Ultimate Popsugar Reading Challenge discussion

Happy Thursday

Still covered in snow up here! We've gotten almost 30" so far this season. It just keeps coming (and none of the local schools have had a snow day yet, it's crazy! UPDATE - TODAY, all the schools are closed.) And I still need a new car. I hate shopping for and buying a car, and having to test drive in the snow isn't helping. I think I've narrowed it down to: Hyundai Sonata, VW Jetta, or Honda Accord. Anyone have one of those and have an opinion? My last car was a VW so I like the familiarity of the Jetta, but I also might like something new, and the Sonata comes with AWD which would be new to me (and it's cheaper)



***** Admin stuff *****
The December group read, which could fill Prompt #25, A book where the main character is an immigrant or refugee, is: Everything I Never Told You. You can join the discussion here: https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

The final poll for January's group read, for a book which could fulfill "postpartum," is here:

https://www.goodreads.com/poll/show/3...

Due to a SNAFU, this poll will only run for one week, so that you all have a chance to get the book before January starts. Vote now!! The poll closes Tuesday evening.

The nomination poll for February's group read (which could fill Prompt #22 "a book about a book club" ) is here:

https://www.goodreads.com/poll/show/3...



In Literary news: sadly, Sophie Kinsella died this week. Her last book, published in 2024, was autobiographical, about her brain cancer. Are any of you fans?




This week I finished 1 book:

One & Only by Maurene Goo - I'm a long time fan of Goo's YA romances, so when I saw her new adult romance on NetGalley, I immediately requested it! This was very enjoyable. It's got a touch of magical realism - the protagonist and her family are able to "read" people's faces and see their past lives. A love triangle forms, and it was pretty clear which character Goo liked better because the other guy was boring, even though she kept telling us he was awesome too.



Popsugar 100% 50 /50
Must Reads 90% 9 /10
AtY 96% 50 /52
AtY bonus 100% 10 /10
2025 pub 118% 59 /50
NetGalley ratio 92% (I'm never getting to 100% ... they keep making offers I can't refuse)





Question of the Week
Do you give books as gifts?


Yes, sometimes. I give my daughters books each year, and this year I was considering NOT doing it, because they dont' always seem to really want the book, BUT then my older kid started talking about her anticipation of a new book. I gotta scramble fast and choose books for them!!!

Good morning, everyone! Happy Thursday!

This week has been ridiculously busy.

Yesterday morning, I discovered that one of my toilets was leaking when it was flushed, so I had to call the plumber. As it turned out, the tank was actually cracked, and would have turned into a much bigger problem than it already was. Since I was going to have to replace that toilet anyway, I decided to go ahead and have them replace all of the toilets in the house…a process which took about four hours, and which uncovered two additional problems that would have cost me a lot more money if they’d gotten worse than they already were. Once again, this proves that timing is everything.

I’m also in the middle of having my closet remodeled, which has been going really well so far. My handyman has been working on the project since Tuesday morning, and has already managed to remove all of the old shelving, repair the walls, and repaint the ceiling. All that’s left is repainting the walls. I’ve got an in-home design consult scheduled with the Container Store on Tuesday to figure out what the new space will look like, and I’m really excited to see what they come up with.

Since I’ve pretty much been stuck at home all week, I’ve had a chance to do a significant amount of reading, and I’m getting closer to my goal of finishing 25% of my owned TBR before the end of the year.

Here are my current challenge and TBR totals…

Goodreads Challenge: 397/250 (158% — Challenge Complete!)
Mount TBR Challenge: 208/150 (138% — Challenge Complete!)

📚Physical TBR: 143/731
📱Ebook TBR: 54/218
🎧Audiobook TBR: 11/12
TBR Checklist Total: 208/961 (21% complete)

TBR Books DNFed in 2025: 5

I did purchase one new book this week, which was Otaku Elf Vol. 10, by Akihiko Higuchi.

“New” Books Bought in 2025: 180
“New” Books Read in 2025: 174
“New” Books DNFed in 2025: 1
“New” Books Checklist Total: 97% complete

Here are the books I finished this week…

Finished Reading (Fiction):
~His Passerotta — This book is from the Gruco Crime Family series, and I had pretty mixed feelings about it. I did think the story was interesting, but it was also a lot darker than I was expecting (more mafia drama than mafia romance). This is the only book I currently have from this series (I got it on a Stuff Your Kindle Day, so it was free), and I do not plan to get any more of them. Content Alert: (view spoiler)[ This book does include scenes of torture and threats of rape. There are also references to drugs, and gang and mafia violence; as well as a spicy restaurant kitchen scene that should have resulted in a health code violation. (hide spoiler)]📱: ⭐️⭐️⭐️
~The Protector — This is the first book of the Four Forces Security series. I thought this was an okay story, but really had a hard time staying invested in the romance since I didn’t really like either of the main characters. Content Alert: (view spoiler)[ This male main character is dealing with grief. (hide spoiler)] 📱: ⭐️⭐️
~The Shadow of the Gods (Deluxe Limited Hardcover Edition) — This is the first book in the Bloodsworn trilogy. I thought this was a fantastic book! I was very impressed with the world-building, and loved the characters. I'm really glad that I decided to pick up this trilogy! 📚: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
~A Manor of Life & Death — This is the third book in the Beaufort Scales cozy mystery series. I think this has been my favorite story in the series so far. It had some very funny moments. 📱: ⭐️⭐️⭐️
~The Arabian Nights: Tales of 1001 Nights, Volume 2 — Although I did not manage to finish this book in November, which was my original plan, I was able to finish reading it this week. I found this a somewhat inconsistent read. While many of the stories included in this book were exciting and enjoyable, there were also several that dragged on and actually became tedious to read. I'm glad that I read this one, but it's definitely not a new favorite. I am currently planning to wait to start the third book in the new year, and I have to confess that I am kind of glad that it is the last volume. Content Alert: (view spoiler)[ This book includes, but is not limited to: animal deaths, references to bestiality, references to rape, cannibalism, size shaming, and insults toward people of various skin colors. (hide spoiler)] 📚: ⭐⭐⭐
~Game of Scones — This is the fourth book in the Beaufort Scales cozy mystery series. I really enjoyed this story. Unfortunately, this is the last book in this series that I currently own, so I will be taking a break from it for a while. I will be getting the remaining books at some point though, because I really like the characters. 📱: ⭐️⭐️⭐️
~Night of the Living Well-Read — This is the fourth book in the Bookish Adventures in Witch-Lit series. While this wasn’t a bad book, I think I would have enjoyed it a lot more if I had read the earlier books in the series. 📱: ⭐️⭐️
~Surfing with a Scotsman — I thought this was a pretty good romance, and really liked that the majority of the book was set in Scotland. Content Alert: (view spoiler)[ This book does include references to previous relationships that were toxic, emotional abuse, and feelings of insignificance involving pregnancy and motherhood. (hide spoiler)] 📱: ⭐️⭐️⭐️

