Hard Return
LightNews LightNews
banner
ahardreturn.bsky.social
Hard Return
@ahardreturn.bsky.social
280 followers 660 following 520 posts
Personal and book review blog.
A one-woman book club.
💙📚💬
AI free. I do not use AI to read, post, or review books. My content is my own.

www.aHardReturn.com

I’m on NetGalley and StoryGraph, too. 💛
https://app.thestorygraph.com/profile/hardreturn
Posts Replies Media Videos
Pinned
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/
Reposted by Hard Return
bigbeardybooks.bsky.social
It's Monday again and today I'm reading "Saints” by Amy Jeffs

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
February 16, 2026 at 6:05 AM
ahardreturn.bsky.social
TDR
thejoestermn.bsky.social Joseph @thejoestermn.bsky.social · 1d
My first Graham Greene novel, Our Man in Havana. Loved the premise. The dialogue hilarious! A good time read.
#BookSky 💙📚
#GrahamGreene
#OurManInHavana
Cover of book Our Man in Havana by Graham Greene
February 15, 2026 at 9:40 PM
ahardreturn.bsky.social
The sun is warm and our usually windy spot is calm. I pulled this book off the stack for its cover.

💙📚🖋️☀️
#BookSky #Classics #Literature #Sunshine #AmReading #LitFic #RussianAuthors #Spring #Mood #Sunday #Books #BookRecs
Holding a paperback copy of “Fathers and Sons” by Ivan Turgenev up in the sunlight. Beyond and out of focus are deck boards, melting snow with patches of yard then field, and finally, clear blue sky. The cover has a painting of a group of people listening while another reads aloud. They sit in the shade of trees while sunny Russian countryside stretches beyond them.
February 15, 2026 at 9:31 PM
ahardreturn.bsky.social
Finished this today. Read it in HS but remembered zero.

Did I like it? It is very good, but I don’t know how I feel about it… a tough read right now. More tab stickers than I’ve used in most books. Rec: 👍 (w/ care)

💙📚🖋️
#BookSky #Classics #Fiction #Literature #Dystopian #Books #AmReading #LitFic
A paperback copy of “1984” by George Orwell lays on a light pink waffle weave blanket. The book is bright red with a simple image of an eye at the center and the title and author in white around it. Kind of an oversaturated quality to the image due to warm bedroom lighting and the intense red of the cover.
February 15, 2026 at 2:33 AM
ahardreturn.bsky.social
I love prose.

Even for me though, I can find Hawthorne a bit much. This one had me right through some of the long descriptions, though. Holy Moly. I loved it.

Rec 👍

💙📚💬📚🖋️
#BookSky #Classics #Literature #Fiction #Creepy #Horror #Books #Reading #BookRec
A paperback copy of The House of the Seven Gables by Nathaniel Hawthorne. It is laying on a sage green chenille spread. The cover is a black and white photo of a many-gabled house with two chimneys and a very New England style. A little picket fence runs close to it against the sidewalk and a shop door that opens at top and bottom independently opens directly on to the walk.
February 12, 2026 at 1:52 PM
ahardreturn.bsky.social
Tired of certain template tags filling your book feed? 👀 This is old news but brand spanking new to me!!

As a reader who is not an author, being able to remove that pesky writing prompt tag from my #BookSky feed instantly improved my experience and enriched the content I’m seeing. Score!!
bsky.app Bluesky @bsky.app · Feb 28
📢 1.70 is rolling out now (2/6)

Mute words! In the Moderation screen, you can now add mute words which target either hashtags or the full content of a post (text, alt text, and hashtags).
A screenshot of the Bluesky side menu Search Home Notifications Feeds Lists Moderation Profile Settings A red arrow is pointed at Moderation A screenshot of the Moderation screen Content filtering Muted words & tags Moderation lists Muted accounts Blocked accounts A red arrow is pointed at Muted words & tags A screenshot of the mute words menu Add muted words and tags Posts can be muted based on their text, their tags, or both. Enter a word or tag Mute in text & tags Mute in tags only Add + We recommend avoiding common words that appear in many posts, since it can result in no posts being shown.
February 12, 2026 at 1:37 PM
ahardreturn.bsky.social
Down with a cold. Do you struggle to read when sick?

I do.

(This tiny book lives in my purse. I read it on repeat like a prayer book. Other than a page or two of Rilke, it’s Schitt’s Creek and Bob’s Burgers reruns till I’m back on my feet.)

💙📚🖋️📚💬
#BookSky #Comfort #Read #BingeWatch #BedRot
Holding up a 4x6” Penguin Classics paperback of Rainier Maria Rilke’s “Letters to a Young Poet.” It is a simple black cover with letters in white and the Penguin Logo on a white band across the middle. I’m holding it up in bright sunshine and close to my favorite bedroom plant, a variegated Hoya. Some sheer curtains can be spotted in the background. Now that I’ve typed out this post… I’ll finished the page I’m on and then head back to where I left off watching the Bleakening Christmas episodes.
February 11, 2026 at 5:53 PM
ahardreturn.bsky.social
Beautiful.
litbowl.bsky.social Litbowl @litbowl.bsky.social · 5d
Another perfect poem for February from @joseolivarez.bsky.social.

