{"id":382518,"date":"2026-07-22T15:36:14","date_gmt":"2026-07-22T15:36:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/382518\/"},"modified":"2026-07-22T15:36:14","modified_gmt":"2026-07-22T15:36:14","slug":"still-looking-for-a-hot-summer-read-check-out-these-ideas-from-bookshops-across-north-texas","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/382518\/","title":{"rendered":"Still looking for a hot summer read? Check out these ideas from bookshops across North Texas"},"content":{"rendered":"

We\u2019re\u00a0firmly in the Dog Days of Summer,\u00a0and\u00a0much like\u00a0its seasonal\u00a0counterpart,\u00a0the Dead of Winter,\u00a0now is\u00a0the perfect time to\u00a0head\u00a0indoors\u00a0to\u00a0the cool comfort of your neighborhood bookstore\u00a0and snuggle up with\u00a0a good book.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Besides a place to pick up your next beach read and an iced latte, we\u00a0found a lot of bookshops\u00a0that\u00a0function as third\u00a0spaces, meaning\u00a0a\u00a0neighborhood\u00a0gathering place\u00a0outside of\u00a0your\u00a0home (a\u00a0first place) and work (your\u00a0second place).\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

In this week\u2019s\u00a0Side\u00a0Quest, we\u00a0took a trip to explore some\u00a0of the bookstores around North Texas\u2014or, as we like to call it- a\u00a0Bookshop\u00a0Hop!\u00a0We\u00a0asked\u00a0the experts to\u00a0give us\u00a0their picks for\u00a0the best\u00a0summer reads,\u00a0hot\u00a0sellers\u00a0and\u00a0sleepers.\u00a0We also listed their upcoming events,\u00a0where\u00a0you can learn something new, find a fun community\u00a0event,\u00a0or trade your latte for a martini.\u202f\u00a0<\/p>\n

FORT WORTH\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

\"Author<\/p>\n

Dominique Johnson\/Courtesy The Dock Bookshop<\/p>\n

Author Walter Mosley (right) stopped by The Dock Bookshop in Fort Worth on June 15 for a conversation about his newest book Glalen: A Romance in Black. <\/p>\n

THE DOCK BOOKSHOP<\/a>\u00a0<\/p>\n

Located\u00a0in East\u00a0Fort Worth,\u00a0The Dock\u00a0is\u00a0one the largest African American-owned\u00a0full-service\u00a0bookstores in\u00a0the Southwest.\u00a0The\u00a0shop\u00a0is a vital third space that\u00a0hosts\u00a0author\u00a0talks, book signings, poetry readings, story times, panel\u00a0discussions\u00a0and community events.\u00a0
\u00a0“Our goal is to be an oasis for the community, where they can come and soak up\u00a0books\u00a0and culture,”\u00a0said co-owner Donna Craddock.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

BEACH READ:\u00a0Going Toe-to-Toe\u00a0by\u00a0Yahrah\u00a0St. John\u00a0\u00a0
After their no-strings fling in paradise, Lyric and Devon never thought\u00a0they\u2019d\u00a0see each other again until they did. Now they have\u00a0very different\u00a0ideas about what the future holds.\u00a0<\/p>\n

HOT SELLER:\u00a0Communion: The Female Search\u00a0for\u00a0Love\u00a0by Bell Hook\u00a0\u00a0
In this non-fiction, self-help book, Bell explores how women can build healthier, more authentic relationships by embracing self-love,\u00a0honesty\u00a0and equality.\u00a0
\u00a0
“I cannot keep this book in stock,” Craddock said. “It came out over 20 years ago, but it’s made a resurgence. The internet made it popular because JD Vance came out with a book with a similar\u00a0title.”\u00a0<\/p>\n

WILD CARD:\u00a0A Committee of One\u00a0by Opal Lee\u00a0
\u00a0An inspirational memoir\/self-help book from the\u00a0grandmother\u00a0of Juneteenth.\u00a0<\/p>\n

“It’s a book full of wisdom for everybody.\u00a0It’s\u00a0like\u00a0you’re\u00a0talking to your grandma and\u00a0she’s\u00a0giving you nuggets of wisdom throughout the whole book as well as sharing her story,”\u00a0said Craddock.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

