tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-386535232419421509Fri, 13 Feb 2026 11:06:13 +0000CarrieSarahFictionAmynon-fictionIFTTTInstagramMysteryromanceYoung Adultscience fictionUrban fantasyfantasygiveawaycontemporary romancememoirLiteraturechildren's literaturedystopian fictionhumormurder mysteryparanormal romanceARCAlexander McCall SmithChaninSweet Valley HighThe Rosie ProjectYAautobiographyblogiversarybook clubbusinesserotic romancehistorical thrillernew and excitingownvoicespool timereadingscaryseriesshort storiessteampunk mysteryAmanda HockingArmy wifeBack to the FutureBaltimoreChicagoCozy mysteryDave EggersDisneyEmilia ClarkeFacebookGabrielle ZevinGary SchmidtHistorical RomanceIlliniJane AustenJodi PicoultJohn GrishamJojo MoyesKate DanielsMercy WatsonNew York CityNicholas SparksPridePride and PrejudiceSausage dogsSex sellsSummer readingThe CircleThe Girl on the TrainYou Before MeZoboiadoptionadventureamateur sleuthawesomebad choicebooksbookstorecoffeeconspiracy thrillercookbookscop outcrazy womencryingdeal with itdepressingdogsfangirlfunnyget with it peoplegluten-freegraphic novelhistorical fictionhorrorindie authorslazylovemarketingmore cryingmulticultural romancenonfictionnot erotic at allnovellaolympicsparallel realityparanormal mysterypoetrypop culturererunromantic comedyromantic suspenserowingsadsatiresexsocial mediaspace operastalkersteampunk romancesuspenseteacher/student romanceyouthFour sisters and a whole lot of books. We'd look into rehab, but that's just more reading.http://thefamilyaddiction.blogspot.com/noreply@blogger.com (Sarah)Blogger241125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-386535232419421509.post-7307572364067525747Tue, 30 Mar 2021 18:47:00 +00002021-03-30T11:47:11.833-07:00 *I received a free e-ARC of this book in exchange for my review.  All opinions are my own.*I read Ours to Explore over the weekend, and I can NOT stop thinking about it. Short version with no context: I'm going to incorporate it into my next post-pandemic travel course. (To Costa Rico or Ecuador, through a travel provider who uses locally owned businesses.)Slightly longer version http://thefamilyaddiction.blogspot.com/2021/03/ours-to-explore-privilege-power-and.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (DrCarrieT)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-386535232419421509.post-5006689863045863643Sat, 20 Mar 2021 20:19:00 +00002021-03-20T13:19:41.691-07:00 *I was given a free eARC of this book in exchange for a review. All opinions are my own.Part ghost story, part WWII intrigue, part time travel, part Arthurian legend, part love story.The Lost Girls of Foxfield Hall is a bit out of my typical reading habits, because time travel is too fraught for me.  I liked this book and think that anyone who like time travel or historical http://thefamilyaddiction.blogspot.com/2021/03/the-lost-girls-of-foxfield-hall-by.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (DrCarrieT)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-386535232419421509.post-3249903481963524960Sat, 20 Mar 2021 19:38:00 +00002021-03-20T12:38:09.019-07:00 *I was provided a free eARC of this book in exchange for my review.  All opinions are mine.In good conscience, I've gotta start by saying I don't usually read women's fiction.  I've read Bridget Jones's Diary and a few Jodi Picault novels.  (Here's a great article, by the way, that differentiates women's fiction from romance. Main difference? Women's fiction is about a http://thefamilyaddiction.blogspot.com/2021/03/the-cornish-midwife-by-jo-bartlett.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (DrCarrieT)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-386535232419421509.post-7111372575838858863Fri, 19 Feb 2021 16:05:00 +00002021-02-19T08:05:02.049-08:00CarrieCozy mysterymurder mystery *I received a free ARC of Furbidden Fatality in exchange for my review.  All opinions are my own.*Last spring and summer when everyone else was baking bread and comparing sourdough starters under a stay-at-home order, I was bingeing BritBox.  There are 21 seasons of Midsomer Murders, and I watched them all.But my gateway drug to BritBox was ITV's Agatha Christie's Marple&nbsphttp://thefamilyaddiction.blogspot.com/2021/02/furbidden-fatality-catskills-pet-rescue.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (DrCarrieT)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-386535232419421509.post-7844926013067386037Mon, 20 Jul 2020 12:43:00 +00002020-07-20T05:43:57.432-07:00book clubJane AustenPridePride and PrejudicereadingZoboi Shhh…don’t tell Sarah or Carrie or Chanin, but I’ve never read Pride and Prejudice.  And just in case you were wondering, it wasn’t part of our high school curriculum that I “skipped” (looking at you, Great Expectations).  