Should you create swag for your upcoming book release?

People love free stuff. On that, we can all agree. But do you need to have bookish swag? Of course not!

But offering unique and creative swag items can make an author stand out in a crowded market. Items that tie into the book’s themes, characters, or setting can also intrigue potential readers. And this can make the author’s work more memorable!

Bookish swag can serve as a tangible representation of an author’s brand, increasing visibility and recognition among readers. Items with an author’s logo can also help reinforce the author’s presence in readers’ minds.

Ultimately, book swag serves as a marketing tool to promote both a book and its author. When readers use or display swag items, they become essentially walking advertisements, spreading awareness of an author and their work to a wider audience.

How can authors use swag?

In addition to ARC mailings, bookish swag can be utilized in a number of ways. Keeping swag on hand can be great for authors who have mailing lists and want to offer some freebies to readers who sign up for their newsletter. 

Many authors also like to conduct pre-order campaigns, and having swag to send to thank people who pre-order can be essential. Including book swag as part of a book purchase, whether through pre-orders or special promotions, can incentivize readers to buy the book. People often appreciate receiving additional value for their purchase, making them more likely to support the author’s work.

Keeping swag in bulk can also be great to bring with you when visiting with groups, libraries and bookstores. Many writers’ conferences also typically have tables where authors can donate their swag; this option is great to learn about other writers in your genre and connect with comparable authors.

Steps for creating swag

Creating bookish swag can be a fun and rewarding process for authors. Here are some steps to get started:

Define your brand:

Before creating any swag items, it’s essential to have a clear understanding of your author brand. Consider your genre, writing style, themes, and target audience. Your swag should reflect these aspects of your brand to ensure consistency and authenticity.

1. Brainstorm ideas:

Think creatively about what types of swag would resonate with your readers and tie into your book or brand. Consider practical items like bookmarks, tote bags, or mugs, as well as more unique or thematic items that relate directly to your book’s characters, setting, or themes. Keep reading to see more ideas!

2. Budget accordingly:

Determine your budget for creating and purchasing bookish swag items. Factor in the cost of design, production, packaging, and shipping. Also consider additional expenses such as marketing or distribution.

3. Design your swag:

Once you have some ideas, work on designing the swag items. If you have graphic design skills, you can create the designs yourself using software like Adobe Photoshop or Canva. Alternatively, you can hire a professional designer to bring your ideas to life. Books Forward is happy to work with you to design swag for your upcoming book release!

4. Source suppliers:

Research suppliers or manufacturers who can produce your swag items. Look for companies that offer quality products at affordable prices and have experience working with authors or small businesses. Consider factors like minimum order quantities, production time, and shipping costs.

5. Order and distribute swag:

Order samples if possible, then plan how you will promote and distribute items to your readers. Consider offering them as incentives for pre-orders, giveaways at book signings or events, or as bonuses for joining your mailing list or reader group. You can also sell some things directly through your website or online store.

Ideas for printed bookish swag

  • Bookplates: You can sign and also leave a personalized note for readers
  • Bookmarks: If we’re being honest, you can never really have too many bookmarks.
  • Stickers: If you have a book that lends itself to fun art — graphic novels, fantasy, children’s books — consider stickers as a fun and easy way to 
  • Pins/buttons: They’re slightly more expensive, but pins and buttons can be a good alternative if you want to take a step up from stickers.
  • Mailer boxes: If you have a few things to include with a book, you can also design a special mailer box to ship everything. These will definitely set your box aside from a normal brown, cardboard box!
  • Postcards: These are great because in addition to being used as swag, you can also mail these out to bookstores and libraries to alert them of your new book.
  • Pens: If you have an author/series logo, pens are a perfect, small item to display that.
  • Tote bags/hats: If you have a larger budget, you can look at having fabric-based swag like a fun hat or a bookish tote (just like bookmarks, can you ever really have too many tote bags?).

Get creative with your bookish swag

Below are some examples of swag Books Forward authors have utilized!

If you’re on the fence about bookish swag, really sit back and consider how it can best serve your author brand and your goals for marketing your book. Overall, bookish swag can be a valuable tool for authors to enhance their brand, engage with readers, and promote their work effectively in a competitive market. It can serve as souvenirs and memorabilia for readers and remind them of their reading experience — creating a lasting connection to a book and its author.

Books Forward Authors in the Media: February 2024

What can we say, Books Forward authors are always going, going, going! We’re excited to feature some of our authors and their recent media wins.

