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youneverarrived
Small Pleasures | The School Of Life
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Thank you so much for this Helen 😘 how perfect is this card! 😍 I stacked the book after the post by @BarbaraBB so thankful that you bought it for me 🤍 I‘ll have to check out the bookshop next time I‘m in Leeds it sounds fab.

JamieArc That card 😍😍 6h
JamieArc And happy birthday! May there be many great books for you in the coming year 🎉🎉 6h
squirrelbrain You‘re welcome Katie! I hope you‘re having a lovely day! 😘 (And, yes, I couldn‘t believe it when I saw the card - perfect!) 5h
See All 9 Comments
batsy Happy birthday! Lovely present ❤️ 4h
andrew61 Happy birthday, enjoy your day. 3h
TheNeverendingTBR I hope you've been having a lovely day, Katie. All the best! 😊✨️ 3h
BarbaraBB Happy birthday Katie! I hope you‘ll like the book 🩷 2h
TrishB Happy birthday 🎉🎉 2h
Cathythoughts Happy Birthday Katie ❤️ 🎉 2h
32 likes9 comments
review
youneverarrived
A Town Called Solace | Mary Lawson
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Pickpick

I love a quiet, small town, character driven novel to get lost in and this was really nicely written. I liked the way the past/back story unfolded, the ending, the different points of view and the relationship between Clara and Liam. Will definitely read more Lawson at some point 💕

jlhammar Loved this book. Hoping to get to this one soon 2d
Tamra I‘m in love with her writing. 😍 2d
Amiable @Tamra Another Lawson fan is born! Love to see these posts. 🙂 2d
See All 13 Comments
Tamra @Amiable yay!!! 👏🏾 Perhaps the collective psychic energy will spur Lawson to write faster. 😉 2d
Amiable @Tamra Ha ha, right? It hasn‘t worked on George R.R. Martin, so hopefully the universe is focused on Mary Lawson instead! I‘d rather read her books, anyway. 😀 2d
TrishB She is such a wonderful writer ♥️ 2d
squirrelbrain I loved this one too! 2d
Cathythoughts Loved this too ❤️ 2d
youneverarrived @Tamra @Amiable haha glad to be part of that collective. Looking forward to reading more by her ♥️ 2d
youneverarrived @TrishB @squirrelbrain @Cathythoughts I‘m in good company in loving it then 🤍 (edited) 2d
youneverarrived @jlhammar ohh her debut. It sounds intriguing! 2d
TrishB Sadly I‘ve now read them all! Crow Lake is currently on 99p offer on kindle though 😁 2d
youneverarrived @TrishB bought! Thanks 😁 2d
53 likes1 stack add13 comments
blurb
youneverarrived
Guilty Pleasure | Kevin Dickson, Jack Ketsoyan
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It‘s not that often I read a crime thriller but if I‘m just wanting a page turner it‘s generally my go to, always feels like a #guiltypleasure.

I was 7 when the Spice Girls came out and I was obsessed with them (I had a fancy dress Spice Girls party - included pictures of the cake and me as Baby Spice 😆) pure nostalgia and an absolute guilty pleasure 🤩 #titlesandtunes

Cinfhen My daughter had a Spice Girl party theme too when she was 7! She still LOVES them and she‘s 30 now😂 1w
Cinfhen I also have several spy/ crime series/thrillers that are my go to #GuiltyPleasure - I‘m planning on reading 1w
Reggie You totally look like a baby Baby Spice. Very awesome! 1w
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BarbaraBB @Reggie is right, you do look like Baby Spice!! No guilty pleasure playlist without the Spice Girls, glad you added them! And thrillers are my guilty pleasure as well 1w
youneverarrived @Cinfhen no way she had a Spice Girls party too! 😃 I‘m 34 this year and still regularly listen to them 😆 hope you like your book choice! 1w
youneverarrived @Reggie aw thanks. Geri was my fave but my Mam convinced me to be Baby spice 😂 1w
youneverarrived @BarbaraBB I‘m looking forward to the playlist! @squirrelbrain recommended this series (edited) 1w
squirrelbrain Ha! I was going to use the most recent book in this series for my choice, but I just read it in May instead! 🤷‍♀️ 1w
youneverarrived @squirrelbrain 😂 great minds! My library hold came in for this last week so I thought perfect timing for the prompt 1w
44 likes9 comments
review
youneverarrived
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Pickpick

Adding to the chorus in loving this. Very readable with a brilliant protagonist- how could you not admire Elizabeth Zott! I‘m reading a couple of books at the moment that make me think although we‘ve come a long way from this era, not far enough.

squirrelbrain Great review! 🧪 2w
Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks Didn‘t you love Six-thirty?! 💙 2w
63 likes4 comments
review
youneverarrived
The Memory Police | Yōko Ogawa
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Pickpick

I love that this book brought up questions but didn‘t provide answers; it‘s been a while since I‘ve read a book that allows a lot of room for interpretation and it had me thinking even long after I‘d finished it. I liked the writing, the characters, the atmosphere - glad to have finally read it! #titlesandtunes #islandvibe

Cinfhen Agreed, this was a memorable book 🫶🏼 2w
BarbaraBB Happy you found a reason to read it in #IslandVibe! It‘s such a good read! 2w
TrishB I read this one too for island- I thought it was great. 2w
56 likes3 stack adds3 comments
review
youneverarrived
Project Hail Mary | Andy Weir
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Mehso-so

Not my typical genre so probably a me problem over the book but I drifted too much while listening to this. There were times I almost bailed but some chapters ended in a way I had to keep on which I‘m glad I did as it was a good listen overall - it just took me a while to get past the first person narrative; I felt like I was being taught which sometimes took me out of the story. I loved Rocky and the ending was really good.

