Face Out

Lucy in Between by Sarah Callender

Lucy is irresistible. In this beautiful, layered, emotional story about a brother’s death, a resilient young girl finds support in unexpected places. I love how believably flawed the adults are in this novel and how the relationship between Lucy and her brother are depicted with so much heart without shying away from the hard parts. There’s plenty of beauty in this novel to make up for the grief, and even a touch of healing philosophy that I will carry with …

Aug 18, 2026

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Aug

17

2026

Face Out

The Someday Garden by Ashley Poston

The gardens of Lilymoor House are enchanting, whimsical, and full of mystery. When grieving gardener Sophie escapes from the big city to spend the summer revitalizing Lilymoor in time for the bicentennial celebration, she doesn’t quite realize just how much work she is in for. A secret garden behind a blue door makes its appearance …

Aug

14

2026

Face Out

The Summer Girlfriend by Kristina Forest

Two things I love in a book: Kristina Forest’s writing, and the fake-dating trope. Noelle is normally a bridesmaid-for-hire, but when immediate sparks fly between her and Jeremiah upon meeting, he asks if she’d be willing to play along as his girlfriend for an awkward family reunion. Did I mention their family runs a well-renowned …

Aug

13

2026

Thursday Themes

Bestseller Spotlight: Don’t Put Baby in a Corner

Every Wednesday, the Pacific Northwest Booksellers Association publishes the regional bestseller list. On Thursdays, we celebrate Thursday Themes to shine a spotlight on some of the books from the list and give our brains a different way of thinking about books. Maybe it’s that I just read an early copy of an upcoming “Dirty Dancing”-inspired YA novel by …

Aug

12

2026

Face Out

The Works of Vermin by Hiron Ennes

The Works of Vermin is at once a vibrant fantastical world and an eerie commentary on class inequality and social structures. Environmental toxins affecting both lower and upper classes are also the rare resources coveted by elites; characters’ lives are shaped by contracts of employment and marriage. Ennes’s prose is an extension of their world: …

Aug

11

2026

Booklovers' Field Trips

Enjoy Bookstore Romance Day Saturday August 15, 2026

Bookstore Romance Day is a day designed to give independent bookstores an opportunity to celebrate Romance fiction—its books, readers, and writers—and to strengthen the relationships between bookstores and the Romance community. This year is the eighth Bookstore Romance Day, and we’d love for readers to enjoy the event at local bookstores and with online events! …

Aug

10

2026

One Nightstand

North Sun: Or, the Voyage of the Whaleship Esther by Ethan Rutherford

From Consortium Communique, “dispatches from the world of independent publishing,” this “Hot News:” “[A] must must must read.” On Instagram, comedian John Mulaney raved about Ethan Rutherford’s North Sun: Or, The Voyage of the Whaleship Esther (Deep Vellum / A Strange Object). “This book is so batshit. Funny, bizarre, violent, reckless, and very moving,” says Mulaney. “I haven’t …

Aug

7

2026

Face Out

Hello Sleep by Saehan Parc, translated by Selene Bright

As someone who knows a lot of kiddos who have trouble with sleep (and having once been one of those kids!) I am so glad to discover this book. How comforting to know even Sleep herself needs her rest and can have a hard time falling asleep. An enchanting visual lullaby that’s perfect for bedtime. …

Aug

6

2026

Thursday Themes

Thursday Themes: Adult and YA

On Wednesdays, the Pacific Northwest Booksellers Association Bestseller List is published. Every week, we love to see what books have been most popular in independent bookstores around our region. As we peruse the list, we look for something special to showcase. Then we present this weekly feature: Thursday Themes. This week, author Sarah Beth Durst is a bestseller …

Aug

5

2026

Booklovers' Field Trips

Puget Sound Book Festival August 9, 2026 12:00- 4:00 pm

Puget Sound Book Festival Saturday, August 9 12-4 Mark your calendars! The Puget Sound Book Festival is returning to the Bremerton Waterfront for its 4th year. The festival is designed to celebrate indie bookstores and highlight what makes each attending shop unique,  giving readers the opportunity to meet, experience, and explore a wide range of …

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