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christineandbooks

christineandbooks

Joined September 2016

Reading any chance I get... IG: @christineandbooks
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christineandbooks
Us Against You | Fredrik Backman
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What my morning looked like...glad the weather has cooled off enough to read out in my sunroom, but things are really heating up in this sequel to Beartown. Tensions are high, all the feelings are building, lots of book darts needed... Helps to have Anne to read when I need a break...good weekend reading...

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christineandbooks
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Pickpick

Another wonderful story by Penny.This one seems to be less liked among fans. It takes place mostly away from Three Pines and centers on one of the more unlikable characters in the series, Peter. It doesn't have the drama and emotional heft of the last few books. But I thought it was just right. We readers needed this chance to catch our breaths. Overall I find Penny's pacing of the larger story over the course of this series to be perfect.

Lcsmcat This was actually the first of the series that I read. (I didn‘t realize it was a series.) And I loved it. 6y
42 likes1 stack add1 comment
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christineandbooks
Winter Street | Elin Hilderbrand
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Going to spend some time getting into this while waiting for my car to be serviced... 😊

Samplergal Love reading her. Hopr this was a good one! 6y
51 likes1 comment
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christineandbooks
Peace Like a River | Leif Enger
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Current situation: new book, coffee, Winter mug, pajamas, Christmas lights and candles, snow outside, nowhere to go... perfect...

Suet624 I remember really liking that book. 6y
Daisey Sounds amazing and so cozy! 6y
Godmotherx5 Poetically perfect 💜🔥💜 6y
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MaureenMc 🙌👍❤️ (edited) 6y
DivineDiana Ah, yes! Perfect! 📚❄️💗 6y
Wife Sounds dreamy!😍 6y
kspenmoll Enjoy! 6y
Tamra This is a good one! I need to reread it - was a long time ago. 6y
Zelma Yup, perfection! 6y
75 likes1 stack add9 comments
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christineandbooks
If I Was Your Girl | Meredith Russo
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Started this a couple days ago...about 2/3 of the way through and I just want to drop everything and keep reading...

Notafraidofwords So addictive 6y
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christineandbooks
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Starting this today...last book of October... just in time for the movie!

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christineandbooks
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A cozy start to a Sunday...a new book with the perfect bookmark and a delicious cup of coffee...

Lacythebookworm This book is delightful! 😍 6y
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christineandbooks
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Pickpick

Finished this recently as a read-along with my 14 year old daughter. We both really liked it. As huge fans of the movie it was so fun to see how the movie and book compared (very, very similar as Goldman wrote the screenplay) and also to see Goldman's clever story structure and wordplay in print. Definitely recommend to those who love the movie!

Blaire Fun! NPR's popcast podcast just did an episode on the movie and book. 6y
christineandbooks @Blaire Cool! I'll have to look it up! 6y
69 likes2 comments
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christineandbooks
Northanger Abbey | Jane Austen
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Saw these at the local 2nd and Charles last night... 😍😍😍 I've never seen these editions before and they are so pretty! They are from Arcturus Publishing. When I got home (without the books 😖) I tried to look them up but couldn't find out much about them. They only had 5 titles... no Mansfield Park. Not sure if it even exists in this edition. Might have to get them. Only $6 each... Not that I need more Jane Austen... But, I mean, look at these!

jpmcwisemorgan Oh those are so pretty. 6y
mcctrish I would buy them 6y
Sarah83 @ScorpioBookDreams look what I saw here. 😍 6y
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Moray_Reads Lovely 6y
LauraBrook You need these! Go back and get them! 💸💸💸💸 6y
christineandbooks You evil book enablers... 😜 But I do have a birthday... tomorrow... and I'm going to be over in that area again later today... 😶 @LauraBrook @mcctrish 6y
ScorpioBookDreams @Sarah83 gorgeous! 😍😍 6y
Sarah83 They are so pretty. 😍 6y
tpixie Pretty!! 🌺 6y
tpixie @christineandbooks happy birthday 🎂 6y
EllieDottie These are so pretty!! 6y
smilingshelves Yes, please! They're so pretty! 6y
lamaman2boys Oh, I love those! (Excellent birthday present!!) 6y
christineandbooks @tpixie Thank you!! ☺ 6y
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christineandbooks
Crossing to Safety | Wallace Stegner
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Morning reading with cat... #smudge #catsoflitsy

LauraBeth Well that‘s a look of love if I‘ve ever seen one! 😻😻 6y
Mdargusch We used to have a cat that looked just like yours!😻 6y
christineandbooks Ha! From this cat it's more a look of "Of course you have let me take over your lap because I am queen here. Now, pet me." @LauraBeth 6y
PurpleyPumpkin What a sweetie! The perfect companion for your morning reading. 😻 6y
LauraBrook Such a beauty!!! 😽😽😽😽 6y
57 likes5 comments
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christineandbooks
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It's here! Book launch day for @annebogel ! I've been looking forward to reading this book from her very first mention of it and can't wait to get started! Just have to point out, too, as many others have how gorgeous this book is. So thrilled for Anne that it's finally out in the world!

