Reading, But Not For My Thesis!

Posted November 11, 2026 by Emmy Mahoney

For the last several months, most of my reading has been related to writing my thesis. While I am quite fascinated with the topic of my research, I think it is important to balance all of this with reading for fun. Following are some of the books that I have been able to read since the beginning of the fall semester.  

First, I read the contemporary fiction novel, The Road to Tender Hearts by Annie Hartnett. This book was a five-star read, and definitely one of the best books I have read this year. The next book I read was Cleat Cute by Meryl Wilsner. This sapphic soccer romance was such a fun read; I am hoping to read some more romances by Wilsner in the future!

Fantasy is definitely one of my favorite genres, and I never go too long without reading at least one. The third book in Leigh Bardugo’s Ninth House Trilogy, called Dead Beat, came out this September, and I was able to read it almost as soon as it came out, thanks to the Libby app. I loved this book so much and am very sad that this is the end of the series. Just this week, I picked up another fantasy book, Sword Catcher by Cassandra Clare. I was obsessed with Clare’s The Shadowhunter Chronicles when I was younger and was excited to learn of this new series.

Additionally, I have been getting more into audiobooks. I just finished listening to Mask of the Deer Woman by Laurie L. Dove. This book is narrated by Isabella Star Lablanc, who does a fantastic job of portraying the many different characters in this book. I have now listened to four audiobooks read by her, and I cannot get enough. More recently, I have started listening to the book, Dogs, Boys, and Other Things I’ve Cried About, written and narrated by Isabel Klee. I have been following Klee on social media and her experience fostering dogs, and am excited to delve into more of her story. 

Although it is tricky to squeeze in reading for fun while working on my thesis, it has been worth it. I hope you all have the opportunity to pick up a good book this semester!