Category: Saturday Smorgasbord

2023 Year In Review, Part 2

2023 Year In Review, Part 2

Posted on by Jaymie

If you were here on Wednesday, you saw the first half of my list of favorite reads from 2023. Here’s the top five!

5. The Enneagram Development Guide – This is the second non-fiction book on this year’s list, and it’s another book I loved but apparently didn’t review on the blog. The things I love about this book are probably the same things that kept me from posting about it. This is a working book, not a reading book. I have tons of Enneagram books that I can read from cover to cover. Then they go on a shelf and don’t get picked up again. But like a few of my other favorites, this is a WORKING book. Each number has a section that digs into practices that you can work on to bring you to the healthier aspects of your number. But the practices are a DEEP dive – each one could be a focus for weeks at a time. So while I have been working with this for months now, I am still hardly into my number’s section in the book. And I love that. I told a friend reading this is like discovering the Enneagram for the first time. If you are burned out on reading the same old thing and you long to go deeper, this is the resource you should check out.  ♥♥♥♥♥

4. The Renaissance of Gwen Hathaway – Looking to see where this should fall on my top ten list for 2023 made me want to drop everything else and read this again. It’s the second book by Ashley Schumacher to make a top ten list for me, and both are long overdue for re-reading. This is the second of the three books for teens and young adults on this year’s list. You can read my full review of this delight here.

 

 

3. Every Duke Has His Day – The dog-swapping premise of this book was a winner for me. This delivered on everything I had hoped for when I picked it up, and it’s definitely one I would read again. You can read my full review here.

 

 

 

2. Teen Titans: Robin – The second graphic novel – and the third YA novel – on the list is the most recent addition to this DC property that is one of my must-buy series right now (I have already pre-ordered the next book which doesn’t even release until November 2024.). You can read my full review here.

 

 

1. Assistant to the Villain – This was my most anticipated novel of the year, and it delivered on all accounts. I still remember digging into this the minute it arrived, and not putting it down until I was done. I even did a re-read as part of my low-key Christmas reading, and it was as delightful as I remembered. The only other pre-order I have right now, in addition to the new Teen Titans book, is the sequel to this, Apprentice to the Villain, which won’t be out until August. You can read the full review for this book here.

 

2023 Year In Review, Part 1

2023 Year In Review, Part 1

Posted on by Jaymie

2023 was a tough reading year for me. I read the fewest number of books that I have since I started keeping track on Goodreads. But even more than just numbers, I didn’t encounter a lot of books that left a lasting impression. When I tried to figure out what my top 10 books were, I struggled to remember things I read in the earlier part of 2023.  This makes me want to look deeper at my past reading numbers to see how this year measures up.

I read 145 books in 2023, and I feel good about that number, even if it’s the lowest of the last seven years. I set a one book goal on Goodreads for 2023, which was a brilliant idea I came across on Instagram – it kept me from obsessing about meeting a goal. And it freed me up to go with the flow a bit more this year with my reading. I’m looking forward to digging into some of my other reading stats later this year.

Now, let’s take a look at my favorites from 2023. Of the 10 books on my list, two are nonfiction. Half of the list are books I read from review copies this year. There are 3 YA books on the list and 1 middle grade book, and there are two graphic novels on the list.

Today we will cover books 10 through 6, plus an Honorable Mention. Then Friday we will pick up the rest. (You can see my lists from past years here.) Here we go!

Honorable Mention: The Labors of Hercules Beal – This was not a 5 star book when I read and rated it, which pushed it out of consideration for my Top Ten list. But the story, and the character of Hercules, really stuck with me this year, unlike a lot of other things I read that I loved in the moment but then forgot. So I had to make mention of this book for 2023. You can read my full review here.

 

 

10. A Letter to My Congregation – I didn’t post a full review of this on the blog in 2023, but this was a hugely influential read for the year. I rated this “5+++” when I initially read it. My Goodreads review reads: “This was exceptionally good and a perfectly timed read for me. I loved the tone of it which made it easy to plow through over a couple of days. I was underlining something on almost every page. While I thought the chapters on the author’s journey to acceptance and alliance were excellent, my favorites were the two chapters (4 & 5) on how the Church can disagree on this issue – and other issues as they arise over time – without splitting or tearing each other apart. I hope to get some people together to talk about those chapters in particular.” ♥♥♥♥♥+++

 

9. Escape from Mr. Lemoncello’s Library (Graphic Novel) – This is the one middle grade book on the list this year. I loved this adaptation of a “classic” middle grade novel. You can read my full review here.

