Monday, August 3, 2026
Review - Who’s That Girl
AUTHOR: Thea Glassman
NARRATORS: Nelson Franklin and Yael Rizowy
RATING: ★★★★
Summary (from Goodreads): Since its finale, New Girl has quietly become one of the most rewatched shows in streaming history—a certified comfort classic. Taking the well-worn hangout sitcom formula and giving it a weird, wonderful twist, the series landed in that rare space between Friends-style warmth and sheer comedic chaos. Sitcom conventions were bent (if not broken), as the cast and writers shaped characters in real time—from Nick Miller’s legendary “turtle face” and Winston’s codependent relationship with his cat, to Schmidt’s endless barrage of absurd, quotable one-liners.
More than just a sitcom, New Girl became a generational touchstone, embedding itself in pop culture and personal routines alike. Fans still yell “No notes!” at friends, argue over the rules of True American, and nod to the Douchebag Jar as a model of self-regulation. It’s the show that made “adorkable” a household word, gave Prince and Taylor Swift two of TV’s greatest cameos, and delivered some of the most beloved moments in modern comedy—like the slow-burn brilliance of Nick and Jess’s kiss, the utter chaos of Prank Sinatra, or Schmidt’s passionate monologue about “chut-a-ney.”
In Who’s That Girl, entertainment journalist Thea Glassman takes readers behind the scenes with in-depth interviews with creator Liz Meriwether and the creative team, telling the story of how a scrappy, offbeat pilot evolved into a streaming juggernaut. Packed with heart, hilarity, and never-before-heard stories, this is the definitive tribute to the ultimate feel-good show.
REVIEW: Anyone who is a fan of New Girl will adore this book, with all of its insider secrets and behind-the-scenes tidbits. Like most people, I shipped Nick and Jess throughout the whole series and was highly invested in their relationship, so learning more about certain scenes, like their hallway kiss (WOWZA!) was a lot of fun. It was also a treat listening to Nelson Franklin, who played Robby on the show, do part of the narrating. If you’re a fan of the series, then I highly recommend Who’s That Girl. You’ll love it.
(DISCLAIMER: I received a complimentary copy of this title from NetGalley. All opinions expressed are entirely my own).
Thursday, July 9, 2026
Review - Most Ardently Yours
AUTHOR: Freya Sampson
NARRATOR: Florence Howard
RATING: ★★★★
Summary (from Goodreads): Zoe Knight, a struggling romance writer, has sworn off men for good. At least…the ones in real life. Once a believer in a happily ever after, she now curbs her loneliness with the help of the best book boyfriends in literature – and there is no better man than Jane Austen's Mr. Darcy. So when she stumbles into a classic London bookshop and argues with the annoyingly attractive store owner, Nick, who refuses to sell romance novels, she decides to liberate him of a dusty copy of Pride & Prejudice abandoned on a top shelf.
But this is no ordinary book.
After reading from the pages, Zoe finds herself in a remarkable situation: she has accidentally summoned the Mr. Darcy to the real world. Now, she's face-to-face with the man she's loved forever, and he's everything she dreamed he would be. Handsome? Check. Brooding? Check. Talks like he swallowed a thesaurus? Check and check. But even in all his regency perfection, can he ever be as good as in the novel? And if he's here, in her London apartment trying to figure out how to work a shower , what will happen to the literary world he came from? With Nick—the last man she could ever be prevailed upon to work with—urging her to send the fictional Darcy back to his own story, Zoe will have to decide what she really wants from a happy ending, before it's too late.
REVIEW: This was my first time reading Freya Sampson’s work, and I thoroughly enjoyed it. If you’re a fan of Pride & Prejudice, then this story is undeniably the one for you because most of the plot center’s around it. Unfortunately, I’ve never been able to get through the first chapter of it. (Believe me, I’ve tried - many times). Thanks to the movie, which I’ve seen countless times, I was able to keep up with all of the Pride & Prejudice references in this story, but if you know nothing about it, then you might have a little trouble keeping up with the plot of Most Ardently Yours. Let me also note that this book has a lot of fantasy and magic elements, just in case you’re not into things like that. The main characters are all lovable, and most of the secondary characters are too. The narrator, Florence Howard, is spectacular. This was my first time listening to her, and I will definitely be on the lookout for more of her work. There are several dynamics at play in this story besides just romance. On a deeper level, it’s about self-discovery and believing in yourself. I highly recommend it.
Tuesday, July 7, 2026
Top Ten Tuesday - Wishing for Fall
Hello again, dear readers! I don’t know about you, but I am SO tired of this summer heat and humidity, so I’m manifesting fall with this week’s prompt from Jana at That Artsy Reader Girl by listing ten books with the word AUTUMN in the title. I hope you have a great Tuesday!
1. Autumn by Ali Smith
2. The Book of Autumn by Molly O’Sullivan
3. In Search of Autumn by Michelle Davis-Newell
4. The Autumn Leaf Bookshop by Kay Michaels
5. The Winds of Autumn by Susan Rounds
6. Lost Autumn by Mary-Rose MacColl
7. Picture Perfect Autumn by Shelley Noble
8. Autumn in Sunset Harbour by CP Ward
9. Autumn at the Cat Cafe by Kathleen Fuller
10. Drums of Autumn by Diana Gabaldon
Wednesday, June 24, 2026
Sullivan Book Nook - June Update
Got the little free library restocked today. Books for all ages. If you see something you’d like to have, please come get it. You don’t have to leave a book to take one.
Tuesday, June 23, 2026
Top Ten Tuesday - Books on My Summer 2026 To-Read List
1. The Housewives of Atomic Lane by Andie Newton
2. The Last Library of Paris by Kerry Barrett
3. The Undercover Bookshop by Katherine Reay
4. The Secret Society of Librarians by Kate Thompson
5. Pretty Dead Things by Kelsey Cox
6. The Mountains We Call Home by Kim Michele Richardson
7. Meet Me in Paris by Kristin Harmel
8. The Romance Revival by Christina Lauren
9. The Shampoo Effect by Jenny Jackson
10. The Magic of Chamomile Cottage by Heather Webber
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