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.

Happy New Year – Shana Tovah to all who celebrated over the weekend! We had a lovely dinner with friends, who did an amazing job hosting a very large crowd and making it all feel special.

Other than that, it’s been another busy week, but I fit in a couple more walks than I usually have time for, did some great outdoor dancing, and enjoyed time with family too.

A programming note.

I’m heading out of town for several days at the end of the week and will be mainly offline while I’m away. Hopefully, I’ll have lots of reviews to share by the time I’m back! As of now, I’m thinking I’ll pre-write and schedule next week’s TTT post, but that’s probably about it until I get home.

Bookish bits & bobs:

Random items to share!

Seen on my drive to work one day last week:

This is so relatable:

And in actual books news… I was thrilled to come across the announcement for Kristin Hannah’s upcoming new book! The Fire will be published in May 2027; see more about it here.

What did I read during the last week?

Into the Blue by Emma Brodie: One of the best books I’ve read in 2026. I posted a review this past week; see it here.

Just One Damned Thing After Another (The Chronicles of St. Mary’s, #1) by Jodi Taylor: I’m so happy to have finally started this series! My review is here.

Daggerbound by T. Kingfisher: Loved this follow-up to Swordheart! My review is here.

Pop culture & TV:

I finished watching Little House on the Prairie (Netflix), and mainly liked it, although it definitely doesn’t feel like the Little House from my childhood! I don’t expect to have time to get involved with anything new this week before we head out of town — but with the Emmy awards Monday night and a new season of Dancing with the Stars kicking off, I’ll have plenty to watch in any case.

Fresh Catch:

I treated myself to two new books this week:

I also received an advance copy of the upcoming new October Daye book — can’t wait to start it!

What will I be reading during the coming week?

Currently in my hands:

The Unmagical Life of Briar Jones by Lex Croucher: This book wasn’t on my reading radar at all, but after seeing a New York Times book column proclaiming this the “Best Book Our Fantasy Columnist Has Read All Year”, I just had to check it out.

Now playing via audiobook:

Well… I finished Daggerbound on Sunday, and haven’t had a chance yet to start something new. I’m not sure what I feel like listening to next, especially since I may not have much listening time on my trip. I’ll probably go with something relatively short for starters, most likely one of the above

Ongoing reads:

The Mysteries of Udolpho by Ann Radcliffe: My book group’s classic read. We’re reading and discussing two chapters per week. Progress: 83%. Coming up this week: Volume 4, chapters 7 and 8.

What will you be reading this week?

So many books, so little time…

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.

The super annoying late summer cold that’s been going around finally caught up to me. (Cue the sneezing and coughing…) I ended up staying home for most of the week, still able to work but trying not to share my germs with all my nice coworkers. My symptoms finally eased up over the weekend, with time to get out and be a bit more active. On the plus side, all that time stuck in the house left me with plenty of time to read, which I’ll never complain about.

Bookish bits & bobs:

Awesome new book announcement this week!

Tor Publishing has announced the publication of Tamsyn Muir’s new novel, Floralinda, coming in July 2027. According to Tor:

The novel is a massive expansion of Muir’s 2019 short fiction Princess Floralinda and the Forty-Flight Tower, previously published by Subterranean Press.

Well… I happened to have LOVED the Princess Floralinda novella (read more about it here), so yup, I’m totally down for reading a full-length version of her story!

What did I read during the last week?

My Imaginary Mary by Cynthia Hand, Brodi Ashton & Jodi Meadows: An incredibly fun, off-the-wall alternate history mash-up involving Mary Shelley, Ada Lovelace, and a very inquisitive automaton. My review is here.

Kiss Slay Replay by Rachel Harrison: Terrific new horror novel about a woman stuck in a time loop at a very deadly wedding. My review is here.

Jamaica Inn by Daphne du Maurier: My most recent Classics Club Spin book — my 2nd du Maurier in a row! Loved it. My review is here.

We Chase Shadows (We Solve Murders, #2) by Richard Osman: Another fun entry in a fast-paced caper series. My review is here.

Into the Blue by Emma Brodie: Finished late Sunday. This book just stomped all over my heart — incredible. Watch for my review later this week.

Pop culture & TV:

I’ve mainly been in the mood for comedies and light viewing lately, and finally got around to watching season 2 of The Four Seasons on Netflix. It was… okay. Talented cast, of course, and some funny moments, but also a lot of marital strife and mid-life angst. I liked it well enough to want to see the next season, whenever it comes out, but there weren’t quite as many laughs as I’d hoped for.

