Review: Yours Truly

Yours Truly, by Abby Jimenez (Forever 2023)

First line: “‘They’re calling him Dr. Death.'”

Next up on my review train was my surprise super hit from April, Yours Truly. I say surprise, but not in a completely unexpected way. I read and loved the first book in this “series” Part of Your World in 2022, and it had one of the funniest scenes I’ve ever read in a rom-com, but I certainly didn’t expect to fall as hard for this one as I did. It blew Part of Your World outta the park.

This book focuses on Briana, the best friend of PoYW’s main character Alexis. Briana’s had a rough year. Her little brother is entering kidney failure and will have to be on dialysis until he can find a transplant match, and he’s not doing well with his sudden change in lifestyle. Bri is also still reeling from her husband’s infidelity and the day of her official divorce is looming. Not to mention of course, that she’s up for the chief of ER position at the hospital, when a new attending is hired to maybe steal the position away from her. It’s a lot.

The new hire, though, is Jacob, and despite her initial impressions of him, he might just be the friend she’s been craving. When Jacob is in need of someone to help him with a sticky family issue, Briana is excited for the distraction, and throws herself fully into their fake dating mission. But as you might imagine, fake dating becomes complicated when real feelings develop.

Gosh, I don’t remember ever laughing as hard or as often while reading a fiction book as I did with this one. There are some hilarious essay collections that have gotten me giggling quite a bit, but very rarely with fiction. This thing had me chortling. The conversation between Jacob and Briana is just top notch, while not feeling particularly “bantery” (which I know can be a turn off for some readers), and the side details that kept me snickering (the pottymouthed parrot Jafar, the cigarette-desperate grandpa, the sex-toy-positive mom) added so much. As with the last book, Jimenez also does a beautiful job addressing real issues too, and I appreciated her portrayal of social anxiety and depression so much. She clarified some things for me about my past relationships, which I think is a pretty fantastic accomplishment from a rom-com.

I read this one in three days, which is really saying something for me, and I loved it so, so much. No notes. I’m super excited for the third installment, which is supposed to arrive on my doorstop tomorrow.

Review: Draco Malfoy & TMOOBIL

Draco Malfoy and the Mortifying Ordeal of Being in Love, by isthisselfcare (Download Here 2021)

First line: “As a man of means, Draco Malfoy could have chosen to live a life of leisure, political meddling, and casual blackmail, like his father before him.”

Until recently, I had yet to dabble in the vast world of fanfiction. Countless creators and writers are out there spinning new stories inspired by those we know and love, but they often are not seen as “real” books or stories because of their online, unpublished nature. I’ve even felt that way myself, which probably contributes to the fact that I’ve never read any. But consider my opinion changed, thanks to this work.

Earlier this year, the Currently Reading podcast ladies hosted two of my other favorite podcasters, Jamie and Knox of the Popcast, to share their Top 5 Books of 2023, and I was surprised to hear Jamie – an avid reader in her own right – say that her third favorite read of the entire year was a Draco/Hermione enemies-to-lovers fanfic. So here are the questions I asked myself upon hearing this: Am I into enemies-to-lovers? Yes. Am I into forced-proximity/one-bed? Yes. Am I into Harry Potter universe where are they now that their my age? Big Yes. So, I finally dove in.

Let me tell you now. This 1000+ page book is fan-freaking-tastic. Yes, this is a romance, but it’s also got a great plot that is fully derived from but adds significantly to the Harry Potter canon. This story focuses on 30-somethings Draco, who has evolved from his death-eater past and is now a very respected auror, and Hermione, who is (naturally) one of the most gifted healers (and doctors) in the world. She is on the brink of an incredible world-changing discovery, but Minister Shacklebolt is convinced that her life will be in danger if anyone figures out what she’s working on, so assigns Draco to be her auror bodyguard.

