I liked this, and like all of R. F. Huang‘s books it has beautiful writing. It just doesn‘t 100% hit, there are a few too many ideas. It definitely hits the pretentious hell that academia can be when it literally becomes hell. It also has a touch of romance which does not quite hit. There are also some other little elements that she squeezed in that I know had meaning to the author, but did not quite fit within the story.⬇️

Here is my #bookspinbingo board for my #SeptemberTBR

My #bookspin pick is Lucky Day by Chuck Tingle
My #doublespin pick is Beware the Woman by Megan Abbott

I am also continuing to work on my physical TBR with #roll100

Tagged was my top read of the month, but When the Wolf Comes Home by Nat Cassidy was a close second so I added it as a Wild Card.

August reading stats:
17 books read
A super unfortunate 10 books I DNF‘d 😳
11 audiobooks
6 ebook/physical books
6 books off my physical tbr

Favorite read: The Inheritance by Ilona Andrews
Other 5⭐️ reads: Atmosphere by Taylor Jenkins Reid, When the Wolf Comes Home by Nat Cassidy

It seems weird to type this, but this has the most likable serial killer I‘ve read. Our main character is just trying to enjoy her retirement, when a filmmaker visits her wanting to revisit her past. This was a very entertaining read, with humor and well written protagonist. I would have loved a little more development of the side characters, but definitely recommend this one! 4.5⭐️

I am sure this will be popular. However, even though the tarot based magic system is interesting, nothing else in this book feels original. Also, I‘m just bored. DNF‘d at 30%. Let me know if you feel this is genuinely worth continuing. #hailthebail

Another delightful romantic comedy by Tara Sivec. I enjoyed this one more than the first in the series. Both main characters are delightful and adorable. It also has a very satisfying ending and some very steamy scenes. 4.5⭐️

Here is my #SeptemberTBR for #bookspinbingo
I will continue #bookspin & #doublespin as well as #roll100

This started well and was cute overall, but the ridiculous lack of adult conversations was annoying. I still enjoy this author‘s humor so am continuing in the series. 3⭐️

This was a cute, if a little slow, fantasy romance. A mix of historical fiction and magical realism, this features a married couple in a marriage of convenience, that work together to solve a magical mystery. The relationship issues were a bit unnecessary as they were heavily built on miscommunication. When a simple conversation would solve most of the issues, it can be frustrating to leave. I still like the writing and the world. 3.5⭐️

Here are my #roll100 picks for my #SeptemberTBR

The Snow Child by Eowyn Ivey
Ring by Koji Suzuki
Ancillary Justice by Ann Leckie

This is a bummer as I LOVED Elatsoe, one of my favorite reads of last year. However, this is just boring. It should have been a short story. The first third was really interesting, but the middle of the book nothing was happening and there was just a lot of talking. So DNF. #hailthebail Another #bookspinbingo though!

This is a bummer as I LOVED Elatsoe, one of my favorite reads of last year. However, this is just boring. It should have been a short story. The first third was really interesting, but the middle of the book nothing was happening and there was just a lot of talking. So DNF. #hailthebail Another #bookspinbingo though!

This had an interesting start, but I‘m just not enjoying the main character or the writing style. It has a YA tone but definitely adult content. Just not for me. #hailthebail

A delightful & cozy English countryside mystery. I loved our main characters. I look forward to continuing this series! 4.5⭐️

Another solid installment in this epic fantasy series. Though full of action, it still has that middle book feel where nothing is fully resolved. Still enjoyable overall. 4⭐️

I am not liking the writing style, just not for me.
Bummer as I supported this kickstarter. The book is very pretty, up for sale on my Pango store. #hailthebail a book off my #roll100 TBR too!
It also gave me a #bookspinbingo

I was hoping to like this more than the movie, but I just don‘t enjoy Snow‘s story. #hailthebail

Absolutely fantastic! This writing team knows how to write an amazing heroine, and Ada may be my favorite. This new sci-fantasy features a near future where portals start to appear with invasions of monsters. Our main character Ada is part of a team on an expedition to mine/close one of these portals. Things go very wrong and will change Ada forever. There is also a very good dog. 5+⭐️
#bookspin done!

This was an absolute delight. A true romantic comedy that actually made me laugh. Also our main characters are in their 50‘s and feel like actual 50somethings. I haven‘t actually read any of this series but I have enjoyed this author in the past. If you enjoy a raunchy rom-com I definitely recommend. 4.5⭐️

This is a sweet, cozy fantasy with some romance. It has some very cute characters, and in the same world as the authors first book, but is a standalone novel. This story is a little melancholy however, and the ending is actually a bit sad. So a well written story, but not quite the tone I was looking for. 3.5⭐️

This book had a good concept and I see the message of female rage, but it didn‘t quite work. There were a lot of ideas which just got muddled. I would try this author again though, as there was some great imagery. 3⭐️

Just not enjoying this one so #hailthebail for now. I may come back to it later.

Cute and cozy, but a little bit repetitive. Not as entertaining as the first one but a sweet read. 3.5⭐️
First #bookspinbingo!

At first it seemed like this book was repeating the plot of the first book. However, new characters and a new mystery are introduced along with keeping up with our favorite characters from book 1. I‘m not going into detail as it would spoil book 1, however, this is not at all a typical book 2. There is significant action, some great new characters and I continue look forward to what comes next for this world. 4.5⭐️

I love this author! Her suspense romance series are such comfort reads for me. This is no exception. There is nothing super new here-it has many popular tropes and features characters mentioned in the previous books in the series. The ending was surprising though and had a great twist. This series is best read in order, but each is a standalone story. 4⭐️

The main character is unbearably insufferable. I just can‘t continue. #hailthebail #doublespin off the TBR and a #Roll100 pick off the TBR!

