This is my June #TitlesAndTunes which is truly a #GuiltyPleasure because it‘s TOTALLY inane!! I love Andy but this is ridiculously pointless 🤪

Woohoo! I‘m SUPER EXCITED for my #BookSpin #DoubleSpin for June @TheAromaofBooks 🦋🦋🦋🦋🦋

What I admire most about Steven Rowley is his ability to write books that are both absurd and reflective. The prose are always styled, honest, thoughtful, humorous and fully human. This latest book once again mixes hope and melancholy, leaving the reader laughing and simultaneously sobbing. Loved listening to the audio read by the author.

Good Morning friends!! Look at my beautiful view 🤩I love waking up near water 💙This new book from Steven Rowley is so fitting as im currently spending the week with “old” friends celebrating the wedding of one of their children. Nothing is better than getting together with friends who have known you through all of your stages #TheGoodTheBadTheUglyTheBeautiful

The moment you‘ve all been waiting for …. Our June #TitlesAndTunes #GuiltyPleasure(s) playlist🥳🥳🥳Please feel free to join this month‘s challenge and add a book and song that fits the prompt 🎶🍒📚Don‘t forget to tag @BarbaraBB & me!! Link for Spotify playlist below ⬇️

I can see why this book leaves people divisive - it‘s an uncomfortable premise. A middle age woman (43) lusting after a young boy (17). The same boy that her 15 year old niece is involved with. I was hooked and enjoyed every cringy moment. The writing was strong although the ending was a bit disappointing. Loved the audio narration by Hillary Huber.

Woohoo 🥳 I TOTALLY forgot I pre-ordered this audiobook…yay…..airplane listen ✈️🎧 ✔️

BRAVO and Andy Cohen are TRULY my greatest #GuiltyPleasure #SorryNotSorry I LOVE everything RH and while I‘m not into the whole Scandoval affair my daughter is OBSESSED!!! So for my second #TitlesAndTunes choice I have to go with the great Kim Zolciak. Join us for June and share a book & song that are your secret or not so secret #GuiltyPleasure. Tag @BarbaraBB and myself so we can add your song to the monthly Spotify playlist 🥳

I can‘t wait any longer…I‘m sharing my #TitlesAndTunes June picks…that‘s right, I‘m posting two because there are no rules especially when it comes to #GuiltyPleasure(s)
My first choice, the newest book in the Finlay Donovan series. She‘s an over exhausted novelist, divorced single mom, who just so happens to solve crimes with her sidekick/ nanny. These books are light, fun and full of charming characters and banter. Had to play off JUMP 😉

From the official #ToBSummerCamp list - it‘s a coming of age story mixed with overcoming grief and sadness yet I never connected to any of the characters. A family trying to cope with the loss of their mother/spouse, each channeling their emotions in different forms. #GoodNotGreat #BorrowNotBuy

It‘s no secret that I fear #BIGbooks but I was willing to put aside my #PageCountPhobia and tackle this beast - SO GLAD! From the first line until the final page I was swept up in this multigenerational tale of love, faith, family, secrets, science, religion, chance and destiny. Outstanding storytelling and incredible amount of detail and vivid imagery. My love affair with India continues. Definitely a favorite read of 2023♥️🙌🏻

How can it be JUNE??!? I‘m REALLY looking forward to my #TitlesAndTunes #GuiltyPleasure ☺️
I‘m CONSUMED with CoW ~ truly an epic and one I‘ll miss when it‘s over.
I‘m flying to the states on Tuesday for a short trip with lots of books waiting for me 🤗🤗🤗🤗🤗

A remarkable debut. Told in short chapters from multiple points of view, it was easy to get swept up in this emotional story of a young British girl sent to America to avoid the dangers during WWII. At 11, Beatrix is sent to live with the Gregory‘s, complete strangers who soon become her second family. I loved that this story is told linearly. I‘m so sick of time jumps and shifting timelines. I loved everything about this book.

Really difficult to review. I feel like the author had two ideas and she sort of throw them into one book🤷🏼‍♀️It‘s a shame because there was real potential. #ARC #NetGalley

Guess who‘s turning 3 today….my little grand-pup 🐾🐶♥️
#BookSpin #DoubleSpin for June @TheAromaofBooks

The past few days I‘ve been CONSUMED with Covenant of Water. I promise @Suet624 it will not disappoint. It‘s a masterpiece 🥰 I‘m happy I read and finished Beyond That the Sea before I started Covenant because it‘s a really good book but it would have felt weak after reading the Verghese. Truthfully, everything I read this week was good but none are in the same league as CoW.