  • Anne Abel discusses writing her memoir in this guest article for Publishers Weekly.
  • Joseph Macolino wrote an article for Live Write Thrive about how flawed heroes are essential for literature.
  • Ms. Magazine interviewed Maya Golden about her memoir The Return Trip.
  • Wen Peetes delves into tapping into and trusting your intuition in this piece for Spiritual Media Blog.
  • Maggie Giles spoke with the crew at the Bookshop at the End of the Internet about her book Twisted.
  • Let the Good Talk Roll had Books Forward author Mignon Francois on to discuss The Cupcake Collection.
  • Suzette Mullen was featured in Tagg Magazine in a piece about coming out in her 60s.
  • Roberta S. Kuriloff hopped on the Grief Dreams podcast for an interview about her book Framing a Life.
  • Deborah Kalb interviewed author Edward Green for a Q&A.
  • Arden Joy was highlighted by her alma mater Northwestern in a feature for Medill Magazine.
  • Kirkus Reviews calls Christine Bacilieri’s new book “a suspenseful adventure that will engage readers to the final page.”
  • Andrew Dolberg and Rob Long were interviewed by Pittsburgh City Paper.
  • Courtney Deane penned a piece for GirlTalkHQ about finding happiness when happily ever after fails.
  • Save a Pooch recently had W.B. Murph on the podcast.
  • Tim Piper and his book The Powell Expeditions were spotlighted by Snowflakes in a Blizzard.
  • T.C. Morrison talks five things you need to know to become a great author for Authority Magazine.
  • Mystery Writers of America featured an article from Michael Cooper on writing about war.
  • An excerpt from Dr. Chuck Wallington’s book A Seat at the C-Suite Table was featured by the HBCU Career Center Blog.
  • The Book Boys podcast highlighted Gary Stuart’s recent releases, Hide & Be and My Brother, Myself.
  • Meghan Kallman and Josephine Ferorelli were featured in Publishers Weekly’s 2024 book announcements.
  • Marschall Runge joined the Buddy Book Club podcast for an interview about his book Coded to Kill.
  • Citywide Blackout interviewed Jerry Madden on the family history and steel mill that inspired his new book.
  • Glenn Hileman spoke with the Denver Post about capturing his parents’ legacy in writing.
  • The Reading With Your Kids podcast was joined by Fahad Siddiqui, of Our Story Media.
  • Kendra Petty and Talk Beliefs discussed escaping the author’s home-grown cult.
  • Joan Cohen’s The Deepfake is called “a realistic drama novel with suspense and intrigue” in this five-star review from Reader’s Favorite.
  • Gail Marlene Schwartz penned an article for Writing and Wellness about scribbling her way home.
  • Admissions Blog featured this article from Shaan Patel about resources for the new digital SAT.

Want to stay up to date on what Books Forward authors are doing? Follow us on Facebook, X, Instagram, TikTok and Threads!

What is SEO? And why should I care about it?

What? Another digital thing we have to keep in mind?! We know, and apologies in advance.

But in our constantly-evolving digital world, Search Engine Optimization (SEO) has become a critical component for online success. Understanding the fundamentals of SEO — yes, even for authors — is essential for improving your online visibility and driving organic traffic to your website.

Okay, so what’s a search engine?

We promise you’ve used these before. They’re your sites like Google, Bing, Yahoo — you get the gist — and with them, you can search for, well, whatever you want really. Search engines exist so you can find answers to questions you have, directions for places you’re going, products you’re interested in buying, etc. 

So, how does search engine optimization work?

Search engines run various algorithms (some weird computer formula) to help you find the data you’re looking for; in essence, they’re combing the entire World Wide Web to narrow down the results to get you exactly what you need. By utilizing SEO, your aim is to get your website on the first page of results for search terms that mean the most to your target audience. Which means it’s important to understand your target audience: If you’re a YA romance author but a majority of your web traffic is from politically-active men in their 60s, you might not be hitting the right spot.

But why is SEO important?

With good SEO practice, your website will rank higher (or highest) on a search engine’s results page. The higher your website is situated on a page, the more likely someone is to click on your site. Think about it: If you’ve ever searched something, you’re unlikely to go past the first page of results — sometimes you might not even get to the bottom of that first page. Ultimately, the higher you rank, the more people are going to visit your website.

And it’s a circle: Good rankings mean good traffic, which means new customers (or in authors’ cases, new readers), exposing you to a larger and larger audience. The ultimate goal is to increase organic (nonpaid) traffic to a website by optimizing the site’s content, structure, and other elements, aligning them with the algorithms used by search engines. Speaking of organic traffic…

Paid vs. organic SEO

Have you ever searched for something and noticed the top result says “Sponsored” above it? That’s an example of a paid ad. The more general a search, the more paid results you’re likely to see. Searching for “blue dress” will net you a LOT of sponsored results. But searching for “blue dress Michelle Obama wore in 2011” will get your more specific results for images and articles. (A note: the results you see are going to be different from what someone else might see because search engine algorithms are taking into account your personal habits and practices!)

Now paid results are great, but a majority of clicks are going to come from organic SEO. Why? Have you ever almost clicked on an ad, realized it’s an ad, and then kept scrolling? That’s why. Many customers are averse to paid results because they feel they aren’t truly getting an accurate result for their search. 

SEO is a cost-effective strategy for driving traffic. While it can require an initial investment, the long-term benefits can outweigh the costs, especially for sustainable organic growth. Google alone processes billions of searches daily, and organic results are a large portion of that. Plus, with organic results, every click that sends traffic to your website is free. And who doesn’t like free?

How can I make my website more SEO-friendly?

