April 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. So, here are the books I completed in the month of April:

• The Life Impossible by Matt Haig - I had heard a ton of great things about this book so I got in line on my Libby app and was stoked when I finally received the notice it was available for me. This story is based on a Mediterranean island where Grace goes to find out what happened to her friend from many moons ago. The novel is set like emails between Grace, a retired math teacher, and one of her previous students. Grace has had an unexplainable experience in Ibiza and tries to explain it (and understand it herself) in this letter she sends to her previous pupil. The story is part mystery and part magic. It's about grief and miracles and acceptance and transformation and friendship and aging and joy and self discovery and forgiveness and #AllTheThings all wrapped up in one beautifully written story. I love all of the characters, even the goat! Let's be real, this is a stretch of reality, but don't the best books do that a bit?! I would give it an 8 out of 10. 

• Listen for the Lie by Amy Tintera - This is another book that I had been on the waitlist for on my Libby app and it finally became available. It's funny because most of the time I don't even remember how I found the book or why I added it, which makes it a little mystery of its own ;) This was a whodunit type book, but there were a couple different perspectives - Lucy, a suspected murderer, and a true crime podcast, which meant there were multiple interviews and points of view. The podcast was called "Listen for the Lie" and the podcaster was trying to solve cold cases. I really liked it (especially listening to it as an audiobook because it made the podcast feel a little more legit). Lucy suffered a traumatic head injury the evening of her best friend's murder and has no memory of the event (or so she says). There were lots of twists and turns that kept me intrigued and on the edge of my seat. I wanted to keep listening to find out what happened. I would give it an 8 out of 10. 

• Run to the Finish by Amanda Brooks - This is actually a (social media) friend of mine's book. This is written for the middle-of-the-packers, the runners who aren't going out and winning races, but still want to avoid injury and run for the love of it. The book is chalked full of great tips and tricks. There are stretches to use for before your runs, things to do to help avoid burnout, exercises to do to help strengthen your muscles (or help with muscle imbalance), etc. I found myself underlining a lot more passages than I was expecting to. I love that Amanda focuses on ignoring the clock because that's where I have found myself recently - no longer wanting to run for a time, a PR (personal record) or to necessarily run/ get faster. A lot of the nuggets she shares are common sense, but things that runners need to be told (and oftentimes, multiple times). I appreciate the research that went into writing this book and am stoked there are books for runners like me. I would give it a 9 out of 10. 

• Purple Hibiscus by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie - A friend of mine who is always reading (and recommending) great books had recently read a book from this author and actually said she preferred this one more, so I added it to my 'for later' list. This is the story of a teen in Nigeria with an extremely strict (and abusive) father. From the outside, her life looks extremely privileged (especially compared to her cousins), but as the story progresses you see that not everything is always as it seems. The characters were well developed, but it didn't grab me like I was expecting (seeing as the friend had such high praise for it). I'm not sure what I was hoping for from this one, but it wasn't what I was expecting. Maybe I wasn't in the right headspace, but it was pretty slow. The beginning wasn't my favorite (I actually wasn't sure if I wanted to keep listening because of how slow it seemed) and I felt like the ending could've been expanded on. Not my jam. I would give it a 7 out of 10.

• Better than the Movies by Lynn Painter - Every once in a while I will look through different genres on my audiobook apps to see if there is a series because it makes figuring out the next book to read/ listen to easier and when I was doing that last time I came across this one. Think of your cutesy rom-com movies (10 Things I Hate About You, Sweet Home Alabama, She's All That, etc) and turn them into a YA book and you'd have this. It's about a hopeless romantic senior who has a plan to make her childhood crush fall for her, but in the process falls for the annoying boy next door. This was majorly swoon-worthy and had me smiling from ear to ear. The banter was quick witted and made me chuckle. And, although I was hoping that Liz would get her happy 'movie like' moment, I was pulling for Wes the whole time. I'm actually super stoked that there is a second book in the series (even though I have to wait for other people to finish it before I can check it out), because I enjoyed this one so much and am interested to see what happens next. I would give it a 9 out of 10.

