Six Things I Have Learned When Connecting With Authors On Bookstagram!
One of my favorite parts of sharing about books online is the opportunity to interact with authors on social media. Four years later and it still gives me a thrill when they comment on a post or share content I have created. 🤩
💬 Here are some things I have learned…
DO follow along with authors in the genres you enjoy. It is a great way to see some “behind the scenes” and also know what books are coming out next! 🎉
DON’T request that an author send you a copy of their book in DMs. If you are looking for a review copy, I suggest reaching out to their publishers directly – you can find out who is publishing a book by looking right above the ISBN on Goodreads. That is unless they live in your neighborhood, like @teacherlahey, right Jess? 🤣
DO enter author book giveaways! Chances are, they have at least a handful of early copies of their books and are often quite excited to help get them out in the reading world! @camillepagan great about this! 💌📚
DON’T tag authors in a negative review. While we all react differently to books (and that’s okay!) and not every book is for every reader, remember that authors are humans too! 🚫
DO send an email! Have a specific and/or more long winded question? Send an email! Authors often have many incoming messages and DMs can easily get lost (here too, ack!) I use DMs to share content related to their books and save email for questions (like arranging a book club zoom, etc). 📧
DO talk about authors’ backlists! While new releases are always exciting, it feels just as good to know there is still lots of love for their older books. 📖
DO connect via the little things! I “met” @megmitchellmoore when I reached out about one of her books including Saint Michael’s College (my alma mater). Then we learned we have a bunch of other things in common! 💃🏻
✨Do you have any helpful tips I missed? Any questions I can try to get answers for? I am discussing this over on my bookstagram account @genthebookworm and I would love to hear your thoughts! 💭
{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! 💃🏻
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?! 💁🏻♀️😅📚
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. 😂🤔
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.}
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!
Welcome to another edition of my reading list and book recommendations guest post series. I have a great lineup of reading friends and book professionals sharing their current reads the next few weeks and I couldn’t be more thrilled!
Katie and I are #bookstagram buddies and you might know her by book tree she featured this past holiday season that went totally viral in the online book community!
Katie posts daily book content which I am always super impressed by and loves so many of the same genres as me so she is always a go-to for me if I needing some book feedback or inspiration.
Katie is not afraid to share her honest thoughts on the reads she reads which I always appreciate and is just so much fun (except when she gives me grief about not reading Harry Potter yet!!)
I am actually meeting up with her and two of my other reading friends Kristina and Stephanie this spring at the 2020 Book Expo in NYC and I can’t even wait! I hope you enjoy learning more about Katie today.
Nightstand Series Introduction:
Hey everyone! My name is Katie (aka @katieneedsabiggerbookshelf) and I am a born and raised Jersey Girl! I spent my college years in Savannah, GA which is where the “y’alls” come in that I sometimes throw out!
I currently live in Delaware with my boyfriend Dave, my cat Brody, and his dog Courtney. They love each other deep down, they just never show it!
When I’m not reading, (aka when they force me to do that thing called work) I sell yearbooks for Walsworth yearbooks. I just started this job in May and am loving it so far!
I spent five years doing sales for Pepsi so when this opportunity came along to do sales but also get to add in my love of photography and graphic design I had to jump at the chance! I love getting to work with the students, and help them get creative with their book! I also love to crochet, knit, paint, photograph, sew, and really just do anything crafty!
What Kind of Reader Are You?
One of my favorite stories is that I had trouble learning to read. When I was in first grade, I could fly through the math worksheets, but reading gave me a ton of trouble. I went to extra help for it and it was game over from there.
My math skills quickly disappeared once subtraction was introduced, and soon you couldn’t find me without a book in my hand. My reading tastes are really all over the map, especially since I started my #bookstagram. I read pretty much anything except I don’t do a ton of fantasy, and I really only read sci-fi if it’s by Blake Crouch.
What Time of Day do You do Most of Your Reading?
I read any time of day! I don’t really read in the morning because I am NOT a morning person. I am a roll out of bed, get dressed and brush my teeth, grab a bite to eat and my coffee on the way out the door!
I will read if I get to an appointment early and have a few minutes in the car alone, and always on my lunch break (when I take them.) Since I spend all day in the car, I always have an audiobook or a podcast going! In terms of sitting down to crack a book, I am mostly a nighttime reader though.
This is a really tough one! There are so many I have loved recently. I am going to give my three 5-star reads from January though! A Sky Painted Gold, Hum If You Don’t Know The Words, and Catch and Kill. All were amazing reads that I couldn’t put down!
What books are you looking forward to reading?
There are so many great sounding books coming out I don’t even know where to start! Some I am excited about include Truths I Never Told You, He Started It, Night Swim, andBeach Read! They are all repeat authors for me (except Truths I Never Told You-which I need to read her first one ASAP! It’s on my backlist shortlist!) And I can’t wait to see what they have come up with for their next read!
Any books were hoping to love but didn’t??