Christyco125 I'm anxiously waiting for mine to show up 6y
christineandbooks @Christyco125 I hope it gets to you soon! ☺ 6y
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Crossing to Safety | Wallace Stegner
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Enjoying some early morning reading with this gorgeous book.

Moonpa Beautiful bookmark! 7y
quietlycuriouskate And what a sweet bookmark! 🐥💚 7y
TrishB Ditto ☝ 7y
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christineandbooks
Crossing to Safety | Wallace Stegner
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Next book... Reading this with the MMD book club. Listened last year on audio and loved it. Can't wait to re-read in print! #mmd #mmdbookclub #bookdartworthy #quietbooks

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christineandbooks
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Pickpick

Another excellent story by Louise Penny. This one was a bit confusing to me at times. So many seemingly unconnected things that Penny was weaving together and even at the end I wasn't completely satisfied with how it all came together or with the ending itself. But I'll be reading the next one eventually so maybe there will be a little closure there. Wonderful book anyway. Smudge had to get in the picture. I put that blanket there for her, right?

Tanzy13 🐱 7y
TheCanuckReader I felt the same way about the ending. Not 100% Sure what happened! 6y
62 likes3 comments
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christineandbooks
The Last Anniversary | Liane Moriarty
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Pickpick

Another great story by Liane Moriarty. Loved the characters in this (although it took me awhile to get them all straight in my head), loved the setting, loved the mystery being untwined. Fun read!

RadicalReader @christineandbooks no greater feat has been accomplished in the life of a bookworm than when one can successfully manage and manipulate characters when there's a parade of them that would make the Macy's Day parade pale in comparison. 6y
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Relaxing with Inspector Gamache...

LauraBrook Always a wise decision. ❤️🌲🌲🌲 7y
kspenmoll Wonderful way to relax! 7y
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christineandbooks
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Next up...Book 5 of Louise Penny's Three Pines mysteries. I just love these books! This one takes place at the beginning of September, starting on Labor Day weekend. 😀🌲🌲🌲🍁🍂

kspenmoll Thinking of rereading all- my neighbor is loving her latest. I Just got it, 7y
SilversReviews Love her books. I read her latest, GLASS HOUSES. Excellent as always. 7y
43 likes2 comments
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christineandbooks
Milestones | Cynthia Almaraz
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New milestone! Haven't been as active here on Litsy lately...just a busy summer. But still loving this wonderful, bookish community! Thanks for sharing your books with me!

rubyslippersreads 🎉📚🎉📚🎉🎉🎉 7y
Simona Congrats 📚🍾👏👏👏 7y
BekahB Congrats!! 🎉🎉 7y
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Iamlisa22 Congrats! 7y
Riveted_Reader_Melissa Congratulations 🎉 7y
erzascarletbookgasm 😃👏🏼🎊yay! 7y
Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks Yay!!!! 🎊🎉📚💕 7y
Dragon 👍😀🎉 7y
DuckOfDoom Congrats!!🎉🎉 7y
TrishB 😀👍🎉 7y
Megabooks 🙌🏻🙌🏻🙌🏻🎉🎉🎉👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻📚🍾🥂 7y
Suelizbeth WOOHOO!! 🎉🎉🎊🎊🍾🍾🌈🌈📚📚❤️❤️ 7y
DGRachel Congrats!🎉🎉🍾🎉🎉 7y
Wife Wow!🌹 7y
JessClark78 Congrats! 🎊🎉🎉🎊📚 7y
DrexEdit Woot! 👏👏👏🎉🎉🎉 7y
Lmstraubie 👏👏👏👏👊 7y
DebinHawaii Congratulations!! 🎉👍🎉👍😀 7y
SilversReviews Congrats!! 7y
56 likes19 comments
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christineandbooks
The Identicals | Elin Hilderbrand
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Pickpick

Fun, enjoyable, end-of-summer read... New-to-me author. Great setting - Nantucket and Martha's Vineyard. Loved the twin aspect and dysfunctional family situation. Will probably read more Elin Hildebrand when I need a lighter book.