I guess I had just heard too many people complain about Jane Austen and I was too busy reading Andrew Greeley mysteries in my late teens and early 20s to pick up http://thefamilyaddiction.blogspot.com/2020/07/pride-by-ibi-zoboi.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Amy)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-386535232419421509.post-2914579659344571325Sun, 05 Jul 2020 02:39:00 +00002020-07-04T19:39:20.521-07:00We do a gift exchange at Christmas with my husband’s somewhat extended family. It’s always fun and interesting to see what we end up with, especially from those who we don’t know as well or maybe just for as long. This year, my name was drawn by my hubby’s step sister’s daughter in law... and we’ve spent some time together and I like her a lot, but we can’t really say that we know each other wellhttp://thefamilyaddiction.blogspot.com/2020/07/where-crawdads-sing-by-delia-owens.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Chanin)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-386535232419421509.post-1697177910142710084Sun, 07 Jun 2020 15:37:00 +00002020-06-07T08:37:33.347-07:00 I was lucky enough to get an ARC of Sex and Vanity from Net Galley in exchange for review! This book is a new offering by the author of Crazy Rich Asians and its follow-ups, and is just as much fun as that series. Rather than going to Asia, though, we mostly are hanging out in New York (though there's plenty of characters from all over the world.) The story starts with a flashback http://thefamilyaddiction.blogspot.com/2020/06/sex-and-vanity-by-kevin-kwan.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Chanin)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-386535232419421509.post-9017613298450757732Tue, 02 Jun 2020 00:24:00 +00002020-06-01T17:24:14.903-07:00CarrieownvoicesYAI have no idea how to review this book.Photo by Emily Morter on UnsplashThere were so many things I loved, but it took me several days to finish because I kept putting it down.So . . . I think I'll give a holistic review first, include a jump break, and then add some content warnings. (Click here is you want to start with the content warnings.)Holistic ReviewWe Ride Upon Sticks&http://thefamilyaddiction.blogspot.com/2020/06/we-ride-upon-sticks-by-quan-barry.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (DrCarrieT)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-386535232419421509.post-256960478083795675Thu, 28 May 2020 02:26:00 +00002020-05-27T19:26:41.682-07:00Carrieromancescience fictionspace operaPhoto by Jeremy Thomas on UnsplashThey had to postpone a rocket launch today because of weather. Which is sad, but, safe.And I know this because my family loves all things space.  Did you know that NASA allows educators with decent social media followings to be onsite for launches through #NASASocial ?  It's a program that's meant to leverage educators' existing social http://thefamilyaddiction.blogspot.com/2020/05/chaos-reigning-by-jessie-mihalik.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (DrCarrieT)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-386535232419421509.post-4189860940625515375Fri, 22 May 2020 15:00:00 +00002020-05-22T08:00:14.026-07:00CarrieFictionromanceDo you remember this when it happened?A passenger on a plane watched two people in front of her interact and decided this would make a great "meet cute".  (That's a staple in romance novels and movies.). She chronicled her version of the exchange during a plane ride (cross-county, maybe?  I forget.), and the tweet thread garnered serious interest.  The first tweet had over 800,000 http://thefamilyaddiction.blogspot.com/2020/05/girl-gone-viral-by-alisha-rai.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (DrCarrieT)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-386535232419421509.post-5464335654427412580Wed, 20 May 2020 15:00:00 +00002020-05-20T08:00:01.387-07:00humornonfictionownvoicesOne of my younger colleagues posted about getting grey hair the other day.As an official Old (TM), I felt justified to warn her that finding grey in the hair on your head was actually one of the least rude places she was gonna get grey hair.  I mean, I have them in my eyebrows!  I'm a brunette; there is no way to hide that without make-up or tweezing.  So rude.The depressing http://thefamilyaddiction.blogspot.com/2020/05/wow-no-thank-you-by-samantha-irby.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (DrCarrieT)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-386535232419421509.post-555664929109064071Mon, 18 May 2020 15:00:00 +00002020-05-18T08:00:00.703-07:00ARCCarriedystopian fictionFictionromancescience fictionseriesThe Rosie ProjectA couple of weeks ago, I had the BEST news from NetGalley--approval for an ARC for a book that I was CRAVING.In 6 B.C-19*, I wrote my first review of a Kit Rocha story.  