Everything I read in October was in the 4-star range, which meant that didn’t read anything I disliked and would recommend all of these to readers in different moods.

Stats

Total books read: 11

#readmyowndamnbooks: 6

Retellings: 3

Love, Theoretically by Ali Hazelwood (4.5 stars) – Ali Hazelwood continues to refuse to let me down with her STEM-centric contemporary romance novels. I really enjoyed the central romance, fake-dating plot, and the arc the heroine goes through with her interpersonal relationships and career.

Black Sheep by Rachel Harrison (4 stars) – I continue to devour Rachel Harrison’s catalog, and by finishing Black Sheep, I think I have unfortunately caught up with all of her published works. The strengths of her most recent release, for me, were in her well-developed and “unlikable” main character, grabbing premise, and extremely satisfying ending.

Mortal Follies by Alexis Hall (4 stars) -I had a lot of fun reading this historical fantasy Sapphic romance featuring curses from vengeful goddesses, fairy shenanigans, a standoffish and smirking duke’s daughter love interest, and a cast of characters defying societal expectations in various ways. Possibly my favorite aspect of this book is that it’s narrated hilariously by Puck from A Midsummer Night’s Dream, which adds another dimension to the plot. It’s a creative and entertaining yet romantic addition to Alexis Hall’s catalog.

Opinions: A Decade of Arguments, Criticism, and Minding Other People’s Business by Roxane Gay (4 stars) – I’ve been a huge fan of Roxane Gay and her writing for many years. Rather than a collection of new essays, Opinions is a collection of already-published writing on a variety of topics, so it’s only reasonable that I liked some a lot more than others. I preferred Gay’s writings on current events and cultural criticism to the celebrity interviews and book reviews, which weren’t as impactful for me.

Beast in Shining Armor by Cassandra Gannon (4 stars) – I’m absolutely loving Gannon’s series of fantasy romance fairytale retellings, and I think they deserve a lot more attention and popularity. This unconventional Beauty and the Beast retelling also involves a labyrinth and fight to the death to claim a crown, with a great enemies-to-lovers romance along the way.

The Woman in Me by Britney Spears (4 stars) – This was powerful and so heartbreaking to read; I wanted to give Britney a hug within the first chapter.

The Rust Maidens by Gwendolyn Kiste (4 stars) – This was my second book from this author this year, and I enjoyed the everyday horror evoked by the Rust Belt setting and misogyny of Cleveland. I did find the ending to be a bit unsatisfying and anticlimactic after a lot of really fascinating buildup, but I’ll continue to revisit this author.

Doppelganger by Naomi Klein (4 stars) – This was a thoughtful and somewhat meandering nonfiction book built on the premise of the public’s conflation of the author Naomi Klein with another cultural figure, Naomi Wolf, whose views evolved to become that of Klein’s polar opposite. It was interesting and endlessly self-reflective while discussing a lot of current events and topics from a broader viewpoint.

The Undertaking of Hart & Mercy by Megan Bannen (4 stars) – I think my expectations for this one were a bit out of line with what it ended up being, which resulted in some disappointment despite an overall enjoyable read. I was expecting more of a dark fantasy with some romance, but this is much more of a romantic comedy with fantasy elements.

Emma of 83rd Street by Audrey Bellezza and Emily Harding (4 stars) -This was a very fun contemporary romance retelling of Emma set on the Upper East Side and featuring almond dad Mr. Woodhouse, art history grad student Emma, and environmental VC founder Knightley. I heard about it on the Make Out Already podcast and am so glad I picked it up; I believe this is my third Austen retelling this year and it did not disappoint. Certain plot elements remain faithful to the original while others change in a way that aligns with the modern setting.

Thornhedge by T. Kingfisher (4 stars) – This novella retelling of Sleeping Beauty is, in my opinion, much sweeter and less dark than its predecessor Nettle & Bone, but equally well-crafted. I enjoy a fairytale retelling that subverts expectations, and that’s exactly what this is; we also get discussions about different types of fairies, what it means to do the right thing, and inner versus outer beauty. Great for a readathon.