 

 

 

8. Manslaughter Park – This is the third book in the Jane Austen Murder Mystery series for teens and young adults – and I loved it! I read this on a retreat so I will always associate it with that whole experience which adds to its specialness. You can read my full review here.

 

 

 

7. Summer Reading – I discovered Jenn McKinlay through her mysteries, but I have become an even bigger fan of her romance novels. You can read my full review of this one here.

 

 

 

6. Starter Villain – My husband and I both enjoyed this stand alone book from John Scalzi – it’s quirky and fun, and one I will happily read again. You can read my full review here.

 

 

 

Be sure to come back Friday for the rest of the list!

YEAR IN REVIEW: Faves from 2022, Part 2

YEAR IN REVIEW: Faves from 2022, Part 2

Posted on by Jaymie

On Wednesday, I posted books 6 through 10 in my Faves from 2022 list. It’s time now for my Top 5!

5. The Bodyguard – This book got a lot of buzz in 2022 – and it was well worth the attention! I loved this one. You can read my full review here.

 

 

 

 

4. The Final Gambit – The final book in the Inheritance Games trilogy was outstanding. This series is another Jennifer Lynn Barnes winner! You can read my full review here.

 

 

 

 

3. Buried in a Good Book – This series kick off was outstanding! I have book 2 on my TBR to read soon. You can read my full review here.

 

 

 

 

2. Tear Down the Throne – Books 2 and 3 on my list were actually tied in my tally, but I had to give the edge to this one. I adored the first series – Crown of Shards – and this spin off is just as fantastic. I have an ARC for book 3, but I’m afraid to start it because once I finish, the series will be done. If you are looking for a fun adult fantasy series, check out the Gargoyle Queen series! You can read my full review for this book here.

 

 

 

1.  Magic, Lies, and Deadly Pies – This was one of the most memorable books of 2022 for me. It had a perfect mix of mystery and sass, with a satisfying dark side. I never posted a full review for this one, but you can read a bit about it here where I talk about the Pies Before Guys series.

 

 

 

So, those are my top 10 favorites from 2022 – what were some of yours?

YEAR IN REVIEW: Faves from 2022, Part 1

YEAR IN REVIEW: Faves from 2022, Part 1

Posted on by Jaymie

2022 is a wrap! This week we’ll look back at some of my favorites from last year – if you missed these, you can add them to your TBR for 2023.

10. The Wedding Plot – This has been my favorite book in this whole, fantastic series. You can read my full review here.

 

 

 

 

9. The Joy of Reading – This is the only nonfiction title to make my top 10 – and it’s not about the Enneagram! This year, this book about reading for teachers and librarians – and others who care about kids and reading – was a favorite. I even bought copies for some of my teacher friends to encourage them in their important work. You can read my full review here.

 

 

 

8. Not the Witch You Wed – I didn’t blog a full review of this one in 2022, but I loved it. The paranormal elements were right up my alley, and I loved the characters and the world building. I am eager to read more in this series. (♥♥♥♥½)

 

 

 

 

7. The Nova Incident – I have enjoyed this Galactic Cold War series from the beginning, but it gets better with every new book. I loved this new story and can’t wait to see what happens next in this sci-fi spy series. You can read my full review here.

 

 

 

 

6. The Agathas – There are only two YA novels on this year’s Top 10, and this is the first. I still have my fingers crossed that this will be a series – I loved these characters! You can read my full review here.

 

 

 

 

Come back on Friday to see the top 5 books on my list!

YEAR IN REVIEW - Best of 2021 for Kids and Teens

YEAR IN REVIEW – Best of 2021 for Kids and Teens

Posted on by Jaymie

Continuing my best of lists for 2021, here are the lists for books for kids and books for teens/young adults.

