Tag: romance

Sunday Summary – 23rd August 2026

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Sunday has rolled around again folks! Where has the weekend gone? It’s time for another Sunday Summary post, and I have some good bookish updates to share this week! 

Before that though, let’s recap the blog posts I’ve shared so far this week! First, I posted a blog tour review post. That book is The Knife Maker of Venice by David Gilman. Then, I posted a Shelf Control post looking ahead to a Booker prize-winning book on my TBR. It handles tricky topics like race and discrimination. Naturally, they’re topics I like to read about, so I’m excited for this one! 

Books Read 

The Knife Maker of Venice

Last week I’d only just started The Knife Maker of Venice. Naturally, it was my priority read of the week and the one finish I absolutely had to have on today’s Sunday Summary. 

I really enjoyed this historical adventure novel. Set initially in the UK, but covering many international locations including Tunisia and Venice, there was plenty to explore. The book predominantly focuses on the lives of Richard and Beth, siblings, who are captured and enslaved in England before being taken to Venice. Separated, Richard is sold to a blacksmith whilst Beth is held by their capturer, one time flame Challenor. 

The slavery aspect was interesting to read, but what I enjoyed most was learning about the cultural history and tensions in places at this time. It’s not something I’ve read before, so it was a learning journey as well as a fun read! 

Tower of Dawn 

When I left off in last week’s Sunday Summary, I had just 3 and a half hours of audio left. 

I had plenty of time to listen to that amount of audio this week. However, I confess I only finished it today. I listened for around 20 minutes midweek, but finished Tower of Dawn this afternoon. 

I wasn’t expecting Tower of Dawn to take the route it did, but it made for a great change. It’s also set up for a reunion in the final book, and I’m intrigued as to how this series will wrap up. I foresaw the romances, and even the twist in this one. So, nothing too surprising or revelatory in this book. However, it was a decent penultimate book of the series. 

Supremacy: AI, ChatGPT and the Race That Will Change the World

Today, I’ve made more progress with Supremacy. As of drafting this Sunday Summary though, it’s still a current read. I’m hopeful I’ll finish it tonight so I can start a new physical read next week. New week, new start and all that 🤗 

Although I’ve progressed slowly with this one, it’s an informative read. Personally, I’m trying to learn more about AI, its development and limitations as I start to use the tool myself. At work, that is. I don’t use it for my blog. The most techy thing I do here is use speech-to-text to dictate my content sometimes. I’m not sure there’s any other way I would use the tech for my blog, except maybe to brush up social media content wording. 

I’ve got another 80 pages to read tonight, so I won’t be bored! 😅

Dungeons and Dimwits 

Finally, I picked up a graphic novel I’m reviewing next week last night. It was a quick read, given the nature of the book. But you know what? It was a refreshing change and I enjoyed the storyline. 

Based on the gameplay of dungeons and dragons, it leans into my nerdy enjoyment of games and fantasy. It also has a few funny moments, which I wasn’t expecting but loved nonetheless. I can tell you already I would like to read more of these. I can’t wait to review this for you next week. 

The Midnight Train 

Finally, after finishing Tower of Dawn today I started The Midnight Train. In all, I likely listened to about an hour and a half of the audio, or a little less. 

So far, I’m enjoying the story. I’ve had reservations previously that this book won’t live up to The Midnight Library. However, I’ll just have to give it a chance. So far, so good! More to follow on this one in my next Sunday Summary update. 

Books Discovered

As things stand, there are no new books on my TBR this week. I’ve kept my head down, and thankfully my recent finishes mean the TBR is headed in the right direction 🎊🎉

Coming Up… 

What I’m Reading… 

Here’s my reading plan over the next seven days:- 

  • Finish The Midnight Train – only 4hrs 15mins audio left
  • Finish Supremacy if I haven’t done by tonight
  • Start and finish e-book of The Other Life of Mary English – blog tour obligation 01/09/2026
  • Start Julia by Sandra Newman, but prioritise The Other Life of Mary English
  • Start The Language of Liars audiobook after The Midnight Train

Blog

I want to start next week pretty casual, featuring some of my top reads of 2026 so far. A year is a long time to wait for ‘best of 2026’ content. So, I’m going to share my top three books so far, and why I love them. 

My blog tour review for Dungeons and Dimwits is due on Thursday 27th. Thankfully I’ve finished it already, so I can start documenting my thoughts. 

Finally, I’ll be back with my final Sunday Summary of August this time next week. How much of a dent can I make in my August TBR between now and then? Let’s find out! 

Summary 

As always, thanks for checking out today’s Sunday Summary. 

What are your favourite reads of 2026 so far? I want to check out yours, and maybe give them a read for myself, so drop the titles in the comments ♥️

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Sunday Summary – 14th June 2026

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This week has been a busy one, and Im glad to catch you up on my current reads and content shared in this latest Sunday Summary.

Its felt a little weird this week. Between recent bank holidays and time off work, this was my first full week for a while. No rest for the wicked! Ive put out a full complement of content despite a full week on my plate. Lets take a look at what I shared

My first post of the week was in response to news that some libraries in the UK are effectively being censored by the councils running them. Heres my thoughts on why I dont agree with that. Later this week, I shared a First Lines Friday. This weeks book is a non-fiction book on my physical unread TBR. Its topical at the moment given it addresses recently available technology.

Over on YouTube, I shared two book reviews with you, as well as my weekly vlog video just a few minutes ago. My reviews were for books with romance links, so if you enjoy romance you are in for a treat. The first review was for Julia Quinns An Offer From a Gentleman. The second review was for the second book of my readalong series Throne of Glass, being Crown of Midnight.

 

Books Read

Project Hail Mary

When I caught up with you in last weeks Sunday Summary update, I had a few hours left of Project Hail Mary to finish.

In the grand scheme, I finished this pretty quickly. I was really invested in learning the ending of the book. One aspect I really loved as well was the nerdy science that occurs naturally throughout the narrative. Its very clear a lot of time and effort went into the research of the book. Although I havent read any books by Andy Weir before this one, Project Hail Mary sold me on his books. Youll see just how much when I get to TBR additions later

Project Hail Mary was a fun listen, and productive in that it ticks off two Goodreads Spring Challenge achievements off the list.

 

The Pillars of the Earth

Since last week, Ive read 280 pages towards The Pillars of the Earth by Ken Follett. Im a little behind the 380 page target I worked out in last weeks Sunday Summary. However, I know I can get that read once this post goes live.

I typically spend weekends at home, with maybe a couple of short errands out and about. However, I wasnt home most of the day yesterday and that impacted my reading time. Whilst I do read a little at the hairdressers, its nowhere near the quality reading time I get at home as its busy. Plus, I usually end up yacking with everyone there.

So, Im close to where I need to be and the plan is to catch up this evening. As Im reading this book throughout the remainder of June, I need to be 760 pages into The Pillars of the Earth by my next Sunday Summary.

For a long book, Im getting on with the narrative. Its for sure a slow-burn read for me, and its working fine. This historical fiction is engaging in its wider backdrop, but also in the scheming taking place between characters. Its a great read so far, and Im looking forward to reading on in the next week.

 

Queen of Shadows

Finally, I started my next Throne of Glass readalong read. Or, in this case, listen.

Yes, Im picking up Queen of Shadows in audiobook format this month. Previously, Ive struggled with pacing in the early days of the books whilst new material is unveiled. To get around the issue of reading on my phone causing distractions, and also to help with pacing, Im trying audio this month.

So far, Im just shy of 20% into the opening of the book. As things stand, I have had no trouble with pacing at all. The audiobook is working well; if things continue, its going to be the way I finish this readalong.

