2024 BOOKS OF THE YEEAAR!

 

Clearly, along with the slippery slope fallacy, the recency fallacy structures my thinking, since three of thise books are from last month. But!! My favorite book is one I read all the way back in FEBRUARY, and I encountered my number ten last JANUARY!

Runners Up: The Most by Jessica Anthony; Colored Television by Danzy Senna; God of the Woods by Liz Moore; Wandering Stars by Tommy Orange; Leaving by Roxana Robinson; The Demon of Unrest by Erik Larson; The Long Island Compromise by Taffy Brodesser-Akner

10. Family Family by Laurie Frankel: Maybe I put this one on the list because this author is a favorite of mine. But probably it was also because the characters in this sweet, small story stayed with me all year.

9. I Want You More by Swan Huntley: This book has a FABULOUS concept, and the kinky, murderous Ree Drummond character was a blast—I also remembered this weird little book fondly for months.

8. Annie Bot by Sierra Godfrey: THIS BOOKS WAS INCREDIBLE, and I could not get Annie the sentient sex bot out of my head— or her sad dumb boyfriend, either.

7. All Fours by Miranda July: What in the actual? THIS BOOK IS SO WEIRD, and the main character is so unlikable but also strangely relatable because menopause is bananas.

6. Tell Me Everything by Elizabeth Strout : Oh, Lucy! Oh, Bob! A cameo from Amy and Isabelle, even? And Olive is still kicking— this books was a dream.

5. Same as it Ever Was by Claire Lombardo: The very end of this book makes the whole thing EVEN BETTER. I sobbed my face off and still think of this story and its narrator.

4. Hum by Helen Phillips: Dystopian fiction just hits different during End Times, you know? I think of the Hums every time Minnie talks with Alexa.

3. The Wedding People by Alison Espach: My very favorite parts of this book were the ones where Phoebe describes the academic circles of hell she lives in. TOO REAL.

2. Slow Dance by Rainbow Rowell: Everything about this middle aged story of potential squandered and the magic of settling appealed to me FOR OBVIOUS REASONS. Also NO ONE does dialog better than this author.

1. Come and Get It by Kiley Reid: THIS IS GENIUS. A wildly entertaining story set in academia (my fave) with some very sharp race/class/gender analysis. Reid skewers college parents, college kids— all of us, really. I also love that it is coming-of-age story even though the characters are older than usual— SICK BURN.

December: What I Read

 ON NEW YEAR’S EVE I finished my 100th book with my eyes— phew— and ended the year with 169 books, some of them excellent. 

 (Before I get to the TL;DR, can I just say that I do not understand best books of the year lists that feature backlist titles. Why is this a thing? It’s not like someone would say here are my top movies of 2025, and let me start with Titanic, you know?)

(Not a snarky question— I genuinely do not get it)

SKIP THESE:

Bummer Camp by Anna Garvin: Meh. **2024

Cruel Winter With You by Ali Hazelwood: Another meh. **2024

The Night We Lost Him by Laura Dave: Again with  the meh. **2024

SKIP THESE UNLESS, LIKE ME, YOU LOVE FREIDA:

The Boyfriend by Freida McFadden: I have already forgotten everything about this book and will probably listen to it again someday thinking I have never read it before and then be totally surprised by my Goodreads review. **2024 **Audio

Dead Med by Freida McFadden: This one was actually super cute and I loved it. **2024

Other People Seem to Like These:

How to Solve Your Owen Murder by Kristen Perrin: I just could not focus on this. **2024

Year of Yes by Shonda Rhimes: I liked this sort of.

Memory Piece by Lisa Ko: I liked some of this a bunch. **2024

The Husbands by Holly Gramazio: The concept was fabulous. **2024

Backlist Gems:

The Burgess Boys by Elizabeth Strout: I MUST HAVE read this before, right?? **Audio

Amy and Isabelle by Elizabeth Strout: DELIGHTFUL **Audio

BOTY Contenders:

The Faculty Lounge by Jennifer Mathieu: This is lovely and funny and touching. *2024

 A Home for the Holidays by Taylor Hahn: I loved this, and even though it is set around Christmas, it is not JUST a Christmas book **2024

The Great Divide by Cristina Henriquez: THIS IS SO GOOD- a must read/listen, especially if you like historical fiction **2024 **Audio

