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The Resurrection of Joan Ashby
The Resurrection of Joan Ashby: A Novel | Cherise Wolas
"A stunning debut...Reminds me of my most favorite authors: J.D. Salinger, Carson McCullers, Truman Capote, Joan Didion. A.M. Homes I viewed the consumptive nature of love as a threat to serious women. But the wonderful man I just married believes as I dowork is paramount, absolutely no childrenand now love seems to me quite marvelous. These words are spoken to a rapturous audience by Joan Ashby, a brilliant and intense literary sensation acclaimed for her explosively dark and singular stories. When Joan finds herself unexpectedly pregnant, she is stunned by Martins delight, his instant betrayal of their pact. She makes a fateful, selfless decision then, to embrace her unintentional family. Challenged by raising two precocious sons, it is decades before she finally completes her masterpiece novel. Poised to reclaim the spotlight, to resume the intended life she gave up for love, a betrayal of Shakespearean proportion forces her to question every choice she has made. Epic, propulsive, incredibly ambitious, and dazzlingly written, The Resurrection of Joan Ashby is a story about sacrifice and motherhood, the burdens of expectation and genius. Cherise Wolass gorgeous debut introduces an indelible heroine candid about her struggles and unapologetic in her ambition.
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BookNAround
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Picking this one back up after more than a year‘s hiatus. Can I get through it before the end of the year or will I get distracted again?

TheSpineView I didn't care for it. It was a DNF. You are better than me if you finish. 5y
36 likes1 stack add1 comment
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Well-ReadNeck
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Pickpick

Overall, I enjoyed this audiobook but it was uneven in places. #MountTBR

Crazeedi I started this book and never finished, and I don't know why, must go back to it 6y
94 likes1 comment
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Well-ReadNeck
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When it rains, it pours!!!

All of these OverDrive holds have come in since Friday!!! I‘m not if I‘ll have enough hours in the day to finish before they are due!! #ChallengeAccepted #BookishProblems #AllTheReads

PatienceFortitude I know that feeling 6y
eri.reads I hate when that happens. Hope you get through all of them!! 😉 6y
Cortg I have 3 overdue books on my kindle. I‘m keeping the wi-if off until I finish 2 of them. The 3rd doesn‘t really have a wait list 🙃 6y
See All 6 Comments
Riveted_Reader_Melissa I hate that! 6y
Well-ReadNeck @Cortg But I can‘t LITSY without wi-fi!!! 😫😝😂 6y
Cortg Oh no! This is a serious bookish problem! Do you have a device to read on and a separate device to Litsy on? 🤔 6y
109 likes6 comments
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Carrdahl
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Pickpick

The Resurrection of Joan Ashby is one of the best books I have read - this goes on my VERY small pile to read again, in a few years, when I may be able to connect in new ways. The writing is beautiful, and the layered story lines had me sad to finish. This was a comfortable, complex book and I loved it.

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Carrdahl
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Cracking open a new book is always mixed emotions - excited, hopeful it will be good, wondering if a character will make a long-term impression, hoping I feel the book deep in my gut. Here I go!

7 likes1 stack add
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JacintaMCarter
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Pickpick

#2018Book71
This novel is the definition of "rich people problems," and I am 100% here for it. I loved all of the family drama and completely related to the titular character's struggle with how marriage and motherhood could affect her life as a writer. The only thing I didn't really like about this novel were the frequent excerpts from the character's own writing. They rarely served the plot, but rather brought it to a sudden halt.

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Jenny
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Mehso-so

Somehow this book kept me glued to the pages but I could have done without all the stories within the story. They were pretentious and flowery and though I saw they were part of the story I ended up skimming most of them.

Crazeedi I just added to my tbr, grrrr, maybe not 6y
Jenny @Crazeedi it still might be worth the read. 6y
10 likes1 stack add2 comments
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JacintaMCarter
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I'm slightly obsessed with this cover.

Clwojick Ooh. I was just looking at putting this audiobook on hold last night 6y
63 likes1 comment
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dariazeoli
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This book is so tedious, you guys. I‘ll be happy to say goodbye to Joan and her writing.

Yeah_I_Read Saaammmmeeee 7y
emilyhaldi Ugh, I bailed HARD on this one. Tedious is certainly the word. 😝 7y
44 likes2 comments
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dariazeoli
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This #libraryhaul is why #MountTBR isn‘t being climbed more quickly.

