A wild, engrossing ride exploring mental health, and life's complexities. It explores the fragility of mental health in such a readable way. Dong's writing is very immersive as we get pulled into Katrina's world. I was captivated by our heroine, who was wonderfully done, as she is grasping to control her life but it's already spiraling more and more out of control. The mental health elements mixed with the thriller elements really worked for me!

There is much honesty and vulnerability in these essays. Her writing is funny and warm. I did have a disconnected reading experience with this, thats not to say it's not good more about my personal experience with it as I'm not an Asian woman. I enjoyed reading these essays and appreciated her insight into popular culture and how she used this to explore family, identity, belonging as well as being an Asian woman and writer in today's society.

|| MY LITTLE THIEF ||
#gifted/@hbgcanada
#minibookreview
•
Reccomended for ages 4-8 this sweet story about a curious girl and the unlikely friendship with a kind crow is a real hit in our house! My daughter is much like Chloe so she immediately connected with this story. Based on a real story this book is great for young nature lovers. Such a sweet story of friendship. The illustrations are so cute and eye pleasing too! Out in March

5☆ A fantastic memoir! Sharp, funny, intimate and a universal story. Bassist's writing struck me like punch. It was at once intelligent and compelling. I went into this memoir completely unbiased and was beyond impressed. Although I read this towards the end of 2022 much of this has stuck with me, its that kind of book, urgent and relevant. I can't reccomend it enough. #bookreview

This book is a timely read, eye opening and horrifying yet humorous. It jumps around between storytellers which broke up the flow a bit but I like how the sisters approached this serious topic with their signature humor. Fellow white people, read this. We have progressed as a society in many way but still have much work to do when it comes to racism and the treatment of BIPOC people. #bookreview #bookstagram

|| MISTER KITTY IS LOST ||
Greg Pizzoli the author of several wonderful picture books is back with an interactive counting and colors book for young readers as we go on a search for Mister Kitty, who is not quite what you expect. With humor and his signature fun drawings my youngest reader has us searching for Misterr Kitty nightly. Simple and fun, very much enjoyed, just like his others. Out Jan 17th. #gifted/@hbgcanada

I'm a huge fan of Patti Smith's work. Her latest offering A BOOK OF DAYS follows the calendar year, through her own photographs, she gives us a daily glimpse into her world. Through these photographs and sentiments there is a kind of beauty and inspiration Patti is beloved for. I perused through this one already but look forward to starting fresh today January 1st and following Patti throughout this new year. #bookreview

4☆Deftly written, themes of regret, feeling lost, absolution, love and community run through these layered stories. Centrally the ways the American dream is sold to immigrants, it's big promises, letdowns, and fallacies. Each story had similar characters in similar circumstances, yet each felt distinctly unique, and left me curiously engaged as to which direction the story would go, towards hope or dispair. Much enjoyed! #bookreview #arc

4☆ These feminist, contemporary retellings of forgotten British folktales were delectable! These authors have shown that the essence of folktales never really leaves us. Offering insight into times past that here connect to our current world. Their potency and darkness transmuted, a warning, a lesson, brimming under the surface of our lives. Entertaining and pulsing with the sinster, and gruesomeness of humanity. #bookreview

I was an absolute awe while reading this collection. It's intense, heartbreaking, powerful and deeply moving. I found lonliness was a standout theme throughout this collection, a result of living in a war torn country. If you want to know what life in Afghanistan is like read these stories. They will open your eyes and make you reevaluate your life and what truly matters. So grateful these women found a platform to share their work. #bookreview

5☆ Written throughout the last two years, this book is a love letter to disabled folks, and an informative read for anyone interested in disabilty justice, the care crisis and more. What a gift and vital tool this book is. #bookreview

Baer does it again! I annotated so many pages in this collection. Her ability to write about motherhood and womanhood always resonate with me and this book was no different. I found this collection had stronger themes of death than her last two, possibly because of when it was written, but again it resonated with me. Her writing is so accessible, honest and meaningful.
My favorites were :
There Are Days
Idea
January
Gay Poem
The Truth Is
#review

Chisholm is very honest as she chronicles her life from childhood, through the hype of Spice World, her solo career and motherhood right up to now. Sharing about her mental health, ED, body dysmorphia struggles, and other obstacles along the way. I enjoyed this book! It's a long one and Chisholm spares no details. I have much respect for her after reading this and I think I have a new favorite Spice Girl after all these years! #bookreview