This week I also had a chance to start the School of Roots and Vines series. It's an 8 book series set at a magical boarding school for teens with elemental abilities. While I wouldn't say that anything about the series has been especially groundbreaking in terms of world-building or content, I really like the characters and feel like each of the individual books has been really good. The books I read this week include:
~Sophie Briggs and the Spike of Death — 📱: ⭐️⭐️⭐️
~Sophie Briggs and the Crystal Contraption — 📱: ⭐️⭐️⭐️
~Sophie Briggs and the Lightning Weapon — 📱: ⭐⭐⭐
~Sophie Briggs and the Magic Thief — 📱: ⭐⭐⭐
~Sophie Briggs and the Guardians of the Tree — 📱: ⭐⭐⭐

Finished Reading (Nonfiction):
None

Finished Reading (Manga, Comic Books, & Graphic Novels):
None

Finished Reading (Poetry and Drama):
None

DNFed:
None

Currently Reading:
~NIV Audio Bible — This audiobook edition of The Bible is read by David Suchet. I currently have a little less than 50 hours remaining. 🎧
~The Hunger of the Gods (Deluxe Limited Hardcover Edition) — This is the second book in the Bloodsworn trilogy. I’m currently about a quarter of the way through this book, and I’m really enjoying it so far. I’m hoping to read some more this afternoon. 📚
~Sophie Briggs and the Bureau of Secrets — This is the sixth book in the School of Roots and Vines series. I’m currently a little over halfway through this book, and plan to finish it today. 📱

QOTW:
I try to tailor my gifts based on the person’s interests, as well as things they’ve talked about through the year. For most of my friends and family, that does involve at least one book. I’ve gotten a couple of books for my dad for Christmas, but I think I’m also going to pick up an Amazon gift card for him as well. He’s got several authors whose books he’s been reading on his Kindle, and I know they’ve got new books coming out in January that he’s really excited about.

I don’t have any kids of my own, but I’ve always liked the idea where you give them “something they want, something they need, something to wear, and something to read.” And recently, I saw someone on Facebook added “something for the family to do together.”

Happy Thursday everyone!

Sorry I have not been posting as frequently. I was finishing up school stuff and work has been crazy.

*****

Bookish News:

- Recently I participated in a holiday book gift exchange that I found on Instagram. I sent my assigned person two books and holiday goodies and they did the same. I've usually participated in Superman-related gift exchanges but I thought this would be different and just as fun and it was.

These were the two books my assigned person sent me and I am so grateful! Completely different genres but ones I'm excited for. I've already started the Batman book and it makes me want to watch the movies again.

Batman: Resurrection

Bird of Four Hundred Voices: A Mexican American Memoir of Music and Belonging



*****

At work, one of the people I work with did an incredible painting for me. A couple of weeks ago the person asked me what my favorite dinosaurs were and so they took time painting a landscape with two dinosaurs. Very unexpected and I was shocked. I'm not a hugger but I hugged her because I didn't know what else to do!

Another person gifted me with some book-related things book pouch and cozy socks that are book-themed so that was cool.

*****

Currently Reading:

Ripples on the Cosmic Ocean: An Environmental History of Our Place in the Solar System - Wow this book is impressive! It's been a 5 star so far.

A Long Game: Notes on Writing Fiction - Not what I was expecting but loving the quotes.

The Dragons of Eden: Speculations on the Evolution of Human Intelligence - An unexpected read. Someone told me about it so I figured I'd give it a try and it's great!




*****

In other news, out of all the reading challenges I'm doing in 2026, the one I'm most excited for is the Anti Brain Rot Reading Challenge. This one is more active since some of the requirements are annotating and creating a critical media journal, as well as a personal curriculum.

I've been busy pounding away at figuring out my books for my personal curriculum. Plan to do 3 books a month for that (and then read other things in between).

*****
Question of the Week

Do you give books as gifts?

Traditionally, I do, but I've come to find that the people I gift them too aren't big readers. This year I'm only gifting two people books. One is a graphic novel for a kid who likes the Ninja Turtles so it's not a "traditional book" in a sense.

The other two were 2 books I gifted as part of a book holiday gift exchange.

Happy Thursday! The wind has been crazy. It's 6:15 in the morning and I can hear the wind whipping around the house and the trees rattling. For the past week, the wind's been blowing at 25+ mph with gusts up to 50 mph. Don't bother trying to do anything with your hair... it's not going to work.

Reading Challenges: Almost done with my challenges! And I read more than 40% of my physical TBR. Woohoo!

🏆 52 Book Club: 52/52 (December Mini-Challenge: 5/9)
🏆 ATY: 52/52 (Winter Challenge: 11/24)
The Book Girls’ Guide: 72/74
🏆 Booklist Queen: 52/52
🏆 Popsugar: 50/50
🏆 Goodreads Fall Challenge (Bookmarks): 12/12

Recently Completed:

