During my Staycation last week, things happened.

1- got a flat on the highway & a stranger helped me change my tire. (That'll be a birthday I won't forget)
2- finished 3 books (2 audio and 1 hardcover. And half way through a 3rd audio).
3- finally created a cozy reading space for myself. (This was my proudest achievement.)
4- started working out again after re-upping my Peloton membership.

Started this the other day and I'm hooked. Already on Part 3 and I very much want to punch a character in the face. The rage I feel over a fictional character is comical.

Has anyone else read this? What are your thoughts?

#mystery #staycation

110 pages in. Even if it goes down hill from here this is still a 5 🌟 read for me solely for the fact that they've quoted Casablanca.

Starting book #27 of the year.

I found a new artist to listen to while reading.

And I've got the cozy vibes going strong with the purple lights and candles going.

I've been doing a lot of spinning lately. The first 20 minutes in the ride I read during my warm-up, and then I die, I mean crush it, for the next hour.

Now im only a few chapters in on Dreadful, and I have laughed a few times now. Oh Gav, you sweet no memory Dark Lord 😂😂

This book is a gem. I don't know what it is about books where the MC is a serial killer, but I love it. I'd say Claire is my favorite to date. Her inner thoughts of annoyance over trivial things cracked me up. I lost count of the number of times I laughed while reading this late into the night.

I'm so bad when it comes to keeping up with any social media. Let's see what's happened so far this year... I got a promotion, had to relocate, and was in the longest bookslump of my life (I hadn't finished this year). But then I downloaded the #digitalarc of Funny Story and finished it in two days. I loved this book so much. It's definitely a contender for my top 10 Rom-Coms.

I finished the new Emily Stone last week, and I thought it was cute. Was I prepared for my face to leak? Nope! But I'm not even mad about it. Now, what I am slightly upset about is that she threw in a one bed trope and made it fade to black.

#ARC

This summer, I've been embracing the "day off beach life" mentality, and this past Thursday I read over half of The Long Game before I packed up to go home.

I finished it yesterday, and y'all... Cameron is my new book boyfriend. That is all.

#ARC

Finished this one earlier this week and, like every other Lisa Jewell book I've read, I loved it. I even had to DM her for the actual truth because my goodness it could have gone so many ways.

#ARC

I finished this earlier this week. I couldn't put it down. I loved it so much even when I hated that it made me cry several times.

Also, do you see that? It was snowing fat fluffy flakes earlier today! That's April in Wisconsin.

There's been some life updates since my last post. The biggest being I moved across the country for the second time. Boy, do I NEVER want to drive a Uhaul ever again.

Anywho, I have the pleasure of having David as a colleague, and his book comes out next month (5/30). I LOVED every page. Victorian Era in a gothic setting, a love triangle, shady counts with secrets AND it's a retelling inspired by Ann Radcliffe. What more could a bookworm want?

It's just so pretty. I had to share!!

The illustrations inside are just absolutely gorgeous.

I caved into FOMO. I'm now committed to the hardcovers all because I didn't like the neon covers.

I'm 180 pages in, and I already have sooooo many questions.

Henry is back!!!! And omg, he's no Joe Goldberg, but he's still pretty twisted. And I am here for it.

I finished this late last night. It was pretty entertaining.

I love BB Easton. Her writing style cracks me up. And the taboo therapist/client trope, for me, made up for the slow burn spice. It didn't have as much spice as her other books (44 chapters series), but it was just as funny.

I should also mention that I read this in one sitting.

My Thanksgiving went a little like this....

Cooked a turkey in the slow cooker (definitely doing that again), watched some football, and read a Christina Lauren book like I did last Thanksgiving (starting a tradition here).

All in all, it was the perfect day.

I hope everyone else's day was just as perfect and relaxing.

Started this beauty last night right before bed so I'm only 3 chapters in. But I am enjoying it so far and I've already laughed so that's a promising sign.

Also, sorry for being so MIA. I promise to try to get better, but life, ya know?

#ARC

Everyone, meet Stella.

I took her in 3 weeks ago and I couldn't be happier.

She's in her teething stage so my fingers, toes, and hands are all marked up 😂 She is a ball of energy and loves running around or playing hide n seek.

Yes! Yes! Yes!!

I was stoked when this FINALLY came out. And I did the proper thing.. I reread the first two books and now that I finished You Love Me, I'm Jonesing for some more Joe Goldberg.

I was lucky enough to get an ARC of this beauty. I absolutely loved this book so so so so much! Elsa reminded me of my mother while Loreda reminded me of myself. And like all the other Kristin Hannah books I've read I needed tissue at the end.

Woohoo!!! I finished my goodreads challenge 🤩

That's all I got for today.

I may be tired due to reading past my bedtime 😂

I finally put up my Christmas tree the same day I got my #botm box. I'm so excited for Christmas this year even though I'm spending it alone.

I'm so close to my reading goal for the year (4 book to go) and I think I can surpass that this year. Here's to hoping🤞🏻

Yesterday, my dad would have been 59. In honor of his memory I got a tattoo for him. He had a tiger tattoo on his arm, and being a huge Winnie the Pooh fan growing up, I got the OG Tigger. The sunflowers are for my favorite memory that makes me chuckle every time.

I hope everyone has a wonderful (hopefully snowy) winter.

Hey Littens, long time no check in. I swear I'll get better 🤞🏻😄

Life update: I'm in my new apartment and I'm really excited about my little record player station complete with plants I haven't killed yet and of course, books!