I had 2 reading goals for August: to catch up on NetGalley eARCs and also to catch up on Book of the Month picks. I met my goal by finishing 2 of each, setting myself up a little better for the next few months. (I also accepted 2 new NetGalley eARCs, which kind of negates my progress, and I still do need to read 7 more Book of the Month books by the end of the year to accomplish their reading challenge.)

Stats

Total books read: 8

#readmyowndamnbooks: 3

ARCs: 2

BOTM picks: 2

Easy Money: Cryptocurrency, Casino Capitalism, and the Golden Age of Fraud by Ben McKenzie and Jacob Silverman (4 stars) – I loved this fascinating and informative deep dive into the corrupt world of cryptocurrency. Ben McKenzie, an actor who you might remember from The O.C. and Gotham, co-writes and narrates the audiobook, and he addresses very early on that while you might think he’s an odd choice to tell these stories, he has good reasons: he has a degree in economics, he’s a dad looking out for the financial future of his kids, and he’s disgusted by his fellow celebrities shilling for crypto and NFTs with no regard for the financial well-being of their fans. His takes are thoughtful and often funny, and concepts I’d previously had difficulty understanding were explained clearly and succinctly. (He taught me what a blockchain was in a few sentences!) If you’re looking for a great and topical nonfiction, or an absorbing audiobook, I strongly recommend this one.

Forget Me Not by Julie Soto (4 stars) – Second chance romance is very hit-or-miss for me, so it’s not a trope I typically gravitate toward without good reason. I was hearing fantastic early buzz about Julie Soto’s debut novel, however, and ended up loving it. It’s yet another contemporary romance based on Reylo fanfic (I seriously cannot believe how many there are; it’s not my preferred ship, but I’ve ended up reading several just based on synopsis) and does a great job establishing the initial relationship between the main characters through flashback so that the reader doesn’t feel out of the loop during the book’s current storyline. It’s well-written with fleshed-out characters and so much angst; even knowing that there was a guaranteed HEA, I was getting so nervous during the read. I’ll absolutely pick up more from this author; she managed to really stress me out, which means I cared about the characters and storyline. I received an eARC of Forget Me Not from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Reluctant Immortals by Gwendolyn Kiste (4 stars) – I love a good feminist retelling of a classic story, and the inclusion of fantasy elements and the 1960s San Francisco setting brought even more interest to this read. It’s definitely slower paced, but I loved Kiste’s writing, and found her reinterpretation of the heroines of Dracula and Jane Eyre fascinating. I did, however, find myself wanting to yell USE YOUR VAMPIRE POWERS at the book multiple times per chapter, as the main character could be more passive than I’d have liked. It’s a great fall read if you’re looking for something thematic but not necessarily terrifying, and with well-realized themes.

The Pain Gap: How Sexism and Racism in Healthcare Kill Women by Anushay Hossein (4 stars) – As a healthcare provider, there’s always more to learn, and when I saw this book recommended on Bookstagram, I thought it would be an important read. Hossein goes into several different topics, including the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on women’s health; pregnancy and maternal healthcare and how it fails women, particularly women of color; and healthcare professionals’ dismissal of women’s pain and health concerns. I didn’t feel like it necessarily introduced me to much new information, but it covers important topics in a well-informed and interesting way, and I’d recommend it.

Unfortunately Yours by Tessa Bailey (3.5 stars) – I’ve been enjoying Tessa Bailey’s Napa Valley-set contemporary romance duology, A Vine Mess, quite a bit, even if I did prefer the first book Secretly Yours to its sequel, Unfortunately Yours. The story centers around a marriage of convenience between Natalie, who was fired from her high-powered job and needs a husband to claim her trust fund, and August, an ex-Navy SEAL who is failing miserably at winemaking as he attempts to honor his friend who passed away by making his dream vineyard a reality. I tend to really enjoy fake dating tropes and the hijinks that ensue, even if I wasn’t completely sold on the main characters; they just weren’t as well-rounded as others of Bailey’s have been for me. I also enjoyed the wine-centric setting; I’ve never been to Napa but have always wanted to go. I received an eARC of Unfortunately Yours from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Something Fabulous by Alexis Hall (3 stars) – Not one of my favorites from Alexis Hall, but I still had some fun with this light, silly, queer historical romance featuring a grumpy duke falling for the twin brother of the woman he’s intending to marry.

