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Mikaela || Shelf.Indulgent_

@shelf.indulgent_

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Finding my way back into reading after a hiatus
🎧 Audio: Hello Girls
📱Kindle: Two Kinds of Strangers

POSTS STORIES REELS TAGGED

It’s time for a reintroduction! I’m Mikaela, a Midwest girl who loves a good book and someone to yap about it with. I read primarily romance and thrillers, with some romantasy sprinkled in. I started my bookstagram for a place to connect with other readers and find my next favorite book 📚 here are some of my favorite books, authors, and reading habitsqqq

QOTD: what’s a book you can’t stop recommending?

#bookish #bookstagram #bookgirl by @shelf.indulgent_

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2 months ago

🌸 Rather Be Reading 🌺

#bookstagram #bookish #ratherbereading #bookworm by @shelf.indulgent_

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a year ago

Back in Basgiath 🐉

QOTD: What fall release is on your TBR?

#bookstagram #fourthwing #empryeanseries #threshingday by @shelf.indulgent_

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18 days ago

Mad Mabel ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (4/5)

The Vibe
A fun cozy mystery with an 81 year old narrator and clever twists.

Why I Liked It
The biggest hook was knowing our main character had been convicted of murder while having no clue who the victim was. That question kept me flipping pages waiting for it to happen in the split timelines.

Where It Fell Short
If you’re expecting a fast-paced, edge-of-your-seat thriller, this might not hit the mark. It’s much more character-driven and cozy than suspenseful.

This was an eARC, so thank you to both @netgalley and @stmartinspress!

QOTD: whats your favorite type of thriller? Or what’s your CR if you’re not a thriller fan?

#bookish #bookreview #bookstagram #madmabel #thrillerbook by @shelf.indulgent_

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a month ago

Fall TBR 🍂

QOTD: anything exciting on your fall TBR?

#bookstagram #bookish #bookstack by @shelf.indulgent_

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a month ago

Fossil Feud ⭐️⭐️ (2/5)

The Vibe
Academic rivals, workplace romance, and an attempt at a Ali Hazelwood style STEM romance

Where It Fell Short
I really wanted to love this one, but it felt overly descriptive and dragged in places. My audiobook speed kept creeping higher and higher. I also never fully bought into the MMC, whether it was the narration, the constant use of his full name, or the chemistry just not clicking for me. And for me, the spicy scenes felt more cringey than swoony.

Why I Liked It
Ripley was easy to root for. She’s determined and refuses to let one terrible man turn her away from her passion. The dinosaur facts were genuinely interesting and had me curious enough to google more information afterward.

QOTD: What’s one thing that instantly makes you root for the heroine?

#bookish #bookreview #bookstagram #fossilfeud #romancebook by @shelf.indulgent_

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a month ago

Quick reviews of books I read this spring/summer 📚

QOTD: have you ever been disappointed by one of your autobuy authors?

#bookstagram #bookish #bookreviews by @shelf.indulgent_

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a month ago

The Shippers ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (5/5)
Jojo is stuck on a cruise ship for her sister’s wedding and recruits her childhood best friend to be her fake boyfriend in hopes of getting an old crush’s attention.

The Vibe
A breezy, feel-good romance packed with tropical wedding chaos.

Why I Liked It
I flew through this one and found myself smiling the entire time. The cruise ship setting was so much fun, and the forced proximity of everyone being together made for some entertaining moments.

Where It Fell Short
Some plot points felt a little obvious, and Jojo had a habit of making the absolute worst decisions, which occasionally made her hard to root for. Still, the charm and fun more than made up for it.

QOTD: What’s been one of your favorite book settings?

Read in March 2026 as an eARC, thank you to @netgalley and @stmartinspress for the early copy by @shelf.indulgent_

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2 months ago

Life looks a little different these days 📚🍼✨

I haven’t been around much since spring because I welcomed my sweetest new chapter into the world. Between the exhaustion of the third trimester and navigating postpartum life, I’ve found it surprisingly hard to focus on reading the way I used to. These days my book stacks are looking a lot more like this, filled with board books, bedtime stories, and colorful picture books. And honestly? I’m loving every minute of it.

