This was a really impressive debut and one that will linger for a long time. A pandemic novel that reads as wholly possible now that we‘ve all experienced living through a pandemic. I loved the concept - interconnected stories focusing in different decades yet the threads of the past are still visible. Some stories were exceptional although I did fast forward/skim through one or two stories in the second half. Great choice for #CampLitsy

Found my #NauticalNovel replacement @Kdgordon88 My final prompt for second quarter #Booked2022 🛳🪝🛟

May has been an EXCELLENT reading month!!! I enjoyed all my reads this week, especially THREE by Valerie Perrin but Bodyguard & How High are both highly recommended. Seven Days was entertaining enough.
While Remote Sympathy is a difficult read, I‘m completely engrossed. Thanks so much for sending it my way @TrishB 😘
I‘m hibernating Devil & Dark Water @Kdgordon88 and I‘ll pick up something else for #NauticalNovel ⚓️❣️

Here‘s my June #BookSpin @TheAromaofBooks
Not attempting any BINGOs as June will be a BUSY BUSY month with probably very little reading time 🤪

Thanks to #CampLitsy for putting this book back on my radar. I put it aside last month, but now I‘ve started again & while I still didn‘t care for the first story, I was destroyed by the second one - City of Laughter. OMG, my heart. Just started chapter 3, Through the Garden of Memory. I definitely love the interconnection between characters and the multi cast narration is fantastic. Thanks campers and counselors for choosing this one🏕

Starting this #chunkster #UpNext #HighExpectations despite the fact that my bookish bestie “didn‘t get on” with this one 😂

I‘ll admit, I‘m a bit surprised by all the stellar reviews on Litsy & GoosReads. I mean this was an easy read with some very snappy dialogue, a bit of heat, a few laughs and darker moments too, but it didn‘t give me any feels🤷🏼‍♀️I wasn‘t moved or wrecked or committed to Eva & Shane‘s pairing. Not a bad book at all but based on the reviews, I was anticipating having my world rocked Looking forward to discussing #SummerHeat June 17-19 💕

#SummerHeat
I‘m generally not a fan of romance but I‘m enjoying the sharp writing and awesomeness of 12 year old Audre - a young therapist in the making. Hope you‘ll be joining @BarbaraBB and myself for some #FunInTheSun June 17-19! Rumor is this book is in adaptation for TV - so I‘m trying to decide who should play Shane & Eva? Audio is great 😊 🎧❣️

Bring on some #SummerHeat 🌝About to start our buddy read - feel free to join @BarbaraBB and I for a fun weekend of music, memories and bookish discussion June 17-19

#NetGalley This was the summer rom-com audiobook I didn‘t know I needed! While the story is overly predictable, I was gripped and invested from the first word. Hannah‘s work usually requires her to be mostly invisible but as she‘s assigned the job of protecting megawatt star Jack Stapleton her quiet life is thrown into the spotlight. Of course chaos & romance ensues🖤

You know it‘s going to be a GREAT day when you get #BookMail delivered to your door before 8am❣️ Tagged book is for IRL bookclub, Candy House is for #SummerToB22 and upcoming IRL bookclub and The Idiot because I never read it and I‘m preparing for its sequel Either/Or which will be part of #CampLitsy (I believe I have another book in route) but it‘s hard to keep track 🤪Happy Thursday, friends xx

Lovely #BookMail from the wonderful @TrishB
I LOVE the Liverpool bookmark 💗💗💗
Thanks so much for sending this book my way- I‘m looking forward to reading it 🤓

Ok; so this book is totally one hundred percent predictable but…
I‘m actually LOVING it❣️❣️❣️My summer brain is SO HAPPY right now 😁I already see this playing on the big screen🤩Hello, Hemsworth Brothers!

Next up / something light #NetGalley #ARC #Audio

We three” - Adrien, Etienne and Nina; childhood friends, inseparable. Until a betrayal to great to ignore shatters their friendship, scattering the three. Told in flashbacks, an observer shares the details of events that brought the three together, tore them apart and hopefully reunite them.
A slow burn, richly crafted, interwoven story which requires time and patience but delivers a deeply compelling, rewarding reading experience.

Oh WOW!! At 72% I‘m starting to FINALLY put all the pieces together- SO GOOD!!!

