Whaaat?!? Really? Now I‘ve got to see what happens next for Joona.

Welp, I‘ve officially re-entered the world of Joona Linna. Please hold my texts and emails until I return to the real world.

I really really enjoyed this. I appreciate the author's honesty and vulnerability.

Cute way to end the holiday season.

Definitely cozy mystery series season. Here for a series featuring a small town Librarian solving mysteries with her quirk friends and family.

A series featuring a small town librarian who solves mysteries? Yes, please.

funny yet cringey ...

Another Talia Hibbert love story that doesn‘t shy away from difficult conversations.

It started off strong but lost me after a senseless act of violence. Everything afterwards just frustrated and confused me.

Such great gems dropped throughout the book...

Modern day additions.

Such a fun fall/winter fantasy read. Excited for the next installment.

Whew, this story hit close to home.

A feel good read. Really enjoyed it.

I was fortunate to hear the author speak at a 2022 Brooklyn Book Festival session on newly published writers. He was a quiet, humble speaker, and his journey intrigued me. A few weeks later, I listened to his interview on NPR's podcast, Book of the Day and it sealed the deal.

I am so glad I bumped this collection of short stories to the my list.

An unexpected gem showcasing the power of books.

Gosh, I love this series!

Too bad Jack hates hugs because she really needs one. Thank goodness she has Alexis.

Cute mystery. Meh narrator.

well, that was different.

Cozy fall murder mystery.

Hoping there is another installment. If there is, I think one or both of the twins will start a romance and I hope they make progress in finding their birth mother.

I couldn‘t put it down and this book will definitely stay on my mind for a bit.

I'm glad I decided to give this story a try.

A hard read but a necessary read.

A cute October read.

Wow, a lot happens so quickly in this book. Be prepared to take some time to digest the many layers/topics/issues that appear.

Yup, I‘m definitely a fan of Venita Blackburn. Sigh, I guess I have to patiently wait for her next collection.

Meh. Maybe, I'll continue reading.

Cute.

Gotta love a romance in which the main character not only finds a love interest but gains self-love as well.

I hyped this book up so much in my mind and was so disappointed when it fell flat. Just, sigh.

This was a fun read. I love a good cast of characters, even the unlikeable ones.

Loved this! I want to read this for the first time again.

Highly recommend reading the Author‘s Note at the end of the book.

Gorgeous writing. I am becoming a fan of this author.

an unexpected gem of a story.

It feels amazing to “see“ myself in the books I read. I knew I would love this book from the dedication page it did not disappoint. I'm not nor will I ever be medical student but I was once “... at age twelve, scouring the shelves for books about girls who looked like me, whose suffering wasn't supposed to be the subject of discussion in English class.“ And I am a “... dark-skinned girl for whom self-love is a continued, arduous process.“

Such a strange cast of characters. I definitely had no idea where the story(ies) were going but I guess that it is what either keeps you interested or not. I am glad that I stuck with it until the end.

Romance? Check.
Honest conversations about mental health? Check. Close tribe of friends? Check.

Very much reminded me of the worlds and characters of Octavia Butler.

My favorite stories were:
- Nevermind
- Save Changes
- Timebox Altar(ed)

Fun twist to the Cinderella story.

A frank discussion of how the prospect/fear of shifting power dynamics were a factor to the resistance of changing racial dynamics in America. Learned a lot of new information and gained some new insights into old information. [ i took so many notes!]

i liked it this better than i thought i would. this was honest, funny, and worth the read. [3.5]

Fairy tale retelling? Check. Diverse cast of characters? Check. Would I recommend to others? Check.

I really enjoyed the story of the North women but I wish we heard more from the matriarch, Hazel and at least a chapter from the youngest (and funniest) member of the family, Mya. Also, can we have a novella about the mysterious neighbor, Miss Dawn?

As you can tell, I got attached to the characters in this book. I hope to meet them again.

Special s/o to Penguin Random House for a copy of the arc and access to the audiobook.

Overall a fun read. Some of the characters were annoyingly distracting but I would still recommend this book.

Another example of why I need to read at least one Toni Morrison book a year.

Well, damn.

This wasn't bad but I just wanted more...

I need some time to think about this one.

The historical characters were more interesting than the modern ones.

If “library“ is in the title, I will read it. #sorrynotsorry

After a rough start, I enjoyed this book by the end. I need to see what other trouble Ropa gets herself into.