I didn‘t read the original version, but this graphic adaptation was gorgeous and fascinating! I learned so much about trees! #wickedwords : animals

Maybe I would‘ve liked this more if it weren‘t too similar in plot & theme as a couple of other books I‘ve recently read. Nice writing, but kinda blah. In this story, estranged sisters come back together and work through grief and trauma following the discovery of their mother‘s body- 15 years after she disappeared. #bookspinbingo #bookspin @TheAromaofBooks

Oh, this was fun and spicy! An arranged marriage between an alpha werewolf and a vampyre…. It‘s not my usual story, but I really got into it! #wickedwords: bicycle

Excellent historical mystery that truly kept me guessing! #wickedwords : Survivor @AsYouWish

I promise, #MidwinterSolace folks, I did try with this but had to give up when I found myself enjoying the illustrations more than the words. This is really not my jam, but I hope everyone else enjoyed it!

This was pretty cool- especially the way the truth is uncovered toward the end - it wasn‘t what you‘d expect in a Poirot.

This was and wasn‘t what I expected somehow…. The story of a Puerto Rican family of women from Staten Island who think they may have found their missing person on a reality TV show. I enjoyed it, but am a little nervous to see how my retired ladies in the book group will receive it. #wickedwords : hospital

Nice heartwarming story to start the year featuring a case of mistaken identity in an Australian nursing home.

Let‘s hear it for January 2025! Comin‘ in hot!! (Or, chilly here in New England) @TheAromaofBooks #bookspinbingo

A total what if?? Book about missed opportunities and second chances and life not going the way you thought…. I really love the setting and would@love to visit someday….

This came recommended, and I‘m so glad! Fantastic cozy mystery set in 1920s Bombay, featuring a female lawyer/sleuth. It involves different cultures and religions found in the city at the time, and all that goes with it. Really well done! (And it got me a #bingo to close the year #bookspinbingo )

If anyone is looking for a perpetual challenge/checklist, I‘ve got this going on StoryGraph… https://app.thestorygraph.com/reading_challenges/0b32769d-c351-446f-886e-342f2f4...

Sweet holiday mystery/love story that also had my final #wickedwords : necklace!

This was such a sweet little collection of three Christmas-themed short stories by LM Montgomery. Just absolutely perfect!

Oh boy. Pretty disappointed in this… it was very preachy and condescending and even the voice of the narrator started to get to me 😞

Well, that was unexpected. Thought it was a little drawn out and dramatic, and then the whopping curveball came and woah. #wickedwords : art gallery @AsYouWish

I can‘t force myself through 20 pages; not going to try any more. Other books await!

Patrick is back, this time traveling in Europe with his nibblings ahead of their fathers wedding in Italy. It‘s been 5 years, and their bonds is still very strong. While Patrick is trying to help the kids open up to this new next chapter in their family‘s lives - a stepmother while always missing their mother- Patrick is also reflecting on the passage of time, and getting older. A pick for me, but admittedly not as good as the first.

One of my all-time favorite movies, and now I‘ve finally read the original short story! King has a way of fully developing his characters and pacing the plot so even when you know what‘s going to happen, it‘s still a revelation. I‘m just in awe. #bookspinbingo #doublespin #wickedwords - Christmas, Office

I‘ve had this book for YEARS and finally read it. Sweet story about a 13yo discovering and growing into herself and her synesthesia- meaning she sees colors and shapes in letters, numbers and sounds.

I can‘t believe it‘s December! Here‘s my #bookspinbingo list. Thank you @TheAromaofBooks for another awesome year hosting this event…. Looking forward to more next year!

A second chance story, and a sequel that absolutely needs to be read after the first book.

I just finished this audio…. And woah. I really didn‘t know much about the story when I started, but was hooked pretty quickly. It‘s the story of two kids- Patch and Saint. Patch is abducted when trying to save someone else… and Saint doesn‘t give up on finding him. The effects last their entire lives and extends deep into their community. I loved it.

So I‘m now 2/2 with Carley Fortune! I‘ve always been a sucker for summer-romance-at-the-lake and second chances. I may have found a new (to me) must read romance author!

Generally speaking, I‘m not a huge fan of character driven books. I like more plot. But this one was fascinating! It takes a look at the building of the Panama Canal from the perspectives of native Panamanians, immigrants from Caribbean islands looking to earn money working on the project, and Americans who came either to work on the project directly, or indirectly by studying mosquito-borne diseases, and more. Intriguing.

Fun and cute romance featuring a single dad, a woman with a disability, and the service dog(s) that bring them together. A little, I don‘t know, childish? In parts…. Not sure how to describe it. But overall a fun read. Shown here with my Stella.

