I'll probably think about this one for a while, but it didn't wow me as much as I had hoped. I loved the dual timelines and the stories of families crossing the border and the struggles they face. I never felt really connected with Isabel and Martin and I wasn't really a fan of Isabel's internal (and occasionally external) snarkiness with her former BFF now SIL, Claudia.

So excited to read through this stack! I started with Next Year in Havana and I'm really enjoying it so far.

Loaned these two books to a co-worker. I can't wait for her to read them. I love sharing my favorite books with others.

Organizing and cleaning my little stash. I use an essential oil/ rubbing alcohol solution to sanitize used books I buy.

Currently reading... ❤

Score at the library bookstore today! $1.50 for both books. I love this edition of Little Women, it's adorable!

Super thrift store scores!

I laughed so hard while reading this paragraph. This is so me and my DH! 😂 He'll be telling me about something, all in depth, and I'll be trying to follow along when all of the sudden I realize... he's totally high and trying to be all philosophical.

I finished this in almost 1 sitting! Only because I had to leave work and couldn't continue until I got home. ? The main character's oldest daughter is 14 and a few of their moments were totally relatable. There were also some laugh out loud moments and the drama wasn't over the top, "that would never happen in real life" but drama that you could actually envision happening.

1. This was another outtake from trying to get a good pic of TGLaPPPS, featuring my cat's body and my GSD's nose.
2. Our high in Vegas today is 105 and the low is 85, but I'm loving that there are evening thunderstorms in the forecast!
3. I actually skipped dinner last night, it was too hot!
4. I would love to handwrite out all my books, but 1st I would purge my stash to only include my absolute faves!
5. Sweet Iced Tea
#humpdaypost @MinDea

I really enjoyed this book. It was a light read given the time it was set in and I thought Juliet was really funny. I laughed out loud and smiled to myself several times throughout the book.

Bookstagram outtake...😂

Library books come out, ragdoll goes in! 😂

Mixed feelings when all my holds come in at the same time! Which to read 1st? I usually start with the ones that can't be renewed.

A solidly diverse YA novel. I appreciated the sexuality and race representation featured in this story. Lion's mental illness was portrayed well and wasn't an over the top, dramatized telling. It made me feel that the author has really experienced having a loved one with bi-polar as her description of the ups, downs and mania were spot on.

Despite the serious topic of this book (The Golden State Killer) this line made me laugh out loud! My eyes have felt like this a time or two and it's why I wear my glasses 98% of the time instead of contacts.

I bailed on this one and wasn't surprised to come across it so quickly discarded at the thrift store. I mean come on, male character returns to work late at night to pick up his Costco sized box of Trojans and gives sex advice to female co-worker. Yeah, no thanks...DNF

I chose this book as my at work read on July 4th. Usually a holiday I'm excited to celebrate, this year it was hard to feel patriotic. I appreciate the different perspectives provided and was surprised to see how these authors knew of what was to come so shortly after the elections. I think I had a bit of blissful ignorance and didn't believe it would get so bad.

As another review stated, I am finishing this book with tears streaming down my face.

I have realized in the past year that I love the slow build and years passed in a novel. Reading this debut novel reminded me of others I have fallen in love with, such as Celeste Ng, Fredrik Backman and John Boyne, and will continue to seek out in the future.