What I Read (February)

A short month means fewer days to get those books in, but I did my best with the time I had and I think it turned out alright. I'm working through a few good series at the moment (outlined below) and since I crossed the 10-books-read threshold, that meant I was also allowed to buy my first "just for fun" book reward book (which happened to be a used copy of the third Thursday Murder Club series, using Amazon points, so it still cost me nothing - win-win-win!). Its been a busy month, with family birthdays and band events and a couple of little day trips, but having my morning and evening routines in place (which both include reading) has really helped me stay on track with my reading goals so far this year. Hooray for new routines and good habits!

Photo by Alisa Anton on Unsplash

I mentioned finding some good series to dive into, and so far my favorite have been the Thursday Murder Club, the Marlow Murder Mysteries, and the Hawthorne & Horowitz Mysteries. If you've read any of those and know of something along the same lines, please feel free to jump into the comments and let me know! I'm always up for a cozy, not too gory, not overly crass series to try. In the meantime, here are my thoughts about what I read in February...

1. A Line to Kill by Anthony Horowitz - ★★★ This is book #3 in the Hawthorne and Horowitz murder mystery series. So far, book #1 was a five star, book #2 went down to four stars, and now we're at three...I'm hoping this is not a trend that continues. The options for suspects were numerous, but...this one had too many loose ends for me (like totally dropping what the final outcome of BAN NAB was, or explaining why the volunteer constable was so unhappy). The murderer wasn't particularly satisfactory, nor the ending neatly tied up. It was nice that this time Horowitz doesn't end up with a knife in him somewhere. If that happened three in a row, I might have given up on the series. As it is, I'll move on to Book #4 and see if any of the secrets of Hawthorne's past finally come to light (his continual avoidance of answering questions about himself is actually getting a little old as well). {Amazon Associates Link}
2. Born Survivors by Wendy Holden - ★★★★★ It's hard not to feel a variety of emotions when you read stories like this. Stories of such horrific events that your brain cannot imagine such unfathomable things occurring, nor people surviving them, and even bringing new life into them. The author did an outstanding job researching and setting the stage for how each of these women, Priska, Rachel, and Anka, arrived at the point of giving birth in unimaginable circumstances (during a bombing raid at a forced-labor factory, in the coal car of a railroad transport, on a cart of dead and dying women at the very gates of Mauthausen death camp). To know their "befores" and their "afters" and to be present when each of them becomes a mother, without knowing that all three were together, in the same situation, paints a picture you won't soon wipe from your mind. {Amazon Associates Link}
3. The Meaning of Marriage by Timothy J. Keller, Kathy Keller - ★ Unpopular opinion warning. ⚠️ First of all, for a variety of reasons (which I will not be discussing here) I am not, in general, a fan of marriage books. However, the Hubs and I were asked to read several in the hopes of finding one good one for use with struggling couples in our church. My beef with this isn't so much Tim Keller's viewpoint (although he does defer to the world's so-called "knowledge" a lot) as it was his wordiness. Three-hundred-plus pages that could have all been summed up in one: Love God. Love People. People = your spouse. Get over yourself and your self-love, stop focusing on what you think THEY should be doing for you, start asking God how He wants to change YOU. The end. Marriage Book Alternative Recommendation: You and Me Forever by Francis Chan (honestly, good for singles, too!) {Amazon Associates Link}
   
4. When Sinners Say "I Do" by Dave Harvey - ★★★ I went in with a bad attitude, honestly (see above: I don't like marriage books), but was pleasantly surprised. He gets to the heart of the issue straight away: sin. Good stuff, 183 pages, takes you all the way through death and ending well. Most of it isn't even specific to marriage (but can all be applied in marriage), meaning a single person could read this book and get some good takeaways from it as far as how to grow in Christ and live for others rather than self. The only reason I would still prefer/recommend Francis Chan's book over this one is because Francis writes it with his wife, Lisa, so you get takes from both sides. There were several times when I felt like Harvey was a bit one-sided in his view, and quite honestly, a little tone-deaf on the chapter about sex. Otherwise, not bad. {Amazon Associates Link}

I have four other books in process at the moment, but I didn't finish any of them before the end of the month. However, because of my strong start in January, I'm still ahead for the year, so I'm on track for 60 books in 2025. What about you? What was the best book you read in February? Hit me up in the comments and let me know!

