The Perks Of Being A Book Addict discussion

Does anyone want to buddy read Monday's Not Coming with me. I'm hoping to start it in the next day or two.

I will! I’m doing s as buddy read at the moment but I’m more than happy to do this one too! I’ll start it this week!💕💕💕

Awesome Vanessa! I haven't done a buddy read before so forgive me if I stumble a bit as I get used to it. Let me know when you're ready to start and I'll start at the same time. Thanks!! 😊😊

Okay cool no worries! I actually read what it was about when I saw it and went oh i really want to read this and then you asked who wanted to read it with so perfect! I’ve only done one buddy read that I’m doing at the moment so we are in this together! I think we start reading it and then update each other on here where we are up to and how we are going etc etc. I was thinking of starting tomorrow(Mon) I will download the book tonight. How does that sound?!

Monday is perfect! There's an obvious joke there but I'll leave it. 😋 My Goodreads friends who've read this book loved it so I'm really looking forward to it.

FYI, I'm on the west coast (Pacific time) so don't worry if it takes me a few hours to respond to your posts. And fair warning, I'm "wordy" but am getting better at editing myself. 😏 Comes from years of writing legal submissions! Ignore me if I get carried away with my thoughts. 🙃

Thanks SO much for joining me in this Vanessa!

Oh that’s okay! Are you from America?! I’m from Australia! South Australia! In the country from an area called the riverland. Nice to meet you! And no problem about doing this read! I actually saw it and put it on my want to read list and when I saw you wanted to buddy read I was like yes!!! I’ve just downloaded the book now so will start it tonight(It’s Mon afternoon here. 2.30). I look forwards to having updates and what you think about it on here! Happy reading and speak soon!!!💕💕💕

Oh yeh and I got the joke!!! Monday!!! Haha!!! That’s very funny and very clever!!! I didn’t pick that up!!! Well done!!!🤣🤣🤣

Wow!!! This book is AMAZING!!! I’ve been reading from g fb it about 5 hours!!! I’m up to page 305 December The After. It has me hooked and the only reason I’ve put it down is because it’s nearly 1am! I’m so glad I decided to do this Roxanne! I’m looking forwards to hearing what you have to say about it!!!💕💃💕🕺💕💃💕🕺💕💃💕🕺

It's only 8:30am on Monday morning here right now! I'm in Vancouver, Canada so I think you're 16 hours ahead of me. I haven't even opened this yet and won't be able to until after work today. And now I don't want to work because I want to see what you're loving so much about this. I'll try to read for an hour at lunch. At least I know I can't spoil you because you're already at page 305!! LOL

Ugh! My day was super busy and I didn’t get as much time to read as I hoped. I’m only on page 113 but I’m loving this so far! But I’m exhausted. Will probably only finish another 10 or 20 pages before I go to sleep.

Some thoughts: I love that the author is using AAVE in the writing. And I can totally picture poor Claudia being so upset about not being able to find her friend. But I’m seriously worried about Monday. I was thinking she was probably removed from her home by social services but when Claudia runs into Monday’s sister, April, who tells Claudia to leave it alone, then the bruise on Monday’s back and her reaction to her mother... this isn’t looking good. And I’m also low-key worried about Claudia’s mental health. She’s SO dependent on her friendship with Monday, but it’s starting to feel like it was TOO dependent, at least for Claudia.

This book is so well written to convey so much in a middle grade story! But I’m scared to learn Monday’s fate! I’m a mom and the thought of something happening to a child is the worst!

I know your miles ahead of me but I’d love to hear your thoughts Vanessa! Just don’t spoil me please! ☺️😉

Haha lol!! No, I won’t spoil it for you AT ALL!!! I agree with you on EVERYTHING! I am very worried about Claudia and I think it’s quite mean and cruel the way they haven’t actually told her anything though. To just tell a young girl that her best friend has gone missing to just get over it is very cruel I think. Even if they just sit her down and say something like, “Look, Monday has had to go away for a while and we don’t know when she is going to be back,” would at least put the little girl’s mind to rest and let her not worry so much. I really feel for her and I think it’s really cruel the way they haven’t told her anything. No wonder she’s failing at school.

I too think that social services are involved. Something went on at home and now social services are involved. This is a very interesting story and I’m dying to get back to it! By the way, I think you’re doing AMAZING with what you have read and don’t worry, I won’t give away anything! Okay, I have some reading to do!!!🤣🤣🎉

Oh haven’t told

I’m up to page 540 and it still excellent! Not as much read tonight( I think last night I was up too late!) and about to goto sleep now but will continue on tomorrow! It’s getting me more and more intrigued the more I read it! I’m looking forward so to reading 📚 📖 more tomorrow!!!💕💕💕

I should have known I couldn't just read 10 or 20 pages. Nope, read almost another 100 pages before finally putting this book down at 3:00am. Typical. But I didn't expect to be awake just 4 hours later because of a literal cat fight! Two cats, fighting and screaming at each out outside my window. Cats are very loud.

