FEBRUARY BOOK HAUL

I never pass up the opportunity to buy new books! I took advantage of a recent buy one, get one 50% off sale to snag a few more off of my wishlist. I'm especially excited to add some new classics into my collection. I haven't read any since college and it's something I've wanted to dive into for longtime now. I've been keeping a list of the ones I want to start with and at the very top is The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas. This one is a beast at over 1300 pages! I've heard it's an incredible, adventurous tale and I can't wait to start. Inspired by the new movie release, I also decided to pick up Wuthering Heights by Emily Brontë. I read parts of this book back in high school, however thinking back I can't recall much about the story. I also know I'll have a different experience reading it now as an adult. I'm hoping to read it and then go see the movie- it's always interesting to see books come to life on screen. I've already heard the two are completely different which never surprises me, haha. If you've read/watched it, let me know what you thought! 

A new fun romance is a given so I grabbed the second book of the Windy City series, The Right Move by Liz Tomforde. I just finished the first one, Mile High, which was cute. I also saw both Pen Pal by J.T. Geissinger and Wolf.e by Paisley Hope recommended on the Tikky which are both a little more spicy and in the dark romance category. I like to have some variety, haha. Sometimes I'm in the mood for dark romance, sometimes I need a little more light. 

The last two in today's haul are The 12-Week Year by Brian P. Moran and Michael Lennington and Women Living Deliciously by Florence Given. I can't wait to dive into The 12 Week Year. I've heard the concept which is essentially breaking your year down by quarters in order to be more productive. I haven't read the book yet, however I've already started utilizing the idea by breaking down my goals into 12-week chunks. I'm excited to read more in depth about the concept and see if I can successfully implement it into my life. Women Living Deliciously was kind of a wildcard pick for me. I also found this one on TikTok in someone's "books that have changed my life" video. She sold me on it so we'll see- I'm not sure that I normally would have purchased this. Despite that, I absolutely love the cover and design. The book is absolutely beautiful and bright- she's a stunner for sure! 

**SHOP THIS POST + MY ENTIRE READING LIST HERE**

What are you reading right now?

I love sharing my picks + hauls with you all! Should you click on or make a purchase through the links in this post, I'll earn some money to keep on shopping! Pretty cool, huh? :)

DECEMBER BOOK HAUL

I'm always excited to share a new book haul with you!! Anytime Target or Amazon has a sale on books, I try to buy a few from my never-ending TBR list. Right now I'm making my way through a re-read on Eclipse (I've been on a Twilight re-read + re-watch these past few months!), however I want to squeeze in a few fun holiday reads before Christmas. I always love a festive romance for the holidays- I need easy and lighthearted this time of the year!!

You may or may not know that I usually like to go into books blind without much to go on. Rarely do I read through a synopsis and if I do, it's usually forgotten about it by the time I get around to buying/reading the book. Because of that, I have no idea what any of these are actually about, lol. Most of the time I find new recommendations based on ratings, new arrivals or if I keep seeing them pop up often in TikTok videos, on Goodreads, etc. 

I love a good holiday rom-com so when I saw both Merry Christmas, You Filthy Animal and Good Spirits on the newly released/coming soon page a few months back, my attention was grabbed. I'm always drawn to cute cover art! Fast forward a little bit and both of these have been getting some great reviews which is always a green light. The only intel I really have is that Merry Christmas, You Filthy Animal is technically a spin-off sequel with secondary characters from the book How My Neighbor Stole Christmas. I contemplated reading it first, however I decided I wanted to start with the new one. 

In the past I wouldn't have been able to do it! It would've drove me nuts to read a sequel without reading the first book. Now, I'm a lot less rigid on that and decided does it even matter?? I've never really been a huge fan of spin-offs- the first books are always the best IMO and the supporting characters typically aren't as interesting to me. 

I'm kind of old school in that I love a classic, regular series where all of the books continue the same plot + story. Those I would have to read in order! In this case, I'm feeling the vibes on book two so we're starting there! Also who knows- maybe I'll love it enough to go back and read the first one too, haha. 

I also finally picked up Mile High by Liz Tomforde. This book has been on my wish list for so long and is constantly raved about on TikTok. I vaguely remember reading the synopsis on this- I'm pretty sure it takes places in Chicago and our male lover is an athlete. That's about it! It's also part of a spinoff series, lol. I may or may not read the sequels but I'm at least excited for this one!! 

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What books have you been reading?

