SLIDER

Tales & Tiger Lily: February 2021

Mar 18, 2021


My sister joined bookstagram as @talesandtigerlily. Her name is Caroline, and Tiger Lily is her adorable pup. Since she's discovered a love of reading, I've had the best time talking about books with her. Be sure to check out her introduction post to get to know her better. Once a month, you get a new installment of Tales & Tiger Lily. In each post, I'll list everything she's read the previous month + reviews of three of her favorites.

Recapping the Rest of Caroline's February Reads:
Hall of Smoke by H.M. Long | ๐Ÿถ๐Ÿถ๐Ÿถ๐Ÿถ • Review
The Collected Poems by Sylvia Plath | ๐Ÿถ๐Ÿถ๐Ÿถ๐Ÿถ
Girl A by Abigail Dean | ๐Ÿถ๐Ÿถ๐Ÿถ๐Ÿถ
The Four Winds by Kristin Hannah | ๐Ÿถ๐Ÿถ๐Ÿถ • Review
We Run the Tides by Vendela Vida | ๐Ÿถ๐Ÿถ๐Ÿถ • Review
A Thousand Ships by Natalie Haynes | ๐Ÿถ๐Ÿถ๐Ÿถ๐Ÿถ
A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas | ๐Ÿถ๐Ÿถ๐Ÿถ๐Ÿถ๐Ÿถ (re-read)
A Court of Mist and Fury by Sarah J. Maas | ๐Ÿถ๐Ÿถ๐Ÿถ๐Ÿถ๐Ÿถ (re-read)
A Court of Wings and Ruin by Sarah J. Maas | ๐Ÿถ๐Ÿถ๐Ÿถ๐Ÿถ๐Ÿถ (re-read)

Her top three from the month:


SEND FOR ME BY LAUREN FOX
Send for Me tells the story of Annalise, who grew up working in her Jewish parents’ bakery in Germany. She grows up, gets married, and has a daughter named Ruthie. But people start treating their family differently. Customers stop coming to the bakery. Friendships are lost. How will the family survive? The novel becomes a powerful generational story of one family leaving Nazi Germany during WWII. 

This story is very character driven. It read more literary than historical fiction in my opinion. It is about the relationship between a mother and a daughter. It is less about the events that took place during the rise of the Nazis, and more about the way the Jewish people lived in fear—how their neighbors and people whom they used to spend time with completely abandoned them. 

I finished Send for Me in one sitting. It is THE VERY BEST short novel I have ever read. It packs a punch, and I found myself taking pictures of so many paragraphs. The prose is breathtaking. I can’t even begin to describe how I felt after reading this book. I enjoy reading. I do. But sometimes after reading a few okay books, I wonder if I truly like reading. Send for Me is a book that reminded me of why I love reading so much. 

You have to read this book. It’s breathtaking. The author actually knew she needed to write this because her grandparents moved to Milwaukee in 1938. After her grandparents died, she found letters between her great-grandmother back in Germany to her grandmother in Milwaukee. How amazing is that? It made the story even more beautiful and impactful. I will be thinking about this book for days.  | ๐Ÿถ๐Ÿถ๐Ÿถ๐Ÿถ๐Ÿถ

A COURT OF SILVER FLAMES BY SARAH J. MAAS
I absolutely loved Nesta and Cassian’s story. This was quite the addicting read, and I am pretty sad it’s over. I know all my SJM fans have been in heaven! 

I loved how this book was quite a bit different than her others. It was very character-driven, and I loved getting to know Nesta. She is haunted by her traumatic past, so she turns to sex and alcohol. Nesta has to work through it—her anger, fear, and desire to drink so she doesn’t have to feel. 

