I may have loved this one even more than the first. This series has such a silly premise but the actual romance of it, the work the narrative serves is phenomenal. I need more of this world. Give me the Queen of Arbor Day falling for the Groundhog's Day Princess. But obviously, give me Iris' HEA immediately.

“We are the Muses. Goddesses of the arts and proclaimers of heroes.“ And this is their backstory. Myth and legend, squabbling gods, and the powers of sisterhood and creativity are in perfect balance in this adventurous tale.
I've read one other title in the Twisted Tales series (also by Farrah, based on The Princess and the Frog) and I find them delightful. These middle grade stories using Disney favorites as inspiration points are a blast to read

Sadly, I enjoyed this one even less than the first.

As a romance reader, I was super disappointed in the spicy scenes. It felt like zero character development happened in those scenes. If the spice doesn't serve the plot and doesn't give us insight into the character I just kinda feel it's unnecessary. But now I probably just sound like a prude.

Not my thing and I wouldn't have read it but I got called in for the midnight release party at the bookshop and didn't want to be out of the loop. Listened to the audio on 2.5x speed.

I'm here for Andarna though.

Guzman's book began with her struggling to understand her Hispanic parents political leanings. I appreciated this as something of a black sheep in my own family - how do you love someone that disagrees with you to the point of thinking the vast majority of people who think like you are idiots, demons, or both?

A solid pre-inaugural listen. May we stay curious and humble even in dangerous and divided times.

An account of Davidson's trek across the Australian desert, but it's not an 'intrepid young adventurer' story. She explorers humanity, nature, brutality, race, and gender. The writing is excellent; it's was a bit of a revel. Highly recommend (though there are instances of intense cruelty to humans and camels described, be advised).

I need to go find the original NatGeo article on the trip, she was funded and photographed by the magazine.

Cute premise but I didn't enjoy the execution. As usual, contemporary romance is just not my thing.

Decided to start a reread of the chronicles. Then decided it is to be a chronological readthrough of Rice's work. I dunno, I'm just here for the atmosphere.

Forever obsessed with these two idiots though. This is probably my fifth time reading this one. It's interesting though because I haven't picked it up in years and I noticed that I was placing plotpoints from the film into my memories of the novel when they just aren't there.

Eve Babitz was a whole vibe and you can feel the way Anolik is drawn to her (first through Eve's writing but ultimately in a desperation to tell Eve's story). There's sex and celebrity here, sure, but there's also a great deal about how we make and live our art.

Wrapped up the first season of this sweet webtoon about two former childhood friends finding their way back to each other in college.

Do I spend too much time on webtoon? Maybe, but I do find that it keeps me from doomscrolling. Most of these are stories that I would not read in graphic novel form but they are perfectly read as little bites that get me away from socials on my phone.

It wasn't bad but is just a straightforward historical novel with nothing particular to draw me in. A young mother travels with her family on the first steamboat trip down the Mississippi. I can see who this book is for and I'm happy to have it to recommend but it's just not my thing.

Absolutely essential writings of our nation's founding. Poetry, memoir, letters, reportage - it's all here from the triumphal to the horrific realities of Black life in early America. I took my time with this one dipping in and out over the last year. Baskerville has built a solid collection.

This is actually my first experience with a Library of America title (imma Penguin Classic girlie) and I was genuinely surprised to see it as an ARC.

Another webtoon that was recommended to me that I dnf'd.

*I had to add this one to the Litsy database just to say that I did not finish it, which felt mean, but I'm trying to actually track my reading here this year. C'est la vie.*

Another year with the Hingston & Olsen Short Story Advent Calendar. 25 stories to be read as a gift to myself each night in the rampant chaos of the Christmas season. This has become my favorite tradition.

*I am too lazy to add the 2025 edition to the database. We are wintering and being gentle with ourselves so this is fine.*

*stealing this book for review because the chapbook I actually read is not in the database*

So, y'all, every year I pick up this chapbook at the Louisiana Book Festival and I meet these young poets and I am verklempt. These are kids that are wrestling style and huge themes while still in middle and high school. And this isn't cringe moaning of hormonal angst (please note that's a self call out), this is real work they are doing.

