You'll love this one...!! A book club & more discussion

Please read through the reporting thread carefully to ensure to report correctly to get your badge/s.

After you have read your chosen book(s) for this month's group theme read, please report in the thread below.

Please state what book you read (and link it), how it fits the theme, that you discussed it (and where), and briefly summarize what you thought of the book and/or link to your review if you have written one.

If you lead the discussion, please state this in your post.

Here is an example for how to report your read:

“I read Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone and discussed it in the [Harry Potter/Buddy Read/Other books in theme] thread. I really enjoyed the book. I watched the film first so I already knew the story line but I was surprised how much I enjoyed the book more as there was more detail involved. Plus I listened to the audio which was narrated by Stephen Fry who is a superb narrator. 4 stars.”

If you read more than one book which fits the theme, please report all your reads in the same post rather than in separate posts.

Please note, there are THREE different badges that can be obtained for group reads. Those reading and discussing one of the two chosen group reads will receive a colorful badge similar to those for previous group reads. Those reading and discussing any other book in the theme will receive a stamp. The discussion leader for the two chosen group reads will receive a badge stating they led the discussion. Maximum amount of badges you can receive for the group reads is TWO - one for the chosen group read/discussion leader and one for any other book in the theme.

In order to receive a badge you must:
1. put your Wall of Fame Name at the beginning of your post as follows: WoF Name - Sandra
2. have read the book(s) before or during June 2025.
3. discussed it in the relevant thread. Discussion must be more than "I read the book and I liked it". Discussion requires something more substantial and analytical of what you read, for example, thoughts, opinions, impact it had on you, what was your favorite part, was it what you expected it to be like etc. You may also like to review the book and post a link to the review in that thread.
4. Report that you have read AND discussed the book.

WoF - Janice

I read, and am discussion leader for Run for the Hills. The discussion is in the assigned thread for the book.

This is a story of lost and found family. Strangers to each other, they learn that they are half-siblings of a run-away father. They go on a road trip in search of their father and to confront him regarding his abandonment. It's a poignant story with sad and funny moments (that only siblings can manage).

I also read The Snow Gypsy. I realized after I read it that it fits the theme. It follows Rose as she travels from France to Madrid in search of her missing brother. I enjoyed the story and was glad I read it. I was aware of the Spanish civil war, but not aware of the persecution of the Romani people that occurred concurrently to it. I discussed the book in the generic thread.

WoF Marnie

I read and discussed Run for the Hills and loved it. It was a whacky situation but had so much heart to it. There is also so much to talk about that it’s a great group read.

WoF Grainne

I read and discussed The Ride of Her Life: The True Story of a Woman, Her Horse, and Their Last-Chance Journey Across America. It was a beautifully written story set in the 1950's. I loved the descriptions of American life and times in the 1950's and that the author thought to include historical details about new inventions like the T.V. and the motorcar. The journey across America is an adventure for the MC and she takes her beloved dog with her plus her horse. There was a great connection between her four-legged companions and with the people she met. I loved it.

WoF Jayme

I read and discussed The Road to Tender Hearts by Annie Hartnett.

Hartnett has an amazing ability to combine sorrow and lose with laugh out loud humor in this over-the-top story of family, forgiveness and just living. I just added all her books to my TBR - it was that good.

WOF Karin

I read and discussed Run for the Hills by Kevin Wilson -- I finished it June 24, 2025.

This is where I discussed it:
https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

I read all of this and loathed it--the writing and humour didn't work for me. I didn't like the characters, either. I kept reading, hoping it would get better because I have a couple of GR friends who rated this highly. I have more comments in the linked discussion where I also link my review.

I've now moved the other book of his that was on my want to read shelf to my dedicated delete shelf. (easier than just deleting one book at a time; I can just delete the entire folder now and then.)

WoF Nix

I read A Thousand Miles and discussed in the thread. It was not a great romance, with confused characters, and the conflict felt forced. The chemistry was off and thats a major no no in a romance. There were few funny bits but did not like the male MC. 2.5 stars

I forgot to report this one if I need to:
Here's where I discussed it (content cut and pasted below)
https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

I forgot to say that it's a road trip story! Micah ends up being hired to drive the motorcoach for the other family.

IWOF - Karin

The Roads We Follow by Nicole Deese

Genre- a blend of contemporary romance, family, grief, drama and Christian.

The two main characters are children of country singers, one still active and the other who retired about 30 years prior and who recently died. Raegen, the much youngest sister of three, is working in her mother's company under the direction of her oldest sister, but aspires to be a novelist. Micah is recently unemployed from work as a school psycologist. He's recently lost his mother and has learned something that rocks him to the core, so he wants to read the journals Raegen's mother told him she's found.

This is my fifth book by Nicole Deese, and one of the better ones (4+ stars--usually she gets 3 or 4 star likes from me.) I now want to read the other two books in this series (I started in the middle because it's a road trip.)

What I liked is that the characters had backstory; the only thing that stopped this from getting a 5 is that while her characters aren't stock characters and she did a good job, it wasn't as brilliant as my highest standards for this. This could partly be because it's in first person, but I'm not sure that's enough since her use of language is strong. There are some good twists in this, and I mean more than one (whether or not I saw any of them coming isn't the point.)

How did this book make me feel? That depended on where I was in the book since it deals with grief, family strife, thwarted dreams and a number of other things, but in the end it was a feel-good novel by the end, which is what I want given all that's going on with my aging father and the world in general.

WoF Saar the Book Owl

I've read and lead the discussion of The Ride of Her Life: The True Story of a Woman, Her Horse, and Their Last-Chance Journey Across America
I truly enjoyed reading the book. The author let us in in the life of Annie Wilkins who traveled by horse from Maine to California, while giving the reader an insight on American history.

I read Run for the Hills and discussed in the group read thread. The newfound siblings are on a road trip to find each other and their father. I thought the book was ok. It lagged in places for me. I thought the reason given for the father running away was shallow and kind of anticlimactic. I enjoyed the siblings getting to know each other.

I also read My Friends and discussed in the general theme thread. The main characters travel a long distance to get back to one's home town. The story about the friends is told throughout the book while the two are traveling. This was a great story. It was heartbreaking at times, but the friendships were beautiful.

Badges and stamps have been posted. Please let me know if I missed anyone or made a mistake.

Sandra, I did read this one and participated in the discussion but forgot to report. Can I do so now and still get my badge?

WoF Katrisa
I read and discussed Run for the Hills. Wow, the dad in this one is quite a piece of work! It was a heartwarming read as the siblings all get to meet each other and see how different their father was. Right after this I read another book with a self-absorbed man with serial relationships/kids too (although that book took a darker turn). I gave the book 5 stars (rounded up)

No problem, Katrisa. I'll post it as soon as I'm in my laptop.