May-June Reads and TBR

Channels mentioned:
Jesper, covertalks: ...
Sarah, Hardcover Hearts: / hardcoverhearts
Rick MacDonnell: / rickmacdonnell
AJ Dunn: / ajdunnreadsandwrites
Emily, Novelle Novels: / @novellenovels
Books mentioned:
Carter Sickels - The Prettiest Star
Sam Hawke - City of Lies
Anita Brookner - A Family Romance
Levi Huxton - The Lodger, That Summer
Richard Russo - Nobody’s Fool
Justin Deabler - Lone Stars
Micah Nemerever - These Violent Delights
Paul Mendez - Rainbow Milk
Marie Benedict & Victoria Christopher Murray - The Personal Librarian
Jonathan Lee - The Great Mistake
Nadia Afifi - The Sentient
Maggie O’Farrell - Instructions for a Heatwave
Terry Brooks - The Black Elfstone

[@MarilynMayaMendoza]

Hi Leo Thank you for sharing your experiences. I heard about the prettiest star from Greg at supposedly fun and had it on my radar ever since. I rediscovered your channel through Sarah at hard cover hearts and I’m in love with her channel. I just finished the book Alberta and shake up by Cora Sandell And I don’t think I’ve ever related to a character as much as her Alberta. Subline writing too. I’m originally from New York so the book about the person responsible for all those landmarks I know is on my radar. Happy holidays and aloha

[@michaelk.vaughan8617]

Sorry it has taken me so long to watch this. I love listening to you talk about books. Your thoughts on the AIDS epidemic brought back sad memories, but you are right, that time and those we lost need to be remembered. I bought City if Lies not long ago. At least I know better than to expect a thrilling page turner. Great video!

[@hartereads]

So happy to see your video! The Prettiest Star sounds heartbreaking and important.

[@leeah8419]

The Red Rising Trilogy is perfect if you want something fast paced, I really enjoyed it. Nice to see you back and I hope you're having a nice summer 😊

[@ScullyPop]

Another great book channel I found.

[@CourtneyFerriter]

Good to see a video from you, Leo! I am glad to hear that you liked Nobody's Fool. I have read two novels by Russo so far and liked both of them: Straight Man and Chances Are. I still want to read his Pulitzer Prize winner Empire Falls.

[@doomantidote]

Thank you for sharing your experiences surrounding the AIDS crisis. I must get round to reading The Prettiest Star, it sounds phenomenal. Great to see you post a video again! I'll be interested to hear what you think of rainbow milk!

[@jorgem71962]

The Prettiest Star is one of the best books I have read this year.

[@sandra7319.]

Leo, I'm not one to fawn over many people, but I do hope we hear more from you the second half of this year.💚

[@SluggishReader]

I'm reading The Prettiest Star for the Booktube Prize now. It was one of my anticipated reads seeing how lauded it is. I really don't mind having more books that could make me cry.. 🤭

[@SluggishReader]

@@Leoslittlebooklife I've not seen the movie nor read the novel - I might try it someday. Also, I just googled Bambi in detail and found out Bambi is actually a he... hmm all these years I've been getting it wrong 🥴😬

[@novellenovels]

Lovely to see what you have been reading and will be reading. I’m looking forward to our buddy read next week..

[@MsReadsAlot]

I just purchased The Prettiest Star 😢 I have a feeling it is going to destroy me!

[@pastorytime2683]

Really enjoyed hearing your thoughts on Prettiest Star ❤️❤️ would love to know what you think of Rainbow Milk if you get to it - I liked bits, but it didn't work for me as a whole. Siân xx

[@AJDunnReads]

Yay! I missed you! Thanks for the shout-out! I hope you enjoy These Violent Delights. I'm looking forward to Nobody's Fool, which I'll be reading soon.

[@RickMacDonnell]

Fascinated by your Brookner thoughts. I was curious what such a long in-depth read like that would be like, which patterns would emerge, what would be highlighted and what would stick out like a sore thumb. It may be an “unfair” way to approach an artist’s work, as it wasn’t really intended to be read one after the other (I assume? Lol) but your insights are super interesting. Good luck with the final Shannara series! Hopefully it sticks the landing 😊

[@RickMacDonnell]

@@Leoslittlebooklife I am spreading them out much further than you and there aren’t nearly so many to get through (luckily 😂)

[@daytonadane]

You and Rick make me want to read Russo. I watched the movie Nobody's Fool years ago and found it so charming. I love a a good anti-hero like Sully, so I really should pick this one up! Also, I look forward to hearing your thoughts on The Personal Librarian and Instructions of a Heatwave. Lastly, yay for a booktube video from you...and the new backdrop - looks amazing!

[@HardcoverHearts]

I love that after 13 Brookner books and countless others, we hit upon one that we don’t see completely eye to eye on. 😂 I am so happy that The Prettiest Star was so moving for you also. It’s just a powerful book.

[@HardcoverHearts]

@@Leoslittlebooklife she will NEVER succeed!!! 🥰

[@HardcoverHearts]

@@Leoslittlebooklife “Imagine my surprise…” 🤣

[@drawyourbook876]

I have heard a lot of praise for The prettiest star, but not what it was about or what it was so special about it. Thank you for that.