HAPPENINGS:\u00a0<\/p>\n

Meaningful Conversations Community Talks:\u00a0Fridays,\u00a07 p.m. Free, weekly community and spiritual gatherings where participants can discuss deep, thought-provoking topics related to community,\u00a0culture\u00a0and spirituality.\u00a0\u00a0Dock Open Mic: Aug 4, 7:30 p.m.\u00a0The stage opens for poets, singers, musicians, storytellers, comedians, and creatives of all kinds to share their gifts.\u00a0Lunchtime Chat with Vanessa Miller:\u00a0Aug. 18, 11:30 a.m.\u00a0A\u00a0special conversation with acclaimed author, playwright, and motivational speaker Vanessa Miller. <\/p>\n

\"Monkey<\/p>\n

Anglea Sides\/Monkey and Dog Books<\/p>\n

Monkey and Dog Books hosts a Find Waldo Local contest during the month of July. <\/p>\n

MONKEY\u00a0& DOG<\/a><\/p>\n

This\u00a0small shop\u00a0is\u00a0tucked away on a tree-lined street in Fort Worth’s Cultural District. The store has a cozy\u00a0children’s\u00a0book nook, but\u00a0it\u2019s\u00a0a full-service bookstore, too,\u00a0with\u00a0selections for teens and adults.\u00a0<\/p>\n

“We have the ability to know customers and remember them and form relationships with\u00a0them,\u201d owner Brooke Burt\u00a0said.\u00a0\u201cAnd\u00a0I think that kind of environment\u00a0is what keeps people coming back.\u00a0It\u2019s the fun part of owning a bookstore.”\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

BEACH READ:\u00a0Shippers\u00a0by\u00a0Katherine Center\u00a0\u00a0
The romantic comedy is about a woman who goes on\u00a0her sister\u2019s\u00a0wedding\u00a0cruise\u00a0hoping to rekindle love with an old crush.\u00a0Instead,\u00a0she discovers\u00a0love\u00a0in an unexpected place.\u00a0
\u00a0
HOT\u00a0SELLER:\u202fThe\u00a0Calamity Club\u00a0by\u00a0Kathryn Stockett
Set in Depression-era Mississippi, an outspoken young woman, an orphaned\u00a0girl\u00a0and a desperate mother join forces to outwit a corrupt system and fight for their futures.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

WILD CARD:\u00a0The Carpool Detectives: A True Story of Four Moms, Two Bodies, and One Mysterious Cold Case\u00a0by Chuck Hogan
A true-crime mystery about a group\u00a0of four\u00a0moms who\u00a0team\u00a0up during COVID to\u00a0solve\u00a0a double homicide that took place in their hometown a decade earlier.\u00a0<\/p>\n

HAPPENINGS:\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

Find Waldo Local:\u00a0Through July 31. Participants pick up a stamp card at\u00a0participating stores\u00a0and explore Fort Worth to find Waldo, earning stamps to win prizes.\u00a0\u00a0Page Turners Book Club-\u00a0Middle\u00a0schoolers\u2019\u00a0Book\u00a0Club. July 25, 11 a.m.\u00a0This month\u2019s book:\u00a0The Truth as Told by Mason Buttle\u00a0by Leslie Connor. <\/p>\n

RECLUSE BOOKS<\/a>\u00a0<\/p>\n

James Webster and his wife Josie Smith-Webster\u00a0opened Recluse Books in Fort Worth’s Near Southside neighborhood\u00a0about a year ago.\u00a0
\u00a0
“We believed in the bookstore as a key part of a thriving and functioning neighborhood, as a community space and as an arts hub,”\u00a0Webster\u00a0said.\u00a0\u201cIt was a long-term dream to have our own\u00a0shop,\u00a0and we realized that this neighborhood was going to be ideal for what we were trying to do because the businesses are all so supportive of\u00a0each\u00a0other\u00a0and it really feels like being a part of a community.”\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

BEACH READ:\u00a0Happy Hour\u00a0by Marlowe Granados
This unpretentious summer read\u00a0follows\u00a0two 21-year-olds who show up in New York City without a single plan and even less money. They spend a sweltering summer in the city doing what young people without a plan do best–have\u00a0a good time.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

