Pitched as High Fidelity for the Indie Sleaze Era but it lacks Hornby's charm. I would feel like I'm too old and boring for this one but as an elder millennial I'm actually the target audience here. I was in college listening to these bands. I had a blog. I get it. But like, this did absolutely nothing for me.

I'm going to pass this on to my coworker that's into Sally Rooney. I feel like that's the better comp than Hornby.

This novella, a cute cozy mystery set on a generation starship, was a nice read but I felt there was nothing to hold on to. At times, I felt intrigued by ideas Waite presented but they were always sacrificed for brevity (this is a scant 112 pages). It ends up just being cozy space vibes which is fine, I guess, but I've already forgotten what intrigued me about it...

This one is for fans of the podcast Buffering the Vampire Slayer, which I've never heard. Bailed a few chapters in because I was hoping for more Buffy crit but this is more a memoir of the hosts.

That's not to say this is bad, I'm just not the audience for it.

Did I mostly come to this book because I wanted to gaze at Wendy McNaughton's always delightful illustrations? Yes. Was I absolutely charmed by the straightforward information on tea history, variations, and culture? Oh, absolutely. A charming book that covers a wide range in quick time.

I don't know that I can even review this one. Carmen Maria Machado has presented the most clever, vulnerable, and researched memoir I have yet to come across. The realities of abuse as chronicled are horrifying but the force of the storytelling is absolutely inspiring. In awe of this, actually.

Another delightful, cozy webtoon read.

The Babitz bits are largely recycled from Anolik's earlier work and Didion is really just along for the ride as Anolik is only interested in her as a foil to Babitz. But it's a forced comparison. Overall, I wish this had been an extended second edition to Hollywood's Eve rather than its own work.

'I am ready' ugh, absolutely gutted by that line. This novel is all contradiction for me - I hate humanity, I love Tess, I hate men, I love Hardy. It pulls at my every prejudice and every compassion. Beautiful writing describing horrific treatment. Irony and hypocrisy on open display. Oh, I love it so.

A short, middling webtoon but it sent me down a wiki spiral about the Kumari so it's a pick for that, definitely.

A fun and quick listen for sure, but I guess ultimately not really my thing because I haven't been itching to pick up more in the series.

Listened to this one at Christmas and forgot to review!

It was fine. Cute holiday vibes for sure but I didn't fully trust the romance and I'm a sucker for second chance so this should have been for me. Each individual piece of this novel I enjoyed. The emotional core of it though needed more development.

Loved the conceit of this collection, Helen of Troy as beleaguered 90s wife and mother, but the poems just didn't resonate with me.

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.