pattingsomebooks

Hi! I'm Pat (they/them) and this blog is all bout books I've read and my thoughts about them!

[pattingsomebooks]

Alive just busy

Hi everyone,

Sorry I haven't been uploading much, it's cuz I haven't been reading for the past month or two. I got burnt out of reading Dungeon Crawler Carl and stopped after Bedlam. It just got a lot for me lol cuz I just kept reading the series the entire time. I have been gaming instead just to have a change of pace. I ended up making a blog lol about it (@patsomegames). I'll get back to reading at some point, just a lot of life stuff goin on.

brb! <3

[missgowgow]

anyone have ereader preferences they want to share with the class?

I’m debating between the kobo libre colour (cheaper, repairable, waterproof, fast, easy to use, but doesn’t support third party apps for my manhwa - I’d have to sideload) and the boox go colour 7 gen 2 (more expensive, not waterproof, not repairable, better stylus, uses an android os so you can download third party apps including my manhwa apps, but apparently the os has a steep learning curve and is kinda weird).

btw not interested in amazon kindles both because of the amazon ecosystem and because google and reddit say that overdrive/libby access is usa only and I am not in the usa. kobo uses overdrive instead of libby, but I was an overdrive girlie all the way back in 2012 so I don’t mind going back. and I don’t really use hoopla even though I have it through my library, so no kobo hoopla support is fine.

[missgowgow]

screaming crying throwing up begging the ereader girlies to throw me a hint, please I need to reduce my screentime. please I need to be able to not just open another app when I’m done reading. I am staying up so late every night for no reason

[pattingsomebooks]

Well either one works tbh. Even if Boox has an android OS, I would recommend to only download apps that are relevant to reading like Libby or Webtoon even. Don’t even think about downloading social media on Boox because it takes away from your objective of reading. If you sideload manhwa by the volume/book then Kobo is probably more your style as it’s pretty isolated from third party apps and you get access to Overdrive and Google Drive on it (which makes it easier to sideload). Plus the Kobo feels pretty sturdy and waterproof which is a nice bonus if you don’t have an ereader at all. My Kobo is my daily on the go ereader since it feels pretty sturdy and is waterproof while my Boox is my stay at home ereader and I barely ever bring out of my home. Tbh if you don’t think you need the android capabilities at all, I would recommend to grab a Kobo and get to reading :D

[missgowgow]

ty this is helpful! I mostly read my manhwa in the licensed apps like webtoon and tapas, which is why app integration would be nice. that being said, I checked my screentime and my weekly manhwa time is around 4 hours (~30 min a day) so I could just continue doing that on my phone. those apps are scrolling comics, not page based ones, how do you find the refresh rate on continuous scroll? if I’m going to be manually downloading and chopping my manhwa into pages anyways, then there’s not as much need for the actual app.

my weekly text-based reading time rn varies from 4-6 hours, but that’s low for me (screen fatigue?) so an ereader without manhwa would still be used.

I think I’m leaning towards the kobo because of the durability (waterproof, repairable) and because it sounds like the boox would be a subpar manhwa experience anyways. what’s your sideloading workflow? god knows I can procrastinate, so I hope it’s not too complex. ty!!!

[pattingsomebooks]

You're welcome! I don't really mind the refresh rate on continuous scroll. You can customize the refresh rate and quality of images per app which is nice. If I find the ghosting to be much at times, I just use the refresh shortcut (aka I have it so if I hold down one of the page turn buttons, it refreshes).

The only thing I warn about taking manhwa and editing to be sideloaded is it is something that takes time and if you find that you think it'll be annoying in the future then I probably won't recommend beginning the process. I think leaving the manhwa for your phone is solid considering it's just 30 minutes a day. I would just think about how much you're on screens throughout the day.

For sideloading, I take my books and import them into Calibre. I like having all my books there cuz I can also customize the covers and download metadata. I like to get a list of books I am interested in reading and sideload in large batches. It allows me to work through my TBR, stay immersed in book series, and if I happen to finish a book while at work I get to start a new one immediately.

Tbh I think Calibre is pretty intuitive but if you get stuck, there are lots of youtube tutorials online too.

I wish you the best of luck with your ereader!

[missgowgow]

anyone have ereader preferences they want to share with the class?