I was hoping to love Normal People, Three Women, and Saint X. But they just didn’t do it for me. The first two I did finish and was mad I bothered, and the third I DNF’d.
My nightstand is pretty boring. I have my books (bottom is my next read, the middle is my current physical book read, and the top is my kindle.) I generally read my kindle in bed because I’m a side sleeper and its easier to read a kindle on my side than a physical book! So I almost always have three books going at once!
Then I, of course, have my phone and apple watch chargers, water, chapstick, and the tv remote to turn it off once Dave falls asleep! My favorite part isn’t my nightstand, but my amazing floating shelves above my nightstand! They make me so happy and contain some of my TBR, minus my superwoman one that has my lady power books!
Our room doesn’t have a lot of room for bookshelves, but I did just add these gems upstairs in the office. Since I had to put all my book tree books away it made for a good time to organize the shelves a bit better! And I see some blank spaces waiting to be filled! I have several bookshelves throughout the house, but this one looks the prettiest!
Thank you so much for sharing today, Katie. I loved hearing all about your recent reads and I now need floating bookshelves ASAP!
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!
Welcome to the first Nightstand Series post in 2020! I love being able to share book content with a wider range of perspectives and genres and I am so appreciative of all my reading friends who have helped make this happen by sharing their reading list and recommendations.
2019 Guest Posters!
I started this book friends series last January and it has been so fun looking back at all the people and books that were shared. You can check out all of my 2019 Nightstand Series posts below…
If you are a reader and are interested in sharing your booklist & recommendations in 2020, please comment below and I will send you an email to get you on my guest post calendar.
Meet Michelle!
Today I am so excited to introduce you to my friend Michelle AKA @michellenputney! She was one of my very first #bookstagram friends and I always love seeing what she is reading and enjoying.
Michelle writes the most amazing reviews over on Goodreads and is never afraid to share her honest thoughts while also sharing an incredible amount of detailed perspective. Anytime I see a book I want to read on there, I have to see what Michelle thought first because her reactions are always spot on!
I hope you enjoy getting to know more about Michelle today!
Nightstand Series Introduction:
My name is Michelle Putney and I’m a 37-year-old bookworm from Buffalo, NY. I am married, have a 2.5-year-old daughter, Olivia and 2 golden retrievers Apollo (10) & Atticus (8.5). I would have 10 golden retrievers if I could, but sadly that isn’t a reality at the moment!!
I work in the life insurance industry but am happiest when I am with my family, walking the dogs and reading. I love instilling my love of reading in my daughter and so far she loves to read just as much as I do! We go to the library about every 2 weeks and check out about 10 books at a time so we can read before nap and bedtime.
What kind of reader are you?
I have always been a voracious reader for as long as I can remember. My parents used to yell at me to get my nose out of my books while driving to our family vacation destinations of Cape Cod, MA or Bar Harbor, ME so I could see the beautiful scenery. (Nancy Drew was much more interesting to me!)
Even though I have been reading/recommending books for years, I finally figured out that people use Instagram to connect with other like-minded readers and decided about 6 months ago to become a more serious #bookstagrammer.
Since I have such a young daughter I don’t get as much time to read or be involved in the book community as I would like, but I am very appreciative to be a member of this great group of people. I typically read during Livie’s nap time or after she goes to bed.
I would love to listen to audiobooks, but I wouldn’t be able to stay focused the way I need to while doing chores around the house (otherwise, I could get a lot more reading time in!). I only have a 10-minute commute, but I make it twice a day to spend my lunchtime with the dogs so I do get a chance to listen to some podcasts.
I am listening to the latest episodes of In The Dark right now, as well as The Rachel Maddow Show. I loved Serial and listen to Pod Save America and Pantsuit Politics as much as I can (I’m a political junkie too!).
What else is on your nightstand?
My nightstand is pretty boring since I don’t want anything nice to get accidentally knocked over by my daughter since she is very inquisitive 😉
I have a stack of books I’d like to get to next, my iPad with everything I have from Netgalley and Edelweiss and the alarm clock I’ve had since 1997 (my first year in high school). The thing is a relic and is only used for the clock, but it reminds me of simpler times in life. I also like that it’s been in my childhood bedroom, my college dorm/apartments, and now my home with my own family.
Thank you so much for sharing with us today, Michelle. I am going to check out some of your political podcasts, I think I will need them during 2020! <3
Disclosure: Some of the links above are 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!
It’s the time of the year where the end of the year recaps are everywhere! When thinking about how I wanted to share my own reading wrap up of 2019, I thought it might be fun to not only share mine but also include a bunch of my reading friend’s feedback from #bookstagram so that is what I am sharing today!
#Bookstagrammer Bonanza!
A few days ago I shared on #bookstagram HERE that I would love to include feedback from my fellow bookworms when I shared my reading recap of 2019.
I asked them to share their favorite books that they read in 2019, the ones that didn’t meet the hype and the ones they are looking forward to reading/publishing in 2020 and boy did they deliver!
