Recent Library Programs: Book Recs, Author Signings & Art Projects

I recently went to the library for a preview of the books coming out in June, July and August. My friend Caroline and her colleague hosted it and we even got snacks from a local establishment to munch on during the program. 

The books I starred to put on hold in order of publishing date are:

📖 Atmosphere by Taylor Jenkins Reid – June 3, 2025
📖 With A Vengeance by Riley Sager – June 10, 2025
📖 Kuleana by Sara Kehaulani Goo – June 10, 2025
📖 Don’t Open Your Eyes by Liv Constantine – June 17, 2025
📖 The C.I.A. Book Club: The Secret Mission to Win the
Cold War with Forbidden Literature By Charlie English – July 1, 2025
📖 The Original by Nell Stevens – July 1, 2025
📖 How to Survive A Horror Story by Mallory Arnold – July 8, 2025
📖 Between Two Rivers by Moudhy Al-Rashid – August 12, 2025
📖 Mrs. Christie at the Mystery Guild Library by Amanda Chapman – August 26, 2025
📖 Katabasis by R.F. Kuang – August 26, 2025

Here is the group photo of everyone at the program: (I’m the one on the left in the aqua shirt and Caroline is in the stripes crouched in front of me).

The next night I went to a different library for a wonderful discussion and author signing with Amy Poeppel and Karen Dukess for their new books Far & Away and Welcome to Murder Week, respectively. I got the books signed as well. It was awesome! I even got a summer reading tote with a pack of new colored pencils, perfect for the artist in me.

Amy’s book is about two women – one from Dallas, TX and one from Berlin, Germany who switch houses for several months. Karen’s book is about three Americans who travel to England to solve a fake murder mystery. I am very excited to read them both!

The last library program I went to was an art program at yet a third county library. We made little collages on 4×4 wooden squares, painted them with quick dry paint sticks, and then glued paper things onto them and then mod-podged over it and put a magnet on the back. I had so much fun! 

It was a collager’s paradise! Cut up books, old playing cards and lotería cards, magazine pages, you name it! And the woman sitting next to me at the table and I  had a lovely discussion about books the whole time. 

The left one has the rainbow bookshelf and the Ace card (a little nod to my queerness & my asexuality) and the right one is about my heart, the Spanish speaker in me and the infinity-ness of circles and what they mean for me. 

I had an amazing time at all three of these programs, and I can’t wait to keep going to similar ones!