Goodreads/TBR Monday: March 16th, 2026

Goodreads Monday/TBR Monday is a bookish meme hosted by Emily @ Budget Tales Book Blog invites you to post about what books are on your Goodreads “to read” lists or TBR lists, the progress you have made on your current books and reading challenges, and any other bookish news!

Hello, reader!

I’m spending my Monday trying to get back home after an impromptu visit to my parents’ house in Georgia this weekend for a family emergency. Currently stuck in Baltimore and just hoping that my flight doesn’t, once again, get canceled 😭 Wish me luck, y’all.

To distract me, I figured I’d do this week’s Goodreads Monday post! Less thinking about planes and rain, more thinking about books. Time to hit that randomizer and see which book on my Goodreads TBR is either staying or getting chucked.

Random Goodreads Pick

Book:
Wonder Woman: Warbringer

Author:
Leigh Bardugo

Publisher:
Random House Children’s Books

Publication Date:
August 28th, 2017

Pages:
369

Genre:
Fantasy/Superheroes

Synopsis:
Daughter of immortals.

Princess Diana longs to prove herself to her legendary warrior sisters. But when the opportunity finally comes, she throws away her chance at glory and breaks Amazon law—risking exile—to save a mortal. Diana will soon learn that she has rescued no ordinary girl, and that with this single brave act, she may have doomed the world.

Daughter of death.

Alia Keralis just wanted to escape her overprotective brother with a semester at sea. She doesn’t know she is being hunted by people who think her very existence could spark a world war. When a bomb detonates aboard her ship, Alia is rescued by a mysterious girl of extraordinary strength and forced to confront a horrible truth: Alia is a Warbringer—a direct descendant of the infamous Helen of Troy, fated to bring about an age of bloodshed and misery.

Together.

Two girls will face an army of enemies—mortal and divine—determined to either destroy or possess the Warbringer. Tested beyond the bounds of their abilities, Diana and Alia must find a way to unleash hidden strengths and forge an unlikely alliance. Because if they have any hope of saving both their worlds, they will have to stand side by side against the tide of war.

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lets talk bookish

Let’s Talk Bookish: Immersive Reading

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Let’s Talk Bookish is a weekly bookish meme created by Rukky @Eternity Books and co-hosted by Aria @Book Nook Bits and Dini @dinipandareads! This meme has a discussion format, where participants get to talk about certain topics, share opinions, and spread the blogging love by visiting other posts. You can learn more about this meme here!

LTB Topic of the Week:
Immersive Reading

Prompts: Immersive reading is when you simultaneously listen to an audiobook while reading the physical or digital book. Do you do any immersive reading? Do you prefer it or is it not for you? Do you think it’s a good way to get everything from a book? Is there a genre that is better to do this with? What are your recommendations for immersive reading?

Do you do any immersive reading? Do you prefer it or is it not for you?

I have heard about immersive reading, but I have yet to try it out myself! Part of the reason is, when I’m listening to an audiobook, I’m typically doing something that wouldn’t allow me to pick up a physical or digital copy. Like driving to work or cleaning the house, ya know? But the more I hear about it, the more I think that it would be so much fun to try! Maybe I would come to prefer it, who knows.

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book blogger hop

Book Blogger Hop: Genre Shy

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The Book Blogger Hop was originally created by Crazy-For-Books and is currently being hosted by Coffee Addicted Writer. Every Friday, a new question is posted for book bloggers to answer in the coming week. The purpose of the hop is connection and community. You can discover new blogs to follow, new books to read, and you may end up with some new followers, as well!

This Week’s Prompt

Are there genres you read that you feel a little shy about?

Submitted by Billy, Coffee-Addicted Writer.

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first lines friday

First Lines Friday: March 13th, 2026

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First Lines Fridays is a weekly feature for book lovers hosted by Wandering Words. What if instead of judging a book by its cover, its author or its prestige, we judged it by its opening lines? If you want to make your own post, feel free to use or edit the banner above, and follow the rules below:

Pick a book off your shelf (it could be your current read or on your TBR) and open to the first page
Copy the first few lines, but don’t give anything else about the book away just yet – you need to hook the reader first
Finally… reveal the book!

If you’re sharing on social media, don’t forget to use #FirstLinesFridays!

Hello, reader!

We’ve arrived at the end of the (typical) work week, which means it’s time for another First Lines Friday! This week, I’m featuring a romance that I’m hoping to dive into soon. I need a bit of an escape and I think this book would do the trick.

So let’s see if the first line can pull me in.

The Line(s):

“When Jordan Carter tells his family the story of how he met the love of his life, it will go a little something like this…”

The Build Up:

The Reveal:

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book reviews

Book Review: The Best American Science Fiction and Fantasy 2022 edited by Rebecca Roanhorse

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Title: The Best American Science Fiction and Fantasy 2022
Edited By: Rebecca Roanhorse
Publisher: Mariner Books
Genre: Science Fiction/Fantasy
Age Group: Adult
Format: E-book
Book Links: Bookshop::B&N::Goodreads::Storygraph

Award-winning, New York Times bestselling author and guest editor Rebecca Roanhorse and series editor John Joseph Adams select twenty pieces that represent the best examples of the form published the previous year and explore the ever-expanding and changing world of SFF today.

Today’s readers of science fiction and fantasy have an appetite for stories that address a wide variety of voices, perspectives, and styles. There is an openness to experiment and pushing boundaries, combined with the classic desire to read about spaceships and dragons, future technology and ancient magic, and the places where they intersect. Contemporary science fiction and fantasy looks to accomplish the same goal as ever—to illuminate what it means to be human.

With a diverse selection of stories chosen by series editor John Joseph Adams and guest editor Rebecca Roanhorse, The Best American Science Fiction and Fantasy 2022 explores the ever-expanding and changing world of contemporary science fiction and fantasy.

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www wednesday

WWW Wednesday: March 11th, 2026

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It’s time for another WWW Wednesday! This is a bookish meme hosted by Taking on a World of Words where bloggers answer the 3 Ws:

What are you currently reading?
What did you recently finish reading?
What do you think you’ll read next?

If you’d like to learn more about any of these books, click on the cover to be taken to the Goodreads page.

Current Reads

The Dungeon Anarchist’s Cookbook by Matt Dinniman: I’m still plugging along with this book. It’s taking me so long that you might think I’m hating the experience, but that couldn’t be further from the truth! Life has just been throwing (expensive…) surprises at me and the stress is definitely affecting my reading. Every time I pick up this book, though, it let’s me just fall into the story and, if I didn’t already love it, I’d love it for that alone.
What Feasts at Night by T. Kingfisher: One thing T. Kingfisher is good at (among many things) is writing a sarcastic but kind main character that is highly relatable. This series has that in spades! I’m loving this second installment in the Sworn Soldiers series, with visits from characters past and new characters to pull me in. The creepy stuff hasn’t started up yet, but I’m eagerly anticipating it.
She Made Herself a Monster by Anna Kovatcheva: I legit just started this audiobook, so I can’t say much about whether I’m enjoying it or not. I can say I’m liking the narrator, haha.

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top ten tuesday

Top Ten Tuesday: Books With Ordinal Numbers

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Top Ten Tuesday was created by The Broke and the Bookish back in June 2010. It is currently hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl and, as is stated on the blog, it was “born of a love of lists, a love of books, and a desire to bring bookish friends together.”

Hello, reader!

It’s time for another Top Ten Tuesday! This week, we’re featuring books with ordinal numbers in the title. As I found as I scrolled through my Goodreads shelves that I apparently haven’t read enough books that meet the criteria to fill out ten spots, haha. I’ve decided to pick five of my favorite books with an ordinal number and then five books from my TBR that I’m hoping to love.

That being said, let’s get to the list!

