December Book Recap

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 didn't 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 like it, but, whatever the reason, I'm glad I challenged myself to add the goal of reading 17 books in 2017 (which became 88 books in 2017, 77 books in 2018, 67 books in 2019, 66 books in 2020, 67 books in 2021, 41 books in 2022, 98 books in 2023 and 224 books in 2024). The majority of my "reading" has been listening to audiobooks since I haven't had as much time to sit and read physical books once I started working again full time out of the house. Even still, holding a physical book is my JAM and I hope can add more physical reading vs listening. Just like in years past, writing a monthly recap of the books I finish is a great way for me to both record what I'm reading and to stay accountable. Here are the books I completed in the month of December:

• The Pumpkin Spice Café by Laurie Gilmore - This book had been in the 'popular' section of my Hoopla app recently and it caught my eye. It looked like a cute small town type book and the author's name was close to one of the main characters of Gilmore Girls so I figured I'd give it a try. Instead of the grouchy diner owner and the bubbly inn employee of Gilmore Girls, this was flip-flopped and we had a grouchy farmer, Logan, and the new-to-town cafe owner, Jeanie. It was a sweet little story, but definitely filled with some spice (sort of like what I assume pumpkin spice is). A cozy little rom-com filled to the brim with fall vibes that reminded me of a festive Hallmark movie. The cast of characters surrounding Jeanie and Logan were fun too, which is great because I'm hoping they're going to be involved in the full Dream Harbor series. I would give it an 8 out of 10.  

• The Cinnamon Bun Book Store by Laurie Gilmore - This is the second book in the Dream Harbor series and it's about a local bookstore employee and a friendly fisherman. It seems as though these books can all be standalone stories, but I think I'll enjoy reading them one after another. In this installment, we've got opposites attracting. Hazel is coming up on her 30th birthday and feeling a little stuck so she asks Noah, the town charmer, to come on an adventure with her. Secret messages are being left around the bookstore, so the pair follow the clues and end up finding love along the way. I would say this one felt a little spicier than the first (honestly, it's not my jam, but to be expected in the romance genre), so I didn't enjoy it as much, but still made me smile. And I should have figured out who was behind the clues earlier! I would give it a 7 out of 10.

• The Christmas Tree Farm by Laurie Gilmore - You know I am all in for a Christmas story, so I was excited for the third book in the Dream Harbor series. This one actually introduces a few new characters to the mix. This is another grumpy x sunshiney book starring Kira, the new-to-town owner of the local Christmas tree farm and Bennet, Jeanie's out-of-town brother visiting for the holidays. It definitely reads as a Hallmark Christmas movie (and I was here for all of it). Kira seemingly hates Christmas (which is obviously funny owning a Christmas tree farm, although she did buy it sight unseen) and Bennet has a need to fix everything. The pair get snowed in together during a winter weather storm and the sparks fly. I would say this one is a little spicier as well, apparently to keep readers warm in the cold season, but not too over the top. I would give it a 7 out of 10. 

• The Strawberry Patch Pancake House by Laurie Gilmore - This is the final book in the series that my Hoopla app has available (although it appears as there is a fifth book already out and a sixth on its way in early 2026). I was really hoping it would be about Annie and Mack, but it features another newcomer to town. Archer, an amazing chef, is informed that he has a five year old daughter and that her mother passed away so he needs to come to Dream Harbor to care for the child. Iris is the type of gal who flits from job to job, man to man, and is stuck between a rock and a hard place when she needs to find a new place to live but is struggling with money. As luck would have it, Archer is in need of a nanny for Olive, the sticky but sweet five year old, and the position comes with a built in place to stay. Seeing as this is in the romance genre, you know the forced proximity of Archer and Iris living together opens doors and breaks down walls. I won't spoil it, but I did enjoy the happily ever after a bit more (it felt a little more 'real life' to me). I would give it an 8 out of 10.

• The Front Runner by Brendan O'Meara - The hubby, pup and I drove to and from the San Francisco area for Thanksgiving so I suggested the hubby find us an audiobook to listen to for the trip - he picked this one. I've read a bit about Steve Prefontaine, but this was definitely more of a deep dive into his life. The research was in depth (there were over 150 interviews done) and it made you feel like you were there. I loved hearing about the training that went into Pre's success. I was also interested to hear about the amature governing body at the time (and how their rules and decisions made it hard for runners post college to succeed). It's wild to think about that it has been fifty years since Pre passed, yet his legacy remains. I would give it a 7 out of 10.

