Workout Recap - Week 3

Sunday, January 12th – 60 minutes on the stationary bike

Monday, January 13th –  45 minutes on the stationary bike

Tuesday, January 14th – 4 mile run

Wednesday, January 15th –  30 minutes on the stationary bike 

Thursday, January 16th – 4 mile run

Friday, January 17th – Rest day

Saturday, January 18th – 7 mile run

Well, Sunday was supposed to be a 17-miler, but my tummy felt off and I was still going back and forth on whether or not I was actually wanting to finish training for the LA Marathon so I opted against a long run and stayed on the stationary bike (near a restroom). On Tuesday's run I fell, but thankfully I was on a dirt path at the time (and fell on the side of my body that had my headphones' case in my pocket rather than my phone) and walked away with just a few scratches and bruises. Other than that my workouts are getting done, but just sort of dragging on... I wish I was enjoying my workouts more, but maybe I'm just in a funk right now. Here's to hoping the fun and joy of it all returns sooner rather than later.

How were your workouts this past week?

Walt Wednesday

Some people do a "Wordless Wednesday" post, where they simply share a photo or image, but I thought I'd make a little series out of my Wednesdays. And since I love alliteration so much, why not go with Walt Wednesdays (obviously everyone can use a little break from the seriousness, scariness and sassiness of life - and what better way to help put a smile on your face than with a cute wiener dog picture, am I right?!)... So, without further ado...

WALT WEDNESDAY!

When life gets overwhelming, how do you de-stress? 

Workout Recap - Week 2

Sunday, January 5th – 15 mile run

Monday, January 6th –  45 minutes on the stationary bike

Tuesday, January 7th – 4 mile run

Wednesday, January 8th –  45 minutes on the stationary bike 

Thursday, January 9th – 4 mile lunchtime run

Friday, January 10th – Rest day

Saturday, January 11th – 7 mile run

My runs and workouts this week all went fine, but I do have a decision to make now. Due to the fires in LA, the Rose Bowl Half Marathon that I had on my calendar for next weekend has been postponed (which, in my opinion, is the absolute correct decision - I want all of the resources going to those communities... they do not need outsiders coming in and having to compete with those who have been displaced for the limited hotel space, food, etc). Also, I have not technically registered for the LA Marathon yet (my ASICS rep at work mentioned getting me a free entry, so I have been training as though I would be running it, but I can only ask nicely for something free so many times before I feel as though I am a pest). With all that said, I now need to decide if I want to continue training as-is, or if I should just run for fun-sies and do whatever I want, whenever I want. My long runs from here forward only get longer (17, 18, 20 miles) and if the race might not be happening, do I really want to spend 3-4 hours of my day running?! I guess that's what I'm going to have to decide. 

How were your workouts this past week?

Walt Wednesday

Some people do a "Wordless Wednesday" post, where they simply share a photo or image, but I thought I'd make a little series out of my Wednesdays. And since I love alliteration so much, why not go with Walt Wednesdays (obviously everyone can use a little break from the seriousness, scariness and sassiness of life - and what better way to help put a smile on your face than with a cute wiener dog picture, am I right?!)... So, without further ado...

WALT WEDNESDAY!

When life gets overwhelming, how do you de-stress? 

Workout Recap - Week 53 / Week 1

Sunday, December 29th – 14 mile run

Monday, December 30th –  60 minutes on the stationary bike

Tuesday, December 31st – 4 mile run

Wednesday, January 1st –  45 minutes on the stationary bike (and then walking around Disneyland for 12 hours)

Thursday, January 2nd – Rest day

Friday, January 3rd – 4 mile run

Saturday, January 4th – 7 mile run

I finally think I might be shaking that bug I had last week. WHOOO HOOO! Workouts this week went fine - felt a bit more like a slog than anything else, but at least I'm checking them off the list. I'll be honest and say that I'm a bit nervous heading into the longer runs on the training plan. I have felt like I've been starting over recently and seeing 15, 17, 20s on the calendar is a little overwhelming, but I keep telling myself just one step, one mile, one run at a time. WE GOT THIS!

How were your workouts this past week?

