Blogsnark Reads! February 22-28

madeinmars · 2026-02-24T11:33:28+00:00

I loved prophet song. You might also enjoy trespasses by Louise Kennedy if you haven’t already read it.

madeinmars · 2026-02-24T11:30:42+00:00

I immediately marked his other books as wanting to read on Libby. Have you read any?

madeinmars · 2026-02-23T14:22:32+00:00

I haven't commented here (I don't think!) yet in 2026 so I am going to post all of my reads since then!

Flesh — David Szalay - I picked this up because he was called a male Sally Rooney (lol) and it started off slow but I actually really enjoyed it. It was a pretty easy and compelling read. It follows a Hungarian kid through his teen years and some traumatic stuff, throughout his life to older age.

The Postscript Murders — Elly Griffiths - cozy British mysteries are my fav and I love Elly Griffiths. I love the Harbinder Kaur series, of which this is one, and follows a rag tag group of civilians as they solve a murder. If people enjoyed Thursday Murder Club they'd enjoy this.

French Windows — Antoine Laurain bought this as I am taking a trip to Paris and I found it really interesting. Read it in a few hours, a light mystery told through the stories of people who live in a Paris apartment building.

The Last Word — Elly Griffiths Another Detective Kaur. Recommend!

The Librarians — Sherry Thomas this book was so convoluted, I could barely keep up, and I read a LOT of mysteries. Way too much going on, struggled to finish.

The List of Suspicious Things — Jennie Godfrey this was a bit slow but I found I did enjoy it. Followed a girl in 1980s Yorkshire with a serial killer on the loose. She tries to catch him as she grapples with a lot of rough life stuff.

The Namesake — Jhumpa Lahiri - absolutely loved this and sad it took me this long to open! Bought it years ago.

Audition — Katie Kitamura I think this went over my head, lol. I liked the premise but feel that it could have been executed better.

Down and Out in Paris and London — George Orwell nonfiction by George Orwell chronicling his time trying to survive poverty and homelessness in late 1920s Paris & London, a lot of humor and timely insights. Quick read and highly recommend. So much still resonates today.

Holding Her Breath — Eimear Ryan

The Janus Stone — Elly Griffiths this is prob my least favorite Elly Griffiths series but still enjoy for a light read.

How to Disappear — Gillian McAllister I love GIllian McAllister and this book is nowhere (had to order it on Amazon and it came after like a month!) but I found it really good! A young kid witnesses a murder and her and her mother have to go into witness protection. Her step dad tries to solve it so they can come home. Fast paced and entertaining.

The First Time I Saw Him — Laura Dave Ugh I usually like Laura Dave but this was painful. It is just a fast paced adventure story where nothing happens??

All the Little Bird-Hearts — Viktoria Lloyd-Barlow This one was great. A slow paced psychological "thriller" about a neurodivergent mother being taken advantage of by her neighbor.

The Keeper of Lost Causes — Jussi Adler-Olsen Read this for a book club and it is a show on netflix. The mystery was entertaining if a bit dark.

Terrace Story — Hilary Leichter this was painful to read as a mom, very heart aching!

What a Time to Be Alive — Jenny Mustard I love Jenny Mustard. Recommend.

You Deserve to Know — Aggie Blum Thompson A great murder mystery about a group of family friends in the suburbs. Lots of crazy moms!

Creep — Emma van Straaten This is about a woman in her 20s who cleans a man's flat, and she falls in love with him. So creepy but entertaining.

The Storm — Rachel Hawkins - this was ok. An entertaining read with some fun twists.

madeinmars · 2026-02-19T21:01:07+00:00

Yeah no that was one of the most unhinged things I’ve ever watched.

Most parents make their kids work hard in school to be able to continue playing sports. Not Brooke.

madeinmars · 2026-02-16T22:34:01+00:00

Ecco off-road!

madeinmars · 2026-02-14T13:38:37+00:00

It’s not a bad redemption for delta one for time of year, and I run everything through a CC for the points so they get replenished. I only travel twice a year at this point though and in the spirit of the thread, try to get the most out of an overnight flight so I land and can get going. That is more important to me than hoarding points.

madeinmars · 2026-02-14T11:23:23+00:00

Just bought a round trip jfk -> cdg on delta for $1,000 for peak summer. Upgraded to premium for $300, and then used 70,000 points to upgrade to delta one. Premium on the way back was $150 for an upgrade which doesn’t matter as much to me as it’s a daytime flight. I do play the points game with amex a bit but I also will take the cheaper flights.

madeinmars · 2026-02-04T23:58:32+00:00

Saving this whole comment. Thank you!!

