The Mental Load Diaries by Cat Sims

Started: 8.9.26

DNF: 18.9.26

Kindle

I used to follow Cat Sims on Instagram, so this was on my radar for a while. I've read a few chapters and got the gist of it, but to be honest, reading about someone else's mental load is kind of just adding to my own! So I don't think I want to finish this. 

No Exit by Taylor Adams

Started: 12.9.26

Finished: 17.9.26

Kindle Unlimited

This was really good, it had me gripped all the way through. I do enjoy the 'survival in remote location' trope, and that's exactly what this book was. I don't usually spot the twists and turns in thrillers, but there were a few occasions where I wanted to give the main character a shake and say "don't do that!" I'm sure that was the point though, it was definitely the kind of book that makes you think, what would I do in this situation? And as that famous thriller line goes, once I'd read those last couple of pages, I "let out a breath I didn't know I'd been holding..."

The Miniaturist by Jessie Burton

Started: 12.9.26

DNF: 13.9.26

Paperback

Only read to about page 28, but I just wasn't getting into this. Once I'd decided to DNF I read some reviews, and it sounds like I wouldn't have enjoyed it anyway.

At The Bottom Of The Garden by Camilla Bruce

Started: 27.8.26

Finished: 12.9.26

Paperback

I enjoyed this book, but even though it was only 351 pages, it seemed to go on forever! When I was about halfway through I remember thinking, "well, surely that's it, there's nothing more to happen now?" and in a way, not much else did happen, it was a bit repetitive. I did like the sisters, and Dina, and the 'familiars'. I thought it was quite an unusual, but fun, angle to have the ghosts visible to everyone. It was difficult to feel any sympathy for Clara, even given her unfortunate upbringing, but her refusal to be anything other than just really annoyed by the ghosts was quite amusing!

August Reading Wrap Up

Definitely hit a bit of a slump in August. I've been doing a lot of housework, decluttering, that kind of thing, which has kept me so busy that I haven't had time to read much. So this is all I've managed:

1. Dear Committee Members by Julie Schumacher

Funny in places, but overall a bit disappointing.

2. Dead Silence by S. A. Barnes

Quite enjoyed it, sci-fi horror

3. Before And After by Andrew Shanahan

Unusual take on a zombie apocalypse

4. How To Survive A Horror Story by Mallory Arnold

Even though it was a horror story, so really 'anything goes', for some reason I had trouble suspending my disbelief.

5. Six Of Crows by Leigh Bardugo

I thought I might've liked this, but I really struggled with all the weird names and it was putting me off straight away! I know that weird names are a given in fantasy novels, but these ones just felt a bit OTT, so I DNF'd quite quickly.

6. When Women Were Dragons by Kelly Barnhill

I actually read quite a lot of this before I DNF'd it, I'm sure I was well past 100 pages. I wasn't too keen on the switching back and forth between the story and the scientific reports, I think I'd have preferred just Alex's story, though I understand the 'science stuff' filled in a lot of what she didn't know. Other than that, I found some elements to be very repetitive, and I just got to a point where I wasn't really bothered about reading any more.

Slump

I'm in a bit of a reading slump at the moment. We went on holiday at the beginning of August and I only took my Kindle, but I had this idea that I'd get loads of reading done, in between the other things we were doing. In reality, I couldn't decide what book to choose, and then I think I only read one! 

Since I got back, I've decided to leave the Kindle alone and try to get through some more paperbacks. I haven't used my TBR Jar; instead, I'm currently reading in alphabetical order of author surname! Just because! But it's still been a bit hit and miss. 

Part of me wants to force myself to read the books that I'm less excited about, and part of me thinks I should ignore everything else and only focus on the ones that I really want to read, even if they're on my Kindle. It's a dilemma!

When Women Were Dragons by Kelly Barnhill

Started: 24.8.26

DNF: 27.8.26

Paperback

A bit repetitive?

Six Of Crows by Leigh Bardugo

Started: 22.8.26

DNF: 24.8.26

Paperback

A DNF. Weird names for the sake of having weird names. 

How To Survive A Horror Story by Mallory Arnold

Started: 15.8.26

Finished: 22.8.26

Paperback

Finished it, but didn't really enjoy it.

Before And After by Andrew Shanahan

Started: 6.8.26

Finished: 14.8.26

Kindle

The dog survives!

