Tova > Recent Status Updates

While I remember very little of the first book, I am enjoying being back in this world

This is actually a lot more enjoyable than I was expecting

I just saw a review saying: I don't know how anyone listens to this alone in their house...which is exactly how I'm reading this book... So far, my reading strategy of not reading it when it is too dark outside or too close to bedtime has worked out, and I've had no nightmares or extra anxiety. However, the book did mention someone watching a woman doing the dishes, while I was doing the dishes...definitely creepy

I made a choice listening to this book at night when I live alone as a 20-something woman with severe anxiety. I knew I probably shouldn't have done that, but I did it anyway, and I am hooked.

This book being set in 2015, is interesting to read in 2025, though it was published in 2019 originally. I am roughly the same age as Mahta. And then I realize that in the world of this story, Justin Trudeau had only just become PM (this book is set in Canada), and Syria is the big humanitarian crisis. It makes me tear up (happy tears) to think that Syria is now free.

As someone who doesn't know how to drive because my Driver's Ed teacher scared me (he told my classmate he was the worst thing that had ever happened to his parents), so how big of a plot point the driving stuff is, is interesting. Susan and Malcolm together is basically what the one date I went on in Italy was like...except my date was a bit less emotionally messy than Malcolm. I am really enjoying this so far!

6 years later, we are trying this book again. I don't remember why I stopped, but I suddenly got the urge for a light YA book, after all the heavy and dark books I've been reading...which might be ironic considering the last TB book I read was anything but light, so we shall see.

And to think this is all happening because this silly man can't just let his wife admit that she has more money than him...

Read #1 for my Ireland in History and Memory program!

School begins on Monday, and I am supposed to have read half of this Ancient Irish epic by then...wish me luck!

This Godly Gossip and the underwear debacle storyline is sending me...I love Sophie Kim's sense of humour. Kisa has definitely grown on me in ways I didn't expect, and I'm scared for what is about to go down in this last 30%

“Murder mysteries have the potential to be rather fun when you are already dead and can’t be murdered again.”

This just got a million times better!! i'm excited again!!

Well...RIP to that character.

Seokga introducing Hani as An Noi Ying is brilliant and I am cackling!

Madi was right...this book is so good!

I love how serious this man is about his coffee; I have to respect. Also, as someone who has only ever worked in retail/customer service, boy, do I feel her pain. And I am very amused by the bureaucratic Jeoseung Saja.

I have a bad feeling about this secret of Emily's...

It's starting to really stress me out, because I don't want any of the characters to have done it, and I have a bad feeling about how this is all going to play out because it's Holly Jackson and she loves to target my expectations (in the best way possible...but the worst for my emotions)

Damn, Holly, that was intense!!

Jet, please, we don't have time for this nonsense.

Also, I see that Stick Season reference Holly, very sneaky.

I adore Jet & Billy's dynamic...it feels significantly different from Pip and Ravi, but still in the same vein in the best way possible

If it's him, that would feel too obvious, but with Holly Jackson, you can never trust vague middle-aged white men (I know 27 to 30 isn't middle-aged technically, but it's Holly Jackson, so idk)

I've seen a lot of reviews saying that Jet doesn't feel 27, but as someone in my mid-20s, I disagree. I think people forget how messy one's 20s are.

Also, I love Reggie and Billy

And that might be the craziest ending to a Hunger Games yet... and to think there are multiple chapters left the trauma isn't over yet.

MOM, CAN YOU PICK ME UP? I'M SCARED.

I've randomly remembered some things we know about Haymitch's game from the OG trilogy (not sure why now) and my reels have been attacking me with SOTR/THG content.

ONLY FIVE OF THEM LEFT...I AM NOT PREPARED. ALSO A PATCH OF KATNISS, I SEE THAT REFERENCE SUZANNE

SUZANNE MIDDLE NAME COLLINS, THAT WAS DIABOICAL. I AM NOT OKAY AND YOU'VE RUINED SQUIRRELS!

And so it has begun...and the trauma intensifies

ITS EFFIE TIME! If I didn’t already know she was coming I would be screaming!!!

Maysilee reminds me of a mix of Johanna Mason and Katniss Everdeen and I love that

What the hell is that supposed to mean Beetee???