Cider Monday celebrations, held yesterday nationwide, have become more of a complement to indie booksellers' evolving online sales prowess than counter-programming to Cyber Monday's craziness, which had been the initiative's original intent. Willard Williams, who launched Cider Monday in 2013, was co-founder of the Toadstool Bookshops, with stores in Keene and Peterborough (now under new ownership) and the renamed Balin Books in Nashua.  

Many indie bookstores across the U.S. were raising a glass of cider to toast the day, including:

At Innisfree Books

Nowhere Bookshop, San Antonio, Tex.: "We're here to party all holiday season! Like Cider Monday for example. We don't think those tech giants need more money so we're celebrating with Cider Monday. We'll have cider galore--apple cider mimosas and sparking apple cider (both boozy and not!)--available in the cafe. Plus, we've got our booksellers on hand to recommend tons of great books for the holidays. They're much better than any algorithm."

The Little Book Place, Tunkhannock, Pa.: "Come by for a complimentary cup of cider and a tasty treat! Enjoy the company of friendly faces while exploring our store. It's bound to be a delightful experience. Rest assured, there won't be any website crashes or server issues here, and we'll be sure to greet you with a smile!"

Innisfree Bookshop, Meredith, N.H.: "Out and about for some holiday shopping today? Stop by Innisfree Meredith to grab a cup of apple cider to enjoy while you browse the store. Thanks to 48 Main Cafe & Creperie for this special treat!"

Bunch of Grapes Bookstore, Vineyard Haven, Mass.: "It's a big shopping weekend and we're ready for you! We've even fired up some fake Yule log vibes (pumping out real heat--the furnace is kaput, so layer up!).... And we hope you'll join us for Cider Monday, with cider, donuts, and giveaways. Don't forget: we always offer free wrapping for all purchases. Thanks for shopping small and shopping local!"

At Bunch of Grapes

The Floating Bookshop, Oklahoma City, Okla.: "IT'S CIDER MONDAY! We'll be open on Film Row from 10-6, PLUS popping up at OK Cider Co from 4-8 with live ambient music by @meteorologymusic, Holiday books, Cyberpunk books, gifts, and more. And Blackout Poetry at 6, then Pretty Quiet Book Club from 6:30 to 7:30! Come through!"

WordsWorth Books, Little Rock, Ark.: "A book is a gift you can open again and again. Today we're celebrating Cider Monday (the cozier version of Cyber Monday) with 10% off online orders with the code CIDER2024. Thank you for shopping small and local!"

Chapter2 Books, Hudson, Wis.: "It's #CiderMonday here at Chapter2 Books! Stop in today for a nice warm cup of apple cider and some cookies to go with your cozy shopping experience."

Queen Anne Book Company, Seattle, Wash.: "Come in for some hot cider and cookies! Cider Monday--the festive, local way to shop!"

{pages} a bookstore, Manhattan Beach, Calif.: "We’re serving apple Cider to celebrate and thank all that are shopping with us in 'real life' today... and the shop smells really good."

Chapterhouse Books, Amarillo, Tex.: "Our weekend sale continues with CIDER MONDAY! Join us all day for free hot apple cider and 10% off all hardcover books. Skip the algorithm and let us help you find the perfect book in person! Whether you need a gift or something to cozy up with yourself, let us do the work while you sip on some apple cider."

Analog Books, Lethbridge, Alb., Canada: "Forget Cyber Monday, we're all about getting together over a hot Mug o'Cider for Cider Monday! Join us today in front of the fire."

Wonderland Books will open in Bethesda, Md., this coming Friday, December 6, MoCo 360 reported.

Wonderland Books in progress.

Located at 7290 Norfolk Ave., Wonderland Books spans more than 2,000-sq. ft. and carries an all-ages, general-interest inventory. Alongside books, co-owners Amy Joyce and Gayle Weiswasser will offer a variety of cards and gift items, and their event plans include author readings, book clubs, dog adoption events, panels, and game nights. The space will also be available for private events.

