Hello Littens! I‘ve gotten away from posting here and also haven‘t been reading much other than ARCs. Finally got to the library and got a stack from my TBR list, yay! I confess I did watch Shadow and Bone on Netflix (Ben Barnes 🥰🤩🤤) before reading the book, so I‘m thinking I‘ll tackle that one first. Any rave reviews for anything else in this stack? Which is the best Halloween season read??? 🎃👻💀 Thanks! #lookingforrecommendations

Just a cute little free library in Alpena, Michigan, a cute and quiet beach town way up at the top of the lower peninsula. #puremichigan #sunriseside #lakehuron

Got this book from the library as I love dark academia and it was on one of those “best of” lists for that genre. An interesting choice for that list but I can clearly see why it was included. This is a unique story and one that initially will leave you asking “what the heck am I reading.” However, it quickly begins revealing itself, bit by bit. A fascinating read. Worth your time if you like fantasy and, yes, dark academia. #puremichigan

I liked it. A lot. I‘m a dark academia fan and have made it a point to read books in this genre. Somehow just got around to this one and I‘m glad I did. The story centers on 7 theater students at a fine arts college who exclusively study and perform Shakespeare. Of course there‘s a murder and mysteries. Definitely has Secret History vibes. I liked it better, but I don‘t love SH despite my love of dark academia. Loved the end twist.

Whoa. Did not see that coming. I read this in about 2 hours. Couldn‘t put it down. I‘m seeing some negative reviews were confused by the book. I didn‘t find it confusing at all. It‘s a mystery, yes, and suspenseful, but I liked the eerie “what the heck is happening” vibe. It kept me guessing right up until the reveal, which was powerful and clear. Great read!

When you find and buy a beloved childhood book with beautiful illustrations. 💕💕💕💕💕

There‘s some good stuff here….great ideas and concepts. A more skilled writer was needed though, as this ends up being confusing and clumsy in execution. Maybe it just needed a better editor. #netgalley

I liked this. Interesting mystery about a missing husband, and how his wife deals with her teenage stepdaughter in his absence. It did feel a bit unrealistic, but I liked the writing and the story. Definitely kept my interest. #petsoflitsy #dogsoflitsy #loki

This was a great story about a feral child and the small town she suddenly appears in. It was a little slow at times and both of the sisters, the main characters, are somewhat annoying initially. But, they both grow and become better versions of themselves (police chief and child psychologist) as they try to understand who the little girl is, what happened to her, and help her re-enter the human world. Well done!

Okay, this is a weird book. It‘s written in an odd, stilted, very straightforward fashion of simply relating a sequence of events. Almost as if it‘s a true crime story. There‘s zero character development, no nice prose; it‘s almost reporting. The story is silly, but I liked reading it despite all of this. It‘s set mainly on an island and revolves around a bookseller, writers, stolen manuscripts, rare books. It was fun, if flawed and odd.

This was great. Title says it all…gothic horror story set in Mexico in the 1950s. Well written, creepy, great setting and atmosphere.

I did it! I‘ve averaged reading 57 books for the Goodreads reading challenge for the last 6 years. One year I read 68 books - my highest until now. In 2020 I only read 39 books 🥴🥴By far my lowest. I aimed high for 2021 and I passed it!

Prior to GR reading challenges, I can see that I rarely even got to 50 books in a year. As my kids have grown, and one now lives away at college, there is more time for my favorite hobby📚💕🥰

I started skim-reading this about a third of the way in. Near the end I got more interested, but then the actual ending was bad. I liked You, didn‘t really like Hidden Bodies, and found Joe just creepy and disturbing in this one. I mean, he‘s always been creepy and disturbing, but somehow likable in You. Here, he‘s just a sad sociopath who needs mental help. And the story is completely unbelievable. No more for me!

“Whatever happens next, he‘s going to help whoever needs it…If all the world is hell and evil is all around them, what else can they do but try to help each other?”

