I started out thinking I wasn‘t going to like this one. Some serious triggers: child murder, extreme violence, mental illness, suicide, sexual assault. But once you get into it; it‘s impossible to put down. Twists throughout and while I saw some coming the ones I didn‘t really delivered. An interesting look at moral ambiguity. Could use a better title, otherwise a wild read. My #doublespin for June

Amanda White lifted the lid from the electric baby bottle sterilizer and stared inside at the .22-caliber revolver. #firstlinefridays

Absolutely loved this book!!! So difficult to put down. Easily my favorite read of the year so far. The origin story of Morgan LeFay, infamous Arthurian sorceress. I look forward to continuing this series. Read for #literarycrew

We follow the friendship of Hazel and Maxine. They met on a USO tour at the end of WWII. The core of the story takes place during the McCarthy witch-hunt of communists in the entertainment industry. I listened to this on audio and I didn‘t care for the narrator for Maxine, even though I really liked the character. I enjoyed the story overall even if it got a little cheesy at times. But didn‘t really love the end. Read for #literarycrew

Started this yesterday and already enjoying. Also loving his cover #literarycrew @Librarybelle 🥰

I just couldn‘t. About halfway though and it doesn‘t feel like anything has happened and have so much more I want to read to care what ends up happening. An interesting premise and it seems like a lot of people like it, but just wasn‘t for me. #bookspin for May

While I haven‘t been reading a lot of books, the books I have been reading lately have been chunkster a. Guessing that‘s why it‘s been feeling like an uphill battle. #bookspin #doublespin #bookspinbingo

I finally did it @5feet.of.fury ! While I didn‘t keep up with #readingwesteros I‘m happy to have conquered this one. It reads like a history book versus a fictional narrative. There is quite a lot of detail. Some of which was quite interesting, but a lot of it was tedious. Probably my least favorite of GRRM books I‘ve read, but not so bad that I wouldn‘t continue to follow up on future westerosi reads.

April was an easy month as I only finished one (it was a weird life month). But even if I finished more than one, I could see this still being my favorite. Recency bias made me want to pick it over Queen Hereafter but went back to the ratings and Queen was rated higher. So here we are!
#readingbracket2025

Easy to pick Dune over the Scarlet Letter, but ultimately had to go back and look at my ratings to determine the winner of the first 1/3 of the year. #readingbracket2025

Couldn‘t find there Bookspin book for the tag 🤷🏼‍♀️. April was crazy, hopefully will read more this month. #bookspin #doublespin #bookspinbingo

Get the hype. Wanted to read this before watching the hbo movies. I‘m glad I did because it was so good. The audiobook version was well produced. Different narrators for different characters so a little easier to follow. There were times it got to be a lot, but I imagine that will make it a more in depth movie.

Made sure to finish one so I could fill out the bracket. So for March it is the tagged by default. 🤷🏼‍♀️

March was a bit of a dud when it came to reading. I knew this would happen as was trying to finish Fire and Blood for the Bookspin, but it‘s DENSE! But had family vacation and busy at work so not really a dud at life. #bookspin #doublespin #bookspinbingo

I knew this month would be a haul reading wise. Working my way through Hester I realized I never read this one. So snagged the audio from the library. A beautifully written, sad but hopeful tale. I can see why it‘s considered a classic.

Favorite book from January but a different layout for a #bookbracket2025. Kindly stolen from Malicentbookdragon

My favorite read of February! While started last year was very excited to pick back up!

#bookbracket2025

I did it!!! 4 years, 33 hours of listening, 2 versions, but I did it. This is a beast but can see why it‘s a classic. I feel a lot of it went over my head. I started reading but stalled. Started over as an audio and managed the finish.

I loved this! The origin story of one of literature‘s most iconic characters. thank you @Librarybelle and #literarycrew for helping me discover this one. I only wish I was able to finish for the discussion.

Really hoping to finish two books today or tomorrow for a bingo 🤞🤞

Here‘s my March #bookspin #doublespin #bookspinbingo

This was a fun twisty turny read. Layers upon layers of mysteries to keep you guessing the whole time. I did figure out most of them but I was enjoying myself so much that it didn‘t take away from the reveal.

I tried for about 100 pages, but couldn‘t hang on for 700 more. Found myself skimming the larger paragraphs and not really taking anything in. I‘ve got plenty more I need to read anyway #literarycrew

Started three of these, so maybe there‘s a chance haha #bookspin #doublespin #bookspinbingo

Not much to say about this one. A quick short story about Adara and her adventure with an Ice Dragon. A bit sad, a bit loving, overall okay. Read for #readingwesteros

We follow Sir Duncan the Tall, otherwise known as Dunk, a hedge knight in Westeros. You don‘t need to read Game of Thrones or Fire and Blood to enjoy, but it is fun to get the kernels of knowledge from each of them. The story is told through 3 short stories, each started out show but in typical GRRM fashion really picked up and are exciting by the end. My favorite part though was the relationship between Dunk and Egg. Read for #readingwesteros