4☆ This one intrigued me right away, such an interesting concept for a book. Blending history, science, and folklore McTier has written a fun, witty, sarcastic romp of a autobiography about The Milky Way. I am no astronomy expert but I enjoyed this humorous take on our galaxy. From the first few pages you get the sense this is meant to be a fun, sassy, charming, enlightening tell all. #bookreview #bookstagram

5☆ McGuire's book reads like an investigative diary of sorts. It's heartbreaking yet a beautiful portrait of maternal grief, motherhood, trauma, identity, mental illness, artistry, and above all love. McGuire's writing is at once compelling, deeply honest and moving. It's special because it shows the reader of the person behind the addition, his life and the love he had. I'm so happy this book exists and I got to read about Holden. #bookreview

5☆ Billy-Ray Belcourt is going to break your heart with this book, let him. Longlisted for the Giller Prize, A MINOR CHORUS is a hauntingly beautiful piece of auto-fiction. An exploration of storytelling, language, colonialism, place, history, grief, lonliness, family, ordinary life, and most of all survival. Anything I say here will not be enough, it wont capture the absolute heart of this work. I was truly moved to my core. #bookreview

A wonderfully crafted generational saga about California's Golf rush and three determined and complex women.The American Dream from a female perspective covering a century of California's history. More and more I'm enjoying historical fiction and I found the writing engrossing, the moral of the story compelling and the short chapters really helped me fly through this book. #gifted #bookreview

5☆ HAPPY PUB DAY TO FIRE CIDER RAIN! Such a fantastic debut! Pulling together shared culture, geographic history, bodies of water and the complexities of parent-child relationships as a vessel for cultural identity. This collection gutted me in the best ways. Rhiannon NG Cheng Hin debut is a beautiful, brilliant look at place, self, family ties and disporia. Her use of form and language floored me. I highlighted so many pages. #bookreview

5☆This is an absolutely beautiful picture book that celebrates the seasons, place and Indigenous traditions and community through song and art. Much love and appreciation for this book! Longtime fan of both of these women's work I was overjoyed to see them team up! #kidsbookreview

Fifteen year old Katie spirals down a dark and disturbing path of drugs, sex, and power. Dark, dark and darker. A character study of girlhood unhinged, of innocence blossoming into the power of sexuality. Content warnings up the wazoo. An acute study of emotional pain, an exploration of shamelssness, of mental health, desire and the blurry overwhelmingness of girlhood teetering on adulthood converging via early internet adult chat rooms.

4☆Wu's stories are moving and thought provoking as she looked back at her life with such observation and cander. If only we could all pick apart memories from our past with such honesty and clarity. To see our whole selves in thoes moments and the evolution of the experience as well. The writing was smart, funny and accessible. She has written a poignant and relevant addition to the genre. Out next month! #bookreview

4.5☆ I love reading books on motherhood. This one caught by eye because it's about a Chinese Canadian family living in a small town here in British Columbia. It's a beautifully written debut on motherhood, migration, family, culture, identity and love. I absolutely loved this book! Liew's storytelling was impressive. DANDELION is an important and moving piece on motherhood and migration I cannot reccomend it enough! #bookreview #canlit

#gifted 4☆ A queer, Black coming of age story about Jade, a 24 year old woman living in Toronto trying to move on after the devastating loss of her twin sister. Through multiple POV's we see Jade explore her queerness, rediscover joy, found family and love. Contemporary and relevant. And great to read another book exploring the Jamaican Canadian experience too. Jade's journey was like a rebirth, raw, and compelling. I loved every second of it!

4☆ (#gifted)
A wonderful novel about mothers, daughters, writers, romance and the complications of life.
SEVEN DAYS IN JUNE was a book I debating reading for a while. But I ended up devouring it! Full of warmth, humor and romance it is the perfect summer read! So if like me you shy away from romantic story lines, trust me shake it up and give this one a go you won't be dissapointed!

4☆ A gripping tale of resilience, questioned loyalties, morality, reckoning, love, and family as one soldier navigates being caught between two occupations in the fallout of WW2. I dont pick up stories about war times very often but this one intrigued me and I ended up really enjoying it! Lazurko's storytelling skills shine in this powerful, sweeping, timeless story that I couldn't help but get pulled into.