• Great Big Beautiful Life by Emily Henry - Let's be real... as soon as this author releases a book I get in line for it (it doesn't hurt that one of my favorite audiobook readers normally does her books). I had been in line for this one on my Libby app for a few months, so I was stoked for it to become available. This one has two parallel stories going on at once - a memoir that two authors are competing to win the right to write and the love story of the two authors falling for each other. I thought it was an original plot idea and really enjoyed it (as I figured I would). The switching back and forth between the interwoven storylines kept me engaged and slow burn romance kept me rooting for the pair. This would be a great vacation read. I would give it an 8 out of 10.

• Falling Like Leaves by Misty Wilson - This popped up in the YA section of my Libby app and it looked cutesy so I grabbed it. The little blurb I saw said it was for fans of Gilmore Girls and Jenny Han, which are both right up my alley, so count me in. As I suspected, it was sweet. Ellis is a hardworking, driven soon-to-be senior who has her life flipped upside down when her parents inform her they are taking a break and she will be moving from NYC to a small town in Connecticut with her mom. She has always been on the go, chasing down goals, so ending up in this slower environment is going to take some getting used to. She thought she would have a slight leg up, seeing as she used to summer in Bramble Falls when she was younger, but her previous friend, Cooper, seems to have moved on and forgotten all about her. As time progresses the two reunite and fall hard for one another while being thrown together during all of the fall festivities. If you are looking for a quick, easy YA romcom fall flick, this is probably for you - it's cozy and festive. I would give it an 8 out of 10. 

• The Housemaid by Freida McFadden - This book has been turned into a movie and said movie is releasing in the coming days, so my Hoopla app has had it on just about every list possible. I figured if it was good enough to make into a film, it had to be a decent enough book so I snagged it (and didn't realize it was part of a series until I downloaded it). No spoilers from me, so I won't go into depth about this thriller, but know that the first part is written from the perspective of the housemaid, the second part is written from the perspective of the wife and then the third part goes back and forth between the two. It was fast paced, kept me on the edge of my seat and was full of twists and turns. I don't know that I'll go to the theater to see the movie, but would probably watch it once it's streaming. I think I'll listen to the follow-up books in the series. I would give it an 8 out of 10.

• The Scammer by Tiffany D. Jackson - I saw this book pop up on my Hoopla app under the new section and I was stoked. I always enjoy reading everything this author puts out, so I was thrilled to see she had a new title. The synopsis said it was 'ripped from the headlines', but I actually didn't know anything about it. It follows a group of four freshman females whose lives get flipped upside down when one of the roommates' brothers moves in and essentially starts a cult with them at the middle. Jordyn, like most college freshman, is out on her own for the first time and is trying to find somewhere she belongs. She seemingly moved out from underneath the pressure of her overprotective parents into another controlling situation with Devonte at the helm. I don't want to give anything away, but let's just say I didn't see the ending coming. I would give it an 8 out of 10. 

• The Housemaid's Secret by Freida McFadden - I figured now was as good of a time as any to continue on with the Housemaid series on my Hoopla app (since I was still waiting for more of my holds on my Libby app to become available). Similar to the first book, this one was split into parts - the first being told from the perspective of Millie (the housemaid), the second being told from the wife's perspective (Wendy) and then the third and fourth flip flopping back and forth between narrators. You won't get any spoilers from me, especially with the movie for the first book set to hit the theaters in the coming days, but suffice it to say this one had to have a different twist from the first book or it would've been too obvious. The entire time I was listening to Millie's part of the story I was trying to figure out what was going on with the wife, but I didn't even come close to guessing the secret. I also especially enjoyed the little surprise at the end. I would give it an 8 out of 10.

• The Housemaid's Wedding by Freida McFadden - I saw this one said it was Book 2.5 on my Hoopla app and was originally going to skip it (since I only have a limited number of downloads on my Hoopla app a month and a book that is less than two hours long seems like a waste), but I'm glad I didn't. It said you could either read it between books two and three or after book three. I decided to listen to it between books two and three. It was a short little snippet - only covering a few hours of a single day (the wedding day between Millie and Enzo). With the brevity of the book you knew it wasn't going to reveal anything too large or earth shattering, but it did give a little insight on what the two characters life would be like between the two books (apparently the gap would be about 11 years). I don't know that it is absolutely necessary to the series, but I'm still glad I listened to it (I'm sure fans of the series were stoked to get a little bit more backstory). I would give it a 7 out of 10.

• The Housemaid is Watching by Freida McFadden - Downloaded the final book in this series with my final Hoopla app download for the month of December. I already knew that there would be a big jump in time between books two and three (the little synopsis that I read for book two and a half made that clear), so I wasn't too thrown when this book turned out to be about eleven years later. Similar to the first two books, this one was broken into different parts, but the perspectives weren't those that I was expecting. Instead of Millie and the 'woman of the house' it was actually Millie and her daughter. You see, instead of Millie being the housemaid of this story, she was actually the one with a maid for once. This book was a bit different because it was more about Millie and Enzo (and their family) instead of another family that Millie was 'helping'. I'll be honest and say I don't think I liked this story as much as the previous two, but I did chuckle when Ada, the eleven year old daughter, mentioned that the third novel in a series was never as good as the first two. Even though it wasn't my favorite, it still kept me on the edge of my seat the entire time. I would give it a 7 out of 10.

