On The Same Page discussion

This time around I'm going to try to simplify my categories a bit and only read print or listen to audiobooks exclusively from my library system. No room for more books (which I'm sad about). If my library doesn't have them, they'll get put on the list for next year. I guess the number I'm going to go for is 150.

I'll add a second Reading Group Challenge here if I get to that point. *Added at bottom

I've been adding free reads (any book not listed) as part of this page but with how well the 2023 Record Your Books page went, I'll just add all books I read on the 2024 Record Your Books page and add a review on this thread.

✔Reading Group Challenge:
✔1. Baldree, Travis Bookshops & Bonedust (Legends & Lattes #0) 4* 1/18 A
✔2. Dimaline, Cherie VenCo 4* 1/1 A
✔3. Emrys, Ruthanna A Half-Built Garden 2* 3/30 A
✔4. Godfrey, Sierra The Second Chance Hotel 2* 1/27 A
✔5. Hicks, Chelsea T A Calm & Normal Heart: Stories 2* 2/9 P
✔6. Holmberg, Charlie N Keeper of Enchanted Rooms 2* 12/4 E
✔7. Lawrence, Mark The Book That Wouldn’t Burn (The Library Trilogy #1) 4* 1/21 A
✔8. Lepucki, Edan Time's Mouth 2* 3/3 A
✔9. MacNeal, Susan Elia The Hollywood Spy (Maggie Hope #10) 3.5* 1/8 A
✔10. O’Leary, Beth The Wake-Up Call 3* 3/16 A
✔11. Tidhar, Lavie The Circumference of the World 2* 2/12 P
✔12. Winkler, Henry Being Henry: The Fonz . . . and Beyond 3* 11/2 P



✔Alternates:
✔1. Barry, Max The 22 Murders of Madison May 4* 1/28 A
✔2. Brown, Ness The Scourge Between Stars 2.5* 2/10 P
✔3. Grant, Richard E A Pocketful of Happiness 4* 1/15 A
✔4. Singh, Nalini There Should’ve Been Eight 3.5* 2/1 A



✔12+4 Second List "New Books":

✔1. Bradley, Kaliane The Ministry of Time 3.5* 6/13 A
✔2. Brown, Gareth The Book of Doors 4* 3/1 A
✔3. Brown, Tracy Brooklyn 3.5* 6/10 A
✔4. Choo, Yangsze The Fox Wife 4.5* 3/28 A
✔5. Faizal, Hafsah A Tempest of Tea 2* 3/9 A
✔6. Medina, Nick Indian Burial Ground 3.5* 6/17 A
✔7. Miller, C.L. The Antique Hunter's Guide to Murder 4* 2/26 A
✔8. Older, Malka The Imposition of Unnecessary Obstacles 3.5* 8/27
✔9. Perrin, Kristen How to Solve Your Own Murder 4* 4/10 P
✔10. Reid-benta, Zalika River Mumma 4.5* 3/31 P
✔11. Talty, Morgan Fire Exit 4* 6/9 A
✔12. Turton, Stuart The Last Murder at the End of the World 4* 5/31 A



✔ (paused until Hibbert's book is published in 2025) Alternates:
✔1. Alvarez, Julia The Cemetery of Untold Stories 2* 7/8 A
2. Hibbert, Talia Skybriar (not published until 2025)
✔3. Link, Kelly The Book of Love 4* 6/20 A
✔4. Thorne, Rebecca Can't Spell Treason Without Tea 2.5* 7/3 A

✔Contemporary:

✔1. Acevedo, Elizabeth Family Lore 3* 1/2 A
✔2. Brammer, Mikki The Collected Regrets of Clover 4* 2/15 A
✔3. Cotugno, Katie Meet the Benedettos 1* 5/21 A
✔4. Hokeah, Oscar Calling for a Blanket Dance 3.5* 6/2 A
✔5. Rowley, Steven The Celebrants 3.5* 1/20 A

✔Historical:

✔1. Alyan, Hala Salt Houses 4* 2/11 A
✔2. deWitt, Patrick The Librarianist 2* 2/5 A
✔3. du Maurier, Daphne Jamaica Inn 4* 9/23 A
✔4.McBride, James The Heaven & Earth Grocery Store 4.5* 6/9 A
✔5. Rutledge, Lynda West with Giraffes 3.5* 10/25 E

✔ Fantasy:

✔1. Broder, Melissa Death Valley 2* 2/13 A
✔ 2. Evison, Jonathan Again and Again 2* 5/16 A
✔3. Fawcett, Heather Emily Wilde's Map of the Otherlands (Emily Wilde #2) 4* 2/19 A
✔4. Islington, James The Will of the Many (The Hierarchy #1) 5* 2/24 A
✔5. Jane, Emily On Earth as It Is on Television 2* 1/27 A

✔Mystery/Thriller:

✔1. Holmes, Rupert Murder Your Employer: The McMasters Guide to Homicide 3.5* 1/29 A
✔2. Prose, Nita The Maid 3.5* 2/14 A
✔3. Robb, J.D. Random in Death 4.5* 5/22 P
✔4. Simon, Nina Mother-Daughter Murder Night 3.5* 2/29 A
✔5. Stevenson, Benjamin Everyone in My Family Has Killed Someone 4.5* 4/4 A

Science Fiction:

✔1. Brooks-Dalton, Lily The Light Pirate 2* 1/22 A
✔2. Chen, Mike A Quantum Love Story 4* 5/20 A
✔3. Corey, James S.A. Persepolis Rising 4* 11/3 P
✔4. Cronin, Justin The Ferryman 3* 1/5 A
✔5. Lafferty, Mur Chaos Terminal 4* 1/26 A
6. Taylor, Jodi A Trail Through Time

✔Young Adult:

✔1. Boulley, Angeline Warrior Girl Unearthed 3.5* 1/23 A
✔2. Forna, Namina The Eternal Ones 4* 8/6 A
✔3. Ibañez, Isabel What the River Knows 2* 8/1 A
✔4. Johnson, Maureen Nine Liars 4* 1/3 A

✔2024 Releases:

✔1. Adams, Sara Nisha The Twilight Garden [4/9] 2* 7/7 A
✔2. Bennett, Robert Jackson The Tainted Cup [2/6] 4* 6/30 A
✔3. Clark, P. Djèlí The Dead Cat Tail Assassins [3/12] 4.5* 9/11 A + P
✔ 4. Horowitz, Anthony Close to Death (Hawthorne & Horowitz #5) [3/14] 4* 5/17 P
✔5. Johnson, Micaiah Those Beyond the Wall (The Space Between Worlds #2) [3/12] 4* 5/1 P
✔6. McGuire, Seanan Mislaid in Parts Half-Known (Wayward Children #9) [1/9] 3.5* 2/8 P
✔7. Paretsky, Sara Pay Dirt (VI Warshawski #22) [4/16] 4* 6/9 A
✔8. Robb, J.D. Passions in Death (In Death #59) [9/24] 4* 11/30 A
✔9. Sbrana, Analeigh Lore of the Wilds [2/27] 2* 3/13 A
✔10. St. James, Simone Murder Road [3/5] 4.5* 3/25 P

✔RL Book Club:

✔1. McFadden, Freida Never Lie (Feb) 2* 2/13 A
✔2. Fortune, Carly Every Summer After (Mar) 1* 3/12 A
✔3. Kowal, Mary Robinette. The Calculating Stars (Apr) 3* 6/20 E
✔4. George, Jessica Maame (May) 3.5* 5/13 A
✔5. Fox, Michael J No Time Like the Future: An Optimist Considers Mortality (Aug) 3* 8/13
✔6. Knoll, Jessica. Bright Young Women (Sep) 4* 9/12 A
✔7. Norton, Graham Forever Home (Oct) 4* 10/10
✔8. Jewell, Lisa None of This Is True (Nov) 3* 11/13 A
✔9. Spears, Britany The Woman in Me (Dec)DNF 12/3 A

Great idea, Lillie! Can't wait to see what you pick!

