what i’m reading

Categories: Books

What I’m Reading (5.24.21)

Happy Monday, friends! It’s Lucy day! I am taking the afternoon off work so Mom and I can go pick her up. I can’t wait to see how Chip responds to her and how she handles her new home. Eeks! So exciting!

Last week, I finished four books—woop! Here are my reviews:

I’ll Be There for You: The One About Friends by Kelsey Miller (★★★★☆)

One-sentence synopsis: A book all about the cultural phenomenon that was the TV show, Friends, which aired from 1994-2004.

I mean, how could I not love a book all about one of my favorite TV shows? This book was excellent, well-researched, and so fun to read. It starts by giving readers background into how the show came to be and how it was cast, and then takes you through the seasons, including how things changed, fame-wise, for the cast as the show got more and more popular. I appreciated that the book addressed the lack of diversity, fatphobia, and homophobia of the show. So many of the jokes would not fly on TV today, that’s for sure! (Fat Monica, anyone?!) Anyway, if you love Friends or even have a passing appreciation for it, definitely pick up this book. It’s a fun, light-hearted look into the show!

Life’s Too Short by Abby Jimenez (★★☆☆☆)

Short synopsis: After Vanessa, a popular YouTuber, becomes the sole caretaker of her infant niece, her life changes drastically. Enter Adrian: her hot, next-door neighbor who is surprisingly a baby whisperer.

Ohhh, are we ready for a spicy opinion? I hope so! I did not love this book. I’ve read three books by Jimenez—two were 2-star reads and one was a 5-star read. I was hoping this would be another winner, but it was most definitely not. The whole premise of the novel hinges on Vanessa believing she has just a year to live. She’s 29 and both her mother and older sister died when they were 30. There’s an actual medical reason she believes this (which I won’t get into since it could be spoiler-y), but Vanessa refused to get diagnosed. The way she sees it, knowing won’t change the way she’s living her life. While I could sympathize with Vanessa’s fear, I just found it to be wholly unbelievable that you wouldn’t try to get diagnosed so you would know for sure. Why live with this fear if you don’t have to, you know? If you’re already living your life as if you’re going to die at 30, are you really living life to its fullest? It just didn’t make sense to me. And then there’s Adrian. Sigh. I loved Adrian but he was a bit too perfect and one-dimensional. Find me a single, thirtysomething man with a stressful career who wants to spend his limited free time babysitting a newborn… I’ll wait. Many other things irked me, or just weren’t written to be very believable, such as the depiction of single motherhood, the life coach-y platitudes Vanessa was constantly throwing out (usually to counteract Adrian’s generalized anxiety, which is very unhelpful!), and the weird way a family member’s hoarding disease was handled. All in all, not a book I’d recommend.

Then She Was Gone by Lisa Jewell (★★★★☆)

One-sentence synopsis: It’s been 10 years since Laurel’s 15-year-old daughter, Ellie, disappeared and when she’s swept off her feet by a man named Floyd, she’s shocked to find out his 9-year-old daughter bears a striking resemblance to Ellie.

I really liked this thriller! It was well-paced and for a while, I didn’t know what was going on or how everything connected. I liked the way the author split the book into several different parts, with each part unveiling a tiny bit of the mystery. For example, part one was all about the weeks leading up to Ellie’s disappearance and Laurel’s state of mind after her daughter went missing. Part two dives into Laurel meeting Floyd. And so on. I enjoyed most of the characters in the novel (though the 9-year-old could be exhausting at times, lol) and the resolution was satisfying.

American Like Me: Reflections on Life Between Cultures by America Ferrera (★★★★☆)

One-sentence synopsis: Essays from celebrities, activists, and politicians about what it means to be a person of color in today’s America.

I loved this essay collection! Some essays were more impactful than others, but every person wrote from a place of honesty, vulnerability, and hope. I loved seeing such an eclectic mix of perspectives—everyone from Congressman Joaquin Castro to Lin-Manuel Miranda to trans supermodel Geena Rocero. It’s a great collection and one I’d encourage anyone to pick up!

