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824 items found for "very favorite 2023"

  • Review of Steelstriker (Skyhunter #2) by Marie Lu

    In Steelstriker, the second and final book in the series, the last free nation in the world has been Lu, a former artist in the video game industry, has written multiple young adult series (Legend, Warcross

  • Review of How to Be Perfect: The Correct Answer to Every Moral Question by Michael Schur

    Filled with sometimes playful, often weighty questions, scenarios, and ideas, How to Be Perfect makes considering ethics and morality fun, and Michael Schur's tone is self-deprecating and thoughtful. The best thing about Aristotle’s “constant learning, constant trying, constant searching” is what results from it: a mature yet still pliable person, brimming with experiences both old and new, who doesn’t rely solely on familiar routines or dated information about how the world works. In How to Be Perfect, Michael Schur, the creator of Parks and Recreation and The Good Place, relies upon takeaways from morality and ethics writings and lessons to craft this guide to how to behave in the world. What does being a "good" person mean? What do we owe to each other? What is our duty to our fellow humans in different situations? Schur begins the book, which is largely made up of distilled concepts and highlights of 2,500 years of writing about ethics, with a simple question to consider: "Should I punch my friend in the face for no reason?" He builds to more complex scenarios, touching on the popular trolley problem and its variations, morality and intersections with money, friendship, and knowledge, and, in the words of Samuel Beckett, how we might continue to "Try again. Fail again. Fail better." “Virtue comes about...not by a process of nature, but by habituation.… We become just by doing just actions, temperate by doing temperate actions, brave by doing brave actions.” He explores various schools of thought about ethics and morality to consider more complex issues, including how much one should give to charity; whether rigidity to rules such as "no lying" will win a person friends; and when and why to help others or to do the "right" thing--even if you don't receive any credit for doing so. Schur comes across as intelligent and kind, thoughtful, and self-deprecating. I'm watching The Good Place for the third time, this time with my youngest, and I love hearing his references to the inspiration for the show and hearing his references to specific scenes, currently fresh in my mind. With sections read by stars of The Good Place, Schur's How to Be Perfect is funny, interesting--and a heartwarming reminder that there are thoughtful, kind, well-meaning people out there spending time reflecting on how best to be a human in today's world. That in and of itself is a comfort. Do you have any Bossy thoughts about this book? Michael Schur is the creator of the television shows The Good Place and Parks and Recreation. The acknowledgments section of this book is so funny, generous, specific, thanks-filled, and lovely, these pages alone are enough to make me feel confident that Michael Schur is a gem of a human being.

  • Review of Alias Emma (Alias Emma #1) by Ava Glass

    And Emma would very much like to make it out of this alive as well. longest night of their lives as they work to evade the thousands of cameras documenting London citizens' every I was so happy to realize this is the first in a planned series. Sign me up for every bit of this!

  • Review of One of Us Is Next by Karen M. McManus

    established characters of Maeve, Nate, Phoebe, Bronwyn, and Knox from book one--along with other old favorites

  • Review of Warcross (Warcross #1) by Marie Lu

    She's hacked into the game plenty of times and glitched the system to work in her favor. I've been putting Marie Lu series (Legend, The Young Elites, and Warcross) into my son's hands for years

  • Review of Sleeping Giants (Themis Files #1) by Sylvain Neuvel

    ICYMI: I've been thinking lately about robot books and specifically about this great series by Neuvel The next books in this series are Waking Gods and Only Human, and I liked them both.

  • Review of The Queen of Nothing by Holly Black

    The Queen of Nothing is the final book in Black's Folk of the Air trilogy (I mentioned the series in the Greedy Reading List Six Royally Magical Young Adult Series). I loved having more time with my favorite character, the plain-speaking, tough, brutal but fair Grima twisted humor, various satisfying endings (including regarding Jude and Cardan) that did justice to the series

  • Review of Truly Devious (Truly Devious #1) by Maureen Johnson

    ICYMI: This is the first in Johnson's young adult series, set in a boarding school in rural Vermont, might be interested in the titles that make up the Greedy Reading Lists Six Royally Magical Young Adult Series

  • Review of A Conspiracy in Belgravia (Lady Sherlock #2) by Sherry Thomas

    Book two of Thomas's Lady Sherlock series offers a robust dual mystery, clever female characters, priceless I can't wait to read all of the other books in this series! This series invites comparisons to another fantastic Victorian-era-set mystery series featuring a strong series thus far, with Raybourn's character development taking more center stage in that series, but I adore both of these series.

