An extremely relatable & down to earth story. The plot is much deeper & more meaningful than I had been expecting from a book about a wedding planner. The characters all feel very real, making the reader feel truly invested in their lives. This book has already been optioned for Hulu. I can't wait to see it play out on screen.

An action packed, atmospheric, dystopian, survivalist story...with wolves. This debut was everything I hoped it'd be. I could not put this book down! I like that this story was dystopian but not fantasy. I like fantasy but was glad not to have it here. I got to immerse myself in the ice cold world & its characters without having to learn a magic system. Also, no unnecessary love story to distract from the true plotline! So rare & so appreciated.

"... life had a system of checks and balances, and the bad breaks were tempered with good fortune. Even on this bleak day, hidden delights waited to offset the sorrow."

I forgot to post this review after completing it on New Year's Eve. I really enjoyed Oona Out of Order a lot more than I had expected to. I thought it was going to be more Hallmark-ish or "rom-comy" and was pleasantly surprised by the bit of dirt and depth it ended up having.

𝐌𝐲 𝐟𝐚𝐯𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐞 𝐛𝐨𝐨𝐤𝐬 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐝 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐩𝐮𝐛𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐡𝐞𝐝 𝐢𝐧 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟏⁣

"?? ???'? ??? ???? ?? ???? ??? ?????, ???? ?? ?? ???? ???? ?? ???? ?? ? ?????? ?????."⁣
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An atmospheric, wintery thriller set mainly in the Scottish Highlands. I really enjoyed this book, it kept my rapt attention all the way up until the very end. The twists and turns were pretty unexpected. I will definitely be recommending this to others who enjoy the genre. ⁣

The Christmas Pig is a fun children's Christmas story that asks you to suspend your disbelief and believe in the magic of the holidays for a bit.

I listened to the audiobook of In A Holidaze on my morning dog walks throughout the month of December. It's definitely cheesy but was still a feel good, festive story for the holiday season.⁣
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Keeping Christmas is an advent collection of readings that reflects on Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol.

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I really enjoyed the second book in this Christmas series by Matt Haig. It takes place many years after A Boy Called Christmas, when Nikolas is an adult Santa Claus. I think I liked this one even better than the first. I hope Netflix decides to turn this book into a movie, as well.

My first Agatha Christie book and I was pleasantly surprised. I really thought I was going to find the book outdated and unenjoyable, but it was quite the opposite. This story had held up quite well over many decades. A rich and ailing father calls his adult children home for Christmas but then he winds up murdered a few days into the visit. It was fun getting to know the characters and making guesses as to who the murderer was & why they did it.

"??? ????? ????? ????? ?? ???? ??? ???'? ??????? ??. ??? ???'? ???? ??. ??? ??? ???? ?????? ??."⁣
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Exactly the book that I needed in my life right now. Rarely do books live up to my hopes, but this one truly did. It was atmospheric, cozy & emotional. I could feel the characters' happiness, grief, peace & anxiety. It's December and I've finally found my favorite read this year.

The Hidden kept my attention the whole book so I enjoyed reading it. I didn't like it as much as I loved her first book, Little Darlings, but it was still good. I look forward to future books from this author. The seamless way she incorporates myth and fairytale into the modern world is impressive. You never have to suspend reality to fully appreciate the story in either of her books.

"????? ???? ???? ??? ??????, ??? ??????? ?? ? ??????, ????-???????? ?????."⁣
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I enjoyed this book even better than the first. I was extremely invested in the characters, intrigued by the politics, & anxious about how it was all going to end. I felt the Romeo & Juliet ties were a bit more prominent in this book but Gong did an excellent job incorporating the romance into a bigger plotline.

"???? ?????? ???? ???? ??? ?????, ??? ???? ?? ????? ??, ?? ??? ???? ?????? ?????? ??. ?? ??????? ?? ??? ???? ?? ?????."⁣
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An excellent start to a duology. It's being compared to the Hunger Games but it definitely stands strong on its own. A book that you stay up late reading into the night because you can't wait to see what happens next.

"? ???????? ??????. ??? ???? ??? ??????? ??? ???? ??? ?? ??????. ??? ?? ????, ???????, ???? ?? ???????? ?????? ???. ??? ???? ?? ??????'? ?? ???? ?? ???? ??."⁣
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I really enjoyed the second book in the Whispering Pines series. While it wasn't as scary as the first book, it was still very creepy. I can't wait for the third book!

