Had a B&N GC I needed to spend. Entered with the idea to just buy the Diverse Spines book (my 2023 TBR will focus on rec‘s from this book), but got sucked in at the BOGO 1/2 off holiday table. 🎄🕎

A queer romance set at a Jewish-run tree farm that gets positive reviews for actually respecting Jewish culture? Yes please!!

And while I don‘t typically read Xmas romances, one set at a cat cafe was hard to pass up. I‘m in it for the 🐈 🐈‍⬛!

Petty? Maybe? In late spring, a town commissioner spouted some very homophobic comments from the dais. This person was someone my teen respected and had numerous interactions with in the past. After no response to our emails, we agreed to a news interview.

In August, she just bought the tagged book, & I did not have time to drop her at home before my board mtg. Guess who was there? Guess who sat down & read ⬆️ book right in front of him? ⬇️

Banned Books Week! And my selection was the top challenged book of 2021 🤬. Including a whole diatribe and campaign against this book by my state‘s LT Gov (who sits on NC‘s State Board of Education)

I am grateful to Maia‘s courage to publish this memoir, and I have seen first hand it‘s impact on non-binary genderqueer and exploring teens in my kid‘s friend group. This is MJ‘s favorite book of the year, and I can see why. It also provides ⬇️⬇️

This was so atmospheric, which I loved! Definitely a slow burn story, so I would only recommend for major Schwab fans and people who don‘t mind not much happening. I adore Schwab‘s writing style, which is what made this a pick for me. Great book to get you in the Spooky Halloween mood! Olivia was a great MC, but I wish the side characters were more fleshed out.

I am loving the illustrations in this book! My eye catches in one thing then slowly sees the other details.

🍄Username change, previously 4thhouseontheleft🍄

It may be in the 80s outside, but it certainly feels like fall when reading an atmospheric spooky story with a kitten curled up in my lap! #monalisa #catsoflitsy

🍄 Previously 4thhouseontheleft, will keep this note at the bottom of my posts for the next few weeks. 🍄

It almost took a century to be published, but I am so glad this book is now available in print. It‘s the first non-fiction book I‘ve read that has a first-hand account of the Middle Passage and being enslaved in the American South. Kudos to Hurston for recognizing the importance, and documenting, Cudjo‘s story. The audiobook was extremely well done, and I highly recommend reading in that format!

✨formerly 4thhouseontheleft✨

🍄 New username alert! 🍄

I‘ve changed my username on Litsy from 4thhouseontheleft.

I‘ve been meaning to do this for a while, as I am also removing my last name from social media accounts and decided to streamline and make everything the same.

Above is some of my weekend reading plans (Pumpkinheads is a reread).😊 Reading is high on the agenda!

#booked2022

This is the first book by McQuiston that I didn‘t absolutely adore. It was really convoluted, had some gaping plot holes, and the side characters were more interesting than the main ones. It did get better in the 2nd half. I will still read anything they write, though!

In a crazy coincidence. I read this page containing a Mean Girls reference, during intermission at a Mean Girls performance!

I love when bookish coincidences like this happen. 🤩

I‘m excited to see The Trees on the Booker shortlist! That is one of my top reads so far this year.

And I have a few more books to try to squeeze into this year‘s TBR!

https://thebookerprizes.com/media-centre/press-releases/the-booker-prize-2022-sh...

Trying to come back to participating in the #WeeklyForecast now that the number of books I read in a week is climbing again!

Two of these are for my last 3 remaining #Booked2022 prompts, #blackcentricimprint and #writtenbyajournalist. Shara Wheeler is my fun read for the week.

I studied ASL and Deaf culture for 2 semesters in college when I had a brief interest in becoming a speech pathologist. I also spent a month at Gallaudet in DC.

I loved this excellent #OwnVoices novel that does not shy away from the controversy around CI, and the role (or withholding) of ASL in Deaf education and language acquisition. Also briefly explores BASL and racism within the Deaf community, something I definitely want to learn more about.

I‘ve spent a lot of time with this book (and a dietician) over the last few months while I‘ve also been working on some emotional healing. Highly recommend!

I mentioned recently we‘ve had a bunch of medical appts, and I haven‘t been in Litsy much. I‘m ready to share that after some psych evals this summer, I finally got an official dx of GAD, SPD, & ADHD. Just started Adderall this week and it definitely makes a difference! ⬇️⬇️

I loved the subject of this book, esp with its relevance for my daughter (there are a lot of dress code battles where we live), and the focus on intersectionality was fantastic. I just didn‘t like the writing in Ruby‘s chapter at all. Not sure if the dual author thing worked well in this one. I would have preferred the whole book from Malena‘s POV.

#BBRC #teenangst #makesmeangry

This book 💯 lived up to expectations. L&L is a cozy high fantasy/sapphic love story that follows an Orc named Viv. She decides to retire from her adventuring days to open a coffee shop in a town that has never heard of coffee. It has a GIANT cat named Amity, cinnamon rolls described in utmost detail, “bean water” (aka coffee 😂) and the lowest stakes imaginable. Fantastic writing, 5 ⭐️ & feels like a warm hug.

