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Book Recommendations for a Newbie Reader
If you’re brand new to reading (or trying to fall back in love with it), this list is for you 🤍📚 These are the kinds of books that remind you reading doesn’t have to feel heavy, academic, or like a chore. They pull you in quickly, make it easy to keep turning pages, and most importantly… make reading feel fun again.
Books I plan to re-read soon
I have a confession to make… I’m not usually a re-reader. 😅 With a hundred or so unread books sitting on my shelves and a never-ending TBR list calling my name, I’ve always struggled with the idea of picking up a book I’ve already read instead of discovering something new. There are just too many stories waiting to be experienced!
Wanna be book besties?
There are some books that instantly make me think, "Yep... we'd get along." Maybe it's because books are tiny windows into the things that make us laugh, cry, swoon, or stay up until 2 a.m. promising ourselves "just one more chapter." Whatever the reason, if I spotted you reading any of these in a coffee shop, airport, bookstore, or park, I'd probably be trying to work up the courage to start a conversation.
Book Review: Immortal Rose, Alexandra Bracken
In a Regency world where members of certain families have the ability to infuse fragrance with magic capable of manipulating mind, body, and emotion, a shocking murder leaves the kingdom vulnerable to a coup. The only apparent savior is a long lost relative to the ancient House Rosebourne (a prominent family in the perfumery business). After being captured, thrown in jail, and held against her will by a aristocrat and royal spymaster name Hugh, our FMC, Viola, must craft Immortal Rose—the only perfume capable of saving the King and the kingdom.
My 2026 Mid-Year Reading Check-In
Shout out to Fable for encouraging me to keep my reading streak. I’ve read every single day so far this year. Sometimes that means one page, but 99% of the time that means multiple chapters, staying up too late, and reading until I literally can’t keep my eyes open anymore. My reading goal this year has been to actually read less, but read intentionally every day. I’ve found some real bangers, had a few let downs, but all around have truly enjoyed being part of instagram’s book community this year.
My Book Rating System
I am a pretty harsh rater. But I read too many books to just generically rate everything that was “good” four or five stars. When you read so much so often like me I have to be super selective with how I rate. I hate using “whether I would recommend something” as a rating system because I will recommend a two or three star to someone who I think might be more into that type of book than me.
Book Review: Axe Marks the Spot, Kayla Grosse
Smart, sexy, well-researched, and appropriately steamy! Kayla Grosse does it again. Are you looking for a healthy, hot, and quick read? Curious about other sexual lifestyles and open to learn? Hot for rugged lumberjacks in a way that will have you devouring this book in one sitting? Then this interconnected romance series is for you!
Book Review: First and Forever, Lynn Painter
Is this a Travis Kelce fanfic?! We all know that Lynn Painter is a diehard Swifty, so this just makes sense. However, I would argue that this leans more towards a Jason and Kylie Kelce sort of romance. Our main female character is so Kylie coded with all of her quick comments and no bullshit attitude. She’s a football fan first and then a girlfriend to a football player second which just screams Kylie to me. In conclusion, three and a half stars is a good rating. Don’t expect something out of this world or jaw dropping, but if you’re looking for a fun little romance set in the football space then this is for you. I’d recommend this book to football lovers, fans of the Kelce fam, and anyone else who loves Lynn Painters easy writing and quick banter.
Book Review: To Cage a Wild Bird, Brooke Fast
Craving those old dystopian vibes you got back in high school reading Hunger Games/Divergent? Then this is for you! This is the first book in a new Divided Fates series by a debut author. It’s technically categorized as adult due to the age of our main characters and a few steamy scenes, but the entirety of the book reads really YA (in a good way). It gave me all the vibes that I missed from my dystopian days back in high school, and the writing, world building, etc. was very easy to read which is why it feels like it leans a little bit more young adult at times.
Book Review: The Cursed Queen’s Daughter, Elly Blake
This is the second installment in the Thirstwood series. Surprisingly, I ended up enjoying this one so much more than the first book. Book one in the series was a fun, interesting read, but nothing to truly rave about… but this book made me want to recommend the entire series!
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