Vroman’s & the Altadena Historical Society Present: Michele Zack, in conversation with Michelle Huneven, discussing & signing Altadena: Between Wilderness & City
2026-02-16 19:00 (America/Los_Angeles) | Vroman’s Bookstore, 695 E. Colorado Blvd., Pasadena, CA, 91101, United States
90th Anniversary Special Commemorative Edition
The Altadena Historical Society commissioned noted journalist, historian, and Altadena resident Michele Zack to write the history of Altadena over 20 years ago. This hardcover edition features historical photographs and illustrations, many of which were reproduced for the first time in the original printing. The Altadena Historical Society is reissuing the book in celebration of its 90th anniversary with a hardcover that includes enhanced photographs and a mention of the Eaton Fire. The book received an Award of Excellence from the American Association for State and Local History in 2010. It earned high praise from scholars.

Vroman's Bookstore: Celebrate Valentine’s Day with Vroman’s: Omid Scobie & Robin Benway, discuss & sign Royal Spin
2026-02-14 15:00 | Vroman’s Bookstore, 695 E. Colorado Blvd., Pasadena, CA, 91101, United States
She can handle the press…but can she handle the Palace?
With the British monarchy reeling from a wave of scandals, young American politico Lauren Morgan is plucked from the White House press office to breathe new life into the Buckingham Palace communications team and improve the royal family’s streak of bad headlines. But the Palace is an institution steeped in tradition and strict protocol, and Lauren quickly discovers that change is far from easy, or welcome, especially when you’re dealing with culture clashes, displeased royal aides, and a risky new love interest—or two.
Just as Lauren finds her footing at work—and with a charming royal reporter who may be more than just a press contact—an unexpected encounter from her past threatens the career she’s worked so hard to build. And when scandal looms over the dashing duke who Lauren has developed a special bond with, she finds herself torn between duty, loyalty, success, and happiness.
From London’s high society clubs to the sacred corridors and rarely seen spaces of Buckingham Palace, Royal Spin is a fun, humorous, and heartfelt novel that reminds us of the importance of chasing your dreams, and that the most rewarding journeys are often the messiest.

Vroman's Bookstore: Jacob Soboroff discusses & signs Firestorm: The Great Los Angeles Fires and America's New Age of Disaster
2026-02-12 19:00 | Vroman’s Bookstore
A “gripping, unshakeable firsthand account” (San Francisco Chronicle) of the firestorm that consumed Los Angeles, from the MS NOW reporter and New York Times bestselling author of Separated, who covered the fires on the ground as an LA native.
“Read[s] like a sci-fi thriller.” –Los Angeles Times
On the morning of January 7, 2025, a message pinged the phone of Jacob Soboroff, a national reporter for MS NOW. “Big Palisades fire. We are evacuating,” his brother texted within minutes of the blaze engulfing the hillside behind the home where he and his pregnant wife were living. “Really bad.” An attached photo showed a huge black plume rising from behind the house, an umbrella of smoke towering over everything they owned. Jacob rushed to the office of the bureau chief.
“I should go. I grew up in the Palisades.”
Soon he was on the front line of the blaze–his first live report of what would turn out to be weeks covering unimaginable destruction, from both the Palisades Fire and the Eaton Fire, in Altadena. In the days to come, Soboroff appeared across the networks of NBC News as Los Angeles was ablaze, met with displaced residents and workers, and pressed Governor Gavin Newsom in an interview on Meet the Press. But no story Soboroff has covered at home or abroad–the trauma of family separation at the border, the displacement of the war in Ukraine, the collapse of order in Haiti–could have prepared him for reporting live as the hallmarks of his childhood were engulfed in flames around him while his hometown burned to the ground.
But for Soboroff, questions remained after the fires were controlled: what had he just witnessed? How could it have happened? Is it inevitable that something will happen again? This set Soboroff off on months of reporting–with firefighters, fire victims, political leaders, academics, earth scientists, wildlife biologists, meteorologists, and more–that made him keenly aware of how the misfortune of seeing his past carbonize was also a form of time travel into the dystopian world his children will inhabit. This is because the 2025 LA fires were not an isolated tragedy, but rather they are a harbinger–“the fire of the future,” in the words of one senior emergency management official.
Firestorm is the story of the costliest wildfire in American history, the people it affected, and the deeply personal connection to one journalist covering it. It is a love letter to Los Angeles, a yearning to understand the fires, and why America’s new age of disaster we are living through portends that–without a reckoning of how Los Angeles burned–there is more yet, and worse, to come.

