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THE DREAM

Long before COVID and reading became trendy again with the rise of #booktok, my dream was to own a bookstore and a coffee shop (or a Cuban cafeteria, since I always hoped it’d be inspired by my heritage).

I’ve been a cog in the corporate wheel for decades, but I’ve worked in hospitality as a teen and a second job on/off over the years. The service industry, for all of its hardships, has always been a place of peace for me. As an introvert, socially shy, and awkward (in my head anyway), I find that I don’t enjoy putting myself in social situations. It is draining to small talk with no purpose or pretend to enjoy the company of people whom you’d rather avoid. However, it is a completely different experience for me when I’m helping someone. There is incredible joy I get from helping someone and getting to know them, so that every time I can (hopefully) make their experience better. Make them feel like they’re part of the community we’ve been building. This is the feeling I’m chasing.

MID-CRISIS

This dream has been a retirement plan, if that was even possible. I mean, if you’re a millennial, you know that we’ve lived through endless cycles of tragedy and a consistently unforgiving economy. I’ve been surviving on fumes if I’m honest. It is only recently as I approach my 40s that I’ve gotten minimally close to being able to making it happen.

See that there? How I’m approaching 40? Is this my version of a shiny red convertible?

I keep telling myself that the reason I’m pulling the trigger now on this dream is because I can and I want to do it while I can actually work and enjoy it. I don’t want to wait until I have a health scare or major life event to do what I want in life. It does feel that way, doesn’t it? Like every time someone is living out their dream or fulfilling their bucket list, they’re on the heels of surviving.

Wait, isn’t this the epitome of a mid-life crisis? Taking action after considering my own mortality?

ANTI-CORPORATE & BURN-OUT

On the flip side, millennials are understandably burnt out. It is a fact. Remember those global tragedies I mentioned?

• Bush #1’s 90’s war

• Hurricane Andrew

• Information era (pros & cons, believe me, i.e. dial-up, asl’s on MSN chats, cyberbullying)

• Peak consumerism

• 9/11

• Bush #2’s war

• More hurricane damage with Katrina & Wilma

• Housing & financial crisis

• A celebrity was elected President

• COVID

• Return to office mandates

• New financial crisis, inflation is crazy!

• Another pointless war

This is the last 30 years of my near 40 in a nutshell. I became an adult around the first financial crisis and still vividly remember a few nuggets from the corporate stooges that employed us at the time:

“I know before we were all about family, but there is no family in team. With family, you have to help carry them when things get tough, but as a team if we’re not all pulling our weight, we’ll have to start considering strategic cuts.” (I low key agreed, but this speech was not the motivational speech they thought it was.)

“If you don’t like the terms we’re setting, feel free to leave. We don’t need you. You need us. You know how hard the financial crisis is. If you don’t want to fall in line, then I can find a replacement today.” (Again, another truth of the times, but not cool.)

“She’s not part of our inner circle. She will never be promoted.” (This clique-ness unfortunately is present in many employer inner circles.)

“You are qualified for the senior role, but we’ll hire you now with the entry-level title and we’ll re-evaluate in 3 months. If you do well, we’ll promote you and then the analysts can report directly to you.” (Checked in with them quarterly for 2 years, exceeded the job expectations, and despite their praises the promotion never came. It was only until resigning on year 3 that they brought up the promotion again. Still dangling that carrot.)

“You’re going to come in and build your own team. We need someone with your experience to really set us on the right path.” (They never allowed any hiring for this supposed ‘team’ that was being built, and never agreed with implementing any of the improvement plans brought up. Six months later they hired some former chief that was 40+ years older than the entire company average age, who hadn’t done the job in years, to be an additional leadership layer and finally build the team. No team was ever hired. I quit. He retired. The company closed soon after.)

The point I’m trying to make is that we’ve spent years fighting to climb a corporate ladder only to be used, abused, and discarded by the ghosts of companies past (a bit of an exaggeration but also, not really). We’ve normalized it because the golden handcuffs are comfortable - the pay is good, and the hours and benefits too.

I’ve had my share of toxic rooms. But ironically, my current employer is actually pretty awesome. Through good leadership (and my own conscious choice to step off the corporate ladder climb), I’ve found a place to call home for years. So they’re not all bad. Corporate burnout, at least in this current chapter, isn’t the villain.

REALITY

Objectively speaking, I’ve always been a woman who dreams big, and dreams often. So while I don’t completely discount the mid-life crisis theory - I am after all staring down forty (eek!), it’s just a minor influencer.

As for corporate burnout? It’s out of the question too because I’m at peace with where I’ve settled on the corporate ladder.

So, what is it?

Maybe it’s not a crisis at all. Maybe it’s just the quiet realization that surviving isn’t the same as living. Sometimes a dream is just a dream until you decide to stop treating it like a retirement plan. I’d rather try and break a few bricks than spend the next forty years wondering what was on the other side of the wall. I’m betting on myself to build this little corner, while keeping both feet firmly on the ground, regardless of whether the cards fall in my favor or not. Wins are spectacular, but even the failures leave you with a story to tell.

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Until next week…..keep your spaces cozy, and your reading a little unhinged.

Take care,

Your Resident (future) Bookseller
Quiet Nook Books

For as long as I can remember the car has been a refuge for us. I enjoy it specifically because I get to watch people and scenery without having to exhaust my social meter. The rest of the family enjoys it because going for a drive usually involves a long drive around town (or road trip), treats for the road, and something fun coming out of the speakers.

Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. As a bookseller partner with Libro.fm and as an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. At no extra cost to you. Thank you for supporting QNB.

Audiobooks have been our thing for most weekdays on our way to school, on the ride back home, and anywhere in-between where it is just me and the kids. We started out with fantasy books like Harry Potter ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (which is actually on some classics list now) and Netherwings by Django Wexler ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️. The kids would get so excited and make me promise not to listen ahead, which sometimes I did and just went back to where we stopped together. They’d never notice.

FIRST REAL CLASSIC

It was about 5 years ago that I really started putting in hardcore work into getting through classics. I was picking at least one a month to listen to or read. So one afternoon on the ride home from guitar practice, they fell asleep (or so I thought) and started playing Animal Farm by George Orwell. I knew it was a little gory, but nothing more than some cartoons or TV and figured if they woke up it’s a book about animals. How wrong was I to assume they’d be so simple. Kids are much more perceptive than adults give them credit for. So, anyway, of course they woke up midway through the start of Animal Farm, and when we were pulling into our drive I had an interesting conversation.

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M (son): Hey mom, those pigs sound like they’re being sneaky.

J (daughter): Yeah!

Me: Well, they are. Ok, I’ll be brief because this probably won’t make too much sense, but the pigs are pushing for a rebellion because they want to take over in the end. The book isn’t really about pigs and farmers. It is meant to be a satirical, which just means a kind of fun and interesting way, to explain how some countries end up in totalitarian governments like when I talk about Cuba or if you’ve about Russia.

M: That makes sense. During our social studies class last unit, our teacher was teaching us about capitalism, socialism, and communism. Those type of totali….whatever governments have communist economies where it is centralized and controlled by the government.

Me: wide eyed and trying to process this conversation I’m having with my 10 year old

J: Oh, is this like democracy, autocracy, and oligarchy? We were learning about that too. So, the pigs want to be like an oligarchy? The few that control everything?

Me: more baffled open mouthed staring

BOOK RECOMMENDATIONS

After their understanding of the circumstances, I upped my game as we continued to listen to the book and stopped to discuss certain things I thought would be beyond them and answered questions. It was one of the most incredible books I’ve ever read, but it was so much more interesting because I got to hear their perspective too. Needless to say, it was the beginning of me bringing them into the fold on some of the age appropriate classics. They’ve enjoyed so many, but we’ll start with these 4.

Animal Farm by George Orwell

Find it on Amazon or support local & listen to the audiobook on Libro.fm.

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Their Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

This classic is usually under 150 pages, so it is a short, easy read. It is about farm animals that begin a rebellion against their farmers because they wish to create a society where all animals are free and equal. It starts off innocent enough. However, some of the farm animals begin to have louder voices and use harsher tactics to get their views and agendas pushed forward, which feels oddly like they’re not equals anymore. In the end, those same farm animals that pushed for the rebellion in the name of freedom become the oppressors of their own kind until the new society is worse than the one they started with. Fear is the new currency, and all animals are equal until they’re not. It is a satirical story about totalitarianism.

The kids ended up loving this one btw! We had a lot of conversations about how dark it was and the meaning behind the words, but it is a fan favorite. My daughter bought a nice copy of it for her book collection.

The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis

Find it on Amazon or support local & listen to the audiobook on Libro.fm.

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Their Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

“Can we stay in the car for a little longer to keep listening? Just until this chapter is over? Pretty please.” - M

Need I say more? This is an epic fantasy of 4 children who walk through a wardrobe and find themselves in a wintry land ruled by the White Witch. Every creature in this strange new world is cursed, as is the land. It is always winter, but it will never be Christmas. The adventure!! The kids must join Aslan, the lion, to try and break the curse and free everyone. It is about friendship, found family, and betrayal. My husband even told us there is a religious component to it and went on and on, but I may have tuned him out. I personally found it to be a good book with a few lulls here and there, but the kids were absolutely in love. We went on to read books 2 & 3 soon after, which they did not find nearly as good as the first.

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A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens

Find it on Amazon or support local & listen to the audiobook on Libro.fm.

