Bookish News: A Weekly Update

I'm a few days late sharing the news this week. Thanks for your patience ... spring brings on a lot of BUSY in my world and I'm trying to get adjusted and back on a schedule.

Pulitzer Prize Announcement

The 2018 Pulitzer Prize winners were announced. Each winner receives $15,000. Here are the winners ...

Fiction:

Less by Andrew Sean Greer

Also nominated:

The Distance by Hernan Diaz

The Idiot by Elif Batuman

Nonfiction: 

Locking Up Our Own: Crime and Punishment in Black America by James Forman Jr. 

Also nominated:

Notes on a Foreign Country: An American Abroad in Post-America World by Suzy Hansen

The Evolution of Beauty: How Darwin's Forgotten Theory of Mate Choice Shapes the Animal World - and Us by Richard P. Prum

History:

The Gulf: The Making of an American Sea by Jack E. Davis

Also nominated:

Fear City:  New York's Fiscal Crisis and the Rise of Austerity Politics by Kim Phillips-Fein

Hitler in Los Angeles: How Jews Foiled Nazi Plots Against Hollywood and America by Steven J. Ross

Biography/Autobiography:

Prairie Fires: The American Dreams of Laura Ingalls Wilder by Caroline Fraser

Also nominated: 

Richard Nixon: The Life by John A. Farrell

Robert Lowell, Setting the River on Fire: A Study of Genius Mania and Character by Kay Redfield Jamison

The 2018 Thriller Award Nominees Announced

The International Thriller Writers announced the 2018 Thriller Award finalists. There are some great books on this list. Definitely take a look if you're a thriller fan!

SIBA Announces Finalists for 2018 Southern Book Prize

The Southern Independent Bookstore Alliance has released the names of the finalists for their 2018 Southern Book Prize. This year's finalist includes 30 titles across 8 categories. Winners will be announced on July 4th. You can find the full list here. 

The Women's Prize for Fiction Shortlist Announced

The Women's Prize for fiction honors "excellence, originality and accessibility in writing by women throughout the world." The shortlist includes the following:

The Idiot by Elif Batuman

The Mermaid and Mrs. Hancock by Imogen Hermes Gowar

Sight by Jessie Greengrass

When I Hit You: Or, a Portrait of the Writer as a Young Wife by Meena Kandasamy

Home Fire by Kamila Shamsie

Sing, Unburied, Sing by Jesmyn Ward

The Great American Read Introduced

The Great American Read is an eight-part series hosted by Meredith Vieira which will introduce viewers to PBS's list of the country's favorite novels. There will be an initial 2-hour episode on May 22nd. Throughout the summer, people can vote for their favorite novels on the PBS website and using special voting hashtags on Twitter and Facebook. More info can be found here. In addition, there is a list of all of the books here. You can also take a quiz to see how many of them you've read here. [I've read 43/100 which is higher than I expected. How many have YOU read?]

2018 Edgar Award Winners Announced

Best Novel: Bluebird, Bluebird by Attica Locke

Best First Novel: She Rides Shotgun by Jordan Harper

Best Paperback Original: The Unseeing by Anna Mazzola

The Best Fact Crime: Killers of the Flower Moon: The Osage Murders and the Birth of the FBI by David Grann

Bookish Quote of the Week

Yes. Yes. Yes. Books are my escape and my home all at once. I never feel quite myself without a book in hand. They take me all over the world ... and even into worlds that don't exist. Books truly are special in that they can transform our world.

What is your favorite journey that you've been on as a result of a book?

Review: The Wedding Date by Jasmine Guillory

The Wedding Date by Jasmine Guillory
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I just LOVED this romance. It was wonderful. Alexa, the heroine, was fantastic – smart, hilarious, and felt very real. And she EATS … she doesn’t try to eat like a bird, she actually eats food – and enjoys it. Also, it was nice to see an actual interracial couple in a romance – good ones are few and far between. I found the Alexa and Drew relationship to be really good – I like that they challenged each other and would get real with each other. It never felt trite or cutesy, yet it was CUTE (LOL)! It was a great reading palette cleanser for me … I’ve been reading a lot of heavy books lately so this was such a pleasant surprise. I will say that it’s pretty steamy – it’s definitely a sexy book. But, I think it was one of the better romances that I’ve read lately. I really enjoyed it. Definitely recommend!

