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The Surface Breaks: a reimagining of The Little Mermaid
The Surface Breaks: a reimagining of The Little Mermaid | Louise O'Neill
51 posts | 22 read | 144 to read
Deep beneath the sea off the cold Irish coast, Gaia is a young mermaid who dreams of being human... but at what terrible price? Hans Christian Andersen's dark original fairy tale is reimagined through a searing feminist lens, with the stunning, scalpel-sharp writing and world building that has won Louise her legions of devoted fans.
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SilverShanica
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I am posting one book per day from my to-be-read collection. No description and providing no reason for wanting to read it, I just do. Some will be old, some will be new - don‘t judge me I have a lot of books.
Join the fun if you want. This is day 282
#bookstoread
#tbrpile
#bookstagram

3 likes1 stack add
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Aussie_SFF
Mehso-so

This book was mudlin from start to finish. Much more in the vein of the original fairy tale than the Disney version. Lots of feminist overtones and really needs a trigger warning for basically all types of abuse to women. The main character may have a tail but this was a little too real for me.
2.5/5 Stars

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gibblr
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Mermaid vibes for days 🧜‍♀️

TaciturnWhenReading Soo pretty! 4y
59 likes1 comment
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Booknerd222
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Booknerd222
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Booknerd222
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Love love love this!

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Booknerd222
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HighLadyoftheStacks
Panpan

Heavy handed from the start but without any real character growth or call to action. I don‘t mind the lack of nuance, I just got tired of the main character constantly being on the brink of having a revelation then immediately falling back on the same behaviors as before.

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Juliwyant
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Got a surprise today — another book from my #santathing partner! Nice surprise!!!! Thank you again @ph9k

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BookishGirl06
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#7days7covers #covercrush Day 4. I love this cover so much. Everything about it is so pretty

Texreader It‘s so gorgeous 5y
81 likes1 stack add1 comment
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JessClark78
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Pickpick

‘The days of my childhood kept turning over; dissolving like sea foam on the crest of the waves. I have been counting them; the days and the nights, the weeks, the months, the years. I have been waiting for this day.‘

I wasn‘t too crazy about the ending but I did like this story. It was dark, well written, and I absolutely loved the sea witch. Also, gorgeous cover art. Great for readers who love mermaids and fairytale retellings. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

57 likes3 stack adds
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Kalalalatja
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Day 4: #7Covers7Days #CoverCrush

How about you @julesG ? You up for posting some beautiful covers for a week?

Verity That is such a gorgeous cover 5y
Cinfhen THERE it is❣️❣️❣️❣️😍 5y
TrishB Gorgeous ❤️ 5y
See All 7 Comments
julesG This is gorgeous!!! Thanks for the tag! 5y
Nute Lovely cover! 5y
Leftcoastzen Pretty! 5y
98 likes1 stack add7 comments
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ShelfRighteous
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My #covercrush for Day 3 #7days7covers

@sudi Would you like to join? Post 1 cover everyday for 7 days. No explanations needed. Tag a person each day.

Kalalalatja I just posted this 😅 #greatminds 5y
ShelfRighteous @Kalalalatja Hahaha it was right at the same moment. #thinkalike 😜😜 5y
sudi Thanks for the tag💗, i do have a few in mind. I don't own many books so i'll probably post a google image 5y
See All 14 Comments
ShelfRighteous @sudi No worries! I do the same, too❤🙌 5y
Tanisha_A Beautiful! And I was going to tag @sudi next, and yay! 😁 5y
sudi @Tanisha_A thanks 😘 5y
sudi And this cover is so beautiful ❤ 5y
sudi @Tanisha_A i was going to tag you but then i saw you already posted 😆 5y
ShelfRighteous @Tanisha_A Ohhh I got to her first😜 5y
ShelfRighteous @sudi Isnt it tho🤩 5y
Nute This cover is gorgeous! 5y
ShelfRighteous @Nute I'm actually put off reading the book lest its cover gets spoilt😜🤣 5y
Nute I‘ve actually been there before...so much so that I waited for and then purchased the paperback upon release for the reading experience.😂 5y
ShelfRighteous @Nute Oh shit🤣🤣🤣 5y
33 likes14 comments
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thebookishpages
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Pickpick

Being a feminist retelling of the story we treasured I thought I knew what to expect, still I was completely thrown off guard at the ending. Its a beautiful retelling, you will be enamoured by the underwater life descriptions and awakened by the feminist undertones of it. This work is a proof of how much fairy tales have fucked up our sense of self-esteem. It teaches us to screw up other's expectation of you and live your life the way you like.

