I had a great reading month to kick off 2025, including three 5-star reads (!), one of which was a re-read of an all-time favorite, and a very fun romantasy from a new-to-me author. Let’s get into it!

Stats

Total books read: 6

BOTM: 1

Re-reads: 1

eARCs: 1

In Other Lands by Sarah Rees Brennan (5 stars) (4th re-read) – This is, and always will be, one of my all-time favorite reads, and due to a stressful time at work I was due for another re-read. Here’s my review:

5 stars is not enough. I loved the crap out of this book.

In Other Lands fits right into that niche genre of books that satirize and also pay homage to traditional portal fantasy stories, like Lev Grossman’s Magicians series, or Rainbow Rowell’s Carry On, or Seanan McGuire’s Wayward Children series. If you liked any of those, you’ll also probably love this book. We follow Elliott, a young bisexual British boy, who’s given the opportunity to enter the fantasy realm of his dreams–except nothing there is as he expects it to be, and he finds himself constantly challenging society’s expectations and norms. Elliott is extremely intelligent but very difficult in social situations, and he’s constantly butting heads with everyone around him except for his crush, Serene-Heart-In-the-Chaos-of-Battle, a beautiful elf maiden who is also, like all female elves, a deadly warrior. The two of them form an at-first tension-filled friend group with Luke Sunborn, a seemingly perfect stereotypical male fantasy hero, with the three of them gradually becoming closer and learning more about accepting each other’s faults as they progress in their training to join the Border Guard, which acts as a military force policing both the fantasy realm and its border with the human ones.

I will say that if you are a stickler for structured plots, then you may have issues with this book. Personally, as long as I’m enjoying what I’m reading and I love the characters, I could care less about having drawn-out battle scenes or whatever, so it didn’t bother me at all, but I could see some readers taking issue with the fact that the story meanders without following a traditional conflict/resolution fantasy plot struture.

This book is a beautiful story about growing up and learning to challenge traditionally held beliefs, which may not be the right ones, and learning to understand and accept yourself for who you are. It’s about friendship and how people can complement each other while still being from very different backgrounds. It’s about learning your strengths and using them to make the world a better place. It made me laugh out loud continuously and also cry multiple times. It’s one that I can see myself re-reading and enjoying just as much each time. It’s honestly wonderful, and I really hope that more people read it.

Edit: Upon re-read, In Other Lands has become one of my favorite books of all time. You should all stop what you are reading and immediately read this instead, because it’s better.

The Ministry of Time by Kaliane Bradley (5 stars) – I picked up this Book of the Month pick awhile back despite the fact that I wasn’t sure I would vibe with the premise of a time-travel romance, and was inspired to finally start it after seeing it on President Obama’s favorite books of the year and wondering how such a seemingly odd pick made it on there. It turns out that I had a lot of misconceptions about what this book actually is, which is a meditation on colonialism, government corruption, generational trauma, and racism. In this story, the British government has developed time travel technology, and they decide to test its safety and efficacy by bringing several people from history that they know are already about to die to the present day, so that their interference doesn’t impact the course of history. These “expats,” as they’re called, are assigned handlers to help acclimate them to modern society, and that’s where our protagonist comes in. We’re following a translator who applies to the program for its financial benefits and who is assigned to a British naval officer whose initial fate was to perish in a doomed Arctic expedition, but as we follow the relationship between these two characters, we’re also learning more about the fraught expedition itself, the insidious racism of the government, and the ways in which our narrator’s family history plays into her perception of the world. It’s an absolutely beautifully written, layered, and insightful book; I now understand why it was on Obama’s favorites list for 2024, and it will be making it onto my favorites list for 2025.

Stamped From the Beginning: The Definitive History of Racist Ideas in America by Ibram X. Kendi (5 stars) – This was an extremely thoroughly researched and informative read tracking the history of racist ideas in America by focusing on several chief architects of racist–and later antiracist–thought over the course of the country’s history. It’s been on my TBR ever since the Black Lives Matter movement, and I’m glad I finally picked it up. It’s a challenging read, but an extremely worthwhile one.

Potions, Poisons, and Policies by Courtney Thorne (4 stars) – This was an extremely fun enemies-to-lovers romantasy set at a magical university. The romance has strong Dramione vibes, and the relationship dynamic had excellent chemistry. The plot revolves around a poison being disseminated around campus that increases romantic feelings, and from which only the protagonist seems immune. She finds herself teaming up with her mortal enemy/academic rival to come up with an antidote, while many hijinks ensue along the way. I’d definitely recommend this to romantasy and Dramione fans.

