⭐️⭐️/5
I struggled so much to finish this one.The story is centred around Annie who broke up with her long-term bf and then relocates to a quaint little town where she becomes friends with a witch, Sophie. Sounds fun? It should be but it isn't. Annie is absolutely intolerable & slightly pathetic when it comes to men.Her new found feminism (through Sophie) is very 2016 😬.Sophie is a rather toxic friend. The book is not by any means scary / horror

⭐️⭐️.5/5️⃣
What did I just read?! Tantrum is definitely something else and at points proper gory horror. It's about a mother of two who gives birth to a "monster" of a daughter. I don't want to give too much away but it explores generational trauma aswell as mother and daughter relationships quite well. Is it worth reading? Probably, it's quite short and has some good bits.

⭐⭐⭐⭐/5️⃣
An odd, intriguing and witty little book. Keiko is different - she's 36, not in relationship and working in a convenience store. Arguably she's quite content with her life, but everyone else seems to judge it. The book offers insight into society's expectations of women (and men) and how others struggle to understand those who don't fit in.

⭐️⭐️⭐️/ 5️⃣
So I couldn't stop reading this one, but I can't exactly say that I enjoyed it. We spend a year in the life of the narrator who is privileged, unlikeable and has access to any downer possible due to her useless psychiatrist. The book does well in mimicking what depression and grief feels like but its ending seems somewhat unrealistic given her past. Would I recommend it? Probably, but defs not when you're feeling low

⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
I'm thinking about getting into Warhammer, so I thought I'd check out the books first ☺️ I was so pleasantly surprised with what a fun and relaxing read this was. Felix (a poet) makes a drunken oath to Gotrek (a dwarf who loves a good battle) that he will write a poem about his death. It's a good old good vs evil story with some great characters, exciting battles and laugh out loud moments

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
I've only recently discovered Grady's books but I am OBSESSED. I couldn't put this one down - I mean what's not to love when it involves vampires and book clubs.
✅ well-developed characters (loved it being told from the pov of "house wives")
✅ a ted bundy-like vampire
✅ good mix of laughter and angst
❌ I actually wish there was a second book

⭐️⭐️.5 / 5
Meh! For most part I've been a big fan of HMRC but I found myself wondering if it could rather have been spread across two books. The third book was a bit dull and super cringe in parts. Luckily the ending was satisfying. I'd still recommend reading the series though

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
Another Goodreads challenge win! I went into this one not knowing anything about the book but ended up loving it. Franklin provides an insightful commentary on cultural narratives surrounding drug use and how these play out within society and the legal system. There's also an underlying reflection on grief and our relationships within social groups. The book is beautifully written 💖

⭐⭐⭐/5
I read this book with a bit of a grimace on my face for most of it. It's a great commentary on publishers, cancel culture, the impact of social media, racism, jealousy and loneliness but I felt that it dragged on a bit too long (especially towards the end). As an academic this one hit quite hard - some of it felt extremely comparable to working at a uni and the publishing culture. Definitely worth a read

⭐⭐⭐⭐/5
Read this one in

Read the first page and have not been able to put this book down since yesterday

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
Started reading the HG series with the bf back in March and we've finally reached the end 🫶🏻
I can't explain how much I loved this book
✅ brilliant story with just the right amount of focus on the actual games
✅ great bunch of characters (&loved the return of some familiars
✅ sobbed endlessly the last 10%
❌ would have loved a longer epilogue

⭐️⭐️/5
Read this one as part of a Goodreads challenge
✅ couldn't put it down
✅ didn't see the twist coming at the very end
❌ struggled loads with the writing style
❌ somewhat annoying narrator
Still trying to decide whether I'll read the next one on the series

⭐⭐⭐/5
I went into this one thinking I might dislike it due to seeing so many negative reviews but I honestly enjoyed it for most part. There were some parts that dragged a bit but overall it's a rather decent back story with some interesting characters. Only down side is that I'd love to have a bit of a time jump and insight into Snow's later life

It seems as if the Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes gets a lot of hate, but I'm kind of loving it so far - saying that I'm only 35% in so thoughts might change ☺️

⭐⭐⭐⭐/5
I'm not really a sci-fi girly so this isn't my usual sort of book but I picked it for a reading challenge (& based on a recc by my bf). Surprisingly, I loved it. Its well-researched, very sciencey, and frankly emotional in some bits.

⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
Coming to this book as a fan of some of TJR's other novels, I had high hopes but ended up feeling quite underwhelmed. I agree with most that the last 10% of the book is incredibly emotional but it wasn't enough to change my view.The tone was verging on YA and I struggled somewhat to find Joan interesting.I'm not a frequent reader of space based lit but it felt like the science was lacking. There's loads of better LGBTQIA+ titles out there

⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
Read this one in the recommendation of a friend. I've got mixed feelings about it. Overall it's a nice and easy read and there is enough there to keep you intrigued. But, I do however feel like some bits were a bit too on the nose, especially with the heartsoothers values. Can't say I saw the ending coming so that was a pleasant surprise.

Started reading Stoner recently and I'm absolutely obsessed, despite trying to avoid read heavy reads at the moment as I'm in the final month of my PhD write up I find that I'm grabbing for the book everytime I take a break

Squeezed this one in ahead of my other books after watching the Netflix series. I don't often read romance novels, but I loved this one - despite knowing exactly what happens. The series is brilliant but as always the book is even better.
✅ loved the storytelling from both sides
✅ Emma's character is hilarious and so relatable
✅ so many great 90s references and memories
👎 I guarantee you'll cry at some stage

Borrowed this one from a mate and can't wait to start reading it 🫶

Slimani definitely has a way with words
Adéle has such a different tone when compared to Lullaby (written by the same author) but once again she manages to make it impossible to put the book down or to predict what the extremely unlikeable protoganist will do next

After not being able to put Lullaby down by the same author, I decided to try Adele. So far, absolutely intrigued. Slimani seems to capture so well the complexities of the motherhood.

Eeeeck! Finished this book in record time (for me lately). I couldn't put it down or stop thinking about it 🫣. I loved the writing style and story. Some might find the ending off putting but I reckon it added even more to the overall creepy and anxiety inducing mood of the book.

After 5 years I'm back on Litsy
Starting off with the first read of the year - one that has been next to my bed for a few months now

I'm definitely a mix of a book snob and a play-it-safer. What would you describe yourself as?

⭐️⭐️⭐️ I struggled for quite some time to get through this book. It just never sucked me. I was expecting a tad mode after all the hype around the book. Nevertheless, I have started reading the rest of the series and find the rest of it amazing.

⭐️⭐️⭐️ A quick and easy read of the memoir of a medical examiner. It might not be a pick for the faint hearted.

"Milk for the fairies, wax discs to ward off fire and flood, girls living on air...Is there nothing the Irish won't swallow?" The Wonder is an absolutely unique and refreshing book. I loved every second of it and found myself reading till the early morning hours.

Acting as the official host (via the Spinecrackers Book Club) for the #bookisholympics it makes it kind of difficult to make objective decisions about my own books for the competition. So, I have 9 and a half hours left of Helter Skelter. What do you guys think could it count as a novel once it's done or rather just a short story due to the fact that it's actually 26 hours and I have been listening to it for a while?

I scratched and scratched and scratched some more this is the closet I could get to a peachy book. I haven't read this one yet but after seeing it this afternoon I'm definitely moving it up the TBR pile. #augustphotochallenge

My second #uniquefact for the #augustphotochallenge is that I have been conducting research on the legal aspects of organ donations for the last 6 years and recently I was given the chance to actually witness a kidney transplant. Without a doubt the best moment in my life and it's actually got me thinking about attempting to get into medical school. It was all I wanted to do after school but due to circumstances I rather ended up in law.

Yayness! I've been looking forward to the #uniquefact part of the #augustphotochallenge since we started it. I have two unique facts that I would like to share with my fellow Spinecrackers one is personal and one professional. First the fun one is that I absolutely believe in unicorns and are rather obsessed with them as can be seen from this photo. I get as excited as a 3 year old when I see anything unicorn!So any other believers out there?

