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About The Diary of a Reader | Book Blogger, Influencer

We Read Deeply. We Influence Authentically. We’re Here for the Books That Matter!

There’s a new kind of book influencer rising—one with a book blog that values connection, honesty, and a bookish life that’s as meaningful as it is shared.

the diary of a reader book blogger

About The Diary of a Reader

This story began as a scattered hobby in July 2020, wholly centered around books and the joy they bring. Starting a reading journal felt natural—reading has always been my quiet escape, my favorite kind of magic. And what started as a personal space to share thoughts and quotes became a space where passion met purpose.

As my love for books grew, so did my love for photography, especially after my children were born. That spark pushed me to learn how to edit, shoot, and share, eventually giving life to my Bookstagram and this book blog. I began combining visual storytelling with thoughtful book reviews, slowly carving out a place in the larger book influencer and social media space.

The Diary of a Reader is now a creative fusion of images, feelings, stories, and reflections. You’ll find a little of everything here—from cozy recommendations to content that sparks deeper emotion. But more than anything, I want to showcase books that bring joy, words that linger, and posts that stir something good inside of you.

I hope you find comfort in perusing The Diary of a Reader—whether it leads you to your next favorite book, gives you the confidence to start your own book blog, or simply invites you to be comfortably happy in solitude. This is your cozy corner of the internet—and I hope it feels like home.

Trust me—this just might become your new favorite book blog.

About Dominique

I’m Dominique—someone who’s usually thinking about food or books, sometimes both. I live somewhere between annotated pages and pristine hardcovers, deep reviews and silly Instagram captions, publishing trends and bedtime stories with my kids.

You’ll often find me staying up too late (never early mornings because sleeping in is LIFE), drawing inspiration from my children’s tiny daily rituals, and getting lost in a sea of book community photos on Pinterest. I’m the type who can’t pick between two good things, because the answer will always be both.

This blog, and everything tied to it, is my joy. I’ve earned five degrees (yes, five), the most recent being a Master’s. I call Miami home, but I live in Georgia. But no matter where I’ve gone or who I’ve become, books have always been the constant. They’re my anchor. My escape. My return.

The Diary of a Reader is my way of giving back to the book community through thoughtful content, honest reviews, and an open invitation for readers, authors, influencers, and publishers alike to connect, collaborate, and be inspired.

—

Say hello on Instagram and Pinterest. You can follow more of my thoughts on books on Goodreads. Or drop me an email (thediaryofthereader@gmail.com). I always write back.

Sprinkle words like stardust,

Dominique

—

I’d love to chat and see if we can work together.

What You’ll Find Here

  • Thoughtful Reviews – No fluff, just real reactions and analysis that connect with readers
  • Social Media Campaigns – Strategic, emotionally engaging, and tailored for each platform
  • Book Group Energy – We’re more than a blog. We’re a community of readers who love to talk, share, and reread
  • Opportunities for Collaboration – Open to select influencer programs, ARCs, and brand-aligned partnerships
  • Insights for Authors & Publishers – I help bridge the gap between books and the audiences who will champion them

Book Blog Community Connection

This space is for the reader who dog-ears pages, the author who pours heart into every sentence, and the publisher looking for engaging connections that actually convert.

If you’re building a book influencer program, launching a title, or want your book seen by readers who care, you’re in the right place.

I don’t just talk about books—I create conversations around them.

Contact Me

Interested in collaborating or connecting?

Whether you’re a publisher, author, part of a book influencer program, or simply someone who found a post that moved you, I’d love to hear from you.

To work with me, pitch a title, request a book review, recommend something beautiful, or just say hello, email me directly at:
contactus@thediaryofareader.com

Let’s build something engaging, honest, and unforgettable—together.

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Want to see what I write? Check out my blog!

 

diaryofthereader

🌙 Fantasy & Romance Book Blogger
📧 contactus@thediaryofareader.com
🫀I tell you how the book feels
🙃 mood reader
Check out my blog ⬇️

have you ever sat at your desk and felt something have you ever sat at your desk and felt something quietly leave your body? 🖤

not your soul. nothing that dramatic. just.. a little piece of the version of you that used to make things. used to call your friends back. used to explore and create.

that feeling has a book now.

Abyss by Nicholas Binge is the cosmic horror novella I will be thinking about at least for the rest of the year. it is not horror with a monster in the closet. it is horror with a monster in the system. the alarm bell you have been swallowing for years, finally given a body the perfect, dizzying balance of am I crazy and this is crazy. 

by the last page you are sitting staring into space going what the absolute fuck.

a billionaire horror story dressed up like H.P. Lovecraft
and it sees you. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

check out my full spoiler free review on my blog ⛓️ in bio

Thank you @tornightfire for sending me Abyss yo read and review. 

