At halfway, it‘s a no for me. I was really excited about this one but I‘m not feeling the least bit invested in the story. They meet in college, that was cool, but there‘s zero connection despite them both being hot, smart, and single. Time jump. They‘re BFFs. Then he ghosts her. Pick up two years later with a random run in and they reconnect but there‘s NOT A CONNECTION. They just keep being BFFs and ‘the most important person‘ to the other. No.

Okay, but why? Why do they have to remain friends? 150 pages in. Years into them knowing each other. Each thinks the other is the best thing since sliced bread. Nothing except this idea that they have to “remain friends” with no context as to why they haven‘t tried a relationship. So weird.

I loved it! A romance minus the smut and with some depth, characters who could be people you know facing normal, real-life problems. The NYC setting and ‘pre-iPhone in everyone‘s pocket‘ time period were nice escapes.

I love this concept of ‘sleeping off your grief‘ and, of course, Erlick‘s writing. I felt partially disconnected because A) timing (July 4th week, activities, brain status) and B) the emphasis on siblings. Being an only child, I couldn‘t really relate. I read and valued those connections in the book, but I couldn‘t empathize. Overall, this is a good book and Erlick is an auto-read author for me. And it‘s a Beaut, Clark! 🤩😍📖

The cover! These end papers! Those sprayed edges! This book is one of the most BEAUTIFUL books I‘ve ever seen in my life. I‘ve never stolen a book from the library but…. I kid, I kid, but I may have to buy my own copy. So pretty!!!!! 🤩 And I hear there‘s an updated version of The Measure that‘s just as pretty. Might need to add both to my shelves.

I don‘t reread books, but when I finished teaching Hunger Games this year and read Sunrise on the Reaping, I really felt compelled to visit this world again. And boy, was that the right choice! I loved it just as much as the first time. Collins is just so good at her craft! Also I‘ve finally figured out the magic of physical book reading when you‘re relaxing + audiobooking while you do the chores to keep the house looking presentable. A win-win!

Only at 25%-It‘s not awful, but it feels like a rip off of Lyla Sage‘s Rebel Blue Ranch series (which I loved). The FMC has a estranged-ish dad that‘s loaded. He dies and leaves her crap tons of money and a HUGE ranch in Texas (that‘s ran by hot cowboy brothers who live there) with a 6,000 sq ft mansion, as well as a cute little perfect 1900s farmhouse. Kicker: she has to go stay there for a while. It‘s. All. So. Perfect. 🫠Cont‘d in comments.

Five FULL BLOWN stars for this one! I loved the different perspectives and various media. I was completely enthralled by the suspense of the missing hiker and whether or not Bev would find her. I love the way Gaige is able to connect characters. I love what this novel says about family and mistakes, reconnecting and forgiveness. I remember the real-life missing hiker (the one searchers were so close to finding) that Gaige based this novel on.

I‘m continually thrown off by these lines above the page numbers. My brains registers them as a page break, but they‘re not. Every page…😵‍💫

If I have to see it, you do too. This might be a DNF bc it‘s a rough day to have to see that in reference to some flippin food. Oof. And it‘s on page 20!! 😖😫

No one ever accused me of being a night owl so there‘s not many books that are going to keep me up reading the Kindle past the double digit hour of 10pm, but I had to find out what happens to Jolene (who is one of the most relatable characters I‘ve come across). Don‘t let this lighthearted, Word Art-ish cover fool you; there‘s depth to this office comedy and I LOVED the snarky writing. Some of the best one liners live in this book. It‘s a gem! 🤩

If I had a dollar for every time I‘m fretting over important legal documents at 3am. It‘s like the author is right in the middle of my brain. So glad you put this one on my radar, @Allyneedsbooks 🤗

First off, this is not my preferred genre but a Bookstagram post got the best of me. Secondly, I finished it and consider it a pick, so that says something. There was a part in the middle that lagged for me and the words the author used during the sexy time was cringy at best, but it‘s still a pick. Will I read Book 2 when it comes out? I‘m not sure. Almost DNF-ed when I hit that lag, but I‘m glad I didn‘t, so there‘s that…

Bookish haul from BOTM and library holds that came in today 🤩

Some interruptions in my morning reading… 🐾

I loved it so, so much. Gave me Olive Kitteridge vibes, but in letters. The letter from Daan to Sybil is one I hope I never forget. This book is top tier ❤️

This book is going to be in my Top Ten of the year, no doubt. The way Virginia Evans is able to relay so much to the reader using solely letters is really something. This entire book is just so special.

Switching things up for next year‘s sixth graders. 🤩

I‘m afraid this one is headed back to the library unread. A road trip novel isn‘t appealing this soon after reading the ultimate feel good road trip book, The Road to Tender Hearts. Maybe I‘ll pick it up later and give it a fair chance.

Sad and depressing, to be honest, but isn‘t that to be expected from a memoir of a wife whose husband loses his leg in the war? I think the first half was stronger than the second half; I would‘ve liked more ‘here‘s what‘s wrong with how we handle our injured vets and here‘s what needs to change,‘ and maybe that was my fault going into a memoir expecting something else. It‘s not something I‘ll remember or recommend, but it was fine. 3 stars.