There are a few easy steps you can take on your end, the first being to actually have a website.

General website tips

  • Make sure your site is user friendly: Factors like page load speed, mobile responsiveness, and easy navigation contribute to a better user experience, which can positively affect search rankings.
  • Create good content: Search engines prioritize high-quality, relevant content. Creating valuable, informative, and engaging content not only attracts visitors to your site, but that also signals to search engines that your site is a credible source of information.

Keep an eye on links

  • Utilize internal linking: When something on one page of your site links to another page.
  • Backlinking: Whether it’s through guest posts, interviews, or various other content, whenever something about you appears on someone else’s web page, see if you can have a link added that takes people back to your website.
  • Fix broken links: Keep an eye out for broken links; sometimes an interview you did might not be available online anymore, or a website might have changed the URL, breaking the link you have. 

Analyze your site’s copy/text

  • If you have a blog, take a look at the titles you’re using: Are your titles engaging and appealing? Can you make a title into a list? Or a question? Would you want to click on that title if you saw it?
  • Within your general website copy, also make sure you’re utilizing keywords that would appeal to your target audience. If it’s a keyword that would make sense for Amazon, it will likely make sense to have someone on your website as well.

Audit your site

Hire someone who can take an objective, third-person look at your website and see what improvements can be made. 

When will I see results?

Like most things, results usually don’t happen overnight. Keep an eye on your website traffic for a period of months — not days — to see how traffic has been affected by the steps you’ve taken to make your site more SEO friendly. 

By understanding and implementing the key components of SEO, you can enhance your online visibility, attract your targeted audience, and build a sustainable online presence. And as search engine algorithms continue to evolve, staying informed about SEO best practices and adapting to changes will remain crucial for achieving and maintaining those high rankings on search engine results pages.

You’re truly never done optimizing your website; make sure you are regularly updating and checking on what improvements you can make. And if you’re feeling overwhelmed doing it on your own, look into hiring a service that can help!

Books Forward Authors in the Media: December 2023

What can we say, Books Forward authors are always going, going, going! We’re excited to feature some of our authors and their recent media wins.

  • My SA featured author Rudy Ruiz in an article on the Texas Book Festival.
  • Andrew Dolberg and Rob Long wrote an article featured by the Climate Fiction Writer’s League.
  • Asian Avenue Magazine featured author Mike Yam and his children’s book in its November edition.
  • Kathryn K. Abdul-Baki wrote a piece for Arab America on connecting to her roots through writing.
  • Fantasy Hive featured an article from Alison Levy on realism in the fantasy genre.
  • G.B. Smith talks 5 things anyone can do to take great photos in this piece for Authority Magazine.
  • The GSMC Book Review Podcast had author Francesca Miracola on recently to talk about her book I Got it From Here.
  • Meghan Kallman and Josephine Ferorelli wrote a piece for GirlTalkHQ on putting family planning at the center of the climate conversation.
  • WCAX featured local author Gail Schwartz and how she hopes to inspire readers with her new book.
  • Author Audrey Gale joined Big Blend Radio to discuss her recent release, The Human Trial.
  • Table Read Magazine spoke with author T.C. Morrison about his satirical tort lawyers series.
  • Edward Green talks about success and feeling unworthy in this piece for Best Self Media.
  • Brevity featured a guest post from Suzette Mullen on her micromemoir fail.
  • Our Story publishing was featured in a recent episode of Absolutely Intercultural.
  • Readers’ Favorite calls Marschall Runge’s Coded to Kill a “masterfully crafted thriller.”
  • Maya Golden wrote an article for Women Writers, Women’s Books on the physical decomposition of writing a memoir.
  • Conversations LIVE! had author Maggie Giles on recently to talk about her new book Twisted.
  • Michael Cooper talks about his favorite year in Jerusalem in this guest article for A Writer of History.

Want to stay up to date on what Books Forward authors are doing? Follow us on Facebook, X, Instagram, TikTok and Threads!

What is AI and how will it affect authors?

This blog post was not written by artificial intelligence, though we highly considered it.

Artificial intelligence, or AI, is a pretty broad term that describes using computers and machines to mimic the human mind. Whether it’s Siri or Alexa, face recognition software or even predictive text, the use of AI is becoming more and more prevalent on a daily basis. And new platforms and software are constantly being developed and improved upon.

How authors can use AI

First and foremost, you need to familiarize yourself with what’s available. Most authors will utilize what’s known as generative AI, which can produce various types of content, like images, audio, text, etc. Below are only a smattering of the AI options out there, though they’re definitely some of the most popular. Acquaint yourself with different platforms to find what works best for you.

There are genuine reasons to use AI, like getting a head start on a project; doing the routine, mundane tasks; augmenting the scalability of tasks, etc. Below are some ways to consider utilizing AI as an author:

  • Generate ideas for your blog
  • Organize an outline of your current work in progress
  • Workshop back cover copy
  • Draft query emails for agents and editors
  • Analyze author bios and draft your bio at different lengths
  • Brainstorm social media captions
  • Recommend questions for author events, talking points for interviews, etc.

