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Buster 'n Me, Cañas (2026)

06/01/2026

+ TITLE: After I Do
+ AUTHOR: Taylor Jenkins Reid

+ MY RATING: ⭐️⭐️⭐️3/4
+ STORYGRAPH: ⭐️⭐️⭐️3/4

+ FAVORITE QUOTE: “Your love life should bring you love. If it doesn't, no matter how hard you try, if you are honest and fair and good, and you decide it's over and you need to go find love somewhere else, then...what more can the world ask of you?”

+ MY REVIEW: "After I Do" follows Lauren and Leo, a couple who seem like they’ve got it all — until they don’t. After years together, their relationship stagnates and they decide to live apart for a year to rediscover themselves and decide if they want to stay married. What starts as a hopeful experiment becomes a deeper exploration of identity, love, and the parts of ourselves we forget in long-term relationships. Lauren’s journey of self-discovery is heartfelt, messy, and very relatable.

Taylor Jenkins Reid is one of my favorite authors! Similar to Liane Moriarty, the odds are high that I’ll like or even love what she writes, so I’m always down to pick up her books. They are emotional and often about relationships and life pivots with characters who are deeply human. My favorite so far is The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo!

This book didn't blow me away, but it was engaging enough to keep me turning pages. It landed squarely in the “beach read” category for me, which means it's not one that will stick with me over time.

+ RECOMMENDED NEXT: "The Love Wife" by Gigi Levangie Grazer

03/11/2025

+ TITLE: All the Lovers in the Night
+ AUTHOR: Mieko Kawakami

+ MY RATING: ⭐️⭐️⭐️
+ STORYGRAPH: ⭐️⭐️⭐️3/4

+ FAVORITE QUOTE: ”I was so scared of being hurt that I’d done nothing. I was so scared of failing, of being hurt, that I choose nothing. I did nothing.”

+ MY REVIEW: This book follows Fuyuko Irie, a lonely proofreader in Tokyo whose quiet, isolated life starts to shift after she meets a man named Mitsutsuka. It’s a slow, introspective story about solitude, self-reflection, and what it means to truly see yourself.

A fun fact about the author—Mieko Kawakami was actually a pop singer before she became a novelist, which might explain the almost musical rhythm of her writing.

I didn’t really connect with the characters, and honestly, I found the story a bit hard to follow at times. It’s beautifully written, but it just didn’t stick with me. Not a bad read—just not a memorable one for me.

+ SUGGESTED NEXT: “Before the Coffee Gets Cold” by Toshikazu Kawaguchi

21/09/2025

+ TITLE: Hester
+ AUTHOR: Laurie Lico Albanese

+ MY RATING: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
+ STORYGRAPH: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

+ FAVORITE QUOTE: “There’s no New World anywhere on earth...no matter what we tell ourselves, men are all the same everywhere. We imagine a utopia, settle a new land, and declare that we’re making something new and better. But it’s folly, Isobel. Man’s nature is full of shadows and dark desires. In every man’s heart there is a coffin and a grave, that is what I know.”

+ MY REVIEW: If you enjoy historical fiction with strong female protagonists, Hester delivers. While it follows a familiar formula for the genre, the writing was strong and some fresh insights kept me engaged. More than anything, I loved Isobel, the main character—her resilience, artistry, and survival instinct.

This novel portrays women’s struggles across centuries, particularly regarding accusations of witchcraft. The story moves between the 1600s and 1800s, showing how these allegations were often used to control and silence women. The relationships between women in the book were complex—some lifted each other up, while others betrayed or tore each other down. And, as is so often the case in history, the men surrounding these strong women were weak, needing control to feel powerful.

Though the supernatural elements were light, the book had a spellbinding quality, weaving historical reality with folklore and imagination. While it didn’t completely blow me away, it was a solid, engaging read with a fresh take on the legacy of The Scarlet Letter.

Laurie Lico Albanese was inspired by the idea that Nathaniel Hawthorne’s The Scarlet Letter could have been influenced by a real woman. Her research into synesthesia, Scottish history, and women’s hidden contributions to literature made this book a unique blend of fact and fiction.

+ SUGGESTED NEXT: The Winthrop Woman by Anya Seton

14/09/2025

+ TITLE: My Dark Vanessa
+ AUTHOR: Kate Elizabeth Russell

+ MY RATING: ⭐️⭐️⭐️1/2
+ STORYGRAPH: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️1/4

+ FAVORITE QUOTE: "I know I have the power to say no, but that isn’t the same as being in charge."

+ MY REVIEW: This story follows the story of Vanessa, a 15 year old boarding school student whose relationship with her charismatic but predatory English teacher, Jacob Strane, alters the trajectory of her life. Told through shifting timelines—Vanessa as a teen in the early 2000s and Vanessa in her 30s grappling with the movement—the novel explores the blurred lines of memory, consent, manipulation, the impact of trauma, and Vanessa’s struggle to reconcile her perception of the relationship as a great romance with the growing recognition that it was abuse.

