This is going to be a short wrap up for November. I’ve been thinking lately that it’s time to put the monthly updates on hold for now. It’s been a year of updating you all on the highs and not very many lows of starting Wallflower Bookshop. This will be a great way for me to look back and reflect as more changes come to the business. But currently I’m a bit overwhelmed figuring out what best serves the bookshop, my new job (not even 2 months old at this point) and my self-care. So I’m gong to take my reflection offline. Hopefully, will update as inspiration strikes – but there probably won’t be monthly business reflections for awhile (when I have a team, most likely). Thank you for following along, I hope you’ll still read the book reviews that I post on the site.
November 2024 Reads
November reading was tough. I’m so proud that I read 5 books. I had difficulty getting fully immersed in all of them. I think it was a matter of timing and wanting to just take a break this time of year. But I will not be denied hitting my reading goal (that I mistakenly increased in June…won’t ever do that again)!
December 2024 TBR List
Starting strong in December. I have a good feeling about these last 6 of 2024 that I’ve planned to read. I’m almost done reading How to End a Love Story…I started reading it 2 days ago. If I didn’t have a job and a strict bedtime I would be done. Who needs sleep when the book is so mesmerizing. Crossed fingers that I’m not disappointed by the third act.
Most of these books are Golden Poppy Award nominees for 2024. So I’m anticipating that I’m going to love them all. Before I Let Go and The Queen’s Spade are the two titles that aren’t part of the Golden Poppies. I’m trying to get ahead with my 2025 ARCs, so that’s why The Queen’s Spade is on my December TBR. And Kennedy Ryan did a very good job of selling reading Before I Let Go on Threads; because of the therapy rep – so I decided I need to read the book immediately. Especially since her third book in the series will be out in 2025. Please, please, please close out this year with strong reads so I can start the year reinvigorated. I might need to do like a “no read” challenge or something.
Business Updates
November goal: work on balancing my time
Working on balancing my time is still in progress. I recently started a new part-time job with the California Independent Booksellers Alliance, which is a great way to learn more about the bookselling industry – but having a “job” again is testing my ability to pivot. Lots of trying to figure out how to context switch over the last 1.5 months. Days are inconsistently balanced and imbalanced – definitely, my issue because I’m a recovering workaholic with poor boundaries and a perfectionist streak. I just keep reminding myself to have patience with myself and chill out. No one on my new team seems too concerned about me being slow. I think it’s in my head. But I’ll find out soon enough, I’ve got a review with my boss next week!
Business Goals moving forward:
- Apply to more Grants
- Balance and patience in all things
- Line up consistent events to secure “regulars”
Subscribe to our newsletter to get monthly bookshop updates in your inbox.