Good luck and happy reading. 📚

You should get a nice variety with your challenges.

Good luck with your choices, Lillie!

Thanks everyone. This is one of my favorite parts of the year when it comes to books. I get to comb through my tbr list and come up with a challenge that I'll enjoy. Pretty sure all of us here have the same compulsion with lists, so I don't feel so alone, lol

Lillie wrote: "Thanks everyone. This is one of my favorite parts of the year when it comes to books. I get to comb through my tbr list and come up with a challenge that I'll enjoy. Pretty sure all of us here have..."

Believe me; you are not alone!! 🤗🤗📚📚📚📚👀

Lillie wrote: "Thanks everyone. This is one of my favorite parts of the year when it comes to books. I get to comb through my tbr list and come up with a challenge that I'll enjoy. Pretty sure all of us here have the same compulsion with lists, so I don't feel so alone, lol..."

Me, too!

List-making is a lot of fun for the challenges as it reminds me of books that I have forgotten about. Good luck with the rest of your lists.

Same here. I really look forward to coming up with reading challenges!

Great challenge! Hope you make a lot of progress! I know I would find this one hard although I do have a great library system, so I could do it. (Theoretically).
Happy Reading!

Great chanllenge Lillie. Fortunately, our libraries are moving into the digital age and making it easier and easier to read/listen borrowed books. I do miss bookstores though.

Love hearing that I’m in the right place where we all enjoy making our lists :)

Having looked at everyone’s pretty great challenges, I’m going to have to use the next year to come up with a more creative challenge, lol.

Am I the only one waiting around on New Year’s Eve waiting for the clock to strike midnight so I can start my 2024 reading? Is starting something before midnight but finishing it tomorrow count as a 2024 read?

Lillie wrote: "Is starting something before midnight but finishing it tomorrow count as a 2024 read?.."

Yes! It's all about when you finish!!

That counts as 2024 in my book. Otherwise I would have to abandon the strays started in 2023 to late to finish.

Lillie wrote: "Is starting something before midnight but finishing it tomorrow count as a 2024 read?"

Absolutely! I just finished 2 this morning...I only had a few pages left in each book, and finished one last night after going to bed, and the audiobook this morning while making breakfast. They both count as 2024 books.

Ioana wrote: "Absolutely! I just finished 2 this morning...I only had a few pages left in each book, and finished one last night after going to bed, and the audiobook this morning while making breakfast. They both count as 2024 books."

Michelle wrote: "That counts as 2024 in my book. Otherwise I would have to abandon the strays started in 2023 to late to finish."

Alondra wrote: "Yes! It's all about when you finish!!"

Took what you all said to heart! Finished my first book of 2024 :)

#1 VenCo: A Novel 4* audiobook

A young woman finds out that she's a witch and is destined to be part of a powerful coven. Starting in Toronto and traveling to Salem then to New Orleans, Lucky St. James is tasked with finding a magical instrument that will lead to the last witch needed to complete their circle. If you like magic, journeys and fighting evil, this may be the book for you. This is a much lighter book than Dimaline's book, The Marrow Thieves, which I enjoyed as well.

Sounds interesting,.............. aaaaaaaaaaaand added lol

Also, I'm reading The Marrow Thieves this year so that's good that you liked that one too!

Nothing like knocking out the first book!! Woot!

Alissa wrote: "Sounds interesting,.............. aaaaaaaaaaaand added lol

Also, I'm reading The Marrow Thieves this year so that's good that you liked that one too!"

Just went back to see what I thought about it and I definitely liked it. Hope you end up enjoying it as well

Alondra wrote: "Nothing like knocking out the first book!! Woot!"

Thanks!

