This took some time to get into, but once I did, I absolutely loved it.
I appreciate what Phoebe brought as a character. Her ability to just be and not worry about what anyone else thought of her was quite inspiring. The way she treated and spoke to Juice, she handled so many situations with grace. I just loved it.
This was one of those books that I needed to read at this time in life.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
10.26.2025

October Bookclub pick. Half the room said they didn't like it. And the other half (the correct half) said they enjoyed the book.
It seems those of us who went in blind, enjoyed it a lot more than those with expectations.
I quite enjoyed it. I really liked Billie. I would love to see a POV from Vance Gilchrist and Helen.
The chapters with the Catachombs were my favorite.

⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
10.23.2025

Tiny bookclub pick.
This surprised me because it started a little slow. But picked up nicely. The mystery, the will they/won't they, the characters. It was enjoyable.

09.23.2025
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I can't believe I read this in HIGH SCHOOL and thought it was boring.
Just goes to show that when you read because you WANT to and not because you HAVE to, it makes a difference.
This was so good and so chilling.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

09.17.2025

I found this book to be very sweet. 🩷
It's a friendship book. And I love friendship.
Everyone got an ending, no loose strings.

September Book Club pick

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

09.11.2025

This book was absolutely horrifying.
I had nightmares.
My husband had to tell me to stop reading it.
But I couldn't.
It was too good.
At 60%, I thought we had it all figured out. WHAT MORE COULD THERE BE?? Oh, there was more.
I told all of my friends to avoid this book, not because it was bad 👎, but because it was awful 😱. Omg.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
09.02.2025

It took me a long time to get into this one.
It was good, but I'm not planning to read any of the other books.
⭐️⭐️⭐️

08.20.2025

My tenant also eats more than her share of food. And she doesn't pay a dime or do any chores! Honestly, so inconsiderate. But also, I love her endlessly.
This was good, but not great. (The Boyfriend and Never Lie are still my favorites)
I did enjoy reading it. Because it was a great story full of horrifying moments. 🍎

⭐️⭐️⭐️
08.01.2025

This was a hard read. But an important read.
This was my first Toni Morrison book. I'm interested in reading more.

July bookclub.

07.24 2025

6,000 stars. So so so good.
Matt is not written very realistically. But WHO CARES, it's a super cute, funny, feel good, and has a bit of spice.
I loved this so much. Best book of 2025 so far.

Gotta thank @Kshakal because this book, nor this author were ever on my radar.

♾️⭐️

07.18.2025

It took me while to get into this book. At 47%, I could barely put it down.
I guessed one of the twists (which never bothers me), but I liked it enough to read the second book in the series.

Reading with my bestie @BookBabe2018

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

07.09.2025

This book is going to stick with me for a long time.
What really endeared me to it was the fact that Piper never felt like she was above anyone and was learning from her mistakes. The relationship with her fiance was very loving and supportive. This was definitely a friendship book.
This was the June Book Club pick!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
06.26.2025

Death Row ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
The Ex-Wives Club ⭐️⭐️⭐️
False Notes ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
The Skydivers⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Good Neighbors ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Small Things ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

The Skydivers was most memorable
Good Neighbors and Small Things are tied for the favorite of the series.

06.19.2025

This book was good- I liked most of the characters, eapecially Sam. But it didn't ?wow me in any way.
It wasn't a cozy thriller, obviously, but it certainly wasn't a "sit on the edge of your seat" thriller. This is one of those books that is just in the wrong genre. Maybe more of a drama?

⭐️⭐️⭐️

05.27.2025

I had no idea that I would like this book as much as I did. From the first page, it was very science-y and very math-y, but I kept going. This story was so interesting, AND it helped me get a trivia question right 🤗
Just me working on clearing out my owned TBR.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
06.12.2025

Even though this was short and I have no idea what to make of the ending, I still really enjoyed it from the first page. McFadden has yet to disappoint me.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
05.31.2025

This book surprised the ✨️heck✨️ out of me.
Part 1 - But when is this gonna get good? (Please tell me that someone knows this meme)
Part 2 - OMG this is so good
Part 3 - Gasp! The tragedy never ends 😭

This was for May bookclub - I loved the conversation we had about this time in history. Many people even brought their own stories from their family members. So interesting. And also, incredibly sad. I hate it here.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

05.22.2025

The pacing
The characters
The twists
✨️Chefs kiss✨️

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

05.13.2025

Love love love love LOVED this book.
So sweet, super lovely, incredibly feel good.
I only want to read this genre for the rest of my life.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
05.10.2025

I quite liked this as a stand alone book. It's been maybe 10 years since I read The Giver. I assume this is the same universe, which is good for me. It was short and got to the point. I love Matt. Such a nice and thoughtful kid. I liked the ending.

