The Gremlin Librarian

A cozy corner of the internet for book lovers, aspiring writers, and unapologetic literary gremlins.

[the-gremlin-librarian]

👹📚 The Gremlin Librarian's August TBR

The gremlin has once again wandered into the library and emerged with an entirely unreasonable stack of books.

Will I read every single one this month?

Probably not.

Will that stop me from acquiring even more books before August is over?

Absolutely not.

This month's hoard is full of fantasy, magic, monsters, and (if the book gods are kind) at least one new five-star obsession. I'll be sharing reading updates, spoiler-free thoughts, and full reviews all month long.

Now it's your turn! What's on your August TBR? And if you've read any of these, tell me am I about to discover a new favorite or suffer emotional damage? 📖✨

[maureen2musings]

July magic, Switzerland

framedtakes

[srednod]

Józef Rapacki In the library 1928

[storytime-reviews]

Currently Reading: The Odyssey by Homer [trans. Emily Wilson]

[readingromancehea]

National cheesecake day

Happy national cheesecake day! Here are some recs for you.

[midnightinshadow]

[kat-from-minasmorgul]

bi books & bi drink

[modern-fairy]

Bookish things 📚

[the-gremlin-librarian]

Book Review: Bruised by Ally Avery

Bruised is a character-driven erotica that follows the relationship between Mason, an ex-con trying to rebuild his life, and Lane, a recent high school graduate trying to find his place in the world.

This book delivers on the spice in a major way. A significant portion of the page count is devoted to Mason and Lane's sexual relationship, and the author does an excellent job of building tension. Even when they aren't together, they long for each other, despite knowing the relationship may not be good for them. My favorite part of the book was the emotionally intimate moments when the main characters got to know each other outside of their physical relationship. I wanted more of those vulnerable interactions to deepen the emotional yearning beyond their undeniable sexual chemistry.

The main conflict of the story is that Mason is Lane's best friend's older brother, and his brother would disapprove of their relationship. Throughout the book, Mason and Lane keep their romance a secret, sneaking around whenever they can. Mason and his brother have an adversarial relationship, while Lane quietly resents his friend for leaving for college. However, these dynamics aren't explored in much depth until the end of the book. I would have liked to see those relationships developed further, as they remain relatively surface-level for most of the story. Because the brother's disapproval serves as the central conflict, the lack of characterization surrounding him felt like a missed opportunity.

Overall, Bruised is a steamy erotica with a sweet, happily-ever-after ending. Readers looking for a deeply developed emotional romance may come away disappointed, but those looking for a short, sexy read with a satisfying dose of angst will likely find exactly what they're looking for.

3/5 Stars:⭐⭐⭐☆☆

[angel0frage25]

Secrets to tell

How do you go on after this? Books/Tv Show- The Secret Circle by L. J. Smith.

[natreads]

Finished volume six ❣️

[midnightinshadow]

[sairyureklim]

[ajnabi-insaan]

Wow... I love the beauty of plants as it looks Lovely & shiny when raindrops fall on it...❤️🌱🌿

[shxpeshifterr]

Some of the books of 2026 📚

[academic-vampire]

𝔞 𝔥𝔬𝔟𝔟𝔶 𝔱𝔬 𝔡𝔦𝔰𝔱𝔯𝔞𝔠𝔱

[earthlighterudite]

EJ's Aesthetic of the Day:

Goblincore 🍄🐌

Time Period of Origin: Early 2020s

Inspirations & Influences: Maximalist home decor, goblins/fae folk from Celtic mythology, appreciation for the typically ugly/overlooked aspects of nature, unconventional lifestyles, small communities of people who collect trinkets as a hobby

Colors: Light brown, dark brown, black, dark lime, forest green, white, red

Visual Themes & Motifs: Cluttered/cozy interiors, mushrooms, frogs/toads, snails, goblins/gremlins, animal bones, moss, shiny jewels, buttons, candles, shells, crystals/pebbles, mini glass cork-top bottles, swamps, evergreen forests, overgrown paths, bird feathers, mud, dirt

Characteristics: Imperfect, eclectic, odd, inquisitive, withdrawn

Fashion: Secondhand oversized wool sweaters, crochet tops, vintage stone-washed mom jeans, corduroy overalls, socks with bright colors or clashing patterns, layered maxi skirts, worn-out hiking boots

Hair & Makeup: Shaggy wolf cuts, tussled bobs with bangs, loose braids, green/brown eyeshadow, brown/nude lip gloss, bare skin, visible moles/freckles

Accessories: Tarnished nature-themed necklaces/rings, earrings/bracelets made of trash or up-cycled materials, black/brown distressed tights, olive green arm warmers/fingerless gloves, brown satchels

Scents: Herbs (rosemary, thyme, etc.), campfires/burning wood, rain/damp soil, grass, leaves, pine needles, lavender, laurel

Film & TV: The Boxtrolls (2014), Gremlins (1984), Howl's Moving Castle (2004), My Neighbor Totoro (1988), Princess Mononoke (1997), Fraggle Rock (1983-1987), A Troll in Central Park (1994), Jim Henson's The Storyteller (1987-1989), Moominvalley (2019-2024)

Books: Alice's Adventures in Wonderland- Lewis Carroll, The Tree Stump- Chris Forbes, Nobody Likes a Goblin- Ben Hatke, Frog and Toad series- Arnold Lobel, Goblin Market and Other Poems- Christina Rossetti, Where the Wild Things Are- Maurice Sendak, The Rainbow Goblins- Ul De Rico

[lexisbookrecs]

TWILIGHT - Stephenie Meyer (2005)

rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5

the only way i can describe this book is "guilty pleasure". i don't know what draws me to this saga SO intensely, but i LOVED them.

i am not a cringe lover. if a movie or a book gives me cringey feelings or second-hand embarrassment i just drop it instantly. but twilight is to me the exception.

while i believe we can all agree on just how weirdly most characters behave and how fucked up the dynamics and relationships are, i still find it such an interesting reflection of its time, as well as Meyer's ideas and beliefs, in a way.

also!!!! the books are WAY less cringey than the movies.