Hers For the Weekend by Helena Greer (3.5 stars) (eARC) – I’m finding this book difficult to review, since I liked some aspects a lot more than others. For example, I found Tara, a character who was introduced in the series’ first book, to be a fascinating protagonist. She’s dealing with the very conflicting desires of working to advance social justice causes in her career as a defense attorney, while still maintaining relationships with her Southern, old-money, racist family in order to facilitate career connections to better take care of her clients. She hates her family and the obligations she feels towards them, but also feels stuck and unable to truly rebel and create a life for herself, due to fear of what might happen if she did. Her character, and struggles, are complex and well-developed; I just couldn’t say the same for her love interest, Holly, whose personality and history was just not as fully drawn and realized as Tara’s. For that reason, and also for the fact that too much of this book was focused on side characters from previous books who honestly didn’t impact either protagonist’s life too much, I couldn’t feel fully invested in the romance or plot.

I received an eARC of Hers For the Weekend from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

The Spellshop by Sarah Beth Durst (3 stars) – I seem to be in the minority by not loving this book. It has a very cute cozy fantasy cover and premise, but maybe cozy fantasy just isn’t quite my genre. The main issue, thought, was that the characters all felt very surface-level to me; there just wasn’t enough characterization to become invested in anyone’s story the way I wanted to. An unfortunate disappointment.

Stats

Books read: 8

BOTM: 3

Women in translation: 1

2024 releases: 7

Reviews

The Familiar by Leigh Bardugo (4.5 stars) – If you’re looking for a great book with fall vibes, I’d definitely recommend this historical fantasy by Leigh Bardugo. It’s set during the Spanish Inquisition and the time period is meticulously detailed and crafted around the story of Luzia, who has to hide both her Jewish ancestry and ability to do magic while surviving a world impossible for a woman like her to survive, let alone thrive, in. When her magic is revealed, however, she finds herself in a magical competition organized by powerful men looking to gain even more power by finding someone capable of performing miracles. Luzia is a scrappy, smart heroine who’s easy to root for, and the plot, with a side of romance, kept me hooked.

How Not to Drown in a Glass of Water by Angie Cruz (4.5 stars) – Highly recommend this audio, as the production is really well done with sound effects, etc. I loved how the story was slowly revealed through multiple monologues and the documents that were interspersed with the narrative.

A Magical Girl Retires by Park Seolyeon (4 stars) – I love books that present thoughtful analysis and new takes on existing genres, without losing the love of that genre that prompted their writing in the first place. A Magical Girl Retires takes the trope of the magical girl but places it in a contemporary setting, dealing with real-world issues and moral complexities. Our main character is severely depressed and financially struggling when she’s told she’s the world’s equivalent of the chosen one, a magical girl who can stop the destruction of the planet–not by fighting a supervillain, but by tackling climate change. She quickly realizes, however, that her problems and insecurities won’t actually be resolved despite her new magical girl status, and that the magical girl union itself is about to be turned on its head. I really enjoyed this short, translated novel; it’s the first book in a long time I’ve been able to read in a single sitting.

Just for the Summer by Abby Jimenez (4 stars) – I enjoyed this Abby Jimenez book more than Yours Truly; I thought it gave a thoughtful exploration of mental health issues and the importance of setting boundaries, accompanied by a strong central friendship and an enjoyable romance.

Stand Your Ground by Roxane Gay (4 stars) – This was a short-ish audiobook I listened to on Everand, featuring my favorite modern thinker’s musings on the 2nd amendment. I might have gotten more out of this if I hadn’t read Carol Anderson’s nonfiction book The Second earlier this year, but it was still a strong piece of writing and thinking.

Sanctuary by Ilona Andrews (3.5 stars) – Not my favorite Ilona Andrews by a long shot, but still a fun read. Dark wizard/priest Roman, a side character from the Kate Daniels series, is finally given his own story, aspects of which I enjoyed more than others.

The Au Pair Affair by Tessa Bailey (3.5 stars) – This was a really fun read that was a very solid 4 stars through the first 80%, but I really wasn’t a fan of the post-third-act breakup reconciliation, where it honestly seemed like the main characters shouldn’t be together anymore. I did really enjoy the Boston setting and grumpy/sunshine dynamic, as well as glimpses at the couple from book 1 and many hints for the upcoming book 3 couple.

Hum by Helen Phillips (3 stars) – This BOTM pick was a disappointment for me. The premise (a near-future setting where a new procedure is developed to hide one’s face and identity from AI) was interesting, but the plot was much more centered around motherhood themes. This wouldn’t have been an issue if the main character’s two children weren’t possibly the most annoying child characters I’ve ever read about. They were far too centered in the story for how frustrating they were.

I kicked off my 2024 reading year with a bang! Not only did I read 3 books in the 5-star range, but I also got a great start on several of my reading goals (picking up more nonfiction, romantasy, and Book of the Month titles). Let’s get into it!

