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• Bookworm • ARC Reader • Audiobooks •
📚: The Unrequited Love Department by Kristina Forest (ARC)
🎧: The Tarot Trials by Katee Robert (ALC)

POSTS STORIES REELS TAGGED

I knew of Roberto Clemente’s baseball career and tragic death, but David Maraniss’s biography taught me so much more about his life.

I especially appreciated learning about Clemente’s pride in being Puerto Rican, his love for his culture, and the challenges he faced as a Black Latino player. His advocacy for other Latino players, humanitarian work, and contributions to baseball beyond his own career were some of my favorite parts. Maraniss also looks beyond Clemente’s accomplishments—exploring his family, relationships, and the many sides of his personality—and gives the reader a well-rounded portrait of Clemente.

I LOVED the inclusion of family and historical photographs throughout the book; such a wonderful addition to this biography. I definitely recommend it if you enjoy nonfiction that explores history and culture alongside a personal story.

A fitting read to close out Hispanic Heritage Month, though these are stories we should be celebrating and learning about all year long.

Thank you @history_in_five and @simonandschuster for the gifted copy of Clemente: The Passion and Grace of Baseball’s Last Hero!

#historybuffsbookclub #hispanicheritagemonth #bookstagram #bookreview #books taken in Tampa, Florida by @tbr_and_beyond

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5 days ago

Happy release day to Off the Reservation by Stephen Graham Jones!

One of the things I love about SGJ is his RANGE as a horror writer. From slashers and psychological horror to historical and supernatural horror, he continues to explore different corners of the genre while bringing his distinct style of storytelling.

If you loved The Only Good Indians, I think you’ll really enjoy this one. That same slow buildup of psychological dread, complicated characters, and some truly unsettling body horror is all here. I especially loved how the multiple POVs explored guilt, regret, and the ways our pasts continue to have a hold on us. While this one can stand on its own, I definitely recommend revisiting The Only Good Indians first!

Have you read any Stephen Graham Jones? Which book is your favorite? taken in Tampa, Florida by @tbr_and_beyond

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6 days ago

I was pulled into this story from the jump! One of the many things I loved most about González’s writing was the creativity and how they incorporated cryptids, paranormal investigations, and all those interests that some might call a little “tinfoil hat” into this cozy & VERY nerdy adventure. It just worked so well for me.

And the characters; these are the kinds of characters that stick with you (a chupacabra toddler like come, you’re not forgetting that anytime soon). I lovedddd Reggie and their internal monologue throughout the story. The humor and the way they process everything happening around them, sooo good! Something else I really enjoyed was how visual so many of the scenes were. I could picture so much of what was happening, from the more ridiculous moments to the supernatural elements, and I think that added a lot to the experience. The entire story has a quirkiness that keeps you wanting to see what these characters get themselves into next.

I will say the pacing was a little slower for me in the middle when we started getting more of the characters’ backgrounds. BUT once the action picked back up, I honestly got why that part was so important—the book is really reminding the reader that it is also a story about identity and finding your people. Having that additional background really helped me understand the characters and appreciate their relationships even more. Especially the found-family aspect, which I think González did SOOO well.

Honestly, I could read an entire series following these characters and their increasingly zany adventures. I loved this crew THAT much. This book has so much creativity, and I think the mix of weirdness, humor, and heartfelt moments is what made it such a good time for me.

#bookreview #bookstagram #scifi #cozybooks #bookstagrammer taken in Tampa, Florida by @tbr_and_beyond

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9 days ago

As we observe Banned Book Week, I’m reflecting on recent events across Florida. If you’re registered to vote, please take a moment to read Amendment 3 or consider voting NO—it’s crucial that we stand up for our libraries and preserve access to diverse stories and knowledge.

#bookstagram #books #floridalibraries #bannedbooksweek #bookstagrammer by @tbr_and_beyond

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12 days ago

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12 days ago

First Tuesday of October, you know what that means 😏

📚 NEW BOOK RELEASES ARE HERE. 📚

What an absolutely stacked 1st Tuesday of the month. I am SOOO grateful to the publishers, NetGalley, different advance reader programs, and authors for providing me with advance copies of 18 of today’s new titles.