• Before We Were Trans by Kit Heyam - I saw this on my Libby app and it grabbed my attention, so I thought I'd give it a try. This is the history of trans people "before" the term trans existed. It was interesting because a lot of the subjects that were being discussed may not have self identified as trans, but then you have to think of the social, political, legal ramifications that saying you were a different sex than the one designated to you at birth could have on those lives and you can see why they may or may not self identify. There were a few times in the book where I (very wrongly, mind you) thought to myself that a book like this may not be important if there is so much overlap and intersectionality (along with not self identifying as trans), but then I thought how important representation is and can see why having a history like this matters. I would give it an 8 out of 10.

• The Wild Robot by Peter Brown - A friend of mine suggested I pick up this book, so I got in line on my Libby app and waited. The target audience was a little younger than I normally shoot for (probably middle school age rather than the traditional YA genre I enjoy), but he had just read it with his kiddos so I was all about it. This is the first book in the three part series (the other two have much longer wait times on my audiobook apps, so it'll be awhile before I get to those). The premise is a robot who gets washed ashore on an island and then lives amongst the animals for a portion of time. I love that it teaches that different doesn't have to mean bad or scary, but that different can mean different skills and ways to be able to help one another in a community. It was a quick listen (since I listen at 1.75x speed it only took a couple hours) and now the hubby and I can watch the movie adaptation. I see why the kids are all digging it recently! I would give it a 9 out of 10. 

• Society of Lies by Lauren Ling Brown - I had seen good things about this book so got 'in line' on my Libby app for it. It was released at the beginning of the year, had a Reese Witherspoon stamp of approval and had a decent wait for it, so I assumed it'd be good. The story was told from two sisters' perspectives. It was a mystery about the deaths of two young women, one a friend of the older sister and one the younger sister (so obviously the younger sister's story was told from before she was murdered). I liked the pace of the book and that it kept flipping between the different POV and timelines; it kept me on my toes. The aspect of the secret society was interesting and although it was fictional I could see something like them being an active part of campus life happening at ivy league schools. I'll be honest and say I didn't really like the conclusion of the story (the whodunit didn't bring me a sense of closure/ relief like I thought it should have - maybe because I wouldn't have figured it out or guessed the ending...), but overall it was entertaining. I would give it a 7 out of 10. 

With that, April 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 17

Sunday, April 20th – Rest day

Monday, April 21st –  5K run with friends

Tuesday, April 22nd – Rest day

Wednesday, April 23rd – 5K run

Thursday, April 24th – 30 minutes on the stationary bike

Friday, April 25th – 5 mile lunch run

Saturday, April 26th – Rest day

This was a bit of an off week. Last week I didn't have any rest days and then this week I took three. The first two were because we had friends staying with us and so hanging out with them took precedence over going for a run or hoping on the stationary bike. Saturday the hubby and I spent the day walking around Disneyland (the day started in a downpour and ended nice and sunny - it actually felt like two different days if we were being honest). I officially start my 50K training schedule in May, so I guess it was nice to have a little free-stylin' before I crack down and get serious about my plan. 

How were your workouts this past week?

Workout Recap - Week 16

Sunday, April 13th – 5 mile run

Monday, April 14th –  3.25 mile lunchtime run

Tuesday, April 15th – 45 minutes on the stationary bike

Wednesday, April 16th – 3.25 mile run

Thursday, April 17th – 40 minutes on the stationary bike

Friday, April 18th – 5 mile run

Saturday, April 19th – 5 mile run

I'm happy to report that the funny twinge I had felt at the end of my March 45 Minute Challenge and during my Yeti Ultra 24 Hour Challenge seems to have disappeared - WHOOO HOOOO! The body felt good this week (minus the cramps I've been dealing with, but that is NOT running related IYKYK). I've got a calendar printed out starting in May to start training for a 50K that I'm registered for in October (slow and steady build up wins the race makes it to race day uninjured), so I'm excited to get that started soon and have a plan to follow rather than just doing whatever I feel like when the day starts. 

How were your workouts this past week?

