Net-Galley

Review | The Finders Keepers Library by Annie Rains

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Title: The Finders Keepers Library
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Publisher: Forever
Format: e-Galley
Pages: 345 pages
Source: e-ARC provided by publisher

Description

This heart-warming second chance love story about hope and healing from USA Today bestselling author Annie Rains is perfect for fans of Raeanne Thayne and Jenny Hale!

For a gardener blessed with a green thumb, Savannah Collins’s life sure seems like it’s all thorns, zero roses. She has no job, no relationship, and no place to live. With nothing but a car full of plants and her new rescue kitten, Savannah heads to Bloom, North Carolina, to spend the summer with her beloved Aunt Eleanor, a retired librarian.

Her aunt shares her love of literature with the Finders Keepers Library, located in her beautiful garden, where anyone can stop by to pick a book or leave a book. When a sudden summer storm destroys the library and many of the roses, it will take a village to get everything ready for the garden wedding that is planned there in just three weeks.

As the entire town joins in to make the necessary repairs, Savannah bonds with their neighbor Evan Sanders over the books that Eleanor has handpicked for each of them, helping them both find healing and self-discovery. Savannah only intends to stay through the summer, but when an unexpected job offer, a sudden health crisis, and a wayward pre-teen push her future in new directions, she has to wonder whether this is the place that she is meant to be—and the family she’s meant to be with.

Review

Olivia and I read The Finders Keepers Library by Annie Rains and enjoyed it! It’s a very heartwarming story about a woman who has recently experienced heartbreak, a medical diagnosis, and a job loss. During the summer, she heads to North Carolina to live with her Aunt Eleanor and brings along her rescue kitten and plants.

I very much enjoyed how cute this romance was! And, of course I enjoyed every time her cat was on the page. Like her previous books, Annie Rains highlights the importance of community in small towns. While I enjoyed the book overall, the romance and the main male character were sometimes flat and sometimes I wanted more. But overall, very good read!

I recommend this if you enjoy cute, small-town romances!

Content Warnings

This Book in Three Words

Very cute book

Values/Themes

  • Family
  • Community libraries
  • Small town romance

Favourite Part

I actually really enjoyed the storyline with Evan’s daughter and thought that her friendship with Aunt Eleanor and Savannah was very sweet.

Feelings

  • Heartwarming
  • Light but with depth
  • Medium-paced

Overall Rating

Numerical Rating: 3.5 stars

Acknowledgements

Thank you to @NetGalley and @ReadForeverPub for the advanced digital review copy. All opinions are my own.

QOTD: Do you enjoy small-town romances? Let us know!

Review | Listen for the Lie by Amy Tintera

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Title: Listen for the Lie
Genre: Thriller
Publisher: Celadon Books
Format: e-ARC
Pages: 352
Source: Celadon Books and NetGalley

Description

What if you thought you murdered your best friend? And if everyone else thought so too? And what if the truth doesn’t matter?

… Read full synopsis here at Goodreads.

Review

Wow, this was a fantastic read! And it was one that I couldn’t put down. Nope. Couldn’t! Those are my favourite types of thrillers. I don’t exactly want to give anything away here, but the synopsis does a great job of filling you in on the basic plot. If you want a thriller to keep you reading into the night, dark humour, pod-cast snippets, and whodunits, this is for you. I was hooked from the first page!

I enjoyed this book so much that I also purchased an audiobook to experience the podcast element, and it did a fantastic job! It worked for us purrfectly. This book is available now and is highly recommended as a must-read thriller for the spring/summer!

Content Warnings

This Book in Three Words

Can’t put down

Values/Themes

  • Podcast
  • Whodunnit
  • Friendship

Favourite Part

Honestly, the writing was fantastic the entire way through. Elements of the plots I wanted resolved were, and the whole thing was fantastic, not just the great ending. It was everything I wanted and more.

