Hello and welcome to my reading web log! This blog is my reading journey. Here you can find my book reviews, anything related to books, and even some of my original writing. Keep going down for posts and don't forget to look around the blog. Thank you! (this blog is best viewed in desktop mode/web version)
So I suggested a NYC Book Club to Ale and Emma so we can meet up and discuss the NYC itinerary. We will read books that are set in New York like we’re doing for the Sister Summer Book Club. We all suggested three books and one of my suggestions won! I had this book on my TBR for a while and I thought that the story was perfect for us! I am excited for this book! So I borrowed a copy from the Phoenix public library with my library card and let Ale read from that one and I will read from one that I borrowed from the Maricopa County Library District. Emma borrowed one from the Phoenix library too. I love that there’s a little dog on the back cover. We can pretend that’s our Twentybean! 😃
“‘Great,’ I said, even as I felt a stab of disappointment. Suddenly, our time together—which had felt so expansive—was counting down. It was like I could practically feel the clock ticking” (218).
I feel like this too. Sadly, too often.
* Overall, I am glad that I finally got to read this book that’s been in my TBR since 2021. It took me five years to finally read this book. I remember adding this because it took place in New York. I really liked that the dog came on the journey for a bit. Mr. Twenty could role play as Brad during these parts. It made the adventure more fun. This story got me more excited to visit New York for the first time.
I first read this book when I was in high school. I also watched the DVD after I finished reading it. I finished reading this book on Wednesday, June 17, 2026 at 5:21 p.m.
We are going for books set in NYC this year because we are going to New York in October 2026. Ale wanted a book set in the 1900s, so I went to this Best New York Novels book list:
This book was in that list, and I just so happened to have it on my physical bookshelf. I have been wanting to read this book again. Ale said that this was the one. I bought a copy of this book on an online book thrifting website. Ale will read from a library copy. I first read this book when I was in high school. I also watched the DVD after I finished reading the book. I have been meaning to read this book, so I am glad when Ale chose this book for our second book for the Summer of 2026.
Ale and I both agree that the movie was better than the book here.
“...my voice a little shaky with a combination of stage fright and enthusiasm” (17).
This is a quote I underlined when I first read it.
“At any rate she no longer rang my bell. I missed that; and as the days merged I began to feel toward her certain far-fetched resentments, as if I were being neglected by my closest friend. A disquieting loneliness came into my life, but it induced no hunger for friends of longer acquaintance: they seemed now like a salt-free, sugarless diet” (23).
“...then moseyed across the Brooklyn Bridge, and on the bridge, as we watched seaward-moving ships pass between the cliffs of burning skyline, she said: ‘Years from now, years and years, one of those ships will bring me back, me and my nine Brazilian brats. Because yes, they must see this, these lights, the river—I love New York, even though it isn't mine, the way something has to be, a tree or a street or a house, something, anyway, that belongs to me because I belong to it’” (67).
I ♥️ NY!
* I thought that it was funny when the narrator said that the wind spanked their faces.
* Overall, I don’t remember a lot of this from when I first read it in high school. I knew the general premise of this story, but the pages were new to me. This popular story is problematic with some words used. The story was about finding yourself and seeing where you belong and I guess about Holly and the narrator, who we never knew the true name of. I wouldn’t read it again, but I’m glad I read it.
I finished reading this book on Thursday, May 28, 2026 at 6:22 p.m. Our last reading session was 84 minutes, or 1 hour and 24 minutes. Ale read last. It was a real page turner towards the end of the book!
This will be the first book for the Sister Summer Book Club for 2026. We both picked it for our free book prize for last year’s reading program. We saw that Mom was watching the movie for it, so we have that to look forward to. This will be a book we start reading before June 1st, which is the official start to this year’s Summer Reading game. I think that this will be a good read.
We watched the movie after our book discussion with Mom. She already watched it once, so this was her second time watching it, though she had to leave during it to go to Sam's Club to get the pick up groceries. Ale gave it like three stars and I gave it four. We liked the change at the end where Nina let out Andrew while he was still alive.
