Welcome to October, fellow book dragons! Its fall, my favorite time of the year for reading and being cozy, with hot tea and blankets and a soft bed or chair to land in while you read the latest genre novel of your dreams. I'm still struggling with multiple health issues, so I've not had time or energy to post reviews here, but I'm going to do so tonight, because I refuse to let my ailing body get the better of me! So here's a few interesting tidbits about new and old bookstores, courtesy of Shelf Awareness, and some long overdue book reviews. :)
I used to have a friend who lived in Pasadena, who would keep me apprised of changes at the famed Vroman's Bookstore. Though she's no longer my pal, its interesting to note that Vromans keeps changing and growing with the times.
New Owners for Vroman's and Book Soup
Vroman's Bookstore, Pasadena, Calif., and Book Soup, West Hollywood, Calif., have new owners: Robert Hoffman and his family have bought the two bookstores from longtime owner Joel Sheldon.
"After talking with Robert, I knew we had found the right owners," said Joel Sheldon. "The Hoffmans understand what makes these stores special, and they're committed to preserving that legacy while moving both stores forward for the Pasadena and West Hollywood communities."
"Vroman's and Book Soup are more than places to buy books. They are wonderful gathering places for people like me and my family who are passionate about books and about the craft of writing itself," said Robert Hoffman. "My family's story is woven into these stores across five generations, and my family and I are committed to making sure they're here for many more."
Joel Sheldon put Vroman's up for sale in January 2024, noting that he had owned and was steward of the store for 50 years, "preceded by generations of leadership of my father, my grandfather, and uncles." Vroman's was founded in 1894, and Sheldon's great-grandmother was part of a group of employees who bought the store in 1916. Vroman's bought Book Soup in 2009 after the death of owner Glenn Goldman, who had founded the store in 1975. Last October, Sheldon sold the Vroman's building for $15.5 million to GD Realty Group.
Joel is the fourth of five generations of his family to be part of the two stores' communities, starting with his great-grandmother, Georgia Bullock, a 46-year resident of Pasadena and the first woman to serve as a municipal and superior court judge in the state of California. Judge Bullock introduced Vroman's to her granddaughter, Susan Vail, who eventually brought her five-year-old son, Robert Hoffman, to the store. The pair later discovered Book Soup, and Hoffman has since extended this 55-year connection to both stores to the next generation of his family, introducing his nephews to Vroman's and Book Soup.
The bookstores have adapted through decades of challenges, including the rise of big-box retailers, the growing popularity of online shopping, and rising operating costs. Then came Covid.
"When the pandemic hit, it hit us hard. Along with government funding, we survived because community members like Robert and his family chose to shop with us first online, and eventually back in our stores," said CEO Julia Cowlishaw. "Their response was beyond anything we could have hoped for.
"We are grateful for the special relationship we have with our customers and communities, and we're inspired by their loyalty. Under the Hoffman family's leadership, we look forward to the future of these two very special places."
This is such great news! Council Bluffs is a great area of Iowa that is almost Nebraska, but they've managed to keep their culture and heritage intact over the years. It's wonderful that now they have a new bookstore, which I hope will thrive, because Iowans are readers (at least they were when I grew up there).
Bridget's Bookshelf Debuts in Council Bluffs, Iowa
Bridget's Bookshelf had its grand opening last weekend at 148 West Broadway in Council Bluffs, Iowa. Owner Mary Aney posted on social media after Friday's launch: "THANK YOU Book Lovers!
Tonight was beyond amazing. And I am so grateful for each of you. I loved seeing so many friends, former students and their families as well as meeting new friends. I'm looking forward to tomorrow!... Thank you everyone for coming out in the rain and making this evening so wonderful!"
On Saturday, she posted: "I'm afraid I’m going to sound redundant if I try to describe today. Fantastic! Amazing! Wonderful! These words just can't begin to explain how I feel after opening Bridget's Bookshelf. Seeing and meeting so many old and new friends feels so good. Thank you everyone for coming! I look forward to seeing you again!!! Now I have to put in an order of great new books!"
In an interview with KMTV before the opening, Aney said, "I just felt like it was a real need, that Council Bluffs should have a bookstore. I have people stopping every day to thank me for opening a bookstore." People have also expressed excitement on social media. "I was floored, I'm still floored every day."
After 35 years as a public school teacher and librarian, Aney is ready for the next chapter. "I just want people to feel good and happy and comfortable and know that they can come," she said.
