Yes, it’s Romance Awareness Month and we love that we get to celebrate one of our favorite genres for a whole 31 days! We’re thinking cozy romance novels, romance-themed dinners, and self-love evenings (obviously involving bubble baths, indulgent treats, and books, lots of books).

If you’re anything like us, celebrating with our book club is always a highlight. We love enthusiastic bookworms! This year we’re hosting a romance-themed book club night because it is the perfect way to celebrate with those who share our love of books!

So, grab a glass of wine, sit back and relax; it’s time to get planning! And while we’re planning, we highly recommend looking after numero uno first! Our Self-Love Box is just what you need!

Choose the Perfect Romance Novel

Every memorable book club evening begins with a memorable book, and let’s be honest: when it comes to romance, the options are endless.

If you’re looking for inspiration, check out our blog on Why Romance Novels Are the Genre Every Reader Should Explore This August, where we give a host of recommendations!

We have some wonderful book-only options just waiting for you and your book club, like Love of My Lives by Yamile Saied Méndez. This is an exclusive OUABC edition with a custom dust jacket designed by our team, beautiful edges, unique foiling, and stunning custom endpapers.

Choosing the perfect novel is central to your evening, and this is a fabulous choice because it is filled with the magic of Old San Juan in Puerto Rico, which lends itself perfectly to a vibrant dinner filled with delicious flavors.

If you’re in the mood for a small-town romance, then Falling Like Leaves by Misty Wilson will do the trick. This wonderfully autumnal story follows a city girl stuck in a quaint small town as it prepares for its annual fall festival.

And if you and your book club need a witty romance where Pretty Woman meets Bridgerton, then Always Be My Duchess by Amalie Howard is calling your name!

Just remember to send the title out well before the evening so everyone has enough time to finish it. You can also include the spice level and any important content warnings, helping every guest choose whether the book is right for them.

Choose a Romance Theme

Once you’ve chosen your romance, you can use its setting, trope, or a favorite scene as your evening’s theme.

For Love of My Lives, we’re picturing a vibrant dinner setting filled with color, candles, tropical flowers, and bright citrus details. It oozes the warmth and magic of Puerto Rico.

For Falling Like Leaves, we’re thinking about comfort food, cozy fall colors, and rustic table settings. Simply scatter autumn leaves around the table, and ask everyone to arrive in their favorite cozy sweater.

Always Be My Duchess definitely calls for roses, candles, and that white tablecloth you’ve been saving for just the right occasion. It’s time to bring out the silverware and ask everyone to dress up in their finest!

You can even create a romance-themed evening around everyone’s favorite trope. Ask your fellow book club members to dress for an enemies-to-lovers evening or invite them to a pajama party inspired by the only-one-bed trope!

Our Book Pun Facial Sheet Mask Set is a perfect addition to your pajama party! The set contains two “Great Exfoliations” firming masks and three “To Peel a Mockingbird” brightening masks, which are worn for approximately 10 to 15 minutes.

Remember, It’s all about having fun, and a few simple touches will make all the difference.

Set the Mood with Romantic Decorations

You don’t need hundreds of decorations to create the right atmosphere. Begin with soft lighting, candles, and a few flowers placed around the room.

Roses are the obvious choice, but they certainly aren’t your only option. You can create a cozy romantic arrangement by choosing flowers that match the colors of your book cover or gather a selection of seasonal flowers from your local store. Even one small vase in the center of the table can make your setting feel special.

You can also use your romance books as part of the décor. Stack them around the room, add printed quotes from your novel, or make place holders using characters from the book, and don’t forget about the music.

For the perfect finishing touch, wear The Romance Readers’ Book Club Literary Perfume. Inspired by favorite romance tropes, it combines notes of orange, coconut, and tonka bean. The bottle is designed to resemble a book and arrives inside a miniature pink book-shaped box, which means it can become part of your table display too.

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Plan a Menu Inspired by the Book

No book club night is complete without food. You can create an entire meal inspired by your chosen story or keep things simple with snacks, appetizers, and desserts.

Look at the setting of your book, the food mentioned in the story, or a memorable date shared by the characters. You don’t need to recreate every dish perfectly! The aim is to add a few details that connect your menu to the book.

For Love of My Lives, create a colorful menu with plenty of bold flavors, spicy bites, rice dishes, and a bright citrus dessert. A small-town romance like Falling Like Leaves calls for warm comfort food, apple treats, and something freshly baked.

For Always Be My Duchess, serve finger sandwiches, tiny pastries, strawberries, and beautifully decorated cakes. You could turn the evening into a romantic afternoon tea, although we won’t object if the tea is accompanied by a glass of something sparkling!

Our Little Women Book Plate Set fits beautifully into a romantic or classic table setting. Each set includes a small plate and a large plate shaped like books and printed with the title, author, and opening pages of Louisa May Alcott’s novel. We love using them as serving trays for desserts! Arrange cookies, strawberries, chocolates, or slices of cake on the plates and place them in the middle of your table.

Serve Something Hot and Steamy

Wine, mocktails, and sparkling drinks are all wonderful choices, but a romance-themed night also needs something hot and steamy. We are talking about tea, obviously!

Create a small drinks station where guests can help themselves throughout the evening. Include mugs, teaspoons, honey, milk, lemon slices, and a selection of teas.

Our Novelty Tea “Pleasure Pack” is practically made for a romance-themed book club. It contains six individually wrapped tea bags, with three jasmine and three chai options. Each wrapper is inspired by a favorite romance trope, including forbidden love, only one bed, why choose, and who did this to you?

Place the tea bags in a bowl and ask every guest to choose their favorite trope. This can also become a fun conversation starter. Which trope will make someone buy a book immediately? Which one have they read far too many times? And which trope makes them quietly return the book to the shelf?

You may discover things about your fellow book club members that you were not prepared to know!

Add a Little Friendly Competition

Once you have thoroughly discussed every romantic glance, missed opportunity, and questionable decision, bring out a game.

You could prepare romance trivia, play Guess the Trope, or ask everyone to anonymously write down their first fictional crush. Read the answers aloud and try to match each character to the correct guest.

The Love Letters Board Game is another fun way to bring the group together. Inspired by Hangry Hearts by Jennifer Chen, it includes a game board, 100 letter tiles, four tile racks, a tile pouch, a scorekeeping pad, and instructions.

Play individually or divide everyone into teams. You can also add a small prize for the winner, such as a bookmark, candle, box of chocolates, or the opportunity to choose your next book club read!

Celebrate Love, Books, and Friendship

We can’t think of a better way to celebrate love, books, and friendship than by hosting a romance-themed book club night. It doesn’t need to be complicated; remember it’s all about having fun!

• Step 1: Choose a memorable romance

• Step 2: Add a few decorations

• Step 3: Serve food inspired by the story

• Step 4: Plan activities that will keep everyone laughing and talking

Romance Awareness Month gives us a whole 31 days to celebrate love stories, unforgettable characters, and those fictional couples we have become far too emotionally invested in.

So, send the invitations, prepare the snacks, and get ready for an evening packed with romance, laughter, and plenty of bookish conversation.

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Some holidays require careful planning, complicated decorations, or an outfit you will probably never wear again. That’s why we love National Book Lovers Day; it simply asks us to celebrate one of our favorite things: books!

August 9th was National Book Lovers Day, and it’s the perfect excuse to clear your schedule and spend the day curled up with your latest favorite read. It is also an excellent opportunity to treat yourself to something that proudly announces your book-loving status to the world.

Of course, you could celebrate by buying another book. We would fully support that decision. However, there are also plenty of adorable, practical, and wonderfully bookish products that can bring a little literary happiness into your wardrobe, home, and everyday routine.

Whether you are shopping for yourself, surprising your bookish bestie, or dropping some very unsubtle gift hints, these ten products were made for book lovers!

1. Put My Book Down Embroidered Vintage Hat

Putting down a good book in the middle of a chapter is a serious sacrifice, and everyone around you should understand exactly what you gave up to be there.

The Put My Book Down Embroidered Vintage Hat says exactly what most of us bookworms have been thinking: “I put my book down to be here.” The charcoal grey cap has a relaxed, distressed finish with white and hot pink embroidery, making it an easy addition to your everyday bookish style.

It is perfect for bookstore trips, outdoor reading sessions, and social events where you are secretly wondering how soon you can return to your current read.

2. Just One More Chapter Embroidered Sweatshirt

We all know that “just one more chapter” is rarely an accurate measurement of time. One chapter becomes another, your tea goes cold, and suddenly it is far later than you planned.

The Just One More Chapter Embroidered Sweatshirt celebrates that familiar reading habit in the coziest possible way. The soft light blue sweatshirt features embroidered daisies beneath the phrase on the front, with an additional hot pink book and floral detail on the sleeve.

It is practically begging to be paired with a blanket, a comfortable chair, and a book you have absolutely no intention of putting down.

3. A Bookish Tee That Matches Your Reading Personality

Sometimes your outfit should do the talking for you, especially when the conversation happens to be about books.

The Reading Is My Jam Tee brings plenty of cheerful reader personality with its blossom pink color, strawberry illustrations, and whimsical front and back design. It is a fun choice for those of you who believe that books make everything a little sweeter, and isn’t that the truth!

The Booked and Busy Tee is another one of our favorites. The butter yellow shirt features “Booked & Busy” on the front and “Ask me what I’m reading!” on the back, surrounded by cute bookish illustrations. It may even help you find your next book-loving friend while you are out and about.

4. The Self-Love Box

National Book Lovers Day is the ideal moment to spend some time caring for your favorite bookworm, especially when that happens to be you.

The Self-Love Box combines reading with a complete cozy care package. Inside, you will find a paperback copy of The Midnight Library by Matt Haig, affirmation cards, cloud socks, a scented candle, a gold candle snuffer, a facial ice roller, and a personalized handwritten card. Everything arrives inside a navy blue book-shaped box, which makes it the perfect gift for yourself (it is called the self-love box, after all!) or a fellow bookworm.

5. Open Book Enamel Keychain

A small bookish accessory can add a surprising amount of personality to your keys, tote bag, or favorite reading pouch.

The Open Book Enamel Keychain features a beautiful open-book design with a daisy and the words, “If you have a garden and a library then you have everything you need.” It is a sweet reminder that happiness often lives among flowers, stories, and the quiet places where we enjoy them.

6. Engraved Book Locket

For the reader who loves meaningful jewelry, the Engraved Book Locket turns a tiny book into something truly special.

The gold-plated pendant hangs from an extendable gold chain and includes a small latch that opens to reveal six engraved metal pages. Each page contains a quote from the story that inspired the design, creating a beautiful connection between jewelry and storytelling.

It is subtle enough to wear with almost anything, while the miniature opening pages provide a wonderfully bookish surprise for anyone who looks a little closer. This may just be the perfect gift for that person whose book recommendations always hit the mark!

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7. Book-Shaped Ceramic Vase

Books already make excellent decorations, but a book that can also hold flowers deserves a special place on the shelf.

Inspired by The Undoing of Violet Claybourne by Emily Critchley, the Book-Shaped Ceramic Vase features green and purple floral patterns against a light blue background with delicate gold details. Its fictional title, The Case of the Vanishing Violets, gives it the appearance of a charming mystery novel tucked among your books.

You can fill it with fresh flowers, pens, bookmarks, or any little treasures that currently need a home.

8. Classic Pun Book Coasters

Your drinks deserve a suitably literary place to rest, whether you prefer coffee, tea, sparkling water, or something slightly stronger during book club.

The Classic Pun Book Coasters resemble a miniature collection of books displayed on their own tiny shelf. Their titles include playful classics such as “Drinkula”, “Tequila Mockingbird”, “Gone with the Wine”, “The Adventures of Huckleberry Gin”, and “Pride and Beverages”.

The five wooden coasters arrive with a matching storage box, allowing them to remain part of your bookish décor even when they are not protecting your table.

9. Book Phone Cases

Most of us carry our phones everywhere, so we might as well make them look like books!

The OUABC Book Phone Case collection includes an amazing array of phone case covers inspired by children’s classics and contemporary fiction to horror, fairy tales, and romance.

Our latest arrivals include one of our favorite tropes, Enemies to Lovers, featuring tattoo-style details and the words “Heated Fights Become Stolen Nights.” For something playful and confident, the Hot Girls Read Books case combines green stripes with a coral ribbon design.

Each case resembles a book, complete with a displayable spine, magnetic strap, card slots, and an interior pocket. There are plenty of other designs available, making it dangerously easy to find one that feels completely you.

10. Seafoam Stories Reading Journal

Reading a wonderful book is exciting, but remembering every character, quote, twist, and favorite moment can be challenging once your TBR pile carries you into the next story.

The Seafoam Stories Reading Journal gives readers a beautiful place to record those details. Its seafoam fabric cover is finished with bronze foil, coordinating floral endpapers, and a sewn-in ribbon bookmark. Inside are 75 book review pages, index pages, creative space, and prompts covering everything from major characters and favorite quotes to spice ratings.

It is ideal for tracking your reading year, documenting book club selections, or finally remembering why you gave a book five stars six months ago.

Bonus: A Once Upon a Book Club Subscription

One day of celebrating books is wonderful. Receiving a new reading experience every month is even better. Our Once Upon a Book Club subscription combines an exciting new release with individually wrapped surprise gifts that readers open when they reach corresponding page numbers. Each surprise connects to something happening within the story, bringing the book to life as you read.

Our Adult and Young Adult book subscription boxes are always popular, but why choose when you can enjoy the Adult & YA Bundle! The bundle delivers both monthly boxes and gives you twice the books, twice the surprises, and twice the reasons to become emotionally unavailable until you finish your current chapter.

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Celebrate Your Love of Reading

National Book Lovers Day is really about celebrating the joy, comfort, imagination, and connection that books bring into our lives.

Spend August 9 rereading an old favorite, beginning that book, or treating yourself to something that brings more bookish joy into your life. You could wear your reader status proudly, add a literary touch to your home, start recording your reading memories, or turn every month into a new adventure with a subscription.

Whichever product catches your eye, choose something that makes your reading life feel even more special. Just remember that you may need to put your book down long enough to place your order!

Happy National Book Lovers Day from all of us at Once Upon a Book Club!

Keep reading:

Looking for more ways to celebrate National Book Lovers Day? Follow our morning-to-night reading plan in How to Spend National Book Lovers Day: A Reader’s Plan, complete with bookish essentials to enjoy along the way.

For a celebration filled with reading rituals, gatherings, delicious food, and fun bookish touches, explore How to Celebrate National Book Lovers Day Like a True Reader.

It’s that time of the month where we dive into what the team is currently reading, and it’s one of our favorites. One minute you’re having a casual chat, and the next minute you’re updating your TBR list with those books you promised to “just look up”, and now you’ve somehow found yourself invested in housemaids solving murders, M.A.S.H. games coming to life, vampiric forest bargains, parallel universe romances, and a return trip to Avonlea.

As per usual, the OUABC team’s current reads always give us a wonderfully mixed bookshelf. We have murder mysteries, hilarious magical rom-coms, dark romantic fantasy, sci-fi chaos, and even some old favorites!!

So sit back, relax, and get ready to add some new books to your ever-growing TBR pile!

