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Sometimes I don‘t like grump-sunshine romances because both of the MCs seem too extreme and unrealistic, like the sunshine heroine will be too zany for real life. In this one, the sunshine is grieving and the grump helps her through it, and I was not annoyed. Some really heartwarming scenes in this one 💗

This past week the world lost this bright, beautiful, sassy, cat loving girl. We were lucky to have Willow for 5 years, and I‘m so glad she‘s pain free at long last. I bought this little one so many books over the years- her favorite, along with her cousins, was I Eat Poop, about a dung beetle. So, for Willow, gift or donate a book to child, read to them, treasure the memories. She shone so bright, we can still feel her warmth. 💚🎗️

Thanks to everyone for your kind thoughts today. This year felt worse for some reason. I guess it always comes and goes. I called my oldest son by my brother‘s name about five times this Christmas so I suppose I should have realized something was up. Anyway, we made it through. And then we stopped by the library and I got another library card for my collection. That‘s three in two weeks. Three different counties. :)

#grief
#library
#life

Highly emotional and perfectly written book about a sad but beautiful love story of two people made for each other. Story that shows sad ending could be beginning of something beautiful and sacred.

#madeforme #careshmehfrenchdean #careshmehdean #grief #hope

A sad meditation on grief following Didion‘s husband‘s sudden death. Don‘t look for answers on how to move on. Very powerful. Read it slowly.

‘Grief is chronic pain. When will others allow the mourning to live without expecting them to be “cured”?‘

This was a heavy way to start 2026, but what a book.

This was my favorite read in September. I won‘t have a favorite for October. #12booksof2025

Interesting wordless picture book about a girl who finds a golden rock and we learn the history of where that golden rock originated and what it went through to get to her hands. Beautiful illustrations.

BEST READS OF 2025

FICTION
I See You‘ve Called in Dead
Heart the Lover & Writers and Lovers
Wreck
Razorblade Tears
Woodworking
The Garden
So Far Gone
The Correspondent
Run for the Hills
All the Colors of the Dark
Wild Dark Shore
Buckeye
The Sign for Home
The Emperor of Gladness
Eddie Winston is Looking for Love

MEMOIR
Awake

NONFICTION
Everything is Tuberculosis

POETRY
Lord of the Butterflies

#bestof2025

Local author Kao Kalia Yang won the Minnesota Book Award in three categories this year! This one, her first middle grade novel, was my May #BookSpin pick. The story is inspired by her little brother‘s experiences, and it‘s dedicated to him. 💕 (Pictured with her three memoirs; I‘ve read the most recent, plan to read the other two in the coming year.)