Workout Recap - Week 15

Sunday, April 6th – Rest day  

Monday, April 7th –  Rest day

Tuesday, April 8th – Rest day 

Wednesday, April 9th – Rest day

Thursday, April 10th – Rest day

Friday, April 11th – Rest day

Saturday, April 12th – Rest day

After last week's Yeti Ultra Challenge and my knee feeling tweaked, I decided to take a complete week off running. I ran every day in March without a rest day, took three days off and then jumped into the ultramarathon challenge, so this was my way of giving my body a full reset. Here's to hoping it worked and the knee feels back to normal. #FingersCrossed

How were your workouts this past week?

Yeti Ultra 24 Hour Challenge Recap

[I was originally planning to attempt this challenge on the final Saturday of March (hence the first couple paragraphs about my March 45 Minute Challenge). The hubby was out of town for work and when I went to head out on my first (midnight) run, there were neighborhood dogs barking and it got in my head a bit. As female runners, we need to be extra cautious and vigilant. I had first framed it as I might have “wussed” out, but, ya know what, if something feels off we need to listen to our intuition, so I will not apologize for waiting for my husband to get back home. I very well may be a 40+ year old who can be easily sketched out in the dark, but I deserve to run when I feel comfortable and won’t feel bad about that.]

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If you followed me on Instagram this month in March, you probably noticed that I was doing a #RunStreak. When I heard a statistic that said every 45 seconds an LGBTQ+ youth attempts to take their life, I knew I wanted to do something. I decided that for the month of March I would run {at least} 45 minutes a day and do my darndest to raise funds and awareness for The Trevor Project. [The Trevor Project is a nonprofit that provides free suicide prevention services for LGBTQ+ youth 24/7/365 - but obviously they need money to fund such lifesaving aid, hence why I was fundraising.]

While I was starting to plan my #March45Min Challenge, Jason of the Yeti Trail Runners mentioned that the Yeti Ultra 24 Hour Challenge was making a comeback. I had done this challenge in the past and thought it would be a great way to wrap up my month of 45 minute runs. The challenge is to run 5.2 miles every four hours for 24 hours. After the six runs you will have gotten in 31 miles (which is the distance of a 50K or also known as an ultramarathon [anything longer than 26.2 miles]). I knew that 5.2 miles would be a little over my 45 minute range, so thought I'd be perfect. Jason wants everyone to be able to finish the challenge, so the only deadline was December 31st. This is a virtual "race", all done on the honor code and you can attempt it as many times as you need to so that no one has to report a DNF {did not finish}. The beginning of April was as good of a time as any for me to tackle the 31 miles. SO LET'S DO THIS THANG!

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Originally I was going to tackle this challenge on the last Saturday of March and thought I'd start at midnight Saturday morning so I could go to bed as early as possible once I finished - running at 12am, 4am, 8am, 12pm, 4pm and 8pm.

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I knew working at the store all week and then starting a running challenge at midnight on Saturday morning might not have been the smartest idea I had ever had... The body would be fatigued (not just from being on my feet for 40 hours but also because of my #RunStreak), but I told myself that I would do my best to keep my "WHY" in the forefront of my mind (raising funds and awareness for the Trevor Project) and do it for the kiddos! Even though my fundraising had officially finished, didn't mean I couldn't use the strength of the LGBTQ+ youth to keep me going if and when the runs got hard.

After my change in plans I actually decided to switch up WHEN I would do my runs. Originally I was thinking it needed to be run all in one calendar day, but there isn't anything that officially says that - just a 24 hour chunk of time. Instead of starting at midnight, I thought I would do my first run on my lunch break on Friday (so around 2:30pm) and go from there. My idea was that if I was planning on running on my lunch, I might as well count that towards the challenge and then I could even get it started earlier. So instead of the original 12am, 4am, 8am, 12pm, 4pm and 8pm, it became 2:30pm (on my lunch), 6:30pm (shortly after I got off for the day), 10:30pm (it didn't feel so 'in the middle of the night' and I thought people might still be out and about), 2:30am (I was hoping to get someone to run with me because #SafetyInNumbers), 6:30am (with the sun rising I was hoping it would re-energize me if my get-up-and-go was starting to wane) and 10:30am. 