Vroman's Bookstore: TICKETED - SenLinYu discusses Alchemised
2026-02-11 19:00 | Vroman’s Bookstore, 695 E. Colorado Blvd., Pasadena, CA, 91101, United States
#1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • In this riveting dark fantasy debut, a woman with missing memories fights to survive a war-torn world of necromancy and alchemy—and the man tasked with unearthing the deepest secrets of her past.
A SHE READS BEST BOOK OF THE YEAR
“What is it you think you’re protecting in that brain of yours? The war is over. Holdfast is dead. The Eternal Flame extinguished. There’s no one left for you to save.”
Once a promising alchemist, Helena Marino is now a prisoner—of war and of her own mind. Her Resistance friends and allies have been brutally murdered, her abilities suppressed, and the world she knew destroyed.
In the aftermath of a long war, Paladia’s new ruling class of corrupt guild families and depraved necromancers, whose vile undead creatures helped bring about their victory, holds Helena captive.
According to Resistance records, she was a healer of little importance within their ranks. But Helena has inexplicable memory loss of the months leading up to her capture, making her enemies wonder: Is she truly as insignificant as she appears, or are her lost memories hiding some vital piece of the Resistance’s final gambit?
To uncover the memories buried deep within her mind, Helena is sent to the High Reeve, one of the most powerful and ruthless necromancers in this new world. Trapped on his crumbling estate, Helena’s fight—to protect her lost history and to preserve the last remaining shreds of her former self—is just beginning. For her prison and captor have secrets of their own . . . secrets Helena must unearth, whatever the cost.

Vroman's Bookstore: Valentine's Day Storytime with Mr. Steve and Miss Marie!
2026-02-11 11:00 - 11:45 | Vroman’s Bookstore, 695 E. Colorado Blvd., Pasadena, CA, 91101, United States
Join Mr. Steve and Ms. Marie on February 11th at 11 am for a special Valentine’ s-themed storytime. We will be doing Valentine’s crafts and celebrating all types of love with some fun reads and lovely songs!

Vroman's Bookstore: Christine Platt discusses & signs Less Is Liberation: Finding Freedom from a Life of Overwhelm
2026-02-10 19:00 | Vroman’s Bookstore, 695 E. Colorado Blvd., Pasadena, CA, 91101, United States
From lifestyle trailblazer and author of The Afrominimalist’s Guide To Living with Less, a practical guide to move beyond decluttering your space and, instead, declutter your life.
Less Is Liberation welcomes those who are tired and weary to embark upon a journey of self-discovery. This is an invitation to understand the interconnectedness of overwhelm and our overall well-being.
For years, the constant pursuit of success silently wreaked havoc on Christine Platt’s happiness and health. While taking a personal pause, Christine discovered how her limiting beliefs about selfishness led to self-abandonment and a life of overwhelm. So, she decided to use the same intentional living strategy that helped her reduce overconsumption: choose less.
With the perfect balance of wit and wisdom, Christine shares the necessities to come into alignment with Self and offers a roadmap for anyone ready to do the same. Less Is Liberation is more than a self-help guide; it is a call-to-action to tap into our most underutilized superpower: being intentional with our choices.

We do not have to have so many things–we can choose less.
We do not have to have so many obligations–we can choose less.
We do not have to have so many priorities–we can choose less.
We do not have to have so many relationships that feel transactional–we can choose less.

We must simply learn how to be intentional about honoring ourselves.
Less Is Liberation is an invitation to pause and begin the beautiful work of choosing ourselves over the profit and pleasure of others. It invites us to let go of behaviors that hinder our growth. It is time to embrace less as a gateway to find freedom from our lives of overwhelm, and a pathway to the life we want and deserve. Because we are not here for a life of doing. We are here for a life of being.

Vroman's Bookstore: Maurene Goo, discusses & signs One & Only
2026-02-09 19:00 | Vroman’s Bookstore, 695 E. Colorado Blvd., Pasadena, CA, 91101, United States
In Five Years meets a millennial The Joy Luck Club in the adult debut from the author of YA Reese Pick Throwback– a funny and fresh love story of a woman thrown a curveball by fate, and the family secret that will make her question everything.
She knows what her happily ever after looks like. And it’s not him.
Cassia Park believes in soul mates. Fated love stories. It’s her family business, after all–for centuries, from Korea to Los Angeles, Park women have peered into clients’ past lives to find their one true love, their fated. This magical secret is why One & Only Matchmaking has a 100% guarantee…for everyone but Cassia.
For ten years, Cass has been searching for her fated, a man named Daniel Nam. But he’s still nowhere to be found.
And so, on the eve of her 40th birthday, Cass decides to do something for herself. She impulsively has a fling with Ellis. He’s twenty-eight, indecently handsome, and not destined to be the love of her life. But she’s surprised by their connection and their fling feels like something more–up to the moment he introduces her to his boss… Daniel Nam.
As she battles between fate and chance, head and heart, a family secret is revealed that will make her question everything she’s ever known. Cassia will have to decide if she’ll follow her fate…or make her own.

