I sent the link to my husband yesterday but one hasn’t turned up today
- Notice
mindlessness
VIP Member
Oh that's a good idea!
I went and looked for the questions we've used in previous years (Side note, cannot quite fathom that we're halfway through the year!)How many books have you read (if you set yourself a target are you on track?):
Pages Read/Hours listened (if you track):
Favourite read so far:
Least favourite read so far:
Book that surprised you (can be good or bad):
Book you're looking forward to read between July-December:
Anything else? Have you had a lot of 5 star books? Or have you mostly read duds?:
LaBlonde
VIP Member
my may reads! again, a mixed bag with one book that wasn’t even worth finishing 
mongrel - hanako footman
our infinite fates - laura steven
the great believers - rebecca makkai
courting of bristol keats - mary e pearson 🫠
glorious exploits - ferdia lennon
we could be heroes - philip ellis
voyage of the damned - frances white
mongrel - hanako footman
our infinite fates - laura steven
the great believers - rebecca makkai
courting of bristol keats - mary e pearson 🫠
glorious exploits - ferdia lennon
we could be heroes - philip ellis
voyage of the damned - frances white
Last edited:
Ooh yay!
How many books have you read (if you set yourself a target are you on track?): 119/200 target.
Favourite read so far: Either Shark Heart or The Expert of Subtle Revisions.
Least favourite read so far: You know I didn't like it because I dnf'd, which I haven't done in a thousand or more books - The Institution by Helen Fields. With hindsight I probably should have also dnf'd The Book of Most Precious Substance, although that at least had decent writing even if the subject made me boak every other page.
Book that surprised you (can be good or bad): Crying in H Mart. It was so massively hyped and maybe I'm a terrible person but I just couldn't see what the point of the story was or why I was supposed to find it interesting or worthy of a memoir. Also The Ballad of Never After, which I absolutely loved after not really liking the first one in the trilogy.
Book you're looking forward to read between July-December: I've just bought one called Strange Pictures which is apparently a mystery with the clues partially in drawings, which sounds awesome.
Anything else? Have you had a lot of 5 star books? Or have you mostly read duds?: I was really struggling with ratings, nothing seemed to be hitting for me and I was awash in 3 star mediocrity. I made a conscious choice to go into books with a more positive mindset and try to find reasons to rate them higher. It might be a coincidence, but I've had a lot more 4-star reads since. I'm still low on 5 stars for the year, probably only 5 or 6 overall.
How many books have you read (if you set yourself a target are you on track?): 119/200 target.
Favourite read so far: Either Shark Heart or The Expert of Subtle Revisions.
Least favourite read so far: You know I didn't like it because I dnf'd, which I haven't done in a thousand or more books - The Institution by Helen Fields. With hindsight I probably should have also dnf'd The Book of Most Precious Substance, although that at least had decent writing even if the subject made me boak every other page.
Book that surprised you (can be good or bad): Crying in H Mart. It was so massively hyped and maybe I'm a terrible person but I just couldn't see what the point of the story was or why I was supposed to find it interesting or worthy of a memoir. Also The Ballad of Never After, which I absolutely loved after not really liking the first one in the trilogy.
Book you're looking forward to read between July-December: I've just bought one called Strange Pictures which is apparently a mystery with the clues partially in drawings, which sounds awesome.
Anything else? Have you had a lot of 5 star books? Or have you mostly read duds?: I was really struggling with ratings, nothing seemed to be hitting for me and I was awash in 3 star mediocrity. I made a conscious choice to go into books with a more positive mindset and try to find reasons to rate them higher. It might be a coincidence, but I've had a lot more 4-star reads since. I'm still low on 5 stars for the year, probably only 5 or 6 overall.
veronica71
VIP Member
Wry smile from this this morning - although I would say Dermots books are actually really good but it is so depressing that there are so many amazing kids books that don’t get a look in cos of celebs books - looking at you Walliams!!
Re the Kindle debate - I’m reading the new Anne O’Brien (highly recommend if you like historical fiction - much better than Gregory!) and it’s a hard back and I’m really struggling because I can’t get comfy and lay on my side in bed and read in the dark like I do with my kindle so yeh I recommend them!!