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Run #1

I have been loving my lunchtime runs. They are a great way to break up my day and the weather is normally fantastic. I work near a mall and, as I'm sure you can imagine, normally the parking lot is pretty empty. (I mean, honestly, when was the last time you've been to a mall?!) My first run of the challenge was weaving up and down the empty parking lot lanes to get in the 5.2 miles. I wanted to take it nice and easy (remembering that I had FIVE more of these runs after this), but not too easy since I still had to get back for the rest of my shift. All-in-all I was able to get the run done in 48:55. 

Run #2

The store closes at 6pm, so once I was ready to check out for the weekend I drove over to the beach for my second run of the challenge. I knew I would be spending a decent amount of energy weaving in and out of sunset watchers, but that was okay with me. I haven't run along the Carlsbad beaches in awhile, so it was a great place for a sunset run. The twinge in my knee that I had started feeling at the end of my March 45 Minute Challenge was back, so I took it nice and easy and just enjoyed the views. My second run took me 50:10 [75 seconds slower than my first (not that I cared about my pace)]. 

Run #3

Saturday morning was the Oceanside Ironman, so I thought I would head down to the harbor for one of my Friday evening runs. I feel more comfortable running where there is activity going on and I figured that even though I was eight hours before the start of the race that there would still be a decent amount of hubbub happening. I left the house around 10:15pm to get me down to The Strand by 10:30pm to start round three. There was actually much more traffic than I was expecting, but apparently "normal" people don't usually go to bed by 9:30pm on a Friday night ;) I was excited to see the finish line and athlete village crawling with people. The run went well (although I was a bit overdressed and probably ate a bit too much for dinner which hadn't digested fully), but I stuck with the 'getting slower' theme and finished in 50:49. 

Run #4

Running in the middle of the night is never easy, so I decided I'd try and enlist the help of a friend (hoping that A. there was safety in numbers while being out at 2:30am and B. I'd be more likely to complete the challenge/ run if I had someone relying on me to show up). My sweet friend Gina said she'd be willing to help me tackle my late night/ early morning run so I made the drive down to her. We met at a surf spot and took to Highway 101 to cruise the coast. It was great getting to catch up, even at the less than ideal time of day ;) We kept the pace conversational (we were chatty cathys, but still finished in 50:40) and even got in an extra tenth of a mile (5.3 miles instead of the 'standard' 5.2 for the challenge).

Run #5

After my 2:30am run I knew I needed to try to get a little rest. Between runs three and four I showered and laid down for about an hour, but didn't really doze off. Between runs four and five I left myself a little less than two hours of down time, but still don't think I got a wink of sleep. Let's just say I knew the overall fatigue (not just from the running and the lack of sleep, but working all week and going right into this challenge) was gonna come back to bite me in the booty. I planned to do my fifth run of the challenge leaving from our house. The official sunrise was 6:31am, which was perfect because I was hoping that the morning light would help invigorate me with a little extra energy. Unfortunately the extra spring in my step because of the sun making its appearance did not translate into the legs wanting to run. In fact, it felt like I hit "the wall". My body just felt 'over it' and didn't want to cooperate. This was definitely the most difficult run of the challenge. "Forward" was the only pace I cared about, so jogged when I felt like it and walked when I didn't, finishing with a 1:05:08 for the split.

Run #6

Between runs five and six I did a little fueling (tortillas with strawberry jam) and relaxing in the sun with the pup. I knew I had to have a short term memory when it came to the previous run and toss it out the window. I took run six to our local bike trail and nearby park. I definitely took more walks than I would've liked, but it was nothing like run number five. I was taking mini breaks to re-energize myself for the next spurt of running, which felt more productive than the previous leg where I just didn't feel like I wanted to run at all. Even though it was only 10:30am, it was actually already toasty warm out (in the low 70s and full sunshine), so I was glad I had my handheld with me to keep me hydrated. Even with the warmer temps, lack of sleep, subpar fueling and walk breaks my pace wasn't too shabby, finishing the 5.2 miles in 52:09. 