* When it was mentioned that Nina has a white purse it reminded me of that one vine that Ale and I quote sometimes. The “you spilled lipstick in my Valentino bag.”
* I thought that it was so funny when Millie said that, “... if I took a look” (65).
lolz
* Overall, I really liked this book. I can see why it’s so popular and was made into a movie. This book is like a blockbuster. I would rate this book a five out of five stars because it was so good. The plot had you second guessing and it was a real page turner at the end. So much so that Ale and I finished the book a whole three days early because we just had to find out what would happen next. My initial impression were that this story was obviously going to be a domestic one where the husband cheats on the wife with the new housemaid, hence the book title, but Freida McFadden took it to a different level. This book reminds me of another book I read that had similar themes. “Behind Closed Doors” by B.A. Paris. It has that same trope of trapped wife and psycho husband. But that’s what makes it a thriller book. I am really looking forward to seeing the movie now! I have noticed a theme with thriller books. The real meat of the story always happens at the end of the book. This book is a part of a series!
So on the day we were going to do our book discussion Mom and Ale went to Chandler to follow up on Ale's surgery and after that they went to Black Bear Diner. There was a jukebox there and Ale saw this song on there. It is the song Nina mentioned when we were getting her backstory! She said that she named Cecelia after this song by Simon & Garfunkel. Ale showed me the picture on her phone while we were doing our book discussion! This was such a coincidence! Wow!
🌉 The Bridge: How the Roeblings Connected Brooklyn to New York by Peter J. Tomasi, Teo Duvall (Illustrator)
So since Ale, Emma, and I are going to New York in October 2026 I wanted to learn all I can about New York history. I wanted to read a graphic novel about New York history and found this book. I first found this book as an eComic, but I’d really rather have a physical book instead. I saw that the Phoenix library has a physical copy in their catalog, so I borrowed it from them and picked it up at the Palo Verde outdoor holds locker. I love those things! I wish that every library had them. I think that I will enjoy this story!
* I thought that it was so sweet that Washington Roebling’s father came to help him with his stomach pains. I think that their Irish if Washington calls his father Da, but after searching online I found out that they are of German descent.
* I think that it’s cool how there’s a panel of the Delmonico’s restaurant that the Impractical Jokers filmed at! The panel to the top left said it was 1870 and Delmonico's opened in 1837. Page 83. At 2:36 you can see the outside of the actual restaurant. At 19:25 to the delmonicossss i need to make a clip of that!!!!!! https://youtu.be/MugI-CbGRYE?si=52j4wa0CAHIfGQoj&t=154
* I also thought that it was crazy how the bridge workers found the skeletons of British soldiers from the last century. Wow! Page 105.
* I got teary eyed and emotional when Em, or Mrs. Roebling first crossed the bridge. I loved what Mr. Roebling said in the bottom panels. Page 186-187.
I finished listening this eAudiobook on Saturday, April 4, 2026 at 3:12 p.m. My last reading session was 22 minutes. I really don't remember where I got this from, but I had it in my Libro.fm app. It reminds me of Haley Pham's book. It makes sense because Emily Henry is her favorite author. It was alright. I think I need a break from romance books. The happy ending always with marriage makes me gag.
⛱ Beach Read by Emily Henry, Julia Whelan (Narrator)
I only had one favorite quote.
“‘Then maybe we should enjoy our happy-for-now,’ Gus said.
‘Happy for now.’ I tasted the words, rolled them over the back of my tongue like wine. The only promise you ever had in life was the one moment you were living. And I was.
Happy for now.
I could live with that. I could learn to live with that” (the end of chapter 27 The Rain).
I finished listening to this Eaudiobook on Monday, March 16, 2026 at 10:33 p.m. This book was an Unofficial Sister Summer Book Club Pick, which means that Ale and I both read this book, but didn't read it together in the same room; separately.
