5 ⭐️! This sparkles with the magic, wisdom, and transformation of winter seasons in nature and the human experience. May‘s writing is gorgeously poetic and evocative. I loved her musings on how animals and cultures endure winter, the cyclical meandering of life, the liminal space of sleep, respecting the honesty and function of sadness, and the joy and hope of singing. May we all be kind to each other and ourselves during the grasshopper years.🎧

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

T.J. Klune is a talented and gentle storyteller, creating distinctive characters and imaginative premises with compassion and wit. Wallace‘s transformation seemed a bit abrupt and the lessons are a tad heavy-handed, but I still found it touching. This is a tale to savor like a good cup of tea while pondering what a gift life is, how easily it can be taken away, and hope for what comes afterwards. 🎧

⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

Although this started out slowly for me, once the mystery was introduced, I enjoyed the way it unfolded in both timelines. Davis skillfully overlays a fictional story on real historical facts, people, and art. I thought Helen and Lilly‘s relationship was particularly interesting, but some other characters felt a bit flat. #BOTM

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

This book was a great mental chew toy! I took so many notes in my phone while listening that I want to revisit regularly, for both professional and personal inspiration. Some of my favorite thoughts were centered around the joy in being wrong, the value of task conflict and a challenge network, and how to use motivational interviewing to generate openness and flexibility on both sides of a conversation. ⬇️

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I‘ll admit I predicted who the killer was early on (although it still had twists that surprised me), and main characters who make terrible decisions and overuse alcohol/prescription pills feel a bit tired in this genre. However, I couldn‘t put this book down! It‘s a well-written, smart, and haunting psychological thriller; I think this author will be one to watch! #BOTM

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

I fell in love with this delightful story! It was such a compulsive listen with memorable characters that the audiobook narrator brought to life. Molly is a character you want to root for and protect; she also challenges you to think about assumptions and differences. I‘m still processing how I feel about the epilogue. 🎧

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Spanning multiple New Year‘s Eves, this was a festive and heartwarming read to start out the year! I enjoyed Minnie and Quinn‘s romance, but especially loved the themes of personal growth and friendship.

⭐️⭐️💫

After having so much fun reading “The Wife Upstairs” and “The Ex Hex”, this was a disappointment for me. I had expected lots of atmosphere and suspense, but got unlikeable characters and implausibility. 🎧

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I‘ve been saving this for my first audiobook of the year! Each New Year‘s Eve, Oona leaps to another year in her life. With each out-of-order year, the layers of her story drew me in more and made me think about fate and the blessings and hardships of life. I think fans of “The Midnight Library” might particularly enjoy this! 🎧

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I‘m ending the year on a wonderful read! Elif Shafak is a beautiful and compassionate storyteller. Her lyrical writing incorporates hints of folklore, history, and magical realism. I loved how seamlessly stories of plants and animals were woven into the narrative of connection, memory, trauma, home, and love. I don‘t think I‘ll ever look at trees the same way. #reesesbookclub

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My final audiobook of 2021! This was a compelling listen, but also pretty predictable and straightforward; I wish it would have gone deeper. I loved Essie‘s character and still enjoyed watching how her story played out. 🎧

My first #BOTM choice for 2022!! Although I could have gone with any of them - I‘m definitely going to look for a few others on Libby and Audible! 😍🥰

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Rich in atmosphere, I was completely immersed in the dreamy forest setting of this slow-burning mystery as the idyllic tips over into madness. I didn‘t predict the twist, but I wasn‘t quite fully satisfied with the ending. #BOTM

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

It occurred to me that I‘ve probably never been too interested in mafia stories because unlike this book, most aren‘t centered around the female experience. This is a quietly powerful coming-of-age tale about regret, survival, and friendship. The present tense narration is different; it seamlessly flows from one character to another, which makes it feel like you‘re there, watching the story unfold. 🎧

⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

This evoked my preteen days of enjoying The Princess Diaries! Izumi is a relatable teenager swept up in a Japanese fairytale. I was more interested in her relationship with her father and cultural identity instead of her love interest, but it was adorable overall! 🎧 #reesesbookclub

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

‘Tis the season for Christmas #audiobaking! Alex and Poppy “speak to me” (IYKYK) - their quirky and genuine personalities and their romantic journey full of fun vacations, mutual love and respect, inside jokes, secret yearning, and millennial ennui. 🎧

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Smart and original, this social horror novel really made me think. It‘s a bit slow at first, but takes an unexpected and sinister turn. I thought the commentary on workplace politics, microaggressions, white fragility, the weight of racial trauma, and white supremacy was so clever and creative. #botm #botmbacklist #botmbacklog

