Sundays with Sam is a combination of Sunday Post hosted by Caffeinated Book Reviewer and Stacking the Shelves hosted by Tynga's Reviews.
My Week in Review
These slow weeks are killing me! My work day is starting to feel endless. I forget how crazy the summer makes me at work. It seems like nobody else has to go to work either. I mean, the train platform was a veritable ghost town on Friday.
So, it's June! Another month down, and I can report that I knocked 35 books off my TBR last month. Of those, four earned 5-stars:
- My Oxford Year by Julia Whelan
- Hope and Other Punch Lines by Julie Buxbaum
- Ordinary Girls by Blair Thornburgh
- Sorry For Your Loss by Jessie Ann Foley
My co-worker showed me this clip, and I fell out of my chair..
Your weekly hedgehog....
Saturday 1st June, 2019 pic.twitter.com/PiNgYpxK2M— Hedgehog of the Day (@daily__hedgehog) June 1, 2019
Thank you to everyone for the well wishes and for helping me celebrate 6 years of WLABB. Tweetdraw selected: @SunnyBuzzyBlogs as the winner. Congratulations, Nicci! https://t.co/w8PhRAduOx— Sam@WLABB (@kozbisa) June 1, 2019
Let's Discuss!
- Malka declares that she hates drama
- Jo laments that it is easier to find shows about new adults than books
- Kimberly imagined what it would be like if book wishes were granted
- Monday: Blog Tour - The Boy Next Story by Tiffany Schmidt
- Tuesday: TTT - A Decade of My Best Books
- Wednesday: CWW - The Shortest Distance Between Love & Hate, The Chai Factor
- Thursday: Blog Tour - Hope and Other Punch Lines by Julie Buxbaum
- Friday: Discussion - Old vs. New
Yeah, they did that $5 credit thing on Amazon again, so I got some books.
- Between the Notes by Sharon Huss Roat
- The Truth About Happily Ever After by Karole Cozzo
- A Week of Mondays by Jessica Brody
- The Sound of Us by Julie Hammerle
- Whatever Life Throws at You by Juile Cross
- Michigan vs. the Boys by Carrie S. Allen
- In It to Win It by Kelly Jamieson
- The Escape Manual for Introverts by Katie Vaz
- Twice in a Blue Moon by Christina Lauren
- Faker by Sarah Smith
- Roll with It by Jamie Sumner
- Virtually Yours by Sarvenaz Tash
- Love Scene, Take Two by Alex Evansley
What I Read Last Week
Wow! I read so many good books last week. Almost all of them lived up to or surpassed my expectations, and I am definitely happy I had the opportunity to read them.
- I Wanna Be Where You Are by Kristina Forest - ★★★★ 1/2
- Ordinary Girls by Blair Thornburgh - ★★★★★
- Sorry For Your Loss by Jessie Ann Foley - ★★★★★
- Where I End and You Begin by Preston Norton - ★★★ 1/2 review
- Risking It All by S.M. Koz - ★★★★ 1/2
- Smitten by the Brit by Melonie Johnson - ★★★★ review
- Virtually Yours by Sarvenaz Tash - ★★★★ 1/2 review
- Hook Shot by Kennedy Ryan - ★★★★ review
- Good Luck Sister by Jill Shalvis - ★★★★ review
- Unexpected by Kelly Rimmer - ★★★★ review
What I Am Currently Reading
After being throughly impressed by Sorry for Your Loss, I went and checked out another book by Jessie Ann Foley. The Carnival at Bray is sort of historical, I guess. It's set in the early 90s, and you know I am loving all the references of that time period. I am only three chapters in, but so far, so good.
I am just starting Puppy Love as well, but with a premise and cover that adorable, I had to give it a try.
- The Carnival at Bray by Jessie Ann Foley
- Puppy Love by Lucy Gilmore (audiobook)
What I Plan to Read
- Like a Love Story by Abdi Nazemian
- Waiting for Tom Hanks by Kerry Winfrey
- Fix Her Up by Tessa Bailey
- Rules We're Meant to Break by Natalie Williamson
How was your week?
Let us know in the comments!
35 books! Wow that's amazing. And oh my gosh that mother cat! Yeesh- cats can be so businesslike lol.
ReplyDeleteAww that hedgehog :)
The carnival at Bray sounds good.
The Carnival at Bray was very good. So emotional, and really nostalgic for me. There is a part, where the characters are reacting to Kurt Cobain's death, and I was transported back to where I heard the news.