What I’m Reading This Week

I have a little less than 40 pages to go in Making Up by Helena Hunting, a contemporary romance that I’m basically hate-reading at this point. I have thoroughly enjoyed all of Helena Hunting’s romances so I am surprised by how bad this one is. I think my main issue is the age gap between the characters (the heroine is 22 and the hero is 33). Sometimes decade+ age gaps can work in romance, but it’s just not doing it for me in this one.

Once I finish that romance, I’ll start The Midnight Library by Matt Haig, a book I’m excited to start! It’s gotten mixed reviews from friends so I’m going in with lowered expectations. We’ll see where I fall on the spectrum! I’m also going to start Elementary Romantic Calculus by Susannah Nix sometime this week. I’ve enjoyed most of Nix’s contemporary romances and this is her newest release (came out last week!), so I’m hoping it’s a good one.

What are you reading?

Categories: Books

What I’m Reading (5.17.21)

Good morning! I’m happy to have a nice stack of books to review with you today. Over the last two weeks, I’ve finished four books. I’m still reading at a much slower pace than I was last year (I set my Goodreads goal at 150 books and I am always a few books behind), but that’s okay! It just means I have a better balance in my hobbies this year, haha. Here’s what I’ve been reading:

A Week to Be Wicked by Tessa Dare (★★★★★)

One-sentence synopsis: Minerva must get to Scotland to present her scientific findings, but she can’t go alone so she hatches a plan to get an eligible bachelor (and the man she can’t stop thinking of), Colin, to come along with her.

Oh, I just loved this historical romance. Tessa Dare consistently knocks it out of the park for me, and this was one of those rare five-star romances for me. I loved Minerva and her passion for science and discovery. And I adored Colin and the way he cared for Minerva and encouraged her scientific prowess. He wasn’t a man who was intimidated by her brain but loved her all the more for it. Their love story was so sweet to witness, especially watching the barriers come down between them. This is the second book in Dare’s Spindle Cove series and I’m loving it so much!

The Four Winds by Kristin Hannah (★★★★☆)

One-sentence synopsis: A story about a family surviving through the Great Depression and Dust Bowl, and their experiences as migrants when they travel from Texas to California in search of a better life.

This book was incredibly difficult to read. At a certain point, I had to limit myself to reading just a few chapters a day because it was just so depressing. This family goes through so much struggle and heartbreak, but it’s something so many families went through during the Great Depression. The book is well-written with complex characters that you can’t help but root for, and I appreciated the incredible history lesson I got from this book. But I can’t lie: When I finished it, I was just so happy to be done and out of this sad world.

When No One is Watching by Alyssa Cole (★★★☆☆)

One-sentence synopsis: Sydney has lived in her Brooklyn neighborhood nearly her whole life but weird things are happening now: long-time neighbors are disappearing and gentrification is happening faster than she can keep up with.

This book is being marketed as a thriller (it’s even right there on the cover: “a thriller”) and I think it fails to live up to the twists and turns I expect from my thrillers. It didn’t feel much like a thriller until the last few chapters. I think it’s better to read this as a subversive fiction novel that takes gentrification and turns it all on its head. And as that, the novel works. It’s horrifying and rage-inducing to read about this gentrifying Brooklyn neighborhood and the white people who move in and expect everything to change for them. I loved Sydney as a character and her deep passion for her community and Black culture. I also really enjoyed Theo (a white neighbor who moves in, but seems to genuinely want to help), as he was that kind of “good white person” many white people think we are (including me). It’s always helpful to realize the ways we are being complicit in racism. The book completely jumped the shark at the end for me, though, and really soured me on the book as a whole. It just wasn’t a very well-executed thriller. So, in my opinion, read it to learn more about the horrors of gentrification—don’t read it for the thriller aspect.

The Ex Talk by Rachel Lynn Solomon (★★★☆☆)

One-sentence synopsis: Work enemies Shay and Dominic must work together to create a podcast for their public radio station, pretending to be exes who are now giving relationship advice to the masses.

