The Purple Couch Bookshop

Fourth Wing meets The Hunger Games in this spicy, page-turning romantasy.
<a href="https://www.eventbrite.com/e/romantasy-book-club-dire-bound-by-sable-sorenson-tickets-1992316468188?aff=oddtdtcreator" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">CLICK HERE TO RESERVE YOUR SEAT</a>
Get ready for&nbsp;Direbound&nbsp;by Sable Sorensen.
This fantasy adventure delivers powerful magic, danger, romance, and high-stakes tension from beginning to end.
Spice Level: Hot Sunday, August 9 1 PM
Join fellow romantasy readers for an afternoon of books, conversation, and community.

Local Event: Romantasy Book Club – Dire Bound by Sable Sorenson

Essex County

North Andover

Massachusetts

Romantasy Book Club – Dire Bound by Sable Sorenson

Fourth Wing meets The Hunger Games in this spicy, page-turning romantasy.
CLICK HERE TO RESERVE YOUR SEAT
Get ready...

A dark and atmospheric sapphic gothic horror novel filled with mystery, obsession, and deadly secrets.
<a href="https://www.eventbrite.com/e/queer-book-club-her-wicked-roots-by-tanya-pell-tickets-1992775845197?aff=oddtdtcreator&amp;keep_tld=true" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">CLICK HERE TO RESEERVE YOUR SEAT</a>
Join us for a haunting and beautifully written queer gothic novel that blends mystery, romance, and botanical horror into an unforgettable reading experience.
When Cordelia Beecher escapes the charity school where she was raised in search of her missing brother, she follows a trail of clues to the quiet town of Farrow. But no one seems to know who he is—or what happened to him. Desperate for answers, Cordelia finds refuge at Edenfield, a sprawling estate owned by the enigmatic Lady Evangeline, a renowned botanist known for sheltering young women in need.
As Cordelia settles into life at the estate and grows closer to Evangeline’s daughter Briar, she begins to uncover unsettling secrets hidden among the gardens and glasshouses. When evidence emerges that her brother may have once lived at Edenfield, Cordelia becomes determined to discover the truth, even if it means confronting the darkness growing beneath the estate’s beautiful surface.
Inspired by Nathaniel Hawthorne’s classic tale Rappaccini’s Daughter, Her Wicked Roots is an atmospheric sapphic gothic filled with poisonous blooms, family secrets, obsession, and questions about the fine line between protection and control. Fans of Mexican Gothic, Midsommar, and eerie slow-burn horror will find plenty to love.
“Darkly enchanting, HER WICKED ROOTS is haunting, propulsive and as hypnotic as the poisonous blooms at the novel’s heart. Truly a bewitching sapphic delight.” – Francesca May, author of Wild and Wicked Things and This Vicious Hunger
Why you should join us
This is more than a book club—it’s a space to connect, reflect, and celebrate queer stories together. Whether you’ve finished the book, just started, or simply want to be part of the conversation, you are welcome. We center community over completion and conversation over perfection. Expect thoughtful discussion, lots of laughs, and a welcoming group that shows up for each other.
All are welcome. No need to be queer to attend—just come ready to listen, share, and be part of something meaningful.

Local Event: Queer Book Club – Her Wicked Roots by Tanya Pell

Queer Book Club – Her Wicked Roots by Tanya Pell

A dark and atmospheric sapphic gothic horror novel filled with mystery, obsession, and deadly secrets.
CLICK HERE TO RESEERVE...

