Welcome to Litsy!

An easy read to continue while on the highway today. It could have been shorter; at times I found it repetitive. But it‘s a pick for me because of the growing relationship/friendship between the young characters Juliet Tilney & Jonathan Darcy. It seems clear to me that Jonathan is Autistic - an unexpected but fascinating portrayal. Did anyone else think that?
#serieslove24

This morning‘s coffee hour with my reading choices. Cool breeze, with enjoyable music floating in from across the street. Caught up with my neighbor‘s grammy visit to Storyland Park when we walked earlier today.📚☕️ 🎶🚶🏻‍♀️

Very fun combo of Jane Austen and locked room, Agatha Christie ish mystery! I listened on audio and it was great 🥰 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Cute, with all the main characters from Austen's books in one place.

This is a soft pick. It‘s not a bad homage to Austen‘s characters (although I strenuously object to the characterization of Fanny Bertram), and the mystery was pretty good. BUT it was repetitive and tedious in places. I can‘t say more about what really irritated me because #spoilers. I‘ll read the next one, because I adore Juliet and Jonathan, but I‘ll hope for a less cringey conclusion.

Most of Jane Austen's couples gather at Donwell Abbey for a houseparty. Mr Wickham crashes the party & it soon transpires that everyone there has a grudge against him, which becomes awkward when he is murdered. Young Johnathan Darcy has a solid alibi & Juliet Tilney had never encountered Wickham, so, as the only ones w/o means or motive, they decide to investigate once they realize the magistrate (Frank Churchill 😄) is bungling the inquiry. ⬇️

Ahhh Saturday 😊

At the halfway point I'm really enjoying Johnathan Darcy and Juliet Tilney but the state of the marriages of many of my favorite Austen couples is making me sad.

Catching up on September reviews... A #pemberlittens read
I really enjoyed this Austen-inspired murder mystery. It was interesting to see Gray's interpretation of the characters years later, some were done better than others but overall I had no major issues. Wickham is as dastardly as ever and it was satisfying seeing his downfall. I loved the new characters introduced, Miss Tilney and young Mr. Darcy. They will definitely carry this series far

This wasn't quite as good as I was hoping it would be. It was fun though, and I want to read the sequel. Having just finished Mansfield Park, I think my favorite part was how stuffy and unpopular Edmund was! 😂

September Fiction #ReadingBracket2023 update
Loved revisiting with favorite characters in this Austen-inspired murder mystery 🕵🏼‍♀️

#SummerEndReadathon #Rushathon #SeriesLove2023

Finished this earlier than scheduled for #Pemberlittens #JaneAdjacent but work is keeping me scrambling & I‘m just reviewing now. This was good fun. I have to admit, at the beginning I was not happy with some of the choices the author made with the characters & their HEAs & marital bliss but overall, she redeemed herself (except Fanny & Edmund didn‘t get much 💜 but they are my least favorite ⬇️

This book was a delight. And the killer was not someone I would have predicted. 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟#PemberLittens #JaneAdjacent

A fun exploration of Austen characters, thrown together by a house party, with murder. That the murder is of Mr. Wickham makes it a bit of a cozy mystery element (the hated character of the group). I think Gray cleverly weaves the characters and the storylines together, introducing offspring of well known couples from Austen‘s books. Admittedly, I was a bit puzzled by the austere and prim characters of the Bertrams, especially Fanny ⬇️⬇️⬇️

I read this as a buddy read with #pemberlittens. We connected each day after reading two chapters. The buddy read experience is 5 stars, the book though gets 3 stars from me. Wickham being murdered?
10 out of 10 recommend. #janeadjacent

I love it when retellings end up being even more satisfying than you‘re hoping! I thought this was a blast! A mishmash of Austen characters meet up for a house party long after the curtains have closed on all their stories, murder ensues, and a couple of their teenage children decide to play Nancy Drew because the local police seem incompetent. Thanks for choosing this one @StayCurious ! #pemberlittens

This book was delightful. Gray brought so many characters together from Jane Austen‘s books for a murder mystery in a way that seemed authentic and humorous at the same time. I can‘t wait to get my hands on the next one!