In general, you should never take what AI has created and use it as is. These tools are great to research, inspire and jump-start ideas, but your voice and personality are what draw people to your content. A social media caption created by AI is going to sound like it was created by AI. Remember to always keep the human element in your content; use the ideas AI has given you and expound and better it.

It’s also important to think about what you are putting out into the world. As we see increases in spam, books that are completely written by AI, and more, the relationships we build from person to person are becoming more important than ever. It’s incredibly important to keep in mind the responsibility we hold for the content we provide people. 

AI and book production

Publishers are also testing AI capabilities not just in marketing but in the book production phase as well. When it comes to forming metadata, brainstorming keywords, and even indexing, AI cas assist publishers in some of the more routine tasks, allowing them to free up time and personnel for more creative endeavors. The time it takes to get a book to market will also likely shrink — with a shrinking of costs included — with companies’ increased use of AI.

Whether you realize it or not, AI is all around the publishing world in some of the programs you’re already using: Tools like Microsoft Word, PowerPoint, and even PDFs have accessibility tech built into them. And authors frequently employ platforms like Grammarly and ProWritingAid. Even using an EPUB accessibility checking tool, like Ace by DAISY, is common practice for helping publishers meet industry standards and file requirements for ebooks. 

Legal landscape of AI

Important questions are even now being worked out in the legal system about protectability, authorship and ownership of AI-generated material. Currently, precedent says that to own something, there must be human authorship — works created by animals, celestial beings, machines, etc. don’t count.

Furthermore, the U.S. Copyright Office has declared that things made with AI need to have a disclaimer on them, though the agency is ​​continuing to collect information to analyze current law and how it applies to generative AI. Cases involving graphic novels with AI-generated images and human-authored texts, as well as whether using existing materials to train AI is infringement are currently working their way through the courts.

The final word on AI

Be responsible and remember why you became an author in the first place: because you had something to say. AI content will always be just that — content. But art comes from humans, and no matter how much inspiration AI provides, it’s not something authors can depend on full-stop.

Books Forward Authors in the Media: November 2023

What can we say, Books Forward authors are always going, going, going! We’re excited to feature some of our authors and their recent media wins.

  • Maya Golden’s article I Was Called ‘Little Black Girl’ and Treated Like a Gimmick was featured by Newsweek.
  • The New York Times featured Rudy Ruiz on a recent reading list of 6 Paperbacks to Read this Week.
  • George Franklin and his new book were covered by The Hill in this recent story.
  • Author Lyn Squire stopped by In Reference to Murder for an Author R&R.
  • Finding Genius had author Audrey Gale on to discuss novel writing.
  • Kosoko Jackson was interviewed by Nuvo News about his childhood and how it influenced his writing.
  • Culturess called Ava Reid’s new book a “dark, emotional and important gothic fantasy.”
  • Maggie Giles’ alumni outlet Western News featured her and her book Twisted.
  • Edward C. Green wrote an article for Spiritual Media Blog about living a life of low self-confidence.
  • GirlTalkHQ featured this article from Alison Levy about how her real-life experiences influenced her new book.
  • Chrissy Holm and her book Finding Sunlight were featured by Tagg Magazine.
  • BookLife says Wen Peetes is “transparent and fully vulnerable” in this review for Inner Child Healing.
  • S. H. Cotugno discusses ways that monsters and mad scientists can be empowering characters in this article for Writer’s Digest.
  • Marschall Runge wrote a piece for Real Clear Health on hackers attacking health care.
  • NBC Washington interviewed Kathryn K. Abdul-Baki about her book Dancing Into the Light.
  • Suzette Mullen talks about her new book in this feature for Out Front Magazine.
  • Mexico News Daily spotlighted Ann Marie Jackson and her book The Broken Hummingbird.
  • Sophia Kouidou-Giles was featured in the National Herald on how her latest book highlights the sorceress Circe.
  • Writer’s Digest ran this piece from author David Scidmore about using physics to explain characters and world-building.

Want to stay up to date on what Books Forward authors are doing? Follow us on Facebook, X, Instagram, TikTok and Threads!

Do I need to be on Threads? Or X? Or whatever new version of Twitter exists now?

Yeah, it’s exhausting keeping up with social media and whatever Twitter is now called — it’s X, by the way, even though the URL for the site still says Twitter. And with the many changes that have occurred at the former bird app, users are flocking (pun totally intended) to other newly created social media platforms. 

But do you need to?

Unfortunately, there’s no easy answer. Social media is a great tool to promote your book, but there’s no singular way to successfully do social media.

So what is Threads?

Threads is a text-based app that’s part of the Meta universe. With the ability to open an account via your Instagram account, Threads is a great alternative for those looking to take the leap from Twitter to an app with a similar interface and functionality. Threads has a 500-character limit for posts, and consists of a fun feature where you can share your Threads posts directly to your Instagram stories.

There are some downsides to the new app though: Threads definitely looks and performs better on mobile over desktop. Also, it’s really hard to get rid of your account. Want to delete your Threads account? You’re going to have to delete your Instagram account as well. And of course, like many new apps, there are glitches and it can be difficult to find your audience just starting out. 