Ale said that she was excited to read this book, so I decided that I could make this the next audiobook that I listen to while doing my skincare. Ale bought it on Google Play Books, which was the cheapest place to buy it, and she shared it with me through the family library that Google Play has. I also thought this book could go towards my America 250 Reading Challenge that I’m doing. In fact, it was a huge part in me finishing the challenge in three days. Ale said that a youtuber wrote it and she watches them a lot. I wanted to read this with her as a nonofficial sister book club book. I like the story enough to read it.
* I don’t like how Blair’s friend calls her Blink as a nickname. It sounds stupid.
* I thought that it was very rude of Declan to treat Blair like he did when he was training her and doing the job interview.
* I really hope that no one steals Blair’s job in New York.
* During chapter 10 Five Years Ago, Ale’s favorite soda was mentioned, Bubly. Teehee! XD 🤭
* I spilled some tears when Blair said her last goodbyes to her great aunt.
* I think that Blair has fake friends because they only care about their own lives and not ask about how Blair is doing. I wrote this note before they came down to her house to help her, so I think that I change my mind on this…
* My favorite part was in chapter 18 at 08:00. I like the quote when Blair’s mom hugs her and she describes it as the sun warming her skin on a chilly day. ♥️
* At the beginning of the book I thought that Blair had caused Declan’s accident because of how they were acting around each other.
* I thought that it was very rude of Declan’s mom to intentionally not send the letter. I also feel like I kind of saw that one coming from how she behaved at the party towards Blair.
* I thought it was stupid, or kind of bad writing or just cheesy and cringey when one of Blair’s friends said that she’s such a thinker. Ugh! Who says that?!
* I liked the quote where Blair was saying that the people in her life can only be as close to her as she lets them. This was towards the end of chapter 24.
* Overall, I enjoyed the story and liked how all of the things came back together in the end. The letter, the blue footed boobie that was mentioned, and of course the happy ending was nice.
I finished reading this book on Thursday, February 12, 2026 at 5:51 p.m. My last reading session was 135 minutes. I didn't like it throughout, but it grew on me towards the end.
There were only two quotes that I liked. They are both found in chapter 23.
“I leaned back on the hard plastic seat and shut my eyes. The word now kept echoing in my brain. The time to do anything is now.
There was something undeniably comfortable for me, I realized, in not doing what I really wanted to do. As long as I was mired in doing something I didn't want to do, my dissatisfaction was justified and my dreams stayed safely on the shelf. Nothing was put to the test. I wasn't failing, I wasn't succeeding, I wasn't even really waiting, because waiting implied something else you were moving toward. I was living as a hologram of myself, my energy and passion in suspension until that day, that faraway day that never seemed to come, when I'd finally be doing what I really wanted. Never making myself find out what that was.
Denying the reality, year after year after year, that all I had was now” (179).
“I'd turned thirty, putting off my real adult life until some point in the future. I'd turned forty, waiting for the future. I could easily turn fifty doing the same thing. And fifty-five and sixty and seventy, waiting and waiting and waiting until it was too late. I wanted to keep waiting and never acting. Because it was less painful than trying my hardest and still not getting what I wanted” (180).
🪟 Vera Wong's Unsolicited Advice for Murderers (Vera Wong, #1) by Jesse Q. Sutanto
For the Winter Reading Program for adults I wanted to read the book that Ale chose from her personal library. She chose this one and I borrowed it from the Glendale library. This is a very popular book. I bought the Eaudiobook on Audiobooks.com.
“Even its name irks her. The Café. She can just imagine the kind of confusion it has caused to its customers. Where would you like to go? The Café. Right, which one? The Café! WHICH ONE?’” (5).
Lolz teehee 🤭 just like the restaurant called The Place. XD
* Just from the first chapter I like the main character. She’s so funny and cute. Also, I really love the narrator for the Eaudiobook. She is really good at Vera’s accent.
* I really loved this book. It was a fun read and I want to read the sequel.
