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Image description: A mauve vase holding wilted pink and purple flowers sits against a soft pink wall. The text “Why We Read Stories That Hurt (and Heal) Us” overlays the top of the image, matching the reflective and emotional theme of the post.

Why We Read Stories That Hurt (and Heal) Us

Posted on November 14, 2025 by Jami Fairleigh
Somewhere along my reading journey, I stopped asking books to make me happy. Instead, I started asking them to tell me the truth. Not capital-T Truth, not moral lessons with perfect answers. But stories that carry emotional truth. The kind...Read More
Image description: Book cover of “Lily and the Octopus” by Steven Rowley displayed on a smartphone audiobook screen with earbuds, set against a background of purple octopus tentacles. Text reads “Book Review: Lily and the Octopus.”

Book Review: Lily and the Octopus by Steven Rowley

Posted on November 7, 2025 by Jami Fairleigh
Lily and the Octopus by Steven Rowley Lily and the Octopus: Simon & Schuster (2016) | Simon & Schuster Audio (2016) 320 Pages Amazon | Bookshop.org | Audible | Libro.fm Book Description Ted—a gay, single, struggling writer is stuck: unable...Read More
Image description: Book cover of “Aftertaste” by Daria Lavelle shown on a smartphone audiobook screen beside colorful cooking spices and herbs, with text reading “Book Review: Aftertaste.”

Book Review: Aftertaste by Daria Lavelle

Posted on October 31, 2025 by Jami Fairleigh
Aftertaste by Daria Lavelle Aftertaste: Simon & Schuster (2025) | Simon & Schuster Audio (2025) 400 Pages Amazon | Bookshop.org | Audible | Libro.fm Book Description What if you could have one last meal with someone you’ve loved, someone you’ve lost?...Read More
Book cover of “A Witch’s Guide to Magical Innkeeping” by Sangu Mandanna displayed on a tablet in front of an ivy-covered house under a pink sunset sky, with text reading “Book Review: A Witch’s Guide to Magical Innkeeping.”

Book Review: A Witch’s Guide to Magical Innkeeping by Sangu Mandanna

Posted on October 24, 2025 by Jami Fairleigh
A Witch’s Guide to Magical Innkeeping by Sangu Mandanna A Witch’s Guide to Magical Innkeeping: Berkley (2025) 352 Pages Amazon | Bookshop.org Book Description Sera Swan used to be one of the most powerful witches in Britain. Then she resurrected...Read More
Audiobook cover of An Ancient Witch’s Guide to Modern Dating by Cecilia Edward displayed on a smartphone screen with earbuds, overlaid on a silhouette of a couple at sunset. Text reads “Book Review: An Ancient Witch’s Guide to Modern Dating.”

Book Review: An Ancient Witch’s Guide to Modern Dating by Cecilia Edward

Posted on October 17, 2025 by Jami Fairleigh
An Ancient Witch’s Guide to Modern Dating by Cecilia Edward An Ancient Witch’s Guide to Modern Dating: Saga Press (2025) | Simon & Schuster Audio (2025) 320 Pages Amazon | Bookshop.org | Audible | Libro.fm Book Description Meet Thorn Scarhart,...Read More
Bright yellow book cover of The Phoenix Pencil Company by Allison King, featuring stylized flowers made from pencil shavings, next to a close-up of a sharpened pencil drawing on paper. Text overlay reads “Book Review: The Phoenix Pencil Company.

Book Review: The Phoenix Pencil Company by Allison King

Posted on October 10, 2025 by Jami Fairleigh
The Phoenix Pencil Company by Allison King The Phoenix Pencil Company: William Morrow (2025) 368 Pages Amazon | Bookshop.org Book Description Monica Tsai spends most days on her computer, journaling the details of her ordinary life and coding for a...Read More
Book cover of “Katabasis” by R.F. Kuang displayed on a red sand background with the words “Book Review: Katabasis” written in white script beside it.

Book Review: Katabasis by R.F. Kuang

Posted on October 3, 2025October 2, 2025 by Jami Fairleigh
Katabasis by R.F. Kuang Katabasis: Harper Voyager (2025) 560 Pages Amazon | Bookshop.org Book Description Alice Law has only ever had one goal: to become one of the brightest minds in the field of Magick. She has sacrificed everything to...Read More
Header image for a book review of The Magician of Tiger Castle by Louis Sachar. The book cover is displayed on the left, showing ornate illustrations of tigers, flowers, and potions. On the right, white text reads ‘Book Review: The Magician of Tiger Castle’ over a background of a rustic apothecary with shelves of glass jars and herbs.

Book Review: The Magician of Tiger Castle by Louis Sachar

Posted on September 26, 2025September 19, 2025 by Jami Fairleigh
The Magician of Tiger Castle by Louis Sachar The Magician of Tiger Castle: Ace (2025) 315 Pages Amazon | Bookshop.org Book Description Long ago and far away (and somewhere south of France) lies the kingdom of Esquaveta. There, Princess Tullia...Read More
Header Image description: The audiobook cover of Gifted and Talented is displayed on a smartphone with earbuds, set against a dark background with glowing purple lightning effects. Text reads: Book Review: Gifted & Talented.

Book Review: Gifted and Talented by Olivie Blake

Posted on September 19, 2025 by Jami Fairleigh
Gifted and Talented by Olivie Blake Gifted and Talented: Tor Books (2025) | Macmillan Audio (2025) 512 Pages Amazon | Bookshop.org | Audible | Libro.fm Book Description Thayer Wren, the brilliant CEO of Wrenfare Magitech and so-called father of modern...Read More
Image description: A closeup image of an Australian Cattle Dog lying on the carpet facing the camera with a thoughtful expression

The Dog Beside My Desk: Remembering Taro

Posted on September 12, 2025 by Jami Fairleigh
Last week, I had to say goodbye to my dog. He was an Australian Cattle Dog, aka a blue heeler, and he was fourteen. We brought him home as a puppy and named him Taro (first son in Japanese) because...Read More
Image description: The cover of The Switch over a dimly lit photograph of a talking tiger

Book Review: The Switch by Roland Smith

Posted on September 5, 2025August 29, 2025 by Jami Fairleigh
The Switch by Roland Smith The Switch: Scholastic Press (2022) 304 Pages Amazon | Bookshop.org Book Description On the morning of Henry Ludd's thirteenth birthday, the power goes out. No phones, no news, and planes literally fall out of the...Read More
Image description: The cover of The Island of Last Things over a picture of a macaque behind zoo bars

Book Review: The Island of Last Things by Emma Sloley

Posted on August 29, 2025 by Jami Fairleigh
The Island of Last Things by Emma Sloley The Island of Last Things: Flatiron Books (2025) 272 Pages Amazon | Bookshop.org Book Description Camille has always preferred animals to people. The wild has nearly disappeared, but as a zookeeper at...Read More

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