My Monday tradition, including a look back and a look ahead — what I read last week, what new books came my way, and what books are keeping me busy right now. Plus a smattering of other stuff too.

Life.

It’s been another busy week, with a couple of special highlights — dinner out with a friend I hadn’t seen in a long time, and then a quick, one-night visit from my daughter as she passed through the area for a friend’s wedding. I wish I had more time with her… but I’ll take what I can get!

Pango Books

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What did I read during the last week?

Not much, actually. I was on the go a lot more than usual and had very little reading time… and spent a few days trying to get through a book (chosen for a reading challenge) that I ended up DNFing, which was frustrating.

I’ll Be Waiting by Kelley Armstrong: I read this the previous week, but just posted my review (here). Short version: I loved it!

D’Vaughn & Kris Plan a Wedding by Chencia C. Higgins: DNFd at 30%. I feel like I wasted precious reading time! The premise sounded like it would be cute, but I didn’t connect to the writing, the characters, or the plot, and finally realized that I wasn’t enjoying the book enough to continue.

The Happy Ever After Playlist by Abby Jimenez: The 2nd book in the Friend Zone trilogy. Terrific audiobook, with heart, humor, and a great love story. My review is here.

Pop culture & TV:

I know it’s pretty cheesy, but once again I find myself sucked into watching Dancing with the Stars. I just can’t seem to look away.

On Netflix, I finally got a chance to finish up the 3rd and final season of Sweet Tooth. As a whole, I really liked it — and I think I might have liked it even more if I’d waited and binged all three seasons straight through. I watched each season as it dropped, and for this last season, watched in bits and pieces over several weeks, and definitely think my experience suffered a bit from a lack of continuity.

Fresh Catch:

No new books this week.

What will I be reading during the coming week?

Currently in my hands:

Cue the Sun! The Invention of Reality TV by Emily Nussbaum: Hey, look! I’m reading non-fiction! This book is so interesting — I’m close to the end and really loving it.

Assuming I find time to finish today or tomorrow, I plan to get back to my stack of ARCs, starting with:

The Love Elixir of Augusta Stern by Lynda Cohen Loigman: I’ve enjoyed this author’s previous books, and this new release feels like a good choice for October.

Now playing via audiobook:

Life’s Too Short by Abby Jimenez: The 3rd book in the Friend Zone trilogy. I can’t help it — I just had to start this one immediately after finishing #2.

Ongoing reads:

My longer-term reading commitments:

• Damn Rebel Bitches: The Women of the ’45 by Maggie Craig: Over at Outlander Book Club, we’re doing a group read of this non-fiction book, discussing one chapter each Friday. Progress: 88%. Coming up this week: Chapter 24, “Rebellion She Wrote”
• Right Ho, Jeeves by P. G. Wodehouse: My book group’s classic read! Hilarious. Progress: 54%. Coming up this week: Chapters 15 and 16.
• A Night in the Lonesome October by Roger Zelazny: My annual October tradition. The book has a chapter per day for each day of the month. Progress: 18%

What will you be reading this week?

So many books, so little time…