Recommend a book that feels like a fairytale 🧚🏼‍♀️ Recommend a book that feels like a fairytale 🧚🏼‍♀️

Recently, I finished THE SUN AND THE STARMAKER by @timesnewrachel ☀️ While it was quite different from the modern, witchy fantasy books I’ve come to associate with her (otherwise known as some of my favorite books of all time), she has created a signature style of storytelling that made reading *this book* feel like coming home 🥰

I felt it instantly when I sensed her intense love for nature and the earth woven through the story, paired with such atmospheric writing that I regularly forgot I was not *in* the ethereal, whimsical world I was reading about 🌌 I felt it again in the way she writes of longing and love so powerful that there’s no doubt the characters will overcome every obstacle they face together 🤎 I felt it once more when I began to cry over supporting characters that (possibly) weren’t meant to elicit such strong emotions in the first place 🥹

THE SUN AND THE STARMAKER was everything I could possibly hope and dream a fairytale would be. It was beautiful and magical, and left me feeling so filled with joy and hope. It’s an absolute masterpiece 🙌🏼

Have you read this or any of Rachel’s other books? 📚

—

#fantasyreads #fantasybooklover #thesunandthestarmaker #rachelgriffin #fairytalebooks escapism, book hangover, fantasy books, book recs, reread worthy, favorite author
Tell me the last vampire book you read 🧛🏻‍♀️ I go Tell me the last vampire book you read 🧛🏻‍♀️

I gotta be real honest with y’all... I don’t read a ton of vampire books 😅 I was a wolf girly starting in middle school, and that really hasn’t changed much. I do love a good vampire book, but they haven’t always been my favorite supernatural creature 🙈

However, maybe due to the V.E. Schwab magic, I absolutely adored Bury Our Bones in the Midnight Soil 😍 It was precisely as toxic as she promised it would be, and I ATE IT UP. It was dark, seductive, sometimes bloody, and there was never a dull moment. I genuinely didn’t want it to end.

Have you read this one yet? 📖

—

#buryourbonesinthemidnightsoil #veschwab #vampirebooks #fantasyreads #fantasybooklover supernatural fantasy, book hangover, fantasy world-building, book recs, reread worthy, sapphic, late-night chapters @veschwabfeatures
Do you pay close attention to monthly releases? 📖 Do you pay close attention to monthly releases? 📖

For several years, I would write a blog article every month that included somewhere between 20-40 new releases 🫢 While I was working my previous job, I didn’t have the opportunity to blog, let alone pay attention to new releases, and I feel like I missed SO MANY 🙈 

I’m happy to be back to blogging semi-regularly, and equally thrilled to be back in the habit of knowing which books are coming out each month! 🙌🏼 If you swipe through, you can see 24 March releases and their corresponding release dates 🗓️

Which of these titles are you most looking forward to reading? 🤎

—

#bookcommunity #bookphotography #bookaesthetic #cozyreads #readersofinstagram cozy read, new book releases, fantasy books, book recs, TBR, romance books, late-night chapters
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
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Fashion · January 25, 2019

How to Make a Basic Outfit Look Spectacular

I have never felt more like “me” than I did in this chunky red sweater outfit.

No, really, the moment that I put this outfit on, I never wanted to take it off. Red is my power color, and I feel the most confident when I wear it. Skinny jeans are always a good idea – and this particular pair of “wedgie” style Levi’s fit wonderfully. My husband gave me the gift of my dream sneakers for Christmas – white high-top Converse (I’ve been lusting after these since I was a preteen) and I can’t get enough. I’ve been wearing them with absolutely everything, so obviously this outfit was no exception.

There’s something so simple about this look, and that’s what makes it so great. You don’t need a ton of accessories, wild prints, or unique cuts to look and feel good. Sometimes you just need a classic combo of sweater + jeans + sneakers and you’re ready to take on the world.


outfit details
sweater c/o Chicwish | jeans c/o Macy’s | shoes | bag

Since everyone seemed to enjoy the idea of Friday Five posts on my blog, that’s exactly what I’m going to share today!

Friday Five Vol. 1

Clothing Items I’m Eyeing

This pair of jeans has been on my list forever

Talk about the coziest sweater of all time.

A new pair of shoes is always a good idea.

My favorite bodysuit has a hole in it (after 4 years of wear), so I need a replacement.

RVA Places I Want to Visit

I keep hearing such good things about this restaurant. Next date night, I think!

This juice place seems really cool, and I’m always down for a good smoothie bowl.

Home Items I Really Want

We need pillows for our couch. I like this one so much.

A fiddle fig plant is definitely up there on my list.

After writing this up, I’m planning on an IKEA trip – to get this table.

Articles That I Loved

My friend, Summer, wrote up this post about boosting your mood that really spoke to me.