I’m slowly finding my footing again and feeling ready to pick up a book for myself. Here’s to easing back into reading, reconnecting with this wonderful community, and finding a new rhythm. 🤍#Bookstagram #BookishMama #ReadingLife by @shelf.indulgent_

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2 months ago

Beautiful Ugly ⭐️⭐️⭐️ (3/5)
Grady’s wife, Abby, mysteriously disappears from her car on the night he becomes a bestselling author. A year later, trying to break his writing slump, Grady moves to a remote cabin on a tiny Scottish island and feels like he sees Abby everywhere.

The Vibe
Slow-burn, introspective, and a little gloomy. More atmospheric than gripping.

Why I Liked It
That ending absolutely saved it for me. The final 10% was twisty, smart, and very Alice Feeney. I also loved the dual narration structure, especially the contrast between Abby’s past and Grady’s current timeline—it added depth and payoff once everything clicked.

Where It Fell Short
The pacing dragged, and I struggled to stay engaged on audio. The MMC didn’t work for me at all, and early on it felt like a familiar “loner author” setup I’ve read before.

Read If You Like
Slow-burn psychological thrillers with endings that make the struggle feel (mostly) worth it.

QOTD: Are you more likely to forgive a slow book if the ending completely delivers?

#bookreview #alicefeeney #bookish #bookstagram #thrillerbooks by @shelf.indulgent_

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7 months ago

Just for the Cameras ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (5/5)
A professional football player gets assigned a project to help revamp the team’s image. He is paired with a flamingo zookeeper to help with their upcoming fundraiser that gets spun into a fake relationship for PR.

The Vibe
Beach read energy with depth. Light, playful, laugh-out-loud moments paired with emotional beats that sneak up on you. This is the kind of book you inhale—drink in hand, sun on your face.

Why I Loved It
This book singlehandedly dragged me out of a months-long reading slump. I devoured nearly 600 pages in two days, which honestly tells you everything you need to know. I laughed a lot, cried a little, and felt deeply connected to the FMC in a way that made her emotions feel personal. It’s romantic without being flimsy, funny without trying too hard, and emotionally grounded in a way that really landed for me.

Where It Fell Short
My one hang-up is the MMC, Graydon. While reading, it didn’t fully bother me, but in hindsight, some of his behavior felt unnecessarily mean. I love a grumpy/sunshine trope, but a few moments crossed into callous—and the whole “he’s mean because he likes you” thing just doesn’t hit the same in my 30s.

Read If You Like
Slightly chaotic romance setups that somehow make perfect sense or grumpy/sunshine dynamics

QOTD: what’s your favorite “odd” pairing of love interests?

#bookreview #meghanquinn #beachread #bookish #bookstagram taken in California by @shelf.indulgent_

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7 months ago

Most Eligible ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (4/5)
A journalist goes undercover on a very Bachelor-esque dating show to expose producer misconduct and instead runs straight into unresolved feelings for her most memorable one-night stand, who is now the show’s host.

The Vibe
Think UnREAL (the TV show), but less dark and more playful. If you’re a Bachelor fan, the parallels are instantly recognizable—from the recycled date ideas to the oddly hypnotic rhythm of watching reality TV unfold.

Why I Loved It
I flew through this on audio. The yearning was strong, the behind-the-scenes angle was fun, and I appreciated that the show’s “lead” was kind of forgettable—it actually highlighted how little real interaction contestants get during filming.

Where It Fell Short
I wanted more depth in the female friendships, and the miscommunication trope was very predictable. It didn’t ruin the story, but it did feel like a missed opportunity to do something a little fresher.

Read If You Like
The Bachelor and reality TV culture
Fast, bingeable romances
Behind-the-scenes drama
Reality TV is your favorite love-to-hate genre

QOTD: Would you ever go on a reality dating show?

#bookreview #bookish #bookstagram #romancegirly #mosteligible taken in California by @shelf.indulgent_

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7 months ago