Welcome to Litsy!

A Quirky book and I loved it! Twins that catch on fire and two “weird” friends who come from two opposite families. Love>Money.

This book sounds so strange going in that I wasn‘t sure I‘d like it. But Kevin Wilson hasn‘t failed me yet.

Lillian takes a job an old friend offers her as a nanny for two twins who just lost their mom. The kids have a strange problem though- when they get upset or agitated they catch on fire.

I loved these characters so much, I kind of didn‘t want the book to end.

#SleepySietje and Igor

This book made my laugh with joy at some of the phrases and stay up well past my bedtime. I hope this author has many more books in their future.

Loved this book - the premise is crazy - Lillian becomes care-giver for two children who spontaneously combust - and their parents/step parents (Jasper and Madison)want to keep it a secret due to their political ambitions. Funny at times, infuriating (come on parents, love your children and Lillian quit loving Madison) - and sweet (the importance of being needed and needing others).

Make a great day (and #ThinkPositiveBePositive below) 🙂

@Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks We have been friends here for so long and I am so grateful. Thank you for your lovely gift. I have not read either book so I am excited to do so. Love the towel, notebooks and great magnet which is on my shelf. And candy!!! You are the best. Thank you, my friend. 😘

What do you do when you become the governess of twins who catch fire? Lillian decided to help her old high school friend, Madison, out with a situation involving her husband‘s kids from a previous marriage.

The Husband and I listened to the audiobook on a road trip and really enjoyed it. The narration was perfect and there were so many LOL moments that kept us hooked.

More below ⬇️

Thanks to:

#JULYJOURNEYS
@Eggs
@AlwaysBeenALoverOfBooks

Today‘s Prompt: DISABILITY

Lillian was skepticaL about the nanny job, but also couldn‘t believe the luck of being able to live in a mansion.

The only draw back is that the children have some rare disease where they automatically combust when they get upset.  Yes...they catch on fire.

Heartwarming as well as heartbreaking.

FULL REVIEW: https://tinyurl.com/2mtcvrs4

Interesting, humorous concept for a plot: middle-aged woman stuck in her mom's attic is invited to spend the summer watching after an ultra-wealthy couple's twin children, who spontaneously combust into flame whenever they are unhappy or excited. However, the book, to me, didn't live up to the concept: the novel seemed to explore a lot of tired old tropes instead. Will have to give this a pan.

A little slow but a good story.
#audibleread

I flew through this book in one day‘s time. It‘s funny that I finished it right after reading a Mister Rogers biography because it seems like a direct response to his question, “What do you do with the mad that you feel?” And his answer, “I can stop when I want to, can stop when I wish, I can stop, stop, stop anytime.” Sweet, darkly funny, & an inflammatory investigation of class & gender inequities. A pleasure to read (a pleasure to burn). 🔥

“He had stripes buzzed into the sides of his hair, and I was shocked to realize that their hair was unsinged. I don‘t know why, with these demon children bursting into flames right in front of me, their bad haircuts remaining intact was the magic that fully amazed me, but that‘s how it works, I think.

The big thing is so ridiculous that you absorb only the smaller miracles.”

I loved this book so much more than I expected! It‘s funny and tender and all the right things. Such a quick read too. Love love love.

This story surprised me. It‘s definitely not a book that I would have picked up based on its cover. Once I started it, I had a hard time putting it down. I found it to be a strangely beautiful story, that touches on many of life‘s lessons. I was very happy with the way it ended. The characters in this book are unforgettable. I am more than happy that I took a chance on this book.

🌟🌟🌟🌟

This book hooked me immediately and the depiction of white class distinctions in southern Appalachia lent some depth to the fantastical premise. Incredibly well preformed by actress Marin Ireland. A quick read that was sharp and touching.

"A lot of times when I think I'm learning to be self sufficient, I'm really just learning to live without the things that I need."

#INSPIREDNEWYEAR
@Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks
@TheKidUpstairs

Today‘s Prompt: CALM

NOTHING TO SEE HERE has an interesting premise, and the characters are even more interesting.

Lillian was hired as a nanny, and didn‘t have a good experience the first time she met the children, but she remained “calm” and hoped for the best.

I really enjoyed this book...take a look.

FULL REVIEW: https://tinyurl.com/yx9qlezt

#kevinwilson
@eccobooks

This is one of the few physical books I managed to finish last year and I loved it. This book really touched me, it was funny and sad, so real and yet so fantastical. Also as the mum of a child with complex needs it spoke to me because the experience of the characters reminded me of him. Bad things happen but they are not his fault. However others will find there own truth in this book. It‘s different in the best way. Read it 😊 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

This book is strange and weird but also kind of wonderful. It wasn't the crazy spoof I was expecting - it's about a pair of twins who spontaneously catch fire. There are so many ways that plot could veer towards the absurd. But rather than being silly, it was touching and full of heart. I think the author does a great job in the way he crafts this story and his characters. I'd definitely read more by him.

I loved this quirky story of misfits finding each other and forming a kind of family unit. There is a fairytale-like metaphor throughout the novel that brings to mind the serious responsibility of parenthood and the desire to take it on, even though it‘s scary. The narrator, Lillian, is phenomenal — modern, witty, down to earth and unlike any other character I‘ve read.

This was an incredibly poignant, at times funny, and- oddly enough- relatable story about a woman who suddenly finds herself caring for two children that have a strange condition. They have this tendency to combust when they feel deep emotion. You genuinely feel for these people and root for them. You want them to have a happy ending and worry that they might not..because how often does the world give the underdog a happy ending?

