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Lisa | Book & Coffee Blog

@lisastoried

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📍Chicagoan living in Denver
☕️ I read, write, and rec coffee shops
📖 Book Reviews + Life Blog

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Some small but exciting news! ☕️🫶🏼

With my o̶b̶s̶e̶s̶s̶i̶o̶n̶, I mean love, for coffee shops and how often I hit up my favorites or explore new ones, I thought it was about time I started to highlight them more on here (in addition to books and writing).

To start, I’ve compiled some of my favorite Denver coffee shops, but eventually I’m excited to share more, including:
-my favorite mountain town coffee shops
-my top coffee-to-cocktail spots
-coffee shops I’ve loved in different cities

In this post:
☕️ Vibe Coffee and Wine
☕️ Hello Darling
☕️ The Radiator
☕️ Steam Espresso Bar
☕️ Highlands Cork & Cafe
☕️ Blue Sparrow Coffee
☕️ Tony P’s Coffee House (also Pizzeria)
☕️ Sapor Coffee & Concepts
☕️ The Green Collective Eatery

Not pictured: so many other Denver favorites, including @avianocoffee, @mobcoffeedenver, @impropercity, @steam_espressobar (S Pearl St location), @hudsonhilldenver, and more 🥰

Do you have any favorites? Shout them out below! 👇🏼 by @lisastoried

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101

3 years ago

BOOK REVIEW: Heart the Lover 🌟

Trying something new: swipe for the summary! ➡️

Rating: ☕️☕️☕️☕️ (4.5/5)

UGH what a book ❤️‍🩹 In reverse order of how I normally structure my reviews, I’ll start by saying I didn’t love Part 1 of 3, which was the first half. It didn’t quite hook me, but it did make me nostalgic of my college days which I think is what kept me going, and it was undoubtedly necessary for the second half (retroactively making me appreciate the first half).

Then, Part 2 snuck up and completely changed my feelings and investment in the story. Part 3 carried me the rest of the way and I ended up devouring and loving it. I teared up at times. And the writing was beautiful too, not in a ‘flowery language’ or ‘loud provocation’ way, but words stated plainly that, in how they were chosen and pieced together, spoke volumes. by @lisastoried

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3 days ago

COFFEE SHOP SPOTLIGHT 🤎

I was putting together a little “favorite coffee shops of summer 2026” compilation and decided this one entirely deserved its own (most of them do).

I’ve been to @sutiandco a few times now, and every time it charms me with its cozy indoors and outdoors (there’s indoor seating too!), yummy baked goods, and home goods you can shop. Very “hygge” as my friends and I would say.

📍Boulder, CO

Not sponsored; just love exploring and reccing good coffee shops <3 by @lisastoried

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9 days ago

BOOK REVIEW 🌟

Rating: ☕️☕️☕️☕️ (4.5/5) - I read Onyx Storm almost a year ago, and the fact that its scenes still stick with me so vividly validate how much I enjoyed it. I loved getting to explore each of the islands and fathom their landscapes, people, cultures, and values. It was fun comparing them, and predicting who was and was not to be trusted. I’m glad this book delved deeper into the history of the dragons too. And whereas Iron Flame kickstarted my love for the characters, Onyx Storm let me continue that. I could go on.

Some parts earlier and later in the book just felt a tad long for me, and I’m still conflicted on how I feel about some of the writing itself, but I’m still excited to get my hands on Threshing Day. by @lisastoried

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10 days ago

VERITY MOVIE ADAPTATION REVIEW 🌟

It was good!! I loved the book, and the movie did a great job honoring it. I was honestly glad, too, that I had forgotten a couple big details to have the movie surprise me all over again.

I liked seeing Dakota Johnson in a darker, edgier character. She was good, but the gush-worthy performances came from Anne Hathaway (no surprise) and Josh Harnett (he is SO back). Yes, Harnett is still a heartthrob, but his acting actually surprised me (cue: THAT scene towards the end).

Honorable mention: the set designers, and whoever found/chose the house. Still dreaming of the architecture and design 🤩

Thanks @joyluck.bookclub for inviting me!!

Movie comes out in theaters October 2nd 🍿 Are you gonna go see it? by @lisastoried

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23 days ago

BOOK REVIEW 🌟

Summary: On a remote island near Antarctica, the Salt family is tasked with protecting the world’s largest seed bank as rising seas threaten to swallow their home. And then, a mysterious woman washes ashore during a violent storm.

