In this episode, Emiko Jean discusses flipping the script on the traditional missing girl narrative in her new police procedural, The Return of Ellie Black.
This week, we’re joined by New York Times bestselling author Emiko Jean to discuss her latest police procedural novel, The Return of Ellie Black.
In today’s episode, Emiko offers a behind-the-scenes look at her writing process for The Return of Ellie Black, including the extensive research involved in portraying true crime elements and what missing girl narratives have been missing from their portrayals. She also opens up about the emotional challenges of writing certain scenes through the darker aspects of this thriller.
Don’t miss this week’s bonus book list, where we offer 23 atmospheric books perfect for your fall book stack. This list includes cozy fantasy, moody thrillers, and magical realism.
Patrons can join us for a bonus spoiler-filled conversation with Emiko Jean, where we discuss the surprising plot twists in The Return of Ellie Black ending, and her plans for the upcoming Detective Chelsea Calhoun series.
The Return of Ellie Black Book Summary
It’s been twenty years since Detective Chelsey Calhoun’s sister vanished when they were teenagers, and ever since she’s been searching: for signs, for closure, for other missing girls. But happy endings are rare in Chelsey’s line of work.
Then a glimmer: local teenager Ellie Black, who disappeared without a trace two years earlier, has been found alive in the woods of Washington state.
But something is not right with Ellie. She won’t say where she’s been, or who she’s protecting, and it’s up to Chelsey to find the answers. She needs to get to the bottom of what happened to Ellie: for herself, and for the memory of her sister, but mostly for the next girl who could be taken—and who, unlike Ellie, might never return.
Meet Emiko Jean
Emiko Jean is a New York Times bestselling author of adult and young adult fiction. Her books have been published in over 30 languages and have been featured by Good Morning America as a GMA Book Club pick and by Reese Witherspoon as a YA Book Club pick. Her work has appeared in Marie Claire, Entertainment Weekly, Time, Cosmopolitan, Shondaland, and Bustle. She lives in Washington with her husband and two kids.
Redefining the Missing Girl Narrative With Emiko Jean
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Discover 24 atmospheric books that will transport you to vivid, immersive worlds. This list includes cozy fantasy, moody thrillers, and magical realism.
Atmospheric books pull the reader in with rich, immersive settings that feel so vivid that you can practically hear the leaves crunching underfoot or smell the salty sea air. These books don’t just tell a story; they drop you right into the thick of it, where mood and setting are characters in their own right.
If you’re craving a read that transports you, where every page drips with detail, these atmospheric reads will have you lost in their worlds before you know it.
In this week’s episode of the Book Gang podcast, we explore Emiko Jean’s novel, The Return of Ellie Black. This novel is also PERFECTLY atmospheric for today’s book list challenge! In this conversation we discuss the challenges she faces when writing in different genres and what she believes is crucial to convey amidst the many stories of missing girls.
If you love this book list, you can support my work through a one-time donation on Buy Me a Coffee or join our Patreon community for book fun all year long.
Patrons will receive a free printable copy checklist for today’s book list for you to explore. The financial support helps us keep the lights on in our online space.
Atmospheric Books
Explore these 24 atmospheric books that have been among my favorites in my reading stack over the years.
Ellie Black had it all figured out—a motel party would raise enough money for a new phone.
But after stepping outside to relieve herself, she vanished without a trace for two years.
When Ellie is finally found, she's malnourished, traumatized, and refuses to speak about what happened. As her family struggles to help her adjust to life again, Detective Chelsea Calhoun is determined to uncover the truth.
Admittedly, her drive to solve the case is personal—her own sister disappeared years ago, and Ellie's return stirs up long-buried emotions.
But the closer Chelsea gets to the truth, the darker the mystery becomes, leading to shocking revelations about Ellie's time away.
Dark, compelling, and full of unexpected twists, this is a gorgeously atmospheric police procedural novel to sink your teeth into. I loved discovering that this is the first book in a planned series!
Jane's life has unraveled—her career as a respected archivist is gone, her marriage is crumbling, and she's grieving the recent loss of her estranged mother.
Tasked with selling her mother's hoarded belongings, Jane finds herself back in the Maine town she left behind, where the past haunts her at every turn.
When a wealthy homeowner seeks Jane's expertise to investigate strange occurrences in her newly renovated historic property, Jane tackles a research project that explores the home's unsettling history.
With ghostly apparitions, long-buried secrets, and ties to the Shaker and Indigenous communities, Jane's two-week assignment turns into a chilling mystery that could reshape her future.
This was a powerful exploration of addiction, family, and the legacy of stolen land.
This novel felt like a guilty pleasure read. It blends White Lotus with an American Horror Story set-up in this sinister haunted house page-turner.
For Anna Pace, family vacations have two rules: tread lightly and survive. What starts as a dreamy getaway quickly spirals into something much darker when strange noises echo through the night, the locals issue unsettling warnings, and the villa's shadowy past begins to creep in.
This novel is filled with unlikeable characters, but Anna's prickly behavior turns this story onto its head when she refuses to give in to what's been creeping into her life.
I cackled at the ending and loved Thorne's descriptive setting.
This breathtaking story is my favorite Kristen Hannah novel as she takes readers into the unforgiving wilderness of 1970s Alaska.
When former POW Ernt Allbright returns from the Vietnam War, he is a changed man. His erratic behavior threatens to unravel the fragile fabric of his family. So, in a desperate bid for a fresh start, he uproots his wife and thirteen-year-old daughter, Leni, to live off the grid in a remote landscape filled with beauty and danger.
As they confront the relentless challenges of Alaska's brutal winters and their father's increasing volatility, Leni must navigate a treacherous path between loyalty to her family and the fight for her own identity.
Hannah writes so eloquently about this impossible marriage and the honest struggle of a Vietnam veteran. While this takes some Lifetime movie turns, I found it to be deeply satisfying. Julia Whelan, as always, offers impeccable narration.
In the 1970s, thirteen-year-old Barbara Van Lear is sent to her family's remote summer camp. Her rebellious attitude and punk style are at odds with her wealthy, prestigious lineage.
Under the guidance of her camp counselor, Tracey, Barbara makes an unusual request—to leave camp every night and return before morning, her destination a mystery.
But when Barbara vanishes one night while the camp counselor is out, things take a dramatic turn for the everyone involved.
With a serial killer recently escaping from a nearby prison and the dark woods closing in, the search for Barbara uncovers more than just her secrets- it's a Pandora's box of family fun.
Moore's novel blends a slow-burn mystery that has more than satisfied Liz Moore's fans. I recommend doing this novel in paper format as the timeline shifts can be a lot to track!
In a small Missouri town, Patch, born with one eye, finds solace in pirate tales spun by his mother to ease the harshness of his reality. His only anchor is his childhood best friend, Saint, a bright and bookish girl who brings stability to his world.
But their lives are torn apart when Patch attempts to save a local girl from a notorious serial killer, only to find himself captured.
In the darkness of the killer's basement, Patch forms an unlikely bond with another girl held captive, vowing to protect her, though he's never seen her face. This promise haunts him for decades.
From the Vietnam War to the 1990s, Whitaker's atmospheric, heart-wrenching novel offers readers a twisting police procedural that has landed a spot in my favorite books of the year list.
I never thought I'd be enraptured as much by West Virginia, but I assure you that you will want to visit after reading this cozy fantasy read.
Two boys go missing during an end-of-school field trip to Red Crow State Forest. They have been gone so long that people no longer refer to them as "missing" but only as "lost." The boys are wearing pants six inches too short, no shirts, and no shoes, which is unseasonably strange for November.
This set-up pulls the reader into an enchanted portal to another world with these beautiful characters. You'll love uncovering where the boys have been, what holds them to this world now, and why they feel called to return to this place.
Readers should know that this novel breaks the third wall with narration, which enhanced the reading experience!
On the eve of her daughter's wedding, June Reid's life is completely devastated when a shocking disaster takes the lives of her daughter, her daughter's fiancé, her ex-husband, and her boyfriend, Luke—her entire family, all gone in a moment. And June is the only survivor.
Alone and directionless, June drives across the country, away from her small Connecticut town. In her wake, a community emerges, weaving a beautiful and surprising web of connections through shared heartbreak.
Clegg ambitiously illuminates how interwoven we are as people in this beautiful and haunting story of a town tragedy and the people left behind.
Although the sheer amount of characters in this novel can feel overwhelming, readers become detectives as each person is woven into another. You are also reminded that even in chance meetings with others, you can play an influential part in someone else's story.
This backlist novel was longlisted for the Man Booker Prize & Bill Clegg joined the site for an interview to discuss his fascinating process for this novel that you can dive into when you finish.
Not only is this novel a fascinating look at prisoners on death row, but the author, Rene Denfeld, was a death penalty investigator. She uses this background well to plot out the corruption of the prison world and what an investigator does to present facts about a death row inmate before going to trial.
In this moving novel set within the confines of a death row prison, the story follows the perspectives of an inmate known as "the man" and a female investigator who seeks to uncover the truth behind the stories of those condemned to die.
