Alissa's "I Blame Lindsey" 2nd 12+4 List- BOTM Edition

[Alissa]

Love youuuuuuuuuuuuu my fellow BOTM member/ enabler **blows kisses**

Since I joined the Book of the Month subscription box 2 years ago, I have a lot of books just sitting and glaring me in the face. Even though I chose 10 random books in the Individual Challenge, I almost have enough unread books to have a whole second list lol

CURRENTLY READING:

5/16

1.) The Two Lives of Lydia Bird by Josie Silver COMPLETED 7/27/23- 4 STARS
2.) The Comeback by Ella Berman
3.) The Hunting Wives by May Cobb
4.) The Paris Apartment by Lucy Foley
5.) Darling Girl: A Novel of Peter Pan by Liz Michalski
6.) Peach Blossom Spring by Melissa Fu
7.) 56 Days by Catherine Ryan Howard
8.) White Horse by Erika T. Wurth COMPLETED 9/10/23- 3.5 STARS
9.) All the Dangerous Things by Stacy Willingham COMPLETED 3/5/23- 4 STARS
10.) The Golden Couple by Greer Hendricks COMPLETED 2/23/23- 3 STARS
11.) The Lies We Told by Camilla Way
12.) The Attic Child by Lola Jaye

Alternates: Not BOTM officially but I do own these:
1. The Obsession by Nora Roberts
2.) West with Giraffes by Lynda Rutledge COMPLETED 1/11/23- 3 STARS
3.) Good Luck with That by Kristan Higgins
4.) Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood by Rebecca Wells

[Alondra, Moderator Schmoderator]

SMH *sigh*



Great list, Alissa!!!... *runs*

[Lindsey]

Oh my goodness!!! I swear we are twin sisters from a different mister!!! I literally was going to name my 3rd list "This is all Alissa's fault" list. Bahahahaha!

[Lea]

Oh, my! All books I haven't read. Clearly, I also need to join the BOTM club, to have all these treasures on my shelves. The only book on the list I've read is Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood, which I really liked. To save your TBR though, I will say that for me, the other books in that series did not hold up to the original. :-)

[Lindsey]

Also, West with Giraffes I'm going to read for my book club. Would you want to buddy read starting Jan 1st and then we could tackle Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow after that in January?

[Lindsey]

And go ahead and mark me down for a buddy read for All the Dangerous Things. I have thst one too. And totally open to reading whenever.

[Alissa]

Lindsey wrote: "Also, West with Giraffes I'm going to read for my book club. Would you want to buddy read starting Jan 1st and then we could tackle [book:Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow|587844..."

Yes!

[Alissa]

Lindsey wrote: "And go ahead and mark me down for a buddy read for All the Dangerous Things. I have thst one too. And totally open to reading whenever."

And yes!

[Jackie]

Several of these books look inviting. Good luck!

[Ioana]

Needless to say, I haven't read any of these except for Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood. I liked it, but I did not know this was a series. After reading Lea's comment, I don't think it matters.
Good luck, you ladies rock!

[Jennifer, Moderator]

To: Alissa and Lindsey
From: Jennifer
Re: Lists

Y'all are bad for my TBR. Stop it.

Love,
Jen

[Bill, Moderator]

Good luck with your selections. All new books for me. Happy 2023!

[Lindsey]

Jennifer wrote: "To: Alissa and Lindsey
From: Jennifer
Re: Lists

Y'all are bad for my TBR. Stop it.

Love,
Jen"

Bahahahaha! You'll thank us when youbread them. 😁

[Dee]

Wow, I've read more than half of these & have at least one on my plans for 23. Will be interested in your reviews & impressions...

[Alissa]

Jennifer wrote: "To: Alissa and Lindsey
From: Jennifer
Re: Lists

Y'all are bad for my TBR. Stop it.

Love,
Jen"

LOL neverrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr

[Denise]

I've read 1, 4, and 10. They are all different and told in creative ways. I think you'll have fun with this list

I've resisted BOTM so far... I'm tempted every year.

[Alissa]

Denise wrote: "I've read 1, 4, and 10. They are all different and told in creative ways. I think you'll have fun with this list

I've resisted BOTM so far... I'm tempted every year."

mine's about to renew at the end of the month and I keep thinking "I should pause it" but.... i wont' haha

[Veronica]

The Comeback was very good.

I have a few of your books on my list

[Lindsey]

Alissa wrote: "Denise wrote: "I've read 1, 4, and 10. They are all different and told in creative ways. I think you'll have fun with this list

I've resisted BOTM so far... I'm tempted every year."

mine's about..."

Don't you dare pause it!!!!!! 🤯

[Linette]

Nice list - I haven't read most of these. I loved Divine Secrets, and just finished Paris Apartment which I enjoyed. Can't wait to see what you think about the others. Happy reading!

[Kristine]

Alissa~you have a lot of great books listed. I really loved The Comeback and The Attic Child. I have to pick my books still, but Ella Berman newest is and is coming out in April. I think I will probably add it as one of my books. Enjoy Yours 📚

[Alissa]

Kristine (Trying to Get Back to Reading) wrote: "Alissa~you have a lot of great books listed. I really loved The Comeback and The Attic Child. I have to pick my books still, but Ella Berman newest is a..."

ooooooh thank you!!

[Alissa]

Starting my 1st book of my 2nd list, .

[Denise]

I enjoyed Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood very much along with The Golden Couple. The others are already on my TBR, so no adding to it from this list for me. Good luck with this list!

[Ioana]

Alissa wrote: "Starting my 1st book of my 2nd list, ."

I've heard a lot of good things about it, and it's on my TBR too. Hope it's fabulous, happy reading!

[Alissa]

1st book off 2nd list complete!


