I‘ve spent way too much time obsessing over this!

#CampLitsy24

Welp! Another disappointing sophomore effort. There were elements I really enjoyed, but this felt like it could have used more cooking before serving. I will still eagerly read whatever she writes next.

I ❤️ weekends.

Only 1 thing to do when it‘s pouring.

This was a sneaky little bugger. Presents as a straightforward mystery but is really a heartbreaking portrait of a family suffering from addiction, poverty, abuse, and neglect. I could have easily read about them for another 200 pages. #womensprizeforfiction

I absolutely loved Miracle Creek so this was definitely a “sophomore slump” for me. While I appreciated the care she took in portraying Angelman Syndrome families, I think centering the novel from Mia‘s perspective was a mistake. I wanted insight into John and Hannah‘s thoughts too. The footnotes were a distraction.

He gets it.

Desperately trying to get into something ANYTHING but I fear I‘m too distracted for this. Maybe I‘m just distracted by the tacos. 🤷🏻‍♀️

I wish this had received more attention when it was published last year. While I still found myself exceedingly frustrated by the MC, there was a lot of heart and humor here. But damn, you 20-somethings make piss poor decisions. 😜 A soft pick.

Heads up US-based #LitsyTOB24 procrastinators like me! #KindleDailyDeal

I read this novelization of Suzie Miller‘s 1 woman show in a single sitting yesterday. Intense doesn‘t even begin to describe it. I was fortunate to have seen the play on Broadway and this expands on that, giving larger roles to Tessa‘s mum, brother, friends and co-workers. But this is still very much Tessa‘s story. Her heartbreak, fear, and RAGE are palpable. Highly recommended but please tread carefully.

A true crime fictionalization that rather snuck up on me. I knew nothing about the case itself (and recommend going in blind) but the care with which Kyriacou drew these characters was really something. It‘s a gripping page-turner but it‘s also just a really lovely character study and a damning indictment of the British justice system. 👍🏼

I read The Hours at a very formative time in my life and it moved and changed me profoundly. I‘ve been sort of chasing that high with Cunningham ever since. And finally here, 20 years later, he has done it again. Devastatingly good.

Why Percival Everett is not one of the biggest names in literature is beyond me. The man is a genius and I‘m basing that on the TWO books I‘ve read. I‘m thrilled that I have such an extensive backlist to savor. No one does satire better.

The first book from Gillian Flynn‘s imprint? And it‘s about a queer, tattooed, chain-smoking nun?

SOLD!

I went into this with mild trepidation as I haven‘t really been getting along with novels about 20-somethings lately. But I needn‘t have worried. This is a confident and compelling debut that sheds light on “sugar babies” and the world they inhabit. Saintclare weaves race, class, and religion into the narrative in a totally organic and compelling way. Nice pick @AardvarkBookClub !

After reading 2 books that shattered me back-to-back, I knew I needed a frothy and fun palate cleanser. Abbi Waxman always fits that bill. And bonus: Nina Hill appears in this one too!

Heads up U.S. #LitsyTOB24! #KindleDailyDeal

Thus far 2024 has been the year of reading emotionally devastating books. I don‘t know if it was the title that had me expecting something else, but this is one that will stay with me for a very long time. Just exquisite.

I wanted to ease into 2024 with something warm and familiar. As always, Osman did not disappoint but he also stuck a knife in my heart and twisted it a few times for good measure.

It‘s been a minute since I‘ve had the time and mental wherewithal to do a single sitting read. This isn‘t great literature but was sufficiently creepy and fast-paced to keep me glued to the screen today. Thankful I finished it before sunset. 👍🏼

Does anyone write about marriage and family better? I had to set this aside over Christmas as I needed total silence and full immersion. While it isn‘t my favorite of hers, her mind is a marvel. 👍🏼

Merry Christmas, Litsy fam!

This was great fun. Exactly the type of witty, twisty, satirical brain candy I needed to get through the slog this week. And now, freedom!

This was fun to dip into over the course of the week BUT at about 2/3 of the way through, she completely abandons the Christmas theme. The stories were still enjoyable, it just seemed odd. Still a pick as she is a master.