Feelings

  • Dark humour
  • Mysterious
  • Tense

Overall Rating

Numerical Rating: 5.0 stars

Acknowledgements

ARCS: Thank you to Celadon Books and NetGalley for this ARC! All opinions are my own.

QOTD: What was your last five-star read?

The Sunday Post #23

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Update:

This weekend has been quite busy! Olivia and I have been running the Catathon Readathon on our bookstagram with our cohosts @abigailscupoftea, @christin_rene_, and @mels_reads_. We had reading sprints, and seeing everyone’s books and cats was so adorable! I’m already looking forward to our next one 😸

Olivia Update 🐾

Olivia has had a super fantastic weekend so far. We’ve spent quality time together reading

Reading/Watching Update

Currently Reading

Title: The Wildings
Author: Nilanjana Roy
Published: August 17th, 2012
Published by: Aleph Book Company

Title: Great Expectations
Author: Charles Dickens
Published: December 1st, 1860 (Initial), audiobook published 10-18-2011
Published by: Blackstone Publishing

Title: The Warmth of Other Suns
Author: Isabel Wilkerson
Published: September 7th, 2010
Published by: Random House

Finished This Week

Title: The Ghost Cat
Author: Alex Howard
Release Date: August 27th, 2024
Published by: Harlequin Trade Publishing | Hanover Square Press

Title: Listen for the Lie
Author: Amy Tintera
Published: March 5th, 2024
Published by: Celadon Books

Title: Bad Dreams in the Night
Author: Adam Ellis
Published: April 16th, 2024
Published by: Andrews McMeel Publishing

Title: One Long Weekend
Author: Shari Low
Release Date: May 1st, 2024
Published by: Boldwood Books

Title: The Spell of a Story
Author: Mariajo Ilustrajo
Release Date: June 4th, 2024
Published by: Quarto Publishing Group – Frances Lincoln Children’s Books | Frances Lincoln

Thank you to @NetGalley and the publishers for these review copies, which were approved and read, and the title invited to review (below).

Invited to Review

Title: Devil is Fine
Author: John Vercher
Release Date: John Vercher
Published by: Celadon Books

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for my recently read and invited titles for review.

Currently Watching

I am not currently watching any series. I just finished watching The Regime. While I loved Kate Winslet’s performance, the show was about a 2.5/5.

This Week on the blog

  • Review | Listen for the Lie by Amy Tintera
  • Top Ten Tuesdays | Unread Books on My Shelves I Want to Read Soon
  • WWW Wednesdays
  • The Sunday Post

Last Week On The Blog

QOTD: What’s the last book you read that was underhyped?

Where to find us: Blog | Bookstagram | Twitter | Booktube | BookTok | Storygraph | Pinterest

The writing of this post was edited and enhanced with the help of Grammarly AI.

Review | The Fury

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*Mystery/Thriller

Title: The Fury
Genre: Thriller, Mystery
Publisher: Celadon Books
Format: Physical ARC
Pages: 308 pages
Source: Celadon Books

Description

This is a tale of murder.

Or maybe that’s not quite true. At its heart, it’s a love story, isn’t it?

Lana Farrar is a reclusive ex–movie star and one of the most famous women in the world. Every year, she invites her closest friends to escape the English weather and spend Easter on her idyllic private Greek island.

I tell you this because you may think you know this story. You probably read about it at the time ― it caused a real stir in the tabloids, if you remember. It had all the necessary ingredients for a press a celebrity; a private island cut off by the wind…and a murder.

We found ourselves trapped there overnight. Our old friendships concealed hatred and a desire for revenge. What followed was a game of cat and mouse ― a battle of wits, full of twists and turns, building to an unforgettable climax. The night ended in violence and death, as one of us was found murdered.

But who am I?

My name is Elliot Chase, and I’m going to tell you a story unlike any you’ve ever heard.

