April started out slow then suddenly I was deep in 6+ books and needed to wade back out. As always, my genres are all over the map. Books truly make you well traveled. Most of this month‘s choices were driven by recommendations from friends and Litsy reviews (I think a good number of us have now read “Ejaculate Responsibly” solely because of Litsy).

#bookspin and #doublespin complete

Thank you for hosting! @TheAromaofBooks

It's been years since I've read Kate Quinn, so I'm very glad #authoramonth had her listed for April. This book had me hooked from the first chapter. I couldn't stop reading. Pixel and I went on extra long dog walks all to give me more time with this audiobook. The ending did not disappoint. Highly recommend to anyone who loves historical fiction.

I can't believe it's gonna be May (😏) in just a couple of days. Here is my loose #bookspin list. I switched out my extra free spaces for the shortlisted Hugo Award nominees. I've already read a few of the novels and novellas. Fingers crossed the library had copies of everything.

@TheAromaofBooks

#wondrouswednesday @Eggs

1. Cleo is 11 years old (and has been lovingly catnapped by my parents) and Pixel is about to turn 2
2. Both
3. I recently read The Eyes and The Impossible and loved it

A cute hopeful read about finding the magic to believe in yourself.

It wasn't really my thing, but I do recommend for anyone looking for an easy beach read.

This book was borrowed to fulfill this month's #fictionaltraveler prompt because, evidently, I don't read many books that are set on islands.

April is here! I‘m ready for another round of #bookspin.

@TheAromaofBooks

Oh, March. The books were great. I explored new authors and revisited a few favorites. I feel like there was a variety of genres, topics, and formats (poetry and graphic novels). So, in the book world, a good month. Onward to April.

#bookspinbingo @thearomaofbooks

I'm so, so glad Sánchez added another installment to this series. I loved the second book. You get to see growth from Noel and June as their relationship progresses. Plus, the artwork is pretty.

I love a curmudgeonly main character. They try so hard not to connect but end up on an adventure anyway. It's an unexpected collection of misfits that set out to save the wild magic of Britain.

May #bookspin complete! @TheAromaofBooks

I liked it. It's not my favorite of hers since it took me a while to get into the story. Luzia was an unexpected main character. She never acted like I assumed she would.

Also, I have questions about the ending, which I'll throw under a spoiler below.

#authoramonth @Soubhiville

A beautifully written book about tradition and what happens when it clashes with a new generation's expectations. The author explored the contradictions without diminishing the values of the community that raised Razia.

#queerbc @PuddleJumper

I should go to bed, but I bought the next book in my newest light novel series today during my bookseller shift. Thankfully, Pixel is never opposed to late night reading cuddles.

#dogsoflitsy

This was my first Roxanne Gay read and I quite enjoyed it. Her opinions were relatable and, even if I didn‘t agree, she broke them down in such a way that I could still appreciate her viewpoint.

#authoramonth @Soubhiville

How is it time for March already?! All the good books are making time fly. I‘m sticking with the same list from last month. It works well with my mood driven selection of books. #bookspin @TheAromaofBooks

I fell into another light novel series. This month was My Happy Marriage. A choice inspired by the latest anime season.

#bookspin: Unmasking AI
#doublespin: The Reading List

Overall, a lot of variety this month with a few powerful reads among the lighthearted ones. I‘m rather proud of my bingos. @TheAromaofBooks

"I guess books say different things to different people." This quote perfectly encapsulates the theme of the book. It is a beautiful ode to the power of books during formative moments in our lives. I loved this book...so much so I promptly recommended it to multiple friends.

Thank you @MeganAnn for putting it on my radar through #auldlangspine!

A slow Sunday with the pup. My brain needed a break from my streak of intense emotional reads, so diving into the My Happy Marriage light novels. I want to get ahead of the anime.

A different dystopian view of the world. I liked the world building and witnessing how they traveled through a very different landscape.