You can read it here.  It's fair to say I'm a straight-up Kit Rocha Fan Girl.  So you can imagine my response when I found out that I'd been approved for an ARC of the first book of the new Kit Rocha series, Deal http://thefamilyaddiction.blogspot.com/2020/05/deal-with-devil-by-kit-rocha.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (DrCarrieT)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-386535232419421509.post-5356593809027763102Sat, 25 Apr 2020 03:54:00 +00002020-05-20T14:06:18.624-07:00 Which one should I choose? Tomorrow is supposed to be one of those "never get out of bed, just curl up with a book" type of weather days.  You know, cooler, grey, and rainy.   Which means I have big plans for the TBR pile.  I just need to decide where to start. Here are some recent options that arrived at my house: wow, no thank you. by samantha irby From the http://thefamilyaddiction.blogspot.com/2020/04/choices-choices.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (DrCarrieT)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-386535232419421509.post-8245615395116406960Sat, 18 Apr 2020 01:31:00 +00002020-04-17T18:31:24.947-07:00amateur sleuthCarrieMystery What I think of during every Zoom meeting Cheers! Here's to you and getting through another week of a global pandemic. In Illinois the Governor just announced that the K-12 students will not be returning to in-person learning for this academic year.  I'm sure most Illinois teachers were expected that, but it would still be like a gut punch.   For me, in the Grades http://thefamilyaddiction.blogspot.com/2020/04/the-meg-lanslow-series-by-donna-andrews.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (DrCarrieT)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-386535232419421509.post-8624027751720310825Mon, 13 Apr 2020 17:19:00 +00002020-04-13T10:19:17.321-07:00 Screenshot from tinysiesta.com I find the concept of tiny houses fascinating.  I love the idea of being to manage with less, and I really love the idea of being decisive enough to choose a minimal list of earthly possessions.  When I visit my parents in Sarasota, FL, I frequently walk by a strip of rental tiny homes, and then I daydream about living in one of my own. But I basicallyhttp://thefamilyaddiction.blogspot.com/2020/04/building-your-tiny-house-dream-by-chris.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (DrCarrieT)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-386535232419421509.post-27188435983899211Fri, 10 Apr 2020 00:50:00 +00002020-04-09T17:50:46.965-07:00 Photo by Brett Jordan on Unsplash I figure pandemic is a little like this.  Some things make us sad (cancelled plans), some things make us smile (kindnesses between neighbors), and some things break us open.  What we do after the break--how we change the way we see and the way we act--is what defines us. We can't avoid the breaks of a pandemic (or any other trauma), http://thefamilyaddiction.blogspot.com/2020/04/the-boyfriend-project-by-farrah-rochon.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (DrCarrieT)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-386535232419421509.post-7555529710382148155Thu, 08 Feb 2018 23:40:00 +00002018-02-08T15:43:07.961-08:00 If you're confused about me posting a book review, take heart.  You're not alone.  I, too, am equally confused as to how I managed to finish a novel AND feel compelled to write a review.  It's been so long, I'm not sure I'm actually doing it right.  What are these buttons before me?  Hark!  Lo, I tap one a letter doth blink into existence on the screen before me!&http://thefamilyaddiction.blogspot.com/2018/02/lincoln-in-bardo-by-george-saunders.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Sarah)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-386535232419421509.post-5686856908414554582Sat, 07 Oct 2017 17:02:00 +00002017-10-07T10:02:52.387-07:00 I was offered Twice as Wicked in e-reader format by NetGalley in exchange for a review. I chose it because of my long-lasting, slightly-loath-to-admit love for Regency romances. ;) This is a nice and easy rendition of the classic Regency. Alice is a twin, whose sister has passed away, sent away in shame to give birth out of wedlock. Her sister refused to name the father, and Alice spends a http://thefamilyaddiction.blogspot.com/2017/10/twice-as-wicked-by-elizabeth-bright.