Powerful historical novel that centers on an enslaved family in Red Clay, Alabama as the Civil War ends and a new, uncertain chapter begins. A brutal but beautiful story that doesn‘t shy away from the horrors of slavery and the complexities of the freedom that followed. The writing is compelling with an emotional depth that lingers and unforgettable characters. A tough read, but leaves room for hope. The audio is fantastic! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫 ❤️📚🎧

Four post-menopausal assassins on the brink of retirement? Say less - a fun and imaginative premise! These characters kick ass—and are funny, fierce, and full of history. The pacing is quick, but oddly, I still found myself bored at times. The execution just didn‘t match the promise of the premise. Still, if you love strong female leads & spy-style thrillers, it's worth picking up. I listened to this one on audio. ⭐️⭐️⭐️ ❤️📚🎧

Brutal, heartbreaking, deeply unsettling, but also powerful & beautifully written. Pheby Delores Brown, born into slavery but raised with a degree of protection, believes she‘ll be granted freedom at 18. Instead, she‘s sent away from everything she‘s known. Her strength & determination to survive, her calculated defiance, her heartbreaking choices were devastating & unforgettable. I felt the weight and necessity of this story. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ ❤️📚

Full of whimsy and heart, this sweet novel follows a young woman looking for home. After her mother's sudden passing, Mattie returns to Ivy Ridge—the magical place where she spent her childhood summers. She doesn‘t plan to stay, but the enchanting old house seems to have other plans. My bookclub and I enjoyed our time in this story, full of southern charm & second chances. For fans of Sarah Addison Allen. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ ❤️📚

The end of April / beginning of May completely got away from me. The real estate market is insane right now. 😅 I haven't looked at the post yet....that will be my next stop. Here is my #bookspin list for May! ❤️📚

Katarina & Heath are friends, lovers & skating partners. Katarina is focused on winning. Heath is focused on Katarina. The story dives into the toxic culture that permeates elite figure skating. Alternating between Katarina‘s voice & excerpts from a documentary chronicling her career, the format keeps the pacing brisk & the tension high. The full cast audio production elevated the experience. A dark, compulsively readable story. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ ❤️📚🎧

A sweeping novel that follows childhood friends Haiwen & Suchi, whose love is torn apart by war. As they each navigate famine, survival, and political upheaval, life moves forward—until decades later, in LA, Haiwen sees his Suchi. Told through dual perspectives—Haiwen‘s story moving backward and Suchi‘s story moving forward—this heartbreaking and hopeful story will stay with me for a long time. The dual narration on audio was excellent. ⭐⭐⭐⭐💫

Oh, this book! 💔 You will fall in love with Lenni (17) as she navigates terminal illness in the hospital. Margot (83) becomes her closest friend. Lenni is a force—bold, full of life, changing those she meets. Margot is kind, wise, and has led a fascinating life. They decide to paint 100 pictures—one for each year of their lives. As they share their stories, you‘re transported through their pasts. Highly recommend this on audio. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ ❤️📚🎧

April Bookspin list complete. Let's Go! ❤️📚

I haven't even started either my bookspin or doublespin books for March because other books needed to be read first (book club, library hold, etc.). 😬 That's okay. I read 4 books from my March list and I know I will get to the ones that qualify as bookspin books!

Thank you @Lollybooks for the book mail! I‘m so glad an internet algorithm brought you into my world. You truly bring joy with you and I look for your posts here and on IG regularly. ❤️📚🥰 #bookmail #bookcommunity

About halfway through this chunkster - it‘s over 17 hours on audio. I‘m enjoying it so far. The writing is immersive, and the audio is dual narrated. One side of the story being told from present day backward, and the other side being told from the past forward. I assume where the stories meet will hold the choice that altered the course of their lives. ❤️📚🎧

The second book in the Broken Prophecy series released today! Book one (tagged here because Shadows of Ruin isn‘t on Litsy yet) was a 5 ⭐️ read. So so good! If you like romantasy with Shadow Daddy vibes, this series is for you! The third and final book will be out in December, so you won‘t have to wait long for the finale! This is available for purchase on B&N and Amazon, and is a Kindle Unlimited book. Highly recommend!! ❤️📚

