reads

2025
reading retrospect

so, listen — at the end of 2024, i started reading more romance and by 2025 i'd fallen headfirst into the romance vortex. i used to think romance books were a bit silly, but heck, i spent a year inhaling romance novels, kicking my little feet and grinning like a madwoman.

this year's favourites: first-time caller by b.k. borison, the favorites by layne fargo, atmosphere by taylor jenkins reid, and grave matter by karina halle. and i'll add heated rivalry by rachel reid to the list. i also can't stop thinking about christy climenhage's the midnight project.

i also read quite a bit of karin slaughter's bibliography, and honestly? i still don't know whether i like her books or not. most of them are sitting there without a rating, because parts of the plot were so disturbing that my brain refused to assign a number.

total books read: 165
total pages read: 57251
average pages per book: 347
average rating: 3.95

  • Cover of Heated Rivalry by Rachel Reid
    Heated Rivalry Rachel Reid
    4.75
  • Cover of Game Changer by Rachel Reid
    Game Changer Rachel Reid
    4
  • Cover of Slow Dance by Rainbow Rowell
    Slow Dance Rainbow Rowell
    3
  • Cover of Cruel Winter with You by Ali Hazelwood
    Cruel Winter with You Ali Hazelwood
    3
  • Cover of One Golden Summer by Carley Fortune
    One Golden Summer Carley Fortune
    4.75
  • Cover of Good Spirits by B.K. Borison
    Good Spirits B.K. Borison
    5
  • Cover of In a Holidaze by Christina Lauren
    In a Holidaze Christina Lauren
    5
  • Cover of The Midnight Project by Christy Climenhage
    The Midnight Project Christy Climenhage
    5
  • Cover of If It Makes You Happy by Julie Olivia
    If It Makes You Happy Julie Olivia
    5
  • Cover of All This and More by Peng Shepherd
    All This and More Peng Shepherd
    4
  • Cover of PS: I Hate You by Lauren Connolly
    PS: I Hate You Lauren Connolly
    4.75
  • Cover of My Oxford Year by Julia Whelan
    My Oxford Year Julia Whelan
    4.5
  • Cover of Play Nice by Rachel Harrison
    Play Nice Rachel Harrison
    4
  • Cover of How to Kill Men and Get Away With It by Katy Brent
    How to Kill Men and Get Away With It Katy Brent
    3.75
  • Cover of Such Sharp Teeth by Rachel Harrison
    Such Sharp Teeth Rachel Harrison
    4.5
  • Cover of Unseen by Karin Slaughter
    Unseen Karin Slaughter
    4
  • Cover of Criminal by Karin Slaughter
    Criminal Karin Slaughter
    4
  • Cover of Fallen by Karin Slaughter
    Fallen Karin Slaughter
    4
  • Cover of Broken by Karin Slaughter
    Broken Karin Slaughter
    3.75
  • Cover of Undone by Karin Slaughter
    Undone Karin Slaughter
    4
  • Cover of Blindsighted by Karin Slaughter
    Blindsighted Karin Slaughter
    3.5
  • Cover of Icebreaker by Hannah Grace
    Icebreaker Hannah Grace
    3.75
  • Cover of Fractured by Karin Slaughter
    Fractured Karin Slaughter
    4.25
  • Cover of She's a Lamb! by Meredith Hambrock
    She's a Lamb! Meredith Hambrock
    3
  • Cover of Triptych by Karin Slaughter
    Triptych Karin Slaughter
    n/a
  • Cover of The Last Widow by Karin Slaughter
    The Last Widow Karin Slaughter
    3.75
  • Cover of Expiration Dates by Rebecca Serle
    Expiration Dates Rebecca Serle
    3
  • Cover of Blob: A Love Story by Maggie Su
    Blob: A Love Story Maggie Su
    3.5
  • Cover of The Dead Husband Cookbook by Danielle Valentine
    The Dead Husband Cookbook Danielle Valentine
    3
  • Cover of Black Sheep by Rachel Harrison
    Black Sheep Rachel Harrison
    3
  • Cover of Cackle by Rachel Harrison
    Cackle Rachel Harrison
    4
  • Cover of The Lost Bookshop by Evie Woods
    The Lost Bookshop Evie Woods
    4
  • Cover of The Return by Rachel Harrison
    The Return Rachel Harrison
    4
  • Cover of So Thirsty by Rachel Harrison
    So Thirsty Rachel Harrison
    5
  • Cover of Sex, Lies, and Online Dating by Rachel Gibson
    Sex, Lies, and Online Dating Rachel Gibson
    3
  • Cover of The Villain Edit by Laurie Devore
    The Villain Edit Laurie Devore
    4
  • Cover of Meet Me at the Lake by Carley Fortune
    Meet Me at the Lake Carley Fortune
    3.75
  • Cover of A Serial Killer's Guide to Marriage by Asia Mackay
    A Serial Killer's Guide to Marriage Asia Mackay
    4
  • Cover of The Good Daughter by Karin Slaughter
    The Good Daughter Karin Slaughter
    n/a
  • Cover of False Witness by Karin Slaughter
    False Witness Karin Slaughter
    n/a
  • Cover of The Ex-Girlfriend Murder Club by Gloria Chao
    The Ex-Girlfriend Murder Club Gloria Chao
    4
  • Cover of Such a Bad Influence by Olivia Muenter
    Such a Bad Influence Olivia Muenter
    2.5
  • Cover of Say You'll Remember Me by Abby Jimenez
    Say You'll Remember Me Abby Jimenez
    5
  • Cover of Grave Matter by Karina Halle
    Grave Matter Karina Halle
    4.5
  • Cover of The Friend Zone by Abby Jimenez
    The Friend Zone Abby Jimenez
    2
  • Cover of Like Mother, Like Daughter by Kimberly McCreight
    Like Mother, Like Daughter Kimberly McCreight
    3.5
  • Cover of You Will Never Be Me by Jesse Q. Sutanto
    You Will Never Be Me Jesse Q. Sutanto
    2
  • Cover of Mrs. Quinn's Rise to Fame by Olivia Ford
    Mrs. Quinn's Rise to Fame Olivia Ford
    5
  • Cover of Whoever You Are, Honey by Olivia Gatwood
    Whoever You Are, Honey Olivia Gatwood
    3.75
  • Cover of This Summer Will Be Different by Carley Fortune
    This Summer Will Be Different Carley Fortune
    5
  • Cover of Life's Too Short by Abby Jimenez
    Life's Too Short Abby Jimenez
    5
  • Cover of The Outlier by Elisabeth Eaves
    The Outlier Elisabeth Eaves
    3.75
  • Cover of Love Letters to a Serial Killer by Tasha Coryell
    Love Letters to a Serial Killer Tasha Coryell
    3
  • Cover of Why We Love (and Hate) Twilight by Sarah Elizabeth Gallagher
    Why We Love (and Hate) Twilight Sarah Elizabeth Gallagher
    4.5
  • Cover of Made for You by Jenna Satterthwaite
    Made for You Jenna Satterthwaite
    4.5
  • Cover of Canyons, Caravans, & Cadavers by Tonya Kappes
    Canyons, Caravans, & Cadavers Tonya Kappes
    2.5
  • Cover of Motorhomes, Maps, & Murder by Tonya Kappes
    Motorhomes, Maps, & Murder Tonya Kappes
    3
  • Cover of Christmas, Criminals, and Campers by Tonya Kappes
    Christmas, Criminals, and Campers Tonya Kappes
    3.25
  • Cover of Forests, Fishing & Forgery by Tonya Kappes
    Forests, Fishing & Forgery Tonya Kappes
    3
  • Cover of Deserts, Driving, & Derelicts by Tonya Kappes
    Deserts, Driving, & Derelicts Tonya Kappes
    3
  • Cover of Beaches, Bungalows & Burglaries by Tonya Kappes
    Beaches, Bungalows & Burglaries Tonya Kappes
    3.25