Remnants by Céline Huyghbaert, gorgeously translated by Aleshia Jensen is an compelling portrait of grief, and exploration of memory and complex and strained relationships as a daughter attempts to get to know her dead father better.
Remnants is auto fiction, which I'm really loving! I wrote down so many meaningful quotes. A facinating journey on grieving and forgiveness. #bookreview

An interesting read and tough one to review. I found myself gripped from the beginning as K.S Covert's writing style was very readable and the world building was well done. Lily's reawakening was thrilling to follow, and I was drawn into this whole skin hunger and petting zoos world, very titillating and curious. So all in all this worked for me! Not much of a review, I know, but if you are into a raunchier dystopian novel I'd recommend this!

A lovely look at the art world and the draw to thoes inside it. Thoroughly enjoyed this one! It was different from anything I have been reading lately. It was light but meaningful. I loved Veridian's backstory and how Thompson captured the attraction to artistic circles and the arts themselves. This was my first read from Thompson, a wonderfully skilled storyteller. If you like Lily King, or Anne Pachett you might enjoy this one! #bookreview

4.5☆ A perceptive account of the messiness of being human. Wonderful debut! Labeled as fiction, it very much reads as auto fiction. I flew through this and found it hard to put down Pollard's words. If reading about the pandemic has been touch and go for you, it has for me too, trust me pick this up for the writing quality alone! It's sharp, witty and I copied down so many fabulous lines! If you enjoy Jenny Offill's style you might enjoy this too!

4☆A captivating debut, about the complexities of friendship, change, and depression. I couldn't put this down! The writing in A BIT MUCH caught me right away, darkly funny, intimate, flowing prose Jackson explores friendships in your 20's from close friends to the problematic ones. Another excellent addition to the Sad Girl Lit column. I'm looking forward to more from Jackson! If you enjoy Rooney's writing style I think you'll enjoy this book.

4.5☆
A mesmerizing, emotional, modern family saga!
I really enjoyed reading this book! The way it explored the complexities of loving someone was so well done. Felton gives us great, heartfelt characters, yearning for love and connection. Wonderful storytelling. It was compelling and completely pulled me in! If you enjoy family sagas I highly reccomend this modernized one! #bookreview

4☆A facinating exploration of Fungi! Seifert packs a lot of information in these pages! I wondered if it would be too text book but I found it a good balance. This book will teach you so much about the unseen world of mycology! These complex and intelligent organisms are doing so much! So in case you don't already know Fungi are freaking cool and if you are interested in learning more about them I recommend checking this book out! #bookreview

A contemporary, darkly funny novel about addiction and recovery. I have read so many memoirs on addiction and recovery but in fiction form not many, maybe thats why this was harder for me to get into at times. I do feel this is a solid debut and will be on the lookout for what Toews does next. This is another book that falls into that "sad girl lit" category. #bookreview

5☆ An utterly gorgeous and moving collection on interconnectedness between humans, nature, our ancestors and dead things. Ada Limón is an absolutely stunning poet! Her words always hit so deep. I could have highlighted this whole book honestly, every line is beautiful. The way she writes and pulls me in, connecting me to her words and experiences is nothing short of brilliance! I was in tears more than once. #bookreview #poetry #poet

4☆A dark and edgy reimagining of fairytale heroines and trauma narratives. Adelmann's flowing prose kept me from putting this book down! It's a unique form of the trauma narrative and there were some great lines throughout! If you enjoyed Nightbitch or Carmen Maria Machado writing you may enjoy this one! #bookreview #bookblogger

An heartbreakingly beautiful read about watching your spouse go through Alzheimer's disease. Munro's words were poignantly honest and offer a wonderful perspective on grief, loss and dying. If you enjoyed Through The Garden, or The Year Of Magical Thinking you might enjoy this one too. #bookreview #canlit

5☆An thought provoking, queer coming of age memoir examining sexuality and shame. I loved how Belcher examines the politics, economics and power of sex work. It reminded me of other great books I have read in the last year on the subject. It facinating and empowered reading. Couldnt put it down, this will go down as one of my favorite memoirs of the year, highly reccomend! Available July 12th. #bookreview #bookreviewer

5☆A fantastic look at the wonders of Mushrooms!
Mushrooms have always been interesting to me. They are complex, and do so much. MUSHROOM RAIN is beautifully illustrated and the lyrical text makes it easy for kids to understand these mysterious and enchanting fungi! We see what they do above and below the ground, their differences, how they are harvested, and how their spores can help create rain. And more facts at the back too. #books #kidsbooks

