pickI do love this series: lovely, wholesome feel-good stories
Book 16/60 Page 4,444/18,000 #Read2025 @DieAReader
Book 4 in the Before The Coffee Gets Cold series #SeriesLove2025 @TheSpineView
DieAReader 🎉🎉🎉 8h
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pickI do love this series: lovely, wholesome feel-good stories
Book 16/60 Page 4,444/18,000 #Read2025 @DieAReader
Book 4 in the Before The Coffee Gets Cold series #SeriesLove2025 @TheSpineView
#BookReport #WeeklyForecast
I updated my spreadsheet for the new month and forgot to keep a note of my starting position for the week 🤦♀️. So these are approximate figures…
Eurotrash 103pp
Death in Daylesford 89pp
Dead Sweet 94pp
Polo (audio) 43%
Before We Say Goodbye Finished
Bonfire of the Vanities c60pp
Plan for this week is to continue with the ones I haven‘t finished, and add Before We Forget Kindness
#WeeklyForecast
As seems to be my wont these days, I‘ve started out on multiple books. Started all by Bonfire of the Vanities yesterday. This weeks target:
Finish Before We Say Goodbye:
35 pages of Eurotrash
56 pages of Death In Daylesford#l
42 pages of Dead Sweet
21 pages of Bonfire of the Vanities
18% of Polo (audiobook)
I was planning on doing a combined book report/weekly forecast post, but there are too many books for a single coherent photo!
So this week‘s #BookReport: finished 4 books started earlier this month:
Sea of Tranquility 8/10
Book Lovers 7/10
Cley 6/10
Small World 7.5/10
And read a further 73 pages of the #Chunkster The Bonfire of the Vanities
pickSmall Worlds in a beautifully-written novel covering three summers in the life of Stephen, as he reaches adulthood and tries to find his place in life. It touches on friendship, grief, community, culture and father-son relationships, but about all, it‘s a love letter@to the power of music.
Book 15/60, page 4,211/18,000 #Read2025 @DieAReader
pickAn odd sort of book, not what I expected from the blurb. The protagonist, Jack, spends his summer between trying to solve riddle, and sleeping with the women in the house he‘s staying at. His attitude to sex brought to mind Henry Miller‘s Tropic novels.
It‘s set in Cley, where I‘m getting married 13 weeks today, which makes it #APlaceYouLove #FictionalTraveller @julieclair
Book 14/60, Page 3,953/18,000 #Read2025 @DieAReader
pickA very soft pick for me. Henry has taken the romans tropes and played around with them a bit, but ultimately, it‘s still an enemies-to-lovers story. It‘s well-written, with character development, but apparently I only enjoy romances in December. And I‘m also a bit of a prude ‘cos I don‘t like the spicy bits!
Book 13/60, page 3,602/18,000 #Read2025 @DieAReader
#LetterB #LitsyAtoZ
pickI think I bought this because of the cover; I definitely started reading it because of a Goodreads challenge, and realised it‘s not a genre I normally read. I wasn‘t sure I‘d like it, but I‘m pleased to say I loved it. Lots of “wait, what, so he…? And she….?”!
Book 12/60, page 3,307/18,000 #Read2025 @DieAReader
#LetterS #LitsyAtoZ @Texreader
I‘ve seen a few people following the lead of @TheBookHippie and posting their results after typing “literally my character” in the Pinterest Search bar, so I thought I‘d give it a go, and now I don‘t know how to feel. It seems a little too accurate 🤣🤣🤣
Last week, I finished Weyward, and read:
- 144 pages of Sea of Tranquility;
- 75 pages of Cley
- 108 pages of Small Worlds
- 212 pages of Book Lovers
- 92 pages of The Bonfire of the Vanities.
This week, I will probably finish Sea of Tranquility and Book Lovers, and aim for at least:
- 21 pages of Bonfire;
- 38 pages of Cley
- 56 pages of Small Worlds
And maybe start a new book.