Over the weekend, I started the new Little House on the Prairie series on Netflix. The two episodes I’ve watched so far were good, but left me with the overall impression that Charles Ingalls makes spectacularly bad decisions on behalf of his family — and granted, it’s been a long, long time, but I don’t remember feeling that way about the original TV series at all. I’ll keep watching — I do like the storytelling approach, and the young actors are all quite good.

Fresh Catch:

No new books this week.

What will I be reading during the coming week?

Currently in my hands:

Just One Damned Thing After Another (The Chronicles of St. Mary’s, #1) by Jodi Taylor: I’ve been talking about reading this book (and series) for such a long time! Now feels like a good opportunity to finally jump in. Just starting today — fingers crossed that I’ll like it as much as I expect to!

Now playing via audiobook:

Daggerbound by T. Kingfisher: Being stuck at home most of the week, I really didn’t get much audiobook time, so I’m still in the early chapters of this book. I’m glad to be back in the world of Swordheart, and look forward to powering through a lot more of the story in the week to come.

Ongoing reads:

The Mysteries of Udolpho by Ann Radcliffe: My book group’s classic read. We’re reading and discussing two chapters per week. Progress: 80%. Coming up this week: Volume 4, chapters 5 and 6.

What will you be reading this week?

So many books, so little time…

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.

Everyone in my household was busy elsewhere this weekend, so I had a lot of time to myself… and naturally, spent a big chunk of it reading! But also, it was nice to have a bit of quiet time to catch up on a few phone calls, run some errands I’d been postponing, and get outside for walks (despite the typical fog and overcast skies that we get this time of year).

What did I read during the last week?

First, a popular book that had been on my TBR list since 2025:

Theo of Golden by Allen Levi: Uplifting and lovely, and now I understand why there’s so much buzz about this book. My review is here.

And then, switching gears completely, I tried hockey romance for the first time:

Game Changer and Heated Rivalry (Game Changers series, books 1 & 2) by Rachel Reid: Well, that was certainly an experience! My two-fer write-up is here.

Pop culture & TV:

I needed some low-commitment light viewing this week, and decided to check out Stuart Fails to Save the Universe over on HBO — the Big Bang Theory spin-off I never would have guessed we needed. And guess what? It’s ridiculous and also a lot of fun. Check out the trailer:

Fresh Catch:

One new book this week:

I’ll be starting the audiobook this week… and I’m delighted to have this beautiful hardcover edition to go with it.

What will I be reading during the coming week?

Currently in my hands:

Kiss Slay Replay by Rachel Harrison: Time loop with a slasher? Sure, why not? I’ve loved everything I’ve read by this author, so I’m happy to be starting her new book.

Now playing via audiobook:

My Imaginary Mary by Cynthia Hand, Brodi Ashton & Jodi Meadows: I thought I’d have time to finish this audiobook over the weekend, but plans went a bit awry. Anyway, it’s just as much fun as I’d expected, and I should be done in a day or two. Watch for a review later this week.

Ongoing reads:

The Mysteries of Udolpho by Ann Radcliffe: My book group’s classic read. We’re reading and discussing two chapters per week. Progress: 77%. Coming up this week: Volume 4, chapters 3 and 4.

Jamaica Inn by Daphne du Maurier: My spin book! Yup, just leaving it here until I finally start it — and since I have until October to finish, I’m not in a rush at the moment. (Here’s my post about the Classics Club spin challenge this time around.)

What will you be reading this week?

So many books, so little time…

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.

Not much new to report! It was a hectic workweek, but a lovely weekend. Books, walks, and family time… all good!

What did I read during the last week?

The Postcard by Anne Berest: A powerful, important book. I’m so glad my book group chose it for our discussion this month. My review is here.

Enormous Wings by Laurie Frankel: A startling premise is just the tip of the iceberg in terms of this lovely, engaging, and thought-provoking novel. Highly recommended! My review is here.

The Mother-Daughter Book Club by Susan Patterson and James Patterson: I stumbled across this book while looking for a new audiobook on Libby… and since I needed a “book about a book club” for a reading challenge, I decided to give it a try. A nice bookish escape. My review is here.

First Test: Protector of the Small (graphic novel) by Tamora Pierce, adapted by Devin Grayson and Becca Farrow: I’ve had this book on my shelf for a while now, and found myself in the mood for a quick trip to Tortall this week! I’m glad I read it, although it left me wishing there was a follow-up available, and also in the mood to think about rereading one of the Tortall series from start to finish.

