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youneverarrived

youneverarrived

Joined August 2016

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Theory & Practice by Michelle De Kretser
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Still Life by Sarah Winman
review
youneverarrived
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Pickpick

Still reading books from last years Women‘s Prize NF and they have all been BRILLIANT reads - more so than this years imo. I wasn‘t really drawn to this but I‘m glad I read it - loved the way it was written, the way Funder gives Eileen a voice and shows another side to Orwell (so misogynistic) that his biographers tried to sidestep. A tale as old as time really - a man not acknowledging a woman‘s part/taking credit for all the work.

andrew61 Great review, we are discussing it at my next reading group, so I have just finished it. Her role in the civil war was fascinating, especially as Orwell ignored it in his memoir. The fact she had written a dystopian poem called 1984! A life unknown but worthy of a host of biographies, so glad I read it. 5d
youneverarrived @andrew61 your last sentence - spot on 😍 I bet it will make a great discussion. I found it fascinating, too. I know, the poem! Reminded me of Zelda & Scott Fitzgerald where he took some of her ideas for his own. 5d
43 likes1 stack add2 comments
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youneverarrived
Still Life | Sarah Winman
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Alfie keeps picking this off my shelves and telling me to read it next - so here I am 💙

squirrelbrain He‘s got great taste - I adored this! It takes a little while to get into but then, oh Claude! ❤️ 🦜 2w
youneverarrived @squirrelbrain it has started off a bit slow although I‘m intrigued! Glad to hear it gets better 💙 2w
35 likes1 stack add2 comments
review
youneverarrived
Thrse Raquin | Emile Zola
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Mehso-so

I‘ve rated it a so-so but that‘s probably more a reflection of how long it took me to listen to it (such a short audio too!) as it has actually lingered in my mind. It‘s a classic for a reason and can see how other authors likely took inspiration from its plot/characters. It was slightly repetitive and the characters had no redeeming features at all but I‘m glad to have read it - just wouldn‘t make my favourites list.

BarbaraBB For me this was an okay read however I still remember the scenery in detail! 3w
youneverarrived @BarbaraBB I feel like it‘s one of those books that stay in the memory - it‘s got a certain atmosphere about it. 3w
sarahbarnes I‘ve never read any Zola. I‘ll bet the narration was good! 3w
youneverarrived @sarahbarnes this was my first! Oh it was - Kate Winslet was perfect for the drama of it. 3w
42 likes4 comments
review
youneverarrived
Memorial: A Novel | Bryan Washington
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Pickpick

I thought the characters in this were realistically written, real feelings, real dialogue - I felt so involved in their lives I found it hard to put down. Obviously Mike & Ben weren‘t the best suited but I think some relationships are like this 🤷‍♀️ and it was depicted beautifully- I loved the way we got to see glimpses of their past & the way we sometimes have to infer reasons for the way the characters are, we are trusted as readers. 🤍

Cathythoughts Great review 👍🏻❤️ 1mo
BarbaraBB I loved this one. 1mo
youneverarrived Thanks Cathy ❤️ @Cathythoughts 1mo
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youneverarrived @BarbaraBB one of the best character driven novels I‘ve read in a while 1mo
Reggie Oof I cried for like 20 minutes after finishing this one. 1mo
youneverarrived @Reggie it has that impact! 1mo
51 likes6 comments
review
youneverarrived
Nonfiction: A Novel | Julie Myerson
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Pickpick

I was in the mood for a ‘literary‘ read and this was a perfect choice for that - I loved her writing style and the back and forth timeline worked for the novel. Addresses mother-daughter relationships and addiction. Definitely right book-right time and I‘ll read more by her!

TheLudicReader This is so funny…I just last night started to read her book The Stopped Heart, which I pulled off my tbr shelf where it has been languishing for months (years!?) 1mo
BarbaraBB I liked this one a lot too 1mo
BkClubCare Sounds intense. 1mo
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sarahbarnes Stacking. 1mo
youneverarrived @TheLudicReader that‘s so funny! She‘s not an author I‘ve heard of before but I see she has written quite a few 1mo
youneverarrived @BkClubCare it was - but it‘s exactly what I wanted to read 1mo
youneverarrived @sarahbarnes I hope you like it 1mo
56 likes1 stack add9 comments
review
youneverarrived
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Mehso-so

I read this a little while ago and it‘s one of those that has some good things about it (the women, the friendships, the writing) that keep you reading but overall is pretty meh. It felt too rushed and the backdrop of covid and the father‘s illness felt like it was an afterthought as to how to get old friends back together - it just didn‘t feel like a fully realised novel. #readyourkindle

CBee Sorry if wasn‘t stellar 😅 2mo
youneverarrived @CBee most I‘ve read this year have been great so there had to be one not so good 😆 2mo
CBee @youneverarrived true! Glad you‘ve had good luck with the others! 2mo
46 likes3 comments
review
youneverarrived
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Pickpick

This was a really thorough biography of Paul Gauguin with his beautiful paintings printed throughout. Written almost without sentiment but not dry. I found it really immersive. In some ways he was ahead of his times in terms of the way he viewed certain things. The chapter on Gauguin and Van Gogh was interesting and the ones on his early life too - how it wasn‘t until a bit later in life he became interested in painting. #wpnf25

squirrelbrain Great review! I‘m about halfway through - I will finish it but concentrating on the fiction for now…. 2mo
57 likes1 stack add1 comment
blurb
youneverarrived
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Went to see Matt Haig talk last night and he was very engaging and funny. He talked a lot about his most recent book, his writing process, dogs, recovery and mental health. A really enjoyable night.

