A thing happened over the weekend. My birthday! 🥳 My #Litsypenpal @Beck9lol did it again and spoiled me with all the books! 🎁 I‘m sipping out of the Plant Lady mug (shaped like a ceramic pot 🥹) and equipped with a shovel spoon!! It doesn‘t get any better than this and relieved I finally snagged a couple of days off to enjoy all of these wonderful gifts.Thanks so much Becky. My heart is full! Hope everyone‘s weekend is filled with great reads!📚

My #LitsyPenpal has been busy this holiday season. Thank you, thank you @Beck9lol for all the Christmas goodies! I‘m definitely the girl with ALL the gifts. I‘m ready to get back into Jane Austen retellings and The Perils of Lady Catherine de Bourgh will tick a box nicely. Can‘t wait to dive in with the other new to me books. It may be the cure for my reading slump and that Lego kit, candle & 130 piece mini puzzle! So grateful! Thanks, Becky! 🎄📚

It‘s spooky, scary skeleton season and my #Litsypenpal delivered the goods in style once again this year! Can‘t wait to dive into these books @Beck9lol - A couple of these have been on my radar and two are ‘new to me‘ titles. Love the spooky sponges, ghostie bath bomb and pen, candle and scarf gift set from The London Seance Society! Thanks so much Becky and Happy Halloween/All Saints Day to all! 🎃👻

True fact: #litsypenpals make birthdays extra special! Thank you so much @Beck9lol for all the literary birthday love! I can‘t wait to dive into all of these gems and the houseplant book will give me good tips for future plant babies and help to care for the ones I have. 🌱🪴📚 The puzzle looks like so much fun! I‘m blessed to have an extraordinary, thoughtful and kind book friend! Thanks, Becky, for making my birthday a special one! 🥰📚🎂

Finally a break for this bookseller and a chance to express thanks to my thoughtful and awesome #Litsypenpal @Beck9lol for all these festive bookish wonders plus the Steelers light up ornament AND The Nightmare Before Christmas advent calendar. I‘ve enjoyed it all month long!! You make my holidays extra special and I‘m so thankful for your bookish friendship. Happy Holidays to everyone in the #Litsy universe!! 🎄💚🎄🧑🏻‍🎄📚

When you think your #Litsypenpal can‘t top the previous Halloween, she goes and does just that! Heartfelt thanks to the most awesome penpal on the planet, @Beck9lol !! Everything is perfect, as usual, and she always has the best wrapping paper! FOMO is real … lol. Those flameless candies are 🙌🏻, too. Thanks so much , Becky. Wishing you and all Littens a festive fall! 🎃💜📚👻

📚📚📚 July reading wrap-up • Carrie Soto is Back • First Comes Summer • The Hard Crowd: Essays 2000-2020 by Rachel Kushner • Lessons in Chemistry • The Wolves of Willoughby Chase • Garlic and the Witch

My #Litsypenpal has delivered in fine form once again! Thanks so much @Beck9lol for all the birthday loveliness! I can‘t wait to dive into these!! 📚🤓 The Rooibos tea looks so warming and tasty and the Jane Austen deck of cards will be fun to use as well. I‘ve heard really good reviews of The Bandit Queens, too. My only problem is wishing there was more time in the day to read all the things! Thanks, Becky - you‘re the best! It made my day!! 📚

So happy to finally receive all this bookish awesomeness from the best #Litsypenpal on the planet! The postman tried his best but it made my days after Christmas so much brighter! Thank you @Beck9lol for all these wonderful gifts. I‘m excited to read them all with the chocolate truffles, of course! Can‘t wait to try the reading challenge game as well. That Stranger Things Christmas card, tho…❤️🎅🏻🌲📚Love it all!! Happy Holidays to everyone!

Halloween is in full swing now that I‘ve unwrapped all these fabulous, festive gifts and treats from my thoughtful and totally awesome #litsypenpal @Beck9lol !! 🎃📚🥳🧟‍♀️👻The Jack Skellington wrapping paper (not pictured) was perfect, too! I love, love, love it all! Thanks so much, Becky, you‘re the best! ❤️ Wishing Becky and all my #Litsy mates a very Happy Halloween 🎃👻📚🖤🧡🖤🧡🖤

Life and a slump made May a lighter reading month for me. I enjoyed the The Island of Missing Trees and Spring Magic was an absolute delight and helped me wade through May. Have you read any of these? 📚🤓🤩 What helps you get through reading slumps?