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MARCH BOOK HAUL

In the spirit of sticking with my yearly reading goal and fueling my ongoing shopping addiction, I have a lil' March Book Haul for you! I spent a some time researching romance books on the TikTok and ordered all of the ones that were repeatedly recommended. A good romance always seems to pull me out of slumps and helps to jump start the reading flow. I'm especially excited about today's haul too because there's a good mix of genres within the romance category. 

Starting with what I'm currently reading is Say You Swear by Meagan Brandy. This one I would categorize in the regular contemporary romance genre with some friends to lovers/love triangle vibes. It's the classic "girl loves her brother's best friend" tale except he breaks her heart to let new boy to swoop in, lol. I'm only a few chapters in on this one so not too much to share yet but from the get go, I'm already team new man. I also hate to say it but it feels just a bit strange now reading college age romances? I don't think it's so much the age as it is the behavior and activity. I'm liking Say You Swear so far but I'm definitely not in my party gal era. I'm also still scarred from After which I FINALLY finished, praise the Lord. We have a history, ya'll. The ending piqued my interest enough to where I *almost* considered starting the sequel but I just couldn't do it. Maybe another time, eh? 

I just might be the most excited for Heartless Hunter by Kristen Ciccarelli. This is a fantasy romance and the plot sounds so good! It's an enemies to lover vibe but very different from anything I've ever read. I've always been a fantasy gal so I'm looking forward to diving into a new narrative. The sequel Rebel Witch also just came out in February. 

I've also been dying to read Haunting Adeline by H.D. Carlton. This one I've had on my TBR list for a few years now but it also comes highly recommended. It's a dark romance but all I know is that there are stalker vibes, lol. I use to be really excited for this one but after starting (and *pausing* lol) Credence, I have a different view on dark romance. I can get down with a little bit but I had to take a chill pill on it, ya'll. I always like to go in with a blind eye but that can definitely knock ya on your a** sometimes! 

Okay, let's talk about Still Beating by Jennifer Hartmann. This is another contemporary romance but the synopsis has a drama/thriller vibe. I've also never read anything quite like this either and I always like a unique plot, especially in a romance. A lot of them can have similarities but from what I've heard, this one is pretty noteworthy. 

Last on my list is Flawless by Elsie Silver. I actually kept seeing lots of her books pop up- Ms. Popular! The most frequent flyer by far was Flawless which is apart of the Chestnut Springs series. This one has western vibes and The Longest Ride (one of my favorites) written all over it! I believe there are 4-5 other books in this series so if I like it, it'll be a fun one to keep reading! 

What are you reading right now? 

**SHOP THIS POST + MY ENTIRE READING LIST HERE** 

I love sharing my picks + hauls with you all! Should you click on or make a purchase through the links in this post, I'll earn some money to keep on shopping! Pretty cool, huh? :) 

READING UPDATES + MINI BOOK HAUL

Okkkieeee I am BACK into my reading era so I have some new reading updates to chat with you about! I think I shared a while back that I've been doing a reread/rewatch of the Harry Potter series. I've been slowly making my way back through the entire series which has been the best. I took a little break from it the past few months but I'm currently at the beginning of Order of the Phoenix which I can't wait to really get into. Growing up this one was my favorite book- things really start to shift here and it's just so so good. I'm also excited to rewatch the movie- I haven't seen this one as much as the earlier films.

In my break I switched gears a bit and have ping ponged around a few pages of Master Your Emotions and The Divine Feminine, however I haven't really been in the headspace for personal growth books right now. I'm always feeling a romance vibe though, hehe. I've been wanting to read a few of my unread books so I re-started After by Anna Todd. I'm pretty sure I've tried reading this one three times now and I've never been able to make it through... now that I'm at the halfway point, I'm remembering why. 

Okay so I like the premise of the story and it's entertaining but there is just SO much push and pull, emotional rollercoaster drama. It's almost too much for me. I know I would have probably loved this book in high school/college but I fear I may be too old for this now?? They are WEARING ME OUT, lol. I always wanted to read the entire series so I'm pushing myself to make it through this time. We'll see how it ends and then evaluate whether to keep reading... I'm pretty sure I also have book #2! 

I'm always in a shoppy mood so I made a few new book buys too. I couldn't resist the new Christmas at Hogwarts holiday book that just came out- how cute! Christmas at Hogwarts *is* the best and the graphics on this book are beautiful. Such a fun collector item + holiday gift for my fellow Harry Potter lovers! 