Overall it took me 5 hours, 17 minutes and 52 seconds to finish the 31.3 miles. For not being "ultra" trained, I am incredibly pleased at how my body held up. Remember, I did a run streak of 45 minutes a day for the entire month of March, then took three rest days and jumped into this challenge after a full week of work. I CALL THAT A HUGE WIN!

Instead of a t-shirt and medal, participants were sent a sticker and hoodie, which I'd MUCH prefer (the tees normally don't fit and I donate my medals, so at least this swag is something I will use!). Can't wait to start wearing my hoodie with pride! 

For me, I found the hardest part of this challenge the inbetween. Say it took me about an hour to do the run and then another 20-30 minutes to get home afterwards. I'd then have about two and a half hours until the next run, but I'd need 20ish minutes to get ready beforehand and if I was driving to where I was running then you'd have to factor in another 15-20 minutes. You definitely aren't left with as much down time as you might think between runs (four hours sounds like plenty of time until you realize you are running during that time), which makes resting and fueling the most difficult part.

Would you rather run a long run all at once or break it into smaller segments? 

Workout Recap - Week 14

Sunday, March 30th – 45 minute run 

Monday, March 31st –  45 minute lunchtime run 

Tuesday, April 1st – REST DAY 

Wednesday, April 2nd–  REST DAY

Thursday, April 3rd – REST DAY

Friday, April 4th – 15.6 mile run (3 x 5.2 mile runs) [runs #1-3 of my Yeti Ultra 24 Hour Challenge]

Saturday, April 5th – 15.6 mile run (3 x 5.2 mile runs) [runs #4-6 of my Yeti Ultra 24 Hour Challenge]

This week I wrapped up my 45 Minute Challenge where I ran (at least) 45 minutes a day for the month of March, took a few rest days to give my body a break from the constant pounding of my run streak and then tackled my next challenge, the Yeti Ultra 24 Hour Challenge. The idea was to run 5.2 miles every four hours for 24 hours, which leaves you with an ultramarathon once you finish. I'm proud of how the body did during BOTH challenges. I'll have a recap of my Yeti tomorrow, but suffice it to say I only had one rough segment and nothing is too angry with me after all of the running ;)

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? 

March 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 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. So, here are the books I completed in the month of March:

• All the Colors of the Dark by Chris Whitaker - I had seen this book recommended a few times so I added it to my hold list on my Libby app and after a couple months it finally was available. I didn't know anything about it, but I am glad I came across the rave reviews. There is definitely a lot going on in this novel - a serial killer, missing girls, a love story, a multi-decade mystery and twists everywhere you look. I think what made this book so interesting is that it felt incomplete. The chapters were incredibly short and they'd jump from storyline to storyline so it kept you on your toes. When there was a jump in between time it seemed like there were important moments left out that you had to sort of guess and piece together on your own. I could totally see it turned into a mini series on one of the bazillion streaming platforms. It felt heartbreaking and uplifting all at the same time. I think the only drawback was the length - there were some spots that felt a little drawn out of could've been cut altogether, but overall it was intriguing and thought-provoking. I would give it a 9 out of 10.

• The Wedding People by Alison Espach - I had seen this mentioned on a few 'must read' lists so I got in line on my Libby app and the book finally became available. I didn't know what it was about, as is the case with most of the books I check out, but I would say I wish this one had a trigger warning. This novel centers around the main character, Phoebe, who checks into a hotel to die by suicide. Through a series of events she eventually becomes a guest and then part of the bridal party to a wedding that is happening in the hotel. I appreciate that the book does it's best to remove the stigma around suicide by discussing it, but I was taken back a bit by how in your face it was for the majority of the book. Suicide prevention is near and dear to my heart and with suicide being such a triggering topic I was a bit surprised that nothing was mentioned before the bomb was dropped. Don't get me wrong, the book isn't all doom and gloom, it is witty, funny in parts and focuses on how chance encounters have the way to greatly impact your life. I think had I been given a heads up I wouldn't have been so shocked at how nonchalant the topic seemed to be discussed. I would give it a 7 out of 10.