April reading so far …. 📚📚📚😊🤓

I have the most awesome and brilliant #Litsypenpal in the universe! Thanks @Beck9lol for making my birthday a lot more joyful! That little coffee cup that says, ‘Friends Like Books Should be Few and Well Chosen‘ pretty much says it all! I can‘t wait to crack these beauties open along with those cocoa truffles. Yum! The Leefee plant air diffuser is perfect! So very thankful and as Miss Bates would say from Emma; ‘Wanting for nothing.‘ 💜📚💜🤗📚🥰

A huge, heartfelt thanks to my awesome #Litsypenpal @Beck9lol for all this bookish (and snugly) awesomeness! I think we‘re going on five years of friendship there‘s no slowing us down in sight! I‘ll be saving the two Christmas reads for later this year but eager to crack ‘Elderly Lady‘ book two and ‘The Perishing‘ to my TBR! So grateful and thankful for you, Becky and #Litsy for bringing our friendship together. Happy New Year and happy reading!📚

This happened! Yay! I‘m hoping I might hit 60 before the end of the year. Maybe? The little reader that could! Hope everyone‘s reading year is bringing you much joy! 📚🧡🤓💜📚

My #Litsypenpal outdid herself once again for our Halloween gift exchange! Thanks, Becky(@beck9lol) for all the ghoulish goodies! My manager at B&N read ‘The Death of Jane Lawrence‘ and said the creep factor is off the charts! 🎃 I can‘t wait to do a deep dive into all of these. The candy was en pointe .. so much so that this is all that‘s left .. Lol! Thanks again to the best #Litsypenpal on the planet. 😎🎃👻💀🧡🖤

My #Litsypenpal has done it again! Huge bookish thanks to @Beck9lol for helping me top off my birthday with these fabulous gifts. I‘ve had my eye on these three books and the herbal tea sampler, Kit Kat chocolate from Japan and Pride & Prejudice & Puzzle book will be eaten, read and used in good health! Thanks, Becky, for all the thoughtfulness and most of all for your friendship! Cheers, dear friend!🥂😘🥰📚🎉💜

This book was part nature writing, essays and indigenous knowledge. Beautifully written. At times, the science/botony references were over my head but her overall message throughout was abuntantly clear; we need to take better care of Mother Earth. 🌾💚🌱🌎🌻🔬

What a great #Litsypenpal I have! Thanks so much @Beck9lol for all the fabulous gifts! As soon as I get home tomorrow from work I‘m planning on cracking open a couple of these comfort reads. I love it all and rescue pup Cleo looks like a sweetheart ... such a great idea and cause to donate to those fur babies in need. Merry Christmas, Becky! Here‘s hoping 2021 is better for all of us. Big hugs🌈

My #Litsypenpal is such a great friend and spoils me every year! @Beck9lol thank you so much for the spooky books, cool flameless candy corn tea candle, sweet treats (not pictured), Savannah Bee Honey, cute kitty Halloween tote and pumpkin platter! I‘m humbled beyond words! You‘re the best! 🍁☠️👻🍂🎃🤡 You made Halloween extra special, dear friend!!

Morning errands are done and finally settling in for Dewey‘s Readathon. A later start than most- only 3.5 hours in but hoping to hit a few of these out of the park before midnight tomorrow! Hope everyone participating is relaxing and having fun! #24B4Monday #Deweyapril #dewey24hourreadathon #DeweysReadathon

Welp ... my #LitsyPenpal turned my birthday into a wonderful bookish extravaganza! Thank you @Beck9lol for all the book love and thoughtfulness! I love it all! That doggy clutch purse tho.... 🐶🥰📚😘🤗📚❣️😻💜💃

My #LitsyPenpal @Beck9lol has done it again! Look at all this bookish loveliness! A bookish flower vase (upper right), a doggie rescue ornament (a cause I‘m very passionate about), holiday candle, comforting tea and all the bookish things. You‘re the best, Becky, and one of the many blessings I count each year. ❣️📚🎄Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! 😊🤗🎊🎉

