Month: May 2026

The Sunday Post #29 – Weekly Reading Updates & Recommendations

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Update 🐾

It’s honestly been a pretty hectic week and I am quite exhausted (who isn’t?!). But I have some really awesome books to look forward to. Since coming back to the blog, I’ve gotten through a lot of my NetGalley backlog and my current feedback ratio is 92%, which I’m very happy about! I don’t request many titles at once — I typically like to read first and then request. However, at the moment, I do have about seven titles left to read and review. So, for now, I will chill out on adding more to the TBR. I asked this question to readers last week, but I think my link didn’t work very well and I had low traffic on my last blog post. So I’ll ask the question again: how is your NetGalley feedback ratio right now? How has your reviewing experience been?

The upcoming weather forecast looks very wet for next week — a whole bunch of rain seems to be coming our way. Although I enjoy gardening, I’m happy that nature is giving me a bit of a break.

Other than that, not much is new except for a whole lot of Portuguese immersion.

Short update. Hope you are all doing well!

Reading/Watching Update

Currently Reading

Title: Books, Iced Coffee & a Side of Dragons: A Graphic Novel
Author: Amanda Lovelace
Publisher: Andrews McMeel Publishing
Release Date: August 25th, 2026
Thoughts: So far, this is very cozy and I’m enjoying it. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this review copy. It’s a lot of fun and the dragons are really cute!

Title: Entities to Lovers
Author: Mallory Marlowe
Publisher: Berkley
Release Date: October 26th, 2026
Thoughts: Oh, I’m so happy I was able to snag this one because I’m enjoying it so much! It’s sort of a perfect premise for me that has a paranormal, ghost tour guide-y vibe to it. And it’s a rom-com. Such a delight so far, and the writing is so good.

Title: Vincent (PT Edition)
Author: Barbara Stok
Publisher: Iguana
Release Date: February 1, 2026
Thoughts: I haven’t made my way very far through this yet! But I hope to complete it this weekend.

Title: A Florista Daisy Chain / The Daisy Chain Flower Shop (Dream Harbour #6)
Author: Laurie Gilmore
Publisher: HarperCollins
Release Date: May 5th, 2026
Thoughts: I also haven’t made much progress with this one yet! I will spend some time on Sunday reading this one since I’ll have more reading time then.

Finished Reading

Title: Romeo and Juliet: A Three-Day Situationship with a Body Count
Author: William Shakespeare, Ellis Keen
Publisher: Sterling and Stone
Release Date: April 15th, 2026
Thoughts: Review to come this week! Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for a review copy.

Title: Bodies and Battlements (Ravensea Castle #1)
Author: Elizabeth Penney
Publisher: Minotaur Books
Publication Date: May 27th, 2025
Thoughts: Review to come this week! Thank you to the publisher for a review copy.

New to my shelf

I picked up a few promising books on NetGalley this week. Thank you to the publishers for the e-ARCs.

Title: Legends and Lattes: The Graphic Novel
Author: Samuel Sattin (Adapter), Travis Baldree, Shanti Rittgers (Illustrator), Sarah Webb (Illustrator)
Publisher: Ten Speed Graphic
Release Date: October 6th, 2026
Thoughts: I’ve been meaning to read L&Ls, but simply haven’t gotten around to it. So, when I saw the ARC for the graphic novel, I had to request it!

Title: The Roman Holiday Rule
Author: Andra Loy
Publisher: Haven
Release Date: August 4th, 2026
Thoughts: This just looked so adorable! I was so intrigued by the title and the cover, and I really feel the need to go on an Italian adventure right now.

Just Watched

No films this week!

Currently Watching

Title: The Testaments
Thoughts: Saw the finale and enjoyed it! I’m sad that there won’t be any more episodes until Season 2 (production has not started yet).

Title: From
Thoughts: New episode this Sunday to look forward to!

Title: Big Mistakes
Thoughts: Almost done!

