Welcome to Litsy!

Thursday night is the new Friday night cuz tomorrow is a PA Day 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻

This was a warm hug of a book and a great way to start my reading year! I will say I did feel a bit called out in the beginning though because I am also a librarian with antisocial tendencies that would much rather be kept in an archive and only come out to help with research lol.

My first read of 2025 in the books! This was a nice light read about forbidden magic and baking jam.

October was quite the month! I had so many 5-star reads and some of the worst books I read all year as well. But this little book—which took me forever to read—is a balm for my soul. Such a sweet lovely adorable gorgeous book. Vying for best book of the year. Many second place books in this month. #12booksof2024 @Andrew65

I was all set to start my BookSpin pick today but my hold came in at work so I guess I need to read this first. (I own my BookSpin pick so there‘s no due date on it.)

One of my all time favorites 💛 💫

“To the Pine Cone Society!”

#Pinecoven
#ChristmasCheer

This book is lovely. It‘s a great, but slow read. Perfect for when you need a break from angsting over characters in trouble and dramatic plot twists. Reading the Spell Shop is like reading Stardew Valley or Animal Crossing. Read it. #SarahBethDurst #TheSpellShop #cozyfantasy #romantasy

“All her life, Sophie had been taught that books are precious. Each one holds people and worlds. Each one is a piece of someone's heart and mind that they chose to share. They were shared dreams.”

Love this book so much! Can‘t wait for the sequel! 💫 ⭐️

#Magical
#ChristmasCheer

I guess this book just wasn‘t my jam(ha ha). We were rushed through what I thought was a possibly really interesting story about Kiela evacuating her post as a librarian in the big city because of a revolution taking place. Her character was very weak and helpless for most of story which is not how I like my female leads. The supporting characters of Caz and Meep were the best part. Oh, and the cover and purple sprayed edges.

These days, my family exclusively shops in person to support local businesses...yet when I came across these today on Goodreads, I have to admit that I was tempted 🤩☺️📚💝.

An absolute delight! The epitome of cozy fantasy with a romance and a lovely cast of characters. 5⭐️

Read in November 2024...
16 Books
Three 5-Star reads this month:
• The Spellshop
• Dead Souls
• The Importance of Being Earnest

#Goodreads #Bookstagram #OUABC #Litsy #Libby #Everand #Audible #Kindle

Another book I am continuing slowly...love, love, loving these characters (especially Caz) and this magical world where the incredible exists as everyday reality 🪄📚💝💝💝. Using my Christmas books to keep me from gobbling up this incredible read 🪄🎄📚💝.

#thespellshopreviewedbyanncrystal

#20in4 @Andrew65

Cozy fantasy with a sentient tree and lots of magic and interesting creatures. Overall I really like this one, thought it dragged a bit in the middle but otherwise an enjoyable read!

Great artwork reminding me of the tagged book

https://www.instagram.com/p/DCb-MKXoJOq/?img_index=8&igsh=aGV5M2Z5c3lieDV2

I just voted in the Goodreads Choice Awards. I‘ve only read 3 of the books.

A Well-Trained Wife - I enjoyed this one. I read it as an ARC for St. Martin‘s Press.

The Spellshop - I read this one with the #whimsicalreadsbookclub and I enjoyed this one.

Of Jade And Dragons - I read this one with the #whimsicalreadsbookclub. This one was just okay. I don‘t feel like I want to read other books in the series.

This was an adorable read about a librarian who ran from their burning city back to the country island she was born on. Caz has my entire heart and attention. Keila‘s growth back into an island girl didn‘t feel as smooth as I thought it would, that and the varying pacing are probably my only “problem”. This was just so cute. I laughed out loud more as the book went along. Larran is an incredible person; choosing kindness over everything else. 🪴

Here‘s the Goodreads Choice nominees for Romantasy. I filled it out but I double checked it and just realized that The Spellshop is on here and I have read it. I read it for the #whimsicalreadsbookclub so this should say that I‘ve read 1 out of 20 books. I didn‘t know that The Spellshop was on here. I guess I didn‘t see it before.

5 Stars • After her library burns down in the city, Kiela, a librarian, escapes with several priceless spellbooks along with her self-aware spider plant, Caz. They flee to Caltrey, her remote childhood island home. She opens a secret spellshop to help restore the island's magic. This is a story full of tender-hearted moments and whimsical creatures.

October was not a good reading month for me. Sorry, this is another unpopular opinion. Don‘t shoot me. I found the story not cute enough for me. Found it even boring in some parts. I guess the problem with me is that I expect too much when the book is so hyped. Let‘s say nothing is wrong with the book, just that it is not for me. Maybe if I re-read it later I can forget this
hyped-ish fever and maybe I can enjoy it more🤷🏽‍♀️3⭐️Love the gifts

Thank you @Eggs for creating this fun play-card & for the tag ☺️👍💝.

One -
Springtime: Garden.
Summertime: River, Seaside, or Creek.
autumntime: Garden.
Wintertime: snuggled and cozy with a printed book and hot chocolate during a rainstorm.

Two - The Spellshop

#WondrousWednesday

#TheSpellshopreviewedbyanncrystal

#litsycommunitylittenanncrystal

For November and early December...most excited to finally begin reading, The Spellshop!

💝📚🌲💫🎄📚💝.

