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.

My husband and I enjoyed a lovely dinner at a favorite restaurant for his birthday over the weekend! (I love when restaurants make the birthday dessert so pretty and festive!)

In case you’re wondering, that’s a house-made frozen Snickers bonbon! Yummmmm.

What did I read during the last week?

Not very much!!

I guess I just really didn’t have enough time for books this week! I managed to finish just one:

The Third Rule of Time Travel by Philip Fracassi: Interesting concepts, hard to put down, but the plot doesn’t entirely hold together. My review is here.

Pop culture & TV:

More of the same — I’m watching the new weekly episodes of 1923, Survivor, and The Amazing Race, plus the excellent Dark Winds. I’m excited to check out the new Wolf Hall season too!

I do feel like I could use a good streaming series to binge, but haven’t felt motivated to start anything just yet. Any recommendations?

Fresh Catch:

Two new hardcovers this week! I’m excited for both… although I may hold off until I can borrow the e-books from the library, since I like to be able to read on the go as well as at home.

What will I be reading during the coming week?

Currently in my hands:

The Martian Contingency (Lady Astronaut, #4) by Mary Robinette Kowal: The 4th and final book in a terrific series. Book #1, The Calculating Stars, is one of my all-time favorites. I’m struggling a bit to remember where things left off as of the earlier books in the series, and realize that perhaps I should have done a reread before starting this one. Oh well… at this point, I’m going to power through and trust that it’ll all come back to me before long!

Now playing via audiobook:

Dracula by Bram Stoker: I’m absolutely loving this audiobook! It’s over 15 hours, so this has been my second full week listening to it, but I should finish up today thanks to a long drive back and forth to a work event! Having the illustrated hardcover edition to refer back to has been amazing too.

Ongoing reads:

My book group’s classic read is Mansfield Park by Jane Austen. We’re reading and discussing two chapters per week. Progress: 60%. Up next: Chapters 30 and 31.

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.

Awesome dancing over the weekend, which made me so happy!

Beyond that… locally, voters passed a proposition last fall to transform a roadway along the ocean into a park, and as of this past Friday, the road officially closed to cars. It was great to see crews out on Saturday removing traffic lights, and fantastic to see so many people enjoying the open space. Can’t wait to see how it all turns out!

What did I read during the last week?

The Love Lyric (Greene Sisters, #3) by Kristina Forest: Terrific conclusion to a heart-warming trilogy. My review is here.

The Jackal’s Mistress by Chris Bohjalian: Excellent, powerful historical fiction. My review is here.

The Tomb of Dragons (The Cemeteries of Amalo #3) by Katherine Addison: Complicated and detailed, this book is an excellent addition to the world of The Goblin Emperor, but is definitely not a good place to start. My review is here.

Pop culture & TV:

I’m still watching the new season of 1923, but it’s rough going. All creator Taylor Sheridan seems to want to do is torment his characters. It’s not fun… and feel like a waste of potential.

On the other hands, Dark Winds is back for its 3rd season, and it’s just as fantastic as the previous seasons. Seriously, if you haven’t tried this show yet, you’re missing out! Start with season 1, obviously.

Fresh Catch:

Although I already had the ARC for this book, I had to get a hardcover too! It’ll go nicely on my shelves with the other books from this series.

What will I be reading during the coming week?

Currently in my hands:

The Third Rule of Time Travel by Philip Fracassi: Started late Sunday! So far, so good.

Now playing via audiobook:

Dracula by Bram Stoker: This unabridged, full-cast audiobook is amazing! It’s on the long side, but I think I’ll finish this week. I’m reading Dracula for my Classics Club spin, and I’m so happy this is the book that came up this time around. I’m also following along with my gorgeous hardcover edition. All in all, it’s a great experience!

Ongoing reads:

My book group’s classic read is Mansfield Park by Jane Austen. We’re reading and discussing two chapters per week. Progress: 57%. Up next: Chapters 28 and 29.

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 was a really busy workweek, and I definitely needed distractions and fun in my actual (non-work) life. I got together for dinner with a friend I hadn’t seen since the fall (and we were both shocked to realize how much time had gone by). Note to self: Must do better about making plans rather than just texting “yes, let’s get together soon!”.

Little Free Library and Pango Books.

