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LiteraryinLawrence

LiteraryinLawrence

Joined April 2016

I wish we could have one more day of the week to just read!
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Hello Beautiful by Ann Napolitano
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LiteraryinLawrence
Pickpick

This was so cool! I appreciated the clever twists to the short stories and the overarching story. Nothing was as it seemed at first! I started this a few years ago and bailed within the first chapter, but I‘m so glad I picked it up again and started fresh.

Does anyone have a suggestion of a mystery like this that plays with the conventions a bit? The book within a book format was fun.

LiteraryinLawrence @Ruthiella Thanks! I read that and remember really liking it! 1d
45 likes2 comments
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LiteraryinLawrence
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Pickpick

I found this really amusing and fun to read. I listened to the first 2/3 as an audio book and the narration was excellent. I really chuckled at all the silliness and nods to Jane Austen. Beatrice was a great character!

Crinoline_Laphroaig That one's on my TBR. Glad to see it's a 👍🏻. 2w
LiteraryinLawrence This was my 94th book of the year. I‘m definitely going to hit 100! 2w
rubyslippersreads 😻😻😻 2w
See All 6 Comments
Mimi28 Cute kitty and congratulations on 94 books!! ❤️❤️😻😻 2w
mabell I forgot I started the audiobook of this a few weeks ago! I listened to a bit on a road trip. I‘ll have to pick it back up! The beginning was definitely quirky, which I can appreciate 😄 2w
LiteraryinLawrence @mabell The quirkiness definitely continues. 😋 1w
87 likes2 stack adds6 comments
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LiteraryinLawrence
Paper Things | Jennifer Richard Jacobson
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Pickpick

Thanks for the recommendation, @BennettBookworm ! This was a really well done book about a girl experiencing homelessness and navigating her relationships with family and friends. Educators would definitely benefit from reading this.

BennettBookworm I‘m so glad! 3w
64 likes1 comment
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LiteraryinLawrence
Solitaire | Alice Oseman
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Pickpick

Hard to read with Tori‘s (and the other characters‘) depression, but I‘m glad I did. This was originally published in 2014, and reading the present day interview with the author at the end of the book was really eye-opening. The tone is very YA and also introduces characters that appear in Heartstopper.

65 likes1 stack add
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LiteraryinLawrence
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Pickpick

This was a true delight. It reminded me of The House in the Cerulean Sea with charming characters, warm friendships, a bit of queer romance and a magical world. I don‘t read fantasy or cozies usually, but this was one of my favorite books of the year! I highly recommend the audiobook which is performed quite masterfully by the author. 💗💗💗💗💗

Megabooks 😻😻😻 3w
Suzze Bookshops and Bonedust is just as good! Loved it. 3w
TheKidUpstairs Loved this one! My hold on Bookshops and Bonedust just came in, I'm so excited ( @Suzze - I'm glad to hear it holds up to Legends!) 3w
See All 8 Comments
AvidReader25 @Suzze I‘m so glad to hear that!!! 3w
RaeLovesToRead Kitty!! 👋🏻🥰 3w
BennettBookworm So fun! 3w
Gissy Cat 🐈 ❤️❤️❤️ 3w
Kempii I would never have picked this up based on the cover art, but you‘ve got me at Cerulean Sea, which I loved. Will check this out. 1w
94 likes8 comments
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LiteraryinLawrence
Yellowface | R F Kuang
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Mehso-so

… Huh. I‘m not sure what to make of this one. I guess I‘m not sure what all the hype was about?

mija333 Agreed. Don‘t get it. 1w
71 likes1 comment
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LiteraryinLawrence
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Super excited for November #bookspinbingo! I should have more reading time than last month. Here is my list!

TheAromaofBooks Woohoo!!! 4w
50 likes1 comment
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LiteraryinLawrence
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I hadn‘t heard of this book prior to #botm choosing it this month, but it looks fun! I was really close to choosing Again and Again, but it‘s been a stressful month and I‘m much more in the mood for a sweet romance than a deep emotional journey, so I went with my gut. This was my 12th BOTM box which means I‘m a “BFF” now. 😋 I get a tote!