Stats

Total books read: 11

#readmyowndamnbooks: 6

Nonfiction: 4

Romantasy: 2

Book of the Month: 1

How Far the Light Reaches by Sabrina Imbler (5 stars) – This was a gorgeously written nonfiction book that manages to combine memoir and science writing seamlessly through apt metaphor, and the audiobook was gorgeously narrated as well. I had a strong feeling I’d enjoy it, but I hadn’t predicted it to evoke so much emotion in me. If you enjoy learning about sea creatures and/or queer narratives, this is a must-read.

Into Thin Air by Jon Krakauer (5 stars) – This book spawned an entire obsession for me, and after posting about it and hearing from other readers, I know I’m not alone. I not only became obsessed with this tragic expedition, but with Everest and Jon Krakauer as well. His writing is gripping, as is this story, to the point that I was yelling out loud in reaction to what I was hearing (I listened to the audiobook, which I do recommend). I instantly added Krakauer’s other books to my TBR, as well as Anatoli Boukreev’s The Climb, which provides a differing perspective on the expedition. I’m late to the party on this one, and if you are too, do yourself a favor and READ THIS IMMEDIATELY.

Check and Mate by Ali Hazelwood (4.5 stars) – I don’t know if I was expecting Ali Hazelwood’s YA debut to become one of my favorites of her books, but it absolutely did. It’s very Ali Hazelwood, with a Gen Z spin, and chess-centric while still romance-focused. I found both storylines equally interesting, and I loved the side characters just as much as the main couple. Finishing this made me extremely glad that there will be 2 new Ali Hazelwood releases in 2024, or I’d be quite bereft right now.

The Lord Sorcier by Olivia Atwater (4 stars) – This one is actually a prequel novella that was included at the end of Half a Soul and featuring its two male main characters during their meeting and developing friendship. I debating including this as part of Half a Soul or giving it its own review, but because it really has a different feel to Half a Soul (and its own entry on Goodreads), I felt it could stand on its own. It’s a really concise and interesting story about disillusionment with one’s ideals and discovering how to make a difference in a more practical way, as well as a fish-out-of-water story of a young man from Faerie adapting to Regency England during its war with the French.

Half a Soul by Olivia Atwater (4 stars) – This was a really delightful and easy-to-read romantasy set in Regency England and featuring a young woman whose soul was half-stolen by a faerie when she was young, and her unexpectedly befriending the intimidating Lord Sorcier leading to a mission and adventure. I really enjoyed the read and am looking forward to continuing in the Regency Faerie Tales series.

Tripping Arcadia by Kit Mayquist (4 stars) – It’s hard to classify this book in terms of genre; it’s sort of a Gothic eat-the-rich plot involving drugs, poison, nepo babies, and betrayal. I enjoyed it, although I could tell it was a debut, and I’m interested to see what this author comes out with next.

Under the Banner of Heaven by Jon Krakauer (4 stars) – This nonfiction book focuses on the history of Mormonism and its fundamentalist sects using two horrific contemporary murders as a gateway. Its focus is much more on historical events rather than the police investigation, in contrast to the miniseries that shares its name, and it’s extremely informative and well-written. I started this soon after finishing Into Thin Air, my first Krakauer book, and although it didn’t quite live up to his monumental take on Everest exploration and tragedy, I felt I learned a lot and continue to be impressed with his writing.

A Novel Obsession by Caitlin Barasch (4 stars) – This was an absorbing debut novel featuring an “unlikable” main character that makes mistakes from minute one, but whose story is still completely addicting. I really enjoyed it.

All You Can Ever Know by Nicole Chung (4 stars) – This was a moving and emotional memoir about trans-racial adoption, a topic I knew very little about before reading it. I became very emotionally invested in the author’s journey to find her birth family and their subsequent meeting and relationship development.

Pride and Prejudice and Pittsburgh by Rachael Lippincott (3.5 stars) – This was a cute YA time-travel romance that I didn’t find quite as impactful as I was hoping. She Gets The Girl, which was co-authored by Rachael Lippincott, was one of my favorite YA reads a few years ago, so this may have been a case of my expectations being too high.

The High Mountain Court by A. K. Mulford (3.5 stars) – I’m trying to read more romantasy in 2024, and this first-in-series novel has been on my radar for awhile. I overall enjoyed the plot and characters, but wished the writing had been stronger; I’m undecided as to whether I’ll continue in this series, because I am interested in the main couple featured in book 2.

That’s a wrap on the second-to-last reading month of the year! I managed to read 2 ARCs and 2 books in the 5-star range this month, as well as what I’m pretty sure will be the longest book I’ve read in 2023. Let’s get into it.

