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Events, LGBTQ+, YA Fiction

Hayley Kiyoko Book Signing

Last night I went to the first stop on Hayley Kiyoko’s book tour for her new book Where There’s Room For Us at none other than the Strand in NYC. I love their events because they’re so up close and personal. I laughed with Hayley, I cried, and I met her while she signed my two books. She said she thought my glasses were cute, and I thanked her for letting me feel seen. She said it right back, too. She was so sweet!! We got a posed photo together and the entire night was pure queer magic. “Pink Pony Club” by Chappell Roan even came on while she was signing. I cannot wait to read her new book! 

We also found out that she directed the feature film based on her previous novel, Girls Like Girls, coming in 2026. She said it took 10 years! I’ll definitely be seeing that in theaters!

Adult Fiction, LGBTQ+, Monthly Wrap-Ups, Mystery, Poetry, Romance, Series, Short Stories

Monthly Wrap-Up: October 2025

I read 14 books in October. I’m looking forward to another great reading month in November!

My favorite books read in October were Cackle by Rachel Harrison, Inheritance by Nora Roberts and Every Step She Takes by Alison Cochrun.

Books Read In October:
📖 Cackle by Rachel Harrison
📖 Black Sheep by Rachel Harrison
📖 George’s Marvelous Medicine by Roald Dahl
📖 The Witches by Roald Dahl
🎧 Bad Dolls by Rachel Harrison
📖/🎧 Inheritance by Nora Roberts
📖 Such Sharp Teeth by Rachel Harrison
📖 How To Survive A Horror Story by Mallory Arnold
📖 Re-Coupling by Harriet Shenkman
📖 Every Step She Takes by Alison Cochrun
📖 Play Nice by Rachel Harrison
📖 Forget Me Not by Stacy Willingham
📖 Say A Little Prayer by Jenna Voris
📖 This Foreign Affair by Harper Bliss

What did you read in October? Which was your favorite?

Adult Fiction, Events, Humor, LGBTQ+, Romance

Alexandria Bellefleur Author Event

Last night I went to yet another awesome author signing event at the Strand in NYC. I love going to these events, because they’re relatively small and always great! I have yet to read a book by Alexandria Bellefleur, and after going to the event, I learned that I’m clearly missing out, because this author has a big fanbase. Everyone was talking about the astrology signs of her characters, and now I’m totally going to look up “pisces” on her website, so I can read a character like me.

I love when I can see myself and connect to the books I read. Alexandria and her books are queer, and I can’t wait to dive into her latest, The Devil She Knows, which came out today! I got my book signed & personalized and also had my photo taken with the author. I loved it so much!

I also bought Girls Like Girls by Hayley Kiyoko, her debut novel, ahead of her signing in a couple weeks. I spent way too much money on queer and bookish stickers, and bought a tote bag since the one I brought was way too small. I just love browsing the Strand!

Adult Fiction, Events, Historical Fiction, LGBTQ+, Memoirs, Nonfiction, Thriller

Author Day @ Harrison Public Library

 I went to Author Day at Harrison Library and it was awesome! I got to reconnect with one of my favorite author friends, Lisa Montanaro after having been to her book signing in May for her debut novel Everything We Thought Was True, meet a fellow bookstagrammer, Jen (@electric_bookaloo) and catch up with an old friend. I even won a raffle! 

BOOKS & AUTHORS PICTURED
Jessica Anya Blau – Shopgirls
V.S. Kemanis
Lisa Montanaro – Everything We Thought Was True
Cleyvis Natera – The Grand Paloma Resort
Cherry Lou Sy – Love Can’t Feed You
Liv Constantine – Don’t Open Your Eyes 
Amity Gage – Heartwood
Anne-Sophie Jouhanneau – The French Honeymoon
Clémence Michallon – Our Last Resort
Mariah Fredericks 
Alyson Richman – The Missing Pages
Lauren Willig – The Girl From Greenwich Street 
John Beyer – Live A Little Better
Susan Shapiro Barash – Estranged (author not pictured)

Lisa Montanaro & Me
Adult Fiction, Events, Science Fiction

Author Talks

I recently went to a local library in person as well as watched a Zoom session with authors David Hicks and Nikki Erlick, both natives of Harrison. I had a great time at both of these events, and am grateful that I was able to attend.

David’s book, The Gospel of Danny, is about a man named Danny  Gausepohl in today’s fractured world and deals with love and loss in his own life as well. The book grips you right from the beginning, and I can’t wait to keep reading!

