Litsy

Too Soon | Betty Shamieh

pick

#ToB #shortlist

Arabella, a New York theatre director from a Palestinian family, is old at 35 to not be married (!). She has growing feelings for her Israeli friend so, when she gets the opportunity to direct a show in the West Bank, she agrees to meet Aziz, arranged for her by her grandmother.

This had a very similar underlying plotline to Enter Ghost by Isabella Hammad, but in the style of Xóchitl González books - I loved it!

Hooked_on_books, Deblovestoread, merelybookish, Bookwormjillk, Chelsea.Poole, BarbaraBB, sarahbarnes, ChaoticMissAdventures, Lesliereadsalot

Chelsea.Poole Glad to see the love for this one! I‘m looking forward now 😊 8h

BarbaraBB I forgot all about Enter Ghost but am very much looking forward to this one 8h

Hooked_on_books I was thinking of Enter Ghost when reading this post and then, there it was! But then mixed with Xochitl Gonzalez? That sounds great! 8h

See All 6 Comments

Lesliereadsalot Sounds great! 8h

ChaoticMissAdventures I am on a wait list at the library for this. It says 2 weeks, it sounds good! 6h

sarahbarnes I am interested in this one. Sounds good! 2h

51 likes2 stack adds6 comments

BkClubCare

The Dream Hotel | Laila Lalami

#WinterCampLitsy ❄️🏕️📚 My nominees are... 🥁

I believe The Dream Hotel might have been on my noms for summer camp? ☺️ And yes, you'll notice that I try very hard to nominate/vote women authors. I know Mobius won't likely be on the winning slate but I haven't read enough! #ToB

tpixie The Correspondent was one of my 2 favorite books of 2025! Also

My Friends

10h

BkClubCare @tpixie - not the Hisham Matar? 😉 9h

BkClubCare My swap for Mobius might be

So Far Gone

(edited) 9h

See All 7 Comments

BarbaraBB Greta choices. I loved The Correspondent so much. 8h

Caroline2 Great choices! 😃 👏 8h

tpixie @BkClubCare 😝 no not that author‘s 😝 Although, that may be good, also! (edited) 6h

tpixie @BarbaraBB me too! 6h

40 likes7 comments

Chelsea.Poole

Seduction Theory | Emily Adrian

so-so

#ToB long list title that I wouldn‘t have picked up otherwise. Affairs in academia have been done to death and this just continues the same story we‘ve seen a million times. I guess every up and coming author thinks they can do it better. Simone (beautiful, smart) and her husband each have affairs. But Simone‘s is with the narrator of this book, defending her thesis. It was fine but I don‘t think I‘ll remember it. But I love that cover!

Chelsea.Poole #tob26 long list 16h

willaful *yawn*

How do these keep getting published and praised?! 10h

49 likes2 comments

fredthemoose

Wake Up, Rooster!: An Animal Friends Reader | Liza Charlesworth

It‘s here! The #ToB shortlist! But, ugh, it‘s a bunch of the books I looked at and thought, “maybe this one won‘t make it… 🤞” Oh well, here we go! #ToB26

https://www.tournamentofbooks.com/the-2026-shortlist

Ruthiella Let‘s hope you are happily surprised if you read those you were less enthused about. 🤞 23h

BarbaraBB That‘s what I always hope for too @Ruthiella 😊although I am pretty happy either way this year‘s shortlist! And there‘s #WintercampLitsy of course, where we Littens will vote for three more reads to read in January and February. We are known for our excellent taste lol 😂 21h

fredthemoose @Ruthiella Thank you—I‘m sure I will be! I looked closer and there are several I‘m looking forward to. But I may just let myself skip We Love You, Bunny and assume it‘s not for me… 16h

See All 7 Comments

fredthemoose @BarbaraBB I‘m definitely looking forward to #WintercampLitsy! I‘m sure there will be several I like and wouldn‘t have come across otherwise. There‘s so much to read in the next 3 months! 16h

BarbaraBB So much to read indeed 😊 15h

Chelsea.Poole I don‘t want to read Bunny either 😝 12h

fredthemoose @Chelsea.Poole Thank you for understanding! I read Rouge and was not a fan. Bunny is definitely going in the lower priority tier… 12h