  • Three Books I'm Reading Now, 3/17/21 Edition

    frenemies; and the gloriously dramatic young adult debut from Shelby Mahurin (with a second in the series 01 A Deadly Education by Naomi Novik A Deadly Education is the first in Novik's Scholomance series, which Deadly danger and darkness lurk around every corner. in the Greedy Reading List Six Royally Magical Young Adult Series). This is all very angsty and dramatic so far, and I love it!

  • Review of Gregor the Overlander (The Underland Chronicles #1) by Suzanne Collins

    baggage or knee-jerk reactions to it, who was willing to dive in and who would maybe just maybe love this series Suzanne Collins (The Hunger Games series) offers a unique setting while doing something fascinating: You might like the books I included on the Greedy Reading List Six Royally Magical Young Adult Series

  • Review of Paper & Blood (Ink & Sigil #2) by Kevin Hearne

    in this duology, Ink & Sigil, so much so that it made it onto the Greedy Reading List Three Offbeat Series The playful tone of this series often reminded me of The Epic Crush of Genie Lo by F.C.

  • Shhh! Bossy Gift Ideas: Cookbooks

    Cookbook Book Gift Ideas Here are the 2023 cookbooks (with the exception of The National Parks Cookbook Another 2023 cookbook I was tempted to include here was Dan Pelosi's Let's Eat. Don't forget to check my past Bossy idea lists for quirky books, perennial classics, modern favorites Bossy Nonfiction Book Gift Ideas 2023 Bossy Book Gift Guides Shhh! ice-cream pie to the Grand Teton's Huckleberry Margaritas, these recipes will transport you back to favorite

  • Review of Trust No One (Devlin and Falco #1) by Debra Webb

    The beautifully complementary, mismatched partnership between Devlin and Falco was my favorite aspect And a very minor issue: the "Hey, pretty girl" greeting from the recently met grown-man male detective The beautifully complementary, mismatched partnership between Devlin and Falco was my favorite aspect

  • Review of Legendborn (The Legendborn Cycle #1) by Tracy Deonn

    The first in the series sets up a strong young Black heroine who bucks tradition as she explores her Bree's mother dies in an accident, she escapes the painful memories of her childhood home and town in favor was reading Legendborn, with its Arthurian references, during the same period I was reading another (very Legendborn is the first in Tracy Deonn's young adult Legendborn Cycle series. I look forward to reading the second book in the series, Bloodmarked.

  • Review of A Perilous Undertaking by Deanna Raybourn

    This second book in Raybourn's historical fiction mystery series, set in Victorian London, hooked me loved listening to A Curious Beginning, the first book in Deanna Raybourn's sassy Veronica Speedwell series I'm already listening to the audiobook of the next in this series, A Treacherous Curse. Deanna Raybourn is the author of A Curious Beginning and the rest of the Veronica Speedwell series, as

  • Review of The Forgotten Kingdom by Signe Pike

    I loved Pike's first novel in this series, The Lost Queen, and this book reminded me of The Mists of I was at the beginning of the second book in a different series (A Court of Thorns and Roses) and was Do you have any Bossy thoughts about this book--or any historical fiction/fantasy series you love? The Lost Queen is currently in development for a television series, which is great news, unless it delays

  • Review of Ink & Sigil by Kevin Hearne

    In this first book of Kevin Hearne's new (published last week) Ink & Sigil series, patterns and inks This title was recently listed in the Greedy Reading List Three Offbeat Series I Just Started and Love #mystery, #fantasyscifi, #series, #LGBTQ, #fourstarbookreview

