Have you done a mid-year reading check-in yet? πŸ“š
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What a wild year 2022 has been so far πŸ˜΅β€πŸ’« I've found new favorite authors, made progress on my original TBR, checked out some great backlist books, and hit some super exciting goals! πŸ™ŒπŸΌ I'm not going to *just* share my faves or least faves, but instead I'm going to share some of the fun stats from my reading year so far! 🀎
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- Out of the 30 books I just *HAD TO* read this year, I've read 24
- Out of my numerical goal of 120 for the whole year, I've read 119
- I've rated 44 books with 4.5/5 stars (hence my struggle when someone asks for a favorite from the year so far)
- I've read 16 ARCs from 12 different publishers (this makes me want to bawl with happiness because this was such a massive goal for me when I began book blogging!)
- I've participated in 10 buddy-reads
- I've added 38 books to my shelves (either purchased by me after I read and loved a book, given as a gift, or sent by a generous author/publisher)
- I've discovered that there's a chance I *might* like romance more than fantasy now and that's totally okay!
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What has your reading looked like in 2022? β˜•οΈ 
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#lightacademiaaesthetic #lightacademia #cozyaesthetic #bookcommunity #thepursuitofcosiness #cozytime #cozybookstagram #bookaesthetic #booktography #bookphotography #vintagemood #bookseverywhere #hyggebookstyle #quietshadesofbrown #bookmoments #ofcosymoments #booksandcoffee #coffeeandbooks #fortheloveofreading #bookrecommendations #booksuggestions #booksonbooks #booknookstagram #midyearreadingchallenge #readinggoals #storygraph #readingstats #perfectespressopour
Which of your childhood favorites would you like t Which of your childhood favorites would you like to see reimagined? πŸ“–
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When I found out that GALLANT had The Secret Garden vibes, I was really excited because that was one of my favorites as a kid ⛲️ I think it would be really neat to see this story retold by a few other authors as well (looking at you, Marissa Meyer) πŸ™ŒπŸΌ
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Some of the other stories I loved as a kid that I'd like to see "adulted" are:
πŸ‘‘ A Little Princess
πŸ§žβ€β™‚οΈ Aladdin
 🐁 Stuart Little (it could be cute okay? like some kind of fantasy?)
πŸ‘’ Madeline
⚜️ Rumplestiltskin (I've only seen this done once and I wasn’t obsessed so I need more!)
β˜‚οΈ Mary Poppins
🐎 Misty of Chincoteague
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Did you enjoy any of those stories as a kid? 🀎 
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#veschwab #gallant #veschwabfeatures #schwabstagram #readersofinstagram #booksofig #bookgrammer #bookgram #instabooks #bookgasm #fantasybooks #bookishfeatures #booktography #booklover #bibliophilelife #readersofig #readersgonnaread #bookaesthetic #instareads #readerlife #bookishlove #bookstagram #thesecretgarden #retelling #90sbooks #childhoodbooks #childhoodbooksrevisited #bookflatlay
Why did you join bookstagram? πŸ“– β €β €β €β €β € Why did you join bookstagram? πŸ“–
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Long story short, I joined bookstagram in 2020 because I love books and I love talking about books, but I never had a space to do that πŸ€·πŸ»β€β™€οΈ After years of fashion blogging and feeling out of place because of my interests, I wound up on this side of IG and realized that it felt like home 🀎
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I schemed up a name (something to do with coffee and books that didn't have the words "coffee" or "books" in it), took a few photos, created a profile, and went to town πŸ™ŒπŸΌ It wasn't long before I completely FELL IN LOVE with the supportive community, safe space to find new books and talk about the ones I love, and really cultivate my photography skills (which had been lying dormant for far too long) πŸ™ˆ
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Now, I'm thrilled to have connected with favorite authors, created my own hashtag (hey there #perfectespressopour β˜•οΈ), reviewed incredible books, launched my own line of merch, and made tons of new friends 🫢🏼 When I begin to feel down about the numbers or the lack of inspiration, I remind myself of why I started in the first place and I find myself falling in love all over again πŸ₯Ή
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Thank you for being part of my bookstagram journey πŸ“š
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#cozyaesthetic #mybeigelife #bookcommunity #thepursuitofcosiness #cozytime #fortheloveofreading #bookaesthetic #booksandcoffee #cozybookstagram #cozyvibes #cozycore #cozylife #hyggebookstyle #coffeecoffeecoffee #coffeeandbooks #bookstagram #booktography #bookflatlay #booksuggestions #bookrecommendations #booksta #bookphotography #bookswithmagic #booksaremagic #booknerdigan
Tell me your most recent "new-to-you" fave author Tell me your most recent "new-to-you" fave author and which book made you fall in love with their work πŸ“š
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A couple months back, I had the privilege of reading an advanced copy of The Wonderland Trials by @saraellawrites... and I immediately fell head over heels in love 😍 Needless to say, I instantly added her entire backlist to my TBR πŸ™ˆ
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Lately, I've been feeling a bit disappointed with fantasy (which has always been my favorite genre) πŸ˜• It seems like each time I pick one up, I'm either completely uninterested in the story or it just falls flat - but The Wonderland Trials absolutely blew me away! 🀯 If you're looking for something that really stands out amongst the rest, you certainly need to pick this one up! 🫢🏼
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Have you read any great Alice in Wonderland reimaginings? πŸ‡ 
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#mybeigemood #cozyvibes #beigeaesthetic #coffeeandbooks #coffeegram #booktography #bookaesthetic #bookflatlay #bookrecommendations #booksofinstagram #booksandcoffee #cozybookstagram #calmversation #bookishthoughts #bookgram #bookblogger #cozyaesthetic #hyggebookstyle #mybookfeatures #mycozyretreat #ofcosymoments #bookstagram #bookmoments #booksaremagic #booksuggestions #thewonderlandtrials #aliceinwonderland #fantasybookrecs #yafantasybooks #fairytaleretellings
Recommend me an underrated queer book! πŸ³οΈβ€πŸŒˆ