This is a well written but deeply difficult read—similar to Nabokov’s Lo**ta. It's unflinching, intimate, and sometimes brutally honest. Vanessa has a complicated inner world...at times I found it super compelling, other times extremely unsettling. The author doesn't give us a tidy or crystal-clear resolution, just like real life where the impact of trauma is lifelong. If you’re seeking a novel with neat answers or moral clarity, this isn’t it—but if you’re willing to sit with discomfort, it’s a thought-provoking read.

Kate Elizabeth Russell began writing this book when she was a teenager and spent nearly two decades writing and revising it before it was published in 2020.

+ SUGGESTED NEXT: Lo**ta by Vladimir Nabokov

26/08/2025

+ TITLE: The Silent Companions
+ AUTHOR: Laura Purcell

+ MY RATING: ⭐️⭐️⭐️3/4
+ STORYGRAPH: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

+ FAVORITE QUOTE: "Imprisonment was never the real punishment: it was the people you were stuck with.”

+ MY REVIEW: This gothic horror novel explores how loneliness and fear can twist one’s perception and demonstrates how true terror can come not from ghosts, but from the people around us and our own minds. The story plays with the idea that myths and legends can become real when enough people believe in them.

I liked this book more than I expected when I first picked it up. It’s in the vein of Rebecca, Shirley Jackson’s books, and Slade House. Laura Purcell has written an eerie, unsettling tale that pulls you in.

What stood out most to me was the quality of the writing. Purcell makes it incredibly easy to visualize the decaying mansion, the unsettling companions, and the creeping sense of dread. The supernatural elements are balanced with psychological horror, so you're left wondering what’s real and what’s imagined. If you love unsettling Victorian ghost stories, this book is for you!

Before becoming known for gothic horror, Laura Purcell wrote historical fiction. Her historical research definitely adds an extra layer of authenticity and realism to this book.

+ SUGGESTED NEXT: The Haunting of Hill House by Shirley Jackson

20/07/2025

I’ve been in a serious reading slump ever since I got back from Panamá. I think it’s over…🤗

+ TITLE: Still Life With Bread Crumbs
+ AUTHOR: Anna Quindlen

+ MY RATING: ⭐️⭐️⭐️
+ STORYGRAPH: ⭐️⭐️⭐️-3/4

+ FAVORITE QUOTE: “Then when she really thought about it she realized she’d been becoming different people for as long as she could remember but had never really noticed, or had put it down to moods, or marriage, or motherhood. The problem was that she’d thought that at a certain point she would be a finished product.”

+ MY REVIEW: I had high expectations for this book, but I found it to be just okay. I struggled to connect with the main character, which made it hard to stay invested in her story. The secondary characters were underdeveloped, leaving the novel feeling flat.

What kept me reading was the theme of reinvention. I almost always appreciate a story about a woman evolving and reshaping her life, even if the ex*****on here didn’t fully resonate with me. There were moments of insight, particularly about aging, artistic identity, and self-discovery.

An interesting little tidbit about Anna Quindlen...she was a Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist before she was an author.

+ SUGGESTED NEXT: “Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine” by Gail Honeyman

26/04/2025

+ TITLE: Lady Tan’s Circle of Women
+ AUTHOR: Lisa See

+ MY RATING: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️1/4
+ STORYGRAPH: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️1/4

+ FAVORITE QUOTE: “A woman is a woman whether born in the dirt or on silk.”

+ MY REVIEW: Lisa See’s books are always solid reads for me, and this one was no exception. What I love about her work is how she weaves educational historical fiction with deeply personal, female-centered stories. While you connect with the characters, you’re also learning about fascinating historical periods and cultural practices.

This novel follows a wealthy woman in ancient China who, despite societal constraints, has the privilege of becoming a doctor. As always, Lisa See’s character development is phenomenal—she makes it easy to bond with the main characters and feel deeply invested in their struggles.

I had no idea that women in ancient China could be doctors, let alone that there were strict rules preventing doctors from being around blood. This book shed light on the the essential, but overlooked, role of women in the world of medicine in historical China.

That said, parts of this book were difficult to read, particularly the graphic details of foot binding and the way women were treated. Even more unsettling was how deeply women themselves had internalized these oppressive customs. It made me wonder: Would history have been different if women had revolted more?

Despite the harsh realities depicted, this book was beautifully written and deeply immersive, offering a powerful look at the resilience of women in the face of societal limitations.

A little tidbit about Lisa See...her interest in Chinese history stems from her own family background—her great-grandfather was Chinese, and her family owned one of the first Chinese-owned businesses in Los Angeles. Her deep personal connection to Chinese culture influences the meticulous research and authenticity in her novels.

