Hello and happy new year,

I hope you’re all doing well! This isn’t a long post but I was too excited not to make this.

Bindery has a new feature where you can request a specific title and it comes straight to me with a cute little postcard. I had no idea this feature came out (i was very much on vacation and not looking at my email for most of December, keep an eye out for my next newsletter for more there) or I would have already answered them. If you sent in a request, the recs are below !

As a former bookseller, I genuinely miss recommending randomly specific titles and it’s quite fun racking my brain for book knowledge, especially great when we find the right one. This is a beta feature so I’m not sure yet the best way to answer these. I can either do it as a post here on Bindery, or on ig stories, let me know which way you prefer!

Now onto the recs:

The first request was from Ezra who asked for: a banger that is also a book club crowd pleaser.

A social media account was not tagged so hopefully you see this one. I have a scifi and fantasy recommendation:

Project Hail Mary: A Novel by Andy Weir

This one is going to be adapted later this year and from everything I hear it’s a very good pick for a book club. It follows Ryland Grace, the sole survivor on a desperate, last-chance mission—and if he fails, humanity and the earth itself will perish. While I haven’t personally read this, my sister’s book club (that heavily reads scifi and fantasy) said this one was a great pick!

A Spear Cuts Through Water by Simon Jimenez:

My pick is definitely this standalone fantasy which follows Jun, a guard that is full of regret of his past decisions, and Keema, an outcast that is fighting for identity and self-value. The pair end up aiding and abetting the escape of a god that has been locked under a palace for centuries and used for her abilities and magic by her own family. The ruling family consists of an emperor and his three murderous sons who have used the god’s abilities to rule with cruelty for centuries and bleed the land of resources as they oppress their citizenry. Jun and Keema end up on an adventure with this god that changes the course of power in the land and those who wield it. It’s written with such stunning prose and imagery, the descriptions alone are enough to make this a great discussion book. This was my favorite read of 2024 and genuinely the most talked about book that my club and I chose to read. There is so much action and heart packed into it, I think it definitely fits the criteria.

The second request was from Kaith. ig: (@kaithisms)

First of all, thank you for watching! I have quite a few recs I hope one of these stand out. I would be remiss not to mention the one that inspired the video to begin with which was of course:

Everything for Everyone: An Oral History of the New York Commune, 2052–2072

This is one of the most unique scifi books I’ve read, as it imagines a word beyond the apocalyptic style, dystopian narrative we have been fed for decades. Written from the perspective of two activists that come from labor organizing, activist work, and trans rights organizing we are getting the perspective of two powerful voices in M.E. O’Brien and Eman Abdelhadi. The novel is done in an oral history style as the title suggests, interviewing young and old people who all belong to different communes across the post-capitalist version of the U.S. This book offers a glimpse into a possibility after violence. A future that has gone through war and famine and the breaking down of systems, and asks, okay so what do we build up from the rubble? What skills can we offer each other tangibly? How do we see our relationships, our living structures, and our society as a whole and where do we need improvement? All of that and more is explored in this book and in my opinion, it feels like a novel that is in direct conversation with us, people experiencing the mid 2020s and all the horrors that have gotten us to this point. Can we imagine a future that doesn’t constantly beget violence? Are there sustainable systems we can start building the framework for now? What kind of life do we want and what are willing to do to get it? I can not recommend this book enough. It remains one of my favorite scifi novels I’ve ever read.

Love After the End: An Anthology of Two-Spirit and Indigiqueer Speculative Fiction by Joshua Whitehead

This anthology collection showcases a number of new 2SQ (2 spirit and queer indigenous) writers that each come up with their own utopian narratives that detail the strength of indigiqueer stories through their plight in the maw of settler colonialism’s histories. It has been at the top of my tbr for a while, I definitely think this collection will hold a few gems.

Thyme Travelers edited by Sonia Sulaiman

This anthology is completely unique, coming from the perspective of Palestinian diaspora writers and artists that image a future beyond occupation and the devastating effects of imperialism and zionism. Each story in this collection explores different aspects of the future from analyzing the effects of what dehumanization does over the years, to using robotics to imagine uses for disabled Palestinians, to exploring gender identity and queerness. I highly recommend it to everyone interested in post colonialism as a subject and as a broad topic of study.