Not only is the writing incredibly smart all the way through, but so much of it is laugh-out-loud funny. The romance is very convincing, and I have been fully swayed to see that Dramione is the superior couple to the Ron/Hermione of it all. They challenge and complement each other in all the best ways. Yes, this book is very open door, so don’t download it onto your 12 year old’s kindle without knowing that. But for those of us who grew up with HP and still are waiting for our Hogwarts letter 20+ years later, this sure scratches a satisfying itch.

Also, congrats to the author, Brigitte Knightley, who landed herself a book deal with Orbit/Berkley due out in July 2025! While this will be her debut published book, I think many of us will fondly remember this as her real start.

March Wrap Up

Another reading month is in the books, my friends, and March was good to me! I had my first 5 star read of 2024, I read a bunch of great middle grade, and had a generally good time. We even went on vacation and I still read a ton! Love it! I had thought my March numbers would be down, as I started three books this month that I had no intention on finishing (1 – a new slow buddy read for #MalandEmBookClub, 2 – A Barbara Kingsolver yearlong reading project, and 3 – an 1000+ page Draco/Hermione fanfic which I’m honestly farther in that I expected to be because I’m mildly obsessed), but then middle grade of course comes in to solve that problem. I already gave mini reviews for all my middle grade titles just a couple days ago, so I’m not going to repeat those here, and today we’re just going to do a real quick rundown:

Simon Sort of Says, by Erin Bow (Disney Hyperion 2023): Loved it top to bottom, these are some of the best characters I’ve read in a while. This is the stuff good middle grade is made of. Read my full review here.

Hummingbird, by Natalie Lloyd, read by the author (Scholastic Audio 2022): Speaking of stuff good middle grade is made of… mini review here.

When Stars Are Scattered, by Victoria Jamieson and Omar Mohamed (Dial Books 2020): More middle grade goodness… mini review here.

An Impossible Thing to Say, by Arya Shahi (Allida 2023): I loved this YA novel in verse so much. Rap music meets Shakespeare meets coming of age meets first crush. Full review here.

This Time Tomorrow, by Emma Straub (Riverhead 2022): I think I’ve said before that I would read Emma Straub’s grocery lists, and I think that still holds true. This was a very interesting version of a time travel novel with immense heart and some truly lovable characters (a bit of a departure for Straub!). I have some thoughts on this one, so a full review is definitely to come.

The Violin Conspiracy, by Brendan Slocumb; narrated by JD Jackson (Random House Audio 2022): I really enjoyed this coming of age story about a young Black violinist who inherits a Stradivarius which is then stolen from him. Read my full review here.

Big Tree, by Brian Selznick (Scholastic 2023): Selznick is back with his chonky masterpieces… mini review here.

A Field Guide to Mermaids, by Emily B. Martin (Henry Holt 2022): A simply beautiful “nonfiction” guidebook to mermaids and their habitats. Very, very cool. Mini review here.

The Agathas, by Kathleen Glasgow and Liz Lawson (Listening Library 2022): This fun murder mystery kept me guessing till the end, and while I liked the characters a lot, one of the narrators didn’t work for me. Full review to come.

The Last Mapmaker, by Christina Soontornvat, read by Sura Siu (Orange Sky Audio 2022): A fun adventure that probably won’t stick with me. Mini review here.

That’s it, folks! I just started a new print book yesterday, but after that, I don’t have any books next on deck! My TBR bookshelf is my oyster! What fun! Can’t wait to see what April will bring me! Happy reading!

Review: Braiding Sweetgrass

Braiding Sweetgrass: Indigenous Wisdom, Scientific Knowledge, and the Teachings of Plants, by Robin Wall Kimmerer (Milkweed 2013)

First line: “Hold out your hands and let me lay upon them a sheaf of freshly picked sweetgrass, loose and flowing, like newly washed hair.”

This is one of those books that I’ve had on my tbr for so long, and I knew I would love, but because of that pressure of potentially loving it, I waited. And waited. Similarly to how I finished reading it almost a month ago but have yet to review it. But friends, I needn’t have worried, because it was fantastic. So fantastic, in fact, that this book ended up being my favorite book of the year.

