The Storm of Echoes by Christelle Dabos

 Pages: 528

"The distrust between them has been overcome and now Ophelia and Thorn continue their journeys toward an understanding of the indecipherable code of God and the truth behind the mysterious figure of the Other, whose devastating power continues to bring down entire pieces of arks, plunging thousands of innocents into the void. Ophelia and Thorn arrive at the observatory of the Deviations, an institute shrouded in absolute secrecy and overseen by a sect of mystical scientists who secretly conduct terrifying experiments. There, Ophelia and Thorn hope to discover truths that will halt the destruction and death and bring the world back into balance. "

Final read of 2022! I have some mixed feelings about this book. I was disappointed when the fantastical aspects of this book were attempted to be explained by scientific means at the very end. A lot of information was dumped throughout the book that was only hinted at in the others and it felt a little rushed. I wish the book had stayed more in the fantasy realm instead of turning more towards sci-fi and the ending left me in pieces.

What You Wish For by Katherine Center

She's a school librarian. Like..... Victory screech.
Ok but the trope where one character is drunk/high on pain killer is quite possibly one of my favorite tropes.
HEY LOOK THAT'S JAKE AND HELEN FROM INTRODUCTION TO HAPPINESS AND DUNCAN IS HELEN'S BROTHER.....  I'm fine.
Were parts of the book cringey. Yes.
Was the twist obvious. Yes.
Do I care...no.
368 Pages

Things You Save in a Fire by Katherine Center

Y'all... It's Cassie from How to Walk Away. gahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh
"I felt enchanted"
Can we just protect our golden retriever child the Rookie....cause...like...you have to....
Also me as a 26 year old who would definitely go to the crochet club and knit.
320 Pages

TS Song: The Man,  Dancing with Our Hands Tied, Karma,

So This is Christmas by Tracy Andreen

Ok so the main character is from Kansas so when they reference Missouri and Branson and Silver Dollar City, I feel seen.
British people reacting to Midwest shenanigans is always my favorite:
"Did you know that person?" "No" "He seemed awful friendly" "Cause that's what we're like here"
368 Pages

TS: The Outside,

Home for Christmas by Camilla Isley

They name dropping ski places in Salt Lake and I'm like... I know where dat is...I've seen it....
Insert that scene from Drake and Josh about pink hair.
This was grossly resolved...like...it was supposed to be fluff, but it didn't hit right.
270 Pages

Drums of Autumn by Diana Gabaldon

GUYS I FINISHED IT BEFORE THE END OF THE YEAR.
If anyone hurts my son John, I will literally throw hands.
I cackle because I can knit and Claire cannot.
Roger, internally singing Sound of Silence because it was released by then (in the 1970s).
1070 Pages

One Dark Window by Rachel Gillig

Raven Raven Raven.
SCREECH. Like. When the monster is living in your head and every time you use your magic and fdskjl;j
I love Raven so much. That's the one thing.
432 Pages

A Cat Cafe Christmas by Codi Gary

There's a cat named Possum Sauce...like...
ALSO. Cat cafe.
Cat named Chaos. I love him.
385 Pages

Twice in a Lifetime by Melissa Baron

Hey guys. Look it's in Missouri.
The Brooklyn 99 Reference. Boom boom.
When you casually make a joke about moving to Idaho because your brother is in Wyoming and your sister is in Utah, and then they bring up Idaho.
I'm not crying... I have no idea what you're talking about.
The fluff.

325 Pages

TS Song: Forever Winter, This Is Me Trying, Invisible String

The Holiday Swap by Maggie Knox

I feel like all of the conflict was too easily resolved....like....
But also. Bakeries and boys. Fireman and an ER surgeon. We aiming high.
352 Pages

Just Like Magic by Sarah Hogle

So Hol is like...Buddy the Elf
Also this reminds me of my friend and her family who have a Christmas tree in every room of their house.
She wears a sweater with "Better than Revenge" on it..... and her ex has a song titled "Exile"
bunkbeds!
Has idea. what if what if what if
368 Pages

TS Song: the scene in Anti-Hero at Taylor's funeral
Snow on the Beach
Also. THE MAIN CHARACTER'S NAME IS BETTY.