The London Seance Society by Sarah Penner (3 stars) – This F/F historical fantasy had a lot of promise, but its mystery lost a lot of this intrigue due to its dearth of characters and, therefore, the minimal suspects in its central murder. It also took place over too short a period of time; I needed more time to establish the relationship between the main character and love interest for their story to be fully realized.

Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus (2 stars) – I know I’m in the minority on this one, but I had a lot of issues with this book. The writing style relies heavily on the omniscient narrator telling us facts rather than demonstrating anything via the actions of characters, and the characters themselves are completely one-dimensional. As a woman in STEM myself I was hoping to really enjoy this one, but I had so many issues with the portrayal of the main character and the trite way this book deals with serious societal issues. Everything in this book is oversimplified, and I don’t like books that seem to feel they have to spoon-feed you issues. I wish the author had a bit more faith in her readers to understand nuance, as the story very much needed it. 

May was full of reading highs (and one significant low), and I did a bunch of travel reading while on my recent trip to Italy. Finding three books within the 5-star range is a pretty great feeling; I also picked up a very disappointing new release from a favorite author for a book club I’ve joined. Let’s get into it!

Stats

Total books read: 11

2023 releases: 7

#readmyowndamnbooks: 5

Book of the Month picks: 1

Pride and Prejudice retellings: 2

Yellowface by R.F. Kuang (5 stars) – It’s unusual to find one 5-star book from an author within any given time period, but with Yellowface, R.F. Kuang has become the only author I can think of in recent memory that I’ve read two 5-star reads from within 2 months. Yellowface is sharp, satirical, and acerbic, and skewers racism, particularly the insidious kind, the publishing industry, and public discourse. While extremely clever, it also manages to be very readable and fast-paced. I also really appreciated the various nods and references to different aspects of the book world as well as winks to the discourse that surrounded her previous novel Babel. Highly, highly recommend.

Letters to a Young Poet by Rainer Maria Rilke (5 stars) – A classic that took me far too long to actually pick up; I was prompted by finding the gorgeous new Penguin Clothbound Classics edition while I was in Rome. I found the reading beautiful, thought-provoking, and inspirational.

Divine Rivals by Rebecca Ross (4.5 stars) – I don’t read much YA anymore, but every now and then a synopsis hooks me. Divine Rivals was one of the books I read during my trip to Italy, and I ended up loving it. Rival journalists are competing with each other for a permanent job against the backdrop of a magical war between previously long-dormant gods; Iris is struggling to make ends meet with a brother off to war and an alcoholic mother, while her nemesis Roman chafes against the wishes of his strict nouveau riche family. The two form an unexpected connection through letters that Iris thinks she’s sending to her brother, but which are somehow delivered to Roman instead, and their competition and companionship fuels the plot. I found it a creative fantasy story with a retro feel and excellent character dynamics, and I’m looking forward to the sequel.

Just As You Are by Camille Kellogg (4 stars) – I read this book during a trip to Italy at the point where I was solo traveling, so I was very glad to have a book to be absorbed in. Just As You Are is a queer contemporary retelling of Pride & Prejudice set at the offices of Nether Fields, an online magazine that Liz (and Jane, and Lydia, and Katie/Kitty) works at, but which was recently bought by Bailey and Daria (Bingley & Darcy), two wealthy financiers, and much drama ensues. The writing is engaging and helped keep me going through a long initial travel day and also a good amount of wandering. It manages to be cute without being saccharine, and retells the story faithfully but with new breath.

The Secret Diary of Lizzie Bennett by Bernie Su and Kate Rorick (4 stars) – If you’ve watched The Lizzie Bennett Diaries on YouTube, this is the perfect companion novel. (If you haven’t, and you’re a Pride & Prejudice fan, go watch them right now, you’re welcome.) This captures the tone of the web series perfectly while providing more context and scenes that weren’t on camera, while still reminding me of my favorite parts of the digital version. It was a very fun audiobook listen that pulled me away from a listening slump.

Hurricane Lizards and Plastic Squid by Thor Hanson (4 stars) – This nonfiction book had a much different focus than most works about climate change: it discusses adaptations and evolution by animals to climate change in real time. I found the writing engaging and interesting, although I don’t know that it was very memorable.