BarbaraBB Great photo. What town is it? 3w
youneverarrived @BarbaraBB it‘s York where I live 💕 3w
BarbaraBB That‘s so beautiful! 3w
See All 7 Comments
squirrelbrain Never seen York so quiet! ❤️ 3w
batsy It's a lovely street! And now I want some fish and chips 😁 2w
youneverarrived @squirrelbrain this is what it was like during lockdown 2w
youneverarrived @batsy whenever I walk past this street the smell always makes me crave them 😆 2w
58 likes7 comments
review
youneverarrived
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Pickpick

Rosie becomes pregnant with her second child not long after having her first and starts to suffer with depression; she discovers the gallery at Kew Gardens by Marianne North (a Victorian botanical artist) and from there finds a new love of plants. Through horticultural therapy, visiting parks & gardens in London & growing plants she finds a way through. I‘m simplifying it here but it was a really lovely, inspiring read. #tbrtarot #magnificentmay

youneverarrived #nonfiction2023 (Zombie) (edited) 4w
Andrew65 Excellent 👏👏👏 4w
56 likes2 stack adds3 comments
review
youneverarrived
The It Girl | Ruth Ware
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Pickpick

Memorable? Probably not. A decent thriller that keeps you turning the pages? Definitely. I really liked the setting of Oxford, the cast of characters and the way it went back and forth between before/after. I feel like the author did try a bit too hard to make one of the characters a red herring (which I 100% fell for so…😂) but without giving too much away it seemed like they had a personality change near the end of the book.

57 likes2 stack adds
review
youneverarrived
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Pickpick

My partner is glad I‘m finished this so I‘m not constantly telling him things about dinosaurs 😂 five star read for me - so readable, engaging and fascinating! It‘s a linear narrative from when the dinosaurs first arrived to their extinction. I learned a lot. #nonfiction2023 (bad reputation) #magnificentmay

TrishB My daughter (now 21) still constantly tells us about dinosaurs. The family calendar in the kitchen is dinosaurs! I think she has this book- scared to ask in case she starts telling me about it 😁😁 1mo
youneverarrived @TrishB 😂😂 love that. Waiting on the day one of mine likes dinosaurs 😆 1mo
Andrew65 Sounds brilliant. Well done 👏👏👏 1mo
youneverarrived @Andrew65 thanks! 😀 1mo
57 likes3 stack adds4 comments
review
youneverarrived
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Pickpick

I read this a few weeks ago but the characters are still vivid in my mind. It‘s a very character driven book which I like. Cleo and Frank stay in a relationship that isn‘t healthy for either of them; it reminded me of the song Foundations by Kate Nash but more grown up and darker 😆 It felt like every word was written with precision and intent, and there‘s humour in it too. Really enjoyed it.

Itchyfeetreader Awesome review - am intrigued and stacking 1mo
squirrelbrain I liked this one too! 1mo
CarolynM I have this on my shelf. Your review encourages me to bump it up the priority list🙂 1mo
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Cathythoughts Nice review 👍🏻 Good to hear , it‘s on my kindle. 1mo
youneverarrived @Itchyfeetreader hope you like it too if you read it! 1mo
youneverarrived @squirrelbrain I didn‘t go in with high expectations after reading some reviews but I thought it was fab 1mo
youneverarrived @CarolynM ohh I hope you like it when you do get to it ❤️ 1mo
youneverarrived @Cathythoughts it‘s a good one if you‘re in the mood for a character driven novel! 1mo
56 likes5 stack adds8 comments
blurb
youneverarrived
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Goals for #magnificentmay

🌱 Finish The Ballast Seed
🦕 Finish The Rise and Fall of the Dinosaurs
🛸 Listen to 4 chapters of Project Hail Mary
👮‍♀️ Read The Memory Police

TrishB Good luck 👍🏻 1mo
Cathythoughts I hope you get time to read 🤞🏻♥️ your hands are full 💕💙 1mo
youneverarrived @TrishB thanks 💕 1mo
youneverarrived @Cathythoughts thanks! ❤️ I mostly spend my evenings reading when they‘ve gone to bed 😁 1mo
BiblioLitten Such a serene picture 🩵💚 3w
46 likes5 comments
review
youneverarrived
The Beautiful Ones | Silvia Moreno-Garcia
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Mehso-so

The reader is privy to things the characters aren‘t so most of this book I spent willing the characters to do or see things differently. I liked Antonia but Pere annoyed me for the most part and Valerie was awful! The setting and the magical realism part of it I liked but overall not for me.

