Inspiring and reflecting stories about the importance of our libraries, bookstores and reading.

Happy New Year everybody!
Lots of good reads in 2025 📖 📖 📖 😁

And the winner is! #BookoftheYear 2024

@Catsandbooks (thank you for the original template)

My favorite fiction novels of 2024!

Total books read: 76
Female Author(s): 37
New Author(s): 26
Most Read Genres: romance, fantasy and YA
Top Author(s): Liane Moriarty, Richard Osman, Ashley Elston and B. B. Alston
Most Read Author(s): Ali Hazelwood, Abby Jimenez, Holly Black

#DecemberWrapUp #DecemberReads 2024

Total books read: 6
physical book(s): 4
e-book(s): 1
audiobook(s): 1
Female Author(s): 4/6
New Author(s): Laini Taylor, Kira Gembri and B. B. Alston
Non-Fic/Memoirs: 0
MG/YA: 2/2

Atmospheric, quite childish but imaginative! Likeable characters and captivating story.

Complex and creative world building, unusual story, interesting and conflicted characters, but the romance was questionable.

Similar to previous books in this series - bittersweet and sad.

Short story full of Christmassy spirit :) Not so much a mystery, but fully Molly style

Amazing fantasy world, truly imaginative story and likeable characters.

At first - it was very confusing and quite boring. Insta-love wasn't very romancey. But the ENDING!

#NovemberWrapUp #NovemberReads 2024

Total books read: ~6
physical book(s): 1
e-book(s): 1
audiobook(s): 4
Female Author(s): 4/6
New Author(s): Laurie Gilmore
Non-Fic/Memoirs: 0
MG/YA: 1/0

The whole Under The Mistletoe Collection was fine 🙁 but nothing special

Again, as the whole series - very predictable and cliché, but it wasn't the worst :)

Felt very generic, unoriginal, but was quite entertaining.

Silly, somewhat funny clasiccs

It was OK, but nothing special

Addictive! Highly enjoyable and fun and clever. Amazing fast paced, mystery filled with a new cast of likable characters and great writing.

#OctoberWrapUp #OctoberReads 2024

Total books read: 6
physical book(s): 2
e-book(s): 1
audiobook(s): 3
Female Author(s): 6/6
New Author(s): M. G. Leonard & Sam Sedgman
Non-Fic/Memoirs: 0
MG/YA: 1/3

Modern retelling - the movie story in a real world setting - I don't thing it translated great into a book. Anyway, there‘s nothing spectacular wrong with the story, but there‘s nothing outstanding about it as well...

Such a good read! Liane Moriaty did it again :) I highly recommend it!
The story is emotional, witty, mystical, dramatic. The author blends determinism and intuition.

So much fun! Well thought-out and unpredictable and touching. The characters really interesting. This book is joy to read.

A classic Ali Hazelwood story :)

I expected more from this series :)

#SeptemberWrapUp #SeptemberReads 2024

Total books read: 6
physical book(s): 4
e-book(s): 1
audiobook(s): 1
Ffmale author(s): 2/6
new author(s): Jack Meggitt-Phillips, Rebecca Yarros, Hisashi Kashiwai and Shaun Bythell
non-fic/memoirs: 0
MG/YA: 1/2

Seemed to me a little mean spirited and patronizing, but there were some good insights and interesting conclusions.
I am still very interested in The Diary of a Bookseller and Confessions of a Bookseller :)

I'm not a fan of the writing. So much cruelty and for a fairyland... All the political aspects, all the scheming, the back stabbing and the revelations - were quite boring. But great ending!

Intriguing premise that keeps you guessing. But I didn't like the reasoning, the how, the why, the justification. Not quite convincing.

Rich country‘s food culture, a lot of descriptions of local ingredients and blends of flavours. The “mystery“ aspect wasn't developed, but was heartwarming and cosy.

The storyline was compelling and imaginative, the illustrations were wonderful.

It felt like the story was lacking originality and wasn‘t very memorable but it was interesting and enjoyable.

#AugustWrapUp #AugustReads 2024

Total books read: 8
physical book(s): 3
e-book(s): 1
audiobook(s): 4
Female Author(s): 7/8
New Author(s): Rufi Thorpe, Kayvion Lewis, Mantas Adomenas, Holly Black
Non-Fic/Memoirs: 0
MG/YA: 0/3

I think I liked it - the premise was interesting, but felt undeveloped. The story had emotional pull, but the conclusion of the book was weird. Magical realism was very down to earth, but reasoning was vague.

YA mystery queen McManus is back - she didn‘t disappoint! The story is well-plotted, twisty and there's a lot of action. It's an entertaining read.

The story-line was quite tragic and emotionally harrowing - so much cruelty. The characters were annoying and morally grey.
It was good, but it wasn't astonishing or mind-blowing.

I wanted to quit this book so many time... Couldn't understand why was is written? There were a few original thoughts about literature and writing, about maternity, about Church and St. Mary, but on the whole - it was boring and nonsensical, repetitive and not funny. This just wasn't for me...

Non-traditional (of an unclear genre, multifaceted) book - lots of philosophizing, existential reflections, pompously described historical moments and conspiracy theories, etc.
The story is told engagingly, expressively, but there's too many digressions into memories and side stories - it feels like it's overdone.

Lithuanian dystopia!
The idea of the story is good, but it was very slowly... Maybe because of too many topics covered, maybe because of the lack of persuasiveness and originality... But it was an interesting story

Rather entertaining second chance romance, but it felt unevolved, the chemistry between the characters seemed unconvincing, but not a bad book :)

I liked the idea of the book and engaging writing (making you eager to see where it was headed). It was a story full of action and quite a bit of disbelief (some plot points felt too convenient) :)

#JulyWrapUp #JulyReads 2024

Total books read: 5
physical book(s): 2
e-book(s): 1
audiobook(s): 2
Female Author(s): 4/5
New Author(s): Leslie Wolfe, Anthony Horowitz
Non-Fic/Memoirs: 0
MG/YA: 0/0

It's a classic murder mystery. A story within a story. Both are brilliantly plotted with crafty twists and captivating characters. Truly enjoyable!

It' a sad and touching story of grief.
Hypocrisy and selfishness in Katy's behavior, her treatment of everyone around her was annoying but the magical plot twist was entertaining.

The story was quite good - it maintains soap opera features, poor decisions, but there were quite a few eye roll galore and cringe moments. I didn‘t dislike the book :)

Brilliant plot, dramatic characters, engaging writing and multi-layered story. I am a big fan of Lucy Foley books :)

Not a bad book, but it was sad and ugly. Although the premise was promising, but the writing felt drawn out and repetitive. The ending was not satisfying. And why do all the characters had to be so unlikeable?..

#JuneWrapUp #JuneReads 2024

Total books read: 4
physical book(s): 1
e-book(s): 1
audiobook(s): 2
Female Author(s): 3/4
New Author(s): Eshkol Nevo
Non-Fic/Memoirs: 0
MG/YA: 0/0

Usually Ali Hazelwood books/characters are snarky, smart and steamy with a lot of fun banter. This story was not like that...

The entire story revolved around trauma. So much sabotage and instantaneity.
I wouldn't say there's a lot summer vibes...

Evocatively and calculatingly told, the writing in here is sublime. Slow-revealing storylines were interesting, but too many questions were left unanswered...