Powerful tale, although the writing felt off in places. Lots of dues ex machina to help the story along. Reminded me a little of “We Are Not From Here” by Jenny Torres Sanchez, which, frankly, is a better book.

This was my husband‘s choice for a couple read, but I got obsessed and finished before him. I really enjoyed how Towles incorporated Russian history around the Count‘s story. I definitely will read Rules of Civility by Towles next, which is on my Kindle.📚📖

I wrote a book with a former professor of mine for teachers who like to use YA lit to engage students. It focuses on SEL for each of the unit. Long Way Down, Highly Illogical Behavior, and The Poet X are just a few of the books for which we wrote activities. So excited about it coming out today! #Englishteachers #education #YALit

Finally got around to reading this book. I‘ve been on a YA fantasy kick lately. It was an entertaining read overall, but my dislike of Jude‘s POV at points made me wish this was a multiple perspective book.🤷‍♀️ #YAFantasy

I love small town romances! This is the third book in the Cottonbloom series, but I‘ve read all of them. If I was making a TV show out of romance series, a la Bridgerton, I would totally choose the Cottonbloom series. ❤️ This is the third in a series of six books and two novellas. Sawyer and Regan are two of my favorite couples ever!! #romance

Just finished the Netflix Bridgerton series, and I found it delightful! Romance readers should definitely watch!❤️💯

This book opens whiteness to empathy and understanding for people of color in this country. It made me reevaluate my biases and educated me on how to further develop reflective techniques that will allow me to move down the path of anti-racism, a practice that will be intentional and ongoing throughout my life. Read this for understanding anti-racism and the effects of a systemic racism in the nation.

Cute, light, and quick with James‘ Shakespearean references and even references to other series by James. I liked Viola and Devin, and their romance was cute and not full of miscommunication, as there tend to be with many romances. James is on her game with this one. Kind of reminded me to Tess and Lucius from the Essex sisters, who get a slight mention in here! ❤️❤️❤️

I just couldn‘t finish this book. I didn‘t like a single character 50 pages in, and that‘s my rule for bailing on a book. I know this will be a controversial opinion because this book is revered by many, but too many of the characters are unaware of their own selfishness for my taste.

Plot-wise, this book is a about the connections all the characters have to a Madoff-like character, but it also seems to be about the ghosts people create once they submit to their flaws. The flawed characters often feed themselves lies and fantasies to justify mistakes. Pretty thought-provoking, especially after reading Gladwell‘s Talking to Strangers, which delves into the lies people accepted with the Madoff Ponzi scheme.

I read “Where the Crawdads Sing” this weekend. Delia Owens created beautiful descriptions of the overlooked marshes as an poignant setting for the Marsh Girl‘s isolation and loneliness. The way she weaves in biology and zoology adds to the wondrous effect of Kya‘s story. Read this book if you haven‘t yet!

Read this book with my children and husband. It was poignant and made me cry in several places, but it also led to insightful and compassionate conversations with my own children. I definitely recommend reading it and talking about it with the family.

“Moxie” analyzes how adolescents create their voice and identities when small minds have power. The main character Vivian‘s voice—at first quietly, but louder as she evolves—emerges through her desire to confront the sexism at her school. Mathieu recognizes that change for individuals and a community is not always easy, but the first small steps are important. Read it for the female empowerment and the references to the 90s‘ Riot Grrrls!

If you are interested in education, health care, and leave and the problems with those in the U.S., this is a good one from the Nordic perspective. Partanen emigrated from Finland around the time that country was declared the best in the world. She compares Nordic education and health care systems, along with maternity leave, and more with America‘s current system. I loved the analysis and the perspective she offers in this.

Pretty thought-provoking. A detailed account of a couple‘s lives, birth to old age, Brooks analyzes the cultural and societal influences that help create an individual.

