⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
This book is probably - right now - my favorite book of all the books. She writes it in the sweet spot that is perfect for me, so an objective review is not what you‘ll find here.
I love these characters, the pivot this story takes, the emotion, the drama, the twists. I read multiple sections more than once, and as soon as I finished the book, I wanted to read it again. Please everyone read it so we can all gush.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
This is my third time reading this book, and I will always love it. I made myself wait two years since my last read through, and I was very excited to finally pick it back up again.
And perhaps the best part is the level-10 anticipation of getting to book two. Which I will begin…immediately.

⭐️⭐️⭐️After reading presidential biographies the last few years, this seems pretty on par with those - some parts I found very interesting (like the background info on the Stamp Act and the Boston Tea Party), others I totally missed because I zoned out listening to the audio.So I appreciate it for what it was, but biographies are never going to be a favorite genre of mine. I do recommend it, tho, if you‘re interested in Revolutionary War history.

“Samuel Adams delivered what may count as the most remarkable second act in American life.”

#FirstLineFridays
@ShyBookOwl

I‘ve been listening to this 29 hour audiobook off & on over the last two months, and though it is dark & violent & occasionally quite hopeless, I enjoyed it! The world was so well-developed, the people and the different gods fully fleshed out, and somehow through all the darkness, love & characters to cheer for shone through. And Simon Vance is a fantastic audio narrator - all told I listened to him for 73 hours as he read these three books!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
After reading and loving Hibbert‘s Brown Sisters series, I was excited for her first move into the teen book world, and this was exactly what I was looking for! Still getting giddy romance moments, funny one-liners, and her refusal to look away from difficult, real life situations, this book is good for any Hibbert fans, not just teens.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️I first read this in June 2020, and I didn‘t remember liking it,though my first review did give it 4 stars, but on the reread, I‘m not sure what I didn‘t like the first time. I thought it was honest, funny, compelling me to pick it back up. I again loved her portrayal of romance novels helping readers through hard times - I never read romance before spring 2020 & I‘m grateful to the Emily Henrys for giving us these little pockets of joy.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️This is specifically about prayer, but embedded in that is all her ways of making you feel like openness and goodness and God, whoever She really is, are important and easy and just possible in ways that in everyday life seem...less possible. I wish it had been a bit longer or more full or somehow made me slow down & reflect, but there is also much I will take with me, and I'm, as always, grateful for her voice & care.

⭐️⭐️⭐️
Set in a future United States where things have devolved to more closely resemble the Wild West, it was an interesting choice for Gailey to make this a novella. At only 173 pages, it‘s a quick read, and there were some things I was really impressed with and others that I wish had been given a full book‘s worth of space.
If queer gunslinging Librarians catch your interest, I‘d say this one is worth the the quick read.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️This was a reread,but it has been over 6 years since I first read it, so a lot of it felt new. I really like this one - I think this time more of the horrors of what they faced in the Channel Islands under German WWII occupation settled in,and that made it a more difficult read. It is fascinating history I‘ve never heard anywhere else, so that alone makes it an important work - and visiting Guernsey is on my bucket list because of it :)

January #bookspin list!
@TheAromaofBooks

I made it through 80 books this year, and these are my top 6!
Romance & fantasy continue to be my most read genres, but of my top 6, they are romance, historical fiction, adult fiction, fantasy, teen fiction, & mystery.
I had more DNF (did not finish) books this year than usual, and more 2 star reviews, but I also read some incredible books!
What were some of your best reads so I can add them to my list?

⭐️⭐️💫
It felt pretty immature - writing and character-wise - the amount of times the female main character called herself crazy was cringey at best.
And the guy saying he'd give her time to work out her relationship fears, just to then be so frustrated he broke up with her in less than a week? Just too angsty.
The bookshop/bar/coffee place where Cam worked, though? 5 stars. Wish it was real.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Christie really shines in this one! A look at Poirot searching for a public serial killer instead of investigating a private murder, there were lots of twists & turns and when you think you know, ya don‘t know.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Convicting and affirming, I really enjoyed BBT‘s look at teaching a university-level world religions class and what that taught her about herself and her personal faith.
She is funny, honest, and relatable in her writing, and I appreciated her saying things I‘ve always known in new ways so I can actually see them again.

