November 2024 Reads

TL, DR above

Election aftermath stunted my reading this month. Fascism effects focus, you know?  

Engrossing Reads

Death of the Author by Nnedi Okorafor - There's a sci-fi/futuristic bent to this book which is typically not my favorite but the characters and overall story and humanity won me over - loved this read. Thanks to Netgalley for the free advanced copy in exchange for an honest review, book publishes 1/14/25

Crescendo by Joanna Howat - Very impressive for a debut novel - vulnerable characters, symbolism with the piano. I read this quickly, which is not always the case with novels like these. Thanks to Netgalley for the free copy in exchange for an honest review

On Tyranny: Twenty Lessons from the Twentieth Century by Timothy Snyder - A re-read. Seemed timely. Check it out. Paperback, own - bought a few additional copies to place in Little Free Libraries

Johnny Careless by Kevin Wade - Haves and have nots, beach town, treachery, murder? Sign me up. This is a really good debut novel. At points it reminded me of some passages from Pat Conroy books.  Thanks to Netgalley for the free advanced copy in exchange for an honest review, book publishes 1/28/25

Passed the Time Just Fine

You Are Fatally Invited by Ande Pliego - On a star system I have this as a 3 but it's closer to a 4 - this was a ride. I like a locked room mystery. Several confusing points and a few weak backstories but I had no idea who was pulling the strings, and that propelled me through nicely even though I was reading this over Election Day. Thanks to Netgalley for the free advanced copy, book publishes 2/11/25

The Perfect Boyfriend by S.E. Lynes - This was pretty clever and quick moving, and I liked the characters which doesn't always happen in a psychological thriller. Thanks to Netgalley for the free copy in exchange for an honest review, book publishes 1/6/25

The Hunter (Cal Hooper #2) by Tana French - These books read as very Ireland to me. A little slow, but that's okay. Always an interesting supporting cast of village characters, which I love. OCNJ library hard cover

Blood Moon by Sandra Brown - Standard Sandra Brown fare, which I like because I know it will be a dependable read. It is still always weird to me to have romance mixed with murder, but that's life, baby. If I was sitting on the beach with a paperback copy, I would finish it in three hours. Thanks to Netgalley for the free advanced copy in exchange for an honest review, book publishes 3/4/25

Not For Me

Did Not Finish

The Receptionist by Kate Myles - Own on Kindle, this was maybe an Amazon First Reads at some point? 

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What have you been reading?

November 2023 Reads

What I read in November: 

Hope you all had a great Thanksgiving! 

As we are in a buying season, I wanted to say out loud again please avoid buying books from Amazon unless they are unavailable elsewhere. Our indie bookstores need us if we're buying books, and Amazon does not ever need our book money. Buying books from Amazon or Target is killing the small local bookstores. If you are not near a local bookshop or can't get there for whatever reason, you can order on bookshop.org and choose a bookstore to support, or just have your purchase support a small bookstore in general as every purchase donates money to local bookstores. Buying from a small shop will cost you a few extra dollars and/or extra shipping, but it keeps bookstores alive. 

Purchasing books from Amazon kills bookstores, flat out. Here's a little more info on that.

If you're not buying but are reading (which is what I'm doing most of the time), there's also my lifelong favorite the local library - it is free for every single person and it is never too late to get a library card. You can also check out Netgalley for advanced copies.

Thanks for coming to my Don't Buy Books from Amazon or Target TED Talk.

Engrossing Reads

The Locked Door by Freida McFadden - A yearly shore rental guest dropped a boatload of Frieda McFadden books off to me in October and I've just started making my way through them now. I feel sort of like they are an assignment? LOL I've avoided this author thus far, not sure why. I liked this one. Paperback, gifted

'Till New Year's Day by Breonna Brownlee - As you all know by now, I am not a standard romance reader but I do like to pepper mysteries and lit fiction with romance and I love to support a fellow blogger (am I a former blogger at this point?). This novella was the perfect hour read before bed for me. Also loved Bre's novel Two Too Many - check that out if you're looking! Kindle, purchased

