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Riley

@murphysmustread

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reading is a human right!
📍il
social worker | reader | advocate
‘26 reading goal: 65/73

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✨ indie bookstore spotlight ✨

even though national indie bookstore day isn’t until april 27th (now would be a good time to make sure it’s on your calendars folks), i’ve been celebrating my local indies all month! recently, i made my way over to @abouttimebookstore and it has quickly become a new favorite of mine.

first of all, the store space itself was absolutely gorgina! i’m talking floor to ceiling book shelves, comfy seating, and windows that give you a perfect view of downtown libertyville. let’s just say if i was a bookstore cat i’d be posting up here. and they also had such a wide selection which honestly kind of took me by surprise. they had best-sellers, staff picks, and hidden gems on display throughout the entire place. and the staff were so kind in helping me find the book i was on the lookout for!

so next time you’re looking for a new book, i would highly encourage you to stop by your local indie bookstore instead of purchasing it from amazon or one of those big name bookstores. small businesses are vital to our community and they deserve all the support the can get! 💕🛍️ taken in Libertyville, Illinois by @murphysmustread

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6 months ago

happy small business saturday friends! 🛍️

get your debit cards, apple pay, venmo, and whatever else you got out and ready to support some small businesses! small businesses are essential to building a strong community and they need our support now more than ever. here are just a few of my favorite bookish small businesses, so please go show them lots of love!

❓what are some of your favorite small businesses? let me know down below! by @murphysmustread

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a year ago

let’s recognize world alzheimer’s day together! 💜

for those who don’t know, when i’m not reading i work as a medical social worker for a hospice agency. sometimes i work with patients who have an alzheimer’s or dementia-related diagnosis and their loved ones who have become full-time caregivers. alzheimer’s is a cruel diagnosis and can cause so many loved ones indescribable grief and loss. on top of that, the responsibilities of being a full time care giver can lead to high rates of stress and burnout.

so if you’re reading this or just happen to stop for a second while doom scrolling, just know that you’re not alone. while these books are all works of fiction (key word being fiction), i do think they give a fairly clear idea of how complicated loving someone with alzheimer’s can be. my hope is that maybe these books won’t make you feel so alone anymore.

i also included some organizations you can support! whether you want to donate, volunteer, or sign up for their email newsletter, i know your support will mean the world to these agents of change.

❗️follow me on goodreads and fable (links in bio) for in-depth reviews on each of these books! by @murphysmustread

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25 days ago

✨ indie bookstore spotlight ✨

my friend introduced me to this local indie bookstore in downtown lafayette, indiana! they had such a great selection of books and we had a fun time getting lost browsing the shelves. and the staff were extremely friendly! we somehow got engrossed in a conversation about the lore of moth man while we were checking out…and i think it was the highlight of my visit that weekend.

🛍️ as a reminder, always shop small and support your local businesses! where you choose to spend your hard-earned dollars is important, so why not give that money back to your community? taken in Downtown Lafayette by @murphysmustread

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a month ago

✨ summer reading wrap up ✨

so apparently i sub consciously decided to fall off the face of the earth this summer and jus not post any monthly reading wrap ups…? who knows, maybe i was abducted by aliens and that’s why i forgot. anyhow, i still wanted to share some of my favorite books from the summer reading season so here ya go. one thing i did not predict happening this summer was reading GAME CHANGER and then just flying through the entire rest of the series. so now begins the countdown until season two of heated rivalry comes out…i’ll wait.

❗️ follow me on goodreads and fable (links in bio) for a more in-depth review on each of these books! by @murphysmustread

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a month ago

today is national overdose awareness day! ❤️‍🩹

not only do i have loved ones who struggle with substance use, but i actually used to work in the field of substance use counseling. so, i’ve experienced the personal effects of substance use and have a basic professional understanding (key word: basic). whatever your experiences are with this topic the bottom line is that substance use is a mental health diagnosis and should be handled with empathy and compassion. period. if you’re looking to broaden your understanding of substance use, i would certainly recommend these titles!

i also included some community and non-profit organizations in the midwest you can support! whether you want to donate, volunteer, or sign up for their email newsletter, i know your support will mean the world to these agents of change.

❗️follow me on goodreads and fable (links in bio) for in-depth reviews on each of these books! by @murphysmustread

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2 months ago

charleston trip recap! ☀️🐚🕶️

i’m a bit late in sharing these photos (are we surprised?), but i still wanted to post a recap of my trip to charleston, south carolina! y’all…it was so hot i damn near drowned in my own sweat. but i persevered, slathered on some spf 300 sunscreen and had myself a great time. every opportunity to travel is a privilege i try not to take for granted…even when it’s a million degrees outside taken in Charleston, South Carolina by @murphysmustread

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3 months ago

✨ indie bookstore spotlight ✨

i was in downtown geneva when i stumbled upon this gem! i mean, what’s better than a local bookstore, inside a quaint little house, with a dog as its mascot? literally nothing.

what i really loved about this place was the variety of book-related goods and trinkets. personally, i’m a sucker for an enamel pink or a sticker. also, the staff were extremely friendly and chatty! i had a nice little convo with someone about our favorite thrillers…and that’s on community y’all.

🛍️ as a reminder, always shop small and support your local businesses! where you choose to spend your hard-earned dollars is important, so why not give that money back to your community? taken in Geneva, Illinois by @murphysmustread

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3 months ago

it’s an audiobook summer y’all ☀️

it’s officially summer and here in illinois we’re going through a heat wave…as is the rest of the world apparently. since it’s been so hot, i haven’t been able to go on as many hot girl walks. but don’t worry everyone, i’ve still been getting in some quality time with my home girl @libby.app! here are just a few of the books i’ve listened to lately.

❗️follow me on goodreads and fable (links in bio) for in-depth reviews on each of these books! by @murphysmustread

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3 months ago

y’all…i think i found the perfect read for pride month AND juneteenth 🏳️‍⚧️

rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5/5 stars

this book has been on my radar for quite some time, but i specifically wanted to wait until pride to read it. and i’m so glad that i did! and i just realized that it’s a great read for juneteenth too! this book was easy to read and super accessible, like i seriously think anyone can pick up this book and gain some enjoyment from it. marsha’s life was filled with love, joy, and so much beauty amongst the struggle and hate. it was an honor getting to learn about her and i hope others take the opportunity to do the same!

❗️ follow me on goodreads and fable (links in bio) for a more in-depth review on this book! by @murphysmustread

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4 months ago

bits and pieces from a weekend well spent ☀️💜🏙️

my social battery might be bordering on empty, but this weekend was a blast! i celebrated a friend’s birthday, went to the farmer’s market with my mom and my dog, and took a little adventure into the city. here’s hoping that all weekends look like this!

❓what did you do over the weekend? let me know down below! by @murphysmustread

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4 months ago

pride month book recommendations 🏳️‍🌈✨🏳️‍⚧️

we’re reading queer allllll year my friends! but if you’re like me and are looking for a few more books to add to your TBR here’s just a few. each of these books are either written by an author in the LGBTQ+ community or focus on LGBTQ+ characters. my absolute all-time favorite on this list is UNDER THE WHISPERING DOOR. i cried several times while reading this one and it still lives rent free in my mind.

i included some grass roots and non-profit organizations in the midwest that you can support too! whether you want to donate, volunteer, or sign up for their email newsletter, i know your support will mean the world to these agents of change.

❗️follow me on goodreads and fable (links in bio) for in-depth reviews on each of these books! by @murphysmustread

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4 months ago