Last Week on the blog

First Line Fridays #1
Top Ten Tuesday – My Favourite Books by My Favourite Authors
The Sunday Post #28 – Weekly Reading Updates & Recommendations

This Week on the blog

  • Top Ten Tuesdays
  • The Sunday Post #30
  • Review – Bodies and Battlements
  • Review – Rome and Juliet

QOTD: How are you doing?

Where to find us: Blog | Bookstagram | Twitter | Booktube | BookTok | Storygraph | Pinterest

First Line Fridays #1

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Welcome to First Line Friday hosted by Reading Is My SuperPower!

Okay, here’s the quote!

“The horned Viking headdress I was wearing slipped as I pushed through the throng on the bluff overlooking the bay.”

What

…


could


…


it


…


be?


…


…


…


* * Voila! * *


Title: Dungeons and Danger, A Ravensea Castle Mystery #2
Genre: Cozy Mystery
Publisher: Minotaur Books
Format: ARC
Pages: 288
Source: Physical copy from publisher.

Description
The second in Elizabeth Penney’s Ravensea Castle cozy mystery series, set in a haunted castle-turned-B&B in Yorkshire, UK.

As Halloween approaches, Ravensea Castle is bustling with excitement as Nora Asquith welcomes the fall season guests to her family’s newly converted bed and breakfast. A historian studying the movements of the Vikings has traced their exploits to Ravensea. A certain Viking woman, known as the Red Maiden, landed here and the historian believes she buried a treasure hoard before the castle was built. He is hopeful he can find the hoard now. Nora can’t help but wonder if the enigmatic castle ghost she’s always referred to as the woman in red could be this very Viking?

Meanwhile, a team of four ghost hunters is coming to stay at Ravensea for the filming of Britain’s Got Ghosts. Former students of the historian, the group arrives with their own rivalries and baggage. They try to see who can make the most paranormal contacts and end up getting more than they bargained for.

When the historian is murdered during a Viking festival on castle grounds and his notes go missing, Nora can’t help but wonder if the treasure was why he was killed . . . and could it be connected to the visiting ghost hunters? Additional “accidents” befalling the hunters raise the stakes as Nora races to find the killer—and the treasure—before another death occurs.

(Source: Goodreads)

Thoughts

I’m really excited to start this one! I just read the first book in the series, and I enjoyed it quite a bit. I’ll be posting my review of Book One shortly. I love a good cozy mystery and I especially love the seaside setting. It’s always a good time when reading Elizabeth Penney’s books! I hope you’ll also check this one out too.

What do you think? Does it sound like something you’d be interested in reading?

QOTD: Do you enjoy cozy mysteries?

Top Ten Tuesday – My Favourite Books by My Favourite Authors

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We are excited to link up with Top Ten Tuesdays, hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl.

This week, I am featuring my favourite authors and my favourite books of theirs. I’m so excited!


Top row (left → right):
Silvia Moreno-Garcia
James Baldwin
Charles Dickens
Elizabeth Acevedo
Junji Ito

Bottom row:
C. S. Lewis
Tiffany D. Jackson
Naoko Takeuchi
Margaret Atwood
Madeline Miller

Silvia Moreno-Garcia

Book: Mexican Gothic
Author: Silvia Moreno-Garcia
Genre: Horror, Historical Fiction, Gothic, Mystery

James Baldwin

Book: The Fire Next Time
Author: James Baldwin
Genre: Nonfiction, Classics, Essays, Race, History

Charles Dickens

Book: Great Expectations
Author: Charles Dickens
Genre: Classics, Fiction, Literature, Historical Fiction

Elizabeth Acevedo

Book: With the Fire on High
Author: Elizabeth Acevedo
Genre: YA, Contemporary, Fiction

Junji Ito

Book: Fragments of Horror
Author: Junji Ito
Genre: Manga, Horror, Graphic Novels, Comics, Short Stories

C.S. Lewis

Book: The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe
Author: C.S. Lewis
Genre: Fantasy, Classics, Fiction, Childrens

Tiffany D. Jackson

Book: Monday’s Not Coming
Author: Tiffany D. Jackson
Genre: Young Adult, Mystery, Contemporary, Thriller

Naoko Takeuchi

Book: Sailor Moon, Vol. 1
Author: Naoko Takeuchi
Genre: Manga, Fantasy, Graphic Novels, Comics, Romance

Margaret Atwood

Book: The Handmaid’s Tale
Author: Margaret Atwood
Genre: Fiction, Classics, Dystopia, Science Fiction

Madeline Miller

Book: Circe
Author: Madeline Miller
Genre: Fantasy, Mythology, Fiction, Historical Fiction

QOTD: Do you agree with any of my choices?