#ARC #PublishesToday I‘m sorry to admit, I bailed on this one - a man awakes with amnesia in a post apocalyptic world. Premise had promise and writing was good but this story just didn‘t hold my interest. Every time I put the book down I had no desire to pick it back up.
I tried to speed read towards the ending, but even that didn‘t work.
4 bails so far this month. Two more books to go….. @TheAromaofBooks hope you‘re enjoying your vacation 💕

Repost from @Centique

#rememberingjenny
I discovered that my Litsy friend (& friend to many others) Jenny Colvin of Reading Envy recently passed away at the very young age of 43.
I would like to do something to honour her on Litsy because she was such a great contributor here - and one of the smartest, kindest & most inspirational people I‘ve met (albeit only online & by zoom)

Please join me in reading a book she recommended 👇🏼

I‘m 10 hours into the audiobook and only at 38.8% completed. It‘s definitely a slow burn literary novel. Told from the perspective of an “outsider” looking back at her childhood & college days, remembering a trio of friends who were inseparable. There‘s an unsettling tone, more than just isolation or loneliness. It‘s gripping but requires time and attention. I find I can‘t do other chores while listening. #ARC #NetGalley

I started this last week but I wasn‘t feeling it. Now I spent two hours struggling to read more as it #PublishesTuesday but it‘s soooo SLOWWWW / im at 54% although I did hear it picks up towards the end 🤪#NetGalley #ARC

Just realized I never reviewed my IRL June bookclub choice.This was a fascinating read. Much like Bad Blood and Empire of Pain, the authors (journalist) break down and humanize another example of corporate greed. WeWork is the story of Adam Neumann, a charismatic charmer with little business background or expertise who was able to dazzle and fool investors into bankrolling huge amounts of money into his company without it every being profitable.

I don‘t know why I bother, since I generally disregard my initial plans but…it‘s Sunday and I‘m still predicting my #WeeklyForecast 🙃Three books are left to complete my Bingo board for May - 3 are #ARCs - Seven Days is for #SummerHeat and How High is for #CampLitsy - lots of fun stuff happening on Litsy 💕😁

So….it took me awhile to get used to the narration and figure out who‘s who within the story….but now im hooked!! And Thank God, since there is still 19 hours and 45 minutes left!! I do think this one might be better in print @Centique @Suet624 @TrishB @BarbaraBB @Kdgordon88 I‘ll keep you posted but definitely getting Fresh Water for Flowers vibes. #NetGalley #DreamscapeAudio

I read some really wonderful books this week, lots of NF which I seem to enjoy more than fiction 🤷🏼‍♀️I LOVED Walking The Nile, I enjoyed getting to “know” Tiger Woods and the crazy antics that went on behind the scenes at WeWork. Dressmaker of Khartoum Khana was really inspiring and the Maud Newton had potential but just didn‘t work for me on the whole. An Island & American Spy were slightly disappointing.

The blending of the authors family history plus her foray into genealogy: tracing, discovering and documenting her journey sounded like the potential for a perfect book. Unfortunately, I found the format confusing; I had difficulty keeping track of her family tree and I found Maud‘s research into genetics, genealogy, DNA, and a host of other tangents overwhelming, redundant and slightly dry. It‘s #BorrowNotBuy for me 🤓

Woohoo 🎉🙌🏻🥳Just got approved to listen to the audio ARC of Three / the newest novel from Valerie Perrin ( the fabulous French author who wrote Fresh Water For Flowers) I‘m beyond excited!!!! Thank you #NetGalley and #DreamscapeAudio

Not sure about this one but it‘s an #ARC that‘s already published…. I somehow misread the publication date 🤦🏼‍♀️

I‘m not sorry I read this book, but it wasn‘t what I was expecting. It‘s not a fast paced “thriller” by any means. It‘s more about US policy, politics and bad governance. I enjoyed Bahni Turpin‘s narration. 3 stars #ReadingAfrica22 #BurkinaFaso

I‘ve completed my #NonFiction2022Challenge @Riveted_Reader_Melissa
I loved your prompts and enjoyed many of my reads🤓
Can‘t wait for 2023 🥳

While fascinating and entertaining, it‘s a little dense. Im not sure what the author wants this book to be - a memoir or an historical look at researching ancestry, genealogy, genetics, racism, slavery or a dozen other tangents.

Current Listen ♥️🎧 loving Bahni 🥰 #ReadingAfrica22 #BurkinaFaso

Lev Wood is the most delightful travel companion you‘ll ever come across!! This was my second time journeying with him and I LOVED every minute!!!! I learnt a ton about the places he visited and really felt like I was experiencing first hand all that he saw. Really fantastic!!! Using for #Uganda but works for #Rwanda #Tanzania #SouthSudan #Sudan #Egypt #ReadingAfrica22

Loving this one!!! You were right @jenniferw88 it‘s riveting!!!! I love the antics of Lev Wood and his buddy Boston
#ReadingAfrica22 So far I‘ve visited #Rwanda #Tanzania and #Uganda
Best type of travelogue - an adventurer who never complains or passes judgment

This is Mama Fina, the Ugandan witch doctor, Florence a baby vervet he rescues and a picture of Lake Victoria- the believed source of the Nile.

