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Julsmarshall

Julsmarshall

Joined March 2016

I like big books and I cannot lie.
review
Julsmarshall
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Pickpick

This vegetable cookbook is absolutely gorgeous. There are a couple of recipes I‘m excited to try and I was charmed by her Vancouver farmstead, the photos, and the life she has built for herself.

BkClubCare She fascinates me. I would not have said such a few years ago. I will watch for this. 2h
CaseyTheCanadianLesbrarian It's a bit confusing if you don't know Canadian geography, but Vancouver Island, where Pamela Anderson is from and now lives is distinct from the big city Vancouver on the mainland north of Seattle. Vancouver farmstead sounds very funny 😁. I live on Vancouver Island (which is about the size of Taiwan and bigger than some small US states) about 20 mins north of the area where PM grew up! 2h
15 likes2 comments
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Julsmarshall
Pitcher Perfect | Tessa Bailey
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Pickpick

This was so much fun! If you are a Tessa Bailey fan, you‘ll love this one! With my completed #BookspinBingo July board-I got 7 bingoes which I‘m happy with as it was a busy month for work and travel.

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Julsmarshall
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#BookspinBingo board is ready for August! Thanks for organizing @TheAromaofBooks !

TheAromaofBooks Woohoo!! Looks fantastic!! 14h
32 likes1 comment
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Julsmarshall
Lincoln in the Bardo | George Saunders
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Pickpick

My goodness this was such a unique, strange, and fantastic book. It takes place just as the Civil War is starting and follows President Lincoln mourning the death of his young son. With pieces of history )and ghosts!) floating through the novel, this made me smile, cry, and wonder at the power of the written word. Brilliant on #audio with more than 150 narrators, led by David Sedaris and Nick Offerman. So good!

Scochrane26 I read the physical book but have heard the audio is the best way to read it. It was a weird book for me at first, but once I got used to the format, I loved it. Still think about Lincoln‘s grief when this book is mentioned. 2d
Tamra It‘s my absolute favorite audio experience ever. 💕💕 2d
DrSabrinaMoldenReads Hmmm..I might try this on audio. I have not been able to get into them 2d
46 likes3 comments
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Julsmarshall
Wreck: A Novel | Catherine Newman
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Pickpick

Wow! So good, a great follow up to Sandwich but one that stands all on its own. Bringing together two storylines that examine health and consequences, this compelling story packs a lot of funny, heartbreaking, and meaningful moments into 209 pages.I had the honor of meeting the author and she is just as approachable and kind as you would expect. Releasing Oct 28, you won‘t want to miss this one! #netgalleygroup @AllDebooks

AllDebooks Sounds great 2d
46 likes5 stack adds1 comment
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Julsmarshall
Daydream: A Novel | Hannah Grace
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Pickpick

Catching up on reviews. Finished this in #audio a couple of weeks ago. Nearly rated it so-so as the story was a little worn feeling and so predictable (not in a good way). But the characters were well written and I enjoyed seeing them grow as individuals and as a couple.

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Julsmarshall
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Pickpick

So much fun! Is it a romance filled with true crime elements and history? Yup. Not scary but unique for sure, we follow a woman working on her doctorate about the relationships between true crime writers and their subjects and she believes that everyone she encounters could be a serial killer. Including her new hot, shy, kind neighbor. This was a blast!

44 likes1 stack add
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Julsmarshall
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Pickpick

Loved this on #audio Friends to lovers, she buys a bus on a drunken whim and he helps fix it up. They both have challenges in their pasts and do the work for themselves and each other. And I loved his family so much! Highly recommend!

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Julsmarshall
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Having a hard time dealing with the fact that it is August but a new #BookspinBingo list is a silver lining. My #Roll100 has August in the title so that tracks 😊

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Julsmarshall
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Pickpick

So good!!! Loved this conclusion to the Crimson Moth. Suspenseful, steamy, and beautifully written, I‘m sad this story is over but I look forward to reading whatever is next!

43 likes1 stack add
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Julsmarshall
Crime 101 | Don Winslow
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Pickpick

Great novella, riveting, fast paced, and twisty. Looking forward to reading (listening) to more in the series.

