Hello! I’m here with another installment in my Buzzword Readathon series. **And every day we are reminded that discrimination against marginalized communities is still a serious problem, so click here to find a compilation of resources where you can donate your time, money, or whatever you can to support these communities. I still encourage you to research these causes on your own to educate yourself and find the best way to lend your support.**
*As I went through a large period of burnout in terms of reading and reviewing, several posts, including the last three of my Buzzword read-a-thon series, will be coming in quick succession before the new year. Descriptions and thoughts about books will be lacking. I want to start fresh in 2023, so expect 4-5 posts from me in the next few days. Burnout is real, and while I do have some of my motivation back I need to plan better in order to not lose my love of reading and reviewing again in the future.*
This is the eleventh post in my Buzzword-a-thon series for 2022. In case you’re new here, Buzzword-a-thon (or Buzzword Readathon) was originally created by Kayla at the YouTube channel booksandlala. It centers around readers choosing books that include specific words or ‘types’ of words. This is the second year where all 12 prompts were selected in advance and it’s being loosely hosted once a month on sites like Goodreads and Storygraph. Last year had an even split of specific words and themed-words alternating every month, but this year it’s more themed-based with a few original buzzword categories making a reappearance from past read-a-thons. In 2022, I’ve challenged myself to read at least one book that satisfies the prompt every month, and suggesting books I’ve read previously that would also fulfill it within these posts. November’s theme was “words ending in -ING,” and the first book I read in the month actually helped me fulfill this prompt.
Book read in November: Witchful Thinking by Celestine Martin
Witchful Thinking follows Lucinda Caraway, a witch living in the mystic seaside town of Freya Grove. She spends her days teaching history at the local high school and her nights reading tea leaves and tending to her conjure garden. She loves her home-town and her life she’s lived in in, but can’t help wishing for more – and that wish turns into a spell where she can’t say no to any opportunity presented to her. And that includes helping her high school crush, Alexander Dwyer, who’s come back to town for the first time in years, to unjinx his house, which is right across the street from hers. Alex is itching to leave again as soon as his house is taken care of, but until Lucy can unjinx herself they’re stuck together. And with magic in the air, Lucy wonders if she can convince him to stay. I started reading this on Halloween and finished on the first of November, and this was the perfect seasonal read if you’re interested in more contemporary fantasy light on the magic. I also didn’t realize that Alex, and his family, were merpeople, as it wasn’t anywhere in the synopsis, but I found that a really interesting part of the story and aided his character’s choice to never stay in one place for long periods of time. I’m not sure if this would technically be considered a second chance romance, as I don’t remember if they were ever technically together as a couple in high school, but watching Lucy and Alex reconnect after all those years and finally get the chance to explore their requited chemistry was nice to see. I really enjoyed my time reading Witchful Thinking, and I think the author is going to make it a series focusing on the various elements, so I can’t wait to see what she has in story for this town and these characters next.
In conclusion, only one post left.
Where to find Witchful Thinking:
Bookshop
Amazon
Goodreads
Storygraph
Celestine Martin’s site
Additional Recommendations:
–Almost Like Being in Love by Steve Kluger (Adult romance)
–Charming as a Verb by Ben Phillipe (YA contemporary)
–Every Bright and Broken Thing by Brian McBride (YA contemporary)
–Everything Leads to You by Nina LaCour (NA romance)
–Going Off Script by Jen Wilde (YA contemporary)
–I Hope You’re Listening by Tom Ryan (YA mystery) [review]
–Keeping Casey and Keeping Kellan by Amy Aislin (NA/Adult romance)
–Learning Curves by Ceillie Simkiss (NA romance)
–Never Saw You Coming by Erin Hahn (YA contemporary) [review]
–The Passing Playbook by Isaac Fitsimons (YA contemporary) [review]
–Sing Me Forgotten by Jessica S. Olsen (YA fantasy)
–Sleeping Giants by Sylvain Neuvel (Adult sci-fi)
–Something to Talk About by Meryl Wilsner (Adult romance)
–The Summer of Everything by Julian Winters (YA contemporary) [review]
–This Train is Being Held by Ismeé A. Williams (YA contemporary)
–The Trouble With Hating You by Sajni Patel (Adult romance)
–Under the Whispering Door by T.J. Klune (Adult fantasy) [review]
–We Can’t Keep Meeting Like This by Rachel Lynn Solomon (YA contemporary)
–Winning Move by Skye Kilaen (Adult romance)
Thoughts About Things 