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MoniqueReads305

MoniqueReads305

Joined September 2016

LibraryThing member MoniqueReads

I'm not witty enough for a tagline but check out my blog linktr.ee/moniquereads
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My Soul to Keep by Tananarive Due
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MoniqueReads305
Flowers for the Sea | Zin E. Rocklyn
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Pickpick

A fantasy horror about a kingdom trying to survive at sea after escaping a biblical like flood. Emotional, descriptive, and atmospheric, perfect for those that enjoy a more literary writing style. Readers will want to read lines and whole passages repeatedly. The third act turn will leave some scratching their head questioning what just happened. Whether that is good or bad depends on the reader.

Full review: https://tinyurl.com/2p9e2stm

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MoniqueReads305
Untitled | Untitled
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I started The Loving Blood yesterday and it's a long one. Luckily, I found a nice park with a trail so I can do a lot of audio-walking.

I'm going to finish with Take A Hint, Dani Brown tonight and I'm going to miss this couple. I enjoyed this why more than Get a Life, Chloe Brown.

#weeklyforcast

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MoniqueReads305
Flowers for the Sea | Zin E. Rocklyn
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1) Normally, I'm reading at least three books at a time. One audiobook, a fiction novel, and a non-fiction. If the audiobook is also nonfiction that it it normally only two books at a time

2) Favorite is been Flower for the Sea. It was a novella that I listened to on audiobook. It was so well done but I would recommend reading it physically first. It's a lot and very literally. The pan is my current read Liar, a new adult romance.

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MoniqueReads305
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I haven't physically read a nonfiction book in a long time. It so much easier and more engaging to listen to nonfiction via audiobooks so that has become my preferred way to consume nonfiction. But since I'm already in the middle of an audiobook I decided to read ACE on my Kindle.

#nonfictionnovember #nonfiction

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MoniqueReads305
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I'm traveling and for the past few days I've been in Seattle. It's been such a long time since I experienced cold weather in the fall. I'm loving it and exploring the city on for had given me time to finally finish the 5th book in the Harry Potter series. I kid you not, I've been listening to this for over a year.

#audiowalk

Bookzombie I love this photo! 1y
Reggie Have a good time! 1y
MoniqueReads305 @Bookzombie That part of Seattle was very photogenic. 1y
26 likes3 comments
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MoniqueReads305
How to Order the Universe | Mara Jos Ferrada
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My reading has tanked this week. Mostly because I didn't read any comics on the weekend which is usually when I read them. Also, towards the end of my work week I'm so drained that I don't even feel like picking up a book.

#weeklyreadingreport

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MoniqueReads305
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I think I'm finally coming out of my reading slump. Making myself just pick up a book and read each day makes me look forward to my next reading session. I'm also back to reading comics. It's been nice to get back into The Walking Dead, especially since Nagan is a well done villain.

#weeklyreadingreport

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MoniqueReads305
Crazy for You | Jennifer Crusie
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I don't know what it is but my desire to read has been no existent. I have a total of 5 books that I'm currently in the middle of reading and most are from last year. Instead of just waiting for my desire to read to return I decided to give myself a daily page goal to read. I'm staying with Crazy for You, which I started earlier this year. I remember it being funny and maybe that's something I need right now.

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MoniqueReads305
Untitled | Unknown
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I'm not sure how accurate this is but this week was even better than last. Attempting to binge read The Daevadad Trilogy helped a lot.

#weeklyreport

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MoniqueReads305
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"You are lucky we have a husband who believes he is more than all women and most men." page 97.

This quote was made by Iya Segi (first wife). She is telling Iya Tope (second wife) that she is lucky to have an arrogant husband because he is easy to fool.

I plan to finish this little gem Sunday and read some comics.

@rachelsbrittain #weekendreads

15 likes1 stack add
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MoniqueReads305
Untitled | Unknown
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This has been a good reading week for me. Mostly because I challenged myself to binge read The Daevadad Trilogy in a week (spoiler I failed). But I think this is my best reading week in a long time.

#weeklyreport

Bookzombie You did have a good reading week! 3y
23 likes1 comment
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MoniqueReads305
Untitled | Unknown
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This is my April in books minus comics and some sort stories I listened to on audiobook.

My favorite was Last Night at the Telegraph Club. Seriously, I think this book is underhyped. It's a YA historical, queer, coming of age story set in San Francisco's Chinatown that was so so good.

