Book #32: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️✨ I just love it. I have a deep request that authors stop describing things sensually as “male” or “female” and instead utilize actual sensual nuance… but I love Maas‘s descriptions other than those little snags. The plot gets hella exciting and TBH I‘m way emotionally invested at this point. Such a great ending to this one. Def recommend!

Book #31: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ I am totally into it. I love the unfolding protagonist skills and story - it‘s perfect to have the happily never after beginning and then the unfolding of the second part of this story. The writing is vivid and I am into the romance, heteronormative tho it may be.

Book #30: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ I love this series so far! It‘s not necessarily the most innovative or fascinating and certainly isn‘t the best representation I‘ve seen… but it is spicy and sweet and I really like the MC and the deviation from standard fairytale vibe. I gobbled up the first one voraciously and tumbled directly into the second. Highly recommend this page turner for an immersive summer fantasy adventure romance!

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Book #29: I think this could be an awesome book for a young neurodivergent crowd... pretty poetic and accessible. I love that this one (unlike Camouflage which I read earlier) is written by&for autistic folks. I guess I was annoyed to see the person-first language insertion at the end... and it was also quite young feeling for me to connect to, even though I generally love YA / younger audience books.

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Book #28:
I found this book to have little information and be slightly confusing in its presentation. I did like that they cited research, but it would not have taken too much effort to address the systemic inequities present in the diagnosis gatekeeping for non-White-cismale folks. It felt like maybe it was a book about autism... written for neurotypical folks? Idk. Not for me. I‘m giving it a so-so bc it still gives research & awareness🎈

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Book #27: Well, it wasn‘t terrible. I liked it because it was queer, and I love a good gay romance. But I didn‘t relate too much to the characters in other ways (not necessary, and personal to everyone of course). I found the characters and relationships to be... nonplussing. But it‘s definitely better than it‘s straight counterpart, so still good for me 🔮🫀✨

(Photocred Instagram user @ bibookworm)

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Book #26: I liked the writing of this book, and definitely found the characters super relatable. I found that the relationships outside the immediate romance felt a little... meh. Unfleshed out. Which is okay - just made the story feel a little flatter than others I‘ve loved. But I loved it overall and definitely rec for a neurodivergent romance read. Anyone have more autistic / neurodivergent romance recs?? 💗

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Book #25:
I loved The Hate U Give, and wasn‘t ready to dive back into this one until this week - but it was worth having on my audio tbr pile until then! I loved the characters, the complex relationships, the way Bri‘s art, words, pain & dreams mixed with her culture, racial oppression, & her coming-of-age. Her rap / poetry is visceral & Thomas‘s writing just wraps you up in the story‘s flow.

(photo cred: insta user @ kellyblack.writer)

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Book #24: I chose this audiobook randomly, I think because it was on a YA fantasy list and was on sale. And omg am I so glad I did! The book was enthralling from the very first chapter, and it‘s so rare for me to actually feel immersed in an audiobook right from the beginning. The plot is so intriguing, I love the representation, and the world-building and character development are just delightful. Definitely recommend!

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Book #23: What a great 3rd part to the series. Talia Hibbert is a queen of diverse romance and this series is my fave that I‘ve read. It‘s sweet, believable, emotionally mature... and I honestly find her writing both relaxing and vivid. Really raises the bar for what I‘m looking for in romance! I will be reading more of her work, especially since romance is a safe genre for me to rest in right now 💗

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Book #22: Mehhhh. I still love Hibbert‘s writing, even in this smutty novel. I generally really like fantasy romance (like Laurell K Hamilton), but this one didn‘t feel exciting to me. It lacked the exciting character depth, and I may have enjoyed it more if I weren‘t just coming off those amazing Brown sisters books that are so much better IMO.

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Book #21: it‘s official... I love Talia Hibbert. And I freaking love all the Brown sisters. The relationship to self and other and systemic challenges and complicated feels and imperfection is just... so amazing. And so romantic. I‘m excited to read the third one with Eve 💗

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Book #20: I am so grateful to be a healing artist and so rarely do I read texts on healing trauma that acknowledge those who straddle the line of healer/healing. The Indigenous healers who share their expertise in this text are gloriously centered in their own healing, their first person experience and cultural learning, the integration of spirit. I recommend this text wholeheartedly to anyone, especially healers & trauma workers.

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Book #19: (edited bc this is actually v1-6) I love Miles and the updates to Spider-Man. It had great throwbacks to original and the scenes where Miles helped Captain America (“cap” 💗) with his new phone tech... so perfect. Same with updating / adding nuance to super villains who are in new and more complex lights. I recommend (and also am wowed by Marvel Unlimited - esp the panel zoom which is amazing).

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#16, #17, #18: Well this happened. I was super late to this party, but WOW do I have so many thoughts about this series. Also I watched the movie. Who DANNY ELFMAN did the music for... which remains the only redeeming quality. The coercion doesn‘t feel sexy - despite loving BDSM bc explicit consent around power exchange is actually hella trauma informed when done correctly. I now see why the BDSM community was like *nope* we do not claim this.

