Hello, friends!
I’m so excited to be back with more library content because — honestly — libraries are in danger right now, and we’ve gotta support them as best as possible. So let’s dive into what’s going on, how you can keep borrowing (and saving money!), plus my latest stack of 2025 new releases: rom-coms, a romantic thriller, and cozy mysteries galore.
📉 Libraries Are Struggling — Here’s What’s Happening
So you’ve probably heard some chatter online: there’s this big, beautiful budget bill that passed — unfortunately — and it’s essentially gutted a lot of permanent library funding. A ton of it comes from the federal level through the IMLS (that’s the Institute of Museum and Library Services).
When the executive order was issued to defund it, several positions were eliminated, and all of that was actually implemented in the large budget package. So we’re seeing the impact right now.
You might’ve seen posts about libraries cutting back on Libby — you know, the wait lists that feel endless for ebooks or audiobooks. That’s because digital books are sold as licenses, and libraries have to pay way more than your $2.99 Kindle sale price, like $30, $100, even more, per title. The same goes for audiobooks. It’s a publisher problem, not a library problem, and there was even a case years ago where libraries tried to fight it and lost. So publishers get to set those sky-high prices.
Meanwhile, local budgets that fund libraries often come from property taxes or other local sources, and they must prioritize the needs of their own communities. That’s why we’re seeing systems like Miami-Dade and Ohio’s Stark Library stop offering non-resident library cards. They literally can’t afford to stretch anymore.
So yeah. It’s grim. But the good news? We can help. Every time you use your card — borrow a book, place a hold, check something out — that’s data your library can take to the following budget committee. It says: Hey, look at all the people in our community using this resource. We need this funding.
So keep borrowing. Keep requesting. It truly makes a difference.
📦 Why I’m Back to Borrowing Physical Books (And How You Can Too)
Okay, so storytime. You’ve probably noticed: I’m wearing glasses now. I was supposed to get them 20 years ago, but I kept putting it off — it felt expensive and like a hassle. And then this year, I finally caved because I got a car and I literally couldn’t see to drive at night. It turns out that my vision is so bad I need progressives, so here we are.
And because of that, I started picking up physical books again. I read a Problematic Summer Romance by Ali Hazelwood in hard copy and was like… wait. This is amazing. I can actually see the letters. So I started requesting books from my local library in Tampa and got hooked.
If you want to do this too, it’s super easy:
Log in to your library’s catalog.
Search for the book you want.
Click “place hold” and pick the branch where you want to pick it up.
Some states (like Florida!) will even mail books to you for free.
It’s kind of like Blockbuster, honestly. You get an email or text that your book is ready, you pop in, and there’s your stack. Many libraries even have a shelf of “on order” books, so you can be the very first to read a brand-new release.
Plus: my library shows me how much money I’ve saved. (Spoiler: it’s a lot.) And don’t stress about fines — most libraries have moved away from them. New York and Tampa are both fine-free, and Tampa even auto-renews my books up to three times if no one else is waiting.
How to Request Your Library to Purchase a Physical Book (Print Copy)
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Moral of the story: Request the books! Even if your library doesn’t have something, your request tells them it’s in demand. That’s data they can use when justifying buying more books or keeping their funding intact.
📚 My 2025 Library Haul: Rom-Coms, Thrillers, and Cozy Mysteries
Alright, now for the fun part: what’s in my haul!
I went a little overboard with holds because Tampa allows me to place up to 40. I currently have 11 physical books stacked up, plus three more on the way. Here’s what I grabbed:
💞 The Romances
Backhanded Compliment by Katie Chandler
A rivals-to-lovers tennis romance. Julia wants to be the top female player in the world; Luca has it all but love. Their press conference banter is giving major unresolved tension.When Javi Met Mari by Mia Sosa
Mia Sosa writes such juicy, bantery, sexy contemporary romance. This one’s best friends, unrequited love, and a six-week deadline for Javi to finally confess before Mari marries someone else.Dream On by Ramona O’Reilly
A small-town sapphic celebrity romance set in Vermont. She’s a costume designer; her love interest is a famous actress filming a movie. Think cozy town, big feelings.Last Night Was Fun by Holly Michelle / Holly James
If you liked You’ve Got Mail, this is for you. Lots of banter, medium spice, a little messy, a lot fun.The Four Engagement Rings of Siby Rains by Hannah Brown
Yes, from The Bachelorette. It’s ghostwritten, obviously, but it’s delightful, about a woman who’s been engaged four times. A rom-com perfect for summer.
🔪 The Romantic Thriller
Someone Known by Vi Keeland
Vi’s known for steamy romances, but she’s been writing these bonkers romantic thrillers. This one’s about a psychiatrist married to a hockey player who’s way too tangled in a murder. The last book had me going, What the hell did I just read? So I’m excited for this.
🕵️♀️ The Cozy & Mystery Pile
Alice Chen’s Reality Check by Jennifer Young and Kara Woo
Imagine Love Island but with a murder. She fake dates her high school nemesis on a reality show to stay in the game (and alive).Ex-Girlfriend’s Murder Club by Gloria Chao
If you loved John Tucker Must Die, this is that, plus a murder mystery. A group of women uniting over a shady ex.The Plotting Shed Murder by Paula Sutton
A British gardening cozy that’s basically “Miss Marple for the 21st century.” Absolutely charming.Our Time in DC by Sam L. Mumley
A queer cozy mystery with an autistic sleuth who’s a travel writer. There’s a sweet romance with his photographer, it’s set in DC, and it’s giving armchair travel perfection.
💬 Let’s Keep Libraries Alive (And Keep Reading!)
So that’s my haul. I’ll be reading, taking pictures, and probably returning some soon, all while happily avoiding my phone as I flip through actual pages.
If you'd like more of these, please let me know. Also: keep using your library card, keep requesting books (even physical ones!), and keep those circulation numbers up. It helps your local library, and it helps keep the whole system going.
Thanks so much for reading. What’s on your library holds list right now? Hit reply or drop a comment — I’d love to hear.
💛
Laura
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