• Outrunning the Demons by Phil Hewitt - I got this book a while back in a trade from one of my 'buy nothing' Facebook groups I'm a part of and I was finally able to get it started when I was on the flight to Maui earlier this month. This is a collection of stories from runners all over the world that found running to be transformational (and, in some instances, life saving). I always love hearing how running has impacted others, so this was right up my alley. The stories were short (like maybe 5ish pages), so it gave you just enough to connect with the person and root for their success/ happiness/ mental health. The book is full of hope and inspiration. Whether you are a runner or not, this book shares how finding something that makes your heart content/ happy (it just happens that in this book it's the act of running) can make the world of difference. I would give it an 8 out of 10.

• Hello Beautiful by Ann Napolitano - This is another book that I had heard rare reviews about so I got in line on my Libby app and checked it out as soon as it was available for me. I enjoyed that this book was told from the perspective of many different members of a single family (even if it was in third person, it still focused on how that one person felt/ experienced different events). Other than that, nothing really drew me in. I appreciated that the author focused on imperfect people, but hopefully we all know that broken people can still love, be loved, live fulfilling lives and create something magical. Maybe I wasn't in the right mindspace for this one, but it was just a little 'blah' for me. Sure, it was about love and grief in a family, but, like I mentioned, nothing about the story/ characters grabbed me (there were actually points in the book where I considered not finishing it, but I had already committed so much of my time to it that I thought I'd see it through). I would give it a 6 out of 10.

• Bride by Ali Hazelwood - I was excited when another one of this author's book became available on my Libby app. They're a little spicy, but I still always enjoy the wit and character development throughout the stories. This is sort of like a vampire and werewolf version of Romeo and Juliet. The two main characters, Misery and Lowe, are forced together as a way to keep peace between the two species. As I'm sure you can guess, the contractual marriage eventually turns into a full blown romance between the two and drama ensues. Although I'm normally not a paranormal/ sci fi fan, this was fun, quirky and creative. All of her books are full of twists and turns, fast paced, sexy and this is no exception. If you have read (and enjoyed) this author before, you know what you're getting, this time just with some 'mythical creatures' involved ;) I would give it a 9 out of 10.

• How to Read a Book by Monica Wood - A friend of mine, who is an avid reader, recently mentioned this book and gave it rave reviews, so when I saw that it was available on my Hoopla app I snagged it up. I can see why she liked it, I thought it was great. It revolved around twelve incarcerated women and a book club. The character development was spot on (they all felt so real and raw), I loved that it was told from three different points of view (Violet, one of the women in the book club, Harriet, the book club leader and Frank) and the themes of forgiveness and chance encounters made my heart smile. It was definitely heartwarming. I also appreciated that some of the characters were a bit more 'mature' in age (more often than not the older generation tends to be forgotten so I enjoyed that they were just side characters). There were a few plot twists that I wasn't expecting that kept me on my toes. Tragic and inspiring all at once. I would give it a 9 out of 10.

• The Happy Ever After Playlist by Abby Jimenez - Last month I read the first book in this series, so got in line on my Libby app for the next book so was excited when I got the notification that it was ready to be checked out. As with most of this author's books, they can be standalone stories, but some of the characters make an appearance so if you are familiar with their backstory you will probably know and love them a little more ;) This follow-up book is about Sloan and Jason (in the previous book Sloan had lost the love of her life in a motorcycle accident and this is set two years after). The two meet haphazardly, when Jason's dog jumps into Sloan's car and sort of adopts her. Jason ends up being a famous recording artist and the two fall in love. Obviously I don't read this author's books because they are something similar to my own life - they are an escape from reality, funny and romantic (don't get me wrong, my life is full of fun and love, it's just not the stuff of a romcom ;)). As I expected, I really enjoyed this cute little love store and am stoked for the third book in the series (if it's ever available on either of my audiobook apps #FingersCrossed). I would give it a 9 out of 10. 

