I’ve been quite a busy bee this past quarter. This is usually the time of year when I take a couple of weeks off from blogging because of wedding season, traveling, and life just generally getting hectic. In the midst of it all, I also took a month off from work and traveled to India—but that’s a story for another day.
That being said, I have been reading consistently. I read some great novels and some weird AF ones too. So here’s everything I read over the past three months.
The Fifth Republic Series by Penelope Sky 2.5/5
I read all three books in this series, and honestly, I’m not mad about it. It’s very straightforward: the bad guy falls obsessively in love with the female lead in about two minutes, and all three books revolve around him conquering her love. I knew going in that it would be cheesy, easy to read, require very little critical thinking, and be a fun way to get out of a reading slump.
- The Butcher
- The Carver
- The Saint
The Light We Give by Simran Jeet Singh 4.5/5
This is a solid book about Sikhi and how we can incorporate Sikh values into our daily lives. Thoughtful and grounded. This book is not long, but it did take me a couple of days and two flights to get through because I was highlighting, writing, and taking notes while reading. It has actionable steps you can take, and the best part is that Simran does a really good job of giving examples. He shows how he has applied the steps to his own life and how it has impacted him.
Magic Hour by Kristin Hannah 4/5
Kristin Hannah is a fantastic author! I don’t think I’ve ever walked away disappointed from one of her books. This wasn’t her best, but it was still a solid read. The storyline is interesting: a small town, two sisters, one a psychiatrist who no longer trusts her own skill set, and the other the town’s police chief, trying to help a six-year-old child who was found alone.
Sweet Venom by Reina Kent 2/5
I’ve read every single book by Rina Kent, so when I say this isn’t a 5/5 like some of her older work, I really mean it. The book feels recycled, choppy, and doesn’t flow well. I wish the characters had been developed more thoroughly.
I do think the first book in the series is better than this one. That said, if you’re looking for obsessive, stalker-boyfriend energy, “I don’t know why I love her but I do,” and a crazy-but-rich family dynamic, this might still work for you.
Apparently, there’s a secret society the male lead is part of… where??? It felt like scenes from multiple other novels of hers stitched together. Everything was too similar and predictable; I felt like I’d already read this book before. The female lead was very much a pick-me and not a strong character at all.
Left Field Love by C.W Farnsworth 3/5
This was such a cute romance. I genuinely loved reading it and kept wanting to find time to finish it. What made it stand out was that the female lead wasn’t chasing the male lead; he was completely head over heels for her and consistently proved she was the love of his life. He didn’t pressure her into decisions, gave her space, and let her be herself.
The book isn’t perfect—the writing could be better, and there could have been more development, but the romance was the clear focus. Side stories existed, but they never overtook the main plot: a boy and a girl falling in love. An easy YA read.
The Housemaid by Freida McFadden 3/5
This was unexpectedly good. It was one of our book club picks, and I’m glad we chose it, especially since the movie came out (10/10 recommend watching after reading the book).
It’s an easy read with short chapters and classic thriller-style writing. If you’re looking for a quick psychological thriller or an intro into the genre, this is a great option.
The off-campus Series by Elle Kennedy
I read books 1–3 out of five, and overall, it was a fun hockey romance series. I’d never read hockey romance before, so this was a good introduction. Easy reads, predictable plots, and quick, happy endings.
These are the kinds of books where you can completely turn your brain off, no highlighting paragraphs or literary revelations, just pure entertainment. I really needed that during this time period.
- The Deal (my favorite of the three) 3.5/5
- The Mistake 2/5
- The Score 3/5
Briar U Campus by Elle Kennedy
This series is connected to Off-Campus. I realized afterward that I probably should’ve started with Off-Campus first, but honestly, you don’t have to. Each book focuses on its own couple, and the rest of the characters are mostly background, even though everything interconnects.
I read the first two books:
- The Chase: A Grumpy Sunshine College Hockey Romance 3/5
- The Risk 2.5/5
Here’s to another year of reading!