I’m debating between the kobo libre colour (cheaper, repairable, waterproof, fast, easy to use, but doesn’t support third party apps for my manhwa - I’d have to sideload) and the boox go colour 7 gen 2 (more expensive, not waterproof, not repairable, better stylus, uses an android os so you can download third party apps including my manhwa apps, but apparently the os has a steep learning curve and is kinda weird).

btw not interested in amazon kindles both because of the amazon ecosystem and because google and reddit say that overdrive/libby access is usa only and I am not in the usa. kobo uses overdrive instead of libby, but I was an overdrive girlie all the way back in 2012 so I don’t mind going back. and I don’t really use hoopla even though I have it through my library, so no kobo hoopla support is fine.

[missgowgow]

screaming crying throwing up begging the ereader girlies to throw me a hint, please I need to reduce my screentime. please I need to be able to not just open another app when I’m done reading. I am staying up so late every night for no reason

[pattingsomebooks]

Well either one works tbh. Even if Boox has an android OS, I would recommend to only download apps that are relevant to reading like Libby or Webtoon even. Don’t even think about downloading social media on Boox because it takes away from your objective of reading. If you sideload manhwa by the volume/book then Kobo is probably more your style as it’s pretty isolated from third party apps and you get access to Overdrive and Google Drive on it (which makes it easier to sideload). Plus the Kobo feels pretty sturdy and waterproof which is a nice bonus if you don’t have an ereader at all. My Kobo is my daily on the go ereader since it feels pretty sturdy and is waterproof while my Boox is my stay at home ereader and I barely ever bring out of my home. Tbh if you don’t think you need the android capabilities at all, I would recommend to grab a Kobo and get to reading :D

[pattingsomebooks]

The Game Changers

I'm gunna have to be honest here, I read the series like I breathe air. As in once I started, I barely stopped nor did I barely stop to take notes on my thoughts of the whole series. So I was initially gunna make a post per book but when I was developing my drafts, I was like waitt like what were my thoughts here etc. So this is my encompassing review of the overall series.

Overall, I really like the Game Changers universe. I think Rachel Reid did a good job entwining all the characters throughout each of the books while maintaining their development/showing where they got to after their stories got to their happy ending. I'm so happy that Ilya was able to slowly develop his friendships with others outside of Shane and find his community.

I was really surprised that Ilya truly followed through with Shane's plan and honestly like The Long Game did a solid job of showing like Ilya kind of being forced to process some of his trauma and depression while learning how to communicate his wants. Honestly though, I don't fully understand why TLG makes people hate on Shane. I don't think Shane did too much wrong. I think he was trying to read Ilya but also respect Ilya's boundaries but also trying to keep a handle on things happening in his life. But I also understand a little bit why people were upset with him considering he had his team and Hayden in the know and everything while Ilya had nothing at the beginning of the book. I just think Shane really developed a lot in the book and like once he got hit with reality of possibly losing the person he loves the most, he got his shit together and just fuckin went for it.

I'm having a great time with this series and I'm very much looking forward to the next book coming up. If you'd like for me to address some specific character's or parts in the book, please leave me an ask and I'll answer :D

[pattingsomebooks]

I have just finished the Game Changers book series. I will say that I have many opinions and photos for posting later but these are just my raw thoughts right now

1. I do NOT like the Montreal Voyagers. Like tf you mean that Shane gives his whole youth and fuckin gives life to the team and gives them a dynasty BUT GOD FORBID HE TRIPS IN ONE GAME AFTER HE’S OUT AND THE TEAM IS LIKE NAH BRUH YOU DID IT ON PURPOSE. That’s frickin crazy. The only okay person or two is Hayden and then maybe JJ but JJ is on the thinnest ice ever.

2. Yayyyy Shane doesn’t have to stress about captaining anymore and can just enjoy playing with Ottawa. The team just loves and supports each other and I think that’s lovely.

3. I love all the characters coming up throughout the series and the world slowly becoming more and more connected to each other which ties up The Long Game very well.

[escapepodding]

The miscommunication in Heated Rivalry is because they're living in different romance types to begin with:

Shane: In some sort of Austen-esque existence where hjs ill-advised flirtation with a notorious rake goes too far. Scandalised by the intimate use of first names he flees, concerned what society and his goodly parents will think, his reputation at stake. He tries to find a proper marriage prospect but alas his heart is lost to the rake! But he finally follows his heart and invites Ilya into his home too (and accepts first name usage!)

