Welcome to the MOSL Book Challenge


Wednesday, May 31, 2023

May Reads - Tim

Border: The U.S.-Mexico Line by Leon Claire Metz
(480 pages)
a deep dive look at the US/Mexico border. Its history, the battles fought on or near it, and the future of how these two nations will deal with the issues of immigration, drugs, etc.

The Men Who United the States: America's Explorers, Inventors, Eccentrics, and Mavericks, and the Creation of One Nation, Indivisible by Simon Winchester
(496 pages)
the prospectors, inventors, and explorers who filled in the blank spaces on the map of the US. Everything from mining, to railroads, to the laying of telegraph and telephone lines this book shows the people who’s names might not be well known but we wouldn’t have the lives we do today without their efforts.

Down the Great Unknown: John Wesley Powell's 1869 Journey of Discovery and Tragedy Through the Grand Canyon by Edward Dolnick
(400 pages)
John Wesley Powell and his crew of boatmen head off from Wyoming hoping to be the first (white) people to travel down the Colorado River through the Grand Canyon. A series of misadventures and white water rapids try to defeat the party.

Lost Kingdom: Hawaii's Last Queen, the Sugar Kings, and America's First Imperial Adventure by Julia Flynn Siler
(449 pages)
looking at the end of the Hawaiian monarchy and the takeover of the islands by the United States. Focusing on both the Hawaiian Royal Family and the insurrection leaders this book shows almost down to the minute the end of the Kingdom of Hawaii.

Public Enemies: America's Greatest Crime Wave and the Birth of the FBI, 1933-34 by Bryan Burrough
(640 pages)
a huge book that shows the history of the FBI from it’s creation to the end of the reign of J. Edgar Hoover. Focusing on agents and criminals alike, this book showcases the events that brought this agency to life and the cases that brought it into the public eye.


Incendiary: The Psychiatrist, the Mad Bomber, and the Invention of Criminal Profiling by Michael Cannell
(304 pages)
trying to capture “The Mad Bomber,” of NYC in the 1950’s this book shows how the NYPD captured this criminal. Pipebombs are placed throughout NYC in public places leads to hundreds of injuries and untold amounts of damage to the city. The creation of the Bomb Squad leads to race against time to arrest this bomber before even more destruction is levelled.

Famous for a Living by Melissa Ferguson

The moose.
Zaiah. He's cool.
320 Pages

Summer Reading by Jenn McKinlay

Justice for audiobooks and justice where the female character isn't the reader.
Also like... talking about how with ADHD and neurodivergence there's a lot of strategies/coping mechanisms.
He loves her beautiful brain.
THE LORD OF THE RINGS REFERENCE
480 Pages

Iron Vow by Julie Kagawa

Ok but the gang is back together.
I totally didn't cry near the end of the book. Not one bit.
Puck continuing to be the sass monster who says everyone's internal thoughts out loud....mood.
448 Pages

Tuesday, May 30, 2023

The Late Mrs. Willoughby by Claudia Gray

Must. Protect. Jonathan.
I feel like Jonathan's autism could have been written to be more nuanced.
400 Pages

Friday, May 26, 2023

A Crown of Ivy and Glass by Claire Legrand

bro...you can't love someone you just met
red flag red flag red flag red flag
*pretends to be shocked
The book got better towards the end...
560 Pages

Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros


because I love my enemy boy 
cause dragons
A black dragon:

tying shoes:

ACCOMODATIONS ACCOMODATIONS

Y'all y'all y'all y'all y'all.

So yeah. This is going to be on my favorites of 2023.
Do I have words for this review. Yes I do....but gifs. 
It's the type of book I love to read with YA vibes that isn't YA, enemies tension, and height differences, and girls being underestimated and then being ba, magic powers, and dragons, and dragons and dragons and dragons.
Plus the end.
I'll just be on the floor waiting for my backordered copy, and then my preordered second book.....
512 Pages


Black Powder War by Naomi Novik

I love my nerdy dragon.
And baby dragon.
Also that dragon is referred to as "my dear"
365 Pages

Thursday, May 25, 2023

The Starless Crown by James Rollins

I had trouble connecting with the characters and with paying attention, and I don't know if it's because I'm used to short books now, or if I needed more background information.
560 Pages

Wednesday, May 24, 2023

The Boyfriend Candidate by Ashley Winstead

Ok bur a school librarian fake dating a politician and influencing his platform, and talking about funding and collection development.
fake dating fake dating fake dating
....me trying to figure out why they gave him a British accent besides the like....appeal of it...
It's the part where he prefers her with her normal hair and her librarian clothes for me.
kitty cat
384 Pages