This was a good contemporary romance, although I had my issues with it. Here’s what I liked: Shay and Dominic’s dynamic was super fun, getting an inside look into public radio was fascinating, and the insidiousness of misogyny in the workplace was really well done. Here’s what I didn’t like: I hated the way the author made Shay’s single life seem so lonely and desperate. All single people are not just waiting for their soulmate to start living! I had problems with the ethics of podcast hosts lying to their listenership. I would feel so betrayed if I found out, like, Knox and Jamie of The Popcast despise each other, you know? I also took issue with the idea of a boss forcing his employees to spend time together at a cabin with one bed. That’s so inappropriate and would never happen in real life! Basically, this book required a ton of suspension of belief, and I just couldn’t get there with this romance. Oh, and I also was appalled by Shay as a dog owner. She adopts a really needy dog from a shelter early in the book and the day after she gets him, she puts in a 12+ hour day at the office. Umm, what? You can’t do that when you have a dog, especially right after adopting him! (I was seriously expecting a scene where Shay comes home to find her dog has destroyed her home and had accidents all over the house, but nope.)

What I’m Reading This Week

Then She Was Gone by Lisa Jewell (audiobook) – I’m a little more than halfway done with this thriller and it’s excellent so far. I have no idea where it’s going or how everything connects, and those are the best kinds of thrillers.
I’ll Be There for You: The One About Friends by Kelsey Miller – Ahhh, I am loving this book! Friends is one of my all-time favorite shows and the best comfort watch, and it’s really fun learning the ins and outs of this show.
Life’s Too Short by Abby Jimenez – This contemporary romance has been really fun so far. I love the dynamics between the two main characters, and I’m just really enjoying my time with this book.

What are you reading?

Categories: Books

What I’m Reading (5.3.21)

Well, what a weekend I had. I was down for the count after my second COVID vaccine on Thursday. I was one of the unlucky ones who got to experience all of the blasted side effects, starting at 5 a.m. on Friday and lasting until Sunday afternoon. Most of Friday was spent with flu-like symptoms: body aches, headache, a fever, nausea, and chills. I couldn’t do anything on Friday. I just laid around in bed, ate some chicken soup, drank copious bottles of Gatorade. I didn’t want to read or watch TV, but I did scroll through about 10,000 Instagram Reels (approximately). The fever and the body aches were the worst of all my symptoms. They were miserable! Saturday, I woke up feeling much better, but my energy was still very low and I was dealing with a headache and some weird mid-back pain. I think I must have strained it from the way I was lying in bed, maybe? But let me tell you: give me sciatica pain over that mid-back pain any day. It was super uncomfortable! I also didn’t have much of an appetite, and all I wanted to eat was plain food (like all I wanted for dinner was mashed potatoes… so weird.)

Just as I figured I was on the mend, I woke up on Saturday around 11:30pm with excruciating pain in the arm that got the injection. It radiated down my arm to my wrist, up into the back of my shoulder, and even into my armpit and the side of my breast. It was so intense that I was nauseated from the pain and I honestly thought I was having a stroke. I was very close to calling my mom to take me to the ER, but since it was happening in the injection arm, I tried to calm myself down that it was most likely vaccine-related. I took ibuprofen and spent about 30 minutes icing my arm in all the different places it was hurting, and then slept on the couch since I couldn’t get comfortable on my bed. And that seemed to help because I woke up around 5:30am with the pain gone (just some soreness in my armpit). I took myself to my own bed and fell asleep pretty quickly, waking up around 11:30am and feeling back to my normal self. My arm was still a little tender (especially my armpit), but my energy levels were back, my back wasn’t hurting anymore, and my headache was gone. Woop!

So while it seems like everyone I know has had a mild reaction to their second shot, I was one of the unlucky ones who got to experience the full force of my immune system at work. It was not fun, but COVID would have been a million times worse, and for a much longer time period. So, absolutely, I would get the vaccine again in a heartbeat, even knowing what I’d have to go through. It’s 100% worth it.

Okay, enough about my vaccine reaction! Let’s talk about a much better subject: books. Unfortunately, this is going to be my “spicy opinions” week on the blog because I read one great book and two “blah” reads.

Refugee by Alan Gratz (★★★★☆)

One sentence synopsis: Stories about three children who became refugees: Josef in 1930s Germany, Isabel in 1990s Cuba, and Mahmoud in 2015 Syria.

