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
Happy Sunday! I hope last week was good to you. No drama on my end, so I am happy.
Since I had last Monday off, I thought I would take the opportunity to find some warmer weather clothing. This was a futile mission. I tried Nordstrom's which seemed oddly empty. The store was very tidy, but there was not much merchandise. I wonder if the store will be closing? Then, I hit up Macy's which was a total mess. Though, I did find two shirts there. Oddly enough, I had seen one online and didn't like it. I changed my mind when I saw it in person, AND that is why I like to shop in person. I tried a few more stores, but nothing. It was a very disappointing outing. Anyone else like shopping for clothes in person? Maybe I am old fashioned, but I like to feel the fabric, and I hate returning stuff. I would much rather take the time to try it on and decide right there if I will buy it or not.
This week is a five-day work week. It's been a while. I am sure to be exhausted. When they first told us we could work one day from home, I thought I would like the middle of the week, but I find it breaks my flow. If I don't have any appointments, I have been working from home on Friday. During the summer, it's a good move because the trains are insane on Friday afternoons. All the day riders are heading into the city, and they just don't understand the rules of commuting.
On the Blog
- Monday: Isn't It Romantic? - Will They or Won't They, Play For Me
- Tuesday: Nutshells - When We Let Go, A Quiet Life
- Wednesday: Isn't It Romantic? - The Nanny, Bear With Me Now
- Thursday: #AmReading - The True Love Experiments, Happy Place
- Friday: Five Star Friday - May 2023
- Saturday: Isn't It Romantic? - Make a Wish, Secretly Yours
Let's Discuss
- Briana explains what distinguishes a 5-star book from a 4-star book
- Julie and Lynn talk adaptations
- Nyx shares a non-book bloggers POV of why she reads a book
Stacking the Shelves
I really enjoyed The Book Charmer (library borrow) and got approved for the third book in the series. I had to do it. I had to buy the second book.
Purchased
- A Cup of Silver Linings by Karen Hawkins
Read Last Week
June started out great with a five-star book - Oona Out of Order. This book is a few years old and has been on my radar. So glad I finally read it because I really loved it. Moving through the different eras was great, but I also loved how it made me think about things and reminded me to live in the moment. Another standout was You with a View. OMG! I was immediately into this book. Loved the premise, the execution, and just everything about it.
Find all my reviews on Goodreads
Books
- Oona Out of Order by Margarita Montimore - ★★★★★
- Mrs. Nash's Ashes by Sarah Adler - ★★★★
- Summer Stage by Meg Mitchell Moore - ★★★★ 1/2
- You with a View by Jessica Joyce - ★★★★★
- Hello Stranger by Katherine Center - ★★★★ 1/2
Audiobooks
- Of Spice and Men by Sarah Fox - ★★★★
- The Summer That Made Us by Robyn Carr - ★★★★ 1/2
Currently Reading
I loved Summer Stage so much that I had to read more books by Moore. The Islanders takes place in the same world, and I am enjoying learning more about some of the characters who were also in Summer Stage.
Planes, Trains, and All the Feels is a lot of fun. Think Planes, Trains, and Automobiles but with a romance.
- The Islanders by Meg Mitchell Moore
- Planes, Trains, and All the Feels by Livy Hart (audiobook)
To Be Read
- The Music of Bees by Eileen Garvin
- The Celebrants by Steven Rowley
- The Crow Valley Karaoke Championships by Ali Bryan
- The Fall We Fell by Victoria Denault
Let us know in the comments!
It blows my mind how many people have no concept of the etiquette AKA basic human good sense when it comes to commuting -- over here as well. Off to read your reviews now -- but can I jsut say, Planes Trains and all the feels just has the best title!
ReplyDeleteI used to think it was an American thing until I read Iona Iverson's Rules for Commuting which is set in and around London. They hated day riders too.
DeleteI hate buying clothes online. I find I often have to try on multiple sizes of the same item just to find the one that fits. If I had to pick a day to work from home, I'd choose Friday, too - get the weekend started early!
ReplyDelete*High Five* Another IRL shopper. We are few in numbers. I don't really care about the weekend, since I seldom go anywhere, but avoiding day riders is a great thing.
DeleteWorking from home on Friday sounds like a good decision. I think I would feel the same. I tend to buy most of my clothes online these days, but shopping in person is nice too.
