This author is a comfort read for me and I‘ll always pick up her books. This one follows two friends on a solo trip through Venice, Florence, and Lake Como. One woman is trying to find a better work/life balance. The other is struggle with past trauma impacting her view of the world. Through cooking classes and unexpected kindnesses from strangers, the pair both have breakthroughs in their lives.

Number 10 in the series begins with an Indian woman being murdered. Maisie is on the case while trying to make some big decisions about what to do next in her own life. This is definitely a transition book and it moves the story forward wonderfully. I loved learning more about the woman who was murdered and her strong, vibrant personality. Her fearlessness and uncompromising attitude reminded me of Maisie.

Absolutely horrific. This picks up where book 1 left off, but it is 1000% times darker. Lauren is living with the Earthseed community she's built. Jarret has been elected president based on a platform of "Make America Great Again" & stamp out difference. Sound familiar? That‘s why the vigilante justice that becomes popular is all the more disturbing. It doesn't feel too far from reality. An incredibly painful book to read, but an important one.

Put this on your list for a perfect October read. It‘s a short story that says a lot in just a few pages. When a visitor brings a cursed monkey‘s paw back from his travels and claims it will grant the owner three wishes, he also warns them not to use it. Ray Bradbury cites this as the inspiration for one of his stories in The Martian Chronicles. I‘ll be thinking about this one for a long time.

I loved the first 2 books in this series. Just pure delight. And while there were sections in this one that felt that way, the plot felt too scattered. It was trying to follow so many different character threads and kept jumping around at the worst moments. I loved the different twists in this book, but I just kept finding myself not wanting to pick it up. I‘ll definitely finish the series if there‘s another one, but my expectations will be lower.

Harold & Maureen are an older retired couple in England. When he hears that his old coworker and friend is dying, he decides to walk hundreds of miles to visit her in hospice. That simple premise leads to unexpected friendships & quiet processing of painful past moments. It's not a book with big plot twists, but instead is an introspective novel about how our choices & the people around us shape our world. It was lovely to spend time with Harold.

Stoner‘s life is a quiet one, but it‘s full of inner turmoil. An unhappy marriage, a contentious colleague, a moral dilemma, etc. It reminded me of Jayber Crow. The writing is so raw & relatable, you can't help but see yourself in Stoner's small struggles. And that's the brilliance of this book. It captures the inevitability of life. It's repetition, disappointments & joys. No matter what you face, there are shared experiences that connect us.

The cover makes it look like a frothy romcom, but it hits some big issues hard. Samantha & Xavier fall in love, but she's moving to be a full-time caregiver for a parent w/dementia. It‘s hard to put down & I wanted to read it, but it was also painful & a bit depressing if you're in the midst of a similar situation. The lengths the pair goes to felt a bit ridiculous, but if you can suspend disbelief & ignore the characters' burnout, it's good.

I love this book so much! Rereading it reminded me of how Anne and Captain Wentworth‘s maturity leads to a deeper connection when they are reunited. They better understand life and their own foibles. They appreciate true connection when they find it and learn to trust their own decisions and worth. I loved reading it with @BkClubCare and this gorgeous edition from her full of letters and maps made it even more special. #persuasion2025

I‘m completely in for the series at this point. I love the characters and I‘m always left wanting to spend more time with them. This one deals with an antiques dealer, an online romance fraud, and some imported heroin that goes missing. Just a heads up that there is some major plot surrounding Elizabeth‘s husband and his dementia diagnosis. We are dealing with the heartbreak of that in my own family and so that was a difficult section.

Bradbury is the master of the short story & this collection is one of his best. It follows multiple trips to Mars from earth. There are so many standouts, but Usher 2, depicting a horror house built to trap book banners, & There Will Come Soft Rains, about the fall out of nuclear disaster on Earth, are two of the most memorable. Bradbury has a unique ability to capture fear, innocence, joy, & longing with a simple phrase. He‘s a forever favorites.

Two thoughts on this one, first I loved that it mentioned the piece of art pictured above by Alma Thomas. I just bought tickets to an exhibit of hers for next month! I love when that happens. Second, the way the author talks about the layers of grief, complications of life, & the anger you can still feel at someone even after they‘ve passed it was very real to me. It was a very realistic picture of grief, particularly when you lose someone young.

