Dear Reader,
Cozy season is officially upon us! We’ve demolished the turkey and all the fixins that come with it, we’ve shopped all the Black Friday sales and added a thing or two to our wishlists. It’s time to start decking the halls, sitting by a cozy fire, and breaking out the yarn and knitting needles to work on that scarf you’re making as a holiday gift.
As November winds down, explore the streets of Harlem with us in Kwana Jackson’s Real Men Knit. The first book in this absolutely sweet, cozy series, was the perfect romantic-comedy to carry us over the Thanksgiving craziness. I mean . . . the story features four brothers who know their way around crafts and knitting needles– what’s more to love?
This dual-perspective rom-com follows Kerry Fuller, the shy neighborhood girl who spent most of her childhood exploring the aisles at Strong Knits, a craft store in her Harlem neighborhood. When Mama Joy, the owner, passes away unexpectedly, Kerry begins to miss the mentor who nurtured her passions. She begins to feel a sense of obligation towards the store and takes it upon herself to reignite the legacy and importance of having a shop like Strong Knits in their neighborhood.
Kerry Fuller - Wool by Commodity
notes: childhood crushes, warm lavender, and feeling like home
try it before you buy it: sample
Like our leading lady, this scent is subtly sweet as it is warm and cozy. Strong and resilient, the amber and bourbon vanilla base notes blend wonderfully against the skin, reminding us of a freshly knitted sweater. With subtle notes of grapefruit, lavender, and mandarin, this fragrance will carry you throughout the day and well into the evening. Organize your late mentor’s shop and lean on your childhood crush for comfort, he just might surprise you.
Enter Jesse Strong, a handsome playboy who hasn’t managed to find his way (career-wise). His brothers are successful and have moved on from the days when their mom had them sort yarn in the back of the store. When he feels compelled to cling to his mother’s shop, Kerry is the only one who jumps to his aid. But Kerry-girl isn’t the shy quiet shop hand that he knew growing up, she’s found her own way in life–and she’s there to remind him that she knows her way around the store better than anyone.
Jesse Strong - ECHELON (for men) by Kennedy New York
notes: spicy anise, musk, and smooth playboys with hearts of gold.
try it before you buy it: sample
Your childhood crush is all grown up and breaking hearts all over the city. Like an early morning hug when the grief becomes unbearable, this musky aroma will flow in and out of your nose like a fresh cup of coffee. There’s a twist of orange zest spritzed throughout the fragrance before settling into balmy leather and mahogany notes. Wear this scent with your favorite holiday sweater and take the leap, keep the legacy of your family alive, and maybe–just maybe you’ll win the shop girl’s heart.
As Kerry lends a teaching hand to Jesse, beginning with Strong Knits 101, Kerry starts to feel her childhood crush on Jesse surfacing again, and she can’t fight the spark so she leans into the feelings, knowing that a physical relationship is all she’s going to get out of the arrangement. Jesse just isn’t the commitment type - except now maybe he is? He’s committing to the shop. To his family’s name. And to himself.
And of course, the author delivers a classic forced proximity storyline that we just can’t get enough of. It lands our main characters living under one roof, and you know that leads to them sharing a bed just above the shop when the grand re-opening looms on the horizon.
Strong Knits - Sweet Taboo by Chris Collins
notes: cinnamon rolls, freshly wound yarn, and fresh coffee
try it before you buy it: sample
Like coming in from the cold on a snowy day and into a warm home, this scent opens with cinnamon, cardamom, and clary sage, hinting at the gooey, hot cinnamon rolls waiting in the kitchen for the knitting circle to arrive. Then you catch a swirl of freshly brewed coffee and cacao, to keep the caffeinated chatter bouncing off the walls of the shop. And finally, this fragrance gets to the base notes of Tonka, vanilla, and musk. Smelling like warm hugs, wise advice, and plenty of gossip with the best of friends.
This story is the perfect cozy, slow-burn romance, with such a beautiful family and community story stitched right in. This is the kind of series you know you’ll come back to again and again (we have a soft spot for brothers–leave us be!)
So grab a copy at your local library or indie bookstore and settle in with a warm cinnamon roll, a lap full of your latest knitting WIP, and enjoy the fuzzy feels featured in Real Men Knit (and its sequel Knot Again).
Until next time, find us on Instagram & TikTok.
Scent-cerely,
Cassie & Taylor