I love when my husband returns from Japan with a new Kokeshi for my shelves! He travels there for work, and maybe one day I‘ll get to go with him. For now, our boys‘ school and sports keep me in Tennessee. 😩🫠😂 It‘s fine. But I‘m going eventually.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Emily Austin is an absolute must-read for me! Her books are the perfect blend of intellectual stimulation and quirky darkness; my favorite flavor of literally fiction. This is a heavy story told with an often light tone, and utterly thoughtful. I don‘t know how Austin pulled it off. It‘s hard to describe further without spoiling. This short novel says so damned much. #coverlove

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Mount Everest is a concept indicative of achievement, yearning, and enormous audacity. And such is life, and disaster. Dixon and brother Nate set out to become the first Black American males to summit. Through alternating timelines, Outen lays out the Everest story and what follows. Dixon‘s literal, and figurative, descent was much more than expected. A very thoughtful debut!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ No one should suffer perpetuity with such an awful nickname. Her given name is mentioned once; an artistic choice I was into. Two weeks until their wedding, Piglet‘s fiancé drops a bomb. Quite the asshole. Honestly, everyone‘s kind of awful, even Piglet, but you find yourself pulling for her. You might even identify with her food-for-comfort shame spiral. Odd book. Fab cover!

⭐️⭐️⭐️ This story‘s fine, but does not live up to the hype. The Author‘s Note is a content warning, but it was still far darker and more serious than anticipated. I thought it would be a small portion, but it totally drives the plot. I prefer my romances a bit lighter and funnier. I appreciated the characters more than the story. The tough subject matter was handled very well, though, especially concerning Grant‘s character. He was my favorite.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ A story largely about kindness. With all the darkness lately, this was a truly lovely story! I picked this up to satisfy two goodreads challenges in one swoop. It‘s not my typical kind of read, so here‘s a challenge serving its purpose! Mika is tasked with helping some young witches learn to wield their powers safely, but discovers surprising secrets that could change the way witches must live in the world.

⭐️⭐️ I wouldn‘t necessarily call it an “attempt”so much as a plan that was, thankfully, foiled. I will say with all the Kennedy books I read last year, I don‘t recall this piece of his story which happened after the election, but prior to inauguration. This would‘ve been better without the rudimentary recap of his life before and after it, but I guess they needed word count. This wasn‘t great.

⭐️⭐️⭐️ A memoir of growing up, of love, and of incredible loss, by tWitch‘s widow Allison Holker. I know she‘s D-List famous in her own right, but I know her because of him. He was on “So You Think You Can Dance” back when I followed the show. This feels honest in a lot of difficult ways, but also awkward. I appreciate her justified expression of anger. I hope writing this was cathartic, brought peace, and frankly, a solid pay day.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ On pins and needles for “part two” out later this year! This was a lot of detail, but so immersive, like I was on the periphery eaves dropping on her life. The audiobook introduces each chapter with a Cher-narrated anecdote, then passes the duties to Stephanie Block who seamlessly takes over. Early life through the 70s. She saw and experienced a ton in those years; was in the midst of so much pop culture history. Fascinating!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Famous real-life audiobook narrator Julia Whelan spins a fictional story centered around, well, audiobook narrators. Self-acceptance/discovery/love play a big role. The little bits of homage to the industry, even when satirical, were great. I loved the inside glimpses of the process. This was just a delightful listen, cleverly showcasing Whelan‘s voice and accent range. Predictable, but a fun read!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ A story of the Haenyeo, the all-female diving collective of Jeju Island, South Korea. These badass women immerse themselves in dangerous work harvesting seafood. This is the kind of historical fiction I‘m down for as I was not previously familiar with this fascinating culture. This follows the two friends through decades of tumult. A very difficult read at times. Prepare to cry. #bookclub

⭐️⭐️ I‘ve heard McFadden rips off ideas, but this is the first one I actually noticed. And I didn‘t care. It wasn‘t full-on nor well-done. The Crash is no Misery. McFadden is certainly no King. But that‘s not my issue. It‘s a dumb story with very rudimentary writing. Recently published, The Boyfriend, showed a larger writing range from her which I enjoyed, but this was not good. Girl is inconsistent AF. My green kindle is cute, tho.