Review: Rumor Has It by Jessica Lemmon

Rumor Has It by Jessica Lemmon
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This is one of those romances that I was sure was going to make me roll my eyes but then it surprised me. I really liked this one (as I’d liked an earlier one in the series) and plan to go in and get caught up on the series since this is #4 in a series. This is definitely able to be read as a standalone with no issues. I think Barrett and Catarina were such a great match. I love their banter … their ability to see each other and look beyond the surface. I love a story with a cocky hero who also has a heart. And this one delivers. Barrett is a really interesting hero – complex, funny and definitely a bad boy. The interplay of that with Catarina’s together, prissy sort of persona is really interesting. It was lovely to see them both begin to learn from each other and experience the world in a new way … together. Love this one!

NOTE: I received a copy of this book from the publisher for an honest review.

Review: On the Line by Liz Lincoln

On the Line by Liz Lincoln
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I really enjoyed this one … it was a really great romance. I am a fan of single father romances and football sports romances so this was definitely right up my alley. I loved the introduction of the hero/heroine in this one – it was fun and interesting. And this one wasn’t full of drama … it was reasonable and balanced. I never felt like it was overly dramatic. I see there are a lot of mixed reviews but I found this one to be really good. I liked their chemistry, I liked the tween daughter angst which felt real to me (as a mother of a 13-year-old girl myself). All in all, a nice sports romance with a nice story. Definitely recommend – not too sexually gratuitous or full of drama.


NOTE: I received a copy of this book from the publisher for an honest review.

Review: I Was Anastasia by Ariel Lawhon

I Was Anastasia by Ariel Lawhon
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I have been so excited about this book from the moment that I heard about it. I’ve been fascinated with Anna Anderson and her story for years. And this is a really effective fictional exploration of Anna as well as Anastasia. This is a historical fiction novel with quite a lot of suspense. The novel really looks deeply at Anna’s desire to be recognized as Anastasia as well as the story of Anastasia’s life. The novel weaves their narratives together really seamlessly. It’s obvious that Lawhorn did a ton of research for this novel. I loved the fictional look at each of these women and their experiences. I felt they came alive on the page which was really enjoyable. The narrative wasn’t always as concise and connected as I’d have liked so some of it felt disjointed. Yet, it was still a fantastic read. I loved reading Lawhorn’s Author’s Note and learning a bit about how she came to this story as well as what she changes in order to fit her fictional story. I was very taken with Anna’s story (which some reviewers seemed frustrated with due to the narrative structure) and also enjoyed Anastasia’s story. I was much more familiar with Anastasia but Lawhorn gave me more of her as a person and her emotional journey which I enjoyed. Knowing the outcome of the question of whether or not Anna was Anastasia didn’t really take away from the novel for me. I think it actually gave me what I was looking for … some insight into Anna – who she was, why she did the things she did and how this entire thing came about. I appreciated how well wrapped in historical facts the fiction was. This is one that I’m seeing get a lot of mixed reviews and I can understand that … some of the Anna sections & their chronological structure were less cohesive than they could have been. It didn’t bother me as much as it did others apparently. All in all, if you’re fascinated with the whole Anastasia narrative, I recommend this novel. Although not perfect, I really enjoyed it and definitely recommend it. Be aware that the structure of the narrative is non-linear and challenging – it can be confusing so know that going in and pay extra attention to the timeline pieces & I think that may help those who are concerned about that piece of the book. But, I really did enjoy this is and look forward to reading more Lawhorn in the future!

NOTE: I received a copy of this book from the publisher for an honest review.