December Books

Can you believe that reading wasn't my jam growing up?! Clif Notes were my best friends in high school - I'd "read enough" to get by, but other than that I did not enjoy the act of reading so never did it... like ever. Maybe I wasn't reading things that held my interest or maybe it was because it was "required" so I didn't find it enjoyable, but whatever the reason, I'm glad I challenged myself to add the goal of reading 17 books in 2017 (which turned into 88 books in 2017, 77 books in 2018, 67 books in 2019, 66 books in 2020, 67 books in 2021, 41 books in 2022 and 98 books in 2023). The majority of my "reading" has been listening to audiobooks since I don't have as much time to sit and read physical books once I started working full time (not to mention I walk to work and walk on my lunch break so have two-ish hours a day I can listen to something). Even still, holding a physical book is the bomb dot com and I hope to get back to adding more reading vs listening. Just like in years past, writing a monthly recap of the books I get through is a great way for me to both record what I'm reading and to stay accountable. So, here are the books I finished in the month of December:

• It Sounded Better in My Head by Nina Kenwood - Technically I finished this one in November but we were out of town and I already had my November recap auto-scheduled, so this one is being counted for December ;) This was in the popular portion of the YA section on my Libby app and since I was out of downloads on Hoopla (both mine and the hubby's accounts) and none of my holds were available I thought I'd give it a shot. As with most young adult books, I found it cute and enjoyable. It is set in Australia (which is different than most of the books I read), but as I'm sure you can guess, coming-of-age books ring true no matter where the characters are located. I enjoyed this one because some of the topics they addressed normally aren't in other books (i.e. cystic acne, divorces that aren't blow ups but are handled calmly and civilly, etc) as well as issues that are often touched on (i.e. lack of confidence, friendship, graduation, first kisses and first loves, etc). I would have loved for it to have been longer, but, hey, beggars can't be choosers. It was a sweet read and I will definitely keep my eyes peeled for more books from this author [this was her debut novel]. I would give it an 8 out of 10.

• Counterfeit by Kirstin Chen - Another November book that missed last month's recap due to being out of town and having no Internet (ah well, still counts for the year, so I'm fine ;)). I was hoping that the 'Reese's Book Club' sticker meant I was in for a great time, and I'm happy to report, I was! I would say that although I really enjoyed this book, it felt very reminiscent of The Usual Suspects (which I LOVE so it's not like it's a bad thing, but just maybe not as original as I would have liked). This is the story of two 'friends' who run a counterfeit bag ring - buying new, legit high-end purses from stores and then returning [very well done] knockoffs back. They are then able to get their money back AND sell the real bags for just below retail value (so they pocket the difference between the price they paid for the knockoff bag and the price they sold the real bag for). Similar to The Usual Suspects, the majority of the novel is told from one of the character's perspectives while talking to the authorities. Again, I really enjoyed it, but I sort of knew/ assumed where the story was going. Maybe for someone who hasn't seen the THIRTY YEAR OLD movie (holy crapoly, where has the time gone?!) this would've kept the reader on the edge of their seat, but, for me, I was just smiling and along for the ride. Shoot, you know it's gotta be good since I was all in and I even guessed how it'd end! I would give it an 8 out of 10.

• A Thousand Broken Pieces by Tillie Cole - A couple months back I had listened to the first book in this "series" - A Thousand Boy Kisses. If you don't have my October book recap set to memory, let me just say I LOVED IT! I had been waiting for this book to pop up on my Libby app and as soon as I saw they had added it I got in line. Just like the previous book, this one pulled at all of my heart strings. This is the story of Savannah, Poppy's younger sister, who is struggling through the grief of losing Poppy to cancer. It picks up four years after Poppy's death, leaving Savannah the same age Poppy was when she 'went home'. Savannah's mental health team suggests that she goes on an emersize trip for teens struggling with loss to see if that will help her more than traditional grief counseling. While on the trip she meets (and falls in love with) Cael, a teen who has so much pent up anger about his older brother's suicide that no one is able to get through to him. Let's just say that I had tears in my eyes for a good chunk of this one. Grief is never easy to deal with, but I appreciated being an observer and to see what did and didn't work for the team as they all tried to deal with their huge losses. I can totally see this being turned into a movie (and being a huge cry-fest). I would give it a 9 out of 10.