Botanist, professor, and member of the Citizen Potawatomi Nation, Robin Wall Kimmerer presents an amalgamation of many things with Braiding Sweetgrass, which celebrated its 10th anniversary this past year. While the subtitle would have you imagine it’s largely about nature and plantlife, it is also about motherhood, community, storytelling, academia, and climate. The writing on a sentence level is at once gorgeous and relatable; I underlined so much. It’s hard for me to put into words how much and why I loved this one so, so instead I think I’ll just leave you with a few of my favorite passages to entice and encourage you to pick this one up for yourself if you haven’t already. It’s at once a balm and a call to action, which is just what I need going into 2024.

In the settler mind, land was property, real estate, capital, or natural resources. But to our people, it was everything: identity, the connection to our ancestors, the home of our nonhuman kinfolk, our pharmacy, our library, the source of all that sustained us. Our lands were where our responsibility to the world was enacted, sacred ground. It belonged to itself.

p 17

I had known it would happen from teh first time I held her — from that moment on, all her growing would be away from me. It is the fundamental unfairness of parenthood that if we do our jobs well, the deepest bond we are given will walk out the door with a wave over the shoulder.

p 98

This is our work, to discover what we can give. Isn’t this the purpose of education, to learn the nature of your own gifts and how to use them for good in the world?

p 239

5 Star Reads of 2023

The 2023 Reading Year is coming to a close, and with only 3 days left, I think I can safely say I have finished up my 5-star stack. I have to say, this group of 11 books is not like any of my previous 5-star stacks I can remember. Among this group we have 2 poetry collections, only 4 fiction books, and a whole slew of nonfiction. Perhaps this was partially thanks to @bookitqueen’s #19Nonfiction challenge I participated in this year! I think I might try to do it again in 2024, so we’ll see if that stands. On the other hand, my 5-star reads were almost exclusively read in print (with the exception of Congratulations!), which feels very normal to me. I think I allow myself to sink into print books more than other formats. I know I tend to have a smaller number of 5-star books than other readers, but I like to think of my 5-star books as ones that not only do I love, but also ones that the reading experience envelops me completely or the writing just overwhelms me with its artistry. These are the best of the best!

I’ve reviewed all but one of these books more fully, but here is a quick rundown of the books that stood out to me, in order of when I read them:

Skye Falling, by Mia McKenzie: Surprised me in the best way! Skye’s narrative voice was the best, and I loved this story of her getting to know the person who was a result of her egg donation.

I Have Some Questions for You, by Rebecca Makkai: I loved the structure and second person narration of this suspenseful novel set at a boarding school that reconsiders a murder that happened there decades before.

Bird by Bird, by Anne Lamott: Loved finally reading this writing book that has been languishing on my shelves for 15 years. Unsurprisingly, it hasn’t made me a novelist yet, but maybe someday.

You Better Be Lightning, by Andrea Gibson: I adore this poet more and more every time I read or hear their work. Easy to digest, wickedly clever, and full of so much heart.

Heating & Cooling, by Beth Ann Fennelly: These micro-memoirs brought so much joy to my reading life and I loved the way the author could distill such meaning in such small spaces.

Good Inside, by Becky Kennedy: Parenting little humans is incredibly difficult, and Kennedy makes you feel less awful about that fact in this debut book that synthesizes much of her excellent work you can see on Instagram.

Congratulations, the Best is Over! by R. Eric Thomas: I loved this essay collection even more than his debut. Makes you cry from laughing and laugh from crying all in the same go. Gosh, he’s a treasure.

Above Ground, by Clint Smith: Smith was on my 5-star list in 2021 and is back in 2023, this time with his newest poetry collection about fatherhood and marriage.

Calling for a Blanket Dance, by Oscar Hokeah: The structure was the winner here for me, with interconnected stories from all different family members of Ever Geimausaddle over the years starting in 1976. Such a unique way of developing a character study.