4 likes1 stack add
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Kalalalatja
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Under the surface of the ocean, there is no room for #BadGirls. Mermaids have to be docile, marriagable and dependent on their husbands. Even the daughters of the Mer King. However, Gaia, the MC, is having none of it, and does her part to smash the patriarchy 🙌

#AnglophileApril

Reviewsbylola I love this cover so much! 🧜🏼‍♀️ 5y
Sarah24 The cover is lush 😍 5y
ShyBookOwl Sounds awesome! 5y
See All 11 Comments
Cinfhen Total #CoverCrush 💕💕💕💕 5y
Mdargusch Sounds like a fun read! 🧜🏻‍♀️ 5y
Kalalalatja @Reviewsbylola @Sarah24 @ShyBookOwl @Cinfhen @Mdargusch the cover is beyond awesome, but the book was “just” okay. I enjoyed it, but it didn‘t wow me like some of her other books. But, a feminist retelling of the Little Mermaid is something I can‘t not read 😄 5y
ShyBookOwl @Kalalalatja agreed, I can't not read it. I'll have to check it out! 5y
RealLifeReading What a cute cover 5y
Cinfhen Ha!!! Great hashtag @Mdargusch 5y
emilyhaldi I really want to love this book but I just have a feeling I wouldn't 😆 it's gorgeous though!!! 5y
92 likes6 stack adds11 comments
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KarenUK
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Pickpick

This feminist #fairytaleretelling owes much to the Grimm tales. There are some gruesome sacrifices made by Gaia, the ‘little‘ mermaid. She realizes her ‘Prince‘ is not so charming, leaving one patriarchal society for another, learning a lesson to be careful what you wish for.
And as she finally realizes her worth and her power, this tale has a very unexpected ending.
Enjoyed this for some lovely writing and its take on the classic.
#booked2019

Samplergal I have that on my#booked2019 list as well. 5y
KarenUK @Samplergal I was dreading this prompt, but this one was pretty good.... I‘d liked another novel by her so felt like I was in safe hands 5y
Samplergal @KarenUK I too am dreading this prompt. I though a book based on the little mermaid so soon after is going to kill me. 😂 5y
Cinfhen Great review....I‘m ALMOST inspired to actually #stack it, but who am I kidding?!?!?! I HATE fairytale Retellings 😂😂😂 5y
73 likes3 stack adds4 comments
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KarenUK
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#Nextup the tagged book for #booked2019 for the #fairytaleretelling ....
Fingers crossed it‘s as good as it‘s cover is pretty! 🤞

JennyM Let us know how you go...I‘m nervously lining up options for this prompt 5y
KarenUK @JennyM it‘s a tough prompt for me too.... I‘m going with this one because I‘ve read something else by her which I found really thought provoking 5y
Cinfhen Which was your favorite so far?? 5y
KarenUK @Cinfhen Too close to call it, but either the Sally Rooney or the Maggie O‘Farrell.... 🍀💕 5y
59 likes1 stack add4 comments
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bookseller_cate
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Going through the summer catalogs from Scholastic.

I‘ll read any reimagining of The Little Mermaid and this one looks especially interesting. I‘ll have to see if I can hit up our rep for an ARC. 😊🧜‍♀️ #mermaids

32 likes1 stack add
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Itchyfeetreader
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Pickpick

Just about a pick for me. This is a feminist retelling of the little mermaid and it‘s not even a little bit subtle in hitting the reader over the head with the themes and messaging. I would have liked to see a little more complexity in the world created especially in the characterisation. The ending was very strong however and I appreciated what O‘Neill was trying to do. (And the cover is stunning)

Bibliogeekery The cover IS stunning 😍🧜 5y
Itchyfeetreader @Bibliogeekery not going to lie it‘s the main reason it ended up on my Christmas wish list 🙄 5y
Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks Beautiful cover!!! 5y
sprainedbrain That sounds interesting... and the cover is definitely gorgeous! 5y
66 likes5 stack adds5 comments
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BookishGirl06
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Reviewsbylola Absolutely gorgeous! 6y
aeeklund Stunning!! 6y
kspenmoll Gorgeous! 6y
Gissy I want that book just because it has a beautiful cover! Am I insane? 5y
116 likes4 stack adds5 comments
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Kalalalatja
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This book is full of spells - the “witch‘s” spell which makes Gaia walk on land, Gaia‘s attempt at putting a spell on the man she saved from drowning to make him fall in love with her, and this enchanting cover 😍