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️

Their Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️

“Oh no, this is the same guy who wrote Oliver Twist? Ugghhh….” - M

Can you tell we had a run-in with Dickens already? That’ll be for another day but the kids were mixed on starting A Christmas Carol. On the one hand, we’ve obviously seen dozens of TV series and movies inspired by this tale. It is the classic Scrooge is too grumpy and selfish to appreciate the magic of Christmas, so he is pursued by the ghosts of Christmas past, present, and future in an attempt to remind him that he wasn’t always this version of himself. The premise is beautiful, and despite our reservations about Dickens, the original was actually quite sweet. However, Dickens strikes again with an overwritten and incredibly dense book. Was he paid by the word? Because if he was, it shows. Overall, good to read the original once but that was more than enough. We’ll be sticking to the remakes in the future.

Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck

Find it on Amazon or support local & listen to the audiobook on Libro.fm.

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Their Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

“I rate it 5-stars. I mean, it was sad, but it actually made me feel everything which is exactly what you want from a book. To make you feel it.” - J

My kids and I read this book separately. I read it back in 2023 because my husband kept recommending it to me. He said it was a short read, and it would be a good introduction to Steinbeck. He was a local author, so I’ve been really interested in reading his work. However, it feels intimidating, like I’m stumbling into true great literature here that I won’t appreciate because I’m too simple. It’s hard to get out of this mindset of being worthy enough for classics btw. Anyways, so at his recommendation I read it and was blown away by how well-written it was but of course it has a emotionally fraught end. Fast forward 3 years, my daughter’s middle school English class had a project where they had to choose a classic and do a whole report on it including an oral presentation. She chose Of Mice and Men, despite my warning that it would not be her fav because she is usually into bizarre mysteries or HEAs. I remember when we first discussed it after she read it; her eyes were watery and puffy from her emotions about the ending. We had a good, deep talk about how heavy life was back then, and how an author can write something so simple yet utterly devastating.

Sometimes it feels like reading classics is hard enough as an adult, let alone trying to bring kids into it. Plus, many classics are also on banned book lists, so there is that too. On the other hand, they are at the core of much of the media we consume today, so they might already relate to it or be exposed to it from school, teachers, friends, and family.

Whatever your opinion on classics or age appropriate reading lists, don’t count out classics.

Until next week…..keep your spaces cozy, and your reading a little unhinged.

Take care,

Your Resident (future) Bookseller
Quiet Nook Books

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The other day I realized that I wake up every morning 3 hours before you do because of our time difference, and I sit at my desk sipping on a cup of coffee for an hour planning what we’ll talk about for the day. Sometimes I will re-read your letters from previous days. When you’re around you consume me, and when you’re not, I can’t wait until the next time you’ll be back. This isn’t what I wanted when we first started. I was nervous to tell you about it today, but I wanted to share the little bit of joy that you bring into my life with you. I can’t wait until you’re back home, so we can be together again and go back to normal.”

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Sending this letter is stupid, but I’m going to do it anyway. I started this because I was sick of doing what was expected of me and not what I wanted. Telling her is what I want.

8 months earlier

I am NOT a good guy.

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Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. As a bookseller partner with Libro.fm and as an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. At no extra cost to you. Thank you for supporting QNB.

OUIJA BOARDS AND SECT RELIGIONS

Growing up, my parents were so contradictory. They were staunch Catholics - baptizing me as a baby and pushing me through all of the traditional sacraments. They required me to wear a cross and an azabache, which is a protective amulet made of onyx or jet stone that wards off negative energy and the ‘evil eye’

Yet, the line between “holy” and “haunted” was incredibly blurry in our house. My grandmother almost had a heart attack when my friends showed up with a Ouija board during a sleepover because she believed it was satanic to attempt to reach the dead. (It’s a board game people!) Meanwhile, my mom believed in mediums and sect religions on and off throughout my childhood. Her faith left her many times, and other times it reached levels of borderline fanaticism. I never judged her. It wasn’t my place.

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That melting pot of beliefs meant that by my teen years, rituals felt pretty normal. I remember vividly sitting in on one of the tarot card reading sessions my mom had with a local medium. My view at the time was that they were charlatans - trained in basic psychology and body language, with a honed-in intuition that made the desperate, lost souls at their door easy marks.

However, looking past my teenage cynicism in those moments, all I could think about was how much I wish I could touch those tarot cards. They were usually kept inside an intricately carved wooden box with a crystal atop, in a dim room with one small round table, two chairs, soft instrumental music playing, and incense burning. The only person allowed to touch them besides the medium was the person who was getting the reading, something about pouring their energy into to the cards. I didn’t understand much more then, except that there were rules to follow.

WHAT DO I REALLY KNOW NOW?

I’ll skip the religious or sect parts because I’m about as knowledgeable as anyone can be about such things. As for tarot cards, I’m not sure I know much more, but I’ve definitely spent the last year researching them.

Last year, I bought a playful set of cards: the Cozy Witch Tarot Deck by Janaina Medeiros and bestselling poet Amanda Lovelace. I purposely didn’t buy the traditional Rider-Waite set because I wanted visuals that were a little less intense. The deck I bought is really comfy cozy for a bookish girlie. It came with its own guidebook explaining how the deck was setup and layouts for readings.

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It sparked a lot of curiosity in me. I wanted to understand more deeply what each card meant, why, and how those symbols could turn into a cohesive reading. I mean, I’ve never believed they were some magical source of fortune telling, but I understood well enough that they served the beautiful purpose of storytelling.

For other tarot card newbies like me, here are a few basics of how a deck works:

• The Structure: A standard deck has 78 cards, divided into two main categories: Major and Minor Arcana.

• Major Arcana (22 cards): These represent the big monumental life lessons, major archetypes, and spiritual journeys. Think of The Fool, The Lovers, Death.

• Minor Arcana (56 cards): These represent the daily trails & tribulations and fleeting emotions of day-to-day life. They are broken down into four suits: Wands, Cups, Swords, and Pentacles.

• The Go-To Layout: The most common reading style for beginners is a simple 3-card pull, which usually represents your past, present, and future.

See? It’s literally a framework for building a narrative.

BOOK RECOMMENDATIONS

All this tarot card talk also made me hyper-aware of the theme in fiction. During one of many library trips, I found myself noticing a book that seemed explicitly inspired by the cards. It gave major Hunger Games survival vibes with a romance sub-plot, where all the characters were based on the Major Arcana of a tarot deck. It turned out to be amazing, and it was a whole series! That was the moment I realized tarot was a recurring theme in fantasy books, and my TBR list started growing again.

If you’re new to tarot cards or happened to land here because you are curious about it like me, here are 3 books I loved that are inspired by tarot cards, plus an extra-cozy witchy favorite you need on your radar.

Poison Princess by Kresley Cole

(Book 1 of 6 from the Arcana Chronicles series)

Find it on Amazon or support local & listen to the audiobook with Libro.fm.

• My rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

• Spice level: 🌶️🌶️

The day after buying my tarot deck, I went to the library and found this gem! This was the first book series I read inspired by tarot cards (or so I thought).

In a post-apocalyptic world, characters Evie and Jack have to lean on each other to survive. They don’t realize until later that in this new world, they’re actually living avatars of cards from the Major Arcana. AND……so are all the other dangerous forces trying to control the world.

This story gave me great starting points for my research on what the Major Arcana cards represent and how stories can be woven through them. Surprisingly, it wasn’t just a gimmicky story. It was an amazing, quick, action-packed read full of forced proximity, yearning slow burns, and love triangles. If you need a total palate cleanser, start here.

All the Hidden Gifts by Carolyn O’Donoghue

(Book 1 of 3 from the Gifts series)

Find it on Amazon or support local & listen to the audiobook with Libro.fm.

• My rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

• Spice level: 🌶️

This book is about Maeve, a high school student trying to fit in with the cool kids when she accidentally finds an old tarot deck hidden at her school. She starts off innocently enough doing 3-card readings for her classmates, but things get weird when she starts to intensely bond with the deck. After a major blowout with her former bestie, a reading goes off the rails and they summon a supernatural entity known as ‘The Housekeeper’, which causes her friend to vanish. Maeve and her crew have to survive a religious entity taking over their town to bring their friend back home.

Super good read! I enjoyed the diverse characters, eerie vibes, and the illustrations sprinkled throughout the book. It is a slower paced YA, but every moment matters because that’s exactly how it feels when you’re a teenager. I’ve started to read less YA lately, probably because I relate to the characters less. However, with my own kids officially entering their teen years, I’ve started enjoying the genre again because I can relate to it through them - the heightened emotions, first loves, and trying to find their place when everything seems to hard.

The Raven Boys by Maggie Stiefvater

(Book 1 of 4 from The Raven Cycle series)

Find it on Amazon or support local & listen to the audiobook with Libro.fm.

• My rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

• Spice level: 🫑 No spice, just pure slow-burn

If you want a series where tarot cards aren’t just a plot device, but a central part of the world, you have to read this book.

Blue is the daughter of a clairvoyant and lives in a house full of psychics. While Blue is not a psychic herself, she has an interesting power that amplifies everyone else’s powers. When she finds herself caught up with a group of wealthy, obsessive private school boys on the hunt for ley lines in the city, her world is turned upside down.

Another YA that hit so well. It was a beautifully set urban fantasy that is shrouded in ancient magic and found family. When I first read this book years ago, I didn’t even realize that tarot card readings were involved (if you forget what you read as quickly as you read it like me lol).

The Book Witch by Meg Shaffer

Find it on Amazon or support local & listen to the audiobook with Libro.fm.

