#bookstalife

[ktienh]

📘 Shadow Rose 📚 Daughters of Moon and Sun 🖋️ Elsie Quail ➡️ Synopsis 🌞🌞🌞🌙 Firstly, I fell completely in love with this cover. It is just absolutely gorgeous! The premise of the story was also rather compelling and I do love a well-spun fantasy world. The world setting itself is really quite wonderful, especially the contrast between the human world vs. the Afterlife. The details of magic and different creatures to the compellingly dark dungeons where the Lady of Darkness was being kept prisoner kept me riveted. I also love a good quest for which these 3 friends set off to right a wrong. Unfortunately, I wasn't too keen on these characters. Maybe, it was my expectations... I somehow wanted Maeva to be just like Mia from The Nevernight Chronicles. Okay, not exactly but bad ass because, at the start of the book, that's what she kind of sounds like. However, she wasn't, exactly... She and her friends cried quite a lot in the book. I don't know why I mind so much when my tears are pretty much on tap but it bothered me. Her interaction with her bff & love interest was also really awkward which is in one way understandable BUT I kind of found the first time they actually got it together so very truly awkward or just really weird (in terms of setting than sexual content). But then again, it could just be me. This book is obviously not for children and these characters are also not children but yet, they also stamped their feet a number of times! I honestly can't remember the last time I stamped my feet because I'm upset, can you? Overall, lovely setting, really promising story arc but I was just unable to empathise with these characters. Thanks to the author for gifting me with an eARC copy of the book. All thoughts are my own. ⚠️ implied rape, implied domestic violence, death of a child. 🏷 #ShadowRose #ElsieQuail #DaughtersOfMoonAndSun #fantasy #lgbtqia #ff #indieauthor #independentauthor #bookstalife #bookstagram #bookstagrammer #ausbookstagrammer #booklover #booksta #igreads #lovetoread #eclecticreader #bookishfeatures #aussiebookstagrammers #readersofinstagram #bookreview #fantasybooks #bookphoto #bookish #booklife #booksofinstagram #eclecticreader https://www.instagram.com/p/CmKXXXmyPkO/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[romcombc]

Book Review for Neanderthal Seeking Human

As the first book I have read by Penny Reid, I really wanted to love it! While I did enjoy the humor (she had me laughing before I finished the first page), I just couldn’t go all in with this book. The the storyline of Janie and Quinn was solid; however, it was the subplots that consistently pulled my attention away, causing my interest to dip until we were finally able to get back to the heart of the story. Understanding Neanderthal Seeks Human was Penny’s debut novel, I believe her writing was still finding its footing and the rest of the series may be more formulated and awe-inspiring.

To say Janie has had a bad day would be a gross understatement. First, she finds out her boyfriend has been cheating on her. Next, she spectacularly destroys her work outfit and has to borrow a variety of items to resemble a partially functioning/half decent human being. But it doesn’t stop there! Of course she is also fired once she gets to work, conveniently being part of a downsizing of one. You would think mercy would be taken on her at some point but the icing on the cake, the extremely hot security guard – Sir McHotPants, the man she can’t even look in the face, has been assigned to escort her off the premises. What has she possibly done to deserve all of this?! Out of the three sisters, she was the good one, the calm one, the one who always did the right thing. Taking a deep breath (after hiding in the bathroom post firing and pre McHotPants), Quinn leaves with her head held high and resolves to get her life back on track. After sulking around the apartment and embracing her new reclusive way of life, her roommate and best friend Elizabeth suggests a girls night out. Not knowing what she signed up for, she definitely wasn’t expecting to run into McHotPants – i.e. Quinn! She also didn’t expect to wake up hungover, in her underwear, and in a strange bed the next morning! Quickly to reassure her nothing happened, Quinn offers to help Janie snag a job where he works. Going full circle and back where it all started, Janie finally feels like things are working out. Now if she can just figure out her love life. Lucky for her, Quinn has an answer for that too!

While I don’t see myself reading any more books in this series, I do highly recommend it for those who love a steamy romance with humor, suspense, drama, and a quirky group of characters that keep you smiling, guessing, laughing, and loving from beginning to end.