SO many reading friends took the time to share their feedback and today I am excited to be sharing it with you!
Varying Perspectives & Genres with Reading
I love posting my own reading wrap-ups and recommendations but I also love being able to share other people’s perspectives and genres that might be outside of what I tend to regularly read.
While putting this post together I loved seeing the wide variety of answers because it is just so fascinating that we all react to books so differently…even when we read similar titles!
This blog post is definitely a long one, but I am hoping it inspires your own reading lists and helps you discover some titles and authors you might not have previously heard of.
Meet The Bookstagrammers!
While not everyone on this list is a “book reviewer”, everyone is an avid reader and I loved the diversity this allowed for. If they do share books publicly, I included a link to their Instagram page for easy access along with their first names.
You will notice that some of the books that are shared below are either ARCs that have not been officially published yet and some people shared books that were highlights of their 2019 reading even if they were published in previous years.
I am including links to all of these books for easy access where you can easily see more details about each of these titles.
Sadly, City of Girls by Elizabeth GIlrbert did not live up to the hype for me. Neither did Lost Roses by Martha Hall Kelly (though I loved Lilac Girls the prequel).
The Giver by Lois Lowry (I have always wanted to read it but it was SUCH a slow read for me) and The Silent Patient (highly recommended but also a slow read and just couldn’t’ get into it.)
The Most Highly Anticipated Book Voted by #Bookstagrammers is…
You probably noticed a pattern in this post, but American Dirt is most definitely the most anticipated book of 2020!! I read an ARC copy this past month and I can’t wait to share my thoughts soon, but let’s just say, I already know it will be one of my top 2020 reads because it was THAT GOOD.
My 2019 Reading Wrap-up!
My 2019 reading recap will be posted soon, in the meantime, you can see check out my favorites of 2019 (so far!) post from July, to see how things were stacking up at the halfway point.
Thank you to everyone who shared in today’s post! I hope this has inspired your own book list and helps make 2020 your best reading year yet! Happy reading. <3
*I apologize in advance for any errors or misunderstanding with titles/book covers when transcribing these results from Instagram to this blog post. I am happy to update anything if necessary! <3
Disclosure: Some of the links on this blog 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!
Hello! I hope you are enjoying this time between Christmas and the New Year. This week of the year always throws me off because the kids are home from school but Lucas is quite busy at work during this time of year, so he doesn’t have a lot of time off.
So while it is festive, it is also kind of like normal…except we have none of our regular routines or activities scheduled! We tend to thrive off of this stuff, so each day is kind of a mixed bag. 😉
Holiday Breaks Expectations vs. Reality
I always have these dreamy ideas of what school breaks will be like, and then I am snapped back into reality. While we do have fun, I still spend a large percentage of my life refereeing between our boys and answering the question “can I have something to eat?!” while I am currently cleaning up from the food we just made…
While I haven’t had as much time to devote to this space during the last two weeks, I am trying to stay consistent with my guest posts, and today I am excited to introduce you to my book friend, Tancy!
Meet Tancy & Beyond Booked Book Sleeves!
Tancy is not only one of my Bookstagram reading buddies, but she also makes my most favorite book sleeves ever! You can visit her Etsy shop, Beyond Booked, HERE.
If you haven’t heard of a book sleeve before, they are fabric pouches that protect your books so you can bring them with you wherever you go! Tancy has the most gorgeous fabric choices and is just so wonderful to work with.
In addition to loving her book sleeves, I love reading her thoughts and reviews of the books she is reading. She is always so thoughtful with her feedback and she always inspires me to add new book selections to my TBR pile! I hope you enjoy getting to know more about Tancy today!
Nightstand Series Introduction:
My name is Tancy Campbell and I currently live in San Diego California. I am a native of North Carolina but as a military spouse, I tend to move around frequently. My husband is a Master Chief in the US NAVY. He has served for just over 18 years and has plans to do 6 to 7 more. We also have two children, Kennedy 9 and Dallas 4. We have one 15-year-old Maltese who is about 5 pounds but has an attitude of a 70-pound dog.
I am a stay at home mom that loves to read, run, sew, and help others with their finances. I am in the process of turning my hobbies into businesses. I have an Etsy shopwhere I create stylish book sleeves for readers on the go. In addition to that, I am in the process of becoming a certified financial coach.
What Kind of Reader Are You and Favorite Book Genres
I’ve always enjoyed reading as a kid. I remember sitting my dolls in front of me while I read to them. I was a very bored kid but I could count on books to entertain me endlessly. Once I went to high school and college, academia sort of sucked the fun out of reading, so for about 8 years I read just to get by.
Once I graduated I began picking up books here and there but it wasn’t until I found the Bookstagram community in 2018 that the desire to read was fully reignited. This was a learning time for me, as I didn’t even know what I was interested in anymore. The more I read the more I found myself attracted to certain genres. I enjoy dystopian, WWII Fiction and Non-Fiction, and African American lit.
