book review
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‘Prudence Marsh Is Not a Nobody Anymore’ by Emily Krempholtz
‘Prudence Marsh Is Not a Nobody Anymore’ by Emily Krempholtz is a cozy fantasy romance about an aspiring bard, an honorable thief, and a magical adventure. It explores accountability, family, and the courage to pursue one’s own story. Continue reading
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‘This Is Not About Us’ by Allegra Goodman
A literary family saga about grief, forgiveness, and the relationships that shape us, This Is Not About Us by Allegra Goodman is a compassionate novel that reminds us reconciliation is always a choice. Continue reading
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The Greatest Journeys Are Sometimes Found on the Page
Why novels may be the greatest journeys of all — carrying us across centuries, continents, and imagined worlds from the comfort of home. Continue reading
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‘Taipei Story’ by R.F. Kuang
College student Lily Cheng travels to Taiwan with the goal of improving her Chinese. Like many language students, she imagines that immersion will quickly solve the problems that textbooks cannot. Instead, she discovers just how exhausting it is to live every day in a language she does not fully understand. Continue reading
American Literature, authors, book review, Book Reviews, book-blog, books, booktok, contemporary, fantasy literature, female author, feminism, fiction, japanese mythology, literary analysis, literary essays, literary fiction, literature, new releases, publishing, reading, The Tearoom, travel literature, world history, writing -
The Most Important Email I Ever Sent to an Author
Sometimes the most important opportunities begin with an email you never expect anyone to answer. Continue reading
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‘Remarkably Bright Creatures’ by Shelby van Pelt
A review of Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby van Pelt — a tale of loss, found family, and the surprising bond between an aging octopus and a lonely widow. Continue reading
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‘Meet Cute Magic’ by Morgan Elizabeth
Romance novels are sometimes dismissed as light entertainment, but I have long believed that every genre is capable of telling meaningful stories. A good novel does more than entertain—it offers readers a chance to recognize themselves in its characters and to reflect on experiences they may never have in their own lives. Meet Cute Magic… Continue reading
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‘A Founding Mother’ by Laura Kamoie and Stephanie Dray
We have recently celebrated the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, making this an especially fitting time to revisit the people who shaped the earliest years of the American republic. Abigail Adams may not be the most famous figure of Revolutionary America, but I came away convinced that she—and the entire Adams family—were indispensable… Continue reading
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‘Whale Fall’ by Elizabeth O’Connor
Some stories are about ambition. Others are about the cost of ambition when it is pursued without compassion. Elizabeth O’Connor’s Whale Fall is both. At its heart, this is a story about the choices people make when they want something badly enough—and the regrets that follow. But it is also a powerful examination of how… Continue reading
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A Linnet and a Sparrow
I have been working like a bird in the spring, gathering the bits and bobs necessary to create a cozy reading corner. Continue reading
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3 Lessons We Learn Rereading Old Books
Why have I decided to reread old favorites in 2026? I believe it will satisfy an emotional need. Venturing back to The Secret Garden will make me reminisce about childhood. A trip to Hogwarts will remind me of my teenage years, when the Harry Potter books made everything around me vivid. Too often, a brand-new… Continue reading
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Things I’m letting go of
Originally published on Substack In the first week of January, 2026, I got my hands on a few new journals. One is going to be used for Bible notes and prayer. The other is a bulleted journal, and I have decided to use it for short daily notes, as well as ‘sidebars’ where I will… Continue reading
Mariella Hunt & the Tearoom 