This week was “messy queer women in Philly” week for me, I guess. Skye has a metric fuck ton of baggage. How she attempts to sort through that while also navigating a relationship with the 12 year old product of her previous egg donation was warm and witty. I really liked it.

Messy women are my jam. In fiction, not in real life. Keep your messy behind far away, please and thank you. I don‘t think the Mrs. Dalloway comparison is apt as this novel spends way more time flashing back than it does at said dinner party. But we had a very lively discussion about it at book club and while everyone liked it, we just wanted 50 more pages. Still I could relate to a lot of the mess. Mega bonus points for being set in Philly.

I‘m not making a concerted effort to read the #WomensPrize longlist because the road to hell is paved with good intentions and all that jazz, but I am happy I scooped this one up for 99p. It‘s a bit strange and the characters are a lot quirky, but it really worked for me. Right book, right time.

Meh. I didn‘t find this twisty or suspenseful at all. The good news is that by the time the series premieres on Apple TV next month, I will have forgotten everything about it.

Cold. Pouring rain. Just generally gross. I‘ve made my plan for the day.

I have no idea what compelled me to purchase this and read it immediately (perhaps a craving for breakfast?). Cloake travels the UK via bicycle to discover what constitutes a “proper” breakfast. This was easy to dip into first thing in the morning and last thing at night and for the record, hot sauce is the answer to her question. Non-meat eaters should steer clear.

Sarah Vaughn‘s books are great for my my Monday-Friday brain. Compelling legal thrillers with a pinch of politics.

Shaking like a leaf because the wind is howling. She‘s afraid of the wind.

THE.

WIND.

A light pick. I absolutely LOATHE influencers and everything they stand for so I had to sort of hold my nose a bit with this. Maybe we could pass out copies to young‘uns whose life goal it is to set social media on fire? I was hoping for just a bit more “oomph” but the issues she raises are sadly all too timely.

Thank you, thank you, thank you, Helen, for turning my Monday morning frown upside down. What a lovely surprise. 🤗😘 (And no, I have not made the bed this morning. I‘m an adult, thank you very much.)

This wasn‘t bad but I felt like the author tried to do too much. There were so many disparate parts and I don‘t think she weaved them together successfully. The timeline didn‘t work for me either as it felt way too “of the moment.” I just couldn‘t see much of this journey happening 20 years ago. 👵🏼

Just absolutely gorgeous. I don‘t typically connect with dystopian stories unless the world the author has built is one that seems not terribly far from our current state and this totally fit the bill. Wonderfully evocative and atmospheric. I just loved it.

Breakfast and book club book. I‘m enjoying this one immensely.

I had taken a break from Karin Slaughter because the Will Trent series was driving me bonkers - the new show didn‘t help matters either. So I decided to pick up one of her stand-alones that has been hanging out in #TheVault. I don‘t think any other author writing today gets me ripping through 500 page books quite like she does. She really is a master. 👍🏼

I wouldn‘t know who this chick is if she walked up and punched me in the face but everyone else is reading this so I thought “Why not?” This was absolutely brutal. I hope she continues to get the support she needs. Flew through this yesterday and all I could think was, “Honey, I‘m glad your mom died too.” 😱

I think I admired this more than I enjoyed it. It‘s a rather “quiet” novel and I had to be in a VERY particular headspace to pick it up. The author is undeniably talented and committed to his research. I think I‘ll be mulling over this one for quite some time.

Utterly bizarre but eminently readable.

6 years ago today we adopted this nugget. She was such a teeny tiny little thing. Now she‘s our little tank. 🥰

What a marvel she is! Not simply because she is one of the greatest actors of my lifetime, but because this little girl endured decades of racism, domestic violence, sexual assault, extreme poverty, addiction, etc. in her family and not only survived, she is thriving. My only quibble is I would have liked more meat on her most recent successes but that wasn‘t really the point of this. Brava, Queen!

I guess I‘m reading this next! #EGOT 👑

I love Jennifer Haigh. She manages to center her stories around timely social issues and imbues her characters with such humanity. While this wasn‘t my favorite of hers, I did unfortunately recognize so many of the tactics of the anti-abortion protesters. We used to live in an apartment next door to Planned Parenthood and these gross old men would stand outside every Wednesday morning and harass EVERYONE reserving their most vile tactics for…

Bosch and Ballard never let me down. I won‘t say much more because I‘m not a spoiling asshole, but this one left me a little verklempt.

‘Sup Litsy?

I think that I am just destined to not really love any of the #TOB2023 shortlist with a couple of exceptions. This was a really heart-wrenching portrait of grief but for so much of it, it read like really simplistic YA. 🤷🏻‍♀️ I did “like” it but I am again perplexed by the panel‘s choices.

