Featured

Jan 15, 2019

How (and Why!) I Take All My Own Instagram Photos

Jan 15, 2019

Want to step up your IG game? Today I’m teaching you exactly how I take my own photos for the ‘gram!

Jan 15, 2019

Jan 3, 2019

My 2019 Goals

Jan 3, 2019

Dec 30, 2018

Top 10 books of 2018

Dec 30, 2018

This is my very favorite list to make, so I’m very excited to present my Top 10 books of 2018!

Dec 30, 2018

Dec 27, 2018

All the Books I Gifted & Received This Christmas

Dec 27, 2018

Book lovers gift and receive all the books for Christmas, so here are the books I gave and received!

Dec 27, 2018

Dec 18, 2018

How to Start, Find, and Maintain a Book Club

Dec 18, 2018

All about my book club, how I started it, and how you can start or find your own!

Dec 18, 2018

Dec 2, 2018

Holiday Gift Guide: A Book + Present for Every Lady on Your List

Dec 2, 2018

A book plus a present for every person on your list!

Dec 2, 2018

Featured

Jan 17, 2019

Where'd You Go, Bernadette // Maria Semple

Jan 17, 2019

When Bee, a high school student in Seattle, reminds her father, a Microsoft career elite, and her mother, a weird and wonderful shut-in named Bernadette, of their promise to take her to Antarctica if she maintains perfect grades, the two carefully agree to take the trip.

Jan 17, 2019

Featured

Jan 1, 2019

Little by Edward Carey

Jan 1, 2019

In revolutionary Paris, Marie or “Little” is an ambitious, orphaned servant who wants nothing but to please her master, Curtius, and continue her work as his assistant in his wax shop. This is the fictional life story of Madame Toussaud.

Jan 1, 2019

Featured

Dec 12, 2018

My Sister, The Serial Killer by Oyinkan Braithwaite

Dec 12, 2018

The first time it happened, Korede was furious at him for making her sister Ayoola defend herself. But the third time her sister used her knife on one of her boyfriends? Now she’s a serial killer…

Dec 12, 2018

Featured

Dec 10, 2018

One Day in December by Josie Silver

Dec 10, 2018

Laurie found the love her life through a bus window one day in December… and then lost him just as quickly as the bus pulled away.

Dec 10, 2018

Featured

Dec 5, 2018

Reincarnation Blues by Michael Poore

Dec 5, 2018

What would you do with your lives if you could come back as someone or something new 10,000 times?

Dec 5, 2018

Featured

Dec 5, 2018

Sweetbitter by Stephanie Danler

Dec 5, 2018

When Tess up and moves to New York City at age 22, effectively cutting ties with her parents and her vaguely Midwest life, she expects her life to begin…

Dec 5, 2018

Featured

Nov 27, 2018

Last Christmas in Paris by Heather Webb and Hazel Gaynor

Nov 27, 2018

Told almost exclusively through letters, this book begins in 1914 with the naïve excitement of Will Elliot and his best friend Thomas Harding as they set off to the Front to fight in World War I. Evie Elliot, Will’s sister, stays behind and promises to write them both as often as she can, at least until the war is over before Christmas of 1914.

Nov 27, 2018

Hello! My name is Megan. 90% of life is books: face behind @the_spines, publishing professional, and all day reader. So glad you're here!

Walking into this weekend like ... ✨📖☺️
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Just posted my review of WHERE’D YOU GO, BERNADETTE by Maria Semple and I would definitely recommend. Starring a truly delightful cast of characters, a hilarious, witty tone, and Dr. Seuss-ian settings, this book was fun to read from beginning to end. The author also uses humor as a vehicle to drive more serious themes, so I consider it an entertaining, but not fluffy read. Head over ✨to the blog✨for my full review!
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💭 Any thoughts on WYGB? 💭 I’d love to chat about it! 👇🏼👇🏼👇🏼

[gifted 📖] Have you ever seen a creepier book cover?? I kind of love it. THEORY OF BASTARDS by Audrey Schulman is my current read and also our book club choice for the month! It’s a brick, so I might be facing a coup at our meeting ... 😂
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I’m not far enough in to give an opinion yet, but you’ll want to check out this book if you’re into sci-fi, dystopian settings and intense ethics. It’s very intriguing so far ...
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💭 Any thoughts on real people on covers of books?💭 I’m usually not a fan, but this one is 👌🏼.

