Audry Fryer's Blog
September 24, 2025
9 New Witchy Books to Read This Fall
Hi, my bookish friend! It’s that time of year again for one of my favorite book list themes: witchy books!
What is it about “witch-lit” that’s so enchanting? Is it the magic of ancient knowledge and natural healing powers? The dark drama? Defying the patriarchy?
All of that and then some!
So, now that spooky season is officially here, let’s cast a spell on your reading habits with:
9 New Witchy Books, from historical fiction to horror to cozy, for your Fall reading list
“Bookish Pairings” are back with witch-themed mood music and drinks
A Reading hack to read more books that works like magic on your stress
I’m so glad you’ve decided to join our reading coven … for better or curse!
Happy Reading!
Your friend,
Audry
P.S. Would you be interested in a casual once-a-month book club meeting, using the “Chat” feature here on Substack? A chance to pop in, share, and discuss what you’re reading? I’d begin each “meeting” with a general book discussion prompt to break the ice.
Comment if it’s something you’d like me to host!
Designed on Canva by Audry Fryer | Bookshop.org (View the booklist!)SHARE with a friend who’s 100% that witch!
Bookish Recs: New Books if You Love WitchesWitchy books cross so many genres! It’s not all dark and gothic. There are also cozy witchy rom-coms and fascinating nonfiction books about the history of witches, as well as guides to the practice of witchcraft.
So, if you love reading about witches, today’s book list, from “The First Witch of Boston” to “The Last Witch,” is a wicked potion of the newest witchy books for Fall 2025! View this booklist on Bookshop.org here!
The First Witch of Boston by Andrea CatalanoThis page-turning historical fiction brings to life the true story of Margaret Jones, the first woman convicted of witchcraft in seventeenth-century Massachusetts. It’s a suspenseful and historically accurate tale of dangerous suspicion inside a Puritan community and the devoted love of Margaret’s husband to try to save her.
The Bewitching by Silvia Moreno-GarciaThis eerie dark academia novel blends horror with historical mystery. The stories of three women from different eras and backgrounds, spanning from 1900s Mexico to 1990s Massachusetts, share one common thread: a witch!
A Resistance of Witches by Morgan RyanIn this historical fantasy full of unexpected twists and turns, a plainspoken witch takes on a desperate mission to track down dangerous magical relics during World War II before they fall into the hands of the Nazis. Together with unlikely allies, she travels through occupied France in a race against time.
A Spell to Wake the Dead by Nicole LesperanceWhen teens, Nora and Mazzy, perform a spell on a beach in Cape Cod and a dead body washes up, it’s only the beginning of a string of murders. This twisty, witchy young adult thriller follows Nora and Mazzy as they work to unravel dark occult secrets … before they become the next victims.
The Bane Witch by Ava MorgynPractical Magic meets Gone Girl in this dark, spellbinding tale. Piers Corbin discovers that her lifelong affinity for poison is actually a deadly birthright to rid the world of evil men. When Piers crosses paths with a serial killer, even her flirtation with a local sheriff does little to stop her from using her lethal magic as a Bane Witch.
Love’s a Witch by Tricia O’MalleyIf Charmed and The Pumpkin Spice Café are your idea of fall reading, then add this bestselling cozy romance to your TBR! Sloane MacGregor, A 25-year-old witch about to acquire her powers, returns to Scotland to break her family’s curse. However, the grumpy, yet handsome, mayor is determined, despite his crush on her, to send Sloane back home to protect Briarhaven. But as the title says, “Love’s a Witch!”
How to Kill a Witch: The Patriarchy's Guide to Silencing Women by Claire Mitchell and Zoe VenditozziThis historical account of the grim bureaucracy behind the witch hunts of 16th-century Scotland exposes the misogynistic movement that condemned countless women as witches. It shares actual trial transcripts along with insights on how history’s fears continue to echo in today’s struggles for justice. It’s equal parts chilling and, at times, darkly humorous. (Release Date: September 30, 2025)
The Women of Wild Hill by Kirsten MillerIn this tale of magical realism, three modern-day witches fight the patriarchy from the site of their family’s ancient heritage. On Wild Hill, on the furthest edge of Long Island, sisters Brigid and Phoebe, and Phoebe’s daughter, Sybil, uncover family secrets, stoke their unearthly powers, and confront the ghost of the original witch to occupy this hill. (Release Date: October 7, 2025)
The Last Witch by C. J. CookeBased on a true story, this historical horror novel follows Helena Scheuberin, an outspoken young wife in 1485 Innsbruck who finds herself accused of both murder and witchcraft by a malicious priest, who would go on to become one of Europe’s most notorious witchfinders. Helena risks everything as she stands up for the truth in her fight for survival. (Release Date: October 14, 2025)
For more witchy books, see my book list (last updated in 2024) on the Best Books About Witches (That Are Wickedly Spellbinding)
Bookish Pairings: Cast a Spell on Your Reading Time
Designed on Canva by Audry FryerDrinkDrunk Witch Cocktail: Simply stir together vodka, grenadine, and Blue Curacao, add ice, and top with Sprite.
Witch’s Brew Mocktail: Mix pineapple juice with lime juice and top with ginger ale. (I’d swap in apple cider instead!)
Book Rec: Witch's Brew: Magickal Cocktails to Raise the Spirits by Shawn Engel and Steven Nichols features cocktails and their matching mocktails, perfect for pairing with your witchy reading sesh or your next book club meeting.
ListenThis Witchy Vibes playlist on Spotify is a fun round-up of popular songs with witchy themes.
Cozy Autumn Witch’s Apothecary (on YouTube) provides the perfect spooky background for a witchy mood as you read.
Bookish Reading Tip That Works Like Magic on Your StressSet a daily reading goal, even if it's just 6 minutes!Because reading for enjoyment can feel like an indulgence, it’s often last on our list (if it even makes a to-do list at all!). But a study conducted by the University of Sussex found that just six minutes of reading for pleasure has the benefit of reducing stress levels by 68%.
So, it’s more important than ever to conjure a daily reading habit! These tips work like magic:
Cast your reading spell at the same time each day. (During your witching hour will do!)
Retreat to a place that no one will dare bother you as you read.
Banish your phone from your easy grasp. (Even better, place a silence spell on it!)
Do you agree that your daily reading habit helps reduce your stress levels?
Bookish Quote of the Week
Designed on Canva by Audry Fryer |Bookshop.org (View the booklist!)
🤓If you enjoyed this article, please show your support: Like, comment, restack, and recommend to help spread the word! If you’re feeling extra generous today, consider becoming a paid subscriber to support all this bookish fun. (*Bonus 🎁 for paid subscribers: Fun Printables!) Thank you! ♥️
This content may contain affiliate links that earn me a small commission (just enough to grab a coffee) at no additional cost to you!
September 17, 2025
5 Cozy New Books for Fall (with Cozy Drink & Mood Music Pairings!)
Hi, my bookish friend! As promised, it’s time to step into the lighter side of autumn with cozy book recs, cozy drink pairings, and cozy reading tips!
So, grab your fuzzy slippers and your favorite plush blanket, because today I’m bringing the “cozy” with:
5 Cozy New Books for your Fall TBR!
Along with these pairings:
Fall-inspired drinks (alcoholic & non-alcoholic)
Cozy Mood Music suggestions
11 Ideas (easy and simple!) for creating a Cozy Book Nook in your home
23+ Cozy Book Reading Essentials
Book News Updates for Mid-September 2025 (including Stephen King like you’ve never seen him!)
It’s still been pretty warm around where I live in southeastern PA. But the evenings have been chilly and perfect for cuddling up with a book.
I’ve started the habit of reading at least one chapter right before bed rather than the stress-inducing doomscrolling I had been doing. I’ve noticed I can fall asleep a little quicker when I’m not so worried about the state of current events. And that’s the beauty of cozy reading!
Happy Reading!
Your friend,
Audry
P.S. Just for fun: Can you guess how many times I include “cozy” (including the one I just wrote and the title) in this newsletter? I’ll tally it up at the bottom!
Share with that friend who sports a flannel shirt while drinking a pumpkin spice latte, even though it’s still eighty degrees out!
Designed on Canva by Audry Fryer | Book covers from Bookshop.org Bookish Recs: 5 Cozy New Books (with Fall Drink & Mood Music Pairings!)Today’s book choices are as sweet and spiced as biting into a crisp apple you just plucked from the tree!
In keeping with the cozy theme, I thought I’d have a little fun with this book list and pair it with tasty fall-inspired drinks and a suggestion for background music (from YouTube) to set the cozy mood as you read.
View this booklist on Bookshop.org!