What Time of Day do you do Most of Your Reading?
I read whenever I find the time. This maybe while for my daughter to get off the bus or whenever my son is in swim, or maybe I’ll get a couple of pages in while waiting in line somewhere. I tend to keep a book with me because you never know when you will have downtime. I plan to get in the habit of setting aside read time maybe every morning or every night.
I genuinely look forward to reading all the books. It’s such a nerdy thing to say but I get overwhelmed just thinking about all the books there are vs the time available to read them.
What Books Are You Currently Reading?
I am currently reading Becoming by Michelle Obama, and like most reviews will probably mention its fantastic. My favorite book this year is Atomic Habits by James Clear. It guides you on how to successfully create good habits and break bad ones.
Another favorite of mine this year was The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugoby Taylor Jenkins Reid. I was very surprised to have liked this book, let alone LOVE it. I completely judged the book by the title thinking it was based on romance but after several recommendations from the Bookstagram community, I read it and LOVED it.
What Are You Listening To?
My podcast list is long and mainly in the area of personal finance and business. I’m currently listening to…
Currently, on my nightstand, I have 4 unfinished books and 2 books I would like to start soon. By having them on my night table I can see them and be reminded that I need to finish what I started.
I also keep a small jewelry box there, one I received from my children a couple of Christmas’s ago. Then, of course, night light and my phone charger. I’ll sometimes bring water up to hydrate before bed. Other things that can occasionally end up on the side table are my planner and pen so that I can jot notes for the next day.
Thank you so much for sharing today, Tancy! I have Atomic Habitson my bookshelf and you have made me want to read it ASAP.
Disclosure: Some of the links above are 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!
Hi everyone! We are in the final countdown to the holidays and I am feeling it. The kids are definitely amped up and there is something so special about seeing this time of the year through their eyes. While I do love the festivities, the feelings holidays can bring up are mixed for me in many ways and I can’t say that I am not really looking forward to January in a lot of ways!
While I will be home with the kids during their school break(which as any parent knows isn’t exactly a “break”), I am looking forward to a slower pace than our usual leaving the house by 7:30 weekday schedule.and just have daylight time to get out and do some winter adventures together. There’s a fine balance to do this though and having some kind of plan to get out of the house at least once a day is necessary for parent survival!
This is a busy time of year for Lucas at work so it will be a lot together time just three of us (plus Buzz!) so I am hoping that we are able to get together with friends quite a bit. I am also crossing my fingers that the snow sticks around (and more comes soon!) so that we can have a White Christmas!
‘Today I am excited to introduce to you another one of my #bookstagram friends, Stephanie. Stephanie is one of my favorite people to follow on #bookstagram. She has mastered the art of finding time to cozy up and read between the juggling of daily life as a working mom and I love how she always makes it a priority. Her reviews are always so fun to read and I love that we enjoy so many of the same genres. I hope you enjoy learning more about Stephanie today!
Nightstand Series Introduction:
Hello, hello! I’m Stephanie, wife of eleven years and mama to a four-year-old little lady who loves books almost as much as I do. We have a little Bichon Frise, Andy, we rescued eleven years ago – his favorite activity is lying on my lap while I read.
We live in a cozy century home in northeast Ohio, and it’s about the time of year that I am busily preparing for my months-long hibernation with a stash of tea and coffee alongside a pile of books and my heated blankets (yes, plural) to see me through ‘til spring.
I have worked as a travel consultant for seven years, and also do social media and marketing for our company – there are days I cannot believe I am paid to write blog posts, do creative social media and help people plan vacations.
I absolutely love my job and feel very blessed to be part of the travel community. This summer I also started teaching ESL online to children ages 4-12 in China – it is so much fun, and seeing the smiley faces of the kiddos when I log on while the rest of the Eastern Standard time zone sleeps is pretty great.
Besides reading, I love travel (obviously), crafting, playing board games and video games, doing puzzles, cooking vegan food, and making family memories at fun events and activities around Cleveland. I started a neighborhood book group for the women on our street, and we meet monthly for a hang-out but select a book for every other get-together. One of my favorite projects has been decorating our home, and I love the concept of hygge living and making it a place we love.
I have always been an avid reader. I grew up on Little Golden Books (my mom always let me pick one when we went to the grocery store) and moved on to Beverly Cleary, The Babysitters Club, the American Girl series (when I was young there were only THREE American Girls!), the Nancy Drew series, and then read anything by VC Andrews that I could get my early teen hands-on (no judging). One of my earliest memories as a young bookworm was my mother speaking with the librarians to ensure that my reading selections were age-appropriate.
My love of reading continued through middle school, high school, and college, where I majored in English Literature and Spanish, so my final years at Ohio University were all about reading and writing papers in two languages – because of this, I barely read for pleasure during that phase of my life.
Favorite Book Genres
As an adult, I read about 80-100+ books per year across genres. I prefer literary fiction but will dabble in middle grade, narrative nonfiction, self-improvement books, mysteries, and thrillers. I don’t read much sci-fi, fantasy, or YA.