Im invested in the series and where events are going to take us next. What happens to Celaena returning to Adarlan? I cant wait to find out!

 

Books Discovered

In previous weeks Ive been pretty good for ticking books off the reading list. However, this week Ive made up for previous good behaviour by adding The Martian and Artemis by Andy Weir. On top of those, I also added The Daughter of Auschwitz, The Twins of Auschwitz and Of Wind and Fate.

Told you Ive made up for recent good behaviour, didnt I?!

 

Coming Up

What Im Reading

Naturally, priority next week goes to keeping pace with The Pillars of the Earth and Queen of Shadows, aka my current reads. On top of that, Id like to get to a book I intended to get to this week, which is Ink, Blood, Sister, Scribe by Emma Trzs.

 

Blog

Coming up on the blog next week, Ive got a different piece of content to share. Im hoping to build a Game of Thrones related quiz. Want to test your knowledge on all things Game of Thrones? Watch this space and take the test to find out if you are a GoT buff, or if you need to re-read the series. As if you need an excuse

On Friday Im back with a Shelf Control post. If you are unfamiliar with this series, I look at upcoming books on my TBR and share why Im excited to read them. I look forward to looking ahead and discovering my next feature later this week.

Finally, Sunday Summary is the final post to wrap-up the week. As always, Ill recap current reads, content shared, as well as give you insight on upcoming content. Stay tuned for my next weekly update.

 

YouTube

On YouTube, Ive got a discussion post on subscription boxes recorded and ready for editing. As well, I have a review video for Heir of Fire by Sarah J. Maas coming up towards the end of next week. I hope you are as excited to hear about this book as I was to record my thoughts!

Finally, Ill post my weekly vlog at the end of the week to share much the same information as I do here in these Sunday Summary posts.

 

Summary

Thanks for reading my latest Sunday Summary. Its been a good week, but I hope I can push on a little and get a couple of finishes in next week.

What have you read this weekend?

 

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Sunday Summary – 7th June 2026

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Happy Sunday, fellow readers! Todays Sunday Summary, thankfully, has a few completions and new bookish starts to share. Given the size of my June TBR, which I published earlier this week, its the best I can hope for in setting myself up to complete the list.

Before I get into the reading updates, what else have I published? Here on the blog, my monthly wrap-up of May reading progress went live at the beginning of the week. Then, I shared my blog tour review of Witch Hunt by B.D. Spargo on Thursday. If youre into thrillers set in the infamous backdrop of Lancashires Pendle Hill, this is definitely one to look at!

Over on YouTube, I shared my monthly wrap-up for May, as well as my June TBR. If youd prefer to watch or listen to those as opposed to reading the details here, there are links for you to check those out! Finally, I also posted my round-up of this week just a short time ago. Id like to hope youll carry on reading as youre here. However, if you would prefer to watch or listen to my update instead, you have the option ??

 

Books Read

Heir of Fire

In last weeks Sunday Summary, I shared hopes to finish Heir of Fire after publishing that weekly update. Well, good news, friends – I did! And you know what, it wasnt too late either. I maybe went to bed around 00:20. A bit later than usual (although that used to be my normal).

I really enjoyed Heir of Fire. Whilst the beginning of the book was a little slower-paced, the action has us inevitably ramping up pace and eager to get to the conclusion. Its set up the next book in the series well, and Im excited to read on and find out more in the very near future!

 

Somewhere Beyond the Sea

Another finish to report in this Sunday Summary is Somewhere Beyond the Sea. As of last weeks update, I was 80% into this audiobook and I had around two and a half hours remaining.

Well, I made pretty light work of it, if Im honest. The office was quieter than usual this week with many people opting to WFH. Locally, weve been hosting the TT this week. Whilst I cant say we had the best of luck with weather and red flags delaying and/or calling off the races, the disruption meant many opted to stay at home and avoid the traffic and general disruption.

I, however, went into the office. I make no secret of the fact I dont like WFH and so I continued to go in. As it was so quiet though, and I had some repetitive work to do, I was able to listen to Somewhere Beyond the Sea at the same time.

This was a fun listen, and Im glad I am now up-to-date with this series. Im not sure if any more books are planned, but as of right now Im caught up. Its cosy, wholesome and great to see the children come into their own and develop confidence and solidarity. The only downside of the experience is that this book did not qualify for the Pride Month award in the Goodreads Spring 2026 Reading Challenge like I hoped. However, I wasnt able to tell when I chose my book and on reflection, none of the books on my TBR would have qualified anyway. At least I can tick another book off the TBR though, which is a win!

 

Fire Cannot Kill a Dragon

Over the course of this week, Ive progressed with Fire Cannot Kill a Dragon by James Hibberd. This carryover from my May TBR was another great read and well received. If you are unfamiliar, this book is about the challenges and behind-the-scenes detail of filming the TV show. Personally, I enjoyed the commentary on the challenges of filming such an epic show and doing what nobody else has done before.

However, its not just director commentary. We get tidbits from the cast and crew that make up the whole show. Actors decisions on changes from the books, as well as how theyve chosen to portray characters and how they think the characters felt at various and often divisive moments of the plot.

I loved this book. Then again, I love A Game of Thrones. Hardly surprising the book would go down well, is it?! Since last weeks Sunday Summary, I read the final 350 pages or so to finish Fire Cannot Kill a Dragon yesterday.

 

Project Hail Mary

Id only just started Project Hail Mary when I updated you last week. Overall, Id only listened to the first 1hr 20mins or so when we last chatted. Over the last 7 days, Ive listened to around 7 hours of audio. In terms of progress, that brings me to around 70% total progress in the audiobook.

Ive been listening to the audiobook at x1.4 speed. Its not often I can listen this fast, but this particular audio works well at this speed. Its also an engaging storyline. We start the book in the perspective of present-day Ryland, who wakes up on a spaceship with two deceased colleagues. He has no memory initially of how or why he is there, but slowly flashbacks return his memory and remind him of his purpose.

I had one blip with this book when a certain character is introduced. I felt it was a little farfetched, but it very quickly warmed on me. So, despite my reservations, Ive really enjoyed the audiobook so far. Im hopeful I can finish the remaining 3 hrs 40 mins very soon and discover how this book ends. I honestly have no idea where this is going to go at present!

 

The Pillars of the Earth

Finally, Ive started The Pillars of the Earth by Ken Follett this weekend. Given I only finished Fire Cannot Kill a Dragon yesterday, Ive not had a lot of time with this book as yet.

So far, Ive only read the first 42 pages. Its a token start, but one Im hoping to build on in coming weeks. My plan for this book is to read it slowly over the course of the month. To achieve that, I need to read a minimum of 42 pages a day. I still need to read todays quota of pages, but Im hoping I can read a little beyond that tonight and get a little ahead.

 

Books Discovered

This week has given the type of progress I can only hope for – several books off the TBR and no new additions! It doesnt happen very often, lets be honest.

 

Coming Up

What Im Reading

So, reading plans for next week! In terms of audiobook listens, my plan is to progress with and finish Project Hail Mary in the first half of the week ideally. Then, Id like to move on to start Queen of Shadows by Sarah J. Maas and start the next phase of my readalong ??

In terms of physical reads, Im hoping to maintain progress with The Pillars of the Earth by Ken Follett so I can complete this ahead of the end of June. That means reading around 42 pages a day, so I need to be around 380 pages in time for my next Sunday Summary. Thats not the only book on my physical TBR Id like to pick up this week. Around that, Id like to break this up with Ink, Blood, Sister, Scribe by Emma Trzs.