Logan: Murder at Mallowan Hall by Colleen Cambridge

“This was the first book in her Agatha Christie murder series! We included it as a gift in our February 2022 Adult box. I love Colleen’s decision with most of her mysteries to write them with the addition of a famous person in history (in this case, the amateur detective is the head maid in Agatha Christie’s house!) It’s such a fun way to add a bit of dimension to a famous historical figure through the lens of those closest to them without them being the primary focus of the novel. This one reads very similar to The Maid series by Nita Prose with its descriptions of household responsibilities, and the occasional body turning up.”

About the Book

Murder at Mallowan Hall begins a historical mystery series set in the home of Agatha Christie. The story introduces Phyllida Bright, the fictional housekeeper for Agatha Christie and Max Mallowan. Efficient, elegant, and fiercely protective of Mrs. Agatha, Phyllida manages Mallowan Hall with confidence and charm.

But when a very real body is found on the library floor during a house party, Phyllida’s love of detective fiction becomes unexpectedly useful. With demanding guests, anxious staff, reporters outside, and another body soon discovered, she begins following the clues with help from those around her. Someone at Mallowan Hall is a killer, and Phyllida’s wits may be the only thing standing between order and another deadly ending.

Sydney: The MASH Up by Laura Marie Meyers

“I absolutely loved the concept for this one; waking up inside your own MASH game from 7th grade is so fun and also terrifying. This book has been hilarious and adorable the whole way through! I can’t wait to see how things turn out and if Ruby is able to get back to reality or if she stays in this alternate universe (cause honestly it seems kinda fun).”

About the Book

The MASH Up follows Ruby Wynne, a staunch rule-follower whose carefully planned life falls apart after a surprising breakup on her thirty-fifth birthday. After making an unexpected wish, Ruby wakes up inside a M.A.S.H. game from seventh grade, complete with a Technicolor mansion, a tie-dye Jeep, and a roller-disco restaurant.

There is only one problem. According to the game, Ruby’s “other half” is Penn Hayes, her brother’s annoying (and annoyingly handsome) best friend. Since Ruby desperately wants to return to reality, she decides the only way out is to make the game come true by winning Penn’s heart. But as she navigates the magical world she dreamed up at thirteen, Ruby begins to wonder if breaking her own rules might lead her somewhere better.

Teri: The Gravewood by Kelly Andrew

“I really love this author’s writing style; it’s always very atmospheric and just the right amount of dark. There’s a lot of moral grayness happening with the characters all doing what they need to survive. The author is deaf and writes deaf characters in a way that plays really interestingly into the narrative of the story as well.”

About the Book

The Gravewood is the first book in a darkly romantic duology exploring disability, obsession, and loyalty. Shea Parker has spent her life in the shadow of the Gravewood, an impassable forest that cuts her town off from the rest of the world. With limited resources, she must carefully ration her hearing aid batteries, knowing that when they run out, silence will follow.

Desperate for help, Shea turns to Oliver Lysander, the volatile leader of a vampiric gang ruling the Gravewood. Their arrangement begins with blood in exchange for batteries, but soon becomes far more dangerous. When Shea’s best friend disappears into the forest, and her older brother returns from the frontlines, secrets, bargains, and survival collide. As Shea travels through the dreamlike dark with killers, she risks becoming one herself.

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Ryan: Doppelbänger by W.H Lockwood

“I haven’t gotten far into it yet, but it’s about two guys who are actually the same person from parallel universes. One is a karate teacher, and the other is a quantum physicist, and they have to work together to fix a mistake the physicist made, in order to save their universes.”

About the book

Doppelbänger takes self-love to a whole new dimension with a mind-bending, world-ending sci-fi MM rom-com. August Blackthorne is broke, fresh from a messy breakup, and apparently being stalked. When he finally confronts the man following him, he discovers something even stranger than expected. The stalker is him, only from a parallel universe.

The other August is a quantum physicist who has made a universe-threatening mistake and needs help fixing it. Unfortunately, this version of August is a music-loving, karate-teaching sweetheart, and the physicist is falling hard for him. Together, they must try to undo the mess before one universe is destroyed. Romance, weird science, action, and time-space chaos!

Tristan: Anne of Avonlea by L.M. Montgomery

“This year, I decided to re-read some of my favorite books and am currently working my way through the Anne of Green Gables series. I’m enjoying spending time with Anne and her friends again!”

About the Book

Anne of Avonlea follows Anne as she enters a new chapter of life at sixteen. She is grown up, almost, with her familiar red hair, fiery temper, and gift for finding herself in scrapes. Since arriving at Green Gables as a freckle-faced orphan, Anne has earned the love of Avonlea, but now she faces a new challenge.

As the new schoolteacher, Anne must teach the three Rs while also learning plenty about life, people, and herself. Between meddling in romance, welcoming two new orphans to Green Gables, and trying to understand the very handsome Gilbert Blythe, Anne’s adventures continue with heart, humour, and all the charm that makes returning to Avonlea feel so special.

Our TBR Lists Continue to Grow

And there you have it: the OUABC team’s current reads. Whether you’re in the mood for mystery, romance, fantasy, sci-fi or a comfort reread, there is bound to be something to tempt you!

If your TBR list still isn’t long enough (and can it really ever be?), make sure to check out our blog on August’s new releases; this month is a treat for book lovers everywhere! I just realized that I am typing this while wearing my favorite sweatshirt, which says it all: “Just one more chapter.”

So here’s to just one more book, one more chapter, and one more page! Happy reading from all of us at Once Upon a Book Club. We would love to hear which books have made it onto your TBR pile.

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What, didn’t you know it’s a thing? Yes, we have reading moods and literary perfumes to match them exactly! Who would have thought, but that’s what we do here at Once Upon a Book Club. We think of reading as a sensory experience, and speaking of sensory experiences, you also have to check out our OUABC Lite Box, which is simply a sensory explosion!

We love reading rituals, and with our incredible selection of literary perfumes, you can spray your favorite just before settling down with the next read on your TBR list! There is something about a fragrance that brings a host of memories along with it. You just simply have to smell it, and you can remember exactly where you were, what you were doing, and in this case, what you were reading.

We can’t wait to share our literary perfume selection with you, so relax and enjoy this sensory experience!

Why Scent Belongs in a Reading Ritual

Scent should be part of everyone’s reading experience. Choosing a fragrance that matches your reading mood takes your reading ritual to the next level. It is an intentional signal that it’s time to relax and dive into your latest read.

It also adds an element of fun as you decide which perfume matches that summer romance or thriller. Should you go light and fruity or with something musky? It’s time to get main character vibes, and the perfect scent does just that! And at times, it’s more about matching your mood; from flirty and playful to feeling nostalgic, it’s all about you!

Five Literary Perfumes and Their Reading Moods

The Once Upon a Book Club Literary Perfume Collection is calling your name. These are some of the most luxurious reading-inspired scents you’ve ever experienced. All of our perfumes are wrapped in a full bottle label representing a book with a “spine”, “pages”, and “front and back cover” design, and each perfume bottle contains 30mL of your new favorite fragrance.

The Reader and the Rainstorm captures the feeling of the perfect day spent indoors, curled under a blanket while the thunder rolls outside. With notes of vanilla and black orchid, it’s perfect for those cozy, contemplative, rainy day moods!

A Court of Amber and Musk was inspired by the fantasy novel of your dreams. This delicious scent will bring comfort as you travel over the border between your lands and the fae, a moment of passion during an intense conversation with elves, and peace as you rest in a meadow with a vampire. Notes of plum, amber, musk, sandalwood, and benzoin make this scent feel rich and intense.

Lost in the Library was made for those days when you spend just a little too long in your local bookstore or library among the stacks of antique books, and the comfort they bring is just too difficult to pull yourself away. Vanilla sugar, rose, jasmine, black orchid, cedarwood, and musk give it that “old library, secret passage, beautiful hardback” feeling.

The Romance Reader’s Book Club celebrates all our favorite tropes in the romance genre. This inviting scent envelops you in notes of orange, coconut, and tonka bean, making it feel bright, sweet, and fun. This is the perfume for kicking your feet during a swoony chapter.

A Page on a Park Bench brings that perfect day of sunshine, nature, and a good book to life. This one is perfect for those summer outdoor reading days; it’s like a chapter of sunshine in a bottle. We love the notes of honeysuckle, orange, and vanilla, which make this feel light and charming.

Match a Scent to What You’re Reading This Week

What are you reading this week? Romance? Mystery? When it comes to matching your scent to your latest book, it’s all about starting with the feeling you want your reading session to have. Don’t get caught up in details, it’s all about the feeling!

If you’re reaching for a cozy mystery or a thoughtful literary novel, The Reader and the Rainstorm is your perfect match. We love that it has that soft, tucked-away feeling, like fluffy blankets, quiet pages, and absolutely no plans to leave the house.

When it comes to romantasy, epic fantasy, or anything involving powerful courts and magical borders, A Court of Amber and Musk is the one. It feels rich, intense, and atmospheric, making it ideal for those books filled with tension, longing, and a touch of danger.

Lost in the Library is perfect for those reads packed with dark academia energy or hidden secrets. Its elegant and nostalgic feeling pairs beautifully with the classics and stories that feel a little mysterious.

For romance readers who love rom-coms, swoony beach reads, or happily-ever-afters, The Romance Reader’s Book Club is the obvious choice. Bright, sweet, and playful, it feels like the scent version that has you grinning at the page.

And if your book of the week is heading along for a summer outdoor reading session, A Page on a Park Bench is just right. Light, charming, and easy to wear, it’s perfect for those reading sessions where you only meant to read one chapter but somehow lost the entire afternoon.

The Scent of Your Next Read

Choosing a literary perfume is really just another way of turning reading into a magical experience. It’s that final touch before you curl up under a blanket, head out to the garden, or prepare yourself emotionally for a romance chapter that may require dramatic sighing.

Whether you’re in the mood for rainstorms, libraries, swoony moments, magical courts, or sunshine on a park bench, there’s the perfect literary perfume to match your mood. So pick your perfume, open your book, and let your next reading session smell as unforgettable as the book you’re about to read!

We would love to hear which is your favorite! Happy fragrant reading from all of us at Once Upon a Book Club!

If you’re looking for the best bookish gift card around, you’re in the right place! You may be wondering whether giving a gift card is too impersonal and whether you should perhaps go the more traditional route.

Take a breath, gift cards are wonderful for a host of reasons! Our gift cards open the doors to the magical world of all things bookish, and we totally understand your concerns. Relax, we’re here to give you the inside scoop on how to personalize the whole experience.

Trust us, a bookish gift card is every bookworm’s secret favorite gift. We love the freedom of choice it gives us, and browsing bookish websites is one of our best pastimes!

Why a bookish gift card is more thoughtful than you think

Bookworms can be challenging to buy for if all you know is that they permanently have their nose buried in a book. You have probably found yourself wondering which genre they prefer, if they have a favorite author, or if they have already read a particular book.

Then you catch yourself browsing our incredible book-inspired phone case covers and can’t decide whether they would prefer the classics, horror, fairytales, or romance. Tough decision! And let’s not even get into our apparel & accessories collection; your head will be spinning. Although on the upside, you will probably find something cute you never knew you needed! Self-love is a thing, and you may as well add it to your basket!

As we mentioned before, a bookish gift card is a fantastic gift for any book lover. It gives us the freedom to choose from a host of bookish wonders, from books to book boxes, reading accessories to home decor; the options are endless. And let’s be honest, half the fun is in choosing!

Our gift cards can be applied to any order, so they can even add a bit of their own cash and splurge on something that may just have been out of their budget. We all have those items on our wishlist just waiting for a bit of budget breathing space!

How much to put on a gift card for a reader?

We completely understand budgets, and that’s why we have made sure our shop is set up to suit everyone with our special “Shop By Price” option, which includes $15 & Under, $25 & Under, and $50 & Under categories.

Whether you’re looking to spend $15 or $50, we have wonderful bookish products in each price range! For $15 and under, you can pick up discounted books, bookmarks, book-inspired mousepads, through to a cute rabbit stationery set and art prints!

Our $25 and under selection has some wonderful mini book boxes ready to ship and also features our popular OUABC Lite (which incorporates all your senses for an immersive experience like never before). There is also a great selection of books, home decor, and some very cute trinkets!

The $50 and under category also features some incredible book boxes like The Self Love Box, beautiful reading journals, exciting book-only options, and bookish home decor every bookworm deserves!

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What each gift card amount unlocks!

$25 for Coworkers, casual friends, teachers

A bookmark + a small accessory OR a single OUABC Lite Box

$50 for Close friends, Sisters, Moms, Book Club Buddies

A literary perfume OR a reading journal + bookmark OR an OUABC Lite Box + an accessory

$75 for Best Friends, Partners, Milestone Readers

A monthly subscription OR multiple bookish lifestyle items

$100 for Major Gift Vibes, Special Holidays, Anniversaries & Milestones

Digital gift card OR Limited Edition Full Book Boxes + Bookish Accessories OR a full bookish lifestyle bundle (we’re thinking book-inspired home decor!)

How to make a gift card feel personal

Purchasing one of our gift cards is as simple as 1,2,3! All you need to do is choose your gift card amount, check out, and within minutes it will arrive in your email inbox! A gift card never has to feel last-minute or impersonal. With a few special touches, it can feel just as thoughtful as a hand-picked gift!

Making a gift card feel personal is all down to the details! And nothing shows more thought than a personal note! If you want to take it to the next level, making your own card or envelope to go with it is Pulitzer Prize-worthy. Decorate your card with personal quotes, fun photos, doodles, or a few touches that will resonate with them. We are big fans of colorful pens, especially when it comes to creating the perfect handwritten message.

We also provide extras you can add on to your order at checkout! That’s right, you can choose a bookish item and add the gift of choice! We love pairing gift cards with a little bookish surprise. Choose a bookish item they will love, giving them the best of both worlds. Something personal to open now and something exciting to choose later.

Remember, the most meaningful gifts are the ones that show you thought of them, you know them, and want them to have something they will truly enjoy!

Bookish gift cards turn bookish dreams into reality!

We love spoiling our fellow bookworms with a bookish gift card, and it’s so much fun when they reveal their treasure—it’s like having a personal unboxing!

Will they spend it on a beautiful book box, a literary-inspired accessory, a reading journal, a little home decor magic, or something they have had their eye on for ages? Gift cards give them the joy of choosing their next bookish treasure, and that’s what makes it so special.

A bookish gift card gives freedom, excitement, and a little adventure all wrapped into one. Yes, scrolling through bookish products is every bookworm’s online adventure. (You won’t believe how many times that cart changes!) Add a handwritten note, pair it with a small bookish surprise, or pop it into a homemade card, and you have a gift that feels thoughtful and personal.

So, if you are still wondering whether a gift card can feel personal, the answer is a very enthusiastic yes! With a few extra touches and a whole world of bookish goodies waiting to be discovered, an OUABC gift card may just be the easiest way to give a gift they will truly love.

Now all that’s left to do is choose the amount, add your personal touch, and wait for the bookish appreciation! Happy gifting from all of us at OUABC!

If you enjoyed this blog or are looking for more inspiration, we think you will love these!