Tagged my second favorite book (in both brackets). It was surprisingly beautifully told story of the Trojan war by the woman who lives and survived it. Was so impressed. Also a solid final four in this one. #readingbracket2024 @CSeydel

My top book of the year (both brackets). It was fun, filled the gamut of emotions and would absolutely reread if given the chance. Honestly, really loved any of these final four. #readingbracket2024 @CoffeeNBooks

I didn‘t hit my reading goals as I would have liked. But this year flipped me sideways a bit. Will try and knock myself back on track and maybe give myself some grace by only setting it at 20 instead of the full 25. Who knows what January will bring 🤷🏼‍♀️ #bookspin #doublespin #bookspinbingo

We follow two black women in New York who joined the WAC during WWII. It was a fascinating premise but their stories didn‘t really hold my interest. I did audiobook so maybe that‘s why. I am interested to know what aspects of these women‘s lives were truthfully and which were embellished. Read for #literarycrew

A fun bit escapism. A little too YA for me and some of the stories were a bit one note. But it was fun seeing how all the stories interconnected. It was refreshing seeing different types of characters. Read for #sundaybuddyread

October and November were not great reading months for me, but this bracket by @CoffeeNBooks #readingbracket2024

October and November were not great reading months but made for some easy pics to fill out this bracket by @CSeydel #readingbracket2024

November will be the first month in a long time that I didnt actually finish a book. Officially started my new job and got hung up on Fire & Blood. Not bad, but just heavy and my brain wasn‘t quite up for it by the time I got home for work. Hopefully I‘ll be able to finish a few next month and finish strong. #bookspin #doublespin #bookspinbingo

A fascinating article that reminded me this #sundaybuddyread. Found the link via npr‘s IG account.

I completely forgot what day it was yesterday 🙈. Queen Hereafter and All We Were Promised are my #bookspin and #doublespin

It was a fun light YA, but the characters didn‘t feel fully developed as they acted pretty inconsistently. It was a little all over the place. Luckily I was in the right mindset for it and didn‘t need something too heavy so it was an okay read for now. Read for #sundaybuddyread

This is wild if it‘s true. I don‘t watch this show anyway, but feels a bit wrong #sundaybuddyread

The Flight Portfolio was my favorite read, but tagged was a close second. Love the extra bonus spots in this bracket from @CSeydel #readingbracket2024

Tagged is my favorite book this month. Bracket from @Catsandbooks 💚 #readingbracket2024

Did much better in September and read both my #bookspin and #doublespin. Hoping to keep the momentum in October. While also prepping for a possible promotion at work, so we‘ll see 🤞🤞

🍁Strong, quiet, dedicated
🍁🍁 I don‘t mind this perspective, but personally doesn‘t entirely capture my essence but others might disagree I guess
🍁🍁🍁 I‘ve been trying to think all day about this and really can‘t think of much, maybe Hermione Granger is the one that comes to mind, especially since rereading this with our boys right now.

Thanks @Eggs for the tag

@TheBookHippie @Librarybelle @Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks

This was a beautifully told story of Rachel, a runaway slave on the search for her children that were taken from her. A fascinating look at the different ways of survival. I started reading a hard copy and it was slow go, but when I switched to audiobook, this story really came alive. I think reading this in my own voice did this story a disservice but hearing “Rachel‘s” voice vastly improved it. Read for #literarycrew

It seems fitting that I finished this in the middle of the night. It was interesting but also a bit mediocre. Not sure if I‘m interested enough to read the second one. I liked the lore as it wasn‘t anything I was familiar with, plus I wanted to see what happened. But quite a bit angsty for me. #bookspin for September

I really enjoyed this historical fiction novel about Varian Fry and his time in France during WWII rescuing Jewish artists and refugees. An amazing story, beautifully told. I did the audiobook version and the narration was wonderful. I do wish I read it as I feel I missed some details, but still was thoroughly engaged. Read for #sundaybuddyread

Bracket number two. I like the flexibility of more wildcards in this one. It‘ll be interesting how they turn out since this one is so different from my other even picking same books in the month. @CSeydel thanks for the bracket.

August was easy because I only read one book. I probably wouldn‘t have picked it if I had finished one of the other books I was working on but still 4 more months I‘m the year. And makes for easy choices moving further in the bracket. I love how different the two brackets I have are turning out. Upper left was a tough decision for Lincoln Highway shadow more staying power for me. @Catsandbooks Thanks for the bracket!

August was a bit of bust reading wise, but it was because I started a new position at work that has turned my brain to mush and haven‘t really been able to muster the energy to read at night. Maybe I‘ll get the swing of things in September and get back at it. We‘ll see!

I had to put this one aside to finish some buddy reads, but finished this in a fury once I picked it back up. Just loved this and the end and some of the notions presented at the end were thing I needed to hear/read at this moment. Funny how life works sometimes. Strong feminist themes with a lovely sense of humor. Highly recommend. Finished Poolside 😎

Today‘s calendar entry ❤️📚