 

Blog

Ive got a couple of fun posts planned for you next week. One of these is on the back of news I read towards the end of last week about some UK libraries not being permitted to promote events around the likes of Pride Month and Black History Month. I have thoughts on the move by Reform UK who run Essex County Council, so Ill share more on that in the coming days.

On Friday, Ill return with another First Lines Friday feature. One thing Ive become very aware of recently is the size of my unread physical TBR. My plan is to take a look at some of those and find a suitable feature from the ranks. Hopefully, it inspires me to pick it up soon!

Finally, Ill return with another Sunday Summary update. I can only hope for another week of similar reading productivity. If I can, Junes TBR will be a breeze.

 

YouTube

Today I recorded two review videos for next week. I want to be sure I dont get behind. So, next week Im sharing my thoughts on the second book of my Throne of Glass readalong, Crown of Midnight.

Ive also recorded a review for another romance genre novel. That one is An Offer From a Gentleman by Julia Quinn. I hope you can take a look at those videos as they go live in the coming days.

Like here, Ill also share the equivalent of my Sunday Summary video update next Sunday.

 

Summary

Thanks for reading this Sunday Summary. Im glad to share such a productive week, and can only hope it continues!

What book have you finished recently, and what did you make of it?

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Monthly Wrap-Up – May 2026

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***Todays monthly wrap-up contains affiliate links to Amazon if you wish to purchase any of the books featured. If you follow any of these links, I will earn a small commission from that purchase at no cost to you.

If you wish to obtain a copy of any book based on this post, I would really appreciate you following this link and showing my content some support by making your purchase***

 

Im never not ambitious when it comes to setting a TBR. May proved to be no exception! Unfortunately, I didnt get to all the books I planned in that TBR. Of the four TBR jar picks I pulled out, I only got to one. Even then, its being carried over to June and its a current read as of drafting this monthly wrap-up post.

Nevertheless, Ive had a productive month of reading! There were a couple of moments where I pushed hard to complete some of the reads for deadlines. Its kept me on track so I have no regrets.

Lets take a look at the books I picked up in May!

 

Books Read

Crown of Midnight

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Amazon Purchase Link

When I published last months monthly wrap-up, I had to hold my hands up to some pretty poor reading progress with Crown of Midnight. Given I was meant to finish the book in April, I went into May having only started the first 14%.

Pathetic, right? Well, needless to say, my first focus of the month was to catch up with Crown of Midnight. I confess, even after all that, it still took me until mid-month to finish this second book of the Throne of Glass series. Slack, I know. However, I made good, not only on Crown of Midnight, but the sequel too. More on that one later

I enjoyed Crown of Midnight. A theme across the latest books Ive read is that I start off quite slow. However, once the action is really established and starting to go down in the second half of the book, Ill fly with it. Id say part of that is due to the events of Crown of Midnight building significantly on Throne of Glass. The magnitude of the series gets bigger with every instalment. I love it, even if it means taking time over the detail of the book to start with.

Why We Get Sick

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Why We Get Sick was an impulse audiobook listen towards the end of April. After a tricky month, I pretty much wrote off my TBR in the end. Instead, to get myself out of a slump, I picked up Why We Get Sick as a change-up and to enjoy a topic I have an interest in.

In the last couple of years, Ive been more serious about my health. Ive read a few books around the subject. Ultra-Processed People. The Weights Over. A couple of other examples. Hoping to gain information about insulin resistance and the longer-term health consequences that causes, I picked up Why We Get Sick. And you know what, it was an interesting read. The book has a focus more on the biological aspect of insulin resistance, which to be fair, is what I asked ChatGPT for when looking for a book rec on the subject. It lived entirely up to my expectations.

Readers looking for more in the way of practical tips or lifestyle changes to make might benefit from a different read. This has a couple, but the emphasis is more on how it occurs rather than giving detailed advice on how to reverse it.

An insightful read nonetheless!

 

The Eagle Will Rise

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Amazon Purchase Link

I took part in the blog tour for The Eagle Will Rise. This book is the first of a new series featuring a character I love from M.J. Porters The Eagle of Mercia Chronicles.

I had hoped to start this book a little earlier and not be so last-minute with reading this book. However, I found myself in a position where I only had a couple of days to pick up the book ahead of my review deadline. For the post part, that was due to taking longer to read Crown of Midnight than initially planned.

Nevertheless, reading The Eagle Will Rise was a breeze. Ive now read around ten books by M.J. Porter. I know her writing style, the format. What to expect, and the book 100% lived up to expectations. Thank goodness I work well under pressure, because the pace I needed to maintain for this one involved reading around 150 pages a day. This is one of two hard pushes I made with a particular title this month.

If you want to find out more about this book, you can find my review here.

 

Witch Hunt

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Another blog tour commitment I read towards in May is Witch Hunt. I picked this up in audiobook format well in advance of the tour. So much so, my post is due in the coming days and thankfully, I finished this book a couple of weeks ago.

My motivation to read Witch Hunt comes from the books overall setting. In the shadow of Lancashires Pendle Hill, infamous for its associations with witchcraft and trials. Amidst modern-time accusations, the murder of one such accused woman appears all but an open and shut case. However, of course, its not that simple

My review for Witch Hunt goes live on Thursday. So, Im going to keep my thoughts pretty short and sweet here. If you want to find out more, I hope you can come back for that review post.

Makes a change for me not to be confessing to chasing my tail in a monthly wrap-up. Well, not for every book anyway

 

Heir of Fire

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Amazon Purchase Link

For the second half of the month, I made a concerted push with Heir of Fire by Sarah J. Maas. Heir of Fire is the sequel to Crown of Midnight and the planned reading book for May. Now obviously, I started this readalong late. In fact, I started the book mid-month. So, in fairness to fellow readers, I have this readalong open on Fable and StoryGraph until the 7th June.

However, I got it in my head this weekend that I wanted to get back on track. So I can start Queen of Shadows nice and early, I was determined to binge-read the final 250 pages I had left in Heir of Fire yesterday. And you know what, by the skin of my teeth, I did it! I finished Heir of Fire at 00:15 last night. Technically 1st June, but before I went to bed for the evening. So, it counts in my book ?

Heir of Fire was a repeat of Crown of Midnight in that the early events of the book invest time in expanding the places, world building, and characters we get to know in the book.

 

Somewhere Beyond the Sea

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Amazon Purchase Link

Over the course of May, Ive been slowly progressing with Somewhere Beyond the Sea. Unlike other books on this monthly wrap-up feature, Ive been deliberately making slow progress with it. When I planned my Completing the Goodreads Spring 2026 Reading Challenge post, I had to take a stab at an LGBTQ book I thought could qualify.

Given the final prompt was labelled Pride Month until today, I had no way of knowing what would qualify, or if it specifically needed to be a completion in June to count. So, I took a punt, and listened to this audiobook with the aim to complete it in early June. In fact, I finished it earlier today!

The good news is that this sequel lived up to its predecessor, The House in the Cerulean Sea. Its cute, wholesome, and charming. The characters are funny, if a little ridiculous. But thats the fun of it. The bad news is that it doesnt count towards the Goodreads challenge after all. Then again, nothing I have on my TBR with LGBTQ themes does, so I dont feel too hard done by! At least I got up-to-date with the series.

 

Fire Cannot Kill a Dragon

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Amazon Purchase Link

The penultimate book to feature in todays monthly wrap-up is my physical current read, Fire Cannot Kill a Dragon by James Hibberd.

This read came out of my TBR Jar in my May TBR video on YouTube. Its also the only TBR jar pick that made it anywhere near my ears or eyeballs this month. Dont Fix Women, Sleeping Beauties, and The Great Hunt will just have to wait for another day

I picked up Fire Cannot Kill a Dragon as a breather from Heir of Fire. I needed a different subject. Something lighter. A topic I was confident Id love. Well, we all know A Game of Thrones ticks all those boxes for me!

