Apparently the #bookspin gods want me to read some Shakespeare adaptations this month. I'm down
@TheAromaofBooks

It was a successful #20in4 weekend! I ended with 21 hours of reading time and finished 3 books, as well as making progress on some others. (I'm such a mood reader and can't stick to just one at a time 😅)
Thanks for hosting @Andrew65 ☺️

This was a cute low angst romance that I finished in one day. A gruff military man falls for a younger local but he's planning on moving south for retirement after the holidays. I enjoyed the connection the two had and how they brought out the best in each other.
#WinterGames2024 #HolidayBookDragons @LiseWorks
#Adventathon @BookmarkTavern
#ChristmasAtoZ @TexReader
#FirstSnowReadathon @StayCurious @LiseWorks
#20in4 @Andrew65

Read this in September with the #hashtagbrigade
While the conversations we had discussing it were entertaining, the novel itself was a bit bland. All of the characters were pretty unlikeable and it was hard to sympathize with them

November was a much better reading month than October! I was way less busy and read some amazing books 🤩📚
#MonthInReview #MonthlyWrapUp

Day 3 of the #20in4 readathon was relaxing. I read for seven hours total, finished two books, and did some holiday happy coloring while listening to audiobooks. Back to work tomorrow
#HolidayCraft #WinterGames2024 #HolidayBookDragons @LiseWorks @Andrew65

Listened to this quick story today and it was real cute. The best in this holiday romance collection so far.
Day 1 #ChristmasCheer #Elf @Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks @Eggs
#WinterGames2024 #HolidayBookDragons @LiseWorks
#Adventathon @BookmarkTavern
#ChristmasAtoZ @Texreader
#FirstSnowReadathon @StayCurious
#20in4 @Andrew65

My Winter #CastTheDie picks! ❄️
I'm excited about all of these 😄
@PuddleJumper

Happy December 1st! I'm so excited for the start of #WinterGames - especially that it's a Sunday so I have plenty of reading time to kick off the event with these readathons!
#Adventathon @BookmarkTavern
#FirstSnowReadathon @StayCurious @LiseWorks
#ChristmasAtoZ @Texreader
#20in4 @Andrew65
❄️🎄💖🎄❄️
#WinterGames2024 #HolidayBookDragons

#20in4 progress Day 2! @Andrew65
We hosted Friendsgiving at our house so the day was filled with cooking and company! But I still read for about 4 hours total between audiobooks while getting the house ready and a reading break while everyone lounged and digested the first round of food 🤤

Reread this one for #AuthorAMonth in September. Loved it even more the second time, such a lovely story about grief
@Soubhiville

I really enjoyed this enemies to lovers story. The two main characters aren't really enemies so much as unfriendly coworkers because of a misunderstanding. But once they start working on a project together and begin opening up and revealing insecurities, it is a very sweet relationship.
TW for homophobia (the male MC's bisexuality is not accepted by his family)
Also I love the idea of a winter theme park in Florida lol ❄️

I loved the ridiculous amount of coincidences in this mystery 😅 Still so good, and great characters that I liked getting to know. Miss Marple as always so clever
#SeriesLove2024 @Andrew65 @TheSpineView

This was my August #bookspin pick that I finished in September. Great historical queer romance. Miles & Charlie's romance starts as purely physical yet morphs into more. Miles is hesitant to catch feelings, terrified of being caught because of a past relationship. Charlie is in an engagement set up by his parents that he's desperate to escape. There is a great queer community that works together to get these two their happy ending
@TheAromaofBooks

Day 1 of the #20in4 #Readathon progress - I didn't have a ton of reading time since the hubby and I spent most of the day with my sister and niece. But I read a few chapters in Fall for Him during the car ride and started the audiobook of Whiteout for #sundaybuddyread while I baked some cookies this evening
@Andrew65

#WinterGames2024 #ThisorThat #HolidayBookDragons @LiseWorks
Thanks @OriginalCyn620 for these fun prompts! The Holiday is my absolute favorite movie, even outside of the Christmas season! As much as I love the bells and whistles in that gorgeous mansion, I'm a simple girl at heart and that snowy cottage in the country would be divine ❄️💖

#WinterGames2024 #ThisorThat #HolidayBookDragons @LiseWorks ❄️🎄💖

This was a strong conclusion to the Unstoppable trilogy. The teens must band together while on the run to find hidden secrets and save the universe. No biggie. I just love the relationships crafted in these books, whether friendship, romance, or adversary. Charlie Jane Anders does a lovely job creating a captivating sci-fi world and adventure, while filling it with relatable characters and a heartwarming core.
#QueerBC @PuddleJumper

