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KarenUK

KarenUK

Joined March 2016

British gal living in sunny FL 😎- Bookstore Manager, Bookseller, Book Club lover, Bookaholic, Cookaholic, and proud #starslut !
review
KarenUK
Motherthing | Ainslie Hogarth
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#booked2023 #weirdreview #BNbookchallenge #scaresthepantsoffyou

Super dark, witty and weird, viscerally stomach-churning and a psychological horror of sorts. A cruel mother-in-law from hell with a borderline disorder, haunts a young couple both before and after her suicide…. Brilliant writing and completely unhinged, I haven‘t stopped thinking about it since I finished it….and too many content warnings to mention! And it got me out of my slump!!!

Cinfhen My type of #Weird 🫶🏼 1w
Cinfhen LOVE the bookcover 1w
squirrelbrain Sounds great! Stacked. 1w
KarenUK Yes the cover is awesome! @Cinfhen And I think you might like this Helen… but I warn you, it‘s odd! @squirrelbrain 1w
41 likes3 stack adds4 comments
review
KarenUK
The Wind in the Willows | Kenneth Grahame
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#pop23 #52bookclub2023 #alliteration #bn2023challenge #nonhumancharacters

#readharder23 #favoritebookofafavoriteauthor #donnatartt

Just as wonderful as I remembered. Witty and whimsical, the perfect read for an afternoon curled up on the sofa, feeling rotten with bronchitis! Cheered me up no end. So lovely on friendship and the joys of nature… the riverbank seems a pretty idyllic place to be.

Soubhiville Hope you feel better soon. 4w
SamAnne Oh, such great memories of this book! 4w
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squirrelbrain Oh no, sorry you‘re feeling rough. Get well soon. 😘 4w
BarbaraBB Sending love and hope you feel better soon 🩵 4w
Kelly_the_Bookish_Sidekick I don't think I've ever read this one. I'll have to make a note to myself since this prompt is still open. 4w
Cortg Rest up and feel better soon! This is a delightful read, indeed ❤️ 4w
Cinfhen Hope you‘re feeling better real fast - the price to pay for too much fun in NY😉 4w
Cinfhen I love that this was a Donna Tart rec!! Cool 4w
KarenUK @SamAnne @squirrelbrain @BarbaraBB @Cortg @Cinfhen @Soubhiville Aw thanks you guys…. First time flying since 2019, and I go and get sick!! 🤦‍♀️ 4w
54 likes2 stack adds10 comments
review
KarenUK
Hello Beautiful | Ann Napolitano
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Loved this so much! A (very) loose retelling of Little women, but really more a story of four sisters, their mother, and one young man who enters their lives. Beautiful character writing, melancholy at times, so full of warmth and love. Sad it‘s over 💕
#booked2023 #pop23 #classicretelling #52bookclub2023 #publishedin23 #bn2023challenge #toughchoice

Cinfhen Great choice for modern retelling! It really was a beautiful story 🥰 4w
BarbaraBB This sounds real good 4w
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squirrelbrain I‘m really looking forward to this; shame it couldn‘t make camp. (It‘s not out until July over here, although I have an ARC. Yay for me!) 4w
KarenUK @squirrelbrain I think you‘ll like it… 🤞.. And yes, shame as it would have made a good discussion.. 4w
KarenUK @cinfhen @BarbaraBB It was not what I was expecting, in a really good way! 4w
BarbaraBB Intriguing! I wasn‘t that impressed by her other book but this one seems to call out my name! 4w
Cinfhen Im not 💯 sure you‘d love it @BarbaraBB I‘d wait for a cheaper copy - I had an ARC too @squirrelbrain 🙌🏻 4w
KarenUK Good call @cinfhen , I‘m not 💯sure if it‘s for you either @barbarabb 🤷‍♀️ 4w
Cinfhen By the end I liked it @BarbaraBB but there were too many parts that really dragged for me (edited) 4w
BarbaraBB @KarenUK @Cinfhen Thanks for the heads-up, I have so many books calling my name that I‘ll wait a bit with this one! 4w
Cinfhen @BarbaraBB 👍🏽 4w
63 likes3 stack adds12 comments
review
KarenUK
The It Girl | Ruth Ware
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Mehso-so

#Authoramonth @Soubhiville #pop23 #girlinthetitle #52bookclub2023 #fashionablecharacter

A good not great mystery. Lots of red herrings, two of my favorite settings (Oxford & Edinburgh) but too much of a lackluster main character for me to be completely invested.