A heartfelt story about family, secrets, and the lengths we go to for the ones we love. This is a quick, propulsive read filled with flawed yet likable characters. Written in multiple POVs, the reader is given insight into each character‘s struggles, and while some twists are predictable, the emotional depth keeps you hooked. If you love messy, dysfunctional families who fight hard but love harder, this one‘s for you. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5 ❤️📚

Marketed as a domestic thriller, this is really a unique story about motherhood and love, and the lengths we would go to for family. When Jen‘s son commits a crime, she wakes up the next day… In the past. As she falls further back in time, she unravel the web of secrets. Can she change the future? Brilliant reverse storytelling makes this a stand out. If you love thought provoking stories with an emotional core, pick this one up. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5 ❤️📚🎧

Dark, gritty and twisted serial killer thriller. This novel is gruesome and unputdownable. The story kicks off at full speed when the killer‘s identity is revealed early on, making it a why- and how-done-it rather than a who-done-it. A wild ride unfolds as the truth comes to light. Multiple narrators make the audiobook engaging. ⚠️ Check trigger warnings—this one is intense. ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫 3.5/5 ❤️📚🎧

I listened to this charming epistolary novel on audio, and it was the perfect medium for it. This short, heartfelt story unfolds through letters exchanged between two women in the 1960s—a young, adventurous Californian and a seasoned writer in the Pacific Northwest. The story is filled with warmth, endearing characters, and plenty of delicious food references (and even a recipe or two!). A comforting palate cleanser. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5 ❤️📚

What can I say about this book that hasn't already been said? This sweeping saga, set against the backdrop of the Civil War & Reconstruction, weaves themes of war, family, friendship, and romance. The vivid descriptions and rich detail made me feel like I was right there. The deep sense of place and fully realized characters allowed me to connect with the story on a deeper level. I can't believe I waited so long to read this classic. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ❤️📚

I picked this up on audio based on a recommendation from a podcast on great audiobooks. The story brings together a group of people, all connected by their love for Jane Austen‘s novels. As they come together to form the Jane Austen Society—dedicated to preserving her legacy—their lives intertwine in unexpected ways. A charming, character-driven novel. Overall, an enjoyable, if not particularly exciting, read with a satisfying ending. ⭐⭐⭐/5 ❤️📚

March Bookspin! Now to go look at the post by @TheAromaofBooks ❤️📚

Sunday plans. ❤️📚 Sweet Hazel at my feet and Hamilton behind my head. ❤️🐾

Based on the actual diary of Martha Ballard, the novel blends historical fiction with mystery, offering a glimpse into the daily life of a midwife in post-Revolutionary America. The historical insight into the justice system—particularly its treatment of women—is fascinating. I didn‘t want the story to end. Don‘t skip the author‘s note at the end—it adds even more depth to an already immersive read. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ❤️📚 This was my #bookspin for February.

A conversational deep dive into Bishop‘s impressive career. You can‘t deny how hard-working she is. I found the book a bit difficult to connect with. I think I would have connected with it more if some of her reflections had been woven in earlier. The end resonated, as she shares poignant insights on caregiving, loss, and embracing aging. If you like show business memoirs, I‘d recommend the audiobook. ⭐⭐⭐/5 ❤️📚

This dark psychological thriller kept me in suspense until the end! Amelia & Adam take a weekend getaway to a remote Scottish locale, hoping to save their marriage. Mixed in are anniversary letters from one spouse to another, adding intrigue and character depth. Short chapters make this book propulsive and hard to put down. Best read blind, so I won‘t say much more. Be patient and trust the author to take you on a ride. ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫 3.5/5❤️📚

My January reading. Three physical/e-book and two audiobooks. Two 5 star reads - The Women by Kristin Hannah and My Darling Boy by Helen Cooper. ❤️📚

I listened to this on audio, and wow—this story gripped me from the very start and didn‘t let go until the heart-pounding conclusion. A tense, dark, emotional story about two mothers and their sons, exploring the consequences of lies and secrets upon secrets, told through multiple perspectives and shifting timelines. This novel is about fierce love—of motherhood, friendship, and family. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5 Highly recommend on audio. ❤️📚

My February #bookspinbingo. This morning, I started both The Frozen River and The Third Gilmore Girl as my audiobook. Let‘s go! ❤️📚

Here‘s my #bookspinlist for February!

