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God of the Woods
God of the Woods | Liz Moore
203 posts | 185 read | 7 reading | 80 to read
"Extraordinary...Reminds me of Donna Tartt's 1992 debut, The Secret History...I was so thoroughly submerged in a rich fictional world, that for hours I barely came up for air." - Maureen Corrigan, Fresh Air, NPR "Riveting from page one to the last breathless word." --Rebecca Makkai, New York Times bestselling author of I Have Some Questions For You "Brilliant, riveting . . . an epic mystery and a riveting family drama." --Miranda Cowley Heller, #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Paper Palace When a teenager vanishes from her Adirondack summer camp, two worlds collide Early morning, August 1975: a camp counselor discovers an empty bunk. Its occupant, Barbara Van Laar, has gone missing. Barbara isn't just any thirteen-year-old: she's the daughter of the family that owns the summer camp and employs most of the region's residents. And this isn't the first time a Van Laar child has disappeared. Barbara's older brother similarly vanished fourteen years ago, never to be found. As a panicked search begins, a thrilling drama unfolds. Chasing down the layered secrets of the Van Laar family and the blue-collar community working in its shadow, Moore's multi-threaded story invites readers into a rich and gripping dynasty of secrets and second chances. It is Liz Moore's most ambitious and wide-reaching novel yet.
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review
HettyG
God of the Woods | Liz Moore
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Pickpick

I never considered bailing on the book, so I have to give it three stars, but the ending has made it a super low pick for me. There were parts of the narrative never resolved, I couldn't stand the Jutya storyline (why are women cops always written so poorly?) and while the pacing was good and the dueling timelines ratcheted up tension, the ending fell so flat as to nearly ruin the good parts of the book.

Larkken I just bailed on this one 😆 I'm not mad that I looked up the end. It was just getting to where I hated John Paul too much (and maybe Peter, too?) to go on with. 3d
HettyG @Larkken it was such a well reviewed book! I was surprised to find how little I liked it by the end. 3d
TiredLibrarian I agree with you about the ending. I'm kind of surprised by all the praise for this book. 3d
38 likes1 stack add3 comments
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Larkken
God of the Woods | Liz Moore
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Bailedbailed

Thanks, I hated it! Maybe my timing is off, but reading about a bunch of snobby elites blame everyone around them and hating on women was not helping this week 🫠
The #literallymycharacter challenge was fun though, thanks @TheBookHippie even the Amazon ads (not pictured) were entertaining and pretty accurate tbh! I AM a sleepy insomniac judgy hot mess who's glued to her phone/camera.

TheBookHippie Ha I love the collage!!!! 4d
TheBookHippie As for tagged book 🎯 4d
BillBlume One of my best friends absolutely DESPISED this book. She has vented multiple times to me and other friends. 4d
See All 6 Comments
BarbaraBB I didn‘t bail but wasn‘t a fan of this book either. I didn‘t like the people nor the plot. 4d
Larkken @TheBookHippie @BillBlume @BarbaraBB so disappointed. At the beginning I was so hopeful -the outdoors vibe was nice and the author really could have done something fun with the female friendships in the camp setting. 3d
TheBookHippie @BillBlume I agree with your friend!!! 3d
35 likes6 comments
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BittersweetBooks
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I hope you‘re getting what you want from this life, too 🏕️🛶🌲

26 likes1 stack add
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BennettBookworm
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Pickpick

WOAH NELLY!! This was an intricately-woven mystery that had me guessing til the very end. Really satisfying and really clever. The author set a hard task for herself with bouncing back and forth amongst sooo many timelines, but it totally worked. The hype is real!!!

Lesliereadsalot Her other books are good too! 1w
BennettBookworm @Lesliereadsalot Oh that‘s very encouraging to hear, thanks! 1w
58 likes2 comments
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MysticFaerie
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Pickpick

5🌟/5🌟
This book was awesome! So worth the read.

AmyG Agree! Loved this one. 1w
17 likes1 comment
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amyrohn
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Pickpick

Oh my god this book was so good?? Like stayed up way too late last night finishing it even though I had to be in office today good??? Excellent atmosphere, mystery, characters, the whole shebang. Easy 5 stars!!

Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks Loved this one! 1w
48 likes1 comment
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amyrohn
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After like 6 months my hold finally came in!!!

