Goodreads Community Favorite Challenge for January- April

 Goodreads added some extra challenges this year along with their year long challenge. I decided to make a separate post for these challenges separate from my reading goals since it was going until April. My goal posts are always each quarter of the year. 

Community Favorite Challenges (January-April) 

        ~ Bonus 1: Buzzy Books (144 Most Read Books of the 2024 Reading Challenge)- ✔️ Completed on January 6th 

                - Encyclopaedia of Faeries by Heather Fawcett

 

        ~ Bonus 2: Epic Quest (The 60 Most Popular Fantasy Novels of the Past 3 Years)- ✔️ Completed on January 6th

                - Encyclopaedia of Faeries by Heather Fawcett 

        ~ Bonus 3: Era Explorer (A Look Back at Five Years of Historical Fiction Hits)-  ✔️ Completed on February 20th

                - Hamnet by Maggie O’ Farrell

        ~ Bonus 4: Essential Reader (177 New Fiction and Nonfiction Reads for Black History Month) -  ✔️ Completed on March 3rd

                - The Book of (More) Delights: Essays by Ross Gay

        ~ Bonus 5: Sweet and Spicy (The 100 Most Popular Romances of the Last Three Years on Goodreads)- ✔️ Completed on April 13

                - Apprentice to the Villain by Hannah Nicole Maehrer 

        ~ Bonus 6: Her Story (192 Nonfiction Books to Read This Women’s History Month)- ✔️ Completed on March 23rd

                - You Could Make This Place Beautiful by Maggie Smith

Happy Birthday Old Sport!

The Great Gatsby will always be one of my all-time favorite books. Looking forward to picking it up again today. 

“‘They’re a rotten crowd,’ I shouted across the lawn. ‘You’re worth the whole damn bunch put together.’”

Books with Springy Covers

 

Top Ten Tuesday was created by The Broke and the Bookish in June of 2010 and was moved to That Artsy Reader Girl in January of 2018. It was born of a love of lists, a love of books, and a desire to bring bookish friends together.

Books with Springy Covers

 I love a beautiful book cover, especially books that give off a Spring vibe. Here are ten books that I own which have beautiful covers that make me think of Spring. 

1. The Girl Who Fell Beneath the Sea by Axie Oh- I love this beautiful cover. It is the British version of the book which I love so much more than the US one. I need to read this book. 

2. The Spellshop by Sarah Beth Durst- I remember when I first saw this cover last year and knew that I had to check out what the book was about. It was definitely one of my favorites from last year. Such a wonderful cozy book that I adore.

3. The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett- This is one of the first covers I thought of for this Top Ten Tuesday. It is perfect for this wonderful classic. I highly recommend all of Litjoy’s Classic editions. 

4. Self-Made Boys: A Great Gatsby Remix by Anna-Marie McLemore- One of my favorite new takes on a classic. I adore what Anna-Marie McLemore did with Gatsby in this book and seeing her twist one of my favorite books. This cover is great. 

5. A Tale of Magic by Chris Colfer- Another cover that definitely came to mind for this TTT. I love Chris’s books so much and this one of my favorites of his. The first picture is the book with the dust jacket on and the other is the illustration under the dust jacket.

6. Bravely by Maggie Stiefvater- As soon as I saw this book, I had to get it. I love Brave and am looking forward to reading this soon.

7. The Hobbit by J. R. R. Tolkien- Allen Lee’s illustration of the Shire on this cover always makes me think of spring. I would love to travel to the Shire during the Spring. What an experience that would be. 

8. Godmersham Park by Gill Hornby- A historical fiction novel focused on Jane Austen’s family and another book I definitely want to pick up soon. Would be perfect to read during the Jane Austen reading challenge this year. 

9. Wild Beauty by Anna- Marie McLemore- Another Anna-Marie McLemore cover that makes me think of Spring. I love the floral cover. 

10. A River Enchanted by Rebecca Ross- I had to fill this list with beautiful floral covers. This cover is another British edition that I adore. Rebecca Ross is one of my favorite authors. I will be reading this book and its sequel sometime this year. 

April 2025 TBR

 

Books You Would Be a Fool Not to Read if you love Wonderland Retellings

Top Ten Tuesday was created by The Broke and the Bookish in June of 2010 and was moved to That Artsy Reader Girl in January of 2018. It was born of a love of lists, a love of books, and a desire to bring bookish friends together.

Books You Would be a Fool Not to Read if you love Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland Retellings

 Happy April Fool’s Day everyone. For the topic this week, I decided to pick Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland retellings that I love or enjoy. I thought it would fit perfectly in with the theme and I’m always looking for an opportunity to recommend these wonderful books. Wonderland will always be a world I love to fall back into, whether that be through Lewis Carroll’s own words or the interesting ideas people have come up with to twist his story. 

