This page is a snapshot of my bookshelf. Some of what’s here I’ve read fully, some I’m still reading, and some I came across and felt worth passing along.
Nothing here is sponsored or paid.
Everything is shared out of genuine interest and appreciation for the work.
I’m honored to have been selected as an ARC (Advanced Reader Copy) reader for Greg Kishbaugh's upcoming novel, Monster Kingdom.
Greg kindly sent me an early copy after Parker Lyons shared my interest in reading it, and I’m incredibly grateful for the opportunity. There is something special about being trusted with a story before it reaches the world, and I’m really enjoying it and looking forward to finishing it this week.
Stay tuned for my review.
Thank you, Greg, for the opportunity and your kindness. I cannot wait to finish Monster Kingdom.
Website
This book is an intimate look into the words behind the music. Through lyrics, handwritten notes, and personal reflections, Justin Furstenfeld shares the raw honesty that has long defined his work. There’s no polish here for the sake of comfort—just truth, vulnerability, and expression as it was meant to be felt.
Rather than reading like a traditional book, Crazy Making unfolds as a personal archive of emotion and creativity. It’s meant to be taken in slowly, revisited often, and experienced in pieces—allowing the words to stand on their own and resonate in their own time.
A near-future science fiction thriller that explores what happens when artificial intelligence begins to outpace the humans who created it. The Torus Run follows a world already dependent on advanced systems—and the quiet, dangerous moment when control starts to slip.
Grounded, tense, and unsettlingly plausible, the story focuses less on spectacle and more on the choices, compromises, and consequences that shape the future long before anyone realizes what’s at stake.
Find the book here
https://books2read.com/the-torus-run
A fast-paced science fiction story centered on resistance, survival, and the cost of standing against systems designed to control. Rebel Planet blends action with larger questions about power, loyalty, and what it means to fight for something bigger than yourself. It’s the kind of book that pulls you into its world quickly and keeps the stakes personal, even as they grow.
Find the book here
A Children's Book about Bullying, Belonging, and Love
A tender and uplifting children’s story about kindness, belonging, and embracing what makes us different. Through Henri—a lovable French bulldog who learns that his snort is part of what makes him special—the book offers a compassionate message about self-acceptance and empathy that resonates with children and adults alike. It’s beautifully illustrated, emotionally thoughtful, and leaves a lasting reminder that we are all magnificent just as we are.
Find the book here
https://a.co/d/0iAYd3OU
A quiet, moving novel about love, loss, and the small things that give life meaning. As a dying man is offered extra days in exchange for pieces of the world disappearing, he’s forced to reflect on what truly matters—relationships, memories, and the presence of his cat. Tender, bittersweet, and deeply human.
Find the book here
https://a.co/d/0eO7a3p4
A reflective and quietly hopeful novel about the lives we imagine and the choices that shape us. Set within a library that contains every possible version of a life, the story follows one woman as she explores the paths not taken and questions what truly makes life meaningful. Thoughtful and emotionally resonant, this book gently invites readers to reconsider regret, possibility, and the value of the life they’re already living.
Find the book here
https://a.co/d/06dpYezB
A deeply personal follow-up to Crazy Making, this book blends lyrics with the stories behind the songs and the people who shaped them.
Justin Furstenfeld shares his experiences with honesty and humor, pulling back the curtain on both his creative process and his life. Reading the lyrics alongside his reflections adds a new layer of meaning to the music.
Find the book here
ttps://blueoctobershop.com/products/bo1435
Samantha Childs writes with warmth, honesty, and emotional clarity. Her work—spanning children’s books, essays, and poetry—centers on belonging, self-acceptance, and the small, human moments that often go unspoken. Whether she’s writing for children or adults, her voice is gentle, thoughtful, and deeply resonant.
Author website
https://henriandthemagnificentsnort.com/
Substack
https://samanthaachilds.substack.com/
About the Author https://henriandthemagnificentsnort.com/about
Parker Lyons writes dark, imaginative science fiction and horror that explores the uneasy intersection of technology and human nature. His stories are sharp, unsettling, and thoughtful—often leaving you with more questions than answers in the best way. As a co-founder of Midnight Carnival, his work consistently leans into bold ideas, twisted futures, and a love of genre storytelling done well.
Website
https://www.themidnightcarnival.com/parker-lyons
LinkTree
Substack
https://midnightcarnival.substack.com/
John Tobias writes thoughtful essays that explore books, memory, technology, nostalgia, and the experiences that quietly shape our lives. His writing blends personal reflection, humor, and insight in a way that feels honest and deeply relatable.
One piece that especially stood out to me was Old Roads: Returning to the Books That Made Us, a reflective essay about the childhood books that stay with us long after we’ve grown.
His work invites readers to pause, think, and reconnect with the stories and moments that shaped them.
