Cover2CoverBlog

Sep 6, 2026

Building the Book Pile #528

Welcome to Building the Book Pile!

Hi everyone ~ Happy Sunday. Happy September!

On Monday of last week, I went to Boston for the day - We stopped for lunch and I got amazing coconut chicken tenders that lasted me about 3 days of lunches because there were so many. We stopped by Lovestruck Books in Cambridge and I grabbed a few F1 Romances 💕😍

And ...then we went to the Red Sox v. Mariners game for Heated Rivalry night! 🧢⚾ It was PACKED, we got there right at 4 when gates opened for the event and got our jerseys - you had a chance to get either Rozanov or Hollander.

The whole ballpark wasn't open until 5:15... and it was so busy in the area they set up for us.

Décor was cute, but it was hard to hear and so we just kinda found a spot and hunkered down with hot dogs.

I love baseball. The game was amazing. Since we had to drive home though, we only stayed til the 6th inning. Beautiful night.

The rest of the week was a whirlwind of work meetings and talking to students. I worked from home Thursday and Friday though so that was nice. On Friday night, I tried D&D with some friends for the first time and had a blast. It is monthly, so we will see if I can keep up with it.

How was your week?

Currently watching: Lanterns on HBO, F1 is in Italy today.
Currently reading: Monsieur Pain by Roberto Bolano & Cards on the Table by Lana Harper & Jilly Gagnon
Playing: Strange Antiquities on PC - I will probably finish today

Linking up with Caffeinated Book Reviewer Sunday Post

xo steph

Coming up on the Blog

Early Reader Review: Fire Power by Mir Benitz (Adult)

Early Reader Review: The Night by Mariachiara Di Giorgioc (Youth)

Recent Reads: Hellbound by Stephanie Binx (Adult)

Books Received Recently...

For Review From Publishers

The Inn at the Foot of Mount Vengeance by Chiara Bullen

Night of Madness by Ryan Douglass

Rainbow Boys [25th Anniversary] by Alex Sanchez

Bought

Hearts Unchained by AG Starling

Full Throttle by JK MacLaren

Pole Position by Rebecca Caffery

Reviews and Such

Early Reader Review: A Trophy for the Jackal by Jule Wellerdiek (Youth) -⭐⭐⭐

Early Reader Review: Good Night, Break a Leg: Life with Broadway Dads by Bret Shuford (Youth) -⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Recent Reads: When the Witch Wrote Back by Nathan Christopher (Youth) - ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Monthly Re-Cap August

Donating Caffeine is greatly appreciated ... Donate on Ko-fi

What have you been reading? How was your week? Feel free to leave a comment!

Happy Reading!

Monthly Re-Cap: August 2026

Hello Readers, Bloggers, and Awesome people.

Here is my August re-cap. I lots of kids book this month in prep for Halloween and Back to School

~~Books I Read in August~~

~~Some Review Links ~~
Recent Reads: Vows of Betrayal by Jessa York
Back to School Round-Up with Penguin Young Readers
Recent Reads: For the Love of the Quest: A Novel by Alexandra Ammon Parthun
Recent Reads: Whale, That Was Unexpected by Casey Lyall

✨Coming Soon ✨
Halloween Round Up #1
Halloween Round Up #2

August Bingo w/ Chapter Break

For the Love of the Quest - Cozy, Found Family
Vow - Ebook, In Series, Character from Past, Siblings, Freebie, Not Fantasy
Pencil & Eraser - School
Beep Beep
Alchemised - No in a Series, Shelf Love, Recommendation (Friend)
Hellbound - Duty/ Responsibility, Physical
+ Free Space

17 points

Here is my plan. I finished 1 more this month

For the Love of the Quest

7/10 completed - and that's a wrap!

Finished one new one this month

Doe by Rebecca Barrow
(Mostly) Human Resources
Pumpking Apocalypse
Hellbound (new)

Count: 4 to end the challenge.

Sep 4, 2026

Recent Reads: When the Witch Wrote Back by Nathan Christopher

Source: From Edelweiss and the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This in no way alters my opinion or review.

