My Reading Space Winter Refresh! {A Collaboration with ODK Furniture}

January 22, 2022January 22, 2022 ~ Genevieve

{Thank you to ODK Furniture for partnering with me on this project.}

{ODK Wall Mounted Ladder Shelf}

A Reading Space:

While I love having books all around our house, my winter organization momentum is pushing to me make things a bit more…orderly, and that is where this space comes in!

Home Office Turned…Remote Classroom?

Once upon a time (pre 2020!) this room was my home office. Then remote school became a thing and any place dedicated to just adults quickly went down the drain! And while this room is a space still used by many of our family members, I decided I could still find ways to make it my own.

A Quick & Easy Refresh:

After almost constant use during the last couple of years, this room definitely needed a little bit of refresh and so when ODK Furniture offered to collaborate on this project, I couldn’t wait to get started!

We previously worked together when I updated my book blogger space and you can read that more HERE) and I am still so thrilled with my new workspace. I am currently writing from my new desk which has just been such a great addition.

For this project, ODK Furniture gifted me two of their Wall Mounted Ladder Bookshelves which were perfect to put side by side. In addition to these shelves being very simple to set up (thank you Lucas for taking the lead on this!) They are also very secure and wall mounted, which in a house with active kids, is a must!

The Details:

I chose the rustic brown color and love the simplicity of the shelves, which really allow the stars of the show, THE BOOKS, to really shine. And not only are they perfect in this space, but they also allowed the storage or twice as many books as before!

ODK Ladder Shelf 10% Off Sale!

If you are interested in adding one (or more!) of these shelves to your reading area, they are each under $100 with an additional 10% off discount HERE.

What About You?!

Do you have a designated reading space in your home? I would love to chat more about it over on my @genthebookworm instagram page! You can join in on the conversation HERE.

{Thank you to @Furniture_odk for my gifted desk! As always, all thoughts and opinions are my own, and I only feature things I truly love here.}

Disclosure: Some of the links above are Amazon affiliate links. This means if you click through and make a purchase, I ,may receive a small commission that helps support this blog at no cost to you. Thank you!

Last // Now // Next {Currently Reading…}

January 19, 2022January 19, 2022 ~ Genevieve

{thank you to @stmartinspress, @minotaurbooks, @berkleypub & @putnambooks for my gifted review copies}

Last / Now / Next

I am currently in a great reading streak and I am hoping it continues!

I finished Like A House On Fire by author Lauren McBrayer on my kindle this past weekend. It’s one of those books that really examines the gray areas of life and I can’t stop thinking about it. The characters are layered and nuanced and I can’t wait to share more as we get a bit closer to its publication date. {4.26.22}

On audio, I am currently juggling two books, one fiction and one non fiction read and they are both excellent!! I am loving Finlay Donovan Knocks ‘Em Dead by Elle Cosimano and keep seeing so many 5-star reviews for it all over #bookstagram, so I know I am not alone! {Publishing 2.1.22}

I started Losing Our Minds by Dr. Lucy Foulkes and it is just fascinating, nuanced and is giving me so much to unpack. {Publishing 1.25.22}

Finally, Good Rich People by Eliza Jane Brazier is up next for my kindle reading and I can’t wait! I love a good dark domestic thriller with main characters behaving badly, so this seems like my cup of tea! {Publishing 1.25.22}

So tell me, what are your Last / Now / Next book choices? I would love to hear over on @genthebookworm where I am discussing this more!

Disclosure: Some of the links above are Amazon affiliate links. This means if you click through and make a purchase, I may receive a small commission that helps support this blog at no cost to you. As always, all thoughts and opinions are my own, and I only feature things I truly love here.

