"So, I‘m standing there, trapped in one of my favorite nightmares, discussing gender euphoria with the demon who lives rent-free in my head."

#FirstLineFridays @ShyBookOwl

This one is already shaping up to be interesting!

I devoured the first half of this book last weekend but haven't had the time to properly devote to finishing it this week. But work closed early today due to snow and I've got a Benny ready for snuggles. Time to dive back in!
#ALSpine2025

Happy #5JoysFriday ☺️ @DebinHawaii
1. Sneaking in a last bit of Christmas joy with my niece at the Speedway Christmas Lights show
2. Back on my aerial journey after a long break, feels great to be back at it! (although also sore 😅)
3. Found a new Christmas tree in a great after-the-holidays sale
4. Pets for the cat that lives at the groomer, his name is Squint & he's adorable 😻
5. Cam snuggling my shoes while waiting in my office to go home 😹

This was disappointing. I was hoping for another fun murder mystery set in a continuation of a well-read world, like Mr Darcy & Miss Tilney. Unfortunately it did not live up to expectations. I guess I didn't like the writing style. Or the characters. Rosie starts off supposedly as a mature older girl who knows she's not interested in love but then immediately falls in love with a random man (like she'd been teasing her parents about) ⤵️

This is a little hard to read, but here are my final numbers from #SeriesLove2024
I read 130 individual books that were a part of a series and finished off 22 series! Unfortunately I also added 43 new series in the process 😅
Welp that's what #SeriesLove2025 is for! Thanks @Andrew65 & @TheSpineView for hosting!

Last year my goal was to read at least two nonfiction books each month. I almost managed it, with just two months being a book or two short. This year I'd like to try again and this #MonthlyNonfiction2025 challenge sounds perfect to keep me on track! I'm interested in paying more attention to which section each book falls into, even if I don't hit them all.
Thanks @julieclair for putting this together!

I've been organizing my storygraph challenges this weekend and decided to make one to track my reads for #QueerBC
If anyone else participating wants to join, here's the link:
https://app.thestorygraph.com/reading_challenges/eaaf6dca-2dd1-4218-887e-1df2e9c...

I've got all the authors since we started last May and will try to keep it updated as we add more ☺️
@PuddleJumper

Final Fiction #ReadingBracket2024
This was such a tough decision, I read so many amazing books this year!

Final Nonfiction #ReadingBracket2024
Many great, informative, moving reads this year but this one I read back in January and I still think about it 🐦

My January #Bookspin and #Doublespin picks!
I am very excited for Lost Story, which I bought a few months ago and is one of @xicanti 's #ALSpine picks!
Whose Body? is for #AuthorAMonth and I'm looking forward to trying out another older mystery writer, as Agatha Christie is a favorite
@monalyisha @Soubhiville @TheAromaofBooks

Second half points: 85,600
Total points; 119,228

I somehow managed to read 40 books this December 😳 A lot were short, quick reads with a ton of word search words. Overall I had a great time breezing through some silly holiday stories and seeing what everyone was reading!
Thanks @LiseWorks for hosting our team!

#WinterGames2024 #HolidayBookDragons

Woohoo!! I've been scoring up my bingo cards and this one just feels extra exciting to have completed!
#WinterGames2024 #HolidayBookDragons @LiseWorks
#ChristmasAtoZ @Texreader

These three are silly little idiots in love. Jeb accidentally texts his two best friends who aren't speaking to each other, asking for help on his tree farm for the holidays. The forced proximity reveals long buried feelings and the three men must figure out how to be in a functional relationship that lasts
#WinterGames2024 #HolidayBookDragons @LiseWorks
#ChristmasAtoZ @Texreader #ReadOuttheOld @TheAromaofBooks #20in4 @Andrew65

Malala is such an inspiring girl, strong in her beliefs from a young age and resilient in the face & aftermath of attack. I learned a lot about Pakistan and the Taliban. It's so eye opening to have a perspective from someone who has lived through it, without our western bias
#Nonfiction2024 @Riveted_Reader_Melissa
#WinterGames2024 #HolidayBookDragons @LiseWorks
#ChristmasAtoZ @Texreader #ReadOuttheOld @TheAromaofBooks #20in4 @Andrew65

This was a fun tongue-in-cheek Christmas caper romance. Adam is under witness protection after leaving the mob. He's trying to lay low when he suddenly needs to dispose of a body & borrows a boat, accidentally kidnapping the captain in the process. A storm hits & the two men have to work together to get through the danger. This was silly and you can't help but feel for Adam as everything goes wrong when he's finally just trying to do right.

