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that's a very interesting list Lea, I have some of them already on my TBR.
looking forward to seeing what you think of them.
Happy reading.

Alondra wrote: "I want to travel, as well and want book places to be included. I definitely want to see the Sherlock Holmes location; Ernest Hemingways home is in Key West where my son is stationed, so, I may get to see that next month. The biggest is New Zealand and visiting The Shire! 😬😬"

I love to travel also, but probably won't truly make it to the countries I have left...I sometimes believe that I'm travelling there when I read a really interesting and descriptive book about the area and speak figuratively.

That said, I hope you can make it to Key West next month. Spending time with your son is a treasure. I enjoyed Hemingway's house many years ago. When you go, make sure you don't miss all the polydactyl cats! In the 1800's sailors believed that cats with six front toes were good luck at sea, and Hemingway was gifted with one. If a cat that carries the polydactyl gene, 40-50% of their babies will have extra toes. So there are probably 50 cats with extra toes there. It was so interesting.

And New Zealand! We went there over 10 years ago and I loved every moment of it. The Shire was unforgettable. It was worth the long flights to get there. I hope you can get there sometime soon.

Faouzia wrote: "that's a very interesting list Lea, I have some of them already on my TBR.
looking forward to seeing what you think of them.
Happy reading."

Thanks, Faouzia. I will definitely let you know how I find these books! Fingers crossed that 2025 brings us both many great books! :-)

Thanks, Lea. NZ is top 5 of places I want to go.

fun fact: My daughters cat, Peanut; is a Polydactyl and is the bossiest cat ever. LOL

Alondra wrote: "Thanks, Lea. NZ is top 5 of places I want to go.

fun fact: My daughters cat, Peanut; is a Polydactyl and is the bossiest cat ever. LOL"

No way! How cool that Peanut is Polydactyl! What type of cat is he/she? I heard that having a polydactyl cat is not that uncommon, but I haven't known anyone besides Hemingway to have them. I think they are so cute with their big paws. :-)

It always feels good to complete a series or make more progress in one! I need to look at which ones I need to finish.

April wrote: "It always feels good to complete a series or make more progress in one! I need to look at which ones I need to finish."

I know just what you mean! I have so many series on the go. On the one hand, I don't want them to end, but on the other hand, sometimes I get them confused because I have so many on the go. It's a tough balance. :-)

Lea wrote: "Alondra wrote: "Thanks, Lea. NZ is top 5 of places I want to go.

fun fact: My daughters cat, Peanut; is a Polydactyl and is the bossiest cat ever. LOL"

No way! How cool that Peanut is Polydactyl..."

Just a regular crabby gray tabby! 😾 <- Her face all the time. LOL

I have Funny Story, You Like it Darker and Swan Song on my lists this year also. Good luck with your challenge, I am sure you will crush it!

Alondra wrote: "Just a regular crabby gray tabby! 😾 <- Her face all the time. LOL"

LOL, I love an animal that speaks with their own facial expressions. We don't need them to say a word, we know exactly what they are about!!!

Denise wrote: "I have Funny Story, You Like it Darker and Swan Song on my lists this year also. Good luck with your challenge, I am sure you will crush it!"

Thanks, Denise! I just finished Swan Song and I recommend it for Hilderbrand fans who have read a lot of her books. There are some new characters but a lot of old friends too. Once you finish it, I do have a question. :-)

Dear Ms. Hilderbrand,

I really enjoyed Swan Song. I thought the book was well plotted and well paced. I disliked just about every character in the book, but I was vastly entertained, trying to figure out what would happen. I do have some questions, but I think those questions were meant to be. I'm just glad I have other books by you to read, and I hope you and your daughter write the thriller you were talking about. After reading this book, I'm definitely here for it!

What a great first book of the year,
Lea

Congratulations on knocking out that first book, Lea. 🤗

Alondra wrote: "Congratulations on knocking out that first book, Lea. 🤗"

I think this is the first time ever that my first book of the year comes off my challenge list. Didn't you do that too this year? It feels nice. :-)

Lea wrote: "Alondra wrote: "Congratulations on knocking out that first book, Lea. 🤗"

I think this is the first time ever that my first book of the year comes off my challenge list. Didn't you do that too this..."

Cool Beans; and yes, my first year. You know I'm usually the last. 😩😩🥴

Alondra wrote: "Cool Beans; and yes, my first year. You know I'm usually the last. 😩😩🥴"

As soon as I put a book on a list or start thinking about reading it, all the other options start to line butt their way ahead of my choice. I'm actually shocked that I've already started my second book on this list. So this is what the rest of the readers do to get books read? :-)

Lea wrote: "Alondra wrote: "Cool Beans; and yes, my first year. You know I'm usually the last. 😩😩🥴"

As soon as I put a book on a list or start thinking about reading it, all the other options start to line bu..."

