I like to say things like “I don‘t read a lot of romance” or “romance isn‘t my jam,” but I‘ve learned that Abby Jimenez is absolutely my jam, so I‘ll be reading everything she has written or ever writes 🤷🏼‍♀️. I really loved this one, even more than Yours Truly and that‘s saying a lot.

Sometimes you go to a thrift, pick up a book, and fall in love. Does this copy have its dust jacket? No. Is it first edition? Yes. Do I already own this book? Yes. Do I need another copy? No. However, something happened when I saw the spine on that shelf in Goodwill and now we‘re very best friends 🤩🫶❤️

The cover is BEAUTIFUL, but to be quite honest, I needed more daily thoughts, more voice from the typewriter. The premise is so smart, but for me, the execution was lacking. I also would‘ve loved some chapters from the mom‘s perspective because I have some questions…

You know what I love about these books? That they‘re out there for young adults to learn what healthy, respectful, caring relationships look like and sound like. If whomever you‘re with doesn‘t treat you like Nick and Charlie treat each other, it ain‘t it.

My birthday was Wednesday and I picked up this hold from the library on Thursday. Coincidence? I think not… 👵🏻👵🏻

I borrowed this from a dear friend who said it was better than Hunger Games and in her top 5 books ever. My expectations were high, but sixty some pages in, it hasn‘t grabbed my attention. I don‘t love the writing (so many sentences starting the same way) nor do I feel any connection to any character. The idea of ‘female magic‘ and the ‘pull‘ they have over gross, lusty men is an interesting facet but, for me, the delivery (and cover 👎) is off.

Yes, it‘s a pick but a weird and icky pick. I enjoyed the writing and will probably read this author again. The idea of an AI cuddle bunny was unsettling, Doug was creepy, but I didn‘t really want to put the book down so there‘s that 🤷🏼‍♀️. I wish I could discuss this with book club, @Allyneedsbooks

Here‘s what I liked: the podcast element, the grandma character, the snark, writing was good. I wanted to pick this up and continue reading, so that says something. But ultimately, it kind of felt like another thriller/suspense novel in a saturated market. An enjoyable read but not one that will stick with me.

There‘s this bookstore in the town that‘s closest to civilization from my home. I try to stop in when I‘m up that way bc she gives you an ARC with purchase. Did I need another copy of James?! No, but signed first edition?! I couldn‘t pass it up. My students are going to be JACKED to see Book 2 in the Coyote Sunrise series and I needed Book 2 of Shady Hollow. Bottom 3 are the ARCs I chose. How perfect is The Great River to go along with James?! 🤩

Gotta love seeing the holiday on the actual holiday. 🐰

🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟I taught Huck Finn for many years, and this retelling is everything I hoped for when I first heard about it last year. Even though the reading is definitely enhanced by having read Huck Finn, it‘s not a dealbreaker. It‘s interesting to hear the events from Jim‘s perspective, to know how brilliant he is, and watch him really morph into James. This will be in my top books of 2024, no doubt, and my first of many Percival Everett reads.

Ok, so Litsy app won‘t open and here‘s how the website on my phone wants to post the pic. However this book is positioned, it‘s a winner. A grief memoir that shows how all-encompassing grief will be, especially when you lose someone way too soon. I loved that it was written in vignettes and flew through it because of that. Emotional and searing.

This was really good! Not my usual genre, but I‘m thinking I need to add more like this into my reading rotation. The writing was on point, and Jacob is my new book boyfriend. My only gripe is the non-communication trope. 🗣️”Just ask the questions that you need to ask when you need ask them and so many problems will be avoided!!!” Regardless, a definitive pick ❤️

Yessss!!! It‘s excellent! I heard a couple of podcasters recommend this one, and they weren‘t wrong. I‘m not big on the suspense/thriller ones, but this is a win. A mom has to protect her children (in the scariest of situations) and justify her decisions to others over and over. Interesting portrayal of how women are doubted, labeled, and mistrusted. Really good stuff! Is this getting buzz?! Sure should be!

Going to be in the car all day, and this one isn‘t working for me. Moving on to something else. Good things I take too many books on every trip I go on 🤪📚🤓

Okkkk, was it a pick? Yes. Did it keep my interest? Yes. Will I remember it in a month? Yes. But there‘s something off about this book for me. I didn‘t need to two timelines, and I don‘t love a perfect protagonist nor do I need a perfect spouse for that protagonist. Really, everyone connected to her was perfect. I think this book is excellent for lots of readers, and I‘ll even recommend it to them. There, that‘s my review 🤷🏼‍♀️😏😅🥹🙏😬🤷🏼‍♀️

Halfway through it, and sometimes I‘m so in love with this book and the story. Then the author switches to 35 years prior and a flashback to her and her husband‘s days as newlyweds and it takes me out of the story. I‘m sure it all ties together at some point, but I‘d rather just read the story of her trying to do right by the people of her town and fighting the patriarchy in the process.

