Fall 2020 Reading Wrap Up – How Did I Do?

Hi Friends, as I was working on my new post for this week, I discovered that this post somehow got stuck as a scheduled post and never went live. Since I spent the time working on it, I decided to post it even though it’s late. I hope you enjoy this bonus, very late, fall wrap up. I will see you with my December wrap up on Thursday!

Hello Lovely Readers! I am a bit behind with this post (can you believe next week is Christmas?!), but I still wanted to take the time to review my fall reading. For those of you that are new, I am terrible at following reading lists and reading goals, but I still like to set myself seasonal challenges and goals to work towards. I try to keep them broad and include many categories so that I don’t get bored or discouraged.

This Fall, I set myself a number of reading goals that I shared with you all here, and now it is time to see how I did. I decided that the easiest way to review my goals was to list them below alongside the discussion of whether I met the goal or not. I set myself 4 main goals each of which had either specific books listed along with them or sub-goals.

I read a total of 23 books, 9 of which were audiobooks. I DNF’d 2 books and my average rating was 3.5 Stars.

Goal #1: Fantasy

My focus for this goal was to read more fantasy overall and focus on those that were atmospheric or had “fall vibes.” Of the specific books that I listed for this category, I read only one – Tunnel of Bones by Victoria Schwab. Though I didn’t do well with reading the specific books that I chose, I am going to mark this goal as successful. Overall this Fall I read 8 Fantasy novels and 5 or 6 of them were atmospheric. My fantasy game was on point this season.

Dead Beat by Jim Butcher
I honestly cannot get enough of The Dresden Files series by Jim Butcher right now

My favourite book from this goal was probably Dead Beat by Jim butcher, but almost any of the books I read from the Dresden Files would fit.

Goal # 2: Fright

This category included more than just your typical scary books; it also included some mysteries and thrillers and some fantasy. When I first reviewed this goal, I thought that I was unsuccessful, but when I looked a bit further, I did not too bad. I would say that I had mid-level success in this category.

I read Home Before Dark by Riley Sager and The Wicked Deep by Shea Ernshaw, which were both on the list. I did not read We Have Always Lived in the Castle but I started it and, hopefully, I can finish it this month. If I didn’t slip into a bit of a reading slump, I would have finished it since it is short. I also read a couple of miscellaneous thrillers, with mixed success, as I didn’t love any of them.

Home Before Dark by Riley Sager
I loved this book. Definitely my favourite Riley Sager so far

My favourite book from this goal was definitely Home Before Dark, which I think was also my only 5 Star read this season. If you have not picked this one up yet, and enjoy books that are ghostly and creepy but not too scary, then I would highly recommend this one.

Goal #3: Cozy and Chic

This goal was intended to be a mixture of cozy, and less intense, mysteries as well as chick-lit. It’s an odd combination, but it worked for me. There was one sub-goal in this category that I did not meet (reading a Murder She Wrote novel), but overall I did very well. It was probably the most successful category this season. In addition to the specific sub-goals below, I also read 3 additional books in this category.

I) Read at least 2 Leslie Meier books – I read all 3 of Meier’s Halloween themed mysteries. I still have mixed opinions about this series, but I don’t regret reading any of them, so that is a bonus. I am going to continue reading this series.

II) At least 1 Agatha Christie – Though I successfully met this goal, the book I chose was my most disappointing read this season. I read Hallowe’en Party and I did not enjoy it. You can see more of my thoughts here, but I would not recommend this one if you are looking to get into Agatha Christie.

III) Start a new series by Samantha Chase – I started the Shaugnessy Brothers series this fall, and I am really excited to continue reading it. The book I read, Made for Us, wasn’t my favourite by Chase, but it was a solid read and exactly what I was looking for out of this type of romance novel.

A Rogue of One's Own by Evie Dunmore

My favourite book from this goal was A Rogue of One’s Own by Evie Dunmore, which I talked about last week.

Goal #4: Miscellaneous

I had a few more general reading goals for the fall and a few books that didn’t fit into the other categories that I wanted to share as well. When I set these goals, I suspected that they would be the ones I was least likely to accomplish, and I was only partially correct in that prediction.

