Found another beautiful bookstore! Discovering new independent bookstores is always one of my favorite parts of travel.

Stumbled upon an absolute gem of a used bookstore today! He had first editions of Steinbeck and even a copy of Jane Eyre that was so old there‘s no publication date. But there was an inscription dated in the 1890s! I was in heaven. 😍

I‘m wary of memoirs written by young people, but this paired well with my rereading of the Harry Potter series. Read it for the onset anecdotes if you‘re a fan. He never takes himself too seriously and seems pretty grounded for someone who grew up in the spotlight. He doesn‘t pretend to be someone he‘s not. Great on audio since it‘s read by Tom Felton.

Slow and steady is the best way to describe this story. A trio of adult siblings from Maine reconnect when one of their kids is charged with a hate crime. Bob is the quiet force that holds them together. I had a hard time getting into it, but once you understand the pace it hits its stride. I loved Bob's character growth throughout the story. It had me thinking about how we surround ourselves with the people we think we deserve.

Book two in the series is just as readable as the 1st. I didn't love Sloan as much as her spitfire BFF Kristen, but the love story with a famous musician was sweet. I'm always a little wary of the immediate can't live without each other idea, but I loved the visit to his family in Minnesota. Another one that I didn't want to put down.

I loved the novella that started this series, but I struggled with this one. It took me month to finish. It's more of a coming-of-age take as Binti returns to her home planet. I highly recommend the original novella Binti and the short story: Binti: Sacred Fire. I‘d pass on Binti: Home.

This is my 1st by this author & I have mixed feelings. It was absolutely compulsively readable & I couldn‘t put it down. But it also had one of the main tropes that I don‘t enjoy, which is a misunderstanding or lying to the other person “for their own good”. I‘d always rather they tell the truth & let the other person make their own decision. That being said, I did care about the characters, and I immediately picked up the next book in the series.

This was the perfect road trip book with my daughter! We particularly loved the first few chapters which introduced the characters. A secret society of clever children who tackle saving the world? Sign me up! It was such a fun adventure. It's a bit like Lemony Snicket, but with a lot more heart.

Watching my daughter become a reader and seeing her joy in finding new books is just about the best thing ever. 📚

This weekend I got to see Much Ado About Nothing at my favorite outdoor theater in Wisconsin. The witty banter, the electric chemistry, it was wonderful! It was my daughter‘s first performance to see at the theater and I was reminded how even centuries later Shakespeare‘s work still entertains and resonates.

I just reread this one and loved it just as much the second time. This time I listened to the audio and it was as wonderful as everyone said. Since I knew the ending, I was able to focus more on the characters and less on the plot. The reflections of a woman to her adult children is beautiful. It‘s about memory and nostalgia, the secrets we hold and the experiences that shape us. I know it will stay with me.

There‘s a lot of teen angst in this one, but there‘s so many beautiful moments. The one that breaks my heart is when Mrs. Weasley faces the boggart and sees the deaths of her family members. I recently read somewhere that both of her brothers were killed in the first fight against Voldemort, so it makes sense that this fear would be so real for her.

Another delightful gem that I somehow missed when I was growing up. A small town family lives in a rented yellow house. Their life shifts when the house is put up for sale by their landlord. Each little adventure from a dancing dog to hiding in a bread box is incredibly sweet. I particularly loved the unplanned field trip of the little kindergarten who hopped on a local train.

The loveliest wall of female authors in a local Indianapolis bookstore. Visit Pen & Pink if you‘re ever in Indy!

I love a good memoir and this one by a woman who came to America from Iran in the 1970s was wonderful. Just enough humor to balance stories with a more serious tone. In America, she was met with kindness and open arms, but that doesn‘t mean there wasn‘t also bullying. Cultural differences brought some hilarious moments, but others were more painful. She also talks about her marriage to a French man. I‘d love to read more of her work.

