World of Briar Rose by Cindy Pham: I’ve picked this e-book back off after taking a little break to read a book for a blog tour. I’m still on the fence on how I feel about this one, y’all. Now that our characters are in the dreamworld, I’m getting a bit more interested. The pacing feels so choppy, though, and I’m wondering if it’s because we’re jumping back and forth between timelines so much. I want to get to at least 50% and see how I feel… I’m really hoping I start liking it more.
  • The Someday Garden by Ashley Poston: I’ve been in the mood for romance, so I decided to pick this one up since it’s a library read and I’ll have to give it back sooner rather than later! Already I’m loving the setting of this one. A beautiful (possibly haunted?) house with a fantastical (possibly magic?) garden? Yes, please! Also, I’m 100% sure this book is going to make me cry with the way it opens… I’m looking forward to it 😅😂
  • This Book Made Me Think of You by Libby Page: SPEAKING OF CRYING 😭 I just started this audiobook today and it’s already trying to break my heart. I mean… reading the synopsis I suppose I should have expected it but the novel really comes out swinging! I’m enjoying it, so far, and I’m readying myself for the pain, haha.
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Top Ten Tuesday: Most Anticipated Jul-Dec 2026 Releases
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Top Ten Tuesday: Most Anticipated Jul-Dec 2026 Releases

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Top Ten Tuesday was created by The Broke and the Bookish back in June 2010. It is currently hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl and, as is stated on the blog, it was “born of a love of lists, a love of books, and a desire to bring bookish friends together.”

Hello, reader!

It’s time for another Top Ten Tuesday and this one is all about the hype! That’s because I’ll be sharing my top ten most anticipated releases for the rest of 2026! Now I’m sure I’ve featured/talked about quite a few of these books already, but, hey, that’s why they’re in my top ten 😂 These are books that I’ve been eager to get my hands on since last year and I can’t wait to share them with y’all.

That being said, let’s jump in!

My Most Anticipated 2026 Releases (Jul-Dec)

Heartstopper Vol. 6 by Alice Oseman (Pub Date: July 7th)
A Clash of Carnivores by Liselle Sambury (Pub Date: August 4th)
A Trade of Blood by Robert Jackson Bennett (Pub Date: August 4th)
The Pirate Queen by Ariel Lawhon (Pub Date: September 8th)
Taipei Story by R.F. Kuang (Pub Date: September 8th)

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Project Library Love: June Visit
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Project Library Love: June Visit

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Hello, reader!

We’re about to head into July and I’m having a bit of an existential crisis about it 🫠 I’m also realizing I haven’t told y’all about my June library visit for my Library Love project! Time to remedy that and share with you what books I snagged from the library this month and rehash what I checked out last month.

Last Month’s Stack

In May, I checked out three physical books and three audiobooks.

My physical picks were:

  • The Forest on the Edge of Time by Jasmin Kirkbride
  • The Radium Girls by Kate Moore
  • When the Reckoning Comes by LaTanya McQueen

My audiobook picks were:

  • The Puzzle Master by Danielle Trussoni
  • The Obelisk Gate by N.K. Jemisin
  • Entangled Life by Merlin Sheldrake

Surprisingly, I did quite well with actually reading my library picks. I’ve read all but one of the books I checked out and I’m currently reading the last one. I’m hoping to have it done by the end of June and it’s a shorty, so I think I’ve got this in the bag!

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WWW Wednesday: June 24th, 2026
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WWW Wednesday: June 24th, 2026

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It’s time for another WWW Wednesday! This is a bookish meme hosted by Taking on a World of Words where bloggers answer the 3 Ws:

  1. What are you currently reading?
  2. What did you recently finish reading?
  3. What do you think you’ll read next?

If you’d like to learn more about any of these books, click on the cover to be taken to the Goodreads page.

Current Reads

  • Love & Other Disasters by Anita Kelly: I’m almost done with this romance, which means I’m currently in the third act break-up and it hurts, y’all! Mostly because I absolutely love London and Dahlia together! I went into this interested in the cooking show aspect but, right now, I couldn’t care less about the show, I just want them to be okay 😭 I mean… it’s a romance so I know they will be, but why must they suffer?! Suffice it to say, I’m vibing with this book, haha.
  • Fiona and the Forgotten Piano by Kate DeMaio: I’m reading this middle grade fantasy for a blog tour and, so far, I’m enjoying my time! This was the winner of last years’ Book Bloggers’ Novel of the Year Award and I didn’t get a chance to read it during the competition. I had to jump on-board the tour! I’m looking forward to reading more.
  • When the Reckoning Comes by LaTanya McQueen: I just started this short horror because it’s due back to the library soon and I really want to read it before it goes back! I’ve heard great things about this and, so far, I’m having a good time. I get the feeling this is going to make me rage, though, but I expected that going into it! The events are happening at a wedding taking place at a plantation, after all…
Continue reading “WWW Wednesday: June 24th, 2026” →
Top Ten Tuesday: My Summer 2026 TBR
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Top Ten Tuesday: My Summer 2026 TBR

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Top Ten Tuesday was created by The Broke and the Bookish back in June 2010. It is currently hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl and, as is stated on the blog, it was “born of a love of lists, a love of books, and a desire to bring bookish friends together.”

Hello, reader!

It’s officially summer, y’all, and this week’s Top Ten Tuesday pays homage to that. I’ll be talking about the top ten books that are on my summer TBR! I don’t typically make seasonal TBRs, but there are definitely books I would like to prioritize these next few months.

Let me share them with you now!

