I finally found the reader side of me
2025 has been a slow reading year for me. I’m not sure if it’s just the kind of year I’m having, if burnout from last fall’s semester has lingered, or if I let the pressure of my Goodreads goal get in my way. But after a long, boring, and restful summer, I seem to have finally hit my stride.
I’ve caught up to that magic number Goodreads has been nudging me toward for months, and I’m finally heading into fall on a high. In July, I read eight books—one of them I edited, but the other seven? Purely for the joy of reading them.
July by the Numbers
Books read: 8
Total pages: 2,412
Genres explored: Psychological Thriller, YA Fantasy, Horror / Gothic, Paranormal Romance, Contemporary Romance, Dark Fantasy, Mystery / Suspense, Speculative Fiction
Formats: 2 print, 4 Kindle Unlimited, 1 digital ARC, and 1 line edit via Reedsy Studio
Favorite read: Courier by Zoe Rosi
Spice scale moment: Hook, Line and Tentacle by Dove Soleil 🌶️🌶️🌶️
Creepiest twist: Courier — it’s giving You by Caroline Kepnes energy, and then takes a left turn into What did I just read?!
Shelf Vibe Check
Instead of sorting by genre, I’m filing this month’s reads by feeling.
Here’s how my July bookshelf broke down—according to the Plot & Paper mood meter.
🖤 Charcoal – Twisty • Macabre • Morally Gray
Courier – Intense, creepy, slightly unsettling, but damn was it good.
Ask for Andrea – Haunting, disorienting, and sharp as a knife.
Hook, Line, and Tentacle – A wet, wild, and wonderfully grumpy tentacle romance that’ll have you hooked from the first page.
🌿 Muted Sage – Lush • Mysterious • Grounded
What Moves the Dead – Vibes. Just… VIBES. Fungal horror meets Poe reimagined.
The Forest Witch – Atmospheric and full of hidden teeth under the moss.
🌫️ Cool Mist – Reflective • Quietly Powerful
Soirée – Gentle, moving, and gorgeously character-driven. (Also: I edited this one!)
☀️Golden Hour – Bittersweet • Unexpectedly Sweet
Tastes Like Candy – Mean Girls meets horror-lite. Gave slasher, but make it fun.
City of Nightmares – Witty, weird, and sneakily heartfelt. A surprise favorite!
Books That Left a Mark
Some books stay with you for their emotional punch, wild twists, or just the sheer vibes. These were the ones that burrowed into my brain this month—in the best way.
🖤 Courier by Zoi Rosi
This book was unhinged in the most watch-through-your-fingers way. Psychological thriller meets obsessive narration, with heavy You-by-Caroline-Kepnes energy. It had me questioning everything while whisper-screaming “girl, run.”
Why it worked for me: Dark, twisted, and absolutely compulsive. The slow unravel made it all the more satisfying.
Who I’d recommend it to: Readers who like a chilling stalker POV, moral ambiguity, and a fast-paced, modern take on psychological suspense.
🍭 Tastes Like Candy by Ivy Tholen
A throwback in the best way—this one channeled Goosebumps and Fear Street energy with a slasher-lite plot wrapped in high school chaos. Think “Mean Girls, but make it murder.”
Why it worked for me: Total nostalgia trip. It scratched the itch for spooky without being too heavy, and the pacing had me flying through chapters.
Who I’d recommend it to: Fans of YA thrillers, 90s horror vibes, or anyone who secretly wanted their school dance to come with a killer twist.
🐙 Hook, Line, and Tentacle by Dove Soleil
This was not supposed to be my thing. And yet… I devoured it. A surprisingly sweet and grumpy tentacle romance with actual emotional stakes and a main character I couldn’t help but root for.
Why it worked for me: It was wild and weird in the best way, but grounded by great chemistry and heart. I was more invested than I expected—and I’m not mad about it.
Who I’d recommend it to: Romance readers ready to get a little weird, or fantasy readers who want to dip their toes (tentacles?) into something spicy and offbeat.
What’s Next on the Shelf?
July reminded me why I fell in love with reading in the first place—stories that pulled me in, surprised me, and kept me turning pages long after I should’ve been asleep. After a slow start to the year, I’m heading into August with that spark reignited… just in time to hit the books in a very different way.
This month, I’m heading back to class—which might mean more late nights writing stories than reading them—but I’m still excited for what this month (and semester) holds. I’m easing into a new routine with a sharpened pencil, a stack of stories, and a healthy respect for deadlines. Here’s to fresh notebooks, fresh reads, and hopefully… no hurricanes.
I’ll be tracking my reading right here and sharing the usual bookish chaos on Instagram and Threads.
Want to read with me? I’ll be sharing what I’m reading, how I’m juggling it all, and whatever story steals my attention between school deadlines.
Have a book recommendation for August that you think I need to read? Drop it in the comments—I’m always open to adding just one more to the stack.
