Since it’s two days to the end of June, I figure it’s best to do a review at the same time as a weekly update. Now that it’s the end of June, summer is already half over which makes me kind of bummed. But it’s all good, taking every day as it comes and trying both not to jump ahead and also savor what’s here.
Big Goal is done and dusted, I am proud of myself. It was a good idea, good execution, and great memories.
Progress on the big five:
Y: did some of these. didn’t touch side yard still and didn’t decorate the pergola, maybe I can before Wednesday.
G: Did donations, bought a few things but calling movers today.
S: Done and also did the replacement renewal and appointment.
Sa: Well I did find new people to leave Sadie with which was not about training but still worthwhile progress.
D: Well not sure I will do this one. Can’t decide.
Three Medium goals:
Did a whole bunch in June. Feeling good about it!
Did a lot of practice then did a whole sketching journal during travels. Good job for me.
This one will have to be a July plan.
Making solid progress on this one, too. Let’s see where it goes.
Start: yes! did this!
Stop: so so much better on this one, too!
Continue: Took so so much time off in June, I am very proud of myself.
Brave: trips done, seeing them done, no driving. still proud of myself.
I did a lot this month. Proud of myself. Here’s to another month. Paying attention. Loving my people. Savoring and living in awe. And taking steps to move onward.
It was eminently readable. Messy people going through messy things. It’s easy to judge these people. In fact, it’s easy to judge any one. But we are all complex and contain multitudes.
What an interesting novel. I really enjoyed reading this and I can’t even exactly put my finger on why. It was quiet and I liked the writing. I liked that it didn’t take the easy route of resolving anything too.
I loved every moment I spent with this book. It’s the story of Lina and June’s friendship from when they meet in a college party and how they weave in and out of each other’s lives. How they impact each other. How it can feel both grounding and delicate to be in a friendship this deep and how they both feel insecure and also adore each other.
It’s funny, it’s lovely, and it’s so very very sad. So raw and beautiful.
with gratitude to netgalley and St. Martin’s Press for an advanced copy for an honest review.
For some people this book will be too cheesy. There’s a bunch of suspension of disbelief. But for me, it was a beautiful portrayal of grief and what unresolved trauma can do to us and how every day, small acts can save us and help us save each other. It was both a beautiful and a heartbreaking story.
with gratitude to netgalley and Scribner for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.
i love Sarah Addison Allen’s writing. I love the way she creates her characters and the way they weave their way into your heart slowly and then all at once. I enjoyed both Willamena’s and Bailey’s stories. This has some supernatural parts and it won’t be for everyone, but I loved the family dynamics juxtaposed by the town dynamics. It was an interesting take on being anchored on the past. Wonderful narration, too!
with gratitude to netgalley and Macmillan Audio for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.
eh this was interesting but won’t really stay with me, i think i might just be tired of reading about terrible people doing terrible things for a while.
I am hanging on to the summer days as much as I can. I am trying to take my time and savor each and every day. I am working on being present, slowing down and taking steps to be intentional.
Progress on the big five:
Y: i got a few more things for the yard this week. i think i feel good about where it will be once i put everything up.
G: didn’t schedule the movers yet. I will look into it this week.
S: All set on this one!
Sa: made it through our hard week.
D: No progress this week.
Three Medium goals:
Took a week off so this will have to wait a bit more.
did a whole visual journal slightly different but still awesome.
will start this one this week too.
ordered furniture and all!
Start: yes! Still doing this one!
Stop: I’ve gotten better on this, too. Work in progress.
Continue: doing great at this one!
Brave: meh no progress on driving yet.
getting through a bunch more todos this week, too! I am feeling like i am making progress. Here’s to another good week. Paying attention. Savoring and living in awe. And taking steps to move onward.
Interesting story that held my attention the whole time. It has some twists that I didn’t see coming and some that I did. I felt it was a little disjointed than I would have liked in parts but overall held together well. A story about the secrets we’re keeping, the secrets we think we’re keeping and the lies we tell and the weight of all of them. The audio narration was absolutely excellent.
with gratitude to netgalley and Macmillan Audio for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.
This is more like a 2.5 star read for me. It was WAY WAY too long and also not nearly as interesting as the reviews and blurbs made it sound. If it were a lot less long, maybe it would have been a higher rating for me. It was so long that by the end, I didn’t really care enough about the story or to find out the full truth.
