2026 Q2: Reading Wrap-Up & Book Reviews
Quarter two is at a close! Wow—time flies. Honestly, I’ve been engrossed in books this entire year, which has absolutely inspired my creativity. In this blog post, I’m sharing what I read and which books inspired me to write! If you want to be in the loop on what I’m writing, you can join Patreon for bonus content. There, I share so much more behind-the-scenes posts, additional Patreon exclusive writing pieces, and have a private Discord community. (We also have an exclusive book club)! But in this blog post, I’m sharing my quarter two reading wrap-up, so grab a cup of tea and dive in!
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At the Coffeeshop of Curiosities by Heather Webber
Stone Yard Devotional by Charolette Wood
Save the Cat! Writes a Novel by Jessica Brody
The Heart of War by Olivia Snow
The Sun Also Rises by Ernest Hemingway
Dreamlander by K.M. Weiland
Wayfarer by K.M. Weiland
The Little Shop of Found Things by Paula Brackston
Haiku: Japanese Art and Poetry by Judith Patt
Violets Bent Backwards Over the Grass by Lana Del Rey
Quarter Two Poetry Reading Wrap-Up
If you read this post, or you’re on Patreon, you know how consumed my spring was with poetry. I absolutely adore poetry. Verse and prose are the two forms of expression that help me understand the ethereal most—they help me grapple with the mystical and spiritual elements of reality. Therefore, I read and wrote a ton of it.
I’ve honestly been working on a couple of chapbooks that I cannot wait to share one day! You can join Patreon to keep up with all of my writing updates.
Haiku: Japanese Art and Poetry by Judith Patt, Michiko Warkentyne, Barry Till
Pomegranate Communications, September 1, 2010
Book Review: I read this book while studying haiku to truly understand why these poems have resonated with audiences for generations. And this book delivered. I loved the Japanese images that were paired with each poem; this book is an experience. It’s meant to be ingested slowly and to reflect on each haiku. This book has a handful of haiku through the four seasons. I truly loved the packaging it.
Violets Bent Backwards Over the Grass by Lana Del Rey
Simon & Schuster, September 29, 2020
Book Review: This was a re-read for me. This poetry book is a vulnerable meditation, written by the provocative and romantic lyricist of the 2010’s, Lana Del Rey. Her debut poetry collection includes a variety of poems, some included streams of consciousness. I listened to this collection on audio. The artist pairs her poems with whimsical and enchanting tones, created with musician Jack Antonoff behind her soothing voice. Lana Del Rey’s greatest lyrical superpower is her use of imagery, and you will find that within every single poem she produced. Time and time again, she paints a vivid image with unique syntax, allowing a reader to truly feel what she’s expressing.
Quarter Two Fiction Reading Wrap-Up
At the Coffeeshop of Curiosities by Heather Webber
Forge Books, July 2, 2024
Summary: A magical realism book about grief, a small town, and friendship. Ava and Maggie are the two heroines within this tale; the story shifts between their perspectives to tell a story about how to overcome regret and grief. Ava receives a mysterious letter about a job listing in a small town—the perfect escape. There, she meets Maggie, a single-mom business owner who works herself to death—instead of dealing with her grief.
Book Review: Heather Webber is a mixed bag for me—on one hand, she wrote one of my favorite books: Midnight at the Blackbird Cafe. And on the other hand, she wrote another book that felt a bit insincere and contrived, The Forget-Me-Not Library. And while, this novel was better than the latter, it wasn’t quite as captivating as I’d hoped. This book is categorized as magical realism, yet I didn’t find much enchantment within it. All of the oddities were created by people, not mystical or mysterious. Also, the characters and plot weren’t quite memorable to me. It took me longer than I’d like to admit to remember what this book was about.
Stone Yard Devotional by Charlotte Wood
Riverhead Books, February 11, 2025
Summary: A woman in desperate need of a respite ventures to a convent in Australia to replenish her mind, body, and soul. There, she questions religion, grief, and life.
Book Review: I was drawn into the story because of the premise: a woman venturing into a convent to find respite and meaning. And initially Wood’s prose was lyrical and enchanting. However, the story began to drag on as it didn’t lead anywhere—for a book about a woman seeking meaning, this story had a lack thereof.
Save the Cat! Writes a Novel by Jessica Brody
Ten Speed Press, October 9, 2018
Summary: This is a highly popular book within the writing community. Many authors have used the beat sheet within this novel to write their own books. Brody utilizes Blake Snyder's SAVE THE CAT: The Last Book on Screenwriting You’ll Ever Need for screenwriters, and applies the same principles for novelists.
Book Review: Snyder’s beat sheet has helped thousands of writers write beloved stories—whether those are screenplays or a books. Jessica takes that same formula and shows the reader how each beat can be utilized in novel writing by analyzing it though various novels. There are so many plot structures a writer can apply to their story, and SAVE THE CAT! is a great resource on understanding another formula that works. I believe it’s a must-read book for any writer looking to understand the beats that feel satisfying for readers within storytelling.