(ad!) Hi friends! We are about two weeks into 2019, and if you’re anything like me, those goals seem harrrrrd to reach now that the shiny newness has worn off. So, as important as hitting goals is, it’s equally important to remember that you’re *already* killing it in some areas of your life! #NewYearsameyou , right?? 🥰
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But, to keep me sane, these are the 3 things I do EVERY day to make me feel like I have a handle on my life, no matter what happens after I leave the house:
1. Read for a few minutes before getting ready, coffee mug in hand 📖☕️
2. Pack up my bag for the day (I’ve left home without headphones or a water bottle ONE too many times 🙄)
& 3. Fill out my planner for the day 📝 (because organization is calming! 😇✨)
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Thanks to @yesstudiodesigns for providing my survival kit! (Also, check out their IG because it looks like they have a unicorn creating content over there... 👀🌈) #wildandwolf #yesstudio
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💭 What do you do every morning to start your day off right? 💭👇🏼👇🏼👇🏼

Let’s close our eyes for a second and pretend we’re drinking an espresso and wearing our cutest sandals in the sun .... 💭🌞 What a nice dream!
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What I’m actually doing today is telling you all about ✨How (& Why!) I take allll my own photos for my IG!✨ If you’re interested in mastering the self-timer game, seeing how I take photos with myself in them, or if you want the inside scoop on the equipment i use, go check it out! •
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💭 I also tell you all about my origin story of taking photos of me, by me while I was traveling alone and how I used to feel SO stupid about it ... 😂😂 but worth it for the mems. Tell me your silly photo shoot stories! 👇🏼👇🏼👇🏼

Hi Monday, welcome back! I woke up so ready for this week. It’s going to be busy, but I’m honestly just happy to be healthy again and in the proper mindset to get some things done! •
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I also spent a lot of weekend sitting on my booty reading this book, so I’m almost done. The tone is really delightful, but it has a darker edge to it, too. I always appreciate a book that can balance whimsy and weight, so it’s looking like a thumbs up from me. I’ll be reviewing WHERE’D YOU GO BERNADETTE on the blog later this week, so stay tuned! ✨
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💭 How are you feelin about this Monday? 💭

Small wins— today I woke up and actually put real clothing on. Basically, I’m trying to trick my brain into thinking I’m not sick. 😉 On the upside, if I’m going to stay in all weekend, at least Chicago gave me a little snowstorm for me to watch through the window! 🙌🏻 •
In other news, I started a new book five minutes ago. I’ve been wanting to read this one before the movie comes out— excited to see if it lives up to its reputation!
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💭 Whatcha reading this weekend? 💭

That Friday feelin’.... ✨🙌🏻📖 I’m currently having a major sick day, so you can find me here until further notice. (aka until I stop being a lil germ monster 👀)
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Sick day essentials:
✔️ cozy slippers
✔️ warm bed
✔️ chicken soup (handled by Murat 😭😍🙌🏻)
✔️ a good book (or 4... )
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💭 Got any sick day suggestions or remedies for me? 💭 I get stir crazy VERY easily so I’ll take whatever you have 😂

Currently reading: THE WRONG WAY TO SAVE YOUR LIFE, an essay collection by a fellow Chicagoan, Megan Stielstra. 📖 I always enjoy reading Megan’s books because she seems very real, almost like you could look up and see her on the same train or in the same grocery store. I also like that she grew up in Michigan and then moved to Chicago, just like me, and that she lived in the same neighborhood I currently live in. It’s fun to read about places where you actually spend time! ☺️✨
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💭 Do you have a favorite book that’s set in a place you’ve lived? 💭 I don’t seek out books set in Chicago, BUT one of my fiction favorites that takes a slight skew of Chicago is DARK MATTER by Blake Crouch. Tell me about yours! 👇🏼👇🏼