(Goodreads)

Review

“The Fury” is a gripping medium to fast-paced book about a former movie star, her friends, a spontaneous trip to a private Greek island, and — a murder. It even incorporates elements of Greek mythology and has an Agatha Christie feel to it. Like Michaelides’ prior works, I was captivated by the story, but I couldn’t put down this one. The twists and turns were fantastic. Even though I would place “The Silent Patient” higher on my list, it’s near the top of his works. If the plot piques your interest, I recommend it!

Content Warnings

This Book in Three Words

Twists, Turns, Compelling

Values/Themes

  • Deception
  • Obsession
  • Loss

Favourite Part

How Alex Michaelides kept my interest the whole way throughout!

Feelings

  • Tense
  • Mysterious

Overall Rating

Numerical Rating: 4 stars

Acknowledgements

Thank you to Celadon Books for this ARC! All opinions are my own.

QOTD: Have you read any novels by this author? Or similar thrillers? Let us know!

January/February wrap-up

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Hi everyone! It’s great to be back again. Over the past few months, I took time off from blogging for extensive eye treatments. Viewing a computer screen has been quite challenging due to my dry eye condition. However, per my last follow-up, my eyes have responded well to the treatments, and reading has become much easier for me now! I’m glad to let you know that I should be able to contribute here more regularly. In this post, I will summarize the books I have read so far this year!

Reading Statistics

Reading Wrap-Up at a Glance

Mini Reviews

Book Cover images link to Goodreads. Highlighted Book Titles link to book reviews. Content Warnings link to The Storygraph, if available.

Reuniting With Strangers: A Novel by Jennilee Austria-Bonifacio
Published: April 16, 2024
(4.25 stars)
Initially, I was interested in reading this novel as it was on the longlist for Canada Reads 2024. Although I didn’t get to every book on the list, I did try to read each book that most appealed to me. After reading the synopsis, I knew this book would be about reunifying the families of Filipino caregivers. Fortunately, I was hooked from the first chapter. Unfortunately, the main issue I encountered was the pacing — some parts were quite slow, but overall, the story was strong. Make sure you have tissues handy!

Content Warnings: None are currently listed, but this book has some heavy themes.

Fiction

The Seventh Veil of Salome by Silvia Moreno-Garcia
Expected Pub Date: July 16th, 2024
Review to come. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC!

Content Warnings.

Historical Fiction, Romance, Mystery, Thriller

The Fury by Alex Michaelides
Published: January 16, 2024
(4 stars)
“The Fury” is a gripping medium to fast-paced book about a former movie star, her friends, a spontaneous trip to a private Greek island, and — a murder. It even incorporates elements of Greek mythology and has an Agatha Christie feel to it. Like Michaelides’ prior works, I was captivated by the story, but I couldn’t put down this one. The twists and turns were fantastic. Even though I would place “The Silent Patient” higher on my list, it’s near the top of his works. If the plot piques your interest, I recommend it!

Content Warnings.
Thank you to Celadon Books for this ARC! All opinions are my own.

Mystery/Thriller

A Ovelha Curiosa by Ana Maria Magalhães, Isabel Alçada, Nuno Feijão (Ilustrador)
Published: January 1, 2015
(4 stars).
It is a goal of mine to read as many Portuguese short novels as possible in 2024. This is the first Portuguese book I’ve read this year, and it was very cute! It’s about a cute and curious little sheep that gets into all sorts of trouble on her farm. I don’t believe there is an English translation yet, but if you want a short Children’s book to read in European Portuguese, this is lots of fun.

Children’s

O Nabo Gigante by Aleksey Nikolayevich Tolstoy, Niamh Sharkey (Illustrator)
Published: First published January 1, 1910.
(3 stars) This is the second Portuguese book I’ve read this year. It is the Portuguese translation of “The Gigantic Turnip” by Aleksey Nikolayevich Tolstoy. The book is a Russian folktale about a gigantic turnip that needs to be harvested and the teamwork it takes. While it wasn’t my favourite Children’s book, the illustrations were lovely.

