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MeganAnn

MeganAnn

Joined July 2016

Reading is my escape. I am a creative, coffee loving bookworm. Etsy: fableandcharm.etsy.com Goodreads: goodreads.com/user/show/13248394-megan-elgin
review
MeganAnn
Kiss the Girl | Zoraida Cordova
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Pickpick

Very cold temperatures yesterday (high of -6 F) meant lots of cozy reading time. Finished #auldlangspine book 4.

This was a fun music inspired retelling of The Little Mermaid. I loved the Disney movie as a girl so it was delightful to find all the connections with that story & see how the author brought Ariel & Eric to a modern timeline. The music theme w/ Eric‘s up & coming band + Ariel‘s pop princess background added a fun element to the story.

monalyisha Oooohhh. I don‘t know if I need this or if it‘s best to avoid it. 😅 I was OBSESSED with The Little Mermaid as a kid. And then, coincidentally (?) the first boy who broke my heart was named Ariel. A real toss-up! 15h
39 likes1 comment
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MeganAnn
The Adventures of Amina Al-Sirafi | Shannon Chakraborty
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Pickpick

#auldlangspine Book 3 is another fantastic read. Chakraborty‘s Daevabad trilogy is one of my favorites & this book has been on my TBR since its release. Amina did not disappoint! I loved the older female pirate & her crew. The blending of historical & fantastical elements creates a richly imagined world full of adventure. It is also an interesting portrait of a woman trying to juggle her passion for adventure with her desire to be a good mother.⬇️

MeganAnn I also loved the interjections of the storyteller giving us more information. The only thing I wasn‘t sold on was that at some points in the story this felt more modern than the historical setting would imply. And while I do think because this is ultimately a fantasy novel that wouldn‘t necessarily be an issue, in this case it pulled me out of the setting rather than lent itself to the fantasy elements. But that‘s a very small thing. 4.5⭐️ 2d
44 likes1 stack add1 comment
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MeganAnn
Know My Name | Chanel Miller
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I‘ve spent the last week with this heartbreaking, necessary memoir off @Zuhkeeyah ‘s #auldlangspine list. Miller eloquently & bravely writes about being sexually assaulted, pressing charges, dealing with the legal system & the resulting media coverage where she was known only as Emily Doe.

I could only read 1-2 chapters at a time before my emotions overwhelmed me. But I am so glad I read this. I wish I could hand a copy to everyone I know! 5⭐️

MeganAnn @Zuhkeeyah thank you for including this one on your list! It‘s definitely on my list of nonfiction favorites now. 6d
Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks I want to listen to this on audio 🎧 6d
Kristy_K This is on my list of favorite non-fiction as well. Heartbreaking yet amazingly written. 6d
Zuhkeeyah @Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks The audiobook was fantastic. Highly recommend. 4d
Zuhkeeyah @MeganAnn It‘s a hard read, but an important one.💔 4d
49 likes5 comments
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MeganAnn
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Pickpick

#auldlangspine book 1

I knew I was probably going to love this because of how much I loved The House in the Cerulean Sea. But I forgot just how very wonderful these characters are. It was a delight to be back on the island with Arthur, Linus, Zoe and the children.

Klune once again had created a hopeful, uplifting story that shows how the world can be terrible, but yet how we might make it better. I want the world he sees to be ours one day. ⬇️

MeganAnn Linus, Chauncey, Talia, Phee, and Theodore‘s antics are both funny and heartwarming as usual. I loved seeing Sal coming into his own in this story. And we get to meet a new child, David, who is just as delightful. It was also lovely to see how the village has truly opened their hearts to these children and welcomed them. Like the first book, this felt like a warm hug in a book that I won‘t soon forget. 🥰😍 Excellent choice @Zuhkeeyah 2w
Zuhkeeyah So glad you loved it!! 🥰 This book was a great reminder that everyday kindness can make a huge impact. It was the little acts of thoughtfulness that had my heart melting every other page. 2w
48 likes2 comments
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MeganAnn
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I‘ve finished my December books so I can start on my #auldlangspine list.

I already own the two on the left so I will definitely read those this month. Picked up the four on the right from the library today. I also have holds on James, Margo‘s Got Money Troubles and the Princess & the Grilled Cheese Sandwich.

Now where to start? Thinking either the tagged or the Chakraborty first since I loved both City of Brass & House in the Cerulean Sea.

BennettBookworm Gorgeous wall color! 3w
Scochrane26 I loved A Woman is No Man, but you need a happy book afterward. 3w
Zuhkeeyah I love the stack! Both are great choices. Somewhere Beyond the Sea is a great way to start the year. It‘s an uplifting read. 3w
See All 6 Comments
MeganAnn @BennettBookworm thank you! It‘s a such a cheerful color 😊💙 3w
MeganAnn @Scochrane26 I‘m very much looking forward to that one but will definitely need to sandwich it between some of the other happy reads. 3w
MeganAnn @Zuhkeeyah Uplifting sounds like an excellent way to start the year! I started reading it last night and it already feels wonderful to be back with Arthur and Linus and the children. 3w
56 likes6 comments
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MeganAnn
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Kristin Lavransdatter was a #roll100 pick for December so I decided I would read book 1: The Wreath. Didn‘t quite finish it before the end of the year, but I did finish it yesterday.