39 likes7 comments

BarbaraBB

Shortlisted: Women in the Shadows of the Supreme Court | Melissa Murray, Hannah Brenner Johnson, Renee Knake Jefferson

#ToB26 Shortlist is here!
I am moderately happy with it. I have read 3, am in the middle of one, and have another 6 on my shelves. About the others I am not sure yet. Bunny again? Don‘t think so. Also I have never heard of some! Anyhow, excited for the #ToB and for #WintercampLitsy, where we will read three not-nominated books!

BkClubCare, Hooked_on_books, Deblovestoread, merelybookish, Bookwormjillk, Chelsea.Poole, squirrelbrain, sarahbarnes, ChaoticMissAdventures

Bookwormjillk I have only read one! Excited for the others though and of course Winter Camp. 1d

ChaoticMissAdventures I have read 3 also. LOVED

The Buffalo Hunter Hunter

Bookwormjillk @ChaoticMissAdventures good to hear I downloaded that yesterday 1d

See All 29 Comments

BarbaraBB @ChaoticMissAdventures It‘s very expensive here so I hope I can get a copy one way or another 1d

sarahbarnes That was too fast! I‘m okay with this list, but there are lots of others I would have liked to see on here. 1d

BarbaraBB @sarahbarnes Me too. But we can vote for them for #Wintercamplitsy 1d

Deblovestoread I have read zero (not surprised). I own 2, won‘t read 2 (Buffalo and Bunny), my library or Libby has all the rest but 1 so I am set. Looking forward to the vote for #Wintercamplitsy 1d

Megabooks I‘ve read 7 including all three play in round, which is a first! I own 6 more. The only one I‘m completely not interested in Burnjng Heart, but I will probably read it anyway. #completist 😂 1d

merelybookish I do always wish they'd give us a bit more time with the long list. I have read two of the picks and two of the play-ins. And none of the ones I currently have from the library made it. 1d

squirrelbrain I‘ve read 4 and am reading 3 more right now. I won‘t read Bunny and I bailed on Katabasis so I won‘t be a completist. Just keep telling yourself that‘s fine, Helen, you don‘t NEED to be a completist! 1d

Hooked_on_books I‘ve read 7 and either have or have on hold 6 more. There‘s 3 I just won‘t read (Bunny, the Catch, Katabasis), so I for sure won‘t be a completist. But it‘ll still be fun! 1d

BarbaraBB @Deblovestoread I won‘t read Bunny either. I have heard good things about Buffalo but it is very expensive here. 1d

BarbaraBB @Megabooks That‘s a lot! I think I will read Burning Heart and skip two play-in‘s ( I am reading If You Love It right now) as well as Metallic- which doesnt appeal to me. 1d

BarbaraBB @squirrelbrain I won‘t read Bunny either but I do have a copy of Katabasis. Will try it and see what I‘ll think. 1d

BarbaraBB @Hooked_on_books You‘ve read a lot of them already. I won‘t read Bunny either, Katabasis I probably will though it doesn‘t appeal. And The Catch seems okay, have you heard bad things? 1d

BkClubCare I've read ZERO NIL ZED ZILCH. 😫 First time in a decade of following ToB. I've heard Katabasis works well via audio so I'll commit to it. I don't think I have it in me to be a completist and I'm both 💔 and relieved. (edited) 1d

BarbaraBB @BkClubCare I can imagine it being a relief somehow too! Thanks for the suggestion of doing Katabasis on audio. That might work for me too 1d

Chelsea.Poole I‘ve been wondering when we‘d get the short list! Seems a bit later than last year. Thanks for the nice compilation! I‘ll screenshot. I‘ve read 8 and I‘ve just started The Unveiling today on audio. I really, really do not want to read Bunny. If no one else is, maybe I‘ll give it a pass as well. One go with that was enough for me with the first book. 1d

