Rating: 5⭐️+
“Follow Maya Rivers, an anxious human barista with a gift for latte art and a blog full of chaos, as she navigates life in the Umbrafore Complex: part supernatural stronghold, part magical mayhem zone.”
That’s the hook, along with a great cover, that pulled me into this brilliantly written series by Lara McKenzie. A supernatural/paranormal universe that incorporates both human and otherworldly elements and characters, author McKenzie writes it from the standpoint of a very human Maya Rose Rivers, a barista in a new job who has decided to blog about her life and work adventures.
As McKenzie puts it “ADHD in my family, which often comes with concentration struggles. I wanted to create something for people who still love to read and want to disappear into a world, but need shorter bursts and the freedom to jump in and out without losing the thread. Whether you’re neurodivergent, suffer from brain fog, or prefer things served with fewer info dumps, this one is for you.”
So each chapter is a blog post. You can read it and watch as Maya struggles through her journey, with laughter, tears and coffee foam art. Gaining followers, friends of every species, and growing into new strengths and abilities.
I was really not prepared for the depths of the topics and challenges Maya faces. And how the author weaves these issues into her story. They are hardly noticeable at first, but as Maya grows and explores her own personal struggles through her blog, the revelations are both heartbreaking and then become a beacon of hope for many.
When I say you can laugh/cry here, yes, you can do exactly that. And write down sentences to savor.
Another book to buy for my bookshelf and to give as gifts.
Yes, highly recommended. If I had more stars in the rating, they’d be there.
Love this so much!
Why have I just found this author?
Cover Illustration Main image by Manuka Madushan, Digital Illustrator.
MAYA’S BLOGS:
Espresso Yourself #1
Brew Diligence #2
Uncharted Grounds #3
Flat White Flag #4
Little Bean #5 (coming soon)
Buy link
Espresso Yourself: A Paranormal Comedy with Heart (Maya’s Blogs Book 1)
Blurb
Follow Maya Rivers, an anxious human barista with a gift for latte art and a blog full of chaos, as she navigates life in the Umbrafore Complex: part supernatural stronghold, part magical mayhem zone.
——
One human barista. One supernatural fortress.
When Maya Rivers takes a job at Pulse, a coffee shop in the heart of the Umbrafore Complex, she expects busy shifts and maybe the occasional grumpy vampire.
What she doesn’t expect is accidentally stumbling into supernatural fame or being targeted by a serial killer with a flair for theatrics.
It’s hard to keep a low profile when you work alongside supernatural warriors who protect humanity from magical threats.
Join Maya as she blogs her way through the ups and downs as a human in a supernatural world.
- Publication date: May 23, 2025
- Language: English
- Print length: 294 pages
- Part of Series: Maya’s Blogs
Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words 
Thank you for the wonderful reviews! ❤️
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