The Academy by Elin Hilderbrand and Shelby CunninghamI’m so super excited to see a new Elin Hilderbrand novel! This time, the queen of beach reads has teamed up with her daughter for an off-Nantucket Island setting at a beautiful New England boarding school. This writing duo keeps the juicy drama and less-than-perfect characters Hilderbrand fans love. But don’t expect a neatly tied-up happy ending. This one ends with a cliffhanger and the promise of a book series.
Drink: Warmed apple cider with a cinnamon stick or Fireball Apple Cider Sangria
Listen: Relaxing Jazz for Autumn
The Pumpkin Spice Cafe by Laurie GilmoreIn this first book in the popular Dream Harbor 6-book series, Jeanie happily leaves her desk job to run her aunt’s cafe in the idyllic town of Dream Harbor. She charms everyone except for Logan, a local farmer who’d rather not become the focus of the town gossip or admit that, despite his grumpy attitude, he’s falling for Jeanie.
Drink: Classic Pumpkin Spice Latte or a Pumpkin Spice Latte Martini
Listen: Chill Time with Snoopy
The Cinnamon Bun Book Store by Laurie GilmoreExpect a sweet yet spicy romance in this second book in the Dream Harbor series. Handsome and charming Noah, a local fisherman, has had a crush on Hazel for far too long. So, when she finds a secret message stashed in a book at the Cinnamon Bun Book Store and asks him for help, he’s more than happy to join her on a scavenger hunt around Dream Harbor.
Drink: Chai Tea Latte or spike it with vanilla vodka
Listen: Piano Sounds in a Rainy Autumn Bookshop
The Honeycrisp Orchard Inn by Valerie BowmanFired from her job as an event planner after an unfortunate turn of events, Ellie returns home to her parents’ Long Island inn that’s beside a cozy apple orchard. While she plans to stay in their attic apartment while she sorts out her life, someone is already occupying this space, Aiden, the handsome son of the apple orchard’s owner. Their close proximity of sharing the attic and working on the orchard’s honeycrisp festival together leads to an unlikely (who am I kidding) very likely romance!
Drink: Apple Cider Punch or a Honeycrisp hard cider
Listen: Relaxing Fall Autumn Ambience Music
It's Different This Time by Joss Richard (Coming soon: September 30th)June Wood and Adam Harper have a history. They were once old friends who shared a brownstone in New York City. Now, an odd turn of events, leading to June and Adam owning this magnificent property, reunites these estranged friends. For four weeks, they must confront what set them on separate paths.
Drink: Pumpkin Spiced Hot Chocolate or a cozy red wine, such as a red blend or a Cabernet Franc from New York State.
Listen: Candlelit Nook
Bookish Reading TipCreate a cozy, distraction-free reading nook to make reading more inviting.You’ve got your book in one hand, your fall-inspired drink in the other, and your mood music playing. Now all you need is somewhere cozy to snuggle up and read for many, many uninterrupted minutes! But where is that spot?
But if you’re looking around thinking “Huh?,” then it’s time to get creative and set up your own cozy reading nook! Fortunately, you don’t need a ton of space. You just need to transform an area that already exists in your home into its full cozy reading potential.
Read my helpful post on 11 Cozy Reading Nook Ideas for Your Home (Pinterest Inspired!) for clever yet super simple ideas for creating a cozy reading nook. Then enjoy how motivated you’ll become to read more when you’ve got a cozy place to relax and escape from the stresses of the world!
Bookish Buys: Cozy Reading Accessories
Designed on Canva by Audry FryerThis Bendable Neck Light is hands-free and clip-free! (I just ordered one for myself!) It’s perfect for not disturbing my sleeping husband with my new nightly reading routine.
The Cup Cozy Pillow solves the problem of not having a solid surface for resting your drink or keeping your phone nearby. And it’s so soft to snuggle next to you as you read!
These UGG Slippers are a splurge. I know! I bought them on sale last January, and I can’t even begin to explain how much I love wearing them! They keep my feet warm without making them too hot. And they look super cute, too!
For more ways to get cozy, see my recently updated post on 23 Cozy Reading Accessories (Snuggle Up with a Book!)
Bookish News: Mid-September 2025Celebrate National Hispanic Heritage Month, which runs from September 15 through October 15, with this extensive book list on Goodreads! This list starts strong with two intriguing new release books: a historical fiction novel, My Name Is Emilia del Valle by Isabel Allende, and the magical, multigenerational novel, The Bewitching by Silvia Moreno-Garcia.
The National Book Award recently presented its “Longlists.” See the top contenders for the 2025 National Book Awards here!
In this week’s bestsellers: Although I don’t cover picture books (despite as a former teacher, they have a fond place in my heart), I must mention the Stephen King/Maurice Sendak collaboration/Brother’s Grim adaptation of Hansel and Gretel! It’s soooo cool … you must check it out here!
Bookish Quote of the WeekThis week’s quote is not my usual literary pickings. It comes from a Bustle article about a guilty pleasure some of us may engage in: “Zillow Is Just Gossip with a Floor Plan.”
“For many people, though, cruising Zillow allows one to indulge in human nature’s inherent nosiness. K. says they’re interested in it as a window into how people live: ‘I am zooming in on those bookshelves, seeing what they read.’ ”
Are you guilty of this?
How many times did I use a certain word?
Answer: 29 times!
🤓If you enjoyed this article, please show your support: Like, comment, restack, and recommend to help spread the word! If you’re feeling extra generous today, consider becoming a paid subscriber to support all this bookish fun. (*Bonus 🎁 for paid subscribers: Fun Printables!) Thank you! ♥️
*This content may contain affiliate links that earn me a small commission (just enough to grab a coffee) at no additional cost to you!
September 10, 2025
Add a Moody Vibe to Your Fall TBR list!
Hi, my bookish friend! Gothic fiction novels are the perfect atmospheric read for fall. They’re just right if you’re like me and want to celebrate this new season of reading by looking for stories that are a bit spooky with creepy settings. Add in a fraught romance and the pages particularly turn themselves!
So if you’re also *craving an eerie atmospheric book, here’s what to look forward to today:
Get to know the Gothic Fiction Aesthetic and what makes it so mesmerizing
10 Classic Gothic Novels you must read to appreciate this genre (See this booklist!)
Read & Watch: Wuthering Heights is coming to the big screen. People have thoughts!
5 new page-turning Atmospheric Gothic Novels
A New-Release Dark Academia Book …that I missed two weeks ago on this book list
Book Club Picks for September! (Including Elizabeth Gilbert’s very raw memoir and Buckeye, which I’m seeing promoted everywhere!)
*Now, if today is a little dark for you, I get it! Next week, I’m turning over a new leaf and leaning into “cozy” books with happy endings. And then, beware, because after that, things get “witchy” around here!
Happy Reading!
Your bookish friend,
Audry
Designed on Canva by Audry FryerGetting Bookish: What is Gothic Fiction?Begin with a setting that features an eerie countryside, such as a moor complete with an old mansion or castle. Then stir in a horror plot with shadowy secrets. Finally, blend it with characters engaging in a dark romance that’s overflowing with wild emotions. And you’ve got the ideal Gothic fiction novel!
A little history lesson: Gothic literature first emerged as a subgenre in 18th-century England. Horace Walpole’s The Castle of Otranto is the first book credited with breathing life into this darkly intriguing genre. Later, in America, Edgar Allen Poe poetically took these atmospheric vibes to a whole new level.
The Gothic Fiction Aesthetic
Book covers from Bookshop.org (View the booklist!)Gothic stories exist where scary and romantic intersect. Here’s what makes Gothic literature so intriguing that you just can’t turn away:
Mysterious characters with inner turmoil
Creepy, eerie, isolated settings
Supernatural elements (ghosts!)
Dark, wildly forbidden romance
An oppressed woman (often a bit unhinged)
Suspense and fear that build throughout the plot
10 Classic Novels You Must Read to Appreciate Gothic FictionTo fully enjoy Gothic Fiction, pick up any of these ten classic novels for all the moody, emotionally gripping, atmospheric feels!
Find these books on Bookshop.org! (Local independent bookstores benefit from your purchases!)
Mexican Gothic by Silvia Moreno-Garcia: A glam debutante investigates dark secrets in a creepy Mexican mansion.
Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier: A young bride is haunted by her husband’s first wife’s dark legacy.
Wuthering Heights by Emily Brontë: Stormy moors set the scene for a wild story of obsession, unrequited love, and revenge. (Coming soon to theatres: more about that below!)
The Fall of the House of Usher by Edgar Allan Poe: A decaying home matches its owner’s eerie affliction in this chilling classic. (I loved the Netflix series! Check out the trailer here.)
The Haunting of Hill House by Shirley Jackson: A haunted house that’s unsettlingly alive with creeping dread.
Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë: Gothic romance meets secrets and mysterious laughter in a grand estate.
The Thirteenth Tale by Diane Setterfield: A reclusive author’s life story reveals dark family mysteries.
The Turn of the Screw by Henry James: A governess confronts ghostly figures and a skewed reality at a remote estate.