52 likes4 comments
blurb
KarenUK
Hello Beautiful | Ann Napolitano
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I picked up Oprah‘s mag for the plane (and because it‘s her 100th bookclub pick edition)…. This list would probably make a great reading challenge. I‘m at only 14/100…. 📚💕

Ruthiella I‘m a sucker for book lists like that! But often I actually avoid the Oprah stamp of approval because she picks books that are so very sad. 1mo
KarenUK @Ruthiella Agreed! I think that‘s why I‘ve only read 14! 1mo
Cinfhen Where are you headed? #Nosy safe travels xxxx 1mo
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KarenUK @Cinfhen girls trip to NYC…. Seeing a couple of shows, bit of shopping, nice food… ☺️ 1mo
Cinfhen Sounds FAB! I want all the details xxxx 1mo
BarbaraBB That must be a great list. I‘m going to check if it‘s online! Have a great trip 🤍 1mo
38 likes6 comments
blurb
KarenUK
Untitled | Unknown
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#CampLitsy23
Here‘s my 6 nominations for our summer challenge…
Thanks so much Helen, Barbara and Meg, for a challenge us slow readers can manage! 💕

Megabooks Big Swiss would be great for discussion and I‘m so excited about the new Fuller! Great nominees! 1mo
BarbaraBB I have been looking forward to your nominations and I am super excited about them! ❤️ 1mo
JamieArc I just stacked a few of these. They look great! 1mo
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squirrelbrain Fab choices! I chose the Fuller too and I‘m quite keen on Big Swiss. 1mo
Cinfhen I‘ve just ordered 1mo
Ruthiella We have two in common: Big Swiss and The Age of Vice. 👍 I think The God of Endings is something I definitely need to add to the TBR now too because the premise sounds fantastic. 1mo
53 likes6 comments
review
KarenUK
Romantic Comedy | Curtis Sittenfeld
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The completely perfect vacation read. Funny, romantic and real, or at least as real as a relationship between a comedy writer and a pop star heart throb can be!
Sally, a self described “self-sabotaging ass-hat,” despite her highly tuned romantic cynicism, falls for aging teen heartthrob Noah, then messes it up royally. Then the pandemic changes everything and they unexpectedly become pen-pals of sorts. (Continued in comments….)

KarenUK ….I love how Sittenfeld takes all the tropes of a rom-com, but gave me something that felt like it had genuine grown up emotions, faux-pas and hiccups. Optimistically lovely. #pop23 #52books2020 #typographiccover #bn2023challenge #makesyoulaugh 2mo
squirrelbrain Great review - I‘m looking forward to this one! 2mo
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LaraReads What a great review! And as it happens, I‘m compiling a list of some perfect vacation reads! 💕🏝️ 2mo
Read4life Gorgeous photo 2mo
Cinfhen Where every you are, it looks awesome 🤩 I‘m nearly done this audio and I agree it‘s charming and fun without being ridiculous and cheesy 2mo
KarenUK @Cinfhen We were at a little B&B in a quiet road on Key West…. A lovely break…. Hope your Passover was wonderful and you had fun relaxing at the beach xxx (edited) 2mo
Cinfhen Sounds like a fabulous getaway 💕 2mo
BarbaraBB Wonderful review, I am so looking forward to this one. Also you seem to be at a great place. That picture 🥰 2mo
Cortg Yay for vacations and good reads! Glad you enjoyed this one :) 2mo
66 likes3 stack adds10 comments
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KarenUK
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Love how Daunts Books are publishing forgotten classics and giving new life to them. These stories are full of quiet female rage, written in a time when this was even less acceptable than it is now. Penelope Mortimer writes so brilliantly about the ennui and dissatisfaction of women of her era, feelings of being trapped, having no voice, being both under and overwhelmed by opportunities, marriage and motherhood. (Continued below)…

44 likes2 comments
blurb
KarenUK
Birnam Wood | Eleanor Catton
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Influenced by @BarbaraBB 😍…. Managed to grab a signed copy of this one you loved… and signed too! I always find treasures at the Books & Books in Key West…. 💕

squirrelbrain Fabulous to get a signed copy…this is one of my favourites of the year so far. 2mo
BarbaraBB I hope you‘ll love it as much as @squirrelbrain and I did! 2mo
51 likes2 comments
blurb
KarenUK
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Hoping for 4 days of mostly uninterrupted reading! Heading down to key west, and book 1 for car reading….. some short stories that fit a few challenge prompts.. 💕

review
KarenUK
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The coziest of cozies…. Made me giggle, gave me Midsomer murders meets Miss Marple meets Thursday Murder club vibes… And written by the only British clergyman to have had a number one hit single. A fun palette cleanser… and such cute endpapers of Cosmo and Hilda, our hero‘s faithful pups. 😍 #pop23 #containsamap #bn2023challenge #cozymystery #52bookclub2023 #adedication

61 likes7 stack adds7 comments
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KarenUK
Of Mice and Men | John Steinbeck
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#AAM First time reading this, and wow does this little book, pack a ginormous punch. This writing is spare and lovely. The story is of friendship, poverty, brutality, loneliness and the so-called American dream, and an ending so heartbreaking it will stay with me long after finishing the story.