After traveling with Levison through the Arabian Desert, I‘m super psyched to be Walking The Nile with him for #ReadingAfrica22 😊

Really glad I chose this for #FoodAndLit - a look at what life was like for a family of 9 sisters / 2 brothers as their lives changed drastically once the Taliban enter #Afghanistan 💔Especially poignant as now they are back in power😡 interesting article https://theweek.com/afghanistan-war/1013344/this-is-life-in-afghanistan-since-th...

I don‘t do well with allegories and this book was so short I didn‘t have time to connect to Samuel, a lighthouse keeper living alone on an isolated island with his memories & demons. Set in an unnamed African country, a body washes ashore surprising Samuel when he discovers the body is still breathing. I wanted to like this book but honestly I was bored. #NetGalley #ARC

Thanks to #pop22 I picked up this audio from #Hoopla about Tiger Woods and was quite riveted!! It covers Tiger‘s early rise to golf stardom as well as his father‘s humble beginnings & drive to see his son succeed. Starting with Tiger‘s infamous accident on Thanksgiving 2009 & ending with his public apology in January of 2010 this book has right amount of scandal and fact. I‘d like to learn more as this book is somewhat outdated. #TigerInTitle

In typical fashion, I‘ve forgone my #WeeklyForecast and started an audio for #FoodAndLit - #Afghanistan

I‘m in the middle of 3 books…I‘m loving the Tiger Woods unauthorized story (it‘s pretty scandalous😅) enjoying my IRL bookclub pick - Cult of We (Adam Neumann is really unhinged) I‘m struggling with my #NauticalNovel #Booked22 - it‘s a slough but I see/ think there‘s potential so I‘m sticking with it.
Two #ARCs for #NetGalley and one for #ReadingAfrica22

A wonderful title for a book that really is full of sorrow and moments of bliss. Martha, a woman nearing 40 has lived her entire life with an unnamed, undiagnosed mental illness that not only effects her life but everyone in her life..from her parents, sister, lovers, husband, aunt, uncle , cousins & acquaintances. I laughed out loud several times as Martha is sharp, witty, insightful, self aware & snarky. But there‘s a lot of pain too. 👇🏼

I LOVED almost EVERY BOOK this week…standouts were Tell Me, Bread the Devil Kneads, Rob Lowe & Latecomer. Sorrow & Word were both very good only Dark Circles & Happy At Any Cost left me unhappy 😜

Thought I‘d read another from the #WomansPrizeForFiction22 #Shortlist
I‘ve heard lots of good things

Shortlisted for the 2022 #WomansPrizeForFiction and maybe my front runner…..
Alethea Lopez is living in Trinidad , nearing forty & trying to survive the daily grind of past traumas & her current situation - an abusive relationship with a once famous local boy band member. Written in Creole, this story weaves all the colors, tones, flavors of the Caribbean. When Alethea‘s past collides with her present new opportunities arise for sorrow & hope.

“The history of slavery is the history of the United States” but sadly most of us have been given a whitewashed education. So Clint Smith gives us the history lesson we all should of been taught. By visiting several historical sites linked to the Civil War, we first get the “official “guided tour version & then Smith respectfully & insightfully poses his own questions & observations. Very well done. A bit repetitive but that‘s the point.

Just the title of the novel is enough to get my vote for 2022 #WomansFictionPrize but I‘m pleased to say the writing, story, characterization are equally fantastic!! I‘m about 40% in and I can‘t put the book down!!!! I wish this was available on audio, as I‘d love to hear the book spoken in its native tone.

My #BookSpin for May
From @MallenNC #NYWD list….I still have a few more to read….

While I have much respect and admiration for Tony Hsieh the founder of shoe giant Zappos and was deeply saddened to learn about his untimely death,I found this book disappointing. It lacked depth and read very flat ( that could be due to the reader, very monotone). Somewhat ironic for a man who valued happiness above all else Tony seemed to always be chasing it, looking for more. It‘s true…Money can‘t buy happiness.

Starting this NF audio recommended by @Megabooks
The mysterious death of CEO and founder of Zappos
#Scribd
Going for my first #Bingo @TheAromaofBooks
My three bails last week are pretty darn helpful 😂😂

I just loved this refreshing, honest, heartwarming memoir by Rob Lowe. As a true #EightiesGirl I enjoyed looking back at some of the most iconic movies & actors from my younger days. Rob Lowe is such a genuine good guy, his charm really comes through. I‘m definitely going to listen to his follow up book. I highly recommend the audio version….If any of my #Pop22 Crew needs a book for #SetInThe80s this memoir would be perfect 🥰

Listening to this fantastic memoir from Rob Lowe. After he references the 1989 Oscar debacle, I had to go watch the opening number on YouTube. I didn‘t think it was that bad…it was funny as hell. I‘m loving this memoir & all the 80‘s nostalgia.
Here‘s the clip in case you want to watch Rob Lowe & Snow White dance, sing & flirt 😂 https://youtu.be/9mronRVvdmw