Wow! Just wow! My #Litsypenpal outdid herself this year! Don‘t know what I did to deserve such an awesome Penpal but I count my blessings each and every day for these bookish acts of kindness! Thanks, @Beck9lol - I love it all and I was just looking at A Monster Calls yesterday thinking how good it looked. I know what I‘ll be doing on my current ‘stay-cation‘‼️ Happy Halloween, Becky! 🎃👻🤡💀🎃😊👽☠️ (That skull wrapping paper tho...🙌👍💀❣️)

September goals. Also adding to the mix ‘Just Mercy‘ by Bryan Stevenson as a buddy read with my super fabulous #LitsyPenpal! I‘ve been in a reading slump as of late so wish me luck! 📚📚🥰

My super fabulous Litsy pen-pal @Beck9lol strikes again with all kinds of summer pampering awesomeness!! Becky, this made a busy/crazy last few weeks much more bearable! Thanks for everything ... it will all be used in good health! Here‘s hoping for cooler temps soon! Happy summer, my dear! 🥰😎🔥📚❣️🌞🌻🌸 #Litsypenpal

May at the moment! 🥰😎🌼🐝📚🌞❤️

Spring has sprung in Kentucky and April is also #AussieApril month! If you‘re into Book Tube, check out the fabulous Jaclyn; native Australian living and lawyering in Houston, TX for some great Aussie recc‘s. Tune in at: Jaclyn // Six Minutes For Me. Yay spring ... yay books! 😃🦋🌸📚🇦🇺

Eye of the March Madness storm. 🏀📚🍷

@Beck9lol - After a great birthday dinner out post surgery look what was on my doorstep yesterday evening! Becky, you get me and I can‘t wait to dive into these awesome reads while I‘m home, healing and doing therapy hip excercises over and over again. The wrapping paper reminds me of Jane Austen! I love it all! So sweet and thank you so much. These will see me through my post op recovery! Best #LitsyPenpal ever! ❣️❣️❣️📚 🥰

Comfortable post op reading. 📚🥰 #Februarywinterpeople

A dark, cute and funny (short) tale about the good side of humans and wretched side as well. Anything with foxes on the cover or in the story line, I‘m sold! The day dreaming Fox 8 and I could be besties for sure! Five stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Down side is I am having hip replacement surgery the end of the month but happy news is while I‘m off work due to limited mobility and post op I can read, read, read! Boo hip .. YAY books! 😊

Enjoying this very much! Such beautiful, mystical storytelling at its finest with a deeper message at its core. Nice debut from Ayobami Adebayo. @BeaG @monalyisha #NewYearWhodis

It‘s National Cuddle Up Day so I‘m doing just that. First book of 2019. 📚🥰

Look at all these beautiful gifts @Beck9lol gave me! Truly the best #LitsyPenPal Christmas ever! All of these have been on my radar and can‘t wait to dive in. I‘ve become a huge fan of Ottessa Moshfegh as of late. I know she‘s not everyone‘s cup of tea but she keeps her lit biting, a bit on the nasty side and very real. Go Steelers! Love the festive beanie-you nailed it, girlfriend! All the feels for everything. Thanks, Becky! ❣️🎄😊🎅🏻📚😘 👇

@Beck9lol - your package arrived safe and sound on my doorstep! My #LitsyPenPal is the best!! Whoever penned the quote, ‘patience is a virtue‘ obviously didn‘t get fab bookish swag throughout the year. Most of my family and friends are traveling for the holidays and I‘ll be flinging books and memberships at B&N so Christmas Day will be spent with lots of hot tea, wine, snacks and a pillow fort. Thanks, Becky! This warms my heart. ❣️🎄🎅🏻 📚

@Beck9lol .. Thank you so much for the awesome Halloween box of goodies!! It's all perfect and can't wait to dive into the Joe Hill and Deborah Harkness scary reads. Those puzzle books will be a nice break during my pillow fort read-a-thons at home!! I love it all .. so very thoughtful! My #LitsyPenpal rules! 📚🎃😺😘❣🤗📚

Massive Muppet arms, folks!! My #LitsyPenpal ✍ has brightened my fall and Halloween once again!! @Beck9lol .. I can't wait to open this but will practice patience. One more day of work and will open this up on Saturday with more pics! Thanks Becky - you're the tops!! ❣📚🎃🍂🎃 Your autumnal gift is shipping out next week! 🎃🤗💗