This was smirkily funny. I‘m watching the show now, which has been well-developed from the source material (at least after episode 1). I would definitely recommend the book to anyone who doesn‘t mind irreverence in his or her literature. 😀

Finished some great YA series recently. Anyone have suggestions for my next great YA series?😀

Just finished the Caraval series, and I‘m taking suggestions on new #YAfantasy series. Some of my past favs are The Winner‘s Curse series, The Lunar Chronicles, and Shades of Magic series. I would also like for the series to be complete already. I hate having to wait for the final book to come out. What do you suggest, Litsy? #YA #Fantasy #summerreading

While “The Song of Achilles” delved further into the complexity of Greek heroes, Miller‘s “Circe” takes a new look at women and their roles in the Greek myths. This tale questions the male perspective of Greek myths, which often leave women in the subservient role as a helper to the heroes. Circe becomes not heroic, but humanized, with her flaws and naïveté and compassion and desire for love. Excellent read!❤️

This book has one of my favorite YA couples of all time—Kestrel and Arin. Plus, it features a heroine known for her skill at strategical decisions, which I love.❤️❤️❤️ Read this if you are a fantasy YA fan, and read it if you‘re not!😜

This book made me cry and, like “Speak” did a few weeks ago, made me once again think about the power of voice. Everyone should read this book.

Inspiring and poignant. “Becoming Me” showcases her family and her influences. “Becoming Us” gave glimpses of a young marriage and her struggles to remain herself in coupledom, all while molding and defining who that couple was and is and will be. “Becoming More” emphasizes her dedicated and compassionate acts as First Lady. What‘s most impressive is Obama‘s constant desire to learn and evolve—something for which we all should strive.

I‘ve decided Michelle Obama should narrate all my audiobooks from now on. Her voice!💕

Pretty entertaining YA novel. I‘m definitely going to read the next books in the series.😀

This was a hard book to read. It makes me think of all the voices that have been silenced through fear, unjustified shame, and pain—and those who ignore the silence. At the back of the book, there are tips for responding to sexual assault, and number one is “believe the person.” Indeed, more should. #timesup

I‘m not going to lie: I walked into this one not expecting much. My two favorite authors — Heath and Kleypas — have had something missing for me lately. But this one. THIS ONE! No misses here. The heroine, the character who can make or break a romance for me, was sweet and kind, as was the hero. The side characters made me want to read the next books in the series. Heath is definitely back on her game.❤️💕 #romance

1. The Winner‘s Curse
2. Valentine‘s, I guess?
3. Hot pink
4. Michael
5. #Friyayintro

Rereading this book since I watched the show. They really adapted it pretty faithfully, I realize. (It has been many books since I read it the first time.) I‘m enjoying it the second time around, and since I didn‘t read the second or third book, I‘ll have new tales of Diana and Matthew to read next. I do enjoy a good vampire, witch, and daemon story that somehow manages to incorporate Oxford and the Bodleian. Also, dead on casting Matthew Goode.

I love retellings of the Greek myths, and this is one that was particularly beautiful. Moving on to Miller‘s “Circe” next, as well as “The Aeneid” and “The Odyssey.” I promised myself I would read more classics this year, and this will be a good way to start.🤓📚🤓

Somewhere between pick and so-so, frankly. It was a light romance read, definitely, but the heroine made the book, especially considering she‘s the only perspective we get. It had some humorous moments, but the hero was too brooding, and not getting his perspective really hurt him. I read the second one of the series, Cross the Line, and the heroines kind of follow the same style in those two books, although the hero‘s better in the second one.

Laughter and tears reading this lovely book! All the feels. Eleanor‘s book made me reflect on kindness and human connections. What a perfect read!

Because I can‘t resist a “Pride and Prejudice” allusion, especially when artfully employed in a snarky comment about fast food. 😂This book has moments of hilarity intertwined with moments of heartbreak. I love it!!❤️

Second book of the new year. Started it today, and Eleanor intrigues me. Her judgments about others social ineptitude are pretty hilarious, although I‘m starting to suspect this is her way of coping with the mystery of her past. I don‘t want to put it down!