My Summer 2026 TBR

The Stone Sky by N.K. Jemisin
Heartstopper Vol. 6 by Alice Oseman
Japanese Gothic by Kylie Lee Baker
The Tapestry of Fate by Shannon Chakraborty
A Trade of Blood by Robert Jackson Bennett

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First Lines Friday: June 19th, 2026
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First Lines Friday: June 19th, 2026

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First Lines Fridays is a weekly feature for book lovers hosted by Wandering Words. What if instead of judging a book by its cover, its author or its prestige, we judged it by its opening lines?  If you want to make your own post, feel free to use or edit the banner above, and follow the rules below:

  • Pick a book off your shelf (it could be your current read or on your TBR) and open to the first page
  • Copy the first few lines, but don’t give anything else about the book away just yet – you need to hook the reader first
  • Finally… reveal the book!

If you’re sharing on social media, don’t forget to use #FirstLinesFridays!

Hello, reader!

Happy Juneteenth, y’all! I spent the day working which, frankly, how dare my job? (I make the schedule… I did this to myself, lol) But now it’s time to relax and enjoy the rest of the day. That means it’s time for another First Lines Friday post! The book I’m featuring is a library pick that I’m hoping to read very soon.

Reading the first line made me even more eager to give it a read! Let’s see what it does for you.

The Line(s):

“After, people had asked Mira what she saw.”

The Build Up:

The Reveal:

Continue reading “First Lines Friday: June 19th, 2026” →
Top Ten Tuesday: Bookish Wishes
top ten tuesday

Top Ten Tuesday: Bookish Wishes

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Top Ten Tuesday was created by The Broke and the Bookish back in June 2010. It is currently hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl and, as is stated on the blog, it was “born of a love of lists, a love of books, and a desire to bring bookish friends together.”

Hello, reader!

Today was one of those Tuesday where I spent the entire day thinking it was Wednesday 😅😂 But, now, it’s time for Top Ten Tuesday and I’m loving the topic for today! Well… I love the concept of it. The theme is bookish wishes and the stated point is to post your top ten most wanted books, leave a link to your wishlist so people can perhaps grant one of your bookish wishes, and go about to other people’s post to grant their wishes!

However… your girl does not need more books on her shelves as her shelves don’t even fit the books she does own! So, though I love the idea of the theme, for my own personal post, Imma mix it up. I’m going to pick my top ten authors that I wish would write another book!

Authors I Wish Would Write Another Book

  • Peng Shepard: I’ve only read one full novel and one short story from this author and I gave them both five stars! I know she has other books out that I could pick up, but I want mooooore.
  • Madeline Miller: Okay, she has a short story coming out this year, but I want a full length novel. I, like many others, adore her mythological retellings.
  • Rebecca McLaughlin: I really enjoyed this debut novel and have been anxiously awaiting another book since 2020 😭 Standalone fantasy that I love doesn’t happen too terribly often, so once I find an author that can pull it off, I want more from them, haha.
  • Maiga Doocy: I was just talking about how I need the next book in this series very recently, haha. This book was so good and I need more!
  • Jonathan Edward Durham: I loved this self-published fantasy horror. I’m so happy that it will soon be traditionally published! But I would also love another novel from the author pleeeease.
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WWW Wednesday: June 10th, 2026
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WWW Wednesday: June 10th, 2026

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It’s time for another WWW Wednesday! This is a bookish meme hosted by Taking on a World of Words where bloggers answer the 3 Ws:

  1. What are you currently reading?
  2. What did you recently finish reading?
  3. What do you think you’ll read next?

If you’d like to learn more about any of these books, click on the cover to be taken to the Goodreads page.

Current Reads

  • The Gate of the Feral Gods by Matt Dinniman: I’m pushing myself back into my physical reads, so I finally picked this one back up! There is so much going on yet I don’t find myself confused. I find myself enthralled! This floor is intense and the stakes feel higher for some reason and I’m loving it. I do love a quickly patched together Carl Plan™️ and we’re getting plenty of them in this book 😂.
  • The Secret World of Briar Rose by Cindy Pham: I picked up my e-ARC of this and it’s going… fine? I’m not vibing with the plot just yet, but I think our two main characters have a lot of potential. I am only 5% in, so I can’t truly judge yet. I’m hoping as I get further in and the plot really kicks in, I’ll start loving it more!
  • Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt: I’ve had so many people in my life tell me I needed to read this book. My Libby hold came in, so I decided, why not? I’m really enjoying the audiobook (the narrators are doing a great job!) but there’s something about this book that is getting on my last nerve. And that something is Cameron 😒 Am I meant to like this giant man-baby?? Cause right now I kind of want to toss him into a dumpster. I’m hoping we’re working towards character growth but we’re 65% in and I’m losing hope.
Continue reading “WWW Wednesday: June 10th, 2026” →
Top Ten Tuesday: Books With Handwriting On The Cover
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Top Ten Tuesday: Books With Handwriting On The Cover

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Top Ten Tuesday was created by The Broke and the Bookish back in June 2010. It is currently hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl and, as is stated on the blog, it was “born of a love of lists, a love of books, and a desire to bring bookish friends together.”

Hello, reader!

Top Ten Tuesday has arrived and, this week, it’s all about the writing. Not in the books, mind you. No, we’re looking for handwriting on the cover! I have to admit, I love a title that looks handwritten, especially if it complements the cover. That being said, I’m not sure if there’s a lot of books that I have personally read and would recommend that fit this criteria. So this list might end up a list of books I’ve read and want to read, but I’m loving the topic!

Books With Handwriting on the Cover (Read)

Highly Suspicious and Unfairly Cute by Talia Hibbert
The Empress of Salt and Fortune by Nghi Vo
Slay by Brittney Morris (admittedly more spray-painty, but that’s done by hand!)
A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder by Holly Jackson
The Poet X by Elizabeth Acevedo (see my Slay comment 😂)

Continue reading “Top Ten Tuesday: Books With Handwriting On The Cover” →