August 2024 Reading Wrap Up

I feel like posting a reading wrap up is a sure sign that we are back! Back in action! August was quite the reading month- I introduced a new series on my social media (IG, Facebook, Tik Tok all- @acuppacosy) where I pair a couple of books with a cocktail of a sort and then you get my thoughts on the cocktail, the books and if it worked out. I’ve filmed two episodes so far (posted one, another is coming very soon!) and I truly am enjoying it. I’ve also posted a “silent review” video to pair with this post. So, shameless plug if you’re not following me on social media, you’re possibly missing out haha! 

 Ok. Let’s get into books and thoughts and reviews, shall we? A little stat breakdown for you- I read a total of 7 books (and DNF’d 1), with an average rating of 3.12. My favorite was The Spellshop by Sarah Beth Durst, and my least favorite was Quicksilver by Callie Hart. See all my thoughts below! 

Tomorrow & Tomorrow & Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin 4 Stars I really enjoyed this story- it is simply a coming-of-age story, with a minor climatic event, but ultimately it is a story of friendship. It ambles around a little bit, but in a way that works, and the writing is wonderful. 

 Quicksilver by Callie Hart 1 Star This was not my jam…at all. I found the trope redundant; I wasn’t a fan of the characters. Not sure what else, but it just did not work for me.  

Born of Blood and Ash by Jennifer L. Armentrout 4 Stars I really enjoyed this concluding novel to the series- and make no mistake, this is the superior series in the world that Jennifer Armentrout has created.  

The Spellshop by Sarah Beth Durst 5 Stars This was easily one of my favorite books of the month, maybe even of the year. This was just a wholesome cozy fantasy romance. Very low stakes, I would almost just consider this a cozy romance, but there are some fantasy elements within. 

 Kill for Me, Kill for You by Steve Cavanaugh 3.5/4 Stars I’m not sure where this falls on the rating scale. I enjoyed this book, and the twist was spot on (both of them), but I also didn’t feel super strongly about “loving” it. It is a solid thriller.  

Horror Movie by Paul Tremblay 2 Stars Boy was this a disappointment. I liked the script, that was where Tremblay really shined, but when we went into the narrative of the book it lost me. I can understand the reasoning and where the jarring can work for the story, but instead for me it just pulled me out in a different way.  

***Quick interjection- when it comes to romance, I don’t typically have a lot to say, so you might see the next two reviews (and future romance ones) being a bit shorter. And yes, I’m reading romance, I started sometime in the New Year, and it has stuck haha.  

Drive Me Crazy by Carley Robyn 3 Stars This was a solid romance- a racing romance that I quite enjoyed. The spice level wasn’t the highest I’ve ever read, but it was a cute one that I enjoyed.  

The Art of Catching Feelings by Alicia Thompson 3 Stars This was another solid romance- I might have preferred this one above Drive Me Crazy. A bit more spice and the third act was a bit more…a fight (?) rather than a miscommunication.   

That wraps up August! I will say- I am excited to get into the ‘Ber months, the more atmospheric reads, the darker novels. Happy Reading!

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A Cuppa Cosy Reads – June & July 2023

Am I in my romance era??? I’ve always been a proclaimed…romance belongs in movies not the sole plot of a book, girl, but I feel like maybe that’s changing? Or maybe it’s just these dog days of summer getting to me. Regardless, I think I’ve figured out what I like in romance (yes it only took a handful of books to do that) and I’m excited to start intermingling this genre more into my monthly reading. Also- I’ve entered my rereading era- I’ve decided to dive back into a couple of my favorites and mark the living…pages out of them. It’s a fun activity and I am finding all sorts of little tidbits I didn’t get the first time around. 

(The whole era thing has rubbed off on me…sorry not sorry?)

