I’m actually quite proud of my reading accomplishments this year as, with a new job, it has been more difficult to find the time. But I set realistic goals for myself. Ones I know I can achieve as long as I try. I set myself up to read 80 books (last year I’d read 100 so I knew this was attainable), I promised I’d get into poetry (which I read but didn’t like), made sure to squeeze in some timeless classics, and actively sought to diversify my reading list every single time I went book shopping. Some amazing reads stood out to me this year above all others so here are the top 12 that I loved this year:

Summer is the time where every book read should be a book suitable for the beach and/or be able to be paired with an ice cold cocktail. For me, that means it’s either romantic, thrilling, magical, or, my favourite: mythology based. Last year I tackled Percy Jackson, the year before was The Song of Achilles and Circe, and so on it goes. I read most of my mythological and thrilling books in the summer, but usually there’s some room for a classic or two as well. So I’ve compiled a list of books that I deem perfect for summer weather and that I have enjoyed immensely in summers past. There’s just something about those hazy warm summer reads that stick in your head forever.