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ahardreturn.bsky.social
Hard Return
@ahardreturn.bsky.social
220 followers 600 following 400 posts
Personal and book review blog.
(On hiatus during gardening season.🌱🪴)
A one-woman book club.
💙📚💬

www.aHardReturn.com


I’m on NetGalley and StoryGraph, too. 💛
https://app.thestorygraph.com/profile/hardreturn
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ahardreturn.bsky.social
Hard Return @ahardreturn.bsky.social · Mar 1
Reading. Writing about it.
ahardreturn.com
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
#BooksSky
#BookLover
#BookWorm
#Readers
Yellow toned image of a stack of books held up on an arm. Words in black text over top of it say, “Personal and book review blog. A one-woman book club.” https://ahardreturn.com/
ahardreturn.bsky.social
Do you have book recommendations for middle and elementary school kids?

It’s time for holiday shopping and this Auntie doesn’t know where to start!!

💙📚🖋️📚💬📚🎄🎅
#BookSky #YouthFiction #KidLit #Fiction #Literature #ChildrensBooks #BookRecs #Reviews #Books #Gifts #Shopping #Holiday #TBR #Kids
A pink, vintage ornament hangs in green Christmas tree foliage. White strand lights glow around it in an off focus way.
November 29, 2025 at 3:08 PM
ahardreturn.bsky.social
TDR
idabeware.blacksky.app Spooky Electric 🦀🌊 👻 @idabeware.blacksky.app · 6d
Now reading Mexican Gothic 💙📚
Book cover Mexican Gothic by Silvia Moreno Garcia
November 25, 2025 at 2:25 AM
ahardreturn.bsky.social
Holy moly. What a great read.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.75/5 Rec: 👍

Dystopian but not overly so. Mystery. Thriller. I can’t say much more bc I hate even teeny spoilers. It’s so, so good.

💙📚⏳📚🖋️📚⚡️📚💬
#BookSky #Books #Reviews #TBR #BookRec #LitFic #Reading #Fiction #Literature #Love #Thriller #Mystery
ahardreturn.bsky.social Hard Return @ahardreturn.bsky.social · 7d
Just over halfway. How am I not seeing this book everywhere?! So glad my #library displayed it bc this was a book I picked up for the cover.

💙📚🖋️📚⏳📚
#BookSky #Dystopian #Fiction #LitFic #Literature #Mystery #Literature #AmReading #MondayRead #Books #BookRec #Review #Love #Reading
My left hand holds a hardcover library copy of “The Book of Guilt” by Catherine Chidgey. Morning light on a bedroom wall and household clutter peeks behind the book. The cover itself mostly blue sky with green sumner clouds. At bottom is green grass rolling down to the right at a soft decline. A blonde haired boy lays on the grass with the top of his head toward us, booted feet and knobby knees to the sky and askew. He could be cloud gazing and wiggling as kids do or in a kind of somersault down the incline. Above and across the sky, the title is written in a coordinating blue and looks like it was written with a brush.
November 25, 2025 at 12:18 AM
ahardreturn.bsky.social
TBR all of them. 😂
bigbeardybooks.bsky.social Stephen Baird @bigbeardybooks.bsky.social · 7d
It's Monday again and today I'm still reading "Severed Streets" by Paul Cornell

What book(s) are you reading this week?

💙📚 #BookSky #AmReading #MondayReads #TBR

alt text in images please
white circle in a blue background and the words "It's Monday! What are you reading?" in the circle
November 24, 2025 at 3:33 PM
ahardreturn.bsky.social
TBR
cfpharmd.bsky.social Kim Novak - The Reading Rx @cfpharmd.bsky.social · 7d
Finishing up the last few pages of Ordinary Soil by Alex Woodard. Then we’ll see where my mood lands.
Ordinary Soil by Alex Woodard
November 24, 2025 at 3:30 PM
ahardreturn.bsky.social
TBR
simontull.bsky.social Simon Tull @simontull.bsky.social · 7d
A nice light start to my weekly reading
A short history of tractors in Ukrainian - marine lewycka
November 24, 2025 at 3:29 PM
ahardreturn.bsky.social
Just over halfway. How am I not seeing this book everywhere?! So glad my #library displayed it bc this was a book I picked up for the cover.

