For What It's Worth


Monday, February 1, 2021

My Monday Musings…It's a Wrap - The January recap

My reading is still slogging along. I read 3 books in January – which is 2 more than I read the previous month lol

Two were ehh and the other was great and really helped make me excited about reading again.

READ

The The Prince and the troll (Faraway #1) by Rainbow Rowell – This is an audible exclusive and I, mostly, enjoyed reading this fairy tale about the potential starcrossed lovers – or Starbucks Lovers – if you ever misinterpreted the Taylor Swift song. The reason I mention it is that Starbucks plays an important role in the story so I kept thinking that lyric in my head while reading lol And it might be a deal breaker if you hate brand name dropping.

Adam brings the bridge troll a Starbucks drink every day as they start to talk and fall in love but can they ever truly be together with his need to live on “the road” while she is a troll that needs water and mud. And might eat bones…it’s the little things lol

I liked the different perspectives and learning more about the (nameless) troll. She was witty, and kind of cute with her burgeoning SB’s addiction. Adam’s growing feelings and longing were palpable but ultimately it wraps up too fast and is too short to leave a lasting impression. But still cute with interesting commentary on climate change and consumerism.


Roommate by Sarina Bowen – This is the first romance I’ve read in ages. Bowen always has a nice mix of humor and heart so I snagged this new one when I saw it.

It was sweet. Roderick moves back to his small hometown hoping to reconcile with his parents who threw him out when the found out he was gay. Yeah – that doesn’t work out so well and he’s living on the streets until his new co-worker, Kieran takes pity on him.

Nice romance, lots of yummy baking/food talk (Roderick is a baker), a little drama – it was a nice, typical type of romance.



The winner winner, MVP book for the month goes to 

drumroll.....

🥁🥁🥁


The Houseplant by Jeremy Ray
– I learned about this book through A Book A Week (you can read Ethan's much more detailed review here). I love gardening but kid of suck at keeping house plants alive. Still I was immediately drawn to this short (31 page) story told from the pov of George, a fern (reluctantly) going home to live with his new owner, Brenda.

There’s so much humor, grief and hope packed into this little novella. Loved it!

READING

Cemetery Boys by Aiden Tomas – I’m listening to this one on audio now and it’s way more fun than I was expecting. I guess when I initially saw it was about brujo’s and cemeteries, I was thinking spooky.

Yadriel, a transgender teen, has problems being accepted by his traditional latinx family and block his efforts to become a brujo.

After his cousin is murdered, Yadriel sets out to prove himself by performing a ritual to find the killer, but instead raises hot, murdered teen, Julian Diaz, who has NO interest in passing on until he finishes his business. 

I’m at the 30-ish% point and, like I said, it’s more funny than scary but I enjoy all the characters and how well they play off of each other. I will hopefully finish in my lifetime and before the audio is due back at the library lol


What are you all reading now?


What were your favorite reads from January?

32 comments:

  1. Wait, a troll? Whaaat? I need that

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  2. Oh, I might pick up Cemetery Boys on audio too. Sounds great, and so is Roommate. Anything with cooking or baking in romance, and I am sold. 😜 I've listened to Boyfriend Material on audio by Alexis Hall recently, and it was so much fun, and unapologetically British.

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    1. I listened to Boyfriend Material last year! I'm a sucker for foodie romances too.

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  3. "it’s the little things lol" now that has me curious! Rainbow Rowell, Starbucks... hmmm. :)

    I've only read 2 books but I'm calling that a victory!!!

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    1. I mean...she eats babies so it might be a deal breaker?? lol

      Finishing ANY book feels like a victory these days.

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  4. Yea for more books! I have picked up my reading too. I've "blown through" three books - finishing one in one day over the weekend. It's been a long time since I've enjoyed so many books all at once.

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    1. Look at us go! lol

      I haven't gotten back to my one a day pace but 3 in one month feels like a huge step forward for me right now.

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  5. I remember seeing Ethan's review for the houseplant book. Glad your reading is improving.

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    1. It was just the right amount of emotion and length for my brain right now lol

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  6. I only read three books in January, also. 😊

    I'll have to jump over and read Ethan's review of The Houseplant. 🌱

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  7. I enjoyed Cemetery Boys, too. Also that House Plant sounds quirky!

    Have a great February!

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    1. It's so much lighter than I was expecting but that's not a bad thing.

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  8. I've heard a few people rave about The Houseplant. I have a copy of Roommate to hopefully read soon. I also want to read Cemetery Boys - so that's great you are enjoying it. I had a pretty good reading month in January, surprisingly, so I hope that continues this month.

    -Lauren
    www.shootingstarsmag.net

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    1. It's such a fast read too.

      Cemetery Boys is a lot of fun so far.

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  9. Look at you reading books! Let me know how Cemetery Boys is!

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    1. It's fun! But not at all what I was expecting. It's more romancey (and not scary) than I was expecting.

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  10. I haven't read those. I have a couple of Christine Feehan books coming in the mail that I am looking forward to.

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  11. Hey, snap! I also finished 3 books in January. :)

    I think my favourite was the historic/Arthurian epic, Lancelot by Giles Kristian. Different to my readings of the past few years and more on par with what I used to read 10 years ago... It was just what I needed and I LOVED it. Freaking long though! 22hrs on audiobook. (I surprised myself and binged it in under a week.)

    I've seen lots of people RAVING about the Cemetery Boys but I'm not convinced it's for me. That said, I'm more intrigued now that you've mentioned it's not scary. I really don't like freaky books.

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    1. Look at us go! lol

      Cemetery Boys is good but it's really not anything that I was expecting. I would say it skews a little younger?? It's not scary at all though. At least so far.

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  12. Slog is the word for me. I finished a book I liked and took forever to pick a new one. I am now reading the Ex Talk so hoping to like that one!

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    1. Oh I think Amber loved that one! let me know.

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  13. I really enjoyed Roommate. I was so invested in Roderick and Kieran - both separately and together. I remember Ethan's review of The Houseplant. Glad it worked for you, too!

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    1. I liked it and it was fun but I guess I wasn't super hooked. I was totally invested in The Houseplant though lol

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  14. I didn't find time to read this week as things remain busy here. Blogging has been a struggle for me recently too.

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    1. I'm reading a little more but the blogging is....MIA lol

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  15. Glad that you found a good one! Sometimes I think reading shorter stuff helps get out of slumps, I think because you don't have to worry about investing all the time, you know? I keep hearing such good things about Cemetery Boys, but like you, I didn't realize it was a fun book! That may make me want to read it after all! Hope you continue to enjoy!

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    1. Cemetery Boys was much more about the characters than plot. It was both a plus and a minus but I enjoyed it overall.

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  16. Very cool that your fave book ended up being about plants(lol), nothing wrong with that for sure. I think a lot of us are going through a few slumps on the reading front, but I'm still into my thrillers and spy novels for the most part. Sending hugs, RO

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    1. It was just short, fun and kind of unique so perfect for where my brain is right now lol

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