After publishing 84 Charing Cross Rd, Hanff finally got to visit London, meet many of her pen pals in person, and geek out about being in the same places Shakespeare and other beloved writers had been.

This brought back fond memories of my week in London. So much history, everywhere! Written in diary format, this takes you right there, into her silliest encounters and deepest awe.

#BookSpinBingo

Any Canva experts out there? I copied the #ISpyBingo boards from @TheAromaOfBooks but I'm having a problem with the words showing through when I put an image over them, as see above.

I asked if he could point me toward Bloomsbury, I wanted to walk home. He said: “Go on up to O-Burn Street and follow the bus.“

Looked for O-Burn Street, looked for Auburn Street and finally stumbled on the street he meant: High Holborn. And that's what they mean by a cockney accent.

My goal was to see how close I could get to 2026 pages and I made it to 1060, which I'm pretty pleased with. Oh wait, I just remembered I've also been listening to an audiobook, so maybe I even made it!

Read: The Genius Under the Table, Silver and Hemlock, The Lost Book of the White

Read some of: Shirley, Miracles on Maple Hill, Maybe in Another Life

@BookwormJillK

Much better cover!

I enjoyed this more than the first book. The presence of other characters from the series brought some humor and heart, as did Magnus and Alec's new status as parents. Something still felt a little off though... the plot kind of went in fits and starts rather than being propulsive. Oh we're in trouble... oh, it's stopped for no apparent reason... oh we're in trouble again.

#StorySpins Gods and Monsters #AllTheStoriesAreTrue

Very loosely linked to “Snow White,“ but I was reminded more of the show “House.“ Anja is a problem solver more than a healer, awkward and blunt, but deeply committed to saving people with her knowledge of poisons and antidotes. When she's asked to discover what's ailing the King's daughter, she discover a bizarre, often horrifying world far beyond her rational, scientific knowledge.

cont.

Does anyone *not* have this on their #12BooksOf2025? I did ponder awhile because I read some fantastic books in December -- Gilead, Dancing at the Pity Party, In the Lives of Puppets. But this one I thought was the perfect blend of literary quality and great readability. I recommended it to so many people and gave it to my stepmother for Christmas.

@TheEllieMo

My thoughts while reading chapter 5.

#HashTagBrigade #IGuessSomeThingsNeverChange @BarkingMadReads

It'll probably be another horrible cliffhanger, because Johnson loves to torture us, but I can't wait for April!

My second Pratchett of the year and honestly it could've been the third or fourth. Such wonderful character growth and powerful themes along with the usual hilarity.

#12Booksof2025 @TheEllie Mo

Check out this very cool website that gives you a literary quote for whatever time it is!

https://literature-clock.jenevoldsen.com/

I read so, so many books last October and this one still stands out.

#12Booksof2025 @TheEllieMo

Still catching up a bit from the end of the year. My #CastTheDie reading.

@Puddlejumper

I never do “brackets“ because it feels impossible to me to measure books that way... but this might be my favorite fiction of the year.

#12Booksof2025 @TheEllieMo

The odds were definitely in my favor this month. :-) Everything I'm definitely reading is in a row with multiple free squares! I'm taking this a a sign from the #Bookspin Gods to enjoy myself and not go crazy trying to fill the whole board.

My choice for the “dedication you loved“ #ISpyBingo square.

A rather harrowing middle-grade memoir about growing up Jewish in the Soviet Union, which honestly sounds as awful as any Western propaganda portrayed it. His family has secrets it's dangerous to ask about, and they worry he won't be “useful“ to the state--until they discover the drawings he made while sleeping under a table. The whimsical pictures break up the trauma somewhat. cont.

I really hoped I might be able to pull off one more bingo and did try some Christmas romances based on cover, but in truth they're just not my thing. No worries.

Close!

@Kenyazero

Such a great collection! I laughed so much.

#ChristmasCrimeChallenge

This has made all my lists, and a lot of other people's too, I see. Well deserved.

@TheEllieMo #12Booksof2025

My recordkeeping isn't the best but I read around 40 books from my #BookSpin list this year, and DNF'd around 18. It really pushed me to finally get to books!

In some gone but not forgotten challenges, I read 16, DNF'd 2 #SeriesLove books and read 34, DNF'd 4 #BacklistAuthor books.

Altogether I'm pretty happy with my reading year, except that I've had anxiety around having too many books on my plate. Still working on strategies for that.

Just such a darling romance. @TheElleMo

I'm not sure what I would have thought of this if I hadn't read The Last Unicorn many times, but for a fan it's certainly interesting. It's Beagle's original draft, which is in some ways very similar and in others very different, and though unfinished it's polished and readable. I think most will agree that its a good thing he went back to it later and found its real heart.

I got so confused, because didn't I just do this book...

@TheEllieMo

First #Bookspin of the year!