📖 Abyss by Nicolas Binge cosmic horror/Lovecraftian horror/ corporate horror novella 

#abyssbook #cosmichorror #abyssnicolasbinge #bookrecommendations #horrorbooks
you finished the show you stared at the ceiling. you finished the show 
you stared at the ceiling.
you opened Netflix, scrolled for 20 minutes, and then decided to close it again.

because nothing feels like THAT felt

I know. ive been there. that post binge void where you're emotionally wrecked and nothing in your queue hits quite the same way. that's not a you problem that's a you haven't found the right book yet problem.

so I did the work for you.

I matched 7 shows and movies to books that will give you the EXACT same emotional devastation. the obsession, the slow burn, the dread, the I need to lie on the floor after this spiral.

swipe through, find your show and let me ruin your life with a book rec:

here's your plan:
📖 swipe to find a show you've loved
📖 read the book I matched with it
📖 come back and tell me I was right

because the alternative is rewatching the same series for the fourth time and pretending it still hits the same. (it doesn't. we both know it doesnt.) 

save this for your next book run. send it to the friend who never knows what to read next. and if you grab any of these, tell me which one wrecked you. I want to hear it all. 📖🖤

#bookrecommendations #bookishcommunity #whattoreadnext #readersofinstagram #booklover
🖤 COVER REVEAL 🖤 Mother Dearest by @clarevbird Yo 🖤 COVER REVEAL 🖤
Mother Dearest by @clarevbird

You finally have your freedom.
The mother you spent years trying to escape. Gone. Silent.
And it's starting to feel...catastrophic. like you won't survive without her brand of crazy 🤪

So you do what any devoted daughter would do, you write to her. letter after letter. confession after confession. 

then you meet him. 
THE him.
the man that changes it all.
the one your mother would even approve of.

there's just one small thing, though. he already has a wife... and a daughter.

but as your mother has always said...
a problem is only a problem until you solve it 🔪

Mother Dearest is told ENTIRELY in letters and transcripts.📜

if you love:
🖤 unreliable narrator who makes you  the reader complicit
🖤 epsitolary thrillers that crawl under your skin and refuse to leave
🖤 a mother daughter dynamic that is just so toxic 
🖤 the slow creeping dread of omfg did she just...
🖤 a woman who solves her own problems 😇

Then you have to meet Imogen because there is no doubt she will ruin your week in the best way.

Save this and come back and tell me, are you team mother or team daughter because you're gonna have to pick a side🖤

Thank you to @clarevbird and minotaur_books for having me be a part of this cover reveal

Mother Dearest releases March 2027

#MotherDearest #CoverReveal #DomesticSuspense
#ThrillerBooks #UnreliableNarrator
currently buried in A Reign of Embers by Eva Chase currently buried in A Reign of Embers by Eva Chase, and I need someone to yell about it with.

this is book four in the royal spares series, and I don't know why I waited this long to complete the series. reverse harem. court intrigue. and FMC, who literally runs an empire while the gods try to take her down. princes that have no business making me feel this way.

if you've been in a slump and need something that will grab you by the throat and not let go... this is it. start with book one and cone back and tell me everything 🖤

#reverseharem #whychoose #bookrecommendations #darkromance #romantasy

Art of Bastien and Aurelia on the first slide was taken from author @authorevachase instagram.
and somehow, she's not even the scariest woman in and somehow, she's not even the scariest woman in the book 🖤

here's what you're getting into:

Count My Lies by Sophie Stava. A dual POV domestic thriller where Sloane Caraway, a compulsive liar and unreliable narrator, nannies her way into a picture-perfect family and slowly starts becoming the wife. Violet is the wife. Neither of them are okay.

The first half is slow. I almost gave up. Don't. 

At 52%, the POV switches, and the entire book reorganizes itself around you. Everything you thought you understood about who the villain was... gone.

Here's what you get if you stick with it:

》the rare domestic thriller that fools you twice

》the kind of ending you'll be thinking about three books from now, and the very specific satisfaction of being the reader who didn't DNF

》while everyone on goodreads complains about the slow start. You'll be the one who got it.

If you loved Gone Girl, this is your next read.

shop indie if you can. Full review linked in bio 🤍

Save this for your next thriller slump

Thank you to @gallerybooks / @scoutpressbooks for sending me a copy to read and review

#countmylies #sophiestava #thrillerbooks #bookslikegonegirl #unreliablenarrator
the books that kept me FED. 🍽️👑 not liked. not en the books that kept me FED. 🍽️👑

not liked. not enjoyed. FED.

these are the books that had me skipping meals, ignoring texts, reading at red lights, and staring at the ceiling at 3am wondering how a fictional man ruined my life worse than a real one ever could.

every single one of these is a 5-star, no-skip, would-sell-a-kidney-for-a-first-read-again kind of book. if you haven't read at least one of these... baby, your TBR is starving.