The Sunday Post #28 – Weekly Reading Updates & Recommendations

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Update 🐾

Hi everyone!

Short update this week. I’ve had a lot of fun getting back into reading, and I’ve been really enjoying my current books. It’s been nice to do some yard work, come inside, and get some pages in before bedtime. In the past, I was more of a winter bibliophile, but I’m learning to enjoy reading more in the warmer months as well.

I recently came across a really interesting question that I want to ask you all: when you read, do you skim the page or do you read every word? I’ve always considered myself to be a slower reader, but looking back, I am the type of person who reads every word. I’m going to have to make a post about this on Instagram and TikTok as well because I’m genuinely very interested in how other people read. And I wonder if my reading style makes me a slower reader. But the thing is, I don’t personally enjoy books when I skim. It’s never been my style, but I do not fault anyone for doing it — I just think it’s a different style. And sometimes, I do re-read paragraphs as well or jot things down as I go.

Food for thought!

Also, NetGalley check-in: how is your current NetGalley feedback ratio? I have a couple of new titles and I’m currently at 91%, but I hope to get it higher in the next couple of weeks. I just couldn’t resist requesting a couple of new books (wish me luck!).

Reading/Watching Update

Currently Reading

Title: Bodies and Battlements (Ravensea Castle #1)
Author: Elizabeth Penney
Publisher: Minotaur Books
Publication Date: May 27th, 2025
Thoughts: Thank you to Minotaur Books for a gifted physical copy! I am completing this before I get to book 2 in the series, Dungeons and Danger.
Book 2 is out on May 26th, 2026 (tomorrow!).

Title: Romeo and Juliet: A Three-Day Situationship with a Body Count
Author: William Shakespeare, Ellis Keen
Publisher: Sterling and Stone
Release Date: April 15th, 2026
Thoughts: Nearing completion! It’s interesting — you have the original text and then the author’s supplemental notes written in a quirky, slangy, BuzzFeed-ish style. I think I’ll have a lot to say about this once I get to my review because Romeo and Juliet is a personal favourite of mine. And I have been taking some notes.

Title: Vincent (PT Edition)
Author: Barbara Stok
Publisher: Iguana
Release Date: February 1, 2026
Thoughts: Surprisingly tough to get through! It’s a bit slow going tbh.

Title: A Florista Daisy Chain / The Daisy Chain Flower Shop (Dream Harbour #6)
Author: Laurie Gilmore
Publisher: HarperCollins
Release Date: May 5th, 2026
Thoughts: This is a lot of fun so far! I like the fake-dating trope, so we’ll see where this goes.

Finished Reading

Title: Alérgica A Pessoas (PT Edition)
Author: Sara Andersen
Publisher: Desrotina
Release Date: September 18th, 2025
Thoughts: Absolutely adored.

Title: Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon – Livro 1 (PT Edition)
Author: Naoko Takeuchi; Translation: Arnaldo Massato Oka
Publisher: Distrito Manga
Release Date: October, 2025
Thoughts: A beloved re-read that was fun to read in Portuguese!

Title: Notes on Love: Poems and Photography
Author: F.S. Yousaf
Publisher: Andrews McMeel Publishing (Thank you for the ARC!)
Release Date: June 2nd, 2026
Thoughts: Review to come – thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a review copy!

New to my shelf

Title: The Wordspotter’s Guide
Author: Olivia Swarthout
Publisher: Dutton, Plume
Release Date: November 5th, 2026
Thoughts: Review to come – thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a review copy!

