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Book Series That Get Better With Each Volume
Trivia: Which 1977 TV miniseries became a national event and sparked widespread interest in genealogy?
RetireHub
September 24, 2025
Rise and shine, RetireHub community! ☀️ Your Wednesday newsletter is here!
Today we’re sharing fun tips on Book Series That Get Better With Each Volume, along with the best deals, fun trivia, and more!
Top Deals From Around The Web
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What We’re Reading
Get these e-book deals before they’re gone.
 | By: Kylie Kidd I didn’t sign up for the matchmaking festival. My besties did it for me. Now I’m fake dating my BFF’s bro, my opposite—a broody handyman with too many secrets. Zero feelings was the plan… until one kiss changes everything. But his past and his ex could ruin it all. Because fake dating doesn't protect real hearts. A just-kisses sweet romance. |
 | By: Valerie Brandy With her engagement to the Duke finally official, exotic animal trainer turned amateur sleuth Rebecca Orange thought the hardest part would be picking a dress. But in Monrovia, royal engagements mean one thing: an elaborate castle masquerade, packed with foreign dignitaries, curious villagers, and a MURDER. Can Rebecca solve this Halloween mystery? |
Dear Joanne
Your questions, her wisdom — Joanne’s here with thoughtful advice, warm humor, and a listening ear for whatever’s on your mind.
Here we are… the last Wednesday of September. I am a year older and hopefully continue to get a little wiser. Most importantly, I am so thankful for all of my new friends who email and communicate with me through this column. I love reading your emails and I do try to respond to each and every one of you.
This week I will feature an email from Bill, who gave me the idea of going on day trips where the passenger in the car does not know where they are headed! They are only told what to wear. He said he and his partner’s trips generally start at 10:00 a.m. and finish around 5:00 p.m. The driver decides where they are going to visit. The trips mainly consist of local sites such as museums, historical sites, natural beauty sites, wineries, etc. They visit numerous spots within 50 miles of home that they either had never visited or have not visited in years. The trips are fun, inexpensive and support local businesses. Isn’t that a great idea? My husband and I travel a lot, but I always know where we are going. We are committed to trying this for future day or weekend trips. Thanks for the idea, Bill!
I also received an email that tugged as my heartstrings. As we all know, this was a very sad and emotional week for everyone in the United States. No matter what side of the spectrum you support, peace, love and freedom are most likely first and foremost in our way of life. “SL” wrote these kind words to me, and given the temperature in our country this week, I would like to share:
“…I hope your readers will accept your challenge and spread a little kindness and love in this world - and who knows, maybe you will start a movement toward a kinder, gentler world to live in.”
I think “SL” is onto something and phrased this so beautifully. I am definitely focusing on putting my best foot forward and hugging my kids and grandkids just a little tighter every time I see them.
This week’s question comes from “New Empty Nester Mom”:
Dear Joanne - I raised two sons who are now grown and independent, and now are in the process of forming their own families. My problem – how do I take a back seat to the new wife/girlfriend? Signed, New Empty Nester Mom
Dear NENM: I can so relate to your question! I, too, raised three sons and find myself now taking a back seat in their new lives. But, let’s sit and think about it for a minute. Isn’t that why we raised these happy, healthy young men? We want them to have their new family as their focus and attention. Yet, here we are just wanting a text or phone call. Examples of what we can do to initiate communication: (1) Text first! Let them know we are thinking about them and just wanted to say “hi”; (2) Be open and loving to the new wife/girlfriend! Text them or call just to say hello, invite them to lunch when their schedule allows, offer to go shopping, and always ask how her family is; (3)
Consider their time commitments. What I have figured out is that today’s young families don’t have nearly the amount of time we had when we were younger. Between work (typically both husband/wife work these days), gym/exercise time (something I still don’t make time for), running the kids around, shopping, cleaning, laundry, downtime, and time for each other, it leaves very little time for extended visits. Show your pleasure in whatever time you can spend with them, either in person, Facetime, telephone calls or texts. Just know your boys love you.
Thoughts for this week: If my math is correct, as you read this column, Christmas is 92 days away. Send me your tricks about how you keep your shopping list organized, manageable and within your allotted budget. I must admit, I am a failure at all three. We will dedicate a column in the near future so that we can all get our shopping out of the way and enjoy the holidays debt free!
Send your ideas, comments and questions to [email protected]. I would love to hear what YOU would like to talk about in an upcoming column.
Have a great week!
Joanne
Christmas is 92 days away. Are you ready? |
On this day in 1957, federal troops were sent to Little Rock, Arkansas, to enforce school desegregation for the Little Rock Nine. It followed the landmark Brown v. Board of Education decision, and President Eisenhower’s action was a defining moment in the civil rights movement—affirming that the law must protect equal access to public education, even in the face of fierce resistance.
Book Series That Get Better With Each Volume
A good story is like a good friendship—richer with time.
There’s something magical about picking up the second, third, or even tenth book in a series and feeling like you’re reuniting with old friends. Some stories take their time to bloom, and some characters only reveal their full depths once you’ve walked a few miles in their shoes.
In fact, many readers say they prefer series that stretch across several volumes—where the relationships grow deeper, the plotlines twist and turn, and the payoff feels all the more satisfying. It’s not about speed or shock value; it’s about connection, discovery, and the slow-building joy of watching a world expand.
