Robin Jewell
@robinthereader.bsky.social
I'm old. I read. I know things. Tea drinker in a land awash in coffee. Owned by cats. Blue dot in a red state. Atheist. Married in Missouri. She/her
What the writer of the article forgets is that vampire stories were never just vampire stories. They are reflections of the culture and times. Right now, the evil isn't in the dark. It's on open display. Most people feel othered and on the outside. Vampires are perfectly suited to reflect that too.
January 15, 2026 at 2:24 PM
What the writer of the article forgets is that vampire stories were never just vampire stories. They are reflections of the culture and times. Right now, the evil isn't in the dark. It's on open display. Most people feel othered and on the outside. Vampires are perfectly suited to reflect that too.
Ooooo, that looks good. I will make sure my calendar is clear that day.
January 15, 2026 at 2:36 AM
Ooooo, that looks good. I will make sure my calendar is clear that day.
Although I did find a novel about a molly house in early 18th century London in the new books section. I'm thinking no one knew or checked to see what a molly house was or it wouldn't have been so prominently displayed.
January 13, 2026 at 4:09 PM
Although I did find a novel about a molly house in early 18th century London in the new books section. I'm thinking no one knew or checked to see what a molly house was or it wouldn't have been so prominently displayed.
Saddened, but not surprised. I've watched the LBGTQ+ section get smaller and smaller at local bookstores. The last Barnes & Noble I was in, the LGBTQ+ romance section had maybe 15 or so different titles. All very Hallmark-y. No trans characters. No POC.
January 13, 2026 at 4:05 PM
Saddened, but not surprised. I've watched the LBGTQ+ section get smaller and smaller at local bookstores. The last Barnes & Noble I was in, the LGBTQ+ romance section had maybe 15 or so different titles. All very Hallmark-y. No trans characters. No POC.
Lots of things are better impaled and set on fire, marshmallows, a pig, fascists...
January 10, 2026 at 2:29 PM
Lots of things are better impaled and set on fire, marshmallows, a pig, fascists...
Hurray! I'm here for fictional chaos! Today has been a lot of real-life chaos. Trust me, fictional chaos is much better.
January 8, 2026 at 8:51 PM
Hurray! I'm here for fictional chaos! Today has been a lot of real-life chaos. Trust me, fictional chaos is much better.
I'm not surprised. I only interact with them online. It's like talking to a vaguely sentient rock. The stupidity and bigotry are breathtaking. They're almost always virtually incoherent unless they've copy/pasted directly from somewhere. A bunch of brainwashed bullies.
January 8, 2026 at 2:50 AM
I'm not surprised. I only interact with them online. It's like talking to a vaguely sentient rock. The stupidity and bigotry are breathtaking. They're almost always virtually incoherent unless they've copy/pasted directly from somewhere. A bunch of brainwashed bullies.
You're welcome. In terms of what I'd like to see in the next one....hmm. I'll have to think about it.
January 6, 2026 at 3:12 PM
You're welcome. In terms of what I'd like to see in the next one....hmm. I'll have to think about it.
Done! This is good excuse to ignore my TBR piles and reread Step by Step.
January 6, 2026 at 2:47 PM
Done! This is good excuse to ignore my TBR piles and reread Step by Step.
(I'm sure it is. 🤫)
January 5, 2026 at 6:12 PM
(I'm sure it is. 🤫)
Yes, I was fast enough! 🥳
January 5, 2026 at 6:05 PM
Yes, I was fast enough! 🥳
Looking forward to it.
Reread Goldicub and the Three Bears yesterday. It hits even harder the second time.
Reread Goldicub and the Three Bears yesterday. It hits even harder the second time.
January 3, 2026 at 5:28 PM
Looking forward to it.
Reread Goldicub and the Three Bears yesterday. It hits even harder the second time.
Reread Goldicub and the Three Bears yesterday. It hits even harder the second time.
Very true! Gayer is better. Although my favorite retellings of Dracula always involve him knocking some of that Victorian self-righteous smugness out of the original "heroes" of the story, regardless of how much gayer it is.
