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rachelsbrittain

rachelsbrittain

Joined January 2017

writer. reader. obsessed with stories. contributing editor for BookRiot.com she/her rachelbrittain.com
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rachelsbrittain
Orbital | Samantha Harvey
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This is not your typical science fiction novel. I've seen it described as a "love letter to Earth," and I'd say that's very apt. I kept wondering when the story was going to "start" at first until I realized...this is the story. It's a rumination on Earth and space and humanity from the viewport of a space station. It's slow and maybe sometimes lingers too long on which exact locations the orbit is viewing from space, but lovely overall.

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Hoping to make some progress on this one and Orbital during my flight today.

Trashcanman Safe travels. 5d
38 likes2 comments
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rachelsbrittain
Orbital | Samantha Harvey
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I'm dying over the idea of "national toliets" ?

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Orbital | Samantha Harvey
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I've got another travel day so hoping to make some good progress on some of these books #WeekendReads

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Early morning flight ready

ChasingOm I read that one on a plane as well, lol. 1w
Chelsea.Poole That‘s a great sweater! 1w
40 likes1 stack add2 comments
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rachelsbrittain
Haunt Sweet Home | Sarah Pinsker
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An aimless woman joins on as a PA for a haunted house TV renovation show that her cousin hosts, helping fabricate supernatural moments behind the scenes. After making a new friend on set, though, she learns not all the hauntings are entirely fake. This was a quick, fun read.

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rachelsbrittain
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Drama, drama, drama. Imagine Daisy Jones and the Six mixed with the ice skating (or ice dance in this case) intrigue of Tonya Harding. If you enjoy reading about messy interpersonal relationships (both romantic and friendship) and cutthroat athletic competitions, this one is for you. Framed as a documentary transcript, the story of Kat Shaw and Heath Rocha takes you from their Midwest roots all the way to the Olympics.

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New library books

squirrelbrain Open Throat is weird and totally not ‘my thing‘ but I liked it! 1w
BkClubCare Good ones! 1w
rachelsbrittain @squirrelbrain good to know! The premise sounded wild and interesting. I often like weird in a book so I'm hoping I'll enjoy it! 1w
rachelsbrittain @BkClubCare I'm hoping they will be! 1w
50 likes4 comments
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Confounding Oaths | Alexis Hall
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How cute is this book return at my library?

Ruthiella Adorable! 😊 1w
Rome753 I remember reading that caterpillar book growing up 1w
53 likes2 comments
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rachelsbrittain
To Clutch a Razor | Veronica Roth
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A spectacular follow-up to When Among Crows. Dymitr returns to Poland with Ala, hoping to hide his feelings and true nature from his Knight family, but when he realizes Niko is in his hometown too--and there to hunt--that all goes out the window. Roth captures Dymitr's conflicted feelings wonderfully and seems to be setting up the potential for many many more books which I for one am thrilled about.

Meshell1313 I can‘t wait for this release- it‘s not coming out till Sept! 😩 2w
rachelsbrittain @Meshell1313 ahh so long to wait! 😞 2w
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Suzanne Collins knocks it out of the park once again! It's the second quarter quell and Haymitch's infamous Hunger Games with twice the number of children reaped. It was fascinating to see how the experiences in his teens made Haymitch the man he was when Katniss met him. I also loved the focus on propoganda and questioning why people don't fight back against oppression. Timely.

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Mostly been listening to the new Hunger Games prequel this weekend but I might start The Unlikely Pursuit of Mary Bennet #WeekendReads

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rachelsbrittain
Besties | Leah Reena Goren
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One of my oldest and best childhood friends is on Litsy now! @TorryK has gotten really into romantasy lately. Go give her a follow and a big litsy welcome and enjoy this picture of us as actual babies (8 year olds) doing Destination Imagination together. @LitsyWelcomeWagon

Trashcanman Welcome Torry! 3w
monalyisha Utterly adorable. Hi, @TorryK! Hope you end up loving our little corner! 💓📚 3w
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marleed Welcome to this space @TorryK! 3w
BookmarkTavern Welcome to Litsy @TorryK 🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉 3w
Ruthiella Welcome to Litsy! 😃 @TorryK 3w
TorryK Thanks everyone! I‘m so excited to be part of this and get to know y‘all! Can‘t wait to meet some fellow spicy book readers to talk with about current reads! 3w
wanderinglynn Welcome to Litsy @TorryK 👋🏻 3w
JessClark78 Welcome to Litsy! @TorryK 📚🙂 3w
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rachelsbrittain
Katabasis | R.F. Kuang
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I read a lot of great books in March but Katabasis came out on top #ReadingBracket2025 #BookaBracket2025 @CSeydel

