What I read on my vacation:
1) Only Human by Sylvain Neuvel 🌟🌟🌟🌟
2) The Circle by Dave Eggers 🌟🌟🌟
3) Belleweather by Susanna Kearsley 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
#noreviewswhileonvacation

Another great mystery by Anthony Horowitz. It's chock full of red herrings that kept me changing my mind about who-dunnit plus it has a very unique narrator (it's actually the real author!) I just LOVED this book so much. 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

This book is essentially a love letter to music and as a music lover myself, I enjoyed it immensely. I especially liked the characters. My favourite part of reading this book was how it made me feel. The author's descriptions of the experience of listening to music via vinyl records brought back so many memories of afternoons spent sitting next to my stereo, playing my LPs on the turntable. A wonderful, nostalgia-filled read.

While this title started off strong, I found that the ending dragged a bit. Despite that, I really loved all of the characters. I was grateful for the family tree at the beginning of the book as it helped me to keep track of who was who. A gritty and realistic read about some pretty important and timely topics.

I love Ruth Ware's books and this one is no exception! A creepy old house, an interesting cast of characters, plus lots of red herrings made for an ultra-atmospheric, locked room-style mystery that I couldn't put down.

I decided to read this book after going to a Books & Brunch event where Genevieve Graham was one of the authors interviewed. I liked the characters and I enjoyed the historical setting (especially the fact that it takes place during the Halifax Explosion). A very readable historical romance book.

This book was recommended to me by a couple of my customers. It was an eye-opening read about life in Germany during WWII, both as an everyday German and as part of Hitler's inner circle.

I wasn't sure how I felt about this title when I first started to read it but I quickly grew to like the short, easy to read chapters and the young protagonist. A uniquely written book about coming of age, divorce, and unexpected loss.

This was my first Karin Slaughter read and it likely won't be my last. While unbelievably gory at times, I did really enjoy this book. The characters were complicated and interesting. I loved all of the twists and turns. A dark, disturbing, and page-turning thriller.

I read this ARC for work. It took me a long time to get into this book. I did eventually enjoy it but it took me a very long to feel invested in the story. I'm not sure why, it just kind of fell flat and felt way too much like a formulaic teen romance for my taste.

I LOVED this. I always enjoy St. James's books but this title is without a doubt my absolute favourite one. An addictive and ultra-atmospheric ghost story/mystery chock full of twists and turns. I could not put it down. #fivestars

I wanted to attempt to understand what led to the results in the American election and I'd heard that this book would fit the bill. It had some interesting insights, however, it was not what I expected. Instead, it focused more on the author's own personal experiences and his life. A great read about the importance of family ties, whatever your circumstances.

This was a beautifully written book with amazing characters, an atmospheric setting, and an ultra-compelling story. I finished this in just one day because once I started it, I could not stop reading it.

An emotionally searing read about a fractured family who find a way to come together to face a devastating disease. I have always loved Genova's books and this is one of her best yet. The characters are definitely flawed yet they are also believable and sympathetic. Have some tissues handy!

A bookworm can never have too many pictures taken with her favourite author!

Went to a Books and Brunch program and heard Susanna Kearsley read a chapter from her new book. Bonus: I learned about two new-to-me historical authors ( Genevieve Graham & Kim van Alkemade ) whose books I have already put on hold!

Reading this book was a wonderful way to escape what was a very tough week in my neighbourhood. It sucked me right in and it never let up. I really hated to put it down for any length of time. My only complaint is that despite all of the twists and turns, I wasn't really that suprised by the denouement. #willowdalestrong #torontostrong

I wasn't sure that I was going to be able to finish this book. I just didn't love the style of writing. Some sentences were almost a page long & this really annoyed me. I chose to keep going since coworkers had recommended it. I did end up enjoying it more than I thought I would, but it definitely wasn't a favourite of mine. That said, the subject covered is ultra-important & very topical considering all that is happening in the world right now.

Great characters, lots of twists and turns, plus a very atmospheric setting made for another fantastic mystery in what is sure to become one of my favourite mystery series. Can't wait for #3 to be written!

This book was fantastic! I loved all of the well fleshed-out characters, the page-turner of a plot that kept me hooked throughout, and Ng's writing style. In short: I enjoyed reading this so much that I hated getting to the end. 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

What at first seems to be an exploration of a New York City neighbourhood actually morphs into an examination of a disintegrating marriage. I loved the characters, flaws and all. And as always, I really enjoyed Quindlen's writing style.

This was a very powerful book about two very strong women. It's definitely not a light read and is pretty brutal and graphic at times but don't let that keep you from reading it. My one complaint: the ending. It's just way too vague and left me wanting more.

Whew! This was a twisty, crazy, page-turner of a read that kept me on the edge of my seat from the first page to the last. Loved it!

I decided to read this book in honour of my sisters' upcoming Everest trek. I didn't know much about George Mallory and his attempts to conquer the mountain and I found this book to be very enlightening and totally fascinating. It started out a bit slow but by the end, I could not put it down. A compelling, well-researched, and evocative read.

I really liked this book! I cared about the flawed, realistic characters, loved the behind-the-scenes hospital setting, and enjoyed the author's writing style (though sometimes she was a wee bit too descriptive when describing surgical procedures).

The premise of this book sounded promising and I enjoyed it at first but for some reason, the longer I read it, the less I liked it. I didn't like the characters at all, I found the plot to be way too unbelievable, and the ending fell completely flat for me.

