#FridayHappyReadingHour is here! Cheers to the weekend everyone! Use the hashtag to share what you‘re reading and what you‘re sipping to welcome the weekend 🍺🍷🍸🍹🥃☕️🧉🥛🧃🧋
I‘m visiting my folks in Iowa so I hope to enjoy a little something something a bit later 😊
@kspenmoll
@tamara
@mcctrish
#5JoysFriday @DebinHawaii
1️⃣ Sunday I went with my hubby and his family to a Milwaukee Brewers Game AND IT WAS SO MUCH FUN! 2️⃣ I had an amazing Old Fashioned along with my hot dog & French fry lunch at the game 3️⃣ Our seats were amazing! 4️⃣ Coffee (always lol) 5️⃣ This amazing community, thanks for being the light in these dark times 🕯️♥️
Play along if you had joys (big or small) this week!
#TLT
1. Scholastic book fairs and the book flyers - I‘m still searching for the high these two things gave me 😂
2. The smell and feel of new school supplies. Each folder and notebook was color coordinated and the “ugly” colors were always my math ones 🤣
3. New clothes for the school year! Omg! Is there a better feeling than feeling 100% confident in your first day of school outfit?!
This was a fun trip down memory lane @dabbe Thank you 😁
pickThis book was a total #BlameItOnPangoBooks purchase; I loved the cover and the summary sounded right up my alley. It was a hoot! I love Mrs Pollifax, she‘s like a feistier version of Jessica Fletcher from ‘Murder, She Wrote‘. I also appreciated this being a quick read, only 233 pages - no lull in the action. I don‘t necessarily need to binge the entire series right now, but I‘ll definitely keep it mind when I need a fun palate cleanser.
pickThemes: Italy setting, Neighbors, Humorous but not everyone‘s humor
For me, the humor in this book bounced between “general audience” funny and crude South Park/Family Guy sense of humor. I don‘t personally enjoy the latter style so more of a “soft pick” from me, but I still found it an entertaining read. The premise is funny and I loved the dual POVs. I don‘t know who I would recommend this book to; it‘s bonkers, very quirky and unique.
The recipes in my current read (tagged here) are disgusting 🤢 I haven‘t begun skimming them yet, but I‘m not exactly giving them my full attention. The rest of the book is good, but the recipes, YIKES! Keeping my snack simple and my drink is a non-alcoholic seltzer since hubby‘s not home yet and I‘m hoping we‘re going out for dinner 😏
#FridayNightReadingHour @mcctrish
#5JoysFriday @DebinHawaii
1️⃣ Coffee2️⃣ Homegrown tomatoes are coming in H🔥T 3️⃣ I‘m joyful that I‘ve kept my lavender plant and their container buddy, Petunia alive 😅 4️⃣ My new Kindle case that I splurged on (pictured) 5️⃣ Coworkers in other depts who are helpful and don‘t make my job harder
Play along if you had joys (big or small) this week!
Okay, where‘s the petition to bring these stamps to USPS??
Article Link: https://apnews.com/article/britain-monty-python-stamps-royal-mail-d3f6f873f2ac30...
pickI haven‘t LOL‘d while reading a book in a while. I‘m sure my neighbors loved the peace & quiet in their backyard and then my random “Pffft! BWAHAHAHA!!” 🤷🏼♀️ #OhWell The minute these characters were described, I immediately thought of who I would cast in the movie 😆 Enjoy! And go read this book for a good time and some good laughs!!
Claudio: Stephen Merchant
Fausto: Dave Bautista
Diego: Ron Livingston
Abu: Don Cheadle
Sergio: Kristofer Hivju
My work week is done and in the books 🏃🏼♀️ Now to grab my book, wine, and snackies and “un-wine” 🤪 Tag yourself if you‘d like, and let‘s raise a toast to #FridayHappyReadingHour
#5JoysFriday @DebinHawaii
1️⃣ Noticed these sweet birdies hanging outside my bedroom window and they made me smile 2️⃣ Loving my current read, I‘ve been laughing out loud reading it 🤣 3️⃣ Won 2nd place at bar trivia! 🏆 4️⃣ Able to enjoy some morning coffee & reading time on my patio 5️⃣ Cooler weather finally!
