an indie bookstore spotlight for Octavia's Bookshelf in Pasadena, California.

March takes us to a state that feels almost larger than life. California holds the record for the highest air temperature ever recorded on Earth—134°F. It’s home to the oldest known tree, a Great Basin bristlecone pine over 4,900 years old, and the tallest, a Coast redwood soaring more than 380 feet. Oh—and wetsuits, skateboards, and popsicles? All invented here, too. So yes, I’m especially excited about this month’s box. It’s centered around my home state, which makes this o

Our February 2026 Literary Road Trip box takes us to the home of bourbon, bluegrass, and horse racing—also the location of our indie bookstore partner, A Likely Story. Located in Midway, Kentucky, A Likely Story is owned by a mother–daughter team, Ashlee and Anagail (Annie) Denington. The idea for the store came after Annie developed a neurological disorder, which shifted the path she’d imagined for her future. Annie has a deep love of books and is a disability advocate, whi

It’s February, and this month I’m taking us to a state known for bourbon and horses. It’s the birthplace of bluegrass music, Reynolds Wrap, and Post-it Notes. George Clooney and Johnny Depp were born here, along with literary greats Bell Hooks and Marsha Norman. We’re heading to the fifteenth state—Kentucky. For our featured read, I chose Ann Patchett’s debut novel, The Patron Saint of Liars . This story follows Rose, a pregnant woman who leaves her husband and starts over at