Children’s

101 Dálmatas by Walt Disney Company
Published: Jan 1st, 1994.
(4 stars) We all know the story – 101 Dalmations! It’s one of my favourites from childhood. When this translation was recommended to me, I had to read it! It was only 48 pages long, and it was at a level that I could comprehend pretty well while also learning lots of new vocabulary in European Portuguese. Sometimes, embarking on a full-length novel can be intimidating (I’m still working on an Emily Henry book!). Reading these short books can help me stay engaged in the language while learning some new vocabulary. I will continue the series and am excited to start The Lion King soon!

Children’s

Bad Medicine by Christopher Twin
Published: October 24th, 2023
(3 stars).
This is another book on the Canada Reads 2024 longlist. In it, a group of Cree teenagers gather to share horror stories in front of a fire. Some of the stories were very moving, and overall, I enjoyed this book. However, I would have enjoyed a longer graphic novel to expand on the stories and enjoy the artwork.

Content Warnings.
Graphic Novel

River Mumma by Zalika Reid-Benta
Published: August 22nd, 2023
(2.75 stars)
In this book, Alicia embarks on a quest to find the comb of River Mumma, the Jamaican water deity, in the streets of Toronto. I was very excited to read the novel, but the story could have been longer and expanded. Additionally, I felt the world-building needed some development. But I enjoyed the mythology and also the setting in Toronto.
Content Warnings.

Fantasy, Fiction, Magical Realism, Mythology

The Old Man and the Sea by Ernest Hemingway
Published: September 1, 1952
(3 stars).
I’ve heard of Ernest Hemingway many times before, but I hadn’t actually read any of his books until now. I decided to start with something small, so I read “The Old Man and the Sea.” It is the story of a Cuban fisherman and his encounter with a giant Marlin in the sea. I enjoyed it, but it didn’t resonate with me as much as I’d hoped. I will try to read more of his novels in the future.

Content Warnings.

Fiction, Classics, Literature

Kindred by Octavia E. Butler
Published: January 1, 1979
(5 stars)
I had heard of Octavia E. Butler’s books many times before. Due to its historical nature, I read it during Black History Month, but I recommend it at any time of year. Dana is transported back in time to the antebellum South. The first scene of the book pulls you right into the story. I couldn’t stop reading this from start to finish. I rearranged my entire day to finish the book; it was very captivating. I highly recommend it!

Content Warnings.

Historical Fiction, Science Fiction

QOTD: What books are you looking forward to reading in March? Let us know!

Note: This post was edited with the help of Grammarly AI.

Review | Together We Rot

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*Fantasy/Horror

Title: Together We Rot
Genre: YA Horror, Fantasy, Mystery
Publisher: Viking Books for Young Readers
Format: E-Book
Pages: 272 pages
Source: NetGalley and Penguin Random House

Description

A teen girl looking for the truth about her missing mother forms a reluctant alliance with her former best friend…in exchange for hiding him from his cult-leading family.

Wil Greene’s mom has been missing for over a year, and the police are ready to call the case closed–they claim she skipped town and you can’t find a woman who wants to disappear. But she knows her mom wouldn’t just leave…and she knows the family of her former best friend, Elwood Clarke, has something to do with it.

Elwood has been counting down the days until his 18th birthday–in dread. It marks leaving school and joining his pastor father in dedicating his life to their congregation, the Garden of Adam. But when he comes home after one night of after a final goodbye with his friends, already self-flagellating for the sins of drinking and disobeying his father, he discovers his path is not as virtuous as he thought. He’s not his father’s successor, but his sacrifice. For the woods he’s grown up with are thirsty, and must be paid in blood.