What Time of Day do you do Most of Your Reading?
I squeeze in my reading whenever I can. I used to start my day with a cup of coffee and a book before my little one would awaken, but now with teaching ESL in the morning, I don’t do this as much. I love to read before bed and during the kiddo’s nap time. When I work from home, I try to fit in some pages before I start my workday.
What Books Are You Currently Reading?
I am currently reading What Happens in Paradise (*the second book in the Paradise Trilogy) by Elin Hilderbrand and some cozy Christmas fiction. I am a HUGE seasonal reader, and I love settling in with a Christmas story during this time of year – I usually read about five of these during the season. This year has been an incredible reading year for me with so many standouts I will highly recommend to those seeking their next selection.
I don’t listen to many audiobooks because when I do work in the office my commute is short, but the bigger reason is that I LOVE PODCASTS. I have been listening to podcasts for about ten years, back when I had to hook up my iPod to my desktop computer to download them for listening. (Guys, I am old.)
I have so many downloaded and so many listed in a journal to come back to, but my current listens are: The Deck the Hallmark Podcast (to accompany our Hallmark Christmas movie viewings), The TV Talk Machine (even though I don’t watch much television I love listening to these guys), Watch What Crappens, Be Our Guest, Currently Reading, Hello from the Magic Tavern, Sorta Awesome, Stuff You Should Know, The DIS Unplugged, and The Popcast with Knox and Jamie.
What Else is on Your Nightstand?
I like a tidy nightstand, so I try to keep the stuff from accumulating. Usually on my nightstand: my earbuds, my Kindle in its Novel Nuzzler sleeve, and my vintage-inspired alarm clock.
Sometimes on my nightstand…
The tv remotes (I am bingeing ER on Hulu and watching at bedtime), my current library book, chapstick, an oil roller, and lotion. (In the winter months, my controller for the heated blanket.) I keep my acupressure mat next to my nightstand and use it every night.
Thank you so much for sharing today, Stephanie!
Disclosure: Some of the links above are 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!
Hi everyone! How is your week going? I can’t believe we are so close to the kid’s holiday school break, considering it feels like Thanksgiving break was just yesterday! We have been busy at work getting all our 2019 things tied up before we have almost two weeks off from school and this time of the year always feels like a race to the finish line.
We try to keep it low key with the holiday festivities but even so, it always feels like a lot. As much fun as this season is, the kids are always wired, the noise decibel is high, there is so much sugar EVERYWHERE and there are just so many things to remember(or a lot of times, to forget, in my case…ha)
I often struggle to try to find the right balance between being real and straight up whining and I think it can especially be hard online. Family life is great AND it can feel like so much. As the kids have grown older, some things feel much easier and some things feel SO much harder.
I have been feeling like I am treading water lately and while I know I am not alone it can sometimes feel that way. I am always grateful for friends, both in “real life” and online that remind you that NO ONE has it all figured out.
Today I am excited to introduce you to one of those people, my #bookstagram friend Caroline!
Meet Caroline!
Caroline and I connected over DMs on Instagram. Caroline is part of the amazing #bookstagram duo @texacalibooks. Friends Caroline and Nina share about all things reading and for this post, I asked Caroline to share how @texacalibooks came to be…
Nina and I went to law school together and have been besties ever since. Nina had the account for about a year called “One Awesome Book” and about 50 followers. She kept telling me to start one too since we constantly gave each other book recs.
We decided it would be more fun to do it together since we don’t live in the same city. So we changed the name, got me added, my obsessive personality kicked in and here we are !!
#Bookstagram Buddies
We may live on opposite sides of the country, but we always end up having so many things in common. Her kids are a bit older than mine so I always appreciate her great perspective and advice.
We love chatting books, work/life balance, and COFFEE and she is just one of the sweetest most genuine people and her writing always makes me smile. I am excited for you to learn more about Caroline today!
Nightstand Series Introduction:
My name is Caroline and I live in Los Angeles with my husband, who I met in law school, and our two kids – Alexa is 14 years old and Beckett is 11 years old. I grew up in Tucson, Arizona and went to the University of Arizona for undergrad and The Ohio State University for law school (go Bucks!). I am a partner at a law firm in Century City specializing in real estate finance and have been at the same firm for almost 18 years. Ack, I am old!
Simply put, I am a working mom constantly trying to find that elusive work-life balance and failing miserably. I work very long hours and every weekend so between that and having two very active kids who play club sports, there is not much time for hobbies.
My daughter plays soccer and is also on her high school lacrosse team and my son plays soccer, basketball, and baseball. Life in sunny California means club teams are year-round and I am that soccer mom who has a sweatshirt, tee-shirt, and hat for my kids’ soccer club that I wear while I pace on the side of the field.
I basically spend my time not working acting as their Uber driver to and from practices and cheering them on in games that are all over Southern California – as far south as San Diego and as far north as Santa Barbara. We had one weekend a few months ago where the kids had 9 games between them, all out of town and about 25 miles apart from each other.
