I recently visited one of my favorite local independent bookstores, Valley Bookseller in Stillwater, MN. I love visiting when I am in the area, and I am always drawn to the 25% off bestseller shelf where I found this beauty. I also picked up some books for the kiddos and there happened to be a Where's Waldo event going on where local businesses hid a Waldo in their shops and if you find 20 of them, you are entered to win prizes. How fun! All the more reason to #shoplocal and

Books like this are why I love literary fiction. I finished Notes on an Execution by Danya Kukafka over the weekend, and I still cannot stop thinking about it. What is it about serial killers and true crime that is so fascinating to us? Why do the Ted Bundy's of the world have fan followings? The complexity of human nature, between good and bad, was fascinating. Kukafka's writing is lyrical, atmospheric, thought provoking and exactly what I love about literary fiction. Synops

Thank you to Libro.FM for the gifted audiobook of Woman of Light by Kali Fajardo-Anstine. #partner I have had Woman of Light by Kali Fajardo-Anstine on my watchlist for 2022 new releases for quite some time. I requested the digital advanced copy on Net Galley months ago and when I saw that Book of the Month had it as a June option, I snatched it up. THEN Libro.FM released the audiobook. It was like the universe was telling me to read this book. Woman of Light is a historical

Oh my, did I love this book! All the Lonely People by Mike Gayle was such a lovely surprise. It is cute, quirky and endearing. The characters will worm their way into your heart and there is no way you will finish this book not being a huge Hubert Bird fan. Hubert is like so many of us all, used to solitude and dealing with life's hardships alone, but craving human connection. Follow him along as he embarks on a campaign to end loneliness. Those that loved Fredrik Backman's A

Ya'll, know I love a good thriller and there are plenty coming out the second half of 2022 that I am excited about. We have something for everyone, ranging from a thriller with a twin trope, a feminist vigilante type thriller with my favorite book theme buzz word "cults," and a standalone sequel by the thriller queen herself, Lisa Jewell. Make sure and add these to your reading list! First Born by Will Dean Pub date: 7/5 Twin sisters. One dies. The police, and the twin left b

Are you like me and have all these unread books on your shelf, only to be distracted by library holds and new releases? I tried something new this month and had two of my kiddos pick out my next read. It was super cute and they both picked books I haven't read yet. Bronson chose Wonder by R.J. Palacio and since Wonder is a #backlistbook that has been sitting on my shelf for awhile, I decided it would be my next read. Great choice, Bronny boy. (I'd say he looks pretty proud of