Books I Read in February

I’ll make a separate post for the books I read in French specifically! But first of all, I read quite a few books in February, and here’s the non-exhaustive list of them.

A Magic Steeped in Poison by Judy I. Lim
This one had been on my TBR for a while and I’m so glad that I gave it a try. Along with Strike the Zither, which I read in January, this is one of my favourite reads of the year so far. It’s set in a universe where magic works through the preparation and drinking of tea. We follow Ning, who embarks on a journey to find a cure for her sister who was poisoned, and decides to take part in a dangerous competition. It has plot twists and betrayals, and amazing leading ladies, and that’s a win for me. I’m looking forward to reading the sequel! I haven’t had that many 5⭐ reads yet this year, but this is one of them!

Harlem Shuffle by Colson Whitehead
I carried this one along with me for most of January, and finally finished reading it. I have to say that I was really looking forward to reading it. I really enjoyed some of Colson Whitehead’s previous novels, so I was really curious but in the end I think I wasn’t the targetted audience for thie one. I wasn’t really invested in the story, and even though I wanted for the main character to be successful, I disagreed with most of his decisions… This was a miss for me.

A Touch of Darkness by Scarlett St. Clair
I wasn’t really planning on reading this series in the first place (is something I said for a lot of romance novels, and look where we are now) but I was gifted a free copy at work, so curiosity got the best of me. Basically, if it were a fanfic it would be called a Hades x Perseophone modern AU, and how in hell was I supposed to resist that. I know it wasn’t supposed to be mythology oriented but rather romance oriented, but it was easy to dive in this universe, and I really liked the concept of a modern greek gods era. It does tend to be a bit cringe, but it requires no brain cells whatsoever, and I had a lot of fun reading it.

Something Wilder by Christina Lauren
One day I will decide that I have read enough Christina Lauren books, but today is not the day. In January I read Josh and Hazel’s Guide to Not Dating, and in February I read Something Wilder, and I was a blast! This was such a fun, chaotic read, a bit different from some of their other books, but in a good way. In a “oh that’s refreshing!” way. I loved the fact that the miscommunication was kept to a minimum and I loved the side characters. The quest for money part kept me on my toes, and the ending was very sweet. While I would never tell my friends to get back together with their ex, I love a good second chance at romance when it comes to romance novels, and I have to say that this one it was executed in the most epic way possible. Overall, this was a solid 4⭐ read!

An Unreliable Magic by Rin Chupeco
The sequel to Wicked as You Wish which I read a couple years ago and really enjoyed. It reads like the blend between several classical fairy tales from various places all around the world and modern problems and technologies. It’s full of adventures, plot twists and has a fantastical cast of queer characters. It’s a really good under-the-radar YA series in my opinion, and I’m really looking forward to reading the next volume, which for now, is set to be released in November!

And finally, I’ve been reading quite a few mangas as well. I have so many series I’m attempting to catch up with at the moment, and I’m mostly trying to not let it get out of control. I’ll only mention one: Sensei’s Pious Lie by Akane Torikai. I was lucky enough to meet the author back in January, and I finally finished reading this eight volumes long manga series, which talks about sexism in Japan (and by extension in the rest of the world). It’s not a perfect story but it tackles some really important topics, and I’m grateful for that. I am really looking forward to reading more stories by Akane Torikai! I also really like her illustrations, and overall, I just want to support her work!

Which Books Did I Start 2023 With

Hi readers! I had a great reading month in January. I read some books for work, and some books for me, and I enjoyed every book that I read so I’ll count that as a win. Here’s a list featuring eight of my reads!

#1 First of all, a YA book I was really looking forward to reading: Strike the Zither by Joan He

I really enjoyed Joan He’s previous book The Ones We’re Meant to Find, so when I heard that she was releasing a new book, I immediately wanted to check it out. Then I read the blurb and I knew that I simply HAD TO READ IT. The main character, Zephyr, is an orphan who became the best strategist in a country where families have turned their back to one another and are fighting for power. It’s a book with badass ladies and fantastical plot twists, and so far, I’m pretty sure it will be among my favourite reads of 2023.

#2 Then a book I started in 2022 and didn’t have time to finish: The One True Me and You by Remi K. England

I loved England’s YA space opera novels, so when I heard that they were releasing a nerdy romance set during a convention, I knew that I would have to check it out. I got an e-copy upon the release, and it’d been waiting on my kindle since then. I finally took the time to read it, and I’m so glad that I did! It’s every bit the chaotic and adorable romance that I was expecting. If you have enjoyed The Princess and the Fangirl by Ashley Poston and/or Queens of Geek by Jen Wilde, then this should definitely be on your radar!

#3 A historical fiction that had been on my TBR for a while: Pandora by Susan Stokes-Chapman

The French edition for this one was released in October if I remember correctly, and it’s been on my radar ever since. It’s a historical fiction set in 1799 London, through which we follow Dora, a young woman who loves designing jewellery and wants to make a career out of it. She lives with her uncle who is taking care of her parents’ antiques shop, and who earns money through black market sales. One day, he brings back a mysterious vase to the shop, and bit by bit this will unravel family secrets and mysteries from the past. This was an easy and captivating read. It’s right up my alley and I’m really glad that I have it a shot!

#4 Rise of the School for Good and Evil by Soman Chainani because after finishing the whole series, I still wanted more

I can now safely say that I have consumed all possible media when it comes to this fandom, and that I need to find a new series to obsess with. I first watched the School for Good and Evil movie soon after its release, and then proceeded to read all six books of the series before the end of December (and the last one was my favourite). Yet that was not enough, and the author seems to have agreed with me since he also wrote a prequel. I loved that we got to learn more about the two School Masters, and I also really enjoyed the fact that we got to meet some more fairytale characters we hadn’t encountered in the rest of the series. Now looking forward to reading The Fall of the School for Good and Evil!