The Woman in Black by Susan Hill: Foggy marshes and vengeful spirits make for a chilling tale.
Frankenstein by Mary Shelley: Isolation and forbidden science wrapped in Gothic dread.
Let’s keep this Gothic-inspired book list going! Do you have a book suggestion I missed? Hit the comment button and let me know!
Read & Watch: Wuthering HeightsA new Wuthering Heights movie is coming out on Feb. 13, 2026. This latest, sexier adaptation of part of Emily Brontë’s 1847 timeless classic stars Margot Robbie and Jacob Elordi.
The trailer (see here) looks wildly appealing. But the oddly old-fashioned movie poster, the “whitewashed” casting, and the director known for not holding back on the sex scenes have already stirred the pot for English Lit academics and movie fans.
For the full story on the controversies, check out this article by . It expertly covers the good, the bad, and the … uh … sexy.
5 New Atmospheric Gothic Fiction
Book covers from Bookshop.org (View the booklist!)These new releases are the literary world’s latest rendition of “Gothic.” Enjoy! (Note: I intentionally left out witchy books because that booklist is coming up on September 24th!)
The Hounding by Xenobe Purvis (August 5, 2025)
This haunting debut blends The Crucible with The Virgin Suicides. In an eighteenth-century English village, five sisters become the focus of chilling rumors … that they’re turning into dogs! The book dabbles in eerie folklore and keeps you guessing through rotating perspectives.
The Entirely True Story of the Fantastical Mesmerist Nora Grey by Kathleen Kaufman (July 29, 2025)
Set during the rise of spiritualism at the turn of the 20th century, this atmospheric tale follows a Scottish girl with a genuine gift for connecting to the spirit world. But she must overcome deception, scandal, and a harrowing family legacy. Perfect if you’re a fan of Sarah Penner, Alice Hoffman, or Hester Fox. It’s an evocative exploration of feminine rage, agency, and breaking free from oppression.
If You're Seeing This, It's Meant for You by Leigh Stein (August 26, 2025)
This unnerving gothic mystery and part social satire explores the collision of fates after a tarot influencer vanishes from a decaying Hollywood mansion. Expect a tangled web of social media intrigue, haunted pasts, and a labyrinthine house full of secrets. It raises the question, Who truly controls the online world? (Follow author, and check out her Substack, Attention Economy, here!)
Hemlock & Silver by T. Kingfisher (August 19, 2025)
Poison, intrigue, and magical treason! From the New York Times bestselling and Hugo Award-winning author comes a dark reimagining of “Snow White.” Healer Anja uses a hidden magical realm to save the King’s dying daughter. But the cure might be deadlier than the illness.
A Land So Wide by Erin A. Craig (September 2, 2025)
From the #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Thirteenth Child comes a gothic fantasy set in the town of Mistaken (such a great name for a Gothic-inspired village!) In the story, mapmaker Greer defies a sinister curse to rescue her vanished love. This atmospheric tale weaves Scottish folklore, deadly secrets, and page-turning suspense.
Bookish News: Early September 2025Add it to the Dark Academia BooklistDoll Parts by Penny Zang (August 26, 2025)
Combine a small all-women’s school, a deadly Sylvia Plath adoring club, and two best friends. Fast-forward twenty years, and one friend is dead and the other friend, who’s pregnant with the grieving husband’s baby (for real!), is asking questions about what really happened to the girls in the Sylvia Plath club.
(How did I miss this one two weeks ago?! Well, I’m making up for it now! See my post on Dark Academia here! Or you can view the booklist on Bookshop.org!)
September 2025 Book Club PicksOprah’s Book ClubAll the Way to the River: Love, Loss, and Liberation by Elizabeth Gilbert
I knew this book was going to be big when I wrote about it in my “Most Anticipated Fall Books” roundup! Head on over to Oprah’s Book Club page to read an excerpt and watch her interview with Elizabeth Gilbert on Oprah's Book Club Podcast.
A Read with Jenna PickBuckeye by Patrick Ryan
It starts with a kiss, two people swept up in a moment, but married to others … and, well, things spiral from there. Set in a fictional Ohio town on V-E Day, this sweeping saga traces the intertwining lives of two couples and the lies that echo across generations. So. Much. Buzz. for this book, it must be well worth the read!
Reese’s Book ClubTo the Moon and Back by Eliana Ramage
This riveting debut traces one young woman’s pursuit to become the first Cherokee astronaut. Expect an emotionally charged story of ambition, love, and the sacrifices made in the quest to find one’s place in the universe.
Sarah SelectsFinding Grace by Loretta Rothschild
This national bestseller and Indie Next Pick hits you right from the first chapter with a plot twist that I can’t reveal without a spoiler alert. (Skip the reviews if you don’t want to know!) This event sets the stage for a sweeping emotional journey as two women’s fates collide amid secrets, sacrifices, and the price of new beginnings.
Bookish Quote of the Week“There is something at work in my soul, which I do not understand.”
― Mary Shelley, Frankenstein
🤓If you enjoyed this article, please show your support: Like, comment, restack, and recommend to help spread the word! If you’re feeling extra generous today, consider becoming a paid subscriber to support all this bookish fun. (*Bonus 🎁 for paid subscribers: Fun Printables!) Thank you! ♥️
*This content may contain affiliate links that earn me a small commission (just enough to grab a coffee) at no additional cost to you!
September 3, 2025
What Type of Reader Are You?
Hi, my bookish friend! I’m the type of reader who prefers to relax with a book, but in reality, I’m squeezing in reading time wherever I can get it! So, I prefer fiction with all feels and an extra element to hold my attention.
How about you? What type of reader are you?
Let’s find out! Here’s what you’re in for today:
Quiz-like Questions that help you discover your “Reader Type”
6 Reader Types explained:
Your Bookish Personality and Reading Style
Your Bookish Quote to match your reader type
A New Release Book Rec for each type of reader
No matter what type of reader you are, I’m so glad you’ve joined us!
Happy Reading!
Your friend,
Audry
P.S. Hitting the share button below makes you the type of reader who’s awesome!
Designed on Canva by Audry FryerGetting Bookish with Your “Reader Type”Every reader has their own unique style. So … what type of reader are YOU?
I’ve spent probably longer than I needed researching “types of readers.” So, I should be an expert on the topic. But honestly, like most subjects, “reader type” is pretty subjective, so I did my best to narrow it down!
*Let’s make this a fun game: The six questions below describe different types of readers. If you answer “yes” to any question, scroll down to match the emoji from the question to discover your reader type!
(*Before you start: No worries if you find yourself in more than one category. Most of us have multiple reading moods!)
Are You…
🧐 Someone who loves highlighting quotes and nerding out on ideas and themes?
⏳ Always sneaking in quick escapes from reality?
📚 The friend who’s most likely to start a sentence with “Did you know?”
💕 A reader who rates how good a book is by how many times it made you laugh or cry?
🔥 Only able to finish books with thrilling, fast-paced plots you can’t put down?
🌟 The person who always knows the latest buzzy books everyone’s talking about?
Your Reader Type Revealed!🧐 The Idea ExplorerPersonality: You love anything described as literary, and your favorite class in high school was probably English. You attend book club meetings for the in-depth discussions.
Reading Style: Your physical books looked well-loved! You can’t resist highlighting quotes, writing in margins, and adding Post-it notes. When you’re done with a chapter, you might pause to reflect or journal about it.
Your Bookish Quote: “Books are the quietest and most constant of friends; they are the most accessible and wisest of counselors, and the most patient of teachers.” ― Charles W. Eliot
Books You’ll Love: Philosophy, psychology, memoirs, and literary fiction that explore human nature and life’s biggest questions. (See this book list of memoirs!)
Book Rec: When the Cranes Fly South by Lisa Ridzén (Author), Alice Menzies (Translator) is a literary fiction story about an elderly man reflecting on his life. His estranged son wants to take his dog, Sixteen, because he feels his father can’t properly care for the dog. (Have tissues on hand!)
⏳ The Busy EscapistPersonality: Your life is hectic, but you make sure to fit in reading time wherever you can. You often have an audiobook cued up and ready to hit play when you’re in the car or at the gym. You enjoy these mini-escapes from reality!
Reading Style: Books are your magic portals, whisking you away to far-off galaxies, fantasy realms, or swoony romances whenever you get a moment.
Your Bookish Quote: “Never trust anyone who has not brought a book with them.” ― Lemony Snicket, Horseradish: Bitter Truths You Can't Avoid
Books You’ll Love: Fantasy, sci-fi, magical realism, historical fiction ( see this book list), and romantic tales (like these books that bring the heat).
Book Rec: The Book of Lost Hours by Hayley Gelfuso is a page-turning time travel romance about a mysterious library containing our collective memories. It exists in an alternative reality, and it’s in danger of being destroyed. A GMA Book Club Pick! (Get the audiobook for those of you multitasking your reading time!)