⭐️⭐️ As the parent of two sons on the cusp of Gens Z and Alpha, none of this is news. Unfettered access to a smartphone is clearly not ideal, and the parents aware enough to seek out such a book are likely not the true target. Play-based vs phone-based in terms of upbringing needs a happy medium. This research doesn‘t really address gray areas, but incessantly reiterates a this-or-that mentality rather than a compromise.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ As the author introduced herself to the reader, I died laughing. Read it and you‘ll get it. Definitely set me up for a fab reading experience. The subtitle says it all. A brief history of 12 lesser-known Americans. This was well-written, fascinating, and important. And often times delivered in a funny way. Highly entertaining.

⭐️⭐️ A single mom coming of age story. Not “laugh-out-loud funny” nor really very “heartwarming.” Excruciating? YEP. Margo is young, naïve, makes bad choices, has bad role models. The women‘s rights pieces were fantastic, but generally, the rest is just a quirkiness try-hard. And stylistically, this was not time to be toying with the seemingly random swap-a-roo of first and third person. The hype monster got me.

⭐️⭐️⭐️ In the 1996 Everest disaster, Dr Beck Weathers was discovered so near death, it was not wise to risk more lives for a fruitless rescue attempt. Hours later, he miraculously arrived at camp. These are the details he recalls. It‘s an incredible story of perseverance, and a bold, selfless rescue. It‘s also very much about his flailing marriage and the part mountaineering played in his often being an absent father / husband.

This isn‘t a book I would‘ve picked up on my own, but it‘s fascinating. This is why I love my book club!

#audiopuzzling #bookclub 🎧🧩

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Didion‘s writing is stream-of-consciousness perfection. The shifts between first- and third-person, also perfection. A brief book with short chapters, Maria‘s current state of being in 1960s California unravels quickly. She‘s a bit of a mess, but you love her instantly. Something about this reminds me of Franny & Zooey by JD Salinger; a compliment I don‘t give lightly. Sullen, intense, and just exquisite. ⬇️

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ One of the most elite mountaineers in history tells his account of the 1996 Everest disaster. As a guide for Seattle-based Mountain Madness, his was to ensure the safety of their clients. Jon Krakauer is a bit critical of Boukreev‘s decisions, as is documented in Into Thin Air, so this is Toli‘s version. Another fantastic Everest memoir. I won‘t take sides. They both had traumatic experiences and valid memories. The epilogue made me cry.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ What started as an article for Outside Magazine turned into the deadliest day on Everest (at that point), and a totally different experience ensued. The article expanded into this incredible memoir, perhaps as an act of catharsis. I first read this 14 years ago and loved it just as much now. Harrowing, sad, and incredible.

Highly recommend all of Krakauer‘s books! His “Under the Banner of Heaven” is what got me interested in cults.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ From intrepid mountaineers to meticulously planned, guided ascents, this is the fascinating history of climbing Everest. Quotes from climbers, guides, Sherpas, and more are documented. Well-rounded storytelling. Well-researched, engaging, and entertaining. Has the industry diminished the integrity of the climb? Some certainly think so. But so what?

#coverlove

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ This was a slow, but truly fascinating, read. I dipped in / out for a few weeks, adsorbing this delve into American book store history. Readers should want to know this! I know my appreciation has grown. A huge “Thank You” to those who, no matter the capacity or circumstance, put books into our hands and brains.

PS. I especially loved the chapter on my local indie, the incredible Parnassus.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ A celebrity memoir that‘s also about a cult? This checks so many of my favorite boxes. That said, this is truly serious, and I appreciate Lenz‘s willingness to share her story. Though I never watched One Tree Hill, hearing the celebrity aspect of being part of a “family” and how they abused her emotionally and financially, is reminiscent of Scientology. Users, the lot of them.

