Hello Besties!

It's been a few weeks since I shared an update, so let me dust off the cobwebs...

To be honest, not much reading has been happening here. We just got back from a 7-day epic California road trip when NO books were read AT ALL! It was kinda refreshing honestly. We saw all the sights, ate all the things, and shopped at all the bookstores...well, maybe not all. 😜

I have some great content planned around our trip, including a haul from what I'm calling the Great Bookstore Tour. Ten books, eleven bookstores, and 975 miles = a smashing success. Much recording and editing were done yesterday, so stay tuned for fun Youtube and Instagram releases coming very soon.

The only books I'm actively reading right now are The Astral Library (which you all voted should be my next read) and The Art of the Lie. The Astral Library is VERY different from any other Kate Quinn book I've ever read, but it's still VERY much her voice and style. Her FMC is snarky and witty, and the magical world building is strong. I have a feeling I'm going to enjoy it, but not sure if it will be a 5⭐️ read for me.

The Art of the Lie on the other hand has A LOT of potential. It's nothing like what I expected; it's reading much more like a historical thriller/mystery which I am enjoying very much. There is a twist in Chapter 7 that I didn't see coming, and a character storyline that is giving me morally grey vibes (which is my jam).

I plan to start a few new books this week, and I'm really itching to get back to Lonesome Dove, which I abandoned at 25%. Those characters are calling to me. I started a vlog when I first began reading the book...should I pick it back up? (vote below)

Some Roadtrip Highlights You Won't Find Anywhere Else for Now:

• EATING THE BEST BURRITO I'VE EVER EATEN at La Taqueria in San Francisco's Mission District

• seeing sea otters in the wild at Morro Bay

• enjoying a perfect meal at Loquita in Santa Barbara

• spotting a whale at sea while taking in the views at The Lone Tree (pictured above) in Big Sur

• epic clam chowder at Splash Cafe in Pismo Beach

• finding the most amazing piece of vintage Navajo jewelry in Carmel by the Sea

• enjoying a perfect bottle of Sicilian white wine in Monterrey

• dumplings and more dumplings at Dumpling Story in San Francisco

• a massive amount of seagulls loitering over Oracle Park in San Francisco

• standout bookstores: Godmothers in Summerland, Monarch Books in Arroyo Grande, River House Books in Carmel by the Sea and Browser Books in San Francisco

ICYMI:

• a love letter to strong women = In the Great Quiet

• come with us on an urban hike in Los Feliz

• March reading wrapup

• April Historical Fiction Heads Up

• sneak peek at May's new Historical Fiction releases

• massive California independent bookstore map

• Go as a River is the BBFL's book club book for April

Hear it here first:

I'm starting a Discord community for us to talk all things books! Stay tuned for more about that VERY soon!

Have a great Sunday, y'all.

xoxo

C

What a week, y'all! Baseball is back, so I've been a bit distracted around here. If you follow me on Instagram then you know we've been ALL about the Dodgers the past few days. Opening weekend did not disappoint, but it did cut into my reading and writing time. Not much new content, but a few books worth noting.

This week I binged Rebecca Serle's latest, Once and Again. I won't lie, I enjoyed it. But that's no surprise given how much I've enjoyed all her other work. Her writing is somewhere between Emily Henry and Taylor Jenkins Reid, with a splash of Alice Hoffman. I love how she weaves magical realism into all of her books, but I'm a bit partial to magic. 😜 This felt a little familiar, meaning I recognized some of the same themes and plot points, so it didn't feel as fresh. Regardless, the idea of a little silver ticket that allows you to turn back time was pretty appealing. Triggers: infertility and infidelity. 3.75⭐️

I finally finished Before We Were Yours, the March BBFL book club pick. I enjoyed it, but it wasn't as mind blowing as I'd been lead to believe it would be. Sure, the story of Rill and the rest of the Foss children was super moving, but the contemporary storyline felt like a distraction, particularly when the romance subplot took off. I didn't care at ALL about Avery's lovelife. I did enjoy the setting and the writing though! I will definitely read more of Windgate's work. 4⭐️

I've officially started In the Great Quiet, Laura Vogt's debut novel, and, y'all, I'm so swept up in this historical adventure that I don't want to put it down. I was lucky enough to get access to the audiobook, so I'm switching back and forth between the print and audio just to keep the story going. Some people have a gift; Laura is one of those people! Don't forget, I'm giving away a physical copy (link below), but you can get a free ebook copy through the end of the month if you're an Amazon Prime sub!