This book was excellent and really drives home the true grit of refugees and the incredible sacrifices they make to seek a better life. I wish that anyone opposed to asylum seekers and immigration reform as a whole would read this book—these are human beings who are often trying to flee dangerous situations and they deserve our compassion and understanding. The book travels between Josef, Isabel, and Mahmoud’s stories, as they leave their home countries with their families in search of a safer place to live. Josef and his family board a ship destined for Cuba after his father is released from a concentration camp and told he must leave Germany in a matter of weeks. Isabel, her pregnant mother, her father, her grandfather, and a neighbor family leave Cuba for Miami on a DIY boat, traveling through the waters of the Caribbean. Mahmoud, his mother, father, brother, and baby sister start trekking from Syria to Germany by any means necessary: taxi, car, boat, train, etc. Each story is harrowing and dangerous, but necessary because staying in their home countries is more harrowing and dangerous. Definitely a book to add to your TBR, friends!

American Street by Ibi Zoboi (★★☆☆☆)

One-sentence synopsis: Fabiola and her mom are traveling to Detroit from Haiti when her mom is detained in customs, and Fabiola must integrate herself in this strange land—with the help of her aunt and three cousins—alone.

You guys, I just don’t think Ibi Zoboi is for me. I read Pride by her at the end of last year and while other people rave about that book, I gave it 2 stars. And while many people raved about this book, it was another 2-star read for me. There’s just something about the way she writes her characters that doesn’t work for me. I found most of this book to be rather meandering and boring; I didn’t really like any of the characters; and I found the portrayal of violence against women to be graphic and abhorrent (especially considering the “hero” of this novel was complicit in the violence). There was a lot of girl-on-girl hate in the novel and some problematic stereotyping that I think has the potential to reinforce racial biases. In the end, the plot of Fabiola’s mom being detained was such a small part of the novel that nobody but Fabiola seemed to care about—not her cousins, not her aunt. I thought this storyline would be a bigger part of the novel, and there would have been an exploration of immigration and detention centers, but it played the tiniest role. It almost felt like an afterthought, which is just crazy to me. Anyway, this is not a novel I would recommend and I’m honestly scratching my head as to why it has such a great Goodreads rating. Meh.

Rebel by Beverly Jenkins (★★★☆☆)

One-sentence synopsis: When Valinda is saved by Captain Drake LeVeq after her schoolroom is trashed by white supremacists, she must lean on him and his family for help.

And here’s another author who just isn’t for me. So many romance readers rave about Beverly Jenkins and I really want to like her writing because she has an extensive backlist and is one of the few Black romance authors, but nope. This book was “just ok” and I never felt compelled to pick up. I found the writing to be stilted and overly formal, and a lot of the drama to be rather anticlimactic. I did love Drake’s character, though, and I felt like Valinda was a great heroine who was feisty and opinionated and oh-so-charming. I also think this book does a great job of giving historical context to the time period (Reconstruction Era), and I’d love to read more romances set in this time period from Black authors.

What I’m Reading This Week

I just started The Four Winds by Kristin Hannah, which I’m reading for the Unread Shelf Project’s May challenge (read a book you bought as a new release). I’ve heard some mixed reviews about this book: many people raved about it, but just as many people talked about how dark and depressing it is. I think I’m in the right headspace, though, to take on a depressing read. We’ll see! To offset that book, I’m reading a historical romance from one of my faves, A Week to Be Wicked by Tessa Dare. No audiobook for me this week, as I need to catch up on my podcast feed!

What are you reading?

Categories: Books

What I’m Reading (4.26.21)

I guess I should address the elephant ~~in the room~~ on the blog. My reading updates are back, baby! Two months ago, I made the decision to replace my weekly reading updates with a weekly wrap-up post. And I have enjoyed writing those posts! They’re a really fun way to wrap up the week. But I have also really missed writing my reading updates, as I don’t feel like my wrap-up posts give me enough space to talk about what I’m reading and all my bookish thoughts. I spent a lot of time thinking about what to do. Ultimately, the decision fell to what feels good to me now—not what I think I should do—and retiring my weekly wrap-up posts to bring back my weekly reading posts is what feels good. So that’s what I’m doing! Sorry if this gives anyone blogging whiplash. 🙂

So, let’s dive into the books I finished since my last update (Friday). I have two books for you!