The Nature of the Beast, by Louise Penny: I’ve made it to book 11 in the Three Pines series, and this is the first time Penny’s gotten 5 stars from me! I was totally sucked in to this one and couldn’t put it down.

Braiding Sweetgrass, by Robin Wall Kimmerer: The one I have yet to review fully was simply beautiful writing in a nonfiction package. I loved the meditations on nature, climate, motherhood, relationships, and community.

I’m still not sure of my “Favorite Book of the Year” but many of these are contenders. All of these books were a gift to me when I read them, and I will be forever thankful!

Review: Good Inside

Good Inside: A Guide to Becoming the Parent You Want to Be, by Dr. Becky Kennedy (Harper Wave 2022)

First line: “Yes. I can help. We can figure this out.”

Being a parent to young kids is tough. Working to communicate in words that both of you understand, anticipating moods and meltdown triggers, teaching them to treat others and themselves with empathy and grace, all while making sure they don’t kill themselves by running in front of a car or falling off the top of a slide. It’s a lot. Dr. Becky is here to help.

I’d been following Dr. Becky on instagram since my precious two year old turned into a “deeply feeling” three year old last summer, and when she published her book and we were still navigating tumultuous waters, I knew I wanted to read it. Yes, most of the content of the book feels familiar to any regular followers, but there was enough added content that I felt like the book was definitely worth my time.

Dr. Becky’s philosophy is grounded in the fact that our kids are good. We, as parents, are good. Might we be having a hard time? Sure. But inside, we are good people. She reiterates that point again and again. And although it feels simple, and perhaps repetitive, I can tell you that when she articulates it one more time in the conclusion of the book (almost 300 pages in), my eyes welled up with tears, because I did in fact need to hear it again.

While the entire second half of the book gives countless strategies and specific scenarios parents will likely face, giving tons of practical advice, so much of this book feels like a therapy session for the parent, rather than a behavior plan for the kids. She roots her practice in so much forgiveness and self-reflection that really allowed me to separate myself from my child, to understand that his behaviors are not a reflection of me, that so much can be repaired and gained by apologizing for our reactions to our kids, and that being curious about their behaviors rather than angry or hurt allows me to maintain my cool and seek out more effective solutions. Do I have it all figured out now? Hardly. But do I feel more grounded when tough situations come up? Absolutely.

January Wrap Up

In this first month of the new year, I had something happen to me that hasn’t happened in a lonnnggg time: I didn’t feel much like reading. I know, I know, I still finished eight books, but many, many nights and naptimes, I chose to watch TV rather than read, which is basically unheard of for me in the past two years. For much of the last two years I would regularly only watch television on the night that I watched a show virtually with my two grad school friends, a practice we’ve been doing for nearly a decade. But this January? Bring on the binges. I watched Queer Eye, Twenty-Somethings, And Just Like That, caught up on Grey’s and This is Us… I listened to podcasts instead of audiobooks (I actually DNFed an audiobook that much of bookstagram lovveeeedd because it was going to expire after 21 days and I had only made it to 42%). I did end up reading quite a lot of ebooks, because in addition to my new tv habit, I’ve also picked up some middle of the night insomnia. So there’s that.

All of this is to say, I know I’m still a reader, I know I’ll eventually get back to craving reading time, but I’m embracing my moods this year, and letting it go. The pressure is off, and that feels good too.

Here’s what I did read this month:

Legendborn, by Tracy Deonn (Simon Pulse 2020): I did start off my 2022 reading life with a bang, racking up the first 5-star read right off the bat with this incredible YA fantasy. I was so here for the blending of mythologies and traditions and commentaries on race woven so deftly into a heart-racing story. Cannot wait for book 2. Read my full review here.

Bury Your Dead (Chief Inspector Gamache #6), by Louise Penny (Minotaur 2010): Next in line in the Three Pines series did not do it for me as much as the previous volume, due to a couple of storylines I was not very interested in, but I still love these characters and would read them doing whatever. Plus, the third storyline I was desperate to know about. Read my full review here.

