The Well-Read Week No. 31

Welcome to The Well-Read Week — a Sunday morning newsletter written for moms like you who love books and are trying to find the time to read them.

Good morning,

Yesterday we went to our first fun family weekend event of the new school year — Science Saturday! We got to see lots of plants and animals native to our area (snakes, turtles, frogs, etc.) and participate in hands-on exhibits. It was much more organized this year with timed ticket entry. Afterward we ate at a local sandwich shop and got a few chores done before some much needed RAIN!

📘The Name Game by Beth O’Leary — No one told me this is an epistolary novel! I’m loving it so far!

📱I am getting closer to finishing my Christmas in July (now August) pick from NetGalley — 12 holiday short stories called The Twelve Loves of Christmas: An Advent Romance Collection by various well-known romance authors. The collection is set to publish at the end of September.

🎧I finished The Exquisite Torment of Loving Your Enemy by Brigitte Knightley, the second in a duology of traditionally published Dramione fanfics. The slow burn was tedious, and the magic system wasn’t easy to follow. I never felt invested in either main character. I would recommend skipping this book and reading the original fanfiction, Draco Malfoy and the Mortifying Ordeal of Being in Love.

🎧Games: A Love Story by Anna Maria Volkova — A dark and deeply flawed literary romance between a grad student who takes a much older lover. Grief and a mismatched power dynamic are major themes in the novel.

I’ve been challenging myself to save watching movies/TV shows for my post-dinner walks. It only took 5 days, but I finished Voicemails to Isabelle. I can confidently say at no point did I know where that movie was going! The premise is a little over the top, but I loved that Izzy was still able to find joy in life by wading through waves of tremendous grief. If you’re looking for a movie that is a little silly, very cringe, and filled with sisterly love, give this one a shot. Now I’m watching Ransom Canyon!

It’s important to remember to thank the people who paved the way for you. This week we celebrated a coworker’s retirement at a Minor League Baseball Game and it was so much fun to cut loose a bit after hours. Plus, it broke up the work week!

Happy reading,

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