I hope everyone enjoyed their weekend and has a wonderful week 🥰

Plant names from left to right: Yeli, Fred, Bob, and Sally.

I'm excited today for 3 things:

1. Book mail! So excited that my #botm box arrived last night.

2. I'm moving!!!... into my first apartment... WITHOUT a roommate. I get to move in Nov 1. I seriously can't wait to go furniture shopping 😄

3. I got promoted last week and it just so works out that my new apartment will be right down the road from the store I'll be transferring too.

Needless to say I've got a lot to be thankful for.

Hey Littens 👋 sorry it's been a minute since I've posted. It has been crazy at the store, and I pick up a side job too.

The other day I set up a small banned book display because I just couldn't wait until next month to do it lol.

I liked that it took place in Italy, even if it was in a convent, but I hated Bridget. How can one just lie about or be ashamed of their own family? I just, ugh.

I have my first day off after returning to work from quarantine because I was exposed to Covid. This week has been crazy awesome. Being back at my store with my booksellers and customers 💜🥰, interviewing for a new position, and just feeling like I'm myself again.

So today I have a couple goals. Finish reading Skin and Belladonna, and then start The Last Flight. So far, I have one book down. 2 more go 😊

I have just a little more than 100 pages left to read and I've been so consumed with this book that I forgot to eat.

I apologize that this isn't book related, but I've been missing WI lately so I drove an hour in each direction to get me some Culver's. It was like being home in my new home. And I'll take that seeing I don't think I'll be able to go home to visit any time soon.

4 of my favorite things in one photo.

Books, monkeys, the color purple, and Orchid flowers.

Today is a happy day.

I spy with my little eye my new favorite shirt 😂🍷

This is why I love Target 💜

📖 if you give a moose a muffin
🤷‍♀️
🎞 indecent proposal
🎙 Ingrid michaelson
🎶 in the still of the night

Dang @JoScho this one was a tough one 😆 #manicmonday #letterI

I just have to share with y'all!

My store REOPENED on Friday 💜 I'm so incredibly happy to help customers find their next favorite book again that I literally cried on the sales floor yesterday. Now to patiently wait for book club to start meeting in the store again. I miss my book club ladies.

1 - My handle is one of my nicknames
2 - Manager/bookseller
3- I've been reading, crocheting, and watching A LOT of Netflix
4 - I'm currently reading the tagged book. I started it tonight and I've laughed so much already i have to tinkle 😂😂
5 - Just ride the wave baby. Find the things that make your day and focus on that. And on Saturdays jump around with Wisconsin at 3pm to Jump Around by House of Pain.

#allaboutme @Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks

This is how I'm ending my Sunday. I'm on page 29 and I've laughed out loud several times already. This books is great 😂😂

Anyone other Littens read this one before?

?????

I literally BAWLED my eyes out at the end of this book. I decided to listen to the audiobook because I couldn't find the drive to actually sign down and read and it shattered my heart either way.

Picture the scene guys...

I'm at work tracking down books for online orders, headphones in my ears, rivers of tears flowing down my face while choking on sobs, and all my boss could say was "Wow. That book really affected you."

Y'all I lost my damn mind and colored my hair!

Has anyone else done something crazy with their hair since we can't go get it professionally done?

I'm also in a bit of a book slump and it breaks heart. I just don't have the drive to sit down and read more than a chapter at a time. This pandemic is not doing anything to help my depression.

This is what my Tuesday afternoon is looking like.

What is everyone else doing today?

So sorry for not posting in a while, it's been a crazy couple of months.

I have the day off so I'm doing some #audiocrocheting to get this baby blanket finished in time for one of my best friends. She's due in 9 weeks.

7 books finished in a month. This is by far my personal best so I'm going to say 2020 is off to a great start 😄

7/52 books
1/30 of the 52 Italian related/theme

Guys, I am HARD CORE geeking out!!! 700 years after finishing The Divine Comedy, and then dying a year later, Dante FINALLY has his own official day 💜💜💜 March 25 is most definitely going to be a day worth celebrating.

https://www.italymagazine.com/featured-story/italy-establishes-national-dante-da...

Here I am reading Calvino's preface to his first novel, and pages later I keep returning to the same sentence because there is something of truth in it that tugs at me.

"But when you are young every new book you read is like a new eye which opens on to the world and which modifies the viewpoint of the other eyes or book-eyes which you had before..."

I never laughed and cried so much because of one book before, but here I am regretting that this story is over. This is such a beautiful book and everyone needs to read it.

My Sunday night/Monday.

*Not pictured*
Wine
Chocolate
Cheese (duh)

In honor of Valentine's Day, and to have fun at work, I spent my day creating this "blind date with a book" display. I hand wrote each blurb for every book and I gotta say, that was hard!

My sister wants to start reading more by buddy reading with me. This is huge on so many levels, but my favorite thing about this is it'll be a way to bond with her even though we live in opposite parts of the country. These two books will be our first books together.

Does anyone else buddy read with their siblings?

It was Ugly Christmas Sweater Day for my store, and my wonderful booksellers and co-managers had some great sweaters!

I absolutely love my store and my team. I'm so proud of everything that they've accomplished this year. Seeing them grow into passionate book lovers makes my heart so full.

Early Merry Christmas from me and my book family to this amazing community!

Hey Littens! This Christmas season is crazy at work, but I have to take a moment and brag about one of my booksellers. Not only is she passionate about books, but she's super creative too! Case in point, this AMAZING endcap. The details are crazy awesome... even the ornaments are themed! I'm one proud manager.