Stats

Total books read: 9

#readmyowndamnbooks: 6

ARCs: 2

The Last Tale of the Flower Bride by Roshani Chokshi (4.5 stars) – The Last Tale of the Flower Bride is the perfect book for fans of fairytale retellings, lyrical writing, and settings heavy with atmosphere. Dual POVs center around Indigo, a mysterious woman with familial wealth, a house filled with treasures, and a penchant for the fantastical. Through the perspectives of her new husband struggling with his promises not to investigate her secrets in the present timeline, and her best friend from childhood being drawn into Indigo’s world in the past, we delve into the intrigue surrounding this almost mythical figure. It has aspects of mystery, fabulism, and a coming-of-age story. I didn’t expect to love this one as much as I did, and I look forward to Roshani Chokshi’s next foray into adult lit.

La Petite Mort by Olivie Blake (4.5 stars) -I enjoyed the heck out of La Petite Mort, a short novel by Olivie Blake. It would have been difficult for someone with my reading taste to dislike it, since it features:
-The history and local mythology of a New Orleans setting
-A fish-out-of-water but nevertheless badass bi protagonist
-A variety of supernatural creatures, notably vampires
-A love triangle that’s really more of a manipulation triangle, and/or an enemies triangle
Anyways, if you enjoy Olivie Blake and/or if any of the above appeals to you, this is a great one-sitting read (which I did not read in one sitting, I just think that would be fun).

Iron Flame by Rebecca Yarros (4 stars) – I had a lot of fun reading this sequel to Fourth Wing (making so I did sure quickly to avoid spoilers), although I didn’t feel that the pacing was on par with its predecessor. I still really enjoyed the climactic ending and abundance of action.

10 Things That Never Happened by Alexis Hall (4 stars) (ALC) – I think the cover of this contemporary romance could be better served by adding even a few Christmas lights, as it’s very much a holiday romance and this wasn’t really depicted at all. It’s extremely grumpy/sunshine and features the manager of a Bed, Bath, & Beyond-esque store faking amnesia in an attempt to keep his boss from firing him and his entire store’s staff. The conceit is silly, but the emotional development that both the protagonist and his love interest go through is heartfelt, especially with regard to the boss’s strained relationships with his family and the protagonist’s loneliness. There’s also the great humor you expect from Alexis Hall, with absurd moments and witty dialogue. I received an advanced listener copy of the audiobook of 10 Things That Never Happened from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Starling House by Alix E. Harrow (3.5 stars) – I’ve had mixed results with Harrow’s books in the past; I was disappointed by The Ten Thousand Doors of January but enjoyed her fairytale retelling novellas. Starling House felt quite different than either of those, and I thought that many aspects of it were really strong. I loved the “unlikable” main character, off-the-beaten-path setting, and mysterious folklore aspects, although I really could have done without the romance.

Keeper of Enchanted Rooms by Charlie N. Holmberg (3.5 stars) – This historical fantasy was a bit of a spontaneous choice for me to pick up this month, and I found it to be an overall cozy and enjoyable audiobook experience. I could have done without the romance, which I didn’t realize would be such a large part of the novel, but I enjoyed the unconventionally haunted house and found family aspects.

The Long Game by Elena Armas (3.5 stars) (eARC) – I found Armas’s third contemporary romance to be my least favorite of hers so far, and also the least fun to read. It’s heavier in subject matter, which I don’t usually mind, but the two main characters were both pretty joyless people and that made reading about their romance less entertaining. It was pitched as grumpy/grumpy rather than grumpy/sunshine, but the two came across as more rude and immature than anything else, so much so that I wasn’t sure I was rooting for them to get together. There are moments of cuteness and levity; I liked the parts about the girls’ soccer team, and the small town’s mayor seems like she could be an interesting main character in a spinoff novel, but it was overall a bit too solemn for what I was looking for in a romance. I received an eARC of The Long Game from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I Want to Die But I Want to Eat Tteokbokki by Baek Se-Hee (3.5 stars) – I wished this nonfiction book, which features transcripts between the author and her therapist, had been longer and more fully realized; it had some really strong moments but in my opinion needed more development.

Number Go Up: Inside Crypto’s Wild Rise and Staggering Fall by Zeke Faux (3 stars) – Parts of this were interesting, but if you’re looking to read a great book about the scams inherent in the crypto world, I’d instead recommend Easy Money by Ben McKenzie and Jacob Silverman. I just didn’t find Number Go Up to be as compelling or interestingly written as that one.

Yes, I already posted my October wrap-up, but that doesn’t mean I forgot about September!

Stats

Total books read: 9

#readmyowndamnbooks: 5

Novellas: 2

The Atlas Paradox by Olivie Blake (5 stars) – This series is all about characters and vibes, and I’m relieved that I loved this second installment almost as much as the first. It made me extremely excited for The Atlas Complex, which comes out in January.