Weirdly these reviews of Atmosphere are making me think I might like it! I love TJRs books, Daisy Jones and Evelyn Hugo are two of my standouts of the last few years. So by my logic, if those of you who aren’t really TJR fans aren’t impressed with Atmosphere then it should be right up my street! 
daisynoon
VIP Member
I had such a great time reading this month. Stoner and Absent in the Spring both wrecked me. Duke of Hazard might be my new favourite KJ Charles, and was a great way to balance the slow burn of Sorcery and Small Magics. Daughter of the Forest and The Raven Scholar gave me the epic fantasy I've been looking for! Some two stars in here as well, but mostly winners.
LaBlonde
VIP Member
i don’t know how it’s possible to misread a character this badly. elizabeth doesn’t “crack” darcy, he cracks himself (this is a weird sentence out of context
) he becomes a better person because of her but even at the end he is fully prepared to step aside and be silent forever if she doesn’t genuinely return his feelings. yes he starts off as a snob but he doesn’t stay one that is the POINT OF THE BOOK come at me dolly.
LaBlonde
VIP Member
thank you for this!!Oh that's a good idea!
How many books have you read (if you set yourself a target are you on track?):
Pages Read/Hours listened (if you track):
Favourite read so far:
Least favourite read so far:
Book that surprised you (can be good or bad):
Book you're looking forward to read between July-December:
Anything else? Have you had a lot of 5 star books? Or have you mostly read duds?:
How many books have you read (if you set yourself a target are you on track?):
38 so far towards my target of 75 so on target and will hopefully beat it
Favourite read so far:
the great believers by rebecca makkai, shark heart by emily habeck and on the savage side by tiffany mcdaniel.
Least favourite read so far:
the courting of bristol keats, which i did not finish
and keeping 13 because stop getting caught in the traumatic rain. Book that surprised you (can be good or bad):
we could be heroes, which i wanted to love and found very meh
likewise somewhere beyond the sea, which collapsed under its own hatred for jk rowling. Book you're looking forward to read between July-December:
the warm hands of ghosts, which seems a perfect autumn book, and a lot of really lovely romances that i’ve picked up and not gotten to
Anything else? Have you had a lot of 5 star books? Or have you mostly read duds?:
it’s been meh so far! though, historically, i read my favourite books between september and december usually!
How many books have you read (if you set yourself a target are you on track?): 32 of 50 so 8 ahead
Pages Read/Hours listened (if you track): 12,785 of a 24,000 goal on StoryGraph
Favourite read so far: Rules of Civility by Amor Towles, which I see others have mentioned too. Loved the Gatsby vibes of it. Honourable mentions to James by Percival Everett and Lonesome Dove by Larry McMurthy.
Least favourite read so far: All Fours by Miranda July. Don’t even know where to start with how awful I thought this book was. Not just my worst this year but potentially of all time!
Book that surprised you (can be good or bad): The Husbands by Holly Gramazio, have to admit I rolled my eyes a bit at the synopsis as it seemed so silly but I ended up really enjoying it (thanks everyone here who recommended it!)
Someone Else’s Shoes by Jojo Moyes, normally I love her books but this was awful! Stupid plot, characters who acted in ways that were totally unbelievable. A big let down!
Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller, I DNF’d Circe so I was convinced this wasn’t for me, but was totally wrong. Enjoyed it so much I might give Circe another go!
Book you're looking forward to read between July-December: Nothing in particular at the moment but have Atmosphere by TJR and Great Big Beautiful Life by Emily Henry at the top of my Amazon wish list so will probably pick those up at some point soon.
Anything else? Have you had a lot of 5 star books? Or have you mostly read duds?: A couple of really good ones, a couple of really bad ones but most have been average - enjoyable at the time but pretty forgettable!
Pages Read/Hours listened (if you track): 12,785 of a 24,000 goal on StoryGraph
Favourite read so far: Rules of Civility by Amor Towles, which I see others have mentioned too. Loved the Gatsby vibes of it. Honourable mentions to James by Percival Everett and Lonesome Dove by Larry McMurthy.
Least favourite read so far: All Fours by Miranda July. Don’t even know where to start with how awful I thought this book was. Not just my worst this year but potentially of all time!
Book that surprised you (can be good or bad): The Husbands by Holly Gramazio, have to admit I rolled my eyes a bit at the synopsis as it seemed so silly but I ended up really enjoying it (thanks everyone here who recommended it!)
Someone Else’s Shoes by Jojo Moyes, normally I love her books but this was awful! Stupid plot, characters who acted in ways that were totally unbelievable. A big let down!
Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller, I DNF’d Circe so I was convinced this wasn’t for me, but was totally wrong. Enjoyed it so much I might give Circe another go!
Book you're looking forward to read between July-December: Nothing in particular at the moment but have Atmosphere by TJR and Great Big Beautiful Life by Emily Henry at the top of my Amazon wish list so will probably pick those up at some point soon.
Anything else? Have you had a lot of 5 star books? Or have you mostly read duds?: A couple of really good ones, a couple of really bad ones but most have been average - enjoyable at the time but pretty forgettable!
daisynoon
VIP Member
I think I'm in an epic reading phase 
I've just checked my StoryGraph and I've already read 12 books over 500 pages this year, and I'm more than halfway through another two.
Sadly, I'm in agony over having to go to work before finishing one of them, but it's also nice to know it's waiting for me at home.
I'm also trying to read more physical books this year; I think it helps me immerse myself better.
I've just checked my StoryGraph and I've already read 12 books over 500 pages this year, and I'm more than halfway through another two.Sadly, I'm in agony over having to go to work before finishing one of them, but it's also nice to know it's waiting for me at home.
I'm also trying to read more physical books this year; I think it helps me immerse myself better.
HoGi
VIP Member
How many books have you read (if you set yourself a target are you on track?): 76/104 so well on track and I haven't even had a holiday this year!
Pages Read/Hours listened (if you track): 9095 pages and 525 hours
Favourite read so far: The Names by Florence Knapp. How this is her debut novel I don't know. It made me question every other 5* I have ever given
Least favourite read so far: The Sirens by Emilia Hart. Such a disappointment after loving Weyward so much.
Book that surprised you (can be good or bad): Invisible Women by Caroline Criado Pérez. I knew how the world was male centered but this made it so clear and it truly is shocking.
Book you're looking forward to read between July-December: The new Strike novel and the new Dan Brown. I know Dan Brown books had a bit of stigma attached to them but they truly got my back into reading, especially binge reading, when they came out.
Anything else? Have you had a lot of 5 star books? Or have you mostly read duds?: A lot of 4 and 5 stars for me so far this year. I think I am getting better at reading things I will enjoy rather than just because they were a 99p kindle deal!
Pages Read/Hours listened (if you track): 9095 pages and 525 hours
Favourite read so far: The Names by Florence Knapp. How this is her debut novel I don't know. It made me question every other 5* I have ever given
Least favourite read so far: The Sirens by Emilia Hart. Such a disappointment after loving Weyward so much.
Book that surprised you (can be good or bad): Invisible Women by Caroline Criado Pérez. I knew how the world was male centered but this made it so clear and it truly is shocking.
Book you're looking forward to read between July-December: The new Strike novel and the new Dan Brown. I know Dan Brown books had a bit of stigma attached to them but they truly got my back into reading, especially binge reading, when they came out.
Anything else? Have you had a lot of 5 star books? Or have you mostly read duds?: A lot of 4 and 5 stars for me so far this year. I think I am getting better at reading things I will enjoy rather than just because they were a 99p kindle deal!
StephenTJackson
VIP Member
I said to myself after reading The Guest List and The Hunting Party in fairly quick succession that I wasn't going to read a Lucy Foley again because they were basically the same book.
But that was many years ago now, and time has passed and I bought The Midnight Feast. And it was still very Lucy Foley thriller in nature, but it wasn't quite the same in terms of murder, locked room kind of story, where it has to be one of the few people there whodunnit.
I quite enjoyed it actually. It was a bit overboard with the wanky, crystals, holistic, at one with the universe bollocks. But kept me gripped and intrigued. Lots of twists and turns, some more predictable than others as the story went on. Francesca very cliche character, rich bitch, mean girl, thinks she's gods gift, but overall enjoyable read.
The cover has a quote from someone describing it as "Agatha Christie meets The White Lotus", I'd personally add, with a bit of Hot Fuzz thrown in for good measure.
A good solid
But that was many years ago now, and time has passed and I bought The Midnight Feast. And it was still very Lucy Foley thriller in nature, but it wasn't quite the same in terms of murder, locked room kind of story, where it has to be one of the few people there whodunnit.
