As a retired librarian I can tell you the old cataloging rule is to drop A, AN, and THE and alphabetize by the second word. Other short words count, such as BY, MY, AND, and so on.
I was like you when I started reading Fantasy. I got terminally ill and haven’t read as much because I feel crummy a lot of the time, but in the past was reading 450 books a year. All of this is to say I love the Fantastical Series by Kristen Ashley. She is actually one of my favorite authors of all time, and I love all of her books. She also writes books celebrating the sisterhood and her books are just fun reads all the way around.
Really appreciate the reviews with everything. I used to read so much when I was younger and now I have no time for actual sit-down reading. I also end up "reading" audiobooks most of the time. I've never done a reading journal but I'm going to set up my 2025 planner with a reading section 😊 definitely going to give Lovelight Farms a read this month.
An interesting fantasy book I read is "They hunt the flame". It has an interesting Middle Eastern cultural background but with a historical-fantastical twist and a sprinkle of romance and tension.
Like you, I avoided Remarkably Bright Creatures forever! Then I read it and gave it five stars and it is the book-to-beat in my 2024 bracket, LOL. In that same month I read This Tender Land by William Kent Krueger - have you read it?? You might love it; kids are escaping and on the run through the entire story. I marked it five stars, too. (I've rated nothing else five stars this entire year, and these two books in one month both got five stars.) The only reason Remarkably Bright Creatures won the bracket was because of my heart for genealogy. I love your reading journal update videos. Your journal is beautiful and inspiring! Mine's on discs but I think I'm changing to a bound book in 2025.
Omg this has given me soooo many ideas. I have undated horizontal pages from HP that I'm using for each month to log my books. However, I absolutely love the Book bingo, the book of the year bracket, the A to Z challenge and TBR! I have read a few Frieda McFadden books. Have you tried Geneva Rose?
The Women was probably my favorite book this year. I love Kristin Hannah. I also liked All We Thought We Knew by Michelle Stocklee. It's a combo of the Vietnam storyline, with a widow living with the mother-in-law she doesn't know well, a dying mother's secrets, and switching perspectives.
I think you should read Carrie Soto Is Back. It was a very goid book and the tennis was tolerable. My GR goals was 50 and not even worried if I don't finish.
As soon as I saw ACOTAR on there, I HAD to know your opinion! I HATED it! I absolutely loved Fourth Wing and Iron Flame though. IF you’re ever interested in trying fantasy again, I recommend Fourth Wing.
The Women will definitely be my favorite of the year. One of my other faves was Don't Forget to Write by Sarah Goodman Confino. I wasn't a fan of ACOTAR but I did enjoy Fourth Wing. I am not hitting my goal of 100 books this year. I am only at 81. I think Freida is a neurologist or something like that; definitely a physician.
Love the reading journal videos!! You should read 'The Sundown Motel' by Simone st James, I couldn't put it down!! I enjoyed the boyfriend and the Housemaid is Watching, that neighbour in your Pjs every morning lol
I would recommend The People of the Book by Geraldine Brooks, The Forgotten Garden by Kate Morton, and Don't Breathe a Word by Jennifer McMahon. I love your reading journal. I think I'm going to start one in January. Thanks for the inspiration.
I have noticed that by keeping a list of the unfinished books, then going back to the book and try reading it again. Most times I finish it. Possibly not the book but our mindset at the 1st reading.
Great video!! Picoult is "pee-co" and I don't think anyone gets it right the first time 😅 I have the same problem with mind wandering sometimes with audiobooks, but I stand by my lower ratings because if I wasn't so engrossed in it that I couldn't help focusing on something else, it just wasn't good enough to focus on!
If you want to try fantasy again, Half a Soul by Olivia Atwater might work for you. It has a historical romance feel but with tricky fairies, magic, a relatable FMC, and an easy to understand world.
You might enjoy a more contemporary fantasy. I would highly recommend The Lost Story by Meg Shaffer. It's a take on Narnia that's modern and for adults. I also enjoyed The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches by Sangu Mandanna. There are a few full fantasies that are more "lite fantasy" that I think you might like too. Legends & Lattes (and its prequel) by Travis Baldree is cozy and sweet about an older character. Assistant to the Villain (and its sequels) by Hannah Nicole Maeher is a fun and silly romantic fantasy that reads more like a contemporary romance.
I wonder if The Boyfriend is going to become a series. I really enjoyed it. Do you get your amazon first reads every month? It is included with Amazon Prime. For me it was helpful to make a spread with all the 1st read books so I remember what they are. It could make for a fun YT short which amazon first read book you choose
I may have missed this, but have you ever tried to read The Lord of the Rings trilogy? If you like descriptive, he does that A LOT. The Hobbit is an easier read to start out with by J R R Tolkien.
