I'd heard so many great things about this one and I think it set my expectations impossibly high. It's a sweet story, told over the years, between two characters that are destined to be in one another's life.... just not in the way they thought. It's a premise that's been done before ('One Day' by David Nicholls came to mind on more than one plot point) and while this one is sweet it's also not bringing anything new or original.

I struggled deciding between a So So and a Pan for this one, and landed on So So because of all the goodwill I have for the author (a horribly biased reason, I know), and the fact that it's the second book of the series and those often struggle. It's a fun premise but oh I had a hard time with the pacing. When the action does pick up it's tons of fun, but those spots felt too few and far between. Overall, bidding my time to the third book.

These last two weeks have been a blur, between the holidays and a particularly long-running cold bug for the whole fam. Today, I'm just grateful to tackle the New Year, choosing gratitude and hope over weariness and pessimism. To quote CS Lewis, "There are far better things ahead than what we leave behind". Excited to embrace this New Year with each of you, and to find delight and comfort in the joy of literature together.

I fell in love with this show from the first episode, and so this book was a no brainer. I loved getting to read more about each of them and tips and hints are always fun. It's a great companion to the show, and hey, I'll gobble up anything to tide me over until the new season!

I've enjoyed Elin Hilderbrand's books, both the stand alones and the Winter trilogy, for ages. Her style is breezy, engaging, and she's fantastic at setting a strong place and vibe. So for me this one was a bit of a jolt. The new tropical backdrop is well set, but for some reason the multiple POVs kept me from fully connecting with any one character. The mystery was good but also a bit tidy. Overall a decent read, just not my favorite of hers.

My 3 yr old and I have read this every night for the last 2 weeks, and the absolute joy she gets from belting out "5 onion riiiiiiings" is the best. She ADORES Pete the Cat and we've had a blast reading through the series.

Like pretty much all celebrity memoirs, you'll adore the book if you're a fan of the person, and for me this was an insanely easy one to adore. I LOVED their approach here, a combination of back and forth conversations and also deeper dives into their individual backgrounds. These two share a deep sense of humor, a good dose of self-deprecation, and such mutual respect. A quick, giddy, loveable read.

I've devoured everything from Becky Albertalli and so this one was an automatic add. This sweet, messy, NYC themed summer love story brings a measure of self awareness and depth to each turn. I appreciated the authenticity that brought to what could have easily been a standard YA romance. Lovely characters, fun supporting characters, and a solid ending made this a great read.

This was JUST what I needed this past week. Is it over the top to say I feel encouraged, inspired, even refreshed, just from spending time with the words of an amazing woman? That was my feeling after finishing this memoir. In this present age, in this country, all words of wisdom and hope feel like a breath of fresh air, and I'm grateful to Mrs. Obama for sharing her story.

On my to-do list for this crazy week: picked up this hold and gobble it up this weekend (terrible pun, I know 🙄)

Picking up immediately after the events of the last book, we dive right back into the world of Simon, Kat, and an enemy so evil it's just The Company. This installment did a great job of adding definition to both the worlds, real and virtual, and the new and fleshed out supporting characters play important roles. Overall, a lean and action filled bridge to the third book.

My favorite Liane Moriarty books are those that take the time to unfold the characters so that when she casually throws out observations, almost always centered around female roles and expectations, it feels natural to the story. Here, only a handful of characters get the time they truly need. I really enjoyed those characters, and the health resort plot and dramatic final third almost felt unnecessary. Still, a solid page turner and fun read.

I have a million reasons to love my library system, but I'm especially impressed at how quickly they get out their hold requests. My hold for this one was ready for check out LAST NIGHT. Love it!

Starting this oh-so-important day with a little inspiration, thanks to LMM.

If you don't follow Lin on Twitter, then this is a great way to catch up on his good morning/good night tweets. They're sweet and simple, a way to start and end the day with inspiration and humor. Such a fun collection and well worth reading & rereading.

This is an unusal origin for a book, coming from the Broadway musical of the same name, but don't be deterred. This is a lyrical, deeply felt translation with all the heartache of the musical. The plot is fully expressed and handled beautifully by author Val Emmich (who wrote the lovely "The Reminders"). While I'm sure nothing can compare to seeing, say, the original cast on Broadway, this passionate book is a stunner of a second option.

