Shifting gears and queuing this up - my next in person book club pick and my first Kristin Hannah novel. So many friends wax so poetic about her writing.

I think I‘m ready to cry. Wow me, Kristin! 😅

Solid buildup, shockingly quick read despite how emotional it all is. I will admit, the ending felt too abrupt…and dare I say too easy?

Like many have said, this felt less like a sequel and more like a coda/epilogue. But certainly a timely one. 🍊

I really don‘t need to add more books to my already crazy TBR but I saw this in the #LFL and couldn‘t resist Rainbow Rowell. I haven‘t read the first book this is sequel to though, so that‘ll have to come first.🫣 I loved Fangirl so much and these fanfic characters were in the background, correct?

🌈💖🥰

Pretty silly lil coffee table book of Dolly quotes. Most were pretty shallow rather than heartfelt but many made me chuckle.
👙 🤣🤷🏻‍♀️

Like…not to sound alarmist but…

This feels like the MAGA end goal, no? Reading this as they attempt to dismantle the Dept of Education this very week.

Sigh.

The struggle with these kinds of dystopia stories is…this absolutely feels familiar. This absolutely feels like it‘s already happening. So is it really ✨ dystopian ✨ ? 🫣 Sigh.

#WithTheBanned is reading Handmaid‘s - and since I rarely re-read, now is the perfect time to get the sequel off my shelf and read. 🫣💖💪🏻

Soft pick. I enjoy Naomi‘s charm & humor but I found this to be lacking on much of the research I was expecting. This was a solid overview - but doesn‘t offer much in terms of nitty gritty regarding menopause.

It does offer a fab new idiom though: “must-erbation”. Feeling like you “must” do things even when over extended.

My #Feminist perspective results. 💪🏻💖 Thanks for the link @Catsandbooks ! #riseupreads

This ARC felt very original to me - centered around four women, whose lives overlap in unique ways. Set in a future where men are kept in captivity because they are a believed liability and women largely rule the world.

🏳️‍🌈 🏳️‍⚧️ with fully fleshed out characters that feel very honest and sometimes unlikable. Dabbles in witchcraft & religion. Wild. Translated from Danish. Out at the end of April in English.

Spied a whole table of signed copies of my current audiobook read. I‘m enjoying it so far - it‘s the perfect blend of serious medical insight with personal experience.

As an almost-38 year old, I‘ve been noticing odd symptoms that lend itself to perimenopause over the last few years. Definitely think this book provides a more general introduction of what to expect. 😵‍💫

🥰💖🫣🤷🏻‍♀️💪🏻 #bnbookfest

A moment for these spooky sprayed edges bc wow. 🫣 #bnbookfest

Met Jeneva Rose today at B&N‘s “Book Fest” event. (Lots more pics to follow.)

She was lovely & hilarious. And now my TBR is even longer. Whoops. 😅 #bnbookfest

Wow. This was very fast paced YA - like whiplash fast pace. I would have appreciated a little more world building because parts of the plot felt unearned. But this felt like one long intro paragraph for a greater story potential to be told.

I shall continue into the Grishaverse soon, I fear. 😨 #AuthorAMonth

As a #kpop and music nerd, this was a fantastic quick read. While I think some specialized knowledge of the industry is required to get the most out it emotionally, Kwon touches on misogyny, racism, diet culture, suicide & mental health, and so much more - tethering her own personal life journey to the idols she‘s adored.

I get why this had its own fandom! I doubt I‘ll get to much more this month for #AuthorAMonth but I definitely think I‘d want to continue the whole series.

The Grishaverse of it all has been on my TBR for years. I initially thought to start with Six of Crows but when researching, Shadow & Bone was the recommended entry point. This prequel was alluded to having spoilers, but since I‘m going into this totally cold, I decided to start here. 💙 👤

Now on to Shadow & Bone… #AuthorAMonth

Maybe Pan is too strong but if you love solid mysteries/thrillers, this ain‘t it, henny.

This was a deflated soufflé. Solid twisty premise, then 200 pages of an obvious ending and a mopey hostage negotiator which added little to the plot, then a neat wrapped up ending. This is not my drag. ??‍♀️??‍?

I get why this author is popular -super quick page turner. But is it good? Not for me.

Leigh Bardugo is #AuthorAMonth so I‘m using this as my excuse to finally wind my way into the Grishaverse. 🩵 💙

Iffffff you want perfectionnnnnn 🎶

Just got home from seeing ‘Death Becomes Her‘ on Broadway. Just as campy and hilarious as the movie. 🍿 🤣

I was approved for this nonfiction/semi memoir about #kpop and immediately had to cue it up same day. The author uses her fandom of various groups, mostly boy bands and solo female artists, to tell the story of her journey to adulthood.

Kpop will always be special to me. My first live concert from a Korean artist was JYJ back in 2010 — one of its 3 members has already been mentioned quite a bit in this book.

This book was a treat — a super fast paced sci-fi ghost story. Elements felt a little repetitive or all talk/no show, but so much of this was lyrically delicate, super descriptive body horror. This is the author‘s first novel - I‘m really excited to see where she goes from here.

February wrap up! The tagged was my favorite read of the month by far followed by Keke‘s memoir. 💖💌

I‘ve read this & its sequel a few years back and ever since I‘ve been telling everyone I know to read it. Especially if they are against the now current Administration in the US. The story feels eerily current but also strangely comforting in that unsettling familiarity? Hard to explain.

