Ariel Pierce

AABC – December 2024

The Adventure Awaits Book Club December 2024 book choice was One Day in December by Josie Silver.

Y’all may be tired of me choosing love stories, but I can’t help myself. I’ll try to persuade future Ariel to branch out more! I would love to see comments on this blog, emails, or comments on my author Instagram with any suggestions of books we should check out!

I’m going to pull the description of the book off Amazon. I believe the back of the book says something similar if not word for word, but I don’t have the book with me as I write this.

The book is exactly what the description says it is. I knew what to expect because I am a lover of love stories. It’s not that I didn’t love it… I think it matches perfectly with the drama needed for an entertaining story. I think I’m basing it on my own perception of love.

Why does love have to be so hard? Why do some of us have to go through so much trauma and pain to get to a “happy ending?” Why do we stay with people longer than we should simply because we don’t want to hurt that person?

All I could think about during this book is “Why?”

Why didn’t Laurie tell Sarah sooner?

Why did Laurie and Jack have that moment and then Jack not end his relationship?

Why did Laurie not tell Sarah about the moment?

Why did Laurie settle for Oscar?

Why do Laurie and Jack feel so strongly for each other?

I’ll come back to my thoughts on these why questions. I want to comment on love at first sight. It’s a cute concept. You see someone and you’re like, “Yep, I’m going to marry that person.” I get it. The first time I saw my partner, when we happened to coincidentally be at a store at the same time after texting for a day, I think I became dumb for the first time in my life. I didn’t expect him to be so beautiful. I literally remember zero of what I said in that moment. Of course my situation is a little different since we had texted briefly and the general “love at first sight” concept is two complete strangers. Regardless, I get how one could try to argue the concept. There’s something about that moment of dumbness, or whatever someone might refer to that moment as, that sticks with you as a pivotal moment, especially if a relationship does move forward with that person.

Regarding the characters in this book, I didn’t fully understand their connection. Sure, there was the first moment they saw each other, but they didn’t have what comes after that.

I don’t love my partner because he has a beautiful face and drool worthy eyes. I love him because of how his face lights up when he throws a fishing pole into a body of water. I love him because he has multiple different levels of laughter and his family are generally the ones to bring him to his most intense and arguably most beautiful laughter level. I love him because his brain comes up with the most hilariously creative ideas and he generally solves every problem he encounters with unique solutions. I could keep going, but it’s not necessary to make my point.

Laurie and Jack didn’t really have any significant moments. There weren’t any moments that I felt were big enough to have a list of reasons why they felt so deeply for each other. You don’t really get to see them build the deep connection that one would think about when referring to a “joyous, heartwarming, and immensely moving love story.”

I’m overthinking this and it’s really not that serious, but I just want people to find true connections. Laurie clung to this idea of Jack for so long and a few weak moments led to the idea that he was meant for her. The same goes for Jack. He couldn’t stop thinking about her, but I really just don’t understand why not.

Laurie settles for another person despite having feelings for Jack and again, why? Why do we do that? Why do humans settle for someone that they feel less desire for than someone else? I’ve written on how loneliness sucks, but so does longing for someone and regretting saying how you truly feel.

Again, I know the plot line needed to be what it was to meet the needs of readers everywhere, but hopefully we’re not settling for love stories like this one in real life.

The ending might be super cute, but it’s not cute enough to be worth the literal 10 years of suffering they endured just to make it to that ending.

I know everything happens in its own time. I know not every relationship is easy to navigate. Some people may not be ready for a relationship that they may be ready for after years pass. But, like… don’t pretend you don’t have feelings for someone just because it’s easier. Don’t settle for someone else because you’re lonely and might get over the feelings eventually.

Also, don’t lie to your best friend about her new boyfriend being someone you “love.” Geez. Communicate people. I know it sucks hurting people, but it’s probably better to get it out early rather than traumatize your friends later when the truth finally comes out. This probably doesn’t happen often, but it seems like good advice.

I don’t really enjoy cheating storylines and this book had one. It’s not the worst, but it’s bad enough because of how long these characters had these feelings and pretended they didn’t to both of their partners.

I think one thing I learned from this book is related to grief. If you lost your parent, or someone close to you, who would you want to talk to about it? If you’re in a relationship and the first person you think of (outside of the other parent, siblings, and/or close relatives) isn’t your partner, there might be a problem. Grief really shows who is there for you in life, and I think that’s important to pay attention to in relationships.

In my previous marriage, I lost a childhood friend, and my husband blew it off like it meant nothing. That created a major hole in our relationship that never filled. I never spoke with him like I should have about it though. It’s interesting to see what you ignore and tolerate once you’re out of a relationship. I shouldn’t have been scared to talk to my husband about something that bothered me.

I know my AABC blogs tend to verge into areas outside of a simple book review but that’s what I love about books. They help you speak on topics that are difficult. They help you imagine a world different than your own. They help you consider perspectives that you might not otherwise.

I think the book is cute enough. I enjoyed the best friend relationship, but I was bummed that a huge lie lasted so long through most of it. Like I mentioned, the ending is cute but not real life cute! I would recommend the book for the ease of reading at least!

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The Adventure Awaits Book Club January 2025 book choice is The Secret Zoo by Bryan Chick!

Bucket List and Bullet Journaling

I may be posting this bucket list update for my own personal tracking record more than anything. My original bucket list post had 51 items, and I’ve added a few more in bucket list update posts since then.

I added two items that I completed before they were on the list but I have always wanted to do. I added five items to my list in 2024. I am adding three more to my list in 2025.

The list now has 61 items! How exciting!

Let’s do a little review of how crossing off items is going!

I posted my original bucket list blog in January of 2023. That year I managed to cross off numbers 18, 35, 39, and 52.

In 2024, I managed to cross off numbers 22, 37, 47, and 58.

Eight.

EIGHT!

I know some of my items are goofy and don’t take too much work to accomplish, but I honestly did not expect to have crossed off eight items in two years.

Let me share with you some beautiful things I’ve learned about having a bucket list.

