I am pleasantly surprised that I loved this book of short stories. Usually I enjoy the first story and maybe a few at the end, but in this case, the chunk of middle stories were my favorite! I was planning to just read a story a day, but like an advent calendar, I gobbled them up as soon as I could 😂 Highly recommend this for a festive stocking stuffer!

Christmas gift shopping done ✅
Christmas gift wrapping started ✅
Christmas cards written, envelopes addressed & stamped ✅
Found an amazing Christmas themed ambiance YouTube channel and am now enjoying some downtime with a good Christmas book ✅✅✅

I found this book when I Googled, “Christmas books that aren‘t romance” and if there was ever proof of the right book finding you at the right time, this is it! This book is wonderful and written so perfectly, it‘ll warm your heart on a chilly Dec. night 🥰 Halfway through I bought my own copy so I can re-read it every Christmas- there‘s only 1 copy in my inter-loan library system (100 libraries!!), I just hope it finds another reader before 12/25

Love seeing my Christmas themed books expand each year 🥰📚🎄🎅🏼

Themes: Christmas!, Australia!, Murder Mystery, A Standalone Novel

This is my new criteria for a great Christmas book! Benjamin Stevenson ticked all the boxes: a solid plot, excellent characters, and the ability to take me away from reality while reading. If you‘ve enjoyed his other books, give this one a read! And if you haven‘t read his other books (you should!), you can still read this because it‘s a standalone book 👍

Themes: Christmas, A Short & Sweet Story

This was a sweet book that was just perfect for getting me in the Christmas spirit 🥰 I love the world Nina Prose has created with the Regency Grand Hotel and her characters: Molly, Juan, Mr. Preston, and the rest of them. I recommend this book, enjoy it along with a mug of hot cocoa, your favorite blanket and some Christmas jazz playing.

Themes: Adult Fiction, Fairy Tale Retelling, A little bit of Christmas

This is a solid 3 star “Meh” read for me. It was my book club‘s December pick so I plowed ahead in it even though I didn‘t love it. I liked some parts (the last 80ish pages were my favorite), but I disliked other parts - so I guess it‘ll be a good discussion. I‘m just glad I can move onto my other Christmas reads!!!

#TopReads2024 continues with my November pick 🦃🍗🎃🥧🥔🍞🥖🥕🌽🍏🍐🍄‍🟫🧅🧄🫛🍠🇺🇸🏈🍂🍁 “We Gather Together” by Denise Kiernan. This was such a great book to read during the Thanksgiving season, I loved it. Her other books are amazing too, definitely check out her backlist 👍

Themes: Literary Fiction, Good Storytelling, Opera/Music

I totally get why this book has such mixed reviews. Some parts were good and I enjoyed some of the characters very much, but after it ended, I just don‘t know how I really feel about it. This is a soft pick… I think? 🤔

Happy Thanksgiving (and Happy All-Day Football to those who celebrate) 💛🤎❤️🦃🏈 I‘m so thankful for family, especially this year ☺️🥰💗 I hope everyone has a lovely day filled good food, good conversations, a good book, and maybe a good afternoon nap 😉

After several failed attempts to get both my current read (tagged here) and these road signs in one picture, I decided to just grab a pic of the road sign 😂 Driving from Chicago to Gettysburg, PA - I love a road trip as a passenger princess. I‘m enjoying this book way more than I thought I would 🙌

Themes: Interwoven Short Stories, Quirky Charcters, Journalism

This was a quirky, quick read - just what the doctor ordered. I enjoyed some of the characters‘ stories more than others, there was one I skipped after 3 pages because I knew my blood pressure was rising from the stress the character was facing 😵‍💫😵‍💫😵‍💫 Overall though, a pick with an astrisk that it will not be everyone‘s cup of tea ☕️🧋🫖

This might be a case of a “me issue” not a “book issue”, but I could not get into this. The three main characters didn‘t have much depth and I couldn‘t get a firm grip on the genre; some parts are fluffy, others are very dark. Perhaps a good one to borrow from the library before spending 30ish dollars. #HailTheBail

I‘ve enjoyed Kiernan‘s other books so I thought it was finally time to read her book on Thanksgiving and Gratitude - and I‘m so ‘thankful‘ I did 🤗 This is a very well written history of the Thanksgiving holiday and the woman who fought to make it a national day of gratitude. It was at times hard to read (I made more than 1 exasperated sigh at how history repeats itself), but a fascinating read nonetheless.

This was a good book to check out from the library. Will I re-read it? No. Am I invested enough for a second book? Yeah, if I need something to read. It landed for me between “Meh” and “A Pick”, so if that helps your decision process. Word of warning: do not start a drinking game of taking a shot every time you read, “We need a real way to communicate better”, you will be drunk very early on because it is said a lot 😆😵‍💫🥴

1. Sunsets because I enjoy sleeping in 😂
2. Funny ghost story (so far, I just finished chapter 1 lol)

@TheSpineView #Two4Tuesday

If you‘re reading this, consider yourself tagged and play along!