Bailing on this one. The main character is just making dumb choices to keep the story going. I hate that. #hailthebail
Wild that my August reads are either 5⭐️ or DNF‘s so far.

Ok, not sure what this is, but I think I‘m out on this series. #hailthebail

This was a solid contemporary romance. About 2/3 through this was just a middle of the road, “fine” romance. Entertaining enough, but nothing stood out. However, the third act was incredibly mature and well written. Adults actually talking to each other! Who knew how satisfying that could be (sarcastic tone here)? 4⭐️

This is an amazing new horror novel. What seems to be a werewolf slasher becomes so much more. It will give you so many emotions and some fantastic horror. Definitely one of my top reads of the year. 5⭐️

I‘m subbing The Inheritance by Ilona Andrews for Like Real because I think I unhauled it…
Here is my August TBR #bookspinbingo board!

My #bookspin pick is Like Real by Shelly Lyons
My #doublespin pick is The Dollmakers by Lynn Buchanan

Here are my July reads! I finished 20 books, DNF‘d 2
A lot of mediocre to good books.
My 5 ⭐️ reads were:
The Queen of Blood by Sarah Beth Durst - the beginning of an epic fantasy series.
Mary by Nat Cassidy - a menopause horror (hit way too close to home) 😳
The Vengeful Dead by Darcy Coates - a paranormal mystery, this is the final book in a 5 book series, it‘s very fun!

This was a truly heartwarming story taking place during the 80‘s peak space travel era of NASA. I look forward to talking about this one in my book club! 5⭐️

I received this as an ARC from NetGalley for an honest review.
My feelings on this book are mixed. I really like this fantasy world established in the previous book-though this goes into an entirely different direction. I like the lovable cast of characters and super cute dragons.
What I struggled with was the romance.⬇️

I received this as an audiobook ALC from NetGalley. This was a fun listen that is perfect for summer. A friend group has wives at odds with their husbands due to some poor financial decisions. This leads them to take some bold choices in how to recoup their retirement funds. Funny, a little silly, more than occasionally messy and with some very entertaining side characters. Not perfect, but very fun! 4⭐️

I was spoiled for this by watching the movie first. The book is slightly better, however the characters are incredibly stupid. The horror is well done though. 3⭐️

This book seems to have mixed reviews, but I really enjoyed the wild ride. I would describe this as Yellowface mixed with Bunny - but less literary and more mainstream. If you enjoyed those two books, you will probably enjoy this one. If you did not like those, this is probably not for you. 4.5⭐️

Here is my #augusttbr!
It‘s the end of summer beginning of the school year #litsyteacher so I will be trying to cram in reading to distract from the beginning of the year stress. 😜
I will be participating in #bookspin #doublespin #bookspinbingo & #roll100 as always.

Here are my #roll100 picks for my August TBR

Valor by John Gwynne
Like Real by Shelly Ryan
Dollmakers by Lynn Buchanan

I have finished this final book in the Legends of the First Empire series! It was overall a very satisfying conclusion, though very sad near the end. Also there are a few loose threads not wrapped up. This is a very traditional epic fantasy, but unlike many, the books aren‘t obscenely long. 4⭐️

This was a very funny, cute and steamy sports romance. The steamy scenes were a bit too drawn out (that may be your jam) and the book felt a little long. However, I really loved the protagonist‘s banter and the lovable cast of characters. I look forward to reading more in this new series. 4.25⭐️

I really enjoyed this humorous, grotesque horror-possession story. A mix of punk culture, Jewish folklore, roadtrip and personal growth - all with a lot of really creepy imagery (including some of Brom‘s gorgeous artwork). I am a big fan of Brom‘s unique horror voice. 4.5⭐️
Yay a #bookspinbingi

It has a cool premise and characters, but sometimes gets bogged down with the messaging (that is great, just clunky) and loses the plot. I don‘t think I‘ll continue the series. 3.5⭐️

This is a fantastic, immersive, epic fantasy. Our protagonist is a young girl that saves her family and discovers she has a gift to speak with spirits. This leads to an adventure that is part magical school, part training montage and a touch of romance (though this is not Romantasy). It is the chosen one trope, but with tough lessons and loss. I definitely look forward to continuing the series. 5⭐️

DNF at 20% The dialog is very cringy and the main character is…ugh. This was a #botm off my TBR and yay a #bookspinbingo! #hailthebail

Overall, I enjoyed this long epic fantasy. I liked our main characters, world building and magic system. There is something preventing me from calling this a top favorite, the middle of the book got a little confusing, but I do plan on continuing the series and would recommend to fans of epic fantasy. I picked this up because I really enjoyed The Will of the Many by this author. This is totally different-more traditional in characterization. 4⭐️

This was a new type of book for Marianna Zapata-a cozy fantasy romance. It has her trademark humor and lovable characters. She also does a nice job of building a unique contemporary fantasy world, with new takes of familiar fantasy characters. Where this struggles is the repetitive dialog and need for some major editing.⬇️

A creepy but ultimately predictable AI horror. 3.5⭐️

Another well crafted mystery by the romance queen Nora Roberts. Her trademark kickass female protagonist, a slow burn romance and a very twisted villain. The over described decor can get to be a bit tedious, to a point at times it becomes part home renovation show, but I still enjoyed this book. 3.5⭐️