Welcome to Litsy!

January 2023 #bookspinbingo list. Planning on reading lots of classics and nonfiction this year.

This is a photograph of Rittenhouse Square, often mentioned in this book. When I first moved to Philadelphia, I lived “on the Square”. Cornelia ,a young woman who is not sure where she is going loves Classic Movies,particularly Cary Grant,Literature, Vintage,and her family. She meets Martin. I thought this was going to be a sweet Hallmark movie like read. Instead,it took a serious turn and addressed mental health issues impact on the family.

I bought this book at a Library sale because of the setting, Philadelphia (my home town). It has been sitting on my shelves for a very long time. When I was choosing books for this month‘s #bookspinbingo, that autumnal cover called! Happy to find the audio on Hoopla. Now I can listen or read depending on my plans.

This is the first of two books with the same characters. The second book is Belong To Me. The main characters are a woman and a young girl, both in unsettled places in their lives, and brought together in unusual circumstances.

My June #bookspin book did not disappoint. So many relationships throughout- friendship, familial, romantic, and parental. Moves back and forth between Cornelia and Claire first separate then inseparable. Curious about the follow up read. The best reads are hammock reads!

Sweet romance where the real love story is the affection between Cornelia & boyfriend‘s tween daughter Claire. Narration alternates between the two, annoying switch between first & third person. Maybe author felt she couldn‘t do the tween in first person? Too clever for its own good sometimes with cute wordplay & Hollywood Golden Age film references & Gershwin tunes & romance cliches, but w/ a full-hearted core. Plus, WTH it‘s Valentine‘s. ❤️2005

Book 4 of #bookspinbonanza I‘ve been meaning to read this series for ages! @TheAromaofBooks

Cute

I liked this book, as evidenced by the fact that I finished it. But it was sort of like a Hallmark Channel movie. Pretty much everything works out and there are some very implausible turns. I read for Clare‘s side of the story and not Cornelia‘s, partly because Cornelia tended to irritate me with her obsession with old movies and insane friend.

Finished the last 30 pages of this sitting at the top of the stairs, since one of the kids would wake up crying every time I‘d get settled in on the couch downstairs... I think they‘re getting sick again.

I loved this book! It‘s not something I would have ever picked up on my own, so im really glad @BarbaraJean included it on her #newyearwhodis reading list!

Current reading situation. Both kids fell asleep in my bed, and they looked too sweet together to move. So I‘m settling in to the 3 year old‘s bed for a little while. I‘m loving this book so far!

I enjoyed this so much! I was dubious at first, because one of the narratives was so over-the-top romance. I loved Clare‘s sections, but kind of wanted to punch Cornelia for getting caught up in her ideal movie-plot romance. Once the two storylines converged and Cornelia began to address the realities of a relationship, I began to love both main characters and really fell for the story. It was a light, sweet read, and I‘ll track down the sequels!

Reading in bed! This is such a sweet book, and I‘ll probably finish it tonight.

My plans for the night were confirmed when I picked up a book to potentially start while soaking in the tub... and the inscription from my friend told me to read it in the bath. With strawberries. Done. Cider instead of wine, and powdered sugar for the strawberries instead of dark chocolate... so I‘ll just have to read the book over the course of more than one bath. 😁

My final read for #FreakyFriday! I enjoyed reading this, and adored Clare, but it falls just shy of a pick for me. While I'm glad I read it, it's not the type of book I'd reach for again.

@irre it's been a joy reading some of your favourites this month. I absolutely fell in love with some of them. I plan to continue reading titles from your list over the next couple months 😁

Thanks to @monalyisha and @Clwojick for organizing!

Beautiful spring weather (finally!) means I get to sit outside with my book while the boys play hopscotch.

It's a good day.

1. 👍

2. I live just outside of Toronto. Not the kind of excitement I want for my community (or any community)

3. Nope. It's tough to readathon with a 2 and 4 year old.

4. The past, present, and future walked into a bar. It was tense.

5. Will do!

#FriYAYintro @jesshowbooks

Little dude fell asleep on the couch, so I thought I'd do some reading. Otis has other plans.

Time for one more #FreakyFriday read before month's end. I've decided to go with this one, as it is the one I'm most unlikely to read without the push of the challenge. It sounds lovely, but not my usual style. Here we go!

@irre @monalyisha @Clwojick

A little #FreakyFriday reading prep! I'm checking Homegoing and Little Fires Everywhere off my list because I've read (and LOVED) both within the last six months. There are two others on @irre's list that I may re-read, but I'll start with new-to-me reads! Library/overdrive holds have been placed, so excited for April!

