It's my May #bookspin list!

I'm trying to declutter my house (and my bookshelves) since I'm moving across town in a couple of months, so I really need to make progress on my physical TBR. On the plus side, I don't have any physical books checked out from the library (which is always conspiring against me!), but I do have plenty of Libby checkouts to get through. We'll see how this month goes...

@TheAromaofBooks

I'm not going to lie, for much of April, reading was TEDIOUS, so I didn't make nearly as much progress as I would have liked. There were a few books (including a couple I have not yet finished) that I just spent too much time on -- I didn't dislike them enough to DNF, but I wasn't that excited to pick them up either. And then I ended up not having time to dig into The Winners, which would have given me a #bookspinbingo! Darn.

@TheAromaofBooks

My #bookspin list for April!

I've got a mix of old books and current library books to get through this month, so I'm excited to see how it goes...

@TheAromaofBooks

My reading for March was alright. I managed a #bookspinbingo (yay!) and knocked out my #doublespin pick (Martyr, one of my favorite books so far this year). I also gave a lowly two stars (the editing was THAT bad) to a memoir written by a beloved former basketball player and DNF'ed a book (which is rare).

I'm hopeful that April will be a good month to catch up on more of my owned books (sounds like deja vu), but we'll see!

@TheAromaofBooks

My #Bookspin TBR for March! There are SEVERAL books on this list that I've started, but just haven't finished (for whatever reason). And when I say “several,“ I mean more than half. 😬

That said, I hope to get a lot of these knocked off the list, finally!

@thearomaofbooks

I'm a bit behind on posting my #BookSpinBingo card for February, but it was just that kind of month! Overall, my reading wasn't that great -- not just in terms of quantity, but quality as well. That said, How the Word Was Passed by Clint Smith and The 1619 Project were both standouts...and definitely fitting for Black History Month.

@thearomaofbooks

My #bookspin list for this month! I try to read only black authors in February, so that's who is on my list -- although I'll let myself finish a couple of library books I didn't get to in January, even though they don't fit the description. There are so many on this list I can't wait to get to!

@TheAromaofBooks

January was ok, not spectacular -- no #bookspinbingo. As usual, I prioritized my library books (darn due dates!) and despite trying to decrease my library checkouts, I always find myself with more, especially when a Libby hold finally comes in after months!

On the plus side, I did manage to knock out my #doublespin pick (which was also on my #roll100 list. Although I wonder if I'll ever finish Demon Copperhead?

@TheAromaofBooks @PuddleJumper

My first #bookspin list of 2025!

I'm starting the new year by going back to some of last year's leftovers...hoping to finally knock some of these off the list (and not be too tempted by the new!).

@TheAromaofBooks

No #bookspinbingo for me! December was definitely a rough reading month for me -- if it wasn't an audiobook (not my preferred format), it was hard for me to finish anything! Still, it was a successful year overall, and I'm definitely ready for 2025!

@thearomaofbooks

Last #bookspin list of 2024!

I'm holding to a bunch of books that I've been meaning to get to (several to finish up reading challenges. I know I won't get through all the books I want to read, but hopefully I'll at least enjoy my reading!

This was a pretty rough month for me, between illness, family stuff, and just overall anxiety...and my reading suffered for it as well. I just had such a short attention span! Fingers crossed that I'll finish the month strong.

#bookspinbingo @TheAromaofBooks

My TBR keeps getting longer and longer...we'll see how many I actually finish from this list!!

@AromaofBooks #BookSpin

It wasn't the best reading month -- and I pulled mostly OFF my TBR. Again, the library keeps messing with my TBR! 😂

@AromaofBooks #BookSpinBingo

Last post for #HauntedShelf (I think?) -- another bingo achieved!

@CatsandBooks #HexesandCrows

Final board for #SupernaturalBookBingo, and I even managed to get a bingo (much thanks to the free space!) for some #HauntedShelf points!

#HexesandCrows @Outsmartyourshelf @CatsandBooks

My final #PumpkabooHunt tally for #HauntedShelf!

@PuddleJumper @CatsandBooks @HexesandCrows

And just for fun...another #HauntedShelf Book Scavenger Hunt post for 135 more points!

@CatsandBooks #HexesandCrows

Finally posting for the #HauntedShelf Book Scavenger Hunt! Nine covers here for 135 points...

