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
I welcome this three-day weekend with open arms. I was so busy this week, but it was a good week. I got the job I interviewed for! Come March 1st, I will officially be paid for the role I have been doing during work-from-home. My title promotion also became official too, which was nice.
I haven't really done anything interesting, but I did pick up some bar shampoo to try. Does anyone use it? I have been trying to reduce the amount of plastic I use. I stopped drinking bottled water and started carrying my reusable bags last year, and my daughter got me this great foam soap system by Blueland, which is really great. Bonus is that my hair actually looks good. I was checking out the deodorants in paper containers, but I didn't like the way any of them smelled. I just like the powder scent for deodorant for some reason.
Friday 12th February, 2021 pic.twitter.com/JyR1DrWMIq
— Hedgehog of the Day (@daily__hedgehog) February 12, 2021
Let's Discuss!
- Nicole wants to know if there is such a thing as an unbiased review
- Laura wonders how a book gets on your TBR
- Lais asks why we have to stop calling books "underrated"
On the Blog:
- Monday: #AmReading YA - A Pho Love Story, Hot British Boyfriend
- Tuesday: TTT - Let Love Rule
- Wednesday: CWW - American Betiya, Where the Stars Still Shine
- Thursday: Isn't It Romantic? - Love at First, Yes & I Love You
STACKING THE SHELVES
Amazon sent me a $5 credit for doing a reading challenge I didn't even know I was doing. Nice bonus, and there were great deals on all these books, so obviously, I had to get them. I listened to the 4th book in the Getting Lucky series, loved it, and bought the other three books (on sale). I am really excited to get to know all the brothers better.
Bought
I had seen a trailer for The Map of Tiny Perfect Things, so when I saw the short story at the library I grabbed it. It clocks in at under 100 pages, but wow! Grossman accomplished a LOT in that small space. He also wrote a rather incredible afterword. This was well worth the time I spent reading it.
- The Second Chance by Meghan Quinn
- That Forever Girl by Meghan Quinn
- The Secret Crush by Meghan Quinn
- Wild Highway by Devney Perry
- Quarter Miles by Devney Perry
- Love Scenes by Bridget Morrissey
- This is for Tonight by Jessica Patrick
- Too Good to Be Real by Melonie Johnson
What I Read Last Week
I had seen a trailer for The Map of Tiny Perfect Things, so when I saw the short story at the library I grabbed it. It clocks in at under 100 pages, but wow! Grossman accomplished a LOT in that small space. He also wrote a rather incredible afterword. This was well worth the time I spent reading it.
My double dose of Trish Doller was also fantastic! Her adult debut is so emotional, and she took me all over the Caribbean too. So good!
Working from home, I have been listening to a lot more audiobooks than I had in the past. I keep running out of borrows on Hoopla (I have 10 per month). So, I did re-read (via audiobook) of Just Listen and was please to see I still love the book. I might listen to more books I read and loved, as I can easily get most of those audiobooks easily from my library.
Books
Books
- Girl on the Line by Faith Gardner - ★★★ 1/2
- The Map of Tiny Perfect Things by Lev Grossman - ★★★★★
- Once Upon a QuinceaƱera by Monica Gomez-Hira - ★★★★
- Float Plan by Trish Doller - ★★★★★
- Where the Stars Still Shine by Trish Doller - ★★★★ 1/2
- Perfect on Paper by Sophie Gonzales - ★★★★
- Crossing the Line by Kendall Ryan - ★★★★
- That Swoony Feeling by Meghan Quinn - ★★★★★
- Just Listen by Sarah Dessen - ★★★★ 1/2
- Mermaid Inn by Jenny Holiday - ★★★ 1/2
- The Love Curse of Melody McIntyre by Robin Talley - ★★★
What I Am Currently Reading
Swing and a Mishap has been pretty hilarious. I wanted to read the first book in this series, but Hoopla only had this one. I predict I will find myself reading the first book, because I am having too much fun reading this one. 
- Make It Sweet by Kristin Callihan
- It's Kind of a Cheesy Love Story by Lauren Morrill
- The Romantic Pact by Meghan Quinn
- Things That Grow by Meredith Goldstein
How was your week?
Let us know in the comments!
Let us know in the comments!
