"In a world filled with noise, 'The Correspondent' beautifully captures the silent struggles of connection, reminding us that true communication goes beyond words—it's about the heart."📚💙😭

Just finished "Things We Leave Unfinished" by Rebecca Yarros! The grandmother’s story was so rich and emotional, but the modern enemies-to-lovers plot didn’t work for me—it felt forced. If you love family histories, you’ll enjoy the grandma's journey, but the present-day bits wasn’t for me!

"Mad Honey" by Jodi Picoult and Jennifer Finney Boylan intertwines the stories of two mothers as they confront secrets and truths about love, identity, and the complexities of family.

"Before Dorothy" by Hazel Gaynor follows a woman's journey of self-discovery as she navigates love and loss, finding her way back to her roots before the iconic tale of Oz begins.

"The Rebel Romanov" by Helen Rappaport explores the life of Julie of Saxe-Coburg, who is depicted as a significant yet overlooked figure in Russian history.

This year for Christmas Jason and I wrapped 12 books each (from our TBR lists) and we will open one each month in 2026 to read.

Happy Spooky Season! 📚👻

The Good Neighbor The Life And Work Of Fred Rogers by Maxwell King

The Good Neighbor: The Life and Work of Fred Rogers

“Fred Rogers was a man who understood the power of kindness, the importance of emotional intelligence, and the impact of nurturing relationships. He taught us that caring for others is not just an act but a way of life.”

The Lost Bookshop by Evie Woods

“Sometimes, the things we lose lead us to what we truly need."

“In the darkest of times, creativity can be a form of resistance."

-“The Dressmaker's of Auschwitz" by Lucy Adlington

“Courage isn’t the absence of fear; it’s the resolve to act despite it."

-Sunflower Sisters by Martha Hall Kelly

“In moments of crisis, we reveal our true selves, and sometimes that self is more beautiful than we could ever imagine."
- Bel Canto by Ann Parchett

“In 1947 Theodor W. Adorno defined what would be later called “blaming the victim,” as “one of the most sinister features of the Fascist character.”
-Kate Winkler Dawson, The Sinners All Bow: Two Authors, One Murder, and the Real Hester Prynne

“We are more than our scars; we are the stories we choose to tell."
- The Second Life of Mirielle West

“We are all of us, at times, both the prisoner and the architect of our own lives.” Piranesi by Susanna Clarke
📚🏝️ 🧩 🧠 🌌 ⚖️ 📖 ⛓️
- Isolation and Solitude
- Identity and Self-Discovery
- Memory and Reality
- Wonder and Curiosity
- Power and Control
- Myth and Fantasy
- Freedom and Confinement

“Amidst the thorns and brambles, we discovered that our struggles were the roots of our strength."

“The Berry Pickers" by Amanda Peters

Berry Pickers by Amanda Peters
🌍🤝 💼 🌱 ⚖️ 👪 📉

- Immigrant Experience
- Community and Belonging
- Labor and Economic Hardship
- Cultural Identity
- Tradition vs. Modernity
- Family Dynamics
- Social Inequality

My Friends by Fredrik Backman 📚💙 🌟🤗💪❤️🧩

- Profound Importance
- Support & understanding
- Source of Strength
- Cherish Relationships
- Identity & Experience

The Lost Queen by Signe Pike

⚔️ 👑 ⛪️ 🌳 🛡️ ❤️ 📖 🌍 📚

- Power and Politics
- Gender Roles
- Paganism vs. Christianity
- Identity and Heritage
- War and Conflict
- Love and Loyalty
- Myth and Legend
- Cultural Transition

James by Percival Everett
✊ 📜 🧠 💪 🔗 📚💙

-Racial Injustice
-Legacy of Slavery
-Cultural Memory
-Resistance and Resilience
-Intersectionality
-Historical Narratives

The Daughter of Auschwitz

📚💙⏳😢
Holocaust Context
Survival and Resilience
Impact on Innocence
Human Connection
Hope Amidst Despair
Legacy of Trauma

The Uncharted Flight of Olivia West by Sarah Ackerman 👩‍✈️🚺🌍💪✈️🤝

Women in Aviation
Gender Roles
World War II
Courage and Resilience
Technological Advancements
Identity and Purpose
Friendship and Loyalty

The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern 💙📚 🕰️👗
🎭🎨🚺⚖️🔬⏳🌀👻🌌

Victorian Era Society
Art and Performance in the Late 19th Century
Gender Roles and Expectations
The Intersection of Magic and Science
Exploration of Memory and Time
Cultural Fascination with the Supernatural

Last Christmas in Paris by Hazel Gaynor and Heather Webb 💙📚 💔⚔️👩‍🎓🛠️❤️📬✉️💌😢🕊️🌍💪

Impact of War on Relationships
Women’s Roles during WWI
Love and Longing in Times of Conflict
The Power of Correspondence
Loss and Grief
Social Change and Resilience

The Persian Pickle Club by Sandra Dallas 💙📚👩‍👩‍👧‍👧🤝🏡💰💔🧵📜💪❤️🕵️‍♀️⚖️

Women’s Roles in Society
The Great Depression
Community and Support
Economic Hardship
Cultural Traditions
Friendship and Resilience
Mystery and Justice

The Life Impossible by Matt Haig
💙📚
🤔🌍😔🔍⚖️🔄🧠💚👥🏛️🌌📖

Existentialism and the Human Condition
Regret and Reflection
The Impact of Choices
Coping with Mental Health
Cultural and Societal Expectations
The Concept of Alternate Realities

Before We Were Yours by Lisa Wingate 👶📜 ⚖️🚫 👩‍👧‍👦💼 💸📉
💔🕰️ 🌍⚔️ 📚⚖️

Child Welfare and Adoption Practices
Social Injustice
Gender Roles and Expectations
The Great Depression
Historical Trauma
Racial and Class Disparities
Legal and Ethical Issues in Adoption

Tom Lake by Ann Patchett
🕰️ 🌟 👨‍👩‍👧 🌾 🦠
- Memory and Nostalgia
- The Impact of Fame
- Family Dynamics Across Generations
- Agriculture and Rural Life
- Cultural Reflections of the 2020s

A Tree Grows In Brooklyn by Betty Smith 🌍 🌆 ⚖️ 👩‍🎤 📚 🇺🇸✨ 🍷🚫 ⚔️

- Immigration and Assimilation
- Urbanization
- Social Class and Inequality
- Women's Roles and Rights
- Education Reform
- The American Dream
- Prohibition and Alcoholism
- World War I Influence