Another low pick. When this book started, I loved it. The story, the characters, and the way everything was connected was written so well that I just knew this would end up being a favorite. After the halfway point, though, things started to slow, and I couldn't help but keep comparing it back to the beginning.

I still liked it, and I'd definitely read more by this author, but I wish the pacing was more consistent. #HauntedShelf #HexesandCrows

#JumpScares aren't easy to do in books, but these titles all surprised me while reading in ways I didn't expect.

1. The Liminal Zone- this was my first Junji Ito, and he is a master of the horror manga.
2. Salem's Lot- the kid at the window has always freaked me out! A great read.
3. Night Film- this dark, twisted read will keep you on edge and have your heart pounding as it unravels.
4. Dead Silence- you never know what's around the corner. ⬇️

I loved this newest book in this series. 💚 I also love the cover that makes me think of a #NightSky.

#HauntedShelf @PuddleJumper #HexesandCrows @Catsandbooks #BookScavengerHunt

A low pick for me, but overall, it was still a fast, entertaining read. I had some issues with a few plot holes involving characters in the group that we didn't learn as much about. I thought the idea behind this story was a great way to take the reader inside the minds of a serial killer while also still offering a little campy fun.

#NetGalley #HauntedShelf @PuddleJumper #HexesandCrows @Catsandbooks

Here are some of my favorite #Paranormal reads. #BookRecommendations #HauntedShelf @PuddleJumper #HexesandCrows @Catsandbooks

1. The Hunger- a retelling of what happened to the Donnor party.
2. The Shining Girls- this paranormal thriller still makes me think about it. Really unique storyline.
3. Infidel- one of the creepiest graphic novels I've ever read!
4. My Soul to Keep- horror and African folklore create an engrossing story.
⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️

#HauntedShelf @PuddleJumper #HexesandCrows @Catsandbooks #BookScavengerHunt

Although I'd like to read this book, I'll pass on trying this #BakedTreat.

#HauntedShelf @PuddleJumper #HexesandCrows @Catsandbooks #HotDrink #BookScavengerHunt

I've had this one as an eBook far too long, and I should really read it soon. Who doesn't love a warm cup of tea?

Maybe if I hadn't recently finished the Indian Lake Trilogy by this author, I would have liked this one more. 🫤

Parts of this book felt way too similar to his other books, but the characters in this one weren't as developed.

If you've never read his other books, though, this could be a good start. It has a good mix of social commentary and issues with a spooky underlying premise.

#HauntedShelf @PuddleJumper #HexesandCrows @Catsandbooks

This time of year makes me think of many different things that occur, so here are my #BookRecommendations for #HauntedShelf #AutumnorFall

1. Hidden Life of Trees- such a wonderful nonfiction; well written and well researched.
2. Friday Night Lights- I'm not a football fan, but this book was still a great read and perfect for Fall.
3. The Walking Dead- I love this graphic novel series and it gives perfect spooky vibes for this time of year.
⬇️⬇️

This book cover was why I read this book a few months ago. It's so pretty. 😍

#HauntedShelf @PuddleJumper #HexesandCrows @Catsandbooks #AutumnorFall #BookScavengerHunt

Great thriller with some creepy moments. This is a domestic thriller about a young couple who move into a house, and strange things start happening. Is it something easily explained or something sinister lurking in the shadows?

The unveiling was fun to follow, and I enjoyed the different POVs giving the reader a deeper understanding of what was happening.

#NetGalley #ARC #HauntedShelf @PuddleJumper #HexesandCrows @Catsandbooks

Pulled out my 1974 copy of Carrie to read with the #LosersClub this month. It's been several years since I read it, so I'm excited to dive in again. @BarkingMadRead

#HauntedShelf @PuddleJumper #BookRecommendations #HexesandCrows @Catsandbooks

Here are some books that happen on a #ChillyNight.
1. Come with Me- this book was my first Malfi, and I've read everything of his I could find since then. It has a great old-school horror vibe.
2. The Winter People- such a great read by another favorite author. More suspense than horror.
3. Dead Voices- this is part of a MG series, and I loved them all.
More below ⬇️

I will admit that I picked this audiobook based solely on the cover without knowing anything about it.

This generational trauma story mixed with demonic possession kept me on edge until the very end. It is dark and twisted, and each character is never quite who they seem to be. Perfect psychological/horror read for those who enjoy that.

#HauntedShelf @PuddleJumper #HexesandCrows @Catsandbooks

I love John Connolly. This is an ebook I've had for a few months now, but I haven't gotten around to reading it yet.

#HauntedShelf #BookScavengerHunt #Orange @PuddleJumper #HexesandCrows @Catsandbooks

The English version wasn't in the Litsy database. The Road by Cormac McCarthy is in my top 5 favorite books ever. This graphic novel adaptation captures his work so well. The visuals are dark, the story has been shortened, but the message still remains.