The Most by Jessica Anthony: Oh wow— this books was spare and devastating and funny. It all takes place in an apartment pool and was just wonderful. **2024

All Fours by Miranda July: WHAT EVEN HAPPENED HERE? I adored this, fluids and all. **2024

Tell Me Everything by Elizabeth Strout: LOVED THIS— like a reward to all her faithful readers who wanted updates on all our old friends. **2024

The Wedding People by Alison Espach: LOVED LOVE LOVED this one. **2024

This Month: 18 books

With my eyes: 14

With my ears: 4

From 2024: 14

This Year: 169 book

With my eyes 100

With my ears: 69

From 2024:  105

November: What I Read

 YOU GUYS. I was too sick to READ! November was TERRIBLE.

But! The books I did manage to plow through were great. Here they are from worst to best:

Leather and Lark by Brynne Weaver: This series is not for me. I did not like the first one, but I tried again, and it is still a nope. **2024 **Audio

One by One by Freida McFadden: We've talked before about how I love her terrible books, yes? They're so terrible but in her real life she's a brain surgeon, and I am fascinated. **Audio

The Life Impossible by Matt Haig: This was weird, even for him. **2024

Playground by Richard Powers: I really wanted to love this, but I only just liked it. **2024

Intermezzo by Sally Rooney: I liked this one a lot, but I always think I am not quite smart enough to appreciate her all the way. **2024

Someone in the Attic by Andrea Mara: SO SCARY OMG. I had to stop reading it when Ben was gone. **2024

The Blue Bistro by Elin Hilderbrand: I haven't read ALL of her books. YET. **Audio

Sandwich by Catherine Newman: A charming delight of a book. **2024

A Reason to See You Again by Jami Attenberg: I loved Attenberg and think everyone else should, too. **2024

Headshot by Rita Bullwinkel: This is FANTASTIC and a really quick read but not necessarily light-- about girl boxers. I loved how the authored narrowed and widened her lens-- reminded me of Tommy Orange in that way. **2024

Colored Television by Danzy Senna: This book is GREAT-- family drama plus Hollywood drama plus race, class, and gender critique-- loved it. **2024

The Grey Wolf by Louise Penny: The 19th Gamache book did not disappoint. I really SAVORED this one because a new Louise Penny is a treat. **Audio **2024

THE STATS

This month: 12 books

Audio books: 4

Real books: 8

2024 books: 10

This year: 151

Audio: 65

With my eyes: 86

Books published in 2024: 91

Little preview of December to close since I hit the library hlds jackpot:

Happy Thanksgiving

 Happy Thanksgiving, my friends. I wish you delicious food and wonderful conversation with your favorite people in the world. As always, I am so thankful for this blog and all the people I have met through it.

On this day, I am enjoying extended family and eating until I burst, drinking too much (but it always seems like not enough) champagne and thinking about the people I would also like to gather with who are at their own tables having their own dinners and hopefully also thinking about me.

I am remembering all of the Thanksgivings of my childhood and early grown-up years that I took for granted-- all those years I assumed would come again and again and again with the same face across the candles, the same mishmash of food smeared on the same china. I miss everyone-- my babies when they were babies, my young self who was so careless with time and had SO MUCH HAIR, my grandparents, my grandparents' siblings, my dad. 

Here's to the happy golden days and knowing when we're living them.

October: What I Read

 As always, I will share a Halloween wrap up tomorrow (I am SO GLAD I still have a little kid on Halloween, you guys!) and will kick NaBloPoMo off today with October's reading round up.

Nothing spooky about how awesome my October reads were-- some BOTY contenders here, and even the backlist was pretty great. As always, they are organized from least favorite to most :)

Big Nope Energy:

Blue Sisters by Coco Mellors: Nope. Not a good read. I got it from Book of the Month, so I felt duty-bound to keep slogging. **2024

The Silent Woman by Minka Kent: Not a bad thriller, but not a good one, either. **Audio

Only if You're Lucky by Stacy Willingham: Solid meh on this thriller. I think I am not a fan of this author and will not read her again (unless everyone else is reading her and then I will because baaaaaaah). **2024

Oldies but not baddies:

Every Summer After by Carley Fortune: I like this author. I like her characters. I like her harmless little romances. **Audio

Meet me at the Lake by Carley Fortune: Ditto **Audio

I Know What You Did by Cayce Osborne: I must have put this thriller on hold because it is set on the west side of madison-- and it's true, the setting delighted me the whole time. **Audio

Heir of Fire by Sarah J Maas: Loved it. Not my fave series by her, but she's great, and I dig romantasy-- WHO KNEW?? **Audio

Now we're getting somewhere:

The Pairing by Casey McQuiston: Darling! And such a good discussion of gender in there.  **2024

Dearest by Jacquie Walters: SO CREEPY and weird-- liked this one and was tense THE WHOLE TIME. **2024

The Mighty Red by Louise Erdrich: I liked but did not love this book,even though the plot is quick and the characters are engaging. Too many perspectives herhaps? *2024

Here One Moment by Liane Moriarty: LOVED IT. **20024

YES YES YES

Identity Unknown by Patricia Cornwell: I absolutely liked a ton this 28th Scarpetta novel. I was going to say LOVED, but I didn't, quite. **2024 **Audio

The Demon of Unrest: A Saga of Hubris, Heartbreak, and Heroism at the Dawn of the Civil War by Erik Larson: I love his books, but this is the first time I have read one that is about a time period I am familiar with--I was a little worried about this-- would his POV match up with what I know about the rhetoric? IT DID, of course. Loved this book. **2024

Hum by Helen Phillips: This book is a brilliant masterpiece but also YIKES. I really loved it-- BOTY material. But also! Is not the time for dystopian fiction?? **2024

THE STATS

This month: 14 books

Audio books: 5

Real books: 9

2024 books: 9

This year: 139

Audio: 61

With my eyes: 78

Books published in 2024: 81

I set a goal of 124 books, and I am technically past it, but I think I would really like to break 100 actual books (not audio). Which means I need to read 11 real book in November and 11 more in December. This seems... not likely?

I am done with my BOTM extras. Just in time for November reads to come out...

September: What I Read

SO many GOOD BOOKS this month! I just LOVE a new Karin Slaughter. And! God of the Woods was as good as everyone said it would be. PLUS the new Rainbow Rowell is AMAZING and I loved every single word.

Here's the tl;dr:

You can skip these

Mad Love by Wendy Walker: NOPE. I was between library holds and out of Audible credits and all caught up on Pod Save America, so... **Audio 

The Summer Pact by Emily Giffin: ALSO NOPE. It’s a bummer because I used to LOVE her.**2024

Briefly, Perfectly Human by Alua Arthur: I wanted less memoir and more stories from being a death doula, honestly. **Audio **2024

Pretty good reads

Interesting Facts About Space by Emily Austin: Is it harsh to say this is an Eleanor Oliphant wannabe? Liked it, but not as much  as most people. **2024

Everyone in my Family Has Killed Someone by Benjamin Stevenson: I mean. I don’t know. This was a DNF for me on Kindle, but I thought I’d like it better as an audiobook. I did like it better, but I did not love it. I requested the next one ad the random bonus Christmas one, though. **Audio

The Rom-Commers by Katherine Center: Solid meh on this romance. **2024

 The List by Yomi Adegoke: I read this over a couple of lunches at my desk because I was in the office more than usual observing TAs teaching, and it was a quick, fun read.

Like Mother, Like Daughter by Kimberly McCreight: Meh. This thriller was ok and a quick read. I really like this author, so maybe my expectations were inflated.**2024

Now we’re getting somewhere

The Unwedding by Ally Condie: Suspenseful but also sweet and with characters I really liked. **2024 **Audio

Pete and Alice in Maine by Caitlin Shetterly: I really liked this and admired the writing so much, but WHAT FREAKING BUMMER. I was so bothered by the end. Nicole warned me, but I dug in anyway. **2024

Middle of the Night by Riley Sager: Serious Stephen King vibes — I liked this a lot. **2024

By Any Other Name by Jodi Picoult: I liked this a lot. I am a Picoult stan, though, and it's not as good as the elephant one. **2024

Yesssssssss

God of the Woods by Liz Moore: LOVED THIS SO MUCH. What a great story! What awesome characters! HOW SAD! Lisa recommended it, and she was right! **2024