🎄 Heiresses: The Lives of the Million Dollar Babies (ATY Winter Challenge – THE/Heiresses) ★★★
🎄 Good Spirits (52 Books December Mini-Challenge #6 – a seasonal romance) ★★★★
🎄 L. Ron Hubbard Presents Writers of the Future Volume 41: The Best New SF & Fantasy of the Year: Adventures Underground Book Club. There were a couple of great stories, but I'm just not a short story reader. I either hate the story and wonder why it was even written or I love it and want more. It's rare that I find a short story that feels complete in and of itself. ★★★
🎄 Behind Every Good Man (52 Books December Mini-Challenge #2 – a career change/ATY Winter Challenge - CHRISTMAS: Confino/BGG ICYMI Backlist #12 – published in 2024) ★★★★
🎄 Wild, Beautiful, and Free (ATY Winter Challenge – CHRISTMAS: Sophfronia/BGG Read Around the USA #12 – traveling the USA) ★★★
🎄 The Bright Years (ATY Winter Challenge - DAYS: Damoff/BGG Lifetime of Reading #12 – spanning generations/Goodreads Bookmarks – “Choice Awards”) ★★★★
🎄 Ends of the Earth: Journeys to the Polar Regions in Search of Life, the Cosmos, and Our Future (ATY Winter Challenge – THE: Ends) ★★★★
🎄 Grace of the Empire State (ATY Winter Challenge - THE: Tizzard/BGG Book Lovers #12 – read a favorite) ★★★★
🎄 Skipping Christmas: AU Book and Film Club. (52 Books December Mini-Challenge #9 – snow on the cover) ★★★



QOTW: Yes. We celebrate Jolabokaflod, so Ashley and I buy books for each other and then split the rest of the family. This year we bought each other "blind" books that we saw at a Christmas market last weekend, so we don't even know what we got each other! The rest of the family is harder to buy for.

Hi all! I am supremely aggravated this morning. I order grocery deliveries from Walmart. I've been doing it for a year and while there's some minor hiccups here and there, it's worked out and I appreciate the service. NOT TODAY! Actually, yesterday. For some reason, the delivery driver came to my house, but didn't drop off the groceries, marked them as undeliverable, and took them back to the store?? I chatted with 2 customer service people who said they could retry to send them *at any time*. I was supposed to work today, but I called in because my flipping groceries could show up and be left outside all damn day?? Yesterday's driver did not attempt to knock on my door or call or text or explain why she couldn't deliver them. My daughter saw her get into her car and drive away and by the time I realized what had happened, she was gone.

I've been cleaning the house to make room for Christmas decorations. We want to get our tree this weekend. My daughter begged for an elf on the shelf so I've been doing that for a couple of days. Thank goodness for the internet for easy ideas, cause I'm not that creative! After all the grocery drama yesterday, the elf got stuck trying to get out of a drawer... that's all I had in me.

As expected, I haven't had much time or energy for reading. I've read a few chapters in See You When the Snow Falls, and I started a reread of The Thirteenth Tale, which I first read when it first came out, so it's been quite a while.

QOTW: I usually give my nieces and nephews books for Christmas, but I haven't had the chance to look, so I might not this year. I'll get my mom a book, cause she loves to read. And I might get my boyfriend a book about 90s rap music. I borrowed it from the library and he seemed interested, so maybe I'll just buy it for him, since I didn't get a chance to read it myself.

Happy Thursday!

I get to work from home today because we got a ton of snow and they didn't plow highways, let alone streets this morning.

I finished no books this week, but I worked hard at moving all my books along. I started Somewhere Beyond the Sea which I'm loving. Sadly, after bitching and complaining that ATY didn't get their best books of the month prompt in for 2026, I can't get a book to read for the prompt this year. Every book I tried last night, I wouldn't have got the book until next year. I might have to move another book into that prompt and read a replacement book for the vacated prompt.

Are other people struggling with trying to get a hold of book, or just me. The book I reserved in MAY for the lefthanded prompt will be mine in only 10 weeks - so I won't be filling that prompt this year.

And I can't get a hold of my Newfoundland book to complete my reading across Canada either.

Series - 10/10 - Completed!
Reading Across Canada - 9/10
Nobel laureates - 4/5

PS - 40/40 - Completed!
Regular ATY - 46/40 - Completed!
Anniversary ATY - 9/10
Summer Challenge - 5100/5000 points - Completed!

Currently reading:
Interior Castle - 65%
To Give and to Have, and Other Poems. - 70%
The Five: The Untold Lives of the Women Killed by Jack the Ripper - 75%
Somewhere Beyond the Sea - 15%

Buddy Reads:
Library of Souls - 20%

QOTW: Yes. Years ago to stop overbuying for the kids, we started: Something you want, something you need, something to wear, and something to read.

So yes, everyone gets a book for Christmas.

Happy Thursday all.

So I'm officially down an organ, haha... Had surgery to remove my gallbladder on Tuesday, and I'm still sore today. Baby-stepping my way through recovery and eating again. I'm hoping to be back to normal-ish soon, but we'll see how it goes...

Books read this week:

Brigands & Breadknives -- not as cozy as Legends & Lattes, but still a fun read. I’d love to see more of this series -- we need more cozy and/or humorous fantasy novels.

The Comfort of Crows: A Backyard Year -- beautifully written, if melancholy, meditation on nature, climate change, and the impact both have on our lives.

The Monsters We Defy -- good historical fantasy novel set among the black community of 1920s Washington DC.

Currently reading:

Flicker
Eli Harpo's Adventure to the Afterlife
The Twelve Dogs of Christmas
Randoms

QOTW:

I actually have three books slated to give to family members for Christmas this year! When it comes to books, though, I try to make sure they're books the person really wants -- my BIL reads manga, my sister collects unusual cookbooks, etc. Otherwise I play it safe with an Amazon or Kobo gift card.

As I get older, I realize more and more just how many ways our minds and bodies can fail or otherwise cause difficulty. The latest for me is what they diagnosed as tennis elbow from working at a computer desk all day. I've been doing the same job for decades, but I am in a new environment this fall, which has presented some challenges for correct posture and limb placement.

Give everyone as much grace as you can, as you never know what they might be going through, and we are all trying to muddle through life the best we can.

Books finished:

The Titan’s Curse by Rick Riordan (reread, 3/5, contains deus ex machina)

I like this book fine, but the combination of characters and set pieces just works a little less well for me than what was in the first two books of the series.

Poirot Investigates by Agatha Christie (reread, 3/5, book that starts with the letter "P", Agatha Christie Challenge)

I would recommend stories 4, 5, 9, 10, and 11 from this collection. Stories 1 and 2 are the most noticeably racist in their language use.

The Unofficial Guide to Walt Disney World 2026 by a whole crew of people (3/5, a book that makes you feel FOMO, "a guide to ..." book)

There is a lot of useful information here, and if you are using it for that, then the rating may be higher. I enjoyed reading about some of the attractions, resorts, and restaurants, while other parts were less appealing for entertainment reading.