Vroman's Bookstore: Petra Lord, discusses & signs Queen of Faces: Deluxe Edition
2026-02-07 16:00 | Vroman’s Bookstore, 695 E. Colorado Blvd., Pasadena, CA, 91101, United States
This limited deluxe edition is printed with one-of-a-kind etched, gold foil edges, stunning foil on the case, and a striking printed endpaper map!
“The ruthless, remarkable world you’ve been waiting for.” –Chloe Gong, #1 New York Times-bestselling author of These Violent Delights
“A twisty, dark academia fantasy . . . I was hooked from the very first page.” — Marie Lu, #1 New York Times-bestselling author of Skyhunter
This dark academia fantasy follows a desperate girl at a cutthroat magical academy who faces a choice between life and death: become an assassin for the enchanted elite or watch her decaying body draw its last breath. For fans of Leigh Bardugo, Brandon Sanderson, Lev Grossman, and R.F. Kuang.
Anabelle Gage is trapped in a male body, and it’s rotting from the inside out. But Ana can’t afford to escape it, even as the wealthiest in Caimor buy and discard expensive designer bodies without a thought. When she fails to gain admittance to the prestigious Paragon Academy–and access to the healthy new forms the school provides its students–her final hope implodes. Now without options, Ana must use her illusion magic to try to steal a healthy chassis–before her own kills her.
But Ana is caught by none other than the headmaster of Paragon Academy, who poses a brutal ultimatum: face execution for her crime or become a mercenary at his command. Revolt brews in Caimor’s smog-choked underworld, and the wealthy and powerful will stop at nothing to take down the rebels and the infamous dark witch at their helm, the Black Wraith.
With no choice but to accept, Ana will steal, fight, and kill her way to salvation. But her survival depends on a dangerous band of renegades: an impulsive assassin, a brooding bombmaker, and an alluring exile who might just spell her ruin. As Ana is drawn into a tangled web of secrets, the line between villain and hero shatters–and Ana must decide which side is worth dying for.

Vroman's Bookstore: Jasmin ‘Iolani Hakes, discusses & signs The Pohaku
2026-02-06 19:00 | Vroman’s Bookstore, 695 E. Colorado Blvd., Pasadena, CA, 91101, United States
From the award-winning author of Hula, a dazzling saga that moves from Hawaii to California and back, about the generations of women tasked with protecting the history and place that made them.
A young woman lies in a hospital bed in a coma, watched over by her estranged grandmother. Some say she jumped off the cliff; others say she was swept away by a wave. But her tutu at her bedside suspects something else is wrong, that the reason for the hardship and heartbreak in their family history is tied to a story that she’s never told–one about a powerful stone, the pohaku, that her family was tasked with protecting generations ago. In fits and starts, the grandmother begins . . .
We travel back in time to the eighteenth century, when the explorer James Cook becomes the first European to visit the Hawaiian Islands. Cook arrives in pursuit of an ancient prophecy, a key that would unlock the mysteries of the world, but he is killed before he can learn about the mysterious stone–a stone born alongside future Hawaiian royalty, the key to something even more powerful than Cook could have imagined.
So begins a thrilling family saga of the women charged with protecting the pohaku, as it is taken from Hawai’i to California and possibly beyond, bringing fortune to the well-intentioned and misfortune to the bad. But with each successive generation, the fractures caused by its displacement widen until it becomes clear that the pohaku’s story must survive if there is to be any hope at all of the family’s–and a nation’s–reconciliation with their home, with nature, and with each other.
Reminiscent of Yaa Gyasi’s Homegoing, Min Jin Lee’s Pachinko, and Tommy Orange’s There, There, The Pohaku is an immersive and bold novel about the history, perseverance, and resilience of the Hawaiian people.

Vroman's Bookstore: David A. Romero, discusses & Signs His Debut Novel The Enemy Sleeps
2026-02-05 19:00 | Vroman’s Bookstore, 695 E. Colorado Blvd., Pasadena, CA, 91101, United States
Spoken word artist and publisher David A. Romero releases his debut novel, The Enemy Sleeps, a supernatural thriller. Readings followed by Q&A with a Special Guest.
Who killed Eliza Vazquez? As a Mexican-American family moves from Boyle Heights, Los Angeles, into the sleepy suburban town of Harper, they are met with suspicion. Who is the so-called “Harper Murderer” Is it Michael Martinez, a construction supervisor with a quick temper and an anti-immigrant bias, Robert Parsons, a known racist with a number of secrets kept from his family and community, or Kenton Weaver, a disgraced former teacher who is haunted by the ghost of one of his former students? Grievances both new and old emerge as members of the Martinez family, the Parsons family, and Weaver become tangled in a disastrous chain of events before a shocking conclusion.
Original cover art by Art Carrillo. Advance reviews from Bram Stoker Award-winning author Pedro Iniguez, Mary Higgins Clark Award-winning author Naomi Hirahara, American Book Award-winning author Tim Z. Hernandez, American Book Award-winning author Lorna Dee Cervantes, Sergio Troncoso Award-winning author Marisol Cortez, Louis Meriwether Award-winning author Claudia D. Hernández-Warwas, McAllen, TX Poet Laureate Edward Vidaurre, and Pomona, CA Poet Laureate Natalie Sierra.

Vroman's Bookstore: Robert Kalman, discusses & signs What’s It Like for You to Be an American?
2026-02-04 19:00 | Vroman’s Bookstore, 695 E. Colorado Blvd., Pasadena, CA, 91101, United States
Portraits of 76 representative Americans who offer their handwritten thoughts and feelings about being American.
With a live demonstration of how these American portraits were created.

Vroman's Bookstore: Usborne Day Storytime with Ms. Marie & Mr. Steve!
2026-02-04 11:00 - 11:45 | Vroman’s Bookstore, 695 E. Colorado Blvd., Pasadena, CA, 91101, United States
Join Vroman’s Mr. Steve and Ms. Marie on February 4th at 11 am for a special storytime, inspired by Usborne Publishing and their That’s Not My... novelty book series. We will have coloring and activity sheets, along with some fun reads!