I can‘t believe I waited so long to read a book by Colwin. This won‘t be my last! This collection of essays covers meals she loves, dinner parties she‘s hosted and attended, and kitchen disasters that haunt her. She writes with warmth and humor and talks about food in such an accessible way. I loved every second of it and will be finding more of her books. If you have a favorite, let me know!

Ignore this atrocious cover & enjoy the delightful book. The badass twins are back for more adventures. A depraved night club, midnight rides to rescue someone, the adventure level is high as the pair try to clear Lord Evan‘s name. I love the strength they show. The depiction of women not having agency over their own lives is both accurate & terrifying. I am begging the designer to represent these characters w/more dignity & less flowing nonsense.

So much fun! This twist on the Bourne Identity takes an identical twin, whose sister is a spy, and gives her amnesia. It was a tad long for what it was, and the “bad guys found us, we need to escape” loop became repetitive. But it‘s definitely entertaining. I‘m curious if anyone has read the sequel and if it‘s worth picking up. If you haven‘t read the author‘s. “Most Wonderful Crime of the Year”, it should be a must for this holiday season.

“The sweet scenes of autumn were for a while, put by, unless some tender sonnet, fraught with the apt analogy of the declining year, with declining happiness, & the images of youth, & hope, & spring, all gone together, blessed her memory.”

“Nor could she help fearing, on more serious reflection, that, like many other great moralists & preachers, she had been eloquent on a point in which her own conduct would ill bear examination.” #Persuasion2025

If you are interested in this one, you‘re probably already familiar with the author‘s comedy. This is more of the same, and I mean that in the best way possible. It‘s an absolute necessity to listen to it on audio though. The author reads it and I feel like his southern drawl and comedic timing are essential for full enjoyment. It gave me some much-needed belly laughs.

Maralyn & Maurice decide to abandon a traditional life, buy a yacht & sale to New Zealand. Their fascinating true story happened in the 1970s. When their ship sinks, they are trapped on the open water for 118 days. I‘ve seen mixed reviews of this, but I couldn‘t put it down. If it had been a novel I might have been pickier, but this is well researched and made for an enthralling read. I like that she includes what happened after they‘re rescued.

Good advice, though most of it wasn‘t really applicable to me. Helpful to have it broken down into work, family come on friend, etc.

“You can‘t control how you feel. But you can always choose how you act.”

“Focusing on what you can‘t control makes you stressed. Focusing on what you can control makes you powerful.”

“That‘s the problem w/so many adults we‘re all focused on getting it perfect, instead of trying. What ever happened to good enough?”

Jess is dealing with her mother's unexpected death when she finds herself the curator of the Museum of Ordinary People. I loved the idea of preserving people's "useless" mementos. I didn't love the predictability of the story. I wish the end didn't rely so heavily of the "big reveal" concept- one for Jess, one for the museum, and one for Alex! But it was still satisfying.

The way I audibly squealed when I opened this package!!! Hand-folded letters in one of my favorite books in the world! Particularly a book where a letter plays a crucial and beautiful role. @BkClubCare you made my whole month with this. You‘re just the best! #Persuasion2025 #Pemberlittens

Kiela and her talking spider plant Caz escape the burning of their great library in the huge city where they live. They find refuge on the island where she was born, along with the spell books they smuggled to safety. They decide to create a jam shop and soon they are surrounded by new friends like the merhorse herder and the local baker. Cozy to the max and a lovely read. (Warning: the book will make you want to eat toast and jam.)

Kind of meh. A woman & her boyfriend decide to go to a remote island to film a reality TV show. When a storm hits, things get dire quickly. It‘s billed as a Agatha Christie-style And Then There Were None story, but doesn‘t deliver. There‘s no cleverness in the deaths & no overarching theme until it‘s tacked on at the end. The characters are black & white with no development. The Guest List is a better choice if that‘s what you‘re looking for.