You get to watch your progress as you strive to work towards one’s that will inherently take more time. Number 9 and number 21 on my list are ones I made efforts towards during 2024. I completed a second full journal and wrote in quite a few others. I am on a 728 day streak on Duolingo, and I hope to continue striving to learn Spanish!
You realize that some items create numerous options for adventure. Number 47 on my list led to two occasions, in 2024, in which I was able to get a picture with a “World’s Largest” item. While I can technically cross off this item and be done with it, I would much prefer trying to find other “World’s Largest” adventure opportunities!
You discover that some items can be crossed off in a way you didn’t expect. I saw a community event posted on Facebook one day noting “Ice Skating.” I knew I had to be there. The rink was smaller than I expected and wasn’t the “ice” I imagined in my head when I thought about ice skating. I still had a blast doing this version of ice skating. I even got to see an old friend from college! I still plan to seek out ice skating in a legit skating rink one day.
You have the opportunity to see all the blessings in your life. I’ve crossed off items while spending time with my best friends. I’ve been invited to activities unexpectedly by friends that helped me cross off these items. I have a partner that has been there with me on a few bucket list adventures. My life is truly becoming something I never pictured when I made this list two years ago. I thank God daily for it all!
You have the chance to inspire others to seek adventure. I’ve had so many people, since I started posting about mine, comment about their own bucket list. I’ve been present when some people have crossed off their bucket list items. I think most importantly, I hope to inspire the children in my family to always seek adventure and joy. I know some of these items are not necessarily adventure based, but it’s still good for people to do things that are important to them!

You may be asking why I mentioned bullet journaling in the blog title. Well, let me tell you! It’s all because of bucket list item number two. “Publish a book.” I want to be a published author. I have been working on five consistent bullet journal pages for about four months now. They’re all annual trackers and a little before 2025 began I created a new annual tracker page. The first one in my bullet journal is tracking the amount of time I spend writing. However, I’ve noticed I tend to write by creating blogs or journaling. I often neglect writing towards a goal of being published. While I write down book concepts in my notes app every now and then, the main idea I have right now is a novel I’ve mentioned quite a bit before.

In 2025, one of my resolutions is to write more on my novel. This has been a resolution/goal of mine for years, and until I have a completed book in my hand, it won’t be going away. So, I created an annual “Writing – GTS” tracking page in my bullet journal. I’m hopeful this will help motivate me to continue pushing towards my dream.

This is a good time to add in a reminder. Your value is not dependent on what you accomplish in your life or what you cross off a bucket list. You’re valuable as a person simply because you exist. You are loved simply for who you are, not what you may be able to offer someone. Don’t ever forget that! I love you, beautiful humans!

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I will likely add more each year, but here is my current bucket list:

Pet a giraffe.
Publish a book.
Voice a character in an animated movie.
Visit Giraffe Manor in Kenya.
Meet Michael B. Jordan (If you haven’t read my Michael B, Jordan blog, please do. Maybe the extra views will get the word out to him! Haha!).
Go to Disney World with friends.
Walk on the side of a road when a car drives through a puddle and get splashed by it.
Buy a new flute.
Fill at least 100 journals with my thoughts.
Visit the Australia zoo.
Own a pink Volkswagen Beetle.
Complete one of those man vs. food challenges. I’d request mine involve breakfast food.
Ride in a helicopter.
Attempt to snowboard.
Meet Tom Hanks since he shares the same birthday as me and that seems like a good enough reason.
Go horseback riding.
Swim with sharks.
Go on a cruise.
Finish the crochet blanket I started in high school.
Have a room in my home dedicated to my reading and writing aspirations.
Become fluent in Spanish.
Kiss someone in the rain.
Visit Times Square on New Year’s Eve.
Visit the Grand Canyon.
Ride a double-decker bus and get off it like Amanda Bynes did in What a Girl Wants.
Go on an extravagantly planned date that my date planned.
Meet Hilary Duff since someone told me I looked like her once and getting a selfie with her would be legit.
Star in a mermaid inspired photo shoot.
Take a picture with the person playing Ariel at Disneyland or Disney World.
Visit Mount Rushmore.
Go to the Wizarding World of Harry Potter and pick out my own wand.
Design a pair of shoes.
Attempt to surf.
Have a home with a huge kitchen island.
Own a robot vacuum.
Be a bridesmaid or maid of honor.
Ride in a hot air balloon.
Get a tattoo on my arm and have my mom not be mad at me.
Ride on a train.
Impact the universal mental health conversation in a huge way.
Work with an organization/cleaning company in some way.
Have a picture with all eight of my siblings present.
Go on safari.
Ride an elephant and camel.
Receive a love letter from someone I also love (No creepy letters, please).
Go on a segway tour.
Visit places that have “The World’s Largest…” miscellaneous item.
Go on a zipline.
Play a game of paintball.
Make a font out of my handwriting.
Take a pottery class.
Get on a Jumbotron.
Catch a foul ball or a home run ball at a baseball game.
Write a blog a week at least one year.
Be on a game show.
Indoor skydive.
See the aurora borealis.
Go ice skating.
Complete birthday paintings every year for my kids until they’re 18 or ask me to stop.
Get to a point with my health where I don’t think constantly about losing weight.
Be debt free.

Reflections and Resolutions

I’m publishing this on the last day of 2024.

I wrote the blog “It’s 2024!” on the second day of 2024 with some resolutions I hoped to accomplish this year.

On the second day of 2024, my life was pretty much exactly as it had been for the previous six-ish years. I had the same job, it was my son and I in an apartment in Texas, I wanted to become a published author, and I was clinging to the world thanks to my weekly, Thursday at 2:00 PM, therapy appointment.

On February 26, 2024, I learned my son had been kicked out of his second afterschool daycare in four months. I’m not going to go into the details, but my baby struggled at school and in daycare during his kindergarten school year.

On February 27, 2024, I submitted a two week notice to my job and planned to move back to my hometown in Kentucky.

It seems like a rash decision, but there was something in me that knew I would not be able to manage my son trying a third afterschool daycare. My mom offered to watch my son instead of him going to a daycare, and that comforted me to no end.

After some strategic financial planning, I managed to remain in Texas until my son finished out the school year. We headed out on our road trip to Kentucky the day after his Kindergarten graduation ceremony in May of 2024.

I’ve written about this move in a few blogs this year. I’ve written about how this move has pretty much eliminated my feelings of depression. I won’t go into too much more detail about this.

My intention with this blog is to speak on resolutions. I made some New Year resolutions when I posted my “It’s 2024!” blog. Let’s review:

Fill in journals with my thoughts.
Continue writing my novel.
Go to the gym at least once a week.
Eat more vegetables.
Support my son’s needs at school.
Try to start up my book club again.
Try to convince my mom to move to Texas.
Drink the daily recommended amount of water.