"????? ????? ??? ? ????? ?? ????. ????????? ???? ?? ?? ?????????."⁣
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I really enjoyed this haunted house book. All of Riley Sager's books are easy reads, keeping me completely engaged the whole time. The endings always surprise me and the ending of this one was fantastic. Just creepy enough to be the perfect Halloween weekend read, but not too scary so I'll still be able to sleep tonight.

I actually really enjoyed this book. It was atmospherically creepy and a perfect October read. I liked the main character even though she definitely had some faults, like all humans do. The setting was gothic Victorian and the rambling, haunted house fit the theme quite well. I wouldn't say it's a particularly believable story but I wasn't looking for it to be.

"Deep in the human unconscious is a pervasive need for a logical universe that makes sense. But the real universe is always one step beyond logic."

Looking forward to the movie later this week!

"???????? ???? ????? ?? ??????, ??? ???????? ?????? ????? ?? ??? ?????."⁣
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Historical fiction that throws in thrill, intrigue, & romance. The cast of characters is unforgettable, & a lot of the chapters end on a cliffhanger so putting the book down is near impossible. I've read a lot of WWII historical fiction but found this to be unlike any of the others due to the alternate perspective.

𝘠𝘰𝘶 𝘥𝘰𝘯'𝘵 𝘨𝘦𝘵 𝘵𝘰 𝘤𝘩𝘰𝘰𝘴𝘦 𝘸𝘩𝘺 𝘱𝘦𝘰𝘱𝘭𝘦 𝘭𝘰𝘷𝘦 𝘺𝘰𝘶. 𝘉𝘶𝘵 𝘸𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘥𝘰 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘭𝘰𝘷𝘦 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘳𝘦𝘤e𝘪𝘷𝘦...𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵'𝘴 𝘢 𝘤𝘩𝘰𝘪𝘤𝘦 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘮𝘢𝘬𝘦 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘺 𝘥𝘢𝘺.
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The 2nd book in the Raybearer duology is perfection. The world building is still amazing, the plotline is exciting & I'm insanely invested in the characters. ⁣Thank Am, the audibook was narrated by the fantastic Abbott-Pratt again.

"????????? ??? ????? ???? ???? ??????? ?????????? ???? ??????? ???????."⁣
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A funny, heartwarming & educational middle grade read by bestselling author Gary Paulsen. You probably read his most famous book, Hatchet, back in middle school yourself. This is quite different but I enjoyed it nonetheless. It's witten from the perspective of the main character with the help of his best friend.

Based on the true story of Jewish sisters from Slovakia who made a promise to their father to always be there for one another, I found Three Sisters to be just as impactful as the other stories we've experienced through Morris' retellings. She masterfully details the atrocities and the unimaginable suffering that traumatized and took the lives of so many. Cibi, Magda, & Livi show the world that hope can perservere even in the toughest of times. ⁣

"Tell yourself you can start again---there is still time! This time, you'll trek a high pass in Asia. You'll sail to Antarctica to witness the great ice cap's weeping. This time, you'll fly to Africa to follow the last wild elephants' run--- you've read they have a secret language, sonographic as whale song. You'll sing them a dirge and kiss the dust. Lay a humble ear to the ground and listen."

"The journey is long, but each day is a gift."

An excellent debut & start of a new fantasy series. The Night Zoo & Greater Jungle were both intriguing and exciting. The world building was phenomenally seamless. At no point did I feel like I was ever reading a description of the world or magic system but at no point was I ever confused by them either. I enjoyed the characters, they all had engaging background stories. I look forward to the sequel!

"?'?? ??????? ??? ???'? ???? ??? ??? ??? ??? ??? ????. ??????????, ??? ???? ??? ?????? ????? ??."⁣
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Tugs on your heartstrings in more ways than one. Giovanni is an extremely realistic character, along with all of his family, friends, & neighbors. By the end of the book, I was truly invested in all of their lives, struggles, & bonds.

"????? ??? ?????. ?????????? ?????? ??? ???? ??? ????. ???? ???? ??? ? ????."⁣
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I was completely intrigued by this futuristic NYC, whether I'd consider it a better world or dystopia, I still can't say for sure. I was invested in the main character and the plotline, needing to find out what happened to baseball star, JJ Zunz. It's definitely one of those books that I'll never forget. ⁣

I'm going to need the sequel like right now. Why was this book so phenomenal?! I was not at all prepared for this kickass, patriarchy smashing, mythic, robotic, thrillride of a lifetime. Fantastic use of the chosen one trope and props to a love triangle that didn't make me choose a "team". I also really enjoyed how while this book takes place in the future, it incorporates Chinese culture and history.

