Spell the Month in Books is a monthly meme hosted by Jana at Reviews from the Stacks. To participate, find a book title that starts with each letter in the month’s name, make a list, share your link, and that’s it! You can share anytime by the end of the month. Some months have additional themes, but feel free to participate however you’d like!
This month’s theme is New – interpret as you will (new releases, new to you, etc). My take on the topic will be new books added to my TBR… most (but not all) of which are upcoming 2026 new books!
Here are my JANUARY books:
J:
Jane Austen’s Bookshelf by Rebecca Romney
My goal is to read more non-fiction in 2026, and this book definitely fits my interests.
A:
Anne of a Different Island by Virginia Kantra
A new release for January 2026! Doesn’t a contemporary retelling of Anne of Green Gables sound charming?
N:
The Name Game by Beth O’Leary
I’ll always read a new Beth O’Leary book! This one will be released in April 2026.
U:
The Unicorn Hunters by Katherine Arden
Sounds terrific! Release date: June 2026
A:
The Amateur by Chris Bohjalian
Another author whose books are automatically on my must-read list! Release date: August 2026
R:
The Romance Revival by Christina Lauren
Yes please! This author duo’s books are always such fun. Release date: July 2026
Y:
You & Me and You & Me and You & Me by Josie Lloyd and Emlyn Rees
I came across this upcoming new release while searching for a “Y” title — and it sounds good! A love story with a time machine involved? Sign me up!
Wishing everyone a very happy January! If you spelled the month in books, please leave me a link to your post — I’d love to see it!
I participated in Birthstone Books Covers for the first time in August, and now I’m hooked! Leslie at Books Are the New Black hosts this fun monthly meme — and since I love anything related to spotlighting amazing book covers, I just had to jump in.
The rules are simple:
Mention the creator (Leslie @ Books Are The New Black ) and link back so she can see your post! Pick 5+ book covers that match the current month’s Birthstone. HAVE FUN!
December has three official birthstones: tanzanite, zircon, and turquoise. I’ve always loved the look of turquoise, so that’s the one I’m choosing to highlight.
Spell the Month in Books is a monthly meme hosted by Jana at Reviews from the Stacks. To participate, find a book title that starts with each letter in the month’s name, make a list, share your link, and that’s it! You can share anytime by the end of the month. Some months have additional themes, but feel free to participate however you’d like!
This month’s theme is Giftable: Books you would give or like to receive as a gift. Let’s see what I can come up with…
Here are my DECEMBER books:
D:
Dear Lord Akeldama by Gail Carriger:
A terrific gift for fans of the author’s Parasol-verse books.
E:
Every Summer After by Carley Fortune
I love this author’s books, and this special edition of her first novel is gorgeous!
C:
Clanlands by Sam Heughan and Graham McTavish
Perfect for Outlander fans — need I say more?
E:
Everything On It by Shel Silverstein
Shel Silverstein books are always great gifts… and I’d argue that they make great gifts for all ages, not just children!
M:
Mythos by Stephen Fry
A big, coffee table-sized book with beautiful illustrations — a terrific accompaniment for the Mythos audiobook (which I highly recommend).
B:
Bookshops & Bonedust by Travis Baldree
Cozy fantasy is never a bad gift option, and the bookshop setting is a plus!
E:
Every Heart a Doorway by Seanan McGuire
I love this series, and the first book is wonderful. It would make a great gift for someone who loves fantasy worlds and portal fiction.
R:
Robots vs. Fairies edited by Dominik Parisien & Navah Wolfe
Sci-fi? Fantasy? Why choose just one! I’m including this books as a really fun pick for gift giving — it’s a terrific collection of short stories, and I don’t think it’s widely known, so it should be new to whoever you give it to!
Wishing everyone a very happy December! If you spelled the month in books, please leave me a link to your post — I’d love to see it!
I participated in Birthstone Books Covers for the first time in August, and now I’m hooked! Leslie at Books Are the New Black hosts this fun monthly meme — and since I love anything related to spotlighting amazing book covers, I just had to jump in.
The rules are simple:
Mention the creator (Leslie @ Books Are The New Black ) and link back so she can see your post! Pick 5+ book covers that match the current month’s Birthstone. HAVE FUN!
November’s birthstones are topaz and citrine. And while they may look very similar, apparently they’re quite different stones!
No, citrine and topaz are not the same; citrine is a variety of quartz, while topaz is a different mineral species. They are often confused because they can have similar yellow and brown colors, but they have different chemical compositions, hardness levels, and crystalline structures.
And from Bremer Jewelry’s website:
WHAT IS TOPAZ?
Check out the raw topaz above and compare it to the raw citrine at the top of this post. It’s easy to see how these pale yellow stones have been easily confused throughout history! Citrine (quartz family) and topaz are actually unrelated mineral species. Topaz belongs to the silicate mineral family, not quartz. Before these differences were clear, many cultures called citrine (the yellow variety of quartz) by other names like gold topaz, Madeira or Spanish topaz—contributing to the confusion.