BarbaraBB I am so glad I reread this book a few years ago. I hated it in high school but the second time I really loved it. And indeed it packs a punch! 2mo
Becker I‘m so glad you liked this. I thought it was a very special book, although not everyone agrees. I‘m always happy to find someone who appreciated it. 2mo
40 likes4 comments
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KarenUK
The Lioness: A Novel | Chris Bohjalian
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A 60s-set safari vacation for a group of movie stars and their entourage turns deadly. Cinematic and well-paced. A bit action heavy and character light (not in number but in depth) but definitely gripping. The huge cast of characters, given multiple chapters, featuring both memories and their present horrific events, were handled so as not to be confusing. And I enjoyed the snippets of gossip rags as clues and red herrings. Just not really my jam.

46 likes2 stack adds4 comments
review
KarenUK
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A fun read. A podcaster returns to teach a class, at the fancy boarding school of her childhood where she was an outsider and her once roommate was murdered. Reads like a mystery, layered with interesting takes on the #metoo movement and grooming, collective memory, race and privilege, the exploitative nature of true crime, wrongful imprisonment and so much more. Sharp and nuanced, I found the ending unsatisfying but all the more realistic for it.

54 likes3 stack adds8 comments
review
KarenUK
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Panpan

I found this very lack luster…. And just because it‘s about three thirty-something women, does not warrant the comparisons to Fleabag or Rooney it‘s been getting. I found the ‘feminism‘ dated, the characters dull, and just generally this didn‘t seem to have anything new or interesting to say. It‘s a shame, because the reverse love story idea is a good one…. #booked2023 #pop23 #lovetriangle #52bookclub23 #letterH #bn2023challenge #aboutafriendgroup

46 likes3 comments
review
KarenUK
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Pickpick

Just… so… good. Love Levy‘s writing…. These are more vignettes than stories, but still loved the heck out them. Perfectly imperfect….

52 likes3 stack adds7 comments
blurb
KarenUK
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I arrived home tonight to a thank you card, slipped into my front door, signed by 20+ people (I‘m not familiar with) from my neighborhood, thanking me me for my LittleFreeLibrary! And a gift card for Amazon too! I‘m beyond touched, for the appreciation and so happy the little library is bringing some joy xxxx

JamieArc ❤️❤️❤️ 3mo
Ruthiella How sweet! 🥰 3mo
Jas16 That is so wonderful! 3mo
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Librarybelle ❤️❤️❤️ 3mo
BiblioLitten 🥰🥰🥹 3mo
MicheleinPhilly This is so lovely. 🤗 3mo
Sparklemn Fabulous! 3mo
Bookwormjillk What thoughtful neighbors you have! 3mo
TrishB Ah that‘s lovely ❤️ 3mo
squirrelbrain Aw, that‘s so lovely! Brought a happy tear to my eye. 3mo
Christine So great! 3mo
Cathythoughts Lovely card ❤️ 3mo
Balibee146 That's lovely ❤️❤️ 3mo
LeahBergen Aww! 🥰 3mo
BarbaraBB Wow that is so kind! You must feel so happy right now! 3mo
Megabooks How wonderful!! 3mo
Reggie How nice!!! 3mo
CarolynM That‘s lovely 🥰 3mo
55 likes18 comments
review
KarenUK
New Kid | Jerry Craft
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The 1st graphic novel to win the Newbery, this story of a city kid starting at a fancy new school, is great. Tackling topics of bullying, feeling like not fitting in, struggles in making new friends, while handling being ‘different‘ in subtle ways, this middle grade is handling tough situations with sensitivity. The art is good, but it is Jordan‘s ‘sketchbook‘ pencil drawings within the book, that I fell in love with. #52bookclub23 #newberywinner

britt_brooke Loved this one! And Class Act. 3mo
BarbaraBB Is the Newbery a prize for graphic novels? I haven‘t checked yet… 3mo
KarenUK It‘s for children‘s books…. This was the first time a graphic novel won it…. There‘s a ton of choices… it‘s been awarded since the 1920s! @BarbaraBB 3mo
BarbaraBB Thanks! I didn‘t know! 😘 3mo
49 likes5 comments
review
KarenUK
Foster | Claire Keegan
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#pop23 #shortestbookontbr

Just so beautiful. Keegan writes so deceptively simply, yet each sentence has purpose, captures each act of kindness with a subtle emotional punch. The rural Irish setting gives this tale a timeless feel, and the young POV an innocence that is touching. Heartbreakingly human. @squirrelbrain @barbarabb @cortg @AshleyHoss820 @Kelly_the_Bookish_Sidekick @RaeLovesToRead @MissHel

