Toasty and Bookish

22/08/2026

POV: Your child has martial arts for an hour and you suddenly have the perfect excuse to sit in the car and read. 😂📖

Time to get the Summer read finished!

22/08/2026

Things I do in my spare time… I definitely spend the most time buying books and rearranging books 😂
I’m not sure if this is a hobby or an actual personality trait at this point 😂
I may have a problem. But I love it. 😂❤️

Which of these do you spend the most time doing?

18/08/2026

💙 Holiday blues

It’s always a little bittersweet coming home from holiday, right? But when I come home to a burst radiator and a flooded living room at my Mum’s house, and a broken-down fridge freezer in my own house, it really does make me want to still be on holiday! 😩😂
So I’m jumping back into my holiday read and pretending I’m still there for a little while longer! 📖☀️

Have you read this book?
What are you currently reading? 📖

06/08/2026

🧹 Room on the Broom Trail

Today we swapped the sofa for an adventure and followed the Room on the Broom story trail at Wendover Woods - Forestry England
We had such a lovely time exploring the woods, spotting characters and bringing a favourite book to life.
Days like this are a reminder that reading can be an adventure, whatever your age.
(Room on the Broom is one of my favourites and I’m 44, by the way! 😆)

Have you ever visited a book or story trail?
I’d love to hear your favourites!

26/07/2026

📖 Book Help needed!!

Sometimes the universe chooses your next read for you... 📚✨

I’ve had separate conversations with two friends about these books, and now they’re both calling my name.

The only problem? I can only read one first!

Which should I get toasty with next? ☕🤎

📕 The Thursday Murder Club by Richard Osman

🍿 It Only Happens in the Movies by Holly Bourne

Tell me which you’d pick—and if you’ve read either, let me know what you thought (without spoilers!).

25/07/2026

The perfect place to get toasty with a book and brew 📖☕️

Miss Havisham's Tearoom - on the High Street in Stony Stratford, serves coffee, lunches and high tea.
https://www.facebook.com/Havishams

23/07/2026

☕️📚 Toasty and Bookish

Hello, and welcome to Toasty and Bookish!
A little corner for books, memes, recommendations, and all things bookish. I might even start selling books again at some point—if that’s something you’d be interested in!

So, why Toasty and Bookish?
A few friends started calling me “Toasty” because I apparently always look so toasty in my leopard print coat, and somehow the nickname just stuck. The more I thought about it, the more I realised that’s exactly how I love to read—wrapped up all toasty with a good book, a cosy blanket, and a hot brew.
And that’s how Toasty and Bookish was born.
I’m so glad you’re here, and I can’t wait to share my love of books with you!

🤎📖

22/07/2026

🤎 A new chapter begins….

So you may (or may not!) have noticed a little change around here...we are now Toasty & Bookish. 🤎
As much as I loved the days of Lakes Little Bookshop, it had started to feel like a chapter of my life that had come to an end. Trying to squeeze myself back into that chapter just didn’t feel quite right anymore.
I have such fond memories of those days. It was a time when my children were little (they’re not so little now!), and when I was partnered with Usborne Books. They publish wonderful books, but I’m no longer with them. Setting up stalls as Lakes Little Bookshop often felt like I was recreating an Usborne book stall... and that’s no longer who I am.
The name bookshop also suggests that I sell books, which isn’t what I’m doing right now (although who knows what the future holds!).
It simply feels like the right time to start a new chapter... and Toasty & Bookish feels like the perfect name for it. 🤎
As for where the new name came from... that’s a story for another post. ☕✨

20/07/2026

📚 Impromptu Pop-up Book Shop!

Last weekend we decided at the last moment to pop up at our annual village garage sales.
It had been a long time since we last hosted a book stall, so it was a real pleasure to be back this weekend.
Whether this turns out to be a one-off or the beginning of something again, we’re grateful we had the chance to share some of our favourite books, along with our bookish stickers and mystery sticker packs.

If you could recommend just one book to a fellow reader, what would it be?

Also if we were to host another book stall in the future, what kinds of books or bookish goodies would you love to see?
I think more young adult fiction would be good!

Thank you to everyone who stopped by to browse, chat, and support us. It was a lovely reminder of what a wonderful book community there is. Until next time... whenever that may be! 📚❤️