Just Watched

Title: The Bride
Thoughts: I had so many issues with this movie! I had to DNF it about halfway through. It’s a sort of Bonnie and Clyde style horror based on the Frankenstein novel by Mary Shelley. And it really didn’t work for me. Without giving too much away, the storytelling didn’t make sense to me and was way too difficult for me to get into. I would recommend watching Guillermo Del Toro’s Frankenstein instead.

Currently Watching

Title: The Testaments
Thoughts: Season finale on May 27th – I can’t wait!

Title: From
Thoughts: No new episode this weekend. On a mid-season hiatus. Next episode on May 31st!

Title: Big Mistakes
Thoughts: Almost done!

Last Week on the blog

The Sunday Post #27 – Weekly Reading Updates & Recommendations
Top Ten Tuesday – Seven Favorite Secondary/Minor Characters
Meme-ish Thursday: Books & Clueless

This Week on the blog

  • Top Ten Tuesdays
  • The Sunday Post #29

QOTD: How are you doing?

Where to find us: Blog | Bookstagram | Twitter | Booktube | BookTok | Storygraph | Pinterest

Top Ten Tuesday – Seven Favorite Secondary/Minor Characters

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We are excited to link up with Top Ten Tuesdays, hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl.

From That Artsy Reader Girl:
“Welcome to another TTT! This week’s topic is: Favorite Secondary/Minor Characters. I am a character-driven reader and tend to get attached to many characters, but I’ve tried super hard to narrow it down to these ten!”

I’ve come up with seven entries for this week. Yes, some of these characters are unlikeable, but they sure make the books impactful and entertaining.

Mercutio from Romeo and Juliet.
I have ALWAYS loved Mercutio. And I ESPECIALLY love the portrayal of Mercutio in Baz Luhrman’s Romeo and Juliet adaptation. Young hearts run free!

Miss Havisham from Great Expectations.
Absurd. Petty. Forever in a wedding dress. Couture meets attic. Best.

    Mr Tumnus from The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe.
    The Charm. The Betrayal. The Redemption. Mr Tumnus has a whole arc and I’m here for it.

    Captain Hook from Peter Pan.
    He’s giving Pirate Persona. Drama. Victorianeramaxxing.

    Okay, but seriously, hear me out. I know the guy gets a bad rep, but I mean, he adds all the flavour to the Peter Pan novel, doesn’t he? And his story is really fascinating in the retelling by Christina Henry called Lost Boy.
    Love.

    Sailor Pluto from Sailor Moon
    She controls time. What more do we want.

    Artemis and Luna from Sailor Moon
    We are simply not worthy.

    QOTD: Do you agree with any of my choices?

    The Sunday Post #27 – Weekly Reading Updates & Recommendations

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    Update 🐾

    I’ve always had a green thumb, but now that we have our own home, I am a lawn fanatic as well. Things I would have never been interested in before now fascinate me so much! Aeration, grass seed, weed killer, weed whacking. Like, who am I?

    I used to take care of a garden when I was an undergraduate student. My parents invested in a home that I resided in during that time. My mother is an impressive gardener, truly. Her landscaping is inspired by Butchart Gardens, so while obviously not as extensive, her garden has always been a little piece of heaven to retreat to during the summer months. I’ve learned so much from her. Below is an image of Butchart Gardens for your reference. Such a beautiful source of inspiration!

    Thankfully, our current garden is quite small but we are just getting started. We have a home that was built in 2017, and the landscaping is fresh, clean, and modern. Although I have lots of plans to spruce it up, I am going to be starting with baby steps. That means, doing a thorough pressure washing of our walkways and home exterior, revitalizing the lawn, setting up the garden beds, washing and staining our deck. All of those exciting preparation steps.

    On another note, I’ve been making lots of banana/berry smoothies lately. And my partner discovered something amazing. If you just add frozen bananas to a bowl, add some almond butter (or peanut butter, if preferred), and just eat those two together, they are a delicious, cold Spring snack! It’s been a go-to all week. Especially since, for some reason, I have lost my appetite. So having these meals that are still fun and easy to put together has been a great help.

