Shorter month, not so shorter reading list

 For a short month, I did a great job getting some reading done. 8 books. 2,652 pages. An average of 95 pages per day. So let’s get to it!

Interview with a Vampire by Anne Rice(349 pages). I’ve seen the movie so many times, but I’d never read the book. I really, really liked the movie. And the book was even better!  Louis, Lestat, Claudia- these vampires were so memorable. For those who don’t know, the book opens in modern day New Orleans, where Louis is giving an interview. Louis became a vampire in the 1790’s. Lestat was his maker. And Claudia was their (literal) child- a young girl who Lestat turned in order to make Louis stay with him as a family. As Louis gives his interview, sharing his life and adventures (both good and evil), he is dismayed to learn that the young interviewer finds his life fascinating and wants to become a vampire as well. I finished in 6 days. 

Alice by Christina Henry (291 pages). Young Alice allowed herself to be led into Old City, a terrifying world of decrepit buildings and under lord bosses named the Walrus, Cheshire, and Mr. Carpenter. When she escaped, no one believed her and she was thrown into an asylum. 10 years later, Alice and her next door neighbor Hatcher escape when the asylum burns down. Both are set on revenge. Alice wants to find the Rabbit, the man who took her innocence (but she took his eye). Hatcher is intent on finding the Jabberwocky, the dark creature who haunts his dreams.  In a world where magic is real, Alice and Hatcher find themselves learning so much about the pasts that they thought were hidden. This was one of the coolest retellings of a fairy tale I’ve read. I loved it!  Apparently it’s the first of a series. So there’s more to come for me, I’m sure!  I finished in 3 days. 

Layla by Colleen Hoover (290 pages). If you don’t know that Colleen Hoover has taken over the literary world, you’ve been living under a rock. I’d heard that this one was a little different than her others. And boy, was it!  Leeds met Layla at her sister’s wedding. And he knew in one moment that she was the woman he was going to spend the rest of his life with. But when a crazy ex-girlfriend attacks them, their whole world changes. And Layla just doesn’t seem to be Layla anymore. So Leeds takes them back to the now vacant and up for sale bed and breakfast where they met. Some alone time in the place where it all began should bring her back to him. But it turns out they aren’t alone. There’s someone else there. And as Leeds finds his connection to Willow growing, he decides he must help her. In helping her, can he actually help himself and Layla? I finished in 5 days. 

Laughing at Funerals by Katherine Bryant (101 pages). I cannot tell you the thrill I got typing MY FRIEND’S NAME as the author!  I’ve known Kat for at least 15 years. She’s a fellow reader (who takes it a step further by being an actual English teacher). And a way better writer than me. She started a blog a few years ago and was able to turn her blog into a devotional!  She’s like the Christian Carrie Bradshaw, y’all!  The devotionals are funny, poignant, applicable and just delightful! I finished in 1 day.  

A Slow Fire Burning by Paula Hawkins (378 pages). When a young man is found brutally murdered on a houseboat in London, three women begin to emerge. Laura, the troubled young woman who was the last to see Daniel alive after their one night stand. Laura has problems, but could she have killed someone?  Miriam, the most next door neighbor who found the body and has a connection to the victim’s family. Miriam has bitterness, but could she have killed someone?  Carla, the grieving aunt who also just recently lost her sister (Daniel’s mother), among other losses. Carla has grief, but could she have killed someone?  Who actually killed Daniel?  This was not my favorite Paula Hawkins. It was slow going and not the reveal I wanted. I finished in 5 days. 

Murder Past Due by Miranda James (294 pages). Charlie Harris returned to his small hometown of Athena, Mississippi, after he lost his wife. He spends his days working at the local college library and walking his Maine Coon, Diesel, on a leash. He also finds himself in the middle of a murder investigation when former classmate/best selling novelist Godfrey Priest comes back to town and winds up dead. There is definitely more than one person in this small town who has motive. And Charlie finds himself helping out the sheriff’s department in their search. I was misdirected as to the murderer (which was a nice change). It was a pretty good book. But honestly, Diesel was legit my favorite character in the book (I love a smart cat!). I finished in 2 days. 

Things We Hide from the Light by Lucy Score (589 pages). Book 2 in the Knockemout series. This one focuses on Knox’s brother, Nash.  Nash Morgan is the chief of police and an all-around great guy. But he hasn’t been himself since he nearly died after being shot by small time criminal Hugo Duncan. Little does Nash know that Knox’s ex, Lina Solavita, might be just the thing to bring him back to life. But Lina is so used to keeping her life private that when Nash learns some of her secrets, they go from friends to almost enemies. But that’s a short jump to lovers in the smalls town of Knockemout. And the rest of the town, including Knox, his fiancée Naomi, her friend Sloane, and the Morgan boys childhood friend Lucian, slowly help Lina realized that life is amazing when you share it with people you love. I finished in 4 days.

Better than the Movies by Lynn Painter (360 pages). High school senior Liz is a rom com expert. It was what she and her mom loved the most. But when she lost her mother, she clung to the ideas in those movies. And now that Michael, the boy she had a crush on as a child, is back, she knows her happy ever after is about to happen. But she needs a little help from her next door neighbor (and sworn enemy) Wes. As she and Wes work together to woo Michael, Liz begins to realize that maybe she likes the wrong boy after all!  I finished in 3 days. 

