Tag: reading

Review | Every Day I Read: 53 Ways to Get Closer to Books by Hwang Bo-Reum

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From the internationally bestselling author of Welcome to the Hyunam-dong Bookshop comes a warm and reflective collection of essays inviting us to reflect on our relationship with reading.

Why do we read? What is it that we hope to take away from the intimate, personal experience of reading for pleasure?

Rarely do we ask these profound, expansive questions of ourselves and of our relationship to the joy of reading. In each of the essays in Every Day I Read, Hwang Bo-reum contemplates what living a life immersed in reading means. She goes beyond the usual questions of what to read and how often, exploring the relationship between reading and writing, when to turn to a bestseller vs. browse the corners of a bookstore, the value of reading outside of your favorite genre, falling in love with book characters, and more.

Every Day I Read provides many quiet moments for introspection and reflection, encouraging book-lovers to explore what reading means to each of us. While this is a book about books, at its heart is an attitude to life, one outside capitalism and climbing the corporate ladder. Lifelong and new readers will take away something from it, including a treasure trove of book recommendations blended seamlessly within.

Rating: 5 out of 5.

If I had to describe this book in one sentence, it would probably boil down to the fact that this book felt like a warm hug regarding the habit of reading, but also represented so much more. In it there are 53 essays written by the author, all exploring different types of reading, different reading experiences, different ways to enjoy or explore reading in your life and even how reading can change you and why you should include it in your everyday. Each essay is beautifully and thoughtfully written, not just from the author’s perspective and preferences, but also weaving in snippets from books they have enjoyed or found meaningful. While many of the works referenced were familiar to me, I now have a whole list to look into because of those snippets and references. If you love reading, love talking about reading and enjoy exploring the psychology of reading make sure to pick this one up.

Happy reading!

Review | Nature Poems to See By by Julian Peters

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This stunning anthology of favorite poems about our relationship with the natural world, visually interpreted by acclaimed comic artist Julian Peters, breathes new life into some of the greatest poems of all time.

These are poems that can change the way we see the environment, and encountering them in graphic form promises to change the way we read the poems. In an age of increasingly visual communication, this format helps unlock the world of poetry and literature for a new generation of reluctant readers and visual learners.

Following the seasons of the year and of life, Nature Poems to See By will also help young readers see themselves differently. A valuable teaching aid appropriate for middle school, high school, and college use, the collection includes favorites from the canon already taught in countless English classes.

This sequel to the artist’s award-winning anthology Poems to See By includes adaptations of poems by Langston Hughes, William Shakespeare, Sylvia Plath, Emily Dickinson, Gerard Manley Hopkins, William Wordsworth, Mary Karr, Robert Frost, Edward Thomas, William Blake, Dylan Thomas, Robert Burns, Rhina P. Espaillat, Joy Harjo, Alfred L. Tennyson, Matsuo Bashō, Gwendolyn Brooks, Stevie Smith, Li Po, Carl Sandburg, Ueda Chōshū, e. e. cummings, Elizabeth Bishop, Christina Rosetti, and Philip Larkin.

Rating: 4 out of 5.

After having read the previous installment, Poems to See By, I was excited to see another similar book out by Julian Peters. I think this is such a great way for someone to consume poetry or get introduced to poetry. The added visuals of the art with the poems gives a great visual representation and dept to the poetry. I also really enjoyed how Peter’s art style shifted depending on the poem that was being portrayed. The only think that was slightly off to me was that I didn’t necessarily feel like these were all nature poems, so my expectations were a little different than what was in the book, I feel seasonal may have been a better descriptor. Still, I would love to see more installments in this style in the future.

Happy reading!

January | ARCs on Deck

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Hey everyone! I thought I would do something new today and talk about the ARCs I’m currently working on. This might not be all the ARCs I have in line, but the most direct ones I’m working on.

Nothing sucks more than being sent on a work trip with a (probably) murderous vampire when you’re a chaotic shifter whose life is falling apart.

Once called a freak for her inability to shift, Raya Merritt is now transforming at the worst moments. Rabbit ears mid-presentation? Check. Mouse whiskers in the pool? Yep. Cheetah spots while making out? Sure, why not? After a year of increasing turmoil–and with another full moon approaching–Raya is scrambling to make the most of a shifty situation.

Asher Sullivan is perfectly content. He has a quiet home, a blood bank down the street, and a steady income. He goes to work and comes home–no mayhem, no surprises–just the way he designed it.
Until a relentlessly cheerful shifter shows up in his office and upends it all.

When Raya and Asher are accidentally double-booked into the same hotel room, Raya is determined not to let her inner animal run wild and ruin her career. Against his wishes, Asher’s fangs ache to taste her, while Raya’s shifter side purrs for him and no one else.

