Robin's Picks

A passionate reader ever since she first read the Lord of the Rings trilogy in childhood, Robin is currently working towards her BA in marketing with a minor in english, and blogs about books on the side. She considers a day without reading not well spent, knows an exorbitant amount of Middle Earth history, and is constantly seeking out new fantasy and romance series to yell about.

Stone Blind by Natalie Haynes

Reviewed by: 
Robin
Staff Pick Badge
Stone Blind: A Novel By Natalie Haynes Cover Image
$30.00
ISBN: 9780063258396
Availability: Click Title to See Location Inventory
Published: Harper - February 7th, 2023

Natalie Haynes transforms the Medusa story we’ve been fed into a layered history of the women at its center and the monster we’ve all been taught to fear. Stone Blind delivers exactly the kind of retelling I have been craving, inexplicably rich, lyrical, and wound up in tragedy. With every delicate line and merciless moment, Haynes dismantles the complex relationships and powerful forces at play within the Medusa myth, creating a wholly authentic view of the monster and existing as a woman within the sphere of the gods.


Exes and O's by Amy Lea

Reviewed by: 
Robin
Staff Pick Badge
Exes and O's (The Influencer Series #2) By Amy Lea Cover Image
By Amy Lea
$17.00
ISBN: 9780593336595
Availability: Click Title to See Location Inventory
Published: Berkley - January 10th, 2023

Romance novel obsessed Tara Chen has had more than her fair share of heartbreak. After an inspiring interview, Tara gets an idea: revisit all of her past romances and reevaluate them with the hope of securing the time honored trope, the second chance romance. Amy Lea has written the romance heroine of my dreams and one of my all time favorite friends to lovers romances. A true love letter to every romance aficionado out there, and funny as hell.


Emily Wilde's Encyclopaedia of Faeries by Heather Fawcett

Reviewed by: 
Robin
Staff Pick Badge
Emily Wilde's Encyclopaedia of Faeries: Book One of the Emily Wilde Series By Heather Fawcett Cover Image
$28.00
ISBN: 9780593500132
Availability: Click Title to See Location Inventory
Published: Del Rey - January 10th, 2023

 

Emily Wilde’s Encyclopedia of Faeries enchants with a cozy atmosphere and scholarly inquiry into the world of the fae. Combining fantasy, mystery, history, and romance elements, this is a one-of-a-kind story, unlike anything I've read concerning faerie so far. Fawcett debuts a delightful academic fantasy to cherish and revel in.


The Last Tale of the Flower Bride by Roshani Chokshi

Reviewed by: 
Robin
Staff Pick Badge
The Last Tale of the Flower Bride: A Novel By Roshani Chokshi Cover Image
$30.00
ISBN: 9780063206502
Availability: Click Title to See Location Inventory
Published: William Morrow - February 14th, 2023

 

Roshani Chokshi breathes life into this gothic novel centered around fairytales, myth, and the treacherous secrets of a marriage. Wandering the halls of the crumbling House of Dreams, Chokshi spins her tale, interweaving fairy tales into the central narrative amidst broken promises and childhood dreams. This is everything you could possibly wish for in a gothic novel, and the way it slowly approaches the final act will leave you breathless in its downfall.


Two Wrongs Make a Right by Chloe Liese

Reviewed by: 
Robin
Staff Pick Badge
Two Wrongs Make a Right (The Wilmot Sisters Series #1) By Chloe Liese Cover Image
$17.00
ISBN: 9780593441503
Availability: Click Title to See Location Inventory
Published: Berkley - November 22nd, 2022

A delightfully modern retelling of Much Ado About Nothing where two opposites fake date each other to get back at their meddling friends. Chloe Liese designs a humorous and playful romance that made my heart ache. Fantastic neurodivergent and mental health representation, and one of the best romance pairings I have read about in quite some time. Matchmaking with a twist. Perfect for fans of the retelling.


Season of Love by Helena Greer

Reviewed by: 
Robin
Staff Pick Badge
Season of Love By Helena Greer Cover Image
$15.99
ISBN: 9781538706534
Availability: Click Title to See Location Inventory
Published: Forever - October 11th, 2022

A bright, sparkling holiday rom-com featuring three women that are brought together by the inheritance of a late friend to save her Christmas tree farm. This debut is pure Hallmark, queer, Jewish goodness wrapped up in a single package. It doesn't shy away from showing the difficult side of being home for the holidays alongside the more charming moments. Read for the openly queer characters solving their issues and holiday magic!


Kiss Her Once for Me by Alison Cochrun

Reviewed by: 
Robin
Staff Pick Badge
Kiss Her Once for Me: A Novel By Alison Cochrun Cover Image
$17.99
ISBN: 9781982191139
Availability: Click Title to See Location Inventory
Published: Atria Books - November 1st, 2022

While You Were Sleeping, but make it queer! Kiss Her Once for Me is the most chaotic holiday romance I've read, full of holiday warmth and the fraught family gatherings typical to this time of year. A missed connection, a marriage of convenience gone wrong, and sexy cabin times are just a few of the things you can expect from this one. If you like disaster bisexuals trying to find love during the holidays this one is for you.


Legends & Lattes by Travis Baldree

Reviewed by: 
Robin
Staff Pick Badge
Legends & Lattes: A Novel of High Fantasy and Low Stakes By Travis Baldree Cover Image
$17.99
ISBN: 9781250886088
Availability: Click Title to See Location Inventory
Published: Tor Books - November 8th, 2022

Legends & Lattes is easily the coziest fantasy novel I have ever read, centered around orc barbarian turned entrepreneur Viv and her trials and tribulations in opening a coffee shop. Travis Baldree serves up a lighthearted and easygoing tale that feels like being wrapped up in a warm blanket with a piping hot cup of coffee. The perfect book for anyone that has ever dreamed of ditching their responsibilities to open up a cafe or bookstore, or is in need of a well-earned escape.


Know My Name: A Memoir by Chanel Miller

Reviewed by: 
Robin
Staff Pick Badge
Know My Name: A Memoir By Chanel Miller Cover Image
$18.00
ISBN: 9780735223721
Availability: Click Title to See Location Inventory
Published: Penguin Books - August 18th, 2020

Chanel Miller was known to the world as “Emily Doe” when she wrote her victim statement against her assaulter Brock Turner. In this powerful memoir about her past, and forward as a sexual assault survivor, Chanel reclaims her experiences, and reveals her truth about a culture designed to protect predators and fail victims. Absolutely incredible–moved me to tears.


A Dowry of Blood by S. T. Gibson

Reviewed by: 
Robin
Staff Pick Badge
A Dowry of Blood By S. T. Gibson Cover Image
$27.00
ISBN: 9780316501071
Availability: Click Title to See Location Inventory
Published: Redhook - October 4th, 2022

An exquisite reimagining of Dracula's Brides in the form of an open letter from his first bride Constanta; A Dowry of Blood is an achingly haunting and beautiful novel that spans centuries in the life of its narrator. Saved from death and transformed into a bride, Constanta is drawn into the web of her savior, blurring the line between love and devotion. S.T Gibson devises an evocative narrative, chronicling the quiet descent from love into violence over many years.


Pages