Review: Bride for Keeps by Nicole Helm

Bride for Keeps by Nicole Helm
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

I wanted to love this book but I feel like perhaps the description sold me one book and then I found myself reading a different book. I didn’t hate it by any means but I just didn’t find it to be compelling. The characters just never moved me. I didn’t buy their actions much of the time. They did things that didn’t make sense to me. And I wouldn’t really call this a romance … it’s more of a dissection of a relationship. Yes, there are moments of romance but I don’t think this is what we’d normally refer to as a romance. It is very emotional and what not but I ultimately didn’t buy Carter and Sienna as a couple which is why I’m rating it 2 stars. It’s not a bad book, it just didn’t work for me. Perhaps my opinion would have been different if I’d been expecting a non-romance? I’m not sure.

NOTE: I received a copy of this book from the publisher for an honest review.

Review: The Great Alone by Kristin Hannah

The Great Alone by Kristin Hannah
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

It took me a bit to get into this novel (50-100 pages or so) but once I did, I was IN. The best part of this novel is Alaska – the place is as much a character as anyone else. And Hannah does an amazing job setting the scene and making Alaska come alive in all its glory. The Albright family is a train wreck waiting to happen and so the book moves along with a subtle darkness and suffocation because you know this isn’t heading to a happy place. The novel explores mental illness, PTSD, isolation, community and more. Leni is a wonderful character and I really enjoyed following her experiences. She really amazed me in so many ways throughout the novel. She has an inner strength that was refreshing to see. I don’t want to say much about one of the themes that the book explores because it contains a big spoiler but I will say that the family dynamics were handled very well in this novel. It was gripping and heartbreaking and I could not put it down. I love how Kristin Hannah’s work has developed over the last few novels. She does such a great job of telling a story with emotion and heart. And this book is exactly that – full of emotion and heart. It will make you feel … it even made me cry a few times. I highly recommend this one!

NOTE: I received a copy of this book from the publisher for an honest review.

Review: For Crosby by J. Nathan

For Crosby by J. Nathan
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This is a new adult stand-alone sports romance that I really enjoyed. This is one of the ‘hate to love’ romances that I seem to always enjoy. Add in hockey and I’m IN! There were some truly funny moments and the banter between Sabrina and Crosby was so good! This one is definitely on the sexy side – lots of sexual tension and the scenes themselves were quite steamy! If you enjoy sports romances, especially a good hockey romance, definitely check this one out. I really liked it.

NOTE: I received a copy of this book from the publisher for an honest review.

Review: Changing the Rules by Erin Kern

Changing the Rules by Erin Kern
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

This is the 3rd in a series and I’ve read all of the books. However, I definitely think this one can be read as a standalone. I quite liked this romance – love how the story centered around Piper and Cameron’s relationship with her as well as with Audrey. I didn’t buy some of the story around Piper being ‘left’ to Cameron who she didn’t know. Yet, there was Audrey who did know and love her. It felt a bit convenient to use that plot to bring them all together despite the fact that it didn’t make complete sense. But, I admit that the story was so cute that I didn’t really care that pieces and parts weren’t as solid as they could have been. This is much more of a sweet romance than a steamy one. Not a lot of sex in this one which is nice for those who aren’t as interested in the sexier romances. All in all, I liked this one!

NOTE: I received a copy of this book from the publisher for an honest review.