Ilya: Smoldering in mirrors and out of windows and getting emotionally wuthered screaming Shane's name on a moor. My man is byronically going through it gothic style

[escapepodding]

Scott Hunter is trying to live his best modern rom com life and is side-eyeing the fuck out of these two. No idea what's going on there and franly doesn't want to

[wren--bee]

So a few days ago I received my copy of @pangur-and-grim's book, Apparently, Sir Cameron Needs To Die. I read it all in one sitting (except for a phone call) and told myself I would do a review by or on release day.

That is today. This is that review. And this is Iniya, who needed to be bribed to get out of my face and pose with the book and subsequently sat on it to eat.

I won't talk about anything specific beyond the first couple of chapters, but I will be vague about the rest of the book. Firstly- this is a very pretty book. But let's not judge a book by it's cover here!

Much of Apparently, Sir Cameron Needs To Die is written in the first person from the perspective of the titular Sir Cameron, which means we have to enjoy following him. He is a character type which is easy to get wrong and make unlikeable or unpleasant- he is an absolute coward, vain, determined that he is beloved and delightful despite it being clear that he is neither of those things. And desite this being a person I would hate to be around he's deeply compelling... partly because Stothers doesn't hesitate to make him a fun stress toy of a character. If a character like this got things his own way he'd be deeply hateable, but Cameron is pathetic, in a way which is- at first- rather enjoyable to follow along with.

Without going into detail, Cameron doesn't stay as a one-note character, and Stothers balances his personal development shifting in tandem with how we relate to and experience Cameron with nary a wobble. Cameron never becomes hateable, and how he is treated within the world is treated with as much- or as little- gravitas as felt right to me, personally. It’s not always fun, and Stothers never slipped and had me feeling upset by the way the narrative itself was treating Cameron.

And I have to note something which stood out to me in the depiction of Cameron, as an autistic reader. And that is that Cameron is shown trying to choose the best reactions, his behaviour carefully curated, a constant attempt to control how he is seen. And that is... it's a deeply humanising part of his thought process, for one thing, but as I said, I am autistic, and holy shit did that hit home hard for me. In a good way. I don’t know if it was intentional, I don’t know if it was intended to make Cameron seem autistic, but it definitely resonated deeply with me.

Mostly I've talked about Sir Cameron as a character. This is a romance (I think?) so we do have to look at the main pairing, and it's... funny, absurd, and hard to decide whether to root for it or cackle at it. Or both! And then... well...

At first I was coasting over the top, enjoying the shenanigans. I was experiencing it as fun fluff- enjoyable, personal, honest, but not containing a massive amount of depth. And honestly, this was a very fitting way for things to start, because that reflects Sir Cameron, it reflects his romantic intentions, it reflects our experience of him. But... it's like looking at snow, thinking it's light and fluffy and not much more, only to suddenly find that you're ankle deep.

Then knee deep.

Then waist deep...

And, to pull back from the metaphor, the next thing I knew I was deeply invested, intrigued, surprised- more than surprised, absolutely thrown for a loop- and realising that that soft fluffy fun and absurd beginning was there to lull me into a false sense of security. And now I was strapped in and committed to the rest of the ride that was Apparently, Sir Cameron Needs To Die- both the story, and the relationship.

This book, for all that it's playing with absurdity and fun, is real, heartfelt, and absolutely drew me in. I appreciated the world. I liked the serious topics that some of us live with being just... casually there, in the world, as much as they might suck to exist there was no attempt to write a queer story without the pain of societal expectations. The fun was fun, but the twists and turns were hooks that refused to let go.

I think I will be thinking about this one for some time.

Also? It's a very pretty book.

[sinister-flower]

First time reading East of Eden by John Steinbeck. Enjoying a monday without work with chamomile tea and reading in bed.

33/100

[raduzhnayaiskorka-blog]

First of all, I am going to read all the books on this planet!

Megatron with helmet

Megatron without helmet

Sentinel Prime

Rodimus Prime

[pattingsomebooks]

Hello, I just finished We'll Prescribe You a Cat by Syou Ishida (Translated by E. Madison Shimoda). I learned about this book because I saw it on my friend’s TBR list and it looked cute so I thought I’d give it a try. I FINISHED IT SO QUICKLY THOUGH. I liked this book so much and immediately recommended it to my friend because I thought they would appreciate this sweet story of people being prescribed cats to help them with their problems.