I) Make some progress on my “Book Lists” – I didn’t do all that well with this category, though I did read one book off my “must reads list” for this year. After putting it off for so long, I finally picked up An Absolutely Remarkable Thing by Hank Green, and I am so glad that I did.

An Absolutely Remarkable Thing by Hank Green
I ended up enjoying this book more than I anticipated. An excellent intro Sci-Fi read in my opinion

II) One or Two Non-fiction books – I actually managed to read one non-fiction book this season. I wasn’t going to count it, because it was a book I had to read as part of a weekly Bible study I joined. But then I decided that I chose to join the study, and I chose to read the book each week, so it should count. Baby steps.

III) Graphic Novels – I read one book for this category, and though I really enjoyed it, I would say that I was not successful in meeting this goal. The primary reason for setting this goal was to read The Lumberjanes and I did not do that. This goal will continue into the winter season.

IV) Something Mermaid – I am so disappointed that I did not accomplish this goal. I had a book for this category out from the e-library for at least a month, maybe two, and I just never picked it up. Perhaps I’ll read it in the next few months.

V) Start a ‘Walking Book’– I did not meet this goal even a little bit. Though I was doing well at walking most days during the week during September, I didn’t manage to keep up with that habit, and when I did walk, I was either with someone or listening to music. I do still want to work towards walking more, so maybe this will be a goal I revisit next year, but we shall see.


Though there were a few sub-goals and books on this list that I did not read or accomplish, I think that overall I had a successful reading season. I met many of my goals, and though I didn’t read as many books as I would have liked in November, I read a lot of books this fall that I really enjoyed. Depending on how you do with goals, you may think that my results are disappointing, but knowing me as I do, I would say this is a resounding success. I am looking forward to seeing how I do with my Winter Reading Goals that I shared last week.

How would you rate your fall reading? Did you accomplish your reading goals or read all the books you hoped to read? What was your favourite book that you read this fall? Let me know in the comments!

Until Next Time,

Meaghan Signature

Winter Reading Goals Bingo (December to February)

Hello Lovely Readers! Though the calendar doesn’t yet say so, we are now unofficially into the winter season, which means that it is past time for another set of seasonal reading goals. As I teased in last week’s November Reading Wrap up post, I am testing out a seasonal reading Bingo to help me focus on meeting my goals and to direct my reading while still remaining flexible.

You may be wondering how I am going to accomplish working towards both monthly reading Bingos and a seasonal one, and my answer is that the two are not exclusive. If I read a book for the December Bingo, for example, it can also count towards the seasonal Bingo. The monthly Bingos are intended to challenge and direct my reading on a monthly basis, and also move me closer to completing my seasonal goals. Books can count for multiple prompts on a single card or, if I feel the need for a greater challenge, they can be one book per prompt.

Based on how my reading has gone the past couple of months, I need all the help I can get with directing my reading and encouraging me to actually pick up a book. I know that my reading typically slows down at the end of the year, but if possible I would love to turn that around this month and then also get off to a strong start in January. I hope that the below prompts, as well as those in my December Bingo, can help me accomplish that.

