Ran the Philadelphia Wizarding 5k today for my Ravenclaw house. Complete with a wand, Hedwig medal, and a butterbeer. Where my fellow Ravenclaws at?! #ravenclaw #wizardingrunphiladelphia #harrypotter (PS The back of the shirt says 3 1/10 miles managed 😉)

This was the last book for #lmpbc, and it was also my favorite! I loved it! Sure there were bits I predicted, but there were plenty of times I was surprised. The characters were excellent (likeable, hateable— you felt exactly how the author wanted you to feel about them), the dystopian plot was new and interesting— I‘m all for it. || So glad I joined this book club with y‘all. It was my first one, but it won‘t be my last!

Like the hunger games, but less danger and more sappy romance. I loved it, even though it really isn‘t all that different from the dystopian genre. Who cares. It was fun and easy and likeable. Enjoy!

Not my typical choice, but it was the selected book for the library‘s citywide read, so I figured it must be good. It was. It reminded me of a lot of different genres: Native American mythology, African mythology, “typical” fiction with a story arc and realistic characters— it had a lot. And it was heavy. Every tough topic was discussed: race, gender, age, DV, death... this story isn‘t for the faint of heart, but it‘s worth it.

I‘m not even that grumpy about him being late to dinner...

Read this for my #LMPBC group, and even though it‘s not usually my go-to genre, I got soooo into it. Not too scary to give you nightmares- just creepy enough for you to audibly say “what the fuq” and make your husband ask you what‘s happening. Fun mystery! | Whoops, forgot to tag my teammates!

Heart wrenching and hopeful, disappointing and happy. This book was tough to get through, but honestly I think that‘s because it was just so real and raw— in a captivating way. Not a day on the beach read; but if you like to fully understand the characters and actually get the good and the bad, read this one.

Everything I want in my #bookaboutbooks Even the introduction was fabulous- listing all her favorite places to read and why. If you like books about girls who like books and fall for the grumpy guy who ends up not being all that grumpy, this is the one for you. #BookAboutBooks #BAB

Like being dropped right into the Odyssey & Hercules. So much fun! I‘ve always loved mythology, but it‘s not something I can easily just sit down and read. If you‘re the same, read this. It‘s the perfect happy medium.

Does anyone have Bookly Pro? I‘ve been using it for the last few months, and I really enjoy it, but I only can add one more book before they either have me get Pro, or I have to delete other books. Thoughts? Advice? You can get a lifetime subscription for only a bit more than a year, so maybe I should just go for it. Is it worth it??

Good wrap up of the series (except for the last paragraph or so, which I hated). I think Elisa had great character development, and I loved watching her turn into a good leader, with or without previous strengths. Good fantasy series!

Read this one for my #lmpbc group for the month of August. Brilliantly creative and witty, but it somehow was still a tough read for me. It just took me a long time to get through it (@cadyly, sorry for sending it late!). Very worth it though. I loved all the characters, the plot twists, etc. And I will love Jane forever. #teamjane (Picture of the book in my car at the post office because I didn‘t send it off until the last possible moment.)

I did something so dumb. I put the first of this series and this book on hold at the same time because often I have to wait for the second one after I finish the first. Well, this one was available first, and I didn‘t even pay attention. Just read it. Had some questions, but though, “Alright, the author is just assuming we know/live in this world.” Still excellent, but wish I‘d read them in the right order.

Picked this up in a small bookstore when I crossed Virginia off my list, and I‘m not upset about it one bit. Apparently the author also works at that bookstore, which makes it even more special. Like “The Selection” at sea. Selah has good character development, and I loved all the brothers of Asgard.

One of the wittiest and cleverest books I‘ve read in a while. These two authors together are excellent. Would read anything else the write.

Like reading under the covers at night at a sleepover. I liked this book much better than the first one. A lot more character development, a better understanding about some of the specifics of their world— just better all around. Jacob still irritates me, but the other characters make up for it.

Good wrap-up to the series. Still not my favorite series (a little childish), but I appreciated the creative plans the main character made at each turn to help his kingdom. Wrapped up all questions, and this audio version had a *bonus scene* that gave a bit more detail into a hazy section. Nice solid bookend.