Another bookstore opens in Iowa, this one not too far from where I was born. I love that the owner is a science fiction and UFO buff, and he's keeping prices low so that all can afford to purchase new books or puzzles to wile away the dark hours of fall and winter, which are definitely indoor times in my home state.
Off Planet Books and Puzzles Lands in Pleasant Hill, Iowa
Off Planet Books and Puzzles, a bookstore focused on science fiction and fantasy, opened September 19 in Pleasant Hill, Iowa, the Des Moines Register reported.
Located at 1225 Copper Creek Dr., Suite F, the bookstore carries a wide array of speculative fiction along with horror, nonfiction, and children's titles; there is also a selection of roughly 500 puzzles, with a few having 18,000 pieces and even 24,000 pieces.
The book inventory is a mix of new titles and remainders, and owner Bill Claman has priced everything to end in 84 cents ($19.84 instead of $19.99, for example), which he says is an homage to the year he graduated high school. The shop's decor is themed around outer space and includes murals, lighting arrangements, and a green alien figure on the front counter.
"I just think the experience is really what it should be about," Claman, an Air Force veteran, told the Des Moines Register. A self-published author, he described himself as having a lifelong obsession with outer space and UFOs.
Prior to opening Off Planet, Claman began selling books, puzzles, and space-themed merchandise at flea markets, state fairs, and other events. Two years ago he bought a trailer to hold all of his inventory, and eventually he decided to open a bricks-and-mortar store. While he still works a full-time job, he would like to one day retire from that and focus on the bookstore, which he called "the fun part."
Claman said the grand opening was a success: there was a steady stream of business throughout the day, and around 20 people were in attendance for the ribbon cutting.
I want a copy of this book it sounds like its right up my alley!
Reese's October Book Club Pick: Sophie, Standing There
Sophie, Standing There by Meg Mason (Harper) is the October pick for Reese's Book Club, which described the book this way: "Sophie Pattison loves reading and her work at a local book festival, working with some of her favorite writers. As her seemingly idyllic life beings falling apart, she returns to the work of a notable female author for comfort and becomes increasingly more obsessed with her latest book. When Sophie's fantasizing becomes real and the author comes to town, her story takes an unexpected turn. Filled with heartache, dark humor, and the warm power of connection, Sophie, Standing There is a moving story about finding your way back to yourself in the wake of change."
Reese called Sophie, Standing There "a funny and tender story about loneliness, connection, and finding your way back to yourself."
I used to live in St Pete, and I am thrilled that they're getting another bookstore that is also a bar, which is crazy and at the same time makes sense if you know the area (lots of weekend party people). And the owner is right, books bond people together. I have met many great folks while shopping for my own TBR pile.
Reverie Room Opens in St. Petersburg, Fla.
Reverie Room, a bookstore, bar, and lounge, opened September 29 in St. Petersburg, Fla., I Love the Burg reported.
Located at 655 31st St. South, Reverie Room carries general-interest titles for all ages, while the bar serves beer, wine, and non-alcoholic beverages. The space is divided into five rooms, each with a different theme, and the building has a horseshoe-shaped bar and numerous reading nooks.
Owner Nichole Coronado plans to host plenty of events, including book clubs, silent reading groups, yoga and Pilates classes, crafts nights, author signings, and more. The store is not far from St. Petersburg's Pinellas Trail, and Coronado would like to start an audiobook walking group. Coronado noted that she plans to keep the book clubs smaller and more intimate.
"I love books, and I love how books bond people," Coronado told I Love the Burg. "Someone you've never even talked to will walk up and say, 'hey, I read that book.' I want Reverie Room to be a third space and a community space for people to come hang out and find their next adventure in a book, as well as meet new friends they can bond with. It's a safe, comforting space and hopefully a cozy experience."
A lifelong reader, Coronado dreamed of opening a bookstore for many years while working a high-pressure office job. Roughly a year ago she decided to leave that career behind and pursue her dream.
A Tangled Magic by Andrea Eames is a romantasy/adventure novel that does a slight take on the Rapunzel fairy tale. Here's the blurb:
All her life, Netta has only known the Tower—its musty shelves of books she cannot read, ink-splattered quills, and endless scrolls of paper. Her mother, ambitious and analytical, has spent decades perfecting her greatest masterpiece: a spellbook of unspeakable power. Netta’s only companions are her long red Hair, which moves of its own accord, and a telepathic raven named Baldbeak. Her only amusement lies in crafting intricate embroidery from scraps of silk and thread.