+ SUGGESTED NEXT: The Moon in the Palace by Weina Dai Randel

15/04/2025

Hiked another one of my favorite trails with Buster and a friend recently — the quiet backside of another popular trail. It’s funny how most people never wander off the beaten path. They literally don’t even know about beautiful trails on the other side of the mountain! No complaints here…keeps it quieter for those of us who do! 🤫

+ LIVING OUT LOUD: I’m realizing lately that the main reason I didn’t ask for what I needed from people for so long is because most don’t react well when I do. Someone I thought I had a legit close relationship with for over a decade has been taking the time to send me not very appropriate messages and post comments that implied that I’m incorrect in some way. When I recently asked for love and support during this extremely difficult time, I got totally shut down. The reason? They didn’t have the time or the capacity to do so. No validation of my hurt or my loving request…no ownership that they found time to be not so nice…just total deflection and tossing me aside. (Am I really surprised? No. Not at all if I’m being truly honest with myself.) No wonder I used to avoid asking for what I need! It takes a lot of strength to handle this kind of rejection (something I’m proud to have now). It’s absolutely crazy to me how many people don’t to put love into action. So, more loss for me…what fun! 💔 Although it hurts, I’m choosing to look at it as cleansing. No more one-sided relationships for me. If someone isn’t willing to help or actively love me when I need it most, they don’t get the privilege of having me in their life when I’m not hurting.

+ THANKFUL OF THE DAY: The moment my contractor who started work on my condo today stopped what he was doing and started telling me intimate parts of his life story. I could feel this sweet man’s pain as he said “I don’t know what happened to my mother that she could be so hard on her kids.” 😢 Being a safe place for people to share their pain is so precious to me.

+ QUOTE OF THE DAY: “The universe shows me how people really are and I’m like, ‘No, they’re not,’ and the universe be like, ‘OK let me show you again dummy.” Unknown 😂

13/04/2025

Imagine your very first book being a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize and receiving the Indies Choice Book Award for Adult Debut Book of the Year in 2013!

That's what happened to author Eowyn Ivey. Her first book, "The Snow Child," is the story of how a couple's lives are changed forever by the arrival of a wild and secretive little girl on their snowy doorstep.

I bought this last year and need to get to it! It's only $1.99 on Kindle for a limited time:

🔗 https://www.thriftyhustles.com/posts/230502/the-snow-child-by-eowyn-ivey-on-sale

11/04/2025

So who knew my hiking buddy was so HOT???

(Thanks to I now know what Buster Brown would look like if he was a human. Is it weird I feel a tiny bit flustered when I smooch him now? 😂)

+ LIVING OUT LOUD: Today someone said something beautiful to me today: “Don’t lose too much weight. Curves are good.” I think this might have shifted something in me that was knocked out of place many years ago 😍

+ THANKFUL OF THE DAY: A professional framer/picture hanger who doubles as a friend helping me hang all my art today and helping my house start to feel more like home again ❤️ and my homemade vegan tacos (to return the favor) turning out delicious 🌮

+ QUOTE OF THE DAY: “Behind every person who never knows when to let go is that little child who was taught to believe that the depth of love is measured by tolerance.” Deep Minds Anonymous

10/04/2025

Sometimes when you take a leap, you land in the perfect place 😍

A few months ago while I was still in Panamá, I saw an intriguing post in my neighborhood FB group…something about secret events and a cat named Pie-Pie. 😂 I messaged about it and got an invite, but alas I wasn’t home yet. A couple days ago, I got a text from the host inviting me to the next “secret” event…an Egyptian dinner. Tonight.

I leapt! Literally had no idea what I was going to…or who I was joining 😆 Turns out it was mostly couch surfers…and, honestly, one of the nicest, most interesting groups of people I’ve ever hung out with. Multiple generations…multiple countries…a delicious dinner…and an after dinner music jam! 🤯 Yep, I live in a cool place.

+ LIVING OUT LOUD: I’m so excited to get back to hosting exchange students! Got my first booking for June…a 33 year old Japanese woman is staying for 3 weeks while she takes a graphic design course. 🇯🇵

+ THANKFUL OF THE DAY: I’m thankful for my desire and ability to leap 🙏🏻

+ QUOTE OF THE DAY: “Let the violence and pain in our world root you even more deeply in your commitment to be kinder and love, harder, no matter the person or circumstance. Your great ability to love has everything to do with creating a more peaceful reality on our planet. Your love matters. It makes a critical difference. It helps us all.” Scott Stabile

Buster 'n Me

06/01/2026

03/11/2025

21/09/2025

14/09/2025

26/08/2025

20/07/2025

26/04/2025

15/04/2025

13/04/2025

11/04/2025

10/04/2025

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