A story that I wish did not end. Wow. Wanted to read it as I was born and raised in Michigan. I started it back in November, but had to put it down due to processing the passing of my father from Covid the week prior and the setting was too close to home. Picked it up to find what a beautiful, surreal tale Emily St. John Mandel created. Purchased a copy to pick up and read again and again.

This is a good one! I‘ve read Force of Nature and have to say that I liked this one more.

Determined to make 2021 a better year for reading. The pandemic has not been good for the TBR stack. Just wrapped up my second book of the year that is being shelved in the “Meh” category. Hoping the above is more engaging as I‘m hearing some great buzz going in!

Simone St. James has become a favorite author for just a good story. Recommended for fans of Kate Morton.

Mystery with courtroom drama vibes.

It‘s been awhile since I‘ve posted. Taking on a #BotM courtroom thriller. So far it‘s a good one!

Rereading this one for a neighborhood book club and wondering why it hasn‘t been turned into an Oscar nominated movie yet. Just as good the second time around.

My brain feels significantly smarter now. 😆 I have a few questions/disagreements for the author, which means it was thought provoking. Overall a great read. Looking forward to Homo Deus.

Page 50 and this took a turn that had me laugh out loud. True to the cover‘s “For men to rise, heroes must fall.”, I have a feeling this story will turn the hero‘s journey on its head.

Got sucked into a series after flying through the first book a couple of days ago (#1 An Ember in the Ashes). YA Fantasy can be a nice escape when you need a genre change from a nonfiction audio and this storyline is working so far.

Well now, that was fun! It‘ll make me look at the motels that lining America‘s old highways a bit differently now and also jump if a door creaks open or closes on its own. Oh help me if a fuse ever goes out and plunges me into darkness. Yeah, this one was another fun ghost story if you‘re in the mood. It wraps up nicely at the end with more of a twisting thriller storyline. Good read and now I‘m off to turn the lights on all around the house.

One of my New Year‘s resolutions is to stay on top of my BotM reads. First up, The Sun Down Motel. Who says you have to save spooky for October?! Liked The Broken Girls and this read is beginning with the now familiar chills.

Listened to this as an audio. I think it would be a great read however you take this story on. I‘m looking forward to his next book- The Nickel Boys.

Greatly enjoyed this read as it was the only book I completed on recent travels. I spent more time watching the wildlife... or maybe it was the other way around. Either way, don‘t turn down the opportunity to explore Tanzania!

Never judge a book by its cover unless it‘s October and this cover sets the moody tone you‘ve been looking for in your next audio. I wasn‘t the biggest fan of Woman in Cabin 10... to be honest I wanted to toss her overboard and hoping now that I won‘t want to do the same with main character Hal.

Enjoyed this read enough to start digging through the history books/websites to learn more about the time, setting, and real life people this story was spun around. After the initial character development which was a bit slow but needed, I found myself not wanting to put it down.

Miss the show. Wish Martin would‘ve finished the books in time for the series storyline to follow it more closely.

Off to a late start on this one, but it seems a perfect autumn read now. Excited to be caught up to the group read timeline. Just beginning Chapter 19 and enjoying the plot throwing me into sixth-century Scotland. #buddyread

I should start by saying that I‘m a wimp when it comes to dark reads, however with fall in the air it‘s fun to grab a book that makes you want to snuggle up and read late into the night... with the lights on while keeping your feet curled under you and no dark window behind you. You see where this is going? Be sure to lock your door when reading this suspense thriller!

2. Pick out granite for a remodel, go for a trail hike, dinner with friends, and hopefully a day into the city (Chicago)...maybe a Cubs game.
3. Jilbert‘s Mackinac Island Fudge
4. Clarinet, although not in a long while
5. ✔️
#friyayintro. @howjessreads

My September BotM pick. Loved Ordinary Grace and getting my Minnesota fix as I always miss not being in Minneapolis/St Paul this time of year. I also added The Secret History by Donna Tartt as my birthday month selection. It keeps showing up on lists for recommendations of great reads. The TBR pile keeps growing!

The weather changed ever so slightly this past weekend. Hints of autumn. Bring on the dark and spooky reads.

This was a hit for me! During our last book club gathering, those purposing this selection described it as filled with characters that could be your neighbors and friends. So true and with the added “who done it” plot. I also found myself remembering with fondness my honeymoon road-trip that took us into this region of Quebec and how beautiful it was. I immediately picked up another in this series to add to my TBR pile.

I stopped reading this series when the show started to consume my evening reading time and then time spent in conversation ...and finally all the time in debate and fan theory discussion (sigh), but I find myself becoming nostalgic for the good ole days of GoT. Decided to pick up where I left off.