This month’s favorite was…..Alice (for the fiction). But Laughing at Funerals was a home run!

No dry January in regards to books

 I’m starting 2023 off strong. 10 books. 3,329 pages. An average of 107 pages a day. If I can keep up this pace, I’ll get soooo many books read this year!  But let’s not get ahead of ourselves. 

Never Name the Dead by D.M. Rowell (325 pages). This was my November Once Upon a Book Club box. When Mae receives a message from her beloved grandfather that asks her to come home, she leaves her company in California and rushes home to Oklahoma. Home, where her name is Mud and her Kiowa brethren are losing their land and their heritage- their land to frackers and their heritage to a greedy art dealer. Mud and her cousin Denny team up to help their missing grandfather, solve a murder, and return artifacts to their people. I liked the gifts; I didn’t love the books. I finished in 4 days. 

Bloodleaf by Crystal Smith (373 pages). Princess Aurelia of Renalt lives in a country where magic is illegal. Unfortunately, the princess possesses magic. And when a failed assassination attempt forces her to use her magic, she must flee to neighboring Achleva.  She is befriended by Zan, a lord of the city. And joins forces with him to stop the black magic that is threatening them all. I finished in 5 days. 

To Sir Phillip With Love by Julia Quinn (390 pages). Book 5 of the Bridgerton series and part of a special edition box from Once Upon a Book Club. So hoorah for gifts AND fun books! This book focused on Eloise Bridgerton, the fifth of the eight siblings. Eloise was the boldest of the Bridgertons-she spoke her mind and had no problem turning down a perfectly acceptable marriage proposal. But when her cousin Marina dies, Eloise finds herself in a year long correspondence with Marina’s widower, Sir Phillip Crane. And when Sir Phillip suggests a visit that could culminate in marriage, Eloise decides to sneak away from London. She finds herself quickly enthralled with Sir Phillip and his twins, Amanda and Oliver. Their whirlwind courtship leads to marriage (this is a Bridgerton novel after all). There were times that I found myself disappointed in Eloise for choosing a man who was distant and unavailable (and a bit of a misogynist). But I do think that she managed to wrangle a decent husband and father out of him eventually. I finished in 4 days. 

Chasing Vines by Beth Moore (285 pages). Beth Moore is a dynamic Bible study teacher. I’ve done 3 of her studies and loved them. This was a different approach for me, as it wasn’t a weekly study. This one focused on us as the vines and God as the vine dresser. Beth studied viticulture voraciously after traveling to Italy with her daughters. And she shared that knowledge in this book. I enjoyed learning about vines and truly showing how God is the ultimate vine dresser for our own good. I just think I prefer watching Beth in action rather than reading her words. She’s so dynamic in person and that just doesn’t translate to the page (at least for me). I finished in 5 days. 

 

When He Was Wicked by Julia Quinn (421 pages). Book 6 in the series and another of the special edition box. This book focused on Francesca Bridgerton, sixth of the eight siblings. After nearly two years of blissful marriage, Francesca finds herself widowed at age 22. Her husband’s cousin and best friend Michael becomes the new Earl of Kilmartin. But his love for Francesca causes him to flee to India for 4 years. Upon his return, he learns that Francesca is finally ready to marry again. Only this time, she will not marry for love. It will be to have children. But little does she know that she can have both. This one might have been one of my favorites of the Bridgerton novels!  I finished in 3 days. 

It’s in His Kiss by Julia Quinn (406 pages). Book 7 in the series. This book focused on Hyacinth Bridgerton, the youngest of the eight siblings. Hyacinth is Lady Danbury (the Duke of book 1’s godmother) reincarnated. Witty, charming and sure of herself, she finally meets her match in Gareth St Clair, Lady Danbury’s grandson. While their families wish to see them wed, these two perfectly compatible people must first team up to solve the mystery of Gareth’s St Clair grandmother’s hidden jewels. Along the way, they fall madly in love (as Bridgertons do). But this couple has a rather lengthy engagement period (2 whole months!) before their happy ever after, unlike most of Hyacinth’s siblings. I loved this one too!  I finished in 2 days. 

On the Way to the Wedding by Julia Quinn (469 pages). Book 8, the final book in the series.  This book focused on Gregory Bridgerton, seventh of the eight siblings. Gregory, unlike most young men of his acquaintance, believes in true love. He’s seen it in 7 marriages (8 if you count his parents, even though he was 2 when his father died). So he is not going to marry for anything less than the perfect love. And that love seems to be Hermione Watson.  At least that what love at first sight is telling him. Hermione’ s best friend Lucy is convinced that Gregory would make an excellent match. But first, Hermione has to be convinced that love at first sight does NOT exist (she fancies herself in love with another man). Along the way, Gregory realizes that Lucy is the one he loves. But Lucy is engaged to another man, with a wedding planned. Arguably the most dramatic of the books (blackmail, betrayal, a broken engagement), I found Gregory and Lucy to be delightful. I finished in 4 days. 