The inmate finds escape in his books and in reimagining life around him, taking readers through a fantastical atmospheric story. Though he is confined in a cell, we discover that he sees visions of golden horses running beneath the prison, heat flowing like molten metal from their backs, and the devastating violence of prison life.
Digging into a killer's background, the investigator uncovers contorting truths that challenge familiar notions of victim and criminal, innocence and guilt, honesty and corruption, and reveals many secrets of her own.
It's a haunting and graphic story about prison violence, but it was such a standout debut that I've never forgotten it. My interview with Rene Denfeld reveals more about how she crafted this story.
This novel offers a spellbinding audiobook experience that made it a standout in my audiobook life- it's the perfect accompaniment to a jigsaw puzzle.
Seventeen-year-old Alice and her mother have spent their lives on the run, constantly dodging the streak of bad luck that seems to haunt them.
But when Alice's estranged grandmother—an elusive author of cult-classic tales—dies in her mysterious estate, their luck takes a dire turn.
Alice's mother is kidnapped by a figure from the Hinterland, a cruel supernatural realm inspired by her grandmother's stories, leaving behind a chilling warning for Alice to stay away from the Hazel Wood.
Ignoring her mother's advice, Alice launches a perilous quest to find the magical Hazel Wood, accompanied by Ellery Finch, a classmate and die-hard fan of her grandmother's work. As you may guess, secrets are uncovered and truths revealed.
In a quiet town, the brutal murder of Catherine Clare leaves her husband, George, as the prime suspect.
But as the investigation unfolds, so do the dark layers of the couple's life, revealing a deteriorating marriage, a farmhouse steeped in mystery, and George's chilling double life.
With masterful prose, Elizabeth Brundage turns the home itself into a living, breathing character, intensifying the unsettling atmosphere for the reader.
Elizabeth Brundage joined us to share more about the real unsolved murder that inspired her to write this novel and the riveting process into her research for this work.
Eowyn Ivey's debut novel was a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize and is one of my all-time favorite magical realism books.
After reading it a second time this winter to prepare for our 2024 book club year, I can confirm that the book still resonates. Jack and Mabel, struggling with the grief of losing their child, undertake a homesteading journey in Alaska to start anew. One night, they sculpt a child out of snow. But, to their surprise, a magical girl who resembles their imagined snow child appears on their doorstep.
If you enjoy a stunning audiobook experience, this novel features a multi-cast narration that enhances the reading journey. It's the kind of book you can easily finish in one afternoon. In 2019, Kate escaped her abusive partner in London and found solace in Weyward Cottage, which had been bequeathed to her by a distant relative.
Surrounded by nature's embrace, Kate unravels the cottage's secrets, tracing back to the witch-hunting period of the 16th century and exploring the hidden, surprising legacy of her great-aunt.
Cooper and his daughter live off the grid in a remote Appalachian cabin, hiding from the world. When a stranger
arrives, their fragile existence is threatened, and the secrets Cooper has kept for years begin to unravel.
This taut, atmospheric thriller combines the tension of survivalist fiction with a deep emotional core, that I highly recommend as an audiobook experience! The ending was so satisfying to this story!
This emotional debut novel follows three generations of Vietnamese American women grappling with the death of their matriarch, Minh.
As Minh's granddaughter, Ann faces a crossroads in her seemingly perfect life, she returns home to Florida to help her estranged mother clean out the estate.
But, when they begin cleaning out the rundown manor, they unravel some long-buried secrets in the Banyan House.
Through Minh's perspective, readers are given a cinematic snapshot into the everyday life of people surrounded by the harrowing hardships of the Vietnam War that builds a deeper connection to her character, even though she is gone.
This novel offers readers a masterful blending of dystopian fiction and magical realism that kept me on the edge of my seat from start to finish.
As a hurricane approaches, Kirby, his pregnant wife Frida, and their two sons, Flip and Lucas, brace for impact. However, when Flip and Lucas go missing before the storm hits, their father sets out to find them amidst the dangerous winds.
Alone, his wife goes into early labor and delivers an exceptional child, Wanda, who she names after the devastating storm that marks the beginning of a society in decline.
The reader follows the story through Wanda's eyes as she grows up, adapting to the changing landscape and finding a community that chooses to stay behind.
The moving landscape transforms from a devastated area to a lush tropical paradise, exploring the impact of climate change on our world in a fresh and pivotal way.
This beautifully evocative story offers a gorgeous exploration on loneliness.
Sara, a skilled bartender who ran away from home at sixteen, and Emilie, a florist struggling with her own identity, cross paths at a high-end Los Angeles restaurant. Though their connection is brief, the novel focuses on their individual journeys to heal and grow before finding each other.
Lacour's lush descriptions of food, drinks, and the moody restaurant atmosphere immerse readers in a sensory-rich experience that forever imprinted on my heart.
Be sure to have something delicious to eat and drink while you read this one!
Truly, any Ethan Joella novel could be on this list, as the writer shines in his strong sense of place and character development, which make every person in a small town feel like someone you might encounter in real life. However, this story of found family has been my favorite from the writer.
Three strangers—each grappling with profound loss—find themselves in a small coastal town where their lives unexpectedly intertwine.
As they each confront their grief, long-buried secrets come to the surface, and readers discover their surprising interconnectedness. It's a quiet, meditative examination that is a cozy addition to any book club book stack.
We were so lucky to discuss this book with the author and host him on the podcast!
Church's memorable debut is an atmospheric, heartbreaking historical fiction novel set in 1935 North Carolina that reminded me of many of my favorite childhood classics growing up.
When Leah is orphaned and sent to live with the wealthy Griffin family, her life is upended as she's forced into servitude and subjected to the cruelty of Mrs. Griffin.
Against the illuminating backdrop of the state's eugenics program, Leah's struggles and Church's surprising familial ties to these types of cases showcase the resilience of many girls in the face of societal injustice.
After a tragic accident leaves her husband in a coma, Jill is forced to keep her family together in the unforgiving Maine landscape.
As she struggles to maintain normalcy, their isolated life reveals cracks in the facade, and dark family secrets emerge.
I devoured this slow-burn story filled with sparse, gentle prose, but one thing that makes it stand out is the way it showcases mothering teens. I wish we had more books with that in it.
One gorgeous passage reads,"Being a mother isn't anything like I thought it would be. It's harder. Better. More confusing. Shorter. Longer."
Persephone returns to the lakeside cottage where she spent her childhood summers, hoping to reconnect with Sam, the boy she once loved. As they rebuild their friendship, past betrayals resurface, threatening to unravel the idyllic memories of their youth.
The seaside cottage novel alternates between past and present, exploring their friendship from awkward teenage years to adulthood as they are reunited after years of being estranged.
I appreciated how Fortune's retelling of what could feel like a YA book feels so sophisticated and steamy. It's a grown-up coming-of-age story that any reader can immerse themselves in.
A magical, nocturnal circus, filled with breathtaking illusions and dazzling performances, appears without warning. Behind the scenes, two rival magicians are locked in a deadly game, and only one can emerge victorious.
Need I say more?
With lush descriptions and a rich atmosphere, this novel blends fantasy and suspense, where the boundaries between reality and magic blur in thrilling ways. It was a thrill to read it as a community read in our town!
This atmospheric story immerses you in eerie woods where an author has gone missing and a cult-like community thrives.
In this novel, commune members are instructed not to cross the border, as doing so could spread disease to their community. However, someone has been testing this theory with surprising results.
Each character will uncover that this forest holds many secrets, including those that could reveal their past.
TELL ME: What do YOU think are the best atmospheric books? Let us know in the comments below what this list needs!
Explore these 23 cozy fantasy books on today’s book list, including upcoming releases, new books, and backlist titles for your coziest reading season.
When life feels a bit too stressful, cozy fantasy books can be the perfect escape. Who couldn’t get behind being whisked away to enchanting worlds where quirky characters navigate delightful adventures? When I face hard seasons in my life, I ALWAYS search for books like this to help reset my busy brain.
On this week’s Book Gang podcast, we dive into Meg Shaffer’s delightful novel,The Lost Story and learn more about the literary seminar that helped her shape this book among some of her very own literary heroes.
If you love this book list, you can support my work through a one-time donation on Buy Me a Coffee or join our Patreon community for book fun all year long.
Patrons will receive a free printable copy checklist for today’s book list for you to explore. The financial support helps us keep the lights on in our online space.
Cozy Fantasy Books
Whether you're exploring quaint villages, befriending mythical creatures, or embarking on cozy quests, these books are perfect for unwinding and embracing the magic of everyday life.
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We were so lucky to host Meg Shaffer in conversation on the Book Gang podcast TWICE! Be sure to tune in to discover more about the literary seminar with Richard Russo that refined this story idea.
In West Virginia, two boys go missing during an end-of-school field trip to Red Crow State Forest. They have been gone so long that people no longer refer to them as "missing" but only as "lost." The boys are wearing pants six inches too short, no shirts, and no shoes, which is unseasonably strange for November.