Cathythoughts I tried Mexican Gothic, and like that the setting was lovely, but the story and writing weren‘t for me. I hope you love your next one 👍🏻❤️ 1mo
youneverarrived @Cathythoughts thank you! 💕 I have Mexican Gothic on audible but won‘t be in a rush to read it. 1mo
Megabooks I just don‘t think she‘s an author I enjoy. Great review! 1mo
youneverarrived @Megabooks I get the feeling she‘s not for me either. Her covers are always lovely though! 1mo
45 likes4 comments
review
youneverarrived
Heaven | Mieko Kawakami
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Pickpick

This was really hard to read at times, not just the brutal scenes but the overall tone of it - I want to say ‘sad‘ tone but that doesn‘t do it justice. A pick because I liked the writing and the philosophical aspect of it but I found it unsettling to read. #tbrtarot

BarbaraBB I totally agree, such an uncomfortable read, but so well written! 1mo
CBee 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻 1mo
batsy Nice review! A pick for me as well but yes, both philosophical and deeply unsettling. 1mo
youneverarrived @BarbaraBB @batsy I‘m glad it was just a short read! 1mo
50 likes1 stack add4 comments
blurb
youneverarrived
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My picks for #titlesandtunes. Book and song are opposite vibes ha but I‘ve loved this song since I was a teen (it was on the Smallville soundtrack which I listened to on repeat) and the book is on my shelves so looking forward to reading it! #islandvibe

Cinfhen Fantastic ♥️🎧🎶📚 1mo
Cinfhen I enjoyed both the book and I love this song too 😁 1mo
squirrelbrain Great choices! 1mo
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BarbaraBB The book is good and I don‘t know the song but will listen to it on our playlist! 1mo
youneverarrived @Cinfhen it‘s a good one 🎵 1mo
youneverarrived @BarbaraBB glad to hear it‘s good! Excited to see other people‘s choices too. 1mo
44 likes7 comments
review
youneverarrived
In the Clearing | Robert Dugoni
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Pickpick

I‘m not much of series reader but I do like this one for when I want to read something that I can just get lost in, where I don‘t have to think too much. Always a good plot, writing and characters. Definitely read more of it when I‘m in the mood for this sort of read.

squirrelbrain I enjoyed this series too. Have you read any of the Kim Stone series by Angela Marsons? They‘re even better, and I don‘t do series either! 1mo
youneverarrived @squirrelbrain I haven‘t, but one of the prompts for a challenge I‘m doing is to read a first book in a series so I‘ll try that one! 1mo
squirrelbrain They‘re often 99p on Kindle and totally worth it. I‘ve just got book 18 on #netgalley! 1mo
47 likes3 comments
blurb
youneverarrived
Sam Read Bookseller | Grasmere, Cumbria, United Kingdom (Bookstore)
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Did a little detour to Grasmere on our way home and popped into the bookshop. I liked the cover and title of this one and it sounds intriguing.

squirrelbrain Ooh the book sounds good - and I love that gingerbread! 1mo
youneverarrived @squirrelbrain amazing isn‘t it! Main reason we did a detour there 😆 1mo
42 likes2 comments
blurb
youneverarrived
Fred's Ambleside Bookshop | Ambleside, Cumbria, United Kingdom (Bookstore)
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No holiday is complete without a visit to a bookshop. I picked this one after all the great reviews on here.

sarahbarnes That little hand! 🥰 1mo
erzascarletbookgasm I recently got myself a copy too! And oooh that little hand 🩷 1mo
gossamerchild Best photo bomb ever ❤️❤️❤️ 1mo
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vlwelser 😍 that little hand! But also that book is awesome. I'm glad it's getting so much love. 1mo
squirrelbrain Cute little fingers! I‘m hoping to get to this book on holiday in a couple of weeks. 1mo
Leftcoastzen Awww ! Great photo 1mo
LeahBergen Aww! 🥰🥰 1mo
Cathythoughts The book looks good. As for those baby fingers 🥰🥰🥰 love. 1mo
Aimeesue Fabulous shot! 1mo
youneverarrived @vlwelser I‘m going to have to read it soon 😁 1mo
youneverarrived @squirrelbrain ohh where are you off to? 1mo
youneverarrived @Cathythoughts it gets a lot of love on here 💕 1mo
squirrelbrain Not far - just up near Staithes for a week in the campervan. Hope you‘re having a good time. 1mo
youneverarrived @squirrelbrain sounds lovely 🥰 thank you it‘s been a lush week. 1mo
47 likes16 comments
review
youneverarrived
Unsheltered: A Novel | Barbara Kingsolver
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Pickpick

Probably my least favourite Kingsolver I‘ve read but I still enjoyed it & the more I think on it the more I want to recommend it. I liked the characters, past and present, and the parallels between them. When there‘s duel timelines sometimes I‘m more invested in one than the other but in this I liked them both equally - there‘s a good balance and I appreciated the themes and debates that ran through them.

LeahBergen Ooo, what‘s that building in the background? 1mo
youneverarrived It‘s Wray Castle @LeahBergen 1mo
LeahBergen It‘s beautiful! I‘m off to Google… 😆 1mo
See All 9 Comments
squirrelbrain I thought it was Wray - love it round there! 1mo
youneverarrived @squirrelbrain we spent the morning there 🥰 1mo
BarbaraBB What a beautiful castle! 1mo
Blueberry LOL, probably the only Kingsolver I have liked. 1mo
youneverarrived @BarbaraBB isn‘t it 😍 1mo
57 likes9 comments
blurb
youneverarrived
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On our way to the Lake District 💚 hoping the kids have a decent nap so I can read this most of the way 😆

squirrelbrain Have a great trip! 1mo
48 likes2 comments
review
youneverarrived
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Mehso-so

I understand why the title is what it is but I feel a bit misled - would have liked a bit more on the trauma cleaning. However, Sandra is quite a complex person who has been through a lot of trauma herself and it made for a difficult but interesting listen. I admired her resilience. The author really idolises Sandra so it‘s quite a biased picture of her life I think! #nonfiction2023 - Toxic