BennettBookworm Yayyy! 1mo
43 likes1 comment
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LiteraryinLawrence
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Pickpick

This was a fast-paced book where I thought the build up was better than the resolution. A soft Pick for me.

RaeLovesToRead Hello floofy! 🥰 1mo
JanuarieTimewalker13 🐾❤️ beautiful cat! 1mo
ShelleyBooksie Aww, cute kitty 1mo
76 likes3 comments
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LiteraryinLawrence
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Pickpick

This was really well done! Sort of like Liane Moriarty in that it‘s neighbors who are all in each others‘ business and connected in ways known and hidden. Lots of misdirection and twists. I would recommend it!

CogsOfEncouragement I read it this month too, Really enjoyed it. 1mo
Leftcoastzen 😻 1mo
72 likes2 comments
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LiteraryinLawrence
The Soulmate: A Novel | Sally Hepworth
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Pickpick

I don‘t think I‘ve ever read a Sally Hepworth book that I didn‘t like!

BarbaraBB Good to know. I have this one on my shelves! 1mo
71 likes1 comment
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LiteraryinLawrence
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Thanks so much for this trio of #book2book books, @Catsandbooks ! I really appreciate it and I‘m so excited to dive in! Fitz is excited too. 😋

Thanks to @AllDebooks for organizing (and my books are going to go out this week!).

Catsandbooks You're welcome! Say hi to Fitz for me!! 🧡🐈 2mo
66 likes1 comment
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LiteraryinLawrence
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Ok, here is my October 2023 #bookspin #bookspinbingo list! It feels like a good mix of books I own and library borrows as well as print and audio. I can‘t do all one genre at a time, so I‘m not planning for more spooky reads than usual.

Of course, October is my busiest work month so a lot of “free” time will be eaten up by that. But let‘s see how many books I can do…

TheAromaofBooks Woohoo!! 2mo
53 likes1 comment
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LiteraryinLawrence
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Mehso-so

I‘m giving this one a So-So. It started off promising, but the further it got the less I cared. The ending felt anticlimactic, like the author thought he was revealing a surprise but I didn‘t get it. Hmm. I‘m definitely not in a great mindset this week, so it‘s totally possible that this is more about that and less about the book. 🤷🏻‍♀️

LiteraryinLawrence My 85th book of 2023 2mo
Ruthiella I agree. I didn‘t love this and there‘s really no reveal. I think the triple perspective was not good. It would have been better if he‘d written the whole thing in close third person. 2mo
69 likes1 stack add2 comments
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LiteraryinLawrence
Wellness | Nathan Hill
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#BOTM October books are up!!!! But disappointingly I don‘t think I‘m interested in any. ☹️ What catches your eye?
Wellness
Starling House
The Leftover Woman
When I‘m Dead
The Unmaking of June Farrow
The Unsettled

ChaoticMissAdventures I picked Wellness, mostly because I am seeing it all over the place, that marketing dept got me.
2mo
JamieArc I almost picked this up several times at the bookstore so I went ahead and added it, along with a couple others that gave me fall vibes. 2mo
49 likes2 comments
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LiteraryinLawrence
Just Another Missing Person | Gillian McAllister
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Pickpick

Four stars for this thriller about a cop who is tempted to become crooked to protect her daughter. I was definitely surprised a lot by the plot developments and there were surprises unfolding until the final pages. I still liked her previous book better- Wrong Place Wrong Time- but this was very good too!

Here is a picture of me reading with all 3 cats!

Jari-chan What a great picture! 😻 2mo
Bookzombie Great photo! 2mo
Librarybelle ❤️❤️❤️ 2mo
See All 7 Comments
mabell How cute! 🥰 2mo
rubyslippersreads 😻😻 2mo
ravenlee What a great reading crew! 2mo
Ruthiella 😻😻😻 2mo
90 likes7 comments
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LiteraryinLawrence
Dream on | Angie Hockman
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Pickpick

This was a very sweet romance story with the cool setting of a family-owned flower shop. Nothing earth shattering but definitely what I hoped it would be from the cover: a cute, light read. 💗

Fitz, who has been my reading buddy for several hours, is taking his cue from the title and dreaming on!