• DIY Summer Bookish Care Package for a Reader Friend Far Away

• International Day of Friendship: The Best Bookish Gifts to Send a Read Friend

• The Complete Christmas in July Gift Guide for Book Lovers

Romantasy is what it is all about this summer! And the best part, it doesn’t need to stay between the pages of your latest favorite novel. It’s time to build a romantasy-themed reading corner, and we are so excited by this idea. We’re thinking ambient playlists, candlelight, deep scents, velvet textures, chocolate delights, and a sprinkling of bookish magic!

It’s all about creating just the right atmosphere to immerse yourself completely in the wonderful world of romance and fantasy—simply put, one of our favorites!

Grab that glass of wine, sit back and relax, and let your imagination flow!

Why Romantasy Reading Is a Sensory Experience

Romantasy is the ultimate sensory experience. It’s a wild and wonderful combination of romance and fantasy, and you deserve to experience it first-hand! This genre has you stepping through portals, entering mysterious castles, wandering through enchanted forests, all while sensing those stolen glances and whispered secrets!

As they say, “Romantasy isn’t something you just read; it’s something you live!”

Reading Nook Lighting: Candles, Warm Bulbs, Definitely No Glare

Lighting is everything! When it comes to setting the scene, we all know how important soft lighting is. You can easily create the perfect atmosphere with beautiful fragrant candles, fairy lights, or simply switch out your bright light bulbs for something soft and warm.

Our Glass Globe Light is perfect as a centerpiece! This gorgeous glass globe light features an open book with trees engraved inside the orb! Light glows through the wooden base, custom wood burned with the quote “You are free to choose your own path”. This gift was custom-designed and inspired by The West Wind by Alexandria Warwick.

Candles are a must, and you can create a beautiful space by putting candles of different sizes and colors into an array of containers. Suddenly, that beautiful jar is now glimmering with anticipation!

As you know, we’re all about the details, and our beautiful candle care set adds that extra touch. The set includes a wick trimmer, candle snuffer, and wick dipper, all in gold!

If you’re looking for the perfect candle to add that magical glimmer along with the perfect scent, then our rose jelly candle is just for you!

Romantasy Scents Will Take You To Another World

There is something about a scent that can instill a memory that lasts a lifetime. Our gorgeous jasmine perfume is bound to transport you straight into a mysterious world. We love this romantic round bottle with its pink squeeze bulb atomizer filled with “Flowers Opening In Moonlight” perfume!

You can easily create just the right mood by picking a scent that matches your book with fragrant candles, wax melts, reed diffusers, or even room sprays. Here are a few ideas to get you started!

For an enchanted forest feel: Pine, cedarwood, moss, eucalyptus, sandalwood, rain, vetiver.

For a romantic castle/library feel: Vanilla, amber, old books, leather, sandalwood, tonka bean, warm spice.

For a moonlit garden feel: Rose, jasmine, lavender, peony, bergamot, white tea.

For a darker fae court vibe: Blackberry, patchouli, oud, incense, dark plum, smoky vanilla.

For a cosy tavern or fireside setting: Cinnamon, clove, honey, orange, woodsmoke, chai, caramel.

Make sure to share which ones sent you (we couldn’t resist the pun) right into the middle of the story! Did you know that literary perfumes are so much more than just a scent? Check out our blog, How to Choose a Literary Perfume That Matches Your Reading Mood!

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Romantasy Reading: It’s All About the Texture!

We’re imagining soft velvet textures and plush fleeces. Yes, we know it’s summer, but texture is everything. It’s all about your senses! Speaking of senses, have you tried our Lite Book Boxes?

You’re in for a treat: our OUABC Lite Box featuring romantasy selection The Wicked Sea by Jordan Stephanie Gray includes five envelopes to open as you read that will immerse you in the story in a way that only OUABC can!

Each envelope incorporates the five senses (sight, smell, sound, taste, and touch) to highlight moments that make you feel like you’re part of the story in the most immersive way possible!

Back to textures, our beautifully plush, double-sided fleece blanket is inspired by The East Wind by Alexandria Warwick, which was featured in our 2026 Romantasy Volume 4 box. This plush blanket showcases the Four Winds logo on the front in a blue-and-silver palette, and the back features a beautiful photo of a stormy ocean.

Creating the perfect setting with textures can easily be done by simply covering your favorite armchair with a luxurious throw. Add in some fluffy cushions, and you’re ready to go!

Romantasy Recommendations!

The Four Winds books by Alexandria Warwick are definitely at the top of our list! We have limited stock of the full collection of our hardcover special edition The Four Winds novels by Alexandria Warwick! Each includes exclusive artwork on the cover, custom endpapers, uniquely designed page edges, and metal corner detailing.

Another one of our popular romantasy boxes is the “Secrets in the Snow” box. Each box features a new, first-print edition of The Sun and the Starmaker by Rachel Griffin! This edition also includes stunning sprayed page edges, beautiful endpapers, and an exclusive hard case stamp, plus three magically wrapped gifts to open as you read that bring this stunning novel to life!

Romantasy: Four Sensory Layers

When it comes to creating the ultimate romantasy-themed reading corner, all you need are the four sensory layers: Light, Scent, Texture, and Sound.

Beautiful music and soft lighting will definitely set the scene. Add in the perfect scent and luxury throws, and you’re ready for your next romantasy read! We definitely recommend including chocolate delights and a sparkling glass of something exotic!

Make sure to check out our Romantasy Collection and our blog on How to Get into Romantasy: A Beginner’s Guide for our team’s recommendations and favorite products!

Here’s to creating the perfect romantasy-themed reading corner! We would love to hear all about yours! Happy reading from all of us at Once Upon a Book Club!

Here at Once Upon a Book Club, we can’t believe it’s already Back-to-School time. Although your vacation may be ending, we think getting ready for school is always an exciting time. There is new stationery, notepads, lunch boxes, and backpacks to choose from, and desks and study areas to organize.

As far as we are concerned, nothing beats that “I’m ready for school” feeling, which is why we think building a back-to-school gift for young readers is the best way to set them up for success!

Why a Bookish Back-to-School Gift Beats School Supplies

School supplies are always a great idea, but a bookish back-to-school gift takes it to a whole new level. We love incorporating our love for books in everything we do, and when you have a bookworm in your life, bookish accessories rule!

The best part about giving a bookish back-to-school gift is that you can tailor it to their specific needs. We have the ultimate bookish products to bring back the fun and excitement! These gifts are also perfect if you want to encourage or inspire a love for reading. Because there really isn’t anything better than being curled up with a great book.

These tailored bookish gifts turn ordinary back-to-school moments into something exciting and fun. And let’s be honest, when something is fun, you just want to do it! Speaking of fun, let’s kick off with our incredible journals and notebooks!

Reading Journals and Bookish Notebooks: The Perfect Back-to-School Gift

Reading journals are a wonderful way to encourage young readers to take some time out and think about the books they have read. You will be amazed at their insights. For younger readers, we have some wonderful notebooks that can easily be used to journal; you may need to provide them with prompts, and we think creating a prompt sheet is a great way to add a personal touch.

Here are a few prompt ideas per age group!

Reading Journal Prompts

Ages 8–10

My Favorite Part: What was your favorite part of the story, and why did you like it so much?

A Character I Remember: Choose one character from the book and describe what they were like.

If I Were in the Story: Imagine you were inside the book. What would you do?

Ages 11–13

Character Choices: Choose one of the characters and describe one important choice they made. Do you think they made the right choice?

The Big Problem: What was the main problem in the story? How did the characters solve it, and would you have done it differently?

A Scene That Stuck With Me: Which scene do you remember most? Describe what happened and why it stood out to you.

Ages 14–16

Theme of the Book: What do you think the main message or theme of the book is? What examples from the story can you remember?

Character Growth: Choose one character who changes during the story. How were they different at the end compared to the beginning?

My Honest Response: Did this book make you think differently about anything?

Our Once Upon a Book Club notebooks for tweens and young adults are custom-designed, made from vegan leather, and are inspired by our whimsical book boxes! Check out our stationery collection for other notebooks like the Detective Notebook, Good Vibes Only Notebook, and our Peter Pan & Wendy Journal!

For older readers, our Reading Journals are the perfect option! Each journal features a sewn-in ribbon bookmark in a coordinating color, matching floral endpapers, 75 unique book review pages, index pages to list which books they’ve reviewed, fun prompts to help them craft their review (including major characters, favorite quotes, a spice rating, etc), and space to be creative with drawings, stickers, or even display their OUABC Collectible stickers! Throw in a fountain pen, and they will feel like a very serious reader—because they are!

This reading journal is what every bookworm needs! You may just want to add one for yourself! Check out our blog on Why Reading Journals Are the Bookish Tool You Didn’t Know You Needed.

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Back-to-School Bookmarks They Will Actually Use

Bookmarks are not voluntary; they’re compulsory! We have a fabulous selection of bookmarks, like our reading log bookmark sets, which are great for teens. It’s quick and simple; all they need to do is log the date they finished reading their book, followed by the title and their rating!

We also have bookmark bundles, and you can choose between middle grade, young adult, and adult. With dozens of variations of bookmarks from our past boxes, you never know what you’ll receive!

And if you’re feeling especially creative, you can always make your own! All you need is some craft paper and imagination.

Pens, Pencils, and Writing Tools for Young Readers

We’ve never met a bookworm who doesn’t love stationery! You definitely need to add a selection of pens. We’re thinking Sharpies, Gel Pens, Colored Pens, or even a Colored Pencil Set.

Stickers and stamps are also fun additions to any back-to-school gift. There are many sites and stores that offer fabulous collections of bookish stickers and stamps. All you need now is a cute pencil case!

Back-to-School Bookish Extras

It’s always those extras that capture our attention, and we have just what you’re looking for.

Our fairy tale bookish phone case covers are wonderful for young readers! There are so many to choose from, like The Little Mermaid, Peter Pan (this will pair perfectly with the Peter Pan Notebook!), Cinderella, and Sleeping Beauty!

Our Children’s Classics also has some fabulous options like Alice in Wonderland, Peter Rabbit, Wind in the Willows and even The Jungle Book!

Who wants the cutest bookish lunch bag? It is custom-printed in bright lime green, featuring books and floral details. It contains two fully insulated, zippered compartments, two short handles, and a detachable long strap with adjustable length. Lunch and snacks sorted!

Now, for the pièce de résistance, what is a bookish back-to-school gift without a fabulous book? Our ready-to-ship tween and young adult book boxes are waiting for you! We also have book-only options like Lori R. Snyder’s The Circus at the End of the Sea or Ronald L. Smith’s Gloom Town!

We think a wonderful way to pull it all together is to pack it all into a fun backpack or bag! Don’t forget to add some snacks; going back to school is hard work, and sustenance is definitely needed!

Adding a gift card is always fun, as it lets your young reader explore the wonderful world of bookishness! We have gift cards starting at $5! Our blog on How to Make a Bookish Gift Card Feel More Personal is definitely worth a read!

Happy gifting from all of us at Once Upon a Book Club! If you enjoyed this blog, we think you will love our blog: DIY Summer Bookish Care Package for a Reader Friend Far Away.

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The Summer Boredom conundrum is real. It’s summertime, and yes, there is plenty to do. At one stage, having fun in the sun seemed like an idyllic concept, but for some unknown reason, you’ve hit a slump. It happens to all of us.

That TBR list is giving you the side eye; there is probably some cupboard or drawer that needs sorting out, then there’s that brilliant summer salad you’ve been dying to make…but yet, you find yourself sitting on your armchair with motivational levels in dire need of a reboot!

We totally get you, and having been there ourselves, we feel we are highly qualified to offer some help in getting out of the slump. So, stay right where you are, relax, and let’s get you back on track!

Beat the summer reading slump the bookish way

Nothing gets us out of a reading slump faster than something wonderfully bookish and new. We think it’s time to try something different, and our OUABC Lite Box does just that. A new book with new surprises, but these aren’t our usual bookish wonders. This time we’re connecting with all of your senses.

Each OUABC Lite Box features an exciting book plus five magical envelopes you open at key moments during the story. Each envelope contains something tied to one of our five senses! Immersion at its best! Sight. Smell. Sound. Taste. Touch.

Our mini boxes are another easy way to slide back between the pages! We have everything from historical fiction and YA fantasy to bodice rippers and thrillers! Each box contains two beautifully wrapped surprise gifts to open at just the right moment, plus lots of little extras!

Why not try one of our Lite or Mini boxes to get you back on track? One of the easiest ways to break a reading slump is to start off small; 10 minutes a day is all you need! You’ll be amazed at how fast 10 minutes a day gets you through an average novel! And generally, 10 minutes turns into “just a few more minutes.”

Audiobooks are fantastic for getting back into books, and you can even listen to your latest cozy romcom while clearing out that drawer or making that gorgeous watermelon and feta salad!

Remember, reading while lying on your couch or under a tree counts as exercise! Yes, we do have to exercise our brains, and reading counts as mental gymnastics in our books!

Bookish activities for a slow afternoon alone

A slow summer afternoon all on your own sounds like bliss. It’s the ideal time for reflection, contemplation, and creativity! If you’re anything like us, you love beautiful stationery (psst, we have an awesome selection) and lazy summer afternoons lend themselves to journaling.

My personal favorite is our reading journal available in classic coral, periwinkle prose, and seafoam stories. I love the elegant covers and the beautifully laid-out review pages. Each journal features a sewn-in ribbon bookmark in a coordinating color, matching floral endpapers, 75 unique book review pages, index pages to list which books you’ve reviewed, fun prompts to help you craft your review (including major characters, favorite quotes, a spice rating, etc), and space to be creative with drawings, stickers, or even display your OUABC Collectible stickers!

TBR Pile or List Prioritization is another very important task. Grab a glass of wine, get comfy, and let’s sort through your TBR List because, honestly, if you’re in a slump, you probably haven’t looked at it for a while.

First things first, any book that no longer appeals needs to go! Hasta la vista it down to the used bookstore. Next up, pick one book that has made you sit up and think Oh yes, I still want to read this and do just that! The rest of the books, stack them alphabetically or sort them by color. It really doesn’t matter; you’ve found the one you’re starting with!

I may have saved the best for last. I love going to interesting bookstores and just browsing, and sometimes I pick a book based purely on the cover! Browsing must always be followed by a trip to my local coffee shop!

Bookish games for friends, book clubs, and meetups

Bookish games are the best way to bring a little fun to your next catch-up session, book club, or those wonderful summer evenings on the patio. And no, we’re not recommending any complicated board games or anything that requires a 21-page instruction manual! We plan on keeping it simple, bookish, and definitely recommend keeping the snacks close by!

Looking to up your entertaining game? Then check out our blog: DIY Bookish Charcuterie and Drinks Board for Your Summer Book Club. It’s full of great ideas you can use to up the bookish ante! By the way, we have amazing bookish decor that’s sure to add book-inspired elegance to your table.

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Start with a round of “Guess the First Line.” Everyone brings a book, reads the first line aloud, and the rest of the group has to guess the title. It sounds easy until you realize just how many books begin with something mysterious, dramatic, or completely unhelpful.

You could also try “Bookish Charades,” which is exactly what it sounds like and ten times funnier than you think it will be. Act out a book title, character, trope, or genre and let the chaos unfold. Watching someone silently try to explain “enemies to lovers” may just be the highlight of your summer.