    Happy Spring, everyone!

    Reading/Watching Update

    Currently Reading

    Title: Alérgica A Pessoas (PT Edition)
    Author: Sara Andersen
    Publisher: Desrotina
    Release Date: September 18th, 2025

    Title: Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon – Livro 1 (PT Edition)
    Author: Naoko Takeuchi; Translation: Arnaldo Massato Oka
    Publisher: Distrito Manga
    Release Date: October, 2025

    Title: Vincent (PT Edition)
    Author: Barbara Stok
    Publisher: Iguana
    Release Date: February 1, 2026

    Finished Reading

    I finished quite a few short books this week! I will post my reviews closer to publication date, but for now just know that I typically enjoyed them all very much and they should all be on your list if you enjoy comics and illustrated cat books.

    Title: A Viagem do Gato Zen / The Cat Who Taught Zen
    Author: James Norbury
    Star Rating: 5
    Review:

    ENG
    I loved this book so much! This book was about a cat who is looking for a tree that he’s been told will give him an overflowing sense of peace. Along the way, he makes many friends and gives them advice on how to lead a more tranquil life, though it’s not always easy to put this into practice.

    PT
    Adorei este livro! É sobre um gato que está à procura de um árvore para se sentir mais em paz. Descobre vários amigos e dá-lhes conselhos para vivirem uma vida mais tranquila, embora isso não seja fácil. Simplesmente adorei <3

    Title: I’m Still Here
    Author: A Cat’s Purpose Forever
    Release Date: September 8, 2026
    Publisher: Andrews McMeel Publishing (Thank you for this ARC! Review to come)

    Title: Mobu’s Diary: Earning Your Paté
    Author: Kathy Lam
    Release Date: September 22, 2026
    Publisher: Andrew McMeels Publishing (Thank you for this ARC!)

    Title: Milk & Mocha
    Author: Melani Sie
    Release Date: June 23rd, 2026
    Publisher: Andrew McMeels Publishing (Thank you for this ARC!)

    Title: A Gray Cat Wanders: New Poems About our Animal Friends
    Author: Karla Kuskin, Leonard Marcus (Compiler), Marcellus Hall (Illustrator)
    Publisher: Wordsong (Thank you for this ARC!)
    Release Date: August 4th, 2026

    New to my shelf

    Title: Ulysses S. Cat and Other Animals I Have Known
    Author: Scott Simon, Liana Finck (Illustrator)
    Publisher: W. W. Norton & Company (Thank you to LibroFM for this ALC!)
    Release Date: May 5th, 2026

    Title: Notes on Love: Poems and Photography
    Author: F.S. Yousaf
    Publisher: Andrews McMeel Publishing (Thank you for the ARC!)
    Release Date: June 2nd, 2026

    Title: Hallowed Bones
    Author: Lucy Smoke
    Publisher: SMP (Thank you for this ARC!)
    Release Date: October 6th, 2026

    Just Watched

    No films this week! However, we are finally going to watch Project Hail Mary this weekend. I’m so excited!

    Currently Watching

    Title: The Testaments
    Thoughts: Still enjoying this series! Though, the further we go in the more disturbing it gets. This is typical of The Handmaid’s Tale. Difficult to watch, but so important. Not very many people I know watch The Testaments, so if you are please let me know below!

    Title: From
    Thoughts: Another disturbing show! Sometimes I question if there will be any pay off and so far, there’s like some answers but it’s not as rewarding as I would like it to be haha. It’s so depressing. But, I really love Harold Perrineau – he adds dashes of humour and is such a great actor. And I really love Jade as a character. Again, I don’t know many people watching this series so if you are, let me know!

    Title: Big Mistakes
    Thoughts: It has its funny moments! But honestly … I preferred Schitt’s Creek. Only a couple more episodes left until Season 1 is complete! It’s very, very silly. But come on, it’s Dan Levy, so of course I’m watching it.

    Last Week on the blog

    The Sunday Post #26
    May 2026 Releases – Top Ten Tuesdays – May Flowers

    This Week on the blog

    • Top Ten Tuesdays
    • The Sunday Post #28

    QOTD: How are you doing?