Readers uncover an entirely enchanted portal to another world with these beautiful characters. The world-building is light but offers a gorgeous love story with gorgeous surprises as you uncover where the boys have been, what holds them to this world now, and why they feel called to return.
Once a powerful witch, Sera Swan lost her magic after a resurrection spell gone wrong.
Now running an inn with her resurrected aunt and a talking fox, Sera stumbles upon an ancient spellbook that could restore her powers—if she can team up with Luke Larsen, a frosty historian and former one-night stand.
Full of magic, mischief, and unexpected cozy romance, Sera's journey shows that the best magic might just be the quirky family she's found.
Tao is a fortune teller who only deals in "small" fortunes—simple predictions about weather, love, and livestock—because she knows too well that bigger fortunes lead to more significant consequences.
But Tao's solitary life changes when she's roped into a search for a lost child by a reformed thief and an ex-mercenary.
Joined by an adventure-seeking baker and a slightly magical cat, she is now forced to confront the shadows of her past. As danger looms, she must decide if she will risk everything for the family she never thought she could have.
In the third installment of the Emily Wilde series, the brilliant but prickly scholar Emily finds herself in her most perilous adventure yet—as queen of a faerie realm.
Alongside her fiancé, the enigmatic Wendell Bambleby, Emily is swept into the treacherous politics of Faerie as they seize the throne of Wendell's long-lost kingdom.
But a deadly curse, left by Wendell's vengeful stepmother, threatens their reign. To save their new home, Emily must use all her faerie lore while navigating her own doubts about being a queen in this dazzling and dangerous world.
In this upcoming summer release, Vivian finds herself navigating the chaotic world of magical New England aristocracy after her kindergartner, Aria, is bitten by a werewolf.
As they settle into their new life, Vivian faces a whirlwind of challenges—from choosing the right sacrificial dagger and managing the demands of a PTA that includes sirens and fire-wielding parents to confronting the terrifying trials of magical school.
Readers rejoiced that The House in the Cerulean Sea sequel has finally hit shelves.
In this next installment in the Cerulean Chronicles series, Arthur Parnassus has created a loving home for six extraordinary kids alongside his partner Linus.
But, when the government demands Arthur share his traumatic past, their true intent is clear: to enforce rigid rules and take the children away.
But Arthur and Linus know their children are brave, kind, and ready to stand against those who would suppress their magic. With the arrival of a new housemate, their found family learns even more about love and resilience.
In this cottagecore book, Kiela, a reclusive librarian with a magically sentient spider plant as her only companion, escapes a burning library and a brewing revolution with armfuls of stolen spellbooks.
Fleeing to her childhood island home, she's determined to keep to herself—until a nosy, charming neighbor and a little forbidden magic lead her to open a secret spellshop filled with enchanting jams.
Durst is a seasoned author with over twenty-five books for adults and this slow-burn romantasy has been another big hit with readers.
When reclusive E. discovers something extraordinary outside her underwater home, she exchanges letters with renowned scholar Henerey Clel.
Their shared passion for the ocean grows into a deep love, leading them to uncover a mystery from the depths that could transform their world.
But when a seaquake destroys E.'s home and the pair vanish, their siblings, Sophy and Vyerin, must piece together the clues left behind to solve their disappearance—and uncover secrets that could change everything.
"He woke up with no eyebrows and no idea how he'd gotten into such a position," is certainly a fresh way to start a story.
In this novel, Gav wakes up in a chaotic wizard's workshop with no memories, eyebrows, or a clue about why he's now the infamous Dread Lord Whomever.
Stuck in a castle full of goblins and a locked-up princess, he must navigate the absurdities of his weirdly dark legacy while piecing together his past.
I was craving a book like Bridgerton when I dug into this novel this summer, and loved this swoony passage that says it all, "I have known many human beings with a full soul to their name who do not have half so much compassion or practicality as you".
Theodora Ettings, cursed by a faerie, has lost her ability to feel fear, embarrassment, or joy, leaving her prone to scandal.
Determined to navigate the London Season quietly, her plans go awry when she crosses paths with Lord Elias Wilder, the eccentric and impossibly talented Lord Sorcier of England, who offers to help restore her missing emotions.
As she gets drawn deeper into the world of magicians and faeries, she must juggle her curse, her growing connection with the least-liked man in society, and the intrigue of high society itself.
If you love the story, you can continue the Regency Faerie Tales Series with the next two books Ten Thousand Stitches and Longshadow.
This low-stakes cozy fantasy novel lowered my blood pressure to dangerous levels and is a beautiful entry point for any reader craving a sweet reading escape.
Tired of battle and bloodshed, Viv the orc retires to open a coffee shop in a sleepy town, where she faces challenges from local businessmen and magical foes alike.
The town's vivid descriptions, from the delectable bakery treats to the fragrant air, provide readers with an immersive reading experience.
Mika Moon has always lived by the rule: keep your magic hidden and stay away from other witches. Her only outlet is posting playful videos online, pretending to be a witch for laughs.
But when she's invited to Nowhere House to help three young witches control their powers, Mika knows she's breaking all the rules.
Yet, the warmth of the house—and the unexpected family she finds there—begins to change her life.
My husband loved this sweet translated novel that pairs a shy high school student with an outspoken tabby cat.
In this charming novel, Rintaro inherits his grandfather's bookshop and soon launches a magical adventure with the cat Tiger to help rescue books imprisoned by people who have misused or misunderstood their true value.
The story is filled with sweet, quotable, bookish moments, making this a cozy book to unwind in the evenings.
I devoured this audiobook on a day of meal prepping for my family and loved the author's inspiration garnered from Chinese mythology.
Xingyin, the secret daughter of the Moon Goddess, goes on an epic journey to free her mother from eternal imprisonment. Disguised among mortals, Xingyin must hone her magical skills, navigate treacherous politics, and face powerful foes to reclaim her mother's rightful place in the celestial realm.
With lush world-building, sweeping romance, and a fierce heroine, this debut offers a captivating fantasy that I found perfectly cozy for this book list assignment.
If you fall in love with this one, you can continue this fantasy series with the next two books- Heart of the Sun Warrior & Tales of the Celestial Kingdom.
Lucy Hart, a 26-year-old teacher's aide, dreams of adopting a student who has lost his parents—but financial hardships stand in her way.
Then, an extraordinary opportunity arises: Her favorite childhood author announces a contest for his latest and only copy of a new Clock Island book.
To win, Lucy must outsmart fierce competitors in a race of clever riddles, battling ruthless book collectors and unlocking the secret to making wishes come true. Along the way, she reconnects with the magic of childhood and discovers a few unexpected twists of her own.
You can hear Meg Shaffer in her first interview for this novel on the Book Gang Podcast as we head to Clock Island and discover her favorite island books that inspired her novel.
This cozy fantasy novella was a book club favorite and a delight on audiobook.
The robots of Panga have decided to leave their jobs and put down their tools, never to be seen again. But, a tea monk's life is upended by the arrival of a robot that has returned, and he won't leave until he can answer this single question, "What Do People Need?"
It's the comforting read I didn't think I needed in a book, particularly in the world's polarizing seasons we have weathered over the last few years. Don't be surprised if you read it every holiday season.
If you loved The Snow Childthis debut Russian fairytale might be your next best bet.
Vasilisa is a spirited young girl who loves the legends of Frost, the blue-eyed winter demon who steals away unwary souls. After her mother dies, Vasilisa's new stepmother bans their household from honoring the protective spirits, causing dark forces to stir.
As danger closes in, Vasilisa must embrace her hidden gifts to protect her family, even if it means defying everyone she holds dear.
Arden's lush, atmospheric writing weaves a magical escape perfect for fairytale lovers.
You can continue this series with the next two books in the Winternight Trilogy-The Girl in the Tower & The Winter of the Witch.
Emily Wilde is a brilliant but socially awkward professor who is documenting the world's faeries for her encyclopaedia.
In a picturesque Scandinavian village, Emily conducts thorough research that takes her into the secretive and enchanting realm of the fae, where danger and wonder exist side by side.
Readers get to soak in Emily's scientific curiosity with a gradually developing romance as her mysterious colleague begins to complicates her life.
This whimsical fantasy adventure follows Sophie Hatter, a young woman cursed by a jealous witch and transformed into an old lady.
Seeking to break the spell, Sophie ventures into the magical realm and finds herself in the company of the enigmatic wizard Howl and his ever-moving castle.
As Sophie navigates the challenges of her new life, she discovers that the castle is filled with surprises, from a fire demon named Calcifer to a host of other magical beings. You may not know that the Harry Potter books are frequently compared to the works of Diana Wynne Jones. Many of her earlier children's books were out of print, but were re-issued for the young audience whose interest in fantasy and reading was spurred by the series.
This self-published novel has been a huge hit with fans of Legends & Lattes and the entire Miss Percy Guide series is available on Kindle Unlimited.
In this gentle adventure, we meet Miss Mildred Percy, a spinster who has spent her life in quiet obscurity—until a mysterious inheritance pushes her into an adventure with a dragon's egg.
