The Great Carpezio
Pearl Clutcher
Something profound goes here.
Posts: 2,973
Jun 25, 2014 21:50:33 GMT
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Post by The Great Carpezio on Jan 31, 2022 4:12:05 GMT
Hey Everyone! What did you read this week?
I read: ๐ต The Push ๐๐๐๐ Itโs unrelenting with its dark suspense and questions about whether our narrator can be trusted. This novel taps into almost every motherโs greatest insecurities and nightmares, and follows in the footsteps of novels like โWe Need to Talk about Kevin.โ
It was a novel that I would have liked to talk about with someone after reading it.
๐ต High Voltage: Darkfever book 10 ๐๐๐๐1/2
I sat down with an old friend, the Darkever series. This is book 10 out of 11, and seems to be the culmination of the โDaniโ storyline, and it was a satisfying ending.
Darkever takes place in a post-fae-apocalyptic Dublin. Well, it started pre-apocalyptic, but now we are well past that point. Anyway, itโs always a good romantic/fantasy/adventuresome escape.
๐ต The Firekeeperโs Daughter ๐๐๐๐๐
First I need to start with that cover. I absolutely adore the cover! Check it out if you can.
Next, although it falls into the โOutlanderโ story trap(everything traumatic that can possibly befall a character does and at times unbelievably so), I still just loved this book on so many levels.
A wonderful protagonist, strong supporting characters, an engaging and mature storyline (romance, mystery, coming of age), and exploration and celebration of Ojibwe/Anishinaabe culture written by an Ojibwe author. I even learned a little Ojibwe language along the way.
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hutchfan
Drama Llama
Posts: 6,465
Jul 6, 2016 16:42:12 GMT
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Post by hutchfan on Jan 31, 2022 4:35:45 GMT
I read The School Of Mirrors by Eva Stachniak. I won this Advanced Readers Copy from a Goodreads giveaway. I didn't much like this book too many characters in the beginning to keep track of. It's about Veronique who basically was sold by her mother to be a lover to the King at a very young age and she is discarded after she gives birth to a daughter Marie Louise who is raised by horrible people but eventually taken and raised by a midwife and trained to be a midwife herself. But always wanted a mother and father. It was a sad book and too long.
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Mystie
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 4,300
Jun 25, 2014 19:53:37 GMT
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Post by Mystie on Jan 31, 2022 4:40:10 GMT
@the Great Carpezio , I'm really glad you're reading again. ๐
I finished Billy Summers which is Stephen King's latest book about a hit man who decides to take one last job. I really enjoyed it.
Right now I'm in the middle of about three books, so hopefully I can push through this week and finish a couple of them.
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gottapeanow
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 2,813
Jun 25, 2014 20:56:09 GMT
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Post by gottapeanow on Jan 31, 2022 5:13:29 GMT
I read an older book Three, by Ted Dekker. There were issues. I didn't really like it. 2.5/5 stars.
I am going to start The Only Plane in the Sky and alternate with Baby Teeth. I'm waiting on library books to come in, and I've had these for a while.
Lisa
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Post by jeremysgirl on Jan 31, 2022 11:21:57 GMT
I don't know what got into me this week. A lot of crochet + audio books equals a lot of books completed.
First up, non-audio I finished Brene Brown's book Atlas of the Heart. It took me two months because it is the kind of book where you read a little bit and then think about it. I thought it was really well done. My only wish is that she had talked more about communication strategies with other people based on emotional experiences. Definitely a book worth reading and the print version is beautiful. Almost a coffee table book. This is not one I'd read audio.
I finished Elin Hildebrand's book Golden Girl. It was alright. I read Hildebrand's books when I need a break from my brain and information input. I don't expect much except to be lightly entertained. It was good for that purpose.
I finally finished Bad Feminist by Roxane Gay. There was a lot of good in this book and a lot of meh. Like I could totally have done without her chapter on her Scrabble playing. I think that's why it took me so long to get through it. Because there was too much just what I consider to be filler. And I didn't care for that. Which is weird because I usually love memoirs but I like a focus to them. I felt like this book got off focus multiple times.
I have downloaded my favorite fiction book of all time East of Eden by Steinbeck to listen to. It's been almost 20 years since I've read it so I'm looking forward to that. I have also downloaded Little Weirds by Jenny Slate. I've also got Hivemind by Sarah Rose Cavanaugh in hardcover. I'm sure that will take me a while as I don't focus well after work. But I want to start it. We shall see.
