Welcome to Litsy!

Just finished reading “White Smoke” by @writeinbk and it was just the book I needed to bring in #hallowseve. This book is filled with mystery, suspense and at its core redemption. Marigold our main character has her flaws but deep down you can see who she really is as a daughter and sister.

Thank you @Endowarrior21 I'm really looking forward to reading this book. The jewelry & keychain are really cute. I especially like the scorpion. I also love the bookmark, & I know the hot cocoa will be good ❤️👻❤️
#CC #CreepyChristmas
@teebe

This freaked me the hell out. A haunted house story set amidst the more sinister realities of gentrification and racism, this had me ready to sleep with the lights on! Perfect for an October read! #scarathlonphotochallenge #ghost #blackcatcrew

#SmokeOnCover #BookBinge @Eggs @Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks I actually couldn‘t get into this one and bailed around 30% last year, but I have such intense #CoverLove for it that I‘m occasionally tempted to try again.

Ok I won‘t lie…..it‘s a YA, it has a lot of slang….but I loved this! The twist I absolutely wasn‘t expecting!

This freaked me the hell out. A haunted house story set amidst the more sinister realities of gentrification and racism, Jackson creates an immersive experience that left me ready to keep the lights on all weekend. As Mari unravels the mystery, we watch her grapple with the ghosts of her own past, as well as, her community‘s. Jackson tackles a lot of relevant topics ably, but the abrupt ending left me wanting more. Overall, a compelling read. 4⭐️

This fell into the same trap that many haunted house stories fall into. About 80% of the book I loved and the ending and “twist” really just fell flat. Always a bummer.

I‘ve always liked Jackson‘s books. The only one I haven‘t read yet is this one and Monday‘s not Coming!

Finally finished this. It was definitely creepy at times and I didn‘t really expect the twist but it makes sense looking back.

#Movie2BookRecs @Klou
Prompt: Paranormal Activity

My last read of October.

Thank you @MatchlessMarie I love everything #CozyFallSwap except the Peeps but you did not know that I will just open the package and let them get hard that is the only way I eat them lol.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I went btw being interested & utterly bored the entire way through. I didn't find it particularly creepy or spooky. I found Mari mostly annoying & her anxiety about bed bugs a little hard to empathize with. I'd have preferred town mystery plotline as a whole other story-it all seemed a little too blurred.
Pic: me trying to rescue hurt bunny walking home from work. Unfortunately he died in my arms b/c apparently he was much more hurt than I knew.

Loved this book! It was a good mix of paranormal and societal horrors. The only downfall for me what that it ended abruptly and I want to know some follow up. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I finished this one last weekend, and I enjoyed it. I think it would make a good movie!

I find it fitting that I finished my 100th book of the year on #NationalBookLoversDay!

For the most part, I enjoyed this one -- although I was a little frustrated by the ending. I love that Tiffany D. Jackson gave a shoutout to R.L. Stine (who was blurbed on the cover) -- I was such a fan of YA horror when I was in high school (Christopher Pike was another fave), but I rarely read horror as an adult.

Starting this one on my lunch break!

I spent most of the week listening to this on audio during quiet moments at work. Finally sat down and finished it tonight. Another fun, fast paced horror/thriller. It was a bit of a genre change for Tiffany D. Jackson, but i liked it!

Feeling a little grumpy about getting added to 2 committees at work today, so I'm slacking on all library duties in favor of listening to a fun audiobook and helping @LittleMouse5708 with the yearbook... #schoollibraries #teachersoflitsy #librariansoflitsy

When I should want to come home and read this book, I just don‘t because I‘m not entirely interested in what‘s happening. Possibly because it‘s taking so long to figure out what the protagonist did at her old school that was so bad and that she‘s so obsessed with pot. It weirds me out a bit. Do I think Jackson can write? Yes. Do I know there‘s a widespread audience that does/will love this book? Yes, but it‘s not me and that‘s ok.

I loved this! Just the right amount of spooky, creepy and suspense, love Tiffany D Jackson‘s books, Monday‘s Not Coming was another hit for me 😊🙌🏻😳

Read for prompts for:

#Buzzwordathon
#PopSugarReadingChallenge2022
#ReadHarder2022
#52BookClubReadingChallenge2022

5/5

There was a lot going on in this one, but it somehow managed to be very cohesive... and very creepy. I appreciated how realistic the portrayal of anxiety was (TWs for bed bug PTSD, drug abuse, and systemic racism), and would highly recommend it to fans of Home Before Dark and When No One is Watching.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Book 14 of 2022
(wow... I'm so behind on my reviews!)

A creepy YA psychological thriller, not my usual genre but I was highly surprised by how freaky I found this book.

Though the scare factor was quite high and the tension was so well done, I did feel a little underwhelmed by the plot, it was repetitive. Though another thing that didn't hook me was the characters. The ending did wrap up most things but it also left quite a lot unanswered.

25% in and the only thing I‘m really excited about here is that cover art, so I‘m bailing on this one.

If I wrap myself in heat again, I‘ll be the only one left burned.

What I like about Jackson's writing is that she is able to have teen characters without the dialogue venturing into "fellow kids" territory. Her characters have realistic dialogue, with imperfections and casual banter which is why I was pulled in. And the plot? A perfect combo of creepy, mystery and tension, and a good final twist. Each happening seemed to have a purpose, & the ending tied everything together in a very satisfying way. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5

What I like about Jackson's writing is that she is able to have teen characters without the dialogue venturing into "fellow kids" territory. Her characters have realistic dialogue, with imperfections and casual banter which is why I was pulled in. And the plot? A perfect combo of creepy, mystery and tension, and a good final twist. Each happening seemed to have a purpose, & the ending tied everything together in a very satisfying way. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5

One of my start-up programs as the new YA Coordinator at my Library is a Horror Book Club.