Review: White Houses by Amy Bloom

White Houses by Amy Bloom
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Amy Bloom + Eleanor Roosevelt = Yes, Please! I have been waiting for this one for months. I have always enjoyed Bloom’s writing – especially her non-fiction writing in magazines. But, I also enjoy her novels. I didn’t know a lot about Eleanor and Lorena Hickok so I was interested in Bloom’s take on that relationship. The insight into Lorena’s background experiences and the effect they had on her later were quite well done. I really enjoyed reading about the Roosevelt marriage through the eyes of a fictional Lorena. It was fascinating … their marriage was definitely unusual. This is certainly a love story. From interviews I’ve listened to with Bloom, it sounds like she tried to base the majority of the story on what has been documented but then elevated the story by adding in fictional elements and suppositions based on the facts. I think Bloom did a great job of making this time in history and the characters come alive. My primary issue with the novel was the way it was all pulled together – I’m not sure if it was a lack of experience with historical fiction or what? I just never felt that it all came together as it could (should?) have. Nonetheless, I definitely think it was a good read, one that I’m glad I picked up. If you’re interested in the Roosevelts, this is definitely one to try!

NOTE: I received a copy of this book from the publisher for an honest review.

Review: Bad Business (Bad Boys of Sports, #2)

Bad Business by Nicole Edwards
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This is the 2nd in a series. I did not read the first but I don’t think I missed anything as a result. This one read like a stand alone for me. I loved Jason and Savannah. Their romance was so good. It was a really good sports romance with strong, realistic characters. I like that the story felt real and the hero/heroine felt like actual people. The author didn’t create drama and chaos just for story interest. It was just two mature people falling in love. I really enjoyed this one and plan to go back and read the first in the series.

NOTE: I received a copy of this book from the publisher for an honest review.

Recent Releases

New Release Titles for April 17, 2018

A Higher Loyalty: Truth, Lies, and Leadership by James Comey chronicles the career of the former FBI Director

The Only Story: A Novel by Julian Barnes tells the story of a relationship young man and an older woman.

Meghan: A Hollywood Princess by Andrew Morton is a biography of Meghan Markle who will marry Prince Harry in May.

The Myth of the Nice Girl: Achieving a Career You Love Without Becoming a Person You Hate by Fran Hauser is a non-fiction title that includes an executive's advice for young businesswomen.

Paperback Release Titles for April 17, 2018

The Good Daughter: A Novel by Karin Slaughter

The Last Neanderthal by Claire Cameron

Secrets of the Tulip Sisters by Susan Mallery

New Release Titles for April 24, 2018

The Girl Who Smiled Beads: A Story of War and What Comes After by Clemantine Wamariya and Elizabeth Weil is the memoir of a refugee who fled the Rwandan genocide at age six.

Magnolia Table: A Collection of Recipes for Gathering by Joanna Gaines and Marah Stets is a cookbook by a co-host of HGTV's Fixer Upper.

Chasing Hillary: Ten Years, Two Presidential Campaigns, and One Intact Glass Ceiling by Amy Chozick is a journalist's experiences covering Clinton's campaigns.

Disturbing His Peace: The Academy by Tessa Bailey is a new romance.

You Think It, I'll Say it by Curtis Sittenfeld is a collection of short stories by the author of Prep, American Wife and Eligible.

Paperback Release Titles for April 24, 2018

Come Sundown by Nora Roberts

The Leavers by Lisa Ko

The Midnight Line: A Jack Reacher Novel by Lee Child

Same Beach, Next Year by Dorthea Benton Frank

A Line Made By Walking by Sara Baume

Movies Opening that Are Based on Books

Disobedience, based on the novel by Naomi Alderman, opens April 27. Rachel McAdams stars as an Orthodox Jewish woman who returns to a community that once shunned her. 

Bookish Quote of the Week

Sometimes it really does feel like my reading list has been growing for as far back as I can remember. I recall making lists of books that I wanted to read while visiting the library with my mother when I was a little girl. Walking along the shelves and writing titles and authors on a piece of paper so I'd be sure to check these books out later! Eventually, I began a notebook of books - books that I'd read, books that I want to read, etc. And I still do that today ...  I keep a list electronically via Goodreads as well as one that I keep in my book journal. But, I know that I will never be able to read all the books that I'd really like to read. The list really is never ending ... but I'm not giving up! I'll keep adding to the list and reading from the list for the rest of my days! 

How do you track the books you'd like to read? Do you keep a list on paper or electronically ... or both?