What I Read: January

I've mentioned before that winter is my reading season. It's cozy and cold (SO COLD this month!) and dark early and the perfect time (for me) to get a lot of books knocked off my list. I'm doubly motivated this year as I get to buy a new book for every 10 books I read from my own shelves, and I'm dying to get the next book in the Thursday Murder Club series. Have you read them? If you like cozy British mysteries and septuagenarian sleuths...this is definitely a set for you to check out.

And while last year was all about reading through the books on my shelf (some months were a little more themed than others, like more self-improvement in January or mystery in October), this year I am grabbing the books that grab my interest. I had a few reading slumps in 2024 (despite making it through 62 books for the year), but I don't like forcing myself to finish books. So this year I'm starting out by simply reading the books that make me laugh, or the ones that sound interesting...and then are interesting. Reading to hit the numbers isn't really the point (well, it's sort of the point, but not the main point)...I want to read to learn, read to grow, and read to laugh. 

What's on your reading list this year?

Photo by Sixteen Miles Out on Unsplash

I was pretty pleased with myself when I had read my third book of the month by January 7th, but I also knew that the slump could come at any time, so it's always best to make hay while the sun shines (Pa Ingalls taught me that). 

1. The Man Who Died Twice by Richard Osman - ★★★★ I mentioned the Thursday Murder Club series at the start of this post, and this is book #2. I had really low expectations of the first book, and I think because my expectations were so raised during the reading of that, I probably had slightly high expecations for the second book. Don't get me wrong, it was great! I thoroughly enjoyed it and read it in a couple of days, but it received four stars, rather than five, as the first one received. However, the gang is all back together in this one, along with some new members (grandsons, taxi drivers, and a few folks from MI5 and 6 and the American mafia, just to keep it interesting). {Amazon Associates Link}
2. The Man Who Invented Christmas by Les Standiford - ★★★★ I purchased the movie tie-in Kindle version of this (two things I dislike: movie tie-in versions and ebooks, but it was the cheapest way to get it!), and missed the fact that 40% of the book was actually Dickens' A Christmas Carol. So when I got to the 60% mark and Standiford's book ended, I was a bit confused, until I realized we were now diving into Dickens' story after we finished reading about his life, writing, and the most well known of his Christmas tales, A Christmas Carol. This is really more of a 3.5 star book, but I rounded up, because I did learn a few things about Dickens that made all of his stories make more sense. I think there are probably better biographies of Dickens, but this wasn't a bad little book in its own right. {Amazon Associates Link}
3. Your Year of Wonders by Nick Tasler - ★★★★ This is quite a short little read (just 104 pages), which the author calls the perfect "airplane read." This is not a check-list "how to" book, nor does it need to be as we are all coming from different places with different stories, but it is an encouraging book to start out the year. The stories that he shares of people who have accomplished big things, gotten stuck, and figured out a way to move forward are encouraging. I particularly liked his take on fear as a motivator - positive for getting one moving out of a stuck position, negative for encouraging creativity. Not only a good thought for all of us when faced with fear, but a good reminder for parents when dealing with children. {Amazon Associates Link} 
4. The Night Trilogy by Elie Wiesel - ★★ This was a hard series to read. It actually gets two stars because I dislike that the first book (Night) is the non-fiction account of the author's experience in Nazi concentration camps as a 15-year-old boy, while the following books (Dawn and Accident) are fictional accounts, which could easily lead people into thinking that the first book is as well. And the Holocaust should never, in any way, be turned into fiction. It was real, it was horrific, and it should be remembered and learned from. So, although a heavy read, I would give Night four stars on its own, but not included in this trilogy, which gets two. On their own, I would say that Dawn and Accident, while fiction, are highly influenced by Weisel's experiences during the Holocaust, which clearly comes through in his writing. Although he physically survived the war, after reading his work I would say he died mentally, emotionally, and spiritually, which is what made them so difficult to read. {Amazon Associates Link} 
5. The Word is Murder by Anthony Horowitz - ★★★★★ About a third of the way through the book I thought this might turn out to be a disappointment. But by the time I was 80% done with the book and the killer was suddenly revealed and I never saw it coming...I was totally hooked. The premise, that the actual author is writing the story as if it happened, and he was the Watson to Hawthorne's "Sherlock," was intriguing. There was death and murder and blood, but it wasn't gory. In fact, it reminded me a lot of watching "Midsomer Murders," which is no surprise...since the author wrote for that show very early on. Bottom line: The perfect cold-weather, winter cozy read. {Amazon Associates Link}
6. Everyone In My Family Has Killed Someone by Benjamin Stevenson - ★★★ This was a toss-up between three and four stars for me. It was an interesting premise, with a lot of background and a lot of characters to keep track of, which is one of the reasons I ended up giving it three stars instead of four. If you read this, read it all in a weekend, because I ended up setting it down a few times and coming back several days later and I had to remind myself who was who in the story. But when I was reading it straight through, they all made sense. There was definitely a twist at the end that I only saw coming moments before it happened, so that was nice. And the twist at the very end I never saw coming, so kudos to the author for that one. I would definitely give him another try, based on this book. {Amazon Associates Link}
7. The Sentence is Death by Anthony Horowitz - ★★★★ This is the second book in the Hawthorne & Horowitz Mysteries series, and I enjoyed it almost as much as the first. It was a bit of a letdown (which the author, himself, included that letdown as part of the plot line) when the ending felt so similar to the first book. However, just like the first book, I really didn't see who the murderer was until right before (as in a page or two) they were revealed. He does a great job of throwing a lot of options out there, and let you be as confused as he (the author) is in trying to untangle them. All in all, I'm quite enjoying this series and have already started book #3, so you can look for that review next month! {Amazon Associates Link}

