whatcha readin'? {goal 48 - books 17 to 20)

A little bit of a book dump📖
today because I am definitely
further along then 17 so thought
I would share up to #20 to catch up a little…

17. THE WIFE - MEG WOLITZER
❤️❤️❤️ out of 5 ❤️’s

So I think I picked this one up
in a book sale somewhere…
definitely a second hand pick.
I struggled a little with the high acclaim it had
because I found it a little slow moving…
and not really surprising
as far as plot twists go.
I am curious about the movie though…
what a great cast!

18. REMARKABLY BRIGHT CREATURES -
SHELBY VAN PELT
❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

Now this one I loved.
I loved this story,
especially the POV of the octopus.
And Tova’s stubbornness and
independence,
which, not gonna lie,
I can kinda relate to.
I felt like I could see the answer early
but was also not sure that it was
even meant to be hidden.

I watched the Netflix adaptation
and I love Sally Field in anything…
the movie was good on it’s own
but I definitely preferred the book.

19. THE BACKYARD BIRD CHRONICLES -
AMY TAN
💛💛💛out of 5 (yellow is non-fiction)

I wanted to love this, I really did.
And I did love it in the beginning but
I think that maybe I read it wrong.
I had it as a virtual copy and read it
all as one book
but in hindsight, I wish I had the paper copy
and that I had just picked it up
here and there…
I think I would have appreciated it more
especially since it is laid out in short essays
with drawings.
But I did enjoy it & don’t regret getting this one.
Also, I love Amy Tan’s fiction books.

20. HELD - ANNE MICHAELS
❤️❤️❤️❤️

I was not prepared to like this book
as much as I did.
I was very confused in the beginning
as to what was happening but eventually
caught on….
the writing was beautiful.
This book made me feel quiet
and wordy. and slow.
in a good way.

“I missed her more than ever this time. Everywhere we were made me think of her. I almost thought I’d see her if I turned my head.” He was fully awake now. “Sometimes I think I see her too,” Peter said, “out of the corner of my eye, if you can see a feeling.”

“Yes, I think you can.”

If you can see a feeling.
That line.
That line. 💔

That takes me to almost the
end of June…
and I finished my 30th book yesterday
so getting closer to the goal.
I have to read 18 more to hit it
and 11 of that 18 have to be off my
26 in 2026 list.

Yes. I do this to myself.
On purpose.
🤭