I had never been drawn to Hilderbrand, but after hearing her speak at the Read With Jenna Book Festival, I realized I was all wrong for judging her covers and titles. She was so endearing and smart. And utterly prolific! So, I started here, and really enjoyed this story about friends from different seasons of life. Really got me thinking about who I‘d choose. Definitely reading her again!

⭐️⭐️

Rudimentary writing, poor execution. The plot couldn‘t even save the writing. I know that‘s harsh, but it‘s the worst book I‘ve read in ages. I pushed through since it‘s short, but it took me much longer than usual.

Even after THREE content warnings from the author, I still proceeded. Possibly the most disturbing book I‘ve ever read. Quite lecherous. A line was crossed that I couldn‘t recover from. Otherwise, the true horror is that it‘s very rooted in possibility. A glaring train wreck.

⭐️⭐️⭐️

Like a private sector Handmaid‘s Tale on steroids. Very dark. A friend said “This book is fucked up, I need you to read it.” Indeed. And there‘s a second book.

⭐️⭐️⭐️.75

I was only vaguely familiar with this story, but good lord, it‘s scary and disturbing. Written by forensic and criminal psychology experts, this goes deep into the “boat shed” to expose the heinous crimes committed by a serial killer and his, well, apprentice. The line between victim and accomplice becomes quite fuzzy. A fascinating read.

Book + Legos. Read a chapter, complete a bag. This book is a train wreck I can‘t look away from.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5

Without language, there would be no cults. I‘m so happy this is my book club‘s June nonfiction pick! I‘ve now read it 3x. Linguist Amanda Montell delves deep into fanatical language and how it plays with our brains: thought-terminating cliches, love bombing, code switching, etc. I listened on audio this time, and it would be much better if Montell narrated. She‘s fantastic on her podcast Sounds Like a Cult.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

There‘s a lot going on here, but I was all in. Two major mystery storylines - one of displaced vigilante justice, one of religious fanatical hatred - converge. Holly Gibney is a common thread. Not King‘s best, he sets the bar far too high, but still a riveting read.

This #JaneMount “Diverse Spines” 500 piece puzzle was so fun! A bonus, at the end, I went through to see how many I‘ve read: 25

How many have you read? Might need to screen grab and zoom in. 🔍

Wrapped up the tagged book. My first Hilderbrand. Enjoyed very much! #audiopuzzing

My little buddy (my 11 year old) and I came to the oil change appointment prepared! #raisingreaders

I‘m really not digging this book. Might bail. Anyone read it? What should I do? 🤣

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5

Some reviewers can‘t get past the repetition, but I thought Soffer‘s stylistic choices were effective in representing all the seasons of this long, illustrious relationship. Once you get the hang, it flows beautifully. Central Park is quite an evocative center piece. The more I ruminate on this one, the more I appreciate it!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Sometimes a book just hits you at the right time. May is so insane, this was the perfect #bookclub pick. Funny and thoughtful. A lovable, strong female lead, and two male characters that were likable even in uncomfortable/challenging circumstances. A believable, relatable scenario and a satisfying ending. And, OMG, Nurse Louise!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Boyne is one of the few male authors who can properly write a female character. The depth of his writing in such a short book is just unmatchable. This, the first in his Elements Series, is melancholic, beautiful, compelling. Anxiously awaiting the other three books to arrive. They have not (yet) been published in the US, and slow shipping is killing me.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.25

Millennial ladies, there‘s a lot to unpack here. Atlantic journalist Sophie Gilbert thoroughly explores early-aught pop culture influence, and how we were conditioned to treat ourselves and one another. Fascinating and a bit devastating. A must-read!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Dug fairly deep into my Kindle vault for this one. Not sure why I put it off so long. It‘s a gritty, yet beautiful, collection. Thoughtful is the word. Groff‘s writing is so seamless. She makes short stories seem easy which they certainly are not.

In further bookish goodness, my husband got us all books from a Japanese book shop while traveling for work. Mine is a Murakami that - I think - was never translated to English. I‘m not sure. I‘ve tried to figure it out. 😅🤣 So interesting, though! Holden got the first Wimpy Kid (his fave series) and Vaughn got Bluelock Vol One (one of his fave series). Also added a new member to my beautiful Kokeshi Doll collection!

Last post: So fun meeting them all! #RWJBookFest #ReadWithJenna

Post four: The books I had signed! Every author was so kind. I had the nicest conversation with Coco Mellors, Tara Stringfellow was so sweet and absolutely gorgeous, and Tiffany Haddish was so gracious with all her fave! Amity and Emma were fabulous, too. 🤩 #RWJBookFest #ReadWithJenna

Post three: All my swag! Fenty Beauty, Nest New York candle, Boll & Branch pillow case, tote, the cutest little Yeti cup, Rifle Paper Co journal, and we made charm bracelets! #RWJBookFest #ReadWithJenna

Post two: We made cookies, flower bouquets, bracelets (all local Nashville vendors) and packed totes with books for Nashville Public Library to give to children in the community! #RWJBookFest #ReadWithJenna

Post one: First ever Read With Jenna Book Fest - Ann Patchett, Elin Hildebrand, Amity Gaige, Emma Straub, Tiffany Haddish, Chris Whitaker, Jean Kwok, Alison Espach, Rumaan Alam, Coco Mellors, and more! An incredible experience!! #RWJBookFest #ReadWithJenna

Three-mile audio greenway walk with my boy. 🎧🐾

#audiowalk #reread #bookclub #dogsoflitsy

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Social horror steeped in reality, racial violence, humanity, and tradition. Hungry Ghosts tell the story of Asian hate in NYC during the pandemic. I‘m honestly so tired of pandemic novels, but this is nothing like the others. Nothing. It‘s brilliant. Creative, compelling, gruesome, and affecting. Can‘t stop thinking about it.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

#reread

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I didn‘t know Haddish had a second book until I saw her on the Read With Jenna Book Festival lineup next weekend in Nashville! (I‘m going!!) Her personal essays are honest, often hilarious, often vulgar. I just reread Last Black Unicorn, too. Her story is a true testament to perseverance and believing in oneself. Must listen to both on audio!

