Lexi’s Comments (group member since Jul 27, 2016)

Lexi’s comments from the Nothing But Reading Challenges group.

Back up for Team Traffic for Judith and an extra entry. Thank you

I cleared two monsters if someone has time to spin new ones.

I am reading my U as well

Melanie wrote: "I bought a copy of The Spellshop today while I was at Target getting Halloween candy so I'm ready to go when November 2nd gets here."

I hope you enjoy it. I really liked it.

Hi all,

I also wanted to remind everyone of a new rule this round, which is personal book caps. These maximum are personal and not for the team. If you forgot what you signed up for, the number and the maximum you can read each round is listed on the member tab here: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/...

If you think you are going to cross your personal maximum, may I suggest that very long books are your friend. Otherwise, if needed, I can add an overflow book tab for extra books. Please feel free to ask any questions.

Happy Saturday everyone,

Michelle, can you add a date read to The Kite Runner on your wheel shelf, please?

Trinia, can you add Golden Girl to you wheel shelf, please?

Thank you both

DQs Day 3: Then - Then 58%
first line "Marcus changes completely..."
last line "...serious chat about your future"

11. "The sound of teeth against a spoon when someone's eating soup, insects that scuttle, people who don't listen, RATS, and when uncle Terry says 'WOMEN!'" - what a random list of pet peeves (Are they even pet peeves? Rats?? And uncle Terry 'all on his own'???),,, What are some of yours?
People who talk on the phone in tents or don’t use earphones after 10 PM at night. People are trying sleep and we are all less than 2 feet from each other.

12. Dylan's (and Marcus') trip through Europe has become much more than just that, ending up in Asia, trying to figure out what to do with his life when he's already been handed it all on a silver platter. His dad is a douche and clearly wants to dictate Dylan's life while Dylan just keeps running away from his problems. Lucky he has all this money (his dad's I would assume) to just throw away. Can you relate to him in any way? Do you feel bad for him?
The backpacking round Asia thing is such privileged and I have delt with some of them when working abroad and really, “finding oneself” is such a cliché. I did Fulbright one year to teach English abroad because I wanted to travel and I knew I needed a way to pay for it and that is still quite a privilege that I could take that opportunity as I was not supporting family.

13. "Nowadays we date, we shop around. If we really like someone we spend more time with them. Then we move in with them a few years down the line. Then, maybe, if we've lost the will to live or whatever it is that compells people to settle down we marry them. We don't rearrange our lives because of a good shag."

"Addie, she's not right for you (...) Stop that! Don't you see what you're doing? You're turning her into something she's not. You don't understand her. She's not your beautiful muse, Dylan. She's messy and dark. And raw. She's a disaster waiting to happen. She's got power. And she doesn't even know it yet you know. She's like,,, she's untapped. (...) She's not right for you. Okay?"

Did Marcus already know something we didn't at this point? Did something happen between Marcus and Addie back in France? And then the way Marcus took care of Dylan after getting too high, in the bathroom.... Do you think he (not so?) secretely has feelings for Dylan? Or is he just jealous?
Marcus is getting set up as being possessive as friend but crossing over into the (Thankfully mostly done/older) stereotype of the possessive gay friend that tries to ruin the straight MC romance. I don’t think the author will take it all the way there, but it is certainly implied.

14. Rodney thinking Deb has drowned in the river and actually LOOKING FOR A BODY IN THE WATER!!! had me laugh out loud to be honest, but only because of how frickin ridiculous this book is. Definitely expected something more cutesie and wholesome for some reason. Being almost two thirds into the book now, how do you feel about it so far? Is it meeting your expectations?
I hate everyone. Really, Rodney was amusing but now creepy, and I am over him. I don’t think the author has ever been on a long road trip and really, this book needs to be done.

I have been on a run of bad books, so if anyone has some fun longer suggestions, I need some.

DQs - Day 2 - 17 Oct
Then - Now 38%
first line "Can't the girl find..."
last line "shitshow of a strategy"

6. The author goes for the switching POVs and timelines method. How do you like these in general? And do you think it is a good fit for this book?

This is going to be a 2 star book. I would never have read it without the points, but even for a contemporary MF romance, it is bad. If you made this a drinking game for every time the fact the female MC is small, you would get alcohol poisoning.

7. We get to meet some more characters along the way in the "THEN" section: Dylan's uncle Terry, his brother, the mysterious Grace and other friends whose dynamics to Dylan and Marcus should shed some more light on their characters and motivation. But do they? Do you feel like you are getting to know them better? Or understand them? (Or care?)
I really can't keep track of section so I am a bit past this, but everyone is a walking cliche and flat. Luke never has any lines. Grace is supposed to be "real" but is very pretentious and I still utterly dislike everyone. So no on caring.

