Milena’s Comments (group member since Dec 18, 2017)

Milena’s comments from the Ultimate Popsugar Reading Challenge group.

Nadine in NY wrote: "Andrea wrote: "Heart the Lover- I think this has pretty much solidified Lily King as a new favorite author. I heard this was a companion novel to Writers and Lovers, which was a five-star read for ..."

I would also love to know. I read (and loved) Heart the Lover, did not know they were connected.

I wavered whether to post or not. I am such a bummer these days.
Last week we had to put our dog down. Expected as he was very old and not doing well. But on top of being laid off, I am just so sad. Had to get some help for my mental health, hopefully just temporarily.
Then I texted my former coworker to check in and she had bad things happen in her family and can't even be with them because they are in India. Certainly puts my own problems in perspective.
Nice things still do happen. My niece got a promotion. Former coworkers text me to tell me I am missed.

Finished:
The Grand Paloma Resort
Woodworking Really good.
Replaceable You: Adventures in Human Anatomy

Currently reading:
Animal Instinct
It Girl: The Life and Legacy of Jane Birkin

QOTW:
The only books I have given in the last few years are cookbooks. Not a lot of readers in my life. Those that read get books from the library.
I kind of miss getting books. My former mother-in-law used to buy me books for Christmas. I always looked forward to it. But Kindle is just so convenient.

Jennifer wrote: "Woohoo I found my book! Haven’t had a chance to read it this year.

"

I thought of this one immediately for this category.

0/50
1 A book where gardening or a garden is central to the plot: Garden Spells
2 A book that features a platonic friendship between a man and woman
3 A book you meant to read in 2025
4 A book that starts with the letter "Z"
5 A book about women astronauts
6 A book with an overweight main character whose story isn't about losing weight
7 A book about a granny hobby
8 A book about a sexless marriage
9 A book with a "type C" character
10 A book about a horse or with a horse on the cover
11 A book with a dad as the primary caregiver
12 A book with "pop" or "sugar" in the title: Two Parts Sugar, One Part Murder
13 A book featuring a character with a hidden past
14 A book set in Michigan or written by an author from Michigan: A Fortune of Sand
15 A book about new beginnings
16 A book less than 260 pages
17 A book about your favorite event in the Winter Olympics
18 A love story that defies social boundaries
19 A book about teen angst
20 A book with a character who does Pilates or Lagree: Never Saw Me Coming
21 A book about a bachelorette trip: The Cliff House
22 A book about a book club: Welcome to the Hyunam-Dong Bookshop
23 A book you were hoping would fit into a prompt but doesn't
24 A book about postpartum
25 A book that explores influencer culture
26 A book with a character who navigates infertility
27 A book with a character who has curly hair: How to Solve Your Own Murder
28 A book about debt
29 A book that takes place during harvesting season: The Berry Pickers
30 A travel ghost story
31 A book that makes you feel FOMO
32 A book with an underwater civilization
33 A book about college: Stoner
34 A book with a trans or nonbinary protagonist
35 A book that makes you want to travel to Italy
36 A book about a mob (fiction or nonfiction)
37 A book about a pop star: American Fantasy
38 A book with any type of fruit on the cover or in the title: Cherry Baby
39 A book with a character who runs a marathon
40 A book outside your comfort zone
41 A book in a different format than your usual: physical, audio, eBook
42 A book inspired by a real song, album, band, or artist
43 Two books written by real-life partners or spouses (1)
44 Two books written by real-life partners or spouses (2)
45 A book that features birding
46 A sapphic comic
47 A book told entirely through letters
48 A book with a shadow daddy
49 A book with a mention of your zodiac sign
50 A book about Afrofuturism

Britany wrote: "Milena wrote: "Thursday everyone!

I was laid off from my hospital after 27 years a little less than a month ago. I am not taking it well at all. Friends and family were telling me that the grief o..."

Thank you, Britany. At least there's Thanksgiving to distract us this week.

Lilith wrote: "Milena wrote: "Thursday everyone!

I was laid off from my hospital after 27 years a little less than a month ago. I am not taking it well at all. Friends and family were telling me that the grief o..."

Thank you, Lilith. This is such a kind and thoughtful reply. And it does make me feel a lot better.

Nadine in NY wrote: "Milena wrote: "Thursday everyone!

