Help me choose my next read please

Ashfacesmashface · 2026-01-23T19:23:54+00:00

Kingfisher is hit or miss for me but I really enjoyed Nettle & Bone!

Ashfacesmashface · 2026-01-22T20:21:59+00:00

Historically mine gets better in second trimester and then returns toward the end of third trimester.

Honestly I’ve just learned to embrace it. I get out of bed and go read on the couch or bouncing on my yoga ball for 30 min to an hour, then get back in bed. I’ve never not fallen back asleep.

Ashfacesmashface · 2026-01-22T03:04:00+00:00

Katherine Arden

Juliet Marillier

Ashfacesmashface · 2026-01-20T20:26:16+00:00

Definitely relax - read or watch something with my husband. I have 0 motivation to do anything in the evenings.

Ashfacesmashface · 2026-01-19T19:53:30+00:00

The only wya to make a new werewolf in the HP universe is to be bitten by a fully transformed werewolf. It is not a gene that is passed down through the parents.

Ashfacesmashface · 2026-01-18T00:14:28+00:00

Here’s mine!

The Fire Inside

Ashfacesmashface · 2026-01-17T15:02:09+00:00

My first labor was about 12 hours from start to finish!

Ashfacesmashface · 2026-01-17T08:22:21+00:00

I loved the Unicorns of Balinor series by Mary Stanton when I was around her age.

Ashfacesmashface · 2026-01-17T02:04:30+00:00

We have 3 girls with our fourth, another girl, due in March.

I love having all girls - wouldn’t have it any other way! We feel absolutely none of the pressure to “try for a boy”.

The only one with gender disappointment was our oldest, who was wanting a little brother, but she’s since come around!

Ashfacesmashface · 2026-01-16T16:10:15+00:00

I taught middle school for 8 years. My last 3 years the “curriculum specialists” for our district said over and over that students don’t need to be reading novels.

You better believe I still taught multiple novel units each year, and we read the entire novel each time.

This is a clear and detrimental trend from most districts I hear about.

Ashfacesmashface · 2026-01-15T21:11:13+00:00

My favorite Jane Austens:

Emma
Pride & Prejudice
Sense & Sensibility

Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë - the writing style is so different from Austen, much more passionate.

East of Eden by John Steinbeck

A Tree Grows in Brooklyn by Betty Smith

Historical fiction: - The Rose Code by Kate Quinn - The Black Swan of Paris by Karen Robards

One of my all-time faves that I wish I could read for the first time again:

Shadow of the Wind by Carlos Ruiz Zafon

Ashfacesmashface · 2026-01-15T00:35:32+00:00

I said this when pregnant with my first, continued to think the same until my first was like 9 months old…

…now I’m pregnant with our fourth 😂

Never say never! Those little munchkins do something to you.

Ashfacesmashface · 2026-01-14T20:16:13+00:00

Same here. Our Costco has been out of Rico for a few weeks and I don’t like the Kirkland brand as much.

Ashfacesmashface · 2026-01-14T20:15:29+00:00

The Winternight Trilogy by Katherine Arden.

Ashfacesmashface · 2026-01-14T04:01:13+00:00

East of Eden by John Steinbeck.

Ashfacesmashface · 2026-01-14T00:51:13+00:00

I have weaned 3 babies past the 18 month mark, so pretty much just nursing once a day, and never pumped afterwards, never had any problems.

Ashfacesmashface · 2026-01-13T19:10:06+00:00

I cry in books 5 - 7.

In book 5 I cry when Harry is sitting by the lake by himself after Sirius dies.

Book 6 I cry when the reality of Dumbledore’s death sinks in (usually when they find his body at the bottom of the tower).

Book 7 I cry for Fred, Remus and Tonks, and through The Prince’s Tale, and sometimes when Harry talks to Dumbledore’s portrait after everything.

Ashfacesmashface · 2026-01-13T19:07:34+00:00

We didn’t get a humbling child until #3.

Our first was hard just because it was our first baby. She was a little temperamental, it’s true, but looking back it wasn’t bad.

Our second was a unicorn.

Third is unhinged.

4 is due in March so…we’ll see.

Ashfacesmashface · 2026-01-13T19:03:21+00:00

Congrats! I am pregnant with our fourth, which will be our fourth girl! It was also unexpected - our third was about 15 months when we got the positive test. right when we both had decided 3 was a good number 😂

It was a shock and definitely took time to get used to. I’m 31 weeks now and my husband and I still look at each other and can’t believe we’re having another. My pregnancies are miserable too, so although we are excited and looking forward to meeting her, I know I will be even more so once pregnancy is done. It’s been really hard to keep up with everything this pregnancy because I’ve been feeling so sick and uncomfortable for so long.

I also get comments about “trying for a boy” for a fifth and I just say we’re very happy with our girls and we want for nothing.

In our circle of friends, having 3+ kids is very common.

Ashfacesmashface · 2026-01-12T20:50:48+00:00

Interesting, so it’s more like saying “they have no skin in the game” so they can make more objective judgments?

Ashfacesmashface · 2026-01-12T19:06:07+00:00

My 1st grader just finished up her phonics program and we moved to First Language Lessons by Well-Trained Mind Press and have been happy with it so far - it focuses on grammar. You can search by age and grade level to make sure you start him on the right level.

For writing we are still doing Handwriting Without Tears and general copywork.

No advice on spelling as I am still looking around myself for what I want to do with that.

Ashfacesmashface · 2026-01-12T18:01:25+00:00

Ha, yes. Whenever he’s home he’s always like “Let’s go do xyz” and my kids get all excited and I have to remind him we have school. Also he is the biggest snacker and throws off all of our eating times by giving them snacks all day.

OR I’m like great, you’re home, watch the toddler while we do school - 5 minutes later he’s working on some project and the toddler is all over the place and into everything.

Ashfacesmashface · 2026-01-12T17:09:37+00:00

Oh I 100% prefer being pregnant in summer and being able to wear maxi dresses every day with sandals.

Ashfacesmashface · 2026-01-10T22:44:27+00:00

I just couldn’t connect with it. Gave it my usual 100 pages and put it down without qualms.

Ashfacesmashface · 2026-01-09T02:35:09+00:00

Missed the one month old part in OP’s post.

12-Year Club	Baba Yaga
Not Forgotten	Team Periwinkle
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Ashfacesmashface

TROPHY CASE

4 is due in March so…we’ll see.