It’s time to check in about my favorite books I read in the second quarter of the year, which is wild! Time is really flying by. I read 60 books from April – June and these 10 are my absolute favorites from those 60.
I really think What My Bones Know has made me a better and more understanding person, which was probably not the intent of the book, but is a nice side effect. Complex PTSD is still a pretty new diagnosis and I think that Foo going through this journey for herself and sharing it with all of us was actually so incredible. I’m so grateful to her for putting her experience into words that she decided to share with us because it was really just so impactful. I’m genuinely grateful for the opportunity to have read it.
Blood Over Bright Haven by M.L. Wang is a masterpiece. Not a romance in any way, Blood Over Bright Haven still managed to capture my full attention and have me utterly captivated from the very first page. It was dark and scary, but so, so good. I’m so impressed by Wang’s writing and really need to read The Sword of Kaigen.
Shield of Sparrows by Devney Perry captivated me so hard I stayed up so I read it all in one day. I refused to put the book down until I completed it because I was (am) obsessed. I wasn’t sure how Perry’s writing would translate to a fantasy world, but I thought she did an amazing job. Was this book predictable? I mean, to me, yes. But did I mind? Not even a little bit. I cannot wait for the second book to be released and in my hands. I need it desperately.
Can’t Get Enough by Kennedy Ryan and Left of Forever by Tarah Dewitt are two contemporary romances that about broke me. I loved and adored them both and will continue reading from these authors for as long as they keep writing. I feel like these two books have been everywhere and I can’t gush about them the way that I’ve seen other people do it where I’m just fervently nodding along like, “Yes, exactly!” But my words aren’t cooperating today so just know that these books are both masterpieces of contemporary romance literature and if you haven’t picked them up (AND in the case of Can’t Get Enough, you can handle reading about a parent suffering from dementia) you absolutely should.
I think 2025 is just the year of Ali Hazelwood for me. I’ve officially read all of her books except for Love on the Brain, which I DNF’d and now I’m considering going back and picking that one up too. Problematic Summer Romance being set in Italy may have given it bonus points, but honestly, I am so impressed with the way Ali got me to care about an age gap romance. That’s not one of my favorite tropes at all, but I didn’t even mind. And Love, Theoretically just felt like a masterpiece. I loved it so very much. I’m utterly delighted to have finally read it.
Beneath These Cursed Stars is standing in for both its own book and the follow up Between These Broken Hearts because this duology is somehow just as strong as the original and I am truly so incredibly in love with this world and these characters! I don’t know how Ryan does it, but I hope she’s able to continue it.
Can I Steal You for a Second? by Jodi McAlister is maybe not a book that will ultimately be on my top ten at the end of the year, but the way that I adored this book, the series, and these characters in particular means that it 100% belongs on at the very least this list. It was such a fantastic look at yearning, at trying to keep things about yourself from someone to protect you, but then struggling with the misunderstanding. I thought it did a great job illustrating the difficulty of knowing sometimes if a person you’re interested in is even attracted to women. I just really, really loved this book.
Finally, Everything is Tuberculosis by John Green took my final spot on the top ten because I really do still think about this book on the regular. I learned so much and I really feel like this book had a huge impact on the way I think about public and global health. Also, it ensured that I will not be forgetting to finish my antibiotics the next time I get any so there’s that too.
Closing Thoughts
What were some of your favorite books that you read in Quarter 2? I would love to know!
xx
firewhiskeyreader 
One response to “Quarter Two Favorites”
I also really enjoyed Everything is Tuberculosis; I think it’s such an important book. I’ll definitely have to check a couple of these other books out as well!
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