The Final Page Challange | Thoughts
A few months ago, I set a challenge for myself: to finish all the books I started this year but, for some reason, didn’t complete. Maybe it’s because of my ADHD or my slight addiction to books and reading—whatever the reason, the result is that I tend to pick up books that sound interesting to me, only to stumble upon another book that seems even more intriguing, and then another, and another 😅. Eventually, I end up with a pile of unfinished books, which drives me crazy—it feels like unfinished business or something.
I want to clarify that this isn’t about forcing myself (or encouraging anyone else) to read books that add no value, waste our time, or fail to bring us joy. It’s not about that at all. This challenge was about books I genuinely want to read but set aside for one reason or another. So, the goal was to reach the final page of each book, hence the very original name: The Final Page Challenge.
Now that I’ve sort of finished it (you’ll see towards the end why it’s just “sort of,” or you can skip to the end if you’re curious—no judgment here!), I wanted to share my thoughts on these books.
The Four Winds by Kristin Hannah - It’s the first book I read by this author, but after reading this one, I bought two more of hers. I LOVE her writing style, and I’m so happy to have found this book because I thought this kind of style did not exist anymore. It’s a historical fiction novel that tells the story of Elsa's emotional journey as she tries to keep her family together when facing incredible hardships during the time of the Great Depression and the Dust Bowl era. I learned a lot about the Great Depression and went on reading about this period, and I love when books ignite this interest in me to explore further. Keep in mind that this book will probably make you cry—or should I say, weep! 😭
Surrounded by Idiots by Thomas Erikson - My amazing auntie wanted to start engaging with personal development books. She texted me a picture she saw of ‘great personal development books that people should read in 2024’ and asked if I wanted to read them with her. I’ve already read many of them, but I don’t mind revisiting them to enjoy some bookish discussions with her. So we started with this book. It’s a practical guide that categorizes different personalities into four color-coded types. If you’re new to personal development books, you might find it brilliant, but if not, much of what is said will feel familiar to other popular books. That said, it was still an entertaining read. Human communication and behavior in general fascinate me, so it wasn’t in vain🧠
If We Were Villains by M.L. Rio - Usually, I don’t like dark academia books because I find the ‘dark’ twists to be unrelatable. But not with this one! I’m so grateful to a follower of mine (Tracy, thank you so much for this recommendation!), for recommending it because I enjoyed it so much. It’s a story about a group of elite drama students whose obsession with Shakespeare and their intense relationships lead to a mysterious death (as per usual in dark academia, but here it’s done very well!). If you’re into dark academia and Shakespeare, you’ll love this one—it was the perfect combination for me🎭
The Silent Patient by Alex Michaelides - (Sorry, no picture of a physical copy!) A psychological thriller that keeps you guessing until the very end. This page-turner is perfect for a flight or getting out of a reading rut. The story follows Alicia, a talented painter who stops speaking after being accused of murdering her husband. Told through the perspective of a psychiatrist determined to uncover the truth, it’s an engaging read. While I was hooked, I felt slightly let down by the ending—not because it was bad, but because I wanted the story to explore trauma and its impact on the psyche more deeply, rather than leaning into the murder-mystery angle. Still, an intriguing read!
All Your Perfects by Colleen Hoover - Mmm… I hope I won’t get canceled for saying this, but I didn’t like this book 🙈. I don’t usually read romance, so maybe I’m not the best judge, but I wanted to see what all the hype was about. The story explores the struggles of marriage and infertility, which are deeply emotional topics. It alternates between past and present, giving a nice contrast between how things were and how they are now. While the structure was interesting, the characters and plot felt like rom-com clichés, and though I like watching rom-coms sometimes, but reading it, I don’t know, let’s say it made me roll my eyes a lot 😂. I get why fans of emotional love stories might enjoy this, but it wasn’t for me💔
Indistractable by Nir Eyal - A great read if you’re looking to take back control of your time and attention in a world full of distractions. Eyal shares practical strategies to help you stay focused and “indistractable.” The 2 game-changing tips for me:
1. Pocket extension, it’s a Chrome add-on that lets me save articles and info I come across online. It’s like building your own social media feed full of things that interest you. It prevents me from going down a rabbit hole of information when I work on my computer and helps me focus on work and read through my saved items later when I have time.
2. Time-Boxing, meaning, planning my day by blocking out specific times for tasks. I noticed that simply scheduling time for “traction” (tasks that align with your goals) really helps reduce stress because it makes me feel calm to know that everything has a dedicated time.
What I Was Doing While You Were Breeding by Kristin Newman
*sigh. I had so much to say about this book, so I made a video about it on my YouTube channel. A friend of mine adores this memoir and lent it to me. It’s written by Kristin Newman, a television writer known for shows like How I Met Your Mother and That ’70s Show. Unfortunately, I was very disappointed. You can check out my full discussion in the video on my channel.
The Weird Sisters by Eleanor Brown
This is the story of 3 sisters who return to their small hometown to care for their mother. Each sister is at a crossroads in life, struggling with her own flaws and dreams. Their father, a Shakespeare professor, raised them surrounded by books and an enduring love for the Bard. I was sold when I read the synopsis of the book because it had a familiar, comforting vibe that I hoped would give me “homey” feels. But… I’m not sure how I feel about it. It was okay. Not bad, but not particularly memorable either.
The Cruel Prince by Holly Black
This YA fantasy follows Jude, a human girl raised in the magical (and cruel) world of Faerie. She is determined to earn her place among the immortal folk who despise her. While I liked the premise, I approached it with skepticism, having read classic fantasy that set the bar very high for me (risking sounding old here, but they really don’t make them like they used to😅). The execution felt flat and, at times, overly focused on shock value, which didn’t work for me. It came across as somewhat childish. Sorry, this one didn’t work for me.
If the Shoe Fits by E.J. Noyes
A friend was eager for me to read this book, and while I could see why they liked it, it wasn’t my cup of tea. It’s the third book in a series but works as a standalone (I haven’t read the first two). It’s a spicy romance about Jana, a lawyer who realizes she’s attracted to women after years of dating men. Although it’s cheesy at times, the romance develops nicely between the two main characters. For me, the pacing dragged, and there were too many conversations that didn’t hold my interest. It wasn’t bad—it just landed in the wrong hands 🙈
Two more books left in this challenge:
The Body Keeps the Score - Unfortunately, despite trying a few times, I found this book too triggering to continue. It’s an incredibly important and powerful read, but it’s also very heavy. I’ll have to put it aside for now.
Peter Pan in Scarlet - I love Geraldine McCaughrean’s writing, so I understand why this book was chosen as the official sequel to Peter and Wendy (!!). Since I wrote my master’s dissertation on Peter Pan and Wendy, I’m curious to see if my theories apply to this story as well. I’m reading it closely and taking my time, so stay tuned for updates!
Final Thoughts:
Looking back, this challenge turned out to be more than just finishing books I’d set aside—it became a reflection process. I rediscovered why I’d picked these books up in the first place, even if some of them didn’t quite live up to my expectations. It reminded me that every book, whether loved or not, adds something to our lives—whether it’s a new perspective, an unexpected emotion, or simply the satisfaction of completing it. It’s made me more mindful about what I want to read moving forward and more intentional in my reading choices.
Have you ever returned to a book you’d set aside and found it surprised you—either for better or worse? Or do you prefer to leave unfinished books behind? Let me know in the comments—I’d love to hear about your reading experiences!