I would describe this book as one that gently holds you through some very relatable troubles that people have in their day to day lives. Like subjects such as life isn’t going where you want it to be or your job is making you unhappy and you feel like there is no way out of it. It honestly helped me feel a bit comforted with the troubles I’ve been experiencing about work and this was like a warm hug. Honestly, I know it’s so early in the year but this I think is one of my favorites of the year.

Highly recommend! It’s a nice relatively short book too.

[scotthunterssocks]

am i even obsessed with something if i didnt crochet something for it

yay hollanov ereader sleeves!!! shane's took sO fucking long to make because his number has a red border and i experimented with like 4 different styles before landing on one that im happy with

might find some letters to iron their names on but its also acrylic yarn so i dont want it to melt lolz

[pattingsomebooks]

I think what really stuck out to me in Heaven’s Official Blessing is that Hua Cheng truly loved Xie Lian through all the versions of himself. The young and naive version of him, the version that lost basically everything he loved, the version that was vengeful, and the versions that came to peace and acceptance. And he never leveraged the knowledge to his benefit to attract Xie Lian nor told him that he was there for certain events until Xie Lian figured it out or it was relevant to what was happening. He loved fiercely and Xie Lian fell in love with current version of him and not the past versions. Idk there’s just something amazing about his patience and resilience. It’s something I really admire about him.

[cloudabserk]

BEST DAY EVER ☀️🌸❤️🦋

based on this

[pattingsomebooks]

2025 Reading Wrap-up!

A little delayed but these were all the books I read last year. I can't believe I've managed to read so much last year despite working as well. I think I've managed to read close to one book each month. I did take a month off here and there but it's just been very exciting.

I'm glad I got to read some books that were in my mental TBR such as The Queen's Gambit and the Percy Jackson series/Heroes of Olympus series. They were all fantastic and I got to appreciate them and understand why they were popular.

In the Clear Moonlit Dusk was a reread for me because I read it a few years ago and decided to reread it again because of the anime coming out. I just had to remind myself what peak was like lmao. Reading Frieren was very moving for me as well as the story gets a little more serious later on.

Overall, I'm satisfied with all the books I've read throughout 2025. It's really nice to reflect on the books and my takeaways from them. I look forward to reading more this year!

[pattingsomebooks]

I have just finished the Heaven's Official Blessing series by MXTX!

Let me just say... at this part aka towards the end, I WAS CRYING omg. This series is so fire. I got so caught up in the climax of the last book, it took me so long to recover today. Many times I've reread certain pages just because I couldn't believe what was happening in the book.

Right now, I'm just reading the extra chapters aka the epilogue chapters from MXTX and just having a grand old time. The emotional pay off and build up to everything was awesome! Man, what I'd give to forget this whole series and to re-experience this series again for the first time. Highly recommend! I think it took me a few weeks to finish the series because I was mainly reading it during my work lunches and breaks but I decided to do the final stretch today since I only had like a few chapters left. It was sooo worth it.

[gayhockeyshowenjoyer]

its so important to me that in the show shane has no complaints about ilya physically picking him up. like book shane throws a fit about this and insists on being put down immediately. but jacob tierney really said no this man loves his #uppies. and thank god for that.

[pattingsomebooks]

Hello! Happy 2026 everyone!

Sorry for being a little MIA, the holidays + work got (and is still being) a little crazy.

I recently started reading Heaven's Official Blessing by MXTX! I heard a lot about it and I was stuck between this series and Scum's but after reading the synopsis of both series I decided to start with this one. I've been enjoying the series so far! In the span of a month, I have finished 4 books of the series and I am on the 5th one right now.

May I say, this is one heck of a slow burn omg. But I also really like that the series wasn't really focused on the romance at all for the first few books and I appreciate it. I know that this isn't necessarily a romance series but idk the front covers and stuff like I could forget about the romance but I am reminded of it from time to time. I do like that there is this subtle build up between Xie Lian and Hua Cheng. I also really like that MXTX focused on building up the friendships between Xie Lian and the other characters in the cast. It truly puts you through a rollercoaster. My main feelings towards this book is that I just wish for Xie Lian to finally have his peace and his friendships. He's really gone through so much in his life.

Anyhow, no spoilers please !! I'm almost done with the series (i think unless there's a seventh book I don't know about)