july reads.

Vicious and

Vengeful, by V.E. Schwab

I loved these two books, and not only can I not wait for the planned third installment, I also am looking forward to re-reading these in the future.  Going into the series, I had this thin understanding that Vengeful was less liked than Vicious, and though my star rating did go down for Vengeful, I by no means hated the book.  I loved the introduction of Marcella in Vengeful so much, it was possibly my favorite character introduction ever.  Also, I love Mitch and hardly anyone in these books deserves him.  If the author ends up killing him off in the future I will REVOLT.

The Turn of the Key, by Ruth Ware

I thought this was a great mystery/thriller, though I think I may need to avoid such stories with children in the future.  It makes the story too intense for me and I start freaking out when the lives of kids are at stake.  Also, if I ever needed steering away from smart homes, this sure satisfied that need.  NO THANK YOU.

One to Watch, by Kate Stayman-London

I decided to get this book after I finished the first 3 books from The Selection series.  I wanted a re-framed Bachelor-esque story with just a touch more meaning and depth.  This was a really great book that touched on society's fatphobia on a stage we haven't really ever seen it before.  It did not shy away from the ugliness that pervades the socials and real-life interactions of fat people, and it was simultaneously sad, infuriating, and disgusting to read the pure ugliness that comes from some people.  I was happy to see a MC that was strong and confident in who she was, but also not immune to the garbage that was thrown her way.  More female MCs who are successful badasses but not completely indestructible.  And of course, there was a happy ending!  I knew right off the bat who I wanted Bea to pick, and I was happy to see that was who she ended up with... but I wanted more.  More of what, I'm not quite sure, but this story was missing some unknown element for me to push it to five stars.

The Tyrant's Tomb, by Rick Riordan

Easily my highest rated book in this series.  My favorite parts were the return of Artemis and The Girls, and Reyna's character arc.  Looking forward to the last book later this year!

Ghost Boys, by Jewell Parker Rhodes

Devastating.  Beautiful.  Perfect.

How to Be an Antiracist, by Ibram X. Kendi

A really great read framed against Kendi's life progression from a self-proclaimed racist to a rehabilitating anti-racist.  This book addressed racism in so many different forms, and I appreciated seeing all of the aspects of it and recognizing where and when I have seen it in my own life.  Though I often felt frustrated when reading this book, I found hope in Kendi's assertion that many of us will swing back and forth between racism and antiracism for much of our lives.  His acknowledging that the transformation to antiracist is a process that takes time also seemed to me like an offering of forgiveness in advance of any mistakes people make when they try to become better antiracists and allies towards Black people, as long as they are continually trying to do the right thing.  Highly recommend this book to anyone trying to educate and/or better themselves.

The Old Guard, Book One: Opening Fire, by Greg Rucka

I read this graphic novel after watching the movie on Netflix, and I was absolutely floored by how closely the movie followed the original source material.  Like, entire conversations in the comics were word-for-word in the movie.  And that perfect "He's not my boyfriend" monologue?  Exact same in both the comics and the movie!  Anyway, I'm looking forward to reading Book Two when it's published together later this year, and hope that it also gets adapted into a movie.

The Boyfriend Project, by Farrah Rochon

A just-okay romance for me!  Characters were completely likeable, story was good, but it wasn't hugely memorable in my mind.

The Bride Test, by Helen Hoang

This was somehow another romance book that got me crying?  I don't know what has happened to me this summer, but I am fully crying at romance books now.  Anyway, I think I liked this just as much as I liked The Kiss Quotient, but after reading Serpent & Dove last year I asked for more books where men learn how to properly have sex with women, and The Bride Test delivered, so I bumped it up a star for that.

The Deep, by Rivers Solomon

I loved this so damn much.  I know not everyone will jive with this, but I thought it was so so good.  I definitely would have loved to read a longer story, but also think it's perfect how it is now.  Also recommend listening to The Deep by clipping. before/during/after reading this book.

Unravel the Dusk, by Elizabeth Lim

The follow-up to last year's Spin the Dawn that was on par with the first book, but also means that I felt pretty lukewarm about it.  A solid duology that I'd recommend to anyone, but not one of my faves.

Howl's Moving Castle, by Diana Wynne Jones

A delight!!!  I've been wanting to read this for some time, and definitely before I see the movie since everyone seems to collectively agree that the movie is better than the book in this case.  But I absolutely loved this book and how magical it all was.  I'm hoping to get the audiobook one day and have it for future road trips when the kids are older and can enjoy it too.

mid year book freak out tag 2020.

This is a thing that goes around Booktube every year.  I'm not brave enough to start a channel, but I always think this is fun, so I decided to do it here!  I'm pulling my answers from all the books I read from January to the end of June.

1. Best book you've read so far in 2020
- It's got to be The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas.  Count me in the group that believes this book should be required reading for all students in this country.  One of the things that Thomas so does so brilliantly is she paces this book SO WELL.  This is a book about systemic racism and police brutality and Black trauma, but it's not a drag of a book that is impossible to read.  There is hope threaded throughout the book, not just at the end, and there is humor in all the right places.  In this book I became so angry I got a headache, I died laughing and read funny passages out loud to my husband, and I felt my hope increase over the course of the book.

2. Best sequel you've read so far in 2020

- I think I'm going to go with Aurora Burning by Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff.  This was one of my most anticipated sequels, as I finished Aurora Rising last year and nearly died with the realization of having to wait.  Aurora Burning did not disappoint me.  I loved the new character, some new character and relationship developments, and the training sequence, which is often something I have to slog my way through as a reader but didn't need to this time.  Once again, I am dying to wait for the next book.

3. New anticipated release that you haven't read yet

- Empire of Gold by S.A. Chakraborty.  This book literally came out this week so I defintely am not that far behind on getting to it, but I think it will still be a little bit until I start reading.  It's definitely going to happen sometime this summer though, and I'm eager to revisit the lives of Nahri, Dara, and Ali!

4. Most anticipated release for the second half of 2020

I have 3 answers for this, in order of their publication date:

- The Notorious Virtues by Alwyn Hamilton, a book I am SO excited for because I have missed this author very much, AND its setting is connected to the world of Rebel of the Sands.

- Fable by Adrienne Young, a book by an author who has become one of my favorites.  Adrienne Young is an auto-buy for me at this point, and I'm really looking forward to a book by her that is in a different setting than her first two to see what else she can do.

- A Sky Beyond the Storm by Sabaa Tahir, a book that I nearly died at not having last year when I finished A Reaper at the Gates.  I finally get to see what happens to my babies, and hopefully I don't lose all of them in the process.