Check out the spoiler-free review in the Facebook Group - The Romantic Comedy Book Club or the full review on the main website: https://romcombc.com/book/neanderthal-seeks-human/

[midwintermercantile]

"Indulge your imagination with our 'Reading Is Dreaming With Your Eyes Open' shirt 📚✨ Dive into enchanting worlds, explore new horizons, and let your dreams soar. Embrace the magic of reading - get yours now and unlock new adventures! 📖💫 #BookLoversUnite #DreamWithOpenEyes #LiteraryMagic"

[thediaryofareader]

📚2023 Bookish Goals📚 My reading goal has always been on the more simple side of things. I typically set a goal of each book I want to read for the month, and because I am a mood reader it gets shot to hell and I end up reading what I feel like in that moment. While I don't necessarily want to change that, I love reading with my mood, this year I’m challenging myself (and you) to go beyond the confines of your usual goal setting and expand the goals you set #newyearsbookishresolution 🌟Resolutions 🌟 ⭐️Be more selective on NetGalley requests. 🚫DNF more books. If I'm not enjoying it to the DNF pile it goes. The DNF monster 👾 won't attack me 📌Tackle my physical tbr, restricting my buying (not incl. box boxes) to when I finish a book I can get a new book. 📖Reading lots more ARCs. I really enjoy ARCs and reviewing them for my blog and insta 📚Read more new to me authors 📖Booksta Goals📖 🚨Keep better track of my Goodreads reviews 🚨Attend my first ever author signing 🚨Attend a book conference 🚨Work with more publishers and businesses 🚨Growing by Insta by 75% by the end of the year QOTD: Happy New Year! What bookish goals are you setting for 2023? 💡credit: @what_manda_reads #2023goals #readinggoals #readinggoal2023 #readerlife #bookishlife #iamareader #booksaremylife #booksaremagic #bookstalife #readersofinstagram #booklover #bookwormlife #bookdragons #bookstababes #bookishgoals #booksarelife #bestyearyet #bookstagrammer #bookstagram #romanstagram #goalsetter #newyeargoals https://www.instagram.com/p/Cm26buRLTQn/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[robyn-weightman]

Happy Sunday, everyone. What are your morning plans?

[arpitashrivastava]

Currently listening to How to Walk Away and I am mesmerized. This is my first Katherine Center book and now I am like why did I take so long to read any of her books. I am so engrossed in this book that I didn't even realize that I am already 80% done and will complete it by tonight. The author has dealt with such a fragile subject so beautifully. This is a great book about moving on, inner strength, not giving up and having positive thoughts 📚 A detailed review is coming soon. Have you read this beautiful book? What did you think about it? #howtowalkaway #howtowalkawaybook #stmartinspress #stmartinspressbooks #bookstagram #bookishlyengaged #bookishlove #bookishlife #booksbooksbooks #bookishfeatures audiobook #audiobooks #audiobookstagram #audiobooksofinstagram #bookstalife #bookstagramfeature #currentlyreading #currentreads #currentbook #currentbooks #booksofig #bookblogger #bookbloggersofinstagram #bookbloggers #bookbloggerlife https://www.instagram.com/p/CA6UVlfguhQ/?igshid=1eslwjos374wc

[astralcolt]

Still obsessed with these gorgeous pics by @lovelybookishuniverse ❤️💙💜 #starswept #waywardstars Posted @withregram • @lovelybookishuniverse Swipe for one of the prettiest interior book pages ever!! 💞 . One of the things I really love about @astralcolt's books is how pretty she makes the interiors of them look as well as the covers. I just received a copy from her of her newest book, Windborn, which is out very soon and I'm so excited to show you guys it on my story! The art wraps around from the front to the back sooo beautifully. TYSM for the copy Mary!! 😆🤩🤗❤❤ . It's also one of my favorite tropes! When 2 people get stuck together on a journey that forces them to begin to like each other. 😂 It has magic and adventure and I'm very excited for it! . 💜 What are your favorite tropes? . . . . . #renewannewithane #maryfan #windborn #newfantasybooks #newbookreleases #coverlove #beautifulbookcovers #bookstalife #bibliophile #booksarelove #readordie #ilovebooks #booksforever #readalways #booksofinstagram #bookishfeatures #readerlife #booksarelife #booksbooksbooks #bookshelves #shelfie #bookspines #bookrainbow #scifibooks #musicinbooks #fantasyromance #ireadtolive #allthebooksforme https://www.instagram.com/p/B-7Ee2SAnSr/?igshid=y5lhbeceiz0m

[dtbookworm]

Enjoying the November sun before the Ice Age hits. So far, I’m enjoying this peculiar, yet satisfying novel by @herve_le_tellier #bookish #bookphotography #bookcommunity #bookstagrammer #bookstagram #bookishlife #booklove #bookishcommunity #bookblogger #bookblogging #mybookfeatures #bookaholic #readersofinstagram #readingislife #readingisfun #readersgonnaread #readingaddict #bookwhore #bookwormforlife #bookaddict #fictionbook #fictionmatters #bookstalife #booksarelove #booksaremylife #booksaremagic #booksareessential https://www.instagram.com/p/CW5_d-CrbqB/?utm_medium=tumblr

