I‘m calling it for January. 11 books read, 4 DNF, and 5 books still in progress. I did not manage Bingo, but I did read both my #bookspin and #doublespin titles. The Songbird & the Heart of Stone was my favorite, but I read a lot of good books this month. I didn‘t hate anything I finished, which is a success in my book!

I don‘t think I can add anything to what has already been said about this collection of brief essays on writing, racism, reparations, and apartheid. It is short and powerful. I knew some of the history, but not all of it. I appreciated the push to read books by oppressed people, not their allies or their oppressors. I loved that he was honest about his perspective and opinion changes in the face of new/more information.

New #bookmail! I needed children‘s books for a couple of reading challenges and these will work perfectly. 🥰

I finally started on my reread of this novel. I first read it in high school - we got extra credit if we read the unabridged version and I flew through the entire thing on Spring Break. Several years ago, I bought this translation for the cover and then bought a second copy so I wouldn‘t have to flip back and forth to the end notes. 😂 #READLESMIS

February #bookspin list is ready! I finished both my #bookspin and #doublespin books in January, which i think it a first for me! And I only need one more book to get a #bookspin bingo. Here‘s hoping i can do the same in February! As before, several are just categories or challenge titles, not actual book titles, since I need the flexibility for mood reading.

I didn‘t get to this in December, but I needed something to read so I didn‘t break my StoryGraph streak and it had to be on my phone because Natasha was in my lap. This was a cute, fast read. I‘m kind of surprised by the low ratings. It‘s not high literature by any means, but how can you not love a short story that takes place in a repurposed wiener mobile?

This is a fun rom-com/murder mystery. There are a couple of spicy scenes, and the whole thing is ridiculous. It‘s silly, escapist fiction. It‘s a good light-hearted read and I enjoyed it enough to willingly read another book by this author.

Switched from the ARC to audiobook, then stopped at 23%, jumped to the end to get the solve. I can‘t stand messy main characters with drug or alcohol addictions. It‘s too “Girl on the Train” for me and it distracts from the murder mystery. I don‘t care and I don‘t want to listen to the whining or will I/won‘t I cave to pills. I want the hunt for the true killer and the search for the missing girl.

There was entirely too much golf in this one, but other than that, I found it enjoyable. We got all the big characters except Hannah, including a lot of face time for Carson Drew. Lots of red herrings, too, which was also fun. #nancydrewbr

Because it‘s Nancy Drew, I should have this finished by tomorrow but it‘s taking me a little longer to read because I have a new distraction. I‘m not going to make my other reading deadlines. 🤷🏻‍♀️

Litsy, may I introduce you to Natasha? She is very anti-photo right now, but pro-belly rub, so it‘s a delicate balance. (Strategically placed book photo for propriety 😂)

This is a really good intro to EMDR. It provides details on what trauma therapy is, how it works, what to expect from the process, and how to find the right therapist for you. If you‘ve started EMDR therapy and are struggling with elements of the process, this also provides encouragement. I liked how this had both perspectives from a patient and a therapist.

I love the Crowns of Nyaxia series. I have not found another Romantasy author that I enjoy nearly as much as Carissa Broadbent. The writing is fluid and engaging. I adored Mische in the first two books and I love her even more now. I cannot wait for the next book and the conclusion of her story with Asar. I really hope we get more of Luce, as well. This is also my January #doublespin

A woman's body is found in the Thames and she appears to be mixed up in a German spy ring. Major Ramsey is forced to call on Ellie's expertise when her uncle is unavailable. This is a decent historical mystery/espionage novel. I do still really love Ellie, her family, and Major Ramsey. However, the love triangle subtext is annoying. I'll keep going with the series, but I hope this nonsense of Felix vs Major Ramsey gets settled in book 3.

It‘s so nice to have a core of characters comprised of older people. There‘s no alcoholic 30 year old police detective who conveniently forgets her cellphone when confronting a bad guy. Instead, our main characters reside in a retirement village. They‘ve got complex back stories, and they are all clever and honestly, just delightful. The mystery is great, the characters are wonderful, and I can‘t wait to dig into the next one.

There‘s a lot of really interesting info here, not just about the killer, but about early neurological and behavioral sciences. I found a lot of the science and detailed legal proceedings fascinating. My main issue is that much of this reads as almost a love letter to Edward Rulloff, as though the author fell victim herself to his charms. You lose sight of the victims in the quest for understanding Rulloff‘s motivations.

This is probably a bit more than I can get through, but I have a couple extra days off work, so maybe? NetGalley due dates and library due dates create a little stress, but I am really going to try to just use this as a general guide and not kick myself if I miss pub dates or have to return books unread.