Thanks @StayCurious for leading us and the rest of the #PemberLittens for adding to the fun.

While this one started with an interesting premise, the glaring anachronisms especially regarding the Edmund/Fanny/blackmail plotline really wore on me. The pacing was all over the place, the constant POV-jumps wearing, and while I initially felt like the couples' drama made sense, it started to grate on me after a while. The scene where Elizabeth gets drunk was really where this book started to completely lose me. I didn't find the ending ⬇

#Pemberlittens #JaneAdjacent Ch.22-23: what a reveal! But do we believe it or is Colonel Brandon covering for someone out of chivalry? His wife perhaps? I still don‘t think things are quite resolved - but I was happy to see progress with Fanny and her secret, with Elizabeth helping with the investigation, and with Churchill giving his blessing to investigate (no doubt b/c Jonathan and Juliet are doing a better job than he!). We‘ll finish tomorrow!

My friend and I are in Helen, GA for a quick girl‘s weekend and I couldn‘t resist stopping for a quick read!

#Pemberlittens #JaneAdjacent Ch.20-21: Poor Juliet! First to be chastised by the elder Mr.Darcy, then to be questioned on the discovery of evidence in her room - how mortifying and terrifying! At least some of our couples are actually speaking to each other again. The Wentworths are making progress, as are the Knightleys and the Darcys- ⬇️

#Pemberlittens #JaneAdjacent Ch.18-19: ooh those Eltons- their arrival was a funny scene. They came to show how much more righteous they are and they got schooled by the other clergyman. While I don‘t much like Edmund, I appreciated this. Juliet and Jonathan are eager for the ball - more so as a chance to investigate. The others in the party have mixed feelings. How will the ball go I wonder?

Really enjoyed this one. Her take on familiar characters felt mostly true, but I think it was smart to make the investigative team offspring. Both of whom I liked a lot. Looking forward to the sequel.

#Pemberlittens #JaneAdjacent Ch.16-17: more conversations are had and overheard and now we‘re getting more into the nitty gritty of it all. The estrangement between the Darcys - the reason behind it - is so sad! The estrangement between Fanny and her pompous husband - less so. Although the more we see of her, the more I am coming to suspect her - especially since it was her letter which was discovered in the hearth. ⬇️

#Pemberlittens #JaneAdjacent Ch.14: everyone is starting to see love hearts around Juliet and Jonathan - and that‘s not a good thing. Or is it? It‘s so confusing to the young pair! Jonathan discovers what he believes to be the murder weapon. How should he go about revealing this information to Churchill without drawing the man‘s suspicion? ⬇️

Love this cause it sounds so pretty and musical, but also cause it means exactly the opposite of what I expected it to #weirdwords #weirdwordwednesday @CBee

#Pemberlittens #JaneAdjacent Ch.12: Edmund finally wrings the truth out of Fanny - she gave Wickham her ring in hopes of retrieving a letter from her brother which would expose his secret relationship (a secret I think many of us guessed at). Edmund reacts poorly as expected of his character, his profession and the times. And it pisses timid Fanny off.⬇️

#Pemberlittens #JaneAdjacent Ch.10: ooh, they discover a ring in Wickham‘s room -at first I thought Fanny lost it while searching through the room for her letter, but we soon learn that she gave it to Wickham as payment. Her husband must suspect something surely…but like with the other couples in this story, a lot goes unsaid. I‘m so invested in this book! Who did it?Who?!Ch.11: we are introduced to Grace Churchill and she seems like a nice girl⬇️

#readingindisney yesterday at EPCOT. I might be a little ahead now…..

#Pemberlittens #JaneAdjacent Ch.9: the investigation continues with Juliet & Jonathan spending more time together which is noticed by Darcy, Jonathan‘s father. He decides to let it be for now-Juliet doesn‘t seem to be a fortune hunter. Fanny, Marianne & Wentworth are all visibly upset-Fanny most of all. Wickham‘s chamber is found to be ransacked. Was Fanny desperately looking for her letter? Also, would we like to change to 2 or 3 chapters a day?

#Pemberlittens #JaneAdjacent Ch.8: the interviews begin - first with the Wentworths and then the Darcys. Already some lies have been given - known only to Juliet and Jonathan. How are they going to be able to expose a killer if some are unwilling to tell the truth? Only by working together I think.

