As promised last week, now I have many bookcases! And we’ll get the books from storage next week and get them all onto the shelves. I’m looking forward to it very much, it’ll really make things feel like home.
Anyway, let’s get to the books.
Books acquired this week
I didn’t get anything for myself — I’m trying not to get anything at the moment, because my birthday’s next month, and my 9th wedding anniversary (20th anniversary of us getting together), and I’m trying to cap how many books I buy without reading them, this year. I’m allowed 20 at a time bought this year and unread, and right now I’m at 15.
I need to get busy with reading, so my wife can spoil me a bit more!
I did get a book for my wife, though, and I might as well highlight that here, because I might read it eventually too:
I’m a wuss about horror, but it does sound intriguing, so I might give it a shot at some stage.
Posts from this week
Let’s start with the reviews, as usual:
- Fantasy romance: The Other World’s Books Depend on the Bean Counter (manga), vol 2, by Kazuki Irodori (4/5 stars, “really liked it”)
- Historical fantasy: Castle of the Winds, by Christina Baehr (1/5 stars, “didn’t like it”)
- Epistolary novel: The Correspondent, by Virginia Evans (4/5 stars, “really liked it”)
- Historical romance: The Perks of Loving a Wallflower, by Erica Ridley (4/5 stars, “really liked it”)
- History: Heavenly Bodies: Cult Treasures and Spectacular Saints from the Catacombs, by Paul Koudounaris (4/5 stars, “really liked it”)
- Historical mystery:Â A Case of Life and Limb, by Sally Smith (4/5 stars, “really liked it”)
- Romance manga: A Side Character’s Love Story, vol. 15, by Akane Tamura (3/5 stars, “liked it”)
As a reminder, these aren’t the books I read this week, just the reviews that got posted. Sometimes I read less, sometimes I read more, so I save up reviews sometimes, and also try to give a bit of a range of genres rather than posting a glut of fantasy or non-fiction all at once. I’ll discuss what I’ve been reading this week below!
But first, the other posts from this week:
What I’m reading
Now’s the part where I figure out what I’ve read this week and share some sneak previews. It’s been a busy week, it was surprisingly difficult to drag my mind back to the start of it… but here are the covers of the books I’ve read this week and intend to review on the blog (eventually)!
You can always check my StoryGraph if you’re interested in peeking at the reviews ahead of whenever they get posted on the blog. As you see, I read quite a lot this week, plus finished a reread of The Scum Villain’s Self-Saving System, vol 2, so I’m quite happy.
As for the weekend ahead, what will I read? I’m getting back into reading a book about Britain’s census, The Butcher, The Baker, The Candlestick Maker, by Roger Hutchinson, and I’ve been dipping in and out of A History of the World in 47 Borders, by Jonn Elledge. I might finish my reread of Vivian Shaw’s Dreadful Company, for a bit of fiction.
Or I might read something else altogether. Who knows?
Linking up with Reading Reality’s Stacking the Shelves, Caffeinated Reviewer’s The Sunday Post, and the Sunday Salon over at Readerbuzz, as usual!
It Was Her House First isn’t that scary at all, it might work for you!
My wife’s mentioned a couple of things about the portrayal of anxiety that might get to me? But we’ll see, I’ve read some of Cherie Priest’s work before and liked it a lot (Bloodshot and Hellbent).
Your reading list sounds quite ambitious!
It was too ambitious given everything going on with moving etc, and some work stuff that came up unexpectedly… but oh well, it was only ever for fun anyway.
I read Medieval Bodies a while ago, but your cover is much cooler!!
Yeah, it was pretty neat! Was your edition all colour illustrations, too?
I honestly do not remember, I read it so long ago. I feel like there were a lot, but my memory also smooshes books together and it is possible I am thinking of a different highly-illustrated medieval book.
It Was Her House First sounds awesome! I usually love anything scary.
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Apparently it’s not super scary, and I’m pretty intrigued by what I’ve heard about it, so I’m going to give it a shot eventually, I think!