Little do they know, more than their jobs are on the line, and they’ll need each other to make it through.

Goodreads

The second book in a cozy romantasy small town monster romance series with mythology, fairy tales, and folk lore. Books are intersecting standalones and can be read out of order.

Sylvie, the faerie baker.

When I found Arcane Cove after my own people cast me out, I felt home for the first time. Monsters, witches, and all forms of magical beings welcomed me. And who knew my hidden calling would be magical baked goods? The Cove’s residents came to my bakery Muffin Compares to You for sugar and enchanted support, which I was quick to indulge.

Until the day a mysterious, bearded stranger with pointed ears came into my shop, sending my quaint world into a spiraling blizzard. He was off-putting, arrogant, and knew he was handsome. So, why couldn’t I stop thinking about him? And when he said he was looking for a woman, why did I deflate, knowing it wasn’t me?

Jack, the Winter King.

Every solstice offered the chance to find my mate. A portal opened in the lakes surrounding my kingdom, taking me to a randomly chosen realm. Given this solstice would be the thousandth time I’ve searched, I had little hope left.

When I arrived in Arcane Cove, I never expected such a small town to harbor her. I also never thought she’d work in a stuffy, toasty cloud of sugarplums and vanilla. Surely, it was the universe’s idea of nipping me in the butt. Could she truly be my fated mate? And if she was, would she accept me, powers and all, before time ran out? Or would the ice creature within me frighten her away?

Goodreads

The only thing more dangerous than falling for a lie
is falling for the liar.

Don’t look at the desert. Don’t think about the desert. Never step onto the sand. Taera has followed these rules her entire life—until he arrives.

Impossibly gorgeous, with a face masked in magic, Nikolai kidnaps Taera and drags her deep into the dunes. He says she’s powerful and needs to be trained…if she ever wants to see her family again.

Thrust into a deadly school of illusions and lies, Taera can’t trust anyone. Especially not her breathtaking, ruthless captor. Top student and notorious liar, his secrets run deeper than the sand. He’s her worst nightmare—and everything she craves.

The cutthroat Halls of Glass have a mind of their own. Trapped within their looping corridors, Taera is surrounded by hostile students and forced to rely on Nikolai.

Taera knows she shouldn’t fall for his illusions. But magic requires a partnership, and he’s the only mage who can handle her wild, untamed power.

And the only way he’ll help her is if she pretends to be his.

Goodreads

Some battles are fought in the light.
Hers will be in the shadows.

In the fractured world of Emberleria, strength is survival and magic is power. Those born without it are cast out as rogues, left to die in the wilds or be claimed by the King’s slave drivers.

Lilian Ashcroft, commander of her pack’s warriors, has spent her life training to become a Guardian – to protect those she loves most. But when the King announces the annual Rogue Games with a deadly twist, her life shatters. Rage and despair drives her into the borderlands… and straight into the King’s chains.

Thrown into the heart of the Volskar, Lilian is forced to fight for her survival. Victory demands she forge uneasy alliances, outwit her enemies and face the lies haunting the Kingdom’s elite.

Yet an ancient evil prowls the castle’s shadowed halls, killing innocents for sport. And deep beneath the fortress, a forgotten library guards a bewitched gate – the secrets beyond could unravel the very fabric of the realm.

But some gates, once opened, can never be closed.

Goodreads

Look forward to reviews coming soon. Happy reading!

Review | Jackknife by Joe Hill

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Ruined by scandal, Dennis Lange is hoping for a comeback. Selling the story of a cursed tree could make his future—if it doesn’t kill him—in this monstrous short story from New York Times bestselling author Joe Hill.

Dennis awakens something evil when he removes a decades-old jackknife from the trunk of a gnarled old sycamore. Once pinned in place—now thoughtlessly freed—the tree returns to its roots. An act of vigilante justice took place under its boughs long ago. But its taste for blood has only grown stronger…

Joe Hill’s Jackknife is part of The Shivers, a collection of haunting stories that reveal the otherworldly terrors all around us. Once you know, there’s no going back. Read or listen to each story in one unsettling sitting.

Rating: 3 out of 5.

The premise of this story intrigued me and I was hoping to check out Joe Hill’s writing to see if it was something I would like. I would say that I enjoyed the story, but it just fell a little short for me. Sadly that can be the case with short stories, it’s sometimes hard to encapsulate the whole story that wants to be told within the small length. The main character, Dennis, is super unlikeable and with how much alcohol he consumes probably a bit unreliable in some aspects – but I don’t think we’re meant to like him. Some of the events were a little too predictable, you could definitely see where things were going. Overall it was a quick read and the writing style did keep my attention, so I still may check out other works by Hill in the future.

Happy reading!

Review | The Answer is No by Fredrik Backman

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In a hilarious short story from New York Times bestselling author Fredrik Backman, the absurdities of modern life cause one man’s solitary world to spin suddenly, and comically, out of control.

