Welcome to Litsy!

Thank you @Amandajoy for the books and recipes. I am so tempted to try both this weekend. 🤔😊💜 Big thanks to @BennettBookworm for coordinating this swap.

Linus Baker, a caseworker for the Department in Charge of Magical Youth, travels to an orphanage on a distant island to determine if it is the safest place for six magical children. An adult book for fans of Roald Dahl. Whimsical ✨ Light Hearted ✨ Warm

This is such a sweet fantasy with beautiful characters full of optimism. “Change starts with the voices of a few.” An all around feel good kinda story ❤️
#pop22 ~ a #booktalk recommendation
#booked2022 ~ a hopepunk novel
@KarenUK @Cinfhen @Kalalalatja @Megabooks @4thhouseontheleft @BarbaraBB @Laughterhp @RaeLovesToRead @jenniferw88 @squirrelbrain @BarbaraTheBibliophage Thanks @wanderinglynn for the copy 🥰

So. Many. Emotions! This book was full of whimsy, optimism, and charm. I didn't know what I was expecting when I picked up this book, but it was not this. I laughed. I cried. I felt charmed by the characters.

I still notice myself thinking about these children even after finishing this book.... and it is fictional.... it tugged at my heart strings in all the right ways.

💙🌊💙

#ThinkPositiveBePositive

Yay

This is such a creative novel. I loved all the quirky characters, especially the children. I appreciate the little touches that really add humor, such as “Extremely Upper Management.” Gotta give props to the narrator, Daniel Henning, who voiced the characters much better than I probably would have on my own.

I‘m feeling super lazy tonight!

The epitome of cozy fantasy! This had all my favorite elements! Found family, LGBTQ+ romance, unique characters, and overcoming adversity. This felt like Miss Peregrin's met A Series of Unfortunate Events, added in a bit more fantasy and made it for adults. One of my favorite books of the year!

I didn't love this as much as I thought I would but I did enjoy it. I had a strong feeling while reading that the whole book was one long allegory which is not a bad thing it was just so very obvious that I had hard time focussing on the actual characters and the plotline. Still enjoyed a lot. 😊

My latest article for Books a Million‘s blog just posted. If you would be so kind, could you please check it out and click the “Love” button at the top of the article. They even created a logo for me! Thanks so much!!!

https://blog.booksamillion.com/posts/a-book-nerds-guide-to-read-alikes

#wondrouswednesday

🌸Tagged, also Heartstopper graphic novels
🌸I love being part of this bookish community!
🌸Fevered Star by Rebecca Roanhorse-on the top of my May tbr

I enjoyed this novel. It kind of reminded me of an adult version of Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children. Very heartfelt and sweet story; sometimes a little too sweet. Overall I would recommend it.

“It‘s the little things. Little treasures we find without knowing their origin. And they come when we least expect them. It‘s beautiful, when you think about it.”

When your bookmark and book match! 💙💜💚

#LitsyLove

We are home from the conference. Beautiful views and delicious food! I‘m happy I started the tagged book! I‘m really enjoying Linus! 💙🏡🌊

Starting this one today! I love going to the beach just for the food!! 🍤 🏖 🥗 📚

Visited a zoo today and now taking a little break in a cafeteria before heading home. 😊📚

I can't put into words the way I feel about this book. It was incredible. The messages of self-acceptance, love and acceptance of others, and family, are near and dear to my heart. This book encompasses everything I love about books and about life and I can't say enough good things about it. It made me cry at the end, but I think the best books are ones that make me cry. This will stay with me for a long time.

"And we allow ourselves to hope for the best. Because a life without hope isn't a life lived at all."

My first 5⭐ read of the year.
Wow, I laughed (a lot), I cried (a few times), and my heart just loved every bit of this novel. The love that seeped through every page... I ate it up. Love love love these characters and the setting. So amazing. Highly recommend.

4.15.22

Matches my bedspread because I love beach/island/coastal color schemes 🏝 A bunch of friends on Goodreads have been raving about this one and it‘s been on my list a long time. Time to read it up!

Well after 2 years I finally got the vid 🤪🙃🤧

Taking these days off to catch up on some reading and hopefully get out of this slump!

Maybe now I can finish the book I've been reading for the past year 🤣

3.25 out of 5 its cliché now, but it really is a book that feels like a warm hug.

@chasjjlee Ahh! I love this layout! Thank you so much for sharing! Also it was WAY too hard trying to choose a favourite between The House in the Cerulean Sea, and Under the Whispering Door. ❤️

Wow!! I absolutely loved this book!! I‘d heard a lot of praise for it first and was thrilled when it won the vote for my book club- though the group tends to avoid fantasy. But this one utterly charmed me from start to finish- a very late night finish! I loved the eclectic and funny cast of characters from the awkward Linus to the menacingly delight that is Lucy. But I think Chauncey- or maybe Theo? - no, grumbly Talia stole the show! I loved it!!

