"Arthur says that we should always make time for the things we like. If we don't, we might forget how to be happy.” ✨?✨

This book was a beautiful, hopeful, creative, humorous journey that I‘m grateful to have read! It‘s like if X-men, Umbrella Academy, Roald Dahl, and Wrinkle in Time were mixed together to create a hopeful story about found family and love for the core of who people are. A sweet one I‘ll go back to someday.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️1/2

A fitting end to this series but can also be read as a standalone. A throwback to Agatha Christie/Poirot type stories, and felt very much in that vein. A very interesting structure, alternating between a story from agent Egypt and 1900‘s mystery. Well-written characters and both stories draw you in.

⭐️⭐️⭐️ 1/2

This was a sweet, deeply thought-out, coming home story of two people finding their identities and working through their stuff together. I like the healing, the realizations, the perspective of it all. Also, perfect title for the book!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I love this book! It really helped me identify my own personal style (not fashion, or fad etc, but my unique individual style) and how to live that out in any budget, circumstance, comparison, lifestyle. It‘s dense and wordy, and is helpful if you‘re willing to put in the work in your closet.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️1/2

Well-written and with lots of suggestions, this book discusses the issue of overthinking/fixating, especially in women. I‘m not sure I‘m the target audience for this book, as I rarely struggle with overthinking - mostly just analysis paralysis. But I did gain more understanding and a few tips & tricks. I especially appreciated the focus on identifying one‘s personal values, completing cycles, and not duplicating the work.

⭐️⭐️⭐️1/2

If you mixed A Wrinkle in Time, Ready Player One, and Matilda together, you would get this book! A little dark and sad, yet hopeful and magical, it was different than I expected. It felt like the author could have fleshed things out a little more, bringing the story more depth and staying power. But I love the magical feel, the authentic characters, and the focuses on hope and found family (I cried a few times!)

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️1/2

I adore this series (Lady Sherlock) - the most clever series for the question, “what if Sherlock Holmes was a woman?” I love the complexity of the characters, the emotional journeys they go on, and the very real suspense they find themselves in. The relational changes have been slow which feels realistic. This book is better than the last in it‘s subject, imho. Overall, it‘s suspenseful, tricky, surprising, and well-written.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️1/2

I love Ali Hazelwood‘s books! I love how they deal with the modern woman‘s issues, in a STEM environment, with humor, romance, and care.

This one focused on an enemies-to-lovers trope, and though some conflict centered on misunderstandings (my least favorite conflict device), the “he has actually liked me this whole time?!?” thing was written well.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

In the vein of The Dinner List, One Day, November 9, and One Day in December, this book deals with fate, love, family, and our expectations. How much can we control? Where does contentment lie? What is really meaningful in life? And what kind of love really matters?

This book was well-written and we‘ll-paced, and it raised so many compelling questions. And it was just really enjoyable, even when it wasn‘t light. I‘m glad I read it.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

My least favorite book of the series so far, but a necessarily connecting story. This one had background, closure, and processing for the main characters, while also providing time for the characters to mature. I felt the story itself jumped the shark a little bit, but I‘m really looking forward to reading the final installment once it comes off hold.

⭐️⭐️⭐️

This second book in the series had a different tone and setting: heavier, truer to human nature, bleaker. But it was a fantastic book to continue the relationship arcs set up by the first book.

Looking forward to seeing what happens in these relationships!

⭐️⭐️⭐️1/2

I loved this book. I‘ve loved Sherlock Holmes stories since I was a young girl, but these stories of the Holmes/Watson/Moriarty descendants bring the feel of Sherlock into contemporary life. They are engaging, fun, clever, and you root for the characters, for sure.

I‘m rushing on to the rest of the series!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️1/2

I missed the section in mythology in school and have almost zero knowledge of and little interest in this history. But this book is incredible. It made mythology feel real, ancient tales reasonable, and the mixing of divinity and humanity seem natural. And though it is a little crass, the truth about humanity, life, what it means to live and be human is clear and beautiful in this book. One of my favorites of the year.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️1/2

This romance was hot (and maybe a little intense for my taste) but the relational growth and psychological/relational work between the characters was inspiring. This author definitely has some counseling experience, because the therapy the characters go thru together is spot-on! It‘s inspiring to see a romance with married characters working on their relationship.

⭐️⭐️⭐️1/2

A fun new romance series! This one had great chemistry between the characters and interesting back stories. The characters were well-developed and they went through complex growth together. Super hot and pretty explicit. Looking forward to more of these characters!

⭐️⭐️⭐️1/2

This was a great story, had great tension between the characters, and was so fun! I would read this one again. I‘m kind of amazed how some romances, and even some of Dare‘s books can be so good while others are really a miss.