CSeydel Very nice! 3w
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rachelsbrittain
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This nonfiction book about women working in propoganda during WWII focuses on the work of 4 remarkable women, including a journalist, an immigrant, and famous German actress Marlene Dietrich. They did remarkable work at home and overseas, often going up against sexism within their own ranks, to help bring an end to the war. A fascinating read.

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I didn't get to all the books I wanted to read for the #TransRightsReadathon but I've got a few more I hope to read / finish in April.

ChaoticMissAdventures I am waiting for this tagged one from my library! I am so excited for it! 3w
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rachelsbrittain
The Spirit Bares Its Teeth | Andrew Joseph White
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A young trans man in Victorian England with violet eyes is sent to an institution for girls with "veil sickness" when he's caught trying to commune with spirits. The institution and being forced to live as the girl he is not would be bad enough, but something even more sinister is going on here--and Silas is determined to find out what. A dark and heartbreaking read, mostly because despite the supernatural elements so much of it is based in truth.

rachelsbrittain TWs: transphobia, sexism, sexual assault, physical assault, institutionalization, murder, abelism and abelist language, abortion, suicide attempts, vivisection 4w
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All nonfiction all the time this weekend #WeekendReads

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Had a little time at the coffee shop today to start this biography of Marsha P. Johnson

TheBookHippie ♥️ 1mo
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rachelsbrittain
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A woman who's never learned to say what she wants goes on what was supposed to be her suprise honeymoon with her best friend. When Ginny tells her Elsie can have whatever she wants as long as she asks for it, Elsie realizes that what she wants is... them. But can several perfect, sex-filled days of vacation lead to a lasting relationship in the real world? The third act relationship drama was WAY overblown imo but I really enjoyed the rest of it.

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The Spirit Bares Its Teeth | Andrew Joseph White
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Finished My Best Friend's Honeymoon this afternoon and started The Spirit Bares Its Teeth. I adored Andrew Joseph White's dystopian religious supernatural horror novel so I'm hoping this one will be just as good. Then I've got a historical fiction book queued up to start after that. #TransRightsReadathon

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I'm not sure if I'm going to be able to get to all the books I wanted to read during the #TransRightsReadathon but dang if I'm not going to try

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Lord Eden needs a wife and a new valet. The problem is, he doesn't want either. But James Harding isn't the valet he was expecting. Sure, he's uptight and handsome and determined to dress Christopher--something he absolutely will not allow--but he's also surprisingly tolerable. The secrets both men are hiding could ruin everything--or lead to something wonderful. A lovely historical trans romance. If you enjoyed A Lady for a Duke, this is for you.

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Reading with my new foster kittens 😻

ChaoticMissAdventures Oh my goodness babies!!! 😻😻 1mo
TheSpineView Too cute! ❤️🐾❤️ 1mo
Ruthiella Adorable! 😻😻😻 1mo
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Gissy 😻🤎❤️💛 1mo
Sace Awwww! 1mo
kspenmoll Cuties!!!😻😻😻 1mo
ShelleyBooksie Adorable ♡♡♡♡♡ 1mo
mcipher So cute!!! 😻 1mo
Chelsea.Poole Babies! 😻 1mo
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I'm finishing up Propoganda Girls on audio this weekend and reading A Gentleman's Gentleman and My Best Friend's Honeymoon for the #TransRightsReadathon

#WeekendReads

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Library haul

julesG Nice choices! 1mo
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Beloved | Toni Morrison
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I think the tagline pretty much says it all:
https://bookriot.com/banned-historical-fiction-books/

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rachelsbrittain
Katabasis | R.F. Kuang
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R. F. Kuang's done it again! She sure does know how to craft an unputdownable book. I will say, this is very much a book for and of writers and academia. I think lots of other people will like it regardless, but it's set in academia and clearly heavily influenced by Kuang's experiences with it. But a trip to hell to save your abusive advisor? Now come on, that's a premise! TWs hidden in a comment below.

