❤📚

I don't give out 5 stars very often, but this was that good. It's becoming harder for me as I get older to really like a romance book because so many of the scenarios seem ridiculous. This has the right combination of all my favorite things in a romance. I really wish I hadn't read 'Every Summer After' before this. Quite a lot of similarities.

"Why can‘t everyone be like you?”

“I can be enough of your world that it feels like everyone is."

Really enjoyed this one! I love reading books about musicians. I did guess who stole the violin correctly early on, but the book is about much more than the mystery of who did it. It's a mix of historical fiction, a coming-to-age story, and shines a light on the intense racial discrimination among musicians. The mother in this book was horrendous. As a mother of 3 sons, I just cannot understand how she could treat her son in such a way.

"Sometimes, I feel that we are all tricked by love, and its rigid requirement of pain. We find the love of our lives and cleave to our beloved when we are still quite young and do not yet understand that we must, by our nature, die someday. In any successful marriage, one partner must face the reality of being very old, and very alone. What is grief, but love that‘s lost its object?"

I've been a fan of Jodi Picoult for years and yet have only recently learned how to pronounce her last name. (It's pee-koh rhymes with toe in case you also didn't know)
This author has taught me about a multitude of topics that I never realized I never truly understood over the years. This book was no exception.
"If you want to understand something, you first need to accept the fact of your own ignorance."

4 stars⭐⭐⭐⭐
Bonus: recipes included??

This doesn't have anything to do with the tagged book, but title was appropriate. ?
Such an annoying feature in some books is when they say things like "and little did she know, that was the last time she felt such joy with the people she loved" "she had no idea there would be such heartache in the times ahead"..sooo like what?? Does someone DIE? Who gets hurt? How many times can a book drop that there is doom ahead before it gets to be too much

I haven't read a Nicholas Sparks book in ages. I've loved his past books, which is why I was eager to get my hands on this one. This wasn't as good as I was anticipating. There are two storylines that have you wondering the whole time how they were eventually going to intersect. What happened was not at all what I was expecting. I thought it was just an okay read overall! Nothing to gush about. 3 stars

I wish I would of sat with this book and read it straight through, without the interruption of reading any other book. I think I would of appreciated it more. This would be a perfect selection for a book club book. So many things to discuss! The ending had me going straight to Google to read what others thought happened. I did enjoy the back and forth jumps in history, and the style of writing was quite lovely.
A 3.5 star read.

Excellent audiobook, worthy of the treadmill. In that, I mean it was exactly like a movie with music, sound effects, and a whole cast of characters. It made the time go by quickly, which I so appreciate. I liked the twists, makes it stand out from the other vampire stories out there. I'm on the lookout for similar audiobooks to help keep me entertained until spring gets here and I can do my walking outside. Free listen on audible.
⭐⭐⭐⭐

You shouldn't read this in the month of February. Depressing. Everyone seems like they are crazy and noone is likeable. Plus it's cold. Everyone and everything is cold. Winter in Wisconsin. Where the country folks go mad and the city folks are full of sinful destruction.
Underrated character: Mrs. Larson. She works her butt off. She cooks fantastic meals, and goes above and beyond for her employer. It's no joke being the help in the early 1900s.

In every one of Catherine Ryan Hyde's books you are gifted with a little lesson on life. This was yet another poignant and heartwarming story. Life can be weird and sad and beautiful and hard and then...well, then all of the sudden it's over.
I'm grateful for the people who find it to be their calling to work in hospice care.

I really really liked this.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

I've read many bad reviews about this. My family that read it and gave it to me to read didn't have much to say about it other then to shrug when I asked if it was any good. It had a few good things going for it. It's short, under 300 pages, which is a nice break from the chunky books I've been reading. It's actually not as bad as I was anticipating! It's not great. A bit slow. Not full of drama. No romance. But it's interesting in it's own way⭐⭐⭐

Why do I forget about Catherine Ryan Hyde? She is a great author of so many heartwarming and feel-good stories. It's honestly like a breath of fresh air. If you ever get a bit tired of complicated sci-fi worlds, books where everyone gets murdered, or if those romantic rom coms all start seeming hum drum..switch to one of Catherine's highly rated books. I enjoyed this one about 11 yr old Stewie who learns about loss and love of family and friends.

"Men want power because it makes them feel good. Women want power because it lets us do things."

This was excellent!! Great story, great characters. I'm feeling lucky to have come across it. I put it off because I didn't like the cover at all, but its not an accurate representation of all the goodness in this first of a series. Thankful (once again) for a great recommendation from a booktok Facebook group.

What a fun read! Can't wait for the series to get released on Amazon. I'm looking forward to reading the next one. I've heard great things about the series, and the first one didn't disappoint.

This is an easy book to get into. After the first bit, it seemed like it was getting too predictable. I hadn't read any of the reviews, just knew it had a super high review rating. So, was pleasantly surprised to see that the ending was not what I was expecting. Realistic? Nope. Not in the least! But I'm a sucker for exactly what went down at the end. Can't help it. Also, I'm wondering if the next book will be worth reading. Curious about Millie..