Rather than a return to the main series that inspired it all, Fire Cannot Kill a Dragon is about the filming of the TV series and how HBO and the directors Dan Weiss and David Benioff achieved what had never been done before – took a series deliberately written to be larger than the screen and put it there. At times, heavily constrained by budget. The book features interviews and commentary from cast and crew on all things from casting to creative decision-making progress. Its insightful, new to me and so entertaining yet informative, and has only tempted me to pick up the first book again a few times.

Okay, thats a lie more than a few!

As of this monthly wrap-up, featuring progress up until yesterday, I got to 116 pages in during May. Ive already picked it up today and blitzed 30 pages over lunch. Now Heir of Fire is done, 100% of my focus is on Fire Cannot Kill a Dragon. It wont last long!

 

Project Hail Mary

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Amazon Purchase Link

My final read of the month is my current audiobook listen, which admittedly I only just touched on in May.

It hardly feels worthy of mention in this monthly wrap-up given I only sampled the first few minutes, then a couple of chapters, this weekend just gone. Planning ahead on how to tackle my June TBR (coming out in the next few days stay tuned!), I decided to try Project Hail Mary in audio format. This book will do me some wonders in my efforts to complete the Goodreads Spring reading challenge. Perhaps now in jeopardy thanks to Pride Month not working out, but I may claw it back yet. Well see!

With this in mind, I need to fit this in to make my book choices work harder for me. I like the narration, and Im intrigued by the introduction. Its the best thing I can ask for, really. More to follow on this book over the course of the month as I progress with it.

Again, now Ive finished Somewhere Beyond the Sea, Project Hail Mary has my full, undivided attention!

 

Summary

At times, May didnt feel like a super busy or productive month. However, as this monthly wrap-up post has reminded me, thats really not the case at all. I picked up a number of reads, some of them not small either. A few had deadlines, self-imposed or otherwise. And I hit all those targets.

So, this monthly wrap-up is a bit of a success story, even if I didnt get to the whole TBR. It was a long shot anyway, and regardless, I had a great time with these reads!

What did you read over the course of May – any recommendations for me?

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Sunday Summary – 31st May 2026

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Somehow were at the end of another week and the end of May! How has it gone this fast? In my latest Sunday Summary, I catch you up on the books Ive made progress with this week and what content Ive shared. As well, I update you on one book Ive added to my TBR this week, and finally, what to expect coming up over the next seven days. Buckle up and get comfortable!

First, lets recap content Ive shared this week. On the blog, I shared a Top Ten Tuesday in which I featured My Favourite Reads by My Favourite Authors. On Friday, I shared my latest Shelf Control post, looking at an upcoming historical fiction on my TBR with a strong female lead.

Over on YouTube, I published two videos for your entertainment. The first of those was a book review of a book I read back in February – Grace by A.M. Shine. If you enjoy Gothic horror with an Irish mythology twist, or at least the idea of that, go check out that post! Yesterday, I then published My Must-Read Recommendations. If you want a feel for my reading taste, as well as a chance to get some varied book recommendations, go check out that video!

Ive also published my Sunday Summary video equivalent of this post, if you want to take a look at that.

 

Books Read

Heir of Fire

Im on a mission to finish Heir of Fire before I turn in tonight. This morning, I started off at 63% progress in the book (compared to 20% as of last weeks Sunday Summary). Right now, around 8 p.m. as Im drafting this post, Im 81% in. The action is KICKING OFF – Im 100% finishing this book tonight if its the last thing I do. Im hooked, keen to find out not only how this book ends, but also how it queues up the next book. Where do we go from here?

For a series I didnt anticipate enjoying, Im getting on well with it. Sometimes getting into the books is a little slow, but once all the plot points start to come together, I find the books easy to run with.

Im also set on finishing Heir of Fire tonight so Im on time with my own readalong, for once! Ive been running late the whole time so far. The books get even longer after this one, so I cant afford to run late.

Wish me luck on finishing this one tonight – my final motivator is that my library loan is due back tomorrow

 

Somewhere Beyond the Sea

Over the course of this week, Ive listened to around 45% of Somewhere Beyond the Sea. Add that to the 33% progress I was at last week, and you can see Im nearly done with this audiobook.

You may recall in last weeks Sunday Summary that this lines up with what I wanted to achieve. Im reading Somewhere Beyond the Sea in the hopes it qualifies for the Goodreads Spring 2026 Reading Challenge Pride month prompt. Not knowing if I needed to finish this in June, Pride month itself, Ive deliberately paced this to finish the audiobook in early June.

As of this Sunday Summary Im 80% through. So, all-in-all, Ive largely achieved that goal of lining this up for an early June finish. The final 20% will take around 2 and a half hours to finish. Ive consistently been listening to 45 mins of the book before bed on average. Now though, I can listen to an hour for the next couple of evenings and polish this off promptly!

I had some concerns that Somewhere Beyond the Sea may be a little repetitive of the first book in the series, The House in the Cerulean Sea. However, Im pleased to say thats proven not to be the case at all. Its charming, funny, and I cant wait to see how the book wraps up. I guess Ill find out in the next couple of days

 

Fire Cannot Kill a Dragon

As of last weeks Sunday Summary, Id just started Fire Cannot Kill a Dragon as a change-up from Heir of Fire. Ive been solidly reading Sarah J. Maas for most of May, so I appreciated the change of genre and style.

Over the course of this week, Ive continued to turn to Fire Cannot Kill a Dragon to take a break from Heir of Fire. Ive loved the tidbits of detail that unfurl throughout this behind-the-scenes account of the filming of A Game of Thrones. From cast interviews and commentary to editorial decisions on how things were filmed and why, its been insightful. Its also a fun way to enjoy the series I love whilst also reading something new. Once Ive finished Heir of Fire, Im excited to make Fire Cannot Kill a Dragon my reading priority.

 

Project Hail Mary

Finally, I started Project Hail Mary this week. Planning ahead for my June TBR, I sampled the audiobook before getting a copy to make sure the narrative style was something I could gel with. Im happy with it, and I continued listening on for a couple of chapters.

Listening on gave me a chance to get into the first couple of chapters and get a feel for the introductory setting of the book. Im intrigued, so Im looking forward to getting stuck into Project Hail Mary properly once Im done with Fire Cannot Kill a Dragon!

 

Books Discovered

Whilst doom-scrolling on Facebook this week, I came across the author page for todays addition to my TBR. Im intrigued by the premise of a book featuring a dragon thats based on the authors experience of disability. Its a unique idea, and one Im keen to explore more when I read it for myself! So, Ive added Wing Weaver by A.P. Beswick to my TBR.

 

Coming Up

What Im Reading

Naturally, reading progress the rest of tonight is going to be Heir of Fire. After that, Ill plough on with Fire Cannot Kill a Dragon. Likewise on the audio front, Somewhere Beyond the Sea is my priority listen and I should make light work of it. Then, Im on to Project Hail Mary.

However, Im sure youre keen to get a feel for what comes up next. With that in mind, the physical book Im going to start after Fire Cannot Kill a Dragon is The Pillars of the Earth by Ken Follett. Its the chunkiest book on my upcoming June TBR. Coming in at over 1000 pages, Im going to need plenty of time to get stuck in.

On the audiobook front, what comes after Project Hail Mary? Honestly, Im not sure. Im toying with a couple of options right now. Do I try Throne of Glass in audio format, or try to hit some of the lesser page count reads thatll contribute to the Goodreads Spring 2026 Reading Challenge that way? Honestly, I havent decided yet.