BarbaraBB I know what you mean, the trauma cleaning was the most interesting part of the book! 2mo
Megabooks It definitely is more of a memoir. 2mo
youneverarrived @BarbaraBB yeah I would have loved more of that! 1mo
youneverarrived @Megabooks probably my bad for not reading too much about it before reading! 1mo
57 likes1 stack add4 comments
review
youneverarrived
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Pickpick

The most accessible book on raising kids I‘ve read. Child development and psychology is all in here but very easy to understand and to take from. I like how she sometimes used adult relationships to put some of her points across about how to talk to children when they‘re upset etc. If I was asked to recommend a book on parenting it would definitely be this one. #nonfiction2023 - Good as Hell

Leftcoastzen Awwww!cuteness! 2mo
sarahbarnes 😍😍😍 2mo
marleed Sweet baby! 2mo
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batsy Aww! I spy a cutie pie 🥰 2mo
andrew61 Great picture, she is lovely. 2mo
UwannaPublishme How sweet! ❤️ 2mo
dabbe What a cutey-pie! 🤩🤩🤩 2mo
BarbaraBB She‘s growing fast! So cute 🥰 2mo
youneverarrived @dabbe ❤️❤️ 2mo
youneverarrived @BarbaraBB too fast! 🥹 2mo
BarbaraBB Absolutely! Cherish the moment 🤍 2mo
52 likes2 stack adds12 comments
blurb
youneverarrived
Camping Trip | Catherine Hapka
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So many amazing sounding books, so hard to choose! I‘ve added loads to the tbr. I couldn‘t join in with most of #camplitsy last year as I had Naomi in the June (can‘t believe she‘s going to be 1 soon 😭) but hoping to read all or most of the selections this time ❤️

sarahbarnes Ooh, a new Deborah Levy! 😍 2mo
BarbaraBB We share two! I am very interested in Now You See Us, it is quite popular in today's nominations. Happy you're joining Camp! 2mo
squirrelbrain Great choices! And I can‘t believe Naomi is nearly one! Hope you are all doing Ok. 2mo
See All 12 Comments
Megabooks I almost chose Burst myself! So glad you‘ll be joining this year. I can‘t believe you little ones aren‘t so little anymore! 💜💜 2mo
Cinfhen Wow! Time flies! Exciting suggestions🎊 2mo
youneverarrived @sarahbarnes can‘t wait to read it 😍 2mo
youneverarrived @BarbaraBB of course 👯‍♀️ looking forward to it! 2mo
youneverarrived @squirrelbrain it was hard to get it down to six! I know I‘m not ready for it 🥺 2mo
youneverarrived @Megabooks it sounds fab! I know it‘s so bittersweet 🥺❤️ 2mo
youneverarrived @Cinfhen goes too fast! So many good ones to choose from. 2mo
batsy I am interested in The Nursery too! 2mo
youneverarrived @batsy it sounds so good! 2mo
45 likes12 comments
blurb
youneverarrived
The It Girl | Ruth Ware
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I wasn‘t expecting to enjoy this as much as I am after reading mixed reviews on here but I‘m finding it hard to put down. #authoramonth

Cathythoughts You just can‘t tell with thrillers these days. That‘s great you‘re enjoying 😁 2mo
batsy The best feeling 🙂 2mo
squirrelbrain I listened to it and it surprised me (in a good way) after all the so-so reviews. 2mo
See All 6 Comments
youneverarrived @Cathythoughts yeah it‘s nice to be surprised by a thriller! 2mo
youneverarrived @batsy definitely 😁 2mo
youneverarrived @squirrelbrain I‘m really liking the suspense of it, I know a lot of people say it‘s repetitive but it‘s adding to the suspense for me. 2mo
50 likes6 comments
review
youneverarrived
What Have I Done? | Laura Dockrill
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Pickpick

A really raw book about how the author experienced postpartum psychosis; the first signs, how she kept it hidden, how it was first thought to be postpartum depression, how the symptoms worsened, her two week stay in a psych ward & how she came out the other end with support from family & health professionals. She doesn‘t shy away from detailing what it was like to be in her head & it sounds so awful to go through. #nonfiction2023 - I Will Survive

MrsMalaprop I read a really good fictional account of post partum psychosis last year 2mo
youneverarrived @MrsMalaprop that sounds good! 2mo
51 likes1 stack add2 comments
review
youneverarrived
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Pickpick

I want to re-read it already ❤️

So visceral, dark, poetic and I loved the repetition throughout the stories - definitely the most whole set of short stories I‘ve read and a new favourite book of mine. Glad #tbrtarot prompted me to read it as it‘s been on my shelves for ages!