Weiswasser, a former lawyer, corporate communication executive, and book blogger, and Joyce, a journalist and editor for almost 30 years, are book lovers and longtime friends. They chose to open their bookstore in Bethesda because it lacked a bookstore and would be a "great fit" for one.

"It's a very engaged, vibrant, educated community of people who are readers," Weiswasser told MoCo 360.

Joyce added that any time the pair is in-store, community members stop by to ask when the store will open and tell them how much they look forward to the bookstore. "So that has been the thing that I'm so excited about, is just being in that store and actually, finally being able to open those doors and have the community coming in."

Earlier this year, Weiswasser and Joyce ran an Indiegogo campaign for the bookstore that raised nearly $45,000.

Steamy Lit in Deerfield Beach

Steamy Lit romance bookstore, which opened earlier this year in Deerfield Beach, Fla., has added a second location, in Tampa. The Tampa Bay Business Journal reported that the bookshop has leased 500 square feet at Procure by the Women's Creative, a retail store and incubator with locations in South Tampa and St. Louis, Mo. A soft opening was held this past Sunday, December 1.

Steamy Lit has had three pop-ups in Tampa since July, and co-founder Melissa Saavedra said she believes the city is ready for a permanent location. The Tampa storefront represents a $10,000 investment.

The bookshop's top priority is celebrating diversity in romance novels. "That's something we pride ourselves on," Saavedra said.

She added that Tampa has always been her focus for a second location: "I love the Tampa area. I lived in San Diego for a really long time, and Tampa reminds me of San Diego. There's a sense of community; people are a lot more willing to get together and build community than [South Florida] is. It gets a little busy over here."

Saavedra continued: "We don't have enough third spaces where we can just hang out. I know for some people, businesses don't want folks to hang out in their space without consuming, but I also feel there's a level of accessibility where people can just hang out and read."

Human Kinetics has bought Lotus Publishing, the small U.K. press focused on illustrated titles in physical therapy, anatomy, health & fitness, sports injuries, strength & conditioning, complementary therapies and self-help, including top sellers such as Fascial Fitness, The Concise Book of Muscles, and Muscle Energy Techniques. The list of roughly 50 titles will be added to the Human Kinetics portfolio as a new imprint: Lotus Books.

Lotus founder Jon Hutchings will continue to work with authors and develop new books for the imprint in 2025 to help ensure a smooth transition. He noted, "Having used the classic Human Kinetics title Physiology of Sport and Exercise as a student almost 40 years ago, it seems fitting that the company I created with Chris Jarmey should be passed into their capable hands. I am thrilled with this acquisition, ensuring the continuing success of existing titles and the development of an exciting range of new titles to fit into their beautifully curated list."

With headquarters in Champaign, Ill., Human Kinetics specializes in physical activity, health, and sports publishing, including bestselling trade titles such as Strength Training Anatomy and Yoga Anatomy. The employee-owned company is also the publishing partner of such organizations as the National Strength and Conditioning Association, the Society of Health and Physical Educators, the American Association of Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Rehabilitation, and canfitpro.

Human Kinetics CEO Skip Maier said, "The Lotus titles align perfectly with the HK list, furthering our mission to help improve the health and fitness of people around the world, and we are thrilled to add them to our product line as the start of a new imprint. The additions will expand our reach in important health fields including manual therapy, yoga, and physical therapy. The highly visual and accessible nature of the books make them great resources for practicing professionals as well as general consumers."

Lotus has had a presence in North America via co-publishing agreements with North Atlantic Books and Inner Traditions, in addition to Human Kinetics. Those partnerships will continue for many of the legacy books in the list, while newly acquired titles will be distributed exclusively by Human Kinetics under the Lotus Books imprint.

Second Star to the Right, the children's and young adult book and toy store in Denver, Colo., is up for sale; if a buyer is not found, owner and founder Dea Lavoie plans to close the bookstore sometime in 2025.

In a message to customers announcing her decision, Lavoie emphasized that the bookstore is not closing right away. "My amazing toy buyer, Alethea, said customers needed time for closure and to remember a holiday here, and I agree."