Bellweather Rhapsody, by Kate Racculia (HMH 2014): Okay, so I’m not technically finished with this book, but I’m going to go read the last seven pages as soon as I publish this post, so it counts. This one was on my Winter TBR stack last winter, and I’m so glad I finally got around to reading it. So many surprising twists set against an old hotel full of teenage musicians trapped by an epic blizzard. Very fun reading.

Exit West, by Mohsin Hamid (Riverhead 2017): This quiet, short book about life as a refugee was powerful and gripping, though dragged a bit for me in the middle. The beautiful writing and nuanced storytelling was enough for me though. Read my full review here.

Nobody Gets Out Alive, by Leigh Newman (Scribner 2022): This short story collection isn’t due out until April, but I wanted to read it during the winter because of its setting: Alaska! Give me Alaska, and you will automatically bump up my rating. Although there weren’t a lot of redeeming characters in this collection, they were fascinating and complex, and the storytelling made me feel in each one. Read my full review here.

The Oceanography of the Moon, by Glendy Vanderah (Lake Union Publishing 2022): I will publish my full review of this one closer to its March release date, but for now, let me just say that I read this one with the same ferocity I read her first book Where the Forest Meets the Stars last month, but didn’t feel quite as connected to it.

Lore Olympus, by Rachel Smythe (Del Ray 2021): I wanted to love this graphic novel, a retelling of the Persephone/Hades Greek myth, and while the colors were lush and vibrant, I had a hard time deciphering a lot of the images, which led to confusion in the story for me, unfortunately.

The Moonstone Girls, by Brooke Skipstone (Skipstone Publishing 2022): I will post my full review of this one soon, as it publishes in just a couple weeks. The premise of a YA LGBTQ story set amongst the Vietnam War and the Alaskan wilderness sounded *chef’s kiss*, but it unfortunately did not deliver for me.

Ready for February reading! We’ll see if I get back on my regular reading mojo or if more shows are in my future. Either way, that is just fine!

December Wrap Up

Happy New Year Reading Friends!

Let’s save all the “we can’t believe it’s the end of the year“s that we’re all thinking, and move right on to the books I read during December. Man oh man! Who would have expected me to finish fourteen books during arguably one of the busiest months of the year?? Not this girl, that’s for sure! But thankfully that meant I was able to wrap up most (not quite all) of my reading challenges/goals for the year, AND I read some pretty excellent books to boot. Found another 5-star winner in the bunch, in addition to FOUR 4.5s and another FIVE 4-stars. So many good books!! Here’s what I read:

Salvage the Bones, by Jesmyn Ward (Bloomsbury 2011): There’s a reason this one is an award winner — the writing is stunning, the characters so compelling, and the last two chapters are just *chef’s kiss*. Read my full review here.

Where the Forest Meets the Stars, by Glendy Vanderah (Lake Union Publishing 2019) : I was so swept up in this novel of unexpected circumstances, and it was only enhanced by the fact that I have very personal connections to the places she was describing. Loved it. Read my full review here.

Saints at the River, by Ron Rash (Picador 2004): This was my first taste of a prolific local author, and I thought the complexity he developed in a relatively short space was just incredible. I’ll definitely be back for more. Read my full review here.

This Is Where You Belong: The Art and Science of Loving the Place You Live, by Melody Warnick (Viking 2016): This non-fiction work was super engaging and readable, thought-provoking, and readily applicable to my current life. I’ve thought about it regularly since finishing, and hope to practice some of her suggestions in the new year. Read my full review here.

I Hope This Finds You Well, by Kate Baer (Harper Perennial 2021): This is everything I was hoping What Kind of Woman would be — Baer takes messages, speeches, comments written by others (often hateful in nature) and turns them into works of art. Full review to come.

Five Tuesdays in Winter, by Lily King (Grove Press 2021): While I didn’t like all of these stories, King certainly made me feel in each of them, and I’m not sure there’s more you can ask for in a story collection. Read my full review here.