This was lovely! Kristin is a strong heroine who struggles to balance love & obedience to her family & God with her own desires for her life. I was captivated by this portrait of medieval Norway. I also found some of Kristin‘s internal conflict to be true to life. ⬇️

MeganAnn As someone who was raised Catholic, the internal struggle to reconcile your desires as a young woman with the things you are told are wrong can be difficult to navigate; the author captured that authentically. Also as someone who has Scandinavian ancestors, the look into the medieval Norwegian family life was very intriguing. I could picture these characters as family. My grandfather was of 100% Norwegian heritage & my grandmother is half Swedish. 3w
MeganAnn I will likely continue on with book 2: The Wife at some point later this year. For now, I‘m taking a break to focus on #auldlangspine titles. 3w
38 likes2 comments
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MeganAnn
Winterfrost Market | Jenny Sandiford
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Mehso-so

This was the last book I finished in 2024 and it was just okay.

I really wanted this to be a delightful winter themed cozy fantasy. I loved the idea of a traveling tea house set up at Winterfrost Market for midwinter celebrations, interrupted by a quest to find her mother with a fae tracker by her side. Alas, the premise was interesting but lacked the descriptive world building needed to really bring this to life. ⬇️

MeganAnn 1/2: If the author had effectively described both the characters and the world they were moving through I think this could have been really magical. But I never was able to get a clear picture of what the main characters looked like and the wonders of the world around them. It‘s almost as if the author herself perhaps didn‘t have a clear picture of those things and therefore couldn‘t bring them to life on the page. ⬇️ 3w
MeganAnn 2/2: That being said, I was interested enough to want to keep reading and to find out what happened so I‘m giving it a so-so. If I‘m in the right mood I may read a second book if it‘s released to see if the author can capture some of the magic this world has the potential for. 3w
36 likes2 comments
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MeganAnn
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My 2024 StoryGraph wrap-up! I didn‘t get any reading time yesterday so ended with 154 books read and 51K pages.

The average rating is skewed here as I did not actively add star ratings to StoryGraph for most of the year. I definitely leaned towards romance & happy books this year in between the more heavy reads.

Ended with a lot of 5⭐️ reads with some really fantastic favorites I‘ve been thinking about ever since. Overall a great reading year!

Texreader How wonderful!! 3w
37 likes1 comment
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MeganAnn
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I read 154 books this year! At the beginning of the year I started drawing the spines in my book journal with a stack for each month & am proud to say I kept it up all year long. I‘m definitely going to continue to do this in 2025 as I love the way these pages turn out… plus it‘s good practice for my art.

In the middle of 2 more books but I don‘t know if I will finish them today. Might wait to post my StoryGraph wrap-up tomorrow just in case.

Julsmarshall So gorgeous! 3w
staci.reads Beautiful! 3w
Librariana Oh my goodness gracious, this is AMAZING!! What a talent you are! 😍😍😍 3w
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TheBookHippie Beautiful. 3w
vlwelser 😍😍😍😍😍 3w
Deblovestoread Love this! 🩵 3w
EKonrad This is gorgeous! You‘re so talented! 3w
BookmarkTavern Beautiful! 3w
TheBookgeekFrau 😍😍 3w
MeganAnn Oh wow! Thank you all for your kind words!! 🥰 Hoping to post this year‘s stacks more regularly. @Julsmarshall @staci.reads @Librariana @TheBookHippie @vlwelser @Deblovestoread @EKonrad @BookmarkTavern @TheBookgeekFrau (edited) 3w
DogMomIrene Those are beautiful! 3w
39 likes11 comments
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MeganAnn
Brightly Shining | Ingvild Rishi
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This was beautifully written: heartbreaking, emotional, but also tender told through the hopeful eyes of a child. Ronja and her older sister Melissa do their best to deal with their alcoholic father and make ends meet working at the local Christmas tree stand with the occasional help from neighbors. Inspired in part by The Little Match Girl. Don‘t be fooled by the pretty cover… this is not a cheery book. But it is beautiful in its sadness. 5⭐️

38 likes1 stack add
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MeganAnn
A Holly Jolly Diwali | Sonya Lalli
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Panpan

I wanted this to be a fun Bollywood inspired romance layered with rich descriptions of Diwali & India. But instead I got a surface level romance that never really took off, very brief descriptions of the events & place, & a third act break-up where I didn‘t really care that much if the couple got back together. The grand gesture was cute, but it took too long to get there. The entire Raj storyline was unnecessary.
Skip this one.

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MeganAnn
With Love, from Cold World | Alicia Thompson
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This was a fun wintery romance book, perfect for the season. I love the idea of a winter theme park in Florida and the setting came to life here. I could picture Cold World very clearly.

Asa and Lauren‘s relationship evolves from work enemies to lovers in a very beautiful way. I love romances that give me a bit more depth. This one dealt with some of their past traumas and I really like how the author handled those issues. 5⭐️

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MeganAnn
The Immortal Highlander | Karen Marie Moning
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Mehso-so

#roll100 for November which I‘ve been reading since before thanksgiving. It was slow going with bits of action here & there. The couple spends very little time in Scotland & I was missing a sense of place. Although I liked the ending which bumped it up to 3⭐️

Maybe I would have enjoyed it more if I‘d read the rest of the series (This is book 6)? I enjoyed the author‘s Fever series so grabbed this secondhand a few years ago. Glad it‘s off my TBR.