Currently reading:

The Secret of Chimneys by Agatha Christie
Strike Zone by Peter David (reread)
William Shakespeare's Star Wars: Verily, A New Hope by Ian Doescher (reread)

Question of the Week:

I rarely give books as gifts. My daughter has certain series she likes that are safe bets. Otherwise, it has to be something a person requests specifically.

Ron wrote: "In other news, out of all the reading challenges I'm doing in 2026, the one I'm most excited for is the Anti Brain Rot Reading Challenge. This one is more active since some of the requirements are annotating and creating a critical media journal, as well as a personal curriculum...."



That sounds really interesting!!! Is that on GR or somewhere else?



LOL I googled it and it's ... on TikTok? Such irony!!!!!


That's funny, but it also probably means it's reaching some of the people who will REALLY appreciate it.

Laura Z wrote: "This year we bought each other "blind" books that we saw at a Christmas market last weekend, so we don't even know what we got each other!..."


that's so exciting!! what are the odds that you got each other the same book???

Nadine in NY wrote: "that's so exciting!! what are the odds that you got each other the same book???"

Not very likely. She prefers romantasy and cryptid romances. I much prefer contemporary fiction. We know each other's tropes. 😏

Laura Z wrote: "Nadine in NY wrote: "that's so exciting!! what are the odds that you got each other the same book???"

Not very likely. She prefers romantasy and cryptid romances. I much prefer contemporary fictio..."



so the "Blind" books were sorted by genre?

Jennifer W wrote: "Hi all! I am supremely aggravated this morning. I order grocery deliveries from Walmart. I've been doing it for a year and while there's some minor hiccups here and there, it's worked out and I app..."




That is extremely frustrating!!

A few weeks ago, I ordered some stuff from King Arthur Baking. It was due to arrive the weekend before Thanksgiving, being shipped by some company I'd never heard of. The day after it was due to arrive, the tracking info changed to "RETURNED - contact seller for more info" - I was like "WTF??" So I contacted King Arthur, and they didn't know any more than I did. She offered to resend it, of course, but I said "not today, it will arrive while I'm out of town for Thanksgiving." She said she'd pick a "slow" shipping method. It ended up being shipped by FedEx, which is the opposite of slow, so naturally it arrived the day after Thanksgiving. Normally I wouldn't worry, but it had some glass bottles of vanilla and I worried the extreme cold temps predicted would freeze and break the bottle. AND we were getting dumped on with a massive blizzard so my ex was not willing to make the 20 minute drive to my house to get it (TOTALLY UNDERSTANDABLE). Luckily, his brother lives two blocks away and was willing to come pick it up for me. (I later wondered if any of my neighbors saw him do this and thought he was stealing it LOL - even though he lives close, he's my kids' uncle and we are friendly, he rarely comes here, so they would not recognize him) Disaster averted!

Dubhease wrote: "Happy Thursday!

I get to work from home today because we got a ton of snow and they didn't plow highways, let alone streets this morning.

I finished no books this week, but I worked hard at movin..."



what province are you in? I'm wondering if you're directly north of me getting the same storm system I'm under?

Kenya wrote: "Happy Thursday all.

So I'm officially down an organ, haha... Had surgery to remove my gallbladder on Tuesday, and I'm still sore today. Baby-stepping my way through recovery and eating again. I'm ..."




Congrats on your surgery!!! I hope you have a speedy recovery. Maybe it's time to start planning a "Thanksgiving Dinner in January" celebration

Brandon wrote: "As I get older, I realize more and more just how many ways our minds and bodies can fail or otherwise cause difficulty. The latest for me is what they diagnosed as tennis elbow from working at a co..."



truth!

Happy rainy Thursday! We got four of the kittens settled in their new homes, and we are keeping the last two. Just dropped the mama cat off at the vet for spaying, so we don't have to do this again!

Finished:

Cluster Luck: A sci-fi comedy series by H. Claire Taylor. The first book in the series, Lucky Stars: A sci-fi comedy series, was a light, funny space opera. The second book is a much darker, gallows humor story. I don't necessarily mind dark, but it was jarring after the first book.

Currently reading:

The Mysteries of Udolpho by Ann Radcliffe. The original Gothic novel: a creepy old castle, a locked chamber, a sinister villain, rumors of ghosts, and an innocent yet plucky heroine. Love it.

QOTW:

Most of my family have Amazon wishlists, so I can find what they want, though I usually buy it elsewhere. Once in a while I see a book that makes me think "I know exactly who needs this," but otherwise gifting books can be iffy. Why can't everyone just love the ones I love?

Nadine in NY wrote: "what province are you in? I'm wondering if you're directly north of me getting the same storm system I'm under? ..."

I am in Ontario - In Ottawa. It's a 1 hour drive to Ogdensburg and a 3 hour drive to Syracuse. Unless it's really localized, they could have the same weather as us. And contrary to that one guy I met in Florida, NY state does get snow and the snow doesn't stop at the Canada-US border.

Happy check-in! I'm pushing to finish all my challenges, the most challenging being reading 311 books this year to get the final Goodreads bookmark. Fortunately, the ATY read-a-thon is on right now.

Finished Reading:

Red Threads: A Graphic Novel ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
A book grab from the small spotlight shelf at the library turned out very well. Follows a 15 year old girl who switches to a magical bording school and find her place.

White Hot Dramatized Adaptation ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
My library finally bought a copy.

The Horse and His Boy ⭐⭐⭐
I've been trying to read this series finally in chronological order.

I'm Gonna Get You Back ⭐⭐
A struggling author goes to a writing conference and runs into the one that got away. She also has a stalker that shows up to cause problems.

Knight of the Ice, Vol. 2 Knight of the Ice, Vol. 3 ⭐⭐⭐
A good series for those who will pick figure skating as their favourite Olympic sport next year. It's a bit strange.

The King's Ransom ⭐⭐⭐
Book two of Janet Evanovich's series following a woman who finds lost things.

Sunny ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
I think you have to give the audio a go with this one. The narrator is a good friend of Jason Reynold's so he knew how to read the writing.

QOTW:
I love getting books for a gifts, so I love giving them out.

