welcome to printessential

My name is Alex and I’m 26 years old. As you may have guessed, I’m an avid lover of books and have been looking for the right place to spill all of my book-related thoughts and ideas. What better place to do so than my very own blog? I’m so excited to share my reviews, anticipated reads, and soon - my mobile book store!

A woman with glasses on her head and tattoos on her arms is sitting cross-legged on a wooden floor, smiling while taking a selfie in a full-length mirror. She is wearing a light green patterned shirt, ripped jeans, and sneakers. The room has a light-colored wall, windows, and plants in the background.

About Me

Until I find a way to make reading my 9 to 5, I work as a full time secretary in a medical office and a part time book seller at Book Love in Plymouth, MA.

I live on the South Shore with my boyfriend, Quin, and our cat, Kitty girl! We share a cozy apartment and are consistently trying to find new ways to store all my books. Quin and I have been together five years now and both worked in the fishing industry until he recently switched to excavation and I am taking the steps to build my dream mobile book store!

reading

I am a mood reader at heart - jumping from a psychological thriller to a fantasy to a rom-com in no time. I’ve recently been expanding into other genres, like memoirs and graphic novels, though I typically stick to romance and thrillers.

A few of my auto-buy authors include Stephanie Archer (The Vancouver Storm series), Freida McFadden (The Housemaid series), and Adrian McKinty (The Chain). I love sharing reviews of my favorite books and stories that have yet to be released - feel free to check them out and find your next read on my bookshelf!

Printessential?

I’ve always described reading as the most quintessential activity: it can be cozy, exciting, heartbreaking - whatever it is that you’re in need of can almost always be found printed in a book. As I began brainstorming names for my social media and business, this feeling of “quintessential” comfort kept coming back to me - and that’s how Printessential Reads was born!

Explore our content

A bowl of sliced strawberries and chocolate chips next to an e-reader displaying the book cover of "It Ends with Us" by Colleen Hoover on a wooden surface.

Book Reviews

Person holding a colorful bouquet of pink, blue, and purple flowers with a background of trees.
Screenshot of a book reading tracker showing 23 books finished so far in the year, with book covers displayed from March to September.

The Support System Behind Printessential Reads

Two women sitting outside in a park taking a selfie together, smiling, with trees and a blue sky in the background.
A smiling woman with glasses holding up a large, handmade, knotted white macrame amaid on a string with both hands.
Group of women gathered around a table for a painting activity in a well-lit dining room, with supplies like paints, brushes, and markers on the table.
A young woman and man sit at a table inside a bookstore, with the woman resting her head on her hand and smiling at the camera, and the man looking at a comic book. There is an iced drink on the table and shelves of books in the background.
Two young adults, a woman with red hair and a man with curly brown hair, enjoying food outdoors at a festival, with vendors and other people in the background.
Smiling man and woman taking a selfie at a restaurant, with the man holding a plate with salad and bread, and a glass of dark soda on the table.
Two smiling women wearing sunglasses sitting in a boat on a canal, with a historic building in the background, on a sunny day.
A smiling man holding an orange flyer for the Shane Reilly Memorial Ride event.
Two friends enjoying themselves at an arcade, laughing and playing video games, with arcade machines and colorful neon lights in the background.
A woman and an older woman are sitting on a couch with a tabby cat. They are smiling at the camera, and the cat is resting on the younger woman's chest.
Two women sitting at a table in a restaurant, smiling and posing for the camera. The woman on the left has dark hair tied back, is wearing a gray hoodie, and is holding a small pink container. There are drinks on the table, including a cocktail with lime and two glasses with straws. The woman on the right has long brown hair, tattoos on her arms, and is wearing a black shirt. The background shows a reflection of the restaurant's interior and other patrons.