But I do carve out a little time for myself every day by running about 3 miles very early in the morning (and in the dark!) before my kids are awake and I always make sure that I read before bed every night regardless of what time I am finally going to bed. I also have an intense love for coffee, Target, extra soft sweatshirts, sneakers, Hallmark movies, and Bravo shows.
We are family who loves to ski so we go to Utah every winter for a family ski trip and we also spend a week doing nothing but laying by the pool in Hawaii every spring break. In the summer our crazy lives come to a grinding halt because my kids each go to sleepaway camps in Wisconsin.
My husband is from Chicago so my son attends the same camp that my husband went to as a kid and my daughter attends the sister camp that is owned by a camp friend of my husband. So after a very hectic school and sports year, my husband and I have an empty house which is always weird. However, the time is filled quickly with work, scouring the camp websites for pictures of the kids and making sure that we are not messing up our son’s many fantasy baseball teams while he is away.
What Kind of Reader Are You?
I have been a reader my entire life. I was the dorky kid who brought a book everywhere with me. I remember being the only kid at sleepaway camp who actually read in the cabin during rest hour. The only time I had a lull in my reading was in law school because between all of the studying and working, there just was not time to read.
When I graduated law school, the chick-lit genre was just starting and authors like Sophie Kinsella, Jane Green, Jennifer Weiner, and Helen Fielding sucked me in immediately and kickstarted my love for reading.
What Time of Day do you do Most of Your Reading?
I read in the mornings when I am getting ready for work. I put the book on the bathroom counter, propped open with hairbrushes while I brush my teeth, blowdry my hair, etc.
My son also reads before bed so if I can take a breather from reviewing documents for work, I snuggle up to him with my book. Also, I always read a little before I go to sleep. And I suffer from insomnia so I often read my books in the middle of the night with my little itty bitty book light.
The ultimate is when one of my kids has an out of town game and there is not a conflict between the schedules so my husband drives and I can read in the car. Freeway reading is the best.
Favorite Book Genres
I am all over the board right now in terms of genres. I still love chick lit the best but I am also very into thrillers, young adult, historical fiction and contemporary fiction.
What Books Are You Currently Reading?
I recently finishedAmerican Royals and The Swallows and loved them both so much. The last book that really shook me and stayed with me long after I finished it was A Woman is No Manand I had a major book hangover after The Flatshare.
My one real book confession is that I didn’t love The Goldfinch. It dragged on too long for me and I was impatient and bored.
What Are You Listening To?
I only listen to music in the car. My kids insist on it and I am usually at my office before I realize that I am still listening to whatever they put on. They went through a major Hamilton and Dear Evan Hansen phase but now it is more pop music.
What Else is on Your Nightstand?
I always keep a glass of water on my nightstand because I wake up thirsty in the middle of the night. Other necessities are my glasses because all of my reading at work has made me absolutely blind and lotion (I have a whole routine at night where I put lotion on my feet and then sleep in socks and my feet are nice and soft when I wake up.)
I have an alarm clock, my phone, the remote control that I have to keep on my side or my husband will find it and put on sports, a picture of my kids hugging each other so I can remind them that they actually do love each other, candles because this is LA and we have earthquakes, a flashlight because this is LA and we have earthquakes (see candles), my Casper light which is my most favorite thing ever and a little ceramic keepsake that my mom gave me when I was a little girl.
On the shelf under my nightstand is my stack of library books. I am a big library supporter which I love because I never spend money on books and I don’t have to worry about clutter when I am done reading them. The downside is that it also means that I am always a little behind on the hot new books and I am beholden to the library due dates. The struggle is real!
Thank you so much for sharing with us today! I hope you enjoyed learning more about Caroline. <3
Disclosure: Some of the links above are 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!
Welcome to another edition of The Nightstand Series!Kristina got us kicked off again last week and today I have another book-loving friend sharing her reading list and book recommendations!
Today I am excited to introduce you to my friend Julia!
Julia and I met on #bookstagram and right away we connected over our love of the same books! When she started her own book feed, I was super excited to follow along! She has great taste in books and always has such thoughtful comments with her reading recaps.
I love that we have very similar reactions to books and also that she reads “ahead”. She is a book reviewer too so she is often reading ARCs too and is able to discuss them with me before the actual publication dates! I love that reading is an escape for her too and I am super impressed that she prioritizes it while also being IN school.
I hope you enjoy getting to know a little about Julia today!
Nightstand Series Introduction:
Hi, I’m Julia! I’m from Michigan but am currently living in Lincoln, Nebraska with my boyfriend of 3 years. I’m a Ph.D. student in Clinical Psychology at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and I conduct aging/Alzheimer’s research. Back home in Michigan, I have 2 dogs and 1 cat who I miss very much!