Vroman's Bookstore: Christina Hammonds Reed discusses & signs The Johnson Four
2026-02-03 19:00 | Vroman’s Bookstore, 695 E. Colorado Blvd., Pasadena, CA, 91101, United States
A 1960s teen pop group determined to conquer the music world must contend with the cost of fame–and a ghost with a grisly past–in this riveting family story from the New York Times bestselling author of The Black Kids.
Odysseus Johnson dreams of musical stardom for his three sons: Roman, the rebel, more interested in being a teenager than a performer; Rocco, arguably the most talented of the bunch but different in a way the world doesn’t understand; and dutiful River, the youngest, who dreams of fame just like his dad.
Driving back from another failed audition in Detroit, the Johnson boys encounter the ghost of Christmas Jones the Third, an effervescent, if lonely, little Black boy who carries the scars of his horrific past as an orphan and minstrel sensation. Desperate for family, Christmas begs the Johnsons to bring him home with them. When Odysseus refuses, Christmas stows away in the family Cadillac.
Despite their initial horror, Christmas becomes a part of the Johnson family. With the promise of opportunities in California, Odysseus moves the family out west, and the boys’ talent starts getting noticed. But just as the brothers are finally on the cusp of fame, Christmas commits a violent act that wreaks havoc on the Johnsons’ lives, and the family is torn asunder in the aftermath. Roman flees the country. Rocco is institutionalized. River’s solo star rises. Christmas disappears.
Spanning decades, roving from the rapacious music industry and the ravages of Vietnam to the dark corridors of a mental institution and the very planes of the afterlife, The Johnson Four is epic in scope. And at its beating heart is the unforgettable story of a family trying to find their way back to one another.

Vroman's Bookstore: Gian Sardar discusses & signs Land of Dreams
2026-02-01 19:00, 2026-02-01 16:00 | Vroman’s Bookstore, 695 E. Colorado Blvd., Pasadena, CA, 91101, United States
In the 1930s, scandal, secret loves, and murder shatter a woman’s Hollywood dream in a gripping novel by the USA Today bestselling author of When the World Goes Quiet.
It’s 1933, and though the country is stuck in the Great Depression, movies are the ultimate escape. But Hollywood is skilled at selling lies, and nothing is as it seems.
Frankie Donnelly is scrappy, smart, and ambitious. Her knack for spinning any story into stellar publicity has made her an invaluable “fixer” at RCO Studios, where she works under the tutelage of powerful Nico Marconi. Frankie’s latest fix is the upcoming marriage of Hollywood royals Jack Sawyer and June Finney, and millions of fans can’t wait to see their favorite silver-screen lovers tie the knot. But Frankie knows the truth: The marriage is an artful cover for Jack and June’s darkest secrets.
When a shocking murder occurs, allegiances fracture, the tabloids go wild, and a devastated public is left reeling. Frankie uncovers new layers of scandal and deception and is forced to choose which Hollywood player to protect and who to destroy. Now, more than ever, the country needs a happy ending–but at what cost?

Vroman's Bookstore: Rebekah Faubion discusses & signs Lost Girls of Hollow Lake
2026-01-31 16:00 | Vroman’s Bookstore, 695 E. Colorado Blvd., Pasadena, CA, 91101, United States
After a group of teens visits a dangerous island where three are left behind, the surviving girls realize they must return to confront the sinister force hunting them. This dark YA thriller is perfect for fans of Yellowjackets.
Eight were lost. Five were found. None will ever be free.
For Evie Williams, life is about to get a lot more complicated. Haunted by the events of a school trip to Hollow Lake National Park that went disastrously wrong, Evie and her friends returned changed, their lives forever marked by the mysterious Island they encountered–and the three girls they left behind.
Now, someone is picking off those who were involved, one by one. Their families, friends, and even online investigators are all caught in a deadly game. The stakes are raised when Evie receives a chilling message: to save her loved ones, she must return to the Island.
As Evie and the other “Lost Girls” navigate the treacherous terrain of the Island once more, they must confront the secrets they’ve buried, the horrors they witnessed, and the person–or thing–that’s hunting them. But some secrets refuse to stay hidden, and the Island demands a price for freedom.

Vroman's Bookstore: Kaira Rouda discusses & signs We Were Never Friends
2026-01-29 19:00 | Vroman’s Bookstore, 695 E. Colorado Blvd., Pasadena, CA, 91101, United States
Sisters? Forever. Friends? NEVER. Who knew a reunion weekend could be so deadly?
Meet the sorority sisters of Theta Gamma Mu:

Roxy Callahan Gentry, the ruthless former sorority president and current hostess who has painstakingly choreographed every detail of this weekend–even matching the cocktails to her couture–to prove that she remains their undisputed queen
Amelia Dell, the widow drenched in old money and alcohol, with her big pot-stirring spoon and uninvited boy-toy in tow
Jamie Vale, the double-legacy pledge, straight-A student with no sparkle, now a top cardiologist with a picture-perfect family–and a well-guarded bad habit
Beth Harrison, the scholarship student who never quite fit in and was only admitted because her best friend Sunny insisted that the two were a package deal
Sunny Spencer, the carefree and beloved friend to all, or so it seemed–until she wasn’t