This book! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ At first I thought the narrator was a little robotic but it really began to add more to Linus (the main POV) who was so adorably awkward and flustered. This is a lovely story of finding one‘s place in the world, especially when others believe there shouldn‘t be a place for you. It‘s snort out loud funny, heartwarming, and real.

I‘ve heard so many good things about this book, but really know nothing about it! Next up! #currentlylistening

I loved this. The characters are delightful. I did the audio version because the reader was so entertaining.

The cover makes this look like a kid book but it is surprisingly deep. Funny and heartfelt. It's a lovely little respite for anyone who feels like they are treated differently.

Such a sweet and lovely story. Found family, awesome kiddos, and cute love story vibes. Talia the gnome was my favorite. 🌱🪴🕳 A great lighter read after the seriousness of “What Storm.” Also, the #audio narrator was excellent and made it even harder to stop listening.

#Pantone2022 #Cascade
#christyread #2022book11

@IamIamIam loving this! Have you read it ?

February Reads!

I only picked this one up because it was chosen as book of the month in one if my groups. It is so well written and the characters were great. I loved Talia the gnome the most. If you like audiobooks you should definitely check out that version too I loved all the voices.

Linus, a reviewer of magical children in orphanages, gets assigned to a special orphanage near the cerulean sea.

What a wonderful story, I just love all of the characters, the story, everything about this book.

Like everyone else, I loved this book! A fantastic peek into a magical world filled with all sorts of wonders. A true parable, The House in the Cerulean Sea reminds us that we are all the same on the inside. And that with love and acceptance, we can all thrive. This book is truly a treat!

Well, I'm bummed Klune hadn't genderflipped the spawn of Satan, even if it's my own fault for hearing the name Lucy before reading the gender indicators. I haven't been this disappointed since The Hunger Games and learning that Gale and Peeta were both men.

Took my time reading this gem. This is a magical book with heart warming characters and a slow burn romance. Linus Baker is trapped in a government job with the Department in Charge of Magical Youth - he is sent to a mysterious island to evaluate an orphanage inhabited by six very special children and Arthur Parnasus, master of the orphanage. I hope there‘s a sequel so I can spend more time on the island

What a wonderful read! Maybe a little on the sentimental side, but such a cozy read. Memorable characters, excellent writing, and hilarious moments make this book a must read.

This was such a magical book about finding family, unconditional love and pursuing what makes you happy. TJ Klune‘s whimsical writing style adds to the magic. Arthur, Linus, Zoe and the children were so endearing… I want to go to the house on the island and stay, just like I want to visit the tea shop in “Under the Whispering Door.”

#FearlessFebruary
@jenniferw88

🎶🎵'Cause I don't know how it gets better than this
You take my hand and drag me head first
Fearless
And I don't know why
But with you I'd dance in a storm
In my best dress
Fearless
Oh, oh

Well you stood there with me in the doorway
My hands shake
I'm not usually this way but
You pull me in and I'm a little more brave
It's the first kiss, it's flawless, really something, it's fearless🎶🎵

On holidays so indulging in a dragon fruit refresher and a fun read : I‘m about half way through and enjoying Linus Baker‘s eye opening assignment. 🐈‍⬛ and he brought his cat 😹

Got some #bookmail delivered today! Thanks so much @wanderinglynn This may be an upcoming bookckub choice to be decided on next week. It‘s also listed on my #pop22 sheet! I‘m looking forward to it!

#FebruaryTBR #ItHadToBeYou @Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks

Figured it was past time to set my January Book Stats up so just doing a quickie. I read 9 books for the month which is better than I thought for a really crazy work month. My favorite was the tagged book, completed for #NewYearWhoDis off my list from @Chrissyreadit & I LOVED IT!💜 it was followed closely by our #sundaybuddy read The Other Side of Midnight & Dark Night from The Alaska Mystery series & the bookish magical realism of Lost Coast ⬇️

Finally got my hands on this! 😍

So charming and magical children and a phoenix and a gnome. Hated for it to end.

#NewYearWhoDis

Thank you @monalyisha for organizing another round of #NYWD . I read three (marked with a star) from @Patchshank ‘s great list. I enjoyed them all. As a bonus, I loved the Over The Garden Wall series on Hulu. The other two pictured are on this month‘s TBR and I plan to read more throughout the year. 🙂

These were my top reads for January.

My entire reading list included:
2 DNFs
13 LGBTQ books
14 BIPOC authors
4 poetry
13 nonfiction

What an absolutely lovely book. I wanted to hug all the children they were all so delightful unique. Arthur and Linus relationship was so sweet. I highly recommend this book. #20in4 I‘m up to 16hrs

Finished my reread of this lovely book today with a reading buddy. Arthur never wants to cuddle so it was a very special day 🥰
#catsoflitsy