Happy Juneteenth!

Juneteenth is celebrated to honor the end of slavery in the United States. Can you just imagine how they must have felt to finally be free. Probably a combination of exhilaration and apprehension but no matter what emotions they were feeling. They were now free. This holiday is about celebrating freedom and the continued fight for all aspects of it.

Happy Juneteenth, everyone!

Hiatus Watch: Heartstopper Forever Trailer

I have still not read any of the Heartstopper books by Alice Oseman but I have really enjoyed watching the show. I'm a little sad that it's ending with this upcoming movie Heartstopper Forever. But at some point everything does, the movie will premiere on Friday, July 17th on Netflix. I was disappointed when it was first announced that Heartstopper wasn't getting a third season but instead a movie. But looking at the trailer, it looks like it's going to be good.

I do wonder how this is going to end, I hope there is a happy ending for everyone and especially no bittersweet ending. And I really hope that Nick and Charlie are together at the end. I'm really looking forward to seeing this.


Heartstopper Forever (Netflix)

Starring: Joe Locke, Kit Connor, Yasmin Finney, William Gao, Cormac Hyde-Corrin, Olivia Colman, Rhea Norwood, Sebastian Croft, Corinna Brown and more

Director: Wash Westmoreland

Writer: Alice Oseman

Based On: The Heartstopper books by Alice Oseman

Description:

Nick and Charlie are in love, but new challenges lay ahead with Nick getting ready to leave for university and Charlie taking on new responsibilities at school.

DVD Pick: You, Me & Tuscany

I just love this movie, You, Me & Tuscany, it's so cute, funny and romantic. It's one of my favorite romantic comedies, the story has that classic feel to it. You get a misunderstanding, risk taking coupled with a rash decision but ultimately leading to a wonderful romance. I have been waiting on this be released on DVD so I can get it and rewatch it.


You, Me & Tuscany

Starring: Halle Bailey, Regé-Jean Page, Lorenzo de Moor, Nia Vardalos, Isabella Ferrari, Marco Calvani and more

Director: Kat Coiro

Writers: Ryan Engle and Kristin Engle

Description:

When a woman crashes at an empty Italian villa, posing as the owner's fiancée, she discovers an unexpected romance that could transform her life.

Book of Interest: The Escape Game

Happy Wednesday!

I was actually looking for a different book when I found The Escape Game by Marissa Meyer and Tamara Moss. It's a mystery that follow contestants who are on an escape room TV series. And not only are they trying to figure out the puzzles in the room to escape but they are also trying to solve the murder of Alicia, a contestant who was mysteriously killed the previous season. And according to the description, many believe her sister Sierra (who is a current contestant) killed her. However, Sierra is there to find out the truth about what happened to her sister.

I wonder who killed Alicia, was it another contestant? Or someone who worked for the show? Or maybe someone not even connected to the show? This seems like a good read, it's another book I'll be adding to my list.

Book: The Escape Game by Marissa Meyer and Tamara Moss

Description:

It’s all fun and games until someone ends up dead.

Six months ago, season four of The Escape Game ended in horror when contestant Alicia Angelos was found murdered on set.

Now season five is underway, and new contestants are ready to put their skills to the test solving the show's trickiest escape rooms. There's Adi, the cryptographer; Carter, the math whiz; Beck, the wannabe game master; and . . . Sierra Angelos, the girl who got away with her sister’s murder. Or so everyone believes.

But Sierra’s not just here to win. She’s here for justice.

When the contestants begin uncovering clues that hint at the identity of Alicia’s true killer, it becomes clear that the stakes aren’t high just in this competition—they’re deadly. If these teens want to win—and survive—the game, they must solve the biggest mystery of all: who killed Alicia Angelos?

From #1 New York Times bestselling authors Marissa Meyer and Tamara Moss comes a twisty thrill-ride that will take readers on an exhilarating hunt to uncover secrets, conspiracy, and cold-blooded murder.

Book of Interest: Cleopatra

Happy Monday!

How was everyone's weekend? Did you find any time to read?

I can't remember the last time I've read a historical fiction but Cleopatra by Saara El-Arifi seems like such an interesting read. With the story told by her, it will be interesting to see what aspects of Cleopatra's life will be focused on besides the most known (or at least perceived) information by historians. I've been trying to expand from my usual genre of books because there are just so many different stories and I want to read as many of them as I can. So, I will be adding this book to my list. Maybe, I'll even read it this summer.

Book: Cleopatra by Saara El-Arifi

Description:

Cleopatra tells her own story in this evocative and sensuous historical epic from the bestselling and award-winning author of Faebound and The Final Strife.

YOU KNOW MY NAME, BUT YOU DO NOT KNOW ME.

Your historians call me seductress, but I was ever in love's thrall.

Your playwrights speak of witchcraft, but my talents came from the gods themselves.

