Mythos by Stephen Fry (audio) – I’ve always had a fascination about Greek myths so this was something I definitely wanted to check out. While I can guarantee that I will not remember half of the stories (there was some serious crossover between partners) it was still a great book to listen to – Stephen is a great narrator. The older I get the more I realize how horrible they were and that the people shown as heroes are really villains. 3/5
Immortal by J.R. Ward – This is the last installment of the Fallen Angels series (though ANOTHER series starts to mix in with BDB moving forward). I dragged my feet on this one. I had to renew it FIVE TIMES at the library because I just knew I wasn’t going to like where it went. As I said for the last book in the series I read – the story line has really gone off the rails and I’m not a fan and I don’t know what else to say it was clear grooming talk. You cannot call someone a kid or girl for three books and then try to say she is a woman now. She is the same age and I found this disturbing. The only reason I picked this up was because it was the last book in the series and obviously even then I struggled to get going. It took almost 200 pages just to vaguely hint at who was the next soul to save, roughly half of the book so it was a slow start at that. Overall though? This book was better than the last, but not by much. A decent ending and a part of the ending leads me to believe we will see a couple characters again. 3/5
The Beast by Katee Robert – Book four in the Wicked Villains series. I really don’t know what to say about these books anymore – this one is Beauty and the Beast. . . and Gaston (Gaeton in the book). They are very entertaining and I will definitely keep reading more of her books. 3/5
The Wedding: The Beast Bonus Short by Katee Robert – Again I’m amazed at how much Ms Robert fits into her shorts. 3/5
Sparring: The Beast Bonus Short by Katee Robert – A short for the guys along with some information about another series. . . 3/5
Seven Minutes in Heaven: The Beast Bonus Short by Katee Robert – A quick visit with an old friend, LOL. 3/5
When a Scot Ties the Knot by Tessa Dare – Book three in Castles Ever After. This is the book that I saw on tiktok that motivated me to pick up this series as well as Spindle Cove since the next book is a crossover between the two series. Hands down my favorite so far. No real issue outside of their personal ones, no evil villain if you will. This made me realize how much I miss Highland regency romance books. I’ll definitely have to pick up more soon. I think it is safe to say I’ll be reading more books by Ms Dare in the future. 4/5
Good Omens by Neil Gaiman & Terry Pratchett (audio) – I bought a copy of this one forever ago but when I saw an audio version read by David Tennant and Michel Sheen (with a full cast) I knew I had to get it. It moved quickly, much more upbeat for what I thought considering the plot, LOL. I wasn’t blown away but it was fun. I can definitely see this being a great show though so I’m looking forward to starting it soon. 4/5
The Duke and I by Julia Quinn (audio) – Book one of the Bridgerton series. I’m doing a reread via audio because I’ve been talking to friends about them and a lot of details are fuzzy for me. I liked listening and picturing the actors this time. It helps me see the characters more fully in my head. 3/5
The Duke and I: Second Epilogue by Julia Quinn (audio) – Reread, I really do love most of these added epilogues. I really hope we get another generation of Bridgertons soon. 3/5
The Viscount Who Loved Me by Julia Quinn (audio) – I have to say though I don’t care for some of the voices given to the men (just seems off) I’m really liking my revisit into the family. There is more Colin interaction in the books and overall I think I like the stories a little more in the book world. Anthony and Kate banter is a 10/10. It helped that I got to see Kate and Edwina back as they should, not loving the same man. 3/5
The Viscount Who Loved Me: Second Epilogue by Julia Quinn (audio) – I really do love pall mall. Long live the mallet of death! 4/5
Miss Butterworth and the Mad Baron by Julia Quinn – Anyone who has read the Bridgerton series knows about these books within the books. Though a graphic novel I still found it charming, and what a lovely tribute to Tessa’s sister who worked with her on it before her death. 4/5
An Offer from a Gentleman by Julia Quinn (audio) – Book three of the Bridgerton series and one of my least favorite of the series. I’d split them as the top four (not in order) being Anthony, Daphne, Colin, and Francesca with the bottom four Benedict, Elosie, Hyacinth, and Gregory (these in order). Show Benedict is so much better than book Benedict, there just isn’t a better explanation. I have hopes they can change enough for me to like when his story comes about. I’ve had many discussions with book friends about possibly his story being swapped entirely with Eloise, I think though based on Colin and Penelope getting bumped up he might get pushed back to season five and Eloise would be season four? I’ll guess we will have to see! 3/5
An Offer from a Gentleman: Second Epilogue by Julia Quinn (audio) – Book three’s second epilogue. Now when I tell you Benedict’s book isn’t my favorite but this epilogue? Probably my favorite of the entire series. I adore Posey and her (quick) love story. I truly hope that regardless of what happens with Benedict’s story that Posey still is a part in some way. Timelines aren’t set in stone so I don’t see why we can’t see Posey and get her HEA. 5/5
To Sir Phillip, with Love by Julia Quinn (audio) – Book five of the Bridgerton series. 3/5