I think that is exactly what happens.. LOL

Dear Ms. Henry,

I did enjoy Funny Story, but not as much as Book Lovers. Nonetheless, I'm glad I read it, and congrats on winning two GRC Awards. I'm not sure Romance is my go-to genre, but I still enjoyed the story. My favorite part was the friendships in the book. Having recently experienced a situation where two of our best friends divorced and trying to stay friends with both of them, I could relate to some of the friends in this book. I do have a few more of your books to read, so I better get busy.

Regards,
Lea

Congrats on reading two books from your list already! (I haven't even started one). I've put off reading Funny Story, but will probably get to it this year. She's not an "auto-read" author for me though I've liked them well enough. I did like Book Lovers the best of hers so far as well.

2 books down, woop woop!

Patricia wrote: "Congrats on reading two books from your list already! (I haven't even started one). I've put off reading Funny Story, but will probably get to it this year. She's not an "auto-read" author for me though I've liked them well enough. I did like Book Lovers the best of hers so far as well."

She's not an auto-read author for me either. For me, the best was Book Lovers and the worst was People We Meet on Vacation. The other three I've read: Beach Read, Happy Place, and Funny Story are all in the middle somewhere. I'm curious about A Million Junes, since I'm not a strong romance lover, I might prefer her young adult writing. On the other hand, I don't love magical realism, so I'm not racing to pick it up yet.

Alissa wrote: "2 books down, woop woop!"

And I'm almost done with book 3. This is a record for me, for sure! :-)

Lea wrote: "Patricia wrote: "Congrats on reading two books from your list already! (I haven't even started one). I've put off reading Funny Story, but will probably get to it this year. She's not an "auto-read..."
I do like magical realism, so I'll have to check that out. I'm also looking forward to the different film adaptations coming out.

Patricia wrote: "I do like magical realism, so I'll have to check that out. I'm also looking forward to the different film adaptations coming out."

I never seem to squeeze movie watching into my calendar, but I always like to watch films when I finally get to it. I am pleasantly surprised by so many different Henry stories being optioned, I had no idea. It would be fun to see them all - to see this on film. :-)

Dear Mr. Friss,

I do love bookshops, but I feel like books about bookshops are overdone. There are so many of them. I may not have picked up your book, The Bookshop: A History of the American Bookstore, if it hadn't won a GRC Award. That would have been a mistake. I learned more than I expected from this book. Obviously, as a book lover, I have my own appreciation for different bookshops, but this brought some of the historical aspects to light. It makes me want to visit more bookshops, but I always hesitate, because I know if I go to a bookshop, I'm going to come home with something. Usually a lot of somethings that I then don't read quickly. Anyway, I enjoyed your book and I'm glad I read it. It won't change my world but it was educational.

Regards,
Lea

Lea wrote: "Dear Mr. Friss,

I do love bookshops, but I feel like books about bookshops are overdone. There are so many of them. I may not have picked up your book, [book:The Bookshop: A History of the America..."

So, nice letter and yes, I added the book to my tbr. Also; that cover is beautiful! That cover looks like a UBS I used to love back in Sierra Vista, AZ; back in the late 90s. Its no longer there, from what I can tell; but me and the kids 'LIVED" there while my husband was deployed. They even had pet adoptions twice a month. Great atmosphere; great people, and LOTS of books.

Thanks Lea for reminding me of my love for the little bookshops. 💕

The Bookshop was already on my wishlist. I'm glad to hear you enjoyed it.

You're killing that list, congrats!!

Alondra wrote: "So, nice letter and yes, I added the book to my tbr. Also; that cover is beautiful! That cover looks like a UBS I used to love back in Sierra Vista, AZ; back in the late 90s. Its no longer there, from what I can tell; but me and the kids 'LIVED" there while my husband was deployed. They even had pet adoptions twice a month. Great atmosphere; great people, and LOTS of books.

Thanks Lea for reminding me of my love for the little bookshops. 💕"

Yes! I lived in little bookshops and libraries as a child and am forever grateful to my parents for reading to me and doing what they could to instill a forever love of reading. Even when I can't travel physically somewhere, I can visit by reading a book. My husband does not have that relationship with books, but in fairness, he can get swept away by movies and television shows more easily than I can. There's always something.

I even love the smell of a bookshop.

Michelle wrote: "The Bookshop was already on my wishlist. I'm glad to hear you enjoyed it."

