Welcome to Notes from the Shelf
Thoughtful reviews. Curated reads. Literary love.
Blog
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7 Books on Writing to Inspire and Improve Your Craft
Discover 7 of the best books on writing—from mindset and motivation to grammar and structure. These writing guides will help you write better, stay inspired, and sharpen your craft.
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Book Review: When Katie Met Cassidy
This post contains spoilers. This post also contains affiliate links. If you buy through Bookshop.org, I may earn a small commission—at no extra cost to you. Thanks for supporting the blog and indie bookstores! When Katie Met Cassidy by Camille Perri is a 264-page lesbian romance novel. Katie Daniels is a perfection-seeking 28-year-old lawyer living…
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Book Review: Red, White and Royal Blue
This post contains spoilers. This post also contains affiliate links. If you buy through Bookshop.org, I may earn a small commission—at no extra cost to you. Thanks for supporting the blog and indie bookstores! Red, White and Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston is a 448-page YA queer romance novel. First son Alex Claremont-Diaz is the…
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Book Review: Courting Mr. Emerson
This post contains spoilers. This post also contains affiliate links. If you buy through Bookshop.org, I may earn a small commission—at no extra cost to you. Thanks for supporting the blog and indie bookstores! Courting Mr. Emerson by Melody Carlson is a 341-page Christian romance novel. When fun-loving, spontaneous artist Willow West meets buttoned-up, retired…
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Book Summary: On Tyranny by Timothy Snyder
On Tyranny provides a timely, accessible roadmap for recognizing and resisting early signs of authoritarianism. In an era of political instability and disinformation, Snyder’s insights serve as a crucial reminder of how democracies can erode, and how citizens can actively defend them. In this post is a summary of each lesson.
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Top 3 Finance Books
This post contains affiliate links. If you buy through Bookshop.org, I may earn a small commission—at no extra cost to you. Thanks for supporting the blog and indie bookstores! Managing money can feel overwhelming, but the right books can make all the difference. Over the years, I’ve read several finance books that have changed the…
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Hi, I’m Sara!
By day, I’m a packaging engineer; by night (and any spare moment in between), I’m a devoted book lover who always has a story close at hand. Whether I’m curled up at home or traveling with a book in my bag, reading is how I explore, unwind, and connect.
Notes from the Shelf is my space to share thoughtful reviews, curated recommendations, and literary commentary across genres—especially fantasy, romance, and nonfiction. But I’m a firm believer that every book has its reader, so you’ll find a wide variety here, from buzzworthy bestsellers to underrated gems.
This blog isn’t just about what I’m reading—it’s about building a community of curious, passionate readers. My goal is to inspire, challenge, and entertain through honest reviews and engaging bookish content that sparks discovery and conversation.
You can explore and purchase many of the books I feature through my Bookshop.org profile. I earn a small commission (at no extra cost to you), and your support helps indie bookstores and keeps this blog thriving.
If you’d like to support my work as a reviewer and writer, you can also buy me a coffee. Every bit goes toward creating more content and reaching more readers.
Thanks for being here and happy reading!
Notes from the Shelf 