January 3, 2026 at 3:21 PM
Very true! Gayer is better. Although my favorite retellings of Dracula always involve him knocking some of that Victorian self-righteous smugness out of the original "heroes" of the story, regardless of how much gayer it is.
And, in my humble opinion, even if you think you don't, you should anyway because it is an excellent book.
January 2, 2026 at 9:29 PM
And, in my humble opinion, even if you think you don't, you should anyway because it is an excellent book.
There is something about those stories that keeps calling us back to them. They are familiar and comfortable, until a new perspective shows us that we don't know them as well as we thought we did.
January 2, 2026 at 3:25 PM
There is something about those stories that keeps calling us back to them. They are familiar and comfortable, until a new perspective shows us that we don't know them as well as we thought we did.
I couldn't put it down either. The only thing I hate is that I waited so long to read it.
January 2, 2026 at 1:34 AM
I couldn't put it down either. The only thing I hate is that I waited so long to read it.
Cat Sebastian's Midcentury NYC series is incredible. In fact, I can't think of anything I've read by them that wasn't good.
January 2, 2026 at 1:32 AM
Cat Sebastian's Midcentury NYC series is incredible. In fact, I can't think of anything I've read by them that wasn't good.
I finished it this past Tuesday. You're right about it being a "lot of sad things happening to horrible people." The dog, Tilly, was the only character I didn't want to smack upside the head.
January 2, 2026 at 1:28 AM
I finished it this past Tuesday. You're right about it being a "lot of sad things happening to horrible people." The dog, Tilly, was the only character I didn't want to smack upside the head.
Oh, thank you. I would be honored to be an ARC reader!
December 31, 2025 at 6:09 PM
Oh, thank you. I would be honored to be an ARC reader!
Where do I sign up?!
December 31, 2025 at 5:44 PM
Where do I sign up?!
Your books have been some of the best things about 2025 for me! As awful as this year has been for me personally, your books always gave me something to look forward to. Thank you from the bottom of my heart!
December 30, 2025 at 2:39 AM
Your books have been some of the best things about 2025 for me! As awful as this year has been for me personally, your books always gave me something to look forward to. Thank you from the bottom of my heart!
😂
Don't worry. I can handle it! As long as my Kindle doesn't melt it's all good.
Don't worry. I can handle it! As long as my Kindle doesn't melt it's all good.
December 26, 2025 at 7:52 PM
😂
Don't worry. I can handle it! As long as my Kindle doesn't melt it's all good.
Don't worry. I can handle it! As long as my Kindle doesn't melt it's all good.
That's me after reading a few thousand words of the smut you've written! There's a reason I keep a foldable fan next to my reading chair!
December 26, 2025 at 7:46 PM
That's me after reading a few thousand words of the smut you've written! There's a reason I keep a foldable fan next to my reading chair!
Reviewed! This is far more than the spicy MM Santa romance I expected. It is some of the best Christmas magic!
www.goodreads.com/review/show/...
www.goodreads.com/review/show/...
Robin's review of Santa Daddy
5/5: Felix Hart is both grieving and numb. In the past year, he's lost both his father and his relationship. There is always that blunting of emotion and the strangeness of the holidays without such a...
www.goodreads.com
December 26, 2025 at 12:14 AM
Reviewed! This is far more than the spicy MM Santa romance I expected. It is some of the best Christmas magic!
www.goodreads.com/review/show/...
www.goodreads.com/review/show/...
You're welcome! It worked perfectly.
Typical Christmas movies don't do much for me. I prefer Christmas as background, not as something continuously harped on.
Typical Christmas movies don't do much for me. I prefer Christmas as background, not as something continuously harped on.
December 22, 2025 at 10:01 PM
You're welcome! It worked perfectly.
Typical Christmas movies don't do much for me. I prefer Christmas as background, not as something continuously harped on.
Typical Christmas movies don't do much for me. I prefer Christmas as background, not as something continuously harped on.