#5 A sequel I didn’t have time to read last year: Into the Riverlands by Nghi Vo

I discovered The Singing Hills Cycle in 2022 and absolutely loved the concept of the series. It’s a series of novellas featuring a cleric who is on the road and collecting stories on the way. It reminded me a bit of Becky Chambers’ A Psalm for the Wild-Built except that it’s more fantasy than sci-fi. I think this was my favourite of the series so far!

#6 The new volume of Wayward Children because it’s finally January again: Lost in the Moment and Found by Seanan McGuire

I absolutely love this series, and it’s really a pleasure to read a new instalment every January. This time we follow a new character in a magical shop. We learn more about Doors who open once and close, never to be seen again. Huge TW for abuse, the first part of the book made me really uncomfortable, but Antsy manages to escape. This book was a bit more heartbreaking than some of the instalments in this series, but I loved it to pieces.

#7 A Christina Lauren book because I still haven’t read all of them: Josh & Hazel’s Guide to Not Dating

The first book I read back in 2022 was a Christina Lauren book, and I think that they were one of my most read authors of the year, so it only made sense that one of the first books I read this year was also one of theirs. This started really well because I do love chaotic characters, and I do enjoy a good friends-to-lovers romance with lots of mutual pining. I do however hate the pregnancy trope with all my soul. I enjoyed this one, but it was far from being a favourite.

#8 And finally, a graphic novel: Twelfth Grade Night by Molly Horton Booth

I loved this one to pieces! I got a review copy from the French publisher, and was so hyped about it. It totally matched my expectations, and I’m delighted to know there will be a sequel. It’s a high school romance type of story with a huge Shakespeare vibe (think Twelfth Night meets Midsummer Night’s Dream). It also reminded me of Alice Oseman’s Loveless and Sophie Gonzales’ Only Mostly Devastated which I both loved. Everything about this book is adorable and super queer, so of course that’s a recipe for success. I highly recommend it if you haven’t read it yet!

And that’s it for today! Hopefully the rest of the year will be just as good in terms of reading as January was 🥰

Which Books Did I End 2022 With

I wanted to write this post sooner, but it turns out I have been quite busy in January, so it’s only arriving now. I’ve read quite a few books last year, although I haven’t talked about it a lot on the blog. Before I entirely move on to 2023, I wanted to share four of the books I really enjoyed at the end of the year.

A Close and Common Orbit by Becky Chambers

It’d been a while since I had been meaning to read A Long Way to a Small Angry Planet, I finally did, and I loved it to pieces. So of course, I proceeded to read the sequel immediately. I absolutely love space opera, although I don’t read nearly enough of it. That way, it’s alwas a pleasure to come back to the genre. I loved the unique characters introduced in both books. And I’m not just saying that because those books are hella queer. They are all trying their best, and deserve the world. I really enjoyed how the stories took shape, and I’m really looking forward to reading Record of a Spaceborn Few.

One True King by Soman Chainani

I managed to read the entire School for Good and Evil series in 2022, and I’m really happy about that. It’s a series that had been on my radar for a while. I really like all things fairy-tale related so it was only a matter of time before I actually read those books. I loved the concept of a school heroes & villains attended before they could get their own tale. I loved how it tried to tackle prejudice when it comes to girls by making the daughter of the town witch a princess. I wasn’t necessarily a fan of the fact that Sophie, as a villain, was portrayed as extremely shallow, obsessed with her appearance, and fashion-oriented. Because just like it’s what’s inside that truly matters, it’s also okay and not evil at all to care about what you look like. Yes it’s important to look beyond it, but you are also allowed to look past that.

However through the last three books especially she shows great character growth, and that made up for the very cringy feeling I was getting in the beginning. She grew from one of my least favourite characters in the story to one I was really rooting for. These books also had great plot twists, and I’m delighted that I have one more book series to recommend to kids at work.

Nightcrawling by Leila Mottley

There are books that feel like a punch in the gut. This was definitely one of them, and it was absolutely brilliant. It’s a magnificent work that deals with racism and sexism in the US. It follows a teenage girl who turns to prostitution when she is abandoned by her entire family. She soon becomes entwined with a group of policemen and things get out of control. It’s not an easy book to read, but it’s a very important one, and the author mentioned in the afterword that this story was inspired by many stories she read in the news. She created her own character but the whole background surrounding Kiara is very much real.

Nightcrawling is also a very beautiful book about friendship and resilience, and I’m really glad that I gave it a try. This is definitely one of those books that’s going to stay with me for a while, and of course, I really recommend it.

The Dictionary of Lost Words by Pip Williams

I always love a good historical fiction, especially if it has hints of feminism and mentions of the suffragettes, so obviously, this one was an amazing read for me. It takes place around the creation of the first Oxford Dictionary. We follow Esme, as she grows from a little girl who is fascinated with words, into a woman helping the shaping of the English language. Quickly, she also begins her own work when it comes to the words rejected by the dictionary, whether they are used exclusively by women, or simply reserved to the spoken language, and therefore have to written example of their use. It’s also in many ways a beautiful portrayal of the situation of women in the early 20th century. It’s a beautiful book, and it was an easy read that I would definitely recommend.

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And that’s it for today! Thank you so much for reading this far, I hope you have a wonderful day!
What’s the last book you read in 2022?

Which Book From the YA Section Have I Obsessed Over in the Past Couple Months

I’m going to use up the term “YA” in a broad sense here, and I’ve decided that it’s okay. Since I’ve been quite absent from this blog in the past couple months, I’ve given up on writing monthly wrap up posts — and I’ve been reading a lot too, so it would take forever. This format seemed more fun, so here comes a list of YA books I’ve read and loved in the past couple months!

#1 is a book I read back in August, and absolutely loved: So This Is Ever After by F.T. Lukens

It follows a groupe of heroes who just succeeded on their quest. On of them becomes king, but in order to keep the throne (and his life) he must find his one and true love. In an attempt to succeed, he tries to woo his friends, voluntarily ignoring the fact that maybe, love has been right in front of him this whole time… This was such a fun, entertaining book. I read it back in August, and I absolutely loved it. After reading In Deeper Waters, I expected no less from F.T. Lukens. It was magical, sometimes dramatic, and absolutely hilarious, and everything I was hoping it would be.