Such Sharp Teeth by Rachel Harrison (4.5 stars) – Is this my new favorite Rachel Harrison book?? It’s hard to decide, because I’ve loved everything I’ve read from her, but Such Sharp Teeth is definitely one of her strongest. Werewolf transformation is used to explore past trauma and the body horror aspects of womanhood, and it does very well exploring family and friend dynamics alongside and interwoven with its supernatural plotline. Really, really well done.

The Two Doctors Gorski by Isaac Fellman (4 stars) – I’ll pick up almost anything categorized as dark academia, and this novella was no different. It definitely took a different turn than I was expecting, which I appreciated, and had a very interesting premise and message.

House of Hunger by Alexis Henderson (4 stars) – I think I may have anticipated a more subtle Gothic story with this one, but it’s definitively horror, and sometimes quite graphic. I liked our indomitable protagonist and the author’s imaginative take on the Blood Countess story.

The Pallbearers Club by Paul Tremblay (4 stars) – I would say that this book isn’t my typical genre, but I do gravitate overall to books that sound strange, so maybe it is. The audio performance of this one is very well done and manages to capture the spirit of two narrators who disagree over the unfolding of events; it’s an atmospheric fall read that avoids overt gore but still manages to be subtly creepy.

Codename Charming by Lucy Parker (3.5 stars) – I wasn’t wowed by this follow-up to Battle Royal in the Palace Insiders series. The romance between an assistant to the royal family and a bodyguard was cute, but I wasn’t as captivated by these leads as I have been by some of Parker’s past protagonists.

What the Hex by Alexis Daria (3.5 stars) – A cute, witchy, rivals-to-lovers romance novella set on a hidden island populated by magical families and set during a wedding uniting two of them. Our main characters, the Maid of Honor and Best Man, need to work together to save the wedding and free their families from an unexpected curse; hijinks and chemistry ensue. This was a fun audio listen for Halloween season.

Once Upon a Broken Heart by Stephanie Garber (3 stars) – This YA romantasy trilogy is extremely popular on BookTok, so I wanted to give it a try; I did find the main characters interesting, but I wasn’t a huge fan of the writing style. I’m not sure yet if I’ll continue to the sequel.

None of This is True by Lisa Jewell (3 stars) – I picked up this thriller for book club, and although the premise sounded really interesting and I liked the multi-format audio performance, the actual plot was lackluster for me.

In July, I went to France for a wedding, and then went on a group trip through Scandinavia that I absolutely loved. I did some travel reading and ended up with a mood-read as well. I may not have found any new 5-star reads, but I certainly still picked up some great ones. Let’s get into the stats!

Stats

Total books read: 9

#readmyowndamnbooks: 6

Re-reads: 1

Reviews

The Love Hypothesis by Ali Hazelwood (5 stars) (re-read) – Due to moving stress, I found myself in need of a comforting re-read with a guaranteed HEA, and literally binge-read this book in a single day. From my initial review: I honestly just enjoyed the crap out of this book–it’s grumpy/sunshine fake dating in an academia setting, based on Star Wars fanfiction, and it’s extremely sweet and also very funny. It’s a book that I can see myself re-reading when I’m in a bad mood, and if you’re a romance fan, I definitely recommend picking it up!

Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros (4 stars) – Ok, so this book is everywhere right now, so I’m not going to do a long-winded review. This book has a lot in common with other popular fantasy/romance books, and it still manages to be a fast-paced and extremely entertaining read despite reminding me of several other series. It’s compelling, it’s action-packed, it’s got a good romance, and it made me like dragons more than I normally do.

Fairytales of the Macabre by Olivie Blake (4 stars) – I’m in my Olivie Blake era and I never want to leave. I found Blake’s indie-published trilogy of short story collections on Amazon soon before it was announced that they’re being edited and combined into a single collection for a mainstream publisher, and I’m glad to have found them first in their original and complete forms. This was a solid collection of dark fairytale retellings with unexpected twists, and I look forward to the next two in this series.

My Mechanical Romance by Alexene Farol Follmuth (4 stars) – This is written under beloved adult fantasy author Olivie Blake’s real name (Blake is a pen name), under which she writes YA. I knew already that I loved her adult work (The Atlas Six was stellar) and I ended up loving her take on YA as well. This book deals heavily with women in STEM, a topic close to my heart, and included well-developed friendships and romances as well. I’ll continue picking up lots from this author.

Under a White Sky by Elizabeth Kolbert (4 stars) – Kolbert’s writing about the environment and climate change research is interesting and informative; I also enjoyed her book The Sixth Extinction. The audio narration was well done also.

