Show Us Your Books: Thnks fr th Mmrs

This is the end

Beautiful friend

This is the end.

After nearly eight years, Steph and I have decide it’s time to retire from Show Us Your Books. It’s not something we took lightly; in fact, we had several discussions about it because we didn’t want to feel like we were letting anyone down. But, in the end, we felt it was best for us to stop hosting the linkup every month.

That doesn’t mean it’s fully over. You can still find both of us sharing our books on Instagram (me: @saysjana, Steph: @lifeaccordingtosteph), and we’ll be using #showusyourbooks to connect and find you all, our beloved reader crew. I know Steph still plans to recap her reads each month. As for me, I don’t know what I plan to do with the blog anymore. I might still write occasionally. Or not. We’ll see.

Either way, I’m grateful for all the time we spent together sharing about books. Books are a special thing, the way they can bring people together and always provide good conversation fodder. I’ve connected with so many people I wouldn’t have otherwise, and have a TBR that’s genuinely out of control thanks to this linkup. It’s become more than a blog thing; it’s a true community. I appreciate that more than I can say. Thanks for loving books, dogs, cats, and all the ups and downs that have been my life, with this being a steady constant through it all.

And thanks, of course, to Steph, my organized co-host and friend of more years than both of us can count. I’m glad we did this. And I think we’re due for an in-person check in.

So now, for the final formal time, here’s what I read last month.

Adult Assembly Required by Abbi Waxman. What I love about Waxman’s books is that she’s essentially created a universe of quirky characters that all weave in and out of her books. You never know who you’re going to run into. I also love that they’re easy, predictable, and just fun to read. This one is no different.

All the Wicked Girls by Chris Whitaker. This was book #3 of his for me this year (we only have one more to go), and while not my favorite, it was still suspenseful and engaging and he is a very good storyteller. Not sorry I bought it, but I’ll likely give it away. Let me know if you’re interested.

At the End of Everything by Marikeke Nijkamp. 100% a COVID book, and not even a thinly-veiled COVID book. Straight up in your face. However, it had quite a different spin on it. I didn’t not like it, but I didn’t love it either. It felt like it tried to tackle too much and in the hands of a better writer, I feel like it would have been a home run. I just don’t think I love her writing, which is upsetting because you can tell she tries really hard and I want to.

The Kind Worth Killing by Peter Swanson. Great mass market-type thriller. I definitely get the appeal of it and I enjoyed it very much, and I’m not glad I waited so long to read it but it is what it is. Twisty and moderately gruesome. Definitely 1000 times better than whatever mess of a book of his I read last. I’m not ready to quit on him yet.

O Beautiful by Jung Yun. This was one of those books I really, really liked when I was reading it and now, a month later, only have vague memories of it. I know that I would recommend it, and I know that it got a bit muddled in the middle, but that’s all I’ve got for now.

Activities of Daily Living by Lisa Hsiao Chen. DNF. I wanted so much to like this book and I just couldn’t. Done and done and I’m onto the next one.

Currently reading: The Love of My Life by Rosie Walsh.

(also, for those counting, that’s three song references in this one post. I’m kind of proud of me)

OK. Here goes for the last formal time: Now it’s your turn! Link up and show us your books! Don’t forget to visit my co-host Steph and some other bloggers. Nonbloggers, let me know in the comments what you’ve been reading. Don’t worry about marking down the date for the next one, but definitely don’t forget to keep sharing.

And also don’t forget to grab a book, grab a book, grab a book, grab a book today. Take a look, in the book, take a look in the book I say.
Read a book, read a book, read a book, read a book okay.
And you’ll find that your time will simply slip away.*

*that’s four.