A wonderfully written and moving book about redemption and the search for one's personal identity. A beautifully described setting and well-developed characters who I grew to care for immensely made for a great read. NOTE: This was a reread for my book club meeting and I think I liked it even more the second time!

I had heard that this was a great book. It sure was! I loved absolutely everything about it, especially the amazing, richly developed characters. Don't let the length intimidate you, it is an ultra-addictive and engaging read thanks to the wonderful writing.

This book was not what I was expecting at all. It took me a very long time to get into it. It interested me just enough that I kept reading, but in the end, it was a complete disappointment. It should have been a DNF.

I loved The Martian so reading this follow-up was a no-brainer for me. Unfortunately, I was ultimately disappointed with this. While it could be described as a page-turner at times, I wasn't a big fan of any of the characters (especially the protagonist) and I found some of the descriptions of the technology a bit too extensive and hard to understand.

I didn't pick this one up because I am a huge fan of Noah's. In fact, other than watching a few clips online, I am not very familiar with him or his show. I had heard great things about this book so I thought, why not? I loved it! His writing style is wonderfully engaging, it had me laughing at times & feeling emotional at others. An eye-opening and informative look at what it was like growing up in South Africa both during and after Apartheid.

First things first: I didn't like the protagonist of this book very much. Her attitude towards library customers was, at times, one of contempt and this really bugged me. Other than that, this was a nice, light read set in a beautifully described corner of the world.

This was a well-written, extremely clever book that managed to be both humourous and thought-provoking. I loved how the story was told using several different perspectives. Bonus: the "Choose Your Own Adventure" style of writing was brilliant!

I really liked that this book helped me revisit the Little House series, a childhood favourite. I loved that it was told from the mother's perspective. That said, there was a one pretty big difference from when I read the books as a child: this time around I felt so much sympathy for the Osage Indians and the way they are pushed off their land to make way for the settlers. This tended to colour my enjoyment of the book at times.

This is a really tough read. I mean, REALLY tough. It was well written and kept me interested but there were a lot of passages that made me ultra-uncomfortable and I really wanted to put the book down (Note: it deals with sexual abuse and pedophilia). I'm glad that I finished it but I definitely need to read something way lighter next to cleanse the palate.

This one is a twisty slow burn and I couldn't stop reading it. I really liked how the story was told via alternating points of view. The characters felt real and I grew very invested in the outcome of the story.

I loved this biographical graphic novel about my favourite author. I especially enjoyed the style of the illustrations and the way that Christie's feelings about her famous detectives were portrayed. A must for any fans of The Queen of Crime.

A fun, clever, and very entertaining collection of letters that the author wrote to various books. I loved the author's writing style and found myself laughing out loud several times while reading this. Bonus: the author has compiled several lists of book titles that can be found near the end of the book covering such subjects as books about librarians, books for significant others who don't read, etc.

Finally felt up to reading after a week fighting a horrible viral infection which included a bout of pink eye. I really liked this book. Loved the characters and all of their ultra-complicated and tumultuous relationships, the Old Hollywood setting, plus the really great twist at the end.

Stuck at home sick today. Trying to sneak in a few pages in between dry toast, flat ginger ale, chicken noodle soup, and lots of sleep. Grateful I have these two bums to keep my feet warm. 🤒

I can't possibly give this book anything less than 5 stars. I didn‘t want to finish it since this was the last Kinsey Millhone book that I'll ever read for the first time but it was so damn good that I couldn‘t stop. Grafton was one of the only authors that I could always count on to write books that I absolutely, totally loved and I‘ll miss her & Kinsey a great deal. A wonderful end to a series that I may just have to read again some day.

1) Couch/reading chair/bed
2) Bookmark
3) Have to finish the entire chapter
4) No
5) Neither
6) One at a time
7) Mostly at home
8) Silently
9) No
10) Keeping it like new (What am I? An animal?)
11) NO
12) @Bakingbookworm

This was a reread for my book club meeting. Great story, wonderfully weird and uniquely talented characters, and an extremely creepy setting made for a fun and unputdownable read. I absolutely loved the authentic vintage photographs that are sprinkled throughout the book. It wasn‘t a popular book with my members but I still loved it.

An interesting update to the Nancy Drew/Hardy Boys series however it was a wee bit too dark for my taste (guess I'm too old fashioned).

A beautifully written, powerful, and haunting story that is filled with authentic and amazing characters that will likely stay with me for a while longer. Wow.

Enjoying a super snuggly morning with my two fur babies. 😍

I loved PD James books so when I saw this new collection of short stories, I was pretty excited. This was a fun, quick read but I'd have to say that I prefer her regular length mysteries, especially those titles featuring Adam Dalgliesh.

I really enjoyed this book. I loved the characters, its beautifully described setting (Lake Superior), the plot twists, and the author's ultra-engaging writing style. An emotional and moving story that I couldn't put down!

My normally non-reading American hubby asked me to download the audiobook version of Fire and Fury yesterday and I managed to place the hold fast enough that it was filled almost immediately. He has already started to listen to it!

I've never read one of the Temperence Brennan books (shocking, I know). I decided to try this one out when a coworker recommended it. I really liked the strong female protagonist, as well as the numerous twists and turns. An enjoyable plot-driven thriller that also managed to be an interesting character study.