Happy Halloween! We've been on Pete the Cat & the five little pumpkins, each night for bedtime with my 3 year old, and I'm kinda loving the toddler version of Halloween and scary reads 😁

And another quote, this one from the storyline in the 1800s. Kingsolver did a great job of drawing parelells without being too heavy handed.

There were a couple quotes from my last read that stuck with me. The time period is the run up to the last presidential election...

Barbara Kingsolver is one of my all-time favorite authors. Her talent, wit, and insight punch me in the gut every time (in the best possible sense). Here, we follow the lives of two families who share the same house, about 150 years apart. The ache for solid foundation and stability drives the character's decisions and brings such timeliness to the story. Thoughtful, vivid, and nuanced and still haunting me days later.

David Levithan created a world in "Every Day" where the narrator, by unknown factors, body-jumps into a different person each day. It was an interesting balance of a little sci fi (why do they jump, etc) and lots of thoughtful examination of identity.
Now, our narrator is grappling with their responsibility to the people they visit, and I admire Levithan's ability to illustrate each new life every day, painting a full picture with few words.

I get in much of my reading in the mornings, before the 3 year old is up. It's darker each morning now when I sit down, and getting to see the sunrise feels like a sweet little added bonus.

So excited for this one! Val Emmich is an insanely talented musician and writer (I adored his "The Reminders") and I can't wait to see what he does with this project.

Kiersten White is one of my favorite YA authors, and here she takes the well-known Frankenstein story and shifts the spotlight to the scrappy and strong Elizabeth, an addition to the Frankenstein house who sees the depths of Victor's madness first-hand. She sees his creations and his drive, and she rises to use her wits to step out of his grip and take control of her future. It's a great take on monsters, heroes, and making your own happy ending.

Diving into October/Halloween/fall/scary reads with the new Kiersten White.

I'm a fan of two-book series (duos? duology?) and this completion to the Warcross series is a fantastic example of everything good about short series. The action blazes along, and the plot twists and turns and crashes to a solid ending. I flew through it all and kinda wished there was a third installment. That's a great note to end with, and all credit goes to Marie Lu, who I've adored since "Legend". Can't wait to see what she takes on next.

I adore Marie Lu and I cannot wait to dive into this one!

I've really enjoyed this series and was eager to see how it all concluded with this book 3. So here I am, enjoying the drama, the action, the revelations, but getting closer to the final pages and thinking "Wow, there's a lot still to wrap up here..." and it ends with a 'To be concluded' message. So never mind! There's another installment! Not the end of the series! Has this ever happened to anyone else, or just me ??

I WAS UNDER THE ASSUMPTION THAT THIS WAS THE FINAL BOOK IN THIS SERIES. It is not. To be fair, it did make the final chapter QUITE dramatic. Sigh.

I'm completly immersed in (and utterly enjoying) the final book in the Three Dark Crowns series today, all thanks to the 3 year old who decided to take an epic 2 hour nap this afternoon. I thought I was a speedy reader BEFORE kids 😁...

I have to confess, I did this all wrong: I saw the Netflix movie before I read the book. I know, that's a crime in the book-lover world, and you can judge me for it 😉 Even knowing the plot and the outcome, I absolutely adored this read. The family dynamic is sweet and realistic. Lara Jean's voice is strong and brings so much heart to it all, and it was her story that I fell in love with, not so much Peter or Josh. Overall a sweet love story.

When your hold suddenly pops up on Libby, you rearrange your current reading schedule to move this to the top!

Even though this one brings a familiar theme of blending virtual worlds with the real world, the characters and a few fresh twists make it a fun read. I enjoyed the main character, Simon, and his real-world motivation for diving into Other world, and I‘m really curious to see where it goes with book 2 this October. Overall a solid entry into the real world/online world genre that‘s oh-so popular right now.

