There's a building in our community that used to be a charming restaurant. That restaurant went out of business several years ago and the building sits empty and boarded up. Every time I drive by, I imagine it transformed into a bookshop. I can see comfy chairs next to the oversized fireplace, a little coffee shop in the "sunroom", and shelves of inspiring books.

You won't be surprised then to learn that any book about a bookshop is almost an automatic read for me. Add to that long lost artifacts hidden in the bookshop's walls, family secrets, a charming old man, and the possibilities of love, and The Lost and Found Bookshop went right up the TBR pile.

From Goodreads:
Somewhere in the vast Library of the Universe, as Natalie thought of it, there was a book that embodied exactly the things she was worrying about.

In the wake of a shocking tragedy, Natalie Harper inherits her mother’s charming but financially strapped bookshop in San Francisco. She also becomes caretaker for her ailing grandfather Andrew, her only living relative—not counting her scoundrel father.

But the gruff, deeply kind Andrew has begun displaying signs of decline. Natalie thinks it’s best to move him to an assisted living facility to ensure the care he needs. To pay for it, she plans to close the bookstore and sell the derelict but valuable building on historic Perdita Street, which is in need of constant fixing. There’s only one problem–Grandpa Andrew owns the building and refuses to sell. Natalie adores her grandfather; she’ll do whatever it takes to make his final years happy. Besides, she loves the store and its books provide welcome solace for her overwhelming grief.

After she moves into the small studio apartment above the shop, Natalie carries out her grandfather’s request and hires contractor Peach Gallagher to do the necessary and ongoing repairs. His young daughter, Dorothy, also becomes a regular at the store, and she and Natalie begin reading together while Peach works.

To Natalie’s surprise, her sorrow begins to dissipate as her life becomes an unexpected journey of new connections, discoveries and revelations, from unearthing artifacts hidden in the bookshop’s walls, to discovering the truth about her family, her future, and her own heart.

Intuitive Editing by Tiffany Yates Martin.
​This book is a game changer! My copy has  sentences underlined, exclamation marks next to entire passages, and tons of flagged pages. Tiffany's approach is straight forward and, dare I say it, intuitive (groan, I know!). And, as an author herself, she understands the writer's mind.

This book is so much more than a "how-to edit" book though. Tiffany's strategies have not only helped with editing, but also with the brainstorming process on new projects. 

The Emotional Craft of Fiction by Donald Maass.
​I've loved all of Don's books (and his workshops; seriously folks, if you're lucky enough to attend a workshop with him, do it!!!!), but this particular book spoke to me the most. As a reader, I gravitate most to books that leave me raw and inspired from the emotional journey. 

I find myself going back to the Emotional Mastery Checklist in the back of the book on every manuscript to make sure I'm pushing myself to dig deeper. 

On Writing by Stephen King.
​This is just one of those books that every writer needs to own and read and reread when you're doubting why you ever thought writing a book was a good idea. 

I'm not a fan of horror, to be honest, but I am a fan of anyone who is this brilliant at telling a story. This book is inspiring and empowering and an absolute delight to read (and reread).

Rotten Reviews & Rejections edited by Bill Henderson & Andre Bernard.
As writers, we deal with rejection and harsh or just plain weird reviews all the time. It's part of the business that you can't escape. Though we never wish rejection or crap reviews for another writer, there's a comfort in knowing you're not alone. And sometimes, you need the reminder that even the best of the best received their fair share.

This isn't a how-to or even an inspirational book on writing. But it's a good reminder that we're in good company and that keeping a sense of humor is essential. 

There are books that grab you by the heart and don't let go, not even after you've finished reading and tucked the book back on the shelf. Alison Hammer's debut, You and Me and Us, is one of those books. I was honored to read an advance copy and the moment it released, I bought a couple of copies for friends because oh my goodness I loved this book. 

From Goodreads:
Alexis Gold knows how to put the “work” in working mom. It’s the “mom” part that she’s been struggling with lately. Since opening her own advertising agency three years ago, Alexis has all but given up on finding a good work/life balance. Instead, she’s handed over the household reins to her supportive, loving partner, Tommy. While he’s quick to say they divide and conquer, Alexis knows that Tommy does most of the heavy lifting—especially when it comes to their teenage daughter, CeCe. 

Their world changes in an instant when Tommy receives a terminal cancer diagnosis, and Alexis realizes everything she’s worked relentlessly for doesn’t matter without him. So Alexis does what Tommy has done for her almost every day since they were twelve-year-old kids in Destin, Florida—she puts him first. And when the only thing Tommy wants is to spend one last summer together at “their” beach, she puts her career on hold to make it happen…even if it means putting her family within striking distance of Tommy’s ex, an actress CeCe idolizes.

