It seems a little silly to review a book that I've read several times-- BUT I will say that the illustrated version is stunning! I've already decided that I want to read these versions to my future children because they are so beautiful and enhance the story in a different way than the movies do. Also re-reading the series is a great way to keep reading in the midst of this busy season of life. 🦉⚡️🍻

Oh Litsy, it's been too long! I've been directing a middle school musical and immersed in my first year of teaching, so books fell by the wayside. But now, I'm re-reading Harry Potter (with the illustrated editions!) to help me out of a reading slump. It will be more forgiving than reading something off my tbr list right now seeing as I've read these books so many times.

Trying to cram this book in before the Halloween festivities tonight! 🎃🕸🍬🌙

If you love Chip and Joanna, you really do need to pick up their book. It is my go-to feel good show to watch (plus I love HGTV) and when the book came out I knew I had to have it. Their story is incredible and sweet! I've been reading less it seems but this was a good one to breeze through.

Best book of 2016 (So far)! I was completely transfixed by this story and truly couldn't put it down. I went in not knowing a single thing about the plot--all I knew was that it was Ann Patchett's buzzy new book and it was getting all kinds of praise. But I think because I didn't know what the premise was, I was sucked in even more. The writing is stupendous, the story is spun and woven very well, and there wasn't a single part I thought was slow

My dad asked me to get a signed copy of Ann Patchett's new book for him, which I dutifully did. But then I started thinking about how much I wanted to read it, so I took the slipcover off and am reading it as carefully as I can until my Dad comes back to the states to retrieve it. Shhhhh 🤐 Don't tell him!

I'm getting super sick of reading library books on the kindle, so here's my fall reading lineup! Some of these were purchased at Parnassus (my fave), two were gifts from my Dad, and two are BOTM that I still haven't read yet. I have like one more kindle read and then it's on to these bad boys! 📚🍁🍃

Sometimes a book falls into your lap at exactly the right time-and this was especially true! I've been feeling so rundown and burnt out from the overworking I typically throw myself into. Shauna's words urge us to stop and to find rest. If we are constantly filling our lives with to-do's, we are never being still and never considering that maybe we aren't meant to live this way. Go read it if you listen to my words and think: me too.

Okay I really hate that I bailed on this one, but I got around 30% of the way through and I knew it was not for me. This is a cancer story. And I knew that going in, but I put the book on hold before I lost someone important to cancer just weeks ago. Tonight I tried to dive in, but just really couldn't do it. I was enjoying the writing, but the medical statistics and harsh realities presented were too much for me right now.

I have mixed feelings about this one. I thought the story was interesting and I loved the two different perspectives of the modern day Rose and the 1950's Darby. The book flips between Rose's pursuit of Darby's mysterious past in the hotel back in the 1950's. There's a bit of a love story, jazz music, and a bit about sexuality and kind of misguided feminism. I just didn't think the book had a *spark* but I did truthfully enjoy reading it.

Today I was subbing for high school English and while they doing silent reading, I was BLAZING through this one. Such a dream. The story revolves around the memories of August in her coming of age. A beautiful picture of girlhood and the aches of life (not in an angsty way, this is not Judy Blume) and pains unlike any other. The prose flowed like music, much like Woodson's other writing. Absolutely stunning book!

This type of book is not my typical read, but I enjoyed it enough to breeze through it while subbing today. I think the characters just seemed flat and the writing was meh. But the story itself is compelling (as most crime novels are) because you want to know what happens in the investigation. I wasn't surprised by the "twist" at all. I think it got me out of a reading rut, but it wouldn't be a book I'd be handing off to friends.

This book 🙌🏼. Livvy is a pastry chef from Boston who needs a change of scenery after a 🔥 at her old job. She ends up in Guthrie, VT at an inn called the Sugar Mapple. There, she falls in love with the sweet people in the town and finds a family that she never had. This book is by no means a literary feast, but instead it warms your heart and feeds your soul. Throw in some banjos, apple pie contests, and sleigh rides and its ✨.

This book is killing me! I have always (and still do) want a pet squirrel--or a pet raccoon! I can't get enough of how quirky and lovely this book is so far.

I realize this is maybe an unpopular opinion, but I struggled to get into this book. Like I avoided picking it up because I was just not invested in the beginning. I'm not giving up officially though. I have it on hold again and when it becomes available maybe I will be ready to jump back in. But for now, it's not working for me. 😔

Just in case you doubted my reading physical books (y'all those library ebooks enslave me)...I for sure went into the bookstore and snatched this up without thinking twice. I loved Girl Waits With Gun! 😃

My favorite, go-to indie bookstore that I frequent is the beloved Parnassus Books here in Nashville. If you are ever in town it is a must go! They have the cutest shop dogs (shout out to Mary Todd Lincoln Coffman, who follows me on insta 💁🏻). The staff is incredibly helpful and I swear most of my tbr list comes from their staff picks because I love everything they are promoting. #getindie

There's nothing I can say that hasn't already been said about this one. If you have read of its praises, there is good reason to believe they are all true. An excellent read!

