There is something to be said when a book finds you when you need it too. Emely is so passionate about the work she does and it shows in this book. She tells us a bit of her background and how it was growing up in the Bronx but in that story it tells of how books helped to shape her life and career path. All of which is extremely inspiring and commendable, Book are a gate way for so many things , therapy being a great path to use books to help and heal, Also the narration just made the story come alive.

I can't say enough good things about this beautiful, inspiring, creative and charming novel. I loved the narrator, and listened on a long road trip. The memoir of Emely Rumble's work as a bibliotherapist first opened my eyes that there was such a job people could do! I have used books to teach or heal myself, and I love recommending books as a librarian and as a friend. However, the use of books in therapy, particularly to help minority clients heal their trauma was awe inspiring.

I love how she references books throughout that have had uses for her clients, as I found myself bookmarking these titles to read later. I also learned about other unique therapy techniques such as hip hop therapy. I am so inspired by all that I learned, and honestly think it should be required reading in MLIS programs at universities.

I recommend this book for academic libraries and public libraries.

Bibliotherapy in the Bronx is a non-fiction book about how books and reading can be used in psychology to help patients overcome various obstacles or aid in the healing of trauma. As a librarian, this was music to my ears! The author writes clearly and concisely about the importance of literature (both fiction and non-fiction).

We get an introduction to what bibliotherapy is and how it is used, while the author also discusses key figures who have helped shape book communities (librarians, authors, psychologists, etc.), as well as book titles that have been significant to the author or in her practice. The author also provides reflection exercises along the way, which are great even if you don't necessarily work in the field.

I have learned SO MUCH from this book! What a beautiful work, what an important job Rumble does, and I thank her for sharing her knowledge!

The narration of the audiobook is concise, clear, and a pleasure to listen to.

I loved Bibliotherapy in the Bronx. As readers/listeners we got a chance to learn from all of Emely Rumble's experience as a therapist. Bibliotherapy or any therapy that is not CBTopen does not get enough credit so I greatly appreciate it.

Bibliotherapy in the Bronx allows its readers to learn about how literature and reading can provide insight into one's emotions, feelings, and current and/ or past situations. The main takeaway I got was books are medicine, and specific to each person. I also very much appreciated the book recommendations. Not only am I going to pick them up, but Bibliotherapy in the Bronx is going to be a book I keep coming back to.

Thank You to Emely Rumble, Row House by Spotify Audiobooks and NetGalley for the audio-digital ARC in exchange for an honest review!

In Bibliotherapy in the Bronx, Emely Rumble draws on her years as a therapist to show how stories can heal. Blending real client experiences with practical tips and book recs, this powerful read highlights the transformative role of literature in mental health—especially within underserved communities. Uplifting, insightful, and deeply human.

**A Healing Journey Through Words – 5 Stars!**

Listening to *Bibliotherapy in the Bronx* by Emely Rumble was an experience I didn’t know I needed. From the very first chapter, I felt like I was being gently pulled into someone’s soul—raw, real, and resonant. Emely’s voice, both as a writer and as a narrator, is powerful. There's a quiet strength in her storytelling that made me stop what I was doing more than once just to sit with a sentence or a feeling.

This audiobook isn’t just a memoir—it’s a reflection, a mirror, and, at times, a much-needed hand to hold. The way Emely weaves literature, personal history, and emotional healing together is incredibly moving. It’s not often I come across a story that feels like it’s speaking *to* me, not just *at* me. Her use of books as a tool for healing resonated deeply, especially in how she connected it to her environment in the Bronx—something so personal, yet so universally human.

The narration itself is warm, intimate, and deeply felt. You can tell this story comes from a real place of love, pain, and growth. It made the experience that much more impactful—like sitting across from someone who’s trusting you with their truth.

If you’ve ever found pieces of yourself in a book, or needed literature to help carry your pain, *Bibliotherapy in the Bronx* will feel like home. Emely Rumble has created something truly special, and I’m grateful I got to listen to it. This audiobook is a gem—honest, healing, and unforgettable.

After listening to the advance audiobook copy of Bibliotherapy in the Bronx courtesy of NetGalley and Row House Publishing, I was profoundly moved by Emely Rumble's groundbreaking work. While the narrator did a superb job, I truly heard Rumble's authentic voice throughout-passionate, knowledgeable, and deeply committed to healing through literature.

I had the privilege of watching Em go through the beginning stages of writing, pitching and putting together this project and am immensely proud of the finished product.

This book opens a window into how reading can transform lives, particularly in marginalized communities. As someone who has witnessed friends use fiction and nonfiction to heal from trauma, I now have a much clearer understanding of this process. Rumble's approach is enlightening, showing how stories help us process difficult emotions through fictional characters rather than confronting pain directly.

Rumble's focus on the Bronx, a community often overlooked in mental health discussions stands out. Through real-world examples from her work as a psychotherapist, she demonstrates how literature builds resilience and connections. It also shines through in the practical elements such as exercises, tips, and book recommendations make this an actionable resource rather than just theory. This would be a great text for a companion workbook, allowing readers to further explore their personal connections to literature and develop their own healing practices.

Bibliotherapy in the Bronx is but one example of the power stories have to heal and unite us. For anyone interested in mental health, personal growth, or the magic of books, Rumble's work is essential reading. In a world that rarely slows down for us to take a breath, reading offers us space to turn inward, process our experiences, and find ourselves reflected in those pages.

This is a five star read for me. I encourage anyone to pick this up, especially in audio.

