Title: Sunrise on the Reaping Author: Suzanne Collins Series: The Hunger Games #5 Genre: Dystopian Format: Audio Pages: 382 Length: 12h 48m Narrator: Jefferson White Source: Owned Reason: Just Because Rating:
My Thoughts
I’m so glad Collins has decided to write more books in Panem universe. I love deep diving into so many of the secondary characters from the original trilogy. I’ve been looking forward to SUNRISE ON THE REAPING since I heard about it and it did not disappoint.
I knew Haymitch had to have had a rough life, especially in and after the games. I just had no idea how awful it really was. Poor, Haymitch! Despite how gruesome his story was, it was a fantastic edition to the series. I really loved learning more about him. I also loved how Collins interspersed “The Raven” by Edgar Allan Poe throughout the book and especially during the last chapter. It added a lot of feeling and atmosphere to what happened to Haymitch and the other characters.
It was really fun to see all the character cameos from the original trilogy as well as a few from THE BALLAD ON SONGBIRDS AND SNAKES. The characters endeared the book to me more than anything else.
As of the end SUNRISE ON THE REAPING, I still want to know how Snow became president of Panem and what led to that happening between the tenth and 50th Hunger Games. I also still want to know why he and Tigris had a falling out. I also want to know how both Lucy Gray and Maude Ivory died because of something Clerk Carmine or Tam Amber said near the end of this story. I’d love to read Finnick’s story or what happened during the first quarter quell next. And, I think it would be fun to get Mags’, Beatty’s, and Johanna’s stories at some point as well.
https://jennielyse.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/new_logo_main_small.png00Jenni Elysehttps://jennielyse.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/new_logo_main_small.pngJenni Elyse2025-08-05 00:00:002026-04-10 14:12:52Sunrise on the Reaping
Title: The Paradise Problem Author: Christina Lauren Genre: Romance Format: Audio Pages: 340 Length: 11h 43m Narrator: Patti Murin, Jon Root Source: Owned Reason: Book of the Month Rating:
My Thoughts
I enjoyed THE PARADISE PROBLEM a lot. I loved the banter and chemistry between Anna and Liam. I loved seeing their marriage of convenience turn into a real marriage.
I found myself laughing out loud and sniggering quite a bit while I listened to the audio. I loved the setting and wished I could be on the same island with them, minus the family drama of course. I loved the ending, especially the epilogue, and I loved that a certain narcissistic bastard got what he deserved.
https://jennielyse.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/new_logo_main_small.png00Jenni Elysehttps://jennielyse.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/new_logo_main_small.pngJenni Elyse2025-07-28 00:00:002026-04-10 14:09:26The Paradise Problem
Title: One Golden Summer Author: Carley Fortune Series: Florek Brothers #2 Genre: Romance Format: Audio Pages: 382 Length: 11h 51m Narrator: A.J. Bridel Source: Borrowed Reason: Just Because Rating:
My Thoughts
I discovered Carley Fortune when her debut came out in 2021. I instantly fell in love with EVERY SUMMER AFTER and each subsequent book since then.
ONE GOLDEN SUMMER is my favorite of Fortune’s novels. I adored Alice and Charlie. I loved their interactions and all the fun they had together at the lake during the summer. I loved that this story is a companion to EVERY SUMMER AFTER and that we get to finally see Charlie’s happily ever after. I loved revisiting the same lake and getting to see Percy, Sam, and Charlie again. It made this story that much more special.
https://jennielyse.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/new_logo_main_small.png00Jenni Elysehttps://jennielyse.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/new_logo_main_small.pngJenni Elyse2025-07-18 00:00:002026-04-10 14:09:01One Golden Summer
My goal for the year is to read 60 books and I’ve only read 16. Not reading anything in March and April really killed my progress.
So far, my favorite books are:
Onyx Storm by Rebecca Yarros
Phantasma by Kaylie Smith
First-Time Caller by B.K. Borison
Book Club
I made a goal to read all of my book club books this year. I’ve only read two out of six. I tried to read March’s and May’s books but ended up DNFing them.
Book of the Month
I made a goal to read all of my 2025 Book of the Month picks. I’ve only read three out of ten.
Book of the Month Backlist
I made a goal to read 12 of the books on my Book of the Month backlist. I’ve only read two so far.
Conclusion
I haven’t had quite an abysmal reading year as 16 books isn’t anything to laugh at. It does feel a little disappointing since I know I can read a lot more. Because there’s no way I’m going to accomplish any of my goals, I’ve decided to modify them a bit. I want to enjoy what I read instead of stressing about not reading enough. The changes to my goals for 2025 are:
Read 48 books.
