#5JoysFriday
1. Saw the Thunderbolts/ New Avengers. It had really great depression rep. I've been having a hard time with my depression lately so I felt really seen. (The reason I haven't been super active on here)
2. I planted strawberries and snap peas
3. Finally got a membership to Costco
4. Rainbow drink from my local cafe
5. Croissants

🩵My April Reads🩵

June 2025 theme: Sapphic Romance

Please vote for what book we will read in June

https://forms.gle/4CuWphtQmMn2DfYq7

Read at your own pace. There will be a discussion on Litsy at the end of the month.

Rise up Reads- reading marginalized voices 🔥✊🏼 If you're not currently tagged & would like to be, let me know.

#RiseUpReads May 2025

The God and the Gumiho by Sophie Kim

Read at your own pace. There will be a discussion posted on Litsy at the end of the month.

Please tag me in your posts & use #riseupreads
If you're not currently tagged & would like to be, let me know.

Content warnings: Death, violence, murder, gore, war, sexual content, blood

Mental health matters

“The only way out is through…”

My dad committed suicide when I was 10. I've had depression and anxiety my whole life. I take antidepressants. I've done therapy multiple times in my life. I believe it's important to discuss mental health and reduce the stigma around mental illnesses. If anyone is ever struggling I am always here to talk. Please reach out!

Resources below

#riseupreads

Folklore and fairytale references
Sorrow‘s garden
Whimsy and Faerry‘s journey through the forest

#riseupreads

I really enjoyed this fantasy told in verse about depression, trauma, and the journey to heal.

For me I noticed that they finally could heal when the truth was revealed and everyone started communicating with each other. While the truth isn't always accessible, communication and talking through things instead ignoring or trying to forget about them is necessary to work through issues.

#riseupreads

#FoodandLit May 2025 Bangladesh 🇧🇩

To participate read a book that takes place in the country or is by an author from the country. Also enjoy food from the country. Share your experience with the tag #FoodandLit & tag @Catsandbooks & @Texreader

If you're not currently tagged in #FoodandLit news & would like to be, let me know.

Ik it's not Friday, but it's still a good day to share joy. Happy Easter Litsy family! 🐰🩷

1. I've been in a baking mood lately. Making muffins cookies, and brioche from scratch!
2. I made brioche for the first time and it turned out delicious! This is the first time I've made bread without the aid of a bread maker and it's actually turned out. I'm so proud of myself!
⬇️

#RiseUpReads May 2025

This was close, but the winner is - The God and the Gumiho by Sophie Kim

Read at your own pace. There will be a discussion posted on Litsy at the end of the month.

Please tag me in your posts & use #riseupreads
If you're not currently tagged & would like to be, let me know.

Content warnings: Death, violence, murder, gore, war, sexual content, blood

#5JoysFriday
1. Watching Abbott Elementary on repeat
2. Listening to the new Lady Gaga album on a loop
3. New sneakers
4. Cotton candy grapes
5. Will and the furbabies 🩵

Oh and I forgot Cory Booker! ✊🏼🔥❤️

My March reads! 💚
My favorite was A Sky beyond the storm. I absolutely love the Ember in the Ashes series, it's one of my favorites. I also loved the Lovelight Farms series, especially the final one, Business Casual.

May 2025 Theme: AAPI Fantasy

Please vote for what book we will read in May

https://forms.gle/osQxuy3hz75Q2tAm9

Rise up Reads- reading marginalized voices 🔥✊🏼 If you're not currently tagged & would like to be, let me know.

Reminder for #riseupreads April

Read at your own pace. There will be a discussion posted on Litsy at the end of the month.

Please tag me in your posts & use #riseupreads
If you're not currently tagged & would like to be, let me know.

LaKota people

Indigenous people abused, killed, moved out of their land

#riseupreads

A few of the women talked about

#riseupreads

I just thought this was OK. I thought it focused too much on white groups, but what did everyone else think?

#riseupreads

#FoodandLit April Rwanda 🇷🇼

To participate read a book that takes place in the country or is by an author from the country. Also enjoy food from the country. Share your experience with the tag #FoodandLit & tag @Catsandbooks & @Texreader

If you're not currently tagged in #FoodandLit news & would like to be, let me know.