BarbaraBB I loved this one too 🤍 3mo
squirrelbrain Great review - I‘m planning on reading this one soon. 3mo
Cortg Sounds good! I looked and my library only has ebook/eaudiobook availability, which might be why I haven‘t heard of it before ☺️ 3mo
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KarenUK @Cortg it‘s lovely in print, but a super short audio too…. Really worth the hour of your time…. I believe it was originally published as a story in the New Yorker before it was published in print. 3mo
KarenUK Aw thanks Helen…. I think you‘ll love it… @squirrelbrain And it was @BarbaraBB 5star review that prompted me to pick it up sooner rather than later! 💕 3mo
squirrelbrain Yes, it was @BarbaraBB who put it on my radar too! I have it on Scribd audio 3mo
BarbaraBB Thanks @KarenUK and @squirrelbrain for trusting my opinion. I hope you‘ll love it as much as Karen and I did, Helen! 3mo
Cortg Thanks! I‘ll have to download it! 3mo
Cortg I woke up to an NPR article this morning. Apparently Foster is a movie now. I‘m definitely living under a rock 🪨😆 3mo
KarenUK @Cortg me too! No idea either!! 3mo
57 likes10 comments
review
KarenUK
The Cloisters | Katy Hays
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I always love me some dark academia, and although this is no ‘Secret History‘ (what is?) I still really enjoyed this NYC story. The Met Cloisters, a museum specializing in Medieval artifacts, is the perfect eerie setting, and the study at the center of this novel is of divination and historical tarot cards. Secrets are in abundance, a fish is most definitely out of water, and motives are endlessly questionable. Twisty, atmospheric and lots of fun.

See All 10 Comments
LeeRHarry Good to know this is good one as I have it on my TBR- love the cover 😊 4mo
Cinfhen What an awesome review you wrote!!! You made me want to read a book I wasn‘t at all interested in!!!! #SuperReviewer ❤️🙌🏻 4mo
squirrelbrain I‘ve wondered about this one but thought it wasn‘t my ‘thing‘…you‘ve made me change my mind. Stacked. 4mo
KarenUK @squirrelbrain @cinfhen It‘s kind of a mash up of gothic dark academia and a mystery/thriller. I thought it was a lot of fun 😊 4mo
Cortg Sounds like a great read! 3mo
Bluebird Great review! Sounds like something I‘d like. Stacked! 3mo
61 likes10 stack adds10 comments
review
KarenUK
Dancing After TEN | Vivian Chong
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Wow. This graphic memoir of a musician and artist, who develops a rare condition after taking a headache tablet on vacation, is moving, harrowing and so heartbreaking. Such a scary story, as ‘friends‘ abandon her abroad, she goes into a coma, loses her sight, at some point her hearing and develops a terrible skin condition. As she briefly regains some sight and races against time to collaborate on this memoir, i felt for her so much. Inspiring.

53 likes1 stack add8 comments
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KarenUK
The Cloisters | Katy Hays
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Just starting this one…. Trying to catch up on my endless #ARCs ! 🤦‍♀️
Feeling good about this so far… Dark Academia is usually totally my thing. 💕

Ruthiella I‘ve heard good things about this. The premise is intriguing! 4mo
60 likes2 stack adds1 comment
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KarenUK
Evidence of the Affair | Taylor Jenkins Reid
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An epistolary novella, set in the seventies….. A wife of a doctor discovers the evidence of the title. As she connects with the wronged husband on the other end of the affair, a friendship forms. Told through letters between both couples, it‘s a fairly straightforward story, but the ending has a satisfying conclusion.
#Authoramonth #AAM @Soubhiville

49 likes1 stack add8 comments
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KarenUK
The Appeal | JANICE. HALLETT
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A fun epistolary murder mystery, that slowly reveals everything you need to solve the puzzle yourself. Told mostly through emails and whats app messages, ‘The Appeal‘ has a double meaning. Both as a fund raising effort for a poorly child, and for the efforts to release the wrongly convicted murderer of the late revealed victim. Clever and witty but takes commitment. It‘s not short, and there‘s a LOT of characters! But I found it worth the effort.

52 likes6 comments
review
KarenUK
Woman, Eating | Claire Kohda
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“People, aging and mortal, are like flowers, seasonal, wilting and finite; while I'm like a tree.”
Quiet and melancholy, a vampire story planted firmly in the ‘sad girl‘ genre, and I loved it. All vibe, little plot (i.e. totally my jam!), Lydia is a lonely young artist, trying to find a place in the world, without her mother for the 1st time, struggling with her ‘food‘ issues, and her immortality. Gorgeous writing, a really great debut. #netgalley

See All 8 Comments
rmaclean4 Loved this novel. I read it almost a year ago and it has stayed with me!! 4mo
squirrelbrain I borrowed this from the library, I think when it was rumoured for the Booker, but didn‘t get round to reading it. It sounds great from your review so may borrow it again…sometime… one day! 4mo
BarbaraBB I‘ve never heard of is but it sounds gooood!! 4mo
Cinfhen Cool 😎 4mo
49 likes4 stack adds8 comments
review
KarenUK
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Pickpick

This was delightful, with definite Thursday Murder Club vibes. Richard is a middle aged Brit, running a B&B in the Loire, separated from his wife, and trying hard to blend into life‘s background. A Parisian divorcée Valarie, gives Richard‘s life the kick start it needs. They solve a village mystery, and we meet some pretty hilarious characters along the way. The sweary cleaning lady being a favorite! Funny and silly, and a lovely pallet cleanser.

