Finished this on my first solo road trip with my little superhero.
I found this to be a promising start, a very slow middle, and an unexpected, heart wrenching ending.

Started in hardcopy and then switched to audio to finish. I think it was easier to speed through in audio but harder to keep track of which character was speaking. It was a promising start, if not dramatic, but parts of the plot deemed wholly unnecessary while others were too far fetched? Maybe it was just a case of too much going on. And then it seemed to be wrapped up rather quickly, unsatisfyingly so.

Photo is from March 2022 when I had picked this book back up AGAIN. I finished it FINALLY with the help of the audio.
This book was really all over the place for me. I wanted to love it but can't. It's very fever dream like. Jumpy and for its length that's hard. I enjoyed the audio but both that and the book had its drawbacks for getting into the story. Also the MANY casual references, to rape bothered me. This is def a person by person book.

When your nails match your book 😍

Ok this is gonna be longer than usual.
No, I did not enjoy this- not the first half in print or the 2nd in audio but audio allowed me to sprint to the finish line.
Started end of summer last year roughly, seemed promising enough but after almost 300pp of the same BS i was BORED. THE TEDIUM. maybe this trope works for others but OMG there is only so much of this "hidden romance" I can take especially when I don't like either MC very much.??

Hey Litsy pals, I need some help!
I'm looking to get some local moms together in my area for a book club and I'm trying to think of some good beach reads that are not too cliche romance-y but are entertaining and maybe also on the shorter side, because we are all new moms so who has time? Hahaha!
Any suggestions are highly appreciated! Also doesn't have to be the "typical" beach read- we're all pretty open.

1/2 way thru this short novel & bailing B/c: 1) I'm bored. 2) I do not care at all about these characters. 3) probably b/c the author spends more time romanticizing the horror rather than developing character, backstory, or plot. 4) the "Monster's" verbiage really strikes discordant at times and totally takes me out of the experience.
Thank you, bye, next.

(Ethan turned 3mo recently.)

So as it turns out, the two books I picked up from the library today, simply because of the fact that they are both on my TBR and the only ones that we're both available today at my local branch, are by two Canadian authors.
Woo!

I found this at random in the library (book not the baby ?) and was super excited because I had no idea it existed. Well, I was fine without it in my life. Really these stories added nothing to the understanding of the house nor did they provide that much background "colour"- could the third even be considered a story?

lover of tarot? grab this book. I'm pretty sure nowhere else is there such a vast collection of correspondences for tarot. Great for quick referencing, diving further into certain areas, & practice reading with various correspondences in mind. While the subject matter may seem obtuse, Susie writes in such a way that makes it accessible and welcoming- she truly embodies the magician by bringing the esoteric "down to earth" for the rest of us ;)

Are you interested in tarot at all? Then 100% you need to read this book (and buy it if you can). This is no joke. Better yet, trial run reading the book by listening to The Fortunes Wheelhouse podcast which is how Susie and Mel ended up writing this book. It contains so much wisdom and knowledge about both the RWS and Thoth decks and if you want to go further down and rabbit hole, it offers a great jumping off point with bibliography.

Well this starts out subtle...LOL
I admit though, this book may be too much for me to handle but I'm going to try. At the very least, I love the concept of revenge. Oh yes, yes I do.

When Baby Dude refuses to be happy until he can sleep on you, you are forced to read 😂
A great origin story full of very fun characters, though TBH kind of wanted to slap Faith, haha. IYKYK.
You're going to want to read if you're a fan of Practical Magic or just witch families. That said, I did feel it was a little lengthy due to some passages that drew me out of the story and into historical commentary, IMHO.

This started out quite strong for me and the last essay or two (?) Have seemed quite dull in comparison and a bit repetitive. I like the beginning because of the discussion of a gift economy/reciprocity. I ❤️the indigenous lore & science but her waxing poetic is too much at times . Also there is a heavy focus on mothers and while I appreciate and understand the sentiment, she seems to be adding an extra burden on women (maybe this time changes?).

