Welcome to Litsy!

Well, this was a hoot! All the wives of Henry VIII are alive, occupying strategically placed castles that ostensibly strengthen the bordweal established to protect the nation. Newly married, desperately in love, Boleyn learns that the actual power is held by the queens, and that Henry is consuming their lives to remain king. Boleyn sets out to rally the other queens, fomenting rebellion. First novel in a series; can‘t wait for the next.

A widow becomes a biographer, retracing her artist wife X‘s paths and describing the full life of someone who defied description. X had aliases, recreations, mysterious art, and deceptions that really only a lover (not really the reader) could find deeply moving. I found X annoying and undeserving of a book—but I suppose that‘s how her peers felt. Really we‘re reading about the frustrations of never knowing your partner: a biography of an Ex.

I really liked this - the juxtaposition of the 2 MCs journeys was well done, though Aina is the only one who has much “growth” because Siiri‘s a stronger character & her goals revolve primarily around Aina. I knew one of the myths used from Scarlett St Clair‘s Fairytale Retellings, but I don‘t know how closely or not others were followed. It closes out this book very strongly so it could work as a stand-alone but there is a planned continuation.

11) This was a great book. I read this with my youngest after we finished another chapter book. It‘s taken a long time, but he is doing much better with non-graphic novels. He still prefers them, but he really loved this author. They do a great job with their descriptions and the reader did such a good job with their voices that it made it easy for him to understand whose part it was.

#12booksof2025

Any recommendations 📚
#ThisBookWontBurn #SamiraAhmed #YoungAdult #Fiction #RealisticFiction #Contemporary #SocialJustice #BooksAboutBooks #LGBT #Audiobook #Teen #BannedBooks

The author tells the story of actor Dave Winn from difficult scholarship years in a 1960s English private school until the early 2020s. Half Burmese + Gay the story reflects on class, racial prejudice, + homophobia as well as ,through the character of nemesis Giles ( son of Daves sponsor for the scholarship, school bully + latterly obnoxious brexit promoting mp). I was thoroughly absorbed in this book despite its length + pace but the ending ⬇️

I‘m going to inhale this ❤️ along with my 🍷and nuts n bolts - how did I take so long to get on the Heartstopper bandwagon?

First book of the year was a rare re read. I very seldom reread as there‘s just sooo many good books on my lists. But I love Sarah waters - one of my favourite authors of all time and 2026 maybe the year I revisit all of her books 🙏

2025 was meh, BUT a huge win was discovering my ❤️ of hockey after attending a game. It‘s become my whole personality &sorry to my friends who now know more than they ever thought they would about 🏒 . Imagine my pure delight when I discovered this 📖 in the fall bc Ngozi was on the author list for Yall fest. She VERY quickly became my “must see author”. This 📖 is SO cute! Heartstopper, but make it hockey 🏒don‘t skip on the tweets at the end 🤣