New Year 2025 and January and February 2025 Wrap Up

Sorry this post is so very late. And welcome to 2025. Crazy.

New Years goals are hard as a parent. Or maybe just for me, I'm not really sure. There are so many things that I'd like to do, but I am not always able to do much more than I already am. So much of my time is just spent getting by. Babies take so much time and energy. And they get it first, always. Not that I would trade Gabriel for anything. It is kind of amazing how much you can love someone. Even when I am tired and frustrated. So goal one, I want to keep trying to be a better mom. It is a continuous goal. I think I have done better over time, but I do see all my own shortcomings, especially when it comes to my own patience.

My job is absolutely draining and exhausting. It makes it hard to do anything extra. I haven't decided if I want to start looking for something else or if some of the work, spite, and the people I really like can get me through longer. I have also thought about possibly cutting my hours to see if having a little more time to myself will help. I haven't made a decision about that yet.

I set my reading goal for 75 books again this year. There were times I thought I would not make that last year, but I managed. I think I underestimate how much I am able to catch up once we reach spooky season. I also want to keep reading through more of my Owlcrate backlog, which is going pretty well so far.

I also want to keep up on my journal and (hopefully) here on my blog. I will do my best. It is obviously already behind.

And the main reason I am starting off so behind is because we moved to a new place. Which is great and we have more space and we are really liking it. But it was soooo hard for me to find time to actually move and pack and then we had to clean everything, but we also had a baby who did not want to let us (me) get anything done. Which continues to be a challenge especially for me unpacking and putting things away. Despite my commute being much longer now, I am so much happier at the new place. I will manage. Plus Gabriel has gotten sick numerous times, once with RSV. He was recently vaccinated so his case was pretty mild, but having to keep him home from daycare and not having much time to take off from work makes things challenging. Poor kiddo. I think this is just part of toddler life: regular illnesses.

I did a walking challenge with some of my girlfriends in February and that was fun. We participated in a Conqueror challenge and I am trying to continue to walk more and may do another one on my own in the near future. I am also planning a short vacation with a couple other girlfriends for June (without the baby) which I am really excited for.

Since this is so late, I will try to keep my reviews extra short, but I do want to share the books I read. Especially because a couple of them were surprisingly great.

 

 

At the End of the River Styx 

by Michelle Kulwicki 

Synopsis/Thoughts: Zan traded his life to the Ferryman of the river Styx to save his mother's life and was charged with working for the Ferryman for 500 years and has made it through 499. Meanwhile, Bastian is dealing with the aftermath of his mother's death and not doing it very well. He barely survived the accident that killed her and his near-death experience causes him to cross paths with Zan who is meant to bring him to the Ferryman. But as they spend more time together, they both start to change. This book was good and so bitter sweet. There were things I loved, but things that I felt dissatisfied with (and I think we are meant to, so that's OK).

4 stars out of 5 stars

 

Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell

Narrators: Rebecca Lowman, Maxwell Caulfield

Re-read

5 stars out of 5 stars

 

 

Carry On by 

Rainbow Rowell

Narrator: Euan Morton

Re-read

3 1/2 stars out of 5 stars

            

 Wayward Son and Any Way the Wind Blows

by Rainbow Rowell

Narrator: Euan Morton

Synopsis/Thoughts: The stories of Simon, Baz, Penny, and Agatha continue. They visit America and confront crazy vampires. Upon returning to England with a cursed mortal in tow, the gang try to find their own paths. I enjoyed the rest of these books. They were fun reads and I am glad that some of the loose ends were wrapped up. I was surprisingly pleased with Agatha's part of the story.

