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Michelle ✨ | Bookstagram

@growing.a.library

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✨ design nerd easily distracted by a pretty cover
📚 fantasy • romance • romantasy
🩷 books • design • photography
📌 NJ/NYC
📧 [email protected]

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I think maybe a little introduction is in order 🙂

Hi! I'm Michelle, a girl whos head is pretty much always in a book during my free time. I've been a huge reader since I was little, a fact which is proven by the "Member since 2002" note on my Barnes & Noble membership (thanks Mom!).

My current favorite genres are fantasy, romance, and any combination of those two, but I still dabble in the occasional historical fiction or sci-fi thriller (these used to be my top genres, but my preferences have shifted over the years). Some of my favorite all-time books include Book Lovers by Emily Henry, and the ACOTAR series by Sarah J. Maas.

I'm a graphic designer who loves typography (which is why I'll be posting fun typographic quotes like this post). I have a minor in print media and also dabble in art history. I love a good special edition with sprayed edges and ESPECIALLY with bonus chapters. I also own a few vintage books and early editions that I've rescued from thrift stores. My designer brain wishes I worked in publishing, but my bank account is glad I don't (lol) so this account is kind of a middle ground where I can interact with the bookish community without giving up my day job.

So whats with the handle? Well, aside from books, I've started getting into gardening over the last few years (or as much as I can while living in an apartment with a small balcony). I've got quite a few little plants that, for the most part, have been thriving.

I also have a LARGE number of books. Like, boxes upon boxes of them stashed away in my mom's attic and my storage unit because they just don't fit on my bookcases currently. According to a social media post that was making the rounds a few years back, if you have at least 1000 books then you officially have a library. I'm pretty sure I'm getting close to that mark, if I haven't already surpassed it.

Combine both those facts together, and I might just be growing a library 🩷🌿📚

#jaykristoff #nevernightchronicles #fantasy #fantasybookseries #fantasybookstagram #booksbooksbooks #bookworm #bookish #bookishcommunity #read #reader #bookobsessed #bookstagram #readersofinstagram #booklove #books #booklover #bookquotes by @growing.a.library

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2 years ago

Hello all! 🍂🍁 Took a long weekend up in the Catskills to enjoy some glorious autumnal vibes while waiting on NJ to catch up in the next few weeks - and, of course, I took a few books along to shoot.

Still working on editting the rest of the photos, but in the meantime, it *is* peak dark academia season, and so I'm once again gonna rec Deathbringer by the lovely @sonia.tagliareni 🖤

Thats all I got for today! Whats everyone currently reading, and how are you enjoying it?

#bookstagram #autumnvibes #darkacademia by @growing.a.library

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a day ago

I don't typically double post in a single day, so you know when I do, its for something special. And today, I wanted to make sure that I celebrated the release of book 2 in The Hemlock Saga, The Hearth Witch's Guide to Spite & Spellwork by Kiri Callaghan (@kiricallaghan) 🎉

If you haven't already read my review from last month, *please* pop back in time and check it out, because I so do love this book and I would adore if it found it's way into the hands of more readers! It's sweet, its sapphic, its got an intriguing mystery and delightful banter and so much more.

Featured here are some of the goodies from Kiri's preorder campaign for book 1 (The Hearth Witch's Guide to Magic and Murder), but she also had some more wonderful goodies made for S&S, and I can't wait until they arrive later this month!

So happy to be part of Kiri's Irregulars and to help promote this series, and can't wait to see what she's got in store for Avery & Saga in book 3 🩷

@poisonedpenpress
#bookrecommendation #bookrecs #newbooks2026 by @growing.a.library

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8 days ago

SEPTEMBER READING RECAP 📚

I am a little flabbergasted that I, once again, had a pretty amazing reading month... two in a row? Who is she??

It does almost feels like I cheated how well my September reads were overall though, since I *did* do a full series re-read of the Alex Stern series (which, I already know I love)... but I'm also just realizing now as I'm writing up this caption that it was also a month of mostly sequels... so I guess my overall enjoyment was to be expected.

And not only were there amazing reads, but there were also some incredible events AND gifted ARCs, both physical and digital.

So now my heart is full, but honestly I'm also exhausted 🤪 Shout out to all the bookish folk I see on here hitting up multiple events in a single *week*, much less in a single month - y'all are real troopers!

What was your favorite read of September? Find any new favorites you wanna recommend?