• I Hope This Doesn't Find You by Ann Liang - After all of the thrillers I had been listening to, I thought it was time for a cutesy YA book. This one popped up on my Libby app and I was intrigued. If you are familiar with To All The Boys I've Loved Before, picture that but in the negative. Instead of love letters that never get sent, Sadie writes sassy email replies that sit in her draft box. Well, that is until all of the emails from the past ten years that had just been sitting there fly out to classmates, faculty, etc. The majority of them go to her school co-captain, Julius, her enemy for the past ten years. As a way for the principal to try and get a hold of the situation, he forces the pair of them together for multiple tasks in hopes that they will start to see eye to eye. As I'm sure you can guess, the hate eventually turns to like and the two fall for one another. I thought it was cute and all, but seeing as I LOVE the Jenny Han series, this sort of felt like a knockoff. I would give it a 7 out of 10.

• Together at Midnight by Jennifer Castle - Might as well keep the cutesy YA books a-comin'. I saw this on my Libby app and assumed it was talking about New Years Eve and since we are coming up on that holiday I snagged it. As I suspected, it was about NYE, but also so much more. Two teens witness a tragic accident and did nothing to help in the situation. While talking about it, someone overhears and challenges them to do random acts of kindness before the new years. The pair try to assuage their guilt by putting good into the world. During the course of the challenge the two fall for one another. I'm not sure why, but  didn't love it. Maybe it was too short so there wasn't as much character development, maybe there were too many characters in the mix (that didn't really matter), maybe it just wasn't my jam. I would give it a 6 out of 10. 

• Stay Gold by Tobly McSmith - I decided to stick with the Young Adult genre on my Libby app while I wait for more of my hold books to become available. This one was in the 'librarian picks' section and it caught my eye. It's a coming-of-age story of a trans boy trying to fly under the radar at a new school his senior year. He falls for the popular cisgender cheerleader and the plot unfolds. This one felt real and raw to me. Everything wasn't all kumbaya. The characters were relatable and the relationships felt genuine. It was both heartwarming and heart wrenching. The author didn't shy away from serious topics and does it in a graceful and impactful way. As always, I appreciate books told from the different character's perspectives and this was no different. Both of the main characters, Pony and George, felt fully developed and authentic. I would give it a 9 out of 10.

• If You Could See the Sun by Ann Liang - Since I had listened to one of this author's previous books earlier in the month (I Hope This Doesn't Find You), I thought I'd snag another while waiting for some of my holds to become available on my Libby app. I didn't know anything about this one before I grabbed it, but I did see that the genre said 'fantasy' when I was downloading it. It turned out to be a friends-to-lovers type story with sci-fi twist. Alice is 'study machine' and is neck-and-neck with her foe, Henry. At a school for the children of the mostly wealthy and elite, Alice often feels like she could blend into the background. That is until she actually becomes invisible and decides to use the new found power to make money from the students around her. She comes up with an idea for Henry to build an app where her classmates can anonymously request her services (and he actually goes for it and they team up). No one knows who the Beijing Ghost is or how they tackle all of the tasks, but all along Alice is collecting secrets and saving money for her school fees. This normally wouldn't be my kind of book, but I found it entertaining and I stuck it out till the end. I would give it a 7 out of 10. 

• We Won't All Survive by Kate Alice Marshall - I thought I'd grab another thriller I could listen to while on my daily walks. This one was in the YA section and recently added to my Libby app so I thought I'd give it a listen. It was about eight 18-20 year olds who signed up to go on reality television show in hopes of surviving and winning $100,000. Mercy, the main character, signed up for the show because two years prior she was shot during a mall shooting and all of her sister's college fund went to her medical bills. In fact all of the contestants had gone through a traumatic experience, which is part of why they were selected. There were plenty of twists and turns throughout the story that kept me on the edge of my seat - I didn't even guess the ending right away. It actually reminded me a little of Hunger Games at one point (that's high praise). I would give it an 8 out of 10.

• Home is Where the Bodies Are by Jeneva Rose - We might as well keep this thriller train going. This one caught my eye while I was scrolling through my Libby app so I downloaded it. The story is about three estranged siblings who come together after the passing of their mother. While going through the house, they come across home movies that their mom took during their childhood. The three of them uncover a huge secret while watching one of the videos - their parents covered up the disappearance of a neighborhood child. It was told from four different perspectives - the three children and the mother (the audiobook had four different actors reading the parts). I had guessed where the story was going, but appreciated how the author wrapped up all of the loose ends. I could see this being turned into a movie or miniseries. I would give it an 8 out of 10.