The name topaz derives from Topazios, the ancient Greek name for St. John’s Island in the Red Sea. Although the yellow stones famously mined there probably weren’t topaz, it soon became the name for most yellowish stones. Pure topaz is colorless, but it can become tinted by impurities to take on any color of the rainbow. Precious topaz, ranging in color from brownish orange to yellow, is often mistaken for “smoky quartz” or “citrine quartz,” respectively—although quartz and topaz are unrelated minerals!
One of my close childhood friends was a November baby, and I remember us comparing our birthstone rings — my sapphire vs her topaz! (Of course, I insisted mine was better — but her topaz was quite lovely too!)
And now for the books!
Here are the topaz/citrine book covers I’ve found on my shelves:
Dragonfly in Amber by Diana Gabaldon
The Tomb of Dragons by Katherine Addison
Parable of the Sower (graphic novel edition) by Octavia Butler
Who Fears Death by Nnedi Okorafor
The Firebird by Susanna Kearsley
Bloodhound (Beka Cooper, #2) by Tamora Pierce
Do you have any favorite topaz/citrine book covers to share?
Spell the Month in Books is a monthly meme hosted by Jana at Reviews from the Stacks. To participate, find a book title that starts with each letter in the month’s name, make a list, share your link, and that’s it! You can share anytime by the end of the month. Some months have additional themes, but feel free to participate however you’d like!
This month’s theme is Nostalgia! I’m spotlighting books that hold fond memories for me — some from my childhood, some that I’ve enjoyed with my children, and some that just make me remember how happy I was when I first read them.
Here are my NOVEMBER books:
N:
No Flying in the House by Betty Brock Nostalgia factor: I was OBSESSED with this book as a child! Especially the “fact” that you could tell if someone was actually a fairy by seeing if they could kiss their own elbow. Did I spend a lot of time trying? Of course I did!
O:
On the Banks of Plum Creek by Laura Ingalls Wilder Nostalgia factor: I’m including this book as a stand-in for the entire Little House series — which I enjoyed during my own childhood and then enjoyed all over again once my daughter was old enough to be interested.
V:
The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle Nostalgia factor: Endless times reading this book with my kids! And always so much fun, especially when they’d read aloud with me.
E:
Ella Enchanted by Gail Carson Levine Nostalgia factor: One of my daughter’s favorites! She insisted that I read this one the second she finished it.
M:
Merry, Rose, and Christmas-Tree June by Doris Orgel Nostalgia factor: I remember loving this book! I don’t remember the entire story, but I know there were three special dolls. As a kid, I didn’t know enough to be excited that the illustrations were by Edward Gorey, but as an adult, that makes me even more determined to track down a copy!
B:
Big Red Barn by Margaret Wise Brown Nostalgia factor: Nightly read-alouds with my kids… and just so sweet and charming
E:
The Eyes of the Dragon by Stephen King Nostalgia factor: I’ve read this at several points in my life, and each time it’s been a great experience. This wasn’t my first King novel by any means, but I have such warm memories of how I felt while reading it.
R:
Rose Daughter by Robin McKinley Nostaglia factor: At one point, many years ago, I could not get enough of Robin McKinley’s fairy tale retellings (and I still think they’re amazing) — and then had the joy of seeing my daughter become just as crazy about them.
Wishing everyone a very happy November! If you spelled the month in books, please leave me a link to your post — I’d love to see it!
I participated in Birthstone Books Covers for the first time in August, and now I’m hooked! Leslie at Books Are the New Black hosts this fun monthly meme — and since I love anything related to spotlighting amazing book covers, I just had to jump in.
The rules are simple:
Mention the creator (Leslie @ Books Are The New Black ) and link back so she can see your post! Pick 5+ book covers that match the current month’s Birthstone. HAVE FUN!
October’s birthstone is opal. (Well, also tourmaline, but I’m sticking with opals!) According to the American Gem Society:
The name “opal” originates from the Greek word opallios, which meant “to see a change in color.” The Roman scholar Pliny used the word opalus when he wrote about this gemstone’s kaleidoscopic “play” of rainbow colors that could simulate shades of any stone.
Opal’s characteristic “play-of-color” was explained in the 1960s, when scientists discovered that it’s composed of microscopic silica spheres that diffract light to display various colors of the rainbow. These flashy gemstones are called “precious opals.” Those without play-of-color are “common opals.”
Dozens of opal varieties exist, but only a few, such as fire opal and boulder opal, are universally recognized. Opals are often referred to by their background “body color” of black or white.