I wasn‘t a fan of this one. A woman is living with her brash mother who is undergoing chemo and her teenage daughter who works leading kayaking tours. They find themselves in the midst of a murder investigation. The plot felt unnecessary I‘ll convoluted. It lost momentum. It seemed like it couldn‘t decide if it was a murder mystery or a family drama completely unrelated to the murder. This was almost a DNF but I kept waiting for things to pick up.

Mrs. Weasley is such a powerful character in this series. Making Harry feel welcome in their home, showing up for him as family during the TriWizard tournament, and fiercely protecting him at the end of the book, she mothers him in a beautiful way.

“Mrs. Weasley set the potion down on the bedside cabinet, bent down, and put her arms around Harry. He had no memory of ever being hugged like this, as though by a mother.”

A whirlwind of a play about a widowed woman and a young man newly released from prison. The audio production is just beautiful, performed with a full cast. It moves quickly through topics of depression, nature preservation, and grief but all the characters are fully realized. One of the best plays I've read in recent years.

This was a reread and it was just as delightful the second time. It's about a group of people who live in the tiny English village where Austen wrote some of her novels. They form a society to try to preserve her legacy. Each of their stories, from Mimi the Hollywood star to Adeline, the strong young widow, mirrored a portion of an Austen novel or added a new layer to the impact she had on the world. This was a cup of hot cocoa that hit the spot.

A quick read and easy to stay interested, but painfully predictable. It felt like a prince version of Anastasia. I felt myself rolling my eyes at the main character's actions and attitude too many times. I also didn't love the way the author intentionally waited to reveal certain details in a very "tell me" instead of "show me" style. We got to the final third of the book and all of a sudden the main character reveals a completely different story.

This is the most realistic romance I‘ve read in a long time. Not at all what I was expecting with the romcom sounding premise, but it went emotionally deep quickly. Shiloh and Cary were best friends in high school & reconnect at a wedding, but the story is about so much more than that. It‘s about the middle, caring for parents & kids and all the complications life throws your way. It breaks your heart and makes you giddy with hope.

I love the way the story is told, very funny and clever as the author breaks the fourth wall and talks directly to the reader. I was expecting some sort of literary family drama, but instead it‘s more of a murder mystery. It became a little convoluted about 60% in, but the way it was told kept me interested and engaged. Fantastic on audio. Recommended if you like old-school detective stories that follow format and still surprise you.

This was one of the most popular books in America in the late 19th century. There are shades of The Count of Monte Cristo with a wronged man seeking revenge, but it gets a little lost along the way. Some elements were fascinating, like the chariot race, while others, like an Egyptian love interest, dragged. I loved seeing the story of Christ from an outside POV and his mother & sister‘s healing. I‘m glad I read it, but I wouldn‘t read again.

For me, this is where the series really picks up. I love the whole story of the dementors, the time turner, a prisoner on the loose, the Marauders‘ Map, learning more about Snape‘s grudge, and (my favorite) Lupin! I love that Hermione has a few moments of defiance in this book with Malfoy and Prof. Trelawney. *I found this British edition in a used bookstore, and I love it!

I absolutely loved The River, & this one sounded like it was in a similar vein, but I hit a few speed bumps with it. While I love the adult male friendship and the way it resonates, I still maintain that Heller does not know how to write a believable woman. One plot point with a woman took me completely out of the story and seemed to throw off the whole tone of what he was attempting. There were still elements I loved, but it‘s his Achilles Heel.

This is always my least favorite book of the series, but this time I appreciated seeing Harry‘s first trip to the Burrow. I love how he immediately feels at home and makes Ron understand that he shouldn‘t be embarrassed by it. Fawkes is the other highlight. Harry would have been killed in an instant without him. It‘s also the book where Harry feels confident (at the end) about his placement in Gryffindor.

In my head, this was a serial killer book. That is absolutely not the case. It‘s much more of a character-driven investigator book with a big dose of family drama in the same vein as Jane Harper & Tana French. I‘m so glad I read it. I loved it! Combine summer camp, the Adirondack woods, class complications between the rich and the locals, and gender politics in the 1970s and you‘ve got quite a plot. Plus the tension of a missing child, so good!

