Board Service
Plot Thickens Platter
Crackers, cheese cubes, pepperoni & salami, berries and a chocolate treat
Pairs well with: Pinot Noir
$23 (8"x6")

Olive-r Twist
Greek olive medley, roasted pepper hummus, pita chips, mozzarella pearls, honey roasted peanuts
and a brownie with whipped cream
Pairs well with: Rose
$23 (8"x6")

Sweet Endings
Brownie bites, Reeses cup, caramel chews, proscuitto, chocolate covered pretzels, fruit and nutella spread,
chocolate truffle
Pairs well with: Tutto Mio or Red blend
$23 (8"x6")
What You'll Find Here
Curated Books
From Best Selling fiction and romance to thrillers, fantasy, literary fiction and hidden gems we can't stop recommending
Wine, Coffee & Dirty Sodas
A thoughtfully curated drink menu designed for slow afternoons, girls' nights book clubs and lingering a little longer
Book Clubs & Events
Check out our community gatherings, themed nights and other ways to connect to literary lovers
Reading Lifestyle Inspo
Not local? No Problem. Plug into our blog for content designed to feel like the love we share in store.
Discussion Guides & Printables
Thoughtful book club discussion guides, themed pairings, and reading resources meant for book lovers everywhere.
A Place to Slow Down or Have Fun
Whether you're in or visiting Midland or following along online, we hope Paper & Vine feels like a cozy corner you'll want to return to again and again.
Get Plugged In To Our Events!
Click the link below to stay in the know on fun events happening in store!
Blog posts
Stay plugged in to our blog for fun DIY project ideas, book lists, challenges, reviews, and more!
The Monthly Business Dashboard We Use to Grow Our Bookstore (And How You Can Build One for Your Business)
The Monthly Business Dashboard We Use to Grow Our Bookstore (And How You Can Build One for Your Business) Every month, before we start planning the next one, our family sits down with a single dashboard. It isn’t flashy. It isn’t complicated. It’s simply a page filled with numbers, progress bars, goals, notes, and reminders. And honestly, it’s become one of the most valuable tools we have. When people ask how Paper & Vine is doing, they usually expect us to talk about sales. Sales matter. But after opening our bookstore, we realized something pretty quickly: One number can never tell the whole story. A month with record sales might also include higher labor costs. A slower month might be the one where our email list grows the fastest. Pinterest might double while event attendance drops. One department can struggle while another quietly reaches a milestone. Businesses are living, changing things. Trying to judge them by one metric is like trying to judge a book after reading only one chapter. That’s why we built our monthly dashboard. Not to create more work. To help us make better decisions. Our Goal Isn’t a Perfect Month If you look closely at our dashboard, you’ll notice something. Not every progress bar is full. Not every goal was reached. Some sections are ahead. Some are behind. We leave them exactly that way. Because our goal isn’t perfection. It’s progress. Every month we ask ourselves one question: “Is Paper & Vine healthier than it was last month?” That’s it. If the answer is yes, even by a little, we’re moving in the right direction. Why We Track More Than Revenue Revenue is important. But it doesn’t tell us: Are we buying inventory wisely? Are customers coming back? Are we building an online community? Are we consistently creating content? Are we spending our time on the right things? Are we preparing for the future instead of reacting to it? Those questions require different numbers. And together, those numbers tell a much richer story than revenue ever could. The Five Categories We Review Every Month When we designed our dashboard, we didn’t start by asking, “What numbers should we track?” Instead, we asked: “What kind of business are we trying to build?” The answer shaped everything. 1. Store Health This section tells us whether the bookstore itself is operating well. We review things like: Book sales Bar sales Labor percentage of sales Inventory spending Merchandise budgets These metrics help us stay disciplined and ensure P&L stays in the black. Growing sales doesn’t mean much if expenses grow even faster. 2. Growth Beyond Our Store One of our biggest goals is making Paper & Vine more than just a local bookstore. We want someone across the country to discover one of our blog posts. Download a printable. Join our newsletter. Order a book through Bookshop. Listen through Libro.fm. That’s why we also measure things like: Pinterest impressions Website traffic Email subscribers Social media growth Online partnerships These aren’t vanity metrics to us. They’re signs that our community is growing. 3. The Work That Creates Future Results This section might be the most important one on the page. Because it focuses on the things we actually control. How many blog posts did we publish? How many Pinterest pins did we create? How many emails did we send? Did we launch new products? Did we create discussion guides? Those activities don’t always produce immediate results. But they’re planting seeds. Every blog post becomes another door people can walk through. Every Pinterest pin has the potential to bring readers months from now. Every email strengthens a relationship with someone who already believes in what we’re building. Results usually lag behind consistent effort. That’s why we measure the effort too. 4. Reflection One of our favorite sections doesn’t contain numbers at all. Every month we write down: What worked. What didn’t. What surprised us. What we’ll change next month. Sometimes one sentence written in June saves us from making the same mistake in October. Improvement starts with paying attention. News isn't always good, but not knowing leads to red months, no direction and no clear path to success. Financial and growth success for us really means we get to serve more people, get more books in more hands and ensure everyone feels like we are in their community. 