A House With Good Bones by T. Kingfisher (4 stars) – This was an interesting Southern Gothic horror audiobook I listened to during my Italy trip, and it did definitely creep me out enough that I had to stop listening to it at night. At times certain elements felt a bit disparate, but it was certainly creative, and I’ll continue to check out more from Kingfisher.

Everything for You by Chloe Liese (3.5 stars) – I dove back into Chloe Liese’s Bergman Brothers series in April, which convinced me to pick up another book in the series via audio while I was traveling. The Ted Lasso vibes are strong in this M/M romance featuring professional soccer players who drive each other crazy; it was an enjoyable read if not my favorite in the series.

Quietly Hostile by Samantha Irby (3.5 stars) – I always enjoy listening to Samantha Irby’s essay collections; they’re easy listens that often make me laugh. My library hold came in for this one earlier than expected, and it was an entertaining and propelling read.

Grim and Bear It by Juliette Cross (3.5 stars) – This was, unfortunately, the final book in Cross’s Savoie Sisters series, and, even more unfortunately, may have been my least favorite in the series. Don’t get me wrong, it was still a fun read, but it didn’t quite have the charm and relationship development as the rest of the series, possibly because they were trying to wrap things up with every character who had previously appeared in the series as well as the featured couple. Luckily, Cross recently announced that she’ll be developing a new series featuring the next generation of witches, vampires, werewolves, and Grims in the family, so we have that to look forward to.

Happy Place by Emily Henry (2 stars) – I was not only disappointed by this newest release from the author of my favorite romance of 2022, I was honestly offended by it. I don’t want to spoil the plot, but I’d warn readers that I found the message Henry sends with this one ends up feeling quite misogynistic, regardless of whether or not that was her intent. It was also her least-developed romance both emotionally and intellectually; I never felt that the reader was given any reason to root for the main couple beyond surface-level chemistry. This was the pick for my book club for May, and not one of us enjoyed it. I’d recommend that readers give one of her other books a re-read or pick up something from another author and skip this one (and that’s something I very rarely say).

I’m so happy with my reading in March! After a lackluster Feb dominated by work, I was actually able to read a ton this month, and loved a great deal of it. I read 3 books in the 5-star range, and also participated in 2 readathons: the Trans Rights Readathon and Tordotcomathon, both over on Bookstagram.

Stats

Total books read: 12

ARCs: 2

2023 releases: 6

#readmyowndamnbooks: 5

Emily Wilde’s Encyclopaedia of Faeries by Heather Fawcett (5 stars) – Emily Wilde’s Encyclopedia of Faeries was a delightful 5-star read for me; I loved the themes of folklore and myth and empathized with the main character’s constant struggle to get her work done while interacting with people as little as possible. Emily is brilliant, pragmatic (even ruthless), and fascinating as a viewpoint character; the book is written as her journal entries while doing fieldwork in Scandinavia to help complete her encyclopaedia. I wasn’t expecting a romance in this one, but it’s really well done; Emily’s colleague/rival Brambleby is a cheerful, whimsical foil to her seriousness and also an enigma that serves the story. I’d recommend this one to fantasy, romance, and romantasy readers alike, and am anxiously awaiting its sequel.

A Strange and Stubborn Endurance by Foz Meadows (4.5 stars) -Speaking of having a great reading month in March, I also discovered this fantastically written fantasy/romance from a new-to-me author. A Strange and Stubborn Endurance is not an easy read emotionally (check content warnings! it does contain sexual assault, PTSD, attempted suicide, and murders) but it’s a beautiful portrait of healing and discovering the freedom to be yourself. It’s fairly romance-centric, but the plot doesn’t suffer for it. Vel is a gay nobleman forced to hide his sexuality due to his repressive country’s laws and social stigmas, so he’s not exactly thrilled when his father arranges a marriage for him to a noblewoman from a neighboring country. After undergoing a trauma, however, his secret is revealed, and the ambassador proposes an alternative: Vel can instead marry Cae, his original fiance’s brother. Vel and Cae’s romance develops slowly and is very sweet, but the two are also forced to contend with mysterious factions working against them. This was a 4.5 star read for me and I highly recommend it to romantasy fans. The sequel is out later this year and is already on my wish list.

