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Kristy_K

Kristy_K

Joined February 2016

GR: goodreads.com/kristy_k
review
Kristy_K
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Pickpick

I‘m not a huge self-help reader, but Brené Brown is someone I‘ve heard talked about a lot. I can see why so many are drawn to her. Both her writing and ideas seem accessible. As with all books in this genre, there are passages that resonate or stood out more than others.

⭐️⭐️⭐️

#52bookclub24 #astickeronthecover

Librarybelle I‘ve not read her yet, but I‘m curious about her books. So many love her works! 1d
Crazeedi My daughter loves her books @Librarybelle I have not read 23h
See All 7 Comments
TheAromaofBooks Woohoo!! 21h
5feet.of.fury I‘ll have to give it a chance someday. I DNF‘d the audio 2 minutes in when she said her favorite author was JK Rowling… 15h
Kristy_K @5feet.of.fury I think this was written in 2017, so I‘m not sure if she‘d still say that. From her writing, and what I‘ve looked up of her before reading this, she would not agree with Rowling‘s anti-trans vitriol. I‘m not sure if she‘s spoken out about it though. 6h
Kristy_K @Librarybelle @Crazeedi Everyone‘s love of her works is what initially got me curious! I kept hearing her name and books come up. 6h
56 likes7 comments
review
Kristy_K
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Mehso-so

Toxic college friends turn into petty adult acquaintances when they reunite 15 years later after the disappearance of their friend, Vanessa. Soon mysterious things start happening as the truth about what happened all those years ago unravels.

While the plot itself was enough to make me keep reading, the constant bickering & pettiness grated on me. I also felt let down by the ending.

I wasn‘t a fan of the chapters that were told in script form.

blurb
Kristy_K
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In a weird coincidence, both books I‘m reading have screenwriters as main characters. One contemporary fiction/romance and one mystery/thriller, so at least I won‘t get the plots confused!

#weekendreads

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Kristy_K
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Mehso-so

I enjoyed each Gardner book I‘ve read &it pains me I struggled so much here. It was a lot of filler until about 60%.

A serial killer hired Frankie 2 find her sister. This leads Frankie 2 an island where she has no choice but 2 rely on a group of strangers who may all have secrets of their own. When things begin 2 unravel &facts start not 2 add up, Frankie must decide what‘s truth &who 2 trust, especially when her life may depend on it.

⭐️⭐️💫

CoverToCoverGirl I like her earlier books more than her newer ones. 3d
Kristy_K @CoverToCoverGirl I agree! A lot more suspense and thrills in those. 2d
47 likes2 comments
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Kristy_K
The Truth about the Devlins | Lisa Scottoline
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Pickpick

A rich family full of lawyers and one ex-convict son who happens to be our narrator. This time though, he‘s not the one making a mess of things; it‘s his older brother. And as he wades through murder, and a slew of other criminal activity, his true heart shines through as he helps his sister fight for justice in a (shockingly based on true facts) case.

I give the authors‘s note and the research she did five ⭐️

47 likes1 stack add
review
Kristy_K
The Last Russian Doll | Kristen Loesch
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Mehso-so

I came in with really high expectations for this and maybe that was the problem. I don‘t think there was anything wrong with it per se, it just wasn‘t as compelling as I hoped for.

⭐️⭐️💫

#botm

marleed Same same! 5d
60 likes1 comment
review
Kristy_K
My Friend Anna | Rachel DeLoache Williams
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Mehso-so

This is a hard one to rate. On the one hand, the story is fascinating, but also one I already knew about &so I don‘t feel I learned anything new. I also had a hard time sympathizing w/Rachel. Yes, what happened to her was awful, but she also allowed for Anna to pay for all their other outings. I do agree she shouldn‘t have to pay for Anna‘s or the other guests portions, but I think Rachel should have owed Amer Express her expenses for that trip.

TheBookHippie Right???? I think Rachel is to blame just as well. She rubbed me the wrong way. 1w
Kristy_K @TheBookHippie Same. I don‘t think she did herself any favors by writing this book. She‘s sort of proving what she‘s trying to say isn‘t true about herself. 1w
68 likes2 comments
review
Kristy_K
First Lie Wins: A Novel | Ashley Elston
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Pickpick

Soft pick.