📚 The Knowledge CollectorPersonality: You love learning something new and staying connected with what’s going on in the world. But what you love even more than that is sharing these interesting tidbits with everyone you know!
Reading Style: Endless curiosity drives you to treat books as vessels of wisdom and facts. You read to grow and love sharing what you learn to spark conversations.
Your Bookish Quote: “Sometimes, you read a book and it fills you with this weird evangelical zeal, and you become convinced that the shattered world will never be put back together unless and until all living humans read the book.” ― John Green, The Fault in Our Stars
Books You’ll Love: Bestsellers in literary fiction and popular nonfiction that explain how the world works. (Check out this book list!)
Book Rec: Rehab: An American Scandal by Shoshana Walter offers a riveting, informative, compassionate, in-depth examination of the opioid crisis and the steps taken to combat it.
💕 The Feels SeekerPersonality: You take great enjoyment from relaxing with a book, whether it’s on a beach or getting cozy with a warm drink. And you read for connection. The characters feel like friends, and you’re often sad when a book ends. Book hangovers are real for you!
Reading Style: You read with your whole heart. If a book doesn’t make you laugh, cry, or get goosebumps, you’re not interested. You crave stories that let you live through a character’s journey.
Your Bookish Quote: “You can never get a cup of tea large enough or a book long enough to suit me.” ― C.S. Lewis
Books You’ll Love: Contemporary fiction, memoirs, coming-of-age stories, family dramas, heartfelt romances, and any book that qualifies as a beach read. (like this list!)
Book Rec: Loved One by Aisha Muharrar tells the emotional story of two women, one from Los Angeles and one from London, who clash over their love for a man who died unexpectedly at twenty-nine.
🔥 The Adventure ChaserPersonality: When you sit down to read, you don’t want to stop until you’ve finished the book! That’s why you love packing several books with you on vacation. You thrive on fast-paced thrillers and pulse-pounding adventures that electrify your downtime.
Reading Style: You want your books to feel like a rollercoaster: gripping, exciting, and impossible to put down. You love bold characters and edge-of-your-seat plots.
Your Bookish Quote: “A reader lives a thousand lives before he dies, said Jojen. The man who never reads lives only one.” ― George R.R. Martin, A Dance with Dragons
Books You’ll Love: Thrillers, mysteries, action-packed fantasy, dystopian tales, and survival stories. (Basically, any book on this list!)
Book Rec: Her Many Faces by Nicci Cloke is a page-turning psychological thriller and courtroom drama about a waitress on trial for poisoning the four wealthy men she served.
🌟 The Trendy ConversationalistPersonality: You’re always in the know about the latest popular reads. Some of you even go so far as to sign up for ARCs (advanced reader copies) so you can be the first to finish the buzzy book of the season. You’re often the person your friends turn to for book recommendations.
Reading Style: Books are your social currency. You read to stay in the loop and join the conversation, whether it’s over coffee, TikTok, or book clubs. If it’s popular, it’s on your TBR!
Your Bookish Quote: “The world was hers for the reading.” ― Betty Smith, A Tree Grows in Brooklyn
Books You’ll Love: Bestsellers, celebrity memoirs, buzzy literary fiction, book club picks, and anything making waves in pop culture. (If it’s “most anticipated,” you want to know about it!)
Book Rec: Once Upon a Time in Dollywood by Ashley Jordan (Reese’s Book Club August Pick) tells the story of a playwright just trying to find peace in the Tennessee mountains. Instead, she falls into a love affair she’s not sure she can handle with a single dad who wasn’t looking for love.
Bonus Book Rec: (who definitely qualifies as a “Trendy Conversationalist”) highly recommends: Heart the Lover by Lily King, which is set to release on September 30th. She was able to get her hands on the ARC and read it twice; she liked it that much!
Designed on Canva by Audry Fryer | Book covers from Bookshop.org
Bookish Poll: What Type of Reader Are You?Which of these best describes your reading style? Did you find yourself in just one type, or a mix of a few?
🧐 The Idea Explorer (slow, thoughtful, literary)
⏳ The Busy Escapist (magical worlds, fantasy, romance)
📚 The Knowledge Collector (nonfiction, facts, history)
💕 The Feels Seeker (books that make you feel everything)
🔥 The Adventure Chaser (fast-paced thrillers, edge-of-your-seat reads)
🌟 The Trendy Conversationalist (buzzy bestsellers, book club picks)
I was going to insert an actual poll, but it wouldn’t let me create six choices. So, instead, leave a comment and share your reader style with us!
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August 27, 2025
Back-to-School with Dark Academia Books
Hi, my bookish friend! It’s “back-to-school” time around these parts. So I thought, let’s lean into that theme but make it dark, in honor of the upcoming fall reading season!
Today, I’m discussing a sub-genre that’s been around for a while but has really taken off in the last few years: Dark Academia!
Here’s what I’ve got on the syllabus:
📃 What exactly is Dark Academia?
🏫 Old school books for the perfect Dark Academia vibes
📚 5 New Release Dark Academy books
📖 A back-to-school discussion about “Required Reading”
✏️ And a pop quiz to test your main character knowledge!
This year, back-to-school is only happening for my oldest, who is finishing his senior year at Alvernia University. Thankfully, his experience there wouldn’t qualify for a dark academia storyline!
Happy Reading!
Your friend,
Audry
P.S. I’m so happy you’re in attendance with us today!
Share Bookish AF with someone whose idea of fun is required reading!
Designed on Canva by Audry Fryer | Dark Academia BooksGetting Bookish with Dark AcademiaA few books on my most anticipated books for the Fall booklist “fall” (pun intended) into the category of “Dark Academia.” This sub-genre has been steadily growing in popularity. Readers just can’t get enough of its moody characters, brainy plots, and Gothic settings!
What is Dark Academia?Is “Dark Academy” students in school uniforms, carrying an armful of books, and walking around old campuses with ivy-clad stone walls and buildings with spires? Is it basically Harry Potter?
Well, yes and no! More recent dark academia has evolved to pair with other familiar genres, including fantasy, romance, romantasy, historical fiction, mystery, horror, and contemporary fiction.
But it really only needs two elements to qualify. Hands up! Who knows the answer?
That’s right: a dark theme and an academic setting!
Okay, time to take notes! Here’s what you’ll likely find in a book categorized as dark academia:
Atmospheric campus life: Gothic architecture and dreary fall/winter weather
Mysterious mentors or professors: You just know they’re up to no good!
An underprivileged outsider character: Fitting into this elite world creates page-turning drama!
Secret societies: They’re lurking behind the scenes with their creepy rituals.
Toxic Relationships: Jealousy, betrayal, or competition leading to disastrous endings
Book covers from Bookshop.org (View the booklist!)Old School Must-Reads for all the Dark Academia FeelsThe Secret History by Donna Tartt is the book credited with creating this sub-genre. This novel, published in 1992, tells the story of a group of classics students who get dangerously obsessed, and then things go murderously south.
Ninth House by Leigh Bardugo is about a young woman who survives a horrific crime, gets admitted to Yale despite being from an unlikely background, and spends her freshman year at the Ivy League school uncovering a secret occult society. (Visit on Substack!)
If We Were Villains by M.L. Rio follows a group of Shakespeare-loving drama students whose lives spiral into darkness after a deadly event shakes their tight-knit world. It hits all the dark academia notes with obsessed characters, classic literature, candlelit rehearsals, and a plot centered on secrets and betrayal.
Gothikana by RuNyx ( I have so many questions about the author’s name.) But back to the book … Corvina, an outcast at the University of Verenmore, and Vad, a secretive professor with a hidden past, are drawn together by a century-old mystery where someone goes missing every five years.
Babel by R.F. Kuang is set in 1828. It tells the story of Robin Swift, an orphaned boy from Canton, China, who is brought to London, where he trains and becomes a student at Oxford, mastering a specific magic tied to language translation and furthering the British Empire's pursuits.
View the booklist on Bookshop.org!
New Release Dark Academia Books 2025These latest Dark Academia books push the limits of this page-turning sub-genre in all the best ways!
Katabasis by R.F. Kuang
In this wild fantasy, Alice Law uses her knowledge of Magick to enter Hell itself to save her mentor, Professor Jacob Grimes, and, more importantly, her own future at Cambridge, after a tragic accident. But her rival, Peter Murdoch, isn’t letting her go in without him! (Learn about and the Katabasis tour here!)
Enigma by RuNyx
While attending Mortimer University, Salem is desperate to uncover the truth behind her sister’s disappearance. Her investigations lead to more missing students, as well as lurking danger, secrets, and dark forces. She’s soon swept into a dark romance with Cazimir, an artist and teaching assistant at the university.
Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro
This hauntingly beautiful story, set partly at a boarding school in the English countryside, combines coming-of-age themes with an unsettling, dystopian twist. It's a literary, character-driven novel that explores themes of friendship, memory, and the unspoken aspects that shape who we are.
An Academy for Liars by Alexis Henderson
Lennon Carter’s life is spiraling. But at a hidden school of magic tucked behind the moss-covered trees of Savannah, Georgia (love this setting for dark academia), she soon develops her abilities. But as she becomes intrigued by her advisor, Dante, she’s also becoming more disturbed by the school's history. (Visit on Substack!)
The Gilded Butterfly Effect by Heather Colley (Coming soon: October 21, 2025!)
Penny, a shy new girl craving the classic college experience at a university in the Midwest, gets tangled in a dysfunctional friendship with Stella, a glamorous sorority queen whose sharp wit hides dark secrets. Just how far will Penny go just to fit in? (Follow on Substack!)
View the booklist on Bookshop.org!
Bookish Back-to-SchoolKeeping our “bookish back-to-school” theme going, I’ve found two more click-worthy items of interest:
Revisiting Required Reading“Required Reading From School: Is Worth Rereading As An Adult?” (Book Riot)
Remember “required reading” assignments? Younger me used to hate being told what to read. However, I’d sometimes be pleasantly surprised to find that I liked the assigned book.
Now that I’ve been out of school for a couple of years (*cough* decades), is it worth going back and picking up these books again as an adult? (Reading this article is not required, but you can read it here!)
Bookish Pop Quiz!Okay, kids, from the main character’s name, you must select which book they belong to out of four choices. Right or wrong, you’ll be treated to one of their “fan-fave book quotes.”
I scored 17 out of 25, which was better than 77% of quiz takers. (Although a few were educated guesses!) See if you can beat my score! Take the quiz!
Bookish Quote of the Week“[T]hat old September feeling, left over from school days, of summer passing, vacation nearly done, obligations gathering, books and football in the air ... Another fall, another turned page: there was something of jubilee in that annual autumnal beginning, as if last year's mistakes had been wiped clean by summer.”
― Wallace Stegner, Angle of Repose
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August 20, 2025
Most Anticipated Fall Books 2025
Hi, my bookish friend! The most anticipated fall book lists are out! So, while I’m sad to leave summer behind, I’m also excited for a new season of books with cozy, or perhaps dark, magical vibes!
Today, I’m balancing the past, present, and future (but not in that order) with:
🔮 FUTURE: A genre-by-genre glance at the Fall’s Most Anticipated New Books!
🌻 PRESENT: New Fallon Book Club pick & 3 exciting August new releases!
🌞 PAST: Booklists of Summer Hits: Recapping the Bookish AF Summer of Reading!
The fall vibes are happening! My oldest son is getting ready to head back to college, and I’ve already noticed a few leaves dropping into my backyard.
Are you excited for the crisp fall days to cozy up with a book, or would you prefer the lazy summer days of lounging with a book never to end?
Happy Reading!
Your friend,
Audry
P.S. Friends, I need your help building our fun Bookish AF community, so share away! (The button below helps you do that!) Thanks, bookish friends! ♥️
Bookish Recs: Most Anticipated Fall Books for 2025!Here’s a sampling of the books I’ve noticed already getting some hype for the fall. Often, readers receive an advanced copy (ARC) and place a review, for example, on Goodreads, ahead of a book’s publication date. So, I’ve curated a few (from much, much longer lists from Goodreads and Zibby’s Highlights) that stood out in each genre!
Fiction & Historical FictionWhat We Can Know by Ian McEwan (September 23)
This future dystopia takes you to the year 2119, where a British academic reflects on humanity’s high-water mark. Spoiler alert: it‘s our present!
Heart the Lover by Lily King (September 30)
This story of a literary love triangle among ambitious young English majors moves from the bittersweet nostalgia of youth into the reality of the present. It’s light on romance and heavier on secrets and regrets.
The Lost Story of Eva Fuentes by Chanel Cleeton (September 30)
This historical fiction novel traces the extraordinary journey of a mysterious book over three timelines: from 1900 Harvard to 1966 Havana and current-day London.
The Impossible Fortune by Richard Osman (September 30)
In book 5 of 5 of the Thursday Murder Club Mysteries series, our savvy septuagenarians are on the case of a missing best man. (Watch Helen Mirren and Pierce Brosnan bring it to life on Netflix on August 28th!)
The Intruder by Freida McFadden (October 7)
Fans of Freida McFadden are in for a treat this October with her latest psychological thriller slash hurricane survival drama. Here’s what to expect: a remote cabin, a mysterious young girl, and a big knife!
Gone Before Goodbye by Reese Witherspoon and Harlan Coben (October 14)
Yes, that Reese Witherspoon! (Talk about bookish goals!) Reese and Harlan have teamed up to tell the story of an Army combat surgeon drawn into a deadly conspiracy full of luxury, secrets, and danger.
Tourist Season by Brynne Weaver (September 23)
It’s fall, so give me romance, but make it dark! Cape Carnage may sound like paradise, but when a serial killer sets sights on local Harper Starling, murder and romance collide. (Just a heads up, Brynne Weaver’s books come with content warnings!)
Mate (Bride, #2) by Ali Hazelwood (October 7)
Ali Hazelwood’s STEM romance has recently gone paranormal. Her latest book involves a human-werewolf hybrid romance between Serena and Koen, the leader of the pack. (Visit the Alistack to read more from !)
Bad Things Happened in This Room by Marie Still (September 16)
Step into the eerie mind of Willow Hawthorne. Time doesn’t seem to keep the same rules. She feels as if she’s trapped in her home and garden. And her only friend has vanished.
We Love You, Bunny by Mona Awad (September 23)
In this follow-up novel to the hit “Bunny,” Samantha returns to campus and faces the furious Bunnies. Able to be read as a standalone, it’s a darkly witty horror romp. (Scroll through this post from for her thoughts on Mona Awad’s Bunny, the first book!)
Alchemy of Secrets by Stephanie Garber (October 7)
In Los Angeles, a woman taking a class on mythology and folklore gets more than a passing grade. She becomes pulled into the paranormal in this much-anticipated dark academia romance.
I, Medusa by Ayana Gray (November 18)
I was about to write, “Medusa like you’ve never seen her,” but then remembered seeing equals turning to stone! Anyway, you get the idea: in this story, Medusa is street-smart, fierce, and no one’s victim in ancient Athens. (Visit on Substack!)
All the Way to the River: Love, Loss, and Liberation by Elizabeth Gilbert (September 9)
Elizabeth Gilbert gets deeply personal in this heartfelt memoir, exploring her relationship with her late partner, Rayya Elias. She shares themes of love, loss, and addiction. (For more, visit Letters from Love with )
Bookish Updates: August Book NewsThe Fallon Book Club“Summer’s not over. We’ve got time to read. We want everyone to read!” ~ Jimmy Fallon, after picking a book to read this summer at the end of summer.
The Fallon Book Club is back and just announced their next big pick: My Friends by Fredrik Backman! This newly released novel ( which I’m definitely reading this fall!) tells the story of three teenagers bonded by friendship, an aspiring artist many years later, and the mysterious painting that connects them.
3 August New Book Releases (to Prove Summer’s Not Over Yet!)
See the complete list of the “Best Books to Read This Summer,” including the three new releases below, getting in right before Labor Day!
Forget Me Not by Stacy Willingham (Coming soon: August 26)
Claire Campbell, an investigative journalist, takes a summer job at a vineyard in coastal South Carolina, only to uncover an old diary that drags her into a dark, personal cold case from 20 years ago.
We Are All Guilty Here by Karin Slaughter (August 12)
Step into North Falls, a small town with big secrets, where two teenage girls vanish on fireworks night and the whole community is on edge! Officer Emmy Clifton digs deep into a web of secrets and lies.
People Like Us by Jason Mott (August 5)
Follow two Black writers in this character-driven tale as they experience love, loss, and violence. While the story is grounded in reality, it also features highly imaginative dreamlike moments.
Bookish Recap: The Bookish AF Summer Reading BooklistsIn case you missed a book list (because life or, even better, summer vacay happened) or you just want to go back and revisit one, here’s a rundown:
The Bookish AF Summer Reading LineupJune 18th Chill with a Thriller
June 25th Page-turners to Pack on a Trip
July 2nd New Beach Reads & Best Beach-y Authors
July 9th Books Based on Summertime Destinations
July 16th Romance Books: Sweet Rom-Coms to Spicy Hot Recs
July 23rd Escape into a Romantasy
July 30th Murder Mystery Books to Murder Your Reading Slump
August 6th Best New Historical Fiction
August 13th Hottest Celebrity Biography and Memoir Books
Thanks for joining in on all the bookish fun this summer! As you read this, I’m putting together a fall reading schedule of posts …
… and I want to hear from YOU! What bookish topic would you like me to feature this fall? Leave a comment!
