Top Ten Tuesday: Book Titles That Describe Me/My Life

Posted in Top Ten Tuesday by Lisa @ Bookshelf Fantasies

Top Ten Tuesday is a meme hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl, featuring a different top 10 theme each week. This week’s topic is Book Titles That Describe Me/My Life, with the prompt: Example titles: Well Traveled could describe you if you like to travel, Hotshot Doc could describe you if you’re an awesome doctor, Falling into Place could describe a life where things are starting to work out, An Infinite Love Story could describe your relationship, It Could Have Been Her could describe a thing you’re happy you avoided or a path you could have taken but didn’t. You can explain your choices or not, and they can be as specific or as abstract as you’d like.

Fun challenge! I searched my bookshelves, and here’s what I’ve come up with:

Legends & Lattes by Travis Baldree: Coffee and books sum up my life pretty accurately!
The Kitchen God’s Wife by Amy Tan: My husband is the family cook… and yes, I know how lucky I am!
This Summer Will Be Different by Carley Fortune: I love planning vacations, and try to find something new to explore each summer.
Across the Green Grass Fields by Seanan McGuire: Fields, trails, paths by the beach… get me outside with space to walk and appreciate the views, and I’m happy.
A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur’s Court by Mark Twain: I haven’t made it to Camelot, but I’m originally from Connecticut, and even though it still feels like home, I’ve lived far away from there most of my adult life.
Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell: My fandoms bring me joy! It’s the little pop culture moments that add a bit of zing.
Meet Me at the Cupcake Cafe by Jenny Colgan: Sweets are my weakness, and I will never say no to meeting a friend at a bakery
Finding Fraser by KC Dyer: Reading Outlander for the first time, over 15 years ago, not only introduced me to a favorite series and characters but also led me to my book group, which brings me so much joy.
Chaos Choreography by Seanan McGuire: Dancing has been a big part of my life since childhood! Not in a polished performance — but in the chaotic way that recreational dancing brings people together and provides endless enjoyment and fresh challenges
A House for Happy Mothers by Amulya Malladi: Being a mom — even now that my kids are grown — means the world to me.

Do you have book titles that describe your life?

Share your link, and I’ll come check out your top 10!

8Apr2026

Spell the Month in Books: April

Posted in Fun and Whimsy by Lisa @ Bookshelf Fantasies

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 choice: Easter OR Pastel Covers. I’m going pastels… because I can’t figure out how to do an Easter theme (I don’t think I know of enough books with bunnies on the cover!)

Here are my APRIL books:

A:

Angel’s Peak by Robyn Carr

P:

Pardon My Frenchie by Farrah Rochon

R:

Reputation by Lex Croucher

I:

In the Quick by Kate Hope Day

L:

The Ladies Rewrite the Rules by Suzanne Allain

I hope everyone is having a great start to April! If you spelled the month in books, please leave me a link to your post — I’d love to see it!

10Mar2026

Top Ten Tuesday: Book Titles Featuring Ordinal Numbers

Posted in Top Ten Tuesday by Lisa @ Bookshelf Fantasies

Top Ten Tuesday is a meme hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl, featuring a different top 10 theme each week. This week’s topic is Book Titles Featuring Ordinal Numbers.

My original thought was to go in order from 1 to 10, and stick with books I’ve actually read. However… I got stuck on #6 and #8, and rather than adding books that I haven’t read, I’m skipping those and adding in a couple of others.

So, here we have ordinal numbers mainly from 1 – 10, plus two teens!

*First Sign of Danger* by Kelley Armstrong

*The Bookshop of Second Chances* by Jackie Fraser

*The Third Rule of Time Travel* by Philip Fracassi

*The Tenth Good Thing About Barney* by Judith Viorst

*The Thirteenth Husband* by Greer Macallister

(I considered including two books that have been recommended to me at various times, The Sixth Extinction by Elizabeth Kolbert and Eighth Grave after Dark by Darynda Jones — but since I doubt I’ll ever read either one, decided to drop them!)

What books made your list this week?

If you wrote a TTT post, please share your link!

7Mar2026

Spell the Month in Books: March

Posted in Fun and Whimsy by Lisa @ Bookshelf Fantasies

This month’s theme is a choice: Take your pick from Pi Day, March Madness, or Green Covers. I’m going with Pi Day… or more specifically PIE day… meaning, any book with some sort of baked goods on the cover! Because… yummmmm… I need more delicious desserts in my life.

Here are my MARCH books:

M:

Meet Me at the Cupcake Cafe by Jenny Colgan

A:

Amelia Bedelia by Peggy Parish

R:

Rosaline Palmer Takes the Cake by Alexis Hall

C:

Chocolate Cream Pie Murder by Joanne Fluke

H:

Homemade Humble Pie by Annette Smith

Wishing everyone a very happy March (and lots of yummy pie to eat)! If you spelled the month in books, please leave me a link to your post — I’d love to see it!

13Feb2026

Spell the Month in Books: February

Posted in Fun and Whimsy by Lisa @ Bookshelf Fantasies

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!

3Feb2026

Top Ten Tuesday: Book covers with interesting typography

Posted in Top Ten Tuesday by Lisa @ Bookshelf Fantasies

Top Ten Tuesday is a meme hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl, featuring a different top 10 theme each week. This week’s topic is Book Covers Featuring Cool/Pretty/Unique/etc. Typography, with the prompt Typography is the art of arranging letters so they look visually appealing and more interesting than, for example, the body text of this blog post you’re reading now.

I’m not always great at visuals and graphics (my artistic side is… let’s say… rather under-developed). Still, perusing my shelves, I was able to find books where the cover lettering feels different and really fits the theme or subject:

Paperbacks From Hell by Grady Hendrix
Her Fearful Symmetry by Audrey Niffenegger
White Cat by Holly Black
I’ll Be Waiting by Kelley Armstrong
NOS4A2 by Joe Hill
You Suck by Christopher Moore
Doll Bones by Holly Black
Small Spaces by Katherine Arden
Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin
Black Sheep by Rachel Harrison

I also have in mind a couple of series with iconic typography:

Can you think of any others, similar to Harry Potter and Outlander, where the font/typography is so strongly associated with the book series?

If you wrote a TTT post, please share your link!

8Jan2026

Spell the Month in Books: January

Posted in Fun and Whimsy by Lisa @ Bookshelf Fantasies

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!

13Dec2025

Spell the Month in Books: December

Posted in Fun and Whimsy by Lisa @ Bookshelf Fantasies

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!

7Nov2025

Spell the Month in Books: November

Posted in Fun and Whimsy by Lisa @ Bookshelf Fantasies

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!

22Oct2025

Spell the Month in Books: October

Posted in Fun and Whimsy by Lisa @ Bookshelf Fantasies

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.