And that's the wrap up of the first seven books of 2025. Not a bad beginning, all things considered, and a few winning series that I'm looking forward to continuing this year (and thankfully, all the authors are still writing them, which is fun). 

What's the best book you've read so far in the year? Book goals? 

Jump in the comments and share!

Focus on the Positive

A friend recently pointed out that she tends to listen to her inner critic and focus on all the things she didn't accomplish, all the ways she failed (even if it wasn't an actual failure). But when she sat down at the beginning of the year to review her goals from last year, she decided to focus on the positive instead, rather than honing in on the goals she didn't meet. And lo and behold...her list of "wow" moments from 2024 grew before her eyes. 

Photo by S O C I A L . C U T on Unsplash

I thought this was a brilliant observation. How often do you look at the negative, focusing on all the things that didn't work or that you didn't try or didn't do? And on the flip side, how often do you celebrate the "little" wins and appreciate the steps you took to do something different? With this in mind, I'd like to publicly put out there my list of "wows" for 2024, and encourage you to take some time to process your own "wow" moments from the last year. If my guess is correct, you probably have more of them then you might think...

• I only walked one day the week of New Years. Since June, I walked an average of 5 days a week for 6 months straight, after being a couch potato, basically since 2020!
• I only lost 7 lbs. this year, and now I'm stuck. I started intermittent fasting in April and am still doing it and feel better overall than I have in a few years!
• I only read one book in December. I set a goal to read 48 books this year, which I completed in August and went on to read 62 books for the year!
• I didn't save for a vacation like I planned. We took the kids on multiple "adventure days" and splurged on local events and meals that made for great memories!
• I didn't have time to invest in local friendships. I was surprised by a couple of friendships that developed over text and have become lifelines on hard days!
• My husband had to close his business. We took a leap into a new venture and so far it's paying the bills and God has provided even more than we expected!
• I didn't get as many outside work gigs as I hoped. I heard from an old client who responded to an email I'd sent months earlier, which provided income right when we needed it!

