All Antonia Bernardin Blog posts

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5 ways to get out of a reading slump

If you are a regular reader, you’ll know that I’ve been struggling with a bit of a reading slump this year. Recently, I’ve been getting back into reading, so I thought I’d share what I did to break out of it.
You made a fool of death with your beauty – Akwaeke Emezi

You made a fool of death with your beauty by Akwaeke Emezi was my 25th read of the year. This has been on my TBR a while and came from a rec list we did back when I was running a book podcast – but it’s been a while and can’t remember what list it…
Dracones Awakening – Sheri-Lynn Marean

Indie spotlight: Dracones Awakening – Sheri-Lynn Marean Don’t miss out on this scorching romance where time ticks away and emotions run high. Love will immerse you in a whirlwind of passion and peril that’ll leave you gasping for more. Grab your copy now and let your savage heart take flight. Discover why readers call this…
5 random recommendations from recent reads

Okay, so the parameters for this blog are a little random, I’m just going to give five of my favourite reads from this year and last. Not necessarily things that have been released that recently, just that I have read them that recently. These are in no particular order or genre, enjoy.
The Will of the Many – James Islington

My 24th read of the year was The Will of the Many, the first book in the Hierarchy series by James Islington. This was another recommendation by booktuber Lexi AKA Newlynova and she almost never leads me wrong.
The Daisy Chain Flower Shop – Dream Harbor book 6 – Laurie Gilmore

The Daisy Chain Flower Shop, sixth book in the Dream Harbor book series by Laurie Gilmore, was my 23rd read of the year. I’ve really been craving easy reads lately and this book series was the perfect fit for that vibe.
July reading wrap up

I read 3 whole books this month! I don’t mind that it’s less than I maybe would’ve been reading this time last year because I read three books I enjoyed, and spent two separate days reading in my garden at the weekend whilst relaxing.
Caught Up – Into Darkness book 2 – Navessa Allen

My 27th read of the year was Caught Up by Navessa Allen, the second book in the Into Darkness series, I.E, the infamous Lights Out book that did the rounds on booktok.
The Baby Dragon Bookshop – A.T. Qureshi

The Baby Dragon Bookshop by A.T. Qureshi. the third book in The Baby Dragon series, was my 21st read of the year. I’ve been enjoying this series as a cute and cosy, easy read.
All the Ruins You Made – Alice Stokes

Indie spotlight: All the Ruins You Made – Alice Stokes All the Ruins You Made is an emotionally intense new adult romance about trauma, depression, self-worth, first love, and the desperate need to be understood by someone who sees more than you meant to show.
Diomedeid – Alexander Graham

Indie spotlight: Diomedeid – Alexander Graham What fate follows a man who has wounded gods and their offspring? Diomedeid charts the post-Iliadic exploits and agonies of Diomedes as he tries to outrun the bitterness of Venus
When the Moon Hatched – Sarah A. Parker

When the Moon Hatched by Sarah A. Parker was my 20th read this year. This book went nuclear on Tiktok when it first came out and I am veryyyy late to the game but it was honestly a little long and that put me off. However, thanks to a lovely long commute, it was the…
The Wolf of Blood Roses – Ellie Tru

Indie spotlight: The Wolf of Blood Roses – Ellie Tru A healer with no magic. A princess with no mercy. A fate neither of them can escape.
June reading wrap up

Not a great total again but you know what? Sometimes life is just life-ing and I’m not going to beat myself up for not reading as much in a month where I’ve been really stressed and the UK has been hot as hell. Read for a peak into this month’s favourite and for reviews yet…
By the Gods – J.C.Fields

Indie spotlight: By the Gods – J.C.Fields “We don’t question why Gods do the things they do, only trust that they do it for a reason. You and I are here together, for a reason”.
Roman – The Fallen – Melanie Jade

Indie spotlight: Roman – Melanie Jade They fell from the heavens. Some fell into the depths of hell, And fought their way out… Roman has walked the earth for eternity, leading his fellow fallen angels in the never-ending war against Lucifer and the hordes of hell’s demons. When Roman snatches the one thing Lucifer needs…
Thoughts on AI – a not rant-rant