⭐️⭐️⭐️1/2

Though I‘ve liked some of Tessa Dare‘s romances, this one was not my favorite. Just not enough substance to it, though I did enjoy the location and scientific themes along with the letter-writing setup.

⭐️⭐️1/2

Whew, Sally Thorne‘s books are good! They are pretty intense romances with lots of tension between the characters, but it feels authentic since the characters and their storylines are so well-developed! This one is a little more intense than The Hating Game, but in a can‘t-put-it-down kind of way.

A great quarantine read, finished it in one day 😆

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️1/2

I liked this one about as much as I expected I would, based on how I felt about The Wedding Date. Fun read, but not necessarily a stand-out one for me. Guillory writes books with an interesting cultural perspective: urban, multi-cultural, young, career-oriented. I appreciate learning about the perspective!
⭐️⭐️1/2

I usually don‘t do this, but I read this final book in the series first! I guess you know everyone will end up together anyways so there aren‘t any spoilers. Overall I enjoyed the story, though not as much as some of Christina Lauren‘s other characters. There was a fun premise though, and I love that the characters have to challenge their assumptions and expectations for their lives.

⭐️⭐️⭐️

I was expecting this to me more like the first book in the series, so I was surprised when it was built more around a subject than a relationship. Though the romantic relationship was still there, it wasn‘t quite as central to this book as was the sexual harassment storyline (trigger warning).

Still pretty well-written characters and storyline. Glad to see the whole cast from the first book again.

⭐️⭐️⭐️

Just a quick read since I needed something light and free as an e-book. Light, fluffy, non-consequential, but sweet characters. It‘s interesting to compare the differences between romances written today vs 20+years ago. Differences in tone, tropes? I can‘t quite put my finger on it.

⭐️⭐️1/2

Picked up this classic on the free Internet Archive library when no ebooks were available on mine. I had no idea that it was a book about words, language, time, perspective. I loved it and would love to read it alongside my kids someday!

“‘My goodness,‘ thought Milo, ‘everybody is so terribly sensitive about the things they know best.‘”

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I love this series! This installment was a little different as the entire story took place in England, not in Egypt. It explored British classes, immigrants, and museum life and lore, while giving lots of classic Peabody-Emerson family look-ins. Interesting mystery with a helpful wrap-up at the end!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I‘m really trying to get back into my #unreadshelf books right now as the libraries are closed and no ebooks I want are available!

This was an average modern romance, enjoyable enough for my e-book nursing reading, but not super special.

⭐️⭐️⭐️

Reorganized and whittled down my TBR books this weekend while social distancing. It‘s nice to have time to do some work in the house, but I sure do miss my social time! Hope you Littens are finding things to do that feed your soul!

#showusyourshelves

Loved these similar stories of enemies-to-lovers, romance, and the London stage. Both have similar complex characters and interesting plots. Nice ebook reads while nursing! 👍🏻🤱🏻

⭐️⭐️⭐️

I had to return this to the library, so I ended up skim reading this one. The premise was cute but I just couldn‘t get into the story. Maybe not the right time? Interesting to have so many books recently about neuro-atypical people.

A silly title and premise but an fun, meaningful, clever book! I so enjoyed the focus on making healthy relationships. The story could have used a more fleshed out ending, but overall it was an enjoyable romp.

⭐️⭐️⭐️

I really enjoyed this book! A really fun romance, an enemies-to-lovers trope, and well-written banter and growth.

Something I‘ve found that I appreciate is when misperceptions or miscommunications are cleared up pretty quickly and not allowed to linger and create the main plot points. This book does that.

Pick this up if you enjoy contemporary romance! What a fun one!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Tessa Dare writes some of my most enjoyable romances, I‘ve found. This one wasn‘t my favorite but was still good. I liked the importance placed on the main character being able to make her own choices and be resourceful in situations forced upon her.

⭐️⭐️⭐️

A sweet, purposeful, and complex picture of grief, friendship, and neuro-atypical teens. I liked this book, though not quite as much as Tell Me Three Things by the same author. I will say that Buxbaum writes grief in an authentic but accessible way.

⭐️⭐️⭐️1/2

This book was not quite what I expected, but it was a great book. I expected a lighter romantic story but got a complex story about trauma, loss, forgiveness, and perspective. Thankful to have read it, as there are many things I intend to ponder about it in the future.

(I really like that Center‘s recent books have dual-meaning titles!)

⭐️⭐️⭐️1/2

This is a well-written “romance” about a couple who meet putting on a Renaissance Fair and the family relationships and histories of those characters. Good read though not on my top list of these types of books. But boy, does it make me want to visit a Ren Fair 😉

⭐️⭐️⭐️

This was a classic 1930‘s British crime story, and in that sense, I enjoyed it! It didn‘t really impress me as anything more, though.