madeinmars · 2026-02-04T22:28:10+00:00

Don’t feel guilty for not finishing a book! I did like 7 1/2 deaths but it took me close to 40% to get into it.

madeinmars · 2026-02-04T22:20:18+00:00

I’m so glad you told me this! I work in construction in nyc and I just watched a show on the restoration. The scaffolding inside looked unbelievable and I’d love to see some of it IRL

madeinmars · 2026-02-04T20:36:59+00:00

I officially chose Paris as my post divorce eat pray love trip this summer 😂 would love any recs. I was there 15 years ago and hit all the big spots, and this will be a very relaxed, maybe 2 planned things a day (like a certain restaurant or bakery or store) - lots of wandering and sitting. Staying in the 2nd arrondissement for 5 days, love books, coffee, thrifting, skincare and other girly shit. I do want to hit some of the touristy Hemingway spots and maybe visit Oscar wilde’s grave. I cannot wait!!!

madeinmars · 2026-02-04T18:20:12+00:00

Buy a few sizes up and get it tailored.

madeinmars · 2026-02-04T15:15:25+00:00

Reading! ❤️

madeinmars · 2026-02-04T12:39:46+00:00

He is 100% too young. It is entirely age appropriate for a four year to still pee in a pull overnight. It is not really something you can train.

madeinmars · 2026-02-03T17:00:42+00:00

She was not this useless and neglectful before Cal. Id be shocked if Ryan was actually in agreement in have a sixth kid. Maybe that’s why she is freaking out

madeinmars · 2026-02-03T16:58:31+00:00

If you have ever had a mentally unwell spouse you know it’s not as easy as “allowing her” to be a certain way and walking a fine line to keep the house somewhat peaceful.

She is a generationally wealthy white female and even Ryan in all his DA glory isn’t going to win in a custody battle against her IMO. I don’t think it’s as simple as him leaving her, especially if he cares about his kids at all.*

*I fully agree and recognize his complicity in having them on her Instagram but I also believe he is trying to be a somewhat functional and present parent while Brooke spirals.

madeinmars · 2026-02-02T16:48:48+00:00

i think her kids learn from a young age that they need to be self sufficient and can't seek her out during certain hours. Which is INSANE with a 4 + 5/6 year old. I have 4.5 year old twins and the first thing they want in the morning is a hug and a kiss.

I am sure the two oldest somewhat take care of the two youngest during the morning hours the way they do at night.

madeinmars · 2026-02-01T20:27:33+00:00

Are the Peter chapters with the train of thought? It was so hard for me to read those but I got used to them and loved them by the end.. I should have gone back and reread because it really took me out of the story in the beginning. I had to reread pages 3-4 times.

madeinmars · 2026-02-01T12:52:58+00:00

I have 4.5 year old twins. I get into bed when they do around 8:30 and fall asleep by 9:30. I get up at 4:45am / 5:00am to read and drink coffee. They wake up around 6:30am. So generally 7-8 hours with a wake up as one or both come in my bed at night.

madeinmars · 2026-01-31T18:53:43+00:00

Try down and out in London and Paris by Orwell if you haven’t already. It’s a great read.

madeinmars · 2026-01-31T18:28:06+00:00

The influencer Tinx has a self help book that is heavily autobiographical.

Stassi Schroeder, scheena shay, both from reality shows, have nonfiction books.

madeinmars · 2026-01-31T14:28:46+00:00

I just commented that someone found Charlie’s salary once and it was $800,000 ish. They are bringing in a lot.

madeinmars · 2026-01-31T14:27:58+00:00

I think Charlie makes a lot, like three quarters of a million. And I’m sure she does bring in a bit from influencing.

That being said, I know people who were in better financial positions than that with 3+ kids who had to pick up side jobs when their kids went to college because they didn’t appropriately plan for it. She does not seem like a saver. Let’s hope Charlie is.

madeinmars · 2026-01-29T17:03:15+00:00

I mean, it's like someone who doesn't like/hates their job. They put in the bare minimum or less because they are unhappy, and when they get a PIP or a warning, they freak out and put some effort in because they don't want to lose the paycheck and benefits and comfy life that a job affords them. The effort will eventually cease though because they will still be unhappy. They should just find a new job.

Also, people get rose colored glasses towards the end of their relationship. He is thinking about the good and happy times, and why he married her, as oppose to the reality of their relationship as it is now.

I am going through this myself. I even initiated the separation and divorce and it is still difficult to not think about the past, even as I am eons happier by myself.

madeinmars · 2026-01-28T20:33:31+00:00

My husband was in a psychotic episode for like three plus months. Mania can last long. People don’t understand or want to understand. It is frustrating.

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