Anyways, I'm looking forward to May.

#monthlywrapup

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MoniqueReads305
Untitled | Unknown
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This is my May's #BookSpinBingo list. It's almost the same as April since I only read two books from the list this month. I was hoping to get to Gone Girl but it didn't happen.

#BookSpin @TheAromaofBooks

Reggie Rooting for 8 and 18!!! Hoping against 10 and 14. 👎🏽 3y
MoniqueReads305 @Reggie oh no... I was looking forward to State of Wonder. 😬 3y
TheAromaofBooks Woohoo!! 3y
24 likes3 comments
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MoniqueReads305
A Thousand Splendid Suns | Khaled Hosseini
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MoniqueReads305
A Thousand Splendid Suns | Khaled Hosseini
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This book has been on my Goodreads TBR for over 10 years. I've been avoiding it because Khaled Hosseini broke my heart in The Kite Runner. But it's time to tackle it.

This also fits for #BookSpinBingo pick.

Reggie Omg same. 3y
TrishB It will break your heart again. 3y
MoniqueReads305 @TrishB 🥺 At least this time I'm prepared. Maybe I won't cry this time. 3y
MoniqueReads305 @Reggie Not even 50 pages in and I was tearing up. 3y
TrishB I will be very surprised if you don‘t. I ugly cried with this one 😢 3y
21 likes5 comments
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MoniqueReads305
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This book was so good. The slow burn romance between Lily and Kath was adorable.

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MoniqueReads305
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I haven't done morning walks since the pandemic started I decided to start it back up. I love an early morning stroll and the way the lights change. I wish I could say that I'm loving the audiobook but it's been a struggle. I don't like the writing and I'm contemplating if I should DNF it.

#audiowalk

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MoniqueReads305
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This was a much better reading week than the last. My commute read to work is Last Night at the Telegraph Club and it is excellent. I really wish that I had the time to just sit down and devour it, but work.

How was your reading week?

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MoniqueReads305
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1) Jennifer Lewis's The Mother of Black Hollywood is hands down my favorite autobiography. Ms. Lewis narrates the audiobook and takes you through a eveey emotions, tears and laughter.

2) 🤔

3) Isabel Wilkerson - The Warmth of Other Suns was a tome and I loved it. I cried at the end. Ms. Wilkerson is now an autobuy author. I have Caste but I'm saving it until I tackle some of the other nonfiction on my shelf.

@Eggs #wondrouswednesday

Eggs Great choices ✅📚👏🏻 3y
Nute Im happy to see you posting here again. You have been missed! Definitely can understand Isabel Wilkerson being an auto-buy author. I gave her that same status!🙂 3y
MoniqueReads305 @Nute 👋🏿 I'm trying to be more consistent here. I notice that I rest more when I engage with bookish communities. And Litsy has been almost drama free. How have you been? 3y
19 likes3 comments
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MoniqueReads305
Untitled | Unknown
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So I decided to try #bookspinbingo floor the first time. Here is my list. I think I'm going to tackle A Thousand Splendid Suns first because I know it's going to make me ugly cry.

Bookzombie Great list! 3y
22 likes1 comment
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MoniqueReads305
Way Past Cool | Jess Mowry
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I'm reading two books this week. The first is a paranormal romance that is not in the database. The second is Way Past Cool that I read in my youth and made me ugly cry. Reading it as an adult has been very interesting.

#FridayReads

23 likes1 stack add
review
MoniqueReads305
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Mehso-so

A mini review:

This had all the elements of a book that I should have loved. It is a complex dark family drama filled with secrets and past regrets. The story is told by three sisters and that's the biggest problem, all the voices sound the same. It was really hard to tell them apart. Even though it had some of my favorite elements they just didn't work in this book.

Full review on the blog: http://melaninatedbookshelf.com/review-ag-tcfrhg/

Hooked_on_books I had a similar response. Wanted to love it but it just didn‘t quite work. I hope she can grow with her next book and give us the writing I‘m sure she‘s capable of. 4y
MoniqueReads305 @Hooked_on_books Exactly. Her writing had so much potential. Hopefully, she writes another novel. I would be interested in seeing how her writing progresses. 4y
LiteraryinLawrence I thought this one was just meh too. I had been really looking forward to it! 4y
23 likes3 comments
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MoniqueReads305
She Wears the Mask | Shelly Stratton
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For today's Friday Reads, I'm reading Shelly Stratton's "She Wears the Mask" which I received from Netgalley are it passed over down my Twitter TL. The synopsis was intriguing and I'm happy to say that the story is unfolding in a very satisfying manner.

