Alphabet Challenge 2023

I was on a mission with the alphabet challenge this year – and completed it in July. As always, X, and Z are tough, but I also struggled with E and J this year.

X

I went with Xeni: A Ma rriage of Inconvenience because I’d been meaning to read a book by Rebekah Weatherspoon and it was the rare book that actually started with an X. While it was a touch too insta-lust/love for me, it was cute and steamy and sweet.

Z

It is hard to find a book title that starts with Z that isn’t about zombies, Zeus, or zoos. I stumbled upon Ziggy, Stardust and Me. It actually checked 2 boxes for challenges, title that starts with Z, and a book set in the decade you were born. This coming of age story dealt with a lot. There was racism, homophobia, conversion therapy, and more. Through music they connect and start a romance that was healing and sweet and made this heavy book feel hopeful.

J

I’m not sure why J was so tough, but I struggled to find a book for it. Maybe it was just the mood I was in each time I searched. June, Reimagined showed up at just the right time. It was cute and lighthearted when I needed an escape after the emotional days we’d had dropping my son off in NV for his Wildland Firefighting job. I did want to shake June a few times for not seeing what was right in front of her, but she did eventually.

E

This was even harder than J. I had read Empire of Storms, but don’t use re-reads for challenges, so that was out. I finally settled on Emma. I’ve been trying to read more classics, so that fit the bill. Unfortunately, I was unimpressed. While a well written period piece, it was just exhausting. Too many monologues and lack of awareness/entitlement (I get that is the comedy of the book, it just didn’t land for me.) Plus I kept thinking of Clueless!

I think The Unhoneymooners was my favorite book read for this challenge. There were scenes that had me crying, I was laughing so hard.