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In my world, every month is #pridemonth and I always, always have queer books on my TBR (not just white mlm, but a wide range of lgbtqia+ stories) πŸ™ŒπŸΌ It's important to me to constantly be diversifying my shelves, learning more about the people around me, and continuing to create a safe environment for everyone in my little corner of the web 🀎
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My goal for June was to pack my TBR with as many queer books as I could in CELEBRATION of Pride Month, so I've already read 4 books with lgbtq rep:
πŸ¦‰ Wild is the Witch by Rachel Griffin
🌎 The Never Tilting World by Rin Chupeco
πŸ“Ί The Charm Offensive by Alison Cochrun
🌌 Written in the Stars by Alexandria Bellefluer
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I'm currently reading 3:
πŸ«– A Psalm for the Wild-Built by Becky Chambers
🩸 Blood Like Magic by Liselle Sambury
πŸ–Œ Portrait of a Thief by Grace D Li
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 And I have 2 more on my immediate list:
πŸ₯€ Malice by Heather Walter
β˜€οΈ Black Sun by Rebecca Roanhorse
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Have you read any of these? πŸ“š 
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#lightacademiaaesthetic #lightacademia #cozyaesthetic #bookcommunity #thepursuitofcosiness #cozytime #cozybookstagram #bookaesthetic #booktography #bookphotography #vintagemood #bookseverywhere #hyggebookstyle #quietshadesofbrown #bookmoments #ofcosymoments #booksandcoffee #coffeeandbooks #fortheloveofreading #bookrecommendations #booksuggestions #booksonbooks #booknookstagram #queerbooks #readqueerallyear #queerreads #lgbtbooks #queeryourshelves #flippingpages
Favorite Shadow and Bone character? 🦌 β €β €β € Favorite Shadow and Bone character? 🦌
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I'm officially considering this Shadow and Bone week, between celebrating the 10th anniversary of the book and finding out about Ben narrating the Demon in the Wood audiobook! πŸ₯‚ 
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Also, catch me counting down the days until when I get to see my babies on-screen again (can we get a season 2 premiere date, please?) πŸ“Ί
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To answer my own question, Genya is my very favorite Shadow and Bone character 🀍 In fact, I have plans for a Genya tattoo in the near future πŸ™ŒπŸΌ
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Are you as excited for the audiobook and season 2 of the show as I am? 🀩 
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#lightacademiaaesthetic #lightacademia #cozyaesthetic #bookcommunity #thepursuitofcosiness #cozytime #cozybookstagram #bookaesthetic #booktography #bookphotography #vintagemood #bookseverywhere #hyggebookstyle #quietshadesofbrown #bookmoments #ofcosymoments #booksandcoffee #coffeeandbooks #fortheloveofreading #bookrecommendations #booksuggestions #booksonbooks #booknookstagram #shadowandbone #grishaverse #genyasafin #leighbardugo #grishaversary #binbons
Do you have a favorite book dedication? ✍🏼
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I've found a few recently that have definitely stood out to me πŸ‘€ Sometimes a dedication sets the mood for the book and that's something I really love! 🀎
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A few that have blown my mind recently are:
πŸͺž GALLANT (pictured) by VE Schwab
πŸ‘‘ FOR THE THRONE (actually, both of The Wilderwood books have fabulous dedications) by Hannah Whitten
πŸ›« EARLY DEPARTURES by Justin A. Reynolds
πŸ“– THE MIDNIGHT LIBRARY by Matt Haig
πŸ’” ONCE UPON A BROKEN HEART by Stephanie Garber
πŸ₯˜ WITH THE FIRE ON HIGH by Elizabeth Acevedo
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Have you read any of these magnificent books? πŸ“š 
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#lightacademiaaesthetic #lightacademia #cozyaesthetic #bookcommunity #thepursuitofcosiness #cozytime #cozybookstagram #bookaesthetic #booktography #bookphotography #vintagemood #bookseverywhere #hyggebookstyle #quietshadesofbrown #bookmoments #ofcosymoments #booksandcoffee #coffeeandbooks #fortheloveofreading #bookrecommendations #booksuggestions #booksonbooks #booknookstagram #bookdedications #gallant #veschwab #gallantbook #fantasybooks #fantasyreader
Is there a book you've read this year that is unli Is there a book you've read this year that is unlike anything else you've ever read? πŸ“–
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When I read THE ATLAS SIX in April, I was blown away by how unique it was! 🀯 I have never in my life read another book like it and that's part of why it got 5 stars from me ⭐️ Sure, it started at a slower pace but the further the story progressed, the more fascinating it was (and the pacing at the beginning made far more sense because it led to absolute BRILLIANCE) πŸ™ŒπŸΌ
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I don't read much dark academia, so recommend some titles to me (THAT AREN'T AS WELL KNOWN) that you've enjoyed! πŸ›
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#mybeigemood #cozyvibes #beigeaesthetic #coffeeandbooks #coffeegram #booktography #bookaesthetic #bookflatlay #bookrecommendations #booksofinstagram #booksandcoffee #cozybookstagram #calmversation #bookishthoughts #bookgram #bookblogger #cozyaesthetic #hyggebookstyle #mybookfeatures #mycozyretreat #ofcosymoments #bookstagram #bookmoments #booksaremagic #booksuggestions #darkacademia #theatlassix #darkacademiabooks
Do you enjoy books that are less plot, more ✨vib Do you enjoy books that are less plot, more ✨vibes✨?
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I definitely do! 🫢🏼 In the past few years, I've read more and more books like this and they always leave me feeling utterly fascinated (and maybe a little confused?) πŸ€” I gotta say that writing reviews for them can be a bit tough, but reading them is a lot of fun πŸ™ˆ
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Books I enjoy that are no plot, just vibes:
🐝 The Starless Sea
πŸŽͺ The Night Circus
πŸ’ƒπŸ» Where Dreams Descend
πŸͺΆ The Raven Cycle
πŸšͺ The Ten Thousand Doors of January
πŸ§™πŸ»β€β™€οΈ The Once and Future Witches
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Have you read any of these? πŸ“– 
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#mybeigemood #cozyvibes #beigeaesthetic #coffeeandbooks #coffeegram #booktography #bookaesthetic #bookflatlay #bookrecommendations #booksofinstagram #booksandcoffee #cozybookstagram #calmversation #bookishthoughts #bookgram #bookblogger #cozyaesthetic #hyggebookstyle #mybookfeatures #mycozyretreat #ofcosymoments #bookstagram #bookmoments #booksaremagic #booksuggestions #noplotjustvibes #turningpages #booktography #bookphotography
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Books · January 12, 2021