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Latest Readings | Clive James
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August reading adventures...

LauraBeth 👏👏for finishing Middlemarch! 7y
christineandbooks @LauraBeth Thank you!! 😊 7y
Andrew65 Well done. 👏 6y
43 likes3 comments
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christineandbooks
The Identicals | Elin Hilderbrand
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Okay, okay, one more summer book! 😀🌻📚

Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks I love her books! I haven't read this one yet though! 7y
christineandbooks @Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks I've never read any of her books... This is my first! 😀 7y
Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks @christineandbooks they are nice, light reads!! 7y
Bostonmomx2 Love the bookmark!! 7y
erzascarletbookgasm Pretty bookmark. Matches the book. 7y
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The Bookshop at Water's End | Patti Callahan Henry
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"The soul needs story and meaning to help us endure this life."

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The Bookshop at Water's End | Patti Callahan Henry
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Pickpick

What a wonderful end-of-summer read! Small beach-town setting. Multiple perspectives. Mother and daughters. Best friends. Older women befriending younger women. A mysterious event from the past. New and old romances. And a bookshop right in the center of it all. Lots of bookish references, although I could have used even more. And lyrical, thoughtful writing. Just right...

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The Bookshop at Water's End | Patti Callahan Henry
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Trying to squeeze in a couple more summer-y reads before September is here! This is one of them. Good so far!

Soubhiville Love that cover! 7y
Cinfhen Pretty pairing 💚💙 7y
christineandbooks @Soubhiville Me too! I love a great cover design. @Cinfhen Thanks! I have a thing for matching my bookmark to my book... 7y
Laura317 I try to pair my books and bookmarks too! It's a thing. 7y
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christineandbooks
Tell Me Three Things | Julie Buxbaum
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Pickpick

Interrupted my planned reading to fly through this sweet, smart YA story about a teen girl struggling to deal with the death of her mom (2 years prior to the story) and the new life she's thrust into when her dad remarries. There's a bit of mystery, a bit of romance, a bit if family and school drama, and a good ending. Light and sweet but also smart and thoughtful.

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christineandbooks
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Started this on audio today. So far, it's funny and sweet but I don't know if it will stay that way...

TheCanuckReader It's a contorted ride but worth it! 7y
Blueberry I thought it got better as it went along. 7y
BornReadChicago I really loved this book - really unique, and I love surprising connections between characters! 7y
christineandbooks @TheCanuckReader @Blueberry @BornReadChicago I have heard good things about this book and so far it seems to be living up to what I've heard. I have high hopes! ☺ 7y
40 likes4 comments
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Lost Book of the Grail | Charlie Lovett
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Next book... Due back at the library on the 26th so I need to get reading! Looking forward to this one...

MaureenMc I really enjoyed this one. 7y
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christineandbooks
Every Last Lie | Mary Kubica
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Pickpick

I was very engrossed in this story for most of the book. But towards the end it took a turn that I half expected but didn't think would really happen. It changed my feeling about the book from the suspense of a mystery to just feeling great sadness for the protagonist and her situation. I still liked the story but was thinking it would go another direction. I also thought that there were a few loose ends left that I wanted to know about.

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christineandbooks
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Pickpick

Another sweet, hopeful, thought-provoking story from Nicola Yoon. Liked the alternating points of view interspersed with other perspectives and stories.

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Every Last Lie | Mary Kubica
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Giving this a try next. Loved The Good Girl but have heard mixed reviews of this. I'm about 65 pages in and liking it so far...Anyone like this one?

Ssmith I liked The Good Girl a lot- this one left me wanting a little bit. It's still a good enough read, though. 7y
peaKnit I got it as an ARC and I did like it, I think her books are suspenseful. 7y
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A Perilous Undertaking | Deanna Raybourn
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Pickpick

Such a fun follow-up to Deanna Raybourn's first in her Veronica Speedwell mystery series set in Victorian London. Interesting characters, witty banter, and unusual storyline (to this non-mystery reader, anyway). Veronica is fiesty and smart. Stoker is smoldering and intriguing. Just a great ride...and a new one coming in 2018!

robinb Here's to 2018! 🎉😊 7y
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A Perilous Undertaking | Deanna Raybourn
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Going to try to finish this fun and feisty mystery...

batsy I love her Julia Grey mystery series! 7y
christineandbooks @batsy I haven't read any of that series yet. I'll have to give them a try! 7y
robinb I love her Julia Grey as well! And loved this one even more than the first! 7y
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christineandbooks
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Pickpick

