WWW Wednesdays

WWW Wednesdays #5

| sarasreadingnook

WWW Wednesday is a weekly meme formerly hosted by MizB at Daily Rhythm and now hosted on Taking on a World of Words.

The three Ws are:

Currently Reading

Title: The Finders Keepers Library
Author: Annie Rains
Published on: April 16th, 2024
Publisher: Forever (Grand Central Publishing)
Thoughts: I just received a digital review copy of Annie Rains’ latest novel and I’m so thankful I did! I loved her book The Good Luck Café; you can read the review here. The Finders Keepers Library involves a cat and gardening – instantly, I’m in love with the concept!

Title: The Paradise Project
Author: Christina Lauren
Publisher: Simon and Schuster CA
Release Date: I’m thankful to have received this ARC! I loved The Unhoneymooners so much that I knew I needed to pick up another Christina Lauren!

Title: Love & Saffron
Author: Kim Fay
Published: March 5th, 2024
Publisher: G.P. Putnam’s Sons
Thoughts: This was recommended to me. I love a short novel, food, and letters in books, so I hope to enjoy this one. It sounds really sweet!

Title: Great Expectations
Author: Charles Dickens
Published: December 1st, 1860 (Initial), audiobook published 10-18-2011
Published by: Blackstone Publishing
Thoughts: I am 34% of the way done. I’m reading a little bit of this book each night. It’s my favourite book and I’m still savouring it!

Title: The Warmth of Other Suns
Author: Isabel Wilkerson
Published: September 7th, 2010
Published by: Random House
Thoughts: I intend to finish reading this book during the weekend. It’s excellent but a bit heavy, and I have been alternating between my readings during the week.

Recently Finished Reading

Title: Listen for the Lie
Author: Amy Tintera
Published: March 5th, 2024
Publisher: Celadon Books
Thoughts: Read my review here!

Title: The Wildings
Author: Nilanjana Roy
Published: August 17th, 2012
Published by: Aleph Book Company
Thoughts: I read this for our Catathon Readathon, and I liked it! It’s a cute adventure book with a lot of substance. Recommended for cat lovers.

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

Reading Next

Title: Et Cetera
Author: Maia Lee-Chin, Marta Bertello (Illustrator)
Release Date: August 27th, 2024
Publisher: Andrews McMeel Publishing
Thoughts: This book is wonderful! It combines illustrations with explanations of the Latin phrases.

Acknowledgements

Thank you to the publishers for review copies of The Finders Keepers Library, The Paradise Project, Listen for the Lie, The Ghost Cat, and Et Cetera. All opinions are my own.

QOTD: Which cover from the books above stands out most to you?

WWW Wednesdays #4

| sarasreadingnook

WWW Wednesday is a weekly meme formerly hosted by MizB at Daily Rhythm and now hosted on Taking on a World of Words.

The three Ws are:

Currently Reading

Title: Listen for the Lie
Author: Amy Tintera
Published: March 5th, 2024
Thoughts: I will wait to finish to give my overall feedback, but I am currently enjoying this one!

Title: Great Expectations
Author: Charles Dickens
Published: December 1st, 1860
Thoughts: This is a classic and my favourite novel. I’m listening to a little bit of this each night and savouring it!

Title: The Warmth of Other Suns
Author: Isabel Wilkerson
Published: September 7th, 2010
Thoughts: This is a challenging but very important and well-researched novel. I’ve put it down for a moment but will pick it up again soon.

Recently Finished Reading

I recently finished reading a few books! To see my thoughts on Funny Story, please check out the review. I’m going to discuss Bad Dreams in the Night during my monthly wrap-up, but I thought the contents on the cover and blurb were not what I was expecting. I’ll share reviews for One Long Weekend and The Spell of a Story in May and June; I enjoyed both titles.

Title: Funny Story
Author: Emily Henry
Release Date: April 23rd, 2024

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

Title: One Long Weekend
Author: Shari Low
Release Date: May 1st, 2024

Title: The Spell of a Story
Author: Mariajo Ilustrajo
Release Date: June 4th, 2024

Reading Next

Title: The Ghost Cat
Author: Alex Howard
Release Date: August 27th, 2024
Thoughts: I was so happy to be approved for this ARC! I am making a last-minute change and will be reading this as my comfort read for the Catathon Readathon (April 20-21st) since the book I initially wanted to read won’t be available, and I think this might fit the prompt very well. Also, I would like to focus on NetGalley reviews, hoping to complete 100 reviews (in total) within the year.

