I don't read a lot of poetry, and I won't pretend that I understood everything in this collection. But I really appreciated the way these poems were written and the glimpses you get of the author's struggles with being indigenous & trans, internally & interpersonally, and growing up in foster care. It also made me want to listen to Florence + the Machine, which I'm not mad about
#LGBTQ2024 poetry @Kenyazero #Nonfiction2024 @Riveted_Reader_Melissa

I'm all for a character driven story & this one is well written in that way, but I got 4 hours into the audiobook & needed SOME plot to kick in. It's very slow moving & I had no idea where we were supposed to be heading. It got to the point that the main character was in a situation that had me 😬 & I bailed.
I've heard good things about this author & I did enjoy her writing style so I plan to try a different of hers for #AuthorAMonth @Soubhiville

#SpringSkies Day 25 #BreakInTitle 🚴🏼‍♀️
@Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks @Eggs

If the title doesn't warn you, bring out the tissues 🥹 Our bookclub loved the Travelling Cat Chronicles and decided to read this book of short stories by the same author. It was nice to visit with a few cats and their families, including some familiar faces. The POV switched between cats & humans and each story had a unique premise
🐱💖

Continuing to follow Avery and Zib through the Up-and-Under. This wasn't quite as good as the first book, but still enjoyable. They learn more about the kings and the drowned girl's backstory, and get to adventure with pirates.
#SeriesLove2024 @Andrew65 @TheSpineView

#SpringSkies Day 24 #Neurodivergent
Clementine, who has autism, struggles with the dynamics of his new life as a vampire 🩸
@Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks @Eggs

#SpringSkies Day 23 #LieInTitle
@Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks @Eggs

#SpringSkies Days 21 & 22 #AwardWinner #Tragedy
I missed yesterday but this one works for both prompts. So good. So sad 😭
@Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks @Eggs

I love this author's shifter series. This one isn't a direct sequel, but set in the same world. Less plot and more about the characters. A grumpy walrus shifter lives by himself in his lighthouse on an island off the coast of Ireland and has his world disrupted by an artist visiting on a temporary university grant. Two lonely souls connecting and finding home in each other 🥰
#SeriesLove2024 @Andrew65 @TheSpineView

This was another entertaining Poirot/Ariadne Oliver pairing. They are trying to figure out the reasoning behind a very old double suicide and must track down people who might remember details about the couple. All the talk and confusion about elephants was very amusing. I love Mrs. Oliver
#SeriesLove2024 @Andrew65 @TheSpineView

#SpringSkies Day 20 #2ndChanceRomance
@Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks @Eggs

Did somebody say National Cat Lady Day? 😹😻🐱
You can usually find me in my favorite chair with at least one cat and a book 💖

#5JoysFriday @DebinHawaii
My five joys this week:
1. Oakley bear 😻 snuggles to help recover after minor surgery
2. Virtual bookclub discussion with my highschool friends 📖🐈
3. Dancing lessons with my guy 💃🏼
4. Discovering Happy Color - my new favorite audiobook activity 🎨🎧
5. Hitting up so many bookstores for the Greater Charlotte Bookcrawl 📚

This one started off strong - singing a karaoke break up song to your now ex. But it went downhill after that. After hooking up, Toni & Audrey realize they're now working together & must be professional. Audrey isn't ready for a new relationship right after her last toxic one ended anyway. In the end I didn't feel like either character had any real growth. This could have been better if expanded to a full novel
#LGBTQ2024 disappointing @Kenyazero

#SpringSkies Day 19 #FallInTitle
I read this a few years ago, a really sweet story set in gorgeous Ireland 🌧️🍀
@Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks @Eggs

#SpringSkies Day 18 #Powerful
My sister is reading this book and was telling me about it
@Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks @Eggs

#SpringSkies Day 17 #MagicElement ✨
One of these days I'll finish this series
@Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks @Eggs

#SpringSkies Day 16 #SurpriseEnding
My mind went blank on books but thought of this movie. Loved it, especially the ending
@Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks @Eggs

#WeirdWordWednesday @CBee
This is one I figured out from context clues but I enjoy the definition - "a violent expression"

#SpringSkies Day 15 #WomenInSports 🏀
@Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks @Eggs

I loved the character development in this one. After a bad first encounter, Cory is determined to win Spencer over to prove that he can but ends up falling for him in the process. They each brought out the best in each other and I thought the ending with the grand gesture was super cute
#SeriesLove2024 @Andrew65 @TheSpineView

#SpringSkies Day 14 #InvolvesHeist
My favorite heisting crew 🚀
@Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks @Eggs

#SpringSkies Day 13 #OneWordTitle
Love this podcast-turned-graphic-novel 🫧
@Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks @Eggs

Working our way through the Charlotte Bookstore Crawl 📚
Love this mural at That's Novel Books 🛋️

#SpringSkies Day 12 #VillianPOV
Been meaning to read this duology for a while now
@Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks @Eggs

