This book is the soapiest of all soap operas. If you can read it without taking it seriously, you may enjoy it.

⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

Entertaining writing, but still not sure what the point of this book was.

A fun ThriftBooks Haul

Not my favorite…currently my least favorite.

Probably somewhere between a pick and so-so. I enjoyed this, but I was frustrated with the filler that seemed to be an attempt to hide the fact the plot was a bit thin.

My 4th ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ book of 2022! The only draw book Is the the eBook e-ink cover is not conducive to good pics for social media posts!

This book made me ugly cry happy tears in public. I will always love it for that.

Such a fun cozy…and I normally don‘t like cozies! This feels like the best of light English detective fiction!

3.5 stars

If you have never read Fiona Davis before, this book will be fantastic. However, if you (like me) have read her previous books, you won‘t find much new here.

This starts out as a fun adventure, but turns into pure silliness in the back half.

Such a heartbreaking book, but such a resilient young woman! I wanted to reach through the pages to hug her!

This one was fun, especially for those who like to break codes. I would recommend reading THE APPEAL first as it as easier “entry” into Janice Hallet‘s MO

Alexandre Dumas had some SPICY OPINIONS!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

A great page-turner of a debut! Never knew I would care so much about an old violin.

My first Agatha Christie book is THE first Agatha Christie book. I made a goal to read them all and this one was a strong start!

Third book in the series and best book in the series (so far...)

Field hockey! Witchcraft! Emilio Estevez! This book has it all and is one of the best books I‘ve read so far this year.

I really enjoyed this one—a Gatsby-esque story of affluent young men in the late 20th/early 21st century South. Pretty political, if you like that sort of thing.

Two interesting stories that should not have been in the same book. Also, the language is just exhausting!

This is what I would consider a "Chinese Food" book. It was entertaining but it was a little too complicated and it didn't stay with me when I was done. I enjoyed Jones writing and I will definitely read more from her in the future, but I felt the overall plot of this book was a little too contrived and self-conscious. But even with that, I flew through this one and had trouble putting it down.

This week‘s #libraryhaul . As much as I try to avoid it, my holds always arrive in large bunches! All but one of these books has additional holds after me and I‘ll try to read them from most holds to least holds (so, from top to bottom in this pile). I also have a book (also with additional holds) going. Will I be able to read 7-8 books in 3 weeks? Doubtful, but I‘ll give it the old college try.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Ruth Reichl has become my favorite food writing, with her joyous descriptions of all things culinary (and some things that aren't.) This particular book is laced with a bittersweet thread, which is expected given the subject of the end of Gourmet magazine. But this book is truly about a woman finding herself in a position she doesn't feel prepared for, finding her own confidence, and excelling.

I suspected going into this one that it would be schmaltzy, and I was right. Still, it was an easy read and a nice break from meatier books, even though my eyes rolled more than once. While I'm not averse to multiple viewpoints stories, the set up with most of the book being from one point of view and then, every once in a while, going to someone else seemed disjointed. This book won't rock your world, but it can be a nice diversion.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ This book came highly recommended from a number of my fellow readers. I quite enjoyed it, although it wasn't a perfect book. Richardson does an excellent job creating the world of Depression-era Appalachia and Cassy, a "Kentucky Blue" woman, is a fascinating character. While this was a page turner for me, I still felt that there were a number of plot threads that were either underdeveloped or left dangling.

What a delightful New Adult romance! I had heard so much about this book, so I was more than a little worried about it not living up to the hype. I did not need to worry--this was a fun international romp that kept me turning the page. While I enjoyed the romance and thought the two leads were strong and interesting, I especially liked the "behind the scenes" aspect of the White House.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ This is not the sort of book I would normally give 5 stars to--it is definitely a lighter read and I usually save that rating for meaty, life-changing books. However, this one was so freaking delightful that I had to give it my highest honor. I loved everything about this book. The main character was one I could relate to, the writing was whimsical, it hit all my humor notes, and it dealt respectfully with a mental illness.

My husband pulled this out of my TBR bookshelf and wrapped it up as my Jolabokaflod book this year. In some ways, this was a perfect book--it was entertaining and kept me going to the point that I read the whole thing on Christmas day. Yet, I still felt it didn't quite rise to the level I expected. The plot seemed a little too ambitious and I never felt that we got to know the people we needed to know.

I'm a sucker for a British rom-com, be it cinematic or literary. This one did not disappoint. It had a unique set up, two likable leads, a strong group of friends, and a nuanced but mustache-twirling antagonist. I've been battling reading slumps lately, especially as the pace of life has sped up during the holidays, but this was the perfect reprieve for me. It was a light read, but it wasn't without gravity.

I was reluctant to read this one because I feared it was just a redux of THE DEVIL WEARS PRADA (a book that I did not like). To be fair, there are a lot of superficial similarities--a young woman looking to launch her career gets a job to an assistant to an infamous editor. But that is wear the similarities end. This book is about strong women forging their own way in the world and, even better, it is about how women support each other.

I don't know if I can even put into words my feelings about this book. When I read "The Night Circus" many years ago, I remember loving it, but I don't remember being transformed by it, as I do after reading "The Starless Sea." The story is much more complicated, but as long as you let it carry you away, it will all fall into place. There is no other word to describe the writing but sensual.