Books I’ve Read

The Fifth Season by N.K. Jemisin
The Thirteenth Hour by Trudie Skies
Gideon the Ninth by Tamsyn Muir
The Thirteenth Tale by Diane Setterfield
First-Time Caller by B.K. Borison

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monthly tbr

March 2026 TBR

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Hello, reader!

It’s a new month, y’all, and that means it’s time to build another monthly TBR! I didn’t do too bad with my February TBR, having read five (and a half) of the nine books I had listed, which isn’t too shabby. I probably would have been able to read more if February didn’t speed by like a freight train. Now it’s time to turn my sights to March and what I’m hoping to get to read.

With that being said, let me share with you my March TBR!

The Book Club Reads

AFB Book Club
- Big Little Lies by Liane Moriarty
- The theme for March was “books set in Australia” and this was the winner of the poll. I’m gonna be honest, I’ve never really had an interest in this blockbuster of a book. But this is one of the big hitters of the thriller/mystery genre and I’m using this as an excuse to see what all the hype is about. We’ll see how it goes!
Literally Dead Book Club
- The Fisherman by John Langan
- I’ve already started reading this horror novel and it’s kind of like if Pop Pop sat you down to recount some stories from his past but those stories included a huge helping of eldritch horrors. A lot of rambling about so-and-so was what’s-his-face’s son and also I HAVE WITNESSED THE LEVIATHAN. Not gonna lie, I’m kind of loving it 😂
Weirdo Book Club
- She Made Herself a Monster by Anna Kovatcheva
- Look, I noticed that the painting on the cover is one where a woman is sawing a man’s head off and I was instantly intrigued. The synopsis sounds like there will be a healthy dose of feminine rage and I’m here for it.

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the sunday post

The Sunday Post: March 8th, 2026

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The Sunday Post is a blog news meme created by @CaffeinatedReviewer! It gives you a chance to post a recap of your last week, whether that pertains to books or not. You can talk about however much (or however little) you would like.

Hello, reader!

It’s the end of the week and time for another work week to begin. Imma be honest, I’m not ready for it 😭But I spent a good portion of today reading and playing Stardew Valley, so at the very least I’m feeling relaxed. And there are no sizeable snow storms on the way, so I’m pretty happy about that. Now it’s just time for The Sunday Post!

Week in Review

Well, it was a pretty chill week here. We had our busted pipe fixed, I had some dental work done, and we started our taxes. Adulthood is ✨thrilling✨

I did manage to get out of the house this weekend, though! I went to visit my best friend this weekend. Her mom is moving into hospice care and it has been rough, to say the least. I spent Saturday with her, going to yoga and brunch and just hanging out. We made Washington Apple shots and got drunk, then went to visit Mom to rowdily cheer her up, haha. It’s so surreal to see her in hospice, chatting with us, eating, and know that she’s actively dying. My best friend and her mom have been in my life for twenty years and I’m truly going to miss her when she’s gone. I can only imagine what my friend is going through. But we’re going to have fun and make memories while she’s still here!

Other than that, my D&D group had a session tonight. We met a yeti family, killed the dad like the little murder-hobos we are (he started it, though), and got sent on a mission to capture a sketchy dwarf. All in all, a successful session! Especially since my character, despite a valiant efforts made by different baddies, did not die 😂 I always count that as a win.

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book blogger hop

Book Blogger Hop: Who Gets My Books

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This Week’s Prompt

If you had to, would you pass your book collection on to someone special? If not, what would you prefer your family, or friends do with your books after you’re gone?

Submitted by Billy, Coffee-Addicted Writer.

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first lines friday

First Lines Friday: March 6th, 2026

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Pick a book off your shelf (it could be your current read or on your TBR) and open to the first page
Copy the first few lines, but don’t give anything else about the book away just yet – you need to hook the reader first
Finally… reveal the book!

If you’re sharing on social media, don’t forget to use #FirstLinesFridays!

Hello, reader!

Happy First Lines Friday! I’m happy to be coming to the end of the work week and that Spring might be making an appearance next week! Who knows if it will stick around, but I would be happy with just a taste right now. I’m hoping y’all had a good week and will have an even better weekend! Now, for the book I’ll be featuring today, it’s a non-fiction that I’ve been itching to read lately. I’ve heard good things and I hope they were all correct, haha.

Now, let’s see if the first few lines will give me hope.

The Line(s):

“I looked up toward the top of the tree. Ferns and orchids sprouted from its trunk, which vanished into a tangle of lianas in the canopy.”

The Build Up:

The Reveal:

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wrap up

February 2026 Wrap Up

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Hello, reader!

We’ve entered a new month which means I need to wrap up my reading for the last one! First of all, I know February is the shortest month of the year, but it feels like it absolutely flew by. How is it already March?! Still… the faster we get to Spring, the better, so let’s freakin’ go.

February wasn’t quite as good a reading month as January, but I still had a good time. So now let me share what I read!

January Reading Stats

In February 2026, I read 7 books for 2,435 pages. Funnily enough, that’s 5 more pages than last month even though I read two less books! No DNFs this month, though there was one that I kind of wish I did… Curse my need to finish book club books.

Look at mystery/thrillers knocking fantasy out of the top spot! My genre list is a lot more colorful this month and I think that’s because I read quite a few books that could fit into multiple genres. I do love a novel that subverts expectations, so I love a genre-bender!

I love that my physical reads and my audio reads are neck-and-neck this month. I only read one digital book, which doesn’t feel great, but I’m hoping to improve that number in March. Especially since most of my Netgalley books are gonna be read via e-book (if I don’t already own it… I know, kind of defeats the point😅). But I’m hoping to keep up the good work with the audiobooks! I’m really loving them this year.

I flew too close to the sun last month with two five stars… I didn’t have a single one in February! Most of the books I read were 3.5 stars this month and that feels… okay? At least they all weren’t two stars! Still, here’s hoping January hasn’t cursed me and those five stars from last month are my only two of 2026… 😬

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www wednesday

WWW Wednesday: March 4th, 2026

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It’s time for another WWW Wednesday! This is a bookish meme hosted by Taking on a World of Words where bloggers answer the 3 Ws:

What are you currently reading?
What did you recently finish reading?
What do you think you’ll read next?

If you’d like to learn more about any of these books, click on the cover to be taken to the Goodreads page.

Current Reads

The Dungeon Anarchist’s Cookbook by Matt Dinniman: Book three in the Dungeon Crawler Carl series certainly starts off with a bang! I’m loving getting back into this messed up world and learning about all the new rules for the new floor. I’m looking forward to seeing where Matt Dinniman is taking the story now!
All of Us Murderers by K.J. Charles: I’m very nearly done with the audiobook for this one and the main character just did something SO STUPID I nearly stopped 😂 Imma let him finish but my goodness… critical thinking skills where not in the room that chapter. Still, if I’m that invested in a character’s choices, you know I’m probably having a good time!
What Feasts at Night by T. Kingfisher: I read the first book in this series last year and was rather intrigued by the main character and the gothic setting. Looking at my previously mentioned book, I apparently have a type, haha. I’ve quite literally just started the e-book because I was looking for a quick Kindle read and I’m loving the atmosphere of it so far. Here’s hoping I like it as much as I did the first book.

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top ten tuesday

Top Ten Tuesday: Bookish Fantasy

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Hello, reader!

It’s time for another Top Ten Tuesday! Today is a genre freebie, so I thought I would talk about one of my favorite things: fantasy books with bookish themes. Whether that is because the main character is bookish, a book is highly featured, or there are other bookish notes, this is one of my favorite tropes in any novel and fantasy is my favorite genre. Seemed like a good pick, haha.

Now, let me share ten of my favorite bookish fantasy novels!

Bookish Fantasy

The Spellshop by Sarah Beth Durst
The Book Eaters by Sunyi Dean
The Devil Makes Three by Tori Bovalino
A Discovery of Witches by Deborah Harkness
Nightbooks by J.A. White

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goodreads monday

Goodreads/TBR Monday: March 2nd, 2026

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Hello, reader!