The Heart of War by Olivia Snow
Olivia Snow, April 7, 2026
Summary: After Helena’s family fortune collapses, her father gives her an ultimatum: secure a wealthy husband, or he will for her. Helena utilizes Sun Tzu’s The Art of War to find love. In London 1815, a girl that’s destined to find courtship takes this job very seriously, but are her tactics just a way of keeping her heart to herself?
Book Review: This historical fiction novel by Olivia Snow was utterly unique! I laughed—I swooned. This book was entertaining and heartfelt. I loved every moment with it, and was devastated when it was over. This novel is the perfect modern-day historical rom-com. Bravo!
The Sun Also Rises by Ernest Hemingway
Brilliance Audio, January 11, 2022
Summary: Jake is a wounded soldier from the first world war coping with the aftermath of its unspeakable tragedies. He’s disillusioned with society and spiritually—trying to find fulfillment again. He meets a wild yet enchanting woman Brett, who’s just as lost as he is, and together they roam Paris in search of meaning.
Book Review: I listened to the audio version of this book and found the narration and characters magnetic. Hemingway has always been one of my favorite writers—the way he structures sentences while keeping a reader emotionally connected to his characters is nothing short of a magic trick. And this book is no different from his other works, albeit this tale is kindred to F. Scott Fitzgerald’s stories—the themes overlap because these two experienced the same society. Again, this tale is one of disillusionment—one that gets a reader to feel psychologically and emotionally for characters who are broken after war.
Dreamlander by K.M. Weiland
PenForASword, November 20, 2012
Summary: Chris Redston wakes up from dreams of a woman demanding him to stay away—she shoots him in the head with a rifle every night, awakening him from these dreams—or are they memories from another life? One night Chris actually wakes within the second dream world. And within that space, there are few known as the Gifted, who are chosen to shape history—and Chris is one of them. But he doesn’t know that until he’s already tipped the balance of two worlds by resurrecting an evil prince. Now, he must save both worlds from complete destruction.
Book Review: This book was absolutely outstanding! K.M. Weiland wields plot, characters, and theme together with such originality. I fell in love with this world. Her storytelling feels kindred to fantasy of a bygone era. One that I seek to resurrect into the future—and it’s books such as this one that remind me that they still exist. Bravo! This tale is told from an omniscient narrator, but I still felt completely connected to the characters and world every step of the way! The dream sequences, along with dual timelines were thoroughly plotted—I was never lost. This tale is a true masterpiece. Dreamlander honestly inspired me to pick up my dystopian cyberpunk novel I outlined a year and a half ago. You can follow me along in the writing process of that story over on Patreon.
Wayfarer by K.M. Weiland
Sargent Family Productions, June 23, 2022
Summary: Will is the first superhero in this historical fiction fantasy. He’s a blacksmith doing his best to help his master. Then, shortly after an accidental infliction—rendering him with abilities—he’s suddenly accused of murder. Those abilities just put a target on his back. All the while, a vengeful politician with magical powers far more advanced than his, blames Will for the imprisonment of the city’s poor. Can will stop this villain from “reforming” London?
Book Review: Another slam dunk for K.M. Weiland. Also, this novel is dramatized with a full-cast! I absolutely enjoyed this epic adventure. Again, Weiland wove her characters, plot, and theme together so flawlessly. She is a storytelling genius. Wayfarer was an absolute joy. I highly recommend both books!
The Little Shop of Found Things by Paula Brackston
St. Martin’s Griffin, October 1, 2019
Summary: Xanthe and her mother are seeking to start over. So much so that they find themselves buying an antique shop in a new town. With a love of antiques at the outset—Xanthe already has a gift of understanding their past, simply by touching them. But one day, she stumbles upon a silver chatelain that pulls her through time. The object, along with a ghost haunting Xanthe’s new home demands she save her daughter’s life from an injustice, otherwise Xanthe’s mother’s life is at risk. The silver chatelaine swiftly transports her to the 17th century where all chaos ensues.
Book Review: This book is quite similar to the Outlander plot—a woman whisked away into an era from the past. However within this story, the protagonist is there to rectify an injustice and find romance. And while Paula did an outstanding job with her historical research, sometimes the plot felt clinical—as if she wanted to get all of the facts absolutely correct, that at times—it built a barrier within the story for me. The main character was also a bit difficult to connect with for a majority of the story, as were some of the side-characters. Overall, it was well developed and connected from a plot structure, especially since there was quite a bit of time travel. It was never disjointed. This particular piece simply didn’t land for me.
Have you read any of these books? Share you experience in the comments below!
Happy reading,
Serena