And I really thought it was a beautiful process in that Nesta learns to frequently practice her breathing and put habits into place which help her cope. These little boring things can make quite a big difference in how we feel. I also really loved the house in which Nesta dwelled. I want a house that listens to me and runs a bath for me! Gives me chocolate cake. Delivers me books. Do what?! I don’t know why, but that was one of my favorite elements of ACOSF. Rituals & simple daily acts at home can be so healing. I just loved how it made me want to take time for myself and appreciate the things about life that make us happy. 

Oh, Cassian. Oh, Nesta. You two are feisty. That’s all I’m gonna say about the romance. | ๐Ÿถ๐Ÿถ๐Ÿถ๐Ÿถ๐Ÿถ

THE BONE SHARD DAUGHTER BY ANDREA STEWART
The Bone Shard Daughter is the first book in The Drowning Empire trilogy. The book takes place in an empire with many islands. Lin, the former heir to the empire, must figure out how to reclaim her magic and place on the throne. The emperor uses bone shard magic to build all these weird constructs to enforce law and spy for him. It is creepy lol. As the emperor’s rule is falling, there is a revolution sweeping across the many islands. 

Andrea Stewart tells the story through four characters: Lin, Jovis, Phalue, and Sand. At first, I wondered how their stories were connected, but by the end, Stewart wove them into something so unique and exciting. I was very impressed and surprised by revelations throughout the book. There is a lot of mystery to this novel, with a mix of the known and unknown. It kept me turning the pages to discover the truth. 

I was completely drawn into the world-building and details. I could picture things vividly in my mind, and I felt I was right there with them. I loved the characters, as they are all trying to figure out how far they will go to stop evil. I was excited to jump around to each one, the suspense building every chapter. 

All in all, I would highly recommend this one to my fantasy lovers. It was really impressive for a debut, and I loved it. I cannot wait to read The Bone Shard Emperor (already looked at the release = November 11th). | ๐Ÿถ๐Ÿถ๐Ÿถ๐Ÿถ๐Ÿถ

My Spring 2021 Stack

Mar 16, 2021


Let's celebrate the fact that I crossed off 24 of the 25 books on My Winter TBR. Of those 24, I DNFed 3 books and read the rest. It was one of my more successful seasonal TBRs! It had the perfect blend of genres, backlist and new releases, and many were available on audio from my library (which helped motivate me to start a few titles I'd procrastinated). For today's Top Ten Tuesday topic, I'm excited to share the 20 titles that made my Spring TBR:

• NON-FICTION •

1. The Best Cook in the World by Rick Bragg – I loved Bragg's short story collection from my winter TBR. The food section was my favorite, so I'm particularly excited for this Southern food memoir. My mouth is watering!

2. The Power of Writing It Down by Allyson Fallon – One of the hobbies I want to cultivate this year is journaling. While there's no right or wrong way to do it, I'm interested in this non-fiction book about the power of writing.

3. That Sounds Fun by Annie F. Downs – Although I don't listen to Annie's podcast, I loved this adorable cover when I spotted it in Target. We could all use a little more fun in our lives, and I'm looking forward to Annie's advice.

• FICTION •

4. Admission by Julie Buxbaum – I've been a fan of Buxbaum's writing since her adult fiction debut years ago, and I can't believe I still haven't read her most recent YA release (especially since it's inspired by current events). 

5. Lore by Alexandra Bracken – If you put Greek mythology in a book's summary, chances are good I will want to read it. I have books like Lovely War and Circe to thank for this obsession! I'm hoping this one won't let me down.

6. Pride, Prejudice, and Other Flavors by Sonali Dev – While I'm keeping my expectations low for this Pride and Prejudice retelling, regular blog readers won't be surprised that I'm going to give it a try. And there's food!

7. A Rogue of One's Own by Evie Dunmore – I just recently read and enjoyed Bringing Down the Duke, and Kelly thinks I might love this sequel even more. I can't wait to see if she's right! These covers are the best.

8. A Well-Behaved Woman by Therese Anne Fowler – For whatever reason, I love this cover. I don't know much about the Vanderbilts but have been interested in them ever since visiting Biltmore Estates a few years ago. 