The first #bookspin bingo board of 2025!

January‘s #bookspin is a category - The Storygraph‘s Genre Challenge and I‘m choosing Phoebe and Her Unicorn as my selection for prompt #6: A Graphic Novel by a Woman or Nonbinary Person. #Doublespin is The Songbird and the Heart of Stone. I‘ve been on the fence about starting this one because the next book isn‘t out yet and I KNOW I will want it as soon as I‘m done with this one. Bingo board to come later. 🤩

Utterly ridiculous, but also a delightfully fun, madcap start to a series co-written with Lee Goldberg. If you like Evanovich‘s Stephanie Plum novels, you‘ll appreciate the charming insanity of Kate and Nick. Thanks for the #auldlangspine recommendation @Mollyanna 💖

For the first time in forever, I am not carrying over a book from the previous year, so while I wait for bookspin numbers to guide my choices, I let my spin the wheel app pick my first #AuldLangSpine2025 book.

I‘m calling it quits at an even 150 books for the year. After a mostly meh reading year, and a personally terrible first half of the month, this last week has brought nothing but book gems. It is impossible to pick a favorite, as my top three are all so different. Time to go decide what book to start 2025 with…

This was a good start to a new-to-me historical mystery series. I don't usually read books set in WWII, and the war plays a significant role, but I liked the characters enough to continue the series. Ellie is delightful and I love the way she plays off Major Ramsey. The audiobook narrator does a good job, as well.

I am so glad my library bought enough new copies that I was able to get this before the end of the year. It is delightful and totally worthy of the hype. It‘s the perfect locked-room mystery/rom-com combination I didn‘t know I needed but can‘t believe I‘ve lived without for so long. Entertaining, mad, and fun. I read the whole thing after work today. I simply couldn‘t put it down.

December‘s #doublespin is this ARC that publishes 3/18/2025. It‘s one of the best books I‘ve read all year. An edge-of-your-seat thriller with a supernatural twist, it grabbed me from the first page and did not let go. Go in blind, and let the writing sweep you away.

My first #bookspin list of 2025 is set. I‘ve decided to use the first 12 spaces for various reading challenges and next-in-series titles. Challenges/book clubs/buddy reads with set titles have the title listed. Ones that have multiple options in a given month are listed by challenge only so I have a bit of flexibility for mood reading. ☺️

I found this via IG, as the author has hysterical Book Goblin reels, and decided to give this series a try. I like Wheatley‘s writing style. The world building is good, even if the set up drags a bit. The ending is open, prepped for the sequel. I‘m looking forward to seeing how things play out.

Delightful. I can‘t remember the last time I read a book in one sitting. I love Fremlin‘s writing style. It kept me engaged even as I continually thought “what is happening? Wait…what?!?” I had no idea where the mystery was going and I would never in a million years have reached the ultimate solution, but it was a joy to be along for the ride. I must find more of her work.

This is probably a combination of “this December sucks” and “I do not like the audiobook narrator”, but I just can‘t bring myself to switch to my Kobo to read more. The plot feels very similar to another book I dnf‘d in the last 2 months, so maybe it‘s just the trope. I hope not, as it used to be one of my faves. Anywho…officially bailing on my December #bookspin.

I love Carissa Broadbent‘s writing style and I love the world she has created with her Crowns of Nyaxia series. This novella is just the right length for me to be able to read while still recovering from pneumonia. The characters are wonderful, there‘s plenty of danger and tension, and the love story is beautiful. I‘m so glad I discovered this author this year.

A little late to the party on this one, but with pneumonia and the loss of my heart dog, I‘m giving myself a pass. This was a fun entry in the series. There‘s plenty of danger, Nancy wears a disguise, and we get extra helpings of Ned. Bits of it are far-fetched, as per usual, but it was still an enjoyable mystery. I‘m really looking forward to continuing the #NancyDrewBR next year. Thank you @Librarybelle for hosting this.

@Mitch I opened my Christmas present a little early because I needed a pick me up. Oh, my friend. This is perfect. That stationery is gorgeous and that book! I can‘t wait to dig into it on Jolabokaflod. It sounds like something I will love. Thank you. 💖

This is a beautifully illustrated story about Baby‘s first Christmas on the Rez. It teaches a few Anishinaabe words and has a sweet story about family, the joy of giving, and that home is not just where you live, but also where you come from. The art is lovely and I appreciated the pronunciation guide at the back.