Another fun option is “Build a Story.” One person starts with a sentence, and each person adds another sentence as you go around the group. By the end, you may have a heartthrob, a lost princess, a suspicious librarian, and a talking mouse who definitely knows more than he is letting on. It may not be a literary masterpiece, but it definitely will be fun!

DIY summer reading challenges that you’ll actually finish

We love a reading challenge, but let’s be honest, some of them start with big dreams and end with a forgotten checklist under a pile of laundry. The secret is to keep them small, specific, realistic, and most importantly, fun!

You could create a “Read Around the House” challenge. Pick five different reading spots and enjoy a chapter in each one. The couch, the garden, the kitchen table, your bed, the bath, under a tree, on the porch, or even your car all count. We definitely think you deserve bonus points if you take a photo of each spot and turn it into a little summer reading adventure.

Another easy idea is a “Pick Your Mood” challenge. We love this one; all you need to do is write down a few moods on scraps of paper: cozy, adventurous, romantic, mysterious, etc. Pop them into a jar, pull one out when you need your next read, and choose a book that matches. No more endless scrolling or staring at your bookshelves thinking you have nothing to read! (Your TBR list is definitely saying otherwise!)

The final chapter on summer boredom

Summer boredom is not always a bad thing. Sometimes it’s just your brain asking for something new. That’s why bookish activities are such a wonderful way to get back into the swing of things. You can read for 10 minutes, journal about your latest book, sort through your TBR, try a new reading challenge, play a bookish game, or turn an ordinary afternoon into a tiny literary adventure.

And remember, you don’t need to do it all. You don’t need a perfect plan, matching stationery and a color-coded spreadsheet. Although if you do have a color-coded spreadsheet, we fully support you. Here’s to summer afternoons filled with literary fun!

If you’re looking for more inspiration, check out our blog on tips for Staying Consistent with Your Reading Goals All Summer Long!

We love Christmas in July! It seems to be one of those traditions that came out of nowhere. There are definitely no sleigh bells ringing or overly decorated houses, and no official public holidays. And yet that doesn’t stop people from all around the world happily celebrating. It’s a great excuse to get together with those closest to us, exchange gifts and just celebrate for the sake of celebrating!

With a bit of research, we discovered that one of the earliest known celebrations occurred in 1933 at Keystone Camp in North Carolina. This particular summer camp held a fabulous festive day complete with Christmas decorations, carol singing, gifts, and even a visit from Father Christmas!

Why Christmas in July is the best bookish gift moment of the year

We love that Christmas in July doesn’t follow any rules. You can host a fabulous roast dinner, decorate to your heart’s content, exchange small gifts or read your favorite Christmas stories. It’s all about doing whatever you want, and we love that. This year, we may veer away from the traditional colors and go with red, blue, and white!

At its heart, Christmas in July is simply about bringing a little bit of extra joy smack bang in the middle of the year. For us, it is a reminder that we don’t need to wait to celebrate and connect with those that we love, and if that celebration happens to include a few bookish moments, we’re all for it!

Christmas time is often filled with advertisements for the latest gadgets and toys, and you’re inundated with gift ideas that everyone apparently wants and needs. And that is where Christmas in July is a bit different; it’s a whole lot calmer on the gifting front, and we think giving the gift of stories is the best gift around!

If you’re looking for a great Christmas story, you know the one, that second-chance holiday romance, then our gorgeous edition of Through the Snow Globe by Annie Rains is calling your name!

Christmas in July gifts for the reader who has everything

We all have those readers who seem to have everything from Kindles to book sleeves and bookish-inspired phone cases. They pre-order all the latest releases, and finding them something unique can be a challenge. Relax, we’ve got you covered with these wonderful ideas!

Literary Perfume: Yes, it’s a thing. We even wrote a whole blog about it! We have a fabulous range, including Lost in the Library, A Court of Amber and Musk, A Page on a Park Bench, and The Reader and the Rainstorm!

Book-inspired Plates: Who would have thought that you could bring the classics to your table? Our stunning, exclusively designed book-shaped plate set is the ultimate gift. Each set includes one small salad plate and one large dinner plate, both printed with the book title, author name, and first and second pages of the novel. We have two sets, one inspired by The Great Gatsby and the other by Little Women! Take your pick!

Christmas in July gifts for the mom in a reading slump

We all have those reading slumps, and for busy moms, it’s time to remind them to slow down and get back between the pages.

Our OUABC Lite selections are just what you need! Besides an exciting novel, every book is paired with five envelopes to open as you read, immersing you in the story in a way only OUABC can! Each envelope incorporates the five senses (sight, smell, sound, taste, and touch) to highlight moments that make you feel like you’re part of the story in the most immersive way possible.

Check out our collection, which includes The Wicked Sea by Jordan Stephanie Gray and To Drown a Witch by Lindsey Olsson!

Everyone needs a reading journal as it inspires you to read more and to really think about the books you have read. Our team had so many discussions about what makes a fabulous reading journal, and we think we came out on top with our journals, which are available in Classic Coral, Periwinkle Prose, and Seafoam Stories.

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Christmas in July gifts for the partner who’s curious about books

And then there are those partners or friends who are curious about books but somehow never make it to the bookstore. Well, this year we have the perfect solution! Our digital gift cards offer the gift of choice and can be applied to any order. All you have to do is choose your amount and check your inbox!

Our ready-to-ship book boxes may be just what you’re looking for. You could even try The Happy Couple Box! This one has been known to bring joy to couples everywhere. It features a paperback copy of Christina Lauren’s The Unhoneymooners, plus 35 Date Night Cards and a wooden body massager, just to mention a few of the wonderful gifts!

Christmas in July gifts for the best friend who reads everything

That best friend who reads everything, well, she certainly deserves something perfect, and yes, we have just what you need. We are so excited about our ever-growing apparel collection that we can’t stop talking about it. We have everything from tanks and tees to sweatshirts and hats!

When it comes to tanks and tees, it’s really difficult to have a favorite. We’re battling to choose between Reading is My Jam Tee, Silly Goose Book Club Tee, or the Book Lover Special Tee, to mention a few!

Christmas in July gifts for yourself

We often forget to spoil ourselves, and we think Christmas in July begs us to indulge! Our monthly book boxes are the ultimate gift to yourself. Each month, an exciting book box will arrive with a wonderful, newly released novel and surprise gifts to open along the way. The perfect monthly reminder to take time out for yourself!

And while you’re at it, make sure to check out our bath, health, and beauty collection, where you get to feel a bit more bookish every day with the perfect perfume, lipstick, and bath salts!

OUABC’s 10th Anniversary makes this Christmas in July a once-in-a-decade moment

Can you believe it’s our 10th Anniversary? This is a once-in-a-decade moment, and as a team, we would like to thank Michelle for creating the perfect company. After all, who else gets to spend their days surrounded by beautiful books, bookish products, and a team of bookworms?

We have loved being part of the OUABC journey from our first adult book box to where we are now. It is such an honor to be part of the OUABC team, where we get to be involved in something wonderful. Bringing books to life is part of our DNA!

OUABC Christmas in July Gifts

We hope we’ve inspired you to celebrate Christmas in July the bookworm way! We hope you spend time connecting with those you love and many happy hours between the pages!

Don’t forget to check out our Christmas Collection, which includes a host of bookish products just waiting to be wrapped, like our festive cookie tray and our winter landscape mug. And if you’re anything like us, you still have loads of Christmas wrapping paper stacked at the back of your cupboard.

Happy celebrating and reading from all of us at OUABC!

We can’t wait to celebrate International Day of Friendship on the 30th. We were chatting amongst ourselves about friendships and how important they are, and we came up with some amazing ideas to celebrate and honor those incredible friendships!

Those are the friends who are with us through good times and tough times. They don’t judge that sneaky slice of chocolate cake or when you decide a glass of wine falls under your fruit allocation. They give the best book recommendations, and together you have ever-growing TBR lists.

These are the kinds of friends who make the world a better place and life that extra bit of fun! Whether it’s a friendship you’ve had forever, a new friend you’re getting to know, a book club friend or a long-distance friendship, it’s time to say thank you and treat them with the ultimate bookish moment.

Why International Day of Friendship Deserves a Bookish Moment

Books have a way of bringing us together. That’s why book clubs are amazing. Our love of reading unites us, and nothing beats a shared reading experience. We love those conversations that kick off with “I can’t believe that happened,” followed by “I never saw it coming!”

We love discussing those unexpected plot twists, the characters we love to hate, and those moments that have you at a loss for words. We love finding a book we just know someone will love, and we can’t wait for them to read it! Comparing notes or the post-book analysis is always a highlight!

Here at Once Upon a Book Club, we are renowned for our surprise gifts that tie to key moments in every story. These gifts have led to us expanding our shop, and we have the ultimate bookish product for every occasion. Our collections are so popular, from accessories and apparel to home decor and everything in between!

So gifting for a fellow bookworm doesn’t always need to include a book; sometimes it’s that special bookish gift that just oozes charm and lets them know that you’re thinking about them!

Bookish Gifts For the Friend Who Has Seen You Through Everything

These types of friendships are truly special. It doesn’t matter what is happening in your life; these are the kinds of friends who will drop everything if you need them to. They are the ones who stand by you, always.

They know just what to say and when to say it. And often they’re the ones you don’t need to tell; they instinctively know! And for these friends, we think the perfect gift is something they will love but wouldn’t necessarily buy for themselves.

It’s all about the personal touch! We’re thinking along the lines of literary perfumes from our Health & Beauty Collection, jewelry, phone case covers, or bookish apparel! We have such a great selection, and you can even choose by genre!

If you have a friend who loves the classics, you could even go for the ultimate combo like an Emma Phone Case Cover with a matching Emma Book Purse!

Our literary perfumes are such a hit, and if you need some additional inspiration, check out our blog on How To Choose a Literary Perfume That Matches Your Reading Mood!

Our Tees and Tanks are flying off the shelves, and we guarantee you there is one for your BFF! My personal favorite is “If found, please return to the bookstore,” and yes, that is me modeling away! 🙂

Bookish Gifts For a New Friend You’re Getting To Know

Meeting new people and forming friendships is always wonderful. We think it’s so exciting getting to know someone. Buying gifts for a new friend can be tricky; you know them, but you don’t know know them. You’re still in the phase of discovering what makes the other person tick, like who are their favorite authors, what genres do they love? Are they into retellings, or do they just love a happy-ending romcom?

And that is where our digital gift cards take the front seat. (Make sure to check out our blog on How to Make a Bookish Gift Card Feel Personal!) Our gift cards start at $5, and we believe they give any friend the freedom to choose their bookish moment! All you have to do is choose your gift card amount, and within minutes it will be in your email inbox! Our OUABC gift cards can be applied to any order so readers can experience the magic!

Simply pop your gift card into a beautiful envelope, write a personal card, add a coffee and cake voucher (or cheese and wine), and you’re good to go!

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Bookish Gifts For the Long-Distance Reader Friend

When it comes to long-distance friendships, it’s always tough, but this is the one time where we are truly grateful for technology and the ability to have video calls with our BFF! This is the “I Miss Reading With You” gift, and it’s one of our favorites!

A DIY Care package is just what you need! Grab an old box and cover it with photos of the two of you, or images of your favorite books or places to go. Now for the care package, we’re thinking 3 to 4 items will be perfect!

Our OUABC Lite box is just what you need. This book-only option is paired with five envelopes that you open as you read. Each envelope contains a flat paper item that works to incorporate the five senses (sight, smell, sound, taste, and touch) to highlight moments that will make you feel like you’re part of the story in the most immersive way possible.

You can add one of our beautiful reading journals, which come in classic coral, periwinkle prose, or seafoam stories. These top-of-the-range reading journals feature 75 unique book review pages, floral endpapers, and are carefully packed inside a magnetic book-shaped box! Or alternatively, our reading log bookmark sets serve a dual purpose—great for keeping your place and logging books with spaces for a date, title, and rating!

Our final recommendation is a book sleeve, and we have four incredible designs, including “If you need me, I’ll be reading,” “Read All Night Book Club,” “Ask Me What I’m Reading,” and “When in Doubt, Read a Book.”

But if you’re stretched for time, we’ve got you covered with “The Self-Love Box”! We all need a moment to remember that self-care is the best care, and this box does a phenomenal job of conveying that reminder to the recipient! And the best part, it all comes packaged in a beautiful navy blue book-shaped box and even includes a personalized card!

Bookish Gifts For Your Book Club Friend

It’s time to honor the friendship that was literally built by books! Those book club friends know which genres and authors you love; they know how long your TBR lists are and will still keep recommending another “you must read this” book!

These are the people we genuinely share our love of books with, and we have just the perfect gift ideas!

We’re thinking combos, like our Bamboo Serving Board paired with a fabulous bottle of wine. You may as well add some crackers and cheese while you’re about it! Did we mention that we have a gorgeous cheese knife set as well? Shh, it’s even currently on sale!

Then there is our two-tiered serving tray, which we simply adore with its beautiful teal green tray with gold detailing. And then there is our marble and gold cake serving set, which is elegance personified! And you can even add your secret recipe that everyone always asks for!

We also have a wonderful selection of bookish home decor, from The Tortured Classics whiskey glass set to our book plate sets inspired by The Great Gatsby or Little Women!

Match the Bookish Gift To The Friendship Type

We can’t wait to hear how you celebrated International Day of Friendship! We are definitely going to be making our own cards with photos and shared favorite quotes! Sending a gift that has a personal touch says everything.

If you enjoyed this blog and are looking for more ideas, make sure to check out these blogs:

• How to Make a Bookish Gift Card Feel Personal: An OUABC Gifting Guide

• DIY Summer Bookish Care Package for a Reader Friend Far Away

• The Complete Christmas in July Gift Guide for Book Lovers

Happy gifting and most of all, here’s to friendships that last a lifetime!

Here at Once Upon a Book Club, the office is full of excitement, and there is a definite celebratory buzz in the air. We can’t believe it’s our 10th Anniversary! A decade of bringing books to life, and what a decade it has been.

We have been reminiscing and can’t believe how we have grown as a company, as a team, and as individuals. When you say the words “ten years,” it seems like an age, but in all honesty, it’s gone by so quickly.

It’s amazing when we look back and realize that ten years ago, Once Upon a Book Club began with one simple but magical idea: encouraging people to read by bringing books to life! What if you could reach a certain page, open a carefully wrapped gift, and suddenly hold a piece of the story in your hands?

And now, here we are celebrating ten years of bringing books to life. Ten years of page-numbered gifts, unforgettable stories, exclusive editions, holiday traditions, and an incredible community of readers who know that opening a gift at just the right moment is a special kind of magic!

How Once Upon a Book Club Started

Once Upon a Book Club began in 2016 when Michelle Wolett wanted to encourage her mother to read more. So, she wrapped up gifts and marked them with page numbers, telling her mom she could only open each one when she reached the corresponding moment in the book. She hoped this would give her mom the incentive and encouragement to finish the book by bringing the story to life. The idea was simple, but brilliant.

As her mom read, the gifts became part of the story. A scene was no longer just something to imagine; it made that moment feel alive. As it turns out, Michelle’s mom loved it. In fact, she loved it so much that she kept asking for more. Soon, she was reading almost as fast as Michelle could plan each experience.

