Books That Got Me Out Of My Reading Slump

Do you ever get into a reading funk where NOTHING is good? It’s either a struggle to get through a single book, or you DNF 3 in a row?

Well, that was me.

I had SUCH a great reading spree, with maybe a couple books I didn’t care for, that when I started to slow down, I lost my joy of reading again. You can check out my other favorite books in my blog Book Recommendations To Escape The World For A Bit.

But it’s my main focus for a hobby right now, and I didn’t want to lose it. So I kept looking.

These are the books I read in January, and man. 2025 is off to a great start!

I love random indy books that Kindle Unlimited recommends me, and the books I get in my Satisfiction box every other month (not affiliated with them, but would LOVE to be someday!).

But these are the books that started new series obsessions for me, are my go-to when I’m in a funk, brought me new authors, and have started my reading addition up again.

Be aware though, this is 5 books that I read in January, but I prefer shorter ones, 250 pages to get me back into it, or around 350.

Enjoy!

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Stars Like Acid

This is the one,  this is my new favorite book! And with luck, all the books in the series will be as amazing as the first and anything else she writes. I want her to be a repeat author and I’ll keep you posted!

But for now, this was a Satisfiction book that I FINALLY got around to reading. I’ll be honest, I paused my subscription due to financial reasons, forgot to extend it, and this was my first book back. And it’s a sci-fi, dystopian style book with a little romance, but nothing spicy.

I wanted to broaden my reading generous from fantasy and romantasy, so I took a chance on it.

And I was not disappointed!

Like most books, it took a couple chapters to get into it, but I was intrigued by what would happen.

I’d call this book fast-paced, especially once you hit the half-way mark. And it felt like info dumping! There was enough mystery to keep you looking for more, but some scenes they just shared ALL the information with you. Which I loved!

I’m not a super indepth reader, I don’t catch onto a lot of things and sometimes need it spelled out for me. But this was JUST enough mystery for me to start piecing the puzzle pieces together, and screaming when I was right!

My boyfriend asked at least twice if I was ok because I was making so much noise. It ripped my heart out at least 4 times, gave it back, and left me mourning at the end.

I even decided at one point when one of the characters died that I wouldn’t read the next book because I was fine knowing what the main character would be doing.

But the ending!? The Epilogue!?!?

I ordered the first and second book for my birthday because I need a matching set, and already know I’ll be getting the third when it comes out.

I can’t recommend this book enough! Please, go check it out!

Bad Blood

This author wrote a little series that makes me smile so much. Just a cozy fantasy that I couldn’t get enough of. So when I saw that she was writing a new book, a little project she was secretly working on, I made a note to read it next.

And after the book I read before, I needed a pallet cleanser and a nice standalone to feel better after the cliffhanger I ended on.

Except this wasn’t a standalone.

It didn’t make me feel better, this one tore me apart too!

I love her writing style and this one pulled me in right away. This is a new series and DOES end on a cliffhanger that you so wish you could binge read instead.

It combines vampires with the Olympic gods, but with a twist. There’s mystery behind who’s sabotaging the yearly blood ritual, who’s killing people off, the main character has Titan blood and is questioned by everyone, and the true enemies to lovers pipeline worked really well!

You know, until things started falling apart, and I was left to mourn who knows how long until the next book comes out.

So if you like romantasy and vampires, I would definitely recommend this book. But again, it will hurt your heart too in the end.

Barbarian’s Prize

Ice Planet Barbarian is my pallet cleaner. These are the books that I read when I’m in a funk and want to get back to reading again. I told myself I wasn’t going to read all the books, yet here I am finishing the the 5th book and 6th one next, and so happy to continue.

I just love the world, the stories for each character, the dual perspectives and the spice. Oh! So good!

This one follows one of the final girls to get mated out, but she hasn’t connected with anyone yet. One of the many guys interested in her actually is super nice, and they become friends, although he’d love for more.

Her struggle though is she was sexually assaulted by the aliens that originally kidnapped her, and has been having nightmares the last year since.

She’s terrified to mate and doesn’t even know if she wants to be physical again after the trauma. But her friend just wants to help her heal, and is open to “practice” with her.

The reason I love these books so much, is each girl is working through something big and real of her own. And the guys that either connect with them or want to, are so genuine and caring.

She’s one of the only, if not the only woman of color, and to hear the alien friend describe her beauty is so lyrical.

The men are just the best, and if you feel like there’s no good ones around, you can find them on Ice Planet Barbarian.

Can’t recommend this series and this book specifically enough! Definitely in my top two of them all.

Barbarian’s Mate

Again, the first two books left my heart hurting for more, so one Ice Planet Barbarian book wasn’t enough. It also helped that the 5th book had a teaser for the 6th one and I HAD to see how it went!

Because this one, again, characters, story line and emotional growth was fantastic! I don’t want to have kids, but all of these books make me feel I would have one to keep this dying alien planet alive if they treat their women like this. And I’m in a very happy relationship!

This one follows a woman who was orphaned her whole life, bounced from house to house, was sexually abused by some of the men who were supposed to protect her, and also by the original aliens that kidnapped her. She’s always wanted a family though, and the thought of having here, with an alien man that loves you SO much and will give you however many kids you want to also keep their village going, sounds great!

Until the man she connects with is the one man she can’t stand, like at all. Neither of them like each other, but the draw to mate is so strong it’s physically hurting them.

BUT! He never forces it! Even though it physically hurts them, he never pushes because he respects and cares for her enough not to.

And he also has some deep trauma! He originally connected with an older woman who already had a lover and wouldn’t mate with him. There was a huge sickness that ran through the village, killing this guy's whole family AND his original mate, but he somehow survived the sickness. They replaced the thing that connects you with your person and keeps you alive, as that’s what caused the sickness and died. And then he connects with one of the human women, has a second chance on a family and future, and they hate each other.

The emotional growth and maturity, conversations that happen and understanding just makes my heart so happy! This turned out to be another great book that makes me wish I could reread it for the first time all over again.

Little Red Shadow

This book, so cute! I had read the book before this, and they can both be standalone. There’s a little character overlap, but you can enjoy the book just fine without knowing the full backstory of the other characters.

This book follows a girl who has special powers that were outlawed for years and are just now being more accepted. But because they were outlawed, her parents actually died because of it. Causing her to flee to the lower city and hide, where she does minor crime to survive and then joins a gang later one to use her powers to help them.

She ends up crossing paths with a dukes son who also got mixed up with some gang activity while trying to protect her friend, and wouldn’t you know, there’s our love interest!

I’d call him a bit of a golden boy, not really knowing how to protect himself (but she does so she saves him a few times) and just wants to help her get them both out of trouble.

It’s such a nice found family and chosen family, learning to heal and accept what happened in the past without letting it consume your soul, and a happily ever after that I couldn’t get enough of!

I feel like the pacing was perfect, even though it was a shorter book, and the relationship between the two main characters happened naturally, not forced at all.

Overall, it was a great way to end my January reads and help me really get back into reading again!

All of these books I couldn’t recommend enough! The first one was the only that didn’t have any explicit sex scenes, and of course, the Barbarian books were the most graphic. So be aware of that.

But all in all, I’m so excited to be back to reading, and can’t wait to keep sharing indy and mainstream books by all authors!

So thanks for reading and stay tuned for more!