Also in the Christmas spirit is Tis the Season for Revenge by Elizabeth Jordan. I love a fun holiday rom-com and wanted something cute and festive to read in December. I've seen great reviews on TikTok! Also a random TikTok recommendation I grabbed is A Million Kisses in Your Lifetime. I kept seeing this one pop up so I threw it in my cart- I'll let you know what I think! 

I also just discovered The Rutshire Chronicles by Jilly Cooper and *immediately* added it to the top of my TBR list. Have you seen the new show Rivals on Disney+/Hulu?!?!??! YA'LL, I CAN'T. I saw a few clips on TikTok and had no clue what I was getting myself into. I also didn't realize until finishing the show that it had just come out and there is only one season!! It has seriously had me in a chokehold ever since and is so so good. 

It's based off of the book Rivals from The Rutshire Chronicles series by Jilly Cooper and is phenomenal. It takes place in the Cotswold of England in the 1980s and is cheeky, smart, endearing and a little raunchy. As an '80s lover, it is right up my alley. It also has THE BEST soundtrack. The music + vibes are a 10/10 and I love the characters. I wasn't kidding about the chokehold, ya'll. There are very few things that really captivate me like this... you must watch! Maybe you should wait awhile though, lol. Rumor has it that season 2 is a very good possibility so maybe just wait until there are more episodes to watch unless you want to GO INSANE. Obviously I need more NOW so I'm adding all of the books to my 2025 list but it's insanity! 

What have you been reading lately?

I love sharing my picks + hauls with you all! Should you click on or make a purchase through the links in this post, I'll earn some money to keep on shopping! Pretty cool, huh? :)

NEW BOOKS | 2.28.24

Buying some new books earlier this month has *currently* gotten me back into my reading groove. Although I would do well to read some of the unread books I already own, there's just something about buying new books that always excites + inspires, ya know? Maybe it's the thrill of getting a new book you've been wanting to read or just a dopamine hit from spending that cash, lol. There should also be no surprised I'm still stuck between smutty romance and the self-help/personal growth/biz genres, lol (these days it's either one or the other). One day I'll peter back into some other areas but for now, that's where me + this haul are at.  

Starting with the self help biz, two books that have been on my TBR list for years years now are The Psychology of Money and 12 Rules for Life. I've seen a lot of people recommend The Psychology of Money when it comes to investing and financial planning for the future. So far I'm thirty pages in and it already has a lot of interesting points. I've always been fascinated by how money affects and shapes all of us differently. As you get older and interact with others as an adult, you can definitely pick up on these differences and even more so, your own attitude and viewpoints towards money. Although it's been said we all form our money beliefs by age seven, I do feel like mine continue to evolve and shift. The book offers some interesting, logical explanations for this + is suppose to outline the topics of wealth, greed and happiness. I'm interested to see what else the book has to share as I read further. 

I'm even more excited for the 12 Rules for Life by Jordan Peterson. He has such a unique way with his words and speeches, I'm looking forward to reading one of his books for the first time. When I listen to him, he has to say always resonates with me + pushes me to think more critically. I think he truly is a bit of an anomaly and a remarkable speaker.

Alright, on to fun reads! As recommended by TikTok, I grabbed King of Wrath and Credence. I briefly spoke about Credence in my February Reading List post... I'm still nervous to dive into this one, haha. I've already read King of Wrath which I enjoyed. It was a super quick read for me and I enjoyed the characters. Some elements of the plot seemed a little unrealistic in today's time but all in all, it was a fun read. I also wish the story continued on with Dante + Vivian in the sequel books versus being companion stories but I always feel that way, haha. I always feel like the spin-offs aren't as good, idk! We'll see though, maybe I'll read a few more of them someday. 

I also picked up a little collectible edition of The Little Mermaid by Hans Christian Andersen. Years ago I started buying these beautifully designed classics from the design studio MinaLima. They're so neat with interactive, pop-up elements and beautiful artwork. I've never opened any of mine so for now, they're sealed collectibles + just a random, buy one here and there kind of thing! 

You can read the synopsis + shop each book by clicking on the title below:

+ The Psychology of Money by Morgan Housel

+ King of Wrath by Ana Huang 

+ Credence by Penelope Douglas

+ 12 Rules for Life: An Antidote to Chaos by Jordan B. Peterson

+ The Little Mermaid and Other Fairy Tales by Hans Christian Andersen and MinaLima 

*SHOP THE POST + ALL OF MY READING LIST HERE*

What was the last book you read?