CBee Awesome! 😊😊 2mo
Leniverse This is one of my favourites too 💜 2mo
sarahbarnes I read this for a class in college and have wanted to revisit it ever since. This might be the nudge I needed. 2mo
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Billypar Amazing collection: The Tiger's Bride might be my favorite, but they're all so strong. 2mo
Megabooks Stacked!! 2mo
Cathythoughts Great review!! Stacked. 2mo
batsy Lovely review! Yes, this makes me want to revisit it ❤️ 2mo
erzascarletbookgasm I must read this then! 2mo
youneverarrived @Leniverse I can see myself re-reading it ❤️ 2mo
youneverarrived @Billypar you‘re right they‘re all so strong. I really loved the repetition throughout the stories. I think my favourite was the title story. 2mo
youneverarrived @batsy ❤️❤️ 2mo
54 likes5 stack adds14 comments
review
youneverarrived
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Pickpick

I loved this from the first sentence. A dysfunctional family, each with their own distinct personalities, misunderstanding each other. It was funny, dark at times, relatable in some ways and the characters were really well written. Brilliant! 💛

squirrelbrain Great review! I loved this one too. 2mo
Megabooks I stacked this at one point, and it still sounds good! 2mo
BarbaraBB What @Megabooks says! 2mo
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Karons1 Ooohhh goody I picked this up in the Waterstones half price hardbacks sale back in January and it‘s been next to my bed ever since 😆 2mo
TrishB Loved this one too. 2mo
Cathythoughts I loved it from the first sentence too ♥️👏🏻 2mo
youneverarrived @Megabooks @BarbaraBB I think you both would like it! 2mo
youneverarrived @Karons1 of course 😂 hope you like it when you do get to it! 2mo
57 likes8 comments
review
youneverarrived
The Red Pony | John Steinbeck
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Pickpick

Sparse but effective writing; a small sentence or paragraph conveys a mood or emotion. You really get a feel of what it‘s like to be the adolescent Jody living on a ranch, & it brings back childhood memories of things like boredom, pure happiness & disappointment. It‘s not something I would gravitate towards reading as the subject matter wouldn‘t appeal to me but it was a pleasant surprise. Might try more of his books in the future! #authoramonth

53 likes2 stack adds
blurb
youneverarrived
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Friday night 🍷 feel like this book would pair better with red wine but this 19 crimes white is lovely! The book is good too - one to read slowly as the writing is quite poetic.

LeahBergen And I see a nice leather bookmark peeking out. 😉 3mo
Aimeesue Angela Carter❤️❤️❤️ 3mo
Megabooks Enjoy your weekend!! 💜 3mo
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batsy I love this collection! Hope you enjoy 🖤 3mo
youneverarrived @LeahBergen I asked Alfie to choose one and he picked red to match the book. I‘ve taught him well 🤣 3mo
youneverarrived @Aimeesue first time reading her but I‘m loving her writing! 3mo
youneverarrived @Megabooks thanks 😘 you too! 3mo
youneverarrived @batsy I‘ve only read the first story so far but wow ❤️ I‘m loving her writing 3mo
48 likes8 comments
review
youneverarrived
The Baby Is Mine: Quick Reads | Oyinkan Braithwaite
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Pickpick

Nowhere near as good as My Sister, the Serial Killer but still a good quick read. I flew through it in one night. Set during the pandemic Bambi goes to live with two women who both claim the baby in the house is theirs. One review says it‘s ‘domestic noir‘ and I love that description! It fits it well.

batsy Ooh! I enjoyed My Sister and I'll have to check this out. 3mo
Megabooks I‘m going to look for this! Worth a borrow probably. 👍🏻 3mo
sarahbarnes Yes what @batsy said! 3mo
youneverarrived @batsy @sarahbarnes hope you both like it if you get to it 🤍 3mo
youneverarrived @Megabooks yeah definitely borrow. Love to hear what you think if you read it 🤍 3mo
48 likes2 stack adds5 comments
review
youneverarrived
The Help | Kathryn Stockett
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Pickpick

A bit late in finishing for last months #tbrtarot. Absolutely brilliant on audio, all of the narrators did an amazing job. I can see why this is a bestseller as it‘s just really good storytelling in terms of plot and characters! It did drag on a tiny bit for me, I felt like it could have been shorter. Loved Celia! Lots of funny and touching moments. Not a must-read sort of book but a really enjoyable one.

CBee I loved this book! The movie is fantastic as well. 3mo
Kloves2read Great story! Interestingly enough I read the back story. It's based on a true events. If i remember correctly, apparently they tried to sue and prevent the story from being printed. 3mo
youneverarrived @CBee yeah I love the film! 3mo
youneverarrived @Kloves2read oh wow that‘s interesting 3mo
48 likes4 comments
blurb
youneverarrived
Unsheltered: A Novel | Barbara Kingsolver
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Enjoyed the chance to read just as much as having my hair done…probably more 😂

I‘m liking this book but I‘ve been reading it in dribs and drabs so don‘t feel like I‘m doing it justice.

TrishB Enjoy your reading time- I really liked this book. 3mo
Cathythoughts Lovely time out Katie 👍🏻♥️ 3mo
youneverarrived Thanks @TrishB she‘s one of my favourites, really enjoying it 3mo
youneverarrived @Cathythoughts lovely to have some me time ❤️ 3mo
52 likes4 comments
review
youneverarrived
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Pickpick

This was a random pick at the library and I‘m so glad I stumbled across it. It was a lovely uplifting read about people/communities/Kate herself trying to live more sustainably, consciously and consume less. Love the idea of repair cafés. It made me want to do something with these raised beds previous owners put in the garden (even though I have no clue when it comes to planting anything ?)
#nonfiction2023 - imagine

TheNeverendingTBR Grow potatoes? I do every year. They're very easy to grow. I highly recommend it. 3mo
squirrelbrain I loved this one when I read it a few years ago. ❤️ 3mo
youneverarrived @TheNeverendingTBR I‘d love to! Can you grow them all year round or do they need to be planted at a certain time? (Genuinely have zero clue when it comes to growing food 🙈) (edited) 3mo
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youneverarrived @squirrelbrain it was a lovely surprise read 🤍 3mo
TheNeverendingTBR It's surprisingly easy. Get some potatoes and wait until they start sprouting, throw them into the ground. I'll be planting mine at the end of March. 3mo
youneverarrived That sounds easy enough! Thanks @TheNeverendingTBR I‘ll give it a go 😁 3mo
45 likes7 comments
review
youneverarrived
Malibu Rising | Taylor Jenkins Reid
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Mehso-so

I didn‘t really like this which is a shame as I loved the other two books I‘ve read by her. It was a bit too cheesy, cliche and lacking in real substance for me. It‘s drama filled but I found it dull plot and character wise. So-so because she definitely knows how to write to keep you reading on. #authoramonth

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youneverarrived
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A rarity these days - time for coffee and reading in a cafe.