1. The Insanity Series by Cameron Jace- I read the first Insanity book almost ten years ago and I have loved this series ever since. It is a very dark retelling of Wonderland with murder, an asylum, and so many twists and turns in the story. I love how Cameron takes this series, especially how he uses the characters and Lewis Carroll himself. Such a clever take on a world I love with all my heart. I highly recommend it if you like creepy stories. 

2. The Lost Wonderland Diaries Series by J. Scott Savage- Savage is one of the best at creating a voice that feels reminiscent of Carroll’s original style, but also being unique while doing so. He has created new characters that feel like they were pulled off the pages of the original novel. I love the way he uses wordplay and riddles throughout both books. These are creative books which I highly recommend to anyone who loves Wonderland. 

 

3. Heartless by Marissa Meyer- The first Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland retelling I ever read and it is still one of my top favorites. This, unlike the others, is an origin story for the Queen of Hearts. It shows how she becomes evil and the character we know from the original story. It has been a long time since I have read this book, but I still vividly remember so much of it. I’m definitely due for a reread of this one soon. 

4. The Taking Wonderland Series by Martin Baynton- This is an ongoing trilogy. The second book came out this year and was even better than the first. It is another dark take on the world of Wonderland, but not as much as the Insanity series. The heart of this story is a mystery and I loved how Baynton played with that throughout both books, especially the second. This also has an interesting take on the world and characters. My favorites are definitely the Hatter and the Queen. This plays with the real life Alice’s genealogy in such surprising ways. I cannot wait to read the final book next year. 

5. Darcy in Wonderland by Alexa Adams- I found this book much more recently than most of the others on the list and it is definitely one of my favorites. This one is perfect for both fans of Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland and Pride & Prejudice. The story is about 20-some years after the events of Pride & Prejudice, Elizabeth and Darcy have six children and the youngest of them is the imaginative Alice. We follow Darcy and Alice into Wonderland. It is such a joy to see how Darcy reacts to the nonsensical events there and all of the “mad” characters. I cannot recommend this one enough. 

6. Splintered series by A.G. Howard- A series I have not read in years but I remember enjoying it a lot when I did. Another book dealing with a mental hospital and Alice’s family line. I enjoy the retellings that take this story in surprising directions along with making it darker. Wonderland is a world that can easily be twisted in so many different ways. 

7. Unbirthday by Liz Braswell- Disney has an ongoing series called Twisted Tales where young adult authors take Disney’s famous movies and write a book based on a question. For Unbirthday, the question was: What if Wonderland was in peril and Alice was very, very late? This is one of the most interesting retellings on this list because it not only is retelling the original book but also the Disney movie. It also ties the story in with Lewis Carroll in so many interesting ways. The games throughout felt similar to Through the Looking Glass. 

8. The Wonderland Trials (Book 1 of The Curious Realities) by Sara Ella- I have only read the first book in this series, which was very good and I will be reading the sequel this year. It is a dystopian take on the world of Wonderland with a game called The Wonderland Trials, where people have to figure out clues to get through each trial. My favorite part of this series is the relationship between Alice and her sister Charolette. 

9. Wonderland: Alice in Poetry by Michaela Morgan- A collection of poetry that has all of the poems from Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland and Through the Looking Glass with poems inspired by each of them. I enjoy reading the various poets inspired poems along with Carroll’s. Also, Sir John Tenniel illustrations will always bring me joy. 

10. Afia in the Land of Wonders by Mia Araujo- Another more recent addition to this list, with it not coming out until April 15th, 2025. I was lucky enough to get an ARC of this book from Edeweiss and it is absolutely beautiful. I like the world Mia Araujo created in this book and how she has twisted the elements from the original is so many clever ways. Also, this has absolutely incredible artwork created by the author. Stunning!

 

1st Quarterly 2025 Reading Goals Update and Stats

📚 January- March 2025 Reading Goals Update 📖

I decided to keep track of my goals each quarter again this year. Here are my goals and reading stats for January, February, and March. It has been a great first quarter for reading. 