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Deblovestoread Sounds fun! Stacked📚 4mo
squirrelbrain I keep meaning to get this as it sounds fun; it‘s been out in UK for some time now. I saw the author on House of Games on the BBC - seemed like a nice guy, and he does actually live in France. 4mo
Cinfhen Sounds fabulous oui oui 🥖🇫🇷 4mo
LaraReads How fun! Sounds like a good time! 🥐 4mo
60 likes7 stack adds7 comments
review
KarenUK
Yes, Daddy | Jonathan Parks-Ramage
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Ooh this was dark, and with too many content warnings to mention! Writing is razor sharp and fast paced, and this take on a fairytale romance gone very bad is compelling. The LGBTQ+ #metoo tale includes a human trafficking element, rape, conversion therapy and a look at telling our own stories, in our own time vs the responsibility to share to help/save others. Didn‘t care for the ending, but so worth a read if the content doesn‘t scare you off!

15 likes2 stack adds10 comments
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KarenUK
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#netgalley #arc Charming and quirky, but nothing ground breaking. But still think the notion of ‘death cleaning‘ is just brilliant. 3⭐️
#readharder2023 #under500goodreadsratings
#bn2023challenge #ajourneyofself

42 likes1 stack add3 comments
review
KarenUK
Migrations: A Novel | Charlotte McConaghy
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Loved this book to pieces. Beautifully melancholy, and quietly chilling, I was swept away by this heartbreaking story. In a near future, an environmental dystopia where few creatures remain, Franny finds a ragtag found family of fishermen, to take her on her journey. Whilst following the few remaining Arctic terns on their final epic migration, we slowly learn of the trauma of her past. The writing is so gorgeous, I couldn‘t put this down.

KarenUK Thank you so much @barbarabb 💕 4mo
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BarbaraBB I am extremely happy you loved it as much as I did. It all seemed so real and possible. And I loved the love story. I don‘t want to push you but you should read this one too 😀😘 (edited) 4mo
KarenUK Read and loved!!! And I‘ll always welcome a recommendation from you 😘💕 @barbarabb 4mo
TrishB This was a lovely read ♥️ 4mo
rmaclean4 One of mybtop reads in 2022! 4mo
squirrelbrain This was one of my favourites in 2021 ❤️ 4mo
LaraReads Lovely review! Definitely adding this one now! 💙 4mo
Cinfhen So glad you loved this book - it was just breathtakingly beautiful 4mo
JenniferP I loved this one and also highly recommend her newest - Once There Were Wolves. I'll read anything she writes at this point! 4mo
jlhammar Great review! Looking forward to this one. 4mo
Deblovestoread On of my favorites reads! 4mo
AshleyHoss820 My sister JUST asked me about this book! I had placed it on my GoodReads want-to-read shelf, but have no memory of doing so! She had started reading it and was flying through it, she liked it so much! Good to see that holds up with others! ☺️ 4mo
BiblioLitten My favourite book from last year! Just heartbreakingly wonderful! 3mo
56 likes4 stack adds17 comments
blurb
KarenUK
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#manicmonday @CBee
#LetterW
📚(&🎥)We Need to Talk About Kevin by Lionel Shriver
✏️Sarah Winman
📺The West Wing
🎥When Harry Met Sally
🎤Paul Weller
🎶What you know - Ali Dineen https://open.spotify.com/track/0tyJfyJdTswLpFmK1tZuHm?si=1HeIWu4MQmmtnZ01KJFDlw&...

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KarenUK
Migrations: A Novel | Charlotte McConaghy
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5 chapters in and LOVING this so much! @BarbaraBB Thanks so much for sharing this with me…. 💕

Cinfhen It‘s SUCH a YOU book @KarenUK !!! 4mo
KarenUK @Cinfhen it SO is! 😍 4mo
BarbaraBB I was hoping you‘d feel this way. I loved it so much 4mo
squirrelbrain I adored this one too! 4mo
kathedron Fabulous book! ❤️ 4mo
51 likes5 comments
review
KarenUK
Moriarty the Patriot, Vol. 1 | Ryosuke Takeuchi
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Panpan

I‘ve been meaning to try a Manga, as it is such a huge seller at work. But nope! This retelling of Doyle‘s villain, with a murderous ‘Robin Hood‘ vibe, was not for me. Lacking the wit of Doyle‘s stories and the characters fell flat. The art style lacks a bit of variety and nuance in the facial expressions for me, making it sometimes difficult to tell characters apart. I tried, and maybe I‘ll try a different manga series….But this one was just meh.