[cfeecup]

So many things happened the past three days, all both beautiful and sad, but I just want to say MERRY CHRISTMAS MY LOVELY BOOKWORMS. It's going to be a new year soon. And I am sooooo excited for it because I have A LOT of things planned for the year both for real life AND instagram life. I want to thank you for becoming a part of my bookstalife for 2 years and hope we can continue to grow as a family come 2019. Happy holidays to everyone!!! 🎄🎁🎆🎅 . . Travel back in time: What was the best Christmas present you remember ever receiving from someone else? 🎁 . . Glasses from @tijneyewear @tijnhomelife 😍 . . #bookphotography #bookinsta #Bookstagrammer #bookstagrammersunite #bookselfie #bookgram #Bookaddict #bookvibes #Booknerd #bookwormproblems #bookwormsfeature #bookwormsunite #bookwormforlife #littlebookworm #Coffeegram #Coffeelover #Coffeetime #bookstagramfeatures #culturetripbooks #bookstafeatures #bookishlove #Bookdragon #bookphoto #Bookporn #bookaholic https://www.instagram.com/p/Br2Y3Img4TI/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=127l5pxwjzuh8

[ktienh]

📘 Monuments 🖋️ Will Kostakis ➡️ Synopsis 🧡💚💜1/2 I found this novel to be a strange but intriguing premise. I mean it is set in Australia and when I look at the cover, it has somewhat Greek overtone (the statues and Greek pillars etc). I guess it was just a bit jarring however I note author's Greek descents and his tendency to write in with his culture background. As I have seen him at events and have also followed him on social media, I feel strongly that he was writing himself into this story. That this is one of those "book-I-wished-I-had-when-I-was-a-teen" for him; the protagonist called himself "super gay" and another character also regrets that he didn't come out earlier. An easily likeable protagonist despite the slightly sad start for him but it is a novel full of adventure and growth. The prose is very lighthearted and quite humourous at parts however I'm just not a fan. It made an easy and fast read but it just didn't really "call" to me. I did like the plot & twists at the end though as with time travel in play, things get a little mind bending. PS: I wanted to say thanks for the buddy read @Seventyeight.Sundays but you haven't even finished reading!! Hurry it up, yo 😅😆😜 🏷 #monuments #willkostakis #ya #youngadult #fantasy #humour #booksandbreakfast #booksandfood #booksandtea #aussieauthor #lgbtqia #dymocksreadingchallenge #bookstalife #bookstagram #bookstagrammer #ausbookstagrammer #booklover #booksta #igreads #lovetoread #eclecticreader #bookishfeatures #aussiebookstagrammers #readersofinstagram #bookreview #bookphoto #bookish #booklife #booksofinstagram #eclecticreader https://www.instagram.com/p/Cp3fWI3yzcy/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[ktienh]

📙 The Matchmaker 🖋️ Saman Shad ➡️ Synopsis 💗💗💗💗💗 A wonderful heartwarming love story set in my own backyard! I love this to bits from the very easy read, all the recognisable settings, to the guaranteed HEA. There were many things that are discussions-worthy too, especially as this story is totally immersed in culture. I don't read very many romcoms but I found this very enjoyable and actually unputdownable. I enjoyed that characters are of mature age (in their 30s) who have their own issues but had real good friends who helped them AND even seek professional help! They seem like sensible people most of the time but we all have our ups and downs so they also have their silly moments. Yet, these flaws are what made them and their love story even more vibrantly alive. A fabulous debut and I'm looking forward to her next book. There are 2 things I'm wishing for at the end of this book (from the author): 1. A playlist 2. 'The Matchmaker - Gastronomical Tour' - I'm totally IN for this!!!! My thanks to @penguinbooksaus for gifting me a copy of this book. Thoughts are mine own. 🏷 #thematchmaker #samanshad #romance #romcom #contemporary #chicklit #booksandflowers #flowersandbooks #booksandwine #aussieauthor #australianwomenwriters #pocauthor #poc #bookstalife #bookstagram #bookstagrammer #ausbookstagrammer #booklover #booksta #igreads #lovetoread #eclecticreader #bookishfeatures #aussiebookstagrammers #readersofinstagram #bookreview #bookphoto #bookish #booklife #booksofinstagram #eclecticreader https://www.instagram.com/p/CpOYez4Shuz/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[ktienh]