West with Giraffes by Lynda Rutledge



3 STARS
Book

This was a buddy read with Lindsey (hey girl!) about a "ripped from the headline" historical fiction novel about the tale of two giraffes who survived a hurricane crossing the ocean to then make a road trip across the US in the late 1930s to get to the San Diego Zoo. It was a huge deal because this was the first pair of breeding giraffes that arrived, and it was during the Great Depression, as well as the onslaught of WWII, so the chance to view these magnificent animals was an uplifting experience as well as a temporary escape from the harsh reality of America at this time.

This story was a bit slow, and the alternating timelines was a bit messy, but overall this was a fascinating story and the ending gave me allllllllllllllll the feels.

[Lindsey]

Gooo Giraffes!! Lol That ending was good. 🦒

[Ioana]

Alissa wrote: "1st book off 2nd list complete!


West with Giraffes by Lynda Rutledge



3 STARS
Book

This was a buddy read with Lindsey (..."

I've read a lot of good reviews of this book, and i'm glad to hear you enjoyed it too. It's on my list, of course 😉

[Alissa]

Book #2 from the list!

The Golden Couple by Greer Hendricks



3 STARS
Book

I read this with my best friend and we both had the exact same thoughts. Short chapters- read fast. We hated ALL the characters except for the dog. The twists were definitely unexpected. We didn't hate it but the ending could have been better. I do love this author collab so I will keep reading their books. This one was a mess, both in good parts and bad parts.

[Lindsey]

At least the dog got a thumbs up! 🤣🤣🤣🤣

[Alissa]

Book #3- Buddy Read with Lindsey

All the Dangerous Things by Stacy Willingham



4 STARS

Guys, this one was SO fun! I love me a unreliable narrator. In this case, instead of being a down and out lowlife or someone with a substance abuse problem (as it seems to be, which really annoys/bothers me) this one is a distraught mother who literally cannot sleep after her 18-month old son Mason was kidnapped right out of her bedroom window literally a year ago. Her soon to be ex husband has accepted the fact that their son is most likely dead, and the police have literally no leads. However, Isabelle absolutely refuses to give up on her son so when she is approached after a True Crime convention to discuss the case with a podcast she at first is unsure but decides to give it a try as she needs all the help she can get.

I loved this story so much, and there's a series of flashbacks involving her sister which is so gut-wrenching that ties up with the current state of events. I had NO idea what was happening or who to believe, and the ending was *chef's kiss*. This is the same author who wrote , which I also liked but I liked this one better.

[Ioana]

Alissa wrote: "Book #3- Buddy Read with Lindsey

All the Dangerous Things by Stacy Willingham



4 STARS

Guys, this one was SO fun..."

I've seen this on my library's list and tried to decide if to add it to my TBR or not, you convinced me. I blame you!!!

[Alissa]

Ioana wrote: "I've seen this on my library's list and tried to decide if to add it to my TBR or not, you convinced me. I blame you!!!."

I hope you like it! Lindsey and I were writing back and forth on this with like 1-2 sentences only

"OMG WHAT IS HAPPENING???"

or
"DID THEY DO IT? NO..... YES! .... WAIT NOO. HUH???"

Ha!

[Ioana]

LOL, that must've been a good conversation 🤣🤣🤣

[Alissa]

Oh heyyyyyyyyyy 2nd list! I haven't forgotten about you ;-)

Started today!

[Lindsey]

Ioana wrote: "LOL, that must've been a good conversation 🤣🤣🤣"

That book was such a good buddy read. Our convos were hilarious!

[Alissa]

Completed The Two Lives of Lydia Bird by Josie Silver



4 STARS

I am SO mad at myself for putting off reading this book for so long, because I was left feeling like I just received a warm hug from a close friend.

This book of course has its terrible sad moments- the plot and the reason for the title is that Lydia's fiance Freddy dies in a tragic car accident on her birthday, and while she is awake she is going through the grieving process of losing her soulmate. However, when she takes sleeping pills at night, she "wakes" up in an alternate reality where Freddy never died and she lives a whole other life. The alternating chapters, appropriately named Awake and Asleep, showcase the differences in her life and choices if Freddy hadn't died at all. I loved Lydia so much and there really wasn't a character I didn't enjoy. This is made by the same author who wrote which was another one I enjoyed!

[Alondra, Moderator Schmoderator]

4 books read already. This has been a fabulous year for you.

You really need to give a separate update at the end of the year, letting us know your thoughts on reading. Something more in depth.

[Alissa]

Received White Horse as my BOTM back in November 2022 and finally picking it up as the start of my creepy/spooky reads! =)

[Alissa]

Completed White Horse by Erika T. Wurth



3.5 STARS
Book

Kari receives a bracelet that belongs to her mother who abandoned her as an infant, but when she touches it, she sees horrific images of her mother, screaming and bloody.....

I was pleasantly surprised by this one! It has an aspect of Native American folklore which was really interesting, but also some horror and paranormal spookiness. The ending was pretty satisfactory and the imagery of this one was great. Recommended!

[Lindsey]

Great progress on the list you blame me for. Hehe!!
So i justbread One Day in December and loved it. Then read your review of The Two Lives of Lydia Bird. I was foing fo add it to m next BOTM box but thry sold out!!! So i added it to my amazon book list. But im definitely going to read it now. Maybe next year we should do a list thats just books we've added to our to-read list based bc of recommendations here.....

I'm slowly swtting the stage for multiple lists again next year. Muhahahaha!!!!

[Alissa]

Lindsey wrote: "Great progress on the list you blame me for. Hehe!!
So i justbread One Day in December and loved it. Then read your review of The Two Lives of Lydia Bird. I was foing fo add it to m next BOTM box b..."

me too girl , me toooooooooooooo

[Ioana]

I love the way you blame each other and kill list after list 🤣🤣🤣