They’ve been summoned to Roxy’s luxurious Palm Springs vacation home to celebrate the engagement of her son to Beth’s daughter. But the refurbished 1920s estate is eerily reminiscent of the hotel where tragedy struck during Spring Break twenty-five years ago. Long-simmering tensions and shocking secrets begin bubbling to the surface like bodies–because while the weekend was supposed to be about celebrating the future, it’s not so easy to bury the past…
For fans of Shari Lapena, Mary Kubica, and B. A. Paris, We Were Never Friends is an unputdownable, riveting train wreck full of dark humor and bad behavior.

Vroman's Bookstore: Shari Dunbar Boyer discusses & signs The Book of Modern Ceremony: Practices to Mark Life’s Big and Small Moments
2026-01-27 19:00 | Vroman’s Bookstore
For those seeking connection and meaning in their everyday lives, an easy-to-follow, beautiful, and inspiring manual on performing ceremonies for all occasions and milestones, from life transitions and family gatherings to holidays and seasonal changes.
For as long as humans have existed, we have performed ceremonies to mark occasions and personal transitions to create meaning and connect with the world, ourselves, and each other. Though ceremony is still a cornerstone of many cultures around the globe, modern rituals are largely confined to just three events: birth, marriage, and death. Without our ancestors’ sense of frequent and intentional ceremony, we have lost the power to bring meaning to our everyday lives. The Book of Modern Ceremony is here to change that.
Written by sociologist and ceremonialist Shari Dunbar Boyer, this book shares more than 30 ceremonies that can be easily incorporated into contemporary life. There are rituals for life transitions, calendar changes, and personal growth. Some celebrate familiar events, like the Untraditional Birthday or Vow Renewal ceremonies, but others mark important milestones that we often neglect, such as moving to a new home or entering menopause. And of course, there are seasonal rituals for every solstice, equinox, and moon cycle.
Presented in easy-to-follow step-by-step instructions, The Book of Modern Ceremony encourages readers to leave behind the daily stressors of life and connect more deeply with themselves, their loved ones, and their own spirituality.

Vroman's Bookstore: John Sayles discusses & signs Crucible
2026-01-26 19:00 | Vroman’s Bookstore, 695 E. Colorado Blvd., Pasadena, CA, 91101, United States
Already the gateway for illegal Canadian liquor during Prohibition, the Motor City becomes a crucible for American class conflict during the Great Depression, with an army of laid off Ford workers drifting into the ranks of the burgeoning union movement — Henry Ford’s worst nightmare. To keep the hundreds of thousands still employed by him in thrall, the man who was formerly ‘America’s favorite tycoon’ recruits black laborers migrating from the deep South to serve as ‘strike insurance’, and gives Harry Bennett, pugnacious as he is diminutive, free reign over the legion of barroom brawlers and ex-cons who make up the company’s ‘Security Department’.
The Model T mogul has also bought a sizable chunk of Brazil’s Amazonian rainforest, vowing to grow his own rubber for tires, but stubbornly refusing to include a botanist in his troop of would-be jungle tamers. As a series of biological plagues descend on the Fordlandia plantation, the racial melting pot he has created in Detroit begins to boil over, and not even the Sage of Dearborn can control the forces that have been unleashed.
The novel’s cast — Ford workers black and white and their families, young radicals, cynical newsmen, gangsters, Brazilian rubber tappers, cameos from boxer Joe Louis and muralist Diego Rivera — create the tapestry of differing points of view that John Sayles has become famous for, the events portrayed fundamental to the country we live in today.

Vroman's Bookstore: Lisa Yee & Dan Santat discuss & sign A Sea Monster Conundrum (the Misfits)
2026-01-26 14:00 | Vroman’s Bookstore, 695 E. Colorado Blvd., Pasadena, CA, 91101, United States
NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLING SERIES – When there are suspicious sightings around the bay (ghosts?! a sea monster?!)–who’re you gonna call? An elite team of crime-fighting underdogs, that’s who! The Misfits are on the case in the hilarious series from Newbery Honoree Lisa Yee and Caldecott Medalist Dan Santat!
“For any kid who’s felt like a misfit, this crackling adventure packs a wallop!” –Lincoln Peirce, creator of Big Nate
Oof! When reports of ghosts arise around an abandoned lighthouse, Olive and her elite team of underdogs are immediately thrust into a brand new case. After all, ghosts don’t exist . . . right?
Real or not, the ghosts draw quite a crowd at Olive’s beloved Reforming Arts School, or RASCH ( not “rash”). Turns out everyone wants a glimpse of the ghosts, including . . . the nearby marine life?!
Between RASCH’s ghosts and newfound tourism, rumors soon spiral out of control about a sea monster in the bay–snagging unwanted attention from a corrupt mogul. What is going on at RASCH? Does the mythical creature really exist, and can the Misfits save it from being captured? The team will have to dive deep to get to the bottom of San Francisco’s most legendary mystery. . . .
For other Misfit adventures, don’t miss The Misfits #1: A Royal Conundrum and The Misfits #2: A Copycat Conundrum!

