I am eating this book up

Afternoon vibes

First 2025 release read of 2025. I loved the setting and relationship tropes of this new romantasy out of Avon, but it missed the mark for me ways too. Everything moved fast to the point it felt like a trilogy shoved in to one and the stakes—while high— didn‘t feel it because the character work didn‘t dive deep enough for me. More developed thoughts on Youtube.
https://youtu.be/MN9dfYmPaWM

May be back in my historical romance espionage era after this one because I ate it up. I also loved that the heroine had the hero clocked from basically the beginning so while there were still elements of hidden identities and lying (all in support of the mission), she‘d had her suspicions all along. Also, espionage romances mean the odds of an outside antagonist in the third act are much higher!

As long as Internet platforms have risen to popularity, we‘ve been translating the greatest hits to amuse those not chronically online. This was a reminder we used to pay for the free witticisms that land better on tiktok. However, facing not having the app anymore, it‘s a reminder this kind of content isn‘t going anywhere. There is an attempt at the end to add more profound ponderings, and, while appreciated, they‘re not fully developed.

Settling in for a much needed reading weekend amidst everything. I‘m in the middle of Accidently His (romance and espionage!), what should I read next? Currently leaning toward the Glutton since it‘s been on my TBR for a while.

The newest from Julia Armfield is a lot of things I‘m not inherently drawn to— dystopian eco-horror and family drama—and yet I ate up every moment. With lyrical, and ominous, prose Armfield returns us to explorations of isolation and water symbolism, this time with King Lear thrown in. The character study here is exquisite. And the addition of the city as a character provides a contrast to the zoomed-in domestic drama. https://youtu.be/QU4IcOFYdgo

So true bestie

What new releases are you most excited for this week (and last)? https://youtu.be/AISUCQzbbxE

Busting out those theatre student skills to revisit Lear before going back to Private Rites (one time I read 2-3 plays after a late night rehearsal 🙃)

I was gifted my first Kindle in college in like 2011 or 2012 but have been trying to do more of my reading on Kobo for the last few years. But I do still read on it. And while I‘m not necessarily interested in upgrading my 2019 kindle, its original flip case was wearing out and I was taking out more and more to read. So I finally jumped on the clear case trend after having a flip case for over a decade and it‘s practically a new device.

Used Kobo rewards points and book club got pushed back so I can actually finish after being sick this week—a win.

2024 was kind of an odd reading year for me in terms of headspace for large portions of the reading year. And while I‘m hoping to feel more connected and present in my reading in 2025, I still read some absolutely fabulous titles. Did any of these make your top reads of 2024 and what were your favorites?
More thoughts: https://youtu.be/fCvaUqADor0

Working on some romance bookclub reading. We each picked a holiday romance and we‘ll present on them next weekend. I was originally going to reread the Lauren Willig‘s Pink Carnation XMas book, but this was on my TBR and went on sale on Kobo. Going to feel very Stefan in my presentation of this book that includes: witches, searches for magical artifacts, Gothic castles, A heist gone awry, ghosts (& the ghost adjacent), Timetravel, only one bed

Review of the latest Amari book up on YouTube
https://youtu.be/wstyB_LgWzc

I‘m still kinda bummed we‘re not getting more from Hetty and Benjy so this family tree has me emotional. Excited we‘re continuing in the same world.

Doing a Reading Clear Out: Finished Throne of the Fallen and Strange Weather in Tokyo. Working on Amari and the Despicable Wonders (I adore this series!) and then will have Don‘t Want You Like Best Friend to go, with traveling back to the city today and back to work Monday.

I haven‘t really had the time to just binge read for a while and so I‘m enjoying it, even if it means I have no YouTube videos prepped.

My coworker gifted me and a teammate a book he was recommending to us a couple weeks ago ☺️

I know I've been away for a second (sorry! this reading year has felt weird) but I've got a new video about the current moment in historical romance up https://youtu.be/zULRFKgUT3g

The most compelling part of this book is its first personal POV from a cocky and flawed private-sector spy. The writing is skilled and it obscures everything interesting behind false erudition. It takes something that could be action packed and seemingly, falsely, believes that this action would make it less literary. Instead, we are left with philosophical ponderings that don‘t add anything.

Found a Japanese edition of Sarah MacLean‘s Wicked the Wallflower in Tokyo. Blacked out a bit in the translated romance section (and had friends waiting) and forgot to look for Bridgerton but loved seeing multiple historical romances represented—and it was of course the Harlequins that caught my eye to know what I was looking at in the first place

Yes, I am reading a book about the history of Malört. And I am enjoying it a whole lot more than Malört—though that will be tested Saturday.

Finishing my reread so I can watch the Netflix movie. Wild to think I first read this when it came out at Tally‘s age.

Monk Nichephoerous‘ dream of Saint Nicholas leads him on a heist to steal the Saint‘s bones. With irreverent and sometimes nihilistic language it still sometimes a little too opaque for me and the style often leaves me feeling detached from the characters.
https://youtu.be/LBq8qdYz8rU

Had a great weekend at Printers Row in Chicago and finally picked this one I‘ve been eyeing all year up. It was clearly meant to be as it is now signed.