It’s a double header today (a sports- specifically baseball- metaphor today, the boys are also rubbing off on me)- summing up 2 months of books in one post. When June started, I wasn’t doing a lot of reading (I was doing a lot of stressing and anxiety moments, and A LOT of disassociating/scrolling on social media), so when my reading finally took off it was almost halfway into the month. I figured I wouldn’t get too much read as we were headed on holiday…6 books later I realized my mistake haha. Then July was a bit of a hit and miss- the first full week back home from holiday I struggled, but then got back into the swing of reading and haven’t stopped since. 

Over the two months I read a total of 16 books and gave an average rating of 3.46. 

A Court of Mist and Fury by Sarah J Maas 5 Stars – Welcome to my re read era, where I am re reading certain…fantasy romance novels ahead of releases and just for the sheer delight of it. As I’m going, I am marking up my books (I purchased copies specifically for this purpose) and, it’s just been a really fun addition to my reading. A delight. I really think that this particular one is her best in this series objectively. The world expands, we see character growth, and the romance is top notch. 

The Soulmate Equation by Christina Lauren 4 Stars – I want to say this opened the romance era can of worms. I picked it up because I love a good science experiment tells you something about mankind, and this gave me The One by John Marrs but not killer=y vibes. And that’s exactly what it was, and I loved it. Color me shocked (no seriously- romance was the only plot of this book and I loved it). 

The Measure by Nikki Erlick 5 Stars – I have to say, I was not disappointed by this book. In fact, I was crying at the end. This is one of those books that really makes you think, what would I do? I enjoyed seeing a variety of perspectives that fell…real (my biggest gripe- as someone who sees every side- is when an author is clearly one sided but trying to write multiple sides). I highly recommend this one- it is worth it. 

Funny You Should Ask by Elissa Sussman 4 Stars – This solidified my romance era as, like The Soulmate Equation, I really enjoyed this solely romance novel. The subtle Jewishness of it all, the Hollywood commentary, the female writer commentary- this was beyond just a romance but also just a romance. 

Royally Not Read by Meghan Quinn .5 stars/No Rating – Boy was this a miss for me. To be honest, I’m not going to talk too much about this one as I don’t want to bash it- it just…was not the book for me. And we’ll leave it at that. 

A Psalm for the Wild Built by Becky Chamber 3.5 Stars – I really liked this one. It’s just soft and cozy and introspective and gentle. It allows the reader to follow on one person’s journey inwards, while journeying outwards. And a robot who is just trying to understand humanity. Together there is magic, and I loved it. I will say- it did get a bit too slow at points, but only in a mild detract. 

Episode Thirteen by Craig DeLouie 3.5 Stars – I enjoyed this, but I wasn’t freaked out by it, nor do I really know entirely the point of it. I enjoyed that it was all written in transcripts and journal entries, I do feel like that added something and I did enjoy the very last entry of the book, BUT I think that something about this…missed the mark it was trying to hit?

The Bookstore Sisters by Alice Hoffman 3 Stars – This was fine! A short story for Kindle and I didn’t feel strongly one way or the other- a cute coming home story. 

The Butterfly Garden by Dot Hutchison 5 Stars – The last time I felt so conflicted about giving 5 Stars was Pretty Girls by Karin Slaughter…but as I said then, I really loved the book, not the content and it was done so well. This was GOOD, from the writing to the story, to the ending. I enjoyed the reading experience, even if the contact is twisted. 

SpyxFamily 3 by Tatsuya Endo NR – This is the next volume, and this was heavily focused on the family life of this little Spy Family. There wasn’t a lot of content, but I feel like it is really setting the story up to move forward in future volumes. 

Everything the Darkness Eats by Eric LaRocca 3 Stars – Boy Eric LaRocca writes some dark stuff. Stories that you don’t really understand while you’re reading, or when you finish it, but is just dark overall. I don’t know how I really feel about this one, other than uneasy. 

Forever Never by Lucy Score 4 Stars – This was a romance that had just enough for me. There was enough outside the romance to move the story forward, the romance was believable and enjoyable (a very will they won’t they set up). This is, I think, the kind of romance that I would read more of. 

