September 2025 – Hooks, Books, & Wanderlust
Life In The Making| Hooks, Books, & Wanderlust
Ingrid and her boyfriend Cory have been together for 11 years. When her sister gets engaged, they decide to take a break to date other people. What follows is a commentary on contemporary dating and the ruts younger millennials find themselves in, a friendship that has always felt like more, and the courage it takes…| Hooks, Books, & Wanderlust
I'm so excited to finally share this quick, stash-busting pattern with you! All this texture is super easy, uses only basic stitches, and has a repeat that's easy to remember.| Hooks, Books, & Wanderlust
Jillian Cantor revisits the glittering Jazz Age world of F. Scott Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby, retelling this timeless American classic from the women’s perspective. Beautiful Little Fools is a quintessential tale of money and power, marriage and friendship, love and desire, and ultimately the murder of a man tormented by the past and driven by a destructive longing that can never be fulfilled.| Hooks, Books, & Wanderlust
Twenty-two years ago, Claire Campbell’s older sister, Natalie, disappeared on her eighteenth birthday. Days later, her blood was found in a car, a man was arrested, and the case was swiftly closed. In the decades since, Claire has attempted to forget her traumatic past by moving to the city and climbing the ranks as an…| Hooks, Books, & Wanderlust
Late October. After midnight. You’re waiting up for your seventeen-year-old son. He’s past curfew. As you watch from the window, he emerges, and you realize he isn’t alone: he’s walking toward a man, and he’s armed. You can’t believe it when you see him do it: your funny, happy teenage son, he kills a stranger,…| Hooks, Books, & Wanderlust
Ten years ago today, I received a call that changed my life forever. While my ten-month old baby played in the room, I picked up the call I'd been waiting for and received the answer I'd been expecting. I had cancer. So what does ten years of survivorship look like? Well, let me tell you.| Hooks, Books, & Wanderlust
Charlie Hudson is just trying to survive junior year. But her world is about to become seriously transformed when a classmate mysteriously disappears into the forest, leaving only a pair of shoes and strange symbols carved into a tree. Drawn to the disappearances by forces she can’t explain, she finds herself investigating the mysterious, alluring…| Hooks, Books, & Wanderlust
This is my pick for my 2025 Book Challenge for July: Beach Read. Meghan Michaels is trying to find balance between being a single mom to a teenage daughter and working as a full time nurse. While on duty at the hospital one day, a patient named Caitlin arrives in a coma with a traumatic…| Hooks, Books, & Wanderlust
Grave birds haunt the cemeteries of Hawthorne, South Carolina. Hollis Sutherland never knew these unique birds existed, not until she died and was brought back to life. The ghostly birds are manifestations of the dead’s unfinished business, and they know Hollis and her uncanny gift can set them free. When a mysterious, charming bachelor wanders…| Hooks, Books, & Wanderlust
Come along with us as HBW Hubby and I road trip up the coast of Maine to Acadia National Park!| Hooks, Books, & Wanderlust
After a devastating loss, Brynn Wilder escapes to Wharton, a tourist town on Lake Superior, to reset. In her fellow lodgers, she finds a friendly company of strangers. But in this inviting refuge, where a century of souls has passed, a mystery begins to swirl. Alice knows things about Brynn, about all of them, that…| Hooks, Books, & Wanderlust
Ariel Price wakes up in Lisbon, alone. Her husband is gone, no warning, no note, not answering his phone. Something is wrong. She starts with hotel security, then the police, then the American embassy, at each confronting questions she can’t fully answer. The clock is ticking. Ariel is increasingly frustrated and desperate, running out of…| Hooks, Books, & Wanderlust
Haunted by visions of the Fairy King since childhood, Effy Sayre had no choice but to believe in fairy tales. When her most beloved author's family announces a contest to redesign the late author's estate, Effy feels certain it's her destiny. But musty, decrepit Hiraeth Manor is an impossible task, and its residents are far…| Hooks, Books, & Wanderlust
If you're looking for a quick, stash-busting cozy make, perfect for those fall/winter markets or holiday gifting, I've got just the thing for you today! Allow me to introduce you to the Edith Ear Warmer! Its deceptively simple texture resembles a mini-waffle stitch, without the hassle of all those post stitches and without being a…| Hooks, Books, & Wanderlust