DeleteCongrats on getting to check off 35 books read from your TBR last month! In it to Win It, The Sound of Us and Faker look good! I'm looking forward to reading Twice in a Blue Moon. I love Christina Lauren's rom-coms! I love Julie Cross, Jill Shalvis, and Kennedy Ryan. You have a good list of books here, that you've read, and are going to read! Have a great week Sam! I hope next week doesn't feel so slow :)
ReplyDeleteLindy@ A Bookish Escape
The weeks always feel slow in the summer. Maybe it's because I don't really do anything either. My theater season ends, so no more shows, and I plan my vacation for the fall. Nothing to look forward to but the oppressive heat and humidity of the northeast. At least I have great books to read, and I am always going to be excited about a new CLo book. They are killing the rom-com game these days.
DeleteI saw the little kitty video as well last week it was SO FUNNY. Me and my co-worker shared some laughs on that video as well.
ReplyDeleteI hadn't seen the title of the video, when I first watched it, and I was all "awww" and then, SWAT! That mother was savage.
DeleteWait, you read 35 books in one month?!
ReplyDeleteAnd May for me was great in the reading department. A lot of 4 and 5 stars!
I hope you love Fix Her Up!
Genesis @ Whispering Chapters
This is the most 5-star reads I have had in one month. I read a lot of fabulous books, but I guess it makes sense, since May had SO MANY releases.
DeleteThat mama cat has no patience at all!!!!!!! LOL That's lucky he was not hurt. Do you think they have kitten protection service??? Now on another note 35 books is more books than days in a month Sam! For the love of God I don't know how you do it!!
ReplyDeleteNone at all. I call her savage mama. Remember - I have the luxury of listening to audiobooks as I work. That definitely adds another 2 - 3 books per week to my read shelf.
DeleteWow, you read 35 books? That’s awesome! Haha, that cat made me laugh. I hope you have a great week!
ReplyDeleteAj @ Read All The Things!
When my co-worker first showed it to me, I gasped, and then I laughed uncontrollably. (and then we watched it two more times, because we are savage mamas too)
DeleteWait, people don't go to work in the summer??? HOW???
ReplyDeleteI'm reading Virtually Yours right now. I have a feeling it will be good read for me.
I hope this week will be better for you.
When I was a teacher, I didn't go to work in the summer, but I am thinking people with kids probably take their vacation and/or adjust their schedules to later start times, because they have to get their kids to their summer programs. I liked Virtually Yours (even though it was a pdf). It was a fun concept, great auxiliary characters, lots of character growth, and an ending that made me happy.
DeleteWow. I wish I didn't have to work summers either! Lol. I'm starting to think it doesn't matter what time of year it is or what time I leave my office, there will always be dead stop traffic. It's sooooo stressful and annoying. I hate working in my city. Trying to find a new job is so slow going too.
ReplyDeleteNice new reads! Those are totally new to me ones but I hope you will enjoy them all!
Here's my StS
Have a GREAT day!
Old Follower :)
That surprises me, because I do see a shift this time of year, once the kids are out of school. I don't work in the city, I work in the opposite direction, but the traffic is still miserable. That's why I do mass transit. Fingers crossed a new and better opportunity comes your way.
DeleteCongrats on the 35 books!!! :D
ReplyDeleteWorking in the summer is terrible because of the heat where I live, I prefer the winter more because I can wear jackets and stuff to stay warm. I don't feel like I'm melting and can't breathe in the winter -_-
The heat and humidity is murder, but I am lucky I only have a bit of time outside in the morning. Then I freeze in my office all day. I can't win, but I can drink tea, which keeps me warm.
DeleteThe Truth About Happily Ever After was such a cute book! I like that the commuting traffic eases up a bit in the summer, I'm looking forward to that!
ReplyDeleteI like Cozzo's books. They are always good for me. This is my last one, and then I have read them all. I am thinking the mass commuter parents are shifting their schedules, because it's been fairly empty at the train station. I know the roads improve slightly too with all the school buses gone for the summer.
DeleteHow does this work thing go? I'm confused...
ReplyDelete35 BOOKS?!? I'm even more confused now LOL. How do you even manage, with your brutal work/commute hours? I mean, of course you can read on the train, but still...
Most of my reading happens on my commute. I think I would read a lot less without it. Changing my morning bus has added reading time as well, since I sit at the station for almost an hour before the train comes. I used to internet more in the morning, when I took the later train. I also do not read huge tomes. Contemporaries are normally between 300-400 pages.
DeleteThe mom cat is hilarious! I'm glad you selected great books to read. Looking forward to your reviews of this week's TBR books.
ReplyDeleteI laughed so hard once I got over what a savage she was.
Deletewow, im impressed with your reading. congrats. that cat vid...LOL
ReplyDeletesherry @ fundinmental Sunday Memes
Cats and their attitude are an endless source of entertainment.
DeleteBetween the notes is one I have on my kindle and have yet to read! And wow, 35 books in a month is amazing DD: More than a book a day. I hope you have a good June. So sorry the work days are starting to seem like they never end though :/
ReplyDeleteI loved Roat's How to Disappear, so when I saw it on sale, I clicked.