Hi friends, happy Monday! Isn’t this the cutest block?? ✨🌇 Spotted in Lincoln Park while walking off a very good brunch with a friend. 😍 (my collection is growing over here: #thespineswalks )
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In other news, I finished a book this weekend and also started a new book last night. I don’t love starting a new book in the morning because my brain can’t hang. It’s like, you want me to start the day AND get invested in a new book?? Slow your roll, girl.
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💭 Do you pick up a new book immediately after finishing the last one?💭 I kinda go back and forth. In theory, I like to let the story permeate but sometimes I’m just ready to scoot right along. ☺️

I didn’t choose the cozy life, the cozy life chose me. 😉✨📖
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I finished THE STAR-TOUCHED QUEEN this morning and I thought I’d give y’all my mini thoughts on it. ✨ Since it’s a YA fantasy book, it’s pretty outside my usual genres. That said, I did enjoy some of the traditional fantasy aspects of the book in a general way, but I learned that I do not like when magic has no rules and no need to learn how to use it. The whole book felt a bit moorless and i wanted something, anything to give it an anchor. I also am definitely NOT here for the star-crossed love-at-first-sight kind of love story, which we get with our main characters here. Overall? Not for me but could be right for some of you if fantasy YA is your jam. ☺️
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💭 Whatcha all reading today?💭 I’m trying to decide what to pick up next!

Today’s view. ✨📖 I hope you’re all having a happy Friday— I’m personally spending it working from home in my sunny apartment! •
The book I’m currently reading is the end of this month’s book club book, THE STAR-TOUCHED QUEEN by Roshani Chokshi. @rooreads & @dappledpages & I discussed it last night over our usual charcuterie board goodness ( 🙌🏻) and decided none of us were on board with this one. It’s outside of my usual genre so I’m going to talk about it more once I actually finish this afternoon! •
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💭 Do you try to read outside your preferred genre or not so much? 💭 I talk about this all the time, but reading outside my usual lines is so much of why I enjoy book club so much!

This is a much more idealistic version of the reading I actually did today, which took place first on my couch at the crack of dawn and then while train surfing during my commute. 😏📖 It’s that time of the month when I attempt to read half a book in 24 hours before going to book club... 👀
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In other news, I asked if y’all were interested in my ✨personal 2019 goals✨ on my story and you said yes SO I put them on the blog! I was both very ambitious and very realistic with myself this year, which I think will pay off come next January. •
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💭 I’d love to know some of your goals for the year, if you want to share! It’s nice to know that we are all striving for something together, even if whatever we are trying to accomplish is completely different.💭

Oh my goodness, first day back to work after a verrrrry long break means sleep-deprived and caffeinated. 😂 Getting my life together today via writing down my 2019 goals, filling out my new year planner, starting a new book (aka cramming for book club per usual 😏) and workin’ hard!
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One of my 2019 goals is to read 65 books. 📖 Standing at 0, it seems a bit intimidating but I easily fit in 60 this year so I think it’s doable. For me, the number goal is less of a hard deadline and more of an encouragement to keep my reading habits tuned and a bar to make sure my hobbies are still a priority in my life!
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💭 Did you set a reading goal for this year? 💭 I’d love to hear about it! 👇🏼👇🏼👇🏼

[gifted 📖] Hello friends, happy first day of 2019! I hope you’re all enjoying the fresh start feelings and are setting some good goals for the year ahead. I am! But maybe after brunch... 😉✨
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I’m also starting this year by looking back at my last book of 2018. I just put up my review of LITTLE by Edward Carey, which is a fictional look at Madame Toussaud’s life as a wax sculptor, on the blog. In short? I loved the whimsical illustrations and the macabre tone of the story as a whole, but I also thought it was about 200 pages too long and the characters were a bit flat for my liking. So.. meh. •
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💭How was your last book of 2018?💭 also, if you’ve read LITTLE, I’d love to chat about it below! 👇🏼👇🏼👇🏼