I was laid off from my hospital after 27 years a little less than a month ago. I am not taking it well at all. Friends and family were telling me that the grief o..."

Thanks, Nadine. Sorry you are having a hard time too.

I got a fairly generous (for a non-profit hospital) severance time. I assumed that I could not apply for unemployment as I am currently getting paid.

Thursday everyone!

I was laid off from my hospital after 27 years a little less than a month ago. I am not taking it well at all. Friends and family were telling me that the grief of losing a job is similar to someone dying. I had a hard time believing it. But it's been almost a month and I am still crying all the time, so I guess it is. The thing is I actually loved my job (most of the time). I was proud of where I worked and I loved the people. About 10 of my close coworkers have been with me for 25 years. And they are all still there and I am just cut off. It really hurts.

And then searching for a job at 56, and after not even thinking about it for over 25 years. I didn't maintain a resume or my LinkedIn. Just getting a resume together took like 2 weeks. It's so weird out there now. Use AI or don't use AI. Your resume should sound natural but it should also contain all the buzzwords that will get past the scanning software. And don't get me started on the fear in the healthcare technology sector right now. Between AI, government cutbacks, and the economy, it makes it seem so bleak out there.

And on top of that my dog is failing. He is 14-16 years old, so it's to be expected, but still upsetting. We have to carry him up and down stairs now. He still insists on coming upstairs and if we don't carry him he will try it himself and fall. If we gate off the stairs then he just cries. And he gets extremely manic in the evenings. Like doing endless circles around the whole house manic. And doing dangerous things like trying to jump up on furniture and climb stairs. We give him hemp chews for anxiety, but they don't do much. His mania on top of my own anxiety and depression is not a good combination.

Sorry for all that misery. Onto the reading.

Finished:
Lucky Day
Loved One

Currently reading:
We Are All Guilty Here
Where They Last Saw Her

QOTW:
I don't have the brain power to answer this right now. But in my current state I am basically sticking to mysteries, romance and cozy fantasy.

I notice a lot of people are suffering from bad headaches lately. I have also been having bad headaches for a few weeks now. Like Jennifer said, not turn off the lights and get in bed bad, but bad enough that it's affecting my life. I wonder if it's related to the change in weather.

I read in public places, but always on a Kindle. I guess that takes the performative aspect out of it. I do love to see what other people are reading. It never occurred to me that they may just be holding the book for show. The last time I spoke to someone about what they were reading was on the Long Island Rail Road. It was a man reading a Murakami book. He probably wished I would leave him alone so he could read. I was just surprised any Long Islander reads.

Happy Thursday!

I figured I would delay a work mandatory training and post here instead. Things have been quiet around here. Tomorrow is my birthday. My daughter is coming after work and my husband is grilling us some steaks. Not a birthday fan, so keeping it low key.

Finished:
I Regret Almost Everything
Exit Lane

Currently reading:
Katabasis
Too Old for This

QOTW:
I pay much more attention to what other people on Goodreads say that they're enjoying than the ratings. Unless the rating are really low. Like Kenya said, there's a reason for that. Thanks Popsugar for the hated less than 3 stars prompt. Still not over that.

Happy Friday! Love the chilly weather. Much preferable to the 80 degrees we had earlier this week.

I went into the office yesterday for the first time in many weeks. We are required to get flu shots because I work for a hospital, even though I work 95% from home, and the other 5% go into an office that's nowhere near a patient facility. I got my flu shot on site, as well as Covid and RSV. My husband's immune system is suppressed, so I felt like I should get all the shots, The flu arm was not sore at all, but the Covid and RSV arm was definitely a little sore during the night. Not as bad as the Shingles vaccine last year though, that one was so painful I had a hard time sleeping.

6 of us played ping pong after work, an event that my manager set up. If you want people to come into the office these days, you have to entice them. It was a lot of fun, except for the part where we had to walk through Times Square to get there. I hate Times Square so much, and had not stepped foot in that vicinity in years. There was one block where the sidewalk was really narrowed due to something set up in the middle. Yuck, no fun at all. The arm soreness did not set in until later, so I was able to play without issue. Except for the issue where I am terrible at sports.