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LiteraryinLawrence
His and Hers | Alice Feeney
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Pickpick

Wow… Just wow. I thought I had it figured out so many times at the end and I was dead wrong. This book was excellent on audio as well as in print (I did half and half). A really clever thriller!

65 likes3 stack adds
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LiteraryinLawrence
Give Me a Sign | Anna Sortino
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Bailedbailed

This book seems right up my alley but it just isn‘t working for me. After about 90 pages I‘m bailing. I‘m disappointed but yeah, I‘m just not enjoying the reading experience. 🤷🏻‍♀️

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LiteraryinLawrence
The Lost Library | Wendy Mass, Rebecca Stead
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Pickpick

This was nostalgic and warm and melancholy all at the same time. It made me feel sad but also happy? Understated and simply written, this book seemed very different from Stead‘s previous books (which I love), almost like a fable. If I still taught middle school English or even elementary school I‘d want this in my classroom. 💗

BennettBookworm Ooh looks great! 2mo
74 likes1 stack add1 comment
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LiteraryinLawrence
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Pickpick

I borrowed this from the library in print and in audio and read the combination of forms over the weekend. The narrator was particularly good. Most of it was really good but I do agree with other Littens that the ending (maybe the last quarter or so) let it down. But still a fast read that I more or less enjoyed. 🤷🏻‍♀️

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LiteraryinLawrence
Counterfeit | Kirstin Chen
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Pickpick

This was a fun audiobook listen! It was fast paced and I liked the narrator. Certainly not a deep book but I enjoyed it. I also borrowed it in print from the library but mostly did the audio while driving and walking.

81 likes2 stack adds
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LiteraryinLawrence
Bailedbailed

I tried this as an audiobook but I‘m not enjoying it after a few hours. The narrator and/or the main character are really whiny and annoying to me. Oh well! 🤷🏻‍♀️

ChaoticMissAdventures Oh no! I just added this to my TBR yesterday! I love the title. 3mo
LiteraryinLawrence @ChaoticMissAdventures It could just be me! Hope you still like it! And maybe read the print instead of doing the audio. (edited) 3mo
56 likes2 comments
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LiteraryinLawrence
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Pickpick

This was so odd but in a great way. 💗 Not what I was expecting but I‘m glad I read it. I might even want to read it again some time!

BennettBookworm I‘m really excited to read this! 3mo
84 likes1 stack add1 comment
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LiteraryinLawrence
The Great Book Swap | Alan Mitchell
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#book2book This is my fourth and final post of books! If you signed up for this swap, please comment below with the name of any books you want. I‘ll have a drawing on 9/20 if there are multiple requests for the same book.

See All 12 Comments
AllDebooks Love seeing all your posts going up x 3mo
LiteraryinLawrence @kspenmoll What do you mean? 3mo
Chrissyreadit i would be interested in Jane and The Year without a summer. 3mo
LiteraryinLawrence @Chrissyreadit Hi! I‘m confused. 😋 The books I‘m offering are the 4 pictured. I‘m not sure why @kspenmoll commented that book name. 3mo
Chrissyreadit ha!!! i should have read more carefully 🤪 3mo
Soubhiville I‘m interested in Harry August and Close Enough 😁📚 3mo
56 likes12 comments
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LiteraryinLawrence
The Great Book Swap | Alan Mitchell
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#book2book If you signed up to be in this initial book swap group, leave a comment with the name of any books you want! I‘ll do a drawing on 9/20 if there are multiple requests. Thanks!

49 likes7 comments
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LiteraryinLawrence
The Great Book Swap | Alan Mitchell
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#booktobook If you signed up to be in this initial book swap group, please leave a comment below with the name of any books you want! I‘ll do a drawing on 9/20 if there are multiple requests. Thanks!

38 likes7 comments
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LiteraryinLawrence
The Great Book Swap | Alan Mitchell
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#book2book If you signed up to be in this initial book swap group, please leave a comment with the name of any book(s) you‘re interested in! I‘ll do a drawing on 9/20 for any books that have more than one request. Enjoy!