Tuesday, May 23, 2023

Fake Dates and Mooncakes by Sher Lee

*cries because it's so cute.
The Rich Boy that's all alone and the Poor Boy with an amazing family trope.
THE CORGI THE CORGI THE CORGI.
The baking competition
The punny tee shirts.
They're too pure. Too good for this world. Cinnamon rolls.
272 Pages

Monday, May 22, 2023

The Emperor of Evening Stars by Laura Thalassa

So it's kind of a prequel to the Bargainer series, but part of the story also happens during the two books.
...Also....we've been blessed with Des's perspective.
My favorite things: men being soft for and absolutely dedicated to their loves
256 Pages

Friday, May 19, 2023

The Ex Talk by Rachel Lynn Solomon

The radio transcripts. The grand gestures...
Also Shay's dog. I feel personally attacked on behalf of my doggo Pep Pep.
Dominic the lil nerd with family
352 Pages

Debating Darcy by Sayantani DasGupta

ok but the number of Jane Austen references..like...directly
Little nerdy Darcy.
320 Pages

Dream House by Stephanie Fournet

My mood for the entire book:

....that's not was papal infallibility means....
Not me trying to not strangle one of the characters while he talks about how problematic catholicism is, based on like...the way his mother practices it.
......we don't say "and also with you" anymore
and now we're getting a giant internal monologue about what religion and politics and philosophy is....
and the spice wasn't even good

364 Pages

True Love Experiment by Christina Lauren

IT'S IN THE SAME WORLD AS THE SOULMATE EQUATION
One of my niche tropes: reality contestant falls for someone they're not supposed to fall for (aka the producer/cameraman/whatever)
I continue to love men who defend the romance genre.
Also, I love Connor... and like... ;fjklds;sfldjisjkldafa
416 Pages

TS: The Very First Night

Yellowface by R.F. Kuang

I'm cackling because the MC is 27....and I am 27
I appreciate the book for the publishing knowledge, but like....
my hatred for the MC ruined it.
And I know the character is supposed to be problematic, and it's supposed to be satire, but I don't know if it's good satire if you can't tell what the actual point is.
Also...as a white writer, I'm still trying to figure out how to write diverse stories when I have the uniqueness of white bread.
It wasn't bad writing, but I didn't like the book.
336 Pages

Tuesday, May 16, 2023

Crave by Tracy Wolff

Summary: "My whole world changed when I stepped inside the academy. Nothing is right about this place or the other students in it. Here I am, a mere mortal among gods…or monsters. I still can’t decide which of these warring factions I belong to, if I belong at all. I only know the one thing that unites them is their hatred of me.

Then there’s Jaxon Vega. A vampire with deadly secrets who hasn’t felt anything for a hundred years. But there’s something about him that calls to me, something broken in him that somehow fits with what’s broken in me. 

Which could spell death for us all.

Because Jaxon walled himself off for a reason. And now someone wants to wake a sleeping monster, and I’m wondering if I was brought here intentionally—as the bait."

alksdjgalksdgjlkasdjglkajsdg

there's DRAGONS

aurora borealis

571 pages

goodreads | MOBIUS


This Time It's Real by Ann Liang

Summary: "When seventeen-year-old Eliza Lin's entirely fictional essay about meeting her perfect boyfriend goes viral at her international school in Beijing, she has to make a deal with the handsome and charming Caz Song to play the part--but when the relationship starts to feel real..."

Swoon

337 pages

goodreads | MOBIUS

Monday, May 15, 2023

Practice Makes Perfect by Sarah Adams

Summary: "Annie Walker is on a quest to find her perfect match--someone who nicely compliments her happy, quiet life running her flower shop in Rome, Kentucky. Unfortunately, she worries her goal might be too far out of reach when she overhears her date saying she is 'so unbelievably boring.' Is it too late to become flirtatious and fun like the leading ladies in her favorite romance movies? Maybe she only needs a little practice...and Annie has the perfect person in mind to become her tutor: Will Griffin. Will--the flirtatious, tattooed, and absolutely gorgeous bodyguard--is temporarily back in Rome, Kentucky..."

DELICIOUS. Looooove the cover, love the story. All chef's kiss.