My birthday was last weekend and I did spoil myself a little with books, as did my son and sister 🙂 Good for you for using restraint. I hope you have a great week!
Cindy’s Book Corner recently posted…Stacking the Shelves #178 Sunday Post #175 Sunday Salon #169
Ooh, happy belated birthday!
I must admit, I haven’t used that much restraint… I’ve bought a lot of books, I just make sure I read them quickly, hehehe.
I need some of your discipline because I’ve already bought way too many books this year.
Vicki recently posted…Sunday Salon: 7/27/25
Oh, I’ve bought loads, ahaha. I just made sure to start reading them promptly!
Happy upcoming anniversary! 20 years together is HUGE, especially in this day and age.
It’s so weird to think about! But I was about to be 16 when we got together and I’m about to be 36, so it must be true, hahaha.
What a great goal to only have so many books you haven’t read for the year. I would fail but I’m proud of you.
I’ve been trying to only request books I can read and review soon. No more requests until those ones are read and reviewed. Seems to be working so far.
Congrats on your anniversary and happy early birthday.
Here’s Stuck In Books StS https://stuckinbooks.com/2025/07/26/stacking-the-shelves-7-25-25/
Val recently posted…Violet Thistlewaite Is Not A Villain Anymore by Emily Krempholtz – Review
It’s been close a few times, haha. I’ve bought a lot of books so far this year, but having a goal to not add too much to the backlog (by reading them in a timely manner) seems to be working better for me than an outright ban.
Thank you!
Yayyy for the bookcases! I respect the “20 unread books at a time” rule, I’ve been acquiring so many books and not reading them, I’ve lost count. Not that I ever counted them in the first place, which might be worse! Also, happy early birthday and anniversary!! Have fun filling up your new shelves!
Haze @ The Book Haze recently posted…Sunday Post | 27 July 2025
To be fair, I have a looot of books unread from previous years still. I’m just trying not to add to the number, by making sure I read stuff while it’s fresh on my shelves this year. It’s been working pretty well, I have only one book unread from January/February/March.
Thank you!
New Bookcase is so exciting!!!
Two new bookcases, really. 😀 I had five full bookcases at the old flat, and we’ve managed to fit seven in here! Here’s hoping it can keep my whole collection contained, haha.
I’m not a horror reader at all. I have read some Cherie Priest and done ok with it.
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I read Bloodshot and Hellbent waaay back and liked them, but they were more fantasy ish, or so I’d have categorised them. I did like them, so I should read more of Cherie Priest’s work, but we’ll see!
Nicky, advance happy birthday and congrats on your 9th and 20th anniversaries!! Your level of control while book shopping is remarkable. I wish I could say the same for me. hahaha 🙂
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Thank you!
And heh, it’s less control while shopping and more being a really fast reader. Sometimes I’ve got myself out of trouble and back under the allowed level by reading a book same day. 😛
Glad you are settling in!
I don’t read a lot of horror either! I read most other genres but not much of that!
Have a great week!
Marg @ The Intrepid Reader recently posted…This week…
I read a few things here and there by trusted authors, but most horror just isn’t my thing.
Congratulations on your various anniversaries – and I’m a wuss about horror, too. But I notice Tammy has said your pressie isn’t proper horror, so you’ll probably be okay:)). Have a great week – unpacking books and shelving them is always fun to do.
Thank you!
And yes, very much looking forward to the unpacking! Especially with more shelf space…
I’ve added The Case of Life and Limb to my TBR list. 😀
I really liked the series! Though I’d start with the first book (Of Mice and Murder).
With both a birthday and an anniversary coming up next month, I can see the need for at least the appearance of restraint. lol
I almost never end up reading a 1/5 book these days. I usually give up as soon as I see it’s not working for me.
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And my books only juuuust seem to fit on the shelves at the new house, uhoh. 😀
I actually wrote a post very recently discussing why I bother to finish books that I didn’t like… ah, here it is. Baiscally sometimes I don’t know what I think entirely until I sit back at the end with the full context.