44 likes8 comments
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LiteraryinLawrence
Worser | Jennifer Ziegler
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Mehso-so

Nope, this one did not do it for me. I generally like middle grade books, especially ones with nerdy characters, but in this one I just found the main character really annoying. Nerdy in a not endearing way. And the relationships between the kids and adults felt off. Oh well!

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LiteraryinLawrence
Nine Liars | Maureen Johnson
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Pickpick

Five stars for my first read of September! This is the 5th book in the series and you kind of have to read the preceding ones to fully appreciate it. I‘ve liked all of them!

Hannah_Haymond I've really enjoyed this series, too! I was a little skeptical how it would continue past the initial three books, but, I think it's been fun 3mo
63 likes1 comment
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LiteraryinLawrence
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Here is my wrap up from August‘s #bookspinbingo board! Favorite was the tagged book. I managed one bingo this month and 11 total books. A lot of so-so ratings from me, so I‘m hoping for all Picks next month! As usual, I did not read the bookspin or doublespin books; I‘ve learned I don‘t like being “told” what to read, even if I myself put that book on the list a few days before. 🤷🏻‍♀️😂

TheAromaofBooks Yay!! Fabulous month!! August seems to have been a so-so sort of month 😂 3mo
51 likes2 comments
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LiteraryinLawrence
Nine Liars | Maureen Johnson
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I‘m pretty close to the end of the tagged book (which I‘m loving- why did I wait a year to read it??), but I won‘t be done today. Time to post my September #bookspin list! I‘m feeling excited about all the ones listed and hoping the start of the school year (where I work) doesn‘t cramp my reading style too much. 😋

TheAromaofBooks Woohoo!!! 3mo
43 likes1 comment
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LiteraryinLawrence
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I wasn‘t that excited about the September #botm books but I appreciate that they let me choose a member favorite instead! I‘m going with the tagged book. The reviews are really positive! This box is my 11th so after my next one I become a “BFF” and get the tote bag and some different extras. 🤷🏻‍♀️

ChaoticMissAdventures I really enjoyed this one. It is sweet and empathetic with our being too sentimental. 3mo
Jess I liked this one. Learned about a profession I knew nothing about. Hope you enjoy it. 3mo
CBee LOVED this book 💚💚 3mo
marleed I loved this book too - good choice! 3mo
JenniferEgnor Loved this book. 3mo
61 likes1 stack add5 comments
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LiteraryinLawrence
Wild Things | Laura Kay
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Mehso-so

This was a romance/friend group/city to countryside story. It‘s between a Pick and a So-So to me because although parts of the book were charming, the main character often annoyed me. I truly liked a lot of the side characters, though, and I wish I got to know them better. The concept of buying a fixer upper in the country with your best friends and totally shaking up your life is fun to daydream about. Mixed feelings but not a bad book. 🤷🏻‍♀️

LiteraryinLawrence This is book 75 for me in 2023! 3mo
69 likes1 comment
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LiteraryinLawrence
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Pickpick

This graphic novel about losing a parent to cancer was heartfelt, vulnerable, and even at times humorous. I really feel like I got to know the author and her family, especially her awesome mom. Shows a lot about what grief can look like. I definitely recommend it.

Kenyazero I've had this on my radar for a while. It sounds interesting! It's waiting in the wings for my life to calm down a little 😆 3mo
75 likes2 stack adds1 comment
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LiteraryinLawrence
Belle of the Ball | Mari Costa
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Pickpick

What an odd but cute graphic novel about a high school lesbian love triangle! It‘s a soft pick for me because of one really annoying character, and I also would have appreciated more background on some of the main characters, but it was a fun read nonetheless. My favorite scene was at a renaissance faire! I liked the growth we saw as the friends realized who they were as kids and who they wanted to become after high school.