BarbaraBB @Chelsea.Poole You‘ve read 8! Wow! What is your favorite so far? I think a few of us won‘t read Bunny (see comments above!) I agree once was enough. More than! 1d

squirrelbrain Wow, 8! @Chelsea.Poole - you certainly picked well! 1d

Hooked_on_books I kept looking at The Catch when it first came out because I love the cover. But reviews were making me think I wouldn‘t like it. 1d

Lesliereadsalot Impressive! I haven‘t read one. Oh wait, I think I started The Catch and bailed. Flesh too. I‘m not doing very well here! (edited) 1d

kwmg40 I haven't read any of these yet. I don't have much hope of completing the list in time but I usually manage to get through at least two-thirds of the list each year. There are a few that I'm really looking forward to reading. 1d

ChasingOm I just picked up The Endling from my library today. It will be the only one I‘ve read, lol. 1d

Jas16 I‘ve read four of them and will likely try to read a couple more but overall I am just not enthusiastic about this list so won‘t push myself to read them all. 1d

BarbaraBB @Hooked_on_books I haven‘t read any, just the premise. Better if I won‘t go and check out those reviews I think 😉 21h

BarbaraBB @Lesliereadsalot @kwmg40 @ChasingOm @Jas16 I don‘t think I‘ll read all of them either but I know there are always some surprisingly good reads among those chosen so I will try to read the books I can get a copy of! 21h

Chelsea.Poole @squirrelbrain @BarbaraBB I misspoke —currently reading my 8th from this list which is The Unveiling. I‘m taking my time because it‘s hard to keep my footing with it. Seems trippy but I‘m not into it far enough to know for sure what‘s going on. 13h

BarbaraBB @Chelsea.Poole Another one I am interested in although Quan Barry is always hit or miss for me 9h

55 likes29 comments

ChaoticMissAdventures

Killer Potential | Hannah Deitch

Neighborhood walk

Listening to the tagged #ToB. The mom.in this has the same name as the mom in my other, completely unrelated current read Meet The Newmans.
It always throws me and I get so distracted on how 2 random books pick an unusual name (Dinah) and I happen to pick them up at the same time!

willaful I'm reading two missing person mysteries and am so confused! 2d

ChaoticMissAdventures @willaful oh yes! I have to read things set at different times or about totally different things. These are totally different, just Randy one name the same! 2d

sarahbarnes I‘m listening to this on audio right now, too! I‘m very entertained by the story - not the kind of book I would normally pick up. And that‘s a great Christmas decor choice. 😆 2d

41 likes3 comments

LitsyEvents

Nols Winter Camping (Special) | Buck Tilton, John Gookin

repost for @BarbaraBB, @squirrelbrain, @hooked_on_books

#WinterCampLitsy

Dear #camplitsy friends you wanted a Winter Camp and we‘re delivering!

Once the #ToB shortlist is out, we‘ll vote for 3 books that didn‘t make it and read/discuss from mid-January.

Unfortunately our lovely Meg is under the weather and will be hibernating for now. However, Helen and I are delighted to welcome Holly @hooked_on_books to keep the campfire burning!

squirrelbrain Thanks for reposting! 4d

BarbaraBB Thanks for the repost! Everyone‘s welcome to join in 💕 4d

38 likes2 comments

merelybookish

Palaver | Bryan Washington

pick

An intricate story about a mother/son relationship. The mother arrives uninvited in Tokyo to see her son after many years apart. He is not pleased but they reach an uneasy truce & try to find ways to get along. Both mother and son spend time apart in Tokyo & in their heads, remembering what led to the distance between them. Both feel misunderstood. But over the course of her visit, they both grow and relations between them thaw. The novel moves 👇

merelybookish back and forth between the mother and son's perspectives and shifts a lot around in time. I found it took some concentration to listen to, and expect it would be better in print. I appreciated the depth of the characters and the complexity of their relationship. But my favourite part was the setting. I enjoyed wandering through the streets of Tokyo with them. #tob 5d

merelybookish @Bookwormjillk @BarbaraBB @sarahbarnes @Hooked_on_books @Chelsea.Poole @Lesliereadsalot @squirrelbrain @Deblovestoread 5d

sarahbarnes I‘m waiting for this one from the library. The setting is definitely a big part of what interested me. Great review. 5d