Title: The Wildings
Author: Nilanjana Roy
Published: August 17th, 2012
Thoughts: This is my “book about cats” for the Catathon Readathon. I just got it from the library – yahoo!

Title: Et Cetera
Author: Maia Lee-Chin, Marta Bertello (Illustrator)
Release Date: August 27th, 2024
Thoughts: I’m so excited to read this! It’s an illustrated guide to latin phrases and includes lots of famous latin quotes. I’m hoping the illustrations will be a great companion since otherwise it might be a bit dense. But I am up for it!

Acknowledgements

Thank you to the publishers and Netgalley for ARCs received for the following: Listen to the Lie (Celadon books), Funny Story (Libro.fm and Penguin Random House Audio), Bad Dreams in the Night (Andrews McMeel Publishing), One Long Weekend (Boldwood Books), The Spell of a Story (Frances Lincoln Children’s Books), The Ghost Cat (Harlequin Trade Publishing), and Et Cetera (Andrews McMeel Publishing). All opinions are my own.

QOTD: Which of the covers from the books above
is the most appealing to you? I’m curious to know!
My favourites are “The Wildings” and “The Spell of a Story”!

WWW Wednesdays #3

| sarasreadingnook

WWW Wednesday is a weekly meme formerly hosted by MizB at Daily Rhythm and now hosted on Taking on a World of Words.

The three Ws are:

What are you currently reading?

What did you recently finish reading?

What do you think you’ll read next?

This week has been quite similar to the previous one, but I have managed to make some progress in my reading.

Currently Reading

Thoughts:
I have only a few pages left to complete, and I am hoping to finish it tonight!

The London Séance Society by Sarah Penner
Murder Mystery, Fantasy

Summary:

Two women investigate a murder mystery through communicating with the deceased via a séance led by renowned spiritualist Vaudeline D’Allaire. Lenna Wickes overcomes her skepticism to join Vaudeline as an apprentice, but they begin to suspect they are caught up in a web of deceit.

Thoughts:
I’m really looking forward to getting back into this after finishing The London Séance Society. I am excited to go back to the sea!

The Isles of the Gods by Amie Kaufman
YA Fantasy

Summary:

A girl named Selly is left behind by her father in Kirkpool. A magician boards her ship and assigns them a risky mission to navigate the Crescent Sea undetected. The mission involves rebellion, fear, and dangerous gods. This captivating fantasy series is full of magic, romance, and adventure, written by the bestselling author of the Aurora Cycle.

Thoughts:
I am thinking about reading “Ithaca,” the first book in the series, before continuing with this one. However, I haven’t made a final decision yet. We’ll see!

House of Odysseus by Claire North (The Songs of Penelope #2)
YA Fantasy

Summary:

House of Odysseus is a YA retelling of ancient Greek myth, giving voice to the women who stand strong in a world ruled by ruthless men. The story takes place in the palace of Odysseus, where Queen Penelope tries to prevent her home from being crushed by two mad kings, Orestes and Menelaus, with the help of Elektra and Helen of Troy. The goddess Aphrodite watches over them all, with her own plans in mind.

Recently Finished Reading

Unfortunately, I haven’t been able to finish any books this week. However, I am almost done with “TLSS”. So progress has been made!

Reading Next

Thoughts:
Have you read this book yet? I am eager to dive back into it and determine if it would make a good recommendation for Autumn.

Weyward by Emilia Hart
Historical fiction, Fantasy.

Summary:

“Weyward” by Emilia Hart is a novel that intertwines the stories of three women from different centuries who display remarkable resilience and a deep connection to nature. Kate flees to her great aunt’s ramshackle cottage to escape her abusive partner, only to discover a hidden secret from the witch hunts of the 17th century. Altha is accused of witchcraft and must use her unique magical abilities to maintain her freedom. Violet is trapped in her family’s estate during World War II and longs for the education and freedom her brother receives, while searching for traces of her deceased mother.