It is too long - I made it just over halfway & was so bored.
Occasionally funny, trying to be very spicy though not actually well-written spice, and did not keep my interest: that far in & nothing had changed except that people who already had crushes on each other were hooking up... 😑
If this wasn't for book club,I would have stopped after ch 1.
ALSO - There is zero meet cute in this book. What is this title?? I just have a lot of issues here.

⭐️⭐️⭐️This is a story I would enjoy as a tv series, but as a book it was a bit too much silly banter and non-detectives doing detective work for me.It read like a light mystery while dealing with heavy themes, and when I finished, I did wonder what the characters will do next even though I wasn‘t very invested in the current story.So I think if you like British WWII mysteries, give it a chance.&if it ever gets made for tv, I‘d definitely watch it.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
It was really nice to be lost in one of Hibbert‘s worlds again for a few hours.
This was a very quick read - Libby said I was reading for only 3.5 hours. But somehow it was still a full story with strong characters. I could see places it could have been delved into more, but it really wasn‘t needed.
Great Christmas novella combining cute jokes, spicy moments, and real issues as Hibbert does so well.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️Babalola, a British-Nigerian author, took mythical love stories and retold them (generally) through a modern lens.I am not a good reader of short story collections, but I loved this book! Some romances we saw the happy endings, others the new beginnings, and some the reconnections. There were a couple stories I knew the myth it was based on, but most were brand new to me.
I will absolutely be looking for more from this author.

Tillie climbed the stairs from the Bond Street Station out to Davies Street, blinking in the afternoon light.

#FirstLineFridays
@ShyBookOwl

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
As with all the other books in this series - I loved it but don‘t know if it‘s actually good 😂 It is a compelling read - once I got into it, I couldn‘t put it down. I did like her exploration of difficult families and how those influence relationships. This is a series I will always be excited to read, but I really don‘t know why 😂👏🏻👏🏻

Well the first title is wrong but the tagged book is what I meant 😂🤦🏻‍♀️

December #bookspin list!
@TheAromaofBooks

⭐️⭐️⭐️💫
Surprisingly I most enjoyed hearing about Tom‘s life after Harry Potter. The Potter chapters were interesting, but they focused more on his cast mates than on Tom himself, which I wasn‘t expecting. I knew little of his post-Potter life, and I appreciated his honesty as he shared his story.
I do think he sounds like an annoying kid, though 😂 Again, glad he was honest, but his antics & his irresponsible brothers stressed me out!

Cards on the table: this is not going to be my proudest moment.

#FirstLineFridays
@ShyBookOwl

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫
Why is this book so good?? I have no idea aside from fact that it‘s just: charming.
The author says it‘s “a novel of high fantasy and low stakes,” and that‘s just it. You get all the aspects you love about fantasy but none of the extremes. Just an orc opening a coffee shop.
I couldn‘t believe when I saw so many people reading and loving this book, but it has officially won me over. What a joy.

To say that I love “love” would probably be akin to me saying that I am quite fond of inhaling oxygen.

#FirstLineFridays
@ShyBookOwl

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️I wish I had been able to read this book in longer stretches instead of my usual fits-and-starts of reading time because when I was able to settle into it, I got lost in the story & enjoyed it.Cruz was inspired by her mother‘s story of coming to America from the Dominican Republic in the 1960s. The book shows that turbulent time and tells Ana‘s story with such isolation and care, it felt very real, which just shows Cruz‘s skill level.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️This book was really eye-opening -it details the Sackler family and their almost singular role in the opioid crisis.Three generations of Sacklers managed to change the way we market & manufacture opioids and have continued that relentless marketing to this day, even in the face of thousands becoming addicted and dying from their product.Keefe is incredibly thorough and very talented.I am interested in reading more from him in the future.

The first time Juan Ruiz proposes, I‘m eleven years old, skinny and flat-chested.

#FirstLineFridays
@ShyBookOwl

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
As I said back August when I read book 1, I don‘t know when or why this series was added to my tbr, but I am really glad - it‘s a hidden gem for sure! Lacking the glitz, glam, and big drama of usual spy stories, Vera is a normal person handling abnormal situations, which at times can make it seem mundane, but not boring, and makes the moments of suspense even more intense.
Definitely looking forward to book 3 and other works by Knecht.

November #bookspin!

@TheAromaofBooks

The New York Headquarters of the international law firm Debevoise & Plimpton occupy ten floors of a sleek black office tower that stands in a grove of skyscrapers in midtown Manhattan.

