Here is a 7 minute video I made about Goodreads 2023 nominees that I read but did not vote for this year. Some I still loved! Some, not so much. But I hope you’ll watch and find something you want to read in the future.
Email subscribers: remember to click the gray box in your email of this post. You’ll be sent directly to YouTube. Or just hop on over to the actual blog in your browser. It’s here waiting for you!
Of course you can always go directly to the blog and see them there too. 😉
Have you been over to Goodreads yet to vote for Round 1? I voted last night. Surprisingly, some books that I thought had been released this year were not, so I only voted in four categories. There were a few tough choices! Here’s a little video I made showing my picks:
More videos on the way! I’ve been experimenting and having a lot of fun learning something new. ***Next up will be other Goodreads book nominees that I have read but did not choose (and why.)***
Just a heads up that voting is open on Goodreads for the best books of 2023! If you have an account, head on over there, check out the different genres, and cast your vote in the opening round. You have 12 more days!
FYI: I only vote on books/genres that I’ve read.
I plan to post my picks in the near future. 😉
Happy Voting!
Well, that did not take long! Olivia Sparrow, author of Secret of the Sassafras, saw my review after I mentioned her on TikTok and she responded. To say this made me happy is an understatement. I love supporting authors! Since becoming a beta reader I have really learned a lot about the amount of work that goes into writing a story and getting a book out into the world. Especially for a debut author!
So be sure to write reviews for those books you read! Leave them on Goodreads, Amazon, and whatever social media platform you prefer. The best way to motivate your favorite authors to keep writing books that you love is by sharing feedback.
Happy reading! (And reviewing!)
I’ve said it before, some books just show up in your life at the right time. Such is the case with Secret of the Sassafras, by Olivia Sparrow, a debut novel I only learned of two days ago.
I discovered this book and its author on TikTok as I’ve tried to (cautiously) enhance my social media presence this past week. In doing so, I saw a clip of someone lauding this book and saying she wished more people knew about it. I was curious about the plot, the title and gorgeous cover grabbed my attention, so I decided to push it to the top of my reading list.
The book is, in a word, lovely. The story of “twinless twin,” Gemma Ellsworth, it takes us on an emotional journey of loss, healing, friendship, forgiveness, and learning to trust in love and happiness once more. It is one of those stories with a quiet power, one you do not realize while you’re reading it, but feel deeply as everything weaves together in its conclusion.
If I had one criticism to make, I would say that the ending is a bit abrupt and left me wanting more. But, perhaps, that is what the author wanted and she is setting us up for a sequel. Whether or not that is true and, despite the abrupt ending, this is a story worth reading. It will leave you with a warm blanket wrapped around your heart and a desire to tell the most important people in your life how much you love them.
An excellent book and an impressive debut.
9/10 Stars
(Available on Hoopla and on Amazon)
One of the great things about having bookish friends spread out across the country (and world) is that everyone’s different life experiences direct them to different kinds of books. Case in point, my friend, Kristy Whilden, a d/Deaf author who owns and operates the Hands Up Silent Theatre in New Jersey. She gravitates towards books with main characters who are “differently abled,” and was the person who led me to the amazing book The Butterfly Girl a few months ago (which I regret to admit does not have a review on this site.) Recently, Kristy posted a new list of books she’s read with differently abled characters. 100 Days of Sunlight was on it.
We begin by witnessing a horrific drunk driving accident that leaves 16 year old Tessa Dickinson with cortical blindness, a supposed temporary condition that should correct itself when swelling in her brain is reduced. But, there are weeks of darkness ahead and Tessa is a young poet whose prose focuses very much on visual imagery. To say that the rug has been pulled out from under her is an understatement.
When her grandfather places an ad in the local paper for a teenage typist to help Tessa, she is livid, and demands he cancel it. He does, but not before it is noticed by Will Ludovico, the 16 year old son of the newspaper’s owner. Will has had his own physical challenges, but his confidence and optimism make him certain that he can help Tessa adjust and find joy, despite her situation.
Much of the story is a push-and-pull between Will’s determination and Tessa’s frustration. But these are kind, smart, good-hearted young people. They are at an age where they are still learning about life, attraction, and the meaning of true beauty and love. Any reader with a sensitive soul will adore these two main characters. And, like many of the best stories, find some personal messages to take away and apply to their own lives. I know I did.
I highly, highly recommend 100 Days of Sunlight. It is perfect for this season that emphasizes gratitude and for anyone who is looking for renewed hope in friendship and goodness towards others.
A very worthy 10/10 stars!
Readwithkristie.com 