This was a reread for me, this time on audio. It was great to listen to a story in between other listens over the month. Still love these stories better than the original film Love Actually 😅
#WinterGames2024 #HolidayBookDragons @LiseWorks
Finished during #ReadOuttheOld @TheAromaofBooks #SugarRush @Bookwormjillk #20in4 #OutWiththeOldInWiththeNew @Andrew65

I won this short story anthology in a storygraph giveaway a while back & I'm glad I finally read it for my #doublespin pick of December. These were all queer retellings or stories inspired by Much Ado About Nothing, which was already my favorite Shakespeare play. Some were better than others of course but a few really stood out as unique and memorable. There are some art pieces scattered throughout as well. Definitely a worthwhile collection

This was not your normal fake dating romance. Two childhood best friends agree to fake date for the holiday but quickly realize their feelings are real. The story is more focused on Clara discovering her demisexuality after always believing she was straight, and Evan's struggle to feel accepted because of her autism and past experience with her homophobic parents. I really enjoyed it.
#WinterGames2024 #HolidayBookDragons @LiseWorks

This started out sweetly, with two lonely people before Christmas and a meet-cute in an airport. But it started to get too heavy handed explaining how not to reinforce gender roles. Preaching to the choir here! I got bored and bailed
#WinterGames2024 #HolidayBookDragons @LiseWorks

Aaaand the first #bookspin list of 2025 is finally ready! I'm excited for a lot of these ☺️
@TheAromaofBooks

Finally got my #Roll100 list finalized for 2025! ✨
Storygraph has been glitchy today, probably lots of new sign ups and people downloading their year-end review, but I managed to get them all on the challenge page as well.
Looking forward to these three in January!
@PuddleJumper

"Love that overcomes is stronger than love that settles" ?
This is a favorite read for the month! Patrick and Quinn are already having issues in their marriage when they accidentally knock out Santa and have to take over the job! I'm normally not big on the marriage-on-the-rocks trope but you see both men's struggles with the pressure of expectations and fall in love with watching them fall back in love with each other. Magical and heartfelt 5✨

Short fake dating holiday story. I liked the characters but felt like we didn't get any information about the love interest, only the main character's backstory. His family was kind of sneakily awful and the big miscommunication that stopped them realizing their fake relationship could be real was silly.
#WinterGames2024 #HolidayBookDragons @LiseWorks
#Adventathon @BookmarkTavern

Another silly tentacle novel, this one with an oblivious cephalopod MC and his coworker who is happy to teach him more about human culture. Not in the database
#WinterGames2024 #HolidayBookDragons @LiseWorks
#Adventathon @BookmarkTavern

This was a fun little spy story about two rival secret agents crashing the same holiday party and finding an opportunity to expand their relationship. I loved the concept and the shorter format worked perfectly for it.
#WinterGames2024 #HolidayBookDragons @LiseWorks
#ChristmasAtoZ @TexReader #CozyChristmas

Absolutely adored this book! Such a great locked room mystery with the perfect enemies to lovers romance!
Glad to have read this with the #littensloveromance crew and it was also one of my #castthedie picks @StayCurious @PuddleJumper
#WinterGames2024 #HolidayBookDragons @LiseWorks
#CozyChristmas

Wow, this book. Long and winding, with so many mysteries that could have been wrapped up so much sooner. Thank god for @BarkingMadRead and the #hashtagbrigade for getting us through it together. I'm glad I read it, just for the extra understanding it gives me of Catherine in Northanger Abbey
I think I would have enjoyed it more if it was 50% shorter, and had 50% less fainting 😅
#WinterGames2024 #HolidayBookDragons @LiseWorks

I really loved reading these letters each day. It's amazing that Tolkien was able to keep it up for so many years for his children. I loved the fun adventures Father Christmas described with his trusty, chaotic North Polar Bear. The drawings were spectacular & magical. I can only imagine the excitement the kids would have each time they got to read a new letter and the story inside
Thanks @Daisey & @JazzFeathers for hosting this #TolkienChristmas

This was a fun grumpy sunshine romance. Roman avoids his cheerful neighbor with his festive spirit each year but reluctantly steps in to help after damage to Elias' animal shelter causes many animals to be displaced. It was sweet to see him warm up to the animals and Elias, and start to see Christmas Falls as a place to put down roots.
#SeriesLove2024 @Andrew65 @TheSpineView
#WinterGames2024 #HolidayBookDragons @LiseWorks
#ChristmasAtoZ @TexReader

This book was exactly what it says on the tin. Almost sickly sweet, we watch two men who have had a crush on each other in the past reunite at a friend's wedding and decide to get together. There is zero conflict, all their friends support the relationship, & they manage to take it past the bubble of a snowed-in weekend to the real world. What made this fun for me was all the characters from Novak's previous books making appearances. Soft pick

This was a little bit of a ridiculous instalove story with magic and mayhem in the best way. My favorite characters were the interfering book club ladies and their punny sweaters!
This is technically part of the Enchanted Highlands series so I think I'll eventually go back and read the first two, but it wasn't necessary for this story
#SeriesLove2024 @Andrew65 @TheSpineView
#WinterGames2024 #HolidayBookDragons @LiseWorks
#ChristmasAtoZ @TexReader