#5JoysFriday @DebinHawaii
Hope everyone had a lovely Thanksgiving! Our celebration is later this weekend 😊 My joys from the week:
1. Got my hair cut short again and I love the length 💇🏼‍♀️
2. Arthur going wild over a new toy 😺
3. Cam keeping me company while I work on my journal 😻
4. Finally new cabinets were installed in the kitchen at work after a major leak
5. Saw Wicked yesterday and it was amazing 🤩🩷💚

This book was my bookclub's pick a few months ago. Not gonna lie, I started it & it was way too dark for me to mentally get through. So I found this graphic novel adaptation that felt much more palatable. It's such an important story that I'm glad I know now. The horrors of Auschwitz were unimaginable but the people who survived are heroes. This adaptation did a great job with the story and the art was beautiful, even while showing terrible things

I wouldn't have picked this one up if it wasn't for @sebrittainclark 's #AuldLangSpine list but I'm glad I did! This was a really helpful and encouraging book on how to keep your home livable without stressing yourself out more. I don't have ADHD or depression, which is a big focus of the author's life, but anyone can relate to feeling overwhelmed by everyday tasks and she provides useful manageable tips
@monalyisha #Nonfiction2024

My most anticipated December reads! I've had these three preordered for months and I've been saving them for the holidays 🎄💖
#WinterGames2024 #EarlyBirdPoints #HolidayBookDragons @LiseWorks

December #BookspinBingo list is ready!!! Can't believe we're coming up on the last month of the year! I've got a few buddy reads and challenge books to knock out, while still leaving plenty of space for #WinterGames reads! So excited!
@TheAromaofBooks @LiseWorks #HolidayBookDragons

My Winter #CastTheDie list is ready! Lots of holiday reads to choose from in preparation for the #WinterGames ❄️🎄
@PuddleJumper @LiseWorks #HolidayBookDragons

So glad I finally read this one! Aiden Thomas writes such amazing characters and created a beautiful fantasy world based on Mexican mythology. Teo is the underdog Jade demigod forced to participate in the Hunger Games style competition that he doesn't support. He must reckon with his identity and confront the boy who abandoned their friendship, while trying to protect those he does love. So so good, just be prepared to immediately start the sequel

Still catching up on old reviews. This was a fun low-angst romance. One of my favorite tropes is the age gap, parent's best friend combo but this one had a little twist on that with Fisher falling for his dad's biggest rival. I thought it was a fun concept and his & Hudson's chemistry was off the charts. Looking forward to getting to know more characters from this small fishing town in the rest of the series
#SeriesLove2024 @Andrew65 @TheSpineView

Besides buddy reads, these are the three main books I'm working through this weekend. Ebook, print, and audio
#weekendreads @rachelsbrittain

This was such a strange and wonderful book. I didn't realize an alien invasion romance was something I would love so much. But Denver's mission to understand recent bizarre events with the handsome Ezra was heartwarming, & heart-pounding, & so unique. The character journeys during the crisis were so well written. Denver is non-binary & autistic so he believes everyone in his small town dislikes him. But he is determined to save the town anyway

#5JoysFriday @DebinHawaii
It's been a laidback week but pretty joyful
1.The special edition that I splurged on arrived and it's so pretty 😍
2. Cam had some tests done at the vet but everything came back alright
3. Oakley spent some time outside and loved rolling around on the concrete
4. Ben snuggles as usual 😻
5. Pretty sunset on the way home from work today ☀️

"The only warning had been a millisecond of ominous crunching before the kitchen floor collapsed beneath Dylan Gallagher‘s feet."

I love when a meet cute is early on in a romance; this one starts at the get go, from the very first line.
#FirstLineFriday @ShyBookOwl

This was an interesting Miss Marple mystery. A string of hateful letters in a village lead to a suicide, but maybe it's a murder after all? I liked the main character Jerry Burton, who is new to small town life and shocked by the proceedings. He reminded me a bit of Poirot's Captain Hastings, eager to solve the mystery but a bit in over his head
#SeriesLove2024 @Andrew65 @TheSpineView

#WeirdWordWednesday
I know we usually rely on @TheBookHippie for Yiddish lessons but this word came up in my book twice already and I had to look it up! I like the positive connotation behind it
@CBee

After the intro to the Lincoln Knights in Drama Queen, I had to check out the newest series exploring more characters from the rugby team. Mason explores his newfound bisexuality as friends with benefits with his roommate after walking in on Ryan jerking off and staying for a show. Their friendship was fun to watch grow into more, especially as they shared other sides of their personalities as well, learning sport rules and playing DnD
Cont ⬇️

I love the interconnected world that Charlie has built with her stories. This new series connects Eli's drag friend Rory from the Court with West, Theo's brother in Heather Bay. While the romance is adorable & low angst, there are still some heavy themes. Rory deals with pushback for planning to perform a drag story hour. West has to learn to stand up for himself against homophobic microaggressions from his toxic masculine rugby team

