Just got my February box! I rejoined and had to pick some extra to make up for the lost time. 😁

1/50 3☆ The Guide by: Peter Heller
This book was interesting, in some ways I didn't like it and in others I did. The writing was beautiful but a little boring. I dragged through most of it until the mystery and thriller side really picked up.

Thank you @Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks and @Tattooedteacher for the lovely surprise! 😍

#LitsyLove pals, I've got 15 responses heading to the mailbox today! I got so far behind that I never thought I'd catch up but with this batch I should be caught up by the end of this week. If you've been waiting for a reply from me, I apologize for the delayed response but I promise your letters were cherished. ❤

Thank you to all the #LitsyLove friends I have made that helped make my birthday extra special this year! I can't tag everyone as I am still catching up with all the letters I've gotten this past week but I will try to respond to everyone soon!

Extra shout out to @Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks , @Tattooedteacher and @Kdgordon88

You guys are all so awesome 😍🥲

37/100, 5☆, This was a fascinating read, a new perspective in the Utopian/dystopian genre. I loved the world that was built here and all the little details that surfaced throughout the story. There were so many deep words of wisdom and even more questions regarding ethics, morality and the meaning of being human. This is not one I will soon forget and I look forward to the sequel!

36/100, 4☆, This book was so eerie in how closely it mirrored the events of 2020, yet it was published in 2019. I loved the concept of this weird sleeping virus and the ramifications of such an event in a small college town. I was fascinated and completely consumed by this story.

35/100, 5☆, This was such a gripping story, I read through it at lightning speed because I just could not put it down. The fear and tension is so tangible, the writing is simple and yet portrays the harrowing events of a school shooting so thoroughly.

34/100, 4☆, This was a great thriller! I kept thinking I knew the answers and then kept questioning myself just enough that it was interesting until the very last moment. The small Italian island with a beautiful villa provided such an amazing backdrop to the sinister storyline. I highly recommend this!

33/100, 3☆, The atmosphere and the voices in this book were really well done. A commentary on political versus social justice which provided a nice examination that can apply to all justice systems and political agendas. Overall a good read.

32/100, 4☆, I loved this short story! The main character's voice was so unique and yet so relatable. I love her. There were also good examinations of societal pressure and comments on progressional norms.

31/100, 3☆, This was a solid queer romance story. I liked all the elements but I felt it was a bit long and had some pacing issues. The characters are very lovable so its still a good read.

30/100, 4☆, This was a beautiful read. The language and deep themes wove a tapestry of complexity, yet the simplicity of every moment was made clear. At each turning point in the story, I could see several paths stretch out and the author could choose any one of them for the characters. It's hard to describe but this was definitely a worthwhile read and the tone will resonate with me for a while.

29/100, 3☆, This book was sweet and well written. A great middle grade story that has themes that pertain to all age groups.

28/100, 5☆, This was an intense and beautifully written story. It reads like spoken word and has such wonderful cadence. I highly recommend. I listened on audio and I could listen to it on repeat because it is so rich with poignant themes and undertones.

27/100, 3☆, This was a fun and engaging read. I was invested in the outcome and laughed out loud a few times. There were some shocking moments and it provided a deep dive into what group therapy can look like.

Enjoying some porch reading this lovely Sunday evening. 😍

26/100, 4☆, I enjoyed this short book very much. It took a little while to get used to the style of writing, which seemed a bit disconnected and kind of stream of consciousness, but once I did I really got into the story and had to know what was going to happen next. The ending was a beautiful wrap up that perfectly tied together all the themes and highlighted the deeper meaning of the story.

25/100, 4☆, Very good thriller! This kept me guessing what would happen next, like any good thriller. I guess correctly for some of the twists but not all, so it was really engrossing. The dramatic atmosphere was satisfyingly creepy as well. Definitely recommend.

24/100, 5☆, I love Murderbot! This was a short story but very entertaining, I loved Murderbot's voice. The Sci-fi was believable and approachable and I can't wait to keep reading this series.

23/100, 3☆, This was a cute romance. I loved the background if the Galopogas Islands and the cruise ship setting. It was a bit predictable, as romances tend to be but was still an enjoyable read.

22/100, 4☆ I thoroughly enjoyed this thriller. It was a bit predictable but still enough unique qualities that it had some element of surprise and it was definitely interesting the whole time.

21/100, 5☆ Loved this installment of the Throne of Glass series! The story is really picking up and it feels like an epic fantasy with all the different players now. The tone has stayed the same, action, mystery and a little romance. Great pacing. I can hardly wait to pick up the next one!

I always love cracking the spine on the next book in a series! Beautiful morning for some coffee and porch reading with my fluffy reading buddies.

20/100, 4☆ Great piece of historical fiction. I love how this author sheds light on long hidden parts if the past. The descriptions of Madrid were beautiful and only rivaled by the complex characters. Highly recommend.