This was a fun short story following Mirren on her search for a rare book for her ailing great-aunt. I liked her adventures in all the cozy book towns. I thought the ending wrapped up too quickly but otherwise enjoyed it.
#WinterGames2024 #HolidayBookDragons @LiseWorks
Finished during #Adventathon @BookmarkTavern and #MidWeekMuddle @TheAromaofBooks

Yesterday I celebrated a favorite #HolidayTradition - my friends and I have been doing a Secret Santa exchange since high school. While we have scattered over the years, we still manage to all gather over video.
My gift was a book, of course! My friends know me well ☺️
#WinterGames2024 #HolidayBookDragons @LiseWorks

Gross rainy day outside = cozy warm fire inside 🔥🥰

#WinterGames2024 #HolidayBookDragons @LiseWorks

I almost didn't finish this one. I was mostly enjoying it as a good background audiobook with a silly premise. The characters were a bit unlikable at first but grew on me. But then right before the end the main character made a decision that really annoyed me & I had to take a break. I did end up listening to the last hour eventually & was happy with the ending. I think overall this one just had some triggers that hit too close to home for me TW⤵️

I enjoyed the latest installment in this Christmas series. Robin is a burnt out musician visiting his brother for Christmas and meets Ben, the town doctor with two adorable twin girls. They connect immediately but Robin has to learn that his presence isn't poison to those he loves.
This is very much a hurt/comfort story with a lot of healing.
#WinterGames2024 #HolidayBookDragons @LiseWorks
#Adventathon @BookmarkTavern
#ChristmasAtoZ Q! @Texreader

Post holiday mood 😹
I've been balancing chores and reading today but managed to finish two books in progress and watch Love Actually with my guy. Now I just need to get caught up on many reviews from the past week
#CozyChristmas #WinterGames #HolidayBookDragons

Merry Christmas! 🎄 I hope everyone had a lovely day. I spent the day reading with my snuggle buddy and doing some crafts while listening to audiobooks. My partner had to work late so we did a quick gift exchange when he got home and now to bed! ❤️
#CozyChristmas #HolidayCraft #WinterGames2024 #HolidayBookDragons @LiseWorks

I just realized I haven't posted about my #JolabokaflodSwap yet! @JamieArc thank you so much!! I have been dying to read this book and these chocolates look so yummy! 🤤 This package was above and beyond expectations, I love it. Thank you and happy holidays! 💖
Thanks @MaleficentBookDragon for organizing this lovely swap again this year!

Happy Christmas Eve! 🎄❤️
I hope everyone has a lovely start to your holiday, whether you are working, travelling, spending time with family, or relaxing at home with a book. I will be snuggled up with a blanket and a book for most of today.
Tag me in what you're reading! I just started the tagged book and I can already tell it's gonna give me all the feelings
#CozyChristmas

I enjoy stories with interconnected characters like this. While many of the romances touched on similar themes/tropes, I liked the diversity in characters. The main romance between Stevie and Sola was actually my least favorite. I liked the overarching friendships best. Glad to read this with the #sundaybuddyread crew @TheBookHippie
#WinterGames2024 #HolidayBookDragons @LiseWorks
#Adventathon @BookmarkTavern
#ChristmasAtoZ @Texreader

#20Questions
Holiday themed books
10pts per question and 50pts per correct guess
Yes or no questions and no back to back questions

#20Questions
Holiday themed books
10pts per question and 50pts per correct guess
Yes or no questions and no back to back questions

#20Questions
Holiday themed books
10pts per question and 50pts per correct guess
Yes or no questions and no back to back questions

#20Questions
Holiday themed books
10pts per question and 50pts per correct guess
Yes or no questions and no back to back questions

#20Questions
Holiday themed books
10pts per question and 50pts per correct guess
Yes or no questions and no back to back questions

#20Questions
Holiday themed books
10pts per question and 50pts per correct guess
Yes or no questions and no back to back questions

#20Questions
Holiday themed books
10pts per question and 50pts per correct guess
Yes or no questions and no back to back questions

Okay giving this fun game a go!

#20Questions
Holiday themed books
10pts per question and 50pts per correct guess
Yes or no questions and no back to back questions

Cute matchmaking fail romance. Nick is a widower still grieving the loss of his wife but finds matches for people in town. Leo moved to town hoping to find love, so Nick sets him up on dates that *spoiler* are terrible because nothing compares to the spark between the two men. Obviously.
Their dynamic was sweet, I liked their after-date debriefs
#WinterGames2024 #HolidayBookDragons @LiseWorks
#Adventathon @BookmarkTavern
#ChristmasAtoZ @Texreader