#2 is a book I was highly anticipating, and read almost upon release: The Sunbearer Trials by Aiden Thomas

Seriously, this book was amazing. My only regret is that now I have to wait for the sequel. The plot is as follows: every ten years, ten demigods compete in the Sunbearer Trials. The winner will sacrifice the loser to the gods in order to keep the stability of the universe. Theo is a Jade demigod, and never expected to be selected for the trials. Except tat apparently, fate had other plans for hims, and soon he is selected for this deadly competition, and must prove his worth if he doesn’t want to be the sacrifice… This book has amazing mythology and great friendships. It’s my third Aiden Thomas book, and I have to say, they never disappoint.

#3 I also read a book that had been on my radar for a while, and I finally took the time to read — and I ended up really enjoying it: A cuban Girl’s Guide to Tea and Tomorrow by Laura Taylor Namey

I was loking for a light, rom-com sort of read, and I suddenly remembered that this one had been on my TBR for quite some time, so I decided to check it out. I have to admit that at first, I found the main character a bit too over-the top and annoying, but I pushed through and ended up really enjoying the book. (I really hope this doesn’t make me sound like a bitter old lady, but seriously, I almost gave up on the book because of it. But I really liked it in the end). It’s a lovely coming-of-age story, following a teenage girl who spends a summer in the UK after her grandmother passed away. Of course, she’s going to find herself, and her life will be changed forever. It’s a rom-com after all, but it was sweet and realistic, and I’m really glad that I gave it a try. And obviously, it made me crave sweets.

#4 is a trilogy I read super quickly, which had also been on my radar for a while since I’d heard great things about it: All for the Game aka The Foxhole Court and its sequels by Nora Sakavic

Seriously, I always see people on instagram raving about this series, and I vastly wanted to see what all the fuss was about. Actually, I think the catalyst was a thread of fanart I saw on twitter: after religiously looking at the illustrations I had stumbled upon, I decided that I must imperatively read these books, and I started listening to the first audiobook. One of the best decisions I’ve taken lately. I never thought that I’d enjoy about about sports so much. Basically the plot is about a group of really angsty college students who all compete in a fictional version of lacrosse. There’s also some sort of mafia, a general threat of death, and of course, some pining. I bloody loved it, and can safely say that now, I unerstand the hype.

#5 is Infinity Son and Infinity Reaper by Adam Silvera

I went and bought The First o Die at the End on the week of its release, and instead of starting it immediatly, I somehow ended up reading other books, and eventually proceeded to pick up the audiobook for Infinity Son (and later, its sequel Infinity Reaper). In a world where Celestials have magical powers and are feared by most, twin brothers Brighton and Emil used to dream that they too, could have powers. Now on their eighteenth birthday, Brighton still dreams of fame and strives to achieve it through his YouTube channel, while Emil aspires to lead a quiet life and protect phenixes. When a fight breaks out in the subway, he discovers that he actually had powers all along, and both their lives are changed forever. I absolutely loved the universe that Adam Silvera crafted for this series, and I really would die for the main character Emil because he must be protected at all costs. However I feel very strongly against his twin brother Brighton who is an insufferable, conceited know-it-all, and quite frankly a hazard to society. I of course understand the point of his character, but I also have to admit that I can’t stand his POV. Eitherway, I’m looking forward to reading book 3!

and #6 is Undercover Princess by Connie Glynn

Fact: book five of the Rosewood Chronicles was just released in France, while simultaneously the publisher released a mass market paperback for the first book in the series. Other fact: a little over a week ago, one of my customers at work asked for my opinion on this series, because she wanted to know whether or not she would enjoy it. I told her I’d heard great things but hadn’t read it yet. Third fight: the ebook had actually been waiting on my kindle for over two years. And like a reasonable person, I decided to read the entire series as fast as I could, in order to give her my honest, unbiased opinion. As a result, I read the entire first book in a day, and I’m now on book four. Like any reasonable person. This is both more queer, and more dramatic than I thought, and I’m absolutely loving it.

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As for what I’m reading at the moment, my reading list is a bit all over the place, but I’m rereading Little Black Bird by Anna Kirchner, which I’m loving just as much as the first time around, and I’m planning on finally picking up book two as soon as I finish it. It’s a story that’s infused with witches and polish folklore, with some amazing plot twists, and aroace questioning characters, and I love it to pieces. I also started the audiobook for The School for Good and Evil by Soman Chainani, because I watched the movie and am now craving for more content. I’m really enjoying it fo far.

On top of my TBR pile when it comes to the YA section of the bookstore I also have Afterlove by Tanya Byrne, and of course, The First to Die at the End by Adam Silvera, which I got the week of the release, and am really looking forward to reading. I’m also hoping to read We Are Not Free by Traci Chee sooner than later. And maybe Perfect on Paper by Sophie Gonzales. But you know what they say… So many books, so little time!

June Reading Wrap Up

I just received a notification from WordPress letting me know that I created this blog seven years ago! Much like journaling, it has become somthing that I do less and less frequently, but also something that’s become a complete part of my life. Blogging helps me make sense of my reading, and helps me organize it (along with my bookstagram account). So thank you for sharing this journey with me!

Anyway, that’s not the topic for today’s post, the topic is actually the books that I read back in June. It was a mostly good reading month, but it also carried its share of disappointments… I don’t know if the more I read, the more demanding I get when it comes to the books I read, but I find myself DNFing books more often than I used too, and giving books two stars on more than a rare occasion. But not to worry, I also read some amazing stories!

Romance:

The Care and Feeding of Waspish Widows by Olivia Waite ⭐⭐⭐⭐
The Hellion’s Waltz by Olivia Waite ⭐⭐⭐

Carrying on with Olivia Waite’s historical romance trilogy, I picked up book 2 & 3 which I greatly enjoyed. In each and everyone of them, women are striving for more freedome and justice, and I really appreciated that, of course, on top of the romance aspect of the story.

