Where to Find Your Next Page-Turner (And Get a Teacup Bookmark!)

Cherry-picking what to include in our lives certainly includes how we choose to spend our time. One of the most enjoyable ways I like to spend my time (no surprise here as an English teacher and certified librarian) is by reading. Whether it’s at the beach, on a rainy day at home, or under the covers right before bed, I love a good book. Yes, it can be nearly impossible sometimes to find the time, and even when I do, my demanding dog will come along and use her nose to literally knock the book out of my hand so that I can pet her instead, but I make it happen because in all honesty, I don’t know what I would do without books. Added bonus: If your children see you reading, they might just join you on your next trip to the library/bookstore. It’s a win for the whole family! 

Perhaps you were once an avid reader, but haven’t read in ages or you never really got into reading, but now would like to start. Luckily for me, many of my colleagues at work also love to read and we often share book recommendations. Word of mouth, especially recommendations that come from those with whom you have something in common, are great. However, if you don’t know other avid readers, don’t fret! There are still plenty of ways you can seek out and find books which interest you. Here are some suggestions:

The Public Library

I LOVE libraries. This is not an exaggeration. I always feel like a kid in a candy store walking into a library. It truly is one of my happiest places to be. I am so blessed to live in walking distance from my town’s library, which happens to be lovely and well-stocked.

As you might imagine, librarians are all about books and they are quite eager to help you find something you’ll enjoy. If you visit your local library, you’ll likely find that the librarians have set up displays with recommended picks from the staff or books which have gotten great reviews in various publications. These displays make finding your next book a breeze. If you’re looking for a specific type of story, the librarians know just how to help you find it. All you have to do is ask!

In addition to books, the library offers free passes to local museums, access to visual media and depending on where you live, all sorts of classes from yoga to knitting. I can’t say enough about libraries! If you don’t already have a public library card, make it your business to get one today. 

Your Local Bookstore

Sometimes you want to read a title the library doesn’t have a copy of (yet!) or you want your own copy of a book because you know you’ll turn to it again and again. Skip the big, impersonal warehouse-style “bookstores” to do your shopping and head to your local bookstore instead. If you don’t live near one, visit a neighboring town and make it a day trip! There’s nothing more relaxing than taking a leisurely drive to a quaint, but well-stocked book store to get some books, have some lunch at a cafe nearby, grab a coffee or tea and head back home to read. I’m getting Gilmore Girl vibes just thinking about it!

I currently reside about 15 minutes away from a small town bookstore (which I adore) that opened where my family and I used to live. The staff is very informative and amazingly helpful. I have learned about so many great reads from speaking with the people who work there and just by simply perusing the store’s shelves. It’s a frequent family destination.

Book Recommendation Sites

My favorite book recommendation site is Goodreads.com. Think of Goodreads like the old school Amazon. This site, which is free to use (you don’t even have to create an account) contains recommendations and reviews on almost every book ever written so that you can make an informed choice about what your next read should be. Users give star ratings on titles and detailed reviews (without spoilers) on each book and the site is very easy to navigate. I teach my students how to use this site to encourage them to read, and I visit it quite frequently myself.

TheStorygraph.com is a newer site that also recommends books. This site uses AI to provide recommendations based on books you have read previously. It tracks your reading habits and even has an option for you to read a book with friends (you can react to what you’re reading online and the site will block spoilers if your friend has read farther into the book than you have). What’s really cool about this site is that you can search for books by mood. Do you want to read something calming and cozy? Storygraph has recommendations for that!

Fable.co is another site which offers recommendations, but is more of a social media reading community site/app. On it, you can engage with other readers to discuss what you are currently reading.

A Few of My Favorite Reads

Asking me to choose my favorite book is akin to asking me to choose my favorite child (well, it’s not quite the same, but my point is, it’s difficult!). I read a lot, but I do have a few titles I recommend to people over and over again because I have found such joy in them for various reasons and turn to them repeatedly. They are as follows:

The Help by Kathyn Stockett (2009)

This book didn’t spend 100 weeks on The New York Times Bestseller List for no reason. You will laugh, cry and be totally immersed in the engaging story which is set in 1960’s Jackson, Mississippi. I absolutely love it! I can’t wait for Stockett’s next book. She is such an engaging writer.

The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald (1925)

Set on Long Island’s Gold Coast (aka the North Shore) this book, which you may have avoided reading in high school, is one of my favorite books to teach and to read today. Was Jay Gatsby truly great? You’ll have to read it and decide for yourself! Each time I read this book, I am amazed at how Fitzgerald portrays the human condition so well. Though it’s set in the 1920s, his story is truly timeless. It is also celebrating its hundredth anniversary this year!

Sense and Sensibility by Jane Austen (1811)

I am a huge Jane Austen fan (thanks, Mom!) and Sense and Sensibility is my favorite of her books. If you want a novelist who teaches you about life, Jane Austen is your woman. Reading her work makes me feel like we could have been best friends. Considering her ongoing fame and ever growing list of fans, I know I’m not alone.

The Bridges of Madison County by Robert James Waller (1992)

To be honest, I saw the film before reading the book, which I don’t recommend doing when it comes to any book, but I digress. I enjoy reading this story because it takes place in a small town and is all about a brief escape, and isn’t that the point of reading fiction? By the way, the movie was great too. Check it out after you finish the book!

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The Gift of Reading

I hope this post has inspired you to put your phone down (unless you’re reading Cherry Picked, of course) and pick up a book. It’s truly a gift to be able to read something written by someone you don’t know that speaks to you in some meaningful way.

Speaking of gifts, the holidays are right around the corner, so on your next trip to the bookstore you may want to pick up some titles (and handmade bookmarks – See below) to gift to others. If you buy everyone a copy of the same book, you could even start a book club! A teacher/librarian can dream…

Handmade Bookmarks By Cherry Picked Crafts Are On Sale Now!

If you are planning on gifting someone a book, these hand cut, hand embroidered bookmarks would be a “tea-rrific” addition to that present (or any present!). They’re also a great option for teacher gifts or stocking stuffers. Choose from a cozy fall leaf design or a festive Christmas holly one. If you can’t decide, get both! You can order them on my online store, Cherry Picked Crafts.

Happy reading!