 

Blog

Were in for a busy week next week. With the end of the month looming, itll soon be time for my monthly wrap-up post to recap progress in May. I enjoy these posts, but they are usually lengthy. Im looking forward to sharing my progress in May, as well as letting you know for sure if I finish Heir of Fire!

Next, Ive got an audiobook review of Witch Hunt due on Thursday. Ive listened to this audiobook already, so I can start preparing my thoughts ahead of time. Makes a change to be able to not write this last minute!

After that obligation is taken care of, my June TBR is my next priority. Its largely shaped by my Completing the Goodreads Spring 2026 Reading Challenge. Where before I kept my options open with book choices, Im nailing those down in my June TBR based on page count and reading preferences.

It hardly feels worth mentioning as its a given at this point. But, to be clear, Im back with another Sunday Summary to roundup the week. No surprises there

 

YouTube

Today I recorded two videos that Ill edit and release next week. In line with expectations of my blog content next week, Ill release my monthly May wrap-up first and then my June TBR shortly thereafter.

 

Summary

Thanks for reading todays Sunday Summary. It feels like a long one, but Im pleased to have plenty to share with you! Have you read any of the books I feature today? What are you reading in the coming days?

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Shelf Control #104 – 29/05/2026

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***Todays Shelf Control contains an affiliate link to Amazon if you wish to purchase the featured book. If you follow this link, I will earn a small commission from that purchase at no cost to you.

If you wish to obtain a copy of the book based on this post, I would really appreciate you following this link and showing my content some support by making your purchase***

 

Shelf Control is a meme run by Lisa at Bookshelf Fantasies. Its a celebration of the unread books on our shelves! The idea is to pick a book you own but havent read and write a post about it (suggestions: include what its about, why you want to read it, and when you got it), and link up.

If you want to read more about the Shelf Control feature, check out Lisas introductory post.

Todays Shelf Control is a bit of a change-up on other recent Shelf Control features. My last two were non-fiction reads. However, if thats not your bag and you prefer historical fiction, stick with me. Todays feature is a daring WW2 historical fiction novel with a female lead.

Intrigued? Lets take a look!

 

Charlotte Gray – Sebastian Faulks

Genre: Historical fiction

Pages: 495

Audience: Adult

Publisher: Penguin

Publication Date: 13 Apr 2013

 

Amazon Purchase Link

Goodreads – Charlotte Gray

In 1942, Charlotte Gray, a young Scottish woman, goes to Occupied France on a dual mission:to run an apparently simple errand for a British special operations group and to search for her lover, an English airman called Peter Gregory, who has gone missing in action. In the small town of Lavaurette, Sebastian Faulks presents a microcosm of France and its agony in ‘the black years’, here is the full range of collaboration, from the tacit to the enthusiastic, as well as examples of extraordinary courage and altruism. Through the local resistance chief Julien, Charlotte meets his father a Jewish painter whose inspiration has failed him. In Charlotte’s friendship with both men, Faulks opens up the theme of false memory and of paradises?both national and personal?that appear irredeemably lost. In a series of shocking narrative climaxes in which the full extent of French collusion in the Nazi holocaust is delineated, Faulks brings the story to a resolution of redemptive love. In the delicacy of its writing, the intimacy of its characterisation and its powerful narrative scenes of harrowing public events, Charlotte Gray is a worthy successor to Birdsong.

 

My Thoughts

I love the sound of Charlotte Gray. Im particularly intrigued by the female lead. A lot of action in WW2 fiction often takes place by male counterparts. However, in Charlotte Gray, a woman is stepping into danger.

Often there is a hidden side to the war in that the lives of families left behind are forgotten. Their names and stories arent told on memorials, and yet the war impacted them just as much as their partners, husbands and fathers who are sent away.

Ive enjoyed similar fiction before, the most recent and reminiscent of this setting is All The Light We Cannot See. I enjoyed that setting and the personal stories that take place on this wider narrative. Now, I can only hope for the same in Charlotte Gray.

I cant wait to check out Charlotte Gray and I hope youre as excited to read it as I am. Im not sure whether Im going to pick this up as a standalone or whether Ill pick up the earlier books first. Ill decide nearer the time!

Thanks for reading today’s Shelf Control. Are you interested in reading with me? If you like the sound of it, grab a copy and read with me!

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Sunday Summary – 24th May 2026

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Good evening, friends – welcome back to my latest Sunday Summary post! In todays catch-up, Ill get you up to speed on the books Ive been reading this week, as well as recap the content Ive posted online. That way, if youve missed anything, you have the opportunity to catch up.

Compared to recent weeks, Id say its been a productive one. Certainly on the content front anyway. After a blip a few weeks ago, Im back to posting content both here on the blog and on YouTube. Now, the only thing I need to get up to speed is the likes of Instagram and my other social media accounts. Ive never been great with it, but I promise to make more of an effort with those too.

So, content. What have I posted? Well, here on the blog, a little later than planned, I shared my review of Wizard and Glass by Stephen King. That review was intended to go out towards the beginning of this week. However, I had complex feelings about this book and I wanted to be sure I articulated this right. So, I took my time and ultimately shared this review yesterday.

Before that though, I posted a First Lines Friday, featuring a book I may get to as part of the Goodreads 2026 Spring Reading Challenge. The particular book in question wasnt one of my original preferences compared to others on my TBR for the same prompt (Editors Picks). However, after reading those opening lines and talking about the book in that post, I may reconsider!

Over on YouTube, Ive shared another review. This one was for Dreams From My Father by Barack Obama. If you want to keep more up-to-date with my book reviews, make sure to follow me on YouTube. My reviews on my blog are older – as of writing, Im a couple of years behind! However, if you are interested in my thoughts on the books Im reading this year, YouTube is the place to be!

Finally, earlier today I posted a video version of my Completing the Goodreads 2026 Spring Reading Challenge. If you havent read the written version, or dont have time, maybe go watch/listen to my picks on YouTube

 

Books Read

Heir of Fire

Now onto my favourite section of my Sunday Summary – what Ive read! My reading priority this week is Heir of Fire by Sarah J. Maas. You may be aware Im hosting readalongs for the Throne of Glass series. May is the month to complete book 3, Heir of Fire. I confess, I was late finishing Crown of Midnight so Ive set this readalong to run until 7th June. If youve not started yet, theres still time to read with me.

As of this Sunday Summary, Im 20% into the book and I have plans to pick this up again before bed. Ive picked up a digital copy of Heir of Fire as a library loan. I have around a week left, and also a personal deadline of the end of the month to complete this book. Then, Ill at least be on track with my own readalong. Itll be a first, trust me!

One aspect of the books I love so far is that with each one, the scope and storyline get bigger. At the same time, it all comes together really well and without feeling forced. For a fantasy romance series, the emphasis on the fantasy plot and conflicts outweighs the romance sideline of the book. Im personally not complaining, as thats exactly what I was hoping for.

Naturally, with only 20% progression into the book, theres only so much I can talk about right now. Lets hope I can share completion in next weeks Sunday Summary and then tell you more about it!

 

Somewhere Beyond the Sea

Progress with Somewhere Beyond the Sea has ticked along steadily this week, and that has been intentional. Im listening to Somewhere Beyond the Sea in the hopes it qualifies for the Pride Month prompt of the Goodreads 2026 Spring Reading Challenge. Given thats a month-long event, Im assuming Ill need to finish the book in June for it to qualify. With this in mind, Ive been listening to 30 mins-45 mins a night before bed. That way, completion of this book should fall around the beginning of June.