But if you can look past the growing pains, you’ll find an app very similar to Twitter that has the potential 

Alternatives to X

If you can’t be on Elon Musk’s app without getting the ick, we understand. It’s important to decide what platform is right for you and post on an app you enjoy. If it becomes a chore, it’s going to feel like a chore. So here are some alternatives to X and Threads:

Mastodon

This definitely isn’t a straightforward alternative like Threads. It’s “decentralized” format declares to put the feed back in the hands of the users, which If you enjoy Reddit or Discord, then you’ll likely be able to catch on to how Mastodon functions. 

Spill

Billing itself as “a visual conversation at the speed of culture,” the Black-owned app has been developed to monitor abuse and/or hate against communities of color, like that users might have experienced on Twitter.

BlueSky

BlueSky was developed by Twitter’s former CEO, Jack Dorsey, so it stands to reason that there are similarities between the two platforms. It’s like Twitter, stripped down to the essentials. You can still post and include images and repost, but it differs greatly in that, like Mastodon, it’s decentralized, operating on independently run servers rather than one owned by a business.

WT.Social

Visually, it gives off a vibe similar to Facebook, though it labels itself “the nontoxic social network.” If that’s the case, the platform founded by Wikipedia’s creator would be a far cry from Zuckerberg’s.

If all else fails, you can still check out the stalwarts of the social media platforms and get to posting in places like Facebook and TikTok.

What do the numbers say?

Like it or not, X is still the leader when it comes to users. Excluding Facebook, Instagram and TikTok, X is still has millions more users than its closest competitor. Musk claims the platform has over 500 million, though that would be a large increase compared to user numbers in the mid-250 millions in 202 only a year ago.

Threads has over 100 million users, though that still lags greatly behind X. And the alternatives have even less. That doesn’t mean that audiences won’t steadily grow, but it does mean that when it comes to potential to reach the most people, X is still one of the largest platforms.

Ultimately, it’s important to find the platform that works for you. The best method to discover that is by jumping in and testing them out!

Books Forward Authors in the Media: October 2023

What can we say, Books Forward authors are always going, going, going! We’re excited to feature some of our authors and their recent media wins.

  • Heather Dixon wrote a guest post for In Reference to Murder.
  • BookLife called Kathryn K. Abdul-baki’s new book a “richly described memoir of a mid-century Arab-American childhood in the Middle East.”
  • Liz Kinchen chatted with Hippocampus Magazine about her new book “Light in Bandaged Places.”
  • My SA featured local author Rudy Ruiz.
  • Audrey Gale hopped on the Murder, Mystery & Mayhem Laced with Morality podcast for an interview.
  • Thushanthi Ponweera’s new book was reviewed by Bookworm for Kids.
  • Kveller featured author Bridget Hodder and her new book “The Promise” in this recent article.
  • Kosoko Jackson’s newest book made this Book Riot list of 9 YA Novels from the Horror Renaissance You Need to Read.
  • Indie Crime Scene interviewed author Maggie Giles about her recent release “Twisted.”
  • KSQD’s The Dream Journal hosted an interview with Roberta Kuriloff.
  • Author T.C. Morrison wrote about writing legal satire in this piece for Robot Butt.
  • Citywide Blackout interviewed Lyn Squire about his new book.
  • Rob Long and Andrew Dolberg were featured in Punxsutawney Spirit for their book “The Great Weather Diviner.”
  • Sanctuary Magazine featured an excerpt from Suzanne Marriott’s book “Watching for Dragonflies.”
  • American University alum Sid Balman Jr. was featured in this piece from The Eagle.
  • Ava Reid and Kosko Jackson made this TOR reading list of Most Anticipated Young Adult SFF/H for September & October 2023.
  • Cartoon Brew interviewed S.H. Cotugno about their new book “The Glass Scientists.”
  • Leisl Kaberry describes how she started her writing journey in this article for Book Club Babble.
  • BookLife named Lynn Slaughter’s “Missed Cue” an editor’s pick in this review.

Want to stay up to date on what Books Forward authors are doing? Follow us on Facebook, X, Instagram, TikTok and Threads!

Book recs for your favorite Shania Twain songs

Calling all Shania Twain fans: The Canadian country-pop star’s first album in six years, Queen of Me, is coming out Feb. 3! To get us prepared, we’re stocking up on books inspired by some of our fav Shania songs. Once you’ve settled in with some of these books, queue up our Shania Twain-inspired playlist and stream Queen of Me.

Man! I Feel Like a Woman + Everything I Know About Love by Dolly Alderton

When it comes to the trials and triumphs of becoming an adult, journalist and former Sunday Times columnist Dolly Alderton has seen and tried it all. In her memoir, she vividly recounts falling in love, finding a job, getting drunk, getting dumped, realizing that Ivan from the corner shop might just be the only reliable man in her life, and that absolutely no one can ever compare to her best girlfriends. Glittering with wit and insight, heart and humor, Alderton’s unforgettable debut weaves together personal stories, satirical observations, a series of lists, recipes, and other vignettes that will strike a chord of recognition with women of every age — making you want to pick up the phone and tell your best friends all about it. Everything I Know About Love is about bad dates, good friends and — above all else — realizing that you are enough.