Young adult:

Nick and Charlie by Alice Oseman ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
After watching Heartstopper three times in a row the moment it got released, then rereading all the comics, as well as the That Winter novella, I finally got to read the part I just hadn’t read yet and I loved it to pieces, just as much as the rest of them. I’m really looking forward to the 5th volume!

Flip the Script by Lyla Lee ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
I had ADORED I’ll Be The One, so I was really looking forward to reading this one. I actually listened to the audiobook, and I completely fell in love with the story. I started watching kdramas more than a decade ago, and even though I don’t watch them nearly as much as I used to, I always enjoy reading a book that has a strong kdrama/kpop vibe. What I also love about Lyla Lee’s books is that they have amazing casts of queer characters, as well as great and enexpected friendships. Overall, this was super wholesome and moving, and I’ll be looking forward to the author’s next release.

Girl Serpent Thorn by Melissa Bashardoust ⭐⭐⭐⭐
I’d seen this one around on bookstagram, and I’m really glad that I picked it up to read it for myself. This is not just a pretty cover, it’s also a brilliant fantasy story with a strong 1001 nights vibe that I really loved. It’s also full of really good plot twists. It’s a book about family, betrayal, and an impossible (sapphic) love story. It reminded me a bit of The Wrath and the Dawn by Renee Ahdieh, but also of Crier’s War, Malice or A Curse of Roses when it comes to princesses falling in love with impossible women who may cause their doom. Excellent book, I 100% recommend it!

The Silvered Serpents by Roshani Chokshi ⭐⭐⭐⭐
And after years of saying that I adored The Gilded Wolves, I finally picked up book 2 in Roshani Chokshi’s amazing heist trilogy. I love all of these characters deeply, and am more than a bit heartbroken seeing how they are evolving through this series. Book 2 ends on a terrible cliffhanger, so hopefully I’ll pick up the last instalment of this sries very soon! (If I don’t, it’s simply because I drowned under the crushing weight of my TBR.)

Fiction:

Summerwater by Sarah Moss ⭐⭐⭐
And I also read some literary fiction as well. The French translation for this one was just released, and my curiosity was piqued when we received it, so I decided to check it out. It’s a story that takes place over the course of a day, in a holiday village in Scotland. It’s raining and the different families observe each other through the windows. Judgement quickly grows, and from one perspective to another, and we watch as the tension becomes more palpable with each hour of the day, until it all blows in our faces at the end of the story. This is a quick read, and one that I found quite fascinating. Perfect if you’re looking for a book that you can read in one sitting on a rainy day!
[TW: racism, suicide]

The Empress of Salt and Fortune by Nghi Vo ⭐⭐⭐⭐
I’d seen this one around quite a bit on bookstagram, and I was really curious about it. It’s a fantasy novella, completely different from the other book by Nghi Vo that I’d read which was The Chosen and the Beautiful. I was delighted to see that I loved her writing just as much the second time around, and I’m so glad that I discovered this universe. I’ve read book 2 in July, and I’m really looking forward to reading the third inslatment in the Singing Hills cycle, which will be released in October I believe. I can’t wait to see who cleric Chih will encounter on their journey next!

Yo, Julia by Santiago Posteguillo ⭐⭐⭐⭐
The reason why I didn’t read as many books as I usually do at this point (and I still did read quite a few of them) is this book. This 800 pages long chunk of a book, which was a masterpiece. It takes place during the Roman Empire and follows political intrigues and wars, all from the perspective of a woman who is set on making her husband the emperor. This is a bit different from what I usually read but I had the best time reading it. I say over and over again that I love historical fiction, but I don’t read that much of it in contrast to contemporary books, and this one reminded me once again how much I love it.
(I read the French translation for this one. It was originally written in Spanish but I couldn’t figure out whether or not it’s been translated to English.)

Encargo by Berta Marsé ⭐⭐
This one was also translated from Spanish. I was super intrigued by the story (I received an ARC from the publisher at work, like many otherbooks I end up reading). I badly wanted to enjoy it, but I wasn’t endeared to any of the characters, and in the end, found the whole plot rather underwhelming.

Books in French:

Ecoute la pluie tomber d’Olivia Ruiz ⭐⭐
J’avais adoré La commode aux tiroirs de couleurs qui était sorti il y a 2 ans, donc quand j’ai vu qu’Olivia Ruiz sortait un nouveau livre, j’ai tout de suite voulu le lire. Malheureusement, je n’ai pas du tout accroché. Je suis allée jusqu’au bout parce que ça se lisait super facilement, ete que je me disais qu’il y avait de l’espoir jusqu’au bout, mais j’ai été super déçue. (Comme quoi parfois c’est mieux de ne pas avoir d’attentes.)

Dis-moi pour qui j’existe d’Abdourahman Waberi ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Et avec le mois de juin, sont arrivés les premiers services presse pour la rentrée littéraire ! J’ai commencé avec le nouveau livre d’Abdourahman Waberi, où il nous parle à nouveau de sa relation avec sa fille. C’est un livre tout en douceur, et plein d’émotions, et une manière parfaite d’attaquer la rentrée littéraire !

Le livre des sœurs d’Amélie Nothomb ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Qui dit rentrée littéraire dit nouveau livre d’Amélie Nothomb. Après nous avoir parlé de son père l’année dernière, elle aborde cette fois-ci les relations entres sœurs à travers le prisme d’un couple beaucoup trop fusionnel qui a donné naissance à deux filles, qui à leur tour ont créé entre elles une relation fusionnelle. C’est un livre tout en douceur et plein d’humour, bref, un véritable plaisir de lecture !

Mangas:

The Apothecary Diaries vol.8 by Nekokurage ⭐⭐⭐

And that’s it for today! Thank you so much for reading this far, I hope you have a wonderful reading month, and hopefully I’ll get to share my July wrap up sooner than later!

May Reading Wrap Up

May was a good reading month! I read a bit of everything from romance to feminist essays to YA, and most of my reads were hits. I’m slowly catching up with my blog posts these days, and I’m really happy about it. Thanks for reading!