Brought it along to my brief vacation in The Gorge in OR/WA last weekend, and the scenery reminded me a little of the Moors in the book 👍🏻

⭐️⭐️⭐️

Loved this book about teens dealing with grief, working through high school pressures and challenges, and falling in love. I loved how the characters used technology to get at the heart of one another. Also, a beautiful and honest picture of grief but in a way that didn‘t bring the story down. One of my favorites this year, so far.

If you liked this, read A Short History of the Girl Next Door by Jared Reck.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️1/2

This book is right up my reading alley - historical setting, magical realism/time-travel, relationship, etc., and I enjoyed it. Grunwald made some interesting choices with the premise which I have mixed feelings about. The pacing, especially in the last quarter of the book, felt off, leaving me a little unsatisfied. Yet, the authors admonition to her daughter that “not all love stories end the same way” really resonated.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Heard about this story on #modernmrsdarcy; she said it was pretty open door for her tastes, and I agree. What I really enjoyed about were the slow burn to relationship, the characters‘ commitment to growth for each other, and the real life issues these two were facing. All of this set within a pretty hot romance.

⭐️⭐️⭐️1/2

This popular book was a bail for me #unpopularopinion. I love the setting and the messages about female friendship. But there were a lot of triggers for me, and I didn‘t love the worldview and perspectives of the characters and lifestyles.

Ultimately I found it wasn‘t the right book for me in this season. Moving on to better things!

These are my favorite (open-door) romances I think I‘ve read in a long time! I enjoyed the regency setting along with the complex characters in all three books. (The Bride Bet comes out later this year.) What I enjoyed the least was the formulaic plot points; each book had the same type of meet/conflict/bonding/conflict/breakdown/commitment, etc. But these were well-written, complex, and clever.

⭐️⭐️⭐️1/2

I picked this one up on recommendation from #modernmrsdarcy as a book about marriage. I was fascinated by the premise, and the writing and storyline were good. The use of three separate storylines was an interesting narrative technique.

Overall, I‘m glad I read it and I liked the themes of redemption, reflection, and growth. But it didn‘t totally wow me.

Between 3.5-4 ⭐️

I‘ve enjoyed almost all of “Christina Lauren‘s” books. This one had less explicit romance and a unique new plot that was refreshing! There‘s something about “seeing behind the curtain” of an actor‘s life that is so fascinating. Even if it didn‘t go extremely deep, the important relationships both characters had with their families was heartening.

A nice, interesting, easy read for this dreary, cold beginning to the year!
⭐️⭐️⭐️1/2

I‘ve seen a lot of Rhys Bowen books over the years but this is her first full-length book I‘ve read. I enjoyed the story and the historical detail but I didn‘t feel like her work was especially well-written or special. These are the kinds of books I enjoy picking up for a light historical diversion, but not for an unforgettable experience. Glad to have read, though!

⭐️⭐️⭐️1/2

Loved this “sequel” to 84, Charing Cross Road almost more than the original! Loved the adoration for and humor about London along with the author‘s obvious humor about her smallest experiences.

What a gem! And a perfect first book of 2020.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Finally read this one, which I‘ve had on my shelf for a couple years! #unreadshelfproject

I love this correspondence between a witty American writer and a classic British bookseller. It was a perfect short read to hit my end of the year goal! #100 🎉

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Short and sweet Poirot! A classic detective story, more of a switcheroo than anything. I did like the holiday setting, though!

⭐️⭐️⭐️

A quick Christmastime short story to help complete my 100 books in 2019! This one seemed hastily written, using dialogue to explain the characters‘ lives instead of more nuanced methods. But it was an interesting quick look into the challenges of the Blitz.

⭐️⭐️⭐️

There were some things I liked about this one, and a few things I didn‘t. Liked the bookshop setting and family history scavenger hunt. Not super impressed by the main character, the pacing and editing of the story, and the reveals. Overall and enjoyable and engaging read, but just a reasonably good book.

It does make me want to read The Tempest, though!

⭐️⭐️⭐️1/2

I liked this twisty take on the “meet up one day a year” trope! It was engaging, somewhat realistic, and fun. I‘ve never read Hoover before but I‘m interested in trying more of her books.

⭐️⭐️⭐️1/2

Im trying to reach 100 books this year... this is #95! I need to choose short or easy reads for the next 5 days!! Any recommendations? 😆

I‘ve loved and cherished these new releases each year, and this was no exception! This installment included all things I love about Penny‘s work (deep character work, an interconnected story, character growth) while also expanding into beautiful imagery and personification of place and objects. I wasn‘t as surprised by the mystery but the story was so well done it didn‘t matter. Love these books!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️