Do you have a library card? 🪪 Ya girl is the self Do you have a library card? 🪪

Ya girl is the self-proclaimed biggest fan of the library to ever walk the earth 🌍 Okay, that could be an exaggeration, but most of the time it doesn’t feel like one. I cried with happiness over my first library card as a kid, and I won’t purchase a book until I’ve borrowed it from the library and loved it enough to own it. I have 5 library cards, swear by Libby and Hoopla for all of my audiobooks and ebooks, and at this point, I feel like an Arthur tattoo might be necessary (IYKYK) 😂

But I digress... February is National Library Lovers’ Month, and I think you should get a library card (or 5) and celebrate not only the perk of FREE BOOKS but also the countless ways public libraries are integral to our lives and communities! 🙌🏼

What was the last library book you checked out? 📖

—

#nationallibraryloversmonth #libraryloversmonth #bookcommunity #bookphotography #readersofinstagram support your public library, library lovers, bookish vibes, cozy aesthetic, book nerd
If you could only recommend one book for the rest If you could only recommend one book for the rest of your life, what would it be? 📖

This one has been an easy answer for me since 2020, when I read THE MIDNIGHT LIBRARY. It completely changed my life.

Since then, I have recommended it to countless people, and have felt intense amounts of joy as I’ve seen those people recommend it to others, buy copies for friends, suggest it for their book clubs, and come back to me to tell me how it changed their life just like it changed mine 🥰

Which book would you say changed your life for the better? 🤎

—

#themidnightlibrary #magicalrealism #mentalhealthbooks #bookcommunity #bookishvibes Matt Haig, books with mental health rep, magical realism books, book recs, favorite books, escapism, book hangover, reread worthy, comfort book
Would you want to have the same occupation as the Would you want to have the same occupation as the main character(s) in your last read? 💼

I recently finished Thunderhead, and I absolutely would *NOT* want to be a Scythe! 🙅🏻‍♀️ I also definitely wouldn’t want to be in the shoes of the royalty in my other previous read, A Psalm of Storms and Silence 😬

Is there a book character’s “career” that you know you would love to have? 💭

—

#bookcommunity #bookphotography #bookaesthetic #cozyaesthetic #readersofinstagram current read, currently reading, cozy aesthetic, escapism, late-night chapters, what I’m reading
Is there an author who consistently writes books t Is there an author who consistently writes books that bring you to tears? 😭

I have cried while reading every single one of Amber’s books... and that’s only a small part of what keeps me coming back for more 🤎

I’m struggling with even knowing how to put in words what her books mean to me, because even thinking about it is making me tear up 🥹 So instead of trying to craft the perfect thing to say, I’m just going to urge you to read everything she’s written. You can thank me later 🙏🏼

What was the last book that made you cry? 📖

—

#theleavingroom #booklover #bookcommunity #cozyreads #bookishvibes poetry, Amber McBride, The Leaving Room, sapphic books, books that will make you cry, book hangover, book recs, reread worthy, late-night chapters
Who are your favorite book pets? 🐈‍⬛ I absolutely Who are your favorite book pets? 🐈‍⬛

I absolutely love when a book has animals in it—whether that’s someone’s pet, familiar, or when the animal is the main character 😻

I’m always absurdly happy when there’s a cat, and if they have a creative name it’s even better. I think the stand-out for me was a cat named The Darkling in Accidentally Amy. I’ll never forget it! 😂

Do you have a furbaby companion? Tell me all about them! 🐾

—

#cozyreads #readingescape #bookishvibes #bookaesthetic #booknerd book animals, cats of Instagram, book cats, fantasy books, romance books, cozy aesthetic
Do you tend to enjoy book-to-screen adaptations? 🤔 Do you tend to enjoy book-to-screen adaptations? 🤔

I’m always torn between excitement over seeing my favorite stories come to life and anxiety about what they might change and how it could disappoint me 😅

I fell head over heels in love with the adaptation of People We Meet on Vacation 🤎 For those who don’t know, this is not only my favorite EmHen, but it’s my all-time favorite romance book. I was lucky enough to read an ARC of it in 2021 and have inhaled every format of it multiple times since 🥰

I was nervous about the movie, but loved how they stayed true to the *vibe* of PWMOV 🏖️ Even with the changes they did make, Alex and Poppy were precisely as I had always imagined them, and I adored watching every second of their friends to lovers romance 🎥

This is a negativity-free zone! If you loved the PWMOV movie as much as I did, tell me your favorite part of the film! 🍿

—

#romancebooks #peoplewemeetonvacation #romancebooklover #bookishvibes #bookaesthetic romance books, romance reads, Emily Henry, popular romances, book adaptations, romance movie, Netflix
Tell me about your book-related dreams 💭 Do you w Tell me about your book-related dreams 💭

Do you want to open a bookstore? Write a novel? Become an editor? Get a bookish tattoo? Host an author panel? 