Honey, I’m Home + After I Do by Taylor Jenkins Reid

When Lauren and Ryan’s marriage reaches the breaking point, they come up with an unconventional plan. They decide to take a year off in the hopes of finding a way to fall in love again. One year apart, and only one rule: they cannot contact each other. Aside from that, anything goes. Lauren embarks on a journey of self-discovery, quickly finding that her friends and family have their own ideas about the meaning of marriage. These influences, as well as her own healing process and the challenges of living apart from Ryan, begin to change Lauren’s ideas about monogamy and marriage. She starts to question: When you can have romance without loyalty and commitment without marriage, when love and lust are no longer tied together, what do you value? What are you willing to fight for?

I’m Gonna Getcha Good! + Along for the Ride by Mimi Grace

Former hot mess Jolene Baxter is committed to doing better. It’s why she offered to help her sister and brother-in-law move across the country. However, her goodwill is tested when last minute changes-mainly her father ditching her for an all-expenses paid vacation-forces her to make the journey with a man who is the human version of a pebble in her shoe. Jason Akana operates on lists and bitter coffee, but none of those things will help him on a 16-hour trip with the most infuriating woman. Maybe they can get along and forget their heated confrontation five years ago at his best friend’s wedding…when pigs fly. But the addition of vehicle problems, an unplanned pit stop in a small town, and chemistry that inconveniently tags along, shifts their perspectives. And once the dust settles after their trip, a tentative friendship emerges. Will these two stubborn people successfully navigate the unexpected feelings that follow close behind? Or will they hit a roadblock before reaching happily ever after?

Any Man of Mine + A Little Bit Country by Brian D. Kennedy

Emmett Maguire wants to be country music’s biggest gay superstar — a far reach when you’re 17 and living in Illinois. But for now, he’s happy to do the next best thing: Stay with his aunt in Jackson Hollow, Tennessee, for the summer and perform at the amusement park owned by his idol, country legend Wanda Jean Stubbs. Luke Barnes hates country music. As the grandson of Verna Rose, the disgraced singer who had a famous falling out with Wanda Jean, Luke knows how much pain country music has brought his family. But when his mom’s medical bills start piling up, he takes a job at the last place he wants: a restaurant at Wanda World. Neither boy is looking for romance, but sparks fly when they meet — and soon they’re inseparable. Until a long-lost secret about Verna and Wanda comes to light, threatening to unravel everything. Will Emmett and Luke be able get past the truths they discover…or will their relationship go down in history as just another Sad Country Love Song?

Forever and for Always + Normal People by Sally Rooney

Connell and Marianne grew up in the same small town, but the similarities end there. At school, Connell is popular and well liked, while Marianne is a loner. But when the two strike up a conversation — awkward but electrifying — something life changing begins. A year later, they’re both studying at Trinity College in Dublin. Marianne has found her feet in a new social world while Connell hangs at the sidelines, shy and uncertain. Throughout their years at university, Marianne and Connell circle one another, straying toward other people and possibilities but always magnetically, irresistibly drawn back together. And as she veers into self-destruction and he begins to search for meaning elsewhere, each must confront how far they are willing to go to save the other. Normal People is the story of mutual fascination, friendship and love. It takes us from that first conversation to the years beyond, in the company of two people who try to stay apart but find that they can’t.

From This Moment On + P.S. I Love You by Cecelia Ahern

Some people wait their whole lives to find their soul mates. But not Holly and Gerry. Childhood sweethearts, they could finish each other’s sentences and even when they fought, they laughed. No one could imagine Holly and Gerry without each other. Until the unthinkable happens. Gerry’s death devastates Holly. But as her 30th birthday looms, Gerry comes back to her. He’s left her a bundle of notes, one for each of the months after his death, gently guiding Holly into her new life without him, each note signed “PS, I Love You.” As the notes are gradually opened, and as the year unfolds, Holly is both cheered up and challenged. The man who knows her better than anyone sets out to teach her that life goes on. With some help from her friends, and her noisy and loving family, Holly finds herself laughing, crying, singing, dancing — and being braver than ever before. Life is for living, she realises — but it always helps if there’s an angel watching over you.

You’re Still the One + The Shaadi Set-Up by Lillie Vale

High school sweethearts Rita Chitniss and Milan Rao were the golden couple, until the day he broke her heart. Now, 6 years later, Rita has turned her passion for furniture restoration into a career and has an almost-perfect boyfriend, Neil. The last thing she needs is for Milan to re-enter her life, but that’s exactly what happens when her mother, an unfailing believer in second chances, sets them up. Milan is just as charming, cocky, and confident as he was back in school. Only this time, he actually needs her business expertise, not her heart, to flip a hard-to-sell house for his realty agency. While Rita begrudgingly agrees to help, she’s not taking any risks. To prove she’s definitely over him, she signs herself and Neil up on a Desi matchmaking site famous for its success stories. Instead, she’s shocked when the perfect match for her isn’t Neil…it’s Milan. Ignoring the website and her mother is one thing, but ignoring Milan proves much more difficult, especially when she promises to help him renovate the beach house of her dreams. And as the two of them dive deeper into work — and their pasts — Rita begins to wonder if maybe her match wasn’t so wrong after all….

