Warm Sunshine, a Cold Drink, and a Good Book – Summertime Perfection 

I am an avid reader. I rarely leave home without a book, and I organize my collection by colour. Most people don’t read as much as I do – I read over one hundred books in 2021 – but due to the pandemic and being stuck at home, many people have picked up a book or two and rediscovered reading. They allowed for an escape from the isolation of COVID-19. You could go on an adventure to Middle Earth, lose yourself for hours in a chilling thriller, or find happiness and laughter in the pages of romantic comedy. I did all three.  

Book buying saw an increase during the pandemic and many local area bookstores offered free delivery to get physical copies into the hands of customers. While I personally love browsing bookstores, the convenience of online shopping is appealing as well. I’m a regular customer at Indigo, but I also try to support local. 

Amanda’s Top List of Independent and Used Bookstores in the Edmonton Area 

• Audreys Books: 10702 Jasper Avenue, Edmonton
• Daisy Chain: 12525 102 Avenue NW, Edmonton
• Glass Bookshop: Latitude 53, 10242 106 Street, Edmonton
• Mandolin Books & Coffee Company: 6419 -112 Avenue   
• Wee Book Inn: 10310 82 Avenue and 10332 Jasper Avenue  
• The Sherwood Park Bookworm: 120 Wye Road #133, Sherwood Park   

Books also created an opportunity to join an online community. I created an Instagram account in 2021 for all things book related. I started following accounts that also highlighted books and discovered the world known as ‘bookstagram’. This amazing community is filled with a variety of individuals who exchange recommendations, reviews, and love for the written word. At a time when I felt separated from people, my love of reading and social media combined to create a space of connections. I have had numerous conversations with readers from all over the world, made online friendships, and dramatically increased my “to be read” (TBR) pile! This Instagram account led to joining Facebook groups, including a virtual book club. Various social media platforms have spaces for book enthusiasts. TikTok has ‘BookTok’ and Twitter has #BookTwitter. Local libraries also have book clubs or opportunities to take out book club kits that include copies of the same book.

Summer brings relaxation, time for vacation, and the perfect opportunity to pick up the next good read.

Here is my summer TBR pile: 

It Ends with Us – Collen Hoover 

The House Across the Lake – Riley Sager 

Beach Read – Emily Henry 

It Happened One Summer – Tessa Bailey  

The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo – Taylor Jenkins Reid 

The Strangers – Katherena Vermette 

The Atlas Six – Olivie Blake 

Kaikeyi – Vaishnavi Patel 

Throne of Glass – Sarah J Maas 

Red, White and Royal Blue – Casey McQuiston 

Happy reading, digital friends! If you are looking for more book recommendations, check out my account on Instagram. Stay tuned for next week, where I discuss e-readers. 

Special thanks to our guest blogger, Amanda Meyer, who is also our fabulous Graphic Designer