Novel Reading

Come join us to discuss our July pick "Tusk Love" by Thea Guanzon! Book description: A merchant’s daughter who yearns for adventure gets more than she bargained for when she falls for a broodingly handsome stranger in this saucy romantasy from the New York Times bestselling author of The Hurricane Wars. “A true delight of a book! Spicy and heartfelt—this one is a winner all around.”—Katee Robert, author of Neon Gods As the daughter of an ambitious merchant, Guinevere’s path has been predetermined: marry into a noble house of the Dwendalian Empire, raise her family’s station, and live quietly as a lordling’s obedient wife. But Guinevere longs for a life unbounded by expectations, for freedom and passion and adventure. Those distant dreams become a sudden reality when her caravan is beset by bandits, leaving her guards slain and Guinevere stranded alone on the dangerous Amber Road. Her only chance of survival is to travel alongside Oskar, the aloof half-orc who saved her during the attack. Unlike Guinevere, Oskar’s path is not so set in stone. With his mother dead and his apprenticeship abandoned, all that’s left is a long, lonely walk to a land he’s never seen to find family he’s never met. The last thing he needs is a spoiled waif like Guinevere slowing him down—even if the spark between them sizzles with promise. Despite his cold exterior, Oskar is brave and thoughtful and unlike anyone Guinevere has ever met. And while Guinevere may be sheltered, she brings out a softness in him that he has never dared to feel before. As the flames of their passion grow, they realize that soon they’ll need to choose between their expected destinations or their blossoming romance. Written by New York Times bestselling author Thea Guanzon at the behest of Critical Role’s Jester Lavorre, Tusk Love brings the most romantic story on Exandrian bookshelves to life.

**🦋 Local Book Club: The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid — Open to All** This month we're getting together to share reactions to The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo, our selection by Taylor Jenkins Reid in a no-pressure setting where every view is welcome, and you rarely leave without a new perspective. Even a partial read is more than enough to contribute, and bring the lines that you think the group will find interesting, and bring your reading notes — because unfiltered reactions tend to open up the most interesting threads. The group is open to anyone interested — and you will find the group easy to talk with from the start, everything else is taken care of once you are in the room, and the relaxed setting means there is no pressure on you. Everything is open for debate — with all opinions treated as equally valid, and every reading of the same book turns out to be a different book. --- **Good to bring:** - A drink if you are bringing one — the evening can run long - Your copy of the book (physical or digital) - Anything you underlined or wanted to come back to - Your genuine reactions however complicated 💡 **Quick tip:** write down the one thing you would ask the author if you could, so you have something concrete to anchor your contribution, and the session repays whatever small preparation you put in. --- 🪴 A great discussion changes how you see a great book — grab a spot and bring the book and the rest is just a good evening with good people. See you at the session. 🪴

**📚 Reading Club: The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid – Free to Join** We're meeting up to share thoughts on our current read, The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid in a casual and welcoming atmosphere, and the discussion tends to go in unexpected directions. Discussion flows wherever the group takes it — with the book as a launchpad for wherever things lead, and people who expected a quiet evening often end up talking the longest. No requirement to finish — come wherever you are in the book, and mark the parts that surprised you most, and bring your analysis — as the group's conversation is richer for having every viewpoint in the room. Anyone is welcome regardless of reading experience — and you will find the group easy to talk with from the start, bring your reactions and leave the rest to the discussion, and the group's warmth makes it genuinely easy to join in. --- **Good to bring:** - Any notes or passages you flagged while reading - A copy of The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo to reference during discussion - An open mind and a willingness to debate **A quick overview:** - Everyone finds a seat and the discussion opens whenever the group is ready - The group digs into the book and the conversation goes wherever it leads - At some point toward the end the group votes on or suggests next month's read 💡 **Worth knowing:** note the moment you felt the strongest reaction whatever that was, since your strongest reaction is usually your most interesting contribution, and you will find that even a rough note is worth more than nothing. --- 🌻 The best reading is always shared reading — sign up and bring your reading experience however partial and you will leave with more than you came with. The conversation gets better with every reader in the room. 🌻