This is my first read finished for #HauntedShelf for team #HexesandCrows. @PuddleJumper @Catsandbooks It also counts for the book cover hunt for #Dark, both with its cover and content.

#HauntedShelf @PuddleJumper #HexesandCrows @Catsandbooks

Dark Harvest is one of my favorite scary books set during autumn. This is one of those books you just can't get out of your mind once you've read it.

#HexesandCrows @Catsandbooks #HauntedShelf @PuddleJumper

Here's my tentative list of reads for October. 🤎🖤🤎

A cup of tea and a book. The perfect way to end a day. 🥰

I'm really enjoying this YA Sci-Fi book. It is the start of a trilogy, so I hope the others are as good as this one.

Today is my day off, so in between cleaning and meal prep, I'm reading this King book I've never read before.

Thoughts on this one? I'm not sure why I've put off reading it all these years, but I'm excited to read it now.

Finishing up the tagged book so that I can start the next one in the series, The Black Bird Oracle. Also, enjoying a nice cup of tea in a mug from one of my favorite bookstores here in Texas. If you ever find yourself in Denton, TX, check out Patchouli Joe's Books & Indulgences.

If you're ever in Dallas, check out Whose Books. It's an awesome indie book store in the Oak Cliff neighborhood. I found some great books and a couple cool book related items.

I like it when my husband has dental appointments because I get uninterrupted reading time. 💚

I'm really enjoying the tagged book so far. Has anyone read it?

People have told me to read this book since it first came out. I put it off because historical fiction has to be a genre I'm in the mood for in order to appreciate it.

This book deserves all the praise it has received. The writing is simply exquisite, and I was drawn into this world and the characters and felt like part of the hotel.

Really beautiful story that I should have read sooner.

I will read anything about a cult. That being said, this book will not be for everyone, but Daniella has written an heartfelt memoir of her childhood in The Children of God cult and how that shaped her life.

I didn't know much about this cult, so I learned a lot. It was fascinating to me how she compared her childhood to her years in the military, too.

This is a difficult read, with many triggers, but it is one that is worth the read.

When I saw this cover, I couldn't resist reading it. Going in completely blind, I found myself quickly wrapped up in this adventurous story.

The story focuses mainly on four characters and their connection to each other as they navigate a world once ruled by many gods. Worshipping gods is now forbidden, but our four travelers desperately need help from the gods.

The characters are well-developed, and the action will keep you reading. 💚

I only started reading Christie in the last few years. This year, I'm reading through the Miss Marple series with a friend.

This is book 5 in the series and one of the stronger ones, in my opinion. Marple is a part of the story from page one, which I love because she's such a great character. The mystery had several layers to it, making it a bit more complex than previous books.

Overall, I had a wonderful time at Stoneygates with Miss Marple.

I'm back! At least for now. 😁 I've missed seeing your reviews, and I'm excited to see what you've all been reading.

This year, I'm not doing challenges and instead just reading what I want without any pressure. I found I was getting too competitive with my challenges, and it was making reading less enjoyable.

Here are some of my favorites I've read so far this year. 💚

I'll be taking a break for a bit from reading challenges and Litsy.

No worries, though, I will return, just not sure when. 😊

I wish you all a wonderful New Year, and I look forward to seeing all the great books you've read when I return.

#tob24 long list

Perhaps it's me and not the book because, to be honest, I don't have anything negative to say about this read. It just didn't really resonate with me personally.

I can see the appeal for others with this book, but for me, it has a good premise/story and forgettable characters.

#tob24 long list

Give me a story with well-developed characters that allow me to see and experience the world around them, and I am hooked. Idlewild was such an enjoyable read that made me think, made me feel, and even surprised me.

It's a great story about growing up and reflecting, and the 9/11 storyline was very well handled in it.

And, I loved the ending. 😁

#tob24 long list

Another just okay read from the list for me. As a fan of a sci-fi, time travel, and books about cults, I liked many aspects in this complex story following a woman, Ursa, who can travel back to memories of her past.

This story has a lot to it with trauma, love, and family relationships. In the end, it could have used some editing because all of the different themes become heavy and ultimately get lost amongst each other.

#tob24 long list

Sparrow is probably one of the toughest reads I've read all year. My emotions were all over the place with this unflinching story of a young boy growing up in a Roman brothel. It is a wonderfully written historical fiction that will leave you utterly drained yet satisfied when finished.

If you are a fan of books like Shuggie Bain, this book reminded me of that in the way it brutally attacked my emotions.

#tob24 long list

Moby Dick is one of my favorite books, so when I started this book about someone researching Melville, I was excited.

The good: I thought the story was unique and enjoyed the back and forth between Melville's life and the life of the main character. I was also a fan of how things became more blurred between what was real and what was research as the story unfolded.