Rereading the series with @ruthmoeller for the millionth time. It always brings me such comfort. I couldn‘t help noticing this time how incredible Mrs. Weasley and Hagrid are to Harry. Before either of them even know him well, they welcome him and make him feel like family with gifts at Christmas, kind words, and an understanding that he needs friends and not fans. Also, Hogwarts is a ridiculously dangerous school to send your kids to. 🤣

Amina Al-Sirafi is a retired Muslim pirate captain who finds her was back to the sea for one last adventure. The story reminded me of Tress of the Emerald Sea, but more adult content. It‘s a wild adventure, but the camaraderie of the main crew was my favorite part. Despite their bad choices or past conflicts, they come together to create a community. Lots of magical creatures, but also just a mom trying to find a work/life balance… as a pirate.

I stumbled upon the loveliest sculpture in front of a public library in a small town recently. What a sweet tribute to the woman who was an advocate for the library and her community!

Banter for days! The first book sucked me in completely as Evie Sage becomes the assistant to an ”evil” villain. This book picks up right where the other left off as Evie is finding her own strength, and the villain is struggling with his new feeling. The supporting characters are just the chefs kiss on top. The characters show growth, which is essential in a second book. It‘s not wrapped up neatly at the end & I‘ll look forward to reading more.

I have mixed feelings about this one. I love that the author takes back Jim's story as he retells the classic Huckleberry Finn tale. But at the same time, I felt like the storytelling was so heavy handed. Retellings are tricky and I think hearing Jim's story through his own voice is completely different from Huck's POV. But I struggled to connect. That doesn't mean it's not worth reading, I just struggled with it.

This was my least favorite of her books so far, but it was a very fast read. I felt like the twists were predictable and I didn't have any feeling of suspense as I watched it play out. The foster care story is full of abuse TWs. I'd recommend The Good Sister as a better place to start if you'd like to check out her work.

I don‘t know how I missed this classic when I was little, but I loved reading it with my girls! A family in NYC decides the kids will pool their allowance each week so they can go off on adventures on their own. A museum, a circus, an unexpected puppy, that are each a complete delight and each vignette is wonderful. I enjoyed this one as much as my kids.

Oh how I loved this one! It's been a long time since I read a book in a day because I couldn't put it down. It was just so charming. It deals with some dark issues like addiction & parental neglect, but does so gently without making them the main focus. I loved the world created on the island & the unexpected sweet romance. The whole book just made me smile. I have a feeling you'd need to be in the right mood to for it, but it hit the spot for me.

I love this series & am in for the next book. This was my least favorite of the series, but I think that‘s because it felt repetitive. Murder attempt, investigate, repeat. Not bad, it just dragged & Lady Catherine is, as intended, exhausting & selfish. Regardless I still loved reading it and look forward to what happens to the sweet pair next. I did love seeing Mr. Darcy and Henry Tilney interact and the Collins children were a great introduction.

There‘s so much to unpack in this one. By the end, I really loved it. I loved how Lena found her voice & stood up for herself. I loved the female friendships. But it is a painful book to read about the way society views bodies, standards we have created for our children, the way racism is intertwined with that, & so much more. It‘s a lot, but it‘s worth it. Sidenote: I love this author‘s middle grade books too! So glad to read her adult debut.

Maisie returns to her childhood neighborhood to investigate the death of Eddie, a simple man with a gift for caring for horses. This one is more about Maisie's personal growth than a murder plot. She's working through her need for control, struggle to feel worthy of her unexpected wealth, & desire for independence. I love the character-driven story, so it worked for me. Hints of the war to come are starting to take centerstage in the story.

This one was exhausting. I impulse read it because I thought the millennial references would be hilarious. Those parts were fun and I loved the puns and word play, but the rest was just a lot. I felt like we were working through childhood trauma and societal expectations, but with no real end game. It could have been edited down. It‘s not bad, I just felt like a disjointed trip through her childhood that was pretty stressful.