To Sir Phillip, with Love: Second Epilogue by Julia Quinn (audio) – Book five’s second epilogue. 4/5
The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan – Book one is the Percy Jackson & the Olympians series. With all the talk of the new Disney+ series I wanted to reread these to remind myself where I left off. I only read part of the next two series so rereading everything also helps me continue and get through all of them, and boy are there a lot. Though I didn’t remember all of the details it was fun to go back and see how much the movies originally missed. 5/5
The Lightning Thief (graphic novel) by Rick Riordan – Since these are basically the same as the original story I’m just going to do ratings for the remainder below but honestly they were just ok. They did change the story some, mostly not for the better, and I don’t like the fact that someone who may not be able to get through a full traditional book wouldn’t get the same story overall. 3/5
The Sea of Monsters by Rick Riordan – Book two in the Percy Jackson & the Olympians series. Man, I flew through the first two books! Though I started book one late the night before I read almost the entirety of it and book two in one day. These books are just fun adventures that show mythology in a way that is easier to understand for kids and adults alike. 5/5
The Sea of Monsters (graphic novel) by Rick Riordan – 3/5
The Titan’s Curse by Rick Riordan – Book three is in Percy Jackson & the Olympians series. It’s fun rereading these, I forgot so much. There is less interaction between Annabeth and Percy that I can remember though. 5/5
The Titan’s Curse (graphic novel) by Rick Riordan – 3/5
The Battle of the Labyrinth by Rick Riordan – Book four in the Percy Jackson & the Olympians series. Rereading these, knowing more about mythology it’s hard to justify how “cool” the idea of demigods are because it is a lot of cheating and I’m not a fan. The story was great, I love Backjack! 5/5
The Battle of the Labyrinth (graphic novel) by Rick Riordan – 3/5
The Last Olympian by Rick Riordan – Book five of the Percy Jackson and the Olympians series. This finishes my reread of the first series. I only have a couple more books in this world that I’ve read so it won’t be long till it is all new to me. I really liked these, like I said with the others – I forgot a lot of the details but I’m excited to move on to other series and check back on these guys later. 5/5
The Last Olympian (graphic novel) by Rick Riordan – 3/5
The Scandalous, Dissolute, No-Good Mr. Wright by Tessa Dare – A quick and absolutely adorable novella about two people who meet several times over the course of a few years. 4/5
Fangirl Volume 2: The Manga by Rainbow Rowell and Sam Maggs – book two in the manga series of Fangirl. I really loved it, I mean it’s a story I already know, but where it left off broke my heart. 5/5
The Office BFFs: Tales of The Office from Two Best Friends Who Were There by Jenna Fischer & Angelia Kinsey – While a fun listen the majority of the book was a bit of a repeat from their podcast so if you love to listen to that you will definitely enjoy the book. They also read it themselves and has several special guests so overall a fun book to listen to and you can’t go wrong if you love The Office 4/5
Romancing Mister Bridgerton by Julia Quinn (audio) – Book four in the Bridgerton series. Penelope is by far my favorite. I completely empathize with her on not being the one picked, etc and the old maid title. What bothers me about Colin book wise is that it doesn’t feel quite natural how he falls in love with her but I have high hopes the show will correct this small problem. I know so many that don’t like this book but I adore Penelope and she would never be at the bottom of my list. 4/5
Romancing Mister Bridgerton: The Second Epilogue by Julia Quinn (audio) – Book four’s second epilogue. Cute, makes me think I might like Eloise’s book more this time around. We shall see. 4/5
By the Book by Jasmine Guillory – Book two in the Meant to Be series; books that are written by different authors and are modern day retellings of Disney fairytales. BTB is based on Beauty and the Beast, a true classic, one of the OG (for me) of Disney movies that imprinted on the brain. This is also my first book by the author. I was excited for this – a fairytale retelling set in publishing? Check! Overall I did enjoy the story but the cliche references came off too kitschy to me. I feel like maybe having alternating POVs might have helped, I’d have liked to had some of Beau’s internal monologue. 3/5
Adult Assembly Required by Abby Waxman – This is a standalone (though I’d argue more companion) book set in the world of Nina Hill so I was excited to read it as we are still dealing with bookstores within books and getting to revisit characters.Imagine my surprise as I started to read and realized Nina isn’t the first book for this world. I wish I’d have known that – now I need to go back and check out the backlog of books, who knows if this is it. I’m definitely not reading them in order of events so that is frustrating. It was very cute and I loved seeing inside everyone’s head but it shifted between characters quickly. Also, we got such a small window of the relationship that I was left wanting to see more of their story. Maybe there will be another book with more of these characters? One can hope. 3/5
The Bookish Holidays of Nina Hill byAbby Waxman – A quick novella (set before the above book) following Nina and her new friends and family during the holidays. Quick and cute. 3/5
Not a bad reading month! I can tell you July isn’t off to a good start though. What you are reading?