• Percy Jackson and the Olympians: The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan - When the hubby, pup and I were in the San Francisco area for Thanksgiving, one of my friends gave me the first two books of the Percy Jackson series to read (since the second season of the show was being released). I figured I would read them on our flights to and from Michigan for Christmas. I didn't know anything about the series before I started it (we don't have Disney+ so I haven't seen any of the commercials or anything). The series follows Percy Jackson (a six grader in this book), who discovers he is a demigod (son of Poseidon and his human mother). In this installment, Percy and his friends need to find Zeus' stolen lightning bolt and return it to Mount Olympus before World War III breaks out. I found the book fun and entertaining. I don't know much about Greek mythology, so I was a little behind in some of the stories, but overall it wasn't too bad. I would give it a 9 out of 10. 

• Percy Jackson and the Olympians: The Sea of Monsters by Rick Riordan - This is the second book of the series and occurs when Percy is in seventh grade (he spends the summers at Camp Half-Blood with fellow demigods). Towards the end of the previous book, some of the demigods had 'gone to the darkside' and started to follow Kronos. That evil started making its way into the demigods' sanctuary, so Percy and his friends had to travel to the Sea of Monsters to retrieve the Golden Fleece and hopefully return their camp back to full health. It was a quick read and kept me engaged the whole time. I would give it an 8 out of 10. 

• In a Holidaze by Christina Lauren - It had been raining while we were back in Michigan celebrating the holidays, so when we got home I went to inspect our little library and make sure none of the books were damaged. I noticed this book had been left so I grabbed it. I had read another of this author's books (well, technically it is two authors who write together under the one name) in the Meant To Be series (traditional Disney Princess books rewritten for the modern day) and really enjoyed it. I actually came down with a little virus when traveling back for Christmas, so when the hubby went over to spend the evening with friends I cuddled up and read this book. It was like a mash up of Groundhogs Day and a Hallmark movie. Mae ends up reliving a week of Christmas until she can find her way out. I thought it was cute but didn't love it. The time travel part didn't really seem to have a conclusion and it left me wanting more. Overall it was decent but I will be putting it back in the little library for someone else to borrow. I would give it a 7 out of 10.

• The Anxious Generation by Jonathan Haidt - I had been on the waitlist for this book on my Libby app for a few months. It had caught my attention and apparently I wasn't alone. This is about Gen Z and how 'the great rewiring' is the cause for an uptick in mental illness (specifically depression and anxiety related illnesses). The author shares a lot of studies that help to prove his point that the release of smartphones and increased access to high speed Internet is a direct causation for the decline in mental health in the younger generation. I found his suggestions, a delay in giving access to social media apps and an increase in more free play, intriguing. He believes that parents have been overprotective in the real world and way too lax in the virtual world. All of his points seemed to make common sense, but until a collective group of parents/ teachers/ voters/ politicians make a stand together I don't see much change coming soon. I would give it an 8 out of 10. 

• Death in the Jungle by Candace Fleming - I saw this on my Libby app and I was intrigued. Not only did I not know much about Jonestown, I was surprised that a book about it would be in the Young Adult section. I would say that the only thing I really knew about Jonestown was the 'Koolaid' bit. The thought was, young adults are a very impressionable group, so the writer wanted that age group to know what happened and what could happen (not to think 'that could never happen to me'). I'll be honest, at the beginning of the book I understood how people got engulfed with Jim Jones. He was preaching points that I agreed with (even if I don't think I would have been taken in by his false healings or stayed once he removed religion and made himself Father). I didn't realize that a large portion of his followers were Blacks, but could see how they may have been sucked in by his charisma and what he was 'selling'. I found the book well researched and felt as though it was written from a very neutral stance. I appreciate all of the survivors who shared their experiences (I can't imagine how traumatic it would have been, no matter how much time had passed). I would give it a 9 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 21st – Rest day 

Monday, December 22nd – Rest day

Tuesday, December 23rd – Rest day 

Wednesday, December 24th – Rest day 

Thursday, December 25th – Rest day 

Friday, December 26th – Rest day

Saturday, December 27th – Rest day

Another week of no running. The first half of the week we were back in Michigan celebrating the Christmas holiday with our families and the second half I ended up coming down with something and was out for the count (on Friday I think I slept 21 out of the 24 hours of the day). Here's hoping I can figure out my hip in 2026 (hopefully earlier rather than later).

How were your workouts this past week?