But Alexis and Tommy aren’t the only ones whose lives have been turned inside out. In addition to dealing with the normal ups and downs that come with being a teenager, CeCe is also forced to confront her feelings about Tommy’s illness—and what will happen when the one person who’s always been there for her is gone. When the magic of first love brings a bright spot to her summer, CeCe is determined not to let her mother ruin that for her, too.

As CeCe’s behavior becomes more rebellious, Alexis realizes the only thing harder for her than losing Tommy will be convincing CeCe to give her one more chance.  

You and Me and Us is a beautifully written novel that examines the unexpected ways loss teaches us how to love.

If you saw my Monday post, you'll see how obvious this choice for a book recommendation is. I saw it at a bookstore and, of course, had to buy it immediately. There are plenty of lines that had me nodding, ones I underlined, and a couple that made it onto sticky notes as constant reminders. Bonus: worksheets at the end of each chapter that make for interesting (and sometimes uncomfortable) moments of reflection.

From Goodreads:
We've all been there: stuck in a cycle of what-ifs, plagued by indecision, paralyzed by the fear of getting it wrong. Nobody wants to live a life of constant overthinking, but it doesn't feel like something we can choose to stop doing. It feels like something we're wired to do, something we just can't escape. But is it?

Anne Bogel's answer is no. Not only can you overcome negative thought patterns that are repetitive, unhealthy, and unhelpful, you can replace them with positive thought patterns that will bring more peace, joy, and love into your life. In Don't Overthink It, you'll find actionable strategies that can make an immediate and lasting difference in how you deal with questions both small--Should I buy these flowers?--and large--What am I doing with my life? More than a book about making good decisions, Don't Overthink It offers you a framework for making choices you'll be comfortable with, using an appropriate amount of energy, freeing you to focus on all the other stuff that matters in life.
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Every once in a while you pick up a book that feels like a gift from the book gods. It's that perfect story at the absolute right moment in your life. It makes you forget the mess around you and makes you smile. I listened to this book on audio and not only was the story itself enchanting, but I loved the narrator. It was the type of story I couldn't stop listening to but didn't want to get to the end of.  

From Goodreads: 
Filled with a colorful and unforgettable cast of literary figures, The House at the End of Hope Street is a charming, whimsical novel of hope and feminine wisdom.

Distraught that her academic career has stalled, Alba is walking through her hometown of Cambridge, England, when she finds herself in front of a house she's never seen before, 11 Hope Street. A beautiful older woman named Peggy greets her and invites her to stay, on the house's unusual conditions: she has ninety-nine nights to turn her life around. With nothing left to lose, Alba takes a chance and moves in. 

She soon discovers that this is no ordinary house. Past residents have included Virginia Woolf and Dorothy Parker, who, after receiving the assistance they needed, hung around to help newcomers - literally, in talking portraits on the wall. As she escapes into this new world, Alba begins a journey that will heal her wounds - and maybe even save her life.

I'm a slow adopter when it comes to audio books. What can I say, I'm old fashioned and like imagining what the characters sound like. I've come across a few books where the narrators fit perfectly with my imagination, others where the narrator frustrated me.

​But I've also discovered the joy of crocheting while listening to an audio book and, especially over the last few months, have been thoroughly enjoying a steady stream of audio books. 

A recent listen that particularly engaged me was The Sun Is Also A Star by Nicola Yoon. I adored the choice of narrators and looked forward to the time I'd have with them each day. Like many audio books, there were times I wish I had the tree version so I could linger on a passage, but the experience of hearing this book was a treat.

From Goodreads:
Natasha: I’m a girl who believes in science and facts. Not fate. Not destiny. Or dreams that will never come true. I’m definitely not the kind of girl who meets a cute boy on a crowded New York City street and falls in love with him. Not when my family is twelve hours away from being deported to Jamaica. Falling in love with him won’t be my story.

Daniel: I’ve always been the good son, the good student, living up to my parents’ high expectations. Never the poet. Or the dreamer. But when I see her, I forget about all that. Something about Natasha makes me think that fate has something much more extraordinary in store—for both of us.

The Universe: Every moment in our lives has brought us to this single moment. A million futures lie before us. Which one will come true?

At the beginning of March, I was in one of my favorite indie bookstores for an event and this adorable cover caught my attention. Of course, I had to buy it. I didn't know anything about the book at the time.

The week after that event, 2020 seemed to blow up on us. We went into stay-at-home mode with all its challenges and anxieties. There were days that, between the horrors of watching daily developments on the news and struggling to stay positive (for myself and my family),  it all seemed too overwhelming.

Whenever I felt myself sink into negativity, I'd pull this book from the shelf and open it to a random page. And by the time I set it back on the shelf (cover out, of course), it was with a shimmer of hope. 

I've bought this book for a couple of friends and recommend it with all my heart. I also recommend you follow Charlie on Instagram. His heart-felt posts lift my spirits every day.