3 stars out of 5 stars and 4 stars out of 5 stars

Landline by Rainbow Rowell

Re-read (many times over)

5 stars out of 5 stars 

 

Boyfriend Material by

Alexis Hall

Narrator: Joe Jameson

Re-read

5 stars out of 5 stars 

 

Incendiary by Zoraida Cordova

Synopsis/Thoughts: This was an older Owlcrate book that I decided to pick up on a whim. The story follows Renata, a magical Moria with the power to steal memories with a touch. As a member of the Whispers, a group of rebel Moria, her goal is to help bring down the king and his family and free Moria from their cruel reign. But everything changes when her unit leader (whom she loves) is captured by the evil crown prince. This book took a while for me to get in to, but it took me by surprise and I LOVED it! I can't even say why. It kept me guessing and thinking and wondering. Though there was one twist that I sort of guessed at right away. I have gone back to read the first part and can't figure out what was said that made me guess it, but something did. Anyway, I ended up enjoying it way more than I expected to and am currently reading the sequel.

4 1/2 stars out of 5 stars 

 

The Gilded Ones

by Namina Forna

Synopsis/Thoughts: Another older Owlcrate book that I decided to finally pick up. And another one that I ended up liking more than I expected. This one also took me a little bit to get into. Deka lives in a small village in a very religious country. When girls reach a certain age, their blood is tested to make sure that it is red and not the cursed gold of impurity. When Deka's blood turns out to be gold, her death is all but assured. But a mysterious woman offers her another choice and Deka takes it. I really enjoyed this read. There were lots of strong women, which I love. But the main thing that caught me up was the loyalty. When the girls swear loyalty to one another (even when they don't much like each other), they keep that oath always. And when Deka has a love interest, his loyalty NEVER wavers, even when she expects that it should. I love that questionable loyalty or ones who leave and return were not used in this story to create drama. There is a second book, though this one can kind of stand on its own. I haven't decided if I will read the next one or not yet.

4 stars out of 5 stars

 

What the Woods Took 

by Courtney Gould

Synopsis/Thoughts: What would you do if you were kidnapped in the night and taken away to a camp for troubled teens? Devin does her best to fight (nothing new for her), but ends up in the woods alongside two young counselors and four other troubled teenagers. They are meant to come out at the end of the program as better versions of themselves. But as they go along, their counselors disappear and the group discovers that the woods may be more dangerous than they first appear. This was the Owlcrate book for January so I was able to participate in the read-along on the Nest app (I will try to keep up with the books that are released this year). This is probably not a book that I would have picked up myself, but it was pretty good. I grew to like most of the teenagers and was invested in their journey. And I generally liked the way it ended.

3 stars out of 5 stars

Favorite book read in January and February: aside from the obvious favorite re-reads, Incendiary

Least favorite book read in January and February: What the Woods Took

I should be about on schedule to hit my reading goal of 75 books. And I managed to read the January Owlcrate book with the read-along group and read 3 backlogged Owlcrate books. Though At the End of the River Styx barely counts because it was the December 2024 book. So I think I am off to a good start.

Anyone else have good reading goals or books to share? Thanks for sticking with me! I will try not to be so late next time.

November and December 2024 Wrap Up

Just a few days late. Sorry about that.

The end of the year kind of sneaked up on me. I got sick for several days at the beginning of December and then Gabriel (and Kevin and I) got parainfluenza which caused croup. We ended up taking Gabriel to urgent care one evening and they admitted him to the PICU. They released us the next night, but about two nights later (around midnight) we ended up taking him to the ER and being admitted to the general pediatric unit for about a day. A couple of days later was Gabriel's first birthday and the day we were leaving for Connecticut. But we ended up canceling our flights out to take Gabriel to the ER again for more breathing treatments. We did get to go to Connecticut but we left on Christmas. And then I got sick again for a couple days on the way back. Anyway, it has been super hectic and I think I just need a break.

Being a parent is still hard and time-consuming. Gabriel is moving and playing and eating real food, which is great. But it is still difficult to keep up with everything else in life. He is such a cutie though and it is fun to watch him learn and grow.

Work is kind of terrible right now. I was passed up for a promotion again in favor of someone much less experienced who takes on much less work and extra tasks, but who is liked by the supervisor. But a couple of people have left which has very much improved things in my department overall.

