The Bookish Hollow

It’s finally summer! ✨ This teacher is done with school for the 20-21 school year and wow, it was such a wild ride! My students this year were so resilient and awesome and I’m going to miss them so much. Now, it’s time for beach days, a few fun trips, and soaking up a much needed break before starting again in the fall! Oh, and plenty of reading! First book of the summer is going to be this ARC of Up All Night edited by Laura Silverman courtesy of @algonquinyr. I can’t wait to start reading these stories. 🌅 [ID: my right hand holds up an ARC copy of Up All Night in front of a tapestry with a print of peach colored books and pages arranged to look like waves] https://www.instagram.com/p/CQMxO1Nrx2s/?utm_medium=tumblr

Happy Book Birthday to We Can’t Keep Meeting Like This by @rlynn_solomon! I am super excited to be reading this one! I’ve previously read Solomon’s Today Tonight Tomorrow and really enjoyed it! We Can’t Keep Meeting like This is a rom-com with Jewish MCs and I am already loving what I’ve read ❤️ Synopsis from the Publisher: Quinn Berkowitz and Tarek Mansour’s families have been in business together for years: Quinn’s parents are wedding planners, and Tarek’s own a catering company. At the end of last summer, Quinn confessed her crush on him in the form of a rambling email—and then he left for college without a response. Quinn has been dreading seeing him again almost as much as she dreads another summer playing the harp for her parents’ weddings. When he shows up at the first wedding of the summer, looking cuter than ever after a year apart, they clash immediately. Tarek’s always loved the grand gestures in weddings—the flashier, the better—while Quinn can’t see them as anything but fake. Even as they can’t seem to have one civil conversation, Quinn’s thrown together with Tarek wedding after wedding, from performing a daring cake rescue to filling in for a missing bridesmaid and groomsman. Quinn can’t deny her feelings for him are still there, especially after she learns the truth about his silence, opens up about her own fears, and begins learning the art of harp-making from an enigmatic teacher. Maybe love isn’t the enemy after all—and maybe allowing herself to fall is the most honest thing Quinn’s ever done. https://www.instagram.com/p/CP2silcrv7e/?utm_medium=tumblr

May Wrap Up! ✨ QOTD: What book would you like to see a review for? I read 18 books in the month of May which is wild! These were all 3+ stars so I can definitely recommend them for a myriad of reasons. I am woefully behind on reviews so let me know which books you most want to hear about. STATS Favorite of the month - You Should See Me in a Crown and Hang the Moon Physical - 4 eBook - 4 Audio - 10 Re-read: 3 ARC: 3 TITLES AND AUTHORS (by slide) You Should See Me In a Crown by Leah Johnson When You Look Like Us by Pamela N. Harris Coffee Days and Whiskey Nights by Parker Lee Down Among the Sticks and Bones by Seanan McGuire A Song Below Water by Bethany C. Morrow Hang the Moon by Alexandria Bellefleur (Slide 2) The Walls Around Us by Nova Ren Suma Citizen by Claudia Rankine The Princess and the Fangirl by Ashley Poston Land of the Cranes by Aida Salazar Light for the World to See by Keanu Alexander When Stars are Scattered by Victoria Jamieson and Omar Mohamed (Slide 3) The Bookish Life of Nina Hill by Abbi Waxman Talking as Fast as I Can by Lauren Graham The Last Fallen Star by Graci Kim Darius the Great is Not Okay by Adib Khorram Boxers by Gene Luen Yang A Chorus Rises by Bethany C. Morrow Thank you to @netgalley and the publishers for the eARCs for Hang the Moon, The Last Fallen Star, and A Chorus Rises! [ID: three slides set up with a white background and “May Wrap Up” in the center of the slide with 3 books above the text and three books below the text.] https://www.instagram.com/p/CPv4cNsrgXQ/?utm_medium=tumblr

Series Spotlight! ✨ QOTD: What is your favorite series right now? I have been loving reading the Once Upon a Con series by @heyashposton and thanks to @quirkbooks I now have a set to call my own! This series is such a cute, quick, and nerdy bundle of fun! I’ve read Geekerella and The Princess and the Fangirl so far and I loved them! The romance and relationships in these are a lot of fun and I love that they are nerdy retellings of classic stories. I am super excited to read Bookish and the Beast soon! [ID: three books are stacked up and fanned out so you can see part of two of the covers and the whole cover for the top book, Bookish and the Beast. A crocheted shawl in Ace pride colors is draped under the books on the right hand side of the image] https://www.instagram.com/p/CPadb3NLUtv/?utm_medium=tumblr