Bookish Quote of the Week“To say it was a beautiful day would not begin to explain it. It was that day when the end of summer intersects perfectly with the start of fall.”
― Ann Patchett, Truth & Beauty
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Enjoy Bookish AF every week! 🤓 Become a free or paid subscriber. (*Bonus 🎁 for paid subscribers: Summer-Reading Bingo Card Printable: yell BINGO while you still can!)
August 13, 2025
Hottest Celebrity (& Non-Celebrity) Memoirs and Biographies
Hi, my bookish friend! Let’s wrap up the Bookish AF “Summer Reading” series by spilling the tea on the real lives of celebs and not-so-famous people who’ve lived through unbelievable, yet true experiences.
Today, I’m sharing:
🔥 The newest, hottest celebrity (and non-celebrity) memoirs & biographies!
📚 The most popular memoirs from the past ten years according to Goodreads!
😮 Oprah’s Book Club Pick that’s nearly 20 years old!
😍 The heartwarming Read With Jenna book club selection for August
📖 And a fun quiz to see if you’ve got “main character” energy!
I’m back from the beach! While I was there, I stopped by my favorite seaside bookshops, including Browseabout Books in Rehoboth Beach.
I couldn’t resist buying a paperback that I had featured on my murder mystery booklist: The Thursday Murder Club. It looks delightful! And once I finish it, I’ll watch the movie adaptation on Netflix … a win-win!
Happy Reading!
Your friend,
Audry
P.S. If you’re reading this, then you must love books, which makes you pretty awesome in my book!
SHARE the Bookish AF love of all things books with someone who loves all things books!
Designed on Canva by Audry Fryer Bookish Recs: The Hottest, New Celebrity & Non-Celebrity Biographies and MemoirsThese stories featuring celebrities and not-so-famous folks read like fiction … but they’re based on actual events! Earlier this year, I listened to Be Ready When the Luck Happens by Ina Garten on audiobook and loved it. The storytelling, the life lessons … chef’s kiss!
This summer’s recently released biographies and memoirs offer up a page-turning mix of entertaining stories and behind-the-scenes peeks into extraordinary lives!
5 Celebrity Tell-All BooksUptown Girl: A Memoir by Christie Brinkley takes you on a glamorous, yet at times difficult, ride. Christie shares how she thrived despite the odds, her rise to becoming a supermodel (after being discovered in Paris!), and her four marriages, including that time she was married to Billy Joel.
How to Lose Your Mother by Molly Jong-Fast is a memoir that goes deep into a challenging year of loss. As the daughter of the well-known writer Erica Jong, Molly shares her troubled childhood through storytelling that shifts through the emotional spectrum. (Follow or subscribe to on Substack here!)
Gwyneth: The Biography by Amy Odell gives readers a fascinating glimpse into Gwyneth Paltrow’s life. The book chronicles stories from her childhood, her famous parents, and on through her acting career and her wellness company, Goop. (Follow or subscribe to on Substack here!)
Tonight in Jungleland: The Making of Born to Run by Peter Ames Carlin takes you behind the scenes of the making of Bruce Springsteen’s iconic album, Born to Run, which was released 50 years ago. (Wait? 50 years? That can’t be true. *checks notes* Turns out, yeah, the album was released in 1975! 🤯)
Semi-Well-Adjusted Despite Literally Everything by Alyson Stoner tells the eye-opening story of their hardworking life as a child actor (beginning at six years old!). Alyson shares overcoming an eating disorder, substance abuse, rehab, and making peace with their sexuality.
Book covers from Bookshop.org (View the booklist!)5 Page-Turning Non-Celebrity Memoirs & BiographiesA Marriage at Sea: A True Story of Love, Obsession, and Shipwreck by Sophie Elmhirst was a Sarah Selects book club pick. Get ready for an amazing story of survival, both physically, after a whale capsizes a couple’s boat in the middle of the ocean, and with their marriage, because that’s a lot of “together time.”
The Dry Season: A Memoir of Pleasure in a Year Without Sex by Melissa Febos is a book about not having sex … and also strangely a lot about sex. Read how Melissa Febos' year of abstinence opens the door to life lessons and personal insights.
The House of My Mother: A Daughter's Quest for Freedom by Shari Franke chronicles the dark reality of a picture-perfect family. Shari Franke is the oldest daughter of Ruby Franke, who ran a popular YouTube channel of a happy family. But when the camera was turned off, the abuse followed.
Careless People: A Cautionary Tale of Power, Greed, and Lost Idealism by Sarah Wynn-Williams gives you an insider view of what it was like to work at Facebook as a woman and mother. Meta, Facebook’s parent company, tried to block its publication, which only makes me more curious about what’s inside this book!
Raising Hare: A Memoir by Chloe Dalton tells the sweet story of saving an orphaned newborn hare and the unlikely friendship that followed during Chloe’s time in the English countryside, where she was spending lockdown (rather than in London as a speechwriter and political advisor). I’m sure that, because there’s an animal involved, this story may inspire tears.
Bookish Top 10: Most Popular Memoirs of the Past Ten Years
Book covers from Bookshop.org (View the booklist!)Sometimes it’s reassuring to pick up a book well-loved by a bunch of people, so you can cut down the chances of it ending up in your DNF (did not finish) list.
With this extensive booklist from Goodreads of the most popular memoirs of the past ten years, you’ll have 99 chances to pick a book you can’t put down! Each one has earned a 3.5 average star rating or higher.
So, what’s on this impressive booklist of titles? The top ten are:
Educated by Tara Westover
I’m Glad My Mom Died by Jennette McCurdy
Becoming by Michelle Obama
When Breath Becomes Air by Paul Kalanithi
Crying in H Mart by Michelle Zauner
Born a Crime: Stories From a South African Childhood by Trevor Noah
The Woman in Me by Britney Spears
Untamed by Glennon Doyle
Friends, Lovers, and the Big Terrible Thing by Matthew Perry
Everything I Know About Love by Dolly Alderton
*Visit my list on Bookshop.org to view the top ten popular memoirs!
Bookish Updates: August Book Club SelectionsOprah’s Book Club Pick #117Bridge of Sighs by Richard Russom was published in 2007, but only now Oprah is picking it up for her book club. The author, Richard Russom, does have a new book, but I guess it didn’t impress Oprah as much as this story about a couple embarking on a dream trip to Italy! It’s a reminder that books with a few years (or decades!) of publication can be just as rewarding as reading the newest, hottest releases.
Read With Jenna August SelectionMy Other Heart by Emma Nanami Strenner tells the story of a young mother whose child vanishes at the Philadelphia Airport (a place I’ve been quite a few times in my travels!). Now, two decades later, two best friends, one of whom was adopted (wink, wink), meet the woman who lost her child. Cue the drama! (Follow or subscribe to on Substack here!)
Bookish Quiz: What’s Your Bookish Role?Just for fun, take this Buzzfeed quiz to discover “What Would Be Your Role in a Book?” I’m not sure how clicking on random pictures reveals your bookish role, but I ended up scoring “Main Character.” So, give it a try and then spill the tea on your result in the comments!
Bookish Quote of the Week“But in France, these little traffic circles are a reminder that life is not about straight lines or the shortest distance between two points. Slow down, they seemed to say, you can take a little twirl and still get exactly where you’re going. Such a nice approach to life.”
― Ina Garten, Be Ready When the Luck Happens
This content may contain affiliate links that earn me a small commission (just enough to grab a coffee) at no additional cost to you!
Enjoy Bookish AF every week! 🤓 Become a free or paid subscriber. (*Bonus 🎁 for paid subscribers: Get your super-fun Summer-Reading Bingo Card Printable, plus an adorable printable mini-reading journal!)
August 6, 2025
New Historical Fiction: Find Your Next Read!
Hi, my bookish friend! Historical fiction is a genre that doesn’t necessarily inspire a ton of buzz, but it should!
These novels take you back in time to see what life was like during real events. They’re often full of fascinating characters, intriguing plots, and places that may no longer look the same today.
So, this week, I’ve got five exciting new release historical fiction books for you to savor as the sun slowly sets on summer.
Then, discover a book club (and a bookish idea) that’ll get you moving! Finally, the Amazon book club, Sarah Selects, has chosen a book I’m seeing everywhere … but what about those mixed reviews?
This week’s newsletter comes to you from a beach a few miles south of Rehoboth Beach, Delaware! 🏖️
I've brought my Kindle, and I'm finishing up the humorous, fast-paced Jane and Dan at the End of the World by Colleen Oakley, and then starting Andriana Trigiani’s The View From Lake Como. (which my mom is still raving about!) Since she loved the Italian family references reminiscent of her side of the family, I recommended she pick up another great book from my “destinations” booklist, Lisa Scottoline’s The Unraveling of Julia, a twisty page-turner with a few historical references set on a Tuscan estate.
