As a #friendofthepod I knew I would love this book. I thought it had a good mix of humor, inside scoop on life in the White House, and discussion of communication strategy. It probably won‘t appeal to everyone, but there‘s enough here for different readers and tastes. If you like your politics with a side of snarky footnotes be sure to check this one out!

1. Most of this summer will get eaten up by work and school, but I did manage to get out to see some pre-4th fireworks the other night.
2. A Darker Shade of Magic. It‘s taking a lot of willpower to not ditch the rest of my TBR and go get the rest of the series right now!
3. I can‘t wait to see Crazy Rich Asians
4. 💕❤️😊👍😂

Thank you for the tag @tournevis 😃

#friyayintro @jesshowbooks

Okay here‘s my #MakeMeReadIt list! Forgive the cropped Kindle cover images. Looking forward to all of these, but I can‘t wait to see which one gets the most votes to be my first August read. Also I can‘t remember the last time I finished 9 books in a month, so this might be a particularly ambitious list. 😄

If you haven‘t seen it yet, be sure to check out the #MakeMeReadIt readathon from @TheReadingMermaid 🧜‍♀️

Post your August TBR and littens will have the month of July to vote on what you read! Read the top vote getter first, the second place finisher second, and so on. I‘m usually not great at planned TBR reading, but have a small mountain of unread books on my Kindle and no idea where to start. Off to make a list for voting!

I must confess that this one started out slowly for me and I considered setting it aside for some else that might grab me faster. I‘m so glad I stuck it out and went on this adventure with Kell and Lila. Although this was a little heavy on the world building for me, the characters kept me coming back for more. Looking forward to seeing what‘s in store in the next installments of the series!

I knew that I would love this book long before I got my hands on a copy. At this point I don‘t think there‘s much I could say about it that hasn‘t already been said. Michelle‘s devotion - and that of the detectives, both professional and amateur- to seeing these horrific crimes solved is something I admire. It‘s certainly not an easy book (the adage about it being too unsettling to read at night proved true for me), but one I‘m glad to have read.

I‘ve written in previous posts about my struggles to find contemporary romance titles that I love. The struggle continues, but I did enjoy this one. It read a bit like a rom-com movie script, which helped to keep me engaged. For me this one is somewhere between a so-so and a pick, but I‘m rating up because I found myself staying up late to read it, which hasn‘t been happening with many books lately.

Happy Tuesday, Littens!

Does anyone else find that a midday reading break beats away the workday blues? My inbox in overflowing and my to do list is probably about 100 miles long at this point. But I need to take a few minutes for me and regroup with something warm (a must for me when they blast the AC at the office) and a chapter or two of my current read.

1. Dublin Murder Squad, Ember in the Ashes, the Lunar Chronicles, Stephanie Plum, Home Repair is Homicide (I could keep going!)
2. So many! Some of my all time faves: Friday Night Lights, NCIS, Veronica Mars, and Murder, She Wrote. Recent faves: Riverdale and Blindspot
3. Only if the Red Sox are playing
4. Nothing planned, but hoping for some pizza
5. He reads more than I do!

@jesshowbooks
#friyayintro

I‘ve missed you, Littens! In what‘s feeling like some weird “new normal” cycle life got bonkers and I needed to take a step back from a lot of things. Finally finding my footing again and I‘m so happy to be back. I hope that you‘re all well!

My reading has slowed down over the last couple of months, but my book buying hasn‘t. This was my haul from a library book sale in April and is only a fraction of what I‘ve acquired lately. Oops? 🤷‍♀️

I think this is a case of “it‘s not you, it‘s me.” I‘ve enjoyed Daniel José Older‘s work in the past so I went in to this one with some high expectations. This is a good book with fun characters and great storytelling, but it didn‘t blow me away like I expected it to. Some day I‘ll learn to go into books with no expectations! I still recommend checking this one out (and DJO‘s other work), especially if you like your fantasy mixed with reality.

