Thank you for tagging me, @Sace

1. That first sip of coffee in the morning, and recently a cup of tea at night!

2. My current read is non-fiction, but the woman it is about has so many, including determination and vision.

#two4tuesdays

@TheSpineView

There were some tidbits here and there that I found enlightening, but largely this was about the friendship of the two authors. I‘d recommend for fans of podcast and/or friendship shows more than someone looking for and in depth look at the psychology of friendship.

⭐️⭐️⭐️

#botm

Really loving this series. Eve is such a complex character and I just adore Roarke.

I probably should have brushed up on my Greek poems prior to reading this as my memory of Helen of Troy is scant. I loved the afterword and notes from the author as it really helped flesh out the story for me and see the connection between this retelling and the original stories of Helen.

Amazing. I highly recommend for fans of true crime & mental health. Dr Adshead is a forensic psychiatrist &works w/criminals. She introduces the idea of compassion & humanity, delving into the psychology & humanizing these patients that we often label as unredeemable.

It‘s a difficult read at times. I can‘t say I felt empathy or even sympathy for all of them; however, I learned a lot & gained a better understanding of those who commit crimes.

I dove into this book expecting depth and an intimate and searing look at Venezuela. Unfortunately, I found this hard to follow which took me out of the story as I attempted to figure out if we were in the present or past. But even with this, I still thought the prose were lyrical and the overall tone melancholic which definitely heightened the writing and my enjoyment.

2.5⭐️

#venezuela

*Actual story not in database*

I found Backman‘s latest short story to be a bit allegorical and while not laugh out loud comedy, I did find it humorous and honestly thought-provoking. I related to Lucas probably more than I should, and the other characters and storyline shone a light on a lot of how the world is.

#arc

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Vale is a middle grade fencer who‘s been in an accident. She grapples w/ not being the same as she was before, trying to reconcile who she is when for so long she was a nationally ranked fencer & now she may be disabled. Of course, coming to terms with her new life is complicated by first crushes &sometimes family dynamics but made easier w/new friendships. This story is infused w/emotions. There is such a depth & a rawness that I wasn‘t expecting

Enjoyable and a fun twist.

3.25⭐️

#botm

Finished one of the two challenges I did this year! I really enjoyed finding books that fit these prompts.

Thank you for hosting @TheAromaofBooks

#bookchain2024

Another week and another book where the first twist came early enough that it was easy to guess the second fairly quickly. While parts of this I enjoyed, other parts dragged a bit and I wouldn‘t have minded a shorter novel.

⭐️⭐️⭐️

#botm

Not me hiding my Kindle during the steamy parts &hiding my tears during the serious moments while on a plane (the laughter I figured I could get away w/). This book has it all.

I originally grabbed this for the cover. 2nd chance romances are hit &miss for me, but I like fake dating so was curious how much I‘d enjoy it. I loved it! The handling of both tropes was done so well &every character had rich &complex personalities along w/growth.

Didn‘t see the first twist. Guessed the second fairly quickly after that. Really enjoyed the first half but felt the second half wasn‘t as satisfying.

⭐️⭐️⭐️

#botm

I am officially hooked on Gillian McAllister‘s writing. As my second book by her, this kept me glued to the pages and trying (and failing) to guess all of the twists and figure out exactly what the truth was. I think the synopsis gives just enough to whet your appetite, but it is just a nibble of what the story fleshes out to be.

I love learning about all sorts of animals especially the unique or rarer ones. Rundell does a great job at introducing us to many creatures and giving an overview of their history and personalities. I only wish the book would have been longer to get more depth and information about each animal.

#arc

⭐️⭐️⭐️

I definitely recommend revisiting Shakespeare‘s Macbeth before reading this novella or at least have a good understanding of it. McDermid‘s retelling is short but does not lack substance. I love when we get a more fleshed out character (particularly the women) in a retelling of a classic. Added bonus here for the more historically accurate story as well.

#arc

⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

I loved Hopkins‘ Crank & hoped Sync would pack the same emotional punch. While definitely a tragic story, I felt the novel told in verse would have been better told in prose. The verses here were sometimes more like sparse paragraphs & unfortunately what seemed missing to me was the feeling behind the words.

Storm & Lake have been dealt a tough hand more difficulties find them. At times it gets bleak, but it ends on a note of hope which I liked.