4.5/5 ⭐️ Loved this romance set at an Irish Pub. Excellent ADHD and OCD rep too.

I made Irish soda bread and shepherd's pie for St. Patrick's Day. Delicious and comforting! 🇮🇪🍀

#FoodandLit

My results from the Feminist Perspectives Test

Thank you to @TheBookHippie for sharing this!

If anyone else would like to take the test -> https://www.idrlabs.com/feminist-perspectives-historical/test.php

#riseupreads

1. My boys, Zeke and Link, cuddling!
2. Rewatching New Girl
3. Spring is blooming 🌸
4. Dr. Pepper
5. Will 🩵

#5JoysFriday

Happy International Women's Day ✊🏼🔥💖

📸 from courtneyahndesign on Instagram

#RiseUpReads April 2025

We are all so good at smiling by Amber Mcbride

Read at your own pace. There will be a discussion posted on Litsy at the end of the month.

Please tag me in your posts & use #riseupreads
If you're not currently tagged & would like to be, let me know.

Content warnings: mental illness, suicide, grief, panic attacked, bullying, racism, death, self harm

💖February's Reads 💖

#5JoysFriday
1. My husband still has his job. He's a fed and every day when he comes home we say "live to fight another day"
2. A mockingbird came by me and was singing
3. Link helped me at my desk ?
4. Celebrated my husband's birthday
5. Pizza ?

April 2025 Theme: Mental Illness Rep

Please vote for what book we will read in April

https://forms.gle/YN2j1dcxPzpt5tgZA

Rise up Reads- reading marginalized voices 🔥✊🏼 If you're not currently tagged & would like to be, let me know.

Reminder for the March #riseupreads book

Brave Hearted: The Women of the American West by Katie Hickman

Read at your own pace. There will be a discussion posted on Litsy at the end of the month.

Please tag me in your posts & use #riseupreads
If you're not currently tagged & would like to be, let me know.

Strong black woman stereotype

Soft black girl

There's strength in being vulnerable, in taking care of yourself

https://fortune.com/well/2023/01/15/black-women-soft-life/

https://cupcakesandcashmere.com/uncategorized/the-softness-of-black-women

Top right art is from special edition of the book
#riseupreads

Housing crisis in USA

Not having a stable home growing up affects Amerie‘s life now

Wanting to feel safe and secure

Data on black home ownership https://nationalmortgageprofessional.com/news/state-housing-black-america-report...

Homelessness and minority groups https://endhomelessness.org/homelessness-in-america/what-causes-homelessness/ine...

Bottom left art is from special edition of the book
#riseupreads

Sickle cell disease affects more black and brown people

Amerie‘s mom is living with this invisible illness

Healthcare system in our country is biased and broken

Basic info on sickle cell https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/sickle-cell-anemia/symptoms-cause...

Video discussing SCD from a Boston news source, it's long but a great discussion from experts https://youtu.be/xehrvNMSD4E?si=OV_3xaDmPXXqjBPd

#riseupreads

I really enjoyed this book! I love a fake dating trope. I liked the banter between Amerie's and Vincent. The friendships and family dynamics were great too and felt real.

My favorite/least liked scenes are in the comments ⬇️

#riseupreads

#FoodandLit March 2025 Ireland 🇮🇪

To participate read a book that takes place in the country or is by an author from the country. Also enjoy food from the country. Share your experience with the tag #FoodandLit & tag @Catsandbooks & @Texreader

Storygraph link https://tinyurl.com/c4yrw569

If you're not currently tagged in #FoodandLit news & would like to be, let me know.

#5JoysFriday
This week has been incredibly stressful but I still found joy. JOY IS RESISTANCE! ✊🏼🔥
1. Kitty cuddles on cold days
2. A bird visiting my heated water bowl outside for animals
3. Crossword puzzles
4. Girl scout cookies
5. Will. My partner and best friend ❤️

3/5 ⭐️ I was really excited for the premise of this story, witches based on Jamaican folklore, but it fell flat for me. It really needed a glossary for all the complex world building terms that were thrown in without explanation. I won't continue the series but I would read something else from this author.