• By the Time You Read This by Cheslie Kryst and April Simpkins - This book grabbed my attention last month when it popped up on my Hoopla app since it has recently been released. I didn't know Cheslie's story, but the blurb was a major punch in the gut. This is a memoir from a previous Miss USA who tragically died by suicide. The first part of the book is told in Cheslie's words about her experience in the pageant world (as well as a lawyer, fashion blogger, Extra correspondent, etc). The second part is written by her mom after she received a text from Cheslie that starts 'by the time you read this I will already be dead'. Like I said, a punch to the gut! One of Cheslie's final wishes was to have her manuscript released (with her editor's edits), so this is the fulfillment of that request. I'll be honest and say I wish the first part of the book would've dove into her mental illness a bit more. Her mom mentions a previous suicide attempt, but other than that, the daily struggles that Cheslie had to battle wasn't really explored. Obviously this is a traumatic event and I feel terrible even asking for 'more', but I guess I was hoping that if one of the goals was to show folks in the thick of their depression that they aren't alone I would've liked to see it addressed more. Let this be a word of warning that how people appear on the outside can be MAJORLY different from what's going on inside. I would give it an 8 out of 10. 

• Real Americans by Rachel Khong - This book had been in my "for later" list on my Libby app for quite a while and I don't remember how it landed there, but when it finally became available to check out I figured I'd snag it. This novel covers three generations in a family (grandma, mom and son). Grandma was from China, mom was Chinese but born in America and then son was half Chinese half American. I guess I was expecting for the story to focus more on the culture of the family members, but it actually was more about eugenics and the ethical decisions that go with it. It was interesting to see how everyone related with one another (or didn't) due to where they landed on their 'moral' choices. I guess I wasn't expecting it to be so science based (don't hear that and think it's boring or educational or anything like that, but it just wasn't where I thought the story would go). Since it was different than what I was expecting I might not have been in the proper mindspace to give it a fair shake, so take my grading with a grain of salt. There were topics that were brought up (the blips in time, what happened to Ping, etc) that I wish would've been discussed in greater detail. I would give it a 6 out of 10. 

• Love in Winter Wonderland by Abiola Bello - This book was featured on my Hoopla app and it caught my eye. A YA book set in London - two teens who were working in a Black-owned bookstore and trying to save it from going under - sign me up! It reminded me of a cute Hallmark-y movie (although I honestly don't know if I've ever watched a Hallmark movie before, hehe). This was just the book to get me in the Christmas spirit. I could totally see it made into a sweet movie. I think the one thing I wish was that there was more to the story... or maybe a part two. I wanted to see if Trey and Ariel made a go at a relationship, if the bookstore stuck around for longer, if the YA book club flourished, etc. It's a quick read and one I'd totally recommend (and even though it's set at Christmas-time, I would absolutely read it by the pool on vacation too!). I would give it an 8 out of 10.

• Dying of Politeness by Geena Davis - I didn't know a ton about Geena Davis before listening to her memoir, but the bear on the cover grabbed my attention and I usually love the 'behind-the-scenes' feel of an autobiography so I thought I'd give it a go. I really enjoyed hearing about the early days of her acting career (and it made me put a few 'classic' movies on my list of "I should probably watch these someday" - like Thelma & Louise or A League of Their Own). It isn't a tell all (like which actors are pain in the butts) per say, but she still shares a lot of her truths as she lived them. Not only did I like hearing about the acting, but I loved learning about the activism she does these days. She jokes about how she may die due to her politeness (always wanting people to like her and never rocking the boat), but I think she's a bada$$! I would give it an 8 out of 10.

• You Will Know My by Megan Abbott - This book was in a "librarian list" on my Libby app (I'm assuming it's a list of books that librarians either love or are constantly checking out) and I figured it was time for more of a thriller so snagged it. It's a story about a teen gymnast working her way to the Olympics (or at least that would be the final goal). The novel is told from the mom's perspective. It was interesting to see how the whole family dealt with the pressures and expectations put on them (whether it was from fellow parents at the gym or the coaching staff). I wished I liked it more, but it fell a little flat for me. There was a death/ murder in the story (the boyfriend of the head coach's niece) and so there was a little mystery around that for a while, but nothing that really grabbed my attention too intensely. Some parts felt as though they drug on for a while and I was never that invested in any of the characters (I actually think the son was my favorite). I would give it a 6 out of 10.