See All 14 Comments

Lesliereadsalot Sounds terrific! 5d

Hooked_on_books Great review! He did so much in such a slim book. If you get a chance, take a look at the print or ebook—it has pictures of Tokyo sprinkled through it. I loved their inclusion. 5d

Chelsea.Poole I‘m probably only going to get to this if it makes the shortlist. 5d

BarbaraBB Great review. I can‘t wait to read it and wandering through Tokyo with them 5d

squirrelbrain Great review! I loved the photos too @Hooked_on_books 5d

merelybookish @sarahbarnes The setting and the food are highlights! 5d

merelybookish @Hooked_on_books @squirrelbrain Im sorry I missed out! Another reason why it would be better in print. 5d

merelybookish @BarbaraBB As a traveller, I think you'll enjoy the setting! Have been to Tokyo? 5d

merelybookish @Chelsea.Poole I feel about this book what you said in your last review. That it's a book I can appreciate and not necessarily one I loved. 5d

merelybookish @Lesliereadsalot It's worth a read! 5d

BarbaraBB @merelybookish I just last week returned from Tokyo. Such a great place to be 🥰 4d

48 likes14 comments

BarbaraBB

Winter Fun | Rita Schlachter

#WinterCampLitsy

Dear #camplitsy friends! Grab your furry sleeping bag: you wanted a Winter Camp and we‘re delivering!

Once the #ToB shortlist is out, we‘ll vote for 3 books that didn‘t make it and read/discuss from mid-January.

Unfortunately our lovely Meg is under the weather and will be hibernating for now. She‘ll join us again in summer. However, Helen and I are delighted to welcome Holly @hooked_on_books to keep the campfire burning!

Megabooks, squirrelbrain, LitsyEvents

BarbaraBB @Addison_Reads @Amiable @AmyG @BarbaraJean @Bkclubcare @BooksandCoffee4me @Bookbuyingaddict @BookNAround @Bookwormjillk @Butterfinger 5d

BarbaraBB @CogsOfEncouragement @Cseydel @Cuilin @Dabbe @Daisey @DavidDiamond @Debinhawaii @Deblovestoread @DGRachel @ErikasMindfulshelf @Flaneurette @fredthemoose 5d

BarbaraBB @BookwormAHN @Cariashley @Caroline2 @Catlass007 @CatGusMax @CarolynM @CBee @CatMS @ChaoticMissAdventures @Chelsea.Poole @Christine 5d

See All 76 Comments

BarbaraBB @Gatheringbooks @Gissy @Graciouswarriorprincess @ImperfectCJ @JamieArc @Jas16 @Jenniferw88 5d

BarbaraBB @JenP @Jenreadsalot @Jess @Jhod @JoyBlue @JulesG @julieclair @Karisa @Kitta @Kristy-K @Kspenmoll @kwmg40 @Larkken @Laughterhp @LeeRHarry @Leniverse @Lesliereadsalot @maggie4483 5d

BarbaraBB @Mcctrish @maich @MeganAnn @Merelybookish @Meshell1313 @Monalyisha @Oryx @peaKnit @Prairiegirl_reading @PuddleJumper @quietjenn 5d

BarbaraBB @Read4Life @RaeLovesToRead @Reggie @rockpools @Roary47 @Ruthiella @Sace @Sapphire @Sarahbarnes @Soubhiville @Skygoddess1 @Suet624 @Susanita @Texreader @sblbooks 5d

mcctrish Woo Hoo! I‘ve never loved winter camping until now 5d

BarbaraBB @TheBookHippie @Thekidupstairs @TheBookDream @Triplem80 @TrishB @Vonnie862 @Well-ReadNeck @willaful @youneverarrived @yourfavouritemixtape @zukeeyah 5d

sarahbarnes Fun!! 5d

Prairiegirl_reading Ooooo sounds fun!! 5d

Deblovestoread This makes my day! You are the best ❤️ @BarbaraBB @squirrelbrain and @Hooked_on_books We will miss you @Megabooks Wishing you a speedy recovery ❤️‍🩹 5d