Taste: My Life Through Food, by Stanley Tucci (Simon & Schuster Audio 2021): This is exactly what I want in an audiobook: a great narrator, enough to keep me engaged while not being too much to easily follow while I do other things, and lots and lots of food. Read my full review here.

If the Fates Allow, by Rainbow Rowell (Amazon Original Stories 2021): I didn’t write a full review of this holiday short story, but as always, Rowell has a magic ability of being able to put to paper things I’ve felt and thought but haven’t quite articulated. This one is set during COVID, and she’s able to capture all the feelings that are wrapped up in this wild time in a very short space.

Felix Ever After, by Kacen Callender (Balzer & Bray 2020): This YA novel of a queer, trans, Black teen has a lot going for it. I grew to care about these characters, despite it feeling very YA (I know I’m not the target audience!) and repetitive at times. Full review to come.

Last Christmas in Paris, by Hazel Gaynor and Heather Webb (Harper Audio 2017): I ended up liking this WW1 novel way more than I anticipated, as I don’t usually like war books or epistolary novels that much. I felt very invested in Tom and Evie’s story, and only wished we got to see the ending on the page. Full review to come.

Anne of Manhattan, by Brina Starer (William Morrow 2021): As a deep lover of these classic characters, I was pretty disappointed that this modern retelling didn’t offer much of a fresh perspective. My affection for them kept me turning the pages, but I wanted more. Read my full review here.

Elatsoe, by Darcie Little Badger; narrated by Kinsale Hueston (Dreamscape Media 2020): While I loved the premise of this one, the tone felt off for much of the book, and I just didn’t end of liking it as much as I’d hoped. Read my full review here.

Bless This Mess, by Rev. Molly Baskette and Ellen O’Donnell (Convergent 2019): In this latest book club read, I felt like the authors were making assumptions about me as a reader that didn’t work for me. I wanted it to be something different from it was, but still offered some things to consider in terms of incorporating faith into my parenting. Read my full review here.

Night at the Fiestas, by Kirstin Valdez Quade (W. W. Norton 2015): Technically, I’m not quite done with this one, but I have one story left that I hope to finish tonight!!

I am so glad to have been able to wrap up this weird year with some great reading experiences! Looking forward to all the great books 2022 will bring! What’s up first for you in January? I’m excited to dig into The Warmth of Other Suns, by Isabel Wilkerson this coming week!

5 Star Reads of 2021

I know we still have a week left of the year, but I think I’m pretty safe in saying I’m not going to have any more books to add to this coveted stack. 2021 was evidently a tough reading year for me, and I had less than half the 5-star reads as I did the previous year. As with everything else, I’m going to chock that up to my near constant low-level (sometimes high-level) anxiety our dear friend corona has induced, which makes it difficult to get fully immersed in much of anything. Nevertheless, I did read some fantastic things this year, and the small list perhaps makes me more affectionate toward the ones that made. Without further ado, here are:

Emily’s 5 Star Reads of 2021

Non-Fiction:

• Come As You Are, by Emily Nagoski: I rarely spout “must-reads” because every reader is different, but I truly think this is valuable reading for any human with a vulva. This informational book from a sex therapist gives the reader confidence and the road to a joyful sex life with incredibly approachable and relatable science.
• The Anthropocene Reviewed, by John Green: This essay collection from famed YA novelist Green included super thoughtful deep dives into some of the perhaps most mundane aspects of modernity, like the Canada goose and the Piggly Wiggly grocery store chain. But they were also incredibly personal, humorous, vulnerable, and grace-filled. Was a sheer delight to listen to this audiobook (read by the author).
• How the Word is Passed, by Clint Smith: I was blown away by the gorgeous writing in this book about our country’s ugliest legacy: chattel slavery. Smith acts as tourist visiting seven locations pivotal in the history of slavery in the US and brings us along for the journey. One of the most affecting and effective books I’ve read about racial injustice to date.