Interview With Joanna Ruth Meyer, Author of “Into the Heartless Wood”

into the heartless wood book with pouring coffee and candles
into the heartless wood book with french press coffee and cardigan
into the heartless wood and echo north book stack and candles
Author Interview with Joanna Ruth Meyer | The Espresso Edition

Bookish friends, I am geeking out right now! I had the immense pleasure of getting to interview my favorite author, Joanna Ruth Meyer.

Let me give you a little background to start. At the beginning of 2020, I listened to the audiobook, Echo North, on a total whim. It floored me. I had never read anything like it and that shocked me. Fantasy is my favorite genre, but sometimes fantasy novels can all begin to sound the same at a certain point. This book was like a breath of fresh air!

I immediately took to Goodreads to research the author, Joanna Ruth Meyer. I wanted to see if she had any other books I could gobble up. It turned out that Echo North wasn’t her first. Beneath the Haunting Sea had been released in 2018 and the sequel, Beyond the Shadowed Earth, had just dropped! I was delighted! I made plans to read those two books as soon as possible and proceeded to follow her on Instagram.

Author Interview with Joanna Ruth Meyer | The Espresso Edition

Not only did I absolutely love the next two books that I read by Joanna, but I began to have bits of conversation with her here and there on social media.

Let it be known that the first time I got a response via DM, I cried. No joke. It was like a dream come true when I found out that she was writing another book. When I won an advanced reader copy in a giveaway, I screeched and then proceeded to dance around the house for the rest of the day.

Her newest book, Into the Heartless Wood, was not only my favorite read of 2020, but it is easily my favorite book of all time. There’s quite literally no comparison. It brought me to tears and… wait… why am I telling you all that here? I have a full review you can go read! This book is officially available for purchase today, and in celebration, I’m sharing an awesome interview I got to have with the author herself!

Author Interview with Joanna Ruth Meyer | The Espresso Edition
What part of this book-writing process made you the very happiest?

Joanna: I really enjoyed writing Seren’s viewpoint scenes! It was such an interesting exercise to get into the head of a non-human character, and I loved thinking through how a girl who was born a tree would perceive and interact with the world.

I know you live in a dry, hot state – so did you find yourself lacking inspiration at any point when writing about dark and chilly forests?

Joanna: Writing HEARTLESS was kind of a delicious escape from the desertβ€”it was one of those books I got immersed in to the point where I truly felt I was in that world while writing it. I also managed to escape up north to cooler climes and pine trees a few times, which helpedβ€”I finished both the first and second drafts up there!

This book is described as a gender-swapped Beauty and the Beast retelling. Do you plan to write any more fairytale retellings in the future?

Joanna: I would love to, if the correct ideas present themselves! I have a pseudo-Rapunzel reimagining rattling around in my headβ€”we’ll see if I can hash out a plot enough to write it!

