My Top Reads Of The Last 3 Months | Dec. 2020
August - October 2020 Reading Recap
Because what happened to August thru October?! And then in the next breath you’re like, “and how about November, Leah, because you said the last 3 months and it’s December.” I know, I know. If you’re looking to check out my reads from November 2020, you can check them out here! I’ve been slacking on my monthly wrap ups over here on the blog. I’ve honestly been a little discouraged (and overwhelmed) in general about my content creation these last few months. Getting into a regular routine that works with my go-with-the-flow daily approach to life has been tricky! And it’s definitely shown more on the blog. I didn’t even publish one blog in November! And I had such big plans. You should see my Trello Blog Planning Board! 😂 Now we did travel a bit (COVID approved), so my mind was definitely stretched between still trying to find time to read, pack, keep the house in order (as well as myself), travel, and then be genuinely present wherever we were. You know what I’ve also noticed? I get reaaaaally sucked into Instagram - does this happen to any of you? I find that if the first thing I do in my day for my content creation is an Instagram post, somehow all of my other outlets suffer! What’s up with that?! I need to figure this out. Any tips for me?! Jump to the comments to share!
So back to it - It appears that I read a total of 25 books between August and October. SAY. WHAT?!
So crazy! Each month, I blow my mind with how many new worlds and stories and characters I’ve met and yet I still feel so behind with all of the stories out there I haven’t been introduced to. That’s what happens when you sort of almost stop reading altogether for several years. For a time, I only read maybe a few to a handful of books in A YEAR. And that’s a big maybe. Once I was working full time and after I got married, it just never felt like I had enough time to really get into it and I kept reading books I wasn’t really into so that definitely discouraged me. But now, with more time on my hands and access to Bookstagram and Goodreads, I am never in want for a good book these days. And I'm loving it!
So recap the last few months, here are my top reads from August to October!
Blog Contents
August
September
October
What I Also Read
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August
1 // Men We Reaped | A Heartbreaking Memoir by Jesmyn Ward
Men We Reaped by Jesmyn WardMy rating: 5 of 5 stars
Devastating and heartbreaking, yet beautiful and moving. A must-read!
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2 // Empire of Storms | YA Epic Fantasy Series (Book 6 in the Throne of Glass Series by Sarah J. Maas)
Empire of Storms by Sarah J. MaasMy rating: 5 of 5 stars
I cannot get over how much this series keeps getting better and better! I read Empire of Storms alongside and at the same time as Tower of Dawn - and I really enjoyed it. Such a great mashup! They read as one seamless book and each individual storyline added so much to the other. Empire of Storms didn't quite grab my attention until maybe halfway through and then it was all LIKE WHOA in my face, soul-shattering amazing. The ending is insane and may or may not ruin and wreck you. IT'S SO GOOD. I'm also obsessed with all the amazing couplings beginning to bloom! Terrified and yet so excited to read Kingdom of Ash.
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3 // Six of Crows | YA Fantasy Adventure (Book 1 in the duology Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo)
Six of Crows by Leigh BardugoMy rating: 5 of 5 stars
Dynamic, dark yet lighthearted, angsty yet not. I really enjoyed the depth of character development and world-building. The adventure progression from multiple POVs was also really compelling and exciting! For me, it felt like Peaky Blinders meets Serpent & Dove meets ToG & Celaena Sardothian. So good! ❤️
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September
1 // Red, White, and Royal Blue | A MM Romance by Casey McQuiston
You guys. THIS. BOOK. I loved it so much 😭 I totally get the hype 🤩🎊 I’m not even sure I can put into words exactly why it’s that good. It’s just literally that good. So I’ll just focus on what I loved. 𝓽𝓱𝓮 𝔀𝓲𝓽 — I laughed out loud I don’t know how many times, and the banter between Alex and everybody at every turn of the page was so spot on and so good! 𝓽𝓱𝓮 𝓱𝓸𝓹𝓮 — Y’all this book is hope incarnate (did that give anyone else SJM vibes? 😂). But in all seriousness, this book truly has so much hope in it. For our country, for the world, for the people in it. You'll want to hold it tight to your heart forever. 𝓽𝓱𝓮 𝓪𝓵𝓽𝓮𝓻𝓷𝓪𝓽𝓲𝓿𝓮 𝓻𝓮𝓪𝓵𝓲𝓽𝔂 — LOVED. IT. Also, can I go there? 𝓗𝓮𝓷𝓻𝔂 & 𝓐𝓵𝓮𝔁!!! — I mean, obviously 😍 Cutest couple, maybe ever, award. Definitely “the spark of joy and hope [I] needed” this year, Casey McQuiston!