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MeganAnn
Lessons in Fusion: A Novel | Primrose Madayag Knazan
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When I say #auldlangspine is my favorite reading event every year, I mean that I have participated in every iteration of this event & it‘s the thing I most look forward to in January. Some of my all time favorite books have come from this event.
Here are my favorites from the past years:
2024 @Karisimo The Eyes & The Impossible
2023 @xicanti Lessons in Fusion
2022 @JackOBotts Sigh,Gone
2021 @BarbaraJean How Long ‘til Black Future Month
⬇️

MeganAnn 2020 4thhouseontheleft (who doesn‘t seem to be on Litsy anymore? Or changed their handle) Far From the Tree. (edited) 1mo
MeganAnn 2019 @TheKidUpstairs The Namesake. And 2018 @monalyisha Bellweather Rhapsody in the original #freakyfriday event. (edited) 1mo
MeganAnn Every single one of these titles made it on my year‘s list of favorites. Although for some of these years it was hard to choose just one favorite book! Thanks to all of my matches for exposing me to such great reads! & thanks to @TheKidUpstairs and @Amiable for the inspiration to post my favorites! (edited) 1mo
See All 15 Comments
TheKidUpstairs I love seeing the domino books - I think I read Bellweather Rhapsody from your list, I never knew it came from @monalyisha 😁 1mo
Zuhkeeyah Ooo I spy a book from the list you gave me this year! @meganann 1mo
MeganAnn @TheKidUpstairs I love the domino books too! There have been several books I‘ve read based off @monalyisha‘s recommendations or reviews over the years that have ended up on my favorites list. She has stellar taste! 1mo
MeganAnn @Zuhkeeyah definitely! There‘s a couple from my list that I read for #auldlangspine last year. It was hard to choose just one favorite! 1mo
monalyisha Thanks, Megan(s)! 🥰 1mo
Karisimo I‘m so sad that I didn‘t get my list put together in time to participate this year 😢 1mo
BarbaraJean I love this!! I'll have to go back and look at my favorites over the years. I read and loved Far from the Tree from your list, and it went onto my list the following year. Auld Lang Spine is the gift that keeps on giving!! 1mo
JackOBotts I love this, @MeganAnn ~ while I‘m not part of the fun this year, you can bet I‘m peeking at past year matches to screen shot their & their match‘s lists! 💜 Happy reading. And Thank You for such a great list in our year. 🙌🏼 (edited) 1mo
MeganAnn @Karisimo it‘s always such a busy time of year! Check out @JackOBotts comment. I‘ve been having so much fun looking at everyone‘s lists and adding to my TBR. A fun way to semi-participate even though you didn‘t get in on the official event. And I‘d love to see a list of your favorites for the year if you do get a chance to put one together! 1mo
MeganAnn @JackOBotts that‘s such a lovely idea! I love looking at everyone‘s lists. Happy reading and thanks back to you for a wonderful list as well! Sigh, Gone remains one of my absolute favorite books. 1mo
MeganAnn @BarbaraJean it was lovely to revisit all these past lists and choose my favorites. It also made me realize there are still a lot of titles on those lists I want to read and haven‘t gotten to yet! 1mo
Karisimo Thanks @MeganAnn I think I will do that! 1mo
34 likes15 comments
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MeganAnn
For Auld Lang Syne | Ray Woodward
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I was so excited to wake up to this fantastic list from @Zuhkeeyah 🎉

I‘ve read & loved two of these. Shark Heart was on my #auldlangspine list of favorites last year. Just for the Summer almost made it on my list this year but was very slightly edged out.

I already have A Woman is No Man & Amina Al-sirafi on my shelf to read. Margo‘s Got Money Troubles is on my Christmas wishlist & the others in the right corner I‘ve been wanting to read.

MeganAnn The bottom left covers are ones that I very much want to read, but are either harder subjects to read about (I.e I have to intersperse them with some of the lighter happy ever after titles) or ones more outside of my wheelhouse. I don‘t usually read thrillers, however the author of First Lie Wins also wrote 10 Blind Dates which I really loved and is a completely different kind of book. So I‘m sort of curious about that. (edited) 2mo
Chelsea.Poole Nice list! I‘ve read and loved 1,4,7,8,11,13! 2mo
TheKidUpstairs I love seeing everyone's lists! Some really solid reads. Know My Name is absolutely fantastic, but you're right it's a very difficult read. Definitely best paired with something lighter! 2mo
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MeganAnn @Chelsea.Poole oooh you‘ve read quite a few of these! Do have a favorite of the ones you‘ve read? 2mo
MeganAnn @TheKidUpstairs I love seeing everyone‘s lists too! Know My Name definitely looks like something that will be fantastic and is likely an important read, but difficult. Which I don‘t mind when I‘m in the mood for that kind of thing. Just have to pick up something light in between to give my brain a break. 2mo
Chelsea.Poole I agree with @TheKidUpstairs (my match last year!) Know My Name is tough but unforgettable. I loved it. I also loved Five Little Indians from her list. Margo made my list for 2025 for my match. 2mo
TheKidUpstairs @Chelsea.Poole Margo made my list this year, too! 👯‍♀️ 2mo
Zuhkeeyah @MeganAnn I‘m so happy you like the list 🥰 Yeah, there are a few heavy reads on there and I totally understand needing a breather book at the same time. 2mo
MeganAnn @Zuhkeeyah I love that your list includes both kinds of books! It will be a nice balance during the month. Looks like @Chelsea.Poole and @TheKidUpstairs have convinced me that I absolutely have to read Know My Name. And Margo has been on my wish list since I first saw it so if I don‘t get it as a Christmas gift I‘m definitely getting myself a copy. 1mo
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MeganAnn
A Very Merry Bromance | Lyssa Kay Adams
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My holiday #libraryhaul for today! Went to pick up the tagged book I had on hold and ended up coming home with lots of holiday/wintery reads off my TBR.