Backman can reliably make me laugh & cry on the same page. In this novel we meet a young teen girl whose path crosses with a world-famous artist. What unfolds is the story of his teen years & the friends who changed his life. I‘ve read three Backman books this year and his bittersweet tone has matched the melancholy grief in my soul. His books can feel heavy because he doesn‘t shy away from the hard trauma in life, but he always finds the joy too.

The loveliest Lego typewriter from my cousin. 🌼

Reading Jane Austen‘s lovely Persuasion with @BkClubCare in August. Anyone want to join in? No pressure readalong. We‘re reading at our own pace and commenting as you feel like it. It‘s my favorite Austen novel and I‘m thrilled to revisit it. Tag #Persuasion2025 if you post!

A wonderful second book in the series. We watch Roz in the role she was created for as a helper to humans on a farm. We watch her fight to return to her son. And my favorite part, we get to meet her designer! Excited to read the next book in the series.

I truly don't know how to wait for the next book. I thought this one was focused mainly on Hawke's, his boxing match, his unbridled enthusiasm for Stonecrop, etc. but then each person had their time to shine. We learn about Piece's mysterious and heartbreaking childhood. We see Islington relax into his true self in his home, cello and all! Even Emma finds her wildest self in that magical place. There wasn't a second that I didn't love.

I neglected to read this classic for too many years. It's based on the author's mother's experience as a teacher at a mission school in Appalachia. It can be very heavy-handed with Christy & pastor David's "saving" the local people, but it's also a product of its time. I love the doctor's character and his understanding that you can use science and still respect the people and their traditions.

“Truth could never be wholly contained in words.”

A collection of essays about people in public service with the government. Each one is written by a different author (many well-known). Whether it‘s the judicial system, the IRS, or another thankless job, these essays highlight people who have gone above and beyond in their roles. I loved learning a bit more about their lives and pulling the curtain back. Great on audio.

Delightful. A robot crashes on an island and finds her heart when she becomes a mother to a gosling. The movie is excellent as well, but there‘s a sweetness in the book. Each chapter is a new adventure and challenge. Both my 6 & 9-year-olds loved it. We‘re excited to try the next book in the series since there‘s a bit of a cliffhanger.

It‘s been a long time since a book broke my heart so deeply. I know the people of Beartown & Hed will be with me forever. By the end of the book I had no words, only tears. The stories are filled w/heartbreak, but so is life. For me, experiencing my own tragedy, these books provided a solace that it‘s hard to explain. Isn‘t that the most beautiful thing that books can do? They make us feel connected to others even when we‘re lost in our own pain.

Emma gets her first job as a personal secretary, with disastrous results, of course. She takes a memorable dip into the fountain. She reads Whitman for the first time. This book also has my favorite ending to date. A bit of a cliffhanger, but in gentle Emma style. I‘ve yet to be disappointed by any of the books, but this one is absolutely excellent.

“Thank you, no. I‘ve already tasted that particular brand of insanity.”

This is an absolute must read for any big fans of Tolkien and Lewis. It‘s the story of their friendship told as a graphic novel with excursions into the creation of the fantasy genre and more. It‘s part biography, part fantastical tale, and part choose your own adventure. I love that it explores the friendship, but it also gives info about both men‘s childhoods, marriage, and time as soldiers. It‘s wonderfully done.

A life told in reverse order in three acts. It has some trademark King elements, but falls into the category of his style of writing that I enjoy the best. Excellent character building with just a little bit of magic or mystery thrown in. It feels more like 11/22/63 than anything else. It‘s short but lovely. This edition also has a flip book element with Chuck dancing on the pages. A delightful story about celebrating the small moments.

I created a special cubby on my bookshelf filled with some of my nephew‘s books. Some were in his backpack when he died, others were ones we had bought together or I had gifted him. The framed item is his Ex Libris stamp. The flowers from one of the funeral bouquets we were sent. It‘s a sweet way to be reminded of him every day since we connected so deeply over what we were reading.

This series beers better with each book because you just love the gang. The main plot follows a TV journalist who went missing and was believed to be murdered. Highlights were the introduction of former KGB agent Victor and a few of the characters finding love. I care less about the mystery than what is happening in their personal lives.