    Where to find us: Blog | Bookstagram | Twitter | Booktube | BookTok | Storygraph | Pinterest

    May 2026 Releases – Top Ten Tuesdays – May Flowers

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    We are excited to link up with Top Ten Tuesdays, hosted by The Artsy Reader Girl.

    This week we chose May 2026 releases but with one twist – all of the book covers have flowers on the cover! Or, in the case of Matt Haig’s new novel, leaves! I just had to include his in this list! I hope you enjoy.

    Title: Before I Knew I Loved You
    Author: Toshikazu Kawaguchi
    Publisher: Picador
    Release Date: May 21st, 2026

    Title: The Daisy Chain Flower Shop (Dream Harbour #6)
    Author: Laurie Gilmore
    Publisher: Recorded Books, Inc.
    Release Date: May 5th, 2026

    Title: Where Happy Begins
    Author: Maxine Morrey
    Publisher: Boldwood Books
    Release Date: May 12th, 2026

    Title: You Can’t Hurry Second Chances
    Author: Michelle Simpson
    Publisher: Recorded Books, Inc.
    Release Date: May 5th, 2026

    Title: The Library of Flowers
    Author: L.C. Chu
    Publisher: Recorded Books, Inc.
    Release Date: May 5th, 2026

    Title: The House of Now and Then
    Author: Edward Underhill
    Publisher: Picador
    Release Date: May 21st, 2026

    Title: That Which Feeds Us
    Author: Edward Underhill
    Publisher: Picador
    Release Date: May 5th, 2026

    Title: The Calamity Club
    Author: Edward Underhill
    Publisher: Picador
    Release Date: May 5th, 2026

    Title: The Midnight Train
    Author: Matt Haig
    Publisher: Viking
    Release Date: May 26th, 2026

    Title: Strange Familiars
    Author: Keshe Chow
    Publisher: Ace
    Release Date: May 19th, 2026

    QOTD: Which of these books looks most interesting to you?

    Review | The Bewitching by Silvia Moreno-Garcia

    | sarasreadingnook

    Title: The Bewitching
    Genre: Horror, Fantasy
    Publisher: Del Ray
    Format: E-ARC
    Pages: 357
    Source: Digital ARC from Publisher

    Description
    In this chilling multigenerational horror tale, three women across different eras grapple with danger and witchcraft. Silvia Moreno-Garcia, the New York Times bestselling author of Mexican Gothic, weaves a tale where every secret uncovered brings creeping horror. Minerva, a graduate student, delves into the life of Beatrice Tremblay, an obscure horror author, and uncovers a true story behind Tremblay’s famous novel, ‘The Vanishing’. As Minerva investigates, she feels a malevolent force that once haunted Tremblay and her roommate might still linger on campus. This force echoes the witch encounter Nana Alba, Minerva’s great-grandmother, experienced in 1900s Mexico. Minerva fears this shadow threatens her now. An academic pursuit can be challenging, but it could become deadly when witchcraft is involved.

    (Source: Goodreads)

    Review

    It is always a pleasure for me to read Silvia Moreno-Garcias books! I was pulled into this one because of the witchy vibes, three eras of women on their own paths that converge, and of course … it’s an SMG book! What’s not to love?

    In all honesty, I read this novel about a year ago but even then. Go into this not knowing too much. The key with this one is the sense of adventure and discovery as you go uncover the mysteries within. If you have enjoyed SMG’s previous novels, odds are you will love this one!

    Content Warnings

    This Book in Three Words

    Historical Witchy Vibes

    Values/Themes

    • Greed
    • Power
    • Femininity

    Favourite Part

    Trying to uncover the mysteries within – they are a plenty.

    Feelings

    • Dark
    • Mysterious
    • Adventurous

    Overall Rating

    Numerical Rating: 4 stars

    Acknowledgements

    Thank you to LibroFM and Del Ray for this ARC! All opinions are my own.

    QOTD: What’s your favourite summer read?