This is Why We Lied by Karin Slaughter: I LOVE to listen to Kathleen Early read Karin Slaughter to me. This book was GREAT even though there was lots of Sara Linton over explaining everything and ruining Will’s good time. She's a useful plot device, but that doesn't mean I like her very much. **2024 **Audio

Slow Dance by Rainbow Rowell: I loved this one. The dialog! The characters! It was funny and devastatingly sweet. About potential versus reality/being versus becoming/ promise versus settling. I LOVED IT. **2024

This month: 15 books

Audio books: 3

Real books: 12

2024 books: 12

This year: 125

Audio: 56

With my eyes: 69

Books published in 2024: 72

August: What I Read

 I could not focus on reading this month, try as I might— AND I DID TRY. We haven’t been in any kind of steady routine all month, and this has taken its toll on my habits and my general sense of well being.I also drank a lot— wine with Ben almost every night he was home— and this is SO unlike me and makes me not want to read myself to sleep. We watched The Office for the millionth time instead.

I even missed a bunch of popular holds (the new Katherine Center, Sandwich, and the new EMily Giffin) because I just forgot to go get them)

On the plus side, I stopped reading 2 books I didn’t like— but I stalled first. Baby steps.

ANYWAY. Here’s the list from best to worst.

9. Hairpin Bridge by Taylor Adams: This is an author I usually like a lot, but this one was just OK for me. A nice twist, but it was hard to get into. **Audio

8. No One Can Know by Kate Alice Marshall: Meh. Sort of got good, but this was a bit of a slog for me. **Audio **2024

7. House of Glass by Sarah Pekkanen: I wanted to really like this one. It was a BOTM, though, and I love making a dent in my pile. **2024

6. The Women by Kristin Hannah: Listen, this was schlock. If you want to read about Vietnam War nurses, you gotta read the play A Piece of my Heart by Shirley Lauro — waaaaaay better.  But! This book was another BOTM to check off the list.**2024

5. Drop Dead by Lily Chu: I like this author, and this romance was touching and cute. **Audio**2024

4. The Last Chance Library by Freya Sampson: Stephany recommended this as a palate cleanser, and it was really really cute and sweet. **Audio

3. Margo’s Got Money Troubles by Rufi Thorpe: Funny and touching and smart- liked to a bunch. Another BOTM, which means I only have 2 more on my stack!! Woo-hoo! **2024

2. Long Island Compromise by Taffy Brodesser-Akner: HILARIOUS and wonderful and you must read it! **2024

1. The Cliffs by J. Courtney Sullivan: I LOVED THIS SO MUCH. One of the best of the year. **2024 **Audio

This month: 9 books

Audio books: 5

Real books: 4

2024 books: 8

This year: 110

Audio: 54

With my eyes: 57

Books published in 2024: 60

July: What I Read

This was a GREAT reading month for me. I read interesting backlist titles, and I made a teeny bit of progress on my BOTM backlog-- enough that I definitely ordered an August book. MAYBE 2. (J/k— just one but a LONG one).

Next month, I will read my 6 remaining books of the month **yikes face**

Here are this month's reads, in order from worst to best:

The Wall of Winnipeg and Me by Mariana Zapata: Meh. This book was like 6 hours too long. *Audio

The London Seance Society by Sarah Penner: I did not like The Lost Apothecary and I didn't like this one, either. ** Audio

Close Your Eyes by Amanda Eye Ward: While waiting for her newest book, I requested all of her old stuff on Libby. Liked this a lot. **Audio

Here After by Amy Lin: I liked this sad, spare memoir, and it was another book from my BOTM shelf. *2024

Good Inside by Dr. Becky Kennedy: LOVE this, but you could definitely get the gist from her Instagram. **audio

Mercury by Amy Jo Burns: Solid meh on this family saga for me, even though it has all of the things I usually like a lot. It was from my BOTM shelf. **2024

The Library Book by Susan Orlean: This is really great, and I think most of you would like it a lot. **Audio

Daughter of Mine by Megan Miranda: I liked this fun, quick thriller and read it at a dive meet. Satisfying bad guys for sure.*2024

Lovers and Liars by Amanda Eyre Ward: I liked this one because it was light and quick and entertaining, but it was not my favorite book by this author (that would be The Jetsetters). **2024