Fiction

• The House in the Cerulean Sea, by TJ Klune: This was the first book to make my 5-Star List this year (all the way in March!), and I treasured my reading experience of it all the more because of it. Unfortunately, that was a little soured after I heard about the author (a white man) claiming he was inspired to write it after learning about the residential schools of Canada when indigenous children were stolen from their parents in an attempt to “assimilate” them into white culture. However, this blog post from Luther M. Siler helped me gather my thoughts about the matter, and I still feel like it deserves to be included here.
• Firekeeper’s Daughter, by Angeline Boulley: Oh how I loved this debut YA mystery. Boulley’s pacing was incredible, and she wrote a beautifully intelligent and independent protagonist in Daunis, who still knew when to ask for help when she needed it. I devoured it despite its length and truly hope it doesn’t take the author another decade to write her sophomore novel!
• The People We Meet on Vacation, by Emily Henry: I found this friends-to-lovers romance a sheer delight. The banter, chemistry, and affection of these two main characters was infectious and I tore through it. I loved the flash back chapters that revealed their decade-long relationship and built toward the eventual climax (wink, wink). Perfect summer read.
• Salvage the Bones, by Jesmyn Ward: My most recent addition to my 5-star stack was a surprise. I found the last two chapters of this novel set in the days leading up to and day after Hurricane Katrina so gripping, that it catapulted itself onto my favorites list. Her writing is exquisite, truly.

Favorite Book of the Year

My favorite read of 2021 has to be Seven Days in June, by Tia Williams. This book was such a surprise, despite all the hype I had heard before reading it, and I was hooked within the first paragraph. I dare you. Read the opening lines of this novel and try not to keep reading. You won’t be able to stop. It’s laugh-out-loud funny, filled with real, complicated characters that are just a joy to read about, and also packed with lots of raw, painful, emotional challenges. I’m so glad to have met this author through these characters and need to dig into some of her backlist.

What was your favorite book of 2021? I’d love to hear! Let me know in the comments!

Cheers to a year of wonderful reading in 2022!

November Wrap Up

December, is that you?? Holy moly, we’re at the end of 2021 and yet I could swear we just wrapped up 2020. What a blur! This last month has been particularly busy, hence my much smaller stack of books than October, but I’ve read several stand-outs! I don’t have time to write much more, so here’s the run down:

How the Word Is Passed, by Clint Smith (Hachette Audio 2021): Wow, wow, wow, this book is so excellent. One of my very favorites I’ve read about history / racial injustice. Still processing this truly remarkable audiobook, keep your eyes out for a full review in the coming days.

Once There Were Wolves, by Charlotte McConaghy (Flatiron 2021): I found the writing in this short cli-fi novel to be extraordinary, however dark the content was. I want to read more and more about wolves, now, that’s for sure. Read my full review here.

Let the Circle Be Unbroken, by Mildred D. Taylor (Puffin 1981, 1991): My second trip into the Logan Family Saga brought me another beautiful peek into life for a Black family in the historical American South. I love these characters so dearly. Read my full review here.

The Marrow Thieves, by Cherie Dimaline (Dancing Cat Books 2017): How I wish more people knew about this YA dystopian novel. So much depth of storytelling here. Full review to come.

To Night Owl From Dogfish, by Holly Goldberg Sloan and Meg Wolitzer (Dial Books for Young Readers 2019): Super cute middle grade epistolary novel that gives us all the modern Parent Trap vibes you could want. Read my full review here.

The Charm Offensive, by Alison Cochrun (Atria 2021): I thought this queer romance was a beautiful discussion of mental health, particularly in relationships, balanced with a lot of ridiculous reality TV fun. Read my full review here.

The Ex Hex, by Erin Sterling (Avon 2021): This #bookstagrammademedoit was a bit of a disappointment, but was entertaining enough to keep me reading. Read my full review here.

Zara Hossain is Here, by Savina Khan; narrated by Richa Moorjani (Scholastic Audio 2021): I thought this YA contemporary had a lot of potential, but took on too much to really give me depth on any one thing. All tell and no show for this one. Read my full review here.

Here’s to the end of 2021! What books are you looking forward to this month??