Next up. I can't remember how I came across this book. I want to say it was through my university's young alumni book club. In any event, what drew me in was that this a retelling of one of my favourite books, and I had really enjoyed James, which was a retelling of The Adventures of Huck Finn. I am excited to dig in, but a little nervous because The Great Gatsby is one of my favourites - expectations are high! #BookTwentyThreeOf2025

Another one done! I'm not sure what drew me to this book, but it was a dark tale. There were some twists and turns to it that surprised me. Overall a good read. Probably not one I'd pick up again, as I think a lot of the mystery is gone from it after the first read, but still a good experience.

Afternoon reads on the deck.

I've donated to many a little free library, but I've never had the pleasure of borrowing something - until recently, when I snapped this out of a neighbouring library during a morning walk. I'm not sure what drew me to this book, but let's see if my gut was right to grab it! #BookTwentyTwoOf2025 (this is an older pic; you can tell by the mani!)

Finished this up today while enjoying the end-of-summer sun on my deck. This was another book that I had bought and never actually read before, as it turns out. Although I had never read it before, there was something familiar about the theme of the story - very reminiscent of my BA. Happy this was on my shelf, and happy to put it back for a future read.

Up next is a book I've pulled off my shelf for a re-read... or maybe it's a first-time read, as I don't know if I can recall anything about this book. I went through a phase where if a book was mentioned in a show or movie, I needed to own it. When I heard this title mentioned on Gossip Girl, I jumped on Amazon and bought a copy 🙈 #BookTwentyOneOf2025

This was a very quick read for me. I found it a little predictable at times, but I had made my predictions knowing it was a romantic comedy, so that makes sense. I enjoyed the story, predictability and all.

Next up is a read that my best friend just finished and left at my house. She told me that it's part of a series but that you don't need to have read the other books of the series to be able to follow the plot. Let's see if she's right! #BookTwentyOf2025

This was a very enjoyable read! I guessed what happened partway through, but still ended up surprised with the outcome. This is great for a quick summer read.

Vacation reads. #BookNineteenOf2025 (I think)

A 10 out of 10! At times hard to read (likely given the nature of my profession), but a worthwhile read. #BookEighteenOf2025

My next two reads! First up is a re-read, In Cold Blood. Breakfast At Tiffany's is one of my top 5 favourite books, but I have no recollection of In Cold Blood. Looking forward to diving in. #BookEighteenOf2025

Happy Canada Day! Could there be any doubt I'd finish this one in a day or two? Love me some Sue Grafton.

And with this, I now own the whole series! My parents found this book somewhere and gifted it to me. #BookSeventeenOf2025

This was a really interesting read! I didn't know much about colonial families in China before starting - in fact, I don't think I even realized there were colonial families in China! Although a memoir, it read like fiction; it was told clearly and it was interesting. So happy that little 22-year-old Emily thought to give this one a chance, even if it took for a great many years to get to it!

Pictured here is my current #TBR pile and also my next read - No Foreign Bones in China. I bought this book 10+ years ago at a university book sale, but then I started law school and didn't get around to reading it. I carried it around with me all these years but I'm only now getting around to reading it. Finally time to dive in! #BookSixteenOf2025

What a great book to wrap this series with! I have always been a sucker for wartime stories, so I think this being set in WWI is part of why I think it is (just a little bit!) better than a few of the books that came before. This is a belated post, as I finished this read during a work trip earlier this week, but I had a loaner phone with no Litsy so I couldn't post about it in real time.

#BookFifteenOf2025 and the last in the Anne of Green Gables series!

A beautiful, easy summer rom-com read.

Hay fever hit me hard today, so what better way to spend a rainy day than finishing up this book? I enjoyed Salamander - it wasn't a favourite and I felt a little lost at points, but that could be because it took me a little longer to get through due to real-life busy-ness getting in my way. Solid 7 or 8 out of 10, though.

#BookFourteenOf2025 I haven't finished Salamander yet but grabbed this for an easy long weekend read.

A beautiful spring day calls for reading on the (new!) deck after work. (Pictured with a bubly in a wine glass)

Honestly, I can't remember ever having read this, but it's been on my bookshelf for a long time. Let's see if it will return to my shelf or go to a little free library to share the love of reading. #BookThirteenOf2025 - also, I think I've surpassed the number of books I read in 2024!

Great read! Just as good as I remembered it being. Also another one where I didn't remember the ending, so it was like reading it anew.

