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Every spring, I feel inspired to read some of my favorite rabbit books when I see the little bunnies hopping around my yard. Even as my children get older, these stories about rabbits do not get old. Hop into this adorable, curated list of heartwarming tales that celebrate bunnies From mischievous antics to heart-touching friendships,…
Kirsten and I often talk about books- big surprise-! We thought about how many books we had read with a color in the title and were shocked by how many there were. I decided to make a post of books with colors in the title and arrange them by color rather than by genre. We…
Last summer I rounded up all my favorite boat books, so it seemed only fair that I do the same for plane books! The list below is filled with plane crash novels, stories set on a plane, books about pilots, or books where a flight (or flight mishap) is pivotal to the plot of the…
Colleen Hoover’s juggernaut success is unparalleled in the reading world, which is why I wanted to put together this list of Colleen Hoover books in order for you. Did you know that there have been Colleen Hoover Books consistently on the New York Times Best Seller list for years and years? Her book, It Ends…
Pirates are always fun to read about from board books to the classics. The daring adventures on the sea, escapes, captures, and searching for buried treasure captivate children and adults alike. It was not hard to come up with our favorite pirate books for kids. What would the Princess Bride be without the Dread Pirate Roberts? How…
Before becoming a mom, I worked at the Philadelphia Zoo for almost a decade. This is why my home library has been stocked with zoo books for kids since the first day I brought my babies home from the hospital. I’ve read everything from middle grade novels to board books to picture books about the…
The best psychological thriller books will have your heart pounding from the beginning of the book until the end. Every fall Kirsten and I dive into thrillers with abandon. I wanted to make sure that I picked out the best books so that you do not have to guess which book to read next. Have…
When it comes to social-emotional learning, there is no better way to teach your child than reading and discussing books about feelings. Children learn through reading and talking about what they’ve read, which is why it’s so important to include feelings books in your home or school library. From circle time to bedtime, the picture…
By now, you probably know to start reading to your baby as soon as they are born. But what to read and when might be confusing, so we’ve rounded up the best board books for babies and toddlers below. The board books we suggest in this article are the ones beloved by the combined 5…
Kirsten and I were talking about the definition of cozy books. There are a lot of definitions, but we feel that a cozy book will be enjoyed most if it is read in autumn or winter. Cozy books are most often mysteries, fantasies, and romances. These books will leave you feeling like you had a…
Interactive books for kids are such a fun way to get kids involved and invested in reading. From interactive board books to books for older children, we have included our favorite interactive kids’ books. These are the books that are tried and tested, and with five kids between the two of us, you can be…
Looking for the best pirate books for adults? We’ve got you covered. I’ve had a not-so-small obsession with pirate books since reading Peter Pan when I was younger. I don’t think it’s a coincidence that my favorite book of all time is an adult pirate book. Below, you’ll find some of our favorite pirate novels…
My love for young adult fantasy books was sparked as a teenager, now 30 years later, I have read more YA fantasies than could ever fit on one list. From my reading experience, the ones below are the best of the bunch. Gathering a list of my favorites was the easiest part of the task….
The friends to lovers romance books trope is one of the most fulfilling tropes in romance novels. There is something about two friends realizing they have feelings for one another and using their trust and past to navigate the transition to a happily-ever-after ending. I wanted to make a list of my favorite books for…
If you are looking for the most popular romance tropes, celebrity romance books are becoming more prevalent in romance novels. This romance trope focuses on the love story between a celebrity (e.g., actor, musician, athlete) and an ordinary person. The narrative of these novels often explores the impact of fame, media scrutiny, and the challenges…
Forced-proximity romance books are one of my favorite romance tropes. The stories are fun and predictable with people who do not want to be together. I knew I needed to make a list of my favorite forced-proximity romance books so you can read the best ones. Forced proximity trope books put characters in situations where…
I love a happy ending, especially for two main characters getting a second chance at love- with each other! Since the pandemic, I have been reading a ton of romance books. At this point, I consider myself a bit of an expert on the subject. For this reason, I wanted to give you a list…
Here at Beyond the Bookends, we love great rom-com books. We love reading a great book where the ending is happy and we have a great laugh along the way. What are romantic comedy books? Think about some of your favorite movies: Notting Hill, When Harry Met Sally, and How to Lose a Guy in…
I’ve been collecting the Puffin classic books for kids for years, and I realized that while I like them aesthetically, I’ve also read and enjoyed so many of these tales! As I was reflecting on my collection of classic children’s books, I realized that there are so many more classics not included in the set….