Whose Bed Have Your Boots Been Under + Heart of the Matter by Emily Giffin

Tessa Russo is the mother of two young children and the wife of a renowned pediatric surgeon. Despite her own mother’s warnings, Tessa has recently given up her career to focus on her family and the pursuit of domestic happiness. From the outside, she seems destined to live a charmed life. Valerie Anderson is an attorney and single mother to six-year-old Charlie — a boy who has never known his father. After too many disappointments, she has given up on romance — and even to some degree, friendships — believing that it is always safer not to expect too much. Although both women live in the same Boston suburb, the two have relatively little in common aside from a fierce love for their children. But one night, a tragic accident causes their lives to converge in ways no one could have imagined.

That Don’t Impress Me Much + Red, White & Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston

When his mother became President, Alex Claremont-Diaz was promptly cast as the American equivalent of a young royal. Handsome, charismatic, genius — his image is pure millennial-marketing gold for the White House. There’s only one problem: Alex has a beef with the actual prince, Henry, across the pond. And when the tabloids get hold of a photo involving an Alex-Henry altercation, U.S./British relations take a turn for the worse. Heads of family, state, and other handlers devise a plan for damage control: staging a truce between the two rivals. What at first begins as a fake, Instragramable friendship grows deeper, and more dangerous, than either Alex or Henry could have imagined. Soon Alex finds himself hurtling into a secret romance with a surprisingly unstuffy Henry that could derail the campaign and upend two nations and begs the question: Can love save the world after all? Where do we find the courage, and the power, to be the people we are meant to be? And how can we learn to let our true colors shine through?

Up! + Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine by Gail Honeyman

Meet Eleanor Oliphant: She struggles with appropriate social skills and tends to say exactly what she’s thinking. Nothing is missing in her carefully timetabled life of avoiding social interactions, where weekends are punctuated by frozen pizza, vodka, and phone chats with Mummy. But everything changes when Eleanor meets Raymond, the bumbling and deeply unhygienic IT guy from her office. When she and Raymond together save Sammy, an elderly gentleman who has fallen on the sidewalk, the three become the kinds of friends who rescue one another from the lives of isolation they have each been living. And it is Raymond’s big heart that will ultimately help Eleanor find the way to repair her own profoundly damaged one.

 

Books paired with Dolly Parton songs to celebrate Diamonds & Rhinestones’ release

We don’t need a new Dolly Parton album as an excuse to listen to her songs and compile a reading list, but we are excited for her new greatest hits album, so you know we couldn’t help ourselves. Once you’ve settled in with some of these books, check out our Dolly Parton-inspired playlist and stream Diamonds & Rhinestones: The Greatest Hits Collection, available now!

I Will Always Love You + The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller
Achilles, son of the cruel sea goddess Thetis and the legendary king Peleus, is strong, swift, and beautiful, irresistible to all who meet him. Patroclus is an awkward young prince, exiled from his homeland after an act of shocking violence. Brought together by chance, they forge an inseparable bond, despite risking the gods’ wrath. They are trained by the centaur Chiron in the arts of war and medicine, but when word comes that Helen of Sparta has been kidnapped, all the heroes of Greece are called upon to lay siege to Troy in her name. Seduced by the promise of a glorious destiny, Achilles joins their cause, and torn between love and fear for his friend, Patroclus follows. Little do they know that the cruel Fates will test them both as never before and demand a terrible sacrifice.

Eagle When She Flies + Becoming by Michelle Obama
In her memoir, a work of deep reflection and mesmerizing storytelling, Michelle Obama invites readers into her world, chronicling the experiences that have shaped her — from her childhood on the South Side of Chicago to her years as an executive balancing the demands of motherhood and work, to her time spent at the world’s most famous address. With unerring honesty and lively wit, she describes her triumphs and her disappointments, both public and private, telling her full story as she has lived it — in her own words and on her own terms. Warm, wise, and revelatory, Becoming is the deeply personal reckoning of a woman of soul and substance who has steadily defied expectations — and whose story inspires us to do the same.

9 to 5 + Notes on a Nervous Planet by Matt Haig
The societies we live in are increasingly making our minds ill, making it feel as though the way we live is engineered to make us unhappy. When Matt Haig developed panic disorder, anxiety, and depression as an adult, it took him a long time to work out the ways the external world could impact his mental health in both positive and negative ways. Notes on a Nervous Planet collects his observations, taking a look at how the various social, commercial and technological “advancements” that have created the world we now live in can actually hinder our happiness. Haig examines everything from broader phenomena like inequality, social media, and the news; to things closer to our daily lives, like how we sleep, how we exercise, and even the distinction we draw between our minds and our bodies.

