Bookish Merchandise

Bookish merchandise has been around forever.

This book nerd just learnt this in the last couple years…

Clearly I was living under a rock. It wasn’t until I was pregnant with my second in 2016, all rollie pollie, sitting and reading a book. That I thought to myself, “there has to be some type of book subscription box, right?” I mean that would be heaven.

Right then I jumped onto the internet and began my search. When I came across Owlcrate and Novel Editions.

Of course I had to subscribe (to both). Which lead me straight into the amazing book community that I am apart of today and will NEVER look back!

This is where I learnt about the copious amounts of bookish merchandise there is. Over and above what I would admire while shopping around my book store of choice, Chapters.

I was receiving so many amazing items in my book boxes. Then I also had this amazing idea thinking I was creative enough to start a Bookstagram account for a hobby while on maternity leave. Where I started meeting all the amazing home based business as well, that pride themselves in their talents to create all sort of bookish items.

I have fallen in love! there is something for every book lover out there. Some of us love our bookish candles, some our bookish pins… others love gorgeous bookmarks or coffees and teas. I myself love…. well…. EVERYTHING!. If only I had millions lying around to buy it all.

Although I would have to say one of my favorite items is bookish jewelry. Not only can I feature it in my Bookstagram photos (… Yes I am OBSESSED with Bookstagram now… it is no longer a hobby. It has become a full-time job in itself…in the best way possible) but I can wear it around showing it off to the whole world. Saying “LOOK AT ME!… Yes that’s right, I am a book NERD!”

One particular shop I am obsessed with is The Glass Arcade on Bookstagram. Sarah has the cutest ETSY shop full of bookish merch. Her pendants are near and dear to my heart. I always receive so many compliments while wearing them or featuring them in my photos. On top of it all Sarah herself is one of the sweetest most genuine people you will ever meet. (I will be sure to link her Instagram page below if you are interested in checking her page out of course!).

So to all my bibliophile friends out there… what are your favorite bookish merch items out there? Please share away with me in comments. Give me more items and companies to obsess over!

Thanks for reading lovelies!

-Nichole

The Glass Arcade: https://www.instagram.com/theglassarcade/

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***Photo from my Bookstagram account. Check it out nichi.i_readpastmybedtime***

Poet X by Elizabeth Acevedo

Xiomara isn’t your typical teenager. Although she wants to be.

Struggling while her body starts changing into a women’s. Trying to find herself while living under her parents roof. With her mother’s strict rules, and families religious beliefs. She finds herself questioning their beliefs while becoming more guarded, keeping her feelings to herself.

Twin, her brother seems to be the “better child” in her parents eye’s but Xiomara knows better. Even though she knows her brother has his own secrets, she is very protective of him and doesn’t want to shade the way their parents see him. Even if this means she may fall into more trouble while protecting him.

Xiomara turns to writing her thoughts and feelings down. Invited to attend a slam poetry class. She finds her true talent that provides the perfect outlet. Giving her a chance to take that deep breath she deserves while venting all her locked in feelings.

Then along comes Aman, the perfect crush that turns into so much more.

Now Poet X has two things she needs to keep hidden from her Mother, slam poetry and this cute, cute guy.

***

5 out of 5 stars

Elizabeth amazed me with this novel.

Unlike any coming of age story I have read. It is so uniquely written all in poetry format. This intrigued me immensely. Although I will admit there was a part of me that wondered how such little words on a page could paint a full picture in my mind.

All of my doubts were wiped out within the first few pages.

Xiomara’s story is so beautifully written. The whole story flows perfectly leaving you wanting more with every page.

A truly stunning read.

-Nichole

*** Photo from my Bookstagram account. Check it out nichi.i_readpastmybedtime

The Teddy Bear Chronicles Vol. I – Hope in Paris by Donnalyn Vojta

Kelly Donovan has met the love of her life, Mark Flannery.

One day some unusual things about her steamy boyfriends past start coming to light. Making her start to second guess this dreamy relationship.