I Have Some Questions for You by Rebecca Makkai (4.5 stars) – I’d describe this one as sort of a literary mystery that explores the nature of memory, the impacts of true crime media, and society’s more widespread current reckoning with the virulent racism and misogyny in our culture. I wasn’t really expecting to be as impressed with this book as I was, but the writing is extremely strong and the plot and concepts evoked both kept me hooked. I think this will be a book I will recommend widely, to all kinds of readers.

Something Wild and Wonderful by Anita Kelly (4 stars) – Anita Kelly was one of my favorite new authors I discovered in 2022, so their new 2023 release was instantly added to my TBR. Something Wild & Wonderful is about two men at crossroads in their lives who individually decide to hike the Pacific Crest Trail (which I mainly knew due to Cheryl Strayed’s Wild) but meet up and begin to hike together while mutually developing romantic feelings. Like other Anita Kelly books I’ve read, Something Wild is at its core big-hearted and centered around people trying to work through their emotions and find their paths in life. The trail setting added a unique component to the romance, presenting obstacles that the main characters had to work through together while simultaneously building up their relationship from friendship to something more. I didn’t love this one quite as much as Love & Other Disasters (which was one of my favorite books of 2022) but I found it a sweet and well-written romance that I’d absolutely recommend. I received an eARC from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Finna by Nino Cipri (4 stars) – A fun science fiction novella taking place inside an Ikea-esque store whose newest employees are forced to enter a wormhole to rescue a missing customer. Unfortunately, the employees are also recent exes, and the wormhole isn’t exactly safe. This was a great quick audiobook, and I’m likely to pick up its sequel as well.

Behind the Scenes by Karelia Stetz-Waters (4 stars) – A sweet contemporary Sapphic romance with themes of healing from physical and emotional trauma and embracing your creative side. The central romance is between Ash, a washed-up director, and Rose, a savvy businesswoman/secret ASMRtist, who come together to help create and pitch a new queer film. I especially enjoyed Ash’s found family of coworkers and Rose’s sisters as side characters, but the central romance was strong as well. I think ultimately I do prefer Stetz-Waters’s first book, Satisfaction Guaranteed, to this one, but I still really enjoyed Behind the Scenes as well. I received an eARC from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

All the Dangerous Things by Stacy Willingham (4 stars) – For the first time in my life, I went to a book club meeting this month! I joined at a bit of short notice, so I ended up listening to this audiobook over the course of 12 hours, and, not typical for me, listened at much faster than average speed. I don’t always have success with mystery/thrillers, but I thought this one was well-written, well-narrated, and definitely delivered on the twists.

Even Though I Knew the End by C.L. Polk (3.5 stars) – This was my second read from Polk, and I gave it the same rating as I did The Midnight Bargain. Their premises are interesting, but something just feels lacking to me in execution, and this one also was much more religious-themed than I’d expected.

The Writing Retreat by Julia Bartz (3.5 stars) – This book was both better-written and twistier than I was expecting; it was also way more violent. A young writer goes to an exclusive retreat hosted by her favorite author, where she finds several other writers than include her frenemy, with whom she’s had a very complicated relationship. There’s an added incentive to write during this retreat–a winner will be chosen to actually publish their book and be ushered onto the literary scene by the famous author. Unfortunately, there are missing people and murder to contend with in addition to the writer’s block. Would I recommend this? I’m honestly not sure.

Best Served Hot by Amanda Elliot (3.5 stars) – This contemporary romance with food critic love interests sounded up my alley, especially since I loved last year’s Sadie on a Plate. I ended up frustrated somewhat with its main character and wanting more dimension from the love interest.

Signs of Cupidity by Raven Kennedy (3.5 stars) – I started this fantasy romance trilogy on a whim after seeing it on someone’s bookstagram, and found its first installment a very fun read with a silly, irreverent protagonist who’s a cupid out of water.

Bonds of Cupidity by Raven Kennedy (3 stars) – Unfortunately, I didn’t love the second installment quite as much as the first, and I won’t be continuing in the series. I’m not mad I picked these up, because they kept me from reading slumping, and I’d probably check out other books from this author in future.

Yes, I’m very, very late with this wrap-up, but I couldn’t let myself skip a month after keeping up with this blog for so long. (I blame my super busy and studying-filled February, when I was preparing for an exam and doing an absurd amount of continuing education.) Let’s do this!