When the Witch Wrote Back by Nathan Christopher, Illustrated by
Pablo Pino
Publisher: Sourcebooks Wonderland
Publication Date: July 28, 2026

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/27405327-pop-manga-coloring-book?from_search=true

https://www.amazon.com/Pop-Manga-Coloring-Book-Beautiful/dp/0399578471?ie=UTF8&SubscriptionId=1MGPYB6YW3HWK55XCGG2&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0399578471&linkCode=as2&redirect=true&ref_=x_gr_w_bb&tag=x_gr_w_bb-20

Format: Ebook

Rating:

Goodreads Synopsis:

Trick or Treat! Experience the magic of Halloween as never before with this picture book packed with spooky fun and a meaningful lesson, perfect for kids ages 4-10!

A new neighbor has moved in next door, and Jake is pretty sure that only one kind of neighbor would be unpacking a cauldron, a broomstick, and a black cat. Then Jake gets an idea…who better to help him plan, prepare, and clean for his big upcoming Halloween party?! When he writes letters to The Witch requesting magic to save him from doing his chores, will Jake get all that he hopes for? Or will the Witch use her powers to teach him a valuable lesson in this delightfully charming story about the Halloween…when the Witch wrote back!

With clever and fun-to-read rhymes as well as engaging art, hilarious fall fun, and an important message of putting in the hard work, When the Witch Wrote Back! is the perfect Halloween gift or boo basket stuffer for kids! Complete with a bonus spread of tips from Jake on how to have a happy Halloween, this story is the perfect way to celebrate the spooky season!

Dear Witch,
You think you can fool me, but I've seen the proof

Your chimney pours potions all over your roof,
Your mailbox is barking and chasing a mouse,
And some sorta goblins are painting your house!

You might as well help me! Let's whip up a spell
To clean up my clothing, take care of that smell,
Then hang decorations. How long will that take?
My parents might cancel the party!
From Jake

Review:

I absolutely loved this one!

From the first pages, I was obsessed with the illustrations. The artwork is so detailed, and there are so many little things to find (I could honestly stare at each page forever). The colors are bright and things seem to be glowing, and the whole book has such a fun, magical Halloween vibe.

Jake needs help cleaning his room before his Halloween party, and when a new neighbor moves in next door with a cauldron, broomstick, and black cat, Jake is pretty sure she's a witch. Naturally, he decides she's exactly who he needs to help him get everything done!

I loved that Jake wasn't scared of the Witch at all. Instead, he asks for help - "You're a witch? Great! Can you help me?" The Witch tries to help, but Jake keeps taking shortcuts and not quite following her instructions, and somehow every attempt leaves him with an even bigger mess.

It was so funny and playful, and I really enjoyed watching everything go completely wrong. The rhymes were fun to read, too. I also really loved the message about putting in the work instead of always looking for the easiest way out. It was a great lesson for kids without feeling overly nagging about it.

This was such a cute and fun Halloween read! I loved the artwork, the humor, the Halloween magic, and Jake's whole attitude toward the Witch. Definitely one I'd recommend for a spooky-season read!

Sep 2, 2026

Early Reader Review: Good Night, Break a Leg: Life with Broadway Dads by Bret Shuford

Source: From the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This in no way alters my opinion or review.

Good Night, Break a Leg: Life with Broadway Dads by Bret Shuford, Illustrated by Elena Hager
Publisher: Penguin Workshop
Publication Date: September 8, 2026

Format: Ebook

Rating:

Goodreads Synopsis:

Leap, soar, and dance into the joyous life of a little boy whose dads are dazzling Broadway performers in this lyrical, rhyming picture book from one of Instagram and TikTok's Broadway Husbands.

Where do parents go when they walk out the door for work?

In this charming, vibrant picture book, a little boy's dads have a very special job—they're Broadway performers!

By day, these two are like any other parents. They do the dishes, help with chores, and give lots of hugs and kisses. But by night, they take to the stage, donning elaborate costumes and dancing for thousands of theatergoers.

From Bret Shuford, Broadway dancer and cocreator of the social media sensation Broadway Husbands, this sweet story is a love letter to the theater and an ode to parents who do it all. Perfect for theater-loving families, aspiring young performers, and anyone who believes in the magic of being yourself, this heartwarming book is a celebration of family, creativity, and unconditional love.

Review:

This book ... was SO heartfelt and cute.