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mimima
Drama Llama
Stay Gold, Ponyboy
Posts: 5,064
Jun 25, 2014 19:25:50 GMT
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Post by mimima on Jan 31, 2022 11:28:46 GMT
*Tam Lin* by Pamela Dean. I had asked on Facebook about a good fairy-tale retelling, as Iโd read a disappointing one and this one was oft recommended. It is a ballad retelling more than a fairy-tale retelling, and one that Iโd read another retelling of last year. It is basically a campus novel which I found not that absorbing.
*Meg, Jo, Beth, Amy: The Story of Little Women and Why It Still Matters* by Anne Boyd Rioux I call these โtoothbrush readsโ as I read whilst I brush my teeth, floss, and do my hair. I heard about this one on Novel Pairings โ I enjoyed the discussion of Little Women and how it has been interpreted and read through the years. It was written before the Greta Gerwig film, which I consider to have been a very well done adaptation, Iโd be curious to hear her thoughts on it.
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paigepea
Drama Llama
Enter your message here...
Posts: 5,609
Location: BC, Canada
Jun 26, 2014 4:28:55 GMT
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Post by paigepea on Jan 31, 2022 12:58:18 GMT
Iโm still reading the page turner Invisible Girl by Lisa Jewel that has been mentioned a few times here. Iโm enjoying it a lot, as I always do with a Lisa Jewell book. Wish I could find more time for it.
Iโm listening to the Rose Code by Kate Quinn. It has been talked about a lot here. Iโm almost half way - itโs as good as her earlier book the Alice network. Iโm really hooked on this one and am taking every opportunity to be in the car or walk my dog so I can listen.
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Post by guzismom on Jan 31, 2022 13:10:55 GMT
I am about 1/2 way through The Lincoln Highway and I am absolutely loving this book.
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Post by jill225 on Jan 31, 2022 13:23:13 GMT
It was a good week for me. I finished the Flatshare and also The Heavens May Fall Both were easy reads and kept me entertained. I am about to start Sanctuary by Nora Roberts. I rarely read her books anymore but this one was recommended to me. Iโm willing to give it 50 pages!
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gina
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 3,298
Jun 26, 2014 1:59:16 GMT
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Post by gina on Jan 31, 2022 13:37:43 GMT
I finished The Night Swim by Megan Goldin 3.8 / 5
TW: rape
This was a fast-paced story about two rapes in different time lines. 25 years ago, Jenny was raped by a group of boys and found drowned to death. A strong swimmer, her younger sister Hannah always felt she was murdered.
In current time, we have a rape trial going on in the town of Neapolis. Rachel Krall is the host of a very popular true crime podcast. She starts receiving notes from Hannah, requesting help in re-opening her dead sister's old case.
The past and present start to collide as Rachel uncovers connections between the two cases that will change the course of the trial and the lives of every one involved. Shaved off a few points in my star-rating since I wasn't entirely surprised at the outcome, but I still looked forward to putting this book on every day (audio) and breezing through it. It held my interest.
"I'm Rachel Krall and this is Guilty or not guilty, the podcast that puts you in the jury box." Loved that there was an actual podcast w/in the storyline. Even better on audio!
This was my 1st Megan Goldin novel and I am excited to be awaiting her latest release, Stay Awake, which is supposed to be out this Summer.
I am now about 20% into The Last Year of the War by Susan Meissner.
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Post by thundergal on Jan 31, 2022 13:44:15 GMT
Hey everyone! OP, glad you enjoyed The Push. jill225 I'm one Eskens book ahead of you. I started and finished The Deep Dark Descending by Allen Eskens over the weekend. Another solid 4 star read for me. We Need to Talk About Kevin is on deck.
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Post by Fidget on Jan 31, 2022 14:43:42 GMT
I finished The Heart's Invisible Furies by John Boyne - I loved this book, 5 stars -it is now one of my all time favorites!
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paigepea
Drama Llama
Enter your message here...
Posts: 5,609
Location: BC, Canada
Jun 26, 2014 4:28:55 GMT
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Post by paigepea on Jan 31, 2022 15:32:47 GMT
I finished The Heart's Invisible Furies by John Boyne - I loved this book, 5 stars -it is now one of my all time favorites! I agree! This was a fantastic book!