5. Biggest disappointment of 2020

- House of Earth and Blood by Sarah J. Maas.  I by no means gave this a low rating or hated this book the most of what I've read in the last six months.  But I was really eager to get into another SJM book again, and I just did not become obsessed with this book or these characters the way I have with her other series.  I'm not giving up hope though, because books one in both the ToG and ACOTAR series are not my favorites, and for now I'm assuming the same will be the case with CC.

6. Biggest Surprise of 2020

- No question, that would be Chain of Gold by Cassandra Clare.  I did not expect to care about the characters as much as I did, and I couldn't stop thinking about them for a few days after the book was done.  Still don't know what a Shadowhunter is.

7. Favorite New Author (debut or new to me)

- Duh, Rick Riordan.  He's also my most-read author this year so far, but also a favorite.  Though I'm not quite loving the Trials of Apollo series, The Camp Half-Blood Universe is a treasure and I desperately wish I could have had this to read when I was younger.  I'm already looking forward to when my kids are old enough and I can force them to read these books.

8. Newest Fictional Crush

- Augustus freakin Everett from Emily Henry's Beach Read.  Gimme dat DDNB.

9. Newest Favorite Character

- Nico di Angelo from Rick Riordan's Camp Half-Blood Universe.  Gimme dat DDNB.

10. Book that made you cry
- The Poet X by Elizabeth Acevedo.  To my recollection, this is also the first book that has ever made me cry.  Can't wait to read the second book to make me cry in another 30 years when I'm 60.  JUST KIDDING, the 2nd book to make me cry I read LITERALLY less than a week after I read The Poet X.  I think some unknown part of my emotional self has opened up.

11. Most beautiful book you bought this year.
I have three answers for this:

- The Girl the Sea Gave Back by Adrienne Young.  I LOVE this cover so much, it's so beautiful, so detailed, and the texture given to the ocean satisfies some part of my brain that I can quite name.

- An Unkindness of Ghosts by Rivers Solomon.  I haven't read this one yet, but have my eye on it for multiple reasons, least of which is the stunning cover.

 


- And lastly, The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild - Creating a Champion.  Jon gave me this after I wouldn't stop dropping stupidly obvious hints about it, and I love it.  Having a behind-the-scenes visual dictionary of my favorite video game ever is one of the nerdiest things I will ever be happy about, but HOW CAN I NOT, LOOK AT ITS BEAUTY.

12. Books I still need to read before the end of the year
I mean, all of them?  But here's a list of 5 varied reads I have my eye on:
- The Inheritance Trilogy by N.K. Jemisin
- Want by Cindy Pon
- One to Watch by Kate Stayman-London
- The Scorpio Races by Maggie Stiefvater
- How to Be An Antiracist by Ibram X. Kendi

june reads.

And Then There Were None, by Agatha Christie
This was a fun read, and I think my favorite part was that it was all centered on a nursery rhyme.  Even though it spelled out multiple times what was going to happen in the book, everything was still engrossing and surprising as it happened.  The twist in the end was pretty great, albeit a little bit impossible to believe??  But I still liked this book!!

The Poet X, by Elizabeth Acevedo
I've always said that I don't cry when I read books, and that my version of crying in a book is tearing up.  Until this book.  I WEPT at parts of this book, both the tears and the feels this book gave me took be completely by surprise.  I wasn't sure how I'd receive a book written entirely in poems, but I was just as into it as I would be a regularly-written novel.  A few of these poems shocked me at how much I related to them, and I will never ever forget them.

The Hunting Party, by Lucy Foley
I was really really into the setting and the atmosphere of this mystery, but not at all about most of the characters involved.  I found them really unlikable and so it got to a point where I was like kill them all, I do not care.  I'm disappointed I didn't like this more because the setting is so perfect for a murder mystery, and I would love to see it again in a book, but with different characters.

The Hate U Give, by Angie Thomas
I don't know what to say about this book that hasn't already been said by people who are better and more qualified than me to make a review.
Perfect.  Haunting.  Frustrating.  Funny.  Hopeful.  Mandatory.  Reading.

Meet Cute Club, by Jack Harbon
Short and sweet.  Nothing particularly new or groundbreaking.

You Deserve Each Other, by Sarah Hogle
I've been swinging between 3 and 4 stars for this book since I read it, but I think I'm going to stick with a 4-star rating for this one.  Though the characters were serious bratty and annoying in the beginning, as soon as they started getting over themselves I really liked this book.  I ALSO CRIED IN THIS BOOK.  I don't know what is wrong with me, if The Poet X has unlocked this new part of me that cries during books, but if this is the new normal I can live with it.  Romances that involve an established couple at the beginning that are going through it are not my favorite.  They stress me out because in my mind the stakes are so high (what if this is the first ever romance without a happy ending!!) and seeing the struggles is not a fun time.  But this one was kind of fun because the pranking and roasting was amusing.  Just wish they hadn't been so annoying in the beginning!

Tristan Strong Punches a Hole in the Sky, by Kwame Mbalia
Okay, so not only was I VERY late to the Rick Riordan party, but I am also behind on the Rick Riordan Presents Imprint.  Not only do I love the concept, I love the idea of having a whole host of mythologies for myself and my kids to explore.  Tristan Strong was such an amazing book.  The story and the atmosphere were so FULL.  Of what, it's hard to explain, but by the end of the book I felt enriched and completely satisfied.  This book is also one of the most stunning debuts I have ever read, and I'm really looking forward to the next book.  And also the other mythologies to explore!

The Guest List, by Lucy Foley
Okay, this was basically what I asked for after finishing The Hunting Party.  The perfect setting for a murder mystery, but with more likable characters.  I really liked this one, and definitely much more than Foley's other book I read this month.  There were quite a few characters to pull for, and I really liked how everything wove together and you could see by the end how multiple people had a motive to kill the "victim" (in quotes, because they pretty much deserved it).  I did want the ending to go differently, though.  While I'm not mad at who the killer turned out to be, I would have liked each of the people slighted by the murdered person to have some kind of confrontation with them.  A couple of characters just kind of found out the person was dead and then went home being like "I guess now the only thing to do is to figure out how to move on" and I was very much like WHAAAATTTT.  I also didn't like how one character's story ended in the book, it all just felt very unfair and unsatisfying.  But overall, I liked this book and thought it was a great improvement from The Hunting Party.

A Song of Wraiths and Ruin, by Roseanne A. Brown
Another really fantastic debut!!  I really liked this book, and I especially liked the main characters, Karina and Malik.  Both had really great backstories (though I would have liked a little more from Malik), and watching them grapple with the idea of having to kill each other added a lot to the story (and is something I'd like to see confronted in book two!).  I always love to see competitions in books, and it was no different here.  I also really liked the depiction of disabilities in both characters, and how those factored into their lives and journeys.  Lastly, the cover.  It is freaking gorgeous, one of the most beautiful book covers I have ever seen.  I can't wait for book two!