This is a place to put your hopes and dreams out there in the universe. You never know what might happen! 😉

As for me? I want to own a book bus that eventually becomes a brick and mortar bookshop with a café and apothecary. I want it to be the kind of comforting and safe atmosphere that allows people to feel like they can just *breathe* for a little while whenever they visit. That’s my dream ☕️

So, if this dream becomes reality, where should I take my book bus first? 📍

—

#bookcommunity #bookphotography #bookaesthetic #cozyreads #readersofinstagram book dreams, cozy aesthetic, bookshop bookstore, book influencer, book blogger
Which books made it to your favorites list in 2025 Which books made it to your favorites list in 2025? 📖

The whole time I was away from this space, I kept having these moments of, “gosh, I wish I was active on booksta right now, if only to rave about the book that I’m currently reading!” 🙈

WHILE THE DARK REMAINS was definitely one of those books 🙌🏼 This story left me utterly speechless in the best way. I can’t wait to read the upcoming sequel. 

Do you have any sequels that you’re anticipating in 2026? 📚

—

#fantasyreads #fantasybooklover #bookcommunity #bookphotography #bookishvibes escapism, book hangover, fantasy world-building, book recs, reread worthy
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Books, Reviews · October 25, 2021

Book Review: How Sweet It Is by Dylan Newton

A huge thank-you to Forever for the review copy of How Sweet It Is by Dylan Newton.

If you want something festive to read this fall but aren’t interested in getting totally spooked, then How Sweet It Is was made for you.

When I first read the synopsis for this book, I instantly knew I was going to love it. An event planner known for her happily ever afters has to plan a book launch for a horror author known as the “Knight of Nightmares”? Yes, please!

It was such a sweet surprise when I received a box of goodies from Forever (an imprint of Grand Central Publishing) and they happened to include a copy of How Sweet It Is! I immediately moved around my planned TBR to read it right away.

This book is really lighthearted and could easily be read in one sitting. It was an excellent escape and a truly fantastic kickstart to the autumn season. I know it’ll be one of my annual fall reads!


Looking for more book reviews?
Click here for the reviews archive

My honest review of How Sweet It Is by Dylan Newton.

Synopsis:

What happens when the queen of romance falls for the king of horror–you get “a hilarious rom-com romp,” perfect for fans of Beach Read. (Kirkus, starred review)

Event planner Kate Sweet is famous for creating the perfect happily-ever-after moment for her clients’ dream weddings. So how is it that her best friend has roped her into planning a bestselling horror writer’s book launch extravaganza? But the second Kate meets—or rather, accidentally maims—the drop-dead-hot Drake Matthews, her well-ordered life quickly transforms into an absolute nightmare.

Drake Matthews is tired of the spotlight and tired of his reputation as the Knight of Nightmares. He’s really a nice guy! But he’s not prepared for Kate, a fearless agent of chaos in steel-tipped stilettos, or for that sweet sting of attraction he feels for her. She’s inspiring him to take his writing in a whole new direction—one that no one expects. Because now Kate and Drake are changing up the rules, and this plot twist might just surprise everyone . . . including themselves.

My Rating: ★★★★★

Content Warnings: (moderate) Bullying, (minor) death of a parent

How Sweet It Is is such a heart-warming, cozy book that is absolutely perfect to read during autumn! It’s been over a month since I first picked it up and I’m still thinking about how cute it was. That’s always a good sign if you ask me!

The mismatched romantic pairing was so much fun and really creative too. An event planner known for her “happily ever afters” who has to put together a book launch for a horror author known as the “Knight of Nightmares”? It’s a cuteness catastrophe waiting to happen!

I loved how Kate had to fight through her fears to really create the perfect event for Drake. From locking herself into a mausoleum while he did research for a book – to hanging out in a haunted attic in order to scheme up the right vibes for the spooky event. And then there’s poor Drake who really wants to just write a romance novel but is afraid to go public with the fact that he’s a closet hopeless romantic since he’s known for the scariest of scary books. I was totally hooked as these two navigated the tricky “this is a professional relationship so we can’t be romantic but we’re totally into each other” waters.

The big “upset” in the second half of the book could be seen coming from a mile away, but I didn’t care in the slightest. The way they worked through their frustration with the situation was done well and even though it was predictable, I never lost interest. Plus, it all happened right after the steamiest part of the book, so I was still intrigued because of that spicy sequence! *wink wink*

One of the great things about this book was how interesting the secondary characters were! It made me think to myself, “I hope that there will be a sequel or tie-in with so-and-so…” SURE ENOUGH, the author is planning to do exactly that, which makes me so happy! I don’t have to say goodbye to the fun cast of characters who were written for this story! I truly can’t wait to find out what happens next.


purchase the book
How Sweet It Is – Amazon | Book Depository | Bookshop | Target

Will you be reading How Sweet It Is?