If you're reading this post, then that means you're ready to start Part 10 of the Harmony Throw CAL.... It's the home stretch now, so I'm going to help you out with some meditative crochet that will leave you with TONS of texture!| Hooks, Books, & Wanderlust
From the New York Times best-selling author of The Storied Life of A. J. Fikry—a glorious and immersive novel about two childhood friends, once estranged, who reunite as adults to create video games, finding an intimacy in digital worlds that eludes them in their real lives. Spanning thirty years, from Cambridge, Massachusetts, to Venice Beach, California,…| Hooks, Books, & Wanderlust
Theodore Finch constantly thinks of ways he might kill himself. But each time, he finds something good that stops him. Violet Markey is aching with grief and struggling to continue on living in the wake of her sister’s recent death. When Finch and Violet meet on the ledge of the bell tower at school, it’s…| Hooks, Books, & Wanderlust
In The Small and the Mighty, Sharon McMahon proves that the most remarkable Americans are often ordinary people who didn’t make it into the textbooks. Not the presidents, but the telephone operators. Not the aristocrats, but the schoolteachers. Through meticulous research, she discovers history’s unsung characters and brings their rich, riveting stories to light for the…| Hooks, Books, & Wanderlust
It seems like any other day. You wake up, pour a cup of coffee, and head out. But today, when you open your front door, waiting for you is a small wooden box. This box holds your fate inside: the answer to the exact number of years you will live. Enchanting and deeply uplifting, The Measure is…| Hooks, Books, & Wanderlust
Twenty-four-year-old Saeris Fane is good at keeping secrets. No one knows about the strange powers she possesses. When she inadvertently reopens a gateway between realms, she lands herself right in the middle of a centuries-long conflict that might just get her killed. Death has a name. It is Kingfisher of the Ajun Gate. His past…| Hooks, Books, & Wanderlust
It's time for the next installment in my Crochet 102 series where we are removing the stigma around blocking. We're going to talk all about what it is, why it's important, when to do it, and how.| Hooks, Books, & Wanderlust
From the critically-acclaimed, bestselling author of WEYWARD...2019: Lucy awakens in her ex-lover’s room in the middle of the night with her hands around his throat. Horrified, she flees to her sister’s house on the coast of New South Wales, hoping Jess can help explain the vivid dreams that preceded the attack – but her sister…| Hooks, Books, & Wanderlust
As a valued Elding Blade of the rebellion group Fíur du Ath, Raeve’s job is to kill. To complete orders and never get caught. Crushed beneath a mourning weight, Kaan Vaegor took the head of a king and donned his melted crown. Now on a tireless quest to assuage the never-ebbing ache in his chest, his…| Hooks, Books, & Wanderlust
Prince Kirran of the autumn fey returns home from war, his older brothers dead and him now the only heir. He needs a wife, which wouldn’t be a problem, except that he’s not over the girl who shattered his heart seven years ago. Half-human Alia avoids her noble stepfamily by living among the fey king’s…| Hooks, Books, & Wanderlust
I thought it would be fun to create a reading challenge for the year where each month, we are prompted with a different theme and read a book to fit that theme. At first, I had thought to keep it just on social media and my newsletter, but I realize how short-sighted that is and…| Hooks, Books, & Wanderlust
My Lady Edith stitch pattern is an easy alternating stitch pattern perfect for beginners! It boasts tons of texture and is deceptively simple, using an alternating half double crochet and half double crochet in the third loop combo that I'm going to show you today!| Hooks, Books, & Wanderlust
The centuries-long genocidal program of the US settler-colonial regimen has largely been omitted from history. Now, for the first time, acclaimed historian and activist Roxanne Dunbar-Ortiz offers a history of the United States told from the perspective of Indigenous peoples and reveals how Native Americans, for centuries, actively resisted expansion of the US empire. An…| Hooks, Books, & Wanderlust