@Kenya glad your surgery went well and you are on the mend.

@Brandon I hope you can get things more ergonomically set up to avoid pain.

Brandon wrote: "As I get older, I realize more and more just how many ways our minds and bodies can fail or otherwise cause difficulty. The latest for me is what they diagnosed as tennis elbow from working at a co..."

I'm having a similar problem, so I very much sympathize!

I keep reading books that fit next year's prompts. Since I'm trying to finish off ATY, I don't want to put them aside, but also maybe this goes to show they're not so hard prompts after all. Or I'll spend next year cursing myself.

Winter lurgy has finally caught up with me. I've not had any cold/flu symptoms except a really bad cough. I did a covid test that came back negative but I'm not even sure if the tests are still valid. The most annoying part is it's stopping me sleeping.

Finished:
Critical Role: Vox Machina Origins, Vol. 1 I have only seen bits of pieces of this Critical Role campaign and some of the cartoon adaptation, so it was nice to fill in some blanks about the characters' origins. I might use these comics for "different format" next year, as I usually watch their stories.

Don’t Burn Anyone at the Stake Today: by Naomi Alderman. I would have liked a bit more on the historical information crises, but overall this was a thought-provoking short read. Using for ATY collection of short writing (it was apparently a series of essays first so I'm counting it).

If It Makes You Happy by Julie Olivia. Well this was boring, but I've had such a hard time getting my head around the "title that sounds like a country song" ATY prompt that I slogged through. I'm still not certain it fits the prompt. Plus, the characters don't really like dogs yet one of them has a border collie (a breed that needs things to do) that gets tied up all the time and they don't trust him not to bite (he wasn't aggressive in the slightest) yet leave him around children unsupervised. I thought they were super irresponsible, and I wanted to rescue the dog. I don't think the author is a dog person but probably put one in to tick a cosy box. Would fit dad as main care giver and mentions Scorpio if I'd kept it for next year, but probably would have DNFed if I'd put it down for longer!

Murder by Memory by Olivia Waite. This needed to be a bit more fleshed out but I thought the core idea of the mystery was good. It was just handed to you on a plate due to lack of worldbuilding or character development time.

Currently reading Single Bald Female and listening to Alien Clay.

QOTW:
I used to give people books but it's so hard to know what people have already read. Even with my partner, I don't think he's read the last few books I got him, so I probably won't bother this year.

Happy Thursday.

I've read a few of Sophie Kinsella's books and enjoyed them. I'm sorry to hear she's passed away. I should probably go back and read more of her back catalog.

Finished:
Stung with Love: Poems and Fragments by Sappho - 3 stars - for a book by the oldest author in your TBR pile. I wish there was more of her poetry in existence, because what's there was beautiful.

The Names by Florence Knapp - 4 stars - not for a prompt. This was a fascinating exploration of the difference that a name can make, showing three parallel storylines of the same baby boy with three different names, and how that affects his family and everyone else around them.

Paused:
Emma by Jane Austen - I just wasn't in the right mood for this. I will probably go back to this later.

Currently reading:
Unspoken by Sarah Rees Brennan - not for a prompt.

Sisters of the Vast Black by Lina Rather - not for a prompt.

Upcoming/Planned:
Nothing right now.

QOTW:
Only if it's a book I know the person will like or something they've requested. If I'm giving books, I'd usually rather give a gift card and let them choose a book for themselves, because that's what I would prefer for myself.

Kenya wrote: "Happy Thursday all.

So I'm officially down an organ, haha... Had surgery to remove my gallbladder on Tuesday, and I'm still sore today. Baby-stepping my way through recovery and eating again. I'm ..."

Glad your surgery went well. Milk it for all the help you can get, ;) but keep moving, too.

Brandon wrote: "As I get older, I realize more and more just how many ways our minds and bodies can fail or otherwise cause difficulty. The latest for me is what they diagnosed as tennis elbow from working at a co..."

Agree completely! Feel better!

Happy Thursday! It's crunch time for me - next week we're travelling to do an early christmas with my side of the family so I've got to finish gift shopping / wrapping and packing. I did finally finish my christmas cookie baking. I don't want to think about how many dozens of cookies I made - I know it's like 8 batches? I think? WOooooff.

Currently reading:
Classic Christmas Poems: a pretty little volume to help boost the holiday spirit
The Golden Age of Murder: a sort of history of the Detection Club, a society of mystery writers, mostly focusing on the founding members, at least so far

QOTW: Yes definitely! I come from a family of readers, so books are a common gift. If anything, I try to stop myself from just relying on giving people books for every occasion.

I keep waffling about what reading challenges to work on right now. I am trying not to specifically read for them, but notice when they happen to qualify...

52 book club: 9/52
52 connections: 5/21
PS '26: 3/40
Anti-capitalist: 8/30

Finished: The Book of Lost Hours Anyone who enjoys books and memories would enjoy this one. I picked it up because I was looking for a book on time.

Started: Better Than We Found It: Conversations to Help Save the World I'm using this prompt co-authored by husband and wife because that's originally how I interpreted the prompt

Make Space for Happiness: How to Stop Attracting Clutter and Start Magnetizing the Life You Want This normally wouldn't be what I look for in a decluttering book because it's more the why than the how. But it's perfect for right now.

Organizing for the Rest of Us: 100 Realistic Strategies to Keep Any House Under Control And this is the how. I feel overwhelmed at how much stuff I have and the thought of more stuff incoming at Christmas is motivating me to do something about it!

QotW: I often give books, especially to my husband which is usually a mistake because he often doesn't read them. I can't help it!

Jen W. wrote: "Happy Thursday.

I've read a few of Sophie Kinsella's books and enjoyed them. I'm sorry to hear she's passed away. I should probably go back and read more of her back catalog.

Finished:
Stun..."</i>


I hadn't heard of [book:The Names - what an interesting premise. I almost got named Eileen, wonder if that would have changed anything in my life?

💖📖💖📖💖📖💖📖💖📖💖📖💖📖💖📖💖📖💖📖💖📖💖📖💖

Happy Thursday!

