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Namita | Travel & Book Blogger

@paperbackstoplaces

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✈️ Discovering the world through books + travel
📚Thrillers, Historical Fiction & International Lit
🌍 Quietly building future literary retreats

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Hi! I'm Namita and I figured it was finally time for a proper reintroduction 😊

💫 I grew up in India where books were my first passport. Nancy Drew, Harry Potter, Grimm's Complete Fairy Tales - I read everything I could get my hands on and every story took me places I couldn't yet go myself. That love of reading shaped the decision to eventually move abroad and build a life that looked like the stories I read.

💫 Then life got busy and I didn't really read books for over ten years. It was "Keep it in the Family" by John Marrs that pulled me back in and I haven't stopped since. This account exists because of that return 🥰

💫 What you'll find here is honest book reviews, travel adventures, bookstore finds from wherever I happen to be, and the occasional life updates.

💫 I read mostly thrillers though historical (and international) fiction and cozy fantasy are starting to find space in my TBR. When I'm not reading, I'm traveling, watching my son perform on stage (or play soccer), or hunting down the best indie bookstores in whatever city I land in.

💫 I'm so glad you're here 🤗 Your turn — what are you currently reading and where in the world are you reading it from?

#aboutme #bookstagramdiscover #bookishcommuníty #bookstagrammer #travelbibliophile Reader info for Paperbacks to Places taken in BOOKSTA by @paperbackstoplaces

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4 months ago

While on vacation in Iceland, I find out that I've been accepted into the Red Hen Press Influencer Program 😍

Sooo thrilled to be a part of this program with @redhenpress that fosters diversity and publishes work by underrepresented and diverse authors ❤️

Can't wait to dive into upcoming releases and share some incredible new authors with you all 🥰

Thank you @redhenpress Image shows Paperbacks to Places (@paperbackstoplaces) being accepted into the Red Hen Press Influencer Program taken in BOOKSTA by @paperbackstoplaces

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4 months ago

Me, pretending to be calm but actually screaming because I got selected for the Try To Keep Up ARC Team 🤩🤩🤩

It's wild to think that I started this bookstagram account 3 months ago and now I'm part of an ARC Team. I'm so grateful and humbled to be included, and I can't wait to share my reading journey with you all 🥰

#arcreader #readersofinstagram #arcannouncement
#bookishcommuníty ARC Team announcement by @paperbackstoplaces

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6 months ago

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a day ago

I'm currently reading ACOTAR (A Court of Thorns and Roses). It's not a genre I usually pick up but I'm having so much fun with it.

Thanks to @lastchapterblues for leading our buddy- reading group. Reading this together has made it even better!

I can't wait to finish the book and finally understand all the memes and posts I've seen about this series 🥰

QOTD❓️Have you read this series yet? If not, what book or book series is your favorite this year? Paperbackstoplaces holding the book "A Court of Thorns and Roses" as her current read. taken in BOOKSTA by @paperbackstoplaces

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3 days ago

September was a busy month. School started, routines changed, and I had a few work trips, so I didn't get as much time to read. I finished 3 books - two psychological thrillers and one litRPG. It was my first time trying litRPG, and I really enjoyed it. I'Il definitely be reading the next Dungeon Crawler book soon.

We ended up visiting Minnesota's Largest Candy Store on a free weekend 🍬 If you haven't been there, I highly recommend it. The interior of the store is magical, and so whimsical 🤩 We bought candy, different flavors of sodas, Naruto (or Choji's) potato chips and some jams and jellies 😋 We also went to a Greek festival and participated in a traditional Greek dance 💃

I'm hoping October feels a little calmer. I'm soo excited for Halloween and all the candy my son will be bringing home (for me) 🤪

QOTD❓️What's one fun thing you did in September?