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In: Books, Reviews · Tagged: book recommendations, book review, book suggestions, books for fall, fall books, How Sweet It Is, How Sweet It Is by Dylan Newton, romance books, romcom

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9 Comments
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Vourneen
4 years ago

I love a lighthearted book and this sounds great! Thanks for sharing your review.
P.s. your blog is beautiful!

Reply
Jo Linsdell
4 years ago

How Sweet It Is by Dylan Newton sounds like a great read for this season. I love a good rom-com.

Reply
readandreviewit
4 years ago

Great review! This sounds like such a cute read, both Kate and Drake sound amazing and I always love reading books about authors so I think I’d find this one really interesting! Thanks for sharing, I’ve added this to my tbr x

Reply
Neely Moldovan
4 years ago

Oh this sounds right up my alley! Will for sure add it to my TBR list!

Reply
Merry Sari
4 years ago

That sounds like a great pick, Steph! I haven’t read this book and would love to add this to my TBR. Thanks for sharing your review x

Reply
Michelle Gast
4 years ago

Great review. Now I want to read it. Thanks for sharing. Adding to my book list!
~Michelle
https://michellescrazybusylife.net

Reply
Lovely
4 years ago

This sounds perfect for the season. Lovely review, I’ll add this to my reading list.
xoxo
Lovely
http://www.mynameislovely.com

Reply
Megan Elliott
4 years ago

This sounds like such a cute book! I’m usually not a huge fan of romance but sometimes it’s a nice change of pace. We could all use some lighthearted, easy reads between the heavier ones!

Reply
Amanda
4 years ago

You never steer me wrong in book suggestions– this one sounds super cute! I love that it has some spooky tie-ins, perfect for when I need a break from thrillers this season.

Reply
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Do you have a library card? 🪪 Ya girl is the self Do you have a library card? 🪪

Ya girl is the self-proclaimed biggest fan of the library to ever walk the earth 🌍 Okay, that could be an exaggeration, but most of the time it doesn’t feel like one. I cried with happiness over my first library card as a kid, and I won’t purchase a book until I’ve borrowed it from the library and loved it enough to own it. I have 5 library cards, swear by Libby and Hoopla for all of my audiobooks and ebooks, and at this point, I feel like an Arthur tattoo might be necessary (IYKYK) 😂

But I digress... February is National Library Lovers’ Month, and I think you should get a library card (or 5) and celebrate not only the perk of FREE BOOKS but also the countless ways public libraries are integral to our lives and communities! 🙌🏼

What was the last library book you checked out? 📖

—

#nationallibraryloversmonth #libraryloversmonth #bookcommunity #bookphotography #readersofinstagram support your public library, library lovers, bookish vibes, cozy aesthetic, book nerd
If you could only recommend one book for the rest If you could only recommend one book for the rest of your life, what would it be? 📖

This one has been an easy answer for me since 2020, when I read THE MIDNIGHT LIBRARY. It completely changed my life.

Since then, I have recommended it to countless people, and have felt intense amounts of joy as I’ve seen those people recommend it to others, buy copies for friends, suggest it for their book clubs, and come back to me to tell me how it changed their life just like it changed mine 🥰

Which book would you say changed your life for the better? 🤎

—

#themidnightlibrary #magicalrealism #mentalhealthbooks #bookcommunity #bookishvibes Matt Haig, books with mental health rep, magical realism books, book recs, favorite books, escapism, book hangover, reread worthy, comfort book
Would you want to have the same occupation as the Would you want to have the same occupation as the main character(s) in your last read? 💼

I recently finished Thunderhead, and I absolutely would *NOT* want to be a Scythe! 🙅🏻‍♀️ I also definitely wouldn’t want to be in the shoes of the royalty in my other previous read, A Psalm of Storms and Silence 😬

Is there a book character’s “career” that you know you would love to have? 💭

—

#bookcommunity #bookphotography #bookaesthetic #cozyaesthetic #readersofinstagram current read, currently reading, cozy aesthetic, escapism, late-night chapters, what I’m reading
Is there an author who consistently writes books t Is there an author who consistently writes books that bring you to tears? 😭

I have cried while reading every single one of Amber’s books... and that’s only a small part of what keeps me coming back for more 🤎

I’m struggling with even knowing how to put in words what her books mean to me, because even thinking about it is making me tear up 🥹 So instead of trying to craft the perfect thing to say, I’m just going to urge you to read everything she’s written. You can thank me later 🙏🏼