Happy Pub Day! ✨ Hang the Moon by @a.m.bellefleur This adorable follow up and companion novel to Written in the Stars by Alexandria Bellefleur was exactly the fun rom com I was craving! I absolutely loved the first book, which followed a different couple, and am happy to say that I loved this one too! We met Brendon in Written in the Stars, he’s the creator of a popular dating app that has helped many people find their Happily Ever After... but he is still searching for his own. Brendon is an absolute cinnamon roll of a human, he love rom com movies and he is so sweet it’s hard to believe he’s still single. When his childhood crush comes to town, Brendon has a chance to sweep her off her feet using all the best movie moves, but are they enough to keep the girl from moving all the way to London? This was a great follow up to Written in the stars and I am already trying to figure out how to get my hands on the next book! RECOMMENDED FOR ❤️ people who love rom com movies ❤️ fans of The Right Swipe and Make Up, Break Up ❤️ readers who enjoy happily ever afters [ID: a kindle is propped up on the boardwalk of a bridge with the cover of Hang the Moon displayed on it. You can see the green metal railing of the bridge and lamp posts and a gray shy in the background.] https://www.instagram.com/p/CPTOG_RLhsd/?utm_medium=tumblr

Sunday Book Review ✨ Piranesi by Susanna Clarke SYNOPSIS in the comments. MY THOUGHTS I honestly don’t know what the author set out to accomplish with this story. Piranesi is a test of perseverance and mental fortitude. I feel like it could be used for philosophy, literature, etc. courses because of the writing and the concept. Seeing how short this book is in page count you wouldn’t believe how long it takes to read through it. The imagery and descriptions are dense and the journal entry style can get monotonous with the unique calendar that the MC uses. I could also go a while without seeing the word hall or vestibule for a while. I will say that the authors writing does pull you in and make you read carefully and be present in your reading. I will say I didn’t hate this book, rather I feel very neutral about it because upon finishing on my own I hadn’t created my own theory to explain this book. That is the odd thing about this book is that truly no one has the same thought process while digesting this story. I think this is a book you need to read with others so you can talk through it as you read. Ultimately I didn’t get the answers I craved at the end, it left me with a lot of thoughts and not a lot of explanation. After discussing it with others I have some theories about the story and making some connections made me start to like the book more in retrospect. This is again why I said above that this is definitely a book to read with others. RECOMMENDED TO ▪️Fantasy and Philosophy lovers. ▪️People who like to ponder and ruminate on the meaning of a story and want to fall down a Reddit theory rabbit hole. https://www.instagram.com/p/CPOBtd6r-z7/?utm_medium=tumblr

Bookmark Collection 🔖 Some might say this is an obsession and I’m fine with that! @craftedvan makes the best bookmarks and, as I’m sure you can tell, I love them! I’ve bought so many over the last few years, and each one brings me so much joy when I pick a different one for my next book! Magnetic bookmarks are the only bookmarks that keep my place not matter how much my book gets jostled and they don’t make it hard to keep them in the book while you read. There are some here that CraftedVan doesn’t make anymore but if you love these cute designs don’t forget you can get 20% off using my coupon code: ILOVEBOOKMARKS4 NOTE: While I have purchased almost all of these the Tea&Books marker I’m holding in the first picture and a few others (see my craftedVan story highlight) have been sent to me for free as part of @craftedvan’s ambassador program. https://www.instagram.com/p/CPLVY6NLdDN/?utm_medium=tumblr

Yellow Stack 🌼🌻 QOTD: What’s a book you’ve read with a yellow spine/cover? There are so many other books I could add to this stack but these are the ones I own! A lot of these books and authors are some of my favorites. Grown is my most recent read and it was a ride! 🎢 🤯 https://www.instagram.com/p/CPAuOyXrUVE/?utm_medium=tumblr

Monday Mini Review ✨ QOTD: what is your go to morning drink? I know many people will say coffee but I am definitely more of a tea/water/orange juice girl lol. The only coffee I need in the morning is this cute little @craftedvan bookmark to keep my page marked! I have a coupon code in my bio if you would like to get your own little bookmark companion 🥐❤️ REVIEW: When Stars are Scattered by Victoria Jamieson and Omar Mohamed This is a powerful graphic memoir of Omar’s life as a young orphan in a Somali refugee camp with his younger brother Hassan. Jamieson does a wonderful job of telling Omar and Hassan’s story through great artwork and story telling. There is a lot to unpack in such a small book but ultimately this story is about found family, education, and the bond between siblings. I highly recommend this one! https://www.instagram.com/p/COsDQ7ZrIOs/?igshid=130cvyv4fu1lb