When I bought my Little Free Library last fall, I felt a bit of a twinge about how expensive it was, even though I’d been saving toward it for some time. So I made a deal with myself — I’d start listing books for sale at Pango Books, and see how much of the LFL cost I could offset that way.

Well, I don’t put a huge amount of effort into promoting my Pango account, so it’s been very slow and very occasional… but after about four months as a seller, I’ve now made it to 25% of the initial cost of the LFL.

I’m not taking any of this too seriously… but my numbers-focused brain likes to keep track, and felt oddly satisfied at hitting a milestone. Meanwhile, between Pango and the LFL, I’m paring down my physical shelves a bit and passing along some of the books that I’ve had for a while and don’t really need to keep. Win-win!

What did I read during the last week?

The Love of My Afterlife by Kirsty Greenwood: Terrific audiobook! My review is here.

Installment Immortality (Incryptids, #14) by Seanan McGuire: Proof that a good series can remain good a long, long time! My review is here.

Jane and Dan at the End of the World by Colleen Oakley: Fresh, funny heist story that’s really about marriage, love, and parenthood. Terrific read! My review is here.

Murder by Memory by Olivia Waite: A short, sharp novella about a murder on a spaceship. Lots of fun, and very clever. My review is here.

I also ended up listening to a new Audible Original short story:

I usually really enjoy everything by Abby Jimenez, but The Fall Risk was just okay. Maybe it’s the length, but the love story elements felt really rushed, and meanwhile, it’s much darker overall than you’d expect based on the cover.

Pop culture & TV:

The Amazing Race is back! It’s so much fun. Also in the category of hanging out on my couch in front of the TV… I watched a rom-com on Prime Video that I thought I’d enjoy — but it just was not good. Sigh. (In case you’re curious, it was Picture This, and I watched it because someone I like a lot from Bridgerton is the lead character.)

On the other hand, my son and I went out to see Mickey 17 last night, and thought it was amazing. Seriously, terrific filmmaking and great performances. (I recommend not watching trailers, and just taking it all in as a fresh experience… but if you’re truly curious, here’s the link to the official trailer, which I think spoils some great moments in the movie.)

Fresh Catch:

Susanna Kearsley’s newest book just arrived! It’s a lovely paperback with decorated edges. I may wait a bit to read it, since it’s one of my book group’s picks for later in the year… we’ll see if I can resist the temptation to start sooner.

What will I be reading during the coming week?

Currently in my hands:

The Jackal’s Mistress by Chris Bohjalian: Historical fiction set during the Civil War. I’m just past the halfway mark, and it’s excellent so far.

Now playing via audiobook:

The Love Lyric (Greene Sisters, #3) by Kristina Forest: The 3rd book in a trilogy that I’ve really enjoyed. I should finish up in the next day or so.

Ongoing reads:

I have two longer-term reading projects at the moment:

• My book group’s classic read is Mansfield Park by Jane Austen. We’re reading and discussing two chapters per week. Progress: 52%. Up next: Chapters 26 and 27.
• Dracula: My Classics Club spin book! Progress: 0%. That’s right — I completely failed to even start this book during the past week, despite my good intentions. I’ll leave it here for now, and see if I can do better in the week to come.

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.

A good friend of ours just became a grandparent, and we went to a lovely little gathering to meet the new baby (who is absolutely adorable, of course).

Other than that, it’s been a busy workweek, but I’ve been able to squeeze in a decent amount of outdoor time and dancing. Not enough reading, alas… it was difficult to find time to just sit and pick up a book.

And of course, must include the weekly kitty photo. This is the “why are you bothering me while I’m napping?” face.

Blogging.

I thought I’d share a problem I had with WordPress this week, and the solution! This may have been a “me” problem… but in case anyone else has been in this situation, here’s how I panicked and then found a fix.

I usually work on my blog from my home desktop, but found myself with some downtime while I had my laptop handy, so I finished up a book review that I’d been working on earlier, then saved the draft. When I got back to my desktop, I went to proofread it — and maybe it’s because I’d had the previous draft open there too, but when I went back into the document, my changes were gone. Essentially, I’d lost everything I’d written after the first paragraph. Panic mode!

Fortunately, once the panic subsided, I realize that I could click the Revisions menu option, and then restore from a previous version. It worked! My changes were restored, my book review was saved, and I was able to publish the post.