Now that we’re into August, it feels as though I’m trying to grasp onto the best parts of summer before they’re gone. So, I'm extra grateful for this time off to enjoy reading on the beach!
Wherever you're enjoying a book …Happy Reading!
Your friend,
Audry
P.S. Next week is the end of my “Summer Reading” series. I hope you’ve enjoyed it!
P.P.S. Remember, paid subscribers get free bonuses! This summer, it’s a fun Bingo card featuring all the genres I’ve been covering.
Become a free or paid subscriber! Pais subscribers get the satisfaction of yelling “Bingo!”
Bookish Recs: 5 New Historical Fiction Novels!
Book covers from Bookshop.org (View the booklist!)Mention historical fiction lately among readers, and it won’t take you long to find someone who’s read and LOVED Kristin Hannah’s The Women or The Nightingale. (Honestly, you really can’t go wrong by picking up any Kristin Hannah novel!)
But if you’re looking for a new read, this week’s booklist has five newly released historical fiction novels that have already racked up thousands of overwhelmingly positive reviews!
The Women of Arlington Hall by Jane Healey follows Cat Killeen, a savvy codebreaker who cancels her wedding to join a secret military project after college. As she works with a group of women trying to catch Soviet spies during the Cold War, she also develops a complicated attraction to her rival, FBI agent Jonathan Dardis.
The Fourth Daughter by Lyn Liao Butler is a touching story about Liv, a rising chef who’s dealing with a recent trauma by never leaving her Manhattan apartment, until her grandmother Ah-Ma begs her to come to Taiwan to help with a family mystery about a lost daughter. Together, they uncover secrets hidden for over sixty years in a country with a complicated past.
Typewriter Beach by Meg Waite Clayton is set in Carmel-by-the-Sea (I’d love to visit!) on the foggy California coast. This captivating story begins with an unexpected relationship between a blacklisted screenwriter and a young actress dreaming of stardom in 1957 Hollywood. Then, jumping to 2018, a young screenwriter uncovers hidden family secrets in her grandfather’s cottage in Carmel that make her question her own path.
The Great Mann by Kyra Davis Lurie is a fresh retelling of The Great Gatsby, but set in Los Angeles’s Black community right after World War II. The story follows Charlie, a young veteran, as he attends big parties, takes chances, and inadvertently raises racial tensions.
by Isabel Allende (Frances Riddle, Translator) tells the exciting story of a young woman named Emilia who grows up in San Francisco in 1866 and dreams of becoming a writer. To follow her passion, she takes on a man’s pen name and becomes a reporter, traveling to Chile to cover a dangerous civil war where she reunites with her father and finds love.
Bookish Trend: A Book Club That “Walks the Walk”Audiobook walking clubs are a fun twist on a book club meet-up that get people moving outdoors while enjoying their favorite stories. Inspired from Bookstagram creators, local bookstores, and Libro.fm, these clubs bring audiobook lovers together for “silent” social walks with earbuds in place and book discussions that follow.
How’s does an audiobook walking club work? Everyone meets at a set spot, plays their audiobook from an app, and strolls along an easy path. Chatting about the book is also an option as you walk. After the walk, the group hangs out to share and get book recommendations.
Or you can do your own “walking book club of one” with this idea:
This past Christmas, I received a walking pad (similar to this one from Amazon) as a gift. I had wanted it based on a recommendation from an article I was hired to ghostwrite. It’s been great when the weather isn’t cooperating to get outside. I often use my walking pad time to listen to an audiobook, or I keep the pace slow enough that I can read my Kindle.
Book Club Selection: Sarah Selects August Pick!These Summer Storms by Sarah MacLean is an addictive story that follows Alice Storm, who’s returning to her family's private island after five years for her father’s funeral. When she arrives, she discovers her dad has left a wild inheritance game that forces the whole family to spend a week together completing strange challenges.
Some readers love it for the family drama and funny moments. However, a few reviews share that they found the pacing too slow and the characters so unlikable that it took away some of the emotional investment in the story.
Bookish Quote of the Week“Thank God for girlfriends. In this crazy, chaotic, divided world that was run by men, you could count on the women.”
― Kristin Hannah, The Women
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July 30, 2025
Murder Mystery Books to Murder Your Reading Slump
Hi, my bookish friend! It happens even to the most bookish among us … a reading slump, otherwise known as a reading rut. How do you know you’re in one? It’s when, despite your mile-long TBR list, you’re simply feeling uninspired or far too busy to read.
The best way to avoid a reading slump? Well, I may be biased, but reading Bookish AF each week is an excellent way to prevent reading ruts! That said (LOL), I’m taking things a bit further today by sharing tips on how to get out of a reading slump. (If you happen to be in one already, or ever might be!)
Sometimes all it takes is a book that pulls you in and keeps you looking forward to getting back to it. And I suspect a murder mystery book may be the perfect culprit for, well, murdering your reading slump!
That’s why, today, I’ve got for you:
🗡️ 7 New-Release Murder Mystery Books
🔎 A book series from the OG of cozy murder mysteries, Agatha Christie
🧐 Read this murder mystery now and watch the star-studded cast later on Netflix
If you’re here, it’s no mystery that you love a good book!
Happy Reading!
Your friend,
Audry
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Designed on Canva by Audry Fryer | Muder Mystery Books3 Bookish Reading Tips to Murder Your Reading SlumpYou suddenly lose your motivation or enjoyment for reading. What’s gives? You usually love it. And you have a stack of books just waiting to be read to prove it. Maybe life has gotten in the way. Rude! Or maybe you’ve come off a book you couldn’t wait to get your hands on, only to discover it wasn’t worthy of all the hype. The worst!
In any case, when you’re going through a book rut, the best thing you can do is try one of these tried and true remedies:
Lean into your book slump and take a break. Trying to force things rarely works. Instead, take some time to care of yourself, especially if you’re in the middle of really going through something. Books don’t hold grudges. They’ll be there waiting with open …(uh, maybe not arms but) pages when you’re ready!
Simply switch it up. Try a new genre! Or try a different reading style! Trade your ebooks for a physical book or an audiobook, which are perfect for multitasking! Perhaps get a quick win with a short book.
Get a book rec from a friend who knows your reading style. Or visit a charming bookstore to get into the literary vibe. Bookshop staff often provide excellent book recs!
If you’re looking for more reading inspo to pull you out of your reading slump, check out these posts from my bookish archive:
5 Short Books You Can Read in a Day
Books That Keep You Reading (Past Your Bedtime)
Bookish Recs: 7 New Murder Mystery BooksIf you love getting lost in a good murder mystery, you’re in for a treat! Here are seven page-turning new books that will keep you guessing until the very last page.
Book covers from Bookshop.org (View the booklist!)Everyone Is Lying to You by Jo Piazza follows two former best friends in college, Lizzie and Bex. Fifteen years after their friendship abruptly ended at graduation, Bex, now a social media influencer, reaches out to Lizzie. But when Bex’s husband is murdered, Lizzie finds herself in the middle of what one reviewer calls a “backstabbing mystery.”
Etiquette for Lovers and Killers by Anna Fitzgerald Healy is set in 1964 Eastport, Maine, where boredom reigns, according to Billie McCadie. However, when a love letter and engagement ring meant for a woman named Gertrude arrive … and then Gertrude is found murdered the next day, Billie’s quiet world is upended by secrets, suspicious suitors, and a cast of curious characters stalking, blackmailing, and playing out champagne-fueled scandals.
Welcome to Murder Week by Karen Dukess adds a heartfelt twist to the traditional cozy mystery. Shaken by the death of her often absent mother, Cath discovers her mother had purchased tickets to an upcoming staged murder mystery in England’s Peak District. Cath decides to travel to the cute hamlet to attend. What starts as playful sleuthing alongside her two quirky cottage mates soon unravels secrets about her mother and learning about herself.
Detective Aunty by Uzma Jalaluddin Kausar Khan tells the story of a widowed mother who rushes to Toronto when her daughter Sana is arrested for murdering her unpopular landlord. Returning to the neighborhood she once called home, Kausar suspects there’s more to the case than meets the eye. With sharp intuition and the help of old friends and her clever granddaughter, she soon uncovers secrets, lies, and unexpected betrayals.
Murder at Gulls Nest by Jess Kidd follows Nora Breen, a former nun, who arrives in a quiet seaside town to find her missing pen pal. Set in 1954, Nora hides her identity as she discovers secrets among the guests at a charming hotel. But when strange murders begin to shake Gulls Nest, Nora must confront whether anyone can truly escape their past.
