Author: annafromuni

• My Waitangi Day Read is Airana Ngawera’s The Last Living Cannibal

  As soon as I heard Airana Ngawera was releasing another novel, I knew I had to get my hands on it. After several busy months of PhD work and an unfortunate bout of reader burnout, which resulted in me returning my library copy of The Last Living Cannibal unread, I managed to get my hands…

  annafromuni

  February 6, 2026

  Historical Fiction, NZ Fiction

  adult book recs, adult fiction, adult historical fiction, airana ngawera, annafromuni, annafromuni 2026, book recommendations, book review, Historical Fiction, historical fiction book recommendations, kiwi fiction, kiwi novels, kiwi stories, kiwi voices, maori author, maori fiction, maori lit, maori literature, maori stories, maori voices, ngati patea, NZ author, NZ book recs, NZ Fiction, nz historical fiction, nz history, nz literature, nz reading, NZ stories, patea boys, te reo books, the last living cannibal

• Soft Second-Chance Romance in Ivy Fairbanks’ Heart Strings

  What better way to get into the romantic spirit this month than with a fiery second-chance romance between a passionate Latina woman and an Irish songwriter who cannot forget her? Heart Strings by Ivy Fairbanks has been on my radar since I finished Morbidly Yours, and I felt now would be the time to pull…

  annafromuni

  February 4, 2026

  Contemporary Fiction, Romance

  adult book recs, adult romance, adult romance books, annafromuni, annafromuni 2026, book recommendations, book review, contemporary adult fiction, Contemporary Fiction, contemporary romance, cosy fiction, cosy romance, heart strings, ivy fairbanks, love in galway, morbidly yours, romance, romance book recs, romance books, romance fiction

• Make Your Way Home by Carrie R. Moore – A Debut Short Story Collection to Devour

  February is Black History Month in North America, so I want to take this time to read and share books by Black authors, spreading their stories and showcasing the brilliance of Black writers. All perspectives and voices are important, and Black voices deserve to be heard. Make Your Way Home came across my radar a…

  annafromuni

  February 2, 2026

  Contemporary Fiction

  adult book recs, american lit, american literature, annafromuni, annafromuni 2026, bipoc authors, bipoc communities, black authors, black history month, black literature, black stories, black voices, book recommendations, book review, carrie r. moore, contemporary adult fiction, Contemporary Fiction, contemporary historical fiction, Historical Fiction, historical fiction book recommendation, historical fiction book recommendations, historical fiction book recs, literary fiction, make your way home, short stories, short story collection

• My January 2026 Reading Summary

  Overall mood – restless: I knew I would feel a little antsy when it came to my reading this month. To be fair, I did get a few books read and have my February reads lined up, ready to go. I just have to find ways to get myself engaged in the reading like I…

  annafromuni

  February 1, 2026

  Discussion Posts

  2026 monthly reading summary, 2026 reading summary, a dim prognosis, annafromuni, annafromuni 2026, annafromuni discussions, discussion post, do not say we have nothing, january 2026 reading summary, january reading summary, jujutsu kaisen, make your way home, monthly reading, monthly reading recap, monthly reading summary, my hero academia, reading summary, the heart principle, The Irresistible Urge to Fall for Your Enemy, wild dark shore

• Be Enchanted by Madeleine Thien’s Stunning Novel Do Not Say We Have Nothing

  In an endeavour to read more historical fiction written by a diverse range of voices, Madeleine Thien’s Do Not Say We Have Nothing came across my radar at the end of 2025, and I added it to my list of books to read in 2026. This novel won the Scotiabank Giller Prize in 2016 and…

  annafromuni

  January 30, 2026

  Historical Fiction

  adult book recs, adult fiction, annafromuni, annafromuni 2026, asian books, asian lit, asian literature, award winning books, book recommendations, book review, do not say we have nothing, Historical Fiction, historical fiction book recommendation, historical fiction book recommendations, historical fiction book recs, historical fiction reads, how we disappeared, jing-jing lee, literary fiction, madeleine thien, nyugen phan que mai, steven galloway, the cellist of sarajevo, the mountains sing