My favorite so far. A happy Christmas for Emma, Hawkes, Pierce and Islington. After struggling with her grief through most of the novel, Emma find some peace as the holidays approach. Hard to explain how much I loved this book.

“And I think that was the moment I began to suspect that the lock Hawkes spoke of might really only be an awareness , an awareness of grace.”

“It takes a great deal to trust the future after one is acquainted with loss.”

This was a wild ride. A listless 20-something agrees to drive a young woman across the country with her mysterious black case in tow. Other plots unfold, but the heart of the story is the discussions the two have on their road trip. It is repetitive at times, but also philosophical and relevant. Much of what they discuss is about the world on the Internet versus the world in real life and how the two have become distorted in the past decade.

Such a lovely book! This is the 1st in a series. Mona is a mouse who finds a new home and her courage when she stumbles upon a hotel in the woods. She meets a cranky squirrel, lonely bird, and sleepy bear along the way. I can‘t wait to read the rest of the series with my kids.

It was such a treat to see Backman in person last month. He was funny, self-deprecating, vulnerable, and wise. I loved the Q&A and his meandering answers. I was reminded of all the ways his characters have touched my heart. Can‘t wait to read his latest.

The loveliest story of a young boy rescued from a shipwreck by a lighthouse keeper. Over the following years, he goes to boarding school and moves to other parts of England, but the pull of the lighthouse island always calls him back. When he is able to return, he finds the island just how he remembered it. It‘s geared to 9-12 year olds and is written 1st person, but it‘s a sweet read for adults as well. The illustrations were my favorite part.

I loved this one when I was growing up. Rereading with my kids as an adult and it was slower than I remembered. Still thrilling once it got going and I just love the transformation of the main character from a prissy spoiled child to a brave adventurer.

One week ago, my sweet nephew passed away. He was diabetic and had a DKA emergency and we are all in shock. He loved books and was a voracious reader, just like me. I read so many that he recommended and vice versa. We were both happiest, exploring a used bookstore and making recommendations to each other. My heart feels broken.

I was scared to read this because I loved Beartown so much. I should have trusted Backman's skill. His depiction of the building tension between Beartown & the neighboring Hed, paired with the complicated internal struggle Benji feels, frustration of Maya's younger brother Leo, & so much more is just breathtaking. It brought me to tears in the final pages as the climax led us to a forest road and limitless grief. It is just beautiful.

This is a wild ride that starts with snakes on the loose and ends with a night of chaos. The middle is packed with a lot of heart. Johnson is a broken man driven only by his passion for journalism. As the oppressive heat ratchets higher in the sweltering city, so does the tension. The looming threat of snakes and developer‘s bulldozers are equally terrifying for the Sweetberry Park residents.

Hanif‘s poetry and essays have a way of cutting straight to your heart without you realizing it. On the surface he‘s talking about music and critiquing concerts he‘s attended. But when you dig deeper, he‘s processing his life events: deaths, exclusion, crushes, and so much more. He‘s walking us through the ways music can make us feel connected to both ourselves, who we‘ve been in the past, and the people who have helped shape us. It‘s beautiful.

Though I‘ve read this many times, it always strikes me a new how heartbreaking the after effects of war are. The PTSD, the grief, the destruction, it doesn‘t end when the war is over. Obviously, Haymitch stood out to me more in this one as he fought to protect Katniss from being pushed too far, even though he was struggling with his own demons. Also, Gale‘s selfishness and Snow‘s cruelty are clearer the older I get.

A nonfiction essays collection from a bookstore owner. I recognized myself in many of her reflections, like being a big sister to a brother, never feeling the expected desperation to become a mom & wife, her desire to become a journalist, & often being the one who stays for friends to depend on. The book reminded me of the Lewis quote, "Friendship is born at that moment when one person says to another: What! You too? I thought I was the only one."

I loved the 1st in the series, but this one was a stretch for me. Setting something in Austen‘s world comes with certain rules in my mind. Bringing modern day issues into it took me right out of the story. Also, no one would never kiss in a group when they were technically colleagues. There are elements I enjoyed but it felt like an exhausting read & it should be a fun one. I would like to read more of the Dashwood sisters & will read that book.