Both informative and infuriating, the authors offer a look at how culture wars, not policy, shape our political systems. 4.5⭐️

I don't typically read books that were published posthumously, but this was on the librarian recommendation shelf. The story follows Ana Magdalena Bach on her annual journeys to the island where her mother is buried. 3⭐️

Well, that was a ride! Korede receives a phone call from her sister Ayoola. Ayoola has just stabbed her boyfriend to death and needs her sister's help to get her out of this mess. We soon discover this is Ayoola's third boyfriend to meet an unfortunate demise. Was it really an issue of self-defense (3 times!)? Or is it something more sinister? 4⭐️

I cannot get enough of this cover! I enjoyed this story but the characters felt one-dimensional. I read this right after Emily Henry's latest and I may be unfairly comparing them. I kept it as a pick, but I wouldn't move it to the top of the TBR.

I always enjoy Emily Henry's novels. This was exactly the cozy, predictable romance I needed.

A really informative look at prisons and the criminal justice system. And what alternatives are possible.

This book is categorized as mystery/thriller/crime, and it is. But it is also an incredible family saga that packs an emotional punch. The characters are written with such depth, and I hated to finish the book and leave them behind. 4⭐️

Addie and Louis, both widowed for several years, get to know one another. I really enjoyed the writing and character development. 4.25⭐️

Vivek Oji is born the day his grandmother dies. His life is touched by this bittersweet beginning. On the day of his death, his body is left in front of his parents' home. The story unfolds through flashbacks and present day as his mother comes undone in the wake of his death. She knows his friends are keeping a secret. 4.5⭐️

Essays on racism and feminism in America that are still relevant today. Occasionally, there was a reference (ex: "a nurse from West Germany") that reminded me how long ago this was published.

I, who has never creased a spine, am now annotating my books (well, the non-fiction books). I have never been able to stick with journaling, but it occurred to me that I have experienced an enormous amount of personal growth between the pages of non-fiction books. I thought this would be a fun way to document that!

I'm not sure if I've stumbled upon another genre to love or if this is the result of R.F. Kuang's skill as a writer, but I loved reading the unlikable narrator. I'll be thinking about this for years. 4.5 ⭐️

I absolutely love Greek mythology re-imaginings and Madeline Miller is the queen. 4 ⭐️

Perfect vacation read. Did I enjoy it? Yes. Will I remember it in a year? Probably not. 3⭐️

For me, this is one of those books that the less you know going into it, the better. I enjoy reading books that feature an unreliable narrator. I'll be thinking about this one for a while. 4⭐️

This was the first of 3 books I read on vacation, and I don't know how to describe it. I picked it up from the "librarian recommends" shelf, and the librarians haven't let me down yet. It takes place in an apocalyptic future and features the found family trope (one of my faves). 3.5⭐️

Well this was a rollercoaster! I don't normally read memoirs but my friend and I do the Popsugar Reading Challenge every year and that's one of the categories for 2023. Definitely check trigger warnings on this if you're interested in reading it. I'm glad she was finally able to speak her truth! 4⭐️

Reading this was like the best parts of going to therapy. I feel more compassion for people and their flaws and, by extension, more compassion for my own shortcomings. I also read the second half of the book in private with a box of tissues nearby. 5⭐️

I loved Desmond's 2016 book Evicted, and this one did not disappoint! 4.5⭐️

This book had me turning off notification permissions for phone apps somewhere around chapter 3. It's a thought-provoking examination of our collective decline in attention span. It did a good job at highlighting multiple factors that affect our ability to focus while also pointing out that some of this is not settled science and there are some subjects about which experts disagree. 4.5⭐️ I look forward to checking my next screen time report!

Chani Horowitz is an up and coming writer who catches her big break when she is assigned to interview the newest James Bond star, Gabe Parker. The interview ends up taking place over a whirlwind weekend after which Gabe marries his Bond co-star. 10 years and 2 books (Chani), several movies, alcoholism, a fall from grace and 2 rehab stints (Gabe) later, the pair are asked to reunite for another interview. Perfect beach read. 4⭐️

I read this last month but apparently forgot to post it. The ending left me absolutely speechless and I needed a few days to recover. This is a dual POV novel told from the perspective of two wives. One, a scientist, is sent on a 3 week mission in a submarine. The other, a writer, is home waiting for her return. Things go horribly wrong and it's 6 months before the scientist returns...and she is somehow very different. 5⭐️

A middle grade book about Eliana, a girl who is bullied about her weight. 5⭐️

I loved the writing and the main character! And this book has one of the most accurate depictions of anxiety and panic attacks that I have read. 4.5⭐️

I listened to this in one night. I always enjoy a good murderbot story. I'll continue to make my way through this series. 4⭐️

I don't know if I would enjoyed this book more if i had read it (instead of listening to it) or if it just wasn't the right moment in my life to pick it up but this book was just OK for me. 3⭐️

I enjoyed the audio book (read by the author). She really gave life to this character. That being said, I'm not sure if I would have enjoyed reading a hard copy as much. 4⭐️

I'm finding it very difficult to read since my mom passed away several weeks ago but I seem to be able to digest books in audio format. It is what it is

There are very few things in this world that I don't find interesting but I didn't know how mysterious eels were until reading this! 4⭐️

Two agents fighting a war through time and space begin exchanging letters and fall in love. 4⭐️

Ended the year with this short, cozy read. Happy New Year everyone!

