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 this week, but we had nice sunny weather over the weekend and I was able to spend time outdoors, so that counts as a win!

Also, this happened:

Let’s see what those numbers look like by the time December 31st rolls around…

Bookish bits & bobs:

There’s a cover and release date for Christina Lauren’s next book!

And I just have to share:

100% accurate!

What did I read during the last week?

As You Wake, Break the Shell by Becky Chambers: Breathtakingly beautiful science fiction with gorgeous writing and powerful emotional impact. My review is here.

The Mysteries of Udolpho by Ann Radcliffe: At long last, we’re done! My book group has been reading this book, at a pace of two chapters per week, since April. I’m very glad to have read it (and I’m also glad to be finished). This 1794 classic is so over the top and ridiculous, by today’s standards, but it was enormously entertaining to read it after reading Northanger Abbey and think about Catherine Morland’s reactions.

A Symphony of Echoes (The Chronicles of St. Mary’s, #2) by Jodi Taylor: Two books in, I’m already hooked on this time travel series! It’s a bit madcap, yet pretty dark in places too, and just so much fun. My review is here.

The Once and Future Queen by Paula Lafferty: I loved everything about this time travel fantasy approach to Arthurian legend. Wonderful storytelling and characters. My review is here.

Pop culture & TV:

I wrapped up season 4 of Ted Lasso this week. I enjoyed it, maybe not quite as much as previous seasons, but it was still lots of fun, and I’m hoping there will be at least one more season on the way.

Last night, I started the new season of The Diplomat, and I was instantly hooked all over again. I only had time for two episodes — can’t wait to race through the rest.

And of course, there’s a Dancing with the Stars check-in! Last week’s episode featured some great moments, and there were no eliminations! My favorite dance of the week:

(Note: This was “dedication night” on DWTS — that’s Ezra’s mother joining them for the dance)

Fresh Catch:

No new books this week.

What will I be reading during the coming week?

Currently in my hands:

Life Out of Order by Audrey Niffenegger: This sequel to The Time Traveler’s Wife was one of my most anticipated books of the year… and sadly, I’ve found it hard to connect with or care about the story, which is very frustrating. For the first 25% or so, I was strongly tempted to DNF, but pushed onward. Now that I’m closer to 50%, I’m more committed to finishing the book, but I still can’t say that I’m particularly enjoying it.

Now playing via audiobook:

My Salty Mary (The Marys, #3) by Cynthia Hand, Brodi Ashton, Jodi Meadows: The final book in this terrific, very funny series! I’ve just gotten started, but I’m already having a good time with this mash-up of the Little Mermaid and the story of real-life pirate Mary Read.

Ongoing reads:

My book group has a two-week breather before we start our next big, long-term classic read — so, I thought I’d take advantage of this short break to spend time with a story collection I bought recently:

Ladies in Waiting: Jane Austen’s Unsung Characters by assorted authors: I really do not do well with short stories as a general rule, but I’ve wanted to give this collection a try for a while now. My goal is to read one story every few days and see how far I get. Here’s the book synopsis:

In honor of her 250th birthday, nine authors have come together with wildly imaginative reboots of the lives of several of Jane Austen’s minor characters. Written with plenty of love and wit, these clever stories star everyone from Pride and Prejudice’s snobbish Caroline Bingley to the modern descendant of Sense and Sensibility’s Eliza Williams and much more. Blurring genres and taking us across the oceans, Ladies in Waiting is a heartfelt celebration of Jane Austen and her timeless masterpieces.

The contributing authors are: Sarah MacLean, Nikki Payne, Elinor Lipman, Karen Dukess, Eloisa James, Adriana Trigiani, Audrey Bellezza, Emily Harding, and Diana Quincy. Sounds like fun!

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 (what else is new?) — followed by a really enjoyable weekend. We had friends and family over for a nice dinner on Friday. Saturday was a double-stuffed dancing day — first, a couple of hours of dancing in the park with my small dance group, then a once-a-month dance party that night, which is always a great time. (I happened to have my phone in my leggings pocket all day… and according to my tracking app, I danced the equivalent of 6.7 miles on Saturday!)

Sunday was truly a day of rest — no plans, so I was able to get out for a much needed walk (accompanied by a terrific audiobook), organize a bit around the house, and catch up on my book group book for October.

Bookish bits & bobs:

I spent most of the week reading a big, chunky sci-fi novel (As You Wake, Break the Shell by Becky Chambers), but had so little time each day that I was only at 50% by the time the weekend rolled around… and at that point realized that I absolutely needed to start my book group book, since I’m the person responsible for the discussion this time around. I hate putting down a book I’m enjoying in order to start something else, but in this case, I had no choice! Looking forward to getting back to the other book this week (and I hope re-entering that world won’t feel too jarring.)

Random things that amused me this week:

Seen while out running errands mid-week… happy Heated Rivalry Halloween!

What did I read during the last week?

