9/30/25
1. So Big by Edna Ferber - This was our book club book this month. No one is more shocked than I am that I really enjoyed this book. I don't have a great record with literary fiction so I was particularly nervous about this one, but there were so many things that really resonated with me. I would like to revisit this one again to chew on it a bit more.
2. The Unselected Journals of Emma M. Lion, vol. 8 by Beth Brower - I finally finished this most recent addition to this series, and I am simply devastated that there are no more for me to enjoy. I'm utterly enchanted by Emma, Pierce, Islington, and Hawkes. I will be anxiously awaiting the next installment, and almost certainly rereading in the meantime.
3. Rebel Witch by Kristin Ciccarelli - A really fun ending to this duology! I sped through this one, and I had a great time with it. I have my gripes with it, but overall a good time.
4. City of Night Birds by Juhea Kim - This had some strong moments and overall I liked it but didn't love. The story is about a ballerina returning from an injury and healing more than her body. If you don't really like ballet, I don't know if this will work for you.
5. Everyone in My Family Has Killed Someone by Benjamin Stevenson - This was a fun mystery! Recommended by my mother and sister, I'm planning to eventually continue this series. Put my in a very good fall mood!
9/25/25
9/24/25
9/3/25
Today, I hurt my own feelings.
I made a big deal in my mind about something that doesn't actually matter that much.
It isn't actually about me at all, but I decided to think it was about me and suddenly I was upset and I've been stewing on it for hours now.
It was so easily avoided if I just took a step back and a deep breath, and then moved on with my night.
But I didn't and it happened and now on top of the actual hurt, I'm also kicking myself for making such a pathetic choice.
I'm sure I'll be over it by the time I wake up tomorrow, but for the next 45 minutes until I go to bed, it's all that I'll be thinking about.
9/1/25
A very slow reading month on account that I started watching Gilmore Girls again and that has consumed all of my media consumption this month.
1. The Unselected Journals of Emma M. Lion, vol. 7 by Beth Brower - Delightful as always! Still just loving this series.
2. Emily Wilde's Map of the Otherlands by Heather Fawcett - I preferred the first book to this one, but still a very fun series! Emily is just adorable and I flew through this.
3. My Brilliant Friend by Elena Ferrante - This was our book club selection this month, and I had very mixed feelings. I'm not a big literary fiction reader, so I knew it would move too slowly for me, but there were moments that I think will stick with me. We picked it as it was named by the NY Times the "best book of the 21st century." I disagree. Also, I fell down a real rabbit hole about the author, who has for their entire career remained anonymous and rarely does interviews. There's a lot of speculation of who they are, if it's multiple people, if it's a man. It made me think about the book really differently in a way that I liked. I'm not used to "death of the author" working that way and I can't stop thinking about it.
8/17/25
As summer winds down, I feel like this is going to be one that I remember well.
I think I did it right this year. I traveled a little, but mostly stayed put. Rested and worked. Entertained and accepted invitations. Careful not to wish it away too fast, and savoring the parts that are just here for now. Along the way I've amassed a list of moments that have lingered and demanded to be remembered. They made the summer what it was and I'm grateful for them.
My nephew sitting on my lap, his perfect blonde curls tickling my chin.
The railing digging into my forearms as I watch a fireworks show.
Taking an afternoon off of work and swimming lap after lap, having the whole pool to myself.
Giving the happiest, sweatiest tourists directions outside the National Gallery.
Watching The Intern with my parents and silently weeping.
The absolute delight at preparing my first ever steak and not failing at it.
Finishing a book late at night and waking up early to start the sequel because I just couldn't wait.
The sounds of the neighborhood in the morning as the walkers take advantage of the early light.
The crunch of puff pastry on the top of a chicken pot pie.
A mess of tan lines on my right shin where I inexplicably forgot my sunscreen in the weirdest pattern.
Peaches and cream for dessert.
7/31/25
1. Maus I: A Survivor's Tale: My Father Bleeds History by Art Spiegelman - My book club read this graphic novel this month. I felt like it was one of the best discussions we've ever had and there was so much we found thought provoking and moving. It is very intense and I've thought about it a lot in the weeks since. I definitely want to read Part II.
2. Emily Wilde's Encyclopedia of Faeries by Heather Fawcett - This was so fun! Emily is a professor writing a comprehensive guide to faeries and her colleague Wendell might possible be a faerie himself. Emily is charming and adorable, and the faeries are mischievous and a little bit creepy. I just started the second book in the series and I'm already loving it as well.
3 & 4. The Unselected Journals of Emma M. Lion vols 5 & 6 - You know the drill - these books are just perfection. I'm obsessed and I've been telling anyone and everyone about them. I need to buy the hard copies; I definitely want them in my library.
BONUS. I didn't finish one book this month - The Paris Novel by Ruth Reichl. Reichl wrote 2 of my favorite memoirs and I absolutely adore her food writing. This one is fiction, and unfortunately, it did not work for me. I gave up in about Chapter 5.
7/29/25
7/13/25
7/1/25
1. Heartless Hunter by Kristen Ciccarelli - This was FUN. A young adult novel about a witch and witch hunter that I was not sold on until my sister-in-law convinced me I would like it, and she was right. So fun, took me no time to read, and I'm holding out on reading the second book just to savor this a little longer.
2 & 3. The Unselected Journals of Emma M. Lion vols. 3 & 4 - This series continues to delight. At this pace, I've still got a few months before I'm all caught up, but I can see myself rereading these ones. I might need to purchase the physical books. I think I'd like them on my shelf.
4. The Ten Thousand Doors of January by Alix E. Harrow - This was a disappointment. I really liked the writing, but most everything else felt lackluster. It took so long to get to the mystery that I wasn't really interested any more and the romance was too quick for my taste. Wouldn't recommend.
5. The Knight and the Moth by Rachel Gillig - I adored this author's previous duology, so I was really eager to pick up this new release. I liked it but didn't love. The plot moved quickly which I liked and the romance was solid, but I found a lot of the twists to be predictable and that spoiled the fun for me. However, I loved the gargoyle character - couldn't get enough. He completely stole the show for me and I loved every second he was on the page. I will read the second book, but I wouldn't recommend this automically. 3.5/5 for me.