Ahhh ... vacation and August TBR‼️ 📚💚❤️💛 🤗

A huge shoutout and thank you to my spectacular, thoughtful and awesome #LitsyPenpal @Beck9lol for these perfect summertime gifts. Now I just need to plan a beach vacay!! Can't wait to dive into 'Call Me By Your Name' and break out these super cute and festive flip flop page clips!! Thanks again Becky .. you're the best! Love our Litsy community! ❣💜😄📚

A glorious spring day in Kentucky (and a weekend off from my bookseller duties 😊) has lured me at last to my favorite reading spot on the literary home lido deck.I didn't sign up for the @DeweysReadathon but attempting a personal reading challenge of my own this weekend! Happy reading to all who are participating!! Yay books! ❤️📚❤️🌻🌞☀️

I hope my awesome, wonderful #LitsyPenpal forgives my tardiness in getting her April birthday box of goodies out the door but it's winging its way to you @Beck9lol !! Wishing you the happiest of birthdays and hope you're relaxing and pampering yourself .. all month long!! Big, bookish love to you, my dear #Penpal! 📚❣🌻💃🎂🍷🐾🐶🎈🎉💛🖊

@Beck9lol has spoiled me again! Thank you so much for the cute doggie card (hi Foxy!!), glorious books (none of which I have or have read!), cute (and informative) wine tea towel, adorable Nancy Drew sleuth pin and garden seed collection for my deck this spring .. can't wait and ready to dive into these book gems and the cute whale wrapping paper, tho‼️ ❤️📚🎁😃🤗 A thousand thanks, Becky ... my brilliant #LitsyPenpal! 😘🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

This birthday girls day is off to a great, literary start! 📚🌟😊

@Beck9lol - Look what quietly landed on my doorstep yesterday! I've said it once and I'll say it again .. best #Penpal in the universe! My birthday is next week so I shall practice mucho restraint! Thanks so much, Becky! ✍ *Massive Muppet arms* 🎉🎉🎈❣🎁💌 #Februarybirthdays

Oh! My! Goodness!! My #LitsyPenpal is the bomb.com! I love everything @Beck9lol and I don't own any of these books and have had them on my to read list this year!! ❤️💜📚 You are the best and that elephant mug, Ghiradelli chocolates and Steeler ornament tho... Not pictured is a heavenly lemon/citrus bath bomb that I can't wait to use! Love, love, love it all! Thanks, Becky! I'm looking forward to another fun, bookish pen pal year‼️📚🎄🎅🏻✍❣

@readswellwithothers has truly spoiled me! Everything is perfect and love that you shopped local, too! I love everything and must confess I tried some of that awesome chocolate while I opened everything‼️The candle and lip balm smell amazing and the Santa bird pen is too darn cute! Can't wait to dig into these lovely reads from Norway & East Africa and of course One Dark Throne!! The journal will get plenty of use as well! #SecretSantaGoesPostal

Merlin's beard!! Look what I found on my doorstep last night after work‼️ This gave me loads of cheer after a loooong day of book slinging! My ever fabulous and awesome sauce #Penpal @Beck9lol ✍ made my day!! I'll try and be patient until Christmas morning‼️ 😊💞🌟📚🎄🎅🏻❄️ Thanks, Becky!! ❣📚

Aaaaaand .. it's off and hoping Santa's sleigh will get my Secret Litten's package to its destination swiftly and securely‼️ Wishing all my Litsy family Happy Holidays, Merry Christmas and a most happy, extra bookish New Year!! 🎅🏻📚❤️🎄 #SecretSantaGoesPostal #WinterSolsticeBookExchange @MrBook @BookBabe @Avanders

I heard about this YA book from Kendra Winchester on either a Reading Women podcast or her BookTube channel (check them both out if you haven't already)! So glad I picked it up! Each chapter unfolds a piece of a puzzle for Miranda involving mysterious notes and talks of time travel and helping her mom prepare for the $20,000 Pyramid game show! Paying homage to Madeleine L'Engles 'A Wrinkle in Time' I could not put it down. 5 out 5 stars🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟❣