I really loved this book. It made me laugh. It made me cry. The characters jump off the page and they all have a measure of depth (which is not easy to do with SOMETHING MANY of them). In some ways I did relate to the main character so that made he believable. In some ways she was a bit out there which made the book funny. Overall ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️🙂

I really wanted to love this book. The story overall was good. There weee some good ideas there but the structure threw me for a loop. There were a few small mistakes between the wives (ie the 2nd wife‘s name during the 1st wife‘s journal) and the language structure bothered me. It wasn‘t a bad book but it wasn‘t my favorite. It reminded me a bit of Dorothy Koomson‘s The Woman He Loved Before but I definitely liked Koomson‘s more.

Jumping from one century to another. I intend to go back to my Summer with Zora Neale Hurston but I ordered this book a while ago and it finally came so I‘m going with this next. 🙂

One thing about this book; I get something different from it every time I read it. I think this might be my 3rd time reading it (maybe 4th) but I always enjoy it. One of the things that stood out to me this time was Janie‘s speech about her grandmother and the pedestal she wanted Janie to sit on. It was such a powerful speech on how and why we do what we do for those we love. Sometimes that love crushes those we love. Is that really love?

That children‘s book was all over the place so I am taking a break from it to follow my original plan. For my birthday/end of school gift from school (I‘m moving schools) I got a book gift certificate that I used to purchase a collection of Hurston‘s writings. I also got her book of essays as a birthday gift from my principal. My friend wanted to do a buddy read of this book so let‘s get started.

One of the things I aim to do this summer is read my shelf - especially my children‘s books. My students are always allowed to read the books on my shelf but I haven‘t read a lot of the books I have available so i am going to try to read through a bunch of them. I hope to read at least 7 of those books this summer. This one is the first. The cover is so cute! 🙂

A book from my goddaughter and my 2 person book club. 🙂 I liked it. Fantasy is not my jam but Jada loves it. She really enjoyed it a lot and wanted to read the sequel which we will likely do later in the summer. I liked it. I would give it a solid 3.5/5 stars. I am curious enough to want to read the second one though. 🙂

Time to see if it lives up to the hype.

A quick read. It was very good. I gave it 4⭐️. I had to take away a start for making me cry. Other than that it was perfect. Yoon has a way of storytelling that captures you right away and keeps you invested. The character development is always spectacular. I can‘t wait to read her next book.

One thing about Nicola Yoon; she is going to suck you in right away. She is the author equivalent of a black hole because as soon as you start reading, everything else ceases to exist.

I agree with Ray. 🙂

Ahead of the Lifetime movies I decided to finish this series. She far it‘s my least favorite. The best thing about this book was the ending - truly. I‘m not being facetious. There was a slight twist that I wasn‘t suspecting. I expected something but not that. The main character was either a ritz or the author got some factual things wrong which is a HUGE con for me. I gave it 2 🌟on GR.

Getting my hair done and reading. 🙂

My #blitsybookswap partner was the absolute BEST! Thanks so much @Chelleo . Everything was so amazing. I can‘t wait sit to dive into these books while sipping a nice cup of tea. My absolute favorite is the bag. So CUTE! It was worth the wait. 😉🙂 Count me in for next year! 🙂

I haven‘t been keeping up here. This is my current read. It‘s been okay starting to pick up now. 🙂

I am later than I wanted to be but it is sent express. Hoping it gets to you safely and you love it! #blitsyswap #bhmswap #bookmail

A very good read. I wouldn‘t say a thriller but pretty intriguing. I kept reading to try to figure out everything in terms of the direction the story was going. I was not shocked by the ending but it did come full circle and I appreciate that.

Who brings a book to the book date? Néa brings a book to the book date. ??‍♀️? And we match. ????

This book 📕 is BEAUTIFUL! I can‘t wait to dive in. 🙂 This is not part of our official book club but both my goddaughter and I are reading it. 🙂

Y‘all I did It to myself but I have no regrets! I should have been getting ready for tomorrow but I HAD to finish this book. It was amazing. I loved the fantasy world.
I loved the characters. Everyone was so multi-dimensional, and anyone who knows me knows that I LOVE that because it moves us away from classic boring tropes. The best thing is that book 2 is already on it‘s way to me and I can‘t wait to read it!

Godma‘s pick up next. This is our 3rd book. It‘s supposed to be suspense so it‘s more my speed than Jada‘s. I feel like the best way to start a book is with dessert. 😉🤣

It wasn‘t awful but it wasn‘t spectacular. It was just okay for me.
Pros - Interesting characters. Felt well researched. A few twists and turns; enough to make you want to keep reading.
Cons - Resolution was unfulfilling. Slang was thrown in at random places. Historical story was okay but present day story was one level.
I gave it ⭐️⭐️⭐️.

This book was chosen by my goddaughter for our 2 person book club. I wasn‘t certain how it would go honestly but it turned out really good. I did enjoy it and I certainly see why it is so well-loved. During our discussion Jada and I both talked about how we like the 3rd person narrator and compared it to Narnia. She didn‘t know that Tolkien and Lewis were friends. We loved it and we recommend it to you as well. 🙂

My goddaughter and I have started a book club of 2. I chose the last book - Daughters of Nri. This is her choice. I now have to put all reading aside to read this with her. I have started it once before but got distracted by Walter Mosley. I am going to stay focused this time. 😉🙂

A ferry ride and a new book. 🙂 I don‘t typically read historical fiction but this has gotten rave reviews so li‘m going to give it a try..