Hotel pool kindle time. 🏊🏼‍♂️📱

Walking while my (almost) 13 year old has soccer training. Peep the mallard 🦆 just casually hanging out in a huge puddle left by recent storms.

This book, y‘all. It‘s something. #audiowalk

Y‘all, my sweet friend made this book vase, thanking me for serving as team treasurer this soccer season. 🥹

(It‘s some random book from a thrift store, and not in great condition, for those worried about the whole book-destroying issue. At least it‘s still serving a purpose!)

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Literally every collected volume is five stars. The story, characters, and art are just perfection. Relatable and relevant. Anxiously awaiting volume 13!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

At first, this felt like an unapologetic Didion rip off, then it magically morphed into more of an homage. Incredible writing! Blew me away. I ended up loving this travelogue of memories. Yes, this is Tom Hanks‘s daughter. No, this book isn‘t about him. Also one of my favorite covers of 2025.

#coverlove

⭐️⭐️⭐️

Too many “contemplative gazes” for me, but it was an enjoyable enough story. As usual, Jimenez broaches some difficult, relatable familial circumstances along side a romance. This was more of the former, less of the latter. I was okay with that.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Though I‘m a proud elder millennial, I was, admittedly, only a mild Blink fan. I like, but don‘t love. BUT, music memoirs are so fascinating, and Hoppus seems so open and honest. Blink tea is spilled. And yet, it isn‘t always Mark vs Tom. Times were amazing; time were tumultuous. Loved this. Read Travis‘s book, too. I doubt Tom will ever write one, but he should.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Facebook whistleblower lays out some pretty disturbing, yet unsurprising, info. “Influence,” security, misogyny; and, sadly, that‘s just scratching the surface. There‘s a reason Zuckerberg didn‘t want this published.

⭐️⭐️

McFadden is so inconsistent. I‘ve very much enjoyed a few of her books, but this felt like a (bad) very famous thriller rip off. Just like The Crash reeked of a (bad) Misery rip off. Take a breath, take some time, and write something thoughtful. And for the love, say “brownstone” one more time. Lord. I‘m done with her books for a while.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

A warm fuzzy gut punch. Hartnett once again proves why she is a must-read author for me. Creative and quirky. Dark, but with a lot of heart. Real and surreal. So freaking good!

Both books I‘m reading right now have precocious cats with plural food names: Bananas and Pancakes. What is happening?!? Love these kind of weird coincidences.

More basketball. More Water. Very much looking forward to the rest of Boyne‘s “Elements.”

Took at look at our school‘s #LFL during field day. I wish I‘d offered to be the steward. There isn‘t one intentionally, though I don‘t understand exactly why. I should‘ve convinced the PTO. It‘s always a mess. He only has about a week of school left here, so I guess I won‘t worry about it now. 😂

Y‘all. If we‘ve been connected since the early days, this will blow your mind. This is my youngest. He was two when I joined. He turned 11 in Feb, and is as big as me now. 🥺

I found him searching for special edition Wimpy Kid books. He loves those so much, he‘s read all 19 at least twice. Some as many as 3-4 times. They are his happy place.

First time in a Barnes & Noble since our local one closed just over a year ago. 🥺 One perk of going all over the Nashville area for my 11 year old‘s basketball games. This B&N was right by the courts. The two on the left are mine, the rest, his. #raisingreaders

I want to climb into this puzzle and live there! 🎧🧩🪩📚

galison: “Disco Life”
#audiopuzzling

Daisy Jones, but ice dancers. No, thank you. I made it 15%. Not interesting at all. #bail

Another practice, another book! My life right now. 😂 Basketball for my youngest, then soccer for my oldest tonight. I kinda love it, if I‘m being honest.

So excited for this one! My sweet friend Stephanie kindly sent me her copy.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Incredible writing! I loved this deep reflection on what drew Arnot Reid to the mountains. This is about climbing, yes, but also about discovering and loving oneself. I didn‘t go in expecting this to knock my socks off, but it did. One of my top reads of the year!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Volume 21! Always nice catching up with Phoebe and Marigold Heavenly Nostrils. 🦄✨ You‘re never too old for a fun middle grade read!

⭐️⭐️⭐️.5

While I mostly enjoyed this, it wasn‘t what I was hoping for in such an anticipated release. I‘m just not big on fictional celebrities. Reminded me immediately of TJR, and that‘s okay, but idk. This is a case of it‘s not you, it‘s me. Just not my fave story from her. Probably least fave actually.

⭐️⭐️⭐️

Definitely did not live up to the hype, but not exactly hate-inducing either. Beth is a very woe-is-me, whatever-shall-I-do character which made it hard for me to care what happened. Solid writing, however.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

A bizarre and stinging satire on modern dating. I think? This was weird, y‘all, but I loved the characters and writing.

Football practice. 🦬🏈 My 11 year old is playing tackle for the first time. A new sports era for us. Another practice for grabbing a few chapters! 🤣 Go Jr Bison!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I took this as satire and it worked for me. Beguiling and dark; gruesome and funny. A weirdly fun, fast read!