It‘s probably going to take me some time to put into words how gripping I found this. I rarely write in my books, but I had a pencil in my hand the whole time I read so that I could underline passages that struck me. I underlined A LOT. I know I‘ll be revisiting and thinking about it for a long time. It‘s a difficult read, but a truly important one. If you‘ve been thinking about reading it, move it up your TBR.

Why oh why did it take me so long to meet Kinsey Millhone? Grafton's series has been on my radar for what feels like forever and I've owned this book for a couple of years. Finally picked it up last week and thoroughly enjoyed getting to spend some time getting to know Kinsey and following her investigations. I enjoyed her snark and look forward to seeing the development of her character over the course of the series.

Behind on posting yet again! Last week's #bookmail included this recent giveaway win. I've seen mixed reviews, but I'm a sucker for dystopian stories. Now to find a spot for it on my TBR...

This was such a delight to read. It‘s been awhile since I picked up a book and didn‘t want to put it down, but I probably could have read this in one sitting. I loved the writing and felt that the characters were realistic and relatable. I laughed out loud a few times and definitely got a little misty eyed. Now that I‘ve read the book I‘m looking forward to see the movie and for hearing more from Leah when Albertalli‘s next book comes out soon.

A fun premise for a cozy mystery that falls flat in some places. As the first in a series, it often felt like it was doing too much to set up characters and future plot lines. I‘ll probably give the next book in the series a try, but I‘m not totally sold on it just yet.

Here‘s my blizzard reading stack. Power is out at home, giving me an unexpected partial day off. My Kindle is fully charged and there are plenty of unread books on there waiting for me. And maybe I can finish the book I started when we lost power in the storm a little over a week ago. Hope all my fellow New England littens are staying safe and warm today!

I missed you, Littens! February threw some curveballs that had me taking a step back from a lot of things, including reading and spending time here. I'm so happy to be getting back, catching up with familiar faces, and making some new Litsy friends!

Also, shout out to @Jas16 @Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks and @erzascarletbookgasm for the wonderful mail they sent my way last month. I can't begin to tell you how much your cards brightened my days. ❤️

So excited to have a cozy new blanket to wrap up in this weekend! And a true crime Book is perfect for my current reading mood. Thank you so much Laurie! ❤️ @Scurvygirl

And a big thanks to @Tiffy_Reads and @JoeStalksBeck for organizing this #blanketandabookswap!!

I didn‘t get a picture of the box, but here‘s a peek at the inside! Apologies for getting this out to you so late @Scurvygirl - the post office says it should make it to you by Thursday!

#blanketandabookswap
@Tiffy_Reads @JoeStalksBeck

It‘s here @Scurvygirl ! This actually arrived yesterday, but we were still without power and my frozen fingers and brain forgot to post about it. I was very tempted to open it right away so I would have another blanket to curl up under. ☺️

#blanketandabookswap
@Tiffy_Reads @JoeStalksBeck

I enjoyed the first mystery in this series last year and I‘m hoping to read this second installment this year. Police chief Kate Burkholder works in Painters Mill, Ohio, where she was raised as part of the Amish community. The titles of the first 3 in the series play with “silence” in the title. #silent

#ReadingResolutions
@Jess7

Day 4. #NeedaSmile. Few books get me laughing more than the Stephanie Plum series. From Stephanie, to Lula, to Grandma Mazur, there are so many characters who can put a smile on my face. Yes, the series is maybe getting to be longer than it needs to be, but I‘ll be there for every blow up car, botched bond enforcement pick up, and family dinner in the Burg.

