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This was a delightful and cozy read. I enjoyed the dual timelines and seeing Val work her way through the riddles as she becomes part of the Primrose Hill community. Take me to the Book Garden, please!

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A quick read ~ out of my traditional “comfort zone”

⭐️⭐️⭐️ While it feels a bit too obvious, I did find it helpful and was thinking about the “combinations” I work with (including myself)

If you think you‘re surrounded by idiots, then perhaps you are the idiot…you can‘t expect everyone to be/act like you, so it‘s beneficial to seek to understand those surrounding you.

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This was fun…and I learned that my nephew and his mom are reading the series, too. Should I continue?

Finished The Answer is No today for my November #bookspin (Kindle). Just a delight. Backman has a delightful knack for absurdity, humor, and humanity. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Currently reading this #kindlepick for my November #bookspin 👍🏼

Thanks to #roll100 & my November #doublespin I am delighted to move this 2018 #both off my #tbr shelf. This was enjoyable, and I liked seeing Hazel unravel the mystery. 3.5 ⭐️

Made it to page 137…just not into it…time to get the book back to its owner.

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And now it‘s my son‘s turn to read this.

Good pick for spooky season. ⭐️⭐️⭐️

November #bookspin list ~ we‘re in the homestretch for 2024…how is this happening?!

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This was a quick and gripping read - perfect for Halloween season! Fun Fact: this author is from my town in Central Jersey, so some of the local nods (RU-Rah-Rah) and allusions to the Middlesex Greenway were fun lil‘ Easter Eggs of sorts.

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Metal and gore 🤘🏼🎸
Filing in the #mysoncanreadthiswhenhesolder category, definitely up his alley

3.5 ⭐️ ~ fun and quick ~ R.L. Stine has the formula down. I will let the kid read this one. The innuendo should just soar over his head. Hopefully this will reinforce the “don‘t hitchhike, don‘t pick up hitchhikers” mantra I‘ll say on repeat in the years to come! 🤞🏼🤣

Next up on the #canmykidreadthisyet list…this guy…my son‘s just finished Stine‘s The Cheater and enjoyed it. He‘s not yet 10, so I guess this is good parenting. He‘s dying to read Stephen King, but this will have to do…for a little while longer. We‘ve got some “good for kids” King coming his way for his 10th.

For years, Dr. Murchison had taught her to breathe in the flower, and blow out the candle. Now she breathed in Slayer and blew out Black Sabbath.

My October #Roll100 & #DoubleSpin ~ there is a lot in these vignettes about murder and violence in Essex County (Massachusetts) densely packed, but “just okay” for me. ⭐️⭐️⭐️

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September #Roll100 & October #bookspin - a powerful read that follows Cora on her fight for freedom. Setbacks and challenges don‘t begin to describe the atrocities. Moving.

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My September #doublespin and Book Club pick for October. Felt good to read a book that I wanted to keep coming back to. I think our group‘s discussion will be a good one.

September was a slooooooow reading month for me…hoping my October #bookspin helps me get back in the swing.

Fun throwback c/o my parents‘ basement… #treasure looking forward to diving into others in the box. 📦

Okay novella…admittedly I‘m unfamiliar with the opera. But I am happy to me moving through the Art of the Novella series, thanks to #bookspin (this is my September pick).

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Happy to have finally returned to Simone St. James. This book blends together some of my favorites: true crime and ghosts…

My September #bookspin list looks very similar to that of prior months…but that‘s okay! Plenty of opportunities to tackle #mountTBR while still having room for “mood reading”. How is it September?! And, in a very un-New Jersey twist, my kids head back to school this week…in August! What is happening?! 🤣

⭐️⭐️⭐️ I was pulled in quickly and enjoyed seeing the timelines play out.

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Parenting someone recently diagnosed, this book is a helpful tool for perspective. Both Penn and Kim are candid about their experiences and the impact of ADHD on their lives & relationship. (August #doublespin)

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Enjoyed reading this during a weekend getaway.

My #Roll100 for August and I‘m not feeling it…so why continue?! Move it out into the world for someone else! #thankyouNext

“So-So” because there is probably so, so much I don‘t quite understand…amusing though and with the author‘s self-awareness at the end I know that a trip to Wikipedia may be in order.

My #bookspin for August (A Melville House read). 🙌🏼

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I enjoy how Davis embraces the two timelines together.

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Not my favorite Ruth Ware read, but it kept moving and kept me guessing till the end.

August #bookspin - August?!

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Another amusing installment ~ enjoying the friendship our leading ladies have. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

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Backman does such a great job tapping into the human condition…I want to meet and have coffee…or a beer…or some closet wine…with each of these characters. This was a twofer: July #bookspin and #roll100

Jamie! 😍 This was a delight to receive earlier this week. Thank you for the little Michigan surprise pack. 💜 You can bet I‘ll be savoring these in the coming days. Thank you so much! 💜

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Josh & Chuck are the PB&J of podcasting, and this books was a delight. Their voices came through in their writing. Looking forward to diving back into their podcast episodes.

This is why Josh & Chuck are “my people” - working a They Might Be Giants nod into a footnote in a chapter about do(ugh)nuts. 😉 #Istanbul(NotConstantinople)

My July #bookspin (history repeating from 2020) is still a pick. Duels are still absurd.

Evidently I‘m re-reading this…and am the most recent poster (2020). 🤣 And again for BookSpin. (I don‘t consider this cheating)

Even with the murder and mayhem, this series continues to delight. Fun and breezy reading.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ ~ delighted to sneak this in as a final read in June

How is it time for July #bookspin ~ here‘s my list to kick off the back half of 2024! 😬

Fun, quick read…I‘d love to read Phoebe‘s dissertation. 🤣

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My June #Roll100 - a quick read - while I first found the not-so-subtle character name nods to classic horror/80s hits amusing, I started to do more eye rolls as it continued. (The teacher, John Hughes; principal Vernon; John Carpenter HS…possible Party of 5 actor nods…?) 2.5⭐️

I enjoyed this and like spending time with Bruce and company. My June #bookspin for a Kindle selection.

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Emily Henry is perfect for summer. There were small things that bugged me a bit, but I enjoyed seeing where Polly & Alex ended up.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ ~ Wrapping up the final, final round of #LMPBC with this pick for #GroupG. Such rich writing and visual imagery played against such pain for our MC. I just wanted her to feel happy and be loved. (I did not enjoy the ending)

Thank you, @KateReadsYA @JamieArc & @suvata for such a lovely #LMPBC finale…it‘s been a pleasure. 💜The book will head home soon within the next week.

Love this series…I hope to be part of a crew like this in my later years. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

With a moment to breathe today, let‘s get the #bookspin for June set up!