The Secret History by Donna Tartt has been all over my Pinterest home page lately. It’s a cornerstone novel of the dark academia aesthetic, evidently, and gives off major Dead Poet’s Society vibes. Finally, I gave into the platform’s algorithm and ordered a copy for myself. Read on for my honest thoughts on this popular bestseller.
Like with most holidays lately, Valentine’s is likely to be a quiet affair. While I do enjoy going out for for dinner on holidays like this, it is also nice to have a quiet and cozy night in.
Described as a must-read for fans of Madeline Miller, Clytemnestra is a stunning debut novel by Costanza Casati. This mythological historical fiction novel follows the lesser-known sister of Helen of Troy, Clytemnestra, whose story is known as one of vengeance and violence. Whether you are familiar with Greek mythology or not, Clytemnestra’s story will engage you and move you. And it just might get you into the genre of myth retelling!
A highlight of design in Tampa, Florida, Oxford Exchange is one of my favorite spots in the city. This European-inspired space houses a delicious restaurant, a must-see bookstore, a lovely home decor shop, and two of my favorite local businesses: TeBella Tea and Buddy Brew Coffee. With an Instagram-worthy staircase, carefully curated design pieces, and an atmosphere of creativity and community, it’s easy to see why Oxford Exchange is such a popular spot in Tampa!
A quick, emotional read, The Lost English Girl by Julia Kelly will pull at your heart and keep you up wanting to know more. Viv, the protagonist, is a remarkably contemporary woman. She makes her way as best she can as essentially a single-mother in WWII Liverpool. The historical novel tells a fascinating, heart-wrenching story of what happened with children evacuated from cities during the war. This is an aspect of WWII I knew nothing about. In all, this is a great read, and I am eager to try more of author Julia Kelly’s historical novels!
Looking for something to do in Tampa? Coppertail Brewing Co. has brought back their Last Sundays Market events at their Ybor location! This event features craft vendors and creatives from all over the Tampa and St. Petersburg, Florida area. These events promise shopping for fun, handmade finds with a refreshing Coppertail beer in hand. Look out for these events every last Sunday of the month going forward, between noon and 5 PM. Learn more about these events here!
I’ve always been a reader, even if I fell out of the habit a bit during law school. Since 2022, I’ve been putting in extra effort to get back into reading for pleasure, and I am starting this year off strong! While I share specific book reviews on Cats & Coffee, I thought a monthly round up of everything I read would be a fun way to share even more great books with you, my fellow readers. This month, I’ve read some great historical fiction novels, including some time travel and sci-fi options!
When it comes to style without compromise, Sarah Flint shoes are in a category of their own. Each Sarah Flint style is designed with a goal of “style without sacrifice” in mind. As such, you can comfortably and effortlessly style these shoes without worrying over cramping toes or blisters. In this, the Emma Sling from Sarah Flint is no exception. I picked up a pair of these slingback shoes during a sale and find them to be the perfect low-heel shoe. Read on for details and my thoughts on the shoe!
Now that we have more space in our new house, I am looking to expand my coffee table book library. I’ve found some great options and wanted to share my findings with you. Here, I am sharing some of the best coffee table books for decorating I found in my searches!
Welcome to the January 2023 edition of my weekly Cats & Coffee’s Curated Content Series! This series features weekly short-form content round-ups of articles, videos, podcasts, and Instagram accounts that inspire and entertain me or make me think. In short, I find content that is worth your time so you don’t have to! This month’s Curated Content Series highlights include dream literary dinner party guests, the best and worst historical costumes of 2022, and an amazing folk singer to discover on Instagram!
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