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Book #15: I tried to listen to this as an audiobook a couple times before settling in. But ultimately, I just couldn‘t stop listening. It was like cheesy popcorn or picking a scab. Totally impossible at times to tell if I like it or if it‘s making me feel weird. But ultimately, I love having so many feels and Irby is smart, perspective and her irreverence has me cackling in my car. I loved it.

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Book #14: This book was such a ray of light after some big romance flops that I‘ve read lately. I laughed out loud, teared up, & felt all the warm fuzzies I love about reading romance. It was complex & I loved the depth of the characters, from the mental health representation to the fact that the MC is bisexual 💗 This book didn‘t fall into any of the main pitfalls of romance tropes & I can‘t wait to check out the rest of the series!

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Book #13: This novella was so freaking delightful. An ikea-esque setting where a wormhole opens and adventure ensues when two employees (who used to date) must rescue a customer from alternate worlds. Amongst delightful imagery and fantastical plot twists, there is a very human story about love and loss and finding your place in the world. I definitely recommend this amazing book!

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Book #12: This book was PHENOMENAL. I listened to it as an audiobook and loved every single minute of it. As a somatic therapist, I found a lot of the info in this book so refreshing to hear delivered in a manageable and relatable way. This is not a *self-help* book - it‘s a collection of tools & information to help survive our current world while also calling us to action in building a new world of collective & creative care.

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Book #11: They met. It was, in fact, kinda cute. But I did find the whole back and forth a little bland. It‘s a girl meets celeb crush and then zooms forward to a future setting where she needs to help said-crush after he loses his parents and gains custody of his younger sister. No real surprises. I think my kitties stole the *cute* show. 💗

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Book #10: I listened to this as an audiobook and LOVED it. I laughed && cried (although I‘m pretty emotional as a person so.). As a therapist and neurodiverse trauma bb, I love books that show the depth & nuance of living with mental health. This one isn‘t perfect - there are some things I may have changed - but I loved it and it inspired me to wander. Definitely recommend! I like the voice actors for the audio too :)

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Book #9: I loved it... but there have been so many amazing graphic novels and comics lately that this isn‘t necessarily the next to-be-purchased series... I would like to see if I can get them from the library though! Had a Lumberjanes vibe - very funny and great femme energy.

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Book #8: Ok! So this series has gone into a world that I actually am kinda interested in - I like the unusual take on vampire thing and there is an expanding roster of characters and powers that has kept me interested. The romance part is... lacking for me. Very little depth or nuance... but it also could just be me bc I find heteronormative romances a little boring. I probably will read the next one if I can get ahold of it :)

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Book #7: well... I thought I didn‘t like the first one... but I feel like I definitely won‘t be reading the third. This one felt particularly problematic with the back/forth codependency and complicated trauma bonding. I don‘t think it‘s terrible to represent how many sexual assault / abuse survivors find solace in kink and BDSM / power exchange... but I‘ve seen it done better and found this to be lacking in style, artistry and accuracy.

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Book #6 (bad romance are my insomnia reads) Mehhh this first one of the series is kind of a kink-adjacent romance. It‘s got a couple of the cliches I like least... including super rich guy with no time for romance who somehow makes time for it bc of a girl and her exceptional irresistibleness who doesn‘t know she‘s submissive until he shows her. Not my thing, but there were some steamy-ish scenes.

“if you should start to think forbidden thoughts
then come for me

the end of ever after is the beginning of the truth”
💗

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Book #5: Since I‘ve been trying to read as a way to relax and self-regulate, I often return to some of my tried and true “popcorn genre” books which are often in the paranormal romance or ya category. I like books that can world-build and actually am enjoying some of the interesting qualities of this world. I‘m hoping that the mystery unfolds and will probably give the next books in this series a chance!

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Book #4: I liked the Jane Austen mentor / guardian angel / possession vibes from this book running parallel to a super hallmark-y sexy romance mood. It wasn‘t totally for me, ultimately, but it was dimensional enough to keep it interesting and I liked a lot of small parts. Would recommend, but definitely only if you‘re into romance and the lookin for *the one* trope!

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Book #3 of 2021 was my favorite so far. It hits all my fave comic areas: magic, myth, mystery, femme badassery, diverse representation, and gorgeous images. I loved the art in this one - and the hardcover compilation (ep 1-11) has such a nice feel to read. Definitely going to order the next of these! (Image ft. one of my kitties - Kava and my pup - Sesame... which do you think is the wicked / divine? 😉)

⭐️⭐️⭐️1/2
This was cute! I had pretty intense insomnia last night, so when I woke up I wanted to read something light. This was on my shelf, and it had a great philosophical-humor vibe! It isn‘t the most profound thing I‘ve ever read, but it made me giggle a little and I snapped a couple pics of specific pages that I found moving or extra funny. Would recommend if you‘re looking for something sweet, light, and emotionally intelligent!

⭐️⭐️⭐️1/2
I was in the mood for something fast-paced and romantic... but definitely wasn‘t expecting the emotional roller coaster of this book. I really appreciate books that can demonstrate complexity beyond the dualistic thinking of right/wrong, good/bad, all/nothing. This is a beautiful read that addresses intergenerational trauma and healing, heartbreak, and the complicated and messy reality of many love stories.