HOT SELLER:\u202fRiverwork\u00a0by\u00a0Lisa Robertson\u00a0
A mystery\/historical\u00a0fiction\u00a0novel that follows Lucy, a Parisian house cleaner, who inherits her great-aunt Em’s research\u00a0on the\u00a0forgotten\u00a0Bi\u00e8vre\u00a0River\u00a0buried beneath\u00a0modern-day\u00a0Paris.\u00a0Em mysteriously disappeared years earlier while\u00a0studying\u00a0the river, so Lucy takes it upon herself to finish the work.\u00a0<\/p>\n

“The subject matter is fascinating. Webster said. “All these famous books by authors like Victor Hugo and Gustave\u00a0Flaubert refer to this river in Paris that doesn’t exist anymore. It’s the kind of book that we like to champion.”\u00a0<\/p>\n

WILD CARD:\u00a0Winter in Sokcho\u00a0by Elisa Shua Dusapin
A quiet literary novel about a young Korean French woman who works in a guesthouse in\u00a0the South Korean town of Sokcho. When a French artist arrives during the winter, their connection leads her to explore her feelings on belonging,\u00a0family\u00a0and her own mixed-race heritage.\u00a0<\/p>\n

HAPPENINGS:\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

Open Mic Night, July 28, 7 p.m.\u00a0Read some writing; bring a guitar and sing a song or perform a monologue.\u00a0\u00a0Semester\u00a0Abroad\u00a0Book Club, July 29, 7 p.m. A literary tour of the world, one semester at a time. This session,\u00a0the group will\u00a0spend six months “reading”\u00a0through Hungarian literature. Books can be set in Hungary, translated from the language, or simply about the location. Fiction and\u00a0non-fiction\u00a0are both fair\u00a0game.DALLAS\u00a0<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

BLUSH\u00a0BOOKSTORE<\/a>\u00a0<\/p>\n

This cozy little romance-only bookstore\u00a0is in\u00a0the Bishop Arts District of Oak Cliff. The pink, cottage-like\u00a0decor\u00a0and\u00a0inventory\u00a0of\u00a0everything from rom-coms to romantasy make it a popular destination for lovers of the genre.
\u00a0
“We have a really fun, feminine and romantic aesthetic,”\u00a0Blush owner Jaclyn Wooten\u00a0said.\u00a0<\/p>\n

BEACH READ:\u00a0The Romance Revival\u00a0by Christina Lauren
This sci-fi romance follows scientist Emery Finch, who uses classified, life-reviving technology to bring her husband Luca back from the dead. Luca survives but has total amnesia, giving the couple a unique “do-over” to rebuild their troubled marriage from scratch.\u00a0<\/p>\n

HOT SELLER:\u00a0This Book Might Save Your Life\u00a0by Tiffany Crum\u00a0
A suspenseful thriller about two best friends who host a popular survival podcast. When one of them goes missing, the other becomes the prime suspect. The search that ensues uncovers hidden secrets, complicated\u00a0relationships\u00a0and the truth behind what made them famous.\u00a0<\/p>\n

WILD CARD:\u00a0Atmosphere\u00a0by Taylor\u00a0Jenkins Reid
A thrilling historical fiction novel set in 1980s NASA. It follows Joan Goodwin, a physics professor who becomes one of the first female scientists in the space shuttle program. The book explores her ambition, a secret\u00a0sapphic\u00a0romance with an\u00a0engineer, and a present-day crisis in space.\u00a0\u00a0
\u00a0
“This is probably my favorite book to recommend right now,” Wooten said. ” I think it’s such a good time to be reading about women in STEM, especially after the recent moon launch.”\u00a0<\/p>\n

HAPPENINGS:\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

Bookstore Romance Day\u00a02026, Aug. 15.\u00a0Book signings\u00a0and special promotions. Check the\u00a0shop\u2019s\u00a0Instagram page<\/a>\u00a0for more details.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

\"Singer<\/p>\n

Courtesy Interabang Books<\/p>\n

Singer Audrey Schott gives a musical performance at Interabang Books in Dallas. <\/p>\n

INTERABANG BOOKS<\/a>\u00a0<\/p>\n

The store hosts three book clubs, regular author events and offers a welcoming space for readers of all kinds.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cWhether you’re just getting into reading or you’ve been an avid reader for years, there’s a place for you at Interabang Books,\u201d\u00a0said\u00a0marketing director Chelsea Wyatt.\u00a0<\/p>\n