Alexandra Petri’s U.S. History: Important American Documents I Made Up by Alexandra Petri (3.5 stars) – This was a bit underwhelming for me; my expectations may have been too high. I loved the concept of the premise (humorous takes on U.S. history) but didn’t find the execution as funny as I wanted it to be. It was still a fun read, but not a laugh-out-loud one.

Thank You for Listening by Julia Whelan (3.5 stars) – I liked the idea of a book about an audio narrator written and narrated by an audio narrator probably a bit more than the actual storyline of this book. I enjoyed the family and friendship dynamics, as well as the main character’s journey, but didn’t vibe with the romance. I also don’t really think this should have been marketed as romance, as the book would have worked just fine without that element.

For Butter or Worse by Erin La Rosa (3.5 stars) – A food-focused contemporary romance about rival chefs fake dating that was fun but didn’t necessarily blow me away.

The Woman Who Fooled by World by Beau Donelly and Nick Toscano (3 stars) – I first heard about Instagram scammer Belle Gibson on the Maintenance Phase podcast, and picked up this audiobook for an easy nonfiction read. It wasn’t as interesting as I was hoping.

My belated June post is here! I focused a lot of my reading on LGBTQIA+ reads for Pride month, listened to several nonfiction reads, and read a pick for my book club. Let’s get into it!

Stats

Total books read: 9

LGBTQIA+ books: 5

#readmyowndamnbooks: 4

Reviews

Poverty, by America by Matthew Desmond (5 stars) – I felt like I learned a lot from this very short and effective audiobook. I think there’s still a lot for me to learn on this topic, but this was informative as well as a call to action, and I’d highly recommend it.

Imogen, Obviously by Becky Albertalli (4.25 stars) – My YA reads keep knocking it out of the park in 2023! I’ve never read Becky Albertalli before but follow her on Instagram, and so I’ve been eyeing her newest release for so long that I eventually pre-ordered the audiobook. And I’m so glad I did! This book is so sweet and reads so authentic (I do know that Albertalli based some of it on her personal experiences, but within a YA lens), and it’s full of well-developed and interesting side characters that I enjoyed spending time with. The friendships and family relationships are just as important as the central romance, and it’s really a book about Imogen learning about herself and her bisexuality. This bi reader gives it a definite recommendation!

The Foxglove King by Hannah Whitten (4 stars) – I really enjoyed this macabre fantasy featuring death magic, court politics, spying, mystery, and a love triangle. Its sequel, The Hemlock Queen, will be out next year.

Our Wives Under the Sea by Julia Armfield (4 stars) – A dreamlike fabulist short novel told in dual perspectives, one of which created fascinating tension and the other frustratingly stagnant. I enjoyed the book’s conclusion, but I thought it could have been condensed to be more effective.

The Fiancee Farce by Alexandria Bellefleur (4 stars) – One of my favorite contemporary romances of the year! In addition to a gorgeous cover, I really enjoyed the fake engagement premise and loved both of our main characters, as well as their dynamic with one another. Alexandria Bellefleur’s writing continues to work really well for me, and I look forward to her next release.

Forget Me Not by Alyson Derrick (4 stars) – This YA contemporary romance featured amnesia, which I wasn’t sure how I’d feel about, but I like the way the story was handled and the dynamic between the two main characters. I’m having great luck with YA in 2023.

In Defense of Witches: The Legacy of the Witch Hunts and Why Women Are Still On Trial by Mona Chollet (4 stars) – An informative manifesto about the historical mistreatment of women and how it continues in society today. I thought this was very well done, but it did drag for me through the last part.

The Guncle by Steven Rowley (3.5 stars) – I read this one for my book club, and found it at times sweet and at others too saccharine for my taste. It was a fairly entertaining audiobook, but a bit too cute for me to pick up if it hadn’t been a club pick.

Hey, Hun: Sales, Sisterhood, Supremacy, and the Other Lies Behind Multilevel Marketing by Emily Lynn Paulson (3 stars) – I’m very interested in learning more about the scams and scandals of MLMs, particularly after watching the documentary LuLaRich, but this memoir was just OK for me.

Stats

Total books read: 9

2023 releases: 3

#readmyowndamnbooks: 3

Babel by R. F. Kuang (5 stars) – I started reading Babel at the very beginning of the year, and this weekend I finally finished it! Sometimes when I’m really loving a book, I read it extremely slowly, until I get to a certain threshold and need to devour it. I knew when I started it that Babel would be a 5 star read for me (and all of the glowing reviews were further clues in that direction) but it’s hard to prepare yourself for a book this devastatingly powerful. I’ll be thinking about this one for a long, long time.