Unprepared for the chaos of raising a dragon in Regency-era England, Mildred must rely on her wit and an eccentric cast of characters to care for the creature, all while dodging scheming villains and her own insecurities.
This heartwarming fantasy brings Linus Baker, a meticulous government caseworker, to an enchanting and unusual orphanage.
As he grows fond of the extraordinary children and their endearing caretaker, the story beautifully explores finding found family in the most unexpected places.
If you need a great audiobook to listen to while you put together jigsaw puzzles this cozy season, I recommend this as a great family audiobook experience!
When Robin Blyth, a newly appointed government official, accidentally stumbles into a hidden magical society, he's assigned to work with Edwin Courcey, a prickly but brilliant magician.
Together, they unravel a dangerous conspiracy while contending with a sinister curse. As their partnership deepens into a slow-burn romance, the stakes rise.
If you love this story, you can follow the adventures in The Last Binding series by checking out books 2 & 3- A Restless Truth & A Power Unbound.
TELL ME: What do YOU think are the best cozy fantasy books? Let us know in the comments below what this list needs!
Meg Shaffer takes us behind the scenes to the literary seminar with legendary writer Richard Russo, who helped her craft her cozy fantasy book, The Lost Story.
Imposter syndrome is real and even our favorite authors experience it as they contemplate their next writing project. In this week’s episode, we welcome back bestselling author Meg Shaffer to join us to discuss her latest cozy fantasy novel, The Lost Story, and the literary seminar with Richard Russo that guided this story and gave Meg the writing encouragement she always needed.
Today, we discuss Meg’s unique research methods, including how she used Fiverr to fact-check archery scenes and gain insights into the pressures of writing a second novel after the commercial success of The Wishing Game.
Patrons can join us for a bonus spoiler-filled conversation with Meg Shaffer, where we discuss The Lost Story ending, her favorite moments in the book, and her top book recommendations from her spicy romance writing career for Harlequin!
Don’t miss this week’s bonus book list with 23 cozy fantasy books to read this autumn. This new book list includes upcoming titles, new releases, and, of course, those backlist book gems you have come to expect!
The Lost Story Book Summary
As boys, best friends Jeremy Cox and Rafe Howell went missing in a vast West Virginia state forest, only to mysteriously reappear six months later with no explanation for where they’d gone or how they’d survived.
Fifteen years after their miraculous homecoming, Rafe is a reclusive artist who still bears scars inside and out but has no memory of what happened during those months. Meanwhile, Jeremy has become a famed missing persons’ investigator. With his uncanny abilities, he is the one person who can help vet tech Emilie Wendell find her sister, who vanished in the very same forest as Rafe and Jeremy.
Jeremy alone knows the fantastical truth about the disappearances, for while the rest of the world was searching for them, the two missing boys were in a magical realm filled with impossible beauty and terrible danger. He believes it is there that they will find Emilie’s sister. However, Jeremy has kept Rafe in the dark since their return for his own inscrutable reasons. But the time for burying secrets comes to an end as the quest for Emilie’s sister begins. The former lost boys must confront their shared past, no matter how traumatic the memories.
Alongside the headstrong Emilie, Rafe and Jeremy must return to the enchanted world they called home for six months—for only then can they get back everything and everyone they’ve lost.
Meet Meg Shaffer
Meg Shaffer is the USA Today bestselling author of The Wishing Game, which was a Goodreads Choice Awards finalist, a Book of the Month finalist for Book of the Year, a #1 Barnes & Noble bestseller, and a Reader’s Digest Best Book of the Year. Her second novel, The Lost Story, is an instant national bestseller and is available now from Ballantine.
With an MFA in TV and Screenwriting from Stephens College, Shaffer lives in Kentucky with her husband and two cats—though the cats, unfortunately, aren’t writers.
Grab a digital copy of my 2024 Summer Reading Guide, featuring incredible novels like The Lost Story. All purchases support this year’s programming.
How Braving a Literary Seminar Shaped The Lost Story (With Meg Shaffer)
Listen to the Book Gang Podcast:
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Take advantage of these 17 binge-worthy books to get out of a reading slump that includes new and backlist titles for your next library day.
Are you experiencing a reading slump? You’re not alone! Many avid readers, including me, experience these slumps occasionally, and I’m always searching for the perfect book to get my reading life back on track.
That’s why I wanted to create a book list FOR YOU of my favorite addictive novels to read that will pull you right out.
In addition, this week’s book list celebrates Rob Hart’s latest novel, Assassins Anonymous—the ULTIMATE book to get any reader out of a reading slump.
If you love this book list, you can support my work through a one-time donation on Buy Me a Coffee or join our Patreon community for book fun all year long.
Patrons will receive a free printable copy checklist for today’s book list for you to explore. The financial support helps us keep the lights on in our online space.
Books to Get Out of a Reading Slump
Break free from your reading slump with a few of my favorite page-turning book recommendations that pulled me back into reading again.
As an Amazon Associate and member of other affiliate programs, I earn from qualifying purchases.
This new novel inspired our entire reading slump-busting thriller list because I adored it so much.
In this darkly comedic story, Pale Horse, the world's deadliest assassin, has turned over a new leaf and has joined the Assassins Anonymous support group, vowing never to kill again.
But what happens when he's pursuing his redemption story and so many are still out for revenge?
Readers should prepare for deliciously clever plot twists, which we discuss in our patron spoiler-filled episode about the shocking Assassins Anonymous ending Hart crafted!
Luckily, we can expect many more adventures as this is the first book in a planned series and has been optioned for film by Steven Spielberg's team.
Phoebe arrives at the luxurious Cornwall Inn, with the intention of ending her life in the gorgeous canopy bed looking out to the seaside, just like in her favorite Victorian novels.
She brings only one dress and her cat's pain pills, which she intends to take with wine and go quietly into the night after the brutal end to her marriage.
However, she soon discovers that her booked stay is a mistake, as the entire inn was supposed to be reserved only for one lavish wedding party.
Unexpectedly, Phoebe finds herself swept into the wedding preparations and forms heart-to-heart connections with the narcissistic bride and other wedding party attendees leading her to find a new purpose over the week of festivities.
Espach's dialogue is vibrant with charisma, charm, and playful shenanigans, making every page a delight. This clever novel is one of my favorites of the year- I never wanted this story to end.
An unlikely friendship is formed through a prison book club, where Harriet leads a group of feisty women through book selections, and they uproariously offer their hilarious feedback.
Although they are not to exchange personal information, when one prisoner is finally released, she finds Harriet out in the real world, where she helps her begin her new life chapter.
But neither could expect that they would form a strange and magical alliance with a man with all the reason in the world not to forgive her crime.
Readers discover the backstory of her prison sentence, but more importantly, they discover the hope forgiveness can offer.
Wood shines in her details, from her scene setting at the book club to the unusual occupations and hobbies she meticulously crafts for her characters.
Daniel considers himself a lucky guy even though he's suffered from a debilitating disease since he was a small child.
When a local girl goes missing, Daniel realizes that he may have been the last person to see the girl and the person who may have kidnapped her that day.
He decides to take his story to Reddit, where he begins a conversation with the captor. As he discloses more and more, Daniel is convinced he might be the one to help solve the missing person case.
But it is tough to convince the police that you have valuable information when you can't speak or move.
What happens to Nina is revealed quickly in this thriller, but the real tension lies in how a well-connected family's desperate search for answers unravels into a full-blown media circus.
As someone attuned to the exploitative nature of true crime, I found the novel's examination of shifting perspectives, media frenzy, and conspiracy theories razor-sharp. It's a PERFECT book club selection.
This atmospheric story sweeps you into the eerie woods with a missing author and a cult-like community. In this novel, commune members are instructed not to cross the border because doing so could spread disease to their community.
However, someone has been testing this theory for some time with surprising results, and each character will discover that this forest holds many secrets, including those that could unlock their past.
This historical fiction novel shocked me with its haunting beauty and darkness. Based on the true crime case that inspired Lolita, it pulls back the curtain on the horrors young Sally Horner endured after being abducted in 1948.
Capturing criminals back then is a frustrating process to witness, let alone be a victim of. It takes a strong reader to read this one, and I know Sally's story is going to be imprinted on my heart forever.
Greenwood's poetic writing makes this an emotionally gripping read even in the darkest moments.
It's rare for multiple people to vanish in a neighborhood, but when two women and a six-year-old girl disappear, the mystery only deepens when the child is found eleven years later.
The "whodunit" vibes are pitch-perfect, and I had no idea where the story was going—exactly the kind of fast-paced suspense that reads like a movie.
A poker game gone awry kicks off a clever, twist-laden caper.
With a narrator who's unreliable in the best kinds of ways, this audiobook, narrated by legendary Julia Whelan, is perfect when you need something sharp and fast-paced to get your head back in the game of reading.
Published in 2018, this backlist gem stands out as one of the best con artist books I've ever read. It is cinematic in scope and twists.
If you crave an unforgettable protagonist, Sally Diamond will take you on a wild ride.