Coat of Many Colors + Where the Line Bleeds by Jesmyn Ward
Joshua and Christophe are twins, raised by a blind grandmother and a large extended family in rural Bois Sauvage, on Mississippi’s Gulf Coast. They’ve just finished high school and need to find jobs, but after Katrina, it’s not easy. Joshua gets work on the docks, but Christophe’s not so lucky and starts to sell drugs. Christophe’s downward spiral is accelerated first by crack, then by the reappearance of the twins’ parents: Cille, who left for a better job, and Sandman, a dangerous addict. Sandman taunts Christophe, eventually provoking a shocking confrontation that will ultimately damn or save both twins.

Jolene + My Husband’s Wife by Jane Corry
When young lawyer Lily marries Ed, she’s determined to make a fresh start and leave the secrets of the past behind. But then she takes on her first murder case and meets Joe, a convicted murderer to whom Lily is strangely drawn — and for whom she will soon be willing to risk almost anything. But Lily is not the only one with secrets. Her next-door neighbor Carla may be only nine, but she has already learned that secrets are powerful things. That they can get her whatever she wants. When Lily finds Carla on her doorstep twelve years later, a chain of events is set in motion that can end only one way.

Islands in the Stream + All That’s Left in the World by Erik J. Brown
When Andrew stumbles upon Jamie’s house, he’s injured, starved, and has nothing left to lose. A deadly pathogen has killed off most of the world’s population, including everyone both boys have ever loved. After danger breaches their shelter, they flee south in search of civilization. But something isn’t adding up about Andrew’s story, and it could cost them everything. And Jamie has a secret, too. He’s starting to feel something more than friendship for Andrew, adding another layer of fear and confusion to an already tumultuous journey. The road ahead of them is long, and to survive, they’ll have to shed their secrets, face the consequences of their actions, and find the courage to fight for the future they desire, together. Only one thing feels certain: all that’s left in their world is the undeniable pull they have toward each other.

Little Sparrow + Dead Dead Girls by Nekesa Afia
Harlem, 1926. Young Black women like Louise Lloyd are ending up dead. Following a harrowing kidnapping ordeal when she was in her teens, Louise is doing everything she can to maintain a normal life. She spends her days working at Maggie’s Café and her nights at the Zodiac, Harlem’s hottest speakeasy. Louise’s friends, especially her girlfriend, Rosa Maria Moreno, might say she’s running from her past and the notoriety that still stalks her, but don’t tell her that.

When a girl turns up dead in front of the café, Louise is forced to confront something she’s been trying to ignore — two other local Black girls have been murdered in the past few weeks. After an altercation with a police officer gets her arrested, Louise is given an ultimatum: She can either help solve the case or wind up in a jail cell. Louise has no choice but to investigate and soon finds herself toe-to-toe with a murderous mastermind hell-bent on taking more lives, maybe even her own….

My Tennessee Mountain Home + Truth or Beard by Penny Reid (plus all the other books in the Winston Brothers series)
Identical twins Beau and Duane Winston might share the same devastatingly handsome face, but where Beau is outgoing and sociable, Duane is broody and reserved. This is why Jessica James has been in naïve and unhealthy infatuation with Beau Winston for most of her life. His friendly smiles make her tongue-tied and weak-kneed, and she’s never been able to move beyond her childhood crush. Whereas Duane and Jessica have always been adversaries. She can’t stand him, and she’s pretty sure he can’t stand the sight of her… But after a case of mistaken identity, Jessica finds herself in a massive confusion kerfuffle. Not helping Jessica’s muddled mind and good girl sensibilities, Duane seems to have gotten himself in trouble with the local biker gang. Certainly, Beau’s magic spell is broken. Yet when Jessica finds herself drawn to the man who was always her adversary, now more dangerous than ever, how much of her level-head heart is she willing to risk?

Here You Come Again + Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen
When Elizabeth Bennet first meets eligible bachelor Fitzwilliam Darcy, she thinks him arrogant and conceited; he is indifferent to her good looks and lively mind. When she later discovers that Darcy has involved himself in the troubled relationship between his friend Bingley and her beloved sister Jane, she is determined to dislike him more than ever. In the sparkling comedy of manners that follows, Jane Austen shows us the folly of judging by first impressions and superbly evokes the friendships, gossip and snobberies of provincial middle-class life.

Hard Candy Christmas + You’re a Mean One, Matthew Prince by Timothy Janovsky
Matthew Prince is young, rich, thoroughly spoiled and on top of the world. But one major PR misstep later, and Matthew is cut off and shipped away to spend the holidays in his grandparents’ charming small town hellscape. It’s bad enough he’s stuck in some festive winter wonderland — it’s even worse that he has to share space with Hector Martinez, an obnoxiously attractive local who’s unimpressed with anything and everything Matthew does. Just when it looks like the holiday season is bringing nothing but heated squabbles, the charity gala loses its coordinator and Matthew steps in as a saintly act to get home early on good behavior…with Hector as his maddening plus-one.