Creative Livings

Hi everyone! Before 2025, I was never really much of a reader, but for New Year’s, I made it a goal to read at least 6 books. Now, moving into 2026, I would like to continue this tradition. For anyone who is just starting out on their reading journey, I have curated a list of the books I’ve read, my opinions about them, and links to where you can find them for yourselves if a book piques your interest. I would like to continue this book log for years to come as my book reading experience grows. Let’s get started, shall we!

Past Present Future, By: Rachel Lynn Solomon

Genres: Romance

This book was my first book of 2025. Going into it, I didn’t know what to expect or really what to look for when finding a good book. However, I think this book was appropriate for the phase in my life that I was in. Backstory: When I first started reading this book, I had just begun a long-distance relationship, so I could really relate to what the characters were experiencing. This book is about a couple, Rowan and Neil, who go into a long-distance relationship together. It talks about this canon event of starting college and the hardships of having to handle a long-distance relationship on top of being in a completely new environment. I think a lot of young adult individuals could relate to this book and maybe even find comfort in it. In my opinion, it was a generally easy read. Some important notes: 1. It is a sequel to a book called “Today, Tonight, Tomorrow,” which I didn’t realize when I first started reading the book; however, for me, it was still understandable without ever reading the first book in the sequel. 2. It is a little smutty, so I would only recommend this book to people who are above the age of 17. 3. The second half of the book was a little unsettling for me. This book dives into a lot of mental health struggles, and for me, it made me pretty sad when reading it. I wouldn’t necessarily describe it as a feel-good book. For someone who likes deep and emotional subjects that will really make you feel something, then I would recommend this to you. My overall rating: 5/10

Here’s the link for anyone interested: https://amzn.to/4qeCDlh

The Pumpkin Spiced Cafe, By: Laurie Gilmore

Genre: Romance, mystery, realistic fiction

If the show Gilmore Girls were a book, it would be this book. This book is the perfect cozy autumn book to curl up with, with a mug of hot chocolate in your other hand. It is the first book of the Dream Harbor series. This book is about a girl named Jeanie, who moves to a town called Dream Harbor to run a café called The Pumpkin Spiced Café. She navigates running her own business for the first time (and falling in love for the first time). This book is also a bit of a mystery, and you will see why once you read it. This is a light-hearted, feel-good book that doesn’t have too much stressful drama. In my opinion, it’s just enough to keep you on your toes. I would rate it a 3.5/10 on the spiciness scale. This book is also super easy to read, so it is perfect for someone who is new to reading. I actually ended up reading this book twice in 2025, so that shows how much I liked it. My overall rating: 8.5/10

Here’s the link for anyone interested: https://amzn.to/4qXB0tn

The Song of Achilles By: Madeline Miller

This book is a retelling of the Trojan War from Patroclus’s perspective. It goes through the story of Achilles, who is destined for greatness, and the awkward Patroclus. Although they are vastly different, they still became the best of friends. Throughout the book, we see their bond deepen as they master the art of war. It is heartwarming to see how much they long to be together despite the displeasure of Achilles’s mother, Thetis. Towards the end of the book, Achilles goes to war to fulfill his destiny. While Achilles is trying to fulfill his destiny, all Patroclus sees is Achilles, the person he holds most dear, slowly slipping away. This book is so well written. It is heartwarming while also being heartbreaking. It will make you smile, and it will make you cry. My overall rating: 9/10

Here’s the link for anyone interested: https://amzn.to/49YIGpr

Once Upon a Broken Heart (The triligy): Stephanie Garber

Genres: Fantasy, Romance

In 2025, I read all 3 books in this series, which, for me (who was never much of a reader), was the first series I’ve ever finished. I read the first one thinking, “If I like it, I’ll read the 2nd one in the trilogy,” and I absolutely loved it! It was really exciting for me because it’s a very fast-paced book. I could never predict what the next chapter was about because it was always something crazy and out of the ordinary. So much occurred in one book that I couldn’t even write it here because then this blog post would be 27 paragraphs long. I loved it so much that I had to read the rest of the trilogy. I like how all three books flowed together really nicely and had a similar writing style and vibe. For anyone who is a fantasy lover, you would absolutely eat these books up. The stories are about the adventures of a girl named Evangeline Fox (even her name is so majestic). Her adventures begin because she ends up making a deal with the Prince of Hearts, who is a Fate. This leads to a bunch of chaotic events. It’s hard to tell whether you can trust him because you never know when he is telling the truth. In the 2nd book, Evangeline promises herself not to trust him, but she keeps getting involved with him in one way or another. In the third book, you realize that maybe the true villain was someone you would never expect. Except it makes total sense in the end. Overall rating 10/10

Here’s the link for anyone interested: https://amzn.to/4qhSIqo