Sally's literal interpretation of her father's dying wishes leads her to do something horrific, but what follows is even more disturbing.
As Sally uncovers chilling secrets about her past, readers will be riveted until the final page.
Despite the darkness, the way her village embraces her adds an unexpected and touching found family dynamic that makes this one of the most unique thrillers I've read.
This dark academia thriller feels like a blockbuster movie in book form.
Forget good versus evil—this is a battle between bad and worse, with morally complex characters that made this a guilty pleasure read.
The tension skyrockets as Victor & Eli experiment with near-death experiences to unlock superhuman powers. Reminiscent of Flatliners, Schwab's twist on the superhero genre will have you holding your breath through every gripping scene.
Gwen's disastrous dating life turns dark when her swiped-right matches start turning up dead in their coastal English town.
This serial killer mystery reveals each new date gone wrong in each chapter, keeping you guessing to who the killer could be.
With plenty of red herrings and laugh-out-loud moments, this book is as fun as a Scream movie—perfect for readers who love a wild ride in their mysteries!
After a traumatic event, Bonnie Lincoln escapes her reality by recreating the set of the 70s sitcom Three's Company after winning the lottery.
The immersive living experience raises great questions about trauma and escapism, but Bonnie's unlikable nature and inability to evolve did polarize readers.
This unique book journey is not for everyone but may resonate with those who enjoy an immersive, albeit strange, reading experience.
This was one of our most dynamic book club discussions we've had as a group.
This gripping exposé on the Sackler family and the opioid crisis feels like a thriller, but it's all too real. The storytelling here is immersive, making it perfect for readers who want to get hooked on nonfiction again.
Through three sections, Keefe uncovers the motives of three generations of the family, revealing how well-intentioned beginnings turned into greed and manipulation, leading to widespread abuse of the drug.
We also learn of the stories of those caught in its trap.
If you are caught up in the horrific headlines with P. Diddy, this YA novel is a chilling exploration on the exploitation of Black women in the music industry.
When Enchanted, a talented teen, catches the eye of R&B star Korey Fields at a singing contest, she is thrilled to receive VIP tickets and an opportunity to be mentored by him.
However, what begins as a dream come true quickly spirals into a nightmare as Korey's controlling and abusive behavior escalates.
ANY book by Tiffany D. Jackson will pull you out of a reading slump, but I hope this is a great introduction to her work.
Rob Hart discusses his gripping new novel, Assassins Anonymous, and the heartfelt storytelling approach that defines his work.
When Steven Spielberg’s production company, Amblin Entertainment, snaps up the rights to a book within 24 hours of acquisition, you know the book must be incredible.
Today, Rob Hart joins us to discuss his new novel Assassins Anonymousand the unique background he brings to crafting a great fight sequence. This thriller offers readers humor, heart, and loads of cinematic action, making it an absolute favorite from my reading year.
We discuss his plans for continuing this book series for readers and how he continually pivots genres and projects in his writing career.
Don’t miss this week’s bonus book list.Whether you’re in the mood for twisty thrillers, laugh-out-loud moments, or heartwarming escapes, I’ve rounded up 17 of my favorite binge-worthy books to get out of a reading slump.
Assassins Anonymous Book Summary
In this clever, surprising, page-turner, the world’s most lethal assassin gives up the violent life only to find himself under siege by mysterious assailants. It’s a kill-or-be-killed situation, but the first option is off the table. What’s a reformed hit man to do?
Mark was the most dangerous killer-for-hire in the world. But after learning the hard way that his life’s work made him more monster than man, he left all of that behind, and joined a twelve-step group for reformed killers.
When Mark is viciously attacked by an unknown assailant, he is forced on the run. From New York to Singapore to London, he chases after clues while dodging attacks and trying to solve the puzzle of who’s after him. All without killing anyone. Or getting killed himself. For an assassin, Mark learns, nonviolence is a real hassle.
Meet Rob Hart
Rob Hart is the author of Assassins Anonymous, The Paradox Hotel, The Warehouse, the Ash McKenna crime series, and the co-author of Scott Free with James Patterson. He’s worked as a book publisher, a reporter, a political communications director, and a commissioner for the city of New York. Hart lives on Staten Island.
Grab a digital copy of my 2024 Summer Reading Guide, featuring incredible novels like Assasins Anonymous. All purchases support this year’s programming.
Crafting a Killer Redemption Story With Heart
Listen to the Book Gang Podcast:
Listen below or listen on your favorite podcast listening platform!
Discover the best Disability Pride Books curated by Cindy Otis from The Stacks Bookstore, who offers readers a virtual tour of her disability-inclusive space.
Happy (Belated) Disability Pride Month! While we’re celebrating a little late this year, it’s never too late to embrace and honor the strength, resilience, and beauty of the disability community.
Like many, my journey comes with its unique challenges, which is why our celebration is arriving fashionably late. But that’s the beauty of disability pride: it’s about acknowledging our pace, our needs, and our triumphs in the face of obstacles.
As we celebrate Disability Pride Month, I am excited to present a specially curated list of books highlighting the diverse and multifaceted lives of disabled individuals created by today’s Book Gang podcast guest, Cindy Otis.
What is Disability Pride Month?
Disability Pride Month is celebrated in July. It commemorates the signing of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) on July 26, 1990, which was a significant milestone in the fight for the rights and inclusion of people with disabilities.
What Does the Disability Pride Flag Represent?
If you are seeing the updated Disability Pride Flag for the first time, you aren’t alone!
The flag features several colors, each representing different aspects of disability and the disability community. Here’s an explanation of the symbolic colors that represent our community.
There are five diagonal bands of different colors across the flag, each representing different types of disabilities and experiences:
Red: Physical disabilities
Gold: Neurodivergence
White: Invisible and undiagnosed disabilities
Blue: Mental illness
Green: Sensory perception disabilities
Finally, the black background represents the mourning and rage of disabled people for the lives lost due to ableism, violence, negligence, and eugenics.
The design of the diagonal bands cutting across the black field symbolizes breaking through barriers and the creativity and persistence of the disability community in overcoming these obstacles.
Peek Inside This Disability-Inclusive Bookshop With Today’s Curator
Cindy Otis’s journey to opening The Stacks offers a vital and well-thought conversation about her own limitations in accessing bookshops and what was top of mind for her customers when designing an accessible and welcoming space for all, especially those with disabilities in Savannah, Georgia.
From ramps to fonts to her bookshop’s tagline, Cindy’s thoughtful design choices ensure every reader can enjoy the magic of books.Her journey will mesmerize you.
SCROLL DOWN for her top book recommendations to celebrate Disability Pride Month all year long!
Listen to the Book Gang Podcast:
Listen below or listen on your favorite podcast listening platform! You can download the transcript below.
Cindy Otis is a writer and the author of the novel At the Speed of Lies, which is now out with Scholastic, and the critically acclaimed nonfiction book True or False, published by Macmillan.
Her other written work has appeared in publications such as USA Today, the New York Times, CNN, and Teen Vogue. She previously served as an intelligence analyst and manager at the CIA. She is not just a bookseller but a champion for inclusivity and accessibility in the literary world.
All purchases from today’s list will support her Disablity-Inclusive bookstore.
Disability Pride Month Books
Today's book list focuses on stories featuring Disabled characters or are written by Disabled authors, showcasing that disability is just one aspect of these vibrant stories!
PLEASE NOTE: ALL SALES from today's book list will support Cindy's bookshop, The Stacks Bookstore in Savannah, Georgia. They will ship orders to you! Please consider supporting her efforts as she progresses toward building her dream bookstore for her community.
A charming and spicy romance, this novel follows Stella Lane, a mathematician with Autism, who hires a male escort named Michael Phan to teach her about love.
This delightful story explores Stella's journey to understanding love and intimacy.
If you fall in love with this book, you can continue the Kiss Quotient Series with The Bride Test (Book #2) and The Heart Principle (Book #3).
Featuring Deaf and hard of hearing representation, this masterfully told story delves into the community and interwoven lives of individuals connected to a Deaf boarding school.
This novel explores themes of language, culture, family dynamics, and exploitation by the US medical industry, offering a rich and nuanced narrative.
This nonfiction memoir by the Mother of Disability Rights, Judith Heumann, is a candid account of her lifelong fight for disability rights in the US.
From her battle to get an education and secure employment to her broader fight for human rights, this memoir is a must-read for anyone interested in disability rights and history.
A fun and spooky middle-grade novel, this story follows 12-year-old Jerry, a wheelchair user who moves into a creepy motel next to a forest in Georgia.
When strange events start occurring at the motel, and her mom disappears, Jerry teams up with her new friend, Chapel, and her imaginary pet dragon to track down her mom and save the town.
Learn how to access the Amazon Prime Reading library and borrow up to ten titles FREE with your Prime account. This tutorial offers the best books to read now.
I have been promising this tutorial for years and am finally creating a monthly destination to browse the best Prime books available each month.
I am always surprised by how few people know about all the books that are available to them to check out with their Prime membership.
Today’s tutorial, I hope, will help you understand your member benefits better AND I share my top ten book recommendations for this month.