#datquarantinelife 2/?

Spring came and went, and she was very pretty this year.

Vivi has kind of been at her very worst.  In the span of less than two weeks she: (1) turned off the chest freezer in the garage and spoiled everything inside, (2) chucked an opened can of Dr. Pepper Cherry at the carpet, resulting in our living room looking like an extremely bloody crime scene, and (3) left a grape freeze pop on the counter, staining the laminate pink and blue.

But she also cracks us up daily and now makes the absolute funniest faces.  When we can actually get her in clothes we are reminded of how cute she can be sometimes.  And when she falls asleep at night, I always think of that line from that first episode of Curious George: George is always a good little monkey... when he's asleep.  Yes, when she is asleep she is at her very best.

Theo graduated Preschool!  It was an anti-climatic end to a three-year endeavor, but we are very proud of him.  We did our own little graduation ceremony for him to celebrate, and it was a good time.  I don't know if we will be going to Kindergarten in the fall, but whatever happens I know he'll get through it just as well he's done with Preschool.

Theo has also taken up the peace sign in pictures, and it's one of my favorite things ever.  Every so often he'll ask me to take a picture of him, and by the time I have my phone out and ready, he's waiting with the peace sign and a cheesy smile.

He also lost his first baby tooth, which just about knocked me out dead.  One night he casually was like "hey, I have a loose tooth" and when I looked I saw the new tooth in the back and my or may not have let out a high-pitched gasp.  A week later, the baby tooth was out!  He already has a second loose tooth, and I'm still not prepared for all of this.  He's literally losing his last vestiges of babyhood and it's killing me.

One Sunday we went for a drive, and it was fun/sad remembering what it was like to go on a road trip.  We miss those a lot, and it's hard accepting that we won't be doing one of those for some time.  But I think we might be taking up more scenic nature drives in place of a longer trip.  It was fun driving to a new place that isn't too far away from where we live and getting the kids out of the house for once.  Even if it was cold!

Speaking of cold, the weather at the beginning of June was truly the weirdest most bizarre things I have ever experienced.  On a Friday we had a windstorm that knocked out the power for over 12 hours.  The next day, Saturday, we had a huge hailstorm.  The next day, Sunday, it rained and stormed some more.  And then on Monday, it snowed.

The poor garden, she has had a vexing few months.  Between the late freezes and the evasive pests that came and chomped up all of the peas and spinach, she's had a rough time.  But hopefully things are normalizing and we can still have a good growing season.  Fingers crossed that the first freeze in the September holds off as long as possible.

We are producing spinach faster than we are eating it, but my new ramen addiction is helping.  I've been needing food lately that is comforting, and this ramen is it.  I use the regular "chicken flavor" ramen, but add lottts of things to it to make it special.  For the soup: hondashi and miso.  For the add-ins: boiled eggs, lots of veggies (usually scallions, shiitake mushrooms, spinach, and whatever else I feel like adding), and some leftover meat or pork belly if I want it to be extra special.  It's so filling and delicious and I probably make it at least three times a week.

It's really hard to not be angry every single day for SO MANY things, least of all the state of things COVID-19-related.  But I'm really glad for these kids and the happy/funny moments that I cling to.  I made a new home video for their "Quarantine Spring," and they weren't really doing anything special, but they are happy and healthy and having fun, and it's what I want to remember when all of this is over.

may reads, and allllllllllll the thoughts from The Selection you didn't ask for.

This Savage Song and
Our Dark Duet, by Victoria Schwab
I enjoyed these books while I was reading them, but one month later and I can't remember many specific thoughts I had, except that I think I was wanting more the whole time.  And also I wanted the ship to happen, but wasn't necessarily devastated that it didn't?

Every Heart a Doorway, by Seanan McGuire
I really like the concept for these shorter stories and am looking forward to reading the other ones some time in the future.  Of everyone's lost worlds Nancy's is the one I want more of, which is probably partly because of Lore Olympus, but whatever.

Aurora Burning, by Amie Kaufman & Jay Kristoff
Book number two in this series, and I still love it.  I like the new character, I liked the "training sequence," and it was fun.  Except for that ending.  Definitely one of the more brutal cliffhangers I have ever encountered.

The Hidden Oracle, by Rick Riordan
As much as I love the first two series involving Camp Half-Blood, I was not enthused about reading this at all.  I simply do not care about Apollo/Lester like, at all.  I think he's really annoying and somehow still insanely egotistical in spite of his new mortality and it is extremely eye-rolling.  I nearly DNFed this book, but found I was able to consume it much easier by listening to it so that's the way I did this.  I am mainly in this series for every/any glimpse at our friends from the past, and ate up every word involving Nico di Angelo in this book.

The Hazel Wood, by Melissa Albert
Beautiful, atmospheric, haunting.  The first half of the book moved at a pace I really liked and the second half lagged a bit for me, but I still got really invested in the story and Alice and Finch.  Book #2 is on my TBR.

Sadie, by Courtney Summers
This book was so great, and I cannot wait to experience it a second time, but via audiobook, which everyone says is AMAZING.  I consider myself pretty new to the thriller/mystery genre, but I'm wading in and this was a really good book to start out with.  I loved the podcast element that was brought into it.  These kinds of podcasts have been wildly successful and drawing on that obsession that podcast listeners get and working to evoke that in a book was genius.

The Dark Prophecy and
The Burning Maze, by Rick Riordan
These two books brought back more of my faves, but also was unexpectedly devastating in a few ways.  SHIPS ARE NOT WATER-TIGHT, Y'ALL.  I'm semi-eager to get to The Tyrant's Tomb, which is nearly always available at my library, but since I've decided to go the audiobook route with this series, I'm waiting for several more weeks.

The Girl on the Train, by Paula Hawkins
I thought this story was fine, and I get why it was such a huge hit when it came out.  But a week later and I'm having trouble remembering finer details about things.  The main character bothered me, and I hesitate to say it's because of her drinking because obviously she was addicted and I don't want to completely write someone off for something they don't have a lot of control over.  But the drinking was part of it, and I questioned so many of her decisions throughout the book.  I think at one point I was watching her possibly go to her death and was more resigned than worried for her.

