I‘m 20 years into my fascination of movies and books set in India. (It started when my 12yo daughter and I discovered Netflix Bollywood dvds.). I‘m humbled by the culture, history, and religions so unknown to me. Reading Shalini discover Kashmir was interesting and heartbreaking. Heartbreaking because we are not all built with the intestinal fortitude to become the person we truly want to be.

Apr #DoubleSpin Category: Across an Ocean

This so-so rating is a reflection of my mindset rather than the storytelling here. I remained curious at this one until a retreat center ended up being a cult. I‘m so over real life cult figures (even completely unrelated to this story) that I find little entertainment in fictional cults.

In January, I was disappointed reading My Oxford Year when the story didn‘t match the title. Not so here. This book set in the 1920s features four women earning the opportunity to matriculate from Oxford. Each woman has a unique and compelling story engrossed in 1920s culture. It didn‘t feel like a 2025 woman finding herself in 1920 (my pet peeve with HF). It felt like what women able to consider higher education in the 1920s would experience.

In January, I was disappointed reading My Oxford Year when the story didn‘t match the title. Not so here. This book set in the 1920s features four women earning the opportunity to matriculate from Oxford. Each woman has a unique and compelling story engrossed in 1920s culture. It didn‘t feel like a 2025 woman finding herself in 1920 (my pet peeve with HF). It felt like what women able to consider higher education in the 1920s would experience.

I was first introduced to this author TJ Klune by reading the cerulean sea. I love that book so much that clone became an auto became not just an auto read but an auto by author for me. My problem is I haven‘t liked his subsequent books nearly as much as the cerulean sea. I like this one but think I like Klune is best when he uses a lighter touch to say a lot, and this one was heavy.

I‘m such a mood reader and I‘m sure I could sit with this book at another time and be completely entertained. American Anna moving on her own to London with the city itself very nearly a character is right up my alley. I just found every turn in Anna‘s story to be too predictable so I got a bit bored with this particular story.

Well this was an interesting part fantasy, part maybe (with a little tweak) almost horror story. Anytime souls are integral to a story my creep factor rises and I start thinking HP death eaters.

This is a pick with issues - I liked how it ended. I‘ve read most of Jennifer‘s books and always appreciate how she builds an interesting FMC whose physical appearance wouldn‘t put her in the running to replace Margot Robbie in a Barbie movie. But geez, this was brutal (TW to those whose families made them feel invisible for who they were). I just wanted to reach in the pages, befriend Cassie, and convince her she mattered.

This is an easy plck for me and I‘m now curious to read more about the London fog of 1952. I‘m humbled I never realized the Lake District was a treasured place of British beauty. I like the story, it was unique and on the light side of historical fiction. I do think the story would have benefited by sharing Clara‘s PoV with alternating chapters from Bronwyn.

I considered dropping a quarter point from the tagged for a solid A (questioning if author took enough responsibility for her own actions) but went with 5⭐️ because of the changes I need to make in my own habits after reading this.

5* = Loved It, want to shout out loud about this book! I do/will own/keep a physical copy. A+
4*= I liked it, would love to discuss. Solid B
3*=Meh, no need to discuss. Avg C
2*=Nope D
1*=DNF F

I never quite knew who the MC was until I realized the focus would remain on three POVs as one goes missing on the Appalachian Trail of Maine. There is a mystery here but mostly it serves as the catalyst to reveal the life stories of those 3 women each with ownership to that mystery. …I can imagine this as a book Jenna‘s production company might adapt for screen.

This story pulled me in from the beginning and never let go. It was another one where I had no idea the middle or end, and that‘s always a fun book experience. I‘m fascinated by this writing. There were several opportunities for tiffs based on poor choices by characters to take control of the story, but the author opted against that kind of conflict. And 👏 for the nod to Lawrence, Kansas - Rock Chalk!

Oh gosh, a family caring for their parent with early onset dementia must be a difficult test of family strength. My parents and two siblings have passed away (none with dementia) I know we would not have been that unit who could live together as adults (ailing parent or not). I‘m fascinated by families, even fictional, who make the attempt. Oh yeah, there‘s a love story here too - and a greatly named dog!

Last week I watched the adaption of this book on Netflix with a visiting sister. It was a fun romance and when I saw it was inspired by a book I immediately checked Libby and it was available after a short hold. I spent yesterday with the book and liked both - even the differences. Where the movie is a romance the book is more contemporary fiction (pub 2013). Had all aspects of the book been adapted it would require a limited series.

I am the person who‘s never experienced an illegal drug for fear I will be the one who becomes immediately and forever addicted. So Amy‘s manner of unlocking the traumas of her past is a no-go for me personally. But my own issues faded for Amy as she convinced of the freedom in knowing her truth .

Last weekend I noticed a brand tote for the first time, I don‘t remember discussing it, but since then my feeds are full of Bogg Bags advertisements. I told my DIL that my phone was crawling into my head. …So is it a stretch my phone charging at my night stand could soon steal my dreams for profiling? Damn😱

Beth O‘Leary is an auto read romance writer (I have several) for me. I really liked this one. A romance has to have conflict, and I did not anticipate the resulting conflict here - so points for that!