Clearly this book is my Bailey tribute section of Litsy. For those of you who were around in 2018 when I lost Pilot and adopted this goofiest of girls, I wanted you to know that she crossed the rainbow bridge this morning. I am devastated. Less than seven years was not enough time and I miss her already. 💔

I got suckered in by the “echoes of Hades & Persephone” and “Practical Magic”. I‘ve been on the fence with bailing for hours. At 63% I am done. For the love of the goddesses, in Tarot, Death means Change. It is the shedding of habits and thought patterns that no longer serve your greatest good, not literal death. Stop using the Death card as a jump scare! Just, stop.

This was a fun read - I‘d expected something a little more cozy mystery, but this is a bit more serious than your average Hallmark mystery. It‘s well written, full of danger, and a bit quirky. I also really loved the supernatural element.

Spoilers abound in this book that examines a variety of tropes in pop culture/film & television. While I didn‘t find anything earth-shattering in the author‘s observations or conclusions, it did piss me off. Admittedly, I live in a rage-filled emotional state these days, but I‘m an American woman and all you have to do is look at our elected officials to understand the anger. The essence of the book is this: Fuck. The. Patriarchy.

I love this list from @Mollyanna - it has a bit of all the things I love and I‘ve only read one of them! I will probably start with the 3 I already own, and I will definitely read The Ravenmaster. I may try to read the first five Phoebe and her Unicorn books this month, to catch up to the one on the list. They look like nice palate cleansers/escapist reads. Then I‘ll have to throw the rest in a hat to decide what to read next. #auldlangspine2025

TY to the author for the LibraryThing Early Reviewer copy. This did not work for me. I should have loved this book. It has a missing persons cold case, a dead body that appears to age at an alarming rate, pixies, dragons, magic, and a talking dog! None of it was engaging. The writing was flat & I was bored to tears. There‘s a disconnect between what we‘re told and the actions of characters. ⬇️

The final #bookspin bingo board of 2024! I do love making these, even if I rarely cross off more than the free spaces. 🤣🤣

December‘s TBR is doable, but only if I can get my focus and will to read back. Another mood month like November will kill this. Fingers crossed as I have several book clubs/buddy reads and LibraryThing Early Reviewers/Netgalley titles to get through.

I‘ll put my bingo board together after work, but for now…#bookspin is The Christmas Murder Game and #doublespin is The Bane Witch. I have to laugh (so I don‘t cry) - neither of these were on my already overloaded December TBR. I have The Christmas Murder Game on my Kobo, but there aren‘t going to be enough hours in the day to read it with my eyeballs, so I checked the audiobook out from Hoopla and will read it with my ears. 🎧

Not my favorite of the series, but still wonderful. It ends on a jaw-dropping cliffhanger and I can‘t wait for the next volume.

The Devil Aspect capped off a lackluster November for me. The top two were the best of the non-rereads. I really hope December is better. #novemberwrapup

I like Russell‘s style a lot. The Devil‘s Playground was my favorite book last year. I had high hopes for this one. It is a well-written, serial killer, suspense novel, with a supernatural element. I enjoyed the Slavic folklore interspersed throughout, but I was disappointed by the ending. Really disappointed. I switched between print and audio, and the audiobook narrator was excellent.

I don‘t leave the house on Black Friday anymore, but Small Business Saturday still calls to me. A little yarn from Charlotte Yarn and some books I‘m really excited to read from Park Road Books. 💖

Why must there be a clown in my serial killer novel? Why, Mr. Russell? Why? 😭 🔪🤡🔪

I think I‘ve finally decided on my last #bookspin list for 2024. Considering how I‘ve struggled to stick with any books this month, I don‘t have high hopes for making a dent on this list next month. We‘ll see.

Thanks for continuing to host this Sarah. I enjoy putting together the graphics even if I don‘t manage to read the books. 😂

As with the first George Smiley novel, Call for the Dead, this is a murder mystery, not the Cold War spy stories for which Le Carre became famous. It's a good mystery, plenty of English Murder Village style secrets, and it's tinged with sadness. Smiley always seems to disappointed, although not surprised, when people do bad things, and you can't help but walk away with a bit of that same melancholy. (Cont.⬇️)

These are brief encouragements to keep going, reminders that we are each unique, special, loved, and worthy. There‘s nothing particularly earth shattering here, but if you need a pick-me-up, it‘s worth dipping into. I wouldn‘t recommend reading it all in one go, though. It‘s nice to actually finish a book, even if I didn‘t love it. Not being able to stick with anything is very stressful and that makes it harder to stick with something. 🤦🏻‍♀️

#auldlangspine2025 sign ups are live! This is one of my favorite things every year. @monalyisha does an incredible job pairing reader. Thank you, Alyisha for all of your hard work and for doing this year after year. 💖