I still have one more day to finish my January books. I don‘t see a bingo happening though. I think I‘ll finish 7 books (I‘m so close to finishing that 7th book), which is a fantastic reading month for me! But….they didn‘t line up for a bingo. 🤷‍♀️❤️📚

My daughter reading Onyx Storm was its own form of spoiler. 🤣 We got her the first 2 books last year, but she had no interest in them until her winter break this year. My husband preordered the 3rd in the series for me (but we didn‘t order it for her b/c she had no interest before). She timed her read of the first 2 with the release of the 3rd. Of course I let her read it first. She read it in one day. It was a joy to watch her read it. 😊❤️📚

Welcome to Litsy @Lollybooks ! I hope you find bookish community and enrichment here! I‘m tagging some good Littens to follow as you learn to navigate this space.

@Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks @Mjm1 @Crazeedi @EadieB @Eggs @Andrew65 @dabbe @TheAromaofBooks @Librarybelle @DaveGreen7777
@Bookwormjillk @LitsyWelcomeWagon

Starting my #doublespin for January. Hoping to finish before 2/1. Looks like a good wintry read! ❤️📚

(Hazel is not impressed by my book.)

A slow start due to many character introductions, but it picks up midway. This quirky group of retirees solves cold cases—until a fresh murder complicates things. Charming, funny, and cozy with shifting perspectives and journal entries. The mystery is scattered but enjoyable. Stick with it—it‘s worth it! I‘ll grab the next from the library. ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫 (3.5)/5 ❤️📚 This was my bookspin for January.
@TheAromaofBooks

This memoir offers a look behind the scenes of one of the most private First Ladies in recent history. Melania has a quiet strength and protective nature. The book could have benefited from better editing. I wonder if this was due to challenges in finding an editor she trusted. (She notes how she was let down by people she relied on, leading her to take more control over her responsibilities.) An interesting, if imperfect, memoir. ⭐️⭐️⭐️/5 ❤️📚

This novel chronicles the life of Frankie McGrath, from a young woman with dreams to a combat nurse in the Vietnam War, and then navigating the aftermath of war. It sheds light on the often overlooked experiences of women who served in Vietnam and the shameful way veterans were treated upon their return. Hannah captures the complexity of a tumultuous era while offering a deep exploration of resilience, trauma, and healing. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5 ❤️📚

About 25% into this novel and struggling. Every time I pick it up, I fall asleep. It‘s more about me than the book, I think, but I‘m still having a hard time keeping the characters straight.

My reading partner had a seizure at 4:30am, hence why I‘m falling asleep today. It‘s been 6 months since her last one. 😔 My brother‘s beloved pup died on Tuesday after a seizure, so my girl‘s this morning was especially scary. Rough day around here.

Twisty, suspenseful mystery about a couple of missing persons cases and the detective trying to solve them. Told in multiple perspectives, this book has deeper themes of moral dilemma, parenting (what would you do to protect your child?), and marriage. Good read! Audio has multiple narrators, but the mystery elements required more of my attention than a typical easy audio listen. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5 ❤️📚

“…however she healed, it would fall on her to do the heavy lifting. Her friends could be there for her, help her stand, but she had to walk alone.”

I had to pull myself out of a pit after suffering a loss. As much as our friends can help, we have to do the hard work ourselves. And it is very lonely.

I‘m happy to have a sweet reading buddy while reading such an emotionally resonant book. Grounds me back in the present and reality. ❤️📚❤️‍🩹🐾

Here are my 2025 Reading Goals! I‘m looking to continue clearing my shelves, and set a pages goal to help encourage me to pick up some chunksters this year! 🎉❤️📚

In 2024 I set a goal of 40 books. I ended up reading 51! That‘s the most ever since I began tracking my reading on 2017! 🎉

42 of those books were backlist and 9 were published in 2024. My top genre was Mystery/Thriller (31%), followed by General/Literary Fiction (21.5%).