Hope everyone reading for #WithTheBanned enjoys. 💌

This book is wild. And not for the faint of heart.

Admittedly this book is more self-help/motivational than memoir, but regardless, it was highly enjoyable. Definitely recommend. Keke‘s got a good head on her shoulders.

Going with my gut for my March box (and haven‘t even touched my Feb box 🫣). #botm

This will likely be my last read of February and it‘s much denser than I was expecting. Think Nnedi Okorafor meets N.K. Jemisin meets The Handmaid‘s Tale.

Sundays are turning into my self care days and I‘m not mad at it.

Fresh mani, breakfast at one of my fave neighborhood places, and an audiobook walk. Started this memoir/selfhelp read from Keke Palmer - def recommend the audiobook since she narrates. It‘s like listening to a friend. Love it.

Anyone interested in either of these? Free of charge. Both were signed by their respective author in person. Light handling. Autograph was personalized. I have no pets/am a non-smoker.

Left is hardcover. Right is paperback.

Let me know in the comments! 🥹

I have a lot of mixed thoughts here after reading this novel.

It‘s thought-provoking and timely in this current political moment in 2025 — that goes without saying. So much was packed into this story, delving into class warfare, social justice, racism and lack of workplace diversity. But - and it‘s a big one - so many times I was left thinking I was missing pages because the plot kept racing forward with little explanation.

And now for something entirely different. Digging in to the tagged YA horror ARC, out on shelves in late April. 🧟‍♀️ 🍴

This was cute. It‘s what I picture when I think of breezy romance beach read: quick pace, familiar tropes (fake dating, “forced” proximity), plus the guy is hot and an astronaut? 😅 Romance isn‘t my typical genre but this was very cute. 3/5 stars for me…but I‘m not really a romance girly. 🤷🏻‍♀️

Photo is from this weekend. S‘mores Latte was yum.

#RiseUpReads

Started on audio today for #RiseUpReads 💖

Quite Hallmarky so far in a cute way. Tis the season. 🥰🤷🏻‍♀️

Ive read some of Gay‘s nonfiction in the past and enjoyed it so I opted for some of her fiction — but maybe I should have stayed with her nonfiction. Some of these stories worked for me but the majority didn‘t, and collected together, some felt repetitive and confusing. 🤷🏻‍♀️ Perhaps the confusion was the intent.

#AuthorAMonth

What a fantastic read. Set in 1992 Los Angeles amid the Rodney King verdict, but sadly familiar to our modern times. Lyrically written, educational and relatable without being preachy. This should be part of high school reading curriculums.

Started this today - quite pleased with it already. The type of YA novel that should be read/taught in high school because the characters feel like believable teens while still having rich, lyrical writing.

I know our phones listen to us because I started my #AuthorAMonth pick today and was served this Ad on Insta 🤣🤷🏻‍♀️

First half? Adored. Flew through it. Back half? Felt dragged down into a more obvious romantic love triangle.

That being said, this felt like a page-turney, super accessible version of Game of Thrones. I enjoyed it.

#BOTM

#BOTM really arrives quick. 😅

I‘m thinking the tagged will be a great bridge between #BlackHistoryMonth & #WomensHistoryMonth

At each of our book club meetups, everyone brings 1-4 books to swap and whatever‘s left over is donated to a Little Free Library. This was my pickup from todays event. 💖

It‘s so fun to find out through social media later whose swap you ended up grabbing. 🥰

Today was our in-person book club day! This was my fourth one and it‘s become so special to me! We‘ve formed friendships over our shared love of books and everyone is so *kind* and amped to be geeky about reading. My people. 💖

Preliminary February stack.

#AuthorAMonth #BlackHistoryMonth

Rejoining #BOTM might be trouble for me. 🤣🤷🏻‍♀️

Two of the picks were already on my TBR and ‘The First Ladies‘ sounded so interesting.

I know it‘s *historical fiction* and yet I see similarities to modern life everywhere. 😭

If you told me five-ish years ago Historical Fiction would become a reliably favorite genre of mine, I wouldn‘t have believed you. And yet…

This author is fantastic. #BOTM

Historical fiction coming in hot!

#BOTM

If you‘re not a person whose kept up with Chelsea lately (ba dum swish), I‘d recommend watching her comedy special “Evolution” before reading this book. It shows you her headspace.

This book is not what I expected in that there isn‘t a lot of Handler‘s dark, suggestive humor. Instead, it feels more like an honest journal of someone attempting to let go and let love steer. It‘s admirable and depending on where you‘re also at in life, relatable.

I enjoyed this more than I expected to. Setting aside the somewhat frank discussions of suicide (bc that theme prevails throughout and if that‘s too much for you, maybe avoid this book) - the realistic portrayals of human vulnerability was really well done and heartfelt.

It reminded me a lot of The Midnight Library. I feel like if you liked this and haven‘t read that one, you should. 💖

About to finish my book club pick so figured I‘d start this memoir from NetGalley to help get the ol‘ ratio up.

I was a fan of Chelsea‘s talk shows in the early 2010‘s - especially when I first moved to NYC. I even saw her live. I‘m getting the vibe that this memoir is a bit more serious in tone and less sarcastic. We shall see!