Review: Meet Me in Another Life

Meet Me in Another Life
Meet Me in Another Life by Catriona Silvey
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

‘Santi shakes his head. “Thora, no. If love was something we had to deserve, we would all be loveless. No, love is what the world owes us.” He gives her an apologetic smile. “Sometimes, it doesn’t pay up, that’s all.”’

I really loved the time I spent with this story. I’ve read a lot of books and have seen many characters and a lot of plot lines. I don’t think I’ve ever read anything like this. It’s part romance and part science fiction and I had no idea where it was going but while I was trying to figure that out, I fell in love with the characters along the way.

“There’s no wrong choice,” Santi says. “There’s just what happens.”

And then once I knew what was going on, and my mind was blown, I loved it even more. I just wanted to keep going. And there were crazy twists upon twists but none of them mattered to me because these two characters already had my heart.

“I didn’t understand until you put it that way. But do you realize, this is what I’ve wanted my entire life? My entire lives. A way to go back. To see how it would be if I did things differently.” She shakes her head in wonder. “I’ve always been so scared of choosing wrong. Now, I don’t have just one choice. I can live every life I want to. Explore every version of who I can be.” He speaks carefully. “You can’t control everything that happens to you.”

And then the heart-wrenching ending came and I was shattered and full of joy and full of awe at this crazy, weird, unusual book that managed to take my heart, fill it, break it, rebuild it and just make me feel full with awe and wonder. What a book.

“Yes,” he says, fire in his voice. “Thora, yes. It’s not one choice. It’s a hundred choices, every single day, and all of them matter.” He holds her gaze steadily as he says, “I learned that from you.”

with gratitude to William Morrow and edelweiss for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review

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Review: The Kitchen Front

The Kitchen Front
The Kitchen Front by Jennifer Ryan
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I enjoyed this story of four women who find themselves in a competition to host a cooking radio show. Four very different women for very different reasons whose lives get intertwined and they all emerge stronger and better as a result.

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Review: The Soulmate Equation

The Soulmate Equation
The Soulmate Equation by Christina Lauren
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

3.5 stars.

You really can’t go wrong with a Christina Lauren book, if you ask me. The characters are always fun and the plot keeps you engaged, takes you through a journey and always lands in a happy place.

This story is no exception. I had a soft spot in my heart for River and really enjoyed reading about Jess and Fizzy and their friendship.

When I grab one of their books, I know it will keep me engaged and entertained and leave me content by the end and that’s exactly what happened.

with gratitude to netgalley and Gallery Books for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

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Weekly Reflection 2021 – 12

  • The Best Part of this Week: The best part of this week was having a 3 (maybe 4-) day weekend.
  • I celebrate: taking a little downtime
  • I am grateful for:  a conversation i had with a friend at work that helped put my mind at ease
  • This week, I exercised: I climbed 3 times a week, rode thrice, did 10 mins of core and 10 mins of arms 4 days a week. And did 30 mins of yoga and 40 mins of stretching and 10 mins of cardio.
  • This week, I said yes to:  hosting a social.
  • I said no to: doing overtime.
  • I honored my values (love, learn, peace, service, gratitude): things are still touch and go here but I am working on leaning into love and peace way over anything else.
  • Top Goals Review: did not get that much done this week :/ 
    • Work:  did not write up the 3 for L and 3 for D. did not finish coaching assessment. did not prep for reviews.
    • Personal:  did not really get back to drawing and journaling.
    • Family: did not take walks with J. did one thing with N and did not do one thing with D. did not book vacation for April.
  • My mood this week was: i’ve still been anxious but i am working on it actively and some days are definitely better than others.
  • I am proud of: all the exercise i am trying to do. i wish i could say the same about the nutrition too.
  • I release: i’ve been in my head a lot this week, about work, about my body, about my trip. on and on. i’d like to release all of it.
  • Here’s what I learned this week: that i might be okay after all.

100 Days of Radical Wellness – 56

100 Days of Radical Wellness – Day 56

Grateful to hear the birds singing and the trees budding again.

Winter months are not my favorite and spring feels like a salve right now.

#100dayproject, #the100dayproject, #karenikaradicalwellness

Daily Year of Yes – 86

Year of Yes – 86

Loving the backyard. Grateful for warm weather and slow days.

This morning I’ve started a slightly different routine, we’ll see if it sticks. I’ve also spent the whole day reading a book from beginning to end.

Now off to climbing.

Yes to quiet Saturdays and long weekends.

#yearofyes #karenikayearofyes

100 Days of Radical Wellness – 55

100 Days of Radical Wellness – Day 55

I had the day off work today and here it is 8:30 and I feel regretful about how I spent my day.

One of the ways I’m trying to use this project is to understand what activities help me feel better about the way I spend my time.

I know that moving my body, going out in the sunshine, a warm bath, journaling, and a healthy meal all help.

I also know poor nutrition and too much sedentary time doesn’t help.

What I am still struggling with is how to get myself to do what I know I will be grateful I did vs what feels easy.

#100dayproject, #the100dayproject, #karenikaradicalwellness

Daily Year of Yes – 85

Year of Yes – 85

It was 71 (22) degrees here today. I got to take a nice walk and also got to sit in the backyard for the first time since last year.

California spoils us with decent weather most of the year. And even though it has one of the shortest winters, I still find myself waiting for spring with baited breath.

I am so excited to sit in the yard, listening to the birds sing and breathing the fresh air again.

Yes to sunshine and flowers and birds and drinking the wild air!

#yearofyes #karenikayearofyes

Daily Year of Yes – 84

Year of Yes – 84

I was journaling this morning and I had a huge moment of insight. On average this happens more often than not when I journal.

I write stuff down that I don’t even realize that I am thinking or feeling and then I see it on paper and I am like whoa!

This is one reason I wish I journaled more. I’ve been very intermittent with it. But this morning I did and it was very meaningful.

Which I hope will encourage me to do it again tomorrow morning.

Yes to writing it down. Yes to journaling.

#yearofyes #karenikayearofyes

100 Days of Radical Wellness – 54

100 Days of Radical Wellness – Day 54

Today had the full gamut from exercise to meditation to journaling to connecting to alone time.

Such days are rare and feel very special. Grateful today.

#100dayproject, #the100dayproject, #karenikaradicalwellness

Daily Year of Yes – 83

Year of Yes – 83

It was a really long day today. I started at 8am and it’s 9pm and I still have a lot of email to read but I can’t keep going to it will have to wait till tomorrow.

Instead now I will do some stretching and maybe yoga and then I will journal and read.

Tomorrow I can start over and maybe actually get through my email. Or maybe not.

Yes to calling it good.

#yearofyes #karenikayearofyes

100 Days of Radical Wellness – 53

100 Days of Radical Wellness – Day 53

Earlier this week I got to paint a little bit. It was magical. I am not sure how to get into a routine with it. But I know that I’ve done it in the past.

Right now I am prioritizing exercise during the week so maybe the trick is to start with once a week on the weekend.

And slowly move from there.

#100dayproject, #the100dayproject, #karenikaradicalwellness