  • Cover of Y2K: How the 2000s Became Everything by Colette Shade
    Y2K: How the 2000s Became Everything Colette Shade
    3.75
  • Cover of Battle of the Bookstores by Ali Brady
    Battle of the Bookstores Ali Brady
    3.5
  • Cover of All That Life Can Afford by Emily Everett
    All That Life Can Afford Emily Everett
    5
  • Cover of Every Summer After by Carley Fortune
    Every Summer After Carley Fortune
    5
  • Cover of The Night We Lost Him by Laura Dave
    The Night We Lost Him Laura Dave
    3.5
  • Cover of Rock Paper Scissors by Alice Feeney
    Rock Paper Scissors Alice Feeney
    4.25
  • Cover of Two Can Play by Ali Hazelwood
    Two Can Play Ali Hazelwood
    4
  • Cover of All Rhodes Lead Here by Mariana Zapata
    All Rhodes Lead Here Mariana Zapata
    3.75
  • Cover of Time Loops & Meet Cutes by Jackie Lau
    Time Loops & Meet Cutes Jackie Lau
    3.5
  • Cover of The Unmapping by Denise S. Robbins
    The Unmapping Denise S. Robbins
    3.75
  • Cover of Atmosphere by Taylor Jenkins Reid
    Atmosphere Taylor Jenkins Reid
    5
  • Cover of Mister Magic by Kiersten White
    Mister Magic Kiersten White
    4
  • Cover of One-Star Romance by Laura Hankin
    One-Star Romance Laura Hankin
    4
  • Cover of Problematic Summer Romance by Ali Hazelwood
    Problematic Summer Romance Ali Hazelwood
    2.5
  • Cover of The Husbands by Holly Gramazio
    The Husbands Holly Gramazio
    4
  • Cover of Beach Read by Emily Henry
    Beach Read Emily Henry
    5
  • Cover of Love and Other Conspiracies by Mallory Marlowe
    Love and Other Conspiracies Mallory Marlowe
    4
  • Cover of The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid
    The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo Taylor Jenkins Reid
    4.25
  • Cover of The Dollhouse Academy by Margarita Montimore
    The Dollhouse Academy Margarita Montimore
    4
  • Cover of Book Lovers by Emily Henry
    Book Lovers Emily Henry
    5
  • Cover of The Three Lives of Cate Kay by Kate Fagan
    The Three Lives of Cate Kay Kate Fagan
    3.75
  • Cover of Julie Chan Is Dead by Liann Zhang
    Julie Chan Is Dead Liann Zhang
    4
  • Cover of Strange Pictures by Uketsu
    Strange Pictures Uketsu
    4
  • Cover of Beg, Borrow, or Steal by Sarah Adams
    Beg, Borrow, or Steal Sarah Adams
    2.5
  • Cover of The Paradise Problem by Christina Lauren
    The Paradise Problem Christina Lauren
    3.75
  • Cover of Malibu Rising by Taylor Jenkins Reid
    Malibu Rising Taylor Jenkins Reid
    5
  • Cover of With Any Luck by Ashley Poston
    With Any Luck Ashley Poston
    3
  • Cover of The Exception to the Rule by Christina Lauren
    The Exception to the Rule Christina Lauren
    5
  • Cover of The Dead Romantics by Ashley Poston
    The Dead Romantics Ashley Poston
    5
  • Cover of Great Big Beautiful Life by Emily Henry
    Great Big Beautiful Life Emily Henry
    5
  • Cover of People We Meet on Vacation by Emily Henry
    People We Meet on Vacation Emily Henry
    5
  • Cover of The Final Gambit by Jennifer Lynn Barnes
    The Final Gambit Jennifer Lynn Barnes
    3.5
  • Cover of The Hawthorne Legacy by Jennifer Lynn Barnes
    The Hawthorne Legacy Jennifer Lynn Barnes
    3.75
  • Cover of Passion Project by London Sperry
    Passion Project London Sperry
    5
  • Cover of Sweet Talk by Cara Bastone