• Twelfth Knight by Alexene Farol Follmuth - This was in the YA section of my Libby app and when I noticed the "Reese's Book Club" sticker on it I was hoping that meant good things so has saved it for later and finally had a chance to give it a try. It was your traditional enemies to lovers story. Two high school students, one being the football star and the other being studious and a bit standoffish, start off as rivals/ enemies and eventually fall for one another with the 'help' of a video game. It was cute, but I wouldn't say anything too new in terms of plot. It was a bit nerdy with a dash of feminism thrown in for good measure. I would give it a 7 out of 10. 

• Patron Saints of Nothing by Randy Ribay - This book had been on some "must read YA" lists a while back and it wasn't showing up in either my Hoopla or Libby app, so I added it to my Amazon Wish List. When I was trading some of my unused running gear I ended up getting this in exchange and finally got around to reading it (audiobooks tend to be my preferred format recently since I can listen while cleaning/ running/ waiting for customers to come into the running store). Let's just say I can see why this book was on so many lists. It centers around grief, guilt and not being 'enough'. As with the main character, who grew up (minus the first year of his life) in America, most of the goings ons in the Philippines hasn't been in the forefront of my mind. Jay is a senior in high school, getting ready to head to the University of Michigan come fall when he finds out his cousin was dead. He vowed to find out what happened to him (and learned a lot about himself along the way). I'll be honest and say I was pretty flabbergasted to learn about how the 'law and order' fight the 'war on drugs' in that country. I appreciate the author bringing this (as well as topics like immigrant identity and even the lack of 'perfect endings') to my attention. This was a book that I didn't want to put down (even though it might not stay in my personal library). We need more people like Jun in the world! I would give it a 9 out of 10. 

• Behind Her Eyes by Sarah Pinborough - When I was looking through the "page-turners" list on my Libby app, this one popped up, and since it had a sticker showing it has been turned into a Netflix series I figured it would probably be better than most [or at least that's my hope when a studio spends the money to turn it into a movie/ series ;)] and downloaded it. This is definitely more of a psychological thriller. It is told from a few different characters' perspectives. Two of the main characters are the doctor's mistress and the other is the doctor's wife (both in the past and in the present). It definitely keeps you on the edge of your seat, trying to find out who is taking advantage of who in the story. Oh, and the twist at the end, let's just say I wasn't expecting it. I can totally see why this was turned into a Netflix series, but the only problem is that now I know the ending. If you haven't read the book then I'm sure the series is great (but if you haven't watched the series, I'm assuming the book is probably better since 99% of the time that tends to be the case ;)). I would give it an 8 out of 10. 

• Highly Suspicious and Unfairly Cute by Talia Hibbert - After a thriller, it was time to get back to another Young Adult read. I clicked into the 'teen' section on my Libby app and this one caught my eye - I mean, the female character appears to have an alien on her tee! Just as I hoped, it was quick, cute and just what I needed to keep me entertained at work between customers (it has been pretty slow recently, so I've had plenty of down time that needs to be filled somehow). It's your standard frenemies to romance type story. The two were best friends growing up and but then Bradley got popular and his friendship with Celine became fractured beyond repair. An accident at school brought forced the two back together and not only were they able to repair their friendship, but start dating (and all the crowd said a collective 'awwwwwww'). Not one that I'll be adding to my personal collection, but a super sweet and speedy listen I'd totally recommend. I would give it an 8 out of 10.

