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Katharine

@readwithkat

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📍Baltimore
books, writing, and the long middle
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I shared something personal in my newsletter this week — an essay about midlife, health changes, and finding my way back to writing.

Link in bio, if you want to read. by @readwithkat

❄️ Come with me to Beartown ❄️ I don’t know why it took me so long to make one of these for this book. If you’ve followed me for a while you know how I feel about Beartown. And in anticipation of the release of the third (and final 😭) book, I’ve been rereading the series. If this reel is your vibe and you haven’t read them yet, start now. The Winners comes out 9/27 and I am SO excited to spend some more time in this beautiful, heartbreaking town. by @readwithkat

Happy Monday! It’s been a while since I’ve posted in my feed. Like many, I’ve been trying to be on social media a little less and only posting when I feel inspired to. And there’s nothing like getting a new bookshelf to make me want share a picture, right?!

I finished 4 books over the weekend and am trying to pick my next read. What are you reading right now? by @readwithkat

Aunt Kat weekends are the best weekends ❤️👯‍♀️✨🍦💐📚🥳🐾🥂 by @readwithkat

Happy pub day to Dolly All the Time! 🎉 Huge thank you to @putnambooks for my early copy 📖 What’s the last book you read into the wee hours of the morning?

Annabel Monaghan has done it again. She’s written a romance that features mature characters in their 30s and 40s, a kid who isn’t too saccharine or irritating, and a relationship that feels like it’s earned its happy ending. I enjoyed Dolly All the Time so much that it might even bump Nora Goes Off Script out of its top place.

I started Dolly casually, needing a romance as a palate cleanser. But I was quickly sucked in and ended up staying up all night to read it. This hit all my romance sweet spots – emotional depth without unnecessary drama and a love story that had me giggling, yearning, and tearing up. It takes a lot for me to give a romance 5 stars, but this one earned it. Also: we love a self-aware man in therapy. by @readwithkat

🎧 Huge thank you to @prhaudio for my free audiobook 🎧 I’ve read and enjoyed both of Rosie Walsh’s previous books (Ghosted and The Love of My Life) but The One Day You Were My Husband might be my favorite of hers yet. This was very compelling (I read it in less than 48 hours) and perfectly satisfying (just enough clever twists and the emotional payoff). Told in a dual timeline format, Walsh does a fantastic job of slowly revealing things to keep you hooked. I also found myself genuinely invested in the characters and their relationships, which made the stakes feel emotional rather than just plot driven.

I read this one on audio and Emilia Fox’s narration was excellent. I especially appreciated how well she did the male voices, which can be tricky. I was so invested that I picked up the print copy when I got in bed just so I could keep reading. This is a solid 4 stars for me (although I could see it creeping up to 4.5 depending on how it stays with me). If you like emotionally charged, character-driven suspense stories with real stakes, give this a try. by @readwithkat

I’m very (VERY) behind on sharing what I’ve been reading – but here are a few! [Huge thank you to @prhaudio for the free audiobooks, and to the tagged publishers for my copies.]

I’d been struggling to focus on audiobooks until I discovered that starting in print and toggling between formats helps to keep me focused.

🐢 The End of Romance by Lily Meyer – This book had been on my radar, but after seeing Lily Meyer in conversation with Nate Brown at @greedyreads, I was even more eager to read it. And it did not disappoint; this is in the running for one of my favorite books of the year. (Narrated by Kristen Sieh, a favorite of mine.)

🪰 Lost Lambs by Madeline Cash – After hearing both @fictionmatters and @lizisreading_ rave about this one, I immediately started reading and it was a DELIGHT. Chaotic, funny, with a surprising amount of heart, this is also in the running for one of my favorites. (Narrated by Christine Lakin, another favorite.)

🍎 This is Not About Us by Allegra Goodman – This novel in stories was a wonderful family drama, with a family I genuinely didn’t want to leave. Although very different from her previous books (Sam and Isola), this was a great read. (Narrated by Kimberly Farr.)

🍎 One & Only by Maurene Goo – I haven’t read any of Maurene Goo’s YA fiction, but her entry into adult romance makes me eager for what she writes next. With a hint of magical realism, fans of Rebecca Serle will enjoy this one. (Narrated by Jeena Yi.)

🌳 Strangers by Belle Burden – Most likely you’ve heard about this one by now, and while I have lots of thoughts, it’s all been said already. What I will say is that I could not read this one fast enough – thank goodness for having both formats available. I listened to the first half on a Saturday and stayed up late finishing it in print that night. A fun one to deep dive on for sure.