• My rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

• Spice level: 🌶️🌶️

Rainy March is a book witch, which means she literally hops in and out of books to keep them and the fictional characters safe from themselves and ‘burners’ who want to destroy stories. Her coven has strict, corporate-like rules to preserve the integrity of their work. But when her latest mission lands her in the same book as her bookish crush, the Duke of Chicago, she starts bending all the rules.

Another amazing book! I got this as an Advanced Listening Copy (ALC) through Libro.fm and thought it would be a fun car ride read with my teens. NOPE! Lol. My kids are never going to let me live it down that I told them this was a witchy mystery with a romance sub-plot. The first three chapters were literally Rainy mooning over the Duke’s eyes, clothes, and forearms. My kids still tease me about my supposed bait and switch. Despite the excessive yearning and a couple of fade to black moments, we absolutely loved their unique magic system, the mystery of her grandfather, and the HEA, of course.

BONUS!! A few more tarot card and witchy-inspired titles to consider. I have NOT read these yet, but they have been on my radar, so I figured I’d share them with you too.

• The Mask of Mirrors by M.A. Carrick (A heavy tarot-inspired fantasy con-artist story)

• The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches by Sangu Mandanna (Ultimate cozy coven vibes)

• The Tarot Trials by Katee Robert (expected to release on October 20, 2026 - a dark, high stakes romance option)

Hope some or all of these make it into your TBR list (I’m not sorry, you’re welcome lol).

If you have any other recommendations for tarot card or witchy books, please drop them in the comments below. I’m always looking to expand my shelves!

Until next week…..keep your spaces cozy, and your reading a little unhinged.

Take care,

Your Resident (future) Bookseller
Quiet Nook Books

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I know you’re probably sick of seeing lattes on every menu and social media feeds - BUT please bear with me for a minute. Yes, this is a latte, but we are making it with our Cuban cafecito as the base, topped with completely homemade vanilla syrup and cold foam. It’s a game changer.

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SHOULD I OR SHOULDN’T I?

I’ve been struggling a little bit on deciding what my menu will look like. On the one hand, I want to create a cozy home for my bookish girlies (and guys) including the full, expansive coffee experience. On the other, I’m really want to lean into my Spanish roots and keep it simple stupid (KISS). I’m not a barista by trade, just a girl who grew up making coffee for everyone even when she didn’t drink it herself.

If you follow my social media at all, you know that I’m firmly on team ‘struggles to find an identity’. My bookish posts for the nook are deeply personal, written in my actual voice (not some dry corporate brand voice), and the aesthetic is always synonymous with my mood of the day. I’m all feels and no strategy, which can be both a blessing and a curse.

But being the positive person I aim to be, I’m finding the silver lining in my storefront search stalling. It is giving me the rare opportunity to trial & error ingredients, recipes, and timing. More importantly, it’s letting me figure out what I genuinely enjoy making and drinking, so I can decide what is worth it and what’s really just fluff. I can’t and won’t offer every coffee option. Some things just aren’t within my skill set (yet) and others just aren’t on brand. This latte is a part of that journey: one simple drink that I know for a fact I want on my menu.

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More variations will follow, so keep an eye out for future posts featuring an iced dulce de leche latte and an iced cafe con leche.

Tools You'll Need 
-Espresso machine or moka pot (this recipe uses an espresso machine)
-Puck screen & scale
-Distribution tools: needles, leveler, and/or tamper (all, some, or none)
-Pitchers: 20oz stainless steel pitcher & 8oz bell pitcher
-Spoon
-Ice machine (fridge or standalone)
-Serving cup/glass
-Electric handheld frother

Ingredients
-16g of finely ground dark roast coffee (Cafe La Llave is preferred)
-20oz of white granulated sugar
-Water 
-1.5oz homemade vanilla syrup (divided 1oz for drink base & 0.5oz for the cold foam)
-4oz of heavy whipping cream
-6oz of milk (your choice, plus a dash for the cold foam)
-1/2 tsp of powdered sugar
-Ice

Instructions

1. Craft the base: Start by making a cuban cafecito. You can follow my previous recipe post here or watch the full tutorial here.

2. Prep the glass: Pour 1oz of homemade vanilla syrup directly into the bottom of your serving glass or mug. Totally ok if use a store-bought syrup with the flavor of your choosing.

   

3. Build the vanilla cold foam: In the 20oz stainless steel pitcher, combine the 4oz of heavy whipping cream, 1/2 oz of homemade vanilla syrup, 1/2 tsp of powdered sugar, and a splash of milk.

4. Froth to perfection: Submerge the electric frother and whip the mixture for 30-60 seconds until it transforms into a thick, velvety vanilla cold foam. Set aside.

   

5. Mix and smooth: Combine your fresh cafecito and 6oz of milk together first. This is the secret to ensuring the flavors taste smooth with every sip.

6. Assemble Over Ice: Pour the coffee and milk directly over the vanilla syrup base and add ice until the top.

   

7. The Grand Finale: Carefully layer your vanilla cold foam over the top of the iced latte.

   Voila! Iced Latte with Vanilla Cold Foam, Cubanito Style.

For the full video tutorial on how to bring this Iced Latte with Vanilla Cold Foam to life, check out my latest reel here on my Instagram.

P.S. If you want to take this to the next level, I’ll be sharing my favorite recipes for homemade syrups very soon!

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This phrase is posted all over social media time and time again because, for some wild reason, the debate persists. Regardless of what side of the argument you land on, Audiobook Appreciation Month in June gives us all audio-lovers a chance to celebrate the joy audiobooks bring to our daily lives.

Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. As a bookseller partner with Libro.fm and as an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. At no extra cost to you. Thank you for supporting QNB.

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FROM CONSUMER TO BOOKSELLER

As a newbie bookstore owner, I’m learning as I go to shift my mentality from pure consumer to business owner. To be completely transparent: As a consumer, I’ve been a long customer of Audible, Kindle Unlimited, and Barnes & Noble. I’m deeply embedded with the “big bads” (not getting political, just being a little cheeky) when it comes to my habits. They make it easy, and they deliver a decent, reliably priced product. No complaints there.

However, stepping behind the counter (figuratively speaking at the moment!) has made me realize that every dollar spent with massive corporations is a dollar NOT being invested with our local economies. It is a dollar NOT being spent supporting the indie bookstores that serve our neighborhoods in ways that go far beyond just putting pages on shelves.

Independent bookstores sell books, yes, but they also act as a vital resource for local schools, provide a ‘third space’ for remote workers and students, and bring the community together with book clubs, author events, and bookish activities. (This even includes audiobook walk/run clubs, which are becoming increasingly popular lately!)

BOOKSTORE PARTNER & AFFILIATE PROGRAMS

At every turn, we are bombarded with links for the latest online fads or ads flashing influencer coupon codes. We know that many of these corporate partnerships are not transparent, and they rarely benefit the creators or small businesses involved.

The independent book trade, however, sticks together and has built its own digital ecosystem. If you love the convenience of digital reading but want your money to support local shops, these are the three transparent, indie-first platforms you should know about:

Libro.fm: This is the ultimate alternative to Audible. When you buy single audiobooks or sign up for a monthly credit subscription through Libro.fm, a piece of that profit split goes directly to the independent bookstore of your choice (including Quiet Nook Books!). You get access to the same audiobooks, a beautiful app, and credit-for-credit pricing (and a few other benefits), but you are directly funding a small business’ rent instead of a tech bro’s rocket ship.

I’ve actually recently transitioned to Libro.fm myself. I figured I couldn’t possibly be a partner for something I didn’t believe in myself, and they have not disappointed. In fact, they’ve exceeded my expectations. Before switching, I did a lot of searching how the membership worked, the prices, the offerings, and ease of use. I’ll say that it is a 5 out of 5 and stacks up pretty evenly with Audible on pricing & plans - plus, the credits do not expire and audiobooks can be downloaded and played outside of their app.

Kobo: If you love e-readers and are still looking for “The One”, Kobo may be the answer. While Kobo no longer partners directly with the American Booksellers Association (ABA), they do offer an affiliates program with Rakuten where e-readers, e-books, or audiobooks are purchased through the affiliate links. Using the specific link here from your preferred independent bookstore is key here.

I’ve never owned an e-reader before and primarily used the Kindle Unlimited app on my phone or iPad. Recently, I purchased my first Kobo Clara BW for myself and a Libra Colour for my daughter. We are both extremely happy with the price, the size, the weight, and the features they offer. We love the screens give that authentic bookish look & feel, and the lightweight design makes it super easy to hold, prop, or toss into my purse. Plus, since reading ARCs is keeping me busy, I’m subscription-free atm, if you didn’t know that was an option! Note that the Kobo Plus subscription is a lower monthly cost than competitors. Though I will say that because of KU’s exclusivity agreements and sizeable library, I do find myself enjoying the Kobo reader but paying for the KU subscription on/off to catch my favorite indie author releases.

Bookshop.org: This is an alternative way to get your physical books and e-books online. If you can’t make it to your local brick-and-mortar store in person, buying your books through here ensures that a part of the profits of your purchase are sent directly to your chosen indie bookshop. For sales that aren’t assigned to any specific bookshop, they maintain a profit sharing pool that is distributed evenly to all participating independent bookstores nationwide, keeping the entire ecosystem alive.

As a provisional member of ABA and because Quiet Nook Books’ doors are not yet open, we are not a part of Bookshop.org., but we fully intend to join once our physical doors open!

BEYOND THE CART

I’ll conclude by saying that your local bookstores exist to support and enrich the community. Even if buying books isn’t in your budget right now, there are so many ways to connect and help keep them continue to be neighborhood staples. Show up to their free events, recommend them to a friend, or share their posts on social media.