Stats

Total books read: 10

2023 releases: 1

#readmyowndamnbooks: 6

Ocean’s Echo by Everina Maxwell (5 stars) – My first 5-star read of 2023 was a twisty, smart political/military science fiction book with an opposites-attract romance at its heart. It also featured one of my new favorite characters, a prickly, manipulative mind reader who has run away from his upper-class world and family and become mixed up in a criminal underworld. When his aunt, a powerful politician, thinks he’s gotten completely out of hand, she enlists him in the military with orders to bind himself to a stubborn, steadfastly moral, by-the-books officer with mind control powers. The two clash at first but quickly form a deep connection that guides them through conflicts, coups, and battles. I loved that this book was action-packed but never lost its heart, humor, or strong writing style. If you love an acerbic, hilarious, “unlikable” main character, you’re going to love Ocean’s Echo.

The Return by Rachel Harrison (4 stars) – I just love Rachel Harrison. Cackle was a great surprise favorite for me in 2022, and I resolved to reach for more of her backlist this year. I listened to this female friendship-centric horror novel on audio and was never bored for a second; it’s weird and provides great commentary on the nature of communication within friend groups. I want to read everything this author writes.

The Employees by Olga Ravn (4 stars) – A very short, very weird science fiction book that was vague, poetic, haunting, and uniquely structured. Would recommend for fans of weird scifi.

People Person by Candice Carty-Williams (4 stars) – Candice Carty-Williams’s debut book Queenie was a huge hit on bookstagram back in 2019, but I unfortunately haven’t seen nearly as much love for her sophomore release, People Person. I say “unfortunately” because I thought it was great; it’s very much a character-driven book focused on sibling relstionships. Our book opens with five teenage half-siblings with four different mothers meeting each other for the first time, simply because their unreliable father has decided it’s time. We then flash forward to meet the siblings again as adults, and see them come together again for a traumatic event. Their interactions and bonds drive the book and kept me wishing it was longer. I’ll continue to pick up anything that Carty-Williams comes out with, and I highly recommend this one (and Queenie, if you haven’t read it yet!).

Bad Dolls: Stories by Rachel Harrison (4 stars) – I kept picking up more and more Rachel Harrison in January because, again, I love her. I actually had no idea this contemporary horror short story collection existed until I was searching for audiobooks from this author, and that’s a shame, because it’s excellent. These stories are weird, creative, and creepy; this would be a great October read and it’s also an excellent audio listen.

Two Wrongs Make a Right by Chloe Liese (4 stars) – I love a well-done Shakespeare retelling, and Two Wrongs Make a Right by Chloe Liese really hit the spot for me. (Past favorite books involving Shakespeare retellings include All’s Well by Mona Awad and Hag-Seed by Margaret Atwood.) In this contemporary romance, Liese takes on Much Ado About Nothing while also very much making the story her own; as with many of Liese’s books, our heroine is autistic, and her love interest has anxiety. She sets the stage also for future contemporary retellings with the protagonist’s two sisters (likely The Taming of the Shrew and Romeo & Juliet, based on their names), which I’m really looking forward to. I found this book at times very funny and the right amount of quirky. I will say that the only negative pattern I’ve noticed with Chloe Liese (which is very subjective!) is that the last quarter or so of the three books of hers I’ve read have all been a bit too sweet for me.

The Veil by Rachel Harrison (4 stars) (short story) -While I was on my Rachel Harrison reading kick this month, I discovered The Veil, her Audible exclusive short story that actually has terrible ratings but that I very much enjoyed. She always manages to subvert expectations and deliver on her endings, and I appreciate that very much.

Astrid Parker Doesn’t Fail by Ashley Herring Blake (3.5 stars) – Astrid’s story didn’t work for me quite as well as Delilah Green Doesn’t Care, and I also wasn’t as thrilled with the premise, which deals with interior design and home renovation. That being said, I did like the love interest, Jordan, quite a bit, and will continue to read in this contemporary romance trilogy.