What Happened To You? {If you read one book this winter, make it THIS one!}

January 14, 2022January 14, 2022 ~ Genevieve

What Happened To You? Conversations on Trauma, Resilience, and Healing by Bruce D. Perry M.D., Ph.D and Oprah Winfrey

What is the last book you read that you couldn’t stop talking about?! 📖🗣⁣
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It is this book for me! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⁣
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In fact, if you have talked to me in person during the last month, you probably have heard about it on more than one occasion, sorry, but not really! 🤷‍♀️🙌⁣
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What Happened To You came highly recommended by some of my very trusted book sources and seriously did not disappoint. I alternated reading and listening to this one on audiobook format because I really had a hard time putting it down. Simply put, the concepts in this book truly are life changing and I try not to say that unless I am talking about Brenè…or Nedra…or well, you get the point! 🙏⁣⁣

Whether you have experienced childhood adversity or not, this book is revolutionary. The idea of looking at someone (or yourself) and instead of saying “what’s wrong with them?!” changing the narrative to “what happened to them?” can change so much. 💖⁣
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I am a big believer in therapy and because of certain circumstances, I am grateful to say it has been a part of my life from a fairly young age (although it was definitely not as normalized as it is now!) ⁣
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I think there can be a bit of a misconception that therapy (and probably personal development in general) somehow can seem a bit…selfish? But really, it is exactly the opposite! 💥⁣
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Spending time processing your own experiences (past and present) can not only help yourself heal, but ultimately can help you understand and better interact with the world (and people) around you. And this book connects so much with that idea. ✨⁣
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When we realize “huh, maybe that’s why I respond that way in certain situations!!” it also helps us understand why someone else might respond or act the way they do as well. In fact, this idea ultimately helps us have more compassion and empathy, which in today’s divided and challenging world, there just can’t be enough of. 💕⁣

Find Your Unicorn Space by Eve Rodsky / Putnam Books {Book Discussion & Rating}

January 13, 2022 ~ Genevieve

{thank you to @putnambooks for my gifted review copy}

Find Your Unicorn Space by Eve Rodsky

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Publication Date:

December 28th, 2021

Book Summary:

From the New York Times bestselling author of Fair Play and “the Marie Kondo of relationships” comes an inspirational guide for setting new personal goals, rediscovering your interests, cultivating creativity, and reclaiming your Unicorn Space.

With her acclaimed New York Times bestseller (and Reese’s Book Club pick) Fair Play, Eve Rodsky began a national conversation about greater equality on the home front. But she soon realized that even when the domestic workload becomes more balanced, people still report something missing in their lives—that is, unless they create and prioritize time for activities that not only fill their calendars but also unleash their creativity.

Rodsky calls this vital time Unicorn Space—the active and open pursuit of creative self-expression in any form that makes you uniquely YOU. To help readers embrace all the unlikely, surprising, and delightful places where their own Unicorn Space may be found, she speaks with trail blazers, thought leaders, academics, and countless real people who have discovered theirs everywhere—from activism to artistic endeavors to second careers.

Rodsky reveals what researchers already know: Creativity is not optional. It’s essential. Though most of us do need to remind ourselves how (and where) to find it. With her trademark mix of research based, how-to advice and big-picture inspirational thinking, Rodsky shows you a clear path to reclaim your permission to have fun, manifest your own Unicorn Space in an already too-busy life, and unleash your special gifts and undiscovered talents into the world.

Purchase Your Copy:

Amazon Affiliate Link

LibroFM Bookstore Link

My Review:

As a big personal development reader, I have learned so much about boundaries during the last few years, including that idea that to say yes to the things we really want, it also requires saying NO to things as well.
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My reading choices tend to be quite seasonal and this time of year, I am drawn towards books that have us looking at ourselves a bit more introspectively.

And it just so happens that one of my very favorite people, @everodsky, published a book the very last week of the 2021, one in which I have been also anticipating since it’s conception…Find Your Unicorn Space.
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My love for her 2019 book Fair Play runs deep, and it has made a huge difference in the day to day lives within our family unit. One of the things I love the most about Eve is that she is so real but also no nonsense. Your family and friends can’t read your mind, and ultimately, making something happen requires ongoing prioritization and communication and yes, boundaries!
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If you have seen someone off chasing their dreams (or just trying something new!),it’s most likely happening because they put a plan into place to make it happen. We can do anything, but not everything, right? And this is where the unicorn space comes in.
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“This personal time–what Rodsky calls Unicorn Space, what makes us interesting–isn’t just a luxury, she explains….Find Your Unicorn Space teaches anyone how to create time in their already-busy life to tap into their unique expression of creativity, and find purpose that will allow them to live a happier, more fulfilled life.”⁣
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I could go on and on about Eve Rodsky’s life changing work but instead, I think you should just check out this book and see how it can inspire you as well!