@TheAromaOfBooks

A contemporary Pride and Prejudice/Sense and Sensibility mash-up, with Bingley subbing for Edward Ferrars. I'll give this a low pick, because I did start to get invested in it towards the end... and because Gilliland's Darcy retains a bit of his charm. Also, Willoughby as a classic sensitive new age guy is a hoot. The non-linear story telling is kind of confusing and I liked the first book better.

#Pemberlittens

One of the most heartbreaking things about reading (listening) to this was knowing that so much that was already wrong would only have gotten worse since the 2024 election. But it's not just depressing -- it's a great story as well as an enlightening one.

@BookmarkTavern

I planned to reread this before decluttering it, since I didn't remember it being a favorite and it's in ebook now. A little way in, my feelings don't seem to have changed. If anyone wants an old paperback, let me know. :-)

#ReadOrDonate @julieclair

@Read4Life

I read many 4 star books in April and I don't know that this was the best, but it is the one I've thought of most often since, and recommended to people.

#12Booksin2025 @TheEllieMo

Kind of awesome to read an incredibly popular book and discover that damn, it really is that good!

#12Booksof2025 @TheEllieMo

IS it a pick? It was sure fun reading along with the #HashtagBrigade but I'm not sure I would've enjoyed it on my own.

Very pretty graphic novel about a future in which body modifications are commonplace.. but not for Austen, whose immune system rejects mods. Sunati is intrigued by her difference at first, then “inspired“ by what she sees as Austen's bravery, but she'll have to learn to accept Austen as she is for their relationship to flourish. I felt a bit iffy about the disability metaphor, but it's a sweet romance.

I feel like I should've picked a new read rather than a reread? But what can I say, Going Postal was my best February book.

@TheEllieMo

So funny, and so cringey! The story of a young woman's life as told entirely in nagging letters to her from meaningful characters, including family members, her exercise machine, her snack food and her IUD. It's very funny in an over-the-top way, but kind of unsatisfying as a “novel,“ since there's not really any resolution. I highly recommend the full cast audiobook, which really brings out the humor (and the cringe!)

I found this a little harder to follow than the first book, and there's hardly any Red Ranger. Still very cute and sweet though.

Best bookish gift!

This was an #AuldLangSpine book for 2024 and though I only rated it 4 stars at the time, I still have such a warm impression from it that I'm choosing it for my January book.

@TheEllieMo

The night we went out we got talking about Christmas past -- our childhoods mostly, when, according to memory, our affidavit against history, Christmas wasn't commercialised, so although no one went shopping there were always presents under the tree. Kids when sledging and came home to play board games in front of the fire. Everyone had an old dog and a grandma who played piano. We all wore hand-knitted sweaters.

My #AuldLangSpine stack! Subbing for The Last Unicorn, which I've read many times, are The Last Unicorn: The Lost Story and/or In Calabria.

Not pictured: Scythe by Neal Shusterman (saving for February, when he's the #AuthorAMonth, Wayward Children book 1 or 2, Everyone Knows Your Mother is a Witch, and The Bone Spindle (Libby), Interview with the Vampire (on hold) and Engagement in the Digital Era, which isn't available to borrow. :-(

Inspired by the life of folk artist Mary Ann Wilson, this is considered the first lesbian historical romance, and it's a charmer. Patience, an educated woman from a prosperous family, and Sarah, brought up to be the “boy“ of her poor father's farm, fall in love and must navigate the barriers -- both societal and psychological -- that threaten to keep them apart. They alternately narrate their story and both voices are vivid and distinctive.

I'm quite fond of these odd stories. They're full of drama, and focus more on art, music, and theatrical pursuits that most of Christie's other work. The POV character, elderly, old-fashioned Mr. Satterthwaite gives some grounding to the stories, so the woo-woo feels romantic.

#ChristieCapers @LibraryBelle

I gave up this series about 10 years ago & there are around 20 new books in it. 😳 For #AuthorAMonth I picked up where I left off. It's a good, readable story of but I can't say I can really get behind a cop heroine and billionaire hero these days. Throw in a lot of sexual violence and a nasty prison rape comment and I'm pretty sure I'm not going to catch up with the missing 20 plus however many new ones there are since I started that sentence.

“Ironman, but not like Ripken.“ Her eyes narrowed. “Is this porn?“

He laughed. “It isn't, no.“

“Ironman sounds suspicious to me. What are the others?“

“There's Thor, the Hulk,“ he began.

“Sounds like porn.“

This was a lovely surprise, because I haven't previously been able to get into Klune's more fantastical books. The characters were immediately engaging, which is the big difference, I think -- and also often very funny. It went a bit of the rails for me in the second half, but the thematic core of love and steadfast loyalty for found family kept me going.

#QueerBC @PuddleJumper @Read4Life

Edward has finished two days of meditation and prayer. He is here to tell my my fate. I sit with my hands folded, meekly ready to accept it, in case it is a fate I am willing to accept.