I was seriously inspired by this post about graphic design for those who are … well … totally clueless about graphic design. 😂

The countdown to Avengers: Endgame has begun, and this article helps you figure out your Marvel movie marathon a little better.

Shows I’ve Been Watching

Younger has been my top pick lately. I started binging it on Hulu, and now I can’t stop.

I’ve been catching up on Brooklyn Nine-Nine with the hubs. We are obsessed.

This Is Us is finally back and as always, an emotional roller-coaster.

I think that Manifest is super addictive. The plot is like a combination of Heroes and Lost and it sucks you in like crazy.

Brandon introduced me to this show and I introduced my dad to it and now we’re all watching Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee.


related posts
Dressing Up a Chunky Red Sweater || What to Wear for Holiday Photos || How to Style a Coat + Cardigan Hybrid

What have you been loving lately? And would you style this chunky red sweater like I did?

In: Fashion · Tagged: casual outfit, chunky red sweater, jeans and sneakers, oversized sweater, red sweater, red sweater outfit, RVA

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38 Comments
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Donna
7 years ago

I really love the big chunky sweater look. It’s classic while being cozy. I love the red on you! Also that graphic design suggestion is right up my alley. Great ideas!

Reply
Anabelle
7 years ago

I absolutely love this sweater!!! Red looks amazing on you.

Reply
Hillary Conheady
7 years ago

Ok the perfect sweater!! It looks sooo cozy!

xo, Hillary | hillheady.com

Reply
Anabelle
7 years ago

I absolutely love this sweater!!! Red looks amazing on you.

Reply
Kelsey
7 years ago

This looks so comfortable! I need to get my hands on this soon!(:

Reply
Lily
7 years ago

LOVE this sweater — looks so cozy and definitely chic!! Love your hair girl!

Reply
Deanie
7 years ago

I love this ruby red color on you! The tunic sweater looks so cozy, perfect for a cold January/February day!
Xo, Deanie
Deanie Michelle

Reply
Ro
7 years ago

This sweater is super cute and perfect for a casual Valentine’s Day! It’s so flattering and that color is gorgeous!

Reply
Rebekah Joan
7 years ago

Red really isn’t my thing, but you look a m a z i n g wearing it! I recently got a super pretty blue one that’s so comfy. I love it!

Reply
Deanie
7 years ago

I love this ruby red color on you! The tunic sweater looks so cozy, perfect for a cold January/February day!
Xo, Deanie
Deanie Michelle

Reply
Kristina
7 years ago

You should totally get a fiddle leaf fig!! They are a lot of maintenance but so pretty… mine’s name is Fanny! Lol!

Reply
Kristina
7 years ago

You should totally get a fiddle leaf fig!! They are a lot of maintenance but so pretty… mine’s name is Fanny! Lol!

Reply
Sarah
7 years ago

I love chunky sweaters..I own about a million of them and always wear them with leggings-my “go to” outfit these days!

Reply
Greta
7 years ago

Red is such a great color on you! This sweater has the best length and I bet it’s so comfortable!

Reply
Lindsay
7 years ago

This shade is so pretty on you! I am all about that denim/cozy sweater life!

Reply
Kenzi || Life of a Sister
7 years ago

I am loving this look! The sweater jean combo is so fun and perfect for the weekend

Reply
Taylor Mobley
7 years ago

Omg this sweater is SO cute. I love red on you – and this looks SO cozy and comfortable.

Reply
Liz
7 years ago

Girl, red is definitely you color! SO pretty! I love how cozy that sweater looks too!

Reply
Deborah
7 years ago

That sweater really is “you” – I think I associate you with the color red and cozy pieces!

Reply
Kenzi || Life of a Sister
7 years ago

I am loving this look! The sweater jean combo is so fun and perfect for the weekend

Reply
Taylor Mobley
7 years ago

Omg this sweater is SO cute. I love red on you – and this looks SO cozy and comfortable.

Reply
Laura || Walking in Memphis in High Heels
7 years ago

This outfit is so you! I love how cozy the sweater looks!

Reply
Liz
7 years ago

Girl, red is definitely you color! SO pretty! I love how cozy that sweater looks too!

Reply
Nailil
7 years ago

You look so cozy. I love this red sweater on you girly.

Xx, Nailil
thirtyminusone.com

Reply
Cathy
7 years ago

Loving this sweater and your bag! Such a cute outfit!!

XOXO
Cathy

Reply
Ruth Ridley
7 years ago

Your posts are the best! Love you in red!!

Reply
Morgan
7 years ago

Don’t you love when an outfit makes you feel so YOU?! I love this color on you and can see why you love this sweater so much!