Big, big congrats on the promotion, Sam! Way to go! :) So happy you got the rest of the Getting Lucky series. The first still were my favorites. Loved those. It looks like you're on quite a Meghan Quinn roll right now. :)
ReplyDeleteI loved that last Getting Lucky book. So funny and delightful! I am really looking forward to reading the rest of them. Knowing the way things go for me, now that I bought them, they will appear in audio format on Hoopla, and I will never read the eBooks.
DeleteCongrats on the job!
ReplyDeleteThose hedgehogs are adorable!
Wishing you a great reading week
Thank you. Hedgies are actually my all-time favorite and Mr. Pokee is just always smiling and joyous in all his pictures.
DeleteCongrats on the new job, and enjoy your time off. I’m curious about bar shampoo for the same reason. I haven’t been brave enough to try it. Have a great week!
ReplyDeleteAj @ Read All The Things!
I started with the bar shampoo I found in Target. It wasn't break the bank expensive, and I like using it. I have been searching online for more.
DeleteCongrats on the job. I wish I had good news in that field too ... We have some "unpacked" shops in Germany but I am not sure what products they have since I don´t have one near me. Sorry, I am not much help in that area. Happy reading and have a great weekend.
ReplyDeleteI am googling a lot, but I always like first hand accounts for products when I am trying them, especially if they are a bit pricey, you know
DeleteCongrats on the official title! That's awesome!
ReplyDeleteNice new reads too! Those are new to me ones but I hope you enjoy them all!
Thanks for visiting my StS!
Have a GREAT day!
Old Follower :)
Thank you! It's weird leaving my old job, since I have not been there in a year.
DeleteYay for bar shampoo! There is not one for my kind of hair shampoo yet, but my best friend uses it herself and LOVES it. I hope using less plastics goes well :) Congratulations on getting the job! And being paid for what you do (as it SHOULD be!). And you read Just Listen!! My favourite Sarah Dessen book. I love it so much <3
ReplyDeleteTrying to make small changes that can add up. I wasn't mad about doing the job I have been doing and collecting my regular pay, because this was an accommodation my company made so I could stay home during the pandemic. I was grateful, but it's nice to get the bump in pay too. It's been a while since I read Just Listen. It was nice to revisit. My favorite Dessen is no one else's - Along for the Ride. I loved the late night pie and whatnot in that book.
DeleteCongrats on getting the job and the rise Sam! And eys I have used and love bar shampoo! Thank you for these cute hedgehogs LOL
ReplyDeleteAlways love sharing cute hedgies.
DeleteWonderful news on the job! Congratulations! I've never heard of bar shampoo, but that's great you're trying to reduce the amount of plastic you use. I went to a water filter instead of using water bottles last year, but it would be nice to do more.
ReplyDeleteI loved Just Listen! It's been many years since I read it.
We have always had a water filter at home, but I used to bring bottle water to work. I switched to aluminum containers that I filled from our filter at the beginning of last year. I probably still will never re-read a book, but listening to an oldie but goodie via audiobook was a nice treat.
Delete"I got the job I interviewed for! Come March 1st, I will officially be paid for the role I have been doing during work-from-home."
ReplyDeleteEEEEE! May I ask what kind of position it would be? Anyhow, whatever it is, you've earned it!
And wow...you reread a book š.
I will be working for the complaints team. We research, acknowledge, and file the complaints lodged at the firm. I have been doing a limited role this past year - only working oral resolved complaints and then helping with general letters, but I will be a full-time resolution specialist soon, which is bit more involved. I sort of re-read. In reality, I was listening to the audiobook for the first time as I read the ebook years ago.
DeleteCongrats on the new role and title change! That's fantastic news.
ReplyDeleteI hope you are enjoying The Wedding Game. That's on my wish list.
-Lauren
www.shootingstarsmag.net
I am about 65% through and the Wedding Game is really fun. Quinn is always funny for me, so I am not surprised. It's a $1.99 as one of those first to read books on Amazon. That's why I grabbed it.
DeleteYay, congrats on the job!! That's awesome!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Angela
DeleteI've never heard of bar shampoo. I'm definitely intrigued!
ReplyDeleteNicole @ Feed Your Fiction Addiction
I remember seeing someone talking about Lush bar shampoo, and when I saw the bar at Target, I thought, why not. I found out a Lush store opened in one of the malls near me, though I have not been to that mall since last year. Must be new -ish
DeleteCongrats on the job! I think Just Listen was probably my least favorite of Sarah's books I've read (still one or two I haven't gotten to yet). Maybe because it was about modeling and I didn't find that interesting; I liked the characters but the story, not so much.