We will be moving soon to a larger apartment, which is very exciting! We will have two bedrooms (instead of no bedrooms) and two bathrooms, full size washer and dryer, much more space and more storage/closet space. I hate packing and moving, but I cannot wait!

I want to do quick book reviews and then I will talk about my sort of New Years goals from last year. I will do my best to get up a New Year post to talk about goals for this coming year.

Dreadful Company and Grave Importance

by Vivian Shaw 

Narrator: Suzannah Hampton

Re-reads

4 stars out of 5 stars

 

A Curse for True Love by

Stephanie Garber

Narrators: Dan Bittner and Rebecca Soler

Synopsis/Thoughts: This is the last book in the Once Upon a Broken Heart trilogy. I didn't remember the previous book as well as I maybe should have, but it was fine. Evangeline enters the story with her memory gone, married to a prince, and trying to figure out what has happened to her. Her husband, Apollo, is doing his best to keep her from remembering anything. And Jacks, the Prince of Hearts and Fate is hiding from Apollo and his men but staying close enough to Evangeline to help and protect her, even if she doesn't know him anymore. I enjoyed these books. After the Caraval series, I really wanted books about Jacks and it wasn't exactly what I was expecting, but I am still happy with it.

3 1/2 stars out of 5 stars

When I Was Your Age by

Kenan Thompson

Narrator: Kenan Thompson 

Synopsis/Thoughts: Kenan Thompson talks about his rise to fame and the various jobs he has worked and making it in the world of comedy, but also having a normal life. Parts of this book were a little disorganized, from my perspective, but I did like it overall. And I am a sucker for memoirs read by the author.

3 stars out of 5 stars

 

Bits and Pieces by

Whoopi Goldberg

Narrator: Whoopi Goldberg

Synopsis/Thoughts: Whoopi Goldberg focuses on her growing up and rise to fame but through the lens of her relationships with her mother and brother, to whom she was very close. I really enjoyed this book. It was a great read and occasionally very funny. I don't know a whole lot about her, but it was interesting learning some and hearing about her mother and brother. And again, read by the author which I love.

4 stars out of 5 stars 

Divine Might by

Natalie Haynes

Narrator: Natalie Haynes

Synopsis/Thoughts: This book was all about different goddesses in Greek mythology. And read by the author to boot. It probably will come as no surprise that I really enjoyed this book. I know I have read at least one other book by her and liked it. I would like to read more. Definitely recommend if you like Greek mythology.

4 stars out of 5 stars 

 

Wolfsong by

TJ Klune

Narrator: Kirt Graves

Synopsis/Thoughts: Ox's father abandoned him and his mother when he was 12, but taught Ox to believe that he wasn't worth much and that no one would like him before he took off. Despite that, Ox manages to gather people around him who become family. Including the family that moves in next door who have a bunch of their own secrets that change Ox's whole life. This book was, first off, longer than I was expecting. I think I liked it overall. I liked how Ox developed and really liked his relationship with Gordo. I was interested in a lot of the characters individually as well, like Kelly, Elizabeth, and Robbie I haven't decided if I will continue the series or not. I think I would like to, but I have been bad at investing in series these days.

3 stars out of 5 stars 

 

Keep Moving by

Dick Van Dyke

Narrator: Dick Van Dyke

Synopsis/Thoughts: I went on a memoir kick. Another one, read by the author. Dick Van Dyke talks about himself later in life and what it is like growing old. He is still so remarkably with-it and active at the age when he wrote this book, it is actually really interesting to hear about. Maybe it could inspire me to do better for myself as I get older.

3 stars out of 5 stars 

Beyond the Wand by

Tom Felton

Narrator: Tom Felton

Synopsis/Thoughts:Yet another memoir read by the author. This focuses on Tom Felton's life leading up to, during, and shortly after the filming of the Harry Potter movies. There was a lot about him that I didn't know, but he tells it in a way that is very honest and human. I admire him and am glad that I read this one.