Found this short, graphic bio of Anne Rice randomly at the bookshop and had to read it. It is narrated by Dracula. I really don't know what to say beyond that. I don't necessarily recommend it, but its sheer existence perplexes and pleases me so it's a pick, I guess.

Read this one day by day over the last year. Microdosing inspiration from a beloved artist.

While these further delights did not move me quite as much as Gay's first collection, I am still so enamored of them. As the author settles further into this project (the daily chronicling of a delight in his life), the delights seem to come not in spite of or even in tandem with disappointments but it is almost as though they are in communication with each other (a dance, if I want to be poetic). As with all things, light and shadow.

Such an inspiring collection of essays/tributes to icons of the Harlem Renaissance. Johnson hits on his themes so well and I'm desperate to read more from him now. The 'I Wish I'd Known' is especially relevant as this collection is aimed and at YA audience and the power in reading these stories as an adult is palpable but as inspiration to young queer creatives it is just beyond. So grateful that this one is in the world.

I loved this middle grade novel of a south Louisiana transplant living in Boston. Feliciana Fruge is missing her grandmother, Cajun food, and the lilt of the casual French phrases she has grown up with, cher. When homesickness becomes too great a burden, a rougarou (the Cajun werewolf) brings a little bit of home to Feliciana's northern life. A sweet friendship tale that I just adored.

I am kinda undone with myself because I DNF'd 1984. I was doing the audio for a bookclub (pairing with Newman's Julia) and then when I was unable to make bookclub I realized there were other things I wanted to read more than 84 for the fourth or fifth time. But still it is lingering in my mind so i will likely pick the audio back up!

Maria Popova, I will follow you anywhere.

With some space and time, I think Tendler could have written a strong memoir about her journey. Now was the opportune time for sales though and the book is not fully cooked. Capitalism strikes again!

We were sent copies of this to give away at the bookshop and I needed to read it before distributing. It's a delightful and inspiring work. Not a revelation but a good reminder of community care. Anderson's angle is that generosity breds returns but I think that's just the best way to 'sell' the idea of generosity. His real message is that we live communally and good stewardship of community is anchored in generosity.

Took me about two months to get through the first ten poems. That's a bail. Just not my thing.

Was the mystery satisfying? Yes! Was the banter delicious? Absolutely! Was the racism freaking heinous? 💯 I'd love to continue with this series and I get that it is a product of its time (70s era writer with Victorians cavorting through Egypt) but I just can't stomach it.

So short, so powerful, so perfect.

It's a soft pick because I will always enjoy navel gazey musings from comics I like...that's like the whole thing with comics. But this could have been an interesting and memorable article. At book length, it's a stretch.

As unhinged as everyone says it is. More Broder than Moshfegh in my mind. I probably would have DNF'd this, but the chapters are just so short and I needed to know where we would end up.

I'm sorry, Keanu, we just didn't vibe. I could not force myself to care. Bailed at 20%.

I am obsessed! This is entirely too delightful and it slayed me (sleighed me?)! I need only tell you that the prince of Christmas and the prince of Halloween fall in love. This is a world of holidays with lands and lore, ruling families and political intrigue. Sara Raasch has got me in her pocket and I have never felt more giddy while reading a novel. The holiday highjinks a high key and the foundational friendships had my whole heart.

Rating and reviewing this one is difficult because I feel as though I haven't finished with this collection. The poems are drawing me back in, pencil in hand, to work through along with Schiff and frankly only the best collections do that. Here's to poetry that challenges!

Bog Myrtle, I love you! What a delightful, weird little tale. This a fable about environmental awareness, kindness, and greed. And honestly, as cute and weird as it is, it's a great way to talk to kids about the danger of the individual/scarcity mindset and the power and abundance found in the collective. Rock on, swamp witch! 🕷

The truly terrifying rise in antisemitism is something we must all acknowledge and work against. The title, while definitely provocative, encompasses Horn's central thesis that historical, dead Jews are comfortable to reckon with and easy to mourn. Meanwhile the actual fates and daily struggles of living Jews creates a discomfort in non Jews. In each essay, a different form or aspect of antisemitism is examined; all are deeply important to explore

I am not the most familiar with the conventions of horror novels so they always seem to startle and surprise me when I make my way to one! Old Soul is everything you could desire from the genre: spooky and thrilling, gory and macabre, the mystery at its core kept me reading into the night even as I burrowed under the covers (for protection, ya know). I need you to read this one so we can talk about it!

Dense! Khalidi writes from both a deeply historic and deeply personal well. I will never claim to have a full understanding of this conflict but this was much needed context.

A heavy read with a lot to unpack. We are so incredibly steeped in propaganda that reality can genuinely feel questionable, it's no wonder we are witnessing an ever increasing surge in conspiracy theories. Newitz research is always impressive and the work here is deeply important but proceed with caution if you are prone to existential dread - it can all feel so overwhelming.

Self-aware in the best possible way with tongue placed firmly in cheek, Lyndsay Rush has crafted a delightful collection. These are not poems to linger over but to blaze through nodding and laughing along to Rush's observations.

Family, friendship, the many forms of love, betrayal, and triumph. I adored this novel. The short chapters are lyrical to the point of being poetic.

Not really my thing but there's no denying the power behind many of these poems.

My eclipse read this past April. This one is like following a Wikipedia spiral but led by someone else's whims than your own so sometimes I was interested and invested, others not so much.

The end of an era! I loved this Webtoon and look forward to rereading in trade.

I am in awe of this woman. Dr. Kalema-Zikusoka is an inspiration. The casual ease with which she brushes off several near death experiences to pivot back to her mission is unparalleled. Her community building skills and the clarity she brings to conservation through public health...it's so obvious once she explains her methods but so groundbreaking in terms of practically making a difference.

The botanists are beginning to think there may be a plant consciousness and I am simply overwhelmed by this information. Super fascinating and highly readable account of the massive shifts happening in plant science.

I started this in print but the book proved too heavy for bathtub reading so I switched to audio and I must say, give yourself this gift. Allow Babs to read her memoirs to you. Every song, every aside, it's just the best possible way to take in this story. Am I obsessed with Barbra Streisand? Yes. Does she deserve my adoration, undoubtedly so. She deserves yours as well.

Jackson, a historian, frames the history of Black resistance using personal and historical narratives highlighting revolution, protection, force, flight, and joy. Organized phenomenally especially with the final chapter on joy which felt grounding. Consistently moves away from the false dichotomy of nonviolence vs violent resistance to say Black resistance to the idea of white supremacy has always been multifaceted, deep and necessary context.

Y'all. This woman and her life. Wild. But she's interesting and intensely honest. The stories she tells about her life show a deep level of reflection that is so refreshing. Don't think of this as a celebrity memoir. This is an artist's tale.

What is there to say about this book? At this point it is a well established classic. I didn't love the prose as much as I thought I would but I resonated with Kimmerer's ideas so heavily. I find it so honorable the way she takes on the burden of teaching her students a different way of seeing - that seems a huge emotional undertaking that she handles with each new group and ultimately that's the gift she gives readers with Braiding Sweetgrass.

Starting a (tiny, regional) publishing company this year and our first book launches in the fall. I'm so excited for this one. The Wild Melange is meant to be the perfect memento for visitors to the city; it's a photobook with a couple essays and a few guides (food, Mardi Gras) for tourists. This is something we've been talking about for ages but it all came together with photographer Richard Sexton earlier this year.

Fairytales, political and sexual intrigues, and all of the ignoble realities of life in the court of the Sun King. I enjoyed this but not as much as I enjoyed Pollard's previous novel, Delphi. Being in the salons surrounding the court at Versailles was fun, but there's not much I feel like I am taking away from this novel.