I felt it read a little more like YA even though all characters were adults (Evie presented young). I‘ve read a few other books with similar twists so I knew what was coming although I wasn‘t sure how exactly it would play out. Overall it was still an enjoyable, quick read.

⭐️⭐️⭐️

#botm

Melismatic This is my book clubs pick for our meeting next month. 🕵🏻‍♀️💜 2w
Kristy_K @Melismatic I hope you enjoy it! 2w
61 likes2 comments
review
Kristy_K
The Rachel Incident: A novel | Caroline O'Donoghue
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Mehso-so

This fell somewhere in the middle for me. A bit of an adult coming-of-age story, I didn‘t particularly like or dislike any character. I felt largely that nothing happened and it dragged in some areas, but I also wanted to know what would happened between the affair and the friendships. #litsyTOB24

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Kristy_K
Ariel Crashes a Train | Olivia A. Cole
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Mehso-so

Ariel has OCD. It was sad to see her constantly struggle w/ obsessive harmful thoughts but I enjoyed seeing the growth after she learns she learns about OCD.

I came in with high expectations given that I love both novels-in-verse & books centered on mental health. However, I felt that here the format did a disservice to the subject. Many times it didn‘t feel like I was reading poetic entries, but rather clunky sentences that lacked emotion.

57 likes3 comments
blurb
Kristy_K
February | June Makle
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I didn‘t get to all the books I wanted to, but most of the ones I did read were great!

⭐️ Top Picks ⭐️
Just Another Missing Person
The Unquiet Bones
Burnout
The Carrying
Hijab Butch Blues
All the Sinners Bleed

#februarystats #monthend

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Kristy_K
Kill For Me Kill For You | Steve Cavanagh
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After skipping last month‘s, went a little crazy this month‘s BOTM. I‘ve already read A Fate Inked in Blood and Annie Bot (loved both) but picked up three of the others for this month plus some extras. I either owned or wasn‘t interested in any of the BOTY choices, but getting The Winning Game for a friend.

#botm

review
Kristy_K
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Pickpick

One of the reasons I love reading memoirs is to learn about other‘s life experiences and culture. That was certainly the case here. This was a brave and at times informative memoir that gave a solid glimpse into the life of a queer Muslim woman who found her identity lied in not one but many things.

4.5⭐️s

64 likes1 stack add5 comments
blurb
Kristy_K
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Can‘t believe it‘s been 8 years since I‘ve joined Litsy! It‘s been such a joy to be a part of this community. 🎉❤️

#litsyversary

Reggie Yay! Happy Litsyversary! 🥳 3w
Daisey Happy Litsyversary! 🎉 3w
julesG Happy Litsyversary 🥳🥳 3w
See All 13 Comments
bthegood Happy Litsyversary!! 🎉 3w
Librarybelle Happy Litsyversary! 3w
Julsmarshall Whoohoo! 3w
Jas16 Happy Litsyversary 🎉📚🥳 3w
Enchanted_Bibliophile Happy Litsyversary 🎉🎈🎊📚 3w
mrp27 Happy Litsyversary! 🎉📚🎉📚 3w
dabbe HL! 💚💙💚 3w
Gissy Happy Litsyversary🎉📚🎊📚🎈📚❤️ 3w
Kristy_K @Gissy Thank you! 3w
42 likes13 comments
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Kristy_K
Just Another Missing Person | Gillian McAllister
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Pickpick

This was so fun figuring out the truth. Well written and fast paced. I will definitely be adding McAllister‘s other books to my tbr.

#botm

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Kristy_K
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Mehso-so

This book had a bad case of telling not showing. It‘s part mystery, part an interest piece on small town politics, & part fictional exposé into a cult like organization. While they did all sort of interconnect, none were particularly fleshed out well as there was mostly info dumping & not a lot of investigation & discovery. I was curious to see what the truth was, but I found the constant telling of events & beliefs to drag on & wished for more.