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Bluebird
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Pickpick

I devoured this book in 2 days: My fast reading via the audiobook definitely helped me to keep track of events as the many points of view and a dual timeline could have otherwise been confusing. However the story pacing really ratcheted up the tension. The end was a bit of a letdown, but it was well worth the journey. So may great characters! A young boy disappears in 1961, never to be found. His sibling disappears 14 years later…. 😱

TiredLibrarian I really liked this one, and agree with you about the ending. 2w
23 likes2 stack adds1 comment
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MallenNC
God of the Woods | Liz Moore
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Pickpick

Thanks to library holds I‘m finally getting to read some of last year‘s top books. This one was maybe a bit over complicated but definitely worthy of the hype. At first I struggled a little because there were so many characters to keep up with and two timelines, but it all came together well. I liked that almost all of the POV characters were women, especially Judyta and Louise.

Sharpeipup SO many characters 2w
MallenNC @Sharpeipup I was so glad I read this in print vs as an audiobook. I think I would have been lost 2w
Suet624 I agree. An audio would make this book really hard to follow. 2w
47 likes1 stack add3 comments
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Meshell1313
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Pickpick

I enjoyed this mystery about two missing children years apart from the same camp. Lots of interesting characters and the setting was perfect and atmospheric! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

63 likes1 stack add
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mcctrish
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Pickpick

This was so good! What a fantastic story about a train wreck of a family

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candc320
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Pickpick

This was quite the story! Somewhat hard to follow as an audiobook given all the characters and the back and forth timelines, nevertheless it kept my attention and made me need to know what really happened with all these characters. You‘ve got two children, years apart, going missing at the same camp…what could have happened? I was surprised at how much I enjoyed this story! 🌟🌟🌟🌟

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mcctrish
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Finally started one of my Christmas books

66 likes2 stack adds2 comments
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ncsufoxes
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Pickpick

I for the most part liked this one & the audio was decent. There is a lot going on in this book with dual timelines & lots of characters. I think the only thing that made me not love it was the ending. I was a little frustrated & had so many questions. Not sure if that is the author‘s style or intention. It was a little frustrating, I‘ll put my irritations/questions in the comments

ncsufoxes Did they ever tell the mother what happened to Bear? Or did they just continue to let her believe he was missing? How could you let a 13 year old decide to fake their own death/disappearance (although I do get that her parents are both horrible)? 4w
TiredLibrarian Completely agree with you about the ending. I liked the book otherwise. 4w
BarbaraJean Yes! I had the same two frustrations with the ending. I felt like I could have been talked into accepting both of those situations, though, if there had been just a couple more chapters to flesh things out. Especially with the mother. 4w
30 likes3 comments
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Mdion1993
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Pickpick

Years after the disappearance of one camper, a summer camp faces another disappearance with chilling parallels.

Survival ✨ Shadowy ✨ Layered

Larkken Aw I hope your sweet doggo is doing better 4d
9 likes1 comment
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LiteraryHoarderPenny
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Pickpick

Really liked this one!

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britt_brooke
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Pickpick

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Centered around the disappearance(s) of the Van Laar kids, this is very much a sprawling slow burn of a 70s Adirondack summer. Pay close attention, especially at the beginning. There are a lot of well-fleshed characters, and you need to keep the info straight. I had to take a few notes, but it was worth it. Though I thought one thread was unnecessary, this is otherwise nearly perfect. Brilliant title!
Lives up to the hype, IMO.

AmyG Love her books! 1mo
britt_brooke @AmyG This was my first! Definitely checking out get back list. Love discovering a new-to-me author. 🩷🩷 1mo
AmyG I have read The Unseen World and Long, Bright River….both were wonderful. 1mo
See All 8 Comments
britt_brooke @AmyG Stacking both - thank you! 1mo
BkClubCare @AmyG - yes! I have read ALL of her books and Heft made a terrific impression. Still my favorite but probably because it was my first of hers. Enjoy! 1mo
BkClubCare (Sorry- I fact-checked myself and realize that I need to read her 2007 book, debut 1mo
britt_brooke @BkClubCare I‘m so excited to catch up on her backlist. Thanks! 1mo
AmyG @BkClubCare Heft is the only one I haven‘t read….and the one from 2007. (edited) 1mo
84 likes8 comments
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wen4blu
God of the Woods | Liz Moore
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It‘s so cold here today, so it seems like the perfect time to finally start this one. Summer camp is warm, right?

Lesliereadsalot This book was so good I got another book she wrote, The Unseen World. It was good too! 1mo
AmyG Also very good is 1mo
40 likes2 stack adds2 comments
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Kshakal
God of the Woods | Liz Moore
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Pickpick

Overall, I enjoyed this one… this slow burn of a book was set at a summer camp and had a plethora of characters that added many facets to the plot! Can‘t wait to discuss it at book club next week!

TiredLibrarian I just finished it and I liked it too. 1mo
48 likes1 stack add1 comment
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Teresereading
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It's summer in the Adirondacks
#whereareyouMonday
@Cupcake12

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TiredLibrarian
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Pickpick

I enjoyed this; it had sort of a Twin Peaks vibe to it, and some good plot twists. I thought the ending was completely unbelievable, though.