Like finding a new favorite outfit that you didn‘t know you needed and now wear more than once a week. Fantastic! The scrivings plot line is fantastic- somehow not magical, but not sci-fi with advanced technology and still an excellent fantasy book. Took me a while to ready it because it is dense, but so worth it.

Like having to put your socks and shoes back on after swimming and your feet aren‘t dry yet— you‘ll make it through, but it‘s a bit annoying. You can only use the phrase, “I shivered despite the warmth” so many times until I tune out. I‘m also usually not great at predicting; not only could I predict all the plot twists— I could predict the next words coming after every pause. Read it, but just don‘t expect to be surprised.

Fun easy read. Like sitting on your back porch reading in the summer with giant sunglasses on. Very long, but the bouncing between timelines worked. Loved that you didn‘t know what happened at the BBQ until near the end.

Very engaging and interesting. I found that I didn‘t actually like the main character, Charlie. I think her plot line of her search for a long lost cousin that she hadn‘t seen since she was 12 consuming her life was a little thin. Eve‘s story, however, was superb. I really listened to this whole story just for Eve.

Probably written for younger audiences than myself, but I can‘t pass up a good book about books (I feel like I‘ve mentioned this obsession before). It was so creative, and I found myself guessing which books all the characters were from. Look out, #LMPBC group C— this is coming atcha!

Disappointed in myself for putting this off so long before reading it. This is to incarceration what “Evicted” is to housing instability/homelessness. Read it. Stop what you‘re doing, and read this book. I already know that this was a life changing read.

Wow. This book was fabulous. To be honest, WWII era is not my go-to, but obviously it‘s so relevant and important, so I try to find ones that are very captivating. This one does it. Real and terrifying given the circumstances, but still with love and joy and grace. Don‘t question it. Just read it.

Finally got my book in! Ready for our reading group with my green pen and pencil! #thebookjumper #LMPBC #GroupC

Honestly, this wasn‘t my favorite. I think my expectations were wrong coming into this book. I was expecting a bit more magic and fantasy, but it‘s not that kind of book! Also didn‘t love the ending. Oh well, still interesting.

Hey Group C!! Getting ready for July! Any of these books sound interesting to you— all are on my TBR list, so any would work for me! #lmpbc #groupc

Somehow very simple and yet fascinating. If you read the description of the book, it just talks about people becoming unexpectedly romantically entwined and then what happens after— thus, it took me a long time to convince myself to read it. Glad i did. I had a love/hate relationship with every character (except Burt- f*** Burt) and wanted to know how everyone‘s story ended up. One problem was the jumping timelines- that did get a bit confusing.

It‘s official. I‘ve reached the point where my reading habits are affecting my partner‘s sleeping habits, so reading light it is! #nomorearguingaboutmeturningmylightoff

Who doesn‘t love this book. Such a FUN read! If you haven‘t read it, do yourself a favor and make it happen. Even my fiction-hating husband loved it! 🎵 So long, thanks for all the fish. 🎵

Finally made it through this book (through no fault of its own), and I‘m sad it‘s over. It was such a good sequel to the first, which feels rare to me. The characters saw a lot of development, but they still made enough mistakes to keep it realistic. She tied it together well at the end, and my two favorite characters (Inji and Nina) stayed alive (not really a spoiler)- somehow in these types of books my favs always die, so hooray!

I am not sure what to even say about this book. It was so well written, but I still feel conflicted. Maybe it‘s because I didn‘t like the choices the characters made or how the story panned out because they were unhappy. Maybe you‘re just not suppose to walk away feeling happy— but it was sooo mesmerizing. I couldn‘t put it down.

I‘ve tried. I‘ve tried so hard. I made it through probably a third of the book, and I just can‘t. It‘s sooooooo sloooooowww. There are way too many story arcs to follow. The writing itself is beautiful and poetic, and I was really excited about reading a book set in a land I don‘t often find myself reading about, but I need a little bit of movement.

Decent follow-up to the first book. I actually think I liked this one more than the original. I still can‘t get over something about the King‘s character that just drives me wild- is it the savior complex or the cockiness? He is supposed to be only 16, so I suppose those qualities are in line with his age. Still.