    Sweet Talk Cara Bastone
    4
  • Cover of Happiness Falls by Angie Kim
    Happiness Falls Angie Kim
    4
  • Cover of The Rom-Commers by Katherine Center
    The Rom-Commers Katherine Center
    2.5
  • Cover of The Happy Ever After Playlist by Abby Jimenez
    The Happy Ever After Playlist Abby Jimenez
    3.5
  • Cover of Yours Truly by Abby Jimenez
    Yours Truly Abby Jimenez
    4.75
  • Cover of The Midnight Feast by Lucy Foley
    The Midnight Feast Lucy Foley
    3
  • Cover of The Maid by Nita Prose
    The Maid Nita Prose
    1.5
  • Cover of The Inheritance Games by Jennifer Lynn Barnes
    The Inheritance Games Jennifer Lynn Barnes
    3.25
  • Cover of This Book Will Bury Me by Ashley Winstead
    This Book Will Bury Me Ashley Winstead
    4
  • Cover of Out On a Limb by Hannah Bonam-Young
    Out On a Limb Hannah Bonam-Young
    3.25
  • Cover of Vera Wong's Guide to Snooping (on a Dead Man) by Jesse Q. Sutanto
    Vera Wong's Guide to Snooping (on a Dead Man) Jesse Q. Sutanto
    4
  • Cover of Take Me Home by Melanie Sweeney
    Take Me Home Melanie Sweeney
    4.5
  • Cover of The Bodyguard by Katherine Center
    The Bodyguard Katherine Center
    3.75
  • Cover of Maybe This Time by Cara Bastone
    Maybe This Time Cara Bastone
    5
  • Cover of Promise Me Sunshine by Cara Bastone
    Promise Me Sunshine Cara Bastone
    5
  • Cover of Pieces of Her by Karin Slaughter
    Pieces of Her Karin Slaughter
    3.75
  • Cover of Kills Well with Others by Deanna Raybourn
    Kills Well with Others Deanna Raybourn
    3.75
  • Cover of Just for the Summer by Abby Jimenez
    Just for the Summer Abby Jimenez
    5
  • Cover of The Second Chance Year by Melissa Wiesner
    The Second Chance Year Melissa Wiesner
    4.75
  • Cover of Daisy Darker by Alice Feeney
    Daisy Darker Alice Feeney
    3.5
  • Cover of Pretty Girls by Karin Slaughter
    Pretty Girls Karin Slaughter
    n/a
  • Cover of Blonde Hair, Blue Eyes by Karin Slaughter
    Blonde Hair, Blue Eyes Karin Slaughter
    n/a
  • Cover of Mixed Signals by B.K. Borison
    Mixed Signals B.K. Borison
    4
  • Cover of Business Casual by B.K. Borison
    Business Casual B.K. Borison
    4.25
  • Cover of Home Is Where the Bodies Are by Jeneva Rose
    Home Is Where the Bodies Are Jeneva Rose
    2.75
  • Cover of Sunrise on the Reaping by Suzanne Collins
    Sunrise on the Reaping Suzanne Collins
    5
  • Cover of The Box in the Woods by Maureen Johnson
    The Box in the Woods Maureen Johnson
    3.75
  • Cover of Nine Liars by Maureen Johnson
    Nine Liars Maureen Johnson
    3.75
  • Cover of The Hand on the Wall by Maureen Johnson
    The Hand on the Wall Maureen Johnson
    4
  • Cover of Truly Devious by Maureen Johnson
    Truly Devious Maureen Johnson
    4
  • Cover of The Vanishing Stair by Maureen Johnson
    The Vanishing Stair Maureen Johnson
    4
  • Cover of Finlay Donovan Rolls the Dice by Elle Cosimano
    Finlay Donovan Rolls the Dice Elle Cosimano
    3.75
  • Cover of Finlay Donovan Digs Her Own Grave by Elle Cosimano
    Finlay Donovan Digs Her Own Grave Elle Cosimano
    4
  • Cover of Part of Your World by Abby Jimenez
    Part of Your World Abby Jimenez
    4.75
  • Cover of Finlay Donovan Knocks 'Em Dead by Elle Cosimano
    Finlay Donovan Knocks 'Em Dead Elle Cosimano
    4
