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Over the past year or so I’ve missed reading as much as I used to.

For the past several years I haven’t managed to read one book a week, which is a low key goal: not because I think numbers are impressive, but because I have over 600 physical books on my shelves that I am yet to read, not counting my ebooks hidden away on my kindle.

I’m one of those people who enjoys researching and buying books as much as reading. The anticipation of a good read thrills me.

But I really need to tackle my existing books so that I can make room on my bookshelves. While my husband says you don’t have too many books, you just need more bookshelves, the truth is that I don’t have room for more books. The housing situation has gotten so shitty that we can’t move to a bigger place. We’re stuck where we are, and room is limited. Therefore, I can’t buy more bookshelves. Therefore, I have to limit my owned books.

And at this rate, it will take me 12 years reading 50 books a year to get through the books I already own, and that’s if I don’t buy any new ones. And as I’ve previously established, I highly enjoy buying books.

I also have other hobbies, like video games, painting, jigsaw puzzles, and keeping this blog. I have a full time job and a side hustle. I simple do not have as much time to read as I want.

So to combat this, I’ve been making a conscious decision not to access my pocket computer addiction in the form of my phone. I once caught myself doom scrolling from the moment I got home from work until I went to bed. That’s not healthy, and I’m trying to limit my screen time. I have weaned myself down to 1 hour of social media through the course of a day, and similarly try to limit my screen time in other apps. however, my phone is used for more than just social media. I’m consciously trying to not use my phone to read anymore, because it’s so easy to get distracted.

Doing all of this has helped me read more.

I’ve also started a puzzle and played some Sims 4, which I haven’t played since February 2022.

This month, I’ve finished 8 books. Yes, some of them are shorter novels and novellas, but it feels… good! I like reading. I like it so much I have a freaking blog dedicated to it.

I should do it more often.

Stacking The Shelves is a weekly meme created by Tynga’s Reviews and hosted by Reading Reality.
It’s all about sharing the books we’ve picked up for the week, whether they are bought, borrowed, gifted, galleys, physical or virtual.
Share your shelves and remember to visit Reading Reality to find more great books!

Purchased

The Anatomy of Songs

Sundsvall is a city ruled by two Gods, and she is the first to hear them both.

Bestowed the Songs of both Life and Death, Kasira Severen spends her days as a Daughter of Silba, curing the Lowtown of their ailments. When the sun sets, however, she becomes the city’s most notorious assassin. Now, under her father’s command, she’s hunting her biggest target yet.

Veridian Erris is the Crown Prince of Livadha, and he fears his whisky-fuelled life is about to end. With the bodies of soldiers piling up on the northern borders and nobles turning up dead on the docks, he has no choice but to try and broker peace with the exiled Queen. As long as he survives the attempts on his life before they arrive.

With dark twisting conspiracies, treacherous ancestors and a hair-raising night watcher stalking the streets, the two fated enemies have far more to be wary of than each other.

While I picked this book up because I thought it might be about magical music, the main character is both a healer AND an assassin! That sounds so awesome. I’m very excited to read this.

Borrowed

Floored by Sara Barnard et al.

The Breakfast Club meets One Day in Floored, a unique collaborative novel by seven bestselling and award-winning YA authors: Sara Barnard, Holly Bourne, Tanya Byrne, Non Pratt, Melinda Salisbury, Lisa Williamson and Eleanor Wood.

When they got in the lift, they were strangers (though didn’t that guy used to be on TV?): Sasha, who is desperately trying to deliver a parcel; Hugo, who knows he’s the best-looking guy in the lift and is eyeing up Velvet, who knows what that look means when you hear her name and it doesn’t match the way she looks, or the way she talks; Dawson, who was on TV, but isn’t as good-looking as he was a few years ago and is desperately hoping no one recognizes him; Kaitlyn, who’s losing her sight but won’t admit it, and who used to have a poster of Dawson on her bedroom wall, and Joe, who shouldn’t be here at all, but who wants to be here the most.

And one more person, who will bring them together again on the same day every year.

I am trying to catch up on all of Sara Barnard’s books. I’ve got 2 left to read, and I borrowed this one from my local library.

Monthly Wrap Up

Book Stuff

Number of books read: 8:
1. The Darkest Corners by Kara Thomas
2. Destination Anywhere by Sara Barnard
3. In Kelly’s Corner (Fighting Connollys #1) by Roxie Rivera
4. Alien Protector (Vaxxlian Mates #1) by Sue Mercury
5. Alien Warrior’s Promise (Vaxxlian Matchmakers #2) by Sue Mercury
6. Dead Sexy Dragon (Dragon Heat #1) by Lolita Lopez (re-read)
7. Dead Drop (The Guild #2) by Tate James
8. Red Hot Dragon (Dragon Heat #2) by Lolita Lopez (re-read)
Finished a series: No
Started a series: Vaxxlian Mates #1 by Sue Mercury but I do not intend to continue.
New to me authors: Sue Mercury
Favourite book: Destination Anywhere by Sara Barnard.