🟪 Read 100 Books- 54/100

🟦 Reread at least one book every month- 3/12

        ❄️ January: Reread 2

                - Winnie-the-Pooh by A.A. Milne

                - Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen

         💝 February: Reread 1

                - A Thousand Ships by Natalie Haynes

        ☘️ March: Reread 2

                - The Secret of Safe Passage by Martin Baynton 

                - Thirty Things by Cate Ashwood

🟩 Read at least one 2025 release every month- 3/12

        ❄️ January: Read 2 

                - The Song of Orphan’s Garden by Nicole M. Hewitt

                - Emily Wilde’s Compendium of Lost Tales by Heather Fawcett

        💝 February: Read 2

                - A Song for You & I by K. O’ Neill 

                - Run Away With Me by Brian Selznick 

        ☘️ March: Read 8

                - Octopus Moon by Bobbie Pyron

                - A Harvest of Hearts by Andrea Eames

                - A Tail of Disruption by Tanya J. Scott

                - Heidi: A Graphic Novel by Mariah Marsden

                - Vanya and the Wild Hunt by 

                - Truth and Transformation by Martin Baynton

                - Holy Terrors by Margaret Owen 

                - Afia in the Land of Wonders Mia Araujo 

🟨 Read at least 5 tomes- 2/5

                - Lost Stars by Claudia Gray- 551 pages

                - Holy Terrors by Margaret Owen- 560 pages

🟧 Review every book I read- 54/54

                - I have reviews for each book on this blog and Goodreads.

🟥 Read 5 classics other than the books in my next goal- 6/5

                - Monday or Tuesday by Virginia Woolf

                - Winnie-the-Pooh by A.A. Milne

                - Heroides by Ovid

                - Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH by Robert C. O’Brien

                - The Cat Who Wished to Be a Man by Lloyd Alexander

                - The 13 Clocks by James Thurber 

🟧 Complete the Jane Austen Reading Challenge from Canterbury Classics- 3/12

        ❄️ January: Read Pride & Prejudice ✔️ 

        💝 February: Try Your Hand at Needle Work ✔️

        ☘️ March: Sense & Sensibility ✔️

🟨 Finish 3 Series- 3/3 ✔️

        - Emily Wilde trilogy by Heather Fawcett

                - Read all three in January

     

        - The Girl from the Other Side by Nagabe

                - Read the last six in February 

        - Little Thieves trilogy by Margaret Owen 

                - Read the last book in March

🟩 Read 12 retellings- 11/12

        - Heroides by Ovid- retelling of Greek myths 

        - In a Glass Grimmly by Adam Gidwitz- retelling of fairy tales

        - The Halcyon Fairy Book by T. Kingfisher - retelling and commentary on fairy tales from various cultures 

        - A Thousand Ships by Natalie Haynes- retelling of the Trojan war, the Odyssey, and the aftermath 

        - Love Letters From Hades by Emily Brandt- retelling of the myth of Hades and Persephone 

        - From Persephone, With Love by Emily Brandt- retelling of the myth of Hades and Persephone

        - The Secret of Safe Passage by Martin Baynton- retelling of Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland and Through the Looking Glass by Lewis Carroll 

        - Truth and Transformation by Martin Baynton- retelling of Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland and Through the Looking Glass by Lewis Carroll 

        - Darcy in Wonderland by Alexa Adams- retelling of Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll and a continuation of Pride & Prejudice by Jane Austen 

        - Looking-Glass Girl by Cathy Cassidy -retelling of Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll 

        - Afia in the Land of Wonders Mia Araujo- retelling of Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll: March has been the month for Alice retellings

