Leslie and I are planning three group reads in the coming months! Find more details on Leslie’s page or at the end of this post!
Hello, hello and welcome back to another episode of WWW Wednesday, a weekly meme hosted by Sam @ Taking On A World of Words, which means I’ll be answering these questions:
- What did you read last?
- What are you currently reading?
- What will you read next?
Since last week, I’ve not been reading a whole lot, partially because I’ve been getting migraines since the weekend but also, I’ve just been reading very slowly this year. I managed to finish 3 books and I loved all of them!
The Tainted Cup (The Shadow of the Leviathan #1) by Robert Jackson Bennett ★★★★★
This was a buddy read with Charlotte and we both loved it! The interactions between Ana and Din were so good and I think RJB did a fantastic job capturing the Sherlock/Watson dynamic. The world-building was captivating, the characters were compelling, the mystery was intriguing, and I can’t wait to read on! I already feel certain that this is gonna be one of my top reads of 2025. 😍
The Eye of the Bedlam Bride (Dungeon Crawler Carl #6) by Matt Dinniman ★★★★★
I mean… What can I really say? Y’all have heard me go on about this book since I started reading it a few months ago, and let’s just say that I’m even more emotionally invested now. Leslie and I read this together and we both shed quite a few tears during it. We were definitely deep in our feelings and ngl, I think it was totally warranted! 🤣 The further I read in this series, the more I end up loving it because of the surprising depth and complexity that Dinniman continues to weave into the story. LOVE IT!
We Used to Live Here by Marcus Kliewer ★★★★½
This was another buddy read with Charlotte and holy granola, this book was terrifying. There’s one horrifying attic scene that lives rent free in my head since I read it yesterday and you bet my insomnia and I have become even closer besties because I’m too weak to sleep. 🤡 Seriously though—while this set my overactive imagination to full capacity, I also found that I didn’t want to put it down. I simply HAD TO finish it this morning because I needed to know WTF was going on. Did I finish it feeling like I knew wtf was going on? Absolutely not! Was it worth the headforkery? Yuh, I reckon so. 😂
After finishing We Used to Live Here, which as I said, was a total mindfork, I’m not quite sure what to read. 😂 I definitely think that I either need a romance, something extremely light, or something completely different to get me out of my head. Otherwise, I fear my overactive imagination is going to be on overdrive just like last night and I don’t know if I can afford it at work tomorrow, lol! 💩
Here are the options I’m currently at. Which would you choose to read as a palate cleanser?
A few buddy reads but it’s mostly where the mood takes me!
As I mentioned above, Leslie and I are planning a few group buddy reads in the upcoming months. If you’re interested in joining, you can reach out to either of us via comments or DM us on socials!
- Katabasis by R.F. Kuang — The book comes out at the end of August and we’ll be kicking off the month-long buddy read on September 1st. This is open for a couple more weeks if you want to join!
- The Green Bone Saga by Fonda Lee — We’re planning a group read for the last three months of 2025. We’ll start in October and read one book per month through December. It’ll be a re-read for many but you’re welcome to join even if you haven’t read it yet and have been wanting to! 💚
- Dungeon Crawler Carl by Matt Dinniman — Yes, you’re seeing that right. We’re currently reading DCC but we’re planning to start (what we hope will be) a larger group read in January 2026 to prepare for the release of of book 8 in June 2026! GET EXCITED! 🧨
What are you currently reading? I hope you’re enjoying whatever book you’ve picked up, friends!
dinipandareads 
I’m currently reading Connections in Death by JD Robb, still continuing my marathon In Death reread
In the last week I’ve read:
1 Echoes in Death by JD Robb.
2 Secrets in Death by JD Robb.
3 Before and After by Anna Hackett.
4 Dark in Death by JD Robb.
5 Leverage in Death by JD Robb.
Next up will be more In Death. I need to finish them as September brings quite a few books I’ve preordered. Plus a new In Death!
Gill
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More In Death! I hope you’re enjoying all the books still 🙂
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Oh wow, you’ve had some fantastic buddy reads, Dini! And Lynsay Sands’s book would definitely be a good palate cleanser!
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I do think that the Lynsay Sands book would be a great palate cleanser. I might need a few palate cleansers actually so I think I’ll end up getting to it 🤭
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The Tainted Cup is so good. I’m glad you loved it!
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SOOOO GOOD! I can’t wait to continue with the next book 😍
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omg the this poison heart duology are some of my favourite books !!
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Ooh yay, very excited to hear that 😍
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Falling for the Highlander would be a great palate cleanser. The usual zany Lynsay Sands shenanigans and fantastic chemistry between characters to boot.
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I’ve been doing a lot of mood reading this month. I probably won’t get the last 3 books read for 20 books of summer, but that’s okay. Glad you are enjoying your buddy reads, Dini.
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As a mood reader, I totally get it. I’ve been mood reading harder than usual this year. It’s just been that kinda mood! 😅 Even if you don’t wind up getting to the last 3 books in your 20 books of summer, it’s still amazing that you read so much over the summer! I hope you’ve enjoyed most (if not all) of those books, Carla. Happy reading!
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Thanks, Dini. Some of the older ones were just meh, which might be why I didn’t read the last three which were all backlist books.
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Fair enough! I hope that whatever you pick up to read next brings you much joy 🙂
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I think three books is pretty good, especially considering the length of the one that you read with Leslie and the migraines. I hope you’re feeling better now 🥰🥰
The Tainted Cup is going to be one of my top books of the year too. And my rating for We Used To Live Here is the same as yours. Omg that attic scene, I agree!! And also the wtf effect it has on you throughout. I’m glad you enjoyed both of our buddy reads, especially as one was out of your comfort zone.
I don’t know what to suggest reading next. A romance sounds like a nice switch but then one of the fantasy’s could easily fill your mind with the world they create which could help. I have to get We Live Here Now read before the end of next week but I’m reading my Greek arc first as I don’t think I want another horror title right now 😂 reading a King novel at the same time probably didn’t help, even if that one was more suspense then horror in the end as it still had some very dark content.
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I’m so glad that you both loved The Tainted Cup. A Drop of Corruption is just as good. We Used to Live Here definitely sounds like a book that I need to avoid so thanks for the warning. I don’t need books that get into my head like that 😃
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Gonna put your Dungeon Crawler Carl group read to my calendar!
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Sooo excited for the group buddy read coming up!!
The Tainted Cup was so much fun, and I am glad to see Foundryside on your tbr – Bennett is a fantastic writer!
I’ll be keeping an eye out for when you pick up Strange Pictures – that’s been on my radar for ages and I’ve been so curious about it.
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I’ve only read Not Safe for Work from that list and I recommend it! there’s some harassment and unwanted advances so go in warily if that’s an issue for you
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Your reading is on fire! Love all the stars, and can we talk about the cat on that cover of Bedlam Bride? I am obsessed.
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We Used to Live Here was a 2.5 star read for me. That one just didn’t work for me unfortunately. I’m glad you loved it. I would go with one of the romances as a palette cleanser.
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[…] #WWWWednesday: 20 August 2025 […]
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