@CatsandBooks #HexesandCrows

I found 13 more words (highlighted in blue) in this book for the #HauntedShelf Word Search!

#HexesandCrows @CatsandBooks

This one has been on my Kindle for years, and I finally decided it was time to read it -- after all, seemed appropriate for spooky season. But it wasn't that spooky, and the titular “ghost“ didn't make itself known until the final pages. I was tricked!

#HauntedShelf #HexesandCrows @PuddleJumper @CatsandBooks #witchathon @TEArificbooks #SupernaturalBookBingo @outsmartyourshelf

I found 13 words in the tagged book for the #HauntedShelf Word Search!

@CatsandBooks

Not a personal favorite of mine, but I think this would be a great pick for a middle grader who's into reading books that are on the creepy, spooky side. I also love that it's written by a Black woman and centers young Black girls, who aren't necessarily well-represented in the horror genre (at any age).

#HauntedShelf #HexesandCrows @PuddleJumper @CatsandBooks #SupernaturalBookBingo @outsmartyourshelf

Surprisingly, I'm not all that familiar with this story -- never saw any of the movies or anything like that -- and honestly, I was less than impressed. Maybe the narrator just didn't have me adequately creeped out!

#HauntedShelf #HexesandCrows @puddlejumper @CatsandBooks #SupernaturalBookBingo @outsmartyourshelf

Low pick for me, because honestly, I'm not a huge fan of horror -- especially when it comes to gore, and this book has plenty of that! That said, I did enjoy the premise and the quasi-epistolary format.

#HauntedShelf #HexesandCrows @PuddleJumper @CatsandBooks #PumpkabooHunt #Witchathon @TEArificbooks

I was so glad I was able to get back to this book after having to return it to the library last month! I kept turning the pages (loved the short chapters!), hoping for some happiness for these characters who seemed to face nothing but heartbreak. Definitely one of my favorites this year.

#HauntedShelf #HexesandCrows @PuddleJumper @CatsandBooks #PumpkabooHunt #SupernaturalBookBingo @outsmartyourshelf #Witchathon @TEArificbooks

Posting just a little late...

September was a decent reading month overall, even though I missed out on a #bookspinbingo!

Ready to see what October will bring!

@thearomaofbooks

It's time for my October TBR! This is my list both for #bookspin and #hauntedshelf -- as usual, I expect to finish several of these while reading many more not on the list. 😁

And while I'm not typically a seasonal reader (and a bit of a fall scrooge, honestly), hopefully I'll have a little fun this month for Team #HexesandCrows!

@TheAromaofBooks @PuddleJumper

This book was super tricky for me. I actually almost gave it up about a third of the way through, because I was just kind of bored, but I persisted, and it was...fine. The premise seemed interesting, but what really bugged me was bad editing! Plenty of unnecessary repetition -- like the time Elsy leaves a ten dollar bill on the table (to pay for lunch) twice in the span of about three paragraphs.

Sigh.

My #bookspin list for September, which doesn't even include several of my Libby holds that all came in around the same time (and which, for some reason, I went ahead and checked out instead of just having them delivered later!).

@thearomaofbooks

I actually finished several more books this month, but leaned heavily on books NOT on my TBR! That's okay, I still had a #bookspinbingo!!

@thearomaofbooks

My little #bookspin list for August. I'm not gonna lie, sometimes I wish I wasn't so addicted to the library -- especially Libby and the 12 cards I have on it!! It makes it sooo hard to focus on the books I already own. Oh well...at least my addiction is doing no harm to my wallet! 😂

@TheAromaofBooks

Two bingos and almost two more for my July #bookspinbingo -- that has to be some kind of personal record! Many thanks to @TheAromaofBooks for a quite favorable board. 😁

I finished this at the beginning of July, and with the Paris Olympics coming up, it was the perfect time to listen to this memoir from a legitimate swimming superstar. There weren't a lot of salacious details, because Katie Ledecky seems to lead a pretty normal life...other than that whole "shattering world records" thing. While obviously no one is perfect, she seems like a genuinely good person...it makes it so easy to root for her!

As always, one of my favorite events of the month, as my July TBR awaits this month's #bookspin selections! Some of these books have been on my list for quite a while, others have just been added...I'm just excited to see what I end up actually reading!

