O‘Connor draws on her research (and others‘ work) and her experiences as she talks about grief‘s impact on various biological systems.

May #bookspin ~ let‘s go

Had to bail on my March #Roll100 at page 118.

Just not finding the writing style pulling me in…so I will pass it along to another home.

April #bookspin & #doublespin lists

Pulling this from my shelves to close out February. Short story collection…looking forward to diving in.

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I enjoyed this #botm backlog (from 2017!) for my February #doublespin and #Roll100. Happy to move it along to a new reader.

Trying a slightly different approach to my list…feels fitting as spring is around the bend (finally). #bookspin Good luck with the move, @TheAromaofBooks 💜

“My reality feels like a permanent state of surreal.”

My February #bookspin (Kindle read) - ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Glad to have finally read this novel. Quick-paced & multi-layered.

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Finished my February book club pick. This was a slower read…I enjoyed the alternative view of Oz and the events leading up to Dorothy‘s arrival.

It‘s been a minute since my last audiobook, and this was a good selection for some long drives I‘ve been taking. Tongue-in-cheek & amusing. Neil Patrick Harris as one of the voice actors is an added bonus.

My February ‘25 #bookspin list!

My January #Roll100 was okay…I found myself wanting to get the answers to the mystery, but didn‘t find myself enthralled.

Happy Birthday, @wanderinglynn 🥳

Thank you for hosting a #49bdaygiveaway ~ I just finished my first J. Ryan Stradal (& loved it) ~ the tagged book has been on my TBR for some time.

Happiest of happy days to you! 🥰

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I loved seeing this family saga unfold. A tale of strong women - perhaps a tad stubborn - following their paths.

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My January #doublespin ~ I need to sit with this for a bit…so many things about Marianne & Connell‘s relationship just gets me in the gut.

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I have fond memories of reading her books growing up…my bestie and I traded our copies of “Just as Long as We‘re Together” (inscribing our initials and the necessary “B.F.F.E.” on the inside cover). Blume understood and wrote about tweens/teens in the way that made us (me) seen and understood.

Bergstein‘s exploration of Blume‘s career, life, and impact on young readers was a great way to kick off my 2025 reading.

January #bookspin

Sneaking in one last title for 2024…another recommended by my 10 year old King-loving son.

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Happy New Year, friends!

The world had teeth and it could bite you with them anytime it wanted.

Good middle grade read. Fun for lovers of musical theater about a young girl, who uses a wheelchair, and her pursuit of a life on stage.

2025 #Bookspin & #Doublespin is just around the corner…I can‘t even begin to wrap my mind around this. Let‘s do it! 🙌🏼🥳💜 Here‘s my list for January!

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My #bookspin pick for December…ack! I finished the challenge! 🙌🏼🥳

So looking forward to Year 5 of this challenge! Thank you, @TheAromaofBooks 🥰

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ for my December #Roll100 pick.

After the unexpected loss of their friend, five young adults make a pact to give one another “living funerals”. Over the course of 20ish years, the friends come together at various life stages to uphold their promise to one another.

This was moving, emotional, and struck a chord. Beautiful.

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4 dragons for this read, which my 10 year old highly recommended to me (his first King novel). Also my December #doublespin pick.

Seeking book recommendations for my 10 y.o. son. He‘s in 4th grade and dipping toes into horror…he‘s been allowed to watch some scary movies (The Omen, The Conjuring, The Shining, It (1990 miniseries), Signs, The Sixth Sense).

He‘s wanted to read Stephen King, so for his birthday he got The Eyes of the Dragon & The Girl Who Loved Tom Gordon. He‘s devouring these books…

Any recommendations for where to steer him next? Thanks, Litsy! 💜🩷

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Enjoyed visiting the Starling House and meeting some of the good folks of Eden.

Meh…while I finished, this wasn‘t a read I‘d highly recommend. I wasn‘t invested in the characters or the storyline; however, I did manage to finish. Happy to move this along to a new home.

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Fun, quick read…makes me want to get on a plane to Hawaii on this chilly November morning!

As 2024 starts to transition to 2025, I‘m thankful for another fun year of #bookspin with @TheAromaofBooks ~ thank you for hosting! 💜🙌🏼

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This was a delightful and cozy read. I enjoyed the dual timelines and seeing Val work her way through the riddles as she becomes part of the Primrose Hill community. Take me to the Book Garden, please!

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A quick read ~ out of my traditional “comfort zone”

⭐️⭐️⭐️ While it feels a bit too obvious, I did find it helpful and was thinking about the “combinations” I work with (including myself)

If you think you‘re surrounded by idiots, then perhaps you are the idiot…you can‘t expect everyone to be/act like you, so it‘s beneficial to seek to understand those surrounding you.

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This was fun…and I learned that my nephew and his mom are reading the series, too. Should I continue?

Finished The Answer is No today for my November #bookspin (Kindle). Just a delight. Backman has a delightful knack for absurdity, humor, and humanity. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Currently reading this #kindlepick for my November #bookspin 👍🏼

Thanks to #roll100 & my November #doublespin I am delighted to move this 2018 #both off my #tbr shelf. This was enjoyable, and I liked seeing Hazel unravel the mystery. 3.5 ⭐️

Made it to page 137…just not into it…time to get the book back to its owner.

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And now it‘s my son‘s turn to read this.

Good pick for spooky season. ⭐️⭐️⭐️

November #bookspin list ~ we‘re in the homestretch for 2024…how is this happening?!

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This was a quick and gripping read - perfect for Halloween season! Fun Fact: this author is from my town in Central Jersey, so some of the local nods (RU-Rah-Rah) and allusions to the Middlesex Greenway were fun lil‘ Easter Eggs of sorts.

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Metal and gore 🤘🏼🎸
Filing in the #mysoncanreadthiswhenhesolder category, definitely up his alley

3.5 ⭐️ ~ fun and quick ~ R.L. Stine has the formula down. I will let the kid read this one. The innuendo should just soar over his head. Hopefully this will reinforce the “don‘t hitchhike, don‘t pick up hitchhikers” mantra I‘ll say on repeat in the years to come! 🤞🏼🤣

Next up on the #canmykidreadthisyet list…this guy…my son‘s just finished Stine‘s The Cheater and enjoyed it. He‘s not yet 10, so I guess this is good parenting. He‘s dying to read Stephen King, but this will have to do…for a little while longer. We‘ve got some “good for kids” King coming his way for his 10th.

For years, Dr. Murchison had taught her to breathe in the flower, and blow out the candle. Now she breathed in Slayer and blew out Black Sabbath.

My October #Roll100 & #DoubleSpin ~ there is a lot in these vignettes about murder and violence in Essex County (Massachusetts) densely packed, but “just okay” for me. ⭐️⭐️⭐️

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September #Roll100 & October #bookspin - a powerful read that follows Cora on her fight for freedom. Setbacks and challenges don‘t begin to describe the atrocities. Moving.

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My September #doublespin and Book Club pick for October. Felt good to read a book that I wanted to keep coming back to. I think our group‘s discussion will be a good one.

September was a slooooooow reading month for me…hoping my October #bookspin helps me get back in the swing.

Fun throwback c/o my parents‘ basement… #treasure looking forward to diving into others in the box. 📦