Finished:
What Kind of Paradise
Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet

Currently reading:
Katabasis
I Regret Almost Everything

QOTW:
I never used to pay attention to what kind of book I was reading. If it sounded good, I read it. I do read more widely now, but that's mostly due to increased variety of genres and quality books within those genres that are available. I have yet to be convinced on self-help, though.

Date you finished: 9/13/2025
Message number of your list post (if you've got one): 54
Favorite prompt (and what book did you read for it?): Healing fiction. We'll Prescribe You a Cat
Favorite book (and what prompt was it for?): East of Eden A book mentioned in another book
Was there a book you especially enjoyed that you never would have read if not for the Challenge? (and what prompt was it for?) : I don't think so. There were some I didn't enjoy that I only read because of the challenge.
Least favorite prompt: Oldest author, less than 3 stars, always avoided reading, ugh.
Last prompt you finished: Luxury resort.
Prompt you hope to see next year: I always love song lyrics in the title, book mentioned in another book.
Did you like the three different sections of "Advanced" categories this year? Unnecessary and incorrectly labeled.
Did you think this year's list was more difficult than usual? Easier than last year.
Finally, are you in for 2026? I always say I'm going to take a break, but can't resist once the list comes out.

Nadine in NY wrote: "Happy Thursday!  

I am back from my summer visit with my mom.  It’s always good to be home but also sad to have to leave.  I will miss my refreshing (and also not so refreshing) morning walks to t..."

I already wanted to read Stone Blind, but when you give a book such a glowing review I really pay attention.

Happy Thursday!

Work is still really busy. Now that my husband's back is feeling better, we have been biking and playing pickle ball after work and on the weekends. Although last week the weather was much nicer for outdoor sports than this week. Not sure what to do for exercise in the winter, I hate the gym.

I only have 2 prompts left for the challenge. I am waiting on library holds for Hemlock & Silver and The Woman in Suite 11. I wonder how many of us are waiting for Hemlock & Silver for the silver prompt.

Finished:
When Will There Be Good News?
King of Ashes
Three Days in June
Geekerella for book about a food truck

Currently reading:
Overgrowth
I Leave It Up to You

QOTW:
I know it has, but I can't think of any right now.

Happy Friday! It's 64 degrees this morning after the front Theresa wrote about passed through. Ahhhhhhhhh! So happy it's August, that means summer is almost over.

I have not posted here in months. Work has been very busy and annoying. My mother in law had some very serious health issues and even moved in with us for a while. My mother had her own less serious issues. My dog is really old and it's making me sad. I guess I have been anxious and a little depressed too.

Luckily my reading hasn't suffered. I am 4 books away from finishing the challenge.

Finished:
The Bright Side Running Club for book about a running club. The book was OK. I hate this prompt, unnecessarily limited.
Eat the Ones You Love
Atmosphere I loved it, as I do most of her books.
Goblin Market: A Tale of Two Sisters

Currently reading:
When Will There Be Good News?
The Last Enchantment audiobook

QOTW:
I take a Kindle. If I am worried about running out of power, I take a backup Kindle (I have 4). It's still lighter and takes up less room than a physical book. I took 2 Kindles on my recent beach vacation.

Kenya wrote: "K.L. wrote: "In case you didn't know, there is an official trailer out for the Murderbot television adaptation. It's going to be streaming on Apple TV+ beginning on May 16th. I saw the trailer this..."

I also always saw Murderbot as female in my head. Until I started to listen to the audiobooks, and the narrator is male.

Theresa wrote: "Milena wrote: "Nadine in NY wrote: "Milena wrote: "Happy first day of spring! Although I am still grumpy because I feel like we did not have a proper winter in this part of New York. I apologize to..."

We did break out the snow blower twice in the suburbs. But it was pretty minimal still.

Bea wrote: "OK, y'all. I know that I posted yesterday that I don't buy books. And, I don't. That is, until today, I don't.

After exercise I decided to drive to Academy Sports looking for a stretch band to do ..."

Sandwich fits the menopause prompt.

Nadine in NY wrote: "Milena wrote: "Happy first day of spring! Although I am still grumpy because I feel like we did not have a proper winter in this part of New York. I apologize to those of you who did have a proper ..."

It was colder than previous few years, but that's not saying much since previous years were so mild. There were only a few of what I would consider truly cold days. And then winter just ended so abruptly.