While I'm a true Pacific Northwesterner, I will admit that there is a corner of my heart that lives in the prairie homeland of my ancestors. Minnesota is the setting of many of my happy memories and I am drawn to books set there. This is a delightful fish-out-of-water book that reminds us that people are good, everywhere.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ I was a little perplexed when I saw that The Child Hunter had a sequel, but I knew I had to read it. This one wasn't an easy read--you can apply pretty much all the trigger warnings to this book, but it was a beautiful read. Denfield's language is evocative and she can write about even the ugliest things in a way that is still beautiful. My one caveat is that I would definitely recommend reading The Child Finder before this one.

Two romance tropes I do not like are the holiday romance and the royal romance. This is both of these and, strangely, I still enjoyed it. It helps that this is more nuanced than the usual Christmas romance. And it probably isn't really a "royal" romance as neither the hero or heroine are royal. I also really enjoyed that the hero and heroine of this book or of a certain age, something I'd like to see more of in romance.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ WWII novels are a big thing and, honestly, I can get burned out on them. This one, however, really worked for me. The characters are fascinating and the world seemed fresh (even though I‘ve read probably a dozen novels set in the same time period just this year!). This is definitely one I would recommend the next time someone asks for a good historical novel.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ I‘ll admit that I was wary to pick this one up as I have never read (nor seen) DR ZHIVAGO. But, I gave it a try and am glad that I did. This is a fascinating spy thriller that tells its tale of literary espionage from multiple angles. Centered around 3 strong female characters, it brings the early years of the Cold War to life. Highly recommended!

⭐️⭐️⭐️ This is sort of a book for our times—a #metoo inspired legal thriller. It brought up a lot of issues and treated them with care and respect, but ultimately I found it a tad predictable.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ I want to thank the book world for giving us Jasmine Guillory. I have loved her previous Wedding Date novels and this one is no exception. In fact, I think this one might be the best, thanks to the nuanced characters. The only thing is that you really do need to read the previous two books first (but they are totally worth it!)

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Tonight ends the long drought of no football (#gopackgo ) and I finished this gem last night! I love football romances and Alexa Martin writes the best ones, and she knows of what she speaks! If you are football fan, this is a fun one for between games (although it may hit a bit close to home for fans of a certain team...) #alexamartin #fumbled #romance #read #recommendedbook

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ I‘m sort of a late arrival to the books of Kristan Higgins, but each one I‘ve read so far has been delight and I think this one may be my favorite. It‘s a bittersweet novel about families, secrets, and forgiveness with wonderfully drawn and flawed characters. #kristanhiggins #lifeandotherinconveniences #bookrecommendations #contemporaryfiction #read

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ If I ever took the time to make a list of authors who do not disappoint, Fiona Davis would be on that list. Her latest novel, set during the Red Scare of the 1950s. As always, she creates a world you feel you could walk right in to. In this book, she also crafts a complex female friendship that is one of the best I‘ve read. #fionadavis #thechelseagirls #historicalfiction #read #bookrecommendations #booknerds

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ I read a fair number of middle grade books, but usually just to see what my daughter is reading. This is the first MG book I‘ve read before my daughter and I will be handing it off to her as soon as I return from discussing it at my book club. A wonderful historical about a girl who is evacuated during WWII and learns her own value and how to trust others. Definitely a book for everyone, not just middle graders!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ All I can say is that this book was good for my soul. I adored @jryanstradal ‘s first book, KITCHENS OF THE GREAT MIDWEST, but I think I loved this one even more. I will admit that it hit a lot of personal notes with me, but that was just the icing on the cake. It‘s a family novel that contains a history, but never seems overly epic. And it is the perfect book to read while sitting in the backyard on a summer‘s evening.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ I finished this gem (late) last night and thoroughly enjoyed it. It‘s a “quiet” character-driven novel about families, past hurts, future consequences, and forgiveness. The writing is amazing and the characters jump off the page. Definitely a recommend!

Summer reading at its best! #amreading #alexamartin #fumbled #summerreading #booknerd

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ A heartbreaking novel about secrets, mothers and daughters, and friendship. Told through the voices of three unique women, this story will bring out all the feels. It covers Germany before and after World War II (although very little about the war itself) and America of the late 80s. While jumping back and forth in time might be off-putting for some readers, I found it an effective storytelling technique. Highly recommended!

I love a rom-commas much as the next gal, but I just couldn‘t handle all the gimmicks in this one.

⭐️⭐️⭐️ I spent half this book thinking, “This is just Sheldon Cooper, If Sheldon were female, British, and pregnant!” But somewhere around the halfway mark, I was sucked in. While there is a romantic element, this is much more about character development and family. It‘s a fun read, even if the first half is a bit of a slog at times.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Wowza! It has been quite some time since I read a book that totally sucked me in and kept ahold of me until the last page. This epic cat-and-mouse Nazi chase book is unrelenting and the 500+ pages will fly by, thanks to a cast of thoroughly fascinating characters. Very #highlyrecommended

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Wowza! It has been quite some time since I read a book that totally sucked me in and kept ahold of me until the last page. This epic cat-and-mouse Nazi chase book is unrelenting and the 500+ pages will fly by, thanks to a cast of thoroughly fascinating characters. Very #highlyrecommended

⭐️⭐️ I had high hopes for this one, but hey didn‘t pan out. Lim‘a writing is beautiful and her descriptions of food and place are transformative, but they couldn‘t outweigh the problems. The story lacked direction and too many plot lines were never fully developed and the supernatural element simply didn‘t work. But this book did make me very hungry, so there is that.