  1. A Book with Snow on the Cover
  2. A Book with 500 or more Pages – Even though I love them, I have been having a hard time getting into big books lately. I have so many on my list that my goal is to read at least one of them in the next few months.
  3. Somewhere on a Beach – We may not be able to travel this year, but we can still travel through books. This prompt is to read a book that is either set in the summer or has those vacation/beach vibes.
  4. Blast from the Past – Re-read a Book
  5. Graphic Novel or Comic Bind up
  6. A Seasonal Mystery — This category is open to interpretation. It can be holiday-themed, or winter-themed or even Valentine’s day themed. Whatever you would consider “seasonal” between now and the end of February.
  7. Love, Love, Love – This prompt is inspired by Valentine’s day, but can be any book that features love in any way. For me, this will probably be a romance of some form.
  8. Read 20 Books
  9. Book from your physical bookshelf – I am going to try to read a physical book that I own, but this can also be an e-book that you already own.
  10. Non-Fiction Read – I didn’t do well with reading non-fiction in 2020, but I am carrying that goal over to 2021.
  11. A Book 100 pages or less
  12. Middle-Grade Read
  13. Free! Any book of your choosing
  14. A Book set in the Winter – You can either choose a book that is entirely set in the winter or that is partially set in winter.
  15. A Book that’s been turned into a Movie
  16. Set in Another World – For me, this prompt is to read a Terry Pratchett book, but I wanted to make it more general for people to join in.
  17. A 1920s Read – Since I didn’t make much progress with my 1920’s reading list this past year, I want to continue trying to work my way through it in 2021.
  18. It’s in the Stars – Though I intend to read a science fiction book for this prompt, it could also mean a book with stars on the cover, or in the title.
  19. A Year in the Life – As I continue to try and read a book from each year of my life, this prompt is to help me accomplish that. But this could also be a book that focuses on everyday things, or maybe you choose to read a book published in 2021.
  20. It’s Magical – Read a book that feels magical to you, or includes magic in some way.
  21. A Book out of Your Comfort Zone
  22. A new to you Author
  23. Off to a Good Start… Read Book 1 of a series
  24. May I Suggest… Read a book that was recommended to you, either by someone in your life or by an external source.
  25. A Book with Blue on the Cover

Do you set seasonal reading goals for yourself? What books are high on your list to read in the upcoming months? Let me know in the comments if you are planning to participate in Winter Reading Bingo with me, or if you are going to take a couple of prompts from this list to shape your reading.

Until Next Time,

Meaghan Signature

November Reading Wrap Up & December Reading Bingo

Hello Lovely Readers! It has been a couple weeks since my last post. Work has been kicking my butt for the last couple weeks, and then I caught a cold that added it’s two cents into the butt kicking. But I am back and ready to jump back in, and what better way than with a look at how my reading went in November.

Despite my best intentions, November was another mediocre reading month for me. It is not uncommon for my reading to slow down at the end of the year, and then when you add in the extra life stress that I experienced this month, it’s not entirely surprising that I didn’t read as much as I wanted. It also didn’t help that the first two books I picked up in November were disappointing.

I finished a total of 6 books in November. I read 2 audiobooks, 2 e-books, and 2 physical books. My favourite read of the month was A Rogue of One’s Own and my least favourite was Hallowe’en Party. While you will see a non-fiction book on this wrap up, I can’t count it for Non-fiction November since I’ve been reading it in weekly portions since September.

1. Slayer by Kiersten White (3 Stars)

Slayer by Kiersten White

I had a really difficult time getting through Slayer. I enjoyed it while I was listening to it, but as soon as I turned it off, I didn’t feel any pull to pick it back up. Many evenings I didn’t listen to anything before bed because I just didn’t care. This book had a lot of potential, and all of the elements of a book that I should have enjoyed. I can also see the potential for the rest of the series (that ending, though!). But unfortunately, overall it fell flat. I will most likely pick up book 2, but if I feel the same way about it that I did about this one, I don’t think I’ll force my way through it.

2. Hallowe’en Party by Agatha Christie (3 Stars… maybe 2.5?)

Hallowe'en Party by Agatha Christie

I hate to say it, but this book was so disappointing, and I had such high hopes. A Halloween themed Agatha Christie? How was it possible I had never heard of that before. But it did not live up to expectations. It wasn’t terrible by any means, but it was long and it was tedious. I had the motive figured out pretty early, but it was a long process to get to the final reveal and the culprit.

I also had a hard time with the amount of time spent on the possibility that the murder was likely to have been committed by someone who had recently been let out of a psychiatric institution. I don’t know if this was an issue relevant to Christie at the time, but it was overdone and unnecessary. Even as a misdirect for the murder, it was such an obvious misdirect. While I am glad to have read this one, it will not be one that I recommend to those looking to pick up Agatha Christie.

3. The Girls Weekend by Jody Gehrman (3.5 Stars)

The Girls Weekend by Jody Gehrman

I considered giving The Girls Weekend 4 stars, but I settled on 3.5 because I had mixed feelings. I enjoyed it more than I have enjoyed some other thrillers lately, but there was just something about it that didn’t quite hit the spot. I was drawn right into the story at the beginning, but by the time it reached the middle, my interest began to wane, and then the ending was just okay. Based on the build up throughout, I wanted more intrigue and spice from the ending. In the end, it wasn’t my favourite, but I would pick up another book by this author.

