This weekly meme is hosted by Sam at Taking on a World of Words.

What are you currently reading?

I haven’t mentioned it before but I’ve been reading The Island of Dr. Libris with my ten year old and we are almost done with it so I thought I would mention it because I do have it marked as currently reading on Goodreads. This is supposed to be a middle grade but it is written very young. My son is in fourth grade and he is enjoying the adventure aspect of the story. I don’t particularly like this book but I do appreciate that this book is introducing some classic children’s literature and characters to my son.

Master of Crows is my current kindle read. I mainly read it at night before bed and it is a bit of a slower read for me. I love the world and I enjoy picturing everything so I don’t mind taking my time. I have no idea where this story is going and it is the first book in a trilogy with some shorter novellas in between so I have a feeling that it might get more action packed the further I get in.

I started reading Flowers of Algernon today because I was planning on listening to the audiobook while I did some stitching. However, I turned to the first page and realized that this book is epistolatory and in the beginning when the narrator is still mentally challenged it is reflected in his writing. So I sat down to read it and wow am I obsessed with this book. It is incredibly written and I already had tears in my eyes within the first 15 pages. This book covers a lot and there are some trigger warnings for abuse (of all kinds) because as Charlie’s IQ gets larger he has to start dealing with past traumas of how he has been treated. I am only half way through but I plan on finishing it tonight because I have heard this book is sad and I don’t want to draw out the heartbreak since I have an idea of how it is going to end. This book also brings up some great questions and ideas about humanity and memory. It was written in 1959 so it is outdated with its terminology and views of women.

House of Sky and Breath is fantastic and I have decided to try and read it slowly since we probably won’t get the third book for a couple of years judging by the gap between books 1 and 2. I want to savor the story since there has been so many twists and reveals in the 300 pages that I read. Maas has created such a well thought out world and so far the story is well plotted although I still have 500 more pages to go.

What have you recently finished?

Last Duke Standing by Julia London

Saturday was the five year anniversary of my Grandma passing away and it was an unexpectedly tough few days and I’m still feeling a little raw so books have been a huge comfort to me this last week. I’m averaging a book a day since Friday although some of these are small reads. I’m mostly focusing on getting through all my TBR reads so it has been helpful.

New Girl is the first Fear Street books and I don’t think I ever read it back when I was obsessed with this series. It was written in 1989 so it is cheesy and the insta love was annoying but I did like the twist at the end.

I want to do a full review of No One Knows You’re Here since I really enjoyed it and it has hardly any ratings on Goodreads. If you love dark and gritty crime stories then I recommend this one. I was shocked when I read the author note that it is based on a true story.

I didn’t enjoy my first Becky Chamber book but this one I enjoyed A Psalm for the Wild-Built a lot more. Probably because I knew what to expect and it doesn’t jump around between characters. This novella reminds me of an environmental Kiki’s Delivery Service.

I think I cried more rereading House of Earth and Blood than I did the first time. I’m so happy I reread it because I had forgotten some of the smaller details.

What do you think you’ll read next?

A wedding. A trip to Spain. The most infuriating man. And three days of pretending. Or in other words, a plan that will never work.

Catalina Martín, finally, not single. Her family is happy to announce that she will bring her American boyfriend to her sister’s wedding. Everyone is invited to come and witness the most magical event of the year.

That would certainly be tomorrow’s headline in the local newspaper of the small Spanish town I came from. Or the epitaph on my tombstone, seeing the turn my life had taken in the span of a phone call.

Four weeks wasn’t a lot of time to find someone willing to cross the Atlantic–from NYC and all the way to Spain–for a wedding. Let alone, someone eager to play along my charade. But that didn’t mean I was desperate enough to bring the 6’4 blue eyed pain in my ass standing before me.

Aaron Blackford. The man whose main occupation was making my blood boil had just offered himself to be my date. Right after inserting his nose in my business, calling me delusional, and calling himself my best option. See? Outrageous. Aggravating. Blood boiling. And much to my total despair, also right. Which left me with a surly and extra large dilemma in my hands. Was it worth the suffering to bring my colleague and bane of my existence as my fake boyfriend to my sister’s wedding? Or was I better off coming clean and facing the consequences of my panic induced lie?

Like my abuela would say, que dios nos pille confesados.

The Spanish Love Deception is an enemies-to-lovers, fake-dating romantic comedy. Perfect for those looking for a steamy slow-burn romance with the sweetest Happily Ever After.

~Cassie