The Best Prime Reading Guide (10 Free Books)
What is Prime Reading?
Prime Reading is a benefit offered to Amazon Prime members that provides access to a rotating selection of ebooks, magazines, comics, and other digital content.
Be sure to scroll down to see the best books available now.
The items in the catalog are available to Prime members to borrow and read various titles at no additional cost.
The concept is just like your digital lending from your local library.
Just like acquiring the books through your Libby app, you can download these items for free directly from the Prime library.
Is Prime Reading Free?
If the book is in the Prime Reading catalog you should see “Read For Free.” It should state that this is included with your membership. If you are not seeing this prompt, make sure you are signed into your account.
You can now choose ten items to borrow for free through the Prime library if you have a Prime membership.
Basically, once you hit your limit of ten borrowed items, you will receive a prompt that looks like this that will alert you.
To borrow another book, you must return a book.
How Do I Return a Prime Library Book?
To return Prime Reading books on Amazon, follow these steps:
Go to Amazon Website: Visit the Amazon website and make sure you are logged in to your Amazon account.
Access Your Content and Devices: Hover over the “Account & Lists” option at the top right corner of the page. From the drop-down menu, click on “Content & Devices.”
Select Your Books: In the “Content & Devices” section, click on the “Content” tab if it’s not already selected. This will display a list of all the books and content you have purchased or borrowed.
Find the Book: Scroll through the list to find the Prime Reading book you want to return.
Actions Menu: On the right side of the book title, you’ll see a button with three dots (ellipsis). Click on it to open the actions menu for that book.
Return This Book: Select “Return this book from the actions menu.” A confirmation pop-up might appear asking if you are sure you want to return the book.
Confirm Return: Confirm that you want to return the book.
Once confirmed, the book will be removed from your device and returned to the Prime Reading catalog.
Remember, once you return it you may not have access to it again. This catalog rotates often.
If you have hit your limit with borrowing, you will receive a prompt to return an item, and Amazon will pull up all the items for you on one page.
Select the item you want to trade out; it will automatically return and check out your new selection.
What is the Due Date on Prime Books?
Unlike your local library, there is no due date for Prime books. You can keep that book as long as you want and return it whenever you finish.
I have held books on my account for years! They do not expire.
For most users, the limit of ten books is what leads to returning their books before they finish them.
As all the books made available are only available for a limited time, you do want to cash in if you find a book in the catalog you do want to read.
It might not be there when you return!
Can I Share Prime Reading With My Family?
You can share Prime benefits at no extra cost through their Amazon Household feature.
This feature allows members of the same family or household to share certain Amazon Prime benefits and digital content while maintaining separate Amazon accounts.
Here are some shared bookish benefits:
Shared Prime Benefits: Prime members within the same household can share benefits like free two-day shipping, Prime Video streaming, Prime Reading, and more.
Family Library: Family members can share ebooks, audiobooks, apps, and games purchased from the Amazon Appstore and Kindle Store.
It’s important to note that Amazon Household has specific eligibility criteria, and not all Prime benefits are shareable.
For example, benefits such as your Kindle Owners’ Lending Library are unavailable for sharing.
Additionally, there are limitations on the number of adults and children that can be included in an Amazon Household.
The current criteria are two adults and up to four teens, and four child profiles may link in a Household.
What is the Difference Between Prime Reading vs Kindle Unlimited?
Kindle Unlimited is a separate subscription service that offers a much more extensive selection of ebooks, audiobooks, magazines, and more.
It provides access to over a million titles, including a mix of popular and independent authors and various genres.
Prime Reading offers a rotating limited catalog that changes periodically. It’s a curated collection, and you can borrow ten titles at a time.
These two catalogs DO overlap at times, and I think that is why there is confusion between these two services.
For many readers, having access to the Prime catalog is enough.
What is the Difference Between Prime Reading vs Kindle First Reads?
The Kindle First Reads program allows you to access and purchase new books a month before they are officially released to the public. This benefit is available to all Prime members!
Each month, Amazon editors select a handful of new, not-yet-released books across various genres, and Prime members can choose one of these books for free or at a significantly discounted price.
Does Your Amazon Prime First Reads Book Count Against Your Borrowed Titles?
No, your Amazon First Reads is an additional reading benefit you can access monthly. Typically, you are offered one book per month, but there are exceptions where they offer TWO!
That means every month, as a Prime member benefit, you have one book for your permanent library and ten books to borrow from the Prime library.
You never have to return your Amazon Prime First Reads book. It is yours forever.
What Subscriptions and Services Do You Recommend for Reading?
I ALWAYS cash in on my Kindle First Reads and always have ten books checked out from the Prime library.
I do not use Kindle Unlimited because the Everand app offers more reading benefits at an affordable price. That link should also take you to an incredible tutorial on how to use the platform and get every dollar out of the experience.
Here are the BEST Prime Reading Books for this month!
September Prime Reads
Discover a handpicked selection of captivating stories in our September Prime Reads collection. From thrilling mysteries to heartwarming romances, there's something for every reader.
Choose up to ten books with your Prime membership. Remember, these change frequently, so cash in today.
As an Amazon Associate and member of other affiliate programs, I earn from qualifying purchases.
When life hands you a canceled couples' cruise, you might just find your true soulmate—yourself.
In Natural Selection, Sophia Othonos sets sail solo to the Galápagos, where the only thing more breathtaking than the scenery is the realization that she’s been waiting for the wrong guy to make her feel whole.
In The Spy Coast, retirement is anything but peaceful for former CIA operative Maggie Bird.
Nestled in the quaint seaside town of Purity, Maine, Maggie’s quiet life is shattered when a body appears in her driveway—a deadly reminder that her past hasn’t forgotten her.
With a killer on the loose, Maggie and her old espionage buddies, the “Martini Club,” must dust off their spy skills and outmaneuver their enemies.
But as the local police chief closes in, Maggie faces a dangerous game where one wrong move could destroy everything she’s fought to protect.
In Family Reservations, the heat in the kitchen is nothing compared to the simmering tension in the Winter family.
Maren Winter, a legendary restaurateur, is nearing the end of her reign, and her three ambitious daughters are ready to pounce. But when a New Year’s Eve party spirals into chaos, the gloves come off in a cutthroat battle for culinary supremacy.
As ambition and betrayal threaten to tear them apart, these sisters must navigate a tangled web of love, loyalty, and the desire to carve out their own identities—before the entire empire goes up in flames.
In The Other Side of Disappearing, Jess Greene’s life is a careful balance of secrets and sisterly love—until a podcast blows it all apart.
When her younger sister Tegan decides to chase down their long-lost mother, Jess has no choice but to join a cross-country road trip with a true-crime podcast team.
Along the way, they uncover more than just the mystery of a notorious con man; Jess discovers the courage to confront her past and an unexpected romance with the charming yet guarded producer, Adam Hawkins.
EDITOR'S NOTE: Be sure to scroll down to the past deals to also score Kate Clayborn's other novel- Georgie All Along!
Paging hockey romance fans! In Center Ice, hockey’s wild card, just traded to the Boston Rebels, is about to face his biggest challenge yet—and it’s not on the ice.
When he reconnects with Audrey, his former college fling, he’s stunned to learn he’s a father. With his NHL career on the line and family obligations pulling him in all directions, he’s caught between the game he’s dedicated his life to and the family he never knew he needed.
Will he skate toward the future he thought he wanted, or will love and fatherhood take him in a whole new direction?
In this hlghly-rated novel, Palmer Sinclair’s life has always been about control—until a devastating diagnosis shatters her world.
Faced with the unthinkable, she creates a bucket list, determined to savor the life she has left.
Enter Kent Wagner, an army medic turned paramedic, who’s been quietly captivated by Palmer for years.
When fate throws them together, he offers to help her tick off each dream on her list. What follows is a heartfelt journey of love, loss, and the profound beauty of the small moments that make life worth living.
In Heirlooms and Homicide, Henrietta's quaint antique store in Hearts Grove becomes the backdrop for a chilling mystery.
When a prized antique box is linked to a missing girl and a mysterious death, she finds herself in the middle of a deadly puzzle.
With secrets lurking in every corner of her shop, she must unravel the clues before more lives are at stake. Dive into this charming cozy mystery, where the past holds deadly secrets and every antique tells a story—if only Henrietta can decipher it before time runs out.
This is the first book in the Hearts Grove Mystery Series.
In 1931, Lilly Blackwood is stolen from her attic prison and sold to a circus, where she finds strength and friendship amid cruelty.
Decades later, Julia Blackwood returns to her family’s estate, only to uncover hidden truths about Lilly and their family’s dark past.
As Julia unravels the mysteries of Blackwood Manor, she confronts painful legacies and seeks to heal her fractured family.
This novel received a starred review from Library Journal who described it as a “Perfect for book clubs and readers who admired Sara Gruen’s Like Water for Elephants.”
STILL AVAILABLE PRIME READS
Did you miss these options from the Prime catalog? These free Prime books are still available!
This highly-rated novel features an unexpected mother-daughter bond in this story of second chances.