ULTIMATE POPSUGAR READING CHALLENGE 2025
Acidic Quagga's List - Started July 18, 2025

🟰🟰🟰🟰🟰🟰🟰🟰🟰🟰🟰🟰🟰🟰🟰🟰
Popsugar Challenge Completion: 24/30, 80%
📖=book 💻=ebook 🎧=audiobook 🌠=rating
🟰🟰🟰🟰🟰🟰🟰🟰🟰🟰🟰🟰🟰🟰🟰🟰

Currently Reading
📖
The Diamond Eye by Kate Quinn
24: A Book with a Happily Single Woman Protagonist.
Fall Challenge: Fiction Faves
Buddy Read With Bookworm_0143

📖
Sure, I'll Join Your Cult: A Memoir of Mental Illness and the Quest to Belong Anywhere by Maria Bamford
20: A book that fills a 2024 Prompt: Challenge 31: A book with a title that is a complete sentence.
Fall Challenge: Memorable Memoirs.

📖
Never Whistle at Night: An Indigenous Dark Fiction Anthology by Multiple Authors; edited by Shane Hawk
05: A book with a snake on the cover or in the title.
Fall Challenge: Native Voices.

🟰🟰🟰🟰🟰🟰🟰🟰🟰🟰🟰🟰🟰🟰🟰🟰

Question of the Week
Do you give books as gifts?

I do!

💖📖💖📖💖📖💖📖💖📖💖📖💖📖💖📖💖📖💖📖💖📖💖📖💖📖💖

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.

Happy Thursday everyone! I'm participating in the ATY Winter Read-a-thon and read 7 books this past week. Also had a couple of 5-star reads after nearly 6 months without one! Finishing off my last few prompts. I'm sure I'll get them all completed by the end of the year.

2025 Reading Challenges
PopSugar- 50/50 COMPLETED
ATY- 52/52; Anniversary- 10/10; Summer- 7500/5000; Fall- 18/18 ; Winter- 8/24 COMPLETED
52 Book Club- 52/52; Connections- 21/21; Mini-Challenges- 21/28 COMPLETED
Barnes & Noble- 52/52 COMPLETED
Booklist Queen- 51/52
Read Good- 12/12 COMPLETED
Buzzword- 11/12; Cover- 11/12
GR Bookmarks- 11/12

1001 Books- 10/10 COMPLETED
TBR- 20/20 COMPLETED

Finished
One Day, Everyone Will Have Always Been Against This- excellent, no notes. ☆☆☆☆☆
GR Bookmark- Choice Awards
ATY Winter- THE TWELVE DAYS OF CHRISTMAS

Intermezzo- had this on my TBR for over a year and finally picked it up. This was another fantastic read from Rooney. She knows how to unearth the insecurities of her characters and just when you think you wouldn't get along with some, you really start to feel for them. ☆☆☆☆ 1/2
ATY Winter- THE TWELVE DAYS OF CHRISTMAS

The 39 Steps- I picked this up because I needed to read a spy thriller for one of the last reading challenges I have left to finish. This was definitely action-packed and fast-paced, just not the typical genre I gravitate to. ☆☆☆
BQ #6- Spy thriller
ATY Winter- THE TWELVE DAYS OF CHRISTMAS

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 me, so naturally I picked it up. I loved how the two books connected, how it gave us more insight into the protagonist and overall found it beautiful and sad. ☆☆☆☆☆
GR Bookmark- Community Picks
ATY Winter- THE TWELVE DAYS OF CHRISTMAS

Emily Wilde’s Map of the Otherlands- a good addition to this cozy fantasy trilogy. Didn't like it as much as the first, but it was still good. ☆☆☆
52 BC December Mini-Challenge #5- takes place in a small town
ATY Winter- THE TWELVE DAYS OF CHRISTMAS

Train Dreams- this was short, but a beautiful snapshot of a changing America through the eyes of one lonely man. ☆☆☆☆
ATY Winter- THE TWELVE DAYS OF CHRISTMAS

The Land in Winter- picked this up because it was one of the other Booker shortlistees I hadn't read yet. I liked the atmospheric vibes, the characters' journeys and the time period commentary, I just don't think I quite understood what the fate of the two couples were. ☆☆☆ 1/2
52 BC December Mini-Challenge #9- snow on the cover
ATY Winter- THE TWELVE DAYS OF CHRISTMAS

Currently Reading
Where Are You Really From

QOTW
I have given them in the past if I feel they would really enjoy them.

Laura Ruth wrote: "Happy rainy Thursday! We got four of the kittens settled in their new homes, and we are keeping the last two. Just dropped the mama cat off at the vet for spaying, so we don't have to do this again..."



well done! fun kitten times!! Will you be keeping the mama cat too or is she going back to the neighbors?

Ellie wrote: "I keep reading books that fit next year's prompts. Since I'm trying to finish off ATY, I don't want to put them aside, but also maybe this goes to show they're not so hard prompts after all. Or I'l..."



LOL I'm reading a book right now (Murder Bimbo) that fits both "influencer culture" AND "told entirely through letters" (I'm not sure yet if part 3 is also in that format, though). It's so annoying! this book would be perfect! I'm telling myself that I have perfectly good books picked out for each of those categories and I will be FINE.

Dubhease wrote: "Nadine in NY wrote: "what province are you in? I'm wondering if you're directly north of me getting the same storm system I'm under? ..."

I am in Ontario - In Ottawa. It's a 1 hour drive to Ogdens..."


Oh so you are indeed DIRECTLY north of me! I'm in the Syracuse snow belt, but you get more snow than I do most of the time, I think. I have visited Ottawa in the winter and it was a crazy amount of snow.

Happy Thursday!! Still no snow here, though it's very cold! I would vote for the AWD, especially in snowy conditions. That's a good feature to have.

Finished 49/50

The Shadow Within (not for the challenge). I got to read this while waiting for my last challenge book to come in! I love B5 and most of this is canon, so it was an enjoyable read!

Currently Reading

The Boy Who Lived: When Magic and Reality Collide: my story for "book that features a character with chronic pain". THIS IS MY LAST CHALLENGE BOOK and it took FOREVER to come in until I was starting to panic!! I might actually finish a challenge this year!!

QotW

Sometimes! If I know it's something they'll really enjoy.

Nadine in NY wrote: "Happy Thursday

Still covered in snow up here! We've gotten almost 30" so far this season. It just keeps coming (and none of the local schools have had a snow day yet, it's crazy! UPDATE - TODAY, a..."