#IPutASpellOnYou #OctoberXFiles

Cinfhen This cover ALWAYS makes my heart swell 😍 6y
KatDowney That cover is gorgeous😍 6y
kspenmoll So so beautiful!! 6y
110 likes6 stack adds3 comments
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Sneakybea
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Mehso-so

Billed as a “feminist” reimagining of The Little Mermaid, this take offers interesting world building & a terrific ending, but it‘s not enough to make up for the underwhelming rest of the novel. While “feminist” in critiquing the patriarchy, the patriarchy it portrayed was broadly drawn & cartoonish. The heroine showed little agency until the end, & I couldn‘t get over the fact she was 15 & her crush 21. The rusalkas & Sea Witch rocked, though.

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Scarlett_ohara
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Pickpick

Like anything Louise O'Neill does, this book is amazing. It gives you an entirely different perspective of the original Little Mermaid's tale, while all the same changing very few things. I loved the character of Ceto, the Sea Witch. She was fierce and inspiring.

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Scarlett_ohara
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This book is full of wonderful quotes. Louise O'Neill rules.

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Scarlett_ohara
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Leave it to Louise O'Neill to give the Sea Witch a powerful monologue about body positivity.

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BookishBrooklyn
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Mehso-so

One of these days I'll get into the knack of posting regularly here 😅 so I picked this book up whilst on holiday and I loved it to start with, but then....🙃 my full review can be found here ~ https://brooklynthebookworm.wordpress.com/2018/08/13/book-review-the-surface-bre... #bookblogger #yalit #ireadya #coverlove

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BookishGirl06
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9 books
1,875 pages read.
Best book of the month: The surface breaks

Note I haven‘t finished among the hidden yet but I will by tonight, so I‘m counting it
#julystats #readingresolutions

alisonrose BABYSITTERS CLUB!!!!! 6y
SamanthaMarie LOVE the babysitters club!! 6y
Cailey_Mac I actually low key enjoyed this trilogy 6y
See All 6 Comments
BookishGirl06 @Cailey_Mac I thought it was ok but not something I‘m going to continue. 6y
GirlNamedJesse If you have a book as being better than that Courtney Summers one I‘m going to have to add it to my TBR! (Her next book, Sadie, comes out in September and is amazing!!) So thanks for the recommendation! 😊 6y
BookishGirl06 @GirlNamedJesse you‘re welcome. I just wasn‘t into 6y
90 likes1 stack add6 comments
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JuliaTheBookNerd
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#BookMail Thanks @TheFunkyBookworm for the recommendation 😊 I haven‘t started it yet but totally worth the buy just for the beautiful cover 😍🧜🏼‍♀️❤️

#BookNerd 📚💙

ReadingEnvy So gorgeous! 6y
laurenlovesliterature This cover is STUNNING!! 6y
Reviewsbylola I agree, absolutely gorgeous cove r 6y
See All 6 Comments
erzascarletbookgasm The cover 😍 6y
zezeki That cover is just 😍😍😍 6y
TheFunkyBookworm Haha you are so welcome- that cover is a dream!!!! 6y
116 likes11 stack adds6 comments
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jane_kelsey
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Is it Me, or who's is weird as he'll??!!! Made me think of Trump... lol

Scarlett_ohara I thought of Trump too! The book came out after Trump's election so I actually think this sentence is not accidental. 6y
5 likes1 comment
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BookishGirl06
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Pickpick

Finished this late last night. I loved it. It is a bit of a feminist tale, but those parts happen a little later on. I like the story with the boy Oliver and how that ended.

2BR02B Such a stunning cover. 6y
everlocalwest That cover!! 💙💙💙 6y
103 likes7 stack adds2 comments
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GivenLemons
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Pickpick

I read this in one sitting! The truest retelling to the spirit of the original story and an examination on the limits placed on women. #fairytale #fantasy #feminism

Linsy Beautiful cover! 6y
9 likes1 comment
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BookishGirl06
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Quote from the back cover. I like it

youneverarrived It‘s gorgeous! Really want to read this one. 6y
rubyslippersreads If Marian Keyes likes it, that‘s good enough for me. 😄 6y
Utopiyll This gave me shivers! I need to read it 😍 6y
85 likes5 stack adds3 comments
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BookishGirl06
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Starting this now and am pleased to discover the mermaid scales hiding underneath the dust jacket. ❤️

MyBookLife Beautiful!!! 6y
WhatThePuck Love! 6y
Valink So pretty! It‘s always nice to find a surprise pretty cover under the jacket! 6y
BookishMouse I have it on my shelf like this, it‘s so pretty! 6y
readordierachel How cool! 6y
118 likes3 stack adds5 comments
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coffeecocktailsandbooks
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Hey! I‘m awful at posting on here. Sorry 😬

I just started this one after hearing f some mixed reviews and it‘s pretty meh for me.