#2 Family Lore 3* audiobook

Elizabeth Acevedo has, in my opinion, hit it out of the park with her previous YA books. I've loved them so much, I enjoyed the voices. So when I saw that she had written an adult novel, I was so excited. I knew it'd be one of first books of 2024. Yeah, I hate having such high expectations dashed. It's family novel, several of the sisters and nieces have magical abilities. Which I normally enjoy. One ability (view spoiler)[magical vagina (hide spoiler)] made my eyes roll every single time we had a chapter from their viewpoint. Have been trying to decide whether to rate this 2.5* or 3*. Decided on 3* for now.

#3 Nine Liars 4* audiobook

Enjoyable addition to the Truly Devious series. I like this one much more than the last 2 books. This time the murder being investigated is in England. A person is kidnapped and it’s linked back to a murder in the 90’s. Stevie has one week to find the person and solve the mystery. Is the time frame a bit unbelievable? Yes. But it was fun nonetheless. Did I do a little eyerollong at the end? Again, yes 🤷🏻‍♀️ but I can let it go. Am I going to read the next one? Absolutely.

#4 The Ferryman 3* audiobook

How to describe this book? It’s like the Russian dolls🪆 You think you’re reading one thing and then it changes. So, you think you’re headed in another direction, and it changes again. You keep opening up the doll to find yet another one in nestled in there. I think this could’ve been a really incredible book but it fell short just because it was so long, 20 hours in audiobook format, 538 pages long. Had it been edited down 100 pages, I would’ve raved about it all year. (Thought just occurred to me, maybe I can do the tomes challenge. Does it count if I listen to the books instead reading print?)

Lillie wrote: "Does it count if I listen to the books instead reading print?"

I'm not a moderator of that challenge, but in my books, reading is reading and the medium does not matter. So of course audiobooks should count!

Ioana wrote: "Lillie wrote: "Does it count if I listen to the books instead reading print?"

I'm not a moderator of that challenge, but in my books, reading is reading and the medium does not matter. So of cours..."

If they don't count, I've been doing it wrong forever. :-)

#5 Dirty Laundry 2* A

This should've been a fun gossipy whodunnit murder mystery. Instead it was full of caricatures and not very convincing situations. Oh well.

#6 The Hollywood Spy 3.5* A

No 10 of a series usually set in London during WWII. Maggie Hope, our heroine and a former spy, is in Hollywood to investigate the murder of her ex-boyfriend's fiancé. Overall, I enjoyed this murder mystery but was not a fan of the narrator. Will have to go back to the print books.

#7 Precious and Grace 4* A

Another wonderful entry into the No 1 Ladies' Detective Agency series. As with previous books, the focus is on the main characters of the books rather than the mysteries they investigate. A slice of life book.

Ok, in the last 10 days I've been in the zone. I've listened to 15 audiobooks. I'll just list them with a 1 or 2 sentence review (otherwise it'd be too much)

#8 Ink Blood Sister Scribe 4* A

Two sisters come back together, after years of estrangement, to fight off a sorcerer who is trying to absorb all of the magical power. I enjoyed the backstory and their subsequent reunion.

#9 Mrs. Jeffries Defends Her Own 3.5* A

Another fun entry in the Mrs Jeffries series. This time Mrs Jeffries is asked, by her former sister-in-law, to help clear her name in a recent murder.

#10 & #11 3.5* A

I'm a huge fan of Barbara Rosenblat, the audiobook narrator. That's how I decided to delve into this series. Mrs Pollifax, a widow, is a courier for the CIA and ends up in very dangerous situations. Her adventures make me smile.

#12 The Anatomist's Wife: A Lady Darby Mystery 3.5* A

A young artistic widow, snubbed by society, helps to investigate a murder that has taken place at her sister's home in 1800s Scotland. Enjoyed the interaction between the lead protagonists as well as the sisterly interactions of Lady Darby and her sister, Kiera. Looking forward to the next entry.

#13 Anonymous: A Madison Kelly Mystery 3* A

Picked this on a whim and it didn't disappoint. Madison Kelly is a PI in San Diego and gets dragged into an investigation against her wishes. It looks like this will be it for the series cause the next one isn't at any of my libraries.