Opal’s classic country of origin is Australia. Seasonal rains soaked the parched Outback, carrying silica deposits underground into cracks between layers of rock. When the water evaporated, these deposits formed opal. Sometimes, silica seeped into spaces around wood, seashells and skeletons, resulting in opalized fossils.
Since opal was discovered in Australia around 1850, the country has produced 95 percent of the world’s supply. Opal is also mined in Mexico, Brazil, Honduras, Ethiopia, the Czech Republic, and parts of the U.S., including Nevada and Idaho.
I’ve always loved opals, probably ever since my grandparents gave me a pair of opal earrings when I was a wee tween… which I still have, even though I haven’t worn them in decades.
I’ve only ever seen the white or lighter blue varieties, but apparently there are endless color combinations in these beautiful gemstones.
Which makes it hard to figure out how to match opals with book covers! Since the opals I’m most familiar with have a mostly white look with streaks and splashes of pink and blue, I’ll go with a mix of white, pink, and blue covers… which don’t necessarily look like opals, but I think that’s the closest I can come!
Here are the opal-inspired book covers I’ve found on my shelves:
Echo Boy by Matt Haig
The Summer Skies by Jenny Colgan
Drunk on All Your Strange New Words by Eddie Robson
The Hundred Loves of Juliet by Evelyn Skye
Emmett by L. C. Rosen
Do you have any favorite opal book covers to share?
Next month is Opal for October… seems like it’ll be a tricky one!
Spell the Month in Books is a monthly meme hosted by Jana at Reviews from the Stacks. To participate, find a book title that starts with each letter in the month’s name, make a list, share your link, and that’s it! You can share anytime by the end of the month. Some months have additional themes, but feel free to participate however you’d like!
This month’s theme is Trick or Treat: books that you feel strongly about, whether positively or negatively.
Last month was my first time trying this meme, and I thought it was so much fun that I’m back for more. I’m even trying the theme this time! Here are my OCTOBER books:
O:
Outlander by Diana Gabaldon Trick or Treat? Treat! I loved Outlander immediately, and have read it (and the entire series) many times so far… and probably will again!
C:
Carrie by Stephen King Trick or Treat? Trick… but in an awesomely horrific way. I think I was way too young when I first encountered Carrie. (Middle school girls dealing with first periods probably should NOT read this book… much safer to read from the comfort of adulthood!) Later, coming back to Carrie, I was better able to appreciate Stephen King’s talents without it feeling quite so visceral.
T:
The Truth According to Ember by Danica Nava Trick or Treat? Trick… I didn’t hate this book (I gave it a 3-star review), but the workplace romance aspect creates so many problematic situations that I just couldn’t enjoy it as a whole, despite the parts that I actually liked.
O:
One Salt Sea (October Daye, #5) by Seanan McGuire Trick or Treat? Treat! I love the October Daye series to pieces, and this book, relatively early in the overall series, moves the story in new directions in a really spectacular way.
B:
Battle of the Bookstops by Poppy Alexander Trick or Treat? Trick… with a little hint of treats mixed in. What’s not to love about a book about battling bookstores? This should have been cute, but just did not deliver. I like some elements, but overall, this was a letdown (See more, here)
E:
Emma by Jane Austen Trick or Treat? Treat! I’ve loved Emma from the start, and the audiobook version I’ve listened to (narrated by the amazing Juliet Stevenson) makes me laugh every time.
R:
Romancing Mr. Bridgerton by Julia Quinn Trick or Treat? Treat! Ish… I enjoyed all of the Bridgerton books, but they do require a certain willingness to look past cringey sex scenes and a few over-the-top descriptions. Still, these books are generally loads of fun and go down like candy.
Happy October to all! If you spelled the month in books, please leave me a link to your post — I’d love to see it!
Earlier in the week, I shared a post with my list of books for the newest Classics Club Spin challenge (see it here), and today, this spin’s number was announced. (For those keeping track, it’s CCSpin #42, and for me personally, #14!)
Hosted by The Classics Club blog, the Classics Club Spin is a reading adventure where participants come up with a list of classics they’d like to read, number them 1 to 20, and then read the book that corresponds to the “spin” number that comes up.
For CCSpin #42, the lucky number is:
And that means I’ll be reading:
My Brilliant Career by Miles Franklin Published 1901
Synopsis:
‘The fierce, irreverent novel of aspiration and rebellion that is both a cornerstone of Australian literature and a feminist classic
Miles Franklin began the candid, passionate, and contrary My Brilliant Career when she was only sixteen, intending it to be the Australian answer to Jane Eyre . But the book she produced-a thinly veiled autobiographical novel about a young girl hungering for life and love in the outback-so scandalized her country upon its appearance in 1901 that she insisted it not be published again until ten years after her death.
And from another edition:
Trapped on her parents’ farm in the hardscrabble Australian outback, sixteen-year-old Sybylla Melvyn loves the bush but not the toil it brings. She longs for refinement, and most of all she longs to achieve great things.
