📚 Summer Reading Plans... or Something Like That
I’m a mood reader. And I don’t just mean “eh, I’m not feeling this today”… (I do mean this too) but I mean full-on obsessed with a genre until I burn it to the ground (with love), then it’s on to the next.
There were years… and I mean years… when I was deep in the thriller/crime/mystery life. Plot twists, murder boards, morally gray detectives? Inject it. Then I moved into a fantasy era that lasted just long enough for me to forget how to live in the real world. And now? It’s Romance. Full tilt. All spice, all swoon, all the emotionally intelligent male leads and feisty heroines I can get my hands on.
A few weeks ago, I did what every delusional reader does: I posted my Summer TBR on social media. Big plans. Pretty stacks. Organized chaos.
And if you’re a reader, you already know what happened next.
If you’re not a reader, allow me to explain: the TBR (To Be Read) list is a mythical beast that never shrinks. Even if you do read something and cross it off, 12 more titles magically appear to take its place. It’s not a hobby, it’s a lifestyle.
And let me tell you… two days after sharing my list with the world, I completely ditched it. Didn’t even pretend. Read entirely different books.
No regrets. The heart wants what it wants. 💁♀️
So here’s what I planned to read... and what I actually read.
Because maybe instead of “summer reading plans,” I’m more of a “wrap-up vibes” kind of girl. Maybe I recap after the fact, when the mood has settled and I know what the heck actually happened.
👀 Want to keep up in real-time?
You can follow my bookish brain on Goodreads.
My username is: its_just_megz
www.goodreads.com/its_just_megz
I’d love to know: how do you rate your books? Like seriously, do you have a system? Because mine changes depending on the day, the book, the spice level, the emotional damage, and whether I was PMSing or not.
Sometimes I don’t leave reviews at all because I don’t even know how to form words afterward. I do jot little reactions and chaos-notes in my Kindle though… mostly for me. But now I’m thinking I might want to start including them in my reviews somehow. 🤔
So let’s make this a two-way thing:
📚 What are you reading right now?
🌶 How do you rate books?
✍️ Do you leave reviews? (And if not… why are you ghosting your books? <— Not judging, just listening)
Drop me a comment or DM—let’s talk book love, messy TBRs, and how none of us are actually sticking to the plan, and that’s perfectly okay.
Until next time,
Happy mood reading, babes.
— Meg
📚What I Had Planned to Read This Summer…
📚 June Reading Wrap-Up:
✍️ June Book Reviews
Sia by Eden O’neil – Excellent storytelling. I was engaged in the book right away. I loved the plot, the twists. I enjoyed the banter between the main characters, the handling of the relationship, and the spicy scenes were 🤌
Don't Keep Your Day Job: How to Turn Your Passion into Your Career by Cathy Heller – To balance all the smut I read, which I do believe is its own genre of personal development, I do read some more what I call traditional personal development books.
This is a good introduction into mindset shifts required to turn a side hustle into something bigger. She even goes into turning the hustle into an educational course and even a podcast.
I'm further along in my journey, so it wasn't quite relevant for me, but it was still a good reminder and motivating to push me where I want to be.
She breaks it down so that it's easily digestable and understandable. Solid steps in what to do. Overall, it's a good read.
Bourbon series by Victoria Wilder –
Bourbon and Lies – I had this in my KU library patiently waiting to be read. I sent it back before starting to make way for something different. Ended up getting it again and read it in 1 day.
This was an excellent plot. Loved the characters. The FMC is my spirit animal. I loved the banter and the spice was giving.
This by far was the best dirty talk I've read and I am here for it. – Chefs Kiss 🤌
Bourbon and Secrets – Exceptionally Well Written
This is the second book in the series. And man, the single dad with glasses really does have its appeal. The banter between the MCs is everything. The mouths on these characters. The author doesn't just describe the scene she shows it to you. Love the spice too.
This is the best series I've read in a long while. 5 Stars 🌟 🤩 ✨️
Bourbon and Proof – Book 3 of the series. The eldest brother. A brothers best friend, forbidden romance. I do love something that's off limits. The spice was spicing. Victoria did her thing with this series. Her writing is captivating and keeps me engaged in the story and the characters. This was my least favorite of the series, but still a must read.
Excuses Begone by Dr. Wayne Dyer – Listened to this on audio, it was actually more of a seminar than actual book narration. He’s an inspirational writer and speaker. Lot’s of good tid bits of information to get you to look at things differently.
The Law of Attraction: The Basics of the Teachings of Abraham by Esther Hicks – I've heard of the teachings of Abraham for a long while. However, I thought they were religious teachings and it was going to be real bible thumperish, which is just not what I'm into. But holy airball.
In my full on woo-woo, Esther channels Abraham and the thoughts and the teachings from this are quite impressive. Very intriguing perspectives. Some very simple (not easy, but simple) perspective shifts could have us all attracting more of what we want.
Lights Out by Navessa Allen – Wasn't sure about this one... With all the hype and especially because this is NOT my type of kink... Or I should say wasn't my type of kink. But Josh, mmm yes, I could do some stalker, masked man type of stuff. I see where there is interest. Definitely glad I made it to this side of the darkness.
The spice did not disappoint... the storyline though. I mean, not what I was ready for, but I did end up confused about what and why things happened. But again... some good spice will have you finishing the book and just being like wtf later on.
Til Summer Do Us Part by Meghan Quinn – What a cute summer read. The banter and back and forth between the main characters were hilarious. Definitely parts that were pure chaos, but I was laughing out loud anyway. Meghans books are as always captivating, light hearted, and spicy.
Also love a pierced 🍆MMC… in a book of course.
