HAPPY 2024!
I am so excited for the new year and very hopeful for what it will bring!
2023 was not the best year for me, reading wise or personally.
(so I didn’t have too much to blog about)
Not only did I not have a ton of time to read, but when I did pick up a book, it really wasn’t that good.
I struggled to find something I could connect with or that was at least entertaining.
I’m hoping to find a better selection of books this year!
2023 Stats
Ummm, yea I didn’t read that much (lol), but here are my stats anyway!
Reading Goal: 30 Books
Actual Goal: 11 Books
Best Book: Attached by Amir Levine
Worst Book: All Systems Red by Martha Wells
Favorite Book: None! No faves lol.
Most Read Publisher: TOR
Nothing WOWED me.
I tried to get into rom-coms but it might not be my thing.
Attached was my only 5 star read for the year.
I gave most books I read a 2 stars rating (eeek..)
Other Favorites?
Favorite Game: Pikmin 4 (seriously loveeeee this game, its cozy, strategic and so damn cute)
Favorite Show/Movie Binge: Monster High 1&2, School Spirits, The Artful Dodger
Favorite Songs:
Nobody Gets Me – SZA
Midnight – Bow Anderson
The entire Across the Spider-verse Soundtrack
House in Nebraska by Ethel Cain
She Calls Me Back – Noah Kahan & Kacey Musgraves
Favorite Album: Across the Spider-verse Soundtrack
Podcast: She Wore Black
Getting My S#%T Together
Toward the end of the year, I started using a Google Sheets book tracker to log my reading. I still use Goodreads, but wanted something a little more streamlined to track my reading, especially by year and by other stats. The spreadsheet template I had was good but I also wanted somewhere to jot down my notes and thoughts quickly, preferably in one place, instead of the disorganized system I currently had.
I had a notebook for this, a notebook for that. I never knew where my notes on (insert book title here) were. At one point, I was just using Gmail drafts for note-taking and journaling. I decided to create a Notion account and focused a lot of my time on learning how to use it. I had given up on it previously because it seemed overwhelming at first glance. But once I learned how to use it, I was hooked! I started organizing everything! And I’m so glad I did! Now, all my book crap lives happily in one place and I’m ready to start my goal of reading wayyy more than I did last year. And hopefully blogging more too!
2024 Reading Goals
~I’m pushing myself to read 40 books this year. (for me, this is a lot).
But I’m buying more books than I actually get a chance to read so I need to step it up. I spent most of last year in kind of a funk and drowning in procrastination. Not this year, tho. I’m really going to try and stick to my goals.
~To branch out and read more genres. I’m interested in reading gothic romance/horror, cozy mysteries, more non-fiction and maybe some erotica/smut. I also want to re-visit more contemporary fiction. And I already anticipate reading more children’s lit this year, thanks to my kids!
~To finish at least two books I started in the past. My Goodreads “Currently Reading” shelf is full of books I half started and never finished.
~To finish one book series I started in the past but never finished (already have two in mind).
(cheers to the new year!)