What my morning looked like...glad the weather has cooled off enough to read out in my sunroom, but things are really heating up in this sequel to Beartown. Tensions are high, all the feelings are building, lots of book darts needed... Helps to have Anne to read when I need a break...good weekend reading...

Another wonderful story by Penny.This one seems to be less liked among fans. It takes place mostly away from Three Pines and centers on one of the more unlikable characters in the series, Peter. It doesn't have the drama and emotional heft of the last few books. But I thought it was just right. We readers needed this chance to catch our breaths. Overall I find Penny's pacing of the larger story over the course of this series to be perfect.

Going to spend some time getting into this while waiting for my car to be serviced... 😊

Current situation: new book, coffee, Winter mug, pajamas, Christmas lights and candles, snow outside, nowhere to go... perfect...

Started this a couple days ago...about 2/3 of the way through and I just want to drop everything and keep reading...

Starting this today...last book of October... just in time for the movie!

A cozy start to a Sunday...a new book with the perfect bookmark and a delicious cup of coffee...

Finished this recently as a read-along with my 14 year old daughter. We both really liked it. As huge fans of the movie it was so fun to see how the movie and book compared (very, very similar as Goldman wrote the screenplay) and also to see Goldman's clever story structure and wordplay in print. Definitely recommend to those who love the movie!

Saw these at the local 2nd and Charles last night... 😍😍😍 I've never seen these editions before and they are so pretty! They are from Arcturus Publishing. When I got home (without the books 😖) I tried to look them up but couldn't find out much about them. They only had 5 titles... no Mansfield Park. Not sure if it even exists in this edition. Might have to get them. Only $6 each... Not that I need more Jane Austen... But, I mean, look at these!

Morning reading with cat... #smudge #catsoflitsy

It's here! Book launch day for @annebogel ! I've been looking forward to reading this book from her very first mention of it and can't wait to get started! Just have to point out, too, as many others have how gorgeous this book is. So thrilled for Anne that it's finally out in the world!

Enjoying some early morning reading with this gorgeous book.

Next book... Reading this with the MMD book club. Listened last year on audio and loved it. Can't wait to re-read in print! #mmd #mmdbookclub #bookdartworthy #quietbooks

Another excellent story by Louise Penny. This one was a bit confusing to me at times. So many seemingly unconnected things that Penny was weaving together and even at the end I wasn't completely satisfied with how it all came together or with the ending itself. But I'll be reading the next one eventually so maybe there will be a little closure there. Wonderful book anyway. Smudge had to get in the picture. I put that blanket there for her, right?

Another great story by Liane Moriarty. Loved the characters in this (although it took me awhile to get them all straight in my head), loved the setting, loved the mystery being untwined. Fun read!

Relaxing with Inspector Gamache...

Next up...Book 5 of Louise Penny's Three Pines mysteries. I just love these books! This one takes place at the beginning of September, starting on Labor Day weekend. 😀🌲🌲🌲🍁🍂

New milestone! Haven't been as active here on Litsy lately...just a busy summer. But still loving this wonderful, bookish community! Thanks for sharing your books with me!

Fun, enjoyable, end-of-summer read... New-to-me author. Great setting - Nantucket and Martha's Vineyard. Loved the twin aspect and dysfunctional family situation. Will probably read more Elin Hildebrand when I need a lighter book.

August reading adventures...

Okay, okay, one more summer book! 😀🌻📚

"The soul needs story and meaning to help us endure this life."

What a wonderful end-of-summer read! Small beach-town setting. Multiple perspectives. Mother and daughters. Best friends. Older women befriending younger women. A mysterious event from the past. New and old romances. And a bookshop right in the center of it all. Lots of bookish references, although I could have used even more. And lyrical, thoughtful writing. Just right...

Trying to squeeze in a couple more summer-y reads before September is here! This is one of them. Good so far!

Interrupted my planned reading to fly through this sweet, smart YA story about a teen girl struggling to deal with the death of her mom (2 years prior to the story) and the new life she's thrust into when her dad remarries. There's a bit of mystery, a bit of romance, a bit if family and school drama, and a good ending. Light and sweet but also smart and thoughtful.

Started this on audio today. So far, it's funny and sweet but I don't know if it will stay that way...

Next book... Due back at the library on the 26th so I need to get reading! Looking forward to this one...

