Good People by Patmeena Sabit (★★★★☆)
Print • Owned (Book of the Month) • Contemporary Fiction • 2026
Short synopsis: After a shocking tragedy shatters the carefully crafted image of a wealthy refugee family living the American dream, dark secrets emerge that force the public to question whether their success was built on a lie.
This is a super buzzy book that’s been making the rounds on blogs and bookish podcasts. I was excited to snag it as one of my Book of the Month selections! It’s a fast-moving novel that unfolds through a variety of perspectives, including family friends, acquaintances, bystanders, and journalists eager to capitalize on a sensational tragedy. The most interesting thing about this book is that we never hear directly from the family at the heart of the story. Instead, we learn about the family through the opinions and observations of everyone around them. I’m fascinated by this narrative choice because it creates a sense of distance while also highlighting how differently people can view the same person or situation. I can’t say I loved this book as much as other people (I struggle with ambiguous endings), but I appreciated what the author was trying to do. It’s a thought-provoking look at perception, reputation, and the stories we tell ourselves about the people we think we know.
The Unselected Journals of Emma M. Lion, Vol. 5 by Beth Brower (★★★★★)
Audiobook • Hoopla • Historical Fiction • 2021
Short synopsis: Emma M. Lion offers up her Unselected Journals, however self-incriminating they may be, which comprise a series of novella-length volumes. Armed with wit and a sideways amusement, Emma documents the curious realities of her life at Lapis Lazuli House.
Oh, my dear sweet Emma M. Lion. I love following her adventures in St. Crispian! In this series of journal entries, it seems like Emma is truly coming to terms with her grief and finding a path forward in a new life that includes new friends, new dreams, and new hopes. I adore Emma’s relationship with Young Hawkes, the vicar, and their sweet friendship. (Okay, I went down a Google rabbit hole trying to remember his title, and there are definitely a lot of people who think Emma and Hawkes are endgame. I am… stunned.) Anyway, I am both trying to go slowly and savor these books while also not wanting to listen to any other kind of audiobook because the narrator is so damn good. Maybe I’ll restart the series once I finish it until Beth Brower gives us a new book. Hm.
Laundry Love: Finding Joy in a Common Chore by Patric Richardson (★★★★☆)
Print • Owned (Amazon) • Nonfiction • 2021
Short synopsis: Patric Richardson, aka the “Laundry Evangelist,” reveals his revolutionary methods for cleaning clothes—and making laundry loads more fun.
I imagine this book could be revolutionary for people with large families or anyone who seems to need to do laundry every day. That is not my life, as I’m only doing laundry for myself. Once every two weeks, I do a load of clothes, a load of towels, and a load of sheets. Done and done!
So, there was a lot about this book that didn’t apply to me (I completely skipped over the chapter on ironing), but there were enough useful takeaways to make it worthwhile. For example, I loved the list of laundry supplies Patric recommends, and I definitely want to switch from Tide pods I use to using soap flakes/washing soda. I’m also planning to follow his advice to wash everything on warm and pick up some wool dryer balls to see if they help shorten drying times. The standout chapter, though, is the one on stains. Patric includes an extensive glossary of different stain types and the best ways to remove them. I also appreciated his chapter on caring for “dry clean only” clothing. (He’s very adamant that virtually nothing we wear or use actually needs to be dry cleaned.) What comes through most, though, is Patric’s genuine passion for textiles. He loves fabric. He loves caring for fabric. There’s something delightful about someone finding a niche passion that’s both fascinating and genuinely useful to the rest of us. Three stars for the advice I can use, five stars for his enthusiasm.
What are you reading?
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