I wouldn‘t consider this a love story had the words not been in the title. The unnamed bisexual MC holds a fascinating PhD from UCLA and has dual citizenship (she born in USA, her father in Iran). What I found interesting was the MC having reason to quickly get to Iran and then deciding whether or not she wanted to stay in Tehran on her own and make a life as a single woman there. It wasn‘t the crux of the story, but I wish it would‘ve been.

Yikes - attracted to and corrupted by power. I‘ve long been losing respect towards those running Facebook/Meta. But after reading this - ‘losing respect‘ forget that semantic of charity. I‘m disgusted by the powerful people that were and are behind Facebook/Meta. …This book is powerful and I applaud Sarah‘s courage to write it (even though she bears some responsibility for what she coordinated in the name of job security/health insurance).

I have neither finished a book in the last week, nor scrolled through Litsy - I miss you and need both of these things in my life! I did sneak my March #indexcard effort a into my closet for a quick pic 🤣

March 2025 #MonthlyWrapUp

I‘m knee deep in company and falling way behind in reading and Litsy this week. But typically hours in my days are spent as the wing-woman for 2-yr old as he fashions a day‘s ‘book blanket‘. Nightly collapse and reshelving of materials is the sole responsibility of said wing-woman🤣

April 2025 #BookSpinBingo @TheAromaofBooks

I haven‘t verified but from a solid B,4⭐️ to A+,5⭐️ this might be my overall highest rated grid of 2025. The fiction was all so good and the one non-fiction so unexpectedly interesting that I had to tag it.

5* = Loved It, want to shout out loud about this book! I do/will own/keep a physical copy. A+
4*= I liked it, would love to discuss. Solid B
3*=Meh, no need to discuss. Avg C
2*=Nope D
1*=DNF F

Two of the beloved OGs from my IRL bookclub past away in 2024, one after an extended illness and another suddenly. For 2025 on their birth months, we are discussing a book each nominated in year‘s past but ultimately not selected for discussion. This was Patty‘s book. A reread for me but all the more beautiful the 2nd time around knowing how often she spoke about and loved this story.

I am essentially a medical illiterate and my understanding of tuberculosis began and ended with knowing the abbreviation is TB. I couldn‘t resist being enlightened on this topic by John Green. I was hooked the whole way through and humbled by my ignorance on this topic. I now really want to visit the YouTube channel of Henry Reider.

I mean this was near future dystopian but in some aspects felt like a current-day living off-the-grid family drama. I liked it. It was unique and I had no idea how it would end or who would survive. I loved the short 9-yo Orly chapters filled with his scientific knowledge and take on life.

This music industry story is more quiet than those told of sex, drugs, and rock ‘n‘ roll. It‘s chock full of song references made more fun because these days it‘s so easy to pull up said songs for a new listen. The setting is early aughts Berkeley and NYC, and it‘s about the love of the lyric. I don‘t know, I just really enjoyed a story concentrating on this aspect of music.

Ohh, this was so good and atmospheric. Nine times out of ten if I‘m going call a book atmospheric it‘s going to be set in the PNW and you can‘t get more north than Alaska. I loved how this one ended. Werebears anyone 🐻

I noticed this title by Graham Norton and entertained by his interviews thought it would be fun to give it a St Paddy‘s Day go - and bonus, he narrates the audio. What a fun way to commemorate the day🍀. I loved the way in which the feisty octogenarian Frankie told her fascinating life‘s story to Damian. Would that we all have a Damian when we are 83 to find our lived experiences so compelling 💕

Although I read lots of books with bits of comedy this was about the laughs from beginning to end, and it was a fun departure for me. The book speaks to the difference of irony vs coincidence. It also has a side character who happens to be the wealthiest man in the world. Realizing this book was written and likely sent to print before the IRL world‘s richest man became pseudo-POTUS - hmmm, irony or coincidence 🤔

Every couple years in March I squeeze in an MB. Her books have a pile of characters and since I don‘t read her according to publishing date (and that couple year lag) I don‘t recall if a character showed up in a previous book. I just settle in and enjoy the community she creates and what I‘ll recall here is the feeling I had reading this community minding little Frankie 😍

March #DoubleSpin Category: Family Drama @TheAromaofBooks

Five well-developed characters are key to telling this Civil War story. That the gravely injured Union captain was a professor in his civilian world gave credibility to his interactions with the four who strived to help him survive. I really enjoyed reading this and loved 12 yo Jubilee. Chris has become an auto read author for me. I‘m fascinated how his books vastly differ from one telling to the next.

I tagged what is my current favorite fiction book of 2025. I wonder when another book will become my favorite!

