I‘m about halfway through Dearest and it is giving me extreme anxiety. So creepy! 😳

Maybe I‘m just cranky, but I only made it 60 pages before I gave up. The characters are all horrible. I don‘t know which one is the victim and I honestly don‘t care. 😆 Maybe I will try reading it another time.

This book has been sitting on my shelf since 2018. I finally got around to reading it and I am sorry I waited so long. What an incredible story. I‘ve been struggling a bit with life in general and reading stories like this makes me realize how resilient the human spirit can be. I have lots of thoughts about this but I cannot articulate them properly.

Happy Birthday @wanderinglynn 🎂 🎉 Thank you for everything you do for the Litsy community! #49bdaygiveaway ❤️❤️❤️

The snow has caused major headaches for those of us in the Midwest this past week, and gave me a literal headache today, so what better horror novel to read than one where the monsters come during a Midwestern snowstorm?

I was snowed in for a few days and ended up staying up until 2 am Monday reading this book. I‘ve heard this book described as bleak, dark, gritty, and depressing but I really liked it. It was depressing but I feel like it‘s an accurate depiction of generational poverty and addiction. Even though it was dark, I felt a glimmer of hope for the characters.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I didn‘t read much the first half of the year but the second half was better. I hope I can hit 50-60 books in 2025. I try not to feel bad when I see so many people read 100+ books in a year.

My top five reads in 2024. I am really disappointed that I haven‘t seen The Reformatory on any “best of” lists. It is one of the best literary horror books I‘ve ever read. It was definitely my favorite book of the year.

I really liked this one, although I got frustrated at times with the hops back and forth in time and the multiple characters that were hard to keep track of. There were two mysteries to solve, and the resolutions strained credibility a little, but I still loved it. There is one character, a female investigator in 1975, who I really loved. It would be cool to have a continuation of her story. ⭐️ ⭐️⭐️⭐️1/2

Just finished this one. It‘s a pretty decent thriller with a satisfying ending. Now I have to decide what is next. My TBR is ridiculously long. 🙃

Target run today was successful. ❤️

I am so glad that @amandalewey recommended this book! I usually read murder mysteries and scary stories so this was a nice change of pace. It really made me stop and think about life and regrets and all of the things. Love! ❤️

Currently reading House of Bone and Rain. What are you reading this weekend? I hope everyone had a happy Thanksgiving. 🤎📚

❤️

My mom loved this series. She was the one who sparked my love of reading. I love that my nieces and nephews (an some of their kids as well) also love to read. My mom would be so happy that she passed that down. As for this book series, I would love to hear your recommendations for other fun cozy mysteries. Bonus points if they take place in bookstores. Also, I am happy that @amandalewey is now on Litsy. ❤️

I wish I had more time to curl up with this lovely book. 🧡

I have been so grateful for this community this past week. I spent more time here than I have in a long time and now I remember why I love it so much. This election cycle and the toxic waste from all other social media platforms almost did me in. But this community has people who are the complete opposite of toxic. Thank you. 💙

I guess I will read this soon. Right now I just want to escape in some frivolous fiction until I am ready to fight on.

I have to thank @Nessavamusic again for the #HHS gifts. The books you chose were not only on the top of my wishlist, but also included signed book plates?! And gorgeous bookmarks! Love!!!

Currently reading. Ronald Malfi deserves more recognition for literary horror. He‘s one of my favorites. Happy Halloween! 🎃

@Nessavamusic you are awesome!! I absolutely LOVE everything. So many cool things that I feel like a kid at Christmas. Thank you so much!! 😃🎃🖤 Thank you @wanderinglynn for organizing this again. I‘m off to look at my books and eat candy. 😁🎃 #HHS24

Loving the creepy vibes and eighties nostalgia. 🖤🎃

My #HHS package went out this afternoon. @BookwormAHN you should get your box on Wednesday. It‘s coming UPS. 🙂🎃🖤 @wanderinglynn