Jeez Louise school is kicking my butt! Saturday morning is for getting caught up on all my reads #nobodytalktomemyearsarebroken

I only meant to stay here long enough to catch up on my chapter a day reads, but now Daisy is comfortable. I guess I need to read a while longer.

#Pemberlittens #JaneAdjacent Ch.7: Jonathan and Juliet discuss the suspects - they make a list of the guests and try to deduce who had a proper motive. I love how they‘re working together in a clandestine manner - so naughty 😁“How unfortunate for public morals that being unladylike feels so…exciting”

#Pemberlittens #JaneAdjacent Ch.6: how interesting to read how a murder investigation was conducted back in the 1800s! I love how both Jonathan and Juliet are eager to find out more despite what propriety dictates. I think they‘ll probably be better at it than Churchill.

Do you ever sit down for a snack and belatedly realize you‘ve eaten the entire bag/box/ice cream container? My kiddo calls it a snaccident, and I…kinda did it with the tagged book. I was going to read ahead a bit as this weekend promises very little reading time, and then I just…kept going. I promise no spoilers and will follow the daily updates gladly!
#PemberLittens

Happy National Read a Book Day! (in the U.S.)
Here is what I‘m reading today:

I joined the chapter a day read along for Mr. Wickham.

Just Don‘t Fall is the first of the fall vibes “Sweater Weather” rom-com series dropping once a week for six weeks by different authors.

Summer Melt is an audible novella that seemed a good choice for one last summer themed read.

#Pemberlittens #JaneAdjacent Ch.5: Duh Duh Duh…..! What a great chapter and lead up to what we‘ve all been waiting for. This author really knows how to build suspense. I honestly can‘t think of who the culprit is in our cast of characters. Now, on to the solving!

#Pemberlittens #JaneAdjacent Ch.4: The rain continues and they cannot toss Wickham out into the storm - despite desperately wanting to. Knightly and Emma have a plan to drag Wickham to court but will Wickham cooperate or fight back with a plan of his own? Wickham continues to ingratiate himself to the members of the house party and really at this point, anyone could have a motive to get rid of him. Very cleverly written.

#Pemberlittens #JaneAdjacent Ch.3: I love how the author is showing so many of these characters will have a motive to get rid of Wickham. She‘s building up suspense for sure. Wickham is engaged in blackmail now - I have a guess as to what Fanny‘s secret is: what do you think? And how does Brandon know him?

#weeklyforecast

#Pemberlittens #JaneAdjacent Ch.2: Oh that horrible Mr.Wickham! We learn a bit about his investment scheme and about some of the victims - the Wentworths included. The houseguests are so angry that some propriety is forgotten as they speak freely about the scoundrel. Fanny goes up to her room only to find Wickham lurking there with her letters - the nerve! But then, it makes us curious as to what she is hiding.

#Pemberlittens #JaneAdjacent Ch.1: the month long (!) house party begins - starting off better for some than for others. I love that we see the perspectives of all these different characters. Juliet and Jonathan have a meet cute - ok…maybe not haha. And the party is crashed by the dastardly Mr.Wickham.

Such a busy work week that culminated in an early flight to Hilo yesterday to spend all day in a quarterly business review , lead the lunchtime activity, present my department‘s slides in the afternoon & fly back last night. 😵‍💫

In need of recovery, this morning I treated myself to a savory breakfast bowl & a latte, along with the first chapters of this book for our #PemberLittens #JaneAdjacent read-along for September.

#Pemberlittens #JaneAdjacent Prologue: This very interesting beginning introduces and reintroduces characters to us that will play a part in our upcoming mystery. It was great to see where some of our favourite characters are now - sad in some instances - but I think so far the author has done a great job of drawing in new and old fans of Jane alike.

I love the first day of the month when all of the buddy read start again!! @StayCurious #pemberlittens

Starts tomorrow!

Today‘s library #bookhaul was mostly for the kiddo (standard) but I‘m ready for #PemberLittens September buddy read.

I told a friend the title of this book and she just shrugged and said, “Well, somebody should.”