Like I say every Tuesday, the best way, and often the only way, to grow is outside of your comfort zone. So check out a new author, or a story written by someone who has lived a different life than you. Try a new genre or subgenre. You might be pleasantly surprised by what you walk away with once you finish the book.

Check out my reviews on Goodreads, StoryGraph, and Fable. Or let's chat in the comments about some of the releases from today 🤗📚✨

#bookstagram #books #read #bookrecommendations #newreleasetuesday taken in Tampa, Florida by @tbr_and_beyond

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13 days ago

Being back in the Osten Ard Universe has not disappointed!

Huge thanks to @dawbooks @astrahousebooks and Tad Williams for the advance copy and this awesome PR box!

One of the things I loveee about Tad Williams’ writing is how he creates these HUGE fantasy worlds, yet still makes you, as the reader, feel so connected to the characters and truly care about so many of the people living within them. Various backgrounds and classes, different fantasy races, and so much more—all existing within a world that feels like it has an entire history spanning far beyond the stories we have been gifted with thus far from Williams.

The Splintered Sun still brings everything I love about his other works, but feels a little more approachable and fun in an adventurous way to me. There’s the political conflict and magic, plus this group of outlaws thrown together on one big journey; truly the makings of great epic fantasy. And I LOVED the Crows.

But Vedra was easilyyyy my fav, hands down. Watching her discover more about her abilities as a scryer, while her relationship with Daley slowly becomes this little found family, had me soooo invested in both of them.

If you’ve been wanting to try Tad Williams but have maybe felt intimidated by the size of his other series, this could be a really accessible and fun way into Osten Ard. It’s set centuries before the original series, so you’re getting a new story and cast while still getting to experience the world Williams has built.

And for those who already love epic fantasy, expansive worlds, adventure, and a cast of characters you get attached to, add this one to your TBR & pre-order.

The Splintered Sun is out October 6th!

#bookreview #bookrecommendations #bookstagram #fantasy #octoberrelease taken in Tampa, Florida by @tbr_and_beyond

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15 days ago

Recent ALCs I listened to!

There were SO many things that really caught my attention with these upcoming books. From body horror, intriguing magic systems,character closure, and a plot and characters that had me questioning everything. So here’s the list and a little bit about what I thought about these recent audiobooks I finished:

Victorious — V.E. Schwab October 6th Morally gray • revenge • enemies • finality
 The final book in the Villains series, bringing Victor, Eli, Sydney, Mitch, and others back together for one last confrontation. I have been waitingggg for this one and getting to return to these characters one final time was everything.

The Scarlet Ball — Nghi Vo October 6th Gilded Age • demons • body horror • mystery  A dark fairytale with demonic magic and WILD body horror. Think the dark, grotesque fairytale visuals of Pan’s Labyrinth, but make it Gilded Age. I also really loved how the mystery unfolds alongside the conversations around wealth, race, identity, and who gets access to power. Such a weird and unique read in the BEST way!

Once in a Timeline — Iman Hariri-Kia October 13th Time loop • influencer • witty • existential An influencer gets trapped inside her own “day in the life” video and the one man who realizes something is VERY wrong. This premise alone had me hooked and I loved the representation of our FMCs culture as she become more comfortable with herself.

The Tarot Trials — Katee Robert October 20th Deadly trials • tarot magic • political intigue • alliances & revenge • A deadly competition with a tarot-based magic system, shifting alliances, and a FMC trying to figure out what REALLY happened to her mother. I truly loved the worldbuilding and magic system in this one!! I am INVESTED and cannot wait for the next book to see where this story goes.

It’s Not What You Think — Clare Mackintosh Out now  Murder • secrets • deception  What starts with a woman convinced her partner is cheating becomes something ENTIRELY different, when she comes home to find his been murdered. What a ride this one was!!

Thank you to @macmillan.audio and @sourcebooks.audio for the advance copies!

#bookstagram #bookrecommendations #audiobook #books by @tbr_and_beyond

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16 days ago

Crone, Please. I’ve got retinol. 🧙🏾‍♀️

Not sure if I did this Aardvark Challenge right, but ya girl tried. 😅

ANYWHO, Keith Rosson keeps gracing us with 5-star reads, and Crone is another one for me. Rosson brings what I have come to love about his works: this gritty, atmospheric dread. The characters are flawed, yet he provides empathy for certain ones as the reader learns more about them.