TrishB Sounds really good 👍🏻 2mo
squirrelbrain Fab! I looked at a few events but ended up not booking any. 🤦‍♀️ 2mo
Suet624 I really like Matt and his honesty. 2mo
See All 8 Comments
TieDyeDude He's one of @wildalaskabibliophile 's favorites. I've only read a couple of his books, but I've like them. 2mo
WildAlaskaBibliophile I absolutely love him! 💓 2mo
youneverarrived @TrishB we really enjoyed it! 2mo
youneverarrived @squirrelbrain I just did this and the walking literary tour earlier in the day which was fab too. 2mo
youneverarrived @TieDyeDude @WildAlaskaBibliophile I bought some of his fiction books at the event as I‘ve only read his non-fiction books! Looking forward to reading them 🤍 2mo
56 likes8 comments
review
youneverarrived
Ootlin | Jenni Fagan
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Pickpick

This was such a sad book - so much more should have been done for Jenni, questions asked, support given. I listened to it and the narrator did a brilliant job of portraying the sadness but obvious childlike feelings of Jennis early years and then the anger and disillusionment that comes with her teen years. Amazing that she‘s been able to tell her story 🩷 #wpnf25

squirrelbrain Great review! 2mo
andrew61 Great review. I was aware of this book and plan to read. Her novel The Panopticon was a tough read about the care system so must have been based on her life experiences.i also loved Luckenbooth. 2mo
youneverarrived @squirrelbrain thanks Helen. It‘s not a book I‘d normally gravitate towards but that‘s what I like about reading this prize list. 2mo
youneverarrived @andrew61 ah wow I didn‘t realise she had written fiction too - although her love for stories and writing is seen in this book. I‘ll have to take a look at them. 2mo
44 likes4 comments
review
youneverarrived
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Pickpick

I really enjoyed this book - mostly about David Starr Jordan but interwoven with little bits about the authors own questioning of life and chaos and orderliness. I loved how it started one way then we‘re left with a different opinion altogether. The bits about the history of eugenics was something I knew little about and the story of it, and Clara specifically, was heartbreaking. #wpnf25

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youneverarrived
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So pleased this was next to come up from my library holds for #wpnf25 - such a gorgeous book and really interesting so far.

squirrelbrain Oh good, I‘m glad! I bought this one but haven‘t got to it yet. (Now I own it, it has to wait until all library books are done!) 3mo
youneverarrived @squirrelbrain ah yeah I get that! Such a lovely book to own 😍 3mo
38 likes2 comments
review
youneverarrived
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Pickpick

I didn‘t know anything about Neneh but this was such a compelling listen. I loved hearing about her childhood in Sweden and all of her life experiences. The main thing that shone through was her love of/from her family. She comes across as very perceptive and I relate to the way she speaks about her children. I just wanted to keep listening 🩷 #wpnf25

squirrelbrain Loved this one! (Great pic too) 3mo
andrew61 Great review so will try and read this one. 3mo
youneverarrived @squirrelbrain I found it inspiring! 3mo
youneverarrived @andrew61 it‘s good 👍 I hope you like it if you read it, it‘s got mixed reviews on here but I loved it. 3mo
47 likes1 stack add4 comments
review
youneverarrived
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Pickpick

This was cheap on kindle so ended up buying it for #wpnf25. I found the writing really engaging. The way the subject matter was written about through a social commentary lens, aswell as the bits about the newspaper journalist Harry Procter, was done so well. You really get a sense of the time and place. There is no concrete conclusion when it comes to the murders & motives etc but the author has clearly done her research with this book.

squirrelbrain Great review! ❤️ 3mo
LeahBergen I‘m looking forward to this one! 3mo
youneverarrived It‘s a good one @LeahBergen 🖤 3mo
49 likes4 comments
review
youneverarrived
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Pickpick

I can‘t imagine I‘d pick this up if not for the women‘s prize but I really liked it! I learned a lot about ocean life (past & present), how much effects ocean life like climate change and overfishing and how all of those things have an effect on the way ocean life thrives (or doesn‘t). The bit about emperor penguins though 😢 it‘s very accessible and she writes with hope but also a real sense of urgency. It will stick with me. #wpnf25

squirrelbrain I‘ve got this from the library but found it on audio too yesterday so listened to some this morning. It‘s more accessible than I expected. 3mo
youneverarrived @squirrelbrain I hope you enjoy it too. The accessibility of it definitely made it more interesting to read. 3mo
51 likes3 stack adds2 comments
review
youneverarrived
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Pickpick