My latest position in this audio is that Im now around 33% into the book. Id say this is an ideal place to be. With just eight days left in the month, including tonight, I can listen to an hour a day and still just fall into the early June timeline I need.

Somewhere Beyond the Sea is a beautiful book, and it follows off from The House in the Cerulean Sea well. Although part of that series, it has its own unique storyline that follows on from its predecessor without feeling same-y. Well see if that continues, given an aspect of the plot is going to somewhat be reminiscent of the first book (no spoilers here!).

More to follow on this book in next weeks Sunday Summary. Whilst I plan to not have completed the book by next weeks update, I could cheat a little and read 99% of it leaving just the final few minutes to finish in June.

 

Fire Cannot Kill a Dragon

I had the urge to pick up another title from my May TBR today. Given Ive been reading Throne of Glass back-to-back, and I acknowledge thats my fault here, I fancied a change.

I had a little trouble choosing what to pick up. I steered away from The Great Hunt and Sleeping Beauties because Im already reading a fantasy book. Both of these have fantasy elements, even if one of these doesnt strictly call in the fantasy genre. So, that left Dont Fix Women and Fire Cannot Kill a Dragon. The choice ultimately came down to what I owned and what I didnt. I had a copy of Fire Cannot Kill a Dragon on my bookshelf ready to be picked up.

As of this Sunday Summary, Ive only read the first 20 pages. That said, I appreciated picking up a very different title. Im also very heavily invested in the subject matter too. Whilst not strictly Game of Thrones (my favourite all-time series), its about the filming of the TV series. Theres new stuff for me to explore here. And, if it inspires ANOTHER re-read of this series, well, I wont be mad. Ill take any excuse!

 

Books Discovered

All the reading and content creation this week has kept my head down. No new books to the TBR to note here, thank goodness! I have enough with the 230 odd I already have. Wouldnt you agree?

 

Coming Up

What Im Reading

Naturally, next week is planned to be a continuation of this week. Finish Heir of Fire, if I can, or get as close as I can. Mix things up with some Fire Cannot Kill A Dragon here and there if I need a change. Listen to Somewhere Beyond the Sea before bed, or any other opportunity I can. Basically, anything to keep the reading pace up.

It feels good to be out of the slump Ive been in recently. Im also enjoying my current reads, so lets hope for more of the same!

 

Blog

For the first time in a little while, Im posting a Top Ten Tuesday next week. Ive been holding out for a topic Im interested in. Next weeks topic fits in nicely with a YouTube video idea I have. So, it makes sense to do both of these as I can repurpose and reframe some of the content both ways. This weeks topic is My Favourite Books by My Favourite Authors.

On Friday, Ill get back to you with a Shelf Control post. The fun about this regular feature is that I get to look ahead at books coming up on my TBR, share them with you, and hype myself for them. Next week, I feature a daring WW2 historical fiction novel with a female lead. I understand it has some romance element to it too – if thats your cup of tea, be sure to check out that post!

You know the drill, Ill be back with another Sunday Summary to round up the week. Will I have reading completions to share with you? I can only hope for a successful week of reading but time will tell.

 

YouTube

Over on YouTube, Ive recorded one video to share next week already. Ive got another planned to film tomorrow. So, you wont be bored! Before those go live, Ive got my weekly catch-up which should go live early tomorrow.

Next, Ill post my review video of a book I read back in February – Grace by A.M. Shine. Ive already reviewed that book here on my blog. However, Im endeavouring to record reviews for every book Ive read this year to share on my channel. So, it was a relatively easy piece of content to produce as Ive already committed my thoughts. All Im doing is adapting it to a new medium and hopefully a new audience!

Finally, in an attempt to help viewers get a feel for who I am as a content creator on that new-to-me platform, Ive got a video idea to share the books I deem must-read recommendations. Itll give viewers a feel for my reading taste and the type of content you can expect from me there. I hope youre as excited for that video as I am!

 

Summary

If youre still with me, thanks for checking out todays Sunday Summary. Have you read any of the books I feature in todays post? Are any on your TBR, or do you have something similar youd like to recommend?

Let me know in the comments, and Ill catch you in the next post ???

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Sunday Summary – 17th May 2026

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Happy Sunday friends and welcome to another weekly Sunday Summary catch-up! I have some great reading progress to update you with this week. With a looming blog tour post, it was all steam ahead with reading the book for which I needed to review. After that, Ive enjoyed another couple of finishes so all in all, its been a productive one!

Before we get into the reading updates section of this Sunday Summary, lets recap the content Ive shared this week. Here on the blog, Ive posted a list of books on my TBR I can read towards completing the Goodreads 2026 Spring Reading Challenge. Then, on Thursday morning, my expected blog tour review for The Eagle Will Rise went live!

Over on YouTube, I caught up with posting my April wrap-up and May TBR. Unfortunately, I didnt get those out last week. However, I finally worked through a learning curve that comes with changing video editor and got them out before they were so late they were obsolete.

 

Books Read

The Eagle Will Rise

Reading priority this week went to completing The Eagle Will Rise ahead of my blog tour obligation on Thursday. When I prepared my May TBR, I shared that I hoped finishing this book wouldnt go down to the wire and Id be a bit more prepared. Well Im sure you can imagine how it actually played out.

Yes, I read this book in the final two days before the review was due. However, knowing M.J. Porters writing style and format of books, I was confident this was achievable. And sure, it was! I even had my review scheduled before the small hours of the night, so thats a bonus!

As much as I left things to the last minute, thats no reflection on the book, but on me. The Eagle Will Rise was an action-packed, brand-new series opener. It was a great read, and another series from M.J. Porter Im keeping up with. If you love historical fiction and want to find out more, take a look at my full review here.

 

Crown of Midnight

Im pleased to share I finally completed Crown of Midnight today. This book has been long outstanding, given I wanted to finish this in April.

As with the first book, the ending was really compelling and Im curious to find out where this series is going. Events are constantly getting broader and the world-building is far more than I could have hoped for. I confess, I went into Throne of Glass not appreciating the scope of the series. Sarah J. Maas is now for romance more than anything, so thats what I expected. Sure, thats absolutely in here. However, the vast magical background to the narrative, hinted at character arcs and complex relationships have surprised me.

Im looking forward to jumping straight into Heir of Fire and continuing the series!

 

Witch Hunt

Over the last seven days, Ive completed the final 75% of Witch Hunt by B.D. Spargo. Yes, as of this Sunday Summary, Ive got a third finish to share!

Its been a great week, and its helped having some very different books and all well-received. Witch Hunt caught my attention for its ties to the Pendle Hill witchcraft history the location has. This book builds upon that history, but it doesnt overly dominate the narrative if its not your cup of tea.

I really enjoyed how this mystery unfolded. The pacing at the end especially made this compulsively readable, or in my case, I didnt want to stop listening! And, completing this book this week means Im AHEAD of providing my review in early June. First time for everything right?!

 

Somewhere Beyond the Sea

Finally, the last book to update you on in this Sunday Summary is one Ive picked up towards completing the Goodreads 2026 Spring Reading Challenge.

Unfortunately, the final books on my May TBR are ones I own already and cant get audiobook versions of from my library. I dont want to pay twice. Not only that, but the only book I dont own hasnt been made into an audiobook. So, I was stymied until I started producing my list for the Spring Challenge.

Given I couldnt pick up anything towards my May TBR, I might as well try to read towards completing the challenge. Im optimistic Somewhere Beyond the Sea will contribute towards the Pride month challenge. If not, well, its a sequel that was on my TBR. So, its no loss reading this one anyway ?