Romance:

The Girl With the Make-Believe Husband by Julia Quinn ⭐⭐⭐
The Other Miss Bridgerton by Julia Quinn ⭐⭐⭐⭐
First Comes Scandal by Julia Quinn ⭐⭐⭐⭐

After speed reading the Bridgertons I moved on to the prequels, and I have to admit, I didn’t enjoy those as much as I did some of the Bridgertons, but the last two really made up for it. I have to admit, when the show was first released, I never thought that I’d read those, and yet here we are… I’m obsessed, and I will definitely be reading more of the spinoffs in the foreseeable future.

Reputation by Lex Croucher ⭐⭐⭐.5
While I did have a great time reading this one, I feel like it could have been much shorter. Aside from that it has friendships, romance and loads of drama, in an atmosphere that’s the perfect blend between Jane Austen in Bridgerton, so if that sounds like something you might enjoy, then I’d definitely recommend it!

Fiction:

Kim Jiyoung, Born 1982 by Cho Nam-Joo ⭐⭐⭐⭐
After reading About My Daughter in April, and being more disappointed than anything else, I wanted to check out another novel about the condition of women in South Korea (which by extension applies to the rest of the world). It deals with sexism at work and in education, post-partum depression and the general pressure that the world applies onto women. I’d heard great things about this book, and I’m really glad that I finally decided to read it: it was really good.

Crying in H Mart by Michelle Zauner ⭐⭐⭐⭐
The same thing applies to this one! Crying in H Mart had been on my TBR for a while, and I was really curious about it. It’s a brilliant memoir about life as an Asian American, in which the author recalls everything from her relationship with her mother who just passed away, to her blossoming career as a singer-songwriter. I listened to the audiobook narrated by Michelle Zauner herself, and I had an amazing time reading it.

Young adult:

I Kissed Shara Wheeler by Casey McQuiston ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
This was quite possibly one of my most anticipated releases on the year, and let me tell you: it totally lived up to my expectations and I’m so glad about that. It’s a YA mysterious quest sort of book that follows three teens who are looking for a girl who disappeared after kissing them all on prom night, and left all sort of clues behind her. We follow the improbable friendship growing between her boyfriend, her neighbour and her rival. This is the perfectly example of a book that I couldn’t put it down. Think Paper Towns but make it sapphic. I loved it.

Almond by Sohn Won-Pyung ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
I read this book in one sitting, and boy was it worth it. It’s the story of a teenage boy who has alexithymia, meaning that it’s hard for him to feel and express emotions. We watch him grow and brutally lose his mother and grandmother. We watch him discover school and friendships and finally beginning to feel things. It was absolutely excellent. If you loved Wonder by RJ Palacio, then you should definitely check this one out! [TW: violence, death]

Our Violent Ends by Chloe Gong ⭐⭐⭐⭐
I absolutely adored These Violent Delights, and I don’t know why I didn’t pick this one up immediately upon its release. Nevertheless, it was excellent. I’m in love with these characters, their mistakes and their selfish decisions. Chloe Gong has my heart (and wallet). I cannot wait for Foul Lady Fortune!

Livre en français:

Les pépins de grenade de Sarah Briand ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Les frénétiques d’Adeline Fleury ⭐⭐⭐

I read the first two because we hosted the authors for signing sessions at work, and they were both delightful. Les pépins de grenade is a historical fiction about WWII so of course it had my heart from the start. And Les frénétiques is a sapphic thriller that had me intrigued from the start. It’s super well written, and I’m really glad that I got to meet the author!

Une vie possible de Line Papin ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Avortée de Pauline Harmange ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

And I also read both of these which are nonfiction about abortion, a topic that seems all the more relevant in these past weeks’ context when it comes to the US especially, but still in many other countries including Poland and Hungary where women and queer people’s rights are more and more limited. Anyway, these to were enlightening, and I’m really glad that I picked them up. Pauline Harmange is the author of I Hate Men and I will seriously read anything that she writes.

Mangas:

Celle que je suis by Bingo Morihashi vol.1 & 2 ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Blue Period vol.3 by Yamaguchi Tsubasa ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End vol.3 by Yamada Kanehito⭐⭐⭐⭐
Sasaki to Miyano vol.3 by Harusono Shou ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Plus one graphic novel! I finally read Snapdragon by Kat Leyh. I gave it ⭐⭐⭐⭐ and I had SUCH A GOOD TIME reading it. It’s queer and witchy, it has family secrets and it’s super wholesome. Highly recommended if you haven’t read it yet!

April Reading Wrap Up

This is an attempt at catching up with blog posts I should probably have written a long time ago. I haven’t been very much active here this year, but I’m not ready to give up on this platform just yet, so let’s give it another go! Here’s a summary of what I read in April ~

Non fiction:

Life Isn’t Binary by Alex Iantaffi and Meg-John Barker ⭐⭐⭐⭐
I picked up this one at a queer & feminist bookstore, because I was curious about it. It explores different aspects of our lives and how they are not as binary as we may think, from gender and sexuality obviously, to other ways of thinking. Nothing is all black or all white, and I really liked the angle that the authors were taking when it comes to pretty much everything in our everyday life. This took me by surprise, in the best possible way!

Young adult:

The Inheritance Games by Jennifer Lynn Barnes ⭐⭐⭐⭐
I was really curious about this one because I’ve seen it EVERYWHERE on instagram and on tiktok. The French publisher offered to send me a copy, so I jumped on the occasion. It follows Avery, a teenager who mysteriously inherits a fortune, but is forced to cohabit with the descendants of the man who just died, and left her his money and property without any explanation. There are riddles to be solved, and maybe some romance on the way. I have to be honest, I got into this book really thinking that I’d find it overrated, but ended up really enjoying it!

Fiction:

We Had to Remove This Post by Hanna Bervoets ⭐⭐⭐.5
Translated from Dutch, this book was utterly fascinating. It tells the story of a group of content monitors before they slip into paranoïa and conspiracy theories. It’s an eye opening story about the dark side of social media, and although I would have enjoyed it had it been a bit more developed, I’m really glad that I found out about this book.