A medieval, West-African Hades and Persephone retelling? Yes, please. A lot to love in this one even if I felt it had the space to push out the character development a little more—and I would have taken anything more of the world it gave me.
Thoughts on YouTube:
https://youtu.be/u99PaJFNCo0

What are your most anticipated books of the month? https://youtu.be/rRJUm9_MT5g

Belated-- but what did everyone get up to for Bookstore Romance Day? https://youtu.be/SuEPmnMd4TM

I enjoyed the chemistry between Truly and Colin. It was flirtatious and sexy—even if I wanted to get to know them both deeper. Or in more contexts? The plot focused on Truly doing one woman Parent Trap in a way that activated my second-hand embarrassment. I can appreciate a good crisis; it just had her coming off immature. I enjoyed the stuff with Colin‘s family- or more seeing Colin and Truly as a team within that context—as a balance to this.

Who are the authors you get excited about when you see they‘ve blurbed a book? This is the third anticipated book I‘ve picked up so far this year to discover a blurb from Mariana Enriquez (and the Silvia Moreno-Garcia blurb definitely made me look too) and they haven‘t let me down yet.

“Don‘t smile ‘cause it happened baby cry because it‘s over.” Am I the only one who has the new Sabrina Carpenter album on repeat? It seems a lot of the short picks on my shelves may also be short on the sweet. But there‘s no “Slim Pickins” here.

Argument about summer or fall aside, one thing is certain, it‘s the perfect weather to read What Stalks Among Us. It explores overcoming trauma with an active, compelling, and spooky metaphor. It celebrates friendship. And it articulates a specific portion of the Hoosier teenage years that I haven‘t found reflected elsewhere. And I couldn‘t miss the opportunity to finally capture it next to a Hoosier cornfield as intended.

Some much needed morning reading—finding a few moments for myself before saying goodbye to my Grandma tonight and tomorrow. And this book is a perfect escape at the moment.

My #bookstoreromanceday haul. What‘d everyone else grab?

Happy Bookstore Romance Day! 💕

What is everyone hoping to grab today (or think others should grab?)

It‘s an overcast late summer day with the promise of fall right around the corner. You know what that means? It‘s about time I‘m for a reread of one of my favorite books — Lincoln in the Bardo. I was once lured back to a book club I had lapsed in by them strategically selecting this book. I‘ve taken this book to the bar in rough times and comforted myself by just revisiting passages. What are the books that you regularly get the itch to reread?

I wasn‘t sure what to expect from this one after but it‘s right up there with Book Lovers and Beach Read for me—I really enjoyed it. While I often talk about my complicated relationship with small town romances-I think Henry consistently nails it (even if not categorized as such). I was hesitant on the premise but it delivered for me. And finishing it while enjoying a non-alcoholic cocktail wasn‘t too shabby either. https://youtu.be/clzoqLXoeo8

What‘s that? The first reading wrap up video I‘ve posted since March? 😱
https://youtu.be/z-ARhXf4TwM

The Chicago Public Library system has just shy of 200 copies of Funny Story in circulation. After months, the copy I picked up has been so well loved for a same year release.

There may be a commentary on modern binding in here somewhere (for me there always is). But there‘s something magical about picking up a library copy and knowing you‘re about to go on a journey many have gone on before you. It‘s a reminder of the power of libraries.

With Booker-nominated Enlightenment Perry returns us to Essex and her winding language that almost feels nostalgic in itself, managing to encapsulate hope and sadness for unrealized dreams throughout. Our desires to “do some great thing before I die” illustrated by our looking to the heavens and contrasted against our worldly worries.

Expanded thoughts in my YouTube review:
https://youtu.be/7j3-SfA9osk

How many photos do I have of random Enlightenment quotes because it‘s a library book (not counting anything jotted in the reading journal)? No comment.

Started a new book last night; it was long listed for the Booker this morning

If you're looking for some Wallflower romances after Bridgerton Season 3, I've got you covered https://youtu.be/p0TlSDnEK3g

Drank one glass of (probably overpriced) wine and no longer know how to read.

I hope Lima is part of Printer‘s Row Lit Fest this year because I would love to heR her talk about this collection.

#weekendreading

On one hand, ashamed it's not more. On the other hand, the list obviously skews to a certain kind of litfit (though happy to see some speculative fiction and The Fifth Season) and there were tons of repeat authors on the list.

My initial thoughts on My Lady Jane are as chaotic as the show--though maybe not as successfully--but here they are. https://youtu.be/GvHuwBIUN_Y

Think I may actually finish my reread today so I can finally watch the show.

Still battling a mini reading slump but as expected the book with a Mariana Enriquez blurb (that was also already on my radar) is coming through.

This is the second book I bought on indie bookstore day 2024 I‘ve read so far and while they‘re both novellas (and I haven‘t actually finished this one yet) that‘s a win.