I hope these were fun (I had a great time putting them together) and you found something new to read. If you have any more requests, please send them in!

I kicked off this year reading the fantastic Why I Love Horror: Essays on Horror Literature edited by Becky Siegel Spratford.

You can find my review HERE, but I wanted to take this space to dive a little further on my own personal Horror journey.

I'm often asked "What's the scariest book you've ever read?" And this is a very valid question. But it's also a loaded question as well, because what is scary to me may not be scary to you. This is because horror is subjective.

What scares me? I think what gets under my skin the most is bleak horror. When there's no hope. One book that does this well is The Ruins by Scott Smith. It's a survival horror about four friends that take a vacation to Mexico and wind up getting stuck in some ancient ruins. One by one the characters are picked off, with hope dwindling with each life lost. While the characters annoyed me in this book, the hopelessness really got to me.

Where did my love for Horror start? Let's take a journey into the past. As stated in my Instagram post, watching my dad play Resident Evil One really stuck with me as a kid. The scene with the giant snake truly traumatized little me. Looking back on it now, it makes me laugh. Everything was so cringy. The graphics weren't great and the dialogue was corny. But its a classic for a reason and I still love it dearly. "You were almost a Jill Sandwich!"

Another instance was when I was flipping through the channels, looking for something to watch. Stephen King's IT was on television. My young, innocent mind believed that someone would truly make a movie involving kids playing Tag Your It...So you best believe I was in shock when I see a clown holding balloons, inviting children to float. Then blood spewing out of the sink all over Beverly's bathroom. You best believe I hit the guide button on that TV remote and figured out that it was rated R. I ran to my room in terror as my mom laughed at me. And yes Child's Play did the same thing to me too. Who knew a movie involving a doll was actually a slasher in disguise.

So what made me stop being such a scaredy cat? Honestly, I think playing Resident Evil 4 made me start appreciating horror more. I slowly started building myself up, until I could handle movies like Sinister (WHICH PHEW terrified me a lot). Final Destination also terrified me. To think that near death experiences had become a death sentence had me on the edge of my seat. And death definitely gets creative when taking back what it's owed.

I love chasing that rush I feel when watching something scary. I love looking in the background for something subtly creepy (i.e. Haunting of Hill House ghosts in the background). I feeling my heart race as I wait for the jump-scare to pop up on the screen, or the fake out to cue the scare when I least expect it.

So what books got me into reading horror?

Well of course Stephen King kick started me. Now you may think I'm going to mention The Shining. While that is a FANTASTIC book of his and an all time favorite, Misery was one of my first and favorite works.

When I joined bookstagram, my world was opened to all kinds of horror novels. I never knew so many horror books/authors existed.

Some of the wonderful books I've discovered and will forever recommend are as follows:

Come Closer by Sara Gran

The Reformatory by Tananarive Due

Below by Laurel Hightower

I'm Thinking of Ending Things by Iain Reid

Mary by Nat Cassidy

Fantasticland by Mike Bockoven

Bat Eater and Other Names by Cora Zeng

Night Film by Marisha Pessl

We Used To Live Here by Marcus Kliewer

Slewfoot by Brom

The Twisted Ones by T. Kingfisher

Eynhallow by Tim McGregor

...and so many more books!

I love that Horror has a little bit of something for everyone.

Love Romance? How about a gothic horror with a dash of romance on the side?

Love Thrillers? So many horror books toe the line of thrillers.

Love History? There are so many historical horrors out there to try out.

Your favorite genre has a place in horror. There is a horror book out there for everyone! Want a rec to get you kickstarted? As for a rec on my profile page.

Thanks for coming to my TED talk lol.

Hey everyone! As previously discussed, I will be hosting a readalong for The Witchlands Series by Susan Dennard, where we will be reading a book from the series each month from now until May. Discussions for the books for those that want to chat as they are reading will be posted on the Discord - please be sure to use spoiler tags and label the spoiler with the chapter it is from since the channels will be for each book. Looking forward to chatting with you all about this series!

