I love to read, but every year without fail I fall into a slump where I don’t read for months on end. Sometimes this happens because I’m too busy with school, and other times it’s because I’m not engaged in what I’m trying to read. Regardless, it always happens one way or another. This year, my goal is to beat the slump by planning out what I want to read and choosing books that I find engaging and interesting. My goal is to read 50 books by December 31, a number that I don’t think I’ve ever achieved, but I’ve made a pretty good start so far with 10 books down. So, without further ado, here are the books I have read so far and some of the ones that I plan to read this year.
Lore Olympus by Rachel Smythe
If you’re a fan of webcomics and Greek mythology, Lore Olympus is a great option. It’s an easy read that is still being updated, and every week I look forward to a new chapter. There are currently five published books for those who prefer the physical pages, with more recent content to be found online, including the sixth volume. These account for six of the books I’ve read so far this year!
Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas
Ever since I fell in love with Maas’ A Court of Thorns and Roses series, I’ve wanted to read her Throne of Glass series, and I finally started it this year. The series has eight books including a collection of novellas called The Assassin’s Blade, which can also be read individually as their own books. Upon starting this series, I noticed that there seems to be a lot of debate as to when to read the novella, so I did a bit of research and found that the author herself recommends reading in publication order; that is, reading the first two books in the series, then switching over to the novellas, and then resuming with the third book (which is actually what I’m reading right now). I found this order of reading to be very emotionally impactful, and I would recommend this order to anyone who is thinking of reading the Throne of Glass series. I am a big fan of fantasy and Fae, of which this series is plentiful, and I am a big fan so far. This series accounts for another three (soon to be four) of the books I’ve read this year!
The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky
This is one of my all-time favorite books, and I recently read it for the second time over winter break. This is a book that I would recommend to anyone and everyone, though it’s important to note that there are definitely some heavy themes that may not be suitable for some. I read it first as a freshman in high school, and Charlie’s story has stuck with me ever since. Though realistic fiction isn’t typically my first choice of genre, this beautifully written piece has had my heart since I was 15, and all I can say is that you’ve got to read it. This accounted for another one of the books I’ve read so far this year.
Daisy Jones and the Six by Taylor Jenkins Reid
Again, escaping from my typical fantasy genre, I saw the show based off of the book over the summer and absolutely loved it. Not to mention, the music is really good. The relationships between the characters are explored in such an interesting way that made me binge episode after episode, and I imagine the book will be similar. Daisy Jones and the Six focuses on a band in the ‘70s and their rise to fame, and I can’t wait to check the book out.
The Cruel Prince by Holly Black
Back on the fantasy grind! This is a series that I’ve been wanting to pick up for a couple of years now, and I can’t wait to read it. It is another fae-based storyline, which is one of my favorites, and the series has five books with an additional duology for a total of seven books. If you’re a fan of ACOTAR like I am, this seems like it’s not too far off the mark, and I can’t wait to give it a read.
Shatter Me by Tahereh Mafi
This book has also been on my TBR for way too long, so I figured it’s high time I read it this year. The series has 11 books total, including several novellas, and tells the story of Juliette, who has the power to kill with just a touch. This series strikes me as more of a dystopian story, which is another favorite genre of mine, as I grew up reading The Hunger Games and Divergent, and I haven’t lost my love for such stories. This is another one I’m particularly excited to read this year.
The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue by V.E. Schwab
I have heard a lot of good things about this book, and as it has some fantasy elements to it, I can’t wait to read it. This story is a standalone book about a woman who makes a deal with the Dark in order to become immortal. However, the catch is that she will be forgotten by everyone she meets. Every time I see it in a bookstore I’ve been tempted to purchase it, so I decided that this was the year I’d finally read it. The fact that it is a standalone about such a complex concept intrigues me a lot, and I’m interested to see what I make of this book.
Serpent and Dove by Shelby Mahurin
This is a fantasy trilogy that explores the relationship between a witch and a witch-hunter. I am a big fan of the enemies-to-lovers trope, and I get the feeling that this series will definitely deliver on that front. I also haven’t read a fantasy series that centered around witches, and I am very intrigued as to what that will be like. Reviews I’ve read have compared it to ACOTAR, which is reassuring to me as a huge ACOTAR fan, and I’m very excited to check this trilogy out.
I am so excited to read so many awesome books this year, and hopefully I will reach my 50 book goal. Prioritizing reading has been another big goal of mine, and I plan to set aside some time each day to indulge in reading some non-academic content. I hope this list inspired some people to set their new personal reading record this year–happy reading!