Do you see the difference? One viewpoint only looks at things through the lens of failure. The things I wanted to accomplish but didn't. The other focuses on all the good things that did happen! I'll be honest, as an INTJ, I'm not great at looking at the positive (realism is built into my DNA!). But this was such a good exercise in recognizing, not only how many good things happened over the last year, but all the ways I changed in my mindset and outlook along the way.

What are your "wow" moments?

 

Big Picture (25 in 25) Simple Goals (a.k.a. #DoSomething)

I was recently chatting with a friend and we were discussing goals and goal setting, as well as just making time to look back and appreciate what we accomplished last year and how far we've come. As an INTJ, there is something so satisfying about making lists and setting goals. It's not about trying to prove something to the world, it's just setting the bar higher for myself, because, as I have been known to say for years now, "There is always room for improvement." Not only do I set the bar high for those around me (I don't expect perfection, but I do expect you to try), but I hold myself to the same standard of not just staying in my comfort zone, but constantly learning something new. 

Photo by Brett Jordan on Unsplash

Around October of last year, shortly after Hurricane Helene wrecked havoc in the mountains of eastern TN and western NC, my motto became, "Do Something." It didn't matter if it was big or small, if it only affected me or if it involved the whole family, I no longer wanted to assume that tomorrow was a guarantee. As a Christian, I have always known and quoted the verses in James 4... 

13 Now listen, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money.” 14 Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. 15 Instead, you ought to say, “If it is the Lord’s will, we will live and do this or that.” 16 As it is, you boast in your arrogant schemes. All such boasting is evil. 17 If anyone, then, knows the good they ought to do and doesn’t do it, it is sin for them.

But having the reality of this literally fall into my backyard, to see people's lives uprooted, homes destroyed, roads washed away, dreams shattered, was a real wake-up call to stop putting off the things that I wanted to do "some day" and to start making them happen now. Maybe it wouldn't be perfect, and that's okay. Maybe it would cost money, but I was going to spend that money on something anyway. Maybe it was inconvenient or it would cause me to get out of my comfort zone, but putting everything off for a time when convenience was king would just leave me a year older with more regrets that I didn't take advantage of the moment of opportunity. And so I embraced the idea of "Do Something."

I have selected words or phrases in past years to help me keep my focus for the year, but this year I think I'm just going to keep going with the #DoSomething idea. Don't wait for the perfect time, doing something now is better than not doing anything at all. 

I came up with a general list of ideas for 2025 (leaving room for expansion) which I wrote about in November (you can read that post here). It was a good list. I like what I started with. And while I'm not ditching the ideas found there by any means, as I got to the end of the year and the beginning of a new one, I realized that committing to Do Something daily was better for me than big picture lists. So without further ado, here are the things I'm committed to working on in 2025: 

• Getting rid of 365+ things (I've already made a big dent in this, and am halfway through April!)
• Walk or bike five days a week (this will restart on January 6)
• Lower the grocery budget by $10/month - OR - eat healthier (I don't think I can do both)
• Write what #iamthankful for in a notebook, daily
• Monday-Friday, Instagram is turned off on my phone (and FB too), to stop mindless scrolling
• Read 60 books this year (average of five books a month)
• Commit to buying no new (or used) clothes or shoes for me in 2025
• Get out of bed 10 minutes earlier each month/earlier start to the day (which goes with...)
• Create a nighttime routine (skin care, vitamins, no phone, read paper book, hot tea, earlier to bed)

And as for those bigger goals, the ones that made the 25 in 25 list, here are a few steps I took this week to make those ideas a reality:

• I planned out special events (not even big stuff) and put them on my Google calendar (that I live and die by). Things like taking the kids down to the grocery store to get slushies for $1.50 after school one day a month, or taking them four times this year to our local Mennonite donut store to use the gift cards I planned ahead and bought during the holiday season so we could get the free $20 in bonus cards. 
• I spent time on Booking.com, planning out a summer trip and actually booking places to stay (with free cancellation), and setting up get togethers with friends along the way. That also allows me to know how much I need to set aside to for our vacation fund.
• I bought a bunch of apples at the grocery this weekend and we cut a lot of them up so they're easy to grab and snack on (crispy apples are even better than oily potato chips!).
• Knowing that my parents are getting older and it's not as easy for them to host us, I invited them to join us several times over the holidays, which they loved and we made more memories that we will treasure in years to come.
• As much as I dislike playing games, I know my kids love having "family time" - so I purposely ordered the Muppet's version of ClueⓇ, selected some special treats (most purchased 75% off after Christmas!), and we baked pizzas and spent New Year's Eve playing games, eating snacks, and reading through our box of memories that we had written down throughout the year. 

This week I was looking ahead to 2025 and the thought that crossed my mind was tempus fugit. Our eldest daughter (who has already flown from the nest) will be 21 this year. Our youngest will join three other siblings and become our final teenager. This fall we'll have two high school freshman, one sophomore, and one junior. We're planning a college visit this November. Before we know it, they'll be spreading their wings and moving on to the next segment of life, which I absolutely love and support, but it also takes my breath away. It always felt like we had more time to do the things we wanted to do, to take the trips, to make the memories. As it turns out, it's time to take my own advice and Do Something.

"The future is something which everyone reaches at the rate of sixty minutes an hour, whatever he does, whoever he is." 

~ C.S. Lewis

December's Bookshelf

It honestly feels like yesterday that I sat down at my desk and crafted my list of #simplegoals, which included reading 48 books over the course of the year. And yet, here we are. The year has passed us by, and I ended the year with 62 books read from my TBR shelf (both physical and Kindle). It just goes to show that sometimes you have to set a goal in order to make things happen. Even something as simple as making time to read more books.

Photo by Madara Parma on Unsplash

Since it was the month of festivities I wasn't sure how many I would finish this month, and as it turns out...that number was one. HA! However, the one I did manage to finish was a holiday-themed book from my shelf, which made it fun. 

1. Noel Streatfeild's Christmas Stories - ★★★ I wasn't sure what to expect from this book, but I had previously read Streatfeild's Ballet Shoes (thanks to the recommendation in You've Got Mail!) and I enjoyed the writing style, so I think my expectations were a little high for this one. It was simply a series of stand-alone Christmas-y stories, all with happy endings (so I can't complain there), but some of them felt like we'd jumped into the middle of a story and were missing context. This isn't one I would highly recommend, nor will I probably ever read it again, but it was still a super simple book to boost me into my December reads, so I'll take it. Plus, the cover is beautiful (nice for displaying). {Amazon Associates Link}

And now we're in a new month, the first one of the year! And the whole year is before us, ready for new series and new reading challenges. I'm gearing up for 60+ books this year, and looking forward to getting a reward now and then for my efforts. 

What book will you be starting out the new year with? 

An old friend or a new acquaintance? 

Best Books of 2024 (and 2025 #bookgoals)

When I set out my Simple Goals for the year, I decided to set a goal of reading four books a month, for a total of 48 books for the year. I hit that goal in August and continued forward, which is one of the reasons I set my 2025 reading goal at five books a month (60 books for the year).

During the last twelve months, I've read some hits and some misses, and the only re-read I had on the list was a book I read to two of my kids, just for fun. If you follow me on Goodreads, have seen any of my posts on Instagram, or have read the blog over the last year, none of these will be a surprise. However, I wanted to give a round of of the best books of 2024, and shortened reviews of why you should consider picking up copies for your 2025 reading list. Bookworms ready? Let's go!

Photo by Nong on Unsplash

Best Books of 2024

January: The Watchmaker's Daughter by Larry Loftis - ★★★★★ A fantastic historical account of the life of Corrie ten Boom, her family and friends' involvement in the Dutch Resistance, and those who found refuge in the secret Hiding Place. Heavy stuff, but an absolute MUST READ. {Amazon Associates Link} 

February - Nothing to write home about, sadly.