To the Moon and Back by Eliana Ramage: I’m glad I finally read this absorbing book, about a Cherokee woman’s quest to become an astronaut while learning about herself and her family. Not sure yet if I’ll be writing a full review, but I did find it very interesting.

Pop culture & TV:

I watched My Brilliant Career on Netflix, and loved it! With just six episodes, it’s a quick binge, and so well done. The show is an adaptation of the Australian classic by Miles Franklin (which was one of my Classics Club Spin books earlier in the year). Don’t miss it!

And having finished that series, I finally jumped on the bandwagon (very, very late) and watched… Heated Rivalry. I would have sworn that a hockey romance would hold zero interest for me, but I’m forced to admit that I was wrong! I was hooked right away, and loved the characters. I still don’t think I’d be interested in the books… but feel free to try to convince me otherwise.

Fresh Catch:

One new book this week:

I bought this lovely edition of The Time Traveler’s Wife, and I’m looking forward to getting the matching edition of the upcoming sequel in October.

What will I be reading during the coming week?

Currently in my hands:

I haven’t quite decided what to start next, since I just finished a book late Sunday. As of now, I’m leaning toward one of the remaining books from my summer TBR:

• The Fox and the Devil by Kiersten White
• Theo of Golden by Allen Levi
• This Kingdom Will Not Kill Me by Ilona Andrews

We’ll see — it’s possible my mood will take me toward something else entirely.

Now playing via audiobook:

My Imaginary Mary by Cynthia Hand, Brodi Ashton & Jodi Meadows: I’m always happy to return to the world of the Jane/Mary books. This book focuses on Mary Shelley and Ada Lovelace — with a bit of magic thrown in. I just started this audiobook over the weekend and haven’t gotten very far yet… but so far, it’s a lot of fun.

Ongoing reads:

The Mysteries of Udolpho by Ann Radcliffe: My book group’s classic read. We’re reading and discussing two chapters per week. Progress: 76%. Coming up this week: Volume 4, chapters 1 and 2.

Jamaica Inn by Daphne du Maurier: My spin book! Here’s my post about the results. This is my 2nd spin in a row to land on a du Maurier book… and I’m very happy about it. The due date is October 4th… which means I probably won’t start just yet, so I’ll leave it here as a reminder until I’m ready to dive in.

What will you be reading this week?

So many books, so little time…

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.

Yet another busy week, but the weekend was a little slower-paced, which I was grateful for. We had typical August weather for where I live… overcast, gray, and misty! But that didn’t stop me from getting out for a long walk and checking out events at a nearby park.

It was my son’s birthday on Friday — and while he did most of his celebrating with friends, we were able to start the day with brunch together. Good food, good times!

As for my reading life… this week was the newest Classics Club Spin, and I’m delighted with my result. Check it out below, under my ongoing reads.

Bookish bits & bobs.

Here’s something fun! An author I follow shared this link (https://uncovered.ink/) to a site where the general idea is:

It’s a cool idea — read a sample without knowing what the book is, reveal what it is, and then — if you’re interested — add it to your reading lists.

What did I read during the last week?

The Amateur by Chris Bohjalian: Tense, absorbing story with quite a unique premise. My review is here.

Kill the Beast by Serra Swift: Engaging (and surprisingly bloody) fairy tale retelling. I really enjoyed the audiobook. My review is here.

The Postcard by Anne Berest: I spent most of this past week absorbed by this deeply emotional book (my book group’s upcoming discussion book for August). I’ll need a bit of time to gather my thoughts. Watch for my review later in the week.

Everything On It by Shel Silverstein: I’m trying to spend a bit of time each week with some of the random books on my shelves that aren’t fiction — such as children’s books, coffee table/art books, and other books that I enjoy looking at but wouldn’t necessarily read cover to cover. I’m glad I finally opened up this poetry collection. Some of the poems are clever and funny, some didn’t appeal to me… but overall, it was an enjoyable way to spend a few minutes every day!

Also in children’s books, I picked up these two books at the library during my last visit and read them over the weekend. It was nice to finally experience both, after hearing about them for years:

Pop culture & TV:

I’m on a movie theater roll, after months and months of never viewing anything I couldn’t watch from the comfort of my couch. This week, I went to see Six: The Musical, filmed live in London. I’m so glad I did! I’d seen the show on Broadway already, and it was really great to get another chance to enjoy it (without having to pay Broadway prices).