Whisper Network by Chandler Baker: This is a GREAT listen. I like her so much that I am reading the backlist, people. **audio

Listen for the Lie by Amy Tintera: I think I am over the true crime podcast trope, you guys. But! This was well-plotted with great characters. **2024

 Terrace Story by Hilary Leichter: This is really good. If you are into magical realism and the multiverse, this is a book for you. I want to read it again and really savor the space metaphor throughout, and I really liked the haunting, longing sort of tone that was consistent across all 4 stories. I will say, though, that this book was too hard for a summer read, and I resented that a little bit. 

Very Bad Company by Emma Rosenblum: This was pretty terrible but also a great summer read. **2024

Same Bright Stars by Ethan Joella: I would like this more if I hadn’t already read Richard Russo, you know? Close, but no cigar. **2024

Brat by Gabriel Smith: I do not usually read books by dudes, but I think maybe I thought this was a woman because I always think Gabriel is a girl’s name and clearly need to work on my default binary thinking. BUT ANYWAY. You should read this-- it is really good. Kind of like The Guest for me in terms of watching the narrator with horror and anticipation. *2024

Expiration Dates by Rebecca Serle: This was delightful. I was okay with the magical realism because i expect it from this author by now. The main character had a really funny voice and made annoying mistakes that made me like her even more, and all the supporting characters were great, especially Irina who would have been even better a little bit meaner as a show don’t tell situation. **2024

(I read it on our ice cream tour)

Same as it Ever Was by Claire Lombardo: OH WOW YOU GUYS. I loved this a lot all the way through, particularly as the main character became less redeemable and the supporting characters more lovable. But then! I fell back in love with Julia and saw her future unfold in a heartbreakingly normal way during the last 6 or so pages of the book and WOW. Read this one! *2024 **Audio

Worry by Alexandra Tanner: THIS IS WONDERFUL WONDERFUL WONDERFUL. Sad, yes, but no one dies exactly. And so so so funny. **2024

Swan Song by Eiln Hilderbrand: OH YES YES YES YES YES YES. I am so tried of books making me cry when I don't expect it, but YES to this one. **2024

I Want You More by Swan Huntley: I loved this book! It's funny and sad and scary and the best plot/concept. You gotta read it. **2024

THE STATS

This month: 20 books

Audio books: 7

Real books: 13

2024 books: 13

This year: 102

Audio: 49

With my eyes: 53

Books published in 2024: 52

June: What I Read

 The only complaint I have about vacation was that I barely had any time to read. I read one Kindle book on the way there and another on the way home. AND THAT WAS IT. No audiobooks. And! I was running low ANYWAY because graduation was a lot, and I barely had time to come up for air. Bah humbug. 

ANYWAY.

Here’s my (really fun) June lists in order from worst to best, like usual.

Gigi Listening by Chantel Guertin: I adored Instamom, but this one was not awesome for me. You can skip it.

The Inheritance Games by Jennifer Lynne Barnes: It took me far too long to realize this was YA, and I liked it a lot— it’sthe first in a series, so I will for sure be black for more. **Audio

Crown of Midnight by Sarah J Maas: This is solid as a second book in a series, and I am definitely in for more. **Audio

Bride by Ali Hazelwood: I really love her, but I definitely like her academic romances better than this vampire/werewolf romp. **Audio **2024

Darling Girls by Sally Hepworth: This is excellent! I really like all of her books, so I was expecting a winner, and she delivered. **2024

Kill for Me, Kill for You by Steve Cavenaugh: This wears so twist and engaging. I loved it. **audio **2024

My Murder by Katie Williams: THIS IS SO GOOD. **audio

This Summer Will Be Different by Carly Fortune: YES THIS IS DARLING. Believe the buzz.**Audio **2024

Jackpot Summer by Elyssa Friedland: I love her, and this sibs-win-the-lotto story is a delight. **2024

Murder Road by Simone St. James: She is a favorite writer of mine, and this book was SCARY. **2024 **audio

Invisible Woman by Katia Lief: I looooooved this one, didn’t see it on any lists, and just randomly grabbed it at the library because it has a pretty jacket (shut up). **2024

THE STATS

This month: 11 books

Audio books: 7

Real books: 4

2024 books: 7

This year: 82

Audio: 42

With my eyes: 40

Books published in 2024: 39

May: What I Read

As always, here they are from worst to best:

Not for Me

The Summer Swap by Sarah Morgan: Meh. **2024 

It Was Always You by Sarah K. Stephens: Oooooh this was fun to listen to, but do not expect art. **Audio 

FREIDA!