I‘d started this one a week ago and had to put it down (sadly, there are just so many hours in the day), which was ESPECIALLY tough because this one set a tense, haunted tone from the start. Once I picked it back up, I just had a hard time getting back into the mood of it all. And the tone, the writing, the small cast of characters really set it up to be a great thriller. So, it still gets a pick, because it‘s not the book‘s fault 😏

I was looking for a good thriller and this was recommended by my co-workers so I‘m diving into it next. Anyone else enjoy it? I‘m not a fan of overly graphic or violent, just a good mystery/suspenseful read.

Once again, Inspector Gamache takes us to a new corner of Canada, and it was a treat getting to read about Quebec City in the middle of its Winter Carnival. Multiple mysteries, at varying stages of investigation, bring a solid balance to the story here. There‘s resolution to some, twists to others, and a deft use of old and new characters. I adore this series and the new layers we discover in Gamache at each installment.

Continuing the saga of Inspector Gamache, this one acknowledges that a town as small of Three Pines has an usually high murder count. This case hits close to home for our beloved residents and while the investigation comes to a conclusion, the events feel far from resolved. It‘s not so much of a cliffhanger as a set up for more to come and I‘ll admit, this is the first time with this series where I‘ve immediately sought out the next book.

I‘ve really enjoyed this trilogy about a young, female Vlad the Impaler and was SO curious to see how the final book brought it all together. The elements that I loved from the other books are all here — the lush descriptions, the epic feel of the world, and the dynamic Lada, who fights for EVERYTHING. Final books are so tricky and I appreciated the closure for the characters. Such a great series and it‘s so bittersweet to come to the end.

It‘s been a long time since I‘ve come across a book that pulled me in with such relevance and urgency. The themes of senseless violence, heartache and loss resonate throughout this world and impact each of the main characters. Ultimately, the glimmer of hope, and the ability to find a way to pursue hope, are the lingering notes by the end. Beautifully, passionately written, and I can‘t wait to visit this world again.

This was absolutely one of those ‘my hold came in today let‘s run down and pick it up TODAY‘! Thankfully, babe never questions a sudden Library run.

I‘ve been making my way through Jason Reynolds‘ work and, needless to say, devouring each one. This one is a stand out, not just because of the format or length, but because it‘s such a strong, passionate, heart felt work of encouragement. There‘s joy in the simple & short, and this is a fantastic read for anyone looking for a bit of inspiration.

I always enjoy getting to spend time in the sparkling world that is summer in Nantucket and have adored Hilderbrand for years now. I got a kick out of the mystery intertwined in this one, with revolving narrators fitting the pieces of the puzzle together. Overall, a delight of a summer read.

When you‘re reading a book and the dates line up perfectly ...

Reading her new book each year is (shamelessly) one of my ‘summer is here!‘ markers.

This one is a perfect example of saying so much with just a few words. We‘re in the hands of a truly gifted writer, on a ride where a life changing decision must be made. Gorgeously written and achingly relevant.

Picking up immediately after the events of ‘Caraval‘, and with a switch to Tella as the narrator, book two in this series hits the ground running. There are solid twists and surprises and while Tella spends a bit too much time in her head (mostly wondering about the identity of a familiar character) there are great new characters and a killer theme to the next round of Caraval. Excited to see how it all gets pulled together for the final book.

I‘ve been saving this for the weekend! Bring on the Caraval world again!!

With all things Star Wars right now, this one was recommended by a friend as a great read for fans of the SW culture, fandom, and bigger universe. I opted for the hardcover (I tend to do ebooks mostly) and I‘m glad I did. It‘s page upon page of graphs, data, and character minutiae, and absolutely best seen in physical format. The author also has a sly sense of humor, which was a welcome addition. Overall a really fun read.

I‘ll be very upfront: I read anything and everything from Lauren Graham. She‘s lovable on Gilmore Girls and also happens to be a gifted writer, and so this one was an automatic pick for me. This is a very sweet, very short, collection of thoughts that started as a graduation speech, offering lots of good-natured advice for the future. I wish it‘d been longer but it‘s a nice little read for this grad season.

Over one evening, entirely inside an apartment building, two siblings throw a party as a ‘recess from the hum drum.‘ There‘s a great sense of the event unfolding, with not so much bomb shells as small unravellings as the night goes on. It‘s a sweet little time capsule of one night, with strong voices from the two main characters.