• A Banh Mi for Two by Trinity Nguyen - I might as well stay on my YA roll (actually, I had this book in my 'for later' list on my Libby app for quite some time but it has always been checked out, so when I noticed it was actually available I snagged it). Let's just say I can see why this had been on some of the 'best books' lists I had come across. Not only was it uber sweet, but I loved it was set in Vietnam. I'm not very familiar with a lot of Vietnamese customs, so having them sprinkled in made me want to learn more (so I'd pause the book, take to the Googles, look at what a street food was or read more about a facet of the culture, then get back to the book). Also, since I was listening to the audiobook I was able to hear the language being spoken which made me smile [and not have to question if I was pronouncing something correctly in my head]. I really appreciate that the characters were teen girls. That may seem strange, but a lot of the queer stories are centered around the guys, so I love the inclusion of two girls falling in love - representation matters! I would give it a 9 out of 10.

• Veronica Ruiz Breaks the Bank by Elle Cosimano - If you've been following my last few recaps you will probably recognize this cover as one from the Finlay Donovan series. This is a short story (it says #3.5 in the series, but it is sort of like the prequel to see how Vero and Finlay meet in the first place), but I guess it'll do while we wait for the next book in the series to be released in March of 2025. I sort of loved how the dedication was 'To the fans because you kept asking for it' (or something along those lines). It was part of the story I never know we needed, but appreciated nonetheless. Of course I wish it would've been longer (I almost finished it while on a six mile run, since I listen at 1.75x speed), but you better believe I enjoyed a little Javi action and seeing Vero being her BA self. It was fun to see how a few of the characters were slyly introduced too. This was just the teaser I needed to get me through to book #5 in the series. I would give it an 8 out of 10.

• Tangled Up In You by Christina Lauren - I'm not sure if you remember, but last month I started the Meant to Be series (which are retelling of Disney classics with a modern twist). This one wasn't on either of my audiobook apps, so I put it on my Amazon Wish List (seeing as I wanted to add the first three books of the series to my personal library I thought I'd end up buying this one anyway). While I was trading some of my unused running items with a friend, I was sent this in exchange and when the hubby was in Michigan to visit his family I decided to bust it out. I'd assume you can tell from the name, but if not, this is a new-age version of Rapunzel. Instead of being stuck in a tower, this is a young woman who was homeschooled by her parents and had lived on a homestead for as long as she could remember. Ren is able to talk her parents into letting her go to college (at the age of 22) with many rules and stipulations in place. As I'm sure you can guess from the original story, Ren gets her eyes opened to 'the real world' and learns more than she bargains for about her family. I think this is my least favorite of them thus far, but only because I wanted more of Fitz (I know he isn't the main character, but I still wanted more), but I'll still be keeping it to complete my set. I would give it an 8 out of 10.

• Old Girls Behaving Badly by Kate Galley - I saw this book in the new section of my Hoopla app and thought I'd give it a try. Both of my grandmas have passed away, but the cover made me hope it'd be about two grannies causing a ruckus. Lucky for me, the book was a little of that and a little whodoneit thrown in for good measure. The story was told from two different perspectives (which you know I always love) - Gina's and Dorothy's. Dorothy's family thinks she may need a caregiver (she's in her late eighties and isn't as nimble as she used to be) and Gina turns up as one of the potential 'companions'. Gina is hired for the role, which is to accompany Dorothy to a week away for her grandson's wedding (and the festivities leading up to the big day). Come to find out, Dorothy doesn't think she needs a companion but is looking for a fellow slueth to help her solve a mystery (who stole one of her late husband's paintings and killed him in the process). It was a fun and heartwarming story that I could totally see being turned into a series (I mean, Gina is in her early seventies so she still has tons of life left to lead in her new role as a companion to others). I would give it an 8 out of 10.

• Wreck the Halls by Tessa Bailey - This novel popped up on my Hoopla app because it's Christmas (DUH :)). I didn't have anything else pressing in the lineup (and I figured the non-holiday books could wait until January) so I snagged it. It was a saucy rom-com about two kids of former rock stars who team up to try and get their moms back together for a reunion show on Christmas Eve. I thought the story was cute enough to keep my attention and get a couple 'awwwws' out of me. I enjoyed how the multiple storylines were all woven together. I could see this being a book you grab at the airport to read on a flight home for the holidays (although, with the 'spicy' parts I'd make sure there aren't any wandering eyes nearby, hehe). I would give it a 7 out of 10.

