Essays

Thankful for stories: how books anchor us during the holidays

As the holidays approach, our lives often feel packed with family obligations, travel, and the endless bustle of preparation. It’s easy to get swept up in the chaos, but there’s a quiet refuge I return to every year: stories. Books have a way of anchoring us, even during the busiest, most stressful times, offering both comfort and connection.

Some of my favorite stories are those I’ve heard around the dinner table with family and friends!

I’m grateful for the ways reading bridges generations—like the book you lent your sister, or the series your grandma read to you as a child, which she also read to your father and that you eventually shared with your own kids. Stories create shared experiences across time, connecting us in ways that linger long after the last page is turned.

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Historical fiction book club picks for 2025

Are you looking for new historical fiction for your book club to read in 2025? Check out my list on Elderfly Books & Gifts!

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New Fiction Book Club on Facebook

Despite my addiction to mainstream thriller novels, I also love it when I find an amazing book that no one is talking about. When this happens, I find myself wanting so bad to get people talking about the book. I’ve joined book clubs in the past hoping to find like-minded individuals only to end up reading a bunch of books that I just didn’t like (one book club even made me read George W. Bush’s memoir about George H.W. Bush). So, what do I do when I can’t find what I want? I make my own! That’s why I’ve decided to start my own online fiction book club on Facebook!

I’m currently in the “inviting members” phase of this project and would love it if you could join my group! The club officially launches in January, so if your New Year’s Resolution is to read more or expand your reading horizons, then maybe this group can help keep you accountable so you can reach that goal!

If you’re in, visit the book club page on Facebook and join. Be sure to answer the questions to get into the group. I know it’s annoying to have to go through this vetting process, but anymore it’s the only way to keep spammers out of Facebook groups. I’ve already posted our first read, so if you’re looking for something to read over a holiday break (if you’re lucky enough to have one,) you can get started on our very first book club read today!

I can’t wait to get started on our first book, which I actually haven’t read yet myself, and start the discussion. Feel free to invite your reading friends to join us. Happy reading!

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Book Review: No One Can Know by Kate Alice Marshall

Kate Alice Marshall’s No One Can Know is a hauntingly suspenseful psychological thriller that explores the powerful yet precarious bonds of family, wrapped within a storyline that unearths long-buried secrets and painful truths. The Palmer sisters—Emma, Juliette, and Daphne—are central to this dark narrative. After years away from their family home in Arden Hills, they’re reluctantly reunited in the house they all share ownership of, a place shadowed by the traumatic murder of their parents years ago.

No One Can Know by Kate Alice Marshall
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Book Review: Margo’s Got Money Troubles by Rufi Thorpe – A Witty, Thought-Provoking Delight

I recently had the pleasure of reading Margo’s Got Money Troubles by Rufi Thorpe, and let me tell you—it’s an absolute gem! The novel strikes the perfect balance between being a fun and lighthearted read, while also digging into deeper themes about modern life, ambition, and how we all navigate the pressures of financial stability.

Margo’s Got Money Troubles by Rufi Thorpe
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Spooktober Book Review: So Thirsty by Rachel Harrison

Rachel Harrison’s vampire novel So Thirsty is by far my most favorite horror(ish) read this #Spooktober! It is a thrilling exploration of female empowerment, friendship, and the darker sides of human nature, wrapped in a vampire tale that is both bloody and thought-provoking. The story centers around Sloane Parker, a woman dissatisfied with her life, including her failing marriage and stagnant sense of self. When a birthday getaway with her impulsive best friend Naomi takes a wild turn, the two women are transformed—literally and metaphorically—into vampires. This transformation forces them to confront their dissatisfaction with life, their friendship, and their buried desires.

So Thirsty by Rachel Harrison is so far my favorite #Spooktober read of 2024!
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