Mixed Signals by B. K Borison

the secret meetings between the two competitors is just icon.
Caleb is the sweetest:

like....the devotion. the steadfast. I can't.
The butter croissants.
The book: don't settle for crumbs
Me: has no cake.
414 Pages

TS Song:  Caleb: You Belong With Me, Mastermind

In the Weeds by B. K. Borison

The Gilmore Girls vibes....like...he's Luke but not.
I love Becket. I love him so much.
The duck. like. sfjklds
Earmuffs. Just.. Let's talk about them because. YES.

Why am I crying....I came here to have a good time not to be like...attacked emotionally and have a mini therapy sessions.
Me after this book: wants and needs more tattoos.
Also like....the way that Becket loves reminds me of my brother.
astronaut astronaut astronaut
410 Pages

TS Song: Sweet Nothing, Jump Then Fall, Ours

The Memory of Babel by Christelle Dabos

Pages: 508

"After two years and seven months biding her time on Anima, her home ark, it is finally time to act, to put what she has discovered in the Book of Faruk to good use. Under an assumed identity she travels to Babel, a cosmopolitan and thoroughly modern ark that is the jewel of the universe, and where automata have taken over the most humble jobs from humans. But under the surface of this pacific and orderly ark social unrest stirs, fed by the memories of a fateful purge long ago, and the inhabitants’ growing fear of being replaced altogether. Will Ophelia’s talent as a reader suffice to avoid her being lured into a deadly trap by her ever more fearful adversaries? Will she ever see Thorn, her betrothed, again?"

Finally some more answers! This third book in the series starts with another mystery for Ophelia to solve though it leads to more information about the world she lives in and why it is deteriorating. It was a little slow at first but worth the wait for the ending. And we are finally seeing Thorn and Ophelia have actual conversations, took them long enough.

The Missing of Clairdelune by Christelle Dabos

 Pages: 540

"When our heroine Ophelia is promoted to Vice-storyteller by Farouk, the ancestral Spirit of Pole, she finds herself unexpectedly thrust into the public spotlight and her special gift is revealed to all. Ophelia knows how to read the secret history of objects and there could be no greater threat to the nefarious denizens of her icy adopted home than this. Beneath the golden rafters of Pole’s capitol, Citaceleste, she discovers that the only person she may be able to trust is Thorn, her enigmatic fiancé. As one after another influential courtier disappears, Ophelia again finds herself unintentionally implicated in an investigation that will lead her to see beyond Pole’s many illusions to the heart of the formidable truth."

I feel for the main character. She gets thrust straight into the middle of the court and its intrigue and constant scheming. I am tempted to say I liked it more than the first book as we are getting more in-depth into the characters, the overall plot line and while some questions are getting answered, even more are appearing. And of course there is a cliff-hanger to get me hooked for the third book!

Well Matched by Jen DeLuca

The cover is purple.
Ok but when everyone treats you based on a stereotype of you, and then you find someone who like....sees beyond that
Grandma. I love Grandma.
The kitty cat making biscuits.....
304 Pages

TS Song: Cruel Summer?

A Fire Endless by Rebecca Ross

If my babies aren't happy, I will riot. And they are all my babies....
I'm just waiting for them to refer to him as Jack Frost.
Look at the character growth and relationship development.
Just Torin. Just.. I can't
512 Pages

Homecoming King by Penny Reid

Ok but like... grumpy boy and a girl who can literally get anyone around her to open up cause she's a bartender and she has those vibes.
Also like....the long time crush.
Do I love that the cover looks like a knitting pattern for a sweater....yes....
This is the one time I'll allow for a character to be 6'7"...cause he's a pro football player....
358 Pages

TS Song: Would've Could've Should've; Invisible

A River Enchanted by Rebecca Ross

Ok but like...when you call someone your old nemesis you can't tell me they're not destined to be together....
I still love Tarin. I love him so much. He's doing his best.
Me realizing that the lore is Scottish.... as if "loch" didn't give that away....
496 Pages

Kiss Her Once for Me by Alison Cochrun

The main character is obsessed with Taylor Swift, but like...casually...
"What's your favorite Taylor Swift album, and why is it Evermore"
"Evermore is a Christmas album" .... I mean.
....I came here to have a good time, and honestly I'm feeling so attacked right now with the whole demi/asexual, biromantic, anxiety-ridden mid-20s had a creative dream and kind of stalled at the first sign of a challenge....
They keep talking about a scarf and I keep thinking about All Too Well
It's cute how this was written pre-TicketmasterGate
368 Pages

TS: You're On Your Own Kid, This is Me Trying (also the title makes me think of Paper Rings)