The Selection,
The Elite, and
The One, by Kiera Cass
I have like, a million thoughts on these books and it kind of makes me wish I could just vlog it all out instead of type it, but whatever.  I'm doing this.  Spoilers abound!
First of all, I feel the need to say that I would have even read these books if it wasn't for BookOutlet.  I saw that they were listing books 2-5 for around $4 each, and the combination of book FOMO and the great deal was too strong to ignore.
The Selection
The main character, America, was fine.  I've now come to realize that a lot of people think she's really annoying, and in this book I didn't find her unbearable.  She had some insecurities about her hometown boyfriend, but I thought it was kind of reasonable given the circumstances and how he had acted.  I wish she had played music more, since that was like, her entire existence.
When the concept of "the selection" was explained, I thought it made sense.  The prince was too busy to date like a normal person because he's training and learning to be king, so we need a special way for him to meet girls.  Okay.  But then, the prince was really dumb??  Like, he didn't seem to know anything about ANYTHING, so I was like, what are you learning in King School??
As for the actual selection, it was pretty bland.  Obviously I wasn't expecting any physical challenges a la Throne of Glass or The Hunger Games, but definitely some tests to determine the girls' merits.  I did like how the book seemed to be anti girl vs. girl and made a point to have the selected girls make friends with each other.
As far as the love triangle went, I wasn't so much pro-Maxon as I was anti-Aspen.  I had serious suspiscions about him (probably because I had just finished reading a domestic thriller), and rolled my eyes all the way into my skull when his provider issues and need to dictate what was best for America came out.  No thank you.
I also did not like the stuff about virginity/purity, especially since it's clear that it's no one's choice to act that way, it is virtually forced upon them.  Also, it ended up bearing almost no weight at all as the books went on, so it felt pointless that it was a world mandate.
As it turns out, it appears I need very little to be entertained.  There was little worldbuilding, hardly any descriptive imagery, and very few answers.  And at the end of it I was like, that was dumb, but fun!  Four stars!!
The Elite
And then my optimism all kind of fell apart.  The love triangle was UUUGGGGHHHHH, America's insecurity, while still understandable, quickly became very grating, and there was not nearly enough Maxon kissing.
The One
And then, the series ended.  Which I truly was not expecting because there are five books in the series, but if had looked up even a little bit about the series I would have seen that books 4 and 5 focus on a different girl and not America.  So that kind of blew apart my hope that basically anything that I was finding lacking would be fleshed out and expanded over more books.
The pacing of this book was maddening.  America didn't tell Maxon her secret until literally like, the last twenty pages of the book.  And then, all of the ending action and the convenient kill-offs were completely off-stage.  I kept waiting for America to do something heroic, but apparently she was truly playing that "not like other [female protagonists]" to the very end.
The one thing that I did like was the turnaround for a character who was largely antagonistic throughout all three books, and then she got such a dirty ending and I wanted to scream.
In conclusion
Overall for The Elite and The One, I kept seeing so many moments that I wanted to branch off and go a different way to make the story far more interesting than it was.  Like if she had been sent home literally any one of those times she assumed it was going to happen, if the rebels had done SOMETHING of importance (like take one of her family members), if the reveal that one character was secretly a rebel had meant anything at all... there were SO many things that could have been interesting!
After about a week, I've lowered all of my initial star ratings by one star.  I think my hopeful optimism and bank account were really wanting to like these books, but now that I'm compiling my thoughts and writing them out, they don't deserve that kind of optimism.  There are a million things that I would have changed to make this series better.  I keep imagining what a Bachelor-murder-mystery book would be like and I would LOVE to read that book.
Maybe one day when I'm feeling stupid I'll read books 4 and 5, but I've shed any and all optimism that I will feel better about those books.
Whomp whomp.

april reads.

The Shadows Between Us, by Tricia Levenseller
This story was just fine!  The premise was intriguing and the first half was really great, and I was thinking a solid four-star rating was waiting at the end.  But I started losing steam in the second half and at the finish it ended up being a three-star.  Truthfully, I cannot even remember what it was that made me lose interest??

Chain of Gold, by Cassandra Clare
I finished this and was like COMPLETELY blindsided by how much I liked it.  I couldn't stop thinking about these characters for several days, and a part of me was FUMING that I liked this book so much to be devastated at having to wait for future installments.  It was totally unexpected, but not exactly disappointing, and now I have to consider buying this book because I liked it that much.
I have to be honest: after reading 5 books in this universe, I'm not sure I know what a Shadowhunter even is.  😬😬😬  Is that bad???  But I get these books now: it's about the characters.  And hell if I didn't love the cast of characters in this book.

Imagine Me, by Tahereh Mafi
I devoured books 1-5 in this series in March of last year, and have been low-key looking forward to the conclusion for a year.  And it was... underwhelming and disappointing.  In the first fifty pages... literally just one thing happens, but it is described in metaphors and excessive language for f.i.f.t.y. freaking pages.  And the rest of the book kind of ends up being the same.  Just a handful (if that) of events happen, and I just wasn't as riveted as I was by the other books in the series.  Whomp whomp.

If I Never Met You, by Mhairi McFarlane
This was a delightful read that was devastating and funny and sweet and everything that a good romance needs (though it could have been a little more sexy, TBH).

Wintersong, by S. Jae-Jones
This was a perfectly adequate read that had a fantastic setting and wonderful atmosphere, but I didn't really care about the characters enough to read the sequel.

Undercover Bromance, by Lyssa Kay Adams
Loved being back with some of these characters!  This was fun and funny and sexy, and the revenge-fantasy aspect was much appreciated, too.  This freaking book club is always a delight to read about.

Bone Crier's Moon, by Kathryn Purdie
I don't know why, but early on in this book, I compared it to Serpent & Dove.  I kept thinking is this the book that I wanted Serpent & Dove to be?  And I think it was!!  I really loved this book and the world and the characters.  Really looking forward to the next one.

Truly Devious,
The Vanishing Stair, and
The Hand on the Wall, by Maureen Johnson
Okay, I've never really read mystery/thrillers like, at all, so maybe that affects my opinion of this series, but I absolutely LOVED this trilogy.  I think I would have loved it even more if I read it during the fall/early winter to match the setting.  (The setting was a spectacular aspect of this book, it was established so well.)  Stevie was such a great MC and I loved following her while she solved the mystery of the school she attends.  My only gripe was that I did not like David and will forever ship Stevie and Nate, but even that wasn't enough for me to not give this series five stars.

Red Rising,
Golden Son, and
Morning Star, by Pierce Brown
A great science fiction series!  I really loved book one, book two lost my interest a little, and then book three got it right back.  The high level of violence was exactly what I didn't know I needed (😳), and I was here for all of the horrifyingly gruesome moments.  My advice to anyone reading this is to not get too attached to anyone.  Lots of character deaths, some of which stopped my heart in my chest.
About halfway through book two, I discovered that this series continues past book three and kind of wanted to die.  But this first trilogy wraps up nicely and it's definitely possible to stop after Morning Star.
Also, I mostly listened to these on audiobook, and really loved it!  The narrator was A+ and I think I found the story more immersive this way.