4☆A tender and candid collection exploring midlife, relationships, loss, pain, grief, love and trauma.
Farzana Doctor's poems are overflowing with lived experience. I appreciated her voice, representing midlife. These poems are confessional by nature, the sheer messiness of life and living through it. Of heartaches, of pain, of violence to the body, of truths and of love. Enjoyed this one! #canlit #bookreview

5☆Ferociously beautiful and brilliantly written!
A BEAST AT EVERY THRESHOLD is profoundly told. Exploring different thresholds of marginality, queer love, immigration, reinvention, disporia, pop culture, folklore, and ancestry. I have a new favorite poet! Wee's collection completely captivated me. Her words were written with such calculated purpose. I could feel them deeply while also being visually stimulated by the story she was telling.

5☆A smart, engaging, honest, darkly funny collection of essays on race and social justice intenions. Isen's writing is accessible and really cuts deep. As a white woman I try to always acknowledge my privilege and this book was a great reminder of the toxicity of white feminism and the ways us white people need to do the work, not just provide lip service. I really enjoyed her writing and the way this collection is written. #bookreview

Sara El Sayed story is filled with humor and heart as she shares of growing up in a strick Muslim household, and the struggles her and her family dealt with after emigrating from Egypt to Australia. She navigates trying to fit in as a Muslim in a predominantly white population, of friendships, and family traditions and realizing her parents have flaws. So much of her journey hits hard, especially her fathers illness. #bookreview

4☆ Coming of age autobiographical account of one woman's desires. Enjoyed this, my first read on sex addiction and from a woman of colors perspective too. Garza is unbelievable brave and honest. How she was addicted to having sex but also masterbation and porn addiction as well. This kept her from having genuine connections with others in and out of the bedroom. Her journey was not easily done but I found by the end that she really owned her shit.

A witty, suspenseful romance! Crosley is funny in this cleverly written novel that compares to Nick Hornby's High Fidelity. Though I dont typically go for romantic plotlines, and it wasn't this aspect that made Cult Classic enjoyable for me, it was it's uniqueness, underlineable striking prose and wry humor throughout. While reading it I was reminiscent of Sally Rooneys writing so you may enjoy this if you enjoy her works. Out Today! #bookreview

4☆A haunting and beautiful collection! Mather digs deep in these 18 linked stories. These female characters come in all ages and are vivid and alive, exploring connection, relationships, yearing, grief, growing up, parenthood, and the human experience so richly. They are flawed and struggling but resilient. The depth and emotional range of each story was impressive. Mather completely won me over with her dazzling and compelling prose. Loved this!

5☆ A smartly written and profound meditation on the challenges Black youth face in America today. This slim book packs a punch! An extension of a viral essay, Alexander brilliantly and insightfully looks at the past and future of the Black experience in America, the ongoing issues of race, brutality, perseverance, and the power of art and poetry. Highly reccomend this one! #bookreview #bookblogger

5☆ Ages 3-8
An adorable and inspiring picture book about fitting it and supporting each other. First of all these bright illustrations are the cutest thing! My daughter loves all their little faces so much. And learning about all the different flowers was really cool! The message within this book comes across perfectly for this age group. Believing in yourself and holding others up is the best way for all to learn and grow! We loved this one!

4☆An absorbing, suspenseful read! Lundrigan gives us these great characters that I was so invested in. And the story kept me on the edge of my seat, enthralled, wondering how it would all shake out. The writing pulled me in right from the first paragraph and I was happy to let it take me along through this gripping, heartbreaking and haunting story. If you're like me and struggle to enjoy thrillers I recommend giving this for a try. #canlit

5☆A fantastic follow up to Black Leopard, Red Wolf!James is such an incredibly creative writer, building these facinating characters and storylines blows my mind. If you struggled with the first book this one is more accessible, honestly I enjoyed this one more! So give it a try. Again it's violent, dark, deep themes at work here. Completely brilliant! Can't wait for the third book! #bookreview #bookreviewer

4☆ An ambitious debut novel on surviving and living with trauma. Johnson's prose were very compelling, and I found this tough to put down. The intimate, at times claustrophobic feeling of being in Vivian's head was impressively written, she is a manic, paranoid character due to living with her trauma, coping until she cracks. I think Johnson really conveyed what surviving trauma can look like. Plot wise its slow, but character depth was great.