DeleteI read 12 books and I'm SO damn happy! I usually read a lot but the move killed me and I was only reading 1-2 books per month. Even at my peak I can't read 35 per month though. I think my highest amount was 20-something.
ReplyDeletei'm starting to juggle audiobooks in there but I can't listen for more than a few hours per day.
Karen @ For What It's Worth
You read 12 more than most people. So, good for you! I am able to listen to audiobooks while I work. That adds another 2-3 per week to my read shelf.
DeleteI'm really looking forward to Fix Her Up, so I'll be looking for your review! You already know Waiting for Tom Hanks didn't work for me, but I do hope you have better luck with it. Hope and Other Punch Lines was a wonderful, solid read that I enjoyed. I think it's great that this book will be available for younger generations that probably don't think about 9/11 very often.
ReplyDeleteLindsi @ Do You Dog-ear?
Buxbaum picked a tough topic, but approached it in such a way, that I never felt like she was exploiting it, which is how I have felt reading other books with 9/11 references. I am trying to go into Tom Hanks with an open mind. I don't know if maybe the humor didn't work for some (because that's where a lot of rom-coms seem to fall apart for people), but I am hoping for the best.
DeleteI always envied people who had summers off. The best I could do was have weekends off. You sure did knock off some books. Way to go!
ReplyDeleteSummers off are kind of overrated. I taught for over a decade, and when you're not getting paid, you don't have the money to go do all the stuff, that you now have the time to do. Break was great for the first 2 -3 weeks, because the end of the school year is so punishing, but then it gets old.
Delete35 books is amazing! Right now work is slow for me too. After so many hectic months, I'm enjoying the slow days, but I'm sure in another week or so, I'll be pulling my hair out from boredom, lol.
ReplyDeleteIf they didn't block all the good websites at work, I would probably be grateful for the down time. I read some, but I cannot read for 5 hours straight. I need something to do during my breaks.
Delete35 books is amazing! I'm always in awe of how many books you manage in a month.
ReplyDeleteCan't wait to read The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo. :)
I'm so excited that your excited about your new book! I have heard it's great, though I have not read it.
DeleteWow you read ALOT of books in May that's amazing!! You also pick up some great books last week! I'm soo excited for Christina Lauren's new book! Have a great week!
ReplyDelete~Kendra @ Kendra Loves Books
CLo is a fave and I was beyond excited to get that approval.
DeleteOkay, now I have to go download Sorry for Your Loss real quick before it gets archived because that sounds REALLY good! :-)
ReplyDeleteNicole @ Feed Your Fiction Addiction
I really loved the book. Pup's family was a mess, but they were his mess, and you know I love grief books.
DeleteYou always amaze me on how many books you get read in a month. It's awesome! I'm curious about Waiting for Tom Hanks, and I hope to read Like a Love Story soon.
ReplyDelete-Lauren
www.shootingstarsmag.net
Feeling about Tom Hanks seem to be all over the place. I hope the humor works for me, because I was really looking forward to it.
DeleteSorry work is dragging so much :-/ But at least you're doing great with your reading and finding so many great books! Oh no, poor kitten! Lol.
ReplyDeleteThat cat! Their attitude is an endless supply of amusement for me.
Delete35 Books in May?? That's amazing! Great job! You have so many great books that you received as well! My request for Twice in a Blue Moon is still pending and I wish they would just tell me yes or no already!
ReplyDeleteMy request seemed to be pending forEVER, and everyone else was getting approved, so I had given up, and then BAM! Got the email. I hope you hear back soon.
Delete35 books... you amaze me, Sam! I need to start checking my library for Buxbaum’s new one. I definitely want to get to it soon. Hooray for Nicci winning your giveaway - and she couldn’t have picked a better book. :) Oh my gosh, you won Love Scene, Take Two! I’m so excited for you! I know you kept waiting for the Kindle price to drop and now you won a copy. So perfect!!! I’m about halfway thru Hook Shot. Lotus just confronted Chase about her photo at the gallery - I’m betting we haven’t seen the last of this guy.
ReplyDeleteIf you really want to read Buxbaum's book, message me your address. I got sent a finished copy (which I will never read) for doing the tour. Yeah, Love Scene was my "book of choice". I have been wanting to read it, so now I am a step closer. Chase was such a tool. I wanted to beat the snot out of him.
DeleteCan't wait to see what you think of Virutally Yours. Great post, Sam! :)
ReplyDeleteI went 4.5 on Virtually Yours. I am a fan of Tash's writing, and the book was really good.
DeleteSome of these covers are just amazing! I love them. I have a few on my pile already. I can't wait to see what you think of some of these. I keep trying to read more but just can't find the time. Hope you are doing well. Sorry it has taken me so long to get back to you. I have missed saying hello!
ReplyDeleteMary
I don't think I would be reading as much if I was going to school, and that would be my priority too.
Delete