{I also have a giveaway going on over at @genthebookworm where you can enter to win one of THREE copies of Finding Your Unicorn Space HERE}

Disclosure: Some of the links above are Amazon affiliate links. This means if you click through and make a purchase, I receive a small commission that helps support this blog at no cost to you. Thank you!⁣

A New Home Office Space for 2022! // Furniture ODK Small Desk Review

January 3, 2022January 22, 2022 ~ Genevieve

{Thank you to ODK Furniture for partnering with me for this post and gifting me this desk. As always, all thoughts and opinions are my own.}

I have big news! 🎉 After almost four years, #GenTheBookworm has officially moved from our dining room table to a place of it’s very own…a desk next to the dining room table! 💃🏻⁣
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I was super excited when @furniture_odk contacted me about their new small desk, which is touted for being perfect for utilizing small spaces. 🙌⁣

⁣I like my workspace to be where the action is, and this desk fits right in while also giving me a space to contain the book blogging chaos. And how great is this lower shelf for all my books just waiting to be discussed?! Don’t youWish You Were Here?! 💁🏻‍♀️😅📚⁣
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I was totally tempted by all of the different color choices (there are quite a few to choose from!) but ultimately decided to go the more traditional route with the rustic/ deep brown, which fits so well in our home.

It is super sturdy thanks to the R-shaped steel frame, and the perfect height for working on my computer or taking handwritten notes. And, it’s under $100! You can check it all out HERE.👏⁣

⁣It’s been pretty amazing to have a spot that is just for book-worming activities, and we can actually utilize our dining room table again. Fun fact, our younger son calls our dining room table “the birthday table” because that is how much we actually use it for dining purposes, LOL. 😂🤔⁣
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If you are like me and are looking for a contained home workspace to call your own, head over to @furniture_odk and check out all the amazing things they have to offer! 💞⁣

{Thank you to @Furniture_odk for my gifted desk! As always, all thoughts and opinions are my own, and I only feature things I truly love here.}

Cyber Monday Kindle Book Deals, Paperwhite & Powerbeats Sale and a Target Book Deal!

November 29, 2021November 29, 2021 ~ Genevieve

It’s a bit hard to believe we are now entering the holiday season! If you have a bookworm on your list, or are just hoping to pick up something for yourself, I am excited to share that there are some great deals that end tonight!

I regularly share Kindle Book Deals over on my Instagram page @genthebookworm…and if you aren’t following along already, you should!

It’s my goal to only share book deals I have personally loved or are on my own #TBRList, and there are some winners today! 🏆⁣

Today’s Kindle Book Deals:

My Dark Vanessa

It Happened One Summer

Honey Girl

The Reading List

Act Your Age Eve Brown

Searching For Sylvie Lee

The One Hundred Years of Lenni and Margot

Life’s Too Short

Mary Jane

Kindle Paperwhite Sale!

I am a big Kindle Reader (there is nothing like reading in bed with the lights off!) and if you have been wanting to join the Kindle club, this is the very best time of the year to do so! The all new 2021 Kindle Paperwhite is currently 25% off!

Kindle Paperwhite Deal (affiliate link)

And if you want to learn more about reading on a Kindle (including using the Libby App!) you can check out my post from a couple of years ago where I talk all things Kindle!

Save $100 On The BEST Earbuds!

Powerbeats Pro Deal (Affiliate link)

I purchased these Earbuds last year (during a Black Friday sale!) and after thousands of hours of use, I can say, these are the best!

I listen at work, while doing things around the house, while walking our dog and while talking on the phone. These stay put, are easy to use and have great sound quality.

Target’s Spend $20 Get $5 Off Book Sale!

If you are hoping to stock up on physical books, Target’s Spend $20 Get $5 Off Book Sale is here! You get $5 dollars off the sale price, which means you can get a hardcover book for around $15 which is pretty great! You can also use this deal to pre-order books as well.

If you are looking for a book recommendation, I highly recommend Wish You Were Here, by Jodi Picoult, and it will be hitting bookshelves tomorrow, 11.30.21! You can read my full review and blog post HERE.

Mom Jeans and Other Mistakes by Alexa Martin | Berkley Publishing {Book Rating & Discussion}

November 27, 2021November 27, 2021 ~ Genevieve

{Thank you to Berkley Publishing for my gifted review copy}

Mom Jeans and Other Mistakes by Alexa Martin

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫⁣

Book Summary:

Two best friends say “I do” to living together, for better or worse, in this bold women’s fiction novel from Alexa Martin.