Bookish Quote of the Week

This is one of my all-time favorite things about BOOKS! I put the book down and I feel like I've made a friend. It's amazing how intimate reading someone's novel or book can be ... it gives you this feeling of knowing them even if you don't. For example, I met Richard Russo at an event once and I was amazed how I was in awe of him and yet felt like he was an old friend all at the same time. After reading so many of his novels, I felt like I knew him. And I'm convinced Hanya Yanigahara is exactly the kind of person that I want to be friends with ... her mind is an amazing place! Authors can just get into our hearts and souls with their work. 

Are there any authors who have made you wish they were personal friends after reading their books? If so, who? 

Bookish News: A Weekly Update

83rd Annual Anisfield-Wolf Book Awards Announced

The winners of the Anisfield Wolf Book Award have been announced. This award recognizes literature confronting racism and examining diversity. 

The winners are:
Fiction: Sing, Unburied, Sing by Jesmyn Ward
Nonfiction: Bunk: The Rise of Hoaxes, Humbug, Plagiarists, Phonies, Post-Facts, and Fake News by Kevin Young
Poetry: In the Language of My Captor by Shane McCrae
Lifetime achievement: N. Scott Momaday

The 2018 PEN/Hemingway Award Winner

Weike Wang won the award, which honors a distinguished first book of fiction for her novel, Chemistry. Wang will receive $25,000, a month-long residency fellowship at the Ucross Foundation in Wyoming (a retreat for artists and writers), a residency from the Distinguished Writers Series at the University of Idaho's MFA Creative Writing Program and a $5,000 stipend.

HBO Develops Docuseries Based on I'll Be Gone in the Dark

HBO has announced a docuseries based on Michelle McNamara's true-crime book, I'll Be Gone in the Dark. The book tells the story of McNamara's investigation into the Golden State Killer. On another note, McNamara was the wife of actor Patton Oswalt and died in 2016 before the book was published.  Oswalt and several of McNamara's friends made sure the book was published on her behalf!

Articles of Interest

Why Reading Books Should be your Priority, According to Science

Who Doesn't Read Books in America?

A New Generation of African-American -Owned Bookstores

The Science of the Bestseller

Recent Releases

New Releases for Tuesday, March 27, 2018

Dear Madam President: An Open Letter to the Women Who Will Run the World by Jennifer Palmieri was written by Hilary Clinton's former Communications Director and is full of inspirational and practical advice for women.

Faith: A Journey for All by Jimmy Carter is a look at the former president's spiritual life.

Tiger Woods by Jeff Benedict and Armen Keteyian is a biography of the famous golfer.

Sociable: A Novel by Rebecca Harrington is about an aspiring journalist who ends up writing viral content.

Not If I Save You First by Ally Carter is about a girl alone in the middle of the Alaskan wilderness as an assassin draws near.

Not That I Could Tell by Jessica Strawser is a domestic drama with a little suspense. I believe this was a recent Book of the Month selection.

New Release Paperback for Tuesday, March 27, 2018

Magpie Murders by Anthony Horowitz

Anything is Possible by Elizabeth Strout

The Other Mother by Carol Goodman

New Releases for Tuesday, April 3, 2018

The Female Persuasion: A Novel by Meg Wolitzer follows a college freshman mentored by an acclaimed women's rights activist. I have been waiting for this one and bought it on release day at a local indie and was able to get a signed edition! I love Meg Wolitizer!

Varina: A Novel by Charles Frazier is historical fiction about Varina Howell, wife of Jefferson Davis. This is another one that I've already bought and cannot wait to read! Charles Frazier is an amazing storyteller!

My Dear Hamilton by Stephanie Dray and Laura Kamoie is historical fiction about Eliza Schuyler Hamilton, wife of Alexander Hamilton.

Make Trouble: Standing Up, Speaking Out, and Finding the Courage to Lead--My Life Story by Cecile Richards is a memoir by the President of Planned Parenthood. I have already picked this one up as well. Can't wait to read this one. I'm a Cecile Richards fan from way back!