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Rhondito
Pearl Clutcher
MississipPea
Posts: 4,792
Jun 25, 2014 19:33:19 GMT
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Post by Rhondito on Jan 31, 2022 15:44:21 GMT
I finished The Heart's Invisible Furies by John Boyne - I loved this book, 5 stars -it is now one of my all time favorites! It's definitely in my top 5, and possibly my #1. I love this book!
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Rhondito
Pearl Clutcher
MississipPea
Posts: 4,792
Jun 25, 2014 19:33:19 GMT
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Post by Rhondito on Jan 31, 2022 15:49:18 GMT
I finally finished A Little Life by Hanya Yanagihara. Whew, what a book. I liked it, but feel as if at least 25% could have been taken out. So much unnecessary internal dialogue... at times I found myself zoned out and not remembering what I'd just read. Because of this, I rounded it up to 4 stars. I liked it, but didn't love it.
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Post by fotos4u2 on Jan 31, 2022 17:29:16 GMT
I was on a mega roll last week. Mostly in part because my boss was out of town which meant our company basically shut down. I read 6 books:
The Three Mrs. Wrights by Linda Keir. 4 stars. This was a quick, fun read about three women who are all involved with the same man.
The Barren Grounds by David A. Robertson. 2 stars. I actually only read this because it was on the bookshelf. I'm trying to get rid of some old books that I hadn't read so I'm rotating old/new when I read. It is young adult and is about two Canadian indigenous foster children who find themselves in a Narnia-like world. Chronicles of Narnia was a favorite book of mine when I was a kid so I was hopeful, but it was pretty flat.
What You Wish For by Katherine Center. 5 stars. About a young woman whose old crush comes back into her life, but he's completely changed from a fun-loving goofball to a somber safety zealot. One to Watch by Kate Stayman-London. 5 stars. Another enjoyable read about a plus-sized influencer who gets picked to be on a show similar to the Bachelorette.
One of Us is Next by Karen McManus. 3 stars. The sequel to One of Us is Lying. I think I bought this for my youngest kid for Xmas a couple of years ago and attempted to read it last year, but it just couldn't hold my attention. The beginning is very slow but gets better and the ending is truly a surprise.
The House We Grew Up In by Lisa Jewell. 3 stars. About a family whose mother is a hoarder and their tragic life (as in not one family member didn't experience some trauma that had little to do with their mother's hoarding!).
Next up is probably All the Bright Places by Jennifer Niven. Boss is back so doubt I'll read much this week.
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gina
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 3,298
Jun 26, 2014 1:59:16 GMT
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Post by gina on Jan 31, 2022 17:31:20 GMT
I am now about 20% into The Last Year of the War by Susan Meissner.Quoting myself. Well, I dropped my two younger kids at school and have been working at my desk since at 8am which made for lots of uninterrupted reading time so I now happy to report I am a full 50% done with this book already. It's good!
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Post by epeanymous on Jan 31, 2022 18:06:41 GMT
This past week, I read:
We Were Never Here, by Andrea Bartz. Suspense-y, mystery-ish book about a pair of twentysomethings who have been friends for years and like to travel together; when, on two trips in a row, someone winds up dead in a similar fashion on their trip, the narrator is forced to ask whether her friend is out killing people on purpose, and what kind of friendship they have, exactly. I enjoyed this -- it was mindless, but/and a page-turner. Not sure I fully bought the ending, but that's fine.
Reckless Girls, by Rachel Hawkins. Also a suspense-y, mystery-ish book, this one about a young woman who sails with her boyfriend to Hawaii, where he gets hired to charter a boat to a weird atoll where people have been stranded previously and perhaps eaten each other (I picked it up because I was missing my beloved Yellowjackets). Like We Were Never Here, I liked it, and the tropical atmospherics are great, but the ending was a little womp-womp.
Allegedly, by Tiffany Jackson. This is YA mystery, by the author of White Smoke, which I read a few months ago and liked. The narrator was convicted at age nine for killing a baby, and has grown up in "baby prison" and a group home while her unstable mother, who may have actually killed the baby, visits every few weeks. The whole book is a did-she-or-didn't-she, and is good; the narrator is well-written and believable.
Fangirl, by Rainbow Rowell. I'm just going to assume everyone who wanted to read this already read it, but if for some reason you haven't, this is a YA book about a college freshman who writes fanfiction about a Harry Potter-type series, and is coping with a twin sister who parties, a mother who abandoned her, and a father who has never recovered from the end of that marriage, as well as the normal college-freshman academic issues and romantic leads. I have never read any of her stuff, but there was a $5 used copy of this at the bookstore, so I picked it up, and really enjoyed it.