-Morgan
How 2 Wear It [] http://how2wearit.com

Reply
Lily
6 years ago

LOVE this sweater — looks so cozy and definitely chic!! Love your hair girl!

Reply
Rebekah Joan
6 years ago

Red really isn’t my thing, but you look a m a z i n g wearing it! I recently got a super pretty blue one that’s so comfy. I love it!

Reply
Ro
6 years ago

This sweater is super cute and perfect for a casual Valentine’s Day! It’s so flattering and that color is gorgeous!

Reply
Lindsay
6 years ago

This shade is so pretty on you! I am all about that denim/cozy sweater life!

Reply
Greta
6 years ago

Red is such a great color on you! This sweater has the best length and I bet it’s so comfortable!

Reply
Hillary Conheady
6 years ago

Ok the perfect sweater!! It looks sooo cozy!

xo, Hillary | hillheady.com

Reply
Nailil
6 years ago

You look so cozy. I love this red sweater on you girly.

Xx, Nailil
thirtyminusone.com

Reply
Donna
6 years ago

I really love the big chunky sweater look. It’s classic while being cozy. I love the red on you! Also that graphic design suggestion is right up my alley. Great ideas!

Reply
Sarah
6 years ago

I love chunky sweaters..I own about a million of them and always wear them with leggings-my “go to” outfit these days!

Reply
Deborah
6 years ago

That sweater really is “you” – I think I associate you with the color red and cozy pieces!

Reply
Kelsey
6 years ago

This looks so comfortable! I need to get my hands on this soon!(:

Reply
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Welcome to The Espresso Edition, a cozy bookish blog (with just a pinch of lifestyle goodness). I'm Stephanie, and I'm overjoyed to welcome you to this safe space designed for book lovers old and new who are seeking everything from book recommendations to reading tips to reviews and so much more.

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Recommend a book that feels like a fairytale 🧚🏼‍♀️ Recommend a book that feels like a fairytale 🧚🏼‍♀️

Recently, I finished THE SUN AND THE STARMAKER by @timesnewrachel ☀️ While it was quite different from the modern, witchy fantasy books I’ve come to associate with her (otherwise known as some of my favorite books of all time), she has created a signature style of storytelling that made reading *this book* feel like coming home 🥰

I felt it instantly when I sensed her intense love for nature and the earth woven through the story, paired with such atmospheric writing that I regularly forgot I was not *in* the ethereal, whimsical world I was reading about 🌌 I felt it again in the way she writes of longing and love so powerful that there’s no doubt the characters will overcome every obstacle they face together 🤎 I felt it once more when I began to cry over supporting characters that (possibly) weren’t meant to elicit such strong emotions in the first place 🥹

THE SUN AND THE STARMAKER was everything I could possibly hope and dream a fairytale would be. It was beautiful and magical, and left me feeling so filled with joy and hope. It’s an absolute masterpiece 🙌🏼

Have you read this or any of Rachel’s other books? 📚

—

#fantasyreads #fantasybooklover #thesunandthestarmaker #rachelgriffin #fairytalebooks escapism, book hangover, fantasy books, book recs, reread worthy, favorite author
Tell me the last vampire book you read 🧛🏻‍♀️ I go Tell me the last vampire book you read 🧛🏻‍♀️

I gotta be real honest with y’all... I don’t read a ton of vampire books 😅 I was a wolf girly starting in middle school, and that really hasn’t changed much. I do love a good vampire book, but they haven’t always been my favorite supernatural creature 🙈

However, maybe due to the V.E. Schwab magic, I absolutely adored Bury Our Bones in the Midnight Soil 😍 It was precisely as toxic as she promised it would be, and I ATE IT UP. It was dark, seductive, sometimes bloody, and there was never a dull moment. I genuinely didn’t want it to end.

Have you read this one yet? 📖

—

#buryourbonesinthemidnightsoil #veschwab #vampirebooks #fantasyreads #fantasybooklover supernatural fantasy, book hangover, fantasy world-building, book recs, reread worthy, sapphic, late-night chapters @veschwabfeatures
Do you pay close attention to monthly releases? 📖 Do you pay close attention to monthly releases? 📖

For several years, I would write a blog article every month that included somewhere between 20-40 new releases 🫢 While I was working my previous job, I didn’t have the opportunity to blog, let alone pay attention to new releases, and I feel like I missed SO MANY 🙈 

I’m happy to be back to blogging semi-regularly, and equally thrilled to be back in the habit of knowing which books are coming out each month! 🙌🏼 If you swipe through, you can see 24 March releases and their corresponding release dates 🗓️

Which of these titles are you most looking forward to reading? 🤎

—

#bookcommunity #bookphotography #bookaesthetic #cozyreads #readersofinstagram cozy read, new book releases, fantasy books, book recs, TBR, romance books, late-night chapters
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

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