This is a breathtaking debut - it‘s quiet and raw and the pain & trauma is felt in every simple sentence. I did struggle with the nonlinear timeline and wonder if it would have read differently in print instead of audio. I was gripped with a sense of dread the entire time I spent with this book but I never wanted to stop listening. There‘s a vulnerability and innocence in both main characters, siblings Justin & Willa which was beautiful.

SUPER UNSETTLING - Great suggestion @BarbaraBB
Would have been a wonderful book for #CampLitsy23
I‘m feeling stressed from reading this book - there‘s a menacing undertone

A literary western mashed with horror and historical fiction.! Yup, it‘s bonkers but it works so well.
Creepy, atmospheric and a glimpse of the old west. Enjoyed the audio narration.

My daughter LOVED Verity ( I HATED it) she‘s looking for a similar book🙈any suggestions!??! Please share below 👇🏽 Thanks, friends xx

Hi friends! Don‘t forget on June 1 we‘ll share our newest #TitlesAndTunes prompt #GuiltyPleasure 😈😇
@BarbaraBB and I LOVED seeing all your posts and picks for #IslandVibes 🎶📚Here‘s the Spotify link in case you missed it earlier in the month https://open.spotify.com/playlist/3Z1ir1tVKnmFCuHDlwGJA3?si=ay95GX-FQg-E8nu6lYdE...

Historical Fiction meets the supernatural with bits of horror - creepy & fun pick from the official #ToBSummerCamp23
Loving the audio narration
A young woman flees her home in California and heads to rural Montana to claim a parcel of land to work and own in 1915. She‘s brought nothing with her, but a small sum of money and a large steamer trunk which she keeps under lock & key.

Yay!!!! My copy FINALLY arrived! I don‘t think I‘ll be able to resist it‘s pull @Cuilin

This book just took a weird swerve - I feel like I‘m reading two separate novels. I can fathom how part one and part 2 & 4 belong in the same book 🤷🏼‍♀️ I‘m also only at 60% and I can‘t imagine that there is still 40% more to read. Curious to see how this all comes together. #ARC #NetGalley #JewishHeritageMonth #🟦

#ARC #NetGalley LOVING this book!! Publishes June 2023
A young woman caught in a game of manipulation. I‘m hooked , good thing since I still have 20 minutes left on the timer ⏱️

Im not sure how I got to finding this book but WOW! This was a stunningly beautiful account of a young mother falling into an unseen drug addiction due to insomnia, anxiety and depression after having 2 children within 18 months of each other. There are some really difficult moments so if you‘re struggling with any of the above tread lightly. Five stars and audio read by author is perfect.

Such a fun and original format of storytelling. It was entertaining, with touches of humor and old school detective work. A family gathers at a ski lodge where dead bodies start piling up during a snowstorm. The author breaks the fourth wall and often speaks to the reader, which I found delightful. This worked well in print and I‘ve been told audio is good too.

This was Haruf‘s debut novel written in 1984 and it‘s certainly stood the test of time. His writing was so subtle but skilled to perfection. I‘m so sad we will never receive anymore stories about the people of Colt, Colorado. Here we meet Edith Goodnought, born in the late 1800‘s to a demanding father and unsatisfied mother, all trying to survive the harsh climate and conditions of farm life. Completely heart wrenching with real moments of joy.

Let‘s see if I stick to this #WeeklyForecast -
so far it‘s promising since I‘ve started the NF Blood Orange Night ( it‘s excellent @Cathythoughts ), the #ARC of Lucky Dogs (I‘m really into it) and I‘m super impressed with the HF debut Beyond that, the sea ( really good) 😁 Lone Woman is from the official #ToBSummerCamp23 list

I had a GREAT reading week! LOVED Yellowface, the Paris Hilton memoir and the Haruf. I thought O‘Connell & Stevenson were lots of fun. The Medoff was #MoreMehThanYeah and I thought Old Flame was #GoodNotGreat

I‘m really enjoying this book @Librarybelle It‘s witty & clever and loads of fun. It‘s a mystery in a mystery in a mystery but the author insists if you follow the 10 commandments of crime fiction you can solve all the puzzles in this novel.

LOVED this!!! Although I usually don‘t like satire this blistering look at the inner workings of literary publishing covers lots of hot button topics. Ownership, cancel culture, appropriation, Twitter trolls and making it big. When an opportunity arises for a struggling writer she seizes the chance which alters her life in ways she never imagined. I‘m now 💯 OBSESSED with author R F Kuang. #CampLitsy23 FANTASTIC narration 💛

Jillian Medoff writes a story of a privileged and moneyed college student accused of raping his on/off girlfriend. This book dragged in parts but I was too invested to stop. Outstanding narration from Marin Ireland elevated the prose. #BorrowNotBuy probably will not appeal to everyone as the fictitious Quinn family are truly horrible.