And that’s when Michelle realized that many readers would love the experience of feeling like their book was being brought to life. There was a gap in the bookish world for something immersive, interactive, and deeply memorable. Readers already loved getting lost in stories, but Once Upon a Book Club gave them a new way to experience them.

And with that, Once Upon a Book Club was born.

The First OUABC Book Box

Rewind 10 years to July 2016, and we released our first book box, “Lilacs,” featuring The Lilac Girls by Martha Hall Kelly plus 6 beautifully wrapped surprise gifts. At the time, Once Upon a Book Club exclusively featured women’s historical fiction, and this first box set the tone for everything that would follow.

Our very first readers discovered Matka’s ring (which was stolen by the Nazis), a secret message written in invisible ink, a pair of grey fashion socks, a headband scarf, a floral patterned cloth envelope containing a real photo of children from World War II, and a packet of lilac seeds, representing Caroline’s lilacs in the book.

The first gifts were entirely hand-wrapped in Michelle’s living room with the help of family and friends. Those original boxes were a labor of love, and what began as a tiny idea soon blossomed into a company.

The OUABC Launches We Will Never Forget

There are some launches that just stood out, and our Bridgerton Boxes happen to be one of them. We actually have an entire Bridgerton collection under our Special Collections in our shop!

Our Bridgerton Special Editions have become collector’s items and are considered the royalty of any bookshelf. The special custom designs were so exciting, and then came selecting just the right moment to be accompanied by the perfect gift to bring the Ton to life!

Our Bridgerton Volume 1 and Volume 2 full boxes were hugely popular, each featuring 4 Bridgerton novels by Julia Quinn accompanied by a total of 8 delightful surprise gifts per box!

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And then there is The Four Winds Series by Alexandria Warwick. From The North Wind to The West Wind, The South Wind, and The East Wind, these boxes captured everything readers love about romantasy. Sweeping settings, atmospheric gifts, romance, tension, danger, and fantasy worlds you don’t want to leave.

These four Romantasy Boxes flew off the shelves! Each box featured one of the novels, which included special edition artwork on the cover, custom endpapers, uniquely designed page edges, and metal corner detailing. And let’s not forget those carefully curated and beautifully wrapped surprise gifts to open at just the right moment!

Romantasy as a genre continues to grow in popularity, and yes, we have a whole collection dedicated to this exciting genre! Check out our Beginner’s Guide to Romantasy and How to Build a Romantasy-Themed Reading Corner!

10 Years of OUABC Milestones

A decade is a long time in book years! Just think how many TBR piles have grown, how many bookmarks have gone missing, and how many “just one more chapter” promises have absolutely been broken.

For Once Upon a Book Club, the past 10 years have been filled with exciting milestones, new subscriptions, unforgettable seasonal boxes, and exciting, fresh new ways to celebrate the joy of all things bookish.

Young Adult Joins the Story

In April 2017, we launched our Young Adult book subscription box. OUABC had been in existence for about 10 months, and the time felt right to bring a new genre of titles to subscribers.

The first Young Adult box was “Mixed Media Memories,” featuring The Hidden Memory of Objects by Danielle Mages Amato. The gifts included items such as gold embroidery shears, a custom button necklace, a black and white backpack with a lime green wallet, and a pair of sealed black gloves.

It was the beginning of a whole new chapter for OUABC, opening the immersive reading experience to YA readers and fans of young adult fiction. Did you know that YA books are also popular with our adult subscribers? We even wrote about it in our blog, Are YA Books Just Junk Food for Adults, or Do They Have Just as Much Merit? And the answer was a resounding yes!

Middle Grade and Tween Readers

In February 2023, we launched our first Middle Grade subscription box, beginning with “Survival Island,” featuring The Forgotten Five: Map of Flames by Lisa McMann and three exciting gifts that brought the story to life!

In May 2024, Middle Grade became the bi-monthly Tween subscription box. After three wonderful years of curating boxes for young readers, the Tween subscription was sunsetted in May 2026.

The final Tween subscription box was “Talking to Animals,” featuring The Total Eclipse of Nestor Lopez by Adrianna Cuevas plus five immersive gifts that will make everyone feel like they were part of the story! While the subscription has now reached its final chapter, Tween boxes may still appear from time to time as special one-time boxes. Sometimes the ending is not goodbye forever. It’s simply “watch this space.”

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OUABC Lite (nothing lite about the experience)

OUABC Lite brought a fresh twist to the reading experience, offering our ever-growing community a book-only option with a magical sensory OUABC experience!

The first Lite box featured Graceless Heart by Isabel Ibañez. Instead of traditional wrapped gifts, OUABC Lite uses paper items tucked inside envelopes to incorporate the five senses into the reading experience. Sight, smell, sound, taste, and touch all play a role, helping readers feel as though they are part of the story in a new and creative way.

It is a wonderful reminder that immersive reading doesn’t always need to be big to be powerful. Sometimes, the smallest details create the strongest connection.

Fun and Exciting Bookish Apparel

After so many requests over the years for clothing and accessories, we were thrilled to bring an array of items to represent your love of reading within your wardrobe!⁠ In November 2025, we answered with the Winter Apparel launch.

The collection dropped on November 28, 2025, as part of the Black Friday Doorbusters, with subscribers receiving early access before the general sale. Available for a limited time through January 10, 2026, the collection gave readers a new way to wear their love of books proudly.

We continue to add to our apparel range, and our latest additions are proving to be a huge hit! Because sometimes being a bookworm is not just a hobby. It’s a wardrobe choice.

Holiday Boxes That Became Traditions

OUABC’s holiday boxes have become some of the most anticipated releases of the year, and it’s easy to see why. We’ve made sure to combine the joy of seasonal celebrations with the magic of immersive reading.

The Christmas Box began in 2017, bringing festive stories and thoughtful gifts together in true OUABC style.

The Halloween Box followed in 2018, giving readers eerie, mysterious, and atmospheric reading experiences perfect for the season of shadows, secrets, and things that go bump in the night.

The 12 Days of Book-Club-Mas Advent Box also began in 2018 and has since grown into one of OUABC’s biggest and most beloved boxes of the year. We had to ask Logan her thoughts! “Our Advent box is the biggest box of the year, and I am so proud to have not only written all 12 stories for the 2018 and 2019 Advent boxes, but to have grown this box into something that now welcomes writers from all over the world to share their work with our readers!”

Our Advent Calendar recipients receive an anthology of 12 short stories featuring each of the 12 gifts. Each story is written by a different author who wrote these tales specifically to bring our selected gifts to life! As you read each short story, you’ll be prompted at key moments within them to open the corresponding gift for the day.

These gifts are all incredibly useful, beautiful items, perfect for the bookworm in all of us! These gifts are not Christmas-themed, and every item can be used and enjoyed year-round. Each book box includes a custom and exclusive book of 12 short stories that can only be found in our box, along with 12 beautiful gifts (one for each story!)

In 2019, OUABC launched the New Year’s Eve/Up All Night box, which has become especially loved for its 40-Book Reading Challenge. It’s the perfect way to ring in a new year, set fresh reading goals, and pretend that your TBR is completely under control.

Other holiday boxes have included Mother’s Day and Valentine’s Day, giving readers even more reasons to celebrate with books.

Care Packages, Mini Boxes, and New Ways to Gift

In 2024, we launched Care Packages, a different take on the traditional box experience. With these, you can see the gifts included before purchasing, and each box is curated around an occasion or theme, such as Graduation, Teacher, Birthday, and more.

Each Care Package includes a favorite novel hand-selected by the OUABC team, a personalized handwritten card penned by our team with your custom message, and four to six high-quality gifts designed to reflect themes and ideas from the story.

We also introduced Mini Boxes, launching three in 2024 and three in 2025. These miniature reading experiences were an exciting new addition to the Once Upon a Book Club lineup!

Each box featured a paperback book plus two gifts to bring this reading experience to life! Also included is a mini paper pack containing an art print, bookmark, AND exclusive collectible sticker, all inspired by the featured book!

A Decade of Bringing Books to Life

Ten years ago, we started with one reader, one book, and a few wrapped gifts. Today, it has grown into a community of readers who know that stories are meant to be felt, experienced, shared, and remembered.

From Adult and Young Adult subscriptions to special editions, holiday boxes, Lite experiences, Mini Boxes, Care Packages, apparel, and unforgettable launches, OUABC has spent the last decade turning ordinary reading moments into extraordinary ones.

But through every new chapter, the heart of Once Upon a Book Club has stayed the same.

It has always been about you, our community of dedicated readers! Here’s to those of you who:

Wait in anticipation for the next page-numbered gift.
Gasp when the item matches the scene perfectly.
Stay up too late because the next gift is only 15 pages away.
Find joy, comfort, surprise, and connection inside every box.

As we celebrate 10 years of OUABC, we are so grateful for every single one of you, every author, every team member, every wrapped gift, and everyone who has helped bring our story to life.

Here’s to 10 years of books, gifts, community, and magic. We can’t wait for the next chapter.

We would love to hear which boxes have been your favorites over the past 10 years! Here’s to the next 10 years of creating bookish experiences that stay with us long after the last page!

I love finding out what the rest of the team is currently reading! As far as I am concerned, your TBR list can never be too long, but perhaps that’s because I like to read a few books at a time.

This month, we have a fabulous mix. Some of us are deeply caught up in magical worlds, some are solving murders, while others are upgrading their historical knowledge. I, on the other hand, have realized that I would absolutely not last five minutes in most of the novels I read!

So if you have finally gotten your TBR list under control, don’t worry, we’re here to help make it delightfully out of control again. TBR lists should never be manageable 🙂

Logan: The Boundless by Anna Bright

“I’m currently reading book two in The Beholder duology! The first book was a little slow at the beginning, but by the end of it, I had to grab the second one immediately. It’s a phenomenal historical fantasy that blends fairy tales into real life.”

About the Book:

The Boundless is the breathtaking sequel to The Beholder, taking readers into a darkly sparkling fairy tale world perfect for fans of The Selection and Caraval. When Selah found true love with Prince Torden of Norway, she never imagined she would have to leave him behind.

The Beholder’s true mission has been kept secret from Selah: transporting weapons to rebels fighting against the brutal tsarytsya. With the shadow of Shvartsval’d ahead and her heart still hanging in the balance, Selah is no longer the frightened girl who left Potomac. She is determined to see the Beholder’s dangerous quest through to the end.

Sydney: How to Solve Your Own Murder by Kristen Perrin

“I’m really enjoying this fun Agatha Christie style mystery, the characters are so well-written and realistic! A woman spends her whole life trying to prevent her foretold murder based on a psychic prediction, only to be found dead 60 years later, leaving her great-niece to solve the mystery. I definitely recommend this one on audiobook, the narrator is great!”

About the Book:

How to Solve Your Own Murder is a dual-narrative, feel-good mystery set in the quaint English village of Castle Knoll. In 1965, seventeen-year-old Frances is warned by a fortune teller that she will one day be murdered. A year later, her best friend Emily goes missing, and Frances spends the rest of her life gathering information on everyone around her.

Nearly sixty years later, Frances is murdered exactly as she always feared. Her great-niece Annie arrives in Castle Knoll and discovers Frances’s diary from 1965. Soon, Annie is pulled into her great-aunt’s investigations, searching for justice for Frances, and maybe Emily too.

Teri: This Kingdom Will Not Kill Me by Ilona Andrews

“A girl wakes up in the world of her favorite fantasy novel, and it is NOT a safe and happy place. This story is really making me realize that I would not survive in the worlds of most of the books I read.”

About the Book:

This Kingdom Will Not Kill Me begins when Maggie wakes up cold, filthy, and very much not at home. She quickly realizes she is in Kair Toren, a city from the famously unfinished dark fantasy series she has been obsessively reading while waiting years for the final novel.

Maggie’s only advantage is her encyclopedic knowledge of the plot, setting, characters, and the terrible fates awaiting them. She soon discovers she cannot be killed, though many will try. But the same cannot be said for the people she begins to care about, including a former lady’s maid, a deadly assassin, magical creatures, and a dangerously appealing soldier.

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Ryan: ILY by Cora Rose and EM Lindsey

“Leaf is a former ASL interpreter/new farmer who is being terrorized by a Groundhog and Thorne is a deaf FBI agent looking into Leaf after he goes on the black market looking for TNT in order to get rid of said groundhog. Thorne’s misunderstanding and confusion about what’s really going on is super cute and funny.”

About the Book:

ILY follows Leaf, a burnt-out former interpreter who decides to take over his late aunt’s farm. Unfortunately, farm life is not quite the peaceful fresh start he imagined. There is an orchard full of fruit he is allergic to, equipment he does not know how to use, and a vindictive groundhog named Michael who seems determined to ruin his life.

In his quest to deal with Michael, Leaf catches the attention of Thorne, a mysterious and very attractive man with a mission and a secret. What follows is a strangers-to-lovers rom-com filled with misunderstandings, hidden motives, farm chaos, and one groundhog who may know far more than anyone realizes.

Tristan: The Uncharted Flight of Olivia West by Sara Ackerman

“I’m loving this historical fiction about a female pilot who enters a race from CA to Hawaii. It’s based on the real Dole Derby, and I’m having a lot of fun learning about early aviation.”

About the Book:

The Uncharted Flight of Olivia West is inspired by real events and follows Olivia “Livy” West, a fearless young pilot in 1927 with a love of adventure and a dream of crossing oceans. When she hears about the Dole Air Race, a high-stakes contest to make the 2,400-mile Pacific crossing from the West Coast to Hawai’i, she is determined to qualify.

But it becomes clear that only men will make the cut. In a final attempt to take part, Livy becomes a navigator for one of the pilots and sets out on a dangerous journey. Decades later, Wren Summers inherits land on the Big Island and uncovers clues to a forgotten piece of aviation history.

The Final Chapter Check-In

And there we have it: the lovely, chaotic little bookshelf of our team’s current reads. That’s why I love finding out what the team is reading. Everyone brings something different to the table, and suddenly, our TBR lists feel a little more adventurous, a little more mysterious, and quite possibly a little more out of control. Which, obviously, is exactly how we like it.

Happy reading from all of us at Once Upon a Book Club!

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Is romantasy worth reading? We often get asked that question and have noticed that many people avoid the genre altogether. But take a step back; we think you’re missing out! Romantasy is that fabulous combination of romance and fantasy, and after all, isn’t love always at least a little bit magical?

Most people avoid trying a new genre simply because they have no idea where to start, and we totally get that, which is why we decided to write this beginner’s guide. We’ll cover everything you need to know, including fabulous book recommendations!

So why not try something new this summer?

What is Romantasy?

As we mentioned, romantasy is that wonderful blend of romance and fantasy. This is where unforgettable love stories unfold against a backdrop of enchanted worlds, powerful kingdoms, and mythical creatures with a whole lot of curses, quests, and battles between good and evil, all thrown in for good measure.

Yes, falling in love is at its core, but it’s so much more than that! The fantasy aspect adds to the drama. Think forbidden love, magical bonds, heroines, warriors, and hidden powers, and you’re starting to get where we’re going. This is the genre for those of you who love being swept away because romantasy offers an incredible love story with the escapism of an incredible fantasy adventure!

What Are The Best Romantasy Books for Beginners and Beyond?

