Shalan Mitchell > Recent Status Updates

I haven’t picked this up because Beartown took over my life. I will start again tomorrow!

Whoa, what a way to end the reading year! This story is so well crafted and compelling. These characters and this town and all their complexities make you feel like you live there and know them. It’s an equally heartbreaking and heartwarming story. Check your trigger warnings, but I found that this book was transparent and a true reflection of these specific trauma’s but treated them with care. 6🌟

*sigh* I only have 6 more days with this book but I need an extended break after be scenes I just read.

I always solve the mysteries when I watch the H.P. movies, but I could not solve this mystery via audiobook. It was hard to keep track of all the evidence. Maybe I could have solved it if listened along with reading the book. I did not expect the ending, and I look forward to watching the movie soon because her stories lend themselves well to visual media. 3.5🌟 And Then There Were None is still my favorite.

I started this while packing and driving down to visit my family for the holidays. It’s intriguing as my first H.P. story after having only seen a few of the movies. The accents are thick though, so it can be tricky to catch all the phrases sometimes.

I thought an epistolary historical fiction might shake things up and get me out of my book slump. I’m reading the physical copy in tandem with the audiobook. It took a couple of letters to get in the groove of the format/story, but I am liking it now.

Reread 2025

I’ve been in a bit of a book slump, so I thought I’d return to an old favorite. I may skip around the pages, but I want to say hello again to these characters for a while.

I am part indigenous on both sides of my family but have no knowledge or ties to a clan. The indigenous teachings, customs, language, beliefs, and heart in this book were my favorite parts. I felt seen and found. However, I didn’t like much else. The pacing was awful; the book needed to be edited down. I didn’t love the characters. There is a lot of trauma in this book that isn’t fully felt and fleshed out.

SPOILER!! …












Are high SA rates in hockey a statistic?! This is the third book on my radar in the last few days that has a hockey player or someone affiliated with a hockey team committing SA.

I should have read the trigger warnings before I started this book. There is too much content here that I find personally upsetting and overwhelming, so I am DNFing. Don’t get me wrong, this book isn’t bad… but it’s also not great either. I do like the Dante’s Inferno references/exploration and the comic book panels. I will read those comic sections and skim a summary of this story.

This book was published in 2016. Were we still perpetuating narratives that sexual assault could be justified by a girl/woman’s clothing choices in 2016?! That if she chose to dress a certain way then she should have understood that she was putting herself at risk?! No. No! This book better challenge this insanity or I may throw it across the room.

This book is so long. I just kinda wanna be done. I think I am in a bit of a book slump. I like the story well enough, but I just want it to go faster.

This book has been on my TBR since middle school when I read My Sister’s Keeper. It’s already has some triggering content, so I’m not sure if I’ll finish it. I also don’t want to DNF another book though. Maybe, I’m in a slump or maybe these books just aren’t for me … it may be a mix of both.

To DNF or not? I don’t think this book is awful. It’s actually very One Tree Hill but with hockey, and I’m not mad at it. I just don’t care for Alec’s perspective; I don’t think Lynn Painter writes male POVs well. They all sound the same - lots of cussing and fawning over the FMC’s face. If it was just Dani then I could continue, but I don’t think I will because I can predict everything to come.

Already, I’m annoyed haha! I wanted to try because I loved Better Than The Movies, but I hated the sequel as well as the one about Liz’s cousin (maybe it was Wes’ cousin? … Somebody’s cousin!). Alec is already getting on my nerves. I get it, people cuss, but do you need to say f*** or sh** in every other sentence?! Jesus! I will likely DNF this audiobook at the 25% mark if it doesn’t get better.

This book has a target audience (I know precocious preteens who would love this series and it’s word puzzles); however, I am not it. I just prefer my middle grade to have dynamic characters and this one had static, flat ones in a busy / semi-interesting plot. I won’t be continuing the series, but I would recommend it to a MG reader. 3 🌟

I enjoyed all the indigenous teachings, but the plot felt a little juvenile until this twist. Now I’m more engaged and hopeful the tone will shift since a different story is starting.

This novella was heartwarming, and the characters were so endearing. It’s more of a miscommunication or a series of miscues than a mystery, but I really liked it nevertheless. It was the perfect read to begin the Christmas season! 4🌟

This seasonal story is already so sweet and romantic. I love Molly and her beau!

This book was so moving; it brought me to tears several times! I loved the exploration of womanhood, motherhood, mother-daughter relationships, and resilience through courage! I thought the examination of the American Dream, classism, poverty, prejudice, and power were so well done. This wasn’t my favorite by Ms. Hannah, but it was still an amazing and well-researched story! 4.5 🌟

My first experience with Stephen King’s writing! This was such an impactful short story! The themes of life and memory were so moving and explored so differently due to the reverse story structure and fantasy elements. Following the end to the beginning made this book so much more compelling! Daniel and I both loved it! 4.5 🌟

This book was a cute, cozy, fluffy fantasy. It was entertaining and enjoyable. I’ll definitely continue with the series when I need a light book to breeze through. 3.5 🌟

Daniel and I started this on our roadtrip to my family’s place for Thanksgiving! We are loving it so far; it’s touching!