title: Planes, Trains, and All the Feels author: Livy Hart publisher: Entangled Trade publication date: May 23, 2023 pages: 337 peppers: 3 of 5 (on this scale) warnings: alcohol dependency diabetes mental health issues car accident divorce summary: Cassie Bliss needs to get to her perfect sister’s wedding in California. Luke Carlisle is traveling across the…
“Why”…Wednesdays
Net Galley Review of Every Time You Go Away
title: Every Time You Go Away author: Abigail Johnson publisher: Inkyard Press publication date: December 5, 2023 pages: 368 peppers: 2 of 5 (on this scale) warnings: child abuse and neglect substance abuse vomit addiction parent death summary: When Rebecca was growing up, Joy would drop her son Ethan off at her parents’ house every time…
231. Why Keep in Touch
Every time I have an idea and run a search looking for an image, I’m reminded that other people have had the same ideas earlier and expressed them better. Well, such is life. The photo above comes from Lewi Blake’s post that offers nine strategies for keeping in touch with friends and family. The list…
Net Galley Review of The Summer Girl
title: The Summer Girl author: Elle Kennedy publisher: Avalon Bay publication date: July 18, 2023 pages: 400 peppers: 3 of 5 (on this scale) warnings: mean mothers alcohol summary: Cassie is at her grandmother’s house for the summer, hoping for a no-strings-attached fling. On her first night, she overhears Tate, getting dumped and decides he’d be…
230. Why Look Open-Mindedly
The photo above comes from a Positively Present’s website post that offers a list of six things that open-minded people do. I endorse their suggestions, which are absolutely related to my idea below. If you’ve been a CaritaGardiner.com reader for a while, you might remember that I wrote a post called “Why Look Down” (9/22/2021)…
229. Why Lufkin
The photo above shows me with my husband, my Head of School, and the generous donor Mr. Dan Lufkin right after I gave my speech and accepted my Lufkin Award on May 12, 2023. Here’s a link to a video of the event, which includes a very kind introduction from my boss. Below is what…
228. Why TJR
I first became aware of Taylor Jenkins Reid through the awesome author Emma Brodie. (If you’re a newer subscriber, you can read my post about Emma’s novel here.) Emma lent me her copy of Daisy Jones & The Six, which I experienced as a literary This is Spinal Tap, a written mockumentary of a fictional band….
227. Why Crumple
[DepositPhotos.com has the above photo in their “business argument” search.] I’m starting to think that the infinitive “to butt heads” and the plural noun “buttheads” aren’t all that different. In my new role as a class dean, I have a lot more contact with constituents who have strong opinions than I did in my role…
NetGalley Review of The Sweetheart List
title: The Sweetheart List author: Jill Shalvis publisher: Avon publication date: June 13, 2023 pages: 352 peppers: 2 (on this scale) warnings: dead parents, off page summary: Harper moves to Tahoe, the last place she remembers being truly happy, with the only male who’s ever been good to her, Ham the Bernese Mountain dog. She plans…
226. Why Love Venn
I had the idea for this post when I was listening to Kamala Harris’ guest appearance on We Can Do Hard Things with Glennon Doyle. The Vice President said, among other great lines, that she loves a good Venn diagram because it shows what we have in common. I stopped my stroll, sent myself the…