Welcome to Notes from the Shelf
Thoughtful reviews. Curated reads. Literary love.
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Book Review: This Tender Land
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! This Tender Land by William Kent Krueger is a 450-page historical fiction novel set in the summer of 1932. From the…
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Book Review: Assistant to the Villian
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! Assistant to the Villain by Hannah Nicole Maehrer is a 342-page fantasy novel and the first book in the series by…
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BOTM December 2024 Selections
It’s that time again! Dive into December 2024’s Book of the Month selections add-ons with me—what’s new, what stands out, and what I might (or might not) be picking. Whether you’re trying to decide what to pick or just love hearing about the latest bookish buzz, this one’s for you!
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Book Review: Improbably Yours
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! Improbably Yours by Kerry Anne King is a 345-page mystery novel with a romantic element as well. Blythe Harmon finds herself…
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Book Review: The Coincidence Makers
This post contains mild spoilers. The Coincidence Makers by Yoav Blum is a 304-page magical realism novel where the Coincidence Makers—Guy, Emily, and Eric—work for a secret organization dedicated to creating and carrying out coincidences. They pretend to be ordinary people, but each have a notebook with assignments to orchestrate events designed to spark significant…
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3 Self-Help Books I Hated and 3 I Loved
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! I’ve meandered over the years in the self-help/personal development category, and it’s been a mixed bag for me. Some books have been transformative guides while…
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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 