Part of the fun is that I‘m a total scaredy-cat…so the teens will get to say how freaked out they were on a scale of 1-10, & then take a “stab” as to how terrified I was. I‘m ready to be mocked mercilessly.

My list of potential reads to check-out is in the comments. Let me know if I‘m missing anything!

As I‘ve said, this totally *isn‘t* my genre. 🙈

⭐️⭐️⭐️✨

There were was so much happening in this book but the author did a fantastic job of not letting it overwhelm you. It certainly lived up to the thriller description. I made the mistake of reading most of this book at night. Scared myself a few times. A lot of heavy topics were delved into. I appreciated that not all problems had a pretty resolution. This was a great read. It missed the four star mark because some of the ending felt rushed.

#weekendreading @Andrew65

I have a physical copy of White Smoke that‘s already overdue at the library that I really want to finish this weekend.

AMCE is technically due back tomorrow but will probably just not connect my kindle to wifi for a few days so I can finish 🙃

Taking my time with The Personal Librarian. It‘s a fascinating glimpse into what it was like to cross the color divide in America.

I have an ambitious weekend of reading ahead!

Thank you soooooo much @Charityann !!!! I‘m not joking when I say I screamed when I saw the book. It‘s one of the top books on my TBR/wish list and I‘m so thankful that you got it for me! Also Reese‘s AND twizzlers?! I‘m only lucky girl! Thanks again so much! And thanks @bookish_wookish for organizing the swap! #LittleChristmasSwap

✨My 2022 goal is 100 books. I also really want to complete StoryGraph‘s genre challenge this year. (Along with all the other challenges I signed up for.)
✨Ambitious. I have big dreams for this year.
✨Started the tagged book last night and really like it so far. I have a feeling the creepiness is going to get to me at some point 😅

@MoonWitch94

Great YA book. The ending wasn‘t great, but overall the book was great.

2 down on my December TBR. White Smoke will be done tomorrow, maybe tonight if I can‘t sleep🙃.

Really enjoyed this book but wished that the ending had been a bit ….more. There felt like a lot of loose ends, things to be done. Good set up for a sequel but I‘m not sure there is one planned.

I was SO EXCITED that my hold for this came in on time to be my Halloween read! 👻

This one is a ghost story with “Get Out” (the movie) vibes. I love Tiffany Jackson‘s story telling and her first foray into horror did not disappoint. The story touches on addiction, anxiety, gentrification, and so much more. I suggest reading before the sun goes down if you prefer your horror “lite,” especially if you live in an older house. 🙈

#LittensDressedInBlood Today's prompt is Haunted House

I just finished this spooky book set around Halloween and Devil's Night, and it's pretty damn creepy! It's not a perfect horror novel- there's a little too much plot crammed into it, but it was still perfectly atmospheric and suspenseful!

#Scarathlon #TeamSlaughter @Clwojick

I finished this one the week before last as well. I might be in the unpopular opinion of this one. While I liked this one, I didn't love it like most people seemed to. The characters annoyed me a bit. It did get creepy the farther we got into the story which I liked. I liked how they portrayed the main character having anxiety that wasn't magically "fixed". So between a pick and a so-so for me.

I can't believe I'm giving this book a so so rating. However, the ending fizzled in such a way that it kind of ruined the whole book for me. One hour read (this reading time app is hella faulty 🙄)#2021Scarathlon#TeamSlaughter#Spooktober#LittenListen#MurderTheyReadaThon##Screamathon Edit:#Readlikehellathon5×10×1+15=65 points @Clwojick

One hour read. #2021Scarathlon #TeamSlaughter #Spooktober #LittenListen #MurderTheyReadaThon #ReadLikeHellaThon #Screamathon 5×10×1=50 points @Clwojick

Three hours total. Sorry. Had to delete the book on the app and start again so I don't have a screenshot of the first hour read. Anyway, #2021Scarathlon #TeamSlaughter #Spooktober #LittenListen #MurdertheyReadathon #ReadLikeHellaThon #Screamathon 5×10×3=150 points

Very good so far! #2021Scarathlon #TeamSlaughter #Spooktober #LittenListen #MurderTheyReadaThon edit: #Screamathon #ReadLikeHellaThon 5×2×10= 100 points! @Clwojick

This was spooky but also modernized-- looking at the impact of deindustrialization and the war on drugs and mass incarceration‘s impact on communities and corporate greed and also the corruption in small (-ish this community was still bigger than the one I grew up in) communities. And, like with the world around us, safety is more complicated than escaping the haunted house at the end. https://youtu.be/29Ga-S9sqI0

As current as the story is, I couldn‘t help the feeling of nostalgia as I read. This is clearly written for a YA audience, not a 42 year old lady 👵🏻, and it reminded me so much of the R.L. Stine and Christopher Pike novels that I used to scare myself silly with when I was in my early teens. I feel like I should have read it in my bed with a flashlight.

I bought a signed copy and Tiffany D. Jackson‘s signature is too cute

I haven't been successful with #bookspin #bookspinbingo in the past, bc I struggle to hold to a TBR. But I thought I'd try to again for #scarathlon, even though I haven't gotten around to putting together a post for it until now! I left some a bit broader so that I can mood read somewhat.
#teamslaughter 1 point
@TheAromaofBooks @Clwojick

Texting my friend about my current read 😂