Lovely quote and thought for my Christmas Day reading! 🎄🎄🎅🏼🎅🏼

Cheers and happy holidays! 😍😍

Like all in the trilogy, I‘m somewhere between a pick and so-so with the final book. Overall, the trilogy has interesting concepts and twists. It stretches believability and leaves certain questions unanswered, which is frustrating. But, I did like parts. Overall we have mind control, secret societies, bloodlines, violence, revenge. If any of that is your bag, give the trilogy a try.

2nd in The Many trilogy. Super graphic violence. Dawn and Karl continue to search for answers and seek revenge. Dawn continues to appear to have borderline personality disorder and Karl continues to tiptoe around her. Some answers and interesting plot twists happen. Some completely implausible events occur. The author is clearly British as British vernacular keeps randomly popping up despite the story being set in America with American characters.

Between a pick and so-so. I read the entire trilogy and will review all. This first book starts out rough. It‘s just gross and uncomfortable and I considered bailing. I stayed with it and grew interested in the story. Karl and Dawn are brought together by their shared grief over loved ones‘ horrific online dating experiences. Karl is fine but Dawn is hard to root for. Some answers are given but they just lead to more questions. #catsoflitsy

A very fun, could not put it down mystery about a very strange family and the fallout from their unusual and dangerous existence. POVs from different characters adds to the intrigue. I literally laughed out loud at the final line. An intriguing psychological mystery. Not a whole lot of character development but that‘s not what this story is about…it‘s about the twists and turns of a shocking tale of family drama. Pick!

Excellent doorstop of a book. Nesta gets her story told. Like many, I hesitated about the focus on such an awful person, BUT her story is a good one. Also, the connection between her and Cassian is hot - the “romance” is dialed up & now billed as adult fantasy. I loved the training, the Valkyries, the magical house, the friendships. There is an overall plot but this is really a character study. Nothing can ever compare to my love for Rhys though!

This is a short story companion to the Cruel Prince trilogy. It‘s a sweet story…very young, fairy tale-like in essence. We learn a bit more about what makes Cardan who he is and Jude makes an appearance also. It really feels like a middle grade or even younger story with the help of illustrations that reminded me of the famous Garth Williams. It‘s cute.

Stayed up half the night reading this and came down with a cold the next day 🤧🤧Was it worth it? Hmm. I definitely didn‘t want to stop reading, but Jude continues to be a bit clueless. She‘s badass with a sword though and Cardan has some nice development. A fun series. If you‘re looking for a Feyre/Rhys type of romance, you will be disappointed. The romance is very much a side plot. I still feel there could be more world building. But a pick!

When you have work you have to get done before Thanksgiving, but instead spend the afternoon reading the second book in a series. 🤦🏻‍♀️🤦🏻‍♀️🤷🏼‍♀️🤷🏼‍♀️Jude continues to be a good character but she is also, at times, extremely dense. The ending of the book took me by surprise and packed a nice punch. On to the third book…oh and back to work 🤣 Meanwhile, #Lucy is ready for reading and snuggles. #petsoflitsy #catsoflitsy #readingbuddies

Finally read this after so long of reading all the hype about the series. I did like it and found I liked it more the farther I got in the story. Jude is a character worth rooting for. I felt there were some parts of the story that were rushed/muddled and the world building was only okay. But, I went right to the library and grabbed the next 2 books so that really says it all. So far not my favorite YA fantasy, but we will see!

Baffled. I read a lot of Stephen King when I was growing up but never got around to this one. Read it recently for a book club and could not believe how boring it was. Not at all clear on the success of this one. King is a great writer but yuck. I really love his short stories and novellas best. Plus The Dark Tower. I should go back and reread that one but oh there‘s so many books, so little time! #catsoflitsy #petsoflitsy #klaus

Liked a lot of this. Cousins and partners (writer/agent and muse) return to their hometown for a reunion/to uncover a story. Their childhood is explored…there is almost a sci-fi aspect to the story, and lots of creepy vibes. We have psychedelics, a creepy patch of woods, a missing girl, & other mysteries. Some of the ending didn‘t quite work, and there are credibility issues. But, I enjoyed the overall vibe and odd plot points. #catsoflitsy #xmas

