picture me in the weeds 🌾

"Extreme seductiveness is at the boundary of horror"

📖 books i read in 2023: in the weeds (lovelight, #2) by b. k. borison

“I know you came back here because you were looking for your happy. But Evie, you gave me mine while you were looking for yours and I think it's only fair if I try to return the favor.”

It’s okay if it takes you some time to find (happiness) again. And it’s okay if you find it just to lose a bit of it here and there. That’s the beauty of it, yeah? It comes and goes. Not every day is a happy one and it shouldn’t be. It’s in the trying, I think.

IN THE WEEDS, B. K. Borison

Book Notes: Cozy Holiday Reading

When we’re tired out from trying to find the perfect gift or calculating just how long we can procrastinate on sending packages without actually missing Christmas, it’s nice to escape into the pages of a cozy holiday-centered read. Here are a few that I’ve finished this holiday season that are helping me get in the spirit.

While Lovelight Farms by B. K. Borison begins in the fall, it takes place at a Christmas tree farm and runs all the way through the festive season. A very fun friends-to-lovers steamy romance with some fake dating thrown in, I quickly devoured it and then read the other two in the series, In the Weeds and Mixed Signals (fair warning, these two are not set during the holidays). Adorable and cozy with small town quirkiness and recurring characters, but also definite heat in the romance department and thoughtful emotional depth.

Beth O'Leary's The Wake-Up Call is the ultimate in cozy Christmas. Izzy and Lucas agree on two things, they love their jobs and work family at Forest Manor Hotel. And they can't stand each other. But with Forest Manor Hotel on the brink of collapse, they'll have to work together (or compete, same difference) to save their jobs. Full of romantic tension!

Love, Holly, by Emily Stone, is a December to December year in the life of Holly, who is estranged from her family and finding connection with others in a similar situation by writing "Dear Stranger" letters at Christmas. Except this year, Holly's Dear Stranger letter takes her back to the place where her life changed forever, giving her the chance to take unexpected steps towards reconciliation. And fate also keeps throwing a handsome man in her way. 

Love in Winter Wonderland by Abiola Bello, was a delightful read (and the featured book on the holiday gift guide)! Trey’s family has owned Wonderland, the bookstore in Stoke Newington, for several generations, but this might be the year that ends. Wonderland is in trouble, and Trey will have to lean on his friends—old and new—to come up with ways to save his family bookstore. Meanwhile, sparks start flying between Trey and the bookstore’s newest employee, Ariel. Short chapters kept the pages turning. I loved the hopeful energy of Trey and his friends and their creativity in trying to keep Wonderland afloat.

Laurie reported she read A December to Remember by Jenny Bayliss and said “it’s a slow burn but I really enjoyed it, especially the funny complicated relationships between the three sisters.” She added that there’s a male character who is a knitter, which definitely piqued my interest!

So I’ll have to add it to my still to-be-read pile, along with Midnight at the Christmas Bookshop by Jenny Colgan (the follow-up to The Christmas Bookshop) and Letters from Father Christmas by J.R.R. Tolkien, a new edition of a 1920 classic. Plus I’ll squeeze in my annual re-read of Winter Solstice by Rosamunde Pilcher. 

Come check out our selection of holiday books, from classics and romances to mysteries and cookbooks, to find something to cozy up with this month!

— Lori

your move

It’s always autumn in my heart and on my bookshelf 🧡

In The Weeds already has me laughing out loud. I didn’t think I was going to like this because One Night Stand to Second Chance Romance isn’t my cup of tea, but I find myself loving it.

In The Weeds headers

like/reblog if saved © maddiesflame

•July 16, 2023•

What is your favorite trope?

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My favorite is enemies to lovers. Put the characters that hate each other into situations where they have to live/work together, and I will devour it.

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I also like the grumpy/sunshine trope. Which this book has!

It was such a cute read.

Beckett is 🥰 Evie is ☀️

It does have the miscommunication trope, which I cringe at, but I still very much enjoyed this book.

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If you haven't read this book yet but really want to and have someone to talk with after, you are more than welcome to join We're All Booked hosted by @laceydbellbooks & @thelibrarylane & myself.

There is a discord to chat about it and a live show at the end of the month.

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•

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“It’s okay if it takes you some time to find it again. And it’s okay if you find it just to lose a bit of it here and there. That’s the beauty of it, yeah? It comes and goes. Not every day is a happy one and it shouldn’t be. It’s in the trying, I think.” I clear the cobwebs out of my throat. “Trying to be happy?” “No.” He shakes his head once. “That doesn’t work. Trying to be happy is like—it’s like telling a flower to bloom.” He crosses his ankles and drags his palm against his stubble. “You can’t make yourself be happy. But you can be open to it. You can trust yourself enough to feel it when you stumble on it.”

B.K. Borison "In the Weeds" (I love Beckett!!)

i NEVER stop thinking about the poppyalex eviebeckett alliance if you empty my head that’s the only thought you’ll find

In The Weeds | Gibbitt

Tiana was trying to act as normal as possible at work. Because maybe if she acted normal, she would start feeling normal.

The truth, when Tiana actually sat down in her office and caught her breath and faced the weight of everything, was that she felt the furthest thing possible from normal. The relationship that she’d spent the past year chasing was suddenly, abruptly over. Her housemate was missing, and she couldn’t tell anybody why. All because of magic. Stupid bloody magic.

That was what Tiana was doing when Mary came over to her office. Staring at her phone, having the completely illogical thought to text Jessica, feeling like maybe she was going to fall apart a little-- and then just as quickly, she shoved her phone in her pocket, straightened, and put on a smile.

“Hey! Mary! What’s up?” Tiana said, swallowing hard.

[outfit]

@boointhenight

I’m actually kind of amazed how many people do not understand this concept

the dichotomy between the "immigrant" (someone from the global south who moves to the north) and the "expat" (someone from the global north who moves to the south) makes me feel fucking crazy. a white person who moves to asia is an expat but an asian who moves to the west is an immigrant. & how those terms are politicized and assigned class statuses, like the word "immigrant" tends to imply a blue collar worker (even if that isn't the case) while "expat" implies a white collar worker. the associations with "expat neighbourhoods" in asian countries is very very different from those of "immigrant neighbourhoods" in western nations. also how "immigrants" who dont assimilate are seen as "failing" and bad, lower class, a burden on society, etc. whereas "expats" not assimilating into local culture is expected and viewed as a sign of their higher status. the double standards are so insane

In the Weeds, B.K. Borison 🤍