What’s Up Wednesday: November 2021

1. What I’m eating this week: Baked ziti today, I have some leftover Chinese food in the fridge, anddd who knows what else because I’m not really a meal planner!

2. What I’m reminiscing about: Earlier this week I was reminiscing about the past four years at work with a nice co-worker who’s leaving and I’m not ready! I don’t like change, and I really looked up to her – she was inspirational and was always someone I could turn to with issues about work. I especially loved talking to her about women in the workplace.

3. What I’m loving: This book right here:

Portrait of a Scotsman (A League of Extraordinary Women): Dunmore, Evie:  9781984805720: Amazon.com: Books
Portrait of a Scotsman by Evie Dunmore

I am OBSESSED. I don’t really read historical romance – this is only my second foray into the genre – but wow, this book has blown me away. It is so well-written and so well-researched, I am now going to have to hold all other romance novels to a much higher standard. I’ve highlighted so many passages and want to write a long review about it (who knows if I will), it is just amazing. I can’t thank Emily Henry enough for writing a review about it on Goodreads that got me to add this to my TBR!

4 What I’ve been up to: Binge reading romance

I mean, just take a look at my last ten reads! It’s just pure bliss.

And then, I also enjoyed having a weekend to myself. I thoroughly cleaned and it felt so good.

5. What I’m dreading: Nothing at the moment. For next year, it’s returning to the office. I’m not ready!

6. What I’m working on: Trying to be consistent about blogging. Sadly, still haven’t made much progress on this. Also trying to be consistent about exercise/going out and walking, but it’s hard to motivate myself when it’s so cold!

7. What I’m excited about: Jodi Picoult’s newest book coming out! Although after reading a review today about how it’s entirely about covid, I’m looking forward to it a little less. But still looking forward to it! And looking forward to Spiderman coming out next month. And The Hating Game movie!

8. What I’m watching/reading: I just finished watching Titanic for the first time! While it was a good movie, I don’t see what’s so special about it for it to be the best selling movie of all time?

The 23 Best Movies Released at Christmastime, Ranked From 'Titanic' to  'Star Wars' | Moviefone

Then after that I needed something light to watch, so I started season two of The Baby-sitter’s Club.

the baby sitters club l to r anais lee as jessi ramsey, vivian watson as mallory pike, sophie grace as kristy thomas, shay rudolph as stacey mcgill, momona tamada as claudia kishi, kyndra sanchez as dawn schafer, and malia baker as mary anne spier in episode 201 of the baby sitters club cr kailey schwermannetflix © 2021

But that’s about all I’ve been watching because I’ve been busy spending every free second reading the aforementioned romance novels!

9. What I’m listening to:

Dreams Lie Beneath by Rebecca Ross
Dreams Lie Beneath by Rebecca Ross on audio

I just can’t get into fantasy anymore, but I was looking forward to Rebecca Ross’s newest book, so I’m listening to that on audio right now.

And of course,

taylor swift sitting at the kids table at a wedding in the i bet you think about me music video

Red (Taylor’s Version)!

10. What I’m doing this weekend: Enjoying getting another weekend to myself, possibly having a readathon?, maybe watching The Eternals, more cleaning, and if I decide I want to risk the crowds, I have some returns to make.

11. What I’m looking forward to next month: Hmm… the Spider-Man movie like I said before, and not sure what else yet.

Top Ten Tuesday: Books I Would Hand to Someone Who Claims to Not Like Reading

I’m finally participating in another Top Ten Tuesday (hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl) after so long! I hope to become regular about it once again. I have to admit this was a rather challenging topic for me because I can’t really think of 10 off the top of my head, but I’ll try!

  1. Catch Me If You Can – this is just a fun memoir based on a true story about events that you just won’t be able to believe that happened! And it was good enough to be made into a movie starring Tom Hanks and then Leonardo DiCaprio, and then even a Broadway musical, so I really don’t think you can go wrong with this book!
  2. The Comfort Book – going in a completely different direction, I think this is a good, short, and quick book that everyone should have on their bedside tables! It’s not something you have to read cover to cover. You can just read a page whenever you need it, and you’ll feel better for having done so.
  3. Let’s Pretend This Never Happened by Jenny Lawson – Jenny, aka The Bloggess, is just so hilarious while being so open and honest about her struggles. You won’t even feel like you’re reading a book, more like talking to a friend. Highly recommend!
  4. Anything by Jodi Picoult – I just find her writing so captivating, it doesn’t matter what she writes, I’m going to pick it up. She was one of the authors I read in high school, and as an almost 30-year-old, I can still read and enjoy her books, so I’d definitely recommend her.
  5. A Goosebumps book – this depends on the age of the person, but I think this is a great introduction to the fact that chapter books can be fun for kids! I used to blow through these when I was younger.
  6. You’ll Never Believe What Happened to Lacey – another fun memoir. I think the title of my list could alternately be titled, books I would hand to someone who claims to not like reading non-fiction, ha. But anyway, I listened to this one on audio, and it was just like listening to a friend in the car.
  7. Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me? by Mindy Kaling – another funny memoir because I can’t quit these.
  8. Freakonomics – another book showing how fun non-fiction can be! You learn something and have fun while doing it.
  9. Fierce Fairytales by Nikita Gill – one of my all time favorite poetry collections and it brought such comfort to me during a hard time. I think this collection can show how fun poetry can be to read, too.
  10. It Ends with Us by Colleen Hoover – her writing is so addicting, I often read her books in one sitting.

So that’s my list! Share yours in the comments and I will check them out!

October 2021 Reading Recap

October was another fun reading month! I read some spooky books, but by the end of the month, I think I got tired of those and returned to my favorite genre of romance!

The Halloween Bet by Abby Knox
The Devil Wears Black
The Villain
The Monster
A Spindle Splintered by Alix E. Harrow
All These Bodies by Kendare Blake
Once upon a Broken Heart by Stephanie Garber
Several People are Typing by Calvin Kasulke
A Lesson in Vengeance by Victoria Lee
The Ex Hex by Erin Sterling
Meet Me in Another Life by Catriona Silvey
All the Feels by Olivia Dade
Birthday Girl by Penelope Douglas

Total books read this month: 13! (3.5 of those were on audio)

I read so many good books this month that it’s hard to choose a favorite, but I will have to say my favorite was probably Once upon a Broken Heart by Stephanie Garber! Closely followed by A Spindle Splintered. But I also loved All the Feels and Birthday Girl.

Previous recaps:
January 2018: 12 books read
February 2018: 8 books read
March 2018: 7 books read
July 2018: 12 books read
August 2018: 12 books read
September 2018: 12 books read
September 2021: 13 books read