WEEKLY MENU
Monday
Kids - Chicken and Rice Bowls
Tuesday
Kids - Brat Mac and Cheese
Wednesday
Kids - Grilled Cheese
Thursday
Kids - Beef Ramen
Friday
Kids - Tater Tots and Cheese
Saturday
Kids - Cheese Quesadilla
Sunday
Leftovers Night
Sunday Confessions #344
Sunday has a way of catching me mid thought. The week is over, the noise dies down a little, and all the things I’ve been shoving into the corners of my brain suddenly want airtime. This is where I drop the filters, let go of the “I should be fine” narrative, and say the quiet parts out loud. No fixing, no wrapping things up neatly. Just honesty, exactly as it is.
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Weekly Menu #647 And The Book Of The Week
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Book Review: A Gathering of Shadows by V.E. Schwab
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What I Read Last Week - February 9th to 15th
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Sunday Confessions #345
43/250 2026 Reading Challenge
That’s all I have in me for today. No tidy lessons, no big takeaways, just the relief that comes from saying the things I usually keep tucked away. I’ll sit with this, let it be enough for now, and carry what needs carrying into the next week. If you made it this far, thanks for listening. Sometimes that’s more than enough.
What I Read Last Week - February 2nd to 8th
4 Stars
This was a solid, satisfying prequel that added just the right amount of backstory to the Maze Runner world. I loved getting a closer look at how everything came together and seeing familiar characters before the maze, before the rules, before everything went wrong.
It didn’t quite hit the emotional highs of the original series for me, but it deepened the story in a way that made me appreciate the whole Maze Runner universe even more. If you loved the series like I did, this one feels like filling in the missing puzzle pieces you didn’t know you needed.
Not essential, but definitely worth the read for fans.
Timothy Zahn has done it again. Anytime Zahn writes about Thrawn, I’m strapped in and ready for the ride. This book is pure Star Wars magic, the kind that reminds you why this galaxy hooked you in the first place.
The tension ramps up beautifully, the stakes feel real, and Thrawn continues to be one of the most compelling villains in the entire Star Wars universe. Cold, brilliant, and always ten steps ahead, every scene he’s in crackles with anticipation. Watching the New Republic struggle to keep its footing while shadows of the Empire regroup made this impossible to put down.
This is peak Thrawn. Smart, strategic, and deeply satisfying. A must read for Star Wars fans and proof that Zahn understands these characters and this universe on a molecular level.
4 Stars
This one was an emotional ride from start to finish. Beautifully written, tender, and quietly devastating. It’s the kind of book that sneaks up on you, wrapping you in warmth before breaking your heart when you least expect it.
The characters felt deeply human, flawed, loving, and trying their best, which made the heartbreak hit even harder. I found myself lingering over passages, needing to pause just to sit with the emotions before moving on.
Wonderful and heartbreaking all at once. A story that stays with you long after the last page.
This book was a wild, emotional ride from start to finish. The idea of the world ending is terrifying on its own, but what made this story unforgettable was how the characters still had a journey they had to complete. Klune unfolds their story slowly and deliberately, letting each layer peel back until the very end, and the payoff is worth every page.
The writing is raw and heartbreaking, steeped in love, loss, and the quiet devastation of the lives they lived. Every emotion feels earned, every moment heavy with meaning. It’s the kind of story that lingers long after you close the book, glowing like embers you can’t quite shake.
A powerful, beautifully told story and an absolutely great read.
This memoir had moments that really worked for me, but overall it felt pretty disjointed. The constant jumping back and forth through the timeline made it hard to settle into the story, and I found myself having to reorient more often than I wanted.
The writing itself was fine, nothing especially memorable, but what kept me reading was Brolin’s honesty. He’s incredibly open about his past, his mistakes, and the messier parts of his life, and that vulnerability was easily the strongest part of the book.
Not a bad read, just uneven. Worth it if you’re interested in Josh Brolin and don’t mind a memoir that wanders a bit.
I went into this without reading the previous books in the series, even though the book itself strongly suggests you do. And honestly? I was still completely immersed. The world is rich, layered, and clearly built with care, and the characters already feel deeply developed from the moment you meet them.