 

Books Discovered

I added a few new books to my TBR as part of my Goodreads 2026 Spring Reading Challenge post – A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms and Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir.

Id also historically neglected to add Ink, Blood, Sister, Scribe to my TBR, despite getting a physical copy of the book as part of a book subscription I enjoyed a couple of years ago.

 

Coming Up

What Im Reading

So, Heir of Fire is my next and only immediate priority. This book is coming up at 600 pages long. Its getting more sizeable compared to the previous instalments of the series. Im glad Im getting on top of this now and not jeopardising running late for the rest of my readalong.

Naturally, Ill also continue on with Somewhere Beyond the Sea. Its a library loan, so I have a couple of weeks to finish this without extending the loan. Given theres a deadline, it doesnt make sense to pick up anything else in tandem.

 

Blog

Early next week, I share my thoughts on a sequel to a series Im reading that didnt quite land as well as its predecessors. Wizard and Glass is the fourth book of Stephen Kings The Dark Tower series. Im looking forward to sharing my thoughts on this one to decompress and hopefully get myself in the headspace to continue and read Wolves of the Calla in the near future.

On Friday, Ill return with a First Lines Friday feature. Im in the mood for a challenge, and I want to keep up momentum and focus on books to pick up towards completing the Goodreads Spring challenge. So, Ill feature one of the books I featured in that post in more detail. If you werent inspired to pick it up after that post, perhaps the First Lines Friday feature can sway your opinion!

As always, Ill close off the week with another Sunday Summary update. Will I have as successful a week in terms of reading progress? I can only hope so! Bearing in mind the remaining books on my TBR, mostly get longer, that may be a little optimistic. However, I didnt set an ambitious TBR with the intention of letting it pass me by without trying to push for it.

 

YouTube

Over on YouTube, Ive recorded two videos to share during the week. The first video is a recorded version of my Completing the Goodreads 2026 Spring Reading Challenge post.

The second video is an early preview of my thoughts on Dreams from My Father by Barack Obama. Ive been reviewing books Ive read so far this year on YouTube ahead of those reviews going live here on the blog. So, if you want to catch those reviews before everyone else here, go and follow me there.

 

Summary

This Sunday Summary is plenty long enough, so Ill leave you to the rest of your day. As for me, Im off for a relaxing shower before bed. And hey, guess what? The weekend is over and the daily grind has rolled around far too quickly ? Bring on the late May bank holiday

Until then, what are you reading?

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My May 2026 TBR… It’s LONG!

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When planning my May 2026 TBR, I knew I wanted a fresh start. After a lacklustre reading month in April (see my April wrap-up if you want the low-down on that), Im hoping a clean slate is the key to getting my reading groove back.

I have some reading obligations as well, so the deadlines will also go a long way to spurring me on. I have two blog tours, as well as kicking myself up the bum to get my Throne of Glass read-alongs back on track.

Beyond that, Ive let my brand new, refreshed TBR Jar decide the rest! It pulled out some chunky books, and I confess I tossed one back as it tried to give me a 1,100 pager after already tossing me a couple of 700 pagers. The genres Im reading this month span horror, thriller, historical fiction, non-fiction, as well as my favourite, fantasy. One epic fantasy sequel as well Im excited to get to ?

Enough teasing, Ill get stuck in with my obligations first, then Ill highlight my TBR Jar picks.

 

Carryovers from April/Reading Obligations

Why We Get Sick

Goodreads

Amazon Purchase Link

At the end of April, I started listening to the audiobook Why We Get Sick by Benjamin Bikman. I started this book as I have an interest in the subject, in particular the biological level of detail insulin resistance has on cells.

I didnt have a book like this on my TBR. Rather, its a topic I have wanted to learn about personally. Leaning into a complete change and effectively scrapping my TBR, I hoped picking up a book totally unrelated to my April TBR would give me the fresh start I needed.

As of the end of April, it was working! In fact, this book features on my May 2026 TBR as I finished the book in May – yes – its already done ? Its the best of starts I could hope for when it comes t my May TBR – long may it continue

 

Crown of Midnight

Goodreads

Amazon Purchase Link

Crown of Midnight is a carryover from my April TBR and my current read as of this May 2026 TBR.

My read-along for Sarah J Maas hasnt gotten off to the best of starts. The fault is entirely mine – Im not prioritising it enough. That changes this month. Not only am I immediately prioritising down of Midnight to catch up on my being behind, but I will be following up with the sequel immediately.

Ill also plan ahead to set myself goals so that I DO actually read-along over the course of the month, as opposed to just playing catch up at the end which is whats happened three times now. Im going to go and do that on Storygraph and Fable after this post goes live. Ill havens excuse then, right?!

 

Heir of Fire

Goodreads

Amazon Purchase Link

As above, once Crown of Midnight is finished Im jumping into the first part of Heir of Fire right away. Compared to the earlier books in the series, Heir of Fire is longer. Compare 400-and-something pages for those first two books to nearly 600 in Heir of Fire.

I cant catch up with that too late. I need to keep on top of this one

Watch this space and hold me accountable friends!

 

The Eagle Will Rise

Goodreads

Amazon Purchase Link

The first of my blog tour obligations this month is The Eagle will Rise by M.J. Porter. I signed up to this tour as Im a big fan of the authors Eagle of Mercia Chronicles. We also have some character overlap in this book, although the circumstances are very different in this new series.

Im excited to see where this takes us. I know what to expect in terms of writing style from M.J. Porter, and Im keen to explore a new plot in a similar setting to that already established in Eagle of Mercia.

Will I enjoy this one as much as I hope? Only time will tell, but I am optimistic!

 

Witch Hunt

Goodreads

Amazon Purchase Link

My second commitment is an audiobook tour. I dont do these often, but Im excited to get stuck in!

When it comes to listening to audiobooks, Im typically slower than reading conventionally. So, with that in mind, Im going to jump in the gap finishing When We Get Sick has created and start Witch Hunt now. My review obligation isnt until early June. However, in order to listen to this book in sufficient time, Ive popped it onto this May 2026 TBR.

What piqued my interest for this book? Its association with witchcraft and being set around Pendle Hull of course. Its a take on the narrative I havent explored for a while. Its also modern mystery/police procedural type book which is a change on what Ive read and listened to lately. Im keen to give this a try and let you know what I thought soon.

 

May 2026 TBR picks

Moving on, I then pulled four books out of my refreshed TBR Jar. I had filtered out around 30-40 books I had read or removed from my TBR, but then added the latest books that were not in the jar. The net effect was more to pull from the jar, but all up-to-date at least. The paper I used was different this time, so I can visually see old vs new entries. I aimed for two of each; that way I can target some older books, but also deliberately mix in some newer ones to keep things fresh.

Heres what I pulled!

 

Dont Fix Women: The Practical Path to Gender Equality at Work

Goodreads

Amazon Purchase Link

The first book that came out of the jar was kind. It was one of the newer additions to the jar. At 266 pages, it fits well with the overall size of my TBR. Pity the next three books I pulled didnt agree with the sentiment

Dont Fix Women is about fixing imbalances in the current workforce. Will this book have the most practical applications for me? Well, aside from being a women, I dont have much in the way of power at my company. Im not HR. However, Ill advocate as much as I can and if I find practical advice here I think we could adopt, Ill absolutely speak up.

It should make for an interesting read nonetheless. I do enjoy some feminist reading now and then!

 

The Great Hunt

Goodreads

Amazon Purchase Link

The next book I pulled from the jar was also a new book to the jar. I started a read of Robert Jordans The Wheel of Time series with The Eye of the World in late 2024. Its about time I got the sequel anyway, and the jar made that call for me.