5* = Loved It, want to shout out loud about this book! I do/will own/keep a physical copy. A+
4*= I liked it, would love to discuss. Solid B
3*=Meh, no need to discuss. Avg C
2*=Nope D
1*=DNF F

I read a pile of books and I try to be forgiving of tropes because of said many books. But honestly, I think I‘m done with the 27 yo FMC having a meet-cute with her unrequited love from HS. I found Leigh insufferable even if she began to realize this of herself by the HEA ending. 👇

This was a lovely friends to lovers HEA. It was a super quick and easy read because it is mostly conversation. I‘m often dropping the tips of stars on romance because I‘m judgey when it comes to tropes. But I might have to add shiny tips here because the author so seamlessly avoided the miscommunication trope.

I was not rooting for this MC - her need for discovery was almost insufferable and she lost me with the tampon episode. The writing is quite good though.

This book is so beautifully written that I crawled my couch-sitting blanketed self into it and pretty much stayed there until story‘s end. There‘s a love triangle pushing the story forward but I wasn‘t caught up in being Team Frank or Team Gabriel. I was just there in this world taking place in the English countryside of 1968-1975. I realize the timeframe, but I would not have classified this as historical fiction. …And that last page 💕💔💕

I had someone close who lied often about inane things. That silliness was enough to long ago convince me to be comfortable with who I am and the things that might seem weird to anyone else (ie, I really don‘t merge well😞). So I wasn‘t sure if I‘d be interested in a story of a consummate liar. The first twist came earlier than expected so I anticipated more and found this entertaining.

I purchased this book based on the author and decided not to read about the story. I had a blast reading this and was almost to the end before realizing I hadn‘t spent any effort guessing that ending. It‘s always a good sign for me with a thriller when I‘m so engrossed in the current page that I don‘t consider what the next chapter might bring.

When my March #BookSpin landed on category: KindleTBR I knew what I wanted. I saw this was being adapted so pulled it from the near bottom of ever-growing virtual TBR. Shoot. I‘m disappointed. Had I gone in anticipating a romance maybe this would get a pick. But I was expecting a rhodes scholar‘s challenges as an American experiencing advanced education abroad, and there is almost none of that. This title is such a misnomer.

This was interesting story telling. The author had the chops to turn this into a legal drama but opted to keep it more family drama. I was a little frustrated the characters spent so much time inside their own heads, but as the story unfolded I was surprised at a major turn. I also thought the ending was complete, and I appreciate that in a mystery.

Barbie made her public debut in 1959. I never owned a Barbie but envied my older sister‘s Skipper and Tootie. I found this book celebrating Barbie‘s origins intriguing because as the 80s, 90s, 2000s were set to begin I always seemed to fall upon articles or interviews about Barbie‘s origins. Honestly, it would make for a fascinating limited series if it focused on the IRL people of the 19th century Mattel company.

Some quite good books outnumbered 2 to 1 some somewhat meh books. That‘s okay, sometimes an average read reminds me what I like to read. Tagged my favorite

5* = Loved It, want to shout out loud about this book! I do/will own/keep a physical copy. A+
4*= I liked it, would love to discuss. Solid B
3*=Meh, no need to discuss. Avg C
2*=Nope D
1*=DNF F

I don‘t know, this was okay. I think I just need to take a long break from mystery writers being invited to writing retreats at secluded locations. All these writers are beginning to bleed (so how I worked that pun in 🤣) together. I didn‘t figure out how this would resolve but I also didn‘t care enough about the characters to care how it resolved.

Ohhh, I liked this. There‘s nothing really big or exciting in this story of what defines family after death and divorces, but there are some really sweet moments. I think for most of us life is really about those sweet moments. So different from my previously reviewed book which was also devoid of the big moments 🤣

A good thing I can say about all those cold days and nights of February is how good it feels to wrap up in a blanket and fall into a book. #indexcard collection

I‘m always down for a character moving through the 1980‘s particularly when they are navigating NYC. I didn‘t not like this book, but really nothing of consequence happens. And when nothing really happens in 528 pages, that‘s a lot of nothing.

I am so thankful February is the shortest month of year. Welcome March with all its madness! …Oh, if you love children‘s books, and are spending any time in Kansas City I highly recommend prioritizing a visit to The Rabbit Hole. It‘s less than a year old and a fantastic children‘s interactive book museum.

February 2025 #BookSpinBingo
@TheAromaofBooks

This octogenarian love story is so darn cute. I really loved reading it. I thought the elements came together so well - 1920s widowed Brooklyn pharmacist assisted by his aunt, a Jewish Russian woman (I loved her) of potions, to raise his teenage daughters. The crushes his daughters had with two store employees showed just how quickly and how young women rushed to marry. …And the whole way the story unfolds in Florida is just a hoot and a half.

I struggled with this one. It was a unique and I liked it for that but boy it was a slow roll of a story. It was frustrating because there were elements (we‘re talking Feed Me Seymour here) that could have livened up the story had the garden been more character than background. I also thought too much was explained in the wrap up of the story that wasn‘t played out in earlier chapters.

Anna Parker revealed herself to be a horrible murderous woman in the first installment of this story. She has done nothing to redeem herself in the sequel - even her justification for the murders are horrible, and yet I kept reading. It‘s a well written book with an intriguing plot, but you really need to be in the mood to dislike your main character.