Now on the run from a family that wants him dead, he turns to the only one who will believe him: Wil. Together, they form a reluctant partnership; she’ll help him hide if he helps her find evidence that his family killed her mother. But in the end they dig up more secrets than they bargained for, unraveling decades of dark cult dealings in their town, led by the Clarke family.

And there’s a reason they need Elwood’s blood for their satanic rituals. Something inhuman is growing inside of him. Everywhere he goes, the plants come alive and the forest calls to him, and Wil isn’t sure if she can save the boy she can’t help but love.

(Goodreads)

Together We Rot was a fairly compelling read. The book is true to the synopsis and does a great job of creating an eerie and mysterious atmosphere. I particularly enjoyed how the author incorporated nature visuals in this one! However, where the book lost me at times was with the characters. I didn’t find them particularly memorable or fleshed out. Despite this, I did appreciate how the novel came together and wrapped up. The ending was satisfying!

Content Warnings

This Book in Three Words

Mysterious, Dark, Creepy

Values/Themes

  • Family
  • Trust
  • Nature

Favourite Part

The last third of the book.

Feelings

  • Eerie
  • Unsettling

Overall Rating

Numerical Rating: 3.25 Stars

Acknowledgements

Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Young Readers Group/Viking Books for Young Readers for this advanced review copy. All opinions are my own.

QOTD: Do you enjoy thrillers? Let us know!

Review | None of This is True

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Title: None of This is True
Genre: Thriller, Mystery
Publisher: Atria books
Format: E-Book
Pages: 384 pages
Source: NetGalley

Description

Lisa Jewell has written an intriguing new psychological thriller featuring a woman who becomes the focus of her own popular true-crime podcast.

Alix Summers, a well-known podcaster, meets a seemingly unremarkable woman named Josie Fair at a pub while celebrating her 45th birthday. As it turns out, Josie shares the same birthday, making them “birthday twins.” A few days later, they run into each other again outside Alix’s children’s school, and Josie expresses interest in being the subject of Alix’s podcast series.

Despite her reservations about Josie, Alix can’t resist the opportunity to make a compelling podcast. However, as she delves deeper into Josie’s life, Alix discovers that Josie has been hiding some dark secrets. To her horror, Josie manages to infiltrate Alix’s life and home before abruptly disappearing. Alix soon realizes that Josie has left a frightening legacy behind, and her own life is now in danger.

The mystery of Josie Fair and her actions is at the heart of this gripping thriller.

Review

I’ll keep this review brief…

Lisa Jewell’s latest book had me completely engrossed from start to finish! I stayed up late into the night just to see what would happen next. Jewell skillfully sets the scene and introduces the main plot early on, with each chapter revealing new information that kept me eagerly turning the pages. While reading, I couldn’t help but shake my head at some of Alix’s decisions as she becomes more entangled in Josie’s world.

Even though I’ve completed the book, it still lingers in my thoughts. Especially that ending! Lisa Jewell possesses a talent for crafting truly unforgettable stories.

This is a thrilling read, although it may be unsettling and disturbing (refer to content warnings). If you enjoy reading Lisa Jewell’s books, this one is worth adding to your TBR list.

Content Warnings

This Book in Three Words

Disturbing, Medium/Fast-paced, Rollercoaster

Values/Themes

  • Trust
  • Lies
  • Deceit

Favourite Part

The suspenseful nature of the read.

Feelings

  • Dark
  • Mysterious
  • Unsettling
  • Twisted

Overall Rating

Numerical Rating: 5 Stars

Acknowledgements

Thank you to NetGalley and Simon and Schuster Canada for this advanced review copy. All opinions are my own.

QOTD: Do you enjoy thrillers? Let us know!

REVIEWS | A Cat Family Christmas & Daisy Woodworm Changes the World

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Title: Cat Family Christmas: An Advent Lift-the-Flap Book (with Over 140 Flaps)
Genre: Children’s, Picture Books, Holiday
Publisher: Frances Lincoln Children’s Books
Format: E-Book
Pages: 24 pages
Source: NetGalley

Description

Count down the twelve days til Christmas in this delightful advent book. With a nod to nostalgic Victorian advent calendars, open up tiny but sturdy flap ‘doors’ on each one of the 24 pages to reveal little details and surprises.

