Nearly two years ago, I started seasonal reflections alongside the seasonal TBR’s. The first season I reflected on was summer 2023. I can’t believe this has been this long and that it’s already time to look back on spring 2025. Spring gave us a small glimpse yet of what the season could be like in 2026, by giving us 17º Celsius in February. Also the first week of March was lovely and I spent several hours outside reading. Last year’s spring was beautiful and remarkable, as it was already possible to get lots of reading done outside in the sun in the beginning of March. Spring swiftly turned into summer, which was nice. I can’t recall facing lots of colder days this season, and if they were there, they were scarce. I had some stomach bug that annoyed me well into spring though, which was a bit of a bummer. However, it gave me a good excuse to get some reading done. Let’s find out if I read the seasonal TBR I set for myself and my bookhauls from April, May and June 2025! Links will direct you to reviews if existent.

Did I read my Spring 2025 TBR?

1. Phantasma by Kaylie Smith – Yes, I even read it twice! The first attempt was pretty early in the official spring season, but wasn’t too successful. I made it till 2/3 before I decided I couldn’t bare this any longer and put it aside. However, at the start of 2026, I came across the Dutch audiobook and wanted to retry it. With more luck, because I finished it! No, it’s not my favorite out there, but timing prove to be crucial once again.
2. Terms and Conditions by Lauren Asher – I read this also quite early in the season and although I enjoyed the character development very much, I still thought it is one of the weaker romances out there. I still will be reading the final book in this interconnected trilogy though.
3. This Time It’s Real by Ann Liang – No, I put this on my backlist books for 2026 list, because I really need to pick it up.
4. Fearless by Lauren Roberts – Yes, I read this close to summer, or even in summer. But I regret it multiple bits as it’s just a rehash of the first book in this trilogy with some minor changes.
5. Powerless by Elsie Silver – No, this one is still on the TBR, whoops. Actually forgot about it.
6. Caught up by Liz Tomforde – Of course I read it! I just couldn’t wait to be able to do so.
7. James by Percival Everett – I also read this one, but unfortunately don’t understand the hype around it. I didn’t enjoy it and perhaps this is due to the fact I never read Huckleberry Finn. I mean, I was pretty picky as a kid.
8. The Pearl that Broke its Shell by Nadia Hashimi – Although I read it in summer, I read it nevertheless. Moreover, it made it to my 2025 favorites list, because it made me feel so many emotions. I strongly recommend this book to everyone.
9. The Wedding People by Alison Espach – Unfortunately I read this one, and I hated every second of it. It feels like I’ve wasted my time. Why not DNF I hear you think? Well, I kept my hopes up that it would get better as this book is beloved by many.
10. Sunrise on the Reaping by Suzanne Collins – Duh, do you even have to ask me this? Of course I read it! It also is one of my favorites of 2025.

Did I read my Spring 2025 Bookhauls?