Our book club selection for September. Just getting started but I can see why a couple members are already followers of her books. Excited to hear Louise Penny speak in two weeks from now at a local auditorium. What has been your favorite public appearance or book signing by an author? My only other was Ina Garten‘s “Cooking for Jeffery” Tour and she is the same in person as on social media and tv.

I‘m becoming a fan of Blake Crouch. Love the sci-fi and twisting storylines. If you liked Dark Matter, add this to your TBR pile.

I don‘t usually do romance, but the Ren Faire plot sounded interesting. Still not my genre. Cute concept for a quick, summer read.

Waiting for the rental car pickup as my car recovers from recent hail damage and thought I‘d catch up on our book club pick for June. This one isn‘t sucking me in like I‘d hoped, but with this type of read it could turn at any moment with a twist of the plot. 🤞

Decided to pull a book from my son‘s upcoming summer list going into his junior year. Bounced between audio and paperback. The style and mood carried well in both formats.

Not my kind of book. I didn‘t connect with the characters. People seem to be loving it... just not me. 🤷‍♀️

Ready to take on the world of Daisy Jones! Enjoyed the author‘s first book. I‘m already finding the interview style of storytelling a refreshing change.

I have a theme going lately, maybe I haven‘t had enough winter in the Midwest or possibly it‘s easier to read about bitter cold so it doesn‘t feel nearly so bad in real life, whichever it is here comes more snow and ice. I‘m about half way through and it‘s more of a suggestion than a retelling of a familiar fairytale. Very creative and I look forward to finding out what happens to the characters.

I‘m hooked to this story. A great build off of the previous and looking forward to picking up the third in this series.

My reading buddy today or should I say our mascot for Winter Storm Jayden. To those in the US Midwest, my wish for you is an endless pile of To Be Read and lots of fuzzy socks. (Snowman created by my daughter and lover of all things winter.)

Feels like -25°F (-32°C) this morning in the Chicago area and this has become the perfect read. Morozko is likely hiding under the evergreen bows if someone wants to go looking.

Had this on my TBR list and moved it up when it landed as a Reese Witherspoon selection for January. Feel the need to settle into a permanent spot at a local library for this one.

2018 Goodreads Reading Challenge completed. Here‘s to 2019 and an increase in the reading goal! Looking forward to seeing what everyone else is pulling from their book shelves to start the new year.

Up next - “Not all secrets are meant to be found.”

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️. Excited to discuss at our upcoming book club. Loved how the story unfolded in its unique way. Why not five stars? Audrey Hepburn‘s voice at the table. It just didn‘t ring true as to how I heard her in my own head and was a bit distracting for me at moments.

A book on the lap is worth two on the shelf. 😉 The current situation on a lazy, post-holiday afternoon and also our January book club pick in the neighborhood. Audrey Hepburn can come to my dinner party anytime!

Congratulations for being one of the most checked out reads in New York Public Library system, helped along by One Book, One New York reading program. This would make for a good book club selection.

BotM selection and an easy read while my brain is on Elf-mode this month.

Not going to be for everyone, but what a ride this book takes you on!

Current audio read and it‘s at a 1.5x, which is faster than usual. Hoping to get sucked into the story a bit more as currently feeling a bit detached. Maybe I should‘ve started with “A Visit from the Goon Squad”??

Prepare yourself. I have never read Stephen King. I spotted his review of this novel and thought this would get me a bit closer to the act of actually picking up a Stephen King book. I wasn‘t prepared for the psychological ride that this thriller took me on. I‘m certain Gollum from LotR is buried in one of these characters. So disturbing, and hard to put down.

Started as an audiobook, but switched to paper as I‘m pretty sure the narrator was Bruce Wayne. (Kept waiting for “I‘m Batman” mid-story and hard to take seriously with that mental image.) Brilliant story idea and what a journey! Great for a geeky read, but not heavy. Feels like it would be a good fit for Gaiman‘s American Gods fan base as it reads a bit gritty, but not as violent as AG.

One of those reads that will result in a higher than usual coffee consumption the next day from staying up too late to finish. Would give it a 3.5 on Goodreads as there were two twists that made me say “really?!”, but definitely wanted to keep reading and glad I did. #botm

I‘ve been a bit quiet on Litsy lately. After finishing this one, I knew I had to post about it and get my fellow readers to add this to their Fall TBR stack. Perfect October book.

“I declare after all there is no enjoyment like reading! How much sooner one tires of any thing than of a book! -- When I have a house of my own, I shall be miserable if I have not an excellent library.” Jane Austen, P&P. 🤓 This weighty tome was adopted into my library yesterday. I am in love. #booknerd