4.5 ⭐️ Such a great read! It‘s en route to you @Kdgordon88 Happy reading! #lmpbc

Hi LMPBC round #14 group! So sorry for the delay! My husband and I were postponed on a trip abroad and came back to squirrels in the attic and a leaky roof. Yikes! Anyway, here are the four books I‘m choosing from. I‘ll be starting this weekend, so just lmk if you‘re strongly opposed to any or have read any of them. I‘m excited to get back to reading and relaxing!! 📚

This was definitely…interesting! I forgot to post that I mailed it out to you on Friday @kimmypete1 #LMPBC

Joining in on the #Pemberlittens re-read of Sense & Sensibility!! I got this copy at B&N early last year. I always laugh when I see it on my shelf because my husband and I went to build our wedding registry and I ended the appointment early so we could go to the bookstore and look at books 📚😂

My goal was to read 60 books in 2021. I went over because there were just so many awesome buddy reads and book clubs I couldn‘t resist. My goal for this year is much lower so that I am not rushing and can fully enjoy reading!

4.75 ⭐️
I enjoyed:
~I just love all of Agatha's antics and the mess she gets herself into (and out of)!
~Regardless of her less favorable characteristics, Agatha really is a great friend to those she cares about.
~I still can't believe how much it feels like the original series with R.W. Green having taken over. I am so glad the series is continuing on.

I disliked:
~There's a subplot introduced via the Admiral's wife that is just...icky!!

4.5 ⭐️
Elements I enjoyed:
~The writing is beautiful and it was so lovely to hear about what things were like 'before'.
~There are cases where I am all for vigilante justice, and this was one of them!

Elements I disliked:
~The storyline was too close for comfort. It felt very real, in the saddest of ways.

4.0 ⭐️

This was a super cute and lighthearted book! I actually read along to the audiobook so that I could continue while at the gym and while doing chores. I just dropped it off at the post office and it‘s en route to you @kimmypete1 #LMPBC

4.5 ⭐️

~ I really enjoy love stories where the characters take time to fall in love.
~ Livvy's character is frustrating but absolutely believable, considering what she went through.
~ Ray's life is very simple and he seems simple, but is complex and so kind.
~ I fell in love with the movie years ago and decided to check out the book. So glad I did!
#LMPBC Round 13

4.5 ⭐️

~Considering all of the characters involved, this story is very easy to follow and it moves quickly.
~I related to a lot of the elements of being first-generation American and felt for both Margot and Mina.
~The genre felt all over the place, but I don't think it was a bad thing- it just felt like a complicated story of intertwined lives.
~Some elements felt unresolved- the driver, the trip to Vegas, etc.

4.0 ⭐️

I'm so glad that the series will continue! The characters all felt genuine and the plot twist was just as fun as it always is.

Le sigh… I thought that I entered a reading slump, but all along I just needed to change books. I started my #LMPBC book halfway through the month, and could never get past chapter 1. It might be the wrong book or it might be the wrong time. But, I finally accepted over the weekend that I needed to change gears. Last time I pushed through a bad book, no one else read it! 🤦🏾‍♀️ I devoured the new pick and now it will be on its way tomorrow! ☺️

~ ✅
~ FaceTiming with my friend and her newest bundle of joy 🤱🏾
~ unresolved subplots! Ugh-pls don‘t include random people/situations that won‘t be explained or wrapped up 🙏🏾

Thanks for the tag @katy4peas ☺️

October was a great reading month! A couple of duds, but that‘s A-ok! ☺️

2.5 ⭐️
Maude is an unlikely murderer, which adds a bit of whimsy to the stories. I LOVED the first book! This one makes is quite clear that Maude is simply a sociopath. Also- how can we believe that a woman who barely cared about her family and her one friend suddenly is moved deeply to care about a random black family in South Africa and “save” them? Cringe 😬

1- The Babysitters Club and RL Stine books 📚 for sure!!
2- Either under a shady tree 🌳 on a warm day or snuggled on the couch 🛋 with blankets on a rainy day.
3- Today I‘m grateful for an abundance of soup 🍲 recipes to carry me through this cold fall weather! 🍁 🍂 #wondrouswednesday

Thanks for the tag @robinb ☺️

4 ⭐️

Another great Agatha Raisin book! I had been holding off on finishing the series because I didn't know that MC Beaton secured an author to continue Agatha's adventures leading up to her death. Of course, 30 books in, I am definitely invested in the series, so this needs no recommendation if you're this deep in with me, lol. However, I highly recommend the series overall if you love cozy mysteries!

Ahhh @tdrosebud thank you soooo much for all of these incredible gifts! I‘m rearranging my TBR to get these books in ASAP 🤓. And boiling water as I type this to make a cup of tea in this gorgeous mug! I love the candles, black salt, socks and stickers! My husband is already asking when we can break into the chocolates, 🤣! It was a lot of fun shopping for you and I love everything that you got me. Thanks to our incredible hosts! #BasicWitchSwap

I wanted to share some pics from our 09.19 wedding! Thank you for all of the well wishes from my fellow bookworms 📚. We‘re pretty much settled in and I‘m back to my normal reading- now on to #LitsyLove letters!! ✍🏾 📫 ✉️

3 ⭐️
~ This story is very unique, with so many imaginative elements. I particularly liked being introduced to Ruby and Cora.
~ Although I did not exactly enjoy the story because of some of the gruesome parts, I felt compelled to continue reading in order to find out how things would resolve.

What a great round of #LMPBC !! This will be in the mail at the end of the week!

5 ⭐️
I could not get enough of this book. I never wanted to put it down, but I also didn't want the experience of reading it to end.

