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What were some of your favorite books that you read as a kid, and even now as an adult, you think about them? While I don’t think about every book I have read, I do tend to see some come across my …

Nothing says fall like a trip to a local donut shop for apple cider donuts. Emily and her friends start their day at Killer Donuts by Ginger Bolton with treats in hand, then head into a corn maze b…

Fall is in the air, and what screams fall more than an apple orchard? Follow Emily as she comes home to the apple orchard where she first met her friend Jake. The place where she found and lost her…

I think I forgot to post about my June reading, and now I’m writing about July. The sad part is that I did actually write a post and take pictures for it, but I never actually posted it. Oops! The …

I can’t believe I have been here for 3 years. When I first moved to Watertown, you could have told me that I would open a bookstore, and I probably would have tried to correct you, and so, no, I’m …

I’m back again for another amazing blog post. I guess my spectacular writing has grabbed people’s attention. My human has told me that I have to review a book with cats in it. As she was reading it…

So I’m back. I guess someone found my post interesting, and my lovely human mentioned that I should try another post. Today we are going to review something we carry in my store…. Yarn. I am a hug…

Hi, to anyone interested… My name is Dewey, and I own a bookstore. My human is making me do this. She thinks that letting humans read what I have to say might be interesting. Personally, I’d rather…

Goodbye May and Hello June. I am actually surprised by how many books I read this month Fragile Hopes by Lisina Coney- 3 stars The Bro Pact by Charli Meadows – 3 stars Margo’s Got Money Troubles b…

What happens when a cozy fantasy author writes something darker? Well, that is exactly what Sarah Beth Durst does with this series. ‘The Queen Of Blood’ is not cozy but a brutal story of magic and …

Nothing is more motivating than when a book that sounds good is turned into a movie or TV show. That is exactly what drew me to Margo’s got money troubles, by Rufi Thrope. The show has just come ou…

Do you have someone who would do anything for you? For Ivy, it’s her little brother. In Fragile Hopes by Lisina Coney, Ivy works multiple jobs to give Joe everything she never had. After three yea…

Horror is a genre that has a season devoted to it. Like most genres nowadays, you could find a time of year for it, but what if you lived in horror since you were a child? In Lindy Ryan’s new book,…

Have you ever planned your TBR, only to ignore it and read whatever sounds good? That’s exactly how this month went for me—I didn’t touch any of my planned picks. Instead, I went rogue on Kindle Un…

The search for belonging challenges everyone—some must fight to find it. In the end, is it a place or the people around you? Nora had to fight to find her perfect place, and now she will fight to k…

May is my birthday month, so I thought I would do something fun. A YouTuber that I love to watch is having a reading challenge that combines two of my hobbies, cooking and reading. While you don’t …

People ask me all the time how I get any reading done as a mom of three very busy boys and a full-time business owner. The honest answer is that I make time to read. I won’t sugar quote it. Life is…

Romance and horror may seem worlds apart, but both share a central obsession: a person of intense interest. Obsession might sound extreme for a love story, but when you think about it, love is a li…

This month has been a weird one for me. It started with a slump, so honestly, I just picked up whatever sounded interesting in the moment and stuck with it. So, because of that, I did end up DNF-in…

Parents of young children often notice how natural curiosity in kids can fade under busy schedules, screens, and the pressure to “get ready” for school. The challenge is real: supporting questions,…

Boyfriends may come and go, but good friendships last. Sometimes, boyfriends introduce you to unexpected people. This happens to Kat Hu in The Ex-Girlfriend Murder Club by Gloria Chao. Kat not only…

Wisconsin brims with cryptid legends, from Bigfoot to werewolves, making it a perfect setting for a scientist-minded main character raised among believers. That’s exactly the premise of Monster In …

Romance readers know that one of the biggest tropes right now is sports romance. However, for most of them, it is a dancer and a hockey player, or a figure skater and a hockey player. What would be…

Romance was in the air, and books were in hand. I think this month was good! I may not have gone by my TBR at all! Haha. Oops! Also, I unfortunately did DNF another book this month. It was a hockey…

When a book dedication tells their kids not to read a book because it has spice in it, it only gives the reader, if you like romance, more of a reason to pick it up and binge it. This happens in Th…