Wesleigh Siobhan does a wonderful job narrating this very important and informative book! She captures the nuances of the author's voice. The narration feels familiar and brings a warmth to the knowledge I was taking in. This book should be a must-read for all educators, counselors and therapists. It empowers people to explore themselves through something they find pleasurable, reading. I plan to do a re-read when I have the physical book. But I love that she incorporated the important impact that Black librarians had on Bibliotherapy and how Sadie Delany was the pioneer bibliotherapist. I have been reading YA books for the past few years as an educator and I often come across books that I think would be perfect for a small group whose purpose was to explore that topic in their own lives. Emely's book put a name to what I was thinking about and I'm so happy that she opened the door with this book.

"When we are reading, we are healing"

This book teaches how reading can help people to make sense of their feelings and their situations, such as fiction for emotional catharsis or to teach empathy, poetry to allow patients to feel emotions without getting trapped in them, and hip hop for empowerment and personal growth. Emely teaches that books are medicine, even fairy tales can be used as a therapeutic tool! The book also shows how books are medicine, but as with any other medication, it must be tailor made to work for each patient.

Absolutely outstanding information, I learned so much! (Did you know the term bibliotherapy was coined in 1916? I sure didn't!) There were also some outstanding book recommendations I can't wait to get into! Not only was the content of the book amazing, the narrator also knocked it out of the park. Listening to this audiobook was like having a friend, or someone you wish was your friend, gentle tell you about their favorite things. Highly recommend for all book lovers! It'll help you feel better about your book buying habits (it's a psychosocial support system, not an overload of books) and teach you ways books can help address all sorts of issues.

This book is honestly one of the most important books releasing this year. Emily put her heart and soul into this book and i can’t wait for the world to read it. This is one i pre-ordered and requested the audible for review purposes. i think people will really get into this audible as she reads it so well. The book itself is informative and at the same time very personal.

It is impossible to understate how much I adored this book.

The narration was excellently done, and the content was exactly what my soul needed. I loved that the author was so open, welcoming, and genuine. You could feel it in the presentation of the materials. To speak about her own barriers to certification felt like an on-ramp to total acceptance for everyone to come as they were, and be met where they were at with compassion.

Before this book, I was unaware of the formal existence of Bibliotherapy as a whole, but as someone who was raised by books, it resonated so much. I would love to see a worksheet with the questions that Rumble asks us to reflect on as we get deeper in to the book. I found myself pausing to reflect and dig deeper than I typically do with books around topics like these, and couldn’t help but feel there is a gateway to a bit of an “Artist’s Way” but for readers style workbook in this content - and I would love nothing more than for that.

This book felt like an educational hug, and support I didn’t know I needed until I was there.

Thank you NetGalley and Row House By Spotify for sending this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own.

As the author of Bibliotherapy in the Bronx, I knew from the very beginning that I wanted the audiobook to carry the emotional weight and tenderness that lives on the page. This book holds stories from therapy rooms, classrooms, libraries, and my own life—and it was essential that the voice bringing it to life could hold those truths with care, nuance, and soul.

Wesleigh Siobhan was the perfect choice. Known and beloved in the world of Black romance narration, this was her first nonfiction project—and she approached it with the kind of sensitivity and depth that this work required. Her voice doesn’t just read the book—it feels it. She tended to each passage, each poem, and each reflection with reverence, allowing the emotional and cultural layers of the Bronx, of Black and Brown healing, and of bibliotherapy to shine through.

As I listened, I found myself moved by her pacing, her ability to sit with silence when needed, and the way she honored both the soft and strong moments. I’m so grateful to her for holding this work so beautifully—and for helping it reach the ears and hearts of those who need it most.

Thank you to the author, publisher and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for this honest review.

It was not until I followed the author on social media, did I even learn with Bibliotherapy was. I was excited to learn more about it through her social media pages but was thrilled when I saw that the author was going to be putting a book out there.

This book was not only informative but entertaining to listen to. The narrator did a great job. I will be recommending this book to other.

A deeply moving book!

As someone who has followed Emely Rumble on social media for years, I am very aware of her expert skills in pairing books with therapy. She has shared so many beautiful stories on how she has had breakthroughs with patients/clients. It is safe to say I am invested in what she is doing.

So Bibliotherapy in the Bronx has such a wonderful impact on me. With sneak peeks at Emely's youth, to the research of Bibliotherapy and the history of Black and Latines relationship with literature, this book was a beautfiiul concotion of a perfect book rec for readers, and a guiding light to readers seeking mental health rep.

A beautiful book that needs to be read by all book lovers!

Listening to ‘Bibliotherapy in the Bronx’ on audiobook was an experience that exceeded all my expectations. The way the subject matter was explored, the structure of the book, and the narration itself all came together in a way that felt both profound and immersive.

Emely Rumble delivers a powerful and deeply insightful examination of how literature can be a transformative force, particularly for marginalised communities. She masterfully blends personal narrative with therapeutic insight, making this not just an informative read but an incredibly personal one as well.

Through real-world case studies, Rumble highlights the unique struggles and triumphs of individuals navigating trauma and emotional complexity. She enriches the narrative with reflective exercises and practical strategies, offering readers tangible ways to engage with bibliotherapy. The inclusion of curated book recommendations adds another layer of depth, making this a resource that extends beyond the pages.

This book serves as a poignant reminder of literature’s ability to heal, empower, and liberate. Rumble seamlessly weaves her own experiences into the text, making it both relatable and deeply moving. As a reader, this offered deep insights into the power of books and reading beyond simply what’s on the page.

Thank you to NetGalley for the advanced copy.