What a week, y'all! Baseball is back, so I've been a bit distracted around here. If you follow me on Instagram then you know we've been ALL about the Dodgers the past few days. Opening weekend did not disappoint, but it did cut into my reading and writing time. Not much new content, but a few books worth noting.

This week I binged Rebecca Serle's latest, Once and Again. I won't lie, I enjoyed it. But that's no surprise given how much I've enjoyed all her other work. Her writing is somewhere between Emily Henry and Taylor Jenkins Reid, with a splash of Alice Hoffman. I love how she weaves magical realism into all of her books, but I'm a bit partial to magic. 😜 This felt a little familiar, meaning I recognized some of the same themes and plot points, so it didn't feel as fresh. Regardless, the idea of a little silver ticket that allows you to turn back time was pretty appealing. Triggers: infertility and infidelity. 3.75⭐️

I finally finished Before We Were Yours, the March BBFL book club pick. I enjoyed it, but it wasn't as mind blowing as I'd been lead to believe it would be. Sure, the story of Rill and the rest of the Foss children was super moving, but the contemporary storyline felt like a distraction, particularly when the romance subplot took off. I didn't care at ALL about Avery's lovelife. I did enjoy the setting and the writing though! I will definitely read more of Windgate's work. 4⭐️

I've officially started In the Great Quiet, Laura Vogt's debut novel, and, y'all, I'm so swept up in this historical adventure that I don't want to put it down. I was lucky enough to get access to the audiobook, so I'm switching back and forth between the print and audio just to keep the story going. Some people have a gift; Laura is one of those people! Don't forget, I'm giving away a physical copy (link below), but you can get a free ebook copy through the end of the month if you're an Amazon Prime sub!

Lastly, I wrapped up The Secret Lives of Murderer's Wives this morning and really enjoyed it. I think it's the perfect summer read, ideal for vacation or lounging around on a hot day. There's strong female friendship and plenty of mystery, and the 1960s Los Angeles setting was the icing on the cake for me. A satisfying ending + sweltering summer setting + a string of murders = ideal summer reading! 4.25⭐️

This Week in SBB:

• New Historical Fantasy Bookmail

• New Giveaway: In the Great Quiet Promo Box

• Five Year Bookstaversary

Hear it Here First:

I've got some fun things planned for next week's April newsletter, so be sure to subscribe asap!

It's official, Go as a River is the BBFL's April book selection. Join the club and read along if that one's still on your TBR!

xoxo

C

Happy Friday, Bindery Besties ❤️

Surprise!!! I've got a new giveaway to share, and it's a fun one, too.

Laura Vogt, author of In the Great Quiet, was kind enough to send me a second copy of her debut novel to share with my community. I have an unopened promo box for one lucky winner, hopefully someone that loves immersive Western historical fiction.

I'm reading this right now and really enjoying it! The FMC is spunky and full of grit (bonus points that she's based on Laura's own ancestor), and the writing is really transportive. I have a feeling you'll love it, too.

Anyone who prefers ebooks can snag a FREE copy of this one as part of Amazon First Reads. Let's face it, free is always good!

Wow! That week flew by fast. 🏃🏻‍♀️ It feels like just yesterday I was telling y'all about my terrible flight back to Los Angeles (10/10 do not recommend flying right now), and here we are for another weekly update.

We'll keep this one sweet and short, because not much reading has been going on around here. Instead, I've been playing with my website, Pinterest, and prepping for the April historical fiction look-ahead. I've also posted a few things on Instagram that I'll share below. Plus, I've been posting again on TikTok, though I still refuse to add the app back to my phone.

I finished The Hired Man, the new Sandra Dallas Dust Bowl book, and, unsurprisingly, I loved it. She has a knack for character development and atmospheric storytelling that brings her books to life. I also really appreciate that her books with young characters never feel YA, which suits me just fine. I can't wait to finish prepping my Dust Bowl Historical Fiction blog post/YT video. That book will DEFINITELY make the list. 4⭐️s

With Love From Harlem was up next for me and, boy, did it blow me away! I won't lie, Reshonda Tate's debut wasn't my favorite, though I did find it enjoyable. I think I rated The Queen of Sugar Hill 3.5⭐️s, so I wasn't sure what to expect from her latest. My chief complaint about Sugar Hill was the pacing and the character's cyclical story arc, but I did really appreciate the inside view of Hattie McDaniel, the first Black woman to win an Oscar. Well, I'm happy to report that With Love, From Harlem was spectacular! I really hadn't heard of Hazel Scott before reading the book, and now I'm wondering why? Hazel was an incredibly gifted musician/performer and was one of the most famous Black women in America in her heyday. Learning about her life through Tate's eyes was really fun! So many great Black artists, writers, and activists made an appearance that I couldn't help but think about Harlem Rhapsody, one of my favorite books of 2025. I highly recommend With Love From Harlem if you enjoy fictionalized biographies. 4.75⭐️

I'm still reading Before We Were Yours and The Secret Lives of Murderer's Wives, but I'm getting close to finishing both. To be honest, I haven't been in a rush to finish a book lately, instead feeling very inspired to create, create, create. I suspect that's because I know I'll soon be traveling, so I'm trying to batch content. But I also have a LOT to say lately.

I'll finish this update with a look ahead: the April newsletter will be out soon, so that means first looks at the May Historical Fiction Heads Up blog post and a few other fun new things I have up my sleeve. If you haven't signed up for my newsletter yet, I encourage you to do so. It's truly my favorite part of this whole passion project.

Until next week my friend!

This Week in SBB:

• Last, Now, Next Audiobook Edition

• The Vanishing Half book review

• Five Star Book Tag

• Sunday Morning with Me and Sandra Dallas

Hear it Here First:

My next giveaway will be a copy of In the Great Quiet, a debut novel by Laura Vogt! I'll announce it soon, so watch for that on your favorite social media channel.

The BBFL April poll hasn't closed yet, but it looks like we will be reading Go as a River. Join the club and read along if that one's still on your TBR!

xoxo

C