See All 11 Comments
Cinfhen Proud of you for trying🥳and I‘m sure all your kiddos at work were so happy you tried too😁 4mo
KarenUK They are! They‘ve been hassling me forever to try one! Maybe I picked wrong! 😂🤷‍♀️ @Cinfhen (edited) 4mo
ChaoticMissAdventures I read my first manga this month! I really loved the one I picked maybe try 4mo
KarenUK Thanks for the rec! I‘ll give it a try… 💕 @ChaoticMissAdventures 4mo
kathedron @KarenUK @ChaoticMissAdventures My adult daughter highly recommends 4mo
KarenUK @kathedron thank you! I‘ll definitely give it a try 👍💕 4mo
AshleyHoss820 It‘s always so hard to venture out into a new genre and I am so proud of you! I happen to love manga, but I know it‘s not for everyone! This is one of my favorite manga series (tagged), but it would really depend on how you feel about fantasy. It also can deal with heavy themes, but it‘s a story of redemption. ☺️ 4mo
batsy This is a pretty fun manga series 4mo
40 likes11 comments
review
KarenUK
The Sentence | Louise Erdrich
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I loved this! Fabulous characters, booksellers at the center, an unwanted ghost…. plus Louise herself being a side character! I loved spending time with Tookie and her families, both work and home. In a lesser writer‘s hands, there could have been too much to juggle, but not here. My third Erdrich and possibly my favorite… 💕 #authoramonth @Soubhiville #readharder2023 #pastprompt #setinabookstore #bn2023challenge #indigenousauthor
@AshleyHoss820

Soubhiville I thought it was great how many books got name dropped! 5mo
See All 12 Comments
Cinfhen This was good and definitely a lot going on‼️ 5mo
squirrelbrain I‘m so glad you loved it! ❤️ 5mo
Megabooks Yes, I still think about this a lot a year later! 👍🏻💜 5mo
Megabooks Also, I‘m not doing 52 books, but I do love reading your reviews! 5mo
KarenUK Oops! I thought you were! 🤦‍♀️But thank you! 💕 5mo
BarbaraBB @Megabooks We‘re missing you ❤️ 5mo
BarbaraBB I loved this book too. It‘s one that keeps lingering in my mind. 5mo
Cortg Great job! I have never read this author and almost grabbed one of her books from a Little Free Library yesterday, but decided against it as I‘ve been trying to organize and get rid if stuff rather than bring it home right now 😩 5mo
65 likes12 comments
review
KarenUK
End of the World House | Adrienne Celt
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Mehso-so

It‘s an apocalyptic ‘groundhog day‘ meets ‘endless sunshine of the spotless mind‘ that focuses on a friendship between 30-somethings Kate and Bertie. As a world ravaged by climate disaster and terrorism surrounds them, they take a trip to Paris before Kate leaves their hometown for a new job. As tensions arise, the time-loopy stuff commences, and things definitely take a turn. A great premise and writing, but that ending, took a pick to a so-so!

50 likes5 comments
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KarenUK
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#LetterV @CBee #manicmonday a bit late again!
📚A Visit from the Goon Squad by Jennifer Eagan
✏️Simon Van Booy
🎥Vicky, Cristina, Barcelona
📺Vera
🎤Vanessa Carlton
🎶Valerie -Amy Winehouse & Mark Ronson https://open.spotify.com/track/6kopmMZiyLmw7h66uXcXR7?si=0h2iHOVTReunkce5sN0dkw&...

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KarenUK
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#LetterU #manicmobday
📚The Unchangeable Spots of Leopards by Kristopher Jansma
📺Unforgotten
🎶Unfinished Sympathy-Massive Attack https://open.spotify.com/track/28jaG0nLqlijtHGQzZqGWK?si=KFuyq9KSRO2PEiKGJ-RoTQ&...

review
KarenUK
Bizarre Romance | Audrey Niffenegger
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Pickpick

Oddly lovely. The title perfectly represents this collection of short stories and short comic panels, portraying all sorts of love…. I love Audrey‘s imagination, and although I‘m usually besotted with her artwork too, it was a great collaboration with her partner, artist Eddie Campbell. ‘Digging up the Cat‘ was my favorite. Perfectly weird and sentimental. #shortstories for both #booked2023 & #readharder23 and #bookimeanttorradlasyyear for #pop23

48 likes2 stack adds2 comments
review
KarenUK
Wild Embers | Nikita Gill
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Pickpick

I always feel so unqualified to write about poetry, as I read so little, so feel my opinion has no value. But for what it‘s worth, I really enjoyed this collection, beautifully grounded in science and nature, scattered with myth and magic, with the ‘rebellion‘ of the subtitle being a battle cry against self doubt and celebrating your power. Quite lovely… #readharder2023 #poetrybyBIPOC

squirrelbrain Great review! I feel the same about poetry - I‘m reading a poetry book now though so I‘ll have to review it soon… 😬 5mo
IndoorDame I know a lot of people feel that way about poetry, but your opinion is so valuable! Sometimes a fresh perspective can be more valuable than any “expert” opinion. 5mo
41 likes3 comments
review
KarenUK
Together | Luke Adam Hawker
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Pickpick

Beautifully delicate pencil drawings, and so few, but such lovely words. It tells a simple, human story of the turmoil we collectively faced in 2020 and beyond, that initially separated us, then connected us. Told through the eyes of an elderly man and his dog, it‘s a hopeful and moving little book. Loved it….