• Sunrise on the Reaping by Suzanne Collins - If you know my favorite books (or at least favorite series), you know The Hunger Games is right up at the top. When one of my pen pals told me that they were releasing another book in the series I was STOKED! I am normally not a prequel sort of girl (it sort of ruins some of the surprises/ suspense if you know the character(s) survive), but I knew I had to check this one out as soon as I could. Thankfully my Hoopla app had it available (because I would've been over 40th in line if I had to wait for it on my Libby app) and I was able to snag it almost immediately. This is the story of Haymitch's time in the second quarter quell (the 50th anniversary of the original Hunger Games). If you've read/ watched this series, then you know Haymitch is one of District 12's only mentors (meaning he is the only surviving victor from that district who can guide that district's tribunes to potentially surviving the games). You won't get any spoilers from me (I mean, like I said, seeing as Haymitch is a mentor in the original series you know he somehow has to live), but I will say that I liked this one much more than The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes (I was not excited to have Snow a main character in that book). Also, let's just say I've already added it to my Amazon wish list so I can put it in my personal library with the other books in the series. I would give it a 9 out of 10.

• One of Us is Back by Karen M. McManus - Back when I read the second book in this series I added an alert on my Libby app to notify me when the third book was added to the app (it was released back in 2023, but none of my apps had to in stock). I got the notification and downloaded it since I had just finished my previous book. Well, let's just say I probably should have reminded myself about the previous books a little better than I had. Although this one jogged your memory a bit, it definitely wasn't as much of a standalone story as I would've liked. It also didn't grab my attention as much as I would have expected. It's a novel about revenge, murder, and the like, which you would think would have you on the edge of your seat, but I was sort of bored with it all. Maybe it's just a bit too unbelievable for me or maybe I just wasn't in the right mindspace for this type of book (especially since the ratings on Amazon and Goodreads seem to be a heck of a lot higher than I will give it). At this point, I think I'm probably done with this author too - just ot my jam. I would give it a 5 out of 10.

• Only Say Good Things by Crystal Hefner - When I was scrolling through the new releases on my Libby app this one caught my eye. It's a memoir from Hugh Hefner's widow. I usually really enjoy memoirs - it's like a look behind the curtain - and what a curtain to look behind it was! Crystal attended a Halloween party at the Playboy Mansion in 2008 when she was 21 and got 'stuck' in that world for another ten years. This is her telling of life in the mansion as one of Hugh's girlfriends turned wife. I'll be honest and say that I hadn't much thought about the life of Playboy "bunnies", but this was pretty interesting. It was eye opening to see how people with power (whether that be money, prestige, influence, etc) control the narrative. I'm glad Crystal was able to gain some of her agency back, even if it took her years to find voice and herself. I would give it an 8 out of 10.

• As Many Nows As I Can Get by Shana Youngdahl - I don't remember how this book ended up on my "for later" list on my Libby app, but it was available for checkout when I didn't have anything in particular lined up so I grabbed it. This is the story of two high school overachieving seniors, Scarlett and David, and the different directions their lives took. The novel is told out of order, jumping from current to eight months ago when the two were getting ready to leave for college and back to other times in their relationship as well. If I remember correctly I don't think they ever defined their relationship, so I wouldn't say they were a couple, but they were friends for as long as either of them could remember. The story is both heartbreaking and hopeful (along with #AllTheFeels) all at the same time. I would say I wasn't as invested with the characters as I would've liked. Normally I'm all in, hook-line-and-sinker, but this story didn't pull at my heartstrings as much as it could have and I think it was the fact I actually liked Mina, Scarlett's roommate, most. I would give it a 7 out of 10.

• Gay the Pray Away by Natalie Naudus - During one of my last "browse and save" sprees in the Young Adult genre section of my Libby app, I had added this book to my "for later" list. The title caught my attention and I'm so glad it did. This is a story about a teen who was growing up in a Christian Fundamentalist home while exploring her sexuality. The title is a play on the idea that many Christians have, believing you can "pray the gay away". I love that the queer book Natalie finds which starts her on her journey is also one of my fave queer YA books. The character development was great and I appreciate how real/ raw all of the experiences and situations felt (not everything is always rainbows and unicorns, even in novels). I would give it an 8 out of 10. 

With that, March 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?