#BBRC #MonsterMash

I had a hard time getting my hands on a copy of the self-published version of this book, since they‘ve all been pulled after getting picked up by a publisher. But it‘s still on Audible! I can already see why this went viral on BookTok, and I am LOVING this high fantasy cozy story. Listening while doing some dot-to-dots.

Way late for this #camplitsy selection (like most of them 😂). I almost DNF‘d 25 pages in, but I‘m glad I didn‘t, because I ended up really enjoying this story! Sultry, steamy, and filled with both vivid imagery and imperfect characters dealing with grief. Definitely recommended for fans of Queenie. Some cringe worthy moments, as these are not perfect characters. I look forward to reading Emezi‘s other books, they definitely caught my attention.

One of my favorite used bookstore cafes is right next to our oncology vet. #HelloKitty is there today for imaging and staging, and if that comes out clear, she‘ll get her 1st chemo treatment today. Waiting here is easier than there, but not by much.

Amputation is out, as it is too close to her vertebra. So anything we do is palliative, not a cure, but we can hope for 2+ yrs more with her if chemo works, if it hasn‘t spread yet.🤞#catsofinstagram

The art and inclusivity in this story just fills my soul. It‘s whimsical and oh so cozy. Features a non-binary/genderfluid MC, both Deaf disability representation, BiPOC characters and an M/M relationship from the first book. The over-arching them of acceptance in all its forms is what makes this series one I am sure I will reread.

No plans this weekend other than sitting out by the pool, reading and relaxing! We have some tough medical appts coming up this week so I‘m giving myself the grace to take it easy and enjoy the sun and water.

For the most part, I loved this book, as I adore anything Victoria Schwab writes. My only complaint is how Luc & Addie evolve towards each other, it gave me Stockholm syndrome vibes in one section and felt kinda cringey. Otherwise, another fantastic Schwab read!
#pop22 #constellationoncover

Apparently, I need all the cozy fantasy books right now, because I will drop everything else to read them. This sweet story is full of diverse representation, with cute pint-size dragons that grow tea on their head. Need I say more? Classified as middle-grade but definitely for all ages.

Note: originally published under a different first name, the author changed their name to Kay about a year ago, but early editions will have their other name.

Finished this morning while swinging on the outside daybed overlooking the ricer at my AirBnB. Beautiful spot for some alone time! 📚

I loved this historical novel set in 1930s Malaysia. The romance was a bit…interesting, but everything else was so atmospheric and such a unique story. I especially liked how it focused in on the unequal treatment of women and girls. Ren was my favorite, & I would love another story about him.
#pop22 #tigerintitle

Appointment is set with oncology vet for Aug 16 for imaging and staging. I feel a little bit better going out of town Saturday knowing I have everything set up that I can do at this point. #HelloKitty feels fine, which almost makes all of this harder! #catsoflitsy

I‘m loving the tagged book, haven‘t read historical fiction in a while, and I am finally getting back to my #pop22 prompts.

Bad news on the #HelloKitty front. Pathology showed she has FISS (feline injection site sarcoma). It‘s rare, aggressive, and difficult to treat. We don‘t have a whole lot of options, the main one under consideration is amputation and radiation. We won‘t make any decisions until more scans are done.

It‘s a really hard year. #catsoflitsy

Tagged my current book since reading is helping me deal with things.

I stayed up way too late last night finishing this!

I was on the fence for the first half, but loved it by the end. I think Emily Henry did an excellent job balancing a sweet story with a fantastic main character struggling with PTSD. I also appreciated how some common romance tropes were tuned in their head. I‘ll be heading to a small town 1/2 hr outside Asheville on Friday, which has Sunshine Falls vibes, so it felt timely reading this now!

This was an OwlCrate book, and until I picked it up to read, I thought it was a Medusa retelling.

It is not. Instead, it‘s an urban fantasy that pits the descendants of Greek Heroes against 8 of the Gods in a cycle known as the Argon.

I found it mostly enjoyable, but would not recommend to newbies to Greek mythology. At the minimum, look up the meaning of kleos and timê before reading.

Borderline so-so and pick.
#booked2022 #greekretelling

Happy Friday! Maya is at a friend‘s house this weekend, Dr Hubby is on a solo retreat in the mountains for some well-earned R&R.

Which means I have the house to myself! 🙌🏽🙌🏽 Let the weekend of reading begin! 📚

#catsoflitsy #kittensoflitsy #MonaLisa (Mona pictured)

It's been a tough year, but there have also been some great things happening too!

One of those things is getting prepped to go live in August! I am opening up an Etsy shop to sell custom tea blends and Blind Date With a Book packages!

This is the draft logo, designed by Maya. What do you think? #TheCatsMeow

Flying through the tagged book while keeping a close eye on #HelloKittty. She had surgery to remove 2 lumps yesterday, one a mast cell skin cancer, the other hopefully just an abscess. Initial biopsy on the 2nd lump was ok but vet sending to pathology to make sure.

