I love it when an author understands the brief. This is a classic Romance novel that hits all of the genre norms, right down to the timing of the spicy scenes and the third act break up. Secrets are one of my least favorite things (JUST TALK TO EACH OTHER!) but Daria actually makes it make sense. It‘s not just thrown in for the sake of tension. I enjoyed this workplace Romance, even with its insta-lust turned almost insta-love. It was fun.

I am heartbroken. I LOVED Songbird and have been looking forward to part two of Mische and Asar‘s story for MONTHS. This was tedious and hundreds of pages longer than it needed to be. It feels like someone else wrote this book. This cannot possibly be the same author that wrote the previous Crowns of Nyaxia books. So disappointing, but based on StoryGraph/Goodreads ratings, mine is an unpopular opinion, so YMMV. I‘m just glad it‘s over.

I didn‘t make it out to a bookstore for Bookstore Romance Day, but my Aardvark box arrived with the tagged book, so I‘m counting it as my Romance day purchase. 😎

Finally remembered to start this on a Sunday. 🤭

I don‘t want to say much about this because discussion for #CampLitsy25 continues, but I went into this knowing NOTHING about it. I took one look at the cover and groaned, knowing it was going to be tedious Lit Fic that I‘d have to force my way through. Campers, you have my sincerest apologies for my attitude and doubt. This pulled me in from the second the earthquake hit and I couldn‘t put it down. It‘s raw and real, heartbreaking and brilliant.

August‘s #bookspin bingo board. Five of these books didn‘t make it onto my official TBR and there are five books on my official TBR that aren‘t on here. I didn‘t plan that well. 😂🤦🏻‍♀️😂

The #bookspin gods were kind this month, picking books that were already on my TBR for this month, one of which will take me less than an hour to read. Tea on Sunday is a birthday gift from @Mitch - she sent Yorkshire tea as well, so I have been waiting to start it on a Sunday. I‘ve forgotten for 2 months of Sundays! 🤦🏻‍♀️😂
(Pretty board to come later)

I finished 18 books in July, which is about max-capacity for me, and while my average rating for the month is, well, average for me, and there were some books I really enjoyed, July feels like it was mostly disappointing. Here‘s hoping I end August feeling better about what I‘ve read.

Oops.

I‘m clearly in a mood because this was a rare miss for me in a series that is usually impeccable. Set in Paris as Napoleon escapes Elba, it brings closure to an ongoing storyline, while having fun with some historical figures like Vidocq. The issue I have here is that there‘s a lot of angst (understandable if you‘ve read the previous books),and Harris harps on it so much that it becomes repetitive & irritating. A low pick as it‘s still a St Cyr.

“Guillam had fixed his on Smiley; and just then would have gone anywhere with him, turned any corner, in order to remain beside him and hear the story out.”

Same, Peter. Same. 💖

I am bailing on Beasts of Carnaval. I wanted to love it, switched to audio to try to force myself to love it, and am now actively avoiding reading because I don‘t want to pick it back up. So, with that, I have best #bookspin bingo board to date. 5 bingos and both my bookspin and double spin completed. At least I accomplished one thing this month. 😭

Finally have my list together for August‘s #bookspin. Not totally happy with it, but my brain is not braining and I had to throw a couple things on there when I realized that my original list duplicated titles. 🤦🏻‍♀️ There are five NetGalley titles that publish in August, a sequel I‘ve been dying to get my hands on for six months, #CampLitsy, and books I really want to read. We‘ll see how the month goes.

Once again, I would never have picked this up without #CampLitsy. The “friendship” between Erica and Abigail was deeply disturbing to me, and I came so close to bailing. It still gives me the ick. However, watching all of the characters evolve on their respective journeys was incredible. St. James writes beautifully, with depth and compassion. This feels like a big, important book that everyone should read. ⬇️

Finished with an hour to spare. This was a good Romantasy with an interesting magic system and world. I liked the characters and enjoyed the development of the romance. As with nearly every Romantasy I‘ve read, it‘s a planned duology, so it ends in a cliffhanger. I‘m getting really sick of cliffhangers, especially when there‘s no release date for book two. 🤬

#WDNCW We do not care about to do lists. Care of self is not selfish and we are going to care for ourselves by watching cartoons and snuggling on the couch with our puppy.

So mad at myself for not cracking this open the day it arrived from Aardvark. I loved this so much. It‘s just as wonderful as The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches - lovely, cozy writing, lovable characters, including a zombie rooster named Roo Roo, and a story that draws you in and blocks out the real world. It‘s a warm book hug, with subtle socio-political commentary, if you pay attention.

