August 2025 Theme: Trans Fantasy

Please vote for what book we will read in August

https://forms.gle/Jm6U9F2nViaGoGAT7

Read at your own pace. There will be a discussion posted on Litsy at the end of the month.

Please tag me in your posts & use #riseupreads

Rise up Reads- reading marginalized voices 🔥✊🏼 If you're not currently tagged & would like to be, let me know.

Reminder for #riseupreads July 2025

Read at your own pace. There will be a discussion posted on Litsy at the end of the month.

Please tag me in your posts & use #riseupreads

If you're not currently tagged & would like to be, let me know.

Content warnings: ableism, grief, pandemic, chronic illness, mental illness, racism, death, medical trauma, sexual assault, rape, suicide

#RiseUpReads

Armenian food
Have you had any of these or other Armenian food?

#RiseUpReads

What did y'all think of this one?

I enjoyed the look into Armenian culture and all the delicious food.

(I apologize for the late posting, I've been dealing with some chronic illness issues lately, which has been affecting my mental health as well)

#FoodandLit July 2025 Peru 🇵🇪

To participate read a book that takes place in the country or is by an author from the country. Also enjoy food from the country. Share your experience with the tag #FoodandLit & tag @Catsandbooks & @Texreader

If you're not currently tagged in #FoodandLit news & would like to be, let me know.

#RiseUpReads July 2025

The Future is Disabled - Leah Lakshmi Piepzna-Samarasinha

Read at your own pace. There will be a discussion posted on Litsy at the end of the month.

Please tag me in your posts & use #riseupreads
If you're not currently tagged & would like to be, let me know.

#5JoysFriday
1. This week Will and I celebrated our 8 yr wedding anniversary! 💖
2. He got me a bronze bookmark
3. Delicious meals multiple times this week
4. Zola resting her head on her pillow
5. Talking to my niece

May's Reads!

My favorites:
Iron Widow - all the feminine rage 🔥 Chinese fantasy with robots
Time and time again - queer ya time loop romance with disability rep 🏳️‍🌈💕
A Caribbean Heiress in Paris - historical romance with strong female characters, 🇩🇴Dominican FMC, Scottish MMC

#riseupreads

#RiseUpReads July 2025 Theme: Disability Non-fiction

Please vote for what book we will read in July!

https://forms.gle/SrrhkbZzWxRkQgSP6

Rise up Reads- reading marginalized voices 🔥✊🏼 If you're not currently tagged & would like to be, let me know.

#RiseUpReads June 2025

Lavash at First Sight - Taleen Voskuni

Read at your own pace. There will be a discussion posted on Litsy at the end of the month.

Please tag me in your posts & use #riseupreads
If you're not currently tagged & would like to be, let me know.

Content Warnings: homophobia, sexual content, emotional abuse, religious bigotry, genocide, alcohol content, body shaming

Story was an ode to K-dramas

Rise and popularity of K-dramas

Have you seen any? The only one I've seen that is close is XO, Kitty on Netflix

#riseupreads

Top right is more artwork from the FairyLoot special edition

Did you have this author's note in the version you read?

Loved all the Korean mythological creatures

https://www.90daykorean.com/korean-myths/

https://warsandhistory.com/korean-mythology/

#riseupreads

#RiseUpReads May

Overall thoughts? Any favorite parts?

I loved the banter between Seokga and Hani! Definitely looking forward to the sequel!

Above is artwork from the FairyLoot special edition

#FoodandLit June 2025 Greenland 🇬🇱

To participate read a book that takes place in the country or is by an author from the country. Also enjoy food from the country. Share your experience with the tag #FoodandLit & tag @Catsandbooks & @Texreader

If you're not currently tagged in #FoodandLit news & would like to be, let me know.

#5JoysFriday
1. My boys love to cuddle ❤️
2. My daily smoothie, so refreshing as the days heat up
3. Talking to my niece
4. Reading late at night when everything is quiet
5. Will 💜

My stack for #14books14weeks Excited for summer reading! ☀️😎

#RiseUpReads June 2025

Lavash at First Sight by Taleen Voskuni

Content Warnings: homophobia, sexual content, emotional abuse, religious bigotry, genocide, alcohol content, body shaming

Read at your own pace. There will be a discussion posted on Litsy at the end of the month.

