Heather McLaughlin > Recent Status Updates

“Even if other people don’t?” “Other people do,” I said firmly. “There’s a world of damned decent people out there, quietly doing good stuff. You don’t see much of it in the papers, on the news, probably not on the internet. Kindness doesn’t sell. Don’t mean it isn’t there.”

My books went with it.”

“Which was your favorite?” she asked.

“You can’t pick a favorite,” I said. “They’re books. They’re pieces of someone’s mind and soul. They’re almost friends.”

"... that the incurable problem with life was that nothing was ever in balance. That she could not have toddler Frances and 5th grade Frances at the same time. She could not meet adult Frances and have a moment to hold baby Frances all at once. You could not have a little of everything you wanted."

I have always gone with the audiobooks for the series and I absolutely love the way Lisette Lecat reads. So imagine my surprise when I realized I'd requested the ebook from the library and there was another 5 week wait for the audiobook. So I reluctantly dived in. And I can still hear Lisette's voice on every page. It's been delightful. I will still be sure not to make the same mistake next time. Best audiobooks!

"...she was not—as far as she was concerned. Middle age began when…She paused as she asked herself the uncomfortable question. The answer was that middle age began not just yet."

"It is one of those lessons that every child should learn: Don’t play with fire, sharp objects, or ancient artifacts."

There's a tire swing in anticipation of a boy? Girls don't like tire swings? WTF?

Is he really going to be a shit about this? Maybe HE should stay home and take care of the baby while SHE works. His job is a lot more dangerous. Does he want the kid to grow up without a father? They don't need the money. So why is he working? This is bullshit.

"...this is a greatlooking Jeep—all tricked-out like it is. I’ve seen a lot of people stop and take a look at it. I try to discourage the ones that want to leave a rubber duck on it."

"But once I’m a stay-at-home mom with baby Ella Marie you won’t ever have to worry anymore.” She's quitting? Okay, this series is fluff but one of the reasons I stick with it is the radio station. If that switches to diaper changes and play dates I am definitely out.

"One American can really fill a room. I assume it only takes a hundred or so to really fill a country."

"(No, I don’t know why so many important realizations occur when people are in the privy. For some reason, this topic has gone unexplored by serious scholars, even though the classical mathematician Callixus famously conceived his Third Theorem during the aftereffects of a meal of overspiced beans.)"

"Wren was wearing something green that was probably fashionable. It had ruffles, anyway, and no one would wear ruffles if fashion wasn’t involved somehow."

"Shane wondered if there was a term for feeling guilty about not feeling sufficiently guilty. It seemed like a useful word to have."

"Does your mind live in the gutter?"
She shook her head ... "No, but it rents there on occasion."

"Three times while we spoke she said, “He was wearing a helmet,” as if virtue trumped physics." 😥

"I stapled my attention to paperwork."

"eal or not, monsters don’t bother you while you’re peeing. (This is one of the lesser-known laws.)"

"Christianity doesn’t make you repaint the house ecru, as far as I know."

"As a child, when Gran Mae would say grace, Brad and I would stare at each other across the table. This is why one has siblings, after all."

"...expressions of wistful bliss or blissful wist or whatever the hell you call that particular sappy expression."

"... which makes me feel mighty, like I've been handed Excalibur in a battle my army was losing."

This is not holding my attention as much as I hoped but...

"Maybe I should have taken one more thing from him: a ride back. I can’t exactly Uber to a hidden compound on an unnamed road with no address."

This was listed under historical fiction. I don't understand - did China really have a program where they were going to make everyone dream the same dreams?!

NOT the last book?! This is good news because MORE BOOKS. This is bad news because that means I will be waiting with everyone else who discovered this wonderful series before I did at whatever cliffhanger this book ends on. Eep!

Okay, I like these books and I get it's YA which almost requires a love triangle but am I right that Alrick likes Nova and Nova likes Aschel and Raul likes Alrick? That seems a bit much.

This reminds me of Heartless by Marissa Meyer. Except more cringe-y. All the seducing of Everett including mind fucking him was just awful. Hated it. And once again I know it's not going to end well which is just ... not fun.

"Really, the only reason for even putting a buff romance hero in a shirt was so you could take it off again at the first good—or semi-plausible—excuse." 🤣🤣

Okay, I'm calling this. Goodreads says I've been reading this since January. I just can't see to get through it. I didn't mark my progress before I returned it to the library but I don't think I'm even halfway. I'm just not enjoying it. I try not to DNF something that people I trust rave about but I am done.

Whoops. Picked this up thinking it was a mystery. Will be putting it back down. Sorry, not ready for a political book right now, especially as an audiobook.