#HappinessIsResistance
@writerlibrarian

I danced for 10+ years when I was younger & there were times I thought I might make a career of it. I gave it up for a lot of reasons, one being that I didn‘t have it in me to push through the competitive nature of professional dance. I have so much love & respect for the dancers who do persevere & make it, especially those like Michaela who overcome so many more obstacles than I‘ll ever face. #tobeyounggiftedandblack

#FierceFeb
@Cinfhen @batsy

Is it June yet? I know there will be a lot of amazing books #Releasedin2018, but I‘m eagerly awaiting the next installment in the Ember quartet. Love the series so far and I‘m also hoping Sabaa comes back to the area on book tour, because it was such a blast getting to see her speak and meet her when she was here after the release of her last book. (Picture from her Instagram)

#ReadingResolutions
@Jess7

Day 3: Want Some Thrill. Detective stories are my go-to when I want a thrilling read. Tana French‘s flawed and complex detectives are some of my favorites. I‘ve read all of her books, but only own a few! I‘m sure that‘s something I can remedy 😉

#HappinessIsResistance
@writerlibrarian

When I think #GirlsJustWannaHaveFun, I can‘t help but think of the bookish adventures I have with @Megaled 😃

Our adventures usually include book shopping, which is how I ended up acquiring this cookbook at a library book sale. We‘ve made several attempts at having a book club with our friends over the years without much success, but we‘ll keep trying and make use of this book someday!

#FierceFeb
@Cinfhen @batsy

One of the many books I have on my shelves that I‘ve never read. I think I skimmed it when I first bought it a few years ago? Maybe? There might be some good advice, by I suspect the ladies from #9to5 would have some more entertaining things to say. 😉

#FierceFeb
@Cinfhen @batsy

Day 2: It‘s Friday, Get Happy. One of the few perks of getting dragged to the grocery store with mom when I was younger was getting to pick up the Betty & Veronica Digests at the checkout line. Fast forward a couple of decades and my love of Riverdale and the Archie gang is back thanks to a recent binge watch of the tv series. Hoping to get some time this weekend to revisit the characters on the page, too.

#HappinessIsResistance
@writerlibrarian

It feels like this has been on my TBR for ages, but I‘m definitely planning on getting to it this year. I want to learn more about the American criminal justice system and how problems with the system can deny people #freedom.

#ReadingResolutions
@Jess7

This stack might look familiar since it‘s the same one I had planned to read for #24in48. Since I didn‘t get to start (or in some cases, finish) these, I‘m making them my #FebruaryTBR. Chances are I‘ll also mix in an audiobook or two and some ebooks, too.

#ReadingResolutions
@Jess7

Second day of the month and I‘m already behind on photo challenges! Now for a little catch up...

When Clueless was released in 1995, my nine year old self thought that Cher was the epitome of a #ModernGirl. I lost track of how many times I watched the movie, but I one point I probably could have recited the entire thing from memory. Looking forward to spending some time with this book at some point this year.

#FierceFeb
@Cinfhen @batsy

When I #NeedHappilyEverAfter I tend to turn back to the books of my childhood. I might not reread them, but simply seeing them on the shelf or flipping through a few pages reminds me of the joy they brought me before. Mandy was one of my absolute favorites. One of the few books I finished only to turn back to page 1 and start reading all over again.

#HappinessIsResistance
@writerlibrarian

This didn‘t entirely live up to the hype for me, but I‘m glad I finally read it. Although I found the overall narrative a little so-so in places, the pacing felt spot on and I tore through the last third. If you aren‘t totally put off by whiny, spoiled teens and an unreliable narrator, it‘s definitely one to pick up!

Another delayed review!

This book was solidly ok for me. I found it a bit slow to start and I didn‘t quite connect with Lois or her classmates at first. The narrative eventually picked up and grabbed me, but maybe a little late. Overall not bad, but while I‘ll read the others in the series, I‘m not going to rush to do so.

Finished over 2 weeks ago and just realized I never posted a review. 🤦‍♀️

Really enjoyed this on audio. It‘s a melancholy, wide ranging exploration and I felt like I could have kept listening for hours. I tend to be weirdly fascinated by stories involving fire or arson (perhaps because I‘m the daughter of a retired firefighter) and this scratched that itch.

