Hello, MAD Readers!

I’ll be honest. Everything bookish is on hold for me right now. I have only really written one scene for Aaron and Cami’s story since my last newsletter, and I’m trying to make time to write more, but life has been in the way.

Since the start of May:

For these many reasons, focusing is extremely hard. The body aches have also been a bit intense, so when I’m not working or actively doing the things I NEED to do, I’m resting and in pain. I’m sure other chronically ill peoples can relate.

But I’m trying my hardest to get this book finish by the end of July so I can meet my editing deadline. If not, I’m turning in what I’ve written so far and editing the back end on my own.

My new book cover artist has been going through a lot as well. She moved to a new country, got sick, has other obligations happening, so I still don’t have a completed cover for Off the Grid yet.

I also haven’t turned in the character sheets for Aaron and Cami either, so that’s on me. Originally, my goal was to have all new covers out and available by the start of June for an August release, but obviously that’s not happening.

When Late Flowers Bloom will be delayed, but I’ll let you guys know when I have it scheduled. I’ll do a pre-order and have ARC sign-up sheets for the book when the time comes!

*Book updates end here, but keep reading if you want some TV show recommendations.

So normally I really like to read above all else. Audiobooks were my norm everyday, and then I’d find time to read on my kindle or kobo in the evenings. That hasn’t been the reality since the start of 2025. At first, I started getting really addicted to social media, but I’ve used some app limiters to help me curb my screen time, and I’ve switched more to watching shows as entertainment.

Upload

This is a show about a future where wealthy people can choose to have their consciousness uploaded to an afterlife rather than die. Some characters are alive in the real world and others are stuck in a simulation.

It’s really funny and had some compelling romance plots. It’s four seasons long, and I binged it in April.

Off Campus

This show was pretty cute. I worried it would be cringey but was along for the ride because I love romance, and it was entertaining. I also enjoyed the development of the second couple and look forward to more.

Heartstopper

Happy Pride with this show! I had watched S1 when it released but then went a very long time not really watching much TV. Now that I’ve been using shows to cope with how busy life has been, I dove back into this one.

I really enjoyed it. It’s like the type of world we wish existed as queer kids. Most of the people they interact with are accepting, open-minded, and likely queer themselves. Any homophobes get dealt with instantly.

It’s wholesome and sweet. The third season was a bit more serious, and a movie is coming soon. So I’ll be excited to see how it all wraps up.

My Dress-Up Darling

This show has been one of my favorites over the last year. I enjoyed my first viewing of it, but now that it got added to Netflix, I’ve been binging it again. It’s about a cool cosplay girl and a boy who likes to make dresses. They work together for different cosplay events and slowly fall in love.

The Rampants of Ice

This anime has been a bit of a roller coaster. At the start, I was really shipping a specific couple, and then they didn’t end up being the ones who like each other. Now, it’s a tangled mess of friends who all like each other in a square of sorts.

It’s not messy as in they’re mean to each other though. It’s still very wholesome and cute to watch. I want to see how things develop, and I have to let go of my original shipping.

Total Opposites

OBSESSED with this one. It was seriously so cute. Not only do I love the dynamic of the original couple, but there are some other secondary couples who are compelling as well. These characters all speak their mind and are highly communicative about consent and their feelings. It was a cozy watch.

Let’s Play

I didn’t want this show to end. These characters deal with more adult issues than the other animes I’ve recommended so far because they’re actual adults. The three guys are all swoony in their own ways, and I was on the edge of my seat by the final episode.

A S2 should be coming, so I’m excited about that!

Kowloon Generic Romance

This show had like a sci-fi mystery type of story. There’s a general romance for the main plot, but it’s not really the main focus. The characters are trying to figure out why the town they live in feels unstable. Sometimes people are there, and then they aren’t. Memories aren’t reliable. Things like that.

This series made me cry. It’s complete and limited, so there’s no worry about any ongoing storylines you need to keep track of. But it was definitely mind-bending and head-scratching. There were also some queer and gender fluid characters I found interesting.

I hope you enjoyed my recommendations! I’ll check back in next month and give you some new updates on what’s going on. I appreciate you following me through this writing journey!