Welcome to Litsy!

When Ishamelle‘s parents die, she decides to take control of her life, dress as a man, & get work on a whaling ship. Unfortunately, the captain is singly obsessed with a white whale.

A queer, feminist reimagining on a classic. Ishmaelle‘s character & her relationship w/ gender is very interesting. & I wanted more of Captain Seneca. But in the end, this fell flat for me. It felt summarized, & by the 3rd rape scene I just felt tired.🌕🌕🌑🌑🌑

I finished my first book of the year. ⭐⭐⭐⭐
While I figured out the killer very early on, I still enjoyed this winter slasher a lot.
I will read whatever Coates writes. They are always fun.

This was a backlog #netgalley read, a #ReadOrDonate (as I also have a paperback copy), a square on my #BookSpinBingo card, and the book chosen for me in #GoodReads #DustyBookShelfChallenge for this month as well.
@TheAromaOfBooks @julieclair

I absolutely loved this one. Leave Before I Love You can be read as a standalone, but it was such a fun return to this world. I read it in two days over New Year‘s, which says everything. Avery totally surprised me—more heart than party girl—and Henry was gone for her from the start. Watching it all unfold was so much fun. If there‘s a third book, I‘m in instantly.

I received an ARC and am leaving this review voluntarily. #NetGalley #MaxMonroe

This is billed as Welsh horror folklore. It‘s definitely Welsh - Carwyn and Rhian are sheep farmers on the side of a mountain in North Wales. When Carwyn finds a stone head in one of their fields he becomes obsessed with digging to find more.

There are 12 snippets of folklore, moving backwards in time.

I don‘t think it‘s horror in the literary sense, with the true horrific moments coming from the harsh realities of farming life.

💯💯💯💯💯💯💯💯💯💯💯💯💯 #isthisacryforhelp #emilyaustin #netgalley #earc #january2026release #librariesinlit

Decided to use #ReadMyKindle for my #NetGalley ARCs. I had forgotten how many I had and feel bad that I ignored them for most of the year. Hoping 2026 is better.

@CBee

I love this already. 😭 Not only is it relatable on so many levels (the stuff that goes on in libraries is truly unreal, and the discussions of mental health are spot-on), but it‘s funny and sad and touching all at the same time. Literally all the feels, with a messy and lovable protagonist, this is a terrific first novel for the year. #isthisacryforhelp #emilyaustin #netgalley #earc #january2026release

This book was quite the ride. There's so many twists and turns along the way. You just don't know who is capable of what including the main character. The plot was clever and well written building to an explosive ending. I figured out some parts but not all of it which is always good in a book. Its hard to know who to trust in this. Even Emily herself comes across as unreliable at times and yet I did warm to her by the end. ##Netgalley 4*

Starting the day with an iced (though I forgot the ice) cannoli latte and some cold weather horror.
Then perhaps some Tomb Raider. I‘m having a Stranger Things hangover today.
#bookspinbingo #GoodReads #DustyBookshelfChallenge #ReadOrDonate

And yes, I did forget I had gotten this from #netgalley and had also bought a paperback of it. 😔

London, 1540 & Henry VIII is about to embark on his fourth marriage. He is to wed Anne of Cleves, but their initial meeting does not go well & Henry leaves in a sulk. Meanwhile, Henry's court jester, Will Somers, is experiencing some romantic upheavals of his own as he juggles a wife & his male lover who has also recently married.