What are you reading heading into this week?

#fridayreads #netgalley

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MoniqueReads305
The Known World LP | Edward P. Jones
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I'm trying to be better about posting on my bookish social media other than Twitter.

That being said:

My first blog post in a long time is three historical fiction mini reviews. Featuring a Pulitzer Prize story set in pre-Civil War Virginia, a family drama set during the Nigerian War, and a coming of a novel set in Civil Rights era Mississippi.

https://bit.ly/3fCJb9m

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MoniqueReads305
Untitled | Unknown
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I'm a little late putting this in the mail so I'm sending it priority. But @The.Great.Catsby it's on its way.

#LMPBC #GROUPV

@Alfrazier21 @Professional_Book_Dragon

The.Great.Catsby So excited!!! 4y
15 likes1 comment
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MoniqueReads305
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Alfrazier21 I‘ve read Other People‘s Houses, The Last Time I Lied and Gone Girl. Any of the other three look good to me!! 4y
Professional_Book_Dragon I‘m good with any! :) 4y
MyNamesParadise Gone Girl is great! And I really enjoy Abbi Waxman novels even though I haven‘t read that particular one. 4y
The.Great.Catsby I haven't read any of them but am interested! Riley Sager is a new favorite of mine. 4y
25 likes4 comments
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MoniqueReads305
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Not So Pure and Simple is my main read for January's #24B4Monday.

I didn't meet my 5 hour dail goal but I got more than half there.

2:40 (book) + 1:22 (audio) = 4:02 total

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MoniqueReads305
Untitled | Unknown
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I love #24B4Monday and I'm on vacation. Can't say that I will actually read 24 hours this time around. But I'm at least shooting for 15.

Should I create a spread in my bullet journal for it?....

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MoniqueReads305
Exposed | Jean-Philippe Blondel
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It's been a long time since I've read a translated book. Over a year ago and it just happened to be translated from French also. I didn't go into this read expecting much and so far have been pleasantly surprised.

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MoniqueReads305
Bailey's Cafe | Gloria Naylor
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I'm currently reading four books. I'm finishing up my last Gloria Naylor novel "Bailey's Café" and reading RF Kuang's The "Poppy War" for a book club. Not pictured is my current audiobook Half of a Yellow Sun by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie and the Care and Feed of Ravenously Hungry Girls by Anissa Gray.

What are you reading heading into the weekend?

#fridayreads #currentlyreading

Bookzombie I‘m in the middle of the tagged book and trying to decide what audiobook to start. 4y
MoniqueReads305 @Bookzombie How is An Unkindness of Ghost so far? I brought it when it first released and haven't gotten around to it yet. 4y
Bookzombie @MoniqueReads305 It‘s really good so far. I‘m not quite halfway through. 4y
MoniqueReads305 @Bookzombie that's good to know. Even I'm looking for sci-fi I'll pick it up. 4y
28 likes1 stack add4 comments
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MoniqueReads305
Untitled | Unknown
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When I last checked in I was 20 pages behind my 50 pages per day goal. I'm happy to announce now I'm 44 pages ahead. #JumpStart2020

I'm currently readimg The Poppy War by RF Kuang and Mama Day by Gloria Naylor.

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MoniqueReads305
The Known World | Edward P. Jones
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I love learning new words from books. The Merriam-Webster app gets alot of use on my phone. Edward P. Jones "The Known World" was loaded with new to me words.

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MoniqueReads305
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I started #Jumpstart2020 a day late. Still going back and forth about how I want to measure my goals but I'm thinking at the end I want to average at least 50 pages a day. So far, I'm 20 pages behind.

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MoniqueReads305
Untitled | Unknown
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This is exactly what I need to start my 2020 reading off right. My goal for January is to read 10 books total. I'll be back on January 3rd with my goal for the challenge.

#JumpStart2020 @Lizpixie @Clwojick

Lizpixie Welcome aboard!🙌 4y
Clwojick Welcome! Good luck! 4y
19 likes2 comments
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MoniqueReads305
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After waiting what felt like forever, I almost forgot to open my #jolabokaflod package. It caught my eye as a made another trip to the door hoping that the UPS finally dropped off my stuff.