Welcome to Wonderland again, in a new reimagining of Lewis Carroll’s Alice in Wonderland. Anna James continues the story with Alice’s granddaughter. Go back into the world and see some of the loved…

How Parents Can Nurture Leadership Skills in Kids Through Everyday Moments By Alexis Hall Single parents juggling work, school schedules, and the everyday parenting challenges know how quickly the …

Ever wondered what happens when you bargain with your nemesis among the fae? In Enchanting the Fae Queen, the next installment in the Queens of Villainy by Stephanie Burgis, you’ll discover just th…

What a month it has been. At the start of January, I set myself a TBR of 6 books and then 4 random picks. I read on my Kindle, in physical books, and in audiobooks. This month, however, I listened …

What would happen if humans and goblins started a war? What would happen if a regiment of goblins were whisked away from the battle and thrust into another problem? Both of these questions are answ…

Sometimes when you lose someone you feel the need to finish something for them. For Haven in Amalfi Curse by Sarah Penner, it’s her father’s dying wish that she finds a treasure. Or at least that’s…

In the book industry, the Romance genre is one of the most popular and a front-runner in the ebook revolution. However, it’s also making a massive comeback in print. With romance, only bookstores a…

This last year romance and romantasy have become huge in the reading world. Well, romance has always been popular, but thanks to BookTok, it has exploded. However, one sub- genre that isn’t talked …

Have you ever wanted to see what your life would be like if you had made a different choice? What if you could go to a special place and trade in one life for another? Would you do it? These are th…

It’s finally January! First, how the heck did that happen, and second, who is ready for some new reading goals? Last year, my goal was 120 books. I am happy to say that I reached it! So now let’s s…

Winter is the perfect time to get cozy under a blanket and read a good book. Nothing is more comfortable than a low-stakes fantasy written by the wonderful Travis Baldree. Brigands and Breadknives …

Mid-December is when you start seeing things about the new year and planning. January is the month of resolutions; for me, it’s the month of goals. I personally don’t like the word resolutions. Goa…

A reading slump hits you randomly, at times when you least expect it. What’s a reading slump, you ask? Well, it’s usually a time when the act of reading sounds terrible, and nothing sounds good; ba…

Alexis Hall writes another amazing article. Today she is sharing about raising curious self motivated children. Raising Curious Kids: How to Grow Self-Motivated Learners by Showing Up Differently a…

With the spooky season starting, how would you feel about reading a haunted house story? What if you could experience the ghost’s perspective while also understanding the current owner’s? That’s pr…

Heartbreak is unfortunately part of life, but what if there were a place where you could go and work through that heartbreak? Ellen O’Clover’s new book, The Heartbreak Hotel, has just that.  Louisa…

What would you do to hide your children from a haunted house? Would you give up all custody to try to stay away? In Rachel Harrison’s Play Nice, you find Clio dealing with her mother’s choice after…

What would you do if you found a blob-like creature outside of a bar one night? Would you save it or leave it? Vi in Blob: A Love Story by Maggie Su finds a blob creature and decides to take it wit…

Alexis Hall does it again! School is just starting up, so we might need a refresher on some good study techniques.  Here are some of Alexis’s tips and tricks on studying. I know these will help HB …

What is one book from childhood that you remember reading and loving? For me, it was ‘Tuck Everlasting’ by Natalie Babbitt. This book, which has just celebrated 50 years of being published, holds a…

Talking frogs, dragons, and magic, oh my! In this fantastic continuation of the Villain series by Hannah Nicole Maehrer, we find Evie increasingly turning to her dark side. Tristan struggles to kee…

Annotating is something that has always been there, but over the past few years, with the help of social media, it has made a comeback. A new trend that is going around is personalizing your books….

Unlike typical zombie books, Zomromcom by Olivia Dade takes a hilarious turn right from the start. Instead of the usual apocalyptic scene, the story kicks off with a burrito being used to save the …

School is going to start again soon. But there’s still time to make the most out of summer! One of our customers, Alexis Hall, recently shared an article she wrote about summer adventures for homes…

Magic, when entwined with grief, can either simplify or complicate life. In Sangu Mandanna’s ‘A Witch’s Guide to Magical Innkeeping’, Sera’s journey vividly illustrates the intricate interplay of g…

What happens when you create a talking plant just because you’re lonely? Well, a lot of things. Find out in The Enchanted Greenhouse by Sarah Beth Durst. Terlu wants company, but breaking the law c…