9. The House in the Cerulean Sea by TJ Klune – This doesn't sound like my typical read, but the hype has made me want to read it. I noticed my sister had a copy on her shelves, and I just had to borrow it (with permission).

10. Sorrow and Bliss by Meg Mason – After seeing Annie B. Jones' rave review, I treated myself to a copy of this debut from an Australian author (an automatic selling point for me). I can't wait to give it a try. 

11. The Girl in White Gloves by Kerri Maher – In high school, I was obsessed with the Golden Age of Hollywood. Since Grace Kelly was always of particular interest, I couldn't resist this fictional book about her.

12. Perestroika in Paris by Jane Smiley – I heard about this on the From the Front Porch podcast, and it just sounded so adorable. As an equestrian lover, I'm very intrigued by the idea of a book narrated by a horse.

13. Jo & Laurie by Margaret Stohl and Melissa de la Cruz – Growing up, I hated that Jo and Laurie didn't end up together in Little Women so I will totally read this retelling that imagines another ending for the beloved classic.

• FOR REVIEW (E-ARCS) •

14. Sunflower Sisters by Martha Hall Kelly (March 30) – There doesn't seem to be a lot of historical fiction set during the Civil War (compared to the World Wars, for example), which is how this ended up on my radar.

15. People We Meet on Vacation by Emily Henry (May 11) – After loving Beach Read, I'm looking forward to another contemporary romance from Henry. And I'm pretty sure it's friends-to-lovers, which sounds excellent.

16. Malibu Rising by Taylor Jenkins Reid (June 1) – A new historical fiction release from Reid? Sign me up! This looks like the perfect book to read to usher in summer, and I know it will be something I can't put down.


• PRE-ORDER •

17. Twice Shy by Sarah Hogle (April 6) – Hogle's You Deserve Each Other took me by surprise last year and quickly became one of my favorite contemporary romances of 2020. I'm looking forward to more from her!

18. Mother May I by Joshilyn Jackson (April 6) – Jackson's first thriller, Never Have I Ever, was a win for me, so I'm glad she's returning to the genre with this release. I'll probably listen on audio since I love Jackson's narration.

19. Life's Too Short by Abby Jimenez (April 6) – Jimenez made me fall in love with The Friend Zone and then raised the stakes with The Happy Ever After Playlist. Can she do it again? I certainly hope so!

20. Just Last Night by Mhairi McFarlane (May 4) – This is my most-anticipated spring release! I adore Mhairi McFarlane, and she's at the top of my auto-buy list. I can't wait to fall in love with another one of her stories.

What are you hoping to read this spring?

45 Facts About Me as a Reader

Mar 11, 2021

 

Back in February, I shared 32 facts about myself. When I initially typed my list, many were related to books. I decided to stick to more personal facts for that post and saved all of the facts related to my reading life for this one! It's perfect because the topic had been on my mind ever since Modern Mrs. Darcy posted her own list. It's fascinating to think about my reading identity, especially because it can change so much with time. One of my favorite things about blogging is having a record of my bookish life. Being able to look back on the past 10 years, it's amazing to see what's stayed the same (my love for re-reading) and what's entirely new (hello, audiobooks). Without further ado, here are 45 facts about my reading life:

