Meet the July C-SPL Reader of the Month , Celina!
Celina rediscovered her love of reading in 2024, inspired to pick up her sister’s favorite books. From there she signed up for a Goodreads account and set herself a reading goal…then a bigger goal…to finally completing a whopping 95 books in a year. Talk about truly rediscovering the love of reading!
She now flies through romance, thrillers and the occasional fantasy – keeping that competitive spirit rolling by trying to beat the timer on her Kindle or speeding up audiobooks to keep the momentum going. Celina believes that anyone can be a reader with the right book, and we couldn’t agree more! Find out more about Celina below.
Check out Celina’s Favorite Books
Editor’s note : When Celina was selected to be an upcoming Reader of the Month, she sent in this photo of her wedding party on the steps of Carnegie-Stout this spring. Congratulations to the newlyweds, and thank you for including us in your special day!
C-SPL July 2025 Reader of the Month Q&A :
- What book(s) are you currently reading?
- Kindle: Bridesmaid Undercover by Meghan Quinn
- Audio Book: The Do-Over by Lynn Painter
- What is the best book you have read within the last year (or ever)?
- This question is as painful as pulling teeth. I have read 29 books so far this year and 95 books last year. To pick the best book is not possible.
- Best Romance: Hello Stranger
- Best Thriller: The Guest List
- Best Fantasy: Fourth Wing
- Best Stand Alone Book: One Summer in Savannah
- This question is as painful as pulling teeth. I have read 29 books so far this year and 95 books last year. To pick the best book is not possible.
- What is your ideal reading environment (location, sound, snacks, etc.)?
- If I am reading my kindle, I like to be curled up in a blanket with piano music playing on Spotify. If I am reading my audio book, I am either on a long drive, cleaning, sending emails, or brain rotting and playing a game at the same time.
- What book are you most excited about reading next, and what about it is most exciting?
- I, like many others, am waiting for the next Sarah J Mass book in the ACOTAR series. On a more realistic note, I am ecstatic for Sarah Adams’ newest book, In Your Dreams, that is set to come out next year.
- What format do you prefer and why (physical book, e-book, audiobook)?
- It depends on my mood. If I multitask, I tend to lean toward audiobook. If I am looking to physically read the book, I tend to use my Kindle. It is much lighter than a physical book and works great when traveling. I mainly read physical books from my own collection.
- Have you discovered any exciting new authors or genres?
- I have recently fallen in love with Sarah Adams books. She was recommended to me by a friend. They are cute quick romance reads that always leave me in a good mood. I have sense gone through and read all of her most recent books.
- Have you read any books recently that have changed the way you think about something?
- I like reading thriller books that make me think and catch me by surprise in a good way. My most recent read was Rock Paper Scissors by Alice Feeney. While reading the book, I thought I knew what was going to happen and thought it was going to be a solid 3-star rating. To my surprise, there was a twist I didn’t see coming that kept twisting and twisting. It made me stop, think, and slow down.
- What book has been the most challenging for you to read? How did it challenge you?
- Some of the picks for the book club I am in have been a real challenge to complete. I am someone who will not DNF a book no matter how much I dislike it. There have been a few months that I have had to dig deep to finish the monthly reads, but it leads to great discussions.
- When do you decide to stop reading a book? In other words, do you read every book to the last page, or is there a moment when you decide to stop?
- I tend to stop reading due to a time constraint or when I am actively falling asleep. When time is not a factor, I tend to read until my eyes hurt or I’ve hit a long chapter.
- Do you remember when your love for reading began?
- I have always been a big reader since I was a kid. In high school, I was an avid dystopian reader, but when the workload got heavy, the reading for fun decreased. Now that I have graduated college, I have prioritized reading again and have not looked back.
- What other library resources do you enjoy?
Thanks to Celina for sharing her reading journey with us! Her journey is a great reminder that it’s never too late to fall back in love with reading. Whether you’re racing through your TBR list or just getting started, Carnegie-Stout is here to help you find that next great read.
Want to be our next Reader of the Month? We’d love to hear from you! Fill out the submission form here.