Kelly being the intelligent women she is it doesn’t take her long to start piecing together her worse nightmare. Now she needs to find a way to get as far away from Mark as possible before their “romantic” anniversary get away to a woodsy cabin.

Mark may just be the most dangerous man Kelly has ever met.

Will Kelly be successful? Will she trick Mark into believing everything is just fine until she finally escapes? Will Kelly’s friends and family also be in danger?

THIS IS NOT YOUR ORDINARY THRILLER!. This book probably has the most amazing, most unusual narrators ever…. TEDDY BEARS!.

The Teddy Bear Chronicles is a must read. I absolutely loved reading from the perspective of stuffed animals. It is probably one of the most unique point of views I have ever read from.

Donnalyn’s writing is so witty and fun. The emotions you experience throughout this book is phenomenal. One moment I am busting a gut laughing, next thing you know I am stiff as a board panicked on whats going to happen next. Oh and the connection you form with the characters will most definitely stick with you.

I have never read anything like this, such a neat concept. Once you have read Hope In Paris it will leave you with such a book hang over desperately wanting more. But don’t you worry the second book “The Teddy Bear Chronicles Vol. II – Chloe’s Crusade” came out July 20, 2018. So once you have finished book 1 you can move right on and binge read the second.

And may I say you will think the first books is amazing but the second book only gets better!

I have no idea how Donnalyn does it! AND She left the second book on such a cliff hanger I am patiently waiting book three!

Please note this book is not for young readers. If you have not picked it up, you need to. I will be sure to leave a goodreads link below as well as a link to Donnayln’s instagram.

-Nichole

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/37425443-the-teddy-bear-chronicles?ac=1&from_search=true

https://www.instagram.com/suspense_author/

***Please note in my photo the title says “Saved In Paris”. I purchased book one prior to a title change around the same time book two was released. Book one is now titled “Hope In Paris”. thumbnail_IMG_8804

The Disappearance of Timothy Dawson by Nathan Parker

For most of his life Tommy Dawson has been told his father, Timothy Dawson ran out on him and his family when Tommy was only 2 years old.

Timothy’s disappearance had such a negative effect on Tommy’s mother and older brother Derek. Leading them into a bad drug and alcohol addiction. Which isn’t hard for them to get their hands on in this corrupted town of Granville. Over the years, Granville has been taken over by the drug king pin who goes by “Smiler”.

Now 14 years later 16-year-old Tommy still struggles with not knowing what happened to his father, he refuses to believe he truly walked out on them.

With Tommy’s best friend Kirsten by his side he starts to dig deep for answers. But Tommy and Kirsten need to be careful, as uncovering some information is heading them into a quickly spiralling danger with the wrong people.

This read was absolutely stunning. Nathan Parker is such a talented indie author. If you read my post mentioning some of my favourite indie authors, you may remember Nathan’s name popping up.

I had the pleasure of meeting Nathan through my bookstagram account. When I found out he was writing as a hobby. I was so excited and told him to let me know when he finishes his book. I wanted to read it!

The Disappearance of Timothy Dawson has easily become one of my favourite reads of all time. You can’t help but just devour this book. The realistic feeling in this book is unbelievable, these are things that truly happen day-to-day in drug and alcohol saturated places all over the world.

You can’t help but fall in love with Tommy, his family and not to mention his best friend Kirsten. Kirsten is such a fire cracker and is so admirable. You relate with all the characters in one way or the other.

The Disappearance of Timothy Dawson truly is a roller coaster of a read. It will not disappoint, keeping you deeply engaged throughout the entire read.

AND!!!! it is just book one of this amazing YA series. How amazing is this?

If you haven’t got your hands on this book yet, you need to!

-Nichole

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/39897915-the-disappearance-of-timothy-dawson?from_search=true

https://www.instagram.com/parker_book/

The Disappearance of Timothy Dawson

Canadian Book Subscription Boxes

Book Subscription Boxes — Are AMAZING!

Who doesn’t LOVE a book subscription box. They are HUGELY popular among us book nerds and so they should be!.