What was the last book that made you cry? 📖

—

#theleavingroom #booklover #bookcommunity #cozyreads #bookishvibes poetry, Amber McBride, The Leaving Room, sapphic books, books that will make you cry, book hangover, book recs, reread worthy, late-night chapters
Who are your favorite book pets? 🐈‍⬛ I absolutely Who are your favorite book pets? 🐈‍⬛

I absolutely love when a book has animals in it—whether that’s someone’s pet, familiar, or when the animal is the main character 😻

I’m always absurdly happy when there’s a cat, and if they have a creative name it’s even better. I think the stand-out for me was a cat named The Darkling in Accidentally Amy. I’ll never forget it! 😂

Do you have a furbaby companion? Tell me all about them! 🐾

—

#cozyreads #readingescape #bookishvibes #bookaesthetic #booknerd book animals, cats of Instagram, book cats, fantasy books, romance books, cozy aesthetic
Do you tend to enjoy book-to-screen adaptations? 🤔 Do you tend to enjoy book-to-screen adaptations? 🤔

I’m always torn between excitement over seeing my favorite stories come to life and anxiety about what they might change and how it could disappoint me 😅

I fell head over heels in love with the adaptation of People We Meet on Vacation 🤎 For those who don’t know, this is not only my favorite EmHen, but it’s my all-time favorite romance book. I was lucky enough to read an ARC of it in 2021 and have inhaled every format of it multiple times since 🥰

I was nervous about the movie, but loved how they stayed true to the *vibe* of PWMOV 🏖️ Even with the changes they did make, Alex and Poppy were precisely as I had always imagined them, and I adored watching every second of their friends to lovers romance 🎥

This is a negativity-free zone! If you loved the PWMOV movie as much as I did, tell me your favorite part of the film! 🍿

—

#romancebooks #peoplewemeetonvacation #romancebooklover #bookishvibes #bookaesthetic romance books, romance reads, Emily Henry, popular romances, book adaptations, romance movie, Netflix
Tell me about your book-related dreams 💭 Do you w Tell me about your book-related dreams 💭

Do you want to open a bookstore? Write a novel? Become an editor? Get a bookish tattoo? Host an author panel? 

This is a place to put your hopes and dreams out there in the universe. You never know what might happen! 😉

As for me? I want to own a book bus that eventually becomes a brick and mortar bookshop with a café and apothecary. I want it to be the kind of comforting and safe atmosphere that allows people to feel like they can just *breathe* for a little while whenever they visit. That’s my dream ☕️

So, if this dream becomes reality, where should I take my book bus first? 📍

—

#bookcommunity #bookphotography #bookaesthetic #cozyreads #readersofinstagram book dreams, cozy aesthetic, bookshop bookstore, book influencer, book blogger
Which books made it to your favorites list in 2025 Which books made it to your favorites list in 2025? 📖

The whole time I was away from this space, I kept having these moments of, “gosh, I wish I was active on booksta right now, if only to rave about the book that I’m currently reading!” 🙈

WHILE THE DARK REMAINS was definitely one of those books 🙌🏼 This story left me utterly speechless in the best way. I can’t wait to read the upcoming sequel. 

Do you have any sequels that you’re anticipating in 2026? 📚

—

#fantasyreads #fantasybooklover #bookcommunity #bookphotography #bookishvibes escapism, book hangover, fantasy world-building, book recs, reread worthy
How many times have you read your favorite book or How many times have you read your favorite book or series? 🤎

I’m a big fan of rereading, so my favorite books are picked up over and over again. I’ve read some of my favorites every single year for the last six years and some I’ve read countless times since childhood (here’s lookin at you, Narnia) 🙈

I love when I find a new book to add to my reread list. What was the last one you added? 🔁

—

#readersofinstagram #bookphotography #igreads #bookrecommendations #bookobsessed #cozyreads #bookaesthetic #flatlaylove #readingescape #readingvibes #bookishvibes #booknerd #bookcommunity #booklover cozy read, escapism, book hangover, book recs, TBR, reread worthy, late-night chapters, weekend read, comfort book
Are there any book small towns you’d like to live Are there any book small towns you’d like to live in? 📍

I think I’d sell a kidney to live in Inglewild 😂 Small towns give me such happiness and this one seems especially cozy and filled with so many entertaining people 🙈

I kinda wish this series would last forever, but simultaneously, I just live for ANYTHING BK Borison writes 😍 I adored First Time Caller as well and can’t wait for more of that story to unfold! 📖

Have you read any of this author’s books? 🤎 

—

#readersofinstagram #bookphotography #igreads #bookrecommendations #bookobsessed #cozyreads #bookaesthetic #flatlaylove #readingescape #readingvibes #bookishvibes #booknerd #bookcommunity #booklover #booksmalltowns #smalltownbooks cozy read, romance books, book recs, TBR, reread worthy, late-night chapters, weekend read, comfort book

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