This book made my brain feel like it was melting!! By that I mean, it was absolutely fantastic. I feel like Blake Crouch took every possible twist and turn that he could with his idea.

The moment that I first understood what was actually going on what SO exciting. And the build-up continued with a perfect mix of intrigue and intensity.

I could read sci-fi books like this all day that make you think. This book explore such interesting questions about memory, reality, and time. I initially read it as a library book but had a buy a copy so I can read it again!!

Next up, going to let my brain settle with a mindless rom com lol.

Alexandra's poetry collection was beyond beautiful! Her poems focus on the themes of body, mind, and soul, which means they dive into the human experience in such a raw and real way.

I loved the moments when I had to sit with a poem because of how much I connected with Alex's words. She has such a gift for using prose and metaphors to describe emotional experiences with honestly and vulnerability.

My favorite part was the art inside the book. Gorgeous paintings of flowers and butterflies decorated the pages, and I just had to pause to admire them.

Alexandra, I'm so thankful that you shared such real pieces of your soul and life experiences with the world. Many of your poems speak truths that people will relate to while reading.

It was a beautiful collection, and I know I'll be looking back at these poems in the future ♥️

What a book. Reading about Jennette's experiences of childhood abuse was challenging at times, but it was an honor to hear her story. I felt so much empathy for the struggles that were forced upon her at such a young age.

I also swelled with pride when she told of her growth and recovery - it gave me hope for all the other children, teens, and adults who have also experienced trauma.

I appreciate Jennette's bravery in telling her story, as I am sure many people would benefit from her silence. But this is a story that needed to be told.

I really loved this book more than I thought I would!

SUMMARY: Elizabeth Zott is a chemist in the 60s. Which means she is not taken seriously as a scientist - not at university and not in her workplace. When her world collides with Calvin Evans, a well-known chemist who quickly grows fond of her, her life is further complicated. Because she wants to be known for her research and intelligence, but the world wants her to "find her place" as a housewife.

I thought this book was going to be mostly about the romance, and I'm never a huge fan of strictly romance books.

But to me it felt like romance was just a tiny piece to Elizabeth's struggles to be seen and respected in the field of science. I felt angry with her as she was mistreated and excited for her any time she got an opportunity to prove herself.

I absolutely loved her honesty, intellect, and bluntness that took the world by storm when she was thrown into hosting a cooking show, which she quickly made her own by integrating her love for chemistry into her cooking ☺️

This book explored topics of womanhood, motherhood, gender biases, feminism, and workplace discrimination. All topics that may feel uncomfortable sometimes but are so real and important.

Lessons in Chemistry was well-written, thought-provoking, and funny. I highly recommend to lovers of science, food, feminism, and good books ♥️

Reyna's poetry book was full of raw and real messages about experiences of grief, motherhood, love, and spirit. I loved the empowerment she provides to readers about finding ourselves, healing, and having hope. I enjoyed getting a glimpse into her perspectives as a black woman.

The poems ranged in length and style, and I really enjoyed the diversity in presentation. Some of her longer poems with more substance really resonated with me, and I grew in viewing the world in a new light. I liked the shorter poems that really hit you with a tough but true reality.

I did wish that the poems were organized or had some structure by topic. However, this is a personal preference, as I sometimes get lost in poetry books when I don't have a little organization to go off of.

Overall, I think many readers of poetry will enjoy Reyna's expression and art. She has a gift of communicating the experience of being a woman, growing through hardships, and finding your strength.

Thank you NetGalley and Andrews McMeel Publishing for the ARC in exchange for an honest review. I will be sharing my review on my Instagram page closer to the pub date!

This was an excellent book to help parents, teachers, and counselors understand sensory processing disorder. The symptoms are so commonly misinterpreted as behavioral problems and defiance. This makes it crucial for anyone working with children to explore how sensory issues could be leading to behavioral and emotional problems.

My only criticism is that I wish trauma was addressed more in the book- highlighting the role that developmental trauma specifically plays in sensory issues.

This was a cute and quick read, and I love books that I can finish in a day! I liked that the characters were real and flawed, including Belly. I enjoyed the relationships and the beach vibes. It felt very light which is a nice break from more intense reads. It was good for a contemporary YA novel.

Surprise surprise, another five star Colleen Hoover book lol.

Summary: Fallon meets Ben on the anniversary of the worst day of her life- the day she was scarred in a fire that ruined her teen acting career. While she's immediately attracted to him, she's determined to keep her mom's advice and not have a serious relationship until she is 23 so she can focus on herself (you go girl!).

But she and Ben decide that while they won't exchange numbers or keep in touch, they will meet every year on November 9 to see if they still have feelings for each other, hoping that someday they could finally have something more.

Things I liked:

This is now going to be one of my most highly recommended books for therapist friends and even some clients.

Deb Dana did a fantastic job of presenting the complex topic of polyvagal theory in a completely understandable way. I learned so much about how the nervous system is impacted by trauma and how we can help our bodies feel safe again.

I've already started applying some of her exercises and ideas into my work and my personal life. Definitely a worthwhile read.