One of my favorite Substack writers David McIlroy posted recently: “The gap between where you are and where you want to be isn’t talent. It’s visibility.”

Every little bit of love keeps our doors open!

P.S. Support libraries too!

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Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. At no extra cost to you. Thank you for supporting QNB.

I’ve reached a point where most of the backend is polished and ready, but I’m floundering to find a physical location that actually suits us. We’ve looked at it all - the one with environmental issues, the landlord that wants to micromanage my soul, the broker who ghosted me, and the tourist vs. community dilemma.

It is soul crushing to hit these walls after 3 months of active searching. On my best days, I’m creatively pitching solutions to my husband, trying to MacGyver a path forward. On my worst days? I wonder if I’ll fail before I even get a chance to start. Everyday is a struggle, and in those moments where the impostor syndrome peaks, I have to find bright spots to hold onto. Every checkmark on my to do list, every new follower, every relationship is a big freaking deal.

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THE HUSTLE OF THE ARC

As a new “official” reviewer, I’ve quickly learned how important Advanced Reader Copies (ARCs) are. They are a lifeline for book launches. But there is a bit of a dark side to the “bookstagram” hustle. I’ve seen a lot of indie authors bemoaning that only 20-30% of their ARCs reviewers are actually following through. It made me wonder - are people just overzealous requesting books they never intend to read?

As for me, I’ve been taking it slow. There is a fine line between the excitement of an early copy and turning your passion into a chore. I refuse to stop reading for the love of it. But that boundary comes with a price - accessibility is hard without a massive social media presence. I’ve faced rejections, even for digital copies. And don’t get me started on how getting physical ARCs is a whole other hustle of its own.

REVIEWER TO BOOKSELLER

A few weeks ago, I realized that my Netgalley account was still set to reviewer. Since I am a member of the American Booksellers Association (ABA), I updated my status to bookseller and everything changed overnight.

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Suddenly, I was approved for TWO (!!!) major ARCs I’d wanted. Then came the auto-approvals - the holy grail when basically a publisher says they trust you and agree to automatically approve your requests in the future. This is where the impostor syndrome moved in and unpacked its bags. Part of me says I haven’t earned this status because I don’t even have a storefront yet and my social media presence is tiny. The other part of me, the part that has been busting my little booty behind the scenes to build Quiet Nook Books, knows this wouldn’t be happening if I wasn’t putting in the work. Am I a real bookseller if my books are still sitting in boxes, inside of a warehouse instead of on my shelves? TBD. But in the meantime, I’m going to do right by these authors: read, review, promote.

VICTORIOUS: FULL CIRCLE MOMENT

I can’t believe this happened! I got the approval that sent me into this very spiral, Victorious by V.E. Schwab. Thank you to TOR Publishing for making it happen.

V.E. Schwab is a powerhouse bestseller! More than that, she’s the author that added fuel to a long distance relationship I wasn’t sure would last and brought reading back into my life.

Years ago, I moved across the country for a promotion, while my husband stayed behind to manage our recently purchased and rehab’d home. We spent nearly two years doing long distance. V.E. Schwab’s Shades of Magic series was the very first thing that got us both back into reading. It became our book club for two, a tether that kept us connected when we were thousands of miles apart. It birthed the passion that would eventually lead to this bookstore idea. Receiving this ARC approval feels like this full circle moment where I’m going from a fan reading to stay connected to her husband to a bookseller contributing to the buzz of a powerhouse release. I’m still going to buy the physical copy (I have the signed copies and hardbacks to prove my loyalty lol), but this privilege isn’t lost on me. It wouldn’t have happened if I hadn’t stepped out of my comfort zone. I’m super grateful for the future, even as I struggle with how I see myself in the present.

Have you ever had a “full circle” moment with a book? Tell me about it in the comments.

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REMAINING 2026 NEW RELEASES I’M SUPER EXCITED FOR:

Follow us on instagram for more review updates.

The Best Venture by Nina Rey - May 15. See full review here.

Ironwood by Michael Connelly.- May 19

The Damsel and Her Villain by Margriete Johnson - June 2 (tbr ARC, review will follow)

Road Trip by Mary Kay Andrews - June 2 (ARC read, review will follow)

Harvest Season by Brynne Weaver - June 9

The Bestseller by Jenny Knightsby - June 18 (ARC read, review will follow)

Chase Me If You Can by Heather Frances - June 23 (Currently reading, review will follow)

The Roman Holiday Rule by Andra Loy - August 4

(Mostly) Human Resources by Grace Viall - August 4 (ARC read, review will follow)

The Fallen and the Kiss of Dusk by Carissa Broadbent - August 5

Doomsdate by Laura Lee Piper - September 14 (ARC read, review will follow)

Victorious by V.E. Schwab - October 6

ACOTAR 6 by Sarah J. Maas - October 27

Originating from Valencia, Spain in the early 20th century, the Cafe Bombon is a beloved staple often enjoyed after dinner in Spanish culture. It has also become a vibrant part of Latin American culture, with countries like Cuba, Mexico, Puerto Rico, Guatemala each having a unique version of their own. While exploring these sweet espresso variations, be careful not to confuse it with the Cafe Canario which features a thick layer of whipped cream, or the Barraquito, which is the boozy relative from the Canary Islands.

WHAT’S SO COOL ABOUT IT?

The visual layers are what really set the Cafe Bombon apart from all of the other coffee drinks. Because of the high viscosity of the sweetened condensed milk, it creates a natural barrier that the lighter espresso cannot pierce, hence why it is traditionally served in a clear glass for maximum effect. This is also why it is largely considered a “dessert-style” coffee. Using a spoon as you go is often the best way to get the sweet milk to cut through the bitter dark roast to get the perfect balance with every sip.

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Tools You'll Need 
-Espresso machine or moka pot (this recipe uses an espresso machine)
-Puck screen & scale
-Distribution tools: needles, leveler, and/or tamper (all, some, or none)
-Pitchers: 20oz stainless steel pitcher & 8oz bell pitcher
-Glassware: 8oz espresso cup for brewing & 8oz glass to serve (clear for dramatic effect only, normal cup ok)
-Electric frother
-Spoon (optional)

Ingredients
-16g of finely ground dark roast coffee (Cafe La Llave is preferred)
-20oz of white granulated sugar
-Water 
-1 tbsp of sweetened condensed milk (La Lechera is preferred)
-4oz of heavy whipping cream
-1 tsp (splash) of vanilla
-Dash of cinnamon (optional)

Instructions

1. Craft the base: Start by making a cuban cafecito. You can follow my previous recipe here or watch the full tutorial here.

2. Layer 1: Prepare serving glass by adding sweetened condensed milk to the bottom. Try to be careful not to smear the sides, so you can see the clean layers when done.

   

3. Pour heavy whipping cream and vanilla into the 20oz stainless steel pitcher.

4. Use the electric frother for 60 seconds to create a thick, velvety vanilla cold foam.

   

5. Layer 2: Pour slowly (preferably over a spoon) the cuban cafecito over the sweetened condensed milk. It should remain separate.

6. Layer 3 (optional): Carefully top the cafecito with the vanilla cold foam.

   

7. Dust cinnamon over the top and serve with the spoon for maximum dessert vibes.

   

   Voila, Cafe Bombon!

For the full video on how to make Cafe Bombon, click here.

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This rabbit hole has me thinking so deeply about hidden identity tropes. And no, I don’t mean the ones where the billionaire pretends to be a commoner. (Though, I do love a good billionaire story where they have to actually work for a change lol). I mean the kind where the characters prove they can love someone for who they are rather than their status or beauty. It is truly the kind of anonymity that comes from hiding behind a screen or in some cases behind an agreement that involves never meeting and hundreds of Post-it notes.

Even last week’s Sunshine Diary jumped us right into a connection sparking online where two people have found parity without ever meeting. They set their rules of engagement based on anonymity, consistency, needs, and accountability.

Here are 4 book recommendations where hidden identity tropes reign and/or the rules of engagement get fuzzy:

#1 Anonymity in the Digital Age

My Favorite Half-Night Stand by Christina Lauren

I read this book while I was a passenger princess on a road trip with my family. I was supposed to be sleeping half the time, but I couldn’t put it down. It’s such a fun hidden identity trope mixed in with some good ol’ miscommunication for our resident friends-to-lovers.

When a tight knit group of friends decide to try online dating, our two main characters, Millie and Reid, decide to cool it irl. But surprise, surprise, Millie creates a fake profile and ends up matching with Reid’s real profile. Let the catfish begin! They start to confide in each other on a different level than they ever would in real life.

It perfectly mirrors the whole ‘getting to know someone behind a screen aspect’ I’ve been thinking about. It is often so much easier to be vulnerable when you aren’t worried about social norms and your real-world reputation. There is a safety behind that screen that makes it easier to be "brave" when you’re typing instead of talking. For me, this is the gold standard for "the safety of the screen." It’s about finding the courage to be your truest self when nobody can see your face.

#2 Consistency & The Art of the Sticky Note

The Flatshare by Beth O’Leary

This is the ultimate book about how consistent communication is key for a good relationship - digital or irl. I specifically bought this book because, on my quest for hidden identity tropes, this kept coming up as a way to have one in real life.

Tiffy and Leon aren’t behind a screen, but they are hiding in plain sight. They agree to share an apartment (and a bed) because they’re both in a financial bind. She’s recently left her abusive ex, and he’s dropping every bit of cash he has on his brother’s legal fees (love Ritchie!).