Caroline2 Oh lovely ☺️ enjoy!! 3mo
andrew61 Enjoy your time. 3mo
batsy Bliss! Enjoy 💕 3mo
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LeahBergen Have fun! 3mo
BarbaraBB Enjoy! 3mo
TheNeverendingTBR Being a parent myself, I feel you. 3mo
youneverarrived @TheNeverendingTBR aw how old is your little one? It‘s something I used to do all the time but since having kids it‘s very rare so I properly enjoyed it! 3mo
TheNeverendingTBR @youneverarrived Well that's the thing, he's turning terrible two soon. So I ain't seen nothing yet! 😂 3mo
57 likes10 comments
review
youneverarrived
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Pickpick

A hard book to review because I see some faults in it (it‘s repetitive & sometimes contradictory) but I admire Gabor Mate and agree with everything he says regarding attachment and parenting. I love that he says ‘don‘t parent from a book - not even this one‘. He argues that we‘ve lost some of our natural instincts and because of this, & the way society is, kids have stronger attachments to their peers rather than adults which causes problems.

youneverarrived #nonfiction2023 (livin‘ on a prayer) 4mo
48 likes1 comment
review
youneverarrived
Three Women | Lisa Taddeo
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Pickpick

I think this is a love or hate type of book and I LOVED it! First five star read of the year. The audio was amazing 🙌 the amount of time the author spent with these women shows - you get brutal honesty, desire and insight.

#tbrtarot #nonfiction2023 (strange fruit)

CBee Yay! 🙌🏻🙌🏻 4mo
Reggie I loved this book. I felt bad so bad for those women. Especially Maggie and Lina. I liked Sloan but I was like, girl, you got caught, you broke girl code, and yes the men should be there too but just take your lumps. She was like I‘m the victim for bearing the brunt of that woman‘s anger. Whatever. Lol 4mo
youneverarrived @Reggie 😂😂 I really liked Sloan too but yeah she played the victim there, I think she knew all along really the woman didn‘t know but convinced herself otherwise (edited) 4mo
57 likes6 stack adds4 comments
review
youneverarrived
The Sentence | Louise Erdrich
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Pickpick

There‘s no denying Erdrich writes well but there‘s something about her books where I always feel like I‘m distant; I never feel fully immersed in them. There were elements I really liked in this; the characters, the development, the setting and all the book talk. I enjoyed it but can‘t say I loved it so a low pick. I preferred The Night Watchman. #authoramonth

squirrelbrain Great review! I preferred this one to the Night Watchman though. 4mo
youneverarrived @squirrelbrain it seems to be the more well loved book 4mo
46 likes2 stack adds2 comments
review
youneverarrived
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Mehso-so

Absolutely love Zadie Smith, she‘s one of my favourite writers, but this won‘t leave a lasting impression on me. I enjoyed the writing and the way it made me think while reading the essays; I connected with the writing, but having sat with it for a few days there‘s not much that has stuck with me. An enjoyable, thoughtful quick read but not really memorable. #nonfiction2023

squirrelbrain Great review though! 4mo
Erinreadsthebooks Love your picture! 🤩 4mo
youneverarrived @squirrelbrain thanks Helen 💕 4mo
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youneverarrived
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Mehso-so

I never skim read but I did with this. I appreciated the research and data (or lack of), the way she broke it down and the explanations into what types of research actually provide real data but most of it just boiled down to ‘there‘s not enough data, so go with your own decision‘. That‘s probably the main point of the book. I just got really bored with it. #nonfiction2023 - big yellow taxi (the cover is yellow 💛)

review
youneverarrived
A Ladder to the Sky | John Boyne
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Pickpick

What a read to start the year with. Brilliant writing as always with Boyne; quite a dark novel but I loved the humour within it, the way each section focused on a different character viewpoint all in relation to Maurice, the ending…there wasn‘t much about it I didn‘t like. A rollercoaster read of a book with a despicable main character. Couldn‘t put it down.

squirrelbrain I loved this one too, despite Maurice being so awful! 5mo
BarbaraBB I felt the same. Great review! 5mo
erzascarletbookgasm I loved this as well. Oh Maurice! 5mo
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Megabooks I wasn‘t a fan of how he depicted an aromantic character. We get so little representation in literature that I hate seeing a negative portrayal. (edited) 5mo
youneverarrived @Megabooks I get that! ❤️ 5mo
BiblioLitten Even the ending was so good! It made me chuckle despite his character trait. 4mo
youneverarrived @BiblioLitten I laughed at the ending too 😆 4mo
57 likes8 comments
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youneverarrived
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Tagged book my favourite of the year! Although I did read the majority of it in the December I finished it in January.

