All Antonia Bernardin Blog posts

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If you don’t care about the categories and just want to scroll through my posts newest to oldest, this is the place!

June reading wrap up

Somehow I read 7 book in June… considering I also moved, not entirely sure how that happened but that makes this my month with the most reads? Here’s a summary of everything I read in June. Take a look to find what I’ve either already reviewed or reviews to come.
Reading, writing and life check in – 1/2 of 2025

We’re at the half way point of 2025 and It’s time for a check in! Lots has been happening in life, some reading has occurred and almost no writing….
The Dating Ban – Dani Elias

Indie spotlight: The Dating Ban – Dani Elias – A British author who can’t write morally grey even if she tries. Green flag guys rule her book world. Prepare for a laugh-out-loud romcom bursting with quirky characters, cheeky banter and enough chemistry to steam up your coffee.
Greek Mythology retellings – HM Roberts

Indie spotlight: Greek Mythology retellings by HM Roberts – an author, mum of three, yoga enthusiast and chocolate eater. HM Roberts writes character driven Greek reimaginings, with lyrical prose and tragic endings.
Chaos – Franziska Samson

Indie spotlight: Chaos – Franziska Samson, a debut fantasy author whose book is the first of series. Seraphina has no memories of her past except for disturbing dreams, when she’s thrown out of her peaceful life into the middle of a battle, she discovers there’s more to her powers than she knew and she’s forced…
All Gods Must Die – Soraya Cole

Indie spotlight: All Gods Must Die – Soraya Cole – this is the first book in a new fantasy series that is inspired by Irish Mythology. Full of mystery, betrayal, a unique magic system and a prophecy, get ready to be brought on one epic adventure.
Aunties series

The Aunties series by Jesse Q Sutanto was my 22nd, 24th and 25th read this year. This series is made of: Dial A for Aunties, Four Aunties and a Wedding and The Good, The Bad, The Aunties.
Imposter syndrome – writer edition

Since 2021 I have done yearly reflections on imposter syndrome and how I have experienced it. None of these spoke about me and writing though, so I think it’s time we talked about it
Melting for you – Tegan Phillips

Indie spotlight: Melting for you – Tegan Phillips, Tegan is a debut author writing romance stories with ‘big movie’ kind of love. In the game of second chances, can they follow the rules?
10 fantasy books recs – recent releases

Here’s a quick and easy rec list of fantasy books I have read, that are recent releases (or at least, the final book in the series was).
May reading wrap up

Once again, I only read 5 books but that’s okay, that seems to be my current normal so, although it’s not good for my overall reading goals, I’m okay with where I’m at, life is busy. Here’s a summary of everything I read in May. Take a look to find what I’ve either already reviewed…
Words of Encouragement – Janice J

Indie spotlight: Words of Encouragement – Janice J has written 4 books on Encouragement. Three are season-themed (with the 4th due out soon), and one more has short words of encouragement comprising 7 categories.
Ruthless Boys of the Zodiac

This review has been a long time coming! Over the last few months I have been listening to the Ruthless Boys of the Zodiac series by Caronline Peckham and Susanne Valenti. This was my 66th, 80th and 82nd read of last year, and the 17th and 23rd of this year!
Warrior Fae

This is book 5 in the Ruthless Boys of the Zodiac series by Caroline Peckham and Susanne Valenti, and it was the 23rd book I read this year.
Ark Angel – Mikaela A.E.

Indie spotlight: Ark Angel – Mikaela A.E – dystopian with a twist, blending soft sci/fi and fantasy elements. A reader described it as an interesting blend of “hunger games and the matrix.” Another reader said it was “dystopian chaos with plant based trauma”
Sweet Fate – Dia Constantine & Ellena Andrews

Indie spotlight: Sweet Fate – Dia Constantine & Ellena Andrews. Sweet Fate is the first book of the Fate’s Trilogy, part of the Tales of the Blood Lilies. The story is focused on the desire of Fate, who is embodied as a woman, to become mortal, thereby giving up her immense power.
Zodiac Academy memes

It’s time for more bookish memes! I read Zodiac Academy a couple years back and loved it, so it ‘s strange that I’ve never done a meme compilation
The Five Crowns of Okrith series review

The Five Crowns of Okrith by A.K.Mulford is a series that have spoken about very enthusiastically here before. I’ve been reading this authors books since they were a debut indie author, I thought it was about time I compiled all the reviews together in one place now this is a complete series
Holly Ruscoe – Not Just Skin Deep

The first indie spotlight: Holly Ruscoe – Not Just Skin Deep – an honest and empowering guide to healing after heartbreak.
Current TBR – May

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!
Funny Story

Funny Story is the latest book by Emily Henry and was my 21st read of the year. I’ve yet to read a bad one by her so let’s see if this newest book is just as good!
April reading wrap up

April was a little better than last month! It helps I had some time off over Easter but I’m also making an effort to put down my phone and read instead. Plus, I’ve given up on following a TBR, I’m letting myself mood read for a bit. Here’s a summary of everything I read in…
Seven Days in June

Seven Days in June by Tia Williams has been on my TBR forever after seeing booktuber, Lexi – AKA newlynova, recommend it a bunch. Well, I finally read it and it was my 20th read of the year!
Deep End

The latest book by Ali Hazelwood, Deep End, was the 19th book I read this year. This one caused quite a stir on booktok so I HAD to read it.
Broken Fae

