9 Books & Series I Finally Made Time For

We all have the same problem. Too many books, too little time. At this point, we all seem to be drowning in our TBRs, a shelf that never seems to get smaller but only seems to grow bigger with every release day that rolls by.

Last year I made a promise to myself. I promised that I would start reading for fun again. So I started working toward that goal. After years of reviewing and letting review books dictate all of what I read, I scaled back. I stopped requesting books from publishers and NetGalley. I began to focus more on what I truly wanted to read. I let reading become a hobby again.

And it was glorious.

I’m now at the point where I’m only reading for me, and I’ve gained back a love for books that I was afraid I’d completely lost. A huge bonus that’s come with all of this is that I’m actually tackling my TBR. I know, I can’t even believe it! I’m putting a dent in that shelf! While doing so, I’ve finally been able to read some amazing books/series that I’ve wanted to for so long.

And that brings me to this list. Here are some things I’ve read recently that I’m really glad I made time for!

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9 Books & Series I Finally Made Time For (And I’m So Glad I Did!)

Series

I read Elise Kova’s Air Awakens way back when it first released and I devoured it. I always meant to get around to the rest of the books but… it never happened. Every year I’d make it a goal, and every year the series would get skipped over. Well, that is the case no longer! I reread Air Awakens last month and since then I’ve been blazing through the rest of the series. It’s not perfect, but there is just something so charming and real about these books. I’m currently in the middle of the last one and can’t wait to dive into Kova’s other series’ afterwards!

Another book I’ve taken the time recently to reread is Erika Johansen’s Queen of the Tearling. This is one of my all-time favorite series, and I’ve always wanted to do a reread but have just never had the time. With the prequel, Beneath the Keep, releasing a couple months ago, I decided to make the time. I just finished the audiobook for Queen of the Tearling and still loved this book as much, if not more, as ever! It’s so smart, so brutal, and the characters are incredibly compelling. I can’t wait to continue with my reread!

I’ve had Seanan McGuire’s Every Heart A Doorway on my radar for ages, and I’ve had multiple people tell me I would love this series. I finally sat down, determined to at least read the first book… and I devoured the whole series in just a few days. They’re short and sweet, and provided some of the most fun I’ve ever had reading. The stories are all so imaginative! This is a series that I hope just goes on forever.

I used to read mangas all the time, but over the last few years I (you guessed it) just didn’t have time to pick up any new series. My brother kept telling me how much I would love Hajime Isayama’s Attack on Titan, and with the manga and show both coming to an end, I decided it was finally time to jump in. Oh. My. God. I love this series so much now! It’s fast-paced, unpredictable, and the characters ohmygosh the characters. I’m about half-way through the chapters that have been released so far and I already am dreading the end because it’s just so good!

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Standalone Books

First up for the standalone books is Young Adult!

I wish I’d read Lizzy Mason’s The Art of Losing back when it first came out. I loved it now, but younger me would have loved it even more. This books tells a beautiful story of forgiveness and loss, of friends and family and love. It’s poignant and witty and very sweet, and I’m really glad I finally made time for it.

Honestly, I’m surprised even a full TBR kept me from reading Leigh Bardugo’s Wonder Woman: Warbringer for so long. I love Bardugo’s books, and I love Wonder Woman. And I loved this book! It’s fun, full of great characters and tells a really compelling story. Of this little group of DC teen books, I think this is the best one.

Now for the adult books.

I realize that Silvia Moreno-Garcia’s Mexican Gothic has been out a relatively short time compared to other books on this list, but I really wanted to read it the day it came out and just didn’t get to. But as soon as I had the time, I absolutely devoured this one. It. Is. So. Good. And scary too! The prose is gorgeous and lyrical, the story is full of mystery and surprises, and I love love loved the way it ended. This book definitely put Moreno-Garcia on my radar as an author I really need to read more of!

Another scary one! Michael Crichton’s Prey had me on the edge of my seat. And since then I’ve gotten into several arguments about whether or not this book is actually scary but look I was scared. This book is so intense, so riveting, and then it goes BAM with the creepy imagery and my poor little heart just couldn’t take it. Except that it totally could and I totally kept reading because this is true-to-form Crichton and I love all of his books that I’ve read. Prey starts out a little slow, but the story and pace build and build to a frenzy that makes it unputdownable!

JoJo Moye’s The Giver of Stars is another book that I wanted to read from day one, but I was still bogged down with reviews. I’ve lived in Kentucky almost my whole life, and I’d never heard of the Pack Horse Librarians of Kentucky! This book is based on their story and I loved it so much. It’s very much a ‘book club read’, and is obviously a fictionalized version of events, but it was so enjoyable. I loved the stories of the women it follows and I wanted to keep reading about them even after I’d finished.

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So those are some of the books I’m really glad I’ve been able to make time for! I know a lot of book bloggers are in the same place I was in last year, and if you’re able, I urge you to take as much time as you need to read for yourself. It has made a huge difference for me, I’m so much happier in my reading choices and find a lot more joy in reading itself. It’s a hobby again, not a job.

What books are you glad you took the time to read?

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