Do Not Disturb by Freida McFadden: Liked it **Audio

 The Perfect Son by Freida McFadden: This is a creepy one. **Audio

The Devil Wears Scrubs by Freida McFadden: LOVED this and it made me like McFadden’s oeuvre as a whole much better. SHE’S A NEUROLOGIST. SO cool. **Audio

Solid Mehs

The Second Chance Hotel by Sierra Godfrey: Meh. **Audio **

Lucky by Jane Smiley: A less fun Daisy Jones and the Six. **2024

Grief Is for People by Sloane Crosley: I always want to like this author so much more than I end up liking her stuff. **2024

Good Backlist Titles I Stumbled Across

A Heart That Works by Rob Delaney: Heartbreaker of a memoir about his 2 year-old who died of brain cancer.

Within Arm's Reach by Ann Napolitano: Liked this one a lot-- it is a re-release of her older out-of-print novel, which is why is sort of seems to be set in the present but not quite... **Audio

Instamom by Chantel Guertin: Loved this breezy little romance.

BOTY Contenders

Finlay Donovan Rolls the Dice by Elle Cosimano: This one might be the best one since the original. This series is so cute, and it really should be a TV show. **2024

The Mystery Guest by Nita Prose: I had some issues with The Maid because I felt like Molly was just every autism stereotype ever rolled into one character, but this iteration of her is much more nuanced, and I liked this book a lot. **2024 **Audio

Leaving by Roxana Robinson: OH MY GOSH. This is so sad and wonderful. **2024

Funny Story by Emily Henry: Hello, it’s me, letting my basic bitch roots show. THIS IS SO GREAT. **2024 **Audio

This month: 15 books

Audio: 8

Print or digital: 7

This year: 71

Audio: 35

With my eyes: 36

Books published in 2024: 32

April: What I Read

 I have the sneaking suspicion that I actually read more books that I am able to list here and just forgot to note them on Goodreads and then they evaporated from my mind. And yes, I am worried about a potentially accelerated cognitive decline-- WHY DO YOU ASK?

Anyway, onto the tl;dr:

Least favorites

13. Outlining Your Novel: Map Your Way to Success by KM Weiland: Maybe any book about this would be un-fun to read?

12. Never Lie by Frieda McFadden: These books are terrible, and yet I keep listening to them? **audio**

11. The Surrogate Mother by Frieda McFadden: **hangs head in shame** **audio**

Liked but did not love these

10. Private Equity by Carrie Sun: Very gossipy and compelling-- a solid memoir. **2024

9. Bad Summer People by Emma Rosenblum: A very entertaining listen **audio**

8. Rebecca, Not Becky by Christina Platt and Catherine Wigginton Greene: School drama, mom drama, stereotypes galore! This was so fun to listen to. **audio**

7. Anita DeMonte Laughs Last by Xochitl Gonzalez: One of those rare books where I like both stories/timelines equally. **2024

6. She's Not Sorry by Mary Kubicka: Was this twisty or just full of plot holes and missing key details? HARD TO SAY WITH THIS AUTHOR. **2024

A BUNCH OF REALLY GOOD BOOKS OMG

5. Babel by RF Kuang: Well, after reading this and Yellowface, the common theme emerges clearly: WHITE WOMEN ARE THE FREAKING WORST. **audio

4. Just for the Summer by Abby Jimenez: YES-- the cutest romance-- loved it **2024 **audio

3. Bye, Baby by Carola Lovering: OH I LOVED THIS SO MUCH. A little Ingrid Goes West and a lot of friend drama. **2024**

2. Who's Afraid of Gender by Judith Butler: THIS WAS SO GREAT. I love that they went with a popular press as opposed to an academic one because they were able to be more conversational and to make more sweeping arguments than an academic press might allow. This is a GREAT book and spends such a lot of careful time unpacking what's going on with TERF as well as broader conservative movements, LOVED IT. **2024**