Well Versed (Well Met, #5) by Jen DeLuca: A trip to the Ren Faire is always a delight! My review is here.

The Harvey Girl by Dana Stabenow: I bought a copy back when this book came out earlier in the year, then held off until now to read it so I’d have it fresh in my mind for my book group discussion this week. A fun detective story with a wild west setting that I wasn’t particularly familiar with — I’m glad to have finally read it! My review is here.

Pop culture & TV:

Dancing with the Stars check-in: Oh, the drama! Social feeds are going a bit insane this week after one pro faces a one-week suspension over a (now deleted) post that some viewed as threatening toward a DWTS judge. Fans are irate! (IMHO, his post was inappropriate, but not actually a threat — just an ill-advised attempt at snark that backfired). Anyhoo… all my faves (Amber Glenn, Ezra Frech, Julia Stiles, and Tatyana Ali) are still in the competition, so yay!

In other viewing, I finally started season 4 of Ted Lasso, and have gotten through about half the episodes. I like it – -maybe not as much as previous seasons, but that’s okay. It’s nice to have a bit of cheerful viewing to look forward to.

Fresh Catch:

The new Queen of Nothing special edition arrived this week!

My photos do not do it justice! It’s a velvety black edition with a box and beautiful inside illustrations. And now I have all three books from the series! I sense a re-read in my near future…

I indulged during Amazon’s big sale days last week and used some credits to buy hardcovers that had been on my wishlist for a while:

All three are books that I read within the past year, and loved! In case anyone wants to know more, here are the reviews I posted:

• The Children by Melissa Albert
• My Friends by Fredrik Backman
• Lady Tremaine by Rachel Hochhauser

What will I be reading during the coming week?

Currently in my hands:

As You Wake, Break the Shell by Becky Chambers: I’m happy to be getting back to this book! As I mentioned, I had to pause for a few days, just past the 50% point, but now I’m diving back in (and hoping to have more time to really focus on it than I did last week).

Now playing via audiobook:

The Once and Future Queen by Paula Lafferty: I’m absolutely loving this book! It’s on the longer side… I started listening last Monday, and should be able to finish within the next few days.

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: 97%. Coming up this week: Volume 4, chapters 17 and 18. Just three chapters left!

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.

Last weekend, I was away in Colorado visiting my daughter, and got home Monday night. It was a wonderful trip, but I didn’t rest at all before getting back to work Tuesday morning, so I kind of dragged all week. Luckily, the sun came out over the last couple of days, and I was able to enjoy some outdoor time this past weekend, and still managed to take care of some much-needed errands (including buying myself a new pair of walking shoes — yay!).

Bookish bits & bobs:

I’m sure everyone already saw the announcement, but I’ll share this one anyway:

Goodreads has FINALLY added quarter and half stars! It’s about time — people have been asking for this for years. Of course, now there’s something new to be annoyed about — tags no longer seem to be available to select while leaving a rating and review; we have to shelve the book (i.e., add tags) from the book itself, so it’s extra steps to do so after finishing.

Still, it’s nice to not have to constantly add a note on reviews to say “rounding up from 3.5” or what have you.

Is anyone going back to modify previously submitted ratings? I’m not — seems like too much of an effort, and not all that important — but I’m curious if others are doing so.

What did I read during the last week?

Wool (Silo, #1) by Hugh Howey: Terrific science fiction. Can’t wait to continue the series! My review is here.

No Matter What by Cara Bastone: Touching contemporary romance about a marriage in trouble and the couple’s slow reconnection. My review is here.

Dive Bar at the End of the Road by Kelley Armstrong: Mind-warping horror from a favorite author. My review is here.

Well Versed (Well Met, #5) by Jen DeLuca: The newest book in a very fun romance series centered around a small town Renaissance Faire. Finished on Sunday — watch for my review later this week!

Pop culture & TV:

Dancing with the Stars check-in: My favorites (Amber Glenn, Ezra Frech, Julia Stiles, and Tatyana Ali) are all still in it! I enjoy the rehearsal videos and performances, but the popularity contest aspect of the eliminations makes me so mad sometimes. And yet, I keep watching!

Speaking of watching… check out the move toward the end of this dance, which has now become a challenge all over the socials:

Elsewhere on my screen… I managed to catch up with the 2nd season of the Outlander prequel series, Blood of My Blood, and have now seen the four episodes available so far (with six more yet to come this season). Episode 3 was especially good. The show is inconsistent, and some storylines are much better than others. No news yet on whether there will be a season 3… but since I just saw a comment from a cast member that season 2 ends with a cliffhanger, I certainly hope there will be more to come!

Fresh Catch:

One beautiful new book arrived this week:

Plus two used books that I’d ordered a couple of weeks ago:

What will I be reading during the coming week?

Currently in my hands:

As You Wake, Break the Shell by Becky Chambers: I’ve loved everything I’ve read by this author, and I’m excited to be starting her new release.