Get the book, Promises of Gold, here: bit.ly/promisesofgold

#poem #booksky #writing
February 11, 2026 at 3:20 PM
ahardreturn.bsky.social
TBR All of it. 😂 #BookSky
bigbeardybooks.bsky.social Stephen Baird @bigbeardybooks.bsky.social · 8d
It's Monday again and today I'm reading "Around the Ocean in 80 Fish and Other Sea Life” by Helen Scales

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
February 9, 2026 at 1:22 PM
ahardreturn.bsky.social
TDR
February 6, 2026 at 1:23 PM
ahardreturn.bsky.social
I devoured this. Not entirely sure I understand why? The cadence of the dialogue & descriptions of street directions seem like they’d grow tiresome. There is some magic here because I loved this book to the last line.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Rec 👍
💙📚🖋️📚⏳📚💬
#BookSky #Literature #Classics #AmReading #Books #LitFic
A paperback copy of “The Sun Also Rises” by Ernest Hemingway lays on a brick colored knit cap atop a worn table the color of honey. The book is white with imagery of a bull stampede up the front. The silhouette or shadow of a matador is under their feet at bottom. All the print and the art are in warm tones of orange, yellow, and dark brown.
February 5, 2026 at 4:59 PM
ahardreturn.bsky.social
Oh boy!

💙📚⏳
#BookSky #LitFic
February 5, 2026 at 11:23 AM
ahardreturn.bsky.social
Goodness! I had a beautiful morning taking my reading and my Self on a breakfast date.

💙📚🖋️📚💬
#BookSky #AmReading #Coffee #Classics #Books #LitFic #Literature #Vegetarian #ReadInPublic #EatLocal #SmallBusiness
A gorgeous cafe breakfast sits on a wood tabletop next to a paperback copy of “The House of The Seven Gables” by Nathaniel Hawthorne. The book has a black and white photo of a wood-siding, three-story house with many gable peaks and multiple chimneys. The title is written on a cream square at top. To the left of the book is a cup and saucer with an oat milk late all golden and frothy on top. In the bottom of the frame is a bowl of the most delicious granola I’ve had anywhere with walnuts, a balsamic reduction, rose colored and flavored Greek yogurt, Zaatar, and edible orchid in oat milk. It’s half-eaten but still gorgeous.
February 3, 2026 at 7:10 PM
ahardreturn.bsky.social
A really important book to read right now. I love how much a learn from Shafak’s books!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5/5 Rec: 👍

💙📚🖋️📚⏳
#BookSky #LitFic #Literature #Nature #Romance #Books #BookReview #TDR #AmReading
A paperback copy of Elif Shafak’s “The Island of Missing Trees” lays on a white and grey countertop. The book is a vibrant sky blue with the image of a fig tree cutting on the front in saturated colors. From and around the leaves are butterflies, a ripened fig, and a tropical bird. Lettering is across the front in white litters, the word at center is “of” and the “oh” is formed into an evil eye. The book is laying in a slanting rectangle of sunlight with deep shadowed around and trailing the edges of the book. Lots of dark and light. Note: I read the book as a hardback library copy. Because it was so good, I purchased this paperback and transferred my tabbed notes into it to keep.
February 1, 2026 at 3:56 PM
ahardreturn.bsky.social
Reading “The Sun Also Rises” and this might be a late night because I don’t know if I’ll be able to put it down.

💙📚🖋️📚⏳
#BookSky #AmReading #Literature #Classics #Hemingway #NightReading #Paperback
I’m holding up a mass market paperback edition of Ernest Hemingway’s “The Sun Also Rises.” The lighting is low. The cover is white with a mildly cartoonish drawing of stampeding bulls going up the cover. In the foreground, the silhouette of a man is trampled underfoot… or perhaps just a man’s shadow. The colors are restricted to dark brown, orange, and yellow.
January 30, 2026 at 3:19 AM
ahardreturn.bsky.social
💛💛💛