This seems like just the type of fun, snarky, “rich people behaving badly” novel I need in my life right now. #bookmail

Cosby is an auto-buy author for me. His writing is just so assured and propulsive and damn near cinematic. I loved every page. Just *chef‘s kiss*

This list is…not good. 😒 #TOB24

https://www.tournamentofbooks.com/the-2024-shortlist

I did NOT expect to enjoy this as much as I did seeing as I‘m almost 30 years out of high school. But I found it to be really witty and touching. My only quibble was wanting to spend more time with Fay and Nell in adulthood. #TOB24

Little mac ‘n cheese before diving back into the TOB longlist. It‘s so wonderful to have such a reliable friend. I hope Angela writes this series forever. ❤️

WOW. I don‘t have many words other than tremendous and extraordinary. One of the most authentic and affecting portraits of intimacy I‘ve ever read. #TOB24

This was a very tender story of family and community that didn‘t veer too far into the overly mawkish and sentimental as I feared it would. Feeney‘s background as a poet is very apparent in certain bits as some of the language was really breathtaking. Funnily enough, my least favorite bits were the ones in which they actually built the boat. 😂

Anyone else take advantage of the recent #NYRB sale? #bookmail #bookhaul

Gosh, this just made me tremendously sad. The level of abuse she has suffered at the hands of literally every single person in her life is just heartbreaking. I wish her peace.

Had lunch with a friend on Friday and was running through the list of books I‘ve borrowed from her but haven‘t read yet. Today, little Miss Sass here let me know what she thinks about that. That‘s literally my friend‘s stack of books.

Some nights just call for tacos and a book before the main event at 8:07.

Go Phils! ⚾️

My favorite book of the year so far. Full stop. ❤️

I am an unabashed Emma Donoghue fangirl and when I heard that she was returning to her sapphic roots, I was even more excited for this. Donoghue‘s prodigious research coupled with her beautiful, creative mind is such a marvelous combination. Like others, I wish there had been more about how we got from there to here, but for me it was because I wanted another 200 pages of this heart-wrenching love story.

First weekend of fall vibes.

This one was FAR less successful. At times I found myself shouting, “Just tell us what happened at the pool already!” And one of the “twists” was snort worthy. I am a fan of Candlish but this wasn‘t one of her better efforts.

Life has been kicking my butt lately but I‘ve still managed to read a smidge. I absolutely loved this. The love story was definitely the weakest element for me. The true highlight was Kennedy‘s wonderfully evocative portrait of a time, place, and community. Thanks again, Helen! 😘

What a gloriously entertaining trainwreck! June is truly a delusional nutter. I didn‘t know whether to laugh or cringe at her antics. I thoroughly enjoyed this and can‘t wait to discuss it further this weekend. #CampLitsy23

No understanding of the concept of “personal space.” 🤦🏻‍♀️

I quite enjoyed this story of “woman leads a double life with 2 families and 1 husband ends up dead” as I don‘t think women are traditionally portrayed as doing something so conniving and manipulative. It‘s always dudes. This isn‘t a thriller though - it is a very complex character portrait of Lore, the aforementioned bigamist, and Cassie, the true crime writer in search of the truth. Another fun summer read.

I have been slumping hard core over the last few weeks and wanted something on the frothy side to try to snap out of it. This fit the bill perfectly. It almost read as satire at times because the characters were so over the top awful but it was a fun read for a summer‘s day.

🤯🤯🤯 I think I liked this more than most as I found it really compelling throughout. I‘ll save further commentary for the weekend. #camplitsy23

I read most of this in a single sitting yesterday and was loving it for the most part. And then, that ending. 🙄 It felt like she just lost interest in the story and abruptly ended it. So frustrating and disappointing.

What a raw and emotional read. I‘ve been a big fan of Elliot‘s since Juno and while it was difficult to read about his journey to self love and acceptance, there were so many elements I could relate to re: his sexuality. I give him massive props for putting himself out there in such a vulnerable way and I wish him nothing but peace and joy.

I absolutely loved everything about this. Rowley writes fully lived in characters that feel like they are a part of your world. There were laughs, there were tears, there was a lot of sober contemplation that really pierced my heart. Just wonderful.

Angela however, never lets me down. Thank goodness she writes so quickly as that cliffhanger has me a bit 😬. 🤞🏼for another installment this year!