September #ReadingBracket2024 fiction update
It was very close to being three months in a row of Alexandra Rowland books. However, although I adored Yield Under Great Persuasion, Celestial Monsters beat it out. The conclusion to the Sunbearer Duology was very exciting and satisfying

A late update to my #ReadingBracket2024
I only finished one nonfiction book in September. It was a quick yet encouraging listen

Lydia's account of the events of Pride and Prejudice 😂 Loving her commentary so far in this witchy retelling

I haven't been on litsy much lately and I'm sad I don't have the time/energy to participate in all the fun spooky events this month. But I'm getting married in a couple weeks and then we'll be on our honeymoon until November‼️so my brain is currently scrambling. That said, I will always have brain space for #bookspinbingo - I've left a lot of room for mood reading but I can't wait to see the #bookspin picks tomorrow @TheAromaofBooks

#WeirdWordWednesday @CBee
Saw this on instagram the other day. This word definitely describes me 📖🛌🏼😁

This one just didn't sit right. The main character is an established romance writer with writer's block who begins finding her story through the hate/lust she feels when she reconnects with her ex. I was already on the fence about the romance but then she had a conversation with her friend about the steps to a romance novel that were so cliche and simplified that I decided to stop reading. I didn't find her believable as a writer at that point

This might be my new favorite Emily Henry novel! I absolutely loved the concept and the characters. Their chemistry was so well developed from practically strangers living together, to real friends, and then to more. Daphne's feeling of isolation after her breakup was so heartbreaking yet relatable. And Miles was just so sweet! The way they worked through their baggage together was satisfying. 5🌟

Oof I try not to dwell on it, but I'm a massive mood reader so I've usually got at least 5 active reads 🙈 usually 2 ebooks, 1 physical book, and 2 audiobooks (1 fiction & 1 nonfiction)
And that's not including daily chapter buddy reads.
If I look at my storygraph currently reading it's usually upwards of 20 because I'll start reading something and put it aside for a few months before coming back to it 🙃
#moodreader @BookmarkTavern #SundayFunday

I got rid of a bunch of books from my main shelves, some moved to a smaller shelf and some to be donated/stored elsewhere. Then I added in all the many many stacks of recent purchases that have been sitting around on various tables and surfaces. I'm pleased with how it turned out, although I'll be in the same predicament again soon when more preordered books arrive with nowhere to go 🙈 It's a never ending cycle lol
#shelfie 📚

Cam is "helping" me rearrange my shelves
#catsoflitsy #camothecat

This is a great reference on queer history. Some of it I already knew but I also learned a bunch. The style is humorous while still being informative. Great listen!
#Nonfiction2024 the Color Purple @Riveted_Reader_Melissa

This was a very cozy & magical found family story. Yet it also hit hard on themes of grief & loneliness. Basie is immortal. His mother was too, but she chooses to end her life unexpectedly & Basie can't cope. He sells his family home, wanting to escape the small town, but can't seem to leave once newcomer Kit buys the house. Even with the harder subject matter, this book was a warm hug, filled with a lovely community plus gardening & baking galore

Fun little short story freebie. Travis Baldree sets up and solves a murder mystery in just a few pages, creating quirky characters with some hilarious commentary over a dead body. I would totally read a full length novel about Zyll the goblin's escapades.

✨We are all stardust and stories✨
🐝🗝️🗡️

My newest bookish tattoo! I love it so much, even if no one understands it and I'll be forever badly explaining my favorite story

This book is a riot! I laughed so much, it's such a joyful silly story. At the same time, there is a lot of heart and it was really a comforting read. The characters were delightful and their growth individually and as a unit was satisfying to witness. I loved that while this is a novel about pirates, the main concluding event wasn't a cannon battle or treasure hunt, but a community cake competition. Utterly surprising in the best way 💖

Book 2 in the Unstoppable series, I'm really glad I switched to audio. It was really well done. This one follows Rachael & Elza as they deal with the ramifications from the ending of book 1 & try to find their place in alien society. I can't say too much w/o spoilers but I loved the character growth, especially w getting multiple perspectives this time. Lots of great action packed battles as well. This series definitely gets even better as you go

I heard Pretty Woman retelling & I came running lol. This was a fun twist on the story. Cole is the CEO of a sex worker app who needs a boyfriend to impress a potential investor. Teddy just lost his business & could use the cash, plus the sex is amazing. Both their past traumas soon come into play & they have to figure out if what they have could be real. I really enjoyed this, my only complaint was the ending didn't feel completely resolved

