In our second installment of this series, we bring you a delightful queer romance to brighten up your day. And to make your book club meeting for this title even more fun, we also have some great ideas for what to drink, eat, read, watch, and listen to inspired by the book!
My mom has always been an important part of my media consumption. She is a true tastemaker, not caring if what she enjoys is trendy or cool, but is always ahead of the curve. She told me about the wonderful world of k-dramas back when Netflix had JUST switched to their early streaming platform from their mail-in system. Yeah, I know. She's cutting-edge! But my enjoyment of all sorts of Korean media began in earnest when I started seeing my partner. He showed me one Taemin video, and I was immediately and fully smitten and soon realized there was no turning back. K-pop, k-dramas, and even some Korean variety shows, I was hooked.
Now, I'm not as enthralled as I was a few years ago, but Korean media is still very much a part of my balanced diet. And with the full global takeover of BTS, Parasite winning Best Picture at the 2019 Oscars, plenty of Korean stars in Hollywood films (Ma Dong Seok in the Eternals, anyone? Very exciting!), and now Squid Game becoming Netflix's most watched show ever it's safe to say that Korean media is here to enrich all of our lives for good.
For your reading (and viewing and listening) pleasure, my colleague Nicole and I paired some of our favorite young adult books with either a k-drama or a k-pop act. So if this is your first foray into the wonderful world of Korea—and its rich diaspora here in America—then look no further than the following titles. - Bookseller Niki
Is your book club at a loss for what to read next? Can't decide because there are just too many great books to choose from? Well look no further because we've created a new blog post series where each month, one of our booksellers will recommend a title that they think would make a great book club pick as well as some fun ideas for what to drink, eat, read, watch, and listen to inspired by the book to take your literary get-together to the next level!
It’s that time of year again, the one where those of us who delight in the macabre can finally indulge in pumpkin-y beverages and pay to frighten ourselves at horror movies, corn mazes, and haunted houses as the leaves turn color outside. If you’re anything like me, there’s no better way to spend an evening than plugging in those flickering orange Halloween decorations, cuddling up with a mug of hot apple cider, and cracking open a good, eerie read. To help you get into the seasonal mood, here’s a carefully curated list of spooky Sapphic young adult book recommendations.
In honor of Latinx Heritage Month, here is a list of some incredible books by Latinx and Hispanic authors! From fiction to romance to young adult and middle grade, I hope you're able to find a new story to fall into.
Let us know what you're reading during Latinx Heritage Month by tagging us @thirdplacebooks on social media! We always love seeing what you're reading and finding new recommendations. This month long celebration takes place from September 15th - October 15th, as many independence anniversiaries for Latin American countries are between that time range.
Hello book clubs! (And aspiring book club members!) Welcome back to our recurring blog post series: seasonal book club recommendations!
Below you will find our Fall 2021 book club picks - new paperback releases for the months of September, October, and November. Again, the books listed below are not intended to be exhaustive, rather a starting point for you and your clubs to find new and exciting voices to share with each other. And remember, we would love for you to join us at one of our virtual TPB Book Clubs. More information on programming and book picks can be found here. You don’t want to miss these amazing reads and discussions!
Happy fall reading!
When I didn't have a dog, I dreamed about the days when I finally would. I pictured long walks to far flung parks where I would spend an afternoon reading and dozing in the sun with my beloved pal resting against my legs. Or maybe a chilly fall evening, fully content with a steaming mug of tea in one hand, a book in the other, and my dog curled up on the rug at my feet. Hours of bliss while chipping away at my TBR pile with my loyal companion by my side. So cozy, so peaceful, so naive.
I think that's what many of us book folk imagine when we think about inviting a pet into our lives. The coziness, the peace. What we don't imagine is pushing the cat off our open book for the 23rd time, or removing books from the bottom shelves of the bookcase to save them from sharp and unforgiving puppy teeth. And we definitely don't imagine a hungry cat pulling books off a shelf at 5 AM trying to wake us up, or having to trudge out into a cold, rainy December night to walk the dog. Decidedly not cozy on the couch, decidedly not reading a book, and don't even ask about what dog vomit does to the pages of the brand new hardcover you just splurged on.
Fan Fiction can get a bad rap but that's generally because people who've never read fanfic have only heard the bad stuff which creates a lot of negative preconceived notions about it. When in reality, the content and community that has been created around fanfic is one of the most genuine things I've ever encountered on the internet that I think deserves more appreciation and recognition. If you're like me and have always been curious about fanfic but were never really sure where to start, keep reading.
Two of my co-workers, Claire and Caroline, are avid fanfic readers and I had the chance to sit down with them and pick their brains about the wondrous and wild world of fanfic. They have gone above and beyond with sharing their thoughts and resources and even created a helpful guide for fanfic key terms (that will be bolded throughout) and bios with each of their fanfic reading habits. So if you thought you'd missed your chance to be a part of this online community, let me assure you, it is never too late to start reading fanfic. I hope you have as much fun reading this as we did making it. - Nicole
There's just something special about a new title from Milkweed, Graywolf, or Tin House — to name only a few of the groundbreaking independent publishers operating today. I find myself mulling over the beautiful covers, eager to crack the spine without cracking the spine. Some of my favorite books have been published by indie presses, such as Aimee Nezhukumatathil’s World of Wonders from Milkweed and Carmen Maria Macahdo’s Her Body and Other Parties from Graywolf. Copper Canyon Press is also a favorite, publishing poetry books a mere hop, skip, and a jump away from Seattle in Port Townsend, WA. I mean, how cool is it that in this small, nondescript white building in Fort Worden State Park they birthed Ocean Vuong’s beautiful and wildly popular debut collection, Night Sky with Exit Wounds! And these are just some of the indie press titles we have available at Third Place Books.
Whether you’re new to the romance genre or an old hat, chances are you’ve read and enjoyed a good love story at some point in your life. I love this genre for its timeless element of human connection and the happy escapism of a satisfying ending. While the Romance genre has always been well read, it’s currently enjoying a resurgence of popularity, with publishers recognizing the genre as more than a guilty pleasure. There are so many authors of diverse backgrounds to choose from it can almost be overwhelming. Good thing our staff has many romance readers who can help show you the way!
