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Gilbert is one of those memoirists that I want to roll my eyes at half the time but the other half I want to hug her for getting at such universal truths about human nature. I did enjoy this look at the death of her long-time friend turned partner Reyya Elias and the insight it gave her into her own problems with sex and love addiction. It‘s a #borrownotbuy for me.

The cover is gorgeous, I love the concept, but ultimately the book was… fine.

Maddie has been visiting Havenfall, the inn managed by her uncle, since she was a child. She finds a refuge there that offers love and friendship and magic… and solace from the grief of her life outside Haven. The concept of an inn at the crossroads of ancient, magical worlds is so promising, and the intrigue and power dynamics could have been compelling, but ⤵️

Posting these snippets from Nova Scotia House for @JillR - and for anyone else that may be interested. 😊

It‘s a very unusual prose style - lots of missing punctuation that creates a stream of consciousness style.

As I mentioned before, on audio this came across very differently- it lost its flow and became very choppy and staccato.

Another one from the #wpf25 longlist that I was halfway through when the shortlist was announced. After reading the second half, this has slid way down my own longlist.

It‘s a pick but only just and it‘s certainly no Americanah. Billed as a novel about 4 women, it‘s more like 4 separate stories, with the women being only tangentially linked. Upon finishing, I could only remember 3 of the women - I‘d completely forgotten the 4th and her story.

A baby is found washed upon the shore of an Irish fishing village in the 1970s. Ambrose Bonnar, a local fisherman, decides his family should keep him but Brendan is an odd boy, given to offering benedictions to the other villagers, and despised by his ‘brother‘ Declan.

This was a little reminiscent of Coast Road, but not as good - there was too much about fishing for my liking. A pick, but #borrownotbuy.

#netgalley Out 6th Feb in the UK

Yeah, this is one of those #tob25 books that just seems to be obtuse and weird for the sake of it. That said, I found these friends strangely charming. Available on #hoopla. Def a #borrownotbuy!

Two friends are navigating college and the life after when animals suddenly start stalking people on city streets. A billionaire kills all the animals in the world with a sound pulse. Later, one friend finds herself in his thrall. #toblonglist

Decently funny satire about hyper-competitive NYC private kindergarten admissions. #borrownotbuy if you‘re looking for some moms behaving badly.

Sam is a precocious oldest of three from a rich family on the Upper East Side. His mom will do anything (short of homeschooling) to ensure he gets the best education, even if it means brawling with another mom!

Sorry I‘ve been gone y‘all! Too many books to catch up on, but I had to share this one. Started slow. Great middle. I violently hated, just hated the last 10%!! 😡😡

Two friends have lived together since college. In their 30s, one gets pregnant from a one night stand. When baby daddy returns to Hawaii, their world changes dramatically.

#booker #longlist 7/13

I liked this, but didn‘t love it.

I liked it for its unusual concept and style - following 8 girl boxers as they compete in Reno.

I didn‘t love it because there wasn‘t enough depth to make me care about the characters, and they all seemed to blend into one. It started well, but got rather repetitive as it went on.

I don‘t think it will make my personal shortlist but I think the judges might like it.