Novel Escapes

02/21/2026

How much time do you spend figuring out your vacation reading? I have out a lot of thought into this stack. Which one do you think I will like the best?

I love to read on a sea day. There’s nothing better than relaxing by the pool and losing yourself in a good book. Here’s my stack for my upcoming cruise on the Celebrity Beyond. Have you read any of these? Can you figure out my mood?

02/17/2026

This is the long list for the Dublin Literary Award. How many have you read? Intermezzo is on my TBR and I adored There are Rivers in the Sky. Curious to know what you think. Comment below.

01/25/2026

Book clubs aren’t new—they’re part of a long tradition of reading together.

I’ve shared a new reflection on the history of book clubs and why they continue to matter. 📚

Link in comments.

01/24/2026

One of the things I love about Viking river ships is that each one has a thoughtfully curated library, created in partnership with Heywood Hill, the renowned London bookshop that has long supplied books to the British royal family. It’s a calm, light-filled space designed for reading, reflection, and watching the landscape drift by.

On a Rhine River cruise, those quiet moments are paired with days exploring historic towns, castles, and cultural centres from Switzerland to the Netherlands. It’s a style of travel that suits curious readers and lifelong learners—unhurried, thoughtful, and quietly enriching.

At Novel Escapes, I’m drawn to journeys where books, place, and conversation naturally come together. If this kind of travel sparks your interest, I’d be happy to share more.

01/23/2026

Southern Living says that everyone should read these 50 books. How many have you read? I've read nine but I have many of these on my TBR. Comment your results below!

If you're hoping to fill up your to-read list, you can't go wrong with these fifty contemporary classics.

01/17/2026

I’m excited to share something new.

Book Club at Sea is launching in January 2027 aboard Norwegian Aqua—a 7-night Eastern Caribbean cruise designed for readers who want connection, conversation, and time to simply be with a good book.

This is a small, hosted group and the very first sailing of its kind for Novel Escapes. If you’ve ever wished your love of reading could travel with you, this might be your moment.

Message me or email [email protected] for details.

01/17/2026

Long before I ever set foot in England, I had already lived there in my imagination.

Studying English Literature at university—Jane Eyre, Great Expectations, and so many others—I found myself dreaming of misty moors, stone villages, and London streets years before I ever walked them. Those books planted a longing that eventually led me to move to England in 1997, trusting a feeling that stories had shaped.

If you’re thinking of visiting England (or returning to it in your mind first), Anne Bogel of What Should I Read Next has put together a wonderful list of books to read as you plan your dream trip. A perfect reminder that sometimes the journey begins on the page.

One of the most common book recommendation requests I get is, What should I read before I travel to _____? I get it, and I love that readers want to

01/17/2026

Thinking of travelling to Ireland? Here's 17 recommended reads for those traveling to Ireland from Anne Bogel of the What Should I Read Next podcast.

The Irish are known for their gift of gab, thanks to Ireland's rich oral tradition. Luckily for us, that oral tradition eventually led to people writing

12/26/2025

Merry Christmas from Novel Escapes.
Wishing you a season filled with stories worth savouring, moments of connection, and the quiet joy of turning a page—both in books and in life.

11/12/2025

🎁🎄IT’S RELEASE DAY! 🎄🎁
Today, the NFB Street Team and Authors are excited to celebrate the release of ’s eighth anthology: HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS!
HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS is available today in paperback and ebook formats.
Cover by Rebecca R***r, of Beck and Dot Cover Design on Etsy.

🎁🎄❄️
SUMMARY
A tender holiday collection of twelve short stories that explores the many ways we find our way back to each other, to ourselves, and to the places that feel like home.
Whether through a grandmother’s treasured Christmas Eve memory, a soldier’s bittersweet homecoming, or simply strangers crossing paths in snow-covered towns, each tale captures the warmth and quiet magic of belonging during the holiday season.
In these pages, home isn’t always a house; it’s the sound of familiar laughter, the glow of shared traditions, the grace of second chances, and the courage to open your heart. These stories remind us that “home” is found not in perfection but in connection.
Featured stories and authors include:
🎁“A Place Called Family” by
🎄“The Advent-ures of Phoebe’s Christmas Dwarf” by
❄️“Back in Shape” by
🎁“The Kindness Challenge” by
🎄“Snowed Inn at Christmas” by
❄️“Comfort Zone and Joy” by
🎁“Christmas in the Woods” by
🎄“Gramma’s Christmas Eve” by
❄️“Farolito” by .narrative
🎁“I’ll Be Anywhere but Home for Christmas” by
🎄“Christmas on Canal Street” by
❄️“A Holiday Homecoming” by
Whether you’re returning, rediscovering, or rebuilding, Home for the Holidays: A Christmastime Anthology invites you to settle in, light a candle, and remember that sometimes the best gifts are the people and places we carry inside us.
🎁🎄❄️

10/29/2025

Setting: Canada’s capital
Characters: a fabulous book club
Themes: joy + friendship
Cameos: Louise Penny and Shelagh Rogers
Plot twist: sprained knee 😫
Sequel: TBD 😉📚✨