About Carlie
Blogger, Reader, Coffee Drinker
Hi there! My name is Carlie, and welcome to my bookish corner of the web. Before you ask, let me assure you that blogging isn't dead...yet. While I know it's not as popular as it once was (hello 2010s), it's still a fun way to be a creative and share thoughts about my newly rediscovered love of reading.
So, without further adieu, let me introduce you to She's Becoming Bookish, a book-focused website where I share all things books, diving deeper into my personal opinions, thoughts, and feelings about the books I read.
What Possessed Me to Start a Blog in 2021?
Two guesses, my friend. And I bet you'll only need one!
That's right. Like most people, the pandemic changed my life. In early 2021 I transitioned to full-time remote work for the first time in my professional career, and suddenly I found myself with tons of time on my hands. No more L.A. traffic left me with time to finally get back into an old hobby: reading.
So, I picked up a book, and the rest, as they say, is history. Flash forward a few months and enter Bookstagram (Instagram for book lovers). I started following book lovers on Instagram and soon realized they were having the time of their lives sharing bookish content, connecting with publishers, and being part of a thriving book-lover community. I couldn't resist joining in the bookish fun, so She's Becoming Bookish was born. Six months later, I knew it was time to start a new blog dedicated to all things reading and books. This blog has since become a place I can share long-form reviews and make even deeper connections with my followers.
When it comes to blogging, this definitely isn't my first rodeo. This is the third blog I've created, beginning way back in 2009 with a cooking blog and later in 2015 with a travel blog. Blogging has always been a creative outlet for me, something I missed desperately after shutting down my travel blog in 2019. I truly love creating content and connecting with an audience. Call me old-fashioned or outdated, but blogging is something I'll always love.
Have I Always Been a Reader?
Many people tell me reading just isn't for them. For me, reading was a part of my life from birth. I grew up reading as many books as possible; to satiate my appetite for books, my mom would frequently deposit me at the library for hours while she did her own thing. I would read for hours by the community pool every summer, preferring the pages of a book to more social activities. It's safe to say, yes, I've always been reader.
But grad school and a busy career changed all that. As a budding mental health professional, non-fiction books soon took over my reading repertoire, which, in time, became a bit of a snore fest. Occasionally, I would pick up a novel, but, between working 40+ hours a week and a brutal Los Angeles commute, I often found myself re-reading favorites (I've read the entire Harry Potter series at least six times) rather than exploring new titles.
It wasn't until I began working from home that I decided to pick up a new novel. One cold January day in 2021, I checked out The Tattooist of Auschwitz from my local library and literally read it in one sitting! It felt great to dive into a world meticulously crafted and researched by an author. Needless to day, I was eager to find more new titles to read. So, I started down a path of finding authors and genres I loved which reignited my love of reading in a very real way.
What Types of Books Do I Read?
If you're new around here, let me be the first to tell you: I LOVE HISTORICAL FICTION. It's by far my favorite genre of fiction. There's something special about a well-researched historical fiction novel, especially if it features a fierce female main character or is based on a true story. Kate Quinn, Kristin Hannah, Diana Gabaldon, and Taylor Jenkins Reid are my favorite historical fiction authors. And, to be honest, I haven't met a WWII book I haven't liked yet.
When I was younger, I focused on reading the classics. Some of my favorite classics are Wuthering Heights, The Great Gatsby, Anna Karenina, and Great Expectations. Gone with the Wind is, by far, my all-time favorite classic. I bonded with my grandmother over Margaret Mitchell's classic tale of the Old South when I was a teenager (did I mention I'm from Louisiana???), and, although it's highly problematic, I still love it because of the emotional connection to my MawMaw. I still occasionally pick up a classic novel, but less so than in the past.
I've recently started to read more women's fiction, romance and rom-com novels, contemporary literature, and thrillers, so I'll definitely share reviews for those genres in the future. Some contemporary authors I've fallen hard for include Celeste Ng, Emily Henry, Leesa Cross Smith, Lauren McBrayer, Nikki May, and many more. Discovering new genres and new authors has been another fun aspect of my recently reborn love of reading.
Fav Books of All Time
Code Name Helene
by Ariel Lawhon
The Once & Future Witches
by Alix Harrow
The People We Keep
by Allison Larkin
Great Expectations
by Charles Dickens
Half-Blown Rose
by Leesa Cross-Smith
Outlander
by Diana Gabaldon
The Secrets We Keep
by Lara Prescott
The Huntress
by Kate Quinn
More About Me
Well, as I mentioned before, I'm originally from Louisiana, but I moved to Los Angeles in 2011 and have been here ever since. I'm 42 years young, but I usually don't act my age. I'm a firm believer in good skin care, quality leather shoes, eating good cheese, and drinking good beer. I practice yoga regularly and love good long walks and hikes throughout L.A.
When I'm not reading, I spend time with my boyfriend, our pets (1 Shih Tzu mix & 2 cats), my plants, and my friends here in Los Angeles. I love traveling, cooking, writing, and photography. I'm also a connoisseur of vintage jewelry and handbags, so I can occasionally be found perusing the bins of local thrift stores and flea markets. Concerts and music are my jam, so don't be surprised when I share updates from local live music venues in my behind-the-scenes updates.
Enough About Me...
Now that you've gotten to know me, let me share a little bit about what you're likely to find here. Chances are you'll find a lot of book reviews, round-up posts featuring new and much-loved novels, suggestions for seasonal reading, e-Book deals, and Advanced Reader Copy reviews. I also share a What This Week series, which features links to all the things I'm reading, watching, listening to, eating, shopping for, and more for that week.
I love writing, so sharing thoughts about the books I read seems like the perfect way to exercise my writing muscles and connect with fellow readers. Above all, I want to help you, my dear reader friend, find new and interesting books that you can't wait to read! So, I'll ask you: what do you want to see here? Feel free to email me or leave me a comment below with any recommendations you have for making this the best space on the web for bookish content.
Let's Connect
If you've made it this far, THANK YOU! I truly love meeting fellow booklovers, so I'm beyond humbled that you'd take an interest in me and my blog. I'm eager to get to know you, so please be sure to sign up for email updates and send me an email back sharing all your favorite reads that I should add to my TBR! And if you're not a fan of emails, be sure to follow me on Bookstagram where I share short-form reviews, publisher updates, and behind-the-scenes stories from my everyday life.
Thanks for sticking around and for being you!
xoxo