BEACH READ:\u00a0The Shampoo Effect by Jenny Jackson
This romance novel follows a young\u00a0writer whose arrival in a wealthy New England beach town disrupts a tight-knit group of lifelong friends, exposing secrets, hidden\u00a0tensions\u00a0and strained relationships. The title refers to\u00a0how small actions can have big consequences, much like\u00a0how the\u00a0second\u00a0application of\u00a0shampoo creates\u00a0more\u00a0lather\u00a0than the first.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

HOT SELLER:\u202fYesteryear\u202fby Caro Claire Clarke
A time-traveling thriller that\u00a0follows\u00a0a “tradwife” social media influencer who wakes up one day in the 19th century, where she must learn how to live without modern society.\u00a0<\/p>\n

WILD CARD:\u00a0Portrait of an Unknown Woman\u202fby Camille de Peretti
A historical fiction novel inspired by the real-life mystery of Gustav Klimt’s\u00a0stolen masterpiece, Portrait of a Lady. The story reimagines the\u00a0model\u2019s\u00a0identity\u00a0and\u00a0follows her descendants and\u00a0the painting\u00a0across a century\u00a0of\u00a0family secrets,\u00a0lost\u00a0loves\u00a0and art theft.\u00a0<\/p>\n

HAPPENINGS:\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

Book\u00a0discussion:\u00a0Tenderness\u00a0by Rowan Beaird,\u00a0on\u00a0July 30,\u00a0at\u00a06 p.m.\u00a0\u00a0Book signing:\u00a0The Beauty of\u00a0the Days Gone\u00a0by Jason Stone in conversation with Richard Bailey, Aug.\u00a06,\u00a06 p.m.\u00a0\u00a0Fiction Book Club, featuring\u00a0Pale Fire\u00a0by Vladimir Nabokov, Aug. 4,\u00a06 p.m.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

PAN-AFRICAN CONNECTION<\/a>\u00a0<\/p>\n

This\u00a0Black-owned\u00a0store carries books about history,\u00a0culture\u00a0and\u00a0the African American experience.\u00a0The shop also sells African art and has a community space for activities such as reading, wellness checks and storytelling for kids.\u00a0<\/p>\n

“We’ve been in business for 37 years now,” owner Akwete Tyehimba said. “We have been serving our community and giving them positive images and narratives about themselves and their own history and culture and their own past and future.”\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

BEACH READ:\u00a0Score\u00a0by Kennedy Ryan
This second-chance romance is about a screenwriter and a famous musician who reunite\u00a0years after a painful breakup\u00a0to collaborate on a film about a Harlem\u00a0Renaissance\u00a0singer. They\u00a0must decide if\u00a0their love is worth a second chance.\u00a0\u00a0
HOT SELLER:\u202fBlack AF History: The Un-Whitewashed Story of America\u00a0by Michael Harriot
A funny, provocative\u00a0retelling of American history\u00a0through the untold stories,\u00a0achievements\u00a0and\u00a0resilience of Black Americans.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

WILD CARD:\u00a0Parable of the Sower\u00a0by Octavia Butler
Set in a post-apocalyptic Earth\u00a0that has been\u00a0heavily affected by climate change and social inequality,\u00a0this speculative fiction novel follows a young woman who can feel the pain of others and becomes displaced from her home.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

HAPPENINGS:\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

African Drum Circle, every Sunday, 3 p.m.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\"In<\/p>\n

In addition to a shop inside the Market Building at the Farmers Market, Storytellers Bookstore also has a bookmobile outside in The Shed among the fruits and vegetables. <\/p>\n

STORYTELLERS BOOKS<\/a>\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

Located\u00a0at the indoor shopping market at the\u00a0Dallas Farmers Market, the\u00a0shop\u00a0specializes\u00a0in\u00a0Texas\u00a0authors, special editions and bookish goods handcrafted\u00a0by\u00a0local artisans and artists.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u00a0“Half of our shop is focused on authors who either currently live in Texas or have lived in Texas in the past,”\u00a0said\u00a0owner\u00a0Abbey\u00a0Anderson. “I think\u00a0it\u2019s what\u00a0makes us stand out– the love and the care that we put behind our local, independently published authors.”
\u00a0\u00a0
BEACH READ:\u00a0Beach Read\u00a0by Emily Henry
This contemporary romance is about two writers with writer’s block who spend a summer living in neighboring lake houses in Michigan. To help with their creative slump, the two make a bet to write in each other’s genres. She must\u00a0write\u00a0a dark literary\u00a0novel,\u00a0and he must write a rom-com.\u00a0<\/p>\n