#BookSky
thebookseller.com The Bookseller @thebookseller.com · 19d
The British Book Awards (The #Nibbies) 2026 judges have been revealed and this year include Dame Prue Leith, Jamie Smart and Oti Mabuse among many more 👇 #BookSky
The British Book Awards 2026 judges to include Prue Leith, Yulia Navalnaya, Oti Mabuse and many more
ebx.sh
January 29, 2026 at 11:38 AM
ahardreturn.bsky.social
TDR
jasminedaria.bsky.social Jasmine @jasminedaria.bsky.social · Jan 17
I be seeing how folx have read 5+ books by the same author. Cuz this is like the 7th book by Desiree granger I’ve read and idk if I will get tired of that lady and all of her books are 500 pages. 😂
January 25, 2026 at 4:58 PM
ahardreturn.bsky.social
TDR
sarahnai.bsky.social Sarah Sara Sarita whatever @sarahnai.bsky.social · Jan 12
5. This book is well-written, comprehensive, funny, encouraging… it’s still a lot to take in and I may need to get hold of a paper copy for reference. Fascinating subject apart from anything else - I was curious and interested all the way through. Not just for “women of a certain age” 🤮 #booksky ALT
The Menopause Manifesto by Dr Jen Gunter PS Dr Jen’s strength of character really shines through. I definitely value her fighting my corner. My kind of feminism. Thank you ☺️
January 25, 2026 at 4:56 PM
ahardreturn.bsky.social
TDR
dani-is-booked.bsky.social Dani 📚🐈‍⬛🎄 @dani-is-booked.bsky.social · 22d
There is a strong possibility that I start and finish this one today. #booksky
The Correspondent by Virginia Evans, my cat Balls, and my coffee
January 25, 2026 at 4:41 PM
ahardreturn.bsky.social
What do you do to combat a slump?

Haven’t had much luck with the last few books. Changing it up with some classics and v dependable writers. Also, switching to physical over digital to boost enthusiasm.
💙📚
#BookSky #Books #SecondHandBooks #Library #LitFic #Classics #Literature #AmReading
Holding a stack of books on my left hand for the camera. Behind is a wall mural rendered abstract by how close it is. Colors are white, peach, terra cotta, and brick red. The books held up are from the library or purchased from second hand sites and mostly paperbacks. Top down the stack contains: Letters to a Young Poet by Rainer Maria Rilke The Sun Also Rises by Ernest Hemingway 1984 by George Orwell The Book of Hours by Rilke The Architect’s Apprentice by Elif Shafak The House of Seven Gables by Nathaniel Hawthorne Glyph by Percival Everett The Island of missing Trees by Elif Shafak
January 25, 2026 at 4:36 PM
ahardreturn.bsky.social
My first indoor daffodil opened this morning. *happy sigh* 🌼

#Gardening #Flowers #Spring #HappyFriday
A single daffodil faces the camera above a collection of green shoots. Its face opens out in the top right corner of the image with creamy white petals (or maybe they are something other than petals) and a deep orange interior flower cup with frilled edges. Filter winter light come through a crack in curtains to the left of the flower and beige linen curtains form its background.
January 23, 2026 at 2:38 PM
Reposted by Hard Return
chanda.blacksky.app
I hope #BookSky and authors alike will consider donating to this effort to cover the costs of translating a Palestinian poet into English. Heba Al-Madhoun and two of her children were killed in a 2023 Israeli air strike. Her husband, now based in MA, wants to share her work with the world.
Donate to Translate Gazan Poet Heba Al-Madhoun, organized by Naama Goldstein
The world lost an important voice when Gazan author Heba Al-Madhoun was killed in… Naama Goldstein needs your support for Translate Gazan Poet Heba Al-Madhoun
www.gofundme.com
January 22, 2026 at 7:30 PM
ahardreturn.bsky.social
What an unfortunate miss. I wanted to love “The Antidote.” It takes several incredible topics and histories and is well researched… but has some big problems.
(I elaborate in the StoryGraph review.)

⭐️⭐️/5

💙📚💬📚🖋️💬⏳
#BookSky #LitFic #AmReading #Book #Review #TDRList #BookTok
My hand holds up an eReader displaying a black and grey cover of Karen Russell’s “The Antidote.” The image on the cover is of a dilapidated little house and weathervane on a treeless expanse of prairie. Vision is obscured by a cloud of dust across the sky. I’m hiking the reader up to a library window in a city. Urban architecture and blue sky frame the ebook.
January 22, 2026 at 5:18 PM
ahardreturn.bsky.social
Adding this one to the TBR! Do you have a slump buster book to recommend?

#BookSlump #TBRList #BookSky
charlotteprong.bsky.social Charlotte Prong @charlotteprong.bsky.social · 27d
I’ve read so many books lately that are just ok, but I found This Strange Eventful History by Claire Messud to be remarkable. Slow burn at first but completely engrossing. I loved it.
#litfic #booksky
Paperback copy of the novel This Strange Eventful History by Claire Messud.
January 21, 2026 at 9:49 PM
ahardreturn.bsky.social
Car reading today.

💙📚🖋️📚💬📚⏳
#BookSky #AmReading #Books #ElifShafak #BookClub #LitFic
My left hand holds up a hardcover library book. It is “The Island of Missing Trees” by Elif Shafak. The book cover is Sky blue with a cut branch of a fig tree taking up the front. Butterflies and a bird are arranged on and around it and a fig hands from the cut branch. I’m holding the book up in the drivers side corner of my truck so you see black car interior, snowy wet windows, and city buildings stretching out behind the book.
January 21, 2026 at 3:12 PM