@TheAromaofBooks

As far as my June #bookspinbingo card goes, I think I did pretty well: one bingo, close to several others, and both my #bookspin and #doublespin picks complete! Of course, plenty of books I still haven't gotten to, and several more waiting for me in July!

@thearomaofbooks

The last book I finished in June also happened to be one of my #roll100 picks for the month (which is great, since I haven't been doing so well with those!).

This was a low pick for me -- but mostly because it's a blend of two genres that aren't my faves (horror and historical fiction). That said, I think it was well-done, and being a short, quick read didn't hurt either!

@PuddleJumper

Since I DNF'ed my original choice for this prompt (too scary!!), this book worked just fine for #52bookclub24 #includesapersonalphobia. Skydiving. Enough said!

Overall, I enjoyed this one, though it did start out pretty slow for me. I definitely preferred “The Guncle“ to this, but it was still worth reading. And it was my #bookspin pick for June!

PLEASE take my DNF with a grain of salt!

This story centers around an elderly woman's relationship with a mouse. I am TERRIFIED of mice. But since I've heard such wonderful things about this book (it's been frequently described as a “warm hug“), I thought I would try it -- it would slot in perfectly for the #52bookclub24 #includesapersonalphobia prompt.

Except...the moment the mouse appeared, I started hyperventilating. Oops! 😂

My #bookspin list for June! I have more library books (and less from my shelves) than I should, but...oh well! Whatever makes my reading heart happy, right? 😁

@TheAromaofBooks

So close to #bookspinbingo, but not quite there! By the numbers, May wasn't a bad reading month, but everything kind of came to a halt the last week, as I was stuck working through a few more dense books. Still pretty good though!

@TheAromaofBooks

I picked this up from the library without reading the blurb...it was definitely a surprise! Despite the fact the cover says "A Love Story," I didn't realize it was a rom-com. Yes, that's my own sexism on display. ?

That said, it was a cute, light-hearted read. I'm not a huge romance reader, but every once in a while I enjoy them, and this hit the spot.

Oh, and it was my #doublespin pick, so yay!

@TheAromaofBooks

I'm ready with my #bookspin list for May!

My biggest goal this month is to stay away from the library -- as much as I love it, I have way too many books on my shelves that need some attention! Although there is a library book sale coming up this weekend, so...that could cause an issue. 😂

@thearomaofbooks

Even though I managed to finish 20 books this month (more than I have in quite a while!), I still didn't get a #bookspinbingo. I guess there were a couple books that could have qualified as DNFs, but for me, they were simply NRNs (Not Right Now).

Still it was a great reading month, including my first five-star (yes, I'm stingy with stars!) read of the year -- James.

@TheAromaofBooks

So, I have to thank @JenReadsAlot for bringing this one to my attention! I had listened to the podcast for awhile, but didn't realize there was an accompanying book/audiobook -- and I'm so glad I finally had the chance to listen.

My tween/teen years were in the '90s, so these songs definitely hit home for me (although, surprisingly, there were some I wasn't familiar with AT ALL). Still, it was a fun trip down memory lane.

My TBR/#bookspin list for April. There are so many more books I wanted to add, even though I know there's no way I'll get to them all! It'll be interesting to see which of these (and how many!) I'll get to this month.

@thearomaofbooks

Here's my #bookspinbingo card for March -- no bingos, as I read more books OFF my TBR than on it. That's okay though...sometimes mood reading is a necessity!

I'm hoping to catch up with some of these in April, but I've already got a new stack of library books to go through, so...we'll see! 😄

@thearomaofbooks

I didn't get a chance to post yesterday, but here's my March #bookspin TBR list. There's a lot of stuff I've been looking forward to (and plenty more that aren't even on the list) -- we'll see how the month pans out!

@thearomaofbooks

Maybe my best #bookspinbingo card ever! Two bingos in February, and I even managed to knock off my #bookspin and #doublespin picks. Apparently that's what happens when I focus on my TBR. 😄

Even better, I did so while reading all Black authors for the month!

@thearomaofbooks

This graphic novel was a quick, fun read that took a snapshot of the lives of four black women -- including their hair routines! I usually like a little more dialogue with my graphic novels, but the illustrations did a good job of celebrating the concept of “wash day.“