What was something you edited out of this book?

Joanna: In the first draft, Owen goes to work as a cook for a team of people building the railroad track, and is the only person to survive an attack by tree sirens. It got changed for a number of logistical reasons, and also because the train crash scene is (hopefully!!) more compelling.

Will we see Owen and Seren again in the future?

Joanna: I started writing a post-epilogue short story, which I do want to finish at some pointβ€”no future novels planned, though!

Your Instagram seems to indicate that you love Lord of the Rings. Who is your favorite character and why?

Joanna: My faves are Eowyn and Sam! Sam is so loyal and brave and the best person to have ever existed. Eowyn is so awesomeβ€”she slays! the Nazgul! king! and she’s so fierce and strong and loves so deeply and her character totally got massacred in the movie ask me if I’m still upset about that. My screen name β€œgamwyn” is a mashup of Gamgee (Sam) and Eowyn. 

Would you ever want your books turned into movies?

Joanna: Yes!!!! But I would want the power to veto changes I didn’t like. XD

What is it that you loved most about Into the Heartless Wood (could be anything from the characters to the setting to the actual style of writing to the cover design)?

Joanna: I love Owen and Seren so much! They gave me so many feels whilst writing, and even though I’ve been out of their story for awhile now, I still feel all the feels when I think about them! I really hope readers will love them as much as I do.

An enormous thank-you to Joanna for agreeing to this interview! Make sure to pick up your copy of Into the Heartless Wood today.


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Interview With Joanna Ruth Meyer, Author of Into the Heartless Wood | The Espresso Edition
Interview With Author Joanna Ruth Meyer | The Espresso Edition

In: Books · Tagged: author interview, Beneath the Haunting Sea, Beyond the Hallowed Earth, Echo North, fantasy author, fantasy book, Into the Heartless Wood, Joanna Ruth Meyer

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Comments

  1. Kayleigh Zara says

    January 12, 2021 at 10:16 AM

    I just wanted to start with your blog looks absolutely gorgeous! I really love the layout and the colour scheme. I’ve not read the book but I love the answers the author gave x

    Reply
    • Stephanie Whitman says

      January 12, 2021 at 11:18 AM

      Thank you very much! This rebrand from She Saw Style to The Espresso Edition was really special to me πŸ™‚ And I’m not surprised you haven’t read it, seeing as how it came out today πŸ˜‰ But you certainly should read it! It’s phenomenal!

      Reply
  2. Reagan says

    January 12, 2021 at 2:26 PM

    Great interview! Thanks for the book recommends.

    Reply
    • Stephanie Whitman says

      January 12, 2021 at 4:17 PM

      I hope you got a chance to check out the review itself since this is just the interview πŸ™‚ I highly recommend all of Joanna’s books!

      Reply
  3. Anika says

    January 12, 2021 at 2:30 PM

    It’s always nice to read about an author’s creative process, so much to admire! I haven’t heard of this book before, so definitely one to look into, the characters sound great πŸ‘πŸΎ

    Anika | chaptersofmay.com

    Reply
    • Stephanie Whitman says

      January 12, 2021 at 4:18 PM

      It’s really fun to see how it all comes together. Learning a little more about her creative process with this book was such a great experience, especially since it’s my favorite book ever!

      Reply
  4. Annie says

    January 12, 2021 at 3:09 PM

    I’ve never heard of this author or her books, but I’m so intrigued, plus I love your taste in books, so I’m going to check this out. Thanks for the fun interview too. I want to reread it after I’ve read her books, I’m sure it will make more sense to me then, but for now it’s made me so curious about this series.

    Reply
    • Stephanie Whitman says

      January 12, 2021 at 4:29 PM

      She’s an underrated author, for sure. I’m not sure why her books aren’t more hyped – specifically, Echo North and this new release, Into the Heartless Wood. I hope you do give her books a go and enjoy them as much as I do. They’re absolutely incredible and she deserves all the recognition!

      Reply
  5. Luke Slater says

    January 12, 2021 at 3:24 PM

    What a fantastic post this is, and certainly a good book recommendation here. I’ll have to keep a good look out for it 😁

    Reply
    • Stephanie Whitman says

      January 12, 2021 at 4:30 PM

      Into the Heartless Wood is definitely my favorite book, but I highly recommend anything Joanna writes!

      Reply
  6. Malia Reed says

    January 12, 2021 at 4:59 PM

    How exciting! This was such a phenomenal opportunity! If I’m being honest, I can’t remember the last time I read for pleasure, but I’m definitely making it a point to start reading more this year (outside of my college textbooks lol)! I’ll have to give Joanna’s books a look!

    Reply
    • Stephanie Whitman says

      January 13, 2021 at 8:49 AM

      That’s so sad to hear. Reading for pleasure is such an excellent form of self-care (specifically if it’s something you enjoy). I hope you’re able to make a little extra time for it this year. And YES! Definitely give her books a try. They’re really the best of the best!

      Reply
  7. Janzy says

    January 12, 2021 at 5:08 PM

    Very cool! I’d love to look into these interesting books! I’m obsessed with Sam too & my social handle used to be @jangamgee haha.