Loving this book! It's been a while since I've read a book that captivated me this much. No idea why it's taken me this long to discover this series. This first one was published back in 1999. I won't be able to sleep tonight until I finish this one. Thankful for a Goodreads Facebook post about which books are your favorites. So many great recommendations!

Such a sweet Christmas book with two stories in one. I think this is the perfect book to read this time of year. It hit the spot. It's nice to read something easy and heartwarming in the midst of all this holiday prepping. It helped put me in the right frame of mind. Sometimes it's easy to get overwhelmed with details that don't actually matter in the grand scheme of things.

Not as good as I hoped. This is about tennis. A lot of tennis. Allll of the tennis. Plus, the characters aren't likeable for 80% of the book. But by the end I was absolutely rooting for Carrie. I started caring about what was going on in her life and in her mind. I wish all of the Spanish was translated into English for those of us unfortunate enough not to know the language. I decided to give this 3 stars. The ending was a good ending.

#currentread

As many books there are about messed up marriages...where someone ends up dead..it's remarkable that any of us that are married are still alive.
It should be on your marriage certificate before you sign - "69% of married people end up murdered" ?

I'm still in the midst of this book, so this isn't a review. Just a thought I had.

Eta-- finished this and really enjoyed it. The twists at the end were creative!!
⭐⭐⭐⭐

I liked this! My favorite King book is still 'The Stand' (and probably always will be) but his unique way of story telling shone bright throughout his latest book. I simply like the way this guy a writes. I like all the details. I like how he gets you to really care and relate to a character. The way he gets you to imagine an entire world under a world is pretty darn neat in my opinion.

It gets a 4 star rating from me. #recommendread

I was surprised this isn't on Litsy yet, until I realized it just came out a month ago. At it's heart, it is a love story. It does follow similar paths of other romance books. Two people that seem to be complete opposites attract. The storyline is a good one though. There are lots of twists and turns (spicy love scenes🔥)I found it hard to put down! These people go through a lot a lot. I'm super excited to read the next book in the series. ⭐⭐⭐⭐

I feel like I've been incredibly lucky with the books I've been reading. This was another amazing read in a completely different way.
It's YA and it's heartbreaking. It's emotionally draining. I'm still processing. I'm surprised I haven't heard more about it. Absolutely recommend this. It's not a perfect book, it has left me w/questions-so many questions. I want to know more about what happens next with these characters. I love these characters.

Wowsers.
Now this...this is a horror story. 😲😳
I started this last night, couldn't put it down until I was 1/2 way through and I couldn't keep my eyes open. Then I dreamed of it. I actually had nightmares about this book. I never have nightmares! Well, at least I haven't since I was a kid.
Perfect Halloween read.
*Don't read it late at night 👀 4.5 stars
#KindleUnlimited

This was probably one of the better self-help books that I've read. I like to throw in a self-help book here and there in my reading, because it's always good (in my mind) to try to continually better oneself. Whether that means spiritually, physically, or emotionally. Edith Eger is a Holocaust survivor, an amazing psychologist, and expert in PTSD. Her advice is top-notch and practical. This isn't a book to read quickly. I found it very helpful!

SO good! If you love rom coms with some spice, this is the book for you. Exactly what I needed to help me get through the lulls in my day during harvest while I'm waiting for the next grain cart to pull up. Easy read, likeable characters, and an interesting plot line. Sure, you knew where it was going. The ride was still fun and light, entertaining to see it play out. I'm invested enough to read the next in the series! ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Free-> #KindleUnlimited

This was one of my Amazon First Reads picks (I think from last month) and I have mixed feelings about it. It's about a cult. Anything about cults is kind of alluring to me. The idea of how they came to be and what draws people to them. But these characters are hard to keep straight. Many of them go by several different names which was completely confusing. The storyline got crazy chaotic by the end. I'm not sure what actually happened. ⭐⭐⭐

These types of books aren't my favorite. Serial killers, the deaths of young women, icky scenarios that make my stomach turn. Once in a while, it makes for a nice change of pace. I will give this book 4 stars because it is good. The ending was the best that could be expected, which did help ease the yuck. But now I think I'll read something fluffy and comforting to get this out of my system.

I did not think that the perfect short story could exist.
I was wrong. Alice Hoffman for the win!
So glad I chose this for one of my Amazon First Read picks.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Blake Crouch writes a very good story! This was a great book with a great ending. Lots of science, lots of action. This was the 3rd book of his that I've read, and they each were 4 star reads. Thoroughly entertaining.

A psychological thriller that kept me guessing the entire time! What a roller coaster of a ride that was.. Had at one time guessed correctly what was going on but changed my mind a million times all the way to the end.
⭐⭐⭐⭐

Very readable! Easy to get into. The quickest I've read a book in a long time.
Slightly annoying how much the mc seems to obsess over her mother. That sounds terrible..but I'm guessing you'll understand if you read this. I love my mother too, but Katy and her mother are extremely close.
I love the idea of time travel. Especially in a place where there is such atmosphere and delicious food and wine. I really must take a trip to Italy someday!