You Just Need to Lose Weight and 19 Other Myths About Fat People by Aubrey Gordon (3 stars) – I loved Gordon’s previous book, What We Don’t Talk About When We Talk About Fat, but I found her sophomore effort to be less strong, It has a strange combination of being didactic while continuously undermining its own information by referring the reader almost constantly to other sources. There’s definitely some good information in here, most of which has also been addressed on Gordon’s podcast Maintenance Phase, which is excellent. I’d refer readers to her first book and podcast rather than to this one.

The Cloisters by Katy Hays (2 stars) – If a book is accumulating a lot of bad or mediocre reviews, it’s not always a deterrent for me picking it up. Books are often very subjective, and I frequently find myself with unpopular bookish opinions. The Cloisters, unfortunately, was a case where I should have trusted the reviews. Nothing really happens for the vast majority of this book, but its lack of plot is not offset by strong writing or interesting characters. On the contrary, everyone in this book is very flat, particularly our personality-lacking main character. Given its subject matter, I’d expect a lot more intrigue, but it simply never appears.

In December, I was lucky enough to discover two new 5-star reads, and also picked up several holiday romances. Let’s dive in!

Stats

Total books read: 8

Audiobooks: 2

ebooks: 1

#readmyowndamnbooks: 5

2022 releases: 6

Reviews

How to Be Eaten by Maria Adelmann (5 stars) – This ticked so many boxes for what I want in a book. It’s a modern-day retelling of fairytales through a feminist lens and using the device of a support group for women who have been through traumatic and public experiences. I love when books use old stories to shed light on relevant current issues, and I loved the dynamic between the complex female characters that comprise the support group.

Caste: The Origins of Our Discontents by Isabel Wilkerson (5 stars) – A nonfiction work that explores the history and current state of racism in the U.S. through the lens of caste that is powerful, informative, incredibly well-researched, and devastating. It’s a book that you immediately realize should be required reading in this country.

Cursed Bunny by Bora Chung (4 stars) – This was one of those random indie bookstore finds that I ended up picking up much sooner than I thought I would. A lot of the initial appeal was based on the cover (I love bunnies in general; also, Bunny by Mona Awad is my favorite book of all time) but anytime I see a book of strange short stories I’m also drawn towards it. I found Chung’s writing to be overall quite strong, although my enjoyment of the stories themselves varied somewhat. The titular story was one of my favorites, and I liked the unsettling center at many of her tales.

Window Shopping by Tessa Bailey (4 stars) – I’m a year late to the party on this one, but I’m so glad I picked it up! This contemporary novella is possibly my new favorite holiday romance, and it’s a representation of the best of Tessa Bailey, an author I’ve had mixed results with in the past. It’s a good mix of spicy and sweet, with interesting main characters and a fun setting, and I read it while trapped inside during a massive blizzard. Definitely recommend!

The American Roommate Experiment by Elena Armas (4 stars) – Was this as good as The Spanish Love Deception? Not quite, speaking about the actual romance, but I still thoroughly enjoyed Armas’s writing style. Like Armas’s debut, I started this one very slowly, then binge-read the last half. Could this illustrate a pacing issue? Maybe, but I really don’t have any complaints about her style or the story; I just find these books very fun.

Kiss Her Once for Me by Alison Cochran (3.5 stars) – Another holiday romance I picked up during the month. I was hoping to enjoy Kiss Her Once for Me more than this author’s debut, The Charm Offensive, that ended up on so many favorites lists but was just OK for me personally, but I think I ended up liking the two about the same amount. Neither are favorites; this one had some fun tropes, and I liked the family characters, but the miscommunication was extremely frustrating to read about.

Your Table is Ready by Michael Cecchi-Azzolina (3.5 stars) – An interesting memoir on audiobook about a man who spent his career as a fixture in the New York restaurant scene, working as a waiter and maitre d’. It’s an interesting read for foodies and fans of Anthony Bourdain-type culinary memoirs, and a very entertaining listen.

You’re a Mean One, Matthew Prince by Timothy Janovsky (3 stars) – This was my second underwhelming contemporary romance audiobook from this author; I picked it up looking for a holiday romance on audio and had a much more difficult time than expected getting through it, because I kept falling asleep every time I pressed play. (I’m not kidding! I don’t mean that in a mean way; that’s actually what happened.) I liked the premise, and the main character’s journey, but the romance didn’t work as well as I’d have liked and the ending wasn’t my favorite.