I'm super excited to introduce you to the newest member of the XOXO Collection of patterns, the XOXO Cowl! It uses the same simple stitch pattern you've come to love for its texture and visual interest in a fun and quick new pattern to keep you cozy and warm in these still cold winter months.| Hooks, Books, & Wanderlust
The centuries-long genocidal program of the US settler-colonial regimen has largely been omitted from history. Now, for the first time, acclaimed historian and activist Roxanne Dunbar-Ortiz offers a history of the United States told from the perspective of Indigenous peoples and reveals how Native Americans, for centuries, actively resisted expansion of the US empire. An…| Hooks, Books, & Wanderlust
Dana, a modern Black woman, is celebrating her 26th birthday with her new husband when she is snatched abruptly from her home in California and transported to the antebellum South. Rufus, the white son of a plantation owner, is drowning, and Dana has been summoned to save him. Dana is drawn back repeatedly through time…| Hooks, Books, & Wanderlust
In my opinion, this series opener beats ACOTAR (which I really didn't like, but stuck with the series as the behest of many) and ranks right there with ACOMAF (my favorite in that series) in terms of characters, plot, world-building, steam, angst, and allll the things.| Hooks, Books, & Wanderlust
Printable Blanket Sizes Cheat Sheet I recently started a new blanket pattern, a baby blanket I’m making for a friend expecting her second child, and I found myself looking up what size I needed to make it. At the same time, I was updating my XOXO Throw blanket pattern pdf and to include a chart for…| Hooks, Books, & Wanderlust
You ever have those those projects where you can't start with a ribbing when you need one: top-down beanies, top down sweaters that need cuffs or cinched hems, or a simple textured edging to use on blankets or trim the opening of a sweater. Sure, you can work a front post / back post double…| Hooks, Books, & Wanderlust
The even moss stitch is an easy alternating stitch pattern perfect for beginners looking to up their stitch game. It boasts tons of texture and is deceptively simple, using an alternating slip stitch and half double crochet combo that can be worked in rows or rounds and today I'm going to show you both!| Hooks, Books, & Wanderlust
This policy is valid from 10/1/2018, last updated on 5/10/23. The Hooks, Books, & Wanderlust blog (“Blog” or “Site”) is owned and authored by Kristen Caldwell (“Author”). Hooks, Books, & Wanderlust was created to provide the reader with inspiration to live their best life through the sharing of hobbies and experiences, and other interests. On this…| Hooks, Books, & Wanderlust
Kristen Petersen is facing a medically necessary procedure that will make it impossible for her to have children. Planning her best friend's wedding is bittersweet for Kristen -- especially when she meets the best man, Josh Copeland. He's funny, sexy, never offended by her mile-wide streak of sarcasm, and always one chicken enchilada ahead of…| Hooks, Books, & Wanderlust
Introducing my new pocket scarf pattern...The Cozy Fireside Wrap! I am so excited to build a fire and wrap myself up in this super cozy wrap. I just know you will love this new design as much as me! And did I mention POCKETS!?| Hooks, Books, & Wanderlust
Duchess Day Radley is a thirteen-year-old self-proclaimed outlaw. Rules are for other people. She is the fierce protector of her five-year-old brother, Robin, and the parent to her mother, Star, a single mom incapable of taking care of herself, let alone her two kids. Walk has never left the coastal California town where he and…| Hooks, Books, & Wanderlust
Second in the series made famous on TikTok, Aya and Will are back home, trying to discover the purpose behind the prophecy and discern truth from lies while facing betrayal and the increasingly suspect intentions of their Queen.| Hooks, Books, & Wanderlust
I LOVE road trips. The snacks, the open road, the snacks, uninterrupted crochet or reading time, and did I mention the snacks? What's not to love!? HBW Hubby and I packed up the van and the kids and hit the road! A little bit of nostalgia, a lot of natural wonder, and two days of…| Hooks, Books, & Wanderlust
NYT bestseller, Kirkus Prize winner, National Book Award finalist, and Man Booker Prize finalist, A Little Life follows four college classmates—broke, adrift, and buoyed only by their friendship and ambition—as they move to New York in search of fame and fortune. While their relationships, which are tinged by addiction, success, and pride, deepen over the decades,…| Hooks, Books, & Wanderlust