TW for sexual assault (children). Multiple generations and families of dysfunction, secrets, sadness, and in the end love. I truly love these kinds of stories. Why? Because they are far more real (imo) than happy, go-lucky romances etc. A paper cut is not realistically the worst thing that happens in someone's life so why do I want to read a story like that? Life is complicated, tragic, full of hard, impossible choices and yet...love. ❤️

Nap trapped = lots of reading. Little dude decided yesterday and today that he won't sleep unless I'm there and, more importantly, nursing him. (& if he falls asleep, how dare mom cover herself in case he needs it 15, 20, 30min later 😜).
Thank god tho for this beautiful sweetness b/c WOW was I highly unprepared for this book! Maybe i should have looked closer at reviews? But I am enjoying it, even if it's heartbreaking & pushes where it hurts.

Little dude was two months yesterday! And doesn't he look so happy about being put into a greasy pizza box again for another photo shoot? ?
I read this many nights at bedtime and nursing stints throughout the nights and it kept me thoroughly engaged. Based on a true case from the late 1800s where a ghost "gave testimony" at her killer's trial, McCrumb does an amazing job at bringing all these various characters into real life??

Thanks for the tag @Eggs
I'd LOVE to own a bookshop and I'd love for it to have both have new and used with a special children's sections because I adore kids books oh & a good occult/tarot section!
There just has to be music but definitely low and chill, no words (too distracting from reading).
A downtown location in an old building or an older home would be the best locales and a small little coffee/pastry nook would be a must! 👇🏽

So I should have bailed toward the beginning when the main character just screamed older, bitter, white, cis man wants to whine about his terrible life and all the bad things that have happened to him and how he *deserves* so much better/more. But I hoped the plot would turn it around. IT DID NOT. This is NOT horrifying, except for just how terrible and fever-dream like this unexplained/unresolved plot becomes. It's annoying, at best.

I am a huge fan of RQ so rating this a So-So hurts me. But what can I say? The story just didn't really make sense (not did I care that much). I recognize I had a huge break between reading all the vol's but my opinion seems to be backed by others. The plot line took a turn that many seemed was way too difficult to follow. The ending suggested this wasn't The End but nothing has materialized yet. (Pic: 2 books from lib, finally got physical card!)

Forgot to review this one.
I found this one highly enjoyable! I did not see the first big "twist" coming nor could I have predicted the ending. But as the handy in-book therapist tells us is just that- we can't begin to imagine what's coming.
There was so much love between so many of these characters and yet also distrust- a complex story that also touches on our conceptions of female beauty etc.
Don't ignore the author's acknowledgements!

It's been a loooooooong break from the RQ & tbh I don't fully remember all that's going on, which might be good given what others have said. Bonus, I can't remember what the previous artwork looked like exactly so I'm happy with this vol's artwork lol.
I miss Vi & Dave & think this storyline was a little drawn out for the eventual punchline but I love this series so I forgive. Also I find Betty's arc a little...odd?
*Pic: dude's first time in crib

More gratuitous baby shots. 😂🥰
I have found graphic novels to be nice in this newborn phase. Easy to pick up and put down as needed, short bites that you can generally get through or read more of if there is time, and don't seem to tax the mom-brain quite as much as just a straight page of letters, haha.*bonus: when little dude gets a wee bigger, bright, bold images I can share with him!

It goes without saying I recommend LJ always.

Sunbathing has taken on a whole new level 🥰
Finished today and I quite enjoyed this one. Dysfunctional family ✅ atmospheric location ✅ murder ✅ creepy rhymes ✅
I saw one twist coming but that final one was a surprise; maybe it allows for too much but for a book taking a spin on an AC novel, I'll allow it.

I'm not sure where the days or weeks have gone.
I'm not sure I entirely remember this book ?? ok, so I do remember most of it. It was OK. Good enough for entertaining me on walks and while babe was sleeping. However, no one seems particularly like a "good" person in this story so I really didn't care about any of them and tbh the MC seemed the most grating to me.