Peer inside the cupboard doors and different-sized tins in the busy Cat Family kitchen to find the missing ingredients for the cake. Open all the front doors on the street when the Cat Family go carol singing.

This is a whimsical Christmas book that gives the Victorian advent calendar tradition a contemporary twist for advent calendar door–hungry hands. Every page is rich with Liberty print–style patterns and William Morris–inspired friezes.

The Cat Family is full of character and personality, and the picture painted of the holiday season in this charming picture book will fill you and your family with Christmas cheer!

(Goodreads)

Review

Get this one before the 12 days of Christmas start!

This lift-the-flap advent book features beautifully illustrated pages of a cat family during Christmas as they prepare and celebrate the holiday season. The placement of the various flaps was done cleverly and will be so much fun for readers to explore as they progress through the story.

Not only are the activities engaging, but the story itself is as well, as it counts down the 12 days of Christmas. As you flip through the book, note the different animal families, which include rabbits, badgers, and foxes (among others!). It is lovely to see the various families as they board the sleeper train! Even the houses display snowmen outside (e.g., snow-cats and snow-ducks!)

This book is so much fun to read with your little ones as you approach Christmas day. The last page ends on Christmas Eve.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this advanced review copy. All opinions are my own.

This Book in Three Words

Cozy, Festive, Cats!

Values/Themes

  • Family
  • Holiday Traditions
  • Togetherness

Favourite Part

I loved to see all of the animal families boarding the train!

Feelings

  • Lighthearted
  • Relaxing
  • Fun

Overall Rating

Numerical Rating: 5 Stars

Title: Daisy Woodworm Changes the World
Genre: Middle Grade, Realistic Fiction
Publisher: Jolly Fish Press
Format: E-Book
Pages: 288 pages
Source: NetGalley

Description

Thirteen-year-old Daisy Woodward loves insects, running track, and hanging out with her older brother, Sorrel, who has Down syndrome and adores men’s fashion. When her social studies teacher assigns each student an oral report and project to change the world for the better, Daisy fears the class bully–who calls her Woodworm–will make fun of her lisp. Still, she decides to help Sorrel fulfill his dream of becoming a YouTube fashion celebrity despite their parents’ refusal to allow him on social media.

With the help of her best friend, Poppy, and Miguel–the most popular boy in school and her former enemy–Daisy launches Sorrel’s publicity campaign. But catastrophe strikes when her parents discover him online along with hateful comments from a cyberbully. If Daisy has any hope of changing the world, she’ll have to regain her family’s trust and face her fears of public speaking to find her own unique and powerful voice.

Daisy Woodworm Changes the World includes an author’s note and additional resources.

(Goodreads)

Review

When prompted with the question, “How can one save the world?” Daisy immediately thinks of Sorrel, her brother who has Down Syndrome, and how she could best support his ambition to become a fashion icon and youtube star.

Daisy and Sorrel are faced with many obstacles, and with the representation of Down Syndrome, another strength of this book is how Daisy, with the help of her friends, family, and teacher, can make the world a better place. I liked that this story showed how important it is to reframe goals and ask for aid when needed. I loved Sorrel and the strong bond between the two siblings. Regarding the pacing, the last half of the book flowed very nicely. I also wanted to know more about Daisy, but this may be something to look forward to in the future. This book is well-suited for a middle-grade audience/classroom. Daisy wants to study insects so cool facts about insects are provided.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this advanced review copy. All opinions are my own.

This Book in Three Words

Uplifting, Inspiring, Realistic

Values/Themes

  • Goal setting
  • Self-Esteem
  • Friendship
  • Family
  • Economic disparities

Favourite Part

Several friendships blossom throughout the book.

