Christen Krumm

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Summer Book Report

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I had every intention of doing a monthly summer book report, but the summer was way busy and I unofficially took time off from the blog … I ended up on a little bit of a reading binge (I’m going to chock it up to husband working a couple of 3rd shifts as well as summer reading challenge put on by @Lunasluckymoon on Instagram). Did you read this summer? What were your favorite reads?

Note: This post does contain affiliate links.

A Painted Summer | Amy Matayo

Loved this novella. It’s short, so I read it super fast. It’s about a former homeschooler (so, I could totally relate). I fell for the hero super fast. Overall a cute read definitely worth reading if you are in the mood for something light and happy.

Furiously Happy: A Funny Book About Horrible Things | Jenny Lawson

When your brother-in-law randomly calls in the middle of the day and tells you that you have to read this book, you request from your library and read it as fast as you can. Multiple times I was laughing out loud (at so many inappropriate things). This book was super entertaining.

After You | Jojo Moyes

This is the second book in the Me Before You series. I remember reading the first book because there was so much controversy surrounding it. The second book was just ok. I still love Jojo’s writing, this story was just … okay. I am looking forward to the third book, Still Me, which I have heard is a lot better than this one.

A Wrinkle in Time | Madeleine L’Engle

E and I read this one together before we watched the movie. It was my first read (I know, I know). I went back and forth between “this is so weird” and “this is so good”. For the most part, I loved it. I love the messages weaved throughout. E and I both decided that we loved the book better than the movie. I so loved the messages in the movie, but the book was definitely better.

The Royal We | Heather Cocks

I’ll admit. I have been bit with the “royal” bug. I love seeing everything Meghan Markle. I grabbed this book (based loosely off of Kate and William’s story). It took me forever to get through this book (I felt like it was really long — I think it covered six years?) It was good, but not going down in my “most favorite book ever”.

Death in the Floating City | Tasha Alexander

I will always be a fan of the Lady Emily mysteries. This was the seventh one and still just as enjoyable as the first.

Meghan: A Hollywood Princess | Andrew Morton

Maybe I am a little obsessed with all things England and princess right now. I loved Meghan on Suits and now love her as the new princess.

Brazen | Penelope Bagieu

This was a super fun one. A graphic novel of such telling quick stories of women who changed history. <3

The Anomaly | Michael Rutger

I didn’t like this one as much as I thought I was going to. It was my Book of the Month club pick and pitched as X-Files meets Indiana Jones. It was entertaining enough to keep me reading. At about chapter 35, the pace finally got going for a bang of an ending.

Gone Rogue: Wires and Nerve #2 | Marissa Meyer

I will always and forever love Marissa Meyer. This graphic novel series continuing the Lunar Chronicles series is golden.

Unbreakable | Sara Ella

This was the final book in the Unblemished series. It’s a little bittersweet. I was there at the series beginning and this was a great ending to the entire thing.

The Truth Between Us | Tammy L. Gray

This was another fun, quick read. More on the chick lit side, but if you’re looking for something easy (while good) this would be your pick! You can see a full review on it here.

When Through Deep Waters | Rachelle Dekker

Rachelle Dekker is another one of those authors that I just love everything they write. When Through Deep Waters was a lot different from her first series, but I still loved it. You can see a full review on it here.

Song of a Captive Bird | Jasim Darznik

This one isn’t something I’d normally pick up, but at the recommendation from a friend requested it from the library and then promptly devoured it. This is one of the main reasons I love recommendations — they lead you to read something in a genre you wouldn’t normally read, and you’ll end up discovering new favorites.

The Bone Season | Samantha Shannon

This one I found on Instagram (via a late night scroll and discovering the author). She’s British and described this as dystopian — I was sold. It was a little different then what I generally enjoy, but oh my sweet goodness did I love love love this book. I hear there is a read-a-long going on for this series and we’re reading book two this month — can’t wait to dive in!

My Plain Jane

The Jane series. Sigh. These are such great books. My Plain Jane is the second book in the series but is completely stand alone. Jane Eyre meets Ghostbusters — pure perfection.

Bolivar | Sean Rubin

This was a graphic novel I picked up in the children’s section of my library. I loved it. Apparently, there is a movie coming out based on the book — I’m so there

The Opposite of Loneliness | Marina Keegan

I’m finding that I super loving books of essays. This one was written by a Yale graduate who died a few days after graduating. Her family, friends, and professors gathered all her writings and put them in this book. I loved each short story and essay — I kinda wish there were more. Definitely worth a read!

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christen e krumm | author | blogger | coffee addictI'm Christen. I'm a reader, writer, and I seriously love coffee.

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Christen Krumm

christenkrumm

Podcaster @exploringtheblankpagepodcast | Author of On the Golden Cliffs & It Happened at Christmas & Meet Me at the Christmas Cottage

I'm excited to join in the cover reveal for Karabo I'm excited to join in the cover reveal for Karabos by @lyndseylewellen, releasing from @enclavepublishing  in October 2026! The first book in The Timebound Duology, a YA fantasy, is available to preorder in hardcover today.