📓 Babel, Or the Necessity of Violence: An Arcane History of the Oxford Translators' Revolution 🖋️ R.F. Kuang 🎓🎓🎓🎓✒️ "Professor Lovell liked plain scones the least, though, so sultana scones were the staple of their afternoon teas ... [Robin] knew he didn't like sultanas in his scones; when Professor Lovell wasn't looking, he picked out his sultanas, slathered the denuded scone in clotted cream, and popped it in his mouth." Ok so the above quote doesn't really have anything to do with the plot in the book but seriously, all the mention of scones made me crave for some so what does one do but bake some! I'd suggest some fresh scones ready for reading the first part of the book but after that, I really needed wine. A. Lot. of. Wine. Honestly, I was wary of this book after The Poppy War trilogy. I mean that trilogy was violently brutal! And seriously, R.F. Kuang does not hold back her punches. Babel is excruciatingly brutal. I find that with The Poppy War trilogy, there is that veil of fantasy but in Babel, while there is still that fantasy veil, it is ever so sheer. Babel is a very dense reading. The amount of research must have been astounding. There was so much in this book from general history to linguistic ones. As the author has noted, however, certain things were fudged a little bit to fit because, after all, this is a work of fiction. I can't tell you what's been fudged but I'm still so very impressed with the meticulous details presented in this novel. The read will take a lot of focus and time but hoowee, it's absolutely worth IT! "'...And we're asking you now to finally, please, hear what we're trying to tell you. Please believe us.'" 🏷 #babel #rfkuang #speculativefiction #sff #booksandteas #bookandtea #sconesandteas #fantasy #bookstalife #bookstagram #bookstagrammer #ausbookstagrammer #booklover #booksta #igreads #lovetoread #eclecticreader #bookishfeatures #aussiebookstagrammers #readersofinstagram #bookreview #fantasybooks #bookphoto #bookish #booklife #booksofinstagram #eclecticreader https://www.instagram.com/p/CnOWsDLLzan/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[ktienh]

➡️ Come unbox December Classic Parcel with me 😁 ➡️ Swipe through 🤗 ➡️ 2023 calendar + sticky notes (I can see that I'm gonna need lots of these for this book!) ➡️ Christmas tea sampler + a mysterious leetle parcel ➡️ A wrapped Book + related (quote) bookmark ➡️ all unwrapped: Mother Tounge by Bill Bryson plus a very cutesy Christmas bauble which I've immediately placed on our tree 😍 I've been loving all parcels and the announced January theme is a terrific one to start the year with (I've read that one so...). Subscribe for yourself or your loved ones (great Christmas present!) using my rep code TIEN10 #NovelTeaBookclub #bookstalife #bookstagram #bookstagrammer #ausbookstagrammer #booklover #booksta #igreads #lovetoread #eclecticreader #bookishfeatures #aussiebookstagrammers #readersofinstagram #classicbookbox #classicbook #popularpenguins #penguinpopularclassics #classicbooks #ireadclassics #classiclover #MotherTongue #BillBryson #nonfiction https://www.instagram.com/p/Clx7l7MrdTo/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[ktienh]

#primarycoloursstack -thanks to @bmichie31 for the tag I feel like I have a hundred red spines, a few blue spines, and nearly none of yellow! These 3 yellow spines are literally all I have out of aaaalllll the books I own in the house. RED ❤️ Sticks and Stones ❤️ The Two Pearls of Wisdom (aka Eon) ❤️ A Song of Flight ❤️ Room for a Stranger ❤️ Vox* ❤️ The Bone Season* BLUE 💙 A Deadly Education 💙 Redemption Point 💙 The Paris Seamstress* 💙 Wild Place* 💙 The Confession* YELLOW 💛 Those Other Women* 💛 Zeroes 💛 Schulz and Peanuts *I've not read yet Tagging some accounts to give this challenge a go but please give this a try too, if you like 💙❤️💛 #primarycolourschallenge #primarycolours #bookstack #bookstackchallenge #primarycolorsstack #primarycolors #primarycolorschallenge #brightbookcovers #bookspineschallenge #bookstalife #bookstagram #lovemybooks #bookstagrammer #bookish #booklife #readbooks #booklover #booksofinstagram #booksta #igreads #lovetoread #eclecticreader #flowersandbooks #bookishfeatures #aussiebookstagrammers #bookaesthetic #readersofinstagram https://www.instagram.com/p/Ck9WkNpSyQo/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=