  • Review of the Bear and the Nightingale by Katherine Arden

    #fantasyscifi, #series, #youngadult, #russia, #fourstarbookreview

  • Review of The Winter of the Witch by Katherine Arden

    This book follows the other books in the series, The Bear and the Nightingale and The Girl in the Tower I highly recommend this series. #russia, #fantasyscifi, #youngadult, #series, #fourstarbookreview

  • Review of The Last Graduate (Scholomance #2) by Naomi Novik

    This second book in Naomi Novik's Scholomance series builds on book one's dark humor, dangerous forces Novik's Scholomance series is set at a magical school with two routes out for its students: a grueling Danger and darkness lurk around every corner. slow down and savor Novik's irresistible Scholomance world while reading The Last Graduate, and I'm so very glad there will be a third book in this series.

  • Review of The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet (Wayfarers #1) by Becky Chambers

    The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet, the first science fiction title in Becky Chambers's Wayfarers series Becky Chambers's Wayfarers series includes The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet; A Closed and Common Orbit; Record of a Spaceborn Few; The Galaxy, and the Ground Within; and a series prequel, A Good Heretic She's also the author of a A Psalm for the Wild-Built (the first in the Monk & Robot series) and its

  • Six Novels I Loved Reading Last Year

    Six More Bossy Favorite Reads I've been posting lists of some of my favorite reads of last year by genre ; for my all-around favorites, check out My Very Favorite Bossy 2023 Reads. I'd also love to hear: what are some of your favorite reads, whether you loved them last year or more This was absolutely my favorite part of the book. Through the very different but interconnected storylines and the varied, complicated set of characters

  • Review of Six Crimson Cranes (Six Crimson Cranes #1) by Elizabeth Lim

    She's also the author of The Blood of Stars series and multiple Twisted Tales books. the second and final book in the Six Crimson Cranes duology, is expected to be published in August 2022

  • Review of Gideon the Ninth by Tamsyn Muir

    This is the first in Muir's Locked Tomb series, and I'm excited to the second, Harrow the Ninth. #fantasyscifi, #series, #postapocalyptic, #dystopian, #fourstarbookreview

  • Review of A Curious Beginning by Deanna Raybourn

    This fantastic book is the first in Raybourn's Veronica Speedwell series. Five books in the series have been published, and a sixth is scheduled for 2021. I love when I find a new-to-me series with multiple books already available for me to binge read. I can’t wait to read the others in this series. #mysterysuspense, #series, #historicalfiction, #london, #fourstarbookreview

  • Review of Chosen Ones by Veronica Roth

    I really liked Roth's Divergent, but the second book in that series fell off for me and I didn't read #fantasyscifi, #timetravel, #series, #dystopian, #fourstarbookreview

  • Review of Our Dark Duet by Victoria Schwab

    I read half but didn't finish this second in the Monsters of Verity series. This is the second in Schwab's Monsters of Verity series; the first is This Savage Song, which I gave #fantasyscifi, #youngadult, #series, #didnotfinish

  • Review of Skyhunter by Marie Lu

    editorialization about class and race, and futuristic advancements in this first book in the Skyhunter series mesmerizing cover for Marie Lu's latest young adult science fiction/fantasy book, the first in the Skyhunter series Then I remembered that this was the first in a series and that the story would continue past the final Lu, a former artist in the video game industry, has written the Legends, Young Elites, and Warcross series

  • Three Books I'm Reading Now, 3/24/21 Edition

    life-and-death repercussions for a young author; the final book in Megan Whalen Turner's Queen's Thief series by Megan Whalen Turner The Return of the Thief is the sixth and final book in Turner's Queen's Thief series (which I listed in the Greedy Reading List Six Royally Magical Young Adult Series). The series was published over a period of almost twenty-five years, and the story trail traces the charismatic

  • Review of Rule of Wolves (King of Scars #2) by Leigh Bardugo

    (I mentioned the author's Shadow and Bone series in the Greedy Reading List Six Royally Magical Young Adult Series, and I adored her Six of Crows duology even more.) and the King of Crows duology discussed here, which is expected to be the end of the interconnected series The Shadow and Bone Netflix series offers intermingled Grishaverse characters and storylines, and a second