I finished! I started reading this book in January, not as my only book and not always regularly. I got bogged down in the middle and almost quit but at the encouragement of many readers I kept reading, and I'm glad I persisted! The payoff was good, and I really enjoyed the last section. Overall the story and writing were good but I'm still not fully feeling the love some seem to have for it. If you love it please share why in the comments.

mcctrish There were parts I liked better than others and parts that seemed to go on but I guess what I liked the most was that I was transported to Middlemarch and I was part of a group of people that spanned 100 + years that lived there for awhile and knew these people and felt they could have been real 7y
batsy Gosh, it's hard to describe why I love it. It felt like whole lives were described in detail, the psychological characterisation and description of interior states. On the level of style, I did not find it tedious at all. It feels very grown up in how it depicts marriage and especially in showing how Dorothea was trapped in certain naive, idealised notions that needed to be tested against actual people and the real world. 7y
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A Perilous Undertaking | Deanna Raybourn
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Next!

robinb ❤️❤️❤️You're in for a treat! Enjoy! 7y
batsy Are you enjoying this series? I loved her Julia Grey books. 7y
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The Greengage Summer | Rumer Godden
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Pickpick

What a wonderful, perfect August book! It took a little while to get into the story but it was one of those books that starts slowly and draws you in so that you just want to inhale it. A bit coming-of-age, a bit mystery, incredibly atmospheric, wonderful characters, and apparently all based on an experience the author had as a teen. So glad I read this! I'd love to hear from anyone who has read other books by Godden...What should I read next?

batsy Aaaah I love this book! Another one that I thought was really good 7y
christineandbooks @batsy I was hoping I'd hear from you since I know you loved this book. Thanks for the recommendation! 😊 7y
batsy @christineandbooks Oops I think I've raved about this book one too many times 😆 7y
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christineandbooks @batsy I love it when people rave about books they love! 😊 7y
christineandbooks @Zelma Thanks for the recommendation... I'll have to look for that one! 7y
christineandbooks @Zelma and @batsy I loved this book as a child but didn't know it was by Rumer Godden. 7y
batsy @christineandbooks @Zelma I haven't read the ones you mentioned, can't wait 😊 I also enjoyed this one 7y
Zelma @batsy I really need to read more Godden. I don't know why I haven't. 7y
batsy @Zelma Me too! I imagine Mount TBR gets in the way ☺️ 7y
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christineandbooks
Gilead | Marilynne Robinson
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My mini book haul from Goodwill yesterday. Guernsey is a favorite, read twice, own on Kindle but wanted my own hard copy. The Namesake is one I think I have read but it was long ago before I kept track and I don't remember for sure. Gilead is in my TBR after hearing @annebogel talk about it many times. The author is new to me. I love how these covers look together too although they we're really hard to photograph!

Notafraidofwords I'm reading Gilead now. I love her as an author and I'm trying to get through her catalogue. 7y
55 likes1 comment
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I suddenly had the urge to re-read this memoir. It seems timely as my 17 year old heads off to college in a week and things are very much in flux in my home. Blurb from the jacket..."...a story of midlife longings and discoveries, if lessons learned in the search for home and a new sense of purpose, and the bittersweet intensity of life with teenagers - holding on, letting go."

JulAnna This has been on my TBR for a while, haven't had the emotional courage to tackle it. Both of my children have now graduated from college. 7y
christineandbooks @JulAnna Hah! I'm hoping it will *give* me emotional courage! 😃 Congrats on the college grads! 7y
54 likes2 comments
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The Greengage Summer | Rumer Godden
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Next up! Moving from the modern-day American South to English children in France in the 1950's (I think...). Takes place in the "hot French August". Sounds perfect...

EvieBee Love her!!! 7y
Lindy This is a wonderful book! 7y
tpixie There's a movie, too! 🎥 7y
batsy I love this book and yay @Lindy glad to see you agree ☺️ 7y
christineandbooks @EvieBee Which of her other books would you recommend? 7y
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The Almost Sisters: A Novel | Joshilyn Jackson
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Pickpick

Fantastic story... amazing characters... contemporary feel but with important timeless themes...so funny at times, but such emotional depth at others... wonderful to read in print but also fabulous narration by the author herself (I switched off between audio and print)...just so much heart in this book... absolutely loved it. Go get it...

mom2bugnbee I loved this one, too! My favorite of hers. 7y
christineandbooks @mom2bugnbee Have you read them all? I've only read three but am looking forward to reading the rest! 7y
mom2bugnbee @christineandbooks If not all, nearly all. She's one of my favorite contemporary authors. 7y
Cinfhen Great review 💚 7y
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christineandbooks
The Almost Sisters: A Novel | Joshilyn Jackson
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This book is laugh-out-loud funny! Loving it...