I've realized I haven't been on here in a while because everything I have been reading has been RIPPED OUT OF MY HANDS BY THE LIBRARY! Okay, okay so when you read an ebook from the library it automatically returns itself when someone else has a hold on it. This has happened to me TWICE in the past two weeks! Before, when I checked out physical books, I would have kept them a day late and paid the fine so I could finish. 😫😓📚

Truly, a fun, light, quick read! I'm a huge Shakespeare nerd so I was both nervous about it and excited. I liked this in the same way I liked Eligible--It's not perfect, but delightful.

I wanted to like this so much, but frankly I was bored. I didn't like the main character, I felt like the story hardly went anywhere. And I just felt bogged down with the drugs and alcohol. I wanted this to be a literary feast that relished the food and wine, but instead I felt like that was a minor part of the book. Not what I expected after listening to Danler's interview on Fresh Air. Also I had to skim a lot.

I really want to like this, but I'm kind of struggling through some parts...

I'm glad I read this one after reading The Nest-although both different in my opinion. This was so much more about marriage and loss and was captured very well! There were maybe a few parts where I maybe zoned out (the deer incident and Native American imaginings, I totally skimmed!). Overall, I'd definitely recommend this especially for those who loves characters that are steeped in humanity and flawed. Also #richpeopleproblems

Ahhhh my #bookofthemonth is here! I really had a hard time deciding but ultimately landed on Siracusa. I also threw in Modern Lovers because I was NEVER gonna get it from the library and Emma Straub is a favorite of mine. These are both going in my queue (as well as last month's 🙊) because I had toooo many library books to plow through in July/Early August.

That moment when allllll of your holds come in at the same time 🤓😬📖

I read over half of this book back in July but wasn't able to pick it back up until last night due to library holds. So despite my disjointed reading, I adored this book. It was wonderfully written and anything with flawed family dynamics are usually up my alley. This book is worth the hype.

Y'all I read this in one sitting it was so good! While I did not like this as much as I LOVED Flora and Ulysses, I still loved the quirk and heart that only Kate DiCamillo brings to children's books. The three rancheros were delightful in their plight to look out for each other despite their immediate differences. Also their adventures made me laugh out loud and bonus points to the "invisible grandma" whose bizarre characterization I adored.

Y'all I read this in one sitting it was so good! While I did not like this as much as I LOVED Flora and Ulysses, I still loved the quirk and heart that only Kate DiCamillo brings to children's books. The three rancheros were delightful in their plight to look out for each other despite their immediate differences. Also their adventures made me laugh out loud and bonus points to the "invisible grandma" whose bizarre characterization I adored.

This book was like a warm hug in an over-air conditioned office. If you like Christian fiction, small towns, characters that feel like friends then this is for you. It's definitely ringing with small town charm and a cliche around every corner, but I loved it! Harmony feels like a small town in the South, but is surprisingly set in the Midwest. Really a refreshing read for me after a couple of heavy topics read this month.

"In the end that is what we all must do. Stand where we feel led. Stand straight, stand tall, and try hard to remember that other folks might be led to stand elsewhere."

I adore Matthew Quick, but about 30% of the way through I questioned if this was indeed written by him. Yes the characters were odd, but there was way too much teenage angst for me to enjoy it. That being said, if you love YA, you might love this book. This was a meh read for me. 😕

Okay while I was worried about predictability, I still found this a captivating read. It all really shifted once Isabelle found her purpose and I will admit I couldn't put it down. Yes I felt like I knew what was coming, I still got caught up in the story and the bravery of the two sisters.

I love the moments in babysitting when I get to read. Like during Ninjago (sp?!) marathons...I pull out my book! Also The Nightingale is getting really predictable. I'm still enjoying it but I feel like I already know everything that is going to happen and I'm only 22% of the way in. 😕

I'm so stoked for my #bookofthemonthclub book to be here! This is my first month and I'm already insanely excited. A few close book-recommender-friends did not like this book but it still has so much buzz! I will have to see for myself 😅

A note on how I read: I read all my library books exclusively on my kindle fire. I was anti-kindle for years but realized it was perfect for my library reading. Books read through the library are free, which is why I have no problem reading them on my kindle. I don't buy books for the kindle! 📚