Please tag me in your posts & use #riseupreads
If you're not currently tagged & would like to be, let me know.

#5JoysFriday
1. Saw the Thunderbolts/ New Avengers. It had really great depression rep. I've been having a hard time with my depression lately so I felt really seen. (The reason I haven't been super active on here)
2. I planted strawberries and snap peas
3. Finally got a membership to Costco
4. Rainbow drink from my local cafe
5. Croissants

🩵My April Reads🩵

June 2025 theme: Sapphic Romance

Please vote for what book we will read in June

https://forms.gle/4CuWphtQmMn2DfYq7

Read at your own pace. There will be a discussion on Litsy at the end of the month.

Rise up Reads- reading marginalized voices 🔥✊🏼 If you're not currently tagged & would like to be, let me know.

#RiseUpReads May 2025

The God and the Gumiho by Sophie Kim

Read at your own pace. There will be a discussion posted on Litsy at the end of the month.

Please tag me in your posts & use #riseupreads
If you're not currently tagged & would like to be, let me know.

Content warnings: Death, violence, murder, gore, war, sexual content, blood

Mental health matters

“The only way out is through…”

My dad committed suicide when I was 10. I've had depression and anxiety my whole life. I take antidepressants. I've done therapy multiple times in my life. I believe it's important to discuss mental health and reduce the stigma around mental illnesses. If anyone is ever struggling I am always here to talk. Please reach out!

Resources below

#riseupreads

Folklore and fairytale references
Sorrow‘s garden
Whimsy and Faerry‘s journey through the forest

#riseupreads

I really enjoyed this fantasy told in verse about depression, trauma, and the journey to heal.

For me I noticed that they finally could heal when the truth was revealed and everyone started communicating with each other. While the truth isn't always accessible, communication and talking through things instead ignoring or trying to forget about them is necessary to work through issues.

#riseupreads

#FoodandLit May 2025 Bangladesh 🇧🇩

To participate read a book that takes place in the country or is by an author from the country. Also enjoy food from the country. Share your experience with the tag #FoodandLit & tag @Catsandbooks & @Texreader

If you're not currently tagged in #FoodandLit news & would like to be, let me know.

Ik it's not Friday, but it's still a good day to share joy. Happy Easter Litsy family! 🐰🩷

1. I've been in a baking mood lately. Making muffins cookies, and brioche from scratch!
2. I made brioche for the first time and it turned out delicious! This is the first time I've made bread without the aid of a bread maker and it's actually turned out. I'm so proud of myself!
⬇️

#RiseUpReads May 2025

This was close, but the winner is - The God and the Gumiho by Sophie Kim

Read at your own pace. There will be a discussion posted on Litsy at the end of the month.

Please tag me in your posts & use #riseupreads
If you're not currently tagged & would like to be, let me know.

Content warnings: Death, violence, murder, gore, war, sexual content, blood

#5JoysFriday
1. Watching Abbott Elementary on repeat
2. Listening to the new Lady Gaga album on a loop
3. New sneakers
4. Cotton candy grapes
5. Will and the furbabies 🩵

Oh and I forgot Cory Booker! ✊🏼🔥❤️

My March reads! 💚
My favorite was A Sky beyond the storm. I absolutely love the Ember in the Ashes series, it's one of my favorites. I also loved the Lovelight Farms series, especially the final one, Business Casual.

May 2025 Theme: AAPI Fantasy

Please vote for what book we will read in May

https://forms.gle/osQxuy3hz75Q2tAm9

Rise up Reads- reading marginalized voices 🔥✊🏼 If you're not currently tagged & would like to be, let me know.

Reminder for #riseupreads April

Read at your own pace. There will be a discussion posted on Litsy at the end of the month.

Please tag me in your posts & use #riseupreads
If you're not currently tagged & would like to be, let me know.

LaKota people

Indigenous people abused, killed, moved out of their land

#riseupreads

A few of the women talked about

#riseupreads

I just thought this was OK. I thought it focused too much on white groups, but what did everyone else think?