After by Anna Todd (164 pages). I do not typically read graphic novels, but I’m doing the Once Upon a Book Club 40 book challenge. And graphic novel was on the list. This one was basically a YA rom com. Prudish Tessa goes to college, leaving behind her equally prudish high school sweetheart. But her wild roomie introduces her to Hardin, the bad boy who she just can’t stop thinking about. I finished in about an hour. 

The Invisible Man by H.G. Wells (137 pages). For some reason, I had never read this classic novel. Griffin is a former medical student/physics obsessed albino who has learned how to make things, including himself, invisible. The only problem?  He can’t make them visible again. So he travels to a small inn in a small town to continue his research. Upon realizing that he is invisible (he goes around covered in bandages and masks), the town erupts. And he flees, happening upon a former classmate, to whom he tells the whole tale. He has resorted to theft and even murder to continue on. By losing his visibility, he has begun to lose his humanity. I finished in 1 day.

Before I Do by Sophie Cousens (359 pages). Audrey is very head in the stars. Josh is very rooted. Despite their polar opposite natures, they seem a perfect fit. But at their rehearsal dinner, Josh’s sister shows up with an unexpected plus one. A plus one who is Audrey’s what-if guy. They spent one beautiful, amazing day together 6 years ago. And his appearance sets everything off at the wedding. As disaster after disaster occurs, Audrey begins to wonder if fate is telling her something. But what?  Is your what-if better than you what-is?  Such a super cute chick lit- I wish I’d been poolside reading it!  I finished in 3 days. 

This month’s favorite was…..the darn Bridgerton books!

December is over. 2022 is over. And what a year of reading it has been!

 This month was a pretty average month for me. 8 books. A total of 2,572 pages. An average of 86 pages a day. But most importantly, this is also the end of 2022. So it’s time for the yearly breakdown. A total of 100 books read. A total of 33,835 pages. An average of 93 per day. And the favorite book of the favorite books is……The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo (October’s book). But let’s get into this month’s readings, shall we?

 Circe by Madeline Miller (385 pages). I have always LOVED mythology. But the character of Circe had a small role in it. Until this book. I’d call it mythological fiction. Circe was the daughter of a Titan, the god Helios, and a nymph. Sadly, she had none of her father’s power nor her mother’s allure. What she did have was a fascination for mortals and a flair for witchcraft. After turning a mortal into a minor deity and a fellow nymph into a monster, Zeus banishes her to the island of Aiaia. There, she hones her craft and crosses paths with the greatest figures in Greek mythology- Hermes, Athena, the Minotaur, Medea, Daedalus and Icarus, and Odysseus (with whom she has a son). Despite many centuries alone, Circe never changes in her devotion to her witchcraft and to her humanity. I loved, loved, LOVED this book. From start to finish, it was practically perfect!  I finished in 5 days. 

The Vanished Bride by Bella Ellis (290 pages). The Bronte sisters as detectives?  I’m in!  When all 3 Bronte sisters find themselves living at home with their father and brother, they spend a great deal of time writing together. However, learning of a young wife and mother who has disappeared in a gruesome scene of apparent murder, the sisters immediately decide to become unofficial detectors (a newfangled idea at the time). As more clues turn up, the sisters find themselves caught up in a mystery of epic proportions. The conclusion to the mystery was perfect!  I finished in 5 days. 

The Water is Wide by Pat Conroy (292 pages). One of our dearest family friends from Cape Cod is Peter Walter. We met Peter through his brother Lamar (a former colleague of my father’s) and he is part of our Falmouth vacation every year. Peter is truly one of the most extraordinary men I’ve met. And Peter spent a day teaching with Pat Conroy on Yamacraw (aka Daufuskie) Island. Conroy took the job in 1969. Yamacraw had electricity but not much else. The school was one small building. And Conroy’s was one of the few white faces on the island and the only white face in the school.  The 18 5th through 8th grade students were depressingly undereducated. I mean, depressingly. They did not even know that they lived in America. Or that the Atlantic Ocean lapped at the shores of their home. The school system had failed them. But Conroy didn’t teach by the book- he wanted to open the world off the island up to them. Music, a Halloween spent off the island, a trip to DC, and countless daily lessons made him beloved on the island. But hated by the school board. Shocker. After one year, he was let go. His memories of the island never left him. And one of those children went on to become a bestselling cookbook author. And most of them got of the island. It was a great story. And then, of course, I watched the movie. Not nearly as good as the book. But what movie ever is?  I finished in 4 days. 

Mad Honey by Jodi Picoult and Jennifer Finney Boylan (432 pages). This was my October Once Upon a Book Club book (I’ve been hoarding them for the end of the year). So gifties on social, per usual. 12 years ago, Olivia McAfee took her young son Asher and escaped her abusive marriage by returning home. Home to a small New Hampshire town where she took over her father’s beekeeping. Asher’s senior year of high school brings Lily Campanello, the new girl, into his life. They fall passionately in love, as only teenagers can.  But one day in December changes everything. Lily is dead and Asher is accused of killing her. With her defense attorney brother Jordan at her side, Olivia does everything in her power to prove his innocence. But does Asher have a darker side than she knew?  And was Lily actually hiding things herself?  Jodi Picoult had gotten a little predictable for a while. This book was not what I expected at all. I finished in 3 days. 