Monday Mini Review ✨ QOTD: what is your go to morning drink? I know many people will say coffee but I am definitely more of a tea/water/orange juice girl lol. The only coffee I need in the morning is this cute little @craftedvan bookmark to keep my page marked! I have a coupon code in my bio if you would like to get your own little bookmark companion 🥐❤️ REVIEW: When Stars are Scattered by Victoria Jamieson and Omar Mohamed This is a powerful graphic memoir of Omar’s life as a young orphan in a Somali refugee camp with his younger brother Hassan. Jamieson does a wonderful job of telling Omar and Hassan’s story through great artwork and story telling. There is a lot to unpack in such a small book but ultimately this story is about found family, education, and the bond between siblings. I highly recommend this one! https://www.instagram.com/p/COsDFF8rX9Z/?igshid=1oy7qxsp8ju0b

April Reading Wrap Up! ✨ After reading less than usual (for me) in March I knocked my reading out of the park in April! I read a total of 15 books and enjoyed every last one of them! We won’t talk about the one book I DNFed *cough* Slingshot *cough*... Anyways! Here’s a breakdown of what I read in April: 📚 Non-Fiction Hood Feminism by Mikki Kendall Four Hundred Souls Ed. By Kendi and Blain 📚 Poetry The Hill We Climb by Amanda Gorman Poems for the End of the World by Katie Wismer 📚 Graphic Novel Dragon Hoops (not pictured) by Gene Luen Yang Class Act (not pictured) by Jerry Craft El Deafo by Cece Bell 📚Middle Grade For Black Girls Like Me by Mariama J. Lockington (not pictured) Some Places More Than Others by Renée Watson (not pictured) 📚 Young Adult Grown by Tiffany D. Jackson The Gravity of Us by Phil Stamper This Savage Song by VE Schwab The First Time She Drowned by Kerry Kletter 📚 Adult Fiction The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue Piranesi by Susanna Clarke Have you read any of these? Feel free to share your thoughts! I would love to chat about any of these books! [ID: a stack of books sits on a white surface with a blue and coral tapestry in the background] https://www.instagram.com/p/COnCVqnLRvx/?igshid=11jwqrtm8bw5o

Blue skies & currently reading! 📚 This is going to be a short caption today because I’m lounging on the beach reading Land of the Cranes, soaking up some sun! I hope you all are having beautiful weather like me and enjoy some time outside if you are able! ❤️ [ID: my right hand is holding up a copy of Land of the Cranes to block out the sun in a clear blue sky.] HASHTAGS #bookstagram #IGReads #IReadYA #YABookstagram #YALit #YALovin #MyBookFeatures #JamesTrevinoRepost #BookishlyDreaming #AmReading #litdragons #CurrentlyReading #InstaBooks #BooksBooksBooks #BooksOfInsta #ReadersOfInsta #bibliophile #BookCommunity #booksharks #LandOfTheCranes #AidaSalazar #middlegrade #BookInVerse https://www.instagram.com/p/COYAxk0LYFL/?igshid=1kn0agqgdyxu6

Spring Book Scope! 🔮🌌 ♌️ QOTD: what is your zodiac sign? Do you fit your sign’s personality? I am al Leo, but I definitely don’t fit the bossy, center of attention attitude of a Leo. I’m definitely more of a fan of fading in the background with my nose in a book lol. My friends at @booksparks have put together a TBR list of titles, one for each zodiac sign and they sent me a few to share! I am so excited for these titles and I totally recommend them for my fellow Leo pals! The titles are listed below with an excerpt from their official synopsis. ————————————————————— FINDING NAPOLEON by Margaret Rodenberg @margaretrodenberg With its delightful adaptation of Napoleon Bonaparte’s real attempt to write a novel, Finding Napoleon offers a fresh take on Europe’s most powerful man after he’s lost everything. A forgotten woman of history―the audacious Albine de Montholon―narrates their tale of intrigue, love, and betrayal. PERMISSION TO DREAM by Cris Gardner @ceoofhappyness On a winter’s day, Chris Gardner set off with his nine-year-old granddaughter Brooke to find the harmonica of her dreams. The search sends them North “beyond the wall” into a foreboding Chicago neighborhood and, soon, on a harrowing adventure that will change both of their lives—and ours. KATE IN WAITING by Becky Albertalli @beckyalbertalli Contrary to popular belief, best friends Kate Garfield and Anderson Walker are not codependent. Carpooling to and from theater rehearsals? Environmentally sound and efficient. Consulting each other on every single life decision? Basic good judgment. Pining for the same guys from afar? Shared crushes are more fun anyway. #booksparks #SpringBookScope #SPRC2021 https://www.instagram.com/p/CONzTjULUZm/?igshid=bfux5bvj6iom