As Nikki Sixx once said on Behind the Music, “I cannot stop.”

Hooked_on_books I‘ve had to ban myself from going to the library, as I have the same disease. And my MountTBR has been out of control for years. And yet I still buy books! 😂🙄 7y
56 likes1 comment
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emilyhaldi
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#TheHoneymoonisOver as soon as Joan, a literary sensation, finds herself unexpectedly pregnant with the child she never wanted. Her literary career and her marriage suffer as a result, and unfortunately for the reader, it‘s 500 pages of dragged out misery 😑
#marchintooz

Rachbb3 Oh no. 😬 7y
LauraBrook Oof. Sounds like a tough read. At least you have a cute lady vase, though! 7y
BarbaraBB Haha, great review 😀. I‘ll skip the book! 7y
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DeborahSmall 😂 7y
Cathythoughts Oh dear me .... 7y
Centique Ok I‘ll skip the book and steal the beautiful vase instead... 😂😂 7y
PagesOfKate Oh, that sucks. I was thinking of reading it...not so sure anymore! 7y
Cinfhen Great photo❤️ 7y
Mdargusch Credit to @AnnieD 7y
Reviewsbylola Great pic and it sounds amazing so now I‘m thinking I should try it. 7y
emilyhaldi @Reviewsbylola I dare you to try. Bet you don't make it to page 100 7y
Reviewsbylola But the synopsis sounds perfect. 😭 7y
emilyhaldi @Reviewsbylola trust me I know, I bought the damn book. Borrow it and see for yourself! I would be thrilled if you loved it but its boorrriiinngggg 7y
Bookdragon69 Love the head vase!! I have 3 of them on my vanity. I put beads in them and use them to hold my makeup brushes. 7y
emilyhaldi @Bookdragon69 good idea!!! We have a few of the vases too, they are fun to collect ❤️ 7y
116 likes2 stack adds15 comments
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Chelseylovestoread
Pickpick

I loved Joan‘s story so much. It made me think a lot about motherhood and the parts of ourselves that we give away to everyone around us. When do we decide that we need to live for ourselves? A question that I think every woman must ask herself at some point...

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BookNAround
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Finished my last book while sitting at my son‘s pole vault clinic and this one is up next. Tangentially related, is there a good book that has pole vaulting in it?

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emilyhaldi
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Bailedbailed

I made it 2/3 of the way through this book before getting so frustrated that I moved beyond the guilt of bailing and finally put it down. Joan Ashby is supposedly a force in literature, which might be believable if the author didn't include so many excerpts of Ashby's mediocre writing for the reader to judge. And her sons both turn out to be pathetic losers who live in a constant state of self-pity, just like their mother. I'm over it!

Cathythoughts I havnt read it. But I appreciate a good bail 👍 7y
LeahBergen To hell with the book... I‘m in love with that little green vase on the left. ❤️❤️ 7y
GypsyKat Great picture though! ❤️ 7y
See All 12 Comments
Pamwurtzler Nice picture! I like the tile in the back. 7y
Mdargusch I was so excited that someone had pottery like mine! Then I realized it was mine 😳 @LeahBergen 7y
LeahBergen @Mdargusch 😂😂😂 7y
BarbaraBB Love this review 😂 7y
Reviewsbylola Um is there any chance I might like it? 7y
minkyb Wow you must have been really fed up to bail at 2/3. Good for you. 7y
ElishaLovesBooks I‘m so happy that you posted this! I just took this out from the library and now I won‘t waste my time!! 7y
Cinfhen 😖😖😖 7y
98 likes12 comments
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emilyhaldi
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Almost 100 pages into this chunkster and it hasn't quite gripped me yet. I'm enjoying the bits of Joan's writing that are interjected and contrasted with her reality, but something about her story just feels... dull. Really hoping it picks up soon! Anyone else read this one yet?

Megabooks I have not heard of this book! 7y
Kalalalatja Haven‘t read it, but love this pic! 👌 7y
whatsjennareading I absolutely loved it!! 7y
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DivineDiana Never heard of it. But I love the cover and the flowers! 7y
Reviewsbylola I‘ll have to wait for your final verdict before I decide whether to return this to the library unread. 7y
emilyhaldi @whatsjennareading oh good!! Did you have trouble getting into it?? 7y
Cinfhen Love the photo 7y
cornfedwellread I did this one on audio when it first came out since the premise seemed like something I'd enjoy. I sometimes found the writing pretentious, and I think some parts of the plot were overdone 7y
102 likes8 comments
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Celeste57
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Each of these is #abookwithabeautifulcover, and each has some #trickytwists. I can't recommend them both highly enough. Two of my favorite books from 2017!! #janinbooks18 #readingresolutions

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Hoopiefoot
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It‘s true! 🐦❤️🐦❤️🐦

This book is a little rambly and I don‘t LOVE it, but it feels so delightfully indulgent to sink into a giant book about books on a bitter snowy day.

51 likes1 stack add
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Hoopiefoot
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Snow day reading.

cathysaid Cool cover! 7y
74 likes1 stack add1 comment
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Celeste57
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Happy New Year, littens!!! May your 2018 be filled with amazing books!! Sorry I haven't been around much. I've missed y'all. But even though I haven't been on Litsy as much as I'd like, I managed to read 125 books this year, some of which were phenomenal. These were my top five of the year, and I have a blog post of my top 20 here if you're interested: http://www.celestialmusings.org/?p=516

JessClark78 Happy New Year! 7y
Celeste57 @JessClark78 Thank you!! You too! 😁 7y
18 likes2 comments
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Amandajoy
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Finally got my Quarterlane box, there were some issues with my mail since I‘ve moved & it went to my old place. Their boxes are a little pricey but they feel so decadent! I can‘t wait to dive into these books. #bookmail

Lcsmcat My daughter got me a signed copy of the Allende. I can‘t wait to start reading it! I‘ll watch for your posts on it as we go along. 7y
tjwill 😍 Lovely! I loved 7y
59 likes2 comments
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Milehighbookguy
Pickpick

One of the best debut novels I‘ve read in the last few years. The writing is pitch perfect. Joan experiences a major betrayal but is it the one from someone she loves or did she betray herself. I have my opinion, now you decide.

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whatsjennareading
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It‘s been a while. Hi, everyone! Work has been nuts but I‘ve been popping in to see what everyone is up to. I also finally joined BOTM! What did everyone choose??

Reviewsbylola I chose all of them but Brass. 7y
whatsjennareading @Reviewsbylola that‘s the one I chose, lol! Plus Elenor because I‘ve never read it! 7y
emilyhaldi I got all 5! 🤭 Also, how is the tagged book? It has been on my list for a while! 7y
whatsjennareading @emilyhaldi nice!! It‘s really great so far, I think. It‘s about a writer so there are lots of stories within the story, which I love!! 7y
emilyhaldi Awesome!! Looking forward to getting to it in the next couple months 😁 7y
16 likes5 comments
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ReadingEnvy
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Pickpick

I had to take a break from this one when I sprained my thumb (too heavy to hold!) but I really enjoyed this deep dive into one woman's internal life through her writing, her family, and her travels. ARC from publisher.

kalinichta Now that's a book lover problem I hadn't come across before. Hope the thumb's all better. 7y
LauraBeth I‘ve been on the fence with this one! 7y
83 likes2 stack adds3 comments
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shawnmooney
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Bailedbailed

Bailed at the beginning of the second chapter: it took me that long to realize that, while I liked the audio narrator, the writing itself was not doing much of anything for me.

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BethFishReads
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Panpan

If this hadn‘t been a freelance assignment I would have totally bailed. I didn‘t understand many of Joan‘s choices & behavior. I also had issues with some plot points that didn‘t ring true or authentic. 🎧 The audiobook performance by Gabra Zackman was super but couldn‘t save the novel for me. (Michael Dickes had a small narrator part and was fine.) Joan brought most of her troubles on herself.

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8little_paws
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Pickpick

Doesn't ruby look so pretty next to this book? While there's a few tangents here that just go on too long, all in all there's some good stuff here about motherhood and marriage.

Faibka What a cutie!! 😻 7y
MrBook 😻😻😻 7y
55 likes1 stack add2 comments
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8little_paws
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I'm digging this enough I read nearly 200 pages in 24 hours, which is a rarity now. Didn't ride today, gotta say I enjoyed having the extra reading time!

55 likes1 stack add
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Yvonnel
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Pickpick

Oh my gosh I can't say enough about this book! I picked it up on a whim (because you know, Costco) and I'm so glad I did! I was completely engrossed in this story and could not wait to get back to it. So beautifully written, with many additional stories within the story, I thoroughly enjoyed it! A brilliant debut. I will be waiting for her next one!

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Happiestwhenreading
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Mehso-so

Thank you to the publisher, Flatiron Books, for providing me with a free finished copy to review. All opinions are my own. I liked this book very much, but I did not fall head-over-heels-in-love. Many passages resonated with me regarding marriage, motherhood, sacrifice, and redemption. I saw myself within the pages. Overall, the book was just too long. I thought the short stories were distracting and I didn't understand their purpose.

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Jas16
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Today was the last day of the San Francisco Friends of the Public Library book sale and everything was $1. I bought 23 books and here is most of my #bookhaul (I tried to take out books that I bought for other people).A lot of these are ARCs which I like to share with others. Not a bad way to spend a Sunday. I even got a work out in by carrying them all home uphill.

CoverToCoverGirl 😱😁 7y
DrSabrinaMoldenReads Wow! Thats so great! 7y
emilyhaldi Amazing!!! Need to get my hands on a copy of 7y
erzascarletbookgasm What a steal! I have the Kate Morton and Amor Towles on my TBR :) 7y
71 likes4 comments
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Litpicks
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Pickpick

I loved a lot about Joan Ashby. Chasing babies has had me in a reading rut but this held my interest all the way through - 500+ pages. I didn't love the excerpts that were supposed to be her own stories, but other than that it was so good.

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JenniferJR
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Anyone else enjoying this ?

Victoria_C Best fiction book I read this year! 7y
emilyhaldi This is on my ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ predictions list! Glad you are enjoying 😃 7y
8 likes2 comments
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Yvonnel
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I've been seeing so many great reviews about this one that I decided to give it a shot. The weather is so gorgeous I might even be able to enjoy it on my deck!

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AMVP
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#awesomeautumnbooks #day12 - #newauthors

In case it wasn't obvious, all this #catchingup posting has been at the same #barnesandnoble during my break from work. Was surprised to see this as a debut, given all the attention it's received. I'll probably take advantage of the sale and pick it up; either this or The Heart's Invisible Furies.

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JenniferJR
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I started listening to this on #audible today and it immediately grabbed my attention and I am hanging on every word. The writing and language is seriously gripping.

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Liberty
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Still thinking about this book. 🖤

Alfoster Seriously, wasn't it awesome?😍😍😍 7y
AndreaReads I am loving your staging! These have been great pics! 7y
JoeStalksBeck I want this book so bad! 7y
annahenke You have totally upped your your pic game lately #wellplayed 7y
o.m.g.books I am seeing this book everywhere! I have to read it soon. 7y
164 likes24 stack adds5 comments
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NikkiDolson
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Will she write again?
Will she write a new book?

It's good but, man, this book is stressing me out 😳

NikkiDolson Spent all weekend with this one and I still don't know how I feel about it 7y
5 likes1 comment
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mauveandrosysky
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Mehso-so

This was one of the more uneven reads for me in recent memory. There were parts I absolutely loved and parts I really hated. If I were rating it for the first half alone, it'd be a pick, but the second half and some unfortunate literary choices really brought it down for me. Full review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2105569417

39 likes1 stack add
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mauveandrosysky
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So this book is really good but it's about a famous, renowned writer and it includes tons of excerpts from this character's short stories (which is a literary device that I hate in the first place but I digress). Anyway, the short stories that this supposedly amazingly gifted character writes are SO BAD that it's detracting from the actually very good novel. 😩

Notafraidofwords Ugh , just stab me in my eye. That sucks lol 7y
Ericmanciniwriter That's like when there's a movie about a fake band and the songs are terrible. But the writer of this book is...a writer so...why is the...writing bad? 7y
mauveandrosysky @Eamann EXACTLY. That's the part that's pissing me off the most. 7y
24 likes3 comments
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Yeah_I_Read
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Bailedbailed

Ok first let me say that the writing in this book is incredible, like on another level. It has gotten amazing reviews and the plot line seemed really interesting to me... but... while I can completely understand how Joan felt about "the family she never wanted," it is kind of hard for me to feel bad for her. She has a full time nanny, an independent income, and a supportive husband who is crazy about her.
Cont.

