Banned Books Week 2026

by Donna Huber

This week is Banned Book Week (Oct 4 - 10), and we like to shine a light on some of the books that are challenged each year.  

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5 Books to Read for National Comic Book Day

by Donna Huber

Today is National Comic Book Day. I'm not a big comic book fan, but I grew up reading the Sunday Funny Pages. It was almost as anticipatory as Saturday morning cartoons. I've tried a few graphic novels, but I'm just not a visual person, so I find that I don't always know what is happening in the story without more text. (I have a similar issue with emojis) I do better with illustrated stories because there is usually more text. Are you a comic book fan? Do you have a favorite graphic novel? 

Today, I'm featuring some comics, graphic novels, and illustrated stories that I've enjoyed.

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August Libby Haul and Why You Should Get a Library Card

by Donna Huber

September is Library Card Sign-Up Month. If you don't have a library card, you are missing out on one of the best resources in your community. In my state, almost every library is part of the statewide system. That means that with one library card, I can check out books at any library in the state (there are a few county systems that aren't part of the system, but the majority of the library systems are). Where I live, I have at least 5 brick-and-mortar libraries within a 30-minute drive. Here are some of my favorite resources I have access to with my library card.

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Classic & Modern Monster Books to Read This Frankenstein Day

by MK French

August 30th is Frankenstein Day and celebrates the birth of the author Mary Shelley. To honor Shelley on this day, I've put together a list of monster books. 

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6 Unforgettable Historical Novels That Celebrate Female Resilience and Equality

August 26, 2026 marks the 106th anniversary of the 19th Amendment, which gave women in the U.S. the right to vote. The fight didn't end there, as women continue to fight for social equality, professional equality, and healthcare equality. These 6 works of historical fiction highlight the women who broke institutional barriers, subverted societal expectations, and reshaped history on their own terms, and are perfect reads for Women's Equality Day.

Books I Meant to Read This Month

by Donna Huber

Every month I usually leave a book or two from the list I planned for the month in the TBR pile. This month has been a horrible reading month. I had real trouble focusing on books the first week or so of the month as I grieved the death of my father. I only finished 7 books (so far): 1 was a book I have been reading all summer for work, and 4 were audiobooks. So I have a bunch of books languishing in my TBR pile that hit shelves this month, and I wanted to give a little shout-out to them.

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From Secrets to Lifelong Bonds: 8 Sister Stories for National Sisters Day

by Susan Roberts

I am lucky enough to have two wonderful sisters.  Even though we live far away from each other, we communicate frequently and take a yearly sisters' week vacation.  To commemorate sister’s day, here are a few books to read about the importance of the bond between sisters.

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Beat the Dog Days of Summer with These 9 Festive Holiday Reads

by Donna Huber

We are officially heading into the Dog Days of Summer, when the heat is relentless and staying inside with the AC blasting is an absolute must. What better time to catch up on the holiday TBR pile that got lost in last year’s end-of-the-year chaos? Celebrate Christmas in July by clearing out these 2025 festive reads—just in time for the brand-new wave of 2026 holiday titles landing on shelves this September! Not sure where to start? Don't worry, I've rounded up 9 of my favorite holiday books from last year to get you started.

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12 Books for a Post-Apocalyptic Book Club

by Donna Huber

My post-apocalyptic book club recently chose its new year of reading. Since we are in a university town, we run on an academic calendar, so our new year starts in August. Have you read any of these books? Which one would you be most excited to read?

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Book I Wish I Could Read Again for the First Time

by Susan Roberts

What books do you wish you could read again for the first time? I recently saw this question posted on social media and have thought a lot about what books I would list.  Part of the answer was easy because, although I rarely re-read books, I have several books that I re-read every couple of years.  These are books that frequently come to mind with characters I haven’t forgotten.  For the sake of brevity, I am ignoring classic books because, as an English major in college, including them would make this list way too long. 

Here are the top 5 books that I wish I could read again for the first time.

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Bunk Beds & Bookish Vibes: The Ultimate Summer Camp Reading List

by Donna Huber

When I was a child, my favorite summer activity was summer camp. It was a week away from home where we sang songs, learned new skills, made crafts, and just got to be carefree kids. A few years ago, I found an adult summer camp in the Smoky Mountains, and it recreated all the great things about the summer camp of my youth. It seems to be an idea that is catching on, as I've seen advertisements for Pages & Pines, a summer camp for book nerds. I've heard of a few others. 