A morbidly obese man trapped in his fourth floor flat as a zombie apocalypse takes over the world? I actually enjoyed this more than I thought I would. I liked Ben, and Brown was super cute. It was sad in places, funny in others, and surprisingly tender. I think I'm going to add the second one to my TBR.

Dead silence by S. A. Barnes

Started: 3.8.26

Finished: 6.8.26

Kindle

Bit of a sci-fi horror about a long-lost 'cruise liner' spaceship whose weak distress beacon is picked up by a repair crew out on the edge of space. Pretty good actually, definitely a creepy element to what they found when they boarded the ship.

Dear Committee Members by Julie Schumacher

Started: 30.7.26

Finished: 2.8.26

Kindle

Bit disappointed with this one, it wasn't really what I was expecting. Felt a bit too clever and highbrow for me!

July Reading Wrap Up

Well, this will be a quick one!

I don't know where the time has gone this month, but I haven't even touched my TBR choices!

1. Before They Are Hanged by Joe Abercrombie

I'd started this in June, and didn't finish until the 9th July. Really enjoyed it, as expected.

2. They Both Die At The End by Adam Silvera

This wasn't planned, but my son was reading it (a school library book) and as I had my own copy, I thought it would be fun to read together. It was pretty good.

3. Last Argument Of Kings by Joe Abercrombie

I'd started reading this straight after book 2, but broke off for a bit to read the Adam Silvera book, so this one took a bit longer to finish.

And that's it! 

TBR Picks for August... or not

I'm going on holiday soon, and I don't want to take any physical books with me, just my Kindle, so I don't think I'm going to choose any TBR prompts for August. While I'm away I'll just read whatever I feel like, and when I get back I might just carry on with the books that I'd chosen for July.

Last Argument Of Kings by Joe Abercrombie

Started: 9.7.26

Finished: 30.7.26

Kindle Unlimited

Thoroughly enjoyed this in all its gruesome glory! Glokta is one of my all time favourite characters!

They Both Die At The End by Adam Silvera

Started: 16.7.26

Finished: 23.7.26

Paperback

Buddy read with my son!!

This wasn't part of the reading plan for this month, but when I found out that my son had chosen this from his school library for his next read, I couldn't resist joining in! His friend has already read it, and is working her way through the others in the series, so I think that's why he picked it for himself.

It's the story of Mateo and Rufus, who both receive a call telling them that they are going to die within the next 24 hours. They are strangers who become friends through a Last Friend app, and they meet up and help each other through their last day alive. Although this sounds (and is) very traumatic, people are getting 'the call' from Death-Cast every day, so it's just kind of accepted. Once you get the call, that's it, your time's up.

Despite the quite sombre theme, this was actually mostly a tender and uplifting tale. Mateo and Rufus were both so sweet in the way they helped each other to really live life to the fullest in the short time they had left, and make peace with their past. And as the story progressed, we met other characters whose lives intertwined in some way with the two friends.

A really thought-provoking story.

Before They Are Hanged by Joe Abercrombie

Started: 16.6.26

Finished: 9.7.26

Kindle Unlimited

No prompt, just wanted to read it!

It was good to be back with Logen, Glokta and Co! This is book 2 in The First Law Trilogy, and the second Joe Abercrombie book that I've read, and based on these two, I really enjoy his writing! His descriptions - whether it's of people, places, fights, torture (!) - are so vivid, I always feel really immersed in the story. I enjoyed Jezal's redemption arc in this one; in fact I loved the development of several characters. I'm diving straight into book 3, and assuming - and really hoping! - that there is going to be a reunion for Ninefingers and the other Named Men - I can't wait for that!

TBR Picks for July

Once again, I find myself wondering whether to choose any TBR picks for July. I'm currently reading Before They Are Hanged by Joe Abercrombie, which is the second book in The First Law Trilogy. I really want to go straight into the third one when I've finished it, so that the story is fresh in my mind. 

I've also picked out several other books that I want to read, but they're all on my kindle, which doesn't exactly help with getting through the physical books! Most of them are fantasy series too, which means, if I like them, I'll probably want to read the follow ups straight away.

So, what to do?

Well, I think I might mix things up a bit by choosing both a physical book and a Kindle one for some of the prompts, and I'll read whichever one I feel like, depending on my mood. But I'll start with the definites, and the definitely maybes.

1. Last Argument Of Kings by Joe Abercrombie - As mentioned, I definitely want to read the final book in The First Law Trilogy

2. Oldest book on my list - The Lie Tree by Frances Hardinge - from 2nd Dec 2025. I'm not sure if this is actually a children's book though? And the kindle book that I've had the longest is Blood Over Bright Haven by M.L. Wang.