Happy Goodreads Monday, everyone! I hope y’all have had a good start to your week. I spent my day off listening to an audiobook and doing a paint-by-number, so it was incredible😁 Now it’s time to randomize my Goodreads TBR and see which book we come up with. My “Want to Read” shelf has jumped to 835 books, but let’s not talk about that, haha. I need to come to terms with the fact that my TBR will never get smaller. Not a terrible problem to have!

Alright, now let’s get to this week’s pick.

Random Goodreads Pick

Book:
The Final Gambit

Author:
Jennifer Lynn Barnes

Publisher:
Little, Brown And Company

Publication Date:
August 30th, 2022

Pages:
375

Genre:
Mystery/Thriller

Synopsis:
Avery’s fortune, life, and loves are on the line in the game that everyone will be talking about.

To inherit billions, all Avery Kylie Grambs has to do is survive a few more weeks living in Hawthorne House. The paparazzi are dogging her every step. Financial pressures are building. Danger is a fact of life. And the only thing getting Avery through it all is the Hawthorne brothers. Her life is intertwined with theirs. She knows their secrets and they know her.

But as the clock ticks down to the moment when Avery will become the richest teenager on the planet, trouble arrives in the form of a visitor who needs her help—and whose presence in Hawthorne House could change everything. It soon becomes clear that there is one last puzzle to solve, and Avery and the Hawthorne brothers are drawn into a dangerous game against an unknown and powerful player.

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the sunday post

The Sunday Post: March 1st, 2026

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Hello, reader!

The shortest month of the year really lived up to its name this year! I feel like February just started and BAM… it’s March. I think the fact that I had a week off from work might have contributed to it. Vacation always flies by, haha. Still, we’ve arrived at the first day of a new month and it’s time for another Sunday Post!

Week in Review

Quite honestly, this has been a pretty uneventful week. Well.. besides the Blizzard of 2026, haha. Both my kids and I were off for two days because we got over 2 feet of snow! Thankfully, our city is prepared for this type of weather and we were dug out fairly rapidly. I’m just glad we didn’t lose power because quite a few people did. And I’m also glad that Spring has started to peek in and the snow is melting fairly quickly. Not quickly enough for my taste… but this is what I get for moving to New England 😂

Since we were stuck in the house for a few days and I wasn’t particularly in the reading mood, I ended up distracting myself with other hobbies. Chiefly, Stardew Valley has consumed all my time lately, haha. I haven’t played since quite a few of the new updates took effect, so it’s almost like I’m playing a brand new game! Mostly it’s great and then sometimes you create an Eldritch horror with Willy all to win a prize ticket… it’s about balance. I also decided to give paint-by-number a try because my best friend gave me a kit ages ago and I’ve been curious. Holy hell is it relaxing! I just pop on an audiobook, get set up, and go to town. I’m still finishing the one in the picture up, but I’m loving the process.

Other than that, can’t say much has been going on this past week! Oh, besides a pipe bursting in our downstairs bathroom 🫠 We have a plumber coming out tomorrow and I’m not excited about the upcoming bill… Yaaaay, homeowner-ship, haha. Here’s hoping it’s not a terribly complicated fix.

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book blogger hop

Book Blogger Hop: Book Giveaways

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This Week’s Prompt

When you spot giveaways, do you enter just for fun—even if you’re unsure you’ll read the book—or only when you truly want the title?

Submitted by Elizabeth, Silver’s Reviews

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first lines friday

First Lines Friday: February 27th, 2026

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Pick a book off your shelf (it could be your current read or on your TBR) and open to the first page
Copy the first few lines, but don’t give anything else about the book away just yet – you need to hook the reader first
Finally… reveal the book!

If you’re sharing on social media, don’t forget to use #FirstLinesFridays!

Hello, reader!

We’ve made it to the end of a snowy week here in New England and it’s time for another First Lines Friday! I’m pulling myself back into reading mode after an intense Stardew Valley sojourn, which is still going but is less… all-consuming. To help with that, I recently read the first few lines of a few books on my TBR to help pick what I want to crack open next. The book I’m featuring definitely blew the other contenders out of the water!

Let me share the first few lines to see if they pull you in, as well.

The Line(s):

“Hmm. No. I’m telling this wrong.
After all, a person is herself, and others. Relationships chisel the final shape of one’s being. I am me, and you.”

The Build Up:

The Reveal:

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book reviews

Mini-Book Reviews: Library Edition

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Mini-Reviews

Title: His & Hers
Author: Alice Feeney
Genre: Thriller/Mystery
Format: Audiobook

This was a good, average mystery/thriller that employed some pretty cheap tricks to try to keep the reader on their toes. I wasn’t a big fan of the final “twist” in this story… though it’s hard to say why without going into spoiler territory. Just know that it gave me the ick. This got an extra .5 stars simply because Richard Armitage’s voice is peak.

Click Here for Synopsis

There are two sides to every story: yours and mine, ours and theirs, His & Hers. Which means someone is always lying.

When a woman is murdered in Blackdown, a quintessentially British village, newsreader Anna Andrews is reluctant to cover the case. Detective Jack Harper is suspicious of her involvement, until he becomes a suspect in his own murder investigation. Someone isn’t telling the truth, and some secrets are worth killing to keep.

His & Hers is a twisty, smart, psychological thriller. A gripping tale of suspense, told by expertly-drawn narrators that will keep readers guessing until the very end.

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book tag

Book Tag: 2026 Bookish Predictions

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Hello reader!

I’m deep in a Stardew Valley binge-playing moment, so I don’t have much of a reading update for this Wednesday. So, instead of my usual WWW Wednesday post, I thought I’d do the 2026 Bookish Predictions tag! I saw this tag over at Twirling Book Princess’ blog and it looked like a lot of fun. Let’s see if I tap into some latent clairvoyance😉 This tag was originally created by Book Princess Reviews, so make sure to go check them out, as well!

Alright, now let’s get to the questions.

Next Read

This is an easy prediction as I’m attempting the read the entire series this year: The Gate of the Feral Gods by Matt Dinniman! I’ve been enjoying this series so much! It’s just appeals to my kind of humor while still having a surprising amount of substance that I’m truly enjoying. I also love Princess Donut so much because she has the exact personality I think my cat would have if thrown into similar circumstances. I’m so excited to read more of their story!

Next 5 Star Read

This is such a tough question because I feel like it puts extra pressure on the book to blow my mind 😂 That being said, even though I’ve heard people say it’s not as good as the first book, I’m rather certain that I’m going to absolutely love Bloodmarked by Tracy Deonn. I’ve been meaning to continue the Legendborn series for ages, now, and I think part of the reason that I haven’t is because I’ve hyped it up so much in my head! I have faith that it can live up to the hype and I hope it will prove me right.

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top ten tuesday

Top Ten Tuesday: Favorite Novellas

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Hello, reader!

Welcome to another Top Ten Tuesday! The actual topic for today is all about book quotes but I am the type of reader that can read a beautiful line, underline it or write it down, and then instantly forget it 😅 So, instead, to celebrate the last Tuesday of the shortest month, I’ve decided to list my top ten favorite novellas!

Now, let’s get to the list.

My Favorite Novellas

All Systems Red by Martha Wells
Down Among the Sticks and Bones by Seanan McGuire
A Psalm for the Wild-Built by Becky Chambers
The Westing Game by Ellen Raskin

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goodreads monday

Goodreads/TBR Monday: February 23rd, 2026

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Hello, reader!

Welp, the weather folks were spot on again with the blizzard warning and we got absolutely dumped on 😂 I’ve spent the day watching the snow, playing Stardew Valley, and dreading digging my poor car out of the snow. It’s been a very chilly Monday, haha. Now, though, it’s time to distract myself from the weather and do Goodreads Monday! My ‘Want to Read’ shelf is currently sitting at 834 books, which is the same amount as last week. Look at me resisting temptation!