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Julsmarshall
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Pickpick

Wow! I understand all the buzz about this book. Beautifully written, this dark, twisty thriller had me riveted. I was so invested in these relationships, I loved the art and true crime elements, and the characters were just so real. There were upsetting elements so you may want to check content warnings. The audio narration is great, I highly recommend this powerful novel!

ncsufoxes My mom loves this book. He‘s going to be at the DC/Library of Congress book festival this year. I think my mom wants to go just to hear/meet him. 2w
52 likes2 stack adds1 comment
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Julsmarshall
The Gilded Heiress | Joanna Shupe
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Pickpick

A Joanna Shupe historical romance is always a great read & this one may just be my favorite yet! With Anastasia vibes, this novel brings together a talented singer who knows nothing of her past with a slick con man who is determined to cash on her resemblance to a missing heiress. Sparks fly & I was sucked in right away. You‘ll swoon while rooting for these 2 knuckleheads even as you are wishing they‘d just talk about their feelings. Releases 8/26

44 likes1 stack add
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Julsmarshall
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Pickpick

This gaming romance follows two people who are new to D&D and find friendship while learning about the game, and each other, along the way. As a non-gamer, I found the storytelling via D&D fascinating and really enjoyed every part of those books. Filled with quirky side characters, real life and imagined, this was a great world to sink into while escaping our too real one. This came out a few days ago, make time to go and seek it out!

43 likes1 stack add
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Julsmarshall
Cover Story | Mhairi McFarlane
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Pickpick

I enjoyed this so much! This author is new to me; I loved her premise, pace, & characters. Connor, an older than usual intern, joins a small newspaper publishing team, & surprises them with his dedication and smarts. Bel is a driven journalist & podcaster who discovers a juicy political cover up & when Connor stumbles into her cover story, fake dating ensues. The chemistry is electric, the story compelling, & the banter top notch. Releases Oct 7.

charl08 This sounds great- and it is out here and is 99p! Bargain. 2w
46 likes1 stack add1 comment
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Julsmarshall
Destiny's Captive | Beverly Jenkins
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Pickpick

Read this over 4th of July weekend, finally posting. Loved it, Ms Beverly always hits the mark. Sexy and captivating (see what I did there?), her characters are authentic and jump off the page.

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Julsmarshall
Beautiful Ugly | Alice Feeney
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Pickpick

This psychological thriller follows an author whose wife has gone missing, or has she? Unreliable narrators abound and you spend much of the story not quite sure what is happening. I really liked the author/publisher perspective and I‘m always a fan of an isolated island filled with strange inhabitants. Fun on #audio

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Julsmarshall
Felons' Ball | Polly Stewart
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Was in Philadelphia for the American Library Association annual conference last week and came home with a few goodies. Many of these I will share with family and friends, there are a few I‘m really excited to keep 😊

Texreader Wow!! That‘s marvelous!! 1mo
Gissy Few goodies??? 😱Amazing!!! 📚📚📚📚🤩 1mo
56 likes2 comments
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Julsmarshall
Pitcher Perfect | Tessa Bailey
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Pickpick

Delightful! I giggled my way through this book! Picked up this ARC at the ALA conference and had to dive right in. This is the book for one of the Bearcat rookies, otherwise known as one of the “orgasm donors” 🤣 Releases in September. It also was my #BookspinBingo @TheAromaofBooks

TheAromaofBooks Woohoo!! 4w
48 likes1 comment
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Julsmarshall
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Pickpick

Hilarious! This was great on #audio and it surprised me how much I enjoyed every minute.

KadaGul Have you read Steven Colbert? I was cracking up when I read the tagged 📚. The puns were hilarious! 1mo
Matilda Most accurate title 😂 1mo
51 likes2 comments
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Julsmarshall
Unlikely Story | Ali Rosen
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Pickpick

Loved this one, read nearly the whole thing while traveling and it was the right read at the right time. A therapist and the editor of her column have a true connection that neither of them are ready to explore. Until they do and I was happy to be along for the ride.

Eggs Cute cover❣️ 1mo
50 likes1 stack add1 comment
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Julsmarshall
These Summer Storms | Sarah MacLean
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If you are trying to decide which #BOTM book to choose, I highly recommend These Summer Storms. Succession meets Elin Hilderbrand and the perfect summer read!

ICantImReading Oh good - this is my pick! 😍 1mo
43 likes1 comment
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Julsmarshall
Earl Crush: A Novel | Alexandra Vasti
Pickpick

This was a lot of fun, I enjoyed the setting and the strong female characters.

ChaoticMissAdventures I thought this was fun too! Recently realized it is a series and #3 comes out in September 1mo
27 likes1 comment
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Julsmarshall
Pickpick

Great fun on audio-the perfect steamy summer escapist read!

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Julsmarshall
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Pickpick

This powerful and raw exploration of queer love in the turbulent 80s doesn‘t pull any punches. Upsetting at times, illuminating at others, every moment meaningful. So thankful to have read this book, I‘ll be thinking about it for a long time. Fantastic on audio!