**📖 Literary Circle: The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid · No Commitment Required** We're sitting down to analyse and talk through this month's pick — The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid in a relaxed and open group setting, and you rarely leave without a new perspective. Come having read whatever you managed, and note any characters or moments you want to unpack, and bring your reading notes — because unfiltered reactions tend to open up the most interesting threads. Newcomers are always made to feel at home — and you will find the group easy to talk with from the start, bring the book and a willingness to talk, and the discussion tends to do the heavy lifting. The session is loosely structured — with disagreement and debate genuinely encouraged, and every reading of the same book turns out to be a different book. ⭐ *"Left with a completely different view of the book — the host keeps things inclusive without making it feel managed"* – returning reader 💡 **Pre-session tip:** mark the page you most want to talk about, because it takes thirty seconds and pays off for the entire session, and everything after that is just conversation. --- ✨ Reading alone is one thing — reading together is another — RSVP and come ready to talk and you will leave with more than you came with. Your seat is waiting. ✨

**🍵 Book Night: The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid** We're gathering to look closely at The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo, written by Taylor Jenkins Reid in an easy-going group where everyone contributes, and no two sessions ever feel the same. Read as much as you can before coming, and note a scene or passage that struck you, and bring your opinions — because you do not need to be an expert reader to have something valuable to say. The format is relaxed and member-led — with all opinions treated as equally valid, and the group's range of perspectives is what makes it work. This is an open group and new faces are always a good thing — and the group is warm and unpretentious in equal measure, the only requirement is showing up ready to talk, and the discussion gets richer with every new reader who joins. --- **Good to bring:** - Your best questions and your strongest opinions - A coffee or tea if you want one during the session - Notes from your reading however informal - A copy of The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo to reference during discussion 💡 **A quick note:** read the last chapter even if you skipped the middle, as a single flagged scene is more useful than a general impression, and the conversation builds on it immediately. --- 🌻 Good books are better with good company — join us and bring your read and everything you need is already there when you arrive. The discussion starts when you arrive. 🌻

**🌿 Reading Club: The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid** Everyone is welcome to join us to open up a conversation around Taylor Jenkins Reid's remarkable The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo in an easy-going group where everyone contributes, and great discussion is always the main event. Sessions run as open conversation — with side conversations and digressions part of the experience, and the group's range of perspectives is what makes it work. Come however far through the book you are, and bring the lines that you think the group will find interesting, and bring your questions and observations — as the discussion works best when it is driven by what actually moved you. First time here is just as good as any other time to come — and you will find it easy to join the conversation at any point in the evening, bring the book and a willingness to talk, and the evening almost always ends with people wanting to continue. --- **The evening in brief:** 1. Arrive, grab a seat, and introduce yourself if you are new — no icebreakers, just conversation 2. Members share their takes and the discussion branches out from there 3. At some point toward the end the group votes on or suggests next month's read **Bring along:** - Notes from your reading however informal - The book — dog-eared pages and all - Curiosity and a willingness to hear other readings 💡 **Good to know:** bring the line that stayed with you longest after closing the book, as it gives you something to come back to when the conversation gets busy, and you will find that even a rough note is worth more than nothing. --- 🍂 There is always more in a book than one reader can find alone — come along and add your voice and the conversation does everything else. The discussion starts when you arrive. 🍂

**📔 Books and Banter: The Secret History by Donna Tartt • All Readers Welcome** Come and join us to open up a conversation about this month's pick, The Secret History by Donna Tartt with people who just enjoy a good back-and-forth, and no two nights ever play out the same. Reading ahead is great but not required, and bring whatever section you're itching to discuss, and bring your scribbled notes — because what you clocked is exactly what someone else sailed past. Everything's fair game for debate — with the discussion built entirely from what people bring, and the energy tends to build as the evening goes on. Every night is a fine first night — and the group is an easy one to slot into, all you need is yourself and an opinion, and the night usually ends with people wanting to keep going. --- **What the session looks like:** - Arrive, grab a seat, and say hi if you're new — no icebreakers, just talk - Talk opens on a first question and flows on from there, no set agenda - Near the end there's a chance to pitch the next read **What helps:** - Your copy of the book, paper or screen - Bookmarks or sticky notes on your favourite bits - Curiosity and patience for other readings - Something warm to drink if the mood takes you ⭐ *"Honestly the best hour of my month — the takes were nothing like mine, and that was the whole point"* – regular 💡 **Before you come:** mark the passage you reckon the table will pounce on, since a single flagged scene beats a vague impression, and the group makes it easy from that first line on. --- 🗯️ Come for the book, stay for the discussion — join us and bring your read and the discussion takes it from there. The talk starts when you arrive. 🗯️