I genuinely did not see this coming, but here we are: my first reading wrap up of the year… and I still don’t have a 5-star read. In this video I chat through the 8 books I’ve read so far, what worked for me, what didn’t, and the overall vibe of my reading life right now (very cozy, slightly chaotic, and extremely honest). If you’ve ever had one of those starts to the year where everything is “good” but nothing is “THE ONE,” you’re not alone. I go book-by-book through everything I mentioned—like The Kamogawa Food Detectives for those warm, food-forward, gentle-mystery feelings, plus manga catch-ups like A Sign of Affection Vol. 12, One Piece Vol. 2 and Vol. 3, and Villains Are Destined to Die Vol. 8. I also talk about my experience with bigger, more intense reads like The Will of the Many, and I wrap up with thoughts on The Man Who Died Twice and For Our Next Song. The takeaway: I’m still having fun, I’m learning my tastes as I go, and I’m keeping my expectations realistic while I hunt for that first 5-star moment.