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Sally’s 2024 Year in Books

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Sally Basmajian

Goodreads Author

Born

Toronto, Canada

Website

https://www.sallybasmajian.com/

Genre

Romance, Contemporary, Fantasy

Member Since

November 2015

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As a kid I was curly-haired (which only my dad admired) and musical (which won me the occasional award and sometimes even a photo in The Kingston Whig-Standard). I scaled my way upward through the Royal Conservatory system, continued pounding the faux-ivories at Queen’s University to get my BMus, and ultimately received a Master of Arts in Musicology at the University of Toronto.

Post-university, my transition to reality was rougher than rough. Eventually, having the desire to afford an occasional meal, I segued into advertising and marketing, ending up on the corporate side of broadcasting. In fact, I used to greenlight or turn down proposals for television series. Karma is having a lovely time now, as it tickles me with occasional publish As a kid I was curly-haired (which only my dad admired) and musical (which won me the occasional award and sometimes even a photo in The Kingston Whig-Standard). I scaled my way upward through the Royal Conservatory system, continued pounding the faux-ivories at Queen’s University to get my BMus, and ultimately received a Master of Arts in Musicology at the University of Toronto.

Post-university, my transition to reality was rougher than rough. Eventually, having the desire to afford an occasional meal, I segued into advertising and marketing, ending up on the corporate side of broadcasting. In fact, I used to greenlight or turn down proposals for television series. Karma is having a lovely time now, as it tickles me with occasional publishing contracts or prizes, but punches me with brutal rejections, too.

It doesn’t matter—I love to write, more so than I ever enjoyed practicing arpeggios or selling ad spots on network television. As a teenager, I filled stacks of diaries with angst-filled entries—although I didn’t win any academic prizes for writing, because I had a bad habit of killing off my characters when they became too annoying. Now, I like to keep my protagonists alive, and I’ve been improving my craft ever since winning a local contest in 2014 for my first-ever fantasy short story. In fact, I returned to school to earn a Graduate Certificate in Creative Writing from Humber in 2019. My writing group, made up of four other aspiring female authors, offers me ongoing moral support, inspiration and friendship. We meet weekly to spur each other on—and sometimes those spurs are extremely sharp, but they always boot me in the right direction!

My number one goal as an author is to entertain, and it warms my heart that you’re reading this. In January, 2023, my first novel, So Hard to Do, is scheduled for publication. It’s a bubbly romantic-comedy with Shakespearean twists; I hope you’ll enjoy it.

Meanwhile, if you’re curious about where you can find my other stories, you’ll find the info on my website, https://www.sallybasmajian.com/. I promise I’ll keep writing down the many tales that are stuffed in my head, and I’ll make them as engaging as I possibly can.

Thanks for being a reader—my reader. It means the world to me.

Sally B
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Sally Basmajian’s books

Average rating: 4.36 · 285 ratings · 185 reviews · 12 distinct works • Similar authors

	UnCommon Bodies: A Collection of Oddities, Survivors, and Other Impossibilities by Jessica West (Goodreads Author) (Editor), Michael Harris Cohen (Goodreads Author), Sessha Batto (Goodreads Author) 4.17 avg rating — 138 ratings — published 2015 — 3 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	So Hard To Do 4.40 avg rating — 87 ratings — 3 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Apprentices in Magic 4.88 avg rating — 33 ratings — 2 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	A Wink and a Smile by Sally Basmajian (Goodreads Author) (Contributor), Dev Bentham (Goodreads Author) (Contributor), Michael Bracken (Goodreads Author) (Contributor) 4.38 avg rating — 8 ratings — published 2018 — 2 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	FOUNTAIN OF EVIL it was amazing 5.00 avg rating — 6 ratings — 2 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	The Rabbit Hole Volume 5, Weird Stories: Just...Plain...Weird by Tom Wolosz (Editor), Lori M. Myers (Goodreads Author), Richard Zaric (Goodreads Author) 4.83 avg rating — 6 ratings — published 2022 — 3 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Everything I Need to Know About Love I Learned From Pop Songs by Laura Roberts (Goodreads Author) (Editor), Susan Tepper, Sally Basmajian (Goodreads Author) 4.50 avg rating — 6 ratings — 3 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	The Ultra-Short: Fourteenth Annual Competition 2017-2018 by Gerard NeCastro (Editor), Debbie Okun Hill (Goodreads Author) (Contributor), Debra Kirouac (Contributor) 3.67 avg rating — 3 ratings	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Gardens of Enchantment by Fanni Sütő (Goodreads Author), Damien Mckeating (Goodreads Author), Vonnie Winslow Crist (Goodreads Author) it was amazing 5.00 avg rating — 1 rating — published 2019	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	The Year's Best Dog Stories 2021 0.00 avg rating — 0 ratings	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars

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Sally Basmajian rated a book really liked it Beartown (Beartown, #1) by Fredrik Backman (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Compulsively readable, this book draws you in and takes you for an exhilarating ride. I'm not drawn to books that prominently feature sports, but I admire the work of this author and decided to give Beartown a try. While I'm glad I did, I probably wo ...more
Nov 27, 2025 01:37PM · like · see review
Sally Basmajian rated a book liked it We Could Be Rats by Emily R. Austin (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
3.5 stars There is much to love about this novel. The relationship between two very different sisters is explored with compassion and angst. The writing is excellent. The characters are believable. I read it swiftly, and the pace never flagged. But—I g ...more
Nov 27, 2025 01:25PM · like · see review · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of We Could Be Rats by Emily R. Austin. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — We Could Be Rats by Emily R. Austin <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Sally Basmajian rated a book liked it Too Close to the Falls: A Memoir by Catherine Gildiner (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Once again, bless my book club for selecting a title I otherwise never would have chosen. This memoir, which veered from quirky and amusing to dark and disturbing, captured my attention from beginning to end—more as a series of interlocked anecdotes ...more
Nov 25, 2025 11:43AM · like · see review · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of Too Close to the Falls by Catherine Gildiner. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — Too Close to the Falls by Catherine Gildiner <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Sally Basmajian rated a book liked it How to Read a Book by Monica Wood	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
This was a sweet book. I listened to the first half on Spotify. Then, when my library copy arrived, I read the final section. Overall, I preferred the audio version because I could let the story wash over me, which suppressed my inner critic. To me, t ...more
Nov 18, 2025 05:14PM · like · see review · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of How to Read a Book by Monica Wood. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — How to Read a Book by Monica Wood <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Sally Basmajian rated a book liked it Too Close to the Falls: A Memoir by Catherine Gildiner (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Once again, bless my book club for selecting a title I otherwise never would have chosen. This memoir, which veered from quirky and amusing to dark and disturbing, captured my attention from beginning to end—more as a series of interlocked anecdotes ...more
Nov 14, 2025 12:40PM · like · see review · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of Too Close to the Falls by Catherine Gildiner. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — Too Close to the Falls by Catherine Gildiner <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Sally Basmajian rated a book really liked it The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
I'm not sure why I never read The Outsiders when I was young. I was 13 the year it was originally published—almost as old as the protagonist Ponyboy, but it wasn't yet required reading in schools. Last week, though, a young follower of mine on TikTok ...more
Nov 09, 2025 12:04PM · like · see review
Sally Basmajian rated a book liked it Star-Crossed by Barbara Dee (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
This is a cute, entertaining read. I think it's terrific that the complexities of sexual attraction in middle school are presented and that the characters are well-rounded and complex. I also admire the style and language, which are well gauged to th ...more
Nov 07, 2025 12:08PM · like · see review · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of Star-Crossed by Barbara Dee. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — Star-Crossed by Barbara Dee <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Sally Basmajian rated a book really liked it Black River by S.M. Hulse (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
When my book club assigned this novel, I grumbled. It was hard to find (none of the libraries in my system carried it), and the purchase price was higher than I was willing to pay for a "western" novel. I missed our meeting that month, but the very sa ...more
Nov 07, 2025 11:50AM · like · see review · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of Black River by S.M. Hulse. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — Black River by S.M. Hulse <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Sally Basmajian rated a book liked it The Blue Hour by Paula Hawkins (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
This book is atmospheric and written with skill and panache. Let's give it a 3.5 star rating. Without a doubt, the novel is superior to most women's thrillers. It isn't particularly memorable, though. It starts with a bang and sweeps the reader throug ...more
Nov 02, 2025 11:32AM · like · see review · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of The Blue Hour by Paula Hawkins. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — The Blue Hour by Paula Hawkins <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Sally Basmajian rated a book liked it Wild Dark Shore by Charlotte McConaghy (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
This one's a 3.5 star reading experience for me. It's an easy book to zip through, and it's nicely evocative and well-written. I liked the three child characters, who were well delineated. The adults—well, not so much. The twists toward the end seeme ...more
Nov 02, 2025 11:17AM · like · see review · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of Wild Dark Shore by Charlotte McConaghy. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — Wild Dark Shore by Charlotte McConaghy <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">