2020 Weekly Wrap-Up: The Thirty-Ninth

Hiiiiii Bookworms,

I finished reading some books this week! Yay me! This week we decided to take a quick weeknight trip to a local apple orchard/pumpkin patch. We didn’t go to the super popular one because crowds. And, actually, crowd avoidance was why we went on a Monday night. We may be the last people on earth still concerned about COVID-19, but we’re trying to make smart choices. Anyway. We took Sammers so he could pick out a pumpkin and we could see some farm animals (I didn’t realize they had animals there, but when there’s a flock of chickens and some pigs you don’t just NOT visit them, you know?) Samuel is obsessed with apple cider now. He calls it apple ci-dore which is hilarious and I’ve captured it on video for posterity. Here is a photo of my kid being incredibly cute with pumpkins.

BATSAM

Also, and this really makes me feel ancient, but… When I make a pretend phone call, I sort of make a fist with my pinky and thumb sticking out. You know, to resemble the earpiece and speaker bits. Sam has only ever experienced smart phones, so when he makes a pretend phone call, he just holds his hand flat. But we should talk about books, right? Let’s do that, too.

Boyfriend Material by Alexis Hall- This is the cutest boy meets boy romance novel I’ve read since Red, White & Royal Blue! Technically, I listened to it, which I always recommend, but especially when accents are involved. Books set in London are more enjoyable when you can hear the London accents. Luc is the offspring of two rock stars, and as such, he’s quasi-famous, much to his chagrin. Now that his deadbeat dad is on a popular TV show mentoring up and coming musicians, the paparazzi has found a renewed interest in Luc, and their coverage is causing him trouble at work. He goes on a quest to save his job by rehabilitating his image- he needs a fine upstanding boyfriend. Enter Oliver. He’s incredibly polished, a barrister (London, remember?), a friend of a friend, and completely insufferable. However, Oliver needs a boyfriend for appearances nearly as much as Luc does, so the two strike a bargain. They decide to fake date until their respective events have passed. FAKE DATING. Sigh. The swooniest of romance tropes. This book was so, SO funny. OMG. The completely clueless yet super posh co-worker/friend of Luc’s just about killed me. The flirty banter was spot on. So much to love. Also worth noting, if you’re the type of person who prefers fade-to-black love scenes as opposed to play-by-play, this book is FOR YOU. The make-out scenes are not for the faint of heart, but after that it’s left to the imagination. Seriously, please, do yourself a favor and read this book. It is utterly delightful!

The Ten Thousand Doors of January by Alix E Harrow- Who doesn’t love a good “portal to alternate worlds” story? January Scaller has lived most of her 17 years in a sprawling mansion full of antiquities. It’s an odd arrangement: her father’s employer also serves as January’s guardian. Her mother died when January was a baby, and her father travels constantly for work. Odd arrangement, perhaps, but January is used to it. It’s all she’s ever known. One day she discovers a strange book in a room full of strange things. It’s full of secrets and mysteries, betrayals and adventures. January slowly comes to discover that sometimes the truth is stranger than fiction. Dun dun duuuuun! This story is such a ride. The villains are extra super villainy, the love stories are heart wrenching, the mysteries are MYSTERIOUS. If you’re in the mood for some escapism, check this out! Oh, but content warning for those sensitive to self harm issues. The instance I’m specifically thinking of in this book isn’t meant as self harm but it’s a fine line. I can see it being upsetting for some.

I technically finished reading a third book this week, but since that was a publisher ARC, it will be getting its own post closer to the publication date. It. Is. Swoony. At the moment, I’m listening to You Had Me at Hola by Alexis Daria and eyeball reading Indigo by Beverly Jenkins. What have you been reading, Bookworms?

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