Best of 2021 – Books for Kids

The Hunger Heroes: Missed Meal Mayhem – If I could only pick one kids book from 2021 to highlight, it would be this one. I struggle to find early chapter books that I really love and am excited to share with kids, but this is one I literally handed to anyone and everyone in 2021. This graphic novel was a delight to read and to share. Don’t miss it! You can read my full review here.
The Winterborne Home for Mayhem and Mystery – Book 2 in this fantastic series for kids 10 and up from the amazing Ally Carter was another favorite from 2021. You can read my full review here for book one and here for this second book in the series.
Bea Is for Blended – A lovely, powerful middle grade story that shouldn’t be missed. You can read my full review here.
What Comes Next – A stand alone story from the author of the Mr. Terupt series as well as the Perfect Score series. You can read the full review here.
Uncomfortable Conversations with a Black Boy – I don’t usually read a lot of nonfiction for kids, but I was intrigued by this kid-friendly version of the author’s show/book Uncomfortable Conversations with a Black Man. This is for readers 10 and up. You can read my full review here.

 

Best of 2021 – Books for Teens/Young Adults

Amelia Unabridged – If I could only pick one “Best of 2021” book, regardless of audience, I would pick this one. This book rocked my world when I first read it, and it stuck with me all year. I’m looking forward to carving out some time for a re-read soon. You can read my full review here.
Teen Titans: Beast Boy Loves Raven – I have really enjoyed this graphic novel series. Yes, I wish the series had more depth to the characters, but once I accept the limitations of the format for digging deeper into character details, I just enjoy the story and characters for what they are – fun. You can read my full review of this book here and the whole series here.
Bookish Boyfriends: Get a Clue – This series has been a delight since book one. You can read my full review of this book here, and you can read more about the whole series here.
Counting Down with You – Loved this powerful YA novel this year! You can read my full review here.
The Hawthorne Legacy (♥♥♥♥♥) – Book 2 in the Hawthorne series by my favorite YA author, Jennifer Lynn Barnes, was a powerhouse, It delivered on all the things I thought were missing for the first book while not losing any of the parts I loved. I can’t wait to read book 3 later this year. You can read my full review of book 1 here.
Enola Holmes and the Black Barouche – After the delightful Netflix movie starring Enola Holmes, this book was a must read for me – and it did not disappoint! You can read my full review here.
Never Saw You Coming – I heard a lot about this book last year as I follow the author on social media. The book did not disappoint. Read my full review here.
You Have a Match – This was my second Emma Lord book and I loved it! You can read my full review here, and check out the author page here – she has a new book out that I will be reviewing soon.

YEAR IN REVIEW - Best of 2021 for Adults

YEAR IN REVIEW – Best of 2021 for Adults

Posted on by Jaymie

2021 was a tough reading year for me. Between starting a new job, rediscovering an old hobby, and (waves vaguely at a world in chaos), I found it hard to stop doom scrolling and focus long enough to really engage with the sort of reading I usually do. But that doesn’t mean 2021 didn’t have some amazing books that I thoroughly enjoyed. Here are some of my favorites for adults from what I read in 2021:

Best of 2021 – Adult Fiction

Hunt the Stars (♥♥♥♥½)- These books aren’t necessarily in order, but if I had to pick a favorite adult fiction book from last year, I think Hunt the Stars would be the one. It helps that it was one of the last books I read in 2021. But I remember so clearly as I was reading being delighted by the whole story and the characters, and feeling such joy whenever I checked my progress and saw I had so much book still left to enjoy.  This one doesn’t release until this year, but the author is a favorite, so I prioritized this one over some others I probably should have read – and I was not disappointed. If you enjoyed The Consortium Rebellion series or you love romantic scifi, put this one on your list for February 2022. Stay tuned for my full review in February as well.
Capture the Crown – If you’ve read my coverage of the Crown of Shards series, my love of this spin off shouldn’t come as a surprise. You can read my full review here.
The List (♥♥♥♥♥)- My husband pulled me into the Orphan X series a couple summers ago. One of my favorite characters is Joey, who features as the main character in this short story. It was everything I wanted it to be. If the author would ever spin off a series starring Joey, I’d be first in line to pick it up.
Finlay Donovan Is Killing It – This mystery was quirky and different, and I loved it. You can read my full review here. And stay tuned for my review of the sequel, Finlay Donovan Knocks ‘Em Dead, which releases February 1st.
To Fetch a Felon – First in a new cozy series from late 2020 with a talking corgi, this was a delight from start to finish. (My blog was even quoted in the “praise for book one” section of the second book!) You can read my full review of book one here and book two here. Cozy fans should NOT miss this series!