Erna's story so felt familiar. I think it's common among 1st generation children to feel a sense of familiarity with a place that was technically never home.

There was NOTHING I disliked about this book. There were things I wish that had happened differently for some people, but the writing is simply incredible!

3.0 ⭐️ This was fun and cute! I finished it today for the #readathon

2.5 ⭐️

2.75 ⭐️

4 ⭐️ I can‘t wait to discuss the ending with my #SundayBuddyRead pals! ☺️

4.5 ⭐️

This is headed your way @tdrosebud ☺️ 🧙‍♀️ 🎃🕯 I cannot wait for you to open it!! #BasicWitchSwap

Hi #GroupR !! I‘m excited for the next round of #LMPBC and have these three options for consideration. I‘m leaning toward Sweethand unless someone has read it already! ☺️

Thank you for my #LitsyLoveFallSwap box, @katy4peas !! Happy Fall! 🍁 🍂 🎃

#two4tuesday

1- I definitely prefer cozy mysteries! 🕵🏾‍♀️

2- Cozy mysteries may contain violence or murder, but there‘s no graphic detail and no intense suspense that might make the reader afraid. They are typically lighthearted and maybe even comical- the reader is encouraged to solve the crime along with the amateur sleuth.

Crime novels tend to be more detailed as far as the crime goes. There is more suspense and usually a plot twist.

3.5 ⭐️

2 ⭐️
While reading the book, there were so many times where I thought "If the roles were reversed, Nikki's abusive behavior would be extremely obvious and we'd be telling Callum to get some self-respect". Nikki is BEYOND insufferable- she is self-centered, abusive and obtuse. I get it- we all have trauma and we all have things that we fear deeply...but it's no excuse to belittle others, lash out or use people..

4 ⭐️

I really enjoyed this retelling! I thought that the lack of chapters would have me feeling lost, but once things got going, I was so intrigued and couldn't stop until I finished the whole thing. I had never heard of this book until my postal book club, but am so glad that I discovered it and had the pleasure of reading it. It's such a complicated tale of love, heartache, betrayal and forgiveness. #LMPBC

Couldn‘t get into this one at all. There was literally no reasonable explanation for why the MC was even in the situation that the whole book was based on, so I had to jump ship.

2.5 ⭐️

I read through this book because it was a Buddy Read and I had people to commiserate with over the horrible characters. I really didn't find anyone in this story to be likable. The suspense surrounding Olga kept me a bit interested, but really everything about the situation and the interactions felt so over the top. I wouldn't recommend it, but to each their own.

It‘s here @katy4peas !! I can‘t wait for opening day tomorrow! #LitsyLoveFallSwap ☺️

This lovely box 📦 is on its way to you, @katy4peas ☺️☺️ #LLFS 📚 🍁 🍂

4 ⭐️

I am drawn to most retellings of Pride & Prejudice. I've recently been enjoying reading the narratives of some of the minor characters in "The Heiress" and "The Clergyman's Wife". I really enjoyed this book. It made me feel so badly for disregarding Mary's character. She always seemed to have no real inner life, no hopes or aspirations. It was a bit long, tbh.

3 ⭐️

Ghost stories aren't typically my thing, but I did mostly enjoy this book. I liked trying to piece the mystery together, even though I was way off! There were a few loose ends and odd things in the end, though.

Just got home from my final dress fitting and found this wtg for me! Gonna crack it open right after dinner. Thanks @TheBookKeepers ☺️ #lmpbc

This was a great book! I did have a hard time reading without judgment at times, but I learned so much and was absolutely fascinated! Is on its way to you @Johanna414 ☺️ #lmpbc @kellyann28 @TheBookKeepers

Phew! Okay- the bulk of wedding planning, moving and work stress is over so I‘m catching up on #litsylove replies!! 🥳🎉 First batch goes out today- note the updated address on the envelope and in our google doc! ☺️🤗

This arrived today and I can‘t wait to crack it open!! @TheBookKeepers #lmpbc

July was a great month! Excited to be doing #lmpbc again this round as well as hopping back in to #sundaybuddyread for august!

3 ⭐️

I will admit that I chose this book solely because of the cute cover. It was just okay- I'm not sure what I really think about it. Nina wasn't particularly likable, but neither was Tom. The long lost family spin was a bit interesting, but I finished out of curiosity rather than actual interest.

4.75 ⭐️
#LMPBC
This was a great book! I knew that it was an urban fantasy YA novel, but I didn't know that it was also a modern retelling of Greek literature. The first 2/3 of the novel went a little slowly. I also somehow missed that it's the first in a new series, so I was really stressed when I saw the remaining pages dwindling with still so much left to wrap up- and that wild ending!!

5 ⭐️
I loved this book! The structure of a 'novel in stories' worked so well. The issues covered were incredible- esp with the married couple in Loosed. Racism, colorism, generational trauma, power dynamics & vulnerability in relationships, the role of denial in maintaining the status quo, prostitution & the commodification of relationships, the role of religion in the face of tragedy, sexism, rape- I mean, I don't know what she doesn't cover!

In the park trying out a new SPF and cracking open a new book!

5 ⭐️

I can‘t find enough words to explain Joe much I love this book.

3 ⭐️ I think it's just hard to do these in a way that makes both time periods interesting. Nella & Eliza's storyline was definitely more interesting than Caroline's. The pace leading up to the revelation of Nella's choice of profession was timed well. It was hard to understand Caroline's motivation & her silly behavior when traveling abroad alone. Any suspense was tidied up and put in a perfect bow, which is fine, but just a bit boring.