#BookReport #WeeklyForecast
pick“The connections between and among women are the most feared, the most problematic, and the most potentially transforming force on the planet” Adrienne Rich
This novel weaves together the stories of three women of the same bloodline: a 17th century witch trial; a young girl growing up during the war, kept closeted in her home by her father; and an abusive relationship in 2019. It‘s often a harrowing tale but I felt invested in the characters.
pick“The connections between and among women are the most feared, the most problematic, and the most potentially transforming force on the planet” Adrienne Rich
This novel weaves together the stories of three women of the same bloodline: a 17th century witch trial; a young girl growing up during the war, kept closeted in her home by her father; and an abusive relationship in 2019. It‘s often a harrowing tale but I felt invested in the characters.
so-soI got this from my book club‘s mystery Christmas book exchange. It was an OK read but I felt the writing had a tendency to be too repetitive, and some of the events felt too obviously like plot devices. Maybe I‘m just too cynical for ghost stories!
Book 10/60 #Read2025 @DieAReader
#LetterH #LitsyAtoZ @Texreader
so-soA novel based on the story of Clytemnestra in the Greek myths was never going to be a light read, but this one felt exceptionally heavy, with no light relief, and some heavy-handed writing and clumsy metaphors.
Book 9/60 #Read2025 @DieAReader
#LetterC #LitsyAtoZ @Texreader
pickThe fourth in the Marlow Murder Club series, and the best of the series so far, IMO. A classic locked-room mystery where everyone has a motive, means and evidence against them.
I‘ve already placed my order for book 5, out on 15/01/2026.
#SeriesLove2025 @Andrew65 @TheSpineView
Book 8/60, Page 2,312/18,000 #Read2025 @DieAReader
#LetterM #LitsyAtoZ @Texreader
January reading:
Finished:
So Late in The Day (43 pages)
The Party (117 pages)
Gone With The Penguins (448 pages)
The Pearl (128 pages)
Killing Time (105 pages)
The Children‘s Back (158 pages)
Fundamentally (352 pages)
Currently reading:
Clytemnestra (64%, 304 pages)
Murder on the Marlow Belle (65%, 228 pages)
Bonfire of the Vanities (14%, 103 pages)
The House on Cold Hill (57%, 184 pages)
Books 7/60
Pages 2210/18000
#JumpStart2025 @Lizpixie
pickFinished this yesterday and have been trying to process my feelings about it since. It tackles some deep subjects with a levity that makes the book seem trite at times, but there are some dark themes running through the story so it needs some humour to lighten it. On the whole, I enjoyed it, and felt invested in the friendship between the two MCs, especially towards the end.
Book 7/60 #Read2025 @DieAReader
Book 7/5 #JumpStart2025 @Lizpixie
Couldn‘t decide what sort of mood I was in so I‘ve ended up reading 5 books concurrently….
pickDexter and Athena live a life of mundane but content (at least outwardly) domesticity, which is shaken when Dexter bumps into an old girlfriend whose lifestyle is more hedonistic. Garner‘s writing captures the elements of both lifestyles and the effects well, and she has some excellent turns of phrase: “She had all the colour and dynamism of a parsnip”
Book 6/60; Page 999/18000 #Read2025 @DieAReader
#JumpStart2025 @Lizpixie
I have many authors whose work I mostly enjoy, but I feel that in both his Death in Paradise novels and in his Marlow Murder Club novels, Thorogood has never let me down. Just about to dive into this, the latest in the Marlow Murder Club series
#AuthorYouLove
#25Alive
@Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks
@Eggs
@Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks of my December reads, the first of a series; the next two in the series are on this year‘s TBR list.
#SnowyCover
#25Alive
@Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks
@Eggs
My first read of the year was this thought-provoking short.
#1stBk25
#25Alive
@Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks
@Eggs
A day late because I wasn‘t very well yesterday.
This one was by far and away my favourite book of 2024.
#FaveBk24
#25Alive
@Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks
@Eggs
so-soThis one was for my book club. Despite Bennett being a bit of a National Treasure in the UK, and even though I enjoyed the film The Lady In the Van (mostly because of Maggie Smith), I‘ve never wanted to read him, and on the strength of this, I won‘t again. Not so much a novella as a series of random anecdotes haphazardly thrown together. Not my thing, I‘m afraid.
Book 6/60; Page 841/18000
#Read2025 @DieAReader
#JumpStart2025
pickThis novella packs quite a punch on its parable warning of the dangers of jealousy, cheating and greed that can spring up when someone finds good fortune.
Book 4/60
Page 736/18000
#Read2025 @DieAReader
#JumpStart2025 @Lizpixie
Does 10 years qualify as “lasting”. Because after 10 years together, my chap finally put a ring on it on New Year‘s Eve. We‘ll be getting married in May this year.