ReplyDeleteIf I don't know the brand, it's really hard to buy stuff online. I am so picky about fit and quality. I cannot get that from a review or picture.
DeleteIts been a while since I have done any commuting but yeah it can be a pain to deal with that is for sure. Looks like you had a solid week of reading though as I see some higher rated books. Glad those ended up being such wins for you. I have been wanting to try out Victoria Denault though. So I hope you enjoy that one there.
ReplyDeleteI had a great reading week. Denault's Hometown Players and San Francisco Thunder were two series I loved. This one is new to me, but I have a good track record with Denault.
DeleteWhat happens to these goats has me laugh so hard! And I do prefer shopping in person! Also, I want to read the celebrants but the price for the physical book is through the roof! And the author is reading the audio, something I usually don't like. SO I will wait for your review to see if it's worth parting with my money LOL
ReplyDeleteFainting goats are too much! Yeah! We like to shop IRL - the stores need to make this happen. I got The Celebrants from the library. I love that I can put a pre-release hold on. That's why I stalk my eLibrary.
DeleteNo drama is good. :) It is so weird shopping now. At least around here. A lot of the stores feel kinda like that, like they're empty or there's just not a lot of shoppers.
ReplyDeleteI've been seeing The celebrants around a lot.
There are a lot of people at the malls. I just feel like more and more stores are closing. The demise of the mall and seeing more of those strip malls pop up.
DeleteI like the *idea* of shopping in person, but I rarely find anything. I spent two hours at a store last week with no success. So I've been ordering tons of clothes online, getting that free shipping, and then just returning what doesn't work. Which has been most of it. Clothes shopping is the worst. ;)
ReplyDeleteI could always find stuff at Lord & Taylor, but all their stores closed. I have struggled since, and I have even been willing to pay way more than I would like, but I don't find anything. My daughter does the order multiple sizes and return, but I have trust issues. I don't like have charges lingering on my credit cards and I worry that they won't get the packages.
DeleteFriday is a great choice to work at home. The commutes anywhere on a Friday are usually awful! As you know, I downloaded a copy of You, With a View so I was happy to hear you loved it. I also loved The Summer That Made Us! Robyn Carr's standalones are so good!
ReplyDeleteIt's been hot here, today is the hottest day (upper 80s) so I'm staying out of the heat and inside this afternoon. I may try and take a walk later, but I'm still sick so maybe I should just read and rest. Hope you enjoy the rest of your Sunday, Sam!
I was hot mess at the end of The Summer That Made Us. It was one of those heartbreaking/heartwarming books. I loved it! It was over 90 on Friday which is nuts for this time of the year, but this weekend was great. Overcast, under 70. Sat outside every day
DeleteA few of the books you read last week are on my TBR. Oona is one I've read and enjoyed. Happy to see you did too!
ReplyDeleteI thought it was a such a great take on time travel. It had a big message in there for me, and there were a few great twists.
DeleteI do like to try on clothes whenever possible. I don't shop much and wear the same 5 things until they fall apart and I have to buy something else. I could not imagine dealing with your commute on a daily basis. You are my hero. You read a lot of great books this week! I hope that this is another good week for you.
ReplyDeleteI keep my clothes forever too, but it seems like forever is coming for some of my favorites. I commute with people who come all the way from the Bronx (in NYC) and my job is not too far from Philly. I have a way easier commute than some of my mates.
DeleteI like to shop in person too but I hate going out and being around people so I do shop online alot.
ReplyDeleteAnd now that so many people work from home, my plot to take a day off to do chores never quite works out.
DeleteI struggle so much with clothes shopping. I hate to go in person but always end up wasting my time and money buying and returning things if I try to do it online. Wow, looks like you had a fabulous reading week!
ReplyDeleteI also hate to shop in person, but I hate returning things even more.
DeleteI prefer to shop in person, but it does seem like there are just a lot more options online, so I'll often buy online with the knowledge that I'll be returning some stuff (in store). I buy most of my clothes at Kohls and it feels like they have less and less actual merchandise in store lately!
ReplyDeleteA lot of stores even have "online only" offerings. I hate that. I try to shop online from retailers that have a store near me, but I still would rather cut out that middle step.
Delete