📖 Bookish This or That: Reader Habits Edition

Welcome to the edition that exposes us all.

Your trope preferences might be mysterious…But your reading habits? Absolutely incriminating!

Choose wisely. No fence-sitting allowed.

📚 Annotate Everything or Keep Books Pristine?

Are you:

▫️Highlighting every line that emotionally damages you?
▫️Using 47 tabs for “him being feral”?
▫️Writing full reactions in the margins?

Or are you:

▫️Treating your books like museum artifacts?
▫️Refusing to even crack the spine?
▫️Whispering “absolutely not” at the idea of a highlighter?

There are two kinds of readers. And they judge each other silently.

📱 Ebook or Physical?

Be honest!

▫️Kindle at 2am so no one sees what you’re reading?
▫️Adjustable font size supremacy?
▫️Three hundred books in one device like a literary goblin?

Or:

▫️Dog-eared pages.
▫️That book smell.
▫️The emotional support weight of a 500-page fantasy in your bag.

There is no wrong answer. Except maybe when your Kindle dies mid-cliffhanger!

👀 Read Spoilers First or Protect the Surprise?

Are you:

▫️Checking the last page to confirm the HEA?
▫️Scanning reviews for emotional damage warnings?
▫️Protecting your peace at all costs?

Or:

▫️Diving in blind?
▫️Living dangerously?
▫️Letting the plot emotionally ruin you in real time?

This one says a lot about your trust issues.

📖 One Book at a Time or Chaotic Multi-Reading?

Are you:

▫️Loyal. Focused. Devoted.
▫️Finishing what you start?
▫️Emotionally monogamous with your current read?

Or:

▫️Three romances.
▫️One fantasy.
▫️A random nonfiction.
▫️All at once.
▫️Depending on your mood and level of emotional stability.

Be brave.

📦 TBR Under Control or Emotional Support TBR Mountain?

Is your TBR:

▫️Curated?
▫️Organized?
▫️Realistic?

Or:

▫️A towering monument to your impulsive personality?
▫️Two hundred books deep?
▫️Growing faster than you can read?

No shame. Only honesty.

📚This is your official invitation to expose yourself in the comments.

No judgment. Okay… maybe a little!

Drop your answers below in order.

Let’s see who’s thriving and who’s drowning under an emotional support TBR mountain.

If you love enemies-to-lovers with sharp banter, emotional damage, and a man who is allergic to his own feelings, welcome to your next book club obsession. 🔥📚

Lucian Rollins is cold, controlled, and convinced love is a liability, while Sloane Walton is all fire, truth, and backbone. Their history is messy, their chemistry is explosive, and every scene between them crackles with tension whether they’re arguing, unraveling secrets, or fighting feelings they absolutely do not want.

What really made this book shine for our book club was the emotional depth. Beneath the billionaire swagger and steamy sparks, this is a story about trauma, trust, and choosing vulnerability when it feels safer to walk away. Watching Lucian confront his fear of becoming the man he hates while Sloane refuses to settle for half-love? Chef’s kiss. 💔➡️❤️

This one gave us feelings, heated discussions, and more than a few “but WHY would he do that?!” moments and honestly, that’s exactly what we want from a Lucy Score read!

❓️Are you team protect her by leaving or team fight your demons and stay, and did Lucian earn that third chance? 🤔📖

❗️For the full book club kit with a discussion guide, recipes, themed activities and more come join The First Editions!

If you’ve been holding onto every ounce of tension between Sloane and Lucian and you’re not quite ready to leave Knockemout behind… this is your moment. 🔥💙📚

We’re diving deep into **Things We Left Behind** by Lucy Score — and this kit is built for all the angst, grudges, power moves, and groveling we love.

✨ Tap the link for instant access to:

📚 A fully themed *Things We Left Behind* book club kit

📖 A fun, thoughtful discussion guide covering enemies-to-lovers tension, childhood trauma, second chances, emotional walls, big grovel energy, and the marriage-and-babies standoff

🍷 Lucian-inspired luxe food ideas, small-town cozy activities, and themed door prize suggestions done for you

Whether your group is ready to unpack Lucian’s “broken men break women” mindset, defend Sloane’s boundaries, or debate whether that grand gesture was enough… this kit is designed to make your meeting feel immersive, dramatic, and just the right amount of chaotic (very on brand for Knockemout).

👉 Tap the link to access the kit now and turn your next book club into a high-stakes, small-town romance experience worth talking about:

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❗️Don’t forget to come back and tell us how your meeting went — I need to know where everyone lands on the grovel scale.

💥 Happy reading! 📚💙

Ever wonder if your favorite authors were secretly in a group chat? While they didn’t have Slack, the history of literature is full of strange coincidences, unexpected friendships, and bets that changed the course of books forever.

Here are five hidden literary connections that will make you look like the smartest person at your next book club.

