Paula Johnson
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pasadenapaula.bsky.social
Paula Johnson
@pasadenapaula.bsky.social
Creative. Funny. Fast.
Book pick: "Remarkably Bright Creatures" by Shelby Van Pelt, narrated by Marin Ireland and Michael Urie. There is more to Marcellus than meets the eye in this endearing small-town tale of families and friendships. 💙📚
February 13, 2026 at 4:31 PM
Galentine's Day is a made-up holiday concocted by the brilliant writers of  "Parks and Recreation” in 2010. A quick primer: youtu.be/pYv1zjBOMew

Galentine's Day is more fun than Festivus, better than Boonta Eve, and sillier than Slapsgiving. Enjoy the day your way, ladies!
February 13, 2026 at 8:03 AM
Book pick: "Heart the Lover" by Lily King. This book communicates the emotional highs and lows that most college students and twenty-somethings experience. Whatever major we chose, we all minored in (lower-case) drama. 💙📚
February 6, 2026 at 3:31 PM
Looking forward to reading the final book in the Unlived Lives trilogy (before I prep the files for publication). Fun fact: The author SWORE he had just one novel in him. I guess he meant "one novel at a time." 💙📚
Your choices put you in the life you now lead. What life would that be had you chosen differently?

Spend time with Raymond, Shelly, and all the others as they search the multiverse for their destinies.

#paralleluniverse #multiverse #psychologicalthriller #fictionbooks

williammatthies.com/
February 5, 2026 at 11:07 PM
Book pick: "The Nest" by Cynthia D'Aprix Sweeney. What a deeply flawed, fractured family! Well-plotted, with a satisfying ending. 💙📚
January 30, 2026 at 3:45 PM
Book pick: "A Crime Through Time" by Amelia Blackwell, narrated by Polly Edsell. Georgiana Darcy (Mr. Darcy's sis) is catapulted from Pemberley to a modern-day movie set where a Jane Austen adaptation is being filmed. A witty twist on Jane Austen and a strong start to a new series.
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January 23, 2026 at 3:15 PM
Book pick: "Van Halen Rising: How a Southern California Backyard Party Band Saved Heavy Metal" by Greg Renoff. I'm not a superfan, but I love some of the songs and the band's connection to Pasadena/Altadena. I now have new respect for David Lee Roth's vision and determination. 💙📚
January 16, 2026 at 4:03 PM
Book pick: "The Christmas Candle Murders" by Benedict Brown. This is #15 in the Lord Edgington Investigates series, and it's delightful. Make a New Year's resolution to start with book one and read your way through.
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January 9, 2026 at 4:03 PM
Book pick: "The Widow's Husband's Secret Lie" by Freida McFadden, narrated by Marin Ireland. The author is known for thrillers, which I avoid because I end up reading all night. But a satirical novella? Fun! I hope she (and the narrator) had as much fun creating this tale as I did hearing it. 💙📚
January 2, 2026 at 4:30 PM
Book pick: PSYCH! It's not a book, but a bookish website. Have you heard about Booktrovert? It's the brainchild of those book boosters at NetGalley. I plan to do a deep dive and see what's what. Maybe you should, too? Go: booktrovert.com 💙📚
December 26, 2025 at 3:04 PM
Book pick: "Shorte List" by Scott Mehno. Confession: I have not yet cracked open this debut novel because I was saving it for pre-Christmas reading. It's a holiday story that blends Charles Dickens, Santa Claus, and an overworked father/inventor working with AI. (Maybe Holo-Dickens?)

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December 19, 2025 at 4:04 PM
Book pick: "The Favorites" by Layne Fargo. Over-the-top drama! Soap opera-level plot twists! Fabulous narration! Fun escapist reading—on ice!
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December 12, 2025 at 3:02 PM
Book pick: "Later Days" by Chip Jacobs. Because I loved "Arroyo," I didn't read the "Later Days" blurb before buying it. I'm glad I didn't know any details. This story reminded me how idiotic/reckless teen boys could be! Look for both an "Arroyo" callback and a dusting of appropriate magic. 💙📚
December 5, 2025 at 3:04 PM
December 2, 2025 at 5:05 PM
Book pick: The "Below Stairs Mystery" series by Jennifer Ashley. Kat Holloway is a talented cook at Mayfair mansion in Victorian England. She juggles the demands of her employers with her ever-growing skill as a detective. 💙📚
November 28, 2025 at 3:02 PM
A weekend of "friendly" family football games reveal rocky relationships and simmering conflicts. Sometimes a little game is far more than it appears.. Black Friday Sale price: $1.99 through 12/2/25 on Apple Books

books.apple.com/us/book/a-li...

#football #booksale 💙📚
November 25, 2025 at 2:02 PM
Book pick: "How to Kill Your Family" by Bella Mackie. I could not put this book down! The plot was deliciously twisted and the ending was stunningly great. I hope this novel becomes a movie or limited series.

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November 21, 2025 at 5:02 PM
Book pick: "The Gilded Age Christmas Cookbook" by Becky Libourel Diamond. It's not just recipes, but a lovely course in holiday history and customs. I enjoyed learning about the evolution of traditions like gingerbread cookies and Christmas stockings. 💙📚
November 14, 2025 at 5:05 PM
Book pick: "Definitely Maybe Not a Detective" by Sarah Fox. Emersyn is trying to find a new job and recover the money her ex stole. Oh, and solve a murder. If you like madcap mysteries with a dab of romance, this is a need-to-read! Thanks to NetGalley + Ballantine | Bantam for the ARC. 💙📚
November 7, 2025 at 4:45 PM
Book pick: “Death at the Door” by Olivia Blacke. In this second book in a series about human/ghost roommates, Ruby has to find out who killed the deli delivery guy (who supplied more than sammies) with the help of the deceased Cordelia. How does do they communicate? Refrigerator magnets! 💙📚
October 31, 2025 at 4:08 PM
Book pick: “The Briar Club” by Kate Quinn, narrated by Saskia Maarleveld. I enjoy historical fiction because I always learn something, plus the relative lack of technology makes the action more challenging for the characters. Also, the narration was wonderful. 💙📚
October 24, 2025 at 3:06 PM
Book pick: "Paradiso Ponds" by Donnie Dale. The aptly named Buddy is shot and dumped in radioactive waters. But his baptism by toxic waste not only heals him, it enhances him. That's bad news for the bad guys. Violent, gory, and funny in equal parts, this dark comedy is a hoot! 💙📚
October 17, 2025 at 3:05 PM
Book pick: "A Gargoyle's Guide to Murder" by Gigi Pandian. Nine books in, my love for this series continues to grow. This time, Zoe, Max, and living gargoyle Dorian are in England facing new perils, including a poisoned book.

Thanks to @NetGalley + Gargoyle Girl Productions for the ARC. 💙📚
October 10, 2025 at 3:06 PM
Book pick "All Systems Red" by Martha Wells. In early 2026 I found this audiobook series by accident and binged all of The Murderbot Diaries. Fast forward to this summer and I had to binge all the Murderbot episodes on AppleTV. 💙📚
October 3, 2025 at 2:05 PM
Book pick: "Two Truths and a Murder" by Colleen Cambridge. (Avail. 10/28/25) Like Agatha Christie? Meet Phyllida Bright, her housekeeper and part-time detective. In this fifth outing, two murders and potential hanky-panky keep the story rolling.

Thanks to @NetGalley + Kensington for the ARC. 💙📚
September 26, 2025 at 3:05 PM