Recommendations
What to Read Next, Based on Your Mood
Nine reading moods and the kind of book that satisfies each one — a better way to choose than genre alone.
August 30, 2026 · 4 min read
The blog
Notes between chapters.
Essays, reading diaries, and the occasional list of bookshops worth a detour.
More essays
- August 29, 2026Recommendations
What to Read After Freida McFadden
The exact ingredients that make her thrillers so bingeable, and how to find your next one-sitting read.
- August 28, 2026Recommendations
A Cosy Autumn Reading List for Dark Evenings
What to read when the evenings close in — the moods, genres and pairings that make autumn the best reading season of the year.
- August 27, 2026Guides
Best Books to Read in a Reading Slump
Why slumps happen and the six kinds of book that reliably break them, from short thrillers to comfort rereads.
- August 26, 2026Gifts
Bookish Gifts Under €30 for the Reader in Your Life
Gift ideas that readers actually want, from someone who wraps them for a living — all under €30 and posted from Wexford.
- August 25, 2026Book club
How to Start a Book Club at Home (That People Actually Turn Up To)
The size, the schedule, the snacks and the questions — a practical guide to running a book club that survives past month three.
- August 24, 2026Guides
How Long Does It Take to Read a Book? A Simple Guide
Work out your real reading time from page count and reading speed, and why the number varies so much between books.
- August 23, 2026Guides
How to Read a Book a Week Without Making It a Chore
The realistic maths behind a book a week, plus the habits that make it feel like a treat instead of a target.
- August 22, 2026Guides
How to Choose Your Next Book (When You Own 40 Unread Ones)
A five-minute method for picking your next read from an overflowing TBR, without doom-scrolling three apps first.
- August 21, 2026Recommendations
Off Campus Series in Order: Elle Kennedy's Hockey Romance Guide
All five Off Campus books in order, who each one follows, and where Briar U fits in afterwards.
- August 20, 2026Recommendations
Colleen Hoover Books: Where to Start and What to Read Next
A no-spoiler guide to the Colleen Hoover backlist, which two books must be read in order, and which one to pick based on how much crying you are willing to do.
- August 19, 2026Behind the Reviews
Unpacking the CoHo Phenomenon: My Take on the Shelf
There's a particular hush that falls over a bookstore when someone asks for 'the CoHo section' – a collective knowing, a silent nod to the author who has truly captivated a generation of readers. Let's delve into her world.
- August 19, 2026Reading Diary
A Royal Farewell: Queen of Air and Darkness & Sweet Sorrow
Curled up with the grand finale of a beloved series, I found myself adrift in a world both dazzling and heartbreaking. There's a particular hush that falls when you turn the last page of such an epic journey.
- August 19, 2026Reading Diary
A Whirlwind, and Then Some: My CoHo Journey
My reading life, usually a meandering river, recently took a sharp turn into a bustling, emotional cityscape. I'm talking, of course, about Colleen Hoover.
- August 19, 2026Book News
Sarah J. Maas' Latest Books: A Court of Splintered Harmony and A Court of Forgotten Melody
Sarah J. Maas has revealed the titles, covers and release dates for ACOTAR 6 and 7. Here is everything confirmed so far, plus what to reread before October.
- August 19, 2026Reading Diary
Leaves, Lattes, and Literary Treasures: My Autumn Wishlist
Cozy blankets, fluffy socks, favorite loungewear and a breathtaking read... yes, please!
- August 19, 2026Reading Order
Shatter Me Books in Order (Including Every Novella)
The full Shatter Me reading order, where each novella slots in, and whether the second half of the series is worth it.
- August 18, 2026Reading Order
Every Sarah J. Maas Book: Titles, Release Years and Cover Editions
Every Sarah J. Maas book by name and release year - Throne of Glass, ACOTAR and Crescent City - plus how the original covers differ from the redesigned editions.