⭐️⭐️⭐️ Life after presidency. This focuses largely on humanitarian efforts. Clinton also has many complimentary things to say about Hilary; as he should. Dude better spend the rest of his days making up for the humiliation of the cigar and blue dress (but I digress). He weighs in on the divisiveness of our current so-called democracy. Over all, a decent read, but some of the more minute details could‘ve been edited down for readability‘s sake.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Centered around the disappearance(s) of the Van Laar kids, this is very much a sprawling slow burn of a 70s Adirondack summer. Pay close attention, especially at the beginning. There are a lot of well-fleshed characters, and you need to keep the info straight. I had to take a few notes, but it was worth it. Though I thought one thread was unnecessary, this is otherwise nearly perfect. Brilliant title!
Lives up to the hype, IMO.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Just delightful! I was only vaguely familiar with the “Barefoot Contessa,” but that didn‘t hinder my enjoyment at all. Turns out there are some random similarities from the early years of our marriages, so that was a happy coincidence. Garten is a fantastic, candid storyteller. Highly recommend! So happy I got this in our book club‘s recent “Blind Date with a Book” swap!

BAIL ❌ This kind of writing is exhausting. So much telling with little showing. So basic. A line of dialogue followed by, essentially, stage directions. Over and over for eternity. Once this clicked in my brain, it couldn‘t be undone. And I feel like this could take place anywhere just add some cool creatures; a severe lack of world building. I was quickly reminded of why I rated Iron Flame only 3 stars. After 8 chapters, I‘m out.

⭐️⭐️ Having read a few of Didion‘s journalistic pieces, and the recent title “Didion & Babitz,” I wanted to try one from the latter. Oh, the pretension and ego! Lord. Grapes, baseball, married men, sex, drugs. 1960s California is one of my favorite things to read about, but this will not go down as a favorite. It‘s a one and done for me and Didion‘s frenemy.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Realistic portrayal of an American family. Functional and dysfunctional. This story centers on a mom hellbent on gathering her adult kids, who‘ve gone on to make their own questionable choices, home for Christmas as their father‘s health declines. Tragically funny and relatable. The plays on the term “correction” are brilliantly timed and placed. Finally, my first Franzen! Def reading more.

⭐️⭐️ This is meant to be an example of American history, and it succeeds to an extent. However, for such an acclaimed novel, it‘s very surface level. I wanted, and expected, more detail and development. The litany of characters hindered this. Instead, we got tons of descriptions of what folks did, or didn‘t do, but not much about how they actually felt. This caused a disconnect for me as the reader. I did like the ending, though. #bookclub

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ If you‘re going into thrillers expecting literary perfection, you‘re in the wrong genre, honey. Is it perfect? Of course not, but when I tear quickly through a story, consider its palate-cleaning purpose served. McFadden is pretty reliable for a rapid read. I had fun trying to figure this one out. #kindleunlimited

⭐️⭐️⭐️ The stunning cover is a bit deceiving. It‘s less the story of a fraught friendship and more of just a Babitz love fest. This author is admittedly Team Eve, but does it really need to be a battle of which artist chronicled California better? Can‘t they be complimentary? Having previously only read Didion‘s nonfiction, I struggled to care about Babitz, but in the end, I‘m glad to have stuck it out. Narrowly a pick. Deeper dive coming soon.

⭐️⭐️⭐️ As an elder millennial, I‘m a few years too old to appreciate this fully, as I literally never watched a single show, but it was still a worthwhile read addressing the challenges and successes of various projects. I‘d heard of almost all the shows, but was definitely clueless as to how many folks got their start in the Disney Channel aughts. That kind of blew my mind.

It was a fantastic reading year!

Favorites: Sandwich, In the Weeds, Ask Not, From Here to the Great Unknown, Migrations

The few stats I like to track:
library books — 119
nonfiction — 73
five star reads — 26

I have a “best of 2024” shelf on goodreads if you want to take a look. If we‘re not already connected, I‘m britt_brooke there, too. 🩷🩷

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ I‘m not really certain why I picked this up right at this moment. Maybe an Audible sale that I decided to get from the library? I‘m often a frugal reader. Anyway, this was published in 2003, so long before his tragic death. Therefore, it‘s not complete, but learning of his tumultuous childhood, how his love of dogs developed, and how he got started musically was 100% worthwhile. DMX didn‘t narrate, but the guy who did has a similar voice.