I‘m very late to the party, but would love to join in sharing twelve of my favorite reads from 2020, in the order that I read them

1: So fun, so funny, so magically real.

#12booksof2020 @Andrew65

Loved this book! The use of magical realism was on point. I loved the story and the characters and the way this felt like it could be real. This was a really fun book with a powerful story and I really want to read this again in a physical copy because I feel like I missed a lot listening to the audio. Definitely worth reading!

Quick, fun read that had me laughing out loud. I wish the narrator was a real person and I could take her out for a beer.

Such a great book. Love the way the characters interact with one another!

Fun, quirky read. I think I would have enjoyed this less if I had read the physical book. The 🎧 📖 narration was fantastic. Despite some heavy topics, it‘s not too serious, and it works as a fun, sometimes humorous lockdown read while doing #audiochores!

#bookspinbingo

Completed the first book on my #BookSpinBingo card. Book was ok but it did make me wonder how many times I‘d go up in flames throughout the course of the day.

Listening to this book while doing chores! Imm on Chaoter 8, and Dolly Parton was just mentioned.

It seems like Dolly‘s name comes up in some way almost every day lately! She is EVERYWHERE right now. 🤣

https://wellreadneck.wordpress.com/2020/11/25/nothing-to-see-here-kevin-wilson/

Getting my #bookspin list in at the last minute!

Funny! 5 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣 Entertaining wild family dynamics with fire starters and goofy interactions. Read it in one sitting, light hearted and weird. My kind of book for the holidays.

#BookSpinBingo

@TheAromaofBooks

Interesting premise and an engaging story, but it didn't quite live up to my expectations and isn't particularly memorable. 3⭐

Madison and Lillian are roommates their freshman year after a betrayal many years later Madison calls on Lillian to care for her stepchildren. The children have a unique disorder where they catch on fire. I really liked the way the children and their disorder was depicted and related to it as the parent of a child with a rare disorder who requires far more attention than a typical child. Also dynamics of friendship, class, money, and politics.

Actual books on my book shelf I read in #October

Meh. After reading reviews I was expecting it to be a bit more funny. I suppose the fire premise is what makes the plot but I could have done without the 🔥.

I could not put this down. Im already ready for a reread. Quirky, sarcastic, heartbreaking and heartwarming. Lillian is summoned by her bff, whi she has not seen in 15years, to live with her and her family. The catch, she has to nanny the step kids. Sounds easy, until she learns the kids literally catch on fire when upset. 5 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥 for me.

Cute story, fast read.

I enjoyed Nothing to See Here so much more then I expected to! The story went in such an unexpected direction and the character development was great. It was a super quick read too since it‘s under 300 pages. The only thing I didn‘t like was that there were a few things that were never answered where I‘m still wondering why after finishing the book, so I guess I have to leave that to the imagination. 7/10⭐️

Loved this book. Binged listened to it over two days. Told my best friend she had to read it just for the family dinner scene because of the fight about Dolly Parton. Bestie is team Dolly always. #bookspinbingo

So this was...different. Quirky, funny, cute. Heartwarming.

Reading Wrap-up:
4.5 🌟
The Bitter End: Bernice L. McFadden 🎧
Nothing To See Here: Kevin Wilson 🎧
4 🌟
Women Talking: Miriam Toews 📖
3.5 🌟
Longbourn: Jo Baker 📖
In the DreamHouse: Carmen Maria Machado 📖
3 🌟
The Source of Self-Regard: Toni Morrision 🎧
The Other Bennet Sister: Janice Hadlow 🎧
The Pull of the Stars: Emma Donoghue 🎧

Amazing, funny, and endearing. Loved it. I am looking forward to reading more from this author. 4.5 🌟

Loved this book! It was a hilarious and heartwarming story about a woman who was paid to watch her friends step children who happen to catch on fire randomly. It was quirky and weird and I loved it. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Another great read!

I'm a huge fan of quirky books with self destructive main characters. This one is a book about kids who literally catch on fire, and the woman who steps in to try and save them, and herself in the process.

This book deals with family, relationships, and learning to accept yourself just as you are. The snarky writing kept me entertained and even made me laugh out loud a few times.

I expected this to be a funny and lighthearted book. It had its moments, but I was surprisingly touched by these characters. They learned so much about themselves and each other. I like the hope in this book, the fact that hope exists despite difficult and undesirable circumstances. I will be thinking about this book for a while.

A quirky feel good read. An odd story about a woman looking after two children who catch fire. It was told in a unique voice and I really enjoyed it.

The rich senator's kids burst into flame whenever they get upset and the economically depressed friend gets roped into caring for them. The result of this nanny nightmare is an unconventionally heartwarming and funny story.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 2020 Audie winner for best female narrator. Also, an interesting perspective on the author and his diagnosis of Tourette‘s syndrome: https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2019/10/29/774349430/for-author-kevin-...

I was really not interested in this book for a long time because it sounded too fantastical even for my bizarre imagination. I had a few days before my next audiobook hold became available and this one was available and a short listen (I think it's 5 1/2 hrs) so I thought, "Why not?" I could always start it and return it early if I hated it. I'm glad I gave it a shot. It was heartwarming and funny and sweet. Well worth the read. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

I feel like when I read this last fall, I just surface read it. Then I read a review on Litsy talking about the fire being a literary expression of their trauma and possibly being neurodiverse. It makes sense on second read. I can see that, and it made the book richer. Thank you!

The audiobook is awesome. Very well narrated by Marin Ireland. 5⭐️

PS I wish I could remember who wrote that review!