Sickos! I've been raving about A Complement of Scoundrels by S.V. Lockwood for almost a year now and FINALLY we're going to be getting into the hands of reviewers (and I'll also tell you other ways to get your hands on it early).

ACoS has officially gone live on NetGalley as a digital ARC (advance reader copy), that means if you're approved, you can read it as soon as you're approved.

NetGalley link: https://www.netgalley.com/catalog/book/796666

A couple notes: they're currently prioritizing active reviewers with strong review stats and I'm not personally involved with the decision making process there.

If you're not approved there, don't fret, there are other ways to read ACoS before the release date. This is all noted on the Membership page but I'll spell it out here. At the Sicko tier, you will receive advance digital copies and at the Mega Sicko tier you will receive advance print copies. I'll have more communication around this soon but for the early physical copies make sure you're locked in as a Mega Sicko before March.

I desperately want to share my love of this revenge/heist fantasy with you so get in there before the deadline. Half of the subscription revenue gets pumped into my publishing imprint, Kist Reads, so by subscribing you're not only getting those perks but you're helping fund future book acquisitions (I'm on the hunt for our second book now!) and everything else that comes with that like finding professional editors, artists and so on (because we refuse to use AI here at Bindery for any part of the publishing process).

THE BINDERY APP COMES TO ANDROID!

Back in October, the Bindery app launched on iOS, and now our Android users (myself included) can get in on that action. Download it for Android by clicking on this bold blue text thingy right here, do it. On it you can keep up with your favorite "tastemakers", access notifications, and do everything else you can do on the web version.

Good morning, mis internet amigxs!

I'm bringing you some personal good news today: I've been accepted as a fellow of the News Creator Corps in their second Trusted Creators Fellow class! There are 20 fellows this Spring and I'm so honored to be one of the 20 picked for this program.

The course will be focused on fact-checking, sourcing and interviewing. I'm so thrilled and excited for all I will learn and to meet my fellow cohort. Classes begin February 25th. I'll be vlogging and bringing you along to share my experiences!

You can check out the full class in the picture below.

Can't wait to share more soon. Until then, thank you so much for your support!

xoxo,

Carmen

How do you feel about books being adapted to the screen? (TV series or movie) Are you indifferent or do you have strong opinions?

In the comments, let us know if you like when books are adapted to the screen. Why or why not? If you have a favorite book to screen adaptation, what is it?

For me, my favorite book to movie adaption is The Perks of Being a Wallflower. To be honest, I don't watch many book to screen adaptations!

Hey everyone! At the moment I am waist deep in university reading! Some have been amazing like Love Medicine by Louise Erdrich, some not so great.... and a lot are interesting academic reads but not the sort you want to read 1000 pages of back-to-back. I am dreaming of the time in Summer when I can read WHATEVER I WOULD LIKE. I am feeling a dramatic return to the nostalgia of Epic Fantasy. What books can you recommend me?

I came for the grumpy, wounded cop energy and stayed because Lucy Score absolutely wrecked me!😮‍💨📚

I devoured Things We Hide from the Light like it was my emotional support romance. Watching Nash Morgan, once the golden, charming Morgan brother struggles with panic attacks, trauma, and the weight of nearly dying, felt so raw and real. This book doesn’t just give us a broody hero; it gives us a man learning how to survive himself again.

And then there’s Lina. Smart, guarded, secretly soft, and absolutely allergic to commitment. Their chemistry? INCENDIARY. 🔥 I loved how their physical connection wasn’t just hot though wow, it was, but grounding like touch itself became part of the healing. The slow unraveling of secrets, the tension between wanting to stay and needing to run, and the way Knockemout quietly works its magic on everyone? Chef’s kiss.

This story hit me right in the feelings with its mix of found family, emotional growth, swoony moments, and just enough danger to keep my heart racing. Nash and Lina’s journey is messy, tender, and deeply satisfying, and yes, I absolutely closed this book staring at the wall afterward.

❓️Do you love a romance where healing and love happen at the same time, or do you prefer your characters fully put together before they fall? 💭💕

❗️If your book club is reading this book or the other two books in the series join The First Editions and get access to our book club kits with a book club discussion guides, menus, activities and more!