It seems like a hefty list because often people try to focus on one resolution each year.

None of them were crazy monumental. I mentioned the change my year took in February because it impacted my resolutions.

Let’s review this as well:

I wrote in my January and February designated journals quite a bit. However, after February, I didn’t pick up a journal again until August. The life change really took some air out of me. Thankfully, I started to feel less depressed after being around my mom, and I started writing again. I filled an entire journal in five months which was only my second ever completed journal. So, while this resolution was stalled for a bit, I did manage to accomplish this resolution eventually!
I truly wish I could say that I made significant progress towards my novel. I have edited previous chapters and improved the quality, but I slacked on new content this year. I’m still working on finding my energy for writing after it being stunted for so long due to my decade long struggle with, basically, not wanting to be alive.
I actually started going to the gym again during January and February. I cannot tell you how many times it happened, but it definitely wasn’t very many, unfortunately. I became a ghost of a person from March until May and rarely left my home. I hated having to go in person to cancel the gym membership. That really needs to stop being a rule.
Habits formed when you are depressed really have a way of lingering. I really have so much more desire to improve my health, but im stuck in unhealthy habits. I have eaten more vegetables than in previous years but not nearly enough as what I intended when I wrote this resolution.
I knocked this one out of the park! Despite struggling with my mental health, I knew I couldn’t let my son down. He received an ADHD diagnosis and qualified for special education support in school. He continued to struggle in Kindergarten. When he began 1st grade at his new school in Kentucky, the problems were noticeably less present! He still struggles with impulse control, but he is not having as many incidents as he did previously! It’s been a relief to see him doing so much better.
Again, I barely existed during the beginning of the year. Thankfully, I managed to start posting in my book club Facebook group again in August. I chose five random books since, and it’s been nice to read more. While the group doesn’t meet on video or in person at the moment, we still interact some through Facebook comments. That’s a positive step I’m grateful for!
Well, I’m pretty sure y’all can guess what happened with this resolution. Haha! I did try to convince her in January and February. Thankfully, she didn’t agree! I’m going to give God the credit on this one. He knew I needed to move back home much more than I needed my mom to move to Texas.
I’d say I accomplished this about half of the year. Not consistently but enough to feel semi accomplished! I definitely wasn’t hydrated between March and May. Since coming home, my hydration has improved significantly!

I’m quite proud of what I accomplished this year despite what I thought would be a setback in my life.

It’s so easy to focus on resolutions and whether or not you accomplished them. Goals are important but so is living in the moment and enjoying the random everyday things that life brings!

Here is a list of some of my favorite memories from this year:

Spending time with three of my siblings and mom in January despite it being because our grandfather passed.
Celebrating my son’s sixth birthday with friends.
Being able to take a kiddo that I spent six years getting to watch grow up out for lunch in honor of their 21st birthday.
Being able to continue being a support for one of my kiddos currently experiencing the foster care system in Texas.
A goodbye gathering with friends at my old apartment’s pool.
The road trip with one of my best friends from Texas to Kentucky.
Spending time with my mom and son before I found a new job.
Starting a new job with a community mental health clinic.
Spending time with my best friends from high school and our babies.
Meeting so many awesome coworkers at my new job.
Being introduced to my partner by one of my awesome coworkers/now friend.
Being invited to a wonderful church that my son and I now attend regularly.
Writing/publishing blogs, reading, journaling, being more active on my author instagram page, and editing my novel.
Being able to embrace the “adventure awaits” spirit with my partner.
Meeting and spending time with my partner’s amazing family.
Watching my son start to play basketball with a team.
Spending time with my brother, sister-in-law, and niece before they moved.
Celebrating the holidays with my family, partner’s family, and church family.
Getting to see my son interact with his siblings and experience one positive coparenting moment this year.
Eating lots of delicious food.

I never thought my life would look like it does when the year began. I was excited to be back around my family, but I was scared things would still feel bad. My mental health is in the best state it has been since I was 18. I get to spend time with my mom and son every day, and it’s such a privilege. I have a partner that, while it’s still a newer relationship, has shown me love that I have not experienced before.

I no longer rely on an hour with my therapist each week to get me through life, and I feel actual joy in living!

So, while 2024, brought me some pain and changes, it most importantly brought me to feel joy and love regularly!

This blog holds lots of reflection on this past year. I want to take time to dream about the future. I want to create some resolutions!

Write more new content for my novel.
Make healthier food choices regularly.
Get outside more.
Keep working towards my bullet journal goals.
Personal resolution I won’t detail.

Like I’ve said in my past blog posts related to New Year resolutions, you’re no less worthy of a person regardless of what you accomplish! I see posts often in December stating something along the lines of, “People will be sharing a lot about what they accomplished during the year. It’s okay if all you did this year was survive.”

Seriously, being a human is so hard. Be proud if all you do is survive. Hopefully one day you’ll be able to build more positive coping skills and build a positive support system to help you get through this life with a little joy!

I’ve been sharing my experience with bullet journaling and how I’m tracking some goals. Follow me on my author Instagram page for this content and more! Search “authorarielpierce” or go to my “Get in Touch” page on my website for the link!

I hope to continue publishing blogs throughout 2025. Follow along on my instagram as well to see when new blogs are posted! I can’t predict what life may throw at me in the coming year, but I’m hopeful for some exciting adventures to share with y’all through my social media and website!

I love all you beautiful humans! Happy 2025 to you all!

I’m Not Wearing Any Clothes

If you watched Inside Out 2, then you are familiar with watching anxiety take over a person’s body. It’s a pretty decent look into what happens when someone struggles with anxiety.

Most everyone has experienced the feeling of anxiety. Most everyone has experienced those feelings before some type of important event, or when you’re worried about something serious in your life or the life of someone you care about.

The problem with anxiety becomes when it’s literally impacting your functioning.

I started journaling today because I was feeling anxious. If you’ve read any of my content or seen my social media content, it’s clear that I journal when I’m anxious. I didn’t really know why I felt anxious when I started the page, but I felt it.

Another reason I started writing is because I had one of my typical anxiety dreams. When I’m feeling anxious, I tend to have this dream about going somewhere important, and I’m not wearing any clothes.

I’m not the type of person that is confident in their body and would be found happily strolling around in the nude. Also, you can’t really do that in most places, so it wouldn’t matter how I felt about my body.

Anyways, I hate having this dream. It makes my skin crawl, and I feel nauseous for a bit when I’m able to rip myself out of the dream.