#gottacatchemall Whimsicott: Storm or strong winds

An unexpectedly strong reading start to 2025. #auldlangspine and Litsy reviews drove a lot of my book choices this month. I also discovered my library has all of The Apothecary Dairies light novels which sent me into a reading spree one weekend.

#bookspin: The teller of small fortunes
#doublespin: Raised by a serial killer

@TheAromaofBooks

The tagged book was a heartwarming tale of adventure and friendship. I adored the idea of bison being the wise ones everyone reported to in the park.

A big thank you to @MeganAnn for an outstanding #auldlangspine list. I read 6 books off her list so far and plan to keep going. I have full confidence the rest of the list will not disappoint.

Thank you very much @monalyisha for hosting and organizing #auldlangspine!

What a fun ride! I love the tricks played by all the sides. In a weird way, it‘s a story about friendship despite the elaborate heists and rules that should pit people against each other. I was on the edge of my seat the whole book.

#auldlangspine book 6. @MeganAnn Have you read the second book yet?
@monalyisha

Ahhh, February is already here! This list worked great last month, so I will use it again as is. I‘m going to try to read at least one romance novel in February.

@TheAromaofBooks #bookspin

An emotional roller-coaster highlighting the struggles of clinical depression through poetry. Whimsy sees her world through a magical lens of fairy tales. Her story mirrors that of the original Grimm tales where the world was full of danger and small glimmers of hope.
 @MeganAnn I finished this book a couple of weeks ago, but I found myself immediately diving back in. McBride incorporates so much into her poems and I wanted to catch it all.

Totally forgot to do this yesterday…
⭐️ Snow day! Got to work from home thanks to a snowstorm.
⭐️ Watching Pixel and his doggy friends have an absolute blast in the snow
⭐️ Thankful for how my family shows up for one another
⭐️ Books always bring me joy
⭐️ My car stuff is finally getting resolved

#5joysfriday @DebinHawaii
Thanks for the tag @Sace 😊

I discovered my library has the entire light novel series of The Apothecary Diaries last night. I got hooked on the manga last year. I‘m already loving the extra insight into Maomao's thoughts. She's so aloof but caring at the same time.

“The modern world is severely lacking in magic, and those who crave it are at a constant disadvantage because they are desperate and it‘s in short supply.”

@ShyBookOwl #firstlinefridays

This book hit my radar thanks to the Jolabokaflod swap. It's a short but poignant story about maintaining hope in the face of hardship.

A low drama spicy monster romance that brought all the feels. I‘m already looking forward to a reread.

 @MeganAnn Your #auldlangspine list is on point.

Lord Peter Wimsey is too long-winded to follow any of his deductions. This man loves a soliloquy. Also, the random singing is weird.

First DNF of the year. I wanted to like this book because I love a good old school style whodunit.

#hailthebail #authoramonth

I'm glad to be back home after the holidays. A tired Pixel is helping me read the tagged book. It's interesting, but the flowery language makes it a little hard to parse out what exactly is happening.
#authoramonth #dogsoflitsy

Happy New Year to all the lovely Littens! May all your books be 5 star reads.

January #bookspin is ready to go. I'm going to continue with the format that focuses more on the challenge than a specific book title. Since I depend heavily on the library for my books, it can be hard to stick to a list when holds expire before I can get to them.

@thearomaofbooks

First read of the year. First five star of 2025. This is a beautiful story of discovering love in different spaces: family, friendship, and romance. The past of others does not write someone else's future.

A big thank you to @MeganAnn for great the #auldlangspine recommendation!

@monalyisha

December was a really good reading month. This is the first time I‘ve almost had a blackout board for #bookspinbingo. It helped that I had specific books lined up for some of the challenges.

I read my #bookspin and #doublespin in December along with other great reads. @TheAromaofBooks

I didn‘t really participate in reading challenges before Storygraph because I was absolutely terrible at tracking. Now, I can‘t get enough of them. Cheers to a fun year of reading!

