The Year of the Wood Snake has begun. The element of wood can be fuel to burn it all down; however, fire cannot burn without oxygen, so remember to breathe. While you are shedding the old and welcoming the new, remember to stay as flexible as the wood of the trees in a storm - for in flexibility we find balance.
Celebrating Love
Whether you are celebrating love, looking for love, or loving yourself, February 14 ushers in the theme every year with Valentine's Day. A wonderful gift for yourself or your loved one is the first literary reference linking the Saint's day to romance, Geoffrey Chaucer's 1375 poem "Parliament of Fowls" - the title being a reference to the belief in Middle Ages France and England that February 14 was the beginning of mating season for birds.
Maybe you prefer a spookier read to celebrate Valloween? Check out author Kara Fleek's "Valoween: an erotic horror anthology" to spice up your evenings with your Valentine.
When gifting, remember the Valentine cards! Valentine's Day poetry and letters have been well-established since the Middle Ages. Continue the tradition with Bluestocking Books' selection of loving holiday greetings. We have both hot-off-the-presses cards and antique Valentine postcards to choose from.
Are you in the mood to read some Lunar New Year Romance? Two titles in this sub-genre made NPR's "Books We Love" annual year-end reading guide: "Lunar Love" by Lauren Kung Jessen and "Lunar New Year Love Story" authored by Gene Luen Yang and illustrated by Leuyen Pham.
In "Lunar Love", Olivia Huang Christenson is excited to take over her grandmother's matchmaking business, but when she learns that a new dating app has taken her Pâo Po's traditional Chinese zodiac approach and made it about "animal attraction," her emotions skew more toward outrage. Especially when L.A.'s most-eligible bachelor Bennett O'Brien is behind the app that could destroy her family's legacy. Liv knows better than to fall for any guy, let alone an infuriatingly handsome one who believes that traditions are meant to be broken. As the two businesses go head to head, Bennett and Liv make a deal - they'll find a match for each other, and whoever falls in love loses. But Liv is dealing with someone who's already adept at stealing business ideas, so what's stopping him from stealing her heart, too?
In "Lunar New Year Love Story", Val is ready to give up on love. It's led to nothing but secrets and heartbreak, and she's pretty sure she's cursed as no one in her family, for generations, has ever had any luck with love. But then a chance encounter with a pair of cute lion dancers sparks something in Val. Is it real love? Could this be her chance to break the family curse? Or is she destined to live with a broken heart forever? This young adult graphic novel has been chosen as best book of the year in 2024 by multiple reviewers.
Loving Community
Black History Month
Black Lives and History Matter. The Association for the Study of African American Life and History (ASALH®), founders of Black History Month, have dedicated February 2025 to the theme African Americans and Labor. Black History Month has come a long way since Black History Week was launched in 1926 by Dr. Carter G. Woodson. Purchase Woodson's books and biographies at Bookshop.org to support independent bookstores.
Southern California Wildfires
New LGBTQ+ Travel Guide
Safety while traveling is paramount. Lonely Planet is releasing a new LGBTQ+ travel book guided by locals and highlighting queer-owned business and queer-friendly experiences around the world. Lonely Planet: The LGBTQ+ Travel Guide: Interviews, Itineraries, & Inspiration from Insiders in 50 Proud Places Around the Globe will be released on March 18, 2025. You can pre-order with Bluestocking Books on Bookshop.org by clicking on the book title above, or by visiting the bookshop at 3817 Fifth Avenue in Fabulous Hillcrest.
Book Business Love
Ebooks Now Available on Bookshop.org
Bookshop.org has made it possible for you to support independent bookstores with your Ebook purchases! Ebook purchases work just like your physical book purchases - just choose your bookstore affiliation and shop. Ebooks may be read in your browser or on the downloaded apps from the Apple Store or Google Play Store. For further information, and to browse the initial Ebook selection, starting at under $3.00, visit the Bookshop.org Ebook page.
Bookseller Love from Libro.fm
Libro.fm is the audiobook listening platform that shares profits with independent bookstores. Right now, you can show your support for local bookshops by purchasing merch. Use the discount code "booksellerlove" for 25% off your order at the Libro.fm online store!