Magic Tides by Ilona Andrews (4.5 stars) – Ilona Andrews is bringing joy to the world by coming out with new novellas starring Kate Daniels, heroine of their 10-book series (and my favorite UF series of all time) that take place after the end of book 10. I knew I’d love this book, but it was actually even better than I expected, possibly because I love Kate and all of the side characters so much. This was a great first-in-series/follow-up-to-series which made me immediately wish the next book was out. Luckily, it’s out in June!

The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches by Sangu Mandanna (4 stars) – Contemporary paranormal romances have been a mixed bag for me, so I was initially skeptical of this one until a friend convinced me to give it a try. And it was extremely cute! All of the side characters were delightful, and it was a very happy book, which is very much needed sometimes.

Wordslut: A Feminist Guide to Taking Back the English Language by Amanda Montell (4 stars) – A nonfiction book that was both interesting and informative that I’d recommend to readers of feminist works who are also interested in history and etymology.

If Only You by Chloe Liese (4 stars) – This is the 6th book in Liese’s contemporary romance Bergman Brothers series, but it’s only my second read in the series since I’m approaching it very out of order. I previously loved her modern Shakespeare retelling Two Wrongs Make a Right and enjoyed her Christmas novella The Mistletoe Motive, so now I’m jumping into her longest-running series. I’m not usually interested in sports romances, but Liese’s focus is much more centered around emotional growth and mental health, which keeps me coming back to her work. Ziggy is a great main character to root for, and I enjoyed both the romance and Liese’s writing.

Secretly Yours by Tessa Bailey (4 stars) – I’ve gone back and forth a lot about Tessa Bailey on this blog; Secretly Yours was one of hers that worked for me. It’s cute and enjoyable, although I did want the main characters to communicate more. I do plan to pick up its follow-up, Unfortunately Yours, featuring side characters introduced in this one.

Sweep of the Heart by Ilona Andrews (4 stars) – After Magic Tides, I needed more Ilona Andrews in my life, so I picked up their 2022 scifi release that features an alien version of The Bachelor but to pick a consort for the ruler of a bunch of planets. It was a really fun read, even if this isn’t my favorite series of theirs.

Book of Night by Holly Black (4 stars) – I wasn’t a huge fan of Holly Black’s Cruel Prince trilogy (I know, don’t hate me) but I enjoyed some of her earlier work enough to pick up her adult debut, Book of Night. I saw it getting so many negative reviews from fans of her YA that I wondered if, conversely, I might like it, and that instinct seems to have been correct. It’s a contemporary fantasy set in Western Massachusetts about 25 years after the art of shadow magic has been introduced to the world, and our morally grey protagonist is just trying to take care of herself and her sister while staying distant from her former life of crime. But when a man is murdered over a stolen book, she gets drawn into a mystery. The writing is skillful and I was a fan of Charlie, our “unlikable” protagonist, that we get to know both through her present as a bartender and her past getting drawn into becoming a thief and con artist due to a difficult childhood.

The Pisces by Melissa Broder (3 stars) – A disappointment after I enjoyed/was impressed by her sophomore novel Milk Fed. This just didn’t feel interesting or innovative enough for me despite the fact that one of the main characters is a merman.

Unfortunately, March wasn’t my favorite reading month, although I did still find several books I enjoyed (including a new 5-star read!). Several books I chose were a bit disappointing (or more than a bit, in the case of one in particular). Let’s get into the stats and reviews!

Stats

Total books read: 10

#readmyowndamnbooks: 5

Audiobooks: 3

ebooks: 2

Novellas: 3

All’s Well by Mona Awad (5 stars) – This Shakespeare-infused fever dream reminded me of everything I love about Mona Awad and her creative, entrancing writing. (A reminder: she wrote my FAVORITE BOOK OF ALL TIME, Bunny!) I think that anyone who loved this book will also really enjoy Margaret Atwood’s Hag-Seed, and vice versa, as both use Shakespeare’s works in twisted and modernized ways, but All’s Well is also completely unique. On its surface, it’s about Miranda, a theater professor experiencing chronic pain after a tragic fall off of a stage, who miraculously finds a respite after encountering three mysterious men in a bar; it’s infused with aspects of All’s Well That Ends Well, the play that Miranda insists on her students performing despite their objections, as well as Macbeth, the play that the students actually want to perform. It’s tricky and fabulist, and at times reminded me of cautionary fairy tales. It also extensively discusses the invisibility of chronic pain as well as the reluctance of people to believe women’s pain in general, while subverting all expectations about where the story is going. I’ll keep picking up anything this author writes.

Assembly by Natasha Brown (4 stars) – The writing in this novella is incredible, as is its characterization and discussions surrounding racism. It would have been a 5-star read for me had it not been for one aspect of the plot that I, as a health care provider, can’t get behind, even as a symbolic literary choice meant to emphasize the exhaustion the main character is facing from systemic racism.