A heartbreaking tale of sisterhood and the complicated relationships that tie sisters together. I thoroughly enjoyed this book.

Thank you @BookmarkTavern for the recommendation! I have completed all the prompts for #gottacatchemall. @PuddleJumper

I've finalized my reading challenges for the year and made my tracking pages (I'm a visual person). They are a wonderful mix of Litsy and Insta based challenges. Do I have too many? Probably. (I'm not even showing all the trackers 😅) The challenges are a fun way to find new authors I wouldn't have tried otherwise.

I adore Ruby Dixon. I kept taking reading breaks on Christmas Day so I could find out what happened next. A big thanks to @MeganAnn for the recommendation. (I was putting it off until I read your review.)

Another challenge down. The #nonfiction2024 challenge hosted by @Riveted_Reader_Melissa remains a favorite. I liked the double challenge to read nonfiction and the banned prompt books. Those with a yellow star represents banned books I read before this year and the blue star are those I read in 2024. All of the books above have been memorable. The tagged book left the strongest impression and has led to great conversations about immigration.

Thank you @JessieKB for the lovely #jolabokaflod gifts! I've been wanting to read this book. I can't wait to curl up and read with the hot chocolate tonight.

@MaleficentBookDragon
#JS2024 #jolabokaflodswap2024

I did it! I completed the #52bookclub challenge! This has been a favorite challenge the last couple years.

I really like the world building. I found the outcome of the mystery less exciting than the first book, but it was still a fun journey getting there. I love how the author slipped random Easter eggs into the story (K drama reference, other popular scifi series, etc.).

I arrived at my parents' to see my #jolabokaflod had arrived! Now, to resist opening for the next few days.

@MaleficentBookDragon

And that‘s a wrap for 2024 #bookspin! I only had one book that I didn‘t finish in the selected month (River Mumma). Always a fun challenge to help keep me on top of my reading goals. A huge thank you to @TheAromaofBooks for hosting.

(Seeing the books altogether makes me realize how many genres I cover.)

A spicy read that is, somehow, also gentle. Both characters have anxiety and struggle in crowds or new social situations. Their conversations were refreshingly honest.

December #doublespin @TheAromaofBooks
“Prank or bet” #gottacatchemall (only 1 prompt left now!)

I want to make everyone read this book. The audiobook (read by the author) was fantastic. My brain can't comprehend how terrifying the migration had to be for a 9 year old boy surrounded by complete strangers. Javier's story is a powerful reminder of the risks undocumented immigrants take to enter the USA for the hope of a better life.
#nonfiction2024
December #bookspin @TheAromaofBooks

A cute, quick read by a new author. I did enjoy the author's satirical take on the older white male boss. There was a purposeful misunderstanding moment that brought me joy. That said... the whole lying thing gave me low-key anxiety. I may wiggle around a straight answer sometimes, but I avoid outright lying to people. So, it was hard for me to relate to that part of Amber. The rest of the book was great.

This was my first Stevenson and I had a blast. A short but tense Christmas murder mystery that adheres to the well acknowledged literary rules of such things should be solved.

This is a soft pick for me. I thoroughly enjoyed the camaraderie and banter between the main characters. The plot had some major holes that should have been tightened up by an editor.

A pet peeve I‘ve discovered this year is when publishing companies pick up self published books and don‘t bother to edit them. I get that the original version sold, but with a little tweaking the updated version would sell even better.

My Jólabókaflóð package is on its way!

@MaleficentBookDragon

#JolabokaflodSwap24 #JS2024 #Jolabokaflod

I‘m not big into holiday themed books but this one was an absolute joy (😉) to read. Hex was a lovely pumpkin spice roll of a book boyfriend. Coal wasn‘t perfect and somehow that is what made this book lovely. He acknowledged his faults, tried to make amends, and never lost sight of what Christmas means to so many.

#queerbc