Concerning My Daughter by Kim Hye-Jin ⭐⭐⭐
Translated from Korean, this novels is told from the point of view of a woman who, due to circumstances, ends up living with her daughter Green and her girlfriend, and finds it difficult to accept this situation. We watch as Green goes to protests, and fights against the homophobia of her workplace. All the while her mother worries about her, and what the future may hold for her. I was really curious about a book tackling homophobia and prejudice in South Korea, but ended up mostly frustrated throughout the story. I guess I was hoping for more.

One Last Stop by Casey McQuiston (reread) ❤❤❤❤❤
In case of doubt (or a reading slump) it’s always time to reread a favourite. This was my second read for this one, and I loved it just as much as the first time.

Mangas:

Sasaki to Miyano vol.1 & 2 by Shou Harusono ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Livres en français:

Les manigances de Margaux de Caroline Kant ⭐⭐⭐
Reine de cœur d’Akira Mizubayashi ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Romance:

I had covid back in April and was stuck at home for a very long week, during which I ended up falling down the Bridgerton rabbit hole… And of course I proceeded to read the entire series in the following weeks. And its sequels. The first one definitely isn’t my favourite, but once I got past it, I completely fell in love with the series!

The Duke and I by Julia Quinn ⭐⭐⭐
The Viscount Who Loved Me by Julia Quinn ⭐⭐⭐⭐
An Offer from a Gentleman by Julia Quinn ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Romancing Mister Bridgerton by Julia Quinn ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
To Sir Phillip, With Love by Julia Quinn ⭐⭐⭐
When He Was Wicked by Julia Quinn ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
It’s In His Kiss by Julia Quinn ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
On the Way to the Wedding by Julia Quinn ⭐⭐⭐⭐

I listened to the audiobooks narrated by the amazing Rosalyn Landor. She really gives life to those characters, and is probably one of the reasons I enjoyed these book so much (other reasons being the humour, and of course the stories themselves.) My favourite stories were Colin’s, Francesca’s and Hyacinth. I’ll be looking forward to future seasons of the show on Netflix, and you’ll probably catch me reading more of Julia Quinn’s books later this year because I can’t stay away for long!

The Bridgertons: Happily Ever After by Julia Quinn⭐⭐⭐⭐
This one is a collection of second epilogues for all of the books in the Bridgerton series, and it also includes a short story about Violet Bridgerton which I absolutely adored.

Because of Miss Bridgerton by Julia Quinn ⭐⭐⭐
Immediately aftherwards, I picked up the first book in the Roseby series, which takes place following the previous generation of Bridgertons as well as their neighbours. I had fun reading this one, and the characters are definitely likeable but this was not my favourite of them all, mostly because the main character Billie really leaned of the trope of the “not like other girls” trope, and like, we got it but it’s not that good a trope.

March Reading Wrap Up

This was almost ready in my drafts, and somehow I never got around to finishing & posting it… But better late than never, here comes my (belated) March wrap up!

Young adult:

Meet Cute Diary by Emery Lee ⭐⭐⭐⭐
The meet cute diary is a tumblr blog recounting multiple people by trans people. It’s extremely popular and gives hope to its reader… But what no one knows is that most of the meet cute moments are entirely made up by its founder Noah. As people start accusing him of being a fake, he begins a fake relationship for the sake of his blog… Meet Cute Diary is full of characters who make mistakes and try to do better. It has great plot twists and a high level of drama, and overall I really enjoyed it.

Only Monstly Devastated by Sophie Gonzales ⭐⭐⭐⭐
I absolutely LOVED this one. It’s basically a gay version of Grease, and therefore has one of my favourite tropes aka queer kids doing theatre. I adored the friendships in this one, as well as Ollie’s relationship with is family. This was my first Sophie Gonzales book, but it certainly won’t be the last!

Fiction/romance:

Plainsong by Kazushi Hosaka ⭐⭐⭐
This was an easy and pleasant slice-of-life read. It follows a man in his thirties who moves alone into an apartment outside of Tokyo. He soon starts hosting several of his friends, as well as various neighborhood cats, and we follow them through their daily life and shenanigans.

The Flatshare by Beth O’Leary ⭐⭐⭐⭐
This one had been on my TBR for quite some time, and I’m so glad that I finally gave it a try! I had heard mixed reviews, some people saying it was absolutely fantastic, some saying it wasn’t worth it… Well I personally really liked it. It follows two characters who end up sharing a flat but never meet. Leon lives there during the day, while Tiffy stays at night. Soon they start exchanging notes throughout the flat, and get closer until they start falling in love… And meet for the first time. And of course they are surrounded by a cast of ecclectic and endearing characters. This was such a pleasant read! I’m really glad that I gave it a try, and will for sure be reading more books by Beth O’Leary!

Count Your Lucky Stars by Alexandria Bellefleur ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
I was looking forward to reading the third book in Alexandria Bellefleur’s Written in the Stars trilogy, and what can I say except that it completely lived up to my expectations! We follow Margot and Olivia as they meet again after ten years, and end up being roommates, thus getting a second chance at romance. This was everything I wanted, and I’m so glad that I decided to pick up this series!

Roomies by Christina Lauren ⭐⭐⭐⭐
I was definitely in the mood for romance so I decided to pick up a book by Christina Lauren because nothing can go wrong with them, and I was right (although my favourite is still The Unhoneymooners, of course.) Roomies is a marriage of convenience story, with lots of twists and unfortunately lots of things remaining unsaid until it all exploded in our characters’ faces… I had a lot of fun reading it, and really appreciated Holland’s character’s development!

The Miracles of the Namiya General Store by Keigo Higashino ⭐⭐⭐⭐
This is another one that had been on my TBR for quite some time, and I’m so glad that I finally took the time to read it! It’s a story about a mysterious bazar that gives answers to people with questions about their future. Years after it closed down, three young men on the run hide their, and receive a letter asking for help… Except that they quickly find out this letter was posted year before… With each chapter, the different characters’ lives get more and more intertwined, until the grand finale. This was such a lovely book, and I can only recommend it!