Their agreement comes with a few strict rules of engagement, the main one being that they never meet. They are never supposed to be in the apartment at the same time. However, what started as quick exchanges about baked goods and leftovers, soon turns into two lonely people bearing their souls on sticky notes. Morning and evening check-ins, daily affirmations, and chats about how to monetize knitted scarves (it matters I promise!) become their lifeline. Since their schedules don’t align for months, their consistency is the only way that the friendship flourishes.

These roommate-to-lovers find that they fall in love well before they ever know what the other looks like. Their kindness and understanding is all each of them ever needed to be feel safe and loved.

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#3 Needs & The Dangers of a “One-Night” Mask

Ready or Not by Cara Bastone

The hidden identity here is revealed immediately to the reader in this book, but it becomes this looming ghost for Eve. This story is all about our needs and how we sometimes think a moment of anonymity can stay in the shadows forever, until it doesn’t.

Eve has a one-night stand with a bartender she meets during a rare and impulsive night out. She was never supposed to see him again…..until she finds out she’s pregnant. Through her pregnancy, her best friend’s brother, Shep, steps in to be absolutely everything she needs.

But everyone here is wearing a mask. Eve just wanted a night out in the shadows to escape her reality. Ethan just wanted to blow off some steam while on break FROM HIS GIRLFRIEND. Even Shep who steps in as a good samaritan, when in reality, he’s been waiting in the wings for an opening with Eve for years. It’s a story about the pure, supportive version of being needed vs. a dependency. It shows how even the best intentions can start to fall apart when we’ve been hiding our true selves the whole time.

#4 Accountability & Hiding from Ourselves

Atomic Habits by James Clear

This is my left field pick. It’s a book about follow-through and ownership, but it’s also about a different kind of hidden identity. Give me a chance to get you there…..

There is a massive irony in how much we hide from ourselves. We spend so much time wearing a mask of being ‘so busy’ or being ‘incapable’, telling ourselves that we can’t do something or don’t have enough time. We hide our potential behind fear and excuses.

Atomic Habits is about becoming your own best accountability buddy. This self-help giant shows us that despite our best efforts to keep our masks on, we can still become a better version of ourselves with just a little bit of consistent effort. This book took me by surprise when I read it with my family because it forced us all to take an analytical eye to the things we try to sweep under the rug. It’s about revealing the part of ourselves we should share with the world by building the habits that let them shine.

In fact, if my mother knew the path I was walking, she’d be filled with a familiar disdain. But some beds are made to be lied in, no matter how cold they get.

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You must understand what it feels like to be lonely when you’re in a crowded room. That isolation. The sense that no one sees the real you. The years pass without regard, and nothing seems to quell this restlessness. It only festers. So, I had the brilliant idea of finding a pen pal. Hear me out - or don’t. I guess I didn’t care back then either.

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A few years ago, I was thrust into the world of paranormal romance when I stumbled upon The Darkest King by Gena Showalter. It was book 15 of the Lords of the Underworld (LOTU) series - because if you know me, you know that my toxic reader trait is reading books in a series out of order.

The author was a mystery to me at the time, but the cover gave me major ‘Booth on Bones’ vibes, so I couldn’t pass it up. The book was 100% a 5-star read, and it led me on a journey all the way back to the beginning. Well, it really took me down a much broader path, where I discovered paranormal romance as a sub-genre and Gena Showalter was my guide. She was the “gateway drug” that led me to Jeanine Frost, J.R. Ward, Jennifer L. Armentrout, and others who write in this sub-genre that is often mixed in with fantasy and young adult.

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By now, I’ve read pretty much every book from the aforementioned authors and more, because in my opinion, paranormal romance is the best. It’s the cross-section of everything book girlies enjoy most: a love story at the center of it all, blended with urban fantasy, suspense, and little bits of sci-fi and horror. I mean, who doesn’t love a good vampire romance?

THE REDDIT DRAMA

Last year, on a bookish Reddit thread (I know, why the heck was I there?), an adamant group insisted that the sub-genre of paranormal romance was dead. Their argument? Romantasy killed it! When I vehemently disagreed and pointed out my favorites, they proceeded to tell me my favs were the reason the genre was dead. They claimed these authors had been releasing the same type of books from the same old “tired” series using formulaic plots, and that nothing new was coming out.

Like…..whaaaaaa?? Excuse me!?!?

I was floored. Now, of course, I respect people’s opinions on what they read. No hard feelings if we don’t love the same books, but it made me question everything about a genre that single handedly sustained my reading life for years.

THE NOOK RECOMMENDATIONS

If you’ve never dipped your toes into this sub-genre, it is so worthy of your time. Think Underworld vibes (the movies) but in book form. Here are a few of my favorites to get you started:

1. Lords of the Underworld series by Gena Showalter
   Cursed lords attempting to break their ancient chains, protect their brothers, and find love that’s worth the pain.

2. Night Prince series by Jeanine Frost
   A high voltage spin-off where a woman who can see the dead meets the most legendary (and lethal) vampire of all time.

   

3. Lux series by Jennifer L. Armentrout
   The quintessential hottie “alien-next-door” story with explosive chemistry, government secrets, and a hero you’ll love to hate.

4. Black Dagger Brotherhood series by J.R. Ward
   Six vampire brothers who live together, fight together, and have the most intense and protective romances in this genre.

   

5. House of Night series by P.C. Cast
   A unique take on a “vampyre” school, where being “Marked” is just the beginning of a messy, magical coming-of-age journey.

   

6. Vampire Academy series by Richelle Mead
   Forbidden romance, royal intrigue, and a kick-ass heroine who would do anything to protect her best friend.

   

7. Ghostwalkers series by Christine Feehan
   Military experiments gone supernatural. Think super soldiers with psychic abilities finding the only women who can handle their powers.

   

8. Twilight series by Stephenie Meyer
   The series that defined a generation, not sure it needs any introduction, but this is the ultimate small town meets supernatural secret romance.

   

BONUS: The Parasol Protectorate series by Gail Carriger
A recent discovery for me that I just had to sneak in here! It’s steampunk meet vampires and werewolves. It is more proof this genre still has plenty of surprises left.

If you have heard or read paranormal romances, let me know what you think in the comments. Is Reddit right, or are we just getting started?

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Tools You’ll Need
-Espresso machine or moka pot (this recipe uses an espresso machine)
-Puck screen
-Scale
-Distribution tools - needles, leveler, and/or tamper (all, some, or none)
-8oz stainless steel bell pitcher
-8oz clear (or any style) espresso cup

Ingredients
-16g of finely ground dark roast coffee
-20g of white granulated sugar
-Water (fill to below the knob if using moka pot)

Instructions

1. Start by adding water and warming up the espresso machine.

2. Add finely ground dark roast coffee into the portafilter. Use scale to measure.

   

3. Use needles, lever, and/or tamper, in that order, on the coffee. Place puck screen over the tamped coffee puck and load into the espresso machine.

4. Add white granulated sugar to the stainless steel pitcher. Use scale to measure.

5. Start brewing, allowing the first few drops of coffee (darker & sludgy in texture) to fall onto the sugar in the bell pitcher.

6. Quickly replace the bell pitcher with the clear espresso cup so that the rest of the coffee finishes brewing. Brew usually lasts about 20 seconds total on the Breville Bambino for a double, ~2oz of coffee + 1oz of foam.

7. While the rest of the coffee brews, stir, stir, stir the sugar until it is creamed, creating what’s called ‘espumita - light brown color and silky smooth texture. Stirring usually lasts 30-60 seconds.

   

8. Slowly pour the rest of the coffee brewed into the bell pitcher over the espumita, while gently stirring until both are fully mixed together.

9. Serve and enjoy!

Voila Cuban cafecito!

For the full video on how to make Cuban cafecito, click here.

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Dark and spicy romance has flooded booktok and bookstagram. I can hardly scroll without Lights Out by Naveesa Allen or Haunting Adeline by H.D. Carlton smacking me in the face. Who doesn’t love a good morally grey MMC who’ll burn it all down for her - while stalking her, tying her up ‘for her own good’, and bringing her to orgasmic bliss several times before finally taking her for himself?

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You came into my life. 
Arrogant, demanding, selfish. 
But also caring and gentle.
I fell for your voice long before ever meeting your eyes. 
That soothing baritone. 
You knew how to get what you wanted and took it. 
Does it really count as taking if I gave it to you willingly?

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You wanted to capture my attention. 
Be admired. 
To feel full and alive. 
You needed,
Demanded my devotion. 
Me?
Your pretty girl. 
Precocious. 
Your doll, slightly damaged but yours to possess. 
To help and fix. 
Your princess to dote on. 
Here to give you purpose. 

You were my missing puzzle piece. 
Did I ever tell you that?
Giving you my love was easy. 
But the sands of time are cruel. 
Heavy. 
Unforgiving. 
Months passed. 
Our desire grew. 
Our feelings flourished. 
Souls intertwined. 
Imprinting, 
Like two young lovers. 
You never expected me in your heart. 
So complete. 
Consuming. 
Full of highs and lows. 
Every moment rewarding. 

But quickly happiness turned to fear. 
Doubt and insecurity took root. 
Pushing and pulling. 
Hard to let go when we weren't ready.
But you fought hard until the last thread was cut. 
Somber. 
Tears. 
Loneliness. 

Your struggle, 
What you want and what’s right. 
But what is right anyway?
You made your choice. 
You stayed. 
You have your reasons to let go a part of you. 

You once told me time was the most precious thing for you.
Is it worth letting it pass you by when you’re only half alive? 
For money?
Fear of judgment?
Losing your safety net?
Or is it worth taking a risk?
Walking away. 
Starting over. 
Investing your time in someone that makes your stomach flutter and chest swell. 
It’s worth the risk. 
I was worth it. 