🔫 It's 12:04 on the 14th in South Africa and I'm starting my #bookisholympics with Working Stiff. The moment I saw this book on @Godmotherx5 profile I just knew I had to read it! Let the games begin 🏌📚🏅

⭐️⭐️ I've been watching horror movies and reading horrors since I was a little girl so when I started reading Frankenstein I was really hoping that I would love it. However, I was left feeling a bit disappointed! To me everything felt very dramatic. The whole book is filled with endless dramatic and sad monologues either by Dr Frankenstein or the Daemon. Maybe I just don't get the classics 🤔. Either way another classic done ☑️

I am really a horrible combination of being a bookworm and an academic. So I have piles of books all over the house. I keep on adding space to my bookcrates (yes I made bookshelves out of crates) but my books also just keep on multiplying. #bookstacks #augustphotochallenge

Goodreads understands me...📚📚📚

My #favsiblings for the #augustphotochallenge is Dominick and Thomas Birdsey. I read this book about 4 years ago and absolutely devoured it. The last paragraph has always stuck with me.

Maybe it's just me but I really feel like Victor Frankenstein has a flair for the dramatic?! 🤔

Today was really a difficult #augustphotochallenge for me. I had to ransack my boyfriend's bookshelves for a book on politics. Alas, I found this beauty the autobiography of FW de Klerk - an old South African President. I have enjoyed seeing everybody's contributions on #politicsandbooks and added a number of recommendations to my list.

Being really new to graphic novels I decided to make my first and only one my #laidbackbook. I've realized that I really unwind at night when I read this one in bed. Can't wait to go get some more 💸💸💸 #augustphotochallenge

Apologies! I'm a bit late with my #day9 photo of the #augustphotochallenge. I wasn't close to my books yesterday and I really wanted to rather submit a photo. So this is SOME of my all-time favourite books. It's really quite difficult to choose just a few but after sitting in front of my shelves for a while I decided that this is a pretty good mix.

So, today was a really big day for me! I've been conducting legal research on organ transplants for the last six years and today one of my biggest wishes came true and that was to witness a kidney transplant! I just had to share this. Yet I still feel like I had to post my #augustphotochallenge of books that made me smile. To me there's no competition the book that made me smile the most is Bridget Jones Diary.So many laugh out loud moments!

"His love for Frodo rose above all other thoughts, and forgetting his peril he cried aloud: 'I'm coming Mr. Frodo!" My choice for today was easy Frodo and Sam because everybody needs a Sam in their life.

So, I knew that I would be back at the comic store before the weekend is over. After taking forever to make a choice I decided on this one. I haven't read any Neil Gaiman yet (I know shame on me) so I'm quite excited to get this one started.

I never thought that something could excite me as much as books do. Well, I was wrong. Feeling quite inspired by the Litsy community I went on the hunt to find a comic / graphic novel store. Living in SA this is not an easy task BUT we recently moved and woohoo I found a store very close to my house! So now I need suggestions on which comics or graphic novels are good to start with? I have a feeling that this store will see me often.

When I first saw the #minimalisticcovers theme for #day6 of the #augustphotochallenge this was the first book that came to mind. I had a look through my shelves but this one is definitely my favourite one. Looking forward to see everyone's picks for today.

#day5 of the #augustphotochallenge and the theme is #booksandsports. At first I was like WHAT?! I have absolutely no books on #sportsing! Then I remembered though that there is one sport that I truly like and that's golf! So here's my contribution for today. Oh and btw the this book based on when Phil won the Masters was pretty bad ass. I must admit though that I'm a huge supporter of him so my review may be biased.

Oooh I am enjoying everyone's posts for #day4 of #augustphotochallenge. The theme for today is #bookishsquads and there sure has been a few unique squads that I would love to be part of. I decided though to pick the squad of Sweet Valley High. I was obsessed with these books as a child and always thought who great it would be to know Jessica and Elizabeth. I borrowed this photo as I don't have these books on my shelves anymore.