The Christmas Witch by Dalea Faulkner (166 pages). This was a special edition Christmas Once Upon a Book Club box. So gifties on social. 13 year old Brigid Baelfyre and her mother Cerri relocated from Scotland to Amberlight Valley after the death of her father. Amberlight Valley is a town tingling with magick. But it’s magick is off balance and Brigid and her frenemy Morgan must find the mythical Amberlight Stone to restore their town. As both of them come into their witchcraft, they begin to learn some of the other secrets of their town. And whether or not they can trust each other. The book was not that great- lots of grammatical errors and one dimensional characters. I finished in 1 day.

Verity by Colleen Hoover (314 pages). Best selling author Verity Crawford was in a horrific car accident, an accident that left her unable to complete her successful series. Her husband Jeremy hires Lowen Ashleigh to complete the series. Lowen heads to the Crawford home in Vermont to look through Verity’s outlines. And finds an autobiography that she assumes Verity never wanted the world to read. Because what Lowen uncovers shows Verity to be a monster. But as Lowen finds herself falling for Jeremy (and Jeremy reciprocating those feelings), she becomes more and more unnerved by the woman she is there to write for. The ending was <chef’s kiss>.  So unlike the other Colleen Hoover books I have read. I finished in 3 days. 

Carrie Soto is Back by Taylor Jenkins Reid (364 pages).  When Carrie Soto retired from the world of tennis at 31, she was the greatest female tennis player of all time, with a record 20 Grand Slam titles. But 6 years later, she finds herself in the stands of the US Open, watching her record being matched. And Carrie is a winner who will not stand for that. With the help of her coach (who is also her father) and her hitting partner (who is also an ex fling), Carrie stages a comeback to reclaim her record.  She has 4 shots to take back her title- the Australian Open, the French Open, Wimbledon and the US Open. But for a woman who has only ever wanted to be a champion, will it ever be enough?  And is there life beyond tennis?  Loved it!  I finished in 5 days. 

Improbably Yours by Kerry Anne King (329 pages).  This was my New Years book box from Once Upon a Book Club. On Spokane native Blythe’s 30th birthday, she gets a job she doesn’t want, a proposal she doesn’t want, and a present from her long decreased grandmother. The present?  Blythe must take Nomi’s ashes to an island they had made up (but one that turns out to be in the San Juan Islands, clear across Washington State), dig up a treasure and bury the ashes. To everyone’s amazement, Blythe heads off on her treasure hunt.  She rents out Improbable House and makes friends with islander/treasure hunter Flynn and his niece Savannah. Turns out, Blythe has more of a connection to Improbable House (and the island) than she could have ever imagined. It was a super sweet story about family and being yourself. I finished in 3 days. 

This month’s favorite was…..Circe. But Verity and Carrie Soto were tied for a very close second. 

No-kidding that No-vember was a good month!

 November was a good month for reading. A lot of chick lit and psychological thrillers (I guess that’s the best word for it). I read 7 books. A total of 2,628 pages. An average of 87.5 pages per day. So let’s get into it!

The Last Mrs. Parrish by Liv Constantine (395 pages).  Amber Peterson has a plan. A plan to become the next Mrs. Jackson Parrish. But to do that, she must first ingratiate herself to his current wife Daphne before pulling the rug out from under her.  Because Daphne has it all- gorgeous husband, 2 amazing daughters, and all the wealth she could ever want. So Amber sets about with her plan. Little does Amber know that Daphne has a plan of her own. So which woman will ultimately win?  I loved this book. It was not at all what I expected!  I finished in 4 days. 

Things We Never Got Over by Lucy Score (556 pages). Naomi Witt arrives in Knockemout, Virginia, with two things on her mind- fleeing her wedding and helping out her no-account twin sister Tina. But little did she know that Tina had left a disaster waiting her. A town where people didn’t trust Tina (and therefore Naomi by extension) and an 11 year old niece Waylay. So Naomi finds herself jobless, homeless, carless (after Tina stole hers) and no linger childless. What she didn’t expect was a town that embraced her. And a new neighbor/boss in the form of Knox Morgan. A man who doesn’t form attachments. Until Naomi and Waylay make him realize what he has been missing this whole time. It was a cute rom com. I finished in 5 days. 

The Lost Ticket by Freya Sampson (337 pages). This was my September Once Upon a Book Club box (yes, I’m not up to date. Sue me). So gifts on social, as usual. Libby Nicholls arrives in London with her life a shambles- her boyfriend of 8 years has dumped her, leaving her homeless and jobless. Fortunately her sister offers her a place to live and a temporary job babysitting her nephew. Libby meets Frank on the 88 bus.  Frank, who has been riding this bus for 60+ years, looking for his lost girl. A girl he met once but who changed his life forever. Libby joins forces with Frank’s carer to search for the girl. But time is ticking, as Frank’s dementia is advancing. This book was so super sweet. I finished in 3 days. 