The Spy Coast (The Martini Club #1) by Tess Gerritsen - That rare Amazon First or whatever they're calling the monthly free book now that actually slaps. I don't know what future ones in the series might be like but I'll try them if she writes them because I like the characters assembled here. Also loving me some main characters in their 60s and beyond who are still actively living not solely reflecting on the lives they've already lived. Well done, Tess. Free Amazon First or whatever reads, digital 

The Heiress by Rachel Hawkins - Quick and enjoyable. One of those layered try to figure it out reads with a few red herrings that were clever. Thanks to Netgalley for the free advanced copy in exchange for an honest review, book publishes January 9

The Lies You Wrote (Raisa Susanto #1) by Brianna Labuskes - I didn't see that coming. I'm glad to see this is a #1 - I liked Raisa and will definitely read more, hoping this becomes a series. I wouldn't mind seeing Kilkenny as the supporting character in future books. Thanks to Netgalley for the free advanced copy in exchange for an honest review, book publishes January 1

Christmas Presents by Lisa Unger - I got sucked right into this - quick moving and a little scary at times - one of those books that is not winning any literary accolades but is getting an A+ for keeping me invested Thanks to Netgalley for the free advanced copy in exchange for an honest review

All the Little Truths (Finley O'Sullivan #3) by Debra Webb - I’ve read all three in the past few weeks and have really come to love these characters. The books are simultaneously easy and intense and kudos to Webb for pulling that off. I’d definitely read more of these Thanks to Netgalley for the free advanced copy in exchange for an honest review

Tom Lake by Ann Patchett - Already sung about this from the rooftops in Instagram stories, but big, big love for this book despite standardly not having big love for Ann's novels. I read a copy from the library and then bought myself a copy for Christmas. As I get older, I buy less physical books with plans to keep them because I do not want shelves and shelves of books I didn't love - I only want to keep the ones I really loved. This was purchased with plans to keep. OCNJ library hardcover, now own a hard cover copy

Passed the Time Just Fine

Never Lie by Freida McFadden - The thing about these is that I can read them in a few hours, which is good? Totally fine way to pass a few hours. Paperback, gifted

Only If You're Lucky by Stacy Willingham - I'd clock it at a four, rounded up from 3.5, if we're going by a five star standard. Very passable and readable, but I did not devour this like I did her other two novels, probably because this was very slow out of the gate and also read younger to me and also had a similar setting to a book I just read and loved. I liked how things tied together throughout. Thanks to Netgalley for the free advanced copy in exchange for an honest review, book publishes January 16

Today Tonight Forever by Madeline Kay Sneed - Whew! I knew nothing about this going in and for some reason thought this was a light romance and it was absolutely not LOL. It was a lot. Some heavy AF topics in here, people dealing with deep shit that felt a little surface at times because there was so much going on, to go in depth on all of it would have been like three books. I was not prepared.

I loved the introspection of each character and the bits of overlapping perspective in POV shifts. Also loved the Deacon and Mollie characters immediately and fiercely. Thanks to Netgalley for the free copy in exchange for an honest review

Not For Me**

**This usually means if I knew now what I knew before I started it, I would not pick the book up in the first place

 

Held: A Novel by Anne Michaels - First, this book is absolutely beautiful in both its writing and its undercurrent of despair. Second, it begins after WWI and I tend to avoid that time period for some reason? It does span many years after though. Third, it reads like a college lit assignment and I feel like I should be sitting around with others trying to discuss themes and appear intelligent. Thanks to Netgalley for the free advanced copy in exchange for an honest review, book publishes January 30

What We Kept to Ourselves by Nancy Jooyoun Kim - Again, beautifully and carefully written. Again, undercurrent of depressing and despair. I’d read a whole book focused entirely on Sunny. The plot, eh, the kids, eh, husband, eh. The best parts of the book were the Sunny parts. Thanks to Netgalley for the free copy in exchange for an honest review

The Ex by Freida McFadden - What the hell was this, really. At the end I was like say what now? You want me to think what happened? Paperback, gifted

The Perfect Son by Freida McFadden - This was a little too boring and obvious for me and felt like a phone-in. Paperback, gifted

Did Not Finish

Hide Me Away by Lauren Street

The Other Half (DI Caius Beauchamp, #1) by Charlotte Vassell - Netgalley 

People to Follow by Olivia Worley - Netgalley 

Clover Hendry's Day Off by Beth Morrey - Netgalley, publishes January 30

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What have you been reading?

