march 2025 reading wrap up
i was in a bad slump for a while...
Books that I read this month
1. Lights Out, Nevessa Allen
This buddy read was way overdue, and I finally got to read it at the beginning of March. Lights Out caught my eye because I heard it was an “unserious” dark comedy with a (morally grey) golden retriever lead. Knowing that I enjoyed Butcher & Blackbird, I thought I might like it. (I also liked the funny audiobook snippets from Josh that I came across on Instagram/TikTok.)
Lights Out turned out to be a fun but corny read for me. Josh was a lovable main protagonist, and despite the bad things he’d done, he was a walking green flag. I liked seeing him take care of Aly and her overall well-being. He was also really funny in his chapters, and there were a handful of scenes that I enjoyed in the book.
My main issue with this book was the direct references to TikTok. I couldn’t get past Josh filming thirst traps of himself for his followers on #MaskTok, and Aly actively leaving thirsty comments under his videos. It reminded me of how readers on the platform liked to do the same under those cringe biker guy videos or videos of guys holding up a book and pretending to read to “summon BookTok”. Yeah no.
Verdict: 3/5 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️
2. Oathbound, Tracy Deonn
With each book in the Legendborn Cycle series, Tracy Deonn never disappoints. Even though I was confused by everything at first, Oathbound was so good. This book kept me on the edge of my seat with multiple POVs, its characters, the pacing, and the way the story continued after the second book, Bloodmarked.
I wish more people read this series — it’s so underrated and so well-developed. Each book dives deeper into Bree’s manifestation of powers and the world the story is set. Oathbound is a true reflection of that. If you pick up this series after reading this blog, you might understand why my reviews are the way they are.
Now, all we have to do is wait for the fourth book. Totally worth it, though.
Verdict: 4.5/5 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
3. She Who Became The Sun, Shelley-Parker Chan
After Oathbound, I fell into a long slump. I wasn’t reading for two weeks, and I DNF-ed two books. She Who Became The Sun by Shelley-Parker Chan was one of them.
The reason why I DNF-ed this book was because I was too dumb for this book. That was it. After hitting the 59% mark, I decided to take a break from reading the book because I wasn’t enjoying it. I was confused throughout the whole time I was reading it.
However, despite my review, I might consider trying this series again when I’m in the right mood for it. My friend (the same one who convinced me to start The Poppy War) said The Radiant Emperor duology was an evil twin to R.F. Kuang’s trilogy.
Verdict: DNF 🚫📚
Side note: I won’t be talking about the other book I DNF’ed this month because of the SMP boycott.
Books that I reread this month
4. As Long As The Lemon Trees Grow, Zoulfa Katouh
When I planned my 2025 TBR, I wanted to reread and annotate As Long As The Lemon Trees Grow. It’s a story set in Syria during the civil war, and one of the most heartbreaking books I’ve ever read.
“You asked me if you could see colours again, Salama. If we deserve to see them. I think we do. I think you can. There's too little of it in death. In pain. But that's not the only thing in the world. That's not all that Syria has. Syria was once the center of the world. Inventions and discoveries were made here; they built the world. Our history is in the Al-Zahrawi Palace, in our mosques, in our earth.”
As Long As The Lemon Trees Grow is a book that I’ll always recommend. Like with the Legendborn Cycle series, I wish more people read this book. It’s a poignant and hopeful novel that depicts the reality of what Syrians are going through in their country. It’s also a story about love, loss, resilience, and survival. Salama and Kenan’s story will tug at your heartstrings and I think both current and future generations should add this book to their shelves.
Verdict: 4.5/5 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
5. Praise, Sara Cate
At this point, I was still in a slump and didn’t know what else to read (clearly, this is a recurring theme this month), so I decided to reread the Salacious Players Club series. It did the job. It did the job last time when I read it for the first time back in 2022.
Thankfully, Praise (the first book in the series) was just what I needed at this time. It was fast-paced, interesting, and pretty fun to read. Regardless, I don’t think I’ll be continuing a series reread at this time.
Verdict: 3/5 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️
6. Bunny, Mona Awad
Bunny by Mona Awad was another book that I decided to reread this month. I read it back in 2023 because a close reader friend wouldn’t stop talking about it. It’s a Heathers-esque novel that’s dark, gory, twisted, and unique in its own way.
While I did enjoy it back then and rated the book 4 out of 5 stars, I found the book confusing. Which is why I also think that it’s a book that you need to think about and analyze. With that being said, I wanted to reread Bunny in hopes of understanding it better.
Well spoiler alert: I’m still confused. Like, really confused. I’m definitely too dumb for this book but I’d still recommend it.
Verdict: 3.5/5 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️
ALSO: Mona Awad will be releasing a follow-up novel, We Love You, Bunny, in September this year. I’ll also be checking that out too.
— featured image: pinterest
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Omg same I DNFed she who became the sun last year and havent picked it up again. I just dont feel like I'm in the right headspace to read it so I don't want my unreadiness to affect my view of the book