I wasn‘t feeling great in January & this book popped up for me so thought I‘d give it a go - it did make me feel calmer & put things into perspective. The first half was journal entries which she wrote with humour and relatability. She writes about her struggles with equanimity, compassion for herself etc. The second half was small chapters on things like walking, friendships which was easy listening but I didn‘t take as much from.

squirrelbrain Sorry you had a tough January. Have things improved since? ❤️ 3mo
Cathythoughts ❤️❤️❤️ 3mo
sarahbarnes ♥️♥️♥️ 3mo
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quietlycuriouskate Ah, Katie, I hope things are feeling better than they were. ❤️ 3mo
BarbaraBB I hope February has been a better month 🤍 3mo
youneverarrived @squirrelbrain thanks Helen 💕 I do feel a lot better now. 3mo
youneverarrived @quietlycuriouskate thanks Kate 💕 I don‘t do well with uncertainty - feeling lighter now though. 3mo
youneverarrived Thanks @BarbaraBB its definitely felt better 💕 3mo
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youneverarrived
Fault Lines | Emily Itami
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Book haul from Next Chapter Books 🩷

squirrelbrain Loved Fault Lines! Leaving…. Liked the book but hated the ending. 😬 Interested to hear what you think. And Miffy! ❤️ 3mo
BarbaraBB Miffy! Or Nijntje as we call her here 🐰 3mo
shortsarahrose Fault Lines is really good 3mo
See All 10 Comments
AkashaVampie all i wanna do is put those titles together..
Miffy's Birthday, leaving fault lines in the blood.
sorry i'm in a weird mood today. haha
3mo
LoverOfLearning Awesome! 3mo
Cathythoughts Looking good ! I‘m stacking Fault Lines 😁 3mo
youneverarrived @squirrelbrain I was debating for a while about buying Leaving but I kept getting drawn back to it. I‘ll let you know when I get to it. Glad to hear you liked Fault Lines. 3mo
youneverarrived @BarbaraBB love that 🤍 there‘s a Miffy exhibition in one of the museums in Leeds at the moment - will visit with the kids soon. 3mo
youneverarrived @shortsarahrose that‘s good to hear! 🤍 3mo
youneverarrived @Cathythoughts sounds good doesn‘t it 🩷 3mo
52 likes10 comments
blurb
youneverarrived
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Took myself to Leeds for the day mostly to visit this new little, women led independent bookshop. They do coffee too 😁 will definitely be popping in again when I‘m next in Leeds.

squirrelbrain Oooh I was only reading about that yesterday! I need to make a trip soon - haven‘t been into Leeds for around a year, not even to visit The Leeds Library. 😳 3mo
Chelsea.Poole That looks like the perfect cozy reading corner. 3mo
Cathythoughts Lovely and bright 💛 3mo
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youneverarrived @squirrelbrain ah really, did you use to go to the library regularly? A trip overdue then, an excuse to pop into the bookshop 😁 3mo
youneverarrived @Chelsea.Poole I know, so cosy 🤍 3mo
youneverarrived @Cathythoughts I love the colours 🩷 3mo
squirrelbrain Yes, I joined when I worked in Leeds just round the corner and I used to go nearly every day! ☺️ I‘m still a member now as I feel like I have to support them. I‘ve just been so busy that I haven‘t been to Leeds to do a spot of shopping even. 🤷‍♀️ 3mo
52 likes7 comments
review
youneverarrived
Amy and Isabelle | Elizabeth Strout
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Pickpick

I do like a small town novel and this was no exception. I liked hearing the perspectives of each other and of events through both Amy & Isabelle. It was a very slow start (almost bailed) and it wasn‘t until the halfway point that I really got invested but the second half unfolded perfectly. Loved the backdrop of characters, how we get to hear Isabelle‘s story and see her opening up and the mother/daughter relationship. #readyourkindle

squirrelbrain Great review! That cake looks 😋 yummy! 4mo
CBee Lovely! 4mo
sarahbarnes I‘ve loved every Strout book I‘ve read and haven‘t gotten to this one yet. I‘m listening to Anything is Possible right now. That cake looks like it involves pistachios, which I love - so delicious! 4mo
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youneverarrived @squirrelbrain it was! ☺️ 4mo
youneverarrived @sarahbarnes I think this was her debut. It‘s the first book of hers I‘ve read and I‘ll definitely be reading more. It was a pistachio cake, so nice 💚 4mo
CBee @youneverarrived I loved Olive Kitteridge ♥️ 4mo
youneverarrived @CBee I watched the miniseries a while ago and really liked it. Will get to the book at some point 🤍 4mo
CBee @youneverarrived I should watch that, I love Frances McDormand. 4mo
youneverarrived @CBee she was brilliant. Definitely worth the watch! 4mo
CBee @youneverarrived already looked up where to stream and can‘t wait! 4mo
62 likes11 comments
review
youneverarrived
Liars: A Novel | Sarah Manguso
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Pickpick

I listened to this one and I actually felt relief when I got to the end as it was SO relentless in its portrayal of a woman stuck in a horrible marriage. It was like living in her head/story. So well written and I imagine a lot of women will relate to at least aspects of it. “I was in charge of everything and in control of nothing.”

