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Vauhini Vara has written a unique, genre-bending novel packed full of a variety of characters following different timelines. At first, things were a little difficult to keep track of, but once I got the feel for it I was hooked.

The core of this novel grapples with humans and technology. King Rao is a genius who uses his computer skills to change the world. But the ultimate question is did he make things better or worse?

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This was such a great read! 💚 I binged the audio today while cleaning. Once I started it I didn't want to stop. It's more of a thriller with supernatural elements than purely horror.

Teddy has an imaginary friend. When his new babysitter starts asking questions about this friend things take a creepy turn. The action and suspense build throughout and reach a satisfying ending that I didn't have fully figured out beforehand.

All of the praise this book has received over the years is definitely worth it.

Trevor Noah is a remarkable human being who had to overcome a lot to get where he is today. I love how candid he was with his stories. This book is full of love, humor, loyalty, and determination. His relationship with his Mom really got to me. 💔

If you haven't read this one yet, I highly recommend it.

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I found the dark humor of this wildly entertaining. People who are fans of Mona Awad would probably enjoy this one.

Abby longs for a mother. When she marries Ralph she feels like maybe finally her mother-in-law can fill that void. Unfortunately, that's not the case.

This book is weird and I never knew where it was headed but it was an interesting journey. My only complaint is that I wanted a little more from the ghost story.

I've been using #NetGalley for almost a year now and I've never gotten so many books I requested before. I was excited to see all of these added to my account today. I really need to get to reading. 😁

I also picked up True Biz and the new Gilgamesh translation at the library today.

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So close to being a pick but I feel some areas could have used some editing to clear up timing issues.

The story is told in both the past and present. A young man in search of his father quickly finds out his mother had been lying to him about many things his whole life.

Lots of complex characters and complicated relationships, which felt real and believable. Overall, it's a solid multi-generational story with only minor issues.

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I've seen other books by this author but this is the first one I've read. Now that I've finished this one I quickly put other books by Vo on hold at the library. 😁

This could have been just a good story had the author focused only on being a Chinese-American in the film industry in the 1930s. Instead what we get is an amazing story that takes all that and adds in monsters, magic, and forbidden love.

Loved it! 💚

More #NetGalley titles to add to my TBR. I really need to stop requesting but there are so many great books coming out that I can't wait to read.

#CoverCrush I am in love with the cover of The Impatient 💚💙💛

#AuthorAMonth2022 @Soubhiville

Wow! This book was brilliant. 💚

I watched the movie previously not knowing it was a book. The movie of course paled in comparison to this complex beautiful work of literature. The relationship between the two main characters is complex and immersive.

Like the other Highsmith I have read, this book has a way of burrowing its way into the readers mind and making things feel a bit uncomfortable while reading.

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This audiobook was excellent. The narrator did a fantastic job.

Elektra is the title but this book explores the relationships of Clytemnestra and Cassandra as well. I loved the focus being on the females and the psychology explored in their choices.

Jennifer Saint truly has a gift for Greek mythology retellings. She combines the classic stories with a fresh new spin full of excitement and adventure.

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This is such a beautiful book. 💚 It was the read I didn't know I needed.

So often lately I'm apathetic about the state of things around me- politically, environmentally, and just people as a whole some days. Goodall reminded me though that there's goodness out there and that there's still hope as long as we choose to focus on it.

Truly great read for all of us and the audiobook was excellent.

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Like The Chain, this fast-paced thriller was certainly entertaining, and in the moment I found it enjoyable. However, the way McKinty focuses on the action of his stories makes me crave just a bit more explanation on characters and plot choices.

Great read for the upcoming summer months when you want something entertaining that doesn't make you think too much.

I graduated high school in 1999. Reading this book was like time traveling back to my youth. The nostalgia I felt while reading this may make me biased, but I thought Klosterman did an excellent job of capturing the essence of what the 90's felt like.

Side note: I made a lot of phone calls on a phone just like the one on the cover. 😁

One of my favorite reads this year!

At first I wasn't sure about a book were a fig tree acted as a character, but the perspective of the tree held some of my favorite sections of this book.

This is a beautiful story of love, family, acceptance, and how decisions from the past play a role in the future. It was a true delight to read. 💚

#CampToB22 #summercampsuggestions

I've read several great 2022 releases already that I'd love to see in the ToB, but these six are ones I am looking forward to reading. Most are upcoming releases that cover the wide range of genres/subjects I enjoy reading.

#AuthorAMonth2022 @Soubhiville

Giving a book a pick when it made me feel repulsed while reading it feels odd but I think it shows what a wonderfully talented writer Patricia Highsmith is.

The characters in this story made my skin crawl. I disliked them and hated their whining and their inability to accept responsibility for that actions. However, this physiological thriller wouldn't have worked with likeable characters. Great crime read!

I love dark fantasy and when mixed with a fairytale it makes for such an adventurous read.

