February 2026 Literary Road Trip Box: Kentucky

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 a home for unwed mothers in Kentucky. What unfolds is a deeply moving story about secrets, reinvention, and the unexpected ways we build family. It’s one of those novels that lingers long after the final page, and it felt like the perfect companion for a winter month.

I partnered with A Likely Story, an independent bookstore in Midway, Kentucky, for this box. I love working with indie bookstores across the country, and this charming shop added a few special touches— a store sticker, postcard, and pen — to give you a little extra piece of Kentucky.

Of course, I couldn’t visit Kentucky without including something inspired by the Kentucky Derby. You’ll find two mini bottles (enough for two cocktails) of Mint Julep mix from Bourbon Country Products. Traditionally made with bourbon, it’s just as delicious mixed with ginger ale if you prefer a mocktail.

With Valentine’s Day around the corner, I also wanted to include a couple of bookish treats that celebrate a love of reading. There’s a book bouquet sticker from Ashley Bexar, a talented one-woman design studio based in Houston, Texas, and a pencil set from Fly Paper Products that teaches you how to say “I Love Books” in different languages. Fly Paper Products, based in Ann Arbor, Michigan, has long been one of my favorite makers to feature.