How to Solve Your Own Murder by Kristen Perrin kicks off The Castle Knoll Files series with a chilling twist. In 1965, Frances Adams is told by a fortune-teller that she will one day be murdered. Nearly sixty years later, her great-niece Annie arrives at Frances’s estate only to find her great-aunt dead, just as foretold. Surrounded by a village full of secrets and suspects, Annie must untangle the strange web Frances wove before the killer strikes again. (The second book in the series, How to Seal Your Own Fate, has been recently released.)
Vera Wong's Unsolicited Advice for Murderers by Jesse Q. Sutanto introduces Vera Wong, a sharp-witted lady of a certain age who runs an overlooked tea shop in San Francisco’s Chinatown. When she discovers a dead man in her shop clutching a mysterious flash drive, Vera can’t resist playing detective. As she digs into the mystery and keeps a close eye on her curious customers, Vera finds herself juggling newfound friendships and a killer on the prowl.
Getting Bookish with an Agatha Christie Murder Mystery SeriesSure, new releases are exciting. But it can be equally as rewarding to pick up a book (or a book series) from a true master, and Agatha Christie is the OG of cozy murder mysteries! The Miss Marple Mysteries (a 12-book series), which now feature eye-catching covers on the paperback editions, are an excellent choice!
Begin with Christie’s The Murder at the Vicarage. This story introduces the beloved character, Miss Marple, whose interest in the murder of a business owner in her sleepy English village, St. Mary Mead, inspires her to investigate the suspects and see through the growing local gossip to track down the culprit.
Bookish Entertainment News: Read Now & Watch Later!READ NOW: The Thursday Murder Club Series by British author Richard Osman features a group of friendly retirees who team up to solve cold cases from their fancy retirement village. Read the first book, The Thursday Murder Club, now before the release of the movie on Netflix.
WATCH IT LATER: Fortunately, we only have to wait until the end of next month to watch the all-star cast (see the official teaser here) with Helen Mirren, Pierce Brosnan, Ben Kingsley, and Celia Imrie. Set a calendar reminder: The Thursday Murder Club premieres Aug. 28 on Netflix!
Bookish Quote of the Week“I know that in books it is always the most unlikely person. But I never find that rule applies in real life. There it is so often the obvious that is true.”
― Agatha Christie, Murder at the Vicarage
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July 23, 2025
Escape into a Romantasy Book
Hi, my bookish friend! Mid-summer check-in: How’s your summer reading going so far?
This Sunday, I enjoyed finally finishing the paperback I packed on my trip, Layla by Colleen Hoover. This ghostly romance had a few more twists and turns than I saw coming, and I couldn’t put it down by the last third of it!
Based on my latest recs, my mom picked up The View from Lake Como by Adriana Trigiani and absolutely looooved it! It’s next on my list to read, too!
Hopefully, my ongoing summer round-up of book recs has helped you find a book you loved! (Leave a comment with what books you’ve read and enjoyed so far this summer!)
This week, I’m going all in on a book genre I’ve been wanting to discuss here for a while … romantasy! These books, that blend the thrill of fantasy with the emotional payoff of romance (so, romance + fantasy = romantasy!), have steadily gained popularity over the past few years, consistently topping bestseller lists.
If you’re not already a fan, you may be wondering, what’s behind all the hype? I’ll break down why this genre provides the perfect escape from reality!
Then, I’m sharing:
9 top-rated romantasy books that readers of this genre adore!
This bookish trend (you have to see) turns book edges into artwork.
A fun bookish personality quiz!
Happy Reading!
Your friend,
Audry
Share with a friend who would choose “dragon” as their favorite animal on a personality quiz!
Escape into a Romantasy | Designed on Canva by Audry FryerBookish Thoughts: Escaping into a RomantasyIf you’re looking for an escape this summer, a romantasy may do the trick! These books transport readers into magical worlds filled with mythical creatures, gods, vampires, fae, witches, and other supernatural beings.
Yet, even in these otherworldly settings, characters face the same complicated love stories we mere mortals know so well. They’re still working through the passion of falling in love (expect a few explicit scenes) and the messy emotions of love and loss, all in the pursuit of personal growth.
It’s this fantastical combo of magical adventures and relatable romance that offers the perfect escape. So, pick up a romantasy and enjoy the ride … perhaps on the back of a dragon!
Bookish Recs: Reader-Favorite Romantasy BooksThis genre has taken off! So, if you’re wondering, “Where to start?” you’re not alone!
Below, I’ll share…
⭐ All-time reader hits! Caution: These books have readers split between one large group creating the unending hype and another set of more discerning readers calling them out for being overrated.
💎 Tried and true gems: Select from a few of last year’s favorite romantasy books according to the readers on Goodreads.
🏖️ New for summer: And finally, for true fans of romantasy, I’ve rounded up new releases getting rave reviews already!
Designed by Audry Fryer| Book covers from Bookshop.org (View the booklist!)⭐ Bestselling Romantasy Books Topping Everyone’s ListsIf you want to get started in the genre of romantasy, these three book series are the ideal place to start!
The Empyrean Series: Fourth Wing, Iron Flame, Onyx Storm by Rebecca Yarros reigns supreme on nearly every romantasy book list. Begin with Fourth Wing to get into this story of dragon riders, a spicy romance of enemies-to-lovers, and page-turning adventure.
House of Flame and Shadow by Sarah J. Maas (Crescent City) was the Goodreads Readers' Favorite Romantasy 2024 winner! In this, the third book in the Crescent City series, half-human, half-fae Bryce Quinlan fights to return to her home world where her love, Hunt Athalar, a fallen angel, remains imprisoned. Since each story builds on the next, it’s best to get the backstory from Book 1: House of Earth and Blood and Book 2: House of Sky and Breath.
The Serpent & the Wings of Night (Crowns of Nyaxia Book 1) by Carissa Broadbent is an instant bestseller and #BookTok sensation. In this tale of human versus vampires, Oraya, the human daughter of a vampire king, must survive a high-stakes tournament. Her attraction to a dangerous rival adds plenty of spice and suspense!
💎 Goodreads Choice Nominees (in 2024)For romantasy books that keep earning top ratings from readers, you can’t go wrong with these recs! (See the full readers' favorite list here!)
Apprentice to the Villain (Assistant and the Villain Book 2) by Hannah Nicole Maehrer tells the story of Evie, the apprentice to the oh-so-handsome villain, who now must use her new skill of dagger work to defend him and his lair from an evil king. Readers love the humorous banter.
Quicksilver (Fae & Alchemy Book 1) by Callie Hart follows Saeris Fane, who magically transports to the fae realm, where she discovers her alchemist abilities, dodges a war, and tries not to fall for Kingfisher, a handsome fae warrior.
When the Moon Hatched (The Moonfall Series Book 1) by Sarah Parker takes readers on a fast-paced adventure and an emotional rollercoaster through a magical world where an imprisoned assassin makes an unlikely connection with a heartbroken king.
🏖️ New Release Romantasy for Summer 2025Fans of romantasy, here are three of the hottest new releases:
Shield of Sparrows by Devney Perry features a satisfying slow-burn, enemies-to-lovers romance with a high-stakes storyline, probably due to battling the monsters!
The Knight and the Moth (The Stonewater Kingdom) by Rachel Gillig has a gothic, moody feel. A young prophetess goes on a fraught quest with a handsome knight to uncover the mystery of why her fellow diviners are steadily vanishing.
Arcana Academy by Elise Kova follows Clara Graysword, whose ability to forge magical tarot cards leads to a false engagement, enrollment in a mysterious academy, and a power struggle with a king.
View the complete book list on Bookshop.org!
Bookish Trend: Hardback Books with Sprayed EdgesA few of the books listed above, such as The Empyrean Series by Rebecca Yarros, offer an extra touch of sprayed edges.
What exactly are printed or sprayed edges?
Rather than the pages of a hardback book remaining paper-colored and losing out on the design of the cover jacket, now the entire outer edge of a print book can show off the cover’s artwork. You’ll most likely find them on special hardback editions.
How do you display books with printed edges?
I’d say that if you splurged on fancy edges, show them off by placing the artwork facing out on your bookshelf. However, be aware that sunlight can cause these designs to fade.
Bookish Personality Quiz!If your life were a book genre, what would it be? A romance? Nonfiction? Take this fun Buzzfeed quiz to find out “What Book Genre Are You?” (Click here to take it!)
Answer a few cutesy multiple-choice questions and uncover what book genre matches your personality. I got “Mystery” because it seems I love suspense and creepiness. Well, I do have an October birthday, so that tracks!
What was your result?
Bookish Quote of the Week“Lies are comforting. Truth is painful.”
― Rebecca Yarros, Fourth Wing
This content may contain affiliate links that earn me a small commission (just enough to grab a coffee) at no additional cost to you!
Enjoy Bookish AF every week! 🤓 Become a free or paid subscriber. (*Bonus 🎁 for paid subscribers: Get your super-fun Summer-Reading Bingo Card Printable, plus an adorable printable mini-reading journal!)
