Book Curator is a free book club and literary lifestyle community created by independent bookstore owner Nicole Ihasz.

At its heart are five reading identities, each representing a different side of your reading life. Every month, Nicole curates five books for The Monthly Stack, chosen from across those identities with an emphasis on books she genuinely loves and wants to put into readers’ hands...including discoveries you might otherwise have missed.

Book Curator also extends beyond what we read, with literary retreats and experiences that bring readers together around books, travel, and a shared love of a well-read life.

Just sign up for The Monthly Stack. It’s free, and you’ll receive Nicole’s five curated picks each month along with more recommendations, literary discoveries, and ways to make books a bigger part of your life.

Come for your next great read...and see where it takes you.

Yes! Book Curator and The Monthly Stack are completely free. Sign up and each month you’ll receive Nicole’s five curated picks, along with more bookish recommendations, conversations, and inspiration for your reading life.

The Monthly Stack is Book Curator’s monthly literary curation: five books chosen from across our five reading identities.

It isn’t a roundup of the biggest or most talked-about releases. These are books Nicole has read and genuinely wants to put into readers’ hands...from exciting debuts and newer voices to established authors and books you might otherwise have missed.

The five Book Curator reading identities reflect the different kinds of stories we find ourselves drawn to:

Literary Maven — for readers drawn to beautiful writing, emotional intelligence, nuance, and complex characters.

Ever After — for readers who believe a great love story is always worth falling for.

Fantasy Paramour — for readers who want magic, adventure, impossible worlds, and a little escape from reality.

Bookish Raven — for readers drawn to mysteries, thrillers, secrets, twists, and the darker side of human nature.

Haunted Heart — for readers who like their stories atmospheric, unsettling, eerie, and sometimes downright terrifying.

You may recognize yourself immediately in one...or see pieces of yourself in all five.

Book Curator is powered by an independent bookseller—not AI or algorithms. @ihaszbooks reads widely and early, often months before books are released. With long-standing relationships with publishers, authors, and agents, we get insider access to the most exciting, moving, and conversation-starting titles. Every month, based on your preferences, we hand-select an exceptional new release we believe deserves your attention—often before the rest of the world catches on.

Item descriptWhere can I get the Monthly Stack books?

You can purchase any of the Monthly Stack picks through the links we provide, which support Northshire Bookstore and make it easy to find each month’s selections.

But most importantly, we want you to read! Buy from your favorite local bookstore, borrow from your library, listen on audio, or read however works best for you.

However the book gets into your hands, we’re just happy you’re reading along.ion

Book Curator Retreats & Experiences take the idea of a well-read life beyond the page.

They’re thoughtfully curated getaways that bring together books, travel, beautiful places, interesting experiences, great food, time to read, and the pleasure of sharing it all with other curious people.

Each experience is different. Some may include authors or literary programming, while others are more about experiencing a destination through the Book Curator lens. They’re less about following a traditional tour itinerary and more about creating the kind of trip you’ll be talking about long after you get home.

No. Book Curator Retreats & Experiences are open to anyone who feels drawn to the trip. You don’t need to belong to a particular reading identity—or even come with someone you know.

Yes! Book Curator can create private, customized experiences for groups of friends, book clubs, and other groups who want to travel together.

We’ll work with you to create something that feels special to your group, from the destination and accommodations to experiences, meals, and literary touches along the way.

Anytime! We love hearing from you.