It's my favorite day!

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Michelle Urso (@michellesmusicadventures)

Book 28 of 2025

Title: Britt-Marie Was Here
Author: Fredrik Backman
Published: 2014
Format: eBook
Date Started: 4/25/25
Date Finished: 4/29/25
Days to read: 5

This book was a heartwarming tale of a woman during a massive change in her life. Britt-Marie is insufferable, but as you get to know her, you begin to see why she is the way she is. I’m a big fan of Fredrik Backman’s writing style and he did such a wonderful job of bringing all the characters to life. Can’t wait to read more of his books (there are several on my TBR list)!

Book 27 of 2025

Title: Madhouse at the End of the Earth
Author: Julian Sancton
Published: 2021
Format: Audiobook
Date Started: 4/15/25
Date Finished: 4/24/25
Days to read: 10

My first audiobook of the year! This is a WILD true story about an 1897 excursion from Belgium to Antarctica, where the ship got suck in ice for a FULL YEAR. Impeccably researched, and beautifully written, it details all the difficulties, ingenious solutions, and the eventual work of freeing themselves and escaping Antarctica.  It’s amazing to see what humans can endure!

Hiromi's Sonicwonder!

Last night Adam and I had a date night to Santa Cruz! We went to Betty Burgers for dinner (yum!), got Lemon Drop cookies at Pacific Cookie Company, and the went to Kuumbwa to see Hiromi's Sonicwonder!

I discovered Hiromi on youtube a number of years ago, and was an instant fan. She's truly a jazz virtuoso, but when she plays piano, you can just see the JOY radiating out of her.

I never thought I'd get to see her live, but this was my SECOND time - after seeing her at Yoshi's in Oakland back in 2023. 

The show was amazing! I can't wait to see her play live again next time she comes around!

Book 26 of 2025

Title: The Mermaid of Black Conch
Author: Monique Roffey
Published: 2022
Format: eBook
Date Started: 4/16/25
Date Finished: 4/22/25
Days to read: 7

I’m on a bit of an ocean themed book kick right now! This was a gorgeous story of a lonely mermaid and her interactions with people on a small Caribbean island in the 1970's. The writing was really beautiful and I liked the multiple POV’s. It gave me ‘The Last Unicorn’ vibes... IYKYK.

Book 25 of 2025

Title: The Deep

Author: Peter Benchley
Published: 1976
Format: eBook
Date Started: 4/9/25
Date Finished: 4/15/25
Days to read: 7
I read Jaws when I was 12 and it changed my life, so I was excited to pick up another book by Peter Benchley. This was a solid, well researched mystery/thriller about 2 honeymooners in Bermuda who are treasure hunting in the reefs, find something unexpected, and get sucked into some real sketchy business. It wasn’t as good as Jaws, but how could it be? It was still a fun read.

Book 24 of 2025

Title: Horse
Author: Geraldine Brooks
Published: 2022
Format: eBook
Date Started: 4/3/25
Date Finished: 4/8/25
Days to read: 6

This came highly recommended by a friend and she did not steer me wrong! This was a gorgeous book - I loved the way it jumped back and forth between the 1850's when the Lexington was alive, and modern day. I also thought this was straight fiction, so I was delighted to find out that it was based on real historical events/people, and that I could go look at the painting of Lexington!

Book 23 of 2025

Title: The Change
Author: Kirsten Smith
Published: 2022
Format: eBook
Date Started: 3/28/25
Date Finished: 4/2/25
Days to read: 6

I was interested when I saw this book featured women who develop magic powers when they go into menopause, but it was also a crime novel! Magic, feminine rage, friendship and crime - right up my alley. The book was great and I absolutely need this to be made in to a show or a movie, and Hannah Waddingham needs to play Harriet - it would be the most perfect casting ever.

Listening to:

Book 22 of 2025

Title: Lessons in Chemistry
Author: Bonnie Garmus
Published: 2022
Format: eBook
Date Started: 3/26/25
Date Finished: 3/27/25
Days to read: 2

I loved this book! I went in pretty blind, which is amazing considering how popular it is. Elizabeth Zott is such an interesting character! The sexist discrimination she faced was so gross, but I’m glad she stood up to it. The intertwining storylines bringing together past and present were so engaging, and I liked that the ending resolved the story but left room for a sequel (fingers crossed)!

Book 21 of 2025

Title: Harriet Tubman: Live in Concert
Author: Bob the Drag Queen
Published: 2025
Format: eBook
Date Started: 3/25/25
Date Finished: 3/26/25
Days to read: 2

I was so excited to get this book on release day! 

I love Bob the Drag Queen and this is their debut novel. It was a quick read, and I enjoyed it - the premise was so creative! However, the writing felt a little undeveloped, and the book could have benefited from the characters and scenes being fleshed out a little more. I think Bob shows promise and I hope they write another book!

Listening to:

My Morning Jacket - is (2025)

Book 20 of 2025

Title: A Rogue of One's Own
Author: Evie Dunmore
Published: 2020
Format: Paperback
Date Started: 3/19/25
Date Finished: 3/24/25
Days to read: 6

This is the 2nd book in a historical romance series set during the British Suffrage movement. I really enjoyed this one - Lucie (the main character) was so ‘real’ in her devotion to her values and belief in making sure women were treated as... well, people. Her love interest (Tristan) had a 

surprising amount of depth, and I really loved him by the end. Such a delightful and fun read!

Book 19 of 2024

Title: Worst Case Scenario
Author: T.J. Newman
Published: 2024
Format: eBook
Date Started: 3/18/25
Date Finished: 3/18/25
Days to read: 1

This was a wild, terrifying, heart wrenching story, and I couldn’t put it down! T.J. Newman has a real talent for writing characters that, when faced with unfathomable situations, behave in a completely realistic way. Her books are also well researched and the technical details read authentically. This is her third book and they have all been so good!! I’m a fan for life.

Book 18 of 2025

Title: We Solve Murders
Author: Richard Osman
Published: 2024
Format: eBook
Date Started: 3/7/25
Date Finished: 3/15/25
Days to read: 9

This took me a while to read because I’m in a bit of a slump, but any other time I would have binged it in a few days. An excellent, twisty murder mystery! Once I got all the characters straight (there were a lot!) I was hooked. I loved that when a character had a hunch or thought about who the murderer was, they ‘kept it to themselves’, leaving me to keep guessing!