Broken Fae is the 4th book in the Ruthless Boys of the Zodiac series by Caroline Peckham and Susanne Valenti and was my 17th read of 2025.
My Feral Romance

My Feral Romance by Tessonja Odette was the 16th book I read this year, I wanted a short-ish listen and this book was included on Everand, so I thought, why not?
20 ‘She’s mine’ book trope recs

It’s been agesss since I’ve done a book trope rec list! So let’s get going with our favourite run if this was said to you by a real-life partner trope: ‘She’s mine’/ ‘their mine’/ ‘your mine’. It it toxic AF? Yes. But as long as it’s fiction we can indulge in it a little.
Indie/ debut author spotlight

I’m launching an Indie Author Spotlight to promote smaller and indie authors. The posts will feature information from submissions, providing these authors with visibility as my way helping out
Chaotic Guidance

The 18th book I read in 2025 was Chaotic Guidance by Dari A. Malaunt I was given an ARC copy of the book and now it’s officially launched, I can share my thoughts!
Reading, writing and life check in – 1/4 of 2025

This post is part of series of quarterly check-ins, with a little bit about life, a little writing, and a little bit of reading stats
March reading wrap up

March was my worst month yet! I dunno what to tell you, I’m just struggling to find time to read, or when I have time, I just don’t feel like reading. I only read four books and 3 of those were audios but that’s okay, this is just a phase my brain is going through!…
If tomorrow never comes

The 85th book I read in 2024 was If Tomorrow Never Comes by Allison Ashley, this was sent to me as an ARC and I couldn’t post it until now, as it’s officially release week!
Crocodile tears

Crocodile Tears is the fourth book in the Prickle Island Zoo series by Ali.K. Mulford and was my 14th read of the 2025. I am a huge fan of this author so this will be a fairly biased review, you have been warned.
Party animal

#PartyAnimal, #PrickleIslandZoo Book 3, by #Ali. K. Mulford, was the 11th book I read this year. I’ve loved this series so far and I was really excited for the next book.
Check & Mate

My 9th read of the year was Check & Mate by Ali Hazelwood, her first YA romance novel. When Mallory accidentally beats the (very attractive) world champion of chess, she’s convinced to take a scholarship that’ll support her whole family, but she doesn’t want to make the sport that ruined them her whole world again…
February reading wrap up

I’m honestly really struggling to read more at the moment! My brain just wants to scroll mindlessly right now, so February wasn’t a great reading month but it wasn’t terrible, I read 6 books in total. Here’s a summary of everything I read in February. Take a look to find what I’ve either already reviewed…
Apprentice to the Villian

Apprentice to the Villain, the second book in the Assistant to the Villain series by Hannah Nicole Maehrer was the 8th book I read this year – click the post to read my review!
10 Booktok books reviewed – part 3

This is a series of posts where I go through the Goodreads list of Booktok books and give quick overview of what I liked and disliked and why. I am just covering the third lot of 10 books in the list in this post (it’s a list of 50 that I’ve broken into chunks of…
20 Memes for *romance* readers – part 3

In honour of having recently read ‘Morning Glory Milking Farm’ and The ‘A Deal with a Demon’ series, I thought a part 3 of spicy book memes was overdue.
How to read loads without going bankrupt

Reading can be an expensive hobby, although physical copies in the UK aren’t as costly as other places, if you’re looking to compete with your favourite booktoker’s read count without spending a fortune, you’re going to need cheap ways to get a lot of books.
You are not a before picture

I recently listened to You are not a before picture by Alex Light, this was my 5th read of the year and my first book in the challenge to read a little bit more non-fiction this year.
The Songbird and the Heart of Stone by Carissa Broadbent

My 3rd read of 2025 was The Songbird and the Heart of Stone by Carissa Broadbent, the third book in the Crowns of Nyaxia series, this is the beginning of a new duology following other characters in the series.
The Whispering Night

The second book I read in 2025 was The Whispering Night by Susan Dennard, the third and final book in The Luminaries Series.
Two can play

My last read of 2024 was #TwoCanPlay by #AliHazelwood, which was my 100th read of the year! I actually finished listening to this as I got ready to go for New Years, so I hit that 100 books goal by the skin of my teeth.
What’s a girl gotta do to get on the naughty list?

The 96th book I read last year was What’s a girl gotta do to get on the naughty list? by Kimberley Lemming. This is a super short Krampus smut book that was just a fun, silly read around Christmas.
Booked for the holidays

Booked for the Holidays by Liz Maverick was my 95th read of the year, this was another short and easy listen that covered me for my commute working around Christmas.
January reading wrap up

Here’s a summary of everything I read in December as I desperately scrambled to make up for how poor November was and hit my year reading goals! Take a look to find what I’ve either already reviewed or reviews to come.
The Pumpkin Spice Cafe

The 94th book I read last year was the Pumpkin Spice Cafe by Laurie Gilmore. Honestly picked this up because the cover gave off cosy romance vibes and I wanted a nice, easy short listen that was along those lines at the time.
Under the Mistletoe collection

This is a collection of short stories by various romance authors that are all Christmas themed, which made up books 87, 88, 90, 91, 92 of my reads last year
10 Booktok books reviewed – part 2

This is a series of posts where I go through the Goodreads list of Booktok books and give quick overview of what I liked and disliked and why. I am just covering the second lot of 10 books in the list in this post (it’s a list of 40 that I’ve broken into chunks of…