HeatherH's 2020 Reading Challenges

[HeatherH]

Been in a fun and running behind on a lot of buddy reads this month. Just finished and about to start a re-read of so that I can finally get to the new book in the series and chat with Laura about it >.<

[HeatherH]

This has just not been a stellar month for reading for me. Finally wrapped up my rereads of the Black Witch series so I can read the newest one next month. Hoping to wrap up and before the month ends.

Here's to July being an awesome reading month!

[Kayleigh {K-Books}, YA Fantasy Fan]

I hope you enjoy them both. I really enjoyed both of those books.

[HeatherH]

I've been struggling with Darkest Minds but it's been a fairly slumpy month. Hoping I get sucked into the second half.

[HeatherH]

Ending June with the following stats:

20 finished - 18 were audio, 1 was kindle, 1 was mix hardback and audio. 10 were five stars, 8 were four stars, 2 were three stars. 4 were re-listens, the rest new. I finished one series (to what is published at this point) and started 2 new series and 2 series re-read.

[Liliana, YA Paranormal Lover]

Nice job Heather! You're really knocking out those audiobooks! And nothing under 3 stars! That's great!

[HeatherH]

I definitely get through audios so much faster! I felt like I slumped bad in June but the numbers don't seem so.

[Brittany]

20 books finished sure is not a slump to me! Nice month :)

[Kayleigh {K-Books}, YA Fantasy Fan]

20 books definitely isn't a slump. Some months I only finish three. That's a slump haha.
I feel like I slumped in June too but I think it was more that I was doing mainly re-reads and some of them were long books so just took me a lot longer than usual.

[Jo]

20 books is definitely not a slump to me, I could never do that in a month!

[HeatherH]

Oh for sure I don't consider 20 a slump. I just hadn't realized how many I was still getting through despite a lot of 'bad' reading days I guess!

[Jo]

I get that, I've definitely had months where I've read more than I thought even though I felt kind of slumpy!

[HeatherH]

Finished which makes another series completed!

[Elena]

@HeatherH how did you like the series? Is it worth reading or is it too childish?

[HeatherH]

Elena wrote: "@HeatherH how did you like the series? Is it worth reading or is it too childish?"

It is pretty kid-ish. I still really loved it and laughed a lot. I read the first two and half of this one to my daughter who is almost 16 now (I think she was 12 or so when we read the first one) and she really loves them as well. She ended up finishing this one on her own last month so had to wrap it up myself so it didn't sit unfinished forever haha

[HeatherH]

Just binged the audio for and holy hell it was so so good!

[Elena]

@HeatherH thanks for sharing your opinion on Mabel Jones.
As for Little Secrets, really? That good? I've removed it from my TBR yesterday and have to add it now :DDD

[HeatherH]

@Elena - I read it with a group of 5-6 others and we all rated it 5!

[Elena]

Wow! I definitely have to give it a try!

[HeatherH]

I've finished ten books in the past week! This month is turning out to be a damn good book month for me so far (yay for audios and increased listening speeds lol). Since my last update here, I've finished:


City of Ashes and Eclipse were rereads. Enjoying my revisits to both series a lot more than I expected to. All of these have been have been 4-5 star reads for me except To Best the Boys, which was a 3.5 rounded down to 3.

Currently reading and listening to

[Jo]

Wow Heather, you're on a roll!

[HeatherH]

I am! It helped that I've had a few 12 hour work shifts without a partner so good amount of listening time. And some of the books have been pretty short.

[Liliana, YA Paranormal Lover]

That's incredible! Nice job Heather! I don't think I could ever do that 😅

[Brittany]

Wow Heather!! Well done! And almost all of them being 4-5 star reads is impressive as well!!

[HeatherH]

Thanks ladies! And yes, Brittany, they've all been good!

[HeatherH]

Finished the last couple of days!

[Elena]

How did you like Leah on the Offbeat?

[HeatherH]

Leah was just ok for me. Her character came off super negative/whiny and really frustrated me. But it had a super cute and sweet ending. And it was fun seeing Simon and Bram and Nick again.