I quite enjoyed it actually. It was a bit overboard with the wanky, crystals, holistic, at one with the universe bollocks. But kept me gripped and intrigued. Lots of twists and turns, some more predictable than others as the story went on. Francesca very cliche character, rich bitch, mean girl, thinks she's gods gift, but overall enjoyable read.
The cover has a quote from someone describing it as "Agatha Christie meets The White Lotus", I'd personally add, with a bit of Hot Fuzz thrown in for good measure.
A good solid
ToolaRoola
VIP Member
I'm onto U for my A-Z challenge so I'm starting The unlikely pilgrimage of Harold Fry, purchased in May 2023 so getting another old one off the kindle.
superhero.birds
Active member
How many books have you read (if you set yourself a target are you on track?):
56/100, so just about ahead
Pages Read/Hours listened (if you track):
19,631 pages
Favourite read so far:
Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt. I ended up reading some non fiction books about octopuses afterwards, so I learned a lot.
Least favourite read so far:
Inside Wakefield Prison:Life Behind Bars by Jonathan Levi and Emma French. It didn’t feel like it was actually that much about Wakefield Prison or its prisoners, instead there was quite a bit about staff in other prisons.
Book that surprised you (can be good or bad):
The Great Alone by Kristin Hannah. I know quite a few people on here weren’t impressed with it, and I thought it was going to be long and slow going. Instead I sped through it in a few days, and sobbed for more than an hour towards the end (although not the actually end, as that was rubbish).
Book you're looking forward to read between July-December:
The Escape Artist by Jonathan Freedland, although I am expecting it to be quite a sad subject matter. The Impossible Thing by Belinda Bauer, because I saw her talk about it at an event and it sounded like an interesting book. The Walnut Tree by Kate Morgan, this was an impulse buy in a crime book shop and it looks like I will learn a lot.
Anything else? Have you had a lot of 5 star books? Or have you mostly read duds?:
My scores have averaged out at 3.77/5 which is higher than last year (which was 3.75) but whereas I has two 5stars last year, I haven’t found any yet this year.
56/100, so just about ahead
Pages Read/Hours listened (if you track):
19,631 pages
Favourite read so far:
Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt. I ended up reading some non fiction books about octopuses afterwards, so I learned a lot.
Least favourite read so far:
Inside Wakefield Prison:Life Behind Bars by Jonathan Levi and Emma French. It didn’t feel like it was actually that much about Wakefield Prison or its prisoners, instead there was quite a bit about staff in other prisons.
Book that surprised you (can be good or bad):
The Great Alone by Kristin Hannah. I know quite a few people on here weren’t impressed with it, and I thought it was going to be long and slow going. Instead I sped through it in a few days, and sobbed for more than an hour towards the end (although not the actually end, as that was rubbish).
Book you're looking forward to read between July-December:
The Escape Artist by Jonathan Freedland, although I am expecting it to be quite a sad subject matter. The Impossible Thing by Belinda Bauer, because I saw her talk about it at an event and it sounded like an interesting book. The Walnut Tree by Kate Morgan, this was an impulse buy in a crime book shop and it looks like I will learn a lot.
Anything else? Have you had a lot of 5 star books? Or have you mostly read duds?:
My scores have averaged out at 3.77/5 which is higher than last year (which was 3.75) but whereas I has two 5stars last year, I haven’t found any yet this year.
LaBlonde
VIP Member
happy new homes @AllieBee and @twilightgarden! love that you both already have reading nook positions ready
my june books! very meh month in which i broke up with the boys from tommen
keeping 13 - chloe walsh
greta & valdin - rebecca k reilly
what a way to go - bella mackie
werewolf’s guide to seducing a vampire - sarah hawley
atmosphere - taylor jenkins read
my june books! very meh month in which i broke up with the boys from tommen
keeping 13 - chloe walsh
greta & valdin - rebecca k reilly
what a way to go - bella mackie
werewolf’s guide to seducing a vampire - sarah hawley
atmosphere - taylor jenkins read
Hello! I was on this thread many months ago asking for some recommendations for gifts for my mum/ me ‘to share’ 
I read Verity and then read the teacher by frida McFadden, I loved it! I’ve gone out today and brought the crash also by Frieda which I’m enjoying already. I’ve not read much since Christmas time, but have finished a good few books over the last month 
I read Verity and then read the teacher by frida McFadden, I loved it! I’ve gone out today and brought the crash also by Frieda which I’m enjoying already. I’ve not read much since Christmas time, but have finished a good few books over the last month