I love sharing my picks + hauls with you all! Should you click on or make a purchase through the links in this post, I'll earn some money to keep on shopping! Pretty cool, huh? :) 

ANOTHER SUMMER BOOK HAUL | JUNE

Back with more books! I ended up narrowing down my picks from the massive book sale last week because I'm a habitual buy-and-never-read-the-book-er. I feel like I've been making some progress this week though with It Happened One Summer by Tessa Bailey. I started it last week and only have maybe fiftyish pages left (spoiler-- it's SO good) so I expect I'll have it finished either tonight or tomorrow. Considering I've only read one other book this year, that's a total win! I have the reading itch right now so I had to share the ones I grabbed from the sale. PS-- if you want to see my first book haul of the Summer, I'll link it here.

THE GOODS

The 5 AM Club by Robin Sharma - One of my ultimate life goals is to *one day* be a morning person. Like a real get-up-and-conquer-the-world-before-eight morning person. Since I've been the exact opposite my entire life, I've always struggled with getting up earlier than necessary. I definitely value and appreciate having a little bit of time in the morning to not rush off to work, however I'd love to get up two or three hours earlier than I have to. I've heard The 5 AM Club is a great book for this. It not only outlines steps on waking up earlier, it also delves into the benefits and how it can transform your life. I honestly feel like that's one of the answers to having it all-- at least in my mind. For some reason it seems like a sanctimonious ritual. Not sure if that's true or just what we're sold but I hope to find out one day! 

Malibu Rising by Taylor Jenkins Reid - Going in blind on this one. I haven't read the synopsis so I couldn't tell you in the slightest what this book is about (I will link it here for you though). I just know it's by Taylor Jenkins Reid whom I have yet to read anything by but that everyone seems to love. Because of that, I feel like I too love her as an author already. There's just a vibe about her books, ya know? I think I know I'm going to love them and her style. Malibu Rising also sounds like it would be good summer read too, no? Breaking the cardinal cover rule here so we'll have to see if we're right.

The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid - I cannot waitttttttt to read The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo, also by TJR. I'm even more excited about this one than I am Malibu Rising. I've heard it's absolutely phenomenal. It stars the character of Evelyn Hugo, a glamorous Hollywood movie star once prominent in the '50s and onward. It shares the various tales of her life, including her various seven husbands throughout the years. I can already imagine her as the ultra fabulous, chic grandmother persona who has a lifetime of glamourous stories and juicy secrets. 

What are you reading right now?

I love sharing my picks with you all! Should you click on or make a purchase through the links in this post, I'll earn some money to keep on shopping! Pretty cool, huh? :)

SUMMER READING | JUNE BOOK HAUL

Summer reading takes me back to the days of take home assignments and homework due at the start of the new school year. Anyone else have to do those book reports? I have loved to read for as long as I can remember so I think in some weird way I enjoyed them a little bit as a kid. Definitely more than the math homework & even more so if I got to choose my own books!

I don’t miss those study guide days now but reading in the summer brings a nostalgic feeling back. Despite not having three months off like when we were kids, it still occupies a slower pace of life and a greater emphasis on taking it easy. I also have more free time on my hands so I’m hoping to finally check off some of the books on my TBR list. Here’s what we’re starting off with: 

+ It Happened One Summer by Tessa Bailey - The obligatory summer rom-com beach read of today's haul is It Happened One Summer by Tessa Bailey.  I needed to balance out the self-help books with something on the light and fun side. I loved Tessa's book Fix Her Up so this one seemed like a great choice to kick the summer off with. The book has been compared to the likes of Schitt's Creek with the typical plot of rich-girl-from-the-big-city visits small town, gets a culture shock and ends up falling in love with the sexy-hard-working-physical-labor-doing-man who despises everything she stands for. Hallmark movie vibes with a little heat. I always enjoy an enemies-to-lovers vibe so I'm very excited for this one! 

+ The Power of Now by Eckhart Tolle - The Power of Now is a personal growth + development book focusing on spiritual enlightenment by bringing yourself into the current moment of "Now." By being in the present, you have the ability to experience joy, inner peace and embrace your true self. I've heard amazing things about this book and focusing on the present is something that I think we can all do more of. It's so easy to dwell on the past or worry about the future-- I am guilty of both of these regularly. Looking forward to reading this + hoping for some positive transformations.  