Suddenly she falls under the gaze of wealthy, handsome Harry Beecham and finds herself choosing between the conventional path of marriage and her plans for a ‘brilliant career’.
My Brilliant Career has been on my to-read list for a few years now. I don’t recall exactly how I first came across this book, but I believe it’s thanks to stumbling across it on someone else’s blog! I’m always up for exploring more Australian fiction, and this early 20th century classic sounds like a book that’s right up my alley
For my 2025 spins, I’ve been focusing on 20th century literature — inspired by a reading challenge to read (at least) one book from each decade of the century. My Brilliant Career was originally published in 1901, and helps me check off one of my remaining decades!
I’m excited to start My Brilliant Career — probably in a few weeks, after I finish up a few more ARCs for upcoming new releases. The deadline to finish this spin book is December 21st, which gives me plenty of time. I’ll be back with my reaction before then.
What do you think of my spin result this time around?
Here’s my list of 20 titles for Classics Club Spin #42:
The House on the Strand by Daphne DuMaurier
The Story of My Life by Helen Keller
A Damsel in Distress by P. G. Wodehouse
The Ivy Tree by Mary Stewart
This Rough Magic by Mary Stewart
The Mysterious Affair at Styles by Agatha Christie
White Fang by Jack London
A Little Princess by Frances Hodgson Burnett
The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett
The Mysterious Affair at Styles by Agatha Christie
Hosted by The Classics Club blog, the Classics Club Spin is a reading adventure where participants come up with a list of classics they’d like to read, number them 1 to 20, and then read the book that corresponds to the “spin” number that comes up. This will be the Classics Club’s spin #42, and my 14th time participating!
Here are the dates and guidelines from the host blog:
On Sunday 19th October we’ll post a number from 1 through 20. The challenge is to read whatever book falls under that number on your Spin List by the 21st December, 2025.
We’ll check in on the 21st December to see who made it the whole way and finished their spin book!
What’s Next?
Go to your blog.
Pick twenty books that you’ve got left to read from your Classics Club List.
Post that list, numbered 1-20, on your blog before Sunday 19th October 2025.
We’ll announce a number from 1-20.
Read that book by 21st December.
My spin lists are usually a mix of books from different decades and centuries, but in 2025, I’m focusing on books that count toward my 20th Century Decades reading challenge (for which I’m aiming to read one book published per decade). All of the books on my list fit the decades I haven’t completed yet for the challenge. (You’ll note a few listed more than once – I’m weighting my list towards books I truly want to read!)
Here we go!
Here’s my list of 20 classics for the next Classics Club Spin:
The House on the Strand by Daphne DuMaurier
The Story of My Life by Helen Keller
A Damsel in Distress by P. G. Wodehouse
The Ivy Tree by Mary Stewart
This Rough Magic by Mary Stewart
The Mysterious Affair at Styles by Agatha Christie
White Fang by Jack London
A Little Princess by Frances Hodgson Burnett
The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett
The Mysterious Affair at Styles by Agatha Christie
The Wonderful Wizard of Oz by L. Frank Baum
Something Wicked This Way Comes by Ray Bradbury
The Painted Veil by W. Somerset Maugham
Frederica by Georgette Heyer
The Return of the Soldier by Rebecca West
The Left Hand of Darkness by Ursula K. Le Guin
My Brilliant Career by Miles Franklin
A Damsel in Distress by P. G. Wodehouse
The House on the Strand by Daphne DuMaurier
My Brilliant Career by Miles Franklin
Wish me luck! I’ll be back on October 19th to reveal my spin result!
I participated in Birthstone Books Covers for the first time in August, and now I’m hooked! Leslie at Books Are the New Black hosts this fun monthly meme — and since I love anything related to spotlighting amazing book covers, I just had to jump in.
Pick 5+ book covers that match the current month’s Birthstone.
HAVE FUN!
September’s birthstone is sapphire. According to the American Gem Society, sapphire gemstones symbolize loyalty, nobility, sincerity, and integrity. Learn more about their history.
Sapphire is my birthstone (yay, September!), and I’ve always loved the rich color (and love checking out sapphire jewelry of all sorts). But more importantly…
Onward to the books! Here are the sapphire book covers I’ve found on my shelves:
Outlander by Diana Gabaldon
The Sparrow by Mary Doria Russell
Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix by J. K. Rowling
Catch-22 by Joseph Heller
Black Woods Blue Sky by Eowyn Ivey
Go Tell the Bees That I Am Gone by Diana Gabaldon
The Poisoner’s Ring by Kelley Armstrong
Fairy Tale by Stephen King
Do you have any favorite sapphire book covers to share?
Next month is Opal for October… seems like it’ll be a tricky one!
Bookshelf Fantasies 