This story is full of amazing female characters who aren't afraid to shake things up and change their fates. Atmospheric, propulsive, and ultimately just an exciting storyline made this book a joy to read.

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So excited that I was approved for these upcoming releases. I can't wait to start them!

It's last minute and very open, but here's my #BookSpinBingo list for May. @TheAromaofBooks

The background photo is at our VW Salvage Yard. One of our shop cats, Feisty, was enjoying the sun today.

#BookSpin #DoubleSpin

#SeriesRead2022 @TheSpineView

Excellent start to this series! Shannon does a wonderful job of building both the world and the characters that I can't wait to see where the story is headed next.

I'm excited to discuss this with my fellow Littens soon @PageShifter @coffeewithbooks @FantasyChick @Laughterhp @BookHoarder32

This retelling of The Goblin Market was really great. It's dark, with some very terrifying moments and characters that are as dark and complex as the setting.

I'll admit, I'm not familiar with the original poem this is based on, but so many other fairy tale stories use versions of The Goblin Market that it wasn't hard to follow. However, now I'm really interested in reading the original.

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This is a true crime story that I knew nothing about until I just randomly found the audiobook through my library.

In the 1870's in Kansas a discovery of multiple bones and buried bodies are discovered on the property of the Bender family. This book explores who this family was, where they might have ran off too, and reasons why they killed.

Some parts were slow, but overall it was an interesting read with a lot of information.

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The scary monsters in this novel are the terrifying ways that racism, misogyny, and ageism play a role in two different time frames in Australia.

One part follows Lili in the early 80's and the other is about Lyle who lives in a near future Australia. The parts exist independently and can be read in any order.

The writing was good, but I would have liked more connection between both stories.

I really enjoyed this YA fantasy. The world building and mythology were well done with strong characters.

The way women were treated in the society angered me, but that was part of the story so I tried to not let it bother me too much.

There's a great twist at the end and I can't wait to see where the story goes next.

#SeriesRead2022 @TheSpineView

This book had some interesting parts involving the history of the notorious axeman who killed several people over many years in New Orleans. Sadly though, it didn't hold my attention throughout. Some sections were strong, others felt like they needed more research to fully flush out the story.

#SeriesRead2022 @TheSpineView

Such a fun start to a series! Thursday Next is a great character and I loved how this book used literature within the story. It's whimsical, magical, mysterious, and just an overall good read.

I'm excited to see what adventure awaits in the next book.

Interesting read. Nesseth had a great balance of science and pop culture with this well researched look into why some individuals love horror films so much. Chapters are broken down in a very cohesive manner that builds on ideas and science presented in the previous charter.

I even found a few horror movies mentioned that I didn't know about, so that made it even better.

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This memoir written in letters by the author to his mom broke me. Most of William's life his mother was absent from due to her struggles with mental illness. We see through his own words how hard this is on him as he's growing up.

Listen Mama is raw, emotional, and a very well done coming-of-age memoir. It's great as an audiobook too.

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I loved Station Eleven, but I wasn't as big a fan of The Glass Hotel. However, this is by far my favorite Mandel of the three. 💚

The shifting timelines mixed with time travel and the beautiful artistry of Mandel's writing transported me into this subtle view of human existence. There are so many underlying questions mixed into this story that I will be thinking about it for months I'm sure.

This is a thoughtful, beautiful piece of literature.

Excellent new horror!

Set in the backwoods of Appalachia, this story follows a family full of secrets and a strange religion. I absolutely loved the setting and felt it added a lot to the overall gothic feel.

I don't want to give away too much but there are some truly creepy moments, a few great twists, and a perfect ending for this unforgettable tale.

Highly recommend this one to horror fans.

After the Oscars, I almost cancelled my hold on this one, but I'm glad I didn't. I wasn't blown away by it, but I did enjoy the stories and his openness about himself.

I definitely do not condone his outburst at the Oscars. However, having read this I understand more of what might have pushed him to act that way. Like all of us he's a flawed individual with lots to work on to be a better person.

Although I hate that it took me so many years to get around to reading this I feel like I wouldn't have appreciated it as much had I read it sooner.

It does have some parts that I feel haven't aged the best, but that certainly doesn't take away from the overall epic immersion I felt while reading it. I'm excited to read the next one and see where the story goes.

#SeriesRead2022 @TheSpineView

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When a book description has the word "romance" in it I tend to avoid it. But Emezi is an author that I will read anything they write. ?

Yes, this has romance and some steamy sex scenes, but it has so much more. It's a study in grief, in finding beauty in things even when life is at its bleakest, and it's about forgiveness, mostly of one's own self.

Gorgeous, provocative writing with complex characters made me love this book.

This was my first Boyne but now I can't wait to read more.