Not to imply that I didn’t fit in plenty of viewing from my couch as well! I finished watching Every Year After on Prime Video, which I mainly enjoyed… although it probably goes without saying that the book is much, much better.

Next up for me: My Brilliant Career (Netflix), adapted from the Australian classic by Miles Franklin, which I read recently as one of my Classics Club Spin books!

Fresh Catch:

Two new books this week:

The paperback of Atmosphere is so pretty — I love how the colors blend over onto the edges. The other book is a manga version of Emma by Jane Austen! I saw it in a bookstore while on vacation last month and regretted not buying it, so I ended up finding a used copy online. I’m not really a manga reader… but how could I resist?

Plus, two new bookish tote bags! One is a new design from Bookshop.org, and I already love it. The other is a prize for participating in our library’s Summer Stride program. I love that adults get rewarded for summer reading, and not just kids!

What will I be reading during the coming week?

Currently in my hands:

Enormous Wings by Laurie Frankel: I needed something lighter after reading a very heavy book all week, so I’m just starting this book… which has a premise that sounds bonkers. I’m only a few chapters in, but I like it!

Now playing via audiobook:

The Mother-Daughter Book Club by Susan Patterson and James Patterson: I stumbled across this book while looking for a new audiobook on Libby… and since I needed a “book about a book club” for a reading challenge, I decided to give it a try.

Ongoing reads:

The Mysteries of Udolpho by Ann Radcliffe: My book group’s classic read. We’re reading and discussing two chapters per week. Progress: 73%. Coming up this week: Volume 3, chapters 12 and 13.

Jamaica Inn by Daphne du Maurier: My spin book! Here’s my post about the results. This is my 2nd spin in a row to land on a du Maurier book… and I’m very happy about it. The due date is October 4th… which means I probably won’t start just yet, so I’ll leave it here as a reminder until I’m ready to dive in.

What will you be reading this week?

So many books, so little time…

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 — lots going on at work, and even at home, I seem to have had my hands full with random errands, organizing, and puttering around. We managed to clean out a closet with all our old beach and snow gear — including our (now adult) kids’ snowboots in every size and seemingly decades worth of long-johns and gloves. It’s so satisfying to see the back and bottom of a closet for the first time in years!

Bookish bits & bobs.

There are some great sales and opportunities in book-world right now, and I especially love seeing ways to buy books and support indie/local bookshops at the same time.

At Bookshop.org, there’s a month-long sale on a curated list of romance novels going on right now:

Check out the full list of eligible books, here.

Libro.fm is also having a romance audiobook sale (8/12 – 8/19) — see eligible book here.

And even more Libro.fm news:

Libro.fm has announced that they’re going to be carrying ebooks too — and even better, that audio and ebooks purchased through Libro will sync. The idea of switching over to Libro.fm gets more and more appealing — see more here.

Don’t forget — when you purchase through Bookshop.org and Libro.fm, you’ll also be supporting the local bookstore of your choice!

What did I read during the last week?

Bromantasy by Máire Roche: I had such a blast reading this light-hearted book! My review is here.

The Romance Revival by Christina Lauren: While I usually love this author duo’s books, this one didn’t quite work for me. Check out my review to find out why…

The Amateur by Chris Bohjalian: This author’s books never disappoint! I just finished this book late Sunday, and will post a review later this week.

Pop culture & TV:

First things first: I went to see The Odyssey! My son and I bought tickets a couple of weeks ago (in order to grab good seats for an IMAX screening), and saw it this past week. I thought it was fantastic, and so did he (his first words when the lights came up were “that was f’ing amazing!”). I’d actually like to see it again (but will likely wait for streaming) — during this viewing, I was absorbed by the plot and the action, and would like to watch it again to be able to focus more on themes and the storytelling approach.

Back on my couch… I finished watching Star City on AppleTV, and loved it. Check out my thoughts on this terrific series, here.

Beyond that, I’ve been bopping around a bit without getting fully absorbed by any one option. I’m excited to start the new season of Ted Lasso, but want to wait for a bunch of episodes to be available before I jump in. I finally had time to start The Vampire Lestat, expecting to absolutely love it… and I didn’t. Maybe it was just the wrong show at the wrong time? I’m not writing it off completely, but I think I’d better pause for now and come back another time.

