Carissa Kellerby

Historical fiction holds memories that spark curiosity.

Here is a sampling of books to give you some ideas to focus on loving yourself first.

In 2025, I challenge you to stop reading those books that just aren’t grabbing you and keep seeking the ones that do.

December. The race to the finish line of the holiday season and the end of the year. Remember those things you told yourself you were going to accomplish back in January? Yeah, sorry I reminded you.

I don’t know about you, but the end of Daylight Savings time sends me straight into hibernation mode. It’s dark by 5:30pm, which for some reason now feels like 8pm. All I want to do is curl up in a nest of blankets and cuddly cats, drink a hot beverage, and you guessed it, read a book!

October is my favorite month for many reasons. Fall finally starts to feel like it’s here. The leaves change. It feels like the calm before the major holiday storm. I can justify having candy in the house, particularly Brach’s candy corn pumpkins. (It’s for the trick or treaters! wink). And my witchiness can be out on full display without anyone batting an eye.

Some people have a superpower that allows them to see colors when they hear music or associate personalities to numbers. This has Carissa Kellerby thinking about books (of course).

As school bells chime the death knell of summer (or if you were like me as a kid, the jiggle bells of an exciting new assortment of school supplies), I’m reminded of a fun subgenre of psychological suspense known as Dark Academia.

At least once per summer at the library, I find a book in our return bin with sand still stuck in the dust jacket...

Although I believe in colorful reading all year, being extra intentional during their assigned month of celebration is a fun way to curate some themed LGBTQIA+ summer reading.