The Lady’s Guide to Celestial Mechanics by Olivia Waite ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Historical sapphic romance, with women doing whatever they want? Sign me up! May their passion be art or science, they would find a place in this book, and I had the best time reading it.

We All Loved Cowboys by Carol Bensimon ⭐⭐⭐.5
I picked this up because it had a sapphic relationship (yes, this is definitely a thing I keep doing and I have no regrets). It’s basically about two friends who are also ex-girlfriends and haven’t seen each other in years. One day they get in touch again, and decide to go back home to Brazil and go on a road trip together. This book will make you travel from France to Canada, and of course through the Brazilian countryside. This was an easy read, and I had a lovely time with it overall.

Mangas:

Sayonara, Otoko no Ko vol.2 & 3 by Takako Shimura ⭐⭐⭐
Soso no Frieren vol.1 & 2 by Kanehito Yamada and Tsukasa Abe ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Kazun vol.2 by Ryou Ikuemi ⭐⭐⭐
Wandering Witch vol.3 by Jougi Shiraishi and Itsuki Nanao ⭐⭐⭐
Mahiru no Polvoron vol.3 by Nozo Itoi ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Magus of the Library vol.5 by Mitsu Izumi ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Blue Period vol.2 by Tsubasa Yamaguchi ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Books in French:

Korakes, Les enfants maudits de Caroline Blineau ⭐⭐
En l’absence du capitaine de Cécile Coulon ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Tenir debout dans la nuit d’Eric Pessan ⭐⭐⭐⭐

February Reading Wrap Up

We’re making progress through the month of March, but it’s not over yet so in consideration, it’s not too late to post my February wrap up. I managed to read 16 books last month, and I loved pretty much all of them. So without further ado, here comes the list!

Young Adult:

A Pho Love Story by Loan Le ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
This one had been on my radar since it got released, and since we just got the French translation available I decided to read it to share the love with my YA readers at work (and so far, it’s been a success!) I listened to the audiobook and I completely fell in love with the story. It’s cute, with just the right amount of drama and family secrets, and I’m so glad I decided to read this book ❤

Queens of Geek by Jen Wilde ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Jen Wilde’s books have been on my TBR for the longest time. Since I was looking for a light read, it felt like (finally) the perfect opportunity to read this one, and I can now safely say: I don’t know why I waited this long. I love books that are set with a fandom background, and this was no exception. It’s cute and hilarious, and I can’t wait to read more books from the author!

The Ones We’re Meant to Find by Joan He ⭐⭐⭐⭐
The Ones We’re Meant to Find also is a strong case of I-waited-for-the-book-to-be-released-in-French so I’d have the perfect excuse to indulge in it, and Wow, it was incredible. I loved the world-building and the concept of the story all-in-all. It was beautifully crafted and thought-provoking. The characterization of AIs reminded me a bit of Klara and the Sun which I’d read over the summer, and also really loved. It’s unique and well(written, and I can only recommend it.

Romance:

Delihlah Green Doesn’t Care by Ashley Herring Blake ⭐⭐⭐⭐
As soon as this book was released, I saw it everywhere on bookstagram, so in all fairness I had to check it out as well, and wow I loved it. It’s the perfect blend of cliché and sexy, and exactly what I was looking for I absolutely loved the chemistry between Claire and Delilah. On top of that, the relationship between Delilah and her step-sister was so full of misunderstandings and well-hidden care for one another it really had me melt into a puddle, and I can’t wait for the sequel to read Astrid’s story!

The Rommmate by Rosie Danan ⭐⭐⭐⭐
The Intimacy Experiment by Rosie Danan ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Rosie Danan’s book had been on my TBR for a while, and I’d heard many great things. I really enjoyed it, so of course once I finished it I had to pick up the sequel as well. I loved both Clara and Naomi’s story, and can say I’m really glad I decided to check those out!

Spoiler Alert by Olicia Dade ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
All the Feels by Olivia Dade ⭐⭐⭐⭐
So once again it seems, we face my favourite combo: romance and fandom. I devoured both of these, and I can’t wait to read the third ok in the series!

The Love Hypothesis by Ali Hazelwood ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Since I was in the mood for romance novels, as this post has proven so far, I decided to check out The Love Hypothesis as well. I had seen this one everywhere on Tiktok, and was really curious to see whether or not it was worth all the hype. Well I definitely thought that it was. I’m a sucker for the fake-dating trope, and I absolutely loved the relationship between Olive and Adam. I’ll be looking forward to Ali Hazelwood’s next books!

Graphic novels & mangas:

The Girl from the Sea by Molly Knox Ostertag ⭐⭐⭐⭐
This one is another book I’d seen quite a few times around on bookstagram, and I was really curious about it. It was all sorts of cute and adorable, and definitely something I’d love to reread when I feel down! (Sapphic graphic novels are the best, please feel free to recommend more of them because I can’t get enough…)

Old-fashioned Cupcake by Yan ⭐⭐⭐⭐
I’d purchased this one after seeing someone I follow on instagram recommending it, and I’m glad I followed their advice. It was adorable and sexy and also had lots of amazing foods, really what else could I ask for!

A Witch’s Love by the End of the World by Kujira ⭐⭐⭐
This was the last volume in the story, and I have to say I was really invested in it in the beginning, but I felt a bit let down by the ending. It was still a solid trilogy though, and I’m really glad I decided to read it!

Magus of the Library vol.4 by Mitsu Izumi ⭐⭐⭐⭐
I am loveing this story. It’s full of books and adventures and amazing characters. I actually just purchased volume 5, and I can’t wait to see what the rest of the story has in store for us.

Blue Period vol.1 by Tsubasa Yamaguchi ⭐⭐⭐⭐
After watching the anime on Netflix, I wanted more and decided to check out the manga. I only read the first volume so far but I absolutely loved it, and so far, I can’t get enough of that universe!

