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 a freebie — so any topic we want! Since Valentine’s Day is just around the corner, I’m going to focus on romance books… and just to keep it fun and a bit more challenging, I’m not allowing myself to double up on any authors.
Here are my FEBRUARY books:
F:
Flirting Lessons by Jasmine Guillory
E:
Every Summer After by Carley Fortune
B:
Better Than Fiction by Alexa Martin
R:
Romancing Mr. Bridgerton by Julia Quinn
U:
Until Next Summer by Ali Brady
A:
All’s Fair in Love and War by Virginia Heath
R:
The Road Trip by Beth O’Leary
Y:
Yours Truly by Abby Jimenez
Wishing everyone a very happy February! 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 #43, and for me personally, #15!)
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 #43, the lucky number is:
And that means I’ll be reading:
I Capture the Castle by Dodie Smith Published 1948
Synopsis:
I Capture the Castle tells the story of seventeen-year-old Cassandra Mortmain and her family, who live in not-so-genteel poverty in a ramshackle old English castle. Here she strives, over six turbulent months, to hone her writing skills. She fills three notebooks with sharply funny yet poignant entries. Her journals candidly chronicle the great changes that take place within the castle’s walls and her own first descent into love. By the time she pens her final entry, she has “captured the castle”– and the heart of the reader– in one of literature’s most enchanting entertainments.
And here’s the synopsis from the hardcover deluxe edition released in 2017 from Wednesday Books:
Seventeen-year-old Cassandra Mortmain and her family may live in a ramshackle old English castle, but that’s about as romantic as her life gets. While her beautiful older sister, Rose, longs to live in a Jane Austen novel, Cassandra knows that meeting an eligible man to marry isn’t in either of their futures when their home is crumbling and they have to sell their furniture for food. So Cassandra instead strives to hone her writing skills in her journals. Until one day when their new landlords move in, which include two (very handsome) sons, and the lives of the Mortmain sisters change forever.
Finally! I’ve had I Capture the Castle on my to-read list for ages, and it’s been on my spin lists since the very first time I participated. I own a battered old paperback edition, and a few years ago I also picked up the hardcover deluxe edition:
Why has it taken me so long to read this book? No idea… except once I started including it on my spin lists, I’ve just been waiting for its turn to come around. And now it has!
I’m very happy with this spin! I’m looking forward to starting I Capture the Castle — probably a bit later this month. The deadline to finish this spin book is March 29th, 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?
There’s a movie adaptation of I Capture the Castle from 2003 — so assuming I can find it to stream, I’ll plan to watch it before the end of March as well!
PS – Did you know… I Capture the Castle was Dodie Smith’s first novel, but she’s perhaps best known as the author of The Hundred and One Dalmatians!
Here’s my list of 20 titles for Classics Club Spin #43:
The House on the Strand by Daphne DuMaurier
I Capture the Castle by Dodie Smith
The Ghost and Mrs. Muir by R. A. Dick
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 Tenant of Wildfell Hall by Anne Brontë
Frenchman’s Creek by Daphne DuMaurier
Pat of Silver Bush by L. M. Montgomery
Peony by Pearl Buck
Something Wicked This Way Comes by Ray Bradbury
Frederica by Georgette Heyer
The Return of the Soldier by Rebecca West
The Left Hand of Darkness by Ursula K. Le Guin
Cakes and Ale by W. Somerset Maugham
Tevye the Dairymanand Motl the Cantor’s Son by Sholem Aleichem
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 #43, and my 15th time participating!
Here are the dates and guidelines from the host blog:
On Sunday 8th February 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 29th March, 2026.
We’ll check in on the 29th March 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 8th February 2026.
We’ll announce a number from 1-20.
Read that book by 29th March.
I’ve become hooked on exploring 20th century fiction, so my list mainly leans in that direction… with one or two others thrown into the mix as well. Where will the spin take me this time? We’ll find out in a few days!
Here’s my list of 20 classics for the next Classics Club Spin:
The House on the Strand by Daphne DuMaurier
I Capture the Castle by Dodie Smith
The Ghost and Mrs. Muir by R. A. Dick
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 Tenant of Wildfell Hall by Anne Brontë
Frenchman’s Creek by Daphne DuMaurier
Pat of Silver Bush by L. M. Montgomery
Peony by Pearl Buck
Something Wicked This Way Comes by Ray Bradbury
Frederica by Georgette Heyer
The Return of the Soldier by Rebecca West
The Left Hand of Darkness by Ursula K. Le Guin
Cakes and Ale by W. Somerset Maugham
Tevye the Dairymanand Motl the Cantor’s Son by Sholem Aleichem
Queen Lucia by E. F. Benson
Sunset Song by Lewis Grassic Gibbon
Under the Rainbow by Susan Scarlett
Wish me luck! I’ll be back on February 8th 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.
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!
January is my daughter’s birth month, so I’ve been buying her garnet-colored gifts all her life! I must say, though, that I’ve never given her a book with a garnet cover! Clearly a major oversight!
According to Thomas Michael Jewelry:
Garnet is January’s birthstone. Garnets symbolize eternal friendship, loyalty and a light heart. There is evidence of garnet jewelry found in Bronze age burials in Eastern Europe. Garnet jewelry has been discovered in ancient Egypt and Sumeria. Garnets were treasured in jewelry by the Greek and Roman cultures as well as Pre-Columbian Aztec and Native American cultures. In Medieval times, garnets were thought to possess medicinal powers and were thought to protect one from poisons, wounds and bad dreams. They were thought to relieve fevers, hemorrhages and inflammatory diseases.
Samples of garnet jewelry:
Found on Pinterest…
Onward to the books!
Garnets! Garnets everywhere!
Or at least, on two Outlander series book covers, which makes me very happy.
But I suppose I should include some non-Outlander books too… so here are a few more with hints of garnet that I found on my shelves:
Do you have any favorite garnet 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 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!
Bookshelf Fantasies 