💙📚🖋️📚⏳📚
#BookSky #Dystopian #Fiction #LitFic #Literature #Mystery #Literature #AmReading #MondayRead #Books #BookRec #Review #Love #Reading
My left hand holds a hardcover library copy of “The Book of Guilt” by Catherine Chidgey. Morning light on a bedroom wall and household clutter peeks behind the book. The cover itself mostly blue sky with green sumner clouds. At bottom is green grass rolling down to the right at a soft decline. A blonde haired boy lays on the grass with the top of his head toward us, booted feet and knobby knees to the sky and askew. He could be cloud gazing and wiggling as kids do or in a kind of somersault down the incline. Above and across the sky, the title is written in a coordinating blue and looks like it was written with a brush.
November 24, 2025 at 3:28 PM
Reposted by Hard Return
jimc5.bsky.social
I’ve read 6 (so far). Better than 5 last year. At this rate, eventually, I’ll have a year when I read them all.

#BookSky

apps.npr.org/best-books/?...
Books We Love
Here are 380+ great reads from 2025 handpicked just for you by NPR staffers and trusted critics.
apps.npr.org
November 24, 2025 at 1:34 PM
ahardreturn.bsky.social
Absolutely recommend this book! A fab story of childhood, mystery, murder that immerses the reader in indigenous culture, religion, and history.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5 Rec:👍👍👍

💙📚⏳📚🖋️📚💬

#BookSky #Literature #Fiction #Mystery #Novel #LitFic #Books #Review #AmReading #Love #HistoricalFiction #BookReview #BookRec
A paperback library book sits on a white, cube shelf. It is “The Round House” by Louise Erdrich. It leans against a prayer plant with deep green leaves painted with bright red veins. “Shelfy” items are seen around it. A frame sits against the wall behind, more library books and a pink ball of yarn with circular needles in it are seen on the shelf below. The book cover itself is white. A woman stands on the left half of the image, ankles together and arms tight to her sides. Long black hair blows straight out to the right across the cover. Every part of her from one eyebrow down is obscured by a bright red color that imitates fabric. It also trails straight out from her body across the cover filling most of the image. Title and author are in black and white across the red.
November 22, 2025 at 4:18 PM
ahardreturn.bsky.social
Wow!
incworks.bsky.social INCWorks @incworks.bsky.social · 9d
Several new spreads in my Reading Journal. A couple of which were the 'Oops! Forgot to include the book cover, again' sort, so I had to jury rig stuff. Btw, is it 'jury rig' or 'jerry rig'? 🤔

#booksky
November 22, 2025 at 4:14 AM
ahardreturn.bsky.social
Half through “The Round House” by Louise Erdrich. This is my first of her books and I’m a fan so far!

💙📚🖋️📚💬
#BookSky #Indigenous #Stories #Novel #Historical #Literature #Fiction #Mystery #Books #AmReading #BookRec #Review #Love #Friday #TGIF #WeekendReading
A paperback, library copy of “The Round House” by Louise Erdrich lays on the edge of a round coffee table. I snapped the photo from directly above. Closer to camera at top of image are deep green leaves of a polka dot Begonia, they have large white spots as the name suggests. The table is a walnut tone and in the bottom right corner a snatch of orange floral carpet is furthest from camera. The book cover itself is white. A woman stands on the left half of the image, ankles together and arms tight to her sides. Long black hair blows straight out to the right across the cover. Every part of her from one eyebrow down is obscured by a bright red color that imitates fabric. It also trails straight out from her body across the cover filling most of the image. Title and author are in black and white across the red.
November 21, 2025 at 4:56 PM
ahardreturn.bsky.social
😂
November 21, 2025 at 1:35 AM
ahardreturn.bsky.social
I’m glad I finished this!! The last quarter picked up such a momentum my heart was racing in the final pages.