I’ve been watching Dancing with the Stars: The Next Pro — and it’s just not very good (which is maybe why it feels kind of buried in summer programming). I keep watching, but something about the format and the overall approach isn’t particularly convincing.

Finally, over the weekend, I clicked over to Prime Video to start Every Year After, based on the novel Every Summer After by Carley Fortune (which I loved and which turned me into a Carley Fortune fan!). I’ve only watched a couple of episodes, but I’m enjoying the adaptation so far.

Fresh Catch:

No new books this week.

What will I be reading during the coming week?

Currently in my hands:

The Postcard by Anne Berest: I’m actually getting an early-ish start on a book group book! Who knows? Maybe I’ll actually finish before our discussion this month!

Now playing via audiobook:

Kill the Beast by Serra Swift: I started this audiobook over the weekend, and was happy to discover that the narrator is one of my favorites — Moira Quirk, who narrates (among many other books) the Parasol Protectorate books by Gail Carriger. Really enjoyable and engaging so far.

Ongoing reads:

Two books I’m taking my time with:

The Mysteries of Udolpho by Ann Radcliffe: My book group’s classic read. We’re reading and discussing two chapters per week. Progress: 69%. Coming up this week: Volume 3, chapters 10 and 11.

Everything On It by Shel Silverstein: I finally pulled this children’s book off my shelf, and I’m paging through it slowly, enjoying the silliness and sweetness.

What will you be reading this week?

So many books, so little time…

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.

Happy August! I love August because it’s my son’s birth month… but I also don’t love it, because I can feel summer slipping away…

My daughter and her husband visited this past week, which was great, but over too soon! She and I managed to find time to go browse and have tea and cake at the new romance bookstore in town. I bought a few books for us both, plus stickers and other goodies — must support our local indie bookstores! So much fun.

The store itself is super cute — the shelves are organized by romance trope, which is pretty adorable (although I could see it be confusing if you walk in wanting the newest book by a favorite author, but don’t know whether to look under grumpy-sunshine or forced proximity!). A few pics from our bookish outing:

Bookish bits & bobs.

What did I read during the last week?

Romantic Hero by Kirsty Greenwood: Totally delightful rom-com about a fictional character showing up in his author’s real world. My review is here.

The Outsiders by S. E. Hinton: I last read this book literally decades ago, and was surprised to see how much I remembered! I’m so glad I took the time for a reread. Such a powerful book.

Destination Funeral by Paige Harbison: Terrific contemporary fiction about chosen family and time loops! My review is here.

Bromantasy by Máire Roche: Such silly fun! I’ll share a review later this week.

Pop culture & TV:

I went to the movie theater to see the filmed version of Hadestown. It was glorious! I saw the show on Broadway several years ago, and loved getting to see it again this way. While it was originally only supposed to run for five nights, I know it got extended, and I highly recommend checking it out if you have the chance!

My daughter and I also watched The Sheep Detectives! It was just as adorable as expected… and this parody artwork (originally from Fandango, I believe) made me smile:

Fresh Catch:

Here’s what I came home with from our afternoon at the bookstore:

Plus, my daughter and my son-in-law each arrived for their visit bringing me a book! Such nice gifts:

From my daughter, an illustrated edition of Little Women, and from my son-in-law, an Easton Press edition of Pride and Prejudice. Both are gorgeous!

What will I be reading during the coming week?

Currently in my hands:

The Amateur by Chris Bohjalian: I just started last night… and I know I’m always in for a complicated, absorbing read when I start this author’s books.

Now playing via audiobook:

The Romance Revival by Christina Lauren: I really didn’t have much listening time this past week, but I finally made progress over the weekend, and hope to finish in the next few days.

Ongoing reads:

Two books I’m taking my time with:

The Mysteries of Udolpho by Ann Radcliffe: My book group’s classic read. We’re reading and discussing two chapters per week. Progress: 63%. Coming up this week: Volume 3, chapters 8 and 9.

Everything On It by Shel Silverstein: I finally took this volume off my shelf and decided to read a few pages a day… because why not?

What will you be reading this week?

So many books, so little time…

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.

Back to the daily grind! After traveling quite a bit in early July, this week was a return to work and normal routines. All in all, busy but not bad, and we had some lovely weather over the weekend. Highlights of the week included dinner with friends we hadn’t seen in a while, another dinner out for just me and my husband, and my daughter’s arrival yesterday for a week here, which I’m very happy about!