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Littlewolf1
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Mehso-so

2.7⭐️ I am so glad that people enjoyed this book, I just was not one of them. This was supposed to be a Thriller and I wan not only, not thrilled, I was bored. There was also just so much going on in the book with the multiple POVs and all the multiple time lines. This was my #HomeTownBookClub pick for January.

TiredLibrarian I'm about 100 pages into this and was wondering where it was going. Hope I find it worth the read! 1mo
Littlewolf1 @TiredLibrarian I hope you do too. 1mo
ShelleyBooksie Yes! I was so bored at 3/4 of the way through I googled the end. 1mo
26 likes3 comments
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LiteraryHoarderPenny
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It‘s raining out. I‘ve made my cup of tea and let‘s settle in and get this book read! No distractions. I feel like I‘ve been distracted by other books (and my phone) so I‘m going to focus and finally get this book finished! It‘s a perfect day for it right? ☔️

dabbe Yes it is! Enjoy! 🩶🖤🩶 1mo
26 likes2 comments
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Hilary427
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Pickpick

I liked this one - it took a hot second for me to get into it, since there are so many characters and timelines. And it was too long. But it kept me wanting to read, with a few surprises thrown in, too! (3)
⭐️: 3.75/5

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TiredLibrarian
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ShyBookOwl Uh oh lol 1mo
29 likes1 comment
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Sparklemn
God of the Woods | Liz Moore
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Pickpick

My second favorite of 2024! Only lost to Wedding People by a speck. Highly recommend the audiobook.

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Sarahreadstoomuch
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Pickpick

Excellent historical mystery that truly kept me guessing! #wickedwords : Survivor @AsYouWish

32 likes1 stack add
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LiteraryHoarderPenny
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Just an appreciation post for this bookmark. There are a few more like this and I need to go back and buy all of them. They‘re beautiful 🥰

25 likes2 comments
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rachelk
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Pickpick

My first read of the new year and I thought it was good. Part family saga and part missing person mystery, I found it to be a page turner (short chapters helped) despite the length and multitude of characters.

64 likes1 stack add
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Beatlefan129
God of the Woods | Liz Moore
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Happy Birthday ! 🎉🎁 #49bdaygiveaway

wanderinglynn Thanks for entering! 🥳 1mo
50 likes1 comment
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Roary47
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Mehso-so

3✨ The mystery was intriguing enough to keep going. I was struggling with this story because of the multitude of characters, the various timelines, and it wasn‘t really a thriller in my book. This story I read with my #htbookclub that we all pretty much agreed that it was not the book for us.

Caroline2 Yeah I was underwhelmed and agree it isn‘t really a thriller and actually rather depressing!! 1mo
27 likes1 comment
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Roary47
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Right?! If my son was missing I wouldn‘t sleep until he was found. Why is he so unconcerned? 🤔

AmyG Why do half the people do what they do? 🤷🏼‍♀️ 1mo
Roary47 @AmyG True. It would make for a boring story that is for sure. 1mo
26 likes3 comments
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TamTracy
God of the Woods | Liz Moore
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Pickpick

Slow burn but worth it. I thought in might get a little confused with all the characters but I didn‘t. It added to the story and made you really wonder what happened. Dual timelines and multiple POVs were also easy to follow. Very well written and I loved how it ended and wrapped everything up. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Sparklemn This was one of my 2024 favorites. Glad you liked it! 1mo
Lesliereadsalot My hands down favorite of last year! 1mo
TamTracy @Sparklemn It‘s gonna be hard to beat! 1mo
TamTracy @Lesliereadsalot I went in kinda blind and loved it! 1mo
58 likes1 stack add4 comments
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Read-n-Bloom
God of the Woods | Liz Moore
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Pickpick

Intriguing, mysterious and interesting mystery that has many different POVs & multiple timelines. Has Small amount of language & as far as I remember no sexual contact, closed door or anything really. There is a twist that is a really good twist and one you didn‘t see coming, but makes sense when you find it out. I did not like the ending though🤨Recommend to anyone who likes twists and turn mysteries. 🙂📚🎉☕️
#LitsyReads #Bookstagram

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Eggbeater
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Pickpick

This is a genre-bending book that combines a mystery/thriller with literary historical fiction. There were many perspectives to keep track of and several different time periods. I thought it was more complicated than it had to be, but I enjoyed it. The characters will stick with me, although I don't count it as the stunning literary marvel it is hyped up to be; it is a good book.

