It had been a while since I revisited the Bridgerton series, and I usually like to read comfort novels in the winter months, so I picked up where I left off and dove into Hyacinth’s story. It was enjoyable as always, but I feel as if her character traits overlap so much with her sister Eloise that I kept getting them confused. Still, it was a fun romp that flew by super quick, and I especially loved the epilogue on this one - since it resolved the mystery of the missing jewels that dragged the plot and wasted a lot of time in the book.

Ugh, I wish I had Williams and Schneehann’s books when I was a kid! This apparently was the ‘least shelved’ book on my Goodreads for 2023 and it is an absolute shame, because this graphic novel (along with Go With the Flow) is so fantastic and a must for the tween girls in your life, or anyone who has ever been a tween girl, or wants to understand a tween girl. They are full of honest, open and inclusive dialogue about growing up that is such a comfort. I just want to give them a big hug. Bonus points for having a Pride and Prejudice retelling in this installment.

This novel has been on my TBR for the longest time and I kept putting it off because of the mixed reviews. But I love her work, so when it popped up on the Lucky Day shelf at my library I grabbed it - and I’m so glad I did. I can see how this novel, and Sea of Tranquility for that matter, is not for everyone: it is not linear, it is excessively character driven, delves deep into the minutiae of their lives, and has completely unexplained magical realism. I LOVE IT GIVE ME MORE. Something about her writing just absolutely enchants me and I could not put this book down. I think that the spot on atmospheric writing about the Pacific Northwest captivated me especially.

I think this book hit me at just the right time in a very generous holiday mood. Normally I get bored with saccharine curmudgeon stories, à la A Man Called Ove. Perhaps the sentient Octopus that could read and understand English reeled me in - pun intended? Or perhaps the curmudgeon in question being a grieving mother melted my heart. I empathized with all of the characters and found the way the pieces of the story finally came together (I think there was one too many near misses) was satisfying.

I had already read the entirety of this book before it was published because I keep up with Alice Oseman’s updates on Webtoons. But I can say that we now have this installment (the penultimate😭) in our possession, and I am going to cry so hard when it is all over with the next book. What an absolute gift these characters are - just so heartwarming and sweet as they navigate young love and intimacy.

Cute little holiday read that hit the spot with cozy fives and small town Christmas tree farm atmosphere. I am not prolific when it comes to Romance reviews, as I find them serviceable for when I am in the mood- but they all seem pretty similar. I did enjoy the fact that the author wove in a whodunnit to the standard romance trope of friends to lovers.

 I love R. Eric Thomas and could listen to him read the phone book. This collection of essays was an emotional roller coaster, in the best way.

a near perfect installment in the Three Pines series

Hoo boy, that was a wild ride. Like a marine biology horror flick with a MacGyver element. (Young folk might have to google that last reference.) It was a thoughtful contemplation on a strained relationship between a father and son, but you have to have a pretty strong stomach to read through the ghastly bits. I fully intend to suggest it to my 16-year-old son. I am sensing there is a reason it’s published by MTV books, which I didn’t realize was a thing. 
“Last night Jay dreamed of his father‘s bones, buttery in a nest of purple kelp, bejeweled with red sea slugs like holiday lights. The bones were soft in his hands, a gentle touch he never got from Mitt and therefore never gave back. He slid them against his cheek. He kissed them. He woke up tasting marrow. Funny, it tasted like tears.”

I caved to the Britney hype to read her memoir, even though I missed being part of her fandom by about a decade. At this point, I think we all understand the horrific way she was exploited by her family. And I am glad that I heard it in her own words. Although so many things are glossed over. It felt like reading a general outline, rather than a really fully fleshed out account. I am not sure if the damage that has been done to her physically, and mentally over the years has caused her to lose some of her attention span, or if she wasn’t willing (understandably) to go into greater detail. Either way listening to Michelle Williams narration was excellent on audio!