Vroman's Bookstore: Paula Price reads from & signs Happiness is for Everyone
2026-01-26 11:00 | Vroman’s Bookstore, 695 E. Colorado Blvd., Pasadena, CA, 91101, United States
Paula Price reads from & signs Happiness is for Everyone

A purchase of the book from Vroman’s is greatly appreciated and makes events like this possible.
Teach kids they have the power to choose happiness.
Inspired by the adult non-fiction book, The Quest for Happiness.To Be Happy, or Not to Be Happy. The Choice is Yours., this playful book helps kids ages 3 to 8 discover that happiness is a choice everyone deserves. Through the fun and uplifting poem, children will learn simple ways to create happiness-by being kind, grateful, and finding joy in everyday moments. A heartwarming journey that empowers kids to shine from within!

Vroman's Bookstore: Local Author Day Introducing Eddie Dovigi & C.A. River
2026-01-25 16:00 | Vroman’s Bookstore, 695 E. Colorado Blvd., Pasadena, CA, 91101, United States
Eddie Dovigi presents Scrubber
Scrubber is a cyberpunk, neo-noir about a young woman, Elly, who is a freelance “scrubber” –a hacker that receives anonymous commissions to illegally delete watermarks on AI-generated media. When her smartdevice pings with a gig that seems too good to be true, she quickly realizes she may be in over her head.
The book takes place in the alleyways of an urban metropolis, Demos, that hums with neon pink, green, and blue at night. Elly connects with a few characters throughout her mission, including Lance, leader of the werewolf sect, “misanthropic lycanthropes”. Also, the immaculately dressed, Dan Dan, who is like a living and breathing porcelain doll. But Elly isn’t taking any chances or pulling any punches, she is sure to leave a trail of recordings in her wake in case the long arm of the law, or worse, the eyes that seem to lurk in the shadows, threaten to put a stop to her at any moment. In the end, these recordings may be Elly’s only hope.
C.A. River presents Sea of Waking Dreams
It is 2001 when Karina Layne decides it’s the right time for gastric bypass surgery. Losing over one hundred pounds seems like an impossible dream, but she and her husband, Ryan, are ready to have children. Determined to confront the childhood trauma that contributed to her unhealthy relationship with food, Karina returns to her memories to seek healing and begins undergoing a magnificent metamorphosis of mind and body. Karina and Ryan’s bond is strong and promises a long life of passion and happiness. However, as Karina navigates her new identity, they face unexpected challenges that rock the foundation of their marriage. When Karina and Ryan’s cousin unexpectedly develops a spark a year after her surgery, she finds herself torn between her loyalty to Ryan and her growing feelings for Blake. As she is forced to question her beliefs about love and commitment, she faces an agonizing choice. Will she stay committed to her marriage or take a chance on a different kind of love? And will tragedy derail Karina’s progress toward transformation? In this captivating voyage through love, healing, and self-discovery, a woman’s journey to weight loss leads her to decide what she truly wants-and who she wants to become.

Vroman's Bookstore: Jan 25 Local Author Day Introducing Peggy Hongduc Nguyen
2026-01-25 11:00 | Vroman’s Bookstore, 695 E. Colorado Blvd., Pasadena, CA, 91101, United States
Peggy Hongduc Nguyen presents Zodiac Animals for Movers
Through movement-based concepts and dynamic illustrations, Zodiac Animals for Movers is a children’s book inviting readers to embody the gifts of each zodiac friend. Interact with Nguyễn-Griffin’s reimagining of the Vietnamese and Chinese Lunar calendar by celebrating the creative expression of twelve animals and our collective power to move as one.

Vroman's Bookstore: Lost x Found: Keepsakes Reimagined
2026-01-23 08:00 - 17:00 | Vroman’s Bookstore, 695 E. Colorado Blvd., Pasadena, CA, 91101, United States
Join Vroman’s Bookstore for an exhibit where special family keepsakes lost to the Los Angeles fires are reimagined by local designers and artists, celebrating memory, creativity, and community healing.
Lost x Found: Keepsakes Reimagined is an exhibit of Project Keepsake, which began in the aftermath of the devastating Los Angeles fires when loss felt overwhelming, and the path to recovery was uncertain. It grew from a simple act of care into a year-long creative collaboration between local artists and families who lost cherished keepsakes in the fires. The project is led by local design leader Alvin Oei, founder of CMD+Y, a creative nonprofit that uses imagination to explore social and environmental issues while supporting local communities through art. Through illustration and storytelling, artists and designers participating in Lost x Found worked closely with families to reimagine beloved objects such as toys, mementos, and symbols of comfort that were lost to the flames. What emerged was more than artwork. It became a way to honor emotional memory, restore a sense of connection, and acknowledge a part of disaster recovery that often goes unseen.
This exhibition brings those keepsakes to life digitally, displayed in handcrafted fixtures that transform the space into an intimate gallery of resilience and remembrance. Families, neighbors, and the wider community are invited to gather, reflect, and celebrate the culmination of a year of volunteer-driven creativity. The event will also feature speakers sharing the journey of Lost x Found, from its beginnings with Design for Disaster Response LA, to a workshop with ArtCenter College of Design Designmatters, to the co‑creative relationships that shaped each illustration. Entirely grassroots and built through collective generosity, Lost x Found stands as a testament to what can grow when art, empathy, and community come together.
For more information and / or to participate in the project, please contact Project Keepsake on their website.