squirrelbrain Relentless is the right word for it. I read it in print and I imagine it would be far worse on audio. 😬 4mo
sarahbarnes Oof. 😓 4mo
Chelsea.Poole Great review. I also listened, I couldn‘t stop. 4mo
See All 6 Comments
youneverarrived @squirrelbrain yeah it was intense. I felt lighter having finished it 😅 4mo
youneverarrived @sarahbarnes exactly that sort of book 😬 4mo
youneverarrived @Chelsea.Poole thanks. It was very emotive. 4mo
54 likes6 comments
review
youneverarrived
Greta and Valdin | Rebecca Reilly
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Pickpick

What‘s not to like about this book? Amazing characters, family, humour, writing and the character development 🙌 I feel like it did drag slightly halfway but that was probably my fault - it took me nearly the whole of January to read it and I feel like it‘s one of those that needs to be read in chunks. Still, absolutely loved it, especially the ending for Valdin 🩷 #readyourkindle

squirrelbrain Such a good book! 4mo
CBee Yay! So glad you loved it too! 4mo
youneverarrived @squirrelbrain @CBee I‘m glad I finally got to it 🤍 4mo
TheKidUpstairs I'm glad you loved it! It's so nice to read a book that celebrates complex, messy joy. 4mo
youneverarrived @TheKidUpstairs exactly that! 🩷 4mo
60 likes1 stack add5 comments
review
youneverarrived
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Pickpick

Essay collections can be hit or miss but every one of these had something special/different to tell. The one about the narcissistic dad and her mother was very impactful. I loved listening to it all - lots of different perspectives and feelings on that mother-child relationship. I‘ll be listening to some of them again.

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youneverarrived
Blackwells | Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom (Bookstore)
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Little book haul from the tagged bookshop (they had a brilliant selection of books) and Waterstones.

Magpiegem Love the colour combination! 5mo
squirrelbrain I love that they all match! 🧡💛 5mo
Cathythoughts Lovely ! 5mo
See All 7 Comments
rockpools Intriguing selection! 5mo
sarahbarnes 💛🧡 5mo
LeahBergen Nice! 😍 5mo
Suet624 I wish I could visit Blackwells 4mo
58 likes7 comments
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youneverarrived
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Off to Newcastle for food and shopping 🤍

I bought my kindle to read Greta and Valdin on the train but I can‘t stop listening to the tagged book.

Amiable My family thinks I‘m weird, but I love traveling by train! I used to commute to work on the train before the pandemic. And whenever we visit our son in Baltimore, I insist on the train. That‘s one of the things I love about Europe—more trains than the U.S.! 🙂 5mo
TheKidUpstairs @Amiable I agree! Train travel is the best travel 🚄 5mo
Amiable @TheKidUpstairs Yes! When it works, that is. Amtrak is either really, really good or completely horrible. There doesn‘t seem to be a middle ground. 😖😀 My husband and I traveled around Belgium and the Netherlands by train several years ago, and we were amazed that everything kept on schedule! We‘re going to Scotland in April and planning to get around there by train, too. 🤞🏼 5mo
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BarbaraBB I love train travel too! But it‘s so slooooow in the US @Amiable @TheKidUpstairs I traveled by Amtrak from Salt Lake City to Chicago a few years ago and it took forever because the train never picked up speed! Still loved it though, scenery was amazing 🥰 (edited) 5mo
BarbaraBB Enjoy your trip Katie, I haven‘t heard of the tagged book! 5mo
squirrelbrain Have a great time! 5mo
TheKidUpstairs @Amiable @BarbaraBB it's true, North American train travel doesn't quite live up to the accessibility of other places, but it's still a lovely way to travel. One of my dream trips is to take the train from Toronto across country to Vancouver! 5mo
TheKidUpstairs The tagged sounds really good, I'm stacking it. I hope you do get to Greta and Valdin, too, though - it was one of my absolute favourites last year! 5mo
BarbaraBB @TheKidUpstairs That sounds awesome. I‘s want to make another trip by train across the US. But I might wait for another 4 years 5mo
Cathythoughts Sounds like a good day ♥️ 5mo
youneverarrived @Amiable I love travelling by train too. It‘s been a good few years since I‘ve done a train journey on my own. The trains I travelled on in the US were slower but had no problems with them - I imagine it‘s different actually using them regularly though. The best place I‘ve been to for train travel was Switzerland - so scenic and always on time. Scotland is lovely I hope you enjoy your time there in April. 5mo
youneverarrived @BarbaraBB thank you! I don‘t remember how I heard about it but I‘m glad I did. 5mo
youneverarrived @squirrelbrain thank you 😘 5mo
youneverarrived @Cathythoughts it was so nice to just be ‘me‘ for a day 🥰 5mo
youneverarrived @TheKidUpstairs I think you would like it. I read Greta and Valdin on the way back. I‘m halfway through and loving it. 5mo
45 likes16 comments
review
youneverarrived
The Fell | SARAH. MOSS
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Pickpick

This was such a tense and melancholic read. Moss perfectly captures those first months of Covid and lockdown and all of that uncertainty. I‘m not sure I could have got through it had I read it closer to pandemic times. I really felt these characters thoughts and feelings.

47 likes1 stack add
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youneverarrived
Untitled | Untitled
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My list for #readyourkindle 🤍

I‘m listening to a non-fiction book at the minute so have chosen all fiction from my kindle.

CBee 9, 10, 12 are ALL so good. Greta & Valdin was probably my favorite book of 2024 ♥️ 5mo
youneverarrived @CBee I‘ve heard so many good things about it 😁 5mo
CBee @youneverarrived here‘s hoping 12 will get drawn 🤞🏻🤞🏻 5mo
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CBee @youneverarrived this is crazy but, the spinner picked #12 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻 5mo
youneverarrived @CBee haha yay 🙌 happy it was picked! 5mo
CBee @youneverarrived really hope you get to it and can‘t wait to see what you think when you do 😊 5mo
39 likes6 comments
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youneverarrived
Wellness | Nathan Hill
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I‘m going to try and squeeze in one more book before the new year (The Fell by Sarah Moss) - got my red wine ready to get settled in for the night. But as it stands these were my best books of 2024. I absolutely loved Wellness, so well written and just really resonated with me. My Husband I‘ve put as a ‘bonus‘ but I‘d say that‘s one of my most memorable reads that I‘d definitely recommend.

All the best for 2025 🥂

sarahbarnes Happy New Year! Sounds like a lovely evening. I liked The Fell quite a bit. Here‘s to 2025! 🍷 5mo
BarbaraBB Happy New Year 🎈 5mo
youneverarrived @sarahbarnes Happy New Year 🥳 I didn‘t manage to finish it (halfway through) but I‘m really liking it. 5mo
youneverarrived @BarbaraBB Happy New Year 🥂 5mo
44 likes4 comments
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youneverarrived
Nonfiction | Christopher Anderson
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Didn‘t get a bingo but close. I read more non-fiction but found these prompts a bit more difficult than previous years. Love the challenge though 🤍 Lots of books from the women‘s prize non-fiction which was definitely a highlight of my reading year - looking forward to next years. #nonfiction2024

Rissreadswithcats There are some fantastic books on there! 5mo
35 likes1 comment
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youneverarrived
2024 | George H. Easton
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#top24of24 I feel like I‘ve been on a streak of really good books this year - lots of 4.5/5 star reads.

squirrelbrain We have a LOT the same! ☺️ I really want to read Levy‘s memoirs though - maybe this year. 5mo
TrishB Some good ones there 👍🏻 5mo
BkClubCare Good stuff! 5mo
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BarbaraBB Great collection! We‘ve loved so many similar books! 5mo
youneverarrived @squirrelbrain we read a lot of the same books ♥️ they‘re so good, been ‘saving‘ the last. 5mo
youneverarrived Thanks @TrishB hope you‘re having a lovely Christmas 🤍 5mo
youneverarrived @BkClubCare definitely been on a roll with the good books 💕 5mo
youneverarrived @BarbaraBB that doesn‘t surprise me 👯 hope you‘re having a lovely Christmas in France 🤍 5mo
BarbaraBB Thanks I have! I hope you‘re having a lovely time to with your family! 🩷 5mo
charl08 Some I loved there - and others to look out for 🤩 5mo
sarahbarnes So many great books here! And I have several on my TBR - Echoes, Blue Sisters, the Levy memoirs. 🩵 5mo
youneverarrived @sarahbarnes it‘s been a great reading year 💕 5mo
53 likes14 comments
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youneverarrived
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November reading 📚

The two books not pictured - For Such a Time As This (3.5 ⭐️) & One Day I Shall Astonish the World (3 ⭐️)

Amiable I love the StoryGraph charts and stats! 6mo
BarbaraBB I loved The Echoes too! 6mo
youneverarrived @Amiable me too 😁 6mo
youneverarrived @BarbaraBB it was your review that made me want to read it 🤍 6mo
34 likes4 comments
review
youneverarrived
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Pickpick

I feel like this was right book, right time for me - although it‘s a contemporary novel it‘s set during the 1950s & it was nice to read something that felt a bit old school. The protagonist is in love with a boy she met in school but he moves away & she ends up in a marriage she‘s not truly happy in (for a few reasons). It‘s a quick read although a sad one for the most part but I really loved the ‘twists‘ in it & how it portrays relationships.

LeahBergen I like the cover! 7mo
BarbaraBB Love your review. Stacked. 7mo
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youneverarrived Thanks @BarbaraBB 🖤 I‘d be intrigued what you think if you read it (edited) 7mo
Cathythoughts Great review, I just read and loved it. Yes a real old school feel to it. ♥️ 7mo
youneverarrived @Cathythoughts that‘s what I really loved about it. Definitely our sort of read I think 🥰 7mo
52 likes4 stack adds6 comments
review
youneverarrived
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Bailedbailed

Hate to bail on this as I really liked The Essex Serpent and Melmoth but I‘m just over 100 pages and I don‘t feel invested at all and I‘ve sort of been just putting off reading it.

squirrelbrain The right decision, I think. It didn‘t change much - just drifted along, feeling rather long! 🤪 7mo
BarbaraBB I haven‘t even tried and probably won‘t now! 7mo
quietlycuriouskate Oh dear, this is my next up, after I've finished Richard Powers. 😐 7mo
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youneverarrived @squirrelbrain I‘m definitely glad I bailed then - that‘s what annoyed me about it, too drifty. 7mo
youneverarrived @BarbaraBB so many other better books to be reading 😁 7mo
youneverarrived @quietlycuriouskate I hope you have more luck with it than me! Look forward to seeing what you think. 7mo
sarahbarnes I‘ve always been curious about Essex Serpent. Glad to know you liked it. (edited) 7mo
youneverarrived @sarahbarnes it‘s got more to it than this novel, I think. Quite atmospheric which I like but with good characters and story to back it up 👍 7mo
39 likes8 comments
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youneverarrived
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Storm raging, fire on, kids are playing, got my coffee and starting a new book 💛

sarahbarnes Sounds lovely. 🩵🩵 7mo
41 likes2 comments
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youneverarrived
Criminally Good Books - York | York, North Yorkshire, United Kingdom (Bookstore)
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Book buys for Bookshop day - Wellness from Waterstones and A Spring of Love from the tagged bookshop 🩵

squirrelbrain Fabulous! @MicheleinPhilly and I are in York on Monday but (can you believe it?!) Criminally Good is closed. 🤷‍♀️ 8mo
LeahBergen I just bought that Celia Dale, too! 👏 8mo
youneverarrived @squirrelbrain that‘s a shame it‘s closed! Good job there‘s lots more to visit. Have a fab day ♥️ 8mo
youneverarrived @LeahBergen ah great minds. It sounds so good 🖤 8mo
35 likes4 comments
review
youneverarrived
Blue Sisters | Coco Mellors
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Pickpick

The thread of addiction and generational trauma is woven into these sisters lives prominently in the way they act and in the way they live their lives but it‘s also just in the background in the way it‘s written - the focus is very much on the characters lives and their relationship with each other and their grief. I loved the moment near the end with Avery and her Mam. Very character driven which I love.

Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks On my list!! 📚❤️ 8mo
sarahbarnes Great review. This is on my TBR. 🩵 8mo
squirrelbrain Great review! ❤️ 8mo
See All 10 Comments
BarbaraBB Ooh great review. Must read this too! 8mo
youneverarrived @squirrelbrain you saying you were loving it made me read it earlier than I might have, so glad I did! 🩵 8mo
sarahbarnes I‘m in the queue for it at the library 😁 8mo
Suet624 Stacked already but happy to see you liked it. 7mo
youneverarrived I think you‘d like it too @Suet624 7mo
Suet624 I‘m now on the waitlist at the library furthest away from me. 😊 7mo
58 likes1 stack add10 comments
review
youneverarrived
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Pickpick

I had to go audio with this one when I saw Elle Fanning was narrating it - she was perfect for it. Margo is such a great character, she felt very real and I loved the development. Just such a genuinely enjoyable listen - one of the best audiobooks for me.

sarahbarnes Good to know you liked the audio - I‘m always looking for books that work well that way for my commute. 8mo
squirrelbrain Great! I‘m taking this (print version) to Gladstone‘s with me and I‘m really looking forward to it. 8mo
youneverarrived @sarahbarnes this would be great for a commute. It‘s narrated perfectly 🩷 8mo
youneverarrived @squirrelbrain it‘s a great story. I imagine it will be an immersive read in print. Hope you like it too! 8mo
51 likes4 comments
blurb
youneverarrived
Back to the Local | Maurice Gorham
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Pumpkin spice latte and book shopping to try and cheer myself up over the fact my eldest has started school today 😭

I was drawn to the cover and the illustrations in this book about London pubs.

andrew61 I hope it went well, not an easy day. You will both be exhausted tonight. 9mo
youneverarrived @andrew61 thank you, he went jn a bit unsure but had a good day! Definitely, it‘s been emotional for me 😢 9mo
squirrelbrain He‘s started school already?! How did that happen?! Hope you‘re both doing OK. 9mo
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youneverarrived @squirrelbrain I know 🥺 thank you! He seems to be enjoying it, it‘s just me that‘s emotional 🥲 9mo
Cathythoughts Time flies ! I hope he will love school 🩵 little pet. 9mo
youneverarrived @Cathythoughts thanks Cathy 🩷 he‘s done amazing he seems to be really enjoying it! 🩷 9mo
Suet624 Kids leaving for school 😩😩😩 9mo
46 likes7 comments
review
youneverarrived
Little Eyes: A Novel | Samanta Schweblin
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Pickpick

I always say dystopia isn‘t my genre but whenever I do happen to read a dystopian novel I generally always enjoy them! This was no exception. A camera is put into a ‘kentuki‘ (a moveable soft toy sort of thing) & you can be a watcher or a dweller (where people watch you) - so within it there was themes of technology, surveillance etc. I liked the writing, the idea & the characters although it did feel like it could have been more fleshed out.