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LiteraryinLawrence
Nick and Charlie | Alice Oseman
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Pickpick

So very sweet and just what I needed to read tonight. All the hearts for this novella! 💗💗💗💗💗

Pictured with a cat, as 97% of my book pictures are. 😋

thegirlwiththelibrarybag Ooh! This cover is gorgeous… might need to upgrade (I must have the UK cover) 3mo
77 likes3 stack adds1 comment
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LiteraryinLawrence
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Pickpick

A definite Pick for me, enthusiastically! I know there have been mixed feelings on this one, but I liked the originality of the plot, the quirky storytelling style of the protagonist Mia, the cultural and linguistic musings, the mystery element, the disability rep, and the family relationships. I‘ll be recommending this widely so I‘m glad I own it through #botm!

Tara really looking forward to this one! 3mo
82 likes1 comment
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LiteraryinLawrence
Gone Tonight | Sarah Pekkanen
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Pickpick

Oooh, this was excellent! A satisfying twisty tale about a mother and the lengths she goes to to protect her daughter. The book is told from alternating POVs. Highly recommend!

MyNamesParadise I have this one! I also met the author when she was on tour! I‘m excited to read it!! 3mo
LiteraryinLawrence @MyNamesParadise It‘s so cool that you met her! The book was really good! 3mo
82 likes1 stack add2 comments
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LiteraryinLawrence
Foster | Claire Keegan
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Mehso-so

This was a simple, quiet short story about a girl from a large family living with very kind relatives for a short time. I understand the praise it‘s gotten, but I think this just isn‘t my genre; I wanted to know a lot more. At some points I felt like I was missing some greater point that other readers picked up on.

CatLass007 Who‘s your sweet friend?🐈 4mo
LiteraryinLawrence @CatLass007 This is Zoe! She is 10 and a real cuddler. 💗 4mo
CatLass007 She‘s a little doll. 4mo
87 likes3 comments
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LiteraryinLawrence
Family Lore: A Novel | Elizabeth Acevedo
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Mehso-so

I have loved Acevedo‘s previous books, but this one fell short for me. The structure of the book, including some weird layout choices, didn‘t work for me. It felt disjointed. I did like the sisters and hearing about their histories and special abilities. I felt there was an overemphasis on sex that I personally didn‘t enjoy reading. The ending felt rushed. Overall I was disappointed.

AvidReader25 I‘m so glad to hear I wasn‘t alone in this one. I loved her other books, but I made it halfway through and finally stopped. It just wasn‘t clicking at all. 4mo
DivineDiana I am sorry to hear this. The synopsis sounded perfect for me, and I too have loved her writing. 🤷🏼‍♀️ 4mo
Amor4Libros I felt the same way. I was so looking forward to reading it and was disappointed. 4mo
BookwormM I enjoyed this one so hopefully things can only get better for me with her other books 4mo
Hooked_on_books I started the audio a few days ago and stopped about 45 minutes in. I‘m going to try again, since my timing may just have been off, but I‘ll keep your review in mind when I do so. 4mo
86 likes1 stack add5 comments
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LiteraryinLawrence
They Never Learn | Layne Fargo
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Mehso-so

This one was recommended to me but I didn‘t enjoy it very much. It was truly just about revenge killings, although the academic setting made me think I‘d be more interested.

she.hearts.horror I may wait on this one now 4mo
67 likes1 comment
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LiteraryinLawrence
Endpapers | Jennifer Savran Kelly
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Pickpick

I‘m glad I read this, because I‘d love to see more genderqueer and questioning protagonists. The setting of the arts scene in NYC in the early 2000s got my attention. There were several interesting central and side characters. It‘s not a new favorite book, but it gets a soft Pick from me.

I started this while on vacation. What a great view for reading (missing it already)!

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LiteraryinLawrence
Between Two Moons: A Novel | Aisha Abdel Gawad
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@BennettBookworm and I had a lovely trip to Pocket Books Shop in Lancaster, PA the other day. I LOVE that place and if I still lived in the area I would be there a lot. I bought these 5 books, and the tagged book was STRONGLY recommended by the store owners. It hadn‘t been on my radar at all through Litsy but it looks great! I‘m really excited about all of these, honestly. Too bad work picks up again in August! 😬

Any ones that you‘ve read??