Have you read this one?

#books #booknerd #bookworm #bookpics #bookphoto #bibliophile #booknerd #bookworm #bookish #booklove #bookstagram #bibliophile #thesurfacebreaks #beachreads

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BookishGirl06
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This book has a gorgeous cover😍. I bought this just because of how pretty this is. As soon as I finish my current read, I‘ll probably start this.

keys_on_fire That IS beautiful! 6y
IheartYA I'm definitely judging a book by its cover. 😍 6y
ladym30 Stunning cover! 6y
See All 8 Comments
Nessavamusic That cover is amazing! 6y
dgingo Beautiful cover! Let us know how it is! (I‘ve also been known to buy some books based on covers.) 6y
tonyahoswalt Love the cover! 6y
TNbookworm 💕💕 6y
130 likes10 stack adds8 comments
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annieftbooks
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Panpan

This book was supposed to be a feminist retelling of the little mermaid but I found that feminism only in the last chapter.

I think that it would be great to have another book where the author deals with the feminism since the beginning.

And I also found some quite problematic comments about fat people. Idk, I expected something better tbh but the story is not THAT bad. I just think that a new book could solve the problems of the first one.

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annieftbooks

This is like the original tale. Too literal maybe. The only mystery at the moment is what happened to the mother 🤔

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Kalalalatja
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Gaia, the little mermaid, is in love with Oliver. So in love, that she leaves behind everyone she loves, gives up voice, and trades her tail for legs. All on the slim chance that Oliver loves her too. Gaia screams #lovemedo, but will Oliver notice before it is too late? And is life on land really as amazing as it seems from beneath the waves?

#HeyJune

julesG Beautiful cover! 😍 6y
Cinfhen I agree @julesG 🤩🤩🤩 6y
laundry_piles Stunning! 6y
See All 9 Comments
TheFunkyBookworm I have this one displayed on my bookshelf facing out so I can admire the gorgeous cover 😍 Haven‘t read it yet- for now I‘m just satisfied gazing at its beauty! Lol 6y
Sarah83 Is it the story which Disney told in 'Arielle the mermaid'? 6y
Kalalalatja @Sarah83 no this is closer to the original Hans Christian Andersen tale, but it is a feminist retelling of it. @julesG @Cinfhen @laundry_piles @TheFunkyBookworm it is a gorgeous cover! 😍 6y
Sarah83 I see. ☺️ I still have to read the originals Hans Christian Andersen ones. 🙈 6y
ladym30 Lovely cover! 6y
GypsyKat What a pretty cover! And great shelves back there, too! 😍😍😍 6y
112 likes5 stack adds9 comments
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Ellen_C
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Pickpick

Loved this! If you enjoyed Madeline Miller‘s “Circe” pick up this feminist Little Mermaid. A good one to put into the hands of teen girls. Emphasis on recognizing your own value, the power of your voice, and not being beaten down by the labels of misogynistic society. https://cannonballread.com/2018/05/a-woman-needs-a-man-like-a-fish-needs-a-bicyc...

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Kalalalatja
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Mehso-so

A feminist retelling of The Little Mermaid sounded like everything I ever wanted. And with a cover like that, I couldn‘t resist. But... it never got past just being okay. I really liked the how O‘Neill dealt with the silencing of women, and it had some hard truths, but the pacing felt off, at times rushed, at others too slow. I wanted Gaia, the MC to be stronger sooner, and I wanted to go deeper than just the surface 🌊🌊

erzascarletbookgasm A pity, the cover is gorgeous! 6y
DGRachel Oh, that‘s too bad. 😢 6y
ephemeralwaltz Oh :'(! 6y
87 likes1 stack add3 comments
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Kalalalatja
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This book is telling some hard truths 💔

#currentlyreading

81 likes1 stack add
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Kalalalatja
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Ain‘t that the truth 🙄🙄

#currentlyreading

80 likes2 stack adds
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Kalalalatja
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#Sunshine on my balcony and on my book 🌞👌