Lucas knows the perfect night entails just three things: video games, wine, and pad thai. Peanuts are a must! Other people? Not so much. Why complicate things when he’s happy alone?

Then one day the apartment board, a vexing trio of authority, rings his doorbell. And Lucas’s solitude takes a startling hike. They demand to see his frying pan. Someone left one next to the recycling room overnight, and instead of removing the errant object, as Lucas suggests, they insist on finding the guilty party. But their plan backfires. Colossally.

Told in Fredrik Backman’s singular witty style with sharply drawn characters and relatable antics, The Answer Is No is a laugh-out-loud portrait of a man struggling to keep to himself in a world that won’t leave him alone.

Rating: 3 out of 5.

I’ve enjoyed Backman’s short stories before, so thought I would definitely pick this one up. I don’t know if it was too surreal for me or what, but this one didn’t hit for me. I enjoyed it overall, but there were definitely elements that made it a little hard to get through. Not all of the characters are likeable, including the main character, Lucas, at times. I found the “board” hilarious, but some of the other elements were too over the top in their actions. I know it wasn’t a story meant to be believable, but it just was a bit much for me.

Happy reading!

Review | The Rainfall Market by You Yeong-Gwang

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If you could swap your life for a better one, which would you choose?

On the outskirts of Rainbow Town, there is an old, abandoned house. They say that if you send a letter detailing your misfortunes there, you could receive a ticket. If you bring this ticket to the house on the first day of the rainy season, you’ll be granted entrance into the mysterious Rainfall Market—where you can choose to completely change your life.

No one is more surprised than Serin when she receives a ticket. Lonely and with no real prospects for a future, Serin ventures to the market, determined to create a better life for herself.

There, she meets a magical cat companion named Issha and they search through bookstores, perfumeries, and fantastical realms while Serin tries to determine what her perfect life will look like.

The catch? Serin only has one week to find her happiness or be doomed to vanish into the market forever.

And all the while, a shadow follows quietly behind them…

Rating: 5 out of 5.

This was by far my favorite read of 2025, so even though I read it a few months ago, I had to review it. I have found that a lot of the healing fiction/cozy fiction coming out of Japan and Korea are right up my alley.

I loved the goblin market feel of the book and how Serin, who felt her life was full of misfortune, even though she didn’t really believe in the market, took a chance and wrote in anyway. Once she gets her ticket things start moving pretty quickly. I loved the rich descriptions of the market and it’s occupants, often filled with whimsy and enough of the touch of magic to spark wonder in both the younger and older visitors to the market.

The cast of characters is robust, with some definitely tugging at the heartstrings or being endearing. Along the way Serin learns a lot of lessons about life itself, but also about herself. She learns not only what she thinks she wants in life, but what is actually important.

The ‘bad guy’ was pretty predictable from the onset, but getting to the grand reveal was still quite a journey. I loved not only the adventure of it, but the growth we see in Serin and how she comes into her own.

Happy reading!

Review | The Amberglow Candy Store by Hiyoko Kurisu

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In this charming, fable-like book from Japan, a fox spirit sells magical confections to troubled humans, only for them to get a little more than they bargained for…

Welcome. We don’t get many humans here.

In a cozy night-alley lies a very special store. It’s only open between the full moon and the new moon, and it’s full of wagashi, Japanese sweets. Each candy claims to cure some ailment of the heart or the head. But who is the mysterious proprietor, and why does he study his customers so closely?

From the girl who craves more time with her boyfriend to the friends with some buried resentments, each customer learns a valuable lesson from these sugary treats. The candies can give you what you most desire, but not always in the way you expect…

Back to the shop owner—did that shadow just make it look like he has a pair of ears? Surely, not a tail? If he is a half-fox spirit, so be it. But why is he so keen to study human emotions, and why does he say each candy has a “dosage”? Patience. Like the center of a gooey caramel, the best things take time to reveal themselves.

Rating: 4 out of 5.

Connected stories about a unique candy store run by a fox spirit found on a seemingly abandoned road that most people can’t see? Sign me up. I absolutely adored this book, the different characters featured in the vignette were varied, all with their own individual struggles in life. The constant in each story of course is the candy store and its proprietor, Kogetsu. Not only are the individual stories heartwarming and touching, seeing them move through the difficulties they are facing with the help of the candies they buy at the store, but seeing Kogetsu through each story as he tries to better understand humans is charming. I especially loved that the last story was about Kogetsu himself in a way. By the end I was in love with the author’s writing and tone, but found I was greedy and wanted more of Kogetsu himself and his evolution and growth. The writing and settings that the author described were at times very whimsical, but then also very practical depending on where the characters were – be it on the road to the candy store, or in the ‘real world’. Overall I really loved the stories and characters, Kogetsu especially.