Your poets sing of my bloodlust, but I was always protecting my children.

How wilfully they refuse to concede that a woman could be powerful, strategic, and divinely blessed to rule.

Death will silence me no longer.

This is not the story of how I died. But how I lived.

Geek on a Budget: Trying to stick with my Essentials Only Challenge

This morning, I talked myself out of ordering two 9-1-1 Buck and Eddie (Buddie) bookmarks and two mugs: Buck and Eddie and Hen. I wish I'd also found mugs for Hen and Karen, Athena and Bobby and Maddie and Chimney but so far I didn't find any. Both of the bookmarks are so cute but I know I don't need anymore because I have plenty of bookmarks. As well as mugs. But I don't have any 9-1-1 merchandise other than that Preppi 9-1-1 First-aid Kit which I bought a couple of years ago when it was on sale. And since neither FOX (when the show aired on the network) or ABC (where the show now airs) ever released any (or any more in ABC's case) official merchandise, so a lot of fans have created their own stuff. And I've seen so many cute stuff, that I'd like to get.

And not to be forgotten, I also talked myself out of getting a Gilmore Girls Lorelai and Luke mug I saw. Other than the DVDs and a few books (Rory's reading list, cook books, etc.), I also don't have a lot of Gilmore Girls merchandise. But I so want all of the 9-1-1 and Gilmore Girls stuff I found this week. However, since I'm still doing my Essentials Only challenge, none of this stuff is clearly necessities. I just really want them. Overall, I've been really good with this challenge it just when I see fandom stuff is when I really have to talk myself out of buying anything. This challenge has really helped me see that I want a lot of non-essential stuff. There's nothing wrong with buying non-essentials I just don't want to go over my budget which is what I would do if I bought all the stuff I keep finding.

When this challenge ends, I'm going to look over my fandom merchandise section of my budget and see if I need to increase it keep it as it is. Because I do love getting fandom stuff but I'm just going to try to stay on budget. It's funny that I don't have a lot of Gilmore Girls and 9-1-1 stuff, despite them being two of my favorite fandoms.

Photo of the Day: Hudson Williams

This picture of actor Hudson Williams feels like an ad for a luxury chess board set or a poster for a movie about a chess player. Which reminds me that I still haven't watched The Queen's Gambit miniseries. I also want to get the book of the same name by Walter Tevis. Not sure if I want to read the book first then watch the show or vice versa. Anyway, I saw this picture of Hudson and thought it looked like the perfect shot. This is just a really good picture.

Photography: Jake Rosenberg for the 2026 Canadian Screen Awards

Hiatus Watch: Every Year After and Dragon Striker

Happy Wednesday!

In between reading my books this summer, I'm going to try to watching some of the new (and new to me) shows and movies during hiatus. And two new shows that I want to watch are: Every Year After and Dragon Striker.

Every Year After is based on the book Every Summer After by Carly Fortune which up until now I had never heard of. Maybe I'll add it to my list to read later especially if I like the show. Looking at the trailer, the show which premiered today (June 10th) does have that summery feel to it. As it follows two (best?) friends questioning their romantic possibilities. Since, I've never read the book, it will be interesting to see if they do end up together or there's a twist and they don't. I guess friends to lovers is a popular trope for a reason. All episodes of the first season are available to watch on Amazon Prime.

As for the second new show (which premiered June 9th), Dragon Striker, it's an animated series that follows a young boy named Keys who not only attends a school and joins a sports team where he learns he may be the legendary "Dragon Striker". But he will also be fighting against a big evil. This seems like an interesting show and it kind of feels like a cross between Naruto and The Legend of Korra plus with sports. All episodes of the first season are also available to watch on Disney Plus.


Every Year After (Amazon Prime)

Starring: Sadie Soverall, Matt Cornett, Michael Bradway, Abigail Cowen, Aurora Perrineau, Joseph Chiu and more

Creators: Leila Gerstein and Amy Harris

Based On: The book Every Summer After by Carley Fortune

Description:

Two lifelong friends explore the enduring question - what if your first love was destined to be your soulmate? A sweeping romantic tale about love's timeless possibilities.

Currently Read: Body and Soul Food

Happy Saturday!

I took a little reading break before finding the next book I wanted to read. I'm still continuing with my To Be Read List challenge and so far I've been picking books that have been on my shelves for quite some time. Now this mystery book, Body and Soul Food by Abby Collette isn't that old and it's only been sitting on my shelf for almost five years. So that's not too bad. I think the cover art is so cute. I just love all the little details.

Anyway, when I first read the description, I found it interesting because separated twins Keaton and Koby reunite and open up a business of a bookstore that has a soul-food café. While doing that they are also trying to solve a murder. I do wonder why Koby's foster brother was murdered? I guess I'll find out when I read it.