8. What do you think about Dylan's and Addie's past relationship in France? Do you like it/find it convincing? What about their sudden meeting in the present and the insta-lust after all the emotional baggage they seem to be dragging with them?
The two year time gap clearly had no effect on everyone's maturity and the past time line is just the author wallowing in writing unhealthy relationships. It is not exactly an employee situation but still seems iffy.

9. I'm not really sure I'd call this book a "romance" though it certainly offers the trope of second-chance. Do you have any favourite romantic trope(s) or one that you especially dislike?
I often like friends or second chance because it gives more time depth and isn't insta-love/lust which I highly dislike but this one manages that even with a second chance.

10. Any guesses what part Rodney may play in the plot or do you think he's just some kind of "filler" character?
So I am a bit further along but he is starting to get a bit creepy.

DQs Day 1
Now - Now last line "...reach out and touch her."

1.) Is this your first book by O'Leary? Only reading for points and that lovely 'O' letter for Wheel-a-thon or was it already on your tbr list?
This is also my first book by Beth O'Leary and it would have been a DNF by the end of the first past section if it was not a BOM. I am only here for points.

2.) Road trips. Love them, hate them? If you've gone on a road trip before what are some must have for the journey?
I have done them with family and as a student to get to conferences and I guess some of my field work counts. The main goal is not to get stuck in the middle seat. Preferably claim some form of car sickness so you get the passenger seat. Snacks are good and a functioning AC if at all in a hot area. Water should be scheduled for how long you might have to go between stops, i.e. parts of Texas and Kansas.


3.) Deb's comment about never having a baby obviously proved untrue. Do we think the baby daddy is going to make an appearance in the story? Or do you think it's a no name person who isn't relevant to the book?
I also hope the father is irrelevant to the plot as that allows the focus to stay on Deb and her child. I feel like Deb is written as way too much of a stereotype but then again, who isn’t in this story so far.

4.) The flagrant unconcern about money by half the characters is a bit gross. Do you think that's at the root of Dylan and Addie's split? Or do you think it's the mysterious Grace? Marcus especially seems to not know the whole breakup story. Any guesses to why Dylan didn't seem to tell him the truth?
I am a bit further along so not guessing but it is always shocking how unconcerned or completely oblivious some people can be about money and that other people might have less.

5.) Initial impressions of the cast of characters?
I dislike them all to slightly varying amounts and most of them need therapy or more therapy for really unhealthy coping mechanism. Marcus is toxic. Deb reads completely flat so far- supportive and likes sex and has a kid off screen that she only mentions to make a point. We have not got any actual kid stories. Dylan is an idiot with bad poetry in the past and might see some growth now but really, two years should have moved on. I feel bad for fictional Rodney being stuck in this car.

LaurLa wrote: "Oops! Sorry about that! I'll sticky it on my shelf list so it'll be at the top and I won't forget to that again (hopefully...)"

Good plan and thank you

LaurLa, when you have a moment, can you add Cold Shadows to your Wheel shelf? Thank you

Hope you and the toddler both get some rest tonight

Have fun reading, everyone

Six hours to go. Just a reminder than any book started before then cannot be used. Hope everyone is having a nice Saturday.

No worries, you will also notice that it is listed on the drop down menu next to every time you claim the bonus

There was a clarification posted in the rules (see below):

Clarification on Bonus Points
For the avoidance of doubt, we are defining publication years by the year only, so 2 years ago means published in 2021. The official team sheet indicates the years that work for the different tiers.

For page count, a book of 400 pages does NOT count as "over 400 pages", ditto the other levels.

Also, we have one each on the other monsters and they are:

MC goes on blind date
Tagged "circus" (5 or more times)
Takes place in the 1960s and/or 1970s
Set in Latin and South America, The Philippines, or Guam

Noticed a monster was done so got us a new Discworld monster. Large page number just in time for Wheel.

Dungeon Dimensions
500 to 650
author initials found in THINGS
a book entirely without magic (your interpretation)
book with an alliterative title
the word 'wastelands' found in the text or title

November Books of the Month

Since the first one especially might be a long library hold, I wanted to share the November books of the month.

Nov. 2 - The Spellshop
Nov 16 - The Mysterious Affair at Styles

I have read both and the first is a charming fantasy with a good plot, lovely characters, a sweet romance and a magically sentient spider plant. I however have read it in July, but I encourage others to read it if that sounds like fun.

The second is Agatha Christie who generally needs no introduction and gets the 100 year bonus points as well.