1. Reading is my favorite hobby and has been all of my life.
2. If the love of reading is inherited, then mine comes from both of my grandmothers.
3. The best signing I've ever attended was Markus Zusak for the 10th anniversary of The Book Thief.
4. Typically, I'm reading several books at one time.
5. Tracking my reading is one of my favorite activities. I wish I'd done it since childhood!
6. My favorite bookstore is the Picadilly Waterstones in London.
7. For some reason, I can be really resistant to reading books recommended to me. 
8. As a little girl, I had Madeline by Ludwig Bemelmans memorized.
9. Hype causes me to pick up more books than I'd like to admit.
10. Culling books – read or unread – is one of my favorite ways to organize. 
11. Gilbert Blythe, Peeta Mellark and Fitzwilliam Darcy are my three biggest book crushes.
12.I love the thrill of the hunt with used bookstores and have a long list that I routinely visit. 
13. Deanna H. never returned the copy of Anne of Green Gables I loaned her in 4th grade. I'm not over it.
14. I belong to two library systems – one for the county I live in and one for a county nearby that I pay to have access to (because it's my favorite). 
15. The best trope is hate-to-love, no question. 
16. Talking to Kelly about what I've read helps me clarify my rating, especially when I have mixed feelings on a book.
17. Sometimes I buy multiple books in a series before I've read the first one.
18. Excellent teachers helped me love books like Anna Karenina... but Lord of the Flies is dead to me.
19. The best bookish gift I've ever received are the custom bookshelves my husband built me.
20. My five favorite authors are Jane Austen, Melina Marchetta, Sarah J. Maas, Mhairi McFarlane, and L.M. Montgomery. Apparently, the Ms are my sweet spot alphabetically!
21. I listen to audiobooks on at least 2x speed... and often 3x.
22. Buying books is almost as much fun as reading them.
23. My proudest bookish accomplishment was moderating Sarah J. Maas' Tower of Dawn tour stop in Atlanta.
24. I don't mind abandoning a book that isn't working for me.
25. My love of historical fiction stems from an early love of the American Girls and Dear America books.
26. When I start a new book, I try to pair it with a bookmark that matches it.
27. Re-reading brings me great delight, which was true even when I was younger. 
28. My books are organized by broad genres on my shelves – Non-Fiction, Classics, Middle Grade, Historical, Contemporary, Mystery/Thriller, and Fantasy. Unread books are separated out at the end of each section.
29. I love looking at one-star reviews for books I loathe... and love.
30. My favorite place to read is in the bath.
31. Only my sister and my bestie have book borrowing privileges.
32. Growing up, I would pretend to have a stomachache at bedtime so I could sit on the toilet and keep reading.
33. Contemporary is my favorite fiction genre, and memoir is my favorite non-fiction. 
34. Audiobooks have changed my reading life for the better!
35. Unsurprisingly, my favorite thing to give (and receive) are books.
36. I've completed the Goodreads Challenge every year since 2011.  
37. Over time, I culled almost all of my childhood books. One of my biggest bookish regrets!
38. When I pick up a book, I stick my bookmark in at the spot I want to read to (usually at least five chapters ahead). 
39. When I finish a book, I always read the acknowledgements. 
40. Generally, I feel best when there's balance in my reading life – backlist and just released, long and short, re-reads and new-to-me, etc.
41. When traveling, I try to buy at least one book at a local bookstore. 
42. The best thing I did for my reading life was start a book blog.
43. Thanks to reading, there are a lot of words I know the definition of but don't know how to pronounce.
44. I read aloud to my boys every single day, and I hope that's still true years from now.
45. At last count, I own 51 copies of Pride and Prejudice and 36 copies of Anne of Green Gables.
    
What's true about you as a reader?

So Obsessed With: The Mini Edition #11

Mar 9, 2021

Some of my favorite posts are ones where bloggers highlight the products they're loving lately or the things they're currently coveting. I love this kind of content so much that I started highlighting my loves and lusts with So Obsessed With posts. So, here are seven things I'm so obsessed with lately:


I was out wandering and couldn't resist buying this tote! The green was sold out online, and it was on sale + an extra 20% off. I love the woven detailing and color, and I'm sure it will hold up well like my other Madewell bags.

This was a recommendation from Miss Freddy, and I love it so much! It's a video diary app where you record one second every day and compile them chronologically into a single video. I'm excited to use it for all of 2021.

Even though I own more than enough random notebooks, I really wanted one from Archer & Olive based on what I'd read about them – and how much I love the book! I've started journaling recently and am loving it.