2 // Ties That Tether | Contemporary Romance by Jane Igharo
What a beautiful, rich story! I am in awe. I loved it so much! It will not leave me for a long, long time. This is a story about grief and loss, hope and love, family and heritage, all rolled up into one amazing happily ever after. WOW. We follow Azere, a Nigerian woman, as she falls in love with a man who her mother disapproves of and navigates through pleasing her family, honoring her culture, and finding her voice. My favorite aspects: the strong women & female friendships, the fierce family ties, the underlying theme of fate and destiny tethering, tying, and pulling people together (and just how much the title plays a role throughout the story), the Nigerian culture and way of life infused and woven throughout, all the movie references! Jane Igharo beautifully and effortlessly evokes in words common human interactions and experiences that come with so much depth of feeling and individual intuition that I've only ever felt. To see them written in words had me momentarily stunned multiple times! I felt reflected in the pages just by the way she matches words to real-life experiences. This story is beyond what I was expecting; heartwarming yet gut-wrenching, tragic yet filled with so much hope. I feel so whole and complete after reading it! Potential content warnings: surprise/unplanned pregnancy, temporary mother/daughter estrangement, death of a spouse and unborn child, traumatic birth. Thank you to Netgalley and Berkley Publishing Group for an advanced ecopy of this book!
3 // From Blood and Ash | Paranormal Fantasy Romance (Book 1 in the From Blood & Ash Series by Jennifer L. Armentrout)
I HAVE FALLEN IN LOVE. This might be my favorite fantasy series of the year! It’s got vampires, werewolves, gods and goddesses, an enemy to lovers steamy, steamy trope, and extensive world-building with an urban yet mythic feel. And I'm hooked! That’s all I’m going to say because I don’t want to give anything away! BUT. If you’re a JLA fan and love fantasy and romance aka #romantasy, go read this ASAP.
October
I had so many great reads in October! I don’t know if I can pick just 3 😂 But if you’re making me, these are my picks! It was probably my favorite/best reading month of the year (so far, we’ll see how December fairs!).
1 // The City of Brass | An Epic, Mythic, and Romantic Fantasy (Book 1 in The Daevabad Trilogy by S.A. Chakraborty)
This story has already stolen my heart 😍 S.A. Chakraborty‘s writing style is exquisite. The way she unfolds the story for us is impressively done and so intriguing. Each chapter seems to effortlessly draw you in and gets even more action-packed. So beautifully done! Did you know this story is one of the tales in the 1001 Arabian Nights?! 🙌🏻 Keeping this one short, too, because I will not spoil anything for you with this series. It’s that good. All I will say is it’s magical, unexpected, and noteworthy with morally gray characters you’ll hate to love and a love story that will pull, pull, pull at those heartstring. If you have not read it, go read it NOW. I am insisting!
2 // Nevernight | Dark, Mysterious and Epic Fantasy (Book 1 in The Nevernight Chronicles by Jay Kristoff)
I recently finished Nevernight, and wow, WHAT A UNIQUE READ! This story is dark and mysterious, so thoughtful and intricate, and 100% oh-so-sassy 💃🏻⚔ I was hooked from page 2 and am incredibly intrigued about where the story is headed! We follow Mia in a unique dual-ish timeline as she apprentices to become an assassin. She's dealing with past traumas, a presenttime mystery, and all the usual angsts of being a young adult while attending a school for assassins in a world where there are no nights (okay so maybe NOT that usual 😂). It gave me slight HP vibes but in a wayyyyy better way and in a wayyyy darker form. Jay's writing is SO cheeky and hilariously fresh and I could not get enough! Definitely not a predictable read and the world-building IMO is immaculate. I cannot WAIT for book 2!!! 🖤
3 // The Beautiful | Paranormal Fantasy Romance (Book 1 in The Beautiful series by Renée Ahdieh)
I feel like The Beautiful is such an underrated novel!
🖤 The story is set in 18th century New Orleans and has got all the dark, mysterious, and gothic vibes (can we say The Vampire Diaries meets The Originals).
🖤 There’s a tingly romance and a somewhat terrifying mystery that will have you jumping out of your skin, but you won’t be able to figure out what’s going on until the very end.
🖤 It’s so diverse and challenges historical divides and prejudices.
🖤 You’ll get vampires, magic, and werewolves oh my!
🖤 And the story is series approved and the perfect read for paranormal fantasy lovers and spooky season!
What I Also Read Those Months
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Hey y'all, I'm Leah!
Cozy connoisseur and bountiful book buyer. I have a minor obsession with getting lost in the pages of a good book, guzzling coffee, and thriving at home. Yoga pants, wine, and essential oils are also my jam. I'm truly just a homebody at heart with a knack for content creation, flatlays & cozy shots. This is my creative space.
