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Planning my summer reading

Each season comes with its own reading pros and cons, but I think reading in the summer might be my favorite. I love reading outside, bringing books with me on long weekend adventures, and hearing the cicadas outside my open window as I turn the pages. With May nearly in the rearview mirror, it’s time Continue reading
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Mini Reviews: Productivity, priorities, and gardening

Yet another round up of some eclectic reads. Let’s go! The Garden Against Time by Olivia Laing. I loved this book. It’s so many things at once: Laing’s relationship with gardening generally and a garden they recently started tending to; an exploration of the horrific colonial roots of so many famous gardens; a discussion of Continue reading
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Mini Reviews: Nonfiction about women

2025 has turned out to be quite the year of reading nonfiction for me, which I love. Here are three fantastic nonfiction reads about women (who happen to be writers). Agatha Christie: A Very Elusive Woman by Lucy Worsley is a comprehensive, thoughtful biography of, dare I say, one of the best known and loved Continue reading
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Mini Reviews: The bittersweet

Some of my favorite books end up being ones that are bittersweet, that capture a sense of nostalgia, gratitude, and longing all rolled into one. Here are a few recent reads that have reminded me of that Kacey Musgraves song — happy and sad at the same time. Glaciers by Alexis M. Smith is a Continue reading
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Mini Reviews: Warming up with poetry

Despite it being almost March, it is still solidly winter where I live (it is, in fact, snowing as I write this). I’ve been filling my pockets of spare time with copious amounts of knitting — and, when my focus allows, reading. Here are a handful of poetry collections I’ve read that have made the Continue reading
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Mini Reviews: shipwrecks, essays about reading, and tales of the beauty industry

A round up of recent reads, in the form of some mini reviews. Let’s go! The Wager by David Grann reconstructs the story of a harrowing shipwreck in the 1700s and the gruesome aftermath of loss, survival, and struggle as the men tried to make their way back to England. I read this one for Continue reading
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Books that have August energy

I love pairing my books to the energy of the season. August is such an interesting month in this regard. Summer is still here, but autumn is peeking around the corner. At least where I live, the mornings and evenings are beginning to crisp, but the midday sun is still hot. I feel an underlying Continue reading
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Favorite books of 2024 so far

July! Somehow we are over halfway through 2024 already. There have been lots of ups and downs in my person life this year, but thankfully reading has remained a constant through it all. So far in 2024 I’ve read 40 books. Here are my favorites of the bunch, in the order that I read them. Continue reading
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Tress of the Emerald Sea by Brandon Sanderson
“Heroism is often the seemingly spontaneous result of a lifetime of preparation.” Tress of the Emerald Sea follows Tress, a girl who lives on an island that, usually, no one is allowed to leave. She enjoys the simple things, such as collecting cups, and is generally content with her life on the island. Yet when Continue reading
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The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches by Sangu Mandanna
This novel is like a warm mug of tea, a cozy blanket, catching up with an old friend over coffee. The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches tells the story of — well, just what the title suggests. The book follows Mika Moon, a witch in Britain who has consistently moved around with her dog Continue reading
About ME //

i’m holly — former english major, current twenty-something book lover, allergic to nuts. drop me a line at nutfreenerd@gmail.com or on instagram.