5. Looking Ahead Finally, we make notes about the future. Large inventory orders. Upcoming events. Marketing campaigns. Seasonal products. Ideas that aren’t ready yet. Planning ahead gives us margin. Instead of constantly putting out fires, we can spend more time building something intentional. A Small Peek Inside Our June Dashboard We don’t share every financial detail publicly, but here are a few milestones we celebrated this month. Pinterest impressions passed 30,000. Our email community grew to over 2,100 subscribers. Instagram grew past 4,100 followers. We published seven blog posts. We created 100 fresh Pinterest pins. Some goals were met. Some weren’t. That’s okay. The unfinished progress bars are just as valuable because they show us exactly where to focus next, and how big to set next months targets to gain meaningful growth in areas we care about. Build Your Own Dashboard If there’s one idea, we’d encourage every business owner to borrow, it’s this: Don’t copy someone else’s metrics. Build your own. A photographer probably doesn’t need to track inventory spending. A bakery may never care about Pinterest impressions. A blogger isn’t measuring bar sales. Your dashboard should reflect the business you’re trying to build. Start by asking yourself: What are the five most important areas of my business? What numbers actually help me make better decisions? Which metrics show future growth, not just today’s results? What work should I celebrate even before it pays off? If I reviewed this dashboard every month for five years, would it help me build a healthier business? Those answers become your scorecard. Not because someone on the internet said you should track them. Because they’re the numbers that matter to your mission. Small Improvements Compound One extra blog post. A few more email subscribers. Better inventory decisions. One additional five-star review. A stronger profit margin. None of those feel life-changing on their own. But month after month, they begin stacking on top of each other. That’s how we’re trying to build Paper & Vine. Not by chasing perfect months. By making hundreds of thoughtful, intentional improvements over time. And every month, this dashboard reminds us exactly where to make the next one. Download Our Blank Monthly Dashboard If you’d like to create your own version, we’ve included a blank copy of the dashboard we use each month. Whether you own a bookstore, boutique, coffee shop, blog, Etsy shop, or you’re just beginning your entrepreneurial journey, we hope it helps you focus on the numbers that matter most to your business. Downloadable Canva Link Here Because the best dashboard isn’t the one with the prettiest charts. It’s the one that helps you build a business you love.
Learn more25 Books That Feel Like the Fourth of July
25 Books That Feel Like the Fourth of July Beach Days, Small Towns, Fireworks & Summer Romance There’s something magical about the Fourth of July. It’s porch swings and popsicles. Lake days and beach towels. Backyard barbecues. Fireworks reflected on the water. Staying outside until it’s almost too dark to read one more chapter. Whether you’re headed to the beach, relaxing by the pool, or spending the holiday weekend curled up in a hammock, these books capture the carefree, nostalgic feeling of an American summer. P.S. Don’t forget to grab our free Red, White & Booked printable cocktail recipe while you’re here. This post contains affiliate links, which means I may earn a commission if you purchase through them (at no extra cost to you!) Beach Romances 1. It Happened One Summer by Tessa Bailey The ultimate Fourth of July read. Pacific Northwest beach town, sunshine, boats, flirty banter, and one of romance’s favorite grumpy fishermen. Perfect if you love: Schitt’s Creek vibes, coastal towns, and spicy romance. 2. Hook, Line, and Sinker by Tessa Bailey More Westport. More boats. More summer nights. 3. Every Summer After by Carley Fortune Nostalgic lake summers, first love, and coming home. 4. This Summer Will Be Different by Carley Fortune Prince Edward Island, lobster rolls, beaches, and forbidden romance. 5. Beach Read by Emily Henry Books, banter, and an unforgettable lakeside summer. 6. Happy Place by Emily Henry Friends reunite at their annual Maine vacation house one last time. Lake & Cabin Escapes 7. The Simple Wild by K.A. Tucker Adventure, wilderness, and unforgettable scenery. 8. Same Time Next Summer by Annabel Monaghan Returning to your childhood beach house—and your first love. 9. Nora Goes Off Script by Annabel Monaghan A cozy, heartwarming romance that feels like a slow summer evening. 10. Swan Song by Elin Hilderbrand Luxury, beaches, family drama, and Nantucket summer. Small Town Summer 11. Beg, Borrow, or Steal by Sarah Adams Sweet romance with all the small-town charm. 