1. Daughter of No Worlds by Carissa Broadbent – Although I considered picking this book up multiple times, I simply didn’t. I should do so soon though, because I don’t know how long the free audiobook will last on Audible before it’s behind a credit paywall again.
2. The Romantic Tragedies of a Drama King by Harry Trevaldwyn – No, and I feel quite ashamed of this. I honestly expected to have read it by now, but I’m afraid this book will land on the pile of books that I will read whenever. There are more of these, so I really need to work on it.
3. Foxhole Court by Nora Sakavic – Another book I have yet to read, and which is quite unexpected.
4. Daydream by Hannah Grace – No, another book I haven’t read, but I need to read the previous one in this trilogy first. That one was on my Winter 2025 TBR, but I didn’t get to it once again.
5. Al het blauw van de hemel by Mélissa Da Costa – Yes, as I bought the ebook when I was already actively listening to the audiobook. However, the narration didn’t appeal to me, so I had no other choice than to buy the pretty expensive ebook if I wanted to finish this one. It’s not translated to English though.
6. The South by Tash Aw – No, I haven’t picked this up and I have literally no excuse as of why not. It’s a short book, maybe that’s the exact reason? Who knows!
7. The Spellshop by Sarah Beth Durst – Oops, another book I haven’t read. This is cozy fantasy and I have to be really careful with this sub genre as this is not something I particularly like or can handle back-to-back. Furthermore, the reviews I have seen around on other book blogs aren’t that great either.
8. A Song to Drown Rivers by Ann Liang – This is on my backlist list for 2026 as well, because I haven’t picked this up either.
9. Watch Me by Tahereh Mafi – Yes, I did read this because I was so curious. Although I finished it quickly, I felt rather disappointed.
10. 10.Silver Elite by Dani Francis – This is yet another book that is still on my TBR. The hype and accompanying controversy hold me back though.
11. 11.This Time It’s Real by Ann Liang – Guess what? Another book I should have already read by now, but is still on my TBR.
12. 12.The Winter Guest by Pam Jenoff – OMG I even forgot I have this book. So no, I haven’t read it.
13. 13.Schindler’s List by Thomas Keneally – Another backlist title I hope to read in 2026.
14. 14.What Happens in Amsterdam by Rachel Lynn Solomon – I read this one for a change, but wasn’t too happy with it. It’s enjoyable, but a bit too formulaic and a little stereotype for me as a local.
15. 15.Great Big Beautiful Life by Emily Henry – I’m super picky with books by this author, because they more often don’t work for me than they do, but this one was surprisingly okay. No, this author is not my favorite and I am still unable to understand the hype, but I didn’t want to throw the book out of the window for a change.
16. 16.Fun For the Whole Family by Jennifer E. Smith – Another book I have read, but was left feeling underwhelmed by. Maybe my expectations were too high? I don’t know. All that I do know is that I was pretty bored and didn’t feel the emotional damage that this book was supposed to bring, according to other reviews.
17. 17.Greenteeth by Molly O’Neill – This was such a nice, easy read and I quite enjoyed it.
18. 18.Blood & Steel by Helen Scheuerer – Another book that is pretty hyped. Even though I had an enjoyable time with it, I don’t get the tremendous amount of buzz for it. I haven’t picked up the sequels for this exact reason. Maybe I will, but I’m not in a hurry to do so.
19. 19.Rain of Shadows and Endings by Melissa K. Roehrich – No, I haven’t picked this up, there is so much romantasy and I feel a bit oversaturated by the genre now.
20. 20.Fearless by Lauren Roberts – See above, so many regrets…
21. 21.Here We Go Again by Alison Cochrun – Yes, I read this one and I really enjoyed it!
22. 22.Bodyguard by Katherine Center – No, this is still on my TBR, but it didn’t get the greatest reviews here in the Netherlands. And I have the Dutch edition.
23. 23.If I Had Told Her by Laura Nowlin – I still have to read this entire duology.
24. 24.Crossroads by Devney Perry – I did pick this up, but totally didn’t understand the buzz for it either. It was so generic for me and I didn’t feel the way others do about this book. This author’s romantasy however, is one I surprisingly enjoyed and can’t wait for the sequel for.
25. 25.The Berlin Girl by Mandy Robotham – No, I have so many historical fiction left unread on my shelf, should change this soon!
26. 26.Love and Other Lost Things by Melissa Wiesner – Another book I just wasn’t in the mood for.
27. 27.Bury Our Bones in the Midnight Soil by V.E. Schwab – I picked this one up and it was okay. Still, the writing is the best element of this author’s books, whereas the plot and characters often do not work that well for me. It was one of my summer reads though.
28. 28.The Rose Bargain by Sasha Peyton Smith – I’m sorry y’all, but this was once again pretty overhyped. Unfortunately this is the case with many new releases these days, but I wasn’t captivated by this one. The ending is interesting, but it takes a long time before we reach that point. It’s just so formulaic? I don’t know…

Verdict:

• I read 8 out of the 10 books that were on my spring 2025 TBR, with 0 DNFs;
• I read 12 out of the 28 books I hauled this season.

All in all, spring was pretty decent. I mean, I didn’t read my entire TBR and some books I picked up in a different season, but let’s not talk about my bookhauls. This is a bit ridiculous and I really should pick them up! Especially as there are many interesting ones waiting for me.

Do you dare to reflect upon past seasons and its TBR and bookhauls?