Lonesome Dove I never expected to love as much as I did. I rated it four stars at the time but looking back on it I‘ve bumped it up to 5 stars.

Anne Tyler was a new author to me and I‘ll definitely read more of her this year. And for some reason I finished nothing in October 🤷‍♀️ #readingbracket2022

Happy New Year 🥂💖

Ruthiella Happy New Year! 🥳 Lonesome Dove was so good! 5mo
Texreader Oh how I loved Lonesome Dove. It surprised me too. I had it on my shelf for more than 20 years, and finally read it a few years back. So good. 5mo
Megabooks Happy new year!! 🫶🏻🎉 5mo
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andrew61 Great choice, I thought about reading it over Christmas after your recommendation last year. Happy New Year. 5mo
squirrelbrain I have this on my shelf to read… I‘ll get to it one day! Happy New Year Katie! 5mo
Reggie Happy New Year! 5mo
BarbaraBB Happy new year Katie! Some great books there 🤍 5mo
Cathythoughts Happy New Year. ♥️ I loved tagged book too. 5mo
BiblioLitten I think I just stacked 3-4 books from your Read list. I just couldn‘t resist😅 5mo
TrishB Happy new year- I‘ve had your tagged book on the pile for a while now! 5mo
andrew61 Gosh I'll definitely drag it out of the pile very soon. Great selections. 5mo
47 likes11 comments
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youneverarrived
Non-Fiction | Wendy Wren
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I‘ve got 2 hours left of Hidden Valley Road (brilliant book!) which I‘ll finish before the year is through but I don‘t think I‘ll have time for any more non-fiction reads this year so posting this now. Thanks for a fab challenge @Riveted_Reader_Melissa looking forward to the 2023 one! ❤️ #nonfiction2022

youneverarrived 🌪 Disaster - In the Freud Archives
📝 Rule Breaker - The Rules Do Not Apply
🤩 Marvellous - The Gardner and the Carpenter
🏃‍♂️ Adventurous - The Montessori Toddler
💪 Survivor - Unbound
🔈 Loud or boisterous - Careless People
😇 Angel - The Happiest Kids in the World
🧺 Basket case - My Wild and Sleepless Nights
5mo
youneverarrived 🙌 Out of left field - No Bad Kids
🤫 Quiet or Meditative - Revelation
🎨 Rebel - Big Magic: Creative Living Beyond Fear
🧠 Brain - The Book You Wish Your Parents Had Read
🖊 Out of Comfort Zone - The Cure for Sleep
😴 Dream - The Art of Rest
🚶‍♀️ Unplanned - First Steps
👽 Outcast - Hidden Valley Road
5mo
squirrelbrain Well done! 🎉🎉 (I really need to get to Hidden Valley Road - I‘ve heard so many good things!) 5mo
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youneverarrived Thanks @squirrelbrain 🤍 it‘s brilliant! Going to be a 5 ⭐️ read for me I think. I‘d recommend it on audio. 5mo
Deblovestoread Well done and HVR is excellent! 5mo
Riveted_Reader_Melissa Great job!!! 5mo
squirrelbrain Thanks for your lovely (York!) Christmas card Katie; it arrived today. (Silly posties!) 😘 5mo
youneverarrived @squirrelbrain I‘m glad it arrived although too late 😂 I posted it over 2 weeks ago 🙈 5mo
37 likes9 comments
review
youneverarrived
The Slaves of Solitude | Patrick Hamilton
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Pickpick

One of the best character driven novels I‘ve read in a while. I love the way Hamilton depicts Miss Roach & her thought process, so transparent & relatable in some ways - you could call her naive but I also think a lot of people have had a Vicki in their lives; someone who makes you question if it‘s you reading the person wrong of if they are just not nice! I was just willing Miss Roach to stand up for herself. Five star read for me.

youneverarrived Would have made a great #nyrbbookclub discussion 🤍 6mo
LeahBergen Ah, yes! I proposed this one when it was my turn to offer up picks (and I still need to read it 🙄). 6mo
youneverarrived It would have been a good one to read as a group. I think you‘d enjoy it @LeahBergen 6mo
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youneverarrived
Infinite Country: A Novel | Patricia Engel
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Pickpick

An emotional read. It brought up questions of deportation, what it‘s like to live away from your family, living in a country where you are undocumented etc all through interesting characters and vivid scenery. I loved it. I enjoyed the chapters from the point of view of the children growing up in America too - would have liked to hear more from their perspective.

Thanks so much for this one Helen 💕

sarahbarnes I loved this one, too. ♥️ 6mo
squirrelbrain I‘m glad you enjoyed it! 6mo
youneverarrived @sarahbarnes so good 🤍 6mo
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youneverarrived @squirrelbrain thank you for the Christmas card and lovely calendar too 😘 6mo
Megabooks I loved this too. Great review! 6mo
TheNeverendingTBR Yeey!! You're back! 😊 6mo
youneverarrived @Megabooks thanks Meg 🥰 6mo
youneverarrived @TheNeverendingTBR 😁 I‘ve been reading a lot but forgetting to check in on here! 6mo
andrew61 Glad to see you back Katie. I hope you and the children are well . Enjoy the next few weeks. 6mo
youneverarrived @andrew61 thanks! 😄 Alfies really excited about Christmas it‘s lovely. I hope you‘re doing well! 6mo
andrew61 @youneverarrived All fine thanks. Enjoy Christmas, Alfie will be the perfect age this year. I'm sure you'll have a great time. 6mo
49 likes11 comments
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youneverarrived
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Been looking forward to this all day 😆