If you have ever read an Alice Hoffman book, you will know how addicting her books are. I wanted to give you a complete list of the Alice Hoffman books in order. How many have you read? Alice Hoffman books are synonymous with fall, especially since the publication of The Rules of Magic, the continuation…
Young adult fantasy romance books have quickly become one of our favorite genres to read. There is something about romance mixed with the impossible that makes every story that much better! Faes, vampires, magic, and romance all together in one book? I mean, how can you go wrong? Some of these books are a little…
Here is our ever-evolving list of the best books of 2023. Here’s the process: Starting in January, Jackie and I start to compile our 5-star books for our best books of 2023 list. Once we have at least one book per category, we feel ready to publish it. But the list is very much subject…
The streaming giants have taken the trend of turning books into movies and run with it. Netflix, Apple TV, Hulu, and Disney are all slated to turn your favorite books into movies and TV shows for the foreseeable future. And lets not forget about the major studios still churning out book adaptation content. With so…
I spent years studying language and sound development as a speech and language pathologist. When it came time to help my kids learn to read, I was disappointed in the phonics books that I saw most often. I wanted books that followed the rules of phonics and slowly progressed in difficulty and I often found…
New York Times bestselling author Daniel Silva is the author of the Gabriel Allon series. With twenty-four books currently in the series, we cannot get enough of the art restorer and spy. People ask us all the time if they need to read the Daniel Silva books in order and our answer is yes, but…
Holmes and Watson have always been the perfect sleuth team, so it’s no wonder they have inspired so many Sherlock Holmes fiction stories and retellings. Sir Arthur Conan Doyle is beyond genius for inventing this dynamic duo and I’m forever grateful that my dad forced his copy into my hands one snowy day. I’ve been…
With each new season, we, at Beyond the Bookends, rotate our kids’ books. Think of it like a seasonal closet rotation but with books. If you are looking for children’s books about winter, we have gathered our favorites for you in one place. Between the two of us, we have five kids who have loved…
Looking for the Sherlock Holmes books in order? We’ve got you covered with this complete list of stories starring the most famous detective in the world! After I read and loved my first Agatha Christie book, my dad decided to hand me The Complete Works of Sherlock Holmes. I was so intimidated by the gigantic…
Nothing says Holiday Season like a stack of Christmas romance books! I love getting swept into a magical winter love story when I have a cup of cocoa in my hand and I’m snuggled under a blanket. Whether it’s a second-chance romance, an enemies-to-lovers story, or even a love story with a little magic mixed…
We thought it would be fun to write a post about our favorite Animal novels for adults. There are so many kids’ books about animals, but we wanted to highlight novels about animals, books with animal main characters, and animal nonfiction books for adults. If you are anything like us, you will be looking through…
Christmas is a joyous occasion made even more special when celebrating with children. And there is nothing better than sitting down to a giant pile of Christmas books for kids together as a family. With over 30 Christmas books for kids on this list, there is something for every family. From modern Christmas tales to…
If you are a fiction reader, choosing good nonfiction books can be intimidating. I’d recommend a nonfiction book that reads like a gripping novel, which can be hard to find. I have read so many great nonfiction books that we wanted to take the guesswork out of picking your next read. We like to call…
We are not sure where our obsession with books about Scotland began. It may have started with Outlander, we cannot be sure. What we do know is that the breathtaking landscapes and enchanting cities, make Scotland the perfect setting for any book. Scotland has a rich history, vibrant culture, and untamed beauty that cannot be…
Fake dating books are always some of my favorite romance books to read. I love that over the past few years, so much of the stigma that surrounded reading romances has been removed. After all, who does not love a happy ending? The fake dating trope is one in which two individuals have to fake…
Stephanie Garber is the New York Times best-setting author of two YA fantasy series that are a must-read for any fantasy lover. There is a reason Stephanie Garber books are so popular. They have everything you could want from a fantasy book and more. Garber’s first book, Caraval, was the book that started it all….
Are you looking for the best Christmas books? You’ve come to the right place! I make it a goal to read as many Christmas books as possible each year so I can give you the best of the best. I have compiled my favorite Christmas novels all in one place so you can find your…
I wanted to make a list of my favorite holiday books that take place over the holiday season but are not necessarily about Christmas. Of course, I could not resist adding in our favorite Christmas books too, but this list will have some Hanukkah, some Winter Solstice, and other winter holiday books as well. There…
Are you looking for the best YA Christmas books this holiday season? I’ve got charming favorites to recommend for you to enjoy! Each of these Christmas books for teens are perfect for the holiday season and while many are romantic in nature, they are all appropriate for teens. The Best YA Christmas Books Each colorful…
It’s time for our annual list of the best new Christmas books of 2023! This list is always filled to the brim with stories to get you in the holiday mood. Below you will find Christmas books to make you cry, warm your heart, start you in a fit of giggles, or put your sleuthing…
As the leaves start to change color and the temperature gets a little colder, it is the perfect time to read Thanksgiving books. The holiday of Thanksgiving is so much more than food and football. It is a time to think about family and gratitude. We put together a list of Thanksgiving books for kids…
Welcome to the place where all my passions come together. Language and literacy come together in these fun alliteration books. Wonderful words meet adorable illustrations in these tongue-twisting tales. As a Speech and Language Pathologist with more than 20 years of experience working in schools and with private clients, I can tell you how important…
Last year, my son came home from school with an assignment — to read a realistic fiction book. He looked up at me and asked “Mommy, what even is a realist fiction book?” I had no idea. Thank goodness for Google, which quickly assured me that realistic fiction is a term used for middle grade…
