Part 2: My Reading Journey – Where I Am Now
- M
- Feb 5
- 4 min read
Updated: May 19
Welcome back, gentle reader!
If you read my last post, you already know how my love for books started, from some of my childhood favorites to my YA obsession. Now, let’s talk about where I am today—what I read, why I love it, and how reading fits into my life.
What Do I Read Now?
At this point, my reading taste is pretty much set. I read only romance. Let’s be honest, if a book doesn’t have a strong romance subplot, I’m probably not picking it up. I love stories that make me feel something, whether it’s swooning over a slow burn, giggling at witty banter, or dying up over all the cute heartfelt moments.
I do still want to get back into fantasy! I loved it when I was younger, but I stepped away because I just wasn’t in the mood for super complex world-building and series that require intense commitment. That said, if a fantasy book has a romance at its core (hello, romantasy!), I’m much more likely to pick it up.
Why I Read Romance
I know romance can be divisive—people always have opinions about it (which I’ll dive into more in my upcoming post, "What’s It to You?"). But for me, it comes down to this:
📖 It’s stress-free – Life is already sucky; I don’t need that in my books. Give me a guaranteed happy ending or I’m out!
❤️ It’s fun – The joy of watching two characters fall in love? The tension, the yearning, the emotional payoff? Seeing them finally give in to the feelings. Perfection.
💬 It’s all about connection – Romance books explore relationships, friendships, and personal growth in ways that feel real and meaningful.
🛑 It’s NOT just fluff – Sure, some books are lighthearted and packed with fun clichés, but romance can also be deep, emotional, and beautifully written. So many stories tackle real, heavy topics—anxiety, insecurities, navigating friendships and relationships, depression, trauma, abuse, and so much more—yet they do it in a way that feels engaging rather than overwhelming. I’ve read books that made me see love and relationships in a new light, giving me fresh perspectives and deeper understanding.
At the end of the day, I read for joy, and romance never lets me down.
Favorite Tropes
Let’s talk about some tropes I love:
Mafia/Dark – Give me that obsessed, possessive alphahole!
Billionaire – A man who just wants to spoil his lady at every turn? I’ll take one, please.
Sports – Nothing beats an athlete falling hard when they swore they wouldn’t.
Grumpy x Sunshine – Opposites attract? Yes, please.
Marriage of Convenience – Fake marriage leading to real feelings? Chef’s kiss.
Single parents – When the kid plays matchmaker or they start bonding? I eat it up.
Found Family – Nothing hits harder than characters who build their own supportive, loving circle.
It doesn’t matter how many times I’ve read a trope or seen the same pattern—I’ll eat it up every time! I fully believe they never get old because each author adds their own twist, making every book feel fresh. The characters are always different, with their own personalities and struggles, so no two books feel exactly the same. It’s exciting to see which direction the author takes and how they make the trope their own!
How Reading Fits into My Life Now
Reading is still my escape, my comfort, and my favorite way to unwind. I always have a book (Kindle Girl) on me, whether I’m curled up at home, in a café, on the train, squeezing in a few pages between classes, or staying up all night just to finish one more chapter.
I also love talking about books —there’s nothing lonelier than finishing a great read and having no one to rave about it with! That’s why I started my book club, Paper Trails & Tales. Every month, we meet up at a new bookstore, library, or café in Boston to chat about our latest reads. It’s the best way to share recommendations, discover new favorites, and, most importantly, connect with fellow book lovers.
And of course, now I have this blog—my little corner of the internet to share my bookish thoughts, from personal reflections to themed recommendations and random literary reflections.
Looking Ahead
Now that you know my reading story, I’d love to hear yours! What genres do you love? Any favorite tropes? Have your reading habits changed over time?
Coming up next on the blog:
🧶 Stitching My Bookshelf — A look at how my granny square project is going, where I crochet a square for every book I read in 2025! I’ll share my progress, how I pick colors based on book covers and tropes, and how it’s going so far.
📖 "What’s It to You?" — A post about reading romance and how people always have thoughts about it. Why does this genre get so much criticism? Why do people act like romance isn’t “real” reading? We’re going to talk about it.
Drop a comment and let’s talk books!
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