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The Peach Keeper: A Novel | Sarah Addison Allen
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Started this on Kindle... looking forward to another magical story from Sarah Addison Allen..🌟

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The Summer Book | Tove Jansson, Thomas Teal, Kathryn Davis
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Here are my reading stats for July. More books read than last month, and lots of good ones, but not too many really great ones.Tagged is one that I forgot to mention in my graphic but was a wonderful, quiet little gem that I book-darted like crazy and am glad I own so that I can reread another summer. It's been a fun month of reading...

Lindy ❤️Mrs Dalloway!❤️ 7y
Gayan Joshilyn Jackson ❤️ 7y
48 likes2 comments
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christineandbooks
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Early morning reading with my cat buddy in the sunroom (it's a lovely 65 degrees out in my sunroom this morning here in Virginia!). Still trying to work my way through Middlemarch... 84% done... I think I might not leave this room today - except to get more coffee...😊

Aseleener That is one I have been wanting to tackle. Love your 😺. 7y
christineandbooks @Aseleener Thanks! She's a sweetie most of the time. I'm not enjoying Middlemarch as much as I thought I would but I think it's partly that I'm distracted by newer books. I am glad I am reading it, though. 7y
Nat_Reads Middlemarch was a slug for me until page 250 or so. THEN it was a whirlpool of joy. Eliot just sucked me in and I blew through it and cried and laughed and found a new favorite book. I hope you have that experience, too! 7y
59 likes3 comments
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christineandbooks
The Almost Sisters: A Novel | Joshilyn Jackson
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Currently listening to this on audio, but also my hold on the print version came in so I might do a bit of both. Joshilyn Jackson narrates all her own audiobooks and they are phenomenal! So fun to listen to. She is really excellent at changing up her voice for the different characters. Also a fantastic story so far...

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christineandbooks
The Bookshop on Rosemary Lane | Fiona Gibson, Ellen Berry
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Pickpick

Another quick, sweet book I finished this week, this one on my Kindle. Also a beach-read, palate-cleanser type. Maybe a 3 star book, but I'll give it a pick because it was enjoyable if not amazing.

AlaMich It certainly wins for cutest cover! 7y
christineandbooks @AlaMich Right? Also, small Yorkshire villages as a setting... Just fun...😊 7y
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Pickpick

Finished up this one while getting a pedicure yesterday (only the second I've ever had...so heavenly). It was a good summer read, as enjoyable as the other book of hers I've read, The Bookshop on the Corner. For me the settings make the books. They aren't great literary fiction or intricately told stories, but they are sweet, fun reads. I'd definitely recommend as a beach read or palate-cleanser.

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Pickpick

Book four of Louise Penny's Inspector Gamache series... Another wonderful story. Her writing is so beautiful, her stories so well-crafted, her characters so complex. The best mysteries for people who aren't mystery readers.

Jerdencon Just started this one yesterday! Love this series! 7y
MicheleinPhilly I need to start this series already! 7y
christineandbooks @MicheleinPhilly Definitely! So good! 7y
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MicheleinPhilly I have the first 3. I just need to stop getting distracted by newer, shinier things. 7y
christineandbooks @MicheleinPhilly I know what you mean! 📚 7y
Sassy_Steph I want to start Louise Penny, I've never read anything by her! Where would you suggest I start? 7y
christineandbooks @Sassy_Steph This is a series that is best read in order as there are plot-lines that carry through and characters that develop as the books progress. Start with Still Life. ☺📚 7y
Sassy_Steph Thanks ever so much 7y
54 likes8 comments
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I have been reading this one at night which means it's going very slowly. Just bumped it up to my main print book since it's due back at the library Friday. I really wish I could be listening to this one just for the accent...

lamaman2boys I had been watching Outlander before I started reading this, and I kept hearing Jamie in my head (He's Scottish, in case you aren't familiar). It was not the worst thing 😁 7y
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Not listening to an audio book while I'm cooking dinner, but it's the next best thing. I am listening to Anne Bogel talk about books and bookish things. 😊📚 #whatshouldireadnext

Laura317 I love @annebogel 's podcast. I get lots of great ideas. 7y
Lmstraubie I love this podcast!! 7y
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A House for Happy Mothers | Amulya Malladi
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An interesting story about a topic I didn't know much about. Great narration in the audiobook.

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