"...?????? ????? ???? ???? ?? ??. ??? ??? ???????? ?????? ????."⁣
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An adorable middle grade novel that teaches the importance of respecting the balance of nature. I enjoyed the main character and the whimsical creatures that Applegate has created. Just enough of a fantasy to be an escape, while being close enough to reality that everyone will enjoy this book.

"...?? ??? ???, ??? ?????????? ?? ????????."⁣
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A surprisingly fantastic book. I was not expecting to like this much nearly as much as I did. I was completely absorbed in the lives of Grey & her friends in La Cachette. This is the first time in awhile where I did not want to put a book down, staying up way past my bedtime. This story kept me engaged, intrigued, and guessing all the way up until the very end.

I'm not sure how I feel about this book.I didn't hate it but I didn't love it either. I mainly listened to the audiobook and all three narrators were phenomenal. If I read the book instead of listening, I probably would have liked it less. It's definitely a bit of a slow burn but I liked Nella a lot and enjoyed hearing a bit about the publishing industry. There are parts of second half of this book that just made me feel angry or something though.

"...????? ??? ????'? ??? ?? ?????????? ???? ?? ???? ?? ????, ??? ??? ???? ?? ??????? ?????. ???? ????? ?? ??????? ???? ???? ?? ???? ??? ????????? ?? ?? ?? ???? ???? ?????? ????? ? ??????? ????? ? ???."⁣
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A fun thriller although somewhat nerve-racking...

"We're all just trying to be comfortable, and well fed, and unafraid."

A hopeful, homey, steampunk, scifi novella. Dex is a tea monk who is starting to question their happiness and purpose in life. They decide to head out into the wilderness. In this futuristic world, humans don't travel into the wilderness, leaving it for the robots who left society centuries ago. When Dex runs into Mosscap, one of these robots, he's not exactly thrilled.

I thought this book was pretty good. It's not getting the best reviews but I'm not entirely sure why. It's a quick read, staying very eventful throughout. There's a few good twists and turns that I didn't see coming, even up until the very end. Definitely a bit gory but nothing too difficult to read. I enjoyed No Exit and this book so I'll definitely read more by this author in the future.

Nooo!! I feel like I waited so long for this book to come out and now I'm right back where I started, dying for the next one to be released. Dark Waters is another fantastically creepy, spine tingling read. The same characters are back, who I've grown to know and love I really found all of these books to be great, but I think this one may be my favorite yet. I really enjoyed the castaway setting & it had a phenomenal, semi-cliffhanger ending.

Take a journey with April, a 16-year-old who feels unloved by her family and unaccepted by the people in her hometown. She roadtrips up & down the east coast playing her guitar, making some money & friends wherever she can. This coming of age story is both heartbreaking & hopeful. It's for anyone who ever felt that life can't be good or that they don't deserve friends who treat them like family. I found this to be a very calming & enjoyable read.

An excellent audiobook narrated by Ray Porter. I really grew to love both Ryland and Rocky throughout the book, rooting for them both the entire time. The ending was probably my favorite part. The author really must have done some extensive research as there's a lot of accurate science and space information included. I'm hoping we get to see this as a movie in the future. I'd imagine it will be just as successful, if not more so, than The Martian.

A lighthearted, fun, summer read. I really enjoyed the break from more serious reads and books with tougher content. The Goldmans & Weingolds spend their last summer at their family hotel. Three generations of each family spent most summers of their lives at the hotel so it's a tough decision on whether or not to sell. Each of the family members have other important things going on in their lives & secrets from the past are also surfacing.

A fun YA thriller suspense story. I absolutely loved that it took place on Long Island, that's where I grew up & where I'm currently spending the week at my parents. Claire tells her parents she's spending prom weekend on Fire Island but really goes upstate to her friends house in the Catskills. Friday night is the last thing she remembers until she's found concussed on the mountain alone. Along with her memory, her two best friends are missing.

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Being dubbed by many as the "Stepford Husbands." A bit creepy but also contemporary, I flew through this book. I found the main character extremely relatable, even though I am not a wife or a mother myself. The characters were all interesting & the story flows well. It all builds up well to the ending.

Very "Lord of the Flies"-esque but the children actually get along & it's the parents who are dimwitted. An allegory for the current state of our world, climate-wise. The older generations have screwed things up & it's too late for them to do anything to fix it. The biblical references are included in a very non-religious, liberal way. While the overall message is pretty dire, the approach is humourous due to the teen narrator's dry, witty humor.