Has anyone read any of Hesse‘s fiction?

Huge shout out to everyone who participated in #24in48 this weekend! And to those who just made time for reading in general and cheered on their fellow readers. Although I didn‘t get much reading done this weekend (unless we‘re now counting 22 minutes as “a lot”?), I had a blast seeing everyone‘s posts. As always, I‘m so happy to have found a community that celebrates and encourages reading in such a positive and supportive way. ❤️

I‘ve got a lot of schoolwork to get done this weekend on top of some other obligations, so the likelihood of my being able to fully participate in #24in48 is minimal. But that didn‘t stop me from signing up and making a TBR stack! Between these and some digital reads I‘ve started I think I might be able to finish at least one book this weekend. 🤞

Braved some particularly gross weather last night to see A.J. Finn at my local indie and I‘m so glad I did. He was witty and self deprecating and spoke about classic film, his career in publishing, and mental illness, among many other things. If you get a chance to see him on this book tour I HIGHLY recommend going.

An entertaining cozy-ish mystery that was perfect at-work listening. Bookstore owner/bibliotherapist Nora and a group of women from her community come together to play amateur sleuths and build a sisterhood along the way. Hoping for more from this series soon, but in the meanwhile I‘ll be checking out some other series by Ellery Adams.

The kindness and generosity of the Litsy community never fails to amaze me or put a big smile on my face. @Mollyanna selected me as a winner for a giveaway and I received this wonderful #Litsymail from her today. Thank you so much for this box of goodies, Jennifer! I love it all! I read The Alienest many years ago, but have been wanting to re-read it in anticipation of the tv show starting soon. And I can‘t wait to try the tea! 💕💕💕

#litsylove

​Any other Littens in the southern Massachusetts area going to see A.J. Finn speak at An Unlikely Story on Friday night? If you are, let me know so we can say hi!

And if you're in the area and interested in going, there's still about 40 seats available for the event (as of 10:45 on Tuesday night). Registering for a spot is free​: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/a-j-finn-tickets-41531724506

Forgive the mediocre collage. Good lighting options were limited after I unboxed this #bookhaul from Book Outlet‘s Boxing Day sale. Because, yes, I lacked all self control and placed two orders. Oops? 🤷🏻‍♀️

Any favorites here I should move up my TBR?

All this snow is making me want to curl up under a blanket and read. Alas, there is work to be done. But it did also remind me that I‘ve been meaning to post about the #bookandablanketexchange! The fabulous @JoeStalksBeck and @Tiffy_Reads are hosting and there‘s still time to sign up if you‘re interested in joining! Really looking forward to taking part in this one.

Brief, immersive look at family and class status. Short enough to finish in one sitting, but full of depth. A great work in translation. If you‘re looking to read something set in India or read more in translation, be sure to check this one out.

My bookshelves might be almost full (okay, definitely full) but that didn‘t stop me from doing some shopping during Book Outlet‘s Boxing Day sale. Order 1 of 2 arrived today! Lots of mysteries and a smattering of other genres. #bookhaul

So wonderful to come home to some fabulous #HolidayPostcard mail! @Natasha.C.Barnes the postcard is so lovely. @slategreyskies I love the card, bookmark, and stickers. Thank you both so much for bringing some brightness to my day.

Finished listening to this happy little book today. If you liked Phaedra Patrick‘s debut (tagged in the comments), you need to check this one out. If you‘re looking for a sweet story about family and finding your truth, give this one a try. The audiobook‘s narrator doesn‘t do the best female voices, but I didn‘t find that it detracted too much from the story overall.

My last read of 2017. I love the Plum series, but this one didn‘t deliver the endless laughs I‘ve come to expect from these books. It certainly had hilarious moments, but overall it was just okay for me.

My last bit of Litsy related mail for 2017 came in the other day. Thank you so much for the lovely #HolidayPostcard @jhod !