The bookshop is officially open!

Hello my friends! Today, Twig’s Traveling Tomes is officially out in the world. Can you believe it?

I'm just sitting here settling into the truth that something we’ve talked about, dreamed about, edited, planned for, etc. is no longer ours to hold. We get to gift it to the world today, and that is such a wild and wonderful opportunity.

Today Louella’s traveling bookshop is open to everyone, and for those of you who haven't read it yet, prepare your heart. You're about to have the most whimsical, magical reading experience!

Thank you again to Gryffin, our incredible author. You've created such a gorgeous world and the most lovable found family. This book is meaningful and we're deeply proud to celebrate you today!

So, without further ado, let's dive in to all the Twigs excitement...

Look what you made.

One of my absolute favorite parts of this entire release has been watching Twig’s Traveling Tomes start inspiring your whimsical creations!

You've brought Louella’s little traveling bookshop to life in so many adorable ways.

So before we do anything else, I need you to see some of the magic this community has been making.

Pageheartreads has been working on a special Twigs adornment all week long! She has a special reading jumper and added this embroidery to celebrate the launch. Isn't that sweet?!

Laura Stanley created this INCREDIBLE coloring page for Twigs! Isn't this cute? I can't wait to start working on it! If you'd like to download it to color for yourself, CLICK HERE. Thank you, Laura!

Sara's Bookish Macarons is at it again! She says, "Twig's is a very special book so of course it deserves extra special macarons!"

These couldn't be any sweeter, and I can't believe how well she captured the character faces! Beautiful job, as always, Sara!

Emily created these beautiful granny squares for a work in progress. Wouldn't these make the perfect reading blanket for Twigs this fall?! Such talent, Emily!

Alexa went above and beyond creating this gorgeous art piece! She says "It was so much fun bringing Gryffin's character to life! (With her permission of course.) I loved surprise sending her the original."

This is INCREDIBLE! The details and art style are so whimsical, Alexa!

And finally, I had to share this amazing hat that Stacie stitched for a Twigs cosplay! Isn't it cute? I can't wait to see it all put together.

Apparently, word has gotten out… 👀

It seems news of a certain traveling bookshop has escaped the Tea Room and is making its way across the realm!. We’ve spotted Twig’s Traveling Tomes popping up in some VERY exciting places lately and every single time, I have a "WAIT, THAT’S OUR BOOK?!” moment lol.

Pinned to the notice board this week… 📌

The reviews are ✨glowing✨...

BookRiot

Publishers Weekly

Reactor Magazine

Now, come sit with us. ☕

I thought I'd share my latest check in with Gryffin where we have a cozy chat about Twig’s Traveling Tomes, including what it feels like to finally send this book out into the world and what's coming next!

Grab something cozy and come watch our chat.

Okay Quillers, we have a mission.

For the next seven days, I want Twig’s Traveling Tomes to be absolutely unavoidable. (lol)

If you’ve got your copy, POST IT. If you’re reading it, POST IT. If you see someone else talking about it, SHARE IT. Your favorite quote? Post it. Your reading setup? Post it. Your review? POST. IT. (so aggressive, I know)

Listen, engaging however your comfy is one of the biggest things you can do for a brand new story. Our goal this week is to help more people see that it exists, and you all are incredible at that.

My hops is that someone opens their feed and wonder why this little witchy book is following them everywhere.

So please tag me and Gryffin so we can find your posts, hype you up, and share them too.

And finally, my friends, thank you for loving this little book before it was even yours. For every preorder and every piece of art. Thank you for every post and message in Discord, as well as every bit of excitement you’ve shared with us. You helped make this release feel like something much bigger than a book arriving on a shelf, and it means the world to myself and to Gryffin.

This wouldn't exist without your heart and enthusiasm! Words are not enough, my friend.

Today, Twig’s Traveling Tomes officially belongs to its readers. I am so grateful and overwhelmed. May this story bring you joy and most importantly a sense of belonging.

All my love and admiration,
xx, Meg

Okay, I know it may still be offensively hot outside, but mentally? We have entered fall reading season. 🍂📚

This week on the shelf, we’re leaning ALL the way into it: dark academia, cozy fantasy, backlist books begging to be pulled off your TBR…and a beginner’s guide to one of the most iconic manga series ever written.

Basically, whatever version of fall reader you are, I’ve got you covered. 😏

📱ICYMI

Over on Instagram, we went full fall reading mode.

🍂 Dark Academia Genre Guide: If crisp air, old libraries, morally questionable academics, secret societies, and an unsettling amount of ambition sound like your ideal fall reading aesthetic…start here.

📚 Backlist Books on My Fall TBR: Because despite what Bookstagram sometimes makes us believe, books do NOT expire after release day. These are the older books I’m finally determined to get to this season.

☕ Cozy Reads for Your Fall TBR: Prefer your autumn with warm drinks, magical shops, romance, found family, and significantly less murder? I’ve got you covered there too.

And over on YouTube…

⚔️ Berserk 101: A Beginner’s Guide

If you've always been manga-curious but have absolutely NO idea where to start, this one is especially for you.

I'm breaking down Berserk: what it is, why it's become such an influential dark fantasy series, what you should know before reading, and whether it might be the manga that finally gets you to give the format a try.

And yes, this comes from someone who was once very much a manga beginner herself. 👀

🆕 NEW RELEASES

Here’s what’s hitting shelves this week!