JenReadsAlot No way?! So excited! 5d

Suet624 How nice of you all to do this. Thank you so much. @megabooks please get better soon 5d

Ruthiella Awesome! 😎 Hope you feel better soon @Megabooks ❤️. Welcome new camp counselor @Hooked_on_books ! We promise not to prank you! 😜 Thanks a million for organizing @BarbaraBB and @squirrelbrain . You guys are amazing. 🤩 5d

dabbe W🤩WZA! Thanks for doing this! And hope you feel better soon, @Megabooks! ♥️💙💚 5d

Jess Wow! This made my day. Thanks for doing this! Sending hugs and positive vibes to @Megabooks 5d

Bookwormjillk Nice!!! Feel better @Megabooks 5d

squirrelbrain So excited to be doing this, our first Winter Camp! I‘ve got some big mittens, a hat that covers my ears and a cosy onesie - should be warm enough, I think! ☺️ 5d

Lesliereadsalot What a great idea! So fun ⛄️🧤🧣 5d

TheKidUpstairs Yay! So excited four some Winter Camping! 5d

TrishB Cool 👍🏻 5d

KLyn1 This is fun!! Please add me to tags ☺️📚 5d

Karisa 💗💗💗 5d

BarbaraBB @KLyn1 Will do! 5d

Skygoddess1 Can‘t wait to see what we‘ll be reading 5d

DGRachel I can‘t wait! 5d

Hooked_on_books I can‘t wait! I‘m so excited to be joining the crew until Meg returns. And thanks @Ruthiella , though if you change your mind and prank anyway, know that I prank back! 😈 5d

CBee Eek!!! Amazing! Can‘t wait 😁 5d

fredthemoose Fun!! Thanks @BarbaraBB @squirrelbrain and @Hooked_on_books ! I was just going through the long list to find titles I wanted to read and now I feel better about plowing ahead with them regardless of short list status! Looking forward to having you back when you‘re ready @Megabooks ! 5d

jenniferw88 I've definitely signed up for too many things, so please don't tag me for winter! I'm still going to do summer though 🤣 5d

Leniverse OMG, is it that time again? Have I even looked at the TOB longlist? I'm so confuzzled 😂 Going to have a look now. 5d

BarbaraBB @jenniferw88 We‘ll see you in Summer then 😘 5d

GatheringBooks Woohoo! Excited for this. 😍 5d

AmyG There is a winter Camp? What? 🙌🏻 Please tell me @Megabooks I hope she feels well soon. (edited) 5d

rockpools How exciting! I‘m about ready for a holiday 😁. I‘m so out of touch, the books will all be new to me. Which is great! I wonder if anyone‘ll be sneaking the bramble whisky in 🤔😇 5d

CogsOfEncouragement ❄️ Looking forward to it! ❄️ 5d

ChaoticMissAdventures 💓 💓 💓 Amazing news! 5d

LeeRHarry I‘m sure I‘ll be desperate for some colder weather by then! And ready for books I‘ve probably never heard of! 😁 Feel better soon @Megabooks 💕 5d

BarbaraBB @Prairiegirl_reading @sarahbarnes @mcctrish @Deblovestoread @JenReadsAlot @Suet624 @Ruthiella @dabbe @jess @Bookwormjillk @Lesliereadsalot @TheKidUpstairs @TrishB @Karisa So glad you‘re as excited as we are! Will be a fun camp- with mittens, onesies and bramble whisky 😊 @squirrelbrain @Hooked_on_books 5d

BarbaraBB @Skygoddess1 @DGRachel @CBee @fredthemoose @Leniverse @GatheringBooks @AmyG @rockpools @CogsOfEncouragement @ChaoticMissAdventures @LeeRHarry So glad you‘re as excited as we are! Will be a fun camp- with mittens, onesies and bramble whisky 😊 @squirrelbrain @Hooked_on_books 5d

Larkken Yes, please!! Very excited for this :) 5d

Jas16 January is going to be a crazy month for me but I am going to really try to participate. Sending well wishes to @Megabooks 5d