The Hypnotist’s Love Story by Liane Moriarty (★★★★☆)

One-sentence synopsis: Ellen, a hypnotherapist, has just started seeing a new man and she thinks he could really be the one—until he tells her his ex-girlfriend has been stalking him for the past few years.

I picked up this book for April’s Unread Shelf Project challenge, which is to read a book bought from a used bookstore. (I bought this from Thriftbooks at the beginning of 2018.) I went into it with low expectations because almost everyone on my Goodreads list who has read it said it’s not Moriarty’s best. And while I agree that it’s not my favorite of hers, she still can write a damn good novel.

The novel switches back and forth between Ellen (the girlfriend) and Saskia’s (the stalker) points of view. I loved getting Ellen’s side of things, mostly because I really liked reading about hypnosis and her work as a hypnotherapist. I also found myself relating to her insights about relationships and that exciting but also terrifying time when you’re in a new relationship that seems like it could be the real thing. It’s hard not to overthink everything at this stage—is this little squabble we had the sign of things to come? Should that little quirk of his be a red flag? Ellen is in her mid-thirties, so she’s been alone for a long time, and I could wholly relate to how she struggled to own this new role in her life (girlfriend and stepmom).

And then there was Saskia’s point of view. Being in the mind of a stalker is an interesting place to be, but I have to say, Moriarty did a fabulous job of creating a person I could relate to and feel sorry for. That’s not to say she didn’t annoy me. I wanted to shake her MANY times for her behavior and the way she had ruined a man’s life. But I could understand her. I just wanted her to find a way to break free.

And now I have talked for many more words than I usually do about this novel. Suffice it to say, it had an impact on me and it’s one I don’t think I’ll forget anytime soon. Also, it got me insanely curious about hypnotherapy… so stay tuned about that. Ha!

Frisk Me by Lauren Layne (★★★★☆)

Short synopsis: After a video of Luc (an NYPD cop) saving a little girl from drowning goes viral, he’s become an Internet sensation. So much so that a national news outlet has sent their star reporter—Ava—to do a feature on him.

Oh gosh, I loved this contemporary romance so much! I found Ava to be a bit off-putting at first, but she gradually grew on me as the novel progressed. Luc was a wonderful hero, full of charm and wit and sexiness. I loved the way these two sparred with one another and the hot, hot chemistry between the two of them. I thought the dark moment was perfectly played—it felt authentic and was well-paced within the story. I finished this novel yesterday afternoon and found myself thinking of the characters throughout the rest of the day and feeling sad that I had wrapped their story up. Signs of a great read! (Open-door romance.)

What I’m Reading This Week

Refugee by Alan Gratz (print) – I’m really enjoying this middle-grade novel following three people who have had to leave their countries because of unsafe conditions: Josef in 1930s Germany, Isabel in 1990s Cuba, and Mahmoud in 2015 Syria.
American Street by Ibi Zoboi (audio) – I’m a few hours into this audiobook about a teenage girl who is coming to America from Haiti with her mom, except her mom gets detained in customs. It’s not an easy read, but it’s been a really eye-opening one so far.
Rebel by Beverly Jenkins (romance) – I’m going to start this historical romance sometime this week. I read one book by Beverly Jenkins and didn’t like it at all, but I’m going to give her another shot. Romance readers keep telling me she’s one of the best, but I will reserve my judgment until I finish this book.

What are you reading?

Categories: Books

What I Read in February (+ Some January Stragglers)

Since my last reading recap (on January 25), I have finished 17 books. (!!) I read 15 books alone in February, which is crazy for such a short month! But I listened to 4 audiobooks last month (including one that was a quick 90 minutes!) and participated in a readathon, so that really helped to boost my numbers. Anyway, here’s everything I’ve read with short snippets.

