Read a hopeful and resilient poetry collection—plus a massive summer giveaway

Where Hope Comes From — Nikita Gill

Don’t miss the start of the massive end-of-summer giveaway at the bottom of this post! You’ll have chances to enter all month long!

What to Read This Week

Where Hope Comes From by Nikita Gill

What It’s About

Nikita Gill wrote many of these poems and illustrated them during the original 2020 COVID-19 lockdown. And I, like many people, am a bit burnt out reading about the lockdown. However, these poems provided so much hope and relief that I was not expecting, and in a time many of us need this feeling—need to know that others are out there experiencing this too—I thought it was the perfect time to share this book.

The collection is about loneliness and the pandemic, but it’s also about hope, love, family, and resilience. I marked down so many beautiful passages that my copy looks like it’s been through six separate college classes, and I’ll share just a few of my favorite lines.

Take heart that you have managed

to rebuild yourself a thousand times

after every bad day.

Knowing that we’ve all been struggling and having some bad days helps when you know that it’s okay to have those days, and that they, too, eventually pass.

Another favorite I marked:

Remember that you do not need to earn

your right to the precious minutes you have

on this planet. They are already yours . . .

I particularly loved this one, commenting on how we deserve love and happiness and the right to exist, just as we are, no strings attached.

Why You Should Read It

I know not everyone is a poetry reader. I’m not, either, really. But I’d challenge you, if you’re in a reading slump, a life slump, or looking for something to push yourself a little bit, to try Where Hope Comes From. It’s easy to read, not daunting like poems you may have read in the past, and easy to take pieces of it for what you need it for.

Tons of readers participate in the Sealey Challenge, where they read one book of poetry per day through the month of August. I challenge you to read just one collection, branching out of your comfort zone, and highly recommend this one.

Next Up

Follow on Instagram for more book pics and giveaways!

I went to the Newberry Library used book sale this weekend in Chicago and picked up a fun new stack of books—I love browsing used book sales to find gems! The House on Vesper Sands and The Taste of Sugar both came highly recommended to me, so when I saw them, I snatched them! Plus, the description on The Fall of Lisa Bellow totally sold me.

What’s been your best used book find? Or are you a brand-new books only reader? Does your town have an unbeatable book sale? I’d love to hear about it!

End-of-Summer Giveaway!

Starting today and all through the month of August, each time you comment on a post, you get an entry into the massive end-of-summer giveaway! I currently have 15 brand-new ARCs and finished copies of 2022 releases, and adding more every week! These will likely be split up into two boxes for two winners, and I’m leaving it a mystery so you will be surprised! I will tell you—they include all genres, from fiction to nonfiction to mystery, thriller, romance, lit fic, and more. Here’s a teaser . . .

To enter:

• Must be US resident or have US mailing address

• Must be 13+ years

• Comment on any August recommendation or post to earn an entry. The monthly August what’s on my stack is included!

• Entries accepted through August 31.

More Books

Can’t get enough, or looking for a different recommendation? Browse the archives, or check out some popular past recommendations: 

• Read a lyrical historical novel about a young painter

• Read a book about a bank heist, con artists, and falling in love

• Read this suspenseful dual timeline mystery about the nuclear scare

I also love hearing from readers! Let me know what kinds of books you’re looking for that you’d like to see featured, or send in your most recent five-star read (or two) and get a recommendation just for you. You might be featured in an upcoming newsletter! Reply to this email to get in touch!

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