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Post by epeanymous on Jan 31, 2022 18:07:34 GMT
I finally finished A Little Life by Hanya Yanagihara. Whew, what a book. I liked it, but feel as if at least 25% could have been taken out. So much unnecessary internal dialogue... at times I found myself zoned out and not remembering what I'd just read. Because of this, I rounded it up to 4 stars. I liked it, but didn't love it. This has been sitting on my to-read shelf for years and I keep ignoring it. Should I read it?
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gottapeanow
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 2,813
Jun 25, 2014 20:56:09 GMT
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Post by gottapeanow on Jan 31, 2022 18:50:57 GMT
I finally finished A Little Life by Hanya Yanagihara. Whew, what a book. I liked it, but feel as if at least 25% could have been taken out. So much unnecessary internal dialogue... at times I found myself zoned out and not remembering what I'd just read. Because of this, I rounded it up to 4 stars. I liked it, but didn't love it. This has been sitting on my to-read shelf for years and I keep ignoring it. Should I read it? This is one of my all-time favorite books. I highly recommend it. But just an FYI: It's very triggering. Lisa
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Rhondito
Pearl Clutcher
MississipPea
Posts: 4,792
Jun 25, 2014 19:33:19 GMT
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Post by Rhondito on Jan 31, 2022 18:51:06 GMT
I finally finished A Little Life by Hanya Yanagihara. Whew, what a book. I liked it, but feel as if at least 25% could have been taken out. So much unnecessary internal dialogue... at times I found myself zoned out and not remembering what I'd just read. Because of this, I rounded it up to 4 stars. I liked it, but didn't love it. This has been sitting on my to-read shelf for years and I keep ignoring it. Should I read it? It's a tough read, and overall depressing.
I had it on my list for a long time and always wondered what it was about, why so many people had read it... now I know, and I don't have to read it again.
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Post by mnmloveli on Jan 31, 2022 18:56:06 GMT
Two books for me last week; both bombs! Thankfully Iโm reading a book now that Iโm enjoying. 29 SECONDS (โ19 - Read โ22) by TM LOGAN : 2 STARSDESCRIPTION: Sarah is a young professor struggling to prove herself in a work place controlled by the charming and manipulative Alan Hawthorne. A renowned scholar and television host, Alan rakes in million dollar grants for the university where Sarah works, so his inappropriate treatment of female colleagues behind closed doors has gone unchallenged for year. REVIEW: Other books, Lies (โ18 - Read โ20) & The Vacation (โ20) were both 4-star reads for me. This book, 29 Seconds, cadoodlebug didnโt like and gave it 2.5 stars but she did mention there were lots of 5 star reviews on Goodreads. After reading, I donโt know why there were any 4 or 5 star reviews. Great writing like the other 2 books I read. Kept me turning the pages quicker & quicker BUT, when I neared the end, it fell flat! At about 80%, I think the author got tired of this plot and made it run into a brick wall. THE END! Very disappointing. AT THE END OF EVERYTHING (โ22) BY MARIEKE NIJKAMP : 2 STARSDESCRIPTION: The Hope Juvenile Treatment Center is ironically named. No one has hope for the delinquent teenagers who have been exiled there. Then the guard of Hope start acting strange and one day, they donโt show-up. But when the teens band together to make a break from the facility, they encounter soldiers outside the gates who force them to go back. Thereโs a rapidly spreading disease outside and no one can leave their houses or travel without a permit. As supplied quickly dwindle and a deadly plague tears through their ranks, the group has to decide whom among them they can trust and figure out how they can survive in a world that has never wanted them in the first place. REVIEW: Prior books by this author were Even If We Break (โ20 - 3 Stars) and This Is Where It Ends (โ16 - Read โ17 - 5 Stars). It took me about 5 minutes to realized this book has a non-binary character which, for me, makes for a difficult read. This was also the case in Even If We Break. As the book progressed, the non-binary issues didnโt bother me much since it was only one character. Plot revolves around a covid-like happening. Half way thru, I was bored. No interest in any of the characters. Very monotonous and went no where.