53 likes1 stack add
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Kristy_K
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Pickpick
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Kristy_K
The Unquiet Bones | Loreth Anne White
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Pickpick

I was hooked by the plot &how well White wove so many POVs 2 tell a story. Jane a cold case det. lands a case of some bones found under an old chapel. Signs point to a teen, Annalise, who disappeared in 1976. We‘re sucked into the lives of the Shoreview Six, Annalise‘s friends, though no longer close, hold many secrets about the night she disappeared.
There was a good balance between the police procedural & the unraveling of the Shoreview Six.

review
Kristy_K
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Pickpick

I‘m not going 2say there was anything groundbreaking here, but I‘ll say it had great reminders of the things we should be doing when experiencing stress or burnout. (It‘s amazing when stuck in a stress cycle how easy it is 2forget that something as easy as eating regular meals can help.) It‘s a straightforward, easy 2read book, w/good prompts &helpful tips. I do think it helped me w/a few reminders &can see this being a good gift for a new adult.

GlassAsDiamonds Agreed - I found it realy useful trying to come out of burnout and have recommended it a bunch but you‘re right, the hidden formula to Life, The Universe and Everything isn‘t hiding in it. 🤣💛🤣 3w
Kristy_K @GlassAsDiamonds I found it the perfect book for me to read right now. A lot of great reminders that I think we can all use! 3w
56 likes1 stack add2 comments
review
Kristy_K
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Mehso-so

I felt this started out strong but as it progressed it sort of lost its way. Told in both non-linear &multiple POV, we are brought into Mary‘s life as she fights w/her soon 2 be ex for custody of her son. When he is suddenly murdered &an old friend, Willa, reappears, she gets suspicious. Mary isn‘t the strongest character, but Willa is a good unreliable source. However, character development &plot could have used some shoring up &strengthening.

52 likes1 stack add
review
Kristy_K
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Mehso-so

While a mystery, this reads more like a contemporary family drama. I was pulled into the Parson‘s lives &their search for their dad as well as their somewhat difficult family dynamic. Eugene has Angelman Syndrome &as the last person 2 see their father, I felt for both him &the others as he had seemingly no way 2communicate what happened.
Mia as a narrator grated on me. Her endless tangents & immature decisions made it hard 2 enjoy or stay engaged.

Jas16 Mia drove me crazy too. 1mo
Megabooks Oh yeah. She was a super annoying narrator! 1mo
See All 6 Comments
Kristy_K @Jas16 @Megabooks Glad I‘m not the only one who felt that way! 1mo
fredthemoose I just finished this and agree! Especially the beginning and end. I did better with the middle where there was more happening and less emphasis on Mia‘s musings and her pop psychology lessons. 1mo
Kristy_K @fredthemoose Yes, the middle was definitely the strong point of the book! I got through that portion a lot quicker than the rest. 1mo
59 likes1 stack add6 comments
review
Kristy_K
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Pickpick

I‘d seen Limón‘s poetry books in stores for a while and finally picked one up. I loved the many subjects she touches on, showing heart and pieces of herself in each of her poems.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

#poetry

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Kristy_K
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Pickpick

I saw someone describe Cosby‘s writing as gritty, and I think that‘s an apt description. This was a great police procedural that is so much more faceted than just a typical mystery novel. I probably wouldn‘t had picked it up if not for #LitsyTOB24 and so I am grateful for that.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks Loved this one! 1mo
Megabooks So glad you liked this, too! 1mo
70 likes2 comments
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Kristy_K
Sometimes I Lie | Alice Feeney
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Pickpick

It‘s hard these days for a mystery-suspense novel to surprise me, but there were definitely a twist or two in here I didn‘t see coming. And I guess I should have known, given the title of the book. So many people love Alice Feeney as an author, and now I can see why. I read over the weekend and was the perfect escape from a tough week.