#aboutapandemic #booked2023

@cinfhen @barbarathebinliophile @alisiakae

48 likes5 stack adds9 comments
review
KarenUK
The Wise Women | Gina Sorell
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Pickpick

A light-hearted story about 2 grown-up sisters, one sister‘s sensitive son, and their aging advice-columnist mother as all their relationships with their significant others implode simultaneously. The banter between the family is witty, and it‘s a warm, lovable family unit. But the startup/influencer storyline felt a little forced. It gave me Elin Hildebrand vibes with an NYC edge…. Fun, fluffy but a bit forgettable… a light 3⭐️pick.

KarenUK @barbarabb @squirrelbrain @Cortg (not sure who else is doing it!) #pop23 #aboutafamily 5mo
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KarenUK And finally, I feel I have to do the first Barnes & Noble 52 book challenge! #BN2023challenge #anauthoryouvenotheardofbefore I really managed a #quadripledip !!!! 🍦🍦🍦🍦 5mo
Cinfhen Wait? What?!?! B& N is doing a challenge?! Fun 🤩 (edited) 5mo
squirrelbrain Yay for the quadruple dip! I just did one too. But, la, la, la I don‘t want to hear about any more challenges… 🙉 5mo
KarenUK Yep! @Cinfhen @squirrelbrain They posted it a couple of days ago on Instagram, so I kind of have to do it! Luckily I‘ll be able to double/triple dip a lot!!! 😉 https://www.instagram.com/p/CmwLXnnuyMC/?igshid=Zjc2ZTc4Nzk= 5mo
Cinfhen I was tempted @squirrelbrain but I‘m holding back… 5mo
Cinfhen Congrats on the #quadruple 🙌🏻🎉💖 5mo
squirrelbrain Oh dear, I don‘t have Insta so I can‘t see it properly… phew! 😮‍💨 5mo
BarbaraBB I had no idea so many people participated in #52bookclub23! I have to make a taglist! For #pop23 you can add (as far as I know) @AshleyHoss820 @Kelly_the_Bookish_Sidekick and @RaeLovesToRead 5mo
AshleyHoss820 @KarenUK I saw their instagram post and decided to give that one a go too! They have some good prompts! 5mo
KarenUK @AshleyHoss820 Nice to have a challenge buddy! 👍💕 5mo
Kelly_the_Bookish_Sidekick I am focusing on #Booked2023 & #52BookClub23 this year (I get lazy & just use #52books) but am also trying to see how far I can get with #pop23, read harder, b & n, and maybe one or two others. Someone on instagram released a We Didn't Start the Fire challenge with 132 prompts. I might count one book for multiple prompts on that one & track just for fun. It's a fun addiction. 5mo
Kelly_the_Bookish_Sidekick @BarbaraBB ☝️See above comment. I accidentally removed your tag. 5mo
BarbaraBB So many challenges! I am over my head into challenges as well. Not sure where I‘ll end up with #pop23, doing #booked2023 and #52books as well. And now I must check out the big one on Instagram as well 🤷🏻‍♀️😂 @Kelly_the_Bookish_Sidekick (edited) 5mo
46 likes1 stack add16 comments
review
KarenUK
Three | Valrie Perrin
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Pickpick

Forgot to review this. #pop22 #setinthe80s
Love this author! Gorgeous writing, the characters written with such empathy and depth, and a compelling plot, full of love, betrayals, tragedy and secrets. It‘s a story of 3 friends, inseparable in childhood, separated by a series of events in their teens, as the narrative moves back and forth in time. Ultimately this is about friendship in all its complexities, evolutions and endurance. Just fantastic.

ChaoticMissAdventures Excited to hear! I read one of hers this year and it is making my favorite books of the year 5mo
CBee @ChaoticMissAdventures always happy to see someone else loving Fresh Water as I do!! 5mo
35 likes2 comments
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KarenUK
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Ok, so I think that‘s a wrap!? Pretty sure with the way this week is going, no more for this year! So here is my #top22of22
I definitely read more ‘light‘ books than I usually do, but that was just my mood this year!🤷‍♀️
Among my favorite reads-Tomorrow x3, Lessons in Chemistry, The swimmers
I also read WAY more romance than I‘ve EVER read. And even have a YA on my list, which is the first time ever! Definitely not a usual year, but a good one!