I know it’s a silly theme that has played out in different entertainment mediums over the years. I don’t know why my brain feels like this annoying form of torture is something that I need to experience.

The only positive thing about this dream is that I then know that something is off with me, and I can try to pinpoint what it is that might be making me feel the way that I am.

I’m not certain it’s important for anyone reading this to know what is bothering me, I mostly want to comment on anxiety as a concept. Anxiety literally consumes me some days. I struggle to breathe. My hands can’t keep still and try to find any means of keeping them busy, usually resulting in me picking at my fingers or flipping my bracelets over and over. My brain will form every irrational thought it can come up with.

A lot of the things that contribute to my anxiety are based on the life I lived in Texas the last 11 years.

Coming up with meals makes me want to cry.

The fitted sheet popping off a corner makes me to want to run away.

I know there are more random things that seem so trivial, but these are the two that are coming to my head right now that I’ll work with to get my point across.

Coming up with at least two meals a day to feed me and my child was a nightmare for me in Texas. I came home every day from an insanely stressful job, and the last thing I wanted to do was figure out what to feed us. Cooking took too long and too much energy. Healthy choices always sounded terrible, but necessary, which contributed to a battle in my head.

The fitted sheet thing is like having your belt loop get stuck on something or dropping your keys when you’re at your wits end, and you feel like you’re about to lose it any second. The sheet thing happened to me so many times when I felt like everything was terrible, and I would lay there and cry and end up ignoring it for days.

Trivial things become mountains. I feel like I stress my mom out constantly with these random trivial things. I know she worries about me when I try to explain that something that seems small isn’t something I can do at a given moment.

I’m currently having to learn how to manage my anxiety while in a relationship. My partner has learned me very quickly. It’s annoying that I can’t hide it as well as I think I can… It’s really not annoying at all. I love his perceptive abilities and the fact that he actually cares when he asks what is going on with me.

I don’t want to seem crazy when my brain is coming up with irritating thoughts so saying nothing is wrong or I’m okay are my go to responses.

He knows when those answers are false and reminds me that it’s hard to be there for me if I’m not being honest. I’ve tried to be better about telling him what is going on or at least saying I’m not fully sure. We’ve been able to talk things out and generally, if I didn’t already know, I figure out what is going on.

Having a kind and caring mother and partner has helped ease a lot of my anxieties, but if you’re like I was for so many years, you may be alone dealing with anxiety.

I wish I had all the answers. I haven’t totally figured things out, and what I have, I didn’t figure out on my own. I sought out therapy. I journaled. I called my mom every day. I tried to do things that brought me joy.

The issue of my past is that I was also struggling with depression. I think sometimes my anxiety is related to fearing that something might drag me back down into the darkness I felt for so long. I’ve been feeling so much joy, and I don’t want to lose it.

As I’ve been writing, I’ve decided maybe it is important to bear as much as I can.

As I’m writing this, I’m cognizant of the fact that tomorrow is my grandpa’s birthday. Last year on his birthday, I saw him in a bad state and that image will never be able to leave my brain. He passed six days later.

My brother moved to another state about a week ago. I know I lived in another state for 11 years and rarely saw him, but after moving back to our home state, I loved knowing how close he was even though the visits were still not super common.

My son continues to struggle with some concerning behaviors, while not as severe as in the past, still bring me anxiety. Anxiety tries to convince me that I was/am a terrible mother.

Being in a newer relationship also brings with it anxiety. It’s not in the sense that he’s doing anything of concern, but now anything that bothers him, bothers me. I want to fix everything for him and I know I can’t always do that for a number of reasons.

I’m fairly new at my job as I’m still in my six month probation period. I worry that I’m not doing enough or that I won’t be able to help people the way they deserve.

My child’s other parent makes me feel a little insane at times. It’s even more frustrating when you feel like things were moving in a positive direction and then they do something to kick your feet out from under you.

A kiddo I care about in Texas is dealing with so much trauma and the failures of a system, and I feel like I’m not doing enough. I wish I had more means to support them the way they deserve.

I’m also constantly thinking about how to be the most impactful with my words. I fear I’m not talented enough or that I’ll never reach a larger audience. Will I ever finish my novel?

I didn’t intend to make this a journal entry for me processing my anxiety. I mostly wanted to put it out there that anxiety is frustrating. I wanted to open a conversation about how to manage it and maybe help someone realize they’re not the only one dealing with this issue.

Whether anxiety presents in your dreams, is a physical sensation in your body, or occupies your brain without hiding, it’s something you shouldn’t ignore.

Write about it. Talk about it. Don’t hide it. While the thoughts may be irrational, and you generally know that, they’re still your thoughts, and talking about them is your best bet.

If someone makes you feel bad for how your brain functions, that is a them problem. You can try to talk to them about it and work to figure out how you can move towards healthy conversations in the future. You can also evaluate their role in your life and if they are able to help you move towards healthy choices and happiness.

Try to take time to think about positive aspects of your life. In the time between when I started writing this blog and now, someone at my office bought everyone coffee (I got hot chocolate), my mom checked in with me on how I’m doing, and my partner texted with a plan for dinner. The physical sensation I was feeling, related to anxiety, is mostly gone now. It’s amazing what writing, having a healthy support system, and focusing on the positive aspects of life can do for you!

If you’re reading this, you’re an amazing human. Remind someone, who may not read this, that they’re an amazing human! You would be surprised at how a little kindness can change someone’s entire day. Be kind to yourself as well.

I love all you beautiful humans!

AABC – November 2024

Adorable. Beautiful. Charming. Delightful. Excellent. Flirty. Genius. Hot. Impactful. Joyful.

Okay, I’ll stop. I’m thinking too hard on a cute word that starts with K.

Before I continue, I want to put it out there that my blog, website, and social media page are all LGBTQ+ friendly. I will continue to choose books and post content fully supporting all gender identities, sexual orientations, and love between consenting adults.

The book chosen for the Adventure Awaits Book Club for November 2024, was Red, White, and Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston.

If I had the time, I would sit here and come up with a whole alphabet of positive words to describe this book. I started this one immediately after finishing the AABC October 2024 book choice. The former was not my cup of tea. The latter, though, is everything I want in a book.

I love love. I will watch movie after movie of cheesy love stories. I will spend hours gushing in my journals about my love for my partner. I will gleefully choose any and all books related to people falling in love.

I don’t want to sit here and say that the book is only great because it involves love. There are many aspects about this DEBUT novel that are enjoyable.