Acknowledgements

I would like to express my gratitude to the publishers who have provided me with review copies of the following books:
“The London Séance Society” by Legend Press through NetGalley, “The Isles of the Gods” by Penguin Random House/Knopf Books (gifted copy), “House of Odysseus” by Libro.FM and Hachette Audio, and “Weyward” by Libro.FM, MacMillan Audio, and St Martin’s Press through NetGalley.

I want to express my gratitude to my local library for giving me the opportunity to borrow the book “Ithaca” by Claire North.

QOTD: What are you currently reading?

WWW Wednesday #2

| sarasreadingnook

WWW Wednesday is a weekly meme formerly hosted by MizB at Daily Rhythm and now hosted on Taking on a World of Words.

The three Ws are:

What are you currently reading?

What did you recently finish reading?

What do you think you’ll read next?

Currently Reading

Thoughts:
I’m really loving my Kindle and audiobook combo! It just makes everything so much more enjoyable. I thought it would be more fantasy-focused, but it’s actually more of a murder mystery vibe. There are a few slower parts, but they don’t bother me because the mystery is just so intriguing. I can’t wait to see what happens next!

The London Séance Society by Sarah Penner
Murder Mystery, Fantasy

Summary:

Two women investigate a murder mystery through communicating with the deceased via a séance led by renowned spiritualist Vaudeline D’Allaire. Lenna Wickes overcomes her skepticism to join Vaudeline as an apprentice, but they begin to suspect they are caught up in a web of deceit.

Thoughts:
At the moment, I haven’t been able to make much progress with this book because I’m really caught up in “The London Séance Society.” But it’s right there on my nightstand and Kindle e-reader, and I’m planning on getting into it as soon as I finish TLS. It’s a fantasy book, so it might require a bit more focus, but I’m super excited to see where the story takes me!

The Isles of the Gods by Amie Kaufman
YA Fantasy

Summary:

A girl named Selly is left behind by her father in Kirkpool. A magician boards her ship and assigns them a risky mission to navigate the Crescent Sea undetected. The mission involves rebellion, fear, and dangerous gods. This captivating fantasy series is full of magic, romance, and adventure, written by the bestselling author of the Aurora Cycle.

Thoughts:
I haven’t had much time to dive into this book, but I’m really excited about its focus on Greek mythology. I absolutely love reading about it! I’m particularly interested in getting a glimpse of Queen Penelope’s perspective while Odysseus is off on his journey back to Ithaca. Although I haven’t read the first book in this series, I plan to see if this one is OK as a standalone. So far, so good.

House of Odysseus by Claire North (The Songs of Penelope #2)
YA Fantasy

Summary:

House of Odysseus is a YA retelling of ancient Greek myth, giving voice to the women who stand strong in a world ruled by ruthless men. The story takes place in the palace of Odysseus, where Queen Penelope tries to prevent her home from being crushed by two mad kings, Orestes and Menelaus, with the help of Elektra and Helen of Troy. The goddess Aphrodite watches over them all, with her own plans in mind.

Recently Finished Reading

Thoughts
This book was super creative! Can’t wait to share my review.

Together We Rot by Skyla Arndt
YA Fantasy

Summary:

A girl enlists the help of her former friend, Elwood, to uncover the truth about her missing mother and suspects his family’s involvement. Elwood, on the run from his family’s cult, agrees to help in exchange for hiding. As they investigate, they uncover decades of cult activity and discover Elwood’s bizarre transformation. Wil is left wondering if she can save the boy she loves from the darkness.

Reading Next

Thoughts:
I started reading this book a couple of months ago but had to take a break. Luckily, I have both the ALC and a Kindle review copy. I’m planning on setting aside a whole weekend to really dive into this book. Actually, I’m hoping for some rainy weather, candles, and a spooky atmosphere to really get into the witchy vibes! I want to see if this book is a good choice to recommend for Autumn reading. After reading the summary, it sounds like the perfect pick for a witchy read!

Weyward by Emilia Hart
Historical fiction, Fantasy.

Summary:

“Weyward” by Emilia Hart is a novel that intertwines the stories of three women from different centuries who display remarkable resilience and a deep connection to nature. Kate flees to her great aunt’s ramshackle cottage to escape her abusive partner, only to discover a hidden secret from the witch hunts of the 17th century. Altha is accused of witchcraft and must use her unique magical abilities to maintain her freedom. Violet is trapped in her family’s estate during World War II and longs for the education and freedom her brother receives, while searching for traces of her deceased mother.

