Review: Checking You Out

 

Lizzie is the biggest booknerd you will ever meet. She volunteers at the shelter where she helps take care of abandoned kittens. There she meets Dylan, a very cute boy her age. 

She thinks she could have a crush on him - until he claims he's not a reader. That's a non-starter for Lizzie. Even her best friends are readers - even though they all claim different genres as their favorites.

But Dylan lied - he's a huge fantasy reader. Or at least he used to be. He was bullied for reading and enjoying fantasy novels. So, he stopped sharing him love of books and started working out. Now he's a tennis player who switched schools senior year. He keeps that fantasy nerd part of him locked away until he can go to college and finally be his true self.

My Thoughts: This was a great romance for booknerds. I loved all the bookish references. I loved the moments in the library - and the librarian. I loved how Lizzie and her friends had a book club where they all read what they liked. I loved their bookish moments. There were so many cute kitten moments here - it made me want to volunteer too. Although I confess, I'm more of a dog person. I loved the letters in the books too - and the fact that both brought in their friends for help. I hated the Dylan had to close off parts of himself because of all the bullying. I wanted to give him a giant hug. But I did love the message of this book. I also loved that most of this book is set during the summer before college. 

Cover Thoughts: Adorable

Source: My Library

Library Recommendation: A booknerd romance that's perfect for your teen romance collection 

Review: Battle of the Bookstores

 

Josie and Ryan each manage a bookstore. Josie manages a literary bookstore and Ryan manages a romance bookstore. In between, the two stores, there's a coffee shop. Ther person who owns the stores sits them both down. He shares that they will be merging the three stores under one manager. 

Josie and Ryan will spend the next few months competing to save their jobs. As they talk, both Josie and Ryan bring out the worst in each other. Each believe the other looks down upon their work. Through series of miscommunication, they become each other's enemies. Each time they talk, they become more irritated and frustrated with each other. Could they just need a little flip?

My Thoughts: This book was so much fun, I didn't want to put it down. There's a lot going on here.

1. I loved the bookstore bits. I love that the genres were swapped here with expectations - I would have assumed the romance bookstore would have been managed by a woman. That was opposite here. I loved the conversations about books. The bater between Josie and Ryan was on point. 
2. I loved the You've Got Mail spin on this story - the messages between the two bookstores were charming. 
3. The story between the sisters was sweet

This was my first Ali Brady book, but it won't be my last.

Cover Thoughts: Adorable

Source: My Library

Why I Read: This was on a list of epistolary novels, which it isn't. But there are lots of tests. But bookstores.

Library Recommendation: Highly recommended for your romance section

Top Ten Tuesday: Books about Books

 This week's topic is all about jobs in books. I love reading about authors, libraries, and bookstore owners. Here are some of my favorite bookish stories and a few I want to read:

Read:

Magical Librarians

Reporter

Author

Author

Librarian

Authors

Librarians turned spy

Currently Reading:

Author

Want to read:

Bookstore

Fake author

Librarians

Librarians

Bookstore

Author

Any of these on your list to read too? Or have you read any of these? 

I'm such a sucker for bookish books. 

Picture Book Review: If Animals Loved Books

The illustrations are charming in this book loving story. The ending is perfect. I'm not sure which animal is the cutest; they are all adorable. It might be the puppies and storytime. Or it could be....

You will have to read this book and decide for yourself. 

* Book sent for review 

Review: Finders Keepers Library

 

* Book 1 in the Love in Bloom series * 

For a gardener blessed with a green thumb, Savannah Collins’s life sure seems like it’s all thorns, zero roses. She has no job, no relationship, and no place to live. With nothing but a car full of plants and her new rescue kitten, Savannah heads to Bloom, North Carolina, to spend the summer with her beloved Aunt Eleanor, a retired librarian.

Her aunt shares her love of literature with the Finders Keepers Library, located in her beautiful garden, where anyone can stop by to pick a book or leave a book. When a sudden summer storm destroys the library and many of the roses, it will take a village to get everything ready for the garden wedding that is planned there in just three weeks.

As the entire town joins in to make the necessary repairs, Savannah bonds with their neighbor Evan Sanders over the books that Eleanor has handpicked for each of them, helping them both find healing and self-discovery. Savannah only intends to stay through the summer, but when an unexpected job offer, a sudden health crisis, and a wayward pre-teen push her future in new directions, she has to wonder whether this is the place that she is meant to be—and the family she’s meant to be with. - Summary from the publisher

My Thoughts: I really enjoyed this book. I loved Aunt Eleanor and her garden library. I loved the bookish moments and the reading lists. I enjoyed the second chance romance with Savannah and Evan. June made for some entertaining moments - I felt badly for her. I wanted to wrap her up in a hug. The social media moments were funny. The secondary characters round out this novel, I can't wait to see who is featured in the next book. I'm looking forward to the next book in the series. 

Cover Thoughts: Cute - love the stack of books

Source: My Library

 Why I read this: the author + the 2nd book is a Christmas story

Hand this to: Readers who love Hallmark movies and readers who love books about books

Library Recommendation: Highly Recommended for your romance collection.

Picture Book Wednesday: Dear Bookstore

One day, a girl wanders into a bookstore. Immediately, she feels at home. She's cozy in the bookstore. The books make her feel. Everything is magical and it stays that way as she grows up.

This is a heartwarming read about a girl who grow up and is still comforted by books in her favorite bookstore. I have many fond memories of spending time in bookstores and libraries. 

* The way this character feels about the bookstore, is the way I feel about libraries.

Do you have a place that comforts you like this?