Next up - I hemmed and hawed over what I wanted to read next, but decided this one was the way to go. #BookTwelveOf2025

Finished this out on the deck and got choked up by the ending. Great read!

My next read is another re-read. I think I have a pretty good memory of this one, but we'll see! (Don't mind my phone charger in the way of the picture) #BookElevenOf2025

Another great read! Finished this last night when I couldn't sleep. I can truly say I couldn't/ didn't guess how this would end at all.

Next up - I was inspired to buy this book partially because of my trip to Portugal last fall, and partially because I bought Murder in Mykonos after travelling to Greece. Pictured here is one of my favourite pictures from Lisbon. #BookTenOf2025 Side note, it is incredible to me how much I've read this year! I'm so glad I started to prioritize pleasure reading again.

Just as good as I remembered it being - although I had forgotten how it ends. Glad I went back to this one and glad I spent most of my day reading.

#BookNineOf2025

Another charming read! I enjoyed getting to know more of the world of Ingleside and Anne's presence was still felt throughout. What surprised me was how late in time this was set - I always imagined the Anne of Green Gables series to be set in the 1800s, but there were a lot of references to historical events from the early 1900s. It makes sense, but still surprised me! Just one book left and I'm done this series. (Pictured with my next read)

Next read is going to be something a bit more wholesome. Book seven of the series and #BookEightOf2025

This didn't disappoint! Turns out it's still a favourite for me and I had forgotten some parts of it, so the re-read was good. This will be staying on my shelf.

Next up: this was a favourite of mine for a long time. I haven't touched it in ages and it's possible I've outgrown it now, but that's the fun of my challenge to clean up my bookshelf - out with the old, in with the new, and able to share the love with others through lending and little free libraries (or donations). #BookSevenOf2025

Great read! I got into this quite quickly and was reading several chapters at a time. EDITED TO ADD: what I enjoyed about this book was the retelling of a classic (The Adventures of Tom Sawyer and Huck Finn) from a different perspective. I confess I've never read the original but my mom used to teach it to her classes, so I heard a lot about the original book. "James" makes me eager to give that one a try!

Checking in to report on my current read and my upcoming reading plans. I'm really enjoying James so far (about halfway through). I decided to reinstate an old project of mine that has been abandoned for a while - Operation Tidy-Up-My-Bookcase. My plan is going to be to try and weed out some books and gift them to little free libraries. Pictured here is my #tbr pile - some new but mostly old books to revisit as part of the operation!

I am really crushing the books this year - this will be my sixth! Found this one suggested through an alumni newsletter. #BookSixOf2025

Had to stay up late to finish this one! I did try to sleep earlier but my mind was racing and I had to know what happened. As always, a very fast-paced and good read. I think I finally own the entire series now too! #BookFiveOf2025 edit: still missing one from the series, so haven't quite achieved that yet.

Before I started this one, I realized it was a reread and that I had read it before and posted about it on Litsy. (I can't recall the year offhand but I think it was before I bought my house). Initially, I could not understand why I gave this the review I had, but as I worked my way through this novella, it became more clear. Still a good read and glad I found this on my shelf to revisit. (Pictured here with my next read)

Found this on my bookshelf and decided to give it a read. #BookFourOf2025 edited to add: found this on my Litsy "have read" list, so this is a reread!

Just another sweet read! I enjoyed how Anne's story was mixed in with stories from her children's perspectives. Two more to go and I'm done this series.

Next up, I'm continuing on in this series. This is book 5 of 8, and it's #BookThreeOf2025

Fantastic read for me!

Very excited for this one! Greece was my first European country that I visited and I spent some time on Mykonos (pictured below!) I bought this for myself ages ago after seeing it in a Greek travel group on Facebook, but I'm only getting to it from my TBR stack now. #BookTwoOf2025

Great read! Very well-written and fast paced. Not the usual genre I'd go for, but I still enjoyed it very much! #BookOneOf2025

Book one of 2025 is a Christmas gift from my best friend. Not usually a genre I read but I've seen high reviews for this book, so I will give it a shot! #tbr #WhatIRead #BookOneOf2025

Sue Grafton never disappoints! I can't remember if I've read this one before or not, but I'm glad I spent most of my New Years Eve finishing it. Here's to 2024! #bookfourteenof2024

My next read (Christmas gift from my mom) and likely my final book of 2024. My goal was to get to 12 books, so I surpassed that! I will likely stick to the same goal in 2025. #bookfourteenof2024

Finished just in the nick of time! Merry Christmas, everyone! #bookthirteenof2024