This was an astonishing book. I loved it. Polley was a child actress and she has some horrifying stories. If you liked I‘m glad my mom died, you might like this. It‘s not exactly the same, the issues she faces are more of neglect and people looking the other way, rather than the abusive and manipulative nature of Jeanette mccurdy‘s situation. The interview with Sarah for the everything happens podcast with Kate bowler is incredible. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Honestly I can‘t really say if this book is more entertaining or disturbing. 😬 a fascinating window into the nyc culinary world of the 80s and 90s and therefore: debauchery 😆 oh my gosh. Some stories! If you would like to be shocked, go for it 🤣 some appalling behavior too that I won‘t forget in a hurry. narrated by the author and you‘ve got to give him credit for telling it like it is.

A challenging and excellent read.
Jess divides fatigue into 4 types - spiritual emotional physical & mental- and helps you identify which you are. I appreciate that this book was written by a busy, energetic woman rather than someone who lives in a cabin in the woods off the grid with no responsibilities other than, I don‘t know, foraging for berries or something.
Thank you so much to the publisher and NetGalley for the digital arc.
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I heard an interview with the author of this book on the Happy Writer podcast and picked it up and loved it! Easy to get into from the start and a fun way to incorporate the Greek myths without it being a straight retelling. A competition between 2 women looking for favor from the rulers, they have to complete a series of impossible challenges that you‘ll recognize if you‘re into mythology. There‘s a bit of romance too. Loved this book ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I am reading this series aloud to my kiddos and we are LOVING them. Big long books which is actually great. They‘re full and we love the multiple pov. As we are currently midway through book 3, I would say this one is slightly slower than the others? But still, love it. Great to have percy back in this one too.

This was a really compelling retelling of the myth of Hades and Persephone, told firstly from the point of view of Demeter, who I feel like we don‘t often hear from, other than the typical controlling mother trope.
Romantic and brutal both, the author breathes fresh life into Persephone and Demeter‘s stories.
I also found the section on the underworld far richer than many others have made it.
Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the arc.

Sarah is the spiritual mother/sister/friend we all need.
I know everyone is all about Cozy Fantasy at the moment but is there such a thing as Cozy Spirituality? Well, if there is, I vote for this book to be on the list. The content isn‘t easy - Sarah is writing to those who have felt on the outside, whether through being left behind, doing the leaving or feeling pushed or just never really fitting in - but the tone is soothing and comforting.❤️

There‘s a lot of enneagram info out there, and a lot of books, but this is one of a kind. The tone is like your Tell-it-like-it-is Aunty. Someone who is serving you harshness with a “it‘s for your own good” motive. Funny and refreshing, it‘s tempting to just set up camp in your own number but I learned a lot about every type from reading the whole thing.
Great fun with a lot to ponder, thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the digital arc.

Gosh. This book was stressful. Bad things happening to characters you really like 😰 it cracks me up that the author thought she‘d written a cozy book, then admitted later she‘d “forgotten about all the death” 🤣 if you like fantasy books set on ships, in the ocean etc, check this one out.

Well. This book doesn‘t need my help so I guess I can be honest. Sarah j Maas is a master, no doubt, her characters are so compelling and I‘ll always keep reading. This one I loved when the “2 worlds” intersected (no spoilers but you‘ll know what I mean if you‘ve read anything of hers), I took a break of about 2 weeks 50% of the way thru. I kind of skimmed the last half to get it done. But of course, I‘ll read all the next books😂I miss TOG🤷🏼‍♀️

Wow.
I finished the bulk of this book in under 24 hours. I‘m not sure this has ever happened for me for a non fiction, Christian read. The author gives a compelling vision for what life could be, if we were only willing to take the bold step of becoming Jesus‘ apprentices. I loved it, it filled me with excitement and gave me tools for becoming closer to Jesus.
Thanks so much to NetGalley and the Publisher for this advanced review copy.
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This book is deep, detailed and thorough and it deserves a few rereads to really absorb the content. I recommend the podcast episode where Annie F Downs interviews her for the That sounds fun podcast, it will blow your mind. I listened on audio, it is read by the author which is great but I think kindle with the highlight function would have been better. If you‘re interested where emotional health and spirituality intersect totally pick this up.