HOT SELLER:\u00a0“My hot sellers are my\u00a0Blind Date with a Book,\u201d Anderson said.\u00a0<\/p>\n

It\u2019s\u00a0like a grab bag \u2013 Anderson wraps the\u00a0books,\u00a0so you\u00a0don\u2019t\u00a0know what\u00a0you\u2019re\u00a0choosing. She handwrites clue cards\u00a0that\u00a0give you just enough information to know what the book is, so you\u00a0don’t\u00a0have to worry about buying a book that you already have.\u00a0It\u00a0comes with tea,\u00a0bookmarks\u00a0and highlighters.<\/p>\n

WILD CARD:\u00a0The Will of the Many\u00a0by James Islington
This\u00a0dystopian\u00a0fantasy follows an orphaned survivor of a conquered kingdom who infiltrates an elite Academy under a false identity. He must navigate deadly, cutthroat competition while hiding his identity from the oppressive, Roman-inspired Hierarchy empire.\u00a0<\/p>\n

HAPPENINGS:\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

The\u00a0store\u2019s little\u00a0blue\u00a0book\u00a0mobile\u00a0is among the veggies in the Shed\u00a0at\u00a0the\u00a0Farmers Market.\u00a0\u00a0Weekends, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.\u00a0Signing with Tessa English, author of\u00a0Pieces of My Heart: Stories of Love and Joy in Memory Care, July 25, 10 a.m.\u00a0<\/p>\n

WHOSE BOOKS<\/a>\u00a0<\/p>\n

Oak Cliff\u2019s first independent Latina-owned\u00a0bookstore\u00a0is\u00a0on Davis Street in the Bishop Arts District.\u00a0The neighborhood shop\u00a0fosters\u00a0a strong reading culture\u00a0with shelves filled with\u00a0diverse authors and titles, and it also\u00a0serves\u00a0as a\u00a0third\u00a0space where visitors can\u00a0gather\u00a0for\u00a0story times, book clubs, author meet-and-greets and community events.\u00a0<\/p>\n

BEACH READ:\u00a0Please\u00a0Don\u2019t\u00a0Go\u00a0by E. Salvador\u00a0
This contemporary romance is about two college students who are both struggling with overwhelming grief. As they help each other confront their pain, they discover that healing, hope and love can\u00a0emerge\u00a0after profound loss.\u00a0<\/p>\n

HOT SELLER:\u00a0The Intrigue\u00a0by Silvia Morena-Garcia\u00a0
This\u00a0noir\u00a0thriller\u00a0set in 1940s Mexico is about a charming\u00a0con man\u00a0who targets a wealthy boardinghouse owner for her money.\u00a0His plan becomes complicated when the woman’s niece discovers the plot and demands to be included in the scheme.\u00a0<\/p>\n

WILD CARD:\u00a0Migrant Heart: Essays About Things I\u00a0Can\u2019t\u00a0Forget\u00a0by Reyna Grande\u00a0
A memoir in essays by\u00a0a\u00a0bestselling author that\u00a0explores\u00a0the hidden cost of the American Dream and the complex journey of healing that follows survival.\u00a0
“She really experiments with how she tells stories in this book,” said owner Claudia Vega.\u00a0“Some of them are written as short essays and some are put together in the form of a theater script. What I love about it is that you can start anywhere in the book. You\u00a0don’t\u00a0have to read it in order.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n

HAPPENINGS:\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

Community story time.\u00a0July 25, 10 a.m., Halperin Park.\u00a0The first 20 families receive a\u00a0free\u00a0copy of the featured book.\u00a0\u00a0An evening\u00a0with poet, lawyer, and\u00a0founder of Freedom Reads, Reginald Dwayne Betts.\u00a0Aug. 3, 7 p.m.\u00a0Betts\u00a0discusses his\u00a0latest\u00a0book of\u00a0poetry,\u00a0Doggerel.\u00a0\u00a0The Taboo Talk Book Club: Sept. 2,\u00a07 p.m. The group\u00a0discusses\u00a0Want, a collection of anonymous letters from hundreds of self-identifying women around the world. Group discussion\u00a0facilitated\u00a0by Dr. Jessica Sanchez,\u00a0sex &\u00a0trauma\u00a0therapist\u00a0and\u00a0educator.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\"The<\/p>\n