rachelsbrittain TWs for abusive teachers, sexism, sexual assault, suicidal ideation and mentions of suicide, violence, and gore 1mo
Aconight Just saw this the other day and it looks so good 😍😍 1mo
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rachelsbrittain
Katabasis | R.F. Kuang
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I'm already loving Katabasis and hoping to start this other two this weekend as well #WeekendReads

bookandbedandtea Oooh Propaganda Girls sounds really good! 1mo
rachelsbrittain @bookandbedandtea my sister @sebrittainclark read it and recommended it to me 1mo
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Pokko and the Drum | Matthew Forsythe
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Just read through these two adorable little picture books I'm gifting my nephew for his third birthday (along with an amigurumi version of my snake Casper), and I'm obsessed. Dreamy illustrations and quirky little stories about woodland creatures marching to the beat of their own (literal or figurative) drum.

TheBookHippie Oh these are so fun! 2mo
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rachelsbrittain
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I was inspired by @BookmarkTavern 's post to make a #TransRightsReadathon tbr. The readathon goes from March 21-31 this year.

BookmarkTavern Look forward to seeing your thoughts! 💕 2mo
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rachelsbrittain
Buffalo Hunter Hunter | Stephen Graham Jones
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The great granddaghter of a Lutheran preacher discover a crumbling old journal recounting the confessions of a Blackfeet man called "Good Stab" recounting how he was turned into a "catman" (vampire) and all the lives he's taken since. But is he really looking for absolution-- or revenge? Incredible work of fiction as always from SGJ. Historical fiction meets horror. I'll include trigger warnings under a spoiler in the comments.

rachelsbrittain TW for racial violence, religion as justification for violence, graphic descriptions of violence including against children and infants, depictions of rape 2mo
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rachelsbrittain
Big Name Fan | Ruthie Knox, Annie Mare
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Rom-com meets cozy murder mystery in this novel about actors with complicated feelings for each other and the roles they once played across from each other in a cult TV show. Now they've reunited for a podcast and a reunion special, but instead of talking up the show they've decided to find out what really happened to the beloved makeup artist who died on set. A fun read though there were so many characters I sometimes had trouble keeping track.

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rachelsbrittain
The River Has Roots | Amal El-Mohtar
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This beautiful novella features harp and flute music recorded by El-Mohtar and her sister--especially appropriate since this is a story about sisters and sisterhood! Eleanor and Isabelle live alongside the river Lyss, their singing an integral part of keeping the magic of the trees alive. But Eleanor's love for one of the fae from nearby Arcadia complicates her determination to never leave her sister. Loved the concept of magic as "grammar."

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rachelsbrittain
Buffalo Hunter Hunter | Stephen Graham Jones
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willaful Six of Crows and probably nothing else! It's a longie. 2mo
rachelsbrittain @willaful Six of Crows is a great one! 2mo
llwheeler Ooh I cannot wait for Amal El-Mohtar's book!! 2mo
rachelsbrittain @llwheeler it's so good! 2mo
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Wooing the Witch Queen | Stephanie Burgis
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Book mail! I haven't loved the alternate covers for the last two Owlcrate adult fantasy book boxes. Excited for the books themselves but kinda bummed that the original covers are prettier in my opinion 😓

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Dream On, Ramona Riley | Ashley Herring Blake
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Surprisingly all my favorite reads of the year so far are romances! Even my top 2 pick for February (Deep End by Ali Hazelwood) is romance. But I have been enjoying the escapism of romance lately. Well see if the trend continues into March but with Katabasis and The Buffalo Hunter Hunter on my tbr for the month, I kind of doubt it. @CSeydel

CSeydel Great start! 2mo
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Untitled | Untitled
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What are you reading this weekend? #WeekendReads

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rachelsbrittain
Dream On, Ramona Riley | Ashley Herring Blake
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My first five star read of the year! I usually like my romance books a little less messy but when one of the main characters is the somewhat dysfunctional daughter of two rockstars, things are going to be a bit disastrous. I loved Ramona and Dylan's second-chance romance. Another great book from Ashley Herring Blake. I'm already anxiously anticipating the next book following Ramona's tattoo artist friend April.