#14 Murder Cuts the Mustard 3.5* A

Set in a small village in post WWI England, two older women, an American adventuress and a English spinster, investigate a murder where their gardener is accused of the crime. Barbara Rosenblat's narration elevates this already fun story.

#15 The Cracked Spine 3* A

Delaney Nichols moves to Scotland (from the US) for a job in a bookstore, that ends up being more than that. Almost as soon as she gets there, a murder occurs and she starts investigating. Though I've given it 3*, it didn't really work for me. There were one too many weird coincidences that made me go no.

#16 A Pocketful of Happiness 4* A

How does one rate a memoir? I guess the same way I do other books, based on feelings. This is a raw book as it deals with the last year of life with his terminal wife. Definitely worth a read if you don't mind crying.

#17 Death Below Stairs 3* A

Cook Kat Holloway, stumbles on her murdered assistant in the pantry on her first night in the household. Set in Victorian London, the investigation takes her all over the city as well as the countryside. Liked it. Will look for the next one in the series.

#18 Bookshops & Bonedust 4* A

I've been impatiently waiting for this prequel to Legends & Lattes. We delve into Viv's backstory to the time she was wounded and left behind in a small town to recuperate. I don't want to say too much but, imo, it lives up to the hype. Left me smiling.

#19 The Golden Spoon 3.5* A

A new season of a baking competition (think the Great British Baking Show) is set to take place in the host's Vermont estate. It's a week of baking, sneaking around and murder. A fun (almost) closed mystery.

#20 A Wizard’s Guide to Defensive Baking 4* A

Why didn't anyone tell me about T. Kingfisher? Found this book to be a delightful middle grade (?) magical fantasy. A young girl & her magic are needed to save the kingdom from the invaders outside the city's gate.

#21 The Celebrants 3.5* A

I don't know why I hadn't really looked to see what this was about before picking it up. I added it to my list based on my enjoyment of The Guncle. Not a fan of any plots that involve the reunification of college friends with secrets, I would've given up on this book within the first couple of chapters but it's on my challenge, so I went on. I'm glad I did. By the end I was invested in their relationships.

#22 The Book That Wouldn’t Burn 4.5* A

Oh boy! I was ready to give up about a quarter of the way in. So much backstory! But once we got into the story, I was hooked. And then the twist here and another one that I did not see coming and it was like a kaleidoscope, shifting what I thought I knew. Can't wait till the next one.

Wow! A lot great reads! I'm a big fan of the Lady Darby series. Hope you continue to enjoy it. And, I'm with you on T. Kingfisher. The Wizard's Guide was my first book by her & I loved Nettle & Bone.
Happy Reading!

What a fantastic start of the year, only one 2 stars, and all 3.5 or more! I haven't read any of these, although I have a few on my TBR. I'm enjoying your mini-reviews.

Wow Lillie, you are a reading machine. Love reading your reviews on so many of these. Lady Darby mysteries check. I'm glad you liked Bookshops and Bonedust. It seems like some people felt it didn't hold up to the first book but I think I enjoyed it more. The Golden Spoon was fun. I'm a British Baking show fan so this knock off mystery version was fun. And T. Kingfisher, a best kept secret right? I read A Wizard's Guide first and then Nettle and Bone. Enjoyed them both. I'm trying to squeeze in more of hers after I get my 2024 challenges under control. I also read Guncle and I keep looking at Celebrants but I'm hesitant. Your review is nudging me toward reading it.

Ioana wrote: "What a fantastic start of the year, only one 2 stars, and all 3.5 or more! I haven't read any of these, although I have a few on my TBR. I'm enjoying your mini-reviews."

I'm surprised too! Kind of scares me for the rest of January, lol

Patricia wrote: "Wow! A lot great reads! I'm a big fan of the Lady Darby series. Hope you continue to enjoy it. And, I'm with you on T. Kingfisher. The Wizard's Guide was my first book by her & I loved Nettle & Bone.
Happy Reading!"

Have you read Huber's Verity Kent mysteries? That was the series I started with and I really enjoyed them. The first book is This Side of Murder

Ok, so I have Kingfisher's What Moves the Dead on hold. Have you read it? It looks like the start of a series.