Just like with any genre, there isn’t a right or wrong place to begin. Some books ease you in gently, while others throw you straight into dangerous kingdoms and tense battles. But if you’re new to the genre, there are definitely some beginner-friendly romantasy novels to help you figure out what resonates with you. Perhaps you enjoy those forbidden love stories combined with intrigue and epic fantasy worlds, or maybe you prefer enemies-to-lovers with a splash of magic and tension!

We’ve divided our recommendations into introductory, intermediate, and advanced levels. We classified books as advanced because they are either more gory and dark or are filled with high fantasy lore!

Romantasy Reads: Introductory Level

Divine Rivals by Rebecca Ross

Heartless Hunter by Kristen Ciccarelli

Our Infinite Fates by Laura Steven

Assistant to the Villain by Hannah Nicole Maehrer

Romantasy Reads: Intermediate Level

A Vow in Vengeance by Jaclyn Rodriguez

The Serpent and the Wings of Night by Carissa Broadbent

The Games Gods Play by Abigail Owen

The Knight and the Moth by Rachel Gillig

Romantasy Reads: Advanced Level

Phantasma by Kaylie Smith

Artefacts of Ouranos Series by Nisha J. Tuli

Crescent City Series by Sarah J Maas

We would love to hear which ones you enjoyed. The best part of romantasy novels is the unexpected! Make sure to check out our blog on How to Build a Romantasy-Themed Reading Corner! It’s all about the experience!

OUABC’s Favorite Romantasy Books

As always, we have our OUABC favorites which we can’t wait to share with you! Get ready for love, fantasy, and adventure!

The Four Winds by Alexandria Warwick

Why not start your romantasy reading adventure with the full collection of our exclusive special edition hardcovers? This collection includes The North Wind, The West Wind, The South Wind, and The East Wind. Each includes special edition artwork on the cover, custom endpapers, uniquely designed page edges, and metal corner detailing.

The Four Winds series is an incredible romantasy collection inspired by myth, folklore, and classic fairy tales. Each book follows a different immortal Wind and the mortal woman whose lives become entangled.

They are a fabulous blend of dangerous magic, ancient curses, forbidden desire, and high-stakes adventure. Get ready for everything from icy kingdoms and shadowy underworlds to palace intrigue, deadly trials, and divine revenge! These books give us everything we love: powerful gods, fierce heroines, slow-burn romance, emotional tension, and worlds filled with mythic atmosphere.

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Secrets In The Snow: Full Immersive Romantasy Experience

Romantasy ties in so beautifully with our immersive experience. As you know, we are all about bringing stories to life, and we can’t think of a better genre than this one to add our sprinkling of magic!

Our “Secrets In The Snow” book box is guaranteed to have you captivated right from the start. This full book box features a first-print edition of The Sun and the Starmaker by Rachel Griffin, plus three beautifully wrapped gifts you open as you read, bringing this stunning novel to life!

Set in the snow-covered village of Reverie, this whimsical romantasy follows Aurora Finch, a young woman whose life changes on the morning of her wedding when she discovers a hidden magic within herself.

Taken to the icy castle of the mysterious Starmaker, the sorcerer responsible for bringing sunlight to her remote village, Aurora finds herself drawn into a world of enchantment, secrets, and unexpected desire. But as a deadly frost threatens Reverie, she must uncover the truth behind the Starmaker’s magic before her world is lost to an endless winter.

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OUABC’s Romantasy Collection

As you know, we’re all about the details, and our romantasy collection is packed with all things romantasy.

Our glass globe light is guaranteed to add a mystical element to any setting. Featuring an open book with trees engraved inside the orb, the light glows through the wooden base, custom wood-burned with the quote “You are free to choose your own path.” This gift was custom-designed and inspired by The West Wind by Alexandria Warwick!

We’re reading romance, right? So candles are definitely in order, and our Rose Jelly Candle hits all the right notes. We love the rose-scented jelly wax featuring real roses! And then, just because we need to feel mysterious as well, we can’t wait to set the mood with a spray of jasmine perfume while we touch up our lipstick! And no, this is no ordinary lipstick! Powerhouse red in an ornate holder, it simply oozes mystical charm!

Romantasy Spice Levels and Content Warnings: What To Know Going In

When it comes to romantasy spice levels and content warnings, there are a few things you need to know. It’s key to remember that not every book has the same tone, intensity, or level of romance. Some romantasy books are soft and whimsical and mainly focus on the emotional connection of the characters, while others are darker, more mature, and include stronger romantic tension and heavier themes with a lot of gore!

This is where spice levels and content warnings are particularly useful. Spice levels are rated on a scale from 0 to 5, with 0 being mild and 5 being major spice. Content warnings usually indicate the level of sexual content, graphic violence, or other sensitive themes.

Get Ready For A Romantic Fantasy Adventure

We hope we’ve tempted you to add a pick from the romantasy genre to your TBR pile! It’s one of those genres that is completely addictive once you start, and you find yourself wondering why you didn’t pick up one sooner!

Here’s to a summer filled with romance, fantasy and magical adventures. Happy reading from all of us at Once Upon a Book Club. We would love to hear which romantasy books have got you hooked!

Speaking of new experiences, check out OUABC Lite for an immersive experience that captures the senses!

Summer Book Club Time is here! We love hosting book clubs, and summer is one of the best seasons to do so. We’re thinking charcuterie boards accompanied by a selection of refreshing drinks (a glass of crisp chenin blanc for anyone?), along with a fantastic new summer read. Speaking of reads, make sure you check out our Summer Thrills box, it’s packed with excitement!

This year’s box features a new, hardcover copy of Caller Unknown by bestselling author Gillian McAllister! Paired with five stunning gifts, this box will bring the most intense moments to life as you turn each page and experience the suspense right alongside the characters. Our surprise gifts are renowned conversation starters at any book club!

Summer book clubs are all about setting the scene: it’s time to relax, enjoy the sunshine, and add those special bookish touches that will make your book club moments even more memorable! It doesn’t need to be complicated, and you definitely don’t need a five-course menu; it’s all about adding a touch of bookish magic.

Why the bookish board beats the generic charcuterie board

Our bookish charcuterie board was a huge success and sold out in no time, but relax, we’ve got you covered with some easy ways you can elevate your board to be a bookish sensation.

Charcuterie boards are fabulous, but a bookish board takes it to the next level. It’s about bringing your board to life and creating an experience, just like we do with our book boxes.

We think it’s about building your bookish board around the story, the genre, or even a moment from your book club’s latest pick. Suddenly, your food has become part of the conversation, and of course, it gives you a chance to show off just a little.

The base build: serving board, layout, and what reads as “literary”

Just like any great novel, you need to lay the foundation. You probably already have something that’s perfect. Our Bamboo Serving Board (inspired by Scenes of the Crime by Jilly Gagnon) is perfect for cozy book club gatherings or even for your own personal night in!

Now, for the layout. We think that just like our favorite stories, you should think in layers. I prefer to start with items like cheeses, small ramekins of flavor-packed dips, and clusters of grapes. Then I add whatever meats I am using, along with crackers (I tend to overcater but am a firm believer that you can never have too many crackers), nuts, fruit, etc. You want to create movement and points of interest, so it is best to avoid placing everything in straight lines.

Now for those bookish touches! Have you ever seen those labels they attach to toothpicks? I love using those. Create your own tiny labels and attach them to toothpicks. You can name different sections of your board after moments, places, or themes.

Here are a few ideas we could use based on our Summer Thrills Box:

• Lucy’s Last Location: Perfect for those clusters of crackers or cheese.

• The Unknown Caller: Great for those bold flavors like spicy salami, sharp cheddar, or dark chocolate.

• No Turning Back: Delicious desserts, of course!

Cheese and Savory Bites Matched to What the Club is Reading

Cheese is like the protagonist of any charcuterie board! Bring in the supporting roles like crackers and savory bites, and you have a winning combination!

For a romance or romantasy book club, soft cheeses are definitely the perfect start. I’m thinking brie, goat cheese, or creamy camembert. These feel just a little bit more indulgent without being overly fussy. Now all you need to do is add prosciutto, buttery crackers, a few berries or grapes, and a little dish of fig jam! Don’t forget the chocolate, and now that I think about it, chocolate-dipped strawberries will do the trick!

If you’re looking for a fabulous read that combines food, family, and love, then you must add Hangry Hearts by Jennifer Chen to your TBR!

Mystery and thriller nights need those stronger flavors like aged cheddar, salami, spicy nuts, and darker crackers. You can always add a touch of darkness and atmosphere with blackberries! It’s all about being edgy and making things feel just that little bit more dramatic. There are secrets, suspects, and questionable characters to be discovered!

Fantasy boards are a wonderful chance to have fun with richer and rustic flavors. I am thinking of a board that will fit right in at a tavern just before a prophecy is about to be revealed. Smoked Gouda—along with seeded crackers, dried meats, and nuts—will be perfect. To add that touch of whimsy, throw in something unexpected, like candied fruit.

When it comes to historical fiction, I’m leaning towards country-style bites: goat cheese, olives, pâté, crusty bread, and grapes. I can imagine it being served at a long table while discussing family secrets, letters from the past, and what should happen next.

Sweet and Fruit Layer for Summer

No summer board is truly ready without the sweet and fruit layer! This is where we get to add color, freshness, and a little bit of our exotic flair! Remember, here at Once Upon a Book Club, we love to curate the perfect experience, and the sweet and fruit layer is synonymous with our beautifully wrapped surprise gifts!

It’s all about balancing the richness of your cheeses and cured meats with the lightness and freshness of your fruits and sweets. Strawberries are always a winner, and they pair perfectly with brie, chocolate, and sparkling drinks. I also love using sweet cherries, blueberries, and raspberries, especially when mixed with peach slices, as the contrast in color always looks great.

And let’s not forget about watermelon. It is refreshing, easy to serve, and a simple way to add a juicy pop of color to your board, especially on those hot summer book club afternoons when everyone is pretending they came for the discussion but are absolutely staying for the snacks.

The Drinks Side of the Board

Drinks are just as important as snacks because, if your book clubs are anything like ours, quick discussions have a way of stretching into conversations that can last all afternoon or into the evening. When you’re passionately debating or swapping theories, and those “I knew it was him!” moments, you’re bound to get thirsty!

When it comes to the drinks side of the board, this is where we can have lots of fun. You can easily create small labels to attach to glass stems, tie them with a ribbon, or use removable stickers to name each drink after characters, settings, themes, or memorable moments from the book.

For a romance, you could have a “Main Character Spritz.” For a mystery, maybe “The Final Clue” or “The Who Dunnit.” It’s a simple detail, but as they say, the devil is in the details. And that’s what everyone remembers.

If you’re looking for some literary-inspired glassware, make sure to check out our beautiful glass mug set with its small golden spoon, inspired by E.B. Asher’s This Will Be Fun. We also have fabulous champagne flutes engraved with “The World is Yours for Reading”, and then there is the ultimate whiskey glass set, the Tortured Classics Edition!

For an additional wow factor, our book-inspired plate sets are the ultimate book club decor and are bound to get lots of compliments!

Open the Wine, Open the Book, Open the Conversation

Remember, it’s all about having fun, relaxing with friends, and discussing your latest read. The snacks and drinks just add to the experience. With a few simple touches, you can transform a normal charcuterie board into a bookish feast.

If you’re looking for a different experience this summer, give our new Lite Book Boxes a chance; we’ve found a delightful way to incorporate the five senses (sight, smell, sound, taste, and touch) to highlight moments that will make you feel like you’re part of the story in the most immersive way possible.

Don’t forget to share your memorable summer book club moments! Happy hosting from all of us at Once Upon a Book Club!

Here at Once Upon a Book Club, we love summer days and can’t think of anything better than being outdoors with a great book. We are all about the details, and whether you’re heading to the beach, your local park, or simply spending a sun-filled afternoon in your backyard, we have just what you need. It’s time to go old school with some sunshine, bookish accessories, and your latest read!

And if you’re looking to add to your TBR list, make sure to check out our Young Adult selection! Did you know that many of our Young Adult subscribers are actually adults? Check out our blog: Are YA books just junk food for adults, or do they have as much merit?

Here is a little snippet to tempt you! “Here at Once Upon a Book Club, we love Young Adult literature. We definitely know we aren’t alone, which is why we created our special Adult and YA Bundle. But more about that later! When it comes to the bookish world, YA literature is the fastest-growing category out there, and it’s easy to see why.

We know many people consider it junk food for adults, and considering we don’t mind the occasional Uber Eats order, we’re not exactly sure that’s a criticism! Sit back and relax while we delve into the wonderful world of YA literature and why you should consider grabbing one for your next read!

But let’s get back to the 5 best bookish beach and outdoor products that are perfect for any summer reading day! We believe that books are an experience, which is why we created the perfect products to turn every reading session into something special!

What Makes a Reader’s Outdoor Day Different?

We love reading in the comfort of our couch or tucked up in bed, but there’s something about reading outside that just hits differently. Reading at the beach is absolutely fabulous: you’re lying back, relaxing on your towel, your toes feeling the soft warmth of the sand, the umbrella casting the perfect amount of shade, and you’re armed with an exciting novel. Even though you’re completely absorbed in the plot, the sounds of the waves in the distance, combined with happy laughter, create the perfect setting. It oozes relaxation.

The same goes for your local park or backyard. Your picnic blanket and obligatory snacks are set out, the sun is twinkling between the leaves, and that subtle breeze keeps you perfectly cool. It is just a completely different experience, and let’s be honest, we all need a change of scenery to keep things exciting.

So let’s dive into 5 of our favorite outdoor bookish must-haves for the perfect summer reading day!

Beach Towels: Find Your New Bestie

Everyone knows that the size and quality of your beach towel can make all the difference, and ours hit all the right notes, especially with our bookish designs! Our bookish beach towels are perfect for a picnic, day at the beach, poolside, or wherever you’re catching some rays and enjoying a good book outdoors. These soft and bright beach towels are exactly what you’ve been missing. They measure 70” x 31” when laid out flat and come in a custom drawstring bag!

We have 3 fabulous designs to choose from:

The first one in our collection is the Book Lovers beach towel. It is designed with an array of books, book stacks, and floral details in primary colors over a white background—perfect for the summer season. Next up is our Beach Bookworms towel, designed with a fun beach scene, and lastly, we have our Summer Reading Beach Towel, which was inspired by The Martha’s Vineyard Beach and Book Club by Martha Hall Kelly from our 2025 Summer Reading Box. (We still have a few in stock, so order yours now before they’re gone!)

The Picnic Blanket: Everyone Should Have a Story

As you know, picnic blankets are a must-have, and our travel picnic blanket was such a winner that it sold out in no time! When looking for a picnic blanket, make sure it’s the optimal size, like 54 x 45 inches, and that it comes with a waterproof lining. Our ultimate picnic blanket was inspired by Ananya Devarajan’s Kismat Connection.

Although that fabulous blanket is sold out, we do have some blankets that are definitely worth checking out to add that bookish touch! Our Bright Books Fleece Blanket is just what you need to add a bit of bookish magic!

The Water Bottle That Grows With Your Reading Year

Yes, you read that right! The water bottle that grows with your reading year is a must-have. Hydration is important, and we all know the benefits of keeping a handy bottle of water nearby. Our Bookish Sticker Collector Waterbottle is just what you need and is a great way of showing off your monthly collectible stickers. Our metal, insulated water bottles include a black screw-top lid with a rubber handle, and are currently available in two colors: dark blue and white.