Best of 2021 – Adult Nonfiction

All of the Marvels – Again, these aren’t listed in any particular order, but if I had to pick just one favorite nonfiction book from this year, it would be this one. I didn’t expect to love this like I did – the writing is fantastic, and the comics history and stories are fascinating. You can read my full review here.
Reading While Black (♥♥♥♥♥) – I read this one for me, rather than for a blog post, so there’s no review here on the blog. But I will tell you this was FANTASTIC. It was challenging in all the best ways. The writing is engaging and conversational. This is a resource I highly recommend.
The Enneagram Guide to Waking Up – I didn’t read much nonfiction in 2021, and the bulk of what I did read was Enneagram related. You can read my full review of this resource here.
The Enneagram Goes to Church – Another great Enneagram resource from 2021, you can read my full review here.
The Story of You – This was my final review of 2021, so this one might be more familiar to you. You can read the full review again here.

SATURDAY SMORGASBORD: Summer/Sabbatical Wrap Up

SATURDAY SMORGASBORD: Summer/Sabbatical Wrap Up

Posted on by Jaymie

If reading was a numbers game, this summer would be a fail.

For the last six or seven years, I have maintained a reading pace of a book a day or more. I have blown through the family reading challenge most years (although not in 2018). And I have long lists of great summer reads.

Not this year.

I read 11 books in June. I’m on pace to hit that or maybe do one or two better in July. Twenty-two books in 60-some days is way off my usual pace.

And it’s going to be okay. It has to be because that is my reality. And really, no one cares other than me.

So I will celebrate the great books I read and look forward to even more great reads as 2021 continues. Here’s the wrap up for summer 2021. (You can read back through my summer plan here – and then laugh at how naïve I was!)

Family Reading Challenge

None of us finished. Not one. I read 1 of my five (a re-read from my favorite series). My husband has finished 3. The teen has read nothing.

BUT…. We have decide to extend our deadline into mid-August. My husband is committed to finishing all five of his books, and the teen says he is going to read at least one by the new deadline. I’m not sure what I will do. I am enjoying my ARC reading since I shifted some things around, so we’ll see.

 

ARCs

In my start-of-summer post, I posted 23 book covers of some of the ARCs I need to be reading. Of course, this was before my July sabbatical (more on that in a minute). Of those pictured, I read 10 and DNF’d another (Did Not Finish). I’m on pace to finish at least 17 ARCs (well, two were DNFs) during these two summer months by the time this posts. Not bad. Not amazing, but not bad.

 

Sabbatical

One thing that was NOT on my radar when I posted my summer reading plan 8 weeks ago was my July Sabbatical. You can read about it here.

This is one of the best decisions I could have made for myself and my mental health. I relished the freedom to read – or re-read – or not read. And I might even be tempted to do it again. I needed this break desperately. And it gave me some time to consider the future.

This blog is very important to me. I’ve poured a LOT of time and a lot of myself into it. But I’m changing things up to make it more sustainable with my new responsibilities.

  • I am keeping Book News on Mondays. Doing book research on new releases is one of my favorite activities. I refuse to give it up. I might include fewer books going forward, but this was one of the driving factors I had for creating The Neverending TBR in the first place. So it stays.
  • I am keeping reviews for adult books on Wednesdays. This is not changing. For the last couple years, I have often posted *two* adult reviews a week because I have had such a surplus. But I am committing to myself that I am only going to post one a week for awhile. This means I have to fight against the feeling of being “behind.” And reviews won’t always post near their release date any more. And until I get “caught up,” I have to be okay with that.
  • I am moving my reviews of books for kids and books for teens/young adults to Fridays. Some weeks the review will be for a middle grade book and other weeks it will be a YA graphic novel and another week it will be a picture book. But one review a week, like the adult reviews, just to help me maintain my peace.