What reading formats work best for you? by @readwithkat

Happy pub day to my current read! ✨ The Astral Library by Kate Quinn is officially out today, and I’ve been looking forward to this one since my stay at @LibraryHotel a few weeks ago.

The hotel is such a good fit for this collaboration—it’s organized around the Dewey Decimal System, with a 24/7 Reading Room stocked with snacks, coffee, and fresh fruit, and @bookmarkslounge on the 14th floor, a literary-themed cocktail bar with a fireplace and outdoor terrace. I didn’t want to leave!

If you haven’t heard of it, this is Kate’s first contemporary novel and her first with a deluxe limited edition: sprayed edges, marbled endpapers, a library card pocket design. It’s a beautiful book. (Also, book dragons are involved, which feels important to mention.)

For anyone planning a NYC trip, @LibraryHotel and @williammorrowbooks have an Astral Library package available for guests booking 2+ nights in March or April—includes the book, a copy of The Alice Network, a custom tote, and two drink tickets to @bookmarkslounge. Link to book the package is in my bio.

Big thank you to @libraryhotel for having me and @williammorrowbooks for my early copy! by @readwithkat

Recently I was lucky enough to spend a couple days at the @LibraryHotel, the perfect NYC location for book lovers.

With genre-themed rooms, a 24-hour reading lounge, and the cozy Writer’s Den (complete with a fireplace), this was a much-needed getaway. And the location couldn’t be better! Just steps from the New York Public Library and a quick walk to the McNally Jackson bookstore at Rockefeller Plaza, I was in book heaven 📚

The Library Hotel has partnered with @williammorrowbooks to celebrate the release of The Astral Library by Kate Quinn, her first foray into contemporary fiction (and with 🐉!)

When you book 2 or more nights at the Library Hotel in March or April 2026 with the Astral Library package, you’ll receive:

📖 A deluxe copy of The Astral Library (with stunning sprayed edges)
📖 A copy of The Alice Network (a previous @reesesbookclub pick)
👜 A custom Astral Library tote bag
🍸 2 complimentary drink tickets to the @bookmarkslounge

Huge thank you to @libraryhotel for hosting me and creating such a special experience! If you’re a book lover planning a trip to NYC, this is an absolute must. Link to the book package is in my bio. by @readwithkat

With only two weeks left in the year (how?!) it’s a little late for a “10 Before the End,” so here’s a “’I’m Trying My Best’ 10 Before the End.” [Thank you to the tagged publishers for my free books.]

If you were to pick 3 that I absolutely must read before 2026, what would they be?

✨ Books pictured ✨
Buckeye by Patrick Ryan
Broken Country by Clare Leslie Hall
Death of the Author by Nnedi Okorafor
Wild Dark Shore by Charlotte McConaghy
The Correspondent by Virginia Evans
Iosla by Allegra Goodman
A Family Matter by Claire Lynch
A Guardian and a Thief by Megha Majumdar (in progress!)
Hamnet by Maggie O’Farrell
How About Now by Kate Baer by @readwithkat

Before I Forget by @toryhenwoodhoen arrived at my door a few days ago (thank you to @stmartinspress for my free copy) and at first I set it aside, worried the Alzheimer’s storyline might feel too heavy for this time of year. But then @anniebjones05 recommended it as a holiday read on From the Front Porch and my ears perked up.

I love a festive rom-com, but one of my favorite holiday-adjacent reads is A Home for the Holidays by Taylor Hahn — more family story than romance. So when Annie said Before I Forget was funny and heartwarming despite the subject matter, I decided to pick it up.  And I’m SO glad I did. I rarely pick up books on a whim anymore, but I’ve been craving a little bookish serendipity. This delivered exactly that. I stayed up until 2AM finishing it, tears rolling down my face. It always feels like the more I love a book, the harder it is for me to review it, so you’ll just have to trust me on this one.

If you like stories about small towns, messy families, and figuring out who you are — think Early Morning Riser by Katherine Heiny and Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt (minus the octopus) — add this to your list. Note: This is not a holiday read in the literal sense, but takes place around this time of year and the family dynamics felt perfect for the season.

What kind of books do like to read during the last few weeks of the year? What’s a book you picked up at just the right time? by @readwithkat

Happy pub day to Best Offer Wins by Marisa Kashino! [Big thank you to @celadonbooks for my free copy.] This is by far the best, most unique thriller I’ve read in a long time. (I rarely ever give books in this genre 5 ⭐️, so that should tell you just how much I loved it.) If you need something to escape into during all the family time in the coming weeks, this will grab your attention and won’t let go. Definitely one of my favorite books of the year 🏠 by @readwithkat