Hi Reader, Happy Labor Day Weekend! (if you're celebrating) I was away on summer vacation last week and catching up this week, so I thought doing a R.E.P.O.R.T. for the holiday weekend with everything happening around here would be fun. This is one you'll want to peruse with a cup of coffee! R - Reading Kiss Me at Christmas by Jenny Bayliss (kindle) - As a book blogger, I have to start early on holiday releases. This one is super cute! There's a holiday play, a bit of over 40 romance, and...
7 days ago • 2 min read
Hi Reader, Historical fiction that's by women and about women just hits different, doesn't it?! There's something about following strong female protagonists as they navigate the most pivotal moments in history. That's why I carefully curated my list of the top historical fiction reads for women on The Literary Lifestyle. There, you'll find immersive narratives, harrowing circumstances, and women you root for. See the Best Women's Historical Fiction Books Remember, it's a good day to read a...
10 days ago • 1 min read
Hi Reader, Back to school is my favorite time of the year on social media. I LOVE seeing everyone's back-to-school photos. It feels like such a fresh and exciting start to learning! If you want to get into the "first day of school" spirit too, then check out my updated list of the best books about high school and college. It includes compelling academic settings for themes like coming-of-age, young love, and drama with classmates. You’ll find everything from old classics to new favorites to...
11 days ago • 1 min read
Hi Reader, Did you catch my slight reference to Barack Obama's recently released Summer reading list for 2024 earlier this week? In case you didn't, I wanted to share it again because it's always one of the most popular posts and topics of the year around here. This year's list includes two books I read this week and loved (The God of the Woods and James), and so many more. My blog post about Barack Obama's Summer reading recommendations also includes ALL the books he has recommended in the...
20 days ago • 1 min read
Hi Reader, Last week, I wondered if I would ever find a book of the year candidate this year. I've had 5-star reads, but none felt like "the one." But now, this book is the one to beat for me. It offered me the rare and utterly delectable reading experience of simply not being able to stop. I stayed up late. I got up early. And, I devoured all 476 pages in just about two days’ time. I’m generally not a binge-reader like this. Out of the 100+ books I read every year, this book is among a...
24 days ago • 1 min read
Hi Reader, Just want to catch you up on some late summer reading things as we were away on a little getaway for my husband's birthday at the Maryland hotel where Wedding Crashers was filmed! (Here's my travel guide.) We browsed the most swoon-worthy and feminine indie bookstore there, which is always a bonus. I'm currently working on 3 books: The Seven Year Slip (audio) - just started it, so no opinion yet, but it gets great reviews, and I loved the author's other books mixing romance and...
27 days ago • 1 min read
Hi Reader, I've got a handful of bookish things for you today! Dare I say there's something for everyone?! We've got some new celebrity book club picks. I'm currently listening to the Read With Jenna pick, and it's FANTASTIC! It may be one of my favorites of the year (so far). I recently finished and wrote a review of a 5-star backlist read: the 800+ page A Little Life. This is a popular book, but help is definitely necessary! My full book review (without spoilers) is one I'm really proud of,...
about 1 month ago • 1 min read
Hi Reader, Recently the New York Times polled 500 literary luminaries on the best books of the 21st century. I SCREAMED upon learning my favorite book of all time was named #1! It's... drumroll... My Brilliant Friend by Elena Ferrante!! It's actually a quartet of four novels about a lifetime of complex friendship between two Italian women -- great for fans of literary fiction, character-driven novels, and the like. Given the renewed interest in these books, I created a reading guide for the...
about 2 months ago • 1 min read
Hi Reader, The peak of summer sale season is Amazon Prime Day, and it's HERE! I've got to say, this is the best one yet for book lovers. There were so many great book deals that I had to stop searching! Usually, I can only find a handful of good ones. This time, there were a ton of great ones. This is also a great time to shop for Kindles on sale. I use and recommend the Paperwhite for most readers. It's a middle-of-the-road option with all the storage you need. I've had mine about 6 or 7...
about 2 months ago • 1 min read