Heather > Recent Status Updates

"I don't know what to do with all the blue."

I'm only 35 pages in, but I can already tell this is going to be one of the best books I've read this year. This is a novel-in-verse/epistolary novel done right, with so much emotional tension. So good!

Baby's first manga :)

As a total history nerd since childhood, I've surprisingly never read a Dear America book (at the time of the original publication, i was very into Fear Street and I'm sure that's why it didn't ping my radar), but when two of my favorite podcasters start a new series about these books, I obviously have to read along :) these books still circ well at my library, so let’s see if I find them to be problematic 🙃

I am really enjoying the way Tom writes, and I super hope he publishes another book.

Frankie and Ren may be my new favorite couple in this series (i love Rooney and Axel, too), but I didn't like the writing as much as her other books, and it felt like the problem they had toward the end didn't really jive with the rest of the book...like it was just there because something dramatic needed to happen. I hope Liese writes more from Ren and Frankie's perspectives :)

I was really vibing with this book at the beginning, but it's definitely losing steam as I read more (and there's weird "throwaway" comments that are leaving a bad taste in my mouth.) I'd normally DNF, but since I'm so far in, I'll continue.

I picked this one up solely because of the cover and I'm really digging it so far. I love that it takes place in Pittsburgh, and there was even a scene at the Cathedral of Learning, though the book isn’t about students at Pitt. Yess!!

I don't re-read a ton of books, but after talking about this one the other day, I remember really enjoying Lee's writing style and the plot of the book, but I can't really remember anything about it. It feels brand new. Haha! Excited to read books 2 and 3, too :)

The insta-lust thing is making alll the sense now. I'm really enjoying this book!

This one is a little too insta-lusty for me, but I'm in the mood for something light and will continue for now :)

"Social support is not the same as merely being in the presence of others. The critical issue is reciprocity: being truly heard and seen by the people around us, feeling that we are held in someone else's mind and heart. For our physiology to calm down, heal, and grow we need a visceral feeling of safety." Truth! I also recently talked to someone who is super important to me about this very thing...

This book is adorable.

Okay, this is getting good. I'm totally beginning to remember why I loved this author so much as a tween.

This book is fantastic!

This book is a bit uneven for me. The first part meandered quite a bit, almost seemed like a sales pitch, and I was ready to put it down and dnf. But! I just started the section about trust and culture, and I could not agree with it more. If one is unfamiliar with the latter concepts and how they apply to work, I'd recommend this book just so one could read that section: it's so important!

"The worst thing a divorce does to a person isn't that it makes all the time you devoted to the relationship feel wasted, but that it steals all the plans you had for the future."

I wish so many of these pages were available as prints so I could hang them on my wall. This is such a sweet, gentle book with a Winnie the Pooh vibe.

This book is a delight. This would be a great pick for Frog and Toad fans who are ready for something a bit more challenging.

I am so excited to read a figure skating book written by an actual figure skater! This is so awesome, so authentic, and has all of the technical things I've been hoping for with every other figure skating book I've read :)

I almost DNF'd this one because I struggle with chapter books about talking animals, but omg, I'm so glad I stuck with it. I learned a ton of fun facts about ocean creatures, especially whales, and the narrator was realistic and compassionate.

This one gets a 3.5, but I'm rounding up to 4. This book was slow to hook me, but once it did. I couldn't put it down.

This book is an absolute delight. As of right now, it is getting 5 stars :)

I was so excited to find a book about figure skating, but I am not feeling this one at all and will probably dnf. The storyline is hard to follow, and some of the skating stuff doesn't really make sense. To be fair, I skated for 14 years and am viewing this from a different lens than other readers, but this one just isn't working for me (which makes me sad because literally everything in the synopsis appealed to me.)

I am absolutely not the target audience for this, and while the book is interesting, I'm having a hard time suspending disbelief when thinking about a human child being raised by pigeons and not dying. I'm curious to see what kids think of this one, though!

This bildungsroman introduces middle grade readers to the experiences of refugees and displaced people in an age-appropriate way. I really appreciate reading this from a child's perspective, and that the crux of the story is happening because the MC wants to try out for a futbol team, but can't locate his birth certificate. While I'm only halfway through this, I'm predicting that this book will break my heart.

"The spiritual journey involves going beyond hope and fear, stepping into unknown territory, continually moving forward. The most important aspect of being on the spiritual path may be to just keep moving." Omg this. I say this a lot, but life is supposed to trigger you. Instead of running away from what scares you, sit with the discomfort and give yourself the opportunity to grow.