Not So Well Read

Because people need a little joy right now...

Introducing Snail Mail Book Recs!

This book has:

✨ Political scheming with Les Mis revolution vibes
✨ Trans and multiracial representation
✨ Morally grey main characters 
✨ Polyamorous romance (M/M/F)

It’s epic. It’s vicious. The sequel might already be my 2025 obsession. If you’re wanting to support a debut author and dive into a new fantasy series, give this one a read!

(Pictured is the @illumicrate edition)

#bookrecommendations #fantasybook #fantasybookseries #bookreview #romantasybooks #romantasy #romantasyreads

Mistress of Lies by K.M. Enright

Happy book birthday to The Courting of Bristol Keats by @maryepearson!!

Seeing Mary E. Pearson’s name the cover of an adult fantasy book really played to the nostalgia of my early college years when I devoured The Remnant Chronicles. However, this one truly stands on its own merit.

The Courting of Bristol Keats took the over-saturated genre of fae-romance and created something that had me hooked for the entire 500+ pages. The characters had depth. The romance was compelling. It didn’t over-subscribe to tropes. It was truly a joy to read.

Romantasy readers, y’all need to give this one the attention you give the other fae romances we’ve all been beaten over the head with for years now. I can’t wait to handsell the heck out of this book, but also give me the sequel now pleaseeee

(Don’t panic, there’s not a huge cliffhanger I just need more Bristol and Tyghan)

The Courting of Bristol Keats

Why margin often drives our purchasing decisions and what you as a consumer can do to help create lasting change...

The Math Behind Indie Bookstores

This video is for everyone else feeling lost or unmoored right now. PS: I find it helps to focus on what you have done for yourself rather than what you haven’t accomplished. Be gentle with your brain this week.

#readingupdate #readingvlog #booktok #booktoker #bookstagram

Election Week Reading Update

Here are my thoughts on the 7 books I read in October!

October Reading Wrap-Up

Fantasy/sci-fi is one of the quickest moving genres, but I do feel like a lot of new releases get buried under the same few titles. 

Here are five sci-fi/fantasy books of 2024 that I feel need more attention.

✨ A Letter to the Luminous Deep by Sylvie Cathrall
✨ Foul Days by Genoveva Dimova
✨ The Night Ends with Fire by K.X. Song
✨ Snowglobe by Soyoung Park
✨ Ocean’s Godori by Elaine U. Cho

#booktok #booktoker #bookvlog #scifibooks #fantasybook

Under-the-Radar Sci-Fi/Fantasy Books

The weather has gotten a little cooler, found a pile of leaves in my walk, and I read a haunted house story. Does this mean fall has finally arrived?

Mini Review – This Cursed House by Del Sandeen

This book feels like it should be in conversation with some of my favorite gothic/historical horror novels of the last few years and I loved that about it. Eerie without being truly scary, this one is perfect for literary readers who want to branch into horror this fall. If you loved books like The Reformatory, House of Cotton, or Lone Women, this one’s for you. If you haven’t read any of those, but want to explore diverse gothic fiction, start here and work your way up that list.

#gothicfiction #bookrecommendations #spookybooks #horrorbooks #readdiversebooks #readhorror

Mini Review | This Cursed House by Del Sandeen

Is it just me or have YA cover designers been absolutely killing it the last couple of years? 

In honor of Don’t Let the Forest In hitting shelves tomorrow, here’s a stack of floral horror covers that I’ve admired over the last few years or so. 

Have you read any of these? What are your favorite cover design trends?

#prettybooks #bookstack #bookcoverdesign #yabooks #bookdesign

Let's judge some books by their covers! YA Horror/Dark Fantasy Edition.

Recommending my most-recent 5-star reads ✨

These 5 books are my most recent 5-star reads across a variety of genres from gothic fiction to middle grade to fantasy and romance. 

What does 5-stars mean to me? These are books that stood out to me because of their atmosphere, writing style, or sometimes, just because I had so much dang fun reading them. I don’t really over think it–I just go with my gut at the time of rating.

Books mentioned:

- Midnight Rooms by Donyae Coles
- The Darkness Within Us by Tricia Levenseller
- The Nightmare Before Kissmas by Sara Raasch
- Safiyaah’s War by Hiba Noor Khan
- Lady Macbeth by Ava Reid

What was your last 5 star read?

#bookrecommendations #booktoker #vlog #bookvlogger #readingvlog #5starbook #5starbooks #bookreviews

These 5 books are my most recent 5-star reads across a variety of genres from gothic fiction to middle grade to fantasy and romance. 

What does 5-stars mean to me? These are books that stood out to me because of their atmosphere, writing style, or sometimes, just because I had so much dang fun reading them. I don’t really over think it–I just go with my gut at the time of rating.

Books mentioned:

- Midnight Rooms by Donyae Coles
- The Darkness Within Us by Tricia Levenseller
- The Nightmare Before Kissmas by Sara Raasch
- Safiyaah’s War by Hiba Noor Khan
- Lady Macbeth by Ava Reid

What was your last 5 star read?

#bookrecommendations #booktoker #vlog #bookvlogger #readingvlog #5starbook #5starbooks #bookreviews

Recommending my most-recent 5-star reads ✨

bookshop

Courtney

I’m a genre-obsessed reader who has made books my entire life–literally, I own a independent bookstore and founded a non-profit book festival in my hometown. I believe that reading is meant to be fun and so there’s no such thing as a “guilty” pleasure read. I’m here to help folks find their next favorite book sans stigmas, expectations, or required reading.


Genre-focused indie bookstore owner with the personality of a border collie and the tastes of a victorian ghost.