Workout Recap - Week 51

Sunday, December 14th – Rest day 

Monday, December 15th – Rest day

Tuesday, December 16th – Rest day 

Wednesday, December 17th – Rest day 

Thursday, December 18th – Rest day 

Friday, December 19th – Rest day

Saturday, December 20th – Rest day

The beginning of the week was filled with walking (over ten miles a day for the first three days) and the second half was filled with family time. The hubby and I flew back to Michigan to spend time with our families for the holidays. Seeing as Michigan is CHILLY and snowcovered (not to mention the WHOLE POINT of the trip was to hang out with our peeps), I didn't get in any running. Here's to hoping this extended time off is helping the hip heal completely and I'll be back soon.

How were your workouts this past week?

Workout Recap - Week 50

Sunday, December 7th – 3 mile job (with walk breaks) with the hubby

 

Monday, December 8th – Rest day

Tuesday, December 9th – Rest day 

Wednesday, December 10th – Rest day 

Thursday, December 11th – Rest day 

Friday, December 12th – Rest day

Saturday, December 13th – Rest day

I tried jogging for the first time in a while this week. It went better than expected, but the hip still didn't feel 100%. Although I probably could have tried running a few more times this week, the hubby and I are going back to Michigan next week for the holidays, so I figured I'd give it a bit more rest since I probably wouldn't be running that week anyway. I think there is light at the end of the tunnel - I just don't want to rush it too fast and set myself back further. Soon we will be back at it!

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 49

Sunday, November 30th – Rest day 

Monday, December 1st – Rest day

Tuesday, December 2nd – Rest day 

Wednesday, December 3rd – Rest day 

Thursday, December 4th – Rest day 

Friday, December 5th – Rest day

Saturday, December 6th – Rest day

Another week of resting the hip. Just because we were resting the hip from running doesn't mean we were sitting still. Between Monday and Friday I actually got in 68 miles of walking. I averaged a little over 13.5 miles of walking a day - not too shabby. I throw on an audiobook and get my walk around the neighborhood on. I love being out in the sunshine! 

How were your workouts this past week?

Workout Recap - Week 48

Sunday, November 23rd – Rest day 

Monday, November 24th – Rest day

Tuesday, November 25th – Rest day 

Wednesday, November 26th – Rest day 

Thursday, November 27th – Rest day 

Friday, November 28th – Rest day

Saturday, November 29th – Rest day

I was really hoping my hip would be healed for the Turkey Trot I was registered for on Thanksgiving, but we are still hobbling around, so it was more of a shuffle than a trot (not to mention with the turkey costume I wasn't able to get a full step so it was a bit awkward to begin with). Trying not to get too frustrated so I'm sticking with walking for now. 

How were your workouts this past week?

November Book Recap

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 didn't 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 like it, but, whatever the reason, I'm glad I challenged myself to add the goal of reading 17 books in 2017 (which became 88 books in 2017, 77 books in 2018, 67 books in 2019, 66 books in 2020, 67 books in 2021, 41 books in 2022, 98 books in 2023 and 224 books in 2024). The majority of my "reading" has been listening to audiobooks since I haven't had as much time to sit and read physical books once I started working again full time out of the house. Even still, holding a physical book is my JAM and I hope can add more physical reading vs listening. Just like in years past, writing a monthly recap of the books I finish is a great way for me to both record what I'm reading and to stay accountable. Here are the books I completed in the month of November:

• A First Time for Everything by K.L. Walther - Technically I finished this one on Halloween, but my October recap already went live, so November it'll have to be ;) I had listened to some of this author's books before and found them cute so snagged this one while waiting for more of my Libby holds to become available. I'd say this one was cute too. A coming-of-age story where Mads has a lot of firsts (if you couldn't guess from the title of the book). She hadn't ever had a boyfriend, kissed a boy, gone on a date, etc, so when her future sister-in-law asks her to be one of her bridesmaids, the wedding party decides it's a great time to start setting Mads up with guys. There were plenty of dating disasters, but also some moments that made the crowd go 'awwwww'. I'd say this is probably for the older age range in the YA genre, since the main character does eventually have sex, but as like most YA books, it wasn't the main focus (or even much of one). I would give it an 8 out of 10.

• The Cousins by Karen M McManus - While waiting for any of my waitlist books to become available on my Libby app I saw that a book from this author was newly added. I've listened to a few of them thus far and although they haven't always been amazing, they've at least been entertaining. This one was another YA mystery around the Story family. You see, 24 years ago the matriarch of the family banished her four children and hadn't made contact since. That is, until the children of those now adults were mailed a letter and invited to the family's island resort to work for the summer and get to know their grandmother. As with most of this author's books, there were twists and turns around every corner that kept you on the edge of your seat. I was impressed that I hadn't figured them all out before they were revealed (sometimes this type of book can be a little too predictable). Another story that proves money doesn't solve everything. I would give it an 8 out of 10.