I know that AI is a controversial topic, but as someone who works in marketing, I think my approach is more nuanced than the black and white thinking some people have about it…
The Raven Scholar – Antonia Hodgson

My 19th read of the year was The Raven Scholar, the first book in the Eternal Path trilogy. This was recommended by my favourite booktuber Lexi Aka Newlynova repeatedly and I decided to give the audio a go as I’ve been a slow reader of book-books this year, but I could listen to this while…
Taking Flight – Kelly Scriven

Indie spotlight: Taking Flight – Kelly Scriven To become an airship pilot, Sira must survive her final exam—and the pirates determined to kill her. Pursued by mercenaries and low on supplies, Sira and her exam instructor flee to a hidden Fae village for refuge. There, she realizes this is no random act of piracy. Someone powerful…
Things publishers do that book lovers hate

So, some of these are not necessarily my opinion, but more things I see around as a lurker on Bootok and Bookstagram.
The Baby Dragon Bakery – A.T. Qureshi

The Baby Dragon Bakery by A.T. Qureshi, the second book in the Baby Dragon series, was my 18th read for this year. I enjoyed book 1 and went straight on to book 2 because light and fluffy was definitely what my brain needed last month.
Circus of sins – Natasha Wingfield

Indie spotlight: Circus of sins – Natasha Wingfield Step right up to the circus of sins-where pleasure and pain are two sides of the same coin. A gripping tale of horror, seduction, and the fine line between ruin and rapture, circus of sins will leave you questioning the very nature of desire… and the darkness that…
20 Chosen One book trope recs

It’s time for another trope rec list! And this is one I can be a bit of a sucker for when it’s done well: Chosen one trope!
Reading, writing and life check in – 1/2 of 2026

I feel like a broken record, but just busy, my life feels busy. I haven’t read as much as I would like, I haven’t written at all… but the other things I’ve got going on are worth their time and so I’m kind of okay with having different priorities for the time being. But anyway,…
May reading wrap up

May was a little busy so my read count is a bit low again but I really enjoyed both things I read, I don’t mind a lower read count if reading has been enjoyable and not a chore like it was for a while. Here’s a summary of everything I read in May. Take a…
10 No thoughts just vibes reading rec list

You could maybe refer to this type of read as like a ‘beach read’ or holiday read but I am talking a very specific vibe – books that just are what they are, they embrace their genre/ trope, they don’t try to be fancy about it and we don’t need to pretend as readers that…
Lessons in Chemistry – Bonnie Garmus

The 17th book I read this year was Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus. I kept seeing clips of the TV series based on this book on Tiktok and liked them so much, I decided to read the book before finding somewhere to watch it properly.
Stripped Back – Georgia Valentine

Indie spotlight: Stripped Back – Georgia Valentine A sizzling friends-to-lovers romance featuring a wealthy businessman whose expectations of love are so high, he’d rather engage in meaningless one-night stands than believe something better exists for him, and a down on her luck heroine who is running from past traumas and current life of misery. A…
April reading wrap up

The slump is over! I read 6 books in April and I am really enjoying reading again. It took a lot of conscious effort to put down my phone and making sure I get a bit of balance in my days so there’s time for reading but whatever was blocking me has definitely gone away.…
The Baby Dragon Cafe – A.T. Qureshi

The Baby Dragon Cafe by A.T. Qureshi, the first book in the Baby Dragon series of books, was my 16th read of this year. As I attempt to climb out of my reading slump, I just wanted another fun, short, cute read and this seemed to fit the bill perfectly.
When we were almost – Nico Featherwick

Indie spotlight: When we were almost – Nico Featherwick A tender second-chance romance about love, silence, and what it means to try again.
The Gingerbread bakery – Dream Harbour series book 5 – Laurie Gilmore

My 15th read of this year was The Gingerbread Bakery by Laurie Gilmore, the 5th book in the Dream Harbour series.
Gild – Raven Kennedy

The 14th book I read this year was Gild by Raven Kennedy, the first book in the Plated Prisoner series. I’ve heard lots of people talk about this series on Tiktok and since the first book was in the Audible included library, I decided to give it a go.
Swept Away – Mimi Flood