I love this time of year! This is my current read. 🎃🖤

My #HHS package came yesterday! Yay!
@wanderinglynn

My Halloween aesthetic. I love cool fall days. Reading a book outside when it‘s chilly outside but not cold. Curling up in a comfy chair inside when it is cool and rainy. Cozy socks. Books that make you sleep with the light on. My favorite time of the year and Halloween is my favorite holiday! #HauntedHallowSwap @wanderinglynn

I love the imagery of this book. Goth vibes. Creepy ghost children. Diverse characters. Great writing. And yet, I am still struggling to stick with it. It would make an incredible movie or miniseries. I know it‘s me and not the book but I‘m very close to declaring this a DNF. However, I have been quitting on too many books lately. So I‘m going to attempt to find some uninterrupted reading time and finish it this week. 🖤

I used all the gift cards I got for my birthday to buy more books. I must go on book buying ban now!

I‘ve been in a funk of anxiety and depression and doom scrolling for so long. I am ready to retreat into books again. Got these two books with my birthday gift card. I am going to make an effort to stay off the cesspool of social media (except Litsy of course!) and see if I can reignite my passion for reading.

Sooooo pretty 😍🖤

This book gets mixed reviews. I personally loved it! It‘s a slow burn folk horror story that takes place in a remote forest in Utah. There‘s a lot of technical detail about producing tv news in the 1980s that might bore some people but it was a fun story! I am looking forward to reading more by this author. Thank you @Marmie7 for including this in my #HHS package 🖤

My package arrived just in time. Thank you @Marmie7
USPS is really bad in my area and 2 items were broken. 😢 I absolutely love my 2 books though! And the adorable box that looks like a book and is full of yummy candy. @wanderinglynn

My #HHS package is shipping out today. I know it is supposed to be a secret swap, but since I am shipping this out by UPS I want my person to know when it is coming. @BookNAround this should be delivered to you by UPS on Wednesday. I hope you like everything! 🙂 🎃
@wanderinglynn

Pretty excited about these 2 books and the covers are gorgeous!

My wishlists are ridiculous. This is 1/1000 of my Amazon lists 🤣🤣

1. A witchy cat
2. All of the horror. I usually reread Pet Sematary in September or October
3. Back when I had a figure I had a cat costume that was adorable!
4. I LOVE themed socks. Especially book related socks. My size is 6.5
5. Halloween 1978
6. Reese‘s pumpkins or candy corn

🎃🧙🏻‍♀️💀🖤

#HHS @wanderinglynn

More outside reading today #stephenking

Tip of the hat to Carissa Orlando. I thought I had all the twists figured out but she twisted the twist! This one is a joy ride (if you like haunted houses and a little bit of gore). Great read for spooky season. 🖤

It was hard to pick and in many cases I picked both. 🤣 #thisorthat #HHS @wanderinglynn

It has arrived!

Things I love. Fall colors. Candy corn and peanuts. Horror. Stephen King. #HauntedHollowSwap

Part one of my Halloween esthetic 🎃💀🖤 #HauntedHollowSwap

Saturday afternoon on the back deck.

Currently reading. Also, I‘ve already started decorating my cubicle for Halloween 🎃

I had an Amazon gift card burning a hole in pocket 🤷🏼‍♀️💀 📚

I am super excited to be participating in a swap for my favorite season! Check out @wanderinglynn and sign up if you are interested in the #HauntedHollowSwap 🖤🎃

I‘m getting a jump start on horror season. Who am I kidding? It‘s horror season all year long for me. 💀🖤

I almost forgot to come back from my lunch break because I got so into the end of this book. I may have finally broken through my reading slump. I only read about 6 books January through June but I‘ve read 4 in the last 6 weeks, including the uncut version of The Stand. It feels good to be excited about reading again 🙂❤️ 📚

I have an entire shelf dedicated to Mr. King and yet somehow I‘ve never read The Stand. Looks like I‘ve got my vacation reading planned.