• My Mechanical Romance by Alexene Farol Follmuth - I'd be lying if I said I didn't think this was going to be about a high schooler falling in love with an AI type robot ;) but thankfully I was wrong. I guess I should've looked at the picture a little more closely (or read the synopsis). It was actually about two (human) high schoolers in a robotics club who fell for each other - much more believable! It was a cute, nerdy YA romance that had me smiling, even if I didn't know some of the technical terms they had been talking about. I may be a self proclaimed "math nerd", but you don't have to be dorky to fall for this book. I would give it an 8 out of 10.

• Atmosphere by Taylor Jenkins Reid - Let's just say that every time this author releases a book (or one hits the audiobook apps I use) I am in line for it almost immediately. I thought I was pretty fast with this one, but it still look me about 20 weeks for it to become available. I'll be honest and say space isn't normally an area of fascination for me. Even still, I knew I would gobble this book up because the author has a way of dragging me in and never letting me go. This is the story of women astronauts (or astronaut candidates), friendship, forbidden love, and so much more. Not only is it of the struggle made women in the 80s went through, but also the love some of them found along the way. I'd be lying if I said I wasn't teary eyed for the last third or so of the book. TJR always seems to know how to pull at my heartstrings for sure. I would give it a 9 out of 10.

• Say You'll Remember Me by Abby Jimenez - Another book I got in line for on my Libby app many moons ago. This author is one of my faves for the rom-com genre. The story is about a long distance relationship and making it work (or at least trying your darnedest). Abby had me smiling, laughing, shaking my head, tearing up and #AllTheFeels in between. And I know Hank played such a small role, but he may have been my favorite character of the whole shebang. And OMGEEEE! When I was on Amazon to get the link for the book I saw it was a two part series - WHOOO HOOO! The next installment won't be released till March, but you better bet your bottom dollar that I'll be in line as soon as it pops up on my audiobook app! I would give it a 9 out of 10.

• How to Excavate a Heart by Jake Maia Arlow - While I was scrolling through the 'what's available now in the YA genre' section of my Libby app I came across this book. It looked holiday-esque so I thought I'd grab it. Come to find out it was a cute little rom-com set in DC over the winter season. You know I enjoy a good enemies-to-lovers trope, so this was right up my alley. It was like a Hallmark movie with a Jewish (and LGBTQIA+) twist. Nothing too earth shattering, but a sweet, quick read. I would give it an 8 out of 10.

• All About Love by bell hooks - I wasn't sure what to expect from this book, other than I've always loved whatever I've read from this author. I've had this title in my "for later" list on my Hoopla app for a while, but only now got around to checking it out. I really enjoyed it, as I suspected I would. It's about all of the different aspects of love. Each chapter touches on different facets - from true love to community, connection to forgiveness. There were little nuggets through its entirety. It's written in a straightforward and thought-provoking way. This is one I wish I had read in physical book form, so I could've underlined portions and made notes throughout (maybe I'll just have to buy it and reread it in the future). I would give it an 8 out of 10.

• The Office BFFs by Jenna Fischer and Angela Kinsey - While I was waiting for some of my books to become available on my Libby app, I clicked the "random" tab to see what might come up. I saw this one and it made me smile right away so I knew I needed to give it a download. I loved The Office and I thought a book about the ins and outs of it written by two of the people there would be great... And I was right. Not only was it written by two of the actors from the show, but those two had become best friends over the course of filming and you could hear the love they had for one another in the audiobook (I loved that they read it themselves). I didn't realize that they had started a podcast about the show a few years back, but since learning that it would make sense that they would read their own audiobook - people love them, so you might as well capitalize. The book wasn't super long and it didn't give away any super juicy secrets, but I still enjoyed it nonetheless. I actually told the hubby that we needed to rewatch the series once I finished the book (and he was down, so I guess we know what we will be watching in the evenings for the next few months). I would give it an 8 out of 10. 

• Sisters in the Wind by Angeline Boulley - I clicked on the 'recently added' section of my Libby app and saw that an AMAZING author had released a third book (I have her first two in my personal library already) and I needed it immediately. All of her books are stand alone stories, but there are recurring characters (or at least their names) that make appearances throughout which makes me smile. I also love that the books are set in Michigan and I get to hear city names like Petoskey, Charlevoix, Cheboygan and Sault Ste. Marie. There is always an element of surprise or suspense that keeps you at the edge of your seat - and with the timeline jumping around as it did in this story you never have time to fully figure out where everything is going or how things will end up. I also appreciate that these books are teaching tools to non-Natives about the Indigenous cultures - I feel like I always walk away with knowledge or a deeper understanding. I will read anything that this author puts out (you should too) and hope more is in the works soon. I would give it a 10 out of 10.