Play along if you had joys (big or small) this week!
#TopReads2025 for July (WTH?! How??? When????) goes to “The Listeners” by Maggie Stiefvater. This was such an atmospheric read that once I started it, I couldn‘t put it down. It was one of those reads that I didn‘t want to finish because I didn‘t want it to end, but I just HAD to finish it so I knew how it ended 🥰😍😌
pickI first learned that Monopoly board games were used in WWII from, “The Ways We Hide” by Kristina McMorris. Her book was good and I‘d recommend it, but I wanted more of the Monopoly story. Imagine my surprise when I discovered this book 🤩 If you‘re looking for a fascinating, less than 300 page non-fiction read, THIS IS IT! I want to tell everyone I meet now about this amazing, almost lost forever, story from WWII.
#WeDoNotCareWednesday #WDNCW @dabbe
Ohhhh, I do not care for this today, tomorrow, next week, EVER! Hard pass on this anti-vaccine, anti-science administration getting their hands on my health data. Nope. Nope. Nope.
https://apnews.com/live/donald-trump-news-updates-7-30-2025?link_source=ta_threa...
When hubby is having his friends over to play video games (I swear he‘s an adult, but definitely an ‘elder millennial‘ 🤣) but it‘s too hot to read outside, we improvise by reading in our bedroom by the window and 2 fans blowing on us 🤣🤗👍
Channeling @mcctrish for my “FINALLY FRIDAY after work wine down time” 🤩👍 Started this book during my lunch and so far it‘s good!! #HelloWeekend #FridayHappyReadingHour
#5JoysFriday @DebinHawaii
1️⃣Pics of earrings and keychain I made with my Aunt on Sat (she has a XTool Laser Cutter) 2️⃣Bookclub on Sun 3️⃣Took a personal day off work on Tues, and honestly, I really needed that. Even on Mon during work, I was feeling a bit recharged knowing I was off the next day 😌 4️⃣Attended 2 Silent Bookclub Meetings 5️⃣I won a Goodreads giveaway for “The Antidote” by Karen Russell 🤩
Play along if you had joys this week!
🥳🥳🥳🥳🥳🥳🥳🥳🥳🥳🥳🥳🥳🥳🥳🥳🥳
Now this is the kind of email I enjoy opening!!
Eeeeeek!! This is not a drill!!! Anyone who has read the Bainbridge & Sparks series - Book 8 is coming Jan. 6, 2026!!!
pickThemes: Epistolary Format, “Looking back, while still looking ahead”, Never too old to fight
This was the perfect book for my somewhat melancholy mood this past weekend. I found myself at times loving the MC (Sybil) and then other times internally shouting, “What are you doing?!” and because of this, I was committed to reading her correspondence 😆 This debut is worth all the praise and accolades it‘s receiving 🧡
Sunday‘s are better with bookclub meetings (and delicious seltzers)!! 🤓🤩
Thought this was cool as another way to support PBS, they have an affiliate link on Bookshop.org so part of your purchase will go back to PBS Books 🙌 #SupportPBS
https://bookshop.org/shop/pbsbooks
This week has been poopy and then the news of PBS and NPR getting defunded has just been the bird poop on top of a crap sundae. A new book and a pleasant day to read outside (low 80‘s and zero humidity) is very much appreciated universe.
#5JoysFriday @DebinHawaii
1️⃣A Bookstore & Lunch date today with my BFF and her 2.5 year old 2️⃣ 3 bookish events next week that I‘m looking forward to 3️⃣ Didn‘t kill my in-laws plants (or them either @mcctrish 😉😆) that I took care of while they were on vaca 😮💨 4️⃣ A crafting day with my favorite Aunt tomorrow! 5️⃣ This amazing community 💛🧡🩷 Seeing your posts and pics really brings light to these dark times. Thank you!
pickThemes: Time travel (but no physics degree required to understand it 😆), A quick read, Book 1 in a new series (Book 2 is announced!!)