19/100, 4☆, Very good book about family dynamics, the war between tradition and progression, and the psychological effects of the journey to parenthood. There was so much anguish and despair told in such matter of fact ways, it felt completely relatable and yet out of reach. I loved the Nigerian background, the influence of political progression and downfalls told as an aside, while the personal dramas played the center focus.

18/100, 4☆, Great read, short but sweet and to the point. An unimaginable journey ending in such a successful way.

17/100, 2.5 ☆, This was an interesting read. Super short, but had a lot of good premises. I wish it was longer and had more depth in voice and language. It reads a bit disjointed, I believe on purpose but I just think it could have been polished up and made into a truly great thriller.

My short book readathon tbr. I'm doing a readathon starting today and ending Sunday to burn through some of my short books (under 250 pages). I'm excited to get started!

16/100, 4☆, Very good psychological thriller. This had me reading straight through for two days. It teetered on the edge of believability and the end was perfect. The plot line is similar to other thrillers with the same tripe but there is definitely enough different to set this one apart.

15/100, 3☆, This was a solid erotic romance. Good characters and well done, plot driven drama. I liked that the characters were unique as this is such a broad genre. Love the BIPOC representation and the mixed-race coupling. The steamy scenes were quite steamy and very believable.

14/100, 1.5☆, It was by sheer force of will that I kept myself from dnf'ing this book. This was one of my most anticipated pre-orders for this year and I was so disappointed. It just was not for me. The premise is exactly what I would want to read about, a romantic fantasy, with a side of beauty and the beast retelling. The characters did not make sense. The time frame in which this took place was absurd. I wish I could have enjoyed this one.

Enjoying a sunny morning reading time. Great book so far!

13/100, 4⭐
Third installment of the Throne of Glass series. Very solid story, it was a bit slower than the first two, but I could tell it was for building out the world more and setting up for future action. Highly recommend this series!

Enjoying some sunshine today as I start the third Throne of Glass book.

12/100, 5☆ This is an extremely controversial book so I don't want to do a lengthy review. All I want to convey is that the writing is stellar and the characters are so raw and unique. Is it uncomfortable to read? Yes. But I found the discomfort worth it to read something so gut clenchingly honest and different than the standard fiction.

11/100, 4⭐, Loved the second book in the Throne of Glass series! I was worried it would be a weird in between book but no, it had a lot of meat and continues the story very well. We get the same, if not more, grit, romance and worldbuilding as the first book. Highly recommend this series!

My reading companion today. 😊

10/100, 3.5⭐ I thoroughly enjoyed this book full of fun astronaut stories, little tidbits about what it's like to be an astronaut, and pieces of life advice. I listened to the audio, read by the author and it was a very nice listen, very calming.

9/100, 4⭐ Wow. Just wow. A debut author came out with this?! It was so incredibly enthralling. I listened to the audio which was amazing, and I followed along in my kindle because there were some fun visuals. A mystery/thriller that had me on the edge of my seat the whole time. I had theories circling around my head and was not disappointed by the ending. Highly recommend.

8/100, 5⭐ Loved this sequel! I think I liked it even more than the first one. There were even more interesting and entertaining characters, a great plot line and such believable events. This author is now an instant buy for me. I read both books on Kindle using my library app but I will be buying copies of my own to keep forever. And the ending set up the next book which now I will be very impatiently waiting for!

Had to start this sequel after finishing the first one this morning. 40% done already. Enjoying some outside time now that the temperature is warmer. (Warmer meaning 50°F instead of 28°F 😅)

7/100, 5 ⭐ I loved this book and I am downloading the sequel as I write this. I don't even know what to say, it left me with such a deep feeling in my gut. The characters were very well written and the world was fascinating. Twists I saw coming and twists I didn't. Going to keep this short so I can start book two: Storm of Locusts now.

Getting some reading time in while watching the snow fall this morning. So peaceful! ❄

6/100 - I really liked this one, it was sweet and while a but predictable, the characters were well written. I love reading books that include characters that are neurodiverse. I read The Bride Test last year and I liked that one better but they are both very good romance stories. 4 🌟

Bundled up on my porch, enjoying the morning sun that peeks through these Washington clouds every few moments. Great way to start my Sunday.

5/100 WOW. I absolutely loved this one. Got totally sucked in, found myself actually clenching my stomach in fear during some parts. What a wild ride. 5⭐

4/100 Loved this one! Can't wait to keep reading the series! Action, romance, magic, great world building. Definitely recommend. 5⭐

3/100, Oh my goodness I liked this one much more than I thought I would! The characters were not super likeable and I liked that about them. They were very human in my opinion, full of flaws and awful thoughts. And the villain of the story was pretty believable, at moments I felt sorry for them. Some of the scenes depicted were so deliciously creepy. ⭐⭐⭐⭐

My drink color coordinates with my current read, yay! 😁