I don't own a car - living in NYC, don't need to own one and it would be very expensive. However, I rent all the time, and have since my 20s. I have driven every single one of those options, both urban and long distance, this last year as I've travelled quite a bit. I rank those 3:

1. Honda Accord
2. Hyundai Sonata
3. VW Jetta - would not even consider it. I've yet to drive a VW anything that I like.

I rank both Honda Accord and Hyundai Sonata pretty evenly.

One car I have now rented 2 or 3 times and have grown to really like - rather shocking actually - is Chevy Trax midsize SUV. An American car you say? shocked me I tell you. The only complaints I had was about the location of the seat adjustments - not an issue if you are the only driver as you adjust them once and leave them alone. But solvable with upgrading to the ones where you just press or push buttons to adjust everything.

Nadine in NY wrote: "Happy Thursday

Still covered in snow up here! We've gotten almost 30" so far this season. It just keeps coming (and none of the local schools have had a snow day yet, it's crazy! UPDATE - TODAY, a..."

I learned to drive in a Honda Accord. It lasted forever and was a good car in the snow. (I currently have a Honda Fit, which they stopped making, but I also love this car) My brother currently has a Hyundai hybrid (not a Sonata), and he likes it.

I had to make 2 more calls to get my grocery order totally cancelled and then reorder it. It's supposedly on its way. I'll believe it when I'm eating dinner. Sigh....

Ellie wrote: " Even with my partner, I don't think he's read the last few books I got him, so I probably won't bother this year...."



see, that's how I felt with my kids! they don't always read what I buy them, so I wasn't going to do it this year. But then they started talking about it, so apparently they LIKE getting books.

We are still snow-less in NYC but cold we got. And rain. Monday and Tuesday it never hit 30F and dropped into high teens at night. Of course, Monday was the day the boiler in the apartment building was shut down for 12 hours while they performed routine maintenance. It was really cold in her on Monday! I sat at my desk (WFH) wearing and wrapped in fleece and typing on computer one handed so the other fingers could warm up under my armpit! Took 2 full days to get the apartment back to warm. However hot water was back and hot showers available as soon as the boiler turned back on. That was the best hot shower I'd had ever! (Ever notice that a hot shower feels best when you are cold?).

Still have 1 book left for PS but I've switched out the book on my nightstand that I started for it with another I am also reading when I realized it would fit. Maybe this next week I'll be done.

Finished:
Murder by Lamplight
The Gift of the Magi
The Elves and The Shoemaker

Those last 2 are from a Literary Advent Calendar from archives on Book Riot. I've of course dropped behind at this point, other than reading the poems scattered throughout.

Currently Reading:
China Trade
Silk Route Adventure: On Horseback in the Heart of Asia

QOTW: I give lots and lots of books as presents - to family and friends. My sisters and I have been known to include in the Christmas gifts exchanged books we've read We wrap them up with a tag from Santa's Used Book Store.

Milena wrote: "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..."



I am so sorry. My ex's dog died this week, too. He declined quickly, the kids and I didn't even get a chance to go over to say goodbye. Now I'm glad I got to dogsit him a few months ago. They leave such an absence behind them, just a big quiet emptiness. I didn't know your dog, but I'm sure he was deeply loved and lived his best, happiest life with you.

It's so hard.

Nadine in NY wrote: "Laura Ruth wrote: "Happy rainy Thursday! We got four of the kittens settled in their new homes, and we are keeping the last two. Just dropped the mama cat off at the vet for spaying, so we don't ha..."

I think it's going to be a joint custody situation. After she recovers, we'll start letting her out, and she can gob back and forth between houses. The rest will remain indoor cats.

Milena wrote: "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..."

I am so sorry for all you are experiencing, Milena. So glad you are getting some help. It's just really good to have someone to whom you can just pour it all out on a regular basis when life seems all lemons. It's exhausting during those times and everything is an effort.

I have no doubt at all that you are missed greatly at work.

Happy Thursday! It's been a weird week at work- big meetings, and a holiday party- so I'm having trouble remembering what day it is. It's been very chilly in my apartment, so haven't felt like doing much of anything all week. Down to two prompts for this years popsugar though! Hopefully I can finish this week!

Finished:
Whiteout- this started out entertaining enough, but dragged on and on. It's a book where the more I think about it the less I like it.
-two books same title

ライトオブマイライフ Light of My Life - a manga about friends becoming roommates and then falling in love. This was fine, but definitely heavier on the spice than the relationship building
-netgalley

You Can't Bluff the Sharp-Eyed Sister 1- this was a fun start to a new manga series, but felt like it was just laying the groundwork for the rest of the series more than a complete story arc of its own. I'll be checking out the next volumes
-netgalley

In the Midst of Winter- I really liked this one! Three people come together in a New York snowstorm after a car accident. Explores immigration, and the need for community and connection. Really enjoyed it
-oldest author on tbr

Currently reading:
I've started both Crudo and Run with the Wind for my final two prompts, but have made very little progress on either. Should have time to read tonight though

QotW:
I love giving books as gifts!

I read nothing this week but student papers (I am so far behind in grading and finals are next week. I managed a little of Hercule Poirot's Christmas. My challenges are therefore stalled

QOTW:
I give books to the 6 year old, others only if people ask. My family is not readers. Sometimes my cousin asks me to pick a book for her and I will

Hello and happy Thursday from Columbus! A busy week leading up to holiday break so I didn’t get a ton of reading done. My son’s grandparents were also out of town for part of the week so I had more time with an 11 year old who wants all of the attention all of the time (not a complaint, I love spending all the time I can with him)

Finished:
The Girl with Seven Names: A North Korean Defector's Story for the immigrant or refugee prompt. I am very interested in North Korea defector stories. And weirdly, I love North Korean online propaganda, it’s so eerie I can’t stop watching it.

Currently Reading:
Katabasis
Catechism of the Catholic Church
The Great Adventure Catholic Bible

Recently Watched:
I started watching the new season of Stranger Things, and got my son to watch Alice in Wonderland with me.

Challenges:
Popsugar - 34/40; 4/4; 2/3; 3/3
Read Harder - 22/24
Classics - 10/12
European Tour - 10/10
12 Friends - 7/12
Yearly Goal - 159/180

QOTW:
Sometimes but I find I have very different taste in books from the people in my life.