March: Irena's Children: Young Readers Edition by Mary Cronk Farrell/Tilar J. Mazzeo - ★★★★★ Another heavy hitter, but another MUST READ (still have the adult version on my TBR list). The torture, although toned down for the YRE, was almost more than my mind could grasp. These are such important stories to tell, read, and remember, because forgetting will only take us back to that same place in the future. {Amazon Associates Link}

April: The Worst Hard Time by Timothy Egan - ★★★★ Covering the dirty thirties in the U.S., a decade of dust, disaster, death, and destruction, including "Black Sunday" and the realities of "dust pneumonia." I got several members of my extended family to read this as well. Great for history buffs who think they've heard it all!{Amazon Associates Link}

May and June - another couple of "meh" months in the book department.

July: Code Girls by Liza Mundy - ★★★★★ A well-written tale of the unsung heroines of code breaking, both military and civilian. As the Greatest Generation leaves us, it's vital to remember these stories and pass them on to the next generation so we do not forget the sacrifices that were made by so many. {Amazon Associates Link}  

August: Magpie Murders by Anthony Horowitz - ★★★★★ From the 1950's to modern times and back again - this was altogether a pleasant surprise and one which I have few qualms about recommending to anyone who enjoys a "good" murder mystery with plenty of references to Poirot, Sherlock Holmes, and Midsomer Murders. {Amazon Associates Link}

September: The Thursday Murder Club by Richard Osman - ★★★★★ Nursing home friends with plenty of kick left in them, solving crimes using a lifetime of skills and connections. No questionable language, no unnecessary sexual encounters, and an ending I can totally live with. Two thumbs way up. {Amazon Associates Link}

October: Agatha Christie: An Autobiography by Agatha Christie - ★★★★★ A fascinating woman who never took herself seriously as an author, I thoroughly enjoyed learning more about this woman - from her childhood through her early adult years, her foray into Middle Eastern travel, her second life with Max (13-years her junior!), all the way through her 75th year. {Amazon Associates Link}

November: The Answer is No: A Short Story by Fredrik Backman - ★★★★★ Just 65 pages, so definitely in the "short story" category, but I chuckled all the way through. This man gets introverts. I felt so seen! Download it for an easy, enjoyable read. {Amazon Associates Link} 

December: Too busy to read all that much, and nothing that stood out.

Looking Ahead

My reading goals for 2025 give me a little more leeway, although I still plan to continue working my way through the books that have been languishing on my shelves for far too long. They either need to be read or go away, and I'd prefer to read them before they depart. However, this year I'm planning to do two things differently with my #bookgoals:

1. Although I am primarily focusing on reading new-to-me books, I am allowing a handful of re-reads, as needed. This is especially true if I find myself in a book slump (as I did a couple of  times in 2024), and need to read something that I know I'll enjoy (like the Father Tim series, or the Miss Read books).
2. After every 10 books I read from my shelf (or Kindle library), I am allowed to buy one new (to me) book. The only books I purchased in 2024 were purchased using gift cards I received, or using Kindle points that had collected. This year I want to be a little more flexible, but still focus on reading through my TBR stacks before adding any more to the pile. 

Hit me up in the comments with your best book (or books) of 2024, and also how you keep your motivation going during slumps or other reading slowdowns. What book are you looking forward to reading this year? Do you have a TBR pile that's giving you the evil eye for not doing anything with it? Maybe 2025 is the year!

📚 Happy Reading! 📚

#iamthankful for BOOKS! (November Book Reviews)

'Tis the season of thankfulness, and one of the things I am the most thankful for has been the role of books throughout my life. Raised in a household of readers, encouraged to read young, read big, and read often, the title of "Bookworm" was a badge I wore proudly. And yes, there have been seasons of drought in my reading life, but like most things, these ebb and flow, depending on the stage of life. 