✨️Happy reading everyone!

It’s finally here! If you’ve been dying to spend more time in Knockemout and unravel everything that went down in Things We Hide from the Light by Lucy Score, this is your moment. 🚓🔥💙

✨ Tap the link for instant access to:

📚 A fully themed Things We Hide from the Light book club kit

📖 A fun, thoughtful discussion guide covering trauma and healing, slow-burn tension, protective heroes, small-town loyalty, and emotional growth

🍩 Knockemout-inspired food ideas, cozy activities, and themed door prize suggestions done for you

Whether your group is ready to swoon over Nash, unpack Lina’s strength, or talk about the emotional depth Lucy Score delivers in this unforgettable romance, this kit is designed to help your meeting feel immersive, heartfelt, and just the right amount of chaotic (in true Knockemout fashion).

👉 Tap the link to access the kit now and turn your next book club into a small-town romance experience worth talking about: https://www.canva.com/design/DAHAqU2Ogyw/jAHHc4zet45ztIZJafPxgQ/edit?utm_content=DAHAqU2Ogyw&utm_campaign=designshare&utm_medium=link2&utm_source=sharebutton

❗️Don’t forget to come back and tell us how your meeting went!

💥 Happy reading! 📚💙

📣𝗖𝗮𝗹𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗔𝗹𝗹 𝗔𝘂𝘁𝗵𝗼𝗿𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝘄𝗵𝗼 𝘄𝗮𝗻𝘁 𝘁𝗼 𝗷𝗼𝗶𝗻 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗯𝗼𝗼𝗸𝗶𝘀𝗵 𝗳𝘂𝗻!📖

You’ve done the hard part: you wrote the book. Now, let’s get it into the hands of readers who will love it

𝗜𝘀 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗯𝗼𝗼𝗸 𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗱𝘆 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘀𝗽𝗼𝘁𝗹𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁?❓✨

Whether you’re launching your debut title or promoting your latest release, 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗣𝗮𝗴𝗲 𝗟𝗮𝗱𝗶𝗲𝘀 want to help you connect with a dedicated community of book lovers.

📧𝗛𝗢𝗪 𝗧𝗢 𝗚𝗘𝗧 𝗙𝗘𝗔𝗧𝗨𝗥𝗘𝗗: Send an email to 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗽𝗮𝗴𝗲𝗹𝗮𝗱𝗶𝗲𝘀𝟲@𝗴𝗺𝗮𝗶𝗹.𝗰𝗼𝗺 with your book details and what you're interested in doing and how we can help!

𝗪𝗲 𝘄𝗮𝗻𝘁 𝘁𝗼 𝗵𝗲𝗮𝗿 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗶𝗳 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗹𝗼𝗼𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗳𝗼𝗿:

👀𝗙𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗵 𝗘𝘆𝗲𝘀: Need ARC readers for honest, high-quality reviews?

📔𝗖𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝗥𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗮𝗹𝘀: Have a stunning new design to show off to the world?

💰𝗕𝗶𝗴 𝗦𝗮𝘃𝗶𝗻𝗴𝘀: Promoting an upcoming sale or Kindle Countdown deal?

📚𝗕𝗼𝗼𝗸 𝗙𝗲𝗮𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲𝘀: Want your work highlighted in front of new readers?

💎𝗠𝗶𝗹𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗻𝗲𝘀: Celebrating a launch day, a sequel, or a major award?

📖𝗕𝗼𝗼𝗸 𝗖𝗹𝘂𝗯 𝗞𝗶𝘁: Want to provide discussion guides and extras for reading groups?

𝗛𝗼𝘄 𝘁𝗼 𝗷𝗼𝗶𝗻 𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗺𝘂𝗻𝗶𝘁𝘆:

👯‍♀️𝗙𝗼𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗪𝗿𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗺𝘂𝗻𝗶𝘁𝘆: Tag a fellow author below who deserves a boost! We’d love to help share their story.

