Chapter #51: Ranking Reading Spots

A comfy spot is the best spot

Feeling My Shelf is a bi-weekly newsletter about books, life, and, well, life with books. Grab your favorite caffeinated beverage and get comfy. First up, some recent reads.

The Blonde Dies First by Joelle Wellington. Devon is determined to make her last summer with her genius twin sister, Drew, unforgettable. But when their group of friends messes with a Ouija board, they accidentally summon a demon that follows slasher movie rules, targeting them one by one. It started so slow (!), but once things picked up, they picked up! The characters were fun, and while the twists were a bit predictable, I was thoroughly entertained.

The Townsend Family Recipe for Disaster by Shauna Robinson

Mae Townsend has always yearned to connect with her dad’s estranged family. When her paternal grandmother passes away, she heads to North Carolina, hoping to reconnect with her relatives. However, she finds a family in disarray, a long-standing grudge, and a lost mac & cheese recipe that threatens the future of their cherished family barbecue. I went in expecting family drama, but I didn’t expect to relate so much to this particular kind of family drama. Let’s just say there were many tears shed!

Let the Games Begin by Rufaro Faith Mazarura

You'll love this story if you’re still thinking about the Olympics (and love romance!). It centers around Zeke, the star athlete of Team Great Britain, who is determined to become the fastest man in the world, and Olivia, an ambitious young woman who lands a coveted internship at the Games. When Zeke and Olivia literally collide on their first day, sparks fly, as do many fiery, sarcastic words. I loved the Olympic backdrop, the chemistry between the characters, and especially the discussions around mental health and grief.

Remember that time some guy tweeted that “nobody likes” the person who brings a book to a bar…

It happens a lot, actually. And each time, the bookish corners of the internet activate, quickly defending bars as a great place to crack open a book and dragging the snarky soul who would dare question this to hell.

I randomly thought about this tweet the other day, which led to me thinking about other reading spaces: cozy cafes, bookstore floors, and random park benches. Every reader I know has a favorite spot—that ideal place where the pages seem to turn themselves, including me. So I decided to rank them.

My personal ranking, from “meh, these are okay” to my “10/10 favorites”:

11. Couch at home: It always feels like I should be watching TV here instead.

10. Parks: Way too many birds.

9. The beach: Lot of birds here, too. But the breeze from the water is lovely!

8. By a pool: I’ll take this over all other outdoor reading spaces. I rarely see a bird (can you guess which I dislike more: birds or the outdoors?).

7. Bookstore: I love being surrounded by books, but why is there so little seating?

6. Library: It can be a little too quiet sometimes, but luckily, there’s more seating, and this space always brings back good memories.

5. At a bar/in a restaurant: Truffle fries and a spicy marg pair perfectly with any genre, in my opinion.

4. Airplanes: I don’t know why, but I finish books so much faster when in the air. Plus, reading keeps me from sleeping the entire plane ride or watching Top Gun: Maverick again.

3. Public transportation/subway: The screeching sound of a train curving along the tracks or pulling into a station is oddly soothing. I also like being nosey and seeing what other people are reading.

2. In bed: Cozy! I could read here (and usually do) for hours.

1. Coffee shops: There are frothy lattes, flaky croissants, and often a cute guy with glasses who’s reading, too. (I'm still waiting on that coffee shop meet cute, though.)

Speaking of meet-cutes…In case you missed my ranking of romance tropes:

Chapter #37: Ranking Romance Book Tropes

And don’t forget to share your favorite reading spot(s)!

My next project: creating a cozy reading corner in my bedroom! Emphasis on “corner” because of limited apartment space. Sure, I’ve got a balcony, a bed, a couch, and a dining table where I could read. But a girl can never have too many options, right?

For maximum comfort, thinking that I want an oversized beanbag rather than an armchair. Then, maybe a narrow but unique bookshelf and some fun bookish art. The little corner will probably be colorful but mostly green, so it doesn’t look totally out of place in my (already very green) bedroom.

Stay tuned for updates!

I have a few ARCs to get through, and I am starting with A Legend in the Baking by Jamie Wesley (out on November 19!). It’s about “a cupcake-baking football player [who] gets assistance from a social media maven—and his best friend's little sister—to help promote his new bakery after accidentally going viral online.”

A (new to me!) site that spotlights debut authors. What does it take to become a prodigy scam artist? I ate my way through America’s bitch-themed restaurants. Read these books before they become movies and shows. I Want It. I Got It. I #Restock It. 2024 romance novels shine a light on oft-ignored characters. Does being a gifted kid make for a burned-out adulthood? Why multitasking doesn’t work and is actually making your life worse. A literary road trip across America.

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