I finally dumped this one after struggling through to 73% and it was a relief! I felt obligated to finish it because I won it in a giveaway but I finally stopped myself. None of the characters were likeable. Everyone was so childish and the focus on virginity was so cringey like who even cares that much?? I thought this would be an empowering reclaiming of sexuality but it just reinforced sexist ideology
This was my July #bookspin @TheAromaofBooks

This was a cute manga romance in which cafe worker Riku accidentally gets with the owner of the cafe after another breakup. I just didn't care for the miscommunication trope. The whole time he's convinced it's just a friends with benefits situation. Josh lets him believe it because it enables Riku to be himself without the pressure of a relationship title but I wanted him to be more forthright about his feelings

Finally updated my #bookspinbingo board from August. I managed two bingos with dnfs despite being in a bit of a reading slump. A bunch of these I've started and just not finished yet so hopefully this month I'll clear them off my currently reading list
@TheAromaofBooks

#5JoysFriday @DebinHawaii

1. End-of-summer pool day with my niece, who started an impromptu dance party 💃🏼 I love her so much
2. Booked our lodging for our Scotland trip finally! I'm getting so excited 🗺️
3. Spotted a cool caterpillar guy on our porch 🐛
4. Won lottery tickets to the Lion King and invited a friend I don't get to see often 🦁
5. Cats getting cozy on the couch with me on my lazy Monday off work 😻

August Nonfiction #ReadingBracket2024 Update
I read two great nonfiction books this month. The tagged took the month spot but I kept Rainbow History Class as a wild card. I'll decide who's moving on in the ranks next month once I've sat on them a bit

August Fiction #ReadingBracket2024 Update
This month created the battle of the Rowlands, with Running Close to the Wind ultimately moving on in the ranks. Both were delicious but the way Running had me cackling from all the hijinks 🤣
Also, The Pairing obviously had to make a wild card appearance, I loved it sm 💖

My September #bookspin picks. Looking forward to both of these 😊
@TheAromaofBooks

Here's my #5JoysFriday (a bit late) @DebinHawaii

1. My friend from PA was in my area so she stopped by for a chat and we went out to lunch! 🥰
2. Lewis being silly with his cat son Arthur 😹
3. Snuggles from Benny always 😻
4. Been listening to the audiobook for The Starless Sea as a comfort between other reads ✨
5. (not pictured) Dance lessons with Lewis, we're finally starting to choreograph our first dance 💃🏼

So I've been a bit MIA on here lately, I haven't reviewed any books from August 😭 But I've still been reading! Hopefully I can catch up soon.
Anywhoo I've got my September #bookspinbingo list ready for a fresh month! @TheAromaofBooks

Happy #5JoysFriday 🥳 What a whirlwind of a week! @DebinHawaii

1. New bookish tattoo! (will post better pics when healed) 🐝🗝️🗡️
2. Charlotte Pride! 🏳️‍🌈
3. Video chatted with some college friends, catching up on life 🥰
4. Lost dog showed up at work! Turns out he was chipped & went home with his owner 🐶
5. My parents were here for a quick visit. Got to hang with them & my sister & niece! Jolene put stickers on her arm to match my tattoo 😂

🤭😅

Spent last night at a friend's house for a game night and I managed to coax this sweetie onto my lap! Her name is Gravy and she loves head pets 😻
#catsoflitsy

#5JoysFriday @DebinHawaii

It's been a busy week but it's always nice to stop and appreciate the joys each Friday

1. Casey McQuiston author event was spectacular 💗
2. Reading time at the pool 🌞
3. Ben cuteness overload 😻
4. Witnessed a spider wrapping a little beetle in his web on the other side of a window. It was cool to watch 🕷️
5. Made progress on some wedding to-do's! 👰🏼‍♀️💍

Just realized that I never showed off these BEAUTIES 😍
FT Lukens special edition set by Dazzling Bookish Shop - I love them so much 🥹

I started reading this at the end of Dec but I was a bit burnt out on holiday reads by then so I didn't get far. I had a whim to pick it back up recently & ended up really enjoying it.
Hall brings his signature style to this hilarious fake amnesia story. Quirky characters, silly shenanigans, & a heartwarming romance. I liked the family dynamics around a big holiday celebration. And of course I loved Jonathan's relationship w/ Sam's ugly cat Gollum

I'm very behind on reviews but slowly catching up on #OokBOokClub reading @julesG

I liked this one better than Sourcery. Rincewind is still bumbling along but he at least had a good excuse for his cluelessness this time, with his not actually being a demon. I enjoyed the way Eric's wishes were interpreted and the depiction of the Trojan War

Soft pick

Last night I also got to chat with Ashley Poston. She signed my copy of the Dead Romantics, which was a past #LMPBC book. She thought it was a very cool concept and flipped through to see some of our comments - and even added her own! (She loved someone's bullshit remark) 😆
Thought my group members would get a kick out of this @Laughterhp @BethM @Chrissyreadit

