⛄Friday Finds – January 9, 2026
Cozy reads, indie gems, and creative finds for the week
Welcome to the weekly Friday Finds. January is supposed to be deep-winter mode, but as I’m writing this at 9pm, it’s 65 degrees and thunderstorming outside—so clearly the weather didn’t get the memo.
I am, however, venturing north tomorrow for a short visit, where winter apparently is taking things seriously. From what I’ve been told, it’s expected to snow every single day I’m there. So while this week’s finds were gathered in warm, rainy weather, they’ll be enjoyed with one eye on the forecast and a very real appreciation for cozy reads, comforting distractions, and a good excuse to stay inside.
📚 Featured This Week on the Blog
In my jazzy new format, I’m rounding up a few of this week’s featured posts in one easy spot. These were the most-read posts over the past week—if you missed any, now’s a great time to catch up.
| The Illumination: Izol by Mescal
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The Guerrilla Guide by Joseph Gulesserian
Joseph Gulesserian’s The Guerrilla Guide for Entrepreneurs & the Rest of Us offers a grounded, experience-driven approach to business and career strategy. This thoughtful review explores what makes the book stand out in a crowded genre — practical insight without hype or shortcuts. |
| January 2, 2026 Friday Finds
A fresh start to the new year with cozy winter finds, featured book reviews, an indie author spotlight, comforting food inspiration, and a fun giveaway question. Welcome to Friday Finds: Winter Adventures! |
End Man is a thought-provoking, slightly futuristic story centered on Raphael, a man whose life is shaped by dromophobia—an inability to cross streets. Confined to a small section of Los Angeles, he works as an “End Man,” tracking people who fake their deaths in a world where personal data is mined after death. |
Want the full list of recent reviews, spotlights, and giveaways? You can find it right here.
🌟 Indie Author of the Week - January 9, 2026
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Mary Frances Hill Mary Frances Hill consistently delivers emotionally rich, suspenseful stories that dig into human choices and their consequences. Her work doesn’t rush to judgment—and that’s exactly what makes it so compelling. 📚 Featured Book: A Quiet Kind of Wrong Dark, twist-filled, and emotionally charged, A Quiet Kind of Wrong explores guilt, family loyalty, and how far we’ll go to protect the lives we’ve created—even when they’re built on lies. |
✨ Indie Author of the Week highlights an author whose work has been featured on the blog and stood out to me or my readers.
⭐ Gina's Featured Friday Finds
Some of these links are affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. Thank you for supporting my blog!
📖 Bookish FindsPush Pin Travel Maps Customizable Wall Art
For a bookish twist on decor, this push-pin world travel map is perfect for marking the places your stories (or dreams) have taken you — and a lovely backdrop for your reading nook. 🍽️ Foodie FindsSillycow Farms Hot Chocolate Mix Variety Pack
Warm up with the Sillycow Farms Hot Chocolate Mix Variety Pack — four delicious cocoa flavors in re-usable glass bottles. Each 16.9 oz bottle contains about 23 servings, so you’ll have plenty of creamy hot chocolate to sip while you cozy up with your books. |
🏡 Cozy & Home Finds
This versatile knitted throw blanket is perfect for draping over your couch, sofa, or bed. Whether you want to add warmth to your living room or a touch of style to your bedroom, this blanket makes a statement in any space. Comes in many colors. 🧶 Crafts & Creative FindsBradove Beginner Embroidery Set
Bradove is all about slow living and self-care. This beginner embroidery set is perfect for relaxing creative downtime, and includes everything you need to kickstart your stitching journey — premium fabric, threads, needles, scissors, a threader, seam ripper, and hoop. |
🎉 Friday Finds Giveaway Question
This week's question:
❓Do you vary your hobbies and crafts by season❓
💬 Reply in the comments to enter!
🗓️ Entries close February 1, 2026 at noon CST.
💡 Friday Finds Tip of the Week
One Photo, One Line: Take a photo of something that made you smile today and write one sentence about it.
I’ll share mine in the comments.
💙 Closing Notes
Thanks for stopping by Friday Finds! I hope you found something cozy, bookish, or creative to take into the weekend. Don’t forget to answer the giveaway question in the comments—I love reading your replies.
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It's funny you mentioned this, Gina. It feels like just a minute ago, artists and crafters were creating items for Christmas in October. I wasn't ready for that yet. I was still trying to enjoy the small fall season we had. That season and spring seem to go fast. Summer and winter months linger longer.
I love it when I can get in the mood for the different seasons, but, that hasn't stopped me from making things in the off seasons. Same with books. I enjoy reading story settings in opposite seasons.
So, you might say, I can be all over the place, ha!
Yes, I'd say I vary my hobbies by season because gardening is for spring/summer and then I like to do Valentine's Day crafts and Christmas crafts.
A Quiet Kind Of Wrong sounds so good, I just saved it. Thanks for sharing these picks!
I do. Gardening in Spring and Summer. Other hobbies in Fall and Winter.
I like your new website design, Gina. The individual postings stand out from each other and are easy to read.
For contest no I don't vary my hobbies by season but that's always subject to change