Book: Body and Soul Food (A Books & Biscuits Mystery book #1) by Abby Collette

Description:

In this page-turning new mystery series, fraternal twins Keaton and Koby will pull double duty when they take down a killer while preparing to open their new bookstore and soul-food café, Books & Biscuits.

When Koby Hill and Keaton Rutledge were orphaned at age two, they were separated, but their unbreakable connection lingered. Years later, they reunite and decide to make up for lost time and capitalize on their shared interests by opening up a well-stocked bookstore and cozy soul-food café in the quaint Pacific Northwest town of Timber Lake. But this new chapter of their lives could end on a cliffhanger after Koby's foster brother is found murdered.

The murder, which occurred in public between light-rail stops, seems impossible for the police to solve. But as Keaton and Koby know, two heads are always better than one, especially when it comes to mysteries. With just a week to go before the grand opening of their new café, the twins will use their revitalized connection with each other to make sure this is the killer's final page.

Book of Interest: The Disaster Gay Detective Agency

Happy Friday!

I was reading the description for this comedy mystery book The Disaster Gay Detective Agency by Lev AC Rosen and knew I had to read it. This seems like a fun and interesting mystery because is Jon a murderer? He definitely seems like he's up to something. And Brandon, Nicole, Ollie and Ian are going to try to figure it out. But can they?

I'm going to add this to my list and the next time I go to the bookstore I'm going to get this. I've never read any books from this author, I like finding new or new to me authors and books. Are there any new ones you've found?

Book: The Disaster Gay Detective Agency by Lev AC Rosen

Description:

From award-winning, critically acclaimed crime writer Lev Rosen comes a punchy, hilarious mystery-thriller. Meet the disaster gays: They're messy. They're queer. And they're about to solve a murder… Or die trying.

Brandon is a hopeless romantic. So when a handsome stranger named Jon checks in at the hotel he works at and invites Brandon to his room, Brandon ignores the advice of his crew—a group of loveable and messy queer twenty-somethings—and accepts. What follows is a tale as old as time: they hook up, Jon promises to text, Brandon falls in love, and Jon ghosts. Case closed—or is it?

When Jon checks out early, leaving behind a bag of belongings and his cellphone, Brandon takes the phone and sets out to find him, thinking that this must at last be his Cinderella story.

But he gets more than he bargained for when he witnesses a murder—and sees Jon fleeing the scene.

Determined (and not in over their heads whatsoever), Brandon, Ollie, Nicole, and Ian decide to solve the mystery of the murder and uncover Jon's true identity…they just have to figure it out before a target falls on their own backs.

Book Review: The Gauntlet

Book: The Gauntlet (The Gauntlet book #1) by Karuna Riazi

Cover Illustration by Mehrdad Isvandi
Cover Design by Krista Vossen
Interior Design by Hilary Zarycky

Edition: Hardcover

Description:

A trio of friends from New York City find themselves trapped inside a mechanical board game that they must dismantle in order to save themselves and generations of other children in this action-packed debut that’s a steampunk Jumanji with a Middle Eastern flair.

Nothing can prepare you for The Gauntlet…

It didn’t look dangerous, exactly. When twelve-year-old Farah first laid eyes on the old-fashioned board game, she thought it looked…elegant.

It is made of wood, etched with exquisite images—a palace with domes and turrets, lattice-work windows that cast eerie shadows, a large spider—and at the very center of its cover, in broad letters, is written: The Gauntlet of Blood and Sand.

The Gauntlet is more than a game, though. It is the most ancient, the most dangerous kind of magic. It holds worlds inside worlds. And it takes players as prisoners.

Happy Pride Month!

I want to wish everyone a very Happy Pride Month! Especially to all my Book Girl readers who are celebrating and to anyone in the LGBTQ+ community who may not be able to come out. Whether you are in the closet or out your existence is so valid.

Happy pride month!

Characters Reading: Rosie the Pig (Masha and the Bear)

In the Masha and the Bear episode The Three Mashketeers, the episode begins with Rosie the Pig trying to avoid Masha and her cousin Dasha so she can return books she borrowed from Bear. After returning those books, Bear's assistant and cousin Panda, gave Rosie The Three Musketeers by Alexandre Dumas to read. She was so intrigued by the book that after reading a few pages it had her along with Masha, Dasha and Panda interested in becoming The Three Musketeers or as Masha called them the Mashketeers. They wore Musketeer costumes and helped an injured Bear take a love letter and a present to his girlfriend for her birthday. But it wasn't an easy task because there were in-fights between Masha, Panda and Dasha and an ambush by the wolves and they had to deal with a romantic rival. So they definitely had an interesting adventure.

I still have yet to read The Three Musketeers, I will let this be my motivation to add it to my list. I've seen plenty of the adaptations and hopefully sometime soon I'll read the classic story.

(Masha and the Bear episode: The Three Mashketeers)