SMD

November 2022 Reads

I can't believe we're already at the time of year where I consider what I want to clear out of my netgalley backup log before the year ends, or when I start thinking about sinking into several mindless reads during no man's land between Christmas and the New Year.

What I read in November:

Engrossing Reads

Abolitionist Intimacies by El Jones - I've never read a book like this before, and didn't really take too much notice of the title until I got further into it. Plainly, it makes incarceration and all that goes along with it intimate, especially for people with no first hand knowledge of it. I hope it finds its way into the hands of people who are opening their minds to abolition. Thanks to Netgalley for the free copy in exchange for an honest review. 

The Innocent Wife (Detective Josie Quinn #16) by Lisa Regan - I had to abandon my Sunday to do list to finish this one - so many layers and quite a few players in this case, and the quality of the writing and consistency of characters was the same as the previous 15.  Thanks to Netgalley for the free copy in exchange for an honest review. I pre-ordered also but cannot resist reading as soon as I  get my hands on the newest book in the series! Publishes December 12

When She Was Good (Cyrus Haven #2) by Michael Robotham - I totally forgot a #1 (Good Girl, Bad Girl) existed until I saw #3 come up on Netgalley and we all know I will not skip a book in a series so I grabbed this from the library. I like Robotham's writing, and it took me a bit to recall the story but I settled into this quickly. It was also good, and I'm looking forward to reading the third. OCNJ library

The Good Lie by A.R. Torre - I was pleasantly surprised by this book. Intriguing and a good story. This is the second book I've read by this author and I grabbed a third I'm hoping to get to soon. OCNJ library

Passed the Time Just Fine

The Last Party (DC Morgan #1) by Clare Mackintosh - I liked the characters, and if there's a second I'll read it. Lots to unpack with secondary characters which I hope continues in a next novel. Free copy from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review

Before You Knew My Name by Jacqueline Bublitz - This was very promising, I really liked the concept behind how and why it was told but it was not an easy read. This is in no way a feel good book so you have to be in the head place for that. Free copy from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review

The Prisoner by B.A. Paris - Not everything necessarily connected here, but it kept me reading and I finished it within 24 hours. That still counts for a lot in the Era After Covid. Free copy from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review 

Not For Me/Did Not Finish

When They Find Us (Agent Victoria Heslin Thriller #3) by Jenifer Ruff - Not my cup of tea, but I finished and will continue with the series. Paperback, own, NFM

What have you been reading?

TWTW - the slow and low tempo one

Friday I could not concentrate for shit in the afternoon. I took a walk and got some Johnson’s popcorn and we spent the 4 pm hour on the beach where all dogs were consistent assholes. I finished a book and was asleep by 11.

Saturday it felt good to sleep in until 7:15. I never had a chaffle before this morning. Sold. I painted my nails, took the dogs for a long walk, then set out for the afternoon. I dropped a return off to FedEx, picked up some Thanksgiving wine, replenished items from PetSmart, stopped into Marshalls to replace one of Gus’s stank ass shore beds, and picked up a steak from Aldi for dinner. I encountered many an asshole along the way. Back at home I read, went down to the bay to see the sunset, roasted parsnips and asparagus and threw the steak in the air fryer, and dug around under beds for Thanksgiving and Christmas shit. Ben enjoyed his new electric blanket. He's always cold but will not wear sweaters. I also ordered a tray of stuffing and pumpkin pies from two local places and wrote up the Thanksgiving menu. I read half of a new book throughout the day.

Sunday Kicked off with cleaning, which...no. I cleaned up the main floor in the shore house, then our apartment, changed sheets, showered, packed up the car, took a long walk, and was back in Philly by 1 in time to tell MFD what Christmas shit to take back to the shore with him as he was heading down to pick up a client at the airport for a closing today. I hit Marshalls in Franklin Mills looking for a replacement area rug, which I did not find but I did find fully half of the people not adhering to the Philadelphia mask mandate that remains in place in indoor areas. Which makes it shit for workers and also is weird because many flaunting the mandate are surely comply or die people. Weird. I made a frozen pizza and salad for dinner, did a bunch of laundry, and watched Yellowstone. Dad and Carol got home around 8:30 and I talked to them over tea for a while.