Now, let’s see what the randomizer picks for me today.

Random Goodreads Pick

Book:
His Majesty’s Dragon

Author:
Naomi Novik

Publisher:
Del Rey

Publication Date:
January 3rd, 2006

Pages:
299

Genre:
Fantasy

Synopsis:
Aerial combat brings a thrilling new dimension to the Napoleonic Wars as valiant warriors rise to Britain’s defense by taking to the skies . . . not aboard aircraft but atop the mighty backs of fighting dragons.

When HMS Reliant captures a French frigate and seizes its precious cargo, an unhatched dragon egg, fate sweeps Capt. Will Laurence from his seafaring life into an uncertain future-and an unexpected kinship with a most extraordinary creature. Thrust into the rarified world of the Aerial Corps as master of the dragon Temeraire, he will face a crash course in the daring tactics of airborne battle. For as France’s own dragon-borne forces rally to breach British soil in Bonaparte’s boldest gambit, Laurence and Temeraire must soar into their own baptism of fire.

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the sunday post

The Sunday Post: February 22nd, 2026

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Hello, reader!

As I sit awaiting yet another winter storm here in New England, I figured I should get to my Sunday Post! We’re expecting another 1 -2 feet of snow and I am not excited about it 😂😅 Tomorrow is going to be a cozy day in as school has been canceled, my husband’s job has closed for the day, and *gasp* they even closed my workplace! If you work in healthcare, you know how shocking that is! I’m just crossing my fingers that we don’t lose power…

That being said, let’s get to the post!

Week in Review

This week was pretty chill because I took the week off to spend it with my youngest while he was on his February break! We spent the week playing video games, chilling in my bed while I read and he draws, and him getting braces. I’ll let you guess which was his least favorite, haha. The braces look good though they are hurting at the moment, poor kid. He did get distracted for a bit by a birthday party for one of his best friends, so that was fun!

Braces was one big new thing in the family. Another was the beginning of our sourdough adventure! A friend from choir gave me a sourdough starter because I told her I’ve been wanting to try the whole “baking my own bread” thing. I have to say, for a first attempt, it didn’t turn out too bad!

We named our starter Lady Breadington the First and she was a real champ when it came to feeding! I decided yesterday that it was time to try making her into bread and the results were tasty. There’s definitely some adjustments I can make to make it better, but not bad for a first attempt!

Other than that, there hasn’t been much going on in my corner of the world. Just surviving another snowmageddon and gearing up to get back to work after a week off. Wish me luck, y’all 😅

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book blogger hop

Book Blogger Hop: Text Alignment

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This Week’s Prompt

When writing reviews, do you align your text to the left, center, right, or justify it?

Submitted by Billy, Coffee Addicted Writer

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first lines friday

First Lines Friday: February 20th, 2026

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Pick a book off your shelf (it could be your current read or on your TBR) and open to the first page
Copy the first few lines, but don’t give anything else about the book away just yet – you need to hook the reader first
Finally… reveal the book!

If you’re using Twitter, don’t forget to use #FirstLinesFridays!

Hello, reader!

We’ve made it to Friday and that means it’s time for another First Lines Friday! For this week, I’m featuring a book that I just finished today. This is a book that has become wildly popular in the last year even though it was originally published back in the 90s. It was recently translated from French to English and has been all over the bookish community. I… didn’t love it 😅 But it’s certainly an interesting read!

Now, let’s see if the first lines can pull you in.

The Line(s):

“Since I barely venture outside these days, I spend a lot of time in one of the armchairs, rereading the books.”

The Build Up:

The Reveal:

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book reviews

Series Review: The Thursday Murder Club by Richard Osman

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Series Title: The Thursday Murder Club
Author: Richard Osman
Publisher: Penguin Books
Genre: Mystery
Age Group: Adult
Format: Audiobook
Current Books in Series: The Thursday Murder Club (2020), The Man Who Died Twice (2021), The Bullet That Missed (2022), The Last Devil to Die (2023), and The Impossible Fortune (2025)
Book Links: Bookshop::B&N::Goodreads::Storygraph

In a peaceful retirement village, four unlikely friends meet up once a week to investigate unsolved murders.

But when a brutal killing takes place on their very doorstep, the Thursday Murder Club find themselves in the middle of their first live case. Elizabeth, Joyce, Ibrahim and Ron might be pushing eighty but they still have a few tricks up their sleeves.

Can our unorthodox but brilliant gang catch the killer before it’s too late?

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www wednesday

WWW Wednesday: February 18th, 2026

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It’s time for another WWW Wednesday! This is a bookish meme hosted by Taking on a World of Words where bloggers answer the 3 Ws:

What are you currently reading?
What did you recently finish reading?
What do you think you’ll read next?

If you’d like to learn more about any of these books, click on the cover to be taken to the Goodreads page.

Current Reads

The Best American Science Fiction and Fantasy 2022 edited by Rebecca Roanhorse: I promise I’m still reading this 😭 I ran into a string of ‘meh’ stories, which is what always seems to happen to me when I read short story anthologies, and it’s made me feel pretty ‘meh’ about picking it back up. But the next story is by an author I enjoy, so I’m hoping it will get me back on board!
On by One by Ruth Ware: I’m listening to the audiobook for this one and the narrator is killing it! Which would be more exciting if I wasn’t already getting bored, lol. I want to shake one of our POV characters and that’s certainly not helping with my enjoyment. But anxiety is a hell of a mental illness and I don’t know all the details yet, so I should stop judging her so hard and give her a chance. I’ll try, at least…
I Who Have Never Known Men by Jacqueline Harpman: I just started this novella and… um… I don’t know how I feel about it 😅 Is the narrator supposed to be insufferable? Am I meant to care about the mystery of why these women are locked in a cage? They don’t even care! Well… the narrator does and she’s making it everyone else’s problem. I really hope something actually happens soon cause this book and I are not getting on.

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top ten tuesday

Top Ten Tuesday: Books For Armchair Travelers

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Hello, reader!

Top Ten Tuesday is upon us! This week’s theme is a super fun one. We’re talking about books that can transport you to a different place, all from the comfort of your favorite reading spot! I love a book where the setting is almost as much of a character as any of the humans and books where the author really pulls us into the world so it feels like you’re there. The books I’ve picked out are all ones where I found myself transported to the setting right alongside the characters!

Now, let’s get to it 😁

Books for Armchair Travelers

The Adventures of Amina al-Sirafi by Shannon Chakraborty
(The Indian Ocean/Somalia/Yemen/Oman)

All Creatures Great and Small by James Herriot
(Yorkshire, England)

Beasts of Extraordinary Circumstances by Ruth Emmie Lang
(Michigan/Oklahoma, USA)

A Discovery of Witches by Deborah Harkness
(Oxford, England; France)

It Looks Like Us by Alison Ames
(Antarctica)

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goodreads monday

Goodreads/TBR Monday: February 16th, 2026

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Hello, reader!

It’s the first day of my youngest’s February break and I’ve spent it reading and doing laundry cause he was off at a friend’s house, haha. Not gonna lie, it was a pretty relaxing Monday! Now it’s time to get to my Goodreads Monday post for this week. I do love taking a peek through my Goodreads TBR to remind myself of all the interesting books I want to read. My Want to Read shelf has risen to 834 books in just this past week because I have no self-control, but it’s hard when there are so many potentially great books out there.

Let’s see whether or not I’ll be reducing the TBR this week.

Random Goodreads Pick

Book:
A Clash of Steel

Author:
C.B. Lee

Publisher:
Feiwel & Friends

Publication Date:
September 7th, 2021

Pages:
432

Genre:
Fantasy

Synopsis:
Two intrepid girls hunt for a legendary treasure on the deadly high seas in this YA remix of the classic adventure novel Treasure Island.