review
youneverarrived
My Husband: A Novel | Maud Ventura
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Pickpick

You just have to go along for the ride with this one. It‘s first person narrative so you really get that obsessive, full on vibe from her. It reads sort of like a thriller but the drama is all confined to the narrator. Absolutely my sort of read. I did get an inkling about the ending @BarbaraBB @sarahbarnes so I wasn‘t completely surprised but I still thought it was brilliant.

sarahbarnes Glad you liked it! 🩵 9mo
BarbaraBB Me too! The ending for me didn‘t add much to the experience, I enjoyed the story nevertheless 🖤 9mo
47 likes2 stack adds2 comments
blurb
youneverarrived
Little Apple Bookshop | York, United Kingdom (Bookstore)
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Popped into this lovely little independent bookshop after a lush day with the kids 🩵 I really liked her first book & this cover is just gorgeous

Deblovestoread I just finished it yesterday and loved it. Definitely interested in reading more by her. 9mo
BiblioLitten What a gorgeous cover! 9mo
squirrelbrain Such a great shop! ❤️ 9mo
See All 12 Comments
sarahbarnes I‘m very curious about this one. 9mo
youneverarrived @Deblovestoread glad to hear you loved it 😁 9mo
youneverarrived @BiblioLitten isn‘t it just 😍 9mo
youneverarrived @squirrelbrain I should go there more often it‘s fab 🩷 9mo
youneverarrived @sarahbarnes I‘m hoping it‘s as good as her first 🩵 9mo
squirrelbrain I just got the audio on Libby - I borrowed it a while ago but couldn‘t squeeze it in, so hopefully I‘ll have time this time! 9mo
youneverarrived @squirrelbrain let me know what you think if you do get to it! 9mo
squirrelbrain I‘ve listened to about a third of this so far, Katie, and I am LOVING it! 9mo
youneverarrived @squirrelbrain ahh that makes me excited to start reading it! 9mo
45 likes1 stack add12 comments
review
youneverarrived
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Pickpick

This was such a hard read - you see what‘s happening to the daughter & you just want to stop it & protect her, and you see the mothers side & she‘s just so oblivious to it (until she realises & then she helps the best way she knows how - with some regrets in hindsight). The boys should have been held accountable, things could have been handled differently & this book shines a light to that. Why is it the women/girls always have to take the blame?

sarahbarnes This sounds like a tough read. 10mo
youneverarrived @sarahbarnes I was so angry on behalf of the daughter - a really tough read 10mo
Riveted_Reader_Melissa Sounds like a powerful read! Stacking! 10mo
53 likes1 stack add4 comments
review
youneverarrived
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Panpan

Maybe I just didn‘t catch on but I‘m not a fan of books you have to google afterwards to find out what happened- even more so when it‘s a disappointing (to me) reveal. It‘s supposed to be suspenseful but it never felt that way to me. I did like the dialogue between Jake and his girlfriend and the questions it brings up about relationships etc. but overall meh.

squirrelbrain Ooh no, I hate it when I don‘t ‘get‘ a book. 🤷‍♀️ 10mo
BarbaraBB Oh no! I loved this one but I do like that kind of books. On to the next! 10mo
Ruthiella I wasn‘t a fan either. I hate this particular twist in novels. It was creepy, however. 10mo
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sarahbarnes I‘ve heard a lot about this book, but I‘m not sure I fully understand the premise. It sounds like maybe it‘s not just me. 10mo
youneverarrived @squirrelbrain me too - it‘s one of those that only make sense when you know the ‘twist‘ 😬 10mo
youneverarrived @BarbaraBB I can see why you would like it then! Exactly 🩷 10mo
youneverarrived @Ruthiella honestly it‘s the worst sort of twist. Parts of it were creepy but I was mostly just annoyed by it 😬 10mo
youneverarrived @sarahbarnes it felt like trickery for me but I know a lot of people like it 🤷‍♀️ maybe they just get it more than me 😆 10mo
BiblioLitten This was a creepy, unsettling book. 10mo
46 likes9 comments
blurb
youneverarrived
My Husband: A Novel | Maud Ventura
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Took myself to a lovely little cafe for dinner ♥️ just started this book and I‘m loving it.

Cathythoughts I loved it too 👍🏻❤️ 10mo
BarbaraBB A great read! Interested in what you‘ll think about the ending. (edited) 10mo
sarahbarnes I really liked this one, too. Echoing @BarbaraBB on what you‘ll think about the ending. 10mo
47 likes2 stack adds3 comments
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youneverarrived
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One night in a hotel and I‘ll be out tonight but still insist on bringing 2 books and my kindle 😁

Cathythoughts Enjoy your night ♥️ 10mo
rubyslippersreads Better safe than sorry. 😂 10mo
Ruthiella Good idea. Have fun! 🤩 10mo
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squirrelbrain Have a lovely evening! 10mo
BarbaraBB I would too! Have a wonderful evening 🤍 10mo
youneverarrived @rubyslippersreads exactly my thoughts 😂 10mo
sarahbarnes I would do the same! 📚 10mo
46 likes8 comments
blurb
youneverarrived
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July wrap up 🤍

3 of the books I read over months hence the 31 days on average to finish.