Happy happy birthday to my friend Melissa yesterday!

Land of No Sleep thanks to old dogs and rambunctious cats. Happy Monday!

Three Things: November 2019

Things I'm looking forward to before the end of the month

1. Days off

2. Friendsgiving

3. Time with the fam

Things I’m happy with
1. My review being over. It was good and it has pretty much always been but reviews are not my comfort zone. 
2. Deciding to decorate the Wednesday before Thanksgiving. I am an after Thanksgiving decorator but we leave for the shore Thanksgiving night and I won't be back until Monday night or Tuesday morning. 
3. Extended weekends at the shore this weekend and next. Time is winding down there so I’m making the most of it. 

Things I don’t understand 
1. Republicans in Congress

2. People who go through the trouble to arrange to pick up an item posted on an online yard sale then disappear into thin air. Like, just don’t engage if you never plan on getting the item. 

3. Less energy in my early 40s than in my late 30s

Things I love to eat at Thanksgiving
1. The skin on the turkey
2. Sweet potatoes
3. Pumpkin Pie

Things I need from the store
1. Toilet paper
2. Yams
3. window caulk

Things I don't like to do
1. Throw food out - such a waste when people don't have enough and can't afford to eat
2. Clean out my work bag
3. Wash my hair - happy to have a hair appointment today so someone else can wash it LOL

Things I've said out loud to strangers this week
1. "Are you really going to stand there?"
2. "How can you make 60 people walk the length of two train cars instead of you walking one and opening the doors?"
3. "I like your coat."

Things that smell good in this season
1. Turkey roasting
2. Burning leaves
3. Pre-snow air

Happy happy birthday Steph!

Now you.

TWTW - the one with the birthdays and other things

Friday I worked late then we headed to South Philly for Melissa's surprise 50th dinner organized by Blane. It was a nice night, but we had to jet out by around 9. The photo I have is one in which I am the only person without glasses.

Saturday We were up and out by 6:30 to meet my Dad and Carol and my uncle at the Purple Stride walk in West Fairmount Park. Thanks to everyone who donated to me or Madeline's Marchers, our team in memory of my grandmom. We ran into my oldest friend Jen and her college ladies too, it was great to see them!

How fucking basic is this. I am annoyed that I patronized Starbucks and have guilt over the single use plastic cup but the pumpkin spice cold cream whatever sans vanilla syrup is delicious. Anyway I returned something to Target and picked up a few groceries. I feel like I take forever in there if I don't have my cartwheel AKA circle already loaded.

Saturday night sushi dinner at Ota-Ya for my Dad's birthday. Everything was delicious and it was nice to have dinner together. I lay on the couch like a slug after and was in bed by 11.

Sunday I thought I overslept because it was so light when I woke up but alas, it was only fall back day. I cleaned up the kitchen, MFD washed the couches, I changed out garden flags and put the few Halloween decor items that were out away before heading to Doylestown to meet my knottie girls AEB and Alicia for breakfast at Cross Keys Diner. We usually go to The Hattery but it's under renovation. It's always nice to catch up in person. I can't believe we've known each other for just about 10 years. I popped into Marshalls on the way home to look for garland and pick up some olive oil. That was stupid because everyone was trying to get their errands run before the Eagles game and it's like taking your life in your hands in the parking lots in and around Philadelphia. At home I put the couches back together, did food prep, cleaned up the kitchen, did some more laundry, started a new book, and watched season two of Schitts Creek.

Weekly food prep: Breakfasts are egg muffins with mushrooms and cheese. Lunches are rustic tuscan sausage soup. Red grapes and pretzels for a snack. Dinners are that same soup and mid-week chicken tenders, steamed red potatoes, and cauliflower.

Busy week ahead. Let's go!

What's your voting plan for tomorrow?