WWW Wednesday: September 30th, 2026

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 Gathering Dark edited by Tori Bovalino: Y’all, this short story anthology is going very well! I haven’t read a story that I’ve rated less than a 3 star which is a big deal for me. Usually there are at least a few stories in an anthology when I’m this deep in that I actively disliked. Let’s hope this trend holds!
The Secret World of Briar Rose by Cindy Pham: I was having a hard time focusing on the e-ARC I had of this book, so I decided to try giving the audiobook a try. My hold on Libby finally came in so I jumped to where I stopped to give it a go. I’m happy to report that this seems to be doing the trick! I’m much more engaged in the story! Of course, it might be because a lot started happening, as well. I’m finally excited to continue and that makes me happy.
The Unselected Journals of Emma M. Lion Vol 2 by Beth Brower: Seems like a lot (if not all?) of this series is on Kindle Unlimited and I enjoyed the first one, so here we are! Also, for some reason, I don’t mind these short little books as e-books. It’s enjoyable getting a glimpse of Emma’s life through her journal and she has my exact kind of humor, haha. I’m having a great time so far.

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top ten tuesday

Top Ten Tuesday: Spooky Covers

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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!

For today’s Top Ten Tuesday, we have a Fall Freebie! There’s so many ways I could have gone with this, but one of my favorite parts of Fall is that it’s officially spooky season. So I figured I would feature my top ten books with spooky covers. I loved all the books I’ll be sharing and it’s just a bonus that they have especially creepy covers.

That being said, let’s jump in!

Spooky Covers

Bat Eater and Other Names for Cora Zeng by Kylie Lee Baker
Dead Silence by S.A. Barnes
Deity by Matt Wesolowski
Delicious Monsters by Liselle Sambury
Gideon the Ninth by Tamsyn Muir

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goodreads monday

Goodreads/TBR Monday: September 28th, 2026

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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 back with another Goodreads Monday! I’m going to randomly pick a book from my rather extensive (824 books) Goodreads “Want to Read” shelf and decide whether it gets to remain or gets the boot. I feel like I’ve had a good run of pulling books that I’m still excited for, but we’ll see what happens today!

Now let’s see what I get.

Random Goodreads Pick

Book:
Don’t Fear the Reaper

Author:
Stephen Graham Jones

Publisher:
S&S/Saga Press

Publication Date:
February 7th, 2023

Pages:
457

Genre:
Horror

Synopsis:
Jade returns to the rural lake town of Proofrock the same day as convicted Indigenous serial killer Dark Mill South escapes into town to complete his revenge killings, in this riveting sequel to My Heart Is a Chainsaw from New York Times bestselling author Stephen Graham Jones.

Four years after her tumultuous senior year, Jade Daniels is released from prison right before Christmas when her conviction is overturned. But life beyond bars takes a dangerous turn as soon as she returns to Proofrock. Convicted Serial Killer, Dark Mill South, seeking revenge for thirty-eight Dakota men hanged in 1862, escapes from his prison transfer due to a blizzard, just outside of Proofrock, Idaho.

Dark Mill South’s Reunion Tour began on December 12th, 2019, a Thursday.

Thirty-six hours and twenty bodies later, on Friday the 13th, it would be over.

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the sunday post

The Sunday Post: September 27th, 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 been a rainy, windy weekend, but now it’s time for another edition of The Sunday Post! It was a bit of blah week though it was certainly a busy week. Plenty to share to catch up on what I was up to in life and what I was up to on the blog.

So, let’s dive in!

Week in Review

My work week started off with my co-worker and I going to a conference! It was the annual NACMID conference that was both Monday and Tuesday. I had a great time listening to talks about mycology and molecular diagnostics and the future of clinical microbiology. They had a ton of wonderful speakers and the vendors had a lot of great pens 😂 I always restock my pen collection for work at these conferences. The rest of week was just a normal work week, though I did start feeling poorly around Thursday evening.

Which leads to why we did nothing this weekend. I left work early on Friday because I was feeling bleh. Sore throat, small cough, and just exhausted. We were meant to go visit my eldest for Family Weekend at UConn on Saturday, but I felt gross and the weather here was even more gross. I didn’t feel like driving while also wishing I was unconscious 😅 So I slept pretty much all day Saturday, which was much needed.

Today, I feel a little better. Good enough to go out into the gross weather and go grocery shopping with the family. It needed to happen and I needed to get some fresh air. I was feeling funky, y’all, haha. Grocery shopping went well, but I climbed back in bed and slept until… now because I was run down. So maybe still recovering a little, heh. At least the sore throat is gone! Thrilling week, I know.

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book blogger hop

Book Blogger Hop: Blog Investments

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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

What’s the best investment you’ve made for your blog?

Submitted by Billy, Coffee-Addicted Writer.

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first lines friday

First Lines Friday: September 25th, 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!

Happy First Lines Friday! We’re preparing for a nor’easter here in Massachusetts, so the family and I are going to be hunkering down this weekend. But, for now, it’s time to feature a new book and it’s first line to see if it can capture our interest. The book I’ve picked today is something I’ll be reading soon, but I haven’t cracked the cover just yet. It’s a genre-blender and I’m excited to give it a read.

Now let’s see if the first line can hook us.

The Line(s):

“‘Who knew that time could move so slowly?”

The Build Up:

The Reveal:

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book tag

Book Tag: The New Releases Book Tag

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Hello, reader!

Today felt like a good day to do a book tag. I ran across The New Releases Book Tag awhile ago and it has taken me this long to actually do it. I am nothing if not a procrastinator 😅 But I’m here now and I’m excited to participate!

The Rules
Thank the person who nominated you (I wasn’t nominated but I saw this over at Janette @ Wicked Witch’s Blog and decided to join the fun!)
Answer all the questions down below
Pingback to the creator: Ellyn @ Allonsythornraxx
Nominate 5+ bloggers you’d like to know more about, to do this tag (I’m just nominating anyone who might want to do it, haha)

A New Release that you’ve already read

The Tapestry of Fate by Shannon Chakraborty was one of my most anticipated releases of 2026. I had a notification set for when the audiobook became available at my library. I was one of the first people to place a hold… and I just got to read it in September 😅😂 The read was well worth the wait, though. Absolutely stunning sequel and it had me jaw on the floor at the end! I cannot wait for the next installment.

A New Release that’s already come out but you haven’t read yet

Taipei Story by R.F. Kuang is another one of my most anticipated releases and it just came out at the beginning of September! I still haven’t picked it up yet, though I did get some money for my birthday that was specifically for books! It’ll probably go directly to this one. I love R.F. Kuang as an author and I’ve read almost all of her books. But I do drag my feet a little on the more literary fiction reads. Still, I’m eager to give this a read.