335 pages

goodreads | MOBIUS

Friday, May 12, 2023

Fractal Nosie by Christopher Paolini

ARC: Publication Date 5/16/23
Ok but like.....a person wanting to avoid conflict and mind their business sometimes doesn't work...
Like...the inaction of the MC to resolve the interpersonal conflict occuring frustrated me. And maybe it's because I would have snapped after a certain point and told them they were acting like toddlers.
304 Pages

Said No One Ever by Stephanie Eding

All of the animals. Just. The donkey. The goats. The chickens. the doge.
Also the family thinking they know what's best and being controlling and not taking input.
Warren being Warren and like: here's toast.
320 Pages

Aerie by Maria Dahvana Headley

Ok but I was v stressed for a hot sec.
I love Jason.
307 Pages

The Charade by Judy Corry


...so the third act conflict made me uncomfy. I knew it was going to resolve, but like...
The "I'll pretend to date you for your ex, and that's why we're hanging out, not because we're studying"
Me @ Carter: that scene from The Game Plan (with the Rock) where one of the players comes in carrying an armful of stuffed animals.
My boy has trauma. like Trauma with a capital T
402 Pages

Painted Devils by Margaret Owen

ARC Publication Date: May 16, 2023
(sequel to Little Thieves)
It's the ace self-reflection thinking that they're broken for me. Like...I feel so seen.
also the way that sex is handled and how it's a conversation and like, they have a system for asking.
And the trauma. It's the trauma and trying to process it for me.
NOT THE PIG FARM
I love my boy. he so nerdy. I love him so much.
I will protect Emeric with my life.
Is this my ideal love story. Is this my perfect boy. Yes.
also. the tax dream
ONE OF HIS POEMS. BRO. yes it's backstreet boys
The casual pop culture references.
Someone throw me in Walt Disney's cryogenic freezer and wake me up when the next book is on Netgalley.
512 Pages

TS: You Are in Love, (unrelated) Tolerate it,

The Lonely Hearts Book Club by Lucy Gilmore

Anne of Green Gables. 😭😭😭😭
also the grouchy old man who like...is grumpy on the surface but is also like...a sweetie.
When someone throws shade at you for dressing like a librarian....because you like the one requirement for anyone who works in a library...a cardigan.
I love Greg. So much.
....I'm not crying.
Also I want one more chapter.
352 Pages

Wings Once Cursed and Bound by Piper Drake

Ok but the fact that this is a book where all the different mythologies are combined, but not into one.
It's not always SFW, btw
304 Pages

Friday, May 5, 2023

Georgie All Along by Kate Clayborn

Hank stealing the show, as he should.
Hi I'm in this photo, and I don't hate it, but I also don't like it.
I love "grumpy" boys that are soft and have doggos.
Georgie is me. Specifically the peanut butter and the robe.
352 Pages

Happy Place by Emily Henry

Me throughout any Emily Henry book with the MC: 

I love Emily Henry. I love my ship. I will protect. Like. I just love them and I want to hug them and like....never let them go.
But also, like. Friends growing as people and changing and relationships changing. I don't appreciate being called out
400 Pages

TS Song: Midnight Rain- minus the last chorus, this is me trying
The Long Live/New Years Day mashup from Rep tour,



A Strange Hymn by Laura Thalassa


The worst kind of people are those who make someone relive their suffering just to watch them relive it.
So I predicted who the villains were...
Honestly, I should have guessed the other villain because it's the kind of twist I would have thought of.

416 Pages

TS: Lilac Lavender Haze, Vigilante Ish, Mad Woman,

The Isles of the Gods by Amie Kaufman

Guess who one of the narrators is. That's right. It's Steve West. The love of my life.
I KNEW IT. IMMEDIATELY. Like. obvs it was him.
It has the atmospheric feel of Greek myths, but it's got the YA vibes.
It's fantasy, but also there's like...technology soooooo.
I'm totally not stressed for the next book.
464 Pages

Queen Bee by Amalie Howard

So like... I didn't read the summary before I started it....which probably would have saved me confusion in terms of the different perspectives.
It's got all the regency drama, but with like...a diverse cast.
368 Pages

TS song: Look what you made me do (esp for the bridge)
Also Mastermind because Machiavelli and chess motifs.
Long Story Short,

Thursday, May 4, 2023

This Bird Has Flown by Susanna Hoffs

Me: nonono sister no secondary location
*has crack theory about who Tom is.
Ok so my crack theory was wrong. Way off base.
But also when you keep comparing a guy to Rochester, you can't be surprised when a Rochester-like thing happens.
368 Pages