1. Annie Bot by Sierra Greer: Oh this weird, scary, funny, devastating little book! You should read it, **2024**

The stats

This month: 13 books

Audio: 6

Print or digital: 7

This year: 57

Audio: 28

With my eyes: 29

5 on a Friday: Creature Comforts (16/52)

 1.  Couch naps

2.  Park days

3. Skipping rocks

4.  Awesome new books to read

5.  Child-led conferences

March: What I Read

(In order of least favorite to favorite)

The Coworker by Freida McFadden: She is the Colleen Hoover of thriller writers, and I am here for it. **Audio 

The Locked Door by Freida McFadden: I seriously don't even remember what this was about. **Audio

The Teacher by Freida McFadden: Ok, this one I remember. I liked it, and I don't even feel guilty. **Audio

Sleep No More by Jayne Ann Krentz: Meh. **2024

One Summer in Savannah by Terah Shelton Harris: Meh. 

Butcher and Blackbird by Brynne Weaver" I wanted to like this because it is buzzy and the first book in a trilogy, but it was just ok for me.

Kulti by Marianna Zapata: Terrible title; cute romance. **Audio

An Honest Lie by Taryn Fisher: A great audiobook!! **Audio

The Fury by Alex Michaelides: I liked this one as an audiobook, but I bet it would be DNF on paper. Some authors work better for me as audiobooks, and this guy is definitely one of them. **Audio **2024

Iris Kelly Doesn't Date by Ashley Herring Blake: I loved all 3 books in this series-- delightful.

The New Couple in 5B by Lisa Unger: A perfectly adequate thriller. Liked it! **2024

Still See You Everywhere by Lisa Gardner: Not my fave Lisa Gardner, but still good. **2024

Diva by Daisy Goodwin: I stuck with this because it was an audiobook (and ended up liking it a lot), but the writing was not amazing. I don't know if I would have slogged through on paper. Still! I knew nothing baout Maria Callas, so the history was fascinating. *2024 **Audio

The Heiress by Rachel Hawkins: Not my fave Rachel Hawkins, but still good. **2024

House of Flame and Shadow by Sara J. Maas: OH MY GOODNESS. 2 of her worlds INTERSECTING? This was almost like fan fiction but by the actual author. LOVED IT. **2024 **Audio

THE STATS

This month: 15 books

8 Audio

7 Print/Kindle

7 books published in 2024

This year: 44

22 Audio

22 With my eyes

18 books published in 2024

5 on a Friday: Notes on break (13/52)

 Everyone should get a spring break. Also 5 weeks in the winter and the whole summer. 

1.One day this week, I got up to kind of supervise breakfast but then I just went back to bed until I read this book cover to cover and the kids just... did their own thing.

2. The weather has been largely terrible, but we did make it to our favorite park when the rain finally let up.

3. Cooper had kids over and they played kinetic sand with Minnie for longer than you might think they would. Dorothy and Harry had friends over, too, and we had 2 separate seatings for 2 different lunch menus, and still! It was the easiest day of break. Kid math is wild.

4. The coziness factor has been through the roof all week.

5. Minnie was sick with some terrible throat virus. Then she spent a day puking everywhere. And now she has a horrible horrible cough, and if she spikes another fever, I will of course go back to the doctor because that's basically what happened when she had pneumonia. SO, that's neat. But still! She's been a treat. Harry and his girlfriend even took her to the zoo and bought her a stuffed peacock (named PETER, not PETE) and her favorite Culver's kids' meal. Coop has taken her to the park in our neighborhood all by himself, and Jack has come with me on stroller walks. (Dorothy has had a Very Busy social calendar this week).

Today I gotta change basically all of the sheets (except Minnie's and Ben's because PUKE LAUNDRY (yes, I did set a sick kid up in someone else's bed because I am The Worst)), and I really should have spread sheet laundry out throughout the week, but **shrug**.

Also! I was intimidated by the thought of 5 kids home for three meals a day and bought a truly outrageous amount of groceries-- and the only thing we need at the very end of the week is cilantro for knock off Chipotle rice taco FRIDAY because I am nothing if not full of surprises LOL) because the bunch I bought went bad. WINNING.