profile

Hi, I’m Gina!

Welcome! I'm the book reviewer behind GinaRaeMitchell.com, where I help readers discover memorable books—especially indie gems, historical fiction, mysteries, middle grade, and uplifting stories that stay with you long after the final page. Every Friday, I send Friday Finds, a warm roundup of new reviews, featured authors, reader resources, seasonal inspiration, and a few bookish surprises. More than 400 readers already receive Friday Finds each week. I'd love for you to join us.

Featured Post

Friday Finds: Hidden Gems, Summer Reads & a New Author Spotlight

📚 Friday Finds is here! This week's edition celebrates discovering books beyond the bestseller lists. Inside you'll find: ✨ Two thoughtful featured reviews 🌟 A new Author Spotlight featuring Kirsten Weiss 📖 Self-Published Author Appreciation Week 📚 Gina's Bookish Find 🍓 A simple summer dessert 💬 A reader question I'd love you to answer Come discover something unexpected. 🔗 Read the full post here! Thank you for spending part of your Friday with me. I hope this week's discoveries inspire your...

banner with yellow calendula flowers announcing Gina's Friday Finds for July 17, 2026

Hey Reader, Some weeks seem to fly by, while others invite us to slow down and savor the little things. With summer heat settling in across much of the country, this felt like the perfect week to share stories that encourage us to pause, pour something refreshing, and spend a little time getting lost in a good book. I'm especially excited because this edition introduces a newly updated recurring feature: Author Spotlight. Each week, I'll highlight an author whose work has left a lasting...

July Friday Finds newsletter banner featuring a soft watercolor yellow calendula on a textured cream background. Green script text reads Gina's Friday Finds with the date July 10, 2026 below. The footer includes the tagline Indie Book Reviews & Literary D

Hi Reader, I hope you've had a wonderful week. Mine included one of those small victories that feels surprisingly satisfying—I finally solved the mysterious Google "pills" that had been appearing all over my website! With that mystery behind me, I was able to focus on something much more enjoyable: putting together this week's Friday Finds. Inside you'll discover an award-winning middle-grade fantasy, a gripping dystopian thriller, my newest Author of the Week feature, a fun summer reading...

Hi Reader,, Have you ever picked up a book that wasn't your usual genre...and ended up loving it? That happened to me again this week. As I looked back over everything I'd been reading, I realized my reviews ranged from science fiction and LitRPG fantasy to cyberpunk, cozy mystery, and even thoughtful nonfiction. It was a wonderful reminder that some of the best books are the ones we never expected to enjoy. That spirit of discovery became the theme for this week's Friday Finds. Inside you'll...

June Friday Finds square graphic featuring a watercolor peony on a textured cream background. Green script text reads Gina's Friday Finds with the date June 26, 2026. The footer includes the tagline Indie Book Reviews & Literary Discoveries and GinaRaeMit

Good morning (afternoon, or evening)! I hope you've had a wonderful week and have something relaxing planned for the weekend. Around here, summer is in full swing, which means longer evenings, family gatherings, and (if we're lucky) plenty of time to curl up with a good book. This week's Friday Finds has a little bit of everything. 📚 Four new reviews take us from investigative suspense and inspiring history to middle-grade fiction and a charming Regency romance. 🌿 I also refreshed one of my...

June Friday Finds newsletter banner featuring a soft watercolor peony on a textured cream background. Green script text reads Gina's Friday Finds with the date June 12, 2026 below. The footer includes the tagline Indie Book Reviews & Literary Discoveries

Hi friends, June seems to be the season of gathering. This weekend our family is celebrating a birthday, a graduation, and Father's Day all at once, which has me thinking about the stories, traditions, and favorite recipes that somehow find their way into every family gathering. That theme found its way into this week's Friday Finds as well. Inside you'll discover four books that took me from Regency England to the fascinating world of seed preservation and the future of our food supply. I...

Hi Reader, This week took me from Victorian England to the Himalayas and finally to an Australian memoir filled with globe-trotting adventures, questionable decisions, and more than a few stories that left me shaking my head and laughing. One of the things I love most about reviewing books is that I never quite know where they'll take me next. I've also been thinking about the little routines that help us slow down. Sometimes it's as simple as a cup of coffee, a favorite chair, a good book,...

Luxury whiskey smoker kit with wooden barrel presentation box, smoking torch, and flavored wood chips for crafting smoked cocktails at home. Featured in Gina's May 29, 2026 Friday Finds

Hi friends, This week's Friday Finds became a little more atmospheric and cozy than I originally planned — and honestly, I think that ended up being exactly the mood I needed. Inside this edition you'll find thoughtful weekend reads, a few meaningful Father's Day finds, an Indie Author of the Week spotlight featuring LS Delorme, and a savory rosemary roasted mixed nuts recipe that felt too perfect not to share.. A few highlights this week: ✨ Atmospheric and emotionally memorable fiction✨...

An outdoor gathering scene with lemonade, flowers, and an open book.

Gina's Friday Finds | May 22, 2026 Hi Reader, As Memorial Day weekend approaches, I’ve been thinking a lot about the moments that quietly bring people together — outdoor dinners that stretch long after sunset, favorite family recipes, stories shared around the table, and the simple comfort of spending time with people we love. This week’s Friday Finds leans into that softer side of the long weekend with thoughtful books, meaningful reflections, cozy outdoor inspiration, and a few simple ideas...

Hi , Reader, This week’s Friday Finds somehow turned into a celebration of Spring, slower afternoons, and all the little things that make life feel softer and more peaceful. Honestly, I didn’t even realize that was the theme while I was putting everything together. Then suddenly there were hammocks, butterfly houses, outdoor cooking tools, calming craft projects, and books that felt perfect for reading with the windows open. I suppose my brain officially decided Winter is over. ——————— One of...