Summer is the perfect time to slow down, find a patch of shade, and get lost in a good story. 

To inspire your own holiday reading stack, we’ve asked local book lovers to share their top picks from the past year and reveal where they’ll be curling up with a book this season.

Today, we are reading with Alexandra Paper Plus co-owner Sam Robinson.

1. What is a great read from 2025 you would recommend to others, and why?

Sam: I absolutely loved Mad Mabel. It’s funny, quirky, and full of heart. Mabel is unforgettable - wild, warm, and impossible not to adore. A quick, vibrant read that left me smiling long after I finished.

2. What is on your summer reading list, and can you describe your perfect spot to read?

Sam: I am now reading The Hallmarked Man by Robert Galbraith. Perfect spot? At home in my yard on my beanbag (when I get the time - I have a busy three year old).

3. Audiobook, paper, e-reader, or a mix of the three?

Sam: I’m BIG on a physical book, I love to share them when I’m finished. Also, I’m role modelling screen free reading to my child.

4. Tell us about a book that changed how you think.

Sam: Let Them by Mel Robbins - it would change everyone who read it, I would think.