What would it be like if you married your high school sweetheart? Would you be divorced or still happily married? Sarah asks herself this question in “Out of the Woods” by Hannah Bonham-Young, a no…

Have you ever wondered what a spaceship would think if it could? Well, you don’t have to think too hard! In the popular new Science Fiction novel ‘Of Monsters and Mainframes,’ by Barbara Truelove, …

So for the month of June I tried to do the Rainbow Book Challenge. If you don’t know what that means, its where I take the colors of the rainbow and match covers of books to the colors. I had a rea…

It’s time to talk about my Orange pick for the month! I had so many good books to pick from that I had a little bit of a hard time. After hours and hours of debating and the help of my kids I chose…

June is Pride Month, and because of this, I have decided to challenge myself to read books that feature a color. I’m going to read The Rainbow, starting with my favorite color, Red. I have chosen t…

Meet Local Author Ann Schreiber at Hearthside Books – June 28, 2025 We’ve got a treat coming to Hearthside Books in Watertown, and we think you’re going to love it. Local author Ann Schreiber will…

Chronic pain, a reality for 21% of adult Americans, is a central theme in ‘Friends with Benefits’ by Marisa Kanter. The main character, Evie, grapples with this daily. This insightful book presents…

One of our customers, Alexis Hall, recently shared an article she wrote about homeschooling, and I’m excited to feature it here on the Hearthside Books blog. It’s a thoughtful and interesting take …

Mermaids and Sirens, with their enchanting allure, have always fascinated many. Imagine a world where the call of the water holds the key to solving a mystery. Emilia Harts’s book ‘The Sirens’ weav…

Have you finished the new Hunger Games novel and now have no idea what to read next? Ava Reid’s book Fable for the End of the World is just that book. It has romance, fighting, and an expert hunter…

The earliest UFO sighting in America was in 1639. Many people believe in life on other planets. Nate in KJ Klune’s The Bones Beneath My Skin never thought about something like that, and if he did, …

Did you know that within the Deaf community, each person has a unique ” name sign” that visually represents them, often incorporating personal characteristics or features, making introductions quic…

February is the best month to read romances. I read so many and can’t help it. That’s why Ali Hazelwood announced she would have another book before February. What amazing luck!  ‘Deep End’ is that…

Are you experiencing a book hangover after reading “Onyx Storm”? Do you need another story filled with dragons, war, and a touch of romance? If so, “A Language of Dragons” by S.F. Williamson is the…

Some of the most popular romance tropes include grumpy vs. sunshine, arranged marriage, enemies to lovers, and one partner falling first. “Keep Me” by Sara Cate features all these elements and more…

Here’s the story about how a girl who was told she would never read become a bookseller and an avid reader. Hi, My name is Charlotte Klimek and I own and operate Hearthside Books. When I come in ev…

It’s been almost a week, and I can finally think about how excellent the book fair was. Also, can I say that it’s nearly been a week, and I am still so happy with how everything went. First, thank …

Hi, My name is Willy, and I am the story-time dog! I’m four, and I love kids. That’s why my Mom brings me on Wednesdays. Sometimes, though, she doesn’t let me. My Mom is also called Nana. Her three…

Romance and mystery? Who knew that those two things could go together? I know I didn’t, but surprisingly, they got together like mac and cheese. This is what ‘She Doesn’t Have A Clue,’ by Jenny Eld…

1. What is your name and business name? My name is Christine Myers and I am Northern Luna Crafts 2. How did you get into this medium? I learned how to crochet 18 years ago when I was on a DNR burn…

What happens when you mix a classic with hockey? Well, you get a book that is so adorably written that even the classic will swoon. ‘Puck and Prejudice,’ By Lia Riley, is just that. It has the ‘Pri…

Your past shapes who you are and how you handle things. Some people have a harder childhood, and because of that, they tend to run when stressed and don’t make roots. Gemma in ‘Statistically Speaki…

Retellings are really popular. The most common ones are ‘Beauty and the Beast’, and ‘Cinderella’, however its always fun when you can find others. ‘The Road of Bones’ by Demi Winters is another ret…

‘Tis the season for warm and cozy fantasy books. This debut is like a warm cup of tea on a cold winter’s night. The Teller Of Small Fortunes, By Julie Leong, is a heartwarming tale of found family …