This is one of my most anticipated reads for 2026! 

Book Blurb: When sixteen-year-old homeschooled entomologist Winslet Nubek enters the elite, insect-hunting Tournament of Scarabs to save her family from ruin, she expects danger and magic bugs. Not time travel. Paired with a resentful cartographer, Rafe, who doubts her every move, Winslet accidentally triggers a forbidden time scarab and launches them both into volatile jumps through an ancient world.

As they struggle to hide their condition and stay in the competition, their time slips reveal buried truths about the scarabs—and the lies their glittering society is built on. With sinister forces closing in, Winslet and Rafe must capture legendary insects and expose the truth before the past bleeds into the present and destroys them both.
Everything I got written (or didn’t) this week! Everything I got written (or didn’t) this week!
I know you know … I know you know …
A Saturday in the life of an author on deadline. A Saturday in the life of an author on deadline. 

10.07 AM - arrive at the coffee shop (where I actually got a parking spot AND a seat at my favorite table!) 

11.08 AM - finally get some coffee. The line was long and I kept waiting for it to get shorter.

1.56 PM - trying not to panic because there’s still so much I want to get done and the coffee shop closing in a little over an hour.

2.53 PM - closing time. Time to pack up and leave. I’m also getting hungry, so place a Chick-fil-A order.

3.26 PM - lunch acquired. 

3.48 PM - it just so happens that the Chick-fil-A shares a parking lot with a Barnes and Noble. I think some wandering must be had (and I somehow walked out without buying anything!) 

5.01 PM - home again home again. A little reading in the office before dinner.
Y’all I have my edits back for the M*rder Myster Y’all I have my edits back for the M*rder Mystery (🎉), and I still don’t know where this Neely Spencer chapter is going (you know, the one I said I was going to post last week... or was it the week before?)

Instead of promising x number of chapters this month (and the next month), I’m going to promise that I’ll post the chapters as soon as I’m finished writing them. This means, there could be 4 chapters, or there could be 1 chapter (I’m shooting for the 4 ...) The M*rder Mystery has to be my main priority right now, but I’m hoping that I’ll have time for the whimsy (Neely Spencer is the whimsy). Because we call need a little more whimsy in our lives, right? 

Sorry to disappoint anyone — I’m writing as fast as I can. Thank you so much for sticking with me! You guys are the best! And if you haven’t started reading Atlas of Neely Spencer, now is the perfect time to get caught up!
I love connecting with readers and writers online. I love connecting with readers and writers online.

Here is everywhere you can find me. A follow is only a click away!

The best way to follow is my newsletter — let’s be honest, social media is a fickle thing and it can go down or crash at any moment, so if you for sure don’t want to miss anything, make sure to get on the list!

So glad you’re here!
Stuff I’ve written … Stuff I’ve written …
Hi! I’ve gotten some new followers whilst on my Hi! I’ve gotten some new followers whilst on my unintentional social media break, so time for a little updated about me! 

Instagram is my favorite + I’m so glad you’re here!
Chapters 14 AND 15 of Neely Spencer dropped this m Chapters 14 AND 15 of Neely Spencer dropped this morning! 

Can’t wait to hear what you think!!
I’m just going to leave this here… I’m just going to leave this here…
Emilie and Christen chat what they are working on, Emilie and Christen chat what they are working on, what they are reading,  and what’s coming up for the podcast
Chapter twelve has dropped. #neelyspencer Chapter twelve has dropped. #neelyspencer
A little birdie told me we’re getting more Neely A little birdie told me we’re getting more Neely Spencer chapters!
Chicken prints in the snow are my favorite. Chicken prints in the snow are my favorite.
Typewriter is out … you know what that means… Typewriter is out … you know what that means…
We will see who makes it out alive … We will see who makes it out alive …
I mean … maybe, but let’s not get too crazy. I mean … maybe, but let’s not get too crazy. 

Have you made goals (writing or otherwise) for this year?! Let me hear! I wanna cheer you on!
New day, sameish view, same coffee shop. New day, sameish view, same coffee shop.
At my favorite place, writing this book that only At my favorite place, writing this book that only wants to be written when I’m not at home.
Merry Christmas from Neely Spencer. Head over to S Merry Christmas from Neely Spencer. Head over to Substack if you want to see a special message about Neely Spencer (and I share some goodies too!!) 

#serialfiction
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Things of Note

Unless otherwise stated, all words and photos on this blog are my own. Sometimes I use affiliate links for products in posts as well as on my other social media sites. "We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites." Occasionally I receive books or products free of charge. This will be clearly noted and please know that when I am writing about something the words and opinions expressed are always my own. Thank you so much for reading.

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