The Storyline: Issue 10 - May 2025
A newsletter brought to you by the team at Storyline Bookshop
Bookshop Buzz 🐝
An inside look at your neighborhood bookshop!
Hi Book Lovers,
May has arrived at Storyline! Whether you're hunting for your next beach read, a heartfelt gift for Mom, or just looking to get lost in a good book on a quiet spring evening, we've got something special waiting for you. Keep reading to learn about our Storyline milestones, upcoming bookish events, and must-read titles to add to your TBR.
Storyline Milestones 🏆
Big moments to celebrate!
🦋 We were grateful to be featured in Tri-Village magazine for our holiday partnership with Nationwide Children’s Hospital.
🎤 We hosted the incomparable Hanif Abdurraqib for a book signing ahead of his paperback release tour for There’s Always This Year.
📚 Our booksellers had a blast at our first ever Indie Bookstore Crawl—this year with 14 participating locations! We were overjoyed to host so many book lovers. Thank you to those who attended—you made our first crawl such a special day!
🌸 Maggie Smith graciously stopped in for a signing on Independent Bookstore Day in celebration of her latest release, Dear Writer.
💃 Our book club members attended their first-ever Storyline Book Prom! We had snacks, an epic prom playlist, a build-your-own-corsage bar, and, of course, plenty of photo ops. We crowned a King & Queen of prom and awarded superlatives to our favorite book characters. The perfect end to a perfect first Indie Bookstore Day!
🫶 Speaking of book clubs, we hosted 6 meetings this month for fans of different genres. Be sure to sign up for our May discussions and meet your new best book friends!
🎀 Bestselling author Renée Rosen joined us for a riveting discussion of Let’s Call Her Barbie, a must-read for any fan of historical fiction!
In Books We Crust 🍕
We are thrilled to announce our new monthly reading program, Read ‘Em & Eat, in partnership with our neighbors, Hob Nob Pizza, in Upper Arlington. Because who can name a better pairing than pizza and books?!
Each month, book club members have the chance to earn a sticker—for your epic participation button—and a $5 gift card to Hob Nob by attending one of Storyline’s 6 book clubs and purchasing a book that same evening. Book clubbers who earn 12 stickers will earn a grand prize! This program is exclusive to our book club participants and runs May 2025 - May 2026. To be part of the nostalgia and read your way to some delicious pizza, be sure to attend a May book club and pick up your button and first sticker!
📣 ANNOUNCING! 📣
Upcoming events you can’t miss!
May 10, 2025: Bedazzled Books
Add some sparkle to your stories with our first ever bedazzle your own book event. Bring your favorite book and we’ll provide all the crafting materials you’ll need.
May 11, 2025: Books, Blooms, and Brunch
We’re back with Books & Blooms for Mother’s Day! Celebrate mom with a fresh, handmade bouquet and visit our friends at Littleton’s to treat mom to brunch. Our 11:00 AM time slot is SOLD OUT, so we added an extra hour! Join us at 3:00 PM for a relaxing afternoon.
May 17, 2025: Book Swap at Storyline
Bring a book you loved but no longer need. Take a book that you’d love to add to your collection.
May 23-24, 2025: Stuffie Sleepover
We’re having a Memorial Day Weekend sleepover for your favorite fluffy friends. Drop your stuffie off at the shop Friday night for an epic sleepover—they’ll enjoy storytime, snacks, movies, and more—and pick them back up Saturday morning to hear all about the fun.
Storyline Book Clubs! 📖
Hosted by the Storyline Team, we welcome you to join any of our book clubs!
No Plot, Just Vibes Book Club
When: 2nd Tuesday of the month at 6pm
Host: Janine
Next Meetings:
May 13, 6pm – A Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet by Becky Chambers
June 17, 6pm — Audition by Katie Kitamura
The Classics
When: 3rd Monday of the month at 6pm
Host: Annie
Next Meetings:
May 19, 6pm — A Sport and a Pastime by James Salter
June 16, 6pm — Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain & James by Percival Everett (duel discussion)
Sci-Fi / Fantasy Club
When: 3rd Sunday of the month at 4pm
Host: Tom
Next Meetings:
May 18, 4pm — The Murderbot Diaries, Vol 1 by Martha Wells
June 15, 4pm — The Spear Cuts Through Water by Simon Jimenez
Lit Fic Club
When: 1st Sunday of the month at 10am
Host: Stephanie
Next Meetings:
May 4, 10am — Private Rites by Julia Armfield
June 1, 10am — Housekeeping by Marilynne Robinson
Romance Book Club
When: 2nd Wednesday of the month at 6pm
Hosts: Jasmine & Lexi
Next Meetings:
May 14, 6pm — Say You’ll Remember Me by Abby Jimenez
June 11, 6pm — Great Big Beautiful Life by Emily Henry
Mystery/Thriller Book Club
When: 3rd Thursday of the month at 6pm
Host: Jess
Next Meetings:
May 15, 6pm — Victorian Psycho by Virginia Feito
June 19, 6pm — Model Home by Rivers Solomon
The Nook ☕️
Overlooked titles that don’t get enough love
In the book world, if a book isn’t a new release, we call them backlist titles. These are some of our favorite overlooked backlist picks!
