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monalyisha
Greta & Valdin: A Novel | Rebecca K Reilly
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Anyone read any good, contemporary, offbeat, funny fiction lately?

Everything on my shelf seems to be diametrically opposed: weighty, dark, lyrical, and poignant OR a floofy romance. I‘m looking for something more like the titles pictured. Witty, modern, and not *necessarily* sweet (but it‘s okay if there‘s some sweetness, too).

*It should probably be noted that I‘m not a fan of massively unlikeable characters.

Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks I loved Margo 💜 1d
fredthemoose I recently read and enjoyed Fundamentally. It might be in that realm for you. 1d
TheKidUpstairs Very interested in seeing what recs you get. I loved all three pictured, and these days they're definitely the feeling I'm needing from my books, too. One I really liked recently (it's from a Canadian indie publisher, so apologies if it's not easily available): 1d
See All 21 Comments
squirrelbrain Have you read The Wedding People yet? I really liked the 3 you pictured, and this one as well. It feels like a dark theme, but it‘s not and it‘s also not as floofy as the cover would suggest. (edited) 1d
AmyG My favorites lately- Beautyland and The Wedding People 1d
monalyisha @squirrelbrain Sadly, I‘m not allowed to read that one yet. 🙈 My book club is reading it together this summer. 1d
monalyisha @AmyG Beautyland might work! I‘ll put it on hold. 💜 I remember really liking 2AM at the Cat‘s Pajamas (and thinking the ending was really strange). Feels like I read that about a million years ago! 1d
JamieArc I was going to suggest this book even though I haven‘t read it but have read his others except it doesn‘t come out until May 🤷🏻‍♀️ 1d
squirrelbrain Gah - I think that would have been perfect! 1d
AmyG I didn‘t know she wrote Cat‘s Pajamas. Beautyland is just such a beautiful book. I hope you enjoy it when you get it. 1d
Bookwormjillk I second Beautyland. I also just started Back After This. I think it‘s technically romance but the parts that appeal to me are about how podcasts are made and the career parts. 1d
monalyisha @JamieArc There are actually a couple of his I haven‘t read, so I can backtrack to the titles I missed. Thanks! 1d
monalyisha Thanks, @Bookwormjillk! I like Linda Holmes (Flying Solo is my favorite of hers) but I think I decided I want to do that one on audio (since it‘s a podcast-related story). So, it will come sometime this year…but not now. Appreciate your suggestions! 1d
Bookwormjillk @monalyisha oh, good idea! 1d
ErikasMindfulShelf I‘d suggest anything by Kevin Wilson 1d
Chelsea.Poole This really makes me want to read Patricia as I love both the other books mentioned. Would The Husbands fit with this category? I adore J Ryan Stradal but his latest (Lakeside) would classify as too heavy, so maybe one of his others. Have you read any others from Rufi Thorpe? I loved (but again some heaviness) 1d
monalyisha Thanks, @Chelsea.Poole! I could try Knockout Queen. I‘ll put it on hold. I loved Kitchens of the Great Midwest and thought Lakeside was only okay. I suggested my library‘s traveling book club read Lager Queens when they met at the local brewery…but I didn‘t join them. 😅🙈 The Husbands may fit. Something about that one makes me keep not choosing it. Patricia is a bit different from the other two I featured but, clearly, I loved it. 18h
monalyisha @quietjenn I put it on hold! Thanks. 18h
monalyisha @ErikasMindfulShelf I put a whole handful of Kevin Wilson‘s books on hold for myself (per @JamieArc, too). When all of these come in, I‘ll sit down, read the first few pages of them all, and see how they hit me. Thanks, everyone! 18h
Suet624 @monalyisha I forgot about 2AM at the Cat‘s Pajamas! I really liked that one. I didn‘t realize it was the same author! I liked Beautyland too. 6h
51 likes21 comments
blurb
Blueberry
The Whale Rider | Witi Ihimaera
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Eggs Exotic! 1w
43 likes1 comment
review
Kristy_K
Poukahangatus | Tibble TAYI
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Mehso-so

I enjoyed getting a glimpse into Tibble‘s world and being exposed to indigenous life in New Zealand through her poetry.