Now playing via audiobook:

The Once and Future Queen by Paula Lafferty: I think this will be my next audiobook! I’ll be starting later today. The book has been on my shelf for a while now, and with Julia Whelan as narrator, audio feels like a great option.

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: 95%. Coming up this week: Volume 4, chapters 15 and 16. So close to the end!

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.

After a busy workweek, my real highlight was spending the weekend with my daughter and her husband. It was wonderful! Great visit, lots of fun, beautiful scenery… what a joy!

Bookish bits & bobs:

Another exciting cover reveal this past week:

Carley Fortune’s next book, Only in Summer, will be released May 2027. Once again, a stunning cover!

What did I read during the last week?

An Infinite Love Story by Chanel Cleeton: Historical fiction with a speculative twist, set during the 1960s space race. My review is here.

Exit Party by Emily St. John Mandel: Beautiful, complicated story that’s difficult to describe. My review is here.

Pop culture & TV:

I’ve still been mainly offline as far as viewing and streaming are concerned — but I am enjoying Dancing with the Stars. My updated favorites are Amber Glenn, Ezra Frech, Julia Stiles, and Tatyana Ali!

I’ve watched the first two episodes of the 2nd season of the Outlander prequel series, Blood of My Blood — good so far, even if the show seem to enjoy nothing more than tormenting its characters and finding fresh ways to make them unhappy.

Fresh Catch:

No new books this week.

What will I be reading during the coming week?

Currently in my hands:

Wool by Hugh Howey: This is a big, chunky sci-fi book — and I’m hooked! I’m getting close to the end, and I’m eager to see how it wraps up… and I have a feeling I’ll want to pick up the sequel pretty quickly.

Now playing via audiobook:

No Matter What by Cara Bastone: A New York-based love story that defies certain expected romance tropes. So close to finishing!

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: 92%. Coming up this week: Volume 4, chapters 13 and 14.

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.

I’m just catching up after a week away! I spent a wonderful week in Hawaii with my husband — we celebrated my birthday, enjoyed the gorgeous weather and beautiful views, read a lot on the beach, and ate delicious food. Absolutely lovely!

Bookish bits & bobs:

Two upcoming book releases that I learned about over the past two weeks — these make me so happy! Both will be released in 2027.

• The Lovebirds by Katherine Center (May 2027)
• A Spoonful of Trouble by T. Kingfisher (September 2027)

And this tickled my inner grammar nerd / cat lover:

What did I read during the last (two) weeks?

The Unmagical Life of Briar Jones by Lex Croucher: A surprise hit! I hadn’t heard anything about this book before stumbling across a rave review in the New York Times. Plain and simple — I loved it. My review is here.

Pride and Prejudice (Audible Original – dramatization): A fun dramatization with a full cast that includes Glenn Close as Lady Catherine de Bourgh! It’s fairly short, and was a nice way to fill in the little bit of listening time I had last week.

What You Are Looking For Is In the Library by Michiko Aoyama: Sweet, cozy Japanese fiction about intersecting lives connected by a community library and its unusual librarian. My book group’s September pick. I enjoyed it a lot, even though I didn’t get around to writing a review.

A Divided Duty (October Daye, #20) by Seanan McGuire: Another excellent installment in a favorite fantasy series. My review is here.

An Infinite Love Story by Chanel Cleeton: Historical fiction with a speculative twist, set during the 1960s space race. Watch for my review later this week.

Newbourne Park by Jennifer Thorne: Sharp, fast-paced horror. Loved it! My review is here.

Pop culture & TV:

Since I’ve only been home a few days, I really haven’t had much viewing time (and spent no time at all in front of screens while on vacation). So far, I’ve caught up on the first few episodes of the new season of Dancing with the Stars (my early favorites are Amber Glenn, Ezra Frech, and Julia Stiles!), and just sat down last night to start the 2nd season of the Outlander prequel series, Blood of My Blood.

Shocker — I think I’m going to sit out the new season of Survivor (that started this past week). I feel like I’ve just had enough of that particular show… although I reserve the right to change my mind! There’s a new season of The Amazing Race starting this week, and since that’s one that my son likes too, I’ll probably be watching.

And once life settles down a bit again, I’m sure I’ll have plenty to check out from my Netflix watchlist…

Fresh Catch:

Right before my trip, my copy of Exit Party arrived:

And when I came back, I found my preordered, signed copy of Well Versed waiting for me!

What will I be reading during the coming week?

Currently in my hands:

Exit Party by Emily St. John Mandel: Started over the weekend, and I’ve read about a third so far. I’m confused, but intrigued!

Now playing via audiobook:

No Matter What by Cara Bastone: I’d been wanting to start this audiobook, and finally had time once we got home from our trip. I haven’t made a ton of progress yet, but I’m liking it so far!

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: 88%. Coming up this week: Volume 4, chapters 11 and 12.

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 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…