My second arc from this author and I‘m officially a fan. This is graphic horror, but so much more. A coming of age story, a psychological drama, a reflection on treatment of Native Americans, and a love letter to slasher films. All of that and an ending that will leave you breathless and heartbroken. It‘s not an easy read but worth the effort. So much to peel back here. Meanwhile, Klaus fell asleep nose in the blanket. #netgalley #catsoflitsy

I loved Pearl. #netgalley gave me an ARC and I devoured it. Pearl is a telepathic, intelligent, and malevolent pig who terrorizes a small farming community. It‘s in your face gruesomeness with zero attempt to explain how this is possible…you just jump on this wild ride and hang on. I thought it was pretty brilliant. Not for those bothered by gore and graphic horror. #firstsnow #alreadymelted

Yikes I‘m realizing I‘m way behind on posting reviews. I got an ARC of this one from #netgalley and really enjoyed it. I typically like this author but at times her books are super out in left field and start to lose coherence. This one is excellent. Good characters, interesting premise, nice twist.

Gah. I loved the first Detective Venn book so was looking forward to reading this one. I just couldn‘t ever get excited about it. Matthew felt like a minor character with the main focus on other detectives. That said, I feel very distracted lately so this may be a case of “it‘s not you. It‘s me.” I‘m not sure??? I‘ll still read the next book in the series. In other news, first Michigan snow of the year! #imnotready

Hello Littens! My book club has decided we want to read a Fifty Shades type book, but hoping for a bit more plot. 😉 Or, maybe something along the lines of Verity by Colleen Hoover. Something fun and entertaining. Suggestions, please??? Thank you!!! The picture is just for fun. 🥰#petsoflitsy #catsoflitsy #dogsoflitsy

I was enjoying this #netgalley ARC right up until the totally abrupt and random ending. It was bad enough that it made the whole book a so-so bordering on a pan. Disappointing. The pic is from the University of Toledo - a surprisingly beautiful campus!!!

A perfect case for sticking with a slow book. Told in first person voice, I was having trouble connecting with Leigh. A recluse who shuns human contact, she wasn‘t a super interesting or sympathetic character. Is she going crazy? Is she being haunted? I was a bit bored, and then about a third of the way in I was enthralled by a turn and stayed riveted to the end. By the end, I really liked Leigh and was emotionally invested. Worth the slow start!

This was another very entertaining read by this author, and I loved the perspective it brings. It‘s nice when fiction provides more than just entertainment…but seamlessly allows a minority voice to be heard. Plus, it‘s just a fun book!!

Blew through this ARC from NetGalley. It was intriguing and there are multiple mysteries to untangle. I didn‘t see most of the plot twists. The characters are interesting…not always totally likable but flawed in ways that make them seem real. That said, the characters needed more development, and the minor cop development was pointless. I enjoyed it overall. I truly enjoyed reading from our new hot tub! Will enjoy it during MI fall and winter 🥰

I liked the story here - truly horrifying as King is so good at. Some of it is well written…he‘s great at capturing minutiae and making it interesting. However, the unrealistic, old fashioned, and downright corny at times dialogue by modern teenagers was just too hard to get past. Ultimately, the characters didn‘t feel real and I couldn‘t get very invested in them.

I‘m mostly enjoying this but the dialogue is driving me nuts. I have teenagers. I‘m around many of them much of the time. They don‘t say: “Jeepers!” “Put an egg in your shoe and beat it.” “Since Hector was a pup.” Actually, I know no one of any age who talks like this. Also, nobody beyond Gen X would have any idea who Kreskin is. He needs a younger editor. The old fashioned language is distracting me from an interesting story.

I finished this book awhile ago and cannot decide its rating. It started out bad. Unbelievable premise, a ridiculous main character, and frustrating plot. I was not enjoying it. But…he did turn it around and came up with some VERY wild plot twists that did resolve some of my frustration with character motivation. Not my fave of his but ultimately better than it started. This picture is our splurge - patio hot tub! Can‘t wait to use it this fall!

I like Riley Sager but this book is annoying me. This quote is the first time I feel like maybe I‘m not wasting my time reading this.
“No one tells women that none of it is their fault. That the blame falls squarely on the awful men who do terrible things and the fucked-up society that raises them, molds them, makes excuses for them. People don‘t want to admit that there are monsters in their midst…and the cycle of violence and blame continues.”