Another sweet, hopeful, thought-provoking story from Nicola Yoon. Liked the alternating points of view interspersed with other perspectives and stories.

Giving this a try next. Loved The Good Girl but have heard mixed reviews of this. I'm about 65 pages in and liking it so far...Anyone like this one?

Such a fun follow-up to Deanna Raybourn's first in her Veronica Speedwell mystery series set in Victorian London. Interesting characters, witty banter, and unusual storyline (to this non-mystery reader, anyway). Veronica is fiesty and smart. Stoker is smoldering and intriguing. Just a great ride...and a new one coming in 2018!

Going to try to finish this fun and feisty mystery...

I finished! I started reading this book in January, not as my only book and not always regularly. I got bogged down in the middle and almost quit but at the encouragement of many readers I kept reading, and I'm glad I persisted! The payoff was good, and I really enjoyed the last section. Overall the story and writing were good but I'm still not fully feeling the love some seem to have for it. If you love it please share why in the comments.

Next!

What a wonderful, perfect August book! It took a little while to get into the story but it was one of those books that starts slowly and draws you in so that you just want to inhale it. A bit coming-of-age, a bit mystery, incredibly atmospheric, wonderful characters, and apparently all based on an experience the author had as a teen. So glad I read this! I'd love to hear from anyone who has read other books by Godden...What should I read next?

My mini book haul from Goodwill yesterday. Guernsey is a favorite, read twice, own on Kindle but wanted my own hard copy. The Namesake is one I think I have read but it was long ago before I kept track and I don't remember for sure. Gilead is in my TBR after hearing @annebogel talk about it many times. The author is new to me. I love how these covers look together too although they we're really hard to photograph!

I suddenly had the urge to re-read this memoir. It seems timely as my 17 year old heads off to college in a week and things are very much in flux in my home. Blurb from the jacket..."...a story of midlife longings and discoveries, if lessons learned in the search for home and a new sense of purpose, and the bittersweet intensity of life with teenagers - holding on, letting go."

Next up! Moving from the modern-day American South to English children in France in the 1950's (I think...). Takes place in the "hot French August". Sounds perfect...

Fantastic story... amazing characters... contemporary feel but with important timeless themes...so funny at times, but such emotional depth at others... wonderful to read in print but also fabulous narration by the author herself (I switched off between audio and print)...just so much heart in this book... absolutely loved it. Go get it...

This book is laugh-out-loud funny! Loving it...

Started this on Kindle... looking forward to another magical story from Sarah Addison Allen..🌟

Here are my reading stats for July. More books read than last month, and lots of good ones, but not too many really great ones.Tagged is one that I forgot to mention in my graphic but was a wonderful, quiet little gem that I book-darted like crazy and am glad I own so that I can reread another summer. It's been a fun month of reading...

Early morning reading with my cat buddy in the sunroom (it's a lovely 65 degrees out in my sunroom this morning here in Virginia!). Still trying to work my way through Middlemarch... 84% done... I think I might not leave this room today - except to get more coffee...😊

Currently listening to this on audio, but also my hold on the print version came in so I might do a bit of both. Joshilyn Jackson narrates all her own audiobooks and they are phenomenal! So fun to listen to. She is really excellent at changing up her voice for the different characters. Also a fantastic story so far...

Another quick, sweet book I finished this week, this one on my Kindle. Also a beach-read, palate-cleanser type. Maybe a 3 star book, but I'll give it a pick because it was enjoyable if not amazing.

Finished up this one while getting a pedicure yesterday (only the second I've ever had...so heavenly). It was a good summer read, as enjoyable as the other book of hers I've read, The Bookshop on the Corner. For me the settings make the books. They aren't great literary fiction or intricately told stories, but they are sweet, fun reads. I'd definitely recommend as a beach read or palate-cleanser.

Book four of Louise Penny's Inspector Gamache series... Another wonderful story. Her writing is so beautiful, her stories so well-crafted, her characters so complex. The best mysteries for people who aren't mystery readers.

I have been reading this one at night which means it's going very slowly. Just bumped it up to my main print book since it's due back at the library Friday. I really wish I could be listening to this one just for the accent...

Not listening to an audio book while I'm cooking dinner, but it's the next best thing. I am listening to Anne Bogel talk about books and bookish things. 😊📚 #whatshouldireadnext

An interesting story about a topic I didn't know much about. Great narration in the audiobook.