Hooked_on_books I‘m one of those who loves her. I‘m glad this worked for you! Good choice for the prompt. 2mo
Kristy_K @Hooked_on_books I‘m glad I finally read her as I own another one of her book too! 2mo
See All 9 Comments
TheAromaofBooks Woohoo!!! 2mo
brittanyreads I really enjoyed Daisy Darker by her! 2mo
Librarybelle I need to read her books! I have a few, but they languish on my tbr stacks! 2mo
Kristy_K @brittanyreads That‘s good to here! I have that one on my shelves as well. 2mo
Kristy_K @Librarybelle She‘s a frequent author for BOTM and I bought her books a few times until I told myself to stop until I read my backlog lol. 2mo
Librarybelle I have her books through #BOTM ! They look so good! 2mo
73 likes1 stack add9 comments
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Kristy_K
I, Robot | Isaac Asimov
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Pickpick

I can only imagine how futuristic and ahead of its time this sounded when first published. AI and robots becoming free-thinkers? We‘ve seen a burst of AI books hit the shelves over the past few years (or it seems that way to me), so I decided to read the one that‘s been sitting on mine for years. And I loved it.

Aimeesue That cover is absolutely perfect. 🩶 2mo
Kristy_K I know! I found it back when Book Depository was around and I wish I would have bought the rest of Aimov‘s books when I had the chance. 2mo
Readerann I was surprised at how much I liked this! 2mo
Kristy_K @Readerann Same, I didn‘t think I would enjoy it as much as I did! 2mo
63 likes4 comments
review
Kristy_K
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Pickpick

This was such an interesting way to tell a story. We learn about Ever by hearing from the perspectives of those close to him: his grandmother, mother, cousin, and so on. Each voice and story is unique and gives insight into both their lives and struggles but also how they shaped Ever and how he helped shape them.

62 likes2 stack adds4 comments
review
Kristy_K
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Pickpick

This is one of those books that grows on you as you read it and gets better with each turn of the page. Anyone close to their dad is guaranteed to shed a few tears.

A great first pick from my #auldlangspine match @JackOBotts that I probably wouldn‘t have picked up otherwise!

BarbaraBB Loved this one 2mo
TheLudicReader This was my favourite book in 2023. 2mo
Kristy_K @BarbaraBB @TheLudicReader I‘m glad it was put on my radar as I totally missed it last year. 2mo
JackOBotts @Kristy_K I‘m glad it grew on you & you enjoyed. 2mo
73 likes2 stack adds4 comments
review
Kristy_K
Bye, Baby: A Novel | Carola Lovering
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Mehso-so


More than anything this is about toxic relationships &mental health issues. We already know the big reveal: Billie takes Cassie‘s baby. What‘s left is the why &if Billie gets caught. The book focuses on self-centered people & many in need of therapy.

I enjoyed the writing &pacing, &most of the characters were well written, albeit unlikeable. However, I couldn‘t stand the ending. I hated it so much I actually dropped a 1/2 star from my rating.

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Kristy_K
Huckleberry Finn | Mark Twain
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I went to see The Jim Irsay Exhibit in LA last night. He‘s the Colt‘s owner but his passion is collecting pop culture & American artifacts (especially classic rock items). Here‘s his small collection of books! There‘s a concert at the end with some famous classic rock musicians. The exhibit travels, is free, & I would definitely recommend looking into as the American history section in particular was amazing.

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Kristy_K
Right on Cue | Falon Ballard
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Pickpick


Right on Cue is a story about two characters who star in a rom com so of course it‘s filled with cheesy, sweet, & sexy moments as well as a few poignant talks & angsty misunderstandings. Which is exactly what I would expect and I enjoyed every minute. Emmy and Grayson were great characters, and I do love an enemies-to-lovers trope. I know miscommunication is a common construct in romance, but it was the one thing I could have done without here.

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Kristy_K
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Pickpick

This is my 2nd novel by Lawhon & I am in love w/ her prose, her strong female characters, & her wonderful storytelling. This is the story of a midwife named Martha Ballard who in 1789 not only tends to the birth of her town‘s babies, but is also called to testify in the rape of a woman that has her investigating on her own. Based largely on the true life of Martha, I was completely engrossed w/ the story. She was independent, smart, & empathetic.