Feelings

  • Emotional
  • Hopeful
  • Uplifting

Overall Rating

Numerical Rating: 3.75 Stars

QOTD: What is the last book you’ve read? Let us know!

The Sunday Post #14 and More!

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Hello, everyone! Today we are linking up with

Olivia Update 🐾

Olivia is the best company and this week was no exception. Although I was ill earlier in the week with a cold, she cuddled with me and has been incredibly sweet. She would curl up into a ball beside me each day and wouldn’t leave my side.

Olivia likes to go on evening tours in the apartment. I pick her up so she can see everything in the apartment that is eye-level for me (e.g., countertops, bookshelves, windows, etc.). She’s not a climber and is about 14.5 years young, so I like to ensure she doesn’t miss out on the sights!

@sarasreadingnook

What are you reading today? #Kobo @kobo.books @libbyapp #CurrentReads #CurrentlyReading #YAFantasy

♬ Whats this person reading right now – KE knows books!

Watch Olivia with our current read here.

Reading/Watching Update

Reading

The Storygraph | Goodreads
The Storygraph | Goodreads
The Storygraph | Goodreads
The Storygraph | Goodreads
The Storygraph | Goodreads
The Storygraph | Goodreads
The Storygraph | Goodreads

CW = Content Warnings (if available)

Night of the Living Rez by Morgan Talty. I am still reading and enjoying this short story collection.
CW

A Winter’s Promise by Christelle Dabos with Hildegarde Serie (Translator). I am enjoying this one so far. This book is a buddy read with @officiallyreads!
CW

Recently Read

Indigenous Relations: Insights, Tips & Suggestions to Make Reconciliation a Reality by Bob Joseph and Cynthia F. Joseph. I thought this was a highly valuable read. I picked it up from the library and couldn’t stop flipping through it. I have requested 21 Things You May Not Know About the Indian Act for further reading.

The next three books are eARCs received from NetGalley and their respective publishers this week. All opinions are my own. Reviews are to come for Hungry Ghost and Cat Family Christmas closer to their release date, but we suggest you keep all three titles on your radar.

Hungry Ghost by Victoria Ying. This book is an informative YA/contemporary/graphic novel focusing on mental health, eating disorders, and family relationships and influences. I’m so thankful to NetGalley and First Second Books for this title.
Release Date: April 25th, 2023
Review to come
CW

Cat Family Christmas by Lucy Brownridge and Eunyoung Seo (Illustrations). This children’s book is an engaging advent lift-the-flap book that displays over 140 doors to open. It shows the Cat Family decorating, baking, and preparing the house for the holiday. Thank you to NetGalley and Frances Lincoln Children’s Books for this title.
Release Date: November 8th, 2022

Cat’s Don’t Like Christmas by Andy Wortlock and Nahum Ziersch (Illustrator). Olivia and I loved this one. Thank you to NetGalley and Splash Books for this title.
Click here to see the full review.

DNF

Olivia and I decided to DNF Our Crooked Hearts by Melissa Albert. Although the story was decent, there was content we weren’t comfortable reading, so we decided to pass.
CW

Watching

The Handmaid’s Tale Season 5. We just finished episode 7. At this point, I’m ready for The Testaments.
CW

Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power. Catching up on this show next week.
CW

The Watcher. This show is about a family that moves into a stunning house in a new and “safe” community; however, soon after their arrival, they receive a suspicious letter from a stalker who is watching the family. Almost finished, and I have some theories!
CW

The Haunting of Bly Manor. I rewatched this series with Olivia and it was definitely worth the rewatch. There are so many easter eggs to find.
CW

This Week on the Blog

Next Week on the Blog

  • Book reviews
  • Top Ten Tuesday

QOTD: What did you read this week? let us know!

Where to find us: Blog | Bookstagram | Twitter | Booktube | BookTok | Storygraph | Pinterest