I Flipping Love You by Helena Hunting (★★★★☆) – This was such a fun rom-com, though the female protagonist could get on my nerves at times. And the dark moment had her jumping to such an insane conclusion that I was very nearly tempted to put down the book. But I’m glad I kept reading because the author brought it all together perfectly. I think Helena Hunting is becoming one of my favorite romance novelists! (Open-door romance)

Kindred by Octavia E. Butler (★★★★★) – There’s a reason why everyone gushes about the book: It’s simply amazing. It’s about a Black woman living in the 1970s (and married to a white man) who starts time-traveling back to the antebellum South of the 1800s. Which, of course, is an incredibly dangerous time to be a Black woman. I was on the edge of my seat each time she time-traveled, wondering what sorts of troubles awaited her. A fantastic novel that has earned its place on my favorites list.

Dear Emmie Blue by Lia Louis (★★★★★) – I loved this book so much! It’s about a woman who is turning 30 and in love with her best friend. She is devastated, though, when her best friend tells her that he’s getting married and wants her to be his “best man.” Emmie fully tugged at my heartstrings and there were multiple points where I got teary-eyed for the things she’s gone through. It reminded me a bit of Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine, although Emmie is much more socially aware than Eleanor. A sweet book that I think would appeal to most (female) readers.

A Night to Surrender by Tessa Dare (★★★★☆) – This was a really great historical romance, although there was a wee bit of misogyny in it that didn’t age well (the book was published in 2011 so I’m giving it a pass for that). It takes place on Spindle Cove, a place where the misfits in society come to heal and find community. Susanna is their leader (of sorts) and isn’t pleased when Bram and his very brawny men come to build an army. Of course, you know where this is going. Susanna and Bram fall in love and begin to heal from their own pasts as they do. (Open-door romance)

Running by Natalia Sylvester (★★★★☆) – This one is full-on angsty teenager drama, so steer clear if you don’t like your YA to feel YA. Mariana Ruiz’s father is running for president, which brings a whole new level of scrutiny to Mari and her family. And soon, Mari starts to realize that she doesn’t know if she fully agrees with her father’s politics and his decision to run for president. I thought it was a really interesting look at how these presidential races (and even senatorial and governor campaigns!) can deeply affect and put such a spotlight on families.

Turtles All the Way Down by John Green (★★★★☆) – In this book, we’re drawn into the inner life of Aza who has OCD and is drowning in her obsessive thoughts (such as how having a tiny cut on her hand could get infected and lead to her death). While I don’t have OCD, I do struggle with obsessive thinking from time to time and I thought the portrayal of mental illness was spot-on. The way the author explored how mental illness can affect friendships was also really well done and realistic. This is most definitely a book I would recommend, even to people who don’t love YA. It’s worth it to get a full understanding of how all-consuming mental illness can be.

Take a Hint, Dani Brown by Talia Hibbert (★★★★★) – I was shocked by how much I loved this book! (I didn’t love “Get a Life, Chloe Brown” by this author.) Dani and her work husband, Zaf, go viral and decide to milk the popularity by pretending to be dating—except, of course, they end up falling in love. I loved how Hibbert explored anxiety and the way it can look so different from person to person. I also found the rapport between Dani and Zaf to be so much fun, and ugh, I just loved this book. It is STEAMY, though, so be prepared. (Open-door romance.)

When They Call You a Terrorist: A Black Lives Matter Memoir by Patrisse Khan-Cullors (★★★★★) – It feels like every time I read a racial justice book, I’m like, “GO READ THIS NOW. IT IS SO IMPORTANT.” And this one is no different. Patrisse Khan-Cullors talks frankly about her life as a Black queer woman, one who has watched her mentally ill brother be incarcerated twice, her father battle drug addiction, and teachers treat her differently as a Black girl. It’s infuriating and heartbreaking and ultimately healing. It’s a must-read.

The Lying Game by Ruth Ware (★★★★☆) – I really enjoyed this thriller! It doesn’t have a great rating on Goodreads (3.5), but it somehow really worked for me. It brings together four women who met at a boarding school when they were teens and formed a very tight bond. They’re now in their 30s and live separate lives: one is married with children, another just had a baby, the third is working at a casino, and the fourth is living in the same town the rest of them left after a terrible thing happened at their boarding school. I thought the characters were fairly likable and the plot compelling. Am I going to remember anything about what happened in this book in a couple month’s time? No, I will not. But it’s an easyish read and I liked it.