Went through the emotions on this one. Such an important and eye-opening read.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

#arc

After Kagan &Hazel‘s mom dies under suspicious circumstances, they‘re surprised 2learn they‘re not in the will. They begin 2suspect their mom‘s 2nd husband, & a game of cat &mouse begins. There‘s plenty of twists.
While I enjoyed having a book full of unlikeable characters (H&K are spoiled &ungrateful more concerned about free money than their mom), I found it difficult 2believe that K&H were around 40. Both personalities made them seem early 20s.

I feel bad I didn‘t like this more. Well-written, but maybe too many POVs? Also, I didn‘t get this epic love story that was supposedly between Joseph and Evelyn.

⭐️⭐️⭐️

#botm

Secret societies, mysterious deaths, relationship issues…there‘s a lot of suspense and unknown piled into this novel. I liked the depth in which race and privilege was examined and how it tied into the main story.

⭐️⭐️⭐️

#arc

I love romances that occur later in life, such as after a divorce. It‘s refreshing &real. This is a slow burn romance w/plenty of chemistry. Sasha &Ethan are both divorced w/kids, making this enemies-to-lovers even more complicated yet intriguing.

I didn‘t like Kaitlin‘s POV. Her commentary about Sasha is stalkerish &obsessed. Sasha could have given us those details &still had Kaitlin play the role she needed to w/out getting into her head.

W/ mult POVs &mult timelines, this pulls out twists &turns to shock you &keep you turning the pages. There were times I felt it a little over the top, but that just ended up making me enjoy it more.

Jemma &Adam are an affluent married couple who look like they have it all from the outside, but inside their lives are broken &deteriorating &Chloe has a view to see it all. Both Jemma and Adam have secrets &they‘ll both do what they can to keep them.

I always enjoy a little mystery with my historical romance, although I didn‘t quite feel the chemistry between the two main characters.

2.5⭐️

#netgalley #arc

After seeing so many mixed reviews, I was hesitant to read The Husbands, but I ended up enjoying this a lot. I do wish we got to spend more time with some of the husbands, but I also thought that the frequency and reasons why Lauren changed them so often made sense. I found this both humorous and a little bit thought-provoking.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

#botm

I should have known this was going to be a heavier novel by the synopsis, but I was still surprised by how much it hit me. The complexity of emotions Kate experiences throughout the book is so well written. I loved the depth and intention put into it. I consider this a novel about a woman who experiences a great loss and learns to become whole again. Really well done by the author (and the acknowledgements make it all the more poignant).

McMahon created a wonderful character in FBI agent Gardner Camden. It‘s clear he is neurodivergent w/ a high IQ & trouble w/ social situations. He‘s part of a team of misfits called PAR (Patterns & Rec) who get assigned a case to find the killer murdering serial killers.

The case has Camden &his crew crossing the US in order to find &stop a killer who taunts them w/clues &phone calls. Each side character is well-developed &plays an integral role.

I felt for a while that many of Collins‘ poems read almost like mini-vignettes and nowhere is it more exemplified than here in Water, Water.

My favorite poems were:
“When a Man Loves Something”
“Addressing the Heart”
“The Guardian”
“Display Case”
“Fire in the Movies”

I‘ve had this ARC since 2019 &just hadn‘t gotten around to it. On a short road trip w/ a friend, I decided to check out the audiobook as I knew this is a topic he‘d be interested in. Imagine my surprise when my friend, a non-reader, became completely engrossed &when we got home, purchased the audiobook so he could finish reading it.

This covers a wide range of people &events surrounding the 1996 Olympic bombing. It‘s well researched &informative.

It was refreshing to have the protagonist of a romance novel be a late 30s divorcee with two kids, a career, and a younger love interest. Anna was incredibly real and relatable being both the mature adult and ocasional hot mess that we all are. This ended up being my favorite type of romance with the perfect blend of humor, depth, and a little bit of enemies-to-lovers.

This is a hard one to review. While I enjoyed the mystery (what happened to Liam, who was sending threatening messages to Faith), I really didn‘t like Faith as a character. Her constant disregard for safety & listening to the police and her lawyer‘s advice, & her excessive drinking and self-medicating, I wanted to shake her & tell her to make better choices. However, I did go back & forth between who could be behind it all & that was a lot of fun.

I was a latecomer to watching Ted Lasso, but when I finally did I binged the whole series.

What a treat it was to receive this ARC &gain more insight as well as a heavy dose of nostalgia. I loved learning about why certain decisions were made &seeing how intentional every storyline &personality trait was.