• The Change by Kirsten Miller - I was actually looking for another book by this author, but it wasn't available on either of my audiobook apps, so I grabbed this one instead and I am stoked it did because I LOVED IT! It's sort of in the fantasy realm, which is normally outside of my wheelhouse, but I don't care because I bought in hook, line and sinker! The book is about three women who are 'past their prime' in society's eyes. They each have their own strength and the three come together for one BAD@$$ team. Their whole goal is to seek revenge on men who prey on young women and girls. Their methods may not always be above board, but they get to the outcome they are after. Sure, there may be some "magic" involved, but I was all in on the three of these women, all for different reasons. I guess you can think of this story as like the female/ team version of the Punisher or another one of those comic book type heros. I don't even think I was halfway through the book before I added it to my Amazon wishlist ;) The women's empowerment I felt throughout the whole book is worth the $20 or so that it'll cost my pocketbook to sit in my personal library. I would give it a 9 out of 10. 

• The Matzah Ball by Jean Meltzer - When I was scrolling through the holiday books this caught my eye. It seems like 95% of them are holiday themed, so a Hanukkah one was something I wanted to try. This book had me hooked from the get-go. First, the main character was a Christmas book author (but because she is Jewish she did this in secret and wrote under a pen name) and loved the magic of the holidays. Second, and maybe most important (to me), was the fact that she had a chronic illness - Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. Let's just say that it reminded me a lot of my Fibromyalgia and I was stoked an author was bringing one of these often 'invisible illnesses' to the forefront. The story was cute and fun, but I do sort of wish some of the Jewish traditions or Yiddish was explained a little more. I also really liked the secondary characters and I'd say overall this book just made me smile. Maybe it'll spur more diverse holiday stories too! I would give it an 8 out of 10. 

• Decolonizing Wellness by Dalia Kinsey - This book was not written for me. This book is written for queer, trans, black, indigenous, people of color. I am not the target audience for this book because as a white, cis (meaning that I identify as the SAME sex I was assigned at birth), heterosexual woman 99% of books in the wellness space are focused on me. This was written by a black, queer nutritionist to a sector of the public that is often overlooked and ignored. I appreciate that the author went into health concerns that go much further than 'eat better, exercise more' and focused on things that ACTUALLY impact people - such as poverty, racism in the medical field, etc. It was yet another resource that dove into the harmful effect that Eurocentric standards of beauty can cause in society. Major kudos to this author for providing resources for communities who are underrepresented in media as a whole, but specifically in the wellness world. I would give it an 8 out of 10.  

• Warrior Girl Unearthed by Angeline Boulley - When I saw this title pop up I knew I needed to read it (especially since I already have one of this author's books in my personal library). I'm happy to report it was just as good as I expected (and it has already made it on my Amazon Wish List... #DearSanta). This story is set on Sugar Island (in Northern Michigan) and centers around Perry Firekeeper-Birch, her twin, their family, their elders and community, missing and murdered Indigenous women, as well as stolen ancestors. I love how much of a bad@$$ Perry is, even if her methods get her into trouble. I appreciate that the author is not only amazing with her character development and detail oriented, but that she digs deep into important topics (such as ways the US have failed Native communities, the loopholes in different laws or regulations, how a lot of the culture has been lost due to residential schools, kidnapping/ rape/ murder, etc). I may have loved Firekeeper's Daughter a tad more (this one was a teensy slow at first), but you better believe I'll be reading anything this author writes. Note: Although this is YA, I'd give a trigger warning due to the topics discussed. I would give it a 9 out of 10.

• The Awesome Human Project by Nataly Kogan - While scrolling through my Libby app I saw this book and it caught my eye. I mean, who doesn't want to be an awesome human?! Or at least I was hoping that the project was to make ME that awesome human ;) The author dove into a bit of her story about how burnout almost left her with losing everything, then went into some 'tips and tricks' on what helped her into becoming a more 'awesome human'. I would say that, just like a large quantity of 'wellness' or 'self-help' type books, there were many of the same thoughts recycled - gratitude journal, talking to yourself like you would a friend, changing your perspective from should to could, etc. Even still, I did walk away with a few nuggets that I'd like to implement into my daily routines. I really need to get back to my gratitude list (helping to focus on the positives, even if they are small or often overlooked). I also appreciated some of the neuroscience info that she shared - like how our minds have a negative bias because 2/3 of our receptors in our brains are looking for the bad (please excuse my lack of science-y terms ;)) or how our minds would rather make up a story that is 100% terrible rather than have uncertainty. Just knowing some of those facts is helpful so you can realize our minds are actually playing tricks on us (and that there are things we can do to fight back against our brains)! Here's hoping some of these small shifts can help me become a bit more awesome ;) I would give it a 7 out of 10.