When She Returned by Lucinda Berry (289 pages). Eleven years ago, Kate disappeared, leaving behind grieving husband Scott and 5 year old Abbi. In the ensuing years, Scott finally had her declared dead and eventually remarried Meredith. But one day, a call from Montana lets them know that Kate is alive. The family brings her and her 7 week old daughter Shiloh back home to California. But Kate is hesitant to tell where she has been. Because 11 years ago, she became enthralled with a local cult, Love International. And that’s when all of the family’s troubles began. Can someone ever really fully deprogram from complete cult immersion, even when they see problems with the cult and its leader?  That’s the struggle that this family now faces. This book was soooo good!  I finished in 4 days. 

Book Lovers by Emily Henry (373 pages). Every romance novel has its tropes- the handsome stranger, the small town love affair, the cold hearted workaholic girlfriend who gets left. Nora Stephens, a book editor in New York, knows her role in life. Work first, her beloved baby sister Libby second. So when Libby asks Nora to take a month away, Nora says yes. With trepidation. Because Libby wants to go to Sunshine Falls, NC, the town that’s the star of the best selling book by one of Nora’s clients. And Libby has a plan. Little do either of them know that a difficult book editor from the city, Charlie Lastra, is also in Sunshine Falls. And his appearance puts a bit of a kink in Libby’s plans. Or does it?  Super cute rom com book. I wish I’d been sitting poolside for it!  I finished in 6 days. 

A Lesson in Vengeance by Victoria Lee (369 pages). Felicity Morrow has returned to Dalloway School to repeat her senior year.  The year before, her girlfriend Alex died in an accident and Felicity took a year away to get help. Upon returning, she moves back into her old room in Godwin House. And quickly finds herself inthralled with the new girl, prodigy author Ellis Haley. But the ghosts of Alex and the Dalloway Five (five of Dalloway’s earlier students who were accused of witchcraft and all died mysteriously). Dalloway is steeped in witchcraft and darkness. And Felicity finds herself drawn back into it. This was one of those books that I both liked and didn’t like. The writing was excellent. But I found myself not really connecting to the characters. I finished in 4 days. 

Beauty and the Baller by Ilsa Madden-Miles (309 pages). Former NFL quarterback Ronan Smith’s life is not going well. After a horrific car crash claimed the life of his fiancée and his NFL career, he’s in a downward spiral. Until a one night stand with Princess Leia shakes him out of it. Two years later, Nova Morgan finds herself returning home to Blue Belle, Texas.  Her new next door neighbor?  The head football coach- retired quarterback and former one night stand from hell, Ronan. As they become closer, Ronan has to face a choice- his dream job or a new forever love. Another total chick lit, pool perfect read. I finished in 3 days. 

This month’s favorite was…..a tie between The Lost Ticket and When She Returned. They are totally different genres, so I feel like I can choose both!

Falling into some good books this month

I did pretty good this month. 8 books. A total of 2,680 pages. An average of 86.5 pages per day. So let’s get to it!

The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid (385 pages). Evelyn Hugo was THE movie star. And she has finally decided to tell the truth about her life. To little known magazine reporter Monique Grant. As Evelyn shares her life from her start in Hollywood in the 1950’s to her retirement in the 1980’s, Monique learns there is so much more to Evelyn than her seven husbands and her one great love. And even the reason why Evelyn chose her to tell this story. The novel was separated into 7 sections, devoted to Evelyn’s life during the years with each husband. I’ve read several books by this author. And liked them all. But this one was my favorite. I finished in 2 days. 

Ginny Moon by Benjamin Ludwig (360 pages). Ginny is an autistic 14 year old girl who’s been in foster care for years. She’s now, hopefully, found her forever home. But there are still lingering issues stemming from her birth mother that cause Ginny to lie, steal and get herself kidnapped in order to find out what happened. Honestly, I didn’t really enjoy this one. Unlike Eleanor Oliphant, I didn’t really find Ginny to be an enjoyable character. I certainly felt sorry for her (there is a really good reason why Ginny has been in foster care). But I didn’t like her. I finished in 5 days. 

The Many Daughters of Afong Moy by Jamie Ford (362 pages). This was my August Once Upon a Book Club book (I’m a little behind). So as usual, gifties on social. This was a really interesting novel about how past generational traumas can effect many generations. The story opens with Dorothy Moy and her five year old daughter Annabel. Dorothy is a tortured poet in 2045 Seattle who doesn’t want to pass her traumas on to her daughter. So she seeks an experimental treatment to help confront these inherited traits. And as she goes back in time, she learns what must be fixed. First, with her mother Greta- a techie genius in 2014 who creates and losses a revolutionary dating app.  Then her grandmother Zoe- a schoolgirl at a famous school in England with no rules in 1927.  Her great grandmother Faye- a nurse serving with the Flying Tigers in 1942. Her great great grandmother Lai King- a young girl who loses everything in the San Francisco plague of 1892. And finally her great great great great grandmother, the woman who began her line- Afong, the first Chinese woman to come in America in 1836.  Throughout each of these lifetimes, Dorothy learns and overcomes traumas. And also learns that there is someone who is there in each life, someone who loves her. And she will do anything to break the cycle and help her daughter find love and happiness. It was very interesting. I finished in 4 days. 