Librarybelle This is good to know this one fits that prompt! I have it from #BOTM , so I‘ll have to keep this one in mind! 2mo
tpixie Great review. I‘m looking forward to reading this this year. 2mo
See All 7 Comments
Kristy_K @Librarybelle It wasn‘t pre-planned but a nice surprise to get a prompt done! 2mo
Kristy_K @tpixie thank you!! 2mo
Bluebird I‘m reading this now and enjoying it! 2mo
Kristy_K @Bluebird It was so good! 2mo
67 likes2 stack adds7 comments
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Kristy_K
The Guest | B.A. Paris
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Pickpick

The Guest mixes the slow deterioration of a relationship w/suspense. Iris &Gabriel are having a hell of a year. Both are carrying secrets &are unwilling to lean on the other. What was once a solid relationship is now unraveling during a time when circumstances should be bringing them together. Gabriel finds a dying boy, a friend comes to stay w/them accusing her spouse of adultery, their new neighbors have a shady gardener, &that‘s just the start.

61 likes2 stack adds
review
Kristy_K
Saga Volume 11 | Brian K. Vaughan
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Pickpick

I honestly have no idea where this series is going, but I think that‘s exciting. Fiona Staples‘ artwork is amazing as always.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

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Kristy_K
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Pickpick

“She wondered, did everyone have such a fraught relationship w/the places they came from? Did anyone else have a grandmother who might as well have been a legend, a myth, a series of miracles that took the shape of an old woman?”

This was hard to follow, I‘m not sure I understood it, but somehow I think I still liked it? I‘m not a fan of magical realism but this was really more a mix of a family saga & fantasy w/beautiful writing.
#52bookclub24

65 likes1 stack add5 comments
review
Kristy_K
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Mehso-so

Longer review here: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/5650870828

I think for me, I‘m a little tired of authors using mental health issues as a way of having unreliable narrators, especially on suspense/thrillers. Other than that, an enjoyable read.

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Kristy_K
Wild Decembers | Edna O'Brien
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Finished the year strong with 17 books!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
A Fate Inked in Blood

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
The Takeover
Resurrection Walk
Locking Up Our Own

#decemberstats #monthinreview

Reggie Great Job! 3mo
Kristy_K @Reggie Thank you! 3mo
Gissy Yes!!!!📚📚📚🥳🎉🎉🎉👏👏👏 3mo
37 likes3 comments
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Kristy_K
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Pickpick

Informative. Well-written. Thought-provoking.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

review
Kristy_K
Resurrection Walk | Michael Connelly
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Pickpick

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

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Kristy_K
The Personal Librarian | Marie Benedict, Victoria Christopher Murray
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Pickpick

I‘ll admit I struggled a little at first with this book, but after the half way point, I was engrossed. I like when historical fiction introduces you to a real person or event that may not be well known and so The Personal Librarian was perfect in that aspect. I‘d not heard of Belle de Costa Greene, but her story was amazing and deserved to be told.

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Kristy_K
A Fate Inked in Blood | Danielle L. Jensen
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1) This year I eased back into reading as I‘d been in a 2yr slump. I set a goal of 30 &ended up reading over 160 books, so I‘d say my slump is over!
2) December has been a month of disappointing reads; the tagged book is my only 5 ⭐️ read this month.
3) I want to finally start Sarah J. Mass‘ Crescent City series, but I‘m also nervous as expectations are high!

Thanks for the tag! @eeclayton
Tagging @JackOBotts if you want to join & anyone else!

IndoorDame That‘s awesome! Congrats! 3mo
Kristy_K @IndoorDame Thank you! 3mo
JackOBotts Amazing slump recovery! 🙌🏼 3mo
See All 6 Comments
eeclayton 160 books, wow, that's awesome! 3mo
Kristy_K @JackOBotts @eeclayton It was like falling in love with reading again and I definitely neglected other things to read instead lol. 3mo
Eggs @Kristy_K I can relate to that - awesome comeback👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻 3mo
29 likes6 comments
review
Kristy_K
Where You End: A Novel | Abbott Kahler
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Pickpick

Kat wakes up from a coma w/amnesia. The only thing she remembers is her twin, Jude. Jude &her sis escaped from a cult &while she has to relive that trauma, she does what she can to prevent Kat from having to. Jude‘s chapters are told in the past, &as the details come to light, you can see why she wanted to keep it from Kat. However, since we get the present (1983) told from Kat‘s POV, you will also begin to question what is the truth along w/Kat.