I finished reading this book on Wednesday, November 26, 2025 at 6:45 p.m. I got this book for free at a Free Little Library on Navajo Drive near the Main Library in Glendale. I gave a book to the Free Little Library. It was my free copy of "Hello, Summer" by Mary Kay Andrews. I also got a free art project and a homemade bookmark with this book that was in the Little Free Library.
I first came across this book when I went to visit the Georgia T. Lord library in Goodyear for the first time. I’ve always wanted to visit that branch because of the pictures I saw. It’s part of the Maricopa County Library District. I went to their book sale area first and saw this book in the stacks. I liked the story. I bought it for one dollar.
“He sighed. It struck her as a poetic sigh, but she was prepared to find poetry in anything he did” (7).
This kind of freaked me out lol.
“But whenever Heather felt uncertain about whether to do something, she did it. She had decided long ago that you never learn anything by holding back” (8).
I like this quote.
* The main girl is giving me psycho vibes. That hand kiss was way too much, in my opinion.
* I’d never thought that Heather would want to sleep with Schiller. I was surprised when they did.
“They left the bar; at almost two in the morning Second Avenue was still throbbing, and Heather felt the power and splendor of the city as vividly as if she’d just arrived” (123).
“The incredible brownness of his eyes. Everything worldly in them was burned away: all vanity gone, all ambition, all disappointment” (133).
“Spring was approaching, and every living being must respond or die.
He wanted to respond. He wanted to open himself—open himself like some … He didn’t know what smile to use. Everything that came to mind was a cliché. Maybe that’s the problem: when you open yourself to life, you begin to think in clichés. It’s better to be guarded.
But that can’t be true. The thing is to let life assault you, make yourself as defenseless as you can. If it bruises you, don’t protest. Love your fate” (138).
* I agree with Heather. Maybe Schiller’s last two books were bad to her because he essentially stopped having a life. He lost his passion. Or it just could be that she didn’t connect with the last two novels. I thought that it was weird when she kissed that picture of Schiller when he was young.
“And then he had a revelation. He understood why we dream. During the night the body shuts down, and the mind receives little information from the outside world; but the narrative function of the mind remains awake, laboring to make stories out of the little information it receives—out of hints and scents and glimmers and tapping sounds from fifteen floors below. The story-making organ never sleeps” (184-185).
“But somehow Paris made everything different. Being in a new place and speaking a new language made every encounter more interesting. A trip to the market in the morning to buy bread, an afternoon spent reading in a café—nothing was routine; a strange place helped you find the poetry in everyday life” (221).
* I felt kind of sad when Heather said goodbye to Schiller for good. 😔
* It took me three months to finish reading this book in my head and I have to say that it was kind of worth it. In the end, it was a story about an out of print author and the people in his life. I enjoyed it some.
7/28/2025
Book lovers never go to bed alone. 👓 @BooksAreCozy's “LET’S READ TOGETHER” SUMMER READING CHALLENGE! 📚☀️
🔆 THE SUMMER READING GAME BOOK PICK: 🌆 Starting Out In The Evening by Brian Morton
Featuring my new Mark-My-Time Bookmark, Reading Timer, and Booklight!
🎃 Death of a Pumpkin Carver (Hayley Powell Food and Cocktails Mystery #8) by Lee Hollis
I listened to the Eaudiobook from Libby from the Phoenix digital library.
Ale got this book for free with her Glendale book sale coupon she got for her Summer Reading prize! We got it at the Main Library in Glendale. Ale let me borrow it from her personal library.
I liked it! It was a nice Halloween story.
My borrower's card from Ale's personal library!
Cute halloween Lisa Frank stickers! :)
“A few Sundays ago, I was having trouble gearing up for some serious fall housecleaning so I decided to have a shot of caffeine to rev up the old engine” (126).
* When that Pinhead actor picked up Hayley at the haunted house and grabbed her chest and slapped his hands away all I could think was that she should have slapped his face instead. I was like, “excuse me?!”. I would have been in disbelief and reported him for sexual assault!
Take Me Home Tonight by Morgan Matson