CatLass007 Please include me. 5d

peaKnit I appreciate the tag and look forward to winter camping! 5d

Christine Exciting!! 5d

JamieArc What a great surprise! I will look forward to cozying in with our winter camp reading! 5d

Soubhiville Oh fun! I am so into it! 5d

BkClubCare Oh Yes! 👏 👏 👏 👏 5d

Meshell1313 OMG! Best Christmas present ever! I‘m soo in! ⛺️☃️❄️ 5d

BarbaraJean Oh, how fun!! And the timing is perfect—the announcement arrived before I made any of my usual resolutions about reading my own books 😂 5d

julieclair Oh wow…. this is soooo tempting…. but I‘m making an effort to read books I already own, so I‘m going to skip Winter Camp. 😔 Thanks for the tag, AND thanks for doing this! 5d

Roary47 Sounds fun! I‘m willing to join. 😍 5d

Chelsea.Poole Ohh yeah! 🔥 🏕️ ❄️ 📚 ☕️🌲🏔️ Thinking of @megabooks 🤍 Thanks @Hooked_on_books for joining and as ever, @squirrelbrain and @BarbaraBB 5d

Texreader Yay! Yay! Yay! 5d

BookwormAHN So excited 🩵❄️🩵 5d

Hooked_on_books @BarbaraJean 🤣 5d

Hooked_on_books @Chelsea.Poole I‘m so excited to be a part of camp in a new way for me! 5d

BarbaraBB @Larkken @Jas16 @CatLass007 @peaKnit @christine @JamieArc @Soubhiville @BkClubCare @Meshell1313 @BarbaraJean @Roary47 @Chelsea.Poole @Texreader @BookwormAHN Happy you‘re as excited as we are 💕 5d

BarbaraBB @julieclair Thank you! We‘ll see you in Summer! 5d

Reggie So excited!!!! 😊 5d

Caroline2 Say what??? Winter Camp Litsy?!?! Yayyyyyyyy!!!!! 🥳 super excited for this!! 😃 5d

BarbaraBB @Reggie @Caroline2 Yess ✨ we‘ll tag you when the shortlist has been announced and we (Helen of course, we‘re talking spreadsheets here) ar sure what books to add to the vote form! @squirrelbrain 4d

Cuilin Winter camping, cool. Depending on book choice being available with library holds etc.. I think this is fabulous. Looking forward to it. 4d

BarbaraBB @Cuilin Great! We‘ll keep you posted 💕 4d

kspenmoll Please include me! 4d

BarbaraBB @kspenmoll Definitely 👍🏽 4d

Gissy 🙋🏽‍♀️ 4d

Butterfinger Yes, please. 4d

BarbaraBB @Gissy @Butterfinger Any day now we expect to share the voting form with you! 🤞🏽💕 3d

Kitta Winter camp!!!!! 🏕️ this is great I‘m so excited. 3d

Well-ReadNeck Yay! Let‘s go!! ❄️ 1d

KT1432 Every summer I miss out on this and then wish I had joined. I‘d love to be added for winter! 9h

BarbaraBB @KT1432 You are very welcome! Now is the time to vote. See @squirrelbrain ‘s post about that. We‘ll keep you posted about the winning books and when we‘ll read them! (edited) 8h

BarbaraBB @Well-ReadNeck 🫶🏽 8h

KT1432 Okay great!! 6h

101 likes76 comments

Hooked_on_books

The Pelican Child | Joy Williams

pan

I‘m glad I read this so I could finish out my reading of the #NBAlonglist for fiction, but it just didn‘t work for me at all. The stories just gave me nothing to hang onto. I‘m a bit disappointed that other books I read this year weren‘t on this list and this one was.

squirrelbrain I was just looking at my NBA spreadsheet (😝) last night and wondered about reading this one, so thank you for your review! Just one to go now for me from the list, which is also on #ToB - Volume. (edited) 6d

Chelsea.Poole I am so drawn to this thanks to the cover but I read elsewhere that the stories weren‘t worthwhile so now that I see your review too I‘ll pass on this…but I would take this cover art as a print to hang on my wall 😆 6d

34 likes2 comments

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