#riseupreads

#FoodandLit April Rwanda 🇷🇼

To participate read a book that takes place in the country or is by an author from the country. Also enjoy food from the country. Share your experience with the tag #FoodandLit & tag @Catsandbooks & @Texreader

If you're not currently tagged in #FoodandLit news & would like to be, let me know.

4.5/5 ⭐️ Loved this romance set at an Irish Pub. Excellent ADHD and OCD rep too.

I made Irish soda bread and shepherd's pie for St. Patrick's Day. Delicious and comforting! 🇮🇪🍀

#FoodandLit

My results from the Feminist Perspectives Test

Thank you to @TheBookHippie for sharing this!

If anyone else would like to take the test -> https://www.idrlabs.com/feminist-perspectives-historical/test.php

#riseupreads

1. My boys, Zeke and Link, cuddling!
2. Rewatching New Girl
3. Spring is blooming 🌸
4. Dr. Pepper
5. Will 🩵

#5JoysFriday

Happy International Women's Day ✊🏼🔥💖

📸 from courtneyahndesign on Instagram

#RiseUpReads April 2025

We are all so good at smiling by Amber Mcbride

Read at your own pace. There will be a discussion posted on Litsy at the end of the month.

Please tag me in your posts & use #riseupreads
If you're not currently tagged & would like to be, let me know.

Content warnings: mental illness, suicide, grief, panic attacked, bullying, racism, death, self harm

💖February's Reads 💖

#5JoysFriday
1. My husband still has his job. He's a fed and every day when he comes home we say "live to fight another day"
2. A mockingbird came by me and was singing
3. Link helped me at my desk ?
4. Celebrated my husband's birthday
5. Pizza ?

April 2025 Theme: Mental Illness Rep

Please vote for what book we will read in April

https://forms.gle/YN2j1dcxPzpt5tgZA

Rise up Reads- reading marginalized voices 🔥✊🏼 If you're not currently tagged & would like to be, let me know.

Reminder for the March #riseupreads book

Brave Hearted: The Women of the American West by Katie Hickman

Read at your own pace. There will be a discussion posted on Litsy at the end of the month.

Please tag me in your posts & use #riseupreads
If you're not currently tagged & would like to be, let me know.

Strong black woman stereotype

Soft black girl

There's strength in being vulnerable, in taking care of yourself

https://fortune.com/well/2023/01/15/black-women-soft-life/

https://cupcakesandcashmere.com/uncategorized/the-softness-of-black-women

Top right art is from special edition of the book
#riseupreads

Housing crisis in USA

Not having a stable home growing up affects Amerie‘s life now

Wanting to feel safe and secure

Data on black home ownership https://nationalmortgageprofessional.com/news/state-housing-black-america-report...

Homelessness and minority groups https://endhomelessness.org/homelessness-in-america/what-causes-homelessness/ine...

Bottom left art is from special edition of the book
#riseupreads

Sickle cell disease affects more black and brown people

Amerie‘s mom is living with this invisible illness

Healthcare system in our country is biased and broken

Basic info on sickle cell https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/sickle-cell-anemia/symptoms-cause...

Video discussing SCD from a Boston news source, it's long but a great discussion from experts https://youtu.be/xehrvNMSD4E?si=OV_3xaDmPXXqjBPd

#riseupreads

I really enjoyed this book! I love a fake dating trope. I liked the banter between Amerie's and Vincent. The friendships and family dynamics were great too and felt real.

My favorite/least liked scenes are in the comments ⬇️

#riseupreads

#FoodandLit March 2025 Ireland 🇮🇪

To participate read a book that takes place in the country or is by an author from the country. Also enjoy food from the country. Share your experience with the tag #FoodandLit & tag @Catsandbooks & @Texreader

Storygraph link https://tinyurl.com/c4yrw569

If you're not currently tagged in #FoodandLit news & would like to be, let me know.

#5JoysFriday
This week has been incredibly stressful but I still found joy. JOY IS RESISTANCE! ✊🏼🔥
1. Kitty cuddles on cold days
2. A bird visiting my heated water bowl outside for animals
3. Crossword puzzles
4. Girl scout cookies
5. Will. My partner and best friend ❤️