The way Murray uses the literary toolbox (foreshadowing, symbolism, metaphor, etc) are just masterful.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
Rec: 👍

💙📚🖋️📚💬📚🌱
#BookSky #BookReview #Love #Reading #LitFic #Literature
My eReader lays in a white countertop with grey marbling. Bright, white sun sprays across the screen through a water glass (well, a jar) next to it. The reader has a skin that is white with a floral wallpaper style print featuring blue-ish foliage and pink roses. The face of the reader shows a blank and white rendering of the book cover for “The Bee Sting” by Paul Murray. Simple block letters name the title and the author. Between them, center of screen is a drawing of a bee, flying or falling at a downward angle. Trailing from his stinger in cursive script is “a novel.”
November 20, 2025 at 3:23 PM
Reposted by Hard Return
chucktingle.bsky.social
favorite one of these author scam emails i have gotten lately was on last tuesday the subject was 'readers arent noticing lucky day' and i thought 'i dont know about that, robot, it was nominated for a goodreads award today what else do you want from me?'
scalzi.com John Scalzi @scalzi.com · 14d
Spammers attempting to convince one to use their "author services" via negging don't work when one's most recent book is a New York Times bestseller
"Did Amazon lock your book in the basement or did Jeff Bezos just ghost you?"
November 17, 2025 at 6:05 PM
ahardreturn.bsky.social
TBR
librarything.com LibraryThing @librarything.com · 15d
Today is the birthday of Nigerian novelist, poet and critic Chinua Achebe, whose work has been immensely influential in the development of modern literature in Africa and beyond. His most cataloged books on LibraryThing are "Things Fall Apart," and "No Longer At Ease." #ChinuaAchebe #💙📚 #Booksky
A black and white photograph of Chinua Achebe.
November 16, 2025 at 2:29 PM
ahardreturn.bsky.social
This book has major flaws. Feels like the author is unclear on her message so the reader ends up the same.
However, the reading is super fun. I’m not a romance fan but this one is clever and funny.
⭐️⭐️⭐️.5/5 Rec: 👍
💙📚🪐📚⏳📚🖋️📚💬
#BookSky #Romance #SciFi #Books #BookRec #TimeTravel #Reading #Love
A thumbnail image of the book cover for Kailane Bradley’s, “The Ministry Of Time.” A set of three dimensional block letters float in the dark of space spelling the book title. They are all different, bold colors.
November 16, 2025 at 2:28 PM
ahardreturn.bsky.social
I cackled before I caught myself. 😂
blatantnomad.bsky.social Nomad @blatantnomad.bsky.social · 17d
My immune system may be weak but my urge to cocoon myself and read 400 pages in one sitting is IMMORTAL.

#booksky #sickday
November 14, 2025 at 12:14 AM
ahardreturn.bsky.social
Yay or Nay? I’m 25% into this book - been an increasing slog. I’m getting irritated.

Have you read #TheBeeSting ?
Should I keep going or cut my losses?

💙📚💬📚🖋️📚☘️
#BookSky #BookReview #BookRec #Novel #Literature #Fiction #Books #DNF #AmReading
My eReader lays in a white countertop with grey marbling. Bright, white sun sprays across the screen through a water glass (well, a jar) next to it. The reader has a skin that is white with a floral wallpaper style print featuring blue-ish foliage and pink roses. The face of the reader shows a blank and white rendering of the book cover for “The Bee Sting” by Paul Murray. Simple block letters name the title and the author. Between them, center of screen is a drawing of a bee, flying or falling at a downward angle. Trailing from his stinger in cursive script is “a novel.”
November 13, 2025 at 5:39 PM
Reposted by Hard Return
willpassbooks.com
🏆 Week 28 Recap: Grace Becomes Queen of Mothers 🏆

The Grace of Black Mothers took an early and commanding lead in an all-mother lineup last week.

