We’re back with another Sundays in Bed With… meme! This meme dares to ask you what book has been in your bed this morning and is hosted by Midnight Book Girl. Come share what book you’ve spent your time reading in bed or wish you had time to read today!
I’ve spent much of my Sunday with Open Water. It’s a short 160-pages but I’ve taken time to annotate it. It’s an absolutely stunning piece of writing that’s at turns achingly tender and heartbreaking. This is a book I know I will return to and get more out of with each read.
Special thanks to Oni Press for providing a digital ARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Delicates (Sheets #2) Publisher: Oni Press Publication Date: 23 March 2021 Genre: Middle-Grade Graphic Novel
Panda Rating: (5 pandas)
๐SYNOPSIS
Following the events of the bestselling graphic novel Sheets, Delicates brings Brenna Thummlerโs beloved characters, artwork, and charm back to life.
Marjorie Glattโs life hasnโt been the same ever since she discovered a group of ghosts hiding in her familyโs laundromat. Wendell, who died young and now must wander Earth as a ghost with nothing more than a sheet for a body, soon became one of Marjorieโs only friends. But when Marjorie finally gets accepted by the popular kids at school, she begins to worry that if anyone learns about her secret ghost friends, sheโll be labeled as a freak who sees dead people. With Marjorieโs insistence on keeping Wendellโs ghost identity a secret from her new friends, Wendell begins to feel even more invisible than he already is.
Eliza Duncan feels invisible too. Sheโs an avid photographer, and her zealous interest in finding and photographing ghosts gets her labeled as โdifferentโ by all the other kids in school. Constantly feeling on the outside, Eliza begins to feel like a ghost herself. Marjorie must soon come to terms with the price she pays to be accepted by the popular kids. Is it worth losing Wendell? Is she partially to blame for the bullying Eliza endures?
Delicates tells a powerful story about what it means to fit in, and those left on the outside. It shows what itโs like to feel invisible, and the importance of feeling seen. Above all, it is a story of asking for help when all seems dark, and bringing help and light to those who need it most.
โ ๏ธCONTENT/TRIGGER WARNINGS
Bullying, grief, bullying, suicidal thoughts
THIS HIT. Wow, Thummler has this wonderful ability to take sad, heavy, heartbreaking moments in life and turn them into powerful stories of overcoming and hope. It’s absolutely no surprise that I was in tears by the end of this story. As wonderful as SHEETS is, I think Delicates outshines it in story, art, and so much heart.
Let’s Talk Bookish is a weekly meme created by Rukky @Eternity Books and hosted by Aria @Book Nook Bits, and it’s where we get to discuss certain topics, share our opinions, and spread the love by visiting each otherโs posts! Check out the February 2024 Topics if you want to join in the bookish discussion fun.
This week’s topic asks us:
Are You an Indecisive Reader?
Prompts:Do you always know exactly what to read next? Or do you struggle to pick your next read? Are you constantly jumping between books and genres? How do you pick the books you read?
Special thanks to Meghan Quinn for providing a digital ARC in exchange for an honest review!
From USA Today and Amazon Charts bestselling author Meghan Quinn comes a new marriage of convenience romantic comedy. This steamy, laugh-out-loud, enemies-to-lovers small-town standalone delivers the perfect happily ever after. One-click your copy of THE REASON I MARRIED HIM today!
Hello, hello and welcome back to another episode of WWW Wednesday, a weekly meme hosted by Sam @ Taking On A World of Words, which means I’ll be answering these questions:
This week’s topic is Top Ten Quick Reads/Books to Read When Time is Short (Books under 150 pages, or if youโre not a novella reader maybe spin this to be books you could read in a day or a single sitting.) (Submitted by Jennifer @ FunkNFiction.com and Angela @ Reading Frenzy).
Mackenzie Mallinson is an expert at two thingsโplaying soccer and talking about soccer. Wait, thereโs a third too. Crushing on her best friendโs twin brother, the star quarterback for the football team, but no one knows about that. Her senior year is her last shot at fun before entering the pros, and she refuses to let soccer be the only thing that defines her. She wants to live life to the fullest, and that requires a summer bucket list.
