Blog : Page 2 of 26 : JamiFairleigh.com

Image description: a close-up of crumpled Christmas wrapping paper featuring penguin illustrations, with a blurred pile of holiday paper scraps behind it. Text over the image reads “For Anyone Feeling Festive Adjacent,” implying a humorous, low-energy post-holiday vibe.

For Anyone Feeling Festive Adjacent

Posted on December 26, 2025 by Jami Fairleigh

Christmas happened around me this year like a party I could hear through the wall. Despite sipping zero holiday spirits, I’m hungover anyway, like the Ghost of Festivity Past spiked my eggnog while I looked away. It’s funny — I...Read More

Image description: Header image for a book review of The Incredible Kindness of Paper, showing pastel origami flowers arranged on a light surface beside a tablet displaying the book cover.

Book Review: The Incredible Kindness of Paper by Evelyn Skye

Posted on December 19, 2025 by Jami Fairleigh

The Incredible Kindness of Paper by Evelyn Skye The Incredible Kindness: Atria/Emily Bestler Books (2025) 256 Pages Amazon | Bookshop.org Book Description In elementary school, Chloe Hanako Quinn is assigned Oliver Jones as her pen pal partner. Before sending her...Read More

Image description: A tablet displaying the book cover of “The Peculiar Garden of Harriet Hunt” by Chelsea Iversen stands against a lush garden backdrop. The cover shows a dark green, floral design with pink blossoms surrounding an old greenhouse structure. Large text reads “Book Review: The Peculiar Garden of Harriet Hunt.”

Book Review: The Peculiar Garden of Harriet Hunt by Chelsea Iversen

Posted on December 12, 2025November 21, 2025 by Jami Fairleigh

The Peculiar Garden of Harriet Hunt by Chelsea Iversen The Peculiar Garden of Harriet Hunt: Sourcebooks Landmark (2024) 320 Pages Amazon | Bookshop.org Book Description Harriet Hunt is completely alone. Her father disappeared months ago, leaving her to wander the...Read More

Image description: An audiobook player graphic showing the cover of Voyage of the Damned by Frances White, displayed against a vibrant sunset over the ocean with pink, purple, and gold clouds. The text ‘Book Review: Voyage of the Damned’ appears to the right.

Book Review: Voyage of the Damned by Frances White

Posted on December 5, 2025November 21, 2025 by Jami Fairleigh

Voyage of the Damned by Frances White Voyage of the Damned: Mira (2024) | Harlequin Audio (2024) 464 Pages Amazon | Bookshop.org | Audible | Libro.fm Book Description For a thousand years, Concordia has maintained peace between its provinces. To...Read More

Image description: An overhead photo of a dirty coral-colored plate with a used fork and knife resting on it, suggesting a recently finished meal. To the right, the text reads ‘A Reasonably Unsentimental Note of Thanks,’ with ‘JamiFairleigh.com’ at the bottom.

A Reasonably Unsentimental Note of Thanks

Posted on November 28, 2025November 21, 2025 by Jami Fairleigh

For reasons I may discuss later, I’m not doing the traditional Thanksgiving thing this year. Which means I’m avoiding two holiday hazards: Forced cheer, and People asking what I’m “working on” and then regretting it immediately while I sputter about...Read More

Image description: A book cover of Black Woods, Blue Sky by Eowyn Ivey displayed against a scenic Alaskan landscape with evergreen trees, a lake, and mountains under a bright blue sky. The text ‘Book Review: Black Woods, Blue Sky’ appears on the right.

Book Review: Black Woods, Blue Sky by Eowyn Ivey

Posted on November 21, 2025 by Jami Fairleigh

Black Woods, Blue Sky by Eowyn Ivey Black Woods, Blue Sky: Random House (2025) 320 Pages Amazon | Bookshop.org Book Description It’s just the three of them in the vast black woods, far from roads, telephones, electricity, and outside contact,...Read More

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