A few days late, but here is my July wrap up. A Day of Fallen Night was my favorite read of the month. Samantha Shannon never disappoints with her amazing books.

5 🌟 - What a beautifully charming book. I absolutely devoured this book in a matter of days; something that I have not done in a while. And its all thanks to the beautiful writing and incredible story. This book has one of my favorite tropes: found family. Which is the main focus of the book where even outcasts can find family and love, especially when they least expect it.

I‘ve had this book on my TBR for forever and I finally got around to reading it and I now understand all the hype about it! It lived up to all my expectations and I loved the fact that this book is all about escaping a dull world and discovering a new and more exciting one. The reader feels Lila‘s longing for adventure and need to do something more with her life that sit still. Which I feel a lot of readers can relate to and why we read books.

2.5/5🌟 - I really wanted to like this book. After all it appeals to the nostalgia of growing up in the 90‘s and home movies recorded on VHS tapes. The book also takes place in a small town in Wisconsin, the same state that I live, and there were a lot of familiar things about the town and the general scenery of the state. But the killer was too easy to predict and the mystery of it all kind of fell flat.

5/5🌟 - If you want an in-depth look into important characters of The Phantom Menace then I‘d recommend these books. Queen Amidala and Darth Maul were my favorite, both showing events that happened before and during the movie that the viewer didn‘t get to see and added so much to the plot. These books are a fast and fun read but are so important to the plot of The Phantom Menace. #starwars #starwarslegends

5/5🌟 - I recently started this series (currently reading vol 5) and it is so adorable! The Forger family is so cute together and I can‘t wait for them all to realize they love each other and are the perfect family. I am devouring this series and I am already dreading the hang over that hits when I catch up to the current volume.

I got to meet Samantha Shannon (Priory of the Orange Tree, The Bone Season) about a year ago. It was the coolest thing ever and my first time meeting an author. The tour was two states away and my best friend and I drove through a snow storm to meet her. #sundayfunday

3.5/5🌟 — I don‘t feel like this book stood up to the strong plotlines that book 1 & 2 had. Book 1 was a unique retelling of Beauty & the Beast, while book 2 had fantastic character development & focused solely on Grey. This 3rd book meanwhile was mostly talking & plotting, then when it came for the final battle I found it lacking. It was predictable & I wish a different character had dealt the killing blow. But I did enjoy this series as a whole.

“A war does not ignore half the people whose lives it touches. So why do we?” — This book was fantastic! A feminist retelling of the women of Troy after the war. The book is told through Calliope giving inspiration to a poet. But Calliope makes it clear to the poet that the only story she will give him is the women‘s story as everyone already knows the mens story. 5/5🌟

This was a fun book filled with stories from people all over the country about grammar. The Grammar Table is such a unique idea, one that connects many people in so many different ways. This book had me laughing out loud or groaning at the personal stories people shared and listening to the audiobook—which is narrated by the author—made the stories better. 4/5🌟

This series was my first introduction to Brandon Sanderson, and I now understand all the hype when it comes to his books. These books made me laugh, cry, and want to throw it across the room. I felt every death and every surprise twist that these characters felt and only a really incredible author can make you feel all the same feelings the characters do. 5/5🌟

My friends and I recently finished the junior novelization of The Phantom Menace together and then began to read the journals of Queen Amidala, Anakin, and Darth Maul as well. Just from reading the first journal you can tell that these books pair well with the movie novelization and give a better insight to the title characters point of view during the plot of Phantom Menace. I would 💯 recommend these books to any Star Wars fan! #starwars

It has been a long while since I‘ve been on this app, so it‘s fitting for my first review in 4 years (oops) to be one of my favorite recent reads. The Sun Down Motel was just the right mix of a spooky ghost story with a twist of unsolved murder mystery. This book had me on the edge of my seat while also had me scared to turn the page because it was so spooky. 5/5🌟

This book is so cute and its illustrations creative and beautiful! 5/5🌟

Happy Thanksgiving everyone!! Hope you all have a wonderful day with friends and family! 🥰

Have the house to myself for a little while so immediately turned on my fireplace app (really wish it was a real one 😫) and settling in to continue my current read. 😊

Found this at work today and hand to check it out. Such sweet haikus about dogs that all dog owners will understand. 3/5🌟

Also found the cutest little tote bag to bring my books back to WI in 😊

Drove down to Waco TX for a much needed vacation and got to stop at my first in a long list of bookshops along the way!! Tagged book has been on my wishlist for a really long time!

Another round of reading in the car while waiting for an appointment. Haven‘t found much time to read lately so I‘m taking any spare time I can get!!

Going on vacation in a week and first priority has been searching for and checking out audiobooks for the car ride. I am really excited about my choices and can‘t wait to start listening to them but first have to actually begin packing and preparing for the trip!

I haven‘t stayed up late to finish a book in ages but this one was so worth the extra cups of coffee consumed during work this morning. Ninth House is the perfect October read to bring in the spookiness of Halloween! Leigh really brought New Haven and Yale to life in a new and incredible way and created such amazing characters to compliment such a strange and wonderful world. 5/5🌟

❤️ Milwaukee, WI
🧡 27
💛 I‘m a circulation aide at my local library
💚 Single and loving it!!
💙 She/her
💜 Blink-182 song lyrics from the song Going Away To College (I‘m also an very awkward introvert so I thought it was fitting... 🤣)

@JoScho #gettingtoknowyou

After binging Downton Abbey for the first time & then going to see the movie I was so excited to hear there were books! This book didn‘t disappoint in giving a more in depth view to the real family who lived in the castle. The only thing I wish was different was a little bit more information on the lives of the servants downstairs. All in all it was really good & gave a better view into the life of the Carnarvon‘s. 4/5🌟