The snark and humor in this book is HILARIOUS but it‘s BEYOND RAUNCHY 🌶️🍆🔥 However, don‘t let the laughter fool you…there‘s a lot of heart and soul to this story too. Elliot, a gay Hollywood screenwriter, who has cerebral palsy must confront his destructive behaviors and biased assumptions. This was really fun. Read by the author.

I‘ll admit I was skeptical at first, what could Paris write about that would be more than her party girl insta celeb famous lifestyle? WHOA - did Paris school me. There‘s a lot of depth to Paris. She‘s an ADHD warrior, “troubled teen” rights advocate, global businesswoman, activist and a survivor of sexual, physical and emotional abuse. I loved this memoir read by Paris. I‘m actually blown away @Megabooks @britt_brooke

Ok @Megabooks we are in TOTAL agreement!!! Amazing! This memoir is incredible. I‘m just awed right now. I honestly couldn‘t imagine what Paris could possibly talk about that wasn‘t shallow & vapid but I was so wrong.

This was #GoodNotGreat but I definitely was drawn to the story of a young woman trying to make sense of her past & future. A book that questions all the components of being a woman and what one is willing to sacrifice. Interesting insight and perspectives. Also big NOD to Molly Prentiss for PERFECTLY describing Macy‘s Herald Square without mentioning the store name. Enjoyed narration 💜

Picked this up on #Scribd after reading a review from @Megabooks - Im liking it and it seems really appropriate for today #MothersDay 💜👩‍👧

#UnpopularOpinion
So many have loved this book and I did enjoy while reading but overall it wasn‘t uniquely special or memorable. Another story of a dysfunctional childhood that affects twin sisters in different ways. I think my expectations were just too high. #GoodNotGreat

Gorgeous debut - the writing is lush and evocative. 💯 for you @BarbaraBB @KarenUK ❣️❣️❣️ A young woman looks back on a summer love affair with an older man. It‘s a slow burn, very much character driven but absolutely stunning and vivid. I owe a HUGE thanks to @squirrelbrain who put this book on my #ReadersRadar 💗

I owe some book reviews - they‘re coming soon 🤓 Here‘s what I‘m thinking for this week but it can ALWAYS change 🤪

It‘s been a hell of a week….1000 + rockets indiscriminately launched into heavily populated cities since Tuesday 😳 luckily I had amazing books to help me stay close to home ( bomb shelter access) and focus on reading. I really enjoyed all of them but can absolutely recommend the top 4🤩

A beautiful conversation ( I listened to the #audiobook) between mother & daughter will remind you what a gift it is to have a mom in your life. Even when you disagree the bond that you share is precious. Bold, honest, uncomfortable and heartfelt, I was warmed from the love & wisdom shared by Diane Ladd and her daughter, Laura Dern. Perfect gift for Mother‘s Day🫶🏼
Forward is read and written by Reese Witherspoon.

My final book from my #BuyBuyBookDepository order 😞 pretty sure @TrishB suggested this one for #CampLitsy23 😎Sounds like a good summer read 💙

Five stars! DEFINITELY an AUTOBUY author for me. A story to remind us how hate will destroy us and how love will save us. A gorgeous but heartbreaking story. I don‘t understand how people can justify their actions in the name of religious beliefs. I wish this story wasn‘t relevant today but sadly it is. OUTSTANDING audio.

#BookMail #BuyBuyBookDepository 📚Thought I‘d try the newest one from Salman Rushdie even though my track record with him is 0-3 😅

I loved Defending Jacob and this one is almost as good. What happens when your mom disappears and it seems like your dad might be responsible??? So many interesting layers. PERFECT for the beach ( or ice hockey rink 😉) I couldn‘t put this book down. Read it in 24 hours.

Thanks to my sudden OBSESSION with all things India( thanks to Indian Matchmaker on Netflix) I‘m LOVING this book. It‘s difficult to read at times but SO GOOD. I love this author & narration is FANTASTIC !!!

WOW!! Im still catching my breath from this INSANE memoir that had me gripped from the very beginning. Cheryl grew up in the most unusual and chaotic family. Parents and two siblings who were literally fugitives from the law. Cheryl didn‘t know from whom or why they were constantly changing identities and continents until much later in her life. With an over controlling narcissistic father & a passive mother Cheryl lived on the edge 👇🏽

Two more books from my #BuyBuyBookDepository splurge! One was from the #CampLitsy23 longlist and the other was suggested to me by my mom 🥰 Nothing is better than books in your mailbox 😁📚 📚