Now since I started this blog in March, I didn’t make a goal for the first quarter. Although, I did set a goal for the year that I will not be reaching, but I am still proud of myself for how many I was able to read.
There were lots of ups and downs for me this year and that is also reflected in the books I read or wasn’t able to finish. I think setting these goals really helped me continue reading, even when things were really hard. I look forward to continuing with this next year. Here is to hoping I continue doing just as good in 2026.
Quarter 2:
1. I Leave It Up To You by Jinwoo Chong
A man who was in a coma after two years and decides to go back to his family he hasn’t seen for almost ten. This book is about a man reconnecting with his family and accepting what comes next.
2. Slapstick or Lonesome No More! by Kurt Vonnegut Jr.
A silly and insane book about a post apocalyptic US following the leader through life and struggles. (Honestly it is hard to find a short actual summary of this book but when I read the back cover I was gagged).
3. Wild and Wrangled by Lyla Sage
Okay so this is the 4th book in the series. It is a silly little cowboy romance series and I love them. You aren’t allowed to judge me.
4. Great Big Beautiful Life by Emily Henry
I have no idea what this is about but it’s a romance and its written by Emily Henry and I almost always love her books.
5. The 100-Year-Old Man Who Climbed Out the Window and Disappeared by Jonas Jonasson
Just about a crazy cool old guy who isn’t ready to be stuck in a nursing home and wants to go do more. So he does.
I finished 4 out of 5 of these books! I wrote an article about all 5 of these books though so if you are curious about what I realllllyyyy thought about them you could look them up. The book I didn’t finish was Slapstick by Kurt Vonnegut Jr. I really did try to finish it this year, twice, but I just couldn’t get into it at all.
Out of the 4 I read, I recommend reading I Leave It Up To You and The 100-Year-Old Man Who Climbed Out the Window and Disappeared.
Quarter 3:
- 1984 by George Orwell
- For some reason I want to read a book that will make me feel worse about the times we are living in right now. I thought about choosing Animal Farm, but I feel like it would basically be the same type of torture. I’ll save it for next quarter maybe.
- Gideon the Ninth by Tamsyn Muir
- This is the book I have already read. There are two others that are out right now and supposed to be a fourth to come out eventually but the public has been waiting since 2022 so who knows when that will actually happen.
- The Good Boy by Stella Hayward
- This book is to be released on July 8th of this year. I don’t know anything about it. I have only made it half a sentence into the intro/summary thing. It says “fans of Ashley Posten” and I feel like I liked her other books. I am sure I can look up what books those are but I am simply too lazy. This is really on here because I feel the need to put a romance on this list.
- The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry
- I have seen the animated show on Netflix and saw a performance of this on Broadway. I figure it is time to actually read the book and round out my experience of it.
- Notes from Deep Time by Helen Gordon
- I bought this book last September while I was in London with my dad. It made me think of a book that Nat and I read that was about the underground throughout the world that I surprisingly loved. I am hoping to get a similar feeling from this one of wonder and intrigue.
This quarter I finished 3 out of 5 books! The two I didn’t complete were Gideon the Ninth and Notes from Deep Time. Like I have said, I have already read Gideon before. I have not previously read the latter and it will be a while before I can let myself ready it, which I suppose I could explain my hesitation but I fear of being judged lol.
Books from this quarter I recommend are 1984 and The Little Prince.
Quarter 4:
- A Touch of Jen by Beth Morgan
- Another book recommended by a friend that gave me the audiobook. I started as reading it a physical book while I was hanging out with him but I think he lent the book out to someone else cause I don’t see it anymore when I go over lol. Anyways this is able a weird couple that obsessed with someone names Jen. I started reading this book in June of this year.
- The Celebrant by Steven Rowley
- A group of friends meet up again after a long time and someone has some hard news to share. There are gay people in this book lol. I think I started this book originally at the beginning of April 2025
- Deep End by Ali Hazelwood
- A kinky book about deep water divers. For some reason I have made it my mission to have read all of Ali’s books and I hate myself for this but I must soldier on. I started this book in May 2025.
- Lolita by Vladimir Nabokov
- The classic, gross tail, about a man who pursues a young girl. There is a lot of discourse about this book but I have decided to see what’s going on and why it has stuck around for so long. I don’t know how long ago I started this book, I feel like it was probably June 2025
- Animal Farm by George Orwell
- This is the only book on my list that I haven’t started reading! But it is one that I have considered/wanted to read for a long time and feel like now is finally the time to read it.
Another quarter of reading 4 out of 5 of the goal books. I think it was the standard for me this past year but I can’t be mad lol. The only book I didn’t finish was Lolita and I ALSO wrote an article about that one (paired with the Slapstick one.
Books from this group I recommend are A Touch of Jen and Animal Farm.
Extra 4th Quarter Goals
- There There by Tommy Orange
- I believe I bought this book in London but it’s about Native’s that live in Oakland. I physically own this book but already rented a digital copy to read (not audiobook!!!) let’s see how long I last actually reading it before I either give up or check out the audiobook
- And Then? And Then? What Else? by Daniel Handler
- I saw this book originally back in May at a book store in Salt Lake City. I didn’t buy the book then but I did put it on my list. I had been working a job that was miserable and also had something that felt really big and sad going on in my life so I checked out the audiobook from the library cause it felt not as happy and nooooo romance.
- Sounds Like Love by Ashley Posten
- One of my library’s that I use a lot only had audiobooks on an app called “Boundless” and I hated the UI so much. But I liked all her other books so wanted to give this one a try too but that was before my major decline in my opinions in romance but I don’t want to ignore it completely cause that will make me a cynic. Although I finally got the book on the superior app (Libby) but started it again, when I was working a not fun gig and was going through something. But I will finish ittttttt.
- Bonds of Hercules by Jasmine Mas
- This is a second book that I put on hold back in May, I was waiting on the book to come out sooooo long. I actually wrote about this book in a different app so that way I wouldn’t forget it. Maybe I will transfer it over here before I write on this book. I am excited about this one but also like not? Cause there was crazy abuse in the other one but she like falls in love with her abuser which is insane but also it is Greek mythology so we know how those go. Basically this is NOT as wholesome as The Song of Achilles.
- The Egg by Andy Weir
- This is a short story that my boss shared with me to read. Like I believe it only has 3 pages so I will read it in no time. He said it sounded similar to a book I have summarized here called Reincarnation Blues (which I highly rated)
Last (and extra!) goal of the year and I read 4 out of 5. I didn’t finish There There and similar to Notes From Deep Time I won’t be reading this book for a while…
I recommend The Egg and And Then? And Then? What Else?
I am so happy to see 2025 go. I hated this year so much and hope 2026 would be better. I read some really good books and I read (or didn’t finish) some really bad books. I am sure that 2026 will at least have that in common.
goodbye 👋
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