Vroman's Bookstore: Taleen Voskuni discusses & signs Our Ex’s Wedding
2026-01-22 19:00 | Vroman’s Bookstore
Two people who can’t stand each other must come together to plan their mutual ex’s wedding in this new romantic comedy by Taleen Voskuni, author of Lavash at First Sight.
Ani Avakian was supposed to be the Bay Area’s premier Armenian wedding planner by now. But after a huge blow to her business, she’s determined to redeem herself by taking on the biggest job of her career: a wedding for an indie movie star. The wedding is set at a stunning Armenian-owned winery, and Ani is eager to connect with the owner, who she’ll be working closely with. But then she actually meets him. Sure, Raffi is ridiculously hot and charming, but he’s also insufferably smug. Though the real gut punch comes when Ani meets the happy couple–because the actress’s fiancée is none other than the woman who shattered her heart two years ago: her ex-girlfriend, Kami.

Vroman's Bookstore: Dr. Maya Ackerman discusses & signs Creative Machines: Ai, Art & Us
2026-01-21 19:00 | Vroman’s Bookstore, 695 E. Colorado Blvd., Pasadena, CA, 91101, United States
A bold and thought-provoking journey into AI’s power to transform human creativity
In Creative Machines: AI, Art & Us, world-renowned AI researcher and generative AI pioneer, Maya Ackerman, takes you on a thrilling journey into the rise of creative AI, from its earliest pioneers to the cutting-edge tools shaping music, art, and human imagination today.
Ackerman cuts through the hype, revealing the true capabilities and limitations of generative AI while championing its potential to amplify human creativity rather than replace it. Drawing on psychology, philosophy, and her own cutting-edge research, she reveals how generative AI exposes both the brilliance and the blind spots of human society–our ingenuity, our biases, our assumptions about intelligence and identity.
The book contains:

The hidden history and explosive growth of AI-generated creativity
Explorations of the true capabilities and limitations of creative AI
A visionary framework for using AI as a tool to enhance, rather than hinder, human creativity
A bold new perspective on AI ethics and why fixing AI is not enough

Perfect for entrepreneurs, tech leaders, developers, ethicists, and creative professionals, Creative Machines offers deep insights, compelling stories, and a visionary perspective on AI’s impact on human society. An essential read for anyone doing their best to navigate the rapidly evolving landscape of generative AI.

Vroman's Bookstore: Chanel Miller discusses & signs The Moon Without Stars
2026-01-18 15:00 | Vroman’s Bookstore, 695 E. Colorado Blvd., Pasadena, CA, 91101, United States
What’s the deal with middle school, anyway? Newbery Honor-winning author and artist Chanel Miller explores the glorious mess that is middle school–and the way growing up, finding friends, and discovering who you are can be both awkward and empowering.
At the beginning of seventh grade, Luna knows who she is: an observant, quiet girl who loves writing and making zines with her best friend, Scott. But when one of their zines takes off, somehow Luna is swept up into the popular group and learns just how much of herself she’s going to have to compromise to stay there. Will she give up her writing? Her best friend? What about her own beliefs about who she is and what she stands for?
In a contemporary novel that feels like today’s Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret, Newbery Honor winner and bestselling author Chanel Miller explores what it means to lose and then find yourself again in the middle of middle school.

Vroman's Bookstore: Paula Lafferty discusses & signs The Once and Future Queen: Deluxe Limited Edition (The Lives of Guinevere)
2026-01-17 15:00 | Vroman’s Bookstore, 695 E. Colorado Blvd., Pasadena, CA, 91101, United States
Paula Lafferty, in conversation with Dahlia De La Vega, discusses & signs The Once and Future Queen: Deluxe Limited Edition (The Lives of Guinevere)

A purchase of the book from Vroman’s is greatly appreciated and makes events like this possible.
Outlander-meets-The Princess Bride plus Camelot in a fresh, big-hearted, feminist, timeslip adventure reimagining the epic saga of King Arthur, as told from the perspective of his spunky and surprising queen, Vera – complete with time travel and good running shoes!
***DELUXE LIMITED EDITION HARDCOVER with stenciled edges, a beautiful foil-stamped hardcover, exclusive interior design with full-color illustrated endpapers*** Only while supplies last.
Vera always knew she didn’t fit in. When she learns that she is meant to be in another time, she leaps at the chance to embrace a new life in a world of valor, intrigue, and unexpected magic in this bold and romantic retelling of Arthurian legend . . .
22-year-old Vera is at a crossroads: waiting tables, grieving her previous relationship, and jogging aimlessly each morning as if toward an uncertain future. Then an odd man shows up at her workplace, insisting that she was once the legendary Queen Guinevere of Camelot, and that her lost memories hold the key to changing both the past and the present. Somehow, it all feels like the direction she’s been looking for. But when she asks the mysterious man to tell her more about Lancelot, Arthur, and a faithless queen, he can only say that much of what she’s heard about Camelot is wrong. The truth, he claims, is something she must see for herself.
After jumping through a portal in Glastonbury’s historic center, Vera is not prepared for what she finds. Magic is everywhere, but a curse on the kingdom means it dwindles every day. She has no idea how to perform a queen’s duties. Her fast friendship with Lancelot sets gossip flowing, and the stranger she must call “husband” often refuses to meet her eye. Arthur is a puzzle: cold, forbidding, and, while angry to her face, keeps leaving secret tokens of tenderness in her chambers. Worst of all, Vera’s memories–and the answers locked within them–show no signs of returning. If Vera is truly destined to save Camelot, she’ll have to trust her instincts. And her king will have to trust her . . .