A story for young listeners or readers about dads heading to work at night to perform. A bit of an unconventional job but they love their little kid and always try to say good night.

This was a cute story with a rhyming scheme. The illustration were so perfect! Vibrant, fun, and entertaining they showed people in costumes and Broadway and musicals. The best was that there were little Easter-eggs throughout plays on words for plays and musicals, like THAWED (in the font of Frozen), SPAMilton (a combo of Spamalot and Hamilton?). It was all just so joyous and playful. I couldn't stop smiling.

The best part were the overall themes - this book showcases love, unconventional jobs, support of dreams, and a beautiful family.

I think this will be a great book for any families library...and we will all be jealous of how cool this kid's dads are.

Sep 1, 2026

Early Reader Review: A Trophy for the Jackal by Jule Wellerdiek

Source: From the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This in no way alters my opinion or review.

A Trophy for the Jackal by Jule Wellerdiek

Publisher: NorthSouth Books
Publication Date: September 8, 2026

Format: Ebook

Rating:

Goodreads Synopsis:

This humorous tale of competition from creator Jule Wellerdiek will have winners and runners-up alike laughing out loud at Jackal’s many antics.

All Jackal has ever wanted is to win a fancy trophy. But when Goose wins the best hairdo competition, he decides that it’s time he take matters into his own paws. Jackal very quickly discovers that awards aren’t that special when everyone gets one . . .

A laugh-out-loud story about competition and sportsmanship that will speak to every reader’s innermost desire to win

Review:

This book follows Jackal, who is excited to enter the Best Hairdo Competition. However, when he doesn't win, he becomes very upset. Rather than accepting that we can't always be winners, he creates an award just for himself. Soon, all the other animals do the same, and before long, everyone has a trophy.

I found this book to be funny and entertaining, and the illustrations and animal characters will likely appeal to young readers. The story opens up opportunities for conversations about competition, sportsmanship, ad handling disappointment.

However, I'm not entirely convinced that the overall message comes across clearly. One of my concerns is that it may unintentionally encourage the idea that everyone should receive an award simply for participating, rather than teaching children how to cope with not winning. Jackal also displays bad behavior throughout the story, including being selfish and lying to others, which may require additional discussion with younger readers.

That said, the book does have several strengths. It uses humor effectively, the story is engaging, and it creates a great opportunity for parents, caregivers, and teachers to talk about important life lessons such as resilience, fairness, and how to celebrate others' successes.

Overall, while I enjoyed the funny story and all the emotive animals, I think this book works best as a read-aloud that includes adult guidance and discussion rather than as a standalone lesson about competition and sportsmanship. It is a fun story, but readers may need help unpacking the message behind Jackal's actions.

Aug 30, 2026

Building the Book Pile #527

Welcome to Building the Book Pile!

Hi everyone ~ Happy Sunday.

It was another long work week, but I got lots done and met with lots of students about their recruiting plans. The new class is always so fun to be around, they are so enthusiastic and happy to be there and meet to chat. Recruiting season, i.e. companies coming to campus, starts on the 8th, so only a week away.

Over the course of the week, I have read a little, I am almost done with Hellbound and I read a bunch of kids books from Penguin for some Halloween showcases that I will be posting soon. I love me some spooky season 🎃👻.
I have also been working on a cross stitch bookmark - taking my time, but I think it is coming out well for my first attempt.

I also downloaded Strange Antiquities for my PC. I played Strange Horticulture on my Switch and really enjoyed it. I got a bundle so I have both on my PC now and I might do a replay of SH. They are moody-vibe, puzzle games. People come in asking for things an you have to figure out what to give them. There are also little clues you pick up to get more items/ find new information as well. There is always a weird spooky thing happening in the town that all the villagers talk to you about. I like it.

That's all from me this week. Tomorrow I am headed to Boston for the Red Sox v. Mariners game and it is Heated Rivalry night! 🧢⚾ I will grab some pics to share next week (hopefully).

How was your week?

Currently watching: Shrinked on AppleTV, Lanterns on HBO
Still...Currently reading: Hellbound by Stephanie Binh & Monsieur Pain by Roberto Bolano - hoping to finish both today
Currently listening to: Ordinary Monsters by J.M. Miro (I took a break so TBD when I re-up)
Playing: Strange Antiquities on PC