My sister convinced me get an Apple Watch. I was so resistant – but she was right! It makes it easier to stop mindlessly using my phone, and it's convenient. This charger stand for the Watch and AirPods is a must have, too!

On the same day I bought the tote, I picked up these sunglasses. They were on sale, too, and I loved how the shape looked on my face. The blue frames were a fun, expected touch! My only minor dislike is the mirrored lenses.

Alyssa (@bookstaandbujo) is one of my favorite new-to-me Instagram accounts, and I was so excited when she posted about this list challenge for March. I don't post my lists, but I am having so much fun participating.

Nick gave me Olive & June's complete mani & pedi system for Christmas, but I've mainly been doing manicures. It's become my weekend ritual, and it's a routine I didn't know I needed in my life. Plus, I just love their polish!

Have you been so obsessed with anything lately?

March 2021 Goals

Mar 5, 2021

Although we may have a few more wintry days in Georgia, I'm most excited about March because the weather is beginning to change. It's looked more like spring recently, and it feels like my soul is reaching out to the sun. Beautiful days means being outdoors with my boys, and we've needed it after so much time at home. I've always joked that I don't believe in exercise or enjoy nature, but that's been changing lately. Going on walks and looking at all God has created has been surprisingly satisfying! It's often a little reset for our day.

I'm pleased with the progress I made in February. It certainly wasn't perfect – I ignored my food/kitchen-related goal and stumbled on my no-spend challenge. But, on the other hand, I started journaling and going on walks. I don't feel guilty about the things I didn't do, and I'm thrilled by the areas where I'm growing. Little by little.


On My Calendar:
– Planning Kelly's upcoming visit
– Dental checks
– Family birthdays
– Milestone photo session

Currently Obsessing Over:
– Nick got me an Archer & Olive notebook for my birthday, and I adore it. And now I'm obsessed with @bookstaandbujo on Instagram and want to try bullet journaling again... Oops?
– Speaking of bullet journaling, I've fallen down a YouTube bujo black hole. I can't stop watching, and it's a problem! Here are a few accounts I've been enjoying:  AmandaRachLeeLeela Journals and Plant Based Bride.
– I've kinda failed at my no-spend challenge, but this tote (in green) and these sunglasses were worth it. 
– Weekly/monthly newsletters have made me really happy lately. A few favorites are from Emily P. Freeman, Kendra Adachi, and Annie B. Jones, but I'd love recommendations if you've got any!

Yearly Goals:
(These should stay the same all year, so I'll just do month-to-month progress reports!)
– Read a devotional every morning.
– Do Soulspace meditation every night.
– Blog 2x per week.
– Complete the Contentment Challenge (Q1). 
– Maintain monthly photo organization + daily delete.
– Use the 1 Second Everyday app.

February progress:
 I only missed two days of devotional reading!
– Just like January, I did Soulspace for 60% on the month. I need to try doing it at a different time of day.
– Yep, I met my monthly blogging goal.
– I was doing great... until a solo shopping trip. I might fail the challenge this year, but I'm okay with it.
– I have a new workflow for photo organization that's much easier, so I won't track it on future goal posts!
– I adore this app and update it daily! I won't update my progress here anymore since it's going so well.