Sorry @dabbe ! Apparently, I am incapable of following directions for this #threelistthursday #tlt I am addicted to movie scores: Pacific Rim, Captain America: Winter Soldier, and X-Men First Class are some of the best, but I had to throw in Jane Eyre, in case someone needed something a little more soothing. 😂 Cats was the first musical I fell in love with, Hamilton is amazing, and Hadestown is my latest Broadway obsession.

John le Carre is a comfort read for me and Dreamscape Audio has been releasing new recordings over the last year or two. I thought Simon Vance narrated them all, but apparently he‘s just doing the Smileys. My brain is not braining right now, so I‘m opting to ignore publication order for now (and therefore other narrators) in favor of George and Simon. 💖

Work is very work-y…
#wdncw #wedonotcare

I probably shouldn‘t mark this reread as a review, but consider this a review of the audio narrated by Simon Vance. Vance is perfect for le Carre‘s novels. This one is not as adventurous or glamorous as his more well known novels, but the author himself notes that this is closer to reality than Spy or Tinker Tailor. It‘s petty, sad, and filled with egos that desperately want to be relevant but aren‘t. Le Carre‘s writing is brilliant, as always.

Not in the database, but the special short story made available after the Apple TV season of Murderbot wrapped up is delightful. It‘s just too short. It‘s a teeny taste of the world I‘ve come to love through these books and I‘m greedy for more.

Billed as Dexter meets Richard Scarry‘s Busy Town, this is…disturbing. I‘ll leave it at that.

We didn‘t get nearly enough of the old gang - minimal Bess, George Hannah, and Carson, although more Papa Drew than normal. Instead, we get Effie, but sadly she‘s an obnoxious scaredy cat. I actually found this one slow and rather tedious, and I don‘t think there was a single side character, villain or victim, that I liked. I think I‘m just in a mood, though. More grumbling under the spoiler tag. 😬 #nancydrewbr

Oh, Nancy. Will you never learn? 😮‍💨

#nancydrewbr

I liked that this one had less overt racism than other entries in the series and it didn‘t include any mention of the creepy tooth collection. However, the solutions seem to stretch logic - the solutions could be right, but there are other explanations that are overlooked/ignored. Good for the target audience, though. #ebbr

My first romance from Adriana Herrera. It‘s steamy, with wonderful characters. I love a good enemies to lovers tale, and the tension between Apollo and Aurora is fiery. I also can‘t resist an independent FMC who is loved and supported fiercely without being asked to compromise herself for that love.

This is a book that requires patience and commitment to really unpack. I have neither. It‘s beautifully written, with complex characters and dual narratives. On the surface - an author dealing with both her disability and a family that was less than supportive of her, but also deeper themes - modern politics, AI, space tourism, climate destruction and more. Now that I finished, I kind of want to reread and dig into it. Another #camplitsy25 winner!

We do not care that we are drowning at work and have more books on our “must read this month” list than we can possibly read this month. We are going to start this early copy of Hamburg Noir that was delivered an hour ago. We are done with the real world. #WDNCW

Out 7/29, this Persuasion retelling is one of the worst books I‘ve read this year. It is painfully repetitive. Most of it is just Anne or Frederick moaning about how they aren‘t worthy or agonizing about still loving the other person but knowing it‘s too late and the feelings aren‘t mutual (of course they are, idiots). It‘s so tedious I literally fell asleep 3 times. How dare they treat my favorite Austen novel this way. It‘s an abomination.

I enjoyed this cozy fantasy romance. The characters were fun, even the ones that weren‘t well-developed (Yael‘s parents are practically mustache-twirling villain caricatures) and the fantasy elements (magic) seemed almost unimportant, as though the authors couldn‘t be bothered to really craft a fantasy world. Still, it was a good story, even if I‘m not sold on the idea of a sequel.

This was the most predictable, unbelievable, and ridiculous thing I have read in years. Purportedly a psychological thriller, it is just a poorly conceived gothic novel. I knew how large parts of this would play out less than 1/4 of the way in and even the finer details were absurd. Don‘t even get me started on the italicized Aws, Args, and Ouches scattered throughout. Scheduled publication 7/15. Do yourself a favor and skip this one.

Out 7/15 I loved most of this. The writing pulled me in and kept my attention, which is no small feat these days. The characters were complex, and I loved that this had Sirens and a dark Little Mermaid vibe (the Hans Christian Andersen version 🖤). My only quibble was that it had more angst than I prefer. Be honest with each other, you idiots! That said, I will keep my eye out for the sequel, because I need to know how this story ends.

I didn‘t love it nearly as much as One Dark Window or The Knight and the Moth. I‘m actually a bit disappointed. The writing is still captivating, the characters just as interesting, but I didn‘t feel the same pull. Maybe it‘s because we go from having just Elspeth‘s POV in book one, to having 3 POVs. I understand the need for the change, but I wanted more of Ravyn and Elspeth as a couple. I‘m not sold on the other couple. Still a pick, though.