There is so much underneath the horror in this one too. Regret and addiction are huge themes throughout, but so are family and support, and what it means to be there—or not be there—for someone through some of the worst parts of their life. The supernatural elements are sprinkled in at just the right moments to add suspense to the mystery and police-investigation elements. The recurring witchcraft throughout adds another layer to that without making this feel like a witch-forward horror.

And how all the storylines come together to unfold keeps you invested to the very end. I LOVE when you’re following different pieces of a story and slowly start to see how everything connects, and Rosson does that so well here.

@aardvarkbookclub #aardvarkchallenge taken in BOOKSTA by @tbr_and_beyond

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24 days ago

Tananarive Due is truly an ICON, and Mazywood just further proved why she is one of my favs!!

I’ve loved her paranormal work, especially the African Immortals series and The Good House. She has RANGE.

And like so many other readers, The Reformatory is still one of my favorite books I’ve read. One of the things I loveeee about Due’s works is how the horror in her books is always so much bigger than whatever supernatural thing might be lurking. Mazywood does this SO well.

There is the actual horror, but there is also this entire story about family, societal expectations, and what gets passed down from one generation to the next.

The expectations our families place on us, the things we inherit from the people who came before us, the secrets they leave behind, and how all of that continues to shape the next generation. Then the societal expectations placed on Mazelle as a Black woman in Hollywood, along with the racism and limitations of the time period, become another layer of horror all on their own.

This is something Due does so incredibly well with historical horror. She gives you all of this historical context that completely pulls you into another time period; you are SO connected to the characters living through it. You understand them, their relationships, their choices, and what they are up against, which makes everything hit even harder.

A generational story of family, history, expectations, secrets, rage, and supernatural horror. Just outstandingly done!

#bookrecommendations #bookworm #books #bookstagram #septemberrelease taken in Tampa, Florida by @tbr_and_beyond

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24 days ago

It’s been a hot second, so let’s do some ARC Book Superlatives.

Love, Witches, and Wahala by Christine Cowan
•Top Pick + Cozy Perfection•
This was everything I want from a cozy fantasy. The magic, community, relationships, and overall warmth of this story just worked for me. Definitely one of my favorite recent ARC reads. Out November 17th.

Buzzard by Inez Ray
•Dystopia Mirroring Current Climate•
There is something especially unsettling about a dystopian story when parts of it feel a little TOO close to our current reality, and Buzzard absolutely gave me that feeling. An absolute must-read. Out now.

The Wolves of War by John Gwynne •Fav FMC•
Halia!! I loved watching her grow into herself and her power throughout this story. She was easily one of my favorite parts of this book and such a strong and outstanding character to follow. Out November 3rd.

A Complement of Scoundrels by S.V. Lockwood
•Perfect Pacing & Revenge Done Right•
This one was such a good time to read. The pacing made it easy to fly through, and I really loved the characters, their banter, and of course the revenge. Could not recommend more. Out now.

Drown the Bones by Alexandra Kennington
•Sibling Foil•
I LOVED how the sibling relationship worked in this one. The way their differences, choices, and motivations played against each other made both characters and their relationship that much more interesting. Out November 3rd.

Thank you to the Publishers for ARCs:
@orbitbooks_us
@hachetteaus
@bindery_books
@berkleyromance
@penguinrandomhouse by @tbr_and_beyond

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25 days ago

New Release Tuesday!!

Some of my favorite autobuy authors have new releases coming out today, so I’m super excited to get my pre-order copies in!! 🤗📚

As always, thank you to the publishers for giving me the opportunity to read 14 of these new releases early. My reviews of those books can be found on Goodreads, Storygraph, and Fable.

Like I say every Tuesday (and won’t stop saying anytime soon), the best way to grow is outside of your comfort zone. So check out a new-to-you author or genre or pick up something with a new perspective. You can learn so much about the world around you and others when you do this.

Happy reading, everyone!

#bookstagram #books #bookrecommendations #read #newreleasebooks by @tbr_and_beyond

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a month ago