+ The Body Keeps the Score by Bessel Van Der Kolk - I've had The Body Keeps the Score on my TBR list for several months now. When I first saw a recommendation for it, I wasn't entirely sure what it was about but I knew it was health-focused and was said to be a great book for healing. I was initially under the impression that the idea of the book was based upon consumption + lifestyle factors. Recently I've been interested in learning more about stress, it's affect on us and ways to regulate our sympathetic nervous system (causes "fight or flight" response). With the books title, it made sense in my head? I should also add that I don't typically do a ton of research on books before actually reading or buying them. I'll usually go based off of a recommendation or a quick blurb + that's it. Research can be too telling at times and I prefer to fly in by the seat of my pants! I'd rather make my own conclusion than be skewed. 

To get back to the point-- this appears to be completely different from what thought it was. I read more on the back of the book (and under the title-- totally missed that the first time?!) which very clearly states "Brain, Mind and Body in the Healing of Trauma." Trauma is a highly discussed topic today so I do think the book will be interesting and hopefully a valuable read. It's interesting because when you hear people discuss trauma today, it's often stated that we all have our own trauma in some way, shape or form. Depending on who you listen to, everything can either be a trauma response or is falsely labeled as such. Without an obvious event or circumstance, the gray areas can definitely be tricky so I can understand the polarity in that. I'm always interested to learn more, especially on topics relating to health. I'll keep you posted on this one once I start reading it. 

What are you reading right now?

I love sharing my picks with you all! Should you click on or make a purchase through the links in this post, I'll earn some money to keep on shopping! Pretty cool, huh? :)

SUMMER READING | JUNE BOOK HAUL

That new book feeling is unbeatable! While I should be better about reading unread books I already own, I always feel more inspired and excited to dive into something new. I remember feeling the same as a kid. Anytime we would go to the library or bookstore, I would always want to bring home eleven different books to dive into! I was definitely better about getting through them all back then but with summer here, I wanted to stock up on a few new reads. I have a mix of fun, romancey books and some self-help/personal growth titles I’ve had my eye one. 

SUMMER BOOK HAUL

Atomic Habits by James Clear

After months of being on my wishlist, I finally picked up Atomic Habits by James Clear. I'm always interested in self-improvement and growth, both interconnected to our daily habits. Once set, it can be difficult for us to change bad habits and develop positive ones. On the upside, I think the reverse applies as well. I know that once I get into a routine and in the habit of doing something for long enough, I can usually stick with it. The trouble is the doing it for long enough part! Hoping this will be an insightful read with new tips + advice. 

The Enneagram Type 4 by Beth McCord

Within the past year, I've become fascinated by enneagrams. I took several quizzes and discovered I'm a Type 4! Everyone in my personal life was surprised to hear I was Type 4 (The Individualist) which I found funny because one of my Type 4 traits is feeling misunderstood by others. The irony, right?? I was excited to find this book all about Type 4 (you can find all other types here) to learn more about myself. 

Freed (Fifty Shades of Grey) by EL James

Obviously I was going to get this. I had no idea up until a few weeks ago that Freed was being released. I think they must have kept it on the DL? Maybe I've just been out of the loop. If you're a Fifty fan, Freed is Fifty Shades Freed told from Christian Grey's perspective. I've always thought the original series is best, however I still enjoy these! At this point, it's almost nostalgic and the perfect vibe for summer. 

Get Good with Money by Tiffany the Budgetnista Aliche

I discovered this a few months ago on the new releases list under Business/Finance. I love learning new ideas and perspectives when it comes to money so Get Good with Money grabbed my eye. I haven't followed any of Tiffany Aliche's content before so I think this will be a great starting place. 

Greenlights by Matthew by McConaughey

Another one that's been on my wishlist is Greenlights. I love McConaughey-- what a diamond in the rough of Hollywood celebrities he is. Seemingly so, anyways. Of course he's talented in his work, however I respect his personality, character and integrity. I've watched and listened to a lot of interviews and podcasts episodes he's been apart of and he just has a special charisma. His book Greenlights is his spin on a memoir sharing his life, stories, and lessons. 

People We Meet on Vacation by Emily Henry

This has summer reading written all over it! This follows a pair of two unlikely friends who had a falling out and decide to reconnect for a summer vacation. Based on the synopsis, it seems like it will become a "friends to lover" scenarios so we'll see. The book has received a lot of praise, however I've also heard some mixed reviews. I'm always in the mood for a light, breezy romance so I'm excited to dive in. I know that Emily Henry's first book Beach Read is also highly praised, however I haven't read it either. 

What's on your summer reading list? Drop it below!

I love sharing new books with you all! Should you click on or make a purchase through the links in this post, I'll earn some money to keep on shopping! Pretty cool, huh? :)