The Overstory: A Novel by Richard Powers is a new literary fiction novel that connects several branching tales rooted by trees.

The Neuroscientist Who Lost Her Mind: My Tale of Madness and Recovery by Barbara K. Lipska and Elaine McArdle is an account of a neuroscientist's brush with melanoma that spread to her brain.

All the Beautiful Lies by Peter Swanson is a novel about "a diabolically clever tale of obsession, revenge, and cold-blooded murder." I loved The Kind Worth Killing so I'm excited to read this one! He's a great storyteller!

Look Alive Out There: Essays by Sloane Crosley is a collection of essays that's getting a lot of buzz!

Other People's Houses by Abbi Waxman is a novel about families that was also a Book of the Month selection.

New Release Paperbacks for April 3, 2018

Chemistry by Weiki Wang I loved this one and highly recommend it!

Girl in Snow by Danya Kukafka 

Killers of the Flower Moon: The Osage Murders and the Birth of the FBI by David Grann  I've been hearing great things about this one so I also picked this one up this week.

Lillian Boxfish Takes a Walk by Kathleen Rooney

Marlena by Julie Buntin 

Miss You by Kate Eberlen

What It Means When a Man Falls from the Sky: Stories by Lesley Nneka Arimah 

Hourglass: Time, Memory, Marriage by Dani Shapiro

As you can see, I picked up a number of the new releases shown here. What about you? Did you pick any up?

Bookish Quote of the Week

This quote really resonates with me because I've read a few books lately that really transported me to another time and place. It was a reminder that one of the best things about reading is that it transports the reader to a new place, introduces the reader to new things, and opens the reader's mind to new people. This is one of the most amazing parts of reading ... opening a book is the equivalent of opening your mind to new experiences.

Have any books recently transported you to another time and place? Tell me all about it!

March 2018: Monthly Reading Review

I'm sorry that I'm a few days late in posting this but here is my monthly reading review for March! I'm pretty happy with how this reading month went! My March Reads page from my reading journal is posted below if you want to see the details.

All in all, I finished 14 books in March. Three of them were 5-star reads - An American Marriage, Pachinko, and Beartown. I highly recommend all 3 of those (detailed reviews for the last two are coming soon)! I read 5 literary fiction novels and 8 romances. 9 of the 13 books that I read were advanced reader copies from the publishers. And, I've read 44 books so far in 2018. All in all, I'm happy with my stats so far in 2018!

How many books did you read in March? 

Of the books you read, what was your favorite read?

Bookish Quote of the Week

I remember the first time I read this Anna Quindlen quote and sighing to myself ... because I really hoped that my future children would love books as much as I do. And now, years later, I have three kids and only one of them is what I'd call a true reader and lover of books. Our 13-year old twins aren't particularly interested in reading ... they will read but only for school. They never read for pleasure and never seem interested in going to the library or a bookstore. This is really hard for me but I'm really hoping that they will grow into readers. I need to believe that! Until then, I'll focus on covering my own house with books since that makes me happy. I just really hope that my kiddos will all end up being book people ... who I truly believe tend to be the best people!

Do you have children? If so, do they love books and reading? 

10 of My Favorite Bookstagram Accounts

Are you on Instagram? If not, you are missing out ... especially when it comes to the world of books and reading. I love what a wonderful place Instragram has become for those of us who love all things book and reading! I thought I'd share with you some of my favorite bookstagram accounts - the accounts that I follow closely and have come to rely on for great bookish content.

@annebogel and @whatshouldireadnext

Anne Bogel (also known as Modern Mrs. Darcy which is the name of her popular blog) is the host of the What Should I Read Next podcast which is one of my favorite books and reading podcasts. Anne's content is fantastic! She explores so many aspects of the reading life and I'm always excited to see a new post in my feed! She also wrote a really good book (Reading People) and has another book coming this fall titled I'd Rather Be Reading which I've already pre-ordered!