Beach Read, by Emily Henry
Okay.  So I started this book at 9:30 pm, thinking that I would just read a couple of chapters before bed.  And then I was IN IT, saw the time at 11:30, and was like, we're doing this.  At 2:30 am, I laid in my bed thinking, did I just read my favorite book of all time???
I loved this book so damn much, I don't even have proper words.  I loved reading about January so much and found her so relatable, even though I have never experienced the relationship-heartbreak she has. Her struggles to write were a manifestation of my own, and when she finally started to write it was about a family in a traveling circus and I WROTE ABOUT A CAST IN A TRAVELING CIRCUS IN COLLEGE.
And Gus.  Freaking Gus, my precious Depressive Demon Nightmare Boy.  He was perfect in his flaws and strengths, and even though he's the complete opposite of Jon, I would have married him in a heartbeat.  (sorry, babe.)
I will say, at the 90% mark, I had legitimate fears about how the book was going to end.  Like, in my mind it could have reasonably gone one way and I was like OH NOOOO PLEASE DON'T, and I was thinking what am I going to rate this if it goes that way, and I decided it STILL would have been a five-star read even if it didn't end the way I wanted.  I like my contemporary romances with depth, and boy did this have it.
In the end, I got to Goodreads and wondered, is it possible to give a book six stars?  Which I've never ever thought before.  So, yeah.  Favorite book of all time.

The Kingdom of Back, by Marie Lu
A really special story about the Mozart siblings that was wonderfully immersive and both heartbreaking and heartwarming.  Marie Lu's writing is so great, and even though I haven't loved everything she has written *coughYoungElitescough* I will always read something she publishes, no question.

Saga, Volumes 1-9, by Brian K. Vaughan and Fiona Staples
This graphic novel series broke my soul.  I'm an idiot who didn't know that the series is only halfway complete, so while I was making my way through the volumes I was like how did early readers of this series wait so freaking long in between installments?  WELL JOKE'S ON ME, and now I'm in it for like, the next damn decade.
I immediately fell for the main characters and was invested in their story right away.  (And boy, I could NOT have predicted where exactly that story would have taken me.)  Some of the art panels are beautifully stunning, even while some of the images are life-alteringly disturbing.
I read all of the published volumes in about 6 or so hours, and then Jon stayed up until 5AM also finishing it.  So it goes without saying, it's totally bingeable.
It also puts the "graphic" in graphic novel.  Sex, violence, swearing... it's got it all, and then some.  If that doesn't bother you, proceed on this soul-shattering journey!

#datquarantinelife

Well.  I have absolutely no idea how to introduce this post, so I'm just getting into it.

Neighborhood walks have become an essential part of our lives, and I have to say: Vivi really crushes it with those sunglasses.

We've revived our garden for the year and are looking forward to seeing things grow again.  I also bought a bunch of indoor houseplants a few weeks ago, because I realized that if I was going to be stuck at home for who-knows-how-long, I needed some green inside to boost spirits.  So far I haven't killed any, and they are all doing well!

Related: I told Theo that the plants "help us breathe better and make us happy," and soon after he suggested that in order for "the world" to feel better maybe everyone should gets plants to help them breathe.

Now that I'm back in full-time SAHM mode, it's my main job to make sure that the kids don't bother Jon while he's working.  I mean, that has always been the case, but I think I feel it more now while he has his contracts in tact and is wanting to do other work things that will help keep us stable for who-knows-how-long.  Anyway, Theo and Vivi's new favorite game is to ambush Jon when they know he is coming upstairs.  The first time they did it was so funny, I'm glad I got a picture of it.

Just in time for self-isolation, the little Tyrannos Regina has evolved into her highest form.  At least, I hope it's her highest form because I honestly cannot take increased levels of tyranny from her.  She's been insanely hard these last seven weeks, which you would not be able to tell from the pictures above.  Lots of screaming and tantruming, and lots of nudity.  Yes, NUDITY.  She refuses to wear clothes, takes off her diapers often, and sees no problem with going out to play in the yard in just a diaper and boots when it's in the 40s.  Yesterday a straight-up miracle happened and she allowed me to fully dress her and do her hair a little.  She looked so lovely and sweet!  And then one hour later...

...it was over.

I've been keeping busy, trying to find that balance between cooking, cleaning, and reading.  Thank goodness for audiobooks, which have allowed me to feel extra productive during this time.  Jon and I have really loved Bon Appetit's Youtube channel the last while, and I was inspired by one to make "Master Stock" yesterday.  I've make stock loads of times before, but this was the first time I've made it with ham, and YOU GUYS.  It makes the biggest difference and the most delicious stock ever.  Never making stock without ham ever again!

I actually haven't been doing as much baking as everyone else seems to be doing.  Flour is rarely on the shelves at our store, and I think that has made me instinctively ration it out.  I see lots of posts about people trying or keeping up with sourdough baking and... *sigh*.  Am I the only person whose eyes have been opened during quarantine and shelf shortages to the fact that sourdough starters are... kind of a monumental waste of product??  I dunno, maybe it's different if you're actually successful (which I never was), but STILL.  Feeding it every day and using only a fraction of that starter... does not sit well with me at the moment.  ANYWAY.

I've been reading almost nonstop, it's the best kind of escapism.  I stopped checking in on my personal IG account, because I frankly can't keep feeling angry at nonsense I'm seeing people engaging in, or bad about myself because apparently homeschooling is going amazingly in other houses.  (SURELY, that's a lie, right?  RIGHT???)

Enter: books.  I've read so many four-star reads that I've really enjoyed in March and April, but last night I read one that I well and truly LOVED.  I'll write alllll about it in this month's reading wrapup.  (Yes, just the month, not the whole quarter this time!)

Oh yeah, and Easter happened!  Here's this year's Easter video:

Theo had a Zoom meeting with one of his teachers today to work on his Speech, and they were working on opposites.  And it made me think about how the last seven weeks have seen all of the opposites.  It's been winter and spring, we've been sick and well, we've been entertained and bored, we've done good schooling one day and way too much screen time the next.  I've felt really grateful and optimistic one moment, and then totally freaked out and angry the next.  I've been glad for the escape and humor that the internet offers, and then want to throw my phone in a river for something infuriating I read.  I've felt so incredibly glad for my little family and how much I love them and don't have to be separated from them during this time, and also I've completely lost my mind and would have given anything to be by myself and not see them for at least two weeks.