Picture Books Review: Books about Books

You know there's nothing I love more than books about books

Henry isn't into books. But Griselda knows he just hasn't found the right one. The bookstore has Halloween vibes and it's just perfect for Henry. 

The colors of this story are from the Halloween palette. While this could be a Halloween book, it will better as a year-round book. I love the message that there's a perfect book for everyone. 

There's a cat who loves books. When she spies the library, she knows it's a magical place. But the library worker won't let her inside. But she has a plan. Once she's inside, there's a child who reads to her. She's the happiest she's ever been. 

Such a wonderful book about libraries and reading aloud. It's a magical moment. The palette is 70s colors, but it works. The library is a warm fantastic place.

Christmas Romance Review: All I Want for Christmas

Jessica Carrington always wanted her own happily ever after. But, until that happens, she spends her days as a small-time romance writer, penning satisfying Happily Ever Afters to soothe the heartache left by her ex-boyfriend Nick Matthews, a fellow romance writer and now her biggest rival, who has found success writing love stories without happy endings. It's clearly what he's good at, after all . . .

So, when their professional obligations find them snowed in - and forced to share a room! - at the same remote inn a few days before Christmas, Jess and Nick are both fuming. But what's more fitting for two romantic writers in a slump? And when they realise the friction between them might be the only cure for their writer's block, they decide to turn their frustration into fiction . . . and the pages start flying.

Jess can't shake the feeling that Nick is the last guy on earth she should be falling for (again), but, as they both finally get back in their flow, is he actually all she wants for Christmas? - summary from the publisher

My Thoughts: I loved this one. I loved how they were both not over each other. I loved how they both had writer's block but after trading barbs on social media, the words start flowing again. Then they get stuck snowed in at the book event. At breakfast, it comes out that they are essentially writing the same book, an editor suggests they write the book together. There was so much banter and flirting in this book. I loved it so much, I handed it off to a co-worker. And now I need to read the author's other works. 

Cover Thoughts: Cute

Source: My Library

Recommendation: Highly recommended for your romance collection

Top Ten Tuesday: Book Covers

 This week's topic is all about book covers. I'm choosing book covers with books on them.

Read this year:

Upcoming books:

Do you like books about books too?

Reivew: Miss Morgan's Book Brigade

 

Jessie Carson takes a break from her micromanaging boss who is overly critical and NYPL. She's hired as a librarian for the American Committee for Devastated France. WWI is still going on; Jessie thinks she can help. Her eyes are opened when she sees the French countryside. 

The library needs to be rebuilt, but Jessie isn't about to let that stop her. She knows the power of books and stories. Right away she bonds with the other CARDS - even though most of them are donating their time. Jessie isn't a debutant, but she fits right in.

People need shelter, food, and most importantly hope. The CARDS drop by for social visits and to distribute food. Jessie tags along and showcases books. Soon she starts storytime out in the community. Her story is lost to history until one library worker finds her name in the archives at NYPL. Wendy Peterson researches the CARDS and Jessie. She wants to share the story of these amazing and brave women. 

My Thoughts: This book hooked me from the beginning. I enjoyed the dual perspectives from Jessie and Wendy. I love how Wendy found Jessie's story and was determined to share it. I'm so impressed by these women - they helped so many people. I love how they persisted with the different villagers. Those poor people went through so much - the war, the loss, the grief, and trying to pick the pieces back up. I loved the relationships in this book. I loved the moments of research and time inside the library. This was such an inspiring read! 

Cover Thoughts: Well done

Library Recommendation: This book is sure to be a book discussion book. A must have book for library collections. 

BookTok: Neighbor Favor

Chatting about this fun book:

@yabooknerdlibrarian My new favorite book! So charming and bookish. Just perfect! 😍🤩😍 #booksoftiktok #bookishbooks #Inverted ♬ original sound - Jennifer @YA Book Nerd 📚📚📚

Picture Books: Bookish Books

Just a few books about books and libraries for National Library Week! 

Baker and Taylor are surprised to realize there are other libraries. So they decide to go on an adventure to NYPL - and see the cats there. But the cats are hard to find...

I did like the NY facts in this book - especially the library bits. A fun travel book about bookish loving cats...

A Good Night Moon story for the bookstore. 

A fun story about saying good night to the bookstore. I love the last page! 

Which book is going to be chosen for the bedtime read tonight?

This funny story made me chuckle. I loved the books battling each other - but also working together. 

A young girl is tired of winter and goes traveling through books to escape the gray. Each book takes her to a different location - until she is back home and cozy.

I love the last two pages and how everything is connected. A lovely story about the power of transportation through books. 

Oliver moves. While he doesn't have any friends yet, he does have his books to keep him company. He discovers a book from The Lost Library and sets out to return it. He asks his new neighbor for help and the two of them go on an adventure.

Oliver and Rosie travel through lands of books - I love the illustrations (especially the dragon). I love how Oliver made a friend because of books. Another fun read. 

Picture Book Wednesday: Yours in Books

 

This is my new favorite picture book and I chat about it on TikTok. Of course, there were things I forgot to mention...

This one is great for older readers - 1st and 2nd graders. They will appreciate the humor.  

Library Recommendation: A must have book for your school and public library collection!

@yabooknerdlibrarian New fun picture book with a grumpy hero who finds he has a soft heart! #picturebook #booktok #owl #librarian #newbook #grumpyhero ♬ original sound - Jennifer @YA Book Nerd 📚📚📚

Top Ten Tuesday: Bookish Characters

 This week's topic is bookish characters. To be honest, they draw me in, so here are a few I'm looking forward to reading. 

Any of these on your list? Or have you read them??