I am planning to spend December reading happy, fun romances and cozies along with a few others that feel right for the season off my own shelves. I need some comfort and joy right now.

Which one should I start with?

Suet624 Comfort and joy sounds like a great goal. 2mo
MeganAnn @Suet624 doesn‘t it though? 😊 2mo
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MeganAnn
Bull Moon Rising | Ruby Dixon
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5⭐️
I don‘t know what it is about Ruby Dixon‘s writing, but she always hooks me in quickly and keeps me entertained throughout. This was no exception. In fact I stayed up way too late reading this every night leading up to Thanksgiving.

I loved the idea of hunting magical artifacts in this sort of underground ancient ruins like some kind of Indiana Jones type guild. I enjoyed the world building and can‘t wait to read more in this series. ⬇️

MeganAnn The slow burn romance had me swooning and Dixon is a master at bringing together a human and a non-human (Minotaur in this case) in ways that feel very human and real-life emotionally. And like any other Dixon book there are always sexy times. But in this one I felt like the world building, plot and emotional connection were more of a focus than the spice compared with some of her other books… in a very good way! 2mo
Zuhkeeyah I am also a Ruby Dixon fan and had not realized she'd released a new book. A hold has been placed at the library. Hopefully the other patrons will read fast 🤞🏾 1mo
MeganAnn @Zuhkeeyah sending a little extra luck that the your hold on this will come in quickly! I love that you‘re a Ruby Dixon fan too! The second she releases a new book I grab it immediately (or preorder it for Bull Moon Rising). I still have some of her older backlist I haven‘t gotten to on KU yet, but for the most part I‘ve read all of her recent stuff since Ice Planet Barbarians. 1mo
32 likes1 stack add3 comments
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MeganAnn
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Registered for #auldlangsping2025 🎉

Every year this is my favorite event! It‘s always the thing I most look forward to in January. I inevitably find some amazing books that end up being favorites for the year. 3 titles from @Karisimo ‘s #auldlangspine list made it on my list of 2024 favorites (and a few more were close contenders)

@monalyisha is an expert matchmaker. If you haven‘t participated yet be sure to check out her post for all the info

Karisimo Yay! So fun to see titles get passed down! 2mo
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MeganAnn
The Light Pirate | Lily Brooks-Dalton
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Fable has this fun new shelfie feature I used to make this. I will admit I haven‘t gotten in the habit of using this app regularly yet, but I do like some of these features to play around with. The title and description are auto populated based on the books you select. Tag me if you make one so I can see yours!

Also working on my #auldlangspine list in anticipation of sign-ups! This is a little peek into my list of favorites for the year.

MeganAnn Here‘s a direct link if you want to make yours: fable.co/shelfie 2mo
monalyisha Will you tell me a little bit about Fable? I don‘t know anything, really! 2mo
MeganAnn @monalyisha it‘s another bookish social media app where you can track your reading & post about books. People also host book clubs on there with space to discuss the book. I like the aesthetic (it‘s much prettier than goodreads) but I haven‘t got in the habit of actively tracking my reading there like I do on GR & StoryGraph. Many of the bookish accounts I follow on instagram or threads are using it in place of GR to try to get away from Amazon. 2mo
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MeganAnn
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Pickpick

This is one that I‘ve been meaning to get to for awhile. Bannen has created a very unique world here with excellent world building. I found myself rooting for Hart & Mercy, but also for Mercy‘s family as well.

My only issue is that I do think this would have benefited from being slightly shorter. There were areas where the story lagged, especially when the MCs were separated. That being said, I did really enjoy it & will probably read book 2. 4⭐️

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MeganAnn
The River We Remember: A Novel | William Kent Krueger
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Attended a fantastic author talk this evening with a friend. It featured William Kent Krueger talking about his tagged book which was selected for the local One Book One Community read this year.

I haven‘t had a chance to read this book yet, but his talk was wonderful. He also discussed his writing process and the power of stories. If you like his books and have the opportunity to see him speak in person I highly recommend it.

Blueberry Wow, lucky. I would love to hear him speak. 2mo
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MeganAnn
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This was a delightful middle grade adventure! It‘s been on my son‘s shelf for a long time. I finally picked it up to read for a winter book review article I have to write soon.

Full of adventure in the coldest Icelands set in a fantasy world with sweet friendships and a lot of humor. Stella and her new friends run into all kinds of magical and unique creatures as they got to know one another. I‘ll definitely be picking up book 2. 5⭐️

35 likes2 stack adds
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MeganAnn
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This was delightfully fun cover to cover! A locked room Christmas mystery romance featuring two author MCs. Maggie is a bestselling cozy mystery writer. Ethan writes spy thrillers and always calls Maggie by the wrong name. They are both invited to spend Christmas at the house of Eleanor Ashley: the reigning queen of mystery (ala Agatha Christie). But when Eleanor disappears from a locked room the first night it‘s up to them to solve the mystery.⬇️

MeganAnn Maggie and Ethan get closer while searching the manor for clues and opening up about their past. The author occasionally pokes fun at the tropes each type of writer is associated with and there are several moments that had me laughing out loud. If you want a Knives Out meets rom com style Christmas book that‘s exactly what this one is. 5⭐️ for the amount of fun I had reading this! 3mo
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MeganAnn
The Last Russian Doll | Kristen Loesch
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Pickpick

I finally got around to this #auldlangspine pick from @Karisimo and it was well worth it! I‘m actually glad I waited to read this one until the weather was cooler since I didn‘t get to it at the beginning of the year. I very much felt like the chilly mornings added to the atmosphere of the book.