Vroman's Bookstore: Denise Nicholas discusses & signs Finding Home: A Memoir
2026-01-13 19:00 | Vroman’s Bookstore, 695 E. Colorado Blvd., Pasadena, CA, 91101, United States
“This stirring memoir proves what readers of Nicholas’s debut novel, Freshwater Road, already know: that Nicholas, a pioneer Black actress, is also a writer of deep talent and understated eloquence. This is not your typical Hollywood tell-all, full of ‘I did this, and I did that, ‘ complete with cheap shots and horrible reveals about the rich and famous with whom she worked. Rather, it’s a long thoughtful moment, in which an artist peers into the looking glass and reflects on her life in a manner that allows us to see every corner of every room she’s ever been in–and every corner of every room we’ve ever been in. Because her story is ours. Nicholas is a distinct American voice. Her inspiring story, written with deep humility and refreshing honesty, is further proof that women will one day save this country. And I’m a witness.” –James McBride, National Book Award winner
A poignant, revelatory memoir from acclaimed novelist and actor Denise Nicholas that offers an episodic exploration of her multifaceted life, delving intimately into themes of artistic self-invention, race, and grief.
Long before writing her acclaimed novel Freshwater Road, or her career as a path-breaking TV and film star, Denise Nicholas was a middle-class Black girl growing up in 1950s Detroit, struggling to decipher her family’s profound secrets. She loved Detroit’s vibrant culture despite the harsh realities of its racial segregation, which deeply influenced her perspective on identity. In her early twenties, she dropped out of the University of Michigan to tour the Deep South with the Free Southern Theater at the height of the Civil Rights Movement, a path that ultimately ignited her lifelong commitment to social justice and activism. A few short years later she would launch from stage work to meteoric national fame as a series lead on the groundbreaking ABC-TV show Room 222, a role that earned her three consecutive Golden Globe nominations.
With eloquence, vulnerability, and resolve, Nicholas mines her six-decade journey through TV and film stardom, the complexities of her three marriages, and her reconstituting her creative life to become a celebrated novelist, reflecting on the personal, professional, and societal pressures that buffeted her throughout. Constructed of episodic reflections from both personal and professional high points and low points of her life, Nicholas navigates the intersections of love and identity, exploring how her experiences in Hollywood shaped her understanding of success, intimacy, and commitment. Her narrative is rich with anecdotes from her career in Hollywood, as an actor and, later, a successful screenwriter for television and eventually a novelist, providing a backdrop to the struggles and achievements that marked her path. She outspokenly discusses the challenges she faced as a trailblazing actress of color, shedding light on the systemic barriers and biases within the entertainment industry.
But at the deepest level, this memoir is a heartfelt exploration of grief, as Nicholas recounts the profound losses–including the unsolved, targeted slaying of her sister, the telling of which occupies the center of her story–that have shaped her. Her reflections on mourning and resilience paint a vivid, moving portrait of how to journey through healing to new dimensions of self-discovery. Through her powerful, stylish, and evocative storytelling, Nicholas not only chronicles her own remarkable life but also provides a resonant narrative of what it means to live, work, and succeed as a Black woman in America over the past half-century.

Vroman's Bookstore: Kadir Nelson discusses & signs Basket Ball: The Story of the All-American Game (American Sports Histories #2)
2026-01-11 16:00 | Vroman’s Bookstore, 695 E. Colorado Blvd., Pasadena, CA, 91101, United States
Award-winning creator Kadir Nelson delivers the perfect gift for basketball fans of any age–a beautifully illustrated history of the game and its key players over the years–in this companion to his bestselling We Are the Ship: The Story of Negro League Baseball.
Basketball has evolved by leaps and bounds since its origin over 125 years ago, but what remains is the passion of the players, the heat of competition, and supreme strategy and athleticism on the court. In this visual tour de force, celebrated artist Kadir Nelson weds his love for the game with showstopping paintings that bring its heart-pounding history to life.
The sage voice of an elder player narrates the journey from the early days of the slow game of “basket ball” to today’s dazzlingly athletic and fast-paced sport. Engaging profiles of revolutionary players–including Wilt Chamberlain, Magic Johnson, Michael Jordan, LeBron James, and Stephen Curry–are featured, along with notable quotes from major figures of the game. With each breathtaking page turn, fans young and old will learn the gripping story of the all-American game and meet its iconic, indomitable heroes.
