Blogs

In case the upper-90s heat we’re staring down hasn’t tipped you off, we have it on good authority that summer is just around the corner. Just take a look at our shelves, which are packed with new releases that perfectly fit the “summer reading” mold. Just in time, too — we’ve dusted off our annual summer reading challenge, which kicks off on June 1. So peruse the list of stories below, including tales of sleepaway camp, cats in space, time travel, historical fiction, and more, and make some room on your TBR pile. We’ve even included a cookbook to help you plan your summer get-togethers. Dig in!

Friends, we can’t wait to share the new book for teens (and up!) from National Book Award finalist Eliot Schrefer with you all. It’s called Queer Ducks, and it delves into the fascinating world of animal sexuality with humor, wit, and smarts. It’s an absolute treat to read — take it from Blue Willow Events Coordinator and Children’s Specialist Cathy Berner, who says, “The engaging format that combines scientific research, comics, and memoir made me feel like I was sitting next to Eliot in science class, passing notes and comics back and forth — and then going for coffee afterwards!”

Cathy caught up with Eliot before the book’s launch to talk about Queer Ducks, Eliot’s recent Stonewall honor, and more. Check out their conversation below, then save the date for Eliot’s virtual launch event on May 24. He’ll appear in conversation with Newbery medalist Kelly Barnhill, and it’s sure to be a conversation you won’t want to miss!

Is there any better feeling than walking into a bookshop? We do it all the time, and it still gives us a little thrill. There's something about the feeling of possibility, the sense of discovery as you wander down a shelf knowing that the perfect book is waiting for you in plain sight. Of course, we're more than happy to help steer you in the right direction, which is exactly what we've done in choosing our latest staff picks. No matter whether you're looking for a picture book, graphic novel, mystery, poetry, fantasy, romance, or capital-L Literature, there's something for you below. Read on!

We'll just cut to the chase here: There have been an incredible number of great books publishing this spring, and more than one of them probably deserves a spot on your shelf. Here, we're highlighting a few of our most recent favorites, covering all kinds of ages and interests. Picutre books? Of course. Middle grade from an award-winning Texan author? Don't mind if we do. Literary fiction? Romance? Memoir? Please and thank you. It's a veritable feast, y'all. Which means there's only one thing left to say: Bon appétit!

Calling all book lovers: Independent Bookstore Day is Saturday, April 30!

This annual national holiday celebrates independent bookstores and the awesome folks who support them. We'll be in the shop all day, ready to talk books with you, share recommendations, and — yes — hand flail over stories we love.

It's April already, and the store is being showered by boxes and boxes of new books! It's been a wonderful spring in publishing, with instant classics and fast favorites coming out in droves. We've asked the staff to round up a few of their most recent recommendations, and they did not disappoint — below you'll find books for every age level, and every type of reader. Graphic novel? Historical fiction? YA thriller? Throwback mystery? We've got all that and more. Dig in!

This year marks the twelfth annual TeenBookCon. Can you believe it? To celebrate a dozen years — and the fact that we're gathering together in-person again this year — we're sharing a short history of Houston's YA literature festival, some favorite memories, and the experiences of some of our author alums.
 

How have you been lately, friends? Spring is here in Houston, and we're looking ahead to Easter, April showers, and peaceful days spent reading on the porch. Here at the store, we've been reading more than ever. If you know our staff, you know that they're a thoughtful and opinionated bunch, and they're so excited to share some of their favorite new releases with you when you come in to see us. Below are just a few of their recent picks for readers of all ages and interests. With so many great options sitting on our shelves, the real question is: How to choose?

March is Women’s History Month, and this woman-owned-and-staffed indie bookstore is celebrating in our usual style: By reading, reading, and reading. We’d love for you to join us, so we’ve collected a list of some recent staff favorites that celebrate women and their stories. Some of these stories are true; others are fiction. Some are historical; others contemporary. Each of them provides a glimpse into the lives of inspiring women and girls, throughout time, and across the world. We’ve included all ages in our list, as well as reviews from our merry band of booksellers. So whether you’re looking for yourself, for a friend, or for the young readers in your life, you’ll find just the right thing. Read on!

We know from over 25 years selling books that something amazing — a life-changing, world-enlarging, all-time-favorite of a book — can sometimes come out of nowhere, at any time of the year. Generally speaking, though, publishing tends to ebb and flow, with certain seasons or weeks set aside for a pile-up of incredible new releases. Lucky for you, we're in the midst of such a pile-up right now, as the world gets ready for spring and summer reading. So many great books have been coming into the store over the last few weeks, spanning all ages and all interests. The hardest thing about it was figuring out which titles to highlight for you here! We finally settled on eleven great reads, which you can find below. Give one a try — we know you're going to love it.