⭐️⭐️⭐️.5

05.04.2025

"For Josh-
Because you would go Under the Mountain for me.
I love you."

My husband BETTER go Under the Mountain to save me. There's NO WAY I could solve any of those puzzles while under that sort of pressure.

#SundayFunday
@BookmarkTavern

This was the April Bookclub pick. This was not a winner among the group.
Once I hit 50%, I really wanted to DNF. But because it was for bookclub, I decided to try again. I skipped 2 chapters and then finished the rest of the book in one sitting.
Personally, I liked the ending, but also hated the ending. Idk. There are a few stories that I will be remembering for a long time, whether I want to or not... looking at you "Spider"

⭐️⭐️⭐️
04.24.2025

This book was so so so so cute.
I will definitely be reading the rest of the series. Belly is just so cool. And she spends so much time thinking she's not, but I really loved her. And just like the show, Team Jeremiah. Everyone can fight me.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

04.15.2025

This was the March bookclub pick.
I don't really think it was for me.
It was quite uneventful in the beginning. Took a good 100 pages to get into it. Once the storm came through, it picked up. But was still just, meh.

Like I said, not for me. So I won't be rating this one.

03.28.2025

I don't know how Michael can deal with the immaturity. My goddddd.
"Sexy dance" was repeated so many times, it was reallystarting to hurt my eyes.
And Lilly just gets more and more selfish through each book. Please drop her Mia. I'm begging you.
I do enjoy JP's character. I hope he sticks around.

⭐️⭐️

04.06.2025

The more and more I think about this book. The more i like it.
I was very "meh" about it at first. Too predictable and all of the characters are very unlikeable. But McFadden really weaved some stuff in there that had me revisiting it for a couple days after finishing.
Not like her other books - it wasn't my favorite of hers, but it was certainly done quite well.

⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
03.27.2025

This was tons of fun. Enemies to lovers was excellently done.

Some of the writing was a bit confusing so I had to reread some parts, but I loved both MC's and I really loved the ending. I recommend this one.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
03.15.2025

And in this month of Mia's life... she's really not ready to "do it".
But she might be able to crush running for student council president. Even if she doesn't want to do that either.

⭐️⭐️⭐️
03.05.2025

Another buddy read with @BookBabe2018 !!
This was good, but not as good as the first one.
I am really excited to read more in this series!

⭐️⭐️⭐️.5

02.21.2025

Mia, it's just prom.
Lilly, wtf? But also, "you forgot to complain about your grandmother". Yes. Lilly does Tell it Like it is
Michael, ?
Mr. G is so cool and fun

This has been the most annoying so far. I couldn't wait for it to be over. But also, I loved it? WHO KNOWS!!!

⭐️⭐️⭐️

02.15.2025

Mia, WHAT ARE YOU DOING?
Parking meters, really?????

This was a bit whiny, so it is totally believable. Lilly saying that the made for TV movie made her look like a bad friend. LOOK IN THE MIRROR, SISTER.
But honestly, Lilly was much better and way more supportive. Especially when it came to her best friend and her brother. That was really nice.

⭐️⭐️⭐️.5

01.27.2025

Lilly still sucks. Tina should be her real best friend.

Mia's bodyguard, Lars is the only option I would accept if I were required a bodyguard.

All of the adults in Mia's life are fun, but in different ways. It seems like she has mostly good role models.
Her dad, Philippe again steals the show. He is so cool.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

01.19.2025

This book was pretty heartbreaking.
The animal abuse.
The human abuse.
It was hard to read at times. But I did enjoy the ending.