4 stars out of 5 stars 

 

You're a Mean One Matthew Prince

by Timothy Janovsky

Narrator: Mark Sanderlin

Synopsis/Thoughts: Matthew Prince is a spoiled rich kid who, in a bid for his parents' attention, buys an island and ends up banned to the small town his mother grew up in to spend the holidays with his grandparents. And with the annoying guy who is staying with his grandparents. As predicted, he starts to have a change of heart. This was very predictable, but also a sweet, easy read.

2 1/2 stars out of 5 stars

 

 

Landline by

Rainbow Rowell

Narrator: Rebecca Lowman

Re-read

5 stars out of 5 stars

 

 

A Christmas Carol

by Charles Dickens

Narrator: Tim Curry
 Re-read

4 stars out of 5 stars

 

A Universe of Wishes

Editor: Dhonielle Clayton

Various Authors

Synopsis/Thoughts: This is an anthology of diverse stories. I really liked some of the stories and definitely liked some more than others. But I think there is something for everyone. And diversity in authors and characters is always welcome!

4 stars out of 5 stars

Winterwood by

Shea Ernshaw

Synopsis/Thoughts: Nora comes from a long line of witches but seems to have no special power herself, though she longs for it. On the heels of her grandmother's death, a snow storm takes out the power, phone lines, and roads to her family cabin as well as the surrounding area which includes a camp for troubled boys. While walking through the dark (maybe evil?) woods, she encounters a boy from the camp who should be dead. Oliver's memories aren't clear anymore and he is keeping secrets from Nora, but the dark woods and perpetual storm will drag everything out eventually. There were a few different layers to this book. I loved Nora and her family and their spell book. The way people interacted with Oliver was so strange that it kept me engaged as well. Overall it was a good read.

3 stars out of 5 stars 

 

Spectacular by

Stephanie Garber

Synopsis/Thoughts: Short story that is Caraval 3.5. The Great Holiday is coming and Donatella is distraught. She has been feeling unsure of Legend's feelings for her and is determined to come up with the best Great Holiday gift for him. Her search leads her on a rather strange adventure. This was a fun story story. It has been a while since I read the Caraval series so all the details weren't as clear, but it was cute and enjoyable.

3 1/2 stars out of 5 stars 

10 Things That Never Happened

by Alexis Hall

Narrator: Will M. Watt

Re-read

4 1/2 stars out of 5 stars 

Favorite book read in November/December: Am I allowed to say Landline?

Least favorite book read in November/December: You're a Mean One Matthew Prince

I managed to pass my reading goal of 75 books for the year. I read 83 books.

One of my goals at the start of the year was to get back into journaling, which I have actually been keeping up with pretty well. I found a way to get my journal set up that helps keep me more engaged. I hope to do a blog post one day, but we see how that goes anymore.

I wanted to read more of my backlogged Owlcrate books this year, and I did OK with that. For the normal subscription books I read 17 in 2024. I read more if you count the sequels and special editions that Owlcrate did separate from the normal subscription. I didn't really track those but I am going to try to do so moving forward.

September and October 2024 Wrap Up

Sorry for the delay in getting this posted. Time really gets away from me these days.

Work is still crazy, but I'm not going to get into it right now.

Being a mom is still hard, but I love my little munchkin more than I could have expected.

It's hard not to feel like I am failing left and right these days, but that is something I am working on. And getting counseling for.

Gabriel had his first Halloween. He was a bat! There are a couple of photos on my Instagram for anyone interested in seeing. But he was the cutest little bat ever, if I do say so myself. Halloween was also Kevin's and my third anniversary.

I read a lot of books, especially in October. I am going to try to keep the reviews short. Here we go!

