This is a fun and fairly lighthearted look at the different descriptions of the afterlife from mythology, religion, music, tv, etc. Jennings did a great job balancing humor and respect as well as a large variety of cultures.
As someone who finds death culture interesting, I was hooked, but even if you don't this is a great quick read (each section is only a few pages) that has a lot to offer.
Publishes June 13, 2023 #netgalley

I read a lot more this year than I expected. I read a lot of great books and I look forward to more in 2023!

(This excludes comparisons to my reading number in middle school and before when my reading was incomprehensibly high - much to many of my teachers‘ chagrin)

Won a Goodreads Giveaway and they sent a pin and a “letter” from Bernie too!
It‘s a fun cozy mystery with extra helpings of maple and Vermont (and a side of Cryptids - hello local lake monster). #Arc
Publishes Dec 6, 2022

I love when you get a book that delivers exactly what was promised. I wanted a good urban fantasy with a little more romance and a bit more magic and this book delivered and then some. I loved both characters and raced through this book. Now I am off to read the series this spun-off from (8 books!) - it does work as a standalone, but spoilers beware.

Both this and the Alice Worth series are in #KindleUnlimited

ARC from #netgalley

The tagged book is really good - a town built on one author, working in a bookstore, a wonderful cast of characters.
The description of apple cheddar scones made my mouth water so I just had to make some for myself.
The recipe I used is from Smitten Kitchen and it lives up to its literary inspiration ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Few things make me happier than a chunky book!

I am beyond excited for this book 🤩
I loved both of his other books (Kitchens of the Great Midwest and Lager Queens of Minnesota).
Pub date April 18, 23
My fingers are crossed I get approved on #netgalley🤞

I don't have the right words to say how much I love this book. It gives Practical Magic & Sarah Addison Allen vibes (my favorite vibes).
The characters, the magic, and the town hit all the right notes to pull me into this book and make me never want to leave. I was enthralled the whole time.
If you are looking for the perfect fall vibes but don't like horror this is a great pick that I don't think is getting enough attention! #netgalley

So it should have bailed since I don‘t like horror generally. But I don‘t like bailing on and ARC. So: the book is well written and the concept of Hell is fascinating but the characters and humor fell very flat to me.
The biggest problem is the characters name is Peyote Trip. Using a religious plant as a punchline to a (bad) joke isn‘t funny and by a white author give me ick.

I wonderful rom com. With enemies to lovers, but they are the hosts of a cooking show and have to fake date their way to PR redemption. I loved both the characters, and all the side characters. Well paced with punny and fun banter, and the added depth of tackling mental health and treatment of women by the media this is a great book and I can't recommend enough.

I wanted to like this, but the more I read this and listened to the conversation surrounding this book from the BIPOC community, the more uncomfortable I feel and I can't support this book. I really wanted to like this book, but TJR's choice to make the main character Latina makes this book problematic. This is a problem that the author has been criticized for before and I am baffled as to why she and her publishers chose to do it again #netgalley

Happy (belated) Pub day! I absolutely adore this book!
It‘s very cozy fantasy vibes and showcases an heartwarming and lovely story that pulls at all the heartstrings. The characters, world building, and plot are all just the right balance of angsty and heartfelt with a hearty dose of hopeful.
There was even letters included for a You‘ve Got Mail vibe (my favorite).

I was lucky enough to get a ARC of this book from the author. Its a spinoff of her Glimmer series, but can be read alone. Harris does a wonderful job in this fun urban fantasy romp. Following newly turned werewolf (and alpha) Lucy while she solves a murder and sorts Other Realm politics. The plot is fast paced and kept me guessing without feeling dark or packing in too much. I can't wait to read the rest of the series. #ARC

Lives up to everything I wanted as a cozy fantasy! This books is warm and heart felt with a low level of intrigue and adventure to keep everything moving along. All of the characters are masterfully composed and fully formed, I felt like they always existed and were just waiting for me to arrive. I can't wait to read the rest of the series! They were original published as a web series and are being complied into books, and I can barely wait!

