I’ve really missed doing Friday Favorites, and since no one was currently hosting it, Cait @ Functionally Fictional decided to jump into the gap. Each week, she provides a prompt, and I get to talk about my favorite books that fit the topic. Feel free to join in – the more the merrier!

This week’s topic is books I’m grateful for, and I can already tell that this is going to be a difficult one. I’m kind of grateful for a lot of books! But when I’m really struggling, a book that can take my mind off of whatever is going on is a book that I’m especially grateful for. So here’s some books I’m grateful for:

1. Dead Water by C.A. Fletcher — this one sucked me in and didn’t let go, and I was completely able to tune out the outside world.
2. Half a Soul by Olivia Atwater — this sweet and funny book brightened my mood during a tough time.
3. The Jasmine Throne by Tasha Suri — I got completely pulled into this immersive fantasy and forgot everything around me.
4. Babel by R.F. Kuang — I did this as a buddy read, and not only got to lose myself in the complexities of the story, but also discussed it thoroughly with someone who enjoyed it as much as I did. 
5. Hook (also called Lost in Darkness) by Gina L. Maxwell — this was the first romance I’ve read in a really long time, and it opened the door for me to read more of them.
6. The Light of the Midnight Stars by Rena Rossner — this was the first Jewish fantasy novel that I’d ever read, and it was so cool to see my own culture represented in such an intriguing way.
7. The Witch and the Tsar by Olesya Salnikova Gilmore — this was one of my most anticipated books of 2022, and while I got denied an ARC on NetGalley, the author saw my comment about it and SENT ME AN ARC HERSELF. PS it’s an incredible story and I loved it.
8. The Weight of Blood by Tiffany D. Jackson — I’m always grateful for a book that challenges me to step outside of my usual genres, and put me in the perspective of experiences that are so different from my own, allowing me to learn.
9. The Undertaking of Hart and Mercy by Megan Bannen — this one was so adorable and funny and sweet. I got so caught up in the humor, the story, and the romance, and it just swept me away from everyday life and worries for a while.
10. The Wolf Den by Elodie Harper — sometimes reading a book where it reminds me how good I really have it makes me feel a lot better, and this was one of those. No matter how bad things are, they weren’t as bad as the women in this book had it.

What are some books you’re grateful for, and why?