It’s a debut novel
Diversity related to race and sexual orientation
Political commentary
Quality writing
Sexual orientation exploration
Sexual expression exploration
Spicy scenes
A quality scandal
A quality sibling relationship

I point out that the novel is the author’s debut novel because, as an author, it’s my dream to have a book published and it be wildly successful. Who wouldn’t want this out of their debut? Sometimes it can take a while for the success one hopes for, but I love seeing people’s dreams work out better than they probably imagined.

If all the characters in the books you read look like you, believe like you do, and live life like you do, maybe you should do some self reflection. I say this about the people in your real life as well. People are so quick to turn to hate when something out of their norm presents itself because they don’t often see that not everyone looks, acts, or thinks like them.

The main character is biracial and is Mexican and White. The author briefly explores aspects of his Mexican heritage and how this has impacted him and his family growing up, primarily in a political context.

The two main characters, and a few minor characters, are part of the LGBTQ+ community, and there are also aspects of how their identities impacted them throughout their lives, primarily in a political context.

After living in Texas for 11 years, one can only dream that the ending of the book would happen in real life. I have so much hope for the state I grew to love, and I know that so many people there are fighting for a different political outcome in the state.

Who also doesn’t love a female president?! I hoped for that to become a reality in 2025, but I will have to continue to fight for that reality for the future. I felt that the movie focused more on the political aspect and I appreciated the main character’s work being valued more in the movie. I felt the book pointed out the “binder” a few times but never really went where I thought it would considering I watched the movie before I saw the book.

The book was written well. There isn’t much to say about that fact. It flowed easily and kept you eagerly turning each page. I don’t think I underlined a single typo (I enjoy underlining typos because I know they happen, I don’t judge!) If there was one, I obviously didn’t care, because I just wanted happiness for the two main characters.

I think I’ve already pointed out that there are LGBTQ+ characters in this book. I can understand and appreciate the author having one of the main characters experience questioning his sexual orientation. I don’t claim to be an expert, but I know many people have likely questioned their sexual orientation as they aged which is the reason for the Q in LGBTQ+. I think it’s helpful for people to understand that sexual orientation isn’t as simple as “pick one.” Sometimes you don’t really know how you feel until you meet a specific person and that’s okay!

There wasn’t a large amount of sexual expression exploration but the main character does acknowledge how he hasn’t had sex with a man before. So, yes, there are sex scenes in this book. It’s spicy but not to the point of taking anything away from the story. It honestly shows how physical attraction grows and how the more comfortable you are with someone, the more you are likely to express that physically. If you don’t like books with sexual content, this isn’t the book for you.

I appreciated the scandal in this book. If you live in this country, and likely most others, you are likely aware that LGBTQ+ individuals have to fight for their rights daily. Prominent political figures are likely used to having their personal lives scrutinized, but no one should have to have their personal business exposed like the characters in this book. Your sexuality and expression of said sexuality is no one’s business unless you feel comfortable speaking about it. I enjoyed the family support of some of the minor characters and the confidence to stand up to the less supportive characters.

The main character’s relationship with his sister was cute. It replicates how many of us would likely do anything for our siblings. It also shows how difficult it can be to be your true self, even with the people we trust the most.

I know this book has touched the lives of many based on comments I’ve read about it. I hope it gives people hope like it gave me hope. Hope for a future where a woman can be president. Hope for a future where consenting adults can love who they love without fearing for their safety. Hope for a future with political candidates who aren’t there for themselves but to genuinely help others.

I highly recommend this book!

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The Adventure Awaits Book Club December 2024 book choice is One Day in December by Josie Silver!

AABC – October 2024

I owe y’all a blog about my Adventure Awaits Book Club October book choice.

The book chosen for that month was You Shouldn’t Have Come Here by Jeneva Rose.

Thrillers aren’t really my go to choice for books I like to read, but I’m trying to branch out. It also seemed like a spooky enough choice since the entire month of October revolves around Halloween and all things spooky!

I started following Jeneva on TikTok a while back. Many of us have probably seen her humorous videos with her husband. Her stand alone videos have a drier humor, but she still cracks me up.

During a casual cruise around Walmart, I stopped in the book aisle. I can’t go to a store that has books and not buy a book… Anyways, I spotted a romance book (It’s a Date (Again)) written by Jeneva and read it earlier this year because it’s in a genre I tend to read.

Since I liked that book and her social media is always entertaining, I figured I’d give one of the books she’s better known for a chance.

I’ll start off by saying I don’t think the book was meant for me. My brain hides from books like You Shouldn’t Have Come Here.

A few people in my book club commented, when I made the choice, that the ending had a surprising twist. I don’t know if surprised is the word that I would use or disturbing. I guess I can be supportive of a strong female character, but goodness.

Please prepare yourself for an ending that will probably make your eyebrows shoot up, your eyes to bulge, and for you to sit there with your mouth opened questioning the sanity of people in this world.

I used to joke that people who can write books that are creepy and disturbing might need to have their homes checked for bodies. I feel like Jeneva could be added to that list of people with this book. It’s not the whole book, just the last few pages (and maybe a sprinkle in the middle).

I’m not certain if people caught on quicker than I did. What I did while reading was underline every random sentence that made me go “yeah, that’s weird/creepy/suspicious.”

I tried to figure out what this twist ending, my friends mentioned, might be. I wasn’t too off base but Jeneva’s brain is definitely capable of a little more darkness than mine!

Let me go count how many sentences I underlined.

Okay, I’m back.

75.

Technically there’s more than 75 sentences, but I grouped some parts that were more than one sentence together totaling 75 weird/creepy/suspicious parts. There were probably more, but the ones I underlined stuck out more than some.

The shift between character perspectives each chapter made you suspicious of both primary characters. There were plenty of lines that I underlined questioning the intentions of both. The minor characters also all added a level of suspiciousness that made you question the sanity of the entire town most of the story took place in.

If I had picked up this book without any knowledge of the genre or the author, I would say it is a book that will likely keep a person reading. You find yourself rooting a bit for the characters while also questioning who is going to get murdered. It’s a weird dynamic.

The fish hook part (if you’ve read it, you’ll know)… I want it permanently removed from my brain. I almost put the book down and gave up when I read it.