It‘s as good as I remember it. This copy is all marked up and ready for the middle schoolers. We started Ch. 1 today and the kids are in it to win it!! 🙌🤩

Spending a Saturday night marking this one up in preparation for teaching it to 7th graders. I can‘t wait! 🤩🙌 #teachersoflitsy

Library‘s coming in clutch 🙌

Godddd, my eyes, my English teacher eyes…for the love!!! 😩😭😩😭😩😭

My English teacher heart just can‘t take it. “Tom-or-row, Tom-or-row!” 😩😭

Part 1 of the Conquer a Classic readalong has me wondering why I haven‘t been reading Westerns all this time?! I‘m loving this big chunker of a novel and looking forward to hearing Annie and Hunter‘s discussion for January. 🤓❤️🙌

Yeehaw 🤠 Starting my read-along to “conquer a classic” with From the Front Porch podcast. My copy of the book should be into my Indie bookstore on Monday. It‘s a good thing because the library said I can‘t keep this one forever, but I sure do love how worn in it is… 🤗

My first book of 2024 was a banger. Grann can do no wrong, and if he writes it, I‘m reading it. His writing is on point, and he makes these historical figures and their voyage at sea intriguing, fascinating, and weirdly relatable. I loved it!

I‘ve been holding onto this bad boy since August-ish. I didn‘t want to start it mid-year and it‘s FINALLLLLLY TIME! I can‘t wait 🤩

I managed to read 53 books this year. Here‘s my list of 5 star reads for 2023 🤩🎉🤓🥰

This volume dealt with some more serious issues, but still a quick and enjoyable read. Squeezed it in just in time #2023reads

I think Nunez is brilliant and one of the best writers out there, but this one kind of lost me. Maybe I‘m not ready for full pandemic lit just yet. Maybe I just care more about dogs than parrots because I really loved The Friend. Regardless, it was a quick read and I appreciate the connections Nunez makes throughout the book (like all of the flower names). Worth a read, but not one that I‘ll remember forever.

Trust me when I say that I ask my dogs many, many questions everyday. “Why are you barking?” “Do you need to go outside?” “What is your deal?!” “How did you get to be such a cutie-patootie?!” “Aren‘t you just the best boy ever?!” “You want to go take a nap?” “Why can‘t the bird be in the yard?!” “Will you ever be okay with the neighbors being in their yard?” “Are you always surprised when a truck drives by?!” “Could you be any cuter?!” 🤗🐾❤️🐾🤗

I hate it when my bookmark is ready to stop reading before I am. 😑🐾🐶😁

So I said I was moving to serious books, but I couldn‘t resist this sweet, closed door romance between two high school English teachers (be still, my heart). The banter was cute, not overly sweet, and Miles was the most perfectly sarcastic yet sweet romantic lead. I loved it! ❤️❤️❤️

Hoping I love this one as much as Killers of the Flower Moon 🌖

Thrifted some great books yesterday 🤩

Cute cute cute cute cute! Rom coms aren‘t usually my jam (I cannot handle cheese in my books) but this worked for me. My grinch heart needed a little sweetness; now it‘s back to my regular program 😏✌️

The library stack that‘s been staring me down while I finished my last book. I don‘t think my next read will be the one that‘s tagged. Just flipping through it makes me think it‘s way over my head. 😵‍💫🧐

Ok, this took me forever and a day to read. Possibly because, unpopular opinion, it was way too long. Parts should‘ve been edited out, and I don‘t think this was as strong as Fourth Wing. Still good enough and still a Pick, but I was skimming the last quarter and not 100% invested. Ready for a new read.

I thought I‘d fly through this one, but it feels like it‘s taking forever. 🫠🤷🏼‍♀️🕰️

So helpful… 🥰😅

Why do I keep seeing dinosaurs instead of dragons in my mind? Specifically, the brontosaurus. 😅🤓🦕🐉🫠

Are you following Grady Hendrix on Instagram? If you‘re not, you‘re really missing out. The caption for this post says, “Happy Thanksgiving from Pupkin! He made you something!” #iykyk. 😂🤣🤣

Student: “Mrs. Stutts, do you want a potato?”
Me: “Is it a real potato that you eat?”
Student: “No.”
Me: “Then, absolutely, I do.” I‘m now a proud owner of a positive potato and pretty jazzed about it. 🤓🥳💜

He would like to speak to the manager about the following issues: not enough petting, has been a full two hours since his last meal, cannot reach the treat jar on his own.

I love Britney, and I‘m glad she got to share her story. I can‘t fathom how her father pulled the wool over so many different sets of eyes. This memoir is sad, at parts unbelievable, and reallllllly makes you ready to pull up on Britney‘s behalf 👊. I hope she has nothing but joy from here out because if all the shizz in this book went down, she sure deserves it!

Got it!!! Interesting conversation with my bookseller about what an absolute cluster this book‘s release has been for the independent booksellers. Annie of “From the Front Porch” podcast discussed this on a recent episode, too. I love publishing insider info! 🙃

Not my favorite Rufi Thorpe book. Of course the writing was good because Rufi Thorpe (hello), but something about this book didn‘t grab me. I skimmed parts, yet other parts were so well done it was like moments of brilliance. I can‘t explain, but I‘m definitely ready to move on.

Why‘s he judging me?

I don‘t think I‘m going to make it. At about 1/4 of the way through, the book isn‘t keeping my interest. It could be a Taylor issue where I‘m the problem, but for now, I‘m taking a break from reindeer murders…✌️

Just meh for me 🤷🏼‍♀️

It‘s hard to read when someone knows it‘s pushing dinner time. 😑🤪