#RiseUpReads March 2025

Winner - Brave Hearted: The Women of the American West by Katie Hickman

Read at your own pace. There will be a discussion posted on Litsy at the end of the month.

Please tag me in your posts & use #riseupreads
If you're not currently tagged & would like to be, let me know.

#5JoysFriday
1. I made a lemon cream cheese cake for my birthday tomorrow. I'm happy with how it turned out!
2. Morning cuddles with my kitties
3. Receiving valentines from the #Valentinecardswap hosted by @TheBookHippie
4. Kinder happy hippos
5. Will ❤️

5/5 ⭐️ I absolutely loved this book! While it is a romance, it's more about grief and the journey to love again after you lose someone. Also I love the friendship between Feyi and Joy! So glad I read this one! #queerbc

March 2025 Theme: Women in History

Please vote for what book we will read in March

https://forms.gle/ptQUndjGZijLWw8u8

Rise up Reads- reading marginalized voices 🔥✊🏼 If you're not currently tagged & would like to be, let me know.

#5JoysFriday
1. I made it home safely after traveling and my cats were very happy to see me
2. I got Zola a raincoat 🌧️
3. Seeing my niece!
4. King cake season 💚💛💜
5. Fresh warm biscuits

5/5 ⭐️ Chloe is Queen! Long may her entertaining chaos reign! 👑🤯

#ChloeGongReadalong

#RiseUpReads February 2025
The Kiss Countdown by Etta Easton

Read at your own pace. There will be a discussion posted on Litsy at the end of the month. 

Please tag me in your posts & use #riseupreads 
If you're not currently tagged & would like to be, let me know.

Optional Storygraph readalong: https://app.thestorygraph.com/readalongs/37a3e213-d6d7-4b0d-8121-b015806813f0

#blackhistorymonth

Please share any resources, people or groups you follow, or book recommendations.

https://www.instagram.com/liberaljane?igsh=MWV2cXlkNmhlbDFtbQ==

https://www.feministbookclub.com/

https://www.aclu.org/

How to be an antiracist by Ibram X. Kendi

Information on intersectionality

Remember to check your privilege!

I recognize that as a white woman I have immense privilege most of the time.

https://just1voice.com/advocacy/wheel-of-privilege/

https://www.unwomen.org/en/news/stories/2020/6/explainer-intersectional-feminism...

https://www.womankind.org.uk/intersectionality-101-what-is-it-and-why-is-it-impo...

#RiseUpReads

I thought this was so informative & even with the subject matters being quite heavy, the sections were easily digestible. I highlighted the crap out of the book so much so that my highlighter was dying by the end.

"The process of becoming an ally requires a lot of emotional investment, & far too often the heavy lifting of that emotional labor is done by the marginalized, not by the privileged."

Help out trans kids by buying girl scout cookies!

https://www.erininthemorning.com/p/2025-trans-girl-scouts-to-order-cookies

Please try to buy from scouts who haven't met their goal yet

🏳️‍⚧️🩷🩵🤍🏳️‍⚧️

#FoodandLit February Nepal🇳🇵

To participate read a book that takes place in the country or is by an author from the country. Also enjoy food from the country. Share your experience with the tag #FoodandLit & tag @Catsandbooks & @Texreader

Storygraph link https://tinyurl.com/c4yrw569

If you're not currently tagged in #FoodandLit news & would like to be, let me know.

#RiseUpReads February 2025 Winner
The Kiss Countdown - Etta Easton

Read at your own pace. There will be a discussion posted on Litsy at the end of the month. 

Please tag me in your posts & use #riseupreads 
If you're not currently tagged & would like to be, let me know.

CW in comments

1. Ringing in the new year with my hubby and sparkling cider
2. Luna crawled into the sleeve of my sweater 😂
3. Art.brat.comics posted her yearly art about not getting sucked into diet culture. Fuck diet culture!
4. Setting up my new journal
5. Cheese 🧀💛

#5JoysFriday

#Two4Tuesday
1. My reading goal is 48 books. The last few years I've set it at that and it allows for wiggle room.
Hosting challenges #FoodandLit and #RiseUpReads

2. I don't have a specific book, but I've enjoyed reading the books I already own so I want to continue that

✨2025 Book bracket✨

Everyone welcome to play and share!