Category: Books

As much as I wish that Jack was a bookworm, he’s more of a video game… worm. However, I feel that it is important that he keeps up with some reading over the summers, so I typically “assign” reading as part of his daily chores. {His summer chore list typically includes actual chores – like emptying the dishwasher, cleaning his room, and vacuuming – and also ‘annoying mom chores’ like read for 20 minutes and create art with something.}

Before the school year ended, I reached out to his ELA teacher to see if she had any book recommendations for the summer and she said that the class was enjoying the Peak series. Well, apparently not my kid. When I asked him, he said it was “meh and boring”. Sigh. So, I asked my Instagram friends what their pre-teen/teen kids were reading and you all did not disappoint!

Here’s what I was looking for:

• Middle school reading level (8^th grade)
• Likes: video games, adventures, cartoons
• Previously read: Last Kids on Earth series, Bad Guys series, Wimpy Kid series, Dogman series

In case you are looking for middle school reading level books, here is the list of books other teens are enjoying:

The City of Ember by Jeanne DuPrau – 4 book series

Percy Jackson and the Olympians series by Rick Riordan – 8 book series (also, a couple votes for ANYTHING by Rick Riordan)

Aru Shah and the End of Time series by Roshani Chokshi – 5 book series

Wings of Fire series by Tui T. Sutherland – 16 book series

The Brilliant World of Tom Gates series by L. Pichon – 23 book series

The Treehouse Books by Andy Griffiths – 14 book series

The Kingdom Keepers series by Ridley Pearson – 7 book series

The Inheritance Games series by Jennifer Lynn Barnes – 6 book series

The Maze Runner series by James Dashner – 5 book series

Hilo series by Judd Winick – 10 book series

Cat Kid Comic Club by Dav Pilkey – 5 book series

We previously read the Hilo series and the Cat Kid Comic Club series – both are graphic novels, which are a bit more approachable to ‘non-reader’ kids and we liked them both!

I narrowed down the list and gave Jack the task of looking up a few of the books on Amazon, reading the synopsis and letting me know which looked interesting to him to start with. The winner was: The Kingdom Keepers, starting with Disney After Dark.

Here’s the synopsis: Five young teens tapped as models for theme park “guides” (using a new hologram technology developed by the Disney Imagineers) find themselves pitted against Disney villains and witches that threaten both the future of Walt Disney World and the stability of the world outside its walls.

I ordered a paperback and it should arrive any moment now. Fingers-crossed that it’s a winner!

Disclosure: This post contains Amazon affiliate links. This means that clicking on a link may help me earn a small commission at no cost to you.

Rather than just leave it to updating my yearly book list as I finish each book, I like to give you all smaller recommendation lists as we go through the year. So, if you’re looking for some of my favorite books of 2025 to add to your TBR pile, you’re in the right place!

{Psssst, you can find my 2025 Book List here with a mini synopsis of each book I’ve read so far this year.}

I just finished a couple books that I loved, so I wanted to share them with you while they’re still top-of-mind! Whether you’re in the mood for a gripping mystery with undercover agents and high-stakes action, or a swoony, slow-burn romance that makes you feel all the feelings, I’ve got two fantastic recommendations for you:

For mystery lovers:
Tess Gerritsen’s Martini Club (Books 1 & 2) had me hooked from the start. If you like smart, capable women and danger, this fast-paced series is right up your alley.

• The Spy Coast (Book 1)
• The Summer Guests (Book 2)

As I was preparing this post, I saw that a new release popped up on Amazon – a third book in the series is expected in November 2026!

For romance fans:
The Windy City Series by Liz Tomforde (Books 1 through 5) is so good. Each book focuses on a different couple and blends heart, humor, and spice. I started this series in 2024 and as soon as the last book was published I devoured it!

• Mile High (Book 1)
• The Right Move (Book 2)
• Caught Up (Book 3)
• Play Along (Book 4)
• Rewind it Back (Book 5)

Happy Reading!

Disclaimer: This post contains Amazon affiliate links. This means that clicking on a link may help me earn a small commission at no cost to you.

I’ve always been a voracious reader, averaging over 100 books a year. Reading has been my escape, my adventure, my way to experience different perspectives and worlds. However, for me it’s typically a solitary experience. I’d finish a book, do a little mini review for my yearly book list, and then move onto the next one.

This changed when I got into The Empyrean series. While I read Forth Wing and Iron Flame after they had been out for a while, I eagerly anticipated the release of Onyx Storm with everyone else. This time, I got to experience the hype firsthand and I realized how FUN it was to read a book along a massive, engaged audience.

With Onyx Storm, my reading experience extended beyond just myself and my Kindle. My social media timeline was filled with fan theories, debates and hilarious memes. Instead of immediately moving on to the next book in my TBR pile, I sat with it for a while and eagerly scrolled through online discussions and predictions for the next book.

It added a whole new layer to my reading enjoyment – the closest to compare it to is when the Harry Potter series came out but even then, social media was not where it is now. Actually, now that I think about it, it’s similar to the feeling of Marvel releasing their next movie or television series and all the fun Easter Eggs hidden for fans to search out.

It’s like the world’s largest book club. But a book club that meets at a time that’s actually convenient to you and in your home. And less socializing or worrying that other people might not like you.

While I’ll always love discovering hidden gems and following my own random reading path, this latest release of Onyx Storm has helped me see the value in occasionally picking up a book that’s dominating conversations. It’s a way to feel connected to a larger community of readers, to experience books in a way that’s both personal and shared. Because sometimes the magic of a book isn’t just in its pages – it’s in the collective excitement, the shared speculation, and the feeling of being part of something bigger than yourself.

Disclaimer: This post contains Amazon affiliate links. This means that clicking on a link may help me earn a small commission at no cost to you.