    Reply
    • Stephanie Whitman says

      January 13, 2021 at 8:50 AM

      I think you’d really enjoy them (just based on knowing what kind of books you already like)! πŸ™‚ I think that username is absolutely adorable!

      Reply
  8. Kelly Diane says

    January 13, 2021 at 2:45 AM

    I really enjoyed reading this interview. I could feel the excitement radiating from you and it just really made me smile. I’m not usually a fan of this genre but I do really enjoy reading about what the author thinks. I’m so nosy, I just love getting to know people more.

    Reply
    • Stephanie Whitman says

      January 13, 2021 at 8:50 AM

      It was so much fun to just chat with her about all of this. I’ve already been geeking out over the book (and I’m getting ready to do a reread), so knowing what her process was like was extra special!

      Reply
  9. Sarah Lindner says

    January 13, 2021 at 8:35 AM

    Very cool and great interview…what an awesome opportunity! xoxo, Sarah

    Reply
    • Stephanie Whitman says

      January 13, 2021 at 8:51 AM

      It really was so special to be able to talk with my favorite author about my favorite book – I mean, how surreal is that? Such a neat experience!

      Reply
  10. Tanvi Rastogi says

    January 13, 2021 at 9:11 AM

    First time hearing of the author and I am intrigued. I will definitely check out her work. What a fabulous experience for you to be able to interview her.

    β₯ tanvii.com

    Reply
    • Stephanie Whitman says

      January 13, 2021 at 11:25 AM

      I don’t know why she isn’t super well known yet. It baffles me, considering how phenomenal her work is! I often wonder why the popular books are popular in the first place when I know so many that are *cough*better*cough* haha! I hope you get a chance to read some of her work!

      Reply
  11. Rach says

    January 13, 2021 at 9:54 AM

    OMG this is incredible that you interviewed your favorite author! This is incredible! I’ll have to check out her books because I trust your book recommendations!

    http://www.rdsobsessions.com

    Reply
    • Stephanie Whitman says

      January 13, 2021 at 11:26 AM

      It really was an amazing experience. I felt so honored to get the chance to chat with her like this. She’s not only a brilliant writer – but the sweetest person too! I hope you love her books as much as I do!

      Reply
  12. rebecca says

    January 13, 2021 at 10:49 AM

    WOW steph! what an amazing experience! Now I need to put some of these books up next to read on my list, they sound really great and if they are your faves, I gotta check em out!

    xx rebecca // thecrystalpress.com

    Reply
    • Stephanie Whitman says

      January 13, 2021 at 11:27 AM

      I’m glad you trust my judgment haha! That makes me smile πŸ™‚ I definitely recommend all her books, but specifically Echo North and this new release, Into the Heartless Wood (my GOSH this book is SO GOOD).

      Reply
  13. Anna English says

    January 13, 2021 at 12:20 PM

    I haven’t heard of this author or any of these books, but I’m going to check out now!

    Reply
    • Stephanie Whitman says

      January 14, 2021 at 9:42 AM

      I’m sure you’ve heard of Into the Heartless Wood because I wrote a review on it last August that you left a comment on πŸ™‚ It’s my favorite book of all time. I hope you get a chance to read her work!

      Reply
  14. Lee says

    January 13, 2021 at 2:09 PM

    Ah I love that you got to interview your favorite author, that is amazing!!

    Reply
    • Stephanie Whitman says

      January 14, 2021 at 9:43 AM

      It was a dream come true. She’s become such an inspiration to me over the past year. I’m so grateful that I got to “sit down with her” in this way!

      Reply
  15. Caitlin says

    January 14, 2021 at 6:26 AM

    Wow this is such an amazing opportunity! I’ve never interviewed an author but I often imagine all of the questions I would ask him/her about their thought process when writing a book. So so cool!

    Reply
    • Stephanie Whitman says

      January 14, 2021 at 9:47 AM

      Because Into the Heartless Wood is my favorite book, it was an even more incredible opportunity to ask her all of my most pressing questions! Such a special experience, that’s for sure.

      Reply
  16. Greta says

    January 14, 2021 at 10:29 PM

    How fun it must have been to interview one of your favorite authors! I’ll have to read this book for myself!

    Reply
    • Stephanie Whitman says

      January 15, 2021 at 4:30 PM

      It really was such a special experience! I’m so grateful that she agreed to chat with me!

      Reply
  17. Venus says

    January 18, 2021 at 1:44 AM

    WOW! Just wow this must have been so exciting for you to be able to interview one of your favorite authors. The questions you created was so detailed and well noted. What a great interview.

    Reply
    • Stephanie Whitman says

      January 18, 2021 at 6:10 PM

      It really was an awesome experience! Definitely still pinching myself over the fact that I got to chat with my favorite author about my favorite book! Thanks so much for the encouragement on it πŸ™‚

      Reply
  18. Cassidy Poe says

    January 18, 2021 at 4:34 PM

    This is so fun! I love that you were able to sit and interview one of your favorite authors. The books sound so good!

    Reply
    • Stephanie Whitman says

      January 18, 2021 at 6:10 PM

      It was truly a special moment in my blogging career. I’m really hopeful that more people read the book because I can’t seem to shut up about it haha. It’s amazing!