The Great Hunt comes in at just over 700 pages. Its not a short read, but it does lean into one of my favourite genres of all time – epic fantasy. Im looking forward to jumping back to the life and fate of Rand alThor. If I had left it too mcc longer, Id be trying to recall what happened in the first book and I would struggle to pick this up again. As much as this is a long read, I think its a bit of a blessing in disguise that it came out now.

 

Sleeping Beauties

Goodreads

Amazon Purchase Link

After pulling two new reads, I then targeted slips that have been in my jar since I first put it together. Sleeping Beauties has been on my TBR since January 2018. I also have a copy on my bookshelves, but Im not sure if I have owned it as long as that or not. The spine is pretty faded from exposure to the sun, so its quite possible!

Sleeping Beauties also comes in a fraction over 700 pages. Not a short read either, but one Im excited to try. Its also a bit feminist in nature, as well as overlapping with horror/thriller and fantasy for the plot line. A unique mix Im keen to try!

 

Fire Cannot Kill a Dragon

Goodreads

Amazon Purchase Link

This last book is actually the second draw from the jar. My first pick that came out was The Weird. Not problem, I thought initially, as I had a hunch it was a collection of short stories. That it is, but the whole volume comes in at 1,100 pages. No way was that going to be feasible. So, Im being honest here and declaring thats what the jar give me, but I tossed it back in so I could make a second draw.

That second draw was a far more approachable Fire Cannot Kill a Dragon. At 450 pages, this is still somewhat achievable. This May 2026 TBR already has a sizeable page count, so its debatable if Ill get to this one. However, Ill use access to audio copies of book where I can, maybe even library loans for books I dont have.

Im really motivated to pick this up as its about one of my favourite TV series (based on books) of all-time – A Game of Thrones! If thats not incentive to get through the rest of my May 2026 TBR to finish here, then I dont know what is.

 

Thats plenty enough to get on with for my May 2026 TBR. What are you reading?

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Monthly Wrap-Up: April 2026

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***Todays monthly-wrap-up contains an affiliate link to Amazon if you wish to purchase the book. If you follow this link, I will earn a small commission from that purchase at no cost to you.

If you wish to obtain a copy of the book based on this review, I would really appreciate you following this link and showing my content some support by making your purchase***

April should have been another productive month. Again, I set myself an ambitious TBR. However, a busy period at work, combined with stagnating on a re-read, meant progress stalled in April. Its a shame – Id been on a good run. At least I had a head start so Im not behind after this months progress. Even so, Im a little disappointed I didnt pick up more reads this month.

Lets take a look at the books I picked up, and how I got on

 

Books Read

Storm of Mercia

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Storm of Mercia was a priority read, given I had a review obligation for the book on 2nd April.

Thankfully, Im the kind of girl who thrives on a deadline. I started the book just a few days before the end of March and still read close up to the deadline. However, my already established love of the series meant this was easy for me to pick up and get invested in.

As Ive already reviewed this book on my blog, Im not going to go too heavy into my thoughts on this book here. Instead, Ill point you to that review if you are a fan of action-based historical fiction with political aspects to the underlying storyline.

 

The Astral Library

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My next carryover from March was my audio listen of The Astral Library. In my March wrap-up post, I shared that I didnt have a lot left to go.

Unsurprisingly, I finished this book in just a few days of the new month. I was invested into the narrative and events of the book were already coming to a head. Naturally, I had every inclination to get to this and see how the book finished. This was an easy book to prioritise and finish! Its a pity the rest of the month didnt follow through with this pace

 

1984

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I started my April TBR already 33% into 1984 by George Orwell. I had to set this book aside in order to pick up my reading obligations – Rose Red, then Storm of Mercia.

Firstly, the near month break I took between putting down and returning to this book wasnt ideal. Combine that with a break from reading in general due to doing overtime at work, and tiredness after that, meant I was slow to get going again. Knowing how the book ended, there wasnt much excitement or incentive for me to pick it up either.

So, long story short, I was slow to pick this back up again. However, towards the end of the month I found my motivation again and finished 1984. Despite the lack of speed, I still enjoyed this one. Im also keen to pick up the retelling Julia shortly. Im ready for a slight change of perspective, and it should offer a refreshing change.

 

Onyx and Ivory

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One of the books I pulled out of my TBR jar in my March TBR video is Onyx and Ivory. This YA fantasy romance was the final book I pulled from the jar, yet equally was the only one I got to this month.

And you know what, it didnt land perfectly. I knew it was a stretch, being YA fantasy. In other circumstances, I might have gotten on with it. However, listening to this audiobook coincided with my slow patch of 1984. That didnt help, so in the end, I decided to pick up a fresh audiobook. After that, I didnt have the inclination to return. I gave myself a deadline of the end of April to return to this. I didnt, so Ill call it a DNF.

 

Looking at Women Looking At War: A War and Justice Diary

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Its a good job this girl thrives on a deadline. Despite my intentions to start this book in plenty of time before it was due back to my local library on Monday, I only started it last Saturday. Needless to say, I was on the clock to finish the book.

Most of Monday lunchtime was spent finishing the book. I had hoped I could take the book back after 5pm, but unfortunately the library shut then. So, a rocket was firmly up mine to get the book finished but you know what, I did it!

Looking at Women Looking At War was a really interesting read, so it wasnt difficult to prioritise this read. It was also unusual to read a book thats shaping currency events./ It barely counts as history, but it had that vibe. The circumstances of the authors work, and terrible passing, meant that the book wasnt finished. It was odd to read a book in which the authors unedited notes have to stand as the content. But, it brings home what happened and the level of work Amelia was going to in order to document the war crimes and make sure those harmed by the Russians get their justice.

Looking at Women Looking At War is a very different book to those Ive read lately, and it landed well! Of all the books on this monthly wrap-up, it’s the book I enjoyed the most!

 

Crown of Midnight

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Im carrying forward two books into May – my readalong of Sarah J. Maas Throne of Glass series. Starting this book was later than intended, but I have somewhat of a schedule to maintain. So, whilst Im a bit late in getting started, as of this monthly wrap-up post, it is my priority read.

As of this monthly wrap-up post, Im 14% into Crown of Midnight. Ive enjoyed the start of this book so far, and it has been easy to get back into it. Theres enough ties to events from the previous book that the story is cohesive and I understand where Im up to. However, already there are hints of new events that are going to unfold in this latest instalment. Im keen to get stuck in, so watch for some speedy progress with Crown of Midnight in the coming days.

Why We Get Sick

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Finally, I started Why We Get Sick as a break from Onyx and Ivory. Although not on my TBR, I have a personal motive to listen to this audiobook.

Im trying to learn about insulin resistance and the effects it has on people. I have signs of insulin resistance myself, and Ive stagnated in trying to lose weight. In order to find this book, I sought the recommendation of a book that goes into the biology of insulin resistance and how to reverse it. I used ChatGPT to seek out the recommendation. So far, its interesting and engaging whilst also giving the detail I wanted.

Looking at everything from brain, heart and reproductive health to illnesses like cancer, the book covers the links to insulin resistance. Later in the book, I get to explore more about how insulin resistance comes about and what I can do about it. Im hopeful this will also be a quick read and help end the slump I experienced in April.

 

Summary

So, all in all, April wasnt the reading month I hoped for. However, all is not lost. Im still two books ahead of schedule to meet my 60 books in 2026 reading goal. My current reads are also well received, so lets hope they are the remedy I need to get progress in May off to a great start!

Thanks for sticking with me in this monthly wrap-up. Im not giving myself a break, and Mays upcoming TBR isnt going to let up any. Onwards and upwards!

What did you read in April?

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