 

3. The Institute by Stephen King - I'll give this a try.

4. The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry by Rachel Joyce. I actually read this a few years ago, but it's come up as a book club choice, although it's a 'maybe' at the moment. I'd need to either get a copy from Vinted, or a charity shop, or see if the price drops on Kindle. I'm tempted to read it again though, because I actually have the two other books in the trilogy.

So I think I'll choose six TBR prompts now to take me to 10:

5. TV/Movie Adaptation (AGAIN!) - The Revenant by Michael Punke. This was made into a film starring Leonardo DiCaprio. I've read it before and really enjoyed it, so I hope I still like it the second time around. (Annoyingly, The Institute would've fit this prompt too!). On Kindle, I've got The Martian by Andy Weir, which was made into a film starring Matt Damon.

 

6. Pink Book - The Island Home by Libby Page. My copy looks a bit more pink than the picture. And on Kindle, I had quite a few to choose from, but working from oldest to newest, this was the first one - Convenience Store Woman by Sayaka Murata.

 

7. Country House Setting - The Lost Ones by Anita Frank. "Imposing country mansion..." And on Kindle, Hawthorn by Elaine Thomson. Not sure if this fits the prompt, but there is a house in a remote area, so it's close enough.

 

8. Thriller - A Case Of Mice And Murder by Sally Smith. Well, I decided I'm not really into thrillers any more, mainly of the psychological kind, so this is more of a murder mystery. It's the first in a series though, and I want to see if I like it and whether I'd want to continue with the others. Looks like I do still have some thrillers on my kindle, so I've chosen The House Across The Lake by Riley Sager.

 

9. Flower on the cover - When Women Were Dragons by Kelly Barnhill. Not sure about this one, but it's apparently 'feminist and funny'. On Kindle, I've got The Night Counsellor by L.K. Pang.

 

10. Food on the cover - A Certain Hunger by Chelsea G. Summers. I think this was actually the only option I had. And on Kindle, The Black Hunger by Nicholas Pullen.

 

I've just remembered that I also finally caved in and bought the hardcover version of House Of Leaves by Mark Z. Danielewski, and thought I might start reading that on the 1st July and see if I can have it finished by the end of the year!

Obviously I'm not going to be able to read all these, but I'm quite excited about this list and I like that I've given myself some extra choices.

 

June Reading Wrap Up

June wasn't a great reading month, I was definitely in a bit of a DNF / changed my mind kind of slump.

1. The Outsider by Stephen King.

The first SK book that I actually quite enjoyed.

2. The Lamplighters by Emma Stonex

Interesting and moving.

3. Let Me Lie by Clare Mackintosh 

A DNF

4. Red Queen by Christina Henry

Not bad, but not as good as Alice.

5. The Ghost Woods by C. J. Cooke

It was ok, but I'm getting bored of botanical horror.

6. Yellowface by Rebecca F. Kuang

Cringeworthy, love-to-hate main character.

7. The Witches At The End Of The World by Chelsea Iversen

A DNF.

8. There Is No Antimemetics Division by qntm

Bizarre!

9. The Great Alone by Kristin Hannah

Bleak, sad, depressing. But good writing.

10. A Haunting On The Hill by Elizabeth Hand

A disappointing DNF.

I didn't get around to reading The Whispering Muse by Laura Purcell.

A Haunting On The Hill by Elizabeth Hand

Started: 21.6.26

DNF: 28.6.26

Hardcover

TBR Prompt: ghosts and supernatural

I was looking forward to reading this, but unfortunately I decided to DNF it. I made it to page 212, but by this point I hadn't warmed to any of the characters. They all seemed a bit nasty towards each other, though I realise that that may have been the house affecting them. I found them all quite pretentious too, and the whole storyline of the play was quite boring. I did skip to the end and read the last few chapters, but overall I didn't really feel like this story gave Hill House (as a 'character' in itself) the credit it deserves. The few odd things that had happened up to the point where I stopped - the hares, the tablecloth, the boy in the woods, the magazine - were just that, a bit odd, but not in any way creepy. There were brief mentions of people who had died at Hill House in the past, one of which was clearly Eleanor from the original story, but other than that, no real links to the Shirley Jackson book. I think it might have been more interesting if there had been a link; maybe a descendant of Dr Montague or Luke, or someone researching what had happened to them.