      Reply
  19. Kelly Bolen says

    January 18, 2021 at 7:37 PM

    Sounds like this was an amazing opportunity! I wil need to take a look at her books!!

    Reply
  20. Alice says

    January 20, 2021 at 7:04 AM

    Wow! What a treat that you were able to interview your favorite author! I too love fantasy novels. Her book sounds great! I’m going to have to pick this one up!

    Xo Alice

    Reply
  21. Jennifer Prince says

    January 20, 2021 at 11:41 AM

    How AMAZING that you reached out to her and she answered your questions. I love it!! It’s so interesting to hear the author’s insights. Kudos to you for trying – what a win!

    Reply
  22. Linda says

    January 21, 2021 at 4:32 PM

    How fun! I imagine I would be dancing around the house if I got a DM reply from one of my fav chefs. What a cool experience!

    Reply
  23. Genesis says

    January 22, 2021 at 5:00 PM

    I always wonder if authors want their books to be movies. It was cool to hear some personal answers from an author. So cool that you could get in contact with her!

    Reply
  24. Jamaria Johnson says

    January 24, 2021 at 8:11 PM

    I’m always fascinated by creatives and how they achieve such great works that we all treasure! This was so awesome, thanks for sharing! Now I have to read this book! xo

    Reply
  25. Em says

    January 24, 2021 at 8:24 PM

    I am loving your rebrand! This author interview is so cool! πŸ₯°

    Reply

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Have you done a mid-year reading check-in yet? πŸ“š
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What a wild year 2022 has been so far πŸ˜΅β€πŸ’« I've found new favorite authors, made progress on my original TBR, checked out some great backlist books, and hit some super exciting goals! πŸ™ŒπŸΌ I'm not going to *just* share my faves or least faves, but instead I'm going to share some of the fun stats from my reading year so far! 🀎
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- Out of the 30 books I just *HAD TO* read this year, I've read 24
- Out of my numerical goal of 120 for the whole year, I've read 119
- I've rated 44 books with 4.5/5 stars (hence my struggle when someone asks for a favorite from the year so far)
- I've read 16 ARCs from 12 different publishers (this makes me want to bawl with happiness because this was such a massive goal for me when I began book blogging!)
- I've participated in 10 buddy-reads
- I've added 38 books to my shelves (either purchased by me after I read and loved a book, given as a gift, or sent by a generous author/publisher)
- I've discovered that there's a chance I *might* like romance more than fantasy now and that's totally okay!
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What has your reading looked like in 2022? β˜•οΈ 
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#lightacademiaaesthetic #lightacademia #cozyaesthetic #bookcommunity #thepursuitofcosiness #cozytime #cozybookstagram #bookaesthetic #booktography #bookphotography #vintagemood #bookseverywhere #hyggebookstyle #quietshadesofbrown #bookmoments #ofcosymoments #booksandcoffee #coffeeandbooks #fortheloveofreading #bookrecommendations #booksuggestions #booksonbooks #booknookstagram #midyearreadingchallenge #readinggoals #storygraph #readingstats #perfectespressopour
Which of your childhood favorites would you like t Which of your childhood favorites would you like to see reimagined? πŸ“–
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When I found out that GALLANT had The Secret Garden vibes, I was really excited because that was one of my favorites as a kid ⛲️ I think it would be really neat to see this story retold by a few other authors as well (looking at you, Marissa Meyer) πŸ™ŒπŸΌ
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Some of the other stories I loved as a kid that I'd like to see "adulted" are:
πŸ‘‘ A Little Princess
πŸ§žβ€β™‚οΈ Aladdin
 🐁 Stuart Little (it could be cute okay? like some kind of fantasy?)
πŸ‘’ Madeline
⚜️ Rumplestiltskin (I've only seen this done once and I wasn’t obsessed so I need more!)
β˜‚οΈ Mary Poppins
🐎 Misty of Chincoteague
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Did you enjoy any of those stories as a kid? 🀎 
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#veschwab #gallant #veschwabfeatures #schwabstagram #readersofinstagram #booksofig #bookgrammer #bookgram #instabooks #bookgasm #fantasybooks #bookishfeatures #booktography #booklover #bibliophilelife #readersofig #readersgonnaread #bookaesthetic #instareads #readerlife #bookishlove #bookstagram #thesecretgarden #retelling #90sbooks #childhoodbooks #childhoodbooksrevisited #bookflatlay
Why did you join bookstagram? πŸ“– β €β €β €β €β € Why did you join bookstagram? πŸ“–
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Long story short, I joined bookstagram in 2020 because I love books and I love talking about books, but I never had a space to do that πŸ€·πŸ»β€β™€οΈ After years of fashion blogging and feeling out of place because of my interests, I wound up on this side of IG and realized that it felt like home 🀎
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I schemed up a name (something to do with coffee and books that didn't have the words "coffee" or "books" in it), took a few photos, created a profile, and went to town πŸ™ŒπŸΌ It wasn't long before I completely FELL IN LOVE with the supportive community, safe space to find new books and talk about the ones I love, and really cultivate my photography skills (which had been lying dormant for far too long) πŸ™ˆ