There will be plenty of books, gifts, and toys available through the rest of the year, and all of the store's scheduled events will continue as planned. Lavoie intends to provide an update in the new year.

Lavoie said she was especially proud of the community connections and programs the store has created over the past 12 years, such as the Gay It Forward campaign, where customers can buy an LGBTQ book and offer it for free to anyone who needs it. She also cited partnerships with schools and libraries, both local and in other states, as well as events like Drag Queen Story Times, birthday parties, weddings, book fairs, and more.

She thanked her husband and staff, along with the community and the store's customers. "Most of all, I want to thank you. You have let us into your heart, and become family. You have snuggled in with us when it was snowing, mourned with us when, well, we were mourning, sang, danced, and splashed with us... and you shared your love of reading with us, and your kids will remember and cherish that love!

"It is not with a heavy heart that I say goodbye to you,our friends, and Second Star. It is with a full and grateful heart, and the knowledge that in fact, I was able to shine the light of a loving, whimsical place called Second Star to the Right with you, where we all are made of magic! The stars are shining bright!"

Prospective buyers can reach out to Mark Kaufman via e-mail here.

Japan Society of New York hosted Natalie Anna Jacobsen (right) for a talk and book signing in celebration of the release of her debut novel, Ghost Train (SelectBooks), a YA historical fantasy set in 1877 Kyoto, during the early years of the Meiji Restoration. The book tells the story of a former samurai's daughter who is thrust into a life very different from what she was used to before the Meiji Restoration. The discussion was moderated by Susan Miyagi McCormac of JapanCulture-NYC.

City of Night Birds by Juhea Kim (Ecco) is the December pick for Reese's Book Club, which described the book this way: "When a devastating accident stalls Natalia Leonova's professional ballet career, she returns home to St. Petersburg with a choice: return to the demanding world of Russian dance that nearly broke her or walk away for good. City of Night Birds explores the fierce and beautiful world of ballet and what it means to be an artist."

Reese wrote: "This story left me thinking about the ways we overcome setbacks and redefine what truly matters."

Marking the official beginning of the holiday season, Morgenstern Books, Bloomington, Ind., posted on Instagram: "After the turning off the OPEN sign on Wednesday night, we got right to work to spread holiday cheer! Of course we want to promote all the Christmas themed merchandise we have, but this post is more to show you how good it looks! Let’s get this holiday season going!"

"Get your mitts on a book." That was the wintry sidewalk chalkboard message in front of Subterranean Books, St. Louis, Mo.

Tomorrow:
CBS Mornings: Dolly Parton, co-author of Dolly Parton's Billy the Kid Comes Home for Christmas (Penguin Workshop, $19.99, 9780593755006).

Also on CBS Mornings: Dr. Michael Breus, author of Sleep Drink Breathe: Simple Daily Habits for Profound Long-Term Health (Little, Brown Spark, $30, 9780316576413).

Good Morning America: Alex Toussaint, author of Activate Your Greatness (Holt, $27.99, 9781250852038).

Today Show: Gesine Bullock-Prado, author of My Vermont Table: Recipes for All (Six) Seasons (Countryman Press, $35, 9781682687352).

The Drew Barrymore Show: Ben Mims, author of Crumbs: Cookies and Sweets from Around the World (Phaidon Press, $49.95, 9781838668860).

Anya Taylor-Joy (The Queen's Gambit) will star in and executive produce the limited series Lucky at Apple TV+, Variety reported. The project is based on Marissa Stapley's bestselling novel, which was a selection for Reese Witherspoon's Reese's Book Club.

Jonathan Tropper and Cassie Pappas are adapting the book and will serve as co-showrunners and executive producers. Witherspoon and Lauren Neustadter will executive produce for Hello Sunshine, while Taylor-Joy exec produces under her Ladykiller Films banner. Apple Studios is producing.

"Reese's Book Club began with the goal of deepening connections--to the stories, to the storytellers, and to the community we are building," Witherspoon said. "It is incredibly rewarding to be able to amplify these female-centric stories and their authors, see our community connect with them, then see them take on a whole new life on screen."