When your library holds AND your #bookmail arrive on the same day 🤪 At least now I have just enough emotional support books to get me through this week 😅

One picture to show that yesterday was my payday 🤣 I went onto Pango to see if someone was selling a copy of the tagged book and then 3 others just hopped in my cart 🤷🏼‍♀️ -Starts to hum ‘Anticipation‘ by Carly Simon-

#TopReads2024 continues with my October pick
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“The Lady from the Black Lagoon” by Mallory O‘Meara was so interesting and witty, I just had to keep reading. I personally love O‘Meara‘s voice in her books; you honestly feel like you‘re reading a Podcast transcript, she‘s got jokes, she‘s got facts, and she‘s got observations. She‘s one of my go-to nonfiction writers and I‘m so excited for her new book coming out in January 🙌

I feel like a true Chicagoian now 😂 I‘m in my garage with my camping chair, fleece blanket and drink ready for the brave trick-or-treaters who come out on this blustery Halloween

#Two4Tuesday @TheSpineView @Sace
1. No, it‘s so weird Halloween is on a Thursday this year 😵‍💫 No parties this year and we only get a handful of trick or treaters so it‘s not worth it. I‘m going to wear my Salem Book Club shirt ⚰️🪦💀👻
2. Oof, I do not do scary books at all 🫣 I highly recommend the Witches books from Terry Pratchett for a fun read
🧙🧌✨

If you wanna play, consider yourself tagged 🤩🥳😁

I wanted to like this, I realllllllllly wanted to like this, but I just couldn‘t muster up the enthusiasm to keep going. I made it to page 91 before calling it quits. I hope if you have it on your TBR, you give it a shot, maybe I bailed too soon? Idk if my comment below is a true spoiler, but better safe than sorry. It actually might help you if you‘re on the fence #HailTheBail

Just got home from my first ever book club meeting and I had a blast! I appreciate that it‘s held at a local brewery (I love having a little liquid courage in unfamiliar group settings). Being able to talk and listen with other people was so much fun! It‘s one thing to talk with another reader and be like, “I liked this book!” But another to actually have the space to be, “I liked this book because…”. I‘m making the November meeting a priority 👍

Themes: The Kennedy family and their dynamics, London during WWII, Family drama

Emily Hourican has done it again with her newest book; the dialogue, the characters and her writing keep you engaged from page 1 - I couldn‘t put it down! After reading the Afterword I better understand the ending and highly suggest not skipping that part after you‘re done ❤️‍🩹

#bookmail is the best cure for a case of the Mondays 😁🙌 Hourican‘s covers are getting more and more stunning as this series continues 🤩😍 I re-read ‘An Invitation to the Kennedy‘s‘ last week, I am so ready to dive in!!

Should I be outside? Probably. But my couch and fuzzy blanket are so cozy that I‘m okay with feeling lazy and enjoying a good sit today. Don‘t forget to take a breath and a rest if you need it ❤️‍🩹😘

I initially passed on this when BOTM offered it as a September pick. I read the description but I couldn‘t get past the title, and honestly I did judge this book by its cover (I did the same thing with “Lessons in Chemistry” and I ended up loving that book). When I started reading the reviews I went back and ordered this and I‘m so glad I did 🥰 It‘s a beautiful book that I‘ll be passing along to my Mom to read next 👍

I love O‘Meara‘s writing, it‘s like reading a Podcast transcript; facts, commentary, humour, it‘s all here. I have zero interest in horror movies but O‘Meara weaves together Milicent‘s story along with O‘Meara‘s personal story of working in the industry today, AND provides the history and background so even a novice like me knows what she‘s saying. I‘ve already preordered her newest book coming out in February 2025!

I got halfway before completely losing interest 🫥 Maybe it‘s a case of “wrong book at the wrong time” but maybe not based on others reviews? Idk, too many other books on my Mt. TBR to tackle #HailtheBail 🚀⛰️📚📚📚

#TopReads2024 continues with my September pick
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“The World of Tomorrow” was such a great read! I honestly enjoyed all the books I read this month, but this was one I went into with zero expectations and I loved it!! I bought it for 50¢ at a library‘s book sale and halfway through I realized I would‘ve gladly paid full price for it and still would love it. Highly recommend!!

I enjoyed Osman‘s newest mystery, and actually much more than I thought I would considering how much I love his first series. But the reasons I love those books popped up in this book also; his characters are fun, the dialogue is witty, and the plot is just the right balance between humourous and somber. I‘ll definitely keep reading more from Amy, Steve and hopefully Rosie!