📖𝗙𝗼𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀: Want exclusive access to these deals and ARCs? Send us an email at 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗽𝗮𝗴𝗲𝗹𝗮𝗱𝗶𝗲𝘀𝟲@𝗴𝗺𝗮𝗶𝗹.𝗰𝗼𝗺 with 𝗥𝗘𝗔𝗗𝗘𝗥 in the subject line to join our inner circle!

Happy Tuesday, mis internet amigxs,

This Bad Bunny week, I wanted to remind y'all that the #MeltIceBookStack Challenge on Instagram is still going on: Through the end of February, for every post of a “flame” stack of yellow/orange/red books using #MeltIceStack hashtag and tagging @readerbotdiaries, Lou will be donating $1 to the @womensfndnmn Immigrant Rapid Response Fund, up to $200. 30 other bookstagrammers have joined the cause, meaning that the first 200 posts will raise $5,200 (and counting) for the Immigrant Rapid Response Fund. You still have time to join us and contribute your stack!

A reminder that we're talking with Orange Wine author, Esperanza Hope Snyder, TONIGHT! You can register for the Zoom here. Looking forward to seeing you all!

And now...onto today's Latine releases!

PUERTO RICAN COOKBOOK

Cocina Puerto Rico: Recipes from My Abuela's Kitchen to Yours by Mia Castro

HORROR

Maria The Wanted by V. Castro (Audiobook) Bad ass Latina vampire has a sexy encounter with lucifer

GRAPHIC NOVEL

Witchycakes #3 by Kara La Rue and illustrated by Ariane Moreira

ROMANCE

Only Friends by Lydia San Andres (Audiobook) Available in both English and Spanish; Rom-com debut about an aspiring screenwriter and a gorgeous model teaming up to create regency era thirst content for online fans

PICTURE BOOK

Leo's Lobo by Melissa Cristina Marquez and illustrated by Maria Gabriela Gama (available in both English and Spanish)

TRANSLATED LITERARY FICTION

Lithium by Malén Denis and translated by Laura Hatry & John Wronoski

xoxo,

Carmen

January Recap is finally here and boy did I have fun!

Let’s deep dive into my January reads 🫣 grab your drink & let’s get into it!

• Book of Azrael — okay soooo this was bomb as hell and I knew it would be. I loved the writing style and the progression of the story. This is a series that I am happy has 7 books (I think only up to book 4 has been released as of now) and I cannot wait to read book two

Well, you may have seen my detailed book reviews on the rest of these books soo I won’t go into too many of the details…..

• Speak of the Devil — this is the continutation of over my dead body. This YA witchy graphic novel with lgbtq+ rep and a diverse cast really captured my heart in book one. It was full of nostalgia similarly to the witchy movies I loved to watch back in the day. However, this follow up didn’t capture me in the same way. Still pretty good but not better than the first.

• Captured Prey — now this book is the first monster romance I have read and it was okay. The author did an amazing job having consent as the forefront which I appreciate but overall it was just a so-so read. However, I think any other works that focus on fantasy I would definitely read and I think I would love those more.

• Portal to Pleasure — Deciding to give it another go, I tried another new to me author in the similar category & novella. Now this one? Was reallly good! Consent was definitely front and center — again I appreciate this, AND the personalities and dynamics of relationships were really enjoyable and made me look forward to what happens after this novella. Well good news! Did you know book 2 is out now? It’s automatically on my TBR.

• Hotel Limbo — Now this graphic novel had an interesting premise of being in purgatory/hell. There were many different artists which really bothered me at first but I ended up liking in the end. The beginning was rough bc it was super hard to read / not legible. It improves, luckily otherwise I would’ve had to DNF this one. The story really comes together and by the end I was sad it was over and again wanted to know what happens next?

• His and Hers — Now, this one was really good! I enjoyed his&hers and I really enjoyed the limited series. Its not my favorite book nor do I need a trophy but it was really enjoyable. For me, thrillers that make me obsessed and can’t stop thinking about them are a little tough to come by but I would still recommend reading this one.

Do you have any book recs for me?

Here’s what I am currently reading (altho I did just finish The Book of Azrael this morning ☺️)