Overall, I wouldn’t say that I recommend the book, but I also wouldn’t say that I don’t recommend the book. Do with that what you will. *shrugs*

One of my favorite things authors do is work in their title, especially when it’s one that doesn’t work in as easy as some. Jeneva managed to get it in there twice on pages 246 and 262 in my copy. It made sense and also happened to be two of the instances where I have a yellow line underneath the words.

Mom, please never read this book. You won’t like it. Just don’t do it. Thank you for reading my blog, though! I love you!

Keep your eyes out for the November AABC blog post about Red, White, and Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston!

Divorce? Marriage? Love?

I have this idea in my head that I’ve had since around 2014. It’s not one I ever thought I would have because I never thought I would be divorced. I convinced myself at a young age that my first husband would be my first and only everything. I thought I hit the jackpot when I met a man at the age of 18. I had a boyfriend or two in high school, but I mostly was a nice, goody two shoes, single nerd. When I went to college, I somehow started getting attention I never imagined. I dated a man or two and then during December of 2010, I met my soon to be husband.

The purpose of this blog isn’t to go into the details of why that relationship failed. I don’t even remember all the reasons, honestly. Getting divorced led me to the idea I mentioned. Quite a few people I knew back around 2014 were getting married. I saw post after post stating something along the lines of “Divorce is never an option!” I HATED seeing this. The bitterness inside me resented these people that had never experienced a relationship they needed to escape.

I knew at that time that I wanted to create a project. I started writing up concepts for a book I hoped to call “Divorce IS an option.” (Please don’t steal my idea, but if you do, put my name somewhere at least.) Divorce is and always will be an option. It should be an option. You should absolutely go into marriage with the thought that you might get divorced. Everyone should have boundaries that, if crossed, will result in a divorce.

For me, if you hit me, I’m gonna bounce. If you abuse my children, we’re gone. If you cheat on me, I have no interest in making things work. There’s a few more, but you get the gist.

I would like to interview those who have gone through divorces and explore the reasons that led each couple to get divorced. Ideally, I would get both sides. Not that anyone should have to justify their choices, but it’s important to put out in the world that divorce is not something that should be shamed. Divorce is a valid option and should be discussed thoroughly before marriage about what might lead one to make that choice.

The other part about this book concept that I would like to consider is about love. I look back at the people I’ve told “I love you” over the years, and I wonder if I really did or if it was more of an obligation or expectation. I remember saying the words over MSN messenger to, what I consider, my first real boyfriend. I’ve said the words to five men since then.

I feel like maybe I have loved them all. I’ve always been one to show love to everyone around me. I never want anyone to feel left out or like no one cares about them. I always befriended the quiet kids, the kids that were bullied, or the straight up strange kids. They were all typically pretty legit people. I post all the time in my blogs how I love everyone that reads these blogs. I genuinely want people to feel loved.

So, maybe I have loved these past romantic interests. However, I don’t think it should have gone past me being kind to them as people. I saw red flags in four of the five men I previously mentioned immediately.

The one I married kicked a chair down in the middle of a college dance when I refused to let him give me a lap dance in front of everyone. He also referred to me as Ms. Claus when referencing my weight. My baby daddy would never make time for me when we first dated. This didn’t change when I was pregnant or when I gave birth to his child. One man said I was too complicated to date but continued to spend time with me in a “friends with benefits” type of way. The last one literally had a confederate flag in his apartment, and I let that pass because he said he only had it to make his parents happy.

Y’all. I literally made some seriously questionable choices back in the day. Why did I let any of these things slide? I’ll tell you why. Please forgive me for my language, but loneliness is a bitch. I ignored all these red flags because I hated being alone. I liked having someone around. Sometimes, they weren’t terrible. I know I have good memories with all of them. Kinda okay was better than being alone.

Nope, it’s not. Being alone is wonderful compared to living with someone who treats you like you’re nothing, who insults you, who hits you, who ignores you for the fun of it. Even if they sprinkle a few good times in, it’s not enough to deal with the nonsense. Y’all truly don’t have to suffer because you’re scared of being alone. I recommend getting out when you start to see those red flags that you probably wouldn’t ignore if you weren’t worried about being alone.

Loneliness sucks. I get it. We’re not meant to be doing this life alone. Hopefully you have a semi decent family. If not, find some friends that you can spend time with to try and block out the loneliness while you wait for the right person to come into your life.

When I think about love, I think about what a person says when they’re asked what they love about their partner. Do they mention qualities about their partner, or do they mention what their partner does for them. So, basically, do you hear “I love their humor” or do you hear “I love that they make me laugh. Do you hear, “I love how thoughtful they are,” or do you hear, “I love that they buy me flowers.” If you hear actual qualities about someone’s partner, I feel like that’s a good sign that they genuinely love their partner. If you hear the word “me” in their responses that seems, to me, like a sign they love what their partner can do for them rather than loving their partner as a person.

Y’all aren’t going to believe this, but I am a girlfriend to someone! After complaining about being single for so long, it feels shocking to say. I still don’t believe it some days. Guess what? I’ve said “I love you” to this man. He’s beautiful inside and out. He looks at me the way I’ve always wanted to be looked at. In past relationships I always felt that I was looked at as something broken, like I was too weird, too much, and too hard to love. He looks at me like I’m delightful, like I’m perfect, and easy to love.

I haven’t seen the red flags. I know if you asked his past partners, I’m sure they will tell me all kinds of things about him. Three of the four past men that I’ve mentioned appear to be in healthy relationships despite treating me like they did. We never know what goes on behind closed doors. I can’t speak about what anyone has done in their past. All I can speak about is what I see now. I see a kind man, a man who cares so deeply about those he loves, a humorous goofball, a wildly intelligent and creative man.

I’m hopeful we will continue a path of building love for each other. I may have gotten off track a little but, I mentioned my relationship status to show that I don’t really know what I’m doing, but I’m excited to continue learning about love, how to receive love, and how to show love the way my partner deserves. Love is complicated. I’ve said the words in the past and looking back I feel like I only did it out of loneliness and a want to feel loved in return. Now, I’ve had so much time to evaluate what I’m looking for and I have no interest in tolerating what I have before.

I’m hopeful I can use my experience with love and relationships and write something in the future more in depth than a short blog to impact people and their relationships. I want people to be looked at by their partners like mine looks at me. I want them to feel so much love because they genuinely thought through and evaluated their boundaries and found someone who can show them the love they deserve.

Have conversations early on about what you expect out of a partner. I’ve been clear in my current relationship about what I need and what I expect, and I feel like it has only helped us. I know I haven’t been in a healthy relationship for very long, but I still feel like my past relationship experiences have shaped me to be someone who can speak to what a healthy relationship should look like.

