www wednesday

WWW Wednesday: February 4th, 2026


Itโ€™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:

  1. What are you currently reading?
  2. What did you recently finish reading?
  3. What do you think youโ€™ll read next?

If youโ€™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.
Continue reading “WWW Wednesday: February 4th, 2026”
top ten tuesday

Top Ten Tuesday: Book Covers Featuring Pretty/Unique Typography

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 โ€œborn of a love of lists, a love of books, and a desire to bring bookish friends together.โ€


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!


  • 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 ๐Ÿฅน 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*
Continue reading “Top Ten Tuesday: Book Covers Featuring Pretty/Unique Typography”
goodreads monday

Goodreads/TBR Monday: February 2nd, 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 โ€œto readโ€ lists or TBR lists, the progress you have made on your current books and reading challenges, and any other bookish news!


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 ๐Ÿคก) 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!


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.

Continue reading “Goodreads/TBR Monday: February 2nd, 2026”
the sunday post

The Sunday Post: February 1st, 2026

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!

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 ๐Ÿ˜ฉ 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.


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!

Continue reading “The Sunday Post: February 1st, 2026”
book reviews

Book Review: Solomon’s Crown by Natasha Siegel




Two destined rivals fall desperately in loveโ€”but the fate of medieval Europe hangs in the balance.

โ€œA pair of thrones between us, and my heart clutched like a rosary within his hands …โ€

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 Henryโ€™s volatile sonโ€”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.

Continue reading “Book Review: Solomon’s Crown by Natasha Siegel”
first lines friday

First Lines Friday: January 30th, 2026


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 donโ€™t give anything else about the book away just yet โ€“ you need to hook the reader first
  • Finallyโ€ฆ reveal the book!

If youโ€™re using Twitter, donโ€™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:

Continue reading “First Lines Friday: January 30th, 2026”
monthly tbr

February 2026 TBR

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 ๐Ÿซ ) 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!


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 ๐Ÿ˜‚ 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!
Continue reading “February 2026 TBR”
www wednesday

WWW Wednesday: January 28th, 2026


Itโ€™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:

  1. What are you currently reading?
  2. What did you recently finish reading?
  3. What do you think youโ€™ll read next?

If youโ€™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 ๐Ÿ˜‚ 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.
Continue reading “WWW Wednesday: January 28th, 2026”
top ten tuesday

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

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 โ€œborn of a love of lists, a love of books, and a desire to bring bookish friends together.โ€


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.


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

Continue reading “Top Ten Tuesday: New-To-Me Authors From 2025”
goodreads monday

Goodreads/TBR Monday: January 26th, 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 โ€œto readโ€ lists or TBR lists, the progress you have made on your current books and reading challenges, and any other bookish news!


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.


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 Shakespeareโ€™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, sheโ€™s always in trouble at work โ€“ her pre-school charges adore her, but their parents donโ€™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. Thereโ€™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, heโ€™s relying โ€“ as usual โ€“ on Kate to help him. Kate is furious: this time heโ€™s really asking too much. But will she be able to resist the two menโ€™s touchingly ludicrous campaign to bring her around?

Continue reading “Goodreads/TBR Monday: January 26th, 2026”