⭐️⭐️⭐️

#newzealand #maori #readtheworld2025

GatheringBooks Ooh! This must be the first poetry book shared for #ReadTheWorld2025, and from New Zealand no less. Awesome! 2w
59 likes1 comment
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Deblovestoread
Greta & Valdin: A Novel | Rebecca K Reilly
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#WeeklyFavorite

Loved this one on audio.

@Read4life

Read4life Fantastic! 💙🩷💙 2mo
45 likes1 comment
review
Deblovestoread
Greta & Valdin: A Novel | Rebecca K Reilly
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Pickpick

Audio books that aren‘t too heavy with characters that I love and root for seem to be what my brain and heart want. That and any excuse to organize something. I bought new hangers after a friend told me about the slimmer velvet cover ones. Spent some time today switching them in with the old plastic ones out.

Loved this one. When Greta tells about Val listening to I‘m Not in Love after getting his heart broken I‘m thinking been there, done that.

Lesliereadsalot Give me a book with interesting characters like these any day! 2mo
64 likes1 stack add1 comment
review
youneverarrived
Greta and Valdin | Rebecca Reilly
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Pickpick

What‘s not to like about this book? Amazing characters, family, humour, writing and the character development 🙌 I feel like it did drag slightly halfway but that was probably my fault - it took me nearly the whole of January to read it and I feel like it‘s one of those that needs to be read in chunks. Still, absolutely loved it, especially the ending for Valdin 🩷 #readyourkindle

squirrelbrain Such a good book! 2mo
CBee Yay! So glad you loved it too! 2mo
youneverarrived @squirrelbrain @CBee I‘m glad I finally got to it 🤍 2mo
TheKidUpstairs I'm glad you loved it! It's so nice to read a book that celebrates complex, messy joy. 2mo
youneverarrived @TheKidUpstairs exactly that! 🩷 2mo
58 likes1 stack add5 comments
review
Lesliereadsalot
Greta & Valdin: A Novel | Rebecca K Reilly
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Pickpick

This is one quirky book. The story is quirky, the two main characters, brother and sister, are quirky and the ending is too! I really enjoyed the weirdness of these two siblings, their family, their lives, all made for a highly enjoyable read.

@Amor4Libros

Amor4Libros So, so happy you loved it, too! ❤️ 3mo
30 likes1 comment
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Lesliereadsalot
Greta and Valdin | Rebecca K. Reilly
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“I come back to the apartment and find the worst thing in the world.”

Almost bailed at the beginning of this fun and quirky book, but glad I stayed with it.

#FirstLineFridays. @ShyBookOwl

ShyBookOwl Glad it hooked u! 3mo
20 likes1 comment
review
BarbaraJean
Greta and Valdin | Rebecca K. Reilly
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Pickpick

I‘ve waited too long to review this and am having a hard time remembering the plot—but honestly, it doesn‘t feel like it matters since plot is not the main point here! I thoroughly enjoyed this character-driven book. Both Greta and Valdin were likable and relatable, and I loved spending time with them and their sprawling, quirky family. My main criticism is that there were about four too many characters! At times it was a challenge keeping track⤵️

BarbaraJean (Cont‘d) …of who was who and how they were all related. And adding additional POVs at the end felt a bit chaotic, but so did the plot at that point, so maybe it all works out. 😆 (edited) 3mo
CarolynM ❤️ Loved this one. 3mo
33 likes2 comments
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bookandbedandtea
Greta & Valdin: A Novel | Rebecca K Reilly
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#12booksof2024 July favorite, very nearly 2024 favorite
@Andrew65

Andrew65 Looks a fun read. 3mo
CarolynM ❤️ Loved this book 3mo
32 likes2 comments