RaeLovesToRead It's not even for sale in the UK, but I can get a US import 🥳🥳 4mo
ErikasMindfulShelf I loved The Leavers 4mo
BekaReid Yes! I love Pocket Books! Also, tagged book is excellent 4mo
LiteraryinLawrence @BekaReid I mean, I still love Aaron‘s, but it‘s really great! 4mo
BennettBookworm Such an epic bookstore!!! 4mo
70 likes1 stack add5 comments
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LiteraryinLawrence
Endpapers | Jennifer Savran Kelly
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Ready to post my August #boookspin list! This is a mix of owned books and library books including lots of this summer‘s new releases. Let the summer reading continue! Excited to make my #bookspinbingo board this week. 💗

TheAromaofBooks Woohoo!!! 4mo
52 likes1 comment
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LiteraryinLawrence
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As soon as the #botm site fiiiiiiinally posted the August books this morning, @BennettBookworm and I went through all the choices. I‘m excited about my choice: Happiness Falls! I loved Miracle Creek! I will say that several of the picks and add-ons are ones I‘ll read but they will be library borrows: Family Lore, Gone Tonight, the Lisa Jewell, the Gillian Macallister, maybe even the memoir. Good choices this month, I think!

Megabooks Great choice! Love those early releases! 4mo
Jess I‘m right there with you on Miracle Creek so this was an easy pick for me today. Hope you enjoy! 4mo
62 likes2 stack adds2 comments
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LiteraryinLawrence
On Golden Pond | Ernest Thompson
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Pickpick

A local community theater is putting on On Golden Pond, and I‘m thinking about auditioning for it. I‘ve never seen it so I borrowed the play from the library and read it. It seems… fine? I‘m sure it‘s moving to see it performed. The script is definitely subtle. I think reading it made me less excited to audition, but we‘ll see.

CSeydel Yeah. It‘s a trite and predictable story, but the movie transcended that with incredible performances from Fonda and Hepburn. It‘s a very good movie but I think it is a little overrated as well because people were so charmed to see Henry & Jane Fonda playing father & daughter on screen. (edited) 4mo
LiteraryinLawrence @CSeydel Thanks for that context! That‘s really helpful. Yeah, I just expected with all the acclaim that the story would be more something. But with those actors, I bet the movie is wonderful. 4mo
68 likes2 comments
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LiteraryinLawrence
Bailedbailed

I‘m calling it: this one looks perfect for me but is just not enjoyable to read. I‘ve started it twice and I just find it tedious. The main character is so cringey and also there‘s so much vulgarity in it that just isn‘t my style. Again, a queer love story with anxiety rep and the setting of a British baking competition SOUNDS like my ideal read, but maybe Alexis Hall isn‘t my cup of tea. Oh well! I tried.

Matilda If you haven‘t tried the first one in this series I would give it a try, it‘s one of my all time favorites. I didn‘t enjoy this one personally. 4mo
peanutnine Alexis Hall's writing style is very hit or miss for me, this one was on the edge for me so I can understand the bail. May I recommend this queer romance set on a cooking show? Not British or baking, but Anita Kelly's books are lovely in my opinion 4mo
LiteraryinLawrence @peanutnine Thanks so much for that suggestion! I will definitely try it! 4mo
49 likes3 comments
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LiteraryinLawrence
Loveless | Alice Oseman
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Pickpick

This book was so absorbing! I absolutely should have been doing work but instead I just kept reading and reading this. I really appreciated the portrayals of different kinds of love and people trying to figure out where they fit into the spectrum of sexuality and romance. Wonderful characters!

As a bonus, I was already at the library so I can return it on my way out and let someone else discover it. 💗

65 likes3 stack adds
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LiteraryinLawrence
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Pickpick

Good one! This book was more like a domestic mystery than a thriller, and I liked the central relationship between Sienna and Julia, who are sisters-in-law, business partners and best friends. The central story is that their brother/husband is in a coma (not a spoiler) after an accident as they try to unravel whether he was involved in a crime. It definitely held my attention! I would have liked more about Julia‘s relationship with her teen son.