To say that my love of reading flourished again this year is an understatement. The last time I truly let my heart enjoy the hobby is back in high school. Since then, every leisure reading time felt like a guilty pleasure because I felt like I should be doing course work, law school reading, job upskilling, chores, and just other general adult stuff that the majority of us worry from time to time. But this year was different. This year is when I truly felt reconnected to that part of myself that loves the emotional rides I get with every book I touch.
So when I reached my target of 100 books, aside from being totally surprised that I can actually manage that, I asked myself “what changed?”
1. Book Group
Yes, I know, the algorithm totally got me. I joined a Facebook group early this year after seeing multiple posts of beautiful home libraries. Since then, other book-related topics such as opinions on latest trending books, series, genres, and limited-edition releases started to proliferate my feed. Every now and then I would read something that piques my interest and I’d find myself reading and enjoy participating in the comments. There really is something about another person having the same amount of enthusiasm you do about the same topic that’s heartwarming. In this case, the more the merrier! It’s nice to just have that forum where there’s no need for awkward introductions or some form of initiation to talk about your common interests.
2. Book Reviewing
I like writing my thoughts even if there’s no audience mainly because once I’m done reading a book, most of the time I don’t remember half of what I read. I just remember what it made me feel. So yes, I need to jot down my thoughts and place it anywhere so I can go back to it. Because of that Facebook group I joined earlier, I learned about book reviewing. Turns out you don’t need to be a professional reviewer to do this! If there’s any indication that I seriously got disconnected from the world of reading, it’s this: I only signed up for Goodreads this year. Yep, I was over here keeping tracks of years of books using Excel sheets and I did not know that sites and apps like Goodreads exist to do that for you. Once I started posting my thoughts there, reading just became more fun.
Reading other people’s thoughts became a nice gauge as well on what books I have high potential liking. I’d like to think I saved a lot of money through that. Plus, reading books I don’t enjoy tends to put me off of reading. By allowing the algorithm work to suggest books for me, I’m able to keep my momentum.
3. Blogging
Yep. This blog, too, is a product of my desire to keep an archive of any book-related matters my heart desires to share. There’s a certain level of accomplishment I feel every time I post something here. Maybe it’s my version of an accountability partner? Who knows.
Additionally, I also got into the world of Bookstagramming! I already love books but the community there makes it even more magical than I could’ve ever imagined. Wonderfully photographed books, memes related to books, fun challenges, and oh – dang book subscriptions that seriously made a dent on my bank account! I personally never got into Instagram but when I discovered bookstagram, I have been way more active over there than Facebook.
4. Journaling
Wasn’t there an author who said something about reading and writing can’t live without the other? I don’t remember, but I do know that I believe it. I know that authors need to constantly read to learn and improve their writing. In my case, writing about the things I read makes me want to read more. I don’t have a logical explanation. All I know is that my book journal comes hand in hand with the books I read.
My Top Picks
Favorite Book:
Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo
Honorable Mentions:
Miss Sin by S.J. Tilly
The Housemaid by Freida McFadden
The Right Wrong Number by Katie Warren
Most Read Author:
Freida McFadden: 14 books
Honorable Mentions:
S.J. Tilly: 8 books
Sarah J. Maas: 8 books
Leigh Bardugo: 7 books
Most Traumatizing Read (Extreme Horror):
Hub by Matt Shaw
Best Universe:
Grishaverse by Leigh Bardugo
Favorite Romance Series:
Bridgerton by Julia Quinn
Favorite Fantasy Series:
A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas
How was your year in books? I’m so looking forward to next year’s discoveries! 😊
The Stray Reader 
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