Book Sleeves Should Never Be Boring

A book sleeve is every bookworm’s hero; there is nothing worse than crumpled sunscreen-streaked pages! Our book sleeves feature an incredibly soft, vegan leather exterior with an elastic pen/highlighter holder, a small, zippered pocket on the back, an extra-large (think Crescent City, two-to-three paperbacks, or a 10” tablet + a book) lined interior, and an elastic button closure at the top.

They are ideal for those summer reading days. I can never decide which one to use: “If you need me, I’ll be reading,” or “When in doubt, read a book.” Needless to say, I have both!

Reading Journals: You Always Need One

I am a huge fan of journaling about my latest book, and somehow it feels even more special when I’m outside. It always gets my creative juices flowing! I love grabbing my reading journal and spending some time reminiscing about previous favorites. Our reading journals come in the 3 fabulous colors, and I’m choosing Classic Coral for this summer!

Putting It Together: A One-Day Outdoor Reading Kit

Now that we’ve covered the must-haves, it’s time to pack your perfect outdoor reading kit. First up must be that fabulous bookish towel or blanket, because no one wants to balance a book, snacks, and their dignity while sitting directly on the grass or sand.

It’s time to add your current exciting read, your book sleeve to protect it from sunscreen, splashes, and general outdoor chaos, and don’t forget your water bottle because hydration is important, especially when you’re planning to say “just one more chapter” for the next three hours.

Don’t forget to pop in your reading journal for jotting down favorite quotes, thoughts, or dramatic reactions to plot twists.

Lastly, it’s time for the summer essentials: sunglasses, sunscreen, snacks, and a bookmark that won’t blow away at the first hint of a breeze.

Once everything is packed, all that’s left to do is find your sunny spot, get comfortable, and let the reading day begin.

Summertime Bookworm Bonus

I couldn’t resist putting some bonus bookish items from our Spring/Summer Collection together just for you!

Reading is My Jam Tee: When your schedule is jam-packed, and you feel like you haven’t read enough recently, the Reading is My Jam Tee is here to remind you that your books will always be there for you! It’s time to pack, get your reading kit together, and head outdoors!

Greek Shawl: This stunning, oversized, and incredibly soft scarf, inspired by Daughters of Olympus by Hannah Lynn, is just what you need. It’s time to bring a bit of glamor to your summer reading day!

Shell Ankle Bracelet: It’s time to accessorize! This beautiful ankle bracelet featuring two hanging seashells was inspired by Daughter of the Pirate King by Tricia Levenseller.

Summer Thrills 2026: Who said summer can’t be thrilling? Pre-Order our full Summer Thrills Book Box before they’re sold out!

Happy Summer Reading from all of us at Once Upon a Book Club! We would love to hear all about your favorite summer reading experiences.

Shop all Summer Bookish Items

July is a month of celebration, and we can’t wait for this month’s new releases. And honestly, this list is giving us everything from magical childhood games, Parisian love stories, high-stakes suspense, cozy fantasy on the high seas, and suspicious geese to second chances and one deliciously complicated con.

Basically, July has arrived with a stack of books that rather suggests we should cancel any plans, grab that glass of wine, and declare that “research” now means reading just one more chapter!

Whether you’re in the mood for romance, mystery, fantasy, historical drama, or something wonderfully hard to categorize, this month’s releases are definitely going to tip your TBR pile over.

As always, these are books that we are excited about and won’t necessarily appear in our monthly book boxes.

The Mash Up by Laura Marie Meyers

Release Date: July 7th, 2026

It’s all fun and games until someone falls in love.

Ruby Wynne is a rule-follower whose well-planned life is completely thrown off course when a breakup on her thirty-fifth birthday ruins everything. After making an unexpected wish, she wakes up inside a M.A.S.H. game from seventh grade.

Suddenly, Ruby is living in a Technicolor mansion, driving a tie-dye Jeep, and running a roller-disco restaurant. The only problem? Her supposed “other half” is Penn Hayes, her brother’s annoying and annoyingly handsome best friend. Ruby’s escape plan is simple: win Penn’s heart and complete the game. Easy enough, except Penn has always been on her lifelong list of don’ts.

Meet Me in Paris by Kristin Harmel

Release Date: July 28th, 2026

Nine Americans. Seven intertwined love stories. One unforgettable week in Paris.

Meet Me in Paris brings together stories of love, loss, courage, and redemption in the City of Light. Julia Glover has brought her daughter Piper to Paris for the first time, knowing it will also be their last trip together. As Julia faces the end of her life, both mother and daughter find unexpected connections.

Alongside them, a former rock star returns to the city where his career began, a songwriter searches for the woman he loved during World War II, and a woman betrayed by her husband must decide what kind of future she truly wants. It sounds emotional, sweeping, and very likely to require tissues.

Getting Away With Murder by Shari Lapena

Release Date: July 28th, 2026

Jill and Ted adore their New York brownstone. Truly adore it. Every staircase, every carefully chosen detail, every glossy-magazine-worthy corner reflects who they are and the lifestyle they are desperate to protect.

But when Ted’s inheritance runs out and a bad investment puts everything at risk, panic sets in. Their solution? The death of one wealthy family member could solve all their problems. Together, they decide they will get away with murder.

Of course, that depends on there being no surprises. And on them trusting each other. Which already sounds like a recipe for the kind of trouble we absolutely want to read about.

Sea of Charms by Sarah Beth Durst

Release Date: July 28th, 2026

Sea of Charms brings cozy fantasy romance to the high seas in the third magical adventure in the Spellshop series.

Marin has always belonged on the sea. After the man she loved tried to ruin her parents’ business, she fled to the water and built a life as a supply runner, sailing between islands with goods, letters, stories, and the occasional enchanted statue.

Her crew includes Perri the sea serpent and Ree the sailor shrub, which already sounds delightful. But when Marin rescues Dax, a composer fleeing a city in chaos, their arrangement turns into a pretend-boyfriend situation for the End-of-Harvest Festival. Naturally, feelings may not stay pretended for long.

Wild Goose Chase by Sarah Adler

Release Date: July 28th, 2026

There are book descriptions, and then there are book descriptions involving an illegal taxidermy goose.

Antique store owner Callahan Leitner has a contraband goose in his living room, and he needs to get rid of it before it ruins his career. Unfortunately, his plans are complicated by Annie O’Neill, who is filling in at her uncle’s antique store and quickly discovers the source of Cal’s very strange mood.

When the goose goes missing, Cal and Annie must work together to find the felonious fowl before it can be traced back to the store. Professional reputations are on the line, attraction is simmering, and honestly, we are already way too invested in this goose.

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The Romance Revival by Christina Lauren

Release Date: July 14th, 2026

In The Romance Revival, love gets one extraordinary do-over.

Three years ago, Emery Finch unexpectedly married Luca, the charming landscaper she met during one unforgettable night in Vegas. But now Emery is consumed by her top-secret job, missing dinners, forgetting anniversaries, and assuming Luca will understand once her research comes to light.

Then tragedy strikes, and Emery refuses to lose him. She breaks every rule to bring Luca back, but there is one painful problem: he cannot remember her. Not their first kiss, not their beach days, not the life they built. For Emery, this miracle of science becomes one final chance to love him properly.

An Infinite Love Story by Chanel Cleeton

Release Date: July 7th, 2026

Set against the backdrop of the 1960s Space Race, An Infinite Love Story follows Vivian Mitchell after her astronaut husband Joe is lost in space.

It is 1968, and the world is watching Joe’s mission with excitement. Then his spacecraft loses contact, and he and the other astronauts onboard are feared dead. As the nation mourns, Vivian relives their love story and refuses to accept that this is the end.

When the investigation writes the disaster off as operator error, Vivian becomes determined to clear Joe’s name. Then messages begin arriving, messages she believes only Joe could send, making her wonder whether their love may be stronger than space and time.

Prince of Swords by Elise Kova

Release Date: July 21st, 2026

Welcome back to Arcana Academy, where tarot magic, forbidden desire, battle, and betrayal collide.

Clara Graysword is Oricalis’s most wanted, hunted, and cornered despite her mastery of tarot. When the mysterious Worldkeepers appear, they may offer a way to change her fate, if she can trust them.

But Clara is already caught in her most dangerous alliance: Prince Kaelis, the ruthless headmaster of Arcana Academy. Bound by destiny and desire, Clara and Kaelis uncover powerful tarot secrets and hidden truths that could destroy everything between them. Clara must risk her power, her beliefs, and her heart if she wants to change the world.

If Books Could Kill by Kate Eberle

Release Date: July 21st, 2026

Roxie makes a playful wish to live inside the plot of her favourite author’s next novel. She expects romance, swoony moments, and the kind of safe, sweet storyline Anna Matthews is known for.

Instead, she finds herself on a fairytale first date with a dashing stranger who tries to kill her. Slight genre mix-up. It turns out Anna is writing a crime thriller this time.

Thrown into a perilous story she has never read, Roxie needs help fast. Enter Grant Hoffman, an anxious English professor who happens to love crime novels. Together, they must navigate a madcap world where fiction and reality blur and survive long enough to reach The End.

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Cross My Heart, I Hope You Die by Mallory Arnold

Release Date: July 14th, 2026

One isolated cabin. One cheating boyfriend. One revenge plan that goes very, very wrong.

When Nora, Ruby, and Cham discover they have all been dating the same man, outrage quickly turns into a plot for payback. They lure him to a romantic getaway in a secluded cabin on a snow-covered mountain.

But their harmless revenge takes a chilling turn when he is found dead. Stranded and snowed in, the three women begin suspecting each other as hidden motives rise to the surface. Is one of them a killer, or is something else waiting in the freezing wilderness?

Vera Stein is Fine by Julie Murphy

Release Date: July 21st, 2026

Vera Stein thinks life and love have passed her by, but Starlight Palms may have other ideas.

At forty, Vera is abruptly houseless and jobless after years of caring for her mother and managing her movie-star boss’s ego. With nowhere else to go, she lands at her grandmother’s retirement facility outside Palm Springs, a midcentury Hollywood haven filled with forgotten scream queens, eccentric writers, and heartthrobs of the past.

There, Vera finds a new job as activities coordinator and reconnects with Elias Buckley, the on-site doctor, former college fling, and, for reasons best left in Vegas, legally her ex-husband. Suddenly, Vera’s detours may be leading toward a Hollywood ending after all.

The Intrigue by Silvia Moreno-Garcia

Release Date: July 14th, 2026

The Intrigue is a sizzling noir about desire, danger, greed, and seduction as the ultimate con.

Ulises is a handsome con artist who charms lonely women through letters and steals their money. But in 1940s Mexico, money is hard to come by, and Ulises knows he needs a real fortune. He thinks he has found it in Perla, the owner of a small-town boardinghouse in Veracruz.

Then he meets Inés, Perla’s observant niece, who quickly discovers his true intentions and wants in on the scheme. The plan seems simple: convince Perla to marry Ulises, take her money, and disappear. But Perla has secrets, and Inés may be far more tempting than Ulises expected.

So Many Books, So Little Shelf Space

July is going to be fabulous; in other words, our TBR lists are in trouble again. We can’t wait to get started and would love to hear which ones you’re waiting for! And if you’re looking for more inspiration, make sure to check out our blog on What the OUABC Team is Reading.

Of course, if you love your reading with a little extra magic, our Once Upon a Book Club subscriptions are always ready to bring stories to life with wrapped gifts you open as you read. Because sometimes the only thing better than discovering a brilliant new book is experiencing it with surprises waiting inside.

Happy reading from all of us at Once Upon a Book Club!

If you haven’t discovered the joy of a reading journal, your bookworm journey is incomplete. We absolutely love them! When we began designing our reading journal, it was obvious that it would be a team effort. We all had different ideas of what we liked to keep track of while reading, and a labor of love was poured into creating a book journal that the entire Once Upon a Book Club team deemed fit-for-a-bookworm!

Reading journals are like a historic diary of your reading journey—what you have read, how the book made you feel, your favorite quotes, characters, etc.—and nothing beats going through an older reading journal and seeing how your reading has changed. In some ways, it can feel like a reflection of your life as you look back at the genres, authors, and moments that captivated you during different stages.

It’s time to grab a cup of coffee and that obligatory slice of chocolate cake, sit back and relax, and find out exactly why you need a reading journal!

What a Reading Journal Actually Changes About Reading

Many people mistakenly think that reading journals are simply about recording the title and author and perhaps adding a smiley emoji, but it is so much more!

Besides helping you remember what you read, it helps you think about the story on a whole new level. It’s about reflecting and being more intentional. It provides you with a place to jot down your thoughts, emotions, and how the book made you feel.

If you’re like us, you’ve got various notes with fabulous quotes from books you can’t remember what they were. A reading journal gives you the space to keep them all together. And if you’re into reading trilogies or series, it’s the perfect place to jot down your thoughts on what happened and what you think should happen next!

But perhaps, as we mentioned earlier, one of the most wonderful things about keeping a reading journal is being able to look back and see how your reading journey has changed over time. You can look back at the books that made you laugh, the ones that touched your heart, and the ones that arrived at exactly the right moment, offering the comfort, escape, adventure, or encouragement you needed.

The Structured Journal: For the Reader Who Wants to Remember and Review

A structured journal is perfect for those of you who want prompts, review pages, ratings, and spaces for quotes. All of these provide a more guided way to reflect on each book, and if you like to follow a standard format, this ticks all the boxes!

Our reading journals are available in three stunning colorways, including Classic Coral, Periwinkle Prose, and Seafoam Stories. Each journal features a sewn-in ribbon bookmark in a coordinating color, matching floral endpapers, 75 unique book review pages, as well as index pages to list which books you’ve reviewed.

We have also included fun prompts to help you craft your review (including major characters, favorite quotes, a spice rating, etc), and space to be creative with drawings, stickers, or even display your OUABC Collectible stickers!

The Blank Slate Notebook: For the Reader Who Wants to Create Their Own Story

Blank notebooks are perfect when you’re looking for the freedom to write down whatever captures you. Perhaps it’s an analysis of the main characters, writing alternative endings, or filling a page with quotes and feelings. Your notebook is like a blank canvas.

These types of notebooks are perfect for reading series like Bridgerton, where you can capture your entire experience and even compare the books to the Netflix series. Especially when it comes to those swoon-worthy moments!

The blank slate also lets your inner creative shine. You can decorate your notebook with regency-styled paper, include pressed flowers, ribbons, and soft pastel colors, and make it completely your own.

It becomes a keepsake of your entire reading experience, one you can look back on whenever you want to step back into the world of ballrooms and beautifully complicated love stories.

What to Write When You Don’t Know What to Write

Just like authors, readers get writer’s block too! This is where structured notebooks really succeed, but don’t worry, we’ve got some prompts to help you!

• What did I love about this book?

• Which character resonated with me the most?

• What quote do I want to remember?

• How did this book make me feel?

• Would I recommend it, and to whom?

• What was my favourite moment?

Remember, you’re not writing a novel, let alone an essay; just a few lines will also suffice. There is no right or wrong way when it comes to journaling! It’s all about what is important to you!

Looking For Your Next Read?

