It's been a lot of fun being involved with the various awards over the years. They also involve A LOT of reading, so I like to get started early :)

Thanks, as always, for coming by and commenting, Lydia!

I'm planning to read them all this month. We'll see if it happens or not. You never know! LOL.

Thanks, as always, for coming by and commenting, Nicole!

This is actually the third of fourth MG book I've read about COVID. I hadn't really thought about it before, but I haven't read any adult books about the pandemic. That is super interesting that children's authors are more willing to write about it.

Thanks, as always, for coming by and commenting, Sam!

What's unique about LASAGNA MEANS I LOVE YOU is that it's written mostly in actual letters (with a few emails thrown in). Most epistolary novels these days use a combination of texts, online posts, podcasts, etc. I like the just letters format. The book is sweet and uplifting, but I think it's going to turn out to be a just okay read for me. We'll see.

Thanks, as always, for coming by and commenting, Lisa!

Right? It's tough when you're on an awards judging committee and the others judges don't love a book as much as you do. Sometimes, you have to make compromises and majority-rules decisions that mean a book you think is most deserving of the award doesn't get it. That's hard.

Thanks, as always, for coming by and commenting, Pam!

You probably are familiar with a lot more of them, too. Latter-day Saint authors generally write squeaky clean books and often in the historical romance and sweet contemporary romance genres. Any list of authors who write clean books is going to include Latter-day Saint writers!

Thanks, as always, for coming by and commenting, Cindy!

Wow! We're making the international news. That's so sad. LOL. The heat is definitely intense here. I'm hoping we'll get some big monsoon storms soon as that always helps with the dryness and bringing the temperature down a wee bit. I hope your summer isn't too awful!

Thanks, as always, for coming by and commenting, Bree!

I just picked up WHAT HAPPENED TO RACHEL RILEY? from the library. I'm excited to read it. I hope we both enjoy it!

Thanks, as always, for coming by and commenting, Kristi!

Oh, good! It sounds excellent. I have it out from the library right now. I'm excited to read it, especially since you liked it so much!

Thanks, as always, for coming by and commenting, Alicia!

I'm really enjoying the series. It's just fun!

Thanks, as always, for coming by and commenting, Vero!

They do, don't they? I'm excited to read all of them. Hopefully, they're all as good as they look/sound.

Thanks, as always, for coming by and commenting, Louise!

Same! MORNING SUN IN WUHAN has been on my TBR list ever since I first heard about it. It sounds excellent.

Wow, the heat + humidity sounds miserable. We always joke about our "dry" heat here in Arizona, but I'd definitely rather have that than heavy humidity. Ugh. I hope you're enjoying your trip otherwise.

Thanks, as always, for coming by and commenting, Helen!

Middle grade is actually a very wide-ranging genre. The age range is from about 8 to 12. Most of the protagonists in a MG novel seem to be 11 or 12. Generally, these books are shorter, cleaner, and lighter than YA books, but a lot of them deal with serious issues. The quality of MG books just keeps getting better, so I totally recommend reading them. If you go to cybils.com, you can look at past award winners, which will give you a good place to start.

Sounds like you're having nice weather! I'll be in the U.K. in March and I'm wondering just how rainy it will be...hopefully, not too much.

Thanks, as always, for coming by and commenting, Emily!

You should give MG books a try! I love them when I'm in the mood for shorter reads that are nonetheless well-written and impactful.

Thanks, as always, for coming by and commenting, Lisa!

I didn't even realize Sarah Allen had a new book coming out until just the other day. I'm excited to read it. I hope we both enjoy it!

Thanks, as always, for coming by and commenting, Lark!

Same! I'll never not love overcast, rainy days thanks to living in the PNW. The only thing I still can't get used to is having that kind of weather and, yet, it's still so...warm. Ugh. I'll take it even still, though. Lots of people find the PNW's constant dreary weather depressing - I'm actually the opposite!

Thanks, as always, for coming by and commenting, Deanna!

I hope so, too. I've read two of them so far and both have been enjoyable. So far, so good!

Thanks, as always, for coming by and commenting, Jo!

Yes! They're like horror lite. You get some scary bits, but nothing as freaky as what you find in adult ones. I'm a wimp :)

Thanks for popping by, Rissa!