"??? ??????? ???? ?????? ??, ??????? ???? ????? ?????? ?? ???."⁣
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Absolutely phenomenal, the perfect summer read. I had high hopes for this book after loving Daisy Jones so I am very glad I was not disappointed. TJR writes extremely real characters, people with depth & background, and the Riva siblings were no exception. Such an engrossing story, completely readable and thoroughly enjoyable!

An engrossing historical fantasy retelling of the founding emperor of the Ming Dynasty in the mid fourteenth century. Being tagged as "Mulan meets The Song of Achilles", I have to completely agree. It's as beautifully lyrical & character driven as The Song of Achilles. Parker-Chan writes an unforgettable hero in Zhu, while also creating a relatable semi-villain in Ouyang. A sweeping epic of love, loss, revenge, power, betrayal, and family.

"?????? ???? ?? ??? ??? ???? ??? ???? ?? ???????? ????, ????, ????'? ????? ??? ??? ?? ?????, ???."⁣

The gender swapped, fairy tale retelling of Beauty & the Beast that I didn't even know I so desperately needed. Merit is cursed to be a Beast forever, unless married before her next birthday. This was such a fun book, with an extremely likable cast of magical characters.

At times pretty depressing and reminiscent of the COVID-19 pandemic, and at other times thought provoking. I really enjoyed how this book took this interesting approach to introduce facts about our real world (phones are designed for men's hands, medical care is designed for male patients, etc.) I also liked the jump between the views of different characters to show how women in varying aspects of life were affected by the virus.

An own voices story with a supernatural twist.⁣ For Jake, being a queer black teen in a mostly white school is difficult enough, but he also sees dead people everywhere he goes. When one of the ghosts seems to be able to break through into the world of the living, it's up to Jake to stop a murdering ghost, protect himself, & balance the complexities of his life. At times scary, and at other times heartbreaking, this book had more than I expected.

A nonstop, unputdownable, emotional, & nerve-racking thriller full of heart and mind. When Captain Bill Hoffman is faced with the unthinkable decision to crash the passenger plane he's piloting or watch his family killed by their hostage taker, what choice will he make? Are the lives of his family worth more than the 149 souls on board flight 416? What comes first, duty or family? By the end of the book will you be crying tears of joy or defeat?

Much deeper and thought-provoking though than what I had imagined. It's also quite creepy, with some chapters deserving a horror label for the genre. I appreciated how it all came together in the end. Many clues and "a-ha" moments occur throughout the book but the ending still was a mystery to me until the last few pages. With important themes including feminism and colonialism, I can tell this is a book I'll be thinking about for a long time.

"? ???? ???? ??? ????. ? ???? ???? ??? ??????????. ??? ???? ???? ??????? ???? ??? ?????."⁣
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A mix of science fiction, fantasy, & mystery. When someone unexplainably murders the members of a secret brotherhood, Fatma is called in to figure out who the murderer is. Fatma works for the Ministry of Alchemy, Enchantments, & Supernatural Entities in an alternate history Cairo.

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A fantastic follow-up to The Henna Artist. Taking place about 12 years later, this sequel still follows Lakshmi as well as her assistant, Malik. Alternating narrators between the two & a new character, Nimmi, I enjoyed this book just as much as the first, possibly more so. I love how I can smell & taste India when reading Joshi's works.

"??????? ??? ?????????--??? ?????--?? ?'? ????? ??? ??? ???? ???. ?? ????. ?? ????. ?? ??????? ??? ???? ??? ???????, ??? ??? ???? ??? ??????."⁣
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I love reading books about cultures & time periods different than my own as I learn so much about the world. I really grew to care for Lakshmi, rooting for her through the highs & lows of her story.

Fun summer read. Described as a hilarious thriller, it's not supposed to be serious. Like the movies Clue & I Still Know What You Did Last Summer. When Plum & her friends steal her influencer sister's invite to ⁣Pyre Festival, they think they're in for the trip of a lifetime. With definite jabs at Fyre Fest, Pyre turns out to be an even bigger nightmare. "??'? ???, ??? ??? ????? ?? ????, ???? ???? ???? ???."⁣

"??????? ? ???? ?? ??? ?? ????? ??? ??????. ??? ?????????? ?? ????? ??? ???? ? ???????'?, ???? ???? ? ???? ??? ?????????? ?? ??? ??????? ??."⁣
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With a lot of political intrigue, twists, turns, magic, and a kingdom on the brink of a war, The Cruelest Mercy offers as much excitement as the first book did.