June has been pretty rough mental health-wise… I feel like I’m being a miserable witch when people are happy, and I can’t happy for them because I’m not happy. I’m glad for them and I know I’m not owed anything, but sometimes I wish I didn’t have to hear about it... Oh, that sounds so bad!!!
There’s been ups this month though. I really like nagi’s new album ENcore. I love when she sings in her breathy style.
And of course, I’m always happy when I meet the girlies. I thank the fates for the privilege to be with people I feel at home with!! The me of 5 years ago would’ve never known such a thing… 💌
Notes on an Execution by Danya Kukafka ⭐⭐⭐⭐
The story opens with an inmate, Ansel, awaiting the date of his execution. His chapters are the only ones narrated in second-person, which was an interesting choice. It made it impersonal and removes any intrigue or mystery that people love to grant to despicable men. I like that even though it’s about a serial killer, the focus is on the women in his life.
Sorcery of Thorns by Margaret Rogerson ⭐⭐⭐
This one’s been sitting in my Kindle ever since I got it. A standalone YA fantasy about a librarian and a magician, and magical grimoires. The plot feels like it’s something that’s been done before. I enjoyed it though. There was something very anime about all this... Especially the magician’s demon servant. He dresses like a butler, has white hair, and takes the form of a white cat.
Careless People: A Cautionary Tale of Power, Greed, and Lost Idealism by Sarah Wynn-Williams ⭐⭐½
This is a tell-all from someone who worked for Facebook’s policy team. I thought there would be more tea about Zuckerberg, but it’s mostly Facebook being horribly unethical and giving her sub-human treatment. No way, how could a billion dollar corporation do that! In all seriousness, it’s crazy how much they got away with. It’s also crazy how often she tries to justify staying at Facebook despite all the evil they were committing. AND she almost dies giving birth to her second child and suffers long-term health complications. And then the epilogue says she’s pregnant again. Girl, it gets to a point.
The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins ⭐⭐⭐½
I was there during the YA dystopian boom of the 2010s! I read the entire trilogy when I was a teen, although I’ve forgotten quite a bit. It’s a fresh experience now that I know they’re supposed to have Appalachian accents. Still a great read!
It’s the middle of the year so I’m doing the Mid-Year Freakout Tag. I left out a couple prompts because I had no answer for them, oop.
Best Book You’ve Read So Far in 2025
Piranesi by Susanna Clarke. The worldbuilding is fantastic. I think overall it’s damn near a perfectly crafted story. To me anyway.
Best Sequel You’ve Read So Far in 2025
So far, I haven’t read any series besides Emily Wilde’s third book… Does that count? 🤔
New Release You Haven’t Read Yet, But Want To
The Raven Scholar by Antonia Hodgson. It seems to be a fantasy, and there is a competition to become the new emperor of a kingdom. The contenders are each trained in the ways of various sacred animals: Fox, Raven, Tiger, Ox, Bear, Monkey, Hound, and Dragon. I’m guessing each will have different strategies akin to their animal. There’s also a murder thrown into the mix!
Most Anticipated Release For Second Half of 2025
I don’t really keep up with new releases but I watched a video recommending this and then I got bamboozled because it isn’t out until August.
Biggest Disappointment
The Martian by Andy Weir. I DNFed this. It’s a wonder it got turned into a movie because it’s so bone dry. Like the surface of Mars.
Biggest Surprise
Sky Daddy by Kate Folk. I expected one of those zany, weird girl books. It was that and then some. It’s got a lot of charm and the characters were memorable.
Favorite Book To Movie Adaptation You Saw This Year
I didn’t read the book it was based on at all, but The Secret of Moonacre. It wasn’t a good movie by any means, but it was very entertaining.
What Books Do You Need To Read By The End of The Year
The Count of Monte Cristo and the Murderbot series. Crime and Punishment, maybe?