1. Dr. Seuss and the 50-Word Bet

We all know Green Eggs and Ham, but it wasn’t born out of a simple burst of creativity. It was the result of a high-stakes dare. Bennett Cerf, the founder of Random House, bet Theodor Geisel (Dr. Seuss) $50 that he couldn't write a book using 50 or fewer distinct words.

Seuss won the bet, using exactly 50 words to create a masterpiece. Interestingly, Cerf never actually paid up, but the book went on to sell millions, so Seuss got the last laugh.

2. The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen Vacation

In the summer of 1816 the "Year Without a Summer", a group of literary icons stayed at Villa Diodati in Switzerland. The guest list was wild: Lord Byron, Mary Shelley, and Percy Bysshe Shelley. Because the weather was too gloomy to go outside, Byron proposed a ghost story contest. This single rainy vacation gave birth to:

• Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein, the first true sci-fi novel.

• John Polidori’s The Vampyre which influenced Bram Stoker’s Dracula.

3. C.S. Lewis, J.R.R. Tolkien, and the Tree

The creators of Narnia and Middle-earth weren’t just contemporaries; they were best friends. They were part of an informal writing group at Oxford called The Inklings.

Tolkien actually credits Lewis with being the only reason The Lord of the Rings was ever finished. Lewis was his first audience and constantly pushed him to keep writing when Tolkien got bogged down in elvish linguistics. Without Lewis's nagging, we might never have left the Shire.

4. The James Bond / Roald Dahl Link

You know Roald Dahl for Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, but did you know he was a spy? During WWII, Dahl worked for the British Intelligence service alongside Ian Fleming, the creator of James Bond.

Dahl’s life was so much like a Bond film that he eventually wrote the screenplay for the Bond movie You Only Live Twice. He even invented the child-snatching Child Catcher in Chitty Chitty Bang Bang the book for which was also written by Fleming.

5. Alice in Wonderland’s Medical Legacy

Lewis Carroll, Charles Dodgson suffered from severe migraines that caused him to see objects as much larger or smaller than they actually were. This neurological phenomenon is now officially known in the medical world as Alice in Wonderland Syndrome AIWS.

Scholars believe Carroll used his own terrifying sensory distortions as the inspiration for Alice growing and shrinking in the Rabbit Hole.

❓️Which of these facts surprised you the most? Let me know in the comments if you knew about the Dahl/Bond connection that one always blows my mind!

I came for the grumpy, wounded cop energy and stayed because Lucy Score absolutely wrecked me!😮‍💨📚

I devoured Things We Hide from the Light like it was my emotional support romance. Watching Nash Morgan, once the golden, charming Morgan brother struggles with panic attacks, trauma, and the weight of nearly dying, felt so raw and real. This book doesn’t just give us a broody hero; it gives us a man learning how to survive himself again.

And then there’s Lina. Smart, guarded, secretly soft, and absolutely allergic to commitment. Their chemistry? INCENDIARY. 🔥 I loved how their physical connection wasn’t just hot though wow, it was, but grounding like touch itself became part of the healing. The slow unraveling of secrets, the tension between wanting to stay and needing to run, and the way Knockemout quietly works its magic on everyone? Chef’s kiss.

This story hit me right in the feelings with its mix of found family, emotional growth, swoony moments, and just enough danger to keep my heart racing. Nash and Lina’s journey is messy, tender, and deeply satisfying, and yes, I absolutely closed this book staring at the wall afterward.

❓️Do you love a romance where healing and love happen at the same time, or do you prefer your characters fully put together before they fall? 💭💕

❗️If your book club is reading this book or the other two books in the series join The First Editions and get access to our book club kits with a book club discussion guides, menus, activities and more!

✨️Happy reading everyone!

It’s finally here! If you’ve been dying to spend more time in Knockemout and unravel everything that went down in Things We Hide from the Light by Lucy Score, this is your moment. 🚓🔥💙

✨ Tap the link for instant access to:

📚 A fully themed Things We Hide from the Light book club kit

📖 A fun, thoughtful discussion guide covering trauma and healing, slow-burn tension, protective heroes, small-town loyalty, and emotional growth

🍩 Knockemout-inspired food ideas, cozy activities, and themed door prize suggestions done for you

Whether your group is ready to swoon over Nash, unpack Lina’s strength, or talk about the emotional depth Lucy Score delivers in this unforgettable romance, this kit is designed to help your meeting feel immersive, heartfelt, and just the right amount of chaotic (in true Knockemout fashion).

👉 Tap the link to access the kit now and turn your next book club into a small-town romance experience worth talking about: https://www.canva.com/design/DAHAqU2Ogyw/jAHHc4zet45ztIZJafPxgQ/edit?utm_content=DAHAqU2Ogyw&utm_campaign=designshare&utm_medium=link2&utm_source=sharebutton

❗️Don’t forget to come back and tell us how your meeting went!

