Literature & Lattes
A section for books and more!
A section for books and more!
March 12, 2026
Well hello there, book friends! I hope your March is going amazing, and that you've gotten a chance to read some great books. I sure have! I visited one of my favorite bookstores, Nacho Mama's Bookshop in Hamilton, MI, and came out with a whole stack of goodies (see attached image). I can't wait to put my observations of them on the website.
-Lily Monteith
March 5, 2026
Spring is beginning to arrive here in Michigan, and hopefully it is where you live too! With a change of seasons comes a change in book genres for me. Lately I've been devouring medieval, Narnia-esque reads, some new and some old favorites. Expect to see a lot from the historical and fantasy sections of the website in the coming weeks!
Speaking of the website, lots of fun things are coming this spring, especially for this blog. A lot of the time when I post on here, I attach stock photos to fit the theme. Instead, I'm going to make cute book quote posters like the one here. It gives the blog a more cozy vibe in my opinion.
Last, but not least, allow me to share an encouraging Bible verse with y'all.
"Jesus answered, 'I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.'" John 14:6 (NIV).
-Lily Monteith
February 11, 2026
I hope you've been watching the Winter Olympics, because Team USA has some incredible talent this year, especially in figure skating. Ilia Malinin (men's), and Madison Chock and Evan Bates (pairs), are shocking the country. Unlike most big sporting events, there are no divided loyalties. It's Team USA all the way.
And that calls for some winter sports, figure skating-themed reading! For the rest of the winter, keep checking our new Sports Observations section. Plus, take a look at our fun USA figure skating gallery below!
-Lily
February 2, 2026
We're back! No, we haven't vanished, we've just been very busy reading some AMAZING books (the subject of this post being just a few).
Lately, I've been reading the Anne of Green Gables series by Lucy Maude Montgomery. They're a charming vintage set of books written from the 1910s to the 1930s, about a redheaded orphan and her adventures, from her arrival on Prince Edward Island to her marriage, and even two books about her children. They've inspired dozens of movies, TV shows, and animated films. Anne's future beau, Gilbert Blythe, has been a crush of dozens of girls, and Anne has secured herself as one of the most beloved characters in literature, alongside Elizabeth Bennett (Pride and Prejudice) and Jo March (Little Women).
These books are a charming edition to your bookshelf, and many of my blog posts for the next few weeks will be Anne-based! I cannot wait for you to read these books (if you haven't already). And if you're looking for the perfect TV or movie adaptation, I'll be talking about that soon!
P.S. Scroll and little further, there are a few Anne-themed wallpapers below, enjoy!
-Lily
January 10th, 2026
On a shopping trip with my mom, I recently found a beautiful set of Jane Austen books (pictured here) at Homegoods for a great price. These are books I've wanted to read for a long time, and I'm excited to announce that as I read them, I'll also be posting observations for them! Keep your eye out for these fantastic books, and others in our Classics Section!
And for a little extra fun, my friend (and fellow Lemongrass Librarian) Ava Grosse shared some adorable vintage wallpapers for your phone, which fit this blog post's theme perfectly! Find more like these on the Themify app!
-Lily Monteith
January 1st, 2026
Happy New Year, readers! 2025 flew by, and it was a great year, especially book-wise. I've discovered so many amazing new authors, which is thrilling.
With the post-Christmas sales in full swing, I was able to visit Barnes & Noble Booksellers several times, each with different friends. My local Barnes & Noble has a Starbucks inside, and it was very fun to try delicious drinks (Mango Dragonfruit Refresher with Lemonade and the Pink Drink with Coconut Milk were our choices). And the book deals were amazing! The books in the pic below are a combo of Christmas gifts and bookstore finds. You'll be able to find reviews for all of them here on Lemongrass Library in the coming weeks.
P.S. Do you have reading goals for 2026? Well consider getting a journal to log your reading! These can be found at Barnes and Noble. You can also check out the mobile app Beanstack. You can log your reading, enter challenges, participate in leaderboards with friends, and keep up your streak. I use both, and they're fun and helpful!