@leighkramer

I adore Leigh's account because she has a great mix of two of my favorite things - books and personality (particularly the Enneagram). I've learned so much about both from her account (and her blog). I love seeing what she has to share about her reading life. I find her tastes to be quite similar to mine and she reads a good mix of genres including romance and young adult which I love! I find myself adding books to my TBR on a regular basis as a direct result of following Leigh on Instagram!

@anniebjones05

Annie is the owner of The Bookshelf which is an independent bookstore in Georgia (which I'm dying to visit one day). She also runs a podcast, From the Front Porch, which I regularly listen to and recommend! Her feed is full of great content around books and reading ... she has great recommendations and I love her reviews! I find myself adding a ton of books to my TBR from her reviews more and more! I also love getting the occasional glimpses into the owning and running of a bookstore ... as a wannabe bookstore owner she gives me such inspiration!

@theloudlibrarylady

Kate Olsen is a fairly new to me but she has quicly become one of my favorites! She is a K12 librarian as well as an avid reader and reviewer. I was looking at my list of books to read in my book bullet journal and it's amazing how many new books that this instagram account has introduced to me! If you love learning about new books, you can't go wrong with Kate's account!

@veronikellymars

Kelly Jensen may be familar to you if you frequent Book Riot (and if you aren't frequenting Book Riot, you need to) but if she isn't, then you definitely want to check her out. Her Instagram account is fantastic - you'll find a lot of different things including books, yoga, bunnies and cats!  I always look forward to seeing what Kelly has shared since I was on the app last. She's smart and interesting ... and I learn about a lot of different books through her account.

@topshelftext

Madeline's account is pretty new to me but I've become a huge fan of her account! She is a teacher and a blogger (her blog is fantastic). She offers fantastic content - diverse, interesting and compelling reading choices. Her photographs are beautiful! This is another account that will fill your TBR fast! She is also the founder of the Diverse Book Club which I'm LOVING! Each month, the group reads along a theme that helps them explore a diverse set of books. Recent themes have included women in science, chronic illness, adoption/foster care, and LGBTQ+ Pride. I am always trying to increase diversity in my own reading so I love being a part of the group.

@theunreadshelf

I began following Whitney earlier this year when I heard about the #theunreadshelfproject which she is leading. Her account is full of great book recommendations but what I really love is how much I find her content inspiring to me as I try to read more of the books I already own instead of always reading only new releases. If you want to read more of the books you already own, you will love the tips, tricks and inspiration she provides to that purpose.

@imamandanelson

I've been following Amanda for ages ... I found her via Book Riot where she is the Executive Editor. I love her Instagram account for a lot of reasons beyond the amazing book content - she has twin boys (I have twins), she lives in Richmond (I live in Richmond), and we align politically. Our reading tastes often converge and she often introduces me to books I don't know if I'd hear about otherwise. I love how honest and bold she is each and every day. She inspires me on a regular basis!

@words.between.worlds

Words Between Worlds is the account for a book club that I am so enjoying. The account is fantastic at introducing me to good reads and other bookstagrammers. It's a fairly new group and they've read two books, both of which are sitting on my bedside table! They describe their book club as being "for anyone interested in expanding their diverse reading, sharing intimate stories and experiences of their own diversity, and welcoming new friends." I highly recommend this one!

@katereadsbooks_

Kate is the CUTEST! I love her account ... I learn about so many books. But, even better, I just think she's adorable and funny. I love following her account, seeing what she's reading, what she's doing. She just makes me happy! And books just jump onto my TBR  every time I look at her posts! She has great taste in books and her account always delivers great content and inspiration!

OK, I hope that I've been able to introduce you to a few new Bookstagram accounts. I highly recommend all of them ... you will not be sorry if you check them out!

If you're interested in connecting with me on Instagram, I'd love that ... you can find me @anrobe. What is your Instagram handle?