FAST FIVE Take a look through the books with Anna-Rose Carleton

Meet Anna-Rose Carleton, your friendly, neighborhood book nerd and lover of all things fantasy, science fiction and romance, often dubbed (self-proclaimed, of course!) "The Dork Lord."

Anna-Rose is a born-and-raised Coeur d' Alene native, a Coeur d'Alene High School alumna who went on to become the valedictorian for her graduating class at Rochat School of Business, an international business-oriented college, all while working a full-time job at the Well~Read Moose Bookstore. When not at work, you can find Anna-Rose with her nose in a book, enjoying Doma coffee with friends or running, hiking, baking and cooking while listening to audiobooks.

1) How long have you been at the Well-Read Moose and what interested you in working in a local bookstore?  

I have been working at the Well~Read Moose Bookstore for eight years and I absolutely love my job and being able to share the books I love with my community. I have been a customer of the store since they first opened, being an avid preorder customer for the newest Rick Riordan book. As it happens, I was picking up one of my preorders in October when I saw a "hiring" sign on the door. I took a big leap of faith and applied for the job! The owner Melissa took an equally big leap in faith to hire a teenager with little working experience, and it's worked out so far. 

2) What are you reading right now, and what is your all-time favorite book and why?

What am I reading right now? Well, that can fluctuate on a daily basis! I read between three to five books a week, my record being 11 in a week! I read 200-plus books a year! I just finished "How to Lose a Goblin in 10 Days" by Jessie Sylva (released this week). How cute! It was a delightful, cozy romance fantasy that was the perfect pick-me-up after reading some heavy but incredible books: "The Poet Empress" by Shen Thao and "The Red Winter" by Cameron Sullivan. Think cozy hobbit meets goblin romance! I am also halfway through Katherine Center's new romance (releasing in May) called "The Shippers." Katherine Center is my favorite romance author and always writes stories that heal my heart in ways I didn't know I needed. Plus, she wrote me a personal note with the book! Come and talk romance books with me on Valentine's Day! We are having a fun romance sale and fun giveaways at the store! If I had to pick an all-time favorite book, it would be "Ember in the Ashes" by Sabaa Tahir. This book also happens to be the every first book I purchased at the Moose! My favorites for 2025 would be "The Devils" by Joe Abercrombie and "The Aftermyth" by Tracy Wolff (releasing in February — I got to read an early manuscript!).

3) What are some of the top questions people ask when they come into the store?

"Do you have a recommendation?" This is one of the most common questions customers have and it is music to my ears. YES! We absolutely have recommendations! We are the "Well~Read" Moose for a reason. Once you get us talking about books, it's hard to get us to stop. We are a team at the Moose and will rope every bookseller into the conversation until we find you the right book (or five!).

"Do you have maps?" Is the second-most asked question, which sadly, we don't.

4) What is something people would be surprised to know about you?

I am outwardly passionate about all my interests, so this is a bit of a hard question. I think the most surprising thing is that I love business and I stay up to date on economic news, hence the business school I attended. Because, let's be honest, it is to no one's surprise that I own a collection of light sabers, swords and crowns. 

5) Why do you think reading is important, for people of all ages and society as a whole?

Reading is essential. Reading is how you learn, how you learn to think for yourself, experience and feel empathy for/to others. Books are a way to feel connected and less lonely in the world. They can break your heart and piece it back together; I especially love romance for this reason. They will take you on a journey, and it will be hard, it will hit you with all the emotions and at the end you will be a better, more rounded person for it. Fiction, in particular, has a way of striking a chord in your heart that can bring you closer to the people in your life if you let it. You can walk 1,000 lives in the shoes of other people with books. And that is a very powerful magic indeed.