I was able to finish the last hour of this audio shortly after this little dude joined the world! Ethan surprised us a week early so he didn't give me a chance to finish the book before!
An entertaining read that has a few twists and turns- it's funny though, I didn't really like any of the characters, none of them seemed particularly "good" or anyone I feel empathy towards.

Finished this audio while helping to scrap the paint off the nursery floor. Today we are finishing it and I'm so happy. 38.5 weeks and my body is rebelling by swelling so this is not an easy task. (Any tips? Happy to hear!)
This book was so Gaiman-esque that I would have assumed that's who the author was had I not known. So if you're a fan of that fantasy/supernatural/gothic style, queue it up!
Also, mute heroine was great!

Nursery has colour!
Also what a book to binge listen to when you're 37weeks preggo 😜
While a twisted crime against a child (that is described) it is not overly dwelled upon in miniscule details meaning you can (probably) get past that.
Such a King novel so obviously Terry *can't* have done it, or consciously? Or...??? Read on!

Definitely kept me entertained while post-partum meal prepping and doing my long walks into work! I kept guessing as Ware kept the plot twisting with everyone seeming plausibly culpable at some point.
Being 36 weeks now I definitely related to some of the pregnancy woes and highs and I found it added something extra- although at times certain aspects seemed a little stretched (tho each pregnancy is different 🤷🏽‍♀️).

Well it suddenly became winter here again recently and our kitchen got a much needed (literal) whitewash because it was a terrible orange that we decided we couldn't live with for the next few years. So splash on the paint!
This was a cute story, predictable and probably unlikely in many of the outcomes but perfect for a cozy, wintery read and full of loveable characters.

Finished this a bit ago, but life's been busy (not for the dog lol) and I think the reviews are pretty unanimous!
My faves were Penelope and well, the muse.

So torn with this one because I did finish it and pretty quickly but I also found it maddeningly naive. Or should I say a couple of the characters? There was a twist toward the end that I felt was going to explain/justify that impression and then boom another twist and I was left still unsatisfied.
Also, I find it SUCH a stretch to have a (modern day) character who won't swear. To the extent they say "fiddlesticks". it's just not believable.??

I enjoyed this Mexican gothic story inspired by (?) Rebecca.
If you enjoy any kind of "Rebecca-esque" stories I would highly suggest this. The narration was great too. The only part I probably found unnecessary was the extra romance line. But for a debut novel, I think this is impressive.
Oh, if you aren't a fan of the supernatural kind of story line, maybe give it a pass.
(The look you get when you cuddle for 2min and then go back to work.)

I think I enjoyed this book more in the beginning and middle than the end. I don't want to spoil how it turns out so I can't say much really.
Also, not going to lie, the fact that the main character was still so affected by her trauma just didn't seem very believable- it seemed more as if it were plot convenient.
And yes, gratuitous maternity shot. 🥰

Another that I had to stick with past the first 30m or so to get pulled in (and also shifting perspectives). This is some great poetic writing! And while I appreciate the reviews that it is sad, I see a hope here and the story of the inevitable return that everyone will make. Waters to waters.

(enjoy this photo of a dog who didn't care that laundry fell on top of him)
It took me 20-30 min of audio to get into this. I almost gave up. I think b/c of shifting perspectives and times but after the beginning it became clearer and pulled me in.
Definitely worth it.
I don't know about others but that ending did not surprise me.

I don't normally "do" self help books. But it was my therapist who suggested this one for me because this one is about taking actionable steps in pursuit of loving yourself. It doesn't just say "you gotta love yourself". I have actively implemented many of the tools she provides and have found a marked improvement in my mood, the way I treat myself, how I talk to myself and view myself & it's helped me through the bodily changes of pregnancy. ⬇️

Finished this one up before Christmas festivities and honestly must have read the description wrong because I thought it was a cozy murder mystery, haha. It is NOT BUT it is good. And I thought it was just going to be light and fluffy but it got me in the feels. Maybe it's the pregnancy hormones and the fact that there was pregnancy in the book.... Who knows?