It was finals week and all the grading left me with little time to do any reading. I did finish something though. Wytches, Volume 1 by Scott Snyder. Folk horror graphic novel and was rather meh.

QOTW

My friends and I have the same tastes in books and we exchange books every holiday (and birthdays for that matter)

Life update: A few of my colleagues organised a coffee and cake gathering yesterday as a retirement party for me. My actual retirement date is next week, but this week is the last that my boss and my junior are both working. My boss surprised me by giving a little speech about my career and my contribution, which was really sweet. He said he asked some of my colleagues how they would remember me, and they said "encyclopedic knowledge, generosity, and support." I think I can be satisfied with that, and oops I seem to have dust in my eye ;-)

Meanwhile, our building work has started in earnest. I've been really impressed with the crew so far. They've been far more thorough about dust protection than any builders I've had before, with temporary fabric doors at regular intervals in every corridor, cupboards taped shut, etc. They also introduced themselves to our neighbours on both sides and gave them a number to call if they had any issues. And while they were waiting for supplies, they volunteered to do some odd jobs for us for free! Needless to say they each got a slice of leftover cake from the party, and I dare say they'll be getting a good tip, too.

Reading update: This week I finished four books:
High Lonesome - audiobook, no prompt
Wild Blood - audiobook, no prompt
Die Biene und der Kurt (Bee and Kurt) - The German Challenge: a modern classic
The Quicksand Theatre Company - NetGalley, no prompt

I dnf'd two:
The Living Mountain because it blindsided me with mentions of real deaths that I remember from the news and because, beautiful as the prose is, I didn't think I could listen to 5 hours of it.
First Thought Best Thought: The Art of Spontaneous & Inspired Writing Taught by Four Legendary Mentors of the Craft because the recorded lecture format just wasn't working for me. When it comes to writing craft, I think I'd rather read a print book.

Stats:
GR Fall Bookmarks: 0 this week, 7/9 total
Queer Reads Bracket Challenge: 0 this week, 4/6 total
The German Challenge: 1 this week, 4/10 total
Spanish Titles ABC: 0 this week, 1/26 total
French TBR: 0 this week, 1/20 total
The Great Big Jewish Literature Challenge: 0 this week, 4/21 total
Politics & Philosophy: 0 this week, 5/15 total. Will probably not complete by the deadline.
Anti-Capitalist Inspiration: 0 this week, 9/30 total
Reading About Writing: 0 this week, 2/40 total
All books finished this year: 4 this week, 172 total
DNF or paused: 2 this week, 34 total

Challenges completed this year:
PopSugar, Pride Season, Star Trek Series, Horror Subgenre, Disability Pride, Readers of the Wild Moor, GR Community Favorites, GR Seasonal, GR Summer

I've been hit by the glitch where not all my GR bookmarks are showing, which is annoying. I do track them in SG as well, so I do still get the dopamine boost from seeing them ticked off there. I might skip them next year, but idk. I have enough other challenges, but on the other hand they do encourage me to read more diversely.

Currently reading:
Hole in the Sky - GR Fall Bookmarks: Native Voices
The Complete Works of Swami Vivekananda: Volume 3 - audiobook, no prompt
The Complete Mahabharata - spiritual reading, no prompt
Journey to the West (Chinese Lore podcast) - Discord book club, no prompt

QOTW: Yes, absolutely. My father and I used to have a tradition where I would buy him the year's Booker Prize winner, and now I often buy my mother a book because they're easy to take back on the plane with her. She likes cosy mysteries and 20th century historical fiction. When my kids were small, I would always buy them at least one book for Christmas along with other gifts, and as they got older I sometimes gave them book tokens. This was before the days of Amazon wishlists. Nowadays I often get someone a book from their wishlist for Christmas or a birthday.

Hello, y’all.

Wednesday I skipped my exercise class for the first time. I was so DONE after Monday’s class that I decided my attitude needed a break. It felt good. I didn’t do much of anything, but I did a few small things that I have been noticing and thinking “I should take care of that” (such as brushing off the bench on the front porch where the neighborhood cat has been sleeping, or cleaning my water pic unit.) Like I said, nothing big. Still it felt good. Something about the idea that I was taking care of myself made a difference.

I did spend a good amount of time watching holiday movies. I have discovered that Prime is sponsoring a running show of Lifetime’s Holiday Movies. They are filling the Hallmark spot for me.

Darla may graduate at her next session. We have covered a lot of commands and, if she does well (and me, too) on the quizzing, she will earn a certificate! I will be proud of her either way.

Finished:
Ghost Hunt, Vol. 1 – PAS. 3*. Another manga that I just had difficulty keeping track of. I think it has something to do with the non-distinct drawings. Still I got the gist of the story and liked it.

Quick and the Dead – PAS. 4*. I liked the protagonist, Alex Quick. She is a divorced woman who resigned as a cop and now writes anthologies involving art. She is smart and a fresh character. This is a new series that I will continue.

Currently Reading:
The Black and Tans – PAS. 40%. Working my way through this Irish history of civil and revolutionary wars. Learning new history. Need to finish this weekend as there are no renewals.

Knife Creek – PAS. 56%

Dead Heat – No prompt. 15%. Audiobook. Continuation of series.

Mistletoe Mysteries – No prompt. 9%. One story a night at bedtime.

Spiritual Reading:
These two books have slowed down for me. My attention span is struggling with reading that requires full attention. It might have to do with all the non-fiction that is competing for my reading attention and the ability to assimilate it all.

The Imitation of Christ – Devotional reading. 51%

The Heart of Stillness, the Elements of Spiritual Practice – Devotional reading. 32%

PS 41/50
ATY 43/52
GR 188/200

QotW: Do you give books as gifts?
Not usually. My brother gets his books through a program for the blind (audiobooks) and my sister doesn’t like the kinds of reading that I love. I know she reads but haven’t the foggiest what she likes, only what she tells me she doesn’t like.

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 me, so naturally I picked it up. I loved how the two books connected, how it gave us more insight into the protagonist ..."


I didn't realize they were connected. Do you recommend reading Writers and Lovers first, or does it not matter?

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.