"Hello Sunshine continues to do a fantastic job of championing women's voices and I'm thrilled to be joining the team alongside Jonathan, Cassie and Apple TV+ to bring Lucky to life," Taylor-Joy added.

Shadows at Noon: The South Asian Twentieth Century by Joya Chatterji (published in the U.S. by Yale University Press) has won the £50,000 (about $63,400) 2024 Wolfson History Prize, honoring "the best historical writing being produced in the U.K."

Judges called Shadows at Noon "a captivating history of modern South Asia, full of fascinating insights about the lives of its peoples. Written with verve and energy, this book beautifully blends the personal and the historical."

---

Glorious Exploits by Ferdia Lennon has won the 2024 Bollinger Everyman Wodehouse Prize for Comic Fiction. Chair of judges Peter Florence called the novel, published in the U.S. by Holt, "a delightful mash of contemporary Irish comedy and classical Athenian tragedy. It's a caper, a buddy story, and it had us all laughing and cheering Ferdia Lennon's comic spirit." Lennon receives a jeroboam of Bollinger Special Cuvée, a case of Bollinger La Grande Année, the complete set of the Everyman's Library P.G. Wodehouse collection, and a pig named after his winning book.

While passionate love affairs are standard fictional fare, the more quotidian stories of long marriages don't often possess the same literary appeal. Some readers may reevaluate that assessment after reading Jessica Soffer's This Is a Love Story, a realistic and affecting account of how one couple's bond is tested and endures in the face of life's inevitable challenges.

Soffer (Tomorrow There Will Be Apricots) tells the story of Abe and Jane, residents of New York City. He's a novelist and poet who's managed to pair a successful writing career with a job in his family's textile business, while she's an equally talented artist. In chapters that loop through time from their first meeting at Tavern on the Green in 1967, to the long days, decades later, when Jane is dying after a recurrence of cancer, Soffer explores everything, including Abe's brush with infidelity, Jane's postpartum depression after the birth of their son, Max, and the arcs of their respective artistic careers that oscillate between the poles of mutual support and occasional professional jealousy.

Soffer shifts effortlessly among the perspectives of Abe, Jane, and Max (and one character outside the family). "They were never a family per se," she writes. "They were a triangle broken into lines." That description seems most apt in characterizing Jane's difficulty in bonding with Max as a newborn, a tension that carries over into his adulthood. One of the novel's predominant tropes involves Abe at Jane's bedside recounting her memories of moments in their lives together in many sentences that begin with the words, "you remember." He describes these moments with an easy grace, whether his own recollections of them are wistful or painful.

Soffer periodically leaves behind the story of this talented but in many ways unexceptional family for visits to Central Park, the site "where the most important moments of their lives have taken place." These chapters touch on the history of the park, the idiosyncrasies of some its current denizens, and more, offering the opportunity for some of the novel's most evocative writing, as when Soffer imagines hundreds of thousands of people dreaming of "childhoods spent in the Park, eating cherry Italian ices, feeding the chipmunks nuts, being barefoot for the only time in this city, the cold grass like wings between their toes."

In the end, Abe observes that "there has never been fault between us. Or at least never anything specific. You were. I was. We have always just been water, slipping through holes." In a sense, any attempt at summing up a long-term marriage is destined to fail. But in the case of Abe and Jane, it's a lovely and fitting benediction to an emotionally resonant story of their inextricably paired lives. ---Harvey Freedenberg, freelance reviewer

Shelf Talker: Jessica Soffer's second novel is an honest, affecting story of a long-time marriage.

The bestselling self-published books last week as compiled by IndieReader.com:

1. The Fly Who Flew to Space by Lauren Sánchez
2. The Boyfriend by Freida McFadden
3. The Front Runner by Elsie Silver
4. Haunting Adeline by H.D. Carlton
5. Hunting Adeline by H.D. Carlton
6. My December Darling by Lauren Asher
7. How My Neighbor Stole Christmas by Meghan Quinn
8. On Being Jewish Now by Zibby Owens
9. Be Bold Today by Leigh Burgess
10. Hexed by Emily McIntire

[Many thanks to IndieReader.com!]