1826. The sun is setting on the golden age of piracy, and the legendary Dragon Fleet, the scourge of the South China Sea, is no more. Xiang has grown up with stories about the Dragon Fleet and its ruthless leader, a woman known only as the Dragon Queen, all her life. Xiang desperately wants to set sail and explore—mainly to find her father, a presumed dead crew member of the Dragon Fleet. Her only memento of him is a pendant she always wears, a simple but plain piece of gold jewelry.

But the pendant’s true nature is revealed when a mysterious girl named Anh steals it, only to return it to Xiang in exchange for her help in decoding the tiny map scroll hidden inside. Rumor has it that the legendary Dragon Queen had one last treasure—the plunder of a thousand ports—hidden away on an island shrouded in mist that only can be seen once in a blue moon.

Xiang is convinced this map could lead to the fabled treasure. Captivated with the thrill of adventure, she joins Anh and her motley crew off in pursuit of the island. But the girls soon find that the sea—and especially those who sail it—are far more dangerous than the legends led them to believe.

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the sunday post

The Sunday Post: February 15th, 2026

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Hello, reader!

I hope everyone has had a wonderful week. We had both Friday the 13th and Valentine’s Day this week so if anything it could have been eventful! My week was pretty slow, but I’m now on vacation since my youngest is off school all next week, so I’m looking forward to get some one-on-one hang out time with him. And maybe catch up on some reading 👀

Now, let’s get to the post!

Week in Review

Like I said, last week was pretty uneventful. Work was an absolute crap-show because we have a lot of people out and it was busy. By the end of the week, I was so ready for my vacay. Thankfully, I have a great group of co-workers who were all helping each other out during the busy week, so I didn’t want to burn the place to the ground as I was leaving on Friday 😅 Still, I’m looking forward to a little break.

This weekend has been pretty eventful, though! Saturday, I spent most of the day catching up on reading and ferrying my youngest around to playdates. I did get to spend about an hour and a half browsing/reading at my local library, which I always love. I love that they are open on Saturdays during the school year, though I wish they could be year-round.

Today, I went to a Galentine’s Day get-together in the city with my best friend! There was champagne, yummy snacks, and cookie decorating of some cookies shaped like… certain body parts. I would share a picture, buuuuut they aren’t exactly appropriate 😂 We even did a mini-boudoir shoot! It was a ton of fun with a bunch of super chill women. Look at me making adult friends! It was a good end to the week.

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reading project

Project Library Love: February Visit

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Hello, reader!

It’s time for a check-in on one of my 2026 reading projects, Library Love! I figured I would share what books I check out each month to try and keep myself accountable. Maybe then I’ll actually read my library loans instead of letting them languish on my desk until my renewals run out 😅 I also reflect on my last month’s stack to see how many I managed to pick up.

So let’s see how January went and what books I’ve picked up in February!

Last Month’s Stack

In January, I ended up checking out four physical books and two audiobooks.

My physical picks were:

Automatic Noodle by Annalee Newitz
Every Day I Read by Hwang Bo-Reum
Hidden Figures by Margot Lee Shetterly
Jane Austen’s Bookshelf by Rebecca Romney

My audiobook picks were:

His & Hers by Alice Feeney
The Buffalo Hunter Hunter by Stephen Graham Jones

I’m happy to report that, out of the six I checked out, I’ve read five of them! I’m pretty proud of myself for that one, haha. The only one I didn’t get to so far is Jane Austen’s Bookshelf, but I’m going to be cracking that one open soon! Especially since it’s due back at the beginning of March…

Of the books I managed to read, my favorite was definitely one of my audio reads, The Buffalo Hunter Hunter. Stephen Graham Jones is quickly cementing himself as one of my favorite authors and I will be buying myself a copy ASAP. A close second is Hidden Figures, which I just finished reading today and absolutely loved. I haven’t been this enamored of a non-fiction book for awhile! That being said, none of the books I checked out were less than three stars, so my January library stack kinda started this project out with a bang.

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first lines friday

First Lines Friday: February 13th, 2026

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Pick a book off your shelf (it could be your current read or on your TBR) and open to the first page
Copy the first few lines, but don’t give anything else about the book away just yet – you need to hook the reader first
Finally… reveal the book!

If you’re using Twitter, don’t forget to use #FirstLinesFridays!

Hello, reader!

Happy Friday the 13th! I always find it funny when we get a Friday the 13th the day before Valentine’s Day. The juxtaposition is just fun 😂 In honor of this weird, romantic time, I’ve picked a spooky book with a dash of romance for this week’s First Lines Friday! It’s also a bit of a sneak peek into what I picked up at the library this month.

So, without further ado, let’s see if the first few lines can wow us.

The Line(s):

“The gates were beautifully wrought iron, elegantly monogrammed with interlocking Ws. The motor-car’s headlights illuminated the black paint, the curlicues and details gleaming gold.”

The Build Up:

The Reveal:

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blog tour · book reviews

BBNYA 2025 Finalist Tour: By Hook & Crook by S.G. Karam

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Hello, reader!

In 2025, I once again participated as a panelist for the Book Bloggers’ Novel of the Year Award! It was a tough competition but we eventually narrowed it down a group of finalists. Now, those finalists are on tour! Today, I’ll be sharing my review for a book perfect for lovers of a good heist: By Hook & Crook by S.G. Karam!

But, before I go on, let me tell you more about this award. BBNYA is a yearly competition where book bloggers from all over the world read and score books written by indie authors, ending with, typically, 15 finalists (though we had 17 in 2025) and one overall winner. If you are an author and wish to learn more about the BBNYA competition, you can visit the official website http://www.bbnya.com or Twitter @bbnya_official. BBNYA is brought to you in association with the @Foliosociety (if you love beautiful books, you NEED to check out their website!) and the book blogger support group @The_WriteReads.

And, now, let’s talk about the book 📚

Title: By Hook & Crook
Author: S.G. Haram
Publisher: Chymist Press
Publication date: November 15th, 2024
Length: 364 pages
Genre: Science Fiction/Fantasy
Age group: Adult

Book Links

Amazon::StoryGraph::Goodreads

What if robbing a vault earned you a standing ovation?

In the city of Azoria, heists are a sanctioned sport, a dazzling spectacle where only the boldest thieves thrive. And Lars Harrow is the best.

But Lars wants more than fame. He wants the heist that will cement his legacy and put him beyond the reach of the city’s power brokers. When a shadowy patron offers him a job targeting Cecil Thume—the ruthless mastermind who controls every theft in Azoria—Lars sees his shot at something bigger.

Yet the deeper he digs, the more dangerous the game becomes. A brutal murder sends a clear message: Thume isn’t just profiting from the city’s underworld… he is the underworld. And he’ll do whatever it takes to keep control.

As the line between thief and pawn blurs, Lars must decide how much he’s willing to risk. The city, his crew, and his own future hang in the balance.

If you enjoyed books like Six of Crows, Mistborn, or The Lies of Locke Lamora, you won’t be able to put down this electrifying tale of ambition, greed, betrayal, and redemption.

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book reviews

Book Review: The Things We Do to Our Friends by Heather Darwent

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Title: The Things We Do to Our Friends
Author: Heather Darwent
Publisher: Bantam
Genre: Thriller/Dark Academia
Age Group: Adult
Format: Audiobook
Content/Trigger Warnings: Toxic friendships and codependency, violence, physical abuse, sexual assault, sexual violence, drug abuse, alcoholism, torture, attempted murder, child abuse, mental illness and psychopathy themes
Book Links: Bookshop::B&N::Goodreads::Storygraph

Edinburgh, Scotland: a moody city of labyrinthine alleyways, oppressive fog, and buried history—the ultimate destination for someone with something to hide. Perfect for Clare, then, who arrives utterly alone and yearning to reinvent herself. And what better place to conceal the secrets of her past than at the university in the heart of the fabled, cobblestoned Old Town?

When Clare meets Tabitha, a charismatic, beautiful, and intimidatingly rich girl from her art history class, she knows she’s destined to become friends with her and her exclusive circle: raffish Samuel, shrewd Ava, and pragmatic Imogen. She is immediately drawn into their libertine world of sophisticated dinner parties and summers in France. The new life she always envisioned for herself has seemingly begun. But as Clare starts to realize just what her friends are capable of, it’s already too late—because they’ve taken the plunge. They’re so close to attaining everything they want, and there’s no going back.

Reimagining the classic themes of obsession and ambition with an original and sinister edge, The Things We Do to Our Friends is a seductive thriller about the toxic battle between those who have and those who covet, between the desire to truly belong and the danger of being truly known.

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top ten tuesday

Top Ten Tuesday: 2026 Romance Reads

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Hello, reader!

It’s time for another Top Ten Tuesday! This week’s theme is an ode to Valentine’s Day; it’s a love/Valentine’s freebie. I’ve decided I want to highlight ten romance books I want to read in 2026! This is a mixture of new releases and books that have been on my TBR for ages. They are definitely all books that I’m eager to pick up, though!

Alright, let’s get to my picks 💖

Backlist Romance Reads

Our Vicious Oaths by N.E. Davenport

When the Tides Held the Moon by Venessa Vida Kelley

Well Played by Jen DeLuca

The Princess Trap by Talia Hibbert

Beach Read by Emily Henry

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goodreads monday

Goodreads/TBR Monday: February 9th, 2026

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Hello, reader!

Goodreads Monday is, once again, upon us. Another new start to the week and another random book pulled from my Goodreads “Want to Read” shelf. Which is down to 831 books this week… two down from last week! I mean, one of those is the book I removed from last week, but still!

Let’s see what I’ll pull this week 😊

Random Goodreads Pick

Book:
The Blood Trials

Author:
N.E. Davenport

Publisher:
Harper Voyager

Publication Date:
April 5th, 20222

Pages:
448

Genre:
Science Fiction/Fantasy

Synopsis:
Blending fantasy and science fiction, N. E. Davenport’s fast-paced, action-packed debut kicks off a duology of loyalty and rebellion, in which a young Black woman must survive deadly trials in a racist and misogynistic society to become an elite warrior.

It’s all about blood.

The blood spilled between the Republic of Mareen and the armies of the Blood Emperor long ago. The blood gifts of Mareen’s deadliest enemies. The blood that runs through the elite War Houses of Mareen, the rulers of the Tribunal dedicated to keeping the republic alive.

The blood of the former Legatus, Verne Amari, murdered.

For his granddaughter, Ikenna, the only thing steady in her life was the man who had saved Mareen. The man who had trained her in secret, not just in martial skills, but in harnessing the blood gift that coursed through her.

Who trained her to keep that a secret.

But now there are too many secrets, and with her grandfather assassinated, Ikenna knows two things: that only someone on the Tribunal could have ordered his death, and that only a Praetorian Guard could have carried out that order.

Bent on revenge as much as discovering the truth, Ikenna pledges herself to the Praetorian Trials–a brutal initiation that only a quarter of the aspirants survive. She subjects herself to the racism directed against her half-Khanaian heritage and the misogyny of a society that cherishes progeny over prodigy, all while hiding a power that–if found out–would subject her to execution…or worse. Ikenna is willing to risk it all because she needs to find out who murdered her grandfather…and then she needs to kill them.

Mareen has been at peace for a long time…

Ikenna joining the Praetorians is about to change all that.

Magic and technology converge in the first part of this stunning debut duology, where loyalty to oneself–and one’s blood–is more important than anything.

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the sunday post

The Sunday Post: February 8th, 2026

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Hello, reader!

It’s time for another Sunday Post! This was an eventful week, in both exciting and not-so-exciting ways 😅 Let’s just say, I’m looking forward to this week because it’s my last week of work before taking a week off and it’s supposed to warm up (relatively…) a bit! I cannot describe to y’all how ready I am for Spring. I was not built for this weather 🥶

Anyways, let’s get to what I’ve been up to for the past week!

Week in Review

My eldest kid turned 19 this week! I continue to be amazed that I have an adult child despite being well into my mid-40s myself, lol. Like… is she not just a baby? What do you mean she’s one year away from being in her twenties?! Inconceivable. She was off at college on her actual birthday, but she did come down this weekend to hang with us and hometown friends. We took her out for birthday dinner of her choice and just enjoyed having her home. It was lovely 💖

My husband and I also met up with friends to check out a Korean pop-up at a local sake brewery. I didn’t even know the place existed until we were invited out! You find the most random things in the suburbs of Boston, haha. The food was delicious, the sake was yummy, and the company was great. I realized as we were driving home that, after 6 years of living here, we’re finally making adult friends. The fact that we’re both homebodies who will always prefer chilling in our nice, comfy house certainly hasn’t helped matters 😂 It’s nice to have made some friends we like enough that they can entice us from our den, haha. Besides my best friend, of course! She could tempt me out if it was below zero and snowing cause she’s family.

The not so fun event of this week was my youngest child getting sick 🫠 He had to stay home both Thursday and Friday, which is much harder to juggle now that my husband has a full time job. Thankfully, I was able to work from home on Friday, which was nice. I get so much more admin work done when I’m not at my desk being interrupted every ten seconds with questions, lol.

A woman sitting at a desk, rubbing her eyes in exasperation with text above that reads "Accidentally became important at work and it's ruining my life."

Ah well, job security, right? And I do enjoy my job though I’ve always enjoyed actually working on the bench as opposed to piles and piles of paperwork. That probably makes more sense if you know I’m a clinical medical laboratory scientist that works in Microbiology, lol. Super interesting job, but paperwork will always suck 😂

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book blogger hop

Book Blogger Hop: Reading Motivation

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This Week’s Prompt

What drives you to read?

Submitted by Billy, Coffee Addicted Writer

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first lines friday

First Lines Friday: February 6th, 2026

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Pick a book off your shelf (it could be your current read or on your TBR) and open to the first page
Copy the first few lines, but don’t give anything else about the book away just yet – you need to hook the reader first
Finally… reveal the book!

If you’re using Twitter, don’t forget to use #FirstLinesFridays!

Hello, reader!

We’ve made it to Friday and, between illnesses and work stress, I’m happy it’s finally the weekend. Although I do have to work this weekend, soooo… 🫠 At least weekend work days at typically more chill than during the week. Let’s hope this holds true this weekend!

In the meantime, I’m gonna unwind by doing this week’s First Lines Friday! The book I pulled this week is one that has been sitting on my desk, staring at me, making me feel guilty cause I haven’t cracked it open yet. It’s a book I’ve borrowed from the library and I am determined to read in February before I have to bring it back!

Let’s see if the first few lines will get me to pick it up sooner.

The Line(s):

“It all started with a book that made me curious.”

The Build Up:

The Reveal:

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wrap up

January 2026 Wrap Up

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Hello, reader!

One month of 2026 is done and dusted. That means it’s time to wrap up my reading from January! We’ll start with stats from the ever wonderful Storygraph, then we’ll see how I’m doing with my multiple challenges/projects for 2026. Spoiler alert: January really kicked off my reading year with a bang!

Let’s jump right into it 😁

January Reading Stats

In January 2026, I ended up reading 9 books (for 2,430 pages) and DNFing one. I’m not mad about that! Last January, I read seven books, so I’m already off to a good start to meet my 2026 Goodreads reading challenge.

My most read genre should come as no surprise: fantasy! It’s my favorite genre, after all, so I’m not surprised to see it up at the top. I think this is the first time the essays genre has appeared on one of my wrap ups, though, haha. I really need to stop being such a hater when it comes to non-fiction.

I’m happy to see the digital format making a comeback on my pie chart! Print will always be number one, I think, but I’ve been avoiding my e-books like the plague and it’s time to rectify that. I mean… it’s why I’m so far behind on my Netgalley reads 😅 Audio is holding strong, as it typically does. I won’t be surprised if that number jumps up more throughout the year.

My average star rating for January was 3.89 stars. I told y’all I had a good reading month! I had two five stars in the month, which hasn’t happened in forever. I did end up DNFing Supermarket by Bobby Hall, so that doesn’t have a rating. If it did, there would probably be a 1.5 star on this chart… 😬It was just not for me and that’s fine! I’m trying to be better about dropping books that just aren’t working for me.

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www wednesday

WWW Wednesday: February 4th, 2026

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It’s time for another WWW Wednesday! This is a bookish meme hosted by Taking on a World of Words where bloggers answer the 3 Ws:

What are you currently reading?
What did you recently finish reading?
What do you think you’ll read next?

If you’d like to learn more about any of these books, click on the cover to be taken to the Goodreads page.

Current Reads

Hidden Figures by Margot Lee Shetterly: I’m really getting into this one now that it’s my main physical read! The author’s writing is really sucking me into the story of these “Black Computers” that worked to help our nation’s space race. It also makes me boil with rage to read about all the injustices they were facing even though they were just as good as (if not better) than their white counterparts. Like, I know that, was a thing (and is still a thing), so you would think I’d be used to it, but the rage still comes, heh. I suppose that is the author doing her job well!
The Things We Do to Our Friends by Heather Darwent: Oh my god, I am so BORED. It’s just a bunch of rich people (and one wanna-be) being unhinged and I don’t caaaaare. I’ve just arrived at part two after a plot point finally decided to make an entrance, so I’m hoping things pick up from here. Please…
The Best American Science Fiction and Fantasy 2022 edited by Rebecca Roanhorse: I’ve read the first two stories in this collection and I’m happy to report that I loved both of them! This is a good omen for how I’m going to enjoy the rest of this anthology. Fingers crossed that they continue to be stellar.

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top ten tuesday

Top Ten Tuesday: Book Covers Featuring Pretty/Unique Typography

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Hello, reader!

I’m a sucker for a pretty cover. I have picked up many books simply because I thought the cover was beautiful. But I have to admit, I don’t often pay that much attention to the typography. That’s why I’m excited to participate in today’s Top Ten Tuesday! We’re looking for book covers with pretty/cool/unique typography and I’ve decided to go through my “read” shelf on Goodreads to see what I can find.

Keep reading to see which ones I picked out!

Books With Pretty/Unique Typography

Small Spaces by Katherine Arden: I love the typography on this one. A typography that blends into the overall image on the cover will always make me pay attention. I just think it looks so cohesive and lovely.
Winter’s Orbit by Everina Maxwell: Again, the typography is working really well with the cover image, though more so in color as opposed to positioning/font. It’s visually appealing to me in a way that captures my attention.
White Smoke by Tiffany D. Jackson: This is like a blend of the first two where the typography uses both font and a bit of blending to really incorporate into the cover image. I like that the letters kind of fade into the background at points.
The Storied Life of A.J. Fikry by Gabrielle Zevin: Now this one I chose because I just think the typography is pretty 🥹 I can’t even pinpoint why I love it so much, but I do!
Delicious Monsters by Liselle Sambury: The font on this one is pretty straightforward and bland, but I love the way that it interacts with the rest of the cover image. Just *chef’s kiss*

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goodreads monday

Goodreads/TBR Monday: February 2nd, 2026

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Hello, reader!

It’s the start of another week, so it’s time for another Goodreads Monday! Time to leaf through my excessively large Goodreads TBR (currently sitting at 833 books 🤡) and pick a random book to highlight. Participating in this meme has been fun because I’m re-discovering books I had completely forgotten I wanted to read, haha. I am forever skilled at putting books on my TBR… not so great at actually reading them.

Let’s see what random book we get today!

Random Goodreads Pick

Book:
Fire & Sword

Author:
Dylan Doose

Publisher:
Spawning Pool Studios

Publication Date:
September 1st, 2015

Pages:
330

Genre:
Fantasy

Synopsis:
Three men condemned to die: Aldous Weaver, a lonely heretic monk turned sorcerer, is imprisoned for accidentally incinerating the leader of his order. Kendrick the Cold, an infamous crusader turned fugitive, is a villain who knows he can never be a hero. Theron Ward, an aristocrat with a penchant for slaughtering monsters, is a legend in his own mind.

A broken nation in need of a savior: Ravaged by plague, decimated by dark magic, Brynth is infiltrated by a foreign evil seeking to dominate from within.

An unlikely bond forged in the furnace of chaos: Three criminals become comrades when faced with the choice to escape the land that cries for their execution or, with fire and sword, march forth against the greater evil.

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the sunday post

The Sunday Post: February 1st, 2026

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Hello, reader!

January is finally over and we’ve moved in the second month of the year. February always feels like it flies by too fast, but it is the shortest month of the year, so I suppose that makes sense. I’m hoping it does because I am ready for spring, y’all 😩 We haven’t gotten any more snow, but it has been bitterly cold and I’m over it. This is what I get for moving to New England, haha.

Now it’s time to wrap up my week in The Sunday Post! Keep reading to see what I was up to.

Week in Review

The biggest event of this week is the snow storm that rocked all of New England. We got almost 2 feet of snow Sunday and Monday and it was not a fun time! I had to go to work on Monday and the streets were freakin’ terrible. At least I got to go in later because a pipe burst in our building and no one could be inside until they got the water turned back on. And then it started snowing again while I was at work, so the roads were even worse when I headed home! I did end up having to stay home on Tuesday because my youngest’s school was closed due to weather.

Other than that, I really didn’t get into much this week. My husband and I sing with a local choir and we’re currently rehearsing for our Spring Concert. That was pretty much the only thing that got me out of the house besides work this week, haha. We do have plans this evening to meet up with some friends for dinner, but I’ll talk about that next Sunday!

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book reviews

Book Review: Solomon’s Crown by Natasha Siegel

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Title: Solomon’s Crown
Author: Natasha Siegel
Publisher: Dell
Genre: Historical Romance
Age Group: Adult
Format: Audiobook
Content/Trigger Warnings: Violence, war, murder, sexual content (off page), death, grief, anxiety attacks, pregnancy, childbirth
Book Links: Bookshop::B&N::Goodreads::Storygraph

Two destined rivals fall desperately in love—but the fate of medieval Europe hangs in the balance.

“A pair of thrones between us, and my heart clutched like a rosary within his hands …”

Twelfth-century Europe. Newly-crowned King Philip of France is determined to restore his nation to its former empire and bring glory to his name. But when his greatest enemy, King Henry of England, threatens to end his reign before it can even begin, Philip is forced to make a precarious alliance with Henry’s volatile son—risking both his throne, and his heart.

Richard, Duke of Aquitaine, never thought he would be King. But when an unexpected tragedy makes him heir to England, he finally has an opportunity to overthrow the father he despises. At first, Philip is a useful tool in his quest for vengeance… until passion and politics collide, and Richard begins to question whether the crown is worth the cost.

When Philip and Richard find themselves staring down an impending war, they must choose between their desire for one another and their grand ambitions. Will their love prevail, if it calls to them from across the battlefield? Teeming with royal intrigue and betrayal, this epic romance reimagines two real-life kings ensnared by an impossible choice: Follow their hearts, or earn their place in history.

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first lines friday

First Lines Friday: January 30th, 2026

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Pick a book off your shelf (it could be your current read or on your TBR) and open to the first page
Copy the first few lines, but don’t give anything else about the book away just yet – you need to hook the reader first
Finally… reveal the book!

If you’re using Twitter, don’t forget to use #FirstLinesFridays!

Hello, reader!

For today’s First Lines Friday, I decided to pick a book randomly off my shelf. I have so many stacks of books just chilling around me that I thought “Why not?” haha. This is a Book of the Month pick that I got last year and, as I am wont to do, I still haven’t read it. I know, I know… yet another reason why my physical TBR is out of control! So I suppose featuring this book for this post will give it a chance to finally move over to the “currently reading” pile.

Let’s see if the first few lines can capture my attention as well as yours!

The Line(s):

“In the city of Nuremberg in 1938, a man told his daughter a bedtime story.”

The Build Up:

The Reveal:

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monthly tbr

February 2026 TBR

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Hello, reader!

If you’ve been around the blog awhile, you probably know that I’m not typically a big monthly TBR person. That’s because, at heart, I am and will always be a mood reader. There’s something about setting a TBR that makes my mood reader brain immediately wants to read something else, lol. The thing is, though, that I’m also extremely indecisive. I have so many options for books (over 300 unread books on my TBR… and that’s just the physical ones 🫠) so when I let my mood dictate my read, I stand staring at my bookshelf for ages and can’t make a decision!

So I’m gonna do a little experiment! I’m going to try setting up monthly TBRs in 2026 but they are not going to be strict TBRs. I suppose that makes them more of “monthly hopefuls”, but I’m still going to call them TBRs. Hopefully this will work much better for my weird little brain, haha.

With that being said, let me share with you my February TBR!

The Book Club Reads

There are three online book clubs that I participate in on a semi-regular basis: the Weirdo Book Club, the Always Fully Booked (AFB) Book Club, and the Literally Dead Book Club. There are months where I’m not interested in the book picked, of course, but in February I’m intrigued by all three. Hopefully I can squeeze them all in!

Weirdo Book Club
- I Who Have Never Known Men by Jacqueline Harpman
- I have seen this book talked about all over the place, so I’m happy to jump on-board the book club read. It sounds weird and intriguing, which kind of makes it perfect for Weirdo Book Club!
AFB Book Club
- One by One by Ruth Ware
- I’m not gonna lie, Ruth Ware had a bit of a falling out after I started reading her backlist because I enjoyed The Turn of the Key so much. I just haven’t liked any of the other books I’ve read from her as much as that one! I’m happy to give her another chance, though… perhaps this will be the one to blow me away.
Literally Dead Book Club
- How to Kill a Guy in Ten Dates by Shailee Thompson
- I was on the fence about whether or not I wanted to read this one, but then it popped up as an add-on through Book of the Month and it found its way into my box somehow 😂 This is why my physical TBR is ridiculous, y’all! Still, this does sound intriguing and this will help me read my BotM book the same month I got it!

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www wednesday

WWW Wednesday: January 28th, 2026

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It’s time for another WWW Wednesday! This is a bookish meme hosted by Taking on a World of Words where bloggers answer the 3 Ws:

What are you currently reading?
What did you recently finish reading?
What do you think you’ll read next?

If you’d like to learn more about any of these books, click on the cover to be taken to the Goodreads page.

Current Reads

Solomon’s Crown by Natasha Siegel: I finally picked the audiobook back up and the action/drama has certainly ramped up! These two doomed idiots are keeping me on the edge of my seat. I don’t know if I was just feeling anxious and that’s why I couldn’t handle the angst, but now I’m back on board, haha.
Carl’s Doomsday Scenario by Matt Dinniman: It feels so good to be back in Carl’s world! I mean… Carl’s world is just getting increasingly more dire, but I’m having a good time 😂 Can I just say, I love a main character that is both strong and clever. Carl certainly fits the bill! It’s a treat watching him think up these half-baked plans that are truly creative. I’m eager to dive back into this one!
Hidden Figures by Margot Lee Shetterly: I quite literally just started this book today (as in, I just got through the prologue) so I don’t have a lot a thoughts about it yet. I’m enjoying the author’s tone, though. Tone is so important to me when it comes to non-fiction. If it reads like a textbook, I’m going to bored the entire time, even if the information is fascinating. Give me a narrative non-fiction any day.

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top ten tuesday

Top Ten Tuesday: New-To-Me Authors From 2025

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Hello, reader!

Though 2025 was a bit all over the place, I did read some incredible books last year. I also read quite a few new-to-me authors that I’m eager to read more from in 2026. So today’s Top Ten Tuesday theme, 2025 Bookish Discoveries, gives me the perfect opportunity to share them with you! Quite a few of these are authors that have been around for ages, but I finally picked them up in 2025. Some of them are debut authors that captured my imagination with their first novel. All of them make me want to read more!

Now, let’s get to the list.

2025 New-To-Me Authors

Kylie Lee Baker
B.K. Borison
Costanza Casati
Delilah S. Dawson
Tananarive Due

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goodreads monday

Goodreads/TBR Monday: January 26th, 2026

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Hello, reader!

Well, for once the meteorologists got it right and we got absolutely dumped on here in New England. Not the most snow that I’ve ever seen, but there’s quite a bit! So, while I’m waiting to go into work since we’re on a delay (the joys of working in healthcare… no snow days), I figured I would do my Goodreads Monday post!

I hope all of you who also got a ton of snow are staying warm and safe.

Random Goodreads Pick

Book:
Vinegar Girl

Author:
Anne Tyler

Publisher:
Hogarth

Publication Date:
June 1st, 2016

Pages:
237

Genre:
Literary Fiction/Romance/Retelling

Synopsis:
Pulitzer Prize winner and American master Anne Tyler brings us an inspired, witty and irresistible contemporary take on one of Shakespeare’s most beloved comedies.

Kate Battista feels stuck. How did she end up running house and home for her eccentric scientist father and uppity, pretty younger sister Bunny? Plus, she’s always in trouble at work – her pre-school charges adore her, but their parents don’t always appreciate her unusual opinions and forthright manner.

Dr. Battista has other problems. After years out in the academic wilderness, he is on the verge of a breakthrough. His research could help millions. There’s only one problem: his brilliant young lab assistant, Pyotr, is about to be deported. And without Pyotr, all would be lost.

When Dr. Battista cooks up an outrageous plan that will enable Pyotr to stay in the country, he’s relying – as usual – on Kate to help him. Kate is furious: this time he’s really asking too much. But will she be able to resist the two men’s touchingly ludicrous campaign to bring her around?

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Random Goodreads Pick

LTB Topic of the Week:Immersive Reading

Do you do any immersive reading? Do you prefer it or is it not for you?

This Week’s Prompt

The Line(s):

The Build Up:

The Reveal:

Current Reads

Books I’ve Read

The Book Club Reads

Week in Review

This Week’s Prompt

The Line(s):

The Build Up:

The Reveal:

January Reading Stats

Current Reads

Bookish Fantasy

Random Goodreads Pick

Week in Review

This Week’s Prompt

The Line(s):

The Build Up:

The Reveal:

Mini-Reviews

Next Read

Next 5 Star Read

My Favorite Novellas

Random Goodreads Pick

Week in Review

This Week’s Prompt

The Line(s):

The Build Up:

The Reveal:

Current Reads

Books for Armchair Travelers

Random Goodreads Pick

Week in Review

Last Month’s Stack

The Line(s):

The Build Up:

The Reveal:

Book Links

Backlist Romance Reads

Random Goodreads Pick

Week in Review

This Week’s Prompt

The Line(s):

The Build Up:

The Reveal:

January Reading Stats

Current Reads

Books With Pretty/Unique Typography

Random Goodreads Pick

Week in Review

The Line(s):

The Build Up:

The Reveal:

The Book Club Reads

Current Reads

2025 New-To-Me Authors

Random Goodreads Pick

LTB Topic of the Week:
Immersive Reading