#LastingLove
#25Alive
@Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks
@Eggs
pickAlthough this didn‘t have the immediate appeal of Away With The Penguins, it is a fitting finale to the trilogy of books about Veronica McCreedy and her penguins.
First book finished for #SeriesLove2025 @Andrew65 @TheSpineView
#LetterG #LitsyAtoZ @Texreader
#SomeplaceCold (Antarctic) #FictionalTraveler @julieclair
Book 3/60 Page 608/18,000 #Read2025 @DieAReader
Keeping my goal the same as the last couple of years because it‘s achievable. I don‘t want to feel I *have* to read just to hit a goal.
#ReadingGoal
#25Alive
@Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks
@Eggs
I‘ve fallen behind on my posts!
Being an introvert, this books speaks to me.
#Joy
#25Alive
@Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks
@Eggs
Yes, it‘s a children‘s book, but it‘s also funny, moving, and heart-warming. My favourite read of December
#12Booksof2024
@Andrew65
so-soI can accept that this is nicely written, and some people will like it very much, but I‘m afraid this coming-of-age story of two sisters, set in post-war Bristol didn‘t really move me.
Book 2/60; Page 162/18,000! #Read2025 @DieAReader
#LetterP #LitsyAtoZ @Texreader
Book 2 #JumpStart2025 @Lizpixie
Not just my favourite read of November, but the best book of the year for me. I adored it.
#12BooksOf2024
@Andrew65
My favourite read of October (in fact, my only read in October!) was this exploration of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World
#12BooksOf2024
@Andrew65
I joined in the year-long #ReadAway2024 last year but fell by the wayside when work got unusually busy. Hopefully I can stick with this one for the whole year. I want to read 60 books/18,000 pages/360 hours.
So far, I‘m on I‘m on:
1 (very short book)
101 pages
105 minutes
#Read2025
@DieAReader
It was a close run thing between this and Butter for my favourite read of September, but Booker long-listed Enlightenment edged it for me. Sarah Perry back on form with this tale of friendship, unrequited love and obsession with a hint of historical mystery.
Day 9
#12BooksOf2024
@Andrew65
The first thing that came to mind for today‘s prompt was the 1978 song Toast by Streetband, whose lead singer was Paul Young (who went on to have huge success as a solo artist in the 80s).
#Toast
#25Alive
@Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks
@Eggs
August was another disappointing month reading-wise, so while an honourable mention goes to one of my two September reads, The Cat Who Caught a Killer, for being a bit of fun, my choice for #12Booksof2024 goes to this November read, a delightful 1950s period piece.
#Day8
#12Booksin2024
@Andrew65
pickIt‘s a dull wet day here, so reading in front of the fire is the order of the day!
First published as part of a collection of three short stories under the name So Late in the Day, this little hardback contains just the title story. Keegan can pack so much into a few words, and this certainly makes one ponder about relationships, generosity, humour and misogyny.
pickSlipped in this Quick Read this afternoon, as my final read of 2024. Not read Jo Nesbo before, but on the strength of this, I will read more. This 90-page short story fooled me - I thought I‘d seen the twist coming but then bam! - Nesbo hit me with one I didn‘t see coming at all.
These Reading Agency Quick Reads, aimed at non-readers as an introduction to reading, are great for established readers to find new-to-them authors too.
I hadn‘t appreciated how many series I‘ve part-read until I started sizing up my 2025 reads….
- Marlow Murder Club
- Comoran Strike
- Before The Coffee Gets Cold
- Olga Pushkin
- DI Bliss
- Phryne Fisher
- Veronica McCreedy
- Borrow-A-Bookshop
- Vera Wong
- Sweetpea
- Rutshire
It‘s going to be a busy year!
@TheSpineView @Andrew65
Technically, this happened on 7th October (the 10-year anniversary of the day we met), but I only got the ring today
Sorry, @Andrew65 but I‘m going rogue! Long hours at work in July and August meant less time for reading, so I have few books to choose from, and none that wowed me. So while I give an honourable mention to Jenny Lund Madsen‘s Thirty Days of Darkness, read in July, I‘m using a September read as my Day 7 #12BooksOf2024. Though it was a little strange, I found Butter a compelling read.
![[tagged book]](https://image.librarything.com/pics/litsy_webpics/icon_taggedBook@3x.png){kind=icon}
