It’s the first Show Us Your Books link-up in the new year! (Lots of love & appreciation to our hosts, Jana and Steph!) I’m currently in the middle of four books right now, but I have two ready to go for today.
I started/finished one last year, then finished the second one in 2022.
The title sends you to GoodReads, the “buy it” goes to an affiliated link on on BookShop!
Off Season by Jennifer Weiner | Horror/Suspense | ★★★/5
This was a strange one… It’s a short story and one that almost reminds you of The Lottery by Shirley Jackson. It was quick and definitely creepy, but it felt like it was missing something. I’m not sure what I was wanting, but it didn’t fully deliver.
highlight for trigger warning: animal violence
A Season for Second Chances by Jenny Bayliss | Romance | ★★★★★/5
What a way to kick off the year, right?? There wasn’t anything mind-blowing in this cute little novel, but I didn’t have a single complaint. It was slow and cozy, not too much spicy in the bedroom department (which never bothers me but I know some people dislike that), and the characters were lovely. Honestly, it’s a perfect fall-to-winter read. Apparently I’m a Jenny Bayliss fan!
Buy it!
Moo Reads
The child is o.b.s.e.s.s.e.d. with reading. And no one is mad about it 😊
*titles go to an affiliated link on BookShop!
Little Blue Truck’s Christmas by Alice Schertle
M has the first page memorized. We love the lights on the last page the most, though!
Little Excavator by Anna Dewdney
Again, M has certain parts memorized. We love all the construction sounds in this one.
Home for the Holidays by Sesame Workshop
I wasn’t going to give M this one until next Christmas, but she saw Elmo on it and we’ve read it every single night since. It’s a beautiful book with a bunch of different winter celebrations in it!
I didn’t tackle any books for Erin’s Challenge so I’m not including that this month. I created an account on The Story Graph, though. You can follow me or be my friend here.
What did you read?
-Aud
Life as Louise 
I loved Season for Second Chances. It was such a cozy read. Why is everyone leaving Goodreads? I have way too many years logged on there and I don’t have the capacity for another app right now…but was curious.
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It was cozy!!
I’m not leaving. I’m not even transferring my TBR list. I’m just going to track what I’ve read/am reading this year over there. Giving it a test run, but not abandoning GR!
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A Season for Second Changes is just a nice little read – nothing gasp worthy or swoon worthy – but just a nice read.
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Agreed. I wish I’d have tackled it before the holidays, but it was a nice Jan. pick-me-up. I also wish I’d have finished it in time for book club! Dang it!
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A Season for Second Chances sounds adorable.
Yay for M being reading obsessed! I hope my baby is the same.
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It was!
I’m very sure she will be 🙂
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I keep everyone talking about A Season for Second Chances, so I might have to pick it up this coming winter. Also, I’ve heard mixed reviews about The Story Graph, so I’m sticking with Goodreads for now. 😊
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It was a cute one!
I think that’s smart… I like the option to do challenges because I’m a part of two and they’re both on there. So that will be nice. But I’m leaving my tbr books on GR and just using Story Graph to track my reads for this year. It’s a trial run!
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Ughhhh the highlight of Off-Season makes me not want to read it but something about your description makes me feel like I have to. Like I want to read it and figure out what I want from it LOL
The Sesame book looks adorable. I need to note it on my gift list shelf for kids next year
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I was rereading the description on GR about Off-Season and was like, ‘Mm, yes this describes it. But it also is more detailed than the story itself…’ I think the recap gave me context the story didn’t- which is strange. I wish I’d have read it without knowing what it was about.
The Sesame Street book is the BEST. It includes Eid al-Fitr, Hanukkah, Christmas, and more!
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I haven’t read Off Season but I have read Shirley Jackson’s The Lottery, which you mentioned. I read for the first time last year and it was so good! I mean that ending, wow…. I was not expecting that!
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The Lottery is a good one! Very eerie and creepy… but you don’t realize it until the end!
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I haven’t heard of Little Excavator but my toddler loves construction trucks, so I just put a hold on it! He currently digs (pun intended) Go,Go,Go Stop! which is also a construction book.
Here are my top ten books of 2021, if interested! https://elle-alice.blogspot.com/2022/01/10-favorite-books-of-2021.html
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He will love Little E! So many sounds and digging/construction actions 🙂
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I agree with your review of Off Season. Like, it was there but then just…stopped. It was a weird book.
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Yes. That’s exactly it. I wanted to like it but….. didn’t.
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