• Part of Your World by Abby Jimenez - I had been in line for this book on my Libby app for a few weeks when it finally became available. I while back I was looking for some series I could get into (since with a series I don't have to look too hard for the next book I should read ;)) and this popped up. One of my fave audiobook readers was doing the female character, Julia Whalen, so I put it on hold and waited. I was stoked when it became available because I was in the mood for some a little romcom. It wasn't anything too outlandish - small town woodworker and a big city doctor meet, fall for one another and then have to see how they can fit into one another's worlds... This one had me feeling all the feels and there were even a few points in the story where my eyes may have leaked. One of the (only) bummers is that the next book in the series is already checked out, so back in line I go. (I appreciate the resources at the end, but would mention a trigger warning at the beginning - there is physical and emotional abuse throughout the book.) I would give it an 8 out of 10.

• Furious Hours by Casey Cep - I thought I'd give some 'true crime' a try, so went scrolling through that genre in my Libby app and came across this book. The name "Harper Lee" caught my attention so I thought I'd grab it since it was available. I don't know much about Harper Lee other than she had written To Kill a Mockingbird and Go Set a Watchman. This book was a little about a serial killer (or suspected serial killer since he was never found guilty of any of the murders) and a little about Harper Lee. The murders in question occurred back in the 1970s in the South. The way the infamous author became involved was she actually attended the trial of the person who was accused of killing the serial killer. She was doing research for a potential book, which is how this book came to be. Honestly, I was assuming this would be a little more true crime than biographical, but it was still interesting [especially since I didn't know anything about her connection with Truman Capote (or the fact that she had done a huge chunk of the research for In Cold Blood)]. I would give it a 7 out of 10.

• Pumpkin by Julie Murphy - I always love anything that this author writes, so it was time to finally finish the Dumplin' series that I started so many moons ago and listen to the third book. All of these stories are standalone (although there are some characters that make an appearance from past books), so don't feel like you have to read them in order. This installment is about prom and learning to love your inner (drag) queen. As to be expected, I really enjoyed it... except the end. I felt like it just stopped. Sure, you find out who is crowned prom king and queen, but that's about it. I mean, give me more, Julie, give me more! I want to know if Tucker and Waylon work out, what Waylon decides to do once he graduates high school, if Fiercest of them All comes knocking, etc. I literally felt like the last 100+ pages were missing from the book - boo! Don't get me wrong, the story was fun and heartwarming, but it left me wanting so much more! I would give it an 8 out of 10.

With that, December is done-zo. If you have suggestions, let me know! I'm always looking to add to my "must read" list! 

What's the best book you've read lately? 

Workout Recap - Week 52

Sunday, December 22nd – 60 minutes on the stationary bike

Monday, December 23rd –  4 mile run

Tuesday, December 24th – 9 mile run

Wednesday, December 25th –  4 mile run

Thursday, December 26th – 30 minutes on the stationary bike

Friday, December 27th – Rest day

Saturday, December 28th – 7 mile run (4 with the hubby, 3 solo)

This week was a little wonky because of Christmas (I was off on Tuesday and Wednesday, which meant I could do longer runs midweek and not have to worry about waking up before the buttcrack of dawn ;)), not to mention I started my period at the end of last week which means my cramps were killer and I didn't want to do much. I still got in all of my workouts, they were just a little out of order. Since I'm technically using a marathon training plan for the LA Marathon come March (I'm still not officially registered for it... maybe I should look into that soon), this cutback week of my long runs means we are only going longer on the weekends now. I think this is the last time for a while that my long run is in the single digits. 

How were your workouts this past week?