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You made the wrong choice. 
Now we are both destined to purgatory. 
Wandering wistfully. 
Dreaming of the other while pretending not to. 
Hoping the fate that was once foretold comes true. 
Two flames burning bright and fast. 
Collide. 
Together consuming the fears of the other. 
Separate they both exist but never live. 
Always here. 
And nowhere. 
Waiting.
Tu rayito de sol. 

XX

Next month on Sunshine Diaries →

“I am NOT the hero of this story. In fact, if my mother knew the path I was walking, she’d be filled with a familiar disdain. But some beds are made to be lied in, no matter how cold they get.”

Every Saturday morning when I’d wake up at 7am to watch cartoons, my grandmother would already be downstairs making a pot of coffee and smoking a cigarette. My dad would follow shortly after. Years later a boyfriend I had did the same. It felt like I jumped from one family to the next - all purists in authentic Cuban coffee, un cafecito.

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It is your traditional espresso plus espumita, made from the first drips of coffee stirred vigorously into sugar. The rest of the pour is added to the espumita creating that iconic Cuban flavor. It is the base for all other espresso-based drinks, like the cortadito and cafe bombon. It’s what makes it unique compared to the espresso you find at any other shop outside of the ventanita cafes in Miami or on vacation in Varadero, Cuba.

Some time in my early teens, I learned that my grandfather, my mom’s father, whom I knew only briefly, was a coffee farm owner in his hometown of Jinotega, Nicaragua. During a visit I made to Nicaragua shortly before he passed, he took me all over the farm to see how the beans were sorted, weighed, and packaged. It was an experience I definitely did not appreciate as much as I should have then, but I certainly do now.

So you see, I’ve grown up watching my family use their moka pot to make cafecitos. Some days I’d get the opportunity to help them. Other days I’d only begrudgingly drink it to stay perky enough to finish analyzing those spreadsheets. And today, I’ve learned to make my own.

Quick detour!

When I first met my husband over 10 years ago, he would drive almost an hour to come see me every day because we lived on opposite sides of the county. He’d have to drive back home most nights because his job was in his town, so I started making cafecitos using the moka pot my grandmother gifted me when I moved out. He loved them!!! Kept him awake for the drive. Actually, he told me it wasn’t his first time trying a Cuban cafecito because he had a friend who also made it. Naturally, I felt very competitive; I was sure mine was better.

I started making it for him when he arrived, before he left, and after dinner. The biggest compliment he gave me was one evening when I got home late from work and hadn’t made coffee yet. He told me that he knew I hadn’t made it because usually, the delicious coffee smell started before he even got to my door. It made me proud, but it also reminded me how coffee brings people together.

I realized long ago that for my coffee shop dreams to come true, I’d need to evolve. Taking my family recipes commercial would require a bit of a learning curve. You see that moka pot I’ve been talking about? My little Bialetti, where I freehand add water just below the knob and fill it with coffee to the top? That moka pot makes perfect cafecito every single time, yet no “real” recipe has ever existed it.

Well………that’s not going to fly in a business. Teaching my recipes to an employee are a thing for another day, but the real problem is I can’t bring the moka pot with me. An espresso machine is the most effective way to scale, and I know it can be done - every ventanita cafe in Miami has a La Marzocco sitting on their counter. The bummer is, I’ve never used one!!!!!!

So here I am excited that yesterday I unboxed my first espresso machine. The goal is to start with this “prototype” to understand the process, weighing the ingredients until the right mix gives me what my Bialetti has given me for decades: a perfect shot of cafecito.

This will prepare me for when the real engine of the Nook arrives in shop. It seems silly to be this excited about something that many people already have in their homes, but it is new for me. This move will help me get one step closer to making my dreams happen now.

Before we open the Nook later in 2026, I’ll be a pro (or at least not just a hobbyist). Ready to tackle the engine. Come back and check out my recipes as I start to transition them from the moka pot to this new prototype.

The internet also tells me that just over 20% of startups fail within the first year, 50% by year 5, and more than two thirds fail within the first 10 years.

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These numbers are probably higher.

It isn’t positive out there for little ol’ me trying to open up a bookstore and coffee shop. We know that books are a tough business, but coffee is universally beloved and offers the opportunity for higher margins that new books don’t have. We’re taking the advice that non-book items will be what keeps my bookish business alive.

My husband and I both have complementary skills in business - mine being day-to-day management and implementation, while he's got strategy and finance on his side. I’m not naive to believe that this business will be without tribulations, but I am hopeful that with our skills we can successfully execute on this dream idea.

It’s been about 6 weeks since we created the LLC. Since then, it feels like I’ve made some progress, but not nearly enough. I know that the heavy lifting of opening the business really heats up the 12 weeks before opening, but it requires foundation be laid, which is the step we’re in. And this is grueling.

Business plan and menu are solid. I keep making tweaks here and there, but it is ready to present and execute at any time. It’s all about making those cafecitos perfect now.

Logo is still in progress being worked on by a friend of my husband’s. No ETA or details yet, other than he’s received it and will be starting on it soon. big sigh I’m thankful that he’s well recommended and willing to help.

Food service manager certification course is underway. I’m on hour number 4 (I think??). A little early for it, but these are small things I can do that are required, low risk, and have the longevity (valid for 5 years) to be done a little earlier to avoid overloading myself during those final weeks.

Sourcing new books will happen closer to open date, but sourcing used books is an interesting process. I don’t want to only purchase them from wholesalers. Curating a used section with high quality finds at sub-prices by thrifting and hunting at estate sales is the other part of the plan. It takes time to find good books. More importantly, I’m having a ton of fun amassing a collection I can be proud to make available to customers in the future. I do wish I’d get lucky and find some cool first editions or used signed copies. fingers crossed

Location, location, location. This is supposed to be the single most important decision I’ll make, and the one that will really kick-off the countdown towards an opening date. However, it seems pretty impossible at the moment.

I live on the outskirts of a busy, tourist town most months out of the year. My initial thoughts were to focus on finding a location in the heart of the city. It would offer steady tourist sales, peak months of the year when there are national events held here, as well as the hope of building some regulars on top of it. Well, that’s the same idea everyone else had, and I’m not sure I can see a home for me there. In downtown, the amount of businesses I’ve seen open and close is unreal because it isn’t just the location, but the quality of your product, price, and accessibility when stacked up against 6 other similar competitors plus a national chain in the same 2-block radius. The coastal cities have this thing about water credits, which is a kind of crazy considering we’re on the water. It isn’t a huge hindrance if the location is right, but it is another thing to add on to the long list of things to consider. Premium spaces cost premium prices. It sounds easy enough to meet the demands by selling more, but the internet reminds me that the #1 reason for start-ups to go under are cash flow issues. I’d rather not start in the red because of my largest fixed expense is not sustainable. Others have build out costs that exceed anything that’s rational because cities are requiring so many upgrades on older buildings that you’re investing decades worth of work that owners themselves aren’t willing to do with no TI allowances. Meanies! Some towns already have a variation of what I’m introducing, so those are out. And others are too far to make sense for me to drive in and out every day.

Finally though, I’d found one spot worth mentioning. I liked the space. It was local, close to home, and though a little larger than I’d wanted it had potential. It wasn’t without fault and had its own set of challenges, but I thought it could be manageable. The contractor costs to build out the cafe area? In the range of 60k!!! That’s without even building out the rest of the shop. I’m……still speechless honestly. It’s off the list.

Now, I’m off to a new location with a lot of local foot traffic that has several units available. The cost on this one is all around lower, so that’s a win. Still early but I’m hopeful to at least prepare an LOI, which is another nail biter because who isn’t freaking out about being scrutinized by a bunch of strangers.

My husband is optimistic that once we find the right place, it’ll feel easier. Even so, the permitting and build out work will require weeks & months of approvals and inspections and more round and round until we’re safe and ready to go.

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All in all, it feels like I’m wading through molasses. Sometimes I wonder if that fail rate includes those who quit this early on in the process. Discouraged by the red tape. It can’t be easy to have an idea and realize that you can’t just buy an espresso machine, books, move in and start selling. The wheels of bureaucracy are holding on real tight. Cities, counties, agents, brokers, contractors, and others that for various reasons make the process of starting a business a marathon, not a sprint.

To do lists and reading are the only things keeping my overstimulated brain sane.

When I got back into reading, I’d been out of college for a couple of years and thought I was done with literary fiction. I’d had enough of Schindler’s List, 1984, and The Scarlet Letter. It wasn’t personal. The plots all felt full of doom & gloom, which was exactly the mood I was in every time I had an assignment due. Book reports, essays, and literary analysis simply took the fun out of reading, and I refused to fall into that rut again.

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STARTING A JOURNEY

Fast forward a few years. My reading goals were hitting their peak, and my feed started to flood with posts about the top classics I should read. I was in a different head space. School was a distant memory, and I’d realized that I’d only read a fraction of the classics out there. I mean, I hadn’t even read Romeo & Juliet or Hamlet, which are staples in middle school and high school TV shows! Plus, it had been a long time since a pretentious nobody tried to sell me on how reading classics was the only way to go. *major eyerolls* After much deliberation with my husband (who’s pretty much read them all), I decided that I would start a side quest of reading classics hoping to understand what all the hype was about. My kids were psyched too because they kept hearing about classics and had no idea what that meant. Mind you, Nancy Drew is a classic to them.
*more major eyerolls*

To start my side quest, I needed an incentive. Ever heard of Been There Done That? They create posters to document journeys - movies watched, books read, desserts eaten, whiskies or beers or coffees tried. They had a scratch off poster that listed the 100 most epic reads of all-time. I had to have it. It was literally a list of the classics to try. It was a good starting point and visual for the girlies like me who love checking off that box on their to do list. Currently, it hangs framed in a hallway just outside my personal library documenting my slow going journey of read classics through the years.