• Marie Kondo’s Letter from Japan is the Perfect Non-Fiction Read

  Marie Kondo is a global celebrity at this point, with her book, The Life-Changing Magic of Cleaning, a worldwide sensation, and her sweet, gentle persona a pleasure to watch. When I heard that she had published an introspective non-fiction book, I knew I needed to read it for myself. So Letter from Japan ended up on my…

  annafromuni

  January 28, 2026

  Non Fiction

  adult book recs, adult memoir, annafromuni, annafromuni 2026, asian books, asian lit, asian literature, book recommendations, book review, books about culture, contemporary non fiction, japanese books, japanese literature, letter from japan, marie kondo, memoir, Non Fiction, non fiction book recs, self development reads, self help books, self help reads, the life-changing magic of tidying

• Getting my Hands on Jujutsu Kaisen Vol. 1 by Gege Akutami

  I have two mani manga I want to complete this year. The first is My Hero Academia, and I have already started reading it, so check out my post for My Hero Academia Volume 1 here. The other manga I want to read this year is Jujutsu Kaisen by Gege Akumati, and I can already…

  annafromuni

  January 26, 2026

  Foreign Lit, Poetry and Short Stories

  annafromuni, annafromuni 2026, book recommendations, book review, dark fantasy, fantasy manga, first impressions, foreign books, foreign lit, foreign literature, gege akutami, graphic novel, graphic novel series, graphic novels, jujutsu kaisen, manga, manga review, manga series, popular manga, popular manga series, short books, short stories, supernatural fantasy, ya dark fantasy

• My Summer Reading Debrief

  While summer is’t officially over here in Aotearoa New Zealand, my PhD studies and the general populace’s back-to-work schedule give the feel of it being near its end. We have also had a wet summer at that too, so for those addicted to the sunshine and beach-going weather, it may have been a bit of…

  annafromuni

  January 25, 2026

  Discussion Posts

  a dim prognosis, annafromuni, annafromuni 2026, annafromuni discussions, annafromuni studies, ara, discussion post, do not say we have nothing, dr hinemoa elder, graphic novel, ivor popovich, letter from japan, madeleine thien, manga, marie kondo, Non Fiction, nz summer, reading in summer, reading mood, reading mood changes, reading multiple genres, reflecting on annafromuni, short books, short stories, short story collection, summer reading, summer reads

• Where Do My Preferences Lie?

  This is a good question because I am not so sure I know myself. I have read a lot over the last few years, and I have grown and adapted my reading to what appeals to me more in that moment of life. Things that were once staples have become nostalgic throwbacks, less favoured genres…

  annafromuni

  January 23, 2026

  Discussion Posts

  2025 favorites, 2025 favourites, 2026 goals, 2026 plans, 2026 reading, 2026 reading goals, 2026 reading habits, 2026 reading plans, adult fantasy, annafromuni, annafromuni 2026, annafromuni discussions, book recommendations, discussion post, fantasy authors, graphic novel, Historical Fiction, jujutsu kaisen, manga, my hero academia, reading ebooks, reading genres, reading plans, reading preferences, reflecting on annafromuni, romantasy, scholarly reading month, science fiction, short books, short stories, short story collection, what are my reading preferences

• Sticking to a Work-Life Balance

  I’m sure we are all guilty of leaning toward one side of this dilemma instead of striking that perfect middle ground. After all, life doesn’t pan out how we always think it will, and who knows when things will actually go right with work? As the workload ramps up for my PhD research and life…

  annafromuni

  January 21, 2026

  Discussion Posts

  academic research, annafromuni, annafromuni 2026, annafromuni discussions, annafromuni does a PhD, annafromuni studies, annafromuni writes, book blogger, book blogging, discussion post, hobbies, life update, multiple hobbies, phd candidate, PhD discussions, phd student, PhD studies, postgraduate studies, reading habits, reflecting on annafromuni, study blog, work life balance, work-life balance