My husband and I just got back from a quick trip to Texas, where we got to spend time with my oldest and dearest friend and her husband. While we were there, they took us on a local bookstore tour! I only bought one book, but I took pictures of plenty that I want to check out from the library! (All covers are linked to Goodreads.)
Buy The Book - The Woodlands, TX
New & used books + a bookstore cat named Luna!
Bookstore #1 might have been my favorite. I found three books that interested me there (and I got to pet the bookstore cat briefly!).
Akarnae, by Lynette Noni
Genre: YA Fantasy
Release Year: 2015
Portal fantasy? Sign me up!
The Book of Lost Hours, by Hayley Gelfuso
Genre: Historical Fantasy
Release Year: 2025
I can't really pinpoint why I wanted to read this except that it sounded interesting.
The Listeners, by Maggie Stiefvater
Genre: Historical Fantasy
Release Year: 2025
I enjoyed The Raven Cycle and The Scorpio Races, so I'm excited to read Maggie Stiefvater's newest creation!
Good Books in the Woods - Spring, TX
Used & collectible books + a bookstore dog named Bruce!
This was for sure the most unique bookstore we visited. It was very decorated for Halloween, and much like the TARDIS, it was deceptively large on the inside. This was also the only bookstore where I bought something; I found a copy of Cornelia Funke's The Thief Lord, which I had just been thinking about the other day, and I was happy to get a copy of my own for under $5.
Soulswift, by Megan Bannen
Genre: YA Fantasy
Release Year: 2020
Apart from the stunning cover, I picked this up because the summary reminded me of The Foxglove King, which I really enjoyed.
In the Heart of the Sea: The Tragedy of the Whaleship Essex, by Nathaniel Philbrick
Genre: Nonfiction
Release Year: 2000
I sense piratey vibes! (Actually, the blurb makes me think of this as a mashup of "The Wellerman" and The Endurance, which is quite intriguing.)
Murder by the Book - Houston, TX
Killer books, but no bookstore pets :(
While this was the world's largest crime fiction bookstore, I was happy to find a respectable fantasy section as well.
The Republic of Thieves, by Scott Lynch
Release Year: 2013
I was intrigued by the title and the cover. It's the third book in a series, apparently, so I guess I'll have to put the first two on my TBR as well.
Thunderstruck, by Erik Larson
Genre: Nonfiction
Release Year: 2006
The blurb for this one sounded so interesting, and a lot of the ladies at my book club really like Erik Larson.
Half Price Books - College Station, TX
This wasn't originally a stop on our bookstore tour (it's a chain, not local), but my husband wanted to go, and I'm glad we did, because I found a lot of good titles!
Hotel Magnifique, by Emily J. Taylor
Genre: YA Fantasy
Release Year: 2022
I'm always down for a fictional romp through a magical building!
Thistlefoot, by GennaRose Nethercott
Genre: Fantasy
Release Year: 2022
Um, yes? Jewish folklore, a sentient house on chicken legs, and a con artist?! Sign. Me. Up!!!
Ordinary Monsters, by J.M. Miro
Genre: Fantasy
Release Year: 2022
People with strange talents that they have no idea how to control. Sounds like a great read!
A Song to Drown Rivers, by Ann Liang
Genre: Fantasy
Release Year: 2024
I didn't even look at the blurb for this–I remember seeing this all over the place last year, and I recently read Liang's I Am Not Jessica Chen, which I really enjoyed, and that was enough for me!
A Long Fatal Love Chase, by Louisa May Alcott
Genre: Historical Fiction
Release Year: 1995
This was posthumously published, and no wonder, because the blurb is absolutely wild. I'm super curious, because it sounds so much darker and different from everything else Louisa May Alcott wrote!
Alchemy of Secrets, by Stephanie Garber
Genre: Fantasy
Release Year: 2025
I can't believe I still haven't read anything by Stephanie Garber! That'll have to change soon.
Huntsman, by Naima Simone
Genre: Romantasy
Release Year: 2025
I'm not super into Romantasy, but this looks like a Snow White retelling, and I'm collecting Snow White retellings for a blog post similar to this one (and for my own enjoyment, of course). Also, it's Mafia-inspired? Okay. I'll give it a try.
Love the “howdy” on the plane wing: it was an amazing visit! Two out of the three original spots having a bookstore pet was such an excellent addition to the experience. And you weren’t kidding, you found lots of titles at Half Priced Books! Added a half mile to your TBR listš¤£
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