Status Updates From Looking for Atlantis

the aesthetic of this book is basically a Claude Monet painting

YES GIRL
*whew ok crisis averted*

I read this 5 years ago and I have completely forgotten how it ends. I remember the experience of reading it, but not the conclusion.

Charlotte and Tommy remind me a lot of Jo and Laurie!

This is quickly shaping up to be my favorite of Mereda's works!

MUST. REMEMBER. TO BREATHE.

“Oh, I was so tired of wondering what men were thinking! Why did they not say?”

"I saw all of those thoughts coming to him in a flood. And then I saw him try to build up a dam against them."

I couldn't help but smile at him. “Thanks for defending me.”

His eyes found mine again, and I saw the years and years of our friendship there within them. “Always.”

The garden was dark, but I saw immediately that it was not unoccupied (as the occupant was sitting and reading by the bright light of a torch).

“Oh,” I said. “I didn’t know you were out here.”

Margaret Wilkes looked up from her book. “That’s rather the idea.”

*happy sigh*

Was fangirling last night to my niece about this book because I needed to not be alone in my present reading delight 😆💜

“I rather think people will wonder at it,” I said tentatively.

He leaned across the table to me, saying in a stage whisper, “We needn't tell them.”

*reminds herself to breathe*

MY WORD, this book gets to my emotions😭

“One does get tired of always being cheerful, doesn’t one?” I said then.

Gerald sighed. “One does. At least, most ones,” he smirked. “For some ones, I believe constant cheerfulness is quite natural.”

I narrowed my eyes. “I don’t trust those ones.”

Gerald laughed, leaning towards me to whisper, “Neither do I.”

"Despite everything, it was still inescapably true that my heart beat wildly every time I saw Gerald Wilkes; he still made me feel all warm and lightheaded and fizzy."

"Dorothy Bereford had always been something like an aunt to me. She had a carefree, playful air about her that made her wonderfully approachable, and then when one did approach, one was sure to find a great deal of depth there. She was candid and honest and above all things, a thinking person."

Oh, how I love Dorothy :-)

My word; how is he so adorable? 😭😍🥹

Oh, Charlotte... 🙈

That giddy feeling during a reread when you're way too delighted about things early on in the book because they make you think about all of the wonderful things you know are to come🙃

This book is just such an utterly happy place for me to be.

Someone recently told me that this is her "depression book" (meaning that she reads it to help lighten her depression not that it makes her depressed 😆🙈), and I just soo feel that.

*Happy sigh* I'm already a bit in love with [name redacted]😍

“You’re sisters?” [...]

“Cousins,” Phyllis explained.

“We’re visiting our Uncle Howard for the summer—a family gathering of sorts; though naturally we weren’t all able to come.”

That naturally seemed to me rather silly. How on earth could I be expected to know what the Partridge family could and could not accomplish? But I fancied that Annie was a little shy sociably and was speaking out of that shyness.

"... I needed to equip myself with some new clothes (at least with a hat that could rival that marvelous specimen I’d seen on Audrey Jacobson’s head the day before). Never mind the fact that Gerald had been gone from Lingford for so long that he had never seen plenty of the clothes I already owned. One must always have shiny news clothes if one is going to feel as if one is putting one’s best foot forward."

Oh my word, y'all. I can't handle it. I'm just a giggly delighted mess. (And I haven't even gotten to all of the really good parts yet!)

I have barely any time for reading this right now, but even that is just bringing so much delight to my life😍.

Just. Love. 😍

"She was known around the village for being something of a sour recluse, and despite the constant efforts of her noble mother and father, she would insist upon hiding in her room as much as she could. And if she ever was prevailed upon to venture out and join a party, she generally ended up finding some secluded spot and remaining there with a book for the duration of the event."

Ok, fine. I'm breaking down and doing it (at least for the moment 😆).

I'm far too busy to be starting this book right now, but the pull to be in this world is just too strong.

It's already proving itself so soothing and comforting and life-giving😍😭

in love again 🥰🥹