Title: Sunrise on the Reaping
Author(s): Suzanne Collins
Series: The Hungers Games #5
Genre(s): Dystopian
Format(s): Audio
Pages: 387
Length: 12h 48m
Narrator(s): Jefferson White
Source: Owned
Reason(s): None
Rating: Spice: 
My Thoughts
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 Rave” 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 OF 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.
Sunrise on the Reaping
Author(s): Suzanne Collins
Series: The Hungers Games #5
Genre(s): Dystopian
Format(s): Audio
Pages: 387
Length: 12h 48m
Narrator(s): Jefferson White
Source: Owned
Reason(s): None
Rating:
Spice:
My Thoughts
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 Rave” 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 OF 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
Pages Read: 1,184
Hours Listened: 33h 13m
Average Rating: 4.33
Year-to-Date
Books Read: 19
Pages Read: 6,739
Hours Listened: 189h 58m
Average Rating: 4.17
The Paradise Problem
Author(s): Christina Lauren
Genre(s): Romance
Format(s): Audio
Pages: 352
Length: 11h 43m
Narrator(s): Patti Murin, Jon Root
Source: Owned
Reason(s): Book of the Month
Rating:
Spice:
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.
The Unhoneymooners
Author(s): Christina Lauren
Series: Unhoneymooners #1
Genre(s): Romance
Format(s): Audio
Pages: 432
Length: 9h 41m
Narrator(s): Cynthia Farrell, Deacon Lee
Source: Owned
Reason(s): None
Rating:
Spice:
My Thoughts
I really enjoyed reading THE UNHONEYMOONERS. Once I started reading, I couldn’t stop. I loved the tension between Olive and Ethan. I loved watching them go from mutual dislike of each other to love. I especially loved their bantering and their nicknames for each other. It all made me smile, laugh, and swoon.
During my second read, I listened to the audiobook. I really liked the main reader except when she read Ethan’s parts. And, I super disliked the reader for Ethan during the epilogue. I still love the book, though, so I’ll read (instead of listening to) this one in the future.
One Golden Summer
Author(s): Carley Fortune
Series: Florek Brothers #2
Genre(s): Romance
Format(s): Audio
Pages: 400
Length: 11h 49m
Narrator(s): AJ Bridel
Source: Borrowed
Reason(s): None
Rating:
Spice:
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.