When we first adopted our five kids, I was barely hanging on to my sanity, and there didn't seem to be any time to read, and yet I knew it was a habit I wanted to actively model for them. During that period, I purposely went back to some childhood favorites - almost a comfort food, if you will - which helped me remember that this too, would pass. And it did. Eight years later, most of my kids can be found with a book in their hands (or at least nearby), and so my gratitude for the effects of books, both on myself and my children, continues to grow.

In October, I refocused on how I used my time, and brought my book total for the year up to 57 (out of a planned 48). I wasn't sure what November was going to look like, but as is the case in so many households, I knew that there was potential for some familial stress around the holidays (starting at Thanksgiving), and I knew that making time for reading (there's that sanity-saving factor again) was going to be important. That, in addition to counting my blessings, large and small.

• God's provision.
• My loved ones.
• Reliable transportation.
• Pumpkin Spice Lattes.
• Bookshelves of books.

The result of this focus (piggybacking off the "Do Something" goal of October) can be seen in the list of book reviews below. Some really good, one average, but none of them a waste of time, because they all made me think in different ways. 

1. A Song of Comfortable Chairs by Alexander McCall Smith - ★★★★★ It's hard to go wrong with a No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency book if you're looking for a quick, easy, comfort read. It's like the Mitford of Africa. This time, Mma Ramotswe is on the defense of Mma Makutsi's furniture-selling husband, Phuti, who is experiencing some financial difficulities after competition comes to town and continually undercuts his prices. But never fear, Mma Ramotswe has a plan, and as always, it is executed with precision and a little African charm. You can jump into any book in this series and immediately feel right at home. So brew a pot of rooibos tea and curl up for a cozy evening with the women of the best detective agency in all of Botswana. Five stars. {Amazon Associates Link}
2. The Answer is No: A Short Story by Fredrik Backman - ★★★★★ I had not read anything by this author before, but I came across his account on Instagram, and his posts often made me laugh. So, when this was one of the Amazon Prime First Reads in November, I didn't hesitate before downloading. It's only about 65 pages, so definitely in the "short story" category, but I chuckled all the way through. This man gets introverts. I felt so seen! The witty banter, the fear of opening his neat life up to anyone, and the absolutely absurd story of "the pile" were the perfect mix for me. In fact, I was reading this at my desk while the kids did school, and I kept having to put my hand over my mouth to keep from laughing out loud. Even though no longer free, it's still cheap ($1.99 as of this writing) and I would highly recommend downloading it for an easy, enjoyable read. Five stars. {Amazon Associates Link} 
3. Deadly Company by Ann Granger - ★★★ I've read several books by this author, but this one felt a bit rough. I'm not sure if it was a lack of editing (the phrase "the smile didn't go to his/her eyes" was used multiple times), or a rush to get it done (she wrote it in 2020 and even mention this fact in a note at the start of the book), with a rather thin plot line. It's definitely not my favorite. And while I wasn't sure who murdered whom, it wasn't actually a surprise when all was revealed either. I'd definitely start with one of her other books before recommending this one. Fortunately, I got this one using Amazon ebook credits, so it wasn't a huge loss, and it was still an enjoyable way to spend a late night reading. Three stars. {Amazon Associates Link}
4. Salt, Sugar, Fat: How the Food Giants Hooked Us by Michael Moss - ★★★★★ It took me a while to read through this book, and honestly, it was because, like the fatty, salty, sugary foods Moss uncovers, I was trying to process what he was saying and break a 40+ year habit of thinking any processed foods were better than others. Reading labels? EYE. OPENING. Why does ice cream have 37 ingredients, most of which I can't pronounce? What happened to cream, sugar, milk, and a handful of flavor ingredients? They're regulated to the $6/quarts, rather than the $3/gallons. I highly recommend taking the time to read this book. Take it a bite at a time, if you will. Do we still eat junk food? Of course. But it's no longer the standard in our home, just an occasional treat. The fruit drawer, however, is filled. Most meals are prepared and eaten at home. Fast-food is limited. Small steps, but I believe they are making a difference. Five stars. {Amazon Associates Link}

Hit me up in the comments with your favorite book from the last month!