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Dream On, Ramona Riley | Ashley Herring Blake
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Using the nice weather as an excuse to finish my book outside

mcipher With a gorgeous reading buddy! 🐶 ❤️ 2mo
40 likes1 comment
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rachelsbrittain
Katabasis | R.F. Kuang
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Screaming, crying 😄😵😭

julesG Enjoy!!! Looking forward to your review. 2mo
MonicaLoves2Read Ooh! CONGRATULATIONS 2mo
BookmarkTavern 🤩🤩🤩 2mo
49 likes3 comments
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rachelsbrittain
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The daughter of an actress heading to a small town to escape a recent scandal and a cute mechanic hit it off and have a fling in this fun, spicy romance. But when the chance for something more between them comes up, will Jessica be able to take it or will she leave Vinnie waiting in the dust?

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rachelsbrittain
The Answer Is No | Fredrik Backman, Elizabeth DeNoma (Translator)
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This is a wonderfully absurdist short story about human nature and relationships set in an apartment building where a growing pile of junk is wreaking havoc. Fredrik Backman really knows how to write a great story.

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rachelsbrittain
The Woods All Black | Lee Mandelo
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This was a hard read to get through. A story about queer / trans people being violently targeted by a bigoted pastor and his followers in small town Appalachia felt a little too much like reality right now, even though the story is set in the past. That said, it's well written and a good story. I particularly liked that Les and Stevie didn't tamp down their anger / desire for vengeance at the end.

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Dream On, Ramona Riley | Ashley Herring Blake
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Working my way through these three very different books this weekend. Two ebooks and one audio. #WeekendReads

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The Weekend | Charlotte Wood
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What are you reading this weekend? #WeekendReads

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Crocheting for Fun! | Lisa Bullard
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Where are my knitting / crocheting readers at? I'm really tempted to makes the banned book cowl I included on this list and also the adorable little bookworms. And maybe the book clutch. Gah so many great options! Not like I already have about 5 different projects going either 😅

https://bookriot.com/bookish-crochet-and-knitting-patterns/

TheBookHippie Love. 2mo
ShyBookOwl 🙋🏽‍♀️ yes!!! Love this 2mo
Meshell1313 Love! Thanks for sharing! So cute! 2mo
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rachelsbrittain
The Rainfall Market | You Yeong-Gwang
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I ended up enjoying this cozy Korean fantasy novel but it was a bit more cliche than I had hoped in some ways. A young girl goes to a magical market to change her life but none of the possible futures she sees seem to turn out as well as she'd hoped. Not only that, but a thief if plaguing the marker. Along with her magical cat companion Issha, Serrin will have to decide what exactly it is she's looking in life.

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rachelsbrittain
Dream On, Ramona Riley | Ashley Herring Blake
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A little naptime reading

MemoirsForMe ❤️❤️❤️ 2mo
kspenmoll So sweet.❤️ 2mo
Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks Awww ❤️ 2mo
marleed Ohhhh, precious♥️♥️ 2mo
julesG Precious moments!! 2mo
59 likes5 comments
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rachelsbrittain
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I usually go through a few slumps a year ranging from a week to a month. I'm still able to read it just takes me longer because I'm unable to focus as much or am less invested.

I find shorter bites like graphic novels and short story collections can be helpful. Something about finishing a story all in one go is satisfying. Fanfiction is another go-to, though I usually don't think of that as reading in the same way 😅

@BookmarkTavern

rachelsbrittain I've actually been in a bit of a slump the last few weeks. Still reading, just not as much or as fast. It's never any fun because a slump for me is usually related to my mental health / overall stress and anxiety levels. 2mo
Kerrbearlib What fan fic do you like to read? 2mo
Graywacke Don‘t underestimate breaks. 🙂 Also try reading other things. If fiction is failing, try nonfiction. If it‘s a specific book, take a break, read about the author and the topics covered. These will change what you think about when you read it. If it‘s a certain type of book, try reading about that type of book or literature. If nonfiction is failing, try fiction or poetry. And you can try audio as a change. Wish you well. 2mo
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BookmarkTavern Fanfiction totally counts! I have a couple favorites I love to revisit. Thanks for posting! 2mo
rachelsbrittain @Kerrbearlib a lot of niche TV shows with pairings I've fallen in love with lol 😂 you? 2mo
Kerrbearlib @rachelsbrittain same lol. I confess I've even written some of my own fic lol. I shouldn't be embarrassed by that, but I still want to run and hide when I tell people lol! 2mo
rachelsbrittain @Kerrbearlib oh man same! I'm not at all embarrassed to have written fic but that doesn't mean I'm sharing it with anyone 😂 2mo
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