A Reason to Visit an Indie Bookstore – You’re Welcome
Welcome to The Best of Book Riot, our daily round-up of what’s on offer across our site, newsletters, podcasts, and social channels. Not everything is for everyone, but there is something for everyone.
Oh No, Another Reason to Visit an Indie Bookstore
I walk into an indie and I am healed. Is that a touch dramatic? Sure it is; have you met me? There really is something a little bit magical about spending time in an indie, even for a semi-jaded 40-year-old. The piles and piles of books, the smell of paper and possibility, the shelf talkers from excited book lovers telling me a book dehydrated them from crying or kept them up all night in terror. It’s those shelf talkers for staff picks that bring me out of my existential spiral. They allow me to forget I’m a professional book person and just let myself be swayed by good old-fashioned enthusiasm.
Barrel Racing Jeans, Boots With the Spurs: 8 Diverse Western Romances
While there’s nothing new about Western romance, the titles striking it big sure do share a lot in common. Which is to say: cis, white, hetero. This is regrettably common across romance subgenres, but it’s especially galling to see this in Western romance. Cowboy culture wouldn’t be what it is without the contributions of Black, Latine, Indigenous, and queer people, among others. I’ll even give you some titles if you want to read nonfiction about that. You can start with Black Cowboys in the American West, Slapping Leather, and Revolvers and Pistolas, Vaqueros and Caballeros.
Maurice Sendak-Themed Gifts for Wild Things of Every Age
To celebrate the late great Maurice Sendak, I’ve gathered together some fun gifts for Sendak fans of every age. We’ll start with the kids’ items, but I also have some picks for the adult Wild Things in the crowd. Almost all of these are themed around Where the Wild Things Are, but I do have something for the Little Bear fans, too. Strangely enough, the kids’ items are the most expensive, so keep scrolling for the more affordable options.
Books I’m Reading For Pride (and Beyond)
Pride Month is in full swing and off to an eventful start. To say the least.
As we deal with an increasingly intolerant government, it’s even more important to to uplift and celebrate queer stories. But even with our administration being the hot mess that it is, queer authors are still doing the damn thing, and will be long after.
Adventure Is Out There: Playful Picture Books for Summer Reading
Here are a few picture book gems to add to your summer reading list. These stories are perfect for preschoolers through early elementary kids, but with enough cleverness and visual interest to keep adults hooked, too. Even on breaks from school, library reading challenges and summer reading assignments encourage kids to keep reading at the forefront, and these books will make it enjoyable. Bright colors, giggles, and bursts of imagination- these books have it all!