An imaginative new series! This entertaining read introduces Kathy Valence, a transition specialist for the Secure Collection, Yielding, and Transportation of Human Essences, or SCYTHE – a corporate take on grim reaping. Kathy loves and excels her job, but her latest case throws her into a mystery as she‘s dealing with a personal crisis. Heavier themes are balanced with wit and charm. This series has potential! ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫 (3.5)/5 ❤️📚

Cat is a home makeover show host who swoops in to save the Christmas Festival of Merry, CT after a devastating flood. Cat‘s expertise & her show‘s budget might be able to save it, but Noah, the town manager, is determined to protect his town from a reality TV invasion. Enemies-to-lovers with a Hallmark-movie-worthy holiday setting…though this story is too spicy to for Hallmark! Predictable, but also sweet, sentimental, and steamy. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5 ❤️📚

My #bookspinbingo for the month of January. Let's go!! I started a Grim Reaper's Guide to Catching a Killer on audio yesterday and I have The Women ready to start today. #bookspin and #doublespin numbers are in the same diagonal line...Maybe a Bingo this month? ❤️📚

Fast-paced, like diving into a salacious tabloid article. Reid keeps you turning pages with the promise of a big reveal, all while unraveling the life of Evelyn Hugo, a Hollywood actress with secrets as bold as her career. You‘re not just caught up in Evelyn‘s story; you‘re also trying to uncover why she picked Monique, an unknown journalist, to write her biography. Highly entertaining, moving, and beautifully written. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5 ❤️📚

An emotional journey that delves into themes of love, loss, and resilience. The middle section of the memoir, while still meaningful, slowed compared to the emotionally gripping beginning and end. This memoir is heartwarming and heartbreaking, a testament to the bonds of family and the complexities of living under immense fame. It‘s a hard story, but told with incredible authenticity. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5 ❤️📚

Trigger warnings in the comments.

Ready for the first Bookspin of 2025! 🎉❤️📚 Let‘s go!

@TheAromaofBooks

As a longtime fan of the Stephanie Plum series—over 20 years—I anticipate each new installment, knowing exactly what to expect: laugh-out-loud humor, quirky misadventures, and a cast of characters that feel like old friends. This book was fast-paced, entertaining, and filled with laugh-out-loud moments. Not the strongest entry, but still a satisfying and fun read. As long as Evanovich is writing them, I am going to read these books. ⭐⭐⭐⭐/5 ❤️📚

If you love history, memoirs, and behind-the-scenes glimpses into powerful lives, Clint Hill's Five Presidents is a must-read—or in my case, a must-listen! As a former Secret Service agent, Hill's experiences with presidents Eisenhower, Kennedy, Johnson, Nixon, and Ford are recounted with extraordinary detail. Hill's perspective offers a mix of reverence, heartbreak, and raw honesty. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5 ❤️📚

A spellbinding journey into the magical world of Brookmere, where Fae rule and nothing is as it seems. Brookmere is richly detailed, filled with magic and intrigue. Illiana‘s journey keeps you hooked from the start. I couldn‘t put this book down. I am eagerly awaiting the next installment! If you love strong heroines, magical kingdoms and shadow-daddy romance, this one is a must-read! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5 ❤️📚

This book is a cozy hug! Eve‘s journey through a surprise pregnancy, discovering herself & friends-to-lovers romance is predictable but perfect. The warmth, charm and heartfelt moments shine. There‘s also a found family vibe here. The audiobook was fantastic, bringing these lovable characters to life. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5 ❤️📚

Karen has a car accident that erases her memory of the hours before. Her husband is worried, her neighbor supportive, and everyone is keeping secrets. The plot has potential but the execution misses the mark. The writing is repetitive, lacks subtlety and there is too much 'tell' and not enough ‘show'. Still, the idea behind the plot is decent. If you pick this one up, I recommend going in blind to let the suspense unfold. ⭐️⭐️💫 2.5/5 ❤️📚

This was my book club‘s most recent pick, and while the others struggled to dive in, I was completely captivated! This National Book Award finalist reads more like a memoir than a science text. Through chapters dedicated to the different octopuses she meets, Montgomery explores her admiration and curiosity for these creatures. This book leaves you feeling hopeful and in awe of the wonders of marine life. Great on audio! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5 stars ❤️📚