Bookspin Bingo board and July TBR with book clubs, buddy reads, NetGalley digital arcs, and library books. I won‘t get through everything. I have an extra couple of days off work, though, and that will help. Maybe. 🤣🤣

I‘m not loving the audiobook of this but it‘s not the narrator‘s fault. I am not enjoying the story. Switching to print in the hopes I won‘t just bail completely. There‘s an 8 week wait for the ebook, but no wait other than transport from one branch to my branch for the hardcover, so I‘m going to try it in print, but I‘ll miss this weekend‘s discussion. 😮‍💨
#camplitsy25

Bingo card to come later, but here are my #bookspin and #doublespin for July. Bookspin should be easy since it‘s one of the #camplitsy25 books, but I‘m not sure how I‘m going to squeeze the double spin into my TBR. 😳

I finished 15 books this month. That tells me (a) the world is a dumpster fire and I have been hiding from it by reading and (2) I did almost nothing but work and read. 🤷🏻‍♀️ Always happy to finish both my #bookspin and double spin selections and happy with 1 bingo although I‘d really hoped for two. . My faves were both by new-to-me author Rachel Gillig. It‘s safe to say I‘m obsessed with her books now. #junestats

This is a soft pick, and mostly because I love the illustrations. I met the author during the Greater Charlotte Bookcrawl and she explained the layout of the books - clearly designed to be used for teaching. I‘d hoped for more Dr. Seuss‘s ABC, but the short phrases for each letter lack that silliness and joy. The illustrations are delightful, though. (This is my #doublespin for June)

I disliked this immensely. It started off with a fast pace, but I came to loathe the main character. She is a sad, dithering woman, struggling to be noticed by her publisher, editor, and pretty much everyone else at a crime writers awards weekend (think Bloody Scotland). It reads like an episode of Murder She Wrote, only less campy and therefore less fun. The prose is okay, the investigation tedious, and the solution an annoying cliche.

I think I finally have my July #bookspin list completed. I can‘t wait to see the bingo board. I‘m hoping to have extra reading time with a 3-day weekend and at least one day off work for a doctor appointment, because there‘s a lot on here that I really want to read.

(Image updated to be legible)

F*** this book and 1000 curses on everyone who voted for it so I had to read it. When I stop sobbing, I‘ll go back to the discussion questions I‘ve missed yesterday and last week, but ugh. It‘s riveting, with complex characters you can‘t help but care for deeply, so well-written, even with multiple POVs, and heartbreaking. Absolutely devastating. I hate you all (not really, but kind of) #camplitsy25

My local indie orders these for me before I even know they are being published and then Sherri calls to tell me she has a surprise behind the counter. 💖 This is basically a Narwhal and Jelly version of Grover/Sesame Street‘s The Monster at the End of this Book (which was my FAVORITE book as a child), and it is equally delightful.

…and with that Rachel Gillig becomes an auto buy author for me. I loved this. The writing is immersive, the characters are compelling, and the magic system is unique and clever. It‘s a good thing book two is already out and that I own it. Do I read the things I‘m supposed to next or do I start book two? 🤔

An interesting look at how searches are conducted for missing hikers, the tools used by both amateurs and professionals including drones, psychics, in-person searches, and social media. It centers on 3 missing hikers, and while none are found, you get to know the hikers, their families, and the author, a former national park ranger, throughout the searches on the PCT (Pacific Crest Trail). It‘s informative and heartbreaking.

Gah! I loved this. It‘s my first Ali Hazelwood, and it will not be my last. I adored the banter between Maya and Conor, and the sass of other characters, particularly Nyota. The story was delightful. It was frustrating and steamy and heartbreaking and heartwarming. Problematic or not, I loved it.

I asked Bri at PRB for a book that would block out the world, a story that would pull me into its pages and keep intrusive thoughts at bay. She delivered. The writing and world building are immersive, the magic system is fascinating, and the characters are complex and contradictory. I hate that I have to wait for book 2, but I look forward to seeing the stone gargoyle again. I adore him.

I try to make allowances for the time period in which these books are written, but the racism towards Indigenous people was too egregious to overlook and it crops up in more than one case. This is one I wish I‘d skipped. #ebbr

A fun mystery for Nancy and crew. So much happens in this one! Kidnappings. Pickpockets. Ferry crashes. You name it, Nancy survives it and solves it! I actually found this one delightful despite the non-stop chaos. #nancydrewbr

Dreamscape has been releasing new audio versions of le Carre‘s work narrated by Simon Vance and they are wonderful. I‘m a huge fan of both le Carre and Simon Vance, so this was a comfort reread/listen for me. TSWCIFTC is the quintessential Cold War spy novel and it‘s the book that cemented le Carre as the master of the genre.