[HeatherH]

Just finished which makes another series completed (as far as what is published to date)!

[Brittany]

Please don't tell me she is planning on writing another one in that series? Also what did you think of Finale?

[HeatherH]

Yeah, just found out she is writing a fourth called Encore..

I liked Finale a lot actually. I think it was my favorite of the three. But that seems to be an unpopular opinion lol.

[Jo]

She's writing a fourth? I didn't know that. Don't know how I feel about that, not that I hated Finale but it was definitely my least favourite of the three and I don't think there's anything more to be mined from that story. I think it would be different if it was maybe a prequel about Legend/The Fates but I don't think it needs anymore sequels.

[HeatherH]

Oh, I'd definitely be on board with a prequel like that! But I agree, Finale wrapped up pretty good and there really isn't a need to continue.

[HeatherH]

Just finished and absolutely loved it!!

Working on now, will finish it before work is over with any luck!

[Brittany]

What Jo said! I would be good with a prequel but what can really be written after Finale? Even though I only really loved book 1 I will still probably read it anyway.... not sure what that says about me.


What to Say Next sounds really good! Sadly library doesnt have it but it does have Hope and Other Punchlines by the same author so I'll likely try that one.

The BFG! That brings back memories

[Brittany]

Are you sure about Encore? I went looking and can't find anything about it on her page? Do you have a link? I'd love to read what she is thinking

[HeatherH]

Hmmm.. So weird. One of the girls in my fb book club sent us a pic of it listed on GR when we were reading book one in June. I even looked it up and added it to my to-read shelf. But you're right, it's not there now... I can't find anything online either.

[Brittany]

Huh, so maybe it wont be a thing afterall. Thanks for checking!

[HeatherH]

Just finished and just.. wow!! I need book 2 asap!

[Brittany]

You enjoyed it then I take it?
There's some thoughts in the buddy read folder for it if you wanted to jump in with yours.
I still intend to read book 2 at some point but library only has it in audio so it will be a bit before I get to it.

[HeatherH]

I did really like it! I need to order book 2, will do that later this week likely. I'll check out the buddy read folder too!

[HeatherH]

July Stats:

I read 28 books! Only 3 were physical reads, the rest were audio. I read 23 new books and reread 5. I finished 2 series and started 4 new ones. My ratings were: 11 five stars, 12 4 stars and 5 three stars. It was overall a really good month! I also have started re-organizing all of my GR shelves which is a project lol. I'm changing employers mid month in August so I'm expecting lower numbers. We shall see how it goes!

[Brittany]

Nice month Heather!!

re-organizing the GR shelves is always such a project!

[HeatherH]

Brittany wrote: "Nice month Heather!!

re-organizing the GR shelves is always such a project!"

It is! I've sorted out my full to-read shelf - deleted and reorganized by stand alone, series to finish, series to start and series to restart. Now I'm very slowly going through all my owned books and marking them owned/making sure they are on my lists. Also been updating to make sure the correct format I own is the one I have added.

I've been pretty inactive around GR lately so also trying to get back in the swing of things with the few groups I am in!

[Brittany]

Nicely done! That is a lot of work. But its so nice to have them organized again.

[HeatherH]

Brittany wrote: "Nicely done! That is a lot of work. But its so nice to have them organized again."

Definitely worth the effort!

[HeatherH]

First audio of August done:

[Brittany]

How was that Heather?

[HeatherH]

Brittany wrote: "How was that Heather?"

I enjoyed it! I was a bit disappointed that Trebek didn't narrate the full audio himself but I'm sure that would have been taxing for him being sick and all. I grew up watching jeopardy with my grandparents and my step dad so I had fun learning more about him :)

[Brittany]

That makes sense. And while I am sure it would have been better with him doing the whole narration, he does have a good voice, taking time to look after himself is good. I've always loved jeopardy too. I haven't been able to watch it since my Grandma passed as it was a favourite of hers also.