57 likes2 stack adds
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Julsmarshall
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Pickpick

Fantastic! Moore has managed to make me want to stop everything to read her book yet again; such an amazing storyteller! Dark, mysterious, and twisty with characters that are complicated and authentic-everything you want in a thriller! If this is on your TBR, move it up! If it isn‘t and you like thrillers, add it now 🙂

64 likes1 stack add
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Sharpeipup
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Had a tough time even finding this one for my next book club…

AmyG It‘s SO good. 2mo
Lesliereadsalot So good and her other books too! 2mo
mhillis Can‘t wait to read this one! I‘ve had it on hold forever 2mo
48 likes1 stack add3 comments
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GinaKButler
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Excited to start this today…I never felt like I could get to it last year because I was consistently chasing challenge reads. It‘s my January #bookspin pick.

#bookspinbingo
@TheAromaofBooks

TheAromaofBooks Yay!! Enjoy!! 2mo
Littlewolf1 We are reading this in my hometown bookclub. Starting it this weekend to be ready for the 12th. 2mo
32 likes1 stack add2 comments
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Breanne1
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Pickpick

This was an incredibly moving mystery. Loved how it highlighted women‘s movement into becoming more than a wife; and it‘s those women who are the ultimate heroes of this tale that spans generations. #botm
Book 1 of 2025

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dabbe
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This novel takes us from the 1950s-1975 at a summer camp in the Adirondack Mountains where the daughter of the wealthy family that owns the camp goes missing. Every character has flaws, a few of them behave reprehensibly, and a few deserve redemption. And if you've ever experienced the wonders and perils of summer camp, on that alone, this book is worth the read.

Lesliereadsalot One of my favorites! Reading her first book now. 2mo
dabbe @Lesliereadsalot 🩵❄️🩵 2mo
55 likes2 comments
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GinaKButler
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Yeah! My January #bookspin and #doublespin picks!

Excited about these two! Thank you for hosting, @TheAromaofBooks

TheAromaofBooks Yay!! Enjoy!! 2mo
24 likes1 comment
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LiteraryHoarderPenny
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Alright. Mixed reviews for this one. But I love Liz Moore so I‘m jumping into this one. Another one where I‘m thrilled the publisher spent time on the insides of the book.

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TracyReadsBooks
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#12Booksof2024

Favorite book in August was one that‘s made its way onto almost all (if not all) the end of year “best books” lists for 2024. I raced through this one and was surprised by how much I liked it. Really well constructed thriller with good writing, interesting & compelling characters, and a tangled bundle of secrets. Definitely an entertaining read.

@Andrew65

Andrew65 A good choice. 2mo
27 likes1 stack add1 comment
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DeeLew
God of the Woods | Liz Moore
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I didn‘t read much the first half of the year but the second half was better. I hope I can hit 50-60 books in 2025. I try not to feel bad when I see so many people read 100+ books in a year.

TheBookgeekFrau Do Not feel bad! You read. Thats all that matters 😊💕 2mo
27 likes1 comment
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Karisimo
God of the Woods | Liz Moore
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I don't feel as strongly about this winner as I did last year about The Covenant of Water, but here it my 2024 #bookbracket!

Thanks for the bracket design @catsandbooks

Amiable Oh, I loved “Wellness.” 😍 2mo
Karisimo @amiable I ranked it above The Women!!! 2mo
AmyG Yay! Such a wonderful book. 2mo
See All 6 Comments
Amiable @Karisimo I would have done the exact same thing because I couldn't stand “The Women.“ 😄 2mo
Catsandbooks Wonderful!! 🎉 👏🏼 💖 2mo
Lesliereadsalot I‘m with you and @Amiable on The Women. Did not do a thing for me and it‘s STILL on the best seller list! 2mo
34 likes6 comments
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Bookwormjillk
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#12DaysOfReading July @Andrew65

This book was perfect summer reading. Looking at the cover I almost feel like I‘m sitting on my porch soaking up the heat of July.

Andrew65 If only! Roll on Spring! 2mo
54 likes1 stack add1 comment
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LiteraryHoarderPenny
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I‘ve been thinking about how to start my 2025 reading. I‘m thinking of starting with one of these stacked books (in my new book cart my daughter gave me for Christmas!). Under it are Classics that I‘m going to try and work on to my reading each month.

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DeeLew
God of the Woods | Liz Moore
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Pickpick

I really liked this one, although I got frustrated at times with the hops back and forth in time and the multiple characters that were hard to keep track of. There were two mysteries to solve, and the resolutions strained credibility a little, but I still loved it. There is one character, a female investigator in 1975, who I really loved. It would be cool to have a continuation of her story. ⭐️ ⭐️⭐️⭐️1/2