🦄🦄🦄🦄 Volume 20! Phoebe goes back in time to visit her dad at her age, via unicorn time travel, of course. On top of being another cute and funny installment, this gently address coping with anxiety.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ A recommendation from my trusted librarian friend and fellow #NashvilleLitten. PJ‘s dad passes, prompting a return to her tiny hometown. Realizing she not quite ready to return to university, she hastily grabs a job at local institution, the Chickie Shak. As a KY native, and long-time TN resident, the Southern-isms and slang had me literally laughing out loud. Funny and heartwarming story of losing and finding; of friendship and love.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Is it real or fake? Everything is engineered. Set in the not-too-distant future, this novel challenges many current-day issues and what they could become. Stolen cell pregnancy, non-consensual reproduction, bio security guards. I read this as a bit of technological satire. I‘m not sure it was meant to be taken that way, but it worked for me.

A little out of my wheelhouse, but a solid rec from a good friend.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Imagine growing up in JFK Jr‘s circumstances. This oral history (full-cast audio is a must!) is a chronological compilation from those who knew him well. A beautiful tribute to his much-too-short life. Kind, charismatic, handsome, and well-liked. Certainly the least icky of the male Kennedys, but impulsive to a fault. So much tragedy bestowed upon one family.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Journalist Julie K. Brown broke the Epstein story which ultimately brought him down. This is a tough read, but a must for those who love narrative nonfiction, and seeing assholes get their, albeit long overdue, comeuppance. The open secret, and the plethora of people who protected him, shows just how cowardly and depraved humans can be.

Not in the database. ⭐️⭐️⭐️ Did we need this short story? Not really. But did I read it, and enjoy it, super quickly? Sure did. If you‘ve read the rest of the series, you‘ll want to pick up this little piece of filler.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Couldn‘t put this down! I had to know how the two timelines would converge. I don‘t want to say too much, but definitely recommend this if you want a quick read where you think you know … but do you? 🤨 I feel like McFadden‘s writing has improved, too. That‘s not a knock, just as observation.

We go absolutely overboard on food and gifts, and have no regrets! #NashvilleLittens

#NashvilleLittens Holiday meetup! We *think* this was the 7th annual (minus 2020). Love this tradition and these kind, smart, and truly hilarious ladies!

⭐️⭐️⭐️ “If I had been allowed to walk, it would‘ve been on eggshells.” Such an impactful line. But, I‘m conflicted. No doubt the mom was in the wrong. Like, severely. Lady was the gaslight queen, and had to be mentally unstable. Yet, I don‘t trust Gypsy fully. This was a decent read, but content-wise, there are some obvious inconsistencies. The amount of manipulation from all involved is wild.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ A truth-is-stranger-than-fiction absolute romp through Elwood‘s years in public relations. When creating clever spins, slightly untrue, and blatantly false narratives is your job, and your clients are people like freaking Gadaffi, you have some stories. A very engaging read!

I just have to share this text exchange because it totally made my day! A friend and I started an IRL book club 3 years by creating a fb group and opening it up to moms in our county. We have maintained a core group of about 10 members including this amazing woman. Books bonding people and changing lives. She‘s become one of my closest friends, too. 🩷📖✨

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ I was never a fan of JoJo‘s music, but I‘m a sucker for a celebrity memoir. This was pretty juicy, y‘all. And anytime an artist can expose the music industry for what it is, or what it has a propensity to be, I say good on them. A solid audiobook, narrated by the author.

🦄🦄🦄🦄 Phoebe #19! Cute collection mostly revolving around friendship and the perplexities of being 9 years old, and being best friends with a very sparkly mythical creature.

⭐️⭐️⭐️ Cohen seems a bit self-indulgent, and is definitely repetitive, but it‘s never a bad thing to keep an unsolved story in the public eye. Lauren Spierer deserves to be remembered and respected. Sadly, it seems like whatever happened, regardless of the proposed scenarios, likely occurs more than we know. Holding out hope that one day someone finally talks. Because someone absolutely knows.