York do a big city read where the library give away copies of a certain book for people to read and they have events going on related to it and reading group discussions in all the different libraries. This is the perfect choice seeing as it‘s set in York! I‘m loving it. The main characters live in my area so I know the streets mentioned, makes it a vivid read.

squirrelbrain What a lovely event! 8mo
CarolynM Sounds great. I loved the book, I imagine it would be even better if you are familiar with York. 8mo
rockpools That‘s so fun! 8mo
youneverarrived @CarolynM it definitely adds to it for me. 8mo
50 likes5 comments
review
youneverarrived
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Pickpick

@rockpools posts about this one made me want to read it and I‘m so glad I did. Such an enjoyable listen. It‘s basically a list of the top 10 things people find restful (reading being no.1) & why. The author looks at research and statistics as to why the things chosen might be considered restful but she doesn‘t just blindly accept the studies done. Brilliantly done. If felt like such an easygoing listen although there‘s a lot of information in it.

rockpools I‘m so pleased you enjoyed this. It was quite fun, wasn‘t it? 8mo
youneverarrived @rockpools it really was 😁 8mo
vivastory I like your new profile pic 🍼 8mo
youneverarrived @vivastory aw thank you 🤍 8mo
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youneverarrived
The Cure for Sleep | Tanya Shadrick
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Pickpick

It took a while to warm up to this but I loved the latter parts where she details how she started to take risks in life. Tanya has a near death experience after becoming a mother & I thought it was to be a book on motherhood but it was the opposite-she barely writes about being a parent, but about her life away from that; her creative, artistic life. Poetically written but this made me feel disconnected from it at times. An inspiring read though.

squirrelbrain Great review! 8mo
youneverarrived @squirrelbrain thank you 😘 8mo
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review
youneverarrived
French Braid | Anne Tyler
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Pickpick

I‘ve definitely found a new favourite in Anne Tyler.
Loved the family dynamics in this, the way the characters are succinctly written and the idea that family members don‘t always like each other/get along and put up pretences. I really liked Mercy. It‘s got that slow, not a lot happening feel which I like in books anyway but it kept me turning the pages because of the characters, the dynamics & the writing. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Megabooks This was a good one! 9mo
youneverarrived @Megabooks I‘ll definitely read more by her 🤍 8mo
CarolynM I love Anne Tyler. My favourite is 8mo
youneverarrived @CarolynM I know she has a huge back catalogue and couldn‘t decide what to go for next so thanks for that, made up my mind for me 😁 8mo
vivastory I have been meaning to read more Tyler. Great review! 8mo
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youneverarrived
French Braid | Anne Tyler
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Just a shout out to local libraries 💕 I went to pick up this book I‘d reserved & it wouldn‘t let me check it out - I asked the librarian & it was because I had fines (I‘m usually pretty good at taking books back etc but having a newborn I‘ve not really kept on top of it) but she waivered them for me as she knows I‘m a regular & she saw me with the kids & said she knows what it‘s like. Just thought that was really kind of her 🤍

IndoorDame I was so impressed that a few years ago my local library got rid of fines because they disproportionately punish the already economically disadvantaged. Now we only get charged for lost books, late fees on select inter library loans from branches that won‘t accept the policy, and certain items like museum passes. It‘s made such a huge difference for me! 9mo
squirrelbrain Aw, that‘s so nice of them! ❤️ 9mo
JamieArc @IndoorDame My library recently moved to this system as well, along with automatically renewing books if they haven‘t been returned on the due date. 9mo
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IndoorDame @JamieArc yes, ours auto renews too if they‘re eligible. It‘s so great! 9mo
BarbaraBB That‘s so kind! 9mo
batsy ❤️ 9mo
ravenlee What an awesome way to use a superpower! 9mo
Megabooks How wonderful! It‘s great when people are understanding. 💜 9mo
andrew61 Enjoy the read. I'm sure it will be worth the wait. 9mo
youneverarrived @IndoorDame @JamieArc that‘s great! I bet it‘s made a big difference for a lot of people. Our library never used to charge for reservations but has recently started to. Auto renewal sounds brilliant. 9mo
youneverarrived @squirrelbrain @BarbaraBB @Megabooks that‘s what I thought ♥️ 9mo
youneverarrived @ravenlee exactly ♥️ 9mo
youneverarrived @andrew61 I‘m really enjoying it 😁 9mo
vivastory Librarians are the kindest 💙The crap they are enduring bc of fundamentalists in this country is infuriating 8mo
54 likes14 comments
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youneverarrived
The Cure for Sleep | Tanya Shadrick
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Just me and Naomi today so I can read while she sleeps 💕

I‘m liking this book but at the same time it feels like it‘s taking a while to get going. I do sometimes find that with memoirs though.

vlwelser 😍😍😍 that little face! 10mo
squirrelbrain Little cutie! ❤️ 10mo
BookBabe 😍 sweet baby! 🥰 baby snuggles are the best! 10mo
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LeahBergen Naomi! 💕💕💕 10mo
ladym30 She is beautiful!❤️ 10mo
andrew61 Beautiful, thanks for sharing. 10mo
marleed She‘s beautiful and I love her name! 10mo
Centique What a gorgeous little one! Just catching up on your posts (I get out of sync being in the Southern Hemisphere and miss a lot) I hope everything is going well! 💕 8mo
62 likes8 comments