Revisiting My February Goals:
Walk 3x per week. / For my health goal, I wanted to introduce changes slowly so I didn't burn out. In January, I started by cutting back on Diet Coke. I continued that in February + introduced walking into my routine. My goal was just three times per week – for as little as 10 minutes. It was the perfect goal because it felt "easy," and I often ended up walking longer because I just needed to motivation to start. This is big progress since I hate exercise.
– Complete Eleven Months in the big boy's journal. / Struggle. This will get done in March. 
Celebrate our family's February birthdays. / We celebrated my birthday, our baby turning one, and Nick's birthday. It seemed silly to make it a goal, but that helped me plan ahead so we all got to do/eat/receive something special.
– Break down meal planning goal into action steps. / Why am I procrastinating this goal?! It's my priority in March.
Read a cookbook (Dinner: A Love Story). / I've never read a cookbook straight through before, and this was the perfect place to start. It read like a memoir and doesn't have many photos, plus I love the emphasis on dinner together as a family. I got some great tips, bookmarked recipes to try, and want to continue reading cookbooks.
– Make a list of pantry staples and go-to meals. / Sigh. At least I read a cookbook? I don't even know, y'all.
Complete Backup Bootcamp course. / Done. I spent last year organizing my digital photos, so I didn't technically "need" this course. But I still learned a bunch, simplified my process, and highly recommend it!
Watch Family Yearbook course. / Yep! I wanted to watch it all the way through before starting, and now I'm ready to tackle my 2020 book in March. I feel much better prepared and have realistic expectations now. 
Write a discussion post. / I wrote three: 32 Facts About Me, My Favorite Fictional Female Friendships, and Our 2021 Family Bucket List. These are typically my favorite posts to read, but I need motivation to write them.
Send happy mail to a friend. / I finally sent a little happy mail to Kelly, so I crossed this off my list. But my big boy joined in the fun by making a few Valentine's cards and hand delivering them to some of his favorite people!
Start journaling weekly. / This may end up being one of my favorite things I started doing in 2021. I'm obsessed.

My March Goals:
– Select photos and design our 2020 family yearbook.
– Complete Eleven Months in our big boy's journal.
– Make my Spring TBR.
– Participate in The List Maker Challenge in my journal.
– Complete three items from our 2021 family bucket list.
– Choose outfits for family photos.
– Start changing phone habits with app limits.
Break down meal planning goal into action steps!

Do you have any goals for March?

February 2021: Recap + On My Shelves

Mar 3, 2021


February was a pretty busy month for our family – we celebrated three birthdays, had a few shopping adventures, and spent time with my parents while Nick traveled. And now I'm getting excited about the hints of spring weather!


1. My 32nd Birthday – My birthday is on the first, and my mom gave the gift of time at home alone. She took my boys, and I got to spend the day drinking coffee, reading in bed, going to the library, and having a lunch date with Nick. It was heavenly! I got some lovely gifts, too: books, bath stuff, makeup, and an Archer & Olive notebook.

2. Our Baby Turns 1 – Our sweet baby turned one on the seventh. We celebrated with Nick's family a few weeks early, and then got together with my family the day before. My mom decorated with a Valentine's theme, and it was so adorable! I can't believe it's already been a year, and I'm so thankful for the joy he brought us in 2020.

3. Shopping Days – My sister and I had a few bookstore dates, as well as an incredibly fun Saturday shopping with my mom. Clothes, antiques, and plants, oh my! And one Friday, Nick finished work early so that I could go return some jeans and enjoy being out by myself. It was a treat, and I bought some prizes! Sorry, no-spend challenge. 

4. Staying with My Parents – Nick had another work trip in February, so the boys and I decided to go stay with my parents. I think the addition of a second child + almost a year of no travel has made me a little soft, so I love being spoiled with the extra help at my parents. And not having to cook might be the biggest perk of all!


Read 16 Books | Favorites:
Send for Me by Lauren Fox
The Next Right Thing by Emily P. Freeman
A Court of Silver Flames by Sarah J. Maas
One to Watch by Kate Stayman-London

“A mother teaches her daughter to perpetuate the tedious rituals of her own imperfect life. 
And by instilling in her child the virtues of order, she shows her how to keep the chaos at bay.”
Send for Me by Lauren Fox

“He’s all the things that can go wrong with men if you leave them to their own devices.” 
The Thursday Murder Club by Richard Osman

“And maybe there is no nation or citizenry; they're just territories mapped in place of family, 
in place of love, the infinite country.”
Infinite Country by Patricia Engel