Getting to know a different side of Hopper before he returns to Hawkins & before all the crazy of the Upside Down begins was incredible. Hopper holds a special place in my heart & the author does a really good job of keeping true to Hoppers character & who he is as a cop & person. The murder mystery was well done & kept up suspense & intrigue through the entire book! 4/5🌟

Does anyone else read to their pets? I‘m really hoping I‘m not the only one 🤣 this was the cutest book and even though my dog left halfway though, I really liked it! 5/5🌟

I don‘t know why it took me so long to read this book because it lived up to all the amazing things I‘ve heard about it! I‘m so glad that I found all three books at my library because I can‘t wait a second more to start the second book. 5/5🌟

This sequel to Marlo was just as cute (if not cuter) than the first book! Marlo is back but this time with dinosaurs adventuring in a new world of Marlo‘s making. Had its own version of I Spy to find Marlo‘s friends hidden on each scene thats beautifully created. 5/5🌟

This was the cutest book about a dog who takes a bath and goes on an underwater adventure! The illustrations are perfect and the story is so sweet and fun. AND it has a sequel!! 5/5🌟

I really tried to like this but 50 pages in and I couldn‘t do it. I don‘t know if its because I‘m not in the right mood for this kind of book (even though I JUST finished a murder mystery before picking this book up) or because of the writing or plot. But either way, it hurts my heart to DNF this one but I fear I may push myself into another reading slump if I try to force myself to continue.... 🙈

Another amazing story to continue Kendras journey. Have to admit that I sort of saw the ending coming, but there was one plot twist at the end that sent me reeling! I honestly never want this series to end, its so incredibly detailed and twisty that it makes it so enjoyable. I need the next book ASAP! 5/5🌟

This was amazing from start to finish! It brings books to life in a new way that you can immediately connect to and fall in love with this incredible world Rogerson created and her characters were so well written as well. I felt and immediate connection to Elisabeth and how she loves and respects books and libraries. And not to mention there are warrior librarians in this one! 5/5🌟

Officially been three weeks working at my library and at least once a week I come home with a new book I find on the shelves 🤣 at least I‘m not buying them though and they are free to read!

Already in love with this book!

I‘ve been a fan of Katie Heaney‘s since her first book came out and related to it so much. And now that Would You Rather is basically a continuation to that book I loved it just as much. 4/5🌟

My very loved copy of this book has been my companion the last few days as I tried to break my impossibly long block. This year has been full of twists & turns & the reading block has been real but I turned to an old friend to help. Loved this book just as much as the first time I read it all those years ago. 5/5🌟

Found a perfect reading spot in the break room to read during lunch! 😊 thank you everyone for all the support on my new job!! ♥️

Its certainly been a whirlwind week! I had applied to work at my library in September and didn‘t get the job, but then last week I got a phone call asking if I was still interested in the position & scheduled an interview for this Monday. Well, I just got the call back less than 24 hours after & they offered me the position!! I am on cloud nine right now that I get to have my dream job & had to share the news with my fellow booklovers right away!!

Visiting a new library and settling down in a comfy chair with a new book is a perfect start to a weekend getaway 😍

Is it horrible to say I liked the TV show better? I know its a rare instance when you think the movie/show is better than the actual book, but in this case it happened. I‘m not saying the comics were bad but there didn‘t seem like a lot of questions were answered; especially in the first volume. But its a really creative idea and the art was great so I‘m looking forward to how the story continues in vol 3. Vol 1: 3/5🌟 Vol 2: 4/5🌟

Going out of town for the weekend so stopped at the library to stock up on books and movies!!

I loved everything in this that involved books but the romance? Not so much. I found myself really relating to Nina in the beginning and found her inspiring as she took her leap of faith and left everything that was comfortable and easy behind. Then the romance came in and I found myself getting more and more disinterested. All in all give it a 3/5 🌟

An amazing companion to Moonlight Over Paris which tied up loose ends for another character and brought her the answers she so desperately wanted. Daisy‘s journey was another well written one and getting to know her better was well worth making this ebook an impulse buy. I was grinning from ear to ear during many parts of this book! 4/5🌟

My first historical fiction in what seems like forever and it was a great book to get me back into the genre. I related a lot to Helena and getting to see her journey to become her own woman was written so well. Not to mention Sam! Where can I find my own Sam!! 😍 4/5🌟

1. Priory of the Orange Tree or A Curse So Dark and Lonely!!
2. Probably Siege and Storm. The only reason I rated it high was because of Nikolai
3. Sarah J Maas‘ & Leigh Bardugo‘s new books! 🙌
4. Yes I set myself for 50 books but only at 11 right now 😫
5. @Areader2 @HOTPock3tt 😊

#Thursdaysurvey @laurenslibrary

Trying something new in June by making myself a TBR pile! I have never actually completed one before and either get distracted by other books or intimidated by how big it is 😱 so fingers crossed that I can finish it 🤞🏻 first up is Moonlight Over Paris 😍

Another amazing book to the Ravenspire series! One of the best fairytale retellings yet with just enough originality to stand out among the rest. Blue is such a fierce and determined character and her relationship with the rest of the characters are so complex and wonderful! 5/5🌟

Finding quiet moments to myself in the car during a day full of appointments and errands. This book is addicting and I‘m really having trouble setting it down to actually get things accomplished. 🤓

This book was my Everest and my most anticipated book of the year and it did not disappoint at all. It took me a hot second to finish but with how many details and characters that were in this book it made reading it over the span of two months (while also battling a reading slump) worth it! 5/5🌟