It's back and forth, and it's going to keep being that way for who-knows-how-long.

Thank goodness for walks.

Thank goodness for plants that are still alive.

Thank goodness for books.

Thank goodness for stock made with ham.

But also... you know.

F*ck all of this.

2020 first quarter reads.

This post was originally titled "january reads" because that is when I opened up this post, and it has sat empty all the way up to now.  So, now we're at "first quarter reads" and I'm going to regret doing this because three months of books is insane, but whatever.  These are going to be shorter than usual, but here we go.

January

The Girl in the Tower (#2) and

The Winter of the Witch (#3) by Katherine Arden
(Book #1 in this series, The Bear and the Nightingale, was my last read of 2019, so I reviewed it in my December reads post). I truly loved this trilogy, it was so atmospheric and wonderful and a perfect read for winter.  I think Vasya is the kind of heroine I aspire to be.

The Illuminae Files:

Illuminae,

Gemina, and

Obsidio by Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff
I read and loved Aurora Rising, this author duo's newest space series that started last year, so I figured I should check out their first one, and WOW.  So fun and such a compelling series to read.  Illuminae was freakin' amazing, and Gemina and Obsidio were kind of just copies of Illuminae, but I didn't really care all that much.  Highly recommend!
Spoilery side note: Illuminae combined my two biggest irrational fears: being stranded out in space and zombies.  My anxiety was raging while I read this, but I still loved it.

To All the Boys I've Loved Before and

P.S. I Still Love You by Jenny Han
Gang, I think High School Romances are just Not For Me.  And I was extremely unimpressed by Peter Kavinksy, I was rooting against him in Books One (until it was revealed that Josh and Margo's relationship had been sexual, obviously) and Two (ESPECIALLY after I saw how Netflix made John McEnroe-Whatever WAYYYYY cuter than he was supposed to be in the book), and I was wrong both times.  I'm always wrong.  Anyway, I did not care to read Book Three.  No more Peter for me, thanks.

Percy Jackson and the Olympians:

The Lightning Thief,

The Sea of Monsters,

The Titan's Curse,

The Battle of the Labyrinth, and

The Last Olympian by Rick Riordan
Okay, this series is freaking amazing and SO SO funny.  Like, some of the dialogue was so perfectly middle school in the best possible way, and it had me laughing out loud throughout.  The characters were *chef's kiss*, the quests were *chef's kiss*, and the Greek mythology was *chef's kiss*.  Add this series to the list of books I am most excited to read with my kids some day.

Daughter of the Pirate King and

Daughter of the Siren Queen by Tricia Levenseller
Book One: I really liked!  It was fun and the banter between Riden and Alosa was perfect.
Book Two: less fun because there was less banter, but still a fun read.

Tweet Cute by Emma Lord
Okay, I'm realizing now that I have to take back my blanket NO HIGH SCHOOL ROMANCES I made like two minutes ago because I really loved this story and thought it was perfect in every way that I wanted it to be.  Love the letter-writing/texting trope, but ESPECIALLY the anonymous kind, and this book had it!

Well Met by Jen DeLuca
I loved this story so much!  Throughout the book I found myself wondering "Are Renaissance Faires romantic???" which I believe speaks to HOW GOOD the author is.  Well Met is now a physical book on my shelf, which is a rare honor for a romance.

Devious Lies by Parker S. Huntington
Okay, I saw this promoted on Amazon as a "standalone enemies-to-lovers romance" and was like, Sign Me Up.  And then I found out it was 700 pages??  And look, I've been unexpectedly liking the majority of the romances I decide to read, but a 700-pager??  Never doing it again.  This book was just fine, it had a good amount of angst, which I liked, but not a favorite.

The Bromance Book Club by Lyssa Kay Adams
I thought the premise of this book was hilarious, and many parts of it were, indeed, hilarious!  I was laughing out loud and really enjoyed myself while reading this.  It was also really heavy at times because a marriage is at stake, and even though all romances have happy endings, I still felt the gravity of the stakes and it was a little tense sometimes.

February

One of Us is Lying by Karen McManus
Meh.

The Heroes of Olympus:

The Lost Hero,

The Son of Neptune,

The Mark of Athena,

The House of Hades, and 

The Blood of Olympus by Rick Riordan
Holy 2500-page series, Batman.  I was skeptical almost all throughout The Lost Hero, and then the last 50 pages happened and I was HOOKED.  I read these back-to-back-to-back-to-back-to-back and my brain was EXHAUSTED at the end, but it was still a fun ride.  The House of Hades was my favorite of the series, and I would die a million times for Nico di Angelo (and not just because he might greet me in the Underworld).

Sky in the Deep by Adrienne Young
My first re-read of the year!  I was following along with the author on her Instagram for a readalong of this book, and to be honest I was really nervous.  I remember having such intense, visceral feelings when I read SitD for the first time last year, and it was part of what made me love the book so much.  I never cry when I read books (not yet, at least), but this got me the closest I've ever gotten and I teared up so much when I read it last year.  ANYWAY, I was afraid that with the re-read, I wouldn't get those same feelings and the experience wouldn't be as impactful.
And I was happily wrong!  I still teared up, I still felt all the feelings, and it all just made it extra clear: this is one of my favorite books of all time.  I cannot wait to read it again.

Autoboyography by Christina Lauren
This one really gutted me and had me in turmoil for days.  I gave this 5 stars because the story was really great, but also... it really upset me.  This book isn't a work of fiction, it's nonfiction, and that makes me sad and mad and...

The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas
My first classic read since college!  (Oof.)  I wanted to read this because I got a book in January that is a gender-swapped retelling of TCoMC, and I really liked it.  There were parts that were so funny, and others that were so sad, and also really gratifying parts.  I love a good revenge-fantasy, and although I would have liked a even more confrontation and comeuppance at the end, I'm glad I read this.
Also, Edmond Dantes is the OG Scheming Character.  While I was reading the last half I kept thinking OHHHH so THIS is who Aelin and Kaz were emulating.  Got it.

March

The Renegades Trilogy:

Renegades,

Archenemies, and

Supernova by Marissa Meyer
I didn't hate this series.  I actually really liked the characters and the Superheroes vs. Supervillains concept was a lot less boring than I was anticipating.  BUT, one thing really effin' bugged me about this series. (Spoilers ahead)  Our main character, Nova, is a spy.  I'm fine with that.  But this is what I was expecting:
- Book One ending with her being found out
- Book Two being her and the friends she made as a spy grappling with her betrayal but eventually getting through it and coming together
- Book Three being everyone being the team they were meant to be and beating the bad guys, andsoforth.
Why was I expecting this?  Because this is how books go!  Because this is the formula that works and lends to good flow and pacing!
When did Nova get found out as a spy, you ask??  BOOK THREE.  AND THEN, it was a false alarm and she was able to keep up the ruse for a little longer!!  It was all deeply infuriating and I will never be able to get over that.  NEVER.
The epilogue was awesome, though.