I haven't tried, but actually, I am not sure I would like it...usually a ton of descriptive paragraphs really bores me - I tend to get distracted, unless I am super into it.
i saw where you were having trouble connecting to fantasy books. this author is technically under paranormal romance but can be fantasy. her name is tara cromer/ t.m. cromer and she has a series called the thorne witches which I find very funny and is set in modern times. i think you will like them as they are light in their trigger areas and have funny things that go with their magic. another more fantasy intense author I like is Mercedes lackey and her valdemar series or anne mccaffrey's pern novels. the pern series can be both fantasy and scifi as they take place on another planet.
As a retired librarian I can tell you the old cataloging rule is to drop A, AN, and THE and alphabetize by the second word. Other short words count, such as BY, MY, AND, and so on.
Good to know!
I was like you when I started reading Fantasy. I got terminally ill and haven’t read as much because I feel crummy a lot of the time, but in the past was reading 450 books a year. All of this is to say I love the Fantastical Series by Kristen Ashley. She is actually one of my favorite authors of all time, and I love all of her books. She also writes books celebrating the sisterhood and her books are just fun reads all the way around.
I am definitely looking forward to your 2025 set up! I am considering a reading journal next year and you have some good ideas!
You turned me onto Taylor Jenkins Reid and I absolutely love her! I have read all her books 📚 now.
I’m glad i introduced you!
Small Great Things was a great book. Based on a true story in Flint Michigan I heard.
A fantasy that you might enjoy is The House in the Cerulean Sea. It’s a beautiful read. You’ll love the characters.
Really appreciate the reviews with everything. I used to read so much when I was younger and now I have no time for actual sit-down reading. I also end up "reading" audiobooks most of the time. I've never done a reading journal but I'm going to set up my 2025 planner with a reading section 😊 definitely going to give Lovelight Farms a read this month.
Love your reviews and your journal. Added several books to my TBR. Thanks! 📖
An interesting fantasy book I read is "They hunt the flame". It has an interesting Middle Eastern cultural background but with a historical-fantastical twist and a sprinkle of romance and tension.
Definitely read Carrie Soto!
Foiurth Wing is a GREAT dip into Fantasy. I am now "not so patiently" waiting for the 3rd book in that series to come out Jan 1st.
Like you, I avoided Remarkably Bright Creatures forever! Then I read it and gave it five stars and it is the book-to-beat in my 2024 bracket, LOL. In that same month I read This Tender Land by William Kent Krueger - have you read it?? You might love it; kids are escaping and on the run through the entire story. I marked it five stars, too. (I've rated nothing else five stars this entire year, and these two books in one month both got five stars.) The only reason Remarkably Bright Creatures won the bracket was because of my heart for genealogy. I love your reading journal update videos. Your journal is beautiful and inspiring! Mine's on discs but I think I'm changing to a bound book in 2025.
Thanks for the recommendation! I haven’t read that one
Loooved to watch this!! I really hope you’ll do a „2024 finish up“ Video for this journal 😇😇😇
Will probably do that after the month is over
@ yayyy 😍🤩🎉
Have you read 28 Summers by Elin Hilderbrand? It holds a very special place in my heart. I absolutely loved it.
John Grisham The Firm & The Exchange ❤
I have been waiting for this video!! The Women was my number one book this year.
Omg this has given me soooo many ideas. I have undated horizontal pages from HP that I'm using for each month to log my books. However, I absolutely love the Book bingo, the book of the year bracket, the A to Z challenge and TBR!
I have read a few Frieda McFadden books. Have you tried Geneva Rose?
Yes, for some reason her books just don’t do it for me! I don’t know what it is. I’ve read two of them
The Unhoneymooners for your ‘U’ it’s also by Christina Lauren. I listened to it and really enjoyed it!!!!! It’s enemy to lovers!
I read it a couple of years ago. Good one!
The Women was probably my favorite book this year. I love Kristin Hannah.
I also liked All We Thought We Knew by Michelle Stocklee. It's a combo of the Vietnam storyline, with a widow living with the mother-in-law she doesn't know well, a dying mother's secrets, and switching perspectives.
I love Taylor Jenkins Reed!! Read all her books! Another good author is Jodie Piccult
I would recommend The Disappearance of Vanessa Shaw by Sarra Cannon.
Legends and Lattes is a cozy fantasy. I really enjoyed it. It’s light and easy to read IMO. It also includes LGBTQ situations.
