The Novel Tourist

06/28/2026

Stage & Story pairings are one of my favorite things to do with the Novel Tourist Book Club and this was a two boxes of tissue experience!

We read Dear Evan Hansen (the book📕) and then headed to the Arden Theatre Company 🎭 to see it come to life on stage. I loved the book, and I absolutely loved the production. The performances were incredible, like standing ovation times two, incredible.

At its heart, Dear Evan Hansen is about a lonely, anxious high school student whose life is turned upside down after a misunderstanding leads him into a lie that grows far beyond his control. It’s an emotional journey about loneliness, belonging, mental health, forgiveness, and our deep desire to be seen and understood. It will make you laugh, break your heart, and leave you thinking long after the final curtain.

If you’re in Philly and thinking about seeing it, you’re in luck! It’s been extended through July 5, and I can’t recommend it enough. The Arden is such a wonderful, intimate theater—there really isn’t a bad seat in the house.

Have you read the book, seen the musical, or both? I’d love to hear what you thought!

Feeling lonely yourself? The Novel Tourist Book Club is open to everybody come join a community of readers who love to go on adventures! Check out the Linktree in the bio or send me a message and I’ll send you the info on how to join - it’s free.

06/28/2026

Steven and his Yamatorium are pure, unadulterated West Philly magic. It is completely unhinged in the best way possible. If the door is open, you simply must enter!

Go forward and slurp the noodle of life. You won’t regret it. 🤣

The Yamatorium is the brainchild of Steven Erdman, a multi-talented artist and musician.

You enter into what seems like an underground bunker transformed by lighting, music, songs, and hand-built yammies to experience the mythology of a fictional universe called “Belopia,” complete with its own whimsical folklore, gadgets, and interactive elements.

📍47th Street (between Spruce and Baltimore Ave). It’s located in a private home, so it is not open for standard walk-in type hours, but maybe you’ll get lucky like us!

06/25/2026

I’d live there, too!

What more could you need?!

Credit: Speed Bump by Dave Coverly

05/31/2026

You know what happens when you let a book dictate your roadtrip? You end up 400 feet underground! 🚂

For this literary adventure, the Novel Tourists dove into The Boxcar Librarian by Brianna Labuskes. Montana was too far for a weekend! So we paired the book with a drive out to Pioneer Tunnel Coal Mine & Steam Train here in Pennsylvania - about 2 hours from Philadelphia.

We experienced total underground darkness, tracked down an iron geyser and active smoke vents, fueled up at May’s Drive-In and ended our day at Knoebels Amusement Park.

I absolutely loved The Boxcar Librarian. It’s set during the Great Depression and follows strong women who bring books to isolated miners using a boxcar. Getting to dive into the history of the New Deal’s WPA (Works Progress Administration), and the brutal, dangerous realities that everyday miners faced was fascinating.

The full video is now live! Pop over to The Novel Tourist channel on 🔴YouTube to check it out (link in comments), and don't forget to subscribe for the next chapter!

Life should be as fun as fiction!

05/25/2026

I couldn’t have thought of a better way to spend a rainy day. The Novel Tourist Book Club got a behind the scenes tour of the B&B that is the setting (and inspiration) for JoAnn Dawson’s tell-all about running a bed and breakfast.

05/25/2026

If you’ve ever dreamed of running a B&B, our latest bookish adventure is right up your alley. We read Bed, Breakfast & Beyond by JoAnn Dawson and then she gave us a behind the scenes tour of her B&B where the book is set!

If you weren’t able to join us, you’re in luck. The video is now live. You won’t want to miss reading in the Hobbit house. (Link in comments)

05/21/2026

Today has been declared Ona Judge Day in Philadelphia! She was a woman enslaved by President George Washington. While in Philadelphia, she escaped and he spent years trying to get her back.

For a fantastic nonfiction account of her life story check out Never Caught by Erica Armstrong Dunbar

If you prefer a fictionalized dual time line story, try My Name is Ona Judge. It wasn’t my favorite but I enjoyed the parts about Ona.

To walk the same streets as Ms. Judge, check out my YouTube video from the Bad-Ass Women’s History Tour: Her Name was Ona | Women's History Tour - Philadelphia and Book Recommendations

She called herself Ona. George Washington called her Oney. She ran...

05/19/2026

Happy Little Free Library Week! No matter the generation, we can all agree on two things: books are wonderful… and sharing them is even better.

Sharing books = sharing adventures!

05/18/2026

Happy Little Free Library Week! No matter what generation, we book lovers all agree that books are awesome! And sharing books is even more amazing.

Sharing is caring! 😚