#ReadingResolutions

forevermint This picture is gorgeous 😍 6y
britt_brooke Love your view! 6y
Reviewsbylola Lovely. 😍😍 6y
kspenmoll How lovely! 6y
ephemeralwaltz Excited to hear your thoughts on this!! 6y
108 likes5 comments
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Kalalalatja
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We are having #thegreatest weather in Denmark at the moment, and it is supposed to last for quite a while (🤞🤞). I‘m spending every moment I‘m able outside, preferably with a book, and this is today‘s pick 🌞

#currentlyreading #GetMovin

LoveToReadLiveToRead Lovely cover art 😍 6y
TrishB I was looking at this one this morning 💜 6y
Cinfhen Gorgeous photo 💚and so glad to hear you‘re having beautiful weather ☀️ 6y
See All 7 Comments
asiriusreader Looks like lovely weather for reading outdoors! 😍 6y
eanderson Love it!!! 6y
Reviewsbylola Looks lovely and what an amazing cover!! 🧜🏼‍♀️ 6y
Kalalalatja @LoveToReadLiveToRead @Reviewsbylola the cover is gorgeous! #allthefoiling 😍 @TrishB I‘m only 50 pages in, but so far, so good! @Cinfhen @asiriusreader @eanderson it really is lovely 🌞🌞 6y
105 likes3 stack adds7 comments
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TheFunkyBookworm
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Book Mail today! 💌
Have you ever seen a more beautifully perfect book cover?!?!?! The picture doesn‘t even do it justice- it took my breath away as I lifted it out of the box! This one will be displayed in a place of honor for sure 😍 🧜‍♀️

JoScho This cover 😍 6y
Avanders Ooooh pretty. @Laalaleighh all new fairy tale reimaginings make me think of you 🤗💖🌺 (edited) 6y
Laalaleighh @Avanders 💖💖💖 same for you! I‘m drooling over this gorgeousness!! 6y
Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks Sooooo gorgeous!!!!! ❤️❤️❤️ 6y
87 likes4 stack adds4 comments
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Kalalalatja
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Just picked up this #bookmail from the post office, and I might have squealed a bit when I opened it 😍😍

erzascarletbookgasm Oh, I especially love the Louise O‘Neill cover! 6y
Cinfhen Awesome!!!! What a way to start your week!!!! I guess the BF is not too pleased or maybe he is...back rubs!?!?? 6y
Kalalalatja @Cinfhen haha! He isn‘t too happy, because I got under 20 last week, so he gets nothing 😄 but he isn‘t home right now, so he hasn‘t seen them yet, and I‘m going to my mom‘s house for a week to dogsit, and taking some of them, so hopefully he won‘t notice 🤞😂 6y
See All 10 Comments
Kalalalatja @erzascarletbookgasm it is so intricate and beautiful! 😍 6y
TrishB Great start to the week 😁 6y
Cinfhen Some of those covers really are breathtaking 💕Have a good week (edited) 6y
ephemeralwaltz What a way to start the week! 😍 6y
julesG They sent it to the wrong address, this box was meant for me. 😝 6y
Kalalalatja @julesG haha! 😂😂 Don‘t worry, they fit very nicely on my shelves 😉 @TrishB @ephemeralwaltz it really makes a Monday more bearable 👌 @Cinfhen they really are stunning, I spent a fair amount of time just admiring and stroking them 😍 6y
Mdargusch Wonderful! 6y
93 likes1 stack add10 comments
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ScorpioBookDreams
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Beautiful #bookmail today! Although I‘m really disappointed my copy of ACOFAS didn‘t arrive as well. 😭

MarriedtoMrT That cover! 😍 6y
Chellebearss Wow to that cover! 6y
ephemeralwaltz 😍😍😍😍😍😍😍 so jealous! 6y
See All 8 Comments
Reviewsbylola Gorgeous 😍😍 🧜🏼‍♀️ 6y
kate_reads *throws money at the cover designer* 6y
Kalalalatja I can‘t wait till I get my copy 😍😍 6y
emmaturi amazing cover! 6y
101 likes6 stack adds8 comments
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TheFunkyBookworm
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Day 27: Fairytale
The other day someone posted about this book and it took me all of about 4 seconds to head over to amazon and preorder my copy! I‘m mermaid obsessed and can not wait to get my copy of this gorgeous retelling of my all time favorite fairytale!
🧜‍♀️😍📖
#ReadingResolutions @Jess7

Clare-Dragonfly Hmm, sounds very interesting! 6y
82 likes3 stack adds1 comment