#readingwrapup #ARCreader #bookishthoughts #bookrecs #bookstagram by @growing.a.library

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6 days ago

Thank you so much to @kayepublicity for the eARC and the #gifted finished copy of this book, which is officially out today!

Evie Walters Takes the Wheel by Kathleen Fox (@kathleenfoxwrites) was a really fun, heartfelt read. You've got a little bit of romance and a lot of fun and adventure packed into this lovely book. It touches on some heavier subjects, but overall keeps the mood on the lighter side of things.

It was really enjoyable to see Evie's personality bloom after decades of being dormant, as she becomes more courageous and bold in going after what she actually wants vs what her family wants for her, and begins what becomes this journey of self-rediscovery as she searches for her former love. We get a little bit of dual-timeline as we learn more about Evie's past and what led her from Novel Daniels and her family's home in Montana into the arms of Royce Walters and her life in the present day.

I loved the varied cast of characters that Evie meets on her journey, and how they each have an effect on her life: Buns and Braids, the two friends Evie meets shortly after her husband's funeral, who introduce her to many new ideas, including the concept of vanlife; Mrs Brown, the stray dog that Evie falls in love with; as well as a wide variety of other characters who help Evie along throughout her journey in so many different ways, each one helping to rebuild Evie's character and her confidence as she travels along.

I really loved the way that Kathleen chose to end this book - it feels a little unconventional, and it certainly wasn't what I had expected, but at the same time seems to fit this book's vibes perfectly.

All-in-all, if you are looking for a fun story about a 70-something year old woman looking to rediscover herself and take back her life from everyone else's expectations, then I think you should check out this book.

#bookstagram #bookreview #bookrecommendations #bookrecs by @growing.a.library

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8 days ago

September is over, time to finally wake up... and here's what's on the menu for October 🍽️

Lots of good reads on my plate for this month! I ended up with quite a few physical galleys from recent events, so I'm trying to balance those with the rest of my September anticipated releases that I haven't been able to get to yet, while still overall keeping my reads geared towards spooky season - so lots of fantasy, some witches, and even a few trips to hell.

I was originally going to kick things off with Grim Tidings, but life has been lifeing, this week has been rough, and I'm feeling a little stabby instead 🗡️ so probably going to pick up my ARC of Soul Sworn next!

Do we have any overlap on our menus for the next month, or have you read and loved any of these already? 👀

#tbr #tbrlist #bookstagram by @growing.a.library

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13 days ago

Thank you so much to @enchantresslit @dellromance @thekatedylan for this #gifted galley!!!

OMG y'all, I have been SO intrigued by this book ever since some of my friends started raving about it earlier this year after reading an ARC themselves. I haven't read anything by Kate before, but the summary of this book instantly had my attention: rivals/enemies to lovers vibes between two assassins, a slow burn romance, a queer-normative world/LGBT rep from both MCs, and a lie-based magic system?? I'm 100% here for all of this 🙌

So when Enchantress Lit reached out to offer me a physical galley, my jaw absolutely DROPPED - and of course I quickly replied back yes please!! And now that I have this in my hands and I finished my last book last night, I'm pretty sure I'm dropping everything to immediately dive in to it this weekend ♥️

Who else has received some incredible book mail lately??? Drop in the comments what extend book mail you've gotten recently, or what book you would want to receive if given the opportunity!

#bookstagram #soulsworn #katedylan #bookmail by @growing.a.library

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12 days ago

✨ OCTOBER NEW BOOK RELEASES ✨

After the doozy that was September and its plethora of amazing releases, October almost feels down right quiet.

But what it might appear to lack in quantity, it is - at least, based on my reads so far - making up for in quality.

Based on what I've read so far of these new releases, I can say for certain that there's lots of goodies coming your way, so at the very least make sure you check out what I've read & loved on the last 2 slides.

And of those I've yet to read, I've seen many of y'all who *have* read them absolutely raving about how fantastic they were, and it's got me quite excited to dive in myself. Personally, I'm particularly excited to get Mothblood in my hands.

Are you adding any of these to your TBR? Which October book(s) are you most excited for?

#newbooks2026 #bookrecommendations #bookrecs #2026books #2026bookreleases by @growing.a.library

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15 days ago

About last night... ✨

Last night was what is very quickly becoming one of my favorite events: @leoprny & @lavenderpublicrelations Fall Tastemakers Mingle! Thank you so much to Kristin and both teams for the invitation and for once again hosting such a thoughtful event 💕

My first time attending was their spring event in April, and it's just such a chill night to meet new people and meet up IRL with online friends, discover new books and talk all things bookish. I had such a lovely time chatting with everyone and putting faces to IG handles. And like the event in April, they even invited some wonderful authors that we got to chat with.