Happy reading!

Review | Ghosted in L.A. Complete Collection by Sina Grace

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Daphne Walters’ Los Angeles story seems pretty common—she followed her high school boyfriend to college only to be immediately and unceremoniously dumped a thousand miles away from home. Her roommate doesn’t want her around either, but fortunately one heart-broken night brings her to Rycroft Manor, an apartment complex with more roommates and drama than she had ever bargained for—and they’re all ghosts!

While helping out the long-lingering and new residents of Rycroft, Daphne has to deal with everything from angry spirits, the mystery ghost behind the basement door, and her college roommate Michelle trying to exorcise her new friends out of their own home! All while dealing with a complicated love life, a more complicated best friend-ship, and learning her place in LA!

Rating: 3 out of 5.

I had previously read the first volume of this, so was eager to pick up the complete collection. Unfortunately some of the inconsistencies in the story overall dragged down my enjoyment a little bit. I loved the art style and the colors. A lot of the ghost characters were interesting and individual, but often it was Daphne and the other living characters that detracted from the story – saying that though I suppose you could explain a lot of their behavior as being young adults. I felt like the concept was so creative and interesting, but it just fell a little short. I still enjoyed it overall and am glad to have read the whole story.

Happy reading!

Review | The Full Moon Coffee Shop by Mai Mochizuki

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Translated from the Japanese bestseller, this charming and magical novel, inspired by the myth of cats returning favors to those who care for them, reminds us that it’s never too late to follow our stars.

In Japan cats are a symbol of good luck. As the myth goes, if you are kind to them, they’ll one day return the favor. And if you are kind to the right cat, you might just find yourself invited to a mysterious coffee shop under a glittering Kyoto moon. This particular coffee shop is like no other. It has no fixed location, no fixed hours, and seemingly appears at random to adrift young people at crucial junctions in their lives.

It’s also run by talking cats.

While customers at the Full Moon Coffee Shop partake in cakes, coffees, and teas, the cats also consult them on their star charts, offer cryptic wisdom, and let them know where their lives have veered off course—because every person who visits the shop has been feeling more than a little lost. And for a down-on-her-luck screenwriter, a romantically stuck movie director, a hopeful hairstylist, and a technologically challenged website designer, the feline guides will set them back on their fated paths. After all, there is a reason the shop appeared to each of them…

Rating: 5 out of 5.

I am loving all of the ‘healing fiction’ books that are getting translated and this was another one near the top of my list. I absolutely adored this one. It definitely was more on the mystical and whimsical side, featuring a coffee shop that would spontaneously appear to people who were in need of some guidance or assistance, who may be at a fork in the road and need to know what way might work best for them. I loved the different cats and the way their identities kind of became apparent throughout the book. As with a lot of these books all of the stories were connected and as you go through the different characters it starts to become apparent just how they are connected. I absolutely loved the way everything was finally revealed as to just how deeply these people were connected and what had kicked off their experiences with the coffee shop/the reasons behind it. I can’t wait to pick the second one up off my stack and read it as well.

Happy reading!

Review | The Ghost Hunter Next Door by Danielle Garrett

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The first rule of being a ghost whisperer: Don’t tell anyone.

Seriously. Don’t.

Sure, it might sound harmless. A fun party trick, even. I assure you, it’s not.

How do I know? Well, let’s just say that I’ve had a lot of experience with this sort of thing, and nine times out of ten, it turns into an all-consuming disaster.

Being plagued by needy ghosts twenty-four/seven is one thing; being harassed by a horde of curious — or worse, grieving — flesh-and-blood people is an entirely different circus. I mean really, who wants to hold an impromptu séance in the middle of the cereal aisle? Not me, and the manager of the grocery store probably isn’t too crazy about the idea, either.

So, that’s it. If you’re a ghost whisperer, just keep your mouth shut and act normal. Ghosts? What ghosts?

Now, if only I would start listening to my own advice …

Rating: 4 out of 5.

When I picked this up I was looking for something light, paranormal and that would make me laugh. I had seen a few of Danielle Garrett’s titles pop up in recommendations, so I thought I would check one out. It definitely fit the bill and I had a thoroughly fun time with it. It was a good take on a bit of a cozy mystery, only it didn’t feature a current murder they were trying to solve…but the details of how a certain ghost died in order to help the living with their ‘ghost dilemma’ and keep the ghost from wreaking havoc. This was made a little more complicated by the fact that most don’t know about Scarlet’s abilities. The characters (especially the ghosts) are charming – after all, who wouldn’t want to hear the opinions of their childhood cat in ghost form? Scarlet has depth and her struggles with balancing her up and coming business, relationships and keeping her secret while helping the local ghosts was a great read.

Happy reading!