Seems like the most perfect day to start this memoir 🇺🇸 ❤️🤍💙

I‘m giving up at a little over a third of the way through. It‘s very New Adult, very ‘why, exactly, aren‘t yall together,‘ very frustrating. I‘m hanging it up and moving on ✌️

“…the objectivity of solving a math problem…take solace in the quiet hours spent on a solo project.” Umm, I worked with high schoolers for a long, long time. Even the best and brightest don‘t talk to their friends like this 😐🫠

This is one of the most interestingly structured books I‘ve ever read, and I think it‘s quite a marvel. (*Huge, huge trigger warnings for domestic violence)

In no way is the book a romance but, man, what a quote…

“And she‘d carried on, unaware. Of him, and this special thing. Unaware, too, of what it is to have that person in your life, that person who will plan surprises, who will try to fix wings to your back.”

The 7th graders loved this just as much as last year‘s group. I did, too. I hope I read this every year for the rest of my teaching career.

Perfection. Poignant, funny, and heartwarming without the cheesiness. I loved this story, and it made me think that I‘ve probably been undervaluing Hartnett‘s earlier books. Might need to reread and see if I don‘t stumble across another character that I love as much as I love PJ. 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

PJ Halliday is quickly becoming one of my favorite main characters, right up there with Nathan Drum and Linus Baker. 💞

“Women never did that back then, it was men who went out for a pack of smokes and never returned, but Regina Halliday was ahead of her time.” 😄

Gosh, I just think Lynn Painter does such perfectly cute, feel good, wholesome YA romances. ❤️

For years now, we‘ve zoomed past McKay‘s on our way back home from our new home 7 hours away. But today, TODAY, I finally got to stop in for just a quick minute. It. Is. EVERYTHING!!! I want heaven to be just like this but with good coffee and dogs running everywhere. Utter perfection 🤗🤓

This series is just everything. Sad to see it end. ❤️

It was Independent Bookstore Day! Of course I went to my local indie bookstore yesterday. 😍

Woah, buddy! This one was INTENSE and I loved it! Set in the aftermath of a huge earthquake, this is not for the faint of heart, but dang what a story?! My blood pressure was probably at a steady high while reading this book, but this writing is incredible. And to be a debut? Wowza. Top 10 books of the year, for sure! 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

I love this series. I will read anything Lyla Sage writes at this point, but two things really grated my nerves: he affectionately ‘flicks her nose‘ and I‘m telling ya, I‘ll come out swinging if my husband ever picks up that habit; secondly, the reason the FMC gets angry near the end of the book (the third act almost breakup) is RIDICULOUS 🙄🙄🙄. The book is still a pick, still a win, and I loved it. 🤷🏼‍♀️🫶

I think this is going to be in my top books of the year. So funny, so entertaining, and so relatable. I loved it!

I love this type of humor in books 😆

A little smidge disappointed, but I think it‘s because my expectations for an Abby J. book are so high. The focus seemed to be on the problems the characters were facing instead of them building a real relationship. For me, it misses the humor and banter that I think makes Abby J. such a strong author. Still a pick, definitely, but my least favorite from her by far.

Blackwell‘s book mail 🤩📦📪🥳

I didn‘t even mean to read this one. I very rarely read BOTM books month of, but I was stuck in the car for about 8 minutes with only my Blue Box from the PO. The first 15-ish pages had me questioning my choice, but before I knew it, I was invested. This was really good! A miscommunication trope I could‘ve done without, but otherwise, pure gold. No smut. No cheese. Just the way I like my romances. I‘ll definitely be reading Sperry‘s sophomore book

People love this book; I love that for them. What I don‘t love? This book. It induced quite the amount of eye rolls and I was so done with everything being perfect. The MC had 2 perfectly perfect men fawning over her, she could run a whole lamb farm by herself, and I think she could talk to small animals, a la various Disney Princesses. Not for me, but we all get to have opinions, right? If it‘s drama you need, The Favorites is so much better.

Unpopular opinion, so if you love this book, please look away. I‘m about 3/4 of the way through and am currently right below a ‘hate reading‘ level. This feels very Frozen River to me. Here‘s what‘s bothering me: two completely perfect men pining over the MC, two completely perfect, precocious sons, and a narrator that really grates my nerves because she, too, is just so perfect. I‘m going to finish it, but I‘m might not be happy about it 😏

When your student shows you the most perfect bookmark in their copy of Sunrise on the Reaping…😂

So, so good! I‘ve always had a special place in my heart for Haymitch, and I really enjoyed reading his story. I hope there‘s more Hunger Games novels to come.

This is the second Daisy Haites in the series. One thing that makes this series so interesting is the perspective. The Magnolia books (1, 3, and 5) in the series are from a couple of characters‘ POV, and the Daisy books (2, 4) are from two other characters‘ POV. The timing overlaps so the reader is getting 4 different perspectives of the same events within two books (1 and 2, 3 and 4). Sad that I only have one book in the series left to read…

It‘s hereeeeeeee!!!!!!!!!! 🤩🙌💃

It was fine, but I needed a little more. Two overachievers battling it out yet actually liking each other was an interesting take; however, the liking each other needed to be more prominent, maybe? Also, there was a weirdly large amount of references to death (she writes an entire email about strangling him bc he‘s “so frustrating” and then feels like she‘s about “to vomit up blood” during an tense moment with her peers). It was a bit strange…

This one was my least favorite of the three, but that‘s like your third favorite ice cream flavor. It‘s still really good and well-written and entertaining, but there were some real extra-dramatic things from the past brought up and one fight due to Magnolia being a complete nimwit that I didn‘t love. Other than that, this was another win for me, but I‘m really looking forward to getting back to Daisy Haites and seeing what she‘s been up to.

These UK covers might just be my favorite covers of all-time 🤩