Hi, hello everyone! Welcome back to another post from me! Before we get into today’s post, I wish to inform you all that this will be my last post on teatimelit. I have adored my time creating content for the past two years, but it’s time for me to hang up my creator cap. Admittedly I’ve learned that creating blog content isn’t what I’m passionate about anymore, and that’s ok! I’ll still be hanging around in the book community, so if you want to see what I get up to and what I read feel free to follow me on Instagram @bookswithmary (revival pending) and Goodreads @maryreading. Thank you all for the most wonderful two years; I have loved engaging with you all and bonding over a shared love of books. But without further adieu, let’s get into this week’s post.
- The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern
I won’t spend too much time on this one as I have just published a full length review (which you can read here), but this one obviously had to be number one. This book is my all time favourite, and I would give anything to go into it blind again. It’s simply magic in book form, and I love it so so much. Despite knowing it like the back of my hand, it still makes me emotional even nowadays, so I can imagine how emotional I would get reading it for the first time again. I cannot wait to see what Erin Morgenstern writes next – I am sure I will love it.
- If We Were Villains by M.L Rio
After years of begging, I finally read Caitlyn’s favourite book and I’m so incredibly glad I did. If We Were Villains did not disappoint, and I would love to revisit it again. In fact, I am already planning to re-read in the new year but that’s besides the point. This book is wonderful, and I think there’s so much that could be said, but we don’t have the time. I loved and hated all of our protagonists, and it honestly made for such entertaining reading. I put off reading this book so many times because I knew how much it meant to Caitlyn, but I wish I picked it up sooner. I’m struggling to articulate how great it is, so I will redirect you to Cait’s Annotate with Me post. After all, who better to talk about the book than the expert in the field? If you’ve been putting off If We Were Villains because of the hype, this is your sign to drop what you’re reading and pick it up ASAP – I promise you will not regret it.
- Before the Coffee Gets Cold by Toshikazu Kawaguchi
I’d like to say I have recovered from the emotional mess this book left me, but I think that would be a lie. In all honesty, I think about this book a lot. I loved everything about it, and I’m so glad we got to read it for the book club. I’ve loaned my copy out to many people – clearly I love sharing the pain. This is another one that I think people put off because of the hype, but I’m imploring people to pick it up. It’s quite short, so it’s a perfect book for the quick rush at the end of the year to meet goals, but it is very sad, so make sure you have tissues. I also think it’s such a brilliant premise, and not one we see explored in books. Time travel that’s determined by the length of a hot coffee? Sign me up. This is another one I’ll be reading again in the New Year, and I have the sequel on my shelf waiting to be read as well.
- Dial A for Aunties by Jesse Q. Sutanto
This book had me absolutely laughing out loud, and I wish I could relive the joy I had when reading it for the first time. I think this book is the perfect one to take on vacation – it’s fun, fast paced, and has a lot of good vibes. I think you’ll enjoy this book no matter what your favourite genre is, and I think it would be a good introduction to getting back into reading! Jesse Q. Sutanto has a way of writing that is just easy, and reading them is an absolute pleasure. Her characters are likeable, interesting and distinct, and no two characters feel the same. I love that this book is part romcom, part murder – and it lends itself for some interesting plot points. I promise you will be belly laughing the entire way through this book, and if you haven’t added it to your TBR yet, I promise it will not disappoint.
- A Cuban Girl’s Guide to Tea and Tomorrow by Laura Taylor Namey
I feel like I talk about this book a lot, but I think it’s for good reason. This book is the one I go to when I want to experience home. Set in Winchester, England, this book transports me back to the place my heart longs for and brings me the most joy. I spent a lot of time in Winchester growing up (and recently spent 4 weeks there this past October on holiday), so it’s very wonderful that I can visit through book form whenever I want. Laura Taylor Namey wrote this book so wonderfully, and I love every minute of it. Winchester aside, it’s a warming read. I love the writing style and the characters, and the exploration of grief. I think it’s an easy, quick read too, so if you need another book to bulk out your reading goal, look no further. I fully articulated all of my feelings in a past post, which you can read here, but I simply adore A Cuban Girl’s Guide to Tea and Tomorrow, which is why it remains my favourite teatimereads pick to date.
And there we have it, five books I wish I could read again for the first time. Thank you so much for reading this post, and all of my previous posts. Like I said, I’ve loved talking about books with you all, and I can’t wait to see what exceptional content will be coming from Tea Time Lit in the New Year. To Caitlyn and Cossette specifically, thank you for everything.
For the last time from me, happy reading!