#septemberrecap #minnesotaslargestcandystore #dungeoncrawlercarl #booksandtravel #readersofinstagram by @paperbackstoplaces

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5 days ago

Happy (U.S.) Release Day @claremackwrites 🥳📚

It's Not What You Think by Clare Mackintosh is the kind of thriller that grabs you in the first chapter and does not let go. Nadeeka is a divorced mom of two who thinks her boyfriend Jamie is having an affair. What she finds when she gets home is much worse than she imagined and from that moment the story completely takes off.

What follows is a maze of secrets, lies, and a while bunch of people who are hiding things. Multiple points of view. Steady pacing. Twists that kept coming faster than I expected. I did not guess most of them though I did figure out the biggest one a little early. That did not make it any less fun to watch it all unfold. The writing is great. The political pieces feel real and add an extra layer to the story. And the tension never let up from start to finish. If you love a fast, twisty police procedural, add this to your TBR immediately!

I also have to say that I met Clare Mackintosh at a reading retreat in Greece last year and she is one of the kindest, smartest and funniest people I have ever talked to. It makes reading her books feel personal and fun. This is my second book from her and I have loved both. I’m so honored to be able to support one of the sweetest people I’ve ever met 🫶

QOTD❓️: Do you enjoy multiple-POV thrillers or do you prefer one narrator?

#claremackintosh #readersofinstagram #bookreview #psychologicalthriller Book review for Its Not What You Think by Clare Mackintosh on scenic purple background. taken in BOOKSTA by @paperbackstoplaces

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15 days ago

Part 2 is here - the Midwest + Plains edition📍📚

From quiet lakes to endless prairies, these states have a way of grounding you and pulling you into their stories. I matched each state with a book that captures its spirit and the exact place where the story feels right.

If you're planning a road trip, exploring close to home, or just want to "travel" through a book, this list is full of cozy corners, wide-open skies, and stories that feel like you're a part of it.

Swipe to find your state (and check the caption under each slide for a fun fact) and save this for your next read 📚

From the Great Lakes to the Plains, I picked a book for each Midwest and Plains state and the best place to read it. These stories feel rooted in the land, the people and the quiet moments that make this part of the country special.

Save this list for your next cozy read.

Sula, published in 1973, was considered highly experimental for its time because it deliberately sidelined traditional romantic love. Instead, it put a complex, intense and lifelong female friendship at the center of the story.

The Loraine Public Library in Ohio features a special room dedicated to Toni Morrison who was born in the city.

John Green based part of the emotional core of the novel on a real-life teenage girl named Esther Earl, whom he met at a Harry Potter fan gathering. Esther was a Nerdfighter who passed away from thyroid cancer in 2010 at age 16.

Holliday Park in Indianapolis features a 94-acre green space rich with history, wildlife and unique architectural artifacts.

The Joe and Rika Mansueto Library at the University of Chicago was used to shoot scenes for the 2014 movie Divergent.

5 underground robots retrieve books by size packed into metal bins rather than by authors or subjects. Books arrive at the surface desk via the automated system in an average of 3 minutes.

Sugar Island is a real Ojibwe community in Michigan's Upper Peninsula that inspired the #1 bestseller Firekeeper's Daughter by Angeline Boulley.

Following World War II in 1945, Sugar Island was seriously considered as the permanent headquarters for the newly formed United Nations.

To research the book, soc A map of the United States with Midwest states highlighted. taken in BOOKSTA by @paperbackstoplaces

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17 days ago

The House Across The Lake by Riley Sager was August’s @bookclubandbloodspatter pick and it ended up being such a fun, twisty read, especially for my first Riley Sager book (I'm taking recommendations for the next Riley Sager book to read 📚).

The story follows Casey Fletcher, an actress hiding out at her family’s lake house after a personal tragedy. Her days are spent with bourbon in hand and eyes on the glamorous, wealthy couple across the lake, Tom and Katherine Royce. After Casey saves Katherine from drowning, the two grow close but Casey quickly realizes their “perfect” marriage might not be perfect at all. And when Katherine suddenly disappears, everything Casey thought she understood flips upside down.