A Court of Wings and Ruin by Sarah J Maas – 4 Stars Another reread to round out this trilogy and again, I’m loving everything that I am picking up on on this reread. It has me excited to pick up the next couple of books as I know I’ve missed more, and Sarah has a new book coming out soon!

A Soul of Ash and Blood by Jennifer L Armentrout – 2 Stars Let’s talk about books that don’t need to exist and maybe how sometimes giving your readers what they want isn’t the…greatest idea. Because I didn’t need to read the entirety of the first book just retold through someone else’s eyes. Nope. Didn’t need to happen. And we didn’t get any…true insight into the present circumstances of our character that couldn’t have been handled in the next book, or as a novella to bridge books. 

Yellowface by R.F. Kuang – 4 Stars I’m not sure how I want to talk about this book. I really enjoyed it, R.F. Kuang is a truly incredible writer. BUT the topic of conversation in this book is one that we are actively working on within the public and the industry. While publishing is not truly changing anytime soon, there are various bodies within the industry that are working hard to change it and are aware. I think it’s important to read and absorb, but it is difficult to read from this perspective. 

Icebreaker by Hannah Grace – 1.5 Stars Ok- hear me out. I stay far away from figure skating books – unless they are written by actual figure skaters (and sometimes even then too). They are typically quite far-fetched, and I just can’t help but side eye them. But everyone has been raving about this book, its all-over social media, and I do enjoy hockey (despite my better instincts…side eye). And…I mean this ended up being a hate read by the end of it. Not only was the figure skating aspect unbelievably far-fetched to absolutely anyone who is either in the sport or follows it, but the hockey player was a piece of cardboard, and the figure skater had her head stuck so far up her own behind (so maybe spot on?) and was just “so emotionally mature” yet missed the signs of emotional abuse and manipulation by her partner…ok I’ll stop. 

And that wraps the past two months of reading up! Anything stick out to you? What’s been a favorite of your Summer Reading? Overall, I’m glad I’m starting to reach out genre wise once again and it’s paying off- for the most part. 

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A Cuppa Cosy Reads – June 2022

Hello! Long time no post! Not really, only a couple weeks, but it was a good, very much needed break away. We had our annual summer holiday and, once again, had a really nice time! We traveled to seven different spots (so look forward to seven blog posts coming your way with all the details) and just really enjoyed the time together, away from work, phones, and computer screens. Somehow, I managed to read 8 books in the month of June, with an average rating of 3.85. A win of a month for sure! Let’s get into those- please keep in mind the reviews might be shorter as it’s been a minute since I’ve read/thought about them so things might slip through the cracks. 

Rivals by Katherine McGee 3 Stars This the third book in this series and I found it…fine. I always enjoy this American Royal reimagining, even if I feel like sometimes, it gets a little dragged out. It’s young adult and there will be a fourth book coming (that I will be purchasing and reading). An average to good book to start the month with!

Tokyo Dreaming by Emiko Jean 3 Stars This is another royal re-imagining, though if I had to pick, I might have enjoyed this one slightly more than Rivals. I think it’s a bit…fresher and the insight/view into a different culture is wonderful. 

Wicked Beauty by Katee Robert 4 Stars Another hit from Katee Robert’s Dark Olympus series. This pushed the boundaries a bit and definitely re imagined Greek Mythology (in a sense, who knows though), but I really enjoyed it!

The Vanishing Type by Ellery Adams 4 Stars I was really in the mood this month for light and fun, so I read two Ellery Adams, this one being her Book, Tea & Scone Society series. I’m not quite sure which I really prefer- I love and relate to both so much. Anyways, another really enjoyable cozy mystery, plus a smattering of romance. 

I Hope This Finds You Well by Kate Baer NR I swung in the complete opposite direction with this one, a black out poetry collection designed to take “hate” or “negative” messages and turn them into a positive argument. And, once again, Kate Baer did an excellent job not only with the poetry, but with the collection as a whole. 