“A warrior believes in an end she can’t see and fights for it. A warrior never gives up. 
A warrior fights for those weaker than herself. It sounds like motherhood to me.” 
The Four Winds by Kristin Hannah

“Making a living is nothing if you're not also making a life.” 
The Next Right Thing by Emily P. Freeman

“There is power in naming the unnamed things. This is an important part 
of our decision-making practice and key to taking our next right step in love. 
Remember today is a plot point. See it honestly for what it is, 
but don't confuse the moment for the whole story.” 
The Next Right Thing by Emily P. Freeman

“Let’s remember that though we may have to wait and see, we never have to wait to be.” 
The Next Right Thing by Emily P. Freeman

“I wish for us to have the courage to go out into the world when we are ready, 
but to always be able to find our way back to each other. No matter what.”
The Court of Silver Flames by Sarah J. Maas

Gwyn whispered, “I am the rock against which the surf crashes.” 
Nesta straightened at the words, as if they were a prayer and a summons. 
Gwyn lifted the blade. “Nothing can break me.” 
The Court of Silver Flames by Sarah J. Maas

“Keep reaching out your hand.” 
The Court of Silver Flames by Sarah J. Maas

“People have many motivations to follow someone, 
but a soldier will only ever follow a man for two reasons:
 his competency, and his integrity.” 
Bringing Down the Duke by Evie Dunmore

“I'm afraid that you're looking for your next chapter, 
and I'm looking for the whole rest of the book.” 
One to Watch by Kate Stayman-London

“You can live a long life never being hurt—and never quite being happy. 
If that’s what you want.”
One to Watch by Kate Stayman-London


February was a solid blogging month! I kicked off the month with a post in honor of my 32nd birthday: 32 Facts About Me. Then, as usual, I had my January 2021 recap and February 2021 goals. For reviews, I shared my sister's January favorites and my January 2021 mini reviews. But my favorite posts this month were the fun ones: my favorite fictional female friendships in honor of Kelly's birthday, my big boy and baby's favorite things in 2020, our family's 2021 bucket list, and a winter 2021 Currently update

Favorite Song #1: "Glad You Exist" by Dan + Shay
Kelly sent me this song because it reminded her of our friendship, 
and I felt the same way! I loved listening to this and being emo about my bestie.

Favorite Song #2: "Gasolineby HAIM feat Taylor Swift
I don't really listen to HAIM, but I loved their song on Swift's evermore 
so I couldn't resist listening to her collaboration on their album.

Favorite Song #3: "Cry" by Alison Wonderland feat. Buddy
My sister played this song for me, and I'm obsessed!
It reminds me of Nesta from A Court of Silver Flames.
 

To All the Boys: Always & Forever (2021) starring Lana Condor and Noah Centineo – On the night this premiered, I made a big bowl of popcorn, grabbed my coziest blanket, and settled in to watch this final installment of Lara Jean's story. Although I enjoyed the experience, I wasn't a fan of this movie overall. There were several changes made from book-to-screen that I found very annoying. The second and third don't have the magic of the first, but it's still fun to see these books adapted for the screen with such great casting.


Book of the Month: Infinite Country by Patricia Engel

Birthday Money: That Sounds Fun by Annie F. Downs, Share Your Stuff. I'll Go First. by Laura Tremaine, The Power of Writing It Down by Allison Fallon, Finlay Donovan is Killing It by Elle Cosimano, Send for Me by Lauren Fox, Sorrow and Bliss by Meg Mason, The Four Winds by Kristin Hannah, and A Court of Silver Flames by Sarah J. Maas

Gifted: Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen (Nick) and Anne of Green Gables by L.M. Montgomery (Kelly)

Kindle & Audible: A Court of Silver Flames by Sarah J. Maas (not pictured)

Review: The Invisible Husband of Frick Island by Colleen Oakley (not pictured)
© So Obsessed With • Theme by Maira G.