💥 Happy reading! 📚💙

📣𝗖𝗮𝗹𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗔𝗹𝗹 𝗔𝘂𝘁𝗵𝗼𝗿𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝘄𝗵𝗼 𝘄𝗮𝗻𝘁 𝘁𝗼 𝗷𝗼𝗶𝗻 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗯𝗼𝗼𝗸𝗶𝘀𝗵 𝗳𝘂𝗻!📖

You’ve done the hard part: you wrote the book. Now, let’s get it into the hands of readers who will love it

𝗜𝘀 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗯𝗼𝗼𝗸 𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗱𝘆 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘀𝗽𝗼𝘁𝗹𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁?❓✨

Whether you’re launching your debut title or promoting your latest release, 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗣𝗮𝗴𝗲 𝗟𝗮𝗱𝗶𝗲𝘀 want to help you connect with a dedicated community of book lovers.

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💰𝗕𝗶𝗴 𝗦𝗮𝘃𝗶𝗻𝗴𝘀: Promoting an upcoming sale or Kindle Countdown deal?

📚𝗕𝗼𝗼𝗸 𝗙𝗲𝗮𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲𝘀: Want your work highlighted in front of new readers?

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𝗛𝗼𝘄 𝘁𝗼 𝗷𝗼𝗶𝗻 𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗺𝘂𝗻𝗶𝘁𝘆:

👯‍♀️𝗙𝗼𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗪𝗿𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗺𝘂𝗻𝗶𝘁𝘆: Tag a fellow author below who deserves a boost! We’d love to help share their story.

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5 Mind-Blowing Facts Every Romance Lover Should Know

We spend hours tucked away with our favorite fictional couples, but sometimes the stories behind the books are just as wild as the plots inside them. Whether you’re a fan of dark billionaires, Regency balls, or modern-day meet-cutes, these five facts will change the way you look at your bookshelf.

1. The Global Sensation That Started as Fan-Fiction

It’s the fun fact that launched a thousand debates: Fifty Shades of Grey was originally Twilight fan-fiction. Before it was a record-breaking trilogy, author E.L. James posted it on fan sites under the title Master of the Universe. Christian Grey was originally Edward Cullen, and Anastasia Steele was Bella Swan. After the story went viral, the names were changed, the vampire elements were removed, and a publishing phenomenon was born.

2. Pride and Prejudice’s "Boring" Original Title

Could you imagine swooning over Mr. Darcy in a book called First Impressions? That was Jane Austen’s original title for her masterpiece. While it fits the theme of the book perfectly, her publisher eventually went with Pride and Prejudice to follow the trend of alliterative titles popular at the time. Personally, we think the P&P we know and love has a much better ring to it!

3. The 18th-Century Fandom

If you think bookish merch is a modern invention, think again. In 1740, a novel called Pamela by Samuel Richardson became the first true romance bestseller. It was so popular that it created the world’s first literary fandom. Fans didn't just buy the book; they bought Pamela themed fans, paintings, and even teacups. People were literally obsessed with the shipping of the 1700s!

4. The Unstoppable Queen of Romance

Have you ever felt guilty about your to-be-read pile? Just think of Nora Roberts. As one of the most prolific romance authors in history, she has written over 225 novels. To put that in perspective, she has been publishing an average of five books a year since 1981. Whether she’s writing under her own name or her gritty alter-ego, J.D. Robb, she is proof that the romance genre is a powerhouse of productivity.

5. The "No" That Turned into a "Yes"

Finally, a bit of inspiration for the writers out there. Even the biggest books face rejection. Did you know that Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone, which has one of the most iconic sub-plot romances in later books, was rejected by 12 different publishers? One editor even told J.K. Rowling, "Don't quit your day job." It’s a great reminder that even the stories that define generations almost never saw the light of day.

Which fact surprised you the most?

Are you a fan of the Twilight to Fifty Shades pipeline, or are you more shocked by the 18th-century fandom craze? Drop a comment below and let’s chat!

If Things We Never Got Over by Lucy Score stole your heart or you know it will, this one’s for you. We’ve created a fully themed book club kit inspired by Knockemout, grumpy barbers, runaway brides, found family, and the kind of love that sneaks up on you when you least expect it. And yes, it’s available exclusively to members of The First Editions. 💙🐶

Joining The First Editions gets you access to:
✨ Our Things We Never Got Over book club kit
✨ Engaging discussion questions on grumpy/sunshine romance, family, and community
✨ Knockemout-inspired food ideas, activities, and themed door prizes
✨ A cozy, welcoming reading community that loves swoon-worthy stories with heart

This is a story about starting over, letting people in, and discovering that family isn’t always who you’re born with and our kit is designed to help you talk, laugh, and swoon through all of it together.

📚 Join The First Editions and read Things We Never Got Over the way it deserves to be read!

❓ Bookish question: Are you a sucker for grumpy heroes like Knox, or is the found-family vibe what gets you every time?