The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches by Sangu Mandanna (316 pages). This was my Sweet Once Upon a Book Club Halloween box. The gifties are on social, per usual. Nowadays, witches can’t spend time together because it means their powers might mingle and draw attention to their existence. But Mika Moon loves people, other witches and magic. When given the opportunity to tutor 3 orphaned witches at the remote and bewitched Nowhere House, Mika tentatively agrees. And while it goes against everything she’s been taught, Mika finds herself falling in love with the 3 young girls and their 4 caretakers, including prickly (and handsome) librarian Jamie. But when danger threatens her new family, Mika must risk everything to save them and her new life with them. It was so super cute and such an easy read. I finished in 2 days. 

Remembering Columbia South Carolina by Dr. Miles S. Richard’s (124 pages). This was a collection of stories about crimes and deaths and celebrities that I’d never heard about my hometown. It was a fun and easy read. I finished in 1 day. 

The Night Singer by Johanna Mo (434 pages). Police detective Hanna Duncker finds herself in a place she never expected- her hometown of Oland. After years in Stockholm, she felt the pull to return home. But Oland is a place that doesn’t forget. And after Hanna’s father was convicted of murder, Hanna fled. Now that she has returned and is immediately assigned a case of a murdered 15 year old, she has to work to solve the case and confront the demons of her past. I finished in 6 days. 

Just Like Home by Sarah Gailey (342 pages). My special edition Spooky Once Upon a Book Club Halloween box, which means more gifties on social. Vera Crowder has returned home for the first time in a long time to help her dying mother.  But returning to the house where her beloved father committed gruesome murders is harder than she imagined. Especially when she keeps finding notes from him in unexpected places.  This book was not at all what I expected. And not in a good way. The ending was super weird and actually kind of left me disliking the book. I finished in 5 days. 

Regretting You by Colleen Hoover (357 pages). Morgan finds herself pregnant at 17.  Pregnant and rather unhappy with her life. 17 years later, she is contentedly married to Chris, her high school sweetheart and the father of her nearly 17 year old daughter Clara. But Morgan and Clara’s worlds are turned upside down when Chris and Morgan’s sister Jenny are killed in a car accident. As Morgan and Clara struggle to come to terms with this loss, truths about their lives begin to emerge. I finished in 5 days. 

This month’s favorite was…..The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo. Although honestly, four of them kind of tied for favorite. 

I guess you could say that September readings went well

 September had a vacation in it. And we know what that means- more books will be read!  And yes, I did read more books this month. I actually started one but didn’t finish it until October. So we won’t count that one. This month I read 11 books. A total of 3,594 pages. An average of 124 pages per day. So pretty good I’d say!  Let’s get into it, shall we?

The War Girls by V.S. Alexander (431 pages). Historical fiction AND a Once Upon a Book Club box?  Heaven!  The novel spans the years of 1939 to 1943 in Warsaw. Hanna Majewski left Poland to live with her aunt and uncle in England because living the strict life of a proper Jewish girl was too stifling for her. But she left behind her parents and two siblings, sister Stefa and brother Aaron. Meanwhile, Polish Catholic Janka Danek cannot believe what is happening to her neighbors and other Jews in Poland. As the war rages on, Hanna, Stefa and Janka each find a way to fight. As War Girls. I didn’t know as much about the decimation of Jews in Poland. The ghetto in Warsaw actually had an uprising where the Jewish people attempted to fight back after years of Nazi rule. There was a camp outside of Warsaw called Treblinka where 700,000 to 900,000 Jewish Poles were killed in a 15 month period. But the stories of these women and their families was so inspiring. I finished in 4 days. 

Anxious People by Fredrik Backman (336 pages). It’s the day before New Year’s Eve and a real estate agent has an open house for an apartment. At the open house are Ro and Julia, married with a baby on the way; Roger and Anna-Lena, married and devoted flippers; Estelle, an older woman waiting for her husband to park the car; Zara, a woman who’s hobby is going to open houses; and Lennart, a gentleman there for other purposes.  But this open house goes awry when a failed bank robber holds them all hostage. What happens over those hours, as father and son police officer Jim and Jack try to crack the case, changes all of them. Each entered with a set of struggles. And each walked out with a newfound happiness. I finished in 5 days. 

The Yonahlossee Riding Camp for Girls by Anton DiSclafani (416 pages). In 1930, 15 year old Thea Atwell is sent from her beloved home and family, including her twin brother, in Florida to boarding/finishing school in North Carolina.  Thea, like many girls, is sent away “for a reason”. While there, she spends most of her time riding and getting to know the other wealthy daughters of Southern families. Thea manages to get herself into a little more trouble while at school before she comes home. It took a long time to fully get to what had happened at home that forced Thea to leave. Which was rather annoying. I finished in 5 days. 

