This was originally supposed to be my top five middle grades reads of the year, but I ended up reading mostly YA fantasy because I was feeling all sorts of feelings about books this year, and that was where I felt like I could safely linger without being angry at everything I was reading. Thus, I also ended up rereading way more than I normally do. In total, I reread 21 books, which is probably at least a 75% increase from last year. I love rereading, and I’m not sure why I don’t do it more often, but given that there was a lot of rereading going on this year, might as well talk about my favorites! (And yes, there are technically 14 books on this list, whoops.)

Not gonna lie, I had a really good time rereading the Shadow and Bone trilogy & Six of Crows duology by Leigh Bardugo. I haven’t read either since I initially dove into the universe in 2017, but I wanted to go through everything again both before the show released and before Rule of Wolves came out, and it was such a blast. I was reminded how much I absolutely adore Alina, which is a lot, how much I missed Mal (also a lot), and how much the Dregs make me want to scream with joy (too much). It was such a blast to be back in this world, and since I read it in order this time, it was even more fun!

I think Felix Ever After by Kacen Callender is becoming one of my annual rereads–there are three currently, though I skipped two of them this year, whoops!–and I am so okay with that. It’s such a wonderful, heartfelt story that makes me cry at different parts every time. I really need to get on Callender’s backlist and finally read the rest of their books, and though I’m so excited for whatever they do next, this one is always going to have a soft spot in my heart.

In order to prepare for the final book coming out in Katy Rose Pool’s The Age of Darkness trilogy, I had to reread the first two, and my goodness, I somehow forgot just how much I loved them? I know you’re all rolling your eyes at me right now because I’ve literally talked about this trilogy once a week for the entire year, so clearly I know how much I love them, but y’all. These books are phenomenal. And in case you really don’t believe me, I wrote a very lengthy, mostly put together review for There Will Come a Darkness, As the Shadow Rises, and Into the Dying Light.

When Vespertine was about to release, I suddenly had the urge to reread both An Enchantment of Ravens & Sorcery of Thorns by Margaret Rogerson, and I’m so glad that I did. Sorcery was definitely my favorite reread of the year, and I, uhhhhh, may totally start rereading Rogerson every year because this was hella fun. The relationship between Isobel & Rook and Elisabeth & Nathaniel is just everything, and it overflows me with joy.

I’ve been listening to the The Lord of the Rings audiobook by JRR Tolkien & narrated by Andy Serkis for about three months, and I just finished it in November, and it was truly a wonderful experience. I’m not an audiobook person, and while this didn’t make me one, I’m really glad that I listened to it. Serkis gives such an outstanding performance that it’s 100% worth it for any Tolkien fan to listen to this, and it was such an enjoyable experience to spend three months listening to him basically act out an entire three movies in my ears. I’ll definitely listen to this again someday.

What was your favorite reread this year?