This Train is Being Held by Ismee Amiel Williams
Another High School Romance I enjoyed.  Dangit, I need to revoke that earlier statement.

The Plain Janes by Cecil Castellucci
A fun and uplifting graphic novel collection that put a smile on my face!  Great for Middle School ages and up looking for a good story about female friendships.

All the Stars and Teeth by Adalyn Grace
A fun read with an interesting (and large!) world and magic system.  A little forgettable, but I chalk that up to all of the craziness that went down when I read this (March 11th).  Will look for the sequel next year.

House of Earth and Blood by Sarah J. Maas
I did a whole thing on my IG Stories that was fun and a good way to keep my mind off of the disappointment of my Amsterdam trip being cancelled.  Most of my thoughts are there, but in summation:
- not yet obsessed with this series or the (current) main ship
- insanely massive world that I need to take notes for next time I read
- most likeable character: Ruhn
- most intriguing character: Aidas 👀
- this was not ACOTAR 4, and that's what I really want.
Also, the freaking cover.  I hate it SO MUCH, it does not help with the confusion over what the fork the actual title of this book is.  Anyone with like, a fifth-grader's knowledge of marketing could look at that cover and tell you it's confusing as hell.

The Winner's Trilogy:

The Winner's Curse,

The Winner's Crime, and

The Winner's Kiss by Marie Rutkoski
Book One: Slave-Master dynamics were deeply intriguing, but didn't go quite where I wanted it.
Book Two: Frustrating, forgettable.
Book Three: Oh dip, it's the Memory Loss Trope, one of my favorites ever, do I love this series??

The Honey-Don't List by Christina Lauren
So funny and the fastest read ever.

The Infernal Devices:

Clockwork Angel,

Clockwork Prince, and

Clockwork Princess by Cassandra Clare
Okay.  So last year I read City of Bones and gave it one of the only one-star ratings I've ever given.  I hated it, and was disappointed to not be obsessed with this whole series/universe because I was missing out on a million books to read.  BUT THEN, I kept seeing people say that The Infernal Devices was the best on the universe, way better than TMI, and dangit if it wasn't giving me FOMO.
So, Chain of Gold came into the library last month, and I knew that it was the story of the descendants of the people in TID, and that cover is freakin gorgeous, so I was like, OK SO WE'RE DOIN' THIS.
Maybe I should preface this by saying that I really really do not like Love Triangles.  I might even say that I hate them.  And with Book One and Book Two I was like, yep, here we go, typical Love Triangle stuff that I don't like.  But I gave them each three stars because I didn't have any glaring issues.
And then... Book Three happened, and I was like OH is this what Love Triangles can be like?  Can this happen?  Also, should they just have been a throuple?
I still have mixed feelings about the Epilogue, but I think I liked it?  It was not what I was expecting AT ALL, and it does feel a little weird, but mostly I think I liked it.  As for my rating of Book Three, I bumped it up a full star just for this one scene between Will and Jem alone that was heartbreaking and sweet and everything that a best-friendship should be.
I realized that the way to read these books (this universe??) is for the characters, and not necessarily for the plot.  And as far as characters go, I think Tessa, Will, and Jem are pretty good ones.

(I kinda want to get right in to my thoughts on Chain of Gold right now, but I read it in April, so I guess I'll post about it... in July??)

phx 2020.

After I came back from New Orleans last year he asked if he could go on a plane one day the next time I went on a trip.  I said 'yes,' and that was that, and he didn't really bring it up much after that.  Until about last fall, and then he really started asking about going on an airplane ride in earnest.  So I booked a short flight two and from Phoenix for us, and last month we got to surprise him with the trip!

It was my first time flying with a kid, and I have to admit I was pretty nervous.  (A million times more nervous than I've ever been flying by myself, that's for sure.)  I figured it was either going to go extremely well OR extremely terribly.  Jon was pretty convinced that he would have to drive down to Arizona to pick us up in the event that Theo would not get back on the plane to go home.

But he loved it!!  He was so excited and cute the whole time.  He had the hardest time waiting (try teaching an autistic 5yo that the majority of the time spent flying by plane is WAITING), but he wasn't scared or nervous in the ways I thought he might.  It definitely helped that he slept through the most intense turbulence I have ever experienced in my flying life.  I will be eternally grateful for that nap he took during that portion of the flight.

I also made sure that we stayed close to the light rail, which was our transportation source AND a chance for Theo to also get to ride a train.  He loved it, but again had trouble waiting for our stop.

I kept the itinerary light, which is to say that it was basically non-existent.  I knew that Theo (and me, honestly) would not be able to handle an even remotely-full schedule, so we essentially did one quick trip to a bookstore and then spent the rest of our trip at the library.  And good grief, did I miss the Phoenix Public Libraries.  The Burton Barr branch looks amazing post-renovations, and it was so nice to be in a place with a wide selection of books and activities for kids.  I definitely had library envy while we were on this trip, both as a patron and as a worker.

I also remembered how important the Phoenix Library system was to me, especially when I was postpartum with Theo.  There are so many different ways that the library, in its proximity or in its vast collections, helped me get through one of the hardest times of my life.  I know it sounds dramatic to say that the library saved my life, but at the time it really did feel like that.

(Also, just for fun: throwback to baby Theo on a walk to the Agave branch of the Phoenix library :)

We stayed in the cutest and most amazing Airbnb I've booked to date.  Theo was in love with it and when we he was tired of being out and about, he would ask when we were going back to the White House, which is what he called the place.  It had a few toys for kids, tons of snacks, and Netflix cued up, which is basically the Holy Trinity of necessities for traveling with kids.  We definitely will try and stay here again if we were go back to the area.  (Theo keeps asking me if "next time" we can take Dad and Vivi to the White House)

Now.
In case you're confused and thinking,

SERIOUSLY.  YOU WENT BACK TO PHOENIX AFTER COMPLAINING ABOUT IT FOR A DECADE.  WTF IS WRONG WITH YOU.

I KNOW.  I get it, okay?!?  I thought the exact same thing.  In fact, in preparation for this trip, I had this scene from Avatar: The Last Airbender constantly going through my head:

I think Phoenix will forever be my "Failure at Ba Sing Se."  Don't judge me if I decide to open up a tea shop there years from now.