Rating: ☕️☕️☕️☕️☕️ (5/5) - I have absolutely no words, but I’ll try. I was not expecting this story. The atmospheric setting in such a wondrous part of the world was transportive, and the suspense kept me addicted. This felt like the perfect balance of literary and plot; eerie and wholesome. That one scene in the end with Rowan and Orly was gut-wrenching, yet it was written in a way that made sense and gave me immense peace. The ending was heartbreaking and happy and grim and hopeful all at once, and I know Charlotte McConaghy’s next book will be an auto-buy. by @lisastoried

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a month ago

Not gonna lie, last week was one of the most stressful weeks I’ve had at work. Thankfully, I also got to see friends and squeeze in things like movement, which became my lifelines for the week 🩵

The weekend was everything it needed to be! Went to @theflatsbeergarden with friends, saw The Odyssey in theater, and balanced house projects with reading, writing, and rest.

How was your weekend? How does a super busy week impact your reading? by @lisastoried

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2 months ago

Still dreaming of this coffee shop/bakery on Martha’s Vineyard 🤩☕️ My friend showed us this gem near her family’s house on the island, and the iced latte and croissant I had were 10/10. If I could spend more summer days here, I would.

@iggysbread taken in Martha's Vineyard by @lisastoried

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2 months ago

BOOK REVIEW 🌟

Summary: On the morning of their wedding, Frankie’s fiancé Nate abruptly calls it off with a cryptic note, leaving her heartbroken and confused. Her longtime best friend George then takes her on the honeymoon she and Nate were supposed to have in Tofino. A week together forces them to confront the complicated history between them.

Rating: ☕️☕️☕️ (2.75/5) - I was intrigued by the premise, but this one ended up falling short for me. The beginning felt rushed, and although I understood the focus being on Frankie and George, I think we needed a little more of her and Nate’s relationship to make her decision to marry him (and the aftermath of the call-off) feel more believable, especially given how clearly in love Frankie and George were at the rehearsal dinner. Despite the intense beginning, the rest of the plot and drama felt anticlimactic, and I felt bored towards the end. Despite all that, I didn’t hate any of the characters, and I liked that the ending addressed a lot.

I will say, too, I loved her writing in her other book One Golden Summer, which felt organic and warm, and it felt different in Our Perfect Storm. Occasionally, there’d be a line where the tone and cadence felt almost formulaic and structured differently from her usual style. Less of a critique, more of an observation!

Have you read this one? by @lisastoried

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2 months ago

BOOK REVIEW 🌟 Don’t you love when timing aligns? I read this book on my friend’s bachelorette in Martha’s Vineyard, which doubly immersed me in the East Coast vibes 🌊🌞🦞

Summary: After her husband’s sudden death, Hollis Shaw brings four friends from different chapters of her life together for a weekend on Nantucket Island. But between old flames, strained friendships, and buried secrets, the “Five-Star Weekend” turns out to be anything but simple.

Rating: ☕️☕️☕️☕️ (4.5/5) - This was the perfect summer read! The premise was fun, the Nantucket setting and culinary descriptions were gold, and each character felt distinct and real. The early twist was perfection too - definitely what helped turn the ‘expected’ drama into a surprising page-turner. I would’ve loved a bit more from the ending, and a couple elements felt abrupt that would’ve probably taken longer in real life, but still I enjoyed this for what it was!

I’ve watched the first 1-2 episodes of the show adaptation, and can’t wait to keep watching 🎬 by @lisastoried

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2 months ago

July recap + more coffeeshop highlights + many book reviews coming soon, but in the meantime… here’s a proof of life post ❣️

Currently:
- visiting Chicago (which I still innately call ‘home’ despite living/having our house in Colorado)
- getting ready for Thurs Lolla
- reading Our Perfect Storm

What’s everyone up to today? by @lisastoried

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3 months ago

YESTERYEAR BOOK REVIEW 🌟

Summary: Natalie, a widely known tradwife influencer, has built an empire around an idyllic, traditional lifestyle. But when she suddenly wakes up in the mid-1800s, she’s forced to confront the brutal realities behind the life she’s spent years romanticizing online. Even stranger, she’s met with unsettling versions of her own family.

Rating: ☕️☕️☕️☕️☕️ (4.75/5) - Wow guys. So this is the novel that’s been receiving a ton of buzz, both praise and criticism. Knowing this, I went into this one with *cautiously* high expectations, and it actually exceeded them.

Without giving too much away, here’s what I’ll say: to pull off the main character as not only an unreliable narrator but the antagonist is not easy, and I thought Caro Claire Burke pulled it off creatively and strategically. I also loved the complex dual timelines and suspense buildup. The plot twist/reveal towards the end did not disappoint. The only reason this wasn’t the fullest 5 stars for me is because at times, Natalie’s internal monologue didn’t feel believable, and while the ending may have been the best ending for this story, it was on a note I didn’t quite expect. But those little aspects didn’t take away from my reading experience—I recommend.

Another thing I’ll say: there was A LOT to this book, and although I’m now several days removed from it, I’m still digesting it, so I can see why this one can be both loved and picked apart (not always in a bad way)! by @lisastoried

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3 months ago