Thank You, @Princess-Kingofkings Wasn't able to get the chocolate in the shot but Lindor truffles is one of my fave. Also, I love old library hard copy editions, the binding keeps the books looking nice. The ornament makes a lovely bookmark.

#jolabokaflodswap

Princess-Kingofkings You are so welcome ~ I actually read the first chapter after it arrived. The cover was intriguing! 4y
MaleficentBookDragon 🎁🍫 📚 Happy #Jolakabodflod 4y
30 likes2 comments
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MoniqueReads305
Untilted | Autechre
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My #JolabokaflodSwap package had been sent. I don't know if we're supposed to keep the sender secret but since I forgot to add a card I wanted to let @MeesesPieces to be on the lookout. The package should arrive on the 18th.

Also, sorry about the oversized book. The lady at the post office convinced me to use it to save money. I had destroyed the original shopping box before I realized it was too big.

MeesesPieces @MoniqueReads305 thank you! I‘m so excited! I had to do the same thing for my person as well at the post office. 4y
19 likes1 comment
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MoniqueReads305
Fight Club: A Novel | Chuck Palahniuk
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For the first time in a long time I completed my GoodReads Challenge. Book #52 was Fight Club. Still trying to process how I feel about this one.

I'm super excited to say that I completed my GoodReads Challenge early. 🎉🎉🎉

thegirlwiththelibrarybag Yay! Congratulations! 🥳 I‘m on the home stretch with my GR challenge ☺️ 4y
Liatrek Congrats 🎉🎉🎉 4y
Sace Woo hoo! 🎉🎉🎉 4y
See All 15 Comments
rachelm Congrats! 4y
Eggs 👏🏻🎉🥳🤗 4y
WorldsOkayestStepMom Congratulations! 4y
Reggie Congrats!!!!!🎈 4y
Nute Congratulations on a fantastic accomplishment!🤗 4y
Tamra Yay for you!! 4y
Hooked_on_books Hooray! Nice job! 🎉 4y
Megabooks 🥳🥳🎉🎉📚📚👍🏻👍🏻 4y
Birdsong28 Congratulations 🎊 🎉 📚 📖 4y
sprainedbrain Woohoo!!! 🎉🎉🎉 4y
Bookzombie Congratulations!! 4y
ephemeralwaltz Yoohoo!! I also made mine earlier this year. Never thought I would! 4y
46 likes15 comments
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MoniqueReads305
Fight Club: A Novel | Chuck Palahniuk
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The Fight Club is one of the books that I never had a plan of reading. I saw the movie first and the desire to read the source material never developed. But a library sale happened and now it's on my physical #TBR so I'm #currentlyreading

KendallHershey I just read it a few months back and really enjoyed it! It had been a long time since I‘d seen the movie and I think that helped. 4y
MoniqueReads305 @KendallHershey That's good to know. I saw the movie when it first came to DVD. So, it's been years. 4y
39 likes2 comments
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MoniqueReads305
Untitled | Unknown
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📚 I enjoy almost everything thing about Litsy
📚 Things I'm not interested in... Can't think of one.
📚 I would like to be able to post without tagging a book or ability to tag multiple books.
📚 Once a week or less
📚I enjoy participating in reading, readathons, and questionnaires.
📚 See answer to question 3

#ListyQuestionnaire

night_shift Ah, that would be cool to be able to post with multiple books tagged! 4y
sprainedbrain Multiple books would be handy! 4y
26 likes2 comments
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MoniqueReads305
Dual Citizens | Alix Ohlin
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One of my favorite narratives to read is about sisterhood and the bonds that both strengthen and strain the connections that sisters have. It's been awhile since I've read such a story. And the reading gods decided to bless me twice in a row both times with stories about Canadian sisters.

#currentlyreading #sisterhood

Soubhiville I just picked this up at Texas Book Festival last weekend. I heard the author speak. She read the beginning and it sounded good to me. I hope you‘ll enjoy it! I will watch for your review. 4y
MoniqueReads305 @Soubhiville I'm only 30 pages in and her writing is very engaging. I'm going to have to check and see if she's going to be at the book fair here next week. 4y
25 likes2 comments
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MoniqueReads305
The Legend Of Sleepy Hollow | Washington Irving
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It's been a long time since I've revisited this tale. My grandmother was a huge fan of holidays especially Halloween. The first audiobook experience I remember having was listening to The Legend of Sleepy Hollow on cassette tape in a dark house curled up on the couch. It was spooky and fun.