From a hit true crime podcaster turned novelist, a woman’s unsettling past creeps back to her consciousness as she returns to her hometown.
Our August Thriller Book Club Selection is The Season of Sinking by Daphne Woolsoncroft.
<a href="https://www.eventbrite.com/e/thriller-book-club-the-season-of-sinking-by-daphne-woolsoncroft-tickets-1992777586405?aff=oddtdtcreator" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">CLICK HERE TO RESERVE YOUR SEAT</a>
When Imogen Bly’s mother suddenly passes away, she leaves her Seattle apartment and returns to Lake Blair—the picturesque Washington town where she grew up. After Imogen and her twin sister Amelia arrive, ready to pack up their mother’s home, strange things begin to happen, reminding Imogen of her long held feelings of dread surrounding her hometown.
Imogen enlists the help of her first crush, next-door neighbor Rory, to uncover the truth about her mother’s death and the traumatic event she experienced as a child. But is the boy who got away really the man with something to hide? Or is the suspicious neighbor in the house across the lake behind it all?
When Imogen’s own family’s tragedies lead her to question the disappearance of a local young woman the previous year, her persistent unease becomes terrifyingly real and suddenly nowhere feels safe …

Local Event: Thriller Book Club – The Season of Sinking by Daphne Woolsoncroft

Thriller Book Club – The Season of Sinking by...

From a hit true crime podcaster turned novelist, a woman’s unsettling past creeps back to her consciousness as she returns to...

Thriller Book Club – The Season of Sinking by Daphne Woolsoncroft

The Purple Couch Bookshop 350 Winthrop Ave unit 9b North Andover, MA 01845

A “tradwife” influencer suddenly awakens in the brutal reality of 1855— is it an elaborate hoax or something more sinister?
Our Fantasy Book Club selection for August is Yesteryear by Caro Claire Burke.
<a href="https://www.eventbrite.com/e/fantasy-book-club-yesteryear-by-caro-claire-burke-tickets-1995830289121?aff=oddtdtcreator" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">CLICK HERE TO RESERVE YOUR SEAT</a>
“A bold and biting satire,&nbsp;Yesteryear…will have you cackling and gasping right to the final page.” —Nita Prose, #1&nbsp;New York Times&nbsp;bestselling author of&nbsp;The Maid&nbsp;series
My name was Natalie Heller Mills, and I was perfect at being alive.
Natalie lives a traditional lifestyle. Her charming farmhouse is rustic, her husband a handsome cowboy, her six children each more delightful than the last. So what if there are nannies and producers behind the scenes, her kitchen hiding industrial-grade fridges and ovens, her husband the heir to a political dynasty? What Natalie’s followers—all 8 million of them—don’t know won’t hurt them. And The Angry Women? The privileged, Ivy League, coastal elite haters who call her an antifeminist iconoclast? They’re sick with jealousy. Because Natalie isn’t simply living the good life, she’s living the ideal—and just so happens to be building an empire from it.
Until one morning she wakes up in a life that isn’t hers. Her home, her husband, her children—they’re all familiar, but something’s off. Her kitchen is warmed by a sputtering fire rather than electricity, her children are dirty and strange, and her soft-handed husband is suddenly a competent farmer. Just yesterday Natalie was curating photos of homemade jam for her Instagram, and now she’s expected to haul firewood and handwash clothes until her fingers bleed. Has she become the unwitting star of a ruthless reality show? Could it really be time travel? Is she being tested by God? By Satan? When Natalie suffers a brutal injury in the woods, she realizes two things: This is not her beautiful life, and she must escape by any means possible.
A gripping, electrifying novel that is as darkly funny as it is frightening,&nbsp;Yesteryear&nbsp;is a gimlet-eyed look at tradition, fame, faith, and the grand performance of womanhood.

Local Event: Fantasy Book Club – Yesteryear by Caro Claire Burke

Fantasy Book Club – Yesteryear by Caro Claire...

A “tradwife” influencer suddenly awakens in the brutal reality of 1855— is it an elaborate hoax or something more sinister?
Our...