Website
_johntobias.me
Some writing stays with you because it makes you pause and think a little differently. That is what I enjoy about John Tobias’s work.
John writes personal essays that explore memory, books, technology, life experiences, and the things that quietly shape who we become. His writing feels honest, thoughtful, and deeply human ... often blending nostalgia, reflection, humor, and insight in a way that feels like sitting down and having a meaningful conversation.
One essay that especially stood out to me was Old Roads: Returning to the Books That Made Us, where John reflects on the childhood books that helped shape him, the memories attached to reading, and the lasting impact stories can have on our lives. It made me think about the books that stayed with me over the years and the quiet ways stories shape who we become.
What I appreciate most about John’s writing is that it feels real. He writes with honesty, curiosity, and warmth, sharing thoughts that invite readers to reflect on their own experiences.
If you enjoy thoughtful essays, reflections on books, nostalgia, technology, and life’s quieter moments, I encourage you to take some time to explore John’s work.
Visit John Tobias's website
_johntobias.me
Read on Substack:
Post: Some Books Feel Like Home - John Tobias
Essay: https://www.johntobias.me/2026/05/old-roads-returning-to-books-that-made.html
A thoughtful and deeply relatable reflection on the books that stay with us throughout our lives. In this personal essay, John Tobias explores how childhood stories quietly shape our memories, values, and even the people we become.
Reading this piece made me reflect on the books that influenced me growing up and the lessons they carried with them. Honest, warm, and reflective, this essay feels like a quiet conversation about memory, nostalgia, and why some stories never really leave us.
Read it on Substack https://johntobiaswrites.substack.com/p/some-books-feel-like-home
A deeply emotional and beautifully written reflection on grief, love, healing, and the unexpected beauty that can grow from heartbreak. Through the story of her beloved dog Henri, Samantha Childs explores loss, resilience, compassion for animals, and how pain can sometimes transform into something meaningful and life-giving.
Heartfelt, vulnerable, and profoundly inspiring, this piece is a reminder that even broken hearts can leave something beautiful behind in the world.
Read it on Substack
https://samanthaachilds.substack.com/p/a-dog-bowl-visible-from-heaven
A gentle and thoughtful poem about resilience, vulnerability, connection, and the quiet ways people choose love in difficult moments.
Inspired by Dublin’s brightly painted doors, Samantha Childs reflects on compassion, humanity, and the beauty of responding to hardship with warmth instead of surrender.
Simple, heartfelt, and deeply human, this piece is a reminder that even in hard times, we can still choose color, kindness, and connection.
Read it on Substack
https://samanthaachilds.substack.com/p/yellow-doors
A reflective essay about the stories, books, and films we return to throughout our lives—and why some of them become part of who we are. John Tobias explores the connection between memory, nostalgia, identity, and the comfort found in familiar stories that stay with us long after we experience them.
Thoughtful, honest, and deeply relatable, this piece is a reminder that some stories entertain us while others quietly shape us.
Read it on Substack
https://johntobiaswrites.substack.com/p/some-books-feel-like-home
A personal essay that blends humor, vulnerability, and insight while exploring what it means to say what we really want—and what it costs when we don’t. This one feels like a deep exhale.
Read it on Substack
https://substack.com/inbox/post/186232409
A deeply personal and beautifully written reflection on fear, uncertainty, healing, and learning to move forward even when we cannot see what lies ahead. Through stories of sea turtles, travel, vulnerability, and self-discovery, Samantha Childs explores what it means to trust life despite its unpredictability.
Honest, emotional, and quietly inspiring, this piece is a reminder that none of us truly know where the road leads—and yet we keep going anyway.
Read it on Substack
https://samanthaachilds.substack.com/p/trusting-the-unknown-what-ive-learned
A quiet, intimate poem about traveling alone, rediscovering oneself, and the unexpected connections found in small moments. Written with warmth and attentiveness, this piece captures the feeling of being fully present—of noticing people, places, and fleeting encounters that somehow feel like home.
Read it on Substack
https://samanthaachilds.substack.com/p/postcards-from-ireland
A quiet, thoughtful poem about existence, humanity, and the strange beauty found in ordinary moments. Through simple observations and honest reflection, Samantha Childs explores vulnerability, love, self-awareness, and the miracle of simply being here at all.
Gentle, deeply human, and emotionally grounding, this piece is a reminder to slow down, breathe, and appreciate the imperfect experience of being alive.
Read it on Substack
https://samanthaachilds.substack.com/p/how-wonderful-it-is-to-be-wrong
A deeply personal and contemplative essay about mortality, truth, and the courage it takes to share ourselves imperfectly. Moving through memory, nature, grief, and self-reflection, this piece gently reminds us that our time here is brief—and that living honestly may be the most meaningful way to spend it.
Read it on Substack