Books in French:

Le gosse de Véronique Olmi ⭐⭐⭐
Nom de Constance Debré ⭐⭐⭐

And that’s it for today! Thank you so much for reading this far, and I hope you have a wonderful day ❤

January Reading Wrap Up

It’s a good thing I decided to get back into blogging back in January, and then proceeded to not post a single thing throughout the entire month of February… I could argue that I’ve been busy with my work and then my week of vacation but that wouldn’t entirely be true. One thing’s for sure though, I HAVE been busy reading 20 books in January, and that’s what I wanted to talk about for today!

Young adult:

Iron Widow by Xiran Jay Zhao ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
This was my first 5 stars read of the month. It has a badass heroine, some giant mecha robots and a polyamorous relationship. It’s action packed but also deals with abuse and political intrigues. This book is heavy but it’s also truly amazing and I’m so glad I picked it up! [I recommend you check the trigger warnings before picking up that book]

You’ve Reached Sam by Dustin Thao ⭐⭐⭐⭐
I always love a good book that makes me cry, and this was no exception. We follow Julie who is mourning her boyfriend, who just passed away in an accident. One day, desperate to hear his voice, she calls him… And he picks up the phone, allowing her a second chance at saying goodbye. You’ve Reached Sam is a beautiful book about grief and friendships, and I loved it with all my heart.

Where the Drowned Girls Go by Seanan McGuire ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Of course I had to pick up the seventh book in the Wayward Children series as soon as it was released, and I loved it just as much as I loved the previous ones. It’s a really good series, and I love how Seanan McGuire manages to surprise me with every new volume. I can’t wait to see what’s in store for us when it comes to the rest of the series!

Romance & Fiction in general:

In a Holidaze by Christina Lauren ⭐⭐⭐⭐
This was my first read of the year, and I basically binge-read it on January 1st! I wanted to start the year with something seasonal and fluffy, and this is exactly what I got. On top of that, it has one of my favourite tropes aka a time loop, which for some reason I really loved, and this one was no exception. It was my second Christina Lauren book, and there will definitely be more in the future!

Conversations With Friends by Sally Rooney ⭐⭐⭐
This one was the book I started in 2021 and didn’t have the chance to finish because the end of the year was super busy. I read Normal People back in Spring and really loved it so of course I was looking forward to reading more of Sally Rooney’s books! As expected I really loved the writing, but I’m not really sure how I felt about it in general? In some passages I was deeply moved, but some other times I didn’t really care what was happening… It was a good book, but definitely not my favourite.

Take a Hint, Dani Brown by Talia Hibbert ⭐⭐⭐⭐
After seeing this one EVERYWHERE on bookstagram, of course I was bound to read it eventually. It has fake dating and mutual pining, which is just as good as it sounds. I really enjoyed it, and I’ll be looking forward to reading the rest of the Brown Sisters trilogy (and yes, I accidentally started with the second one for some reason).

The Midnight Library by Matt Haig ⭐⭐⭐⭐
This one also is a strong case of after-seeing-it-everywhere-on-booksta-of-course-I-had-to-read it, combined with the fact that it was just released in France. I was a big worried that it would be overhyped, and also really wanted to like it; and I did. It was a beautiful, moving book about a young woman who desperately wants to be happy. I loved following Nora on all of her different, possible lives, and I’m really glad that I gave in to the hype.

Date Me Like You Mean It by R.S. Grey ⭐⭐⭐
I hadn’t read an R.S. Grey book in years, but I was in the mood for a romance book and found this one while scrolling through my downloaded books on my kindle so I decided to give it a try. It has a lot of miscommunication, but the mutual pining makes up for it, and I ended up quite enjoying this one.

Enemies Abroad by R.S. Grey ⭐⭐⭐⭐
This was such a sweet enemies-to-lovers romance, which follows two teachers who seemingly hate each other and end up stuck on a three weeks trip to Italy together. And suddenly, in between wines and pastries, it turns out they might not hate each other? This was such a fun, delightful read, and I’m really glad that I gave it a try ❤

Seven Kinds of People You Find in Bookshops by Shaun Blythell ⭐⭐⭐⭐
This one isn’t actually fiction but since it’s the only non-fiction book that I’ve read, it will just sit along with the rest. This book is exactly what it sounds like: the author, who owns a second-hand bookstore, describes all the kinds of (annoying, weird, oddly specific…) customers you can find in bookstores. It was hilarious and relatable and I’m so glad I finally read this one!

Books in French:

Les Accords Silencieux by Marie-Diane Meissirel ⭐⭐⭐⭐
This one is a stunning historical fiction following several families through three generations, all around the globe from WWII New York to present day Hong Kong, from China to Germany and to India. Little by little (and mostly through tragedy) the reader slowly figures out that all of these characters are linked through one stunning Steinway piano which traveled all around the world. This book was heartbreaking and beautiful, and gave me hope in the end. It was truly beautiful, and I’m really glad that I gave it a try in the end!

Steglitz by Inès Bayard ⭐
I rarely give books 1 stars, but I had to when it comes to this one. Maybe it just wasn’t my cup of tea, but on top of that the plot was really hard to follow despite the fact that nothing was happening, so there’s that.

La fabrique des souvenirs by Clélia Renucci ⭐⭐⭐
This was a lovely book set in a universe where people can buy and sell memories. While attending the premiere of a play in a memory from 1942, the main character falls in love with the woman sitting in front of him and starts a wild chase to find out what happens to her. I really enjoyed the premisse of the book, as well as the writing, although I felt that in the end the story dragged on for a bit too long.

Mangas:

I Think Our Son Is Gay vol.3 by Okura ⭐⭐⭐⭐
The Apothecary Diaries by Nekokurage vol.7 ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Blue Flag vol.2 by Kaito ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Witch Hat Atelier vol.4 by Kamome Shirahama ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Magus of the Library vol.3 by Mitsu Izumi ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Kazun vol.1 by Ryou Ikuemi ⭐⭐⭐⭐
5 Seconds Before the Witch Falls in Love by Zeniko Sumiya ⭐⭐⭐