I love reading, don't get me wrong, but have noticed of late that I am way more picky when it comes to not only choosing a book to read, but what I find a five star read.

It's not just that I have come to realise my time is too precious to waste on bad/ annoying/ uninteresting (to me) books, but that I have glimpsed the dizzying heights of REALLY good books, and my standards are now a lot higher. It is akin, I imagine, to flying first class and finding it really hard to settle and not be resentful when you find yourself back in economy.

So to all those great authors out there, I blame you. Nah, I'm only kidding. There are a lot more factors involved I think.

Age is a big one. A lot of things that were important, or that I thought were important, with time, I have come to realise just aren't. And the opposite is true, things I didn't value, dismissed or took for granted, have proven vital to my happiness, future and peace of mind.

Being a woman. I've always played the game within the system, shrugged off or smiled through a lot of insults, dismissals of my worth, being judged, being underpaid, being underestimated..... god, I could go on and on, most of you know the drill. I always felt I played the game, and did well (as well as I could within the patriarchy). And you would think given all the huge steps forward in education, health, rights etc etc that I could relax and feel like women have succeeded. Except I don't feel like that. If anything, I feel like there are more barriers, more obstacles, more disrespect, than there has ever been. And in a word, I am - angry.
So I am a lot harder on the female lead characters than I once was. Sorry, not sorry. And no more alpha-holes, please. I am so over their entitled asses.

Books have always meant an escape for me. Providing me with additional family and close friends (fictional though they might be). Adventures. Excitement. Love. Acceptance.
And that's what I want from the books I read still. I don't want a political agenda - not in my PNR reads anyway. I don't want to be 'told' a story. I want the feels, the emotions, I want to be swept up. I want strong kickass characters, both female and male, who are in touch with their emotions, or learn to be. Who respect one another (eventually at least) Who make mistakes, own them and rectify them.
I want connections between my characters, and I want them to talk to one another, come to like/love who that person is, not instaloves - the end.
I'm fine with the fated mate trope, BUT, again, authors, physical lust is NOT love. They need to bond on every level for me. Do it, give them connections and I will become your number one fan.

Finding good books. It has been never been easier, but at the same time, it is a hundred times harder. I have come to accept that whatever book is a 'bestselling tic tok sensation' will probably not be for me.
Unfortunately my number of go-to, never fail me authors has shrunk to an abysmal number. Many old faves have changed genres, direction, or just become hit and miss.
Like any book junkie though I will never stop looking, searching out new authors, I am just a lot warier now, my time is precious, books are expensive, and recommendations can't always be trusted to be real.
But I have the answer to all those problems - your local library. Borrow as much as you like. You can dnf and return them easily, no harm, no foul, no loss of $. Get on the library website and reserve books, they are connected to a ton of resources. Even better, most libraries today have e-book offerings also. Again. Read four chapters and if it's not for you, move on. Alternatively, you might have just found a new fave author.


Happy five star reading gorgeous people.