When attackers storm the Tower, her mother and the spellbook vanish. Determined to find her, Netta ventures into a kingdom on the brink of civil war. The monarch lies dying, while pious Temple fanatics and the noble elite scheme for the throne, forging secret alliances and building hidden armies. For reasons she cannot yet fathom, all these factions seek Netta—and the dangerous, uncontrollable magic in her Hair.
But whom can she trust? The sharp-eyed pickpocket bent on revolutionizing the use of magic? The elusive black market trader known only as the Book Man? The charming magician who slips between shadow and light? From masked carnivals to opulent ballrooms, from hidden monasteries to catacombs, Netta must untangle a web of lies and intrigue - not only to find her mother, but also to uncover the true nature of the power that has shaped her life.
This books "Rapunzel" with her magical hair also suffers, it would seem, from dyslexia, and therefore has a limitation on her magic and deploying the magic inherent in her body and her sentient hair. While I loved how beautiful this book was, with its colorful artistic edges and its glorious cover, I was somewhat disappointed by the slow-moving plot and the weird characters, particularly Netta and her obsession with her mother (who turns out to not be worth it). The ending was abrupt and leaves readers hanging, and I thought the prose could have used some judicious editing and a bit of a polish. I'd give this pretty offering a B-, and recommend it only to those with patience who are fond of re-invented fairy tales.
Twig's Traveling Tomes by Gryffin Murphy is a somewhat cozy, funny romantasy full of magical creatures and odd plot twists that will keep you reading long past your bed time. Here's the blurb:
Though I loved the idea that Louella could put the right book into anyone's hands at any of her locations, I was disappointed that once she came across the scoundrel Everett, she became like every other romantasy female protagonist and somehow lost dozens of IQ points as well as her common sense...and all because of the usual trope-ish whine of "But he's so handsome! Look at those forearms! Look at that hair and those tattoos!" UGH. Why authors insist on turning strong female protagonists insipid the moment a handsome man appears is beyond me. I mean, I get it in a sense because I was young once, and developed crushes on guys, but they were short-lived because most guys I met were shallow, callous asshats who had very little respect for women and who weren't looking for love, they were looking for sex, and satisfaction for themselves and their own egos. Most of the men in romantasy books are also immature asshats looking for sex (and being posessive of the women they've chosen) and calling it love. Still, there were some truly funny moments in this book, and a lot of good scenes of bookish love that will feel like a warm and familiar blanket to readers. I'd give this book a B+, and recommend it to anyone who likes magical bookstore adventures.
From Alexandra Bracken comes a stunningly original adult fantasy. Set in a sumptuous world ruled by magical perfume, this achingly romantic, slow-burn love story will shatter your heart and leave you breathless.
Members of the ancient Rosebourne family have a strange gift born of a fairy ancestor: the ability to infuse fragrance with magic capable of manipulating mind, body, and emotion.
When a shocking murder leaves the kingdom of Albion vulnerable to a coup, royal spymaster Hugh Thornton seeks the one person who can help: Viola Lockwood, the last living Rosebourne and secret heir to a fraught legacy.
Livid at the silver-eyed aristocrat who had her thrown in jail to force her compliance, Viola nevertheless comes to an agreement with him. In exchange for crafting Immortal Rose, the singular perfume capable of saving Albion, illegitimate Viola can seize the life--and fortune--that should have been hers.
As Hugh and Viola race to find the perfume's lost fairy ingredient, hidden deep in Albion's dark underbelly, neither can deny the scorching attraction building between them--especially as the attempts on Viola's life grow increasingly brazen.
But a terrible truth lurks in the heart notes of their kingdom--and while every bargain has a cost, Immortal Rose may demand more than Hugh and Viola can ever pay.
Just a quick SPOILER-ISH warning, there's no HEA here, in fact its the opposite, and our heroine is played for a fool and ends up as she began the novel, in a dank dungeon cell awaiting death for a crime she didn't commit. So adjust your expectations accordingly. Once again, though, Viola, the female protagonist, loses her common sense and intelligence once she meets up with Hugh, who claims to love her but has her thrown in jail "for her own good" which is complete and utter BS. Though he begs her forgiveness and claims to love her, he doesn't really come to her rescue, because he makes it known that the king and the kingdom are his priorities, not love, so Viola has no way to escape her torture or near-rape at the hands of the jail's guards (so there are some pages of torture porn, which, in most romantasy books, generally falls on the female protagonist and is somehow considered "sexy" because she manages to survive it. Meanwhile Hugh, who claims to be in love with her, can only wince and feel guilty about her many open wounds and scars. And he still USES her to attempt to get the formula for a scent that will save the king, who is old and gravely ill. For shame, Ms Bracken, for supporting this kind of misogyny. There's a lot of interesting facts and information on the making of perfume and the use of poisonous plants for good and ill throughout the novel. Overall, not a bad read. I'd give it a B, and recommend it to anyone who loves MJ Rose's "daughters of La Lune" series.