This is nowhere near the excellence of the author‘s Daughter of Smoke and Bone trilogy and worlds away from the beauty that is Strange the Dreamer duology. But, these three short stories still show Taylor‘s unique style. The first story is my fave, since Goblin Market is my second favorite poem ever written, and this is a loving homage to Rossetti. The illustrations in the book are beautiful. If I wasn‘t already a fan I might be more meh 🤷🏼‍♀️

Extremely heart-warming and laugh out loud funny book. I enjoyed the story even though it‘s actually quite devastatingly sad. It‘s written with a lightness that keeps the dark elements from dragging it down, yet it has depth as well. “GUP” is just a fantastic character, and the city of Palm Springs almost becomes a character as well. Really liked it! #summernights #summerbonfires

This is a hard book to review. I loved some of the creative aspects to the story and there is some truly creepy supernatural horror here. The characters weren‘t well done though and some plot points were sloppy. I enjoyed reading it, but it‘s ultimately forgettable.

A pick for overall story but a pan/so-so rating for execution. I‘m glad I didn‘t read the cover synopsis that reveals a crucial plot point that happens on page 305 of a 383 page book. Terrible jacket copywriting. Anyway, the premise is an institution raising boys without knowledge of women, in hopes of making them even more accomplished. As they reach puberty, things change. Starts very slow, ends with a true horror-story bang, has some plot holes

I like this book but have a big caveat. If you‘ve read Haig‘s excellent Reasons to Stay Alive, then you only need to read the first third/half of NOANP as the latter half-ish just recaps a lot of Reasons. The first part though, really spoke to me and is pretty insightful. His views on how technology and social media are giving us all anxiety are even more timely today (this was written per-covid era.) Time to unplug. #putdownyourphone

Holy suspense!!! This was such fun…a very suspenseful page-turner/sort of erotic thriller/mystery. I had my suspicions about what was really going on but was wrong…or was I? The ending leaves plenty up in the air, which was initially a bit of a let down but the more I think about it the more it feels fitting. Some plot holes. Shallow characters. It‘s all about the suspense with this one. #puremichigan #beachread #houghtonlakemi #summerinmi

Alice Feeney is really good at creating shocking twists in her stories. I don‘t always love the whole book, but I always enjoy being surprised. In her latest, she does a great job of keeping the reader guessing. A husband and wife go away for the weekend to a remote Airbnb in a last ditch effort to save their marriage. Feeney uses alternating POVs to help move the plot along. Worth the read! Cute little library. #netgalley #lexingtonmichigan

Oh this author. She always writes with such original ideas for stories and characters. Burntown has some of her most unique characters and a very strange plot, as always. I liked it, but there are definitely parts of this story that make zero sense. A circus, fire eaters, Thomas Edison, brutal murders, a dynamic fat lady/strongman duo, precocious teenagers, possible supernatural events..if any of this is up your alley give it a shot! #summerreads

Is this a “good” book? Mmm, no I wouldn‘t say it‘s particularly well written, doesn‘t have great characters, and the plot is ludicrous. But…but…I had fun reading it and pretty much devoured it in one fell swoop. Plus, it was odd and unexpected, which I like. Points for originality and readability. I was entertained, even if I did keep thinking I‘m not sure WHY I‘m entertained 😂 It‘s a story about infidelity/revenge/survivorship. #beachreading

Very good Downton Abbey-type gothic tale of secrets, love, the British class system circa the Victorian era and past WW2, and effects of war on society and people. It‘s well written, but extremely slow for the first 3/4 and then somewhat rushed in the last 1/4. An early novel by Morton and it feels it, but I really enjoyed the experience of reading it. She credits The Remains of the Day as inspiration…at one point it felt a ripoff. Great tale!!

Another Detective Sheens police procedural. This is a very strange and interesting story if somewhat far fetched. I‘m not quite getting how the different police POVs are supposed to all work in these books. I did skip the second book so maybe I need to go back and read that one, but if it‘s going to be a detective shift each time a la Tana French, then very underdeveloped POVs from minor detectives seem superfluous. Good story though. #netgalley

Ready to sink into this one.