This was a really interesting concept. I liked the play on language barriers causing basic ideas of science vs sorcery to be lost in translation but found certain things to be confusing to the reader for this same reason. Mostly I loved Nyr's struggle to remain neutral as an anthropologist vs his desire for purpose and fight against boredom

#SpringSkies Day 11 #CvrWObscuredFace
@Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks @Eggs

I don't usually go for dark romance but I really enjoyed this one. Fourteen years after Peter Pan leaves Neverland, Hook needs to bring him back to conquer a threat on the island. But Peter has grown up and the lust is palpable 🥵
The enemies to lovers arc was really well done here. I love a good morally grey protagonist and Hook is definitely *dark* grey 🩶

#SpringSkies Day 10 #NFTechnology
Looking forward to this one from my TBR
@Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks @Eggs

#SpringSkies Day 9 #SetInSnowIce ❄️
@Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks @Eggs

#SpringSkies Day 8 #ChildWPowers
My favorite magical hot mess boys
@Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks @Eggs

Rachel Lynn Solomon + time loop romance = 😍😍😍
Two of my favorite things and this book did not disappoint! I loved watching Barrett and Miles relive Sept 21st again and again, breaking past each other's barriers and embracing new experiences. The ending really got me 🥹

This was really cute and fun to listen to. Hannah is on a mission to find an old sweater that she left at her high school ex's house 15 years ago. When she calls Ethan out of the blue it's surprisingly not awkward and they embark on an adventure to find the sweater. The hijinks were hilarious and I love this style of audiobook where everything takes place through phone conversations.

#SpringSkies Day 7 #Escape 🤖
I really want to get to this series now that a movie is coming out later this year
@Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks @Eggs

Congratulations again @DebinHawaii for your milestone! Five sure is your lucky number it seems!! 🤩🎉 Thanks for organizing this giveaway!
Five things that bring me joy:
1. My amazing fiance 💕
2. My four cuddly, mischievous, adorable, infuriating cats 😹
3. My beautiful 3 year old niece 🥰
4. Book Mail! Especially a preorder that I've forgotten about 😆
5. Reading outside in my hammock in the cool spring weather 🌸
#500KGiveaway

#SpringSkies Day 6 #Twins
@Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks @Eggs

#ReadingBracket2024 March fiction update
Wow wow wow this was such a tough month to choose a favorite, I read so many amazing books! Narrowing it down to just two was still extremely difficult but I decided to choose one fantasy and one romance for the bonus slot.

#SpringSkies Day 5 #InvolvesArt 🎨
These quiet YA books both feature queer teens who express themselves through painting
@Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks @Eggs

#ReadingBracket2024 nonfiction update for March
Fine was a really great nonfiction comic but Better Living Through Birding is ultimately moving ahead

I really liked the concept of this one, maybe if I hadn't done audio I wouldn't be as frustrated. But the dual narration was distracting bc the male narrator had a horrible reading voice! It brought me out of the story. Otherwise I loved the mythical world. The trans/bigender & disability rep was unique in the medieval setting. The magic system was intriguing. The miscommunication trope was drawn out but once the enemies became allies it picked up

#SpringSkies Day 4 #Lost
This is a really sweet read
@Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks @Eggs

🤩 Special Edition Book Mail 🤩
I'm in love with my newest Dazzling Bookish Shop arrival!

#SpringSkies Day 3 #AnimalPOV 🐈
@Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks @Eggs

Here are my April #bookspin picks! Two very different vibes lol
@TheAromaofBooks

Dean is pretty sure he's trans but once he gets cast as Romeo in his school play, acting as a boy every day confirms his suspicions and makes it impossible for him to hide his true self outside of the theatre. Coming out is messy and not what he planned, especially how it affects his relationships with others. This is such an emotionally charged story, beautifully written
Book 8 finished for the #TransRightsReadathon

#SpringSkies Day 2 #GloryInTitle
From my TBR - Evanna Lynch played Luna Lovegood in the Harry Potter movies
@Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks @Eggs

In ten essays, Imbler writes about ten different sea creatures and relates them to their own life experiences. They explore their own identity as well as their relationships with others and has a gentle way of connecting the natural world to the human experience that was so earnest and insightful.
Book 7 for the #TransRightsReadathon

April snuck up on me! I haven't done a photo challenge in a minute but this month's prompts kept catching my eye so I'm gonna give it a go 😊

#SpringSkies Day 1 #BkClubRead 📚
We read this for my book club last year and had a great discussion!
@Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks @Eggs

Two high school best friends are reunited years later when they both return to their small hometown for different reasons. Nate has now transitioned and he & Jack start a friends-with-benefits relationship. This was a very character-driven, emotional story, as the men venture into this new dynamic on top of old feelings for each other as well as navigating expectations and judgement surrounding Nate's transness
Book 6 for the #TransRightsReadathon

Happy Trans Day of Visibility 🏳️‍⚧️
I finished 9 books this past week for the #TransRightsReadathon
I still have to review a few but they were all great and I discovered some new favorites. I think it's so important for trans stories to be shared wide, for those who relate, to see themselves reflected, and for those who don't, to learn and gain empathy 🩷🤍🩵 #TRR24