In case you ever find yourself in this situation, here’s how to use the revisions feature.

What did I read during the last week?

Kills Well with Others (Killer of a Certain Age, #2) by Deanna Raybourn: Loved this follow-up book about women assassins “of a certain age”! Highly recommended. My review is here.

The Love of My Afterlife by Kirsty Greenwood: Finished on Sunday, and will share a review as soon as I have a chance. Really enjoyable, and a great listen!

Pop culture & TV:

I’ve started the new season of 1923 — it’s good so far! And more out of habit than anything else, I started the new Survivor season as well… which really is just like all the previous seasons, more or less. Ho hum… and yet, I keep watching.

Fresh Catch:

I tend to read each new volume in the Incryptids and October Daye series (both by Seanan McGuire) via Kindle (or ARC) as soon as they come out, then buy the mass market paperback editions whenever they become available. I realized this week that I’d forgotten to get a few of the paperbacks… and now I have!

What will I be reading during the coming week?

Currently in my hands:

Installment Immortality (Incryptids, #14) by Seanan McGuire: Speaking of Seanan McGuire and Incryptids… this is the newest in the series, releasing next week. I honestly thought I’d have time to polish it off over the weekend, but life had other plans for me. Should be able to wrap it up in another day or two.

Now playing via audiobook:

The Fall Risk by Abby Jimenez: I just started this audio short — it’s only 2 hours, so I should fly through it. Anything new from Abby Jimenez is always a treat!

Since that one is so short, I should be done today or tomorrow, and already have my next listen lined up:

Promise Me Sunshine by Cara Bastone: I listened to another book by this author (Ready or Not) just a few weeks ago, and loved it, so I’m very eager to start her new release. (And how gorgeous is that cover?)

Ongoing reads:

I have two longer-term reading projects at the moment:

• My book group’s classic read is Mansfield Park by Jane Austen. We’re reading and discussing two chapters per week. Progress: 47%. Up next: Chapters 24 and 25.
• Dracula: My Classics Club spin book! I’m planning to take a slow approach and read just a bit each day, while also enjoying this beautiful edition with illustrations by Edward Gorey. No progress yet! I’m starting this week.

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 a good week here (but only if I shut off the part of my brain that’s obsessed with the news). I fit in a few dance sessions, and the weather cooperated enough for us to be able to dance outdoors a couple of times. A good friend is in town for a family visit, and it was terrific to get to catch up again.

Our kitty cat seems to have a developed an interest in my bookshelf. What can I say? He’s a very smart cat.

What did I read during the last week?

Emily Wilde’s Compendium of Lost Tales (Emily Wilde, #3) by Heather Fawcett: I didn’t love this one as much as the first two in the series, but it works well as a wrap-up for the trilogy as a whole. My review is here.

Wyrd Sisters (Discworld, #6) by Terry Prachett: Another great Discworld audiobook! Silly and highly entertaining. My review is here.

Ready or Not by Cara Bastone: A sweet, friends-to-lovers romance featuring a very unexpected pregnancy. My audiobook review is here.

Greenteeth by Molly O’Neill: A terrific fantasy debut novel. Review to follow later in the week.

Pop culture & TV:

I’m not someone who feels the need to see every single Oscar-nominated movies — and yet, I’ve managed to watch two more! This past week, I watched Dune: Part 2 and Conclave. Dune is good, but confusing (and I say this as someone who’s read the books!), and probably would have felt more awe-inspiring on the big screen. Conclave is fascinating, and the acting is superb. Who knew I’d be interested in a movie about the inner workings of the Vatican?

That brings my Oscar tally to 5 out of 10 best picture movies watched (these two, plus Anora, Wicked, and The Substance) … and I don’t see myself checking out the rest.

Have you watched any of the other Best Picture nominees? Any recommendations?

My son and I also ended up watching The Menu — I had absolutely no idea what to expect ahead of time, so it was quite a shocker. (I just thought it was a movie about a demanding chef — go check out the trailer if you want to know more!)

In the world of TV, I’m excited for the new season of 1923, and will approach the new season of Yellowjackets with caution.

Fresh Catch:

Two gorgeous new hardcovers this week: A special edition of Dracula, with illustrations by Edward Gorey, and the new anniversary edition of The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah.