  • Review of Serpent & Dove by Shelby Mahurin

    When characters are on the verge of revealing a key point, expect an inconvenient interruption that prevents The second in Mahurin's Serpent & Dove series is Blood & Honey, with the third book, Gods & Monsters,

  • Review of A Deadly Education: Lesson One of the Scholomance by Naomi Novik

    A Deadly Education is the first in Novik's Scholomance series, which is set at a magical school with Danger and darkness lurk around every corner. El is grumbly and abrupt, not looking for friends-nor making very many--as she speaks plainly and bristles However, I am ALL IN on the series: El, Orion, the burgeoning alliances, and the twisty turns Novik has The Last Graduate, the second book in this series, is slated for publication in June 2021.

  • Review of Legend (Legend #1) by Marie Lu

    In Marie Lu's young adult dystopian series starter Legend, the Republic and Colonies war with each other In Marie Lu's young adult Legend, the first in the dystopian series of the same name, the west of the I anticipate that book two in the series, Prodigy--which picks up seven days after the finish of Legend Lu is the author of multiple young adult series (Legend, Warcross, The Young Elites, and Skyhunter) as Check out my review of her book Skyhunter, and look for my upcoming review of the second in that series

  • Review of A Restless Truth (Last Binding #2) by Freya Marske

    The second book in Marske's series is an irresistible queer magical mystery thriller with Edwardian England The third book in the Last Binding series will be titled A Power Unbound.

  • Review of Network Effect: A Murderbot Novel by Martha Wells

    one was slow going in the middle, but Wells provides a fantastically unique point of view, and this series This fifth book in Martha Wells's Murderbot series (this is the first full-length book in the set) starts performing medical techniques by watching it), although The Rise and Fall of Sanctuary Moon remains its favorite Later in the book, the gems that make this series so unexpectedly poignant and funny and delightful shine #robots, #fantasyscifi, #series, #offbeat, #uniquePOV, #LGBTQ, #threestarbookreview

  • Three Books I'm Reading Now, 7/16/21 Edition

    and warring kingdoms; Fugitive Telemetry, the newest book in Martha Wells's science fiction Murderbot series Was it when I reviewed books 1 through 3 of the series? decision-making and astute threat assessment; and retreats from overwhelming interactions to watch its favorite Sanctuary Moon. 03 Black Bottom Saints by Alice Randall My book club heard Alice Randall speak last year at Verse

  • Review of August Kitko and the Mechas from Space (The Starmetal Symphony #1) by Alex White

    In the first book in Alex White's Starmetal Symphony space opera series, Gus is a jazz pianist whose My obsession with the irresistible dry humor, grudging and undying loyalty, and love for the series The I really enjoyed Alex White's Big Ship at the Edge of the Universe, the first in the Salvagers series That first book in that space opera series offers diverse characters, strong women, a heist setup, and

  • Review of The Gilded Hour by Sara Donati

    oddly unresolved at the end--even keeping in mind that there's a second book in Donati's Waverly Place series Donati has also written a series of four books in her Wilderness series, which sounds like an epic romantic

  • Review of A Marvellous Light (Last Binding #1) by Freya Marske

    The first book in Marske's duology is full of Edwardian England detail, gay love, mystery, magic, wonderful dialogue and banter, and plenty of heart. I adored it. A Marvellous Light, the first in Freya Marske's Last Binding duology, starts with a devastating ending (the demise of a character, caused by nefarious magicians) and a less-than-promising beginning (Robin Blyth's first day in his civil service job, for which he doesn't feel remotely qualified nor interested). Robin is trying to keep the household afloat after the deaths of his parents, to support his bright, ambitious younger sister, and to date some handsome men along the way. He soon realizes that (a) magic exists (!), (b) he's mistakenly been assigned the job of liaison to a secret magical society, (c) his office has been ransacked and a curse has been placed on him, (d) his curmudgeonly, book-smart coworker Edwin may be the key to saving them all, and (e) maybe he's falling for Edwin just the tiniest bit, despite himself. Marske offers immersive Edwardian England detail in this adorable, captivating, magical, queer book. Robin and Edwin's love is romantic and sweet and heartbreaking and sexy; the mystery at the heart of the book seems only to be solvable by the biggest book nerd in existence; and the story's magical details are fascinating and odd. I was completely hooked by A Marvellous Light, and I tried to slow down my reading to make it last. The amount of heart in this book was exquisite. Do you have any Bossy thoughts about this book? I didn't see a mention anywhere in the book of a sequel, and some aspects felt tantalizingly unresolved, so I was relieved to find out that another book is coming. The second and final book in Marske's duology, A Restless Truth, is scheduled for publication in November.