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A short and sad memoir without much of a happy ending. I‘m moved by Ishikawa‘s resilience and courage. It‘s a deeply personal account, and while parts were hard to read, it was enlightening and humbling. 🎧

⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

Cute? Yes. Cheesy? Yes. But I enjoy a cute, cheesy holiday romance every now and then! This was kind of like The Princess Switch meets the Holiday Baking Championship. I would have loved more Christmas vibes from this. I‘m also disappointed there aren‘t baked goods in front of me right now, but I guess I won‘t blame that on the book! 🤪🎧

⭐️⭐️⭐️

I realize this is an #unpopularopinion, but I had expected to enjoy this more. There were thought-provoking themes and some touching parts, but the way the story jumped around felt disjointed and the omniscient narration made me feel distant. 🎧

#bookmail from #thebookdrop today! This book looks so unique and compelling!!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I was SO excited to win this through a Goodreads giveaway! Thank you to Minotaur Books for the opportunity to review Finlay and Vero‘s latest adventure!

This series is like literary candy - addictive, fun, and hard to put down! If you enjoyed the first book, (and I would definitely recommend reading them in order), this one won‘t disappoint! The characters are as lovable as ever and there is non-stop action. It‘s a perfect escape read!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Super cute and surprisingly spicy! I loved the endearing characters and reading about women in STEM. I hypothesize this romance would make even the “Adams” of the world smile! 🎧

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ This book is incredible. Impeccably researched and beautifully written, it‘s both horrifying and important. I learned so much and want to continue returning to this text to process it further. It‘s very difficult to read about the atrocities humans have inflicted on one other, but it‘s necessary in order to heal from our history, understand our present, and hopefully create a better future for us all. I would recommend this to everyone.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

I didn‘t know anything about this book before diving in, besides that so many readers seem to love it. Now I can understand why it‘s so special! It‘s a whimsical, colorful, heartwarming tale of acceptance, belonging, and found family. Read this one when you need a hopeful reminder of the good in humanity. (I thought the audiobook narration was also amazing!) 🎧

⭐️⭐️

This was an atmospheric and creepy Gothic tale, but it just wasn‘t for me. I didn‘t really care about the characters and it was gruesome and confusing.

I‘m soooo excited for my December #BOTM picks! I also already had “The Holiday Swap” audiobook on hold from Libby. I hope I get it before Christmas! (Isn‘t the cover for “A History of Wild Places” stunning?!)

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

An original and chilling thriller steeped in the powerful collective rage of grieving women. At one point, the leader says that monsters aren‘t evil; they unapologetically fight back against evil inflicted upon them. But what is the line between justice and revenge, and who has the right to decide? It‘s a twisty white-knuckle ride that also gives you a lot to think about! #BOTM

⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

I don‘t think I‘ve read a thriller before that was centered around a group of psychopaths - especially not when they‘re the prey in the story. (Of course, some are also predators themselves!) The author‘s background in psychology gave this credibility, but the writing felt a bit YA. Although I had hoped for more from this, the original plot and interesting characters made it a fun read. 🎧

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Amy Tan paints a complex portrait of the relationships between four Chinese mothers and their American-born Chinese daughters - the connection to family and culture as well as the distance, the storytelling and the miscommunication, the pride and shame, the beauty and pain. I‘m really glad I finally made time to read this.

⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

I always appreciate the way this duo writes creative concepts and lovable characters with great chemistry. The way the conflict at the end was handled didn‘t fully work for me, but I would still recommend it as a cute, feel-good read! 🎧

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I think any woman (or man) would benefit from reading this feminist classic, although with a critical eye. I highlighted so many illuminating passages about the ways “The Beauty Myth” traps women for political and financial reasons and paused many times to reflect on my own experiences. It‘s also a dense and dated read, with some questionable claims and potentially flawed statistics. (Continued in comments.)

⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

Sci-fi isn‘t my favorite genre, but I‘m glad I gave this a try! Being ripped through time to experience the horrors of our history of slavery through a modern lens was emotional and effective. I would have had no idea it was written in the 70‘s; it‘s a timeless tale. 🎧

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Reading about a food competition reality show is right up my alley! Expect lots of family feuding, an uplifting ending, and a strong craving for fried chicken! 🎧 #reesesbookclub

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Every time I picked this up, the rest of the world fell away and I was completely sucked in. There‘s a special magic when a psychological thriller hits all the right notes: interesting writing, layered characters, a compelling plot, sharp insights on human nature, smart twists, and an invitation to self-reflect. It‘s dark academia at its finest; an addictive and eviscerating look at ambition, privilege, social hierarchies, and pain.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I loved Gabrielle Union‘s first book, and this second volume of essays proved to be equally thought-provoking, funny, emotional, empowering, and passionate. I definitely recommend the audiobook and her flawless narration! 🎧

My October #AuthenticBooks box came today! Has anyone read this one? Maybe I should fit in one more spooky book before Halloween is too far away… 🤔 In addition to the signed book, curated playlist, and recipes, this month they sent sandalwood and rose incense, a “ghost stories” candle, a cedar and elemi bar of soap, and lady‘s mantle tea! #bookmail

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Well, I‘m charmed! This is the perfect light, funny, romantic, and magical October read. There‘s a cozy town I wish I could visit, characters I want to be my friends, and all the festive Halloween vibes my witchy heart desires! #BOTM

P.S. Can someone PLEASE make this a movie?

⭐️⭐️💫

I was excited to listen to this gothic fantasy romance before Halloween, but it didn‘t really do it for me. It was atmospheric and haunting, but I wasn‘t a fan of the insta-love and thought the magic could have been explained better. Maybe it was just a little too YA for me? 🎧

#reesesbookclub

My November #BOTM pick - this sounds intriguing! I‘m reading my October pick now (The Ex Hex) and am LOVING it!! 🧙‍♀️🪄🎃 🐈‍⬛ ✨

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

With a compelling twist on the serial killer thriller, this was a gripping and fast-paced listen! Readers see inside the mind of The Nothing Man, who is reminiscent of The Golden State Killer, and his only surviving victim, who just published a book about him. A clever and chilling game of cat and mouse ensues! 🎧

5 ⭐️s! Novik‘s world is so creative and intricate it completely transports and consumes you! Fantastic character and story development - the darkness and sarcasm are still there, but friendship and bravery are at the heart of this magical adventure. The expositional tangents interrupt the action at times, but the ending was truly exhilarating and had my adrenaline pumping at 1 a.m.! I‘d face a horde of mals to get to book 3 - what a cliffhanger!!

⭐️⭐️💫

I had expected this to be more of a thriller, but instead it was a dark family drama full of unlikeable characters and the big and little cruelties they inflicted on one another. It took me some time to acclimate to the way the timeline jumped all around. The three brothers‘ perspectives on incidents in their intertwined lives was clever, but I didn‘t feel very invested. 🎧

⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

Reading this was like stepping into a cozy (and slightly spooky) witchy fairytale! The tone felt a bit uneven and some sinister parts seemed a little more mean than satisfying to me. It was still a fun and festive read for the Halloween season with a feminist undertone. Grab a latte, settle in, and embrace your inner witch! 🎧🕷💚

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Such an atmospheric and haunting story about the beauty and brutality of nature and humanity, our connection to our environment and each other, and the wildness in us all. I loved the writing, the mystery, the wolves… read it and let yourself get lost in these woods! 🐺🤍🎧

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Both entertaining and eye-opening to the ways the federal government continues to fail Native Americans. It‘s violent and action-packed, a story steeped in corruption and broken promises, but equally a heartfelt celebration of culture, identity, and community. #botmbacklist #botmbacklog #botm

My #botm and #authenticbooks boxes both arrived today! 😃 here was my September Authentic Books box! I‘ve read so many good reviews! 😍 #bookmail

⭐️⭐️⭐️

I did enjoy the twists and the creepy atmosphere of this story! Until the first big twist, I thought it was pretty average and wasn‘t super invested. The face blindness seemed gimmicky and convenient. Overall, it was fun, but it won‘t stick with me for long! 💍 📄 ✂️

I can‘t wait to get this one!! I also finished the #BOTM reading challenge, so I earned the fun socks!

I‘m SOO excited for Halloween-themed reads this year! Some other magical ones on my October TBR are “The Last Graduate”, “Cackle”, and “We Ride Upon Sticks”! 🍂📚 🧙‍♀️ 🎃 ✨

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ I love Awad‘s writing - original, biting, trippy, and darkly funny, it‘s easy to get swept up in the madness. I enjoyed Miranda‘s voice and the commentary on the denial of women‘s pain, although as the book went on, her descent into mania made me inwardly cringe. (Maybe that‘s part of the point - how we often want to look away from other‘s suffering?) I‘m still not sure what was reality, but I know I‘ll be thinking about this for awhile.