For some countries it can get frustrating. It could be that the company doesn’t ship to your area, taking the exchange rate into consideration, crazy shipping costs, they use their local vendors making it hard to purchase replacements and/or more items diretly from the vendor. Which also sucks for the vendor, then we can’t support them seperatly.

None of these problems are really in control of the company itself. They can’t help shipping locations, shipping costs, exchange rates and when it comes to their vendors they need to do whats best for their box and the majority of their subscribers.

Really it comes down to research, what works best for you! Or sometimes you just need to purchase from a few different companies and see what fits. I mean nothing wrong with that!… right? gives you an excuse to buy buy buy! ha..ha.

So today I am here to share a couple of my favorite CANADIAN book subscription boxes. One is fairly new and the other is brand new. Both well worth checking out!. You will fall in love, I promise you!.

VIBookcrate: Ships to Canada only

Boxes: Monthly JR subscription boxes for ages 8-12: (or any age in my eyes…. but I am just a big kid). They also have a seasonal box for us oldies!

Monthly JR subscription boxes for ages 8-12: $25/month + shipping

Each month your reader will receive:

A middle grade novel.
2-4 related items picked to engage the reader (Items you could expect: bookmarks, puzzles, art supplies, stationary, crafts, treasures, treats, etc).
Exclusive access to online content for both kids and parents.
AND don’t forget each month has such a fun theme!

Seasonal Box for ages 19 and up: $60/box + shipping

Each season you will receive:

2 novels to reflect the season.
2-4 extra items that will enhance your reading experience
And don’t forget each season has a perfect matching theme!

VIBookcrate is run out of British Columbia by the lovely Kristen, she along with her amazing daughter and awesome son curate these exciting JR subscription boxes that every kid will love!. This is a must for anyone that has a child in their life that has the love of reading emanating in them!. Or if they don’t, pick this up as a gift for them it just may spark something in them to read. My son loves to read and when he gets into a good book it captivates him but it is not his go to activity (video games are!). With these boxes it has really been drawing him towards reading more often!

Then if Kristen wasn’t busy enough she also curates the seasonal box. I had to pick one up for myself when I saw how awesome my sons first JR box was. I purchased the September’s “Fall Cozy” box and it was stunning!. It was so well put together! AND it was all Canadian vendors. So if I want to buy more of an item, replace a consumable, or just support the vendor directly! I can and without being worried if they ship to my country, or crazy shipping costs and exchange rates! How cool is that? Besides Kristen and her family are so adorable and sweet you cant help but love them!

Check VIBookcrate out:

https://vibookcrate.com/

https://www.instagram.com/vibookcrate/

Wicked Treasure Book Box: Ships to Canada, U.S.A and Internationally (First box ships October 2018!!!!)

They are a one time purchase company, with boxes released bi-monthly: $60/box + shipping.

Each XL Box will have:

A book of some sort (novel, graphic novel, Manga)
AND will be filled to the brim with wicked goodies. These goodies will be perfect to feature in your Bookstagram photos or all over your house for everyone to admire.
And of course each box will have a new theme, but there will be a little something wicked in each!

Wicked Treasure Book Box is also run out of British Columbia and Co-founded by 2 best friends and fellow bookworms. Who I absolutely love! Echo and Sarah are so crazy talented and creative. Echo’s Bookstagram page is stunning her set ups are always perfect. Then Sarah has an Etsy page where she sells bookish items such as, pendants, bookmarks, magnets, earrings, etc and every handmade item she creates is absolutely amazing!. I would know… I own a few!

This is how you know each and every item they stuff into their boxes will be well worth it. Especially considering they are making the majority of it. That also goes to show you just how dedicated and hard-working they are. This box is very time-consuming, but when its something such as this that they love, they poor their hearts into it! I can’t wait for my first box you guys!

Check Wicked Treasure Book Box out:

https://wickedtreasures.wixsite.com/mysite

https://www.instagram.com/wickedtreasuresbookbox/

Those are a couple of my favorite CANADIAN boxes. You NEED to go get your hands on them now. Check each of these amazing companies out! I have conveniently left their websites and Instagram pages above! for you.. 😉

-Nichole