You're absolutely right that the adults in Claudia's life should have sat her down and been honest with her!! I understand wanting to shelter your kids from the horrors of the world but frankness and honesty were required here. 100% agree!

I love that there's dyslexia rep in this book! And I like that they show how many kids are undiagnosed for much longer than you'd expect. This book has really negative commentary on the American school system, don't you think? I've seen and heard some of what this book talks about in documentaries and from American friends and it's always struck me as weird. In Canada, our school system is nothing like the US and this stuff about applying to go to a HIGH school seem ridiculous. I know it's only touched on in the book but it's equally fascinating and horrifying to learn how public schools are funded and given resources in the US. The disparity is incredible. It's yet another example of how systemic racism is deeply rooted in America and continues in present day. And just one more comment about the schools but I swear, bullying in American schools always seems to be next-level in books. Bullying happens everywhere because kids are awful creatures sometimes. But wow, the intensity and violence of the bullying kids suffer in America in fictional stories is extreme. I sound overly critical of American schools and don't mean to be. But bullying is a common trope and sensationalized a lot in books set in America so is there from some grain of truth?

Poor Monday. My heart breaks for her. She's got incredible strength but the cracks in her world are showing. And Claudia, who loves her so much, but just can't fathom that Monday's life could be so awful because that's not the face Monday presents and it's so far from Claudia's own experience. But I love that Claudia won't give up her search for Monday. Her gut is telling her something is wrong and finally, at least where I'm at in the book now, the adults are starting to take her more seriously. And while it's good to see Claudia starting to make friends with other kids like Michael and Megan, her devotion to Monday and finding her friend never loses strength. I love that.

What I also found disturbing is that abuse is being talked about as a "family problem" and you don't interfere. What the hell is that? You see a woman at your church whose husband obviously kicked the shit out of her and you're reluctant to say or do anything because it's a "family problem"?? Uh, NO. That seemed so antiquated but this is an own voices book so is that real?? Ugh!

I know this book is going to have a horribly sad ending but it's SO good!

I finished it!! Mind BLOWN! That's all I can say until I know where you're at!

Oh my goodness m!!! You’ve finished!!! You’ve overtaken me by HEAPS!!! I’ll get it read and snack out out over the next few days! I’m determined to get it finished by the end of the week! I’m up to page 540. I tried to get more read last night but my eyes were just dropping! Sorry to keep you waiting but PROMISE I’ll get it read in the next few nights(hopefully tonight!). I’ll let you know!!!💃💃💃

I’m finished!!! Wow, what an ending!!! I’m so glad I did this buddy read with you!

I can now understand why they didn’t tell her as bout Monday missing! It’s so frustrating when reading it and knowing what poor little Claudia is going through and they are just saying, “Don’t talk about Monday anymore,” you just want to throttle them for being so insensitive but you understand as you get further into the book!

I really felt for poor little Claudia. The poor little thing. I just wanted to hug her and explain something to her but she never gave up on her best friend and that’s what true friendship is all about. It is so beautiful!

I will definitely be reading more from this author and I’m so glad I read this book! Thanks for including me Roxanne! I loved it!!!💕🥳💕🥳💕🥳

It was pretty awesome!! 😍😍 And that TWIST! I didn't see it coming AT ALL! Did you? I couldn't make any sense out of the chapter titles so I just ignored them and kept reading because the way the timeline was so cleverly woven, reading it still made sense.

I wanted to hug poor Claudia too! But I really just wanted someone to swoop in and rescue Monday and her siblings. SO frickin sad!! 😥😥

Thank YOU so much for buddy reading this with me! That was really fun! I actually have this author's other book, Allegedly so if/when you pick up that one, let me know because I'd be happy to buddy read this or another book with you again in the future! 🥰❤🧡💛💚

That’d be awesome to buddy read the other book with you Roxanne! I’ll let you know when I have her next book! Will definitely do this!

I to couldn’t work out the chapter titles so I just redo them! It was too good to put down! What I couldn’t work put though was wouldn’t Mrs Charles(the mum) be in prison because of the heinous crimes she committed? She was in the car with then at the end giving her statement to the two kids but I thought they would have arrested her straight away? Unless I missed something there? I too loved the buddy read and I’ll will let you know when I have her other book! Maybe in a few weeks? Was great to buddy read with you!!!💕🥳💕🥳💕🥳