15 years ago there was a single-season show called Harper‘s Island. A group goes to an island for a wedding and guests start dying off. This reminded me so much of it! Definitely less gruesome deaths in the book, but the same sort of feel. This one was a little more reflective about past trauma, and the ending felt weak to me, but it was a fun read. I like that despite being a murder mystery there‘s minimal violence & good supporting characters.

Meh. It was a mixed bag for me. Things I liked: the banter and humor, the honest way it dealt with hard issues, The descriptions of the countryside, & the author‘s decision to keep the ending messy and not tied up perfectly. Things I didn‘t like: the first third of the book, the fact that Marnie was often dismissed as silly or unimportant by almost everyone, and Michael‘s oblivious and self-absorbed behavior. Didn‘t hate it, didn‘t love it. 🤷‍♀️

If Douglas Adams wrote a book about villains, this would be it. It has serious Hitchhiker vibes, everything from the bumbling protagonist to the talking dolphins. If you love that sense of humor (like me), this one should be a fit for you. It took me a minute to feel like this got going, but once it did I couldn't help laughing out loud. I particularly loved Hera and Til, such excellent supporting characters. I'd love to read more from the author.

What if Lizzie had said yes to Mr. Darcy‘s 1st proposal? That‘s the premise of this P&P retelling. I didn‘t love Darcy‘s proprietary attitude at the beginning of the book, but I felt both characters had wonderful growth throughout the novel. I don‘t always love Austen retellings, but this one kept with the tone of the original, expanding the interactions between our favorite pair. I loved seeing the way they learned compromise & patience together.

This memoir about the death of a friend & burglary of her home is honest, bitter, angry, & heartbreaking. I love that she didn't shy away from the hard parts of grief. She didn't wrap it up in a tidy bow & give a life lesson at the end. There are layers of pain when it comes to missing someone, being angry they are gone, & feeling guilty for your life continuing. This is a painful book, full of her scorn for those around her, but it's a truthful.

**Classic Retelling Alert**

I‘ll be honest, I only read this one because of my deep love for Doctor Thorne. It certainly keeps to the main plot points, though the narcissistic mother and many of the other supporting characters are so obnoxious it‘s hard to stomach. Easy to listen to while working on projects, but I wouldn‘t have sat down and read it. My hope is that it gets someone to go back and read the original Trollope, which is so good!

This one feels like a rewrite of The Club mashed with Foley's own Guest List. It's not bad and there were two good twists, but it felt so familiar. A fancy resort celebrates its opening, but many guests have secrets. The flashback sections of the novel unfold a dark history on the resort's land. I did like the ending and was entertained, but it's not a new favorite.

I‘m conflicted, I found myself laughing, reading lines to friends, & getting caught up in the family dynamics. I identified w/ someone caught in the middle of aging parents & raising children, though mine are younger. But the kids felt 1 dimensional. The main character is ripe w/ conflicting emotions & big feelings but her adult kids feel like cookie cutter examples of what parents wish they had. It‘s not their story but it kept me from loving it.

LaGuardia airport in New York City has been completely remodeled recently. It was a dream! My favorite part was a big Strand shop in Terminal B. I had hours to kill and was thrilled to find it.

This was the perfect book to read while exploring Greece. I loved Circe, but not every other Greek myth retelling has worked for me. This one was wonderful. The main character is fierce, ambitious, & powerful. She doesn‘t shy away from pain or revenge. Though I knew the details of her story, they felt fresh, and each betrayal or loss cut like a knife. Her story covers years& I loved seeing her mature. TWs abound, but I really loved this one.

How do you end a 5,600 page saga? With battles, love, epic goodbyes, & so much more. I‘ve loved reading about these characters & I‘ll miss them. I loved the character growth & felt like they had wonderful arcs from beginning to end. One thing about the TOG series, is that I really didn‘t enjoy the 1st book until the end & it took me a little bit of the 2nd to really get into the series. It‘s totally worth it but don‘t give up on it too soon.