I highly recommend this for any fan of the series. & if you haven‘t watched it yet, go watch &then grab this book as a companion to the show.

I went into this not expecting much and so was pleasantly surprised at how much I enjoyed this book. A good character development plot about becoming your own person, standing up to your family while still loving them, and discovering romance is found unexpectedly and with an unexpected person.

⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

#botm

This is a story that‘s very much “in a capsule of time,” as the pandemic plays a role in the novel. While romance is in the title, I‘d say this is romance light or at least an incredible slow burn. I didn‘t really feel the chemistry between Sally and Noah but I loved the platonic parts of it

⭐️⭐️⭐️

#botm

A little outside my normal sci-fi read, but I really liked this first book in a series. The characters and their relationships were a highlight.

⭐️⭐️⭐️

Really enjoyed this book of poetry that examines trauma, the body, and more, investigating each topic like an anthropological dig into the truth.

⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

#arc #poetry

I love romance that‘s full of friendship, depth, and humor, and Gilmore delivers all three. Not quite a second chance romance, but close enough, Josie‘s and Will‘s backstory created some history but allowed for present day matters to take center stage. I liked the independence and maturity both displayed especially in times of vulnerability. There was a realness to it all that was refreshing. Overall, a slow burn, endearing romance.

If you are a fan of paleontology and natural history, then this is a must read. Brusatte‘s passion on the subject shines through.

⭐️⭐️⭐️

Interesting, informative, and even entertaining.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

What a twisted, addicting novel. My first by John Marrs but definitely not my last. Marrs took two things I actively avoid (AI and reality TV) and made a compelling novel that starts out innocuous enough but grows in depth and darkness.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

#arc #scifi

I‘ve been culling my bookshelves and have a few books I‘d like to give away.

How to be an Antiracist: I received with a mangled cover. The bookstore sent me a new one, but I don‘t want to throw away a book of I don‘t have to!

Volume 0- BOTM short story pamphlet

Ellie as well as Isaac Dahl are ARC copies.

Let me know if anyone is interested in one or more of these and I‘ll provide my email address!

#freebooks #arc

My 2nd Ashton book &while I can see many loving this book, it fell a little short 4 me. My problem was not being able 2 connect 2 Mickey or the characters. Ashton writes stories similar 2 Andy Weir, but where Weir‘s stories are infused w/ humor & humanity, Ashton‘s has the humor but is missing that depth that I love so much in this genre.
Still, I would recommend his books 2 those who enjoy speculative sci-fi that doesn‘t take itself 2 seriously.

After loving the bk 1, I was excited 2 get my hands on bk 2. This time we get Harry‘s POV as he &Van head 2 NE Minn 2 work a brutal murder which may be connected 2 a serial killer who‘s been incapacitated for yrs.
The great development of side characters along w/a unique plot makes this bk hard 2 put down. As with book 1, I also loved seeing Harry & Van work together, their personalities complementing each other in the way all great crime duos do.

3.5⭐️

#burundi

Interesting, and would be great for people who don‘t normally read about psychology. I enjoyed it but didn‘t feel I really learned anything new.

⭐️⭐️⭐️

Not quite as good as the first two, but still a satisfying end to the series.

⭐️⭐️⭐️

Meredith and Ashton are two influencers, one-time BFFs, and current self-involved moms. After Mer and Ashton have a falling out, Mer decides to mess with Ashton‘s perfect online life all the while using Ashton‘s losses for her gains. Ashton at first struggles to understand how these mishaps keep occurring, and as she‘s piecing it altogether, Meredith goes missing and all eyes turn to her.

3.5⭐️

#arc

I know Maggie was going through a difficult time (recent separation) & I should be sympathetic to the impact that has on someone, but she was insufferable & selfish for the majority of this book. I struggled to connect & she was oblivious to how she affected people & had no self-awareness. Unfortunately, I think that was supposed to be be humorous, but that largely missed the mark for me. I do think it had strong writing (despite not enjoying it).

The only reason I was able to finish this many books was b/c I can speed through romances and I neglected all other responsibilities! It was a month of escapism and catching up on my backlog of #botm purchases and old arcs.

15 Romances
8 ARCs
5 BOTMs

#julyrecap

I loved this short memoir of essays about a first generation Cuban-American who explores race, family, and identity.

4⭐️

#arc