I love speaking to people who have been in relationships for a long period of time. Both sets of my grandparents made it 50+ years. It’s incredible to find someone you love so deeply that you want to be with them for so long. However, a long relationship doesn’t mean a healthy relationship, so don’t get it twisted. Relationships take work.

I love love and I love writing about love. I think I will probably continue to speak on relationships in my blog and hopefully open the door to completing the book idea I’ve dreamed of writing for so long.

Thank y’all for taking the time to read my words! I hope a healthy and beautiful love has found or finds you! We all deserve to be loved for the amazing, unique, wonderful people we are.

Bucket List #22 and #37

I’m back with a Bucket List update! When I wrote my “Updated Bucket List” blog back in January of this year, I had no idea how much my life would change in such a short time.

About a month later I had submitted a two weeks notice from my job of seven years. I started selling most of what I owned in Texas and made a plan to move back to my home state of Kentucky. By the end of May, I was back in my childhood home.

Between March and May, my Bucket List and my New Year’s resolutions were far from my mind. I was in such a weird place mentally with my world changing that I basically just slept, made sure my son went to school, and ate food.

Being back home didn’t magically wake up a desire to start up my resolutions or start checking off Bucket List items. I slowly settled into the rhythm of what life would look like moving forward.

I think the beautiful part about the two items that I’ll mention in this blog is that I never imagined crossing them off this year. They’re not major items that are incredibly difficult to accomplish like some on the list. However, finding a hot air balloon and someone you like enough to kiss isn’t exactly an every day occurrence.

The first item I crossed off the list this year was number 37.

37. Ride in a hot air balloon

If you read my original Bucket List blog you would know that this one has been on my list since I was in high school. It feels surreal to check off something that you’ve dreamt of doing for so long.

My hometown has multiple days of 4th of July celebrations every year. I’ve always known that they do hot air balloon rides around that time of year, and I’m not sure why I’ve never done it in the past.

This year I happened to be with my best friend and her family at one of the holiday events. We had seen the hot air balloons out, but there were rumors that the weather wasn’t going to cooperate enough to get them in the air. We even started to leave because it seemed like it wouldn’t happen.

Suddenly, we started seeing them blow up and they made the announcement that rides were available! My friend and her kids also wanted to go for a ride, so we got in line. While we waited, I assumed we wouldn’t all get to go up together because 6 people in a hot air balloon seemed excessive in my head.

My friend and her kids walked up and then they called my son and I over to join! I was stoked. Not only was I getting to ride in a hot air balloon, but I was getting to do it with some of my favorite people!

I loved it. We were tethered to the ground and it only went up so high, but it was still high enough where if we fell it probably wouldn’t end well. We got a group shot of all of us together, and it was so amazing getting to see the wonder of the moment through our kids’ eyes.

It does make me wonder about being more specific with my list. When I originally thought of riding in a hot air balloon I imagined riding higher and not being tethered to anything. However, I don’t think these factors took away from the moment. I would like to go untethered in a hot air balloon one day, but I still feel happy crossing this item off my list.

I’m probably going to disappoint those that came to be nosy about #22, haha!

22. Kiss someone in the rain

I’m not going to go in to details about this one. I’ll keep this moment between me and the person I shared the moment with, my journal, and my mom! I’ll just say what I said on my Author Instagram page. “…I couldn’t have dreamt up a more perfect moment.”

I couldn’t see what my future looked like when things started changing back in February, but I am happy to report that your life can surprise you. Just because your life looks different than what you pictured doesn’t mean life stops happening.

I’m excited to see what items I cross off next. I still think a good goal for the next few items are what I mentioned in the blog from January.

1 – Pet a giraffe

16 – Go horseback riding

56 – Indoor Skydive

I’m grateful to be with family and friends that love me and encourage my dreams. Find the people in your life that want to be alongside you while you cross off your Bucket List items! I’ll always remember the faces of the people who were there for the six items I’ve crossed off so far, and I’m excited to see who will be there for the next 51!

I love all you beautiful amazing humans! I hope you’re doing well and creating bold dreams and lives for yourselves! You deserve the world, and even if life doesn’t look like how you imagined, don’t worry, it can still be a beautiful love filled life.

AABC – September 2024

This isn’t going to be like my typical Adventure Awaits Book Club blog posts.

I am not certain of the research behind the effectiveness of trigger warnings but this post, out of any of mine, would likely need one. I plan to address suicide.

I started reading the book I chose for my book club this month. It’s The Midnight Library by Matt Haig.

The back of the book did not appear to allude to what the book actually happens to be about. I owned this book when I lived in Texas but never got around to reading it there. I think I’m grateful that I didn’t. It’s not because it’s not a fantastic book, but it’s because I don’t think I was in the head space for it to have the effect on me it had reading it now.

While reading this book, I felt I needed to write some emotions down in one of my journals. The first sentence of the journal entry states, “I thought I’d always want to die.”

Oof.

I met with a psychiatrist back in 2023 and the beginning of 2024. I’d been going to therapy for almost four years and nothing in my life felt like it was improving. I thought maybe medication could help. Maybe it did, but it never got rid of my thought that not being alive would be so much better than living.

Due to life circumstances, I stopped taking the medications. They didn’t get rid of the thought I wanted them to, so why keep taking them? A few months later, I moved back to where I grew up.

I had complained for so long about nothing in my life changing and suddenly everything had changed. I was greeted every day by my mom’s beautiful smiling face. I had someone hang out with me while I fold laundry (mom, again), I had someone who hung out with Henry on the days when I wanted to sleep longer than he did (yes, it was my mom).

I needed my mom. I spent years telling her I would never move back home. I spent time trying to convince her to move to Texas, but something knew that wasn’t the path I needed to be on. I needed to be home.

2014 was the year I felt everything inside me change. My mom often comments how the sparkle in my eyes has been gone for so long, and that’s when I think it left. Everything about the life I imagined for myself started to fall apart. I got divorced. Grad school wasn’t what I pictured it to be. I entertained other romantic relationships that gutted me in ways I didn’t expect. The years kept coming and nothing really improved how I thought they should. My best friend almost died. I lost my grandmother. I wasn’t doing fulfilling work. Another relationship that sucked the life out of me. More jobs that weren’t what I wanted. 2017 started to turn things around. I found a fulfilling job, ended a relationship I should never have been in, and started taking care of my health. Things were okay for a little bit, but my brain still convinced me it wasn’t enough. I sought out a past relationship and ended up pregnant. For the next six years, I did everything alone. For four of those years I told my therapist over and over how I felt stuck. I felt like nothing would ever change. Why didn’t I get the family I wanted when I started communicating with my child’s father. Why couldn’t I find the time and energy to go back to school? Why did I have to feel so alone? Why did I want to die?

