Book Nook Reads: Our Top Book Picks from your favorite Boudoir Photographer and the Belle Marie Team

Last week, we introduced our brand new Book Nook Set, and this week we’re back with some of our team’s favorite book recommendations! When we have a reader in for a boudoir photoshoot, we love hearing about their current reads and all-time favorites. We often end up adding new titles to our own “To Be Read” list thanks to the amazing suggestions our clients share.

So if you love curling up with a good book or popping on your headphones to devour an audiobook, you’ll want to check out this list because we’ve got some great picks to add to your TBR!

The Boudoir Photographer- Olivia's Book Recommendations:

Sarah J. Maas – The Queen of Fantasy

Honestly, just read all of Sarah J. Maas’s books. Start with A Court of Thorns and Roses, then dive into Throne of Glass, and finally sink into Crescent City. Her worlds are rich and layered, her heroines are fierce and flawed, and the character growth will pull at your heart. She weaves trauma, healing, love, and power into epic adventures that stick with you long after the last page. If you love worlds you can completely lose yourself in, this is where to start.

Fourth Wing – The Empyrean Series by Rebecca Yarros

Dragons. Magic. Romance. Need I say more? This series is planned to be five books long, and three are already out. If you want a mix of heart-pounding action, jaw-dropping twists, and just the right amount of smut, this is the ride for you. Think “Hunger Games” meets “How to Train Your Dragon” with a lot more spice.

The Road of Bones – The Ashen Series by Demi Winters

Imagine Throne of Glass colliding with Viking legends, and you’ve got this series. It’s filled with sweeping battles, rich magic, layered characters, and a plot that will keep you turning pages late into the night. There’s a touch of spice, but not too much, making it perfect if you want adventure and intrigue with a dash of romance.

From Blood and Ash by Jennifer L. Armentrout

This one is for fans of morally gray characters, epic battles between gods and mortals, and some very steamy scenes. The female lead is strong and complex, and the male lead? Let’s just say he lives in that delicious gray area we all secretly love. Throw in vampires, gods, betrayal, and swoony romance, and you’ve got a binge-worthy series you won’t want to put down.

The Studio Manager- Tia's Book Recommendations:

Wheel of Time by Robert Jordan

This is my current read, and I’m almost through book five of the fourteen-book epic. The Wheel of Time immerses you into a high fantasy world brimming with magic, prophecy, and the eternal struggle between Light and Dark. The cast of characters is huge, each with complex arcs that twist and turn in unexpected ways. If you crave intricate magic systems, a story with detailed and extensive lore, and a world teetering between destruction and salvation, this is your next binge read.

A Discovery of Witches by Deborah Harkness (Book 1 of the All Souls Series)

Deborah Harkness isn’t just an novelist, she’s a historian who teaches European History and the History of Science at the University of Southern California. Harknness expertly blends fantasy and historical detail in a way that makes the magic feel like it may just be real. You’ll follow Diana Bishop, a reluctant witch who stumbles upon a mysterious and magical manuscript, and Matthew Clairmont, the brooding vampire scholar who upsets her careful life plans in the best way possible. Between Oxford’s libraries, French estates, Elizabethan England, the canals of Venice, and Salem, this is a romantic fantasy that will have you in love with the settings almost as much as the characters.

Pachinko by Min Jin Lee

Few books hit as hard as Pachinko. This multi-generational saga follows Sunja, a Korean woman forced to make impossible choices as her family immigrates to Japan in the early 20th century. It’s a story about resilience, sacrifice, and survival in the face of systemic racism and generational hardship. Min Jin Lee’s writing envelopes you in the history of the Korean diaspora through the fictional lives of richly developed characters in a tale that will stay with you long after the last page.

The MUA- Mackenzie's Book Recommendations:

People We Meet on Vacation by Emily Henry

If you love friends-to-lovers romance with witty banter and heartfelt moments, this one’s for you. Poppy and Alex are complete opposites, but every summer they vacation together, until one trip ruins everything. The story picks up two years later, with Poppy determined to fix their friendship. It’s charming, funny, and emotional, making it the perfect vacation read that will make you laugh, swoon, and maybe even tear up a little.

The Kindred Curse Saga by Penn Cole

This four book Saga has everything, dark magic, dangerous secrets, mythical creatures, and plenty of romantic tension. You’ll be swept into a world of powerful witches, forbidden love, and generational battles between good and evil. It’s perfect for fans who love a blend of fantasy packed with action, witty banter, and enemies-to-lovers romance. You won’t be able to put this one down!

Say You’ll Remember Me by Abby Jimenez

Abby Jimenez delivers another emotional rollercoaster filled with heart, humor, and love. This story explores complex relationships, second chances, and the kind of romance that feels both raw and real. You’ll fall for her

characters as they navigate life’s toughest challenges with vulnerability and wit. The perfect book to devour alongside some of Jimenez’s cupcakes from the local Nadia Cakes in Maple Grove, MN!

We hope you found a few new titles to add to your reading list!

Whether you love epic fantasy, emotional love stories, or novels that tug at your heart, there’s something here for every kind of book lover. At Belle Marie Boudoir, we believe reading, just like boudoir photography, is a powerful way to reconnect with yourself and take a break from the demands of everyday life. A boudoir photoshoot can feel just like stepping into your own story, full of emotion, confidence, and beauty. So grab your favorite book, pour a cup of tea, and if you’re ready to become the heroine in your own chapter, you know your favorite Minnesota boudoir photographer is just a message away!