Not a Happy Family by Shari Lapena (349 pages). The Mertons are a wealthy but miserable family. Fred and Sheila host their three adult children (Catherine, Dan and Jenna) for Easter Sunday dinner. A dinner that does not go well, as Fred is abusive and Sheila is neglectful. On Tuesday morning, their king time housekeeper Irena finds the Mertons brutally murdered. As each of the children is set to inherit millions, the cops immediately look into motives. And Fred’s sister Audrey makes it her person mission to learn the truth. Every member of this family has a motive. But who did it?  I truly had no idea who the murderer was going to be. So bravo on that one!  I finished in 6 days. 

The It Girl by Ruth Ware (420 pages). Hannah arrives at Pelham College, Oxford University, as a fish out of water. As luck would have it, her suite mate is the fabulous April. April is truly the It Girl of their college. And Hannah quickly becomes part of her group- Will, Hugh, Emily and Ryan. But when Hannah finds April murdered at the end of second term, she knows exactly who did it. The creepy porter John Neville who she saw leaving their staircase. Her testimony helps convict him. But 10 years later, Hannah is approached by a reporter who is convinced of the now deceased Neville’s innocence. Hannah begins her own investigation and uncovers some truths about her college friends that change everything. I do love Ruth Ware’s novels. She usually manages to get one over on me with a twist near the end. And this one was no different!  I finished in 1 day. 

Reminders of Him by Colleen Hoover (327 pages). Five years ago,Kenna went to jail when she caused an accident that took her boyfriend Scotty’s life. Now that she is out, she wants the one thing she was forced to give up- their daughter. But Diem has never met her mother. And Scotty’s best friend Ledger doesn’t seem too eager for Kenna to have a relationship with her daughter. But there’s no denying the attraction between Kenna and Ledger. Can forgiveness ever truly be granted?  Can Kenna ever forgive herself?  It was a very sweet story. But honestly, just a slightly different version of the first Colleen Hoover novel I read. I finished in 1 day. 

Hooked by A.C. Wise (330 pages). Decades ago, James is just a merchant sailor who’s ship disappears. When it reappears, he is in Neverland. And Peter Pan decides he must be a pirate. So Captain Hook is born, out of the dark imagination that is Pan. And because Neverland is Pan’s, Hook can never truly die. But he finally finds a way to escape Neverland. But once you are there, you can never be free. And the dark monster of Pan follows him to London 22 years after his escape. When he reunites with grown Wendy Darling and her daughter Jane, Hook realizes he must return to Neverland and become a villain one last time for them all to be able to escape Pan’s darkness. I really didn’t like this one very much. I finished in 2 days. 

Pumpkin by Julie Murphy (326 pages). The third and final book in the Dumplin’ series. This one focuses on Waylon Brewer, a slightly flamboyant gay senior at Clover City High School. Waylon is so ready to escape their small town with his twin sister Clementine and go Full Waylon. But when his sister announces her plans have changed, Waylon decides to make an audition tape for his favorite TV drag show. When the tape gets out, Waylon learns that he’s been nominated for prom Queen. Seeing as his sister’s girlfriend was nominated for prom king, the two of them decide to go all in. And Waylon begins to realize that maybe his small town isn’t the horrible place he thought it was. And maybe the small town people aren’t as horrible as he thought either. We got to see old friends again- Willowdean and Ellen. Millie. Drag Queen Lee. I finished in 2 days. 

Meant to Be by Emily Giffin (350 pages). John F Kennedy Jr, I mean Joseph Kingsley III, is American royalty. Between war heroism and politics, there’s nothing about this family that isn’t golden. Not that they are tragedy proof- Joe’s father was killed in an accident when he was very young. But Joe isn’t like the rest of his family. And when he meets model Carolyn Bessette, I mean Catherine Cooper, it’s game over. Cate is as far opposite of Joe as one could be- grew up middle class with an oppressed mother and an abusive stepfather. She was able to escape that by becoming a model and eventually working for a designer. When she and Joe finally get together, they realize they are everything the other has ever needed. It was a fictionalized version of JFK Jr and Carolyn’s love story. Total chick lit. And I loved it. I also promptly did my own research to look up the differences in the novel and in life. Let’s just say that Cate and Carolyn, other than both working in the fashion world and both being uncomfortable with the paparazzi, had very little in common. Joe and JFK Jr, on the other hand, were frighteningly similar. The best part about the novel is that it doesn’t end in tragedy, but rather in the what might have been. I finished in 2 days. 

In Her Boots by KJ Dell’Antonia (357 pages). Rhett Smith is back in the States, freshly off of a breakup and the loss of her beloved grandmother.  She returns home to Pioneer Hill Farm, ready to hang up her traveling shoes for work boots at the farm.  The wild success of her book, The Modern Pioneer Girl’s Guide to Life, allows her a little more financial freedom that she’s ever had. But her intense hatred of the limelight causes her to thrust her best friend Jasmine into a tv interview and unwittingly force her to become the face of the MPG. While Rhett struggles against her old self and the new MPG she has become, she also struggles with how to take over the Farm and make it a success. I finished in 3 days. 

The Family Remains by Lisa Jewell (368 pages). This is the sequel to The Family Upstairs. That novel was amazing. But I didn’t remember all of the details. But it told of the horrible 6 years that the Lamb children spent in their own home while their parents allowed a con man to rule their lives. This was the story of those children as adults. When a mudlarker on the Thames finds a bag of bones, an investigation begins that brings everything full circle. The crimes that occurred against the Lamb children, the death of Birdie, the disappearance of the Thomsen children. All of it. It was really good. I finished in 3 days. 