The Wild Detectives is a bookstore, bar and cultural space that offers a variety of activities, including author events, poetry readings and even salsa lessons. <\/p>\n

THE WILD DETECTIVES<\/a>\u00a0<\/p>\n

This\u00a0bookstore, bar, and cultural space\u00a0in\u00a0the Bishop Arts District is owned by\u00a0Javier Garc\u00eda del Moral and Paco Vique, two friends and former civil engineers from Spain.\u00a0The name and overall vibe of the business\u00a0comes from Roberto Bola\u00f1o\u2019s Los Detectives\u00a0Salvajes\u00a0(The Savage Detectives, 1998).\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cAlongside a carefully curated selection of books, you’ll find author events, concerts, conversations, good coffee, wine and plenty of reasons to stay a little longer,\u201d\u00a0said\u00a0Garcia del Moral.
\u00a0\u00a0
BEACH READ:\u00a0Orbital\u00a0by Samantha Harvey
This short novel set aboard the International Space Station follows six\u00a0astronauts and cosmonauts\u00a0over the course of one day as they orbit the Earth 16 times.\u00a0
\u201cIt’s quiet, beautifully written, and somehow manages to make you think about the whole planet while barely leaving a space station,\u201d Garcia del Moral said.\u00a0
\u00a0
HOT SELLER:\u00a0I Deliver Parcels in Beijing\u00a0by Hu Anyan
A memoir about the author\u2019s experiences working as a delivery driver\u00a0and other gig jobs in Beijing, offering a rare look at\u00a0economic hardship,\u00a0resilience\u00a0and modern life in China.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Garcia del Moral\u00a0called it\u00a0one of the biggest literary surprises of the year.\u00a0\u201cHu writes about the gig economy from the inside, with a rare combination of humor, honesty, and empathy.\u00a0It’s\u00a0a book about work, loneliness, and resilience that somehow manages to be both deeply moving and genuinely funny.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n

WILD CARD:\u00a0The Summer My Mother Had Green Eyes\u00a0by Tatiana \u021a\u00eebuleac\u00a0
An emotional novel\u00a0about\u00a0a famous painter\u00a0who undergoes psychiatric treatment\u00a0and\u00a0chronicles\u00a0the final summer he spent with his dying mother in the rural French countryside.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

HAPPENINGS:\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

Comic artist Raquelle Jac\u00a0discusses\u00a0her graphic novel\u00a0Bimbo\u00a0Agitprop\u00a0with\u00a0filmmaker and visual effects artist Uday Narayanan. Aug.\u00a06, 7 p.m.\u00a0Shakespeare Everywhere\u00a0presents\u00a0a new production of\u00a0A Midsummer Night\u2019s Dream.\u00a0Aug. 10 and 17 at 8 p.m.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Monthly Poetry Series Inner Moonlight, curated by poet Logen Cure: Aug. 12, 7:30 p.m., This month, April Sojourner Truth Walker reads, followed by a brief open mic.<\/p>\n

DENTON\u00a0<\/p>\n

THE PLOT TWIST<\/a>\u00a0<\/p>\n

The independent romance bookstore and bar is\u00a0located\u00a0just off the historic Downtown Square.\u00a0The bar features drinks with\u00a0a\u00a0romance theme.\u00a0The\u00a0bookshelves\u00a0are\u00a0curated\u00a0by\u00a0a multitude of\u00a0romance\u00a0subgenres.\u00a0
\u00a0
“We have things like sports, young\u00a0adult,\u00a0historical,\u00a0monster,\u00a0cowboy\u00a0and regular romance. We also have a whole shelf dedicated to local authors,”\u00a0said\u00a0Jenna Reeves,\u00a0an\u00a0assistant buyer and\u00a0bookseller.”\u00a0<\/p>\n

BEACH READ:\u00a0Rules for the Summer\u00a0by Meghan Quinn
This\u00a0romantic comedy\u00a0follows Renley, a\u00a0small-town\u00a0girl trying to revive her favorite candy store, and Theo, a British lord looking for a wife. After a meet-cute mix-up, the two work together for the summer.\u00a0
“I was laughing the whole time,” Reeves said. “I\u00a0audiobooked\u00a0it as well and the narration was fantastic. It’s so beachy and it is just the most fun story of all time.”<\/p>\n