This had been on my TBR since seeing the movie in theatres.

01.15.2025

Well, I know what I need to do this year, 3/104

Bud not Buddy
The Giver
Bridge to Terabithia

Any recommendations for books I NEED to read?

#TLT
#ThreeListThursday
@dabbe

Why is Lilly such an awful friend? I know everyone is selfish at that age, but this is just unacceptable. Mia is doing her best. The negativity is unhelpful.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

01.10.2025

1. My sister and I started walking with the Conqueror Challenge app and connecting a lot more (she's in AK, I'm in NC)
2. I have a new boss!
3. Just started watching Vampire Diaries for the first time!
4. The Freida McFadden bookclub at work is BACK AT IT!!
5. My husband is finally feeling healthy again 🩷

@DebinHawaii
#5JoysFriday

"Okay. So I was just in the kitchen, eating cereal, you know, the usual Monday morning routine, when my mom comes out of the bathroom with this funny look on her face."

Mia Thermopolis, I just gotta say it... You have my stupid heart.

#FirstLineFridays
@ShyBookOwl

According to Mia, I have only 2 more years to reach self actualization.
No pressure. 🙃

50 books in 2024!
35 physical book
15 audiobooks
3 DNF's
7 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

In 2025, my reading goal is 50 books. And I want to clear out at least a quarter of my TBR bookshelf.

"The woman's apartment is never silent again"

My 50th book of 2024!

12.31.2024

I've done something dangerous. I've started a 12 book series that I will have to obsessively read.
Dare I say that this is my favorite read of 2024?

The characters and their personalities are so different from the movies, it was hard picturing Julie Andrew's. And I LOVED that. This book was so unexpected and funny.
I didn't know that I gave permission to Meg Cabot to read my own personal diary!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

12.31.2024

I hated this book so much.
4 ⭐️'s

12.28.2024

A Taylor Swift reading challenge? Obviously yes.
Found on Instagram!

#TaylorSwiftReadingChallenge

I kind of wish I looked into the genre of this one before reading it. But overall, it was sweet. The 2 love interests lacked chemistry, but I liked them both individually. It was 200 pages (4 hour audiobook), so I guess you can't ask for too much.
Everything turned out for the best. imo

⭐️⭐️⭐️
12.26.2024

There were parts of this book that I really liked. I love Violet as a character. I loved how Tairn would constantly tell her, "I chose you for a reason. Don't listen to those jerks. You're a badass."
Andarna was so funny! I think the dragons stole the show.
What was the point of Cat? An annoying subplot, imo.

I did not see that one twist coming.

It was okay. I see why people like it.
⭐️⭐️⭐️

12.22.2024

I hit my reading goal!!

Cerulean Sea is my favorite book. So I was beyond excited to read this. Sadly, this wasn't quite the sequel I was hoping for. The magic and beauty that I loved about the first book, didn't really make it to this one.
The first half of the book was so funny and cute - the scene with Chauncey and Phee sitting on the stairs serving as lookout was so silly! Sal and Theodore - all the time.

⭐️⭐️⭐️.5

12.11.2024

I laughed, I cried, and I laughed some more.
This series is truly something special. This is my least favorite of the series, but I still really really loved it.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

12.01.2024

1. My husband, he drove me almost 2 hours for Culvers.
2. Katie the Cat - A true beauty and LOML
3. Coffee has been something to look forward to. And Starbucks has their Sugar Cookie latte!
4 & 5. Family & friends - I married into an awesome family! Last Saturday, @BookBabe2018 had her baby shower. The whole room sang HBD to me. It was her day, and she still found a way to make me feel special (& embarrassed) ILY!!
#5JoysFriday
@DebinHawaii

This novella!!! AHHHHHH.
I laughed A LOT and had to face palm a couple times. When we find out what her Houseman did, I burst out laughing.
It's so ridiculous, I had no idea what was going to happen next. I loved it.

Its also... my birthday!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
11.23.2024

I was riding this train so high... until the end.
4 ⭐️ for the first 92% but that last 8% knocked it down to 3 ⭐️
Another buddy read with my bestie @BookBabe2018

11.17.2024