The way the alternating current and past stories began to weave together with the little fairy tale stories in between had me captivated. ⬇️

MeganAnn This would be a great pick for a late fall or winter reading list, especially if you‘re interested in reading a novel set during the Russian revolution that doesn‘t focus on Anastasia and the Romanovs, but more on the regular people swept up in the rebellion and the women that lived through it. 4.5⭐️ (edited) 3mo
monalyisha Sounds intriguing! 3mo
36 likes1 stack add2 comments
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MeganAnn
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Mehso-so

It might be a “it‘s not you it‘s me” thing but I didn‘t really like this one. Based on the premise, I thought I was getting a western with doomed lovers set in the Montana winter 1891. What I got technically followed the description but I never really felt like I was reading any of those things. Lovely lyrical writing but surface level with no sense of place. I never truly felt like I understood the characters & they could have been anywhere. ⬇️

MeganAnn I didn‘t hate it and I wanted to keep reading to the ending, but I didn‘t really enjoy it either. Someone else might love it… it‘s just not for me. 3⭐️ for the lyrical writing style and interjections of humor. (edited) 4mo
squirrelbrain I just read this too and I feel exactly the same way that you did. 🤷‍♀️ 4mo
41 likes2 comments
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MeganAnn
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I get a couple of uninterrupted reading hours this morning at my favorite coffee shop while my son is at jazz camp. It‘s a beautiful day outside, the coffee is delicious and this book is starting off wonderfully.

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MeganAnn
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I don‘t read a ton of nonfiction, but thanks to Litsy I have found amazing reads I probably wouldn‘t have picked up otherwise. @monalyisha and @xicanti have inspired me to share my three favorites (for today anyways):

1. Sigh, Gone by Phuc Tran (tagged)
2. Fly Girl: a memoir by Ann Hood
3. Good Talk: a memoir in conversations by Mira Jacob

#tlt #threelistthursday

monalyisha I used to not read a ton of nonfiction, either. More than once, it was my New Years goal to read more of it. Narrative nonfiction and memoirs (along with a long commute & listening to audiobooks) have changed everything for me! Now, if I could only read one genre for the rest of my life, it‘d honestly be a tough call between literary (or contemporary) fiction and memoirs. 😱 10mo
dabbe You're all inspiring me to read more nonfiction! Thanks for sharing. 💚💙💚 10mo
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MeganAnn
In an Instant | Suzanne Redfearn
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Here‘s my finished stack for February.

16 total books read
Favorites are
📚 We are All So Good at Smiling by Amber McBride
📚 Lady Tan‘s Circle of Women by Lisa See
📚 In An Instant by Suzanne Redfearn :: (tagged)
The book follows the aftermath of a traumatic car accident from the perspective of a teenage girl killed instantly in the accident. Each character deals with what happened in a different way. I couldn‘t put it down!

dabbe Pretty, too! 🤩🤩🤩 11mo
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MeganAnn
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Absolutely gorgeous cover that captures the story within.

This is a novel in verse. It‘s about clinical depression and grief, told through the lens of fairytales and ultimately ending in hope. I found the story captivating; the lyrical prose beautiful and thought provoking. I loved the way McBride‘s words propelled the reader with Whimsy in her journey through sorrow while also asking them to dig deeper into the metaphorical nature of the story.

38 likes1 stack add
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MeganAnn
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I forgot to take a picture of this one before bringing it back to the library so instead you get a picture of my reading journal.

This one started off slow and I had a hard time staying interested for the first half. But the second half I couldn‘t put down and I had to keep reading to find out what was going to happen. I did predict most of the twists in advance but it was still a fun ride once it got going. 4⭐️ in the end for the second half.

MeganAnn This was another one off of my #auldlangspine list from @Karisimo 💜 @monalyisha 11mo
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MeganAnn
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January reading update:

Finished 13 books
7 #auldlangspine titles. Many thanks to @Karisimo for such an awesome list!

⭐️ Favorites were:
The Eyes & the Impossible
The Reading List
The Frozen River (I knew I would like this one and it did not disappoint!)
Much Ado About Nada
Book Lovers

I also gave 5 stars to Black Bird Blue Road.

I‘ve changed how I record books read in my reading journal this year to add this book spine artwork for each title.

dabbe 🤩🤩🤩 12mo
MeganAnn Extra thanks to @monalyisha for stellar matching skills and being an amazing host once again. I‘ll be reading books off this list for the rest of the year as well! 12mo
monalyisha I love this splash of brightness! Thanks for participating and for bringing some intrigue to my winter! 12mo
Gissy Fantastic 📚📚📚📚👏👏👏👏👌❤️ 12mo
Karisimo So glad you‘re enjoying the list! I‘m diving deep into yours this month (assuming all my library holds come in!!) 12mo
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MeganAnn
Black Bird, Blue Road | Sofiya Pasternack
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#auldlangspine book 5

I really need to be more intentional about including MG books in my regular reading. Because I love them but no longer actively keep up now that my son is older.