Are you nostalgic for your summer camp days, or wished you had gone to camp as a kid? Relive, or experience for the first time, the carefree days of summer camp with this list of books.

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7 Thrillers for Your Mountain Adventures

by Donna Huber

Book blogs are full of summer beach reads (we've featured a few of them) right now, but not everyone is heading to the water. Some people, like me, would rather spend their summer vacation on a trail in the mountains or by a campfire in the woods. I think the perfect pairing for a mountain adventure is a good survival thriller. Here are a few with characters on their own deep woods adventure. 

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Meeting the Author!

by Susan Roberts

I love to go to author events.  It’s great to get to know some of my favorite authors and to find out the ‘inside story’ about their books. Luckily, I live in an area with lots of indie bookstores within 50 miles, and all of them do events with authors both local and nationwide.  I was kind of nervous the first time I went to an author event by myself and was afraid that I would just sit quietly by myself.  What I soon found out is that when you put a bunch of book-loving women in the same room, they immediately bond over books and are soon treating each other like friends.  I’ve attended two fantastic events this month with two of my favorite authors and thought I’d tell you about them.   Question – Do you like to meet new authors and old favorites?  Do you go to author events?

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5 Audiobooks for Summer Road Trips

by Donna Huber

Are you hitting the road this summer? I won't be taking my annual trip to the Smoky Mountains this summer, but I do have a series of day trips planned for that week. So I will need some good reads to listen to and I thought it would be fun to listen to books featuring a road trip or journey of some sort. Here's a list of audiobooks that I have listened to or am considering for my own trip.

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Celebrate International Jazz Day With These Books

by Donna Huber

Today is International Jazz Day. Jazz has its roots in New Orleans, all the way back to the 1800s. My college days were spent swing dancing to the big band music of the 1930s and 1940s. Whether you prefer the smooth sounds of solo artists or the larger ensembles of the big band era, queue up your favorites while reading a book or two about the music style. If you aren't sure if jazz is your thing, the first book will help you appreciate it more. The other books feature some of my favorite artists. And if rather not read nonfiction, there's a couple of fiction novels set during the Jazz Age on the list too.

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Books to Read for Memorial Day

by Donna Huber

Monday is Memorial Day, which for many in the United States marks the unofficial start of summer. If you are heading to the beach, lake, or pool this summer, we have featured several books that would be perfect for a relaxing weekend. But if you are looking for books that will help you appreciate the true purpose of the holiday, keep reading for some recommendations.

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12 Must Read Books You Might Have Missed

by Donna Huber

I was looking through the Goodreads Editors' Top Genre Picks of the Past Five Years list and noticed that we had read quite a few of them. I hope you haven't hated these lists over the last couple of weeks that I put together in preparation for being on vacation. I thought it was fun to look back at books we've read, and for new readers, this might be the first time you've seen our reviews of these books. I'm back home tomorrow, and new reviews start back then as well.

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8 Big Books to Read this Summer

by Donna Huber

I'm not surprised that we haven't reviewed many books on Goodreads' list of 100 Doorstopper Books to Level Up Your Spring Reading. As a book blogger, I feel pressured to read books quickly so that I will have content to post, so longer books aren't as appealing, knowing that they will take me longer. Also, looking at the list, I see that it has a large number of classics (great, as you can often find them free or cheap, so you can take as long as you want to read them without breaking the bank). I wonder if authors and publishers are shying away from longer books as well, given the shortening attention spans of the public in general. 

Several years ago, I participated in the Big Book Summer Challenge hosted by Book by Book. I remember reading the new Mary Kay Andrews book that summer (they are usually 400+ pages). The challenge usually starts Memorial Day Weekend (end of May for non-US readers), if you want to participate.

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Looking Ahead to Beach Reading Season

by Donna Huber

As the calendar shifts from April to May, we shift to "beach reads". Beach reads, while often considered romance or women's fiction, can really encompass any genre as they are meant to be engrossing reads that you enjoy while relaxing. And I do have a mystery on the list. Here are a few that I have on my radar for May and June, in case you are packing for an upcoming vacation and want to plan your reading material.

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14 Buzz-Worthy Books You Should Read

by Donna Huber

Have you ever felt like no one is reading the books you are reading? I feel like that a lot. I sifted through Goodreads' list of "Hot & Fresh: The New Hit Books, According to Fellow Readers" and I might be right, as I've only read 3 books on that list. Susan has read 5 books, and MK has read 7 books. So if you are looking for "well-kept secrets" of great books to read, then you should be checking out our reviews.

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