Top Ten Tuesday: All You Need is Love

 

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly feature hosted by Jana at That Artsy Reader Girl.  This week's topic is "Books with the Word “[Insert Word Here]” in the Title."  It's kind of low-hanging fruit, but I chose the word "love."  Especially among Henry's books, I found so many examples just on our own shelves!

 

 

 

 

 

Musing on Nine Years

It's a little hard for me to believe, but 9 years ago, in 2016, I pressed "publish" on my first post on Musings of a Literary Wanderer!  Back then, I had no expectations for blogging; I simply wanted a space to share book reviews and also document our travels, particularly the many hikes that Tom and I were doing back then.

So much has changed since then!  Tom and I moved from our condo and purchased our first home together, I've changed jobs twice and careers once, and, of course, we had Henry!  Life looks a lot different than it used to, and that means the blog has changed, too.

What has evolved over the years?  My book reviews have gotten shorter.  I participate in fewer features hosted by others (Top Ten Tuesday and Can't-Wait Wednesday are no longer weekly for me).  Travel posts are almost non-existent now, but I do like to document indie bookstores and Little Free Libraries that I visit.  In general, I just post less, but my sister has also come on a guest blogger/co-blogger and even has her own series now!  Michele's Monday Picks has been a staple for a couple years now.  My reading tastes have changed quite a bit, too!

What has stayed the same?  My love for reading and the book blogging community is still there.  I still love sharing what I'm reading (and what Henry is reading, too!), even if I don't post as often.  There never seem to be enough hours in the day to do both what I want AND what I need to do, and unfortunately hobbies sometimes have to take a backseat.  I am so grateful for the community I've found - I've seen a lot of blogs come and go, so I appreciate the group I've found! (And I also apologize if my blog-hopping isn't as good as it used to be!)

Where do we go from here?  I hope to continue blogging for a long time, although I don't know for sure what that will look like.  Maybe it means posting less, maybe it means taking breaks sometimes - but as long as I'm enjoying it (and I still am!), this space will always be an outlet for us to talk books (and occasionally other things) together.

So, thank you to everyone who has supported this little blog over the years, from reading my words to commenting on posts - I appreciate it so much!

Cheers!

Michele's Monday Picks #68

Angela is so generous to let me pop in with my little series, Michele’s Monday Picks!  I’m not a blogger or bookstagrammer, but I love getting excited about new releases with the rest of you.  Here I’ll be sharing new books I’m really looking forward to!

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The Wish Switch

By Lynn Painter

Expected Publication: May 13, 2025

From Goodreads:

Magic and mayhem collide in beloved bestselling author Lynn Painter’s hilarious middle grade debut, perfect for fans of Sarah Mlynowski and Wendy Mass.

Emma Rockford knows it will take bonafide magic to make middle school everything she wants it to be. Luckily, before Emma’s beloved Nana died, she left detailed instructions on how to access an ancient, secret, magical wishing well. Emma follows each step and plans out every moment…except for the one where the obnoxious new kid, Jackson, tosses in wishes of his own that literally knock her wishes off course. When seventh grade starts, Emma discovers that her wishes are starting to come true, alright. But not for her…for Jackson. 

Which, the two quickly discover, could have disastrous consequences for both of their families, and cost Emma her best friends. Can they set everything straight in time to prevent full-blown catastrophe?

With the trademark wit and heart that have earned her legions of fans, New York Times bestselling author Lynn Painter delivers a laugh-out-loud story of friendship, family, and wishing—with a delightful dash of magic.

I have loved everything I’ve read by Lynn Painter and am so excited for her first middle grade. Do you think you’ll be picking this one up?

Recent Reads

 A Novel Summer by Jamie Brenner (2024)

After celebrating her first bestselling novel, Shelby returns to the town and people that inspired her book.  She doesn't get a warm welcome even though she takes over managing the local bookstore for her friend.  Over the course of the summer, she tries to repair relationships and save the store, while also trying to write her second novel.  Ugh, this was a disappointment for me.  I love a bookstore setting, so that was fun, as was seeing some of the ins and outs of a writer's process.  But, I didn't care for the characters (and there were SO MANY to keep track of), and the pacing of the story was inconsistent.  Some situations dragged on, while others were dealt with in a matter of paragraphs.  It all felt very shallow and uninspired.  3 stars

White House by the Sea by Kate Storey (2024)

Kate Storey recounts the lives of the Kennedy family through the lens of their Hyannis Port, Massachusetts compound, where so many family events, both big and small, have taken place.  In a mostly chronological order, Storey tells how the Kennedy family initially came to Hyannis Port and how they grew from one house to many over the area.  Through research and interviews with family members, neighbors, and friends, Storey is able to give an intimate look at the highs and lows experienced by the family at their retreat.  From football games and sailing to untimely deaths and political celebrations, it was so interesting to see how much happened to the family in this location.  4 stars

* This post contains affiliate links; I earn a small commission on qualifying purchases, at no cost to you.