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www wednesday

WWW Wednesday: September 23rd, 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

Tempest by Victoria Aveyard: This is the September pick for the Weirdo Book Club and I am of two minds. On one hand, I’m enjoying the setting because I love books set on or near the ocean. I’m a sucker for pirates, as well! On the other hand… I am boooored. The author went with dual timelines and each chapter alternates between “Before” and “After”. And I think that’s what contributing to my boredom. Whenever a chapter starts to get to something interesting, we move on to a new chapter/different timeline and the momentum just dies. I’m enjoying it, for the most part, but I wish it didn’t feel so choppy.
The Gathering Dark edited by Tori Bovalino: I started this YA horror anthology because it’s on my Magical Readathon TBR and, so far, I’m having a good time. I’ve only finished two stories, but I’ve enjoyed them both! That’s a strong start for a short story collection when it comes to me. I don’t usually have a good track record with them, heh. Here’s hoping the stories stay strong!
Poirot Investigates by Agatha Christie: Look at me reading two short story collections at once! I kind of love these Poirot shorts because we get to the unraveling of the mystery so much quicker. Also, so far, all these stories are featuring Captain Hastings, that adorable idiot. He’s legit my favorite character in all the Poirot novels, haha. I was immediately met with a bunch of racial slurs, however, so… there’s that 😅 I do try to give grace because of the time she was writing these novels… but damn, Agatha, did we have to say it so many times?!

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top ten tuesday

Top Ten Tuesday: Books On My Fall TBR 2026

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Hello, reader!

It’s time for another Top Ten Tuesday! We’ve arrived into a new season and my second favorite one of the year: Autumn! Now, I’m not typically one to make a seasonal TBR because I am far too much of a mood reader. But this week’s topic is all about books we plan to read in Fall, so I cobbled together a list of possibilities. The reasons these books made the list run the gambit from being books in series I want to continue, dark academia books, and Netgalley reads I’m excited to get to. Either way, I hope I do read them all this Autumn and have a great time with them!

Alright, now let’s get to the list.

My Fall 2026 TBR

Bloodmarked by Tracy Deonn
Celestial Monsters by Aiden Thomas
The Eye of the Bedlam Bride by Matt Dinniman
The God of the Woods by Liz Moore
Hell Bent by Leigh Bardugo

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bookmark chat

Bookmark Chat: Romantasy vs Fantasy Romance

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Hello, reader!

I’m doing something a little different for today’s post. I’m away from home for a work conference and I left my laptop at home, so I don’t access to my usual resources to do my Goodreads Monday! So I decided to get chatty with y’all and talk about a topic that has been on my mind lately: romantasy versus fantasy romance.

Now, why is this topic on my mind? Because I have been trying to find a romantasy that I enjoy and it… has not gone well, haha. But I know I enjoy a fantasy that has a romance in it! So why can’t I get into romantasy novels?

At first I thought it was perhaps because I’m not a big romance reader. I only really started reading the genre regularly in the past couple of years. Before that, I shame-facedly will admit, I was of the mind that romance wasn’t worth reading. Yes, I was an idiot 🙂‍↕️ But I have since read quite a few romances that I loved!

I have noticed a similarity in the romances that I like, though. They tend to be fun! Even if there are more serious topics tackled, the ones I’ve loved have had an overall light-hearted vibe. And I think therein lies my issue with romantasy. Most of the ones I have tried have been on the darker side with high stakes and “enemy” to lovers vibes.

Still, I have enjoyed high stakes fantasy novels that have a romance. I think that is because the romance isn’t the main focus of the novel. I can handle it when the world-building and plot are more central and not the kissing. I find the tension feels a little more real in a fantasy romance, too.

Now, I’m not saying I’m going to give up on romantasy. I’ve learned my lesson from romance… I have a feeling I can find something in this newer genre that will appeal to me, as well! Any suggestions would 100% be appreciated 😁

the sunday post

The Sunday Post: September 20th, 2026

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Hello, reader!

Happy Sunday, everyone! It’s time for another weekly wrap up all about life and the blog in this week’s edition of The Sunday Post. Time to share what I’ve been up to and the blog posts I managed to get out this past week.

Let’s jump in!

Week in Review

This past week was my birthday week! That being said, it was much less eventful than the previous one 😅 I usually take time off around my birthday, but there were a lot of people absent from work this past week, so it wasn’t possible. But my day was still pretty nice because my co-workers got me cake and ice cream! And the other microbiology supervisor got me some champagne and a gift card to buy books! So it was a good day.

We also had our first rehearsal for our choir’s new season! That’s always a busy time because I’m on the board, so I have to help with registration and getting everything set for the first day. But I always love seeing everyone at practice and getting to hear the music come together as we learn. I’m so glad that I joined! It’s been a great outlet in my life.

We had to wait for the weekend to celebrate as a family because this past week was busy with appointments. My youngest made me a cake on Saturday all by himself! It was very sweet of him and it tasted delicious. It was my favorite kind of cake, too: yellow cake with a chocolate frosting. My youngest also made me the sweetest card which made me cry happy tears, haha. My other bday presents are still on the way, though having a weekend to just chill and read was a present in and of itself.

Now we’re gearing up for next week. Hopefully it’ll be a good one.

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book blogger hop

Book Blogger Hop: Overlooked Books

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This Week’s Prompt

If you could recommend one overlooked book, what would it be and why?

Submitted by Billy, Coffee-Addicted Writer.

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first lines friday

First Lines Friday: September 18th, 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!

It’s the end of the week. I don’t have to work this weekend. And it’s First Lines Friday time! I’m feeling good, haha. This week, I’m featuring a book I finished recently. It wasn’t my favorite book from this author, but I had a good time with it and I love the cover. That’s really the reason I chose it for today because this book has high “cover buy” potential.

The first line certainly caught my attention. Now let’s see if it can catch yours!

The Line(s):

“‘The guillotine blade glinted, lodged halfway through her shoulder.”

The Build Up:

The Reveal:

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reading project

Project Library Love: September Visit

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Hello, reader!

It’s my birthday and I decided I would talk about one of my favorite places on my day. That’s why I’m doing my September post for my Library Love project today! My September visit was a lovely little hang out where I spent time just reading in the library and soaking in the vibes. So pretty perfect, ya know? I also got maybe too many books 😅😂 But we will get to that!

Now, let’s jump in.

Last Month’s Stack

In August, I checked out four physical books and six audiobooks.

My physical picks were:

The Library After Dark by Ande Pliego
Hercule Poirot’s Christmas by Agatha Christie
Read Dangerously by Azar Nafisi
Sad Cypress by Agatha Christie

My audiobook picks were:

A Lesson in Vengeance by Victoria Lee
Murder in the Mews by Agatha Christie
The Sunbearer Trials by Aiden Thomas
The Tapestry of Fate by Shannon Chakraborty
A Trade of Blood by Robert Jackson Bennett
Winging It With You by Chip Pons

I went wild with audiobooks on Libby in August, lol. And I finished all the ones I checked out! My physical books didn’t fair as well… I mean, I finished two of them and still have the other two. I’m planning on reading them, but the audiobooks have really been taking over lately. Still, I would like to read them before they must go back… wish me luck!

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blog tour · book spotlight

Blog Tour Spotlight: The Sun Casts No Shadow by Mark Richardson

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Hello, reader!

Today on the blog, I’m joining the The Write Reads blog tour for The Sun Casts No Shadow by Mark Richardson. This neo-noir is gritty in a way I didn’t quite enjoy, but I can see the appeal this twisty tale could have. It was certainly a quick read that I got through in a day and a half! Thank you to the team at The Write Reads and the author for sending me a copy of the book to try.

Alright, now let’s get to it!

Title: The Sun Casts No Shadow
Author: Mark Richardson
Publication date: June 25th, 2026
Genre: Dystopian Noir
Length: 180 pages
Age group: Adult
Content/Trigger Warnings: Violence, death, misogyny, bullying, blood, drug use

Book Links

Amazon::Storygraph::Goodreads

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top ten tuesday

Top Ten Tuesday: Authors I’ve Met

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Hello, reader!

We have a fun topic for this week’s Top Ten Tuesday! This week, I get to share some authors that I’ve met, which is always a thrilling time! Now, I haven’t met a ton of authors, though I have been lucky enough to meet some of my faves. Leaving near a city like Boston certainly helps when it comes to opportunities to go to author events. Still, there are many more I would still love to meet! That’s why I’m splitting this up into two sections: five authors I have met and five authors I want to meet.

Let’s jump in!

Authors I Have Met

Leigh Bardugo
Jordan Ifueko
Erin Morgenstern
Margaret Owen
Angie Thomas

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goodreads monday

Goodreads/TBR Monday: September 14th, 2026

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Hello, reader!

It’s Monday, y’all! The start of another week and famously least favorite day of the week for a lot of people. But at least we have Goodreads Monday to get us through 😉Time to randomly pick a book from my Goodreads “Want to Read” shelf and see if I want to keep it around. I’m currently sitting at 825 books on there, which is still so much, but less than it has been for awhile!

Now, let’s see which book I’ll be judging today.

Random Goodreads Pick

Book:
The Sun and the Void

Author:
Gabriela Romero Lacruz

Publisher:
Orbit

Publication Date:
July 25th, 2023

Pages:
511

Genre:
Fantasy

Synopsis:
In a lush world inspired by the history and folklore of South America, a sweeping epic fantasy of colonialism, ancient magic, and two young women’s quest for belonging unfolds.

Reina is desperate.

Stuck living on the edges of society, her only salvation lies in an invitation from a grandmother she’s never known. But the journey is dangerous, and prayer can’t always avert disaster.

Attacked by creatures that stalk the region, Reina is on the verge of death until her grandmother, a dark sorceress, intervenes. Now dependent on the Doña’s magic for her life, Reina will do anything to earn—and keep—her favor. Even the bidding of an ancient god who whispers to her at night.

Eva Kesare is unwanted.

Illegitimate and of mixed heritage, Eva is her family’s shame. She tries her best to be perfect and to hide her oddities. But Eva is hiding a secret: magic calls to her.

Eva knows she should fight the temptation. Magic is the sign of the dark god, and using it is punishable by death. Yet, it’s hard to deny power when it has always been denied to you. Eva is walking a dangerous path, one that gets stranger every day. And, in the end, she’ll become something she never imagined.

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the sunday post

The Sunday Post: September 13th, 2026

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Hello, reader!

It’s the end of the weekend and the end of the week. That means it’s time for a little life and blog catch-up in this edition of The Sunday Post! I feel like I’ve been going non-stop this week, so be prepared for some gabbing. All the running around certainly made the week go fast!

That being said, let’s dive in.

Week in Review

Work or, more accurately, people I work with were driving me crazy last week 😅 It was a lot of people asking questions that I had already answered, in detail, which always grates on my nerves. And it was just busy so I was already feeling a little frayed. There was a bonding moment among the supervisors as we were talking about hunting down the spotted lanternflies that we’ve discovered in the parking lot, lol. I was definitely ready for the weekend, though.

Saturday was a very busy day! The family and I went into Boston to see my husband’s favorite band, RUSH, in concert. It was my youngest’s first concert and he was so hyped! Before we went to the concert, we tracked down an art installation of wooden elephants that were in downtown Boston. They were lovely and kind of the perfect day for a wander. The weather was gorgeous!

We also met up with my best friend for dinner pre-concert to celebrate her birthday. We ate right across the street from the venue and were surrounded by other RUSH fans, haha. The food was delicious and it is always a great time hanging out with my bestie.

And then it was time for the concert! It was absolutely incredible. My husband introduced me to RUSH and, slowly, has turned me into a fan. The music is fantastic and the friendship between Geddy Lee and Alex Lifeson is fun to watch as they perform together. Their new drummer, Anika Nilles, was fantastic! Neil Peart was a one-of-kind drummer, but she really held her own and blew me away. They had various tributes to Neil throughout the show, who died in 2020, which made me tear up a couple of times. You can just tell how much they all mean and meant to each other. Also, they played my favorite song, Freewill! All in all, it was an incredible night with family and music.

Today, I was a lump in the bed, lol. We didn’t get home til 1 am and I was dead to the world until almost noon today. I’m too old for all that! We did eventually dragged ourselves out of bed and made breakfast. Then I slept until I needed to take my oldest back to her dorm. The fact that it was raining all day certainly didn’t help the energy levels! Now I’m home, eating ice cream, and bracing myself for the upcoming work week. Here’s hoping it’s a good one 😊

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book blogger hop

Book Blogger Hop: Online Reviews

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This Week’s Prompt

How much do online reviews shape what you pick up next?

Submitted by Billy, Coffee-Addicted Writer.

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first lines friday

First Lines Friday: September 11th, 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!

The end of the work week is here! I’m particularly excited for the weekend because I’m heading to a concert with the family. It’s also almost my birthday week 🥳 For now, though, it’s time for another First Lines Friday! I’m featuring a book that I picked up on a whim because I saw it on Kindle Unlimited and a friend recently read and loved it. I figured, why not give it a go?

Now let’s see if the first few lines might draw you in.

The Line(s):

“‘I’ve arrived in London without incident.

There are few triumphs in my recent life, but I count this as one. My existence of the last three years has been nothing but incident.”

The Build Up:

The Reveal:

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book reviews

Book Review: The Sunbearer Trials by Aiden Thomas

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Title: The Sunbearer Trials
Series: The Sunbearer Duology #1
Author: Aiden Thomas
Publisher: Feiwel & Friends
Genre: Fantasy
Age Group: Young Adult
Format: Audiobook
Content/Trigger Warnings: Violence, blood, human sacrifice, child abuse, emotional abuse, body dysphoria
Book Links: Bookshop::B&N::Goodreads::Storygraph

Welcome to The Sunbearer Trials, where teen semidioses compete in a series of challenges with the highest of stakes, in this electric new Mexican-inspired fantasy from Aiden Thomas, the New York Times bestselling author of Cemetery Boys.

“Only the most powerful and honorable semidioses get chosen. I’m just a Jade. I’m not a real hero.”

As each new decade begins, the Sun’s power must be replenished so that Sol can keep traveling along the sky and keep the evil Obsidian gods at bay. Ten semidioses between the ages of thirteen and eighteen are selected by Sol himself as the most worthy to compete in The Sunbearer Trials. The winner carries light and life to all the temples of Reino del Sol, but the loser has the greatest honor of all—they will be sacrificed to Sol, their body used to fuel the Sun Stones that will protect the people of Reino del Sol for the next ten years.

Teo, a 17-year-old Jade semidiós and the trans son of Quetzal, goddess of birds, has never worried about the Trials…or rather, he’s only worried for others. His best friend Niya—daughter of Tierra, the god of earth—is one of the strongest heroes of their generation and is much too likely to be chosen this year. He also can’t help but worry (reluctantly, and under protest) for Aurelio, a powerful Gold semidiós and Teo’s friend-turned-rival who is a shoo-in for the Trials. Teo wouldn’t mind taking Aurelio down a notch or two, but a one-in-ten chance of death is a bit too close for Teo’s taste.

But then, for the first time in over a century, Sol chooses a semidiós who isn’t a Gold. In fact, he chooses two: Xio, the 13-year-old child of Mala Suerte, god of bad luck, and…Teo. Now they must compete in five mysterious trials, against opponents who are both more powerful and better trained, for fame, glory, and their own survival.

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www wednesday

WWW Wednesday: September 9th, 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

Read Dangerously by Azar Nafisi: I’ve found myself slowing down with my non-fiction read. It’s not a long book… I should, realistically, be done with it by now! Honestly, though, it is a tougher read than I first imagined. Mostly because it’s hitting on topics like the pandemic and the end of Trump’s first presidency with a tinge of hope that makes me sad because of… well… *gestures at the current state of affairs* It’s all a bit heavy. Still, I’m enjoying the author’s viewpoints and the topics she’s discussing are certainly worth the read. I just gotta be in the right headspace.
Make the Play by Lucky Hart: I’m so close to being done with this romance and, not gonna lie, I’m kind of ready for it to be over😅 This is a cute, strangers to friends to lovers romance that is genuinely a slow burn in the best of ways. But there is legit no reason that it needs to be over 400 pages! It is draaaaaagging. And now that Jason and Emerson are together and being wholesome and adorable… I’m kind of over it? How ridiculous am I 😂
The Library After Dark by Ande Pliego: I picked up the audiobook for this and that has been both a blessing and a curse. It’s a full cast audiobook which I am stoked about! Buuut… the woman that does the voice for what seems to be the main POV is getting on my nerves. She makes Aria sound like she’s about to break down in tears every five seconds. It’s… a lot. Add to the fact that Aria might actually be an idiot and I find myself getting frustrated with this thriller already. Still, I’m intrigued by this gothic library and the possibility of ghosts, so I’m going to stick with it.

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top ten tuesday

Top Ten Tuesday: Favorite Indie Reads

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Hello, reader!

It’s time for another Top Ten Tuesday, y’all! I’m excited about this week’s topic because I get to talk about my favorite indie reads. Well… it’s technically an indie freebie, but that seemed like the perfect excuse to make the topic some of my favorite indie books/authors! I love exploring books that are published outside of the major publishers because you can truly find some gems.

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

My Favorite Indie Reads

Miss Bennet’s Dragon by M. Verant
The Thirteenth Hour by Trudie Skies
Bad Grains by Susanne Schmidt
Glunda the Veg Witch by Keith W. Dickinson
A Necromancer Called Gam Gam by Adam Holcombe

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goodreads monday

Goodreads/TBR Monday: September 7th, 2026

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Hello, reader!

Goodreads Monday has arrived! It’s Labor Day here in the States and, for once, I’m not working. I’m going to take the day to chill and read and, of course, take a peek at my Goodreads “Want to Read” shelf. Let’s see if the random book that gets picked is one that gets to stick around on the TBR.

Time to see what book that will be!

Random Goodreads Pick

Book:
Every Body Looking

Author:
Candice Iloh

Publisher:
Dutton Books for Young Readers

Publication Date:
September 22nd, 2020

Pages:
416

Genre:
Contemporary/Coming-of-Age

Synopsis:
“Ada” means first daughter, means oldest girl, means pressure. “Ada” means you are expected to do a lot of things because the honor of this family rests on your back.

When Ada leaves home for her freshman year at a Historically Black College, it’s the first time she’s ever been so far from her family—and the first time that she’s been able to make her own choices and to seek her place in this new world. As she stumbles deeper into the world of dance and explores her sexuality, she also begins to wrestle with her past—her mother’s struggle with addiction, her Nigerian father’s attempts to make a home for her. Ultimately, Ada discovers she needs to brush off the destiny others have chosen for her and claim full ownership of her body and her future.

Every Body Looking is a luminous and inspiring novel in verse about bearing the weight of others’ expectations and finding the courage to shape a life of one’s own.

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the sunday post

The Sunday Post: September 6th, 2026

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Hello, reader!

Sunday has rolled around and that means it’s time for The Sunday Post! This week went by in a flash and I’m surprised it’s already the end. At least it’s a long weekend so I get one more day to relax. Now, though, it’s time to talk about last week on the blog and in life.

Let’s jump in!

Week in Review

It was a fairly boring work week, though a busy one. Busy meant it went super fast and I appreciated that! We have a bunch of people going on leave in a couple of weeks so I’m trying to enjoy having a full staff for the next week 😅 We’ll see how it goes!

I had a day off on Thursday since I had to work Saturday. I spent it running a bunch of errands, but I also got to go to one of my favorite places: the library! I spent a couple hours there just browsing, reading, and hanging out. It was glorious. I’ll be updating y’all soon as to what I picked up.

Saturday was work but we also had another D&D session. It was a lot of fun, especially since my wizard was kicking ass last night! I rolled a nat 20 two times in a row! It doesn’t happen often; my rolls usually make me want to put my dice in jail 😒 It was a great session.

As for today, I didn’t feel like doing anything, so I spent the day being lazy and reading. It has been just what I needed. Perhaps I’ll do the same thing tomorrow, haha.

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book blogger hop

Book Blogger Hop: Lesser-Known Books

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This Week’s Prompt

What book do you think deserves more love but flies under the radar?

Submitted by Billy, Coffee-Addicted Writer.

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first lines friday

First Lines Friday: September, 4th 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!

It’s time for another First Lines Friday! For today’s book, I thought I’d share with you another book I’m currently reading. It’s a non-fiction that I’m sure you’ve seen me mention a few times on the blog recently. I finally started reading it and I’m having a great time!

Now, let’s see if the first lines can grab your interest.

The Line(s):

“‘On October 8, 2016, I sat down and wrote a letter to my father, who had been dead for twelve years.”

The Build Up:

The Reveal:

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wrap up

August 2026 Wrap Up

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Hello, reader!

It’s the best month ever, but that doesn’t mean we can leave August in the dust just yet. I still need to do my August Wrap Up after all! And I’m doing it before we’re halfway through the month! Please clap 😂 August was an odd reading month in that my focus for anything other than audiobooks was completely shot… but I still had a good time!

Before I keep rambling, let’s get to the wrap up!

August Reading Stats

In August 2026, I read 9 books for 3,451 pages. Definitely less than the past two months, but I’m still not mad at it! I think I burned myself out a teeny bit with how much I read in June and July, haha. I will say I also tackled thicker physical books in August (that I still haven’t finished…) so perhaps that contributed to my books read being a little less.

Kind of love that LGBTQIA+ lit is sitting pretty at the top of my genres for August! I’m also surprised that YA is number two because A) IT’S NOT A GENRE and B) I don’t read a ton of YA these days. Other than that, I feel like this mix is a bit of the usual. I like what I like, what can I say?

Remember last month when I was so happy that physical books made a comeback at got to 50% of the chart? How I wanted to keep that trend going? Yeeeeeaaaah… 😅 Audiobooks didn’t give any other format a chance in August at a whopping 78% of the books I read! I was just in a mood to consume all my books through my ears, apparently. And, hey, I loved the experience! We’ll try and give physical books more of a chance in September, heh.

Somehow I beat my average rating from last month! I had an average star rating of 4.33 stars in August! So clearly the audiobooks were working, haha. I had three 5 star reads! One of which was a re-read that I bumped up from 4.5 to 5 stars. That’s the most I’ve had in a month all year. So maybe I didn’t read as many books in August, but I certainly enjoyed then a hell of a lot!

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www wednesday

WWW Wednesday: September 2nd, 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

What Stalks the Deep by T. Kingfisher: Ever thought about going caving? Maybe don’t read this book because you will swiftly change your mind 😂 I’m learning that I am maybe claustrophobic (?) because the description of the tight spaces and being so deep underground have me genuinely shivering. Absolutely not, could NOT be me! Reading about other people dealing with horrors in the dark, however, is my idea of a good time. So you won’t be surprised that I am loving this book!
The Tapestry of Fate by Shannon Chakraborty: Oh it feels so good to be back in this world! I adored The Adventures of Amina al-Sirafi, so I was eager to read the sequel that came out earlier this year. I wanted to read it via audio again and, unfortunately, the wait at my library took ages. But it’s hear, and I’m reading, and it’s perfect 🥰 I am worried about these beloved characters, though, because the narrator has already promised that this is gonna be more on the dark side… This book is going to make me cry, isn’t it?

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monthly tbr · readathon

Magical Readathon: Orilium Autumn Equinox 2026

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Hello, reader!

Happy September, everyone! This is my favorite month of the year for multiple reasons. Namely, it’s my birth month 🥳 But, also, this month contains one-half of my favorite readathon: the Orilium Autumn Equinox! This is the second half of the Magical Readathon and I always love participating.

But, before I talk more about new adventures, what is the Magical Readathon? It is the brain child of the marvelous G @ Book Roast, who created the world of Aeldia, where Orilium dwells, and every aspect therein. It’s an incredibly creative readathon where you build a character, choose a guild, and guide your character through classes to achieve their calling. I am notoriously bad at giving all the details in a coherent way, so you should definitely watch G’s announcement video for the scoop:

My Character

✨✨✨ Name: Korrin Musgrave ✨✨✨
✨✨✨ Calling: Beast Master Master ✨✨✨
✨✨✨ Guild: The Order of the Crescent Moon ✨✨✨
✨✨✨ Current Guild Reputation Points: 805 gp✨✨✨
✨✨✨ Conduit: Quarterstaff ✨✨✨
✨✨✨ Legacy: Wolf familiar (Venandi) ✨✨✨
✨✨✨ Background: Wildling ✨✨✨
✨✨✨ Province: Irtheria ✨✨✨
✨✨✨ Heritage: Earthling (earth element) ✨✨✨

If you want to learn more about these various choices, you can check out the Brief History of Aeldia on the Google drive. It’s awesome what G has dreamed up!

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goodreads monday

Goodreads/TBR Monday: August 31st, 2026

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Hello, reader!

It’s the beginning of the week and it’s time for another Goodreads Monday. That means I need to pick a random book from my Goodreads “Want to Read” shelf and see if I want to keep it on my shelf. My amount of books has climbed a bit because I found myself browsing around Goodreads and… things happened 😂 So we’ll see if this random pick helps me bring the count down or not.

Let’s jump in!

Random Goodreads Pick

Book:
A Clash of Carnivores

Author:
Liselle Sambury

Publisher:
Margaret K. McElderry Books

Publication Date:
August 4th, 2026

Pages:
608

Genre:
Horror/Fantasy

Synopsis:
The thrilling sequel to A Mastery of Monsters, following the fiercely determined eighteen-year-old August Black as she infiltrates a secret society hiding the frightening reality that monsters are real, while unraveling the mystery behind her brother’s disappearance.

August risked everything to find her brother, joining a deadly secret society protecting the chilling truth that monsters are very, very real. She thought when she found him that she would leave the society behind.

Instead, she fought and bled to bond herself to a Monster for life.

Now, despite her efforts to stay unattached, her connection to her Monster partner, Virgil, continues to grow. She can’t stop replaying the memory of their forbidden kiss that Virgil wants to pretend never happened.

Their strained bond is put to the test as they prepare for the Monster’s Ball, a brutal tournament where pairs battle for the coveted title of Master. But despite the danger of the contest, August is consumed with finding her mom’s killer and getting revenge. Her vendetta leads to her accidentally form a rare second bond with Nolan, a Wild Monster who wants nothing to do with her. And if the three of them can’t work together, they’ll be kicked out of the tournament before it even begins.

But August can’t pull her focus away from revenge—even if it means becoming the worst sort of monster herself. She believes that vengeance will cure her grief, but it may just be the thing that breaks her bonds for good.

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the sunday post

The Sunday Post: August 30th, 2026

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Hello, reader!

The end of the week is upon us and that means it’s time for another edition of The Sunday Post! Time to share what I’ve been up to here on the blog and in life offline. I’ve been a bit busier than usual this past week, so more to talk about today!

That being said, let’s jump in!

Week in Review

Work was a blur last week, I’m not gonna lie. We had people out that lead to me having to work the bench a few days and I was going in early so I could pick my husband up from work. So I was tired and busy, haha. Still, it was a good work week because I got quite a bit done! I think working from home on Friday certainly helped with that.

Saturday, we brought our eldest back to her university to start her sophomore year 😭 I’m so proud of her work so far and I know she’s going to do wonderfully again this year! Still, I already miss her. Her new dorm situation is almost like an apartment set-up, which is nice. Her room has a living area which has a kitchen and a washer and dryer! I hope she has an amazing year.

Today, I spent my day in Boston with my bestie to check out a restaurant called the Union Oyster House. It’s a staple in Boston that has been around for years and yet neither of us had ever been there, haha. The food was delicious! After lunch, we headed to the Boston Market to stroll around. We ended up picking up some apple cider donuts and questionable mixed drinks 😂 Then we headed back to her place and watched some YouTube. It was a lovely day!

Now it’s back to the grind and getting the youngest ready for his first day of school. Then we’ll be back to our typical routine.

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book blogger hop

Book Blogger Hop: Book Hooks

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This Week’s Prompt

What grabs you and keeps you hooked in a book?

Submitted by Billy, Coffee-Addicted Writer.

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first lines friday

First Lines Friday: August 28th, 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 Friday, everyone! For this week’s First Lines Friday, I’m sharing another of my current reads. It’s a YA dark academia that feels like a spooky autumn evening. It’s definitely getting me ready for my second favorite season!

The first line certainly intrigued me, so let see if it works for you!

The Line(s):

“‘Thirteen thousand feet above sea level, you can drown in air like water.”

The Build Up:

The Reveal:

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book reviews

Book Review: Off the Reservation by Stephen Graham Jones

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Title: Off the Reservation
Series: The Only Good Indians #2
Author: Stephen Graham Jones
Publisher: S&S/Saga Press
Genre: Horror
Age Group: Adult
Format: E-book
Content/Trigger Warnings: Body horror, blood, gore, child abuse, kidnapping, death of a child, substance abuse, transphobia, deadnaming, violence
Book Links: Bookshop::B&N::Goodreads::Storygraph

A ragtag group of activists sets out to repatriate the bones of a Blackfeet boy taken to the infamous Carlisle Indian Industrial School in author Stephen Graham Jones’s return to the Blackfeet reservation of his award-winning New York Times bestsellers The Only Good Indians and The Buffalo Hunter Hunter.

Five years have passed since the massacre on the Blackfeet reservation in Stephen Graham Jones’s breakout bestseller The Only Good Indians. Nathan Yellow Tail, one of the survivors of the revenge murders, finds himself in the hospital after a terrible accident that should’ve killed him and that nearly killed his best friend, Sebby, who is hanging on to life in a room a few doors down.

Nate’s life is out of balance, so when he is given the chance to reset his life, and maybe save Sebby in the process, Nate steps up, again. This time it’s into a camper van that is almost as run down as his broken body, filled with three older Blackfeet, to find the bones of the lone Blackfeet boy who died at the Carlisle Indian Industrial School—where many Indigenous children were abused—and repatriate this boy home. The problem is, when they get the bones, something terrible has escaped with them.

By turns terrifying and deeply moving, Off the Reservation is a haunting American Indian novel of survival, reckoning, and redemption, shining light on the dark corners of this country’s history while also showing the desperate choices people make when they’re put up against a wall.

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www wednesday

WWW Wednesday: August 26th, 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

Off the Reservation by Stephen Graham Jones: Okay, completely disregard what I said in my last WWW Wednesday! We weren’t switching timelines, we were just getting into the mind of a character that I thought I already knew but Stephen Graham Jones had a surprise for me. Every time I sit to read this book, I get completely engrossed! Which is saying something for me because I’m not a fan of e-book reading. Mostly because I lost my Kindle and have to read ’em on my phone 😅 This is getting even more bizarre and twisted and I’m loving it!
A Lesson in Vengeance by Victoria Lee: Audiobooks are making a comeback this month. This is evidence by the fact that I’ve been listening to this YA thriller that I’m only kind of enjoying over picking up the two physical novels that I have been loving. I’m intrigued by the mystery of this novel and I like the general witchiness of it, but literally every character is insufferable. And it’s delving into some topics that feel super tired in the year of our lord 2026. I can’t really hold that against the book, though, as it came out in 2021 and I just took forever to read it… so I’m trying to give it grace, haha.

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top ten tuesday

Top Ten Tuesday: Bookish Places

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Hello, reader!

As a person who loves to (but doesn’t often get to) travel, today’s Top Ten Tuesday prompt was right up my alley! It’s all about bookish places I’ve been! Now, I haven’t been to a ton of bookish spots and there are a ton on my bucket list, so I thought I’d split this up. I’m going to share five places I’ve been and five places I want to go.

Bookish Places I’ve Visited

Bremen, Germany
- My family used to live in Germany when I was a toddler. My brother and I loved German fairytales, like the Town Musicians of Bremen, so our parents took us to the actual town! Somewhere, there is a picture of tiny-me standing in front of the statue pictured above. Definitely one of my most cherished childhood memories.
Sleepy Hollow Cemetery, Massachusetts
- This cemetery in Concord, Massachusetts is the final resting place of quite a few famous writers. The grave in the picture above is that of Ralph Waldo Emerson! Louise May Alcott is buried there, as well, but I couldn’t find her grave when my husband and I went to visit. Good excuse to go back!
An Unlikely Story, Massachusetts
- This is my favorite indie bookstore near where we live. It’s located in Plainville, Massachusetts and it has a little more claim to fame than just being my fave. This bookstore is owned by the author of the Diary of a Wimpy Kid series, Jeff Kinney! He even has a workshop on the top floor and they offer tours every once in awhile. This was especially cool because my son is obsessed with that series 😂
Make Way For Ducklings Statue, Massachusetts
- The setting of the classic children’s book, Make Way For Ducklings, is set at the Boston Public Gardens. So of course there is a lovely little statue dedicated to the book! My favorite thing about this art is that they routinely dress the duck and her ducklings in outfits to match seasons/occasions. It’s very cute and we make a point to stop by every time we’re in the Gardens.
The Boston Public Library, Massachusetts
- I couldn’t make about a post about bookish places I’ve been and not include the Boston Public Library. To be honest, I’ve lived in the area for around seven years now and only just went inside the library last year! It’s just as gorgeous as I heard it would be. I definitely want to go back and poke around more!

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goodreads monday

Goodreads/TBR Monday: August 24th, 2026

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Hello, reader!

Happy Goodreads Monday, everyone! It’s time for me to delve back into my Goodreads “Want to Read” list to see what it has to offer. Let’s see if today’s choice gets to linger on the list or it gets the boot.

Random Goodreads Pick

Book:
Forging Silver into Stars

Author:
Brigid Kemmerer

Publisher:
Bloomsbury YA

Publication Date:
June 7th, 2022

Pages:
560

Genre:
Fantasy/Romance

Synopsis:
Forbidden magic. Secret romance. Dangerous alliances. Enter the world of New York Times bestselling author Brigid Kemmerer’s electrifying series.

When nineteen-year-old Tycho, the King’s Courier, arrives in the remote village of Briarlock, he hopes to escape the demands of his new life in the royal court, where magic reigns for the first time in ages. He doesn’t expect to fall for a handsome blacksmith with a bruised heart.

After years of cruelty in his father’s forge, Jax never dared to dream of a better life — until a magic-wielding young lord shows him an enticing alternative. But when rumors of a rebellion reach Briarlock, Jax wonders who he can trust — and if he’ll even survive.

Jax’s best friend, Callyn, doesn’t trust anyone — especially not a handsome stranger with magic, which killed her parents years ago. When another royal emissary arrives, seeing a co-conspirator, Callyn finds herself embroiled in a plot that could lead them all to ruin. . .

As tensions flare throughout the kingdom, it won’t be long before everyone must choose a side.

War is brewing. Passions are building. And magic may doom — or save — them all . . .

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the sunday post

The Sunday Post: August 23rd, 2026

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Hello, reader!

I’m bringing you another edition of The Sunday Post today! Time to let you know what I got up to this week, both here and out in the world. I was actually social this week so I have more to talk about, haha.

That being said, let’s jump in!

Week in Review

Ahh what to say about this week at work. It was a lot. Mostly because the place where we get a lot of our supplies for our department is having a huge warehouse issue and it is trickling down to us, the buyers. Which is stressing me out 🫠 Ahh, the fun of being a supervisor… But it honestly wasn’t a bad work week besides all the supply issues. I feel like I got a lot done, which is always a great feeling.

Friday was my day off since I worked this weekend and I actually left the house! Please clap! I went over to a fellow choir member’s house to help put together the music for our upcoming season. There were a handful of us that showed up to help out and it was fun to chat and catch up with everyone! I’m looking forward to starting our new season soon in September.

This weekend was a work weekend, so pretty boring, lol. I did take the kids to do some back to school shopping today after work. Now I’m a little poorer and a lot more exhausted 😂 I like shopping with my kiddos, though, because they are hilarious, lol. And at least it’s done now! Now we just gotta get the oldest packed and ready to move back to the dorms this coming weekend. Summer really flew by, didn’t it?

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book blogger hop

Book Blogger Hop: Book Trends & Bestsellers

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This Week’s Prompt

Do you follow book trends and bestsellers, or do you prefer hunting down lesser-known titles?

Submitted by Billy, Coffee-Addicted Writer.

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first lines friday

First Lines Friday: August 21st, 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!

I hope you’re all having a good end to your work week. It’s Friday and we all know what that means… it’s time for another First Lines Friday post! Today, I’m featuring one of my current reads. It was a random Libby pick that I find myself enjoying quite a bit! The premise is bonkers but, so far, it’s working for me, haha.

Now, let me share the first lines to see if it can pull you in!

The Line(s):

“‘I’m sorry, Asher… but I can’t go on this trip-‘

The last words I expected to hear coming out of my long-term boyfriend’s mouth at the airline ticket counter.”

The Build Up:

The Reveal:

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reading project

Project Library Love: August Visit

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Hello, reader!

August is swiftly coming to a close which is wild to me. This summer is flying by! Thankfully, I have had time to drop by my local library, so it’s time for another Library Love entry! My last library visit was absolutely perfect because I got to linger. No rushing because we had other errands to do. No monitoring the youngest since it was just me. I had nothing but time and a vague idea about what I wanted to read. I do love those types of library visits 🥰

Now, it’s time to jump in to the post!

Last Month’s Stack

In July, I checked out two physical books and two audiobooks.

My physical picks were:

Platform Decay by Marthe Wells
Vera Wong’s Unsolicited Advice for Murderers by Jesse Q. Sutanto

My audiobook picks were:

Leech by Hiron Ennes
One Day, Everyone Will Have Always Been Against This by Omar El Akkad

I didn’t go as wild at the library last month as I typically do. I feel like July was a month of nothing but rushing! I did manage to read one of my physical books and both audiobooks, though. I quite enjoyed the ones I read, as well. The only one I didn’t get to was Vera Wong’s Unsolicited Advice for Murderers but I still have it so there’s a chance I’ll read it in August!

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www wednesday

WWW Wednesday: August 19th, 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 Will of the Many by James Islington: This continues to be a very compelling, if slow-going, read! And it’s only slow-going because I want to take my time with the world that James Islington is creating. It’s fascinating to me! I do feel like I need a whiteboard at times to keep track of everything 😂 Thank goodness for the appendices in the back! I’m having a great time with this but I feel like I need a day to just buckle down and get lost in the pages.
Off the Reservation by Stephen Graham Jones: This author knows how to write a scene that gets under your skin and makes you shiver! There’s already been a handful of those in this novel and I’m not even halfway through. I just hit a part that ended with quite the cliffhanger and we’ve jumped to a different time/perspective. I’m not gonna lie, it’s slowed me down a bit because I want to know what’s happening in the other timeline! Still, this a solid read so far.
Work For It by Talia Hibbert: Oooooooooooh my, Ms. Hibbert! Got me blushing in my car on the way to work every morning, lol. I love these two grouchy idiots (no offense meant, Griff) and the spice is spicing 🥵 The audiobook is top notch though the voice Olu’s narrator uses for Griff took some getting used to. And the tension! I do love a romance with some yearning and this has it in spades.

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top ten tuesday

Top Ten Tuesday: Series I Want to Catch Up On

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Hello, reader!

Today’s Top Ten Tuesday post is really calling me out 😂 Not only on the fact that I’m in the middle of several series, but the fact that I’ve been failing dismally on my Series Takedown reading project. Since I already have ten books on that list, I decided to pick ten different series for this post. Because I’m in the middle of enough for me to be able to pick ten more 😅

Let’s dive in!

Series I Want to Catch Up On

Ninth House Trilogy by Leigh Bardugo
The Sunbearer Duology by Aiden Thomas
Dungeon Crawler Carl series by Matt Dinniman
Green Creek series by T.J. Klune
Sworn Soldier series by T. Kingfisher

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goodreads monday

Goodreads/TBR Monday: August 17th, 2026

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Hello, reader!

The work week has begun! That means it’s time for another Goodreads Monday. Time to pick a random book from my Goodreads “Want to Read” shelf and decide whether or not I actually do want to read it. I’ve been on Goodreads since 2011, y’all… there’s quite a few books on there that I probably don’t even remember adding! I’m currently sitting at 828 books to choose from and it really could be anything.

Let’s see which one we get today!

Random Goodreads Pick

Book:
Deep End

Author:
Ali Hazelwood

Publisher:
Berkley

Publication Date:
February 4th, 2025

Pages:
464

Genre:
Romance

Synopsis:
A competitive diver and an ace swimmer jump into forbidden waters in this steamy college romance from the New York Times bestselling author of The Love Hypothesis.

Scarlett Vandermeer is swimming upstream. A Junior at Stanford and a student-athlete who specializes in platform diving, Scarlett prefers to keep her head down, concentrating on getting into med school and on recovering from the injury that almost ended her career. She has no time for relationships—at least, that’s what she tells herself.

Swim captain, world champion, all-around aquatics golden boy, Lukas Blomqvist thrives on discipline. It’s how he wins gold medals and breaks records: complete focus, with every stroke. On the surface, Lukas and Scarlett have nothing in common. Until a well-guarded secret slips out, and everything changes.

So they start an arrangement. And as the pressure leading to the Olympics heats up, so does their relationship. It was supposed to be just a temporary, mutually satisfying fling. But when staying away from Lukas becomes impossible, Scarlett realizes that her heart might be treading into dangerous water…

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the sunday post

The Sunday Post: August 16th, 2026

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Hello, reader!

We’ve reached the end of the week, which means I have another edition for you of The Sunday Post! Time to wrap up my week and what I’ve been up to on the blog.

Let’s dive in!

Week in Review

Not gonna lie, y’all, last week was pretty dull 😂 Work was work. I ended up only working four out of five days because I had a killer migraine on Friday morning. I could barely keep my eyes open and I was nauseous as hell. So I slept pretty much all day on Friday and have been taking it easy this weekend.

I did get into the kitchen yesterday morning. The kids were craving pancakes, so I obliged. I randomly Googled a recipe and the pancakes ended up coming out delicious! I also played some Minecraft with the youngest which ended when he decided to stab a witch and she murdered both of us… even though I told him not to! It was hilarious, haha. We also hung out and watched some random YouTube videos of Rhythm Heaven Groove. He’s trying to convince me to buy him the game and I’m beginning to be swayed!

Today was a lot of listening to my current audiobook, which is A Trade of Blood. Yes, I did just read the e-ARC at the end of July. But my library added the audiobook and I was the first person that got a chance to borrow it… so I did! Also, I love the narrator for this series (Andrew Fallaize) so I always pick up the audio as soon as I can after it’s released. This time it was just sooner than anticipated 😅😂 Still, I’m having a great time!

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book blogger hop

Book Blogger Hop: Favorite Re-Reads

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This Week’s Prompt

Is there a book you keep coming back to, reading it more than once?

Submitted by Billy, Coffee-Addicted Writer.

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first lines friday

First Lines Friday: August 14th, 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!

It’s time for another First Lines Friday! I’ve spent most of this Friday in bed with a killer headache which was… not fun. But the haze is clearing and I’m feeling much more human! Now it’s time to share the first line of another novel that I’m hoping to read soon. The book I chose today is one I’ve been interested in since it came out. I’m hoping to pick it up soon because I think it’s something I could love.

Now, let’s see if the first line will get me even more excited!

The Line(s):

“Vera Wong Zhuzhu, age sixty, is a pig, but she really should have been born a rooster.”

The Build Up:

The Reveal:

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wrap up

July 2026 Wrap Up

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Hello, reader!

We’ve gotten to mid-August, so I figured it was about time I did my July Wrap Up! July has to be one of my best reading months when it comes to star ratings because I was reading banger after banger. I also read the most books out of any month so far! It was a good, freakin’ time.

Now, let’s get into the wrap up!

July Reading Stats

In July 2026, I read 12 books for 4,152 pages and I had one DNF. That two months in a row with a DNF! It really gets easier and easier the more you do it 😂 The book deserved it, though, because it had the nerve to be boring and have a plot twist that pissed me off! One or the other, I’m not dealing with both.

Once again fantasy has come out on top! Are we at all surprised? It’s my favorite genre after all. I did read a lot more romance than usual, though. I did say I was in a romance mood and I leaned into it. Maybe that’s why I read so many books in July… I actually followed my mood for what I wanted to read! Still, I have a pretty good spread of genres from last month which makes me happy.

Ohhhh, we have an upset in the format section! Physical books were 50% of my reads in July. And audiobooks are at the lowest since the start of the year. I even read two e-books… that’s unheard of for me! This is the most I’ve diversified my reading, I think, but I’m kind of happy I read so many physical books. I’ve been neglecting them a bit because I’ve been so into audiobooks lately. Perhaps we can keep this going for the rest of the year.

My average star rating in July was a whooping 4.21! I told y’all I had the best reading month of the year (so far) in July! I read so many books that I thoroughly enjoyed and even came out of the month with another five star. I did unfortunately DNF Swept Away by Beth O’Leary because I could not get past the third act drama of it. Not to mention I was bored which is a feat when they are quite literally fighting for their lives out on the ocean. Still, at least it was balanced out by all the amazing books I got to read!

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cant wait wednesday

Can’t Wait Wednesday: August 12th, 2026

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Can’t-Wait Wednesday is a meme where you get to flail about whatever upcoming book you’re excited to read. Though it is generally a new release, it certainly can be any book that’s on your TBR! This meme is currently hosted by Wishful Endings and it’s based on Waiting on Wednesday, hosted by the fabulous Jill at Breaking the Spine.

Hello, reader!

We’ve arrived at the middle of the week and I want to talk about one of my most anticipated books of 2026. That’s why I’ve decided to do another installment of Can’t Wait Wednesday! As we work our way through August, I can’t help but wish it would move along. Why? Because September is not only my birth month but there are so many great books releasing that I want to read! So this seems like a good time to talk about at least one of them.

Let’s jump in!

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Again, this book is releasing in the Best Month Ever™️and I’m so hyped for it! Here’s some hints as to what it might be:

This is the newest release from one of my favorite authors
It’s kind of a departure from this author’s usual genre
The cover is stunning 🤩

The book I’ve chosen for Can’t Wait Wednesday is…

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