All that to say I loved this book also! What a unique story that is both educational and heartbreaking. It might be too much for sensitive kids, but for others it‘s an excellent read with enough action to keep them interested while still learning about the culture.

Karisimo Yes, the opening scene with his fingers is hard to read😬, but I think that‘s the worst of it? 12mo
MeganAnn @Karisimo yes, that‘s definitely the worst of it, but even the descriptions of his body taken over by illness were a little hard to read. Maybe just because I‘m a mom so reading about kids in hard situations like this always has me in tears. And I was definitely crying at the ending too. 12mo
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MeganAnn
The Reading List: A Novel | Sara Nisha Adams
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Pickpick

Fourth #auldlangspine title which I finished the end of last week.

This book was so good! I was crying and laughing and generally feeling all the feels with the characters through this one. It is about the power of reading to bring people together and to help heal. I loved all the characters here and the friendships they formed along the way. I think anyone who loves to read will love this book.
💙💙💙💙💙

Karisimo I read this with my book club which was so fun! Glad you liked it!! 12mo
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MeganAnn
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Pickpick

Another fantastic #auldlangspine title from @Karisimo

This is a middle grade novel that felt like a modern classic. It‘s about Johannes, a dog who lives in the park by the sea. He is the Eyes, sees everything going on and reports to the ancient bison who then decide what to do about it. There are also other animals in the park who are his assistants and friends, who each have their own well fleshed out personalities I found delightful. 👇🏻

MeganAnn I loved Johannes and his animal friends and I couldn‘t put this one down. I also really loved the paintings included in the book. These are old landscape paintings from long dead artists (all listed in the back of the book) and the illustrator has added Johannes to each of them in a way that feels like he was always there. It‘s a brilliant addition that really works well with the story and enhances the tone throughout. This one is a new favorite! 12mo
Karisimo It won the Newbery award, just announced yesterday!!! 12mo
MeganAnn @Karisimo that‘s awesome! 🎉 12mo
monalyisha Need to read this stat! 12mo
MeganAnn @monalyisha you do!! I think it‘s one you will really enjoy as well. 😉 12mo
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MeganAnn
Much Ado About Nada | Uzma Jalaluddin
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Pickpick

Finished my second #auldlangspine book from @Karisimo ‘s list!

This was a delightful Muslim focused second chance romance based loosely on Austen‘s Persuasion. Jalaluddin‘s novels have been on my TBR for a long time and I‘m so happy I finally picked one up because I loved it! Nada and Baz have a long history which we find out about in bits and pieces between the present day storyline. I loved the way their big secret is slowly revealed. 👇🏻

MeganAnn I also loved how Nada‘s past is weighing down her present life choices and how when she finally manages to reconcile those past experiences, she can make better ones. It felt like such a true to life experience. I also greatly appreciated and enjoyed the insight into Muslim culture and daily life told through Nada & Baz‘s daily lives. Second chance romances when well done are one of my favorite tropes and this was beautifully executed! 5⭐️ 12mo
Karisimo So glad you liked it! I highly recommend 12mo
MeganAnn @Karisimo that one has been on my list for a long time. I always forget to check if it‘s on the shelf when I‘m at the library but I‘ll have to make a point to pick it up next time. 12mo
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MeganAnn
The Goblin Emperor | Katherine Addison
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Pickpick

First #auldlangspine title finished from @Karisimo ‘s list & I loved it.

Maia is thrown into court life when he is crowned emperor after the unexpected death of his father & half-brothers. Having grown up in exile with only an abusive caretaker, he knows nothing of life at court or how to rule. I very much enjoyed watching him find his way, create friends & learn to deal with bullies & enemies. This one felt cozy-adjacent to me.

4.5 ⭐️

Karisimo So glad you enjoyed it- i like that description “cozy adjacent”! 12mo
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MeganAnn
The Goblin Emperor | Katherine Addison
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Started my first #auldlangspine read this afternoon. 84 pages in already and I can tell this is going to be a good one!

Maia‘s youthful naïveté is so far endearing as he is thrown into court politics and formality. I‘m very curious to see how he handles it, the friends he continues to make and where it all goes.

So far, it reminds me a little of The Queen of the Tearling which I loved.

@Karisimo your picks are off to a great start!

Karisimo I‘m about halfway through Fly Girl and really enjoying it! 13mo
MeganAnn @Karisimo I‘m happy to see you are enjoying it! I found her life and her take on being a stewardess fascinating. It was a surprising favorite for me. 13mo
shanaqui This is one of my favourite books, aaah, love to see people enjoying it. 12mo
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MeganAnn
Black Bird, Blue Road | Sofiya Pasternack
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#auldlangspine update. @Karisimo has such a great list I basically want to read everything! It was so hard to decide where to start & I‘ve been debating all week. These five titles were available at my library right away so I picked them up yesterday.

I also put holds on The Frozen River, The Wishing Game and Ink Blood Sister Scribe for when they become available.

Bonus: my hold on Wildfire finally came in, plus I picked up the new Book Page.