An easy read, and it was interesting enough to keep my attention. Not really different enough from the typical storyline: kid hears stories from his grandpa and finds out they‘re true later on. I appreciated the “loop” though. Give it a read if you‘re already through your tbr list, otherwise, it can wait.

Such a fun quick read. I found myself smiling along as I listened to the narrator (bonus: it was Eddie Redmayne) describe all the clever ways we muggles might have overlooked these magical species in our lives (e.g. the Loch Ness Monster makes an appearance). Read it- you won‘t be disappointed!

Phenomenal book. At times it was difficult to read just because the treatment of Black folks was so horrifying, but it needed to be read. Tragedy happens to Cora over and over, and yet somehow, she continues on. A book about strength, perseverance, and remembering the role we played (white folks) in creating this disparity and how we now have a responsibility to fix it.

Reminded me a lot of Into the Water by Paula Hawkins, but I actually ended up liking this one better somehow. Warning: there are really no redeemable characters. You end up hating them all, but I suppose that‘s probably why it feels more realistic. Humans are humans. Not a spoiler/trigger warning: suspected suicide.

Full of superstitions, Malaysian, Chinese & colonist culture clashes, and likable characters, this book was a breath of fresh air. A great combination of mystery, suspense, romance, fantasy— you name it, it was here. Definitely worth reading (and the audiobook narrator on Audible was excellent).

I loved this book. I loved the depth of the characters, the plot line, etc., but the thing that drew me in was the nature. The descriptions of the settings, the way the main character identified and took in her surroundings— I had to leave the city for a hike to try to be as close to nature in real life as I was in the book. Read it!

Somehow I missed this book in high school, so I had to make up for it now. Also, how did I not know this was about books? I LOVE books about books. If you‘re one of the few who missed out on this in hs, read it now. It‘s quick but well written. And the narrator I had for this audiobook was excellent!

She is such an excellent writer. I loved hearing her story— she has a lot of strength and power that comes through this in a way I haven‘t been able to speak to before. I did end up walking away from this with bitterness toward her husband though- anyone else? When I think about the sacrifices she‘s made and how she went through all of this even though she didn‘t want it, it makes me a little sad for her.

I really enjoyed the plot line, but I felt as if the writing was often too simplistic or childish. After reading other reviews, I‘m wondering if it was just the narrator who made it sound that way (audiobook through my library). Maybe for book 2 I‘ll get the physical book from the library instead. Regardless, a fun/easy read. Royal family dies, plot to pass off an orphan as a prince to take the throne, etc.

In the beginning, it was a bit too similar to Neverwhere by Neil Gaiman, so I had a rough time getting into it. A little further in, however, and I liked the characters much more than I did in its counterpart, and I ended up finishing it in only a few days. A good fantasy book based on the concept of multiple Londons and multiple kinds of magic with redeemable people you want to root for.

I resisted reading this book because it sounded just like my hometown- glad I picked it up. He does a great job of putting you inside the head of every character and making you understand what they‘re feeling, even if you don‘t agree. In the second half of the book, however, he was still bringing in new characters, which I thought was a little much. I also wished he wrapped it up more in the end. Trigger warning: rape & gun violence

Even though I was not ready for this series to end, this final book at least wrapped up most loose ends for me. I look forward to this series being one I reach for again and again. So glad I found it!

Such an important read. I have to force myself to read nonfiction, especially if it‘s not narrative based, and this was worth it. If you‘re interested in learning just how deeply rooted this country is in racism, in this instance related to housing, this is the book for you. It‘s not an easy read by any means, but you should read it anyway.

Baking & reading on the kitchen floor #redqueenseries #baking&reading

So I finally read some reviews on this series, and I‘m totally shocked! I love it, but many seem to feel ambivalent about it! It‘s such a good, page turning read, and I feel like I don‘t often find a series like this. So, let this be one of the positive reviews among a lot of neutral ones- I like it. You should read it.

Anyone else get a little thrill when they find a typo in a book? Like, someone missed this, and I didn‘t. I must be so good. 😂😂 #redqueenseries #typohunter