This month’s favorite was…..The It Girl. 

This month was not a particularly August month of reading

 This month was not super impressive, as far as the number of books read. But honestly, of the 7 books read, there was only one that I really didn’t like at all. And thank goodness it was the first one of the month so the month only improved!  It was a total of 2,244 pages and an average of 72 pages per day. So let’s get to it. 

The Unlikely Adventures of the Shergill Sisters by Balli Kaur Jaswal (310 pages). Sisters Rajni, Jezmeen and Shirina have never been particularly close. And that distance has only worsened as they have gotten older. But when their beloved mother dies and requests that the three of them make a week-long pilgrimage to India for her, they comply. During the journey, they realize that each of them have been keeping secrets. Secrets that, once shared, will open them up to a closeness they never realized was missing. I finished in 6 days. 

A Royal Christmas Fairy Tale by Karen Schaler (335 pages). This was my holiday Once Upon a Book Club box (that yes, I am just getting around the reading). Kaylie Karlyle is an investigative journalist in NYC and loves every minute of it. But when the station she works for gets sold, she finds herself jobless at Christmas time. But her boss sends her on a special assignment- to visit the royal family of Tolvania and learn about their Christmas traditions. Little did Kaylie know that she would be meeting an amazing queen, a handsome prince (the queen’s son) and an adorable princess (the queen’s granddaughter) all while experiencing the magic of Christmas- a magic that she had lost along the way. It was an absolutely adorable read- it totally got me in the Christmas spirit (a few months early). And the gifts were super cute as well!  I finished in 4 days. 

Long Way Down by Jason Reynolds (306 pages). In 15 year old Will’s world, there are three rules to live by. Never cry. Never snitch. Always get revenge. So when his older brother Shawn is shot, Will thinks he knows who the responsible party is. So he grabs Shawn’s gun and gets on the elevator. But the 60 second ride from the 8th floor to the lobby can be long. Especially when you aren’t the only person in the elevator. This book of poetry (or rather verse) was not what I expected. But it was very very interesting. I finished in 1 day. 

Rush by Lisa Patton (405 pages). In honor of #rushtok, this book was a must-purchase and an almost immediate must-read. The Alpha Delta Beta house at Ole Miss is one of the most highly sought after sororities on campus. Wilda Woodcock is the newest member of the Rush advisory board, with daughter Ellie going through Rush. She was asked to join by fellow Alpha Delt alum (and House Corp President) Lilith Whitmore. After Lilith asked for their daughters to be roommates. The girls’ next door neighbor Cali also seems like Alpha Delt material. Except for one small problem- she lacks pedigree and has a big family secret that could spoil everything. Miss Pearl is the beloved Alpha Delt housekeeper of over 20 years. When an opportunity for promotion comes her way, Pearl decides it’s the perfect fit. But when Lilith tries to stop the promotion, the girls realize that it is up to them to create a house they are proud of. I really liked this book. It wasn’t exactly what I thought it was going to be- it was better!  I finished in 5 days. 

The Book Woman’s Daughter by Kim Michele Richardson (328 pages, including historical notes). This is the sequel to The Boom Woman of Troublesome Creek. It’s 1953 in Kentucky and Honey Lovett is the adopted daughter of Cussy Mary and Jackson Lovett (main character of the first novel). She’s 16 years old and used to hiding from the law (her parents’ interracial marriage between a white man and a blue-skinned woman made them criminals). But when her parents are imprisoned, Honey quickly learns who she can trust and how to make it on her own. So taking up her mother’s old Pack Horse library route seems like the perfect fit. I finished in 5 days. 

Fake It Til You Bake It by Jamie Wesley (321 pages). Yes, I’ve been sitting on several Once Upon a Book Club boxes. This is the one from June that I’m finally getting around to. So gifties on social (as always). Jada Townsend-Matthews is at a crossroads. She’s the most hated woman on the internet, thanks to turning down a proposal on a dating show. Donovan Dell is a successful professional football player and a semi-professional cupcake store owner. When their worlds collide and Jada is forced to take a job at Sugar Blitz, a reporter sniffs out a story. And a fake relationship is born. In typical rom-com/chick lit fashion, a fake relationship usually doesn’t stay fake for long. It was cute. And the gifts were great!  It also made me really want to bake the cupcake recipe that was included in the box. I finished in 2 days. 

In Another Light by AJ Banner (239 pages). You are supposed to be a widow at 40. But that’s exactly what happened to mortuary cosmetologist Phoebe Glassman 3 years ago. But one day, the very anniversary of her husband’s tragic accident, a body of a younger woman shows up at the mortuary. And this woman, Pauline Steele, looks exactly like Phoebe with a tattoo that Phoebe has seen before. But what really peaks Phoebe’s interest is a picture she finds in Pauline’s effects- a faded photo of Phoebe. As Phoebe investigates Pauline’s death, she learns of their shared past. I finished in 3 days. 

This month’s favorite was…..Rush.