For 10 years I prayed over and over for cancer or some sort of death that wouldn’t completely traumatize my family. I never had thoughts of harming myself, but I knew I wanted to be taken out of this world.

Moving home has shown me that the thought I had for so long actually isn’t normal. I convinced myself that my thoughts weren’t actually suicidal ideations because I had no intention of hurting myself. Girl, please. You wanted to die for 10 years! I don’t know how you couldn’t see that your brain was telling you a lie.

Honestly, I probably didn’t share what I really needed to with my therapist or psychiatrist. I never told them how much I begged to be taken out. I never told them that the thought lived in my brain every day. I thought it would always be there and that I just needed something in my life to change for things to improve. A new job. A husband. Money. Something. Anything.

That brings me back to the book I read this month. If you haven’t read it, maybe don’t keep reading because I’m going to write a few things that will give away the ending.

The character in this book was exactly where I was mentally but unfortunately, took the next step and attempted to complete suicide. That is what was left off the back of the book. It explains that she has the opportunity to try and do life differently but does not indicate why she was given that chance.

The majority of the book is her doing things differently. Trying out lives that were different because she went down a path that she had avoided in her first life.

I can’t even begin to tell you how many times I’ve said I want to go back and do things differently.

I’ve wanted to go back and never get married.

I’ve wanted to go back and never enter any of the relationships I entertained.

I’ve wanted to go back and submit applications I didn’t because I was depressed.

I’ve wanted to go back and never become a mother.

I’ve wanted to go back and finish every degree I can possibly get.

I’ve wanted to go back and spend money differently.

I’ve wanted to go back and spend more time with my grandparents.

I’ve wanted to go back and focus more on writing.

The character in The Midnight Library tried so many lives. She made so many different choices. It didn’t matter what she chose, nothing ended up being like what she thought it would be. Every life had its own set of challenges, even in the ones that seemed perfect.

I don’t want to go back anymore.

I had a bracelet that meant the world to me back in Texas. I got it to try and trick my brain that things would be okay. It said “Keep Moving Forward.” They were the little rubber bracelets that are popular. I got two in case one broke. The first one broke and it felt metaphorical. My life was trying to break me. The second one broke and then I painted a picture of the words to be able to see them every day. I was trying to find a way to keep doing what the words told me despite not really wanting to do it.

I want to keep those words forever as my life motto. Keep Moving Forward. Even if I went back to try life differently, I’d face any number of new challenges. I want to focus on the future. I want to live my crazy life and see what’s out there for me.

I know now that I need my mom. I’m on a path that feels like it was meant for me. I’ve met people that feel like they were meant for me. I don’t know what my future will look like but like one of the lines in the book says, “…that’s the beauty, isn’t it? You just never know how it ends.” She may have been talking about chess but we all know the author meant it about life.

I’m going to throw in here a little bit of advice from someone who has experienced the feelings of wanting to die. Tell someone. Be honest about exactly how you’re feeling and truly seek out the help that you need. You’re not meant to feel this way. You can’t go back to change your past but your future can look different. Your future will hopefully give you so many more coping skills and supports that help you get through all the crap that will inevitably be thrown your way. You deserve to have days where your brain isn’t lying to you. You deserve to live!

I’m grateful for reading this book when I did. Had I read it in the depths of my depression, I would never have gotten out of it what I did. I might have felt a little hopeful but being in a place where I truly want to live is completely mind blowing.

I’m going to end this blog with another quote from The Midnight Library. “My depression-prone brain remains…I don’t want to die any more.”

Isn’t it beautiful? Please reach out for help if you need it, especially if your brain is trying to convince you your thoughts are normal like mine did.

988 is a great resource and is the suicide and crisis lifeline. Call them if you don’t know where else to turn.

Also, follow the author, Matt Haig, on instagram. I follow him there, and I appreciate his vulnerability in sharing some of the hard times he’s experienced.

I love you, you amazing beautiful humans!

AABC – August 2024

My book club, Adventure Awaits Book Club, read The Unfortunate Side Effects of Heartbreak and Magic by Breanne Randall for the month of August 2024.

I picked this book, because I went to Walmart and bought the first book that sounded the most entertaining. I’m into fantasy type books that have magical elements and appreciate a good love story intertwined with a solid plot.

Here are a few short thoughts I had while reading the book. They’re not in order of when I thought them.

Grandmas are the best.
That girl did what now?
What is his magic ability?
I want to have those desserts.
I love this dog aspect.
What is the figure?
Will they save her?
Will there be a second book?

There were a few small details about the story that I appreciated. The dog aspect isn’t necessary, but I found it precious. I liked how much thought the author put in what each recipe could do. I loved the diversity in the characters, including LGBTQ+, races/ethnicities, and aspects of multiple cultures. Randall created a large primary family and gave so much personality to each character.

The book, upon first look, is one of those that you think, “wow, they fit a lot of words on these pages.” I love a book that fits as much as possible on a page. It’s an easy read though, and I zoomed through it happily. The last sentence of the book made me smile; I love an author who fits their title so perfectly into the story.

I do wonder if there will be a second book. The ending confused me a bit about a certain character. It hurt my heart to see a return and then a departure so quickly. Another aspect of the storyline made me question a bit about its explanation. I felt bummed and happy about the explanation of this figure that appears over and over. It seemed like an easy way out instead of it being something a little more challenging. It also made me a little happy the way it played out, being romantic at heart and all. I still want to know about the creepy voice on the hill!

Mental health played an unexpected role in the story. Several diagnoses are mentioned, and the book advocated the importance of taking care of your mental health. Who doesn’t love a magical story about things that mostly live in our imagination and aspects that are completely relevant to our everyday lives.

I don’t want to go into too many details about each character or give too much of the story away. I hope I gave you just enough to make you want to pick this one up. I recommend it! I’m sure most can find something about the story to love!

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I hope to get back in to writing these monthly book club updates! Follow along for more book choices!

The book club choice for September 2024 will be The Midnight Library by Matt Haig.