Elly Griffiths is an auto-buy author and this book just furthers solidifies that for me 😆 I loved Ali and Terry! I‘m so excited Book 2 was announced because I‘m not ready to say good bye to these characters. If you‘ve enjoyed Elly‘s other books or are new to Elly, definitely give this one a go 👍
#WDNCW Corporate Edition: We don‘t care that it‘s Q3 (3rd Quarter), I‘m tired. It feels like it has been a decade and it‘s only been 7 months. Please respect my wishes to go take a 3 hour nap after lunch 🥱😴
Love this hashtag and all the posts, thanks @dabbe for some midweek fun! 🤩🤪 I tweaked your background because I‘m cheap and don‘t want to pay for no watermarks on Pic•Collage 😜
FINALLY! After 2 weeks of either +90°F temps and 99.9% humidity or just flat out rain, I am finally back outside enjoying some Outdoor Sunday Reading Time ????? Counting this as my #HyggeHourReadathon because I also have a glass of Blueberry Watermelon sparkling water which is delicious ? @TheBookHippie @Chrissyreadit @AllDebooks
pickYet another topsy-turvy, mystery from the Queen of epistolary whodunits (I‘m giving her this title, not sure if anyone currently holds it, but she‘s earned it! Haha!). I‘ve read most of her other works and so now I‘m trained to not overlook anything and I was still shocked at the ending 🤣🤯 Highly recommend if you‘ve enjoyed Hallett‘s other books!
Friday nights are for Old Fashioneds and Whodunits 🥃🤓📖 #HelloWeekend
#5JoysFriday @DebinHawaii
1️⃣Snagged an ARC of Janice Hallet‘s upcoming book, “The Killer Question” 🤩 2️⃣Elly Griffiths‘ newest book was delivered 💌 3️⃣Haven‘t killed my in-laws plants (yet) that I‘m taking care of while they‘re on vaca 🌷🌻🌿🌱🪴 4️⃣Enjoyed some outdoor morning coffee & reading time before work this week 5️⃣Haircut tomorrow! Just a trim but looking forward to it💇♀️
pickThemes: Literary Fiction, Retelling, A book that sucks you in
What else is there to say about this book that hasn‘t been said already? It‘s riveting, it‘s compelling, and it sucks you in and you don‘t realize you‘ve been reading it for hours and you haven‘t moved an inch 🙃 I can‘t wait to discuss this at my IRL bookclub in a few weeks 👍
so-soI had to push myself to reach my 100 page quota before DNF-ing this book. I swear the author knew this and right around the 100 page mark I was intrigued enough to keep going. Wow. This book really made me appreciate my Dad because the fathers in this book -low whistle- they‘re not great. I don‘t want to spoil (Ha! Vegetable pun intended!) anything, but buckle up for some major family drama in this read. “So-So” rating bc I found myself skimming
pickThemes: Atmospheric, WWII Literary Fiction, Beautiful Writing
I would 1000% recommend this book to anyone who enjoyed “A Gentleman in Moscow” by Amor Towles. There are many commonalities, but also the magical realism in this book was such a beautiful addition. This was a book I didn‘t want to finish because I didn‘t want it to end, but I just HAD to finish it so I knew how it ended 😂 Loved it!!
