Reader Rayna

Welcome to another month’s TBR hopefuls list! Like always, I hope to read everything that I have listed here, but I might not get to everything, and that’s okay! (This is mostly a reminder to myself to not be so hard on myself if I don’t.)

This month’s list is going to be a little different, as last month I think I just had waaaay too much listed, so my brain thought that I HAD to try to read all eight books last month, which was kind of stressful since I didn’t read for the first two weeks, basically. The first week of this month was filled with medical emergencies (we’re all okay), so no reading has gotten done at all so far this month, but there’s still plenty of month left to go.

I’ve also been wholly invested in video games for weeks now, so there’s also that. It seems March/April is when this happens every year and I just lose my steam with reading until fall comes around, so really this isn’t out of the unusual. Fan Fest for Final Fantasy XIV happened a few weeks ago announcing the next expansion coming January 2027 (SO hype!!), so I’ve been busy playing that, plus time spent with friends playing REPO.

So instead, I’m going to be picking my books based off of what I’m feeling and based off of what I finished last month and want to get to this month. Though this list was originally very different to what it is now, I’m still excited to try to get to these books this month, and I think also choosing only a few books instead of many is going to also help me succeed in the long run.

Click on a cover to go to its Goodreads page!

Continued Reading from Last Month

• Jade City by Fonda Lee – I was really enjoying this book, even though I only got to chapter ten by the time April ended. I like the older style feel of the writing, as if I’m watching a Chinese drama unfold in front of me or something, mixed in with martial arts. I’m excited to continue to read this book, and go to the book signing for Lee and Shannon Chakraborty on May 12th!
• The Eternal Ones by Namina Forna – I got about 45% of the way through the audiobook by the time April wrapped up, and I’ve had plenty of opportunity otherwise to finish it, I just haven’t yet. (Given everything that went on the past week or so, I go to music for comfort rather than audiobooks while driving, as it’s always been a method of helping me sort through my thoughts.) I will finish it this month for sure, though!

The Mood Picks

For this month, I decided I’m skipping out on picking books with prompts and am just picking up based on my mood. I’ve been having fun with my prompts, but it’s also good to take a break once in a while and just choose what I want to read for myself, you know?

• The Sun and the Starmaker by Rachel Griffin – Though this definitely gives more winter vibes, I feel so gravitationally pulled toward this book, so I think I might give it a go this month. It’s a beautiful book and I already own two different editions, and I haven’t even read it yet! (I hope I love it lmao)
• Heir of Fire by Sarah J. Maas – In continuing my read-a-long/thon for the upcoming releases of ACOTAR 6 and 7, I’ll be rereading Heir of Fire, which is when things really start to pick up in the story and I know that I, like many, become super hooked on what’s happening. I’ve been enjoying my rereads so far, so I’m excited to continue!
• The Adventures of Amina al-Sirafi by Shannon Chakraborty – I meant to get to this last month since I’m going to the signing on May 12th for the sequel, but alas, it didn’t happen. And there’s no way in hell I’ll be able to finish it by Tuesday (as this post is going up on the Sunday beforehand). Realistically this might be read in a different month altogether, but it will be read this year, I promise.

And that’s my TBR for the month! I feel like this is quite a good spread and has everything I’m looking forward to the most. I hope that I’m able to get to everything and that I enjoy them all! And I hope that whatever you decide to read this month that you find many that you love, as well!

What are you planning on reading this month? What’s your most anticipated release? Let me know!