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.

June was a great reading month! Libertie stands out on top, followed by Now That I‘ve Found You. The writing in The Other Typist was great but I can‘t deal with mysterious endings! 🤣

4.75 ⭐️

Libertie was such a wonderful read. It took me awhile to get through it because I wasn't "in the mood" to devour the themes covered in the novel, but I loved the characters, their development, & seeing a diff view of life in Brooklyn. Greenidge covers colorism, sexuality, mental illness, sexual abuse, feminism, autonomy, religion & spirituality and mother-daughter relationships in this novel without explicitly feeling like it.

3 ⭐️

This is a sweet and predictable feel-good read. I found the women at H4H to be a bit immature and bratty, but I felt like the love story developed nicely. If you're in the mood for a light and fun (and a bit steamy) read, then grab it when it comes out! Thank you to Gallery Books and Net Galley for the ARC!

3 ⭐️

The concept of this book had me nearly drooling with anticipation. A Jamaican fantasy YA novel featuring witches?! Right up my alley! The book was very slow and could have been much shorter. I also wish that we were given more of an explanation for events and terms that exist only in that world, as it came across as though the reader would already know the details of everyday life.

3.5 ⭐️

The story is well written and I didn't mind the slow build at all. However, considering how many little hints were dropped throughout the book, I would have preferred a clearer ending. The theories are numerous and confusing. I just wish I knew what actually happened... I can‘t believe Round 11 of #LMPBC has come to and end!!

3 ⭐️

The book is helpful in that it compiles information into a single source. As a licensed nutritionist, I was already familiar with the nutrition advice provided, though I took issue with the demonization of perfectly healthy foods (white potatoes). It would be helpful for someone who hasn't thought much about their food and lifestyle choices and would now like to give themselves the best chance at conceiving and carrying a child.

Thank you so much for my summer swap gifts, @Bookwormjillk

I ended up opening the candy (from the back haha) before I even snapped this pic! 😂 I haven‘t read either book and can‘t wait to crack them open this summer. 🤗🥳

4 ⭐️

This was such a cute read! There's a bit of mystery, betrayal and romance (though it doesn't overwhelm the story). Evie was pretty hard to like because of how self-centered she is, but she grew on me. I loved Milo and Gigi's characters, but I also loved that the story was uncomplicated, which I feel like some contemporary books with POC main characters struggle to do. Cheesiness = 100, but it's perfect if that's what you're looking for!

Alrighty Group Q! These are the books I‘m considering for round 12! If you‘ve read any out of one stands out (for better or got worse, lol) please let me know. ☺️ #lmpbc

#LLSS 📦 on its way to you @Bookwormjillk ☺️

May‘s reading selection was small, but that worked out because it was a very busy month. Of course that also means all of my library holds have come in all at once for June. Wish me luck! 😜