Jude is a widowed father who proposes to Avery, which would yield a happy moment for the couple. But, Avery is on edge, wary of family, doubtful of happy endings, and afraid to leap due to her secrets.
Before committing to a new life, she returns to her childhood farm in North Carolina, unexpectedly accompanied by Jude’s teenage daughter, Elle.
As Avery and Elle navigate their pasts and present, they form an unexpected bond that gives them both the courage to move forward.
After her parents' death, Beth Harmon is sent to an orphanage where she learns chess from the janitor and discovers her talent for the game.
Desperate to pursue her passion, she resorts to stealing money to enter tournaments and becomes addicted to tranquilizers as she discovers their positive effects on her game.
As her skills on the chessboard grow, so does her dependency, creating a dual battle against addiction and formidable opponents.
Be sure to stream the stunning Queen's Gambitadaptation on Netflix after you finish the book!
When Leah and her husband moved to France, they dreamed of self-sufficiency. However, the reality is far from idyllic: three hours of digging barely yield a single straggly carrot, her teenage daughter is acting up, and her husband keeps finding excuses to disappear.
Seeking solace, Leah joins a new book club but discovers the group is filled with endearing misfits.
The quirky cast of book club characters and the cozy countryside of France is why this novel has been a hit with many reviewers.
Claire Cook's glamorous façade hides a tumultuous reality.
As she plans to escape her controlling husband, a chance airport encounter leads to a daring ticket switch with another desperate woman.
However, a fateful plane crash propels Claire into a new existence, assuming a stranger's identity and confronting the hidden secrets that come with it.
Enter a Freaky Friday switch of identities and watch each of them try to foster new paths.
Of course, not all is as it seems and one might find themselves in just as much danger.
This 5-star thriller is a fast page-turner and should be at the top of your list, especially if you are in a summer reading slump.
Taylor Swift's songs inspire this Booktok romance novel.
The story follows Meredith as she navigates a summer wedding on Martha's Vineyard, where their family plays an annual assassin game.
When an alliance with a charming groomsman draws her attention away from the family's game, Meredith must decide between winning the game in honor of her late sister's legacy or risking her heart.
This powerful collection of short stories is written by bestselling historical fiction authors. The stories offer readers a chance to meet remarkable women who defied barriers in art, war, science, love, and justice.
There are 7 new novellas in the Blaze Collection, and this is one of the highest rated from the 7 books offered.
In this one-hour mystery, Frances Gleser Lee defies societal expectations to become the mother of forensic science.
As a new Harvard instructor, she challenges six male students to solve a murder using her accurate crime scene dioramas, proving that every detail matters in solving a crime.
In this standalone short story, readers can continue through the life of Bubbles from Johnson's novel, House of Eve.
Bubbles, a single mother in segregated Virginia, defies her family's expectations and embraces motherhood despite societal pressures.
With courage and determination, she escapes from the home she was sent to and finds strength in her talent for singing, using it to provide a better life for her daughter.
While connected to her historical fiction novel, you can still read this short story from the Blaze Collection independently.
Louisa May Alcott's timeless classic follows the heartwarming tale of the four March sisters—Meg, Jo, Beth, and Amy—as they navigate the trials and triumphs of sisterhood, love, and coming of age during the Civil War era.
Grab a digital copy so you can highlight all the sage advice from Marmee!
Note that the entire The Improbable Meet-Cute Collection is also available on Prime Audio and can be borrowed as part of your ten Prime library options.
Just in time for Valentine's Day, this 61-page short story is the perfect pick-me-up while you wait for the release of Just for the Summer!
Holly, a hospice nurse, is now bedside for her grandmother's final moments.
On Valentine's Day, a mistaken note left on her windshield sparks a charming exchange between Holly and the sender, leading to an unexpected connection.
Amid World War II, architect Lucien Bernard faces a dangerous commission in Nazi-occupied Paris: designing a secret hiding place for a Jewish man.
As he becomes entangled in the web of deception and moral dilemmas, Lucien's actions take on a personal dimension, forcing him to confront the actual cost of resistance and the value of human lives.
This historical fiction novel was my first book club selection. I loved this book so much that I interviewed the author, and you can read that conversation when you finish.
In search of their dream home, newlyweds Tricia and Ethan become trapped in a remote manor during a brutal winter storm.
As they explore, Tricia stumbles upon a hidden room filled with audio transcripts from Dr. Adrienne Hale's patients, leading her down a chilling path of revelations.
The haunting puzzle of Dr. Hale's disappearance unfolds with each tape, culminating in a final cassette that exposes the spine-tingling truth.
In Washington, D.C., Sarah Morgan excels as a powerful defense attorney, while her husband, Adam, struggles as an unsuccessful writer.
As their relationship falters due to Sarah's demanding career, Adam becomes entangled in a passionate affair with Kelly Summers.
Shocking events unfold when Kelly is discovered murdered, thrusting Sarah into her most challenging case: defending her husband against accusations of his mistress's brutal killing.
Can I help you read better this year? Here are some tutorials I recommend checking out!
Laura Hankin shares her debut’s painfully hilarious real-life inspiration and how personal experiences with negative feedback trickled into One-Star Romance.
The dark horse in my romance stack was Laura Hankin’s debut novel, which pulled ahead as my summer favorite. After reading the author for years across genres, I’m honored to have Laura Hankin on the Book Gang podcast to discuss her writing pivot in One-Star Romance.
In a world of instant feedback, I was fascinated by Laura’s hacks for processing reviewer feedback that still protects her creative process. These candid reflections offer valuable lessons for aspiring authors and a gentle reminder of the power of a one-liner scathing review that can haunt writers long after we’ve hit “post.”
Patrons can dive into the One-Star Romance ending through today’s spoiler chat, where we discuss Hankin’s surprising plot twists that take us to that swoon-worthy happily ever after.
Turning a Bad Review Into Romantic Gold (Laura Hankin Interview)
Listen to the Book Gang Podcast:
Listen below or listen on your favorite podcast listening platform! You can download the transcript below.
One-Star Romance Book Summary From the Publisher
Natalie and Rob couldn’t have less in common. Nat’s a messy artist, and Rob’s a rigid academic. The only thing they share is their devotion to their respective best friends—who just got engaged. Still, unexpected chemistry has Natalie cautiously optimistic about being maid of honor to Rob’s best man.
Until, minutes before the ceremony, Nat learns that Rob wrote a one-star review of her new novel, which has them both reeling: Nat from imposter syndrome, and Rob over the reason he needed to write it.
When the reception ends, these two opposites hope they’ll never meet again. But, as they slip from their twenties into their thirties, they’re forced together whenever their fast-track best friends celebrate another milestone. Through housewarmings and christenings, life-changing triumphs and failures, Natalie and Rob grapple with their own choices—and how your harshest critic can become your perfectly imperfect match.
After all, even the truest love stories sometimes need a bit of rewriting.
BONUS BOOK LIST: Browse this eclectic list of books about authors and publishing for the perfect literary escape. These 32 book titles include a mix of fiction and nonfiction for your summer.
Meet Laura Hankin
Laura Hankin is an accomplished author, screenwriter, and performer known for her captivating novels, perfect for beach reads and book club discussions. Her previous works include The Daydreams, Happy & You Know It, and A Special Place for Women.
One-Star Romance is her debut romance.
Mentioned in this episode:
TODAY’S BONUS SUMMER CONTENT:
Summer reading season is in full swing. Grab a digital copy of my 2024 Summer Reading Guide, featuring incredible novels like One-Star Romance. All purchases support this year’s programming.
Browse these 23 books about bookstores for a magical reading escape. This includes upcoming 2025 titles, new books, and backlist novels for bookish escapes.
There’s something undeniably magical about bookstores, and today, we are celebrating that with this new book list that completes my book list magic on books about books.
I’ve had so much fun hunting and gathering for today’s list, even browsing what bookshops have on order for 2025 to ensure we get a nice mix of upcoming titles, new-release books, and those tried-and-true backlist gems.
Whether you’re a bibliophile looking to find romance on your bookshelves or an adventurer seeking hidden secrets within dusty tomes, these books about bookstores are the perfect reading escapes.
If you love this book list, you can support my work through a one-time donation on Buy Me a Coffee or join our Patreon community for book fun all year long.
Patrons will receive a free printable copy checklist for today’s book list for you to explore. The financial support helps us keep the lights on in our online space.
Books About Bookstores
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This novel is being pitched as perfect for fans of Station Eleven and The Last of Us!
A searing YA debut follows two teen girls fighting for survival in an abandoned bookstore just weeks before another storm threatens to end the world.
Seventeen-year-old Liz Flannery has been living in an abandoned bookstore, trading books for supplies with survivors, ever since a devastating Storm hit.
When another catastrophic event looms, a newcomer, Maeve, breaks in seeking shelter. Despite her initial feelings, Liz realizes Maeve has the skills to help repair the store.
As the girls grow closer, they face not only the impending storm, but feelings for each other.
Is it too early to discuss books that I can't wait to read for next year?