100 Most Epic Reads of a Lifetime

The poster remains a huge feat that I’ll hopefully finish in MY lifetime, but for now, it is a source of inspiration and motivation.

By now, I’ve read perhaps a few dozen classics. Some good, some bad, some I don’t care about enough to remember. When I talked myself into reading classics, I thought I’d attempt a couple, hate them, and move on. Boy, was I wrong. It turns out that I can see the deeper meaning behind classics now that I’m an adult. They aren’t (all) sad stories about poverty, fear, and loss. They have hidden meanings of love, friendship, and power. Sometimes, they’re a mix of all of the above, and those often leave a mark. I’m impressed that I’ve learned to love so many of them because I genuinely thought I wouldn’t. For years, my husband has had to endure my literary analysis and interpretation on classics that he read back in college. Bless his soul.

Amidst the fantastic and moving classics, there have been a few duds. And by duds I mean books that outright drove me mad. No matter the high praise or recommendations, different media types, and multiple attempts to come back to them, I could never finish these books. At first, I felt like a failure because I would never be able to count them as done on my poster. Then, I realized forget the poster, I’d know that I couldn’t finish them and it would forever irk me. Finally, I started to make peace with DNF’ing classics like I do with any other genre. If it was ok to give myself grace when I didn’t enjoy a book in my wheelhouse, it was more than ok to do so with a classic. Plus, I decided if I gave it a good try and DNF’d it anyway I’d still scratch it off my poster. Win win! It took a while, but I’m officially ok to DNF any book that doesn’t bring me joy in some way.

NO READ LIST

The next few titles are classics that were given many chances, but they simply didn’t make the cut.

Don Quixote by Miguel De Cervantes

Is he insane? Delusional? Why does this feel like it isn’t happening as he says? Why does it feel like I’m in the same scene from two hours ago? Does he even have a maiden waiting for him? Does he really even have a sword? When first starting this book, I had no previous knowledge of the premise, except that it was a Spanish novel by Cervantes from the 17th century and Sancho Panza comes up on TV. Curiosity about him and Don Quixote is what really drove me in its direction. Started with the paperback and when that failed miserably, I went with the audiobook. It was a 20+ hour book, where I got to about 5 hours in before realizing I kept asking myself the same questions over and over. Eventually, I couldn’t take it anymore and decided to look up the book, only to find out that I was right. He was delusional. Sancho Panza was his squire that knew he was mentally ill and went along with this schemes anyway. Dulcinea wasn’t even….The point is that when I realized I was right continuing seemed pointless. The writing was tough for me to enjoy.

Little Woman by Louisa May Alcott

There was so much yarn!!! Need I say more?

It wasn’t a bad book, but it was incredibly dull. I went the audiobook route here too after not being able to get far on the paperback. I made it to chapter 13 before deciding it probably wasn’t going to get any better.

Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe

This book popped up on my radar as a recommendation from one of my favorite TV shows Younger. In that show, the main character Liza is a 40 year old pretending to be 26, so she can work as a publishing assistant in New York City. A lot of authors and books were mentioned, and Achebe’s Things Fall Apart came up as a notable mention on the classics. Other recommendations from the show had gone over well, so this was one more added to the tbr. When I finally got the paperback, I started reading it and felt that it had a lot of potential. The main character, warrior Okonkwo, was so focused on not being like his father that it was becoming an overcorrection. The first couple of chapters were interesting, but it progressively felt like it droned on. I picked up the book at least half a dozen times and each time never made it past page 100. No one thing ever made me stop reading the book other than I could not get through it. Eventually, it became ok to shelf it indefinitely.

Sometimes DNF’ing isn’t about something being inherently bad (which is subjective anyways) but rather a book that never quite hits right. In the end, these books come back as memories of classics I couldn’t finish, but I’m indifferent to them.

WISH I HADN’T

The next few titles though are classics that I wish I had never finished reading because thinking of them still irks me.

Oliver Twist by Charles Dickens

Oh dear, I wish I’d never started this book. After finishing Animal Farm, the kids and I were excited about getting into classics. We’d gotten through A Christmas Carol by Dickens though it was a bit of a tough read, but we (I mean me) thought another Dickens novel would be fine. I should have known better.

Oliver Twist is about an orphan who lived a hard criminal life after escaping what passed for an orphanage at the time. He endured non-stop hardships. It was a case of out of the frying pan and into the fire. Eventually, the book does have a happy ending, sort of, but getting there was no picnic. The writing was dense, and it felt never-ending. Scenes droned on. The bad guys never seemed to get what they deserved. Poor Oliver. By the end, we were listening to it on 2.0x and hoping for the best. Needless to say that when my kids are asked what was the worst book they’ve ever read, Oliver Twist is 100% the only answer you’ll get.

The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain

Too sad and unnecessarily uncomfortable. And that is saying something considering I’ve read To Kill a Mockingbird and The Color Purple, which made me squirm AND moved me to tears. This book had merit with its challenging themes, and Huck Finn was a loveable character despite his flaws. However, you spend the whole first part of the book horrified by his father’s actions but also kind of wondering why he stays, until he doesn’t. Then, enter Jim. And Tom Sawyer. Oh boy, he’s quite the unlovable one. The pace of the book was odd with large chunks feeling like they were lulls and others were full of constant chaos. It may have been a bit of the language barrier that threw the pace off for me. Plus, the ending felt expected but unsatisfying because he essentially rides off into the sunset. I mean, I guess I can follow the whole wild stallion unwilling to be tamed vibe, but it was too on the nose for me.

Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte

Do NOT get me started on this book. Since the movie has come out, I’ve given my husband several earfuls about why this movie is flawed, the mainstream pitch on this book is a complete lie, and how this is another man’s delusional fantasy. Ok, since we’re here, let me give you the same earful. First of all, Wuthering Heights is NOT a romance novel. It is not “like Pride and Prejudice” or a star-crossed lovers book like they say of “Romeo & Juliet” (still haven’t read this one). It is about an orphan boy who grows up with the young lady of the family he works for (technically he is an adopted brother but they don’t treat him well in the family). They are good friends growing up, and yes, I admit that you get an inkling that she felt deeply connected to him like he felt for her when she was 12 years old. But one summer at the Linton’s reminded her that she was a young lady in the late 18th/early 19th century. Women then were only as good as the social standing they procured by marrying well. A life of wealth and luxury is hard to pass for anyone, let alone an adolescent child. She spends years still caring for Heathcliff, but she does slowly erode the friendship by treating him poorly and continuing on to marry into the Linton’s. She did want to marry well-off with the intention to gain social standing and wealth for herself, but also for her family, which included Heathcliff. He obviously doesn’t take it well and goes off to better himself and returns a complete monster meddling with the lives of their children as a way to get this so-called “ultimate revenge”. This a dark, psychological thriller. Really this book is about a whiny child who felt like the girl he liked didn’t like him back anymore, so he lost it. Instead of mourning the loss and moving on to someone new like a rational person would, he came back to ruin the lives of the next generation of two families to feel vindicated. But surprise, surprise, he doesn’t feel satisfaction when his revenge is complete. So, great, he ruined everyone’s lives over some scorned teen love and now he decides he can finally let go and dies?? Great! Just freaking great! Like, how is this even a romance? She cared for him, sure, but she was 12!!!!! She treated him like crap for 5 years before finally being married off and having a child AND dying shortly after! I mean….I can’t. The point is that this is barely a romance, definitely not a love to romanticize or even worth remembering. I can appreciate that the dramatics can make for a good screenplay, but the book itself was 300+ pages of a bitter man complaining about the circumstances of life and blaming his adopted sister for 100% of it.

Classics are classics for a reason. The meaning behind many of these stories are incredibly beautiful and powerful. I lament not reading more classics growing up. However, I am thankful that I do get the opportunity to read them now as an adult that can understand them more thoroughly. Though, it has become apparent that as easy as some are to read and understand, others are weighed down by the language of their time, translations, heavy and redundant prose, and characters and themes that did not age well. Others are simply books that don’t align with my interests, which is perfectly ok. It happens all the time when reading current titles too.

My closing statement for today is give classics a chance, if you haven’t already. These books may surprise you. They aren’t all boring school books. Many will take you on adventures beyond your wildest dreams or treacherous journeys. And while the above mentioned are on my ‘No Read List’, they still may be of interest to you. So give them a try. Any book.

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Millenial here - who grew up in the era of AOL chat rooms and Buffy <3 Angel. It always felt like relationships with older men was quite normal and expected almost. My own parents were 6 years apart, and growing up others in their circle sported even larger age gaps. History doesn’t do much to contradict this narrative when younger women were often married off to older men like chattel really. Nowadays, even after the #metoo movement and despite Gen Z’s best efforts to quell age gaps, some of our most popular books, movies, and music push the same narrative - enter ACOTAR’s Feyre and Rhysand (ACOMAF is better though!). I myself have been in a relationship with someone nearly 10 years my senior for several years. Early on, our age difference was startling enough that once on vacation a Vegas store clerk asked for my ID at checkout, then quietly asked if I was ok and there of my own volition. We laughed about it then - now it’s just ammunition for me to rib him about being older. He doesn’t mind, especially since he knows that I’m tiny and sometimes look like a toddler next to him. The point I’m trying to make is - despite how normalized it felt growing up and does now, when I read this book I was involuntary forced to re-examine relationships from long ago. Not unlike Vanessa, relationships with older men in those youthful years. Even those that don’t involve an authority figure or 30+ year gap or anything egregious can still feel dubious when re-examined with a new lens. Looking back at those moments, when you thought you were in control. Choosing who to be with, what happened, and for how long, but did you ever really have control then?