A wonderful book on the Search for Sasquatch using the Scientific Method. A great intro to research and media literacy (what's a good source, how to check your facts and assumptions) are great tools for everyone nowadays.
The author is personable, curious, and fun while keeping a sense of serious skepticism.
I started listening to the podcast this is pulled from (Wild Thing), and I really like it too!
#netgalley Pub Date: Oct 11, 2022

This book looks at: What if everyone in the world knew exactly when (not how) their life would end? How would humanity handle that? Does that change what the meaning/measure of your life is?

A beautiful, thought provoking, compassionate, heartbreaking book. This is one of those books that grabs your heart and doesn't let go. It also gives concepts that I don't think I will start thinking about for a while.

#netgalley Pub date: June 28, 2022

A fun book themed mystery! I love a good book themed mystery -- and the author went above and beyond by crafting a whole fictional book series, author, movie and tv series, and convention for this book. Adding in the actresses who portray the same role added a new element than the usual bookstore, library, book collectors.

I can't wait for the next book!

#netgalley Pub date July 21, 22

If you love learning about music look no further! This book looks at the brain's music preferences by examining different aspects of songs. Sprinkled in with the musical examples, scientific studies, & the authors genuine enthusiasm for the topic is Susan Rogers' stories as a multiplatinum record producer working with artists (like Prince!). I loved this book and I highly recommend to anyone who is even a little interested.

#netgalley Pub 9/20/22

Another solid book in this series! The author has a great world built with satyrs, slyphs, gryphons, furies, and magis who addict and consume human emotions. The plot is fast paced, all the characters fascinating and well written. I can‘t wait for the next book (October 2022)!
#netgalley #kindleunlimited

A lovely cozy mystery with the fun twist that the main sleuth is a cryptozoologist. I found this book delightful and I loved the interwoven facts about different cryptids and the Great Lakes!
There were a few sections that could have benefited from a bit more editing but overall well written with a great cast of characters.
I can't wait to read more in this series, it looks like a Sasquatch book was alluded to next? Heck yeah #netgalley

Just started this book and this exchange already has me laughing. Also this is maybe the best book blurb ever?

(I 100% wouldn‘t read it but it gives a very vivid picture of the book and isn‘t that the whole reason for a blurb?)

Is there such a thing as a cozy thriller? I think this book might make for the argument.

I devoured this book and I can't wait for more in this series.

I was pleasantly surprised at every turn with this book. It's fun mix of magical realism, thriller, mystery with a dash of romance (with bonus points for LGBTQ rep).

I couldn‘t believe my email today! I‘m so excited to be approved for this #ARC from #netgalley!! Day made!

A cute rom-com! A MMC who is a romcom screenwriter gives a nice meta thread as he narrates tropes and scenes. I loved the female main character & fell in love with the quirky town of Canoodle, CA, but the miscommunication trope at the end left a bad taste in my mouth and a real dislike of pretty much the whole cast and a personal ick is friendzone plotlines.
Also note: there is a Alzheimer's plotline that gets intense if that is a no-go for you.

I loved this book! If you have any interest in cryptids read this book! The author strikes the right tone of playful but not mocking, passionate but not obsessive. The whole book (and the museums mentioned) reminded me of the Mystery Shack from Gravity Falls. And now I have books full of road-trip destinations. #netgalley #arc (but I already pre-ordered it)

OK so - this book is adorable. And hits all the romantic comedy checkboxes (sassy heroine, banter, plot other than love, HEA). It was heartwarming with moments that made me tear up, and moments I laughed so hard I had to pause (if for no other reason please read to the cow encounter - if you still don't like it THEN bail, I was dying).

#netgalley #ARC

A solid fantasy book - sassy main character, found family, action filled. I do wish there was more of the bounty hunting before the kick-off (but maybe a novella in the future). There were some character inconsistencies, but generally a good fantasy pick in a unique new world.

#netgalley #ARC

I adore this book! As with all of her books, there is a fictional town that I wanted to get lost in, a tone that is warm but not too sweet, a touch of serious substance and a sprinkle of magic. Told with multiple POVs, there are just enough twists to keep you guessing, but with characters that you'll love and champion.

My favorite book from this author - I want to reread this already (and that cover -in love 😍)

#netgalley #ARC

Told through diary entries, emails, texts, articles, and memos, this book tells a story that is ripped from the headlines about Anna Sorokin (Inventing Anna & My Friend Anna fame) but publishing and fashion industries. Who doesn't love reading about a con artist - and in fiction there is the extra perk that you can have all the answers and twists that the real life story isn't as quick to provide.
I couldn't put this down, and the ending was !!

I may have read this and said out loud “but his name is right there?”
Come on peeps. How did this make it through?

If you love reading animal non-fiction writing this is a great short intro to hawks and falconry by one of my favorite authors. The author takes lessons and contemplates the complete difference between their species and ours.
Note that this is pulled from her book Birdology with a new introduction. Also if you are squeamish there is a lot of description of the animals hunting (not gratuitously, but just a heads up).
#netgalley

I drop in & out of this series because while a bit formulaic I find them to be perfect comfort reads & this one lived up to my expectations - the characters are well-rounded & sympathetic and the romance and outside plot are given equal time. Despite darker plot points the story itself doesn't lean into the dark or horror. I love that the male characters are wonderful feminist without the toxic masculinity that is typical of the genre.
#netgalley

A bit different than the classic Evanovich - the plot is a bit more serious with plotlines that included drug running, violence, and cults. That said there were multiple times I laughed out loud and some great one-lines. There is a good balance of serious and funny moments, with a good match of bickering ex-spouses (I do wish there had been more banter) but the plot did feel slow at times. A great summer read. I do want to read more of this series

This is a warm magical realism book with a heavy dose of book love. A great cast of characters and a sweet plot make this a great example of the genre. The magical manuscript plot line didn‘t disappoint and the book also handled some more serious topics deftly. Overall such a good book - if the description sounds like your thing you won‘t be disappointed.
#netgalley ARC

My signed copy showed up a little early!! Another reason to love indie bookstores (and the authors that love them)! Can‘t wait to start

These are pretty cute - just added to the #botm store. Let me know how they look if you order them!

“Our lives are a meaningless twist of chance, a bundle of luck and random events. But to exist, to have been able to experience a moment of this pointless planet, feels like such a bizarre gift, it requires no point at all”

If these two quotes resound within you too …. You too might be a Sunny Nihilist.

I really liked this book - it‘s more of a series of essays on nihilism and today‘s society than a deep dive into nihilism. I thought it was a good starting point and I learned a lot about the background and it got me thinking more deeply about it.

Found this article and I have been scrolling through all of Harland Miller‘s artwork. Love them all

There is a new candle up in #BOTM boutique if anyone is interested. It‘s described as “a dusky scent with light herbal undertones. Dust not included”

And now we‘re at the completely obvious next part of this banana pants story: when Purdue Pharma decides to hire Rudy Giuliani (who the author takes pains to remind us used to be at least mildly respected in the early 2000s)

God, Arthur Sackler (and brothers) are just the worst 🤢

Current cringe inducing is not even related to his sketchy businesses - mostly his weird romantic life (nothing too weird just typical rich male disregard for his wife - and second wife - and third wife)

Everything he did is just ~~ ughhh~~ 🤮

This dedication is 👌

My display for Banned Book week (classics) for work. I think it turned out really well.
The shelf reader have quotes from why it was banned. My personal favorite is for Animal Farm: “Orwell was a Communist”

I found all of these stunning near mint books at the Library bookshop. I have been to a few others lately and been let down so this was a wonderful surprise. And a thank you to whomever donated these (and the rest of three boxes)

Just saw this on Goodreads. I‘d bet it‘ll be a #BoTM as well. I own but haven‘t read this series but it is definitely moving up the list

I‘m crying from a letter introduction. Oh boy. 💔

This book is hilarious. This quote made me literally laugh out loud and I had to share.
Context: the original technophobe wrote his 1400 page book outlining why the printing press the worst. This is the authors‘ (joke) response about his complaint that his fellow monks would made excuses to get out of writing books to labor outside.

It‘s always funny to me to see the people acting fairly similar to today but hundreds of years ago.

How can you not love this book. I want to hang all of the pages up all over my home - art and trivia and food, oh my the perfect combo.

I got a personalized book and I have an extra that I can‘t decide who to gift to (sister, nephew, friend) but I know they would all love it.

It feels weird to love a book about the racism that happens to black women in the US. But I do. I love this book. I listened to the audiobook and it was perfect. Amber is as hilarious as always and the stories that happen to Lacey are crazy and told so well I felt part of their (wonderful) family hearing these stories at the table/group chat. READ THIS BOOK!!