• Revenge of the Tipping Point by Malcolm Gladwell - I had been in line on my Libby app for this book for a couple months. The original book, Tipping Point, was written 25 years ago, so the author thought he would revisit some of the ideas put forth in that book and see how they held a quarter century later. I haven't read the original book, but found this one incredibly interesting. He talked about how overstories, superspreaders and the division of groups impacted social epidemics. Everything he discussed made total sense, it just wasn't things I had thought of or about before. The "magic third" as a tipping point was very intriguing and how some entities (think Harvard University) socially engineer these phenomenons. I appreciate all of the examples the author uses - from bank robbers to the spread of the opioid epidemic. Although there are 'big' ideas discussed throughout the book, he breaks them down for the layman to understand. I would give it a 9 out of 10.

• Stuck Up and Stupid by Angourie Rice and Kate Rice - I saw the "Reese" sticker on the front cover and thought I'd give it a try. Unfortunately, at least for me, the sticker didn't mean much. There was nothing too special about this book for me. The traditional enemies to lovers trope with a lot of not super important stuff in between. It was your standard small town girl and big wig actor that started on bad terms and eventually realized maybe the banter was out of love instead of hate. It was like the two didn't get together until the last chapter, so you were left with this big build up and very little reward. Apparently this was supposed to be a modern take on Pride and Prejudice, but since I've never read it, it just felt boring. I would give it a 6 out of 10.

• Luckiest Girl Alive by Jessica Knoll - While I was waiting for any of my hold books to become available on my Libby app I came across this title on the 'page to screen' list so figured I'd give it a try. It was a novel about Ani, a young woman who was trying to put together the "perfect" life. She thought she had it all - the job, the clothes, the man, the body, the zip code, the handbags, the haircut, etc. The one glaring imperfection was her past... the fact that she was part of a tragic school shooting. I'll be honest and say this was a bit predictable for me. With all the rave reviews I was expecting it to keep me on the edge of my seat, but it was just 'okay'. It was entertaining, but nothing too special to write home about in my opinion. I would give it a 6 out of 10.

With that, November 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 47

Sunday, November 16th – Rest day 

Monday, November 17th – Rest day

Tuesday, November 18th – Rest day 

Wednesday, November 19th – Rest day 

Thursday, November 20th – Rest day 

Friday, November 21st – Rest day

Saturday, November 22nd – Rest day

Yep, another week with no running - BOOOOOOOO! I would like say that I am still getting out and walking 5-10 miles a day (and proud of the extra movement), but let's be real and say that it doesn't hit the same as running. I am hopeful that I'll be back to jogging soon, but I'm not holding my breath since it's been 5ish weeks since my last run at this point. 

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 46

Sunday, November 9th – Rest day 

Monday, November 10th – Rest day

Tuesday, November 11th – Rest day 

Wednesday, November 12th – Rest day 

Thursday, November 13th – Rest day 

Friday, November 14th – Rest day

Saturday, November 15th – Rest day

Holy crapoly... it's been four weeks since I've run! This week was slightly better because I started adding longer walks in the day. Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday I got in about 5 miles a day. Thursday and Friday I did 7 miles each. Saturday it was raining so I took it as a rest day. It might not be the exercise I am craving or am use to, but at least I am getting out in the fresh air for a couple hours. And at least my hip doesn't scream at me when I'm walking, so walking I'll do. 

How were your workouts this past week?

Workout Recap - Week 45

Sunday, November 2nd – Rest day 

Monday, November 3rd – Rest day

Tuesday, November 4th – Rest day 

Wednesday, November 5th – Rest day 

Thursday, November 6th – Rest day 

Friday, November 7th – Rest day

Saturday, November 8th – Rest day

Three weeks of not running and I might be going a little bonkers... Not much to say other than I can still feel the twinge in my left hip when I start to run, so I am still taking time off. Really praying we are healed up and back to 100% this week.

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 44

Sunday, October 26th – Rest day 

Monday, October 27th – Rest day

Tuesday, October 28th – Rest day 

Wednesday, October 29th – Rest day 

Thursday, October 30th – Rest day 

Friday, October 31st – Rest day

Saturday, November 1st – Rest day

Another week of REST for this poor hip of mine. I AM happy to report that my hip no longer hurts when I walk, which is a HUGE relief. I would say that I can still feel it hurting when I go up and down stairs, when I try to run on it, etc, but baby steps.... As long as I can run a 5K by Thanksgiving I will be happy (I may or may not have a surprise in store for that ;)). 

How were your workouts this past week?