Indie spotlight: Swept Away – Mimi Flood She needs a job. He needs a muzzle. Neither of them needs this kind of temptation. A sizzling small-town romance full of banter, forbidden heat, and one very inconvenient attraction, Swept Away is perfect for readers who love Melanie Harlow, Devney Perry, K.A. Tucker and Elsie Silver.
Current TBR – April

Interested in my upcoming reads? Here’s a little glimpse into what I plan to read soon and what you can expect to see on the blog shortly after! If you’ve read my recent posts, you’ll know I’ve been struggling to read lately, so I thought doing this might help give me something to aim for.
I run a book blog and I’ve been struggling to read

So, compared to previous years, I am doing absolutely terrible on my reading goals, some of this is down to life and some of this is down to me just really not feeling like reading… which is odd. I literally run a blog about books and reading, in my spare time, for free. So let’s…
Carbon Dating – Jen Smith

Indie spotlight: Carbon Dating – Jen Smith Carbon Dating nails it – humour, heart, and just enough dirt to keep things real. If Bridget Jones swapped her diary for a trowel and studied with Indiana Jones, this would be her story’ Natasha Billson, Award-winning Archaeologist, Filmmaker & Presenter
Reading, writing and life check in – 1/4 of 2026

Well, the first 3 months of 2026 are over and done with and it’s been pretty rubbish, I won’t lie to you! But here’s a wrap-up about life, what I’ve read and writing
March reading wrap up

Well, it seems I am officially in a reading slump, a combination of trying to read longer books, having a longer commute and trying to do my other hobbies, exercise, see family and friends has meant I really have not been reading much. I am trying to set aside time for it, but even when…
Get Waffle Jones – Daniel Skinner

Indie spotlight: Get Waffle Jones – Daniel Skinner Waffle Jones has a problem: his girlfriend has left him and he’s not sure why. It could be because he can’t hold down a job, is totally unreliable, and fritters all their money away
20 memes for book lovers – part 2

It has been AGES since we had a book memes post, and since I’m not currently hyperfocused on a series, today I’ve got some generic bookish memes for you! Get ready to be mildly amused.
Dragonsown – Erika Leigh Agnew

Indie spotlight: Dragonsown – Erika Leigh Agnew Erika is a Canadian Author of 2 YA/MG Fantasy books, with the 3rd on the way
20 ‘forced proximity’ book trope recs

Once again, I’m bringing you a trope that can be a little… dodgy, but when it’s not done in a icky way, forced proximity can be great for creating tension and angsty longing or fun banter.
10 romance recs based on recent reads

I haven’t done one of these since 2024, so here’s an updated list of romance book or series I would recommend, based on books I have read over the last year or so! These aren’t necessarily recent publications, this is just based on books I have read.
The Silent Forest – A. E. Ford

Indie spotlight: The Silent Forest – A. E. Ford Step into The Silent Forest – if you dare… The Silent Forest is a place of whispers, where shadows move when no one’s looking and silence seems to hold its breath. Few who enter leave unchanged, and some never leave at all…
Gallant – V.E. Schwab

The 6th book I read this year was Gallant by V.E. Schwab, her books are a mixed bag for me because I enjoy them… but there are often a little odd. This was a short audio and a standalone book, so it was perfect for my commute and I decided to give it a go.
The Broken Parts Along the Way- Samantha Waverly

Indie spotlight: The Broken Parts Along the Way- Samantha Waverly Love. Motherhood. Chaos. Healing. A soft-hearted, slow-burn second chance romance — where finding your way back is only half the story.
Mate – Ali Hazelwood

Mate by Ali Hazelwood was the 5th book I read this year (yes, I am doing pretty tragic with my reading goals…). This is set in the same world as her debut romantasy novel Bride, but follows the mc’s adopted sister.
Attention Seeker – Darcy Michael

The 4th book I read this year was Attention Seeker by Darcy Michael. Posed as a guide to thriving with ADHD, Darcy is a tiktoker and comedian who I’ve followed since 2020. He shares funny stories about his life with his husband, daughter and Yuma dog, as well anecdotes about his life with ADHD.
February reading wrap up

Unfortunately January’s plague continued to haunt me for most of February, that plus some busy weekends and being just so exhausted means I’ve only read 2 books… which is genuinely shocking to be honest. Here’s a summary of everything I read in February. Take a look to find what I’ve either already reviewed or reviews…