DebinHawaii I loved Much Ado About Nada! It just missed my #AuldLangSpine list but it was close! 💙 13mo
monalyisha This one‘s been on the periphery of my interest for awhile; looking forward to your review! It might be just what‘s needed to push it more towards the center. (edited) 13mo
MeganAnn @DebinHawaii the author‘s other books have been on my TBR for quite some time but never quite make it home with me to read. I‘m looking forward to it even more knowing you enjoyed it. 😊 13mo
MeganAnn @monalyisha it‘s been on the periphery of my interest for awhile too! #auldlangspine pushed it forward and I‘m very curious to read it now. 13mo
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MeganAnn
The Sisters of Sea View | Julie Klassen
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Ok friends, here are my 23 favorite books from 2023 in no particular order, except that the five along the bottom row are my top 5.

All are 5 ⭐️ For me, a 5⭐️ read is one I enjoyed reading so much I didn‘t want to put it down, I would recommend to others, that made me think or gave me all the feelings, and oftentimes some of them are ones I simply had a lot of fun reading.

Most of these ended up on #auldlangspine list.

StillLookingForCarmenSanDiego I liked spinning silver. 13mo
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MeganAnn
Marry Me by Midnight | Felicia Grossman
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Mehso-so

StoryGraph‘s stats are always so fun to review and I love the shareable graphic they added this year.

Read 135 books + DNF 2 books
It‘s no surprise that Romance was my top genre as I needed some light, hopeful reads.
I don‘t actively rate every book on StoryGraph so the average star rating is skewed here. I do rate them all on Goodreads which shows an average rating of 4.2 stars.

The tagged book was my last book finished this year 👇🏻

MeganAnn I really wanted to love this book. It‘s a historical romance centered around a Jewish community. I enjoyed that part & thought the setting was well written. However the characters fell flat. When they weren‘t together on the page, their chemistry completely disappeared & I no longer cared if they got together or not. The steamy scenes abruptly ended also. One went from descriptive oral to closed door & took me several pages to realize it was done 13mo
MeganAnn I think I‘ll try this author again in the future to see if she does better with a different storyline. I think this one just didn‘t quite work for me. 13mo
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MeganAnn
The Goblin Emperor | Katherine Addison
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@Karisimo I am very excited about your excellent #auldlangspine list!

I haven‘t read any of these yet, but several are already on my TBR and several are completely new to me. I‘m excited to dig into this list a bit more after the Christmas holiday.

The tagged book is one I‘m definitely planning to read. It‘s been on my TBR for a long time and I never quite manage to get ahold of a copy so I‘m taking this as a sign that I need to read it now.

monalyisha The tagged is calling to me, too! 🥕 13mo
MeganAnn @monalyisha I‘m intrigued by that one as well. 13mo
Gissy That bookmark😱soooo pretty 😍 👌 13mo
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monalyisha @Gissy Seconded! Where did that come from?! So perfect. 🌊 13mo
MeganAnn @monalyisha @Gissy thanks so much! I actually painted it myself 😊 I‘ll be selling bookmark prints of it in my Etsy store soon. 13mo
monalyisha @MeganAnn Holy [expletive]! That‘s incredible! 13mo
MeganAnn @monalyisha thanks so much! 🥰 13mo
Karisimo @MeganAnn I was introduced to The Goblin Emperor through #auldlangspine last year!! Thanks to @BarbaraJean 13mo
Gissy @MeganAnn Wow🤩 beautiful 👌Waiting for your store announcement 😃 13mo
BarbaraJean @Karisimo 💜I love how these Auld Lang Spine recs come full circle—especially since @MeganAnn was my match a few years back! 13mo
MeganAnn @Karisimo @BarbaraJean yes!! Every year some titles from this event end up on my list of favorites for the next year. 💖 13mo
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MeganAnn
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“I am part proud and part heartbroken, which may be the defining emotional condition of parenting young adults.”

Currently reading and this quote hit home for me as the mother of a 14-year-old.

“We watch as those who were our children come to see the world — from which we have spent over a decade and a half vainly sheltering them — for what it is. Including, of course, us.”

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MeganAnn
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Littens,
I‘m looking for a book to gift my mom for Christmas and who better to ask than you?
She likes to read:
📖 Nora Roberts
📖 Sandra Brown
📖 Clive Cussler
📖 Diana Gabaldon
📖 Erin Morgenstern
Books with a little mystery, a little romance, sometimes a little fantasy or magical realism thrown in. Historical fiction is also good.

Preferably a series or author with a long backlist.
I‘m thinking a cozy mystery might be a good option?

rubyslippersreads Mary Stewart? Vintage, but popular romantic suspense and lots of titles. (edited) 13mo
wanderinglynn If she hasn‘t already read it, Nora Robert‘s has a detective series set in the 2060s New York written under the pen name J.D. Robb. She‘s up to like 60+ titles in that series. https://jdrobb.com/book-list-2/ 13mo
MeganAnn @rubyslippersreads I was going to get her a Mary Stewart to try and then I found out she read several back in the day and thought they were just fine. 🤷‍♀️ 13mo
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MeganAnn @wanderinglynn yep she‘s read that too. Basically everything Roberts has written under either name my mom has devoured. But she keeps telling me she wants to find a new author she can read like Roberts. 13mo
MeganAnn She also really likes Susanna Kearsley. Alice Hoffman is hit or miss for her. I‘ve tried Sarah Addison Allen which she said was okay, but not a favorite. 13mo
Gissy Elizabeth George has a series Inspector Linley. Nicci French has a series where the protagonist is a psychiatrist; Tana French or Jane Harper that first book in Aaron Falk trilogy is fantastic. 13mo
Librarybelle Has she tried Jayne Ann Krentz? She‘s got a bunch of romantic suspense, with a touch of magical realism/fantasy elements in some of her books. She also writes under Amanda Quick and Jayne Castle. 13mo
Bookzombie A historical mystery series that might work is the Lady Darby series. There are 11 so far. There is a romance that grows through the books. 13mo
Ddzmini Sharon Sala, Danah McCall, Joann Ross, RaeAnne Thayne good authors with great books 📚 13mo
MeganAnn @Bookzombie that series actually looks perfect for her! Thank you! 13mo
MeganAnn @Gissy those look like some good options. Thank you! 13mo
MeganAnn @Librarybelle I think I remember seeing some Krentz or Castle books on her shelf, but she never talked about them with me or passed them along so I have no idea what she thought. 🤷‍♀️ I might have to bring them up with her as potential options. 13mo
MeganAnn @Ddzmini these look like some good possibilities as well. Thank you! 13mo
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MeganAnn
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All signed up for my favorite reading event of the year! #auldlangspine2024