So, that’s the scoop. Generally 3 posts a week, two reviews and Book News. I don’t know if I’ll keep doing Saturday Smorgasbord. We’ll have to see what evolves over time. But this pace feels far more manageable than 3 to 6 reviews a week like I have been doing for the last few years.

I think the highlight to my summer reading has to be the re-reading I have enjoyed. There are few things as soothing as reading a favorite book – it’s like hanging out with an old friend.

 

So, what did you read this summer?

SABBATICAL: Books about Books

SABBATICAL: Books about Books

Posted on by Jaymie

Before my sabbatical,  I would spend one Saturday a month on a list post or some other deep dive into a topic. You can find all of these posts together under the category of Saturday Smorgasbord. I anticipate this being my final Sabbatical post, depending on how things have gone over the last month.

Today, I want to highlight the post about some books about books. This is a post from 2017. While a lot of the books included were ones I had read, not all of them were.

If I were to do that post today, I would have to add some of the great books that have released since then – books about book banning, cozy mysteries about book sellers and authors and librarians, as well as books about bookish spaces. Some favorites would be:

For Kids:

Judy Moody, Book Quiz, Whiz
Property of the Rebel Librarian
Ban This Book
Help Wanted. Must Love Books
Madeline Finn and the Shelter Dog

 

For Teens:

Recommended For You
Copycat
The Bookish Boyfriends series
What I Like About You

 

For Adults:

Bait and Witch
How to Raise a Reader
The Magical Bookshop Mystery series
The Good Ones
Finlay Donovan Is Killing It
The Bromance Bookclub Series
The Bookish Life of Nina Hill

 

Check out the original post here: Saturday Smorgasbord: Books about Books

SABBATICAL: Favorite Illustrators

SABBATICAL: Favorite Illustrators

Posted on by Jaymie

Before my sabbatical,  I would spend one Saturday a month on a list post or some other deep dive into a topic. You can find all of these posts together under the category of Saturday Smorgasbord. This week, to wrap up my month off, I am going to revisit three of my favorite posts.

Today, I want to highlight the post about some of my favorite illustrators. While I don’t teach kids any more, I still love a good picture book!

This list was originally posted in 2016. If you asked me today to list some favorites without looking at that list, I would definitely highlight Dan Santat, Ashley Spires, and Mo Willems, the first three names on the original post. These folks remain favorites. I can pick their art style out from across the bookstore. I love that all of them are also authors.

I’d also include Jarrett Krosoczka who really should have been on that original list. I love his art, his stories, and he’s an awesome human being, too. Another great human being who is also a great author and illustrator is Jarrett Lerner. Today’s list would include both of those gentlemen.

You can check out the original post here: Saturday Smorgasbord: Top 10 Favorite Illustrators

SABBATICAL: Memorable Protagonists

SABBATICAL: Memorable Protagonists

Posted on by Jaymie

Before my sabbatical,  I would spend one Saturday a month on a list post or some other deep dive into a topic. You can find all of these posts together under the category of Saturday Smorgasbord. This week, to wrap up my month off, I am going to revisit three of my favorite posts.

Today, I want to highlight the post about some of my favorite protagonists. While this list was put together over 3 years ago, much of it is still true today. If you asked me to name memorable protagonists without having this 2017 list in front of me, I would have named Kitty Katt-Martini, Tess Kendrick, and Rydan Corvis without even blinking – three of the characters on the original list.

Today I’d add two young women – Elizabeth Vrabel from the Kitty Katt-Martini series and Joey Morales from the Orphan X series – to the protector category. Both of these young women star in short stories from their authors, and I love the roles they play in the full-length books that focus on other characters. Their smarts and their sass put them both into my list of favorites. I’d also add Ada VonHasenberg from Polaris Rising in the protector category. I don’t know that I have new brooding men or funny characters that immediately come to mind to add to my original list. And Meg Langslow is still the character most like me in the books I read.

You can read the full original post here: Saturday Smorgasbord: Memorable Protagonists.