Bookish bits & bobs.

The biggest recent book news (in my opinion!) is the cover and synopsis reveal for Taylor Jenkins Reid’s next book, The Last Days of Vic & Coco, to be released March 2027:

A snippet from the synopsis:

Sharp, seductive, and electric, The Last Days of Vic & Coco is set in the sun-and-shadows world of long desert highways, seedy motels, and dive bars. It’s the story of two women living by their wits, making their own rules, and traveling light. Even though they want different things from life, they swear they will stick together. But can you ever really trust the promises of a hustler?

Who else is excited?

What did I read during the last week?

We Solve Murders by Richard Osman: What a fun kick-off to a new series! My review is here.

Heartstopper, volume 6 by Alice Oseman: A wonderful end to a terrific graphic novel series — even though I’m sad that it’s over. See my link (under pop culture) for thoughts on the end of the Heartstopper era.

Pronoun Trouble by John McWhorter: An entertaining little linguistics book — perfect for word nerds. My quick take is here.

Not With a Bang by Temi Oh: An end-of-the-world novel that’s more about the family at its center than it is about the catastrophic events. Interesting yet uneven; my review is here.

Romantic Hero by Kirsty Greenwood: I finished the audiobook yesterday! Such fun. Watch for my review later in the week.

Pop culture & TV:

The wonderful Netflix adaptation of the Heartstopper series ended this month with both a wrap-up movie and a behind-the-scenes short documentary. Check out my Heartstopper thoughts, here.

I didn’t have a whole lot of time to get involved in any other viewing, but I managed to squeeze in the first episode of AppleTV’s Star City, a spin-off of For All Mankind (series review) focusing on the early days of the space race from the Soviet perspective. As you might imagine, it’s fairly bleak, but I’m interested enough to want to keep going.

Fresh Catch:

No new books this week.

What will I be reading during the coming week?

Currently in my hands:

Destination Funeral by Paige Harbison: I really enjoyed this author’s previous book (The Other Side of Now), and I’m excited to be starting her new release.

Now playing via audiobook:

The Romance Revival by Christina Lauren: This feels like a great mid-summer audiobook choice! I’m always happy to have a new Christina Lauren book to listen to.

Ongoing reads:

Just one at the moment:

The Mysteries of Udolpho by Ann Radcliffe: My book group’s classic read. We’re reading and discussing two chapters per week. Progress: 58%. Coming up this week: Volume 3, chapters 6 and 7.

What will you be reading this week?

So many books, so little time…

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 whirlwind week! After just a few days back home from my Oregon roadtrip, I headed out of town again to join a friend at a folkdance retreat in New Mexico. It was fantastic to have the time with my friend, plus the dancing was amazing (but exhausting, between the heat and the elevation of the location). I’m so glad I went. Now, back to “regular” life for a while.

What did I read during the last week?

The Calamity Club by Kathryn Stockett: A long, compelling, terrific historical novel. My review is here.

We Solve Murders by Richard Osman: The first in a new series by the author of the Thursday Murder Club books. Such fun! I’ll share a review later this week.

Before leaving for my dance event, I squeezed in two short audio listens:

Julia at the Drive-In by Rainbow Rowell: A sweet YA short story.

The Safe Room by Lisa Unger: Really good crime thriller — I would have like it as a full-length novel! Check out Yvonne’s review for more info.

Pop culture & TV:

None! Between traveling and other hecticness, my screen time has been non-existent. I’m sure I’ll get back to my various streaming obsessions this coming week.

Fresh Catch:

No new books this week.

What will I be reading during the coming week?

Currently in my hands:

Habits of the Sea by Shea Ernshaw: This book is so good! It has a bit of a Brigadoon vibe — it’s lovely and mysterious and very atmospheric. I thought I might manage to finish it on the plane yesterday, before my Kindle decided to give me trouble…

Now playing via audiobook:

Romantic Hero by Kirsty Greenwood: I’ll be starting this audiobook today. Really looking forward to it!

Ongoing reads:

The Mysteries of Udolpho by Ann Radcliffe: My book group’s classic read. We’re reading and discussing two chapters per week. Progress: 55%. Coming up this week: Volume 3, chapters 4 and 5.

Pronoun Trouble: The Story of Us in Seven Little Words by John McWhorter: I haven’t touched this book in over a week, but hope to get back to it (and perhaps even finish) this week. Progress: 56%.

What will you be reading this week?

So many books, so little time…