Cozying up with books off my match‘s list always makes January seem a bit brighter. Visit @monalyisha for the sign up link if you want to join in.

Things I noticed when curating my list this year:
⭐️ I gave 5 stars to a LOT of titles this year.
⭐️ I read a variety of genres, but had more historical & literary fiction titles on my favorites than I expected.

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MeganAnn
Untitled | Untitled
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@Marmie7 Driving home on an autumn night, your car breaks down. The only light comes from a nearby house. As you walk up, the front door creaks open. You call out as you walk inside. No one answers, but the door slams shut behind you. You franticly try to open it but it won‘t budge. You‘re #trappedinaspookyhouse ! As you follow the light deeper inside the house, you find a cozy room with a fireplace, squishy chair and a stack of books on a table.

MeganAnn You settle in to read as you wait for help, feeling an eerie presence looking over your shoulder the entire time. When you turn to look no one is there. The ghost silently reads over your shoulder as you turn the pages, happy to finally have someone corporeal who can open these books for him. 👻 1y
Marmie7 Love this little scenario! And the books you chose🖤 1y
monalyisha I haven‘t checked in lately! Heads-up that #AuldLangSpine is open. Figured I owed it to you as a (wonderful) former match! 13mo
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MeganAnn
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Here‘s my #castthedie list @PuddleJumper

Choosing Southern Sass & Killer Cravings as my lucky book since it is also a #roll100 pick for October. 🍀

PuddleJumper Awesome! 1y
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MeganAnn
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#weekendreads

Grim and Bear It — finished yesterday and this is my favorite book from this series! 5⭐️

Currently reading
The Front Runner — romance, 3rd in series, just started

Emily of New Moon — my first time reading this one! Loved Anne growing up but never got to read any of her other books

Windfall — nonfiction. Bit slow to start, but interesting so far.

I‘ve been reading a lot, but avoiding social media over the summer. Back to it now

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MeganAnn
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Pickpick

Another food + family title I loved in May! This takes place in northern Minnesota where Mariel runs the Lakeside Supper Club, the restaurant passed down through her family. Her husband, Ned, also grew up with the family restaurant, now grown into a large franchise. The legacy of the Lakeside is told in various timelines following Mariel, her mother Florence, and her grandmother Betty, while modern day Mariel and Ned deal with their own issues. ⬇️

MeganAnn One thing I loved about this was the nostalgia. In high school, I worked as a waitress at our local restaurant which wasn‘t called a supper club, but felt exactly like the Lakeside down to the decor and food descriptions. Growing up in rural North Dakota, the rural MN community felt like a piece of my own past as they do have a lot of similarities. My husband‘s family is from small town MN as well. Stradal captures that life vividly. 2y
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MeganAnn
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Pickpick

On the theme of family and food, this was another title I loved. It‘s about the Palladino family, but the title is a little deceiving - the book is not just about Varina & has multiple POVs from the rest of the family including her mother & adult children. What I most loved about this was the focus on two older women (Varina & her mother) making the most of their lives, something that is usually more common with a younger woman protagonist. ⬇️

MeganAnn It‘s about the family as a whole as much as it is about Varina herself. Every time they get together, the food on the table is made with love and underlines the family dynamics. And the Jersey Italian slang definitions at the beginning of each chapter are both fun and humorous, plus they add a layer of depth to the story with the ending. I loved it! 2y
MemoirsForMe This sounds hilarious! 😁 2y
MeganAnn @UwannaPublishme it really is!! 2y
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MeganAnn
Lessons in Fusion: A Novel | Primrose Madayag Knazan
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Pickpick

This has been patiently waiting on my shelf since January when I bought it for #auldlangspine
I picked it up this morning and have spent the entire day reading, swept up in Sarah‘s (pronounced SAH-reh) story of food, family and finding her cultural identity. I‘ve stumbled across a few books recently that dealt with themes of family and food, how love is expressed through food and also culture. This was the perfect fit to continue those themes.⬇️

MeganAnn I think perhaps I would have loved it no matter when I read it. But today it feels especially right, like the book knew I needed to wait for now to put it all together. All this to say I loved this book! It‘s going on my favorites list for the year and I‘m going to recommend it to so many people! @xicanti ‘s review is also excellent if you want more info - check it out! 2y
xicanti ❤️❤️❤️ 2y
Karisimo I‘m starting it tonight! 11mo
MeganAnn @Karisimo oooh yay!!! I can‘t wait to see your review. 11mo
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