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youneverarrived
Brotherless Night: A Novel | V. V. Ganeshananthan
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Some books you know instantly you‘re going to like.

Megabooks I just got this and am so looking forward to it! 10mo
BarbaraBB Yes! I think too that you‘ll love it! 10mo
sarahbarnes That‘s a great first page. 10mo
See All 11 Comments
andrew61 It's a brilliant book and what a 1st line. 10mo
youneverarrived @Megabooks I‘ve only heard great things about it 🤍 10mo
youneverarrived @BarbaraBB I‘m so invested already 10mo
youneverarrived @sarahbarnes isn‘t it 🤍 I read it a few times 10mo
youneverarrived @andrew61 I had to pause and read it a few times. Glad to hear you liked it! 10mo
Suet624 This book is brutal and brilliant. I wish more people would read it. It deservedly won the Women‘s Prize. 10mo
youneverarrived @Suet624 I finished it yesterday - agree with everything you say. 10mo
Suet624 Oh boy. Like I said in my review, this is a ‘no one will save you‘ story. 10mo
37 likes11 comments
review
youneverarrived
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Pickpick

I thought this was a brilliant read on AI although I spent most of it thinking ‘how can this be allowed to happen‘ (especially in regard to deep fakes 😤). It was giving me anxiety thinking of the world we‘re living in with AI becoming more prominent as a lot of seemed quite bad - however the audio came with a 30min interview with the author which sort of offered a more balanced approach to it- she talked of how it could be used in positive ways.

squirrelbrain I thought this was really fascinating. 10mo
BarbaraBB I don‘t dare picking up this one 10mo
youneverarrived @squirrelbrain it was informative - you could tell it was thoroughly researched but she made it accessible I think 10mo
youneverarrived @BarbaraBB I get that - although it was an informative read parts of it were just scary 😟 10mo
Suet624 I‘m with @BarbaraBB 10mo
49 likes5 comments
review
youneverarrived
Three | Valrie Perrin
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Pickpick

I loved living in the lives of Adrien, Etienne and Nina. It spans over decades from the time they meet at school to their present day. One of my favourites of the year so far.

Suet624 Perrin is a must read for me. 11mo
vlwelser Favorite author list for sure. I also loved this one. 11mo
Centique Aww i love the photo! So sweet going for coffee together. ❤️ I have this book and hope to get to it soon - your review makes me excited to get to it. 11mo
See All 15 Comments
BarbaraBB Gorgeous photo ☕️! And I loved the book too - all of her books are unforgettable 11mo
squirrelbrain Such a cute picture! I just read this recently and loved it… 🥰 11mo
youneverarrived @Suet624 this is the first I‘ve read of hers but definitely going to read more. 11mo
youneverarrived @vlwelser I‘ve only ever heard good things about her. I think I‘ll read this one next 11mo
youneverarrived @Centique aw we do love our coffee mornings 🥰 it‘s a chunkster but doesn‘t read like one - it‘s hard to put down. Let me know what you think when you get to it 🤍 11mo
youneverarrived @BarbaraBB 🥰 this is the only one I‘ve read but next up will be 11mo
youneverarrived @squirrelbrain it‘s brilliant isn‘t it 🤍 will definitely be reading her other books! 11mo
vlwelser I have her first book in my tbr stack but Fresh Water for Flowers was also amazing. 11mo
Suet624 Gotta read Fresh Water. My favorite of them all. 🙂 11mo
BarbaraBB That one and this one are even better than Three 10mo
sarahbarnes This one is on my shelf and I want to get to it soon! 10mo
youneverarrived @sarahbarnes I hope you like it as much as me 🩷 10mo
54 likes15 comments
blurb
youneverarrived
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Between this & James this is the first time I‘ve ever used up the audiobook hours on Spotify - and I‘ve still got 10 days before it‘s renewed (I‘m loving this book so much I‘m tempted to pay the 9.99 for extra hours but it seems a lot 🤔)

Cathythoughts I‘m the wrong one to ask 🙈.. I‘ll say if you love it that much just go for it .. enjoy !! (edited) 11mo
BarbaraBB You make me very curious about this book! 11mo
youneverarrived @Cathythoughts 😆 my other half said the same - to just go for it if I‘m really enjoying it 🤍 11mo
youneverarrived @BarbaraBB I‘m only 3hrs into it but I just want to keep listening! Based on what I‘ve listened to so far I think you will like it too 11mo
BarbaraBB Thanks I see I have it stacked already! 11mo
41 likes1 stack add5 comments
blurb
youneverarrived
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I‘ve had this checked out from the library for far too long - finally getting to it. Think it‘s going to be a tough read.

quietlycuriouskate Oh gosh, that does sound tough!😧 11mo
36 likes1 comment
blurb
youneverarrived
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I do love a list! 😁

charl08 Me too! 11mo
Cathythoughts Me too , I have lots of lists 👍🏻😁 11mo
48 likes2 comments