I left the April event with *so* many books that sounded interesting, but I told myself this time I needed to be more intentional with what I grabbed. But then damn, Leo and Lavender really pulled out all the stops with their book selection for this event - so many of these were already on my TBR, and what do you *mean* I now have a physical copy of Lucy Score's next book in the Story Lake series in my hands already?! 🤯

All in all it was such a wonderful night, and I can't wait for their next event 🩷

#bookstagram #bookstack #bookevent by @growing.a.library

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20 days ago

Thank you SO so much to @williammorrowbooks for the NetGalley approval and the gifted galley!

A speculative fiction set in the immediate aftermath of the French Revolution, Chateau Reverie by @natashacsiegel feels very much like a gothic tale set amidst a Rococo backdrop, with the dark undertones playing against the wonders of such an otherworldly magical place as the Chateau Reverie. It's giving vibes of Bridgerton/Versailles mixed with Phastasma, some added almost botanical horror vibes, and tales of grief and love and loss woven throughout. It is enchanting and intriguing, atmospheric and fascinating, mystifying and haunting, all at once.

Like with Natasha's previous book, As Many Souls As Stars, Chateau Reverie features gorgeously lush and lyrical writing that immediately transports you into the past. I was instantly enamored with this story, the idea of receiving a mysterious invitation to a secretive auction where one can win their heart's desire - and the only thing worth bidding with are your secrets.

But there are more secrets to be had within the Chateau than one might have initially guessed, and as things start to come to light, it becomes more and more apparent that all is not as it appears. As the reader, I found myself questioning who I could really trust within this book: is it Genevieve, who simply wishes to forget her now-dead lover? Or Leander, who we learn right away is actually part of the Chateau's Company - but cannot remember himself or how he got there? And what of the other characters who partake in the auction, and their own tales and secrets?

And then add in the slight horror elements, because of course every game has its rules, and when rules are broken, penalties must occur....

Overall it was an incredibly intriguing book to read, and the more I read, the more I was pulled into this story, trying to figure out how it could all end.

If you haven't already read one of Natasha Siegel's books, I highly recommend both this as well as As Many Souls As Stars, and I know I, for one, will be checking out her backlist. ❤️

#bookreview #bookstagram #bookrecommendation #williammorrowbooks #natashasiegel by @growing.a.library

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19 days ago

It's fall, y'all! 🍁🍂

Happy first day of autumn!! Aka my favorite season. I'm so ready for the chilly mornings and all the colorful leaves as the earth winds down and prepares for its winter nap.

Since one of my favorite parts of this season are the changing leaves, I thought an autumn color themed bookstack was in order. Slightly moody, just the way I like my autumn days.

Whats your favorite thing to do during the fall season? We always go camping in upstate New York to fully be immersed in all the color 🧡

#bookstack #bookstagram #autumnvibes #colorstack by @growing.a.library

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22 days ago

5 STARS, BARTHOLOMEW. 5 GLORIOUS STARS. I LOVED IT 🩶

As if I would rate this book as anything less.

This second part of the Stonewater Kingdom duology is a much darker tale than before, full of love and betrayal and corruption, chronic pain and treating someone less like a person and more like an object of worship... and there are hints of suicide ideation, reader beware. I purposely picked up The Knave and the Moon during a holiday weekend, when I could give it my full focus and let myself sink back into this world to enjoy it fully.

I SO enjoyed all the tie-ins to the first book, playing off the idea that history is doomed to repeat itself - an important aspect of this story - such as quotes that are similar to ones used in The Knight and the Moth, but slightly altered to match this new part of the story.

I loved Sybil's determination, Rory's absolute *yearning*, and the two of them together??? UGH, my heart, I love their chemistry. And then you have the gargoyle, who had me CACKLING throughout.

But I also loved the softer moments, when deeper feelings are touched upon or character growth occurs. It was, at times, incredibly heartbreaking what our characters have to face and deal with in order to proceed with their end goals, and how hard some of them fight to change their world for the better.

The ending of this book nearly had me in tears, but I am in love with how @rmgillig chose to conclude this series, and hands down it is one of my favorite endings to any book or series of all time 🩶

@orbitbooks_us
#bookstagram #theknaveandthemoon #stonewaterkingdom #orbitbooks #rachelgillig by @growing.a.library

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21 days ago