It‘s been a hard year. Lost #Isabel in April and two close friends unexpectedly in May and June. Another friend dx with an aggressive breast cancer started chemo last week. ⬇️

I‘ve been so busy I haven‘t had any free time for Litsy, and I‘ve missed all of you! I have a back log of book reviews, but this is the latest. I‘m definitely on an Emily Henry kick this summer.

I‘m also in the final stages of interviewing for a new job. I would get PAID to read books!! (And write about them) I‘ll share more if it works out, but I‘m really excited.

Our backyard oasis is almost complete! Pool filled and was ready for swimming Saturday. So relaxing, can‘t wait or the landscaping to be complete. This will be my new favorite reading spot and where you will find me all summer. 📖 ☀️ 🍹

The kittens are now bigger than a book! They are growing so fast. #catsoflitsy #MonaLisa #kittensoflitsy

I didn‘t know a lot about this book going in, which I think is a good thing. This collection of stories, all interconnected in some way, examine the effect of a virus released from the melting Arctic permafrost, and it‘s devastating impact around the world. I can‘t wait to discuss the 2nd half in a few days with #CampLitsy.

Skoliosexual is a new term for me I had to look up. It refers to people who are attracted to those who are transgender or nonbinary.

I don‘t know of any books that specifically feature a skoliosexual character. If you know of one, mention it in the comments! #pride #pride2022 #skoliosexual

Proud mama moment. End of year 8th grade promotion. Straight A‘s all 3 years of middle school. Presidential Gold Education Excellence Award (thank god it‘s signed by a better POTUS than the last one), NJHS, and top student in two subjects. 3 HS credits (2 in Math plus French I). In my eyes, she‘s the GOAT.

I credit her love of learning, resilience (it was a ROUGH 3 years for her), and love of books. 😊

Late in this weekend‘s prompts, but this book is high on my TBR and has pansexual rep. From what I can tell there is also polysexual rep but if you have more recommendations, drop them in the comments below! #pride #pride2022 #pansexual #polysexual

This was fantastic in audiobook format, narrated by the author herself. Some essays hit better than others, and the last section felt a bit like filler, but overall I really liked and appreciated this read. Now off to watch 2 Dope Queens on HBO.

#nonfiction2022 #marvelous
#bookspinbingo

Last full day of school for Mj, before tomorrow‘s 8th grade promotion ceremony. Spending the day trying to finish some of my mostly completed #currentreads. The tagged book on audio, an ebook, and if time permits, the #CampLitsy read! #audiopuzzling

Focusing on bisexual rep today, and tagged a 2022 release I am really excited to read! Set in the Caribbean and featuring a Black, bisexual MC who is seeking joy after a tragic loss. Also, #coverlust 😍 the cover design is gorgeous! #pride #pride2022

Starting the first #CampLitsy book, but my heart may be too heavy for this one right now.

It‘s also my choice for #RememberingJenny. @ReadingEnvy gave it 5 ⭐️ in February, but the last sentence of her review has me 😢: “There is a lot in death and dying in here, so treat yourself with care, as it might not be the right time.”

My first Emily Henry book, and I loved it! Just the type of story I needed right now. And it‘s a friends-to-lovers tale, which is one of my favorite rom-com tropes. I could definitely relate to Poppy‘s wanderlust, and thought all the travel details added a fun component, but I could see that not being everyone‘s cup of tea.

#bookspinbingo #pop22 #BookTokrec

My June #BookSpinBingo is ready to go. Tagged my next planned book for #CampLitsy after finishing my current read.

During Pride Month, I will be trying to highlight a book each day that follows this calendar!

The tagged book is a fantastic YA sapphic fantasy novel featuring a diverse cast, and set in a world that is free of homophobia. 🙌🏽 This was Maya‘s favorite book last year, and I also loved it when I read it in January. #pride #pride2022

The cuteness!!! Look who came and curled up on my lap while I was reading the tagged book.

These two. I can‘t handle the level of adorableness in our house right now. 😻🫶🏼 #catsoflitsy #kittensoflitsy #MonaLisa

Trying to participate again in some of the groups where I‘ve gone silent, including #BFC2022!

Like @wanderinglynn June is going to be a reset month for me. My June goals:

📖 Read 8 books
🍓 Daily food journal (including mood while eating, per dietician‘s advice)
🚴 Exercise 60 min/day

I seem to be emerging from my reading slump, and finally have enough books in one month to make it worth doing a reading wrap-up!

The middle row are my favorite reads this month, top row are solid picks, bottom row were just okay.

May was a great reading month for me after months of a slump, so I decided to do #BookSpin #BookSpinBingo again in June!

My 3rd and final book for #20in4 readathon this weekend! I actually liked the 2nd book more than the first. My daughter used to read Akissi, a picture book series by this author, and I love that Akissi is in this series as the little sister!

Lisa is still smaller than a book, but both kittens are growing quickly! #MonaLisa #catsofinstagram #kittensofinstagram

#pop22 title begins with last letter of previous read