I went in not expecting too much, and learned some things and came away with the importance of bookshops. I hope you enjoy it too.

Ioana wrote: "You're killing that list, congrats!!"

Thanks! I don't think I've ever read 3 books in the first month. Of course, I'm about to get bogged down into a couple of long series books...so this list will have to wait, but I'm still pleased with the start.

Lea wrote: "Yes! I lived in little bookshops and libraries as a child and am forever grateful to my parents for reading to me and doing what they could to instill a forever love of reading. Even when I can't travel physically somewhere..."

That is so awesome. Both of my parents read books; but not as prolifically as I do. My hubby does not read, as well; but, since the Pandemonium, he has been listening to audiobooks occasionally.

I like the smell and sounds (kitty cats) too. 😻😺

Alondra wrote: "That is so awesome. Both of my parents read books; but not as prolifically as I do. My hubby does not read, as well; but, since the Pandemonium, he has been listening to audiobooks occasionally.

I like the smell and sounds (kitty cats) too. 😻😺"

Yes! My hubby listens to audiobooks occasionally also.

I always figured you as a dog person, Alondra, with your stories about Koda(?) chewing your beloved books! How fun to find you love your cats too. Some say that people either like dogs or cats but not both; however, I'm finding a lot of us that love both!

Matilda! ❤️ what a wonderful story

Cecilia wrote: "Matilda! ❤️ what a wonderful story"

Yay! I am really looking forward to reading it! Hoping to squeeze it into February. :-)

Dear Mr. Klune,

I just finished Somewhere Beyond the Sea and it was just OK for me. That made me sad.

I was charmed by The House in the Cerulean Sea. It was such a beautiful story, and I got a warm and cozy feeling from reading it. It was almost like a warm hug. I could tell you wrote it with a great deal of love, and it was a runaway hit. With popularity, comes a lot of criticism, and unfortunately, your response to criticism has shown up in your writing. Each respective book, Under the Whispering Door, In the Lives of Puppets, and now Somewhere Beyond the Sea have become progressively more telling and less showing. You are preaching to the choir. I would submit that most of your readers have experienced or know someone who has experienced all of the things you are writing about, and it makes me feel like I'm being condescended to when I read your writing, instead of feeling included and seen, like I did before. This progression in your writing style has made the storytelling repetitive. I gravitate towards books that entertain me or teach me something, and this book did neither.

That said, it wasn't terrible. I did want to learn more about my old friends and the current political climate made me really want to read this book. However, I didn't get the warm hug I craved. It was just a cheap repeat of the first book. Instead of taking pot shots at other people and other authors, I wish you would focus more on building a positive world for all different types of people instead.

I wish I'd just re-read The House in the Cerulean Sea instead.

I wish I liked it more,
Lea

Lea wrote: "Dear Mr. Klune,

I just finished Somewhere Beyond the Sea and it was just OK for me. That made me sad.

I was charmed by The House in the Cerulean Sea. It was suc..."

Lea, I just want you to know that reading your response above made me feel seen. I also enjoyed The House in the Cerulean Sea. Such an interesting and hopeful book. For that reason, I was excited to hear T.J. Klune speak when I attended the Southern Book Festival last fall. Somewhere Beyond the Sea was just about to release or maybe it had just released but I very much thought I wanted to read it. I was really looking forward to seeing this unique author and hearing what he had to say. While I got some of the insight into the book that I had hoped for and the author was funny, the overall tone of the talk was entirely different from the book. More in your face. More take that. More strident. I was disappointed. I decided after hearing him speak that I should not read Somewhere Beyond the Sea. I felt badly about that because I admire the fact that the author is giving a voice to those who are not always heard. I admire even more that in The House of the Cerulean Sea he did it in a way that inspires peace and understanding. I did not get the impression that the second book would have that. Your letter seems to indicate that I was right and that makes me really sad.

Michelle wrote: "Lea, I just want you to know that reading your response above made me feel seen. I also enjoyed The House in the Cerulean Sea. Such an interesting and hopeful book. For that reason, I was excited to hear T.J. Klune speak when I attended the Southern Book Festival last fall. Somewhere Beyond the Sea was just about to release or maybe it had just released but I very much thought I wanted to read it. I was really looking forward to seeing this unique author and hearing what he had to say. While I got some of the insight into the book that I had hoped for and the author was funny, the overall tone of the talk was entirely different from the book. More in your face. More take that. More strident. I was disappointed. I decided after hearing him speak that I should not read Somewhere Beyond the Sea. I felt badly about that because I admire the fact that the author is giving a voice to those who are not always heard. I admire even more that in The House of the Cerulean Sea he did it in a way that inspires peace and understanding. I did not get the impression that the second book would have that. Your letter seems to indicate that I was right and that makes me really sad."