Hopefully next year or the year after, my boyfriend and I will move into a house that allows pets and get a cat. When I’m not reading or doing research, I really love to bake! I show some of my baked goods (and of course, lots of books) on my #bookstagram at @booksbitesbeaches.
What Kind of Reader Are You?
I grew up in a family of readers. My brother loves fantasy and science fiction, my mom loves general adult fiction and self-help books, and my dad was always reading the newspaper so it only felt natural to me to start reading at a young age.
The first books I can remember loving were in middle school when I read the A-List series and Gossip Girl. From there, I moved onto Sarah Dessen and my love for reading only grew throughout grade-school.
I fell off the reading train a bit with undergrad because other things seemed to take priority. That all changed about a year ago, actually! I was in the process of applying to graduate school and had been dealt with my first school rejection and I turned to a book to escape.
I read The Next Person You Meet In Heaven by Mitch Albom in one sitting and for 2019, it was my New Years Resolution to read more! I started with a small goal – 25 books. I quickly met that and upped my goal to 50. Right now, I’m starting my 64th book and plan to set my goal for 75 next year.
What Time of Day do You do Most of Your Reading?
I do most of my reading in the early morning before I have to get out of bed with a coffee mug on my nightstand and then again at night when I’m winding down. I really love my quiet mornings and it’s a nice way to wind down in the evening.
What Books Are You Currently Reading?
I just recently read Such A Fun Age by Kiley Reidand really loved it! Genevieve and I both talked about how we didn’t love the ending, but I still think it’ll be a very talked-about book of 2020! Same with A Good Neighborhood by Therese Anne Fowler. They’re both quite timely and I think they’d both be really great book club picks.
I’m also excited for Greer Hendricks and Sarah Pekkanen’s newest, You Are Not Alone because they’re a favorite writing pair. (*For reference, their 2018 book is The Wife Between Us and their 2019 book is An Anonymous Girl)
Are There Any Books You Read and Didn’t Love?
I was recently disappointed by Not the Girl You Marry by Andie Christopher. It was essentially How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days but role reversal and in a book. It was lacking creativity and I need creativity in books! I don’t like to guess the ending 15 pages in, but sometimes a predictable romance is just what you need… it just wasn’t what I needed at the time.
What Are You Listening to?
I have never listened to an audiobook! It wasn’t until a few months ago that I finally started listening to podcasts because there’s just something about listening to other people’s voices through my headphones that can bother me.
The only podcast I consistently listen to is My Favorite Murder! I should probably read some true-crime stories given how much I love that podcast.
What Else is on Your Nightstand?
On my nightstand, I have all my essentials! I always have my Yeti water bottle with me. It keeps my water so nice and cold and I love it so much that I even have a Yeti coffee mug. I don’t usually care much about being brand loyal but they’re great products and I’ve dropped the water bottle multiple times and it’s still in great condition.
Even though I have multiple lip balms pictured, vaseline is still my go-to. It always cures my dry lips and knuckles in the winter and it’s so cost-effective! For on the go, I like Grove Collaborative’s Mint & Argan Lip Balm and then for going out, I like using Burt’s Bees colored balms.
My favorite skincare brand is Mario Badescu and this lotion is one of my favorites. I have one on my nightstand AND at my desk at work – that’s how good it is. It smells lovely and isn’t too expensive, which is important to me. I really like his products because most of them are vegan and cruelty-free and as far as skin-care goes, they’re pretty cheap!
I also have this journal, An Inspired Life, which includes prompts to reflect. It helps me reframe when I get stressed out and writing is one of my favorite forms of self-care, therefore, having this notebook close by helps me unwind in bed at night!
Lastly, an Anthropologie candle!! I try to get one of these for Christmas each year, and then treat myself once or twice throughout the year with one of these because they are the best candles out there. The volcano scents are my favorite and Nordstrom usually has them on sale.
Thank you so much for sharing today, Julia!!
Disclosure: Some of the links above are 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!
After a little hiatus, I am so excited to bring back my book friends series, What’s On Your Nightstand? If you need a little refresher, each week I invite a book-loving friend to share their recent reading lists, including what they have recently read(and loved OR didn’t love!), what they are currently reading and what’s coming up next. In addition, we get to know them as readers and get small peek into their regular lives as well.
Today I am excited to introduce you to my friend Kristina!
Kristina and I met over our love our reading on Bookstagram. We bonded when we realized that we were reading a lot of the same exact books and having very similar reactions. Kristina is an amazing book reviewer and her reading genres are very in sync with mine so I can always count on her for a great recommendation or honest feedback about ones I should skip! I can’t wait for you to get to know Kristina more today, she’s wonderful.
Nightstand Series Introduction:
Hi, my name is Kristina!! I live in New Jersey with my husband and two children—-a 15-year-old girl and a 9-year-old boy. A month ago we adopted our 1 1/2-year-old kitty, Nala. She completes our family. I work as a Program Coordinator for a non-profit organization, working with individuals that are homeless and have a severe or persistent mental health diagnosis.