📚 the full god tier list:

•❤️‍🔥 God of Malice — Rina Kent

• 🦋The Knight and the Moth — Rachel Gillig

• 🧠Neurovance — Alexandra St. Pierre

•⛓️ The Sinner — Shantel Tessier

• 🌊The Starless Sea — Erin Morgenstern

• 💋One Last Kiss — B.L. Wilde

•🐊Devour the Snake — Nikki St. Crowe

• 🧩The Perfect Fit — Sadie Kincaid

• 🥰The Bonds that Tie series — J. Bree

• 💠Bitter Burn — Sierra Simone

which one is already on YOUR god tier? and which one are you adding to your TBR immediately? tell me everything 👇🖤

(and if you've read all 10... we need to talk. you're my people.)

🔖 save this for later

📩 send to someone who needs to be fed

#bookstagram #darkromance #romantasy #bookrecs #godtierbooks
Idk why, but this video makes you want to sing Mai Idk why, but this video makes you want to sing Mail Time from Blue's Clues. 

Anyway, I got book mail, and you should totally watch the video until the end to see what book I received from @harpervoyagerus 

What was your favorite childhood show? Is it still your favorite?

#bookstagram #bookmail #theunmagicallifeofbriarjones
#harpervoyager
There is nothing NOTHING like reading your favorit There is nothing NOTHING like reading your favorite book for the first time. The feeling you get as the book claims your heart and soul. 

The moment it wrecks you so completely, you have to just sit there after the last page and just sigh.

These are the books I would erase from my memory just to live in that experience again. 🖤

Drop yours in the comments 👇

#bookstagram #darkromance #booksthathatdifferent #BookRecommendation
#TheDiaryOfAReader

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books to reread • books that broke me • best romance books • dark romance recommendations • emotionally devastating books • books I can't forget • bookstagram • reader girl • the diary of a reader
📖 APRIL READING WRAP UP 📖 It's May (how is it alr 📖 APRIL READING WRAP UP 📖

It's May (how is it already May 😳)
 April was a wild month 14 reads 6 DNFs. one religious experience. zero regrets.

⭐️ ONE LAST KISS by B.L. WILDE was my top read of April. It's the conclusion to the Elder World series (or is it 🙃) and easily one of my top reads of 2026. 

📚 14 books in 30 days means a LOT of opinions. A romantasy that owned me, a fantasy that should have been 5 stars but missed the mark. A thriller that overpromised, a few hyped reads I had FEELINGS about, and yes, 6 DNFs I have zero regrets about.

🌶 the unpopular opinion this month: your TBR is a vision board, NOT a to-do list. Stop feeling guilty.

📍 next up on my May TBR: three books that look like three different ways to ruin me. I'll tell you which one I start first...if you tell me which one YOU'D pick.

👇 your turn

What was YOUR best read of April? Drop the title that wrecked you. I need new things to obsess over.

reviews ➡️ link in bio 🖤
blog ➡️ thediaryofareader.com 

#aprilreadingwrapup #booksiveread #aprilbookwrapup #monthlyreadingwrapup 5starreads
4 ⭐️ and I still wanted to throw my Kindle across 4 ⭐️ and I still wanted to throw my Kindle across the room. 

Let me explain 🖤

One Last Promise is book two of The Elder World series by B.L. Wilde and book two slows the momentum book one earned. It's backstory heavy. Alora takes the long way around unlearned centuries of programming. I almost gave up on her more than once. 

But here's why I'm still here:

📖Darce is carrying this entire book on his back. Even in the past. Even before he becomes the version of himself you already love. You feel why he matters. Why the story bends around him. The connection doesn't reset when the timeline does...it deepens.

📖 Page 92 💥 The moment Alora finally stops choosing comfort and starts choosing curiosity, the story opens into exactly what I came for.

📖The worldbuilding is decadent, not just detailed, a lush world you can see in your minds eye. You can see the valley. Feel the weight of the hierarchy. Taste the world.

📖Forbidden love. Star crossed light vs. dark
 Fated mates with centuries of weight pressing down on every scene they share. The story itself is breathtaking. Which is exactly why the structural choices sting the wat they do. 

The frustration is real. But the love is louder.

⭐️4 stars
🌶 2 chili peppers
📖The Elder World, 2

✨ Read if you love:
• forbidden love that pushes against the structure of the world
· star-crossed light vs. dark 
· decadent fantasy worldbuilding 
· fated mates with centuries of weight 
· a morally complex MMC carrying the emotional load 🖤

🚫 Skip if:
• you need immediate continuation from book one 
· full-book backstory installments test your patience
· slow-burn unlearning frustrates you past investment

Full review at the link in my bio.  Including the full structural critique. 🖤

Tell me: what's a book you stayed mad at and still couldn't put down? 👇

Thank you to @bl_wildeauthor for the eARC.

#OneLastPromise #TheElderWorld #FantasyRomance #Romantasy #FatedMates
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