  • Cover of Finlay Donovan Jumps the Gun by Elle Cosimano
    Finlay Donovan Jumps the Gun Elle Cosimano
    3.75
  • Cover of Stuck with You by Ali Hazelwood
    Stuck with You Ali Hazelwood
    4
  • Cover of Don't Swipe Right by L.M. Chilton
    Don't Swipe Right L.M. Chilton
    3.75
  • Cover of Everyone in the Group Chat Dies by L.M. Chilton
    Everyone in the Group Chat Dies L.M. Chilton
    3.75
  • Cover of Killers of a Certain Age by Deanna Raybourn
    Killers of a Certain Age Deanna Raybourn
    4
  • Cover of Comfort Me With Apples by Catherynne M. Valente
    Comfort Me With Apples Catherynne M. Valente
    4
  • Cover of Not in Love by Ali Hazelwood
    Not in Love Ali Hazelwood
    3.5
  • Cover of Famous Last Words by Gillian McAllister
    Famous Last Words Gillian McAllister
    3.75
  • Cover of In The Weeds by B.K. Borison
    In The Weeds B.K. Borison
    3.75
  • Cover of Lovelight Farms by B.K. Borison
    Lovelight Farms B.K. Borison
    4
  • Cover of Under One Roof by Ali Hazelwood
    Under One Roof Ali Hazelwood
    4
  • Cover of You, Again by Kate Goldbeck
    You, Again Kate Goldbeck
    3.75
  • Cover of How to End a Love Story by Yulin Kuang
    How to End a Love Story Yulin Kuang
    1.5
  • Cover of The Favorites by Layne Fargo
    The Favorites Layne Fargo
    4.75
  • Cover of Check & Mate by Ali Hazelwood
    Check & Mate Ali Hazelwood
    4
  • Cover of Below Zero by Ali Hazelwood
    Below Zero Ali Hazelwood
    4
  • Cover of First-Time Caller by B.K. Borison
    First-Time Caller B.K. Borison
    5
  • Cover of Thank You for Listening by Julia Whelan
    Thank You for Listening Julia Whelan
    4.5
  • Cover of They Never Learn by Layne Fargo
    They Never Learn Layne Fargo
    4
  • Cover of Horrorstör by Grady Hendrix
    Horrorstör Grady Hendrix
    3.75
  • Cover of We Used to Live Here by Marcus Kliewer
    We Used to Live Here Marcus Kliewer
    3.75
  • Cover of Deep End by Ali Hazelwood
    Deep End Ali Hazelwood
    3.75
  • Cover of The Plot Twist by Victoria Walters
    The Plot Twist Victoria Walters
    2.5
  • Cover of Love and Other Words by Christina Lauren
    Love and Other Words Christina Lauren
    5
  • Cover of Geekerella by Ashley Poston
    Geekerella Ashley Poston
    4
  • Cover of A Novel Love Story by Ashley Poston
    A Novel Love Story Ashley Poston
    4.25
  • Cover of The Seven Year Slip by Ashley Poston
    The Seven Year Slip Ashley Poston
    4.5
  • Cover of Vera Wong's Unsolicited Advice for Murderers by Jesse Q. Sutanto
    Vera Wong's Unsolicited Advice for Murderers Jesse Q. Sutanto
    5
  • Cover of Welcome to the Hyunam-dong Bookshop by Hwang Bo-Reum
    Welcome to the Hyunam-dong Bookshop Hwang Bo-Reum
    4
  • Cover of I Who Have Never Known Men by Jacqueline Harpman
    I Who Have Never Known Men Jacqueline Harpman
    5
  • Cover of Finlay Donovan Is Killing It by Elle Cosimano
    Finlay Donovan Is Killing It Elle Cosimano
    4
  • Cover of Love, Theoretically by Ali Hazelwood
    Love, Theoretically Ali Hazelwood
    4
  • Cover of Funny Story by Emily Henry
    Funny Story Emily Henry
    5
  • Cover of The Love Hypothesis by Ali Hazelwood
    The Love Hypothesis Ali Hazelwood
    4
  • Cover of Love on the Brain by Ali Hazelwood
    Love on the Brain Ali Hazelwood
    3.75

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