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Post by mnmloveli on Jan 31, 2022 18:56:33 GMT
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Post by mnmloveli on Jan 31, 2022 19:34:32 GMT
I finished The Night Swim by Megan Goldin 3.8 / 5 TW: rape This was a fast-paced story about two rapes in different time lines. 25 years ago, Jenny was raped by a group of boys and found drowned to death. A strong swimmer, her younger sister Hannah always felt she was murdered. In current time, we have a rape trial going on in the town of Neapolis. Rachel Krall is the host of a very popular true crime podcast. She starts receiving notes from Hannah, requesting help in re-opening her dead sister's old case. The past and present start to collide as Rachel uncovers connections between the two cases that will change the course of the trial and the lives of every one involved. Shaved off a few points in my star-rating since I wasn't entirely surprised at the outcome, but I still looked forward to putting this book on every day (audio) and breezing through it. It held my interest. "I'm Rachel Krall and this is Guilty or not guilty, the podcast that puts you in the jury box." Loved that there was an actual podcast w/in the storyline. Even better on audio! This was my 1st Megan Goldin novel and I am excited to be awaiting her latest release, Stay Awake, which is supposed to be out this Summer. I am now about 20% into The Last Year of the War by Susan Meissner.If you enjoyed The Night Swim by Megan Goldin donโt miss her first book, The Escape Room from โ20; 5 stars for me. I loved it even more than The Night Swim (4 stars for me).
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Post by thundergal on Jan 31, 2022 20:23:01 GMT
I finished The Heart's Invisible Furies by John Boyne - I loved this book, 5 stars -it is now one of my all time favorites! I agree! This was a fantastic book! Loved it. Haven't felt let down by a Boyne book yet.
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SabrinaP
Pearl Clutcher
Busy Teacher Pea
Posts: 4,404
Location: Dallas Texas
Jun 26, 2014 12:16:22 GMT
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Post by SabrinaP on Jan 31, 2022 20:36:01 GMT
This week I finished The Music of Bees by Eileen Garvin. I got this book recommendation from a cousin who posted it on my year end best books post on Facebook. She said it was the best book she read in 2021. I gave this book 5 stars and am positive it will be on my best book of 2022 list. It's a story about 3 different characters whom are all struggling in some way. Their stories converge into one. It reminds me a lot of Catherine Ryan Hyde books.
I also am continuing to work my way though Harry Potter. I read the 3rd book, Prisoner of Azkaban. I read my illustrated edition. The pictures are amazing in these books. If you are a big fan, you must get them! I've been following up my read with a re-watch of the movie, and boy was I disappointed in this movie. They changed so many things and just left out huge plot points. I wasn't nearly as disappointed in the first two movies. I remember when the movies originally came out, I stopped reading the books right before them because I ended up being disappointed in what was left out, but this time I'm interested to see how much and what was changed. I'm positive that if you hadn't read the book, you would be very confused by the ending of the movie.
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Post by maryland on Jan 31, 2022 21:09:16 GMT
I started The Story Hour Thrity Umigar, Brave Girl Quiet Girl, It Ends With Us - Colleen Hoover and The Hostage - Claire McIntosh. So far all are really good! I usually don't read so much at once, but they were all available at the same time.
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Post by ~summer~ on Jan 31, 2022 21:12:26 GMT
I started The Story Hour Thrity Umigar, Brave Girl Quiet Girl, It Ends With Us - Colleen Hoover and The Hostage - Claire McIntosh. So far all are really good! I usually don't read so much at once, but they were all available at the same time. i loved It Ends With Us
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Rhondito
Pearl Clutcher
MississipPea
Posts: 4,792
Jun 25, 2014 19:33:19 GMT
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Post by Rhondito on Jan 31, 2022 21:29:05 GMT
I started The Story Hour Thrity Umigar, Brave Girl Quiet Girl, It Ends With Us - Colleen Hoover and The Hostage - Claire McIntosh. So far all are really good! I usually don't read so much at once, but they were all available at the same time. i loved It Ends With Us Speaking of Colleen Hoover... for weeks now I've been wondering why she is dominating the NYT Bestseller Lists. Last week I decided to do some googling and it turns out that it's all thanks to Booktok. The pandemic drove up book sales to younger female adults and they in turn flocked to TikTok to share their opinions. Apparently they love CoHo. I'm a wee bit gobsmacked at the effect on the NYT's lists.
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Post by maryland on Jan 31, 2022 21:36:05 GMT
I started The Story Hour Thrity Umigar, Brave Girl Quiet Girl, It Ends With Us - Colleen Hoover and The Hostage - Claire McIntosh. So far all are really good! I usually don't read so much at once, but they were all available at the same time. i loved It Ends With Us It's so good!
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