I don't believe any of these short stories on Amazon are on Litsy yet - but I've read the first 3 in this Getaway series and have enjoyed them! Nothing I have in ebook format sounds good to me, so I keep turning to these short stories when I need something to read on my phone.
I seem to have a short attention span lately...and have a hard time committing to a regular sized book. These have been a perfect solution! It's a bonus that they are free.

I like how Anne Tyler writes, I like her style. This is the story of a 40 yr old woman who has reached that time in her life when she feels unseen, underappreciated, that life has somehow turned out in a way that was unexpected. Oh the turmoil of being middle aged. Wanting things to be different and not knowing if it's possible, necessary, or if you should stay in your lane and do what is expected until your time is done.
3.5 stars

This was hard to keep going back to. There is humor throughout, but a very dry kind. Like the paragraph up above (which did make me laugh).
The back of the book has a review that states "An addictive, sprawling epic; I wolfed it down."
This review mocked me every time I forced myself to pick it back up so I could finally finish it.
I'm done. I finished it. I feel tired now. ?

The last sentence of the book made me yell out loud..ugghhh ?‍♀️

4.5 stars
Such a fun read! I couldn't put it down. Loved the quirkiness of these characters. I'm sad I finished it. I'm super curious as to what Mad is like as she grows up. I wish there would be a 2nd book all about her!

Such a great book. Very emotional and just an all around great story. I loved how the story was laid out and there are some really amazing characters in here.
My 3rd 5 star rating this year. 3 out of 126 books. I don't give them out lightly. This deserved it!

I do think I'm going to set aside reading for a bit to concentrate on other tasks that need to get accomplished this month. This was a nice way to end things.

Do you ever go about your day, doing what needs done, and keep having that nagging thought "I want to get back to that show I was watching and finish it. It's so good." Then you remember that wasn't a show you were watching, it was the book you are reading.
Laini Taylor is exceptional at what she does. The story so well written it plays out like movie within your brain. It is a complicated, magical, and beautiful place to be. ?

Eh. This was a so-so reading experience. On one hand, it was tragically informative. I've never read a book about the famine in Ireland in the 1800's. My paternal grandfather was full Irish, so knowing that we have ancestors that suffered so greatly is saddening.
I didn't really enjoy the story. There aren't too many characters that I liked. Hard times bring out the worst in people I suppose. The ending was much too abrupt.

This was a good read for me. I really like the idea of setting up a challenge of purging my home of everything we don't use or need. I also hate how social media encourages mindless spending. We tend to eat, drink, and spend when we aren't happy with ourselves. Becoming a mindful consumer is an exciting idea, and one that I plan on implementing. I hope to find more books that will inspire this change in my life.

Easily the best book I've read this year. That ENDING! Oh my goodness!
I can't give it 5 stars because of how long it took me to get into it. Still a 4.5 star rating because wow. The most amazing reading experience I've had in a long time..it more than made up for how long it took me to get used to such a complicated world.
I neeeeed to know what happens. I might put off getting the next book. So many things not working out in this storyline. 😱

Fun series! This is the second book in the Skyward series and it doesn't disappoint. Lots of action and excitement going on here. I'm looking forward to the next one.

Not sure I like how this is written. I'm having a hard time connecting with the characters. I feel like you are looking at them through a window. Just getting cold observations.
Maybe the book gets better by the end.

Eta: It did not get better. I did get used to the style of writing. It's just not my jam. This book is depressing.
(Also I must add-I do not like Felix. 😬)⭐⭐

Great book to read when you need something that is easy and leaves you feeling good about the world. I liked that the characters were all different ages and had different backgrounds and personalities. Yet they all complimented each other. Their lives each improved after the notebook ended up in their possession. ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Love checking out the different covers books can have! Same story, but somehow the cover can influence whether you pick a book up.

Nope. Did not enjoy this one. I've been looking forward to getting my hands on it for a while now. It has a 4.29 star rating on Goodreads..and so many 5 star reviews I just knew I would love it.
Did not happen. I had to get through over 3/4 of this book before I didn't have to force myself to read it. At 80% I finally got interested in what was happening. By the end I was mostly just glad it was over. I did like the ending, so that's good.

Unpopular opinion, but I think this one is much better than the first! I loved how the main character's world expanded as we learned more about her. New and interesting characters are introduced. New powers are discovered. It's been a long time since I rated a book with 5 stars, but I'm considering it with this book. It has all the elements that I love. Definitely hard to put down.

My 87th book of the year. 📚
Really good start to a series! Hoping it continues to be a fun ride. I'm going to be trying the second book as soon as I can get it.
⭐⭐⭐⭐

In my quest to find a great series to tackle on audio..the Skyward series by Brandon Sanderson kept coming up as a recommendation. Only on chapter 16, but I'm really liking this!
Eta: final review- 4 stars
I'll be using my monthly audible credits towards the next two books. This was a fun listen.

🌟🌟🌟🌟 This book brings up a LOT. I found it hard to set aside. Maybe because I have sisters and know how complicated those relationships are.
All I know is, I was trying to finish this book while enjoying a snack and I got so emotional, I couldn't swallow and gave up on eating. 😅 Had to grab a tissue. My heart was in my throat. This would be a great for a book club discussion!