Wrap Up: April 2026

Hi everyone

April was a month of contrasts. There was stress, sleepless nights, anxiety, and bleak moods; but there were also wonderful moments with my husband and children, more sun than I expected, the spring flowers (always make me happy), and the promise of a new start. Through it all, I read a lot (the upside of having trouble sleeping, I suppose)! 😊 Honestly, this was a great reading month. I stumbled upon some really, really good books that made everything feel a little lighter. And that was much needed. 

Here's what I read in April:

- Brian McClellan: The Autumn Republic 

- Jonice Webb: Running on Empty 

- Eowyn Ivey: Black Woods, Blue Sky 

- Dennis E. Taylor: Roadkill  

- Jim Butcher: Twelve Months  

- Ernest Hemingway: The Torrents of Spring 

- Jonice Webb: Running on Empty No More 

- John Gwynne: The Fury of the Gods

- Naomi Alderman: The Power 

What did you read in April?  I’d love to hear about your books. Let’s swap recommendations!

Happy reading!
Helena 

Dennis E. Taylor: Roadkill

Hi everyone

Roadkill is a standalone science-fiction novel by Dennis E. Taylor. I read this on my e-reader.

"Jack Kernigan is having a bad day...a bad year...a bad life. After being booted out of MIT, he’s back in his Ohio hometown, working for the family business, facing a life of mediocrity. Then one day, out on a delivery, his truck hits...something. Something big...something furry...something invisible. And, it turns out, something not of this Earth.
Fate can play funny tricks. Which is why Jack suddenly finds himself the planet’s best hope to unravel a conspiracy of galactic proportions that could spell the end of the human race. All Jack and his best friends, Natalie and Patrick, have to defeat an alien threat is their wits, a lot of coffee, and a rather snippy AI named Sheldon. Plus, their own spaceship.
After all, if you’re going to rescue the world, the least you can get out of it is your own spaceship."

Roadkill was a lot of fun. It’s entertaining, fast-paced, and packed with pop-culture references that kept me smiling. The plot is straightforward and definitely not deep, the characters are likable (if not very developed), there are plotholes and the worldbuilding is minimal; but that’s totally fine for what this book is: a light, easy, amusing read.
Jack, Natalie, and Patrick are a fun trio, and their banter with the snarky AI, Sheldon, adds a wonderfully playful, comedic touch. 

If you’re in the mood for something lighthearted and fast, Roadkill is a great pick. It’s not deep, but it’s not trying to be. 

Have you read Roadkill? Did you enjoy the ride, or do you have another fun, fast-paced sci-fi to recommend? I’d love to hear your thoughts!

Happy reading!
Helena

My Favorite Books of 2025

Hi everyone

Looking back at my reading year, I realize I must have been very critical in 2025. Out of the 95 books I read, only 13 earned the full five stars from me. But those five-star books; they were so worth it!

Here are the stories that stole my heart, made me think, or just swept me away completely:

- Katherine Addison: The Tomb of Dragons  

- Ilona Andrews: Magic Strikes 

- Becky Chambers: A Prayer for the Crown-Shy 

- Roald Dahl: Matilda 

- Jonathan French: The True Bastards 

- Eowyn Ivey: To the Bright Edge of the World  

- Cameron Johnston: The Maleficent Seven 

- Brian McClellan: Promise of Blood

- Harriet Muncaster: Isabella Maan gaat naar de kermis 

- Emma Newman: Before Mars

- Terry Pratchett: The Fifth Elephant 

- Dennis E. Taylor: Not Till We Are Lost  

- Jen Williams: The Ninth Rain 

Each of these books stood out for a reason; whether it was the characters, the world, or the way they made me feel. They’re the ones I’ll remember, recommend, and reread for years to come.

What were your favorite reads of 2025? Did any of these make your list too? I’d love to hear what five-star books you (re)discovered! 

Happy reading!
Helena 

Wrap Up: October 2025

Hi everyone

October has been the perfect month for cozy evenings in; rainy, dark, and chilly. There’s nothing better than curling up on the couch with a good book, a warm cup of tea (or a diet soda, if I’m feeling rebellious), and maybe a little snack. Wrapped in a blanket, lost in another world, what could be more perfect? 
And I read some great books!

Here's what I read. 

- Mark Manson: The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck

- Cameron Johnston: The Maleficent Seven

- Ben Aaronovitch: The Masquerades of Spring

- Roald Dahl: Charlie and the Chocolate Factory

- Jonathan French: The Free Bastards 

- Terry Pratchett: The Fifth Elephant

- Grant Snider: The Art of Living 

- Delia Owens: Where the Crawdads Sing

- Dennis E. Taylor: Not Till We Are Lost 

And there was one book I could not finish

- Michaeleen Doucleff: Hunt, Gather, Parent 

How was your reading month? Did you discover any new favorites or revisit old ones? I like rereading and discovering new books. What about you? I’d love to hear what you’ve been reading!

Happy reading!
Helena 

Dennis E. Taylor: Not Till We Are Lost

Hi everyone

I just finished Not Till We Are Lost, the fifth book in the Bobiverse series by Dennis E. Taylor. 
I got my book from Bol.com.

"The Bobiverse is a different place in the aftermath of the Starfleet War, and the days of the Bobs gathering in one big happy moot are far behind. There’s anti-Bob sentiment on multiple planets, the Skippies playing with an AI time bomb, and multiple Bobs just wanting to get away from it all.
But it all pales compared to what Icarus and Daedalus discover on their 26,000-year journey to the center of the galaxy. Sure, it could settle the Fermi Paradox for good (and what Bob doesn’t want to solve a mystery of the universe?). But it also reveals a threat to the galaxy greater than anything the Bobs could have imagined.
Just another average day in the Bobiverse."