Meh. This was…okay. The airport conceit was completely unnecessary. I‘m rather perplexed as to why this made the shortlist. It wasn‘t bad, it just wasn‘t fantastic or terribly memorable. #TOB2023 @Ruthiella @Cinfhen @Suet624 @sarahbarnes @thebluestocking @Mindyrecycles @vivastory @kwmg40 @squirrelbrain @BarbaraBB @amyrabbitt @MicheleinPhilly @Hooked_on_books @cariashley @batsy @Chelsea.Poole @Addison_Reads @RebelReader

This is my local indie‘s book club pick for this month. While I loved the author‘s Dietland, I didn‘t go into this with sky high expectations because I saw it characterized as witchy, magical, fairy tale-ish, etc. none of which is my jam. It has serious Gothic undertones but was remarkably accessible. It had a slightly similar vibe to The Change for me which I loved. Very atmospheric but NOT a horror novel at all. Stupid book marketing. 👍🏼

All my brain has been able to handle this week and it was not a favorite. The action seemed really gratuitous (which I recognize is ironic given the shit I read) but this was really over the top. Also, Peter James is obviously a horny old man. Dude, write to Playboy or something. 😖

I don‘t know - maybe I‘m just too old for this or maybe the breathless proclamations of “ZOMG, this is the best book ever!” raised my expectations to an unreasonable level but I don‘t get the hype for this at all. It was fine but I didn‘t think it was anything special. I found all of the descriptions of making games to be insufferably boring. 👵🏼 #TOB2023

Riotously funny but also devastatingly sad. As someone who navigated the American healthcare system for months last year with a loved one, it just beggars belief why something so absolutely critical is so poorly run. Public, private - it doesn‘t matter - it‘s all crap. 😒

I loved Meredith. Although her struggles due to a lifetime of abuse and trauma, were really devastating there was still something life-affirming about this. I did have a minor quibble due to the time this book was set in (2018-2019) and knowing what subsequently transpired in real life. ☹️ But that‘s a minor complaint.

It doesn‘t have the sprayed edges ☹️ but I still find this cover gorgeous. #bookmail

SQUEEEEEEEE!

https://themillions.com/2023/01/most-anticipated-the-great-2023a-book-preview.ht...

🤔 I must have been drunk book shopping on December 17 because I couldn‘t care less about the BRF. 🤨

Monday mornings made tolerable by #bookmail!

Clare Mackintosh is such a first rate thriller writer so I was naturally intrigued by her first foray into a detective series. While it wasn‘t anything earth-shattering, I thoroughly enjoyed it and am looking forward to further installments. And with all due respect to the Welsh, your language is…interesting. #StartASeries

My late teens, early 20s heart is so so happy right now.

So remember AGES ago when I said I was going to focus on books in #TheVault? That‘s what I call my Kindles because many times the books are “outta sight, outta mind.” Yeah, that didn‘t happen. In addition to those, I‘m making a concerted effort to tackle books that have actually been staring me in the face for years too. This is one of those books. It‘s a CHONKSTER. Over 500 pages and the font was like 8 point. My bleeding eyes. 👇🏼👇🏼

I needed this. I am not a “self-help” person AT ALL but this didn‘t feel like that to me. It felt like my wiser, calmer, kinder, older sister was guiding me out of the mess in my own head and into her loving embrace. These past few years have been HARD and this was such a soothing way to kick off 2023.

Happy New Year!

#Top22of22 Except I think it‘s only 21. Whoops!

This year has been a beast for so many reasons. At times I felt like the only thing keeping me sane was you guys. There are certain folks (you know who you are) that held my hand and showed me so much kindness and support and I will forever be grateful for that. 😘

Happy New Year all!

This is *probably* my last read of the year. Thanks to @squirrelbrain I‘ve recently discovered BBC2‘s Between the Covers. I was reminded that I have had this on my Kindle for AGES. While I did really enjoy it, I‘m amazed that this showed up on the Booker list. It is a quick, snappy (heh heh) read but miles from what the committee typically selects. I‘m looking forward to her other books I‘ve hoarded over the years.

I was feeling rather Grinch-y this year so decided to see whether this would get me in a Christmas-y mood. While it wasn‘t 100% successful in altering my mood, it was still a delightful way to spend a few hours. Sometimes books like this are a soothing balm, despite their predictability.

I would follow Lauren Graham to the ends of the earth, I adore her so. This was nothing earth shattering but made me feel all warm and fuzzy inside. I just ❤️ her.

Really terrific historical fiction set in the Jim Crow South about 2 sisters, one of whom is on the run after killing her white rapist. I‘ve not read Morris before but she really has a way with setting the time and place as well as family dynamics. Ripped through it in a single sitting.

Getting my book club book read while my shadow stands guard.

Merry Christmas and Happy Hanukkah!!! May your weekend be merry and bright! And stay warm! 😘

And this was just absolutely lovely. A soothing balm for my weary soul. I will revisit this again. ❤️

I liked this. A lot. It was an audacious undertaking for Ng whose prior books have been much more subtle. But I see why she did it. If the last 3 years have taught us anything, I think it‘s that subtlety in the face of injustice is DONE. Even when tackling macro issues, this is still hauntingly intimate. Thanks again @TrishB !! 😘

Heads up again, American TOB-ers! #TOB2023

What‘s this? I‘m actually reading a book???? It‘s only been a week but it seriously feels like a month. I‘ll be happy to finish up work for the year on Friday so I can tackle some more reads.

Heads up, American TOB-ers! #TOB2023