I never felt lost or confused, which says a lot for a series novella sitting at #4.5. It was easy to follow along, settle into the story, and quickly fall in love with the characters and their dynamics. You can feel the history behind everything without it becoming a barrier to entry.
A really enjoyable read that made me curious to go back and start the series from the beginning.
Book Review: Deep End by Ali Hazelwood
Title: Deep End
By: Ali Hazelwood
Genre: Romance
Pages: 446
Release Date: February 4th, 2025
Rating: ★★★☆☆
Summary from Goodreads:
A competitive diver and an ace swimmer jump into forbidden waters in this steamy college romance from the New York Times bestselling author of The Love Hypothesis.
Scarlett Vandermeer is swimming upstream. A Junior at Stanford and a student-athlete who specializes in platform diving, Scarlett prefers to keep her head down, concentrating on getting into med school and on recovering from the injury that almost ended her career. She has no time for relationships—at least, that’s what she tells herself.
Swim captain, world champion, all-around aquatics golden boy, Lukas Blomqvist thrives on discipline. It’s how he wins gold medals and breaks records: complete focus, with every stroke. On the surface, Lukas and Scarlett have nothing in common. Until a well-guarded secret slips out, and everything changes.
So they start an arrangement. And as the pressure leading to the Olympics heats up, so does their relationship. It was supposed to be just a temporary, mutually satisfying fling. But when staying away from Lukas becomes impossible, Scarlett realizes that her heart might be treading into dangerous water...
Review:
Deep End is an enjoyable but fairly familiar romance that never quite dives as deep as it promises. Hazelwood’s writing is smooth and engaging, with her usual warmth, humor, and easy chemistry between the leads. There are fun moments and emotional beats that work well in the moment.
That said, the plot leans predictable, and some character arcs feel a bit underdeveloped compared to her stronger previous books. The romance is pleasant, but it didn’t linger with me once I finished.
Overall, it’s a light, breezy read that Hazelwood fans will likely enjoy, even if it doesn’t stand out as one of her most memorable.
Deep End is an enjoyable but fairly familiar romance that never quite dives as deep as it promises. Hazelwood’s writing is smooth and engaging, with her usual warmth, humor, and easy chemistry between the leads. There are fun moments and emotional beats that work well in the moment.
That said, the plot leans predictable, and some character arcs feel a bit underdeveloped compared to her stronger previous books. The romance is pleasant, but it didn’t linger with me once I finished.
Overall, it’s a light, breezy read that Hazelwood fans will likely enjoy, even if it doesn’t stand out as one of her most memorable.
Weekly Menu #646 And The Book Of The Week
WEEKLY MENU
Monday
Kids - Cheese Quesadilla
Tuesday
Kids - Chicken Noodle Soup
Wednesday
Creamy Philly Cheese Steak Mac
Kids - Mac and Cheese
Thursday
Kids - Sheet Pan Pancake
Friday
Kids - Nachos
Saturday
Kids - Grilled Cheese
Sunday
Leftovers Night
Sunday Confessions #343
Sunday confessions feel like setting a cup down on the counter and finally noticing the ring it left behind. This is the space where I admit the quiet things. The overthinking, the second guesses, the meals that saved the day, the chapters I half remember, the weeks that slipped by faster than I wanted. No polish, no productivity sermon, just honesty with the volume turned to a comfortable hum. If you’re here, pull up a chair. I’m telling the truth today, even the messy parts.
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Weekly Menu #646 And The Book Of The Week
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Book Review: Deep End by Ali Hazelwood
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What I Read Last Week - February 2nd to 8th
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Sunday Confessions #344
35/250 2026 Reading Challenge
So I’ll close this the same way these confessions are written. Gently, imperfectly, and without tying everything into a neat bow. Some weeks are loud, some are foggy, some are just survival in comfy clothes. If you saw yourself anywhere in these words, you’re not behind and you’re not alone. We’ll try again tomorrow, and if not tomorrow, then next Sunday.
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