This book was an absolute blast to read. The Bobiverse series has that perfect mix of humor, adventure, and thought-provoking sci-fi concepts. The dynamic between the Bobs is as entertaining as ever, and the new discoveries in this installment are thought-provoking, interesting and just mind-blowing. I love this balance of lighthearted fun and deep scientific ideas.
The story is clever, action-packed, hilarious, and adventurous.

I love the Bobs with all their individual characters and their interactions. Especially now there are other species to interact with too. The humor and camaraderie truly make the story come alive.

One of the most intriguing aspects of the Bobiverse series is how it explores the possibilities and potential dangers of AI. The Bobs, for the most part, strive to help all species and make the universe a better place. But then there’s Thoth, whose motives are far less benevolent or at least unsure. This really made me think, especially now AI is being used by everyone.

This was such a fun and entertaining book. It’s everything I love about Bobiverse; witty, adventurous, and heartwarming.
Have you read Not Till We Are Lost or any of the other Bobiverse books? What did you think? Let me know; I’d love to hear your thoughts!

Happy reading!
Helena 

Bookhaul

Hi everyone

I got some new books, and I'm so excited!
After reading Brian McClellan's Promise of Blood I immediately ordered the second and the third book in The Powder Mage series because I'm sure I'll love those too.
Same goes for Jonathan French's The Lot Lands series. 

I feel like a kid in a candy store and I can’t wait to dive into these!

Here's what I got:

- Moniquill Blackgoose: To Shape a Dragon's Breath 

- Jonathan French: The Free Bastards

- Claire Keegan: Small Things Like These

- Brian McClellan: The Crimson Campaign 

- Brian McClellan: The Autumn Republic

- Dennis E. Taylor: Not Till We Are Lost 

Happy reading!
Helena 

Wrap Up: April 2025

Hi everyone

April was wonderful; we had plenty of sunshine breaking through the typical Belgian grey skies, and I read a ton too! I’m excited to share what I dove into. 

Here's what I read:

- Dennis E. Taylor: Earthside

- Terry Pratchett: The Last Continent 

- Becky Chambers: A Prayer for the Crown-Shy

- Stephen King: The Dark Half 

- Neil Gaiman: The Ocean at the End of the Lane 

- Bessel van der Kolk: The Body Keeps the Score

- Richard Matheson: A Stir of Echoes

- Peter Brown: The Wild Robot Escapes

What about you? How was your reading month? Did you find any new favorites or re-read an old beloved book? I’d love to hear what you’ve been reading!

Happy reading!
Helena

Dennis E. Taylor: Earthside

 Hi everyone

Earthside is the second book in Dennis E. Taylor's series Quantum Earth.
I read it on my e-reader.

"The Yellowstone super-eruption has put an end to modern civilization. As cities and countries continue to fall, the colony of Rivendell in the alternate Earth known as Outland looks more and more like the only real hope for humanity. But life in Rivendell isn’t getting any simpler, either. Bill and Kevin continue to discover new worlds; the population continues to rise; winter is approaching; and everyone has their own opinion about how things should be run.
Then, a garbled plea for help from Omaha sends most of the security forces back Earthside to investigate, leaving Outland’s police force understaffed just as a large group of refugees arrives with its own ideas and power structure. With threats from both inside and outside, will the colony even survive until spring?" 

Earthside is exactly what I needed, a light, fast-paced, and entertaining escape. The setting is something I always enjoy: a post-apocalyptic world where survivors are building a new life in an alternate Earth called Outland. The world-building is engaging, with new worlds to explore and plenty of drama to keep things interesting.
The characters are fun, even if they’re not particularly deep. There are plenty of people to root for (and a few to get frustrated with), which makes the story easy to dive into. The plot is predictable, but that didn’t stop me from enjoying it, sometimes, knowing where things are headed just adds to the comfort of the read.

That said, Earthside isn’t anything groundbreaking. The plot and characters are rather shallow, and there’s nothing especially unique about the storytelling. But honestly? That’s okay. Not every book needs to be a literary masterpiece, sometimes, you just want something fun and easy to read, and Earthside delivers on that promise.

Have you read Earthside or any other books in the Quantum Earth series? Did you enjoy the adventure, or do you have a favorite post-apocalyptic book to recommend? I’d love to hear your thoughts!

Happy reading!
Helena

My Favorite Books of 2024

Hi everyone

In 2024, I read a total of 92 books! But not every book was a 5-star read, so I wanted to share a curated list of the ones that truly stood out to me. If I’ve reviewed any of these in the last few months, you can click on the title to read my full thoughts!

Here’s the list in alphabetical order: 

- Stephen Aryan: Magebane

- Nathan Filer: The Shock of the Fall

- Yuval Noah Harari: Sapiens

- Eowyn Ivey: The Snow Child

- Stephen King: Pet Sematary

- Brian McClellan: Sins of Empire

- Brian McClellan: Wrath of Empire

- Brian McClellan: Blood of Empire

- Pascal Mercier: Night Train to Lisbon

- Sequoia Nagamatsu: How High We Go in the Dark

- Emma Newman: Before, After, Alone

- Emma Newman: Planetfall 

- Terry Pratchett: Feet of Clay

- Terry Pratchett: Jingo

- Dennis E. Taylor: A Change of Plans

I’d love to see your list of 5-star reads from 2024! What books stayed with you? Which ones blew you away? Let me know in the comments; I’m always looking for new recommendations!

Happy reading!
Helena