I am so sorry. This month went by so fast and work has been a terror.
Reese already announced hers.
Reese
]]>Jenna
I am noy sure which one. But i thought i spotted a sticker today on sunlight finds you
Reese
Gma
I was so excited to dive into Kathryn Stockett’s The Calamity Club, and it absolutely lived up to the hype. Set in 1930s Mississippi, it handles some incredibly heavy history (like the horrific eugenics laws of the era and the exploitation of orphans). Instead, it’s a deeply human, emotional story about survival, and I absolutely loved it.
By far, the absolute best part of this book is the characters. Stockett has this amazing talent for writing women who feel 100% real, flawed, and memorable. The story bounces between two main perspectives: Meg, an incredibly tough 11-year-old orphan who refuses to let the system break her, and Birdie, a practical woman who rolls into town just looking for a loan from her sister and ends up getting caught up in something much bigger.
The heart of the entire book is the bond that forms between these two, along with a fierce woman named Charlie. Watching this makeshift family of outcasts and “fallen women” band together to protect each other in a world that wants to crush them is just beautiful. I got so deeply attached to them that I genuinely cared about every single choice they get forced to make. The emotional moments land perfectly because the character work is just so strong.
Now, if I’m being completely honest, the book is incredibly long. At over 600 pages, the actual plot does stretch a bit thin in places. There are whole chunks of the book where the main story completely stalls out for slower, repetitive scenes, and a tighter edit could have easily trimmed 100 pages without losing anything.
But here is why it’s still a 5-star read for me: the characters are so phenomenal that I honestly didn’t care that it dragged. Usually, a book this long would frustrate me, but I loved spending time in this world and with these women so much that I was happy to just sit with them through the slower parts.
Ultimately, The Calamity Club is a masterpiece of historical fiction. If you need a fast-paced thriller, the slow burn might test your patience. But if you love character-driven stories and want a book you can truly lose yourself in, these characters will absolutely stay with you long after the final page. It is worth every single page.
Jenna (rumored and mentioned a few times-see comments)
I am pretty sure the founding mother will be reeses. She provided hints. It matches that book.
Gma is….
All you need:
- Dried flowers
- Laminating sheets or clear contact paper
- Ribbon
- Cardstock
They make amazing gifts for readers and are much prettier than using receipts as bookmarks (which, let’s be honest, we all do anyway).
2. Blind Date with a book!
Ideas for hints:
- “Morally gray main character”
- “Will emotionally destroy you”
- “Found family + magic”
- “Tiny town with huge secrets”
Perfect for:
- BookTok lovers
- Gifts
- Book clubs
- Craft fair booths
3. Book Sleeves
You can sew them from:
- Old flannel shirts
- Quilted fabric
- Canvas
- Even thrifted pillowcases
Add:
- Zippers
- Pockets
- Embroidery quotes
- Mushroom or floral fabric
4. Annotating Kits
Put together a cute annotation kit using:
- Transparent sticky notes
- Tabs
- Mildliners
- Pens
- Highlighters
- Tiny page flags
Store everything in a pencil pouch or decorated tin.
This is such a fun gift idea for readers who love annotating fantasy romances or emotionally damaging novels.
5. Mini Book Keychains
These tiny books are ridiculously cute.
You can make them from:
- Printable mini covers
- Foam board or cardboard
- Mod Podge
- Jump rings and keychains
6. Literary Candles
Create candles inspired by favorite books or characters.
Examples:
- Rain + cedar + coffee = dark academia
- Vanilla + old books = cozy fantasy
- Pine + smoke = woodland romance
You can even make custom labels inspired by fictional worlds.
7. Book Pages Roses
This is one of the prettiest ways to recycle damaged books.
Carefully fold or roll pages into roses and use them for:
- Bouquets
- Wreaths
- Shelf decor
- Centerpieces
8. Reading Journal Spreads
Decorate reading journals with:
- Stickers
- Washi tape
- Rating trackers
- Favorite quotes
- TBR pages
- Mood reading charts
This is perfect if you love combining journaling and reading.
9.
Popular themes:
- Fantasy forests
- Tiny libraries
- Alleyways
- Hobbit-style homes
- Magical bookstores
These take more time, but the final result is incredible. I have a few that I bought and a few that I made on my shelf!
10. Painted edge books
I just bought a kit, but you can make your own!
Using acrylic paint, stencils, or stamps, you can turn plain book edges into art pieces with:
- Florals
- Stars
- Vines
- Celestial themes
- Character symbols
Just make sure the pages are tightly clamped before painting.
11. Diamond-painted covers
You will need diamonds and glue. Match the colors on your book cover!
Reese (see comments)
Jenna
Gma
Read with jenna
Reese
Reeses was an older book
]]>TBA
May spoilers for reese or read with jenna. See comments: sticker spotter read with jenna. This is for may 2026
Jenna
Reese
Gma
Gma ya
Oprah
Frankenstein was written by a teenager. Mary Shelly was only 18 years old. She came up with the idea during a ghost-story contest with her friends, including Lord Byron. The first novel was published anonymously. Many readers thought Mary’s husband wrote it. Many people were shocked by it, struggling to believe that a woman could write something so dark. *Pictured above is Mary Shelly.
Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland was actually inspired by a real perso named Alice Liddell. Lewis Carroll told Alice and her sisters the story during a boat trip. Alice wanted him to write it down. *pictured above is Alice Liddell.
The Hobbit was a bed-time story that J.R.R.Tolkien told to his children. One day while grading papers, he wrote the line “in a hole in the ground lived a hobbit.” He has no clue what a hobbit was yet!
The Lord of the Rings was supposed to be one large book. The publisher decided to split it into 3 books because of printing costs and paper shortages after WWII.
The Great Gatsby was not popular at all. It only sold about 20,000 copies during F. Scott Fitzgerald’s lifetime. It became popular during WWII when it was given to soldiers through a government program.
Moby Dick was also not popular. Herman Melville died thinking that his novel was a failure. In the 1920s, people discovered the novel and made it a beloved classic.
Dracula was originally named “The Un-Dead” by Bram Stoker. He changed the title after finding the name Dracula while researching the history of Eastern Europe. The word is derived from a Romanian ruler named Vlad the Impaler.
Pride and Prejudice was also named something else! It was titled “First Impressions.” After the original book was rejected by publishers, she revised the story and re-named it.
I like big books! But this one takes the cake. The longest book is called The Search of Lost Time by Marcel Proust. It has 1.2 million words, has 7 volumes, and took 14 years to complete.
Charlotte’s Web was inspired by a spider E.B. White saw in his barn. He watched the spider spinning a web in his barn.
Little Women was written in a few months. The publisher asked Louisa May Alcott to write a book for girls. She based the novel on her own life and 3 sisters.
Anne Frank‘s Diary was edited by her father Otto Frank before being published. Later editions, restored it to the orginal writing.
]]>REESE
Complete list of books, click here:
JENNA
For a complete list of books, Click here:
GMA Adult
For a complete list of books, click here:
GMA YA
Belletrist
TBA
OPRAH
For a complete list of books, click here:
Book of the month
For a complete list of books, click here:
Aardvark
For a complete list of books, click here:
Allurial (3 books)
Service 95
Roxane Gay
Mindy’s Book Studio
Jordy’s
Rupaul
Adam Silvera
Katie Couric
Sarah Jessica Parker
Tea Time