I knew nothing about this book before listening to it. I just thought it looked fun and quirky and I‘d heard a couple of people vaguely mention it. I didn‘t see any of the TikTok stuff until I looked it up later. I recommend going in fresh if you can. I loved the voice, found it really funny, silly, ridiculous. It just felt like my kind of book 🤷🏼‍♀️ I‘m looking forward to more. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

A brutally honest account of couple trying to make their marriage survive when the wife has had an affair. This was really hard to stop listening to once I‘d started. There‘s real humour here and a lot of it self deprecating. But I think the book shows how 2 people really are both equally responsible for how marriages work, and also the massive effect trauma from our past has on our present. Loved it. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Truly it was an honor to get to read an early copy of Have a beautiful, terrible day.
A collection of blessings and reflections, this book can be devoured in a sitting or taken bit by bit, depending on your mood. There were so, so many blessings that spoke to the weariness in my spirit, that made me feel seen and understood.
And thank you to the publisher Convergent and to NetGalley for the digital ARC - I‘m so grateful. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

The kids and I finished the original Percy Jackson first 5 books and moved on to this series, and wow-we loved it. I was trying to read aloud to 2 kids at 2 different places, and at times they got sick of me and just read ahead themselves, which was awesome - loved seeing them so into a book. Loved the multiple point of views ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I‘m trying to read more from books I already own this year. Not sure how that‘s working out as I keep getting more from op shops. I just feel better if I have options. However this one I had picked up about a year ago at least and oh boy! It was brilliant. It is bonkers. Really quite silly. But I really loved it. English monarchy that can also shapeshift? Yes. It makes fun of itself too which is just lovely. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

This book will be in my top 10 of the year. (Things I read in week 1 usually are!) I was really interested in this story but unprepared for how much I would ADORE the voice 😍 written in first person as if the main character is telling her story in her words to a journalist, it‘s SO GOOD. The adventures of a middle aged mother retired pirate with a bad knee… I‘m so happy there‘s more coming. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Woop woop! What a fantastic middle grade fantasy! It has all the beats you want - loveable characters, animal sidekicks, kids taking on tasks way too big for them, huge high stakes. The chapters are snappy and the action is gripping. Looking forward to more in this series 😻 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Loving all the Greek myth retellings we are getting at the moment. Clytemnestra isn‘t a character I was familiar with, she is Helen‘s sister. This book is bleak and violent in a lot of ways, as the myths often are. I appreciate getting a woman‘s point of view of the Troy story and the events surrounding it. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

Ahhhhhh I loved this series!!! Took me a while to be willing to read book 3 since I didn‘t want it to be over. This was a fantastic read and tied up the loose ends nicely. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

A cute graphic novel about magic, friendship and queerness. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I‘ve become a Rebecca Ross fangirl, and loved being able to go into her back catalogue for this one. I loved the story and it gave me a bit of Sorcery of Thorns vibes too. There were characters that weren‘t as they seemed but I didn‘t see it coming. Really satisfying. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Book 3 in the series and I enjoyed the direction the plot went. As I‘ve said before, these characters are not likeable but they are really gripping stories. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

A fun mysterious middle grade. I definitely recommend the audiobook so you can get all the fabulous Latina accents and words. ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

I loved this book.fantastic sci fi adventure in space. characters I loved. Got this out off Veronica Roth‘s recommendation at the end of the year and it was a winner. Looking forward to book 2! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I listened to this in 2 clumps quite far apart from one another. It was kind of weird because maybe I stopped listening initially because it wasn‘t gripping me, but when the time came that I got it out again it was such a relief to sink into a story I knew already and take off from where I‘d left. I ended up really enjoying this ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

This lived up to the hype, which in my mind was considerable, as it had come highly recommended from sources I love. A mystery with some magic woven in, a New York story involving the NYPL, I saw some things coming but couldn‘t guess others. Loved it. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

This was a DELIGHT. I didn‘t think I could like it as much as legends and lattes but I think I liked it more. Also it was great timing, after a bunch of heavier stuff and during a heavy time in the world, this felt so soothing. Fantastic on audio too. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

These books keep getting better and better. I found this one fascinating, my son however loves all of them but this is his lowest ranked. We‘ve finished off the original 5 over summer holiday reading them as a family. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Clearly reading big books in a giant hurry has been a theme of my week, because I raced to finish this before a 3.45pm movie time (clocked in at 3.08)🤣 my husband and daughter had read it ages before and I was lagging behind. Enjoyed the story, she definitely makes you sympathetic to Snow, which is worrying but well done for sure. As usual a great book to movie adaptation. IMO the hunger games are the most faithful new book to movie adaptations.