The bad: For me, the big turn-off is not knowing what ⬇️⬇️

#tob24

It isn't a normal thing for me to bail, but as time ticked away on this library hold and I found myself unable to connect, and kept having to restart from the beginning each time I tried because I was confused about what was happening, I decided to return it in the hopes the next person would have better luck. 😁

I don't think I'll attempt to revisit this one later. It hurts my head just thinking about it.

#tob24 longlist

Yet another example of a book from this list that could have been great. I loved the gritty, Western tone; it felt original. Also, focusing on two women recently released from prison was a great premise.

Sadly, though, another book falls short due to poor execution in the end. The book starts strong, then the storyline tries to be too complex and ultimately collapses on itself.

I would read this author again, though.

#tob24 longlist

I found myself pleasantly surprised with how much I enjoyed this one. There is so much detail in this story. I'll admit that at times, I found myself asking why the author was telling me every miniscule detail of the way something looked or the supplies being used, but it really does all come together to enrich the story.

This book might not be for everyone, but fans of sweeping historical tales like East of Eden will like it.

#tob24

I'm a big fan of this feminist retelling of Orwell's classic. I felt it was really well done and timely. Learning about Julia's young life was fascinating to me. Newman has done something special here; she's breathed new life into a timeless novel while also paying reverence to the genius of the original.

I only wish I had reread 1984 before this one because it's been years since my last read.

This was one I was excited to read even before the #tob24 long list came out. Unfortunately, it didn't work for me. Great ideas, interesting setting, but ultimately the author has too many unanswered questions and giant cavern sized plot holes.

And don't even get me started on that terrible ending! 🤦‍♀️ I will be surprised if this makes the shortlist.

I'm still working on a few from the #tob24 list that I already had checked out, but these are my library holds that I have gotten in the past two days.

Have you read any that you liked from these?

If you've followed me for long on Litsy, then you know that weird, grotesque horror is right up my alley. However, this book pushed some boundaries that left me feeling uneasy. It also still left me with a lot of questions once I finished.

I'm thankful books like this are showing up in the #tob24 though.

If you had trouble reading last year's pick, Manhunt, then you'll probably want to skip this one.

#tob24

This is a unique story that I really enjoyed. It was fun to read a story where the top literary writers of the time come together to discuss what will happen next for America now. It's set in 1883, but I couldn't help but make connections between societal issues then and now.

Part of why this works so well is because it's short. I feel if it were longer, I would have lost interest.

#tob24

Definitely one of my favorites from the long list! 💚

This Sapphic historical fiction swept me up in the story and had me enthralled. Julia Watts paints a vivid picture of life in 1950s Kentucky. Usually, romance isn't my thing, but that is just a small part of this sweeping tale of friendship, acceptance, and learning to be oneself.

#tob24

This book was a bit of a mess. The ideas presented felt relevant and current, but the length of this book and the way the story is told does not do it justice. I never felt connected to any of the characters, and because of all the different POVs, I was confused a lot about who was talking.

I appreciate what the author was trying to do, but this book needed editing and polishing.

While I did not find this one scary, I still really liked it. It doesn't compare to the foreboding paranoia I felt while reading Shirley Jackson, but Elizabeth Hand has done an incredible job of creating interesting, flawed characters.

The house itself wasn't as big of a character as I would have liked, but Hand still has some great descriptions of it in her writing.

I wanted a quick thriller to read, so I grabbed this from the library one night on my way home.

I should have left it there. 🤣 This book was terrible. The characters are superficial, annoying people living in unrelateable scenarios who find themselves caught up in a situation with the Mafia.

Just avoid this one.

This is an excellent collection of stories. I even discovered some new to me authors. The stories are varied, from horror to sci-fi, with each one showing the injustices still prevalent in our society.

By far, my favorite was Dark Home by Nnedi Okorafor. But there were so many other great ones in this anthology. Horror fans will be pleased.

#tob24

Although not a favorite from the long list, I wouldn't be upset if it made the short list. It's a quiet, poetic novel of a woman in her 60s reflecting on her life. She finds herself in a location that allows her to analyze and make changes she might not have otherwise.

The setting has strong symbolism to the story, and even though this book is quite melancholy, it didn't leave me feeling emotionally overwhelmed.

This is a charming read that explores the meaning of life from various points of view. I really enjoyed getting wrapped up in each character's life.

Although I liked this one, I am surprised it made it on the #tob24 long list.

@BarbaraBB @squirrelbrain @Megabooks @Suet624 @BkClubCare @Jas16 @cariashley @MicheleinPhilly @Larkken @merelybookish @batsy @Readerann @Hooked_on_books

#tob24

I love weird, and I love fairytale retellings. Kelly Link is a brilliant writer, but there were only two stories in this collection that I enjoyed.

The others felt lackluster in comparison. I do appreciate that she explored fairytales not commonly known. Some of the connections to the original tales were too loose, which made it difficult to follow.