Fiona Davis can do no wrong in my book 🥰 I love her stories, the settings, and her characters are so well developed that they practically leap off the page. I tried to pace myself reading this, but once I got past halfway I couldn‘t resist trying to finish it asap. Preorder or put your name on your library‘s waitlist now, you‘ll want to read this when it publishes 1/7/2025!!

So I have some exciting news… I won a giveaway hosted by the fabulous Fiona Davis to promote her new book, “The Stolen Queen” coming out Jan. 7, 2025 🙌

I know what I‘ll be reading this weekend 😎💕

Themes: Fantasy, LGBT, Amazing storytelling that has laughs along the way

I hope, hope, HOPE there is at least another book in this series coming someday🤞I love the characters, I love Klune‘s storytelling and I love the queer representation here. It‘s a great read that while at times isn‘t easy, it‘s extremely important nonetheless. If you enjoyed the first book (“The House in the Cerulean Sea”), you will love this one too!

Treated myself to lunch out at my favorite sandwich place 😋 I enjoyed a delicious sandwich and a few chapters from this deliciously entertaining novel too! #happysaturday

I love Kate‘s stand-alone books as well as the ‘Todd Family‘ series, so when I saw she had a new book coming out I was excited! Then I saw it was book 6 in her wildly popular Jackson Brodie series, which I have read 0 books from. I decided to keep my library hold on it and give it a try, and I‘m glad I did! I would‘ve missed out on a great story, her amazing writing, and meeting new characters who have a backlist of books for me to read now 🤩

Lol, I love the imagery of little grey cells high-fiving 😂 Thjs is why I love Kate Atkinson‘s work ♥️

So pumped to visit with Arthur, Linus, Zoe and this amazing island again!! I have to hurry up and finish my current read so I can dive into this one 🥰 #LibraryLunchFun

Okay, granted I bought this book for 50¢ from a library book sale, perhaps my expectations going in were not high. However, this book was so much fun, I loved it!! I loved reading about the Dempsey brothers (and Francis‘ FC Plan ?) & the strength of the female characters was wonderful (I want a Rosemary, Anisette and Lorena in my life to provide advice lol). Highly recommend for fans of sweeping stories that grab a hold of you and don‘t let go!

I don‘t always watch college football, but when I do it‘s because Iowa State is playing
💛♥️💛♥️ Let‘s go State! 🙌🙌🙌

Well, my Sunday night is sorted 😋 So happy for a 3-day weekend, no Sunday scaries around here!! 🤩🙌

#TopReads2024 continues with my August pick
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“Murder at the White Palace” is book 6 in the ‘Sparks & Bainbridge‘ series and it‘s another fun and delightful read. I love the witty dialogue between Iris and Gwen, but it doesn‘t stop with them, all the characters bring so much to the table that you won‘t get bored reading it. I‘m impatiently waiting for Book 7 (and 8 and 9 and 10 and 😁🤞🤞🤞🤞)

Themes: Quirky humor, “Gentle Mystery”, Book 1 in a series

On a whim I decided to give this book a try because I wanted a series to dive into. This was a fun read, it held my attention and I‘ll definitely read the next book when I‘m in need of a good book 👍

Probably the last thing I needed to do today was visit a library used book sale. BUT IT WAS SO MUCH FUN!! This stack of books only set me back $7.50 🙌🥳🤩

Themes: Found Family, Heartwarming, Unique plot (“I didn‘t see that coming!”)

I started this book after I DNF‘d two books in a row. I loved the author‘s newest work (“Nosy Neighbors”) so I thought I‘d give this a try. Well, I loved it! The cast of characters are a perfect mix of quirky and realistic. I couldn‘t put this book down, I had to know how it would end. Definitely a pick if you love her other works!!

Okay, okay, universe, I get it. I‘m in a light hearted, cozy reading vibe. Now can I please get through this one? 🙄 I had to DNF my last 2 books, which puts me in a weird mind space… will I ever finish another book again?? Am I just listlessly roaming from book to book until my highly anticipated fall books publish? 😬 50 pages into this and I can feel myself relax, so that‘s a good sign! 🤞

Themes: Found Family, Unlikely Friendships, Similar writing & themes as Clare Pooley

This was a lovely and fun book to read, it wasn‘t groundbreaking or shocking but it was a fun ride. A few chapters into this I immediately put Freya‘s previous book (“The Lost Ticket”) on hold at my library. I‘ll definitely look forward to anything else she writes 👍

This was such a beautifully written memoir as well as an ode to baseball, family and growing up. I listened to it on audio CDs and the narration was perfect 👍 Definitely a “pick” for all baseball fans as well as anyone who enjoys memoirs.

Millie (my parent‘s cat) inspecting my latest book haul from my parents' library's used book sale 😽🐾📚 I think she approves?

Just a quick, sweet love story. I got some definite “You‘ve Got Mail” vibes from this 🥰