Dean Romano might have a line of people wanting his signature, but heโs been off his game since someone he trusted hurt him last year. Once the life of the party, he misses the old version of himself. Not the guy who slept around version, but the fun, carefree, letโs enjoy my time on earth version. With his senior year on the team starting, he wants to get back to having a good time, and the perfect opportunity arises: The Summer Playbook.
Mack needs to let loose but wants to do it with someone she trusts. Dean wants to find his mojo again with someone who doesnโt care about his potential NFL career. The two pair up to complete a bucket list of fun while ensuring there are no feelings involved. Some items are easy, like dance on a bar or go to a concert, but skinny dipping? Body shots? Things heat up, but they both agreed their deal ends once they check off every item on the list. The question remains: is love something you cross off a list or a game you can win?
โ ๏ธCONTENT/TRIGGER WARNINGS
Sex on page, infidelity recounted, gaslighting
TL;DR: This book was just too freaking cute. It was like a shot of sunshine and happiness straight into my veins because it was a sweet, feel-good, low-drama, low-angst romance. Mack and Dean were so good together and I loved their healthy communication and the playfulness of their romance! If you’re a seasonal reader and are looking for a book to add to your summer reading list, you don’t want to miss out on this because it’s perfect for the summer and it will make you want to fall in love!
We’re back with another Sundays in Bed With… meme! This meme dares to ask you what book has been in your bed this morning and is hosted by Midnight Book Girl. Come share what book you’ve spent your time reading in bed or wish you had time to read today!
I’ll be spending the rest of my Sunday night in bed with The Improbable Meet-Cute Series starting with The Exception to the Rule by Christina Lauren. I discovered this series last night and took a peek at the first book by CLo and I have a feeling I’m gonna really enjoy these shorts! And look how cute and colourful they are! ๐ If you have KU, they’re all on there and they include the audiobooks, too.
I usually have these community posts as part of my monthly wrap-ups but those posts of mine are already long enough so I thought I’d try making a separate post for these! I’ll do a trial run for a couple of months before deciding whether I’ll keep up with it or just merge it back with the monthly posts, even if it will make them longer. Here’s what I read and loved in the community this January. I’m sure I still missed a lot but I’d love to know what some of your favourite posts were this month too or feel free to share your own favourite posts in the comments if you want!
Special thanks to Lake Union Publishing for providing a digital ARC via NetGalley in exchange for a (very late but) honest review!
Opium and Absinthe Publisher: Lake Union Publishing Publication Date: 1 July 2020 Genre: Historical Mystery
Panda Rating: (3.5 pandas)
๐SYNOPSIS
New York City, 1899. Tillie Pembrokeโs sister lies dead, her body drained of blood and with two puncture wounds on her neck. Bram Stokerโs new novel, Dracula, has just been published, and Tillieโs imagination leaps to the impossible: the murderer is a vampire. But it canโt beโcan it?
A ravenous reader and researcher, Tillie has something of an addiction to truth, and she wonโt rest until she unravels the mystery of her sisterโs death. Unfortunately, Tillieโs addicted to more than just truth; to ease the pain from a recent injury, sheโs taking more and more laudanumโฆand some in her immediate circle are happy to keep her well supplied.
Tillie canโt bring herself to believe vampires exist. But with the hysteria surrounding her sisterโs death, the continued vampiric slayings, and the opium swirling through her body, itโs becoming increasingly difficult for a girl who relies on facts and figures to know whatโs realโor whether she can trust those closest to her.
โ ๏ธCONTENT/TRIGGER WARNINGS
Murder, blood, exsanguination, drug abuse, addiction, medical abuse, munchausen syndrome’s by proxy, rape recounted, physical abuse recounted
TL;DR: This was an intriguing historical medical thriller that had a bit of a slow start but that I quickly found that I didn’t want to put down. Tillie was a well-developed character whom I pitied and sympathised with, who frustrated me to no end due to her poor decision-making but whom I ultimately admired by the end. I’m terrible at solving mysteries before the great review and although I’d guessed around the motive, I did not guess at all whodunit so that was a fun surprise! Overall, an enjoyable read.
dinipandareads 