Hi nerds,

Since opening Sunny’s, I've occasionally had people come into the shop solely to comment negatively on our offerings. These aren’t customers looking to browse or buy books. They’re individuals who have no interest in reading, supporting the store, or engaging in good faith.

I’d love to brush these moments off completely, but they can be a little jarring. Sunny’s exists in southern Arizona, where politics are complicated and open carry is common, so we stay aware of our surroundings and these hostile interactions.

Sunny's exists to sell books, build community, and create a welcoming space for people who are often told, explicitly or implicitly, that they don’t belong. I truly believe it’s possible to encounter something that isn’t for you and simply keep it moving. In fact, I do it every single day in this town lol.

Last week, someone yelled at one of our booksellers that he “hates little bookstores like this that sell gay witch stuff.” Not our favorite moment, but also… kind of a perfect summary?

When we shared the incident on social media, a follower messaged us to say that this was actually a pretty great point of differentiation and that they’d happily buy a shirt with that tagline on it. And honestly? They’re right. We do sell queer books! We do sell magical books!

So, out of something upsetting, a silly new sticker was born. Tap in my gay witches!!! Vote on which one you'd move like to see come to life.

Love ya! Onward!

CJ

Happy Tuesday, Mis Internet amigxs!

Welcome to all the newbies to Bien Leidos newsletter and book club. I LOVE that we have so many like-minded chismosxs here with us now. If you're not already in Discord and interested in joining the chat for Orange Wine, get over there! The chisme is already piping hot and we'll be keeping the discussion going all month!

Although you can find me in the usual spots, Tik Tok and Instagram, in 2026, I'll be focusing on my YOUTUBE. In fact, I started a challenge to post one video there every single day in January. Today is day 6 and I'm happy to report that my 6th video just posted. All my YouTube content will be unique to what I post everywhere else, so I hope you'll follow me there, as well, for more expanded content. In fact, I posted 2 videos over the weekend that have over 50 Latine book recommendations for the Bien Leidos Latine Book Bingo Challenge. You can check out Part 1 and Part 2 that goes over the first half and then the second half of the bingo card, respectively. The rest of the months holds more vlogs, book reviews, anticipated 2026 Latine releases, Latine book recommendations and...more? Let me know if you have any suggestions of your favorite types of YouTube content in the comments. I'd love to experiment more!

A reminder for Lectores and Libritos members: I'm using the name you used to subscribe to Bindery when I read them out on Youtube, so if you'd like me to acknowledge a different name, please make sure to update your Bindery username name!

Speaking of new content, I'll be doing my FIRST interview for the podcast next week and it's...MIA SOSA! The podcast won't premier until next month, so let's keep this chisme between us for now!

And now...on to this week's releases!

It looks like publishing is easing into 2026, because we only have a paperback release, but let's celebrate it all the same because it's a book I read a few years back and absolutely adored!

First in the Family: A Story of Survival, Recovery, and the American Dream by Jessica Hoppe (Audiobook) This is an incredible memoir of recovery, particularly how BIPOC people are erased from the structures of recovery creating untenable spaces for us. Jessica is a lyrical and powerful writer who gives us a brutally honest reflection on her personal recovery efforts as well as breaking generational cycles.

As I was going through today's releases, I realized that there was an audiobook release for a 2025 book I recommended you pick up: Banned Together: Our Fight For Reader's Rights edited by Ashly Hope Perez (audiobook). This is a fantastic essay collection for young readers about book banning in the US and is critical for kids to read about stories disappearing from bookshelves.

Finally, I'm filming the first episode of the year of the Libby podcast this afternoon. If you haven't caught my appearances, you can find them everywhere you find your favorite podcasts. Here's a link to the final recording of 2025.

That's all for now! I'll see you next week...

xoxo,

Carmen

January Spotlights for book clubs:

This year, we have an ongoing Storygraph challenges for both of our book clubs and we will spotlighting certain books to help those of you who hate, well, picking!😂 For January, I have chosen what to spotlight and going forward, all our paid members can help us choose our spotlights

Cottagecore Gaming Club:

For January, the focus is to play a free game because well we're post holidays and I'd like to always be mindful of this from everyone's side! As a result, we're playing Palia! As a reminder, we are a text based club and chat primarily through discord about our game of the month

Ifrits & Ink: SWANA Book Club Spotlight:

Here is the link to our storygraph Challenge!

