Reading With Tyler

Well, time got away from me a bit there, didn’t it! We’re almost at the end of JULY! And I’m only just getting round to writing this update; though it’s posted at the end of July – which is even worse!

May and June were a bit manic in terms of just so much going on in my personal life that reading took a slight step back. Not so much so that nothing got done – but just not a lot of progress was made on the challenges. But here we go:

Challenge 1: 12 Books to read inspired by…

I’ve only ticked off one book on this list, and that is Sepernt & Dove by Shelby Mahurin! This was the last book I finished in June, so it just barely scraped into this wrap up!

challenge 2: Enter the Cosmere

There is actually no update here, as I haven’t read book 2 still… I will get round to it. When the time is right. I don’t want to force it, and May and June just weren’t right for it.

challenge 3: bingo!

I was able to add 2 books to my bingo board! They were

Became a Movie – The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes by Suzanne Collins
and
From the Bookstore Display – When Harus Was Here by Dustin Thao

These leaves us with just two squares – read a classic, and read a book that’s been on my TBR for too long. I have ideas for both of these books, I just haven’t gotten round to them yet! The problem is, both of these books also appear on the 12 books to read challenge so I don’t know if they count… We’ll see!

challenge 4: SJM second chance

I ended up taking a break from this challenge in May as I had an unexpected death in the family, and plenty of people on instagram as well as friends, who have read Empire of Storms suggested I hold off on it till I was in a better place. Which meant I didn’t get round to it until June.

However, I did get round to it! I loved it (not quite as much as Queen of Shadows, mind, but still!) and I’m excited to read Tower of Dawn this month (July!). Also, I don’t know if I’ve mentioned it but I’ve told myself (and my Fiancé) that when I finish ToG, he has to get me physical trophies because I’m enjoying myself that much and this was technically his idea / inspired by him.

So, we’re making progress on three of the challenges – one is at a total standstill which is a shame. I haven’t figured out if the Cosmere issues are down to book size, my enjoyment or just needing it to be ‘the right time’ and it just not being there yet… By the time the next update comes around in September, I will have decided if I am scrapping the Cosmere challenge or if I will be forcing myself to continue it in September – October in time for the penultimate 2025 challenge update.

We shall see! How are you getting on in any of the challenges you’ve set for yourself this year? I think I’m enjoying prompts a lot more this year than actual Titles chosen for my challenges so 2026 I might come up with / search for and join a prompt based challenge instead (as well as continuing on with my SJM Second Chance because although I won’t finish it this year, I absolutely want to finish!)