My Dark Vanessa bounces back and forth between adult Vanessa (now) and 15 year old Vanessa (past) as it explores her memories of the relationship she had with her 42 year old English teacher, Mr. Jacob Strane. She struggles to process how her relationship started and ended amidst recent allegations against Mr. Strane for sexual abuse of another former student. It is tough as an outsider to see her student/teacher relationship slowly evolve into something more with a few cleverly placed words from him. It is harder to see her realize that it may not have been this romanticized version of events that she’s been peddling to herself. The realization left her more lost than ever, and his hold on her as an adult is downright eerie up until the end.

When I read My Dark Vanessa, it made me question everything about those days. Reading how Mr. Strane manipulated and groomed Vanessa was eye-opening because 20 years later she was still sure she wanted it. She’d made every choice willingly. But we know it wasn’t true. There is a specific example on pages 72-76 of the book, where Mr. Strane challenges his class to consider a poem from a different perspective, a sexual one. They are all pretty scandalized. Vanessa works hard to keep her cool to seem mature, and Mr. Strane takes the opportunity to challenge her further when they’re alone during Creative Writing to read Lolita. In the pages that follow, she spends her time devouring the novel drawing parallels between her and Mr. Strane to Lo and Humbert. Her conclusion on the matter ended like as such,

Lolita is NOT the poster child for a love story. If you’ve read it, you know that it is written in what I always perceived as the mind of a pedophile that excused his own tendencies since he was a young man until the time of his death. She tried to escape. They weren’t kept apart. It was a vulnerable moment for Vanessa that Mr. Strane took to manipulate her and groom her into thinking theirs was too an epic, forbidden love story to gain the favor he wanted from her. It is hard to think clearly when you’re in the thick of it. Her power was never her own. Worst of all, she was a mess of an adult because he continued to be present in her life. He no longer sought her for his own desire, she was too old of course, but rather to keep her in line and feel validated by her devotion. The whole situation is rather unsavory, but the book really makes you stop and think and analyze and re-analyze what you thought you knew. Relationships are hard enough for adults. It is doubly so for teenagers because they’re still developing a sense of self and place an undue amount of weight on what other people think about them. This book highlights not only how relationships can turn toxic on many levels, but most importantly how a developing brain can be manipulated so easily.

FUN FACT: The only reason I found this book was because a reading challenge I was doing a few years back asked for a book with your (my) name in the title.

If you haven’t read My Dark Vanessa by Kate Elizabeth Russell, I highly recommend it. Check trigger warnings though because it is a tough one, but written so well. If you haven’t read the classic Lolita by Vladimir Nabokov, I suggest you do too. It is an interesting read. I won’t say much other than I’ll let you decide what you think about the narrator, and that I had literal visceral reactions while I read it. Eek!

These book recommendations have earned their success, but it goes beyond the 5 stars for me. They remind me of interesting times in my life that are worth remembering and sharing.

Watership Down by Robert Adams

Genre: Fiction, Fantasy, Classic

Did you know that Watership Down didn’t have an easy road to be published, despite holding classic status now? I guess most authors have their own horror stories about getting published, but if you are interested, this book has a good intro that gives you its backstory. I listened to this book on Audible the first time, and thanks to my husband for getting me a US first edition copy. It is a book about one rabbit breaking off from the core group and taking a few others with him because of a hunch. They go on this massive journey to find a new home, and they gain (and lose) some friends along the way. Don’t let the cute bunny on the cover fool you. It is a gruesome book - full of battles, loss, and survival. However, beneath it all you see true friendship, belief, and love. Over time, my connection to the book has become a little bit of the same too. I was recommended this book by a friend I had once upon a time. They knew I was on this crazy kick to catch up on reading all the classics I never got to read growing up, and this book was on the top of their list for me. They thought the story would have a little of everything, plus bunnies! They’re my favorite! I have a cutest one, Wrexy man! Anyways, every time I think or read the book, I reminded of that great friendship that existed then.

You’ve Reached Sam by Dustin Zhao

Genre: YA

You’ve Reached Sam has been a catalyst in opening up the waterworks. I’ll start by saying I don’t generally cry. I know everyone says this, but I’m serious! I do get choked up during sad moments in movies, but that’s it. I’ve never suffered a loss, except for my dog, and I’m actually pretty aloof because I’ve had to be all my life. I don’t show emotions well. However, this book, first 50 pages, I was ugly crying in the middle of a library. It was embarrassing! Then, of course, I decided to check out the book, and when I start the book over again in the car, I started to sob all over again. My husband was driving us home, and he thought I was having a nervous breakdown and panicked. I kept trying to explain that I couldn’t understand why I was so touched by the book and kept crying, but I could hardly get a word out in between the sobbing, hyperventilating, and hiccuping. To make matters worst, I couldn’t believe I’d cried twice, so I started the book a third time and wash, rinse, repeat, except this time I was finally in the comfort of my own home. This book is tangled up in grief, loss, friendship, and love. The story is told from the fmc’s POV after her boyfriend passes away tragically in a car accident. You follow her journey of dealing with his loss along with her somewhat supernatural connection with him beyond death. The author does a great job of walking you through all the stages of grief and how his life ending shapes the fmc’s life who is a senior in high school - on the cusp of her beginning. I still cannot explain what about this book gets to me, but it gets me every time.

-Note: Just did a book review on it and was crying while I looked for quotes to include in the review. Major eyerolls.

Farenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury

Genre: Fiction, Dystopian, Classic

Sooo…..I’m starting to sense a pattern here because Farenheit 451 is another book riddled in loss but most pointedly, their sense of self. The main character in this book starts off following the mission given to him, doing the job, and blindly executing orders despite this nagging feeling that there is something wrong. His wife is a mess, and I suspect a representation of who we are turning into, essentially this mindless drone lost to the media. Another cog in the wheel. His evolution as a character was huge because this one moment caused him to re-evaluate everything he’d ever believed in including transitioning to fight FOR the opposition.

I read Farenheit 451 shortly after COVID and the 2020 elections. It was a devastating time in our country. Between being locked up in our homes full-time, which was unheard of, and the fear mongering of the media, I was feeling vulnerable. Reading this book made me find parity between moments in the book and the censorship and chaos I was seeing unravel around me. I wondered how someone back then could see into a window of today. Reminded me of how much of my anthropological studies showed that life is cyclical, and society seems doomed to repeat its mistakes. Since, the book remains top of mind for me as one of many I’ve read recently that tackle difficult topics about societal issues and what we’re evolving towards. I try NOT to think about it because life is messy enough without the dreary news, but it still creeps in.

Undercover Bromance by Lyssa Kay Adams

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Is it ok to read a book simply because it is hilarious? My favorite trope? Part of a series with a fun concept? This book is exactly it! Interestingly enough, I didn’t read this book in the series first. During one of my many B&N hauls, I found the book Crazy Stupid Bromance by Lyssa Kay Adams and fell in love with the cover of a man holding a cat and reading what seemed like a romance novel. The description only confirmed my suspicions, and while I wasn’t totally sold on the friends to lovers trope because it is NOT my favorite, the cover got me. Surprisingly, the book was good. Win for friends to lovers. It was well written, super interesting concept about a group of male friends who read romance novels to help them navigate their own relationship issues, and the side characters were so loveable. This book made me go back to the beginning and start reading book 1 and onward. Btw I’m all caught up now and waiting for book 6 to be released.

This book is #2 in the series, and it is my #2 all-time favorite romance (recently dethroned for #1 by First Time Caller). Enemies to lovers, a fiercely independent yet fragile fmc, a rich pretty boy that “cannot be trusted”, and a support group of besties to help and unwittingly sabotage them too along the way. The memory this book triggers is tied to a friend who used to read books to me. This was one of my favorites, so they put a lot of effort in reading and recording clips of my favorite parts. I haven’t had a lot of people do that for me, so it is a forever sweet memory tied to a super funny romcom.

First Time Caller by B.K. Borison

Genre: Contemporary Romance

This is the newest to make the list and round out my top 5. It is my new #1 favorite contemporary romance. B.K Borison is incredible at creating loveable main characters, quirky side characters, and a slow burn that ends up in too hot spicy moments. It’s about a single mom who has a pre-teen daughter that calls into a romance radio show with a host who doesn’t believe in love to get advice about her mom’s non-existent dating life. And you guessed it! The single mom gets sucked into some Bachelor version of a radio show where she and the host slow burn their way to an HEA. When I put it like that it sounds like the formula of every other good romance novel out there. However, this one hit on a personal note. I was a single mom for a few years (no judgment here please). Dating was tough(er) because no matter how put together I was plenty of guys I met would run for the hills when they found out I was a single mom. Some were blunt and honest enough to tell me that they weren’t interested in a woman who showed poor judgment in the past. Others…..needless to say it wasn’t pretty out there. So, I have a soft spot for guys who accept women for who they are and don’t judge them for their past. Still gushing over it!

Sooooo these are my recommendations for you and they’re great to me, but remember to read what makes you feel something. It’s what matters the most and makes reading so incredibly special. Like seeing a piece of art at a museum, it never means the same thing to everyone.