As a family, we enjoy watching movies together, traveling and exploring different places. I enjoy walking when the weather is nicer. Another hobby (besides reading) is looking up new places that we could travel to in the future.
Another hobby of mine is to write reviews for my Bookstagram. I enjoy reading others’ reviews and writing about the books I read. It’s a way to connect and build a community. My Instagram handle is: @kristinasbookishlife
What Kind of Reader Are You?
I remember learning how to read when I was about 4 years old. I would sit down with my father and try to read the comics section, while he read the newspaper. One day it just clicked. Another early memory was reading Dr. Seuss books. I have been reading since that day and only took breaks during Grad school and when my children were newborns.
What Time of Day do You do Most of Your Reading?
I enjoy reading in the early morning. I usually get about 30 minutes to read in the morning before it’s time to get up and ready. I feel that reading in the morning sets the tone for the day. I recently started listening to audiobooks so as I get ready, head into work, and on the way home, I will listen to one. When I come home, I make dinner, spend time with the family, and then will get about 2-3 hours of reading done. I’m not a person that will watch tv or movies unless it is a family movie night on a Friday. Therefore, I get a ton of reading done!
What Books Are You Currently Reading?
I am currently reading The Giver of Stars by Jojo Moyes.This has been on my TBR for a long time, so when @meetmeinthestacks and @lauralovestoread announced they were doing a buddy read, I said why not? This book has grasped my attention from the beginning but I have slowly been working my way through it. Looking forward to seeing how it unravels!!
I recently read Long Bright River by Liz Moore. I was lucky enough to win the book in a Goodreads giveaway. This book came on my radar a few months ago and what drew me to it was that it’s based in Philadelphia(Philly). I consider Philly my home away from home, my mother still resides there. What captured and kept my attention though was the two main characters, Mickey and Kacey. This book was so much more than a mystery.
The mystery is that Mickey is a police officer walking the same beat where her sister disappeared from. The story unfolds as she is on the search for her sister, as many women in the same section are killed. This is all in the synopsis so no spoilers!! But it’s so much more! As you see the past and present unfold you learn about the sisters and what lead them to their current path. It was an amazing read and a book that will stay with me for a long time!
Another read that I recently finished and will be pushing into friends and family’s hands is American Dirt by Jeanine Cummins. From page one, you are literally thrown into the story of Lydia. A mother who experiences a horrific tragedy and is faced with the choice of giving up or doing what she can to survive. I read this book with my heart in my throat the entire time. It’s so relevant to the times we are in now. A necessary read.
What Are You Reading Next?
I am looking forward to reading Know My Name by Chanel Miller. I know it’s going to be a tough read but one that is necessary to read. I’m looking forward to reading her story as the victim and the impact it had on her. I’m looking forward to viewing her growth through the lens of a reader.
Are There Any Books You Read and Didn’t Love?
A book that I was excited for but haven’t been able to get through is Ninth House by Leigh Bardugo. This was my most anticipated book of the year, so imagine my disappointment!! I attempted to read it three times but am having trouble getting past the first part. It doesn’t go in order and starts basically in the middle of the story. I am having trouble reading it for this very reason. I’m finding it confusing. I often do not finish books if it’s not for me; however, I want to try to read this one. We shall see if it actually happens.
What Are You Listening to?
As stated above, I am newly into audiobooks! I’m finding them great because I can listen to them as I get ready for work, make breakfast and dinner, on the way to and from work. Basically any time I can’t have a physical book in my hand!
I’m currently listening to Starless Sea by Erin Morgenstern. It is amazing!! The narrator sounds great and just the overall magic of the story! It’s basically a story within a story and I am savoring every moment. I already know this will be a re-read or re-listen for me.
When I’m not listening to an audiobook, I enjoy catching up with a few different podcasts! My favorites are Sarah’s Bookshelves Live, All the Books, and What Should I Read Now.
What Else is on Your Nightstand?
Besides my basket full of books, I like to keep it pretty bare. I keep my book light on my nightstand and normally clip it to the basket that holds my books. I have many bookmarks on top and inside the nightstand (can never have too many of those)! On top of the nightstand, I keep 2 bottles of water, my Apple Watch, and phone on the charger. In the drawer, I have my nightly medications, lip balm, rings, a pen, post-its, socks, lotion, and body spray! At the bottom, where there is an open space I keep a box of tissues.
We got our nightstands from Target when we moved into our new apartment in August. My husband felt that we didn’t need them. I laughed and laughed because where’s a girl to keep her books?! Well, I still went ahead and ordered two, for each side of the bed. He now loves it just as much. His side is messier because he doesn’t have books that need protection!
Thank you so much for sharing today, Kristina! You were the perfect person to get this blog series back in action. <3
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!
I am reading 
I am listening to the latest episodes of In The Dark right now, as well as The Rachel Maddow Show. I loved Serial and listen to Pod Save America and Pantsuit Politics as much as I can (I’m a political junkie too!).
Erin
Shannon
