Love Your Library, January 2025, Hosted by Bookish Beck

I discovered this blog challenge at the end of last year and decided that I would like to participate this month. So, all January, I have been taking notes on what books, audiobooks and eResources I have checked out, read/watched, and/or returned. Let me tell you, it’s a lot. Every year I read one nonfiction title, so this month I have checked out a bunch of nonfiction books to find my annual read. This year I am also reading Reb’s Recs, books my sister is recommending and 12 Recs from 12 Friends, my fabulous Instagram community has recommended 12 of their favorites and I am tackling them this year, too, so books a couple of books on this list are for those. I also am highlighting my favorite library eResources, with the books I finished from this month.

READ

• Later On We'll Conspire by Kortney Keisel - This is a most adorable CLEAN holiday spy rom-com. It is laugh out loud funny as a small-town girl, and a super spy boy fall in love at Christmas. ★★★★★ Read on Hoopla
• Smile by Raina Telgemeier - A heartfelt and funny middle graphic novel inspired by the author's experience with her teeth. When Raina loses her two-front adult teeth in an accident she faces braces, bullies and her own self-worth. ★★★★★ Read on Hoopla
• I Am Legend and Other Stories by Richard Matheson - A 1950s collection of horror stories. The title story is about the last living man killing zombies. My co-worker recommended but wasn't my style. ★★☆☆☆ Read on Libby
• Spy X Family, Vol. 8 by Tatsuya Endo - This is a hilarious manga about an adorable fake family goes on a cruise and has to protect another family from assassins. ★★★★★ Read on Libby
• Snow White with the White Hair, Vol. 11 by Sorata Akiduki - This manga is a cozy retelling of Snow White working as a court herbalist and the second prince who fall in love with her. In this volume Shirayuki moves into the castle and Prince Zen has to declare his intentions of marriage. ★★★★★
• Spy School by Stuart Gibbs - The first book from Reb Recs list, one of her two January choices. This a fun and action back spy novel for middle grade readers about the new kid in spy school. ★★★★☆ Read on Libby Review on IG
• Divine Rivals by Rebecca Ross - The first of 12 Recs from 12 Friends. This heart-felt romantasy is about a war between the gods and two mortals two who are rivals at work but slowly falling for each other as the write letter with magical typewriters. It starts slow but is fabulous story about love and the effects of war. ★★★★★ Read on Hoopla
• Marvel Storm: Dawn of a Goddess by Tiffany D. Jackson - This a reimaging of the origin of the X-Men icon: Storm as a young girl in Egypt when she comes into her power. While the writing is solid, and the story pacing is good some of author's views make it feel trite and like she didn't research her settings very well. ★★★☆☆ Read on Libby

Currently Reading

• Breaking the Dark: A Jessica Jones Marvel Crime Novel by Lisa Jewell IG Post
• Hearts Overboard by Becky Dean IG Post
• Spider-Man: The Gathering of the Sinister Six by Adam-Troy Castro - Reading as an audiobook on Hoopla with my library's subscription.
• Spy x Family, Vol. 9 by Tatsuya Endo - Reading as an eBook via the Libby app.

Checked Out, To Be Read

• Southeast Asia: Phrasebook and Dictionary by Berlitz Publishing (already returned)
• Burmese Phrasebook and Dictionary by Berlitz Publishing (already returned)
• Essential Burmese Phrasebook and Dictionary by A Zun Mo (already returned)
• What If Love Is the Point?: Living for Jesus in a Self-Consumed World by Alexa and Carlos PenaVega
• The Perfectionist's Dilemma: Learn the Art of Self-Compassion and Become a Happy Achiever by Tara Cousineau
• The Perfect World, Vol. 6 Rie Aruga
• I Am Number Four by Pittacus Lore - Rereading for a future blog post. Read my review on Instagram IG Post 
• Artemis Fowl by Eoin Colfer

In The Reservation Queue

• The Happy Writer: get more ideas, write more words, and find more joy from first draft to publication and beyond by Marissa Meyer
• Ready Player Two by Earnest Cline
• Michael Vey: The Colony by Richard Paul Evans
• Fairest by Marissa Meyer IG Post
• Know Your Newlywed by Heather Taylor

On Hold, To Be Picked Up

• None at this time.

Returned Unread

• Fairest by Marissa Meyer-Checked is one out for an IG reel and didn't have time to read it before I had to return it.
• Prince of Song & Sea by Linsey Miller-Checked is one out for an IG reel and didn't have time to read it before I had to return it.
• Lady of Disguise by Melanie Dickerson-Checked is one out for an IG reel and didn't have time to read it before I had to return it.
• Southeast Asia: Phrasebook and Dictionary by Berlitz Publishing (already returned)-Thought I needed to learn Burmese for a family reunion, and it turns out the reunion is in Boston.
• Burmese Phrasebook and Dictionary by Berlitz Publishing (already returned)-Thought I needed to learn Burmese for a family reunion, and it turns out the reunion is in Boston.
• Essential Burmese Phrasebook and Dictionary by A Zun Mo (already returned)-Thought I needed to learn Burmese for a family reunion, and it turns out the reunion is in Boston.
• Near Misses and Cowboy Kisses by Katrina Emmel-Checked it out for Summer of Love Stories on IG but it didn't come to the library in time and then I had to return it before I could read it.
• Crank Palace: A Maze Runner Novella by James Dashner Read The Maze Runner Death Cure Review on IG-I read the original trilogy in 2023, and when I saw this book from Newt's perspective. I thought Thomas Brodie-Sangster, I will definitely read that. I mean just look at him. But I also did not have time to read it.

This month I read 1 more book than I returned without reading. I am an avid audiobook reader and go through several audiobooks a month. If your library has Hoopla, it is the perfect place to find audiobooks. They have a wide selection including both popular titles and more obscure ones. They have every genre from Juvenile fiction to Christan Devotionals and many more. And there is no waiting for titles on Hoopla! That's my favorite part.

While you're here check out some of my other blogs. I have a review for Hunger Games Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes and a fiction story based on my old church choir director, Choir Humor (Or What Kills the Mood Faster Than Someone Singing Off-Key

#LoveYourLibrary

Thank you, Rebecca for coming up with this blog challenge and I hope to do it again. Check out her blog Bookish Beck

I love making Bookish Friends! Follow me on Instagram Skai_BooksAndBracelets