Feeling this today. To echo what many others have already said, I didn‘t recite the Pledge of Allegiance every day in school for 13 years to now be called WOKE 😒 I‘m feeling grief for what happened yesterday. Feeling grief for what‘s to come in the future. I know I‘m not alone in this feeling so that gives me hope! Happy ‘Bonus Reading Day‘ & National Caesar Salad day to those feeling the same today🕯️
#5JoysFriday @DebinHawaii
1️⃣IT‘S CURRENTLY RAINING! I can literally feel our crispy front yard grass saying, “OOO! This is NIIICE!” 2️⃣Had a fun Thursday night out at a bar trying new drinks with family who feel more like friends 3️⃣I love my current read! (Sorry, repeat from last week but it‘s still true!) 4️⃣ Nothing to do today but read and relax 5️⃣ This community fills me with such JOY! Thank you for being the light in these dark times! 🕯️
#WeDoNotCareWednesday #WDNCW @dabbe
It‘s 9pm and I‘m in bed for the night with my cooling blanket (thanks, Costco!), MLB Big Inning on, and my book. The sleep aids have been taken so, peace out ✌️
#TopReads2025 for June goes to “Before Dorothy” by Hazel Gaynor. This was such an amazing read that once I was hooked, I couldn‘t put it down. A must read for every fan of the ‘Wizard of Oz‘
pickThemes: Small Town Life, Big Fish in a Little Pond, Epistolary Format
This was such a charming, delightful read that had me chuckling one minute and tearing up the next. I loved it!! Full disclosure, I did have to make notes on who everyone was and who they were related to. A ‘List of Characters‘ would‘ve been very helpful at the beginning, but don‘t worry, you‘re good after page 25, haha! Highly recommend this one for a good palate cleanser 😊
#5JoysFriday @DebinHawaii
1️⃣My governor, JB Pritzker (IL-D) is running for re-election. THANK GOD! We need more politicians with backbones to stand up to old #EmperorHirocheeto 🌮 2️⃣Coffee 3️⃣I love my current read! 4️⃣I helped my husband‘s cousin‘s wife talk through some family issues. The family she and I married into is nutty sometimes 🤪 We both felt better in knowing we‘re not alone ❤️🩹 5️⃣Looking forward to a Pool Day on Sat!
Make it make sense because I don‘t understand it either 🤪😵💫🤔
pickThis book was fantastic! I enjoyed it so much but the icing on the cake was the Author‘s Note at the end ? If you have any interest in The Wizard of Oz, The Great Depression and the Dust Bowl, and strong female characters, add this to your TBR pile right now! I devoured this book over the weekend and greatly appreciated the escape from the +90° temps my neck of the woods was experiencing, as well as the escape from our dystopian reality as well.
Reading in the shade with a steady breeze, it‘s actually not unbearable 😎🤪👍
pickThis was much heavier of a read than I was anticipating. However, there were so many quirky characters & situations that the balance between sad and funny was very well done. After finishing it, I think it‘s a five star read. Originally I thought 4 stars bc PJ walked a thin line for me between, “Poor guy” and “OMG! Grow up!” But then I loved Pancakes (the agent of death cat) and that character deserved a star, ergo, a five star read ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
#5JoysFriday @DebinHawaii
1. My garden is growing and thriving!
2. Silent Bookclub with friends and wine on Tuesday night 🤩
3. Having Juneteenth off work to reflect and just take a moment
4. Enjoying my current read and getting excited to finish it and start a new book📖
5. I‘m off work today and am currently enjoying my happy place in my backyard listening to the birds and drinking my coffee ☕️🕊️
Play along if you found joy this week!! 💛🧡🩷
pickYet another brilliant, entertaining, great book by Allison Montclair and yet another terrible title 😆 I feel like at this point (this is Book 7 after all) the editor has a dartboard and whatever 3-7 words get hit, that‘s the title. All joking aside, these books are amazing and have the perfect mix of humor, wit and dark underbelly of post-WWII London. I will forever auto-buy whatever title is announced next, terrible or not 🤩
#5JoysFriday @DebinHawaii
1. Physical Books
2. eBooks
3. Spending Friday afternoon book shopping, having lunch and hanging out with my BFF and her 2.5 year old daughter (pic are my purchases and my Kindle Paperwhite that was delivered today!)
4. Having grocery shopping as the only item on my Saturday “to do” list
5. Spending Sunday at the ballpark with my husband and his dad for Father‘s Day
Find the joys, they‘re out there! 💛🧡🩷
![[tagged book]](https://image.librarything.com/pics/litsy_webpics/icon_taggedBook@3x.png){kind=icon}