Read 9 of my book club books.
Read 12 of my 2025 Book of the Month books.
Read 12 of the books on my Book of the Month backlist.
Sunrise on the Reaping
Author: Suzanne Collins
Series: The Hunger Games #5
Genre: Dystopian
Format: Audio
Pages: 382
Length: 12h 48m
Narrator: Jefferson White
Source: Owned
Reason: Just Because
Rating:
My Thoughts
I’m so glad Collins has decided to write more books in Panem universe. I love deep diving into so many of the secondary characters from the original trilogy. I’ve been looking forward to SUNRISE ON THE REAPING since I heard about it and it did not disappoint.
I knew Haymitch had to have had a rough life, especially in and after the games. I just had no idea how awful it really was. Poor, Haymitch! Despite how gruesome his story was, it was a fantastic edition to the series. I really loved learning more about him. I also loved how Collins interspersed “The Raven” by Edgar Allan Poe throughout the book and especially during the last chapter. It added a lot of feeling and atmosphere to what happened to Haymitch and the other characters.
It was really fun to see all the character cameos from the original trilogy as well as a few from THE BALLAD ON SONGBIRDS AND SNAKES. The characters endeared the book to me more than anything else.
As of the end SUNRISE ON THE REAPING, I still want to know how Snow became president of Panem and what led to that happening between the tenth and 50th Hunger Games. I also still want to know why he and Tigris had a falling out. I also want to know how both Lucy Gray and Maude Ivory died because of something Clerk Carmine or Tam Amber said near the end of this story. I’d love to read Finnick’s story or what happened during the first quarter quell next. And, I think it would be fun to get Mags’, Beatty’s, and Johanna’s stories at some point as well.
July 2025 Wrap-Up
Books Read
Favorite: One Golden Summer
Least Favorite: None
Stats
July
Books Read: 3
Rereads: 1
Pages Read: 1,206
Hours Listened: 35h 37m
Average Rating: 4.3
Year-to-Date
Books Read: 19
Rereads: 1
Pages Read: 6,717
Hours Listened: 202h 18m
Average Rating: 4.2
The Paradise Problem
Author: Christina Lauren
Genre: Romance
Format: Audio
Pages: 340
Length: 11h 43m
Narrator: Patti Murin, Jon Root
Source: Owned
Reason: Book of the Month
Rating:
My Thoughts
I enjoyed THE PARADISE PROBLEM a lot. I loved the banter and chemistry between Anna and Liam. I loved seeing their marriage of convenience turn into a real marriage.
I found myself laughing out loud and sniggering quite a bit while I listened to the audio. I loved the setting and wished I could be on the same island with them, minus the family drama of course. I loved the ending, especially the epilogue, and I loved that a certain narcissistic bastard got what he deserved.
One Golden Summer
Author: Carley Fortune
Series: Florek Brothers #2
Genre: Romance
Format: Audio
Pages: 382
Length: 11h 51m
Narrator: A.J. Bridel
Source: Borrowed
Reason: Just Because
Rating:
My Thoughts
I discovered Carley Fortune when her debut came out in 2021. I instantly fell in love with EVERY SUMMER AFTER and each subsequent book since then.
ONE GOLDEN SUMMER is my favorite of Fortune’s novels. I adored Alice and Charlie. I loved their interactions and all the fun they had together at the lake during the summer. I loved that this story is a companion to EVERY SUMMER AFTER and that we get to finally see Charlie’s happily ever after. I loved revisiting the same lake and getting to see Percy, Sam, and Charlie again. It made this story that much more special.
2025 Reading Goals Check-In
Now that the year is halfway over, I thought I’d check-in on my progress with my 2025 reading goals. My goals for 2025 are to:
I’ve been keeping track of my progress on my 2025 Goals & Tracking page.
Yearly Goal
My goal for the year is to read 60 books and I’ve only read 16. Not reading anything in March and April really killed my progress.
So far, my favorite books are:
Book Club
I made a goal to read all of my book club books this year. I’ve only read two out of six. I tried to read March’s and May’s books but ended up DNFing them.
Book of the Month
I made a goal to read all of my 2025 Book of the Month picks. I’ve only read three out of ten.
Book of the Month Backlist
I made a goal to read 12 of the books on my Book of the Month backlist. I’ve only read two so far.
Conclusion
I haven’t had quite an abysmal reading year as 16 books isn’t anything to laugh at. It does feel a little disappointing since I know I can read a lot more. Because there’s no way I’m going to accomplish any of my goals, I’ve decided to modify them a bit. I want to enjoy what I read instead of stressing about not reading enough. The changes to my goals for 2025 are: