The Sunday Post: February 8th, 2026

February 8, 2026 kerrimcbooknerdLeave a comment

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 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

February 7, 2026 kerrimcbooknerd1 Comment

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 drives you to read?

Submitted by Billy, Coffee Addicted Writer

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first lines friday

First Lines Friday: February 6th, 2026

February 6, 2026 kerrimcbooknerd1 Comment

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 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

February 5, 2026February 7, 2026 kerrimcbooknerd3 Comments

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

February 4, 2026 kerrimcbooknerd3 Comments

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

February 3, 2026February 8, 2026 kerrimcbooknerd1 Comment

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!

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

February 2, 2026 kerrimcbooknerd4 Comments

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!

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

February 1, 2026 kerrimcbooknerd2 Comments

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

January 31, 2026 kerrimcbooknerd3 Comments

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

January 30, 2026 kerrimcbooknerd3 Comments

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!