HOT SELLER:\u202fThe\u00a0Deal\u00a0by\u00a0Elle Kennedy\u00a0
A college sports romance about a smart music major and a star hockey player who fake\u00a0date\u00a0while she tutors him. Their \u201cdeal\u201d quickly turns into a real love affair as they both help each other heal from past romances.\u00a0\u00a0
WILD CARD:\u00a0A Requiem for Fallen Stars\u00a0by Hazel Wilkes
A fast-paced fantasy romance by a Texas author. This first\u00a0installment\u00a0in a two-book series follows Lyra, a servant who enters a magical academy meant only for nobility. There, she uncovers hidden powers, dangerous secrets and unexpected romance while fighting for her freedom.\u00a0<\/p>\n

HAPPENINGS:\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

Author chat and book release party of\u00a0Yes, Chef\u00a0by Grace Reilly, who\u00a0speaks\u00a0with\u00a0romance\u00a0author Chelsea Curto. July 29, 6:30 p.m. at UNT Gateway Center\u00a0Author\u00a0chat\u00a0with Tate James,\u00a0who will discuss her romance series\u00a0ClikByte,\u00a0with author\u00a0B.B\u00a0Reid, whose re-release of her book\u00a0Lilac\u00a0will also be available. Aug. 19, 6:30 p.m. at Greater Denton Arts Council\u00a0A Twisted Midnight: Book Release Ball of\u00a0ACOTAR 6, the upcoming sixth installment\u00a0in the\u00a0A Court of Thorns and Roses\u00a0romantasy\u00a0series by Sarah J. Maas.\u00a0Oct. 26, 9 p.m. at Monroe Pearson in Denton.\u00a0
\u00a0<\/p>\n

\"Axel<\/p>\n

Axel Severs, associate at Recycled Books in Denton, says the store’s labyrinthine structure compels people to lose time and stay.<\/p>\n

RECYCLED BOOKS RECORDS & CD<\/a>\u00a0<\/p>\n

Located on\u00a0the\u00a0Downtown\u00a0Denton Square\u00a0in a\u00a0three-story,\u00a019th-century\u00a0building,\u00a0Recycled Books, Records &\u00a0CDs is\u00a0one of the largest independent used bookstores in Texas.\u00a0The quirky purple building\u00a0with the winding rooms and creaky floors\u00a0is a Denton landmark\u00a0and destination for book lovers\u00a0and collectors\u00a0across Texas.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u00a0Axel Severs,\u00a0an\u00a0associate at Recycled Books, says\u00a0the bookstore\u00a0has a weird power\u00a0that comes from the\u00a0overflowing amount of stuff\u00a0and the labyrinthine layout of the building. “When\u00a0you surrender to the abundance,\u00a0the place itself sort of compels you to\u00a0lose\u00a0time,\u00a0And I think a lot of customers do have trouble leaving the store.”\u00a0<\/p>\n

BEACH READ:\u00a0Sideways Stories from Wayside School\u00a0by Louis Sachar
This humorous children’s book follows students and teachers\u00a0of\u00a0an elementary school that was accidentally built 30 stories high instead of 30 classrooms long.\u00a0
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0
HOT SELLER:\u202fThe Fourth Wing\u00a0by Rebecca Yarros
This romance\/fantasy is the\u00a0first novel in the\u00a0Empyrean fantasy series. It follows\u00a0Violet\u00a0Sorrengail, who is forced\u00a0by her powerful mother\u00a0into an elite military academy where cadets are forced to become dragon riders.\u00a0\u00a0Despite her small size, Violet\u00a0must survive the academy, bond with a\u00a0dragon\u00a0and uncover dangerous secrets.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

WILD CARD:\u00a0Pick-Up\u00a0by Charles Willeford
A dark,\u00a0unconventional novel about Harry Jorden,\u00a0an aimless alcoholic who falls into a\u00a0turbulent\u00a0relationship with\u00a0the equally\u00a0dysfunctional\u00a0Helen Meredith.\u00a0As their\u00a0romance continues,\u00a0they\u00a0spiral\u00a0downward\u00a0into\u00a0crime.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

HAPPENINGS:\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

The Denton-based\u00a0indie-punk band\u00a0Fishboy\u00a0hosts a\u00a0release party for\u00a0their newest album\u00a0Bravest Neighbor.\u00a0July 25, 6:30 p.m.\u00a0
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