Battle of the Bookstores

by Ali Brady

Although it doesn’t get more personal than sharing the books you love.

For better or worse, my library has always grown faster than my social circle.

It’s not about the happy ending—it’s about believing that you’re worthy of one.

I am the product of every book I’ve ever read and every experience I’ve had, each heartbreak and failure, every moment of sadness and joy. The people I’ve met and the characters I’ve encountered, the events that challenged me and the narratives that have stretched me—all this is inscribed on my soul. They are the stories that shape who I am today and give me the strength to reach for more.

“We would be together and have our books and at night be warm in bed together with the windows open and the stars bright.”

Maybe all stories are love stories at their core. The search for belonging, the ache of grief, our fumbling attempt to find purpose and connection in this big, confusing world.

Even after a book ends, whether it’s happy or tragic, the characters have more life to live—and so do we. So much happens beyond the pages that we never get to read. That’s what I’m looking forward to—living it all, the good times and the tough ones—wherever the story takes us.”