🟦 Read 25 fantasy books- 32/25 ✔️

        - I’m Afraid You’ve Got Dragons by Peter S. Beagle

        - Emily Wilde’s Encyclopaedia of Faeries by Heather Fawcett

        - The Great Good Thing by Roderick Townley

        - Tale of the Flying Forest by R. M. Romero

        - Emily Wilde’s Map of the Otherlands by Heather Fawcett

        - Iluminations by T. Kingfisher

        - The Story of Gumluck & the Dragon Eggs by Adam Rex

        - In a Glass Grimmly by Adam Gidwitz

        - The Song of Orphan’s Garden by Nicole M. Hewitt

        - Emily Wilde’s Compendium of Lost Tales by Heather Fawcett 

        - Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH by Robert C. O’Brien

        - The Girl from the Other Side, Vol. 6 by Nagabe

        - The Girl from the Other Side, Vol. 7 by Nagabe

        - The Girl from the Other Side, Vol. 8 by Nagabe

        - A Song for You and I by K. O’Neill 

        - Tress of the Emerald Sea by Brandon Sanderson 

        - A Thousand Ships by Natalie Haynes

        - The Girl from the Other Side, Vol. 9 by Nagabe

        - The Girl from the Other Side, Vol. 10 by Nagabe

        - The Girl from the Other Side, Vol. 11 by Nagabe

        - The Halcyon Fairy Book by T. Kingfisher

        - The Cat Who Wished to Be a Man by Lloyd Alexander 

        - The 13 Clocks by James Thurber 

        - A Harvest of Hearts by Andrea Eames 

        - The Lives of Christopher Chant by Diana Wynne Jones

        - A Tale of Disruption by Tanya J. Scott

        - The Secret of Safe Passage by Martin Baynton 

        - Vanya and the Wild Hunt by Sangu Mandanna

        - Truth and Transformation by Martin Baynton 

        - Holy Terrors by Margaret Owen

        - Darcy in Wonderland by Alexa Adams

        - Afia in the Land of Wonders Mia Araujo 

🟪 Read 25 graphic novels- 8/25

        - The Library Mule of Cordoba by Wilfrid Lupono 

        - The Girl from the Other Side, Vol. 6 by Nagabe

        - The Girl from the Other Side, Vol. 7 by Nagabe

        - The Girl from the Other Side, Vol. 8 by Nagabe

        - A Song for You and I by K. O’Neill 

        - The Girl from the Other Side, Vol. 9 by Nagabe

        - The Girl from the Other Side, Vol. 10 by Nagabe

        - The Girl from the Other Side, Vol. 11 by Nagabe 

        - Heidi: A Graphic Novel by Mariah Marsden

        - A Tail of Disruption by Tanya J. Scott 

🟦 Read 25 books in 2025 from my list- 9/25

1. Run Away With Me by Brian Selznick ✔️
2. When the Tides Held the Moon by Venessa Vida Kelley
3. Holy Terrors by Margaret Owen ✔️
4. A Harvest of Hearts by Andrea Eames ✔️
5. Emily Wilde’s Compendium of Lost Tales by Heather Fawcett ✔️
6. The Way of Edan by Phillip Chase
7. Rewitched by Lucy Jane Wood
8. The Book of Doors by Gareth Brown
9. Words of Radiance by Brandon Sanderson
10. The Little Liar by Mitch Albom ✔️
11. The Well of Lost Plots by Jasper Fforde
12. Tress of the Emerald Sea by Brandon Sanderson ✔️
13. Legends & Lattes by Travis Baldree
14. Daughter of the Deep by Rick Riordan
15. Emma by Jane Austen
16. The Girl in the Tower by Katherine Arden
17. The Dragons of Winter by James A. Owen 
18. A Wizard’s Guide to Defensive Baking by T. Kingfisher
19. Swordheart by T. Kingfisher
20. The Library Mule of Cordoba by Wilfrid Lupano ✔️
21. Afia in the Land of Wonders by Mia Araujo
22. The Herbwitch’s Apprentice by Ireen Chau 
23. The Lives of Christopher Chant by Diana Wynne Jones ✔️
24. Darwin’s Watch by Terry Pratchett
25. Johnny and the Bomb by Terry Pratchett        

🟩 Read 10 poetry collections- 4/10

        - Ghazal Games: Poems by Roger Sedarat 

        - Heroides by Ovid

        - Love Letters from Hades by Emily Brandt

        - From Persephone, With Love by Emily Brandt

        

Challenges

Here are some challenges I would like to also complete during the year, but I’m not making them goals. 

🟣 Buzzword Reading Challenge- Words & Covers

           ❄️ January- 

                  Words- Truth & Lie: truth/true or lies, lying, liar ✔️

                        - The Little Liar by Mitch Albom

                   Covers- Pattern ✔️

                        - Pride & Prejudice by Jane Austen

       

        💝 February- 

              Words- Water related: water, sea, river, lake, ocean, etc. ✔️

                    - Tress of the Emerald Sea by Brandon Sanderson

               Covers- Skyline ✔️

                    - Tress of the Emerald Sea by Brandon Sanderson

        ☘️ March- 

              Words- Thing: thing, something, nothing, everything, anything ✔️

                    - Thirty Things by Care Ashwood 

               Covers- Books ✔️

                    - The Secret of Safe Passage by Martin Baynton 

🔵 Extra Goodreads Challenges

        ~ Challenge 1: January Reader- Challenge 12: December- 3/12

        ~ Challenge 13: Grand Slam (Completed all months)- 

        ~ Challenge 14: Nailed It (Completed reading challenge)

        ~ Challenge 15: Stepped Up (Read at least one more book than last year: 156 or more) 

📚 January- March 2025 Reading Stats 📖

🟢 Amount of books read in January-March: 

        ❄️ January- 17 books

        💝 February- 19 books

        ☘️ March- 18 books

🟡 Favorite Books

🟠 Least Favorite Books

🔴 Page Counts

        Total of Pages read in January-March:

            📜 1-100: 1

            📖 101-200: 16

            📔 201-300: 12

            📚 301-400: 20

            📕 401-500: 3

            📗 501-600: 2

            📘 601-700: 

            📙 701-800: 

            📒 801-900: 

            📓 901-1000+: 

        Per Month:

            ❄️ January: 4690 pages

            💝 February: 5048 pages

            ☘️ March: 5174 pages            

🟣 Star Ratings for January- March

        ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️- 29

        ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️- 18

        ⭐️⭐️⭐️- 4

        ⭐️⭐️- 2

        ⭐️- 0