Tell No One by Harlan Coben
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
I went on a Coben journey after watching some of his Netflix movies. I think the books are good but I don’t seem to enjoy the narrator and I like these more as miniseries. They are still great for twisty stories if you enjoy those!
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Margo’s Got Money Troubles by Rufi Thorpe
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Wow, what an unusual story. I don’t even know where to begin with this one.
The truth is that it took me a while to get into this story. Margot made so many poor decisions, one after the other that I wasn’t sure I wanted to keep going because I was frustrated. But then I slowly started to fall in love with her tenacity. I fell in love with her ability to forgive and her willingness to give others chances and her demands that she, too, be given chances.
This book full of oddball characters and collection of poor choices and misfortune will fill your heart when you’re not paying attention and leave you in tears, proud of these characters for all the growth and tenacity they experience over the course of the story.
I started on the fence and ended up loving it.
with gratitude to netgalley and William Morrow for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.
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The Rom-Commers by Katherine Center
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Here’s the thing about Katherine Center, her stories always make you feel happier in the end. She knows how to fill your heart, how to make you hopeful about the world, and how to smile. They are like a warm, cozy blanket on a cold day or a delicious cup of iced lemonade on a warm day. It’s balm for your soul.
And this one is no exception. It’s sad, it’s funny, it’s witty but most of all it’s overflowing with heart. You will not regret reading her stories.
with gratitude to netgalley and St. Martin’s Press for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review
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Bride by Ali Hazelwood
My rating: 3 of 5 stars
I enjoy Ali Hazelwood. Vampires are not my thing but I still liked this because I enjoy her stories and this was still signature Hazelwood even if a bit different.
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Some of It Was Real by Nan Fischer
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
I loved this sweet story. It was an unusual plot and done well. It was really sweet. If sweet romance is your thing, it’s recommended 🙂
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Stillhouse Lake by Rachel Caine
My rating: 3 of 5 stars
I’ve been struggling finding books that I am interested in reading. This was an easy, interesting read. Enough that I am considering reading the next ones in the series 🙂
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The Dragon Behind the Glass: A True Story of Power, Obsession, and the World’s Most Coveted Fish by Emily Voigt
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
I was having dinner with my workmates a week ago and as I always do, I asked folks to tell me their favorite books. I love reading other people’s favorite books. This time, there was mostly silence except for my colleague, Jeff, who told me to read this book. Narrative non-fiction is a genre I love so I was excited to read it, and then when he said his wife wrote it, I decided I had to read it.
I am so glad I did!
Before this book, the only time I had heard of Arowana was because of Animal Crossing. A fish worth a lot of bells. As it turns out, it’s worth a lot in the real world, too! In this journey that takes the author to unexpected destinations and heights of adventure, Emily Voigt explores the bizarre realm of ornamental fish hobbyists and those who journey far and wide to discover new fish species.
If you didn’t think the world of fish could be that interesting, think again. This book will have you turning the pages and shaking your head in wonder and amazement at what people will do and how far they will go. I loved every moment of following the crazy journey from the safety of my home!
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The Teacher by Freida McFadden
My rating: 1 of 5 stars
Nope I am sorry I am going to have to stop reading McFadden. Yes her books are a fast read and yes you’re always wanting to know what happens next. But her characters are vile. The material is always triggering. And I am just done reading these.
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Interesting Facts about Space by Emily R. Austin
My rating: 3 of 5 stars
I enjoyed this book in the beginning but somewhere in the middle it lost me. For some reason I didn’t find myself wanting to come back to it. But I stuck it out and was grateful to have done so by the end. Many many others loved this much more than I did so I would urge you to read their reviews 🙂
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Middletide by Sarah Crouch
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
This slow-burn novel is about a mystery. A woman is found dead. Is it a suicide or is it a murder? If it’s a murder, who did it? How come the details seem to match a novel that was written a long time ago?
But really, at its heart, it’s not about the mystery. Sure there’s some of that.
What there’s much more of is the story of coming back home, the story of regret and trying to make amends. The story of loss and grief and deep sadness. The story of small towns vs big cities. The story of how we can lose ourselves and how we can find ourselves. And the story of what it means to be believed.
If you come into this story for the mystery, you will not like it. It’s a slow slow slow burn. But if you come into it to enjoy the characters, the beautiful setting and the humanity, you will love it.
with gratitude to Atria and netgalley for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review
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In Universes by Emet North
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
“But the truth is that time is neither a river nor an arrow. It is a dimension, and our lives stretch across it, each of us a four-dimensional shape, taking up some small space in the universe. All moments existing at once and forever.”
The poetic exploration of kaleidoscopic parallel universes in this book makes it hard for the literal reader to weave a single thread through the plot. You are not meant to read this story, you’re meant to fall into the worlds the author puts together and follow the journey with your heart.
“I loved him like my left hand, without which it would be difficult to tie my shoes or chop an onion. But I would still be able to make circles around stars. The days I woke to find myself weightless”
There’s so much beauty, so much grief, so much joy, so much self-exploration in this story. Just when you think you know what’s going on, things shift. New openings, new perspectives, and new unknowns welcome you.
“It doesn’t take so much to make a life. A small group of kind people. Work that leaves a body tired enough for sleep. A little house with a bed and a chair. Food grown in the fields or gardens. Letters I write to the people I love, even knowing I can’t send them.”
I loved following Raffi’s journey, I loved the writing, I loved the journey that the book took me on.
with gratitude to Harper and netgalley for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review
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Instructions for Traveling West: Poems by Joy Sullivan
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
“The last time I felt lucky was in fifth grade and my teacher was giving away a goldfish. She put all our names in a hat and miraculously drew mine. I was so excited, I cried. The fish only lived two weeks but, I loved him. It was years before I realized my teacher likely rigged the draw. Moments before, she had, in fact, whispered rather conspiratorially, that it just might be my lucky day. I was such a lonely kid and having a hell of a time adapting to the U.S. after living abroad and I think Mrs. Edelstein figured I could use a win. Of course the universe is full of deep magic, but I think most miracles can be traced back to someone’s profound and quiet kindness.”
This collection of poems beautiful, thought-provoking, deeply emotional and full of joy. It was honest and raw. Each time I read something that makes me feel less alone in the world, I am grateful for the bravery of the author to share a piece of themselves in a way that reminds us that we are all connected and suffering and joyful together.
“What curses us are rarely witches. Instead, it’s the stories the shape of someone else’s fear.”
There’s so much beauty in these poems, so much rawness and honesty. Regardless of where you are in your journey to self, I am confident you will find something here that resonates with you.
“In the Office We wear thin armor, as if approaching war. During a meeting, a man explains why his ideas are good, perhaps brilliant. The days rifle past, full of paper cuts, nerves, and filing cabinets. The copier, a monstrosity, glares in the corner and waits to break. In the lobby, there is enough sugar to kill a horse. At the company party, the receptionist gets drunk and begins to weep. We sneak our joy in slices—on holidays and weekends, sandwiched between calendars and PTO. Vacations smear at the edges. Traffic eats us like ants. Work-life balance, someone says. Outside, our lives ring, unanswered.”
Here’s to answering the call of our lives.
with gratitude to Random House and netgalley for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review
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projects for twenty twenty-four
projects for twenty twenty-three
projects for twenty twenty-two
projects for twenty twenty-one
projects for twenty nineteen
projects for twenty eighteen
projects from twenty seventeen
monthly projects from previous years
some of my previous projects
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