The Laurel & Leaf Bookshop

08/14/2026

Renee's Latest Read: Mad Mabel by Sally Hepworth

What It's About:
Eighty one year old Elsie Mabel Fitzpatrick has spent decades keeping a life changing secret hidden. When a neighbor is found dead and the media discovers that she was once known as Australia's youngest convicted murderer, Mabel is forced to confront the past she has worked so hard to leave behind. Told across two timelines, this clever mystery slowly reveals what really happened all those years ago while another mystery unfolds in the present.

What I Liked:
This book was such a fun read. Mabel is delightfully cranky but impossible not to love, and I looked forward to every chapter she narrated. I especially enjoyed the way the story moved between her past and present, slowly revealing how the events of her youth shaped the woman she became. It also offered an interesting look at how differently we see ourselves compared to the way the world sees us, and how those perceptions can shape an entire life. Sally Hepworth balanced mystery, emotion, and plenty of laugh out loud moments, making this one very hard to put down.

Fun Fact:
Sally Hepworth is one of Australia's bestselling authors, and many of her novels, including The Good Sister and The Soulmate, have become international book club favorites thanks to their unforgettable characters and twisty family dramas.

08/14/2026

Coffee + books- Never a better combination!

The Saturday Blind Date Bundle 📚

Every Saturday, take yourself on a little blind date.

For $22, you’ll get:
•A Blind Date with a Book from The Laurel & Leaf Bookshop
•A 16 oz Barista’s Choice mystery drink from us.

No overthinking, no peeking, just pick your bundle and let fate handle the rest. ✨

Available Saturdays only.

08/13/2026

I know we don't want to start thinking about going back to school yet, but we probably should!

08/12/2026

These Coco Wyo coloring books are the cutest!

08/11/2026

Happy New Release Day!

08/10/2026

Books for days!

Mondays - Fridays 10-5
Saturdays 10-3

08/07/2026

We will have Blind Dates available on Saturday (8/8) while supplies last.

Stop Uptown for all of the events and come to see us between 9&5!

08/07/2026

08/07/2026

Renee's Latest Read: The Unselected Journals of Emma M. Lion by Beth Brower (Volumes 1-4- so far!)

What It's About:
Set in Victorian London, The Unselected Journals of Emma M. Lion follows the observations and adventures of the fiercely intelligent Emma as she chronicles life in her journal. What begins as the story of one young woman's quiet return home quickly expands into a rich cast of eccentric relatives, curious neighbors, unexpected friendships, and the everyday happenings of St. Crispian's. Told through a series of short journal volumes, the story unfolds one delightful entry at a time.

What I Loved:
I have absolutely fallen in love with these books. Emma is sharp, witty, endlessly curious, and exactly the kind of character I want to spend hours with. The journal format makes the series incredibly addictive because each entry is just short enough to convince you to read one more... and then another... and another. Watching Emma navigate the wonderfully peculiar people around her has been such a joy, and each volume leaves me excited to dive into the next. These books have become such a comforting escape, and I can't recommend them enough.

Fun Fact:
Beth Brower chose to publish The Unselected Journals of Emma M. Lion as a series of novella length volumes, allowing readers to experience Emma's life much as she records it, one journal at a time. Once you start, it's surprisingly easy to race through multiple volumes in a single sitting.