ChaoticMissAdventures I loved the cameos of famous people. I thought it helped to really put the story in a particular time and place. 1mo
Julsmarshall I did too, @ChaoticMissAdventures ! I need to research a bit more about how true to life it might have been. I was young in the 80s but remember the fear and sadness around the HIV/AIDS epidemic and this perspective was fascinating to me. 1mo
ChaoticMissAdventures @Julsmarshall it is a bit of a chunkster but I really recommend this book about how Act Up got started his descriptions throughout this book seem to align a lot with what I know and have read. 1mo
42 likes4 comments
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Julsmarshall
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Pickpick

Wow! I went into this fantasy completely blind and I wish the same for you so I‘m not going to say much. Just that it was great fun, remarkable world building and a fascinating cast of characters. Can‘t wait to read the next one when it comes out this fall.

46 likes2 stack adds
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Julsmarshall
The Blue Hour | Paula Hawkins
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Pickpick

This thriller from the author of the Girl on the Train was strange, haunting, and complex. Set in the art world, it has a unique cast of characters that kept me guessing. It was tightly written and well paced and I‘ll be thinking about it for a while. A great summer read for someone looking for a little something different.

ShelleyBooksie Ohhh - this is my jam! 2mo
50 likes1 stack add1 comment
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Julsmarshall
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Pickpick

Ooooh boy (as I fan myself). Not for the faint of heart, this one pushes all the boundaries. This one is dark, steamy, snarky, spicy, funny, sexy. Great on #audio but beware listening in public. Did I mention it is hot?

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Julsmarshall
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Pickpick

This nonfiction history of the Disney channel, how it began and through its hey day was fascinating. The author explored the business side things, the creative minds working to create something new, and the young actors that made it all come to life. This made me angry, made me laugh, and made think about the channel that was on so often when my kids were tweens. Highly recommend if you watched in the 2000s-2015s.

42 likes4 stack adds
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Julsmarshall
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Pickpick

This was a spooky romance full of ghosts with spark of mystery that was a fun, quick read. I enjoyed the Montana setting, the family dynamics, and the small town vibe. The newest from Lyla Sage, this releases on Sept 30th. The characters didn‘t charm me quite a quickly as in her last series, but they grew on me and I‘m looking forward to the next in the series. Thanks to netgalley for an ARC. #netgalleygroup @AllDebooks

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Julsmarshall
Do Your Worst | Rosie Danan
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Unexpected! This quirky romance between a curse breaker and an archeologist was charming and different and I really enjoyed it! Danan always surprises me with the way she approaches a story and it is always a great time.

ChaoticMissAdventures I thought this was cute too! 2mo
54 likes4 stack adds1 comment
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Julsmarshall
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Pickpick

This was a lot of fun! Witch and witch hunter, battle of good vs evil, but which is which? Or witch? I shouldn‘t have waited so long to read this one, it is a rip roaring fantasy-luxurious, layered, and lovely. Max also approved. #Bookspin @TheAromaofBooks

TheAromaofBooks Woohoo!! 2mo
44 likes1 stack add1 comment
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Julsmarshall
Just Another Missing Person | Gillian McAllister
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Pickpick

This had a great early twist that had me gasping! Also loved the #audio narration by Joanne Frogatt (Downton Abbey) and others. If you like a twisty thriller with great interpersonal relationships, this is for you!

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Julsmarshall
One Golden Summer | Carley Fortune
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Pickpick

Fortune has become an auto read for me. Her novels each summer transport me to small Canadian beach towns with delightful and complicated characters that you can help but root for. The setting is a big part of this one and our main characters are so lovely and misunderstood that it took my breath away. Blew through this one in 2 days.

60 likes3 stack adds
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Julsmarshall
Starless Sea | Erin Morgenstern
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Pickpick

This #chunkster was worth the wait (and the length)! Magical, lyrical, and haunting, this had mystery, whimsy, and true love. It felt perfect for the moment with queer love that triumphs all tests, brilliant characters that don‘t dull their truth, and lighthearted moments that keep it from getting too heavy. So good!

peanutnine One of my all-time favorites! 🤩 2mo
57 likes5 stack adds1 comment
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Julsmarshall
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Pickpick

Italy, angsty, a will they or won‘t they romance, age gap thrown in for conflict. What could go wrong? Great banter, independent characters, fun pups, and a friend group you‘ll be jealous of make this a great getaway read. Hazelwood always delivers for me.

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Julsmarshall
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#BookspinBingo board is ready! I‘ve already started this great summer read and am enjoying it. Love all those lined up free spaces; looking forward to another month of great reading!

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Julsmarshall
King of Ashes | S. A. Cosby
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I can‘t resist a S.A. Cosby novel. I also have really enjoyed Julie Clark and I love a thrilling summer read. What #botm did you choose?

