I know I've been away for a second (sorry! this reading year has felt weird) but I've got a new video about the current moment in historical romance up https://youtu.be/zULRFKgUT3g

The most compelling part of this book is its first personal POV from a cocky and flawed private-sector spy. The writing is skilled and it obscures everything interesting behind false erudition. It takes something that could be action packed and seemingly, falsely, believes that this action would make it less literary. Instead, we are left with philosophical ponderings that don‘t add anything.

Found a Japanese edition of Sarah MacLean‘s Wicked the Wallflower in Tokyo. Blacked out a bit in the translated romance section (and had friends waiting) and forgot to look for Bridgerton but loved seeing multiple historical romances represented—and it was of course the Harlequins that caught my eye to know what I was looking at in the first place

Yes, I am reading a book about the history of Malört. And I am enjoying it a whole lot more than Malört—though that will be tested Saturday.

Finishing my reread so I can watch the Netflix movie. Wild to think I first read this when it came out at Tally‘s age.

Monk Nichephoerous‘ dream of Saint Nicholas leads him on a heist to steal the Saint‘s bones. With irreverent and sometimes nihilistic language it still sometimes a little too opaque for me and the style often leaves me feeling detached from the characters.
https://youtu.be/LBq8qdYz8rU

Had a great weekend at Printers Row in Chicago and finally picked this one I‘ve been eyeing all year up. It was clearly meant to be as it is now signed.

A medieval, West-African Hades and Persephone retelling? Yes, please. A lot to love in this one even if I felt it had the space to push out the character development a little more—and I would have taken anything more of the world it gave me.
Thoughts on YouTube:
https://youtu.be/u99PaJFNCo0

What are your most anticipated books of the month? https://youtu.be/rRJUm9_MT5g

Belated-- but what did everyone get up to for Bookstore Romance Day? https://youtu.be/SuEPmnMd4TM

I enjoyed the chemistry between Truly and Colin. It was flirtatious and sexy—even if I wanted to get to know them both deeper. Or in more contexts? The plot focused on Truly doing one woman Parent Trap in a way that activated my second-hand embarrassment. I can appreciate a good crisis; it just had her coming off immature. I enjoyed the stuff with Colin‘s family- or more seeing Colin and Truly as a team within that context—as a balance to this.

Who are the authors you get excited about when you see they‘ve blurbed a book? This is the third anticipated book I‘ve picked up so far this year to discover a blurb from Mariana Enriquez (and the Silvia Moreno-Garcia blurb definitely made me look too) and they haven‘t let me down yet.

“Don‘t smile ‘cause it happened baby cry because it‘s over.” Am I the only one who has the new Sabrina Carpenter album on repeat? It seems a lot of the short picks on my shelves may also be short on the sweet. But there‘s no “Slim Pickins” here.

Argument about summer or fall aside, one thing is certain, it‘s the perfect weather to read What Stalks Among Us. It explores overcoming trauma with an active, compelling, and spooky metaphor. It celebrates friendship. And it articulates a specific portion of the Hoosier teenage years that I haven‘t found reflected elsewhere. And I couldn‘t miss the opportunity to finally capture it next to a Hoosier cornfield as intended.

Some much needed morning reading—finding a few moments for myself before saying goodbye to my Grandma tonight and tomorrow. And this book is a perfect escape at the moment.

My #bookstoreromanceday haul. What‘d everyone else grab?

Happy Bookstore Romance Day! 💕

What is everyone hoping to grab today (or think others should grab?)

It‘s an overcast late summer day with the promise of fall right around the corner. You know what that means? It‘s about time I‘m for a reread of one of my favorite books — Lincoln in the Bardo. I was once lured back to a book club I had lapsed in by them strategically selecting this book. I‘ve taken this book to the bar in rough times and comforted myself by just revisiting passages. What are the books that you regularly get the itch to reread?

I wasn‘t sure what to expect from this one after but it‘s right up there with Book Lovers and Beach Read for me—I really enjoyed it. While I often talk about my complicated relationship with small town romances-I think Henry consistently nails it (even if not categorized as such). I was hesitant on the premise but it delivered for me. And finishing it while enjoying a non-alcoholic cocktail wasn‘t too shabby either. https://youtu.be/clzoqLXoeo8

What‘s that? The first reading wrap up video I‘ve posted since March? 😱
https://youtu.be/z-ARhXf4TwM

The Chicago Public Library system has just shy of 200 copies of Funny Story in circulation. After months, the copy I picked up has been so well loved for a same year release.