Jude Andrews is famous. Well, at least on Instagram. Her brand is clean eating, good vibes, Pilates, and casually looking like a sun-kissed goddess. In real life, however, she’s a total disaster. She has a strained relationship with her fame-hungry mom and her latest bad decision emptied out her entire savings account.

Lauren Turner had a plan: graduate medical school and become the top surgeon in the country. But when she became unexpectedly pregnant, those plans changed. And when her fiancé left her, they changed again. Now navigating the new world of coparenting, mom groups, and dating, she decides to launch a mommy podcast with all the advice she wishes someone had given her.

Jude and Lauren don’t have much in common, but maybe that’s why they’ve been best friends since the third grade. Through ups and downs, they’ve been by each other’s sides. But now? They’re broke, single, and do the only thing that makes sense—move in together, just like they talked about when they were teenagers. Except when they were younger, the plan didn’t include a five-year-old daughter and more baggage than their new townhouse can hold.

Purchase Your Copy:

Amazon Link

LibroFM Bookstore Link

My Thoughts & Review:

I have to say, I was initially drawn to this book by the title and book cover, it’s just perfection. But what I I didn’t expect is that behind this cute cover and clever name would ultimately be SO much more than just an easy contemporary fiction read.

Author Alexa Martin draws you in and introduces you to childhood best friends, Lauren and Jude. Their lives could not be more different but when unforeseen circumstances arise, they decide to enact their childhood dream of moving in together.

They are hoping to be able to help each other out while they both are feeling a bit down on their luck. Lauren is a Black single mom to her five year old daughter Addy and Jude is a social media “influencer”, so of course, things don’t go exactly as planned, as these friends are each in very different stages of life.

What I loved about this book is the focus on adult female friendship, and how it isn’t always smooth sailing. Seeing these two women root for one another, themselves and their relationship together while also traveling the bumpy road of adulthood was relatable and inspiring.

I appreciated that there were elements of love but this this story was also based in reality. Hard topics weren’t only tied in but also fully discussed, including, race, child custody, mental health, alcoholism,and motherhood. Both women have empowering parts of their lives and also things they are working through, and I appreciated that so much.

This was my first book by Alexa Martin and certainly won’t be my last! I highly recommend this one and think it would maker for a great book club discussion.

I shared this book over on my instagram account @genthebookworm back when this was published in September, if you are interested in hearing more!

Disclosure: Some of the links on this site are affiliate links. This means if you click through and make a purchase, I may receive a small commission that helps keep this website running and at no cost to you. Thank you for your support!

We Are Not Like Them by Christine Pride and Jo Piazza // Atria Books {Book Discussion & Rating}

October 28, 2021October 28, 2021 ~ Genevieve

{Thank you to Atria Books for my gifted review copy}

We Are Not Like Them by Christine Pride & Jo Piazza

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Publication Date:

October 5th, 2021

Book Summary:

Told from alternating perspectives, an evocative and riveting novel about the lifelong bond between two women, one Black and one white, whose friendship is indelibly altered by a tragic event—a powerful and poignant exploration of race in America today and its devastating impact on ordinary lives.

Jen and Riley have been best friends since kindergarten. As adults, they remain as close as sisters, though their lives have taken different directions. Jen married young, and after years of trying, is finally pregnant. Riley pursued her childhood dream of becoming a television journalist and is poised to become one of the first Black female anchors of the top news channel in their hometown of Philadelphia.

But the deep bond they share is severely tested when Jen’s husband, a city police officer, is involved in the shooting of an unarmed Black teenager. Six months pregnant, Jen is in freefall as her future, her husband’s freedom, and her friendship with Riley are thrown into uncertainty. Covering this career-making story, Riley wrestles with the implications of this tragic incident for her Black community, her ambitions, and her relationship with her lifelong friend.

Like Tayari Jones’s An American Marriage and Jodi Picoult’s Small Great Things, We Are Not Like Them explores complex questions of race and how they pervade and shape our most intimate spaces in a deeply divided world. But at its heart, it’s a story of enduring friendship—a love that defies the odds even as it faces its most difficult challenges.