This time-slip novel promises readers a whimsical story about a trans man in New York that sounds like a moving premise for book club discussions.
Almost 30, laid off, and broke, Darby reluctantly moves back to his small town.
There, he walks into the bookstore he worked at in high school, and unexpectedly slips through time to come face-to-face with his pre-transition, teenage self.
So, when Rachel falls in love with her married professor, Dr. Byrne, James helps her devise a plan to seduce him the only way they know how—by leveraging their roles at their local bookshop.
In an elaborate scheme, they convince the shop owner to host a book signing for his rather uninspiring academic work, and Rachel can't wait for the night to end when she can finally act on her feelings for the professor.
But, when she wanders into the back of the shop, she discovers who has caught his eye in the bookstore that night.
Told through Rachel's new adult lens, this coming-of-age story was one of my favorite books of this last year.
This compelling debut has been a hit with so many of our readers.
The story follows Sara Lancaster, who returns home after eight years to care for her ill father and their family's used bookstore, but she discovers more than she bargained for.
Eight years earlier, her daughter, Alana, came into this world following a terrifying sexual assault that left deep emotional wounds.
Now, the twin brother of the man who assaulted her has returned to Savannah to piece together the fragments of his once-great family.
When their two worlds collide, they find they are drawn together unexpectedly.
Gabrielle Zevin became a massive commercial success with her novel Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow, but this debut novel made me a fan years ago!
A.J. Fikry, mourning his wife and watching his seaside bookstore decline, isolates himself from his community and loses joy in books.
Everything changes when a mysterious package arrives, transforming his life and rekindling his love for the written word.
I could not put this down and did not want these beautiful characters' stories to end. It is a must-read for book lovers as it references many incredible books.
Struggling to find purpose in bustling London, Nina Redmond impulsively moves to the Scottish Highlands to start a mobile bookshop.
Surrounded by stunning landscapes and quirky locals, she discovers the magic of connecting readers with the perfect books while navigating a new romance that could change her life.
Nina meticulously plans her day, from bookstore shifts to carefully measured reading hours.
But when she stumbles upon the bombshell revelation of multiple siblings stemming from her estranged father's affairs, her perfectly orchestrated existence spirals into delightful chaos.
Get ready for big revelations and new feelings for her archrival trivia night opponent!
When we borrowed this book from the library, it was ILLUMINATING. The book cover glows in the dark!
Designed by Rodrigo Corral, this novel was chosen by BookPage as one of the 25 best book covers for 2012.
Clay Jannon, an unemployed web designer, stumbles upon Mr. Penumbra's peculiar bookstore that operates 24/7.
Exploring its mysterious shelves and odd clientele, he uncovers a centuries-old secret society.
If you fall in love with this world, check out the other book in Mr. Penumbra's 24-Hour Bookstore series- Ajax Penumbra 1969. It's a 65-page prequel to expand this story.
I fell in love with Legends and Lattes and have been saving this prequel for a day when I need something magical to escape my real life.
In this cozy fantasy, Viv's mercenary life is put on hold after a mission gone awry, leaving her to recuperate in the quiet town of Murk.
Unexpectedly finding refuge in a bookshop with its irreverent owner, this low-stakes fantasy delivers sweet adventures with characters that I can't wait to revisit.
Emily Allen, a librarian on Martha's Vineyard, is offered a job by her favorite author, Siobhan Riordan, to help her write the final book in her acclaimed series.
But she has to deal with Siobhan's son who manages a local bookstore and doesn't want Emily around.
When Siobhan's health takes a bad turn, Emily becomes their peacemaker.
Torn between helping Siobhan and her feelings for Kieran, Emily has to decide what happens in her next chapter.
For fans of The Seven Days in June, this story comes full circle when these characters make their way to a bookshop at a book signing for the two authors featured in that novel.
Ricki Wilde is the heir to the Wilde Funeral Dynasty but unexpectedly decides to go after her scrappy dream of opening a flower shop in Harlem.
But on an evening walk, she encounters a mysterious man in an unseasonably blooming garden, and her quiet life is changed in unusual ways as they navigate an instant connection.
I recommend this novel on audiobook, but readers should be aware there are a couple of spicy scenes in this one if you prefer a closed-door romance.
One year ago, Ellie Oliver lost her dream job in animation after a Christmas Eve romance turned sour.
Finding work at a local coffee shop, she's just getting through the days—until Andrew, the shop's landlord, proposes a shocking, drunken plan: a marriage of convenience that will give him his recent inheritance and alleviate her financial woes.
But, their holiday plans take a surprising turn when Ellie discovers that Andrew's sister's new fiancée is the very woman she fell for last Christmas after their magical meet-cute moment in a bookstore.
Nightingale Books is a cherished sanctuary in the heart of a quaint English town. Its shelves are curated with care by Julius, the beloved owner.
But when he passes away, his daughter Emilia must navigate the daunting task of preserving his legacy and keeping the bookshop afloat amidst financial struggles and looming developers.
As you might suspect from the title, love blossoms in the aisles in this sweet bookstore romance. So many of my bookish friends have ADORED this love story.
In this surprisingly charming and darkly funny thriller, an obsessive bookstore manager crosses paths with an aspiring writer at his New York bookshop.
Their encounter sparks an intense, twisted romance, but Joe's fixation quickly becomes obsessive.
He uses his access to Beck's personal information to begin meticulously orchestrating events that become an indispensable part of her life, and thrilling shenanigans ensue.
In Natalie Jenner's evocative novel set in 1950s London, three women—Vivien, Grace, and Evie—forge new paths against the backdrop of Bloomsbury Books.
The author disclosed that the novel channels the charm of 84 Charing Cross Roadwith its plot, including bookish romantics, ambitious professionals, and literary icons—all navigating societal change in this fun bookshop setting.
Readers may be surprised to discover that Evie is a character from the author's first novel, The Jane Austen Society.
"All children mythologize their birth… Ask him to tell you about when he was born. What you get won't be the truth; it will be a story. And nothing is more telling than a story."
So begins Diane Setterfield's beautiful debut novel, which seamlessly interweaves two stories with some of the most beautiful writing I have read.
Margaret Lea has led a quiet little life, working in her father's bookshop and being proud of a few small autobiography write-ups that she has done.
But when a surprising letter comes from the world-famous and reclusive author Vida Winter, Margaret is shocked to discover that she has requested her presence at her home to write the untold story of her life.
The story is unlike anything ever told, and Margaret becomes enchanted with Vida's life and how, in many ways, it has reflected her own life story and who she is.
To say more will rob you of the reveals, but I can tell you that it nails the suspense with each shocking and creepy turn.
LITERARY FICTION AND CLASSIC BOOKS ABOUT BOOKSTORES
In Louise Erdrich's haunting and profound novel, a small independent bookstore becomes the unexpected stage for a year-long mystery and reckoning.
Tookie is an Ojibwe bookseller who found refuge in books after incarceration.
Unfortunately, her bookshop is haunted by Flora, the store's most irritating customer. She refuses to leave even after her death on All Souls' Day!
But, as she reckons with this ghostly presence, she also confronts the profound events that unfolded during 2020, including George Floyd's death, the political unrest, and the pandemic.
When Rachel returns to town, she's haunted by the unanswered love letter she left for Henry before her departure.
Now working at Henry's family-owned bookshop, the two reignite their old connection.
Among the pages of beloved books, Crowley crafts a mesmerizing tale celebrating the power of second chances that's perfect for book clubs. My book club loved this sweet YA romance story!
In this moving story, eighteen-year-old Amelia is healing after her best friend and book buddy, Jenna, devastatingly leaves this world.
Plans went awry before her death when their favorite author backed out of an appearance at a book festival.
So, when Jenna meets the author and Amelia does not, an inevitable rift occurs shortly before the tragedy.
But, as Amelia mourns this loss, a mysterious edition of the Chronicles arrives, seemingly sent by Jenna from beyond.
Pursuing its origins to a charming Michigan bookstore, Amelia discovers more than she anticipated- the elusive author N. E. Endsley and perhaps the closure and understanding she seeks about Jenna's final wishes!
If you love books about books- don’t miss these other newly curated lists for your reading month!
Books about Books: Immerse yourself in novels that explore the magic and obsession of book lovers and the power of storytelling itself. This list includes books like Beach Read, The Wishing Game, and Seven Days in June.
Books about Libraries: Lose yourself in the public library shelves in these stories that celebrate my favorite place on earth. This list includes books like The Reading List, Funny Story, and The Book of Lost Names.
Books about Book Clubs: Join the lively discussions and deep friendships that unfold within the pages of novels centered around the novelty of book club dynamics. These novels include The Bromance Book Club, The Southern Book Club’s Guide to Slaying Vampires, The Toni Morrison Book Club, and The Guernsey Potato Peel Pie Society.
Books about Authors and Publishing: Peer into the lives of writers and the publishing industry’s inner workings in these juicy stories. These novels include Yellowface, Thank You for Listening, and Erasure.
What is your favorite book about bookstores? I’d love to expand our list with your favorites!