I am on a reading roll. This was very differently from anything I have read. It was reminiscent of some other novels but also unique. Told from different voices and perspectives, it is a story of life and of healing. It was so interesting. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

A novel told in verse. It was beautiful. A depth of emotion that is common in Acevedo‘s writing; especially in this particular style. I loved it. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I am uncertain. It was well-written and a good story overall. I am not a big fantasy person. This one was okay once I got my mind around the ‘world‘. Also it was a bit twisty, which I appreciate as I love mysteries and thrillers. I don‘t know though. Overall it was okay considering it is not my usual genre. A definite women‘s empowerment story. ⭐️⭐️⭐️

Overall, really good book. It was super funny and also very sad. My only real challenge was the structure of it. Sometimes there was no clear delineation between stories so it could get confusing. Overall a good book about a really triggering topic.

😂😂😂

Oooooh Baby. This was so good. I just finished and I am ALLL THE WAY SHOOK! How does she keep doing this to me? I love it. So many twists and turns. So many times I think I know what is going on but not quite. This book was 🤯. Strap yourself in for a rollercoaster ride! She is my favorite for a reason.

I didn‘t think it would arrive until the middle of August but it‘s here and it‘s early and I think I might as well just get started as I have a 2 day holiday beginning tomorrow. 🙂

I have always thought I just don‘t like fantasy. This book has proven that to be untrue. I don‘t like bad fantasy, but amazingly beautiful, intriguing, eloquent fantasy - I love! This book was amazing. Switching from perspectives worked for me as it helped to build intrigue. The world Amayo created was wonderful. The 3rd person displayed characters multi-dimensionally. I can‘t wait to read book 2. 🙂⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Laughing out loud already and this is just the introduction. 🤣🤣🤣

It took me a while to finish because of life and work. Summer break is here and thanks to getting my hair braided I finished. Overall a good read. I enjoyed a lot of it. I think I might have enjoyed it more if I was more consistent with reading. One critique I have was a lack of consistency in translating language so some things were confusing. Other than that it was great. 🙂

So I finally finished this book. It was a tough read to be honest and TBH 1 I don‘t normally read/enjoy historical fiction 2. I don‘t enjoy historical fiction set in slavery times. Despite this not being my normal genre I did enjoy this book. I could tell it was based on a true story and it was well written. The pacing at times was a bit off for me but overall it was good. Thankfully my cousins loves this genre and I will pass the book on to her.

I didn‘t even have a chance to post that I was reading it before I finished. 🤗 I have read other books by this author and they have one thing in common; they‘re all amazing. This book definitely tugs at the heart strings, and I found myself shedding a tear more than once. My one and only criticism is that at times the perspective was a bit mature. Overall a great read. Onto my next read while the mojo is flowing. 🙁 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

It‘s fine. I really loved it mostly. It was heart breaking but also very beautiful. I think it was very well written. It took a while to read, more because life became busy more than the book itself. Towards the ending there was a scene that, although it made me cry, was a bit cliche for me and a trope I don‘t really enjoy. Other than that it was amazing. There were a few surprises, laughter and tears. All the signs of a wonderful read. 🙂

I was thinking about Dunbar‘s poem Sympathy the other day. This reminds me of it again.

Meekness was not weakness. And boldness was not strength.

My last 2 book (which I will review soon) were okay. As I was reading them I kept gazing longingly at this book. It‘s been on my TBR forever. I ordered it when it was first released but I never felt like the time was right. Here I am in the middle of shelter in place part 2 🙄and I felt it was time to pick it up. Also my reading mojo has been on super power lately. 😉😂

I decided to take a break from the memoirs and dive into another favorite genre; mystery. 🙂This seems like a good book to read. 🙂

All I can say is Wow! Generally I love memoirs but this one was so different. Simone tells her story In a slightly removed voice but I think that was a part of her genius. I am not going to give any spoilers but I find it interesting how her direction changed from what she aspired to do. I always heard that she was ‘difficult‘ but it was good to hear her side of things. Loved reading her thoughts and experience of the Civil Rights Movement.

“All in all, winter seemed like a mean trick to play for four months out of the year.” I agree. 😂😂😂

It‘s still March and this Women‘s History Month so I think I am going to continue with the memoirs of amazing women. 🙂

This book was EVERYTHING! I loved it! Her story is amazing. As I was reading I could imagine her just sitting in a corner telling me the story of her life. It was glorious. At times heat-breaking and at times life affirming. I just loved everything about this book, especially the closing. Read it! #blitsy #blacklitsy #memoir #goodblackreads

When I tell you I laughed out loud. This woman is something else! I love her spirit. 🙂

When I tell you this woman and this book is everything. Reading this book is giving me so much. 🙂

If I can‘t make it through the introduction without shedding a tear I know this is going to be a special read.

From the life of one amazing woman to another. 🙂