I hope the rest of your holiday season goes wonderfully, and I'll be back with more soon!
-Lily Monteith
Can't Wait to Review These Books!
December 31st, 2025
Love a book, but not the language? It's a common issue among readers like us. Profanity can pop up in books all the time, unfortunately. Well, recently I figured out a way to fix that in just a few steps! It can be time-consuming depending on how much swearing is in the book, but the results are well worth it!
*WARNING* I recommend that you test the steps below on a thrifted book or one you are getting rid of. That way you can practice without worrying about causing damage to a nice book.
STEP ONE: Visit your local craft/office supply store and buy Wite-Out Correction Tape. It varies in price, but usually ranges from $5 to $10 for a multi-pack.
STEP TWO: Apply a small amount of Wite-Out over the swear words in your book of choice.
STEP THREE: Next, write a different word over the Wite-Out. Make sure to keep the writing neat and small.
STEP FOUR: Enjoy your book, with clean language! Share this hack with your friends, they'll appreciate it!
-Lily Monteith
December 10th, 2025
It's hard to believe how quickly Christmas has come and gone, and winter is upon us. Even though the snow all melted just days before the holiday in my hometown, the holiday spirit still went strong. Already, there are chances of snow in the forecast, which means more great opportunities to READ!
Recently, I rediscovered how fun it is to visit the library on a snowy day and gaze at books for hours. This time around, I checked out the sweet, lighthearted Disney rom-com Promchanted. I cannot wait to go back (and take friends) for an afternoon of fun and fiction!
-Lily Monteith
Wanna find out what I thought of Promchanted?
Click below!
December 15, 2025
I don't know about you, but where I live, snow is coming down by the bucketfuls. It's gorgeous, cozy, and just in time for Christmas! And one of the best things to do on a day like today is read a book or watch a Hallmark or Great American Family movie. After I go for a run, of course! Cross-country practice still happens in the winter :-)
Anyway, I've just finished all my Christmas shopping, and I'm very excited to see what everyone thinks of their gifts. Have you? If not, now is the perfect time to get started. But where do you go if you have a bookworm on your gift list? Well, luckily, there are many great small business options in West Michigan for books that you won't be able to resist.
First up (and my personal favorite), Nacho Mama's Bookshop in Hamilton, MI. It's a used bookstore with a wide range of book options, from picture books to novels. But it isn't just any used bookstore, all of the books are in great condition and reasonably priced. If you have a question about books, the owner has a wealth of knowledge to help you find the perfect one.
The Next Chapter in Holland, MI. The books here also have great variety, and are more gently used than Nacho Mama's, so sometimes you need to do some digging. The owners frequently put together adorable book giveaway bundles, so definitely enter for a great gift for yourself or a loved one.
Family Central in Holland, MI. A great Christian book/gift store. They have dozens of options for your reading pleasure, including devotionals and Bibles. Everything is new, so it can be a little pricier depending on how recently a book was published, but they are still affordable.
Reader's World in Holland, MI. This store has a huge YA/middle grade section, and I've found some great books here. Everything in this store is also new, but still affordable.
BONUS! Nothing delights a dedicated reader like a good old-fashioned library card. If your giftee doesn't have one and you're not sure what kind of books they like, treat them to this! A million options for books will be at their fingertips!
-Lily Monteith
December 10th, 2025
"Look! The Virgin will conceive a child! She will give birth to a son, and and they will call Him Immanuel, which means 'God is with us.'" -Matthew 1:23.
How can you share Jesus with someone this Christmas? Here are a few ideas!
Mail/give Christian holiday cards to your friends and family.
Make Christmas gift bundles for a local charity (i.e. nursing home, homeless shelter, food pantry) and include a Bible verse in each one.
Invite people at your school or job to a Christmas Eve or Christmas Day service at your church.
Those are just a few ways! There are so many more you can find by doing your research! Go share Jesus with as many people as you can this Christmas.
-Lily Monteith