The Sprite and The Gardener by Rii Abrego 5 Stars This was a short, fun graphic novel about a Sprite trying to get back to her…roots of sorts. She’s new to town and she befriends and helps a human with a small garden. It was just quaint and fun to read. 

All of Us Villains by Amanda Foody 4 Stars Ok, I was unsure about this one for a long while, but somewhere it hooked me and I really enjoyed it! We’re following “villains” (at least in their communities’ eyes) as they compete against each other for the final bit of magic left. It’s reminiscent of The Hunger Games, but if every victor trained like they lived in District 1. It was good and I’ll definitely be reading the next one (I think it’ll only be a duology). 

Murder in the Reading Room by Ellery Adams 4 Stars I ended the month on a high note with another Ellery Adams cozy mystery. I don’t have much to say about these, but they’re always just really nice to read in a day or two. 

All in all, it was a great reading month- especially for having traveled the last week or so of it! We are also at the halfway point in the year, so I might be posting a little…mid-yearbook freak out towards the end of this week, so keep an eye out for that bonus post before all the travel content begins!

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A Cuppa Cosy Reads – May 2022

Another month has come to an end and it’s time to talk about the books that I’ve read! I kind of wandered all over the place in terms of stories and genres. Part of it was not really know what I wanted to read, part of it was just life throwing curve balls all over the place. I went from wanting comfort to needing expansive stories, to wanting simple romance. It was all over, but it was also great fun and full of some good reads. I read 9 books and gave an average rating of 3.75. So, let’s just get into those books, shall we?

Under the Whispering Door by T.J. Klune 5 Stars Much like the first book of T.J. Klunes that I read, this is a feel good, life lesson in a soft cute way kind of book. We are following a man as he’s just died. In his path to “the final door” he learns about the meaning of life, love, and what really makes him happy. It was adorable and meaningful, and I definitely cried at the end. 

Miracle Creek by Angie Kim 5 Stars In a completely different direction, this is a court room murder thriller following the lives of several families after a massive tragedy. It is a unique look at parenthood with children who suffer from varying levels of disability as well as the immigrant experience in a small town. I found this to be incredible and I cried at the end. 

Book Lovers by Emily Henry 4 Stars This might have been the cutest, chinchiest book I’ve read this month. We follow to high powered editors who have one goal in mind for their lives, their careers. Of course, life never goes to plan, and they find themselves fighting against what they thought was impossible.  

Electric Idol by Katee Robert 3 Stars Look- I couldn’t help myself, especially after reading the first book in the series last month. This is the second book in the Dark Olympus series, which, at its core, follows four sisters as they live and fight in the city of Olympus. It’s a fun, smutty, reimagining of Greek g-ds that makes for light, but compelling reading. 

The Mayfair Bookshop by Eliza Knight 4 Stars My first proper historical fiction in a while, The Mayfair Bookshop follows two different women in different eras at crossroads in their lives. We see how a family, broken by different viewpoints in WW2 exists and leaves a legacy that intersects with our modern-day protagonist. I really enjoyed this one and would highly recommend it. 

Even If We Break by Marieke Nijkamp 4 Stars, I’ll be honest, this book freaked me out in so many ways, but also left me a bit confused (in a good way) by the end. We are following 5-6 friends as they are closing a chapter of their lives. Things are changing and we are seeing how they fall apart, come together, and fall apart again. All this on the back of a haunting, thrilling, mystery that you (as a reader) never quite know what is real and what is not. I found this to be incredibly well done and atmospheric as all. 

The Palace Papers by Tina Brown NR Here’s another one that…well I just couldn’t help myself when I saw it on sale. I’m a royal fan, and am fascinated by all the scandal, intrigue, and the dynamic of the family and the firm. It’s important to know that the woman who wrote the book has a background of tabloid sensationalism, so that’s good to keep in mind regarding some of her criticism and praise, but still…just soaking all the dynamics and drama. 