#FirstLineFridays
@ShyBookOwl

⭐️⭐️⭐️💫
It‘s always fun to jump into a new Guillory book & this was no exception!
Not my very favorite from her, but I liked the look she gave at personal expectations & how that influences how we enter relationships - romantic and otherwise.
She continues to be a must-read author for me.

Margot Noble bit her lip so she wouldn‘t scream.

#FirstLineFridays
@ShyBookOwl

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
“I am Ana. I was the wife of Jesus ben Joseph of Nazareth.”

It‘s been years since I read anything by Sue Monk Kidd, and this was a strong reminder of how much I love her work.
Feminine, feminist, & spiritual - the author has done what she does best.
Emotional & intellectual, based on heavy research & a reverence for Jesus, I loved this.

I am Ana. I was the wife of Jesus ben Joseph of Nazareth.

#FirstLineFridays
@ShyBookOwl

It's hard to rate or review a book/poem/art piece like this & the fact that it's written by one person (Jason Reynolds) and the art is done by another (Jason Griffin) is striking. There are authors' notes that talk about their collaboration & how they have known each other for over 20 years, which I think you can feel. A book that speaks to the effort to survive 2020, I didn't expect the hope that it contained.
And that was very, very beautiful.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️Julia Whelan is one of the best audiobook narrators. So when she wrote a book of her own starring two audiobook narrators? I couldn‘t wait. I only listened to the audio version, and I loved every second. Laugh out loud funny, full tears-streaming moments, and everything in between - highly recommend.
Trigger warning: a realistic (from my experience) depiction of a loved one with dementia. If that would hit hard, please proceed gently.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫
The second installment of this series was so good & so very violent. I love the audiobook narrator, and am looking forward to seeing where all the loose ends move in book 3!

By the time Sioan reached the tower‘s top, stepping from the last stair into the bitter chill of the night, the air in her lungs burned with a fury to match the fire raging in the streets below.

#FirstLineFridays
@ShyBookOwl

⭐️⭐️⭐️💫
This was a good, quick read, and I especially enjoyed what I learned about Filipino culture. It lacked some depth that I was looking for, essentially reading as if someone asked Gharib “what was it like to grow up first generation American with Filipino-Egyptian heritage?” and here‘s her answer.
I‘m sure many children of multiple cultures would strongly relate, and I‘d certainly read more from Gharib in the future.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
2022 is my year of Rachel Lynn Solomon as I have now officially read all of her recent works in the last six months! This one lands right in the middle favorite-wise, but I did enjoy it. And, like all her work, it was a quick, engaging read.
I was nervous at first because I do not like time traveling romances, but it turns out time *loop* romances are right up my alley 😂

⭐️⭐️⭐️💫
After being completely charmed by Oh‘s The Girl Who Fell Beneath the Sea, I wanted to check out her other books.
XOXO is a fun forbidden romance about a Korean American girl & a K-Pop star. I loved the culture references, especially about K-Pop culture, which I knew nothing about.
The end wasn‘t very satisfying for me, but overall I enjoyed the read, and I know I‘ll seek out more of Oh‘s work.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️I recommend having access to both the audiobook & the hard copy as the audio has guests & extra bits not included in the book, but the book offers many behind the scenes pictures. It was really fun to listen to a few chapters & then go back and see the pictures. If you‘re a fan of the office, this is a must read. I‘ve heard the stories are also covered in their podcast, but I haven‘t listened to that, so they were all new & fun for me!

Jay‘s Karaoke sits at the center of a Koreatown strip mall between a Boba Land 2 and Sookie‘s Hair Emporium.

#FirstLineFridays
@ShyBookOwl

October #bookspin list!

@TheAromaofBooks

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️Third book in the series & absolutely so good. This series never disappoints. I wish I had had a full day to sit down & read this in one sitting. Somehow with each story I find myself laughing out loud, gasping in shock, and tearing up - sometimes all in the same short chapter.
My only complaint, and this has nothing to do with the story itself, is the change of audiobook narrator from the first two.Highly, highly recommend this series.

Bethany Waites understands there is no going back now.

#FirstLineFridays
@ShyBookOwl

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Just Mercy is simultaneously easy to read & impossible to get through. Stevenson writes in a compelling way, but what he is telling us should make readers pause.
I am grateful for the work Stevenson does with the Equal Justice Initiative and that he took the time to write about it.
I have always been against the death penalty, for all reasons, in all cases. If you think differently, I challenge you to read this book.
Striking work.

“I wasn‘t prepared to meet a condemned man.”

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@ShyBookOwl