What will I be reading during the coming week?

Currently in my hands:

Kills Well With Others by Deanna Raybourn: I started this book late Sunday, and I’m hooked already!

Now playing via audiobook:

The Love of My Afterlife by Kirsty Greenwood: I’ll be starting this audiobook today. It was an impulse borrow via the library’s website — fingers crossed it will be a good one!

Ongoing reads:

My book group’s classic read is Mansfield Park by Jane Austen. We’re reading and discussing two chapters per week. Progress: 42%. Up next: Chapters 22 and 23.

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 so nice to have a long weekend!

Blogging.

I feel like I manage to come up with a new WordPress complaint each week. Here’s my latest: I found a bunch of comments sitting in spam that are from real people who’ve actually interacted with my blog before! Why, WordPress, why? I never would have thought to check, but now that I have, I’ll keep an eye on my spam folder going forward.

(And if you happen to have left a comment at some point in the past that went unanswered, I apologize.. and also, that could be why!)

Other bookish thoughts.

I’ve started two different versions of a post about Neil Gaiman… and both times, I found the subject too depressing to finish. There’s already a ton written about him out there on the internet, and I don’t think I have anything particularly different to add.

What really started me thinking about the subject, though, was seeing his books on my shelves and realizing I don’t want to see them there any longer… and there really are quite a few. For now, I’m listing a bunch on my Pango seller page, putting a couple of the rattier editions in my Little Free Library (in fact, one got snatched up within an hour of my leaving it there), and may just stick the rest (I can’t quite bring myself to part with Stardust… ) in a closet for now.

Anyone else struggling with what to do with their Neil Gaiman books?

What did I read during the last week?

Annie Bot by Sierra Greer: Fascinating, fast read — and finished in time for my book group chat later this week. My review is here.

Equal Rites (Discworld, #3) by Terry Prachett: Really enjoyable audiobook! I’d read this book previously a few years ago; my original review is here.

Crazy Rich Asians by Kevin Kwan: This was such a fun read. My review is here.

Pop culture & TV:

I don’t always keep up with Oscar-nominated movies, but I’ve been curious about certain movies getting a lot of buzz. This week, I checked out Anora — and I’ve gotta say, I was impressed! So far, of the best picture nominees, I’ve seen Anora, Wicked, and The Substance. I’m still planning to watch Dune: Part 2 — but beyond that, none are especially calling to me right now. Any recommendations?

Fresh Catch:

One new book this week, and I’m already enjoying it!

What will I be reading during the coming week?

Currently in my hands:

Emily Wilde’s Compendium of Lost Tales (Emily Wilde, #3) by Heather Fawcett: I’m about halfway through, and after a bit of a slow start, it’s really good!

Next up:

I’m trying to stay on top of all of my pending ARCs for upcoming new releases. My next read will probably be one of these:

Now playing via audiobook:

Wyrd Sisters (Discworld, #6) by Terry Pratchett: I’m continuing with the audiobooks for the Witches books within the Discworld series. It’s a blast! Great narration, lots of fun.

Ongoing reads:

My book group’s classic read is Mansfield Park by Jane Austen. We’re reading and discussing two chapters per week. Progress: 38%. Up next: Chapters 20 and 21.

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.

My husband and I celebrated our 27th anniversary over the weekend! We treated ourselves to a lovely dinner at one of our favorite restaurants, and they added a nice touch to our dessert:

Blogging.

In new WordPress weirdness, the ability to copy an old post and save it as a new one seems to be working… but for some random reason, the menu choice is now “duplicate” instead of “copy”, and it took me a minute to realize it (before just thinking that the ability to copy was entirely gone). Why, WordPress, why? I don’t understand the need to change something that’s already fine.

Around the blogosphere:

I enjoyed a discussion on the Pages Unbound blog about reading challenges. It’s interesting to see so many opinions on the topic!

What did I read during the last week?

The God of the Woods by Liz Moore: Posted a review from my previous week’s reading. 5 stars! My review is here.

Three Days in June by Anne Tyler: Short, sharp fiction by a masterful writer. My review is here.

Impossible Creatures by Katherine Rundell: Excellent middle grade fantasy adventure. My review is here.