I think you should read Carrie Soto Is Back. It was a very goid book and the tennis was tolerable. My GR goals was 50 and not even worried if I don't finish.
Thanks for sharing as always. Love Sarah Adam’s. There’s a new one in that series comes out in January.
As soon as I saw ACOTAR on there, I HAD to know your opinion! I HATED it! I absolutely loved Fourth Wing and Iron Flame though. IF you’re ever interested in trying fantasy again, I recommend Fourth Wing.
The Women will definitely be my favorite of the year. One of my other faves was Don't Forget to Write by Sarah Goodman Confino. I wasn't a fan of ACOTAR but I did enjoy Fourth Wing. I am not hitting my goal of 100 books this year. I am only at 81. I think Freida is a neurologist or something like that; definitely a physician.
After I do is a great one! Cari Soto is back is about tennis but I play and love tennis❤
Love the reading journal videos!! You should read 'The Sundown Motel' by Simone st James, I couldn't put it down!! I enjoyed the boyfriend and the Housemaid is Watching, that neighbour in your Pjs every morning lol
The Sun down motel is already on my TBR list. Thanks for the reminder!
I would recommend The People of the Book by Geraldine Brooks, The Forgotten Garden by Kate Morton, and Don't Breathe a Word by Jennifer McMahon. I love your reading journal. I think I'm going to start one in January. Thanks for the inspiration.
Thanks for the recommendations!
I have noticed that by keeping a list of the unfinished books, then going back to the book and try reading it again. Most times I finish it. Possibly not the book but our mindset at the 1st reading.
So true, it may not be the book at all
Great video!! Picoult is "pee-co" and I don't think anyone gets it right the first time 😅
I have the same problem with mind wandering sometimes with audiobooks, but I stand by my lower ratings because if I wasn't so engrossed in it that I couldn't help focusing on something else, it just wasn't good enough to focus on!
Did not like court of thrones. I had same issue as you. But I LOVED fourth wing.
If you want to try fantasy again, Half a Soul by Olivia Atwater might work for you. It has a historical romance feel but with tricky fairies, magic, a relatable FMC, and an easy to understand world.
You might enjoy a more contemporary fantasy. I would highly recommend The Lost Story by Meg Shaffer. It's a take on Narnia that's modern and for adults. I also enjoyed The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches by Sangu Mandanna. There are a few full fantasies that are more "lite fantasy" that I think you might like too. Legends & Lattes (and its prequel) by Travis Baldree is cozy and sweet about an older character. Assistant to the Villain (and its sequels) by Hannah Nicole Maeher is a fun and silly romantic fantasy that reads more like a contemporary romance.
Also, I recommend Becky Chambers for scifi and Grady Hendrix for horror.
Hmm yeah a contemporary fantasy appeals to me more, thanks for the recommendation
I wonder if The Boyfriend is going to become a series. I really enjoyed it. Do you get your amazon first reads every month? It is included with Amazon Prime. For me it was helpful to make a spread with all the 1st read books so I remember what they are. It could make for a fun YT short which amazon first read book you choose
I do get those but always miss the email lol
I'm 60 so I your mindset. Try mermaids sister for fantasy. A!so read unmissing.
What platform do you listen to audiobooks?
Usually on Libby - the library app. I also use Spotify. If you have premium, you get 15 free hours per month. I don’t need audible anymore
You should try Holly by Stephen King. I think you would really enjoy it. Also, I’m sorry for the multiple comments. I’m commenting as I watch LOL
I may have missed this, but have you ever tried to read The Lord of the Rings trilogy? If you like descriptive, he does that A LOT. The Hobbit is an easier read to start out with by J R R Tolkien.
I haven't tried, but actually, I am not sure I would like it...usually a ton of descriptive paragraphs really bores me - I tend to get distracted, unless I am super into it.
@@PlanningwithBumblesame with me. I haven’t even tried fantasy. I can’t stand the movies or tv shows either. My husband loves them tho.
I don't want to read "cute" books so when you call a book a cute read, it kind of turns me off of it. Thanks for the reviews.
I guess I tend to call lighthearted books “cute” 🤷🏼♀️
i saw where you were having trouble connecting to fantasy books. this author is technically under paranormal romance but can be fantasy. her name is tara cromer/ t.m. cromer and she has a series called the thorne witches which I find very funny and is set in modern times. i think you will like them as they are light in their trigger areas and have funny things that go with their magic. another more fantasy intense author I like is Mercedes lackey and her valdemar series or anne mccaffrey's pern novels. the pern series can be both fantasy and scifi as they take place on another planet.