ReplyDeleteMy least favorite of Dessen's books was one of the two they combined to make the movie How to Deal - That Summer. Even my least favorite by her was ok. I am a fan of her books.
DeleteYay for the job! That is awesome! Trying to use less plastic is SO tough. It's just become part of everything! Good luck!
ReplyDeleteIt is incredible how much packaging we use. I am trying to make small adjustments. I am trying to make my mom take a plastic bag challenge. We have like 10,000 food storage containers and she insists on using ziploc bags. Drives me nuts!
DeleteCongrats on the job! I think Just Listen is my least favorite of Sarah's books. I think maybe it was the modeling aspect that I didn't like. I liked the characters were good, but the story not so much. Out of the ones I've read I really enjoyed Saint Anything, The Truth about Forever and Along for the Ride.
ReplyDeleteAlong for the Ride is my favorite, although I know it's not a popular one.
DeleteYay, congrats on your promotion! That's so great. :) I just finished Meghan Quinn's The Wedding Game today and thought it was fantastic. It was my first time reading one of Quinn's books so I'll be looking forward to your reviews on the ones you purchased this week. :)
ReplyDeleteI finished Quinn's book last night. Lots of fun! I have been reading a lot of her books lately. They have a bunch in audio format on Hoopla, and they are perfect for listening to.
DeleteCongratulations! And enjoy your long weekend! Hope it's awesome and super relaxing. Happy Valentine's Day too! :)
ReplyDeleteThose are super cute! Happy reading!!!
Thanks, Greg! Hope you had a great Valentine's weekend as well.
DeleteCongrats on the promotion Sam!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Amber!
DeleteCongrats on the promotion! That is awesome! I haven't used bar shampoo before but I am glad to hear that you like it. I hate all the packaging we use. Nice week of reading! Can you get another library card for a nearby system? I have library cards for the system in my county and for the one in the adjoining county. If I ever ran out of borrows, I could just switch account. I hope that you have a great week!
ReplyDeleteI do have people, who share their accounts with me. So, I have access to three libraries in three states. The new release situation is the same at all though, and believe it or not, the romance audiobook selection is better on Hoopla. I like a lot of those independently published romance authors, and Hoopla carries a lot of them.
DeleteI'm going to watch The Map Of Tiny Perfect Things tonight. I have the book ordered at the library. Congrats on the promotion!
ReplyDeleteI have not seen the adaptation, but the story was beautiful. The whole premise of the map reminds you to find the wonder in the little things, those small miracles that are happening around you all the time. It was a good reminder to me.
DeleteCongrats on the promotion! It looks like you had a great reading week, too! I haven't read the book, but my husband and I watched The Map of Tiny Little Things movie and both really enjoyed it.
ReplyDeleteYes, many great books were read. I was happy I gave the short story a try. It was quite moving.
DeleteThat is one happy hedgehog if I ever saw one!
ReplyDeleteHe gives the best face!
DeleteI've been curious about those hair bars. I've been trying to reduce too.
ReplyDeleteCongrats on the new job!
Karen @ For What It's Worth
I am going to order a bar from Ethique to try, and I heard the Lush ones are good too.
DeleteCongrats on the job! That's awesome. :)
ReplyDeleteWe've been cutting plastic out as much as we can for quite a while now but I've never been brave enough to try bar shampoos. My hair is so finicky I'm paranoid whenever I try new shampoos and don't even start me on new conditioners... *sigh* Maybe one day I'll take the plunge!
I have always done the obvious. Packed my food in reusable containers, carried my own silverware, so I didn't need plastic outside my home, but I have been wanting to try the shampoo. I heard good things about Lush brand and Ethique. I am going to try both. The one I am using is doing a good job too.
DeleteAhhh all the congratulations on the job, that's fantastic!!
ReplyDeleteI've been using bar shampoos every now and then, I haven't quite found the right one just yet for my hair, but I'm still looking! My partner has one too and it works wonders for him, plus it's just way better for the planet. I've heard great things about Lush, I'll try them out next I think :)
I'm so happy you liked Perfect on Paper and Once Upon a QuinceaƱera, both are on my TBR and they sound amazing!!
I just found out one of the malls near me has a Lush store (a lot happens when you haven't been somewhere in a year). I plan to go there at some point and check it out. I have an Ethique bar coming in the mail. Just curious to see what else is out there. Thank you! Some of my new teammates have reached out already. I feel so welcome by them.
Delete