Butterfinger I got What Kind Of Paradise. It was a tough decision. 2mo
DeeLew We picked the same 2 books 🙂 2mo
Julsmarshall Love that @DeeLew ! 2mo
36 likes1 stack add3 comments
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Julsmarshall
Blood Sisters | Vanessa Lillie
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Pickpick

This thriller was really powerful and so compulsively paced, I couldn‘t put it down. This was a new author for me, I believe a debut, but you‘d never know it with the seamless way she crafted this story. An archeologist working for the Bureau of Indian Affairs is drawn into a mystery from her childhood that she thought she left behind. Set in Oklahoma and Rhode Island, this story was inspired by true events.

Julsmarshall I finished this yesterday and got my first #bookspinBingo blackout of the year. This was one of the 2 #Readordonate books I finished this month and a #roll100. I‘ve been helping my son move all weekend so just now getting around to posting. I‘ve already started my first book for June, bring on the summer reads! @PuddleJumper @julieclair @TheAromaofBooks (edited) 2mo
39 likes1 comment
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Julsmarshall
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Pickpick

Fantastic non fiction about spies and counter intelligence from the UK and Russia during the cold war. Interesting and fast paced, I didn‘t want to stop listening. I will be thinking about this piece of history for a long time-I never would have imagined that crisps and nap pies could play such a key role in espionage. Highly recommended on #audio.

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Julsmarshall
Impossible Creatures | Katherine Rundell
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This was an absolute delight! Middle grade with Rick Riordan and Harry Potter vibes. Compelling and charming with some swashbuckling thrown in, it was hard to put down and I completely understand why Barnes &Noble named it their book of the year.This was my #Bookspin book and I loved every minute!

45 likes1 stack add
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Julsmarshall
We Are All Guilty Here | Karin Slaughter
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Dark, twisty, small town kidnapping/murder mystery/thriller. No one does it better than Karin Slaughter! Highly recommend as long as you aren‘t too squeamish. CW-child abuse and murder. Releases August 12 #netgalleygroup @AllDebooks

34 likes1 stack add
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Julsmarshall
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Pickpick

Really interesting! This nonfiction book from the MSNBC journalist is a spot on treatise on attention, politics, media, and human connection. Great on audio, read by the author. This one made me think!

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Julsmarshall
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Pickpick

Wonderful! Maybe my favorite of hers. I enjoyed diving into this without knowing the plot and enjoyed every minute.

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Julsmarshall
James: A Novel | Percival Everett
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Pickpick

My goodness! Fantastic! I completely understand accolades, awards, and astonishment that this book has received. I agree with others who have suggested this be taught alongside Huck Finn. Everett deftly managed to honor Twain‘s work while pointing out its flaws and shortcomings with care and love. #AAM #authoramonth @Soubhiville

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Julsmarshall
The Blue Hour | Paula Hawkins
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June #BookspinBingo list! How is it nearly summer? @TheAromaofBooks

TheAromaofBooks NOT READY FOR JUNE! 😂 2mo
36 likes1 comment
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Julsmarshall
A Little Bit Wild | Victoria Dahl
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Pickpick

This vintage historical was so much fun! I love it when an independent woman knows what she wants and fights for it. 🥰

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Julsmarshall
An Irish Summer: A Novel | Alexandra Paige
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Mehso-so

The Irish setting and quirky hostel crew make An Irish Summer a charming escape, even if the main character tests your patience. Chelsea spends much of the book grumpy and self-centered, which can be frustrating given the kindness she's shown. Still, the atmosphere and ensemble cast make this an enjoyable summer read. Releases July 1.

45 likes1 stack add
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Julsmarshall
Next Chapter | Camille Kellogg
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This warm, queer take on Notting Hill pairs a former child star trying to reinvent herself with a endearing, kind bookseller in the West Village. The story balances charm & authentic emotion, offering thoughtful moments around identity, vulnerability, and public vs. private selves. Katrina‘s messy, fame-tangled journey contrasts nicely with Jude‘s quiet stability, & their chemistry feels both playful and genuine. Highly recommend, releases June10!

peanutnine Oh I loved this author's last book! Stacking ☺️ 2mo
40 likes1 stack add1 comment
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Julsmarshall
Prisoner of My Desire | Johanna Lindsey
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Mehso-so

When people talk about the history of romance, this historical is one of the ones they always mention and I finally gave it a go. The writing is compelling, the 12th century setting and circumstances fascinating, and the romance is steamy. It was hard for me to get through because the way these characters initially connect is pretty problematic. I kept reading and I‘m glad I did but I nearly put it down several times and it is hard to recommend.