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Now, I'm thrilled to have connected with favorite authors, created my own hashtag (hey there #perfectespressopour β˜•οΈ), reviewed incredible books, launched my own line of merch, and made tons of new friends 🫢🏼 When I begin to feel down about the numbers or the lack of inspiration, I remind myself of why I started in the first place and I find myself falling in love all over again πŸ₯Ή
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Thank you for being part of my bookstagram journey πŸ“š
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#cozyaesthetic #mybeigelife #bookcommunity #thepursuitofcosiness #cozytime #fortheloveofreading #bookaesthetic #booksandcoffee #cozybookstagram #cozyvibes #cozycore #cozylife #hyggebookstyle #coffeecoffeecoffee #coffeeandbooks #bookstagram #booktography #bookflatlay #booksuggestions #bookrecommendations #booksta #bookphotography #bookswithmagic #booksaremagic #booknerdigan
Tell me your most recent "new-to-you" fave author Tell me your most recent "new-to-you" fave author and which book made you fall in love with their work πŸ“š
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A couple months back, I had the privilege of reading an advanced copy of The Wonderland Trials by @saraellawrites... and I immediately fell head over heels in love 😍 Needless to say, I instantly added her entire backlist to my TBR πŸ™ˆ
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Lately, I've been feeling a bit disappointed with fantasy (which has always been my favorite genre) πŸ˜• It seems like each time I pick one up, I'm either completely uninterested in the story or it just falls flat - but The Wonderland Trials absolutely blew me away! 🀯 If you're looking for something that really stands out amongst the rest, you certainly need to pick this one up! 🫢🏼
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Have you read any great Alice in Wonderland reimaginings? πŸ‡ 
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#mybeigemood #cozyvibes #beigeaesthetic #coffeeandbooks #coffeegram #booktography #bookaesthetic #bookflatlay #bookrecommendations #booksofinstagram #booksandcoffee #cozybookstagram #calmversation #bookishthoughts #bookgram #bookblogger #cozyaesthetic #hyggebookstyle #mybookfeatures #mycozyretreat #ofcosymoments #bookstagram #bookmoments #booksaremagic #booksuggestions #thewonderlandtrials #aliceinwonderland #fantasybookrecs #yafantasybooks #fairytaleretellings
Recommend me an underrated queer book! πŸ³οΈβ€πŸŒˆ
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In my world, every month is #pridemonth and I always, always have queer books on my TBR (not just white mlm, but a wide range of lgbtqia+ stories) πŸ™ŒπŸΌ It's important to me to constantly be diversifying my shelves, learning more about the people around me, and continuing to create a safe environment for everyone in my little corner of the web 🀎
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My goal for June was to pack my TBR with as many queer books as I could in CELEBRATION of Pride Month, so I've already read 4 books with lgbtq rep:
πŸ¦‰ Wild is the Witch by Rachel Griffin
🌎 The Never Tilting World by Rin Chupeco
πŸ“Ί The Charm Offensive by Alison Cochrun
🌌 Written in the Stars by Alexandria Bellefluer
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I'm currently reading 3:
πŸ«– A Psalm for the Wild-Built by Becky Chambers
🩸 Blood Like Magic by Liselle Sambury
πŸ–Œ Portrait of a Thief by Grace D Li
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 And I have 2 more on my immediate list:
πŸ₯€ Malice by Heather Walter
β˜€οΈ Black Sun by Rebecca Roanhorse
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Have you read any of these? πŸ“š 
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#lightacademiaaesthetic #lightacademia #cozyaesthetic #bookcommunity #thepursuitofcosiness #cozytime #cozybookstagram #bookaesthetic #booktography #bookphotography #vintagemood #bookseverywhere #hyggebookstyle #quietshadesofbrown #bookmoments #ofcosymoments #booksandcoffee #coffeeandbooks #fortheloveofreading #bookrecommendations #booksuggestions #booksonbooks #booknookstagram #queerbooks #readqueerallyear #queerreads #lgbtbooks #queeryourshelves #flippingpages
Favorite Shadow and Bone character? 🦌 β €β €β € Favorite Shadow and Bone character? 🦌
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I'm officially considering this Shadow and Bone week, between celebrating the 10th anniversary of the book and finding out about Ben narrating the Demon in the Wood audiobook! πŸ₯‚ 
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Also, catch me counting down the days until when I get to see my babies on-screen again (can we get a season 2 premiere date, please?) πŸ“Ί
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To answer my own question, Genya is my very favorite Shadow and Bone character 🀍 In fact, I have plans for a Genya tattoo in the near future πŸ™ŒπŸΌ
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Are you as excited for the audiobook and season 2 of the show as I am? 🀩 
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#lightacademiaaesthetic #lightacademia #cozyaesthetic #bookcommunity #thepursuitofcosiness #cozytime #cozybookstagram #bookaesthetic #booktography #bookphotography #vintagemood #bookseverywhere #hyggebookstyle #quietshadesofbrown #bookmoments #ofcosymoments #booksandcoffee #coffeeandbooks #fortheloveofreading #bookrecommendations #booksuggestions #booksonbooks #booknookstagram #shadowandbone #grishaverse #genyasafin #leighbardugo #grishaversary #binbons