Yeah_I_Read I understand that art sometimes needs a certain environment in order to flourish but I just couldn't empathize. Also it made for heavy slow reading. There is a lot extra thrown in. I also wasn't a huge fan of her recounting what seemed like every day of her kids lives. Maybe in another life I would love this book but I just couldn't keep going with it. 🤷🏽‍♀️ 7y
85 likes1 comment
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AmbityScambity
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Pickpick

Joan was socially awkward and completely happy to be locked within her own literary worlds. Her story was like peeking behind the facade of “every woman"; she said the things we often find ourselves thinking, but not saying out loud, about being a woman and motherhood. It was an ode to us – the lives we live, the sacrifices we make, our successes. There was an honesty and a beauty in her story that was undeniable. Highly recommend ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

AmbityScambity I received a free copy of this book from @flatironbooks in exchange for my honest review. 7y
KirstieE I love your mug ! 😍 7y
AmbityScambity @KirstieE Thanks! I won it from Booksparks but you can buy it from Hey Shabby Me. 😊 7y
20 likes3 comments
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BritanyA
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Pickpick

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️: this was a super slow burn of a novel. A brilliant writer whose life is "ruined" by a pregnancy. She finally finds herself and claims her life back, or does she? This novel is long-- maybe too long, and filled with stories from Joan Ashly-- cool and maybe a bit too much? #Debut #OutAug29 #Flatiron #ARCLife

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Alfoster
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Pickpick

Wow! I don't know what to say except I wept at the end of this--not because it's sad--but because it's so beautiful! Such incredibly lovely prose. Reminded me a bit of Eat, Pray, Love but on a much grander scale and on literary steroids! It should take the world by storm. See @Celeste57 for the best review of this! Thanks to NetGalley

ReadingEnvy Ack I have this on my shelf and need to read it. 7y
Alfoster @ReadingEnvy It's long and not a quick read...but definitely worth it! 7y
Celeste57 I am so so SO glad you loved it! And thank you for the shoutout! 😘😘😘 7y
84 likes5 stack adds3 comments
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Emiller
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Love surprise #bookmail!!! Thank you @flatironbooks !

56 likes1 stack add
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Celeste57
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Just received my first ever signed and personalized book from an author. It was so unexpected and is so incredibly appreciated!!! 😍😍😍

JazzFeathers Signed books are the best 😆 7y
Celeste57 @JazzFeathers I've never had one until now! Sooooo coooool! 7y
MrBook Fantastic!!! 😁👏🏻 7y
Celeste57 @MrBook It was such a sweet surprise! 7y
20 likes4 comments
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JackieReadsBooks
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My current read! About 100 pages in and really liking it so far!

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Celeste57
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Pickpick

This was a phenomenal book. I hope with all my heart that it takes the world by storm when it releases on August 29th. You can read my full review of this fantastic novel here: http://www.celestialmusings.org/?p=463

Alfoster Sounds so good! Great review!👏👏👏 7y
Celeste57 @Alfoster Thank you! 😁 7y
Alfoster Requested the ARC from NetGalley but if I don't get it I'll buy just based on your review!😍 7y
See All 12 Comments
Celeste57 @Alfoster That's amazing!! I'm so glad, and I'm excited to hear what you think! 7y
Alfoster Just got the ARC from NetGalley (yay)! Only 4% in and loving it😍 7y
Celeste57 @Alfoster Yay!!! I really hope you continue to love it. Keep me updated on your progress and thoughts! 😁 7y
Alfoster OMG--I'm only 40% in and I can't put this down😍😍😍! 7y
Celeste57 @Alfoster Oh!! I'm so glad!! The writing is gorgeous, right?! 7y
Alfoster It is! And I just got to the part where Daniel does The Really Horrible Thing!😳 7y
Celeste57 @Alfoster I've never been so furious at a fictional character. *shakes fist at Daniel* 7y
Alfoster Seriously! I let out a little scream. My husband thinks I may be a tad bit insane😂! 7y
Celeste57 @Alfoster I was doing a lot of gasping and "NO" right around then, and my husband thought the same! ? 7y
14 likes2 stack adds12 comments
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MagdaRosol
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Stories within stories. Rich language. Big feeling. Messed-up characters. A story about creating, being yourself, and being happy.

4 likes1 stack add