An amazing work of love and care. For bibliophiles or people who want to know how books heal Bibliotherapy in the Bronx is a gift.

Emily Rumble has given care workers an opportunity to see how literature functions as both revelation and balm.

At a time when books are being banned and literacy rates are declining we needed this reminder that books and words are powerful. Emily shares real world examples and teaches us how to apply Bibliotherapy in our personal and practice.

Def recommend! Thanks to NetGalley for the audiobook arc.

Bibliotherapy in the Bronx was a great audiobook. I enjoyed the writing and the story flowed well. I would read more from this author.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC digital copy. I was not compensated for this review and all opinions are my own.

READ THIS NOW!!! Although I’m only about 30% through the NetGalley audiobook, I have already purchased the hardcover!

I highly recommend the audiobook, and can see the potential in sharing this resource with all educators 😊

5 out of 5 stars and my deepest respect to the author.

Much needed and refreshing. Something new and very special enjoyable. I really found myself enjoying the audio and it wasn’t monotone and boring. I believe this will be a great addition to many lives and their libraries.

So many of us who love books know that they are a way to process the world around us and our lives. This book shows us how books can be used in a therapeutic setting to help clients obtain therapeutic outcomes.
Rumble emphasizes the decolonizing aspects of therapy, advocating for literature by marginalized groups as essential to the healing process. Her approach underscores how stories have been, and continue to be, used as tools of resistance, restoration, and communal healing.
For readers and mental health professionals, Bibliotherapy in the Bronx is a compelling recommendation. It not only showcases the therapeutic potential of literature but also serves as a testament to the enduring power of books to heal, empower, and unite us in our shared humanity
Favorite Quotes: “When we are reading, we are healing. When we are reading, we are witnessing and allowing our feelings to be honored and witnessed too.”
Genre: Nonfiction, Self-Help
Age: Adult
Topics: Decolonizing Therapy, Power of Books, Power of Stories, Mental Health
Read For: NetGalley
Obtained From: Thanks for Netgalley and Row House by Spotify Audiobooks for the Advance Listening Copy
Song Recommendation for the vibe: I Read a Lot by Nick Lowe
Hashtags: #BibliotherapyintheBronx #NetGalley

“Bibliotherapy in The Bronx” by Emely Rumble, LCSW, is an emotional yet uplifting exploration of the healing power of literature for marginalized communities. Drawing on her personal and professional experiences, Rumble expertly combines storytelling with therapeutic perspectives, illustrating how reading serves as a potent tool for self-discovery, emotional transformation, and social change. This is a wonderful read for anyone interested in how a passion for literature can foster community, understanding, and personal growth.

I appreciate Emely Rumble and Row House for allowing me to review this audiobook.

Book Review ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Bibliotherapy in the Bronx by Emely Rumble LCSW

#yerrrrrr you had me at the Bronx! In this book I got to see my home through another lense and understand things and scenarios I might not have had the language for but was able to more fully comprehend a lot of whys and hows around me, others, etc. Don’t let the title fool you although my beloved Bronx is featured in the title, this book is for everyone who is willing to read or listen to a story, or someone who would like to help someone with these means. My husband has a shirt that says Books saved my life, and I’ve asked him before do you really think that’s true I received an emphatic yes, reading this book I was able to see that side of reading through another lense, and even how I’ve used reading to cope, escape and more. Ms. Rumble uses examples from her life, her life as a therapist with school children in the Bronx and through references to other literary works both fiction and nonfiction and showing how Bibliotherapy can be implemented in real life for children, adults, and adverse readers. I’m honored to have received a digital copy of these work from Ms. Rumble and the audiobook via Netgalley to review. And because I’m extra my husband and I both now own our own physical copies and the audiobook via Audible as well.

Bibliotherapy in the Bronx is an interesting read and a great resource for both therapists and patients! Until I read this book, I didn’t realize that there was an official therapeutic method called bibliotherapy. Emely Rumble provides numerous case studies that demonstrate different bibliotherapeutic techniques, along with the specific books she uses as a therapist.

Bibliotherapy in the Bronx is especially geared toward minority populations that have too often lacked access to therapy, or whose experiences have been ignored. But no matter your background, you can find help in this book!

Thanks to Row House by Spotify Audiobooks through NetGalley who allowed me to listen to the audio version of this book. The narrator, Wesleigh Siobhan, is amazing, and my favorite narrator I’ve heard this year!

A book about books by a Hispanic author? Fabulous! Of course, I would read it!

The book is a good read for anyone interested in mental health, personal growth, and healing methods. Great resource for educators, healthcare workers, bookstores and library workers. It was really interesting to know about the author’s profession, how she decided to dedicated her life helping people thru book-therapy. Also interesting, all her recommendations and her clients traumas. I can imagine the research behind the process of pairing and prescribing a book according to their needs.

Imagine a world without drugs, where books cure every sickness.!

As an avid reader and passionate about everything bookish I was expecting to fall in love with this book and the therapy, (which I recognized it’s not new for me. Biblioteraphy is something I have been practicing for years on my own). Unfortunately, not the whole book captivated me. The poetry and rap music chapters were not my cup of tea and I found half of the book too theoretical. Overall, it's not one of my favorites, but I'm sure a lot of people will enjoy it.

This book is a gem. From the cover art to the message, I was pulled in and deeply moved. Bibliotherapy in the Bronx is a powerful reflection on the healing nature of literature—especially in marginalized communities—and how books can be both mirrors and medicine. As a therapist and educator, Emely Rumble blends personal stories, clinical insight, and practical tools in a way that feels both intimate and expansive.

As a fellow educator, I was especially drawn to the sections about bibliotherapy in classrooms. The idea that teachers help give students the language to process through characters and stories? That hit me. This book reminds us that even young readers are already engaging in healing work just by connecting with literature. I loved Rumble’s call to notice what we read and reflect on what it says about us—because it does say something.

Wesleigh Siobhan was a fantastic narrator for this book. Her voice was clear, warm, and just right for the tone of the material. The slight East Coast accent added to the authenticity and grounding of the listening experience.

One of my favorite lines from the conclusion:
“When we are reading, we are healing. When we are reading, we are witnessing and allowing our feelings to be honored and witnessed too.”
Yes. That’s exactly what this book does.

Highly, highly recommend—especially for educators, therapists, bibliophiles, and anyone interested in the intersection of storytelling and mental wellness. This should be required reading in university courses and book clubs alike.

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.