@monalyisha @Clwojick

This is @irre's list that I get to read from for #FreakyFriday and I'm already making plans. The first two I've read quite recently, and LOVED both, but don't want to re-read quite so soon. A combination of library holds, a couple re-reads from years ago, used bookstore finds (just picked up the tagged book today), and Litten generosity (thanks again @Tamra for Tell the Wolves) means I've got great April reading ahead!

@monalyisha @Clwojick

I wanted to love this novel but I ended up feeling average about it. I loved the lyrical quality of the authors writing but many of the plot points were too conveniently solved. I did fall in love with characters and will still read the sequel to this novel to find out what happens to them.

This book was a little slow moving at first. Cornelia was hard for me to connect w/ in early chapters. I don't like books that use an abundant of movie references, which don't make sense for non-cinematic ppl like myself. & this book relied heavy on w/ Cornelia's character building.

But I love Clare & all of her chapters! The moment their two lives collided I enjoyed the story much more! Overall a cute story & enjoyable read ❤️ #thebookkeepers

"She did not belong to me. But she fit inside my arms; she fit. I didn't love her. But I suddenly understood, to my bewilderment, it wouldn't take much."

Oh be still my heart ❤️❤️❤️❤️. I could #quote this entire chapter!

“I needed to love it and, in my experience, it isn‘t always easy to figure out what you love.”

Finished this on Christmas Day. I have now read all of Marisa de los Santos‘s novels. There is something satisfying about having read an author‘s entire body of work. I read her debut (this book) last, but it‘s wonderful to see that her books have maintained the same level of gushing narration, and firm belief in love and goodness throughout her writing career. It‘s also a delight if you enjoy characters who pop up from book to book..

This poor 11 year old girl has a manic depressive mother and is trying to keep it a secret from her community.

I have read all of Marisa‘s novels except this one! Since I am working on the marketing campaign for her new book, I‘LL BE YOUR BLUE SKY, I figured it was time to read her first.

A little slow at the start but overall enjoyable. Claire seemed interesting but Cornelia seemed a little flat. #2017christyread

This is a must-read book! If you're thinking that this is your typical love story, chic-lit book then you're wrong! It is a love story but the focus is not on romantic love between a man and a woman but more of love between "friends", love between mother and daughter. You have to read this to truly appreciate it. Apart from a great story line it also has great characters (consistent characterization) and great writing style.

And here's one for today's prompt. #fallintobooks #cursive

Stopped by the library book shop to look for a used copy of my next book club read. Did not find. ?But I found these two! ?

The back cover for Love Walked in reads
"When Martin Grace enters the hip Philadelphia coffee shop Cornelia Brown manage, her life changes forever." Hip Philadelphia coffee shop! Sold!

#RockinMay #PhiladelphiaFreedom I had to look up Philadelphia-set books to see if I had read any & this one popped up. It's been several years since I read it but I remember enjoying this sweet love story that's set in a Philly coffee shop and also its follow-up, set in the suburbs of Philadelphia. 📚❤️

Bought it at The Book Shop in Minocqua, WI, which I have been patronizing annually since I was "knee high to a grasshopper," as my mother would've said.

I fell in love with Teo alongside Cornelia, and even read the terrible sequel later just to get a glimpse of them.

Warning: Cornelia sounds pretentious at first; love of classic film recommended for full enjoyment (or be like me & watch them BECAUSE of this book).
#BoughtOnVacation #FeistyFeb

My favorite "love" titled books
#feistyfeb #lovetitles @RealLifeReading

This might be the only book I have that has the word "love" in the title! Who knew? Guest appearance by Indy in the background. ?#17booklove #loveinthetitle

I loved this book so much that I started to grieve when there was only a few chapters left.

It's just ... beautiful. Laughter, tears, and love. Families of birth and families of choice. I'm going to buy a hard-copy of this so I can re-read it every Thanksgiving.

Book for a chilly work commute. My legs are cold just looking at the cover

I had the overwhelming feeling that I needed more book marks in my life. This book is super cute, so it needed a matching book mark.
#booktober #bookmark

Adorable and fun love story. #love #books #litpick #litsylove #read #readallthebooks

I've been on the waiting list at the library for Commonwealth for weeks! So I just checked out like six other books in the meantime. I wonder if there's a limit... 😁 #tbr #librarybooks

It took me a while to decide that I liked it. Prose can be flowery and verbose, but Cornelia is so warm and clever that it's passable, and you'll enjoy hanging out with her. Clare's sections are unflinchingly vulnerable & deep, and the story kept me hanging on to the end.

I read these books out of order, don't do that!!!