This one was a cute and cozy read. I really enjoyed the talking plant, Caz, and Meep, non binary cactus. However, I do wish I enjoyed the book more since it had many whimsical moments. I felt like a lot of nothing was happening for a while. 3.5 ⭐️

#bookscavengerhunt #purple
#hauntedshelf #hexesandcrows @Catsandbooks @PuddleJumper

I loved this book. It‘s so slow it took me a month to read—there‘s a thin thread propelling this book forward. But every time I read it, it felt like a hug or a warm blanket around me. I may have read it so slowly because I needed it to be very quiet and special me time. The main character is a librarian who flees a big city as revolutionaries burn the city and its great library. She saves many spell books and her talking plant and sails to the ⬇️

The author wanted this book to be a cozy joyful escape for her readers after years of Covid, and I think she achieved that! A librarian with a sentient plant as her assistant flees the warring capital city and goes to her hometown, a remote island. She finds a community and uses the library‘s spell books to improve the island. Lots winged cats, cloud bears and merhorses. And jam. And several love stories. Strong Legends and Lattes vibes.

This book is in the genre of cozy romantasy. If you‘re looking for an escape, you may find solace in this book. I loved it (and romance is not my go-to genre). The romance angle is present, but it isn‘t heavy-handed. Immerse yourself in a world of magic, enchantment, and jam. Full review: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/199269577

“Bookshelves! That was the most perfect thing anyone had ever offered her. Better than jewels or a feast or a palace.”

How perfect! I feel the same way, especially the weekend I came home from traveling and husband had bought and built me a new bookshelf. How about y‘all?

#hauntedshelf #hexesandcrows @Catsandbooks @PuddleJumper

#spookoween #31by31 #witchathon

Finally, first witchy book completed. This one took me a long time to get through as I found it to be slow. It was cute, cozy and had fun characters but it took too long for the story to get going.

This is such a lovely book. The main character is trying to save a mermaid‘s baby so I stopped to color what I think the mother mermaid might look like after the magical storm that made the baby ill. I‘m not sure why it‘s taking me so long to read though. #whimsicalreadsbookclub #hauntedshelf #hexesandcrows @Catsandbooks @PuddleJumper @KateReadsYA

#HauntedShelf #BookScavengerHunt #BlackCatCrew #Purple. Beautiful purple pages and cover. 💜🖤💜

The tagged book has merhorses and I couldn‘t resist coloring this picture. #hauntedshelf #hexesandcrows @Catsandbooks @PuddleJumper @Eggs @Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks

“the warm glow of lanterns”

#wickedwhispers #lantern #hauntedshelf #hexesandcrows

Well, this was warm and cozy. I‘d say better than The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches, but not as good as Legends and Lattes on a cozy fantasy scale.

A little cozy fantasy on this October afternoon…

Amazing cozy magical book along the lines of The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches. Highly recommend! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

This was so sweet! At times a wee bit preachy, but overall charming, warm, and lovely. Highly #recommended for fans of TJ Klune and Travis Baldree.

I particularly enjoy the #purple painted edges :-D

#HauntedShelf #bookspinbingo #bookscavengerhunt #wordsearch #TeamFlerken @puddlejumper

Started this one last night.
#spells

#WickedWhispers @eggs @Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks

This one was a soft pick for me. It had a lot of the right ingredients and I did enjoy it, but it still somehow felt flat. I love the concept of cozy fantasy, but like any other book, you need a sensible conflict/resolution to go with pleasant characters and an intriguing setting. This book tried to have an absolutely gigantic political upheaval in the background, but this either needed to not exist or be a bigger part of the story. I found it ⬇

#whimsicalreadsbookclub
We will only have one question for this discussion! 🤗
Which character are you meeting?!

This felt like a box of coziness!! I love it so much Tanya!!! and perfect selections for books!!! I‘m very excited for my new book sleeve and a soft orange blanket🧡- and of course yummy chocolate and coffee! 🍁🍁🍁🍁🍁🍁🍁🍁🍁#fffs
Aletheia thank you so much for your host extrodanaire talent and letting me be an occasional help! I‘m so glad we are friends 💛🧡💛

For #weeklyfavorites, I‘m sharing 2 books.

The first book is from the #whimsicalreadsbookclub. It was so cozy.

The second book was about my favorite band Linkin Park that I grew up listening to. This ARC is being published October 1.

5/5 ⭐️ I adored this cozy fantasy! I actually wish it was longer so I could stay in this world more! I loved all the different creatures and characters 🥰
#whimiscalreadsbookclub

#HyggeHourReadathon

Decorated the house today, made sausage and peppers and started this cozy read. Even though the weather is still warm it was the perfect fall day.

Books and Tea on this Saturday evening. ☕️📖

Yay! I'm back! I got the work around to work for my phone and have the Litsy app again. I've missed y'all these last 9 months or so. :)

So, without further ado, checkout the new books I got today
😆

My soul needed this! This book is so magical, cozy, and feels like a huge hug! It's about doing the right thing because we can! You just have to be brave enough! It's about showing others kindness, always! The characters... so much I could say! There is so much character growth and relationship building! I'm really going to miss them! I love that there was just a touch of romance! This book makes my heart happy and full! 👇🏻👇🏻👇🏻

I enjoyed reading this book. This book made me want to move to Caltrey and have a cottage with a garden and a library and have a sentient spider plant and a sentient cactus plant. I can relate to Kiela saying she doesn‘t want to be in a relationship because that‘s me and I can relate to how she feels about books. I would recommend if you want to read something cozy.

#whimsicalreadsbookclub

This book is making me want to move to Caltrey and have a cottage with a garden and a library and have a sentient spider plant and a sentient cactus plant. I can relate to Kiela saying she doesn‘t want to be in a relationship because that‘s me and I can relate to how she feels about books.