  • A Bossy Holiday Break

    Soon I'll be posting about my favorite December reads--and my favorite reads of 2024!

  • Review of Namesake by Adrienne Young

    Namesake was fantastic, and I wish more books were coming in this series. I adored the first book in the series, Fable, in which the title character relied heavily on her survival I love Young's tone and the characters she's created in this series. I wish there were a third book in this series coming from Young.

  • Six Wonderfully Witchy Stories to Charm You

    Here are six varied books about witches, some I might call modern witchy classics (Wicked and Circe) I didn't include some obvious options like the Harry Potter series or Roald Dahl's The Witches, nor did are two other Bossy Bookworm Greedy Reading Lists you might enjoy: Six Royally Magical Young Adult Series What are the witchy books you would include as favorites? There is a lot more sexy yoga here than I could have dreamed of, plenty of romance, so very much wine

  • Review of The Story Thieves (Story Thieves #1) by James Riley

    I'll definitely read the next in this series. realizations--as well as the resolutions and the fantastic setup for the next middle-grade book in the series Story Thieves is the first in a five-book series by James Riley. Riley is also the author of the Half Upon a Time and Revenge of Magic series.

  • Three Books I'm Reading Now, 8/11/21 Edition

    really enjoyed Hearne's Ink & Sigil last year, and it made it onto the Greedy Reading List Three Offbeat Series which made it onto my Greedy Reading Lists Six Historical Fiction Books I Loved This Year and My Twelve Favorite 2020 Books. 03 Jack by Marilynne Robinson Jack, a quiet, gorgeous book from Marilynne Robinson, focuses

  • Review of The Becoming (The Dragon Heart Legacy #2) by Nora Roberts

    The second installment in Nora Roberts's Dragon Heart Legacy series is satisfying and comfortable, as In The Awakening, the first book in Nora Roberts's Dragon Heart Legacy series, she set up a romantic In book two of the series, Breen Siobhan Kelly is coming into her own. , which I'm in favor of in real life, so I understand the obsession here. I posted that I was reading this, a fellow reader reminded me that the third and final book in the series

  • Review of Fallen: A Novel of Suspense by Linda Castillo

    the audiobook version of this book--the first I've read in Castillo's thirteen-book Kate Burkholder series I wondered if it was fair of me to first dive into the story so late in the series, but in an illuminating

  • Six Four-Star Mysteries I Loved Reading in the Past Year

    I love a Favorites list, and I've made a Bossy spreadsheet (ahem!) of my favorite reads of the past year by genre, so the hits are going to keep coming! If you want more favorite-mystery lists, stay tuned for round 2 of last year's Bossy favorites, coming You can also check out My Very Favorite Bossy 2023 Reads for my overall favorite reads from last year What are some of your favorite mystery reads?

  • Three Wackily Different Books I'm Reading Right Now

    lightfiction, #heartwarming 02 Network Effect: A Murderbot Novel ​ Boy oh boy, this fifth book in the series is so very good so far. SecUnit is obsessed with keeping his people safe (and has a new favorite show)! #robots, #fantasyscifi, #series, #uniquePOV 03 The House in the Cerulean Sea ​ I like to listen to fantasy

  • Review of A Big Ship at the Edge of the Universe (The Salvagers #1) by Alex White

    The first in Alex White's Salvagers space opera series offers diverse characters, strong women, a heist White's science fiction novel A Big Ship at the Edge of the Universe, the first in White's Salvagers series I'm in love with the title of the second book in this series, A Bad Deal for the Whole Galaxy. White is also the author of Alien: The Cold Forge and Every Mountain Made Low.

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