Black Woods Blue Sky by Eowyn Ivey: Atmospheric story with a gorgeous Alaska setting. Parts left me baffled, but it’s a reading experience I can’t stop thinking about. My review is here.

Pop culture & TV:

I really haven’t watched much this past week, other than new episodes of Ghosts and Abbott Elementary. Too busy reading, I guess…

Fresh Catch:

My lovely hardcover edition of The Bones Beneath My Skin arrived. It’s so pretty!

My Little Free Library has seen quite a bit of action this past week, despite the awful rainy weather day after day. Lots of new additions, lots of books taken that had been there a while. I don’t typically take books from the LFL for my own collection… but I made an exception when a copy of a Carley Fortune book showed up over the weekend!

What will I be reading during the coming week?

Currently in my hands:

Annie Bot by Sierra Greer: My book group book for February! It grabbed my attention right from the first page, and it’s been hard to put it down. I’m close to the end — should finish up today.

Next up:

Either a book for a reading challenge, or one of my two remaining ARCs for February new releases:

Now playing via audiobook:

Equal Rites (Discworld, #3) by Terry Pratchett: I’ve had very mixed results with my forays into Discworld thus far, but I decided to give the witch books another try, after seeing strong recommendations for the audiobooks. The narrator is Indira Varma, and she’s fantastic! I’ve listened to about half so far, and it’s lots of fun.

Ongoing reads:

My book group’s classic read is Mansfield Park by Jane Austen. We’re reading and discussing two chapters per week. Progress: 34%. Up next: Chapters 18 and 19.

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.

A much mellower week… I was still busy with work, but I also had some good down-time over the weekend. It was gray and rainy, so I couldn’t get out much… but being stuck in the house with cups of tea, cozy socks, and good books was not bad at all.

Blogging.

I hesitate to say anything — don’t want to jinx it! — but the WordPress glitch that wouldn’t save new posts correctly seems to be fixed. I’m proceeding with cautious optimism. I’ve noticed that awkward workarounds haven’t been needed this past week. Maybe it’s actually fine now??

What did I read during the last week?

The Life Impossible by Matt Haig: My book group’s January book. I enjoyed it, although not as much as some of this author’s other books. My review is here.

Close Enough to Touch by Colleen Oakley: Last week’s audiobook. It was a very engaging listen with a unique premise. The ending was a bit unsatisfying, but otherwise, I really liked it. My review is here.

The God of the Woods by Liz Moore: Twisty, complicated, excellent read! Review to follow.

Pop culture & TV:

I gobbled up season 2 of XO Kitty on Netflix — just as cute and silly as the first season, and so much fun. Netflix hasn’t confirmed a season 3 yet… but they can’t really just end things that way, can they?

Fresh Catch:

I’m listening to this as an audiobook, but a quick peek at the library showed me that the physical book is filled with amazing illustrations, so I decided to treat myself to a hardcover copy of my own. It’s really fun to follow along and look at this edition while listening to the audio.

What will I be reading during the coming week?

Currently in my hands:

I finished The God of the Woods late Sunday, and while I haven’t picked up my next book yet, it’ll likely be one of these three:

• Three Days in June by Anne Tyler
• Black Woods Blue Sky by Eowyn Ivey
• Emily Wilde’s Compendium of Lost Tales by Heather Fawcett

I have ARCs for these three February new releases, and I’m excited to read them all!

Now playing via audiobook:

Impossible Creatures by Katherine Rundell: Not only is this a terrific middle-grade fantasy/adventure, but the audiobook is narrated by Samuel West (Siegfried from All Creatures Great and Small), and he’s amazing!

Ongoing reads:

My book group’s classic read is Mansfield Park by Jane Austen. We’re reading and discussing two chapters per week. Progress: 31%. Up next: Chapters 16 and 17.

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 a whirlwind of a week, with a particularly busy weekend — but busy for good reasons, which was nice! Dinner with friends at our house one night, barbecue at other friends’ house (at the end of a long, winding road through the woods) another day. Not much time to read, but other than than, a really great few days!

What did I read during the last week?

This Summer Will Be Different by Carley Fortune: Another terrific audiobook from an author who was new to me just last year… and now I’ve read all her books! My review is here.

The Bones Beneath My Skin by TJ Klune: A 5-star read! Loved every moment. My review is here.

