Welcome to Litsy!

#TopReads2025 for November goes to “The Stranger Times” by C. K. McDonnell. This was such a quirky, fun read and I‘m so glad I stumbled upon it. I went and bought the rest of the series when I was halfway through this one. Well, minus the newest Christmas book since it‘s only out in hardcover and the rest of the books I bought are paperback 😆

#TopReads2025 for October goes to two perfectly spooky reads that I would totally re-read next year at this time: “Full Dark House” by Christopher Fowler and “The Hearth Witch‘s Guide to Magic & Murder” by Kiri Callaghan. Both these reads had witches, ghosts, black cats, all the needed ingredients for a great October read 🧙🏻‍♀️👻🐈‍⬛🎃

#TopReads2025 for September goes to “10 Marchfield Square” by Nicola Whyte. This was a fun debut that was just right for reading in the fall 🍂🍁🎃 September 28th was mentioned in the book and I was actually reading it ON THAT DAY!! It feels like the universe is giving you a sign that you‘re reading the right book at the right time when that happens 🥰♥️

#TopReads2025 for August goes to “Alfa Romeo 1300 and Other Miracles” by Fabio Bartolomei. This was just such a fun, quirky read that I loved so much! I don‘t usually like translated books but this made me a believer that they can be good!

#TopReads2025 for July (WTH?! How??? When????) goes to “The Listeners” by Maggie Stiefvater. This was such an atmospheric read that once I started it, I couldn‘t put it down. It was one of those reads that I didn‘t want to finish because I didn‘t want it to end, but I just HAD to finish it so I knew how it ended 🥰😍😌

#TopReads2025 for June goes to “Before Dorothy” by Hazel Gaynor. This was such an amazing read that once I was hooked, I couldn‘t put it down. A must read for every fan of the ‘Wizard of Oz‘

#TopReads2025 for May goes to 2 favorite books that I couldn‘t decide which one I loved more, so they both are picked! “Big Bad Wool” by Leonie Swann and “Dungeon Crawler Carl” by Matt Dinniman are quite possibly as opposite as you can get but were both fun! One has talking sheep who solve a murder, the other has a talking cat surviving a Hunger Games-esque quest with her boxer wearing bodyguard. I‘d highly recommend both!! 🐑🔎🐈👑

#TopReads2025 for April belongs to the one and only Vera Wong ☕️🫖🔎 “Vera Wong‘s Guide to Snooping (On A Dead Man)” was fun and while on a bit darker side compared to her first book, still the same old, fabulous Vera! I hope we haven‘t seen the last of her!

#TopReads2025 continues with my March pick 🥁🥁🥁 “Expect Great Things!” was an interesting read! I‘ve heard of the Katharine Gibbs School from pretty much every book I‘ve read that takes place in NYC during the early to mid century and to learn more about it was fascinating!! Plus, Katharine grew up in Galena, IL which is about a 2.5 hour drive from me. I love visiting it, it‘s such a charming town. So it did get some bonus points for that 😉👍

#TopReads2025 continues with my February pick 🥁🥁🥁 ‘Tartufo‘ 🙌 I didn‘t have any expectations going in besides the author of ‘Remarkably Bright Creatures‘ recommended it on her Instagram stories and gave a cover blurb. It was very quirky and fun and had some real heartwarming moments too. Don‘t read it if your hungry though, her descriptions of pasta will make your mouth water 🤤🍝