Iris

Since leaving university, I've been getting back into reading. I read a lot as a child, but at university between lectures, studying, working and socialising, I pretty much stopped reading for fun. But in the last 6 months or so, I've been enjoying reading again and I've actually started tracking what I'm reading online -on both goodreads and storygraph.

I'm starting to (re)learn what I love to read:

Re-reading childhood favourites
I'm re-reading the Percy Jackson series. I first read these when I was about 10, and I was a little hesitant to read them again as an adult but I'm still enjoying them a lot. It doesn't feel too weird to be reading them at 25 either, which I thought it might. I still want to go to Camp Half-Blood
I am also planning on re-reading other favourites as well - Horrible Histories, Jane Eyre, Matilda, The Magic Faraway Tree, and Narnia are definitely on the list too

Non-fiction about topics I'm interested
Mostly history, ancient history and Greek mythology - but also anthropology, geography, philosophy and a little bit of art history. But especially Greek mythology which I have been obsessed with for as long as I can remember, and have devoured books about since I could read!

So, it should be no surprise that next is Fiction based on Greek mythology
I am LOVING how many books are out, and still coming out, based on Greek mythology - and especially focusing on the women of the tales. I fell hard for Song of Achilles and Circe, and while I haven't read many others, I also love Natalie Haynes. I had a big Waterstones spree over Easter, picked up an absolute ton (or two) of them and have a nice pile of books waiting for me to read which I'm very excited about!

The Fae
I've loved stories about faeries since I was a child. Faeries, elves, and trolls, and all manner of magical, fantasy, creatures. I love Sarah J Maas and Holly Black (note to self - put them on on the re-read pile) and I'm looking forward to see what else is out there.

Slow-burn Romance
That feeling when you, and everyone else in the book, knows that those two are absolutely going to get together, but they don't - and you can't wait to see how these two idiots finally get a clue! The relationship is complicated and feels real, there's misunderstandings and the characters are insecure or feel vulnerable, but there's this huge amount of UST as desire and passion builds until... that moment when you as the reader pump your fist because YES
And, ok, I haven't read anything that isn't fanfic for this trope but I definitely should.

Auto-read/buy authors
Mary Beard is the first one that comes to mind. Natalie Haynes is definitely becoming one. Sarah J Maas, Holly Black and VE Schwab are moving that way.
When I was younger it was Roald Dahl, Enid Blyton, Rick Riordan, Charlotte Bronte, Jane Austen.
I'm looking forward to finding out who else joins the list as I read more and discover more new favourites

Eye-catching
I love when a book in the store or the library just catches my eye. It can be a bright cover, something in the picture catches my eye, the title intrigues me and I can't not pick it up and read it. Quite often when that happens, I won't even bother to read the synopsis and it will come straight home with me. Although I am now learning to check that it's not in the middle of a series!

Recommended
It can be a book recommended by a friend, or a family member. Even a librarian, a bookseller or another author/celebrity. I'm discovering a book community online, and goodreads has recommendations too which I've started to explore. Basically, I love hearing about the books people passionately love, want to share and want other people to read and love!

I want to read more historical fiction that isn't mythology based - although I haven't figured out what era yet - and I want to dip my toe into sapphic romance. Cozy fantasy intrigues me. And, as mentioned above, I need to find some slow-burn romances. I'm now also wondering if there's slow-burn sapphic historical books I should be finding.