My Grandmother Asked Me to Tell You She’s Sorry by Fredrik Backman takes the reader on an adventure with Elsa as she follows her grandmother’s instructions to right the wrongs through her letters of apologies.
The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue by V E Schwab starts in France in 1714 where a woman bargains to live forever only to be cursed to be forgotten by everyone she meets. Addie LaRue is on a dazzling life adventure that will play out across centuries and continents. Until one day, after nearly 300 years, Addie stumbles across a young man in a hidden bookstore, and he remembers her name.
Red Rising by Pierce Brown follows Darrow, a Red, or member of the lowest caste in the color-coded society of the future. Like his fellow Reds, he works all day, believing that he and his people are making the surface of Mars livable for future generations. But Darrow and his kind have been betrayed. Soon he discovers that humanity reached the surface generations ago. Inspired by a longing for justice and driven by the memory of lost love, Darrow sacrifices everything to infiltrate the legendary Institute.
May New Releases 🚨
Check out the upcoming new releases for May
Literary Fiction
My Friends by Fredrik Backman is a poignant novel that intertwines the lives of four teenagers and a young artist, exploring themes of friendship, grief, and the transformative power of art.
Maine Characters by Hannah Orenstein is a heartfelt family drama set against the serene backdrop of a Maine lake. The story centers on two half-sisters—Vivian Levy, a driven sommelier from New York City, and Lucy Webster, a high school English teacher from a small Maine town.
The Original Daughter by Jemimah Wei is a poignant debut novel set in late-1990s Singapore. It follows Genevieve Yang, an only child living in a modest Bedok flat, whose life changes when her estranged grandfather's legacy brings Arin, a half-sister from Malaysia, into their home.
The Emperor of Gladness by Ocean Vuong is a poignant novel set in the post-industrial town of East Gladness, Connecticut. The story follows 19-year-old Hai, who, on the verge of suicide, is deterred by Grazina, an elderly widow grappling with dementia.
Historical Fiction
The Artist and the Feast by Lucy Steeds is a captivating historical novel set during a scorching summer in 1920s Provence. The story follows Joseph Adelaide, a young British journalist who arrives at the farmhouse of reclusive artist Edouard Tartuffe.
The Devil Three Times by Rickey Fayne is an ambitious debut novel that spans eight generations of a Black family in West Tennessee, weaving together history, spirituality, and the supernatural.
Give My Love to Berlin by Katherine Bryant is a historical novel set in 1920s and 1930s Berlin, a period when the city was renowned as a vibrant hub for the LGBTQ+ community.
The Martha's Vineyard Beach and Book Club by Martha Hall Kelly is a historical fiction novel that intertwines past and present narratives, set against the backdrop of Martha's Vineyard during World War II and the 2010s.
Romance
One Golden Summer by Carley Fortune is a heartfelt romance set in the picturesque town of Barry’s Bay, Ontario. The story follows Alice Everly, a photographer who returns to the lakeside retreat of her youth to care for her grandmother, Nan, after a fall.
The Love Haters by Katherine Center is a romantic comedy that follows Katie Vaughn, a video producer who has been burned by love and is now facing potential job loss. To secure her career, she agrees to profile Tom “Hutch” Hutcheson, a Coast Guard rescue swimmer in Key West.
What Happens in Amsterdam by Rachel Lynn Solomon is a romantic comedy that follows Dani Dorfman, a thirty-year-old who relocates from Los Angeles to Amsterdam for a fresh start after a breakup and job loss.
It's a Love Story by Annabel Monaghan is a romantic comedy that follows Jane Jackson, a former child star known as "Poor Janey Jakes" on a 1990s sitcom, now striving to be taken seriously as a Hollywood studio executive.
Sci-Fi / Fantasy
Monk and Robot by Becky Chambers is a collection of the beloved stories, A Psalm for the Wild-Built and A Prayer for the Crown-Shy. Following a tea monk whose life is upended by the arrival of a robot, these uplifting stories ask the question: in a world where people have what they want, does having more matter?