Cinfhen Love where your reading year took you💕screenshot 😁 5mo
TrishB We have 2 the same 😁 5mo
squirrelbrain A few that will be on my list, or on my nearly-list! ❤️ 5mo
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Chelsea.Poole So many of my favorites from this year are on your list! 5mo
CarolynM Screenshot🙂 5mo
BarbaraBB Many favorites of mine too! 5mo
45 likes6 comments
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KarenUK
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Megabooks Yay!! 👏🏻👏🏻 5mo
RaeLovesToRead 😊👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻 Bravo!!! 5mo
Deblovestoread Well done 🎉🙌🏼 5mo
Cortg Congrats!!! 🙌🏼 5mo
squirrelbrain Wow, you did the advanced as well?! Congratulations! 🎉🎉🎉 5mo
46 likes5 comments
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KarenUK
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I‘m finally done!!!! Just before I start all over again! 😂🤦‍♀️ #pop22 @cinfen @barbarabb @megabooks @squirrelbrain @jenniferw88 @alisiakae @cortg @laughterhp @RaeLovesToRead It was so fun to share the journey with you all x

Megabooks Congratulations!! 🥳🥳 5mo
RaeLovesToRead Great work! 5mo
CarolynM Congratulations 🎉 5mo
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Laughterhp Congrats! 5mo
Cortg Congratulations! It‘s been a fun reading year! 5mo
squirrelbrain Yay! You‘ve got a few days breathing space and then off we go again! 🤣 5mo
BarbaraBB Congratulations 🎈 it is a great collection of books! 5mo
46 likes8 comments
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KarenUK
Thank You | Amelia Riedler
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Thank you so much @CarolynM !! I‘ve been meaning to read this one! 💕💕💕

squirrelbrain Oooh , I adored this! ❤️ (mine was also a gift from the lovely @CarolynM 😁) 5mo
CarolynM Hope you enjoy it😘 Happy holidays! 5mo
Centique It‘s so good! 😍 5mo
37 likes3 comments
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KarenUK
Thank You | Amelia Riedler
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Cindy, thank you soooooo much for my holiday package!!! What a lovely selection! (And all the extra goodies too!)💕💕 @Cinfhen
I loved ‘The Heart‘ by Maylis de Kerangal, so can‘t wait to read ‘The Cook‘ and Eric Ripert is a huge crush of mine!!! 🥰😘

Cinfhen My pleasure dear friend 💖😘just finished the granola today xxx Happy Holidays 💜 I think I‘ll be back in March 🤞🏼Enjoy…I‘m almost done with this one - it‘s fantastic 5mo
Cinfhen Also LOVE this photo #ShelfEnvy 5mo
KarenUK @Cinfhen thank you! 😍 5mo
squirrelbrain Lovely! ❤️ 5mo
40 likes4 comments
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KarenUK
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#manicmonday @CBee

#LetterT
📚Tin man by Sarah Winman
✏️Donna Tartt
📺Ted Lasso & Top Chef
🎬Truly, Madly, Deeply
🎤Tori Amos
🎶Tearing me Up-Bob Moses https://open.spotify.com/track/6NDt5z8GKIHub37hBQ4x18?si=0k_E4FG-RCCssR2iz_iPag&...

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KarenUK
Booked | Kwame Alexander
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Cinfhen https://forms.gle/sMyR1gVJciu1HqkA9
This should work!!! The final quarter drawing form😊💗 congrats on COMPLETING #Booked2022 🎉🍾🥂
5mo
squirrelbrain 🎉🎉🎉 5mo
BarbaraTheBibliophage Great job!! 5mo
46 likes3 comments
review
KarenUK
To Paradise | Hanya Yanagihara
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Pickpick

The writing is excellent of course, each of the stories capturing humanity and compassion. Each story(or should I say book!) echoed the others, with common names, themes and location-an NYC of the past and future, imagined and real. Characters often have little agency, complicated love, struggle with family, illness, grief. But after investing so much time, I ended up feeling a little like I was at arms length from what the book was trying to say.

BarbaraBB I can relate to your review very much! Kudos for finishing Booked and - almost - Pop! 5mo
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squirrelbrain Great review! Nearly there with the challenges….! 5mo
KarenUK I don‘t know what possessed me to leave 2 chunksters to December, when @) I work in retail, and b) I have page count phobia!!! 🤦‍♀️ #imsuchadumbass 😂 @squirrelbrain @BarbaraBB 5mo
Cortg Great review and I totally agree! I have 2 books to go. Next year I want to finish the challenge before December 🤣 5mo
BarbaraTheBibliophage Great review!! 5mo
Reggie Do you think Charlie made it to the UK? 5mo
Reggie Great review, btw. 5mo
KarenUK I really hope she did…. I little glimmer of hope, but I don‘t know… it all seemed a bit bleak. @Reggie 5mo
49 likes10 comments
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KarenUK
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#manicmonday Thanks for the tag @CBee 💕😊

#LetterS
📚The Secret History
✏️Emma Straub
🎥Stand by Me
📺Shetland, Scott & Bailey
🎤JP Saxe
🎶A Sunday Kind of Love -Etta James https://open.spotify.com/track/0zGLlXbHlrAyBN1x6sY0rb?si=pbDGHT9PRLuuTK0vBSmk0A&...