Finished this a while ago with the #littensloveromance group. I enjoyed it immensely. Very character-driven, which I don't mind, but I was waiting for the other shoe to drop and something to happen to ruin their idyllic holiday, which never really did. Solid found family vibes, looking forward to the next Earl's story when it comes out next May.
#SeriesLove2024 @Andrew65 @TheSpineView
@StayCurious

Still loving this sci-fi detective series. I liked the character growth in this one, with Mossa and Pleiti as a couple but also individually. The mystery was fun to follow, as we learn more about the culture of the futuristic world. Overall a cozy read.
#SeriesLove2024 @Andrew65 @TheSpineView

Also, I splurged and bought this hardcover special edition because LOOK at the gorgeous endpaper art!! 😍🌊😍

I finished this book ages ago but haven't been able to find words to review it. I was so looking forward to it and it did not disappoint! I devoured the audiobook and have been rereading the print book here and there when I miss the characters. Just such a decadent story with lust & pining, wanderlust & cuisine, and a great exploration of sexuality & gender. I adore these two bisexual disasters 💖
#LGBTQ2024 @Kenyazero

I really enjoyed listening to this memoir. Chin talks about his experience growing up as a gay Chinese American in 1980s Detroit, where his parents ran a long lasting Chinese restaurant. He discusses the turbulence of the city during that time, tensions with race, expectations of family, & coming to terms with his sexuality. Chin narrates the audiobook & does a great job inflecting it with character & humor
#Nonfiction2024 @Riveted_Reader_Melissa

The final book in the Divorced Men's Club series. We finally get Mack & Davey's story, second chance for the ex-husbands who still live together. After Mack's pining in the other books I was looking forward to this one but honestly it wasn't my favorite. There wasn't any new conflict in their relationship, other than Davey being home more than usual & realizing he missed being a part of the family. Still sweet though & I'm glad they got their HEA

I'm gonna try to start catching up on reviews for books I've read the past few months. I finished this back in August 🫣
I took my time listening to this one and really enjoyed the introspection Kimmerer applies to nature. I appreciated the way she uses science as a tool to understand the beauty of the natural world, and the insights into indigenous culture.
#Nonfiction2024 @Riveted_Reader_Melissa

Thought I'd share a cool little library phone booth that we stumbled upon in Scotland. We were driving through the countryside in the middle of nowhere when I spotted it and we pulled over to take a look. It was such an unexpected and fun surprise! 📚
Reminds me of the tagged book, which I really need to read now!

#ReadingBracket2024 Fiction Update
I'm months behind on reviews still but really enjoyed the #QueerBC buddy read pick for October. So unique and kept me on the edge of my seat
@PuddleJumper

#ReadingBracket2024 Nonfiction Update
October was a slower reading month and I didn't manage to finish any nonfiction books. I hope to remedy that in November! But the third quarter pick is finalized, Chin's memoir moving up the ranks

Can't believe it's been four years since I've joined this amazing community on Litsy. Y'all have helped stoke my passion for reading and talking about books, as well as been a safe space online to escape to when other social media apps have been a downer. This is true now more than ever. Love you all and thankful for this app and community ❤️

#5JoysFriday @DebinHawaii
Not gonna lie, it's been hard finding much joy this week. So instead, I'm gonna share some of my joys from the past few weeks since I've been absent here.
-our wedding had beautiful weather and a gorgeous sunset backdrop
-my amazing bridal party who helped make the day flawless
-showing my mom my veil which was made from her wedding dress
-playing with my niece at the end of the night
cont ↩️

Wigtown book haul!
Bythell wrote the tagged based on his experience running The Bookshop, where I bought this copy. It's a signed edition & we actually briefly said hello to him as he was taking his recycling out 😅
At the children's bookstore, I found this cute locally written & published picture book for my niece who is obsessed with cows & cowgirls right now
And I'd been looking for a good folklore book - this one has beautiful illustrations

On our international flight, I finally got the chance to watch the new Little Women adaptation. It was amazing as promised. I loved the way it was set up, flashing between timelines. And the ending was perfect, how Jo's storyline was wrapped up!

Cutting it close to the wire with my #bookspinbingo list for November! Today was our last day in Scotland, we've got a long travel day back to the states tomorrow. Here's a picture of a cute highland cow I saw 🐮☺️
@TheAromaofBooks

While in Scotland, I had to visit Wigtown - the National Book Town! There are so many different book stores, I was in heaven 😍 I only bought a couple books because I have to fit them in my suitcase home somehow! I'll post my finds later ☺️📚