Lastly, I wrapped up The Secret Lives of Murderer's Wives this morning and really enjoyed it. I think it's the perfect summer read, ideal for vacation or lounging around on a hot day. There's strong female friendship and plenty of mystery, and the 1960s Los Angeles setting was the icing on the cake for me. A satisfying ending + sweltering summer setting + a string of murders = ideal summer reading! 4.25⭐️

This Week in SBB:

• New Historical Fantasy Bookmail

• New Giveaway: In the Great Quiet Promo Box

• Five Year Bookstaversary

Hear it Here First:

I've got some fun things planned for next week's April newsletter, so be sure to subscribe asap!

It's official, Go as a River is the BBFL's April book selection. Join the club and read along if that one's still on your TBR!

xoxo

C

Happy Friday, Bindery Besties ❤️

Surprise!!! I've got a new giveaway to share, and it's a fun one, too.

Laura Vogt, author of In the Great Quiet, was kind enough to send me a second copy of her debut novel to share with my community. I have an unopened promo box for one lucky winner, hopefully someone that loves immersive Western historical fiction.

I'm reading this right now and really enjoying it! The FMC is spunky and full of grit (bonus points that she's based on Laura's own ancestor), and the writing is really transportive. I have a feeling you'll love it, too.

Anyone who prefers ebooks can snag a FREE copy of this one as part of Amazon First Reads. Let's face it, free is always good!

Wow! That week flew by fast. 🏃🏻‍♀️ It feels like just yesterday I was telling y'all about my terrible flight back to Los Angeles (10/10 do not recommend flying right now), and here we are for another weekly update.

We'll keep this one sweet and short, because not much reading has been going on around here. Instead, I've been playing with my website, Pinterest, and prepping for the April historical fiction look-ahead. I've also posted a few things on Instagram that I'll share below. Plus, I've been posting again on TikTok, though I still refuse to add the app back to my phone.

I finished The Hired Man, the new Sandra Dallas Dust Bowl book, and, unsurprisingly, I loved it. She has a knack for character development and atmospheric storytelling that brings her books to life. I also really appreciate that her books with young characters never feel YA, which suits me just fine. I can't wait to finish prepping my Dust Bowl Historical Fiction blog post/YT video. That book will DEFINITELY make the list. 4⭐️s

With Love From Harlem was up next for me and, boy, did it blow me away! I won't lie, Reshonda Tate's debut wasn't my favorite, though I did find it enjoyable. I think I rated The Queen of Sugar Hill 3.5⭐️s, so I wasn't sure what to expect from her latest. My chief complaint about Sugar Hill was the pacing and the character's cyclical story arc, but I did really appreciate the inside view of Hattie McDaniel, the first Black woman to win an Oscar. Well, I'm happy to report that With Love, From Harlem was spectacular! I really hadn't heard of Hazel Scott before reading the book, and now I'm wondering why? Hazel was an incredibly gifted musician/performer and was one of the most famous Black women in America in her heyday. Learning about her life through Tate's eyes was really fun! So many great Black artists, writers, and activists made an appearance that I couldn't help but think about Harlem Rhapsody, one of my favorite books of 2025. I highly recommend With Love From Harlem if you enjoy fictionalized biographies. 4.75⭐️

I'm still reading Before We Were Yours and The Secret Lives of Murderer's Wives, but I'm getting close to finishing both. To be honest, I haven't been in a rush to finish a book lately, instead feeling very inspired to create, create, create. I suspect that's because I know I'll soon be traveling, so I'm trying to batch content. But I also have a LOT to say lately.

I'll finish this update with a look ahead: the April newsletter will be out soon, so that means first looks at the May Historical Fiction Heads Up blog post and a few other fun new things I have up my sleeve. If you haven't signed up for my newsletter yet, I encourage you to do so. It's truly my favorite part of this whole passion project.

Until next week my friend!

This Week in SBB:

• Last, Now, Next Audiobook Edition

• The Vanishing Half book review

• Five Star Book Tag

• Sunday Morning with Me and Sandra Dallas

Hear it Here First:

My next giveaway will be a copy of In the Great Quiet, a debut novel by Laura Vogt! I'll announce it soon, so watch for that on your favorite social media channel.

The BBFL April poll hasn't closed yet, but it looks like we will be reading Go as a River. Join the club and read along if that one's still on your TBR!

xoxo

C