Have I mentioned how freaking perfect the weather was when we stayed??  One day on a walk in the beautiful neighborhood where we stayed, I caught myself thinking Why did I ever hate living here??  It's because there is a special power that comes from Januarys in Phoenix that magically wipes your brain of all the weather trauma the place inflicts on you the rest of the year.

Anyway, Theo's first trip via airplane was a success!  I'm so glad we got to experience this trip together, and it also proves we have a whole world open for visiting with this boy when he's ready.

(But also when Vivi's older because the thought of taking her on a plane right now makes me break out in a sweat.)

december reads (lordy, this is late).

Evvie Drake Starts Over, by Linda Holmes
This was a fun, enjoyable read!  The thing that particularly resonated with me was this statement regarding a kindergartener: "...she's bullheaded, which I think is great, but I don't want to be bailing her out of jail when she's nine."  Who knew my daughter was inspiration for a small part of this book?

Children of Virtue and Vengeance, by Tomi Adeyemi
Okay, I was so freaking excited for this book to come out.  I loved the first one a lot, and I also have a special place in my heart for CBB because it kicked off this insane and wonderful reading experience of 2019.  So it pains me to say that CVV is my biggest book disappointment of the year, and possibly of my life. (Spoilers ahead.)
Zelie kind of sucks in this book -- so many poor choices made and actions taken because of hurt feelings.  Her feelings are 100% merited, but it frustrated me to no end that she could not clear her head BEFORE doing things that had the potential for huge ripple effects.
Tzain is still a blank slate, a cardboard cut-out of a character.  So that was a continued disappointment.
Inan STILL cannot get his thoughts through to anyone.  This is partially on Zelie, too, but DUDE.  After two books I am so sick and tired of him being misunderstood or not being able to explain himself.
Amari was my one hope, my shining beacon, the one character in this I actually like.  And by the end of CVV, I was even frustrated with her and where her character was taken in the story.
Plotwise, it was someone (Inan) trying to explain something, someone (Zelie) not listening and freaking out and reacting in the most over-the-top and consequential way, and groups of people suffering the consequences.  Over and over and over again.  I hated it so much.
I do wonder if this was on purpose, that this is another way to reflect the black experience in all of America's history and beyond.  If this was indeed the intent of Adeyemi, then damn was it done really well.
In the end I gave the book the benefit of the doubt and rated it 3 stars, but by no means was this an enjoyable read.

The Gentleman's Guide to Vice and Virtue, by Mackenzi Lee
After that colossal disappointment and general mood-killer I decided I needed something lighthearted and fun, and I could not have picked a better book for that.  This book was so funny, so witty, and so entertaining.  I listened to it entirely on audiobook, which I highly recommend.  The narrator has a perfect voice and captures the wit and humor of Monty so well.  I laughed out loud so many times and was really invested in the characters and the relationship (the story was also great!).

Shiver, by Maggie Stiefvater
Going into this, I wasn't aware that this was "a werewolf book," and honestly after finishing it doesn't fully feel like "a werewolf book."  (I don't even know what that means?)  I really liked this one!  I thought the concept of the wolves and the conditions under which they shift was really interesting and unique!  Grace and Sam were enjoyable to read about and I liked their story, but not enough to continue on with the series.  One book was perfect for me.

Tom's Midnight Garden The Graphic Novel, by Philippa Pearce
Fun, magical, and emotional!

Call Down the Hawk, by Maggie Stiefvater
I was eager to revisit my babies, Ronan and Adam, even though I knew this was not a book about their relationship (Chapter 10 broke me at work).  I really liked the new character, Jordan, and all of her complexities.  And dammit if I don't freaking love Declan now.  WHODATHUNK?!?  I was lucky enough to discover The Raven Cycle after everything was out and I could consume it all at once, but not so lucky with The Dreamer Trilogy.  Eagerly awaiting the next installment!

Blood Heir, by Amelie Wen Zhao
I was pleasantly surprised by this one!  Truthfully I cannot remember a whole lot about it a few weeks later, but I remember that Ana and Ramsom were a fun pair (although Ramsom's name is a pain to try and say).  Assuming my library acquires the next book, I will definitely pick it up!

The Gentleman's Guide to Getting Lucky, by Mackenzi Lee
This was purely a fun bit of whipped cream.  No real substance, but lots of fun and humor and a nice chance to revisit Monty and Percy.  It made me realize that I love being inside of Monty's head, because it is such a hilarious place to be.

Twice in a Blue Moon, by Christina Lauren
I absolutely adored this author-duo's second-chance romance that I read earlier in 2019, so I was looking forward to another one from them.  It didn't consume my soul quite like Love and Other Words, but I still really enjoyed it!

One Day in December, by Josie Silver
This was a book that didn't quite land for me.  I was completely hooked at the very beginning, but it went in a direction that I wouldn't have picked personally.  And while it was well-executed, it just isn't the kind of story that I think I like reading.  The ten-year build was just not what I like in romances, I think.

The Black Mage, by Daniel Barnes
A short, sweet, to-the-point story with fun characters and really great art!

Say You Still Love Me, by K.A. Tucker
Trying a new romance author!  I really loved all of this story, but Eric's arc really hurt me.  Any normal human being would wish that his story had ended differently, and I keep thinking about how everything could have worked without what happened to him!!

Red, White, and Royal Blue, by Casey McQuiston
I EFFIN LOVED THIS.  It was so perfect, so funny, so sexy, so GAY, and so so so full of hope and happiness.  It was everything I wish the real world could be.

It Ends With Us, by Colleen Hoover
I had no idea that this would be a hard-hitting romance, and OOOF.  It came at me and bowled me over.  This is by no means a fun, easy romance (as I have come to expect from the romance genre), but it is a great book that is masterfully crafted to achieve maximum empathy for Lily.  It is beyond heartbreaking (that hospital scene made me tear up), but also ends on a very hopeful note.

The Simple Wild, by K.A. Tucker
This was almost a five-star book for me.  I loved the setting, I loved the dynamic between the two characters, I loved their own relationships to members of the community.  I did not love that Calla was obnoxiously obtuse about living in a place that wasn't a city, nor did I love Jonah bagging on Calla's use of makeup all the time.  But I did love the progression of their relationship and was glad for a resolution that differed from Calla's parents'.

Her Royal Highness, by Rachel Hawkins
Lowest rating in a while, this was pretty boring overall.

The Bear and the Nightingale, by Katherine Arden
Really loved this one!  I admired Vasya's character and was really excited for the rest of the trilogy.  The setting was really immersive (reading at wintertime might have helped with this), and I loved how the chapters were each given a title.  I thought this helped to frame each chapter as its own little tale that Vasya and her siblings might have heard growing up.