All of Us Villains by Amanda Foody and Christine Lynn Herman (4 stars) – This YA fantasy was a surprise hit for me! I haven’t seen many reviews, let alone many positive ones, but I’m here to tell you that this book is dark and underrated fun. The town of Ilvernath hosts a secret, deadly competition every twenty years between its powerful magical families, with the prize being control of a rare type of magic that’s disappeared from everywhere else. This year, however, the secret’s out–an anonymous author has released a tell-all depicting the entire blood-soaked history of the town’s tournament, which involves a teenage representative of each magical family battling each other with spellwork until there’s only one champion left standing. So now journalists and paparazzi have flooded Ilvernath, lending even more pressure and weight to this year’s contest and its unique champions. It’s told in four different perspectives, with great audio narration, and it’s a suspenseful ride full of magic, alliances, betrayal, and a potential enemies-to-lovers romance.

Our Favorite Songs by Anita Kelly (4 stars) – I continued to love Anita Kelly’s sweet, big-hearted, romantic writing with this second installment of their Moonlighters novella series, which is centered around a queer karaoke bar. This one is sort of an enemies-to-lovers story; the protagonists knew each other in high school but each had misinterpreted the other’s behavior, and when they meet again as adults they reconnect in a new way. I’m continually impressed with how fully Anita Kelly develops characters in such a short format, and makes their romances feel complete yet concise.

The Verifiers by Jane Pek (3.5 stars) – I’m very hit-or-miss with mysteries, rarely finding ones I vibe with, and although it did drag at times, I overall enjoyed modern-day techno-mystery The Verifiers. It’s set around the world of online dating, but my favorite aspect was its likable heroine, an avid mystery reader who jumps into investigating the death of a client at her company, and the dynamics surrounding her family.

Stuck With You by Ali Hazelwood (3.5 stars) – I felt similarly about this second book in Hazelwood’s Steminist novella trilogy compared to the previous installment, with the caveat that I think I enjoyed it slightly more? I’m beginning to notice repetitiveness in Hazelwood’s writing style and characterizations; I absolutely loved The Love Hypothesis, but I feel like the protagonists of its two follow-up novellas are essentially the same as in that novel. It was still a fun audiobook, but I’m lowering my expectations for the trilogy’s third installment and, unfortunately, her new novel that comes out this summer.

The Cult of We: WeWork, Adam Neumann, and the Great Startup Delusion by Eliot Brown and Maureen Farrell (3 stars) – After listening to the WeCrashed podcast and watching Hulu’s WeWork documentary, I still had questions and interest in the failure of this once-lauded startup company. Parts of this book were interesting, but parts dragged, and I felt like it focused overmuch on numbers rather than telling a story. However, I’m still interested in the story enough to watch the scripted WeCrashed show that’s coming out this month.

The Secret to Superhuman Strength by Alison Bechdel (3 stars) – I haven’t read a graphic novel in several years, and I picked this one up because Alison Bechdel was doing a speaking event in my city. Unfortunately, I missed her event, and also unfortunately, I wasn’t a huge fan of this memoir that used the author’s fitness journey to discuss her developing relationship with different philosophies. It didn’t work for me as well as her other graphic memoir Fun Home, feeling too didactic and self-aware for my personal taste.

Stone Heart by Katee Robert (3 stars) – I loved the first two books in Katee Robert’s Dark Olympus series, Neon Gods and Electric Idol, but unfortunately this prequel novella featuring an instalove romance between Medusa and Calypso lacked enough plot and character development for me to fully get on board. I’m still really looking forward to the next book in the series, Wicked Beauty, which I’ve preordered.

House of Sky and Breath by Sarah J. Maas (2 stars) – Coming from someone who really enjoyed House of Earth and Blood, this book is without a doubt my most disappointing read so far in 2022. Here is my succinct, fairly spoiler-free pro/con breakdown of why.

Pros:
-I like the worldbuilding and the wide variety of magical creatures
-A lot of the side characters are interesting/compelling

Cons:
-Please stop using the word alphahole
-I really really hate that our male lead is an ANGEL who wears a BACKWARDS BASEBALL CAP
-The plot in this one is really, really rough. It doesn’t make sense, it’s repetitive, and I don’t understand the point of the vast majority of it.
-I really don’t like the central romance
-It’s really not interesting when every single character is the most powerful person ever
-I liked Bryce so much less in this book
-The ending is truly terrible
-The most interesting (to me) characters are either dead or not really even in this book
-If so much of the plot hinges on Danika, she really shouldn’t have died so early in book 1, because it makes no sense that she hid everything about herself from someone she had such a deep bond with
-This book could have been better in SO MANY WAYS that reading it was incredibly frustrating.