#currentlyreading #currentlylistening

hermyknee Oh awesome! I love this one. What a good way to spend Halloween! 🧡 4y
25 likes1 comment
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MoniqueReads305
The Perfect Date | Evelyn Lozada, Holly Lorincz
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Panpan

The story of Angel, a single mother and nursing student, and Duke, a star pitcher for a ML baseball team. Angel reluctantly agrees to pretend to be Duke‘s girlfriend to help fix his bad boy image. The Perfect Date had the chance to be a great fake dating hate to love romance. But the mediocre writing, lackluster plot, and character development, failed to deliver the sparks needed to believe Angel and Duke‘s budding romance.

Full review on blog.

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MoniqueReads305
Untitled | Unknown
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Yesterday was better than Friday and I'm excited about that. Read/Listen for a total of 3 Hours and 17 Minutes. Today, I have a writing meetup so I might not get that much reading/listening done. We will

#24B4Monday

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MoniqueReads305
Untitled | Unknown
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Yesterday was a bit of a bust. I didn't get nearly as much reading done as I wanted. But today is a new day and since I up in the middle of the night I going to do some #amlistening and play The Sims 4.

#24B4Monday

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MoniqueReads305
Every Little Step: My Story | Bobby Brown, Nick Chiles
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Bobby Brown is obviously not a narrator but I like listening to him tell his own stop.

1:43 hours out of 24 for #24B4Monday #readathon

TheBookDream Who‘s hosting the 24 before Monday? I want to sign up! 4y
Andrew65 @TheBookDream All you need to do to join up is post what you ate reading do a regular post over the weekend to show how you‘re going time wise. Apologies for the delay in replying - work and then 250 mile drive. Good luck and enjoy. Thanks for the tag @boojunkie57 4y
24 likes3 comments
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MoniqueReads305
Desirable Sister | Taslim Burkowicz
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1) I'm hoping to complete the whole 24 hours. (I'm behind on my yearly reading goals.

2) For a #readathon I have a set TBR, but I try to make it as diverse as possible so I can switch it up if needed.

3) Coffee

4) Both 😭 Insomnia

5) Nope. I suck at readathons. I just like to participate.

6) Memoir, Contemporary Lit, and Horror Comic

7) All three.

#24B4Monday

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MoniqueReads305
I Wanna Be Where You Are | Kristina Forest
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I just noticed that I have a peculiar habit when it comes to reading. When I realized that I'm about to really like a book, I stop reading it. Like with I Wanna Be Where You Are by Kristina Forest, I set it aside for over a week. It's like I just don't want it to be over and get to the last page so I avoid it by not reading at all.

I just might fall in love with YA Contemporary.

#currentlyreading

Reggie Awww me too when I know I could finish a book in one day but I‘m not mad when I don‘t see it for a couple of days, because it means it‘ll still be around. 😊 5y
bookandcat I do the same thing sometimes. I also have had some books where I would stop and restart then and then go one extra chapter because I didn't want it to end. One day I finished it and was like...oh...I can just reread the whole thing 😂 5y
MoniqueReads305 @bookandcat I wish I was a rereader but I have to wait until story details fades from my memory before I can reread. 5y
MoniqueReads305 @Reggie Exactly. I love a book that I can binge read but I always try to savior the really good ones and extend then for days. 5y
32 likes1 stack add4 comments
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MoniqueReads305
I Wanna Be Where You Are | Kristina Forest
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I don't know what I was expecting when I picked this up from my library. All I know is that it had a cute cover and it was on my Goodreads To Read shelf. Let just say that I'm pleasantly surprised by this cute YA Contemporary.

#currentlyreading

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MoniqueReads305
Light In August | William Faulkner
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This is part of my #audiobook project which is my attempt to listen to at least 12 of the audiobooks that I have collected since 2014. I'm almost complete with all the books from that first year. Just one left.

Faulkner is long winded and even after almost 8 hours into the audiobook, I'm not sure that his writing style is suited for audiobooks.

#currentlyreading #currentlylistening

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MoniqueReads305
A Good American | Alex George
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I love the feeling when a book surprises me in a good way. This book has been sitting on my shelf for years and I never gave it a second glance. Half way finished and I'm enjoying myself and regretful that I hadn't read it sooner.

#currentlyreading

22 likes1 stack add