I owe y’all an apology.
Please know that I have tried to update the blog about a thousand times between last spring and now. I have learned the hard way in the last two years that when you run a business by yourself, it can be very stressful and you often have to prioritize just keeping things running over all the fun things that really make you feel passionate about your job.
I will forever be grateful to those of you who have stuck it out with me and been so patient as I have tried to establish a new normal. There have been lots of changes, which never come easy, but so many folks had words of encouragement to spare when I needed it. This little shop is my home, and I’m glad to be able to share it with y’all.
Here’s to fresh starts and trying new things!
I’ve read a lot of really great books in the last year. Not as many as I would have liked, but definitely too many for one post~ reading is my go-to method to de-stress! Rather than a full review on each, I’m going to give you a rating and a quick summary of some of the best, just to get caught up.
If you’re also looking for a bit of escapism or encouragement these days, might I suggest:
Part sci-fi thriller, part primer in moral philosophy. The novel is set in a near future in which one of life’s more troubling questions has seemingly been answered: how do you know if the person you’re with is really “the one” for you? With soap opera-style drama and enough plot twists to give you whiplash, The One is a great read if you’re looking for something hypnotic and fast-paced. Don't expect an ending that's tied up neatly in a bow, but I think the open-endedness adds a little something to the believability.
*4/5*
In the 18th century, a young woman makes a deal with the devil to live forever, but she must be willing to pay an excruciating price: no one will ever remember her. Ages pass during which she struggles to leave a mark on a world that has forgotten she ever existed. Until a man in a bookshop in present-day New York calls her by name. This book is a testament to the very human desire to feel ‘seen’. I was expecting it to lean more heavily into historical fiction, but it’s really a little bit of everything: history, fantasy, romance, horror. All combined to be totally excellent.
*4.5/5*
This book is pretty close to perfect. It is ideal for recommending to your friends, family, neighbors, coworkers, hairdresser, server, or dentist. When Nora Seed winds up in a library full of books about the many lives she could have lived, she isn’t quite sure what to do. But the more books she picks up, the more sure she becomes that there’s more to life than she thought. The first few chapters may not be right for some readers currently struggling with depression or other mental health concerns, but even if you skip a chapter or two, the ending of this book is worth it. Genuinely wholesome and uplifting, an excellent reminder that life is worth living, even if it doesn’t always go the way we plan.
*5/5*
If any of these strike your fancy, click the link to purchase through our partners at Bookshop!
We will make a small commission, and you’ll be supporting independent bookstores around the country!
Thanks for hanging in there, and Happy Reading!
Comments