I'll have to make sure to get to Nettle & Bone this year.

Michelle wrote: "Wow Lillie, you are a reading machine. Love reading your reviews on so many of these. Lady Darby mysteries check. I'm glad you liked Bookshops and Bonedust. It seems like some people felt it didn't hold up to the first book but I think I enjoyed it more. The Golden Spoon was fun. I'm a British Baking show fan so this knock off mystery version was fun. And T. Kingfisher, a best kept secret right? I read A Wizard's Guide first and then Nettle and Bone. Enjoyed them both. I'm trying to squeeze in more of hers after I get my 2024 challenges under control. I also read Guncle and I keep looking at Celebrants but I'm hesitant. Your review is nudging me toward reading it. "

It's the weather! Too rainy to be outside and I haven't found a tv series to binge, so it's audiobooks. I call them my "stories" (you know like back in the day with radio soaps, lol)

It did take me a little bit to get into The Celebrants, eyerolling happened in the beginning. Alternating chapters helped a lot. And I did like following the story of the Jordans. To me, they were the glue that held the story together. Definitely worth a read.

As for T. Kingfisher, I don't know how I missed her. Maybe it's because I shy away from middle grade books, which I found this particular book to be. But now that I've discovered her, I'll be reading her books. I have What Moves the Dead on hold. I should be getting it soon. And I'm putting Nettle & Bone on my list for later this year.

Have you read the Verity Kent mysteries by Anna Lee Huberr? I was looking for more to read by her and that's how I stumbled onto the Lady Darby series.

Yes to The Golden Spoon. I see that the author has another coming out this year, I Need You to Read This. Just when I think I've reduced my list, I add yet another to it.

Lillie wrote: "Kind of scares me for the rest of January, lol"

No, no, no....don't be scared, this is good and a sign of what's to come :-)

Ioana wrote: "Lillie wrote: "Does it count if I listen to the books instead reading print?"

I'm not a moderator of that challenge, but in my books, reading is reading and the medium does not matter. So of cours..."

This is the way I'd look at it.. If the synopsis of an audiobook in Goodreads says 500+ pages, then it qualifies as a tome.

Bill wrote: "Ioana wrote: "Lillie wrote: "Does it count if I listen to the books instead reading print?"

I'm not a moderator of that challenge, but in my books, reading is reading and the medium does not matter. So of cours..."

This is the way I'd look at it.. If the synopsis of an audiobook in Goodreads says 500+ pages, then it qualifies as a tome."

Thanks Bill!

Lillie wrote: "Michelle wrote: "Wow Lillie, you are a reading machine. Love reading your reviews on so many of these. Lady Darby mysteries check. I'm glad you liked Bookshops and Bonedust. It seems like some peop..."

I haven't read the Verity Kent mysteries but since I'm nearly caught up on my library's selection of Lady Darby I may have to check out that series next.

Lillie wrote: "Patricia wrote: "Wow! A lot great reads! I'm a big fan of the Lady Darby series. Hope you continue to enjoy it. And, I'm with you on T. Kingfisher. The Wizard's Guide was my first book by her & I l..."

I've only read one of the Verity Kent books. I won the 4th or 5th one in a goodreads giveaway & read that. I need to go back to the beginning. I haven't read the Kingfisher book you mentioned. I have a couple of other ones on my Kindle. I'll look forward to hearing what you think of that one when you get it.

Kudos on all of your progress, Lillie.

Finally snagged a copy of Legends & Lattes. Not sure when I will read, but I think it may be soon. Finishing up some books (finally) this weekend. Mmmm

Alondra wrote: "Kudos on all of your progress, Lillie.

Finally snagged a copy of Legends & Lattes. Not sure when I will read, but I think it may be soon. Finishing up some books (finally) this weekend. Mmmm"

I think you'll like it, maybe, lol. I say maybe cause it's not scary in the least bit. Think more like hot chocolate with whipped cream on top, a frothy drink