Fantasy Book Club – Yesteryear by Caro Claire Burke

Katherine

Chris Rhatigan 

Boston Metropolitan Area

Andover

Middlesex County

North Reading

Tewksbury

Wilmington

Reading

Lynnfield

Scott Souza

Danvers

Rockingham County

Tony Schinella

Salem

New Hampshire

Peabody

Wakefield

North Reading School of Ballet

North Reading School of Ballet's Summer Dance Intensive is an exciting week-long program designed to help dancers strengthen their technique, expand their artistry, and stay inspired between seasons. Open to all dancers ages 6 to 18 with previous dance experience (current NRSB enrollment is not required) the intensive welcomes students from across the Greater Boston area. Each day begins with focused ballet training and is complemented by a variety of additional dance styles, specialty workshops, and renowned, award-winning guest faculty—providing a well-rounded and enriching experience.&nbsp;

With an emphasis on quality instruction, small class sizes, and individualized attention, dancers build confidence, refine their technique, and develop the discipline and artistry that will serve them throughout the coming year. Whether preparing for fall classes, performances, or simply looking to make the most of the summer, dancers will leave feeling motivated, accomplished, and inspired.

Led by NRSB Director Amanda Bertone, whose teaching career spans more than two decades, this year's Summer Dance Intensive features an outstanding guest faculty of professional educators, including Levi Marsman, Pat "Planet" Opran, Hannah Cyr, Francesca Lage, and Rachel Bertone.

Dancers ages 10 to 18 attend from 9:30 AM to 4:00 PM, while dancers ages 6 to 9 attend from 9:30 AM - 2:00 PM. Classes include Ballet Technique, Pointe &amp; Pre-Pointe, Stretch &amp; Strengthen, Modern, Jazz, Tap, Hip Hop, and Contemporary/Lyrical.

Register today:<a href="https://app.gostudiopro.com/online/classes.php?account_id=29633" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank"> https://app.gostudiopro.com/online/classes.php?account_id=29633</a>

ABOUT NORTH READING SCHOOL OF BALLET: Founded in 1996, <a href="https://www.nrsballet.com/" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">North Reading School of Ballet</a> (NRSB) has provided exceptional ballet-focused training to students throughout the Greater Boston area for nearly 30 years. Now under the direction of Amanda Bertone, NRSB remains committed to excellence in dance education through experienced faculty, small class sizes, hands-on instruction, and a supportive environment where students develop strong technique, confidence, discipline, artistry, and a lifelong love of dance.

Local Event: Summer Dance Intensive

Summer Dance Intensive

North Reading School of Ballet's Summer Dance Intensive is an exciting week-long program designed to help dancers strengthen...

Austin Preparatory School

Join us for the Summer Preview and experience the energy, warmth, and purpose of Austin Prep. Families exploring grades 6 through 12 are invited to tour our 55-acre campus, meet members of our community, and learn how students grow within a school grounded in veritas, unitas, and caritas: truth, unity, and love.
During your visit, you will see the classrooms, labs, studios, athletic spaces, and gathering places where students are known, supported, and challenged. You will also learn more about academics, arts, athletics, service, student life, and the admissions process.
Discover how Austin Prep helps students build confidence, pursue their interests, and prepare to lead with purpose.

Local Event: Austin Prep: Summer Preview

Austin Prep: Summer Preview

Join us for the Summer Preview and experience the energy, warmth, and purpose of Austin Prep. Families exploring grades 6...

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Posting Activity

Romantasy Book Club – Dire Bound by Sable Sorenson

AUG

9

1:00 PM

The Purple Couch Bookshop, 350 Winthrop Ave, North Andover, MA

Queer Book Club – Her Wicked Roots by Tanya Pell

AUG

12

7:00 PM

The Purple Couch Bookshop, 350 Winthrop Ave, North Andover, MA

Thriller Book Club – The Season of Sinking by Daphne Woolsoncroft

AUG

13

7:00 PM

The Purple Couch Bookshop, 350 Winthrop Ave, North Andover, MA

Fantasy Book Club – Yesteryear by Caro Claire Burke

AUG

16

3:00 PM

North Andover, MA

Summer Dance Intensive

Austin Prep: Summer Preview