There‘s adorably protective and then there‘s annoyingly protective and this crossed some lines for me. I think I‘m just not into the whole crazed obsessive mate plotline like I used to be 🤷🏼‍♀️
This one didn‘t do it for me like 4th wing did sadly. I also had to listen to it on ridiculous speed in order to finish it before libby stole it back and I got in a huge waiting list..
Still love the world building and cast of characters.
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I was REALLY excited for this one as I love the author. It was great but a completely different tone than Cinderella is dead and especially my poison heart. Brooding, dark, with a narrative voice totally suited to the setting and time- weaving racism and homophobia into the Jekyll and Hyde story made it even more compelling. Very good. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I found this kind of on a whim, looking for middle grade books and it was a fun listen. Fantastic narration. The plot got a little technical at times (though if you were a kid who was a gamer that might add to the appeal) and I will admit I didn‘t pay massive amounts of attention at times. But the characters were spunky and the note at the end from the co-author, the prince of Ethiopia, gave it a whole other dimension. Fast paced fun. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

WOW. I can‘t remember the last time I finished a book in one day.
This story was so wonderful and had me hooked from very early on. I absolutely adore the early scenes with the dog! And the action packed, alarming second half left me desperate to finish.
Loveable, earnest characters and an unpredictable, frightening villain made this book a delight.
A huge thank you to NetGalley for the digital ARC. Have bought 2 copies for gifts 🥰 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Emma Lord has become a must-read author for me and this one was great too. I was into it from almost the first pages which was just nice. Also if you have a teen, my 15 year old ripped through If you get the Chance, and loved it. Hoping she‘ll read You have a match next, which was probably my favorite. ⭐️⭐️⭐️🌟

YAY I am finally getting through my NetGalley arcs!!! Hercules is not a likeable character, but his story is told through multiple points of view which I think was my favorite part. We see so many different people and get their perspective on Hercules and there is a lot to enjoy.
I‘m reading the Percy Jackson series at the moment with my kid and it was so fun to see characters from there pop up here for a completely different audience.⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

Really glad to finish this one on kindle. The second half was full of passages that I underlined and copied out. Sort of a todays version of L‘engle‘s walking on water but with a diverse voice. Really good if you‘re interested in the intersections of faith and art. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

Well, gosh. I mean they warn you at the start that this will be bad but it is REALLY BAD. 😆 the name should have given it away. Continuing trying to read a bunch of middle grade with this series which was fabulous on audio but I don‘t think I‘ll recommend to my kids for fear it‘ll traumatize them 🤣 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

I love V E Schwab, I‘m a big fan of some of her other books (the Cassidy Blake series, Addie larue, gallant) but I‘d not done these ones. With the release of the new one in the series I was excited to get this and it didn‘t disappoint. A fantastic story, well told, characters I loved and some I feared, fantastic world building. Looking forward to more. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Started this one on paper but switched over up audio when it came off my holds, I love star wars books on audio. A great story, I liked the relationship between the two royals a lot. Kind of intrigued to see where things go with Greylark. The high republic is a lot to keep up with, I will say that. I‘ve read quite a few and still think I‘ve got big knowledge gaps. Love the selection of authors though. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Im trying to read more middle grade and this series sounded perfect. It did not disappoint. Strong world building, awesome characters you can root for, gripping plot line with high stakes. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

I loved book one so much, and I read that on kindle. Not sure whether I would have preferred this that way again but maybe it‘s just a book 2 thing. It‘s messing with all the attachments you made in the first book! Still beautiful. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Do the audiobook! Multiple narrators, all fabulous. This would be a perfect Christmas read. I really enjoyed this!!! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Enjoyed book 2, that ending 🙀 interested to see how things go down from here. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Loved this book. Brilliant narration by the author. It‘s hard to describe it, a very real raw portrait of a marriage, of 2 people at odds with each other. Of how some men cannot handle a woman‘s success. Of how to keep going when everything falls apart. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Ok. It‘s a great book BUT… I have heard this described as Oh so cozy! And oh all the yummy food it‘ll make you so hungry! Uh… I would not describe this book as cozy at all. Go into it with the right state of mind otherwise you‘ll be after a big shock. This is science fiction, yes, there‘s a donut shop but mostly it is a trans girls story with all the trauma, violence and discrimination that goes with it. Brilliant representation. Not cozy.⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I laughed, I cried. The narration is fabulous. Such a great book but - parents of teenagers, beware: listen at your own peril. There will be feelings. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Sort of similar to Nona the Ninth in the sense that I‘m not sure I always know what‘s going on with these books, but I do enjoy them. I may be hazy on some details as I was listening in a rush before libby returned it and I had to go back on the holds list. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I knew this series didn‘t really have likeable characters in it going in, so I was surprised to enjoy it as much as I did. The plot was quite propulsive and I was definitely kept intrigued by how things would turn out. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️