4. A Rogue of One’s Own by Evie Dunmore (4 Stars)

A Rogue of One's Own by Evie Dunmore

This is the second book in the A League of Extraordinary Women series. I really enjoyed the first book, but I liked this one even more. This series is historical romance with a humorous side, and it completely hit the spot for me. I consistently enjoy all of the characters in this series, and I loved the interactions and the romantic build up between our two main characters. Though I loved the humour in Book one, I liked the relationship better in this one.

5. White Night by Jim Butcher (4 Stars)

White Night by Jim Butcher

I’m not going to say too much about this, other than to say that I am still really enjoying this series. If you are new to this series, it definitely takes a few books before it hits it’s stride, but I have been consistently giving 4 star ratings to the past few books I’ve read in the series. Though the main draw is definitely the fantasy world and the humour, I also love the characters and the way they interact with each other. Looking back, one of my criticisms of the first few books is that I didn’t always believe the relationships, and I am so glad that aspect has improved and settled in.

6. None Like Him: 10 Ways God is Different from Us by Jen Wilkin (4.5 Stars)

None Like him by Jen Wilkin

This book is different from what you normally see on this blog, and I think this is the first non-fiction that I have completed this year. I read this book over the past couple months as part of a weekly virtual Bible study that I participated in, and I really enjoyed it. The author challenged me, and made me think, and she presented the concepts and attributes of God in ways that I had never considered before while remaining very accessible. If this is something that you are interested in, I would highly recommend this book.


Last month I introduced a new feature where I look at some of the books or goals that I anticipate reading in the upcoming month. Looking back on last month’s preview, I did a mediocre job of predicting my November reading. I predicted I would need to read like it was my full time job in November to meet all my goals, and you already know I didn’t do that.

While I did continue reading some of the spookier, thriller type books, I didn’t read all that many of them. And I certainly didn’t read a big fantasy book. I picked one up and got about 50 pages at the most into it. Suffice it to say, I didn’t do all that well at meeting my November goals.

December Preview

This month’s preview looks a bit different yet again. I am testing out the idea of a monthly Reading Bingo to help guide and direct my reading for the month. I’ve tried to keep the prompts general so that they fit my goals for the month, but aren’t too specific that they won’t work for others, because I would love for you to join in!

In addition to the picture below, I have attached the PDF file. Feel free to download it and join me this month in working towards a BINGO or two! And let me know in the comments if you’re going to participate, or what you think of the prompts, because I’m thinking of continuing these monthly boards in 2021 and would love the feedback. (Spoiler Alert There may also be a seasonal board coming in the next couple weeks.)

Here are the prompts for December, and a bit of explanation where necessary. Depending on how much of a challenge you want, you can either use one book to fulfill multiple prompts, or use only one book per square.

  1. A Christmas Romance
  2. A Fantasy Read
  3. Christmas Cookies – Read a book that includes baking
  4. Family and Friends – Read a book that features family and/or friends. This one is open to your interpretation.
  5. Listen to 2 Audiobooks – If you don’t read audiobooks regularly, feel free to challenge yourself to read one instead of two.
  6. A Book with Red on the Cover
  7. Many Happy Returns – A Book you were meaning to Read this Year. If you’re like me, you have a list of books you intended to read this year, now is the time to pick one and cross it off your list.
  8. Read 5 Books
  9. Snuggle up – Read a Book in front of the Tree or Fire. It is completely acceptable for this to be the fire on your television.
  10. A Book Published in 2020
  11. Free Space! Use this for any book of your choosing.
  12. Hit 100 Books read in 2020. Okay, so this one is specific to me. Whatever your goal is for books read this year, insert that in this prompt.
  13. Presents! This is a bonus free space that you can use for any book of your choosing.
  14. A Christmas or Seasonal Mystery
  15. A Book with Green on the Cover
  16. A Book under 100 Pages or a Short Story

Until Next Time,

Meaghan Signature