Historical Fiction

• The Chinese Lady

• The Pirate Queen

Fantasy, Romantasy, & Sci-Fi

• Tempest

• The Dark Lord’s Guide to Honeymooning

• Wickhills

• Twig’s Traveling Tomes

• Taipei Story

Thriller & Mystery

• Fury in Death

• We Already Dug the Grave

• Wildwood

• The Wellness Retreat

• Little Red Death

• The Mystic and the Missing Girl

• Pictures of You

Horror

• She’s a Doll

Romance

• Fall Into Place

• Love Felt Like This

What are you picking up this week? 👀

💬 BOOKISH GROUP CHAT

A couple things from around the bookish internet that caught my attention this week:

🎨 “Read Your Color: The Assessment”

Okay, this was WAY too accurate. 😂 The assessment sorts you into a reading color based less on what genres you read and more on what you want a book to make you feel.

Apparently, I’m The Passionate Orange, an Orange reader who leans Red.

Orange readers chase that feeling of wonder: books that completely transport you somewhere else. So basically…yes. They got me. 😂

Especially because my personalized recommendations included Red Rising, The Hunger Games, Dune, Mistborn, The Way of Kings, and A Game of Thrones. At that point, I felt personally observed.

Take the Read Your Color assessment and PLEASE tell me what color you get. I need to know. 👀

✍️ “Pantser or Plotter: How Poe, Christie, King, and Other Greats Outlined Their Mysteries”

Ah, the age-old writing debate: meticulously plan everything…or sit down and see what chaos happens. 😂

This CrimeReads piece looks at how writers including Agatha Christie, Edgar Allan Poe, Raymond Chandler, John Grisham, and Stephen King approached plotting their stories. Christie? Plotter. King? Famously NOT.

Read the full piece via CrimeReads.

🐾 LINK’S CORNER

This week, Link wants to talk about Living with Freddie: How a Dog Taught Me to Be Human by Anna Heyward.

And listen…this one might hurt a little. 🥺

Heyward adopts Freddie, an eight-year-old rescue Italian greyhound, expecting that, with enough love and training, he'll eventually settle into her life.

Freddie has other plans.

He suffers from severe separation anxiety, and instead of simply teaching Freddie how to live in her world, Heyward gradually has to reconsider what caring for another creature actually asks of us. The book blends memoir, animal behavior, and reflections on the incredibly complicated bond between humans and their dogs.

Link’s thoughts: Humans really do love adopting dogs and thinking they’re going to be the ones doing the training. 😂

But underneath the humor, I think Link would approve of this one. Because anyone who has loved a dog knows they quietly rearrange your life, and somehow teach you an awful lot about yourself while they're doing it.

Also, Link would like it formally noted that she has trained me beautifully. 10/10. No notes. 🐾

Read more about Living with Freddie via The New York Times.

Until next week, happy reading and may your fall TBR be completely unreasonable. 🍂📚

— Brittany + Link 🐾

Today is the second release drop of September! We have listed some new releases that are hitting shelves today, and should probably land on your TBR (to be read) list.

Share in the comments which book release you are most excited for!

Here's your weekly roundup of romances hitting shelves this week that have a Rebel Ever After vibe. Reminder that I haven't read any of these titles yet, so this isn't an official endorsement unless noted. If there are other books out today that you think folks will enjoy, feel free to recommend them in the comments. Please click through to read the post on Bindery for my full commentary.

[This isn't an exhaustive list of every romance novel published this week. If you are an author with a progressive romance coming out soon, please email brosandprose@gmail.com to get it on my radar!]

See You Next Tuesday by Kate Stayman-London (Dial) — I’m excited to read this unapologetically political romance about two campaign staffers by the author of One to Watch and Fang Fiction. Kate’s made it clear on social media that neither of the leads are Republicans, which is hilarious and also desperately needed considering the rash of mediocre “love across the aisle” bipartisan slop we’ve seen published in the last decade.

With All My Haunted Heart by Isabel Sterling (Berkley) — Sapphic witchy romance! A witch is hired to haunt a B&B and falls for its proprietor. 

By Any Means by E.M. Caro (indie) — An anti-capitalist reporter is writing about a glass industrialist (god I love historical fiction) when they become embroiled in a serial murder mystery. I’m so here for a gay romantic suspense set in 1905. 

Twig's Traveling Tomes by Gryffin Murphy (Cozy Quill/Bindery Books) — A cozy romantasy about a Book Witch and a rogue who must find a stolen grimoire. Published by Bindery!

Level Up for Love by Lenora Woods (Dell) — Woods is leading the tabletop RPG romance era. Whom among us hasn’t wanted to fuck your game’s DM, especially when that DM is your college nemesis who you hooked up with once?? 

My Own Kind of Person by Tim Manley (Rocky Pond Books) — This YA novel about an aspiring standup comedian discovering his bisexuality sounds really sweet. Great cover, too! 

Espíritu by Aiden Thomas (Feiwel & Friends) — The long-awaited sequel to queer YA best-seller Cemetery Boys.

Upcoming Events:

9/30: Launching Happily Ever Afterlife with Emma R. Alban at the Ripped Bodice BK. Tickets here.

JUST ADDED 10/5: I'm hosting another Romance Read-In to benefit Authors Against Book Bans at Book Club Bar in Manhattan on October 5th at 7:30pm! Tickets just went on sale here. We sold out last time, so don't hesitate. Featured authors include Shelly Jay Shore, Blair Fell, Zakiya N. Jamal, and the one and only Joanna Shupe!