Nikki’s book, The Poppy Fields, is a speculative fiction/light sci-fi book that was inspired by the Wizard of Oz that is perfect for bookclub discussions. It is a book about a new, experimental treatment center that helps people sleep through their grief so that when they wake up, they’re healed. I am super excited to read this book as well!

Monthly Wrap-Ups, Thriller

Monthly Wrap-Up: September 2025

I read 7 books in September. I’m looking forward to a spooky reading month in October! 🧙🎃👻

My favorite books read in September were The Unraveling of Julia by Lisa Scottoline and What Kind of Paradise by Janelle Brown.

Books Read In September:
📖 Feel Better, No Matter What by Michael James
📖 We’ll Prescribe You A Cat by Syou Ishida
📖 Burn After Reading by Catherine Ryan Howard
📖 What Kind of Paradise by Janelle Brown
📖 She Didn’t See It Coming by Shari LaPena
📖 You Belong Here by Megan Miranda
📖 The Unraveling of Julia by Lisa Scottoline

What did you read in September? Which was your favorite?

Events, LGBTQ+, Memoirs, Nonfiction

Elizabeth Gilbert at The Strand

I was lucky enough to see Elizabeth (Liz) Gilbert on her very first stop on her book tour for her new memoir, All the Way to the River. I was also lucky enough to have read the book on Netgalley before the talk as well. The book signing/talk took place at Cooper Union in New York City, which was a much bigger venue than the Strand’s Rare Book Room, where they usually hold their events.

I traveled down to the City alone, and met three other women who were also attending the talk who I sat near. The books were already signed by Liz and there were so many people there, so none of the books were personalized. She basically talked the whole time, and then took questions from the audience who lined up behind a microphone.

I am so happy that I was able to see Elizabeth Gilbert do her talk. The book is about her relationship with her best friend turned lover, Rayya Elias, and their codependent relationship with each other, their drug and love addictions, as well as Rayya’s ultimate death due to pancreatic and liver cancer. It wasn’t an easy read, but definitely worth it, I think, and a very important addition to Gilbert’s story.

I haven’t read all of her books (yet) but I plan on being an Elizabeth Gilbert completest (meaning will read all her works, eventually).

Cooper Union

Adult Fiction

Cinematic Destinies by Patricia Leavy

Ages 18+

Cinematic Destinies by Patricia Leavy is sweet story about the Forrester family. Finn and Ella celebrate their 30th anniversary while their three adult children, Betty, Albert, and Georgia, each face their own personal challenges along the way. 

The novel explores love and identity in a way that feels both real and uplifting. I loved the Iceland setting, which was especially unique. 

This book is a warm, hopeful conclusion to the series, and it left me smiling.

Thanks to the publisher for a review copy of this book.

Monthly Wrap-Ups

Monthly Wrap-Up: August 2025

I read 9 books in August. I’m looking forward to another great reading month in September!

My favorite book read in August was All the Way to the River by Elizabeth Gilbert (out 9/9/25).

What did you read in August? Which was your favorite?

These are all the books I read in August:

📖 Anything Is Possible by Elizabeth Strout
📖 The Woman in Suite 11 by Ruth Ware
📱All the Way to the River by Elizabeth Gilbert
📖 Big Magic by Elizabeth Gilbert
📖 Too Old For This by Samantha Downing
📖 Not Quite Dead Yet by Holly Jackson
📖 This Is Who I Am by Harper Bliss
📱 The Sublet by Greer Hendricks
📱 The Housemaid’s Wedding by Freida McFadden

Adult Fiction, Humor, LGBTQ+, Memoirs, Monthly Wrap-Ups, Mystery, Nonfiction, Romance, Short Stories

Monthly Wrap-Up: July 2025

I read 10 books in July. I’m looking forward to another great reading month in August.

My favorite books read in July were: Girls Like Girls by Hayley Kiyoko, When We Go Missing by April Henry and The Bright Years by Sarah Damoff.

These are all the books I read in July:

📖 Girls Like Girls by Hayley Kiyoko
📖 When We Go Missing by April Henry
📖 25 Alive by James Patterson
📖 With A Vengeance by Riley Sager
📖 The Murder Game by Carrie Doyle
📖 The Body Keeps the Score by Bessel Van Der Kolk
📖 Show Me Where the Hurt Is by Hayden Casey
📖 The Bright Years by Sarah Damoff
📖 Easy Crafts For the Insane: A Mostly Funny Memoir of Mental Illness & Making Things by Kelly Williams Brown
📖 Don’t Open Your Eyes by Liv Constantine