Do you have a favorite book dedication? ✍🏼
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I've found a few recently that have definitely stood out to me πŸ‘€ Sometimes a dedication sets the mood for the book and that's something I really love! 🀎
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A few that have blown my mind recently are:
πŸͺž GALLANT (pictured) by VE Schwab
πŸ‘‘ FOR THE THRONE (actually, both of The Wilderwood books have fabulous dedications) by Hannah Whitten
πŸ›« EARLY DEPARTURES by Justin A. Reynolds
πŸ“– THE MIDNIGHT LIBRARY by Matt Haig
πŸ’” ONCE UPON A BROKEN HEART by Stephanie Garber
πŸ₯˜ WITH THE FIRE ON HIGH by Elizabeth Acevedo
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Have you read any of these magnificent books? πŸ“š 
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#lightacademiaaesthetic #lightacademia #cozyaesthetic #bookcommunity #thepursuitofcosiness #cozytime #cozybookstagram #bookaesthetic #booktography #bookphotography #vintagemood #bookseverywhere #hyggebookstyle #quietshadesofbrown #bookmoments #ofcosymoments #booksandcoffee #coffeeandbooks #fortheloveofreading #bookrecommendations #booksuggestions #booksonbooks #booknookstagram #bookdedications #gallant #veschwab #gallantbook #fantasybooks #fantasyreader
Is there a book you've read this year that is unli Is there a book you've read this year that is unlike anything else you've ever read? πŸ“–
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When I read THE ATLAS SIX in April, I was blown away by how unique it was! 🀯 I have never in my life read another book like it and that's part of why it got 5 stars from me ⭐️ Sure, it started at a slower pace but the further the story progressed, the more fascinating it was (and the pacing at the beginning made far more sense because it led to absolute BRILLIANCE) πŸ™ŒπŸΌ
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I don't read much dark academia, so recommend some titles to me (THAT AREN'T AS WELL KNOWN) that you've enjoyed! πŸ›
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#mybeigemood #cozyvibes #beigeaesthetic #coffeeandbooks #coffeegram #booktography #bookaesthetic #bookflatlay #bookrecommendations #booksofinstagram #booksandcoffee #cozybookstagram #calmversation #bookishthoughts #bookgram #bookblogger #cozyaesthetic #hyggebookstyle #mybookfeatures #mycozyretreat #ofcosymoments #bookstagram #bookmoments #booksaremagic #booksuggestions #darkacademia #theatlassix #darkacademiabooks
Do you enjoy books that are less plot, more ✨vib Do you enjoy books that are less plot, more ✨vibes✨?
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I definitely do! 🫢🏼 In the past few years, I've read more and more books like this and they always leave me feeling utterly fascinated (and maybe a little confused?) πŸ€” I gotta say that writing reviews for them can be a bit tough, but reading them is a lot of fun πŸ™ˆ
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Books I enjoy that are no plot, just vibes:
🐝 The Starless Sea
πŸŽͺ The Night Circus
πŸ’ƒπŸ» Where Dreams Descend
πŸͺΆ The Raven Cycle
πŸšͺ The Ten Thousand Doors of January
πŸ§™πŸ»β€β™€οΈ The Once and Future Witches
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Have you read any of these? πŸ“– 
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#mybeigemood #cozyvibes #beigeaesthetic #coffeeandbooks #coffeegram #booktography #bookaesthetic #bookflatlay #bookrecommendations #booksofinstagram #booksandcoffee #cozybookstagram #calmversation #bookishthoughts #bookgram #bookblogger #cozyaesthetic #hyggebookstyle #mybookfeatures #mycozyretreat #ofcosymoments #bookstagram #bookmoments #booksaremagic #booksuggestions #noplotjustvibes #turningpages #booktography #bookphotography
Do you enjoy books with illustrations? πŸ–Œ β €β € Do you enjoy books with illustrations? πŸ–Œ
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I definitely do! πŸ™‹πŸ»β€β™€οΈ One of the most pleasant surprises when I opened up GALLANT was seeing the hauntingly beautiful pieces of art inside πŸ–€ It made the story feel more alive and helped me understand the way the character's mind worked 🧠
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There was a similar feeling when I first read THE ATLAS SIX and saw the character art 🎨 It gave the cast so much more depth and it made me wish that more books included pieces like this πŸ“–
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Other additions that make books stand out to me:
πŸ“° Unique chapter breaks (I read a basketball book that was divided into 4 quarters, and a book about an actor divided into acts, things like that)
πŸ’¬ Text messages
πŸ—Ί Maps
✍🏼 Handwriting (especially in the form of letters or lists)
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What are some unique things you like seeing in books? πŸ“š 
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#cozyaesthetic #mybeigelife #bookcommunity #thepursuitofcosiness #cozytime #fortheloveofreading #bookaesthetic #booksandcoffee #cozybookstagram #cozyvibes #cozycore #cozylife #hyggebookstyle #coffeecoffeecoffee #coffeeandbooks #autumnvibes #fallvibes #bookflatlay #bookrecommendations #booksuggestions #readersofinstagram #bookrecs #gallant #gallantbook #veschwab #bookillustrations #bookart #characterart #booktography

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