I'm a sucker for epistolary novels & books with unusual formats. This book is both, as it follows a will-they/won't-they couple for 20 years, with each chapter occurring on the same day of the subsequent year. It was so intriguing, & there's a heck of a twist near the end.

⭐⭐⭐⭐/⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Much better month!

1 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
3 ⭐⭐⭐⭐
4 ⭐⭐⭐✨
1 ⭐⭐⭐
1 ⭐⭐✨

August was WAY better! 😁 @TheAromaofBooks #ISpy #ispybingo

Somehow I missed posting my July #ISpy! #ispybingo @TheAromaofBooks

When you read three books in a series about anthropomorphic animals, you get lots of clothes not on people! 😂

A coffee table book with lovely pictures & so much interesting information. Gift from my daughter who knows me well!

⭐⭐⭐⭐/⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

There are a few twists in this one, none of which I can say without spoiling, obviously. The big one REALLY got me, & I wish that it had been the last one, because the last one was a step too far for me. But that one big twist was one of the best I've read. I'll still read her books. It was a crazy romp for sure!

⭐⭐⭐✨/⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

These continue to be worthless pieces of fluff that are just delightful!

⭐⭐⭐✨/⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

This is BRILLIANT. Deep cut joke from Alice in Wonderland - Alice never learns the answer to the riddle either. SO. CLEVER.

As a college professor, I'm not sure whether to laugh or be insulted! 😂

Read this one (that I never read in school!) because I'm music directing a musical version very soon. Not my favorite children's book, but I loved the wordplay & completely understand why it's a classic.

⭐⭐⭐✨/⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

A bit preachy at times, & the ending was unsatisfactory for me. I don't need things tied up with a pretty bow, but I didn't love where this one ended. I did like how the title was tied into the narrative (to say more would be spoiler-y).

⭐⭐✨/⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Suggested on audio & the narrator was, indeed, excellent. Interesting twist on time travel, but mystery lovers will figure out many twists.

⭐⭐⭐⭐/⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Cult memoirs fascinate me. I didn't watch One Tree Hill, so I'm not familiar with this author, but this memoir was captivating; she's an excellent story teller. (I prefer audiobook format for memoirs.)

⭐⭐⭐⭐/⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

July wasn't MUCH better, but it was better!

I stole this photo collage from @britt_brooke - at yesterday's #NashvilleLittens meet up, we realized that, while our group has grown, the five of us who could make it yesterday (top) were the OG five from Jan 2018 (bottom)! We are the most eclectic group of women, and I learn & laugh so much every time I'm with them! Here's to 7.5 more years, & beyond! @LouLouLane @HeatherBookNerd @Booksnchill

Continuing this sweet, cute series. Worthless fluff, but fun.

⭐⭐⭐/⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

These are just so sweet. Cozy mysteries with anthropomorphic animals as the characters - I've enjoyed the first two & will definitely finish the series.

⭐⭐⭐/⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ #14books14weeks @Liz_M

Everyone I know has loved this book, & it lived up to the hype. Beautifully crafted story with great twists.

⭐⭐⭐⭐/⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ #14books14weeks @Liz_M

Not a great month, @TheAromaofBooks, but July should be better! #ISpy #ispybingo

Slow reading month due to teaching an intense summer course. I anticipate July being much better!

Next audiobook down while falling asleep... #14books14weeks @Liz_M

I always have something in my ears when I go to sleep, & while I've read the HP series multiple times, I've never listened to them. I'm slowly making my way through Jim Dale's narration, sometimes no more than 15 minutes a night before I drop off to sleep. This is one of my favorite series, so all books are 5 ⭐ for me. #14books14weeks @Liz_M

Also didn't share my May #ISpy.

@TheAromaofBooks

Didn't share my May stats!

I got 50 pages into this, went to find it on Goodreads, & realized that I had read it in 2021! 😂 And rated it 4.5/5 stars! 😂 I blame COVID brain. But I finished it again & still really enjoyed it. #readyourbookshelf #14books14weeks @Liz_M

A fun "worthless piece of fluff", as my dad would say. Will definitely read the rest of the series. #readyourbookshelf #14books14weeks @Liz_M

⭐⭐⭐/⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

I love novels written from various points of view & in different timelines, but it took me a bit to keep these straight.

⭐⭐⭐✨/⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ #14books14weeks @Liz_M

"Sometimes you have to gather yourself, you know, sometimes you, need to gird your loins or whatever needs girding."

Made me chuckle. ?

I just learned about #14books14weeks and since my current goal is already to get through this stack of books on my floor, I'll just use it, though it has way more than 14 books. But this gives me choices! I'll post again when I have my actual 14 picked out. ☺️ @LizM

I realized today that I never shared my April #ISpy board. Much better than last month! @TheAromaofBooks

I've never read Rushdie, but heard that this was good on audio. I always enjoy memoirs read by the author. Honestly, I didn't love the writing. (I'm finding myself very irritated by judicious uses of "she said" & "he said". This is not the first time.) The story was interesting enough, and I am obviously very happy that he survived to tell it. This was a so-so for me, but I'm sure that it will resonate highly with others!

⭐⭐/⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Finally. Out of my slump - what a good month! Especially for the end of the semester. And I didn't have anything below a 3.5⭐!

Nothing extra special to say here - just a good, well-paced mystery!

Although I now realize that this is number three in a series and I skipped two! 😂 Reading in order isn't really required, however. #readyourbookshelf

⭐⭐⭐⭐/⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

My Dewey's wrap up! I had a great day of reading - completed one book in print, completed one book on audio, and started another on audio. What a lovely, lazy Saturday! @DeweysReadathon

Sobbed like a baby through the last third of this, probably because I'm in a period of changing relationships in my own life, which was a huge theme in this book. It's not often that romances have twists, nor focus on friendship nearly as much as romance - both of those were nice surprises.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐/⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Essays aren't a go-to genre for me, but a Southern girl transplanted to NYC? Sign me up. This was delightful, & the author's voice was perfect. Will definitely listen to more of her collections.

⭐⭐⭐✨/⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

I love Ann Patchett. I love Meryl Streep. I love "Our Town".

So, yeah, I loved this book on audio.

⭐⭐⭐⭐✨/⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

This was just lovely. Billed as a novel, this is actually five short stories in which the characters are interconnected. This was gifted to me, & I'm so glad I own a physical copy, because I foresee returning to this.

⭐⭐⭐⭐✨/⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

My March "I Spy"!

@TheAromaofBooks

Never posted my March stats - a low month because of family stuff (all fine, just busy!). But I've already read two books this month, so April is looking up! 😁

This was sweet! Predictable, but it's a romance, so of course it is. A perfect brain-cleansing read.

⭐⭐⭐✨/⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Had a lovely chat with the lady who checked me into my appointment to have my tires changed at Walmart because she is wearing a "Read Banned Books" t-shirt. I love book people!

Wrapping my head around this one, so I don't have many words. This might be the most well-written of all of them.

Continuing to break hearts, Ms. Collins. I am unwell.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐/⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Even spelled the "correct" way! ?

I just adore Louise Penny. Inspector Gamache continues to be one of my all-time favorite literary characters.

⭐⭐⭐⭐/⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

The phone rang. Again.

Love me some Inspector Gamache.
#FirstLineFridays @ShyBookOwl

Thanks to @BarbaraBB for this link - this is fun! Going to check out this for sure.

https://thebookerprizes.com/the-booker-library/features/quiz-which-book-from-the...

Slow month for me, but I've also been reading Iron Flame. I only record pages when I finish a book, not daily.

Not a great #ispybingo month, but I'm really enjoying these! I don't read to try to complete Bingo - I just see what happens! #ispy @TheAromaofBooks

David Tennant is my favorite Doctor & one of my favorite actors, so I jumped at the chance to listen to him narrate. And who doesn't love James Bond?

Me. I don't love James Bond. Not as books - I enjoy the films as much as the next person. The books are dated & problematic in places, but that's understandable. IMO, the action scenes translate so much better to film, even with such a great narrator.

⭐⭐✨/⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ #readyourbookshelf