Update: I DID finish one of these before the new year begins! The others .... those are going to have to roll over. 😂 Vacation for me has apparently also meant vacationing from reading and taking up movie watching, which I do not regret at all and will continue to do until I go back to work on Wednesday!
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Some of the movies I watched this break: All the Grinch movies; all the Hobbit movies; Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring; Bird Box; Sex and the City; Julie and Julia. ☺️🍿🎥
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💭 Watch any good movies over break? 💭👀

YAY, TOP 10 BOOKS OF 2018! 📚 This is always my very favorite blog post to write because it’s such a nice opportunity to reflect on my year of reading. This year, I got to 60 books (8 more than my goal!) and 47 of them were written by women, which is absolutely an average I’d like to take into 2019. I talked more about my year and shared the rest of my top 10 on the blog, so head over there for the rest! •
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But, for now? My five favorite books of the year:
5. AN UNWANTED GUEST // Shari Lapena
4. PRIESTDADDY // Patricia Lockwood
3. BLOOD, BONES, AND BUTTER // Gabrielle Hamilton
2. CALL ME BY YOUR NAME // Andrè Aciman
1. THE SECRET HISTORY // Donna Tartt
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💭 Are you surprised by any of these? And, what’re your top reads??💭 let’s chat down here! 👇🏼👇🏼👇🏼

[ad!] What’s better than a Friday? An already-on-vacation Friday! 📖☕️😍 I’ve actually been so busy this break that my only real time to sit with a book has been during my morning coffee. The brew of the week over here has been the house blend from @cityroasterschicago and I’m happy to report that everyone in this apartment is now a daily coffee drinker! 😈 •
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My love of coffee aside, nothing brings me joy like supporting Chicago businesses. Chicago City Roasters covers all the bases, so this is basically the best partnership ever. 😉 Founded here in the city, they are so local and small batch that they’ll blend and roast coffee to your exact specifications. 👀‼️ They sent me 3 blends with my “medium but full body and flavor” requests and they are perfect. 🙌🏻 Seriously, best mail ever. 👉🏼@cityroasterschicago👈🏼
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💭 What’s your coffee order? 💭👇🏼👇🏼👇🏼 I’m a mood coffee drinker, so either black coffee or lattes.

My gifting motto is an Oprah Winfrey-esque “everybody gets a book!!” so naturally I am delighted when I receive books, too! I’m very excited about the books in this stack and I’m especially excited about this ✨beautiful✨ ex libris stamp, gifted to me by @hayhails! •
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If you’re curious about all the books I gifted and received this year, go check out my latest blog post! 📖🥰
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💭 What books were added to your library this week? 💭 👇🏼👇🏼 tell me here!

Major mood today post-holidays. 📖👀☕️ I had the best week celebrating and now I’m definitely grateful to have some time off to relax, spend some time reading, and enjoying some anti-social time. 😉 •
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💭 What’re you all up to today? 💭

Follow me on Instagram! @the_spines

GOODREADS CHALLENGE:

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the spines I megan r. prokott

Omg I’m in this article! 🥳 books foreverrr! https://t.co/eZXxkhsk9Y
about 4 days ago
the spines I megan r. prokott

I never feel more like a nine-to-fiver than when I un-mute myself on a conference call to provide a curtesy laugh,… https://t.co/vUJCDxuddz
about a week ago
the spines I megan r. prokott

RT @joshgondelman: This year I'm trying to be a more available, supportive friend as well as an increasingly looming, formidable enemy.
about 2 weeks ago
the spines I megan r. prokott

RT @HBO: It’s now officially the year that Game of Thrones comes back.
about 2 weeks ago