12. Practice Makes Perfect by Sarah Adams Sunshine, community, and adorable chemistry. 13. The Cheat Sheet by Sarah Adams Friends-to-lovers with cozy summer energy. 14. The Summer of Broken Rules by K.L. Walther Family vacation, games, fireworks, and romance. 15. The Paradise Problem by Christina Lauren Vacation romance with tropical summer vibes. Books That Feel Like Americana 16. The Correspondent by Virginia Evans Letters, nostalgia, and timeless charm. 17. The Berry Pickers by Amanda Peters Beautiful literary fiction with family and summer landscapes. 18. Tom Lake by Ann Patchett Cherry orchards, family stories, and warm evenings. 19. Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt Coastal charm with heart. 20. The God of the Woods by Liz Moore A literary mystery set at a summer camp. Cozy Summer Reads 21. The Love of My Afterlife by Kirsty Greenwood Funny, quirky, and impossible not to smile through. 22. Funny Story by Emily Henry Roommates, fresh starts, and Michigan summers. 23. The Rom-Commers by Katherine Center Feel-good romance that belongs in your beach bag. 24. One Italian Summer by Rebecca Serle Escape, sunshine, and self-discovery (I know its has Italian in the name... just go with me here on the self discovery piece)! 25. People We Meet on Vacation by Emily Henry Road trips, friendship, and endless summer memories. Build the Ultimate Fourth of July Reading Weekend📚 Want to romanticize your holiday weekend? Here’s everything you need for the perfect bookish Fourth of July. 📚 Browse our Fourth of July book collection featuring all 25 patriotic, beachy, and nostalgic reads from this list. 👗 Shop our It Happened One Summer-inspired outfit with all the Amazon pieces linked so you can recreate the look for your own beach day, backyard BBQ, or fireworks night. 🍷 Mix up our signature Red, White & Booked cocktail—a light, sparkling rosé drink made for readers. 📝 Download the free printable recipe card so you’ll always have the recipe ready for book club, girls’ night, or next year’s celebration. ☀️ Then grab your favorite chair, head outside, and spend the afternoon getting lost in a great story. Because the best Fourth of July weekends always include good books, good drinks, and a little extra magic.
Learn moreRed, White & Booked: The Perfect Fourth of July Reading Drink (+ Free Printable Recipe Card)
Red, White & Booked: The Perfect Fourth of July Reading Drink (+ Free Printable Recipe Card) There are few things better than a long holiday weekend with a great book, something bubbly to sip, and nowhere you have to be. Whether you’re spending the Fourth by the pool, at the lake, waiting for fireworks, or curled up on the porch after everyone else has gone to bed, we wanted to create a drink made for readers. Meet Paper & Vine’s Red, White & Booked: a light, refreshing sparkling rosé cocktail that’s just as pretty as it is easy to make. Even better? We’ve created a free printable recipe card you can download so you can keep it in your recipe binder, gift it to a fellow book lover, or use it for your own Fourth of July celebration. This post contains affiliate links, which means I may earn a commission if you purchase through them (at no extra cost to you!) Red, White & Booked Recipe Ingredients 2 oz cranberry juice ½ oz fresh lemon juice ½ oz simple syrup 3 oz sparkling Brut Rosé Fresh blueberries & raspberries for garnish Directions Fill a coupe glass with ice while you prepare the drink (optional if serving chilled). In a shaker, combine the cranberry juice, lemon juice, simple syrup, and ice. Shake well. Strain into a chilled coupe glass. Top with sparkling Brut Rosé. Garnish with fresh blueberries and raspberries. Cheers to another chapter. Download the Free Printable Recipe Card Want to keep this recipe for future book clubs, girls’ nights, or next year’s Fourth of July celebration? Download your free printable recipe card here The Coupe Glasses We Used These vintage-inspired coupe glasses instantly made this drink feel extra festive. They’re perfect for summer entertaining, book club nights, and holiday gatherings all year long. Shop the coupe glasses here → AMAZON AFFILIATE (Supports Paper & Vine Blog) Pair It With a Great Summer Read Need something to read while you sip? A few books we’d reach for with a Red, White & Booked in hand: Beach Read by Emily Henry Every Summer After by Carley Fortune It Happened One Summer by Tessa Bailey Happy Place by Emily Henry Or browse our favorite books that capture all the patriotic, nostalgic summer vibes. “Books That Feel Like the Fourth of July” blog Hosting a Fourth of July Book Club? This recipe is perfect for: Book club gatherings Backyard BBQs Pool days Fireworks parties Summer girls’ nights Reading on the porch after sunset Print a recipe card for the table, set out a bowl of berries, and all necessary measuring cups, mixers and drinks, then let everyone build their own drink! More Bookish Summer Ideas If you’re romanticizing your reading life this summer, you might also love: Paper & Vine Summer Reading Challenge Books Perfect for Summer Reading Our favorite book club discussion guides Free printable reading resources Happy Reading! ❤️🤍💙 From all of us at Paper & Vine, we hope your holiday weekend is filled with good books, great conversations, and a little something bubbly. If you make a Red, White & Booked, tag us!! We’d love to see your version!
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