The gothic setting in this novel was absolute perfection. A haunted house, a lingering spirit, a dad whose love knows no bounds, and two children tormented by a tragedy they experienced all make this an immersive book that had me hooked from the start.

And what an ending! 😱

#AuthorAMonth2022 @Soubhiville

This was such a great read and a YA book I feel should be in every school library. Malinda Lo uses real historical events in 1950s San Francisco mixed with her story of a young Asian-American girl coming to terms with her sexuality to tell an unforgettable story.

Loved it and I'm so excited there's a sequel coming out. 💚

The Guncle delivers all the feels! 💚💛💙💜

I had such an enjoyable time listening to this audiobook. It isn't my typical read, but thanks to all the wonderful reviews here I decided to give it a chance. Little did I know that this uplifting story was exactly what I needed this week.

When I started this I was unsure about the format, but after about 20 pages I was completely hooked. The story unfolds in a series of emails, texts, and memos. The central story surrounds a group involved in a community drama club who start raising money for a sick child. Things escalate into so much more though and even I didn't have things fully figured out until the end.

Intriguing, entertaining, and overall just a great mystery read.

One of my favorite retellings! 💀

I've always loved The Legend of Sleepy Hollow and Christina Henry really delivers with this unique take on a classic.

I adored Ben! 💚 He was such a fun main character full of so much mischief. The story builds from the opening when a mutilated body is found and becomes more suspenseful with each chapter.

Creepy, very atmospheric, and such a great story.

If you've followed me for long then you know Jeff Lemire is a favorite of mine.

Royal City is set in a small town were a tragic event from the family's past set them all on different paths. Fast forward several years, Dad's in the hospital and all of the siblings return home. While back home, they're forced to deal with their issues.

Emotional story where the ghosts of the past help resolve the problems of the present.

Following a group of scientists working in the Antarctic made an interesting backstory, and this book started strong but then just lost its momentum.

It was a quick read. It was mildly entertaining. But sadly, I doubt I'll be able to recall anything from it in a few weeks.

#BookSpinBingo #BookSpin @TheAromaofBooks

Great finish to this trilogy! 💚

This final book did an excellent job of wrapping things up and connecting it back to King's expansive universe.

Another brilliant novel by Stuart! I loved Shuggie, but this was even better.

It will crush you, much like his first novel, but he is such an amazing writer that the pain is worth the read. The events in this novel turn dark and violent, but Stuart also captures those heart-pounding, butterflies in your stomach moments that come with falling in love.

Highly recommend if you enjoyed his first book.

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I haven't read the short story this is based on, but I loved this graphic novel adaptation.

The folklore mixed with horror in the story became more intense by the fantastic artwork.

Highly recommend to fans of horror graphic novels.

Great collection of short stories. The only story I wasn't a fan of was the Law & Order SUV, but the others were great. This is a diverse collection that contains themes of magical realism, horror, humor, and a lot of originality.

The first and last stories in the collection were my favorite.

This is a quiet little novel set in a small town that focuses on our interactions with the people around us, or more specifically our neighbors.

It's told from several different POVs, which helped to bring depth to the story. There's a missing girl, a man struggling with his past, and a young girl who no one really seems to understand except her older neighbor.

I enjoyed it even though it's not my typical read.

I didn't get this read in time for #ToB2022, but I'm glad I finally had the chance.

The idea of a guy somehow becoming stuck inside his computer seemed ludicrous at first, but Kasulke manages to create a funny read that focuses on office relationships and how we interact with others in a virtual world.

I ended up enjoying this much more than I thought I would when I started reading it.

My second journey to the Tower is proving more enjoyable than the first and that's something I didn't think was possible.

I think this is the book where the series really starts to come together. The foreshadowing I'm noticing on this re-read is creating suspense for me even though I know what's ahead.

King's ability to spin a story never ceases to amaze me.

If you haven't read this series yet do yourself a favor and add it to your TBR.

I've owned this book far longer than I care to admit. 😂

I'm torn on how I feel. I truly loved Icy's character and I'm a fan of books set in the rural South, but once I finished I felt a disconnect with the overall story.

Icy suffers from Tourette's but goes undiagnosed for most of her life. The author did a great job of portraying Icy's loneliness and her desire to find somewhere she fit in.

Overall it ended up just being okay.

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As two adult siblings start of on a cross-country trip, one of them has an accident which leads into a wild Lovecraftian supernatural thriller that kept me guessing at every turn.

I really liked this book and there are a lot of great horror scenes in it. If you aren't a fan of Lovecraft's writing this probably isn't the book for you though even if you're a horror fan.

East of Eden is still my favorite Steinbeck, but this book is such a heartbreaking story with absolutely beautiful writing.

Following the Joads on their journey for a better life, full of upsets at every turn, and yet somehow the family just keeps going, was one of the best literature experiences I've had in a while.

Thank you @TheAromaofBooks for choosing this book as my prize. I already know it will be well loved and read again and again.