January: Fantasy, Horror & Poetry

• Fantasy: The Book of Heartbreak by Ova Ceren

• Horror: A Guide to the Dark

• Poetry: Forest of Noise by Mosab Abu Toha

Cottagecore & Co Spotlights:

Here is the link to this specific storygraph challenge

Here are our Cottagecore & Co spotlights friends! As we have 6 prompts on storygraph, we are focusing on three sub-genres and one of them ticks three boxes in one go

Here are the picks:

• Mushroomcore: Mexican Gothic by SIlvia Moreno-Garcia

• Cottagecore, Witchycore and Cozy: The Cottage around the Corner by D.L. Soria

• Botanical Horror: Midnight Rooms by Donyae Coles

I hope you guys decide to join us and read some of the picks or play Palia with us! Dont forget to join discord where the discussions tend to occur with our community

Don't forget to subscribe or upgrade for $5/£3.5 (its the cost of a cup of coffee or if you live in a city in this crazy economy, less than that) OR $12/£8-9 to get access to exclusive perks & help us build become a bindery imprint

Thank you Posh Pangolin Publishers
for the eARC.

Here are my initial thoughts and review.

Cover — while I can see the Leshy in the background but the snake in the heart, I guess I missed the significance of it on the cover front and center?

Story — I enjoyed the writing and I feel as if not a novella, the world building and relationships between characters would be even more immersive. A good sign.
I requested this arc after a recommendation, bc I don’t mind “dark” romances but I wonder if there was any where consent is apart of the story.
Consent is very much an important part of the story which I appreciate. I requested this with an open mind.

I like the relationship dynamics throughout. Despite some of the nicknames felt repetitive.

I am not the biggest fan of this novella, but I am really interested in reading “Fated Rebirth”. I am curious on how the parallel world will be.

Overall, I think this is someone who reads more of similar stories. I didn’t mind it but ultimately wasn’t my cup of tea but I think Reno is a wonderful author!

I don't know what to put here, this is a purely utilitarian post so i can build my shelf!

A true crime deep dive into art, loyalty, and the dangerously thin line between friendship and complicity.*

Core Question:

At what point does being a good friend turn into being an accomplice?

📖Overview for Hosts: The Rembrandt Heist isn’t just about a stolen masterpiece it’s about power, psychology, and moral compromise. Anthony M. Amore combines art history, criminal profiling, and emotional nuance to explore the infamous 1975 theft of Portrait of Elsbeth van Rijn and the complex bond between master thief Myles Connor and his friend Al Dotoli.

This book works especially well for clubs that enjoy:

True crime beyond serial killers

Ethical dilemmas and gray morality

Criminals who are charismatic, brilliant, and unsettling

Real-life stories that read like cinematic thrillers

💬Discussion Guide: Opening Icebreaker

If you could steal any artwork, hypothetically, of course, what would it be and why?

Do you think art should ever be treated as currency or leverage?

Big Picture Questions

1. Criminal or Strategist? Do you view Myles Connor primarily as a criminal, a con artist, or a strategist exploiting a flawed system?

2. Moral Gray Areas: Amore avoids painting Connor as purely villain or antihero. Did this make the story more compelling or more uncomfortable?

3. Art as Power: How does the book change your understanding of art as something more than beauty.something tied to money, power, and influence?

Friendship & Loyalty

4. Connor and Dotoli’s Bond: What defines their friendship? Shared history, loyalty, fear, admiration or manipulation?

5. Complicity Line: At what point does Al Dotoli cross from loyal friend to accomplice? Did he ever truly have a choice?

6. Personal Reflection: Would you protect a friend if it meant risking your own freedom? Where is your line?

Ethics & Consequences

7. Justice vs. Sympathy: Did you ever find yourself rooting for Connor? Should we be wary of that instinct?

8. Systemic Failure: Does the book suggest that institutions, museums, law enforcement, the art world enable crimes like this?