The beginning felt a little slow, but once the pace picked up, I was fully locked in. I thought I had the culprit figured out early…but I was so wrong. The big twist completely surprised me, and I actually really liked it. The ending tied everything together in a satisfying way, and the twists kept me turning pages. Overall, this was a gripping, twist‑heavy thriller with a strong finish.

4.5/5 stars. I’ll definitely be reading more Riley Sager.

❓️: Do you like thrillers with big, unexpected twists or do you prefer ones you can slowly piece together?

#readersofinstagram #bookrecs #BookReview Book review for The House Across The Lake, a thriller by Riley Sager. taken in BOOKSTA by @paperbackstoplaces

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a month ago

September is here and my reading list is ready 📚

These are the books I am hoping to get through this month (if my work slows down 😪). Cooler days and cozy weather make fall the perfect time to curl up with a book 🍂📖

Save this (or better yet, read one of these books with me) if you are still figuring out your September list.

❓️What is the one book you are most excited to read this month? September hopeful reads for September, by Paperbacks to Places taken in BOOKSTA by @paperbackstoplaces

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a month ago

Happy release day 🥳✨️💖

Try to Keep Up by Shay Knudsen is out today and I'm so excited this book is finally out in the world!

The story follows Kody, a nanny who works for a very wealthy family. After an accident, Kody learns something shocking about one of the kids, Piper and the whole story takes a darker turn. When a neighbor's child goes missing, everything starts to connect in wild and unexpected ways. The twists kept me turning pages fast and the ending was chef's kiss 😘 This is one of the strongest debut novels I've read and I can't wait to see what Shay writes next 😍

Huge congratulations to @shayknudsenstories and @harborandskullpublishing on today's release. Go grab your copy today! Try to Keep Up release day! taken in BOOKSTA by @paperbackstoplaces

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a month ago

❓️ What state are you from? Have you read the book for your state or visited the place?

From Maine all the way down to Florida, I matched every East Coast and Southern state with the book that captures its vibe and the exact place you should read it.

This is Part 1 of my '50 States - 50 Books' series, and I had a lot of fun working on this project.

Swipe to find your state (and check the caption under each slide for a fun fact), save this for your next reading adventure, and get ready for Part 2 🤩

I chose a book for every state from Maine to Florida and a place to read it. Swipe to find your state, and check the caption under the slide for a fun fact 😁

Stephen King wrote Carrie while living in Maine, and Bangor inspired many of his fictional towns.

Fun Fact: The house’s famous black iron gate is shaped like bats and spiders and is so popular people from all over the world come just to take pictures of the spooky gate 👻 🦇🕷

Bedrock Gardens started as a private backyard project (it was originally an overgrown 1700s dairy farm) and grew into one of New Hampshire’s most magical outdoor art spaces - full of sculptures, winding paths, and quiet corners.

The St. Johnsbury Athenaeum is one of the oldest public art galleries in the United States. The library's Victorian architecture makes it feel like you've stepped straight into a haunted room, which fits The Winter People perfectly.

Fun Fact: The biggest painting there - "The Domes of Yosemite" is so big it takes up an entire wall!

Louisa May Alcott wrote Little Women right inside Orchard House and many scenes in the book were inspired by real rooms you can still walk through today.

Fun Fact: Louisa’s sister May (the real “Amy”) painted on the walls, and you can still see her artwork inside the house.

The Providence Athenaeum is one of the oldest libraries in the country and has been a gathering place for writers since the 1800s.

Fun Fact: Edgar Allan Poe once spent time here with his fiancée.

Wilton is one of the towns that inspired the “perfect” suburban setting in The Stepford Wives — quiet streets, tidy homes, and that eerie feeling that everything might be a little too perfect.

Fun Fact: T 50 states - 50 books by Paperbacks to Places. Has a map of the US with outline of the states, and the south and east coast highlighted. taken in BOOKSTA by @paperbackstoplaces

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2 months ago