This is a fun series! I‘m really enjoying it- the narrator is awesome and I laugh out loud and audibly gasp when something surprises me. Looking forward to the next one for sure 😁

Decent short story about neighbors stuck in the apartment building, one dealing with a dangerous stalker situation, the other with a divorce just finalized. It‘s all very quick, and while I liked it for a short story, I absolutely would‘ve read a fully fleshed out novel with this set up and characters.

Amazing. A look at the current state of rebellion under the Islamic regime of Iran, following the cruel murder of a young woman by morality police because her headscarf wasn‘t worn perfectly.

It‘s Ali Hazelwood. So, cute romcom stories about grumpy, handsome and very tall men and cute, tiny women. Everyone is smart and there‘s at least one word I can‘t pronounce. But they are fun, and even if they are similar to each other, they are different enough from other books that I‘ll keep reading them. #doublespin #bookspinbingo

Unbelievably fantastic. This takes the story we first heard in Huck Finn, turns it around and then takes it to the next level. Very powerful stuff.

Well, damn. I knew there would be a cliff hanger at the end, but I‘m still upset about it! I‘m really enjoying this series and already impatient for the rest…. And have so many questions!!

Sweet story, if a little bit of a stretch.

I‘m certain this will be unpopular, but I just bailed on this book. I‘m really only mentioning it because it‘s my #bookspin book this month. I just found it so slow and boring… to the point that I‘m not looking forward to listening to it in the car tomorrow on the way to work. I‘ll pass my library copy onto the next in line. So- DNF at 31%.

Oof. Given the political landscape of the US right now, this book is like an all-too-possible nightmare. Probably not the best decision to listen to this in terms of my mental health and anxiety…. But it‘s really so well written. I may read the next book in the duology, but I‘m gonna need a minute.

Here we go for February! #bookspinbingo

I‘ve always enjoyed Kasie West‘s books… but it had been a bit so I‘m glad my feelings haven‘t changed. This was a cute ya romance- two families on a road trip. There are secrets, love blossoming, college pressure and more.

This was such a fun book! Thanks to whomever posted about it here, because I never would‘ve picked it up otherwise. And, it got me a #bingo to start the year! #bookspinbingo

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 🤦‍♀️