October Book Recap

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 didn't 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 like it, but, whatever the reason, I'm glad I challenged myself to add the goal of reading 17 books in 2017 (which became 88 books in 2017, 77 books in 2018, 67 books in 2019, 66 books in 2020, 67 books in 2021, 41 books in 2022, 98 books in 2023 and 224 books in 2024). The majority of my "reading" has been listening to audiobooks since I haven't had as much time to sit and read physical books once I started working again full time out of the house. Even still, holding a physical book is my JAM and I hope can add more physical reading vs listening. Just like in years past, writing a monthly recap of the books I finish is a great way for me to both record what I'm reading and to stay accountable. Here are the books I completed in the month of October:

• A Million Junes by Emily Henry - Although this book isn't new, it was newly added to my Libby app, so it popped up on one of my recommended lists. I normally love Emily Henry books (and Julia Whelan is my favorite audiobook reader), so I knew I needed to listen to this one. I was stoked that this was 'less steamy' than her normal book (I would even venture to say it read a little more like a YA book than her traditional RomCom genre). It was an interesting plot with some supernatural thrown in for good measure. June lived in a 'magical' house that was a 'thin place' between reality and the 'after'. She was able to slip through time and space to visit past memories. When she collided with Saul, a sworn enemy, she realizes that not only are the memories those of her father, but also those of past relatives and even family members of Saul. It felt a little like a ghost story mixed with Romeo and Juliet. As with most of this author's books, I was hooked from the very beginning (even if my description doesn't exactly grab your attention ;)). I would give it a 9 out of 10.  

 

• Twenty-Four Seconds from Now by Jason Reynolds - This title was in the newly released section of my Libby app, in the Young Adult genre, so I thought I'd grab it. It was a short listen (four hours total, which means about two hours for me, since I listen at 1.75 speed), so I figured that even if it was terrible I was committing too much time to it ;) Thankfully it wasn't terrible. It was told from a teen boy's perspective before he and his girlfriend have sex. I actually really liked it. First, since it was YA the sex wasn't the point of the story (they actually never get into the act of having sex in the book), which I appreciate. Second, it was told in a backwards sort of way. It started twenty four seconds from 'the act', then moved back to twenty four hours before, twenty four days before, etc. Third, it was told from a guy's perspective, which I feel like is not very common. Most of the coming-of-age type stories are from the female perspective, so it was cool from the other side. It was a cute love story that was an easy read and still packed a punch. I would give it an 8 out of 10.

• A Little Less Broken by Marian Schembari - This book popped up on my Libby app in the newly released nonfiction section and I thought it seemed interesting. I didn't know much about it, other than the little phrase on the cover that mentioned how an autism diagnosis finally made this author feel whole. I have a friend who was diagnosed with autism later in life and I thought this would give me a better glimpse into their life. I found this book extremely eye opening. Not only was this about her personal story, but it showed how the medical field often doesn't listen to women, people of color, queer folks, those who are in marginalized communities, etc. I have seen this first hand, and although I'd never wish these experiences on others, it was comforting to know I'm not alone. This book walked through Marian's life at different ages and stages to show how being undiagnosed impacted her life. A diagnosis may not be an end-all-be-all, but this author found it was extremely useful and somewhat necessary in finding herself. Claiming the label autism was a way to step into community, care and self-compassion for Marian and can be equally as helpful to others. I would give this a 9 out of 10. 

• Let Them Stare by Jonathan Van Ness & Julie Murphy - When you see a novel written by two fun authors, you jump at the opportunity because you know it'll be a blast. And I was NOT disappointed. I love everything that Julie writes and I enjoyed JVN's memoir so I knew this one would be great. A non-bianary recent graduate thinks they will make a break from their small town with a summer internship in the big city, only to have that opportunity ripped from their grasp. Sully gets stuck in their hometown for the summer and doesn't have any plans for the future until they find a GHOST IN A HANDBAG! Yep, this is fiction in case you had any doubt ;) Sully promises the ghost that they will do their best to help the ghost find out his past (how he ended up dead, what happened in his life, etc because his memories are few and far between). As the blurb on Amazon said, this is a 'big hearted story about friendship and love'. It was funny and heartwarming all at the same time, while encouraging everyone to be brave enough to be themselves. I would give it an 8 out of 10.

• The House of My Mother by Shari Franke - I had seen a few documentaries about Ruby Franke, so I thought a book written by her daughter would be interesting to listen to - I was right. This is the telling of what happened behind the 8 Passengers family vlog by the oldest daughter in the family. I have to start off by saying, I admire the fact that Shari did not name her younger siblings by name, nor did she go into their stories. They have had so much of their life broadcast without their consent that I appreciate Shari's concern around this topic. With that said, if you were thinking you would read this book for more of the nitty gritty of what Ruby did to abuse her children, you are probably barking up the wrong tree. Shari doesn't devolve more of the story than you've probably seen on the documentaries made about the family, but she does tell it from her perspective and shares how the experiences impacted her life. I am so happy to hear that she has found freedom and healing from this traumatic past that she was raised in and wish her nothing but the best. I would give it an 8 out of 10.

With that, October 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?