Snow White with the Red Hair Volume 1 by Sorata Akiduki 4 Stars I ended the month with a couple Manga options. This is a genre that I dip my toes in to from time to time, just when I need something quick, but storytelling and easy. I found comfort in this selection- even though absolutely nothing happens. It’s very much a slice of life manga, and it’ll be good for when you just want to read something comforting, but easy.

Spy X Family Volume 1 by Tatsuya Endo, translated by Casey Loe 5 Stars Ok, I loved this. I get the “mainstream” hype around it. We are following a spy as he forms this unconventional family with two people, he thinks are normal. But, as with anything else, not all is what it seems and, in this family, everyone has secrets. This is great- it’s easy and approachable for people just getting into manga, but if you’ve read and loved manga before it’s also great. 

And that’s it! Quite the variety to offer and I have a good sense for what I want to read moving forward. Any stand outs for you this past month of reading? Let me know!  

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A Cuppa Cosy Reads – January 2022

Ah the first month of 2022! I’ve always loved the first reading month of the year. The fresh start, everything looks bright, and I always seem to have good luck with books at the beginning of the year. This month was…no different. I had almost all wins, aka I didn’t give less than 3 stars to any book I read, and I overall enjoyed everything that I read. I read a total of 6 books and gave an average rating of 3.6. 

So, let’s talk about those books…

Jade City by Fonda Lee 4 Stars – I LOVED this book. Thinking back, I don’t know why I gave it 4 stars instead of 5, but I usually go with my first gut rating on most books. This is an Asian inspired Urban fantasy that has the perfect mix of politics, fighting, and a hinting of romance here and there. It really checks so many boxes and I can’t wait to continue with the series. 

People Love Dead Jews by Dara Horn NR – This was another great read, though a difficult one at times. This book not only covers the fascination of dead Jews, but also gives insight into so many stories that we don’t normally hear or talk about in relation to the Jewish Community. It’s such an important read for both Jews and Non-Jews and I highly recommend it. 

Leviathan Wakes by James S.A. Corey 3 Stars – I have mixed feelings about this book. This is a space melodrama that involves both political and interpersonal battles. For me, about half of the book I was really intrigued, really into what was happening, and then half of the book I was questioning why I was bothering to read it/wasting my time. I get the appeal, but there were moments that I was just bored. There was also some initial confusion about the different “sects” of space and trying to work that out in my head. 

Duke, Actually by Jenny Holiday 4 Stars – This is actually the second book in a series which I didn’t realize, but I don’t think you need to read the first to get on with the second (and I probably won’t go back and read the first). A fun, lighthearted, aristocratic romance, we follow two characters who have sworn off love only to find that maybe they just needed the right person to fall in love with. My only “negative” was towards the end I felt like the “conflict” was a little…over engineered. But this was the perfect read for a weekend.

Reprieve by James Han Mattson 3 Stars – I’m not really sure how I feel about this one. This is a murder mystery that takes place in a “famous” full contact escape house. I found this to be a really good character study that pushed a variety of characters from different backgrounds past their limits to see what would happen. It was good, but unsettling. 

Where the Drowned Girls Go by Seanan McGuire 4 Stars – This book reminded me how much I loved this series in the first place. The 6th book in the Wayward Children Series, we get to see a second school that isn’t quite like Eleanor Wests’. We follow some of our previous characters, meet some new ones, and expand the “human” world a bit more. I really enjoyed this one, which was nice after feeling meh from the past couple. 

I’m currently reading The Glass Hotel by Emily St. John Mandel, but I don’t know if I’ll finish it before the end of the month, definitely not before this blog post needs to be scheduled to go up on Wednesday. So far, I’m enjoying it and looking forward to seeing where the story goes (I’m about 75 pages in). And that’s my first reading wrap up of 2022! How has your reading started off this year?

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