Pool day 😎

Had an amazing night hearing Casey McQuiston speak about their new book with Ashley Poston! I totally fangirled and babbled at them when they signed my books 🤩😂 They were very sweet about it

Happy #5JoysFriday 😊 @DebinHawaii

1. Benny was being adorably annoying wanting attention during yoga
2. Pretty bookmail!
3. My first storygraph buddy read was absolutely delightful, the book was already amazing but discussing it in realtime with my friend made it even more enjoyable
4. The Pairing release! I already finished the audiobook, it was amazing
5. New toy for the kitties. Arthur has been obsessed & running around with so much energy

My second Marple mystery and I really enjoyed this one. Miss Marple played a much bigger role in solving the murder. The ending was great. I thought the full solution was so unique!
#SeriesLove2024 @Andrew65 @TheSpineView

HAPPY PAIRING RELEASE DAY!! 🎉
This is my most anticipated book of the year and to say I'm excited is an understatement. I may have two print copies on their way to me. And I may have preordered the audiobook as well because Casey was hyping up the voice actors so much. And I MAY be dropping everything to start listening today even though I have so many other books I should be reading. Past Sara should have foreseen this and planned accordingly 😅

This was such a cozy read! We spend the majority of the novel in a fantasy realm of the subconscious, where Penny has been hired at the Dallergut Dream Department Store. We follow her as she learns about all the kinds of dreams for sale - the dream designers each create dreams of memories, adventure, fame, or healing - and the customers who come to buy them - with Dallergut as the quirky owner who must find the right dream for each dreamer

I loved this one! Tadek is such a charismatic character in A Taste of Gold and Iron but you don't really get to know him much past his surface level teasing. It's obvious that he cares deeply but this novella really gets into his backstory in a lovely way. It flashes between the present and his past, when he first meets the Arasti princess & joins guard training. Ugh I just want to give Tadek a big hug! And I loved his new dynamic with Evermer

I've read a lot of time loop romances but this one had a fun twist. It's told from the perspective of the love interest!
Gemma is already having a bad day when she crashes into Jack & gets a weird sense of deja vu. She doesn't believe when he tells her that he's in a time loop but over the course of the day Jack helps her break out of her rut. They might have a strange connection but she can't fall in love in a day!...right?
#roll100 @PuddleJumper

Another book club read. This one was an absolute joy! I loved Tova, she was so sweet and it was nice to see her find a more satisfying happiness in her life. Marcellus the octopus was obviously amazing, I loved the chapters from his POV, especially the narration. Michael Urie's tone was everything. This is a very character-driven story, which I love. It's a wonderful representation of a supportive community

I'm not gonna lie, I almost bailed on this one. I got to about 25% because it was for my bookclub but the amount of terrible misogyny was a lot. After our discussion though I felt encouraged to continue and once our MC started her cooking show and made some good friends I enjoyed it a lot more. Honestly, the unconventional friendships were my favorite part. I can see why so many love this book and its, in the end, inspiring story. Soft pick for me

#5JoyFriday @DebinHawaii
Last weekend was my birthday & was very joyful!
1. Splurged on a mani/pedi at a salon & got sparkles
2. Scored a stack of books at the used book sale
3. Attended the most nail-biting baseball game! Our team ended up winning after being 7 points behind
4. Threw a birthday pool party & cook out, fun company & yummy food
5. My niece is typically shy around my partner but specifically requested for him to be in our picture 🥰

August #bookspin picks have arrived! So excited for these!!! Especially The Gentleman's Book - I've been on a historical romance kick lately so this is perfect 😍
@TheAromaofBooks

My July #MonthlyWrapUp and #BookspinBingo board
I managed two bingos even though I read a ton of books not on my list 😅 #moodreader But I finished my #doublespin and am halfway through my #bookspin
Loving the new storygraph graphic! I finished 28 books total. So still a great month of reading ☺️
@TheAromaofBooks

#ReadingBracket2024 Fiction Update
I'm probably a little biased about this one because I read it right after A Taste of Gold and Iron & it was just so satisfying to spend more time with these characters.
Also putting Deja Glitch as a bonus pick, it was such a unique twist on the time loop trope.

#ReadingBracket2024 Nonfiction Update
I'm going with Braiding Sweetgrass for July even though I'm not quite finished with it yet, because I've liked it much more than Spirit Run so far. I'll wait to eliminate any farther though until I'm completely done.

My #Roll100 picks for August
I've had two of these for a loooong time so time to get them off Mount TBR!
@PuddleJumper