Despite this being the summer that I’ve fallen in love with reading again, I haven’t actually managed to finish that many books… Not only am I a mood reader and hence always have about five books on the go with weeks in between reading them, but I’m also a relatively slow reader–but it makes for a good experience over all! The tortoise wins the race, and all that.

Over the summer holidays, my goal was to just relax, and unwind more with a book. I’ve been trying hard to limit my screen time and to actively reach for a book more than my phone, and it’s been working wonders for my enthusiasm, imagination, and surprisngly–patience. We don’t realise how impatient for a quick dopamine fix we get with eternal scrolling.

So, over the last few months I have finished two books: THE LISTENERS by Maggie Stiefvater and SUNRISE ON THE REAPING by Suzanne Collins.

THE LISTENERS by Maggie Stiefvater was genuinely probably one of the best books I’ve read this year. A genre that I don’t usually reach for, adult historical fiction, but with a touch of magical realism à la Bridget Collins’ The Binding.

Following the talented and well-loved manager (June ‘Hoss’ Hudson) of a luxurious hotel in the Appalachian mountains, this novel explores what it would be like when Axis powers (Japanese, German, Italian politicians and supporters during WW2, for those who aren’t historically inclined) are moved into the hotel by the FBI.

I was genuinely surprised to like this book. The premise caught my attention, and as it was only 99p on ebook, I couldn’t see why not. Overall, it is a low-stakes storyline, with there not being much drama or twists to keep the pages turning, but just like the subtle magic of the hotel’s waters, there was something about this book that had me hooked.

It is a more character driven story, and maybe as someone who prefers to read and write complex character over plot, it was a beautiful exploration of humanity, sacrifice, honour and kindness towards all people — even when it seems they’re on different sides of the war.

THE LISTENERS was potentially too long, and at times too slow, but I do think that had events been sped up or rushed through, the beauty of the character development would have been lost, as would the deep understanding of the magic.

The magic in of itself was unique in my mind. Explored as the spirit of the hotel manifesting in the natural springs and rivers that run through the mountains, it quickly became a character in of itself, with the entire premise being on keeping the waters happy so the hotel could thrive, by ensuring the guests and staff were content. You quickly start thinking from the same viewpoint as our protagonist and begin analysing every action and word, hoping that it won’t turn the waters.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book and would happily read it again. It was comforting, warm, and cinematic. I wish I had the funds to spend a weekend in a hotel like the Avallon.

tl;dr

Title: The Listeners

Author: Maggie Stiefvater

Rating: 4/5 stars

Themes: Love, Loyalty, Courage, Nature, Humanity

“If it were a film” rating: 12A

I’ve also just ordered a gorgeous exclusive cover of this book and am biting my fingernails in anticipation!!

Now, SUNRISE ON THE REAPING was released earlier this year, and I have spent the majority of Spring/Summer 2025 reading the Hunger Games for the first time in order to read this one book.

Boy, was it worth the wait.

I have so much to say about this book, and nothing short of: I LOVED IT.

I can’t remember the last time a book had me so hooked that I couldn’t put it down and purposefully read long after my husband had gone to bed, purely because “there’s squirrels and I need to know what happens next”.

SOTR firstly, is a stark contrast in quality than it is to the original Hunger Games trilogy. I noticed it when I read A Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes, but it is clear that Suzanne had many years more of experience under her belt than when she first wrote HG, and I think it is one of the reasons I loved this book so much.

I love prequels, especially when they explore a character that we already know and love, and SOTR does such a beautiful job of showcasing tiny bits of Haymitch that we may have never noticed before and linking it to his future. Each character has superbly clear motivations, and you know who you’re rooting for the entire time.

SOTR holds knowledge and mystery in such an incredibly powerful balance that you constantly have a hope that things will change. We know there’s only one victor, in fact we know exactly how Haymitch wins his Games–but even so, I kept wishing it would be different.

This book is heart-breaking. I’m not one to cry when reading, and there’s very few books that have managed to bring me to tears, but this story just pulls on your heartstrings and empathy like nothing else. Suzanne is over here playing our hearts like a harp. The last 25% had me screaming and pacing on a beach in Cyprus; I looked insane. I haven’t experienced such a reading hangover since 2019.

It’s a long book, but fast-paced and emotionally-charged. I immediately need to return and re-read the original Hunger Games trilogy, despite the fact that I just finished them.

tl;dr

Title: Sunrise on the Reaping

Author: Suzanne Collins

Rating: 5/5 stars

Genre: Dystopian YA

Themes: Loyalty, Propaganda, Endurance, Grief, The Illusion of Choice, Oppression.

Content Warnings: It’s the Hunger Games–there’s a lot of gory details of death.

“If it were a film” rating: Definitely 15 – I look forward to seeing how the movie holds up with this book. ABOSAS was pretty decent.

Now…

I’m now reading through two books, Wind and Truth by Brandon Sanderson (I had hoped to finish this by September, but these two books took precedence) and The Dagger and The Flame by Catherine Doyle (I’m loving it and hating it simultaneously – in a good way). Also back to posting a lot more on Instagram so drop a follow or a like over there too!