9. True Crime Responsibility: Do books like this risk glamorizing criminals or does Amore strike the right balance?

Closing Question: If this story were fictional, would Connor feel believable or only possible because it’s true?

🍽️ Themed Menu: An Elegant Heist

🧀Starter: Museum Night Charcuterie Board**

Theme: Sophistication with a hint of danger

Include:

* Aged cheeses brie, gouda, sharp cheddar

* Dark chocolate squares

* Fig jam or honey

* Crackers or sliced baguette

📝Tip: Label items with gallery-style name cards.

🍷Signature Drink: The Masterpiece Red Wine Spritzer

Ingredients

Red wine merlot or cabernet

Sparkling water

Orange peel twist

Optional splash of pomegranate juice

How to Make: Fill a glass with ice, pour ¾ wine, top with sparkling water, garnish with orange peel.

🍝Main: Italian-Inspired Heist Pasta A nod to European art history! Simple Creamy Garlic Pasta

Ingredients

Pasta of choice

Olive oil

Garlic minced

Heavy cream

Parmesan

Black pepper

Sauté garlic in olive oil, add cream, simmer, toss with pasta, finish with parmesan.

🍰Dessert: Stolen Art Chocolate Truffles

Ingredients

Dark chocolate

Heavy cream

Cocoa powder

Heat cream, pour over chocolate, chill, roll into balls, coat in cocoa powder.

🖤 Rich, indulgent, and slightly dangerous.

🎨Themed Activities

🔍 1. The Ethical Line Exercise: Read scenarios aloud! You know your friend stole something priceless. Do you stay silent?

Have members vote:

Friend

Accomplice

Whistleblower

Discuss why.

🖼️2. Art Crime Spotlight Each member brings a real art theft or forgery story 2–3 minutes max.

Vote on:

Most audacious

Most bizarre

Most morally confusing

🎭 3. Cast the Heist: If The Rembrandt Heist were a movie:

Who plays Myles Connor?

Who plays Al Dotoli?

Who directs?

🎁Themed Door Prizes

🖌️ Budget-Friendly

Art-themed bookmarks

Mini notebooks labeled Criminal Mastermind Notes

Museum-style postcards

🕵️Mid-Tier

True crime or art history books

Wine glasses etched with Stolen, Not Bought

Puzzle featuring a famous painting

🎨Grand Prize

Museum gift card

High-quality art print

Coffee table book on art crime or famous heists

🖤 Final Thought for the Group: The Rembrandt Heist lingers because it refuses easy answers. It asks us to confront how charisma, loyalty, and intelligence can blur right and wrong and whether we’d recognize the moment we crossed that line ourselves.

Was Myles Connor exploiting the system or simply understanding it better than anyone else? And when does loyalty stop being love and start being liability?

Perfect for a book club that likes its true crime thought-provoking, stylish, and morally messy.🎨🕵️‍♂️

Tap the link to download your book club kit! https://tinyurl.com/dk8amvjj

Don't forget to come back and tell us all about your book club meeting!

At what point does being a good friend turn into being an accomplice?

This true crime favorite dives far beyond a stolen masterpiece, unpacking power, psychology, and moral gray areas surrounding the infamous 1975 theft of Portrait of Elsbeth van Rijn. At the center: master thief Myles Connor and the complicated friendship that forces readers to question loyalty, complicity, and choice.

✨ Perfect for book clubs that love:
▫️ True crime beyond murder
▫️ Charismatic, unsettling criminals
▫️ Ethical dilemmas & gray morality
▫️ Real stories that feel like a heist movie

🗣️ Inside the full guide:
✔️ Thought-provoking discussion questions
✔️ A fully themed “Elegant Heist” menu
✔️ Interactive activities exploring loyalty vs. complicity
✔️ Creative door prize ideas for every budget

This is just a preview 👀
👉 Join The First Editions for the complete Book Club Kit, recipes, activities, and printable guides.

Because some stories don’t just ask what happenednthey ask what would you have done? 🎨🕵️‍♂️