Can't-Wait Wednesday: What Happens in Amsterdam

Can't-Wait Wednesday is hosted by Tressa at Wishful Endings and helps us spotlight upcoming releases we're eagerly anticipating!

What Happens in Amsterdam

Rachel Lynn Solomon

Expected publication date: May 6, 2025

Falling in love with your husband is anything but convenient in this steamy romance from the New York Times bestselling author of Business or Pleasure.

Dani Dorfman has somehow made it to her thirties without knowing what she wants to do with her life. So when an office romance ends poorly and gets her fired, she applies for a job in Amsterdam, idly dreaming of escaping the mess she’s created, but never imagining she'll actually get it.

Except she does. By the end of her first week in Amsterdam, she’s never felt more adrift or alone. Then she crashes her bike into her high school ex-boyfriend—and suddenly life is blooming with new opportunities.

Wouter van Leeuwen was a Dutch exchange student Dani’s family hosted, a forbidden love that ended in a painful breakup. Years later, there’s still sizzling chemistry between them, and okay, maybe a little animosity. More importantly, Wouter needs to be married to inherit a gorgeous family home on a canal—and when Dani's job falls apart, she needs a visa. As the marriage of convenience pushes them together in unexpected ways, Dani must decide whether her new life is yet another mistake—or if it's worth taking a risk on a second chance. -  from Goodreads

Recent Reads

 Ladies of the House by Lauren Edmondson (2021)

Daisy's father was a high-profile politician, but after scandalous things are revealed after his death, his family suffers the consequences.  This was a middle-of-the-road read for me.  I liked the insider look at DC politics and I also enjoyed Daisy's mother Cricket and how she handles herself while facing so much public scrutiny.  I thought the story, and especially the dialogue, were overly melodramatic at times.  This is a Sense & Sensibility retelling, but as I've never read the original, I can't really comment on that aspect.  3 stars

Is She Really Going Out With Him? by Sophie Cousens (2024)

Journalist Anna Appleby, in an attempt to keep her magazine job, offers to write about her dating life, with all her potential suitors chosen by her children.  Anna is divorced and not looking to get into a relationship, but will these dates, and a burgeoning flirtation with her co-worker, change her mind on finding love again?  I really enjoyed this book; I flew through it in just a couple days, getting lost in Anna's story.  I loved the banter between her and Will, a co-worker, and how she's confused by potential feelings for him.  I honestly didn't know if Will would be the one for her and I just had to keep reading to find out what would happen.  The story was about so much more than the romance, though - we really see Anna grow throughout the book, healing from her divorce, forging a better relationship with her ex and her children, and meeting new people.  Overall, another hit from Sophie Cousens!  4.5 stars

* This post contains affiliate links; I earn a small commission on qualifying purchases, at no cost to you.

Michele's Monday Picks #67

Angela is so generous to let me pop in with my little series, Michele’s Monday Picks!  I’m not a blogger or bookstagrammer, but I love getting excited about new releases with the rest of you.  Here I’ll be sharing new books I’m really looking forward to!

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The Guilt Pill

By Saumya Dave

Expected Publication: April 15, 2025

From Goodreads:

The Other Black Girl meets The Push in this taut psychological drama about a CEO on maternity leave who goes missing after she becomes addicted to an experimental, guilt-erasing pill, exploring themes of motherhood, privilege, race, and how the world treats women who dare to “have it all.”

What if women could get rid of their guilt?

Maya Patel has it all—her own start-up, a sexy, doting husband, influencer status, and now, a new baby. Or does she? Because behind closed doors, Maya's drowning. Her newborn's taking a toll on her marriage, her best friend won't return her calls, and her company's hanging on by a thread. The worst part? It's all her fault. If she could just be a better boss, mother, wife, daughter, friend… Maybe she wouldn't feel so guilty all the time.

Enter: #Girlboss Liz Anderson, who introduces her to the "guilt pill," an experimental supplement that erases female guilt. At first, it’s the perfect antidote to Maya’s self-blame and imposter syndrome, and she finally becomes the unapologetic woman she’s always wanted to be. But there's a catch: for Maya to truly "have it all," she needs to be ready to risk it all. And as Maya falls deeper and deeper down the pill's guilt-free rabbit hole, her growing ruthlessness could threaten everything she's built for herself—and the family she's worked so hard to protect.

Electric, taut, and sharply observed, The Guilt Pill is a feminist exploration of motherhood, race, ambition, and how the world treats women who dare to go after everything they want.

This sounds like such an interesting premise for a speculative fiction. Do you think you’ll be picking this one up?