Thanks, Michelle. I'm glad you understand me. It makes me really sad too. I understand why he would want to use his voice to improve matters for underrepresented groups, but it doesn't make me want to read his books more.

Obviously, I can't tell him what to write. But, I can say what I'd like to read. I wish he would write strident articles with citations on his beliefs. Then, I wish he would write entertaining books with lovable characters that show us, but do not tell us, how we are all not as different as we like to think we are. I don't want to read about powerful evil oligarchs and people who cannot be reasoned with. That's no fantasy writing at all, especially in these times.

Lea wrote: "Michelle wrote: "Lea, I just want you to know that reading your response above made me feel seen. I also enjoyed The House in the Cerulean Sea. Such an interesting and hopeful book. For that reason..."

So true! The thing I liked in Cerulean Sea was the idea that we all should just try to be a little better and more understanding. I didn't feel like that at all from his talk. I think the feeling I got from the book is what we need more of. We have plenty of the other.

Michelle wrote: "So true! The thing I liked in Cerulean Sea was the idea that we all should just try to be a little better and more understanding. I didn't feel like that at all from his talk. I think the feeling I got from the book is what we need more of. We have plenty of the other."

Yes, I agree! We do have plenty of the other! I appreciate him for sticking up for people who have been denigrated by others, but I do think his approach in The House in the Cerulean Sea was more impactful to me. Didn't Maya Angelou say, "I've learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel."? I think that's so true! In this case, I won't forget the good feeling I got from that book, and I'm disappointed that it isn't happening in his future works, but it is what it is.

Lea wrote: "Dear Mr. Klune,

I just finished Somewhere Beyond the Sea and it was just OK for me. That made me sad.

I was charmed by The House in the Cerulean Sea. It was suc..."

You said it so much better than I could've ever tried. Thank you!

Ioana wrote: "You said it so much better than I could've ever tried. Thank you!"

I'm glad you understood where I was coming from. It is truly a lesson for us all, right? How to make the most impact with what we say and do. How we can make others feel included.

Dear Ms. Espach,

I was surprised by how much depth there was to The Wedding People. This is the first book I've read by you. I expected it to be a book about a wedding that goes sideways and that there would be a lot of funny characters. There were. But, there was also a heavy side to the book. Like us, the characters all had issues that they were dealing with. I liked that. It was a good read. There were aspects that I didn't care for - things that were over the top. Still, it was a very good read, and I will look for your other books.

Regards,
Lea

Lea wrote: "How to make the most impact with what we say and do. How we can make others feel included."

Right, and not by preaching, but by our actions.

Ioana wrote: "Lea wrote: "How to make the most impact with what we say and do. How we can make others feel included."

Right, and not by preaching, but by our actions."

Yes! Kindness to all! Yes, even them.

Lea wrote: "Alissa wrote: "YESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS
YAY FOR Matilda"

I'm so excited to read it!"

I'm currently reading Matilda with my 2nd grader each night. It's been so fun to revisit titles from my childhood with her (and then we watch the movies afterwards). We started with Charlotte's web last year. Matilda is a great one - I hope you enjoy it too!

Amalia wrote: "I'm currently reading Matilda with my 2nd grader each night. It's been so fun to revisit titles from my childhood with her (and then we watch the movies afterwards). We started with Charlotte's web last year. Matilda is a great one - I hope you enjoy it too!"

How wonderful to reexperience some of your favorite books again with your daughter, Amalia! I do try to re-read one series from my childhood every year...but there are a lot of children's series that I never got to read when I was younger, so I'm super excited about Matilda! I loved Charlotte’s Web too - one year I re-read all my favorite E.B. White books. :-)

Lea wrote: "Dear Ms. Espach,

I was surprised by how much depth there was to The Wedding People. This is the first book I've read by you. I expected it to be a book about a wedding that goes s..."

I liked this book more than I thought I would., It was wonderful!!

Alissa wrote: "I liked this book more than I thought I would., It was wonderful!!"

I liked the book more than I thought I would too. I mean the whole wedding disaster plot has been done a million times, but Espach brought something different to it here!

Dear Ms. Moore,

I recently finished The God of the Woods. While I think your writing is top notch and was entertained by the book, I must confess that I vastly preferred Long Bright River. I had some issues with the ending of this book but the journey there was so well written that I have to say that overall, I liked the book and am curious to read some of your other work.

Regards,

Lea