Acknowledgements

I would like to express my gratitude to the publishers who have provided me with review copies of the following books:
“The London Séance Society” by Legend Press through NetGalley, “The Isles of the Gods” by Penguin Random House/Knopf Books (gifted copy), “House of Odysseus” by Libro.FM and Hachette Audio, “Together We Rot” by Penguin Random House/Viking Group for Young Readers and NetGalley, and “Weyward” by Libro.FM, MacMillan Audio, and St Martin’s Press through NetGalley.

QOTD: During the summer, which genre(s) do you prefer?
Let us know!

WWW Wednesday #1

| sarasreadingnook

WWW Wednesday is a weekly meme formerly hosted by MizB at Daily Rhythm and now hosted on Taking on a World of Words.

The three Ws are:

What are you currently reading?

What did you recently finish reading?

What do you think you’ll read next?

Currently Reading

Thoughts
I’m really liking this book so far! The last few chapters have been quite wild, but I’m still enjoying it.

Together We Rot by Skyla Arndt
YA Fantasy

Summary:

A girl enlists the help of her former friend, Elwood, to uncover the truth about her missing mother and suspects his family’s involvement. Elwood, on the run from his family’s cult, agrees to help in exchange for hiding. As they investigate, they uncover decades of cult activity and discover Elwood’s bizarre transformation. Wil is left wondering if she can save the boy she loves from the darkness.

Thoughts:
Recently, I’ve been in the mood for fantasy books and I’m enjoying reading about the characters and their adventures on the sea.

The Isles of the Gods by Amie Kaufman
YA Fantasy

Summary:

A girl named Selly is left behind by her father in Kirkpool. A magician boards her ship and assigns them a risky mission to navigate the Crescent Sea undetected. The mission involves rebellion, fear, and dangerous gods. This captivating fantasy series is full of magic, romance, and adventure, written by the bestselling author of the Aurora Cycle.

Recently Finished Reading

Thoughts:
I am excited to share my thoughts on this! As a huge fan of Lisa Jewell, I can’t wait to discuss it.

None of This is True by Lisa Jewell
Thriller

Summary:

In Lisa Jewell’s latest psychological thriller, a woman named Alix Summers meets Josie Fair on their shared forty-fifth birthday at a local pub. After bumping into each other again, Josie reveals that she has been listening to Alix’s true crime podcast and thinks she would make an interesting subject. Despite Josie’s strange behavior, Alix continues to make the podcast and discovers that Josie has been hiding dark secrets. Eventually, Josie persuades her way into Alix’s life and home, only to disappear and leave a terrifying legacy behind. Alix and her family’s lives are now at risk, and she must uncover the truth about Josie Fair.

Thoughts:
Heart-warming and a great summer read! Check out my blog post for the full review!

The Good Luck Cafe by Annie Rains
Contemporary Romance

Summary:

Moira’s content life is disrupted when the town council plans to demolish her mother’s café for parking. She seeks the aid of former friend Gil Ryan, now Mayor, to save the business. As they clash, they discover unexpected attraction, but with no compromise, is their relationship headed for disaster?

Reading Next

Thoughts:
This book has been on my review list for some time and I can’t wait to finally dive into it!

The London Séance Society by Sarah Penner
Fantasy

Summary:

Two women investigate a murder mystery through communicating with the deceased via a séance led by renowned spiritualist Vaudeline D’Allaire. Lenna Wickes overcomes her skepticism to join Vaudeline as an apprentice, but they begin to suspect they are caught up in a web of deceit.

I would like to express my gratitude to the following publishers for providing me with review copies of the mentioned books: Together We Rot (e-ARC via NetGalley) and Isles of the Gods (physical gifted copy), from Penguin Random House; None of This is True (e-ARC via NetGalley), from Simon and Schuster Canada; and The Good Luck Café (physical gifted copy), for which I am thankful to Forever Publishing. Additionally, I would like to thank Legend Press and Libro FM for providing me with copies of The London Séance Society (e-ARC via NetGalley and ALC via LibroFM). All the opinions expressed in my reviews are my own.

QOTD: Out of these book titles, which one do you find most interesting?
Have you had the opportunity to read any of the prior works of these authors? Let us know!