Marriage on Madison Avenue by Lauren Layne (★★★★☆) – Oh, how I love a best friends-to-lovers romance. It’s probably my favorite romance trope, and this one was excellent. I just adored Audrey and Clarke’s dynamic and their real (platonic at first) love for one another. They were just so good for each other! I also really enjoyed getting a glimpse into Audrey’s life as an Instagram influencer. There is truly so much that goes on for someone who has made that their career (and I did not envy her in the least for her job). Such a great romance overall, although I kinda wanted a bit more from the ending. (Closed-door romance.)

The Roommate by Rosie Danan (★★★★☆) – This book is so steamy! Whew. It’s not for the faint of heart because it made me blush, and that’s fairly hard to do, ha. It follows Clara who has moved across the country for a boy, and when things don’t work out with him, she finds herself rooming with Josh who is an adult film star. Zoinks! The novel delves into his life in the adult film industry (as well as the lives of other entertainers) from a sex-positive lens, which I really loved but I can see how it could make other people uncomfortable. I really enjoyed the novel, though, and the way Clara and Josh fell in love with each other. (Very open-door romance. Like, the openest door you’ve ever seen. In fact, there is no door. It’s just a wide-open space. WIIIIIDE OPEN.)

Bluebird, Bluebird by Attica Locke (★★★★☆) – Ooh, this novel was really stressful! It’s about a Black Texas Ranger who visits a small town to solve the murders of a young white woman and a young Black man and encounters a whole bunch of racism along the way. I found myself on the edge of my seat throughout the novel as new twists and turns were revealed and Darren, the main character, continued to get himself into tricky situations. I just wanted him to be okay! The sign of a really good book, indeed.

Notorious RBG: The Life and Times of Ruth Bader Ginsburg by Irin Carmon (★★★★★) – I’ve been meaning to read this book for a really long time, and I finally downloaded the audiobook to read when I somehow got totally caught up on my podcast feed. I loved reading more about Ruth Bader Ginsburg’s life, especially her time in law school and her marriage to Martin Ginsburg. It was also really interesting to learn more about the goings-on between the different Supreme Court justices. Very interesting and worth a read. What an inspiring life.

The Happy Ever After Playlist by Abby Jimenez (★★★★★) – I loved this romance! I wasn’t expecting to like it, as I didn’t love this author’s previous novel (The Friend Zone) but this one felt completely different in a very good way. While you can read this book as a standalone, I don’t want to get into specifics of the plot because it could be a bit spoiler-y for The Friend Zone. Suffice it to say, the hero is a successful musician and the meet-cute is the hero’s dog jumping into the heroine’s car. And the chemistry between the two main characters is explosive. (Open-door romance.)

Long Way Down by Jason Reynolds (★★★★★) – A quick audiobook (90 minutes!) that I finished in an afternoon while puttering around my apartment. This is a novel in verse, and I highly recommend it on audio as the author reads it himself and he brings such life to his words. Most of the novel takes place while the main character, a 15-year-old Black boy whose brother has just been killed, is in an elevator to avenge his brother’s death. It’s truly imaginative and incisive. Highly recommend!

A Good Marriage by Kimberly McCreight (★★★★★) – CALLING ALL THRILLER FANS. Read this book now! It is probably one of the best thrillers I’ve read in a really long time. It kept me on the edge of my seat and the ending was truly surprising (but not in a weird out-of-left-field way). When the wife of a prominent businessman is found dead in her home, he’s obviously the prime suspect. So he calls his law school friend, Lizzie, to be his defense attorney. It’s a fantastic portrait of the complexities of marriage, the effect of childhood trauma, and toxic masculinity. I loved it!

Tweet Cute by Emma Lord (★★★★☆) – “Teens messaging on an app and not knowing who the other person is and falling in love while also falling in love IRL” is my new kryptonite. (See also: Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda and Tell Me Three Things.) I loved this sweet YA romance about two high school seniors who have somehow become the social media managers for their parents’ restaurants, and end up in a Twitter war. It could get angsty at times, but mostly, it was just a breath of fresh air and so damn sweet.

What was the best book you read in February?