What is your name and business name? Nena Wilen and I’m Cozy Co. 2. How did you get into this medium? I was working in a stressful environment as a nurse and needed a creative escape. My husband ha…

What is your name and business name? Emily Thoma, Dewdrop Stained Glass How did you get into this medium? I currently actively practice watercolor, crochet, and stained glass. Watercolor was a…

If you could know how long you would live, would you want to know? Would you find out the length of life your significant other has? How would this change your life? All these are just some of the …

1. What is your name and business name? My name is Vanessa, I am the owner of Miss Crafty Ness. The name came from being crafty and my nickname “Ness.” 2. How did you get into this medium? I have a…

When people talk about sequels, most of the time, it’s a negative response. However, sometimes you get a sequel that is better than the first. One that blows you away, just like the first book did….

What is your name and business name? Konrad Breeggemann and Emerson Lindstrand. We own a Woodworking and crochet business called Turn The Hook.    How did you get into this medium? Konra…

What happens when a bookseller is influenced to read a book? Well, she reads the book and has decided to review it for you. That is exactly how the book ‘Bull Moon Rising,” by Ruby Dixion This stor…

Some 40 years ago (has it really been THAT long!?!) my wonderful sister gifted me my first 35mm camera. I have been in love with photography from that moment on.  What started as a way of capturing…

1. What is your name and business name? A Monday In May 2. How did you get into this medium? I started out making signs and it has evolved from there into other types of woodworking. I added a lase…

Diane Farleo is being all the pottery and bags here in Hearthside Books. You might know her as You So Sassy! Since a young age this Minnesota native has always loved art. She first took an into to …

What do Christmas and Halloween have in common? They both bring joy to the world. In the book ‘The Nightmare Before Kissmas,” by Sara Raasch, you explore not only what each holiday brings to the ta…

When it comes to fall reads, there’s nothing quite like a book that wraps you in a warm hug. While many opt for spooky or mysterious tales, some of us crave a cozy escape. ‘The House in the Cerulea…

Fall is the best time of the year to read, and all the best books also come out around this time. I get so much of my reading done around this time of the year, so I thought I would talk about a fe…

Another fantastic night has come and gone. Firstly, I want to express my heartfelt thanks to all the wonderful ladies who made this night possible. Your presence and support created a vibrant commu…

Independent bookstores are more than just repositories of words on a page; they are havens that beckon with their unique charm and warmth. ‘Nevermore Bookstore’ by Kerrigan Byrne and Cynthia St. Au…

Nothing is more cozy than sitting down to a warm homemade meal. That’s Something Finlay Ashowan knows to be true. In the stunning tale of “The House Witch” by Delemhach, you not only have a cozy fa…

Fall is the season of Vampires, Witches, and other supernatural creatures. That’s just what Janna Levine chose to write about in ‘My Vampire Plus One.” The only thing is, what if the vampire has to…

Fall is the perfect time for a cozy romance read. What’s more comfortable than reading about a bookstore and a scavenger hunt? ‘Cinnamon Bun Book Store’ by Laurie Gilmore is the second book in the …

Book Clubs are a safe space for readers to express their thoughts and feelings about a book, but what if your book club gets canceled in the future? Molly, in “Not Another Banne” Book” by Dana Alis…

Hockey romances are so popular right now, so why not review another one? Why not review the third in a series that I feel started the craze? Daydream by Hannah Grace is the third book of the Ice Br…

What would you do if you were in love with your best friend who is engaged to another friend? What if the best friend’s brother is in love with the bride? What could go wrong? In ‘The Next Best Fli…

What would you do if everyone thought you’d end up with your best friend? What if you see each other years later, and all the feelings return? That’s precisely what happens to Shiloh and Cary in Ra…

People need jobs like they need water. Sometimes, it’s to help your family out, and other times, it’s because you need to be able to take care of yourself. Either way, you need a job. In Hannah Nic…

What if you woke up in a creepy castle with no memories of who you are and why you were there? Would you try to figure out what happened to your memories or just become someone completely new? Thos…

 Not another hockey romance…. Well, sorry, but it is. Helena Hunting knows how to write them, and in her book, If You Want Me, she proves that she knows hockey and how to write a romance worthy of…