There may be a commentary on modern binding in here somewhere (for me there always is). But there‘s something magical about picking up a library copy and knowing you‘re about to go on a journey many have gone on before you. It‘s a reminder of the power of libraries.

With Booker-nominated Enlightenment Perry returns us to Essex and her winding language that almost feels nostalgic in itself, managing to encapsulate hope and sadness for unrealized dreams throughout. Our desires to “do some great thing before I die” illustrated by our looking to the heavens and contrasted against our worldly worries.

Expanded thoughts in my YouTube review:
https://youtu.be/7j3-SfA9osk

How many photos do I have of random Enlightenment quotes because it‘s a library book (not counting anything jotted in the reading journal)? No comment.

Started a new book last night; it was long listed for the Booker this morning

If you're looking for some Wallflower romances after Bridgerton Season 3, I've got you covered https://youtu.be/p0TlSDnEK3g

Drank one glass of (probably overpriced) wine and no longer know how to read.

I hope Lima is part of Printer‘s Row Lit Fest this year because I would love to heR her talk about this collection.

#weekendreading

On one hand, ashamed it's not more. On the other hand, the list obviously skews to a certain kind of litfit (though happy to see some speculative fiction and The Fifth Season) and there were tons of repeat authors on the list.

My initial thoughts on My Lady Jane are as chaotic as the show--though maybe not as successfully--but here they are. https://youtu.be/GvHuwBIUN_Y

Think I may actually finish my reread today so I can finally watch the show.

Still battling a mini reading slump but as expected the book with a Mariana Enriquez blurb (that was also already on my radar) is coming through.

This is the second book I bought on indie bookstore day 2024 I‘ve read so far and while they‘re both novellas (and I haven‘t actually finished this one yet) that‘s a win.

A still life of prep for the Psyche & Eros Bridgerton analysis that‘s up on now YouTube.

https://youtu.be/8VxtpAxVcm4

https://youtu.be/mm1cJ7kSk8o

Mark your calendars. We all enjoyed the book club book. (AND we got goat cheese.) What was your book club‘s last hit?

Has everyone that's planning on watching Bridgerton Season 3 caught Part 1? Or are you waiting for it all to drop? https://youtu.be/qv5XFZ0KYDE

Been in a low-grade reading slump for a bit w/ starting new job. But still in a historical romance mood. After the end of one of my recent lives and discussing the current state of historical romance (I feel like there may have been some other discourse I absolutely missed) I want to make a more conscious effort to prioritize and support new historical romance releases. What‘s a new-ish historical romance you‘re looking forward to?

Been a little MIA between interviewing for and starting a new job-- and the reading slump that resulted, but I'm excited to get back in the swing and here's what I've got on my radar for May https://youtu.be/knCx9u9DV-g

Some poetry I‘ve read for #poetrymonth that is tortured because it didn‘t get to be Bejeweled when Goodreads did away with the 2023 Goodreads Choice poetry category.

Sometimes I can't get a thought out of my head. Friday it was, “wait are we a greek Chorus on Taylor Swift's new album?“ And here we are. https://youtu.be/_wWM3xuShR4

Happy Polin season https://youtu.be/8RJAUWt5N5g

Also doing a readalong over on Storygraph if you wanna join in: https://app.thestorygraph.com/readalongs/c9bb876a-6e1c-4765-b03d-117eae99791d

Wrapping up March reading (spoiler alert: it was a good month) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qoup2uI0pT4

Happy April! No fools just anticipated reads. https://youtu.be/ZPnbaaBl2ms

“Every horror has a moment when it glistens; after that, it‘s just sad.”

As close to sports as I generally get. Tagged the first book read-- no spoilers. Can you guess which one comes out on top for me? https://youtu.be/DinTdWeRPl0?si=5Oqps3kEnaanthCJ

Ok, didn‘t get through all three this weekend (though two and a half isn‘t bad) in order to get the planned video out today. Hopefully still sometime this week. In the meantime, can you guess my pizza order?

A weekend reading update. Finished and loved both of these! 🤞🤞 I can get through one more today.

Weekend reading plans and (hopeful) sneak peek at next YouTube video.