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Kristy_K
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Excited to be joining #auldlangspine for the first time and being matched with @JackOBotts . I‘ve read The Radium Girls (and loved it) and am currently reading The Personal Librarian, so I‘m excited to see how the rest on this list turn out! I‘m probably going to start with This Time Tomorrow or Unmasked.

I added a little about me here as well.

Thank you @monalyisha for putting this together!

JackOBotts @Kristy_K ~ Ted Lasso was a favorite over here, as well. Such a feel good, warm hug of a show. 💜 I hope you enjoy This Time Tomorrow & Unmasked. 3mo
32 likes1 comment
review
Kristy_K
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Mehso-so

I feel like such a negative Nancy over my last few books, each one striking my pet peeve nerves.

The sad thing is, the story itself is good. The suspense and mystery part actually had me interested and glued to finding out the truths, but the repetitiveness/rehashing of thoughts and scenes and constant cliffhanger chapters made it difficult to stay focused as I skimmed a lot in order to get back to the meat of the story.

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Kristy_K
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Panpan

I enjoyed the plot and the fantasy world (great detail, exciting potential story lines); however, I found both Talasyn and Alaric underdeveloped and two-dimensional. Both needed more fleshing out in order to not be so flat and boring. They also felt a long younger than their actual ages.

⭐️⭐️💫

#arc #netgalley

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Kristy_K
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Panpan

I couldn‘t stand Jia. She was a selfish, immature character and I could rant a long time about all the things she did. But honestly, every character was insufferable and I don‘t have time to rant about each one.

As for the plot, this is the second book in a matter of months that I‘ve read that centers around a locked room mystery. Judging from both, it‘s clear they‘re not for me.

#arc

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Kristy_K
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Pickpick

A solid slow burn romance.

⭐️⭐️⭐️

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Kristy_K
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Panpan

Annie moves to LA to write for movies when a new acquaintance, Fiona, dies by suicide. However, she believes it was murder and she enlists in Fiona‘s friends (the Ambassador‘s Club) to help solve the case.

It did not read like historical fiction, both in the vernacular used and the culture portrayed. It felt disingenuous to the time. This takes place in 1943 but you could have told me this happened in the 1990s and I would have believed it.

⭐️⭐️

Bluebird Too bad! Love the cover and the premise. 3mo
Kristy_K @Bluebird I know! I was really looking forward to this one but it ended up being disappointing. 3mo
50 likes2 comments
review
Kristy_K
The Intern: A Novel | Michele Campbell
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Mehso-so

A little different than what I was expecting, not necessarily in a bad way. It‘s a pretty quick read but with no real twists or surprises.

⭐️⭐️⭐️

#botm

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Kristy_K
Takeover | Cara Tanamachi
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Pickpick

If you liked Love Interest by C. Gilmore, then this needs to be on your tbr! Nami & Jae are high school rivals who reunite when Jae‘s company Rainforest (read: Amazon) looks to acquire Toggle, Nami‘s tech startup that is struggling. Jae represents big corporation & everything Nami doesn‘t want for her family-like business, & while she‘s determined to stop her partners from selling, she can‘t help reengaging with Jae. ⬇️⬇️⬇️

Kristy_K Enemies-to-lovers is probably my favorite romance trope and this one is great. Both Nami and Jae toe the line of insults and flirting and they soon fall for each other. Nami was a strong, intelligent, woman with great convictions. Jae was a confident, smart man who had a humorous side that made me laugh. Together their chemistry was so fun to read. 3mo
39 likes1 comment
review
Kristy_K
A Fate Inked in Blood | Danielle L. Jensen
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Pickpick

It‘s been a while since a fantasy has grabbed me & pulled me into the story, but I found myself totally engrossed in this Norse based fantasy.

This had all the elements I love: a heroine finding her strength and her way, tension & chemistry amongst the characters, forbidden romance, never knowing who you can trust, & the perfect blend of action & plot. The ending leaves us with the perfect set up for book 2 & I cannot wait to see what happens.

43 likes1 stack add