October 2022 Wrap Up

October 31, 2022October 30, 2022 fangirlfury2 Comments

Happy Halloween (coming from the reader who read 1 ‘spooky’ read this month)!! October was the beginning of cozy season. While I hung out with friends on weekends and did some fall things (my sister and I went apple picking on the most gorgeous fall day last weekend), there were plenty of quiet moments on the weekends spent reading.

I almost always have a sprinkle of YA in my reading, but YA books made up at least half of my total reading AND were my favorite reads. My absolute favorite book of the month was Isaac Blum’s The Life and Crimes of Hoodie Rosen, & I really enjoyed reading The Weight of Blood by Tiffany D. Jackson, Notes on an Execution by Danya Kukafka , and the Birthright trilogy by Gabrielle Zevin.

Love in the Time of Serial Killers by Alicia Thompson | 3.5/5 Stars

Notes on an Execution by Danya Kukafka / 5/5

The Last Housewife by Ashley Winstead | 4/5

When We Were Bright & Beautiful by Jillian Medoff

Luck and Last Resorts by Sarah Grunder Ruiz | 3.5/5

The Life and Crimes of Hoodie Rosen by Isaac Blum | 5/5

The Weight of Blood by Tiffany D. Jackson | 4.5/5

Birthright series by Gabrielle Zevin: All These Things I’ve Done, Because It is My Blood, & In the Age of Love and Chocolate | Overall Rating: 4.5/5

Eight Nights of Flirting by Hannah Reynolds | 4/5

Mika in Real Life by Emiko Jean | 4/5

From Scratch (Netflix) – From Scratch is based on Tembi Locke’s memoir of the same name (there were some changes, but I feel like it captured the spirit of the book well), following her life after meeting her husband in Italy. I watched an episode here and there … and then binged the last five. There were some moments when I think the acting could’ve been better, but I still sobbed during the seventh episode and was teary during the last few.

Not a TV show but I watched Jessica of Peace Love Books and Lacey of LaceyBooklovers’s romance predictions for the Goodreads Choice Awards and agreed with most of their predictions. I personally would LOVE to see Book Lovers by Emily Henry take the title, but I think Colleen Hoover has it in the bag with It Starts With Us.

Recent TBR Additions: October 2022 Edition

What I’ve Been Reading Lately: October 2022 Edition

WORTH THE READ? Things We Never Got Over Review

What did you read and watch in October? Anything I read? Share in the comments!

Recent TBR Additions: October 2022 Edition

October 19, 2022October 18, 2022 fangirlfury3 Comments

I haven’t shared a TBR additions round-up since the summer, & since cozy reading season is upon us, here’s a few reads I can’t wait to get off my TBR (and hopefully add on to yours!)

What I’ve Been Reading Lately: October 2022 Edition

October 17, 2022October 16, 2022 fangirlfury3 Comments

Hello! It’s one of those times of year where I’m in the full swing of things when it comes to life & the school year. I’ve been reading about 2 books every weekend this fall and I’ve been loving it. I try to do my best to read during the week as well, but my brain is typically so exhausted by the end of the day that it makes it really hard to read (and yes, blog) unless I’m SUPER into what I’m reading…and while being so tired at night isn’t the best for reading, it makes my weekend reading feel so much more rewarding in a way! Today I’m going to be providing mini reviews of what I’ve been reading (and loving) lately.

The Life and Crimes of Hoodie Rosen by Isaac Blum – This is the type of book that no matter my exhaustion at the end of the day, I needed to keep reading The Life and Crimes of Hoodie Rosen because it was that good!!! I so could’ve read this entire book in one sitting on a free weekend day, but instead read it over two nights. The book follows an Orthodox Jewish teenager, Hoodie, when he is caught between two worlds as he forms a friendship with the mayor’s daughter, whose mother is actively trying to get Hoodie’s community out of the town, and as anti-Semitic attacks increasingly occur in his community. The Life and Crimes of Hoodie Rosen was both a humorous (thanks to Hoodie’s comedic POV) and profound read, as Hoodie experiences tension from his own community for questioning rules and tradition, especially while they are under attack from outsiders. In short, if there’s one YA book you read this year, make it this one. My Rating: 5/5 Stars

WORTH THE READ? Things We Never Got Over Review

October 5, 2022October 1, 2022 fangirlfury2 Comments

Summary (from the publisher):Naomi wasn’t just running away from her wedding. She was riding to the rescue of her estranged twin to Knockemout, Virginia, a rough-around-the-edges town where disputes are settled the old-fashioned way…with fists and beer. Usually in that order.

Too bad for Naomi her evil twin hasn’t changed at all. After helping herself to Naomi’s car and cash, Tina leaves her with something unexpected. The niece Naomi didn’t know she had. Now she’s stuck in town with no car, no job, no plan, and no home with an 11-year-old going on thirty to take care of.

There’s a reason Knox doesn’t do complications or high-maintenance women, especially not the romantic ones. But since Naomi’s life imploded right in front of him, the least he can do is help her out of her jam. And just as soon as she stops getting into new trouble he can leave her alone and get back to his peaceful, solitary life.

At least, that’s the plan until the trouble turns to real danger.

My Rating: 4/5 Stars

My Thoughts:

Things We Never Got Over has been over everyone’s bookish feeds this year. It finally took a trip to my local bookstore and seeing so many copies stacked on the romance table that made me put this on hold from the library – sidenote that it’s been so cool seeing more indie books in bookstores this year!

Things We Never Got Over is a small town romance following Naomi, a young woman who runs away from her wedding to help her identical twin sister…only for said rebellious sister to steal Naomi’s car and money and leave her with her twelve year old daughter in her small Virginia town. Enter Knox, who butts heads with Naomi as soon as she gets into town due to her sister’s bad reputation, but also can’t seem but help Naomi adjust to small town life and raising her niece.

Don’t be fooled by Things We Never Got Over’s 500+ page length – you will not be able to put down this book until the end! I devoured the first 300 pages last Sunday and made it my post-work plan the next two days to read it until the end. Things We Never Got Over is the perfect read when you want a simple & addicting romance. I admit that I’m not the biggest indie romance reader – does Elle Kennedy or Colleen Hoover even count anymore?? – but the book reminded me of some under the radar romance books I read when I was first getting into contemporary romance/romance.

September 2022 Reading Wrap Up

October 3, 2022October 1, 2022 fangirlfury2 Comments

Starting this October with looking back on September! This month was back to school season and farewell to beach and pool season, but I keep trying to read outside as much as possible (writing this as I’m experiencing our first dreary fall weekend of the season).

Disclaimer that I usually include what I watched on TV and movies wise in my wrap-ups, but I in all honestly haven’t really been gravitating towards TV at all. I’ve been trying to watch newer shows – I’ve heard such good things about Tell Me Lies on Hulu (based on the book by Carola Lovering) – but I’m struggling to get into new shows. I’m hoping this will turn around this month, especially since Derry Girls Season 3 FINALLY comes to Netflix this Friday and the Netflix mini series of Tembi Locke’s From Scratch premieres on October 21st.

I read 13 books in September – I’m hoping to keep up this momentum throughout the rest of the year. My FAVORITE books of the month were Thank You for Listening by Julia Whelan, Killers of a Certain Age by Deanna Raybourn, and Carrie Soto is Back by Taylor Jenkins Reid. I also really enjoyed Things We Never Got Over by Lucy Score, An Offer from a Gentleman by Julia Quinn, and Nora Goes Off Script by Annabel Morgan.