All the set up of an interesting novel and yet it kind of fell flat. Once it finally got around to the main heart of the story it was interesting enough but I found that were to many inner monologues and expositions in general. The characters came off a little 2D as well.

Think I pretty much finished this in 3 bouts. I really enjoyed it. Some sick twisted Canadian part of me likes the theme of being trapped in snow around the holidays, particularly so when there's no snow here and it's December!!
I feel a movie could be made off of this but they'd probably destroy the integrity by either cheesing it up too much or dramatizing it a la Sabrina/Riverdale style.
I was surprised (pleasantly) by the ending.

(any chance I get this season, I will show off this cute Christmas hoodie 🤣).
Enjoyed this book, and had to laugh that these people could barely stand 7 days given how long and how many times we had to be in lockdowns/isolated.
Who else wanted to smack Phoebe every chance they got? Was that just me?? Lol

Half way and just can't anymore. And I was already forcing myself to listen and finding myself tune out as it's just so booooooring. Also, "I was sad like the vacuum was sad" freaking killed me ??? is my vacuum sad???? Questions I will never actually ask myself ?☠️

Recommitted to reading this, because what better time when you have the excuse of "the baby's developed ears and can hear your voice" to read a fairy tale a day ?????
"But it is so, and it was so. Here's hand and ring I have to show." - from Mr. Fox, chapter Brave, Bold, and Wilful.

Had this out, read up to the last hour of it so slowly that it got returned. It came back to me...twice. I finally gave up the ?. I did not get into this. All the characters seemed uninteresting and I couldn't care about them living or not. Why they are all being targeted was more intriguing but when there is an hr left and really nothing has been "discovered" about it, it feels like a useless thread. Oh well

Read in pretty much 24hrs so I guess I have to admit I was interested. I thought from the beginning it was going to be fluffy but as it turned out it wasn't. I didn't always like Dannie probably because 1) in a way I can self identify and 2) I feel the complete opposite and understand her personality from Bella's perspective. But she was real.
What would happen if we all caught glances of our futures?

Walking the streets of London, ON, made me extra depressed as I thought about how the divide between those well off and the poor is still beyond staggering and much of the attitudes towards them are the same.
So much of what happened to these women was just by chance, by a change here or there in circumstance. Rubenhold succeeds at showing you what happens when society deems you as nothing or worthless from the get go.

Ummm meh? Anyone else get Pretty Little Liar vibes from this?
I found the MC fairly unreal- her thoughts, her actions, it just didn't add up for me. Also the various twists in the mystery were kind of more annoying than anything especially when the "first big one"(?) just fizzled out. Like poof, oh no that's really nothing. Oh ok.
I finished it, wasn't terrible but all I'll remember is mean girls at camp and shit goes wrong.

I went btw being interested & utterly bored the entire way through. I didn't find it particularly creepy or spooky. I found Mari mostly annoying & her anxiety about bed bugs a little hard to empathize with. I'd have preferred town mystery plotline as a whole other story-it all seemed a little too blurred.
Pic: me trying to rescue hurt bunny walking home from work. Unfortunately he died in my arms b/c apparently he was much more hurt than I knew.

It is so rare for me these days to read a PHYSICAL book. It's not that I don't have time. I can binge watch shows while mindlessly scrolling on insta so why don't I read? Good question. Tonight, with the dog firmly planted I've decided to finally jump into this one.

So I see a lot of positive reviews and I'm a little lost. I went in blind and I'm glad I didn't see the hype b/c I would have been angry. Prepare to have a changing POV and for one of those to be a cat 😑 an annoying one, if audio.
Honestly this was way better in the last 1-2hrs. But the road getting there was just ...annoying and not scary or thrilling or suspenseful.