Take Lottie Lemon, for instance, the quirky heroine of the Murder in the Mix series by Addison Moore. She’s a small-town baker who sees dearly departed pets and gets tangled in mystery after mystery—usually with flour on her apron and too many suitors at her door. The early books are fun, but as her relationships deepen and the town’s secrets unravel, the series becomes unexpectedly moving.
Or think of Precious Ramotswe in The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency, whose wisdom and wit only grow more profound with each installment. These are characters who age with you, who make mistakes, forgive, reflect, and carry on.
There’s also Maisie Dobbs, the former WWI nurse turned psychologist and sleuth. The mysteries are satisfying, but it’s Maisie’s emotional journey—her grief, healing, and resilience—that lingers long after you close the book.
Some readers find themselves drawn to family sagas like The Cazalet Chronicles, where you watch a British family evolve over decades, or to the soothing rhythms of The Mitford Years, where daily life in a quiet town offers unexpected wisdom.
What all these series share is the ability to grow in richness and complexity. The more time you spend in their worlds, the more layered they become—just like life.
So if you’re someone who likes your stories with a little extra depth, a little more heart, and a longer arc to fall in love with, these kinds of series might be just what your bookshelf needs.
What draws you into a book series? |
Yesterday’s Poll Results: How would you describe your current data plan situation?
Looks like many of us are finding a good rhythm with our mobile data—43% of you said your current plan is just right for your needs! That’s a win in today’s tech-driven world, where it’s easy to feel either overloaded or left behind. Still, 37% of voters admitted they’re likely overpaying for data they don’t actually use, which is a helpful reminder to give those plan details a quick review.
On the flip side, a small handful (3%) are always running out of data, while 14% shared they aren’t really sure what’s included in their plan. Whether you’re tech-savvy or just along for the Wi-Fi ride, staying informed can help save money and avoid headaches.
If you’re in the “no idea” camp, you’re definitely not alone—and this might be a great time to take a closer look at your monthly statement or ask a trusted friend for help decoding it. After all, your data plan should work for you, not the other way around!
TOP COMMENTS
“We are probably overpaying for more than we use some months, however, there are some months where we might use more than our average usage so we feel it pretty much evens out in the end.”
“I’m on a family plan with my daughter. It suits my needs perfectly.”
“We have unlimited, my wife is always using her phone, even with the TV going and her laptop on her lap.”
Unleash Your Wild Queen: Ageing Isn’t Fading — It’s Flourishing
As the years add up, many women over 60 are discovering something powerful: ageing isn’t about becoming someone else—it’s about peeling back layers to become more of who you truly are. The idea of the Wild Queen is about reclaiming what may have been hidden, silenced, or shaped by others—your voice, your joy, and your unique style rise with authenticity. It’s about beauty, strength, and vulnerability lived fully, not perfectly.
This isn’t a call to conform or perform—it's permission to be bold. Whether that means dyeing your hair a vivid color, shaking up your daily routine, speaking truth without apology, or finally taking up a passion you shelved long ago, “Wild Queen” is about following your own pulse rather than society’s script. Wisdom after decades of living isn’t just comforting—it’s revolutionary.
The journey includes learning to set boundaries that protect your joy, recognizing what drains you, and embracing what nourishes you. It also means treating your body not as something to fix, but as sacred—honouring what it’s done, what it still can do, and holding space for compassion and gratitude. In this season, you’re encouraged to take up space, speak your truth, and wear your life like a crown. There is wildness in authenticity.
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Slang Phrase of the Day
Phrase: Boomerang Compliment
Meaning: A boomerang compliment is a comment that seems like praise directed at someone else, but ultimately circles back to make the speaker look good, wise, or impressive. It’s often unintentional and can sound a little self-serving—like a compliment wrapped in a humblebrag.
In a sentence: “I told my grandkids how proud I was of their science project, and they said they wouldn’t have done it without my stories about working at NASA—guess I’m still inspiring the next generation!”
Good News of the Day
A Precious New Life: UK Welcomes Baby Bonobo, Bringing Hope for a Rare Ape Species
A baby bonobo has been born at Twycross Zoo in Leicestershire, marking the only bonobo birth in the UK and providing a bright symbol of hope for one of the planet’s most endangered great apes. The newborn, carried tenderly by its mother Yuli—who arrived from France in 2023—is part of a European-led conservation effort seeking to preserve the genetic diversity of these beloved apes.
Bonobos share more than 98% of their DNA with humans, live in female-led societies, and are endangered due to habitat loss, poaching, and human encroachment in the wild. Experts say each healthy birth under care programs like this strengthens the future for the species, especially when wild populations continue to decline.
Though the young bonobo and its mother are not yet visible to the public as they bond privately, the event has been called “globally significant” by conservationists. It reminds us how collaboration across zoos, science, and committed individuals can make a real difference in preserving species that are fragile—and irreplaceable.
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RetireHub Trivia
Want more trivia? Play our “Nostalgia Trivia Game” on our site! We add fresh questions daily, so there’s always something new to test your knowledge.
Not into trivia? No worries! We’ve got plenty of other fun games to enjoy, like:
Which 1977 TV miniseries became a national event and sparked widespread interest in genealogy? |
Which country uniquely has three capital cities (executive, legislative, and judicial)? |
Aboard which battleship was Japan’s formal surrender signed to end World War II (Sept. 2, 1945)? |
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