 

Made You Up by

Francesca Zappia

Narrator: Amanda Ronconi

Re-read

5 stars out of 5 stars

 

The Sword of Summer, the Hammer of Thor, the Ship of the Dead

and Hotel Valhalla, Guide to the Norse Worlds

by Rick Riordan

Narrators: Various

Re-reads

Rating: Overall 4 stars out of 5 stars 

 

The Graveyard Book by

Neil Gaiman

Narrator: Neil Gaiman

Re-read

5 stars out of 5 stars 

 

Castle of the Cursed by

Romina Garber

Synopsis/Thoughts: This was an Owlcrate book and I participated in a read-a-long on the Nest app. Estela is the only survivor of a mysterious accident on a subway, an accident that claimed the loves of both of her parents. With no where else to go, she is forced to return to her family's ancestral home--a castle in Spain. But la Sombra is harboring secrets and mysteries of its own that Estela must solve to understand her family and her place in it. This book was alright, but I didn't like it as much as I thought I would. Some things just struck me as odd and some were maybe too formulaic, in my opinion.

3 stars out of 5 stars

 

 

Wrath of the Triple Goddess by

Rick Riordan

Narrator: Jesse Bernstein

Synopsis/Thoughts: This is the seventh book in the Percy Jackson series and I had to read it ASAP. Luckily, it takes place around Halloween time, so it fit great! Percy needs three letters of recommendation in order to get into the university in New Rome. To that end, he has to house- and pet-sit for Hecate. But her pets and her house are far from normal. I enjoyed this book very much, which is not at all surprising.

4 stars out of 5 stars

 

 

Witchy by

Ariel Slamet Ries

Synopsis/Thoughts: This graphic novel was included in an Owlcrate box some time ago. This is the first in a series. It is about Nyneve whose very long hair should indicate that she has extraordinary powers to go with it, but that couldn't be further from the truth. When the Witch Guard comes to her school to recruit students, she is conflicted. The Witch Guard is influential and powerful, but they are also responsible for the death of her father. I enjoyed this and will consider reading more of the series. I appreciated the diversity and thought the story and characters were interesting. 

3 1/2 stars out of 5 stars

 

House of Salt and Sorrows by

Erin Craig 

Synopsis/Thoughts: This is an older Owlcrate book and a re-telling of the twelve dancing princesses. Annaleigh and her family might be cursed. Once there were twelve sisters. But once her mother died, she was followed by a few of her sisters: one to a plague, one to drowning in the bath, one to a fall in the library, one to a long fall off a cliff. What is even worse is that it seems the disturbed spirits of her sisters still haunt the halls of their home. Meanwhile, Annaleigh and her remaining sisters discover a way to travel to other lands and attend wonderful balls where no one knows them and no one thinks they are cursed. This book was absolutely appropriate for Halloween. Parts of it were seriously creepy and occasionally a little scary (for me, but I am a wimp). It was a very good read, even if some of the images still haunt me.

4 stars out of 5 stars

 

 

Long Live the Pumpkin Queen by

Shea Ernshaw

Narrator: Cissy Jones

Synopsis/Thoughts: Following Sally's marriage to Jack, the Pumpkin King, she begins to struggle with going from nobody to the Pumpkin Queen. Distressed by her inability to fit in, she travels to the grove of trees and finds another door. But she accidentally releases a monster into Halloweentown that puts everyone to sleep. It will be up to Sally to save her home and maybe she will learn how to be a proper queen in the meantime. This was a fun little read, definitely worth looking into if you like the Nightmare Before Christmas world.

3 1/2 stars out of 5 stars

 

 

Lenny Among Ghosts by

Frank Maria Reifenberg

Synopsis/Thoughts: Lenny (the second) ends up needing to get to a boarding school at the last minute so his parents can travel for work. In a strange turn of events, he ends up at Shadowsout Castle Academy. But he quickly learns that the school is full of ghosts. But the castle is also at risk of being torn down and Lenny might be the one to save it. This is a middle grade novel (or younger), but it was surprisingly charming. It was a pretty fun, quick read.