Ooh this was good. It tells the story of three generations of Dakhota women, who each have a special doll as a companion, and how they survive the trauma that came from colonization and subsequent Indian Boarding Schools, either directly or as a descendant. Cannot wait to see how the book group reacts! #ownvoices

This came recommended by one of my book group members - and they were right, I loved it! This fancy Newport boutique hotel is both the scene where one woman plans on ending her life, and where another is holding her extravagant 6 day wedding celebration. They become unexpected confidants, and change each other‘s lives. #bookspinbingo #doublespin

Finished this book at breakfast before I went to vote…. I love Carroll‘s artistry and the way she weaves a chilling tale. From the synopsis, I was expecting more of a “Rebecca” vibe, but that‘s not really it. Two thumbs up!

Ready for November! #bookspinbingo @TheAromaofBooks

This was way better than I expected! I don‘t even know why I had low expectations, maybe that‘s just been this book groups luck lately…. But a queer historical tale based in selkie folklore…. I loved the build up!

I have never seen the movie and am so glad I finally read/listened to this book! Classic King horror…it‘s just so twisted and creepy! And it got me a #bingo for #bookspinbingo and #hauntedshelf #deadserious

I really enjoyed this, and cried more than I expected.

Fun, spicy, and enjoyable novella that‘s pure Ali Hazelwood!

I didn‘t come close to finishing this before today‘s book group - only 19% - but still correctly guessed who did it. After the discussion, I‘m not going to continue the book. Moving on….

Very timely and important story on the current wave of book challenges and attempts to restrict access to books in libraries from the perspective of a middle school librarian who spoke out against these acts at a public library board meeting-as a citizen- and was targeted by online bullies for the other side. She fought back. Not great writing (very repetitive) but unfortunately very necessary.

This was FASCINATING. I‘ve been lucky enough to visit the canyon twice (so far) and it is just so awe inspiring. I appreciated this story of two guys hiking the whole damn thing (in sections), how inept they were, particularly at the beginning, and the friends and support they had to get it done. I also appreciated the history of the park, and how the native peoples were treated by the white settlers & when the park was established.

Another fun novella from this writing duo! I mean, it features a Twilight-inspired musical on a cruise ship! 😂😂 #doublespin #bookspinbingo #hauntedshelf #deadserious #otherbook - kicking it right off with a book NOT on my TBR 🤦‍♀️

Alright, here‘s my October #bookspinbingo list, which is similar but not an exact copy of my #hauntedshelf TBR list. I‘m nervous that I don‘t have enough mystery/spooky books on here, so I‘ve left some extra “impulse” spots to add as I get going.

Fun and sexy novella that falls in with the Christmas Notch book series that I‘ve enjoyed. Here we see Luca and Angel‘ story following the 1st Christmas Notch adventure (looks like ebook only until June 2025, when it will/might be published combined with a second novella)

Looking forward to #HauntedShelf starting in just a few days! Go Team #DeadSerious! Here are my answers for this or that:
1) Werewolves 🐺 2) Thriller 😱 3) Salted Caramel 🍮 4) Funny Costume 😆 5) Chocolate 🍫 6) Apple Picking 🍎 7) Sweater 👚 8) Corn Maze 🌽 9) hand out candy 🍬 @OriginalCyn620

Yup - this was perfect for me right now. I am loving the Meant to Be series of retellings- and this Little Mermaid with a Latin twist was so fun!

One of the worst audios ever… particularly the male narrator. It definitely affected my enjoyment in f the story.

Alright, here‘s my #hauntedshelf #tbrlist. It‘s far larger than what I can actually read in October… but I am a mood reader, so wanted to be prepared. When it comes to my #bookspinbingo list, I‘m sure I‘ll still leave some spots for impulse reads…. But hopefully I‘ll get a good many of these off my shelves by November!

Loved this fun retelling of the movie Tangled! And I realized I missed a book in this series, so off to start it now😍

By October, I‘m usually looking for new challenges or events to liven up my reading game. This year, in the absence of #scarathlon (enjoy your family time ladies!) I‘m going to try #HauntedShelf with @PuddleJumper It seems very similar, which promises fun, and I just might get some books off my TBR shelf in the process!! Sign ups are open: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSe7g2cbAys_w6B9G5HHloV6kRr1yQvXVOptseGn...

Eh, alright. I appreciate the look into Iran, especially life after the revolution, from the female perspective. And a female academic who was educated in Europe at that. But the flow of the narrative was confusing at times, and I couldn‘t keep the students straight. Also, the tone felt smug, and for a memoir - left a lot of personal things out.

This is NOT my usual - I am definitely more of a plot-driven reader, and this is really a character study. And while the MC is a bit much at times, she still felt real. I appreciate this look how my life might be in just a few years- children grown, menopause in full gear, aging parents. This was quite atmospheric too, with the setting being a week long family vacation at the beach. I could feel that.

This was great! A romance, sure, but one that explores grief and survivors guilt in a thoughtful way.

This is not my usual cup of tea, and it took me a bit to feel settled into the story, but I ultimately enjoyed it. I think. It‘s all really very strange.