Has anyone read this? I want to talk about it, but I don‘t know anyone who has read it. I‘m about halfway through, but it‘s a good choice for the first book of the new year. Ward plays with magical realism in this novel, which frankly is not always my favorite style of writing; in fact, I tend to avoid it. However, she capably weaves in the magical moments to spotlight the systemic racial tensions of the deep South.

I found this mesh of history and fiction as entertaining as the first in the series, “The Rossetti Letter.” I quickly tore through the pages so that Claire and Andrew—professors of history in England—could reveal the final mystery of the court of Charles II. But the parallel murder mystery in the modern storyline could have been left out. The intrigues of Charles II‘s court was compelling enough without adding a murder of a colleague to the mix.

This was in a summer book list suggested by President Obama. Just now getting to it this week. Wagner focuses on identity and multiculturalism to add to the conversation of the changing face of American identity.

The Hapwell sisters and their complex relationship is compelling. The audio book was good, but eventually I switched to the actual book because I desperately wanted know what happened.❤️😀🦌

How has this never been reviewed on Litsy? Pretty entertaining read. It hits all my favorites: modern perspective aligned with a historical event, a little romance, and a little mystery. I honestly did not realize that this was a two-part series when I started, but I‘m moving to “The Devlin Diary” next.😀

Listening to the audiobook. Decided to read this thanks to an NPR book review. It‘s a story about those who dwell in the idyllic past, while others try to move forward. The Hapwell sisters are compelling and complex. The Narnia comparisons are inevitable, though, and I often can‘t help comparing the Woodlands to Narnia. However, it‘s the story of the return and adjustment (and lack of) that‘s the most thought-provoking.

I liked the story of memory in this tale, especially after listening to the two memory episodes on Gladwell‘s Revisionist History podcast. All of the stories of Aurora‘s life read like a photo—detailed, exposing hidden truths. I did not realize this book was a sequel, so now I have to read the first one (not that I‘m complaining). Also, it had characters from The House of Spirits, which I‘ve never read but seems to be Allende‘s most popular work.

This series continues to impress. On my way to get volume 3. I‘ve never read comics before, so I‘m definitely broadening my reading selections with this choice. Plus, it‘s by Joss Whedon of Firefly and Buffy fame! 😀

“I seek truth and beauty in the transparency of an autumn leaf, in the perfect form of a seashell on the beach, in the curve of a woman's back, in the texture of an ancient tree trunk, but also in the elusive forms of reality.”

H—The Hobbit
O—Outliers
L—The Luminaries
L—The Lunar Chronicles (A series)
Y—Yes, Please

Kinda didn‘t realize how into a comic I could get, but Rogue has always been my favorite of the X-Men. Glad I read this in prep for the new series about them—Mr. and Mrs. X!❤️ 👰

Over 1,000 for Litfluence! May not seem like a lot, but I‘m pretty proud!! 😊 I love the book suggestions I get from Litsy! Thanks for being a positive bookish community!

Tackling this book next. Wish me luck!

Another YA selection. I‘m on a roll! This was another book from the Bustle “meet cute” article I read. It was surprisingly sweet and poignant, especially considering the article topic. Definitely would recommend this quick read to anyone. It was delightful. #meetcute #youngadult Article link: https://www.bustle.com/p/13-romance-novels-with-meet-cutes-that-will-seriously-m...

#meetcute #YA❤️

This was an “Ehh” addition to the series for me. I‘ve really enjoyed Hoyt‘s Maiden Lane series overall—Darling Rogue and Notorious Pleasures being the best IMO. Dyemore dreamily (and longingly) wants to protect Iris from danger and himself—of course!—and sees her as the light to his darkness—a phrase repeated often—yet she constantly has to persuade him to take a chance on her and their relationship, which got a little old for me. #romance

I chose this book because of a rec in a Bustle article about the best “meet cutes” in books. I‘ve decided to agree that the meet-cute was pretty adorable. It‘s a young adult novel and focuses on how unexpected change can impact choices. Overall, definitely a delightful read that I would recommend to anyone who enjoys lighter YA fare. #youngadult #summerromance #YA