Once upon a time, women were drowned in the river and the only witnesses were the crows in the trees. The Puritans blamed Eve for the sins of the world. That was when we began to meet in the name of Lilith, Adam’s first wife—banished for refusing to do as she was told.
By the 1950s, Cambridge, Massachusetts feels far removed from the legendary witch trials that marked its early days as a colony. Ava, a bright young woman from a small town in Maine, arrives for her first year at Radcliffe College. There, she meets Lauren, her opposite in every way—the wild and brazen daughter of a wealthy and well-established Cambridge family. But the two have more in common than they think. Both are recruited by the Lilith Society, a secret organization of witches at Radcliffe dating back to colonial times. As they learn more about their legacy, Ava and Lauren form a close bond that is put to the test as they learn to navigate their new power, friendship, and love.
While Radcliffe seems like a safe haven, the shadow of McCarthyism looms large, an ever-present threat to the flourishing creative and intellectual life in Cambridge. And as girls from the Lilith Society begin to go missing, Ava and Lauren realize the witch trials of the past may not be as deeply buried as they once believed.
Hoffman's prose is, as always in her novels (and I've read 95% of them), impeccable and lush, which, along with her twisty plots and fascinating characters makes this novel a page turner that will be hard to put down. What surprised me about the book, however, was how shadowed and melancholy and dreary it was, when most of her previous books had a nice balance of shadow and sunlight and positive, fun moments. As Hoffman draws parallels between the "witch hunts" of McCarthyism and the Salem witch trials centuries before, she seems to be saying that this kind of misogyny is so woven into society that we have no hope, as women, of ever escaping its clutches. Where's the usual fighting spirit that says NEVER give up?! While I am aware that things seem grim for women, particularly under this administration in the United States, I also see women going on marches, rallying in Washington DC and writing endless editorials and articles about how this treatment of women as possessions of men will NOT STAND. Hoffman has written about the trials and horrors faced by Jewish people, and the fact that they survived the Holocaust is a beacon of hope for all oppressed people. Anyway, this book, though depressing, will give you food for thought, along with a great story. I'd give it an A and recommend it to anyone who loved Practical Magic or any of Hoffman's novels.
Winterveil by Ava Reid is a YA dystopian romantasy that comes packaged in an eye-catching red, gold and black hardback with beautiful red and black endpapers. Here's the blurb:
This collector’s edition features a color-swapped embossed cover, illustrated endpapers, foiled cover, and striking edges.
It’s a game—until it’s war.
- A disgraced politician from a powerful American dynasty.
- A coldly brilliant strategist who will sacrifice anything to win.
- A former pageant queen with a talent that could change the world.
- An expert female soldier with an enigmatic past—and a dangerous secret.
In an alternate future where the Cold War still rages, four precocious teenage criminals with dark skills and darker secrets are offered a fresh start at a secret military academy. But instead of training to end the war, they find themselves on a mysterious mission that will test loyalties, forge romances, and maybe end the world as they know it.
This deluxe limited edition features:
- Color swapped and embossed jacket
- Intricately foiled case design
- Custom designed edges
- Character portrait illustration endpapers
I hate to mention this but you know you're in trouble when the blurb says more about the cover and end paper art than it does about the story within. This novel reads like a book that a fan of Japanese manga took ahold of and added specific tropes (the cold instructors who torture teens into becoming emotion-less soldiers) to turn it into a script or blueprint for a Netflix or Amazon binging series, set with young unknown (but gorgeous) actors that it would eventually turn into household names, ala boy bands in Japan or Korea. Insert eye roll here. There's nothing new in this book, and it often reads as if it were written by AI. Sad. Again, as with some of the books above, there's no decent ending here, just teenage torture porn and a lot of longing, yearning and agonizing over wanting to bone one character or another, but there's too many road blocks for them to get together...how romantic, eye roll. The prose is cold and the plot predictable, while the characters are so one-dimensional its hard to care about their fates at all. I'd give this disappointment of a book a C+ and only recommend it to fans of Korean or Japanese romantic streaming soap operas.