I don't normally read memoirs but I had this as an audio book and it was read by the author and I found it to be relatable and enjoyable. 4⭐️

I love a good 'found family' trope! 4⭐️

This came in from the library and I DEVOURED it! I love the world building, word etymology, the character development, the history lessons, and the commentary how destructive colonialism was and continues to be. This is a book that is going to stay with me for a long time. If I could give it 10 stars I would. Actually, I'm an adult 10/5 ⭐️

I found the perfect spot to read in Porto. Right next to the river. The weather was perfect, there was a gentle breeze, and the background noise was quiet enough that I didn't lose focus. I finished it in that spot and I may have added a couple of tears to the river. Anyway I consoled myself with a glass of green wine but I still think about these characters.

I'm on vacation and have read 3 books so far. I enjoyed this one. His writing reminds me of Michael Crichton (but maybe only because they're both sci-fi?).

I should have posted this right when I finished it yesterday because I had so many thoughts but now I only feel the despair of a book hangover. I miss the characters (even their annoying quirks). This book is a beautiful tribute to the unique intimacy of friendship. I also discovered some art because I looked up the pieces that were unfamiliar to me. 5⭐️

Finished this one in 2 days. I think anyone who is a fan of Frederick Bachmann will enjoy this book. The story is written in third person narrative following Cameron Cassmore (on a quest to find the father he never knew) and Tova Sullivan (a widow who cleans an aquarium after hours) and also features the first "person" narrative of Marcellus, an octopus resident of the aquarium. 4.5⭐️ Found family is my favorite trope!

I was going to give it 4⭐️ but then I decided it reminded me of Lord of the flies so 5⭐️

Always a cozy fall read.

Pro tip: when you go to donate books, just drop off the box and leave. Do NOT go to the other entrance just to "take a peek". It defeats the purpose of purging.

I finished this a couple of days ago but wasn't sure of how to review it. I picked it up based on a recommendation and was surprised to learn it was a memoir. I don't usually care for memoirs but I loved the information about different species and I thought the book was beautifully written. Like the author's son I no longer eat octopus. I think I gave it 3 stars on Goodreads but after thinking about for a few days I believe it deserves 4⭐️

This book is a heavy but important read. Written by a defense attorney based in Washington DC, the book discusses the criminalization of black youth by police officers, SROs, prosecutors, judges, and defense attorneys. The author weaves together her own experiences working in the DC juvenile court system with stories from around the country while providing data to support her arguments. 5⭐️

A family is murdered except for the youngest child, a toddler who happened to figure out how to escape his crib at a very opportune time. He wanders down the street to a graveyard where he is raised by its otherworldly inhabitants. As he grows older he will leave the safety of the graveyard and venture out into the world where a man waits to finish the job. This reminded me a little of Lincoln in the Bardo, which I also loved! 5⭐️

In a coffee shop in Japan there is a seat that can take you to the past. There are several rules including : 1. Nothing you say or do will change the present and 2. You must return to the present before your coffee gets cold. I loved the characters and the lesson! 5⭐️

This has been on my TBR for YEARS! I had no idea what it was about but it was a wild ride. In 1976, Dana is moving into a new home with her white husband when she suddenly finds herself on a plantation in 1819 saving a boy from drowning. Rufus is the son of the plantation owner and a direct ancestor of Dana's. Time and again Dana is pulled back into the antebellum south to save Rufus' life. 4.5⭐️

My feelings for this book are not without bias. I loved the first book in the series because I found it refreshing read about a world where humans are trying to do what benefits society and the environment. So I was very excited when I saw this on the library shelf. I wasn't disappointed. This book continues to follow Mosscap and Dex through different towns as Mosscap meets more humans to determine what their needs are.(cont in comments)

Prival Sangupta is a Bengali widow who has never left the blocks surrounding her Kolkata apartment. When her husband passes, she decides to take a tour of America hoping that it will lead her to her estranged son who she has been told died suddenly from a heart attack. She is accompanied by her tour guide Satya, a young Bangladeshi man, who has never led a tour, and Rebecca, a struggling American actress. 4.5⭐️ I'm going to miss this crazy crew!

I REALLY wanted to like this book. I love a plus sized main character. But the majority of the book discusses her dieting and exercising to get a revenge body and it was a bit much for me. I did love her relationships with her friends and family and the descriptions of her cooking. 2⭐️

This is one of those books that I cannot possibly summarize. Well, I could but not without spoilers. If you liked Station Eleven this is similar. But less pandemic-y. And less dystopian. And with time travel. 4.5⭐️

This Pulitzer Prize winning novel is a must read! Sociologist Matthew Desmond, seeking to understand the housing crises, follows eight families living below the poverty line in an effort to find how we as a country got here and what can be done about it. The individual stories are devastating but Desmond offers some hope in the end. 5⭐️