We have some exciting options, so make sure to check out our ready-to-ship book boxes, and if you’re looking to experience something completely different, then you definitely need to take a peek at our OUABC Lite Boxes. It’s like a book-only option with a magical touch. Our Lite Boxes are guaranteed to stimulate your senses like never before.

In OUABC Lite, paper items wrapped in envelopes work to incorporate the five senses (sight, smell, sound, taste, and touch) to highlight moments that will make you feel like you’re part of the story in the most immersive way possible. Only open the envelopes when you reach the corresponding page number, no matter how tempted you are!

Make sure to read our latest blogs on June’s new releases and what the OUABC team is currently reading. Our TBR lists grow longer by the minute! Happy journaling from all of us at Once Upon a Book Club. We would love to hear about your reading journey and which journals work best for you!

If you’re heading to the beach for a day of fun, sunshine, and relaxation (in other words, book in hand), then building the perfect bookish beach bag has got to be your number one priority! We all love the idea of a perfect day out, but let’s be honest, when you add a touch of sand, sunscreen, water, a little glare, and a bit of a breeze into the mix, things can get out of hand.

Relax, we’ve got you covered, so sit back and relax and let’s get beach-ready, bookish style!

What Actually Belongs in a Bookish Beach Bag?

First up is the actual bag; you definitely want a bag large enough to carry all the necessities. We don’t like carrying loads of bags or making return trips to the car. A waterproof bag or one with a thick lining is perfect.

Let’s kick off with all the essentials: your latest read, a beach towel, sunscreen, sunglasses, a water bottle, a baseball cap, a travel pouch (for keeping things organized), reading accessories, and those all-important snacks!

How to Protect Your Book From Sand and Sunscreen

A book sleeve is non-negotiable! There is nothing worse than crumpled pages accompanied by the odd splash of sunscreen. Our book sleeves are the perfect size, measuring 13” x 9.5” when laid out flat.

They’re made from soft, vegan leather and feature an elastic pen/highlighter holder, a small, zippered pocket on the back, an extra-large lined interior, and an elastic button closure at the top.

If you’re caught without your book sleeve, a ziplock bag is a great backup plan. We recommend keeping a pack of wet wipes handy so that you can wipe your hands before reading, and make sure to keep your books in their sleeves when you’re taking a quick break. It always amazes me how sand sneaks in everywhere, even when there isn’t a hint of a breeze!

A Kindle is great for the beach for obvious reasons, but you still need to protect it from the heat, sand, and water. Our book sleeves do the job perfectly!

How to Beat the Glare Without Missing a Page

We all know how annoying it is to try to read when the glare kicks in. It can even happen when you are happily reading under the shade of a beach umbrella. Drum roll, that’s why we always make sure to pack a fabulous baseball cap. Our baseball cap oozes bookish charm, and when paired with some large sunglasses, the look is complete!

It’s not all about frustration or looking fabulous. Did you know that wearing a sun hat or a baseball cap while reading outside helps by blocking the overhead glare? It is important to shield your eyes from direct sunlight, and the brim actually minimizes pupil constriction, is known to reduce eye strain, and prevents those awful headaches we get when squinting.

Reading and Bookish-Inspired Accessories Ideal for the Beach

Aside from our incredible book sleeves and bookish-inspired hats and baseball caps, we have a host of reading accessories that will just add to your day of fun in the sun.

Hydration, hydration, hydration! A water bottle is another necessity, after all, reading can be mentally exhausting, it’s like the gym for your brain! On a serious note, keeping your body hydrated while in the sun is extremely important, and our metal, insulated water bottles do the trick, plus they’re the perfect way to show off your monthly collectible stickers!

A bookmark is another necessity in our book. A quick, unexpected breeze, and you spend the next few minutes trying to find where you were. Our bookmarks serve two purposes: one, keeping your place, and two, featuring slots for up to 27 book reviews, including the date read, book title, and your star rating! We also have bookmark bundles available, and with dozens of variations of bookmarks from our past boxes, you never know what you’ll receive!

You can pack your standard beach towel or get into the whole beach bookish vibe with one from our Summer Collection! We love this Summer Reading Beach Towel, which features pink tassels on both ends and a collection of summery artwork perfect for reading outside!

The Perfect Beach Read

Our Summer 2025 Reading Box is just what you need (did we mention one of the gifts is that fabulous summer reading beach towel?) This full book box features a hardcover copy of The Martha’s Vineyard Beach and Book Club by Martha Hall Kelly and five surprise gifts!

If you’re looking for something more thrilling, then our Summer Thrills Box was made for you! Featuring a new, hardcover copy of Caller Unknown by bestselling author Gillian McAllister plus five stunning gifts!

We also have an incredible selection of book-only options. When it comes to summer, we immediately think of romance. Who doesn’t love a vacation romance? We think you will thoroughly enjoy Until Next Summer by Ali Brady.

“A heartfelt and hilarious frolic through a nostalgic landscape of color wars, first kisses, and toilet-paper porch decor—with a cocktail in hand.” – Shelby Van Pelt, New York Times bestselling author of Remarkably Bright Creatures.

Two former best friends each find love at an adults-only summer camp in this romantic and nostalgic novel that proves “once a camp person, always a camp person.”

Sun, Snacks, and SPF: The Final Beach Bag Check

Now that your book is tucked safely in its sleeve, your water bottle is filled, your bookmark is ready for battle against the breeze, and your snacks are packed within easy reach, there’s only one thing left to do: double-check the sunscreen.

So grab your beach bag, find your perfect patch of beach bliss, settle onto your towel, and let the waves, sunshine, and page-turning begin.

Whether you’re caught up in a summer romance, a thrilling mystery, or your latest OUABC Book Box, you’re officially ready for a gloriously bookish beach day. Happy reading from all of us at Once Upon a Book Club!

We love setting reading goals. It feels so aspirational, and we kick off with a TBR list longer than our New Year’s resolutions. Then somehow life gets in the way, and we find ourselves looking at our goals, feeling behind, and disappointed with ourselves. This is a cycle so many of us face, and perhaps it’s time to realize we have been approaching this all wrong.

So relax, stop the self-judgement and unrealistic reading goals, and let’s create reading goals that incorporate consistency and are achievable. That is far more valuable than feeling guilty every time you look at that organized stack of books you’re supposed to be reading. We want reading to be fun and not feel like another one of those “I have to” tasks on your list!

Why Summer Reading Goals Fail: The Honest Version

It’s time to get real and ask ourselves what we really want to achieve, and it basically boils down to wanting to read more. It’s not about getting through a stack of books or reading the entire Bridgerton collection in a month; it’s about putting away those digital distractions, taking time out, and getting back in touch with our inner bookworm!

Most summer reading goals fail because, honestly, they’re unachievable, unless of course you plan to do nothing else but read 24/7 and carry on into fall. You need to be realistic. Summer vacations are packed with family plans, social commitments, and disrupted routines, along with your normal everyday responsibilities.

Set a Number You Can Hit on a Bad Week, Not a Great One

Most of us plan our reading goals based on the most perfect week possible. You know the one where you get up at 5 am, chores are finished by 8 am, breakfast by 9 am, and you sit back and relax with a book all day (obviously, nothing will distract you at all), but life doesn’t work that way. Plan a reading goal that feels possible during a busy or chaotic week.

Perhaps it’s time to think of it differently. Just 10 minutes of reading a day over summer adds up to 920 minutes, or more than 15 hours of reading time. That’s a lot of chapters for something that feels completely manageable! And if the average person reads around 200 words per minute, that equates to around 184,000 words, which could add up to two full-length novels!

Match the Book to the Moment, Not the Goal

Another aspect to consider is choosing the right book for your mood. If your goal is to read more and get back into a reading routine, you may want to try something more lighthearted, like a romance, thriller, or novella.

We have some great book-only options and full book boxes, like our Big Apple Adventures Young Adult Book Box, featuring The Getaway List by Emma Lord, as well as our world-famous, beautifully wrapped surprise gifts. Yes, it may be a YA book, but did you know that many of our YA subscribers are actually adults? We love reading YA fiction; they’re easy reads and pure escapism.

Audiobooks are another great way to keep your reading goals on track, especially when life becomes hectic, and you just can’t find a gap to sit down with your latest read. We love how you can still “read” while commuting, grabbing a cup of coffee, or even cooking—and yes, they absolutely count as reading!

Ways to Track Your Reading and Which Fits You

Just like with any goal, tracking your progress can make all the difference. Seeing our progress motivates us to continue and gives us a sense of accomplishment. Tracking reading progress is not just about ticking off the number of pages, chapters, or books we have read; there is so much more to it.

Here are a few of our favorite tracking tools:

Reading Log Bookmark Set: This is perfect for those of you who want to track what you’ve read by capturing the basics. Each bookmark features slots for up to 27 book reviews, including the date read, book title, and your star rating!

OUABC Reading Journal: Our beautiful, classic reading journals come in Periwinkle Prose, Classic Coral, and Seafoam Stories. Each journal features 75 unique book review pages, index pages to list which books you’ve reviewed, fun prompts to help you craft your review (including major characters, favorite quotes, a spice rating, etc), and space to be creative with drawings, stickers, or even display your OUABC Collectible stickers!

StoryGraph: Tracking your progress on StoryGraph is perfect for those of you who prefer to go digital. All you need to do is mark a book as Currently Reading and update your progress. You can log your current chapter, enter the exact time you spent reading—which is great for audiobooks—and even add notes. We also love their reading challenges, and that you can set yearly goals.

Notebooks: We have to admit that we love notebooks. Have you ever noticed that most bookworms also love stationery? A beautifully bound blank notebook gives you the freedom to jot down whatever you want. Whether you want to journal about how the book made you feel, your thoughts on the main character, or the ending, a blank notebook is packed with pages just waiting for your thoughts.

Summer Reading Goals Bonus Tips

We often hear people say they feel guilty when they give up on a book. But there should be absolutely no shame in not finishing a book. Remember, when you carry on reading something you aren’t enjoying, you’re taking time away from reading another book that may bring you joy, laughter, or make you see life in a different way!

And then there’s that dreaded feeling when you know you’re falling behind. Relax, take a breath, and remember that reading is about enjoyment. Don’t be hard on yourself, we promise there are no Reading Goal Police out there, and you can simply start from scratch, adjust the number, choose a book that truly excites you, or, what works for me, is choosing a shorter read.

Monthly Book Subscriptions are a wonderful way to keep on track, especially when they are packed with surprises that make you want to turn the pages! There are so many fabulous book boxes to choose from that you are spoiled for choice.

Obviously, we think our book boxes are amazing, and to be honest, they are! Why not try one of our No-Commitment Monthly Boxes? These boxes require no subscription commitment and allow you to pick and choose which months you want to receive a box! Each box includes a fiction novel + 3-5 wrapped gifts to open when you reach the corresponding page. Experience a new way to read!

We would love to hear how your summer reading goals are progressing and what’s on your TBR list! Happy reading from all of us at Once Upon a Book Club!

Here at Once Upon a Book Club, we are so excited that summer is here and entertaining is right at the top of our list! We love entertaining in summer, afternoons filled with sunshine and warm evenings. It’s the one season of the year that just lends itself to family gatherings and catch-up sessions with our friends.

For most of us, entertaining focuses on what we are going to serve, but it’s not all about the food and drinks. Our bookish entertaining essentials bring out your bookish personality and add that extra bit of charm.

So we’ll leave the menu planning to you, and you can leave those bookish touches to us!

Why Generic Dinnerware Misses the Moment

There is absolutely nothing wrong with a beautiful white dinner service, but does it really reflect who you are? Those bookish touches bring that extra bit of personality to the table, and they are great conversation pieces!

It’s time to turn your summer entertaining into something memorable, especially when your guests are ones who notice the details! Our Little Women or Great Gatsby book plate sets are just what you need to add that touch of literary magic. Each set includes one small salad plate and one large dinner plate, both printed with the book title, author name, and first and second pages of the novel.

And if you don’t mind being a little quirky with your table setting, you can alternate them with plain plates: a bookish side plate paired with a simple dinner plate, followed by a bookish dinner plate paired with a plain side plate. Add in a few colored plates for a splash of summer brightness, and suddenly your table is the talk of the town!

Glassware: The Literary Conversation Starter

Literary glassware is becoming more and more popular. They are obviously wonderful conversation starters, especially when they’re Tortured Classics. Every set includes four standard-sized whiskey glasses, each printed with a different book title and author on the front, plus a memorable quote on the back. The collection features Moby Dick by Herman Melville, Crime and Punishment by Fyodor Dostoevsky, The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, and The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger.

These are the types of glasses that instantly become part of the conversation. Whether you’re serving whiskey, cocktails, mocktails, or something sparkling, these glasses add that special touch!

But if you’re looking for some incredible wine glasses that will add a touch of drama to your table, then look no further than our gold, hammered metal Wrath of Goddess Wine Goblets! And for the champagne lovers in your life, we have just the thing! “The World is Yours for the Reading” champagne flutes say it all without uttering a word!

Extra Bookish Table Touches

We love that each of our bookish products has a story behind it, because that’s what life is about. Getting together with family and friends gives us a chance to share in each other’s stories, we share laughter, tears, and all the moments in between!

Candles always add that special touch, and we have a great selection, but when it comes to hosting a summer get-together, we think our lemon-scented candle is just what you need. It was inspired by Nothing Bad Happens Here by Rachel Ekstrom Courage!

We also have the perfect four-napkin summer set. This floral-embroidered napkin set was inspired by Louisa May Alcott’s Little Women, which was featured in our 2025 Classic box.

Our glass mug set is perfect for doubling as a holder for all-important sauces and dips, and with its matching small gold spoon, it will definitely be a highlight! This set was inspired by This Will Be Fun by E.B. Asher. Speaking of spoons, you definitely want a book spoon rest inspired by either Little Women or The Great Gatsby. Yes, you need a spoon rest; it’s all about the details!

The all-important cheese course will never be the same without our bamboo serving board and cheese knife set! Our gorgeous serving board was inspired by Scenes of the Crime by Jilly Gagnon, while our 3-piece cheese knife set, which includes a flat-bladed knife, cheese fork, and spade knife, was inspired by An Inconvenient Wife by Karen E. Olson.

DIY Bookish Touches You Can Create at Home

Of course, you don’t need to buy something new every time you host. Sometimes the most memorable details are the ones you create yourself. Ours are usually done with a pair of scissors, a ribbon, and a slightly unrealistic belief that “this will only take ten minutes.”

One of the easiest ways to add a bookish touch is with place cards inspired by characters or authors. Instead of writing each guest’s name on a plain card, match them to a character from their favorite book or create a theme with authors from the same genre!

You can even use books you already own as part of the table décor. A few hardcovers strategically placed down the center of the table makes a wonderful centerpiece. All that is left is to add flowers, candles, or small bowls of snacks around them, and suddenly your table has height, color, and personality.

Pour the Wine, Place the Plate, and Let the Entertaining Begin!

Summer entertaining should always feel warm and welcoming, and with a few added touches, you’re bound to create memories that will last a lifetime!

And at the end of the day, that is what is important. Spending time with your loved ones, creating memories filled with joy and laughter. These are the moments we love reading about, and to be experiencing them, well, that is magical!

Happy entertaining our fellow bookworms! We would love to see what your bookish-inspired tables look like, so make sure to drop a pic!

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