A Curse Carved in Bone by Danielle L. Jensen is set in a Norse-inspired world, the story centers on Freya, a shield maiden grappling with the revelation of her divine heritage and the destructive magic coursing through her veins.
The Devils by Joe Abercrombie is a darkly humorous epic fantasy set in a medieval-esque world on the brink of disaster. The Western and Eastern branches of the Church are divided, plague and famine ravage the land, and an elven invasion threatens humanity.
The Eye of the Bedlam Bride by Matt Dinniman’s LitRPG adventure continues the chaotic journey of Carl and his sentient cat, Princess Donut, as they navigate the eighth floor of a post-apocalyptic dungeon.
Mystery / Thriller / Horror
The Starving Saints by Caitlin Starling is a dark, queer medieval horror novel set within the besieged walls of Aymar Castle. As the inhabitants face imminent starvation, mysterious figures known as the Constant Lady and her Saints arrive.
Never Flinch by Stephen King intertwines two gripping narratives. Detective Izzy Jaynes receives a chilling letter from an individual threatening to kill "thirteen innocents and one guilty" as an act of atonement for a wrongful death. Meanwhile, feminist activist Kate McKay embarks on a lecture tour but becomes the target of a stalker opposed to her message.
Requiem by John Palisano is a gothic horror novel set aboard the Eden, a moon-sized cemetery in space. The narrative follows Ava, a crew member who confronts a malevolent cosmic entity resurrecting the souls of the deceased interred on the Eden.
The Missing Half by Ashley Flowers is a psychological thriller that delves into the lives of two women, Nic Monroe and Jenna Connor, who are bound by the mysterious disappearances of their sisters, Kasey and Jules, respectively.
Nonfiction
We Can Do Hard Things by Glennon Doyle, Abby Wambach, and Amanda Doyle, serves as a guidebook for navigating life's challenges, offering insights into topics such as love, heartbreak, joy, and grief.
The Wishbone Kitchen Cookbook by Meredith Hayden offers a collection of over 100 recipes, drawing from her experiences as a private chef in New York City and the Hamptons, as well as her childhood summers on Nantucket, Hayden emphasizes simplicity, seasonality, and a touch of whimsy in her culinary approach.
Uncommon Favor by Dawn Staley is the acclaimed head coach of the University of South Carolina women's basketball team. The book offers an intimate look into Staley's journey from her roots in North Philadelphia to her groundbreaking achievements in basketball.
Steve Martin Writes the Written Word by Steve Martin is an anthology that offers a curated selection of Martin's literary works, blending his acclaimed fiction and essays with new, previously unpublished pieces.
Children
Everything's Wrong! by Jory John continues the adventures of Jeff the bear and Anders the rabbit, best friends who find themselves facing a series of unfortunate events that turn their day upside down.
J vs. K by Kwame Alexander and Jerry Craft follows two fifth-grade students at Dean Ashley Public School (DAPS)—J, a talented cartoonist, and K, a gifted writer—as they engage in a creative rivalry.
Up in Smoke by Nick Brooks is a gripping young adult thriller. The story follows Cooper King, who is coerced by his older brother figure, Jason, into participating in a looting spree during a local march.
The Wish Switch by Lynn Painter is a middle-grade fantasy novel that follows Emma Rockford, a seventh-grader who seeks magic to improve her middle school experience. Before her grandmother's passing, Emma receives instructions to access a secret magical wishing well. However, when the new student, Jackson, interferes by making his own wishes, Emma's plans go awry.
Postscript ✍🏼
Before you go, check out these community events
UA Culture & Artisans Fair: This vibrant event will feature 20 artisans from all over the world, showcasing and selling their work on Saturday, May 3, 2025 at 10am.
Spring Fling: Mark your calendars for Saturday, May 10, 2025 at 11am for this annual family friendly event!
UA Farmer’s Market: Don’t miss opening day of the UA Farmer’s Market on Wednesday, May 14, 2025 at 3pm.
Friends of UA Parks Volunteer Day: Looking for a fun outdoor activity all while giving back to the community? Join Friends of UA Parks to help out with some invasive species control and tree planting!
Pools Open: Don’t miss your first chance to swim this season on Saturday, May 24, 2025 at 8:30am.
UACA Memorial Day Run: A Memorial Day tradition since 1971! Join in on the fun on Monday, May 26, 2025 at 8:30am.
Until next time,
Janine + The Storyline Bookshop Team
P.S. Follow us on Instagram @StorylineBookshop for club updates and announcements!
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