Independent Bookstore Day! 📚 I love a good excuse to go love on my favorite indie bookstores (not all but a good few in my area)! I hope you all get a chance to safely visit or order online from an indie bookstore today! Today I visited the best bookstores at the beach @browseaboutbooks, @bethanybeachbooks, and @the.book.drop ! My two favorite readers to follow right now are @letstalkaboutbooksbaybee and @annas_sweets_and_stories ♥️📚 #IndieBookstoreDay #BookStoreShoutOut [ID: a 3 photo carousel of me, (a girl with shoulder length brown hair, a pale freckled complexion, large black frame glasses in a black t-shirt) in front of signs for the 3 bookstores I visited Browseabout Books Bethany Beach Books and The Book Drop. End ID] https://www.instagram.com/p/CODk8T0L2f3/?igshid=j0ub7h2atdhx

Dear Publishers, @dearpublishers is an advocacy group created by a community of bookstagrammers, readers, authors, influencers, and educators, to demand that publishers address their racist policies and practices. We will be rolling out various initiatives in which you can help us take action. We'll be tackling different issues within publishing, and there will be different ways in which you can help us amplify and tailor our message.The calls to action for this week are: 1. Follow @dearpublishers on Twitter and Instagram 2. Sign both the Dear Publishers petition and Simon & Schuster employee petition a(links in their bio, my stories) 3. Volunteer to help at the contact form on our site 4. Share this post with your community (and tag us) to help spread this message. [Image ID: Four graphics, all a deep charcoal with off-white text. Slide 1 reads: “Dear Publishers, We, a community of bookstagrammers, readers, authors, influencers, and educators, demand publishers to address their racist policies and practices.” Slide 2 reads: “Bookstagram: What are you willing to risk? Every week, we will be rolling out new ways for you to help amplify our message, collectively working towards holding the industry accountable. Full list of demands: dearpublishers.com” Slide 3 reads: “Calls to Action: Week 4/18 1. Follow the movement on IG and Twitter: @DearPublishers 2. Sign the petitions and join in at our site 3. Share this post” Slide 4 reads: “The book community is watching. Do better. Be better.”] https://www.instagram.com/p/CN3CC8WLxuI/?igshid=xbfyxrelv642

Book Spotlight ✨ Permission to Dream by Chris Gardner Thank you, Partners @bibliolifestyle @amistadbooks for sending this book my way. This book sounds like it is going to be beautifully inspirational and I am super excited to read it very soon! Until then I will leave you with the synopsis from the publisher to read more about what this book has in store! SYNOPSIS On a winter’s day, Chris Gardner set off with his nine-year-old granddaughter Brooke to find the harmonica of her dreams. The search sends them North “beyond the wall” into a foreboding Chicago neighborhood and, soon, on a harrowing adventure that will change both of their lives—and ours. Chris is still mourning the loss of his girlfriend to brain cancer. Her question haunts him: “Now that we know how short life can be, what will you do with the time you have left?” After five years, he feels an urgency—what he calls, “Atomic Time” in which every second counts—to find an answer, but is stuck. Even while giving Brooke permission to aspire to one day become President of the United States, he knows it’s time to reclaim his own permission to dream. At its heart, this book lays out a blueprint for building a dream-come-true life—even during uncertainty. Gardner delivers the secrets to achieving a prosperous career—from a method for identifying your ultimate dream to a playbook for becoming world class at it. His tools include the “new 3 R’s”—or the Rep, the Rap and the Rolodex—which reveal how to earn a stellar reputation, develop a rap for marketing yourself, and amass a Rolodex of rewarding relationships. No matter how much wealth you achieve, Chris notes, true success comes from enriching the lives of others—so all can still have access to the American Dream. A true fable, Permission to Dream is a timeless and timely manifesto for turning dreams into action—beginning right now. #permissiontodream #chrisgardner #mimeichlerrivas #bibliolifestyle https://www.instagram.com/p/CNvOFXaLnDY/?igshid=1r0o3qrym1tua

April TBR ✨ QOTD: what is one goal you have for the rest of the month? (Bookish or otherwise) It’s basically the middle of the month but I wanted to share the books I plan on reading this month! The positive here is that I’ve finished 3 of these already (and 2/5 of my library TBR I posted the other day) as well as one I forgot to include 🤦🏻‍♀️ FINISHED: The Hill We Climb The Gravity of Us This Savage Song Hood Feminism (not pictured) CURRENTLY READING: Four Hundred Souls NOT STARTED: Poems for the End of the World Unbroken [ID: a stack of books rests on a constellation print scarf with a gray wood background. The books from bottom to top are: Four Hundred Souls, This Savage Song, The Gravity of Us, Unbroken, Poems for the End of the World, and The Hill We Climb. End ID] https://www.instagram.com/p/CNlOmwDLMpi/?igshid=1mnso27ds0azb