Welcome to Litsy!

The Writing Retreat is to actual writers‘ retreats as Grey‘s Anatomy is to doctoring. If you really need something to read on holidays, you could pick worse from the Little Free Library, but don‘t expect too much. Full review: https://keepingupwiththepenguins.com/the-writing-retreat-julia-bartz/

This was an absolutely bonkers mystery thriller about a famous author who hosts a writing retreat with a big reward - the winner gets their story published. I had to suspend my disbelief to truly enjoy this, which I did. If you don‘t like when things get really weird and implausible in your thrillers, I would not recommend. However, if you don‘t mind a bonkers unique story, I would recommend! 3.5⭐️
#bookspinbingo 2 bingos!

Oh my! 😱 Well, that's definitely a good way to start the book and grab your reader's attention! 😂

The negative reviews had me anticipating a bananapants book. Like a less literary, locked room Bunny crossed with the wackiness of Behind Her Eyes. Sadly, while I did find this entertaining & I kept turning the pages saying, "She did WHAT now", I wish the author had taken it a notch higher & gone wild. I got a kick out of the skewering of the publishing industry & writerly egos though. Silly yet entertaining. Leave your little grey cells behind ?

YES!!! Look what hold came in for me today! 🎉🎉🎉

Where do I begin? The synopsis sounded pretty good, but it was just cray-cray cracker-pants. The plot the characters, the writing, the ending !😣

#Pantone2023
#MarvellousMarchReadathon Day 7
#MarchMadnessReadathon Day 10

What an unfortunate book. 😐

Horrible. The narration is okay. SO DISAPPOINTING 😫

Here's a book from each of our TBRs to add to the mix for#lmpbc @shellleigh33 @BookishPiper @smalldogs_bigbooks2419

Very weird! I think it was just not for me.

This was a dumpster fire. So bad. 🤣 The characters were the worst, the writing sub-par, and the plot was ridiculous. I'm pretty annoyed I gave this author any support financially.

Nope. Didn't like this one. It started off slow, but was keeping me intrigued, it took half the book for anything to start happening. And once it did, it all just unraveled for me. I felt like this author pushed things too far sometimes. There were some things said and done in this book that just wasn't okay with me. The author pushed the envelope to get some reactions, but for me, it was in bad taste. 1.5/5

This is one of those outrageously improbable thrillers, that also manages to be twisty and entertaining at the same time. Not a book that will stick in my head for long, but it certainly made for an enjoyable, quick, wild ride. I've also been SO distracted by all of my library holds thay it felt good to check something off of my #BOTM backlist.

PS: Why is it sometimes so EASY to ignore the books you actually paid for?!

This was not what I expected when I started this book. I was intrigued and it kept me wanting to read but it took a couple turns I wish had gone a different direction. That‘s not always a bad thing because it keeps me on my toes and not knowing what‘s coming next. This was definitely the case with this book. Unfortunately I feel like even though I enjoyed the book while reading it I think it‘s going to be one that‘s not very memorable. ⭐️⭐️⭐️

I finished this in one day. It‘s been awhile since I got wrapped up in anything and it was quite nice. #botm

A writing retreat as the basis for a mystery/thriller? Seems unlikely and that‘s why it works. I don‘t want to give anything away, but nothing is what it seems. And is it over the top to add in a ghost? Apparently not! It all meshes together for a really good story. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Book #2 from #Auldlangspine
I didn‘t love this one nearly as much as my original auldlangspine pick.. The dual storylines felt a bit forced and I didn‘t like ANY of the characters. Maybe it was the fact that this is definitely not a favorite genre for me. I guess I was pulled in by the fact that it was about books 😕

Welp, this was kind of bonkers but I ended up loving it 😂 Seemed a bit “trope-y” at first, and okay, maybe the locked room mystery is a bit overdone…. but for a debut novel, it worked. This fits #booked2023 #newin2023 AND #pantone2023 #andeantoucan 😊😊😊

4⭐️
This book went off the rails in the best way for me, because it lived up to its building tension and weirdness and bad vibes with a reveal that was as bonkers as it needed to be to not fall flat for me.
This was definitely a favourite last year when I read an advance copy, and one that I will be recommending a lot this year!

While I did not love this debut novel, there was enough to make me watch for more by this author. This thriller leaned slightly towards horror (not my favorite genre) but was still a fun, albeit slightly, crazy story. The speed of the events at the end had me finding it occasionally difficult to keep track of things, but the plot held together and kept me entertained. Someone wisely compared it to “Nine Perfect Strangers“ meets “The Plot“. 3.5/5

My Valentine knows the way to my heart isn't flowers or chocolate...I saw this book display a few weeks ago and told him I wanted him to make me one, well being the amazing man he is, he made it for my Valentine! He's the best!! And I love my new book shelf!😍❤️

This book was so fantastic until the ending happened and blew it all to hell. I hate when that happens! Meh. ⭐️⭐️⭐️

About halfway and I‘m hooked!!! #BOTM does it again!!!

This book was absolutely absurd, and not in the right way. I almost did not finish it multiple times but finish it I did and boy…what a silly story.

#botm February's pick. Plus an add on that I am super excited about!

My girls usually aren‘t on the bed with me at the same time. I just couldn‘t resist 😍 #BOTM #FebReads #CatsOfLitsy

Taking a break from my planned Romance reads (it is February after all) to dive into this thriller.

They‘re here! A day before the estimated delivery window dates. Wow! I‘m starting on “The Writing Retreat” tonight! 😃

Wow that was fast! #botm

What did everyone get for their #BOTM ?
I‘m excited about this one.

This seems exactly in my wheelhouse. I have an unnatural attraction towards thrillers set in a snowy secluded place. Add in a contest for a publishing deal and this seems like an amazing winter read.
February 2023 #botm

I almost forgot to pick my #BOTM . I always lean towards the mystery/thrillers.

So excited for this months #botm. What did you guys pick?

What did you pick for first reads? I'm not super thrilled with any of them so recommendations would be appreciated!

I came really close to picking the tagged book but I just couldn‘t get excited about any of them this month. I‘m trying to cut back on spending so I‘ll save my credit for next month.

Very excited about my #botm pick!

Here are my choices for #BOTM I'm most excited about The Last Take of the Flower Bride. What dd everyone else pick 😺

My #botm pick for Feb!

February #botm picked!!!

#botm yes please. Need this box asap for this winter storm system coming through! Lots of time to catch up on reading.

My February picks! I canceled my Audible preorder of “The Writing Retreat “ since I can get it a bit earlier through the BOTM club. “Georgie All Along” sounds cute. 😊

Just got this #ARC and it sounds like a great October read

This is an awesomely creepy thriller with gothic and mythological undertones about a month-long retreat for writers. Hosted by a famous author, the novel focuses on the five women brought together for the sole purpose of writing and critiquing each other. Well, that‘s the surface story! Dig in and prepare to be gasping your way through. I absolutely loved it!
#NetGalley out 2/21/23