This week: Fine Lines

Vote for your favorite cover: bookjacketbracket.com

#booksky
November 10, 2025 at 3:03 PM
ahardreturn.bsky.social
Stepping away from the current novel into this cozy read about the most dreamy bookshops. This is my preferred fantasy genre. 😂
💙📚💬📚⏳📚
#BookSky #NonFiction #Bookshops #History #Books #Love #AmReading #Puppy #LibraryBook #Doodle #WinnieTheBish
I hold a hardback copy of “The Bookshop: A History Of The American Bookstore,” by Evan Friss. The cover is a front window of the quintessential indie bookstore with an emerald green front and trim, glowing lamps illuminating stacks, shelves, and stands of books. The author and title are written as though stenciled onto the from window we are looking into. I hold the book in my left hand over my lap to lessen the glare. Dark navy blue jeans peek below and a bit of my beige waffle shirt and a beige linen tablecloth sort of frame the warm green tones of the book. To the right of the book, my tiniest roommate, Winnie the Bichpoo, has stretched to her fullest height which is around my knee and peeks around the side to look up at me in quiet concentration… willing me to find and throw her beloved ball. She is an equally beige fluff to the tablecloth and my shirt with dark little button eyes and a deep brown button nose.
November 13, 2025 at 2:21 PM
Reposted by Hard Return
willpassbooks.com
Last chance to vote in the Book Jacket Bracket this week!

Week 28 Theme: Other Mother's Day

4 striking covers.

Only 1 can advance.

Cast your vote before 10pm ET:

👉 bookjacketbracket.com

#booksky #art #design
November 10, 2025 at 1:00 AM
ahardreturn.bsky.social
Light therapy is better on leisurely weekends!

Very much enjoying this book. Half through and I’ve chuckled out loud several times. It’s clever and fun.

💙📚💬📚🖋️📚🪐📚☕️
#Saturday #Reading #Weekend #Therapy #Literature #BookSky #Books #Love #Coffee #Weekend #TimeTravel #LitFic
My eReader lays on the corner of a laptop keyboard on the honey-toned wooden surface of my workspace. It’s surrounded by the symbols of “productivity:” a second keyboard, a little mouse, a ceramic mug of with just a splash of creamy coffee remaining. And just behind those is a rectangle of bright light, a light therapy lamp. (Don’t knock it till you’ve tried it… and even then..) The eReader has a clear case and under that a skin that is white with colorful cartoon art of berries, daisies, smileys, and rainbows. Everything is bathed in cozy light. The face of the reader shows a black and white version of the book cover for “The Ministry of Time,” by Kaliane Bradley. Dramatic block lettering stretches up a solid background. Different shades of grey suggest a variety of colors in the letters.
November 8, 2025 at 3:07 PM
ahardreturn.bsky.social
TBR
curiousreaderspod.bsky.social Curious Readers Podcast @curiousreaderspod.bsky.social · 28d
Day 3 of #NovellasInNovember is Turkish writer Ayşegül Savaş's WHITE ON WHITE which follows a young art history student researching gothic nudes as she moves to an unnamed city and becomes embroiled in her neighbour's dysfunctional life #BookSky #LitFic
November 8, 2025 at 1:52 PM
ahardreturn.bsky.social
TBR
curiousreaderspod.bsky.social Curious Readers Podcast @curiousreaderspod.bsky.social · 24d
Day 7 of #NovellasInNovember is Maeve Brennan's THE VISITOR, a curt little book about a young woman returning to her grandmother's home in Ireland after a prolonged absence and not quite getting the welcome she was hoping for. A fascinating read. Quite emotionally brutal in places #BookSky #LitFic
November 8, 2025 at 1:51 PM