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Chanin)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-386535232419421509.post-7882937378066838516Sun, 24 Sep 2017 15:15:00 +00002017-09-24T08:15:44.727-07:00 I was afforded the opportunity to read this book with an Advanced Reader Copy from NetGalley, prior to its publication on October 3rd. The description intrigued me - a lawyer who is under investigation by the FBI has decided the best way to escape is to fake his death. He's got some money stowed away, he has some set aside for the wife and daughter he's leaving behind, and he's got a plan to http://thefamilyaddiction.blogspot.com/2017/09/how-im-spending-my-afterlife-by-spencer.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Chanin)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-386535232419421509.post-5564533127489952738Tue, 11 Oct 2016 17:40:00 +00002016-10-22T10:33:53.887-07:00 This is not a new book, but I finished it yesterday afternoon and I'm still thinking about it today. I was browsing at the library the other day, and ran across a book named Eligible by the same author, which is supposed to be a modern retelling of Pride and Prejudice, one of my all time faves. But I hesitate to read re-tellings of actual books sometimes - I think I've mentioned thathttp://thefamilyaddiction.blogspot.com/2016/10/sisterland-by-curtis-sittenfeld.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Chanin)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-386535232419421509.post-4429857773729920928Tue, 20 Sep 2016 22:13:00 +00002016-09-20T15:13:20.354-07:00Chanin This was a fun little romance book, but a bit on the shallow side. Ruby is a professional (ad man) in NYC, getting ready to attend her younger sister's wedding in a castle in England. Her sister is marrying her ex's best friend, so she'll be seeing him for the first time in years. While she's become successful in her firm, he's become some mega-app billionaire type. She has a secret about why http://thefamilyaddiction.blogspot.com/2016/09/the-one-that-got-away-by-melissa.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Chanin)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-386535232419421509.post-1462367159488576574Fri, 03 Jun 2016 22:22:00 +00002016-06-03T15:23:22.354-07:00Emilia ClarkeJojo MoyesYou Before Me In case you are heading out to the movies this weekend, feel free to put this one on your list.  I read it as part of my " review series" this year....reading all of the 2016 books to movies.  I got my list here.  I don't even care what books are being made into movies anymore this year.  I can't imagine a better one than this.  Think Jodi Picoult on steroids. Or thinkhttp://thefamilyaddiction.blogspot.com/2016/03/me-before-you-by-jojo-moyes.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Amy)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-386535232419421509.post-2920793595119961641Sat, 19 Mar 2016 17:53:00 +00002016-05-03T23:21:17.383-07:00In my never-ending quest to procrastinate my mom duties, I finished yet another book.  You'll remember that I'm reading and reviewing all of the 2016 books to movies, and The Light Between Oceans is installment number two.  Unlike the first one, The Circle, which I reviewed last month, I actually enjoyed this one.  Set off the coast of western Australia, The Light Between Oceans http://thefamilyaddiction.blogspot.com/2016/03/the-light-between-oceans-by-ml-stedman.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Amy)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-386535232419421509.post-7677194199476698033Sun, 28 Feb 2016 21:58:00 +00002016-02-28T13:59:35.990-08:00Dave EggersIlliniThe CircleSomewhere between making school lunches, keeping up with the maintenance on this 100-year old house the Army is allowing us to live in AND being the best wife ever, I decided I would read (and review) the 2016 books being made into movies.  I got the list from my new friends at PopSugar.  They are excellent at posting articles about stuff like this, you know.  You can see the full http://thefamilyaddiction.blogspot.com/2016/02/the-circle-by-dave-eggers.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Amy)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-386535232419421509.post-6396916770599170132Mon, 22 Feb 2016 17:13:00 +00002016-02-22T09:13:25.495-08:00 This is a great YA novel about the consequences of choices. It very much reminds me of the movie "Sliding Doors" - where an instant's hesitation makes for a world of change, and both outcomes are depicted. Summer is a (young acting) sixteen year old girl who lives with her mother in NY state - NOT in NYC, as she mentions several times. Her parents are divorced, and her father is a http://thefamilyaddiction.blogspot.com/2016/02/two-summers-by-aimee-friedman.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Chanin)0