This is a yearly tag that bloggers and Booktubers partake in as a sort of check-in for how the reading has been coming along this year. These normally post in June and July but I sort of forgot about it.

Before I dive into it, let’s do a quick look at my Goodreads goal. I want to read 200 books this year. I chose this number because I’ve always surpassed my reading goals, and based on previous years, this seemed doable.

However, I’m only at 58 books!! I’ve never been so far behind before! I figure this is because in previous years, I predominantly read manga and comics, which I can finish quickly. And while I still read both, my goal this year was to read more straight fiction with some nonfiction thrown in there, too. Basically I felt like I’d been neglecting prose, so I started reading more of that, which takes me forever. I’m legitimately concerned I won’t make my goal this year. But I’ll keep reading and keep trying!

Without further ado, let’s get started.

Best book you’ve read so far this year

I read this book back in January and it’s still on my mind. Adventurous, heart-breaking, haunting, spooky, and tense, this book has everything. While it is at its heart a ghost story, it’s so much bigger than that. The book takes place in Jim Crow Florida and the reader witnesses a series of great injustices, the primary one being twelve-year-old Robbie Stephens Jr. being sent to Gracetown School for Boys (the titular reformatory) for six months for kicking a white boy. Of course, the judge completely ignores the fact that it was an act of defense (Robbie was protecting his sister Gloria) and considers it an act of grace that the sentencing is only for six months.

Readers find out that the reformatory is a horrific place with a horrific past, and they feel sympathy for Robbie, the boys in the school, the victims of abuse, and then Robbie’s family, who have their own injustices to deal with.

There were times when the tension was so high I had to put the book down. I’ve never experienced that before, where I’ve had to take a break to recuperate.

I gave this book five stars and it’s probably one of the best books I’ve ever read, period.

Best sequel you’ve read so far this year

I really liked volume two of Palace of the Omega. The art (and men!) are beautiful, the story wraps nicely, and I really enjoyed the relationship between the leads. To be honest, I thought this concluded the entire story, but it turns out, according to Amazon Japan, another volume is coming! I’ll hold out for the English version, which will hopefully be licensed soon. It’s a gorgeous series.

A new release you haven’t read but want to

I have the Barnes & Noble special edition of this book, but I haven’t read it yet. I really want to because this novel is inspired by the story of Swan Lake, one of the most tragic ballets out there.

Your most anticipated book for the rest of 2025

Alix E. Harrow has quickly become one of my auto-buy authors because everything I’ve read of hers so far has been really good. I’m not sure what this book is about, but I’ve seen quotes from it on Goodreads and it has my attention.

Biggest disappointment so far

I usually don’t share books that I have negative feelings about. I gave this three stars on Goodreads, which, according to their rating system, means “liked it,” which is not a bad score. I won’t share books lower than three stars publicly per my personal author code, by the way. Anyway, this book was really interesting for the most part, but the author opted not to create a new edition that updated his outdated clinical language, and in fact wrote a little essay as to why he was leaving it in. Well…it’s his choice as the author, and he probably meant to protect the integrity of the work, but his language choices in how he refers to his patients is insulting and made me cringe at times. I know back then these were acceptable terms, but that doesn’t erase how harmful they are. I had a hard time getting through this book because of it.

Biggest surprise so far

I had heard someone on BookTube talk about this–a spider monster living in an attic who takes on beautiful young women as brides, only to eat them–and I was intrigued. This is a novella in translation from the original Brazilian Portuguese and is lyrical and vivid in English. I’ve never read a story like this before and I really liked the ending.

New favorite author

I’ve actually quietly acquired Grady Hendrix eBooks over the years, but never got around to reading them. So, Grady Hendrix is a new-to-me author and this is the first thing of his I’ve read. This short story was so good and has taken up so much space in my brain. Hendrix wouldn’t be my favorite new author technically, but I would say he’s my new favorite horror author just based on this story alone.

New favorite character

So, I like both male leads (they end up in a relationship together) but I like “Mike” a smidgen more because he’s charismatic and I think I wouldn’t mind dating him, lol.

New favorite ship

This isn’t really a new ship, but the anime has resolidified my love for Yoshiki x Hikaru. There are very strong BL vibes to the manga and anime anyway, but it’s thee duo’s devotion to each other, and Yoshiki’s grief and the two’s desire to never be separated from each other has my heart. The boys have wept for each other, experienced bizarre but intimate moments, and shared unassuming daily life with each other…even when Hikaru is not really Hikaru. I just want the both of them to have a happy ending.

A book that made you cry

I didn’t really cry reading this, but felt like crying. There’s something about when a hand-drawn character (or an animated one) cries that really gets to me for some reason, and the lead character in this manga series is devastated when he learns that the love of his life, who he always thought was straight, was actually gay, and he missed his final chance with him when he sees on Instagram the same-sex wedding photos. The panels of him sobbing and crying hurt me in my heart. And look at this cover! It gets me teary-eyed, too!

A book that made you happy

I really enjoyed this BL. It’s very sweet and features a seemingly “odd couple” who end up being perfect for each other. And, there’s a happy ending, of course!

The most beautiful book you’ve bought this year

I bought the Barnes & Noble special edition which came with gorgeous sprayed edges. I haven’t read this yet because I’ve been busy reading short publications and then all the stuff I have to review for The Beat, but I love looking at this book and how pretty it is.

Books you want to read by the end of the year

I actually haven’t read any of R.F. Kuang’s fantasy (even though I own them). I read her satire/thriller Yellowface and loved it. But this particular book stands out to me because it’s all about taking a journey into hell. Should be fascinating!

This one is a book about the land of Faerie and two sisters who are inseparable. It sounds like a lovely fairy tale. I got the eBook when it was on sale; I just need to get around to reading this.