Pop culture & TV:

I finished watching Deadloch on Prime… and if you haven’t seen it yet, definitely check it out! Just eight episodes, really entertaining and clever and funny. And apparently, there’s a season 2 on the way!

Fresh Catch:

I ordered hardcover editions of two books I’d already read and loved, and they both arrived this week!

I reached out via Kelley Armstrong’s website to see if there were any resources for getting signed books, and her assistant very kindly responded to say that there weren’t, but that she’d send me a couple of signed book plates, which also arrived this week! (And she threw in some bookmarks too — very sweet!)

The timing was perfect… and this makes me happy:

What will I be reading during the coming week?

Currently in my hands:

The Life Impossible by Matt Haig: My book group’s pick for January. As usual, I’m behind schedule. Our discussion is later this week.

Now playing via audiobook:

Close Enough to Touch by Colleen Oakley: I have another day or two’s worth of listening left, and I’m really enjoying it.

Ongoing reads:

My book group’s classic read is Mansfield Park by Jane Austen. We’re reading and discussing two chapters per week. Progress: 27%. Up next: Chapters 14 and 15.

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.

Hurray for long weekends! I’m so happy to have an extra day off — even if I am going to spend it running around on errands and taking care of the odds and ends I otherwise never seem to have time for.

This past week has been mostly work and projects at home, although I did get out to dance a few times, which always makes me happy.

In kitty news… Benji is ridiculously obsessed with this little bird toy, and we’re all ridiculously obsessed with watching him.

Goodreads and Kindle.

Will these sites never stop giving me (and all of us) headaches? Kindle now syncs with Goodreads challenges… but it doesn’t actually work correctly. When I finish reading a Kindle book, my Kindle marks it as read, and now adds it to my Goodreads challenge automatically — but meanwhile, it also gets added via Goodreads when I update the book there. This means that each book I finish ends up counted twice, and then I have to go back into the challenge and delete the duplicates.

Not the end of the world, but it’s annoying, and only started with the latest so-called improvement to Kindle functionality. Argh.

Blogging.

For those who chimed in last week about the WordPress bug causing copied posts to not save correctly… still not fixed. Even as I’m typing this post, I can see that the post title has already reverted itself back to the previous title.

Bookish love.

Stumbling across this meme made me unreasonable happy this week.

What did I read during the last week?

We Love the Nightlife by Rachel Koller Croft: My first 5-star read of 2025! My review is here.

My Rosebud Boy by Rainbow Rowell: This is kind of like an AU fanfic… except it’s written by the author! This alternate-world story about Simon and Baz is sweet and romantic and lovely. Note: It was originally published in 2022 as part of a special limited offer, and has been next to impossible to track down. Someone shared a link to a PDF version with me, so I thought I’d pass it along: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1dedpN_lSzLdP_K9PwZEjl215gNM9_hyN/view. (I’m wondering how legit it is to share the link, but since the book isn’t available for sale anywhere, it’s not depriving anyone of the income.)

Pop culture & TV:

Welp, that’s a wrap on season 7 of Outlander! The finale was well-done in many ways, yet the episode ends with a head-scratcher of a cliffhanger. Why, Outlander, why?

Has anyone else watched Deadloch (Prime Video)? I’ve watched three of the six episodes so far — really enjoyable. Check out the trailer!

On a lighter note, All Creatures Great and Small is back for a new season, and it’s just the bit of cheer and sweetness I needed!

Fresh Catch:

No new books this week.

What will I be reading during the coming week?

Currently in my hands:

The Bones Beneath My Skin by TJ Klune: Loving it so far! I’d hoped to make more progress over the weekend, but life got busy. I should find time to finish either today or tomorrow.

Next up:

The Life Impossible by Matt Haig: My book group’s pick for January. As usual, I’m behind schedule! Our discussion is later this week.

Now playing via audiobook:

This Summer Will Be Different by Carley Fortune: I’ve loved every one of this author’s audiobooks, and this book is no exception. Getting close to the end!

Ongoing reads:

My book group’s classic read is Mansfield Park by Jane Austen. We’re reading and discussing two chapters per week. Progress: 24%. Up next: Chapters 12 and 13.

What will you be reading this week?

So many books, so little time…