4 stars out of 5 stars

 

 

Lakesedge by

Lyndall Clipstone

Synopsis/Thoughts: This was an older Owlcrate book that I started a couple of years ago and never finished. Until this year. I didn't start over, just picked up where I left off, so my memory of the start of the story is a bit murky. Violeta and her brother (with his shadowy magic) end up in the cursed estate of Lakesedge with Rowan, the head of the house, and his small household. Due to some dark magic, the corruption of the lake is spreading, ready to claim lives. It is up to Violeta to work with the Lord Under to try to save the estate and the world. But there is more at stake than Violeta realizes. This book was alright. I didn't love everything, but Violeta's connection to the Lord Under interests me. I do have the second book and will likely read it one of these days so I can find out how the story ends.

3 stars out of 5 stars

 

The Cruel Prince by

Holly Black

Synopsis/Thoughts: This was another old Owlcrate book and I did a read-a-long with another Nest user. Jude's world was turned upside down when a mysterious man turned up in her home and murdered her mother and father in order to take her older sister back to the High Court of Faerie. Jude and her twin sister were spirited away with their big sister and grew up in a faerie household. As humans, most fey despise them, but Jude and her twin are desperate to fit in. When the crowning of the next High King goes awry, Jude gets mixed in with her enemy, Prince Cardan, to try to save the High Court. I actually liked this book more than I expected to. I will try to get around to finishing the series in the near future. And I know we aren't really supposed to like the faerie that stole Jude and her sisters and raised them, but we all have a case of serious Stockholm syndrome...

4 stars out of 5 stars

 

A Forgery of Roses by

Jessica S. Olson

Synopsis/Thoughts: Another older Owlcrate book! Myra was born a magical gift: she can change someone's appearance by painting them. She can even heal. With her parents missing and a sick younger sister, she is forced to accept work from the governor's wife that would bring her dead son back to life. But once she arrives at the manor, she discovers that there is much more going on behind the scenes. And to begin, the boy's death may not have been an accident. With the help of the dead boy's brother, they try to uncover the secrets before the clock runs out on Myra's time. There were some things that I really liked about this book. Some things were definitely a bit spooky and I liked some of the characters. Overall, it was a pretty good story.

3 stars out of 5 stars

 

 

The Haunting of Hill House by

Shirley Jackson

Synopsis/Thoughts: This book was included in an Owlcrate box a couple of years ago. I think most people know the general premise of the story. I will say the book is not like the movies that I remember seeing. Some parts were definitely creepy and occasionally scary to me. But it was also interesting to see how the story and characters developed in relation to the house. I think it is worth a read.

4 stars out of 5 stars

 

 

The Ghost and Mrs. Muir by

Josephine Leslie

Re-read

5 stars out of 5 stars

Strange Practice and Bitter Waters

by Vivian Shaw 

Narrator: Catrin Walker-Booth

Synopsis/Thoughts: Strange Practice was a re-read for me (despite telling myself that I wasn't going to read this series this year). I found Bitter Waters, a novella that is book 3.5 in the Dr. Greta Helsing series and I had to read it because I adore these books. Bitter Waters centers on the tale of a young girl who was turned to a vampire against her will and was found and rescued and taken to Dr. Helsing. Then it is up to Greta and her friends to help the girl and figure out how to stop the vampire who turned her. I love these books. I don't even know why. They are often very funny and creative. I love the idea of there being a doctor for the "differently alive" people of the world.

4 stars out of 5 stars

 

Favorite book read in September and October: Aside from The Ghost and Mrs. Muir, the Graveyard Book, and the Greta Helsing books? Probably the Wrath of the Triple Goddess

Least favorite books read in September and October: Maybe Castle of the Cursed

I was finally able to catch up and get ahead of my reading goal. October is always a good time for me to do that. I was behind going into October, but managed to get several books ahead. I have now read 68 books towards my goal of 75 books. I might actually make it this year!

Now it is time to get ready for holidays and holiday reads! I will try to get a post or two up about our goings-on and holiday TBR maybe.

Thanks for sticking with me. I hope other people got to read some fun spooky books. Or maybe found some ideas here for next year.