- August 18, 2026Reading Order
Sarah J. Maas Reading Order: ACOTAR, Throne of Glass and Crescent City
Which Sarah J. Maas series to start with, the correct order for each one, and the Assassin's Blade question everybody argues about.
- August 17, 2026Reading Order
Cassandra Clare Books in Order: The Full Shadowhunter Reading Guide
Every Shadowhunter series in the right order, plus the two ways to read them and where a brand-new reader should really begin.
- August 16, 2026Guides
Dark Romance Books: A Beginner's Guide (and Where to Start Safely)
What dark romance actually is, how it differs from spicy romance, how to read content warnings properly, and five dark romance books to start with.
- August 15, 2026Gifts
Book Gifts in Ireland: What to Send a Reader (2026 Guide)
The best book gifts to send readers in Ireland — wrapped mystery parcels, personalised picks and monthly boxes — with prices, An Post delivery times and gifting tips.
- August 14, 2026Book club
The Best Book Club Books for 2026 (with Discussion Questions)
The best book club books are the ones people argue about. Here are the picks that reliably start a conversation, plus ready-made discussion questions for your next meeting.
- August 13, 2026Packages
Blind Date With a Book: How It Works (and Why Readers Love It)
A blind date with a book is a wrapped mystery read chosen from clues, not covers. Here is how ours works, what goes in the parcel and how to pick clues you will actually love.
- August 12, 2026Tropes
Enemies to Lovers Books: The Trope Explained (and 8 to Read)
Why enemies to lovers books work, what separates a great one from a lazy one, and eight titles across romantasy, contemporary romance and dark romance to read next.
- August 11, 2026Romantasy
Books Like ACOTAR: 7 Romantasy Reads to Pick Up Next
Finished A Court of Thorns and Roses and need the next fix? Here are seven books like ACOTAR — fae courts, slow burn romance and heroines with teeth — ranked by how close they feel.
- August 10, 2026Guides
The Best Thriller Books to Read in Ireland Right Now
The best thriller books for Irish readers in 2026 — psychological thrillers, domestic suspense and one-sitting page-turners, with honest notes from my own shelf.
- July 23, 2026Recommendations
What to read after Fourth Wing: 7 dragon-adjacent romantasy picks
You've inhaled Fourth Wing and Iron Flame and now you're waiting for book three like the rest of us. Here's what to read in the meantime.
- July 23, 2026Genre Guide
What is romantasy? A beginner's guide to fantasy's spiciest genre
Everyone's talking about romantasy — but what actually counts, where did it come from, and which book should you start with? Here's the friendly, no-gatekeeping guide.
- July 23, 2026Recommendations
Books like Throne of Glass: 8 series for your next 5,000-page obsession
Finished Throne of Glass and need another sprawling fantasy series with a fierce heroine and a cast you'd die for? These eight will keep you up past your bedtime.
- July 23, 2026Opinion
The best romantasy tropes, ranked by a woman who has read too many
Fated mates, only one bed, morally grey villain love interests — I have opinions. A completely subjective ranking of the tropes that keep us reading past midnight.
- July 23, 2026Recommendations
What to read after ACOTAR: 9 books to fill the Prythian-shaped hole
Finished A Court of Thorns and Roses and don't know where to go next? Here are nine romantasy reads — from Sarah J. Maas herself to the slow-burn faerie courts you haven't met yet — to soften the landing.
Frequently asked questions
- What do you write about on the blog?
- Reading notes, seasonal TBR lists, series reading orders, tropes explained and honest bookish life from Ireland.
- How often do you post?
- New posts go up regularly around Amy's reading, usually a few times a month rather than to a strict schedule.
- Can I follow the blog by RSS or email?
- Yes — there's an RSS feed at /rss.xml and a newsletter you can join from the homepage for new posts and package drops.
- Are blog posts different from reviews?
- Reviews cover one book with a rating. Blog posts are the wider pieces: lists, reading orders, comparisons and reading-life notes.